Pain shot through Bella as her eyes started to flutter open. A pain like no other stabbed her hip bone.
"I think she's coming around," Edward whispered to someone else in the room.
"Right on time. Not a second too soon," Alice murmured back with what Bella could tell was a smug smirk upon her face.
"Bella? Bella, sweetheart, can you hear me?" Edward's melodic voice asked her.
Bella tried to respond, but some strong force was keeping her from doing so. The only response she could muster was the twitch of her fingers.
"What's wrong with her? Why isn't she responsive?" he asked, a tinge of panic coating his words.
"It's the morphine. Let her rest for an hour or two. She'll come around," Carlisle replied, a clinking of glass in the background.
No response was needed as Edward could easily communicate with them through his irritated Bella at the moment. She wished he could hear her thoughts as well, keep her entertained until the morphine wore off, or at least have the manner to continue the conversation of her well being. It seemed as if days had passed, when Bella knew it hadn't been but half an hour at the most, the darkness still a blanket over her, when she heard Carlisle.
"Son," he said. Bella could tell he had his hand on Edward's shoulder, firmly in a fatherly way. "Are you sure you want to pursue marriage?"
I heard a small sharp intake of breath. "I've wanted it for a while," Edward admitted sheepishly. "I know I'll never want anyone besides Bella, I hope she can find it in herself to agree."
"And you want to marry her because you love her? Or because you're an escape from the Sheriff?" Carlisle asked.
A brief pause flooded the room. Bella tentatively listened for a reply, the talk of marriage was ludicrous to even consider. "Both I assume," Edward concluded. "I love her with all my being, but it would benefit Bella to also get away from her rueful father. She doesn't deserve to live like this."
Bella wanted to kiss him so badly, tears formed in her closed eyes, the droplets allowing her to open her eyes. "I love you," she said as she awoke fully. "I love you so much."
"Bella, love, what's wrong?" he asked panic sinking into his stomach as he wiped a tear away from Bella's cheek. She pushed up on her elbows, ignoring the protests from both men and the pain from her whole body, to reach his lips. Bella kissed him for what she wished could have been forever, only lasted for seconds before she was lightly pushed back down on the bed for her own good. "I love you too," Edward replied a little late on his part.
Bella smiled in content before Carlisle and her lover bombarded her with questions about how she was feeling. "Any pain? Too much pain? Too much morphine? Not enough morphine? Do you feel sick? Are you cold? Hot?"
"There's a little pain," Bella admitted, "and I'm a little chilly. Edward, could you pass me that quilt over there? Thank you. Other than that I'm fine Carlisle."
Edward tucked the warm blanket around Bella, his hands caressing her legs as he made his way down to her feet, making sure she warmed up nicely. "Better?" he asked.
Bella nodded slowly. "Very much so, thank you."
"Where's my sister?" Emmett's voice boomed through the house.
Bella flinched slightly at the volume. "I'll go take care of him. I'll be right back up," Edward said, turning to the door.
"No, Edward. He's no problem. Let Emmett visit if he would like to do so," Bella replied.
"I agree with Edward on this one, Bella," Carlisle said, touching her arm gently. "You need your rest. Emmett can always visit and pester you later on. Let your body heal."
Bella didn't bother to protest again, knowing the father and son would do as they pleased. She lay her head further back in the soft pillow that supported her, and closed her eyes briefly until she felt Edward back in the room with her once again.
"Has anyone called Charlie?" she asked, glancing between the two men.
Carlisle turned to Edward to explain. "We have," he answered shortly.
"What happened?" Bella asked, her eyebrows pulling together.
"I told him you would not be returning."
Anger pulled at Bella from all sides. "Edward, we've talked about this! I have to go back!"
"You don't and you won't. Not as long as I have a say."
"I am, Edward. I am going to go back to my father's home because it's where I'm supposed to be."
"No, Bella. You're supposed to be here. You belong here. I'm not going to argue any further."
Bella huffed in frustration and turned to the blonde angel in the room. "Carlisle? You can't honestly believe I should just leave home, do you?"
"Bella, I think Edward's right. This topic is closed for discussion," Carlisle responded, checking over a few tubes that stuck out of her arms and nose.
Bella knew she wouldn't let this go, even if she had to call Charlie herself and have him pick her up, causing a worse beating than she could possibly imagine, but she knew it was where she needed to be.
Bella pushed a strand of her brown hair out of her eyes.
"What's the plan then, Edward? Have you figured this out? How are we going to explain this to the public?" Bella asked with slight aggravation.
"I thought we could discuss our options. Carlisle and Esme could adopt you," he said with one eyebrow lifted to see her reaction. Bella didn't show any sign of approval or disagreement, so Edward continued. "We could move away, have Charlie say you moved back with your mother and both of us drop out of school for the time being." Bella bit her lower lip, but gave nothing more away. "Or our last option, to get married."
Bella rolled her eyes at the last suggestion. "I want to go home, Edward."
