A/N: OMG! New chapter! haha so here we are people! I'm so sorry this is late. *headdesk* it means that the last chapter might be a little late also, we'll see. Not much to say this time round, just that if you go "Huh?" at the end, you are supposed to. If I told you now, then it wouldn't make for an interesting sequel. Enjoy and review! xoxo, L.

He held her hand tightly in his. He panted as he listened for what should come. He threw her hand away with indignation as he heard her tone, for icy it was, though the words came fluttering out, as if she knew not where to find them.

I was awake, but my eyes refused to open. There was a bright light, I knew, because it tried to infiltrate my closed lids, causing me to squint a little.

'Your way of speaking shocks me. It is blasphemous. I cannot help it, if that is my first feeling. It might not be so, I dare say, if I understood the kind of feeling you describe. I do not want to vex you; and besides, we must speak gently, for mamma is asleep; but your whole manner offends me -'

My chest rose up and down slowly. It hurt like hell, turning each breath into a gasp and a shudder, pain coursing through my body.

'How!' exclaimed he. 'Offends you! I am indeed most unfortunate.' 'Yes!' said she, with recovered dignity. 'I do feel offended; and, I think, justly. You seem to fancy that my conduct of yesterday' - again the deep carnation blush, but this time with eyes kindling with indignation rather than shame -

I could hear the soft beep of a machine, the noise matching the rise and fall of my chest. There were other noises, far off and distant - the squeaking of shoes and the floor, shouts and yells.

There was another sound, more appealing than the rest. It was a man's voice, soft and calm. I realized he must have been reading from something, the words strangely familiar. I willed my eyes to open.

I was in a hospital room, the walls white and bare, except for a small painting of a yacht. From the corner of my eye, I saw various machines, all with long rope looking things. One of them caught my eye - it was attached to a needle in my right hand.
I looked away from the needle and at Robert. He was staring intently at the book he held in his hands, his elbows resting on the bed as he spoke softly. His eyes were a light black colour, and his skin looked paler than usual. Even though it was impossible, the hair on his head looked longer. Maybe he had brushed it in a different way. His t-shirt was crumpled and I watched his neck, watching intently as his Adam's apple rose up and down with each unnecessary breath.

Suddenly he stopped reading, his eyes moving from the page to me as he registered that I was awake. "Welcome to the land of the living, Sleeping Beauty," he smiled, putting a piece of paper in the book before closing it. He reached across and rested the book on the bedside table next to me. "They say that reading or playing something familiar to the unconscious person will help them to wake up. It must be true," Robert mused.

I smiled weakly. "Don't stop," I croaked, my voice hoarse. He didn't listen, and instead moved up closer to me. His hand gently skimmed my forehead as he pushed loose hair behind my ear. I shivered slightly at his cold touch.
"How do you feel? I managed to convince the nurses that you would be better of in your own pajamas than that horrible gown." Looking under the blanket, I saw my normal pajamas instead of the tacky gown patients were usually given.

"I feel like someone ran me over with a truck, then put it in reverse and ran me back over again," I wheezed, trying to sit up. Robert's hands pushed me back down onto the bed, and I scowled.
"That's what this is for," Robert laughed, holding up something small and rectangular. He pressed it, and the bed started to move upwards, so that I was now sitting upright.
I smiled gratefully. There was an uncomfortable silence as Robert picked up my hand and started tracing patterns on it, exactly how I used to do. Gulping, I asked the question he had been waiting for.

"What happened?"

Robert sighed, putting my hand back on the bed. I protested inwardly - his cool touch was comforting.
Instead, he ran his fingers lightly across my forehead before speaking. "We found you at the ballet studio. You were unconscious, and James was…attacking Bella." I winced at the memory of James grinning at me as he sunk his teeth into Bella's wrist. "Apparently after you called Bella -"

"Because James told me to," I interrupted him.

