A/N

Wow…I can't even put into words how much I appreciate all the reviews, comments etc on this story so far. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to give my little take on things a chance! In appreciation, Edward will be coming around with chocolate for everyone as soon as he makes his way back from South America!

Lolarosa….thanks for your advice, support and all the great laughs – Big hugs!

A massive thank you and much chocolate to my Beta Queen, changedbyEdward – thanks for your wisdom, support and tough love….MWAH!

Stephenie M…that lucky, lucky girl owns everything and I only wish I did. I do enjoy playing with her creations though!

Happy reading!

Chapter 4

(Bella's POV)

As I watched the door close behind Carlisle, my heart filled with despair causing my body to curl into itself. I understood that he had to leave and I believed him when he said that he and Esme would return in the morning, but that didn't stop the terror of being alone.

I looked around the small room that had been my cell for what seemed like an eternity, and tried to convince myself that I could survive the night. I glanced at the table beside my bed and saw my prized novels sitting on top. Somewhere in the depths of my memory I remembered Charlie bringing them to me, but at the time I had been incapable of thanking him.

Charlie. My heart ached when I realized what my parents must have been through over the past few months. All I had to do was look around the room to realize how terrifying it must have been and how it must have torn them apart to place me in a mental facility. As horrible as I felt for them, I knew I was not ready to speak with either of my parents.

The first question would be "What happened?" and I was not ready to share that with anyone. Carlisle hadn't asked and I hoped that he wouldn't; at least for awhile. I couldn't even allow myself to think of that day for fear that I would sink back into the pit of despair that had held me captive for so long.

I closed my eyes and heard the melody playing in my head. I would not forget.

The nightmare came somewhere before dawn. Darkness surrounded me at every turn and I felt myself suffocating as the trees closed in on me. I heard the wind as it whispered through the branches, taunting me. But unlike so many times before, I was not alone in the forest. I saw them standing there, beckoning to me, and I felt hope course through my veins. My lullaby played loudly in my head as I fought my way out of the trees and towards my saviours. The smiles that lit their faces as I approached made my heart soar. They were beautiful and I loved them as if they were my own parents. Carlisle and Esme.

Morning finally came and I anxiously waited for my company to arrive. After the nurse brought in what I assumed was to be my breakfast, I looked in the drawer by my bed and found a hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste. "Time for a human moment." I stopped suddenly as my eyes began to well with tears. I leaned against the cool wall, closed my eyes and prayed for the moment of weakness to pass. And it did. I took several deep breaths to calm my shaken nerves and then washed my face, brushed my teeth and gaped in horror at what I had become.

My cheeks were sunken pits and I couldn't believe how pale I was. I had dark purple circles under both eyes and my hair lay lifelessly against my shoulders. I sighed in disgust and ran the brush through my hair, disentangling all the mats that had formed over God knows how long. I vaguely remembered a nurse doing this for me, but obviously it had not been recently. Convinced that I had all the tangled knots out, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and glanced around the room, looking for something to change into. It appeared as though they didn't trust residents with clothes, so I was forced to stay in the ugly green hospital gown. I returned to the bed and tidied it, then messed it again as I sat and pushed myself up to lean against the headboard. I glanced one more time at the revolting tray; grabbed the only edible thing on it, an apple, then grabbed one of my books to read while I waited.

Time passed too slowly and I began to fear that my visit with Carlisle had been a hallucination. I turned the pages of 'Wuthering Heights' without taking in a word, praying that it had not all been a fantasy.

Then, just as I was about to give up, there was a light knock at my door. I answered, but my voice still didn't sound like my own. The door opened and my saviours had arrived. I felt the tears return as Esme flew to me and pulled me into her arms.

"Oh Bella, sweetheart," she cooed as she held me close and ran her hands comfortingly down my hair. She pulled back a little and held my face in her cool porcelain hands and gazed into my eyes. She gently wiped my tears and pulled me close again, pressing her icy lips to my forehead.

(Carlisle's POV)

I had hated leaving so quickly after her breakthrough, but I also had known that she needed time to assess the day's events. She ate a bit of her supper for me before I left and it was obvious from the look on her face that it was as revolting to her as it was to me. I made a mental note to bring a few of her favorite snacks with us the next day.

I decided to not call Charlie until after the next visit with Bella. I hated the thought of giving him false hope and although I was convinced that she had come back to us to stay, I wanted to be sure. I spoke with Jennie before I left and we made several small notes in her file, but nothing in detail. I also put strict instructions that she was not to be drugged again, in any way, without my consultation.

I felt like a young schoolboy as I stood in the airport and waited for my beloved wife to arrive. We had been apart for longer stretches of time, but for some reason at that moment I just needed to feel her in my arms. Her scent came to me before I even saw her and I raised my head and found her soft caramel eyes searching for me.

