A/N: This the first story I have posted and I would appreciate feedback. I am writing this story to help improve my writing skills so constructive criticism would be very helpful. I don't have a beta but if anyone is interested let me know. Thanks for taking a look.

Chapter 1

Bella Swan leaned back against the bed and closed her eyes. She could close her eyes and almost forget where she was. Almost. The harsh glare of the fluorescent lights dimmed but she couldn't get the smell to stop. Hospitals always smelled the same no matter where she was; she could be in Forks, Washington or Phoenix, Arizona or here in Nashua, New Hampshire. Doing her best to block out the smell Bella wondered just how her day ended in St. Joseph's Hospital. It had started out with promise, a rare day off she woke early. It was a rare sunny winter day in Nashua and Bella loved the feeling of it on her skin. She loved the sun but somehow once again she found herself living without the daily promise of it. Before she could really recount just how her day ended up in this hospital room the doctor walked in looking at Bella's x-rays. The doctor continued to look at it while Bella stared at him; she was more than shocked to recognize Dr. Carlisle Cullen walking up to her bed.

"It looks like a broken wrist." Carlisle smiled at her and reached to pick up her hand. She closed her eyes as she felt his cold skin on her, it was such a contrast to her own and it brought many memories flooding back to her. After what felt like a long time, but really was just a moment she opened her eyes and spoke.

"You should see the other guy."

"I just did. Never knew you had such a great right hook."

Bella looked at him and with a stone face replied, "There is a lot you don't know about me."

"Apparently." He laughed and an amused look came across his face, "But I can't say I'm shocked that our reunion is taking place in an emergency room." Bella couldn't help but return the smile he gave her. In reality she was not shocked either. "I'll be back in a moment Bella."

With that Carlisle left the room and Bella was left alone with just her thoughts. It had been eight years since Bella Swan had seen any member of the Cullen family. The last time was that fateful day in the woods with him. Edward. Eight years probably didn't feel like anything to the Cullen's but to Bella it felt like a few lifetimes ago. The difference between an eighteen-year-old girl and a twenty-six year old woman was monumental. Once again Bella closed her eyes and let the memories carry her away, back to when she was still that eighteen-year-old girl and Edward Cullen was her whole world. It wasn't the first time she thought about him. She often thought about him, but when she did it was in the way someone always remembers their first love. Mostly happy memories with a touch of sadness mixed in. Now, sitting in the hospital as a twenty-six year old woman that was what Edward Cullen was to her, her first love, someone who was part of her past.

When Carlisle returned to the room he began dressing her wrist. They sat wordlessly together and both were remembering the last time they sat like this, it was on her eighteenth birthday. His soft velvety voice brought Bella out of herself.

Carlisle looked her in the eye when he asked, "How have you been Bella?" It was such a simple statement but the continuation behind it was strong. She knew it when she saw how he looked into her eyes. She knew he wasn't speaking of just then; he wanted to know how she was after they left and all the time in between.

"I am doing very well Carlisle, and you?" Bella spoke in a way that caused Carlisle believed her, but her use of present tense didn't pass him. For Carlisle seeing his almost daughter-in-law was a strange sensation. His intuition was telling him that she really was okay but every time he looked at her he felt as if he was looking at the missing piece of his family. It had not been the same since Bella left their lives, and the change was not for the better. He struggled to find the right words to answer Bella.

"Well work keeps me quite busy and for that I am thankful." His answer left Bella confused but she did not have time to question it and he continued on, "I know Esme would be thrilled to see you Bella. She misses you terribly."

Bella looked off into the distance and it was a while before she answered. "Maybe." Bella had a new life now; she had gone to the other side of the country to begin anew. She had found happiness and love; everything Edward had hoped for her but it didn't last. But now she was truly happy, she had a job she was extremely passionate about and great friends. Bella created a life for herself that she was happy with and she wasn't sure what inviting the Cullen's into it would do. When they left last time it wasn't easy for her and she wasn't sure she was willing to risk everything to find out.