As always, many 'thank you' to my lovely reviewers and to my amazing pre-reader.
As if it wasn't embarrassing enough knowing Bella could never be seen as Edward's equal by his family, she had to go and make it worse by twisting her ankle.
Their conversation on their way to his parents' house had made Bella understand that there was nothing to be embarrassed about, even though she knew that society would see things differently. If Edward's family could see past her flaws, it was enough for her.
Being left alone with Rosalie, without being able to make a run for it, made Bella nervous. She could tell that Edward's sister just wanted to talk, but sometimes words hurt worse than physical pain.
Rosalie sat at the foot of the bed, keeping her eyes on Bella. "What are your intentions with my brother?"
Bella bit back a snort, because that was borderline crazy for Edward's sister to ask. "I'll be around for as long as he wants me."
Rosalie narrowed her eyes, one of her hands pressing the towel holding the frozen bag to her ankle. Bella squirmed, pain radiating from her foot. "Do you love him?"
"Get off me, you crazy psycho!" Bella jerked her foot away, wincing in pain. "It's none of your business, but as a matter of fact, yes, I do."
"If you hurt him, you'll wish you haven't crossed paths with him to begin with. This," Rosalie pointed to her swollen ankle, "will be nothing compared to what I do to you."
Bella sneered. "There will be no need to chip your manicure, sweetheart."
Rosalie stared at her in shock for a good minute, before throwing her head back and laughing. Maybe she was actually crazy, Bella decided.
Rosalie made a claw of her hand, grinning. "I might have underestimated you."
"Clearly."
The door opened to reveal Dr. Cullen. He asserted the scene, shaking his head. "Hello, girls." He walked closer, stopping by his daughter's side and touching her shoulder. "Did you have the time to tell Bella I hate playing doctor at home?"
"We didn't get that far," Rosalie explained, fighting a smile. "Do you need my help?"
"No, kitty. Go and help your mom."
Bella shifted uncomfortably when she was left alone with Edward's dad in the room. Judging by his previous words, it was clear he didn't like to bring his work at home.
"Did you have to play doctor a lot as Edward was growing up?" Bella asked, shyly.
"Edward?" Dr. Cullen laughed. "Oh, you have that one wrong, honey. There was a time I used to call home beforehand to check if I should smuggle more antibiotics and gauze to mend my daughter's bruises."
Bella gasped. "No way!" Rosalie? She was the epitome of lady.
"Don't let her polished looks fool you. She's got quite the right hook, or so I hear."
"Wow."
He sat down on the bed, taking away the towel. "Damn. How did you hurt yourself this badly?"
"Is it broken?" Bella asked, worried.
Dr. Cullen touched her ankle, pressing his fingers to some spots, making her hiss in pain. "It's definitely sprained of what I can see. It needs to be x-rayed."
"Shit. I'm so sorry."
"Hey, nothing to worry about. I have this portable x-ray device in the basement. I haven't used it in years," he said. "You didn't tell me how you managed to hurt yourself."
Bella could feel her face burning in embarrassment. "My ankle sort of twisted when I got out of the car. I'm really clumsy."
He chuckled. "Can you stand? It would be better if we go to check the damage before I wrap it up."
With his support, Bella hopped out of Edward's old room and to the stairs. They were halfway down the stairs, taking them one at time, when Edward passed the entry hallway and noticed them.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, handing a salad bowl to Rosalie, before rushing to them. "Are you taking her to the hospital?"
"I still have the portable x-ray machine in the basement. We were headed that way," his dad explained.
Edward swept Bella off her feet, carrying her toward the basement. She noticed Dr. Cullen's amused look, then she pressed her face into Edward's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry for ruining the evening."
"What's a family reunion without some drama?" he joked, placing her down on a futon.
Ten minutes later, Dr. Cullen decided Bella's ankle had to be wrapped in plaster, which resulted into a trip to the hospital. Somehow, he'd managed to convince his son, there was no need for him to tag along.
