A.N: I would like to apoligise to all my readers for having such a gap between updates, however my computer broke down and I had to also go on holiday with my family.

well i hope you guys will forgive me for this late update. I promise the next won't be far away :)

love you all and my wonderful beta Steeph90

-Katie

Quiet guardian

Chapter 7: Clarity and ambiguity

Edward's health was gradually getting worst each day.

"Bella, he needs help… more help then what we are able to give him."

"I know."

I watched as Bella's eyes once again began to fill with tears, I reached out; pulling her into my embrace, "Tomorrow, we are taking him to the hospital," I felt her sigh and nod her head against me, as I said what she had been thinking, "He will forgive you, I'll tell him it was my idea … it was all my idea."

I picked up Bella's worn out body and carried her over to my bed, I carefully put her down and pressed my lips to her forehead, before leaving my room and walking towards hers.

Edward lay, body facing the ceiling, as he took in his shaky breaths. I made my way over and stood by the side of the bed. "Edward…" he turned, immediately breaking into a smile.

"Emmett, for some reason I thought you were mad at me, you aren't are you?"

I took a breath or two before I replied, "No," plastering on a fake grin, "why would I be?"

Edward began to chuckle for a bit, before being interrupted by one of his coughing fits. I leant over, fixing up his pillow and allowing him to sit up a bit more. "Look Edward, I'm taking you to the hospital tomorrow…"

"Emmett, there is no need for any of that…"

"No, can't you see this isn't about you Edward, Bella needs to see that your getting better, otherwise she isn't well either."

I watched as Edward sighed out and began to think about what I just said , "Your right, I should be doing anything to help Bella, I'll go."

I began to make my way out of the room before I found myself turning back curious, "So how did you do it."

"Do what?

"Become human."

"Oh… it wasn't anything extravagant… just a set of pills, you start off with 100 black ones; which you have to take 4 a day… they begin to make you lose your abilities. Then you move on to 60 red ones which you take 3 a day, you begin to lose your appetite for blood and gain one for human food, and last are the yellow ones I've got to take 2 everyday, they keep my body human and allow me to get old and to get sick… brilliant really."

Edwards explanation, hadn't at all been what I had thought it would be like, the progress of becoming human, well for some reason my mind had thought it up as this big ceremony or something and lastly his answer had if possible left me more confused about the whole situation then before.

"Brilliant." He said again, maybe this time more for himself then me, as I made my way out of Bella's room.

But after seeing Bella's reaction to Edwards sick and slowly decaying body, brilliant wasn't the world I would use to describe this whole situation… not at all.

By the time we arrived at Port Angeles main hospital, Edward was shaking violently, as Bella; fighting back the tears, tried everything to get him to calm down. "It's ok Edward, we are nearly there."

I pulled into the ER drop off and told her to run in and get a doctor. It didn't take long to see 2 doctors run out and few interns close behind with a stretcher. Edward was lifted up onto the stretcher and rushed away into the ER.

I watched as Bella began to rock back and forth on her chair; something she always seemed to do when she was anxious about something, I wrapped a comforting arm around her only to have her bolt upright… the doctor was here.

"Mr Cullen and Miss Swan I presume?"

We both stepped forward, confirming his question. "Is Edward ok?"

"For now… do mind if you two come with me, I think my office is more suitable to place to discuss things with you two."

I took one look around at the crowded waiting room and nodded, holding on to Bella's arm forcing her forward with me to follow the doctor. It wasn't far from the ER and we could still hear the screams and yells from a pile up that had just arrived.

"Please take a seat."

I let go of Bella and watched her carefully as she shakily sat down, before I allowed myself to sit in tune with the doctor.

"I'm Doctor Carter and I want to talk about Edward's illness with you, actually all my doctors were shocked to find out his just got a cold."

Bella and I immediately turned to one another shock clearly written on all of our faces. "But how… his so sick."

"That we know Mr Cullen, but yet it's just a cold… it's like his whole immune system has never had to fight off any viruses before, has Edward ever been sick before?"

My mind flashed to when Carlisle had to change him because he was dying… but this was a new body and a new Edward… so I guess, "No he hasn't, not even a cold."

"Hmmm." I watched as he surveyed both of us suspiciously. Bella kept her head down, throughout our whole talk with Doctor Carter, which had felt more like a interrogation then a chat with a doctor. "So his going to be ok?"