"I'm not going to let him continue to hurt you, Bella. I won't allow it."
"You can't protect me from everything," she murmured soothingly, hoping to calm his nerves.
His eyes were hard and cold as he looked at her. "That doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to at least try, and this Bella, this I can protect you from."
"It's not up to you," she said, wishing he'd drop the conversation.
"I don't care what you say, Bella. I will not allow you to go back. Alice and Jasper are going to go get some of your things."
Bella was infuriated. How dare he control her like this! Bella hated that she had no power around her boyfriend and his family.
Her hands gripped the sheets under her, her tiny hands turning to fists.
"Are you hungry, Bella?" Carlisle asked, changing the tense subject.
Bella ignored him and turned back to Edward. "Why don't you just chain me here, Edward? Then I'd have no chance to even try to go home. The subject would be moot."
"Bella don't be so melodramatic. I'm doing this because I love you, and care about your well-being."
"Knock, knock," Esme's voice flooded into the room as her tiny fist hit the door a few times. "Am I interrupting?"
Edward smiled over at his mother and took a step back, opening the room for her. "Of course not."
Esme smiled brightly and came into the room, carrying a tray of food. "I heard you were awake and thought you might be hungry."
Carlisle chuckled softly, bemused he and his wife were so attuned. "That was kind of you," he murmured.
"Yeah, thanks," Bella said, clearing her throat, hoping to sound happier.
Esme set the tray in Bella's lap and then kissed her forehead. "You're family Bella. I have no problem taking care of you."
Bella smiled and thanked Esme again before she left the room. "If you need anything else, just say my name and I'll be up in a matter of seconds," Esme added before she was out the door.
Bella took a sip of ice water that Esme had brought, burning the back of her throat. How long had she been asleep?
"Is your throat bothering you?" Carlisle asked, noticing Bella wince as she took another sip. She nodded slightly, setting down the glass.
"It should be better in an hour or so. You slept longer than we thought the morphine would last."
"How long?" she asked, taking a bite of potatoes, easy on the stomach and throat.
"A day, a day and a half, give or take. You slightly woke up once or twice, but the pain was too much, so I gave you more medication."
Bella nodded, letting a yawn pass her lips. "I'm still exceptionally exhausted."
"Rest as long as you want. You have plenty of time to catch up on your sleep."
"Alice and Jasper are back," Edward stated, his eyes distant. "She brought you a surprise."
Bella rolled her eyes and groaned inwardly. A surprise from Alice, was a nightmare in Bella's eyes.
"Bella," Alice greeted, her high voice ringing in her ears. Alice smiled happily, skipping over to Bella's side. "How are you feeling?"
"I've had better days," Bella laughed slightly, causing her to grimace.
Alice pouted at Bella's state, but said nothing of the matter. "I brought you something."
"Alice, that was really sweet, but-"
"No, buts, Bella. This surprise you'll enjoy."
Bella didn't say anything as Alice pulled a book out from the bag she was carrying. "Here."
Bella took the book from the pixie's small hands and flipped it over to read the title. Wuthering Heights.
"Alice," Bella said, a smile splayed across her face. "Thank you!"
Alice smiled and gave her sister a gentle hug. "I told you you'd enjoy it."
"I do, thank you. It gives me something to do until I get out of this bed."
Alice glanced over at Edward, her eyes guarded.
"When?" Edward asked, the conversation one-sided. Alice made no movement, no sound, as she replied. "All right. I'll deal with him. I'll ask Emmett to accompany me."
Alice nodded once then turned back to me, the smile back on her face. "How about we get you out of those sweats and into something nice?"
Bella couldn't care less about what she was wearing, let alone let Alice dress her, but it was a higher probability to get information from her than her brother.
Bella nodded and sat up slightly. "How about a shower?"
Alice looked to Carlisle for permission. "Wait another day, Bella. The stitches can't handle water just yet."
Bella groaned mentally in aggravation, but didn't mutter a word against it. "All right, but I would like to change. These clothes feel dirty."
"Of course," Carlisle said with a smile. "Edward and I will step out. I think I'll go Esme, I haven't spent much time with her since the incident."
"I'll go talk to Emmett," Edward said. "When you're done, I'll be back up."
He kissed Bella's head and headed out the door with his father. As the door clicked shut, Alice immediately went into fashion diva mode. "So, I bought you this silk nightgown. It should be extremely comfortable."
"Alice-"
"I also would love to do something with your hair, and Bella, just because you have to stay in bed doesn't mean you can't wear a little make-up," she scolded.
"Alice," Bella said, getting her attention.
"Yes?"
"What were you and Edward talking about?" Bella asked, her voice going to a whisper, knowing everyone in the house had exceptional hearing.
She looked uncomfortably between Bella and the closed door. "I don't-"
"Come on, Alice. Please?"
She sighed and sat on the edge of Bella's bed. "It's Charlie. He's not going to let you go without a fight."