Careful to not draw too much attention, she ran at human speed and launched herself into my arms, pressing her lips against mine. I have always thought that kissing Esme could only be compared to what I would feel should my heart start beating again and I am convince that it is a sensation that I will never get enough of. I heard a chuckle at the back of her throat as I clutched her close and swung her around in the air.

"We better stop. I would hate for us to be thrown out of the airport!" She murmured into my shoulder so I gently set her down and grabbed her hand in mine.

"We better grab your luggage and get out of here."

"No worries, my love. I have what I need in my carry-on and everything else is being shipped overnight. We should have everything at the house by tomorrow afternoon."

"My wife, the Martha Stewart of vampires!" She rapped me on the shoulder playfully as I nudged her chin up and teased her lips with another gentle kiss.

"You seem in better spirits than you have been in months. Tell me what has happened?" She cuddled in close to me as I led her out the doors and towards the parking lot where I had left the Mercedes.

"Let's go home, darling; I will fill you in on the way."

The drive to our rental property was fairly short, but I still had enough time to fill Esme in on the day's events. Her eyes glistened as she listened to me describe Bella's condition and the state I had found her in. She reached over and clasped my hand in hers and held it tightly for the rest of the drive.

As we entered the house we were to call home for the next while, she told me of her flight and the arrangements she had secured for the property. It always amazed me how she was able to find the perfect spot for us each time, and this house was no exception. It reminded me of a southern plantation, built of dark red brick, with large white pillars supporting a large wrap-around veranda. The house itself was spacious yet inviting with dark hardwood throughout, and it was almost a disappointment that we would not be able to stay permanently.

She led me through the vast hallway to a large den that she planned to use as a library. It had French doors off to one side that opened up to another deck and led to the forest beyond. It was stunning and would serve its purpose as a refuge for us perfectly.

"It's lovely, Esme. You have outdone yourself yet again."

She smiled up at me as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me to her. Our lips met and melted together, warming with passion as each moment passed. I ran my hand down her back and she chuckled seductively.

"Shall I show you the rest of the house, my love?"

I swept her into my arms and carried her towards the staircase. "Only if the tour starts in the master bedroom…"

We spent the night locked in each other's embrace, cherishing each moment that we had together. We lay in bed lazily and watched as the sun found its way back into the sky and then rose to face the day, unsure of what lay ahead.

We made a few quick stops along the way to the hospital but still arrived in fairly good time, missing most of the rush hour traffic. We walked down the hall, hand in hand, and I felt Esme's anxiety as she glanced around the cold, bleak corridor. She had never been fond of hospitals, but even I found the building unwelcoming, so I couldn't blame her revulsion. I tightened my grip on her hand and smiled down at her.

"Carlisle, how long will we have to leave her in here?"

"I am not sure, my love." I smiled at an intern as he passed by, and then inwardly cringed as I saw his eyes wander over my wife's glorious body. I shook myself from the interruption and tightened my hold on her hand. "As soon as Bella feels strong enough to face the outside world, I can put in the recommendation for her release, but unfortunately…"

"Charlie has the final say." She finished my sentence. "But Bella is considered an adult now, does she have no say?"

"Unfortunately, no. She was incapacitated when they brought her in, so it is up to her legal guardian to allow her to leave." I sensed her worry and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, darling. I am sure that once he sees that she is doing better, he will have her released."

"But what if he doesn't?" We stopped outside Bella's door and she raised her face and stared sadly into my eyes. "What if he keeps her in here to keep her away from Edward?"

I didn't know how to answer. It had crossed my mind that Charlie might insist on Bella remaining in the hospital just to protect her. It might ease his mind that he was doing his best to save her from harm, but in reality, if Edward decided he was going to see Bella, nothing would keep him away. The only person who could do so, would be Bella herself.

I glanced through the window before knocking and a sense of relief washed over me as a much brighter picture than the day before greeted me. I tapped lightly and after I heard a small invitation to enter, opened the door and we stepped inside.

I have always believed that there isn't anything in the world that comes close to a mother's love. Although we had only known Bella for a short time, Esme had accepted her into the family without hesitation. Fiercely protective, and full of unconditional love, I knew there was nothing that my wife would not do to protect a member of her family and Bella was no exception. Once, many decades ago, she had not been able to do so, and even though it was a faint human memory, it was something she would never allow to happen again.

I watched as they clung together, not speaking, but fully communicating as mother and daughter. Esme caressed Bella's face and I knew that she was shocked by what she saw, although she hid her feelings from Bella flawlessly. I hated to break up their reunion, but I needed to speak with Bella to be able to assess how to proceed with her treatment.

