A/N: alrighty...and another chapter for you all! starting to get better...ish...I'm no pro on people recovering from traumatic experiences, but i do know it's different for everyone, any signs of Bella "getting better" are that, but she's not gonna be over everything easily...next chapter I'm gonna give a glimpse into what Bella's thinking, and part of her recovery has to be her decision to get past everything....

Also-I do not own Twilight!!! Stephenie Meyer has the joys of claiming that, not me...


Chapter 7: Finally Meeting

Edward could hardly contain his excitement, sure he was heading to a hospital, not the greatest of places to be, but really it'd be worth it-he knew. He had been woken up by a phone call from his father, asking for him, and only him, to come to the hospital, along with coffee and a change of clothes for both of his parents. Of course this meant he'd finally be able to meet the girl, Bella. His father had said she was a little bruised and had some cuts that needed stitches, but overall she was okay, but she still hadn't woken up. Apparently, after her panic attack and crying it out on Esme's shoulder, her body locked down, to protect herself and her mind. Since then, she hadn't woken up, but Carlisle wasn't worried so no one else was. Edward's father thought it'd be best for him to be there when she woke up, with Esme and Carlisle. He thought she may be more receptive to a new person when she first woke up, and Edward had the most time available to help her get used to life with the Cullens, so it made him the most logical candidate to help her out.

He couldn't quite say why he was so excited to meet the girl, but perhaps it was because he finally wouldn't be alone. He wanted a friend. As lame as that sounds, he didn't want to be so lonely anymore. Sure he was friends with the others and their significant others, each in their own way, but he didn't have someone he was closest to because of their odd numbers. Sure he was best friends with Jasper, and Alice in her own way, but they were so in love, and Rosalie and Emmett were too, that even when they hung out just guys or as a group, they weren't fully there. He wanted someone that would be, maybe part of him thought, or hoped, that she'd be able to become the best friend he wanted.

He pulled into the parking lot and parked in the staff lot, everyone on staff at the hospital knew the Cullen kids came to visit often, and no one really cared if they parked in the staff lot. Another benefit of being related to the chief of staff, no one really asked questions, and he was able to walk right in through the doors, coffee in hand, to his father's office, where he knocked on the door.

"Come in!" he heard his father call from inside, so he turned the handle and walked in. His father was sitting behind his desk, looking worn out and stressed, more so than before he had left to pick up Bella. His mother looked exhausted as well. He silently handed both of his parents their coffee and they both thanked him in return, both taking a giant drink and then sighing in contentment.

"So how was your night? How's she doing?" Edward asked, wary of another setback happening.

His father sighed before speaking, "she woke up briefly last night and almost went into another panic attack because she didn't know where she was and...with her past it was totally understandable. Luckily your mother was there and was able to calm her."

At this he smiled at Esme, who spoke up, "it was a very surprising thing, she started crying and I was rubbing her back to comfort her and she actually curled up closer to me, eventually let me hold her even. She cried herself to sleep. Hasn't woken up since then, but I have a feeling she's been bottling up tears for a while. Her life with her mother wasn't the greatest and I think she's afraid to show when she's upset, it's a form of weakness to her and not showing weakness is a major self defense mechanism," she sighed thinking about it, "it was heartbreaking hearing her sobbing like that, but I feel it's a step in the right direction, if she can let that out a bit more often, maybe with some help she can finally start healing." She looked up at Edward, who was taking this all in and already starting to try to come up with ways to support her and help her. "You can meet her, but I have to be there with you, Edward, she wouldn't be able to handle a strange guy suddenly there in her room."

"No mom! I totally understand that. In fact, I'd feel better with you there, too, I don't want to do anything to hurt her or scare her...I....I want her to trust me too."

"Edward, son, I love your heart and I truly believe if anyone can help her it's you," his father said.

Esme chimed in, "your dad's right, Edward. Not only because of your heart, but your music too. Last night what made her finally fall asleep was that I started humming my song, the one you wrote for me. It seemed to relax and pacify her more than her tears or even me holding her did." Edward thought about this could mean for how he could help her. There was a piano in the attic in the room next to her, maybe he could teach her to play, it was one of the best forms of stress release for him, maybe it could help her too.

