BPOV

I woke up that morning with Edward still laying there, but with different clothing. His eyes were onyx, it had been over 2 weeks since he and Alice had gone hunting, and it felt like forever ago.

"Good morning," he smiled at me, leaning over to kiss me.

"Morning," I felt slightly self-conscious about my morning breath. I immediately took note of his onyx eyes.

"Hey, you should go hunt, it's been weeks."

He should be taking care of himself.

"No, it's fine."

I laughed as he shook his head. "That's my line, but your eyes are a dead giveaway," I reminded him. "Go, I need to get ready either way. I'll be fine, you need to hunt."

He sighed in defeat before nodding.

"Thank you," I sighed. I wanted Edward to be okay, I didn't want him to neglect himself in the name of taking care of me.

"I'll be back in 2 hours, okay?"

I looked at the time, it was 10 AM. I quickly put the cannula back on, and sat up. "It's ten, already? Why did you let me sleep so long?" My voice was frantic.

He shrugged, and got up to turn the tank back on. "You were tired, and you need your sleep. I'll be back soon, are you certain you'll be alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, I swear. Nothing is going to happen." I started pushing him to the window. "You can't tell me to take care of myself when you won't do the same."

He chuckled and shook his head, "Alright, I'll go. Call me if you need anything. I mean it, Bella."

"Yes, yes, I know. Now go," I shooed him away.

After another kiss, he was gone.

I spent an hour trying to make myself look less like a mess, although Edward constantly swore I was beautiful. My skin was the same sickly pale, and I just looked like hell. I picked the blue blouse that Edward said he liked.

My appetite remained nonexistent. Both Charlie and Edward had taken turns making sure I ate, but I still took no more than a few bites before I couldn't eat any more.

I took extra caution walking down the stairs, I knew if I tripped and fell, my already constant supervision would worsen. Charlie had already gone for the day, and it was a little strange being alone. Between Edward and Charlie, I was rarely alone anymore. I had told Charlie that he shouldn't cut back on working, I didn't want his life to revolve around me. I figured it would be easier for him once I was gone if he had a full life separate from me. I wanted him to be happy. I sighed, I could feel the weight of my worries.

I picked at a Pop-Tart for breakfast and continued to think about what the future would hold for Edward and Charlie after me.

And not even a minute later than the allotted 2 hours, Edward was back. He had let himself in, of course. He caught me lost in thought picking at the Pop-Tart.

"Everything okay?" He asked gently.

I jumped up, "You scared me."

"I'm sorry, I tried to make some noise so you knew I was coming, but you were pretty lost in thought. What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing." I didn't want to tell him my thoughts about his and Charlie's future, it would just upset him. I could see in his expression that he didn't believe me.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I hope this is decent," I said getting up from my chair, and grabbing the handle of my backpack. "There are no etiquette books on meeting your vampire boyfriend's family."

"Wrong. You are utterly indecent- no one should look so tempting, it's not fair," he whispered in my ear. I was pretty sure I was blushing. He straightened, "And you've met everyone. Except for Esme, and perhaps Rosalie."

I took a deep breath, from what I gathered Rosalie wasn't my biggest fan.

"I'm very partial to that color with your skin," he offered unexpectedly.

"Can we go? I'm trying really hard not to think about what I'm going to do."

"And you're worried not because you're going to be in a house with vampires, but because you think they won't approve?"

"And the doctor's appointment," I added.

"And the doctor's appointment," he shook his head. "You're incredible."

"I'm sure you've made your case against school for Carlisle anyway."

"I've done no such thing. I've only told him the truth."

I rolled my eyes, I found Edward's truth to be a bit dramatic.

I realized as we were driving I had no idea where he lived. We had driven over the Callahan bridge, and the houses were getting further apart. Then we were driving through misty forest. He turned on to an unpaved road. Then the woods started thinning, until we were in a small meadow, or was it a lawn?

The house was timeless, graceful, and probably a hundred years old. It was painted a soft, faded white, three stories tall, rectangular, and well proportioned.

"Wow."

"You like it?" He smiled.

"It...has a certain charm."

He pulled the end of my ponytail and chuckled.

"Ready?" he asked, opening my door, and helping me out.

"Not even a little bit- let's go."

"You look lovely," he said taking my hand. I chuckled.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to flatter me."

