Here is the continuation of Twilight aftermath, in Bella's point of view. Her time in hospital, her time in Forks, her relationship with Edward, her father and the Cullens', and all the other aspects of her daily routine. Hope you like it.
Enjoy reading!
"Take care honey." Renee said for the – I forgot the count how many times mom had said the same thing again and again. I knew exactly what she was going to add. "You just be careful there. I won't be there to protect you at your step, and I really don't wasn't to visit you again while you are in bed." I repeated the whole sentence in my mind along with her.
It had been two weeks since I was hospitalized here after my incident – according to Edward, the most stupidest thing I have ever done – with James, who was, thanks to the Cullens, not alive to avenge his defeat.
Behind Renee, who was sitting on the plastic chair beside my bed, looking more like Adonis than anyone should, his eyes intently on me, his beautiful face carved with my favourite crooked smile, Edward was standing leaning against the wall, rolling his eyes as Renee said the whole thing. She was, at first, very irritated by Edward's constant presence beside me, but later she got used to it, or I should say that she accepted that Edward was not going anywhere else and leave me.
Though her mind was not on this since last two hours, as she have to leave for her flight back to Jacksonville in twenty minutes.
She had been nagging her dislike on the matter ever since Edward bought her ticket. "This is ridiculous!" She threw her hands in the air again in exasperation for the hundredth time. "Beyond absurd!" And I again knew what she was going to complain about this time. "You always loved sun, and now you want to live in that cloudy area, where you cannot see even the sky clearly."
"Mom!" I huffed, a big grin on my face. We have had this conversation many times. "I am going back to Forks, moot point, so smile and pack your things. You don't want to be late for your flight. You have already made Phil wait for you so much."
Behind her, Edward's face turned into a scowl. He hasn't kept this a secret that he wanted me to go back to my mom and enjoy the sun rather than the clouds. Even when I had refused him again and again and tried to tell him that I want to stay with him and Charlie, he still tried to pursue me whenever he gets a chance. Because of his obnoxious beliefs that I would be better without him. I scoffed in my head. Only if he could read my mind for once and see that I wanted – needed – to stay with him, and only him.
Not that Renee didn't know about this. She had tried to make me spill our the gossip about I and Edward, but I had always managed to ditch her advances and keep our relationship a secret from her. Until one evening, when she saw Edward getting a little jealous by my psychotherapist – Dr. Zack – whom I was very comfortable with. Enough to make jealous of the doctor, much to Renee's liking. She had enjoyed that look on Edward's face.
.
.
.
Renee had sat beside me after my third physiotherapy session. Edward had excused himself to the cafeteria just before my session started – he always made one excuse or another to sit during my sessions but mom always made him leave the room, leaving me alone to endure my mom and her snide comments.
"Did you look at the doctor?" She asked, all girlishly after my session was over. "He is so handsome!"
"Mom!" It was awkward enough to be having this conversation with her.
"Have the hospitals in America made a new rule of hiring only handsome doctors? Carlisle, Barry –" Dr. Barry was my personal doctor over here, who was, according to mom, charming in this age too, while she was hopelessly crushing over Carlisle Cullen, Edward's vampire father.
"He is too old. What, near to forty?" I chuckled. "Well, Phil may find this interesting." I teased.
She grunted. "You know what I mean!" She chided. "And this Dr. Zack too, and Edward said he was also interested in medical."
"I didn't know that." I muttered. There was still so much that I didn't know about him, and he had said I have told you everything, as before you I hardly lived a memorable life. with a cheesy line.
Cheater!
"And that Zack was totally flirting with you." She commented.
"No, he wasn't." I retorted, but internally correcting myself that he was indeed. It was a treat to watch Edward's jealous face and for me to talk so innocent and pleasant about Zack. He always eavesdropped on me, and now I was using reverse psychology as a sort of punishment to him.
"Do you really think that? Are you upto playing innocent?" She muttered with a scowl of impatience, already knowing that I wasn't a fool to not get his meaning. "He called you beautiful, he said himself that he was single, and made a small face when I told him about you living in Forks. Of course he was trying to hit on you."
"Mom!" I whined.
"Or is that Edward thing that is stopping you?"
These was that tone again, her confused and I-am-going-to-know-about-it tone.
"Mom!"
"Don't mom me, Isabella! I am your mother and you cannot lie to me. What do you think, that I didn't catch you both having silent conversations, or he trying to spend as much time with you as much as he want, or he staying here at nights and asking me to go at home. Do you want me to add a few more things on the list?"
Edward had asked Renee to sleep at home the second night here as she was about to have a back pain by sleeping on the recliner for constantly three days – Alice had already predicted that.
"It's not that mom." I sighed, playing with the blanket. How to explain her that I was dating a vampire, one who was thirsty for my blood, and that I am pretty serious about him. There were too many secrets now, that I cannot –and don't want to – share with her. "It's complicated." I finally finished in a lame way.
"What? Telling me or asking him?" She challenged directly, not stalling. She was always worried about my love life as I never had a boyfriend, thinking that I had a problem approaching them.
I looked at her, dumbfounded and numb, asking myself what to tell her and what to hide from her. She was so sure about I and Edward, and she had already seen so many things – how Edward always worry about me, how he looked at me, how we were both in each others company.
Why didn't Edward warn me beforehand that Renee had so many things in her mind, and I was going to get a turn with her. I am going to sue him for not warning me.
