I OWN NOTHING TWILIGHT

Chapter 30

My angel was quiet while she slumbered peacefully in her king sized bed; I had moved to the black leather chase lounge by the window wall, reading a book a few hours ago, to give her, her space to sleep undisturbed. Once in a while the girl would twitch slightly in her sleep capturing my attention; I would wait a few minutes before carrying on reading again.

It was well past midnight when I finished my book, I didn't want to leave her, keeping my promise to not leave her side while she slept—I was surprised that she was in such a deep sleep, normally she would be so tense and on guard—it gave me another small glimmer of hope that she was indeed becoming more comfortable and trusting with me and the members of my family. I moved myself into a laying position, propping my head up with my hand, just so I could watch her sleep and wonder what it was that she was dreaming about or if she was even dreaming at all.

All too soon the morning of dawn appeared from behind the jagged mountain tops and the tips of the fringed tree lines, signifying a new day was upon us. A new day to learn new things about my angel, a new day to try new things, broach new subjects, and maybe...just maybe, get her to talk to me again or have her delightful little giggle fill the air. Watching her surprise herself, when she giggled for the first time she had been here or the first time in her life was one of the cutest and funniest things I had ever seen in my entire existence.

I watched Bella intently, while the sun rose in the East, watching as the light inched towards her still slumbering figure; waiting for the sunlight to hit her and wake her to start a new day. The room quickly filled with tiny glimmers from my skin, looking down at my hand that was resting on my side and how it sparkled in the sunlight. It made me instantly curious to see how the sunlight would affect my sleeping beauty. I had always been so consumed with her and her beauty, I failed to notice if she too would give off some sort of glimmer. What I was met with when the sunlight hit her beautiful heart shaped face had me instantly spellbound; Bella's skin did not glimmer like mine, but a subtle shimmer did glow off of her skin, almost like someone had rubbed glitter body lotion all over her skin. This was an interesting find. My love would not be bound away from the sun as I am or my family...no she would be able to be out in the sun with no threat to her survival.

I watched her eyes flutter open and her cute little tongue curl like a tiny house cat, her body shifted slightly as she somewhat stretched out her tired muscles. It made me wonder if she would be able to walk soon. I would have to run the idea past Carlisle later on today, when he was home from his night shift at the hospital; it was highly doubtful that he would be working any kind of day shift, while the sun was out.

With no words needed to be said, Bella gently patted the bed beside her, inviting me to be beside her and I took that invitation with lightening speed and grace, gently laying myself next to her, without jostling the bed. "Did you sleep well?" I asked her, looking intently into her amazing depthless brown eyes. She nodded her confirmation, not offering any words—I was slightly disappointed, but didn't want to show it, not wanting to upset her. "I had a thought while you were sleeping so peacefully," I murmured watching her eye brows form a little V; I had to resist the urge to smooth it away with my fingers. "You have gained some strength while you have been here, and most if not all of your injuries have cleared up...well I was wondering if you would like to try and get out of bed and move around for a bit." The shocked look on her face gave away what she thought, but I was quick to reassure her. "No one would be home of course, asides from me, and you don't have to venture out of the bedroom, if you don't want too. I just thought it would be a good way to get you back on your feet again. I don't want you to feel obligated to or push or rush you...I just want to see you get better." I told her gently, watching the emotion in her eyes flicker from concern to confusion to calm and finally a small glimmer of understanding and hope filled her eyes.

I could tell by the far away look on Bella's face that she was thinking it over in her silent mind; it was still frustrating as hell to not be able to read Bella's mind, but her maybe gift gave me some small semblance of peace, knowing that other vampires would not be able to reach her with their cruel and tortuous mental gifts. Finally after what seemed like hours, Bella gazed at me cautiously before nodding her approval. I could feel the shit eating grin on my face and thanked her by gently taking her hand into mine kissing the top of her hand. The happy silence was soon broken by Bella's rumbling tummy. "Its breakfast time," I smirked as her cheeks filled with crimson. "I will be back in a few minutes, with your breakfast," I told her gently rising from the bed. I quickly left her room, gently closing the door behind me, immediately darting to my father's home office; where I found him and my mother curled up together on his leather sofa.

"Breakfast?" Carlisle chuckled eyeing the fridge filled with donated blood. "It pleases me that the girl is consuming more blood than just a few days ago." I nodded, before kissing my mother on the cheek and then made my way to the fridge.

"Yes," My mother beamed from across the room. "I wonder if she will be able to digest human food, can we try again." Esme asked looking at my father for his professional opinion.

