I'm not really feeling this chapter. I think my muse was off smoking crack and being incredibly unhelpful as I tried to write this. I wrote and re-wrote this too many times to count that I'm just praying it flows decent enough. Either way I'm just happy I finished it and I can move things along.
Definitely not loving this chapter but there is one part that I did enjoy writing. Mia makes her appearance in this one and of course any scene with her in it is enjoyable. Its like a law. So there's that at least. ;D With any luck that'll give you some hope.
Enjoy!
"Nonono Bella don't close your eyes. You gotta wake up sweetie."
"Mmmaambraggh..."
"What she say?"
"No clue."
"Bella? Bella wake up honey." Alice gently nudged her in the arm but Bella continued to lay still.
"Someone poke her." Emmett suddenly suggests.
Rosalie's brow scrunches up delicately. "How is poking her going to help?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. At least it's something right. Just keep poking her till she gets annoyed and flails you away or something."
She squinted her eyes shaking her head slightly, like she couldn't believe what she was hearing and that someone had actually voiced it like the idea held merit. "...you're a moron. That's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth."
"I'm just a man, Rose. Don't start showering me with well deserved compliments until we actually put my plan into action." He grinned, knowing his comments would rattle her. And loving it a little too much.
"Fine then. You do it."
"Oh well that's—wait what? Why do I have to be the one to poke her? She's mad at me remember?"
"Well it was your brilliant idea, Emmy Bear." She mentioned sweetly. "I figured you'd want your well deserved satisfaction when it works…unless you're realizing how incredibly moronic it is that poking dear Bella here with a stick would rouse her better than any actual medical aid would."
"Yeah but Carlisle said that it might work-"
"Well at least she's mumbling and slurring incoherently. She sure wasn't doing that before. So at least we know she's not dead."
"Oh gee. I'm so reassured." The man-child muttered sarcastically.
"Oh shut it Emmett." Rosalie snapped. "At least it's something. I don't see you coming up with any sharp ideas."
"But I just-"
"Would you two just stop arguing! You're bitching is not helping."
"...she started it." Emmett pointed a finger to Rosalie accusingly.
"One more petulant word, big boy. Just one."
"Ugh. Seriously. Cut it out guys. I'm really starting to worry here." Alice said worriedly as she began weathering her bottom lip with her teeth.
It grew silent.
"She'll be fine Alice."
"But we don't know that. Hell! I don't even know that for sure. I can't even get a glimpse of her. Her future is so foggy and hard to wade through."
"What's that mean?" The only male in the room wonders aloud.
"Alice, try and calm down sweetheart. I know that seems impossible right now but just try. We'll figure this out, alright?"
"How? We've tried everything we can think of short of crashing two giant symbols on either side of her head."
"Well that's a thought." The blonde offered pleasantly.
"Rosalie." Alice warned.
"You're right. That would never work." She said with a smile, trying for a shot at breaking the nervous tension in the air like Emmett was so famous for. It didn't measure up though. Not even close.
"Rosy, stop it." Alice all but whined. "I'm being serious here."
"I know Al." Rosalie sighed. "I think …I may have an idea that might work – and no we're not poking her." She said loud enough to indicate that she was talking to Emmett as she was looking at Alice.
Emmett's large shoulders slumped. "Aw."
Emmett was sad and ignored.
"What is it?"
"Jasper."
"Jasper? What could he do?"
"Jolt her." The blonde said simply.
"I'm not following."
"What if we made him influence adrenaline or a small dose of energy in her. The total opposite of his usual calming effect. And he'll hopefully rouse her from her stubborn stupor."
"Uh well… its certainly an interesting approach."
"Yes and the only promising one we have so far. It could work."
"Will Jasper be able to handle it you think?"
"He's done so well with Mia downstairs. We know he's gone hunting before he came here. And he's done nothing but show improvement over the years. He's only cautious out of habit. Plus, we're all here if on the off chance he does become overwhelmed, we can stop him."
"I don't know."
"If it'll help I think we should go for it." Emmett said.
Rosalie nodded.
Alice hesitated but nodded reluctantly. "If it'll help." She repeated.
"We won't know until we try."
"So apparently I'm needed." Jasper said and entered the room, having heard everything from downstairs.
"Where's Mia?" Rosalie asked, her voice nearly rising in suspicion.
"I made her feel a tad sleepy. She's passed out in her crib and jus' a snorin' away."
"Okay. You think you can do it?"
"I'm sure I can try. Won't be too hard. Though, I advise all of you to hold your ground. Wouldn't want Alice and Mammoth here jumpin' like jack rabbits."
"Ha ha ha." Emmett replied sarcastically.
"You know its true."
"Whatever."
Jasper smiled easily and turned his sights on the barely-conscious-but-not-completely-unconscious brunette on the bed.
"Here goes…" The male blonde then relaxed his stance and concentrated. He figured slow and steady would be the best approach.
It wasn't immediate at first. But it was there. A low hum that grew upon each second. It made Bella's nerves twitch and her bones shake. Her brow grew slick with sweat and beads of perspiration would trickle down her temple and soon be followed by another. Her heart was hammering with life, and urging her to listen. 'Move,' it said. She wanted desperately to listen, to emerge from all these scarred images swirling around her, haunting her. But try as she might the urge just wasn't prominent enough to inspire even a mental step forward. It tried though, it didn't rush, didn't force. It was like it was coaxing her on her own. Nudging her along. After a discernable amount of time with no progress it was almost like she was having a minor heat stroke. Her muscles twitched even more, begging for activity.
Bella didn't move voluntarily however.
Ironically, it wasn't as good a listener either. The hum only got stronger. 'Move now!' It demanded.
A finger twitched.
Then it escalated without warning. Her body was fighting with her and it became a constant and tiring push and pull. An incessant drag and heave. 'Let's go this way! – No I wanna go this way dammit!'
