A/N: Thanks for the understanding guys about school work and stuff. I somehow managed to write a chapter today! So enjoy!

Disclaimer: All Twilight characters and everything belong to Stephanie Meyer. I only own Carla, Jenna, Gavin, and Georgia. No profit is being made. Simply for enjoyment!

Chapter Six

Edward groaned and sat up, wiping the sleep from his eyes. He hadn't slept well last night. His therapy was becoming more aggressive which brought more pain to his muscles. He glanced at the clock on the wall and read the time. He had twenty minutes before his therapy session, which gave him just enough time to use the bathroom and freshen up. Last week, he had been granted permission to shave by himself as long as he sat on the chair provided in the room. Though he was still given daily sponge baths, which he greatly disliked, he was not going to complain. As he swung his legs to the side of the bed, Edward took a glance at his roommate. Bella was still fast asleep, softly snoring. It was only 7:30 in the morning, so Edward was pleased she was asleep.

When Edward was finished in the bathroom, he walked out and saw his father sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Good morning, son, you look refreshed."

"That's how I feel. You have no idea how wonderful it is to be gaining more and more independence each day."

"One more week, Edward, just one more week; then you'll be home on Christmas Eve."

"Thank God for that… I'm happy Bella gets to leave tomorrow. It's about time for her."

"Yes," Carlisle agreed. "Charlie is thrilled. He's going to have her stay with him through the New Year. Then Charlie will get her settled back into her apartment. But now, son, it is time we get you to therapy."

Edward nodded and sighed as he ambled over to the wheelchair by the door, "I can't wait to be rid of this monstrosity."

"In due time… If Dr. Carson says she wants you to use it after you are discharged then you will be using it."

"But my legs are getting stronger and I'm steady when I'm on my feet."

"But only in certain time intervals. The wheelchair's purpose is for usage while you're tired or feeling weak."

The younger man rolled his eyes and sighed as his father pushed him down the hallway to the therapy room.

"Work hard today, son."

Edward nodded, "Dad, is mom bringing Carla to visit today?"

"She'll be joining you for dinner. Carla has a play date today at three."

"Kiley Aaron?"

"Yes. They already had a play date, I assume?" asked Carlisle.

"They did, back in June. Carla and I spent two hours at Kiley's house. Her parents, Jane and Jeremy, are two of the kindest people you will ever meet." Edward paused as he pondered through his thoughts, "Jane should have had her baby back in August."

Carlisle nodded in affirmation, "Jane told Esme about that. On August 21st, Jane gave birth to a baby boy named Michael."

Five 'o'clock quickly rolled around and Edward found himself sitting up in bed with his daughter on his lap.

"Oh daddy, Kiley is my best friend!"

"I am really glad you have found such a great friend, baby. What did you guys play?"

"She really likes princesses, like me! But daddy that's not a good thing sometimes…"

Edward stifled a chuckle that wanted to escape at the sound of gravity in his daughter's voice, "Why isn't that always a good thing?"

"Because we both like Cinderella; she's my favorite princess, daddy! I don't want to be another one."

"When situations like this come around, Carla, you must learn to take turns. One day you can play Cinderella, the next day Kiley can be Cinderella."

"But it makes me sad when I can't be Cinderella."

Edward's heart ached for his daughter's despair but he understood there were life lessons that all children must endure. "I'm guessing Kiley was Cinderella today."

A fat, wet tear fell from the corner of the child's eye and she nodded, "We got in a fight. And Kiley's mom got mad. She put us on time-out. Then she did a contest and Kiley won and got to be Cinderella."

"That's the fairest way to choose who got to be Cinderella though, Carla. But now, next time you and Kiley have a play date, you get to be Cinderella." Noticing his daughter was still pouting, Edward pointed out, "But just think, sweetie, when you're at home you can be Cinderella all the time. Doesn't that make you feel better!"

Carla broke out in a huge grin, "You're right. Thanks, daddy! You are the smartest daddy in the whole wide world!" Carla exclaimed as she giggled when Edward began attacking her with lots and lots of tickles.

Carlisle and Esme had walked into his room at the time of Carla's exclamation and Carlisle joked, "Edward, why have you brainwashed your daughter?"

"Oh, dad, I know it's hard to accept but I am the smartest."

"What am I then?"

"A nimrod," Edward muttered, not loud enough for his daughter to hear but it earned him a light smack in the head from his father.

"Grandpa, you are the smartest old man in the world!"

Carlisle's expression was of pure shock as Edward burst out in controllable fits of laughter from his daughter's innocent declaration.

