A week later Esme Cullen was on the road to recovery. She was still very weak but all in all she was much better than she had been. The Doctors said that she would require surgery in a few weeks when she was feeling a little better and she would have to stay in the hospital until then.
Bella was at home studying while Edward went to the hospital. Since she had regained consciousness Esme had been a different person. Bella was so happy for Edward and Rosalie because the mother they knew and remembered was back but she couldn't deny that she felt a little left out.
It appeared for some reason or the other whether it was medical or by choice Esme's memory was a little vague. She didn't remember Emmett or Bella coming into her children's lives.
Flashback to three days earlier
Esme had been in and out of consciousness for the past few days, the doctor explained that it was mostly due to the medication they had her on.
Edward was sitting by her side holding her hand and Bella was sitting in the chair next to him holding onto his. They had done this everyday for hours since she had been put in hospital.
"Edward" her voice was barely a whisper and at first Edward hadn't heard her, it was only the slight squeeze on his hand that drew his attention to the fact that she was awake.
"Hi mum" he smiled.
"Love you honey" she told him. She seemed a little more awake today and her words were easier to understand.
"I love you too Mum" he replied.
Esme turned and looked a Bella a little confused then "Where's Tanya?" she asked Edward.
Edward frowned at his mother "How come she isn't here with you?" she asked.
"Why would she be here with me?" Edward asked her.
Bella's grip on Edward's hand got tighter, the last thing Edward needed was for his mother to start on about Tanya all over again. "Who are you?" she asked Bella.
"Mum?" Edward asked confused "You've met Bella" he told her.
"Bella?" she said as though she was trying to recollect the name.
"Hi Mrs. Cullen" Bella smiled "I'm so glad that you awake you gave us all quite a scare" she said.
"Thank you" Esme said smiling at the girl. She was beautiful but she didn't understand what she meant to her son.
"Where's Tanya then?" she asked again.
Edward sighed, "Tanya and I broke up Mum, quite some time ago, remember?" he said trying to sound calm.
"Oh" she frowned "Why would you do that, you two were so happy you were going to get married," she said.
"No mum" Edward shook his head "We weren't happy and we were never going to get married. I know that you and Tanya wanted us too but I love Bella and she's my girlfriend now" he explained.
"Oh ok" she closed her eyes.
The conversation had tired her out and she feel back to sleep then leaving an awkward silence between Edward and Bella.
Edward had apologized for it later but as far as Bella was concerned there was nothing for him to apologize about, his mother was just confused. Sure it hurt but she would survive.
So Emmett and Bella had both stopped attending the hospital hoping to lessen the confusion she was feeling.
At first Edward had been upset that she felt that she shouldn't go but gave in when he saw it was making Bella uncomfortable and sad to be there under the circumstances.
Edward sighed as he prepared to leave the hospital. He was so tired, between working and attending the hospital he felt like he hadn't been home in days and he missed Bella like crazy. Since she had stopped going with him to the hospital he didn't get to spend that much time with her.
He was so distracted that he wasn't watching where he was going and ran straight into a soft body. He immediately reached out to grab hold of the falling person and only when he helped them back to their feet did he realised it was Tanya.
"Hi Edward" she smiled continuing to stand close to him and touching him on the arm where she had grabbed him to stop herself from falling.
Edward took a step back from her instantly "Hi Tanya" he said.
"How's your mum?" she asked pretending not to notice or be hurt by the step he took back from her.
"She's getting better each day," he explained "She'll be happy to see you," he added.
"Really? I wasn't sure I should come," she told him.
"Yeah well she doesn't remember some things from the last couple of months so she's been asking after you" he explained.
Tanya nodded and then seeing this as a good opportunity to talk to him "Could we sit down and talk for a minute?" she asked.
Edward was about to say no but before he could Tanya grabbed his arm and led him to the nearby seats.
"I miss you" she said quietly "I realise I took our relationship for granted in the past and I'm so sorry for that. I was hoping there might still be a chance," she said softly.
