[Edward] After [2] Dawn [Cullen]

Part 2- Edward's Sorrow and Dr. Carlisle

I walked to the stream where I met Edward, happy from a call I'd received from my parents telling me that they would get home soon. It had snowed like Edward said, except about a month later.

We'd become best friends over time, and I was glad to have him in my life. He'd become my big brother in so many ways, and I was actually happy to had moved for once. If I hadn't, I would have never met him.

My happiness was brought short by quiet sobs coming from the stream. I walked out of the trees and saw a shaking figure sitting hunched by the stream.

"Edward?" I asked quietly, coming to a stop behind him.

He gasped and rubbed his arm across his face a couple times. It was quiet. I sat next to me and placed my hand on his back in hesitance.

"Edward, what happened?" I whispered. His eyes were red, which probably meant that he had been crying a lot.

"He-he died, Ana," he said, shutting his eyes tightly.

"And now my mother is sick," he said, and his face scrunched up in anguish. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Oh, Edward," I said in sympathy, throwing my arms around him. He wrapped his arms around me and cried in my shoulder, sobbing in sorrow.

I rubbed his back in comfort, knowing that I had to be a good friend in his time of need. I murmurred hushed assurances that it would get better and that the pain would eventually go away as he continued to cry into my chest.

I wanted to cry too, I didn't like seeing him like this. I wanted to take his pain away and have it myself instead, but I knew that I couldn't, and breaking down with him wouldn't help.

After a long while, he pulled away and gave me a forced smile. I smiled back in pity.

What he did next suprised me, he took my hand in his and gently squeezed it. I knew it was only a friend thanking another, but why did butterflies suddenly form in my stomach?

"Thank you, Anabelle," he said. I nodded, at a loss for words.

There was quiet then, he seemed deep in thought. I began to get really cold and looked down at my light jacket. It was completely soaked by his tears. I shivered, and since he was holding my hand, he noticed.

He looked at me apologetically and began to slip off his coat. I started to retort.

"No, don't. I'm sorry about that, it's my fault. Here," he said, placing it over my shoulders. I snuggled into warmth and it seemed to welcome me with open arms as it engulfed me.

"Hey, Anabelle," Edward began. I grinned.

"Hey, Edward, how are you?" I responded. He rolled his eyes and took my hand again. I pursed my lips.

"Would you like to meet my mother?"

"Wh-what?" I asked, shocked. I hadn't seen that coming.

"Would you like to meet my mother?" he repeated.

"I-I don't know. Do you think that's a good-Do you think she'll like me?" I finished lamely. He grinned.

"I know she'll love you," he said, standing. He never let go of my hand.

"Uhm, okay, then," I agreed. He grinned wider and helped me stand.

As we made our way over to the town he lived in I grew more and more nervous. What if she didn't like me? What if she hated me and never let Edward see me again?

"Anabelle, my mother is currently in the hospital, so you're going to have to meet her there. Is that okay?" Edwards velvet voice asked.

"Uh, yeah," I mumbled.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm just nervous," I told him truthfully. He chuckled.

"Don't worry. My mother doesn't dislike anybody. You are hardly a person I'd think she'd start with if she changed her mind," he assured me. I sighed in some relief, but I still held doubt.

When we got to the hospital, I began to freak out. I was beyond nervous at this point. Edward and I were greeted by a model at his mother's room's door.

"Dr. Carlisle, what are you doing here?" Edward asked him. I gaped openly. He was a doctor? Pshhh, I might actually follow through with my mother's dream of me marrying a doctor if I stopped loving Edward.

...

Wait, what?

"Hello, Edward. I was just checking on your mother," he said, then turning his attention to me. He looked amused. "Who's this?"

"Oh, this is...Anabelle, please close your mouth," he told me. I snapped my mouth shut. I think I'd been drooling.

"Er, sorry," I apologized and extended my hand towards the attractive doctor.

The doctor shook my hand, and I gasped and immediately pulled my hand. The doctor froze.

"Ana, what's wrong?" Edward asked me, his eyes widening.

"His hand is so coold!" I whined. Edward laughed and I pouted. I noticed that the doctor relaxed his tense position and laughed with him with an edge of hysteria. What was up with him? It was like he was hiding something.

"Well, don't be in there too long. Your mother needs rest to recover," he said sternly.
Edward nodded solemnly and took my hand again. The doctor noticed this and lookedinsultingly surprised.

