Peace & Quiet

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephanie Meyers does. The story idea presented is mine though.

Chapter 12

EPOV

I was downstairs putting up the stuff in the bags I got out of the car. Then I heard a commotion upstairs and ran back up. I got up there as I saw Bella head hit the floor and heard the crack as her head hit. I saw dad run to her. He was checking her vitals like a good doctor does. I ran to her and took her hand. Dad told me "you'll ride with Bella, Jack and I will take my car. Edward get Bella's purse and get her medical ID out." I went and got Bella's purse and opened it and found a small black velvet box and her wallet. I opened her wallet and pulled out her medical id and her regular id. I placed the box into my jacket pocket. I'll ask Bella about it later.

The ambulance pulled up and dad gave the EMTs Bella's stats. Dad also told them I would ride with her and I was to stay with her no matter what. They loaded the stretcher and I climbed in and the ambulance left for the hospital. While in the ambulance I held Bella's hand. It only took five minutes to get to the hospital. I got out and walked with the stretcher in the ER. The ER nurse said I had to wait in the waiting room, I informed her I was Dr. Cullen's son and he instructed me to stay with Bella till he arrived. She nodded. I also told her that Bella was deaf and would need someone to tell her what was being said if she woke up. The nurse nodded again.

Bella was wheeled into a triage room and I sat in a chair near her. The doctor on call asked what her name was, I told him. He asked me who I was, again I told him who I was and what my father had told me to tell them. He nodded. After a few minutes, the doctor said they will need to xray her haed to see if her skull had been fractured. I nodded. Ten minutes later a xray machine came in the door. The tech said I had to leave while he took the xrays but he would let me back in as soon as he was done. I nodded.

After 15 minutes, the xray tech came out and said I could go back in. He also said he would rush the xrays due to who she. I asked him how he know who she is. he said "Dr. Cullen talks about her being like his daughter all the time. He also says how happy his son Edward is. I take it your Edward?" I nodded. He smiled. "Your one lucky nam to have her. Dr. Cullen says you to act like your married already. Well I got to go. I hope she is ok. I'll be back with these xrays ASAP. Later." He said and left. I went back in to the room.

Dr. Jackson (the on call doctor) came back in and was followed by dad. They shook hands and Dr. Jackson put up Bella's xrays and they began discussing them. Dad looked at me and said "her head at least was cracked open when she hit her head. There is also no brain swelling. She must have just knocked herself out. All her vitals are fine and her pupil reflex is normal. We just have to wait for her to wake up. Edward you can stay with her. They will move her to a private room so she can have a few more visitors. They will be in here in 10 minutes to move her and you can go with her. Keep your phone on and let me know if anything changes, like her waking up. I'm gonna go home with Jack and we will let everyone what has happened. I'll have Alice pack you and Bella some clothes and I'll bring them back later, ok?" I nodded. He then said "they will keep her on the monitors and IVs till she wakes up." With that said, he and Dr. Jackson left the room.

Not much later, a nurse and an orderly came into the room and began the process of moving my Bella to a private room. Once she was in her room, I reached over and took her hand in mine and held it. About two hours later a nurse came in to check on her. She said her name was Maggie and she would be taking care of her till 6am, it was 11pm. She said she would order breakfast for me since Dr. Cullen had asked for it to be done. I said thanks. Maggie also said that her chart said she was deaf, I nodded. Then I said "that's why I'm staying with her. If she should wake up with no one around she knew she would start screaming and she would not be able to hear you asking her to calm down. Besides, she my girl. So I am the main one who will be with her. My family may be around later to see how she is and check on me also. If when you bring me a dinner later, can you bring my the standard patient menu for tomorrow so I can choose for tomorrow?" She smiled and nodded. Then she left.

I settled in a chair near Bella's bed and turned on the tv. She also handed me the menu selections form for the next day. I smiled. I just watched tv. Maggie came in at 12am to check Bella's vitals and her IVs. She smiled at me and said everything was ok. She came back about 10 minutes later with blankets, 2 pillows and a recliner. I said thanks.

Alice handed me a suitcase and said "this has clothes for both you and Bella. I also included both of your toothbrushes, hair brushes, toothpaste, and several changes of clothes for you. She has an outfit, it's in the plastic bag, she can wear home when she wakes up." Everyone came over to me and gave me a hug.