It screamed at her for one direction but then her brain immediately fought to pull the other way. Wanting her prone and lax.
Her heart crashed in her chest. The thunderous muscle almost bruising her ribcage. Her brain flashed with color. Forcing her to see all of its vibrancy and complexions and her body responded with little spasms all over.
A fist clenched.
Flashes of birds and bats flew in the back of her mind. Pure white feathers fluttered and danced in the air as red droplets bled from the dark clouds above. A twisted message she was meant to understand there but not discerning for the life of her.
A loud, long wail seemed to echo in her skull. Where was it coming from? It sounded like a dying animal. A harsh shiver tore through her and she was suddenly engulfed in heat. Everywhere.
Then Bella bolted upright with a strangled scream. Her chest heaved and hoed with large lungfuls of air that never seemed to be enough. Her pants now ragged and her voice squeaking and cracking at times. "Fuck! What the fuck?" Her brain reeled at the sudden volume in the room and it took her second to realize that it was in fact her voice. She wondered vaguely when her voice had ever sounded so gravelly in her life. It was almost primal.
Her eyes burned, though not from salty tears and she roughly rubbed them nearly raw with the heels of her hands. Finding that this wasn't doing anything for her sudden throbbing migraine she clenched them shut until spots exploded and danced behind her eye lids and then wrenched them open, blinking furiously.
"Bella?" The brunette in question snapped her head to the side instantly, her eyes wide and alert.
"Bella. Everything's okay. You're safe at home and everything okay." Alice said reassuringly. "…isn't it Jasper?" She added through clenched teeth.
"I uh—yeah. Everything's wonderful. Not weird at all."
Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett ignored their brother.
"Did you have to be that successful?" Alice whispered in a low voice. Bella wouldn't be able to hear it.
Jasper held up a slightly defensive stance as all his siblings glared at him. "Honestly I have no idea what that just was. Most of that wasn't even me. I swear."
"What? What the hell does that-"
"Whats going…why am I…ugh…my head…" Bella palmed her temples groaning softly.
"Bella?"
.oOo.
Bella's POV:
There was that soft voice again. Calling me. Though, I could barely focus long enough to answer. God. My head was pounding. What was that? I'm still having hot flashes. Ugh. At least they're better than they were. Damn. Does anyone else feel like running a marathon right now? I feel like I could run for miles and never get tired. Gosh darn it I want a cigarette. I just want to chain smoke for an hour and then book it to Seattle. Fuck!
Then of course there's the ever pleasant feeling like my head is going to suddenly implode. Speaking of pleasant feelings...ew. Why am I drenched? Gah. I'm sweating worse than an NBA player. That is so nasty.
"Bella are you alright? ...okay stupid question...I-" I interrupt whatever voice is speaking before I can swallow my word vomit.
"Am I dead? Fuck. If this is what heaven feels like I'm so suing." I grunted. There was chuckling and an amused murmur that I couldn't make out. I blink.
That's when I realized that people – four beautiful people - were staring at me like I was the most fascinating thing they had ever seen. Oh my God and I'm sweating!
Without thinking I wrap my arms around myself. Yeah. Like that's going to make it all better and not even more obvious.
"Hey what's with the staring? What's going on? And not too loud."
The four of them looked at each other, seeing who would be the one to answer first. When they all looked to Alice I became nervous. They weren't answering fast enough.
"Seriously. Answers would be great right about now." I said as my fingers drummed incessantly on my forearm. The four seemed to be having some weird adopted sibling mind link convo right in front of me. It lasted for a good minute in a half before I got really impatient. I settled back carefully against my headboard and watched. My fingers were practically tap dancing sporadically.
"Okay can someone please tell me why you're all here? In my room and where -" I shot up in bed, making the world twirl violently around me. Unngh. God…hnngg...w-where's Mia?
Emmett reached for my arm, helping me steady my posture as I swayed. "Whoa there little lady. Easy does it. We can't have you falling for me again now can we?"
"Shut the fuck up Emmett." I grit out through the pain, the throbs only seemed to echo louder as I clenched my teeth tightly. Where's my daughter? "Where's Mia?"
"Uh," He shakes his head at the sudden hostile tone in my voice and responds easily enough. "Charlie picked her up from daycare a little while ago and dropped her off. She's sleeping in her bed slash crib hybrid thingy." My shoulders relaxed only the slightest bit and I sighed in releif. "Charlie said he had to clear up a few things at the station but that he should be home early from work to check up on you. He was really worried."
"No need. See? All good and able." I pursed my lips around a whimper as Emmett urged me back against the headboard. Dammit.
"You weren't singing that song ten minutes ago when you were drooling on your pillow case." Rosalie muttered under her breath. Alice elbowed her and gave her sideways look that clearly spoke, "cut it out or I'll cut you myself."
Don't think I didn't notice that they hadn't answered my question.
"But I'm fine now. So there's no need to worry about anything." My voice had an unpleasant edge to it. So unlike me. Oi. This headache was giving me mood swings.
"Why are you here? What happened?" I'd like details please.
Alice looked at me for only a few seconds until she deemed it appropriate to end my suffering and then filled me in. She told me about my chat with Rosalie. The content of which implying Edward being a major douchebag was fully agreed upon by everyone in the room.
Huh. Well I wasn't expecting that.
Then when she told me what happened after our chat – I guess my passing out was the end of the conversation. I still can't believe I did that.
I just stared at them blankly. "I blacked out?" I asked them a third time.
They nodded.
"Seriously?"
More nodding. Rosalie was beginning to look irritated at my questioning. Okay maybe I should stop asking. Just a thought.
I weakly cradled my head in my palm as I carefully sat up a little more, my elbow resting against my knee. "Well that's mighty embarrassing. Please tell me I didn't drool."
"You're taking this awfully well." Alice replied bemused.
