A/N: I hope you enjoy this little fic that Daphodill and I have been working on. Daph and I love Carlisle/Bella pairings so I convinced her to write a quirky, fun little story with me. She's the best. Thank you Daph!

We will post twice daily until the story is complete. We already have twenty chapters written and are working on a few more.

Thank you to MzPeaches for pre-reading for us. XO

OhGee writes Bella's POV - odd chapters

Daph writes Carlisles's POV - even chapters

Enjoy!

Bedside Manner

Chapter 1

The wind swirling through the open windows of my '66 Thunderbird brings the salty ocean breeze in, making me wish I was at the beach instead of on my way to my well-woman exam. On warm, sunny days like today, I'd rather be people watching on the beach under an umbrella with my toes in the sand instead of being violated in the name of good health.

While rolling up the windows, I take a swallow of my mint iced tea and then one deep breath before heading inside the building to meet my new doctor.

This type of appointment is the thing I loathe the most.

The waiting room is gorgeous and smells new. Not like the usual antiseptic of a doctor's office. Bright yellow chairs against light gray stucco walls and white glossy tables with magazines make the room cheery. The receptionist hands me the necessary paperwork I need to fill out, and I'm surprised to find a seat. Every chair, other than the one I just snagged, is filled. It doesn't take long for me to notice that there aren't many pregnant women. The women waiting with me are decked out with full-blown makeup with their hair styled as if they'd just left a salon.

I get to work filling out all the necessary information required, but a smacking sound nearby pulls me from the questions. The blonde across from me is applying bright red lipstick, pursing and popping her duck lips into the compact mirror in her hand. I try to contain my giggles. The only primping I had time for was to shave my legs and trim my other part that would be given full attention to today. My lips, at least the ones on my face, didn't matter.

"Isabella Swan." My name is called, and every head turns toward me as I scoot off my chair, clipboard in hand.

The nurse introduces herself as Tanya and directs me to the scale near the exam rooms. I drop my purse on the table next to the scale and toe off my sandals before stepping on. I suck my stomach in as if it will help the result on the digital scale. I'm happy to see that I haven't gained weight. Late-night vanilla lattes while finishing up my masters at the University of San Francisco, were my only vice. Otherwise, I ate relatively healthy and swam on occasion. I'm content as the nurse logs my weight in my chart. Then I pick up my purse and almost skip to the exam room.

"Here you go, room three," Tanya offers, gesturing with her hand into the sterile room.

I take a seat on the cool leather chair by a small desk, while Tanya situates herself on the rolling one in front me, opening up a laptop to take more information.

"Date of your last period?"

"Um, I think May fifth."

"Birth control?" Tanya lifts an eyebrow in question as she asks. I know it's her job, but the tone of her voice makes me feel slutty. Like she assumes I sleep around?

"Nothing. I'm not on birth control."

"Condoms?"

"No."

"So you use the pull-out method?" I wish I could say that.

"Actually, no. I don't sleep around." I'm not sure why I get defensive, but my response comes out a bit harsh.

"Okay," her reply is drawn out. "Just routine questions, Isabella." Tanya sing-songs and stands, taking a gown and a tiny sheet from a drawer in the exam table and lays them down on top, and then turns to me.

"All clothing off, including your bra and panties. The doctor will be in shortly."

My skin crawls at the thought of what this appointment will entail. Nakedness, probing, and intruding instruments into my most private area. Shiver.

As soon as the door clicks shut, I stand and quickly undress, folding my panties and tucking them into my jean capris, and then laying them on the chair. My shirt and bra are next. I also fold my bra, hiding it in my shirt. I'm not sure why it's important for me to conceal my undergarments when the good doctor will be seeing something much more private, but I do it anyway.

The paper on the table crunches as I situate myself on the exam table. I fiddle with my clammy hands, wiping them on the ugly printed sheet draped over my lap before wrapping it around behind me and making sure it's covers my nakedness so no skin shows when the doctor comes through the door.

