"There was a guy at work who entered a local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of them would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did."

They say that laughter is the best medicine for all ills and hearing Edward's soft laughter was doing wonders for Bella's. Although she had known that Edward had made it out of the surgery in quite good shape, her mind did not settle until she had laid eyes on his sleeping form the next afternoon, at the end of her day's work. Now, two days later, despite seeing how at ease Edward was, Bella was still concerned about the long recovery that awaited him. Edward would tell her about his physical therapy sessions, but she was reminded of it constantly with a mere glance in his direction. The left side of his face was partially covered in bandages and there was some slight bruising and swelling above his cheek bone.

In contrast, his right side looked better than it did before, having been cleanly shaved prior to the surgery. Even as Bella looked at him now, with the slight stubble growing along it, she had an intense desire to run the tips of her fingers down his right cheek bone.

"Bella, where do you hear these?" Edward's curious voice brought her out of her musings.

"To be honest, Edward, I don't remember," she grinned settling back in the chair. "Well, not for the more intellectual jokes. The cruder jokes, on the other hand, I know that I heard from either my Father or Jake." She paused and looked at him cautiously, trying to garner his reaction. "Are you absolutely sure that you're okay meeting him? I can catch a cab home instead."

Edward's expression turned quizzical.

"Jake? Yeah, why wouldn't I want to meet someone who is your friend?"

Bella got the impression that Edward's question wasn't only directed towards her, but also towards himself.

"Besides, I don't want you to have to take a cab home, while your car is being serviced."

Edward was slightly nervous about meeting Bella's Jake. He wouldn't tell her that, though. He realised that it was inevitable that he would come into contact with someone close to Bella, but he had hoped that it wouldn't be so soon. Bella's car had had other ideas. Many questions plagued him at the prospect of meeting Bella's relations, but one in particular. What would they think of Bella spending her afternoons with someone who was wrapped up in bandages and who needed help to shit?

"Edward, if you're uncomfortable with him visiting and taking me home, I can send him a text right now and he won't come." Bella seemed to be able to understand him like one of the characters in her much loved novels.

"No, Bella," he said, halting her movements with his hand. "I should meet Jake."

Bella chewed on the inside of her cheek appraising Edward.

"All right," she eventually resigned, noticing the stubbornness of Edward's eyes. "So, are you ready for chapter fifteen?" Bella smiled, finding the bookmarked page in her iBooks.

Edward would never tire of the way Bella's chocolate eyes swirled with excitement every time that she read to him. He closed his eyes in anticipation, but was surprised when Bella's hand and the cool smoothness of the iPad met his.

"Would you read for me?" She asked with a hint of trepidation. The light behind her hooded eyes and the rosiness of her cheeks rendered Edward defenceless.

Is she aware of what she does to me?

Trying to hide the tension in his fingers, he surreptitiously swallowed and gripped the iPad.

"Sure."

If Edward had known that such a simple response could elicit the most breathtaking smile taking form on Bella's face, he would have said it sooner.

Bella pushed her chair closer, eager to hear Edward's voice bring the story to life. She chuckled as he cleared his throat for show and leaned in closer.

Edward felt the nearness of Bella and he could have sworn that he could hear the sparks crackling in the air between them. His whole body suddenly felt as though it was wired. It was only after a few deep breaths and a glance in Bella's direction, that he was able to begin.

"Mrs Dashwood's visit to Middleton took place the next day, and two of her daughters went with her…"

Jacob Black stood by the door to the hospital room, unnoticed by its two occupants. He watched and listened as the man seated in the bed - who had quite noticeably been through an ordeal - read calmly and contently to his friend. Bella hung on every word and, occasionally, she would smile up at the man that she called Edward and meet his eyes.

Jake had known Bella a long time, but he would be hard pressed to recall a moment when he had witnessed his friend looking as content as she did in that moment. Had he pictured her ever sitting beside a guy, all busted up and in need of repair, smiling? No, he hadn't, but, in a strange way, it looked right for her. And the way that this Edward looked at her seemed to make him right for her too. However, there was the fact that nobody knew this guy's history. For all they knew, this guy could be in the mafia or be a serial killer. That's why Jacob had decided to come in and check him out for himself.

