Word Prompts: Slumber

I was thankful that there wasn't much fanfare with my departure from the hospital. My parents were the only ones in the room, though Edward and Emmett had swung by earlier to grab all of the flowers, cards, and gifts that needed to be brought back to campus. They also dropped off breakfast which was thoughtful since they both had early classes they needed to rush back to campus for.

My mom hadn't said another word about Edward and mine's relationship and my dad didn't dare bring up the subject either. I had assumed when she spoke, it was really them speaking, so I figured he felt the same. As I sat and thought about her words that night I realized that in some ways she was right. Instead of focusing on when my medicine was due, the physical therapy I'd be looking at for my ankle, or well, not falling behind with my classes, I actually watched Edward. Like, actually watched him and everything he did.

No one was there that night besides him so it made it easy to observe his actions, whether it was bringing me my dinner and setting it all up on my tray before bringing it to me. My mom would just hand me a bag, but Edward would dish it out like he was a waiter at a restaurant. He also took extra time and care to ensure all of the garage was cleared off my counter top, anything I had laying out was put back into place, including folding any blanket I wasn't using. I had taken to wearing bigger t-shirts and sweatshirts with comfy knit shorts after my last surgery because they were easy to get on and off with my foot, and I no longer had to wear the hospital gown. However, I had never seen Edward's room in the ASP house so it was also possible that he was just an OCD neat freak. Then, there was his patience with me. I was able to get up by myself though I moved nowhere as fast or as steady as I had before, but he was also at my side offering his help even if I'd say no. In a lot of ways, he did act more like a husband than a boyfriend.

We had spent part of the night finishing up our debate for our psychology class before he lied down with me before I fell asleep. I was pretty sure the nurses realized what we did every night, but no one ever said anything, at least not while I was awake. The last thing I'd smell before I'd go to sleep was Edward and he was mostly there by the time I woke up.

That night also gave me time to look at him. My injuries were still present though the bumps and bruises were healing well; I realized he was starting to look exhausted. He had bags under his eyes that hadn't been there the week prior, and I could just tell the stress of the constant back and forth was hitting him harder than he'd ever say. I also knew as long as I stayed in my hospital bed that there would be no way to convince him to take it easy, but now that I was going to be free I planned on being a little more forceful.

My mom had been right thought, because things were serious. Really, they had reached a point of seriousness I hadn't even realized we'd gotten to, but it didn't scare me. Well, maybe I was a little nervous, but the butterflies that appeared the first time I met him, hadn't disappeared in the least. He'd flash his smile and I'd swoon, but I figured that was also part of the newness. In the span of a week so much had happened and maybe it wasn't how I wanted the push with Edward to go, but it's exactly what happened. The only sense of dread that I had was having the official 'what are we' talk again because they always made me uncomfortable. Edward had admitted that he was scared to push too fast for fear of me running, but if I were being honest I had that same fear. At nineteen you're not really supposed to meet the man you want to marry, at least I never expected to, yet I had. Logistically, Edward was stuck in school for as long as I was which seemed horribly unfair considering I was a freshman and he was a senior. I also knew we'd have to talk about things once he was out of the ASP campus and out on his own. It was almost like we were going to be leading two different lives, with him in medical school and me just trying to get through college, but I also had faith that we'd work the kinks out.

When we got to my dorm building I cringed at the idea of going up steps, but my mom bypassed the steps and my dad pointed down the hallway. Figuring that this is what had been hidden from me; I played along and acted shocked once she knocked on the third door down. There were quieted whispered behind the door and I wondered exactly who they had stuffed in there. When Alice opened the door the smile beaming from her face was huge and she was pretty much bouncing.

"Welcome home," she squealed as my parents walked inside followed by me. Everyone yelled surprise from behind her as I took it all in.

The room was bigger than my last one and a room divider curtain was hung in the middle. On one side, all of Alice's stuff from upstairs had come downstairs. On the other side, all of my stuff sat exactly how I had it upstairs.

"You moved in?" I looked at Alice who yelled yes while those around her laughed. Edward was there, of course, as was Rosalie, Stephanie, Emmett, and Jasper.

