I don't own it! No more Tanya drama, maybe brief appearances in the future.

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EPOV

I felt horrible. My ribs were hurting like hell and my head was pounding. I thought of what I heard Carlisle say this morning. Was he truly sorry for ruining my life? It looked like fate brought Bella back to me. Now, there were three people that knew of me and Bella; soon they all will know. As soon as I'm of here, Tanya will sign the papers and I'll be free to marry Bella and start my dream.

There was a knock on my door. "Come in" I said and winced as my ribs hurt. Tanya came in or hobbled in on her crutches.

"Hi" she whispered, almost shy. She sat on the bed next to me.

"Hello"

"I'm sorry, for everything. I'm sure Emmett told you," she murmured watching my blanket interested.

"I know. I should have slowed down, though. You were right" I smiled slightly.

Her head snapped up and watched me with wide eyes, "Did you just say I was right?"

"Yep. Don't tell Emmett, though. I'm never wrong" I grinned.

"Oh, Edward. How could I be so stupid? I should have realized it's over and accept it!" she moaned.

"You should have, yes" My phone started ringing, I looked at it. It was on my nightstand, I turned to take it and hollowed in pain.

"Here" Tanya got up and gave me the phone, I smiled grateful.

"Hello" I rasped, trying to settle my breathing.

"Hi! I just called to tell you, Carmen will come to the hospital later" Bella rushed out.

"Ok, when?"

"I don't know, really. I have a patient, I just called to tell you this"

"Are you coming later?"

"Later, maybe tonight. I'll bring some decent food" she laughed.

"Thanks. I can't wait for Carmen to get here. Go to your patient" I urged her.

"Right. Bye, Edward" she whispered.

"See you later, Bella" I closed the phone and looked at Tanya.

"Have I drove you mad? Are you seeing Bella?" she asked slightly panicked. I chuckled and regretted it, because it hurt like hell.

"Just seeing Bella" I whispered. Tanya watched me closely and sighed. "Carmen, my lawyer, will come later. If you want…you can sign them today"

"OK. Do you mind if I stay with you? I'm going mad alone"

"Sure, go on the couch, your leg must hurt" I said.

She hobbled to the couch and put her leg on it. She told me about her photo shoot in L.A. and about her other pictures, the naked ones. She didn't look ashamed.

"Remember when we went to the Zoo?" she asked laughing.

"How could I forget! What if it gets out of there?" I mocked her.

"Well, they made me…pose next to a tiger" she shuddered.

"Did they want you dead?" I asked amused and she glared at me.

"I freaked out when the tiger came to me and I stepped on the dress, tripping and falling backwards, the monster came to me and licked my face. The photographer had the nerve to say ' I told you he was inoffensive!'"

I laughed at the idea of her on the floor with a tiger above her, licking her face. Tanya joined in my laughter, soon, realizing the absurdity of the situation.

My door opened and Emmett came in with food, his eyes shifted to Tanya and then to me. I clutched my ribs, tying to stop laughing and hurt myself further.

"Hello, Emmett" I gasped out.

"I see you're busy, I'll come later" he said coolly.

"Wait! You can't bring food and then leave me starving" I groaned.

"What did you bring?" I asked.

"Chinese" he put it in front of me, then he turned to leave.

"Where are you going? You just came" I said, patting the bed. Emmett obliged and threw glances to Tanya.

My door opened again to reveal dad with a tray of food. "Oh, I'm late" he looked disappointed.

"Give it to Tanya, I'm not sharing my Chinese" I hugged the box to my chest. Dad's eyes widened when he saw Tanya, he didn't say anything, just gave her the food.

"I'll come later to check on you. How's your leg?" he turned to Tanya.

"Hurts a bit"

"OK, when you're done, go to your room and I'll be there shortly" then he left.

Emmett watched me amused.

"What?" I asked self-conscious, hugging the box closer which made him laugh.

"Are you pregnant? You look exactly like Rose when I give her something she craves" he grinned. I tried to jab him with my foot, but the movement hurt my ribs making me cry out. "Easy, there" he said holding my foot.

