"Maddie? Maddie?" I called out. I couldn't find her anywhere I looked. There was fog everywhere making it impossible to see anything beyond a few feet. I tried to look down the dark street for Maddie, but I couldn't find her anywhere. "Maddie cut it out. It's cold out here. I wanna go home." I said starting to get really scared. I turned around in a circle, the dark gloom everywhere I looked. "Maddie!" I called out again. Nothing. Tears fell down my face. Where's Maddie? Not knowing what to do I started walking down the street that was underneath my feet when a man appeared about 50 feet away through the fog. Next to him was a girl leaning up against him. He was holding her by her hair. In his other hand was a long blade red blood dripping from the end. He spoke in a rough voice, "I think I found Maddie."

I jerked up in bed and screamed. I had sweat all over me; making my loose t-shirt stick to my body. My door flew open and Charlie ran to my bed. "Bella, what's wrong?" He said, suddenly beside me and holding me close. I shook my head. "Just a bad dream. Just a bad dream." Don't cry Bella. Not now. You wont be able to stop if you do. "I'm fine dad. Go back to bed." I said laying back down. "Okay.." He said, looking down at me in concern; his eyes watched my face for a few minutes, but couldn't seem to find anything to him have a good reason to stay and got up. He looked hesitant at first, but his tiredness willed him to go back to bed.

I laid in bed staring up at the white ceiling. I blocked everything out. I can't think about Maddie right now; I couldn't handle it. I felt my heart ach at her name. I closed my eyes ready for another sleepless night.

**

The next three days went by in a flash. I was starting to know the patient by name and was starting to feel sad for a lot of them, as I heard all their stories. I wasn't sure how Edward could take it all in so easily. I didn't know how he could look into Donivan's eyes; knowing that his brain tumor might very well kill him tomorrow. How could he just smile at Izzie, while her hair is falling out while they are talking?

Edward was really something. It took a really amazing person to do what he does every day. Giving these kids hope, while they are surrounded in darkness, making them laugh when everything around them is dull and depressing.

I had all but broken down when he told me about Callie and that she had been born premature by three months and was still suffering the effects that it caused. She was now 8. She had to come in twice a month for checkups to make sure everything was still forming right inside her misshaped body.

But Edward; no, he didn't let all these things get to him, he takes all these things and puts it into his desire to help these kids. It was an amazing thing to see.

I was also surprised to see how it made me feel; to be a part of helping these little people. I felt like I was really doing something important.

Also as the days past I got to hear a little more about Edward. He told me how great his adoptive parents were and how they had been married for 25 years and had been trying to have a child for 20. He told me a lot about Jasper. About how he owned his own library in Port Angeles. I could tell Edward and Jasper must be really close by the way he talked about his adoptive brother.

I was starting to become a little more comfortable around Edward as well. Which was a big thing for me. I mean I wasn't ready to tell him my big bad secret or anything, but I could talk with him easily. I was kind of afraid I might talk too much. But he never said anything about it. But even if he did mind, I don't think he would say so. He seemed like the kind of person who would let himself be uncomfortable if it let someone else be at ease.

I walked through the front doors of Forks Hospital on my third day when a short little girl about my age walked up to me. She had short, spiky brown hair and bright eyes. "Hi Bella! I'm Alice, Edward's sister. Well, adopted sister, but whatever." She said with a huge perfect smile. "Hello." I said smiling back; not really getting the chance to hug her back before she was at arm's length again.

"Edward couldn't be here today, he is err…doing something. But Carlisle said you can work with me today." She said looking very excited about the idea. "Okay." I said with a shrug. Edward had told me a little about Alice, but I wasn't ready for the bouncy ball of energy. Not that that was a bad thing.

"I work on the upper wing of the hospital. I work with the elderly people." She told me as we walked side by side to an elevator that was in the lobby. I just nodded and followed her.

Alice turned out to be a very…interesting person. She is very funny. And…hyper. Yeah that's the word; I think. We worked in the upper wing with the elderly people. Alice is just as good with them, as Edward is with the children; which was kind of surprising since she was so energetic. But as I watched her with the older women and men I saw the same caring look on her face that I had seen on her brother's. And as it turned out the older people seemed to like her spunk. They found her very entertaining and endearing.

"Alice, why is there so many people in Forks Hospital?" I asked as we walked out of a 86 year old man name Howard's room. It didn't make since why a place so small could have so many sick people. "Oh, the hospital in Port Angeles caught fire about a year ago so most of the patients there had to be sent here. Also, everyone loves Carlisle." She said with an even bigger smile.

I could tell that this family must have great respect for their fatherly figure. Which wasn't hard to imagine; I really don't know the man that well but I could see how he raised his kids. And anyone with kids like these must have really great parents. "Wow. Your dad seems great."

"Oh he is. And so is Esme, are mother. We're all adopted. Emmett is the only one actually related to them. Esme was his mom's sister." Oh. Suddenly I felt bad for this family. Did this mean they all lost their families? And what about Edward? It seemed like he was on my mind all the time lately. I didn't understand the way I felt inside whenever I thought of his name. It was sort of like a tingly feeling and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

But the very thought of Edward being hurt, made me sick to the core. Alice brought me out of my thoughts. "Bella? You ready for lunch?" I nodded and we headed down the hall.