"Actually," I'm so mortified I'm pretty much in the denial phase of coping with this new information. "I'm just hoping that this is a horrible nightmare and that I'll wake up any minute." Cause ya know…the thought of me passing out like that is so embarrassing. This has to be some cruel nightmare. Or a mean drug trip. "Hopefully very, very soon." Also these kinds of things aren't new to me. Like at all. Though, I don't remember it ever happening quite like that. A numbing episode and then followed quickly by a fainting spell all in one go? Uncommon for me.
"Well its not. Hate to burst your overdramatic bubble and God you are still an idiot."
"Rosalie please. Enough."
Rosalie opened her mouth to say something else but one nasty look from Alice and she clamped her mouth shut and glowered at her littlest sister.
"Well she is. She won't even accept what we all already know? If that's not mental I don't know what is. If you don't want to hear the honest truth that's fine."
"Certainly not your flavor of it." Alice spat lowly.
Emmett grinned amusedly and sidled up between them, throwing an arm over each of their shoulders."Ladies ladies! Can't this cat fight wait until later? Preferably when there's a large vat of pudding nearby for you to wrestle in? Or when we don't have a very woozy looking Bella holding her head like its going to explode."
It's true. It does feel like that.
Imploding. Exploding. Either sounds painful.
Ugh. My head aches.
Whoa... now I feel kinda dizzy. Should the world be this spinny? My vision was beginning to go in and out and I noticed - for an unexplainable number of times - that my head was pounding even worse each minute that passed.
Uuugh…I don't feel like running anymore. Someone chop my head off first and then we'll talk.
"Can someone hand me a pain pill from my nightstand? It should be on the right side shoved all the way in the back of the drawer." I'm always paranoid that Mia's gonna get curious and poke around in there and find them. Since I can't baby proof everything and the door sticks every time you want to open the sucker I leave it alone and pray that it'll be enough. I wouldn't put it past her to be able to open the child twist lock on the bottle so 'shove and shut' is pretty much my only method.
Jasper moves to open the drawer…
"Is that wise?" Rosalie suddenly says wearily. "I mean we don't rightly know what's actually wrong with her. What if the pills make it worse?"
Nothing can possibly make this headache worse. Well...maybe internal bleeding but I'm sure nothing's leaking inside me...okay that didn't come out right.
"Okay I vote no on medication." Rosalie says. "All in agreement?" Alice bites her lip and looks from me, to Rosalie, and back again. Her hand hesitantly reaches up. What? Emmett's large hand climbs up alongside Alice's and Rosalie's. Were they seriously voting? Jasper looks at me sympathetically. His hand stays down. "Okay. So no pills for Bella until—"
The hell?
"Hey. Don't I get a vote? It's my brain." And seriously it's only a few pain meds, really. It's not like I'm gonna start frothing at the mouth and convulsing here people. Why are they so damn paranoid for? They act like they have no idea what two 200mg of Advil can actually do to a person. I'm not gonna blow up. Or die...I hope. Oh gee now I'm second guessing Advil's credibility. Oh my achy brakey brain.
"You can. Won't do you any good. Your brain hasn't had the best reputation of acting accordingly."
"Jerks. Well I vote hell yes on some Advil."
"Too bad."
"Hey!-ow. Owowow...ugh. That came out way too loud." I whisper as I clutch my ringing head. "Its my fucking health we're talking about here. Unless I'm brain dead or well... dead dead, the only one doping my ass up or refusing to dope my ass is me." I argued.
"You done yet?" Rosalie replied unimpressed.
I glared at her, unfortunately the action wasn't as convincing as I would have liked. Probably because I kept wincing every time I scrunched my forehead.
"Maybe we should give her something." Emmett says, his expression sympathetic.
There's an idea. A very merciful idea.
"We should really wait for Carlisle before we make that decision." Rosalie says. Ooh you irritate me. "He would know the right procedure or whatever for dealing with this."
"Well where is this invisible gentleman because I wanna get self medicated and like soon. Mucho rapido."
Emmett frowned at my demanding tone. "You're grouchy post coma. And suddenly bilingual. How did I not know this?"
"You're mean. And I lived in Phoenix for most of my life. Ergo I picked up a few things. Phoenix is the second largest burrito capital of the world ya know? "
"I thought that was Cuba?
"Okay seventh largest."
"That's not really large."
"Shut your face." I muttered grumpily.
"And your barbs are weak." Emmett teased.
Fuck. You.
He chuckled as he turned to Rosalie and Alice. "Damn she really isn't feeling well. Maybe we should drug her. It seems serious."
I point my thumb in his direction as I turned my throbbing head in my palm and looked at them dryly. "I'm with the big guy."
"No we are not drugging her. No matter how much she whines and slurs and constantly annoys." Rosalie said firmly.
I look to Emmett. "I take it back. She's meaner."
"We know." said Alice and Emmett in unison.
"Standing right here."
"We know." They say.
"Do you think she smells fear?" I asked Emmett in a hushed voice since he was closer to my side of the bed.
He grins almost knowingly. "Totally."
"Well then it was nice knowing you for a week dude. Even if I totally thought you were a lying douchebag over the weekend."
"Yeah uh..." His brow scrunches. "Thanks. You too?"
"Oh for fucks sake someone hand me a mallet so I can just knock her unconscious myself. She can just sleep it off till Carlisle gets here." She smirks, seeming pleased at the thought. "Now there's a sedative I can agree to."
At that I had a flash back of the Grinch's use of the word 'sedative'. I paled.
"Keep her away from me." I side whispered to Emmett.
He salutes and smirks. "Gotcha covered Bellster."
I don't know what possessed me but I smiled softly at the simple teasing admission. It was like all that bullshit before hadn't happened and we were back to the way it was before Edward and his unattractive word vomit.