Hospitals weren't Bella's favorite place in the world, but the local hospital had been restored and there wasn't the smell of chlorine and sickness in the air. Bella refused the wheelchair, choosing the aid of Dr. Cullen's arm to hop around.
When they finally returned to their house, the others were at the dining table, chatting. Edward's chair nearly toppled over as he hurried to her side.
"How is it? Does it hurt?"
"Nope. I'm all good," she mumbled.
"Better get some food in your system," Dr. Cullen said, amused. "I gave her two Tramadol."
"Christ," Edward muttered. He kept a hand on the small of her back, helping her to the table.
Once Bella was situated in the chair next to Edward's, he took his seat. Bella refused to look up from her plate, feeling tears stinging in her eyes.
"So, I hear Hilton plans to build a new hotel in the city," Emmett said casually.
Edward cleared his throat. "We know."
"If you need details, I might have some. They've contacted my agency to help with the construction site."
"Now you tell me?" Edward groaned.
"I waited to make sure we had a deal. I had many who bailed on me last minute."
They continued talking business, and Dr. Cullen joined them. Bella hadn't known where Emmett worked, or why Edward was so interested in this new hotel construction, but it was obviously part of his job.
"You should eat something, dear." Mrs. Cullen offered her a large bowl of salad.
Bella piled some on her plate, afraid to meet the woman's eyes.
"The chicken is great." Rosalie stabbed her fork into a chicken leg, then leaned over the table to place it on Bella's plate.
That gesture grabbed Edward's attention. "I think Bella can feed herself, Rose."
"No, it's okay," Bella mumbled, picking her knife and fork. "I guess I'm still kind of shaken."
"It's normal, dear." Mrs. Cullen patted her hand. "How long does she have to stay off her foot?" She turned her attention to her husband.
"A week, at most. We covered this on the ride back home. Bella will come for a check-up at the end of next week," Dr. Cullen explained.
"You're staying with me during this time," Edward declared. "Make sure Bella has a medical leave, I'll drop it by at Eclipse."
"Edward, I can't…" Bella tried protesting.
"One week away won't be the end of the world. If your job didn't entitle standing on your feet the whole day, I might have reconsidered it. Probably, not even then."
"Cuz you're a control freak," Rose joked. "If she wants to go to work, let her. I'll probably end up in the mad house if I was stuck with you for a whole week."
"No, I don't mind being stuck with Edward," Bella said, surprised that Rosalie had taken her side.
"Course you don't," Emmett laughed.
Bella wanted to slide under the table and become invisible. Edward's hand clenched around the knife in his hand, glaring at Emmett.
Rosalie, who seemed to have switched to Team Bella, slapped her husband upside the head. "Don't be an ass."
"What, babe? I'll bet Ed's gonna take some time off, too." Emmett lifted a brow in challenge.
"Jesus, Emmett," Edward groaned. "Mind your own fucking business."
"Watch that mouth," Mrs. Cullen cajoled.
"Seriously, Mom? You pick on me after what Emmett said?"
"I see Rose can handle Emmett. Besides, he didn't cuss."
Bella stared, amused, as Edward's shoulders hunched. Of course, there had to be a person he took orders from, and that person was his mother.
As the others resumed talking and eating, Bella leaned into Edward's side. She kissed his cheek.
"What was that for?" He frowned, taking her hand.
"You're cute when you're angry."
"I'll show you cute, Isabella," he hissed into her ear.
"Counting on it. I hear I'm on bed rest for the upcoming week."
Edward chuckled. "There were other ways, much more pleasurable, if you wanted to be in my bed."
"I'm sure," she whispered.
"Yo, lovebirds!" Emmett called loudly.
Edward turned sharply to his brother-in-law, glaring daggers. Bella pulled back, slumping in her chair.
"That was hardly necessary," Rosalie commented, rolling her eyes.
Dr. Cullen chuckled. "I was trying to grab your attention, though, it seems silly what I wanted to ask."
"What's that?" Edward asked, tensing up.
