Not a long wait, our journey is coming to an end.

Meet me at the bottom.

P.S. grab some tissues, put on a sad song, and read this.I woke up in darkness, a sick taste in my mouth.

I was in a bed I had been in before.

I knew it too well.

My and Jake's bed.

Well, now just Jake's bed.

I swallowed the taste from my mouth and tried to sit up.

The room started spinning and I immediately lied back down.

There wasn't a shot I could sit up right now, I felt too weak.

I saw Jake walk through the door and smile at me.

Why are you smiling, douche? I'm bed-ridden.

"Hey," he whispered as he sat on the edge of the bed, putting a hand on my face.

"What happened?" I croaked.

"You just missed the doctor."

Jake—"

"And I've made a sandwich for you when you're hungry, PB&J, just the way you like it."

"Jacob—"

"I've also got some hot tea on, you should sip on it."

"Jacob Black!" It wasn't a scream, more a loud whisper.

There was a silence between us; he knew what he was doing.

He was stalling.

"Just…..tell…me…" I had trouble breathing.

"The cancer is spreading," he whispered as he looked away.

"Tell me something I don't know."

"It's starting to shut down your body."

I swallowed the permanent lump in my throat, but it wouldn't go away.

"Okay," I rasped as he turned back to me, tears in his eyes.

"Don't cry," I spoke calmly. He continued to stare and then blinked his eyes and the water was gone.

"Um," he sniffed. "Let me go get that tea for you. And PB&J. I'll get you the remote so you can watch some TV, do you want me to prop your head up on some pillows—"

"Stop babying her," a voice spoke from the doorway, Jake was in the way so I couldn't see who it was, but then Jake turned to speak to the voice.

Edward.

Edward Cullen.

Edward Anthony Masen Cullen.

My fucking husband.

A breath went into my lungs, I felt the chilly air, like ice, race down my windpipe and expand my whole body.

Freezing it.

I continued to stare as Jake defended himself, but Edward wasn't paying attention to him, he was looking at me.

With concerned eyes.

I tried to search for pity, but I only saw one thing: relief.

He came over, patting Jake on the back and then sat on the edge of the bed.

"How did you…?"

"Jake called, I programmed my number into your phone when you were sleeping, after he called the doctor, he called me, explained I might want to come over and say my goodbyes."

"We already said our goodbyes," I replied.

But still, the thought of another goodbye with Edward made my heart break a little.

Or maybe the cancer was breaking my heart.

Probably a little of both.

"The thing is," he paused. "I'll never be ready to say goodbye to you."

I gave a lazy smile. It was all I could give.

"Tell me, what did the doctor say?" I knew he wouldn't spare me the details. He'd be honest and good and fair and tell me.

"It's bad. It's really bad. And you're probably going to die."

"Okay."

"And it'll probably be soon."

"How soon?"

"Whenever your body is ready to go."

"I'm never ready to go."

"But your body will be."

Jake came back in with my sandwich, tea, and picked up the remote off the dresser. Edward propped my up on pillows, my breath ragged as the simple task was completed. Edward climbed on the other side of me, taking the remote and turning on the TV, flipping through the channels.

"Bella, I promised I'd go help a friend move, do you mind if I go?" Jake asked.

"Not at all, I don't want to be a burden," I said with sad eyes.

Even though I knew I was.

"You're never a burden, but Edward?"

"Yeah man?"

"If I come back and she's not alive, I'm kicking your ass."

And even though it might have been insensitive, I started laughing.

Edward laughed.

Jake chuckled.

"Yeah, you can kick my ass if she stops breathing."

Jake smiled one last time, winked, and then grabbed his coat and left.

"I can see why you were with him," Edward spoke after a few minutes of silence.

"He's a nice guy," I agreed.

"But you don't love him," Edward noticed.

"I love him…like I love…writing. I'd be lost without it, but I wouldn't die. I'd be fine and I could get through without it."

"But you don't want to be without him?"

"No, I don't."

"He's a nice guy…but he isn't what you need."

