A/N: This chapter is shorter then I wanted, but I am getting ready to go through finals before summer break and this is all I had time to get out.

Okay, this chapter is kind of full of the angst. Sorry about that, but Bella has to work through her feelings in order to try and move on. Enjoy some time with Alice.

With that, did anyone see Rob at Cannes? Whoa! Seeing him everyday this week has truly been a blessing. A gorgeous, hunk of a man. Yum! *ahem* Sorry…got carried away.

Oh and one more thing. I just got tickets to Comic Con in San Diego the day that the cast is supposed to be premiering a scene or two of New Moon…rumors are that Rob will be there. Same room as RPattz…a dream come true.

Sorry about the long A/N…on to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, that is S. Meyer. Rob Pattinson can own me any day though.

-oo-

Ch. 6

"Where do you want this Bells?" Emmett asked from the front entryway of my house.

"Just put it at the top of the stairs. At least I can drag it to the laundry room with one hand," I answered while sifting through the pile of mail left on my counter.

I reminded myself that I would have to thank Alice with some kind of gift for checking on my house.

"I laid it next to the laundry room door. At least you won't have to take it very far. I have to get going to meet Rose at some cake testing crap. Are you going to be okay?" Emmett asked, coming back into the room.

I turned to him and nodded my head, "Of course I am fine. I'm just glad I am finally home. I just want to sleep for days."

He gave me a toothy smile and engulfed me in a big hug. After he left the house was oddly quiet, too quiet.

I had ended up spending three days total in the hospital. They would have let me leave sooner if it hadn't been for the damned head wound. I kept feeling lightheaded and the doctors would not release me until the spells had disappeared. Edward made himself scarce after the run-in with my father. I knew he was around though, he could be heard outside my room a couple times a day talking to whoever was visiting me at the time.

I slowly made my way up to the second floor. I walked passed the laundry room figuring the dirty clothes could wait. It barely took me five minutes to slip on a tank top and lounge pants before slipping under the cool covers of my bed. Not the hospital bed that had been laid in hundreds of times, but my bed. Life was good.

-oo-

My sobs woke me out of a dead sleep. I looked around confusedly, not sure where I was. When I saw the familiar surrounds, I immediately calmed down. That did not last long however when I remembered why I had woken up in that state. My dreams began to star Edward in the leading role…again. That had not happened since college when I finally tried to forget about him. Obviously all that work was in vain, he was back now.

The dreams had been old memories of our good and bad times together. Instead of getting up for the day, I lay back in the soft pillows and began obsessing over the dream.

Edward as my first kiss, Edward teaching me to dance, Edward pushing me into the pool our sophomore year of high school. The memories went on like that, good ones. Suddenly they had turned into sad ones. Edward bringing Tanya to the Homecoming dance, Edward telling me about his first time (and obviously how it hadn't been me), and all the times I had the opportunity to tell him how I felt and didn't. Lost chances, breaking of a heart and tear stained cheeks.

I didn't realize the tears had begun to fall. The wound that I worked so carefully to seal shut was ripped back open. Five years of pent up anger, exhaustion, depression and other feelings came rushing back. It was slightly jarring and if I hadn't been sitting my knees would have buckled from beneath the weight of my realization.

What made my situation even worse was that I was still deeply in love with him. Seeing him in the door of my hospital room felt like a punch in the gut. Five years had only increased this yearning to be near him.

The worst part about all of this is that he hadn't attempted to talk to me outside of medical discussions since that first night at the hospital. Edward had more then enough chances to get me alone and say whatever he needed to say. That hurt.

I hated that he had this effect on me. I had built a life up since school ended; I had become an independent woman. I hated that he took that away from me, as if he never left.

Why now? Why did he have to come? He had never tried to contact me in the half a decade since I saw him last. I suppose his loving wife had something to do with that bullshit.

The ringing of the telephone broke me out of my reverie. I was tempted to answer but I had become hysterical. Someone definitely didn't want to talk to me right now, a broken fool.

-oo-

"Hey, this is Bella. Sorry I can't make it to the phone right now…."

The sound of my voice ringing throughout the living space from my answering machine startled me awake.

I had barely moved from the spot on my bed for two days. I did not have the energy nor the want to even try.

"Bella! Are you there? Dammit, pick up this phone. I know for a fact that you haven't gone back to work yet and your car has been sitting in the driveway since before your accident. If I don't hear back from you in two hours, I am coming over there!" Alice yelled through the phone.

I grimaced before rolling my eyes at her being melodramatic. I knew I couldn't ignore her forever. If she wanted to get into my house it wasn't very difficult, especially since she had a key.

I know I was being stupid, reverting back to my old ways of feeling sorry for myself. In that bedroom, I was nothing but my eighteen year old self all over again. Forget all the life experience I had gained in five years, or the relationships I had allowed myself to finally experience, or anything that helped in getting me where I was today. That all flew out the window with the return of Edward, my lost love.

The phone rang several more times. There seemed to be a pattern of all of my friends checking up on me. Emmett's messages were the loudest. I knew I must have had at least thirty messages left on my answering machine.