Bella reached out to place a hand on his thigh. Edward glanced down, smiling and covering her hand with his.
"Well, we were curious how serious you two were. I have to admit, you've kept Bella hidden."
"I did not," Edward retorted.
Bella squirmed in her seat. "It's me. I wasn't ready yet to meet you all, officially," she admitted.
"Well, we're happy you're both here," Edward's mother said softly. "It's wonderful to see Edward smiling again."
Edward scowled, as if to placate her comment.
"Maybe not now," his dad joked.
Bella flipped her hand around and threaded her fingers through Edward's. "I'm glad I could help him."
Edward squeezed her fingers, smiling her way.
"Yes, Mom. The night they met, she was a real help," Rosalie said, nodding.
"Rose," Edward hissed.
She turned to him, slightly surprised by his hostility. "What? Bella was the one to put a stop to your alcohol induced coma. Emmett told me how she begged him to take you home."
Bella bit back a smile. "Yeah, well…What can I say? I know when the patrons need to stop drinking and it's time for them to go home."
"I don't think I want to know the story," their mother said. Her concerned eyes were on Edward, who was still glaring at his sister.
Couldn't he tell that she was actually on Bella's side? Somehow, Bella had won Rosalie's respect. She had no idea when or how, be she was grateful for it.
The rest of the meal went by uneventfully, with the exception that Edward kept shooting daggers his sister's way.
As they were getting ready to leave, Mrs. Cullen reminded them that she was expecting them again the next Saturday.
"Uh, I might not be able to come," Bella admitted in a small voice.
"You won't be working, remember?" Edward pointed to her foot.
"It's not that," she muttered. "I promised Jake I'd spend the day with him. Uh, it's my birthday then." Bella hadn't found any right time to tell Edward about her upcoming birthday, and telling him in front of his family wasn't how she'd envisioned it.
"You plan on spending your birthday with that piece of shit?"
"He's my best friend," she retorted, aware of the audience. "Look, can we talk about this in the car? I bet your family doesn't have to hear this."
"Looks like I won't be coming next weekend. Someone kept her birthday a secret," Edward told his mother.
Without warning, he picked Bella up, carrying her to the car. She had planned on thanking Mrs. Cullen for having them and apologizing again for delaying dinner, but her caveman of a son had to act all big and mighty.
Bella huffed, folding her arms across her chest once they were seated in the back of the Caddy. Felix came out of the house, walking toward the car with an amused look on his face. Bella hadn't known he'd been in the house, too, but of course, Mrs. Cullen wouldn't have allowed him to wait in the car. She was too kind.
"Your mother said, quote 'That boy needs to loosen up before he scares that poor girl'."
"Did you tell her to mind her own goddamn business?" Edward snapped.
"Well, I'm sure you'll tell her that yourself. Besides, your sister said that Bella could take care of herself." Felix turned to face them. "I don't doubt it. Just don't spill any innocent blood in the car, please."
"Remind me to fire you when we get home."
"Copy that."
Despite being angry with Edward, Bella giggled at their banter. She turned to Edward, not surprised to find him watching her sternly.
"Remember, I've got a good right hook?"
Edward's jaw clenched.
Bella chose to stop taunting him, because she'd already upset him enough. She expected some kind of punishment when they got home, and even though that thought should have scared her, it thrilled her.
"Were you going to tell me about your birthday?" Edward asked when they turned on the road leading to his house.
"Eventually."
"Do you actually plan on spending the day with your friend?"
"It's tradition. We spend our birthdays together. I won't stay with him the whole day, I guess. Jake will understand things have changed now," she said softly. "Look, let's compromise. I get the morning with him and the rest of the day with you."
"Deal."
Edward helped her out of the car when they arrived, once again carrying her around like a helpless baby. This time, she was indeed incapacitated, though.
He placed her at the foot of the bed. While he unzipped her dress, his eyes bore into hers.
"I hope you've sat well tonight, because you won't be sitting down for a while."
Color? ^_^