I pulled the visitor's chair around towards the bed and sat, facing her. Esme settled herself onto the bed beside Bella, her arm wrapped around her shoulders, and Bella curled towards her, still facing me, but resting her head against Esme's shoulder.

"How are you feeling, Bella? Do you remember our visit yesterday?"

She nodded. "I…" she hesitated, still trying to find her voice. "I'm doing ok, Carlisle. I just feel like I've been living in a fog that's finally starting to lift."

"Did you eat this morning?" I chuckled as I saw a familiar look of disgust cross her face.

"I ate the apple. The rest of what they brought was crap!"

Another checkmark along her road to recovery. There was animation in her voice and in her expression.

"Perhaps Esme has something more to your liking." Two different kinds of pop-tart boxes appeared in Esme's hands and I laughed as Bella dove for the strawberry flavored one.

"They would probably be better toasted, Bella," Esme scolded lightly, but Bella just grinned at her and bit into the biscuit. To us it looked and smelled like cardboard, but to Bella it was as if we had given her filet mignon. She closed her eyes and chewed, enjoying every morsel.

"Ah, real food!" She snickered at our expressions and popped the last piece into her mouth. I sensed that she was thinking of devouring another one, but hesitated. I motioned for her to go ahead and she popped open the blueberry box.

"Bella, do you remember why you were brought here?" Her chewing stopped and she looked at me, her eyes full of pain, but with a confidence that had not been there the day before. She nodded and placed the half-eaten pop tart on her nightstand.

"Yes, but I don't think I'm ready to talk about it. I don't know if I ever will be ready."

Esme tightened her hug and Bella looked up at her gratefully.

"We don't have to discuss why today, Isabella, but I need to know that you understand why you were brought here. I don't want to see you in here any longer than you need to be, so if it seems like I am prying, please understand that I only have your best interests at heart."

"What do I have to do to get out of here, Carlisle?" She asked quietly, as she lifted her eyes to meet mine.

"Well, I think the first thing we need to do is get you physically healthy. I am going to see what I can do about getting better meals for you and if things don't improve, we will make sure to have food brought in." I saw her struggling with the thought of us going out of our way to help her and I shook my head at her before she had the chance to argue.

"Bella, please let us do this for you. We love you and we want you healthy and free of this place." She leaned back and Esme smiled at her. "You know how much I love watching all those cooking shows! It will be wonderful for me to have the opportunity to test out my culinary skills on you."

"I would love that, Esme." She cleared her throat and looked at me again. "OK, so we get me looking more normal, what else?"

I fought back the grin as I heard the frustration in her voice – this was the Bella we knew and loved. "We will have to delve into some of the issues surrounding your arrival here; your parents will both have to see that you have improved; and you will have to have a complete physical exam before they release you." I thought the best way to handle the situation was to get everything out in the open. I understood that Bella was distressed over the fact that she would need to remain in the hospital indefinitely. Who could blame her? Figuring that she could use some one on one time with Esme, I mentioned some paperwork that I had waiting for me in my borrowed office. It wasn't completely untrue, although it was not as pressing as I had implied. What was pressing was the phone call I needed to make to Bella's father.

I knew the phone call to Charlie was not going to be an easy one to make. I was sure that he would be elated that Bella was walking and talking again, but I knew that he would want to visit immediately and his daughter had made it quite clear that she was not ready for that kind of interrogation yet.

I closed the door to my office, sat down at the desk and rested my head in my hands to think. I studied Bella's file again, even though I had committed everything to memory the first time I had read it. I didn't add anything else to the folder, as I was unsure how much I wanted on record concerning her recovery. I pushed away from the desk and turned to stare out the window. The sky was dark and overcast, a perfect day for us to be out and typical weather for Seattle. I watched the clouds move west towards the coast, and considered the options that lay ahead. The first being what I had discussed with Bella. The second was to ask Charlie to allow Esme and me to take her to our home and work with her there, an option that I doubted he would even consider. The third was to leave everything alone and wait to see if Edward would come to his senses and return for her. If this were to happen, the fact that she was in a mental institution would only aid in us covering her change with a "suicide". It was not an option that I wanted to explore, as I knew how much Bella would hate doing it to her parents, but it would be the convenient way out.

But was this even an option? Perhaps Edward had hurt Bella so badly she would not even consider joining our family. Yet again my thoughts turned to my oldest "son" and the disbelief that he could have done something so horrendous to Bella that she would end up in a mental institution. There had to be an explanation, even though it seemed utterly impossible to comprehend.

I returned to the desk and picked up the telephone, I knew I couldn't delay the impending call any longer.

End of Chapter – Reviews keep the nightmares away! Help!! :o)