"I'm sorry Edward," I replied hoarsely, "my voice is only just a little scratchy, and it'll be fine by tomorrow." Or at least I hoped it would be fine by tomorrow. His eyebrows contract as his forehead furrowed and a fleeting look of what appeared to be pain crossed his face before he smoothed it back out into the look of concern.

"Bella, you should have told me earlier," he said gently. I didn't even try to argue. He must know that my throat had been sore for a while seeing as I was now having problems talking. I was caught. I looked down. The words went tumbling out of my mouth before I had time to filter.

"I just didn't want you to worry. It's nothing," I told his chest. Great, can't even look him in the eye. With some effort I dragged my eyes up to his face. I saw the pain there again as plain as day. With a start I realised that by cutting Edward out I had inadvertently sent out the message that I didn't want him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered a feeling of shame creeping over me. "I didn't want you to worry," I repeated in a low, raspy voice.

I was staring down at my chucks by this point. The feeling of shame swirled in my gut and I decided that I would do my best to make sure that the Cullens did as little worrying as possible. I would be better in the morning and if I wasn't then I would do my best to convince them I was. I felt fingers slide gently under my chin interrupting the now steady stream of water that was running off my face because of the torrential downpour.

"Come on Bella, look at me," he said pulling my face back up to see his. Unwillingly I looked up once more to see the gentle look on his face again. "You have nothing to be sorry about love. It's perfectly natural that you get sick once in a while even if I would rather you didn't. It's not your fault." With that he bent down and kissed me fully on the lips. It was passionate and pushed the boundaries a little. He drew away slowly letting me catch my breath. "Next time though sweetheart could you please tell me before we go somewhere?" he asked.

"I'll be fine Edward. All I really need is a nap," I said attempting to stifle my yawn. I really was kind of tired. "And I'm not sick," I stated doing my best to appear the picture of health. Judging from the guffawing that seemed to be coming from the general direction of Emmett it wasn't working; it was kind of hard seeing as I'd been up for 24 hours by this point and I was soaking wet.

Edward just sighed. Alice bounded in with a set of keys in her hand. "Got it Edward, Emmett says he's driving though." Alice said casting a worried glance in my direction. I turned around to see the Jeep sitting about 20 feet away. I felt kind of relieved that I wouldn't have to be carried back by Edward. It was always really windy and I was already cold.

"That's fine with me," Edward said to Emmett. "I wanted to sit in the back with Bella anyway."

"Meet you back at the house then," Alice called as he grabbed my hand and led me quickly over to the car before opening the door and lifting me in. He climbed in after. I was very warm in the cab. Alice had left the heater on high. I was shivering slightly from the cold and rain so I relished the warmth. Before I realised it Edward had me strapped in by my harness and I was being covered with a blanket. I glared over in his direction.

"You're cold," he said simply. I couldn't even argue. I felt my expression soften.

"Thank you" I rasped over to him as he carefully wrapped the blanket around me being careful to keep his cold hands of my skin. I attempted to quell the shivers that I was still experiencing when Emmett jumped into the driver's seat and we took off.

"So, I was thinking that Bella should experience some stellar off-roading" Emmett began, swerving around trees and boulder as we shot out of the clearing towards the nearest road. I gripped the edges of my seat trying to keep from being tossed around so much. Edward's arm immediately wrapped around my shoulder as a growl ripped from his chest.

"No Emmett," he said with force. The car was careening through the forest and trees where whipping past us at an amazing speed. As I watched, we narrowly avoided splattering into a large boulder. My fingers gripped the seat tighter as the jeep jumped up and down wildly twisting and turning through a path that Emmett seemed determined to plough through the forest. Heart in my throat I clamped my eyes shut just as Emmett's phone started ringing. I heard a rustle before Edward spat out "It's Rosalie" at Emmett.

I could hear the screaming though the phone even with my human ears. The car surged to a stop as Emmett tried desperately to appease his wife. My breath was forced out as I was pushed up hard against the harness before settle back into the seat.

"Emmett, you idiot!" Edward roared. "Bella. Bella," he called at me. I was not yet prepared to unclamp my eyes so I pried a hand off the seat and squeezed his fingers.

