Chapter 29

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

Chapter 29

The end for Edward Anthony Cullen came quickly.

It was two weeks before Christmas and Edward and Isabella had left work early hoping to get a bit of Christmas shopping done. They walked down the sidewalk, totally encased in the happy Edward/Isabella bubble that they always seemed to find themselves in, no matter where they were. They huddled close together; Isabella with an arm wrapped tightly around his waist while his arm held her close to his side. There was a light snow falling, crunching beneath their feet. The sidewalks were crowded, but because of the season, everyone nodded politely at one another and there wasn't any of the pushing and shoving you would normally find. All the windows had elaborate Christmas decorations in them, and their attempts at shopping were hindered greatly because Isabella stopped to look at every single window they passed.

"Love, come on. We're never going to get the shopping done if you keep that up. I promise once we've gotten everyone's presents, we'll come back out and you can look all you want," Edward called to her while he waited on the corner, hating that he had to tell her 'no.' She was too adorable for words and she seriously looked like a little girl with the way her eyes lit up at every display and Christmas light she passed.

They were going to cross at the corner of Oak and Rush and the light had just changed. "Beautiful, let's go," Edward called to her as he began to walk now that most everyone had crossed the street with the crosswalk sign already.

She gave one last lingering glance toward the window and then hurried to catch up to Edward. When she stepped off the sidewalk, she judged wrong, lost her footing, and fell down. Edward, realizing that she hadn't caught up, turned around and when he noticed she'd fallen, frantically started to rush to her side. He was so focused on getting to her, he didn't notice that the light had changed. Isabella did though, and with panicked eyes, tried to stand up, but couldn't due to the fact that she'd hurt herself when she fell. There were so many people milling about on the sidewalk that no one realized the tragedy that was about to happen.

Edward, noticing she seemed frozen in place, felt like the thirty feet that separated him from his everything was miles instead of just feet. Suddenly it seemed like things were moving in slow motion, only they weren't. He heard the screeching of tires. It registered that some fool had rushed to beat the light and whipped around the corner and was heading straight for her.

"Isabella!" he screamed, causing people to stop and try to figure out what was happening.

He reached his arms out, praying that he would reach her in time. There was a part of his mind that was fully cognizant of the fact that it was going to be impossible for both of them to get out of the way of the car that was heading straight for her, but he didn't care as long as she was safe. Nothing mattered as long as she was out of harm's way.

Stretching his arms to the point of pain, he was able to push her to the sidewalk the moment before the front of the car, the driver of which was frantically slamming on his breaks, clipped Edward's hip and sent him spinning through the air. He landed with a grotesque thud as his head hit the pavement and was vaguely aware of the screams and shouts that were all around him.

He stared straight up into the night sky as the snow continued to fall. He knew he should probably close his eyes but he couldn't. The warmth he felt seeping from the back of his head cooled almost immediately as it pooled beneath him causing him to shiver, or maybe it was the fact that the snow continued to fall; he had no clue. He heard voices, but they sounded like they were coming from really far away, or maybe from underwater.

Damn it, he finally thought through the haze of pain, I really hoped I'd have more time.
He turned his head, knowing he would see Seth, and sure enough the angel was right by his side.

"Isabella?" he managed to choke out, fighting the urge to close his eyes.

"You saved her, Edward Anthony," Seth replied and Edward noticed that the angel's face was streaked with tears. Funny, he didn't think angels could cry. He wasn't sure why he was focusing on that, but he couldn't help it.

"She's all that matters," he whispered.

Isabella had half crawled, half stumbled from the sidewalk to where her husband lay in a heap on the ground. All around there was chaos and she knew she'd screamed, she could tell because her throat felt like it was on fire, but all she could think about was getting to Edward. The wail of the sirens pierced the air and there were flashes of red and blue, though she barely paid any attention.

"Edward, oh my God, please!" she cried when she fell to her knees beside him. The asphalt immediately scraped her knees through her wool pants, but she didn't even notice.

