Disclaimer: Not mine

A/N: Hello all! I have to tell you I am amazed at the response to the story so far. I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am. The next few chapters are going to get rough. You might need a tissue handy until we get to chapter 7, at least.

Big thanks to Jadalulu who gave me a great visual for what Bella looks like. Think something like:

http:/cdn(dot)buzznet(dot)com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/02/scarlett-johansson-hes-just-not-that-into-you(dot)jpg

Dalloway5906 is denying me Emmett peen, so I am making her cry. It is a win-win.

For those of you who are reading 'Silent Auction' I am a h00r and will NOT be posting the epilogue tomorrow because I am having a total block with the damn thing. Don't hate me too much.

Now – onto the drama!

Bella was anxious as the nurse brought her into the x-ray suite. She was not a stranger to the procedure, having endured more bouts of radiation than she cared to admit over her 21 years. She had had more broken bones than she could count and she realized she was about to add another to that list, because she was sure that her rib was fractured.

She could not get her mind off of the man who was still sitting in the trauma room. What could be causing this to happen between them? She knew what her touch did to him, but did he know how she felt when his skin was against hers? The tingling energy that radiated from the place where he touched her was unlike anything she had felt before. She wanted nothing more than to be able to hold onto that feeling forever. She had never felt so alive, so connected to someone. She feared that Dr. Cullen would want to keep them apart so Edward would not abuse the magical gift she possessed, but she was greedy enough to allow Edward to be near her, if only so she could feel that power, to feel something for once.

The hum of the x-ray machine brought her out of her daydream of lying with Edward in a field of wildflowers as his hand caressed her throat so he would be able to appreciate the view as well. She would never feel self-conscious when he would turn his blazing green eyes to her, for he knew she was his savior and she knew he truly wanted her. She quickly pushed the heavy protective apron off of her abdomen and struggled to sit up. The nurse was quick to come over and assist her and then motioned her back towards the trauma room.

Bella hesitated outside of the room, hearing hushed voices inside. She did not want to get caught eavesdropping again, but wanted any insight the Cullens had as to why she and Edward had this connection. She was ready to enter the room when she heard a hauntingly familiar voice from inside.

"Well I don't care what kind of voodoo powers she has, I refuse to be around that cow. She is a waste of space." Rosalie Hale-Cullen sneered.

Bella's breath was trapped in her chest as she waited for someone's response. She was surprised when she heard Emmett's voice.

"Rosie, somehow she is allowing Edward to see. Do you understand what that means? I have no idea what is happening, but I for one am not going to push her away and force Edward back into a lifetime of darkness. She is harmless. What did she ever do to you?" He questioned, speaking as if he were talking to a child.

"What did she do to me? She is alive, that is what she is doing to me. I have to look at her disgusting body all the time. I had hoped that after high school she would have just done the world a favor and killed herself." Rose ranted.

An outraged gasp behind her had Bella spinning around. She quickly lost her balance and grabbed onto the closest thing she could find, which happened to be Edward's strong forearm. Without warning, Edward was bombarded with bright light and Bella's face swam into focus. He could not help but notice her bright red cheeks and the stream of tears that ran down her face. He had heard what his sister-in-law had said, and could not for the life of him understand what she had against the beautiful, harmless girl in front of him. As much as he wanted to be able to see, he knew he would not be able to allow Bella to be subjected to Rosalie's harsh words constantly.

"Don't cry Bella, she is not worth your tears." He whispered as he started to reach his hand towards her cheek, anxious to feel the silk of her skin under his fingertips. A sobbing cry behind them pulled his attention away from Bella as he looked down the hall and into the surprised face of his mother.

Esme Cullen had not seen the bright green eyes of her son in years as he chose to hide behind his dark glasses most of the time. But as she looked down the hall at her son standing very close to a young girl, the time seemed to evaporate. She rushed forward and tried to embrace her son, but the awkward grasp the girl had on Edward made it difficult for her to wrap her arms around him. She glared down at Bella, and of course Bella folded into herself because she was used to people looking at her with such disdain. Bella quickly released the death grip she had on Edward's arm and rushed down the hallway, ignoring Edward's pleading calls.