Both Carter and I snapped our heads around, as Bella finally said something, "Well yes … like I said it's really only a cold… his body is just very weak and altogether worn out from fighting it, so I would suggest him to take it easy, maybe put him in a wheelchair for awhile so he can get around, without collapsing… then move on to some crutches as he gradually begins to build that muscle again and strength. I'd also like Edward to come here at least one day a week for some physio therapy… his body is like his be bedridden for months."

I told Bella to wait outside as I signed and made plans for Edwards therapy to begin. He wasn't going to like this at all, even as a human he was if not more stubborn then he had been when he had been a vampire.

I walked only to find Bella missing in action, my one guess was to find Edward, then I'd find Bella and I was right, there half lying next to Edward was Bella, crying into Edward's shoulder. I felt uncomfortable standing there watching what was in front of me, it was like a private or inmate moment being walked in on. It shouldn't have been like this, it should have been simple, Edward was her friend, my brother and Bella should have been able to hug him like that. She was worried, we were all worried.

"Edward we are taking you home… today" I watched as Bella snapped up at my voice, why had she reacted in such a way if what her and Edward had been doing was simple, because deep down I knew it wasn't, none of this was simple.

"See I told you guys nothing to worry about." Edward was talking more to Bella then me. I stepped out again before coming back in wheeling a wheelchair up to Edward's bedside.

"What is that?" Edward

"Well I know your human now, but I thought you would at least keep your intelligence, Edward it's a wheelchair."

Edward seemed to get angry with my teasing and snapped back, "I know what it is, I meant what is it doing here."

"Edward you've been lying in bed for months, eating hardly anything, your leg muscles are nearly all gone… you can't walk."

"Of course I can." Edward made to sit up, and I saw him struggling to find the energy to even do that. Bella pushed him back down.

"Don't be ridiculous Edward, your using the wheelchair and attending physio therapy until your able to walk again."

I watched as Edward reluctantly nodded his head, Bella's words were always so final to Edward… he always agreed (well human Edward did anyway).

Edward was one of the patients nurses and doctors had nightmares of, he hardly tolerated anything anymore, well only Bella seemed to be spared from his violent outbursts, Jacob who had given Bella and I a second chance seem to be regretting it every time he was over… Edward had decided he hated Jacob, when Jacob had accidentally let it slip that he had kissed Bella. I made sure to take him outside and repeatedly tell him, Edward does not know about Bella and I… and we want to keep it like that, until his at least feeling better.

Edward over the next few weeks while in his wheelchair, had overcome his 'cold' , but he was still glued to his chair. I decided to talk to his therapist which I had found out was his third one, the other two had quit, during one of many of Edward's violent outbursts.

"Edward is well, its like he doesn't want to ever walk again, there is nothing physically wrong with his spine or him, his just lazy."

I made sure to tell Bella about this, and sat grinning madly on the lounge room couch as Bella screamed at Edward. Charlie arrived home in the middle of the argument, and walked over sitting next to me. "Hmm maybe he will move out soon?" Maybe just a bit to much wishful thinking.

"Emmett I wanted to thank-you for tutoring Bella this past month, its good to see that she can get a chance to go to college."

"Actually I'm pretty happy at the fact that she now has a chance too, Bella was always quite smart." I watched as Charlie silently agreed to what I had just said, "I'm also happy that you and I are back on talking terms, you know I'm really sorry for the last few months Charlie."

Charlie clasped my shoulder with his hand, now use to my stone built, "I know, your like a son to me Emmett, I'm glad you're here."

I found myself smiling at Charlie's words, he wasn't exactly known for his sensitivity.

"Do you want a pizza? I'm sure Bella and Edward will be hungry after their argument."

I shook my head, "Actually I've just eaten, do you mind if I leave you with them, I want to see Jacob." Charlie shook his head, he after all like Jacob, as much as he liked me.

"Nope you have fun, drive carefully."

I called up Jacob's cell as I made my way over to my jeep.

"Hey Jake, did you want to catch up, ok sounds good, yep I'll meet you at the usual spot."

I got into the jeep and made my way down to the border, but the time I arrived Jacob was already out waiting for me.

"So how is everything, Edward still being annoying tool."

I laughed along with Jake, "If its possible, his getting worst… it's like he doesn't want to get better." Jake continued to walk towards the rocky cliff edge, finally sitting down next to me.

"So your graduating in 2 weeks, exited?"