Does that mean I've forgiven him? I'm not sure yet. It certainly seems that way though. Which is odd. When it comes to Mia in any form I'm not usually that forgiving.
Like at all. But I don't think I'm quite there yet.
"Can you control your homicidal urges for five seconds? We went through all that trouble to wake her up. We are not swishing her head with a hammer."
"What trouble?" They hadn't explained anything about how I woke up. Just that I did.
"Nothing. Its nothing."
"No. Really. Tell me."
Alice didn't reply, her expression torn.
"Why? I've been nothing but shitty to you all since game night! Why would you still help me?" It doesn't make sense. I'm not used to this…whatever thisis.
There was a disgruntled sigh.
I looked over to Rosalie, who looked really irritated.
"I swear she's not drugged. She's just really this stupid."
"Rosalie!"
The blonde turned her head and looked at her sister with a look of pure indignation. "What? I'm giving my honest opinion okay." She turns away from Alice still looking annoyed and glares at me. "I get the need to be on the defensive had we just showed up out of the blue but for God's sake! We looked after you and-"
"I didn't ask you too." I said evenly, cutting her off. Something flashed in her eyes, as her lips flattened into a ruby red line and I almost regretted my words. Almost. I couldn't be afraid of her, I told myself. No matter how intimidating she was with her eye twitching like that.
"Well we did. You really weren't in the best state to be asking anything of anyone, denial or otherwise, so, out of the goodness of our hearts we brought you home. Tended to your every unconscious whim and fancy: pillows, blankets, whatever seemed appropriate and helped you wake up, lest your sudden fainting spell bloomed into an actual state of catatonia..." I watched as every muscle in her face hardened. "So I say with restrained but justified hostility that you're…fucking. Welcome."
My brow twitched as I took note of how 'restrained' her hostility was.
Ah.
My eyes slowly softened as I watched from one sincere face to the next as they in turn eyed my response carefully.
I'm not used to this. People going out of their way to help me. Besides my mom when she had seen me at my worst. But those times I just didn't care anymore. I was well and truly past the point of giving a fuck.
I barely know these people. I know Emmett more than anyone else in this room but I still feel under educated as far as knowing the ins and outs of what makes Emmett... well Emmett.
This headache was making me irrationally grouchy at everyone.
"I'm sorry. You're right. I'm sorry for snapping...thanks I guess. Ya know. For helping and stuff. All of you."
They each give their own particular warm smile. Rosalie was more like a candle flicker. But it was there.
I open my mouth to beg for pain pills again but the sudden sound of pattering excited feet stop me. I look to Jasper curiously.
"I thought you said she was asleep?" I asked. Usually when she takes a nap she's conked out for hours. If what they say it accurate she couldn't have been asleep for more than a good hour or so.
"She…was." Jasper said, looking completely baffled.
I shrugged. "Well she's up now. You remembered to gate the stairs right?" I asked the male blonde firmly.
He looks away from the closed door. "Hmm. Oh yes I did. Tricky contraption."
"Yeah. I feel ya. Charlie hates that thing. But its serves its purpose."
There was a silence that followed as she must have stopped in front of the door, and then I smiled at the sound of the soft raps on the other side of the wooden door.
"Would you let her in please?" I said. My grin already growing. There's nothing quite as healing as wrapping my arms around my Mia.
Jasper goes to open the door and just like that it was a like a big ball of pent up energy came bolting across the room. I watch amused as she squished between Emmett and Alice – who were still a little shocked at Mia's loud entrance – and crawled up the bed like a pro.
Mia dove for me, not even caring that she was only a foot from me, making her collision a little jarring for my head. I didn't care though. Not enough to dislodge her. I hugged her to my front tightly. I felt like I hadn't seen her in forever.
Mia leaned her head up from my neck and looked at me, gripping my chin so she could have my full attention and holding my cheek in her little hand.
"Are you okay mommy? Jasper said you don't fee so good."
I looked up at Emmett and the lack of surprise on both Rosalie's and Alice's face. Either Emmett had indeed told them about Mia and me or they had come to the conclusion all on their own. Either way I couldn't bring myself to be concerned. I had my baby in my arms. That's really all that mattered right then.
I grinned at her, pulling her closer and hugging her in my arms as we laid down. "I am now Jelly bean. Were you a good girl for Jasper?"
She grinned excitedly as she pulled away enough to look up at me, but not by too much. "Yup! Did you know he wikes Finding Nemo too! But I didn't want to watch it without you." She gasped in excitement as she thought of something else worth mentioning, her eyes going wide and bright. "Oh and - and he watched Toy Story with me! He knows all the movie! I wike him. Can we keep him here so he can watch movies with me?" She asked seriously, her bouncing making the mattress squeak.
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, her happy smile making my heart warm.
"I don't know about that," I started and then trailed off. Her smile fell immediately and I felt like an ass. I rubbed her cheek tenderly as if catching imaginary tears. I sighed softly, knowing full well that there was no way I could refuse this girl anything. "Maybe we can visit and say hi. Okay?"
And just like that, her smile was back. Lighting up the room and making me feel less of an asshat. All I wanted to do was keep that beautiful smile there always. Normally I consider myself a realist but something as simple as making this little girl smile like that as much as possible can't possibly be impossible. Right?
Ah the twists and turns of parenting. She had me well and truly and completely curled around her finger. Darn me.
I smiled back at her and then kissed her nose, making her giggle. Forgetting myself and my surroundings, I chuckled and dove in to blow raspberries on her neck - she's so ticklish there its awesome - even as she turtled her neck into her slightly wrinkled watermelon pink polo shirt. I snorted at her efforts to conceal her neck from me and dove in for her cheeks instead.
I hadn't noticed how silent it was as I continued to blow raspberries on her cheek, making her squirm and shriek in delight. It wasn't until I was laughing joyously - and quite loudly - that I looked over slightly and saw us being watched.
Oh... right. People were here.