She picked up his hand, too afraid to touch him anywhere else. The pool of crimson beneath his head made her stomach lurch and she wanted to be sick, but nothing else mattered but him. "You're going to be fine," she sobbed, willing a higher power to make it so.

~~~~OOO~~~OOO~~~~

Edward lingered between life and death, for how long, he had no idea. Isabella's hand was gripping his, he knew that, knew she kept talking to him, telling him over and over again how much she loved him and needed him. He heard her as she begged for him to stay, to fight, but he was so tired.

So very tired.

On occasion he tried to squeeze her hand but he no idea if she felt him or not.

Voices...there were so many muffled voices, and images of the people they belonged to flitted in and out of his mind in an endless stream. Emmett and Rose...then Jasper and Alice. Carlisle and Esme...Charlie, Renée, and Nonna. He knew Sophie and Max were there as well as Marcus, Alec, and Alessandra.

Intermittently he heard a voice he didn't recognize, but it belonged to his doctor. "Mrs. Cullen, your husband is strong and in excellent health. With these types of injuries...I know it's hard, but we just have to wait and see."

Edward knew better. His time was up, and though he didn't want it to be, he was too tired to fight any longer.

The moment he thought that, he felt his body twist and then all of a sudden, he was looking down on the pandemonium in the room.

"We're losing him!" the doctor shouted and before long his hospital room was full of so many people and so many sounds.

Machines beeped frantically. Voices shouted one on top of the other. Isabella stood near the bed, holding the hands of Sophie and Nonna, praying over and over again for someone, something, to save him. Emmett stood with tears pouring down his face, one arm wrapped tightly around Rose, the other around Esme while Carlisle held her from the other side. The others wept as well, hanging on to one another. Behind Isabella Edward noticed a young boy, one that looked to have just reached his teenage years. The shock of bronze hair and the eyes that he saw every morning in the mirror alerted him immediately to who the boy was and Edward couldn't help but smile...or he felt like he was smiling, but he didn't know for sure...and then he was confused, but before he could think anything about that, he noticed the angel. Seth stood behind both the boy and Isabella, his snow white wings unfurled and protectively wrapped around them.

He tried to speak, to say, "Don't worry. I'm not afraid, I'll be okay," but he didn't know if he said it out loud, and he knew they wouldn't hear him anyway.

"He's gone..." one of the nurses said gravely and then suddenly Edward wasn't in the room anymore.

He floated for a long time, through time and space...on and on and on. His eyes had been closed and when he opened them, Seth was beside him.

"Nice wings," Edward smirked in his customary way and Seth chuckled.

"They're all right."

As they floated along, or flew, or whatever, Edward was filled with such a sense of peace and joy he thought for sure he would fall apart, though the feelings only grew the more time that passed. For once, he didn't even want to question the angel on what was happening, especially considering they were going up rather than down. Although, honestly, he kind of knew he was going up, what with his own personal angel, but it was nice to know he was right.

After a time, Edward began to look around. There were pulses of light - bright yellows, warm reds, cool blues, vivid purples - swirling all around him. The light was so bright, so blinding, but it didn't hurt his eyes, instead, it welcomed him. He could feel waves of energy flowing through him and wrap around his entire being. When he looked beside him, he was alone, but he wasn't afraid, rather he was filled with a sense of excitement. Love was all around him; a tangible force infinitely magnified when compared to what he and Isabella felt for each other.

Before he had time to reflect on her name, he heard, "Welcome, Edward Anthony."

The Voice was the loudest thunder imaginable, but it was tender and loving. It was waves crashing against rocks in the midst of a storm, but as gentle as a stream. It was wind that screamed through the air, but was as soft as a summer breeze.

There were the sounds of music and the scent of every flower imaginable floating all around him. There was even taste: deep, dark, velvety chocolate, sweet cream, strawberries, and thousands of others all mixed together. Edward was aware of it all and realized it was more than likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Surprisingly though, he wasn't the least bit scared; he certainly had no reason to be.

The Voice was neither male nor female but an amalgamation of every voice he'd ever heard and it said, "I've been waiting a very long time for you."

Edward had the most powerful wish to laugh...so he did. The whole scene was so utterly bizarre that he couldn't help it and he had a feeling the Voice...presence...spirit was laughing along with him...or maybe at him. It made no difference of course, after all, he was but a guest.

In his usual way, he smirked and said, "Well, then, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

This time he did hear a rumble of what could only be described as laughter. "It is so much nicer to see and hear you laugh, Edward Anthony, than all that scowling and snapping business," the Voice chided.

He let out an impressive sigh and ran a hand through his hair in his customary way. "I wasted so much time," he said sadly.

Immediately he was wrapped in the same familiar warmth that had been a part of his life for the past few months now, though this time it was multiplied. "I can't deny that, though you've done a remarkable job of doing what I've asked of you."

"I didn't have much choice in the matter, your...ah...messenger is kind of a bossy thing," Edward chuckled.

He heard a sound that sounded like a clap, though it was much louder of course. "Don't tell him, but he's one of my favorites and there was no one better suited to watch over you than him."

"I can't disagree with you there. He was...a lifesaver. Thank you for sending him. I'd hate to think what this," Edward gestured with a wave of his arms, "would have been like had he not shown up…but don't tell him I said that, okay?"

There was another loud chuckle then. "Your secret is safe with me, Edward Anthony. They can be rather emotional beings at time, but I do love them so."

Edward tried to look around and find the source of the Voice, but he knew it would be a wasted effort, and really, he found that he didn't need nor want to all that much in the first place. He did open his mouth and then promptly shut it, not wanting to offend whomever was in charge of where he was.

