The last few days have been a blur of visits from the Cullens as well as the police. Edward tried to protect me from them and their questions but there was no way to avoid it. Honestly I preferred answering their questions while still slightly sedated as it took the edge off.
I wasn't too surprised to find out that Paul was friendly with the men who had attacked Alice. Predatory drunks stick together I guess. There was talk of pressing charges against Jasper for assaulting Laurent. I told my story, starting with the night at the Tavern and including running into one of the men at the Plaza. Even as I relayed the events my worry decreased for Jasper. It would not be hard for any prosecutor worth his salt to make it sound like the three men had been violently harassing me as well as the Cullens.
Paul was being moved to a highly secured mental facility further upstate and I was able to return to the Cullen's home. Carlisle had insisted on hiring a security team at least until James had been detained. I thought it was overboard but what of the Cullen's wasn't? I'm surprised they didn't have my hospital bed moved into my room or hired a private nurse.
Coming back to the Cullen's impressive home was surreal. Mason was happy to see me, planting a long and sloppy kiss on my cheek. I took a long minute to hold him close, hear his laugh, and kiss his shaggy head. Rosalie stood back allowing us to have our moment but watched with all the pride of a loving aunt. He rambled on half in English, half jibberish about the things he and Rosalie had done to pass the time.
"Rosalie, thank you so much. He's happy and obviously been loved while I was gone, so thank you with everything I have." Tears welled up in my eyes in appreciation of what this woman had given me and my child. She had given me peace of mind and cared for him as her own.
The blonde angel in front of me smiled. "Rose, Bella. Family calls me Rose." She bent down from her spot in the Heavens to hug me and I was able to hide my emotion in her perfumed shoulder.
Esme and Alice acted as though nothing of interest had happened and flitted around the house directing people like traffic cops. Esme had stopped for a moment to give me a kiss on my forehead with a tearful thanks. When I sat there confounded by her actions Alice laughed her chiming laugh.
"Oh Bella, it's not your fault that your clutziness spilled over into your rescue attempt."
Everyone laughed and I blushed with shame and embarassment. In reality it was my fault or whoever gave out grace as a personal trait. Alice stepped in again.
"Think of it from Esme's point of view. If someone acted like you did to save Mason from a psycho gunman and he got hurt would you be angry? Or would you be thankful that they tried to save your baby?"
It was still hard to feel any pride for what I had done. My actions caused Edward to get hurt and my decisions lead Paul to the Cullen's home. All that I could feel was skeptical appreciation to the people who didn't hate me. Even more astonishing was that they seem more determined then ever to make me feel at home with them. Rose was right, they were going for sainthood.
The more time I spent with them the more I saw Jasper and Emmett as the antidote to each other. Emmett was loud where Jasper was much more soft spoken. Jasper saw to the deep heart of any situation while Emmett was straight forward and only dealt with what was in front of him. But they were the same in their brotherly love and affection. Both men joked with me and gave me a hard time. I could handle that, but couldn't deal when Emmett tried to apologize for not being there during the attack.
"Em, are you crazy? You have no idea how grateful I am to you and for having Mason far away from that nutcase."
He looks so creatfallen. "Yeah but B, you got bashed."
"Look, if I'm not allowed to take any blame for what happened then you're not allowed to even think on it. Because of you my son got to watch monkeys and elephants instead of the jackass that's supposedly his father."
Emmett stroked his chin while appearing to be in deep thought about the mysteries of the universe. "Ok B, I'll listen to you this once, but only because you knocked Eddie cold."
We both smiled and shook hands, happy in our comradery. Having Carlisle around was valuable if not irritating. Edward, Esme, and I all chased him off at one time or another, too happy to be released from hospital to be constantly subjected to medical testing. If I thought that the Cullen pout was invented by the ladies I was proven wrong. Carlisle could pout and pull out the puppy dog eyes like a pro.
Tonight I was laying in bed feeling stiff and sore yet somehow more content then I could ever remember being. I tried not too feel too happy, afraid that it would all disappear into a cloud of smoke. My life was full of loving supportive people but my instincts would not let me fully accept it yet. The two sides of my brain were still fighting when I heard a soft tap at the door. It inched open silently to reveal Edward and my favorite crooked smile.
I smiled back. "I was wondering when you would be able to escape your father."
Edward rolled his eyes. "This whole situation grants me a lifetime of sympathy for my mother. Can you imagine what he would have been like when she was pregnant?"
Frighteningly I could. Esme would have been glowing and filled with joyful energy while Carlisle followed her around with a couch on a trolley trying to force her to lay down. A small laugh escaped me and I patted the side of my bed for Edward to come join me. It had been too long since I felt his touch and that warmth that it brought me.
Edward sat on my bed and gently pushed my hair behind my shoulder before his hand fell onto mine. "How are you feeling Bella?"
My body flushed and tingled from his simple affection. "Much better now."
"Really? Hmm. Better enough that I can follow through on my warning?"
"Which warning is that?" I bit my lip hoping. There was one thing on my mind and it had my cheeks pulsing with warmth.
His mossy eyes darkened and he licked his lips before whispering, "The one where I kiss you and never stop."
Score.
I couldn't speak, all I could do was lick my lips and hope that this was enough of a sign for him. It must have been because he leant closer and wrapped an arm around me pulling my body flush to his. Green eyes searched mine for an eternity before he lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to mine. It was sweet and tender and nowhere near enough so I ran the tip of my tongue over his closed mouth. A groan escaped his full lips before he kissed me fully.
Suddenly we were a tangle of caressing arms and searching tongues. His breath was warm and sweet and all of my senses swam in everything Edward. My hands ran up his neck into his hair pulling him closer to me while his hands were everywhere except where I needed them. Finally out of breath we pulled away.
"No fair. You stopped." I was still panting which took some of the sting out of my words and Edward chuckled.
"Sweetheart, I didn't say I was finished."
Then he took my face in his hands as if I as made of the finest glass and had me swimming again.