Please forgive the extreme lateness with this update. Between work, conferences, I got sick, then my friend was in the hospital, and so many other things, my life got too hectic to write for a while. So as part of my apology, I extended Chapter 18 quite a bit. K,loveyou guys. Don't forget to review!! If you need to yell at me, you can do that too!!

Chapter 18

Carlisle insisted I remain in the hospital a couple of days, and I was suddenly aware of how much I hated my brilliant idea. Now instead of being cooped up in a house months at a time, I was cooped up in a bed. I couldn't even walk unless I was "going to the bathroom." I tried telling myself that it was temporary, but I was going stir crazy.

Alice and Edward stayed in my room until Esme called and asked them if they were going to school. Of course they refused to leave. Alice said the school should understand that her best friend was just found in a traumatic state and they couldn't expect her to leave my side.

"Alice, you don't have to be so dramatic you know." I heard Esme's voice over the phone.

"I know, but everybody else got bigger roles to play in the deception. Me and Eddie just had to act like it was the first time hearing about it while we were at school." I laughed at Alice's pouting skills and Edward merely scolded her for calling him Eddie.

"Don't worry. I'll call the school. Bella I'll be up later to see you." I nodded stupidly as if she could see me through the phone and Alice hung up. Alice put the finishing touches on my makeup so that it looked like I had some deep purple bruises on my face.

"How are my eyes?" I asked. I was a glutton when I went hunting before I was found because Carlisle knew that I would need to stay in the room for a while until I was released.

"Still golden." Alice said as she plopped back on the bed beside me. All three of us laid on the bed, though I was a bit too comfortable laying in Edward's arms.

"So you guys never told me how everyone at school found out. How did everyone react?"

"Well, it wasn't until about fifteen minutes after your mental alert, that it was announced over the public announcement. As soon as the announcement was made, there was a mad dash of students looking to leave. Some wanted to come visit you, as you caught a glimpse of yesterday. Others, like Lauren wanted to do some shopping." I rolled my eyes thinking of that girl. Her voice was so irritating. With my vampire appearance, I honestly couldn't wait to see her and shoot down every chance she thought she had at tearing me apart.

"Okay who else?" I asked.

"Let's see, I was surprised Newton was able to show actual concern over your well being. He didn't have any renewed fantasies of you at all. Taylor and Eric as well, were behaved mentally. Angela felt relief, as did Ben Chaney. Jessica was similar to Lauren only she held a lot more contempt for your return. She's hoping that you're bruised beyond recognition." I couldn't figure out what had happened that left Jessica so cruel towards me. She knew I didn't want Mike, so that couldn't be it. Was she still pining for Edward? Ha like that would ever happen.

"Where's Charlie?"

"He's in the bathroom, regretting the cup of coffee he bought from the cafeteria." I honestly didn't know how anyone could eat anything that came out of a hospital. As if on cue, the nurse walked in with a cart full of the disgustingly bland food.

"Here you go dear. You need to get your strength up after the ordeal you just went through." She left and I quickly said a prayer of thanks that she wasn't the type to wait for the food to be eaten.

"How are we gonna get rid of this?" Even when I was human I wouldn't be caught dead eating that.

"I'll take care of that." Alice hopped out of the bed and grabbed the tray of food. Peering out in the hallway, I heard her humming the Mission Impossible theme song as she ran at full speed. She was back in the room within two seconds with the empty tray.

"I dumped it in the dumpster." I couldn't help but look at her strangely. She was impossible.

"Isabella Swan? I have good news." I heard someone come through the door. I didn't recognize the voice, and since I knew I'd never see the inside of this hospital again, I didn't even correct him on my name. I immediately started acting as if I was in pain with the motion of turning towards him. "I'm Dr. Mullings. Forgive me for not introducing myself. But you are free to go. Everything looks good."

"Not that I'm complaining but Dr. Cullen said I should stay for a couple of days." I looked into his green eyes.

"Well your results are showing promise and other than the bruises and the one break, you don't need to be imprisoned here much longer. Your father is signing your necessary paperwork now. I've also left him with your prescriptions and honestly I think that cast will be ready to come off in a week or so." He turned around to leave, "Good luck to you Ms. Swan," he called back behind him.

"Thanks," I mumbled from under my breath. I looked over to Edward who then called Carlisle to doubled check about the new order.

"There was nothing I could do Edward, there are actual people that need to be worked on. We've seen an influx of crime in Port Angeles and since that hospital is shutting down, the patients keep coming here. We need as many beds as possible. I only got the call a few minutes ago."

Edward shut the phone closed rather rudely and I told him so, but was satisfied when he said he'd talk to Carlisle and apologize. As if on cue, Charlie walked in the door, pushing a wheelchair and carrying some new clothes. "You're all set kiddo. Alice, Edward, you're more than welcome in coming home with us. I can give you a lift if you like."