A light laugh filled the air. "Ah, my boy, you should see your face. Don't be afraid to ask what you want to know, Edward, there are no secrets anymore between you and me. What do you wish to know?"

"Why me?"

This time the rumble of laughter was even louder, but no less filled with love. "Why not you, Edward Anthony?"

"I was such a miserable man. I hurt so many people," Edward whispered forlornly.

"You did," the Voice agreed gently then went on to say, "but you were hurt as well, Edward. Look at what you've been able to do for your lovely Isabella and your family."

Edward smirked once more and then cocked an eyebrow while he said, "You mean our Isabella, right? I'll share her with you; I'm still not so sure of that angel person."

"She's something else, isn't she? I have to say, she was everything I wanted for you...and more."

"You know, I would imagine even for you, re-gifting would be a no-no." He couldn't help but growl when he thought about the fact that she was there and he was well... wherever he was.

Pulses of light danced all around and he couldn't help but smile and give himself an internal fist bump for that comment. He might be dead...or whatever he was, but that didn't mean that Isabella was fair game. She was his gift. It wouldn't be fair to give her to someone else; at least he didn't think so.

"You tickle me so much, Edward Anthony. I have to tell you how much joy it brings me to watch you be the man you were always destined to become."

"Too little, too late," Edward muttered.

"Nonsense, my boy. Have you not fallen even more deeply and fully in love with your wife these past few months? Have you not mended your relationships with your brother, sister-in-law, and your adoptive parents? Haven't you found Sophie again, freed Anna from living a life she would have continued to lose herself in, and gotten closer to Jasper, Alec, and Marcus? Haven't you discovered how good of a man Charlie is and how loving Renée and Nonna truly are? Haven't you finally found the good inside of you, Edward Anthony?" the Voice questioned, but gently, lovingly.

He had the urge to run, to expend some energy, but he had no idea what the proper protocol was for what was happening. And, as much as he wanted to disagree with what the Voice had just said, he knew he couldn't.

"Yes, to everything you've just mentioned...it's just..."

"Go on," the Voice encouraged.

"Why did you wait so long to send Seth? I don't mean to complain, I really don't, but I can't help but think about how differently things might have been if he'd come sooner," Edward said cautiously, not wanting to offend. But really, could the Voice blame him for asking such a question? He shuddered as he really hoped not.

Once again warmth surrounded him, seeming to move from the inside out. The waves of light changed so that only shades of blue and purple encased him in a cocoon of calm and peace.

A gentle gust of wind floated by him and he heard the muted rumble of a sigh, or what he supposed was a sigh. He hoped it was a good sigh.

"You have no idea how hard it was to watch you suffer, my child. Being me is not without difficulty, I can assure you. As Seth has remarked to you on more than one occasion, humans are extremely flawed and their capacity to inflict harm on one another is truly astounding. Allowing Liam and Maggie to have their free will was not easy, but that is the way things work, Edward. Your pain was my pain, believe me. I don't enjoy watching suffering of any kind, but especially not when it was inflicted upon one as innocent as you were," the Voice explained.

"And my birth parents, what has happened to them?" Edward questioned after he took a moment to think about what the Voice had just told him.

Again, a gentle breeze drifted by, and this time he swore he could smell chocolate chip cookies. "They are working on their own redemption. Their journey has been much more difficult than yours because they must try to understand what went wrong. It has been painful, but of course the reward at the end will be more than worth it."

"I'll see them again?" he asked, half afraid and half longing for that to be so.

"When the time is right, most definitely. It will be much easier for you than for them, you understand. You were already well on your way to finding the forgiveness they have just begun to seek."

Edward took a moment to think about that as well. He supposed time up here...wherever he was...definitely had a different meaning than it did on Earth considering his parents had been dead for more than twenty years. However, he could not deny the small, and honestly not so small, surge of hope he felt at finally making peace with Liam and Maggie.

He narrowed his eyes and focused them in the direction of where the Voice had last come from, but he had a feeling that presence was everywhere all at once, though that seemed impossible. In any event he said, "I'm happy for them and for me, too, if I can forgive them fully and they can find peace, but you still haven't answered my question. Why did you wait so long to send Seth to help me?"

"Ah, Edward Anthony, you do have a way of getting to the heart of the matter, don't you?" the Voice rumbled. "Stop to think for a moment how much different your life might have been if Seth had intervened in some form or fashion, let's say before Liam and Maggie died, or perhaps once you'd gone to Chicago with Carlisle and Esme, or even after William died. What if there was no Isabella, Edward Anthony?"

The thought of no Isabella immediately filled him with an emptiness so all-encompassing, he literally felt like his entire being had just disintegrated into nothingness.

Warmth and infinite love and tenderness surrounded him and he was once again back in the present...or wherever he was.

"Watching you and Isabella love each other has given me so much pleasure. You have always had a tremendous capacity to love, Edward, you were just too afraid to show it. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Jasper, Sophie...even William in his own way, all love you, but not like she does, like only she can. She truly is your greatest gift, but never forget, my son, that you are hers as well. You ask why things happened the way they did. That is why. You had to wait for her. Your suffering wasn't easy to bear, but your reward was worth it, wouldn't you say?"

"She was worth everything," Edward breathed out and once again felt an almost intoxicating blend of love and happiness flow in, through, and around him.

"I'm so very happy to hear you say that, because you, Edward Anthony Cullen, have a decision to make," the Voice said in a tone that was a mixture of giddiness and relief.