Edward immediately shook his head but before he could speak Tanya started again "I think your mother would love to see us back together, even married, I think it would make her really happy Edward" she told him. "I know that we can be happy Edward if we just both give it everything we have"
She stood up then knowing she had planted the seed and that all she could do was sit and wait for it to grow. She knew it would, and she had no doubt that she would be Mrs. Edward Cullen sooner than later. He would do it for his mother's health if for nothing more.
"Just think about it" she said again "I miss you and I love you, Edward," she added before turning and walking in to Esme Cullen room.
Bella looked at the clock and sighed. Normally Edward was home from the hospital by now. She had spent the afternoon studying. Her final exams were only a few weeks away and then she would be finished. It was exciting and daunting at the same time. Bella knew finding a job probably wouldn't be hard it was finding one close to Edward. There was a lot of opportunity all over the US but Bella was leaning towards a teaching position and she didn't know if she would get something in Boston.
She was about to grab the phone and ring his mobile when the familiar sound of the automatic garage door opener sounded and seconds later Edward's volvo pulled in.
She busied herself in the kitchen not wanting him to think she was waiting for him but being in the closest room to the garage so that she could be near him.
The first thing Edward saw when he entered the house through the internal access was Bella and he smiled. He'd been feeling slightly angry on the entire drive home after his encounter with Tanya and he had no idea if he should tell her about it. He knew he shouldn't have let Tanya dominate the conversation he in no way wanted to reconcile not even for his mother's health but Tanya had played on his emotions and caught him in a moment of weakness.
All it took was one look from Bella and everything felt all right with the world.
"Hey beautiful" he greeted. Bella turned and smiled at him when she heard his voice. She quickly rushed into his arms and Edward dropped everything in his arms to take her.
They held on to each other tightly both starved of the others touch until Bella pulled back slightly. Edward took the opportunity to take her mouth then unable to not taste her a second longer. Bella moaned into his mouth opening up for the invasion of his tongue. He loved her mouth thoroughly until they both had to pull apart panting.
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you too" she replied and felt tears spring to her eyes.
Edward's thumbs immediately wiped the tears away "Hey" he said, "what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry I'm being such a girl," she laughed.
"Hey you are a girl and I kind of like it" he told her.
Bella looked up at him and smiled seriously "I've just really been missing you" she admitted. She felt completely childish, they lived together and she saw him every night but over the past week they hadn't spent any real time together nor had they made love because Edward was just too exhausted.
Edward immediately pulled her back into his arms "Me too sweetie, me too" he said against her head.
He walked them into the lounge room and sat down on the couch before pulling her on to his lap. It was Friday night and now they had a weekend to spend together. His mother was feeling better as everyday passed and except for her memory looked like she might make a full recovery.
As Edward sat with Bella cuddled against his body a planned formed in his mind. He was determined to spend some quality time with her and thank her for being his rock over the past week.
Bella wiped her eyes "Are you hungry?" she asked. "I can cook"
Edward shook his head "lets order in and go to bed" he grinned leaning in and nuzzling her neck.
"Oh yes" Bella moaned.
"How's your mum?" Bella pulled away and asked then.
"Good, she's sitting up and ordering the nurses around today" he smiled.
"I'm so glad" Bella told him.
Bella got up and ordered them some Chinese then and they sat together cuddled on the lounge and talking about their day as they waited for it. When they finished Edward cleared the dishes away while Bella went to the bathroom.
Deciding to add a little romance she lit some candles in their bedroom and put on a sheer nightgown before walking back down the stairs.
"Edward" she called out.
"Yeah" he said walking towards the stairs and her voice.
His mouth dropped when he saw her walking towards him looking like an angel "I believe you said something about bed?" she smiled.
Edward walked towards her slowly and once he reached her he wrapped his arms around her "I did" He cupped her ass and lifted her up his body till she wrapped her legs around his waist and he began walking them back to the bedroom.