"Yeah actually I am, it be good to finally get out of here you know." I noticed Jacob immediately look away, "I do expect you to visit you know?" Jacob was immediately smiling again, 'that's what I wanted to see, I couldn't deal with being around anymore sad people,' I pushed Jake's shoulder lightly.

"You didn't think I'd forget about you did ya?"

Jake just shrugged and avoided the question, "So what college you want to go too."

"Yale actually, always wanted to go there… already been to Harvard, Brown and Princeton." Next lifetime might try Dartmouth. I watched as Jacob chuckled and shook his head.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget your centuries old." I joined in laughing along with him.

"I know sometimes even I forget it."

It felt good being here with Jake, there was no Edward… or any other problem that had come up now that he was back, it was just two best friends having a laugh. It was like life had once again become simple again, and oh it felt good.

Jake and I had stayed out for the next few hours before eventually saying that we'd catch up next weekend and drove off, back towards our lives and our troubles.

I made my way up to my bedroom, where I was surprised to find a piss off Bella waiting, "Where the hell have you been?"

"I was with Jake, didn't Charlie tell you?"

"No I haven't talked to Charlie all night, Edward and I only an hour ago finished our fight, Charlie was a sleep by then."

"Wow that was a long fight, you must be exhausted."

"Emmett this isn't something to joke about."

"I know I'm sorry." I wasn't really, it seem silly how much Bella could fight with Edward, yet act as if nothing had been different the next day. I was pretty sure tonight would be no different and her and Edward would be the same tomorrow.

Bella sighed and made move to my bed, "No your not, I guess your right… me and Edward fighting like this nearly every night is rather stupid."

I sat down next to her, "It's just that his not doing anything to get better, yes his finally able to eat solid food, but he hasn't even tried to move on to crutches."

"If you want I can talk to him?" I really didn't want to, but after seeing the smile I got from Bella for suggesting my help, it did seem worth it.

I made my way towards Bella's room, where Edward sat in his wheelchair, staring out at the night sky. I walked up beside him and watched as he jumped a bit surprised I had snuck up on him. "It's weird to forget I don't have those senses anymore, that people can now sneak up on me."

I nodded, not really listening, "Look Edward, your going to physio tomorrow and your going to try to get better, your hurting Bella by not trying and I can't allow you do that anymore, ok?"

"I know, I'm sorry… I guess I'm just being stubborn, it's the only thing that I still have from my vampire life, besides Bella," I cringed slightly, "that makes me feel like I'm still me I guess, apart from being no longer a monster… sorry," I just shrugged it away, "I never really thought I would no longer, feel like myself, I guess I just don't want to lose being me."

It did kind of make some sense, but I hated to agree with him, even before I had found myself hating him. "So you'll try harder?"

"I promise."

"Good." I made to leave, to me that had been final, but Edward he didn't think we were done.

"So Emmett how you been?"

"Are ok I guess."

"You happy your back in forks."

What was this 20 questions?

"Sure I guess."

"So why did you come back, I mean we haven't exactly talked about why you were living here when I returned."

So now it made sense, he was just as curious about me as I was about him. I decided honesty was the best.

"You left her, we all left her to rot here by herself, I had to see that she was ok."

"But why did you have to be the one to come back." Edward was no longer facing the star filled sky, he had turned to me his eyes, showing nothing more but confusion and more questions needing to be asked.

"Because no one else did." I made sure to say every word, as harshly as I mean it to be said, he wanted me to be honest … so that's what I was going to be.

I watched as his Adams apple began to move up and down violently, he was aching and it pleased me. I made my way back out of the room, I didn't want to see him cry… he was pathetic and I wasn't going to waste anymore time on him.

I made my way back towards my room, where Bella was sitting anxiously on my bed.

"So…"

"His going to try harder."

I felt immediately guilty as she kissed me, wrapping her arms around my neck, "Thank-you so much." I mealy nodded, getting rewarded for basically hurting Edward didn't seem right, but Edward still telling Bella he loved her wasn't right, neither was Bella spending every free moment with Edward hugging him or whispering things; that I felt not inclined to listen in on, I guess a lot of things in the past few weeks didn't feel right.

So as I found myself lying next to Bella's sleeping form, I started thinking when things would start to feel right again, and would they ever would.

A.N: Thanks to all who read, i hoped you enjoyed this chapter and i hoped i was able to answer a few questions.

p.s listen to the song lullaby - the spill canvas (take the song in both Emmett/Edward/Bella's POV) trust me u know which parts a which, i believe the song really somes up this chapter.