Edward, as he was accustomed to doing, shrewdly looked toward the direction the Voice was coming from and replied, "What kind of decision? You know the last time something like this came up, I wound up with my very own personal pain in the ass popping in and out at the most inopportune times."

A loud crack of rumbling thunder filled the air and all around shook like he was standing in the middle of a powerful earthquake. "Oh, Edward, I do enjoy you so," came the warm, indulgent Voice.

Perplexed, Edward said again, "What kind of decision are we talking here?"

He heard the same sigh as before, but this time, if it was possible, it was tinged with even more relief than before.

"You were not supposed to die this soon."

Immediately Edward responded, "But I thought..."

"As I've told you, Edward Anthony, I do not interfere with free will. You saw Isabella in danger and without any thought of your own safety, you sacrificed yourself so that she would be saved. That was not what my plan has been for you."

Shrugging, Edward said, "Of course I saved her. I was going to die soon anyway."

"No, Edward...you were not," the Voice said and let out the loudest sigh yet.

"But Seth told me..." Edward sputtered.

A flash of red, yellow, and orange light pulsated around him, mimicking laughter and then the Voice said, a bit sheepishly Edward noted, "Would you believe he was in such a hurry to finally make his presence known to you that he misunderstood what he was supposed to do? My intention was for him to merely give you a wake-up call, so to speak, so that you would understand how imperative it was to fix your mistakes. He was never supposed to tell you that you would die soon. He was only supposed to scare you into wanting to change your life. Our Seth can be a bit...impetuous at times, especially where you are concerned, Edward."

Edward couldn't help but chuckle at the very true statement. "Well, I don't suppose that matters much now does it? Besides, I can't say I'm sorry things worked out the way they did. I have been happier the past few months than I could have ever imagined being."

"Well, my child, it does matter...very much in all matter-of-fact."

"What are you telling me?" Edward questioned, because he would certainly never presume to demand.

Another sigh and more light waves bounced before the Voice replied, "In scenarios such as this, when death comes at a not preferred time, I find myself offering the subject the opportunity to return."

"You mean I can go back if want to?" Edward questioned and then hesitated.

He never would have thought he would second-guess a chance to stay with Isabella, but second-guessing he was. He'd made his peace with death. He'd forgiven his parents - his true parents. He'd mended his relationships with Emmett and Rose, and became the uncle Jack and Emma needed and wanted. He'd re-established his friendship with Sophie, and deepened the bonds of friendship with Jasper, Alec, and Marcus. He and Charlie had gotten closer than he ever would have thought possible and fully appreciated the remarkable and loving women Renée and Nonna were.

And then there was his reason - his Isabella.

Of course he loved her beyond reason and his joy at being able to love her, and know she understood and believed how much he did, was so much so he couldn't find the words to describe it. The thought of being separated from her hurt his heart, but when he realized they would be together again someday, it hurt a bit less. He knew she would go on, would continue to live and grow into an even more amazing woman. She would always love him, he was sure of that, and though he would miss her terribly, he knew she would flourish.

Up here, wherever here was, was so peaceful, he never wanted to leave. He was happy and he knew he could watch from afar as Isabella ran CP and made it even more successful than it already was. He could watch Jack and Emma grow up, delighting when they caused Emmett to want to pull his hair out. He could watch Alec and Alessandra navigate the stages of their relationship, hopefully while she gave Alec a taste of his own medicine, until it culminated in the wedding that everyone knew was a foregone conclusion. He could watch Jasper and Alice as they became parents, because he knew how badly they both wanted that to happen. He could watch it all and wait for them to join him so they could be together again.

"I want...to stay with you," Edward said with a slight hesitation.

"While that delights me more than you can possibly fathom, you still have work to do, my son," the Voice told him.

"How can you say that?" Edward questioned, somewhat testily he would concede. "I've done everything you asked of me. What more can I possibly have to do?"

Again, there was a sigh, this time reminding him of Isabella when she was frustrated with him and he shook his head, wondering if it was possible to piss off the Voice. Somehow, if it were possible, he had no doubt he could do it. "Edward Anthony, I take it before you arrived, you noticed that strapping young man standing behind your lovely Isabella, yes?"

A flicker of recognition flashed in his brain and he nodded and asked, "Who is he?"

"Ah, that, my son, is the baby Isabella is carrying inside of her right now. She doesn't know she's pregnant yet and when she finds out, it will give her great comfort to have a lasting remembrance of you and the love you two shared the last few months of your life," the Voice answered.

At that, Edward clearly remembered the shock of unruly bronze hair, the strong jawline, the bottle-green eyes that were his and Esme's and smiled affectionately. "Good-looking kid, huh?" he said proudly.

An indulgent laugh filled the air and Edward heard, "Most definitely."

Edward thought some more about the boy he'd seen and the way Seth stood protectively around him. As he remembered that, he also remembered the discussion he'd had with the angel...however long ago it had been. He knew, without question, that Isabella and his son would both be surrounded by so much love and support, they would be just fine without him.

"You know, Edward Anthony, that Seth and the others will always take care of her and him, as well as everyone else you left behind. Her pregnancy will be an easy one and you needn't worry about her health or anything like that. It isn't essential that you return," the Voice informed him.

"Well, if that is the case, then I want to stay here...with you," and again he wavered a bit.

"I said it wasn't essential for you to return, Edward, I didn't say it wasn't preferable for you to go back. As much as I love you and will enjoy having you with me, I will enjoy watching you live your life with your son and your wife even more. Who knows, there might even be a daughter or two in your future as well." A delighted laugh filled the air as the Voice continued, "I must say, I very much look forward to watching you navigate the role of fatherhood as well as that of husband to a rather head-strong and feisty Italian."

