A/N: I'm sorry this took forever for another chapter to come…I had written out a few and then realized that I'd made a huge error with a major plot point and had to go back and practically start from scratch. With GOLF ending and L(a)1B moving closer to completion, I'm working this into the rotation and keep up the progress I've made with my updates the past few weeks.

Thanks to Mizzdee, for stepping in to beta this while A Cullen Wannabe was unable to do so, I love your dedication to me, and your friendship. Every night in the WC's earns you a little more of my heart, I've said it before, but her work is really great, so if you have a moment, check her out!

Here's the most recent trip down memory lane…I hope you enjoy.

Sport begets tumultuous strife and wrath, and wrath begets fierce quarrels and war to the death. ~Horace

Chapter 2 –It's what you Beget

I felt the pain in my chest before my eyes opened. As the harsh light blinded me, I turned to the side, seeing my mother sitting next to Bella. "Dear, I need you to come back to us. Poor Edward…the look in his eyes when he saw you…he blames himself for this. But I'm sure you know that, it's in his nature to take it on himself. I'm not sure he could survive losing you, so please don't ask him to try."

I shifted at the motherly guilt trip being laid on my unconscious wife. After Renee died during her freshman year of college, my mom took the job of surrogate mother even more seriously, especially where it pertained to me. The groan that accompanied my move caused my mother's head to shoot up and rush to my side. "Don't guilt her, mom; we all know she can't say no to you."

"That's exactly why I did it. I won't see that happen again-"

"Mom, not now, please." I silenced her worry as another pain radiated from my chest. "Do I have a doctor, because the only person I've seen is Bianca?"

"Dr. Kenneth should be here soon, he always stops by between 8 and 9am to check on you before going about his day." My mother smiled as if almost on cue, my doctor walked in.

"Mr. Cullen, my name is Dr. Kenneth. It's good to see you awake today. I see that you're breathing well without being intubated and your pressure and temperature are all good. Now the important part, how are you feeling?"

"Sore. My chest feels heavy and it aches when I breathe. And I know my career is over because of my wrist."

He nodded. "The pain in your chest is from the bruised muscles and bones, which will go away in a few weeks, but with the type of wrist fracture you sustained it is unlikely that you could play again. I'm sorry, my family and I are Mets fans so you'll be sorely missed at our house." Dr. Kenneth smiled and I nodded, and then thought back to what Bianca had said yesterday.

"One of the nurses said I might be going home soon?"

Again he looked at my chart and then met my eyes. "I've discussed it with your father and you'll have someone with you to make the transition easier, so yes, you'll be released either tonight or tomorrow, depending on your stomach. They should be up any moment to take you for a CT for one last check on the internal bleeding, but barring complications you could be home very soon."

I looked over at Bella; the thought of leaving her here alone was more painful than what I felt physically. "How's my wife doing?"

"I'm not her doctor, so I honestly can't tell you anything, but if you'd like I could get the nurse to see when her doctor will be making rounds so you can ask him."

I knew it was the best he could do, so I sighed and thanked him before the orderlies came to bring me downstairs for a CT.

Two hours later my room was filled with family and friends and Bella's doctor was finishing his prognosis. Her broken bones would heal, the bleeding would right itself, just like mine did and the only unknown was her mind. There had been some bleeding, but it had been handled; now all that remained was for her to wake up so they could do a check for brain damage, which required her ability to respond to their questions. He told us that the brain was a remarkable organ and that each body responded differently, that her unconsciousness was her body healing itself and I shouldn't be discouraged, but I couldn't help worrying that she'd never wake up.

After he left, it was the end of the morning visiting hours so the room cleared out and Savannah, my new nurse, came in to help me into the recliner and push it over. These nurses were ridiculously strong, and worked so hard on the floor that I found myself constantly thanking them; it was after all because of them that I got my one on one time with Bella.

