Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

So last weekend I watched Twilight for the first time and I immediately fell in love with it and ever since then, I've been chipping away at this story and finally decided it would have to be multi-chaptered and this would be the beginning. I don't know how long it will be yet but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy my first Twilight story!

"It's so peaceful out here." Bella commented as she and Edward walked through the forest hand in hand.

"It can be." Edward agreed. "The company helps."

Edward turned to look at Bella and when their eyes met she smiled shyly. When Edward returned from hunting, he and Bella always went for a walk to talk about what had happened in those few days. Well, to be fair, Bella did almost all of the talking. Edward just listened and smiled; he had no desire to share how he had spent his past few days.

They walked, the only sounds being those of the forest. Reaching the meadow, they laid on their backs and stared at the sky through the treetops.

Their hands found each other and their eyes met.

"You're beautiful." Edward whispered, lifting her hand to kiss it. Bella smiled but when Edward's lips touched her hand her smile faded and her eyebrows knit together.

"What is it?" Edward asked, his own brow wrinkled in concern.

"Your lips … they're almost warm." Bella said. She freed her hand from Edward's grip and laid it against his pale cheek.

"Are you okay?" she asked and Edward chuckled softly and took her hand in his again.

"Vampires don't get sick, Bella. I am fine."

Edward's words did little to ease Bella's concern.

"Are you sure? Maybe Carlisle should look at you."

"I'm quite sure I'm fine. Let's keep walking."

Edward stood up and pulled Bella to her feet before she could answer. Bella leaned close and enjoyed the protective feeling of Edward's strong arm around her.

Hours later the sun was beginning to set as Edward and Bella climbed the stairs to the Cullen house. Edward swung open the door and followed Bella through.

"Is anyone home?" Bella asked as Edward took her coat.
"I think everyone's here but Rosalie. Come on."

Edward took Bella by the hand and led her into the living room. Seated on the luxurious cushions were Esme, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, and Emmet. Edward and Bella sat on the love seat.

"Bella, it's been a few days." Esme said with a smile. "How are you?"

Bella returned the smile.

"I'm fine, thanks." she answered before turning to Carlisle. "I think something's wrong with Edward."

"I thought you were going to forget that." Edward said softly and Bella turned defensively towards him.

"I'm not going to forget it. I'm worried."

"What makes you say that, Bella?" Carlisle asked, leaving his spot next to his wife and moving to the footstool in front of the love seat.

"He's warm … well, warmer than usual."

"I'm fine." Edward repeated. Carlisle studied his son closely before reaching out to lay a hand on his forehead. After a moment he retracted his hand and sighed.

"She's right, Edward. You're burning up, even by human standards."

"I thought vampires can't get sick." Jasper said from across the room.

"Normally we can't. Something is going on with Edward although I'm not quite sure what it is just yet."

Esme came and stood behind her husband, resting a slender hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go up to your room, Edward? Get comfortable and lie down. We'll be up in a few minutes."

Carlisle nodded.

"It's a good idea. Go."

Edward reluctantly stood up and left the room.

"What's wrong with him?" Bella asked as the room got very quiet very quickly.

"I'm not sure." Carlisle answered, deep in thought.

"Could he maybe have had some bad blood?" Esme asked.

"I doubt it. That wouldn't cause a fever. I need to talk to him."

Carlisle stood and retreated into his study before heading up the stairs.

"Will he be okay?" Bella asked, directing her question at Alice.

"I'm not sure. His future is clouded and I have a hard time seeing it."

Bella leaned forward and put her head in her hands. Esme sat next to her and rubbed her back in a very maternal way.

"It'll be okay, Bella. Carlisle is the best doctor there is. He'll figure it out and Edward will be fine. He's a strong boy."

Bella ran her fingers through his hair.

"Do you think it has anything to do with me? That somehow I got him sick?"

Esme shook her head.

"Absolutely not. You're the best thing that has ever happened to Edward."

Bella didn't answer and the room was quiet with anticipation. At last Carlisle came down the stairs and Bella and Esme stood up.

"What is it?"

"What Edward described to me is exactly what he was suffering with as a human – Spanish Flu."

"Isn't that what he almost died from, though?"

Carlisle nodded.

"It is. I'm still unsure how he would've contracted it again given his current state but we will have to watch him for a couple of hours and then we will know more. In the meantime, I'm going to do some research."

"May I see him?" Bella asked. Carlisle smiled.

"Of course. He was asking for you."

Bella ran up the stairs and followed the hallway to Edward's bedroom. He was lying on his daybed, covered by a blanket that made his pale skin take on an even whiter hue.

"I thought you said you were fine." Bella greeted him and Edward smiled sheepishly.

"I had been feeling off but I never thought it would be caused by illness."

Edward coughed roughly.

"It's okay. Carlisle says you'll be fine."

Bella had never been so thankful Edward could not read her mind. She didn't want him to know how scared everyone was but Edward already knew.

