Day 14

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On another day, Edward would have enjoyed the broccoli rabe and sausage stromboli Ben brought for him. It was delicious. But all he could think about was Bella. That kiss. The email she sent early this morning.

Dear Edward

I need to talk to my parents. They're coming to visit, and as my mother says, 'knock some sense into me.' I'll come see you after the knocking

B

She didn't write anything about that kiss. She'd started it and she ended it. He wished he hadn't been taken by surprise, or he would have done a much better job. He was a good kisser, or so he'd been told. A little more preparation and he would have been outstanding. World class.

"Hey, youse better eat dat. My mom made it special."

He gave Ben a thumbs up and peeled off another piece of dough, enjoying the garlic and cheese. He chewed, wondering if Bella's parents were there, and if so, how much influence would they have over her? She was an adult. He suspected that at worst their interference would only delay the inevitable. Selfishly he'd like to tell them to just butt out, but she was their only child. It sounded like they were a little overinvolved in her life, but maybe she liked it that way? The bond between parents and children—how many times had he seen a child rally when an estranged parent or grandparent appeared at their bedside? It was one of the reasons, when on assignment with MSF, he made it a point to engage with the orphans. They didn't yet know the ways and the forever of how they'd miss their parents. He could only be there for them in the short term, to let them know someone still cared.

"Package for Cullen."

Angela winked at him as she placed the package in the doorway. She stood by Ben, and said loudly, "My charge is in the visitor's area. I won't be needed for another ninety minutes, in case you need some relief."

Ben answered, "I'm good."

Edward was torn. Be quiet and listen to them flirt? Or find out what's in the package?

They flirted every day.

Alice's address was on the outside, and inside, inside was the Lego Star Wars Sandcrawler, 2014 edition, all 3,296 pieces.

Was it wrong that he was so happy to see a toy? His mother kept a secret stash of Lego sets when he was younger, it was the only toy that could fully engage him, sometimes for hours. She'd pull one out if they were expecting dinner guests or she had to get something done around the house. Or, he suspected, just needed a break from his hyperactive antics.

He settled in, laying out the small plastic bags on his table. At least this would keep him occupied while he waited.

-21 days-Day 14—

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She'd been looking forward to seeing her parents, even with the Plexiglas partition, until the conversation last night, turning this visit into an emergency summit about her love life.

"Baby Bee, I just don't understand. He's such a nice boy." Her mother was dabbing her eyes with a tissue, the charm bracelet Emmett bought for her clanking around her wrist.

This wasn't new territory. Her parents had always had difficulty letting her do things on her own. They were never more than two feet away from her on the playground. Mrs. Swan was class mother every year of Bella's life and went on every field trip. And sometimes it had been scary, when she was the youngest freshman in high school, flat as a board, still under five foot tall. She'd felt like she landed on the island of the Amazons in gym class; when changing clothes the other girls revealed their black lace thongs and filled out matching bras while Bella stood mortified in sensible white cotton panties and a tank top. The daily odyssey of wading through the crowded halls to her locker made her feel like a minnow swimming amongst the salmon.

She learned, she adapted, but in her parent's eyes she was still that little girl with too many books and no friends.

"Mom, please. I need your support here."

"Sweetie, Em was so concerned. He said you were talking crazy, like you had that Swedish thing."

"He said I had Stockholm syndrome?" Bella slapped the table.

Renee pointed, nodding her head. "See that, you're getting agitated. He said that's a sign."

"Mom, he has completely manipulated you. He's up to something. He didn't even call me for Thanksgiving."

"Well Sweetie he told me all about that. He said he didn't want to interrupt dinner to make a call. He has such nice manners."

Bella held her head in her hands. If anyone had Stockholm syndrome it was her mother. She was completely convinced that Emmett was right.

"He promised that if I spoke to you, he'd make sure you don't go on any more of these nasty trips."

She took a deep breath, then another. "That's what he called my work with MSF, a nasty trip?"

"Baby Bee, we all love you. Look what happened this time. Can't you just stay home and make a nice life with Emmett? He'll take care of you."

Despite all the toy doctor kits, chemistry sets and anatomy flashcards her mother had bought for her over the years, she suspected that deep inside, Renee would like nothing more than to see her daughter at home, caring for a pack of grandbabies.

Her mother must have sensed an opening in Bella's silence. "Come on sweetie, how many men would put up with a girlfriend who just disappears for months at a time? Not many. Now maybe he was a little naughty, not checking in with you, but can you blame him? The poor thing is so lonely."

Her father, who'd been sitting with a straight face, finally spoke. "Renee, don't you need to use the ladies' room? Who knows how many forms you have to fill out in this place to use it- better start now."

"You're right. Bella, do you have to go?"

"I'm good mom."

"If you're sure." Renee walked over to the guard and was led away.

"Thanks, Dad." Bella leaned over the table, almost touching the Plexiglas. "You believe me, right?"

"Bells, I never knew what you saw in that man. He's one slick operator, but if you and your mother liked him, I put up with him. I won't be sorry to see the last of him."

"Great, thanks Dad—"

"Not so fast. Renee is another story. She's always been too softhearted. You can't hang a man without proof. Get me some proof, and I'll straighten things out with your mother." He nodded, sitting back in his chair, then forward again. "One more thing, before your mother comes back. We're both proud of what you do. It's just scary as hell to see your little girl fly off to the other side of the planet, even if she's some big time doctor. I just don't let it show."

…

Her father gave her a wink, as her mother tried once last time to get her to promise to give Emmett another chance. Even though she knew she'd see them in a week, she felt the tears welling when they left.

...

Angela held the door, maintaining proper distance as she exited the visitor's center. "Whose room are we going to Dr. Swan?"

"Take a guess."

"Crazy man, 'bout ready to climb the walls waiting on you?"

"Sounds perfect."

…

The crazy man was on the floor, at least a dozen small bags of Lego pieces around him. As she walked in he said, "Don't touch anything!"

"Okay, fine." Bella turned around, "Angela, I—"

Suddenly her legs went out from under her and she was in Edward's arms as he carried her through the maze of blocks on the floor. "Correction," he said in her ear, "Don't touch anything made of plastic. Everything else in this room is fair game."

.

AN: Stromboli courtesy of ginkgo00. She suggested it, and it sparked the scene between Edward and Ben. For those who asked, last chapter the term PRBC refers to Packed Red Blood Cells, which is what you give a trauma patient who is low on blood and you don't know their blood type. Did I say that right Nurse Beta?