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Bella allowed a small smile to play on her lips at the thought that she may finally be getting Edward to open up. Her head told her to give him time, but her heart begged her to go back in and comfort him. Her head won out this time and she made her way down to the rest of the family.
Carlisle's eyes showed his disappointment as Bella entered the kitchen alone.
"He's not coming down is he?"
She shook her head.
"Maybe I should take him something up after all he didn't eat dinner last night either." Esme stood and walked towards the Aga.
"Mum." Emmett warned "We have to stay strong what was the point of bringing Bella in if we are going to carry on as we were?"
Esme sighed nodding.
"Mrs Cullen, Dr Cullen assured me as long as he doesn't take his medication on an empty stomach he will be fine for a few days on fruit and build up drinks."
"Speaking of medication I had better take it up." Carlisle grabbed a banana and left the kitchen.
Edwards stomach growled angrily in distaste at being ignored for the past fifteen hours or so. The doorknob turned and he smiled to himself knowing his mum wouldn't leave him to starve. His face however fell when it was his father who entered carrying his tray sans breakfast.
"Here you go." Carlisle smiled passing him the banana.
Edward grunted a thank you and ate it in four large mouthfuls then he took his pills.
"Why are you being so stubborn." Carlisle sighed "Don't you want to get better?"
"Sorry to tell you doctor but my prognosis isn't good." Edward shrugged handing his empty glass back.
Carlisle's eyes narrowed he flipped open his phone and moved to the bathroom, Edward watched as his dad spoke animatedly into his phone before closing it and walking back into his room.
"Get up we're going out." he snapped Edward sighed but didn't argue with his father pulling himself into his chair.
An hour later Carlisle, Edward and Bella pulled into his parking place at the hospital.
"What are we doing here don't you think I've seen enough of these places?" Edward huffed indignantly.
Carlisle ignored his son as he wheeled him through the main entrance, smiling at Bella.
Edward looked around him as he passed room after room until they came to a stop outside some double doors.
"You may not remember this room as you refused to use it when you were here." Carlisle stated pushing the doors open.
"Isabella this is our local hospitals physio unit" he explained.
Inside Edward could see wall bars, large floor mats and two sets of parallel bars running down the middle of the room, there were also some large exercise balls.
Carlisle motioned to Bella to sit on some moulded plastic chairs positioned around the outside of the room, he pulled Edward back against the wall as the doors opened again and three children entered in wheelchairs being pushed by men and women dressed in the hospital uniform.
"Okay guys lets be having you." there was a scream of laughter as each child dove from their chair and tumbled onto the mats. Edward watched each child as they began their exercises. Carlisle knelt beside him and pointed to a little boy with one full left leg and only a thigh on his right side. He had a mass of thick brown curls which he constantly blew from his face as he begun his sit ups before combat crawling over to one of the large exercise balls.
"Peter is six he was in an accident six months ago lost the lower part of his right leg." Edward watched as Peter rolled on the exercise ball stretching out his good leg giggling.
Carlisle pointed to another child she was maybe ten or eleven Edward thought, she was holding onto the bars with the help of her nurse concentrating as she pulled her prosthetic legs to walk slowly. She took two consecutive steps and smiled giving her trainer a high five.
"Jane lost both her legs to an illness, she still dreams of being a dancer." Carlisle smiled as Jane grinned. Edward turned to look at Bella and then to his father "Why are you showing me this?."
"Watch!" He whispered pointing at a little boy with blonde hair and the bluest of eyes who was shuffling towards them, his legs were tiny compared to the rest of his torso and his feet lay lifeless as he shuffled on his bottom.
"Good afternoon Jasper and how are we today?"
"Okay thank you Doctor C is this him?" he thumbed at Edward. Carlisle chuckled "Yes Jasper this is Edward my son Edward this is Jasper he's one of our prize patients.
Jasper giggled and turned to Edward "Hi Eddie, what you in a chair for?"
Edward suddenly felt very uncomfortable "I erm..had an accident." he answered him quietly.
"Ah that sucks, when did it happen?" he leant back on his arms rocking.
"A year ago."
He pushed himself back up and shuffled closer "Your legs not work then now?"
Edward nodded "Yeah, a little."
Jasper narrowed his eyes "So what ya still doin in there?" he asked hands on his tiny hips.
Edward looked at his father and he gestured for him to answer him.
Edward shrugged unable to answer.
"Hmm not much of an answer." sighed Jasper "Hey, that your girlfriend she's really pretty"
Edward looked round at Edward, a look of shock on his face "No, she's erm my carer"
"Wow I wish my carer looked like that" Jasper winked at Bella causing her to laugh and blush.