But it was mw that answered her, before my father could get a word in. "Not now," I told them both, looking at my father critically. "I know you both mean well, and please know, that I both value and appreciate both of your guidance and opinions; but for now, I think it is best just to give her blood until she is fully able to consume enough blood to support herself and her digestive system."

"Edward, I do not doubt your ability to care for the girl," Carlisle said gently, trying to find a way to broach this subject without offending my choices for my mate. "But she needs more than just blood to sustain her. It may only hurt her in the end."

"I disagree," I murmured lightly while trying to get Bella's breakfast ready for her. "I know that you think that Carlisle, but I have gotten her to agree to get out of bed, move around a little, get back some of her strength," He was about to interrupt me, but I cut him off again. "And I know that you think human food is the best way to do that...and I totally agree with you on that. I just don't want to push Bella to do too much too soon. I already promised not to rush her or push her; you and I both know that once she does get up and moving her body will start to crave more than just blood."

"Edward, know I do not speak for your father, and I know that you are more than educated enough to handle these types of situations yourself. Just please know that you can come to either of us for help, when you feel it is becoming too much for you to do on your own. I know that Bella is your mate and I respect the decisions that you make for her as your mate. Just please do not shut us out." Esme begged.

"What your mother said," Was all Carlisle said kissing my mother's temple lovingly. I know you will do what you think is right Edward, and I applaud you for that, but please feel free to seek me out day or night, if you need help or guidance. I will always be here for you, son.

I didn't let on that I had heard every word my father had said, and I had taken it to heart. I nodded my head kissing my mother's cheek on my way out of my father's office, quickly making my way back to Bella's room when I was stopped by Emmett.

"Early morning snack, brother?" Emmett grinned eyeing the warmed bag of donated blood sitting in the warm water bath, I had in my hands. I don't know how you do it. I can barely stand to be on the same floor when the tasty delicious scent fills the house. I guess I'll get used to it...since your girl will be hanging around for a long, long while. Emmett smiled flashing his dimples at me, gently clapping my on the back, as to not spill the water or blood all over the place. I didn't bother to answer him, but flashed him my knowing smirk and walked passed him on the stairs.

When I arrived at Bella's door I knocked gently before opening the door, to find her sitting up, propped up with a few pillows behind her for a little support. I was shocked and so proud of her. "You sat up...all on your own!" I praised. "That's wonderful angel! I'm so proud of you, for making such a big move on your own." And it did. It made me so proud of her for trying to help herself get better. Cutting a small hole in the bag, I poured a generous amount into her mug and she took it gratefully, drinking it quickly; she must have been hungrier than I originally thought. Maybe introducing human food into her diet wasn't as much of a big deal as I thought. Though I would still keep to my word and not push her, in two days time, if she seemed just as hungry now, I would voice my ideas to her. After Bella drank all of her breakfast, her eyes began to droop and she looked as though she would fall asleep sitting up, so I gingerly helped her back onto her back and she immediately turned to face me.

"I will let you sleep for a while," I whispered softly to my nearly asleep angel. "Then I wake you and we can work on getting you moving around a bit." A slight half asleep nod was all I got before Bella was fast asleep.

I watched as morning became afternoon and decided it was time to wake Bella. "Angel," I whispered pushing her hair out of her face. "Angel it's time to wake my beautiful girl." Bella's eyes popped open and again I was greeted by her beautiful brown eyes. "I let you wake up a bit, and then we should get you to do some simple stretching exercises. It's very important."

After an hour or so, Bella showed me how she managed to sit up without moving around too much. Bella had basically manoeuvred herself into a sitting position by just squirming around; she really didn't have any muscle mass to her at all. I knew this would be a long hard road; knowing that she was half vampire, did help and I am sure it would help her gain her strength back as well. Not to mention her motor skills and I'm sure balance issues as well. I made myself a mental journal, on Bella's progress, on what she was having trouble with or when she would wince or whimper when the current stretching exercise she was doing either became too much for her to handle. After Bella had completed her stretching exercises for the day, I helped her back into a lying position and watched as sleep quickly pulled her under. I waited a good hour, until i knew she was in a deep enough sleep that my movements wouldn't wake her and went in search of my father. Locking onto his thoughts, I knew he was in the exact same place I had left him only a few hours ago.

Come in, Edward. His thoughts offered gently; then out loud he said, "So how did things work out?"