"He's worried. They all are."

"Of course they're worried about you. They love you."

Bella went to Edward and sat.

"Don't think about it, okay? Just relax, try and get some rest."

"How can I rest? We don't sleep."

"What about snuggling? Would that qualify as rest?"

"It sounds perfect but I don't want to get you sick."

"I don't care. Move over."

Edward smiled at her defensiveness and scooted over. Bella fit herself into the crook of his arm like she belonged there.

"Good?"

"Absolutely." Edward said, biting back a cough. Unsuccessful, Bella felt the strong cough shudder through Edward's body.

"I'm sorry you feel so crummy." She said once he had regained his composure.

"You can't do anything about it."

"I know but I hate seeing you so vulnerable."

"I hate being vulnerable."

Silence ensued as the young lovers sat together, encompassed by warmth and watching the rain pour down outside. As the hour wore on, Edward got steadily worse. At times he was coughing so hard he was hunched over, gagging. Bell would gently rub his back and talk soothingly until it passed and Edward would fall back, exhausted from his battle for air.

"Knock knock." Alice stood in the doorway holding a glass. She strode in and handed it to Edward.

"Carlisle said to drink this. It'll help soothe the cough."

"Drink it?" Edward repeated, staring at the suspicious murky liquid at the bottom of the cup. Alice nodded.

"All of it."

Edward took a deep breath and tipped the glass back, downing the medicine. He made a horrible face as he forced himself to swallow.

"That was gruesome." He said after he had managed to get it down. He handed the glass back to Alice and she left.

"I don't know how you manage to take that stuff every time you get sick."

Bella grinned.

"I don't. I mean, I can't. I just puke it right up again."

Edward grinned.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

A knock from the doorway made Bella and Edward turn to see Carlisle and Esme.

"Have you figured it out?" Bella asked as they strode to Edward's bedside. Carlisle nodded.

"What's wrong with me?" Edward asked, noting the concerned look on Esme's face. He couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"You have the Spanish Flu." Carlisle said sombrely. "I did some research and it's a very rare occurrence but this has happened before. When you were out hunting, the animal you fed on was a carrier of a virus related to, if not actually, the Spanish Flu. Because your body was familiar with the disease, it was able to accept it and once it was in your body, the virus took hold and made you sick."

"Can you cure him?" Bella asked.

"It is a bit complicated, I'm afraid." Carlisle admitted. "There are certain criteria for determining if one gets sick by drinking a carrier's blood. It must be something the body is familiar with, which is why the Spanish Flu was able to affect Edward. For example, small pox would have no effect and the virus would simply die. To answer your question, Bella, there is nothing I can do for Edward. The disease must kill him before he'll recover."

"What do you mean 'kill him'? You're vampires; you can't die."

"What will happen is the disease will attack Edward like he's a human being. Of course, some things are bound to change, such as he will not be able to bleed or vomit, but most symptoms will be the same. Like a human, the disease will wear down the body until it is dead."

"That didn't answer my question." Bella said bluntly and Carlisle smiled.

"No, you're right. It didn't. When Edward dies, he will simply fall asleep for a period of time and when he wakes up, he'll be well again."

"How long will I sleep?" Edward, who had been silently listening and absorbing this information, asked.

"The length of slumber is relative to how old you are in vampire years. I'd say you'll probably sleep for a week or so before waking. Do not worry about the sleep; it is the dying that will be most uncomfortable."

"How long will it take to die?"

"It depends on the severity of the case but most victims of the Spanish Flu die within a week of contracting it. It will go fast but it will be painful and I'm afraid you will feel quite ill for most of the time, especially because you cannot sleep."

"Am I contagious?" Edward asked. "Is Bella safe if she stays with me?"

Bella had to smile; Edward had just been told he was going to be in pain for days before having to die and he was worried about her. It didn't surprise her for a moment.

"Bella will be fine. Since you were infected from the blood you drank, the disease is limited to your body."

"We'll do everything we can to make this bearable," Esme said. "And we'll be with you every step of the way."

"Me too." Bella added, gripping Edward's hand.

"We'll leave you alone." Carlisle said. "If you need anything, don't be afraid to call."

Bella nodded and Carlisle and Esme left.

"Are you scared?" Bella asked as Edward stared at the rain.

"Are you?" Edward shifted his gaze from the window pane to Bella's face. She nodded but Edward thought for a moment before speaking.

"I trust Carlisle and if he says I will be fine, I believe him."

"You don't have to be strong about this, you know."

"I know and I'm not trying to be but the fact is the only way to get through it is to face it head on. I'm not scared of death and I'm not scared of pain. As long as I have you, anything can happen to me."

Bella smiled and snuggled closer to Edward. Together, they watched the storm outside while Edward's body fought a losing battle.

Reviews are always appreciated … but be nice! If something's not right, please tell me nicely =) I haven't read the books yet and this is all based on the movie and what my sister has told me …