"Thank you" he whispered as he lowered her down onto the bed.
"What for?" she asked.
"Being you, doing this," he said.
They slowly removed each other's clothing and once they were naked, Bella pushed Edward onto his back "Let me love you" she whispered.
Edward nodded and moaned in pleasure as she sunk down on him.
He ran his hand up her body until he was cupping her breasts "You're so beautiful" he moaned. She was riding him slow, her eyes closed.
"Edward" she moaned, over and over again.
Edward gripped her hips and helped her move faster and she eagerly replied.
"Oh Bella, yes baby" she moaned.
"Hmm Edward…yes" Bella moaned in response.
"Oh I love you baby," he cried
"So much" Bella moaned.
Edward sat up and crushed her body to his face buried in her neck biting and kissing as he continued to help her lift up and down him.
"You feel so good, you going to make me come so hard" she moaned in his ear.
"Oh yes baby come hard on my cock" Edward moaned completely turned on.
They kissed passionately then their tongues mimicking what their lower bodies were already doing.
"You love me so good" Edward panted.
Bella reached behind them and cupped his balls and palmed them as best she could which caused Edward to groan.
The angle she was bent back at gave Edward a great opportunity to take a nipple into his mouth and suck on it until it was hard as a bullet.
He couldn't last much longer; it had been to long since he's been inside her creamy depths.
"Edward, Edward….ahh Edward yes oh yes" Bella began crying, her walls clamped down on him hard and Edward instantly came
"BELLA" he cried out.
"Ohh ahh…yes Edward oh ahh…EDWARD" her orgasm was extremely long and hard and she never stopped bouncing up and down on him until it was over. They collapsed together on the bed panting but hands still wandering all over each other. They knew that was the first of many times they would make love that night; they had a whole week to make up for after all.
The next morning after making love again Edward dressed to go over to the hospital he also planned on running an errand.
"I'm going to go and visit this morning so that I'm all yours for the rest of the day and tonight" he kissed Bella as she was still snuggled into bed.
Bella looked up at him and smiled, she didn't want to be away from him anymore "Do you want me to come?" she asked.
Edward was surprised but very happy "I would love you too" he told her. He waited for her to get dressed too then and they both headed towards the hospital.
Carlisle and Rosalie were both there when they walked in.
"Morning" they greeted.
"Hi Bella" Rosalie smiled and hugged her.
"Hello Bella" Carlisle smiled, he loved Bella and was proud of his son for choosing someone so wonderful and that he was happy with.
"HI Mum" Edward kissed his mother who was awake.
"Hi" she smiled at her son but it soon turned to a frown when her eyes landed on Bella.
"Hi Mrs Cullen how are you feeling?" Bella asked stepping beside Edward.
"Good dear" she said.
She looked at Carlisle then "Who is she?" she asked him.
Edward closed his eyes briefly "Where's Tanya?" she asked her husband.
"Right here" everyone was startled by the new voice and turned to see Tanya standing at the door.
"I'm sorry I didn't realise everyone would be here" she said and then smiled triumphantly at Bella making it obvious she had heard Esme's earlier statement.
"There you are sweetie" Esme smiled.
Edward signalled with his father that he wanted to talk to him outside then so the two men and Bella walked out into the hallway.
"Dad, she met Bella days ago how could she have forgotten that?" he asked.
The Doctor approached them so Edward told him his concern.
"I've spoken to your father about this already, Edward and I don't think there is anything wrong as a result of the heart attack I think she may have blocked some memories before it took place, was there something upsetting her that would cause her to do that?" the Doctor asked.
"The only memories she is blocking are off Edward's break up with Tanya and Rosalie's engagement" Carlisle explained to everyone.
"And she keeps forgetting Bella" Edward added.
"I see" he frowned "Was she upset when you broke up with Tanya?" he asked Edward.
"Extremely" Carlisle answered "she caused quite a lot of trouble over it, we both did" he acknowledged.