Renee waited, not so impatiently, for my answer.
"So, let's simplify it. Do you like him? Yes or no?"
There was no going out now. Renee was now a lady on a mission, and would not stop till she gets all her answers.
"Yes." I finally conceded.
"And he likes you too." Not a question but a statement. "And don't tell me that he doesn't. It is clear in his eyes, and the way he looks at you."
"He does." I accepted. No need to tell her how much serious we were.
Her tone changed to soft and curious. "Did he ask you out that you felt a need to run away?"
I closed my eyes to sign, because that always give me away.
She waited not-too, but still, patiently.
I ducked my eyes, because I was going to give some partial or false details to her, and she was very good at catching my lies.
Finally I sighed as I was going to lie handsomely to my mother.
"A little. I was more confused rather than angry or afraid."
She considered it. "You never told me about him in your emails or on phone." Her tone was full of accusation.
I shrugged, not knowing what to say.
"I am offended." She threw her hands up in aggravation, leaning back on the chair with her hands crossed over her chest.
I knew that look. She was a lady on a mission and wasn't going to back out.
Somewhere in my mind, a thought played in my mind.
Edward would be happy to see that I was going to tell Renee about us, finally. He had told me that it was upto me – whenever I was ready I could tell Renee, but I knew he was waiting for me to tell her, as he thought that I didn't think that much of him to introduce him to my mother as my boyfriend.
He must be sitting somewhere, eavesdropping, enjoying this, wondering what I was going to tell Renee?
If yes, then he was going to get screwed.
Also, if this was happening, and if Alice saw it, then why didn't she come to my rescue? In the time I and Alice were together we had become good friends, or in her words, best friends. She had said that I was her best friend and sister she didn't know she ever had. I will screw her too.
Renee huphed loudly, showing her dislike of the whole situation. "I always told you about every person I have ever met, and you won't tell me about your big crush," she used her fingers to quote it, "in Forks. This is not fair. I thought we would always be close."
She succeeded in breaking me. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that it will affect you so badly."
"Tell me then?" All accusations gone from her tone. Only enthusiasm left.
"Fine." I finally succumbed to her wishes. After all, she would not sit quietly until I tell her everything.
"Yeah!" She leaned forward, a smile of victory on her face. "Tell me everything, from the start. Every detail."
I recalled every moment with him. "I met him the first day in school, in my biology class . We share the same table." That was not a lie, and a good start too. "He wasn't well that day," Of course he was not well, I gave him a hard time, unintentionally. "so he was on leave for a week." To be away from me.
"So much for a good start!"
I agree, mom. Exactly my thoughts. But after all, it's not – but still – a usual high school romance.
"We got to talk the next Monday when he came back, and it went good, but the next day," how to put it that I nearly got into an almost major accident, and that I found out he was nothing like any human. So I thought better to skip that. After all, it was supposed to be a partial truth. "we, um, got into a fight and didn't talk about for another month, gave each other a cold look."
"What happen? Was he rude?"
"To be frank, I don't even remember the topic of our fight. It was something small and irrelevant. We both realised we were being childish and ridicule about the whole thing and finally apologized."
She listened carefully, not interrupting me.
"We talked again and finally got to know each other more better." Much better.
"That's good."
"Soon we started going to school together, spend much of the time together. Then, one Sunday he called and asked if it was okay for me to come to their family baseball match, meet his parents." Her eyes widened with surprise. After all, according to her it was too early for that. "I agreed."
"That's huge! One doesn't asks other to meet his parents if he's not serious." She remained silent for another moment, while I tried to read her face. She had always been verbal on her dislike of early age marriage. Did she really think that I was going too fast. "How did Charlie react to that? He must have given you a hard time."
"No. He was pretty much cool about that, though he gave a small father's talk to Edward when he came to pick me up." That was just for her benefit else she would give Charlie a hard time.
"That's understandable." She nodded, silently asking me to continue.
"I liked his parents, and his siblings too, and they all liked me too, I guess." All, except for Rosalie. "After the match, he told me he liked me. I was flattered, but more confused and stumped, because the pace was too fast for my liking. I was afraid if we were going too fast. So I left Forks and came here to think about it. He too came here after me, to talk me out of this."
"At first I denied to meet him, saying I don't want to see his face ever again, but then finally gave up and decided to meet him in the hotel he was staying in. The elevator was taking too much time, and it was just a few floors up, so I went for stairs. Thanks to my clumsy nature, I stumbled and fell. The next thing I knew is I woke up here."
"You must take care of yourself, honey. I cannot afford to lose you."
"I am so sorry mom."
"No worries. So tell me, what did he say when you both got time to talk about things?"
"Um, he said that he was comfortable with the pace I decide to take, and that he too felt that things went a little fast."
She made a face which said 'I can't believe this'. "Isn't he sweet!" She mused, impressed.
"I cannot disagree on this." He is sweet indeed.
I was lost in the thoughts of our time together, in the meadow. He had said all the things that were buried in his chest for a long time, in a very sweet manner. And our first kiss, our first night together... I wish I could tell Renee everything, including all these.
"Bella?" She called, how many times?
"Sorry. What were you saying?"
"What did you say then?"
"Hmm? Oh, for that. I said, 'As long as we're friends and we let the things work between us in a preferable pace, I am open to take some chances.'"
"That's a way to put it." She nodded in affirmation.
