Hi. Thanks to you and my girls. See you soon.

Blind Ambition – Chapter Ten

"Are you sure you're going to be okay, sweetie?" Esme touched Edward's hand softly, and he smiled.

"I'm fine, Mom. As long as I know where my underwear is everything's great," he told her.

Jasper whispered loudly, "Top drawer, buddy."

"I'm serious, Edward," his mother sighed.

"What makes you think I'm not serious, Mom?" He grinned, so she leaned over and pinched his cheek. "Ow! You can't do that to a blind guy!"

"I'm your mother, I can do whatever I want," Esme replied with a slightly indignant tone. "Your father and I will come back next weekend, okay?"

"Okay," Edward grumbled. He felt his mother lift herself from the couch and kiss the top of his head. Jasper's and then Alice's footsteps followed his mother's to the door of his apartment, and he leaned back against the couch, exhausted.

He heard them say their goodbyes, and then return back to the living room with him.

"You guys can go, you know. I don't need a babysitter."

"Are you sure?" Alice asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm pretty mobile these days, you know." Edward gave his sister a lopsided grin, which he hoped she returned.

"Thanks to Dr. Clearwater," his sister replied in a teasing tone.

"She's…she's pretty good." Edward nodded slowly, feeling like his sister and her husband were suddenly having a silent conversation right in front of his face. "You're both being super sketchy right now, so stop."

"Okay, okay," Jasper laughed and patted Edward on top of the head. "We'll see you later, sweetheart."

"Get away from me," Edward grumbled and slapped at his friend's hand.

He could hear a soft thump and an "Oof", and he assumed Alice had slapped her husband, or at least given him a nice kidney shot for him.

"Call me if you need anything," she said as she touched his shoulder gently.

"I will, I will. Get out of here, you crazy kids."

Edward waited until the front door closed before slowly making his way to lock the door. He was tired, but felt stronger than he had in the two weeks since Bella had left. His family had done a great job of keeping his mind occupied, and for that he was eternally grateful, but all he really wanted to do was to be alone for a little while. He felt like he was still in the processing stage of the breakup and still wasn't quite sure how to feel.

The first week had been rough, and he didn't mind that his family had been worried. Now was different, though. Now Edward knew that there were things he needed to do on his own in order to move on. His recovery was one of them, of course- both physically and emotionally.

"Ow," Edward muttered to himself as he made his way to the kitchen to find something for dinner. His muscles ached from being on his feet with his family all day, but he almost enjoyed the pain. It meant that he was alive, after all. Alice had offered to cook for him, but Edward was adamant about doing it himself: something else he needed to get used to doing.

With the help of his mother and Alice (and a reluctant Jasper), they had reorganized the majority of his little apartment so that everything was easily accessible to him. Thankfully, he was mobile; he just needed to know exactly where everything was. Edward was pretty good with dressing himself these days, too. It helped that all of his jeans were the same and he didn't really wear anything but t-shirts, but there were some occasions where he wanted to dress himself up a little. Then he just used one of the trusty apps Jasper had helped him find for his phone.

It was pretty amazing what technology could do.

Edward smiled as he found the shelf marked CANDY with a Braille label. Another label had been attached right underneath it: USE IN MODERATION OR EMERGENCIES. LOVE, MOM.

He chuckled to himself as he popped a Reese's cup in his mouth. His diabetes was easy enough to handle, as long as he ate right, but every once in a while he had a craving for something sweet. When he was a kid the house was always stocked with peanut butter cups. Edward joked that it was the reason he was diabetic, though his doctor father reasoned that diabetes actually ran in the family.

In the middle of making himself a sandwich, Edward heard his phone ringing a special ring reserved for Skype calls, so he quickly made his way to the living room and fell onto the couch to answer it.

"Hello?" he asked, breathless.

"What the hell are you doing? Running a marathon?" Emmett's voice greeted him, and Edward felt himself grin.

He laughed, "Shit, man. Anything on my feet is considered a marathon these days."

His brother chuckled quietly. "I'm glad you're on your feet, Edward. Really glad. I wish I could be there to help get your skinny ass back in shape."

"Ah, don't worry about me. My physical therapist is pretty scary," Edward joked.

"Good, I hope she doesn't take any of your shit, either."

"Absolutely not."

"I'm sorry about Bella, man. I hate being over here while you're going through all of this." Emmett's voice was quiet and Edward shrugged, realizing too late that his brother could probably really only see his face at the moment.

"Is that your way of telling me you miss me? That's sweet, Em."

"I mean it, Edward."

"I know you do. And you'll be home soon to take me out and get me drunk like the great brother you are, right?"

"Of course I will!" Emmett laughed loudly, and Edward knew it to be true. Emmett's philosophy was that a few beers could cure anything, even a broken heart.

"If your wife will let you out of her sight?"

"Yeah, that too." He could practically hear the smile in his brother's voice. "God, I miss them."

"They miss you, too. We all do. Just a few more weeks, bro. You can handle it."

"I know," Emmett sighed. "Hey, I'm supposed to be giving you the pep-talk!"

"I'm good, Emmett. Don't worry about me."

Emmett changed the subject, "So, how much longer in your rehab?"

"Well," Edward started as he leaned back, holding the phone up to his face. "Technically two weeks, but Leah says I'm progressing quickly so maybe just one more. I'm still a little sore from this week, but I'm feeling pretty good besides that."

"Leah, huh? What's she look like?"

Edward slipped off his glasses and raised an eyebrow at the phone in his hand, causing Emmett to laugh loudly.

"Sorry!" his brother gasped through his laughter.

"That was the dumbest thing you've ever said to me, you insensitive asshole," Edward snorted, slipped his glasses back on and shook his head. "You'd have to ask Jasper. I think his exact words were 'pretty is an understatement'. She smells nice, though."

"She smells nice." Edward could almost see Emmett rolling his eyes. "You're such a chick."

"I've been a little preoccupied lately, okay!" Edward defended himself. "And besides, she's my doctor, that's against the rules or something."

"Against the rules is hot, Ed. You should go for it."

Edward laughed quietly and shook his head. "Emmett, I've been single for two weeks. Give me time to get over it, okay?"

"Fine, but when I get home we're hitting the town. You can play the blind guy and I'll be your wingman."

"Too far-fetched. No one will ever buy it," Edward teased half-heartedly.

"It'll be great. Like Daredevil and his sidekick."

"You're an idiot, Emmett. Besides, Daredevil doesn't have a sidekick."

"I mean it!"

"Which is why you're an idiot. I love you, man, stay safe over there."

"I'll be home before you know it," Emmett said softly, and Edward nodded. "See you soon."

Edward muttered his goodbye and let his phone drop to the couch cushion beside him, feeling lighter than he had in two weeks. It was mostly to do with being able to talk to his brother, but the conversation about Leah had his mind suddenly reeling. He knew she was beautiful- it was almost like he could feel it radiating off her. Maybe it was because she was so compassionate, but sometimes when he looked at her and tried to make the image of her in his mind, she seemed to glow.

Of course, thinking about it in those terms sounded stupid, so he couldn't exactly explain it to anyone. He was also nursing a broken heart, so the idea of him being anything but professional with Leah wasn't even close to being on the table. Edward had been with Bella for nearly seven years and he knew it was going to take time to get over here.

He also knew, very clearly, that when he did move on, it definitely wouldn't be a fling. Edward had never been one to look at relationships so flippantly, and knew that anyone who would get involved with him and all that came with him had to be serious about it. His mind drifted back to Leah and he stifled a little groan.

It was going to be hard getting her out of his mind.