Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
AN: Sorry again for the delay. The holidays are a crazy time, but I promise to update as soon as I can. Enjoy the chapter!
BPOV
As reality began to surface I knew that I must have landed in the pits of Hell. There was no way that I could feel as atrocious as I did and still be anywhere else. Every breath that fikled my lungs was met with a deep burn that only intensified when I attempted to deepen my breathing. That alone was torture enough, but it was also accompanied by a painful ache that traveled down my left arm in repeated bursts.
Although I was aware of these various pains and aches, I wasn't completely cognizant of where I was, or what the hell was going on. My rational mind knew that I wasn't truly in Hell, but I was hard pressed to think of a better description at this moment. I knew that opening my eyes would most likely present me with some answers, but I wasn't sure I wanted to face them just yet.
I continued to lay there not allowing my eyes to open and tried to find a breathing pattern that was the least uncomfortable. Unfortunately there seemed to be little difference in the pain levels no matter how I breathed. Realizing that the pain was not going to improve in the near future, I decided to open my eyes and attempt to make sense of my current situation.
When my eyes finally opened, everything appeared somewhat hazy. Almost as if I had been asleep for an extended time. Blinking rapidly, my vision cleared and I was able to look around. It dawned on me that I was lying in a hospital room surrounded by beeping machines and other apparatuses that seemed to be connected to various tubes and wires that were apparently attached to my body in various locations.
Having had multiple injuries and accidents in my lifetime, the components of a hospital room were anything but foreign to me. The question though was what had happened to land me here this time. Currently the memories were still hazy. I briefly closed my eyes again to try and conjure up some idea of what I had done to land myself here. Flashes were popping into my mind, although none were crystal clear.
Feeling utterly frustrated at my inability to put it all together, I opened my eyes again to see if I could maybe call a nurse. Most nurses were kindhearted and helpful. Hopefully I could find one that would tell me what the hell was going on.
Realizing that my left arm was useless in order to help me reach the call button for the nurse, I turned my head to the other side to locate the needed button, and the sight that met my eyes made me gasp. Edward was asleep in a chair beside my bed. His head was resting on the edge of my bed and his hand was pressed into the covers beside me, His face looked to be in a constant state of worry. His brow was creased and his face was unshaven and scruffy. As I looked him over, I realized that he was dressed in a set of green hospital scrubs.
His hair was in a crazier state of disarray than I had ever seen it before. Even with all of this though, he was still the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. I started to reach my hand out to gently wake him up when my brain decided that now was the perfect time to clue me into how I had gotten myself here.
Images flashed through my mind filling in the void that was previously there: the dance, Tanya wrapped around Edward, leaving the cabin, the wall of snow crashing into my truck. All of it was flooding back to me in a torrent of disturbing reality.
I had a vague idea about what might have landed me her, but it was still incredibly foggy to me. Oddly enough though, I was less concerned about what had happened to put me in the hospital, and I was more puzzled by Edward's presence. I had no idea why he would be here with me, and not with Tanya. I remembered enough to realize that he was obviously interested in her and not me. I had been down this road before and I knew how the story ended. I would not be looking at a happily ever after this time around.
Part of me desperately wanted to hold onto Edward no matter how wrong that was. I could easily drift back to sleep and revel in the fact that for the moment Edward was here with me, but I knew deep down that prolonging the inevitable would only lead to more intense agony later on.
Fighting against what my heart wanted most, I reached out and gently nudged Edward to see if he would wake up. Apparently he was more asleep than I realized because he didn't budge at my touch. Trying again I also whispered his name. Apparently my voice was not recovered just yet.
Mustering my resolve and my voice I tried again this time much louder than the previous attempt.
"Edward. Edward, wake up!"
It took a few delayed seconds before reality must have reached Edward in his slumber, but he eventually opened his eyes and jerked his head back looking at me with a mixtue of relief and concern.
He started speaking in earnest almost as soon as his eyes opened, and the words were music to my ears, "Oh my beautiful, Bella, I have never been so happy to see that beautiful face of yours than I am right now."
God those words were magical. I savored the sound of his voice for the briefest moment before I let reality take over. Why in the world was Edward even here? His words sounded wonderful to me, but I knew that they held little value given he was kissing Tanya not that long ago. Although truthfully I had no idea how long ago that was. I had so many unanswered questions and my mind was still lagging at the ability to connect everything together.
