Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: Who rocks? You rock my readers! I can't believe how many of you have taken the time to write a review and let me know what you are thinking. I am floored by how many of you have experiences similar to our dear Bella. Please, keep the reviews coming, I cherish each and every one.
Dalloway5906 now officially has a NJ address. I don't care if you are 15 minutes from the beach, you are like 120 minutes away from me! She went over this with a fine tooth comb and fixed all my booboos. She is the cookies to my cream. If you don't have her 'Bittersweet' on alert – DO IT! You are going to want to read her next chapter – trust me!
Possible tissue warning, not too bad here. Next chapter is brutal… but very short. If you are all nice and review I will post both chapter 5 and 6 next week. You should know I am not above bribery for reviews!
Edward sat alone in the trauma room, waiting for his cast to set. He had surprised everyone by asking for a specific color cast, wanting to be able to see the bright blue color when he next touched Bella. His thoughts were all different now that he was able to look forward to seeing things. He hoped that Bella would be able to be generous with her time so he could discover what his world looked like.
He was surprised that no one had come back into the room yet. His father had gone to tell Bella about her broken rib and what her recovery would entail. He was thankful that was the extent of her injuries. It would take some time for the bone to heal, but it should not hamper her day to day life. Rosalie had gone out to powder her nose and Emmett had followed soon after, saying something about hearing raised voices. His mother had gone out to check on a commotion in the hallway, but she was still missing. He was just getting ready to search for his family when he heard the light footsteps of his sister Alice.
"Where had you disappeared to?" He questioned as she came over and examined his new cast.
"When can I sign it?" She deflected his question, not quite ready to share where she had been hiding. She had been overcome with emotions after really seeing her brother for the first time in years. She was disappointed that he had seen through her façade and wanted to escape his all knowing eyes. She found herself in the chapel, a place she had never entered. She could not accept that a righteous and just God would take away her brother's dreams like He had. Edward insisted that he was fine, that God never closed a door without opening a window, but Alice doubted that. She knew her twin better than he knew himself and she could hear him crying when he thought he was alone. Now her brother had been given a miracle in the form of a shy, insecure young girl. Alice found herself relieved that a new window had been opened for Edward, but worried what door would close because of it.
As she entered the chapel, she was filled with a sense of dread. Was it one of her doors that would close in order to insure Edward's miracle? Was she willing to sacrifice anything for her brother's happiness? For years she had prayed to anyone who would listen for her brother's sight to be restored, but was she ready to face the consequences of those prayers? As she looked around the empty sanctuary, she realized that yes, she was willing to do anything so her brother could see again, however that might happen. She slowly sat down in one of the pews, bowing her head to thank whoever it was that caused Edward's miracle. A sudden stream of light interrupted her thoughts as the chapel door opened and then closed again. Heavy footsteps came sauntering down the aisle as someone plopped down in the pew behind her. She resisted the urge to turn around, simply choosing to bow her head and resume her prayers. A gruffly cleared throat startled her and she turned around, prepared to berate the individual for disturbing her.
She was surprised by how close the stranger was. He was leaning forward, his arms crossed against the back of her seat. She could only stare as he looked back at her with wide blue eyes, impossibly long lashes fluttering against his cheeks as he blinked at her.
"Hello darlin'. Why so sad, did someone pee in your cornflakes?" He said, in an obviously overdone Texas accent.
Alice felt everything within her flutter at his carefree words as she watched him brush the tangles of wavy blond hair off of his forehead. What was happening to her? Her insides her turning to jello just like the characters in the smutty romance novels Rose was always trying to get her to read. She was trying to pull herself together when the man extended his hand to her.
"My name is Jasper Whitlock ma'am."
She mutely placed her hand in his and both of their eyes flew open wide at the contact. Her mouth dropped open as his spread into a broad, cocky smile.
"I have been waiting forever for you." He breathed as he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.
"I'm Alice." She whispered.
"Well Alice, we have some catching up to do. Would you care to accompany me to the cafeteria so I can buy you some terrible coffee?" He asked, flashing her a crooked grin. She nodded and slowly stood, painfully aware that she was still wearing the hideous outfit she had put on to take Edward to the track. His eyes documented every inch of her as she made her way out of the pew. He stood nearly a foot taller than her and she had to tip her head back to maintain eye contact.
"You don't have to wear that stuff anymore you know." He whispered, reaching out to tuck a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I know." She breathed.
"Things will be different now." He said as he placed her hand over his arm and started down the aisle, as if they were newlyweds.