"You couldn't have gotten that any more accurate, Carla. You are definitely my daughter," Edward said, smiling with pride.

"Oh she's definitely a Cullen," Esme said through a chuckle.

"Definitely related to Emmett," Carlisle said with a pout though his eyes were smiling.

"Daddy, I can't wait until you come home!"

"I feel the same way, Carla. It's been way too long since I've seen the comforts of our home."

"Five months, daddy! Grandma made changes in our house and I helped!"

"What might those changes be?" Edward asked as he glanced at his mother whose expression was innocent.

"Calm your nerves, I didn't do anything drastic." Edward rolled his eyes. His mother loved redecorating, so he started to wonder if he would even recognize his home when he returned. "All I did was change the photos in some of the picture frames to recent ones. And Carla added something too that I hung up on the wall."

"What did you make, Carla?"

"Grandpa took me outside and we made my handprints and footprints!"

Edward smiled and listened as his father explained in more detail, "I made a cement block and had Carla place her hands and feet down. I also wrote her name on it. We imprinted a carved out photo of her in the middle. When it dried we painted it baby soft pink. Carla sprayed some yellow dots all over it."

"It's very adorable, you'll love it, sweetie," said Esme.

Edward smiled and hugged his daughter as he peered gratefully at his parents, "Thank you guys, that means so much to me."

"Anything for you, daddy. You're the bestest!"

An hour later, Carlisle and Esme left taking Carla home. Minutes before, Charlie and Bella returned to their room after an authorized movie night her doctor had approved. Charlie was now bidding his farewells and left afterwards.

"So Bella, tomorrow's your last day stuck in this joint. You excited to go home?"

Bella smiled in relief, "Like you couldn't believe. But you've been here longer…"

"Yes, but I was worse off than you. I only have one week left. I'll be home on Christmas Eve, so it's all good. I'm just thankful I don't have to spend Christmas in here."

"That would be a bummer. I mean spending Thanksgiving here was depressing."

"Sure was," Edward agreed. "What are you and your father doing for Christmas?"

"Well my mother Renee and her husband Phil are flying here to celebrate with us. Since I was injured my mom's been all over the place with worry, so my dad agreed to let them fly up here for Christmas."

"That will be nice for you getting to see your mom."

Bella nodded, "Yes, it will be but it will also be hell. My parents do not get along at all. But you know that. My mom's always finding some excuse to start a fight with my dad. Oh what the hell, we're like the average American family nowadays." Edward laughed. "I wish I could have a family like yours."

"I don't know Bella… despite are cover up, we can be a rather dysfunctional family."

"But you all care for another and the love isn't fake. You're the traditional American family… a family that most Americans today only read about in novels. You don't realize how lucky you are."

"So we're the elite," joked Edward but then he grew serious, "I know I'm lucky with the family I have. I cherish them every day. I love them very much."

"Good. I'm glad you realize how well off you are."

Edward got quiet for a moment before he walked over to Bella's bed.

"Aren't you supposed to use that walker if you move around in here?"

"No one will know."

"Edward," scolded Bella.

Edward rolled his eyes, "All right, I won't do it again. Sorry."

Bella nodded and smiled with a glint of mischievousness in her eyes, "That's better."

"Bella, there's been something that I've wanted to ask you for the past day but I just now gained up the courage to." He paused and took her hand in his, "Bella, in our not so pleasant times in this hospital, we've grown rather close and I've really come to like you. You're a caring, unselfish, funny, and generous young woman… I was wondering if maybe you'd like to take our friendship to the next level. I would love for you to be my girlfriend and we could start to date after Christmas. Would you object to this?" Edward appeared as a statue as his body became rigid while he awaited her response.

Bella gazed at Edward with a shocked expression. She had grown rather fond of this man beside her and never thought in her wildest dreams that he would ever have romantic feelings for her… somebody so plain and ordinary. She had always told herself she would never get involved with man who already had a child… But she had come to know Edward, Carla, Carlisle, and Esme quite well during her hospital stay and she knew Edward was no fool or player. Returning a gentle squeeze to Edward's hand, she smiled and looked him in the eyes, "You know I always told myself never to get involved with a man who had a child..." She paused as she noticed the desolation that crept upon his face, "But I'd be a fool to let you go. Yes, Edward, I'll be your girlfriend."

A/N: Hope this chapter was worth the wait!!! It finally happened, Bella and Edward are now an official couple, YAY!!!

*REVIEWS are lacking people, therefore, my motivation decreases…*

***Please REVIEW. They do wonders to me. They truly MOTIVATE me!

REIVEW PLEASE!!!!!!!