Morning!

Sorry for the spelling errors in the last chapter. I'm suffering from 'Pillar Pain' from my Carpal Tunnel Entrapment operation I had back at the end of October. I can tweak a little with one hand, but when I get carried away, I can't type properly and mistakes happen.

Master Edward Cullen

When someone suggests in a letter not to get overly worried, people seem to get overly worried. Mother's letter arrived three days after she would have received mine. Those three days… I tried to keep occupied, going over more paperwork with Benjamin than I cared to think about, but it did help take my mind off Isabella, if only for a little while. At night, I kept to reading as much as possible, at least until my eyes were sore, and I could drift off to sleep.

One of my maids had rushed to my office in town when mother's letter arrived, as she knew I wanted it as soon as it turned up, and then I sprung into action. Mother said not to concern myself and to not rush home, but that was exactly what I did.

Before noon came around, I had given Benjamin my instructions for the next few weeks, just in case, and rushed out the door. I had no idea how long I would be gone, but I knew that I could trust him.

We were not what you would call friends, but we had spoken often about several issues, and I could trust his opinion and judgement.

Traveling home was quick and although I was exhausted by the time I walked through the door, I had to see Isabella before I got any rest.

"Has she woken?" I asked as soon as I was allowed into her room by the maid.

"No, not even stirred. I thought I told you not to rush?" Mother admonished me as she rose from her chair by Bella's bedside.

"She looks so frail," I whispered.

"She is pale, I grant you, but she looks far worse than what she is. No doubt by morning, she will be wide awake and fighting to get home. That, of course, must not happen, though."

Mother went on to explain about Bella's home, what the doctor had said and what we were all going to do to get her well again.

I agreed with everything, or most of it, at least.

"She will want Charles with her, Mother. We all know that he is well looked after, but she will not rest while he is not in her care," I hedged.

"I agree, but for the time being, she is a patient just as much as her brother. Both need to be cared for and if that upsets her, then so be it. I will not have her tiring like this again."

I could not help but grin at my mother. She was crafty and I loved her much for it.

…

Isabella Swan

As much as I wanted to fight with the doctor about what he thought was wrong with me, I did not have the energy. I did not even have the energy to see Charles either, and that hurt my heart so much. I had always remembered being his caregiver, even when he was tiny. Mamma was still recovering from his birth when Papa and she were hit with influenza and I remembered with perfect clarity that the only time she had the strength to hold him was when she was feeding him. He was barely two when Papa went to heaven, but he was such a sickly child, you could have sworn that he was younger. Even the doctor had commented that he was surprised that Charles hadn't been the first to leave this world.

Once we knew that Mamma would never fully heal from her illness and the pain of losing her beloved, I took it upon myself to care for Charles like he was mine. And that was the sole reason why I hated lying in this bed all day and all night, knowing that he was next door, and I could not see to him. Instead, Lady Cullen made sure that Betsy would come and inform me how he was faring throughout the day.

It had worked to keep me in bed for this long, but I knew that I needed to get back to the farm. Despite what Lord Cullen had told me about extra farm hands and his 'rules' for me, it was still our home and I wished so much to be there. I felt closer to our parents there and I was also uncomfortable with being waited on hand and foot here.

I appreciated everything Lord and Lady Cullen had done for me, even the maids but I just wanted to be home. I knew that I could not, though. Even with the rest that I had been forced to take, I was still so tired. I could barely stay awake long enough to eat. There was no way I could go home and looked after the farm and Charles without collapsing again.

I was just drifting off to sleep, yet again, when a knock came on the door and as much as I was desperate to fall asleep again, I wanted to know how Charles was this evening. I ushered a quiet 'come in' and not a second later, a much-stressed looking Master Edward walked in, worry etching his smooth features.

"Oh, Isabella Swan, there was no need to take such drastic actions to get me here. I know a month is a long time, but there were other means to see me if needed," he tried to joke as he sat in the chair next to my bed and took up my hand in his.

I did not know what overcame me, but all I could do was cry as he held my hand and whispered soothing words.

"Shh, love, all will be well," he soothed as he kissed the back of my hand and squeezed it tighter. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to hold him and let him soothe me, but I knew I could not, and, in that moment, I never felt more of a child.

"I want you to rest and relax while my mother takes care of you, just like you have been taking care of everyone for what seems like most of your life," he said gently as he brushed the stray hair from my face, and it made me want to cry harder.

Why could I accept his kind words of help, but no one else's?

"Have you eaten yet, is there anything I can get you, Isabella?" he asked softly as I rolled onto my side and looked at him.

"Not yet, Sir, and I am a little hungry," I said honestly as I pulled the covers a little higher.

I did not want a repeat of the last time that he was in my room.

"I'll ring the bell for a maid and then, if you can keep your eyes open for long enough, there is something coming to the house for you." His grin was almost infectious as he stood, and I reluctantly let go of his hand.

A few minutes later, after a swift visit from a maid, Edward came back into the room with a large tray of food, and I was sure that I would not be able to eat it all.

"Try your best and we will go from there," he chuckled heartily as I sat up and he placed the tray on my lap.

There was some soup and buttered bread, some potted meats, some fruit and a creamy looking pudding.

As I ate, we spoke a little about his time in town and how bored he was when he was not working, and I talked to him about the farm and Charles. My heart began to ache again at being away from him, but Edward soon soothed me enough to continue eating.