I coughed rather unconvincingly and forced my chuckles down my throat unsuccessfully. I straightened up slightly as well as I could while laying down, though very carefully. I was not trying for stubborn bravery anytime soon. That ship had sailed as soon as Mia had come barreling into my room calling my name. There's no lying or curving my words around Mia's use of the word "Mommy!" as she looked right at me.
I turned her in my arms so she was curled against my side and she could see the other's in the room. This is certainly a weird way to unveil something as big as being a teen mother but at this point it would be senseless to deny I was. This is usually the part where I would introduce people to Mia and vice versa, but after remembering the shit I made Emmett go through because of not wanting anyone knowing of Mia, it felt kind of misplaced and the whole ordeal also pointless. Because whether I liked it or not these people were going to know about my horribly concealed Mia-shaped secret anyway. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.
I lift my hand and indicated to each person she didn't know.
"That's Emmett...Rosalie...and Alice." I pointed to each individual. She obviously already knew Jasper. Mia looked at me blankly, her expression saying, "And I should care because...?" I hiked an eyebrow as I looked at her. "Say hi Mia." My tone stressing the command.
Mia looked at me pleadingly, her eyes telling me clearly of her displeasure. She had just gotten comfortable why did she have to get up?
I could tell that she didn't want to leave my arms but I smiled encouragingly at her, nudging her up. "Don't be rude Mee." I'd have plenty of time to hug her later.
She let out an annoyed sigh and then nodded, scrunching her eyebrows in an over the top show of seriousness. Oh brother.
She crawled on the bed and then pushed herself up to her full height, standing a little taller than necessary to appear ...I don't know...more grown up I guess.
Where does she get this stuff? I scratched my head as I watched her with a soft smile. My child was an oddball but damn she was cute. I say that a lot huh? I smiled to myself and watch as she thrust out her hand to Emmett, wiggling the fingers slightly as if hoping she was doing this right. I cooed adoringly in my throat but said nothing as I watched them.
"Hewwo! My name is Mia Eh-weese Swan and I am three and a haff years owd and I wike ducks." I grinned proudly as she said that without falter. We had practiced our nice manners and what we are supposed to say when we meet someone new that's not scary and that Mommy knows but Mia doesn't. Not bad kid. I almost felt like clapping. Before she was always too shy or would get the words mixed up and it would come out like, "Hewwo. My name is Mia and my swan is three and ducks wike stuff." ...or something to that effect. It was so great watching my mom's new boyfriend digest that without pulling off 'constipation of a confused man' face.
Emmett bent down, one hand on his knee holding him up as he held out his other hand to Mia. His palm looked monstrous compared to hers, though his kind, warm smile overshadowed his hulking size. "Hello again Mia. I'm Emmett Cullen. I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance little lady." He said in an exaggerated southern drawl. I gave the moment a small smile as I watched.
Mia beamed at Emmett's introduction, seeming proud of herself for saying hello the right way.
"Hewwo!" She couldn't help but add. She seemed excited to meet these people which baffled me. She wasn't one to warm up to strangers so quickly. It was like she had been waiting for this moment for awhile and was practically bursting with joy that it was finally happening.
"Oh gosh she's adorable." Alice gushed softly next to Rosalie. For some reason I grinned even more proudly at that. Damn right she is.
"So adorable." Rosalie intoned as she watched the little girl grin smugly at the compliment. Yeah my little girl was not immune to praise at all. She took it and soaked it all up like a happy sponge. And giggled some more to get even more out of you.
The thing is, is that Mia knows she's cute which makes her all the more dangerous in my opinion. Sneaky little thing. She'll con you out of the very cookies in your hand if you're not careful.
She shook his hand some more, lifting and dropping it with both her little hands excitedly. "Do you wike ducks?" She asked eagerly.
Emmett hesitated at her earnestness, obviously not wanting to say the wrong thing. "Uh. I like Donald Duck a lot. Do you know who he is?"
Mia looked at him in wonder as she shook her head.
"Well he's this awesome sassy duck in a sailor shirt. He's really boss."
Mia tilted her head as she looked at him, suggesting she had no idea what he was talking about. She usually did that when she was confused about something. I smiled softly at her expression.
"Oh I loved him in the old days. He's not as cool as he used to be though. He was way better in the 30's." He rambled.
I arched an eyebrow at that but shrugged figuring he had saw some of the old cartoons online or something.
Mia tilted her head more, nearly laying it on her shoulder. I laughed quietly as I watched her.
"He's best friends with Mickey Mouse baby." I offered as I tapped her shoulder to gain her attention. Her neck straightened at that as she smiled again. She knew full well who he was. Her eyes nearly sparkled as she took in Emmett with a new found respect.
"I wike Minnie more." She said with her version of an 'I'm sorry shrug'.
Emmett grinned and chuckled. "I'm a Goofy man myself."
Mia then smiled over at the remaining girls in the room. Again, she shot out her hand, fingers wiggling and teeth showing in a happy greeting. "Hewwo." She greeted Rosalie.
Rosalie looked hesitant as the girl wiggled her fingers even more at her silence. The blonde paused again, uncertain, before finally, gently, taking her little fingers into her long pale ones and shaking them delicately. "Hello little one. I'm Rosalie."
"Hi Rosa...Rosawwa..." Her brow scrunched in frustration as she tried to sound out the letters properly. "RRRRooosaaaw..www." I frowned in sympathy. Rosalie looked the same and bent down a little so she was eye level with Mia and her frustrations. "But you can call me Rose. How does that sound?"
Mia still looks upset but nodded. It killed me when she felt self conscious about her language skills. This small barrier was what kept her from being lively and confident all the time. Otherwise she was embarrassed and shy. Not happening. I reached over slowly and wiggled my index finger under her armpit. She scrunched her body up and giggled as expected and then shot me a pout for my efforts. I smiled and shrugged and then gestured over to "Rose". 'Stop frowning and maybe I wouldn't have to do that', my look told her.
