Not betad.

Prompt: crooked

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Bella walks slowly over to me, looking as confused as I feel.

"What are you–" Her eyes search mine and then her hand flies up to her mouth. "Is it Maddie?"

I nod and look back down. I'm so fucking glad to see her but I can't deal with anything between us right now. Not with my baby so sick.

I almost expect her to walk away considering she ignored me yesterday, but instead I feel her sit down next to me. "What happened?" she whispers.

I let out a breath and sit straight. "She had an asthma attack. The worst I've ever seen." I clear my throat and bang my head against the wall behind me. "She couldn't breathe and I didn't know what to do."

She doesn't say anything right away and I can't imagine what she must think. She doesn't know I caused this, but maybe she suspects and that's why she's quiet. I don't have it in me to explain or fight or make excuses.

Then she reaches over and takes my hand in hers, twining our fingers together and laying them on the armrest between us.

I let out a long, shaky breath and a tear slips from my eye. I may not deserve this simple act of comfort, but it means everything right now. I'm so tired of doing this alone.

I don't know if she sees my tear, but she doesn't comment on it. I feel calmer for her presence as we sit there in silence. I want to ask her what she's doing here; if she's here for us or for something else, but I don't want to break the spell and I don't want her to leave.

Maddie is out before I know it and Bella stands with me, still holding my hand. I don't let go as Maddie turns her tear streaked face to look for me.

"Hey," I say to Maddie. "How did it go?"

"I didn't like it," she says in a small voice.

I use my free hand to touch her face. "You're my brave girl. You're doing great. I'm so proud of you."

She nods and sniffles and then blinks as she notices Bella. "Hi," Bella says to Maddie, squeezing my hand. "I hear you gave your dad some trouble this morning."

"I didn't mean to," Maddie says. She's still breathy when she speaks and when I look at Seth, I know he realizes it too.

"Of course you didn't," Bella says. "I'm sure it's not your fault."

If only she knew how true that was.

"Let's get you back downstairs," Seth says.

Bella and I follow, hand in hand, as Seth pushes Maddie. It should feel wrong or weird, but it doesn't.

I let go of Bella's hand when we get back downstairs so I can sit on the side of Maddie's bed and help her with the nebulizer.

Seth watches and then nods when we have it in place. "I can bring in another chair for you if you'd like, Mrs. Masen," he says. It takes me a second to register what he's said, but when I do it produces my first smile of the day, slight though it is.

"Oh, I'm not..." Bella looks at me and shakes her head, a shy smile on her face, before turning back to Seth. "No, thank you. And please call me Bella."

"Okay, I'll be back in a few," he says. He leaves and closes the door behind him

"Did you come to visit me?" Maddie asks Bella, taking the nebulizer out of her mouth.

"Well, I'm here every Tuesday and Wednesday, visiting the children in the pediatric ward," Bella says, taking the chair next to where I'm sitting on the bed. "It was lucky I ran into your dad in the hallway."

"What do you do when you visit? Do you play games?"

"Enough with the questions, you keep that in your mouth," I tell her.

"Yes, Daddy." She puts the nebulizer back in her mouth and looks at Bella.

"We play games," Bella answers with a nod. "We also read books and watch movies and sometimes I even sneak in a treat or two."

Maddie's eyes widen at the mention of treats and I let out a short laugh. "Don't get any funny ideas, both of you," I say, looking between them.

Maddie giggles around the nebulizer and Bella winks at her.

"I think there's a conspiracy afoot," I mumble. I'm shocked at the comfort my usually cautious daughter has with Bella after spending just one day with her. I used to think she was shy but maybe I've just kept us isolated. I rub my eyes and sigh. This is more than I'm ready to deal with right now.

Maddie's eyes are starting to close so I kiss her forehead and hold her hand until she falls asleep. The nebulizer is still in her mouth but it's hanging out crookedly and I'm not sure what to do. Just as I'm ready to go track down Seth and ask him what to do, he comes back in.

He tells me she can sleep with it, but we switch to a mask so it's easier for her. She doesn't wake up during the switch over; she's had a long day and it's already past lunch time.

Bella and I stand around awkwardly after Seth leaves. I'm not sure what to do. All I can think about is touching her again, but I'm sure that was a one time thing so I put my hands in my back pockets lest I'm tempted to be inappropriate.

"Do you want to get some lunch?" she finally asks, hooking her thumb toward the door.

"Um..." I rub the back of my neck. "I want to be here when she wakes up."

"Of course. I can go get something and bring it back."

"You don't have to."

"I know I don't have to. I want to." She taps her pockets and then looks around. "Right. I left all my stuff up in pediatrics. I'll be back. Any preferences?"

"Bella..." I say, holding my hands up.

"Edward..." she says, imitating my voice.

I chuckle and fall into the chair she just vacated. "I give up," I say, stretching out my legs. "Any kind of sandwich without mayonnaise is fine. Thank you."

She smiles brightly and leaves the room.

I rest my head on the back of the chair and close my eyes.

I can't have been asleep long, but I wake up with the worst crick in my neck. I'm about to sit up so I can rub it when I hear whispered voices.

"Daddy says you have your own family and I can't visit you anymore."

"Oh." Bella's voice is surprised and maybe a little sad. I should get up but I'm groggy and stiff from sleeping in the chair and it's not easy. "I'm sure your father has his reasons."

"He looked sad when he told me."

I hear Bella sigh. "Sometimes adults have to do things they don't want to do. Or they make mistakes and don't realize it until it's too late. But if they're smart and find a really good reason, they can change their circumstances."

"I don't understand," Maddie says.

I open my eyes just enough to spy Bella as she sits on the side of Maddie's bed. She smiles softly at Maddie and moves a lock of hair from her forehead. "I know you don't. Maybe some day you will. Maybe some day soon."

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