"I know. I can't wait." She replied.
Jasper and Alice spent the rest of their time together talking as they sat huddled together in the hospital cafeteria, their untouched cups of horrible coffee sitting between them. There was always a part of them touching, whether it was the casual brush of thigh against thigh or the possessive placement of his hand on her lower back. She tried to memorize the rugged slash of his cheekbones and the way he raised his right eyebrow when he thought she was making something up. His hair was a funny color, stuck between blond and brown and it brushed against his jaw line as he spoke. His long neck disappeared into a comfortable looking fitted t-shirt, the faded gray making his blue eyes seem fathomless. He wore perfectly broken-in jeans, the seams wanting to answer her prayers and split whenever his lean muscles pressed against them. She found herself flustered when she realized she had spent several minutes staring at the blatant masculinity of his strong, powerful feet which were showcased in worn Birkenstocks.
She suddenly realized how long she had been away and apologized, rising from the table. He got up with her and walked her back to the emergency room. She looked up at him, wondering when she would see him next. He started speaking as if reading her mind.
"I'm in room 407. Come up anytime." He whispered before he lightly grazed her lips with his own. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest as she watched him walk away. Edward was surprised with how quiet his usually effervescent sister was, but figured she was tired. He held still while she decorated his cast and then sat patiently with her while they waited for their parents to return with Edward's discharge instructions. He was startled when Alice's quiet voice broke the silence.
"Hey Edward, how well do you know the hospital?" She asked.
"I guess I know it pretty well. Why?" He questioned.
"Do you know where room 407 would be?" She said.
"You mean besides it being on the fourth floor. I am pretty sure that room is in the cancer wing." He said, shaking his head at his attempt at a joke. His sister gasped and he whipped his head in her direction, wishing Bella was here so he could see what was wrong with his sister. He could barely make out her quiet words.
"Oh no… Jasper is my door." She said softly, as silent tears trailed down her face. Thankfully Edward's parents chose that moment to come back into the room. They both questioned Alice's tears, but she passed them off as exhaustion and excitement. Esme understood how her daughter felt, more than ready to get home and release some tears of her own.
After having held Bella while she cried herself out, Esme had helped her to her feet. She was incensed to find a perfect handprint on Bella's cheek and knew from Emmett's earlier reaction, how it got there. Her daughter-in-law would be hearing about this. Bella apologized profusely as Esme escorted her out to where her father was waiting. Esme accepted Charlie's apology for Bella's behavior and she could finally understand why a beautiful girl like Bella would be aching for someone to love her. It was obvious that Chief Swan thought of the girl more as an obligation than someone to love.
Carlisle held tight to Esme's arm as they had watched the chief walk out of the emergency room with Bella trailing behind him.
"Do I want to know how she got that mark on her cheek?" He had whispered in her ear as they made their way back into Edward's room. She shook her head with a sigh and put on a brave face before entering her son's room. She had quickly noticed that Alice was acting strangely and was surprised to see tears streaming down her face. When asked what was wrong she pleaded exhaustion and Esme chose to let that lie slide. She knew Alice would come and talk to her when she was ready.
As they prepared to leave, Edward whipped his head around.
"Did Bella already leave?" He asked frantically. In Esme's rush to get the poor girl home, they had forgotten all about having her say goodbye to Edward. The door suddenly swung open and hit the wall behind it as Bella stood in the doorway. Alice huffed as she saw Bella's cheek and Esme caught her eye, making sure her daughter did not say anything.
"I'm so sorry Edward. I was halfway home before I realized I did not say goodbye." Bella said quietly as she looked down at the blue cast that now encased his hand. She was surprised to find tears spring into her eyes, thinking for sure she had been cried out by now.
"Don't worry Bella, I would have tracked you down somehow." He replied, as he raised his good hand towards her. She rushed forward and linked their fingers together, sighing quietly at the calming electric hum that immersed her as soon as their skin touched. He blinked slowly, allowing himself to become desensitized to the light. He first glanced into her face, reacquainting himself with her beauty. He was speechless as he looked at her tear streaked, bruised face. He knew he would have noticed if she had a hand-shaped bruise earlier.
He reached his hand up to caress the mark and ended up bashing her in the face with his unwieldy cast instead.
"Oh shit Bella. I am so sorry." He cried, as he touched her again with just the tips of his exposed fingers. She laughed quietly and he was relieved that he had not hurt her further.
"What happened?" He asked quietly, mindful of his parents and sister who were hovering nearby. Two of the onlookers were wondering the same thing. Esme knew Bella would never expose Rosalie for what she had done, but was holding her breath to see what excuse Bella came up with.
