DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF S. MEYER'S CHARACTERS,
I JUST PLAY WITH THEM.
EPOV
While I waited for Dad to check Bella out, I went down the hallway in search of a bathroom. I needed to make sure all the blood was cleaned off. I was afraid it might upset Bella if I showed up covered in blood. Stopping off at the nurse's station, I ask where the men's room is. They direct me down the hall, two doors down. Thanking them, I hurry down. I lock the door behind me and turn to inspect myself in the mirror. Okay… there's still some on my face and a little bit down the front of my shirt. Quickly, I wash my face, being careful of the tape across my nose. Damn. It's sore. With some damp paper towels, I manage to get most of the blood out of my shirt. I guess that will do. Dad is surely done by now.
Heading back toward Bella's room, I see my Dad coming out. He sees me coming and waits for me.
"Dad? Is she okay?"
"She's fine. A little shaken up, but she will be fine. I gave her something to help her sleep." He draped his arm around my shoulders. "You really care for her don't you."?
"Like I told you, Dad…. I've loved her since the first day she walked into my Biology class" I shrugged.
He smiled and ruffled my hair. "Then you'd better not keep her waiting." He grinned when I gazed him questioningly. "She was very concerned that you were hurt and won't believe you are alright until she 'sees you with her own eyes'. And that was a direct quote." He chuckled softly and gave me a gentle push toward her door. "Go and put her mind at ease. And then see if you can convince her to get some sleep."
"I will." Turning before I opened her door, "Thanks Dad."
"You're welcome, Son."
Slowly pushing the door open, I peeked around it to see if Bella was awake. Her face was turned away from the door, toward the window. I couldn't tell is she was asleep or not. I carefully and quietly made my way around the end of the bed.
The soft glow of the approaching sunrise gently lit Bella's face. Her dark lashes fanned across her cheeks. Knowing how much she needed her rest, I silently moved the chair next to her bed, settled down, and gently took her hand in mine. Laying my head on the edge of the bed, thinking about all the time that had been wasted. If only we'd talked a long time ago. I was determined that we would have this talk before she left this hospital...
BPOV
Charlie sat on the edge of my bed, pulling me into his arms and settling me on his lap. "Oh, Bella." He stroked my hair, rocking me gently. "I'm so sorry, honey. I should have been here."
"Dad. No. You had no way to know he would come here." I tried to comfort him.
" I never should have left you alone." I could feel his hot tears soaking trough my hair. "He did this all to you, didn't he?"
I was quiet for a minute. "Yes", I mumbled.
"Bells, why didn't you tell me?" He hugged me tighter to him.
"I was afraid he's come back to hurt me some more if I said anything." I snorted at the irony. "And he came back anyway."
"Well, he won't be coming back any more. He's going away for a very long time." He fell silent, still rocking me gently as he stroked my hair, his tears still flowing.
A soft knock on the door startled us both. "Yes?" I called out.
The door slowly opened and Dr. Cullen peeked in. "Bella, Charlie…" He stepped into the room. "I just want to check Bella over to be sure she hasn't sustained any more injuries."
Charlie eased me back on to the bed, keeping his back toward Dr. Cullen as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Sure, Carlisle. Let me just get out of your way." He moved around to the other side of the bed, closer to the door.
Dr. Cullen checked me over quickly. "Looks like you're okay. I don't see anything new." He looked me in the eye. "Is there anything I don't know about?"
"No. He just had his hand over my nose and mouth, with his arm across my neck."
Dr. Cullen took a closer look at my neck. "Hmmm… I think you may have a bruise from that, but there doesn't appear to be any major damage." He patted my hand, smiling at me, before turning to Charlie. "Charlie… you alright?"
"I'm fine." Charlie grumbled. "I missed out on the pleasure of subduing Jacob."
Dr. Cullen chuckled. "Well, maybe he'll resist while you're interrogating him and you can do a little 'subduing' then." He laughed and winked at Charlie who suddenly looked a lot happier.
"You know, he just might."
"Dad!" He grinned at me.
"Hey, can't your old man dream?" He stepped closer to Dr. Cullen, reaching out to shake his hand. "Thanks, Carlisle." He gave me a hug. "Bells, I need to get down to the station and take care of the paperwork. You try to get some sleep and I'll see you later this afternoon."
"Okay, Dad." He kissed the top of my head and left.
"I'm going to have a nurse bring you some meds to help you sleep. Get some rest." He smiled at me as he stepped out and pulled the door shut.
I shift around, trying to find a comfortable position in this bed. I hate hospital beds! They were not designed for comfort. And the blankets just will not stay straight. They wrap around you like a straight jacket.
A light tap at the door alerted me to someone coming in. Ah, it was one of the nurses. I couldn't remember her name, but she was so sweet. I smiled at her.
"I've got the good stuff." She grinned at me, holding up a syringe. She injected the medicine into my IV line. "This will have you out in no time." Seeing the mess of blankets, she helped me get them straight again. "Sweet dreams, Sweetie." She called as she slipped out of the room, closing the door.
The soft light of the impending sunrise cast a glow over the room. I wish Edward was here. He's probably at home sound asleep in his bed. I just hate that Jacob broke his nose. Hmmm…my head feels fuzzy. My eyelids begin to droop. Maybe he'll come to see me… later…
That must be some good stuff…I feel like I'm floating. And… it almost … feels like someone is holding my hand…Edward? I want to open my eyes to see, but I can't. I wiggle my fingers and feel soft hair… Sighing, I give in to the medication and float away.