"You wanna come and play with me?"
"Play what?"
"Catch." he pointed to one of the smaller exercise balls.
"I can't." he sighed, he shrugged turning to Carlisle.
Cupping his mouth with his hand he beckoned him to come closer, as he did he whispered into his ear.
Carlisle threw back his head laughing "Okay gotta go, bye Edward hope to see you soon." he winked at Bella again then shuffled away.
"What did he say?"
Carlisle laughed "He said you were stubborn, and that Bella was cute but a bit too old for his liking."
Edward had to laugh "How old is he?"
"Eight, he'll be nine on Christmas day."
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Then how?" he gestured over to him, he was now throwing the balls at his trainer laughing.
"He was born like that, he has a few other medical problems too with his stomach and lungs."
Edwards breath caught in his throat as he continued to watch the children.
"I've been such an asshole, haven't I?" he sniffed
"Yes you have." Carlisle agreed. Edward laughed swatting his dad's arm.
"Can we go home now, I'd like to have breakfast with my family?"
Carlisle nodded placing his hand on his son's shoulder "I'm so proud of you."
Edward shook his head "Not yet dad but you will be."
Then he turned to Bella..his stomach clenched..she would be proud of him too.
Breakfast had been long since finished when they got back but Esme informed him that she would make a special lunch, Edward insisted she didn't make a big deal of it but she was hearing none of it.
"I'd like to make a toast." Emmett announced holding up his bottle of beer. Carlisle groaned knowing that this was not going to go well.
"Actually I'd like to make two."
"Get on with it then." scolded Alice holding up her Charlie and Lola tumbler.
"Okay Miss bossy britches." he laughed swatting her head softly.
"I would like to make a toast to our family." there was a round of 'here here's' then he held his hand up to quieten everyone.
"I would also like to welcome and thank our newest member who seems to have finally sorted out my stubborn ass of a little brother, here's to Bells." Everyone raised their glasses, all but Edward who suddenly found the crumbs on the dining table a lot more interesting.
"To Bella" the all said in unison, she didn't know what to say words stuck in her throat so she just nodded.
Lunch was a jovial affair with lively banter and stories of the trouble Emmett and Edward got up to.
Bella didn't say much she just sat back and watched as her 'new' family enjoyed one another's company.
"Edward, Bear was taking me in the pool this afternoon will you come in too?" Alice smiled helping herself to second of desert.
All eyes were on Edward, Carlisle cleared his throat "Edward is probably tire..." he began.
"I'd love to squirt." Edward interrupted "As long as Bella doesn't mind helping me?"
"IzzyyougottahelpEdwardcosIwanthimtocomeintothepoolwithmeandBear." she said all in one breath.
Bella laughed "How can I say no to that face." she said turning to Emmett and pinching his cheeks.
The table was in an uproar "Why don't we all go in the pool, I don't have to go into the hospital today?"
"Yeah pool party!" shouted Emmett throwing his large arms around Carlisle "Just promise no making out with mum in the pool dad."
Esme blushed as Carlisle almost choked on his wine, "Eww gross Emmett." Edward groaned.
"What's making out?" asked Alice, Carlisle motioned to Emmett to explain.
"Well my little sister it's." he lifted her from the chair planting loud kisses on her cheek causing her to squeal.
"Kissy, kissy , kissy." he moaned as he continued his assault.
"Ewwww your gross." she wiped her face with her sleeve "Mummy and daddy don't kiss, we don't want another baby." she said matter of fact. The table fell silent apart from the sniggers of the boys.
Carlisle stood "On that educational note, lets go get ready."
Bella had left Edward in his room to get ready whilst she looked through her bag for something to wear, the only thing she had was a pair of black boy shorts and a tight T shirt that said "I'm not a Princess I'm a Khaleesi" she grabbed her sports bra and decided that would have to do, she knocked gently on the door and entered "You ready?"
Edward shook his head, he was sat on his bed attempting to pull his shorts further down his leg.
"Hey." she whispered sitting down beside him "They are part of you, nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of." she motioned to his scarred legs.
"They're ugly."
Without thinking she placed her hand under his chin and lifted his face "Nothing is ugly about you." she whispered.
Edward blushed pulling his face from her soft hand before he did something he would regret.
"Come on, lets go have some fun with your family." standing she turned to grab Edward's chair but something was holding her back. she looked down to her arm to see her wrist wrapped inside Edward's hand.
"They're your family too." he smiled.
"Thank you." she said her voice cracking.
Maybe he shouldn't fight this any more, Edward thought to himself, could he dare to think he may just have a future.