After we got our trays of lunch we sat down at a table. My lunch consisted of half of a ham sandwich, two crackers, and a pudding cup. "Bella, you're eating less than me!" Alice exclaimed; sitting down across from me at the small circular table. "And that is very hard to do." A large man said sitting next to Alice. I was taken back for a moment by the mere size of the man. He was at least 6.6 and was very wide. Not in any way fat, just covered in muscle. Alice looked like a small child next to him. "Emmett!" Alice said hitting him upside the head.

"Sorry. Where's Eddie?" Emmett said with a grin. "He is uh….doing something." Alice said very suggestively her eyes growing a little wider. "What?" Emmett said with a baffled look on his face. "He is doing something." She said through her teeth giving Emmett a very meaningful look. Emmett still didn't get it.

"Um, Alice do you want me to walk to the bathroom and back?" I asked slightly amused. Clearly she wanted to tell him something without my knowledge. "No Bella. My stupid brother will figure it out. Emmett. What is the date?"

"Uh…the 15th?" He asked looking very thoughtful. "Yes Emmett. And why do you think that on this day, Edward and Carlisle are not here? Or why Esme isn't at home?" She asked suggestively. He seemed to think about this for a long while before realization fell upon him. "Oh! The court date!" He exclaimed. "Emmett!" Alice yelled, hitting him again. He looked guilty as he rubbed the spot where Alice had hit him on the arm.

I chuckled. Obviously Emmett was not very bright. "Oh sorry." He said with a small smile.

"I'm sorry for my brother's idiocy, Bella." I shook my head. "No problem." I said. Realization came upon Emmett. "Your Bella?" He asked. I nodded. "Dang. So you're the girl Edwards been talking ab-"

"Emmett!" Alice interrupted, hitting him yet again. "Would you stop that?" He said with a scowl. I chuckled. This family was so very funny. I watched as Alice and Emmett bantered back and forth with each other. I could get used to this. Wait, what am I saying? Get used to what? I am going home in three and a half weeks. There will be no getting used to anything in Forks.

Emmett left for a moment, leaving with a rub of Alice's hair and came back a minute later with a tray of food; and then we all ate in silence. "When will they be home?" Emmett asked a little later. "I'm not sure. It could take a long time. Hopefully Edward will be able to talk about it this time. If he doesn't the judge will have to reschedule." As they talked I kept my head down and ate, listening quietly. But my mind was full of questions.

Was Edward okay? Was he in trouble? What happened? Had they had to reschedule before? Why? Oh the question 'why'. The worst of them all. I hated that questioned. It's the most asked, yet the less answered. Sometimes life's just hard, with no reason at all.

After we ate we worked some more, feeding some patients, giving others their medicine. There were some times I wasn't sure what to do and I just watched Alice as she worked easily with the older people. Alice was very patient with me; explaining everything that I didn't understand with great detail so I would be able to do whatever needed to do with confidence. Around five Alice offered to give me a ride home.

"So Bella, Angela says you guys are really good friends." Alice said as we rode in her yellow Porsche. The radio was on, but on low so that we could talk easily talk if we wanted to, but was loud enough that if we didn't it wasn't awkward. "Oh yeah. We've known each other for like, ever." I said nervously. What else did Angela tell her? Did she tell her about my problem? She couldn't have. Angela isn't like that. Suddenly I felt guilty for even thinking like that. I had no reason to doubt Ang.

"Cool. Ang and I are pretty good friends too. She is so nice. I think you and I will be great friends, Bella. Today was so much fun. I'm gonna have to go tell Jasper all about you. Well, everything that Edward hasn't already." she said chuckling. "Jasper? That's like your brother right?" I asked.

"Well, kind of. He's actually my boyfriend. It's complicated." She said with a laugh. "See, Emmett is Esme's nephew. Rosalie is Emmett's fiancé and Esme's adopted daughter. Jasper and I are dating, yet we both are adopted by Carlisle and Esme. And then there's Edward. He's adopted as well. Like I told you before, we are all adopted. We all have own story to tell." She sighed as she continued.

"And it's harder for some of us then it is for others. I mean, take me for instants. My parents died when I was a baby so I don't remember them at all. And I found Carlisle and Esme when I was five. And then there's Edward." Alice's face slid a little, turning from happy to a little upset. "And Edward, well his story is like mine, but oh so different." She sighed again.

"Oh. Well, he seems fine to me." Did something happen to him? What did Alice mean by their stories were alike but different? I wanted to ask these questions, but I didn't know if I would be overstepping my bounds."He was pretty happy when I saw him yesterday."

"Yeah, he puts up a good front. But I've said too much already. If Edward wants to tell you his story, then he will." She said as she pulled in Charlie's driveway.

"Yeah. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I said getting out of the car. "Okay. Bye Bella!" she said with a huge smile back on her face. I watched as she pulled out of the drive way and drive off down the road before making my way into the empty house.