Adjusting in the chair, I took her hand in mine again and heaved a sigh. "So, I won't be here long, but I wanted to tell you while we were alone that I'm still going to visit you every day until you come home." I thought back to yesterday and the memory I shared with her form our beginning, smiling as another one came to mind, with me being bullish as always. "Bella, remember the party after that huge game right after you and I started hanging out…I'm sure you do. I'm the one that's forgotten over the years."

~%~%~%~%~

The party scene in Forks was intricate for a small town, but that was mainly because we were trying to avoid a visit from Chief Swan, and none more than I was these past few weeks since Bella and I began really hanging out. There was a rotation, and we always tried to keep it under control, but it helped that the Hale's, McCathy's and our family all had houses in the woods on the way out of town, so when we hosted parties, which was usually after important games, we could go a little crazier without the neighbor's hearing about it. The big game against the La Push Wolves was this Thursday so we were having the party at my house while my father was at a medical conference with my mom.

We'd gone on a beer run with the seniors and had managed to pilfer some alcohol from various liquor cabinets with our parents being none the wiser. Now we just had to win the game.

The whole day of, the team wore their team t-shirts, and I noticed Bella eyeing me in it more than once. Ever since Spring Break and the week that followed, we'd become friends, spending a lot of time together simply as our group was already paired up with the exception of us. We watched movies and listened to music while we studied, and she debated me on the merits of fighting in hockey and some of the inane rules in pro baseball. It was great, but I was starting to want more.

The game was easily won; their pitcher was injured so every pitch from the replacement was an easy hit. After the game, Alice and Rosalie whisked Bella off to get ready, so I was left to throw on some clothes and help set up for the party.

Our classmates started to flow into the house and soon Alice arrived with Bella looking cute as hell in jeans and a tight V-neck top. I wasn't going to push it, but if she spent the evening hanging out with me, I wouldn't be one bit upset about it either. Things between us were easy and I liked having her around. As it was she hung out with her girlfriends for the first part of the party, and I was over with most of the team.

I'd been watching Bella drink beer after beer and I wasn't too happy to see who else noticed. Newton had been honed in on her even though all he had to do was whistle to call Jessica to suck him off, and that worried me.

The guys had gotten me involved with a game of beer pong and when it was over, Bella was nowhere to be seen. I found Alice and she gestured to the stairs saying Bella hadn't been feeling well so she was going to use her bathroom, as the upstairs floors were off limits and everyone knew it.

I jogged up the stairs and poked my head into Alice's room, but the noises I heard next were coming from across the hall, in my room. I walked to the door and heard the distinct sound of two people making out when Bella's voice spoke in little more than a whisper.

"Mike, stop. I'm drunk, and-"

I had my hand on the knob as I heard him interrupt her. "Come on, Bella. You know you want this too…just relax, baby."

I threw the door to my bedroom open and Mike jumped, giving Bella the space to sneak past him and lock herself in my bathroom. I stormed over to Mike as he tried to step around me and rejoin the party. "You're a worthless bastard, and if she wasn't my main concern, you'd be fucking dead right now."

"Stop acting like you're not trying to get into those panties just as much as I was. You're not some good guy; no one buys the shit you're selling." Mike stepped toe to toe with me, even though he was over a head shorter.

"Get out of my room and don't you ever come upstairs during a party again." I hissed before locking my bedroom door behind him and turning to check on Bella. "Bella, can you unlock the door?"

"No! Just go away, Edward. I don't want anyone to see me right now."

I sighed at the tears I knew she was crying because of the sound of her voice. "Bella, I can't do that."

"Why not?" She called through the door.

"Because you're in my room. The party's gonna be over soon, so how about you come out here with me and we'll get you ready to crash with Alice and them in her room."

I was afraid I'd never be allowed back into my bathroom when the door opened and I walked in to see Bella huddled next to the toilet. She looked so small and broken, and there was a pull to her, to make sure she was okay.

"Are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?" The thought of him having actually hurt her had me wanting to run down the stairs and pummel him, but I had to know that it was actually the case.

"No, I'm just embarrassed. I shouldn't have drank that much, I mean, hell, I almost gave Mike Newton my V-card."