My wait is long—at least twenty minutes—because I've picked at my cuticles on all ten fingers, and have read the fronts of all the brochures sitting in the a display hanging on the wall—PMS, Menopause, Cervical Cancer, and a few dozen more things that kind of freak me out.

Each time I hear a faint knock, I think it's my door, but the walls are thin; it's either the door across the hall or the one next to me. My turn can't come soon enough—my focus has turned to my chilly toes and the chipped, pale pink polish.

I hear muffled talking and a few snickers just before the much anticipated rap on my door startles me. Finally it's my turn.

"Good afternoon Ms. Swan."

Is he speaking to me? I'm dumbstruck by the beauty of this man/doctor entering the exam room, that I can only stutter a reply. Doctor Cullen has crisp, blue eyes with a cool sparkle that instantly warms me. They still my heart and jump start it all at the same time. My mind is running in circles. But then thoughts of him seeing me naked make me apprehensive, and suddenly I'm much too cold. My fingers and toes turn to frozen shards of ice—numb. He's much too beautiful and I'm much too embarrassed to lie on this table and let him see me … all of me.

I manage to return the smile that Doctor Cullen offers. He hasn't offered his name yet; he just stands there staring at me. Are my nipples are poking out from the thin material or something else to make him speechless? I flinch, quickly adjusting the gown but it slips off my shoulder, exposing my heated skin.

Another nurse follows behind Doctor Cullen and introduces herself as Shelly, thankfully she offers me a warm blanket, which I gladly accept. Even though my extremities are frozen, my internal temp has to be elevated.

"Has Doctor Cullen introduced himself yet?" Shelly asks.

I shake my head no because the doctor, so far, has walked in the room and is completely still, making me feel a little uncomfortable from the way he is lost in contemplation?

I see what Shelly is doing, she's getting all the pleasantries out of the way, and now it's down to the business of my reproductive health and that's when Doctor Cullen takes over.

"Bella, when was the last time you saw a gynecologist?"

I tuck the warm blanket around my legs as if it will both comfort and save me from the answer I'm about to give.

I pick at the blanket as I answer Doctor Cullen. "Just before I left for college … like six, seven years?"

I'm sure he's not happy with my answer, as any doctor wouldn't be. So the directions he gives me makes me sick to my stomach, and my hands tremble. My grip on the blanket tightens when he orders full-blown blood work. I know he see's my reaction and the queasy look on my face because he steps to me and pats my knee.

"Shelly, will you bring Bella another blanket, please?"

His hand is on my back, rubbing me, trying to soothe my anxiety. I'm not sure why, but my head tips to his chest, he smells so intoxicating that it helps ease my fears like a drug. His words are calming as he tells me that he won't let anything bad happen to me. But I did just read those pamphlets, and I'm not sure he can save me from half of those horrid things hanging on the wall. My fear, though, is not of illness. I confess to him it's of needles as I bury my head into his chest, breathing him in, holding on tightly to the lapels of his lab coat. Pure unadulterated fear of sharp, pointy needles and thick, red blood. That's my problem.

Shelly returns with another blanket and a gasp, which brings me back to the here and now of what was supposed to be a quick, painless, and uncomplicated doctor's visit.

A few tears run down my cheeks and Doctor Cullen is quick to wipe them away.

Bless Shelly's heart, she is truly concerned for the way I'm reacting to the labs that have been ordered.

"Is everything okay?"

I nod my answer.

"Miss Swan. Would you like to reschedule? We can do this another time when you're more … comfortable." Doctor Cullen says as he takes a few steps back.

"No. I'm fine. Let's just get this over with. It's only once a year, right?"

"Right."

"How do you want me?"

I ask Shelly if she minds to hand me my rainbow toe socks laying at the top of my purse. I can't shake the chill, but at least if my toes were covered I wouldn't feel so exposed … right?

A/N: Chapter two will post this afternoon. Thank you for reading.