I knew that hearing anymore beautiful words and phrases from Edward would only serve to heighten the emotional pain that was sure to be headed my way I figured the best course of action was to get some answers.
So I gathered my courage and asked the most pertinent questions first, "Edward, what happened? Where am I?"
Edward paused briefly and took a take a deep breath, before quickly filling me in on the events related to the avalanche, the accident, my rescue, and lastly my injuries.
I wish I could say that I was surprised by all that he had told me, but honestly I was such an accident prone individual that nothing surprised me anymore. At least now I could put the pieces together related to my current health and location. However it still didn't answer the questions about why he was here with me. As much as I hated to open that wound right now, I knew that I didn't want to drag this out either. Unfortunately past experience had taught me better than that.
Stealing myself for the inevitable I asked the burning question that Edward had obviously avoided answering in his explanation, "Okay I understand now why I am here in the hospital, and I vaguely remember the accident. The beginning at least, but I am still unclear about something."
"Edward, why are you here with me?"
I braced myself for the worst as Edward looked at me with a measured gaze before looking away from me and taking a deep breath. I knew what was coming, but somehow I couldn't bring myself to try and predict the words he might use. Nothing however prepared me for what Edward said next.
"Bella, I can't even begin to imagine what was going through your mind when you walked into that hallway and saw what you did. I will live every day regretting that I had any part in that pain for you, but I swear to you that it wasn't what you thought. I would never and will never hurt you if I can prevent it. Tanya grabbed me as I was leaving the men's room and kissed me. As soon as I realized what the hell was happening I pushed her away. I will spend the rest of my life making all of this up to you if you'll let me. The events of the past day have made me come to some serious realizations. I honestly can't imagine a life without you in it. My life would have ceased to have any meaning if anything had happened to you in that accident," his voice was ragged with emotion as he pleaded with me to believe his words.
There was no doubt in my mind that Edward was speaking the truth. The fault in the situation wasn't his to bear. I knew deep down that the fault was more mine than his. I let my past dictate my future and it was so wrong. James' decisions and actions should have no bearing on Edward's and my relationship. I knew that I was going to have to do my fair share of accepting blame in this mess, too.
Finding the strength to admit my faults to Edward was easier than I thought. I knew that he wasn't the only one that couldn't live without the other. At some point I had given my entire self to him and I hadn't even realized it.
My voice was still raspy and the emotions bubbling under the surface added to the ragged quality of my words, "Edward please stop for a minute I need to say something, too."
He hesitated for a minute looking torn between continuing his pleas and honoring my request. In the end I guess he decided to let me have this one, and he simply nodded at me.
"Edward, I can't let you do that."
His eyes immediately filed with fear and an urgency that almost made me stop what I was going to say.
"Bella, please let me try!"
"Edward, calm down and let me finish," I spoke as forcefully as I could. He once again nodded at me, but the panic was still present in his face.
"Edward, I didn't mean it that way. I meant that you can't take the blame for this situation. I am responsible in a great part to why we are sitting here now. I should have never let my past hold so much power over my life. If I had taken a minute to think this through, I would have realized that you would never hurt me intentionally. I need to let the past be in the past and let my own decisions guide my future, and the first thing I want to do is make sure you know that I can't be without you either. I'm not sure when it happened, but at some point in the past few weeks I have completely fallen for you." At these words I gently reached my hand up to cup his cheek.
Edward remained in the same position that he had held the entire time I was talking not moving in the slightest. I knew that he would need to process everything that I had just said to him, but I was starting to get anxious as the time ticked by and he still didn't speak. I was just about to ask him if he was alright when he leaned forward over my body, careful not to jostle the many tubes and wires attached to me and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was gentle but firm.
I knew then as Edward kissed me that he understood what I had been saying and that we would take this chance and move forward. I knew without a doubt that Edward and I were going to do everything we could to make our relationship stronger.
Too soon we heard a throat clear from the foot of the bed and Edward pulled back from my face making sure to keep eye contact with me the entire time.
"Well I see our patient is feeling much better now isn't she?" spoke a pleasant voice.
Edward chuckled and turned to face a pleasant looking nurse, who had an amused expression on her face.
"Yes, I do believe she is feeling much better," he replied before looking back to me.
The look he gave me was filled with so much emotion and caring that it made my whole body feel warm and tingly.
"Well the doctor will be glad to hear that Miss Bella is awake and seems to be quite alert I might add. Why don't you go call your family while I check over some things with our patient," the kind nurse told Edward as she walked over and began checking the various machines and tubes around my bedside.