Then dad said "I've made sure if there are any changes, I will be notified. Since you, Edward, will be here the nurse on duty will call me so you can take care of Bella when she wakes instead of calling me. Just make sure that if you need anything, call any one of us and we will take care if it." Then everyone hugged me again and then kissed Bella on her forehead anc left. I got dad's attention before he left the room.

"Dad did you know that Bella got a ring set today while they were in Port Angeles?" I asked. Dad looked at me and replied "yes. As I had said while they were gone, don't wait till she asks. She wants you to ask her. She's head strong and has had to learn very early in life to be more than she was. She grew up way to fast and she want to slow down and enjoy what she has with you. The girls have always done things together, and getting married is one of those things they want to do together. I saw the box you found in Bella's purse. When she wakes, I would suggest you wait till she's out of the hospital to take her to some place special to propose. I will suggest that to Emmett and Jasper also. You guys each need to do something romantic for your girl to show that they are the only one for you. So I will leave you, but take time to think of where you will take her to 'pop the question' son." I nodded and pulled out the box to look at the ring. The engagement ring was 1 karat diamond ring, and the matching wedding band had our birthstones on it. Then when the rings are together it looks like a triple stone wedding ring.

The rings took my breath away. Dad was astonished with the rings Bella had picked out. "See what I mean Edward. She found the rings she wants you to give her. She has planned everything down to the day of the wedding. The girls have the rings and sample invitations. I will bring the other tomorrow and the sample invitations so that you boys have a say in some part of the wedding preparations. Now, just think of how much she needs to be pampered from now on. Bella told me about her job offer from the mayor and school board. She has also suggested to the school board that Sign Language be a subject like and foreign language taught in high school. The School Board President called me on my way here with the family and said they have agreed to her proposal. They will only let her teach the Sign Language class. That is until someone else is qualified by the American Sign Language Association. I will place the call to the ASL tomorrow and ask them to send someone here to test you to see if you have the signing skills for the test. If so, you and Bella will teach the new kids and the high school students. For the high school kids, this will be like taking a foreign language class."

I was shocked with the news. He smiled. Then he said "try to get some sleep tonight. I will see you tomorrow morning around 10. Sleep well my son." Thanks dad" I said. He left. I went back to the recliner next to Bella's bed and watched tv. Some time later I fell asleep.

I was awaken just before 6am by Maggie. She and another nurse were in the room. When I was awake, Maggie introduced Sasha. She said Sasha will work the 6am to 2pm shift. I shook Sasha's hand and smiled back at her. Sasha then said the same speech that Maggie gave me the evening before. She also said breakfast will be delivered between 7 and 8. She suggested that I may want to take a shower soon. I nodded. I sat back down in the recliner and waited for breakfast.

At 7:30, Sasha brought in my meal. She said she would be back by 9am to pick up the tray. I said thanks. I ate. At 8, Sasha came in to check on Bella. Everything was the same. At 8:30, I got up and went to the bathroom and started to take a shower. Before I could even get in, I heard a scream. I threw on my jeans and ran out of the bathroom. I noticed Sasha taking my tray but it was Bella who was screaming. I ran to her and held her till she calmed down. She finally stopped screaming and looked at me. I smiled. Then I signed 'you were knocked over by Emmett and you've been out cold since about 8:20 pm last night. You were taken to the hospital to check you. You've been out till just now. How are you feeling love?'

She looked at me and signed 'I'm thristy. Can I have a drink?' I smiled and nodded. I got her a glass of water and handed it to her. She drank it till it was empty. She then looked around the room and asked 'did you stay with me all night?' I nodded. Then I pulled out the black velvet box and handed it to her. She blushed. I asked her 'will you be ok while I try to take a shower and change clothes?' She smiled and nodded. 'I'll be out in 10 minutes. ok?' She nodded again. Before I got in, I got the tv remote and turned on the closed captioning for her. I kissed her forehead and went to take my shower.

