A/N: As always, thanks to Dazzled Eyes22 and Melissa! They give me the confidence to post my ramblings.

So... We got past the 100 reviews mark! THANK YOU! I'm grateful for every single one of you who took the time to share their thoughts with me :)

Disclaimer- Twilight: Not Mine. Plot: Mine.

Happy Reading!

Once the words were out, there was no going back.

I didn't want to go back.

"I'll help out in whatever way I can," I repeated. "I'm not going home for Christmas this time. I'll be here and check in on Bella."

"There's no need—"

Charlie silenced her with a glare and then turned to me with narrowed, speculative eyes. "You're sure about this, son? Can I trust you with my daughter's care?"

Bolstering my confidence, I met his gaze head on. "Yes, absolutely, Charlie. I'll visit or call Bella every day, if needed."

"Stop talking about me as if I'm not even here!" Bella groaned. "Edward, you don't have to-"

"Please, Bella. It's no bother at all. I'd be happy to do it and I'm sure it'd give Charlie some peace of mind if he knew you had someone to help you out if the need be. And, besides, we're friends, right? This is what friends do, isn't it?" I implored.

"Friends," she repeated but her tone was flat enough that I couldn't make out the emotion behind it.

"It's true," Charlie interrupted, oblivious to the tension between the two of us. "I'd feel much better knowing you're in safe hands, Bella. I've heard enough about Edward from Carlisle and Esme to know that I can trust him. And, if you even think about fighting this arrangement, young lady, trust me, come hell or high water I will not be getting on the flight to Forks. The department can manage itself for all I care, but I'm not going to leave until I know for sure that you'll be okay." He reached out to hold Bella's hand, his voice turning gentle. "I'm sorry, Bella, I know I'm being pushy but I came too close to losing you. Please, just let Edward be there for you for the sake of your old man's sanity, okay?"

I breathed a sigh of relief as Bella's eyes softened. With an indulgent expression, she squeezed his hand. "Alright, Dad. I'm sorry. If this is what makes you feel better, then I'll stop being so difficult."

I smiled wistfully, my heart clenching in my chest as I saw them hug each other with obvious affection. Bella had not spent a lot of time with her father, and yet the strong bond between the two was clear as day for anyone to see. I wondered just how selfish Renee would have to be for not having appreciated her gem of a daughter.

I felt a whole lot more grateful for my own loving mother and promised myself to never take her for granted.

I chatted with Charlie for a few minutes, my hopeful heart leaping into my throat with when Bella would chime in occasionally. Soon enough, I was paged to the ER for an incoming trauma and spent the rest of the day in the operating room.

The next several days passed much the same. I'd come in, round up on my patients and perform my scheduled surgeries, checking in on Bella during every little bit of my free time. She always seemed to have someone with her. Between Alice, Charlie, Jacob and a couple of her other friends, I could hardly ever get her alone for more than a couple of minutes. A part of me was happy that she was surrounded by people who cared for her, but there was another part, the selfish one, that wished for a few moments alone with her. The seed of hope that had begun to bloom in my heart seemed to dwindle when Bella made no mention of our impending "talk".

Time passed much too quickly and before I knew it, it was the 23rd of December and we were all convened in Bella's room where Jasper was examining her vitals and latest reports.

He looked up from the chart with a smile. "Everything looks good from my end, Bella. If you're don't have any other complaints, I'm ready to discharge you."

I watched as a wide smile stretched over Bella's lips. "I'm good. Just the pain that flares up once in a while, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Yeah, it might take a couple of weeks for the pain to disappear completely, but you have the meds, right? If there is too much discomfort, don't hesitate to take them. Also, you have my number. Contact me anytime, whether directly or through Edward, whatever you're comfortable with."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Please, call me Jasper."

He rattled off a few more instructions about keeping the incision site clean and taking it easy, as Bella, Charlie and Alice listened closely.

Soon enough, Charlie was picking up the bags while Alice helped Bella into her own clothes in the washroom.

"Thank you for everything, Edward. Please, keep me posted about Bella. I'd like to know that everything's fine. If I keep calling her twice a day, though, I know she'd chew my head off." Charlie said. He held out his hand and shook mine. "I know why she's being stubborn about it, she's just not used to being taken care of. Renee was always-," he broke off, sighed and shook his head. "I do not understand that woman at all. How can a mother not want to visit her child when she's in a bloody hospital?"