"Is Rose ok?" asked Tanya, pushing the beans away.

"As ok as a pregnant woman can be" Emmett asked coldly. I tried to hit him again.

"Stop kicking me!" exclaimed Emmett exasperated. I hummed and continued to wolf down my food. He raised and eyebrow at me.

"Wha'? 'm ungry" I said defensively.

"Are you still drugged? You act funny" Emmett stated. I shrugged sending him in a fit of laughter.

"Send her over when she comes, ok? Or should I come here?" asked Tanya.

"Come here. I'll send after you. Don't let dad drug you, I want you sober" she rolled her eyes and threw the food away.

"Sure. See you later. Bye, Emmett" then she left.

"What the fuck was she doing here? Were you laughing with her??" he exploded.

"Carmen will come later. And she was telling me about her photo shoot" I chuckled.

"She really wants to sign the papers?" asked Emmett bewildered.

"Mhm"

"I have to go. I just came to bring you lunch. I'll be back tomorrow" he grinned.

"Okay, thanks. It was amazing"

"I know. I saw it," Emmett laughed. "Get well" he whispered and left.

I must have dozen off, because the next time I opened my eyes, Carmen and Tanya were in front of me chatting. I thought it's an illusion.

"You decided to wake" Carmen exclaimed. "How do you feel? I was just telling your ex-wife that Kate, her spy, is my sister"

"I'm…confused and did you just say ex-wife?" I asked trying to wake up and focus on them.

"Yes, I signed the papers. We just need to talk about the house" Tanya told me. I could see she had cried again, her eyes red.

"It's yours" I mumbled. I was feeling high, there was no other way to put it.

"I can't do that! Where will you live?"

"Don't worry about me. Consider it a gift from me" I smiled, unable to contain my happiness.

"OK, then I guess I'll see you around…?" she said uncertain.

"I'll come and get everything else that's mine. And, Tanya, thank you for not causing a scene"

"Good bye, Edward" she whispered and left the room.

"Well well well, looks like you're free" Carmen laughed.

"Thank you so much! I'll write you a check when I go back to work" I promised.

"Okay, Cullen. It was nice working for you, maybe we could work on a case together" she offered.

"I'll consider it. I prefer to work alone." She smiled and excused herself.

I looked outside, it was dark. I had an urge to go out and make a silly dance of joy, I started laughing, not being able to contain my happiness any longer.

"Would you share the joke? I could use some laugh" Bella's voice came from the doorway where was standing and watching me.

"Come here, sweetheart. I have great news!"

"What did they give you? Aren't your ribs hurting from laughing?" she asked concerned, taking my hand.

"Now that you mentioned it, they hurt a bit. I'm all yours" I grinned and squeezed her hand.

"Really? It's done? For real?" she was acting like a child that was told Christmas is tomorrow.

"For real" I chuckled. Bella jumped on me and started kissing my face, finally getting to my lips. I moaned, partially in pain and partially in pleasure.

"I said cherry ice cream not chocolate!" Rose's voice rang from the other side of the door.

"Don't move. I want you close" I murmured. Bella straighten a bit, tracing my arm with her fingertip.

"It's chocolate ice cream with cherries! It has cherries" explained Emmett, trying to soothe her. The door banged to the wall.

"Oh, hi" she mumbled and plopped on the couch. Emmett rolled his eyes at me.

"Fancy seeing you here, Swan" he smirked making Bella blush.

"Oh, I almost forgot" Bella mumbled and took a plastic container out of her bag. I cooked it" she smiled sheepishly.

I nodded, took the fork from her hand and started eating.

"Again? You can have a contest with my lovely wife here, see who eats more!" Emmett groaned.

"Are you making me fat?" Rose screeched.

"No, babe, of course not" Emmett defended himself.

"Then you are implying I'm fat, too" I growled at my brother.

"No, no. God forbid!" Emmett looked mildly scared.

"My own family disturbing the silence in hospital!" Dad came in admonishing us and closing the door behind him.