Robert nodded his head. "After you called Bella because James told you to, we arrived at the airport, found out Bella was at this ballet studio Alice saw, saved your lives, and destroyed James' and now here we are today."
I raised my eyebrows. There were details - a lot of details - I knew he was skimming on, but I didn't press him. I felt too tired to argue.
"How long have I been out for?" I asked, changing the topic. His fingers caressed my forehead, the touch light, but soothing. It was like a feather dipped in icy cold water. They trailed down my forehead and to the start of my cheek and oh my God why am I thinking this?

"You've been asleep for four days," Robert grinned, noticing the flush of my cheeks. I sat myself up, pain shooting through my chest and stomach. "Four days?" I asked, waving off his hands as I settled back down.
Robert nodded his head. "Not surprising. You had a severe concussion, lost a lot of blood from a gash here," Robert murmured softly, lightly touching the right side of my head where it was most tender. Even under his contact it throbbed.
"You also broke two ribs here," he showed me, his hands moving down to the left side of my ribcage. "Bruised these ones here." His hands moved to the right side of my body.

"You broke your wrist," Robert said, picking my plastered arm up carefully. He laced my exposed fingers through his own cold ones.
"Ah. So that's why it wouldn't move," I said jokingly, trying hard not to laugh.
"Four days? Really? I've never slept for that long before," I mused, smiling at Robert. With my good hand I reached up and wiped the sleep out of my eyes.
"I was so worried that you wouldn't wake up." His face was close to mine and it sent off the machine I was hooked up to. The frenzied beeping alerted a nurse, who walked briskly in.

"Ah, you're awake," she said, looking down at me and then at the machine. She adjusted the drip in my hand. "It's about time. Your friend woke up yesterday; she won't stop asking for you."

My eyes widened. I'd completely forgotten about Bella. The nurse left as abruptly as she came in. After making sure she was completely gone, I yanked the needle out.

"I need to see Bella," I muttered, pushing the blanket off. Robert tried to push me back on the bed, but I pushed him away.

"Get back on the bed, Ally," Robert warned.

I shook my head. "No, I have to see Bella," I protested.
I ignored the look Robert gave me, wincing as I started to walk out the room. I heard him sigh before coming to help me.
"You don't know where her room is," he said more as a statement rather than a protest. I gladly took the arm he offered me, leaning into his shoulder as his hand wound around my waist as he guided me to Bella's room.

It didn't occur to me then how funny I looked, leaning on one side with my arm out in the air. It also didn't occur to me that no-one was giving me funny looks about it either.

---

Robert didn't seem to mind my snail pace, but we reached Bella's room eventually. The door to her room was slightly ajar, and I poked my head around first.

"Knock, knock," I smiled softly. Bella was lying in her bed, Edward by her side. They both turned and looked as I spoke.

"Ally!" Bella cried happily. She beckoned me to come into the room, gesturing at an empty chair by her bed. Robert helped me in, and I sunk into the chair gratefully. It wasn't old and plastic, but soft with fabric.

"How are you feeling?" Bella asked. I noticed she had a bandage around her wrist as well as a cast on her left leg. There was a small white plaster on her forehead.
"I've been better," I laughed. "How about you? You look like you've seen better days."
Bella nodded, a smile on her face. She had one of those drips in her hand as well, and she went to scratch it, Edward swatting her fingers away.

"Edward and I were just discussing what our story would be. We have nothing," Bella apologized.
"Hmmm," I mused, biting my lower lip as I thought of a plausible story. "I've got it! I came with Edward and Dr. Cullen to try and convince you to come back to Forks. You decided to come to our hotel, where you and I had a fight - verbal of course," I winked at Bella. "Our argument became a little…heated and you fell down the stairs. I tried to stop you falling, but I came tumbling with you. And then you fell out of a window," I threw in for good measure.

Bella laughed. "It sounds good to me."

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I let my eyes fix on a painting Bella had on her wall. It was a Monet, I recognized. The one with the bridge over the pond.

