Edward was in a hurry to get back home. He had left the rest of his family by the baseball fields to finish their hunting. He had something else on his mind. He had been gone all week,and he missed his angel. He pictured her now,at this late hour,sleeping. Her brown hair laid across her pillow,as she snuggles next to her blanket,probably dressed in sweats and a t-shirt. He pulled his own clothes off to quickly shower. Bella was not a fan of the sight or smell of blood. He smirked,remembering how she described the scent.

"Like rust and salt." Her voice came to him almost like she was in his room. It ached his body. He wanted nothing more than be next to her. To smell her scent again. The one that reminded him of a meadow. Their meadow. He dressed casually,in sweats and a long sleeved shirt. Even in summer,Forks was a little on the cooler side. He thought about taking the Volvo,but he decided he would rather run. He knew he could actually make it there quicker than the car. After running his hands through his bronze hair,he took off on his trek to the Swan house.

Arriving,he noticed little things were off. The cruiser was gone. Bella's truck was parked very close to the garage,where the cruiser was usually parked. And Bella's light was still on. This made him a little nervous,in his usual over protective way. After everything Bella's been through,he didn't like the idea of her being home alone. But was she alone? He didn't hear anyone else's minds. He couldn't smell the wet dog smell of Jacob. He decided to text his favorite person in situations like this. Alice.

"Do you see anything?" She would already know what he was talking about once she got the message. Minutes later,he received his answer.

"She's alone. She's been alone for a week,and the Chief isn't due back for another week."

He smiled,alarmed still. He didn't like her being alone for that long,but he also liked the fact he could be with her.

Edward thought about using the front door,like she had so many times said he could. But,as he's told her many more times,he preferred her window. It helped catch her on her more intimate moments. The moments she'd hide from the world. Like the fact she danced when no one was looking. Or that she hated thunderstorms and would hide her head under the covers during every one of them. Somethings she would never tell him if he asked her to. Climbing up her tree,he peered in.

With the light on, he could see everything. Her stereo,on a local alternative radio station. She had recently found and fell in love with this station. Edward would have never taken her for a punk rock and metal fan,and yet her two favorite bands for the moment were Green Day and Disturbed. Her bookshelf disorganized,like she had read through a load of them recently. But it made his frozen heart almost melt by seeing his girlfriend. It looked like she had come home and flopped on the bed. Her hair caught in a loosened low ponytail,was behind her. In her blue Henley elbow sleeved sweater,dark washed jeans and boots,she was fast asleep on her bed. She hadn't even pulled the covers back. Edward sighed,and pushed open the window. He was met immediately with her smell,but there was something wrong. It smelled oddly sour. Nothing like he had ever smelled before. He shrugged it off as still having scents from his hunting trip in his mind as he walked over to her. He placed his stony lips gently on her cheek. And that's when he noticed it. Bella was burning up,sweat glistening off the hairline of her forehead. That's what was giving him the off scent.

His angel was sick. Why hadn't Alice told him of this? How long had she been sick? Was it bad? His mind was racing. He called Carlisle,knowing the doctor and the rest of his family were home now.

"Yes,Edward?"

"She's sick,Carlisle. Pretty bad,it looks like."

"Alright,calm down. I'm going to ask you a few questions I need the answers to. Can you handle that?"

"Start." Edward didn't have time. She was hurting,and he was going to do anything in his power to make her feel better.

"I need to know at least an estimate on her temperature." Edward kissed her forehead again.

"I'm thinking one oh three."

"I need you to scan her over,since I'm assuming she's asleep. What can you tell me?" He looked and listened carefully,unfortunately,the same skills he used as a tracker.

"She fell asleep with her clothes on,shoes and all. The mud is dry,so it's been a few hours. I can hear her stomach grumbling,it's most likely been about eight hours since she's eaten."

Carlisle sighed. Edward mentally pleaded with him not to do that,it was making his concern worsen.

"It sounds like the flu Ed. We need to get her to our house,at least until we know she can handle being back in her environment. Pack her some warm,light clothing...never mind. Alice will probably do some shopping for her in Seattle. Just make sure she's safe and warm,and then get her home."

Edward nodded into the phone as he hanged it up. He tried his best not to startle Bella as he woke her.

"Bella,darling." Her eyes fluttered open,as she went to speak.

