Chapter song: Redemption Songs: Johnny Cash

Won't you help to sing These songs of freedom? - 'Cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs; Redemption songs.

Bella was walking around her room for no particular reason at all. Other than she was high from the medication they gave her for the pain. Edward sat on the bed chuckling to himself as Bella floated past him for the tenth time.

" Bella could you stop pacing for a while and come sit down as amusing as it is you are wearing me out."

Bella threw her head back a mad laugh erupting from behind her lips. She sat down or rather fell down onto her make shift bed. Edward looked at her with a raised brow patting the opposite side of the bed. " Come sit on here with me or I'll take the floor."

Bella shook her head sly grin across her face. " No chance Edward the bed is big enough for us and we are both well behaved adults."

Edward slid to the side as Bella crawled across the bed flopping ungracefully on her face on her side of the bed. Edward had scooted up against the headboard and was watching Bella as she turned over onto her back.

" So how's the arm feeling."

Bella chuckled again trying to focus on Edwards face.

" Oh you know I can't really feel it. I however feel wonderful very fuzzy and warm." Edward laughed again his smile reaching his eyes.

" You know they called me your husband when I went to get your medication." Bella gasped in mock horror.

" Shit I wish I could snag a man as good looking as you to be my husband. But apparently I'm too homely looking."

Edward frowned at Bella's change in demeanor. " Bella who on earth called you homely."

Bella sighed. " My ex although he never said it in those words but what was it he said…oh yes I remember I'm pretty in a very plain sort of way."

Edward rolled his eyes again. How could anyone say such a think. She wasn't a super model but she was strawberries and cream. With a ivory complexion that look so out of place on someone with such dark eyes and hair. Her cheeks always had this beautiful flush to them and the freckles. Her body was perfect not to big not to small she wasn't boney skinny or heavy either she was soft just as a woman should be.

He imagined part of that was due to being pregnant before and he could only imagine how beautiful she must have looked in that period of her life. She was quite a bit shorter than him but not nearly as small as his fierce younger sister.

He had become so wrapped up in studying her features that he hadn't realized she had settled into the mattress slowly swaying herself while she hummed a all too familure song.

Edward carefully crawled off the bed and headed into the closet coming out with the guitar he had noticed earlier on in the day. Settling himself back against the bed he sat back and started to strum.

Bella rolled onto her stomach and turned towards of Edward. The most amazing smile crossing her face.

Won't you help to sing These songs of freedom? - 'Cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs; Redemption songs.

" Holy shit Edward…how do you know that song. And your voice is amazing."

Edward laughed setting the guitar down.

" It's one of my all time favorites and believe it or not my sweet darling mother use to sing it to me when I was little. And thank you I use to want to become a singer but now its more of a therapeutic thing I do for myself. Now my question to you is how do you know that song."

Bella smiled a sad smile gesturing to the guitar.

" That was my dads he use to play all the time when I was growing up. Just sit outside and sing. He use to sing that song when we'd go fishing together. We use to go every weekend that he didn't have to work. Then as I got older I became selfish and would turn him down now all I wish is that I could be 12 again and on his boat with him."

Edward sighed resting his chin upon his knees.

" Bella I'm sure he understood why you said no. It's part of becoming a teenager." Bella tried to fight the tears that were threatening to fall.

" Yea he understands he always did but I should have still made more of an effort Edward. He wasn't asking for much and he is the most important person and now I can never get that time back."

Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulder sinking down into the mattress placing a soft kiss at her temple.

" You know what else saddens me Edward… that no one not one of his fishing buddies or police buddies or any of them have come to visit him. Like they are embarrassed or feel guilty or something but no one comes to see him just me."

Edward briskly rubbed Bella's shoulders. " You know I'd like to meet him sometime. I'm sure he is a pretty great guy to have such an amazing and caring daughter."

Bella smiled sinking into Edwards shoulder. " He'd really like that Edward maybe we could bring the guitar and you could sing to him."

Bella had fallen asleep moments after she had answered him. He took the time to look over the woman who much like him was very broken before falling into a restful sleep.

Bella awoke the next morning to the sun pouring into her room groaning at the fact she forgot to clothes the blinds the night before.

She stretched our her legs only to come in contact with the very long and strong legs. She carefully craned her head up to confirm her suspicions she had fallen asleep in Edwards arms.

It wasn't until she had woken up next to Edward that she realized how much she missed waking up with someone. She arched her back in preparation to stretch when she realized she was flush against him that he was hard. So masculinly hard. It had been so long that she had been with someone that she couldn't help turning in Edwards arms hiking her hip over his own before closing her eyes and pressing herself against him again.

She was about to move again when Edward settled his hand on her forearm.

"Bella if you don't stop doing that I wont be able to be held accountable for my actions."

Bella shivered from the sound of his voice it was still gruff but also thick from sleep. She had been caught and wanted nothing more then to crawl into a hole and hide. Sensing her tenseness Edward turned her head up towards him.

" Bella please don't be embarrassed I'm not going to lie and say I didn't enjoy that immensely because I did. Very fine way to wake up with a beautiful woman in my arms rubbing herself against me. But believe me when I say I would not be able to control myself , and the last thing I want to do is take advantage of you like that. I'm not saying no I'm saying I want it to be right. Okay so don't be embarrassed now why don't you go and take a hot shower and I'll make you some coffee and breakfast ok."