Edward looked torn between leaving my side and calling his family. I knew that they must have been frantic waiting back at the resort, so I told him to go and call everyone and that I would be fine.
He hesitated for a brief moment before kissing my forehead once more and stepped out of the room.
"That boy is certainly smitten with you dear. If I wasn't younger and happily married I might give you a run for your money," she chuckled as she busied herself taking notes in my chart.
"I guess I should be glad that you are both of those things then because I doubt that I would be in any shape to fight you off at this point," I quipped back instantly liking her demeanor.
"Oh honey, I don't think you have any worries that boy there is head over heels for you! I have been doing the job long enough to know love when I see it, and that boy loves you more than life itself. Mark my words that one there is a keeper!"
I simply nodded at her because she had stuck a thermometer in my mouth the moment before and made it impossible to talk back to her. Although at that moment I was kind of glad for the lack of ability to speak because her words were ringing through me.
Love? Could he really love me?
The thought was both astounding and terrifying at the same time. I knew that I most definitely loved Edward, but were we both at that point yet? I knew that given all that had happened that this particular discussion would have to wait until a later time.
She quickly finished up her evaluation and completed her notes in my chart.
"Well I am sure the doctor will want to see you himself shortly. I'll let him know that you are awake and doing well," she said to me on her way out the door. Edward must have passed her in the doorway because I heard him offer a greeting before he stepped into the room and walked quickly to the side of the bed. He leaned down and gently kissed my head again before settling back into the seat at my bedside. Just having him there made me feel markedly more calm and assured.
I was just about to ask him about his calls home to his family when a man in a white lab coat walked through the door. Edward stood up and shook his hand, obviously having met him before.
"Good morning, doctor," Edward greeted him warmly.
"Well I can see that it really is a good morning, now that our friend here has decided to join us," he replied looking at me and smiling.
I smiled back at him because it truly was a good morning. After what I had thought was going to be the outcome of Edward and I talking and the actual result, I couldn't be more ecstatic. Although now that I was coming down from the euphoria of realizing that Edward really did want me and not Tanya, my body was starting to voice its opinion and it was not happy.
The doctor noticing my grimace walked over to my other side not occupied by Edward and began checking over my injuries, including the ones on my face that I had previously failed to notice.
I seriously wondered if I wanted to know exactly how awful I must look at this point. Given how I was feeling, I knew that it wouldn't be pretty.
"Well Miss Swan, given all that you went through, I can honestly say that you are one lucky lady. Had you not be rescued as quickly as you were I am sure the outcome would have been much worse. As it stands your injuries are going to heal in time and my guess is that you will have plenty of TLC when you get home. Just to be on the safe side though, I would like to keep you one more night for observation before sending you home though. I am sure that Mr. Cullen can keep you entertained for at least one more day," he glanced at Edward before looking back to me.
I looked over at Edward and I knew that he wasn't going to leave my side any time in the near future.
"Okay," I replied. I was getting really sleepy from the emotional roller coaster and from having been through so much physical trauma and I felt my eyes getting heavy on their own accord.
"Why don't you get some rest and I will check back again tomorrow before you are discharged," the doctor advised before shaking Edward's hand again and walking from the room.
I turned to look at Edward again because after everything that had happened, I couldn't refrain from looking at him as often as possible.
"Beautiful, get some rest. I promise I will be right here when you wake up. I am not leaving you again," his words were fierce but spoken in a calm reassuring voice. I nodded in response too tired to speak and let sleep overtake me for the moment.
***
I had no idea how long I had slept, but when I opened my eyes the darkness outside the window told me that it was sometime in the evening. Blinking a few times to clear the sleep from my eyes, I looked over to see Edward snoozing in the chair beside my bed. He really had not left my side.
Part of me was ecstatic to know he was still here as promised, but part of me felt so guilty for knowing that he hadn't changed his clothes or likely eaten since I fell asleep.
As if on cue, Edward blinked his eyes and looked at me smiling as his eyes met mine.
"Hey baby, did you get some good sleep?" he asked in his rich, velvet voice.
"Yes I did. How long was I out?"
Glancing at his watch, he answered me, "Quite awhile actually it's well past 6 now. Are you hungry? I can see what I can scrounge up for you."
"That would be great, but on one condition though."
He looked puzzled at my request, but waited for me to make my request.
"You have to get something to eat for yourself, too," I told him trying to sound stern.