I sucked in a gigantic breath."Just give me a minute or two" I whispered to Edward. "I'm not hurt," I added as I felt his hands start to run over me in inspection. I was suddenly out of my seat and in his lap. I quickly stuck my face in the crook of his neck breathing in his scent and tried to forget the various scenes of car accidents and vans squishing me out of my head. There was a clanging sound as the driver's door was nearly pried off of its hinges. I took a quick peek and saw a flash of blond hair before Emmett disappeared. Rose was carting him off deep into the forest when the Jeep started moving again. I jumped and looked back at the front and saw that Alice had taken over. She turned completely around in her seat and smiled at me.

"Watch the road!" I croaked out clinging tightly to Edward. He just chuckled and Alice just smirked but turned back around. He seemed to have regained his good humour fast and so I told him so. A frown flitted across his face briefly before he replied.

"Well Emmett wasn't thinking about what kind of speed you're comfortable with in a car. I wasn't worried we'd crash, just more worried that you were scared and going to be bruised by the time we got home" he explained his arms tightening just a little around me holding me securely to his chest. "I'm not scared as long as I'm right here" I stated leaning further into Edward. I smile burst out on his face at my statement. He leaned down kissing the top of my head just as the Jeep came to a stop once again. I was a little confused. We couldn't possibly be at Charlie's yet. Looking out the car window I realised that we weren't at Charlie's but at the Cullen's. I looked up at Edward for an explanation. He just pecked me on the forehead again before running me in the door.

"Edward, put me down" I rasped out at him. He set me on my feet in the hall. Alice had come in with him and Esme was just appearing at the door. I turned to Edward once more looking him square in the eye intent upon getting a straight answer and realised that I was getting the tiled floor all muddy.

"You wet" Edward said.

"Well thanks captain obvious," I replied trying to stop the puddle from forming at my feet.

"What Edward is trying to say dear" Esme called stepping into the hall, "is that you need to dry off before you go home otherwise Charlie might wonder why your clothing is soaking wet when you were supposed to be sleeping all night long. There's a shower waiting for you upstairs" she added smiling at me. I blushed once again caught by the thoughtfulness of the Cullen's. I glanced sheepishly at Edward to see him grinning down at me.

"Would you mind carrying me there" I asked him. His grin on got bigger. "No use getting the rest of the house wet along with me." I was swept up into strong arms and deposited in the bathroom in Edward's room. The shower was already on; the steam was forming fog on the mirror. I quickly stripped my clothing off and got in loving the warmth. I stayed in long enough for it to seep into my bones. I heard the door open and shut briefly near the end but I paid no attention. By the time I got out of the shower was bright red from the heat. I bit my lip a little realising all the trouble that someone had gone to to keep me safe. There was a rubber mat on the floor of the shower as well as a fluffy non-slip mat on the outside. No use having me fall on my face I thought wryly reaching for the towel someone had left out. There was also a hairdryer and a pj set complete with plaid pants and a t-shirt. Alice must've been the one who had dropped it off. The words baby steps flashed through my mind at the sight of the pjs. Not yet full on sleepwear but not holey sweats and an Edward shirt.

After I had finished drying my hair I felt like I was done for the week. Without Emmett nutty driving to keep my adrenaline pumping I was going to fall asleep standing. I pulled open the door knob and walked into Edward's room to find him sitting on the bed waiting for me. In an instant I had been picked back up and pulled in close. I closed my eyes wanting to sleep. Instead, after a brief but quick run Edward whispered in my ear:

"Bella, Emmett wants to say something"

"Not now, tired" I complained. "He's forgiven" I added just in case they wanted to pursue this.

"So sorry squirt, I forgot to remember not to tease you with cars or to break to fast" I heard from Emmett as I cracked an eye open. Edward put me onto my feet and I frowned. The one time the man wants to put me down is the only time I really want to be picked up. Never really removing his hands however he proceeded to pull my lovely and now warm and dry hoodie over my head and my rain jacket as well before scooping me back up. Jasper was in the back corner of the living room grinning at the feelings he was getting. Apparently my frustration with the situation was funny. Emmett was still standing around looking for something else to say seeing as I ruined the order to his speech by pre-emptively forgiving him. A ghost of a smile was lurking around Rose's lips and she winked at me from behind Emmett. I yawned loudly and turned into Edward.

"Let's go to Charlie's" I croaked into his shirt. He started walking toward the car.

"Feel better" Esme called. "If you need anything just tell Edward or call" she added before I suddenly found myself buckled into the Volvo, barely having gotten wet from the rain that was still pouring down.

"Love you Edward" I sighed before I slipped into dreamland.