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Chapter 6 Can't tell you why

Bella

When I woke up the next morning, I had no idea how long I'd slept for, just that I was so comfortable that I never wanted to move. I could also never remember being this well rested- and that included the time when I'd had a bed and a home.

Slowly I sat up in the huge bed, taking in my surroundings in awe: The walls were painted a soft, soothing blue, the white shag carpet looked wickedly soft, and the matching oak wood furniture just completed the whole picture in front of me.

I noticed two doors to the side of the bed- one glass and leading out to a small balcony, the other wooden. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, fully intending to go and have a closer look, when a velvet voice came from the doorway.

"Morning sunshine."

I jumped at the sudden greeting and then grimaced in pain as I jolted my ribs. I looked up to see Edward standing there with a warm smile on his face.

"It's so beautiful." I breathed, looking around the room again and then smiling at him.

"Esme decorated." He shrugged modestly, "I'm glad you like it." He walked over to me on the edge of the bed and kissed my cheek casually, making my heart rate speed and a blush spread over my face.

"Did you see the bathroom?" he asked, walking across the room and opening the wooden door I was just about to investigate.

I smiled widely when I saw glimpses of bathroom items that I was beginning to think I would never use again.

I walked over slowly and shyly peered into the surprisingly modest bathroom, "Can I?" I asked.

Edward laughed, "Of course Bella, it's all yours; take as long as you want."

I sighed happily, how had I got this lucky? Edward really hadn't changed from the amazingly kind man he'd been in the past.

"I have breakfast ready when you are." He said before grimacing, "But I must warn you- I really can't cook."

I laughed, "Nothing's changed then." I teased him. Esme had often attempted to teach him to cook when we were younger. It had been hopeless then and obviously still was.

"Can I do the cooking from now on then?" I asked, jumping at the opportunity to pay him back for his kindness in some small way.

"Would you?" Edward looked relieved, "I live on toast and take out, and I'd feel bad doing that to you."

"Of course I will." I eagerly said. I might have not cooked for awhile but there was nothing wrong with my memory and I'd always enjoyed it.

"I remember you always used to cook for your parents. They were useless cooks." Edward chuckled at the memories and I would've joined him if I hadn't frozen at the mention of my parents.

Edward immediately sobered at my reaction and looked remorseful, "I heard about your dad, Bella. I'm so sorry."

I tensed even further, "What did you hear?" I asked, maybe a bit too sharply.

Edward blinked, "Just that he'd passed away?" he said gently, question in his voice.

I nodded in affirmation- that's all he needed to know.

"I'll leave you to shower." Edward said, leaving the room, realising that it needed to be left alone. I could hear a hint of determination in his tone. He was obviously only leaving it for now…

But as I climbed under the powerful stream of the shower water, the feeling more luxurious than ever, I knew that I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to tell him.

x-x-x-x-x

"How are your ribs?" Edward asked as we ate our eggs. He had somehow managed to make them taste like rubber; the poor guy really didn't know how to cook. Still, I scarfed them down hungrily- it was the best meal I'd had in years and I appreciated the effort more than he'd ever know.

"Sore." I admitted, thinking it was probably best to not lie about it, "Mind if I lie down after breakfast?"

He smiled tenderly, "I'll do you one better. I'll set you up in the sleeper couch in the living room with the TV, your books and more pain killers." He looked at me seriously, "The next couple of days I don't want you to move. Just stay still and heal."

I sighed, knowing he was right- I needed to heal before I could start pulling my weight around here. I felt bad enough that he'd taken me in, but now he was looking after me too… I felt worse.

"It will be like a hospital, only ten times more comfortable."

I couldn't help but smile at that, "Thank you, Edward."

"You're more than welcome, Bella."

x-x-x-x-x

The next few days passed in a blur of sleep and Edward.

When I wasn't passed out due to pain killers and Edward wasn't working, he sat with me as we watched TV and just laughed and hung out.

It was a Saturday now and Edward had finally cleared me enough so that I could start moving around again. Staying in that one spot except for the bathroom had nearly killed me- I hated being still for so long.

"So I was thinking," Edward said as we ate our bowls of cereal. It was good to sit at the kitchen table again.

"I'm sure you're dying to leave the house for a bit. We should go shopping after breakfast. Get you some clothes." He said slowly, carefully, as if expecting my reaction. I had been living in one of his shirts and my old sweat pants (And I meant old).

I shook my head adamantly, "No Edward. I can't let you do that. Just letting me stay here is enough." I protested.