When I got out of the bathroom, a doctor was there removing the IVs and all the monitors from Bella. He looked at me and said "you must be Carlisle's son Edward. My name is Dr. Ben Neilson. You dad and family should be here soon. Sasha paged me and called Carlisle to say she was awake. I had removed IVs and all the monitors from Bella. She will be able to get up and move around, but she should take it easy. Would you ask her if I can check her ears?" I nodded and signed to Bella 'Dr. Neilson wants to check your ears love. Ok?' She nods. After he checks her ears he says "How long has she been unable to hear?" I tell him (and sign for Bella) "since she was 13 I think. She and her parents were in a nasty accident in Colorado. Her parents died, but she hasn't been able to hear since. She is able to function as you or I do. She can talk but choses not to. She will talk when she is comfortable around people. She talks at home all the time. Why do you ask?"

Dr. Neilson replies "I see no reason why she can't hear. There is no fluid build up around her ear drums at all. I will call an ear specialist to come and double check her ears as soon as I get to the nurse's station. Do you know if she had any head trauma from the accident?" Just as he asked, dad walked in and answered (and signed) "No she didn't. I talked with the doctors at the Boulder Hospital and they couldn't see what was causing her deafness. She over came it by going online to learn sign language before she left the hospital there. She even taught all of us how to sign so we all could communicate with her. She even has software on her laptop so when people speak she can see what they have said so she can answer questions." With that said, dad sat Bella's laptop in front of her and she turned it on.

BPOV

I see Emmett swing around and I get hit with the bags in his hands and I stumble backwards unable to stop my backwards fall. Just as my head hit the floor I heard everyone yell Emmett's name, the blackness.

I awoke to someone near me picking something up. I opened my eyes and saw a strange woman taking something. I screamed. The woman left with a tray. Edward caome out of nowhere and held me in his arms till I stopped screaming. Edward smiled. He signed 'you were knocked over by Emmett and you've been out cold since about 8:20 pm last night. You were taken to the hospital to be checked over. You've been out till just now. How are you feeling love?'

I looked at him and signed 'I'm thristy. Can I have a drink?' He smiled and nodded. He got me a glass of water and handed it to me. I drank it till it was empty. I then looked around the room and asked 'did you stay with me all night?' He nodded. Then he pulled out the black velvet box and handed it to me. I blushed. He asked me 'will you be ok while I try to take a shower and change clothes?' I smiled and nodded. 'I'll be out in 10 minutes. ok?' I nodded again. Before he got in, he got the tv remote and turned on the closed captioning for me. He kissed me forehead and went to take his shower.

When Edward got out of the bathroom, a doctor was there removing the IVs and all the monitors from me. He looked at Edward and said something. He nodded and signed to Bella 'Dr. Neilson wants to check your ears love. Ok?' She nods. After he checks my ears he says "How long has she been unable to hear?" Edward tells him (and signs for me) "since she was 13 I think. She and her parents were in a nasty accident in Colorado. Her parents died, but she hasn't been able to hear since. She is able to function as you or I do. She can talk but choses not to. She will talk when she is comfortable around people. She talks at home all the time. Why do you ask?"

Dr. Neilson replies (while Edward translates for me) "I see no reason why she can't hear. There is no fluid build up around her ear drums at all. I will call an ear specialist to come and double check her ears as soon as I get to the nurse's station. Do you know if she had any head trauma from the accident?" Just as he asked, Carlisle walked in and answered (and signed) "No she didn't. I talked with the doctors at the Boulder Hospital and they couldn't see what was causing her deafness. She over came it by going online to learn sign language before she left the hospital there. She even taught all of us how to sign so we all could communicate with her. She even has software on her laptop so when people speak she can see what they have said so she can answer questions." With that said, Carlisle sat mt laptop in front of me and I turned it on.

Once my laptop was on, I asked "When can I get out of here. I hate hosptials." Carlisle and Edward smiled and Dr. Neilson looked confused. Then Dr. Neilson turned to Carlisle stunned. Again Edward said "she only lost her hearing not her ability to speak. She is an MIT graduate with a doctorate in Cognitive Science. She probably has a higher IQ than you Dr. Neilson." I chuckled at that. Dr. Neilson turned to like at me. He asked "did you hear him say that to me?" I said aloud "I do have a higher IQ than you do. I made a 198 on my latest IQ test last year as a matter of fact. Why?" I then turned my laptop around for him to see that what he said was printed on the screen for me to see and it had even shown what I had just said to him. He then bowed his head in defeat. I smiled.