I didn't say anything more, as I was out of lies now.
"So, are you both dating?" She persisted.
Sometimes I wonder that Jessica is just like my mother. Persistent, talkative, always wanting detailed information.
"Well, that's a way to put it." I used her words.
"And?"
"And nothing more."
She considered it with big lines on her forehead.
"Mom, do you think I am going too fast?" I asked. She had always been verbal about her dislike of too fast progressions in a relationship.
"Honey, I know why you are asking that. But you don't have to worry. They were my ethics that one should move at a slow pace, but you have gone on Charlie on that matter. You never take things like this lightly, and so you know what is the best for you."
Wow! "So you are okay with that?"
"Of course I am, honey."
"Thanks mom."
She nodded it as she leaned back on the chair. I too closed my eyes to stop my mind to think anything more.
"Did you both had kissed?" She asked suddenly, out of nowhere. "Really kissed?" She sounded concerned. And I knew why; because I knew what she wanted to ask me without using the specific words.
I looked at her like a dumb. Which mom asks her child that, and that too in such a way? "Mom, don't you think that it is not a question a parent ask her child."
"Shall I take that as a yes, a no?" She insisted.
I sighed, giving up. "You are sounding like my friends in school."
"Look, you're blushing." Obviously I will be. Who wouldn't when they get such direct question from your mother that 'weather or not you have consummated your relationship.'
"Mom! Isn't it too much for today? I am very tired already. And as for your answer, no. A big no. There. Can I rest for now?"
"I can't believe it. My daughter has a boyfriend now."
"Mom! It's just summer love." No need to accept that it was more than that for us.
She shook her head confidently. "I don't think so, honey. You're not the one who would ever go for a summer love. I think it is going to be so much more." And then her expressions changed, and I knew what she was going to say. I could almost pick her words from her mind. "But listen to me in this. Don't rush in things. Think a hundred times before you take any step. I don't want you to regret any of your decisions later."
"Trust me, mom. With Edward, I hardly think there would be something that I would regret. As I said, I am up for chances." This was directed to both, Renee and Edward.
No matter what, I would never regret loving him. He was the best thing that had happened to me, and even if he decides to end our relationship, I would never regret meeting him in the first place, or falling in love with him.
"Good. I shall excuse you now. I am very hungry."
"Finally!"
"Don't be so happy already. I still want all the details, and not just the short story."
"You were hungry, mom." I reminded her.
"Right. I'll be back and then we can talk more."
"Yeah." I agreed, not at all meaning it. I would have to come up with a brilliant excuse to avoid her questions.
She kissed my forehead and went for the door.
"Mom?" She looked back at me, asking me to continue. "Can you please send Edward here?"
She wriggled her eyebrows teasingly. "You're missing him already?"
"Mom?" I chided. Now I was really starting to get angry.
"Okay. Don't get angry. I'll send him up."
I sighed full of anger and frustration. "Thank you, mom."
"I'll see you later, then. You two have fun." And she didn't wait to see what my reaction was, getting out of the room before I could react. So she couldn't see my blush that covered my cheeks listening that my mother was so supportive of my relationship and that she liked my choice.
Edward had got a hard time from me for not telling me beforehand that Renee was thinking about confronting me. In return he answered, "If you can have your fun by trying to tease me and make me jealous, then shouldn't I have a fun of my own." He challenged. I wanted to be angry at him but he tricked by dazzling me intentionally.
In present, Renee scoffed again. "I'll miss you honey. So much."
"I'll miss you too, mom. But dad needs me more."
"And you need someone else too." She pointed directly, understanding me. She chuckled while I blushed. Edward grinned at me. "I love you."
"Love you too, mom."
"Enough of you two." Alice's voice chirped as she entered the room. "What were you doing, Edward? I gave you the only purpose of escorting Renee to the hospital gate, and you failed at that miserably."
"Don't blame me, Alice." He retorted with a laugh and tried to make a serious face, failing miserably. "They both are still saying their goodbyes."
"Edward!" Both I and mom scolded him at the same time.
Edward succeeded in making a healthy relation with Renee. She was not east at first, but slowly she started to accept Edward as my choice, mostly after seeing us together.
"What?" He asked innocently. We all laughed as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Let's go Renee. Your cab is waiting down."
Not only my boyfriend, but also my best friend, Alice, was able to make Renee a good friend of hers. And Renee was very fond of Alice. She always praised her very much, and treated her like her friend. They both even took the courtesy to decorate my room with flowers and colours and other small things.
"Go now, mom. You'll miss your flight else."
"Oh Bella!" She cried, tears spilling out of her eyes. "I'll miss you." And she hug me very tightly to her. I groaned a little as she was hurting my leg. It was still in recovering stage. Thanks to Carlisle, he was able to talk to Dr. Barry about our school leaves and gave me a leave else I would have been stuck here for another few weeks.
I sniffled and tried to stop my tears from flowing down. "I'll miss you, too. Go now."
She sniffled too and left after patting my leg a little and kissing my forehead.
Edward took her down while Alice gave me company.
"Excited?" She asked out of nowhere after a few minutes.
"Hmm?"
"You will finally be getting out of this hospital. Excited?"
I laughed. She knew me better now to ask this. "Very much. But I would be more excited if this stupid cast was off me."
Doctor had said that it might take another four to six weeks before I get rid of my case. Till then I was about to you the crunches.
