Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Loudward
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Prompt: Paint

"Edward," I hissed, aghast that he had said that to my father, a man who had just had a heart attack, no less!

He turned his innocent look on me, but didn't say anything. My father's chuckle caught me off guard. "Son, looks like I'm not the one you'll need to convince to get her to go out with you. I know that look, and I'd bet right now she's more interested in assault. Although, she's a bit too small to be threatening, but I wouldn't put battery past her."

Edward started to laugh lightly. "She's already hit me once. Just about broke my nose!"

I was appalled, but my dad just laughed harder. "What'd you do? Make a pass at her? I'll give you fair warning, my girl has a tendency to be pretty focused, so if you interfered with her studying she just might take you out."

Crossing my arms across my chest I opened my mouth to retort, but was cut off by Edward. "Actually, I did interfere, but I didn't make a pass. The music in my apartment was too loud and she was banging on the door to get me to turn it down and didn't realize I had opened it. She got me in the nose." With that my father doubled over in gales of laughter and Dr. Gerandy and the nurse joined in.

"Well, dad, I'm so glad I could rush up here to make sure you're all right, only to bring amusement to your life. Apparently I should have just sent my neighbor, as you don't seem to need me," I griped and went to storm out of the room.

Edward wouldn't allow it. Catching me around the waist as I stalked past he pulled me into his chest and whispered into my ear. "I'm sure you prefer this to me telling him what you said in the car."

"I was asleep," I hissed as I struggled to get free. His arms tightened around me, lifting me off my feet.

"The fact that you were asleep means it's more indicative of what you really want. You can paint the picture of being pissed off all you like, but you have to admit you're attracted to me," he continued to whisper into my ear as I struggled.

"Be careful when you catch that tiger by the tail, son. She's got teeth," Charlie chuckled as he climbed into the bed. I caught his struggle out of the corner of my eye and was concerned by how white his face was as he moved. My fight against Edward became stronger, and he must have noticed where my focus was because he let go of me and immediately went to speak to my old doctor.

"Dad?" I said as I came up next to him, concerned over his breathing and how pale he looked.

He reached over and took my hand and I felt a tear course down my cheek over how suddenly frail he appeared. "Now don't mother me, Bells," he grumbled. "I'm still recovering and it takes a bit out of me. The doc has told me that as soon as the surgery is over, and I've fully recovered, that I'll feel better than before the attack. I just have to take it easy for a while."

I glanced over to Edward, wondering what information he was receiving, but my dad squeezed my hand, pulling my attention back to him. "He's sharp," he said, nodding toward Edward, "and it looks like he keeps you on your toes."

"He's obnoxious, annoying, loud, demanding and controlling," I whispered back, eliciting another chuckle from my father.

"So he's got your attention, huh?" he asked and held up a hand to stop me from saying anything. "Now, Bells, you listen to me. I know you're focused on school, and that's a good thing, but you're going to be done soon, and then what? This guy seems pretty nice and looks at you as if you're the only woman he's ever seen. Now while the dad in me makes me want to pull out my shotgun, the man in me can see that he's pretty serious about you. To be honest, that makes the dad in me pleased as well, because I would want any man you end up with to want only you.

"Now, he did drive you up here, right?" he asked and I nodded. "Did he have to? Did you ask him to?" I shook my head negatively. "So he just offered?"

"More like forced," I grumbled. "I was leaving and he picked me up, like he did here earlier, and wouldn't let me go! He kept saying I was in no condition to drive."

"You weren't," I heard him say over my shoulder, and I blushed that he had heard me. "You were a mess, all crying and forgetful. I thought you might drive yourself into a wall, and then I'd see you in my ER instead of taking you to where your dad was."

"Your ER?" my dad asked.

"Well, the one where I'm in residency," Edward replied, just as Dr. Gerandy called for 'Dr. Cullen' to come over and look at my dad's chart.

Edward left when he was called and my dad's eyebrows shot up. "Doctor?" I just sighed, sank into the chair next to the bed and nodded. "So Mr. Annoying is actually Dr. Annoying?" Great, every parent's dream, that their daughter marry a doctor or lawyer. Now Edward definitely had my dad on his side. "Is there anything else you aren't telling me?"

"Did she mention that my mom donated the artwork she's been studying to the museum?" Edward mentioned over my shoulder, obviously back again.

"No, she seems to have left that out," he replied, shooting me a look.

Wanting to get the attention off of me I decided to distract them both. "What can you tell from my dad's chart?" I asked.

"He's a Scorpio," he teased back and I felt the desire to hit him again rise up. It seemed he could tell because he backed away from me and elaborated. "He has a partial obstruction in his right ventricle that requires surgery and a stint to correct. He's amazingly healthy, especially given his age, and apparent dietary habits," he added the last with a chiding look at my father, "but it seems that even though he likes his fish fried, at least it is fish, so that's helped with his cholesterol. He'll have surgery tomorrow, and it looks like it will be pretty cut and dried, no pun intended, and we expect him back to full capacity in four to six weeks."

I could feel gratitude overwhelm me and I reached for Edward's hand. "Thank you," I said, my voice echoing my emotions. I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and was surprised to let out a huge yawn in spite of my three hour nap on the drive up here.

"Bells, you look like you haven't slept in a week," my dad said. "Take Edward and go home." He looked at him again and the 'I'm dad, see me protect my daughter' look came back into his eyes. "You can set up the couch for him to sleep on." This he said while giving Edward the full effect of his police persona. "I think my surgery is early," he said questioningly, and Edward confirmed that it was at six in the morning, "so just come over when it's done, around noon. I won't be awake, so you won't miss anything."

I didn't want to leave his side and was about to tell him as much when Edward chimed in. "Well, I can tell you that I've heard her up at all hours of the night, since we share a wall, and no, she hasn't gotten enough sleep. Don't worry, chief. I'll take care of her." My dad just nodded, there was no doubting the sincerity in Edward's voice.

I hate fish, I don't care how healthy it is.

Edward's earning points with Charlie. Now he just has to figure out how to get through to Bella!