I then asked again "When can I get out of here. I hate hosptials." Dr. Neilson then said "let me get our ear specialist in to double check your ears then we can let you go home I believe. You are on strict rest for 2 weeks once you get home. No stress, no heavy lifting, no rough housing with anyone. Any questions?" Edward skakes his head no. Carlisle smiles. I look ans ask "when will that ear guy get here?" Dr. Neilson smiles and leaves. Carlisle follows him out.

A few minutes later Carlisle came back in and he was followed by a woman. I looked at my pc and Carlisle introduced her as Dr. Kellerman, an ear specialist. I nodded. She then asked and signed (that surprised me) "May I look at your ears dear?" I nodded. She looked in each on and then turned to Carlisle (her back to me) and said "like Dr. Neilson said there is no fluid around her ears at all. According to Dr. Neilson you say she had no head trauma from the car accident. I would like her to come to my office sometime soon to let me run some specialized hearing tests. Can you check with my office for an open appointment for her?" Carlisle nodded. I then said "I may be deaf but I'm not stupid. Like I told Dr. Neilson I have an IQ of 198 and I hate being talked about. Carlisle I want to go home now."

I then closed my laptop, looked at Edward and signed 'why the hell does everyone think I'm stupid. That's the second doctor so far that has acted like I'm a deaf mute or just plain ignorant. I want my clothes that I presume Alice sent so I can get dressed and piss off this hospital and go home.' Edward handed me my clothes and I went to the bathroom. Once I was in the bathroom, I cracked the door and said "if there is anyone but Edward in this room I will start throwing things." I stayed at the door till Edward nodded and signed 'I'm the only one here now love.' I then asked him 'you found the rings in my purse right?' He nodded. 'Do you want to wait or do it now?'

He looked at me and signed 'I will do it when your dressed love. Although I would love to help you dress, but I think it would be counter productive. But I will watch you get dressed if you are ok with that?' I smiled, nodded and blew him a kiss as I started to remove the hospital gown and put on my clothes very seductively. I watched Edward as he watched me and smiled at him. He then signed 'you'll be the death of me if you take much more time you will force me to take you here and now love.' I just smiled sheepishly. I finished getting dresses. I then looked at Edward and ashed him 'no what?'

Edward looked at me with his crooked smile he always gave me. He walked over to me and got down on one knee and said 'I have loved you all my life. You complete me. I would be honored if you would accept this and become my wife. So that we will always be together forever. Will you marry me Bella?' He then opened the box and pulled out the engagement ring and placed it on my finger. I looked at him and said "Yes I will be your wife, my love. Forever." He then got up and hugged me and twirled us around. Then kissed me passionately. When we came up for air, Edward tensed slightly and turned us around and there stood our family. Then they all came over and hugged us both.

After that we all left the hospital and went home. Once there Edward and went to his room and we changed clothes to get ready for the slumber party in the basement. Carlisle caught up to us on our way back down. He said (and signed) "I'm proud of you both. Bella, I'm proud of how you have overcome your hearing loss and in the process of learning to communicate, you have taught us to be able to talk with you. Edward, you hvae been brave to stand by Bella the way you have. You both deserve to be happy. Now go down to the basement. Bella you are on doctor's orders to take it easy for about 2 weeks. So let others help you and take care of you. Shoo. Go have fun." With that Edward and I made our way to the basement gameroom to have a week long slumber party like we did when we were smaller.

We talked that night about the colors for the wedding and reception. We chose the invitations to be used and what would be on the invitations. Esme had emailed me the guest list of no more than 100 people to include family and close friends from high school. I then said "you guys will have to go to the dress shop to be fitted for you tuxes for the weddings next week." Emmett and JAsper looked at me like I had sprouted a second head, but when I looked at Edward he only smiled and nodded. Then Emmett said "but I haven't proposed to Rosie yet." Jasper looked at Alice and said "me either." Then Rose and Alice handed Emmett and Jasper the black velvet boxes with their rings in it to them.

Then Emmett and Jasper looked at Rose and ALice and asked "will you marry me and be mine forever?" Both Alice and Rose squeled with delight and nodded yes. Jasper was the first to look at me and said 'I guess the next step is the tux fitting.' I smiled and said "Daphne at the dress shop has the measurements from when I went with you three for your tailored suit fitting, but she would like to double check the measurements before completing the tuxes." Then Emmett said 'your clever lil sis, very clever.' I smiled and said "yes I am."

That night was great. We watched movies. We cuddled with our soul mates. We talked about our furtures.