"That is playing dirty," Edward said as his lips twitched before he smiled.

"Never said I didn't. Though it isn't imperative that you be with them, with you, their lives will be ever so much better. Isabella is a strong woman, but with you by her side, there is nothing she can't do. Your son, well, I won't spoil everything, but he will be a remarkable man and you deserve to enjoy that to the fullest. The rest of your family needs you as well, Edward Anthony. But, like I've said, and I mean this, it is your choice," the Voice said lovingly, seriously.

"I'll be back?" Edward couldn't help but ask.

"As if I could do without you now? Of course we will be together again, Edward Anthony. I love you."

This time it was Edward's turn to sigh, though his wasn't as impressive as the Voice's...or Isabella's. "I love you, too, very much. I'll miss you, but you'll always be with me, right?" Edward asked to make sure.

"Always, Edward Anthony."

"A dad, huh? I can't wait to meet him," Edward said softly and with that, he was hurtling back through time and space again.

"You'd better not change his name," the smug angel said with a gleam in his eye.

Edward was once again wrapped in a divine hug and all of a sudden, he couldn't wait to get back.

"Don't worry, Eddie, your recovery will be quick. And um..." the angel uncharacteristically tripped over his words. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you."

Edward laughed heartily, too excited to see his wife to even try to hide what he was feeling. "Don't worry, big guy, things turned out all right in the end. Although, you do realize I'm never letting you live this down, right? I can't believe you, of all...things made a mistake, and right from the get-go, too. Priceless," Edward chuckled.

"Whatever," the angel grinned. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that, too. Not sorry about the outcome just so you know, but things were kind of touch and go there for awhile."

"So I guess I'm stuck with you, huh?" Edward teased.

Seth's white wings flapped as he dipped and twisted in the air. "You know it, Eddie. You and I have lots of work to do, my friend, and I can't wait."

He arrived back at the hospital and floated above his loved ones for a moment, hearing the doctor say, "I can't believe we lost him."

He grinned wickedly at the angel before he felt himself twist and then return back to his body.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

The room was silent...then it wasn't anymore as the machines started beeping wildly again.

"A heartbeat!" the doctor shouted and Isabella felt her body surge with relief.

Unlike when Edward 'left' the room, now it only contained the doctors, nurses, and Isabella, who stood in the corner. She knew she shouldn't be in there, but she couldn't leave him and when the pandemonium started, no one paid any attention to her anyway.

Once Edward's strong, steady heartbeat filled the air, she began to breathe again.

"Mrs. Cullen," the doctor addressed her when he looked up and noticed her in the corner. "We got him back," he said wiping off his forehead. "His heartbeat is strong now and the rest of his vitals look good, too. We'll continue running tests, but he is stable. Now we just need for him to wake up."

Breathing deeply in and out, all she could do was nod her head. On rubbery legs, she slowly walked forward, terrified that the sound indicating his heart was beating would stop again and she was sure if it did, hers would stop right along with it.

The past however many minutes it had been since Edward had been laying in the middle of the street bleeding and broken had been excruciating, but the last five minutes, when Edward's heart stopped, had been the most harrowing minutes of her entire life. She died a bit more inside as each second crept by when she didn't know whether he would live or die.

"You're sure he's going to be okay?" she whispered and reached out to touch him. Her voice shook, as did her hand, but she couldn't not touch him.

"Well, with the head trauma we will need to wait until he wakes up to make a full assessment for any permanent damage, but because the swelling is surprisingly minimal, I feel very confident in saying he should be just fine. You, however need to be looked at. Why don't we get you checked out while we move your husband to a room and by the time you're done, you can join him," he not so much asked, as told.

The thought of being separated from him tore her in two, but her ankle was throbbing and she knew the doctor wouldn't tell her Edward was going to be okay if he wasn't. She nodded her head and took a moment to brush her lips across Edward's, so very thankful to feel that they were warm and whispered, "I love you, Edward," before the orderlies came in to take him away.

She resisted the urge to run after him as the doctor led her from the room to take her to get examined. Of course she had to stop and let everyone know he was going to be okay and after being hugged and kissed over and over again, she accompanied the doctor, along with her father, to the exam room.

She held it together all through the poking and the prodding. She even held it together during the exam and the questions. She, however, did not hold it together when the doctor came back and gave her the news that shocked her to her core. Tears sprung from her eyes and she made the poor man repeat what he had said two times...then a third before she allowed the smile she'd been fighting to spread across her face.

Unconsciously she placed her open hand on her stomach and held it there, a prayer of thanks spilling from her lips before the doctor had even shut the door on his way out so she could get dressed. Her words were reverent, heartfelt, and filled with so much gratitude, both for the life inside of her and for the life down the hall. She couldn't imagine living without either one, nor could she imagine loving either one more. Oh, yes, she was already madly, passionately in love with something the size of a lima bean, so much so she wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

"Bella," Charlie said when he poked his head inside the door, because he'd been banished to waiting outside while the doctor was in the room.

She turned around, running a hand through her hair, and faced her father. He stepped into the room and cocked his head to the side as he tried to figure out if she was okay. She looked fine, better than fine actually, but he'd seen people react to traumas in all different ways over the years so he approached her slowly.

"Your mother got you some clean clothes," he told her as he handed her the pile. "I'm sure you have no intention of leaving until Edward does, or at the very least until he tries to make you."