He just shook his head and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. A small piece of his stomach appeared beneath the hem of the scrub shirt and made my heart flutter.
Now that was just great! Someone needed to let my hormones know that now was not the time for that, at least not for a few weeks anyway.
"I'll go see what I can find," he replied before kissing me chastely on the lips and heading out of the room.
While he was gone a different nurse popped in to help me get to the bathroom and see how my legs were working. I was surprised at how weak I felt from the ordeal. It had only been a short time, but it felt like I hadn't walked in months.
It was slow progress, but I eventually made it to the bathroom and was floored at my appearance. My face was a mess of scrapes and cuts. Apparently needing a few stitches in a few places. My hair was a nest of brown fuzz, and what skin that wasn't marred by the cuts and scrapes was covered in varying shades of purple bruises.
I swayed slightly trying to come to grips with my appearance. I knew it would all heal in time, but it was still a shock to the system.
Taking a few deep breaths that further aggravated the burn in my chest, I let the nurse settle me back in my bed. Just as I was finished getting situated, Edward came in carrying Styrofoam containers of food. My stomach grumbled in response to the smell of food.
Edward chuckled as I blushed at my stomach's noise.
"Well I am glad you are hungry because I can't promise that this will be all that appetizing.
"I honestly don't care at this point I am so hungry that I might eat the container," I replied digging in to the sandwich and fruit that he had brought me. It wasn't nearly as horrible as he had claimed and I was just glad to have something in my stomach.
We ate in silence for a few minutes before I took a minute to let the food settle in my stomach.
"I need to call my parents soon to let them know what happened."
I realized while I was in the bathroom that they would have no idea what had happened to me.
"I called them already, baby," Edward told me after swallowing his bite of food.
"I got the number from Mom at the resort. It was listed in your records. I talked to both your parents actually. They were very worried about you, but because of the snowstorm they couldn't get here. I promised them that as soon as the weather cleared we would find a way for them to get here. They were really nice on the phone, although your dad was a little shocked when I introduced myself as your boyfriend."
I blushed at his last statement. I hadn't told my parents about the extent of my relationship with Edward as of yet. I knew that I would have to come clean as soon as I talked to them. The turn our relationship had taken was too drastic to ignore or hide. Not that I wanted to.
"I'm sorry about that, Edward. I haven't had the chance to talk to them with everything at the resort being so busy. They knew I was seeing you, but not that we had made anything official yet. I promise I will talk to them about everything as soon as I can," hoping that he wasn't too angry with me about not having told my parents yet. I loved my parents and we were close, but sharing those intimate details wasn't something we did often.
Edward put his food down on the little table beside my bed and reached forward to hold my uninjured hand.
"Baby, I understand. I'm not angry with you at all. I simply told them that I would make sure that you were well taken care of and that you would have the best recovery possible. They were just glad to hear that you were doing so well," he gently stroked my cheek with his thumb and leaned forward to kiss my lips.
I sighed with contentment at his touch.
"I don't know how you can want to kiss me right now. My face is hideous," I grouched remembering the image in the mirror.
"Isabella Swan, you listen to me! I spent the last day and a half worrying about whether I would ever get to see this face again. Seeing you sitting here talking to me is the most beautiful sight in the entire world. I will never tire of looking at it as long as I live," Edward spoke with such vehemence that I was momentarily shocked.
"Okay," I whispered in response because I truly couldn't think of what else to say to him.
"Good because I plan on looking at this face for as long as I can," he stated again before sitting back in his chair and finishing his sandwich.
We both ate in comfortable silence for a few more moments until I started to feel tired again. The lack of energy was really annoying, but I had suffered enough injures to know that rest was my best defense.
I yawned and looked at Edward trying to keep my eyes open for a few more minutes.
"Baby close your eyes and get some sleep. I'll be here when you get up."
Nodding at him sleepily, I closed my eyes and drifted off into dreamless sleep.
***
I awoke again when the sun was streaming through the blinds, leaving streaks across the blanket of my bed. I glanced around the room and was jolted completely awake by the realization that Edward wasn't there in the chair beside my bed.
Rationally I knew there was a reasonable explanation for this, but I started to panic anyway. Maybe he had changed his mind, maybe something else had happened at the resort, or maybe I had dreamed everything.
"Swan get a grip," I told myself. You need to have more faith in him than that.
I was taking some slow deep breaths when Edward walked into the room followed by the doctor.