He laughed, and leaned down to kiss me, "I'm only telling the truth."

We walked through the deep shade up to the porch. I tried to keep my breathing even. He was rubbing circles into the back of my hand. He opened the door for me.

The inside was even more surprising, less predictable than the exterior. It was very bright, very open, and very large. Waiting to greet us, standing just to the left of the door, on a raised portion of the floor by a spectacular piano, were Edward's parents.

I'd met Carlisle before, and at his side was Esme, I assumed, the only one of his family who I had never seen before. They were both dressed casually, in colors that matched the inside of the house.

"Bella, you know Carlisle. This is Esme. Esme, this is Bella," he said gesturing to his parents.

"Hello, Bella," Carlisle greeted me.

"It's very nice to know you, Bella," she smiled sincerely, taking a step forward and embracing me. Edward had released my hand as she embraced me. I kept one hand on my backpack so it didn't fall.

My eyes wandered to the piano. Esme noticed.

"Do you play?" She asked, inclining her head toward the piano.

"No, not at all. But it's so beautiful. Is it yours?"

"No," she laughed, "Edward didn't tell you he was musical?"

"No," I glared at his innocent expression. "I should have known, I guess."

Esme knitted her eyes in confusion.

"Edward can do everything, right?" I explained. Carlisle snickered, and Esme gave him a reprimanding look.

"I hope you haven't been showing off- it's rude," Esme scolded lightly.

"Just a bit," he laughed freely. Esme's expression softened, they shared a brief expression that I didn't understand.

"I'll play for you later," he promised. I smiled.

"Should we head upstairs to my office?" Carlisle suggested.

I nodded. Once I saw the staircase, I panicked slightly. I picked up my bag to not scratch the floor. But Edward had other ideas, he scooped me up with my bag and in my hand, and in a flash we were in Carlisle's office.

"You really have to warn me when you're doing that," I complained to Edward, feeling faint at the sudden movement. He laughed.

"I don't want you passing out of the stairs," he chuckled, taking my hand in his.

"I could've made it by myself."

"Yes, but it was much quicker my way."

Carlisle was watching our interaction with a smile.

"Sorry, Carlisle," I said turning my focus to Carlisle who was sitting behind his desk.

"How are you feeling? Any headaches? Burning in your lungs?"

"I feel fine."

Edward scoffed. I glared at him.

"You were exhausted yesterday, you could barely catch your breath, and you haven't been eating," Edward scolded.

"That's an exaggeration," I mumbled.

"Bella, I need you to be as honest as possible. Do you want Edward to leave?" Carlisle asked gently.

"If I did, I'm sure he'd listen anyway, or find out later."

Carlisle laughed as Edward rolled his eyes. This questioning went on for a while, I tried to answer as honestly as possible without causing any more worries.

"Bella, you gave school a try, but I no longer think it's a good idea. You should be taking it easy. You just got out of the hospital last week. Maybe, you should consider taking the GED. I'd rather be overly-cautious than cavalier." Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll go let Charlie know."

I sighed and turned to Edward.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I know this isn't easy for you."

I nodded. "It's fine," I paused for a moment.

"Since, I'm not going to be in school anymore, I guess that means no prom," I said gently but playfully, laying my head on Edward's shoulder.

He chuckled, "Nice try, we're still going. You don't want to break poor Alice's heart now do you?"

I smiled, "I had to at least try to get out of it."

"You want to go back down? I think Esme is cooking for you." His impish smile was back. "You wouldn't want to hurt her feelings?"

I playfully smacked his chest, "How many times are you going to use that against me?"

He shrugged, "You play the cards you're dealt."

I nodded slightly. "And how would Esme feel if she knew you were using her as a means to coerce me?" I retorted playfully.

"Touche."

"Come on, I'll show you around first then you'll eat." He took my hand leading me out of Carlisle's office.

After showing me Carlisle's history and giving more insight into his, we ended up in Edward's room.

The western wall of his room was covered shelf and shelf of CDs. In the corner was a sophisticated looking sound system. There was no bed, only a wide and inviting black leather couch.

I was getting tired and breathless from all the standing, so I sat down, trying keep my breath even again. Edward looked down at me concerned.

"Sorry. Just the standing and walking around," I explained.

"You're sorry that you got tired?" He chuckled.