"I walked into a door?" She suggested cautiously.
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Edward replied, a soft smile gracing his full lips as he realized he was never going to get the truth from her.
"Um, telling you?" She questioned, laughing quietly.
"Fine, you can keep your secrets for now." He acquiesced as he looked away from her and toward his family.
"Where did Emmett and Rose go?" He asked and noticed that Bella cringed when he said his sister-in-law's name. He would have to make sure to have a few words with Rose the next time he saw her. The family was letting her get away with too much the past few months.
"Rose was exhausted, so Emmett took her home." Esme supplied, stepping forward to place a calming hand on Bella's shoulder as she brushed the wild hair off of Edward's forehead. Bella looked on with envy at the relaxed way Esme was with her son. She wished to one day have a child of her own so she could shower them with the kind of love she never knew herself. Then she thought about the mechanics of how babies were born and quickly realized she may end up dying a childless virgin.
Edward gently squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present.
"You should be getting home, it is late and I bet you have to work tomorrow." He supplied, hoping he could finagle her work schedule out of her so he could figure out when he could spend some more time with her.
"Actually I am not working right now. I just finished my degree and have not been able to find a job in my field yet." She said, unknowingly falling right into Edward's trap.
"Oh well that means you will have plenty of time to spend with Edward." Esme suggested and Edward wanted to kiss his mother's feet.
"I am sure we don't want to overwhelm poor Bella. She needs to find a job and how can she do that if she is spending all of her free time with Edward." Carlisle said, trying to keep his worst fears from becoming reality. He did not want his family to end up using Bella simply as a means to an end.
"Well of course not silly. We want Bella to be able to continue living her own life, and when she can find some time, she can spend it with Edward. Does that sound ok with you Bella?" Esme suggested.
Bella wanted nothing more than to suggest that she move in with the Cullens and they adopt her, but she knew that would sound really weird, so she simply nodded and recited her cell phone number to Alice who quickly put it in her iPhone.
Edward looked once more at his parents and twin sister before gazing into the deep brown eyes of his newly found savior. Esme grabbed Carlisle by the arm and all but dragged him from the room, with Alice following not far behind. They wanted to give Edward and Bella some privacy.
Bella stared into the endless depths of Edward's green eyes, praying she would find something other than simply gratefulness there. She wanted to see a real emotion, not just the usual gratitude Charlie gave her when she set his dinner down in front of him or changed his sheets. She was not disappointed as he looked back at her with adoration. He gently grazed her cheek with the tips of his injured fingers.
"I need you to tell me what happened." He breathed.
"I don't want to." She whispered.
"Why not."
"Because you will think poorly of me."
"I don't think that could every happen."
"I ran into Rosalie."
"Did you hurt her?"
"No."
"Did she hurt you?"
Bella remained silent, which gave Edward his answer.
"Did she hit you?"
"Yes, but I deserved it." She said quickly.
"How could you have possibly done anything to deserve being hit?"
"I… don't know." She floundered as she realized she actually had no idea what she had done or said to Rosalie to cause her to smack her.
Edward gazed into her eyes, slowly realizing what kind of person he was dealing with. Bella was a punching bag. She was willing to take everything lying down as to not rock the boat. He hated that this kind, beautiful girl was suffering through life, doubting her self-worth just because someone told her she was not good enough. Well he was going to bring a stop to that.
"Bella, you have no idea what it means to me that you are willing to give up your time to help me. I don't know why you are so special, but I will do everything I can to treat you the way you deserve." Edward said vehemently.
Bella wanted nothing more than to trust him, but she had heard similar words from her mother and father throughout her entire life. Why would this man be any different?
"I'll call you tomorrow?" Edward questioned softly, hesitant to remove his hands from her silky flesh, not only because he dreaded his return to darkness, but also because he was becoming increasingly addicted to the electric hum that surged through him when he touched her. Could it be that it had been so long since he had touched a woman who was not related to him? Would any woman's touch affect him the same way?
Unknown to Edward, Bella's thoughts were traveling along the same vein. Was it possible that the simple touch of any man's flesh upon hers would cause her bones to vibrate inside her skin or was it something special between her and Edward? She wished she knew, but for now she was hesitant to give up these feelings. She knew it would end eventually, but she was willing to deal with the emptiness when that happened. For now she would immerse herself in Edward Cullen and damn the consequences.
A/N: Are you reading 'Grand Jete' by stella luna sky? It is awesome!
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