Mia gave a cute glare, our eyes speaking to each other as I simply smiled and then turned to the blonde.
Rosalie smiled adoringly and then straightened up.
Mia crossed her arms and held her opposite hands under her underarms tightly, shielding them from me. I grinned quietly at that as she faced Alice.
But instead of thrusting her hand out or grinning, or even lunging for a hug - which she was also known for - she merely looked at Alice, and then tilted her head.
Alice pouted after a moment when Mia didn't seem as eager to greet her as she was with her other siblings. She held her hand out when Mia hadn't and smiled. "Hello Mia. My name's Alice. It's very nice to meet you sweetie."
Mia didn't say anything as her eyes darted all over Alice's face, taking her in.
She tilted her head the other way.
Oh boy.
I coughed lightly and poked Mia's tush with my finger to get her to snap out of it. Which seemed to work because she blinked her eyes furiously and then shook her head a little.
She frowned at herself and then looked up. Alice smiled uneasily. At the sight of her, Mia smiled at her widely like she was seeing the raven haired girl for the first time and thrust out her hand, her fingers wiggling excitedly like before.
My child is weird.
"Hewwo Awwwwice." She greeted. We seriously need to work on her L's. Like pronto. I still have those flashcards ...somewhere. I'll just jot it down in my day planner. "Work on L's for an extended amount of time until Mia gets painfully bored and grumpy and insists on watching a Disney classic." ...sounds like progress to me.
Alice fixed her expression and then smiled and shook Mia's hand gently.
Mia grinned and giggled lightly at the bigger fingers curling gently around hers.
"You're pretty." Mia gushed out of nowhere. I internally face-palmed and I blushed at her bluntness. Oh God.
Emmett laughed loudly at Mia's innocent smile and Alice's shocked expression, which she schooled quickly enough and put on a soft smile.
"Oh we'll thank you. That's very sweet of you. But I wish I was as cute as you. You're much more-"
"Do you think my Mommy's pretty?" Mia cut her off abruptly. Alice's voice caught in her throat as she choked on her previous words.
Oh crap.
Alice tore her stunned eyes away from Mia and watched carefully for my reaction. Her eyes blazed as the answer to Mia's question dangled from her tongue. I almost wanted her to answer. Why? I had no freaking idea but God help me I needed a response. It was mind numbing how desperate I was for it. Okay this is just - no! She's a girl for Pete's sake!
Panicking, I grabbed Mia around the middle and hauled her back - not without a startled little yelp from her - into my lap where I could squeeze and cuddle her into submission. "Aren't you just a gal full of confidence today? Asking all sorts of embarrassing questions. Aren't you just the cutest?" I gushed in an adoring voice as I tickled her. She growled and squirmed as I did my best to distract her.
Be distracted already!
"I'm not a gaw. I'm a gir."
I rolled my eyes at her innocent corrections and squeezed her tighter.
"You're right. Only old people say gal."
"But you are owd." She pointed out, sticking her index finger in the air to prove her point.
I laughed sarcastically...and smushed her mouth closed with my fingers. "Shh. That's enough out of you."
She mumbled something around her closed lips, unintelligible syllables eeking out, index finger curling up and down as if saying hi to the other four people in the room as I held her down and kept her mute. The four in question smiled at Mia and curled their fingers in hello.
Whoo my face is hot! Is the heat on to "boiling" or is my face really that red?
"Um so yes this is my child. My loud, adorable, but most times really nosy child. Feel free to ignore anything she says." Way to change subjects so smoothly and not at all abruptly, Bella. Mia grunted and mumbled her displeasure at the suggestion. Ignoring her was never an option. She makes certain of it.
Just as Alice had opened her mouth - her phone rang. It sounded like bells I think.
She pursed her lips tightly and pressed the phone to her ear.
She excused herself to the other corner of the room, the one furthest from the rest of us and began a hushed conversation.
For the next few minutes Emmett began making ridiculous faces at Mia to make her giggle. It worked because she was practically hysterical.
I smiled softly. All that laughing and smiling had made my head worse if possible. So a subdued approach to amusement was the best option currently.
Alice walked back over to us, her phone slid to her collar bone. "Carlisle is on his way here. He wants to know how your head is doing." She said to me.
I covered Mia's ears tightly and smiled a little too wide once she asked. "Oh it hurts like a son of a bitch. Can I please have some relief? Pretty please?"
She brings the phone up to her ear again, her expression slightly guilty. "She wants to know about pain meds…" She frowned. Great. That can't be good. She shakes her head grimly. "He says to hold off until he can get there. Just to be on the safe side. He'll be here any min—"
The doorbell rang.
Alice smiled happily and I smiled a little too. "Now."
She nearly danced out of the room and was back a moment later with a tall blonde.
"Hello Mr Cullen." I greeted politely.
"Hello again Bella. I hear you aren't feeling 100%."
"My head's more like 2." I said jokingly, though you could tell my smile was weak. Thin at best, and judging by the looks on all their faces they did as well.
"Well that can't be good."
"Not really."
He motions to the rocking chair at the corner of the room. "May I?" I nod and he picks it up carefully and carries it with him to my bedside.
Mia just stares at him as he gets himself situated in the chair while the other four quietly leave the room.
"Are you a doctor?" She asks, pointing to the light blue stethoscope around his neck. A little fuzzy lion was clipped around the stem if you can believe it. Mia was immediately fascinated.
He smiles at her. "Yes I am."
"You're pretty. Are you sure you're a doctor?" She asks, her tone hinting disbelief. She tilts her head to the side as she looked at him blankly. The same way she had looked at Alice earlier.
My eyes widened in horror. Oh my God! Why would you ask that? My face turns a lovely shade of magenta and I frown disapprovingly at Mia.