She snorted and didn't disagree with him one bit. He definitely knew her and knew there was no way in hell she was leaving without Edward. Being away from him for the little bit of time she'd just been was bad enough, even if she'd gotten the second best news of her life just moments ago.

"Are you okay, Bambola? I know you probably haven't had time to let everything sink in yet," he said softly as he stepped even closer to her. "I'll never be able to thank Edward enough for saving you." His voice broke and he immediately wrapped her up in a fierce hug, squeezing her almost to the point of pain.

For as long as he lived, he would never, ever forget the frantic phone call he'd received from her when the paramedics had gotten her and Edward into the ambulance to rush them to the hospital. Isabella had been practically incoherent as she tried to tell him what happened. Only about every third word made any sense, but it was enough to cause him to break out into a cold sweat and feel like his stomach had fallen out of his ass.

Taking a deep breath to fight the urge to stay in her father's arms, she pushed back any thought of breaking down. She would, she was sure, but not until she got back to Edward and saw, again, that he was still here. She squeezed him once more before she took a step back.

Focusing only on getting back to him she said, "I'm going to change and then we can head back."

Charlie nodded without saying anything further, and because he couldn't help himself, kissed her once more on the top of her head and left the room. Once in the hallway he leaned his head back against the wall and tightly squeezed his eyes closed, though that did little to stop the tears from leaking out the corners.

"Thank you, God, for bringing him back to us," he whispered on a stuttering breath.

There was no doubt that losing Edward would have devastated their family and none of them would have ever fully recovered. He couldn't allow his mind to even try to think about what would have happened if anything had happened to Bella. It was a thought too bleak and terrible to even comprehend.

Somehow, someway, the Universe had decided it wasn't time for either Bella or Edward to leave and for that, Charlie would say a prayer of thanks every day.

He turned when he heard the click of the door and smiled gently when his daughter stepped out into the hallway. He had no idea how she was still standing, but he really shouldn't have been too surprised. She was the strongest person he knew. There was no doubt the chaos and the shock of the day would catch up with her at some point, it would be impossible for it not to, but he knew for a cold, hard fact that the only thing that would soothe her soul was Edward.

No father ever wanted to be replaced in the eyes of his daughter, but in Charlie's case, he didn't mind so much. A part of him would always mourn the fact that there was another man she needed more than him, but that part had shrunk to a mere blip from where it used to be. The fact that Edward had very nearly lost his own life to save hers pretty much made it nonexistent.

"I need to get back to Edward," she told him when she looked at him.

"I know. Let's go."

A few hours later, Isabella sat at Edward's bedside. She refused to move, not that anyone tried very hard to make her in the first place. The other members of the family took turns checking on her and him, staying only for the few minutes they were allowed. Edward had been moved to the ICU because of the head injury even though his heartbeat and vitals had only grown stronger since he'd been moved.

He looked so pale as she ran her fingers across his face and through his hair and it really took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to throw herself on top of him and hold him close. She'd come so close to losing him and the sickening sound of his body slamming against the street filled her ears until it was an almost deafening roar. The only thing that kept her from completely losing it was the life growing inside of her.

She couldn't wait to tell him, but she didn't dare say it out loud yet. He was unconscious, not in a coma, and all they were doing now was waiting for him to wake up. He had numerous scrapes and bruises all over his body. Where the car hit his hip, miraculously, there were no broken bones, nor anywhere else on his body. It was beyond belief that he'd survived in the first place, but to have such minimal damage from such a horrific accident defied all medical logic. She heard the whispers of course, of the doctors and nurses that said there was no medical reason for his heart to have stopped. They kept up a steady stream of coming and going, but she barely paid attention. She knew full well that divine intervention was the reason he was still alive and nothing anyone else thought or said would be able to convince her otherwise.

"Bella, honey, Emmett is going down to the cafeteria to get some drinks. Do you want him to bring you back anything?" Alec asked when he slipped inside the room.

He watched as she silently shook her head, not even turning around to look at him. She held Edward's hand, their fingers linked together. With the other hand, she kept up a continuous loop as she ran her fingers through his hair, over his face, down his arm, and then over the blanket that covered him so she could meticulously straighten it out, then back up, only to begin the circuit over again. She'd been doing the same thing for hours now, though no one attempted to stop her.

The sight of her keeping a silent vigil by Edward's bedside broke Alec's heart and he had to take many deep breaths and repeat over and over that they were both still here before he could step farther into the room. The hysterical phone call he'd received earlier from Emmett would forever be seared into his memory and he'd never been more afraid in his life. He wasn't a religious man, not at all, but the second he disconnected the phone call, he prayed, begging for their lives. Edward and Bella were his family, his very best friends, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing either of them. Because of them, he had the others, had his other half now in Alessandra, so he felt no qualms in begging the higher power that Bella believed so strongly in to keep them both safe.

He continued moving forward until he stood beside her. He laid his hand on her shoulder and couldn't help but chuckle just a tiny bit when she leaned her head down and briefly rubbed her cheek against it. There was no way she was letting go of Edward's hand or stopping the movement of hers along his body to do anything else.

Bending down, he kissed the top of her head and left his lips pressed against it for a few moments while he squeezed his eyes closed and tried to keep his emotions under control.