"That's the problem, she doesn't want to remember" he added "and I'm afraid pushing the issue in her fragile condition isn't recommended"
"What do you mean?" Edward frowned.
"Well it would probably be best if Bella stopped coming" the Doctor said sympathetically.
"Does she ask about Tanya?" he asked.
"Only when I visit" Edward admitted.
"Tanya is visiting now," Carlisle told him.
"Well then just let things be, maybe you and Tanya should schedule visits together," he suggested to Edward.
"So you're saying that Edward should pretend that he's still with Tanya?" Bella asked.
The Doctor could tell she wasn't happy "I realise that it isn't ideal but Esme doesn't need any more stress, it could be fatal" he informed them.
Bella closed her eyes in pain and then turned and began walking down the corridor.
"Bella" Edward called as he chased after her.
"Don't Edward" she said when he reached out and grabbed her.
"Please don't leave," he whispered.
Bella shook her head refusing to turn around and let him see she was crying she knew it wasn't his fault.
"I'm sorry, you know I don't want to do this," he said.
Bella nodded, that wasn't the answer she wanted. "But you're going to aren't you?" she said and his silence was all the answer she needed.
"What else will you have to do?" she asked him.
"What?" he said.
"Well right now you're pretending to still be with her" she spat "what happens if your mum doesn't start remembering? How long will you have to do this and what will it be next? You'll actually agree to marry her too?"
Edward was shocked and dropped his hand from her arm. "Bella this isn't about us or even about Tanya it's about my mother's health" he said.
"No Edward, that's where you're wrong, this is just another way of your mum owning you," she said harshly. She began walking again and this time Edward didn't follow her.
"What do you want me to do Bella?" he cried out painfully. He felt torn between being happy and making Bella happy, and his mother's health.
Bella turned and Edward instantly saw that she was crying, he wanted to go to her and take her in his arms but he knew she didn't want that.
"I just want to exist," she said sadly.
Edward watched her go then, he had no idea where she was going or how she was going to get there. She didn't have keys to the volvo and he didn't know if she even had money but he did know that she needed space and he would give it to her.
Edward walked back towards his mother's room and found his father still talking with the Doctor. The Doctor walked off as Edward approached and sunk down in the chairs with his head in his hands.
"Is Bella ok?" he asked.
"No" Edward answered not looking up.
"You don't have to do this you know?" Carlisle told him as he sat down next to him.
Edward looked up surprised that his father would say that.
Carlisle sighed, "You love Bella don't you?" he asked his son.
Edward nodded "With all my heart, in fact I want to ask her to marry me" he told his father.
Carlisle smiled "she's a good choice son"
"She's the only choice, she makes me so happy and right now because of me she's crying and I don't know how to fix it" he told him.
"I do" Carlisle told him.
"The first thing you do is you go and find her and you tell her that you love her and that you're not going to let this thing with your mother come between you" he said.
"And what about Mums health?" Edward said. He wished it were as easy as his Dad was making it sound.
"Edward, to be honest with you I think your mother might be playing this situation up a little bit" he sighed. "The Doctor says there is no reason for this loss of memory and is even more confused that she only appears to forget Bella" he added.
"You think she's faking?" Edward said shocked.
"Initially no, but with the Bella thing yes" he said. "I also think Tanya has had an influence on the young Doctor"
"Why?"
"Because no Doctor would ever suggest that we accommodate your mothers memory loss, they would tell you to simply avoid the situation by stopping Bella's and Tanya's visits and even your own if that's what it takes" he told his son.
Carlisle could see his son was torn between his mother's health and his own happiness "Edward, your sister is already bending over backwards and making allowances for your mother's health. I doubt she's seen Emmett in days because she spends so much time here. Don't sacrifice your relationship with Bella over this because you might not be able to fix it and your mother may never accept it" he told him.
Edward nodded "Thanks Dad" he said.
He walked back into the hospital room then and approached his mother, she smiled "Sweetie, you are so lucky to have such a lovely girlfriend," she told him referring to Tanya.