I was glad when Bella stepped into the room and the subject was dropped. I certainly did not want to voice the vitriol that would have spewed out of my mouth at the thought of Renee's callous attitude towards Bella.

Charlie walked out with the bags and Alice followed, waving an awkward, hesitant little goodbye to me.

Slowly, I turned around to look at the last and the most important person who remained in the room with me. I steeled myself for whatever I might find when I looked into the chocolate depth of her eyes.

I was surprised to find that the same apprehension that rocked me to my core was displayed plainly on her beautiful features. That poor lower lip of hers was wedged between her teeth as she met my gaze for a second and looked away, her body language the ultimate picture of indecision.

I took a step forward. "Bella-"

"I'll-uh, I'll talk to you later." With that, she rushed out of the room and I was left alone to nurse my shattered hope.

It was not easy, but I was able to take my mind off everything for a few hours when I had some cases to deal with in the clinic and then finished my evening rounds. Soon enough, I was back at my apartment, alone and miserable.

While I ate my dinner, my hand itched to grab at my phone and call Bella, maybe just listen to the sound of her voice for a second before hanging up.

I sighed despondently at myself the very next second, because if I did implement that stupid idea of mine, Bella would know by the caller id that it was me who'd called and the last thing I needed was her wondering if I was a crazy stalker.

I put in a DVD, hoping to distract myself by my eyes kept sliding to the inconspicuous little object that was my phone as it sat innocently on the side table.

She looked so nervous before leaving today. To my eyes, she looked just like I felt all the time- like there was so much we wanted to say to each other but had no idea where to start or how it would be received. Of course, she'd be nervous. I'd been the one to leave her in Forks and now here I was, trying to get her to talk to me like it was the only thing I'd ever want in my life.

"Stop acting like a pussy!" Emmett's boisterous command swept through my mind. I needed to make the first move. I needed to assure her that I was in this, whatever the hell this was, for as long as she'll let me be.

After half an hour of my internal debate, I said, or well, thought "Fuck it!" and picked up the phone and typed out a message.

Hope you're settled in and doing good. ~Edward

With bated breath, I waited for a response, staring at the screen for a couple of minutes. When nothing popped up, I made up excuses, trying to squash my disappointment.

Maybe she was asleep, or probably busy with school work…

Another ten minutes later, I'd given up on my expectation to receive a reply from Bella until the next morning at least. I was about to head into the shower when the sound of a notification made my heart pound in my chest as I ran the distance from the bathroom to my bed, where I'd placed my phone.

With shaking hands, I unlocked the screen.

Yes, I'm good. Thank you. ~Bella

I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding as I read the text. It was just a simple message, but I would take what I could get. Just the fact that she'd chosen to respond to me and not ignore my message was like a soothing balm for my aching soul.

I tried to think of some way to prolong the conversation when suddenly, there was another chime.

Gulping, I opened up the new message from Bella.

What are your plans for Christmas Eve? ~B

My eyes widened and I had to steady myself to prevent the phone from slipping out of my hand.

I rushed to type.

Nothing so far. Did you have something in mind? ~E

Maybe it's time for us to talk. I'm tired of this… conversation hanging over our heads. It's about time that we resolve this, don't you think? ~B

Yes, yes, I agree. So… tomorrow evening? ~E

If that suits you. ~B

That would be perfect, actually. ~E

Okay, it's settled then. Good night. ~B

Sleep well. Sweet dreams. ~E

And that was that.

With one little textual conversation, I'd set up the date for the most important… meeting, I guess one could call it, of my life.

I walked into the bathroom and went through the motions of brushing my teeth and showering, my conscious mind paying absolutely no attention to the activities. Instead, it was solely focused on predicting the outcome of what was to occur tomorrow evening.

It was only once I'd lain in bed, tossing and turning for an hour straight, that I forced myself to accept the fact that it all depended on Bella. All I could do was bare my soul before her and I vowed to myself to do that honestly and sincerely.

I'd let her see every part of me, so that this time, this time she could decide for herself what she wanted. If there was any chance that she'd want to be in a relationship with me, it would only be after she knew me inside and out.

I owed her that opportunity and that's exactly what I'd give her.

A/N: Yes, I promise you... Next up is their talk. I really hope it will live up to your expectations.

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