"Since the doctor recommended that you may need some help, we figured you wouldn't mind sharing with Alice for a bit. She still technically lives upstairs, so she can move back up into your old room once you're back on two feet," my mom explained as I nodded and looked over at her. Alice had previously had a roommate, so who bought out my old room?

"Well, that works," I said and looked around deciding to just not ask any questions.

"Everyone helped," Alice explained and pointed to where everyone was standing.

"You guys did a good job of moving my stuff, so thank you," I addressed the room as Emmett tried to take all the credit for moving the heavy stuff. When Rosalie slapped his chest, I actually laughed.

"Now, do you want to see our biggest surprise?" Alice asked as she pulled back the curtain from her side of the room. When she walked to the far wall I realized there was a door, what I hadn't realized was that it was for a bathroom.

"We have our own bathroom now? How did you manage that?" I questioned, and my mom explained that this was considered a handicapped room which is why it was so much bigger than upstairs. So, included in that was our own bathroom.

"Score," I announced as I high-fived Alice.

"Well, kiddo, how does it feel to be back in your dorm?" my dad asked me after I said goodbye to Stephanie, Rosalie, and Emmett. The Tri-Delta's had a party planned for the next night at their house and I promised I'd attend even though Rosalie and Steph both told me not to rush myself.

"It feels good, almost like normal minus this thing on my leg." I pointed at the cast and cringed a bit. When I left, the doctors said another two weeks in the cast and then I'd be able to move into a walking boot full time after that. Even though I'd still be required to wear that most of the time, at least I'd be able to take normal showers and sleep with it off. I'd still wrap my ankle of course, but casts weighed a lot and it made me feel like I had gained an extra ten pounds just in one leg.

"How do you feel about going out to dinner with us? We probably won't see you before we head out in the morning," he asked as I sat down on my bed.

"Can you give me like an hour to take a shower and change? I feel really gross right now," I explained. I looked over at Edward to see him staring over in my direction while my mom talked to Alice.

"Of course, Bella, take as much time as you need," he told me before walking over to my mom.

I opened the bag my dad had brought in from the hospital and pulled the cast bag out so I could shower. Thankfully our shower had a fold out seat so I didn't really need to worry about standing too much since the cast bag made my foot more slippery than normal.

"What are you looking for?" Edward asked when he realized I was hunting for something after I put the bag down. Both my mom and dad were over on Alice's side talking to her and Jasper.

"Do you know where my shower stuff is?" Edward nodded, walked over to my closet and pulled down my caddy I used to tote stuff around upstairs. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he returned. "I heard your dad ask you about dinner. I figure I'll head out after I say goodbye and call you in the morning?"

I pouted at the thought of not having him with me tonight, but I nodded into his chest as he pressed his lips to my forehead.

"Maybe you should come," I suggested but Edward shook his head.

"I'm trying not to hover," her informed me. "Besides, it's your parents last night in the city, I'm sure they want some alone time with you."

"They've had days of alone time with me," I deadpanned as he chuckled and bent down to actually kiss me.

"So, it's all set," my mom announced as she walked back over to my side of the room effectively separating me and Edward. She gave me an odd look, before continuing, "Alice and Jasper are coming to dinner too, Edward do you have any plans tonight?"

"Um, no," he replied with a bit of a stutter as a smirk took over my lips as I looked over at him.

"Good, than you can come to dinner too," she assumed and then kept talking to me about the plan. Jasper was going to drive Alice and Edward was going to drive me to a nice restaurant in downtown, we'd be meeting in a little over an hour, and it was my parent's treat. I was pretty sure Edward was going to protest at some point, maybe even Jasper, but against my dad they'd lose.

My parents said their goodbyes as we all told them we'd see them as a bit. They both wanted to change at the hotel before going out too so it seemed we all needed time to get ready, though I was sure Jasper and Edward were fine.

"Guess you're stuck with me tonight after all," I teased Edward before hooking my caddy on my arm and grabbing my crutches.

"Oh, what a hardship that is going to be," he mocked back to me. "Besides, it just means I get to drop you off here tonight."

"Nah, we're having a slumber party," I replied as I hobbled over towards the bathroom.

When Edward hollered back that he was a fan of slumber parties all I heard was Jasper snickering before I shut he bathroom door.

Bella is back in her dorm and wants to have a slumber party...hmm, wonder how that is going to work out. More to come tomorrow :)