"That would be nice Chief Swan, but Edward drove over here. And besides we've monopolized enough of Bella's time. But thank you." Edward and Alice turned to grab their coats that I knew were just for show and left the room. With them gone, Charlie noticed a slight problem with the predicament that he now found himself in and ran back towards the door.

"Errr, umm Alice? Would you be a dear and help Bella get dressed?" I could smell the blood rushing into Charlie's face at the mere thought of helping his teenage daughter get dressed.

"Of course sir." Alice's voice was cheery and bubbly. Alice bounded back into the room and Charlie couldn't shut the door to my room any faster.

I didn't really need any help and I was dressed in a matter of seconds. Alice sat in the chair, filing her nails as if I was taking too long. "You try doing this with a cast on your arm and see how you fare."

"Don't mention that to Emmett, no matter what. He'll insist on a series of games involving all of us wearing a cast. Knowing him he'd call it Cast Wars or the Cast Olympics." I tried to visualize everyone running around, hampered with a cast on their legs and immediately shook the image away. That could never happen.

After a few minutes, I made my way to the door and Alice looked at me disapprovingly. "Missy you shouldn't be walking."

'Alice I'm fine, knock it off.'

"No. besides it's hospital policy for you to be in a wheelchair until you're curbside anyway." Alice forcefully sat me in the chair and wheeled me out the room. "Okay Chief Swan, here she is."

The flowers and teddy bears holding the get well wishes were shoved into Charlie's hands as Alice pushed the wheelchair through the hallways. 'Oh God, there wasn't a back way out of here?' I thought to Edward and Alice. Lined up along the walls like tulips, were most of the students from Forks. I could see that Mike still held some form of misguided puppy love for me as he cast looks of contempt over at Edward. Why couldn't he get a clue? Lauren looked bored being there, but I saw Tyler there so she was obviously there because Tyler was. I imagined the same thing with Jessica, now that I knew she had some ill feelings towards me for whatever reason. The only person I made eye contact with was Angela, she looked at me with true concern. It was something I knew I would always appreciate from her.

I held my head down for the rest of the ride through the hospital, ignoring the shouts from my fellow classmates. Catching a side glance at Edward, I could see that he was grimacing at the thoughts of some of the guys again. 'Edward, honey, don't worry about them.'

Edward looked down at me in awe. "You know I don't think I'll ever get used to that little gift of yours." His voice was low and fast so I knew Charlie or any of the other bystanders would be able to hear him. His perfect lips barely moved.

"Edward? Alice? Would you mind waiting with Bella here while I go get the car?" I saw them nodding in his direction as Charlie took off. I could see the balloons bouncing with his movements as he ran for the cruiser.

"I've decided I'm going to school tomorrow. I'm not going to sit at Charlie's doing nothing."

"Are you sure Bella? I mean you just got out of the hospital." Edward said with a smirk.

I squinted my eyes at him. "Listen Eddie, I'm not invalid. I can't stand just laying up somewhere. I'll be fine."

"I was just kidding. Take it easy Bella." Edward mused.

"Oh," was all I could say.

Edward helped ease me into the cruiser, carefully so that Charlie could not see his hands lingering on my face. I felt the electricity crackle between us, and I was suddenly aware of his touch again. The unspoken communication with our eyes spoke volumes.

"You all set kiddo?" Charlie said as he climbed into the driver seat. Edward closed my passenger door when I turned to look at my father.

"Yeah dad. Let's go home." I laid my head against the headrest and closed my eyes. I wasn't in the mood for a dream so I didn't allow myself to relax enough for one. Plus, on the off chance that I reacted strangely to what I may have seen, I didn't want that to happen in front of Charlie. Knowing him, he would have turned the cruiser around and marched me right back to the hospital.

I opened my eyes when I realized that we had turned the corner onto the familiar street of Charlie's house. I rubbed my eyes to give the impression that I was tired, but it wasn't necessary. I looked out the window to see what held Charlie's focus and saw that there was a black unfamiliar car sitting in Charlie's spot in the driveway. I may not speak Car & Driver, but I knew the car was definitely not Carlisle's car.

Charlie helped me out of the car and supported my weight to walk into the house. He started muttering that he should have had Edward or Alice follow us home so that they could help me instead. I was careful to keep my total weight and my now cool skin away from him.

I was shocked to find Renee and Phil sitting in the living room when we walked through the door.

"Mom, how did you get in here?" I asked.

"Well nice to see you too baby." She rushed over and pulled me into an embrace out of Charlie's grasp. The way she grabbed me, my face was nestled in her neck, and my nose was assaulted with the scent of her blood. I needed to get away, and fast. I pulled out of her arms and made my way over to the steps. I took a few gulps of unpolluted air and then held my breath.