"I'm glad I amuse you," I laughed. "How do you organize these?" I said gesturing to his wall of CDs.

"Umm..By year, and then by personal preference within that frame," he said absently. My eyebrows knitted in confusion, but before I could ask Edward continued. "I was prepared to feel relieved to have you here to have everything out in the open, but it's more than that. It's complete bliss to have you here," he smiled.

"I'm glad," I said relieved, smiling back. I could see him looking deeply into my eyes, and probably overanalyzing my expression. "You're still waiting for me to run away scared aren't you?" I remembered him saying that several times in our first conversations.

He nodded, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"You should be running away from me," I laughed. "But maybe you're just not as scary as you think you are. I don't find you scary at all, actually," I lied casually, I knew Edward had the potential to be very scary.

He stopped, raising his eyebrows in blatant disbelief. Then he flashed a wide, wicked smile.

"You really shouldn't have said that," he chuckled. He growled, a low sound in the back of his throat; his lip curled back over his perfect teeth. His body posture shifted suddenly, half-crouched, tensed like a lion ready to pounce.

I sat further back, glaring, "You wouldn't."

I didn't see him leap at me, it was much too fast. The next thing I knew I was curled into a ball against his chest, he didn't once pull on the cannula either. He was holding me more securely than iron chains. I glared at him in alarm, his jaw was relaxed as he grinned, his eyes bright only with humor.

"You were saying?" He growled at me playfully.

"That you are a very, very terrifying monster." My sarcasm was marred by my breathlessness.

"Um…," I struggled. "Can I get up now?"

He just laughed, as I continued to struggle to right myself. "Everyone just got home," he whispered in my ear.

"Can we come in?" a soft voice came in through the hall.

I struggled to free myself, but Edward just readjusted me so that I was somewhat more conventionally seated on his lap. I could see it was Alice and then Jasper behind her in the doorway. My cheeks burned, but Edward seemed at ease.

"Go ahead," Edward was still chuckling quietly.

"It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch. We wanted to see if you would share," Alice announced. I laughed sarcastically.

"Sorry, I don't think I have enough to share," he replied, his arms still holding me close.

Alice and Edward started to have a mental conversation.

"You're right, Jasper. It never gets less annoying." I remarked, and Jasper snickered.

"Nothing, just Alice wanted to finalize some prom plans." Edward stated, not hiding his lie very well.

"You're a really bad liar," I commented. Alice and Jasper laughed.

"We'll see you later," Alice said.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, now I'm pretty sure Esme was making you some food," he whispered. "Come on, you should eat."

He released me from his hold, and helped me get up. This time he warned me before carrying me down the stairs at vampire speed.

"Thanks for the warning." I was still a little woozy, but it was better with my eyes closed.

"Anytime," Edward laughed.

Esme really was in the kitchen cooking up a storm. I immediately felt bad. "You really didn't have to do all this, Esme," I said politely.

"She fusses over everyone, you get used to it," Edward said, responding for her. She smiled.

"It really was no trouble, I finally got to use what I've learned on the Cooking Channel," Esme said, her motherly tone coming through.

She placed a plate in front of me, and while I was eating, she told me her story. How she threw herself off a cliff, and how Carlisle had saved her when he heard her heart still beating, and saw something in her face. She said goodbye and left me and Edward alone in the kitchen.

"Where did everyone go?" I asked.

"They went to play baseball," he said shrugging.

"You didn't want to go?" I narrowed my eyes, I suspected that this was the conversation he and Alice had earlier.

"There's seven of us, uneven teams, besides I was more than happy to sit this one out," he explained.

"You could've gone," I sighed. "What was going on with you and Carlisle?"

"You noticed that?"

I nodded, slightly smiling.

"It's nothing. He wasn't sure I wanted to share some information from you. It's just some nomads in the area. They're not like us- in their hunting habits. I doubt that they'll pass through town, but I'll be sticking with you even more now, I just don't want you thinking I'm a tyrant normally."

I shuddered.

"Finally a normal response! I was beginning to think you had no sense of self-preservation," he muttered.

I ignored his remark. "Either way, you are with me most of the time," I reminded him.

He laughed, "Yeah, I guess I am." I had eaten more than normal, and Edward looked pleased.

"Come on, I promised I'd play for you." He grabbed my hand and gently led me to his piano. He started playing the same lullaby he had been humming to me each night.