"Emmett made me fat" I exclaimed like a petulant child, at the same time Rose said "Your son won't get me cherry ice cream"

Dad looked amused, "Emmett you know better than to deny something to a pregnant woman and you," he said turning to me, "are fat" My eyes widened in horror and shoved the sheet away from me, "Look, it's perfectly toned" I gestured to my stomach.

"I was joking, there was no need to show me your naked chest" Dad laughed along with Emmett and Bella. I continued to eat my food, silently.

"I'll release you tomorrow if you promise me not to leave the bed, only if necessary" Dad told me.

"Sure. When?" I asked eagerly.

"My shift starts at noon, so around then"

"Don't count on me, I have a meeting" Emmett winked.

"I'll come and get you" Bella offered.

"Thanks" I murmured, squeezing her hand.

They finally left after an hour leaving me alone with Bella. I saw that she was sad and couldn't understand why.

"Don't you want me to live with you?" I murmured, playing with her hair. She looked confused, "Of course, I want. Why do you ask?"

"Well you're sad…"

"Just…I re-lived my high school years during my session today" she mumbled softly.

"Bella?" I turned her face to me, she had tears in her eyes.

"Maria…my new patient," she sighed. "You see, her boyfriend…left her and…she hadn't been herself ever since. She has this empty look in her eyes, I see myself in her. That's all. I'll help her, knowing, now what I should have done then. I hurt Charlie so much. I don't want her repeating my mistakes" she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

"Love, I wish…I would have acted more mature. But leaving you, meant the end of the world to me. I could have called or written…or something, but I didn't. I avoided my problems" I explained.

"I know. Well it's done now. Let's think of our future" she grinned and kissed me.

"I like that, our future" I chuckled. "I want to go with you home, tonight"

"You heard your father!"

"Go after him, please, love"

She came with him a few minutes later.

"Son, you are going home tomorrow. Today, if you want, I could help you move around for a bit. He came to me and started raising my body which screamed in protest, I might have screamed out loud because he ceased his movements and watched me careful.

"Easy, ok? Bear the pain for a moment, I have to raise you in a sitting position"

I nodded, gritting my teeth. I might have shouted again because Bella stopped Carlisle. "Just stop it! It hurts him"

I was sitting on my ass, bracing on the bed with my hands. My ribs were killing me, but I had to move if I wanted to go home. I thought the faster I moved, it won't hurt, I'd trick the pain. So I pirouetted and planted my feet on the floor, it took a minute for the pain to come back full force.

"Edward! What are you doing?? I said small steps! Now, that you are here, choose how you'll walk" dad said somehow upset at my behavior.

"Legs?" it came out as a question.

"I mean crouches or wheelchair!"

"Crouches, I guess" he shook his head, but left to get a pair. I tried sitting up and stumbled forward. Bella caught me before I hit the floor.

"Stop acting like this! What are you trying to prove?? Superman got hurt, but acting like this it will only prolong the bed rest" she hissed at me, keeping me on the bed with a hand on the shoulder.

"Superman I stupid" I muttered and unconsciously rubbed my ribs.

"Here. Now, let's try see if you can use them. You must tell me if something hurts" Dad said as he came in.

"Sure" I got up slowly with his help and took the crouches, my arms screamed in protest and I groaned. "I'm fine. I want to do this" I promised.

"Now try and walk, come on, son"

"But…why do I need them? My legs are fine!"

"Did you see your left leg, yet?" asked Dad, concerned. I looked at it, seeing a bandage on it.

"Let me try without these, please" I begged him. I let the crouches down and with his help in made a tour of the room. His pager beeped and he simply left me in a place where I didn't have anything to hold onto and ran out of the room.

"Shit" I muttered, looking panicked for anything to hold onto. Bella was watching me amused from the other side of the room. I can do it. I felt like a small kid, walking for the first time. Small, firm steps, grinning proudly that I could walk alone. I reached Bella and enveloped her in a hug. "I love you" I whispered, burring my face in her wonderful hair. Strawberries. Oh, strawberries, they'll never be the same again.