Yuck! My mouth feels like it's full of cotton. And every muscle in my body hurts. And who turned on all the lights? Grumbling, I barely raise my eyelids, glaring. Oh. It's the sun. I start to shift to a more comfortable (ha) position and realize that someone is holding my hand. Looking down, I see a bronze mop of hair resting on the edge of my bed. Edward? I didn't dream it. He stayed with me… all night. I try to ease my hand from his, but he grips it tighter, groaning softly, so I leave it where it is. With my other hand, being careful of the cast, I gently stroke his hair with my fingertips. It's as soft as I always thought it would be. Thinking back to last night, I pondered the bizarre events. He saved me from drowning…he said he loved me…OMG…he said he loved me! Could it be true? How could it be? I have loved him for so long, but I never expected to hear him say that to me. I accepted that I wasn't good enough for him a long time ago. He must have just felt sorry for me last night. That had to be it. I would make this as easy for him as I could. I don't want him to be embarrassed by what he said.
I lay there, stroking his hair for how long I don't know… but it wasn't nearly long enough for me. He moaned softly and began to stir. I tried again to ease my hand from his, but he gripped it tighter. Raising his head, he turned and gave me the most breath-taking smile.
"Hi." He sat up and stretched, releasing my hand. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." I shyly looked up at him from under my lashes. "You didn't have to stay."
"I couldn't leave you." He sat down on the side of my bed, taking my hand in his once more and kissing it gently. "We still have a lot to talk about and I don't want to wait any more."
EPOV
Waking up with Bella's fingers combing through my hair was an experience I wanted to repeat every single day. My scalp tingled and sent shivers down my spine. How could she think I could not stay with her?
Sitting up and bringing her little hand to my lips, I softly kissed her fingers. "I couldn't leave you." I looked into her beautiful chocolate eyes. "We still have a lot to talk about and I don't want to wait any more."
Sitting on the side of her bed, I took both of her hands in mine. I thought for a minute. Do I just lay my soul bare and tell her all my feelings and dreams? Or do I take it a little at a time and see what she has to say first? No, I love her and I need to tell her. If she doesn't love me, then at least I tried.
I looked down at our joined hands and took a deep breath. "Bella… I have been in love with you since the first day you sat next to me in Biology." I rushed through it, wanting to get it out before I lost my nerve. I risk a quick peek up at her, hearing a soft gasp. Oh no… there are tears running down her perfect cheeks. She doesn't love me. I'm a fool. I should have kept my mouth shut. "I'm sorry… you don't have to say anything… I'll just go…" I let go of her hands and start to get up, my own tears threatening to fall. Just let me get out of here without embarrassing myself any more.
BPOV
What? He's loved me since my first day at Forks High? Tears of joy run down my face. He loves me. He really loves me, too. Wait… why is he apologizing? Oh no… he thinks I don't love him back. He lets go of my hands and starts to get up, mumbling something about going. I grab his hand and tug him back down on the bed. He looks at me with confusion, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. "No! Don't leave me." I raise his hand to my lips and softly kiss him. "I didn't think you even knew I existed." He shook his head and started to speak, but I silenced him with a finger to his lips, shaking my head. "No, let me finish, please." I implored him with my eyes. He nodded. "You and your family are always so perfect. Beautiful clothes, beautiful looks, cars… everything. Your father is a doctor, your mother a designer. Obviously your family is at the top of the social ladder and to top it all off… wealthy." He just sat there watching me and shaking his head. "Me? I'm nothing. Average looking, nothing special. My family is broken, my dad is a police chief and we get by, but there's nothing extra. I have nothing to offer someone like you. But… I still love you." I don't realize that I am crying until Edward reaches over and gently wipes the tears from my cheek. He pulls me into his arms, holding me close.
"Bella, my love, you are so far above average…" he hesitates, "words are not enough to describe." Pulling back slightly, he lifts my chin with his finger, looking into my eyes. "My parents are wealthy, not me. I could care less about any 'social ladder'. You are real. You don't try to be something you are not. And you owned my heart in less than a day. I gave it to you willingly." Pulling me close again, his lips softly brushed mine as he watched me. My fingers crept into the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, stroking and gently pulling him closer. His lips came back to mine, this time demanding, the tip of his tongue sliding across my bottom lip, requesting entry. My lips parted slightly, granting him access and he wasted no time exploring my mouth. Our tongues caressed each other, soft moans escaping me. Needing to breathe, he moves to my neck, peppering soft kisses down to my shoulder and back up to right behind my ear, sending shivers all over me. After one last quick brush of his lips to mine, he pulled me into his lap.
"My love, we've both been such huge fools." He chuckles. "Each thinking the other doesn't want us." He shakes his head. Reaching up, I stroke the side of his face and he leans in to my touch, humming softly, his eyes closing. "But… I want you, Bella. Never doubt that." He gazed intently into my eyes. I could see the truth of his words in those beautiful, expressive eyes.
Leaning up to kiss him on the nose, I smile at him. I hope the love I have for him is shinning through my eyes. His eyes widen at my gaze, so perhaps he does see my love there. "Edward, I want you, too. I always have. But I never thought I had the slightest chance." He started shaking his head. "But… I was wrong." He kissed me quickly. "So… now what do we do?"
"First we get you home and healthy. Then, we spend time together. We communicate." He punctuated each statement with a swift peck on my nose.
"But, most importantly, we give our love the chance to grow."
A/N Well, there it is. There will be an epilogue in about two weeks. Thank you all for your reviews and support! Now, I will be concentrating on 'Never Think' and I also have another story in the early stages.