Another death trap for a clumsy girl like me. Like my one leg was not enough to make me fall off my feet to embarrass myself.
"When are we leaving?" I asked. I was more than impatient.
"In an hour. You can rest till then if you want."
"I don't want to rest. I have done enough resting in these two weeks."
She laughed. "True." We were both silent then, I was trying to watch television while Alice was reading a fashion magazine, when Edward came in. "Good, you are here." Alice said. "I am with Carlisle and will meet you directly at the airport." They both exchanged some more glances, silently exchanging thoughts with the help of Edward's ability to read mind, and she left.
"What did she say?" I asked him as he sat beside me.
"You heard her."
He always did this. Whenever I asked him to say what did the other person think to him, he would filter their thoughts and say that 'I'll tell you everything that is of matter to you, but other than that I don't want you to get tensed up with their issues.'
"Edward! You and I both know what I was referring to."
He chuckled. "Alice was right, then. I see." He teased. I huphed. Only he knew what he was talking about. "She said that you were in a bad mood. Can I know why?" He insisted politely.
"You know why." I had been rattling about this since yesterday. I will miss Renee, but then I'll also have to deal with Charlie, and not to forget his best friend Billy, who still thought that I was here just because Edward harmed me. Charlie told me many times that Billy was worrying about me constantly, saying things like 'not safe for her', 'dangerous'. Though it was good that Charlie was still in the dark about what Billy is referring to.
"Hey." He soothed, rubbing my hand with his cold one. I thought that after all these days I will get used to his touch, but no. Even now whenever he touches me, my heart speeds up. "It will all be fine. You are just overthinking."
"Easy for you to say. You are not the one awaiting your father's wrath."
He chuckled and sat beside me on the bed, taking me in the comfort of his arms. "What can I do to make you a little less queasy?"
"I am not being queasy!"
"That's not the answer." He murmured politely, stroking my arm.
I sighed. There was nothing that he could do. "Nothing." he waited, still patient. I closed my eyes and leaned onto him. "Just hold me."
"Always." He brought me more closer to him as per my request and kissed my hair.
"What did Renee tell you while departing?"
"You are getting good at getting these things." He acknowledged. I glared at him, hoping he would come to the point directly. He breathed deeply. "She was happy seeing you happy, and asked me to look after you. See that you do not fall on your steps again."
I laughed too along with him. "Yeah, yeah. Now you are officially struck with a clumsy girl." He just glared at me. According to him, I always underestimated myself, but I never believed him. He was just too good to me, and there was no way he would find me fascinating for the rest of his life – existence.
"She likes you." I offered.
He laughed. "But she likes Carlisle more." And I couldn't deny that. She had developed a huge crush on Carlisle in the recent times. And I couldn't actually blame her. The Cullen men didn't know how what effect they have on women.
"And you are jealous of that?" I teased and he laughed, trying to hide his amused smile at my dry humour. "Jokes apart, but you know what I mean."
"Hmm. So one hurdle cross. Your mother likes me and approves of me. Now it's just Charlie I have to worry about." Charlie was very angry with Edward in the start, but after he came to know it was Edward due to which I was saved, he swallowed his anger for me and forgave him for my sake. But I knew him better. He was just pretending to forgive him. And if he gets his way, he'll make sure that Edward stays away from me.
"Good luck with that, after all you will be dealing with the Chief of police." Even when he has forgiven him – partially, it would be hard for Edward to gain his trust back. And now that we were going to be together in front of public, it is important that Charlie knows about us beforehand.
"So much for falling in love with his only daughter." He mocked.
I laughed and kissed his cheek. He looked much more smart, cute and handsome when he acted so human, living his human instincts again.
I still remember my conversation with Charlie over the phone. Carlisle had made sure that he doesn't come here, fearing that Victoria may just want Charlie to escape Esme's and Rosalie's sight and harm him. That was the reason Emmett and Jasper left as soon as possible.
"Ready to call Charlie." Edward had asked me as he sat beside me on the chair.
After a day when I woke up I finally prepared myself to talk with Charlie. But in actuality I wasn't prepared yet. I had hurt him too deeply to ask for his forgiveness.
"Never!" I would never be ready to hear the failure and disappointment and fear in his voice, which I knew Charlie would be feeling right now.
He ran his fingers over the lines which had started forming on my forehead. I looked at him and he smiled reassuringly. "Here." He gave me his cell phone. "You should call. He would probably be waiting for your call."
I grumbled as I took the phone from his hand. He had already dialled the number.
I mentally crossed my fingers as I waited for Charlie to pick up the phone.
It rang for five times before Charlie finally picked it up. "Swan residence." His voice was husky, somewhat exhausted, like he haven't slept in a few days. I felt guilty listening his voice. It was because of me that he had such a rough voice.
I held Edward's hand – unconsciously – in my grasp and held it tightly with my hand.
"Dad." I breathed. My voice broke.
I heard him intake a breath loudly. "Bella? Is it you?" I couldn't say anything as my voice was thick with all the emotions.
Edward saw it and he sat beside me to comfort me, putting his arms around me, still letting me hold his hand. I leaned on him as I tried to find my voice.
Charlie was getting impatient. "What happen? Why are you crying? Is everything all right? Did anything happen? Bella? Tell something!" he bombarded his questions on me.
I gulped. Edward soothed me by rubbing my arms.