Squatting down beside her, he rubbed her arm and waited for her to look at him. "You sure you don't want anything? Coke? Orange juice? Even a bottle of water?" he gently asked again.

"No, Alec, I'm fine. I wouldn't be able to keep anything down anyway, at least not until he opens his eyes and I know he's going to be okay," she told him.

He knew she'd say that, but he had to ask just the same. After a few moments, when he knees began painfully protesting their position, she very quietly asked, "Is everyone still here?"

Reaching behind him, he pulled the other chair forward until it was beside her. The sound of the chair scraping along the floor was almost painfully loud, especially considering it had been so quiet and he cringed and then looked at her. She hadn't moved, not even a flinch, but continued to watch Edward for just the slightest movement or indication he was awake.

Once he'd sat down, he reached over and laid his hand once more on her arm, just because he needed to. He wanted to remind her that she wasn't alone, that there was a waiting room full of people that loved her and Edward both and would do whatever they could to help. Intuitively he knew she understood that, but he still needed to reassure her the only way he knew how.

"Yes," he answered her question from before. "Camille and Alessandra went to Em's house to sit with the kids, though."

He was shocked when she snorted and then turned to look at him. "I can't believe you let her out of your sight, Alec. You two have been inseparable since Thanksgiving," she teased with just the ghost of a smile.

He would take it.

Rolling his eyes at her he said, "I do let her out of my sight every now and then, Bella."

She snickered but didn't look at him. "No more teasing me and Edward. You know that, right?"

"Fair enough," he replied with a small laugh then sobered. "Alessandra just thought that because she had gotten along so well with the kids at Thanksgiving, she could help Camille with them. Besides, she didn't want Camille to be by herself."

"I'm glad Jack and Emma will have someone familiar with them. They'll both be so upset. They need someone around that knows them to make them feel safe," Isabella said quietly and lifted Edward's hand to kiss the back of it.

"Did you hear that, sweetheart? You need to hurry and wake up. Poor Jack, and especially Emma, will be so worried about you," she whispered and picked their hands up so she could brush another kiss across the back of his hand.

That was all it took for the tears that Alec had been desperately trying to keep from falling, to flow freely down his face. How Bella managed to be so strong he couldn't even begin to fathom, but she was, without question, the strongest person he'd ever known in his life...by far. No one else came close.

"Bella...I...are you..." Alec stammered as he tried to come up with something, anything, to say to what he just heard.

"Alec, it's okay. He's going to be fine. I know he is. I just want him to wake up...I miss him, even though it's only been..." She struggled to think how long it had been since they'd gotten to the hospital. "I don't even know how long it has been," she said with a huff of frustration, hating that she had no sense of time. She supposed that was to be expected because all she'd cared about since the moment they arrived was Edward. "I just miss him," she whispered again, breaking Alec's heart a bit more.

"Of course he's going to be okay, honey. He's too damn stubborn to stay asleep for long; everyone knows this," he tried to tease, but he knew it didn't come across that way...and that was okay. Standing, he kissed her once more and said, "I love you, Bella. Love Edward, too. I'll leave you alone now. Keep talking to him, honey, he can hear you. I'm sure of it. He misses you, too. We're all outside if you need us, okay?" he asked rhetorically knowing she knew that, but he also knew that unless things took a drastic turn for the worst, which he couldn't even contemplate THAT happening, she would sit by his side until he woke up.

As soon as she heard the door close behind Alec, she scooted closer and laid her head down on the side of Edward's bed. She was so tired and so stiff and sore and she knew it would take days, at least, to recover from the physical injuries. The emotional ones, well as soon as he woke up, she was sure that though they might linger for a bit, nothing else would matter except the fact that he was okay. She continued to hold his hand in hers, intermittently brushing kisses along the scrapes on the back of his hand.

"I miss you, Edward," she said softly, this time directly to him instead of about him. "I know you'll tell me differently, but I know you getting hurt was all my fault." She began to cry softly, sniffling and wiping her eyes on the blanket because she still wouldn't let go of his hand. "I shouldn't have made you wait for me to look at all the windows. If I would have kept up with you, we would have been across the street already when that damn car came barreling around the corner," she bit out angrily and then felt bad about getting mad at someone that clearly didn't mean to hit Edward on purpose.

She continued to talk about nonsense things: what they still needed to get done for Christmas, the fact that he still hadn't taken her to pick out their tree, what kind of cookies he wanted her to bake and then more serious things, but she still didn't tell him about the baby. She wasn't saying those words out loud until he was awake and she could look in his eyes and tell him he was going to be a father. Nurses came and went. The doctor came in and looked at the chart for a few moments. She watched, anxiously looking for any sign of distress from him, but all she got was an encouraging smile and a pat on the shoulder assuring her things still looked good and it was just a matter of time.

She huffed again and shifted in her seat. Normally she was a very patient person, but right then she felt like she was crawling out of her skin, and before long she'd start pulling on her hair like Edward did, if he didn't hurry and wake up. Didn't he know she was out of her mind with worry and the only thing she needed was to see his eyes and hear his voice?

There was a muted light peeking in through the flimsy curtains that covered the windows and Isabella was vaguely aware that it was now obviously very early morning. She leaned back in her very uncomfortable chair and stretched her legs out in front of her. Getting up and walking around would be the smart thing to do, but besides a few very brief trips to use the bathroom, she hadn't left his side or let go of his hand. She knew it was probably foolish on her part as every nurse that walked in commented how good everything looked considering what he'd been through, but they were just words as far as she was concerned. Feeling his hand in hers was the connection she needed to remind her that he was there with her, just sleeping.