"No offense, Renee. But how did you get in here?" Charlie reiterated my question, stressing the 'you.'

"Charlie it was my idea to hide the key under the eaves of the door. Bella I'm so glad you're safe." I nodded in her direction.

"I'm sorry mom, but I'm a little wiped. I'm going to head up to my room. Love you." I called back as I made my up the steps a little too quickly for someone who was battered up a bit. I just needed to get away from my mother.

Once upstairs however, I laid on the bed and listened as my parents and Phil continued the conversation, thinking I wouldn't be able to hear them.

"Charlie, I was thinking that it may be best that Bella comes to live in Jacksonville with me. Obviously Forks is no longer safe. I mean your house was a crime scene a few months ago." I heard Renee's complaint and was shocked that she thought it was best I leave Forks.

"I feel like I just got her Renee. You can't take her from me. I won't let you."

"We'll see about that. I've already made the arrangements with the lawyers filing for sole custody of Bella. My lawyers think I have a good case considering she ran away from here just last year, and then she gets kidnapped in your home. Nothing like this ever happened while we were in Phoenix, and it surely wouldn't happen in Jacksonville." I was seething with anger. I'd never been mad at my mom my entire life, and all of a sudden she wanted to be my mother?

"Renee you forget Bella is eighteen. She's an adult now. You don't need lawyers to decide where she lives anymore, it's up to her." I assumed that Renee was caught by surprise because Charlie continued. "What? You forgot she turned eighteen just before she was kidnapped? You should remember considering you sent her a present. A camera, I believe it was."

I realized I was slightly upset that Renee forgot I was old enough to be considered an adult now. But I was slightly more impressed with the way Charlie was fighting for me. He probably felt sad that he didn't fight harder to keep me and Renee here the first time around. Well he was making up for it today.

"Well then, why don't we just ask her?" I could hear the confidence in Renee's voice waver a bit. No doubt she was remembering last year in the hospital when she tried convincing me to move to Jacksonville then. All too perceptively, she realized that Edward was already a huge part of the reason I wanted to stay in Forks.

I heard three pairs of feet clog up the narrow stairway. I closed my eyes as the door crept open.

"Bella? Baby?" Renee's voice sounded soft and sweet. I guessed it was only natural for her to want me with her, after the ordeal she thought I'd been through. But to threaten Charlie legally was taking it too far in my opinion.

I opened my eyes slowly, taking in the scene set before me. "As you know honey, Phil has a great job in Jacksonville, and we have a beautiful place there. How would you like to come live with us or a while. You know get away from all of the bad memories in Forks?"

"No, mom. I want to stay here. With dad. All of my friends are here." I pleaded.

"Are you sure honey?" She asked. With her looking into my eyes I tried my best to dazzle her. I could tell I was winning this battle. It made me proud that I'd paid attention to all those times that Edward dazzled me.

"Yes mom. Besides, I don't want to have to start over in the middle of my senior year." I shook my head at the thought. Even if I was human I would have shirked away from the very idea of it.

Renee looked at me longingly, while Charlie just looked smug. I guess he had every right to be. "Me and Phil will stay in a hotel for a few days, just to make sure you're fine and you don't change your mind. Okay honey?" I knew there was no way I was moving to Florida, but I couldn't bust my mom's bubble. I'd let her cling to her hope for a few days. I nodded my head and Charlie ushered them out of my room.

Before Charlie closed the door, he glanced back at me and smiled. "Umm, Cha-Dad? I thinking of going to school tomorrow."

"Are you sure that's best, Bella?"

"Yeah, I don't think I can handle staying put in one place. If I get tired, I'll see if Edward can drive me home."

"Okay baby. If that's what you want." I smiled at him as he closed the door completely, leaving me in complete loneliness. Well not exactly complete.

I sat up as I saw the shadow of my love sitting in the tree. I walked over to the window to undo the latch that Charlie must have locked while I was away. "Well hello, beautiful." I laughed at the corniness of Edward's greeting as I moved out of the way so he could come in the room completely.

"So you really want to go to school tomorrow? Well maybe we should hunt, you're eyes are pretty dark."

"Yeah, I figured they were. My mom smelled exceptionally good when she hugged me. I had to stop breathing in order to not do anything rash. What about my parents, what if they check on me?"

"Alice already informed me that they won't be in your room again for another hour. We have plenty of time to hunt."

I grabbed his hand and we jumped out of the room into the twilight sky. He quickly caught the scent of several deer and I drained two does before he finished his one buck. I couldn't believe I was that hungry.