Edward smiled "I know Bella is wonderful isn't she?" Edward said. He watched Tanya stiffen and his mother frowned.
"Bella? No I meant Tanya here" she told him.
"I'm not dating Tanya, mum. We broke up and we're not getting back together," he said sternly leaving no room for any confusion by Tanya or his mother.
Esme gasped and Rosalie jumped up "Edward, maybe you shouldn't do this" she said.
Edward turned to his sister then "Rosalie go home, spend the day with Emmett. Mum is fine, the doctor said so himself" he told her.
"No I should stay," she argued.
"No" Carlisle said from the door. "Go home sweetie I don't want to see you back here this weekend" he added.
Rosalie looked to her mother, and she did in fact seem fine.
"Ok" she agreed.
Edward kissed his mother "I'll see you Monday if I get a chance" he told her.
"You're leaving?" Tanya asked shocked.
"Yes I have a date this weekend with my girlfriend" he smiled and after saying goodbye to his sister and dad ran out of the hospital praying he could find Bella before it was too late.
Alice was shocked when she opened the door to her crying best friend. Bella immediately allowed Alice to wrap her arms around her and pull her into the apartment where she sat with her on the couch and allowed her to cry.
Jasper came out of the kitchen to see who was at the door but stopped short when he saw Alice with her arms wrapped around a sobbing Bella. He locked eyes with his girlfriend and asked the silent question to which she shrugged.
He heard his cell go off in the bedroom and deciding to leave Alice and Bella alone rushed to answer it.
"Hello" he said.
"Jasper" Edward greeted.
"Edward, what's going on?" Jasper asked. He didn't know whether to ask him what the hell was going on or wait for him to say something.
"Is she there?" he asked and Jasper could hear the panic in his voice.
"Um yeah" he told him.
Edward sighed in relief "I'm only ten minutes away" he told him.
"You sure that's a good idea, she's pretty upset" Jasper said.
"Did she say anything?" Edward asked.
"I don't know she's with Alice right now" he told him.
"I'll be right there," he told him again.
He hung up the phone and walked back out to the living room, Bella had calmed down and was now trying to tell Alice what was wrong but all he could understand was.
"Edward…Tanya…together" and he knew that Bella had to have something wrong because there was no way Edward would cheat on her with Tanya.
Edward didn't bother knocking when he reached their apartment ten minutes later he barged straight in "Bella baby" he panted and walked towards her.
Bella was shocked "What are you doing here, Edward?" she cried.
"Did you really think I was going to let you walk away from me?" he asked her "I love you to damn much to let you walk Bella Swan" he told her.
"Why aren't you at the hospital with your mother, and Tanya?" she spat the last part out like it was poison and Edward smiled.
"Well I saw my mum and she's fine, right now I promised to spend the weekend with my girlfriend" he took a step towards her.
"I'm confused is that me, or Tanya?" she spat.
Edward cringed "that's not fair Bella" he said.
"No! What's not fair is that I have to sit by and watch MY boyfriend pretend to be with that slut," she cried.
"You walked, Bella. You didn't even give me the chance to react," he cried back.
Bella stopped her mouth open ready to dispute him when she realised he was right. "And if I'd stayed what would you have said?" she asked.
Seeing her back down Edward took the opportunity to kneel down in front of her and take her small hands in his own "then you would know that being in that bitches presence for more than five minutes is more than I can take, and that I'm with you, that I love you and that in my life baby you are the only thing that exists, you're the realest thing I've ever known, Bella"
Bella released the last sob she was holding at his beautiful words and allowed Edward to pull her into his arms "Your mine baby and I'm yours" he whispered.
"I'm sorry I totally over reacted," she cried.
"Don't be, you were right it was stupid and I should have shut that Doctor up the minute he suggested it" he told her.
"I love you" Bella whispered. She couldn't believe that he had come after her, that she was back in his arms but more than that she couldn't believe that Edward Cullen loved her that much.