"I am fine, Chief." A tight chuckle came out of my mouth followed by a sniff. As fine as I could ever be.
He inhaled deeply. "Isabella? Tell me this instant why are you crying or I am going to come there by the next flight." For the first time I heard warning in his voice. He never talked to me with that authority. This was a first.
"Really, dad. I am fine. Healthy as a horse." I said, using his words, really meaning it.
He snorted, not believing me. "Then why are you crying?" He demanded. He was still worried about me. And here I thought that he didn't love me anymore.
"I am sorry, dad." My voice broke again. "So sorry." I sniffed. "I shouldn't have said those things to you." If only I could tell him that I never meant any of those things and that it was just for his own safety.
I heard him intake a breath sharply. "Bella?" He asked worried.
"Really dad, I am fine." I assured him again.
There was silence for a long minute, he was analysing the silence.
"You scared me, honey." He finally said. I could hear him drinking his beer in the surrounding.
"I am sorry, dad. So sorry." Edward wiped my tears. I don't know when tears started to come out of my eyes. "It will never ever happen again. I swear."
"Sweetie, you don't have to apologize." He tried to sound convincing but I knew him much better. I knew how hard it was for him to say it. "If you don't like Forks, then let it be. Your mom will be excited to have you over there with her once again."
"Dad, I don't hate Forks." I broke in before he becomes more hysterical.
He was silent for a minute, grasping it. "Good." was all he could say. "So how are they treating you there." He inquired after the awkward silence as he regained his composure again.
I sniffed again, glad the hard part was over. "I am getting fed up of the hospital room here." The room here was nothing but four white walls with a little furniture, not that I expected anything else from a doctor. And it was very boring here. I missed the green, the smell of rain, the constant dark sky – I realized I was actually missing Forks.
Edward laughed softly and so did Charlie. "Happens. What did the doctor say?"
"He said I am having a good recovery, and that I may be able to go back home within two weeks."
"Good." He sounded relieved.
He still hasn't told me anything if I was allowed in his house or not.
"I was wondering... if the room in your house is still open for me?"
I heard him chuckle. "Well, only if you promise to not do that to me ever again, the answer is yes." I sighed with relief. Here was the answer I wanted to hear.
Stupid tears!
"I promise."
He laughed freely. "You are always welcome here, honey."
"Thank you so much, dad."
"You are welcome, Bells."
"And dad?"
"Yes?"
"I love you." I sniffed again. "And I don't hate Forks." I added.
Why was expressing your feeling always so awkward.
Edward again wiped my tears and kissed my nose. I blushed as I hid my head against his neck.
"I love you, too, Bella. Never forget that. Whatever changes, it will never change. And you should stop crying now, else I will really have to come there by the next flight to stop you from crying."
I laughed this time, partially at Charlie's comment, and partially because of Edward's distracting kisses. I looked at Edward. He had made a very innocent face. "I love you." I said to both of them. The two most important men of my life.
Charlie said an "I love you, too." while Edward kissed my forehead, mouthing the same.
"You should rest now." Charlie ordered.
"I'll call you soon." I promised. He laughed and said his goodbye, putting the phone down.
I sighed with relief as I too put the phone down and gave it to Edward. "That went well." Much, much better than I had anticipated.
"He loves you too much to stay angry at you."
"And still I had hurt him, very deeply." Charlie was so good to me, forgiving me for my vicious behaviour.
"Shh." Edward hushed me as he pulled me more closer to him. I leaned my head against his chest and hugged him close. "I am sorry."
I looked at Edward, and found him holding a big grimace on his face.
I knew – or I guess I knew – what happened. He was blaming himself for all of these. I have to make him see that it was not his fault. It was just my luck.
"It is not your fault." I whispered. "If anyone, it is James's fault that all of these happened."
He snorted. "That's a different way to put it."
"At least it's better."
And it was better now. Edward had stopped his sulking and brooding since then. He accepted the fact – finally – that it was him due to which I was sitting beside him right now. Alice helped me in that to make sense to him. But after two days of constant beating himself for almost what happened to me, he gave up and was again in a good mood since then.
It was then when Renee and Edward started to understand each other more. Before that, as Renee had told me, Edward just sat in a corner looking at me, beating himself mentally, while I slept for two days. But after that, his once false mood was over. He played Ludo with I and Alice and Renee, read me books, watched movies with me, and whenever we got some alone time, we talked about nothing in particular, just trying to know the other person much better.
"Bella? Bella?"
"Hmm?" I slowly opened my eyes to see Dr. Barry was checking on me with his brown eyes. He was a man in his forties, with a caramel skin tone, who was always curious to know how come I fell off a building and had myself injured so badly. He was always good to me, and that was one of the reason I liked him. And so did Renee. She had a small liking on him too. She used to say that he was good looking to be in his forties.
"How are youfeeling now?" Dr. Barry asked.
I must have slept down. Edward was not here with or beside me, but instead of him Carlisle was sitting on the chair.
In the past two weeks, Dr. Barry and Carlisle have developed a strange kind of working relationship. Dr. Barry respected Carlisle for his superior knowledge, but whenever Carlisle came with a good idea or a way for the health of patients, Barry got angry, but he never showed any sign of disgrace, instead just helped Barry. Edward told that my doctor had a big jealousy towards Carlisle as he feared that he may take his place over here. We had laughed at that.
"I am better now, Doc. Can't wait to be out of here."