Returning back to the house, the black car that Renee had rented was out of the driveway, which only meant that her and Phil left for their hotel. I cleared the landing back into my window, with Edward following close behind me. "Well love, we have a few moments before your father comes to check up on you before he goes to sleep. Is there anything in particular that you would like to do?" Edward asked, very seductively I might add. I internally fought my instinct to attack him just as seductively. But I knew that he would only push himself off of me.

"How about you just hold me? I just want to feel you next to me." He crawled into the bed with me, no longer caring if our skin touched since we were now the same temperature. In fact, his touch felt incredibly warm against my skin. Especially, when he left a trail of kisses along my neck. I felt his hands cling to my waist, pulling me deeper into his kisses until he found my lips. Automatically, my arms wrapped around his neck as our bodies naturally entwined with each other.

"Charlie's timing is impeccable." Edward growled, fighting to untangle himself from me. Not having enough time to leap out of the window, Edward slid underneath my bed and I sighed in frustration at my attempt of being with Edward was foiled by my father.

The door crept open and I could feel Charlie's eyes on my back. I made the effort to breathe a bit louder than normal to give him the impression that I was sleeping. Finally, Charlie closed the door and walked off to his room.

"You're still a bad actor. That was your fault you know." Edward scolded when he crawled from underneath my bed.

"Not in the least bit. I only told you to hold me. I didn't say anything about kissing." I reminded him swiftly.

"It's not my fault you looked so tempting, Bella." He replied coyly.

"Likewise it's not my fault you can't resist temptation, Edward." I looked at the clock and saw that it was still early. "So what are we going to do in the meanwhile?"

"Well, I was thinking, once Charlie is deep in his slumber, we could either got to the meadow, or go home. I know Esme is dying to see you again." A small smile made itself known when he thought of his mother.

"Of course we're going to the house! I miss Esme and everyone too. Gosh can you believe that it's been three days since I left them?" I hated being apart from them, Esme more so, at least besides Edward. For the longest of time, I considered myself a part of their family, and it killed me thinking that they were leaving me. But through so many struggles, I had them back, and there was no way I was going to let anyone take them from me.

We only had to wait a half an hour before we could hear Charlie's soft snoring emitting from his room. Again, hand in hand we jumped from my window and ran in the glistening moon light to the familiar white house in the middle of the woods.

We ran through the front door, and I immediately wanted to turn around and run back to Charlie's. The entire house was redone in a reenactment of my birthday party. I looked around and saw the candles, the cake, everything as if it was my eighteenth birthday all over again.

"What is this?" I asked, no, demanded.

Esme ran over to me and instead of saying 'Happy Birthday Bella!' she hugged me saying, "Welcome Home Bella!" I honestly couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of recreating the night that was such a major turning point in my life so far. If it hadn't ended the way it had, I might still be human.

"Alice, I know this was your idea. Why did you even bother with a cake? At least the last one I could have eaten some of it."

"Don't argue with me. I felt it needed to be done this way. And besides, we never really got to celebrate your birthday the right way anyway. We needed to make up for it."

I turned around and poked Edward in the ribs. "And you mister, you could have steered me in a different direction."

His crooked yet perfect smile crept up to his eyes, and I was spellbound all over again. "I tried, I gave you the option of the meadow. But there was only so much I could do. Alice threatened my Volvo." I squinted my eyes at his words, and he immediately regretted his decision.

"You chose your Volvo over me!" I looked at him incredulously. Edward backed away from me into the piano that sat in the foyer. I growled at him when he couldn't go any further.

"Bella, I'm sorry, that's not how I meant for it to come out." He held up his hands defensively, pleading with me. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"And you said I wasn't a good actor." I stomped away from him, Edward's eyes wide in astonishment as I rejoined the family. "You guys didn't get me any presents did you?" I moaned.

Esme let out a quick chuckle. "No dear. Alice saw that you would really be upset if we got you any presents this time. This was the moment we wanted to recreate anyway." Esme hugged me again. I peeked out from underneath my hair and saw everyone smiling at me. Rosalie and Emmett made it back as well. That was a present all in itself. My family was together again.

"So I'm glad you came over Bella! I have an outfit upstairs for you to wear for your first day of school." Leave it to Alice to find some time to shop for me.

"Alice do not act like you didn't see me coming." I added with a laugh.

"Okay true indeed. But nonetheless, let's get upstairs." Alice pulled my arm and pulled me up the two flights of steps to her bedroom. "Now only because you're wearing a cast for this little ruse, will I allow you to wear this in public."

I looked on the bed and I saw a pair of black yoga pants and a white beater. A matching black hoodie was laid out underneath the beater. Alice was actually allowing me to dress down for a change! I'd never been more excited over an outfit she picked for me.

"You do understand that once you're finished with this outfit, it gets burned?" I nodded in agreement. I couldn't wait for tomorrow.