"Come on, Ana," he said, not noticing my red face. The doctor blinked and walked off.

"Mom?" Edward asked softly as he walked in.

"Edward!" a lovely soprano voice exclaimed. I timidly walked in behind Edward. Stupid boy didn't let go of my hand.

"Hey, Mom," he said, walking up to her bed. His mother looked surprised as she quickly took in the sight of me in his coat and our hands entwined. She smiled slyly, pleased.

"Oh? Who's this?" she asked.

"Mom, this is Anabelle, the one I was telling you about."

She gasped. "Oh! So you're the one that's been taking care of my Edward. Hello, dear. You can call me Elizabeth."

"Hello," I mumbled. Edward gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Oh, please don't be shy. Come, sit with me, talk with me," she said in excitement and patted a chair next to her.

"I told you she'd like you," Edward whispered in my ear. It took all my self control to not shiver from his warm breath on my ear.

There was no way this energetic lady was sick, but right as that thought crossed my mind, she started coughing uncontrollably, each cough shaking her body. Edward let go of my hand and rushed to her side.

"Mom?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. My throat just hurts a little. It's probably the cold," she said, waving him off. He sighed and sat next to her. I sat in the chair next to him.

"Where were you before you came here, Anabelle? I hear you and Edward go to the stream a lot," she commented.

"I was-" I stopped. I didn't want to bring up how Edward was crying.

"I told her about Dad," Edward explained.

"Oh," she said, frowning.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," I mumbled.

"Thank you, Anabelle."

After that, we talked for hours. Elizabeth Masen was an amazing woman. And I knew now where Edward had gotten his looks from. She had the same bronze shade to her hair that Edward had, and the same electric green eyes. She was so nice, and she obviously cared for Edward more than she did for herself. No wonder Edward was so selfless.

There was a knock at the door. It was Carlisle carrying a tray of food.

"Hello, everyone. Elizabeth, I brought you your food," he told her, placing the tray on a table next to her bed.

"Thank you, Carlisle." It surprised me that they were on such good terms. It was a
little strange for a doctor to get so attached to a patient. My parents had taught me that.

Carlisle began to talk with Elizabeth, and I immediately took my chance to talk to Edward.

"Edward, I think the doctor is hiding something," I whispered in his ear. He frowned. And I didn't realize at the time that so did Carlisle.

"What would he be hiding?" he whispered back. I knew he didn't like gossipping. But I also knew that he knew that I knew when something was up. My intuition was awesome like that.

"I don't know, but it makes me edgy. Something's off about him," I tried to explain. Edward's frown deepened.

"Is he bad?" he asked. I thought for a moment.

"No...Not bad. I just feel like he's not supposed to be here. I think he's dangerous but he doesn't want to be. It's this weird vibe I get from him," I explained again. Edward rolled his eyes.

"He's a doctor, Anabelle. Not the boogeyman," Edward said, rolling his eyes. In my peripheral, I swore I saw Carlisle smile. My eyes narrowed.

"Okay," I dropped it.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Elizabeth said. I turned to face them and see that they were both staring at us.

"Er, I was just telling Edward about my parents," I lied quickly.

"Your parents?" Elizabeth asked suspiciously.

"Yeah. They're doctors too," I explained. The suspicion vanished instantly as she smiled.

"Oh."

"Well, I think you two should get going soon. The hospital doesn't allow visitors so late at night," Carlisle said in an apologetic tone.

Edward nodded and stood, leaving the room with Carlisle, leaving me behind. I rolled my eyes and stood to leave as well, but a hand grabbed my wrist. I turned in shock at Elizabeth.

"Anabelle, please promise me that you'll take care of Edward," Elizabeth whispered. I choked for words, but only one seemed appropriate.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Please," she said, her face scrunched up in anguish. "Please promise to take care of Edward if anything happens to me." I stared at her for a moment, lost in thought. I could probably keep that promise.

"I promise," I told her. She smiled and let my wrist go.

"Anabelle? Let's go," Edward's head poked in through the door. I nodded at him.

"Bye, Mom. I'll see you tomorrow," Edward said, kissing the top of her head. She beamed.

"Bye, dear."

"Good bye, Elizabeth. I'll see you some other time," I told her. She nodded at me.

"Count on it."

And Edward and I left. Edward was oblivious to what I had just figured out.

Elizabeth Masen was dying.