"You walked!" she hugged me tighter around the neck. She sounded like a proud mother of a toddler.

"Oh yes" I grinned excited. "I can pee in the big toilet, too, wanna see?" I teased her.

"Really? You are a big boy, then" she teased back. Oh, how I missed this side of her.

I extricated from her hug and turned to walk to the bed, "I'm tired. Will you stay with me, again?"

She eyed the couch dubiously, "I'm not sure…"

"Stay with me, the bed is big enough. Please, love" I think I pouted.

She helped me get in bed and then, carefully, got in next to me; she put her head on my shoulder and sighed.

Her hand came to rest on my chest, slowly tracing patters, "Does it hurt so bad?" she whispered after a few moments.

"Nah"

"Don't be brave! I'm sure you're suffering. Should I call a nurse?"

"Bella, I'm fine, really. Just stay here with me" I rubbed her back gently, calming her.

I fell asleep; I'd slept better, having her right here, next to me, not across the room.

I woke up first, this morning. Bella had mumbled the whole night, I felt a tug at my heart every time she whispered my name.

Now, I was awake and couldn't stop watching her as she slept. My door opened, I heard I gasp and a squeak. I looked up to see Alice and Rose there.

"Morning" I greeted, smiling.

"I brought pretzels, thought you might be hungry" Rose grinned. Alice was looking at Bella, then at me with big eyes.

"Are you just telling me or giving them here?" I cocked an eyebrow at Rose.

"Ehh there's only three left" she smiled sheepishly.

"You ate my food" I groaned in mock horror.

"I am pregnant!"

"I have to endure shitty food!" I hissed back, trying not to wake Bella.

"You should be grateful for those. But if you don't want them…" she shrugged.

"NO! I mean…give them here" I smiled lightly.

"Em's right" Bella mumbled and tried to get up, forgetting she's on the edge of the bed. Alice was the one to steady her, before she said 'hello' to the floor.

Bella looked at Alice for a second, then settled back in the bed. She sighed, "Good morning"

"Did you miss your old friend, love?" I asked teasingly.

"If you weren't hurt, I'd punch you" she growled at me. I grinned and kissed her forehead, groaning when my ribs protested.

"Rose…my food, please" I looked at her expectative. She was watching Alice who was looking between Bella and me with a curious expression on her face.

"Bella?" Alice talked for the first time since she got in my room. Bella looked at her, mildly scared.

"I- what- what are you doing here?"

"I'm his best fri-" I cut her explanation, might as well tell everyone the truth.

"My girlfriend" I chuckled and dropped a kiss on her lips. I looked at Alice, she looked like a gaping fish.

"You! He cheated on his wife with YOU?? You broke them up?" Alice screeched. That's not how I thought she will take it.

"Alice…you know Tanya and-" I tried to explain.

"Don't say a word! How could you? Is there no one in this world that can be trusted?" continued Alice.

"Here, eat" Rose brought me the food. "Al, why don't we go out and take some air. I have to tell you something"

"You have something to do with this??" Alice asked annoyed.

"I found out a while ago and didn't cause a scene. Bella, with your permission, I'll tell Alice what you told me that night, in college" Rose said. Bella nodded and buried her face in her hands. Rose took Alice and they left.

"Love?" I asked concerned.

"Fine…just…I had really. Alice had become my friend over those past few months" she whispered shakily.

"Rose will convince her that if it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I started this whole thing! And what did she mean by that?" I asked, taking a pretzel from the bag. It smelled wonderful.

"I told Rose exactly how I felt when you left…how I…survived" she murmured.

I put an arm around her and pressed her to my side, wincing. "I'm here to stay, promise"

"I know. I love you, Edward" she whispered and took a piece of the pretzel and chewed slowly.

"And I love you, my angel" I kissed her temple and took a bite of the pretzel, myself.

RPOV

I was sure I will leave marks on Alice's arm, but I could not care now. Bella had been my first friend and I knew how it was to lose a friend. Alice had to know how Bella felt when Edward left, she won't judge her anymore.

We got outside and took her to a bench.