"I'm so, so sorry," I apologized, finally saying something. "For everything. It's my fault you're in this mess."
Bella looked at me sternly.
"This is not your fault Ally," she said, putting her hand on the crook of my arm.
"Bella's right," Edward said supportively. I looked at him darkly.
"It is my fault. If I hadn't have gone to see James, none of this would have happened. We wouldn't be in hospital right now," I counteracted. My ribs ached as I spoke
."Ally, really, it's okay. It's over now. James is dead; he's not a problem to us anymore. It's over," Edward said. "If it weren't for Robert, I don't know where we would be," he added, sneaking a glance in my direction.

I looked from Edward to Robert, a surprised look on my face.
"If it weren't for Robert? What did you do?" I asked curiously. Edward laughed.
"He didn't tell you?"
"No," I said darkly, glowering at Robert. Robert grinned cheekily at me. "He's much too modest."
Edward chuckled. "When we arrived at the airport, Robert knew something was wrong. Jasper came running, saying that Bella hadn't come out of the toilets. Robert was off before Jasper could finish even the first sentence. He knew exactly where you and Bella were."
I looked up and Robert, who was perched on the arm of the chair. "Is this true?" I asked.
"It's what I'm supposed to do," Robert shrugged nonchalantly. I shook my head, not saying anything. As I turned back to face Bella, I saw her look away, like she was looking at something she was not supposed to. I didn't think any of it.

"Charlie will be glad you are awake," Bella said. "He's been so worried about you."
"Charlie's here, in Phoenix?" I asked.
Bella nodded. "As soon as he heard, he came. He's been staying at the same hotel as the Cullens." I felt bad for not doing what I had promised Charlie, which was bringing Bella home safe. Here we both were, bruised and battered and in hospital.
It was by far the worst situation I had ever been in, and there was no doubt that the agency would find out, even if Charlie never told them. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. If they agency found out, I would be moved again, regardless of whether Charlie minded or not. After the last incident, in Rhode Island, with the Headmaster's car and the glad wrap…

A nurse shuffled into the room. "What is this?" she screeched, taking in Edward and I. "Visiting hours were over an hour ago! Out, the three of you. Go!"
I looked at her, confused. The three of us? Only Cullen and I were in the room, in terms of visibility at least. Still, I made my way out of the room, waving goodbye to Bella, crossing my eyes at the nurse's back. Edward was making his excuses about why he had to stay with Bella.

Robert had his arm around my waist again.
"What did she mean, 'the three of us'?" I asked, looking up at Robert. His face turned curiously blank.
"Robert?" I warned. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing to concern yourself over," he said, steering me in the direction of my room. I stopped walking. A small, slow sigh escaped from Robert's lips as he turned towards me.
"Tell me. There's something, I know. You have that look. Tell me." My voice was borderline whiny, but I didn't care. Robert was concealing secrets from me, and I didn't like it. Robert rolled his eyes, exasperated. He started to speak, but was interrupted, and not by me.

"Alexandra Fischer? What an earth are you doing out of bed? I've been looking for you everywhere!"
I looked up as a young man in one of those white doctor coats walked up to us, running his hand through his hair.
"You shouldn't be up, not in your condition. Ribs take a long time to heal." He turned to Robert, and my eyes widened.
"Robert, isn't it?" Robert nodded his head, not looking at me, although I could see a smile creeping up on his lips.
"I thought I told you to keep her in her room." I was so confused. So very confused. What an earth was going on here?
"I'm so sorry, Doctor Mason. Ally heard Bella was awake from another nurse, and insisted on going to see her." Robert smiled that sweet, alluring smile.
"Well, get her back to her room. We need to do some checks and -" The doctor's pager went off. "I'll come back in half an hour and check up on you. Don't let her move, please!" With that, he jogged off to something more important.

Robert started moving off as if nothing had happened, but I refused to move. "He saw you," I stated, completely dumbfounded.

"Yes," Robert replied, trying to get me to move. My sock covered feet shuffled along the floor.

"He saw you," I repeated. "How did he see you? Why did he see you? You're invisible."

