where the hell was I?
My mouth felt like I drank a barrel full of glue and then gargled with sand, and the taste wasn't any better. My head moved side to side and I could wiggle my fingers and lift my arms. I let out a groan of satisfaction while my blood woke from it's stagnant state. Everything was fine until I tried to move my left leg and realised that it had turned into a giant tree trunk, heavy and unmoving. And fuck painful!
My groan turned less satisfied and I heard the soft thud of a book closing and being pushed to the side. My pace quickened when I heard the approaching footsteps and then felt the bed sink next to me.
"Shh Bella everything is ok. You and Mason are safe. Shhh dear." That voice and that smell were so familiar, one reminding me of soft breezes and the other warm caramel. Esme was with me, and she said Mason was alright. Somehow only her word on his welfare was acceptable and I exhaled the heavy breath I was holding. I noticed myself shivering as a thick blanket was placed over my body.
With some determination and intense eye rubbing I slowly regained my vision, hazy at first but clearing until I could take in the details of my room. I smelled flowers and saw a beautiful bouquet of orchids on the dressing table. The furniture included this, the bed I laid in, a bookshelf, and a desk all in dark redwoods. The walls were a pale lavender and bronzed pieces of art adorned flat surfaces throughout the room. A Dark maroon rug laid on the floor and stretched to the far wall which despite being covered by curtains, I suspected to be made entirely of glass. And of course the loveliest thing of all in the room, my very own Cullen, the motherly edition, who was staring at me, watching and waiting.
"Where's Mason?" My voice was thick and barely made it from my throat. Mama Cullen handed me a glass of water and helped me sit up before answering.
"He's down stairs and I can assure you he is fine. Everyone is quite taken with him, but you know how spirited he is don't you dear?"
My only response was a snort and a shake of my head. I figured he charmed the Cullens out of their cookie supply in under five minutes. "So, um, what's going on now, I mean with my leg and everything?"
"From what Carlisle told me it was quite the mess, but I suppose that much was obvious. I don't really know the ins and outs but all of your pieces are back where they should be,
except your kneecap. Apparently the large cast will hold everything else in place while it heals but you will eventually need specialized surgery. Will you tell me how you hurt it?" There was such a mothely weight in her words that I almost caved, but instead looked away and shook my head.
I felt her warm soft hands wrap around one of mine,"Dear broken Bella, one day you will see that some people are good and not looking to hurt you."
I scoffed,"Don't you understand Esme? Everyone is good until they aren't. And if in fact your family is good, not just one but seven good people, I should be jailed for inflicting myself on you. It's a no win situation."
Instead of a rebuttle she laughed quietly,'' You remind me so much of Edward. He can talk himself into or out of almost anything. He's intellectualised himself into a very lonely existence Bella, just as you have. Either we are too bad for you or you are too bad for us. Don't you think that there is the possibility of you being at least half wrong?"
Her voice was soft without a hint of accusation. The words travelled from her mouth and settled in my heart as my mind refused them. I stubbornly held on to my cynacism but by the smugness creeping over Esme's angelic face she saw the turmoil within me. Could they be good? Could I?
With a pat on my leg and a promise to send someone up with Mason, Esme left the room, the smell of a vanilla sundae trailing behind her. I stared at the ceiling trying not to think of how trapped I was, weighed down by a cast the size of a car and in a house God knows where. A small voice from inside my own mind soothed me reminding me of the goodness of my hosts and for my own sanity I did not try to silence it as I normally would.
A couple of minutes passed before I heard footsteps and then the door swung open. My little man stood holding hands with both Rosalie and Alice, grinning like he had just won the lottery. I suppose for him he had. Even in the hazy light I could see the cookie crumbs littering his shirt.
"Mama!" Mason yelled at ran towards me. He was small, but fast, and before anyone could stop him he ran straight into my damaged leg.
I buried the pain as best I could but not before a strangled cry escaped my throat. God is that kid made out of brick?