"Alice, you need to understand-"

"What? That she acted like…a skank?"

"Don't talk about Bella like that! You have no idea what she's been through! Let me tell you, and promise you won't interrupt"

"Let's hear it" Alice challenged.

"Bella, when she came to college was…a shadow of what you see now. Too thin to think there was really possible for her to be alive, hollow eyes, hollow cheek, you could see the pain she was in from a mile. When she came in our room, I openly gaped at her. I'll be honest and tell you that my first thought of her was 'Another stupid, underfed teen, whishing she was cool'. And I regret it to this day. She didn't even see me, she just went to a bed and sat down, looking around. When she saw me, she murmured a timid 'Hi' and started unpacking. I watched her closely. Dubious at what she was doing. She put all her clothes in a closet, some small things on her nightstand. She took a jersey out, neatly folded and put in next to her pillow, a picture of a handsome guy and put it on her nightstand, then to my horror she burst in tears"

"Edward?" asked Alice in a small voice.

"Yes. I went next to her and tried to soother her pain, thinking she left home her boyfriend and missed him. She didn't say anything. Later, after a few days she came to me, 'I'm Bella. I'm sorry for acting like this, it's pretty hard to accommodate'. I introduced myself and we became friends. Then, one night, in December, I think, Bella said that she wants to tell me what happened to her. I told her it's ok and she shouldn't worry. 'No, you deserve an explanation for why I'm doing'"

"What was she doing?" asked Alice.

"Not eating for days, not sleeping at night, just clutching his shirt and crying, words made her stop and double over in pain. Simple words. And that night she explained to me. I haven't cried that much since then" I confessed. "She told me how a day when she woke up she felt something had changed, but brushed it away. She went grocery shopping and heard the gossip, how the Cullens had left town. She didn't believe. She called Edward, only to get voicemail, she went to his house, to find it empty as if no one had ever lived there. She told me that she fell in front of the house and shouted and cried, until she felt empty. She got up, went home and locked herself in her room. Bella is a very strong person, Alice. She survived another three years in high school, the same place where she had made memories with Edward. She told me, she refused to do anything that will remind her of him, until her junior year when, at Christmas her Dad made her stay with him. Bella told me that then was a turning point. She became a masochist. Then. The carols hurt her, but she listened to them, the music in general hurt, making her remember him. Everything hurt. She decided to move far away from that place, everywhere she looked she remembered something about him. So she came to New York. After she told me these, she felt better. She got better in every aspect, even went as far as to fall, if I can call it that, for a soldier. Which now I found out, died. She's been hurt too much not to deserve to be happy. Fate brought them back together! Even though, I should say Edward acted stupid by being with her while married, I am glad it ended like this. They will be happy" I finished.

"How could I act like that?" asked Alice horrified.

"You tend to act like that when you don't know things" I smiled at her.

"Let's go back, I owe her an apology"

When we entered the room, Edward was at the windowsill with Bella, they had watched us, but now they were oblivious to the world, kissing as if their lives depended on it.

Before either me or Alice could say anything, my obnoxious husband came in.

"Well well well, if it's not little Eddie-Teddy getting lucky" he boomed loudly.

Edward turned to us, looking disheveled. "Oh, oww" he muttered, clutching his ribs.

Bella was sitting still on the windowsill, blushing and looking anywhere but at us.

Carlisle came in, taking in our faces, "You're free to go, son" he said. "I've signed everything. Call me if something hurts, now I have to go" he said, leaving the room. Edward, that had gotten dressed while we were outside went to the bed to get his things.

"I'm sorry, Bella" whispered Alice. Bella nodded only and hopped off the windowsill.

"Edward, I need Sarah's phone number" Emmett said.

"Do I look like a phone book? It is in my office. Go there and look it up," Edward grumbled. "But why?"

"Obviously you can't work…" Emmett hinted.

"Don't even think! She's mine!" Edward growled. "Let's go" he said, taking Bella's hand.

"Alice, I'll call you later" Bella promised and left with Edward, leaving us in the room alone.

Review! And they're free to start a new life together!