EPOV

Waking up and stretching I realized I had been sleeping on something too short and too narrow, Bella's couch.

I loved seeing her again but I was still having a hard time getting over the heartache she created when she left. I told her there wasn't any reason for her to be sorry yet I still felt betrayed, especially when I found out that my parents knew where she had been the last few years. Not to mention that they knew about her move back.

I couldn't help but smile when I noticed her asleep on the loveseat. Instead of being comfortable in her own bed, she slept out here with me.

Grabbing my shoes, which were sitting next to her, I noticed something on the inside of her right wrist. An exact replica of our son's footprint was tattooed with Our Angel underneath. I would know that little foot anywhere. Periodically I pulled out his birth certificate and death certificate and just stared at them trying to figure out what went wrong. In doing so, I had memorized every little wrinkle. She was obviously stronger then I was to have a permanent reminder. Tattoos had never interested me but hers was so tastefully done that I was amazed by it. Since his foot was so small, against her wrist it didn't look out of place.

Slipping my shoes on, I couldn't believe I had stooped so low, leaving her in the early hours of dawn. I'd dreamt of seeing her thousands of times and this was never what I did. I just hoped she understood that I needed to get away and think.

Brushing the hair away from her face I whispered, "I love you, Isabella."

5 days later

If I thought that living without Bella the last six years was agonizing, the last five days were worse. Why I had choose this route was beyond me.

I tried rationalizing it by telling myself that she took six years, a week wasn't too much to ask for. Childish I know, but I didn't want to jump in without analyzing everything.

Once I had finally decided that my feelings for Bella had never changed; I loved her with all of my heart. I always had and I always would. I needed a course of action, a grand gesture to show her how much I truly loved her.

But what? I still had something tucked away that I had bought her years ago. Would it be a bad omen to give it to her now? Would she accept it?

Sitting in my car, killing the last few minutes before I started my shift, I decided to start deleting messages. Having spent the last few days pretty much isolated from family, they had bombarded me with voicemails, text messages and emails. Aside from listening to the voicemails to make sure everyone was okay, I had ignored the text messages and emails.

Scrolling through my text messages I noticed one that Alice had sent yesterday. The only reason it caught my attention was because she started it tag you're it.

Tag you're it – Bella called, meeting her for dinner Wednesday night.

I still haven't given up on you 2.

Glancing at the time and noticing it was 7:30, I wondered if they were still together. Not that it matter, I was stuck at work until 8 o'clock tomorrow night. At which time I hoped to get my life with Bella back on track. Right now the only way to accomplish that was to get my butt in gear and go into work.

I caught myself smiling as I walked through the parking lot. I'm sure I looked like a moron but I was excited about the future and the fact that Bella had contacted Alice.

Alice had taken Bella's leaving as hard as I had. From grade school on those two were inseparable until hormones kicked in and I noticed Bella for the first time in 8th grade. Actually, I noticed her the first day of kindergarten when I told her that her big brown eyes looked like brown M&M's. Needless to say, she didn't fall for that line.

Alice and Bella met when Alice started kindergarten the year after me. Older girls were picking her on in the girls' bathroom when Bella the big 1st grader that she was came to her rescue. After that Bella was a permanent fixture at the Cullen house. Bella being an only child and Alice wanting a sister, they found what they were missing in each other.

Finally reaching my destination, my first stop for my shift, the workstation. I needed to see what patients were here, what was going on with them and which ones were mine.

"Cullen, you missed all the excitement. Semi and a car collided…"

Before he could finish, Alice ran up to me. "Edward, they won't let me see her. I need to know if she is okay. Tell them to let me see her." She was crying hysterically.

Grabbing her by the shoulders I said, "Alice, calm down. What happened?"

Sobbing she said, "It happened right in front of me. She didn't want to drive into Port Angeles so we went to the coffee shop. We were leaving and she was in front of me going through the intersection and out of nowhere a truck hit her."

Bella.

Sitting down I put my head in my hands. I had to shove all personal feelings aside and be professional. After taking several deep breaths I was ready to see where Bella was and find out if she was seriously hurt.

Addressing the other Doctor on duty, I asked, "Which room is Isabella Swan in?"

Looking at me skeptically John answered, "She's in 10."

Reaching the door calming myself with deep breaths; I slide the door open to see Bella sitting on the bed wiping tears. On the outside I could tell she wasn't hurt. A few scrapes and bruises from the airbag. I'm sure she will be sore considering she was hit was a semi. Not wanting to acknowledge it, but it could have been worse.

Realizing that he had followed I asked, "Can you give us a few minutes?"

Not even waiting for him to leave the room. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into my arms, careful not to hurt her from my embrace. I knew now, more than I ever did before that I wasn't going to let her go.

Holding her face between my hands looking directly into her eyes, "This isn't exactly how I planned to say this. I love you. I was a coward not to say it the other day."

With tears spilling over she told me what I needed to hear. "Edward, I love you too. I always have. You aren't a coward, I was the fool that left in the first place."

Giving her a quick kiss I said, "Now that I know you're okay, I need to get to work. Alice told me what happened just as I was starting my shift." Kissing her once more. "If you don't mind, Alice is throwing a fit wanting to see you."

"I would welcome her company until I can get out of here. Do you think you could pull some strings and spring me Doctor Cullen?"

Laughing I said, "Let's make sure you're okay before releasing you Miss Swan."

Reluctant to let her go I stood but left her fingers intertwined with mine, I kissed the inside of her wrist and started for the door.

"Edward I love you."

Winking at her I said, "I love you too."

Stepping out into the hall I was greeted by a very upset Charlie.

"Edward is she okay? They've assured me she isn't seriously hurt but I want to hear it from you."

"She's fine. I just got here myself so I don't know all the details. I'll get the Doctor attending her for you." I didn't feel comfortable at all talking to him like this so I started walking away.

He stopped me by saying, "I'm sorry Edward. I've given you a rough way the last few years." And then he did the unthinkable he offered me his hand.

Shaking his hand, I just nodded since I couldn't find the right words, "I need to get back to work and you need to see Bella."

So much for the light hearted mood I was in prior to coming to work. But that is the life of an ER Doctor. You never know who will come in or what will happen. I just hoped that the next 24 hours were uneventful.