I had the television on, but on mute. The house was dead silent and the sun was setting on yet another day. All the sudden, Alice burst into my room with anger radiating off of her. I hadn't even heard her come in.

"What the hell are you doing?" she stomped over to the bed and threw the blankets off of my body.

I didn't answer her.

"Are you seriously doing this again? Letting my brother control your thoughts and emotions? Your not going to make me go Rosalie on you right?" she asked a bit softer.

"Just leave me alone Alice." I answered in a strained voice.

"Don't do this again. Don't shut everyone that cares about you out. You made so much progress and it would be a shame to lose that now."

"I don't care anymore. Why did he have to come back?"

"I want to tell you all of that. But first, I think a shower is in order. You're starting to smell," she answered while scrunching her nose.

"Shut up. I do not."

"Yes hun, you do. Now go and I will pick you out something to wear."

And with that statement, Alice flitted across the room and disappeared into my closet. I rolled my eyes again and pulled my stiff body off of my bed. I made my way into the large master bathroom and switched on the shower, making sure it was the right temperature. As I allowed the steam to rise, I took stock of my appearance in the mirror. There were faint shadows under my bloodshot eyes and I looked extremely pale, even more then usual.

After wrapping my huge cast in a trash bag, I stepped into the shower and allowed the scolding hot water run down my back. I felt a little of the tension leave my body as I soaped up and made myself more acceptable to be around.

After the shower was over, I stepped out and wrapped the large, white towel around my body. I noticed that Alice must have set a pile of clothes on the vanity next to the door leading to my bedroom.

I dried off and pulled on my favorite pair of worn in jeans. She must have been in a forgiving mood because she also set aside a vintage Rolling Stones t-shirt. I guess because it was such an expensive shirt, she didn't mind me wearing it.

I brushed through my knotted hair and made my way into the bedroom. The sheets had been changed on the bed and it was fully made. How Alice had managed to do all of this in the span of fifteen minutes stumped me.

The smell of coffee wafted upstairs from the kitchen. It seemed to carry me to the doorway where I saw Alice preparing a cup for each of us. I sat at the bar stool that provided seating at the counter and continued to watch Alice.

"I think you need to talk to Edward," she said without turning her back.

I simply gawked at her. That was straight to the point; obviously she didn't feel the need to sugarcoat anything to me.

She turned around and raised an eyebrow to my silence. I just shrugged and took the mug that she offered me.

I continued to look down at my mug and said the first thing that came to mind, "How is he holding up with seeing me again?"

"He is a wreck. He feels so bad about everything that has happened and didn't happen between the both of you. Seeing you reminded him of everything he lost back then Bella. Edward has been calling me a few times a day to see if I have heard from you. When I tell him that I still hadn't, he goes ballistic. I had to send Emmett and Jasper over to his place to keep him from running over here. So you really need to come out of hiding."

"He's a wreck? What about what I have been going through?" I spoke defensively.

"Well if you answered your phone at all we would know what you are going through. Since that is obviously too hard for you to do, I had to take matters into my hands."

"Geesh Alice, sorry to inconvenience your life."

"Don't you dare pull that card on me Isabella! You know that is not true, you're just talking out of your ass right now. You're hurt and confused. You need to reach deep within yourself and let go of all that resentment. You really should hear his side of the story."

"How long have you known about him being back?"

"About six months. I would have told you sooner but he didn't want you getting upset. He wanted to protect you from him. He was being selfless if you ask me!"

"He was being selfless? Are you kidding me? I get where he is coming from with me probably flying off the handle with him being back. But I would have preferred learning of his return before I cracked my head open and had him sprung on me!"

"I know and I am truly sorry that we didn't tell you sooner. Can you please not be mad at me over this? You are my best friend and I don't want this getting in the way," Alice asked with a sad look in her eyes.

I stayed silent for a moment, running over the words she spoke to me in my mind.

"I forgive you Alice. I am resigned to the fact that he is back. It just feels like the wound has been opened again and it's a staggering feeling."

"The only way you will ever get passed this situation is if you actually sit down and talk this out with him. I assure you that he is just as messed up as you are. The two of you are the only ones that can heal each other."

"I don't know about that, but I do agree that I need to talk to him about it all. Maybe it will finally close that part of my past."

"Great! Because I gave him your number. I told him not to call you until I gave him the okay." She said jumping up from her seat and grabbing her purse.

"Alice!" I whined. "You didn't!"

"Don't whine, and yes I did. I need to go, but expect a call from him sometime tonight. I am sure sooner rather than later. He is anxious to talk to you."

She gave me a quick peck on the cheek and danced her way out the back door to her car. I shook my head and tried to process everything that we talked about.

Somehow I had agreed to talk to Edward. I guess it was progress, because I was definitely tired of staying in limbo over this mess.

-oo-

A/N: We are making progress, believe it or not. I would say that Edward's POV is about two or so chapters away…we will hear his side of things. I am so excited! So go leave me some love, it makes me happy!