"Hey baby, I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. I went to get some things ready to take you home," Edward explained kissing my forehead in greeting.
I noticed that he had changed into regular clothes and I wondered where they had come from.
"That's okay. I just woke up a few minutes ago," I reassured him as well as myself, knowing I had overreacted to his absence. I was definitely going to have to retrain my brain to trust Edward without jumping to conclusions.
The doctor checked me over one last time and gave me some instructions for my care while I was at home. It seemed that I would be on bed rest for at least a week and off work for a minimum of two weeks. Not to mention that I would be in my cast for at least 4-6 weeks. As ready as I was to get out of the hospital, the fact that I as still going to be incapacitated for at least a week was not thrilling.
Edward listened carefully to all of the instructions, no doubt planning to make sure I followed each one to the letter. I knew that with Edward watching over me, I wouldn't be able to deviate from those instructions at all.
We both thanked the doctor and promised that I would come back in two weeks to have everything checked out.
Edward turned to me as the doctor left and placed a bag on my lap.
"What's this?" I asked him as I opened the bag to look at its contents.
"Clothes, baby. You can't want to go home in that gown do you?" he chuckled as he motioned towards my hospital gown.
Honestly I hadn't thought much about it.
"Well I don't think that would be a good idea, unless of course you want all of the hospital to see your girlfriend's butt!" I retorted as he growled in response to my comment.
"No one is looking at your butt except for me!" he replied only half joking.
Surprisingly the thought of Edward looking at my bare ass was less daunting than it would have previously been. Too bad it wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Well at least not in a fun way anyway!
Figuring a change in subject was in order I asked the obvious question, "How did you get me clothes?"
"I ran back to the resort this morning and Alice gave them to me. Apparently she has been shopping for you without your knowledge and had some things at her house. I also had to grab a vehicle to take you home."
"Oh well that make sense, I guess. Are the roads clear now?"
"They are passable with the right vehicle. I grabbed a ride with one of my buddies from the road crew and grabbed Emmett's jeep to take you home. My car does fine in the snow, but I didn't want to take chances with your comfort while traveling," he replied stroking his hand down the side of my face.
After I managed to change into a comfortable pair of yoga pants and a soft long sleeve shirt, Edward helped me into a wheelchair and down to the jeep. I desperately wanted to refuse the wheelchair, but I knew I didn't have that kind of energy yet.
***
I must have drifted back to sleep while we drove back to the resort because the next thing I remember was Edward scooping me up out of the jeep and carrying me to the door.
"Are we here?" I asked in my groggy state.
"Yes, beautiful, you're home now. You can go back to sleep. I'll take you straight to bed, okay?"
I must have managed a nod in response before falling back to sleep.
***
Again I must have slept several hours before waking up in a much more comfortable bed than the one I had last occupied, but it still didn't feel quite like my own. I opened my eyes slowly and realized that I was not only not in my own bed, but I wasn't in my own room either. This room was done in a deep burgundy color with dark wood accents.
"Edward?" I called out trying to muster a stronger voice in case I needed to call him again.
Within a matter of seconds Edward's head popped in the door to whatever room I was in.
"Hey beautiful, you're up. Are you hungry?" he asked as he crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed next to me leaning in to kiss me sweetly on the lips. I was definitely enjoying all the kisses Edward was dishing out in the last few days. If I was honest with myself, I was looking forward to getting more than kisses from Edward at some point in the hopefully not to distant future.
"No I'm fine right now, but I am curious about one thing though," I replied.
"What's that, beautiful?"
"Um, where exactly am I?" I questioned.
Realization dawned on his handsome face and then he began to chuckle.
"Oh Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't think to say anything before. You're in my house, baby. You couldn't take care of yourself without help, so I thought it would be easiest if you were here. Is that okay?" his brow furrowed in obvious concern.
I was quick to offer my reassurance, "No that's fine. I was just confused. Are you sure that this isn't too much trouble though. I don't want to invade your home."
I bit my lip in concern. As much as I wanted to be near Edward I didn't want to overstep my bounds.
"Bella, please hear me when I say this. I want you in my life, in my home, and in my presence as often as I can convince you to be here. There is no place else I want you to be."
As the last words left his mouth, Edward sealed his words by kissing me with such passion that any doubts that may have wanted to surface were completely obliterated. I was finally home.
AN: Please review. The next chapter will include more of the other family members and Bella's recovery with Edward as her personal nurse. Who wouldn't want that?