My eyes stopped following the circling birds and found Mason, who looked heart broken. "It's ok baby. Mommy is just really sore ok? Mommy has a big owie and we have to be careful."
He sniffled before mumbling a quick 'kay. I reached my arms out and he climbed safely on my lap. I took a deep breath in, loving that even the Cullen's fancy shampoos couldn't mask his boylike smell of sunshine and mischief. My mind was so engrossed in my son I hadn't noticed the other person joining the room, or Rosalie telling him what had happened.
"Sowy Edwad. Mommy gots an owie and I hurted it." Mason was looking apologetically at Edward, who was glancing between Mason and I with concern.
"She will be fine buddy. Your mommy is a strong lady, but if you want to rough house uncle Emmett is downstairs." Edward winked comically. Mason climbed off of my lap after a small peck on the lips and joined his hand in Rosalie's. She giggled like he was prince Charming and led him out of the room, most likely to go bash her husband.
"How are you really feeling Bella?" Edward's voice was soft and concerned but his lips were pursed as though his words were not his own.
"I feel like I should, I think. Sore, stiff, and groggy. Oh and in desperate need of a shower" I replied keeping things as clinical as possible.
Alice bounced on the spot,"Well that is why I am here, to assist with all the girly stuff. I can help you with the bath stuff, maybe give you a facial..Ohh and then I can blowdry your hair."
I momentarily looked at Edward in fear but turned away when I saw his lip curl up into a smirk. Part of me felt like accusing him of setting this up, but the fair side of me remembered Alice after she had been attacked. In reality her acting like a beautician on crack was her normal, he just enjoyed the idea of having to save me.
Nice try Romeo.
"That's great Alice, thank you. Bye Edward."
My dismissal of him seemed to sting but he cleared his throat and gently closed the door behind him. Alice came and untucked me and handed me my crutch while fitting her pint sized body into my other side. It felt wrong, like leaning on Tinkerbell without her magic dust.
We slowly made it to another door that I soon discovered lead to an ensuite. There was a deep garden tub surrounded by stone, looking like it had sprung naturally through the bathroom tiles which were a mossy green. The vanity was simple with only one sink. I smiled knowing that somewhere along the line a Cullen had shown some kind of restraint. There was also a shower stall made of floating glass inconspicuous but spacious in the corner.
Alice started. "Ok I talked to dad and he said a shower would be best and I just have to cover your cast with some plastic."I looked longingly at the tub before nodding my head.
Alice had me covered in record time and I managed to get my clothes off without falling on my face. I hobbled under the spray feeling Heaven in those highly pressured water droplets pelting my weary flesh.
Alice was handing me the shampoo when I saw the horror on her face. Shit I forgot about my scars. I barely noticed them on the landscape of my body lately. They were there but so was I, with Mason. The rest was just details.
I finished and towelled off and Alice helped me dress into some pyjama shorts and a small t slowly hobbled back over to the bed and I climbed back in as she covered me up. Alice being silent should be a Godsend, but it was making me incredibly tense.
I heaved a sigh,"Ok spill it."
She sniffled before looking at me with watery eyes,"What happened to you? You have so many scars but they're scattered."
I snorted,"Yeah like graffitti no one asked for. It's not a big deal ok? I've had some rough times, but I'm ok now really. Or I will be as soon as I'm not lugging this around." I nodded towards my giant white plaster accessory trying to lighten the moment.
"You should talk to Rose and Jasper." She whispered before kissing me on the forehead and leaving with a promise to bring food and pain relief.
I sat a little stunned in my bed. Surely Alice would try and push me towards her brother, not her own husband, right? I remember Rosalie saying something about coming from a different kind of family then the Cullens. Maybe they had suffered abuse. The thought made me sick as did any abuse, but this hit close to home. As much as I wanted to deny it the family was growing on me as a whole. I may refuse to take things further with Edward, but damn his family was a nice package with so many personalities but one single trait tying them together-character. They all seemed to have it in spades.
Rosalie had been a straight talker and even taken my warning to heart. I wonder if Jasper is the same, and I think I'm going to try to find out.