"Mee. That's very rude."
"Its quite alright Bella." He leans down and looks at Mia softly. "I am most positive I'm a real doctor." His expressions were over emphasized as he regarded the three year old in my lap. His tone serious but still light and honest. His clear goal was that she would fully understand. He didn't really need to do that with Mia of all kids but I wasn't going to say that. The mere fact that she questioned him shows what I know. "I take care of lots of people every day that aren't feeling well. Like Bella here. She's not feeling very well is she?" Mia shook her head sadly. Carlisle frowned in sympathy as he shook his head in turn. "So I'm here because I want Bella to get better."
Please drop it. Please drop it. Please drop it.
"You not gunna hurt her right?" She asks almost sternly.
My face is now purple.
Carlisle looks curiously at her for a moment. Mia just stared. He seemed to come to some sort of understanding of the situation, though vaguely, and nodded firmly. "I promise." He said.
"Pinky promise!" She thrusts out her pinky and I almost have the urge to pull it back and send her to her room but she seems so damn serious when she talks to him. That intelligent glint there again. I back down reluctantly and just continue to hold her.
His eyebrow lifts upward but he does as childishly instructed and curls his pale finger around hers.
"Pinky promise." He nods.
She seems to deem the promise acceptable and folds her arms across her chest as she watches the good doctor reach for something in his bag on the floor by the rocking chair. Her eyes light up when he pulls out a red sucker.
Please tell me that's sugar free. Because right now I just can't hang.
He sees my expression and smiles. "Don't worry. Its sugar free."
Oh thank God.
I sigh in relief and nod carefully. "Good." I wait a moment after Mia had ripped the wrapper apart and shoved the sugar free treat in her mouth. I wait a few seconds more and then nudge her. "What do you say?"
She pulls the sucker out with a wet pop and grins. "Thank yooouuu!" She pops it back in and goes to town.
I roll my eyes.
Carlisle chuckles and pulls other things out of his bag. I scoot Mia down between my knees so Carlisle can check my blood pressure with the little wrappy pumpy thing and then he looks at his watch as he checks my pulse. He does a various assortment of basic test with all his little doodads. Shining lights here and there. Checking my response to stimuli or something. I tuned most of his explanations out when I asked him.
"So how am I doing Doc?"
"Fine." He gives a little sigh as he pockets his penlight in his shirt pocket. "For the most part everything appears normal so far."
So far.
He begins placing everything back in his bag except his stethoscope seeing as Mia began playing with it while he had left it unattended on my bed. Oops.
She leant over to me and placed the metal knob over my chest as she listened, the knob jumping from my collar bone to my boob to the valley between them.
"Bump bump bump bumpity bumpy bump…" She giggled and pressed the knob to her own chest, repeating her earlier murmurings in amusement and then singing it aloud as she bobbed her head lightly. Seems she made another song. Yay.
"Since we ruled diabetes and other ailments off the table I think its time to talk a little and figure out what might have caused your collapse."
"Talk?" One of my least favorite words when it comes to doctors...and people in general.
He nods, giving me a gentle look.
"I'm merely going to ask you a few questions. Nothing invasive. Just preliminary."
I chewed on my lip. "Kay."
He smiles kindly. "How have you been sleeping?"
"What's that?" I chuckled weakly. And yes, I'm fully aware that I'm trying to crack a joke at the most inappropriate moment. I can't help it. I just don't really want to answer. Because the truth is I don't sleep. Haven't since…him. I'm rarely able to catch a wink without the aid of over-the-counter cold medicine when I'm sick. So sue me for being nervous and avoid-y.
He frowns at my response and gently picks my wrist up from the bed and turns it over, feeling for my pulse again. This time I notice vaguely that I don't flinch away from his cool touch. It actually felt nice. All these damn blankets I have stacked on top of me were making me overheat. Gross. Plus the little warm monster sitting on top of me checking the apparent pulse in my forehead doesn't help either.
"I mean no." I breathe out tiredly. "No, very little."
"Has this been happening a lot?"
"A couple weeks." I lie. "It's been fewer and fewer hours a night, but now I'm lucky if I get a full three or four."
I don't tell him that it's been almost four years since I've had a descent night's sleep. That would only raise more questions. And ideally even more concerns than I'm ready to deal with.
He nods as if checking off a mental check list and moves on to the next question.
He goes over a pretty tame list of questions. Some I dodge with vague answers and most I answer honestly.
"Now I have to ask something a bit more personal." He says gently, his eyes soft and reassuring.
I nod for him to go on. How much more personal can you get? You're already in my house, in my room. Feeding my child candy.
"Are you on any medication right now?" He asks.
Oh. That personal.
"Um just my anxiety meds and uh...my vitamins." I think. Wait. No. I haven't been very good about taking them. I can't remember the last time I took my vitamins on time or at all since we got here. Damn it. I hope I haven't screwed myself over because of that.
His brow arches curiously. "Vitamins?"
"Um some herbal supplements my mother buys for me. It's supposed to help with my heart."
His brow furrows. "Have you had any problems with it before?"
I shrug. "When I was a kid. Mom said it used to be really bad. That when she found the herb it made everything better." I shrug again. "I just believed her. I haven't had any problems so far so I figured it was working."
It sounds stupid as I say it out loud but that's really what happened. I don't really remember much when I was a kid but I know my mother said I was sick a lot.
He nods, pursing his lips as he thinks over what I said. "May I see the herb?"
"No."
"No?"
I shake my head. My mother was very clear a long time ago about letting others see the herb. I kind of accepted it. Even though now refusing him seems silly and keeping it from a medical professional looks suspicious. If it'll help me why shouldn't I let him see it? Well because I promised my mother I wouldn't. I'm already breaching that promise by talking about it.