"I'll explain everything inside," he said, opening the door for me. I glanced at his casual, blank look.

"You better." Something strange was going on, and was going to get to the bottom of this. Robert helped me into the bed again, and I was glad to be lying back down.

"Explain. Now." I wanted to fold my arms, but it hurt too much. I opted instead to try my best glower on Robert. He just sat back casually in the chair, folding his own arms.

"It's simple really," he said, scratching his nose.

"Oh, yes," I muttered. "Because people go from invisible to visible every day."

"Ha-ha, smarty pants," Robert laughed. I poked out my tongue.

"Are you going to tell me why you've become so visible all of a sudden?" I asked, moving back onto the topic at hand.

"I could, but Charlie is going to be here any second," Robert faked a frown. I widened my eyes.

"No! That's not fair! You said -" I cut myself off as Charlie entered the room, and I scowled at Robert.

Charlie smiled awkwardly as he walked into the room. "The nurses said you were awake, so I thought I would come and visit."

I nodded, trying to fight off the guilty feeling in the bottom of my stomach, as Charlie came further into the room. He noticed Robert sitting on the chair and scowled. Robert didn't say anything, but a small smile played on his lips.

"Can I talk to Ally in private?" Charlie directed the question at me instead of Robert. I bit back a laugh, looking at Robert. He stood up gracefully.

"Yes, sir," he answered before leaving the room, winking at me.

Charlie settled down nervously in the chair where Robert had just been. "That boy hasn't moved since you were admitted," Charlie scowled again.

"That boy saved my life, Charlie," I pointed out. I couldn't help but smile.

"Who is he anyway?"

"Dr. Cullen's cousin - I mean nephew. He's Doctor Cullen's nephew," I said hastily, spewing the first words that came to mind.

"He's a bit old," Charlie commented, looking at me suspiciously.

"He saved my life," I repeated.

Charlie said nothing more, but continued looking at me curiously. He sat up, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a few sheets of paper.

"I need you to sign a few things for me," he mumbled, looking through the papers. "From the agency." I raised my eyebrows. The agency was on the ball, I'd give them that. Obviously they sat around and waited for me to muck up, transfer papers at the ready.

"Where are they sending me now?" I grumbled, taking the papers from Charlie. He handed them over.

"Just sign, Ally." I took the pen from his outstretched hand.

I, Alexandra Fischer, hereby give my consent to be released from the care of the American Foster Homes Institute, from the date as signed below.

I looked at Charlie. "What does it mean, be released from the AHMI?" Confusion settled in. Why was I being released, not transferred? I wasn't yet eighteen, and therefore wasn't allowed to apply to get out of the foster care system.

"Keep reading," Charlie encouraged. He was looking at his hands instead of me. Looking from him to the page, I turned it over, reading the words.

I gasped out loud, forgetting the pain in my chest and ribs. I looked back up at Charlie. "You're joking, right?" I gaped at Charlie in shock. He was smiling at me and looking thoroughly uncomfortable.

"I mean it, Ally. That's why I was asking all the questions before, to see if you really wanted to stay in Forks."

"Wanted to?" I cried. "I would pay you to let me stay!" I picked up my pen, ready to sign. "What does Bella think about this?" I asked before signing, the pen hovering over the dotted line.

"I talked to her before, and she thinks it's great. She loves you, a lot. We both do," Charlie added. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. For the first time ever, I felt like I belonged somewhere. That somewhere was obviously Forks.

I signed the document that made Charlie Swan, Chief of Forks Police my rightful guardian.

We talked for a while, Charlie explaining all the legal issues and rules of the guardianship - basically what rights Chief Swan had as my full guardian. When Robert came back an hour later, brandishing two Styrofoam coffee cups, Charlie made his excuses, saying that he needed to go see Bella.

I could barely contain my excitement as Robert repositioned himself on the chair. I had forgotten about Charlie's reluctance to accept Robert in my life.