Edward looked blankly down into where he assumed his mother's face was. Esme was confused because she was certain her son had been able to see just moments earlier. It took a monumental effort for Edward not to push his mother away and fumble blindly down the hall in search of Bella, but he understood that his mother did not know what was happening between himself and Bella. Hell, if he really thought about it, he was not even sure what was happening between him and Bella. Along with the miracle of returning his sight, every time he touched her his skin lit up with excitement. He had never felt more alive as he did when his skin was connected with hers.

Carlisle thankfully chose that moment to bring over Edward's test results, and Esme was worried when she saw his expression. He escorted them back into the exam room and guided Edward to a chair.

"Dr. Gerandy has given me the results from the x-ray and his diagnosis. Edward, I need you to prepare yourself. You have two fractured metacarpals in your hand. He wants to place you in a cast for at least a month. After that he will reevaluate you and you might be able to move into a soft splint after that."

Everyone in the room was holding their breath, waiting for the explosion they knew was coming. If Edward could not play the piano, he had nothing. They had dealt with him when he had broken his finger after tripping over one of Emmett's carelessly discarded shoes. He was in a splint for three weeks and they nearly had to have him hospitalized after he fell into such a deep depression. The piano was his life and without it he was miserable.

Edward surprised everyone when he simply nodded his head and asked when they were going to put the cast on. Carlisle was speechless as he slowly left the room to find Dr. Gerandy. Esme moved over to Edward and discreetly felt his forehead for a fever, unable to understand how he was dealing with this news so well. Edward was devastated that he would not be able to play the piano for an extended period of time, but what his family did not understand was that there was suddenly something more important in his life than the piano, Bella.

While Edward was waiting for his cast, Bella was trying to find a way out of the emergency room. She had been told her x-rays were done and she would be able to get the results soon. She sat in the uncomfortable waiting room chair as she waited for someone to tell her that yes, she had indeed broken a rib. She was surprised when she saw her father enter through the sliding doors. He searched the waiting room until his eyes landed on her. He slowly walked over, not a stranger to seeing his only child in the emergency room. He kept waiting for her to get over her awkward phase, but it seemed like it might be permanent.

"What is the verdict kid?" He asked as he lowered himself down into the chair across from her. He offered her no physical comfort because the Swans were not known for their shows of affection.

"I'm sure it is a broken rib Charlie, nothing important enough to bring you down here. How did you find out?" Bella questioned, embarrassed that her father had come all the way down to the hospital.

"You know this town, everyone knows everyone. One of the nurses is married to one of my deputies. He hailed me on the radio and told me you were in here after taking down some blind man. What happened?" He asked.

Bella flushed a brilliant color red as she realized what people were saying. The fat girl took out a blind man, awesome. No wonder Rosalie was so upset with her if that was what she heard happened.

"I tripped at the track and unfortunately took him down with me." Bella responded quietly as Dr. Cullen emerged from behind the set of double doors. Charlie quickly stood up, realizing that there was only one blind man in this town, and it was the good doctor's son.

"I'm so sorry Dr. Cullen. Did Bella hurt your boy badly?" Charlie questioned as he extended his hand towards Carlisle.

Bella tucked her chin to her chest and bit her lip to try and keep her embarrassed tears at bay. Even her father thought it was her fault. It was an accident, she had not meant to hurt Edward. Dr. Cullen shook Charlie's proffered hand as he noticed Bella's embarrassment and was quick to reassure Charlie that other than a few broken bones in his hand, Edward would be fine. He held up Bella's chart, which by now was as thick as an encyclopedia.

"Your young lady here has a fracture rib." He said as he held up Bella's x-ray, clearly showing the small jagged line on one of her ribs.

"What did you fall on Bells?" Charlie asked.

"Edward." Bella responded quietly.