Bella nodded jumping up and running into the bathroom as fast as she could. She needed some distance from the amazingly beautiful half naked man that was laying in her bed.

Bella was just finishing her second cup of coffee while Edward was showering when a nock at the door distracted her. Glancing at the clock she headed for the front door surprised to see the small woman standing there.

She couldn't have been more than 4'9 her short black hair flipped out in very fashionable cut. Her clothes were designer and she looked fierce. She looked up at Bella her bright blue eyes filled with tears.

" Are you Bella Swan?"

Bella nodded holding the door open wider as a tall man with blond curly hair walked up wrapping his arms around the woman's shoulders.

" I'm Alice Whitlock and this is my husband Jasper…I'm Edwards sister."

Bella nodded allowing them into her entryway. To say she was shocked that this was Edwards sister was an understatement.

" Can I get you something to drink?"

Bella asked ushering them into the kitchen. When everyone was situated coffee in hand Bella sat at the counter eyes searching Alice's. After a few moments of silence Alice finally cracked.

" Bella thank you so much you have no idea how much this means to our family…you're a complete stranger and you didn't have to stop but you did and I'll forever be thankful to you and your gratitude and I don't know what I'd have done if he was gone…how is he? Has he talked to you at all? How does he look would you like us to pay your for your troubles?"

By the time she had finished she was hypervenalating as sobs racked her small frame.

Her husband and wrapped himself around her like a protective shell cooing soothing words into her ear. " Now Darlin' Edwards okay just breathe alright. He is okay no sense it getting yourself so worked up."

Alice nodded finally able to compose herself enough to turn back towards Bella.

" Look Bella um my mom and dad were out of the country on vacation they were celebrating their 35th anniversary in France. They said they would leave early if need be so that they could move Edward back in at home. Jasper and I had to hire a packing company to pack up all our belongings and drive them back here. We are going to look like for a house around here we decided no job is worth loosing a brother over so we'll be moving back. Edward can stay with us until we get things figured out so he isn't an inconvience to anyone. Did he say what happened though I know he wont tell me…did it have anything to do with her ?"

Bella cringed at the way Edwards sister stated her obvious dislike for Edwards ex.

" Yes she had something to do with it but its not my place to say. I've already discussed it with your brother he can stay here with me I have an extra room we can set up for him, he's not being an inconvience to me at all we've come to a mutual agreement to help each other out I've got a lot going on in my life to and we aren't that different. So tell your parents not to leave early we'll be fine here."

Alice pinched the bridge of her nose sighing loudly.

" That fuckin' bitch I knew she was no good. Oh I can't believe her."

Jasper sighed feeling very much defeated as he rubbed his wife's arms again.

" Darlin' please don't upset yourself…it can't be good for the baby."

Bella's eyes opened wider with surprise. " So you two are expecting? That's wonderful congratulations."

Alice nodded her head a dreamy smile quickly gracing her features until she remembered why it was that she was standing in this woman's kitchen.

" Yes we just found out a few weeks ago."

Bella nodded her head quickly trying to escape as she watched Edward walk into the kitchen. Bella turned to walk out and give them some privacy when Edward halted her movement placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Bella was laying face down on her bed when a soft knock at the door jolted her out of her own thoughts. Alice stood behind the door looking like a frightened child.

" Can I come in please." Bella nodded patting the bed much like Edward had the night before. Alice laid next to Bella burying her face in her hands before she started to cry again.

" I'll never know how to thank you Bella I don't know what I'd do without my big brother around."

Bella wrapped her arms around Alice's small frame and rocked her much like Jasper had done earlier.

" It's alright Alice I know it must be hard but he is alive and that is what matters we will help him deal with whatever is going on with him."

Alice nodded her head quickly finally settling herself against Bella.

" You know Edward has always been so serious and passionate and deep about everything in his life. Even when we were little he was always such an old soul and I gave him so much grief for it. I should have know it would be his strong point and downfall. You know he never dated in school he was far to serious for that. Until he met Tanya I should have known the feelings would be strong. What kind of woman breaks a man down like that. Fucking snob…I should have known after 5 years of dating and no mention of a commitment out of her it would end badly. But poor Edward he had hope one day she'd wake up and realize what she was missing out on. I feel so guilty now for telling him about the baby …maybe if I hadn't…he wouldn't have done what he did. He mentioned that you lost a baby."

Bella nodded her head quickly wiping the tears that were forming form here eyes.

" He also mentioned what happened between you two this morning. I can't say I blame either of you for trying your both disturbingly attractive people but just do me a favor Bella. I trust you with my heart but please don't break him again. I couldn't handle if anything happened to him."

Bella agreed hugging Alice again tightly. " I wont Alice I promise." Alice tried to smile the best she could given the situation standing up on the side of the bed.

" Well thank you so much Bella I'll be in touch and if you ever just need a girl friend I'm here I hop you know this. I consider you part of the family for what you have done for us and my mom and dad are thrilled to be meeting you soon if only it had been under better circumstances.

Bella and Edward watched as Jasper fussed over getting his fragile wife into the car. Before turning and giving Edward a nod. Edward smiled as he watched them pull away.