"Well enough," I admitted thoughtfully, taking the seat adjacent from where he sat behind his desk with medical journal in hand. "I wanted to come speak to you about Bella's progress today, and maybe with my mental findings, we can put together a light exercise plan for her...nothing to strenuous or difficult to start out with."

"Of course, I would be happy to help you both," he smiled brightly; he was happy that I was happy and that Bella was doing remarkably well from the time I had found her and brought her home for Carlisle to look over and care for. Ironically enough it was I who was slowly taking my father's place as Bella's caregiver and protector—it wasn't something he was used to, though nothing about this situation was what any of us were used to. "What did you have in mind? Or more importantly how did she do, with what little you had her do?"

"I didn't make her get up on her own two feet if that is what you are asking me. Bella doesn't have nearly enough strength to do that, yet." I told him, trying to keep the agitation out of my voice. "It was just simple little stretches of her arms and legs, getting her to extend and retract her extremities for ten second intervals—I tried for twenty seconds but it was too much for her to handle—this is going to be a very long and tedious process."

Carlisle sat silently, digesting what I had told him and found that my plan was about the same as what he would have her be doing; I sighed internally, happy that I was in fact going in the right direction...so far. "I think what you have her doing so far is enough. Maybe in a week's time, if she progresses nicely, together, you and I can come up with something a little more challenging for her." I nodded in agreement. "I would also like you to try and get Bella to eat some human food...and before you cut me off, the strength that her body will need for this, will—I am more than sure—kick start her need for human food, whether it be sooner or later, is up to Bella and her body's needs." I couldn't disagree with him on that. Only Bella's body knew what it needed or did not need; Bella is the first and maybe only half human and half vampire in existence, for all we knew. "This situation is very unique Edward, and I will be the first to admit that I am just in the dark as you are when it comes to her anatomy and needs and wants she may or may not have. All we can do is watch and learn for right now; for down the road Bella may have more vampire qualities than we know of. I think slow and careful caution is the best two options we have at the moment."

"I concur," I sighed, feeling somewhat disappointed. I wanted to know so much more about my angel...but rushing her too much was not the right way to go about doing things.

"We also have no idea if the threat that was forced upon her, will be forced upon us later on down the road. How Bella got away from her...captor, is only something she can tell us, and we may or may never know these kinds of details. Often victims of abuse over long periods of time lock away their memories, sometimes these memories resurface, other times they just stay buried for the rest of their lives. We must also look for triggers...like we had to when I first found Esme and Rosalie."

"I am well aware of that father," I grit out between clenched teeth. "But for now...everything seems to be fine."

"Yes," He agreed sadly, "I know you do."

I thanked my father for his help, announcing that I was going to go hunt for an hour not to far out of the ten minute window between being able to get home quickly if I was suddenly needed, yet far enough out that I didn't come across any humans wandering around in the woods.

"Mom," I called from the backdoor in a normal human speaking voice, knowing very well that she would hear me; within the blink of an eye Esme was standing in front of me, looking hopeful. Esme loved the lost lonely girl upstairs in my old room and did nothing but hope to help her heal and see her flourish into a beautiful amazing young woman. "I am going for a short hunt, only an hour and not too far out. Please keep my siblings from barging in on her; I don't think Bella is quite ready to face Alice again, Emmett with frighten her for sure and I am not a hundred percent on how she will react with Rose's demeanour." I told her, kissing her cheek for the third time today. It came as a shock to me that Esme was a little disappointed that I wasn't asking her to do more for Bella, but I could remedy that. "Oh, before I forget, Carlisle and I were discussing Bella's human diet," I smiled at the instant beaming smile on my mother's face, Esme just about squealed out loud at finally being able to help out my girl. "Maybe it would help if she had something other than just broth; I hear that fruit smoothies with vegetables are a great way to help humans get all the proper nutrition they need."

"Of course," Esme squealed happily, "As soon as you get back, I will run out and get everything I will need. I of course froze the broth...but smoothies sound good too! Now go...go, so I can go out later!"

I gave my mother her favourite smile and proceeded out the door to our favoured hunting grounds. I could only pray that Bella wouldn't wake to find me gone, and forgive me when I got back if she had woken to finding me missing. Clearing my mind for now, I switched my focus to hunting and quickly found my favourite meal sunning itself under a tree.

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A/N: I am so sorry it took me so long to update! Between Real life and writer's block it took me forever to come up with this chapter! I can only hope that it lives up to your expectations. I can't promise when I will get out another, but I will try and get another one out before the end of the month.

PS: Any and all spelling mistakes are all my fault...Sorry.