Dad wasn't home yet so I was left with nothing to do. I felt kind of weird sitting in the house all alone; so not being able to think of anything else to do I ran up stairs and grabbed my PJ's and went to the bathroom. I took a 25 minute long shower; enjoying the steaming water on my back. Once I was out I threw my dirty clothes, my smock and white pants, into the hamper in my room and made my way back down the stairs. I was glad and a little relieved to see that dad was home; sitting on the sofa watching the basketball game, his socked feet propped up on the coffee table, gun-belt hanging on the hook by the front door.

"Hey I thought I heard the shower running. How was your day?" He asked as I took the seat next to him.

"It was good. I was working with Alice today though." I said leaning my head tiredly back into the cushions. Only sleeping 3 hours wasn't really something I needed to do very often. "Edward wasn't there today; well neither was Mr. Carlisle. So I worked with Alice in the elderly wing."

"Well that's nice." He said, looking back to the TV screen now that the commercial was over.

I chuckled and got to my feet. "I'm going to go make us some dinner. Fried fish sound good to you?"

Dad nodded, still not looking up. I smiled and made my way to the kitchen wondering if he even knew what he said.

That night was another sleepless night, with more nightmares. But I also had a dream. A real, beautiful, miraculous, dream. And it was about a cretin green eyed boy.

***

Edward's POV

We sat waiting outside the court room on a hard wooden bench. My mind was full of Bella. There was something about her, that made me feel all weird in side, but I liked it. I would rather my mind be full of this beautiful girl, than the things I would be forced to remember when we enter the room. The last couple of days had been rather perfect. Bella and I had worked side by side each day from 8:30am to 5:00pm. And during the 25 ½ hours that I had spent with her in the hospital I had learned quite a bit about her. She told me more about her mother, and how she was really the more responsible out of the two. She told me about growing up with only one parent being there at a time. She had told me how she missed her father when she was away from him. She also had told me about her best friend Ang and how they had kept in contact over the years even through the distance.

I found Bella quite interesting. She was quiet, but I got the impression that she had an opinion of her own and wasn't afraid to stand up for what she thought was right. She was absolutely stunning; partly because I was sure she didn't flaunt it like most girls do.

The door of the court room suddenly opened and I was brought back to the here and now. Fear quickly swept over me. Would I be able to tell them? All of them? "Mr. Mason?" A man wearing a policeman's uniform said. I stood up, along with Carlisle and Esme. "You're up." I took in a deep breath. Here we go.

"Mr. Mason please approach the stand." Judge Maverick ordered. I did as he said. Carlisle and Esme sat amongst the crowd ; as I sat down after swearing to tell the truth I stared at them. I knew what would be coming next, and I wasn't sure if I could do it. I wasn't sure if I could revisit everything I would have to if I was going to tell these people what they wanted to know. A lawyer wearing a dark grey suit and blue tie came up to me. "Mr. Mason. Could you please tell us some of things that the Tyson's did to you while you were in their care?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes um…Well, I went to live with them when I was five years old. At first it was okay. They were a nice, normal family. But then one day I forgot to make my bed, and when Mr. Tyson got home, he got really mad.

"He slapped me across the face. That's the first time he hit me. But then, he- he. I'm sorry." I sighed closing my eyes. Pull yourself together Edward. You can do this. You can do can't hurt you here. "I'm sorry." I said clearing my throat. "The next time he got mad he pulled out this wooden cane…."

***

Bella's POV

Ugh. Saturday. I thought sitting up in my bed. Dr. Carlisle said I didn't need to come into work on Saturday. But that meant I wouldn't be able to see Edward. Why did this bother me so much? What about this guy has got me going crazy? Or since I'm already pretty crazy, crazier? I spent yesterday with his sister and today I'm going to be all by myself. Angela called me last night to invite me to go see a movie today, but I said no. I can't go to the theater. Not anymore. Not after what happened to Maddie. That's one of the reasons why I don't have many friends. Everyone thinks I'm a freak and maybe I am.

Angela understands though. She knows what happened. Angela doesn't think I'm a freak. But Edward, he will. If he knew just how crazy I really am, he wouldn't want to be my friend. I don't even understand why Angela is my friend. Does she not see my freakishness? I groaned as I pulled myself out of bed. I went in the bathroom and brushed my teeth and got dressed. Then I headed down stairs for some breakfast. There was a note on the fridge that read,

Bells, I've gone fishing with Billy. I'll be back late. Go have fun. I have my cell if anything goes wrong.

Great. I opened the fridge and got some milk for my cereal. I ate slowly. When I was done I put my bowl in the sink. Then the door bell rang. It scared me a little and I jumped. I walked over to the door and opened it. The person behind the door, I was not expecting at all. "Oh hey Edward."

A/N Hey people! Thanks for reading! Did you like it? Once again I have to thank Vinetta-Venture for being my Beta! She has been adding details and such since I am so bad at that. :/ So readers, just a little heads up. This is going to be a sad story. I probably should have told you this before. But yeah, it's going to be sad. The end will be happy though! I think... Any way, please review!!

-Esmefan1-Elissa.