Both the doctors chuckled. "Then it's good you are leaving in a few minutes."
"Yeah."
"But remember, I am giving you permission to leave – despite your broken leg – is just because Dr. Carlisle is taking your responsibility."
"Don't worry doctor, I'll take care of myself."
He laughed. "Good. And also, don't try to fall off again. You were lucky the first time."
"Don't worry, Barry." Carlisle interceded, helping me out of this conversation. It was still not pleasant for me to talk about that day. That sick look of James still gave me nightmares. "We'll make sure it never happens ever again."
And I knew he was not only telling that to make Dr. Barry talk out of it, but also promising me that nothing like James will ever come to again.
I nodded and he smiled at me.
"Good to hear that." He nodded and walked out of the room, leaving us alone.
"Finally!" I exclaimed with joy. "We are going back home!"
"True." He agreed.
It had been two long weeks not only for me, but for them too. Alice had to stay away from Jasper to be with me and so did Carlisle with Esme. I couldn't thank them much for taking such good care of me.
"Carlisle?" He looked up from his book and asked me to continue. "Shouldn't we be leaving my now?"
"Have some patience, Bella." He murmured and patted my leg, his voice light like a feather. "This are just last minute adjustments that we are making. We will escort right out of this hospital soon enough."
I groaned. He chuckled.
Alice came back in the room after a few minutes and told us that Edward was booking a cab for us and making sure that our luggage was properly loaded in its trunk. "Let's go, Bella." She announced as she and Carlisle both helped me get up – thanks to my broken foot – and together we went outside to where Edward was waiting for us.
I tried to walk in crunches, but I failed miserably. Not only did I stumbled more, but also hurt my other leg too.
"I am not going to use these crunches." I announced, more specifically to Carlisle. "They are a more dangerous death trap for me, even more then my own feet."
Carlisle shook his head in resignation and I got the meaning: he will make sure that I learn to use them more properly.
Alice soothed me. "Or, we can get you your personal crunches, I mean a human crunch." She offered as she pointed at Edward. I blushed at her snide comment, thinking of Edward beside me help walk for the rest of the weeks.
It wasn't a bad idea. I realised I liked it.
Edward turned to me and winked, no doubt he listened to Alice and knew what we were talking about.
We walked to the yellow cab that was waiting for us. Edward helped me sit in and sat beside me while Alice sat on the other side. Carlisle suited himself in the front seat.
In no time we were at the airport, waiting for our flight announcements.
Edward held my hand which was tapping on the bench anxiously.
"What are you so anxious about?" He queried.
He always wanted to know what was running in my mind. He had said, when I asked him why he was always curious to know what I was thinking, "It is because I am used to know beforehand what people are thinking, but with you I always have to assume, and I am mostly incorrect. Because you are very unpredictable. You never say or think which I expect you to be thinking. I guess that is why." I had snorted at his weird explanation and made some snide remarks about how I made a vampire queasy. He made an irritated face, but other than laughed with me.
"I want to be out of Phoenix, I guess." I told him. "Shut those horrifying images down."
James was still a topic which I never talked about. The torture he had given me was a thing that I almost lived daily in my dreams, or rather nightmares. Edward didn't know about the this as he would again beat himself for something that I did.
"I am sorry." He murmured, tracing the mark James had given me. "For everything. For the nightmares you have been having because of me."
My mouth hanged open. "What are you talking about?" Hope he is not referring to the nightmares that he didn't know about. Or more specifically I never told him about.
"Bella! You sleep talk at night. Did you really think I don't know that you had nightmares of James almost every night."
His eyes told me that he wished I had told him first hand and not let him guess.
"I am sorry, Edward. I did not want to trouble you by telling them."
"But you told Alice!" He accused. His eyes told me that I was already forgiven for that, and for hiding from him too.
"What can I say? She is my best friend." I looked at Alice who was sitting in the far away chair, talking with Jasper.
"Other things apart," he murmured, "I am glad you are so accepting of Alice."
"Of course I am. She is a very good friend. In fact I am glad that she is so accepting of me. And not only she, but almost every member of your family."
"As I said earlier, they already adore you." He kissed my head. "And I don't see why they won't."
I laughed. "You are biased, you know."
"I don't think so. I am just telling the truth. They all can't wait to see you again."
"Not everyone." I exhaled lightly.
He knew who I was talking about. "Rosalie would come around. She just had a rough past to accept anyone easily. She was even hesitant about Alice and Jasper, but look now, today Rosalie thinks of them as her family."
"But I am different." I muttered. He knew what I was talking about. They were all vampires, but I was merely a human. Who just happened to know so much about them.
He pinched his bridge of the nose. "Not that again Bella!"
The topic of we not being equals was one thing he never wanted to talk about. As I was still of the opinion that he should change me so that we can be equals. Just like the other couples of his family.
I thought about changing the topic. And it was easy to. He had just left a question for me.
"What do you mean Rosalie had a hard past. What happened to her?"
His eyes tightened and his jaw sealed, the way it does when he is angry or when he thinks about some unpleasant things.
"Let's just say that the same thing that happened with you in Port Angeles, only that time there was no one to protect her."
I shuddered listening him and a cold shiver ran down my spine.
He gauzed at my expression for a second. "Are you scared now?"
I shook my head, but put my head on his shoulder. He engulfed me in his cold arms, while I let that piece of information in.