"I will personally ask the doctor tomorrow morning if you are well enough to visit young Charles and if you are not permitted to leave the bed, I will bring him into here. I think you both might recover better if you are together," he smiled, and I found myself thanking him through yet more tears.

When had I become so emotional?

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, a maid was opening the drapes to the windows and the morning sunlight was filtering through the glass.

"Oh!" I gasped loudly as I saw the room littered with gifts, wrapped up in all sizes, covering the bed.

"Good morning, Miss Swan. I will be sure to tell Lady Cullen and Master Edward that you have woken," she said kindly and curtsied before leaving the room.

A few moments later, both Lady Cullen and Master Edward walked into the room with breakfast on a tray and to my utter joy, Charles in Master Edward's arms.

"Charles!" I cried out and before I could think, I dropped my covers and held my arms out to him.

Poor Master Edward blushed deep red again and I rushed to pick up my covers once again.

"It is no matter, Isabella, I assure you that my son is a complete gentleman," Lady Cullen laughed as she settled the tray onto my lap and Master Edward positioned Charles so that he was next to me.

"I missed you, Bells," he said tiredly, but with a smile on his face.

"I missed you too, Charles. Have you been a good boy for Lord and Lady Cullen?" I asked.

"I have, but I have been in the nursery," he grinned.

"He has been an angel to care for, Isabella, and has given us no troubles. He had been sleeping in the adjourning room to the nursery, but as soon as he was well enough, he slept right next to Henry," Lady Cullen smiled at me before ushering me to eat while the food was still hot.

My breakfast was over quickly, and I could see that Master Edward was bursting with something as he took the tray off my lap and carried it over to the door.

As soon as he was by my side again, he reached down and picked up a present, handing it to me. It wasn't large, and I was grateful for that, but something was puzzling me.

"Why?" I asked simply as he placed the small package in my lap.

"Because I can, and I think you deserve for someone to look after you, for a change. You have gone far too many years doing everything for everyone else and not taking one moment to enjoy your youth, your birthdays or any other special event. Also, I like to spoil," he shrugged with a smile and then urged me to open it.

"Isabella, Edward is terrible when it comes to gifts and always has been. You should see him at Christmas, he is worse than the children!" Lady Cullen laughed from the other side of my bed, making Master Edward blush a little harder.

"I am not that bad, Mother," he muttered, but winked at Charles, causing him to giggle at my side.

I took in a deep breath when all eyes turned back to me, and I teared up again when I saw what was nestled in the package. It contained two beautiful ivory silk handkerchiefs, folded delicately amongst some tissue paper.

"They are beautiful, too beautiful for me, but thank-you," I sniffed. I didn't have time to say anything else before another gift was placed in my lap, this time by Lady Cullen.

Inside the wrappings was a small pouch and once I opened it, I smiled at the contents. It was a little sewing kit, with needles and threads.

"Thank you, I will make sure I use it," I grinned, and she nodded happily.

Gift after gift was handed to me and I felt a pattern emerge, even though each time I protested at them. While Lady Cullen gave me small gifts that were practical, Master Edward gave me gifts that were not. Lady Cullen gifted me items that I could use in the home and Master Edward gave me items like a flower press and a little decorative egg on a gold stand and some hard-boiled sweets.

"Isabella, I think you may find this useful for the New Year," Lady Cullen smiled as she handed me what I guessed correctly was a book. It was on the subject of market gardens, and I managed to flick through a few pages before Master Edward huffed and took it from my hands.

"Patience, Edward," she chastised him, but he laughed as he handed me another box.

When I opened it, I could not contain a tear or two when he showed me how it worked.

It was a black lacquered box, but inside was a music box and when I lifted the lid, a pretty ballerina danced on the spot as the music played was Greensleeves.

"So beautiful," I said lovingly as I watched the dancer spin around and around.

"I have one last present for you, and I hope you do not think ill of me for purchasing it for you, but after our first time in the nursery, I could not stop myself," he smiled gently as he handed me a long box, covered in pink striped paper and a ribbon to match.

I carefully took off the wrapping and when I lifted the lid, I knew that if I started to cry, I would not have been able to stop.

Nestled deep inside the box was the most beautiful porcelain doll I had ever imagined.

Her dress was a deep red and trimmed with gold, reminding me of the Christmas season and her hair hung in long chestnut ringlets.

"She is so beautiful," I said in loving awe as I tentatively touched her face with my finger.

"You said in a whisper that you had never had one and when I saw it, I knew it was for you, it was like your name was attached to it, just waiting for me to collect it," he said reverently as our eyes locked.

"I think it is time to have poor Charles put back into bed, the excitement has tired him so," Lady Cullen broke our spell and I looked down to see that Charles had indeed fallen asleep.

Lady Cullen insisted that she be the one to put him to bed, citing that she missed them being so small and Master Cullen was left to dispose of the rubbish.

The best gift of all was being told, when Lady Cullen came back into the room, that the doctor was allowing me to leave the bedroom and venture downstairs, on the strict instructions that if I tired too easily, I was to be brought right back.

I could not have been happier.

Isabella needed a little spoiling, don't you think? Up later; a big heart to heart with not only Esme, but Edward, too. I think you'll like it ;)