That had me stunned silent. "Excuse me?"

Bella looked up at me with sad eyes and whispered. "I'm a virgin. Only now everyone's going to think I'm some whore."

My head was shaking before I found my voice. "No they aren't, because no one is going to know about it."

"Of course they will, Edward." She was staring at me like I was simple, which was an improvement over how she looked a little while ago.

"Bella, he just got rejected, that's not the type of thing a guy talks about. And you aren't going to tell anyone, and I sure as hell won't do that to you, so your secret is safe. Now come on, let's get you across the hall."

"I'm not staying here…Alice and Jasper asked me if I'd mind staying with Rose at her house, but she's going to Emmett's. I didn't tell them I didn't have a place to crash; I was planning on just heading home. My dad's out of town on a fishing trip with Harry Clearwater, they went to some other Reservation, it's a big thing they do every year, so I'll be home alone until Sunday night."

"It's a good thing I didn't know the Chief was out of town when we were setting this party up, otherwise it would have been so much crazier." Bella laughed and I was glad that I'd managed to make her smile; she was too damn pretty not to smile.

"So, you seem pretty sober, could you give me a ride?"

I shook my head again and offered her my hand. "No, but I'll let you crash in here, I'll take the floor…unless you'd rather I slept downstairs?"

"No. We've already slept on the couch together; I don't think it'll be too bad if we're in the same room."

"Okay, you stay here and I'll see about the party and I'll make sure to get your stuff before Alice and Jas lock themselves in the room."

Bella laughed again and I headed downstairs. The party was already winding down and we were looking at a pretty easy clean up as these parties went. I lied and said that Bella wasn't feeling well so I was going to go back up and check on her and the girls thanked me as they started cleaning with the guys so they could move on to their other activities. Heading into Alice's room, I grabbed Bella's backpack and her overnight bag, knowing she'd never see it again if I didn't get it now.

"Thanks." Bella said quietly as she took the bag and went to change. I took the opportunity to grab my pj bottoms and a wife beater and got dressed before Bella came back into the room. I took the second pillow off my bed, brought it over to the couch, pulled the blanket off the top of the couch, and squeezed my ass on that couch as Bella walked out in shorts and a t-shirt. "Maybe I should sleep on the couch?"

"Bella, go to sleep." I knew if she kept pushing the issue, I'd take her up on the offer and I was trying to be chivalrous here. There was no fighting after that, as Bella and I both fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, I woke up to sexiest damn sight ever. I'm not quite sure when my feelings for Bella began to shift, but there was no denying it as I stared at her in my bed. Her legs were twisted in my sheets and she was clinging to my pillow, a small smile playing on her lips.

Trying not to be that guy, I went into the bathroom in my parent's room down the hall with my clothes to jerk off in the shower and get dressed. When I walked back to my room, I could hear Bella moving around and I knocked, happy to have her call me in.

She was pulling on her socks when I pushed the door open, smiling up at me as she slipped on her shoes and exited my room. "I'll see you downstairs. And Edward, thanks about last night."

"It was nothing, really, don't worry about it."

I went around the room finding the things I needed for school and then headed down to meet Bella, I had no idea where Alice and Jasper were, but honestly, I didn't want to know right now.

We jumped in my car and drove to school, leaving us with a few minutes before the bell rang for first period. We sat in the car while some god-awful boy ban played on the radio, Bella's finger drumming out the beat like she could sing every word if not afraid of being embarrassed.

The parking lot started to empty, so we got out and headed to class, waiting for the weekend to come. The day seemed to drag as if it was trying to torment me, when at last the bell for last period rang. I went off campus to grab a bite and got back just before the final bell rang. Walking into the weight room, I could hear some of my teammates talking.

"No dude, I'm telling you, she had the tightest pussy I've ever fucked. It was like a choke hold on my dick, it was fucking amazing!" Newton was bragging pretty hard, but I couldn't figure out whom he had scored with.