"Shh,angel. I called Carlisle. You're coming home with me for a while. Can you stand to change? These clothes smell like the rain,which means you were wet."

She nodded as she limply got up to grab a new outfit,while he gathered a bag of stuff she would want. Her CD case,just in case he didn't have what she listened to lately,hairbrush,toothbrush and toothpaste. He pulled her arms through her backpack,gathered her on his back,and set off to the Cullen house.

Alice was waiting for him as he entered the door.

"The bed's been set up in your room so you can stay with her. Carlisle's on his way home from the hospital,he's going to be about thirty minutes. He said if she sleeps,let her sleep,but if she doesn't try to keep her warm and hydrated."

Looking at her now,he knew it would be the second. She looked bleakly interested in the world around her,but she was awake. Her lips were cracked and she felt limp.

"Do we have any soup,Esme?" He asked,knowing she would hear that from wherever she was in the house. She appeared at the door and nodded.

"Anything in particular you want to try?"

"Ramen?" Bella sat up from her new post on Edward's bed as she looked at her "mother."

"Are you sure? Its a very salty choice." Esme's look was one of motherly concern. Bella only weakly nodded,as she mumbled..

"...would always make it for me... liked the curly..." Obviously her fever was making her a little incoherent. He smiled as she buried her face in the pillow.

"Alright my little one,one more question." Esme and Bella did seem very much the mother-daughter type.

"Flavor?"

"Beef. Chicken looks weird." Edward stifled a laugh. Leave it to his love to not eat something based on the way it looked. He turned his thoughts to Esme,who was speaking to him through her thoughts.

"I'll be downstairs,bring her down in about five minutes. Put some socks or slippers on her,Ed. Her feet being cold will only make things worse."

He nodded as he made sure her feet were well covered in a pair of woolen socks. He could smell the beef broth cooking from the noodles,and he swept Bella in his arms downstairs. By this time the rest of the family had gathered down in the kitchen.

She barely nodded in their direction as they waved hello to her. When she shivered,Jasper was there with something he rarely let anyone touch,much less wear. His University of Texas sweatshirt. He helped her into it as he sent waves of calm and peace through her. She smiled her thanks as she slurped on her noodles. Esme pulled a sports bottle out of the fridge. Knowing Bella's condition,they had stocked up on Gatorade. She was even picky about that,not liking fruit punch. Well,that's what he gathered. She didn't refer to the flavors,rather the colors.

"I like yellow,blue,purple,and orange. Red is icky." He smiled to himself remembering that day in the store. This particular one was orange. Melon flavor. She accepted it and managed to suck some of it out of the top. He always liked the way those were shaped,he randomly thought. They were shaped to fit your mouth,and not just a circle like bottles of water.

After she finished her soup,he carried her and her drink to the couch to watch movies with the rest of them. She looked so cute to him. Her hair in a ponytail,bangs falling around her face. She had a midnight blue t-shirt with black yoga pants on. Not to mention Jasper's sweatshirt. She laid nestled in his arms,covered in a fleece flannel blanket,sipping on her drink.

"Here. Carlisle said this should help." Alice handed him a bottle of something purple. It was supposed to be grape,but it smelled awful. Bella's face confirmed it. But she sighed,knowing she was still going to have to take it.

"Wash it down with the juice,it'll help." He shrugged as he handed her the small cup. She did as she was told,and laid back down when it was done. He read the bottle,making sure he knew what to expect. Just the usual night time medicine for colds and flu. She'd be asleep soon,cuddled up next to him. His phone vibrated on the table. Carlisle.

"How is she?" He looked down at her,already nodding off.

"I can't tell about her temperature,she's been next to me,and lying under a blanket. She's had some Ramen noodles and Gatorade. We just gave her the medicine and she's just about asleep."

"Okay,I need you to do something that I know you're going to hate,but it's for the best."

"You want me to put her in bed and not sit next to her until you get home so you can examine her,and get an accurate reading."

"Reading my thoughts?"

"Just a guess." They laughed,and the doctor swore he'd be home soon. Edward sighed as he picked his angel up and took her to their room. He swore to himself as she stirred,calling his name.

"You're leaving me?" She looked so frail,her dark hair and eyes highlighted by the paleness in her skin.

"Only for a while,love. Carlisle will be in soon to check you out." She nodded,as sleep overtook her.