"Bella, please consider it a late birthday present, as well as for all the others I missed."

"Edward…" I knew I was going to end up giving in. For one, he was stubborn and second, I really hated to admit it, but I really did need new clothes. I didn't want to embarrass him with the wardrobe I had, which consisted of that pair of sweats, three pairs of dirty frayed jeans and two holey shirts of which I couldn't remember the original colour.

Edward smiled victoriously and I sighed in defeat, smiling slightly as I shook my head at him.

"Do you still want that tour?" he asked when we finished eating, "You have been here awhile now, with no idea what the house looks like." He smirked.

"That's because some one wouldn't let me move." I retorted, smiling, "But, yes please. A tour would be great." I said, standing up, eager to see the rest of his beautiful home. I took my plate to the sink and was about to wash it when I felt a hand on my arm, stopping me.

"You don't have to, Bella. There's a lady that comes in once a week to clean, she's coming in today." Edward said huskily.

Suddenly I was hyperaware of his body almost touching the length of mine and I turned around, gasping when I realised how close our faces were, how close his lips were to mine.

I stood there for a lingering moment, feeling the old, yet still powerful as ever, chemistry flow between us. Eventually I pulled away- slightly unnerved- before something incredibly stupid happened.

It wasn't that I didn't want anything to happen, I couldn't lie to myself completely, but it would be a mistake to let something happen between us now. He'd just offered me incredible kindness by taking me into his home and we were just reconnecting as friends again.

How did I even know that what I was feeling was in anyway, attraction? No doubt Edward was gorgeous, but it had been so long since I'd felt anything for some one that I could be mistaking this as gratitude.

I took a deep breath. Nothing could happen between us, that is, if he even wanted it to. I had too many issues to get into a relationship; I had too many walls up around my heart.

Edward didn't say anything; he only took my hand and led me down the hallway where he showed me his study, where shelves and shelves of books lined the walls. My fingers were itching to explore the many titles that I was sure were there.

Edward chuckled when he saw my expression and let go of my hand, gently nudging me to the books, "Go ahead," he said, "You're welcome to read whatever you want."

I briefly looked them over, ecstatic to see many titles that I'd read and many others that I'd wanted to read. I stopped browsing when I came to some photo albums, not wanting to pry, but Edward chuckled again and took out one of the albums.

"Oh wow!" I gasped when I saw a familiar family stare back at me from one of the photos, "Alice looks so different." She had once had ridiculously short black hair and lived in cargo pants but in the photo, her hair was chin length, with a few subtle blonde and brown highlights weaved through it. She was also wearing a mini skirt and a lacy top that hugged her tiny figure.

"Told you."

"And it doesn't look like Carlisle and Esme have aged at all!"

He put the album away shortly after and we resumed our tour. I'd already seen the kitchen, living room and my room so all that was left now after the study was Edward's room.

I couldn't help blushing slightly as I walked in, but soon forgot my embarrassment when I took in the room. If I'd thought my room was stunning, it had nothing on Edward's room. The room was light and open, the cream of the walls and carpet making the room seem incredibly friendly. He still had a huge wall of CD's like he'd had as a teen, only the collection had definitely expanded over the years. He was obviously still an avid music fan.

"No wonder Esme's in such demand." I murmured to myself before turning to Edward, "How come you don't live with your parents?"

Edward shrugged, "They're living in the property just outside Forks, I needed to be a bit closer to town for work so I asked them to just arrange it for me while they were arranging for our return." He grimaced, "As much as I love this house, I never expected them to get me something so big."

I nodded in understanding, "And Alice?"

"She's moving down soon. She won't be in Forks though. Her and her boyfriend, Jasper are moving to Seattle. Alice wants open a boutique there."

I nodded again, "Do you like Jasper?"

"Yes, and he's good for Alice," Edward smiled, "We all met him in our senior year of high school and they've been inseparable since."

Soon we moved on to the small private garden behind the house, where I gasped in surprise to see a swimming pool.

"A swimming pool in Forks?" I asked him disbelief.

He laughed, "That was my reaction, but the water is heated."

I grinned widely, "I've always wanted to swim in a heated pool." I said excitedly.

"We need to buy you a swim suit first." He smirked at me playfully and I glared at him.

"Fine Cullen." I pulled a tongue at him. I felt lighter than I had in a very long time.

Edward chuckled and took my hand, leading me inside, "Let's go shopping, Bella."