He didn't have much time to continue contemplating this though, because his parents were standing up, "did you want to come with me and wait for her to wake up?" his mother asked.

"Yes, of course," he answered, ready to meet her, he actually had been ready to meet her since they had announced she was coming to live with them...perhaps even since he had seen her in the hospital all those years ago.

He followed his parents through the halls towards one of the room's that was for only one person, and they stopped and quietly opened the door to one at the end of the hall, oddly reminding him of the last time he saw this girl. His father looked at him as if he knew what Edward was thinking, the sadness in his eyes said that he was reminded of that night as well, and all the loss that had happened that night.

There, laying in the hospital bed, curled in on herself, as best as she could be with the iv in her arm. She was clutching the same blue and yellow Forks police jacket, as if it were her life time, just like last time he saw her. Her brown hair was longer and wavier, but it was clearly the same hair. She was petite, and from what Edward could tell, she was at least a head shorter than him, but with her curled up it was hard to tell. His father quietly checked her vitals as his mother went to sit in the chair next to the bed, softly stroking the hair out of Bella's heart-shaped face, pulling back as Bella started stirring. Edward came up behind his mother and sat next to her, watching the beautiful chocolate eyes flutter open. Bella made eye contact with him first as soon as her eyes had opened all the way and focused. He felt his heart stutter, because, despite the haunted and scared look in her eyes, they were captivating and what he could see of her face, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

She slowly sat up, still looking at Edward out of the corner of her eyes as she looked around and saw Esme there. Surprising all of them, she reached out and grabbed Esme's hand that was still on the bed next to her. She looked at Edward again, then quickly looked back and forth between him and Esme, as if asking who he was. Edward wanted to introduce himself, but he wondered if it would startle her, so he let his mom do it for him, "Bella, this is my son Edward, remember I told you about him yesterday? He's the one that's your age and plays the piano?..." Bella slowly nodded, acknowledging remembering him being talked about.

As she looked at him again, he found himself speaking suddenly, but more softly than he thought he ever had before, "I came because I wanted to meet you, maybe be your friend, or at least get to know you if that's okay with you." Bella looked at him almost speculatively, as if she was wondering where his motives may lie, or just wondering who he was, so he continued, "I thought you may need a friend, getting used to living here and out of all of us in the family I found I have the most free time and thought...maybe you'd like some of the things I do, like piano...or something....I just want to help, really." Surprising everyone, Bella reached out and gently touched his hand to stop his rant, almost reassure him that she believed him. She quickly pulled away, but her point had been made, and he had felt one of the most curious sparks where their skin had made contact. He looked up at her and she was staring curiously at her hand, and he knew she had felt it too.

"Bella, I'm going to go do my rounds now, but I'll check back in with you soon. Will you be okay here with Esme and Edward?" Carlisle asked.

She nodded slowly, looking between the three of them, almost smiling softly at them. Carlisle smiled at them and left the room, closing the door softly. Edward found he was having a hard time slowing his heart down and getting rid of the grin he knew was on his face. She was ok with him here! Maybe there was hope for a friendship in the future. He looked down at her and when she made eye contact, he hesitantly asked, "could I sit here at the end of your bed?" as he motioned at the small section at the end where there was no way he'd have contact with her, and thus making her uncomfortable.

She looked at him and then at Esme, motioning her forward and then whispered in her ear. Edward was a bit hurt she couldn't or wouldn't talk to him but he understood he'd have to be patient and maybe one day he could hear her voice, but he was glad that she at least felt comfortable enough talking to Esme. This was a bit more than he was expecting, along with Esme's next words, "she says it's okay for now, and she'll let us know when it gets uncomfortable for her."

Edward nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, settling in to maybe learn a bit more about this surprising, and beautiful girl.


A/N: I'm not gonna be one of the people to ask every time but...if you guys have thoughts, let me know...please no flames cuz I'm writing for fun not for a profit or anything so if you hate it, that's your opinion...