Chapter 11

Bella hated hospitals. The sound of ominous beeping machines, the moans that not even tightly sealed glass doors could hide, the awful smell of blood … rust and salt. Some of which she noted, was on her. She stared blankly at her hands. Edward's temple had been bleeding and now her fingers were coated in the dark red liquid. She shuddered.

Waiting in a chair that in all rights would have been comfortable, had it not been for the location and situation, Bella waited to make sure that Edward was alright. It was what she needed to hear and she would accept nothing else. Of course, the paramedics seemed to think it was a routine head and rib injury.

But Bella knew head injuries could go sickeningly wrong. The outward stuff could be bad, but at least you would see it. Something internal though … she cringed at the thought of something like a brain bleed.

"Bella, is Edward alright? Has anyone told Carlisle?" Bella turned to see two hurrying figures dashing straight for her. She stood stiffly and greeted them.

"Alice, yeah he's getting a CAT scan now. Carlisle came right up from emergency with him." Bella gave Alice's tight squeeze a tentative pat. Charlie and Rose weren't big huggers.

She turned her eyes from Alice, the small, but lethally charming pint-sized Cullen to the woman with worried soft features.

Alice released her and stepped back. "Oh, sorry, Mom, this is Bella. Edward's girlfriend." Bella's eyes shifted to the side. Was that what they were? She was sure Edward wouldn't like hearing that label. Too much too soon—or ever, she mentally corrected herself. "And Bella, this is my mom, Esme."

"Hello Bella, I'm glad you were with Edward." Her voice washed over me calmingly. I relaxed into a small smile.

"Yeah well," I scuffed the toe of my shoe. "It was no problem. I think he's fine. At least—he sounded fine on the ride over. He kept trying to insist he didn't need a stretcher …"

Alice rolled her eyes and they wandered to the chairs seated in front of an unwatched television. "Edward's an idiot."

"Alice!"

Alice looked unapologetically at Bella. "Well, he is!"

At that moment, the blonde man who'd rushed through the doors following Edward appeared. He was somber and everyone's mood took a violent downswing.

"Carlisle?" Esme stood and walked to meet him.

Carlisle's face broke into a smile as he snapped out of his thoughts. "He's going to be fine, just fine. Minor concussion—"

"Might improve things," Bella heard Alice mutter cheerfully.

"—And I think there are two bruised ribs, but nothing broken, nothing cracked!" He bent and kissed his wife on the cheek and was met with a resounding smack.

He stared at her and Bella's eyes boggled. What the heck?

Her finger was pointed stiffly at his shocked face and her voice trembled. "You will never scare me like that again. The look on your face when you came out here …" she trailed off ominously.

Carlisle shrugged off the words and gathered her in a hug. "Sorry, babe, sorry. I was thinking about something else. I lost my head."

"You will lose your head if you cause my heart to stop like that again," Bella heard her mumble.

Alice sighed, but when Bella studied her she noticed that her long-suffering posturing was dosed with an undeniable fondness for the couple breaking apart from their hug.

"And you've met Bella?" Esme pulled Carlisle the rest of the way over.

His brow furrowed. "Not officially. Bella …?"

"Swan," Bella supplied and rose to clasp his hand.

"Ah yes, you came in with Edward. You …?" He trailed off and tilted his head questioningly.

"This is his new girlfriend, dear," Esme supplied helpfully, now the very picture of elegance.

Bella's face flamed.

"Ah, right, well it's wonderful to meet you," Carlisle grinned brightly and Bella's heart skittered. She suddenly knew where Edward got it from.

It took some time to discharge Edward and Charlie insisted she go home eventually. Clasping his hand with a worried look casted over his bandaged forehead and stiffly ginger movements, she promised to call and check in on him.

"I'll be waiting," he promised and as she turned to go, he squeezed her hand one last time. "Thank you, I'm glad you came." The corners of his mouth upturned and he didn't seem like he was posturing. He didn't sound phony. He didn't sound forced. It was so natural and happy that it caught Bella's breath, she'd never seen him … serene, but that was how he seemed in that moment. Serenely happy.

It sounded stupid as it reverberated in her head on the ride home with Charlie. Charlie of course, mistook her silent thoughts for worry and reassured her gruffly, "Don't worry, the kid's got a hard head. It'll take a few knocks just fine."

She couldn't prevent a laugh. Charlie really did not want to like Edward. It was almost endearing sometimes.

Walking in, she passed Rosalie's closed bedroom door and her happiness faded slightly. When had everything gotten so out of control? Maybe Rose wasn't the only one at fault for their lack of relationship now. …

She didn't want to fight with Rose. She almost knocked, but then paused, her skin inches from the hard wood.

She was just too tired to deal with it tonight. Tomorrow maybe. She could only handle so much stress for one night.

A/N: Alright lovelies I've been terribly under the weather and still don't have a voice so this was a short one, but get ready because this chapter's hovering at the top of the rollercoaster! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thank you guys so much for all of the wonderful comments and for continuing to read this story. Let me know what you think of the chapter—of what's coming! Comments are always welcome, encouraged, and appreciated! It makes my day to read them! As always, thank you for reading!