Penname: Babette12
Original or Derivative (fanfiction): DERIVATIVE
Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Bella's Alaskan Adventure
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Pride
Scenario: You wake up and go to the bathroom. You look in the mirror and a different face is staring back at you. Begin your story

Last night I had trouble sleeping. My mind kept racing with the vision of Edward in the sunlight. I remembered reaching my hand up and touching his face lightly, wanting to feel the skin that was reflected the light so beautifully. He was glorious and he stopped breathing when I touched him. After a few minutes he removed my hand from his face without a word and walked away from me. I had turned to the window and tried to hold back tears from the sting of rejection. After another hour, when the sun had set, he came back and just as quietly carried me to my room and helped me to bed. But now it was morning and I really needed to use the bathroom.

I climbed laboriously from the bed. With one arm and its opposite leg broken, moving was extremely difficult. But even though there was a brief lightening of the sky, the sun hadn't truly risen and I didn't want to ring my bell to wake anyone to help me. I was sure I could do it myself. I just hoped I could make it on time, since it felt like my bladder was about to explode!

Ever so slowly I hobbled, making sure not to lose my balance, the cast on my leg giving enough support to ease some of the pain of walking on my broken leg. It took me a few minutes, but I finally made it and availed myself of the facilities. This was so much easier when Alice helped me, but I really didn't want to wake her. She had looked tired yesterday.

Of course, getting back up off the toilet was an adventure! That and pulling back up my bottoms. I sighed my frustration right before they finally moved and I got myself covered. I spun on my good leg and washed my hands, the lavender and vanilla hand soap smelled so nice, and the warm water felt good as it flowed over my skin. I really felt the need for a shower but didn't know if Alice felt up to helping me ithat/i much or if my back was healed enough to allow for it. I did wash off the arm not encased with a cast, though, enjoying even that little luxury.

I finally looked up to find a towel and saw a face reflected in the mirror. It was Edward, and he looked upset. His eyes met mine and held me, his anger boring into me like the stare of a basilisk. I could feel my body begin to tremble, first with fear over the depth of his anger, but shortly after with my own irritation feeling he had no right to be upset with me.

He dropped his eyes from mine only to suddenly have his hands covering them, shielding them from my view. "Bella," he growled out, his voice trembling with anger, "what are you doing out of bed?"

My irritation was blossoming into ire and I answered him with sarcasm dripping from my tongue. "Oh, I thought it would be nice to tour the bathroom. You know, see the sights? Because, we all know there's no other reason for me to be in here."

I could see a flicker of a smile begin to turn up the corners of his lips. He dropped his hand and looked at me, amusement lighting his eyes. "I suppose that is a rather obvious question," he said. "What I should have asked is why didn't you ring the bell? Alice would have come to help you."

"She looked tired yesterday, and I didn't want to wake her. Besides, I figured I could make it since it wasn't that far."

And his anger was back, flaring from his eyes. "You didn't want to wake her? You thought you could make it just fine? Bella, what if you had fallen and injured yourself further?"

"Well, Edward, I didn't fall, and I had to use the bathroom. I really don't see what you're so upset about. Now if you'll excuse me I'd like to go back to bed. I'm feeling a little tired." He quickly came over to pick me up but I pushed him away. "I made it in here fine, I can make it back."

He growled, the sound rolling around in his chest, sounding ominous. "Bella, don't let your pride result in you breaking your other arm, or delaying the healing of your leg. Carlisle told you to stay off of it for another week, so please don't fight me." A low chuckle, dark and foreboding came from him. "As if you could."

In an instant I was up in his arms and at the bed. "How?" I stuttered.

He didn't look at me as he answered. "Surely you noticed yesterday that I was different, not quite human?" I nodded, somehow knowing he would see it even if he wasn't looking at me directly. "That doesn't scare you?"

I settled onto the bed, taking time to gather the sheets along with my thoughts. I thought over what I knew about Edward and his strange family. The never ate in front of me. Their skin was prismatic, making the assumption that if Edward's was then it was likely they all were that way. They were incredibly strong and fast, even Alice surprised me with her strength and she was quite a bit smaller than I was. They lived in the middle of nowhere, far from human habitation. They all smiled at me, spoke with angelic, ringing voices and were kind. They found a girl, quite probably dying in the wilderness and healed her while comforting her over the loss of her father. I felt many emotions towards these good people. Fear wasn't one of them. Gratitude and awe were the ones that dominated my thoughts.

I saw Edward relax beside me. "You aren't afraid," he said. Not as a question but a statement of fact. I just shook my head.

"Why should I be afraid?" I asked.

"Do you know what we are?"

"Does it matter?" I was honestly confused. They had been so good to me. It really didn't matter what they were. Apparently it mattered to Edward.

"Does it matter?!? Yes, Bella it matters very much," he ranted, flinging his arms above his head in frustration. "What if we're bad? What if we're dangerous?"

I was confused. "Edward, you found me dying and brought me here to heal me. You have all been incredibly kind, supportive and helpful as I healed and grieved for my father. What would make me think you were bad? or dangerous?"

He was suddenly calm again. "I suppose, looking at it from that point of view, I can see why you think we are good and safe." He took my hand, causing a rush of excitement to surge through me and my heart to race. "We are not safe, your heart beats frantically when I touch you, warning you to be afraid, and yet you don't listen to it." He fixed his gaze on me. "Why is that?"

I had to look away from his glowing golden eyes that held me captive. I lowered mine down as the blood began to heat my face. Do I dare admit my fascination with this beautiful, gentle creature who has been such a rock for me? Do I tell him of how I craved his touch? How happy I was for each moment he had spent with me during my convalescence, helping my heart to heal along with my body? That is was him, and no other member of his family that made me want to live despite the pain that wracked me physically and emotionally these last couple weeks?

I kept my head down, but looked up at him through my lashes. "What makes you think it's fear that makes my heart race? Have you considered the possibility it could be something else?"

Poor, oblivious Edward. Why he doesn't trust Alice is beyond me.

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