She looked up at me again, the tears flowing freely once more, “I- I just, c-can’t l-o-se he-r,” she started sobbing then, I jumped up and ran to her side, pulling her into my arms, I briefly wondered if this was to forward. A complete stranger holding her while she cried, but she didn’t protest, in fact, she clung to me with tenacious fingers and pulled me closer. I held her head to my chest while she sobbed, and I didn’t even think about the salty tears soaking into my shirt, I just held her closer. And even though she was in pain, and seeing her that way caused me a pain so intense that it burned, burned worse than my transformation- one of the few memories I have of being human- holding her like that felt so right, so wonderful. And in that instant I felt a hole being filled that I hadn’t even known was there. It was just so fulfilling holding her, even if she was crying, even if her pain made my heart break. I felt whole. I held her until she cried herself to sleep, and even then I didn’t let go of her.

                       Eventually, of course, I did have to leave. So I left her a note explaining my absence, and my cell number. I told her to call when she woke up.

                       I drove home rather slow, slow for me anyway (about 85 mph). I wanted to think about things before I went home to face my family, mostly Alice, and Emmett was probably going to give me hell about the whole thing, too. I thought about the affect this was going to have on my family, on me, on Bella. Would they welcome her with open arms? Help as was I was going to try to do? Would they care about her? Her girls? I had no idea. I was just going to hope.. Too many questions no answers. At least, not now.

                       I pulled into the garage and walked into the house at a slow, human pace. The whole family was waiting for me in the music room, which was sort of a living room. Alice was bouncing up and down excitedly blocking her thoughts, Emmett was grinning ear to ear as he thought about the ribbing he was going to give me, Carlisle and Esme were smiling warmly at me also blocking their thoughts, Rosalie looked like she had better places to be, and Jasper was trying to deal with all the conflicting emotions. “Honestly, why are you guys smiling, there is a little girl out there dieing of cancer, a woman who has to raise 2 children by herself, while dealing with the fact that she could lose her baby girl. I honestly don’t see what is so wonderful about that.” I said cuttingly. “But, Edward, Don’t you see? We’re happy for you!”