"Wow, that boy was lucky you only broke his hand." Charlie laughed and Bella was unable to keep all of her tears inside this time. She quickly excused herself and headed for the ladies room before her father could see how much his casual words had hurt her, not that he would care.

Bella was not looking where she was going as she pushed her way into the bathroom, intent on locking herself in a stall until she had her emotions under control. By now it was well after her usual bedtime and she was exhausted. When she collided with a warm body and fell back onto the floor, she was barely able to keep her cry of pain quiet. She looked up through her tears at the hostile face of Rosalie Cullen.

"Jesus Christ cow, don't you think you have hurt enough people today?" Rose yelled as she purposefully smashed the heel of her shoe onto Bella's hand. Tears spilled freely from Bella's eyes as she looked up into the beautiful face of her greatest tormentor. She had spent her entire college career trying to learn why people like Rosalie treated others the way she did. In her mind she knew that Rose treated others so badly because she was so insecure herself. But when she was on the receiving end of one of Rose's tirades, it did not matter that Rose was miserable on the inside, all that mattered was the pain Bella was feeling.

"I'm sorry." Bella whispered as she cradled her hand to her chest, much like Edward had done.

"Yes, I know. You are always sorry. You are such a waste of space. Do you know there are innocent lives lost every day while your sorry ass gets to live?" Rose yelled and Bella noticed a lone tear trailing down Rose's cheek. Words spilled from her mouth before she could stop them.

"I'm sorry, have you lost someone?" Bella whispered. Rose brought her hand down across Bella's cheek so hard her head slammed back against the wall.

"How dare you!" Rose screamed as more tears joined the first. She brought her hand back for another strike when the door suddenly swung open and the doorway was filled with Emmett's powerful form. He had heard the commotion from all the way in Edward's room. He recognized Rosalie's outraged voice and worried who she was taking her wrath out on. He was unprepared for the sight of his usually kindhearted wife standing over the crouched form of Bella. The girl had her hand pressed against her cheek, but he was able to see the bright red handprint that marked her pale skin. Emmett was outraged that his wife would treat someone like this. He sidestepped Bella and grabbed Rose by the wrist, dragging her out of the bathroom and into the hall. He was shocked when she threw herself into his arms and started sobbing hysterically. The last year had been very difficult with Rose's ever changing mood swings. She would disappear for hours on end, telling Emmett she was going to the spa. He would notice that instead of coming back looking refreshed, she came home with dark circles under her eyes and would spend the next few days in bed. He tried to support her the best that he could, but he had no idea what was going on with his once vivacious and happy wife.

Esme came into the hallway to see what all the noise was about and Emmett motioned her to the bathroom as he escorted Rose outside, intent on getting her home and into bed. Esme carefully pushed open the bathroom door and looked upon the young girl who was sitting on the floor. She had one hand wrapped around her waist and one pressed against her cheek as she sobbed violently.

Bella did not acknowledge the person who entered the room, silently hoping it was Rose coming back to put her out of her misery. She wondered if it were not better for everyone involved if she just got it over with and killed herself already. She knew she was a giant disappointment to her mother and her father barely put up with her. She had no friends or acquaintances to miss her and Rose was right, she was just a waste of space. Her hand and face hurt and that pain in her ribs was excruciating as she continued to sob. She jolted when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up through watery eyes into Edward's mother's concerned face. Esme had no idea what had happened between Rose and the girl, but she could see that the girl needed some comfort. Her maternal instincts kick in as she lowered herself to the dirty floor next to the girl and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

It had been years since someone has hugged Bella, and she melted into Esme's arms, not caring that the motion exacerbated the pain in her side. Esme rubbed her hand up and down Bella's back as she gently rocked them from side to side. If she had not been so close to her, she would never have heard the words Bella was saying over and over.

"Please love me. Someone please love me."

A/N: I know, I know. See you next week.

Are you reading:

Bittersweet by Dalloway5906

http:/www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6058012/1/

and

Through the Flames by SparklingTwilight

http:/www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/5883476/1/

You should be!