Now I get why Rosalie seems to be so hard. The sight of those four men who were chasing down the alley still felt like a new memory. For the first time the event of that day settled in my system. If it wasn't for Edward... I shuddered again.
"What happen?"
"I am glad you were stalking me. Just that."
He laughed. "Nice choice of words."
.
.
.
Our flight announcements were made and we made our way to the flight. Edward supported half of my weight, acting like my personal crunch, just as Alice had offered.
We all sat in the first class seats they had booked.
We sat on the chairs by the window while Carlisle and Alice sat behind us. Carlisle was busy with some bills and magazine, while Alice was reading a fashion magazine. Edward had taken the liberty of bringing a poem book the Shakespeare Sonnets. He knew I loved reading Shakespeare. We together read some poems and marked the ones that we liked the most, discussing why we loved it. I then realised that Edward was not only musical but also poetic.
In no time we were in Seattle.
I sighed annoyingly as it was time for me to use my crunches.
But before I could get to them, Edward stopped me as he walked along with me, carrying most of my weight. "Really, Edward? I can walk."
"Bella, seriously?" He mocked. I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression. "And anyway, I liked the idea of being your personal crunch whenever you require." I liked that he too thought about it and liked it.
"It was not my idea."
He laughed. "Still the same."
Outside the airport, Jasper was waiting in the crowd. He was easily recognized, due to the chalky white texture of their skin.
Before I could feel loved as he too had saved me, Alice ran towards him and stopped just a few inches away from him. Both of them gazed intently in each others eyes, forgetting that they were standing in a crowd. I diverted my eyes from them go give them a little privacy and looked at Edward who was walking beside me.
Edward sensed my gaze on him and looked at me smiling. I shrugged and looked ahead.
We walked to the car parking where the black Mercedes – by which we went to Phoenix – was parked among the others, easily differential, not too subtle. Too pretentious for how the Cullens' liked to live a non-recognizable life.
"Too much subtle, isn't it?"
He laughed. "You'll get used to it." He said as he opened the back door for me and made me sit down with my legs on the black leather seat.
Carlisle came – he was walking behind us but didn't want to disturb us, trying to give us privacy – and settled on the passenger seat as Edward took the wheel.
The engine revved as Edward took it out of the parking lot.
"Aren't we waiting for Alice and Jasper?" I wondered. We cannot leave them on the airport.
"They want to spend some alone time together, so they will be joining us later." Carlisle answered.
Oh! But still, how will they join us later if we were to leave them here. I figured I was forgetting some very vital thing about them.
Edward chuckled. "Bella, they will run home."
"Oh!" I blushed. How could I be so stupid to forget that about them. The memory of both time Edward ran with me on his back was still fresh, ready to make me dizzy just by the reminder of it.
Edward laughed heartily watching me, and Carlisle chuckled too.
"How is your leg, Bella?" Carlisle asked as turned around to examine me.
It wasn't paining much, but I was still not practiced to walk these long distances with this broken leg. It was tiring. I was exhausted.
"I guess I am tired with all these walking, but it isn't paining."
"Bella?" He chastised. Carlisle too knew me better now to know when I was hiding something from him.
"Fine." I sighed, giving up. "It is paining a little, but not too much. I am sure it will go away in no time."
"I am sure it will. You should take your medications though."
"No! I am fine, Carlisle. It isn't paining that much."
"Fine. Later then." He promised as he let me relax on the leather seat. "But, I would suggest you should lay down for a little while. Try to relax."
I complied to his request and laid down on the seat.
I could hear some whispers as both of them talked slowly. I was able to hear some part of their conversation. They were talking about me. According to Carlisle it would still take a month before I am perfectly fine. Edward asked him done other questions, but this time in a very small whisper which I was not able to decipher. Carlisle answered his questions in his mind. I was getting frustrated by their tactics and decided I didn't want to sleep, so I sat up. Edward and Carlisle both looked at me, wondering what happened. I told them I don't want to sleep as I sat by the window.
I looked by the window to see the trees blurring in the distance.
I wondered what it will be like when Charlie finds us we were home early by two hours. Thanks to Edward's freaking driving, he will screw us for breaking the speed rules.
"Shouldn't you be driving slow? Charlie will dislike you more if he comes to know about the speed you were driving."
Carlisle laughed lightly and Edward chuckled too.
"Bella," Carlisle murmured in an amused tone, "don't worry about that. Charlie is of the impression that you will be arriving there in a half hour, as your flight landed four hours ago."
"Hmm?!" This was not I was expecting.
They both laughed again at my dumb trance. "Bella, when you live for so many years, you learn to create a proper excuse." I didn't say anything. "You'll get used to it." Edward added.
I nodded, looking at him, amazed at his easiness, how he was talking about his life like a casual thing. He had a big smile plastered on his smooth face, reflecting tranquillity.
I was happy he wasn't any more guarded about his life in front of me. Though he still didn't use the exact words like hunting, immortality, or any other such thing, he was comfortable around me. And now even I was able to tease him about him being a vampire and fall in love with a human. It was not long before I and Alice had teased him for falling in love with his prey. He had growled at first, but soon gave in and laughed about that with us.
As the sun settled more and the sky turned a dark grey, we entered in Forks and in no time were parked in Charlie's curb. I rolled my windows up to escape the little mist, but enjoyed being back in the town.
Charlie must have heard the roar of the car as he hurriedly stepped out of the house and ran to the car.