"Guess what?" I grinned from ear to ear, barely able to keep in my exhilaration. While Charlie and I had been talking, a nurse had come in to give me some painkillers, and now the pain in my ribs, chest and head was reduced to a dull ache.

"What?" Robert asked, playing along with the game. I knew that he already knew, but I still wanted to say it out loud, make it official.

"Charlie wants to officially be my guardian!" The words tumbled out of my mouth at a rapid pace, but I knew Robert had caught every word.

"Ale, I'm happy for you, truly I am." He hugged me awkwardly because of all the bandages and sore spots I had.

His hand came back to my forehead, his fingers caressing it soothingly once more.

"You have some explaining to do," I looked pointedly at Robert, remembering what had happened with the nurse and the doctor. For some reason, Robert was now visible to not just me, but the rest of the world. I realized now that before, in Bella's room, Edward had sneaked a look at Robert, not me. And Bella had looked away so quickly, not wanting to be caught out.

I heard a sigh escape past Robert's lips. I continued to glower at him until he finally decided to speak.

"You are never going to believe me," he said, not looking at me.

"Just like I never believed you when you told me the reason you left me alone on Sunday nights?" I teased. Robert rolled his eyes.

"Carlisle was the first to notice it, even before I did. The movement in thin air, the shimmery outline during our meetings and then finally the baseball game."

"Was that why you were always there, instead of being with me?" I asked. I realized then that I sounded a little harsh with my words, but Robert didn't seem to notice. If he did, he moved past it.

"I didn't understand myself, but Carlisle has had experience with this kind of thing before. It's simple really, but difficult to explain."

Robert was looking at the window.

"Just explain it as best you can," I urged.

"Apparently it's linked to the vampire genetics in my make-up. Because I was affected by the venom from the vampire when my spirit entered me, there is more vampire than spirit in me. As I grow 'older', I become more visible."

I furrowed my brow, slightly confused. "Does that mean you aren't a spirit? Or it is wearing off or something?"

Robert shook his head, taking my hand. He laced our fingers together, rubbing the inside of my palm. "I'm still who I am - a Spirit, as I've always been. I'm still tied to you," he added, as if that were the most important part of it all. And it was. It meant the world.

"It's still baffling to me. No-one's going to believe you, you know." Robert nodded this time.

"I know. It's hard to understand, but…" He trailed off.

I looked up quizzically. "But?" I asked, knowing full well that there was more to this, and he wasn't telling me.

Robert ignored me. "What did you tell Charlie, about who I am?"

"I said you were Carlisle's nephew," I replied sheepishly. At the time, it had just rolled off the tongue, even though I hadn't asked Robert for his permission to say it. Robert laughed, however, so I knew it was okay.
"How did he take that?" he asked. I pondered for a little bit, smiling wryly as I remembered the scowl on Charlie's face from before.
"He didn't object," I pointed out. "Which is a good thing."

There was a silence between us as Robert resumed stroking my forehead. A nurse, a different one, bustled in, fidgeting with the IV drip in my hand. "I've just given you something for the pain, love," she said, smiling at me before leaving the room. I had no idea what the nurse had injected me with, but whatever it was made my whole body feel numb and heavy. I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"Tell me more," I slurred my words. Robert looked at me curiously, trying to hold back the laughter that played on his lips. "More?" he asked nonchalantly. I breathed in deeply. All of a sudden it seemed like an effort to talk, and I was quickly losing the battle with my eyelids."About…about you and your new found visibility." At least, that's what my brain had tried to say. It sounded more jumbled and incoherent than that.
Robert just laughed, a flicker of annoyance washing over me. It was gone as soon as it came, however, when I felt his cold touch against my cheek.
"Later. Sleep now, Ally," was his reply. I felt myself sink lower into the blankets as he pulled them tighter around me. Finally I felt my eyelids close, the last image I saw being Robert's face.
I snuggled down, letting the drugs work through my body.

"Stay. Stay with me," I murmured. The last thing I felt was his cool lips pressed against my forehead. "Forever," was the last sound I heard as I fell back into a deep sleep.