Hey guys. Sorry for the wait. My beta has been crazy busy and I have been dealing with my ex boyfriend lol (girls, you know how that is). But that's done and I'm free *singing* I wave my hands up in the air sometimes, saying "Ay yo, gotta let go". haha. Well that means more chapters for you guys. And I've been working on many many other stories too.

Anyways, this chapter is nice and ready for you.

Is it Edward's chapter? Or is it Bella? hmm. Read and find out. ;)

Enjoy.

My hands flew to my eyes as if to rid them of the blinding light I had awaken to. The air was stale as it hit the back of my swollen throat. I tried to swallow and flinched as the saliva slowly made its way down. I had a numbing feeling on the left side of my face and I raised my non-used hand to touch it but stopped it in the process as it crossed my line of sight. My hand, so heavily wrapped in the tan-colored bandage, made it seem as if it had been swallowed.

What I could see of the fingers that peeked from the top, were sewn on the complete left side of each finger.

I don't remember having hurt my hand.

I continued the exploration of the unknown numb feeling in my face and allowed both of my hands to feel. My breath caught in my throat as I roamed freely. I only felt plush gauze on every part of this side.

I forcefully brought my hands down on my lap and blankly stared at them with wide eyes. The tears prickled the corners of my eyes and I allowed them to escape as they softly rolled down my half-covered face. I swallowed without warning and flinched at the pain it inflicted.

Allowing my eyes to close, I felt my vulnerability for the first time. It was my fault. I wouldn't be here hadn't it been for my stupidity in confronting my cheating boyfriend. I mean was it worth all this? To be in a hospital, bandaged completely to the point where I had no feeling in anything?

But I wanted it. I wanted it to work out. I hoped it would work out.

I mean, it shouldn't have been hard to admit something like this, should it? How deep must the hole be for a person to stay in hiding for so long?

I sniffled and the more the thoughts and questions came into my head, the guiltier I became in getting myself so involved. Everyone was right from the beginning: I should've stayed away. But there's something that makes the chase, the danger in itself, so appealing. It's like a craving that I wanted to fulfill, something I knew I would get hurt if I got too deep into trying to succumb the feeling.

The tears kept the even flow down the path they created down my face.

Was it worth it? Was it worth the pain? Was it worth the effort? Was it worth losing myself inside this fantasy?

I am at my lowest point and the feeling to run away from this pumped through my veins. The downside of this was the reality that came with it.

I can't run away.

Aro. What would he do if he found out I was no longer with the Cullens? I would definitely be on the hunting list. I would need—no, have to be killed. And after all that I experienced, it wasn't worth it. The fact of the matter was that, I needed to be changed.

Opening my eyes, I let my gaze wander around the room. I hadn't noticed that the entire time I was attempting to sort out my mistake, I was surrounded.

Starting at the left, there stood Carlisle, watching me with careful eyes and even though he had to stay professional, I saw the sadness that lied behind them. Behind him, the medical staff he must have worked with to resuscitate me. Continuing around the room, I saw Emmett. A weak smile spread across his face as he looked at me. Next, clung onto Emmett's arm, was Rose, who for once, stared at me with nothing but understanding that held her eyes. She gave me a nod and then a smile spread across your face.

"You're very lucky," she mouthed. Instantaneously, I understood the meaning behind those words. Next to Rose, Esme stood, with her fingers dwindling. She stared at me with the look of a mother who had failed in the protection her child, even if that was far from the scenario.

Next to her was Jasper, and in his arms Alice. I quickly averted my eyes. They were the only two who I couldn't look at, especially Alice.

There was one person missing, but should that have been surprising? Having my eyes circle the room one more time, I noticed another thing: their eyes. They all held the same dark color. How long had I been out for?

"Bella, how do you feel?" I felt a hand on mine and turned to my left to look at Carlisle.

"I—I don't know how I feel. I don't know what to feel truthfully about this." The words came out scratchy and rough as I spoke.

He looked down as if searching for something else to say and then he brought his head back up and looked into my eyes again, "do you have any pain? Can you feel anything in your face or your head?"

I shook my head.

"Okay, well, I need to look at your vitals." He reached one hand into the right pocket on his coat and pulled out a small flashlight. The light appeared and it was flashed into both of my eyes. Then he turned to the medical team behind him and nodded his head and as he did so, the team retreated for the door.

Carlisle waited until he heard the door close before he spoke again. "Your vitals are good. Better than they were when you came in a couple days ago," he paused and looked down again before he turned his head to look around the room at his family.

"Bella, I'm not exactly sure how much you remember but, the damage done to your face was extensive. When you came in, and I first examined you," he took in a breath. This was just as hard on him as everyone else, "I realized that, the whole left side of your face, caved in. It took a couple hours in surgery to stop the bleeding and then try to put out the pieces of bone and put them back together.