"I'm not really sure what I need at the moment," I shrugged as we continued to watch whatever was on the screen. Even though, we weren't really watching, just staring at the bright lights as we had this conversation.

"I know what you need," Edward replied solemnly.

"I'm glad you're here then."

And even if we both didn't admit it, that conversation had said a lot more than what was on the surface.

We had spoken about love, life, and that he'd miss me. And I felt the same.

"I don't want to die," I said as I finished the sandwich and then scooted back into laying. Edward turned off the TV, the darkness returning to the room and laid next me, facing me.

Inches apart.

But it felt like we were one, as cheesy as it was.

"I don't want you to die, either."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"No…"

"I know…we don't usually get all mushy…but I will always be with you."

"I know." He closed his eyes.

"My writing will be with you." I closed mine.

"I know."

"Edward?" I said after a few minutes, opening my eyes.

"Hm?" His eyes were still closed.

"Will you write a song about you and me?"

He opened his eyes.

"Absolutely." His eyes held more honesty than I had ever seen; more honesty that I had been told in a lifetime.

"Will you have sex with me?"

"Do you ask that to all the men you meet on trains?"

"Just the copper-haired, guitar playing, momma's boy, ones."

"Oh, so all the men you meet?"

"Basically," I smiled as he kissed me.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah," I breathed. Edward got up, placing his body above me, his hand playing with the ends of my hair as he peered at my face.

His hands went down to the hem of my shirt, sliding it up as he placed kisses on the cold skin of my stomach.

"Did you ever want kids?" He asked as his tongue licked inside of my bellybutton.

"I…I don't know. Maybe. You?"

"Yes, I needed to prove that my parenting skills are better than my parents' were."

"I never thought about it like that. I was the opposite; not wanting to screw them up so bad that I'd lose them like mine lost me."

"What do you want me to tell your parents?"

"At the funeral?"

Edward nodded.

"That I…I'm in a better place? I don't really know. Tell them, I'm sorry. Tell them, I love them. Tell them, I married you."

My pants were slid off now.

And then Edward had his pants off, his shirt still on, as he eased into me.

His warmth felt so good.

I put my hands underneath his shirt, needing to feel his skin.

I pushed my fingers into his flesh as he slid farther and farther in.

We stared at each other as he we both moved, slowly.

"Is this weird that Jake and I have…"

"That's a terrible thing to say while I am in you," Edward laughed. "But no, I didn't even think about it. Plus, I like to think about that this is the first time you've gotten real pleasure in this bed."

I laughed.

I laughed because he was right.

Jake did…pleasure me. But not the way Edward did. He pleasured my body and soul. Heart and mind. Inside and out.

I kissed him as fiercely as I could, sucking on his lips, wanting him to know I was his.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I choked between kisses.

"Sorry for what?" Edward stopped his movements and looked at me.

"I'm sorry I'm not strong enough," I gasped as the tears poured. "I'm sorry I can't make it. I'm sorry I have to leave you."

My lips trembled with fear.

My eyes fell heavy with sadness.

My heart felt like someone was squeezing the life out it.

That someone being Cancer.

"Bella, I have loved you since the moment I laid my eyes on you. I know you don't feel the same way, but I need you to know. I love you, I love you, I love you."

"Edward, I lied."

"What?"

"I love you, I just…don't want you to go through being sad when I go."

"You can't control if I love you or not, I'd be sad either way."

"Then, know that I love you."

"I love you, too."

Edward pulled out, none of getting the traditional sense of pleasure one gets from someone humping you.

This was better.

Edward helped me get dressed, saying something about not wanting Jake to see his woman, naked. Even to my rebuttal of him already seeing me naked. He glared at me, I laughed, kissed his hand, and then fell asleep.

"I love you, Bella Swan. And I will be devastated when you leave. But I promise to you that I will survive, that I will love again, that I will never forget you."

That night I had the best sleep of my life.

Last chapter is next. It might be posted tomorrow, or maybe next week.

Happy weekend. Even though I feel like bawling after typing this chapter.

Brooklynn10