"Seriously, I can't believe she gave it up to you? She's been following Cullen hard; I thought for sure he was banging her." Tyler, who gossiped worse than a fucking chick, was all over Mike for details…only now I was pretty fucking sure I didn't want to hear his confirmation of his bullshit.

"I guess he's got a needle dick, or was too slow to jump on it, cause I popped Swan's cherry last night in Cullen's bed!" The two of them, as well as a third guy I couldn't see, started laughing and I lost it, flying into the weight room and pinning Mike to the bench press machine.

"You take it back, you bastard!" I roared, freezing Tyler and Austin Marks, the other guy in the room, as I held Mike with my hand to his throat.

"Okay, okay, you don't have a needle dick!" Mike screamed back, but I just slammed him into the padded bench again and he huffed out a sharp breath.

"That's not what I meant and you know it, tell them the truth!" I shook him twice and he winced, but finally relented.

"Alright, I didn't fuck Swan last night, we started making out but she put the brakes on it."

I turned to the two other's in this room and stared them down. "This doesn't leave this room. You don't repeat a word of what he said today, you got it."

They both nodded and I stood up, releasing Newton and heading off to stretch before practice. I made it a few steps when I felt a weight slam into me, letting me know that Mike had jumped on my back, punching me in the face just as I swung and hit him back. The whistle was already blowing and Tyler and Austin pulled us apart as Coach stood in front of us, fucking irate.

"What the hell is this bullshit? You're teammates; you're supposed to be working together. I don't know what started this and I don't much care, but Cullen, you're done for the weekend, and Newton, I don't want to see you until Wednesday."

"A week? Why am I getting a week and Edward's only getting three days?"

"Because his hit was self-defense, you jumped him from behind. You should be grateful, I could go tell Principal Green and he'd suspend you, then you'd be off the team for the rest of the year? Would you like me to do that?"

We both shook our heads and I got up, walked to my car and drove home. When I got there, I took three Advil, got an ice pack, and headed upstairs to lie down.

I'm not sure how long I lay there before the slamming begun, but soon my door was flying open and Bella was at the foot of my bed, smacking me in the stomach to get my attention. "Are you a moron? I mean, seriously, are you trying to get kicked off the team?"

I sat up and let the ice pack fall to the floor, staring at her in disbelief, I'd done it to defend her, though I'm sure she didn't know it. "Of course not, that's a stupid thing to ask."

"Well for someone who says it's his life, you sure do a lot of things to fuck it up. You got drunk on the field during break; you're fighting with your teammates, what the hell is wrong with you? What were you fighting about anyway? What was so important that you would risk getting thrown off the team?"

I didn't answer her and that only seemed to tick her off more. "Fine, you know what, don't answer me, but I'm done with this macho bull, come find me when you want to talk."

"Jesus, Bella, can't you just leave it be and have enough faith that I had a good reason to pick a fight with that jackass?"

She crossed her arm and shook her head. "No, because I can't think of one thing that would be worth you throwing away what you love."

"You." I didn't yell it, but I didn't have to, the word alone stopped her short.

"What do you mean, me?"

"Mike was being a prick, I guess he was trying to cover his ass because they saw him go upstairs with you, so he told Tyler and Austin that he popped your cherry, so I tackled him and made him tell the truth. I also made the others swear to shut up about the whole thing. He got pissed and jumped me from behind, that's why he got it worse than I did from coach."

"You were defending me?" She looked a little awestruck.

"Yes. And I'd do it again." I looked down and away from her, not wanting to see the rejection in her eyes, but instead I was met by her soft hands on my face, her left holding my right cheek, while her right hand ghosted over the welt on my cheek that I'm sure looked just as bad as it felt.

"Does it hurt?" She spoke in a whisper, her face closer than I had expected it to be.

"I'll survive; I was more concerned with keeping my promise at the time."

"Your promise?" Her thumb made another delicate pass over the swollen flesh.

"I promised you last night that no one would know about what almost happened up here, and after today, no one will."