Though, it went without saying that she wished he'd wake the hell up already!

Thinking that she would just put her head down for a second, she bent forward and rested her forehead on the edge of the bed again. She began to hum softly, a tune which she couldn't remember the name of, and reached up so that she could run her fingers through Edward's hair the way she knew he liked. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sound of the machine that beeped a constant rhythm. Outside the door of the room she could hear the bustle of people that moved around, some in a hurry and some not. A mechanical voice over the loudspeaker, calling a doctor to a different part of the hospital. The sound of the nurses entering the rooms beside Edward's with breakfast. She knew her entire family was just outside the door and the thought gave her comfort but she had no desire to see them. Knowing they were there was enough.

All she needed was for Edward to wake up.

"I think you've been asleep long enough, sweetheart," she told him. "It's time for you to wake up now." Standing up she bent over him and brushed her lips across his. She waited, hoping that would spur him to wake up and then flopped down in the chair with a huff when it didn't.

She laid her head down again and closed her eyes. "Edward, come back to me," she whispered.

A short time later, though it could have only been seconds or minutes she felt a hand in her hair and she picked her head up. "Hello, love. It's so nice to see you," he said in a scratchy whisper and cupped her cheek in his hand.

Tears began to fall down her face as she remembered him saying those words all those months ago outside on the deck. Hearing them now was the sweetest sound she'd ever heard and without thinking she flung herself at him and laid her head on his chest.

"Edward, oh God! You're awake!" she said between deep breaths and then shook her head at herself. Of course he was awake! "I love you! I love you!" she cried as she lifted her head and began pressing soft, warm kisses all over his face.

She heard him cough and then immediately she felt bad, thinking she'd hurt him. "Shit," the word slipped out without her even realizing what she'd said. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" she asked him frantically and her hands were everywhere at once trying to make sure she hadn't.

"Isabella, stop," he rasped. "I'm fine...well, I think I am?" he asked her with a confused look on his face.

Lifting herself off his chest, she reached for the call button and told the nurse who answered that Edward was awake, though she never took her eyes off him. He was so pale, but he was awake and she could feel the tightness in her chest ease just a bit. It eased even more when he smiled at her, not quite her smile, but it was pretty damn close all things considering.

"Why do I feel like I've been run over by a car?" he asked and she couldn't help the snort that escaped.

"Um, maybe because you have. Do you remember anything?" she asked as she stepped closer to the bed.

Not being able to help herself, she bent over and kissed him again.

She watched as he squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them slowly. "Bits and pieces, I think. I remember we'd gone shopping and then needed to cross the road. You weren't beside me, so I turned around and then...you fell?" He phrased it like a question. Silently she nodded her head and he went on. "I tried to get to you and I remember thinking I wouldn't get there in time and I...pushed...you out of the way," he finished on a ragged breath. "After that...it's kind of blurry and jumbled, lots of voices...and colors?" he questioned and then shook his head thinking that didn't make any sense at all.

Just when he was about to say something else, the room was full of people as nurses and the doctor rushed in. She stepped out just long enough to let everyone know he was awake, taking time to hug and kiss them all. After promising them they could see him as soon as the doctor said it was okay, she hurried back into the room just in time to hear the doctor tell him that his preliminary assessment was that no permanent damage had been suffered though they would need to run a few tests to be sure. He told Edward how lucky he was to be alive and hearing those words again started the tears once more.

Edward must have heard her crying because he immediately held his hand out to her and pulled her close to his side once he had her hand in his.

"Shh, Beautiful, I'm here. I'm okay," he told her as she continued to cry beside him.

Once the doctor finished with him and the nurses informed them that he'd be moved to a private room as soon as possible, they were alone again.

"I was so scared, Edward," she told him when he pulled her beside him on the bed.

She could tell he wanted her to lay down beside him, but she knew he was too battered and bruised for that.

He winced when he lifted his arm but he ran his hand down the side of her cheek. "I was, too, love. I was scared I wouldn't get to you in time."

For long moments they just looked at each other, each needing to reaffirm that the other was really there. She watched his face intently as it morphed from emotion to emotion and then when she saw his eyes get glassy she wrapped her arms around him gently.

"I love you so fucking much," he choked out as he squeezed her as hard as he could. His voice shook with an emotion she couldn't name so she squeezed him tighter.

Once his breathing was back under control she sat back but still didn't let go of his hand. For a brief second, she wondered how it would feel to NOT hold his hand constantly and decided she didn't really want to think about that.

They whispered back and forth for a few minutes while she told him over and over again that she was okay. A little sore and a lot tired, but other than that, she was fine.

"You're sure?" he asked for the tenth time in less than a minute. "The doctor checked you out and everything?"

"Yes, sweetheart," she said and then gave him a knowing smile. "He did tell me some news though; something that was quite a surprise," she trailed off and watched his eyes narrow at her.

"What, Isabella? What did he tell you? You just got done telling me you were fine! What's going on?" he demanded getting more agitated by the second.

She leaned forward and pressed her fingers to his lips so that he would stop talking long enough for her to get anything out. She kissed him over her fingers and then moved her lips to beside his ear. "I'm pregnant."

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~