Chapter 26:

Progression

Edward POV:

That wasn't the reaction I was expecting. Was I wrong about all this? Maybe she didn't love me? She had to though, she wouldn't have been here all along. She wouldn't have given up so much of herself and her life to help me. Right? I felt like a complete idiot. She had clearly made up her mind, and her future didn't involve me. She had been out drinking and doing god only knows what while I sat here and freaked out about telling her I was in love with her.

I couldn't imagine my future without her. I groaned and wish I had access to alcohol. I reached over for my medication on the nightstand and swallowed it down quickly. At least it would take the edge off. I didn't know how I'd face her tomorrow, how I'd listen to her tell me that it was different for her, or that she'd changed her mind. I'd be alone forever. I'd die alone.

I don't know how much time passed before I heard the door to my room open. I woke and looked over towards the door. My room was mostly dark, but the light from the hall shadowed her figure, and I would know it anywhere.

"Bella?"

She didn't say anything. She walked towards me and crawled in bed next to me. "Shh, go back to sleep, Edward."

"But . . . I can't. What are you doing here?"

She snuggled up next to me and my arm went around her, like it was just natural, like this was normal. She rested her head on my chest and looked up at me under her lashes. "I love you, too." She reached up and kissed my chin. I couldn't hide my grin. I squeezed her next to me and slept better that night than I had any night since the accident.

. . .

BPOV:

We weren't normal. We never did anything normally or in the correct sequence. So, in the following days, not only did we make arrangements for Edward's transition home, but we also made arrangements for me to move in with him. The planning and finances involved frustrated both of us, but we tried to remain positive.

Edward was in much better spirits and he was actually thriving with his physical therapy instead of allowing it to get him down.

I was so busy with school, work, and planning for my move and Edward's return home, that I had neglected to return Esme's phone calls. So, I was quite surprised to walk into Edward's room one afternoon to find Emma sitting at the foot of his bed, both of them practically in tears, yet with smiles on their faces. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll come back tomorrow." I tried to back out of the room, but Edward stopped me.

"No, Bella. Wait. Come in. It's okay."

I exhaled, slightly grateful that he wanted me there. I hadn't seen him all day and I wouldn't see him at all the following day due to my schedule.

I walked into the room and sat in the chair next to his bed. "Hi, Emma. It's nice to see you."

She nodded. "I'm sorry, about everything."

"It's no problem. I completely understand."

She smiled. "So, my brother seems pretty smitten with you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "He does?"

She nodded and Edward blushed. It made me laugh and I squeezed his hand. "I'm pretty smitten with him, too. I'm just glad we're finally on the same page."

Edward laughed and we all caught up for a bit before Emma said she had to get going. She got off of Edward's bed and leaned over it giving him a big hug.

"I'm so sorry about everything. I missed you so much. I love you. I'll be back, soon. Okay?"

"I love you, too, kid. Call me if you need anything."

She smiled, kissed his cheek and left after she waived to me.

I was so excited for him, that I couldn't contain the huge grin that spread across my face. "So...fill me in!"

He laughed, "We talked about everything. Every single thing. All the misunderstandings. All the suspicions about our father. Esme's intentions and beliefs. Everything I've missed out on. Did you see her? She's gorgeous and so grown up. She has a boyfriend, Bella!"

I smiled. "Good for her."

"No! I'll kill him if he hurts her. She's too young for a boyfriend."

"She is not," I said, as I rolled my eyes at him.

He was quiet for a few moments and seemed to be lost in thought. I really wasn't surprised by what he said next. "I want to see her, Bella. I think I was wrong."

I knew exactly who he was talking about. Esme.

"I think that's a good idea, but let's get home and get settled first, okay?" I didn't want any emotional set backs to ruin his progress.

"Okay. How was your day? I haven't heard form you all day."

"It was fine, but busy." I looked at my watch. "I have to go to work."

He groaned and reached out his hand to me and I went and sat next to him on his bed. "I'm never going to see you, even when we live together," he complained.

"That's not true. I'll sleep next to you every night."

"Yeah, but we'll be sleeping."

I nudged him playfully. "I'm sorry. I have to work."

He sighed, "I know."

I leaned down and kissed him. It was chaste at first, but our lips quickly parted and our tongues explored each other. He sucked my bottom lip between his teeth and it caused me to moan in delight. Things of this nature had been very frustrating to both of us lately. I think we both wanted to explore each other again, but due to his limitations, and us being in the hospital, we always stopped things before they even started, as was the case this time. I pulled away first. "I have to go," I whispered against his lips.

He nodded. "Okay, call me later."

I kissed him quickly again. "I will."

EPOV:

I had never been more sure and more terrified of anything in my entire life. I loved her. I loved everything about her. I would be entirely lost without her. I owed everything to her and I just wanted to be able to show her how much I loved her, but that was proving to be very difficult. Every time we started to get intimate, one of us would stop. I understand we can't go at it in the hospital, but we know the nurses schedules pretty well and know when we are sure to be alone and when not. Not that I necessarily wanted to make love to her in a hospital room; hell, I'm sure she would be the one doing most of the work anyway, and I hated that. I definitely wasn't strong enough to support myself over her, but there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about it. I think that's why I asked her to move in with me so quickly. I just never wanted her to go away, or to change her mind. Now that I had made the decision to allow myself to love her, I couldn't live without her.