"I'd rather not," He goes to protest but I cut him off. "Listen. I really appreciate you coming by and checking up on me but it's not the herb. I have been lax about my meds since I got here and have been getting little to no sleep at all recently. All that mixed with being stressed to the max over my own paranoia with your son probably just took its toll on me. I'm fine. I think all I need is rest and plenty of chicken noodle soup because Cambels guarantees comfort, and then I should be alright. I'm sorry to dismiss you like this. I know you're just trying to help but-" Carlisle raises his hand, halting my word vomit, smiling in that gentle way I've come to expect from him.
"It's alright Bella. I'm not upset. Maybe you're right about all that. If you're sure about me not seeing the herb than all I can recommend is taking it easy for a little while. I'll even sign a slip for you to stay home from school so you can catch up on sleep. Just don't tell anyone else at school that I did that or I'll be seeing flocks of teenagers with mysterious and unexplainable fainting spells for the forcible future, alright?"
I smile gratefully. "Thank you Dr. Cullen."
He nods, giving me a beautiful smile of his own. Is it weird that I think of his smile as beautiful and not handsome?
Eh. It's a compliment. Take it however you want.
"However," He begins, earning my attention again. "I am a little concerned with your sleep schedule. Have you tried any over the counter sleep aides?"
I shook my head in the negative. Never needed to. And honestly, I never trusted the stuff. Last time I took what I thought was over the counter flu medicine that my ...he got for me, I ended up alone, bleeding in an alleyway with no memory of the last 17 hours. I clenched my jaw and beat the sick memory into submission, shoving it to the back of my mind and dead bolting the lock.
He pulled out a small pad of paper and began scribbling something down. Is he shrinking me now? Isn't that what shrinks do? Write meaningless jargon down? Whats he writing... I ignore that train of thought as he rips the piece of paper and hands it to me. "These are over the counter sleep aides that I would recommend using if you do decide to go that route. Some are more potent than others, so I caution you. It usually depends on the person however."
My eyes scan the various names and recommended dosages for each. "Um... thanks." Not like I'm actually gonna use this shit ...but thanks anyway.
He pushes himself up fluidly and goes to put the chair back where he found it.
"Oh and Dr Cullen?"
He turns around. "Yes?"
"Please tell me I can get some freaking Advil? Your kids won't let me." God I'm practically whining my displeasure. I know I'm pouting pitifully at least. Something tells me I'm going to hate myself for acting this way later but right now I'm just blaming all my mood swings on the headache.
He chuckles. "They just worry about you. Yes you may use pain relievers but only every 4-6 hours. How's that work out for you?"
I sigh in relief. "Perfect." I grin.
"Let me know if the headaches persist."
"I will. Thank you."
He packs his bag and lays three different colored suckers on my nightstand. Ooh purple!
He smiles at my reaction and looks over at Mia who is shuffling away from me. I think he wants his stuff back.
"Your turn!" She crawls over to Carlisle and he looks startled as she begins placing knob on his chest.
"May I have that little one?" He says quickly.
She shakes her head and picks up the knob to place it directly over where his heart should be…
"Mia. Give it back." I commanded.
She huffed and then pouted. She thrusts her arm out to Carlisle as she glares at her criss-crossed lap, handing him his equipment.
He smiles in relief and takes it from her. "Thank you Mia for taking such good care of it." He says placing it in his bag.
"You're welcome." She murmured.
God. She's going to be obsessing over that thing all night.
Yay.
He bids me farewell and tell me to give either one of his kids a call if there is a problem. I thank him and settle more against my pillow.
Soon each of the four Cullen children come up and wish well. Alice and Emmett linger longer. Emmett, surprisingly kisses my forhead on the way out and tells me suck it up and get better so he can introduce me to Mass Effect. Whatever the fuck that means.
Alice is the last one left and Mia smiles at her from her place on the bed. Alice smiles softly in turn and shuffles forehead.
"I hope you feel better Bella. Call me or um well you can call me if you need anything okay?"
I smile at her. I don't know why but I find her awkwardness cute. Though its weird. She doesn't seem the type to be this anxious.
"Okay."
She smiles brightly. "Okay. I…I better go so they won't leave without me."
I smile at her as she gestures to the door. Though her backward steps are slow as she makes her way there.
"Can you text?" She asks.
"I can."
"Good. I'll um…I'll text you. I mean if that's alright."
I chuckle at her cute demeanor and nod. "Its fine."
"Great! I mean…great." Her last word was so subdued and overly casual I chuckled.
"I'm going to go now." She pauses at the door.
"Okay. Thanks for your help Alice. I really appreciate all you guys did for me and Mee."
She smiles and nods. "Of course. Have a good night Bella."
"You too Alice." And then she's gone.
Mia bolts from the bed and runs to the window. I scold her for running but she doesn't listen since she was already by the window when I hollered. Kid's quick. I lean over and rummage through my nightstand drawer and fish for my beloved Advil bottle. I pop a few capsules and swallow them dry. A relieved sigh leaves my lips as I lay my head down carefully. I roll my head to the side. Mia's still watching out the window like an adorable peeper.
She watches for a moment. But the sound of a car leaving my driveway is all I hear. Mia jumps back on the bed and then situates herself in my lap again. I smile and run my fingers through her hair as she curls against my side. Its quiet for a good long time and I almost cry in absolute relief when the throbbing begins to subside. I'm nearly asleep when Mia taps my collar bone, requesting my attention.
"Mommy?"
"Hmm baby?"
"Is doctor Cuwwen dead?"
…
Wait what?
Ooh. Mia is so smerrt. Shame that that's totally gunna freak Bella out…
Oh and just for clarification Mia's middle name is Elise. We really need to do something about them darn L's, don't we? :/
Okay lovely people! Let me know what you thought please. So what exactly was with Mia's reaction to Alice you think? What was with Mia and Carlisle? Hmm...*strokes chin beard*
- Lil' Miss