I looked at Charlie. He looked much older now, big lines of worry on his forehead. And he had surely gained a few pounds. I felt guilty for doing that to him, and swore to gain his trust back and make him feel better.
Edward opened the gate for me but it was Carlisle who helped me out of the car.
I looked at Carlisle, to ask why was it like that, and he mouthed Charlie. I understood. They were trying to be cautious, not making Charlie any more furious at Edward then he already was.
Charlie looked at me, and found me looking back at him. His face broke into a big smile, his eyes teary, his features relaxed as he looked back at me.
He was at my side in an instant and engulfed me in a big warm hug, not caring that we had a little company. I hugged him back too, and a few tears escaped my eyes without my consent.
"You scared me there, baby."
"I am sorry, daddy." My voice broke. I held him more tightly, thanking God that he forgave me and that he was safe.
"Shh..." he soothed as he ran his hand over my tresses. His movements were a little awkward, but loving all the same. "I am here, baby. I love you." I could feel his eyes shedding some tears as well.
He didn't leave me wholly as he addressed Carlisle. "Thank you, Dr. Cullen, for saving her."
"It's nothing, Charlie." He shrugged off. "And please, Carlisle."
"Carlisle. Please come in."
All of us went in the house, with Charlie holding my body straight, thinking I may fall down any second.
The house was just as I had left in a haze. The television was on, with football playing on the sports channel. Everything was the same as I had left, showing how broke Charlie was without me. A beer bottle was placed near the telephone stand, and so was chair of the dining set. He must have spend the three weeks over there, waiting for my call.
I felt a cold brush over my hand. A cold brush to which I was very familiar now. I didn't have to look to my side to see that it was Edward's touch, trying to soothe me, telling me that everything is fine now.
Charlie made me sit on the couch and settled himself beside me while Edward and Carlisle sat in front of us in the chairs.
Charlie found me with flushed cheeks and looked at Edward, and his hands tightened around my shoulders. I wondered what happened and found him looking at Edward with an infuriation in his eyes.
He was going to be difficult on Edward.
"Dad," I whispered in his ear. For him, I was whispering to him so that no one else could hear me, but he was not aware of our audience's hearing power. He had no idea that our talks were not guarded with privacy. "It was Edward who saved me." I looked at Edward to find him frowning. Maybe hearing Charlie's thought.
Charlie was not having thoughts of forgiving Edward – I got this much from his frown.
"We'll see about that Bella." Charlie answered, acknowledging how high I used to talk about Edward on the phone. He nodded curtly to Edward. "Thank you, Edward." He said loudly for me. He sounded formal, not the way he sounded with Carlisle.
Edward nodded with a grimace but tried to smile when he found me looking at him.
Edward and Carlisle both had their silent conversation as they looked at each other. Edward nodded, and then shook his head, very minutely, that if I hadn't known about his ability to read minds, I wouldn't have noticed it.
"Charlie?" Carlisle murmured. "If you don't mind, can I and my wife, Esme, come over here by late evening to examine Bella, as well meet her. She had been waiting very long to meet Bella."
"It'll be alright, Carlisle. She would also love to meet her." Charlie said, but he had no idea how true he was. I was eager to meet Esme. Edward saw my grin and chuckled lightly. I gave him a questioning look and he shrugged, shaking his head and mouthing I love you. I flushed and diverted my eyes back to our fathers.
"Also, I know I am asking too much, but my daughter, Alice, was asking, actually pleading, if she could spend the night with her. Bella would need her help, she had pointed, as her leg is still sore. And she has a generous point."
Charlie mused over it as he looked at me, asking me if it was fine.
"She is great, dad." I affirmed. "Please?"
He sighed. "Fine."
Carlisle laughed seeing Charlie's helpless expression in front of me. "Daughters!" He grumbled in a teasing tone. Charlie laughed with a nod and said true.
"Okay. So we should leave now. Give you some time before we come to disturb you."
"Oh, it's alright Carlisle. After what you did and saved Bella –"
"She is a wonderful girl, Charlie." Carlisle broke in. "I am glad I was able to save her."
Charlie nodded as he kissed my temple. "Thank you so much for that, Carlisle."
"Bella, we are leaving now. But call me if you have any pain. Or any other problem. Okay?"
I nodded. "Thank you Carlisle."
He nodded and walked out of the door with Edward behind him.
I knew that Edward was going to come over again, but only by early morning. He wanted to go for a hunt first. We had talked about it in the plane.
He had said, "I don't want to disturb your father-daughter time. And any way, I want to have some..." he looked for right word, but I understood it immediately. He needed to hunt. His eyes were almost black with a dark purple ring under his eyes. He had hunted just once in while we were in Phoenix, and even for that, he was gone for just an hour or two of the day. Both he and Carlisle.
"You are right. You should probably hunt." He was befuddled as I had used the term hunt without cringing or any such thing. He was still of the impression that if he said such things he will scare me off.
I sighed again. It was going to be a boring as well as long evening. Thanks to my habit of having Edward around me. It will a while before I get used to not seeing him around me every moment.
A thought lingered on my kind, making me dizzy with insecurities and uncertainties.
What if Edward soon got over his fascination over me and see as a mess which I am. What if he loses his interest on me and decided we are better far off.
I wished desperately for Edward to come and tell me again that he loved me and wasn't going to leave me.
More chapters on the way. Stay tuned.