I heard her sigh and then felt her breath as it fanned over the side of my face. "My mom had a little remedy for taking the sting out of an injury, do you mind?"

I shook my head gently from the confines of her grasp and I felt her lips brush my cheek in the center of the bruise, then moving to the edge of it, a third kiss resting on the corner of my mouth, and then finally, the last kiss brought her lips down to mine as she continued her gentle approach.

Her face pulled away from mine and I smiled, cupping her own face in my hands and kissing her a little more deeply this time, but making sure not to push after the revelation of last night. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel pressure I wasn't even trying to place on her.

As this kiss ended, our eyes met and I decided that a joke was the best way to proceed at this point. "I don't know when I'll be free to actually follow through on this, but will you go out with me, Bella?"

She smiled and then it instantly morphed into a frown. "What do you mean, 'I don't know when I'll be free?'"

I laughed at her mocking tone. "When my parents find out I got in trouble again, I'm sure to get grounded again."

It was her turn to laugh and then she leaned in and kissed me one last time before standing up. "Yes."

Yes.

~%~%~%~%~

My ribs protested the position I was holding my body in, so reluctantly, I leaned back into the recliner. "That was one of the best days of my life, Bella. You opened up to me and let me in when you didn't have to. I'll always be grateful that you took a chance on me. I just wish you'd open those beautiful eyes so I can see for myself that you're going to be fine."

I sighed at the futility of begging her to wake up when she wasn't asleep by choice. The door opened and Dr. Kenneth came in with my file and a smile on his face. "So, the internal bleeding hasn't gotten any worse, in fact, I think you're okay to go home now. I'm having the nurse take care of your discharge papers. Now, I know you aren't going to be happy about this, but you have to use that wheelchair until your legs heals in six to eight weeks. By then your arm should be nearly healed as well. I know you don't want to hear it, but you have to listen to us and the medical staff your father may hire to help you."

"Can't I stay another night, doc?" I looked over to Bella and he sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry. Your father is having her moved to a private room, but the best thing you can do for Bella is let yourself heal so you can be strong enough to help her when she needs you. The visiting hours are longer on her new floor, so go home, get some rest and some real food, and come back tomorrow at 10am to see her. I want to see you in a few weeks, but the nurse will go over all of that information when you're discharged. Have a good evening, Edward."

I nodded and shook his outstretched hand. Thanking him as he walked out. My parents came in and my father along with Emmett, who followed them in, helped me into the bathroom to change into some real clothes. Once I was in a pair of shorts and a long sleeve shirt, they helped me into the wheelchair, the whole while my mother picked up the personal items that had accumulated. Most of them would be going to Bella's room, which my mother was sticking around for, while my brother and dad helped me get back home. I was warned about Charlie, who was pacing like a caged animal back in Forks, unsure of what was going on, but unable to make the trip out until his deputy got back from vacation.

I hadn't heard the news to know what he had heard, and was afraid of the number of bones he'd break based on TMZ's reports alone.

Bianca came in and handed me a pen, explaining the doctors I'd need to see and the timeframe for different aspects of my recovery. I was pleased to hear that she floated between this floor and the one Bella would be moved to, so she would still be a part of Bella's care, even if only three days a week.

An hour after the doctor left, I was being wheeled out to Emmett's rental car, where I was helped in and then my father and brother got in and pulled away. It was thirty minutes later that we were pulling into my driveway, my brother taking the long way to avoid the highway and the exit I always took to get home, the one the accident happened on.

They got me up to the master bedroom and Emmett called for some food to be delivered, while my father helped me with my medications. Emmett was staying for a while, with Rosalie heading back home tomorrow because the kids needed her and work couldn't wait. Alice and Jasper were leaving as well, coming back in shifts so that I'd always have someone with me.

My parents would be staying as well, but I knew that soon they'd be going home; planning to come back once Bella was awake. There was so much optimism in my mother's eyes, she wouldn't entertain the thought that it wouldn't end happily, so as the pain meds kicked in, I let my mind cling to her borrowed happy thoughts.