Once again, thank you for the encouraging reviews, and I'm sorry for the wait.

My goal for this chapter is at least twenty comments before you find out what happens next!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or any of Stephenie Meyer's characters.

"Honestly hon, you should stay in Florida," I said, cradling the phone between my neck and shoulder. I searched my purse for spare dollar bills, making a mental note to hit an ATM the first chance I got. The vending machine was running dangerously low on junk food due to all I had consumed during my stay at the hospital.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Phil asked, concerned about Bella yet reluctant to leave Jacksonville after his big break. The Suns signed him for shortstop, and flying out to Phoenix now would jeopardize his new place on the team.

"I'm positive. The doctors say Bella will be fine."

"Let me know when she wakes up."

It was my third day at the hospital, and Bella hadn't moved an inch. Neither had Edward, who was always in the same position beside her bed whenever I went in to check on her. The only other time he left was when she needed a second transfusion. He would stare at her face, adjust her pillow, brush a stray lock of hair off her forehead, and even stroke her cheek with the back of his hand. He never seemed to grow tired with watching her sleep. And then there was that look in his eyes. The expression nagged me; I couldn't seem to place it, though it looked very familiar.

I knew Bella was well-taken care of with constant attention, yet I couldn't bring myself to leave the hospital. It wasn't entirely for Bella's sake, either. I had gone back to our old house in Scottsdale to grab a few necessities; clothes, toiletries, things Bella might want when she woke up. On the drive back, I turned onto Cactus Street only to find the entire block roped off with caution tape and police squadrons. I recognized the location as the dance studio I used to take Bella to when she was younger. Or rather, what was left of it. The whole studio had been burned to the ground. The charred and skeletal remains were the only indication of any prior building occupying the space.

I bought a newspaper on my way through the lobby, unsurprised by the front-page story. Police suspected teenage arsonists trying to cause trouble; the whole scene was complete with a stolen getaway car parked outside.

Given all that had happened in Phoenix lately, I didn't want to stay home by myself. So I made the recliner at the foot of Bella's bed my place to sleep every night.

After I said goodbye to Phil and made him promise to call again the first chance he got, I spotted Alice sitting in the corridor outside Bella's room. She was skimming through a fashion magazine, nodding her head occasionally when she came across something she approved of. I had a pretty good idea of why she was waiting in the hallway; she probably wanted to give Bella and her customary companion some privacy. I felt the same way whenever I went in to sit with her. No matter how much I knew I had every right to be there, I always felt like I was intruding on something personal.

By now I had ascertained Bella would heal quickly and completely, and all uneasiness I felt in the Cullen's presence was replaced by a raging curiosity. Edward was usually brief with his answers, but Alice supplied more information. They were all adopted, which explained their lack of family resemblance and Carlisle's evident youth. There were two more brothers and a sister along with Mrs. Cullen back home in Forks. They all went to high school, and I gathered they were all very well behaved. I knew I could probably get the whole story from Charlie about the Cullen I was most concerned about, being the cop in town. However, their polite mannerisms and pleasant dispositions convinced me my attempt to find anything scandalous in Edward's past was fruitless.

Alice smiled at me as I made to sit down on the chair next to her. She silently handed me a copy of a magazine, seeming to know which one I wanted. I smiled in return, and thumbed through the pages while glancing at her in my peripheral vision. I soon gave up on subterfuge.

"Alice," I began, setting the magazine to the side, "I wanted to talk to you about Edward … and Bella."

A small smile touched her elfin face, her eyes seeming to dance with a knowing expression. "Edward gets good grades in school, he's never caused any trouble, and he really looks after Bella."

"Yes," I said, thrown off by how she uncannily answered my unspoken questions. "He does look after her. I take it they're … very good friends?"

"Yes. He really seems to have taken to her." Her smile widened.

I couldn't avoid the question any longer. "Are they … er … dating?"

Bella had very little experience with boys. Almost none, in fact. Her natural shyness prevented her from having any popularity among the opposite gender. I was always glad she chose to take dating (and men in general) seriously. She was still so young, and I was afraid if she fell for the wrong boy too soon, she might end up like me. Not that I regretted having her, but I could have been wiser about the timing. I knew it only takes one cataclysmic crush to severely complicate things.

"Edward's always been a loner. His parents died a long time ago, and outside of us he doesn't spend much time around other people. Bella's the one exception."

In a way, her portrayal of Edward reminded me of my daughter. I was beginning to realize just how alike the two really were, and it bothered me.

"He never formally dated, either," she added.

I perked up. At least now I knew he wasn't a player. He was inexperienced, just like her.

"Bella would be the exception there, too."

I looked up into her unfathomably deep eyes. She was being completely honest with me, and I could sense some sort of satisfaction in her expression too, like she was glad her reclusive brother had found someone to pass the lonely hours with.

"Are they … serious?" They were only seventeen, after all. Of course, I was around their age when I met Charlie. I had thought I was serious then … that I had found true love…

"Edward's always serious."

She had a point. I could tell he had some humor in him, though he was always solemn when we spoke. He carried an air of maturity about him, full of wisdom that belonged in someone much, much older. In a way, he was the answer to every mother's prayers about her daughter's first boyfriend. I just hadn't expected her first love to be so ... intense.

"I suppose I have nothing to worry about," I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words.

Alice smirked. "Edward would never intentionally let anything bad happen to Bella."

I stood up, reassured slightly by our conversation. When I went into Bella's room and saw him sitting there, I could clearly label the expression in his eyes as none other than pure love.

Through all the tears and all the laughter, post one last review for the final chapter!