Chapter 20

I had been up pacing waiting for Bella to wake up since six. At 8 am I heard her in her bathroom, and thought to myself, "Esme might have to give me some of that crap so that I can sleep."

I went and knocked on Bella's door. "Come in." she said quietly.

"Bella, how are you feeling this morning?"

"Ashamed."

"Why are you ashamed?" I said as I walked towards Bella. Then I pulled her into a hug to try and get her to stop crying.

"Because I made an ass out of myself yesterday and threw a temper tantrum. My father raised me better than that."

"So how do you actually feel?"

"Slow and groggy."

"Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Come on. I happen to know there is someone downstairs eager to feed you."

"Okay, but I'm really not that hungry."

"I think Esme will understand."

We walked side by side downstairs.

"Good morning, Bella."

"Morning, Esme. Thank you for taking care of me yesterday though I didn't deserve it."

"Yes, Bella, you did. We all have had a bad day here or there and you just did yesterday. Edward, have you done that before?"

"Yes and no one was around to help me through it either."

"Please, sit down and try and eat something."

"One egg, a piece of toast and a banana and that was all for me."

"Would you like to go outside for a little while?" I asked.

"Actually, Edward, I would like a shower first."

"That sounds good; the duffle in your room has clean clothes in it for you."

Once Bella was gone, I helped Esme clean up the kitchen and I said, "What was in that magic potion you should sell it?"

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that and a lot of love and compassion. No, I'm not going to sell it."

"Now come with me, I want to show you what I got Bella for Christmas."

"Esme, it's only September."

"I know. I have yours too; I always start early. Esme showed me three different sweaters and a couple of chunkier style necklaces and bracelets."

"She'll love them, Esme."

"Why the face, Edward?"

"Now you have me thinking about the holidays with Bella."

"Edward, make it fun for her."

"Oh, we can do that; I guarantee it. Emmett lives with us remember." Then my mind was racing what to get Bella for Christmas and when she would be going back home what would happen to us. It really scared the shit out of me that I might have to walk away from my love in less than a year.

Esme interrupted my thoughts with, "I heard Bella say at Sam's house, she missed being outdoors with nature."

"Yes, she does. What's up your sleeve?"

"Do you think Carlisle would let all of us go camping with her? All the couples."

"What about Emmett and Jasper?" Edward asked.

"They can come, too."

"Where would we go?"

"Mountains, lake or river for hiking and rock climbing."

"Bella would love it, with all of us there, what could Carlisle say?"

"Maybe and he'll demand cell phones work."

"Can you convince him?"

"How about you keep it cool, survive this weekend with Bella, Jasper, and Emmett and then I'll ask?"

"Deal."

Then Bella came in and asked, "What is a deal?"

BPOV

Edward turned, walked to me, hugged me and said, "I promised Esme that I would quit being so stubborn."

"So that is what you call it."

"Yes. Now how about a walk and I can see how you're doing."

"Okay."

"Good. Take a nice, long walk and when you get back, I'll have lunch ready."

"Sounds good. After lunch, Bella would you like to go see a movie?"

"Sure, but why aren't we going to the office?"

Esme said, "Because my husband doesn't want you there today."

"Okay," and we left for a two hour walk.

Emmett and Jasper called checking on me. I told them, "Sorry for my behavior and I'll see you tonight."

We stopped at a park bench and Edward sat across from me. He took my hands and said, "Bella, I'm so sorry I pissed you off so badly yesterday. It took until Carlisle said something last night for me to get it through my thick skull"

"What was that?"

"If someone had a gun pointed at the back of my head, you would take the bullet for me trying to protect me; but if I gave you a gun, you would protect me that way."

"Edward, Carlisle's right."

"I knew he was as soon as he said it that way. I also know I would do the exact same thing, if the roles were reversed."

"Edward, I like this Edward. I like the movie date Edward, and I want this one not the overprotective one that won't let me cross the street for fear of what might happen. I liked sleeping on the back patio Sunday night with that Edward."

"Bella, I'll promise to try and be less demanding and stubborn."

"I can promise not to get drunk ever again. I hated throwing up though sleeping in your lap wasn't half bad."

"Bella that was a very nice thing you just said to me."

"I'm glad. I can see it from the little crooked smile you're giving me."

"Does this mean we are officially back to being boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Yes, don't boyfriends and girlfriends fight?"

"Yes, but normally about money and sex. Not about guns and stubborn male egos. Okay sometimes about egos."

"Now, how about I pull you into a hug and we walk back to Esme's house for lunch. I'll then take you to the movies after lunch."

"Who gets to pick?"

"Actually, Carlisle picked for us, he told me to take you to Princess and the Frog."

"What about Esme? She wanted to see the movie, too."

"Bella, because of us being your guards I really can't take both of you."

Then I called Carlisle. Carlisle answered and said, "Good morning, Bella. How are you?"

"I'm doing much better. But it's my turn to negotiate with you."

"What is that?"

"I'll go see Princess and the Frog with Edward, but you have to take Esme this weekend while I'm in Catalina."

Edward yelled in the background, "Say no, Carlisle."

"Deal Bella. Tell Edward to enjoy."

"Bye, Carlisle. I'll see you tomorrow."

I looped my hand in with Edward's and said, "Take me to Esme for some lunch and then you can take me to the movies."

So we went back and had soup and sandwiches, we packed up our few clothes and then we headed for the movies. We had a small popcorn and a couple drinks.

After the movie, we stopped and picked up food for us to make for dinner. Edward had lasagna in the oven and I had a salad in the fridge for dinner. Emmett came in hollering, "Bells, can I have a shot and a beer?"

"No Emmy, you can't."

"So do you remember any of yesterday?"

"Not much."

"Are you two really better?" Jasper asked.

"Yes."

After dinner was done and cleaned up, I went to my room and wrote in my journals for a while.

The next morning at the office I walked in and asked Carlisle, "Is it possible to meet with an orthopedic surgeon here?"

"What? Why? What's wrong?"

"I am sick of wearing pants and hiding my ankle all the time. I have an idea."

"Sure, I'll set something up this afternoon. Thank you Carlisle."

After lunch Jasper took me down to the surgeon, I showed him my tattoos. "I'm sick of covering them, can we design a nude slip cover that I can wear and cover my ankle with too."

"Piece of cake."

"Let me get scans of your feet and I can have them next week."

Then we went back to the cubes we were working in. Edward, Emmett and Jasper made me sit down and spend the afternoon reading the firearm's manual. The next morning we went to the indoor range and checked out the gear. Edward kept making me nervous, so I asked Jasper to help me. I finally got off my first shot. The recoil was intense and my aim wasn't terrible. I then got to shoot off a few rounds. My aim was getting better. Once we left the range, I could feel the tingling in my arms and I shook them out. We then went and picked up my scuba diving gear. My bathing suits and wet suits were at the house with all the guys' gear. We went home and made dinner. After dinner, we went and got food for the weekend on the boat. At home, I finished filling in my log book information.