"Knock, knock!" He eventually called when there was a break in speech.

Isabella instantly moved away from Edward, feeling slightly uncomfortable that she'd been caught in what she deemed to be a more intimate position and stood up to greet, Jake.

"Jake," she smiled, ushering him forward and then smoothed out her skirt. Looking between both men, who were already staring at each other, Bella began the introductions.

"Jacob, I'd like you to meet Edward. Edward, this is my friend, Jacob Black."

"It's nice to meet you, Jacob. I've heard a lot about you from Bella," Edward said extending his right hand, to the well-built tower of man.

"Bella?" Jacob thought, eyeing Edward's hand for a moment before taking it in his.

"Nice to meet you too, Ed. Iz" – he emphasised his nickname for his friend – "has told me a little about you, too."

"Well, there isn't really much to tell," Edward quipped, handing the iPad to Bella and trying to avoid thinking about the new nickname that he'd acquired from Jacob and, come to think of it, he didn't like Bella's nickname either. He was slightly intimidated by Jacob's stare, but, fuelled by adrenalin, he seemed to be able to instinctually slip into a calm persona.

"Sure, sure," Jacob nodded, looking more closely at the extent of Edward's injuries. "Your left side looks like it took a hammering." Jacob grinned to himself and Isabella knew that his mind was ticking over. "So, you're all right now, I guess. Ouch!"

Bella, slapped Jacob's arm repeatedly and Edward felt his gut tighten when he saw the fiery expression in her eyes.

"It doesn't pay to get on her bad side, Ed," Jacob grimaced facetiously, but quickly turned his expression hard when he saw the way that Edward was staring in his friend's direction. He'd seen many a man stare at a woman like that and he wasn't liking seeing Isabella as the object of such a stare.

"We should get moving, Iz, before the weather gets worse," Jacob's firm voice said, effectively snapping Edward out of his Bella induced haze. "I'll let you say your goodbyes," he said, nodding slowly in Edward's direction before moving towards the door.

Bella looked inquiringly between her friend and Edward wondering what had transpired between them. Sighing, she picked up her bag and then, like she'd done all this week, bent down and kissed Edward softly on the cheek.

"Thank you for reading to me," she whispered.

"You're welcome. Thank you for stopping by."

Bella squeezed Edward's hand.

"Anytime."

-()-()-()-

Edward had replayed his parting with Bella as he'd pushed the supposed dinner that he'd been given around on his plate.

When he'd looked into Jacob's hard black eyes he'd seen awareness in them. Jacob knew of Edward's feelings for his friend and Edward got the impression that he wasn't too pleased about it. Jacob's reaction to him worried him to no end. Bella didn't take her friendship with Jacob lightly and his influence could be profound. Would Bella be influenced?

Frustrated, at the turn of his thoughts, he dropped the fork in his hands, pushed the tray away and let his head fall back against the pillows.

"Rough day?" An unfamiliar male voice asked.

Edward's eyes immediately snapped up to the source of the sound. A man with cropped blonde hair, probably in his mid to late twenties, dressed in business attire, stood at the foot of his bed, appraising him with very familiar blue eyes. Edward didn't respond.

"I'm sorry if I startled you, man."

He took a step forward and extended his hand.

"It's cool," Edward replied, cautiously accepting the greeting. "Quick question though: who are you?"

The man laughed and took a seat.

"That would be the proper way to start a conversation now, wouldn't it? My long day at work has caught up with me."

Edward ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm Doctor Cullen - Doctor Jasper Cullen and I'd like to be your Psychologist."

It's my birthday tomorrow, so I'm not sure if I will get chance to update. My birthday wish - over 100 reviews for this story.

I do have a Twitter account that I post updates on. Look up karry4harry.

All the best and thanks for reading,

Karry.