"You're face, doesn't look like how it was before, but if you want, you could get reconstructive surgery to make it look similar to how it did before. It would take a couple of surgeries but—"

"No," I interrupted.

"Ok."

"Where's Edward?"

A growl escaped from Emmett, Rose, Alice, and Jasper. It didn't take me too long before I realized that he was with Tanya again.

"Is he that inconsiderate? Seriously? Did he ever care? That asshole!"

No answer.

"Is it possible that I can finish my healing at your house, Carlisle?"

"Well, yes, but it probably won't be for another 2-3 days. Considering that you just woke up from a coma, we have to put you through many tests before you are allowed to leave."

"That's fine."

I needed to know where I wanted to go from here. Not only from where I'm staying at but also as far as what I should do about Edward.

Squeezing Carlisle's hand I gazed at everyone once again. "Thank you, everyone, for being here. It—it means a lot to me." Esme came over slowly and placed her hand atop my other, "Bella, you're just as much a part of this family now. We're always going to be there for you." She came close and her lips pressed against my temple. I closed my eyes contently and remembered how my mother did the same things when I was a child.

"Thank you Esme," wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her in close to give her a hug.

"I, uhm, I want to talk to Rose and Alice, if that's ok with everyone."

Everyone nodded and began to file their way out the room. Rose and Alice made their way towards my bedside.

"I'll go get you some water," Carlisle called out as he left.

The door clicked behind him and the room remained quiet.

"I wanted guidance from the both of you," I started, "I wanted to know what I should do."

"I think you should tear off his—"

"Rose," Alice interrupted, "be serious."

"You think I was bluffing?" Rose snapped.

The quiet came all too fast. Thank you for Carlisle, who came in right after and handed me my water.

"Thank you." He nodded towards me, a soft smile spread across his face, before he walked out again, closing the door behind him.

Taking the straw into my mouth, I sucked in the water. The coolness saturated my dry mouth and eased and relaxed my throat as I swallowed. Heaven.

After swallowing a few sips, I placed the water on the desk next to me before I spoke.

"Is he where I think he is?"

Rose answered, "With his ho? Yep."

"That's not what he's there for though," Alice spoke.

"My ass," Rose retorted.

"Seriously, Rosalie? I know what he's there for," she turned to look at me, "he wants to be with you Bella. He's ending things with Tanya, despite the risk."

The risk? What risk?

Before I could ask, Rose spoke. "He wants to be with her? Why? Why would he even waste his time? He let it go this far and after the damage has already been done he decides he wants to be with her?"

"He loves her."

"I don't care Alice. Aren't you thinking this through? Don't you understand the realities of what happened a few days ago? And don't tell me you remember because had it not been for Emmett getting there when he did, you would've killed Bella."

My head snapped up at Alice, "You tried to kill me?"

"It—it was an accident," she whispered.

"Alice—"

"Bella, don't. I'm sorry. I tried to carry you down to the Jeep when Emmett got to your house and I hadn't hunted—we all haven't hunted. I—I just got thirsty and—I'm just sorry Bella. So sorry."

I took her hand and used it to pull her towards me. I embraced her and held her close, "its ok. Don't worry about it."

"But—"

"Don't worry about it."

We stayed like that until she understood that I was forgiving her. The regret would still be there, but as long as she knew it was ok.

She stepped back to her original spot and I watched as her forehead wrinkled together as she thought about her next words, "I think you should talk to him."

"No!" Rose yelled, "She shouldn't do that."

"And why not?"

"Because last time she tried to talk to him she ended up here."

"He's coming around."

"Alice, stop sticking up for him, he doesn't deserve it."

"But he's our brother, Rose! You can't just shun him either! He needs guidance just like Bella does. He's hurting too!"

"But not enough," Rose spat through her teeth.

"Stop it!" I yelled, "this is getting nowhere. I understand that both of you are going through a hard time swallowing this, but I am too. I'm hurting too and this isn't easy and won't get any easier if you guys keep arguing!" I moved my head between them to look at them both.

"Sorry," they both muttered.

"Ok, now we need to put all the facts on the table and move from there," I suggested.

"What do you guys know already that I don't?"

Yes, the chapter's over. Yes, I left you on a cliff. Yes, I know you hate that. :P

I don't know about you, but I was waiting to use half of Rosalie's lines, which came from a lot of your reviews. So thank you for those that left really angry, frustrated ones. It was a lot of fun taking suggestions.

Anyways, next chapter will be up as soon as I can get it beta'd. It's been typed for weeks now.

You guys know the drill: Read, Review, Reward

Love you guys ,

~Chelsea.