A/N: Here is the first part of Edward's POV. I am not sure about this chapter. I had a difficult time writing him. He is so complex and I didn't want to reveal too much yet. So I hope you guys like it better then me.

I had every intention of posting this earlier but I was highly distracted by those shirtless Rob photos surfacing from Italy. All I can say is damn! I have been drooling all day. Makes me even more excited to see him in July at Comic Con….its cant come fast enough!

Also, I am so sorry that I didn't get a chance to respond to reviews. I am horrible, I hate that I didn't do it. Just know that I am appreciative of everybody taking the time out to read my little story and even more time to write something to me. They really are a treat!

Anyways, on to the chapter. A/N at the end.

Disclaimer: Ms. Meyer owns it all. I own Dr. Fitzgerald though (even though he is used only briefly).

-oo-

Ch. 8

EPOV

Being back in the state of Washington was definitely strange, especially considering the fact that I had such an abrupt departure the last time I had been here.

I pulled my Volvo into the parking garage of Harborview Medical Center to start one of my 24-hour shifts. The hospital was really great and the staff was a nice change to the people I had endured in New Hampshire. The east coast didn't really suit me; I guess I was just made to live in the Northwest.

It was a frigid December afternoon and I pulled the scarf tightly over the lower half of my face as I made my way across the street to the main hospital.

Once I made it into the warmth of the front entrance I quickly made my way up to Dr. Fitzgerald's, my mentors, office to get my schedule. Once I found out that I would be helping out in the E.R. after my rounds, I quickly dropped off my outdoor gear in my locker.

I headed down to the familiar nurses station to get the charts on patients. I quickly spotted Susie behind the counter. She was a middle aged nurse who had befriended me on my first day at the hospital.

"Hello Dr. Cullen. How are you doing this afternoon?" she said looking up from the computer.

I gave her a warm smile, "Pretty good. I finally put the last moving box in the trash this morning. I am officially moved back to Washington."

"Congratulations. I know how horrible moving can be. I have moved at least three times in the last five years. Larry and I were at least able to keep the kids in the same schools."

"Yeah, it is a bit of an in-convienence. But at least it's done." I gave her a crooked smile.

"You know you look like your dad when you give people that smile. Has a big effect on the female population," she said with a wink.

I let out a breathy laugh, "I don't even really realize I do it to be honest. Maybe I picked it up from him," I said, checking over a patient's file that had a severe case of the flu. "Speaking of the other Dr. Cullen, have you seen him around?"

"He came by here about an hour ago. Would you like me to page him for you?"

"No, that is okay. I just haven't gotten the chance to talk much in the past few weeks. No big deal."

I talked with her for a few more minutes before making my rounds with different patients.

About two hours later I received a page for an incoming emergency. I quickly made my way down to the E.R. to join three other interns and a few of the doctors.

The ambulance pulled up as I was walking outside. The doors were flung open and two EMT's wheeled out what appeared to be a young woman with a neck brace on.

"What do we have here?" asked Dr. Fitzgerald.

"There was an accident with icy roads. Stats are white female, early twenties, broken arm and a head injury. She has not stirred since she fell according to the witnesses. She has no identification on her" the EMT replied.

I came up to stand just behind Dr. Fitzgerald. This is the first time I got a chance to really look at her. Her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping, but I knew she must have fainted. Her long brown hair was matted with blood and her right arm in a sling. I immediately felt the wind being knocked out of me for a brief moment. I was looking at my past. She was even more beautiful then she was five years ago, the last time that I saw her. I felt my eyes water a little bit at the surprise and sadness that swept over me.

"Bella?" I croaked out.

She didn't answer me. Of course she wouldn't. The EMT just said she had been unconscious since before the ambulance got there. I knew I had to stay close to her, even if she hated me being there.

We wheeled her into the building and we quickly ushered her into get radiographs performed on her head and arm.

After what felt like hours, we found out that the head wound was relatively minor and would just require sutures. She had broken her right wrist pretty good and I casted her up with a deep green color, knowing that had been her favorite color at one time.

"Dr. Cullen, I noticed that you muttered a name while we were outside. Do you know this woman?" Dr. Fitzgerald came up to me once we got her resting in a room.

"Yeah. I have known her since I was a kid. I was thinking that we should call my dad in on this one, he was her doctor for most of her life" I responded.

"Good idea, go ahead and get him paged."

I nodded and made my way over to the reception desk. I didn't know the woman behind it, but she was a busty blonde who appeared to be in her late twenties. She noticed my approach and immediately perked up. She attempted what I guessed was a seductive smile, but she failed miserably.

I gave her a smile before leaning on the counter.

"Hello Dr. Cullen. What a nice surprise. What can I do for you?" she said in a sicknengly, sweet voice.

I noticed her name tag read Megan.

"Good evening Megan. Could you please page the other Dr. Cullen for me to meet him up on the 4th floor?" I asked.

"It would be my pleasure. Is there anything else I can help you with?" she said leaning towards me.

I found myself leaning back slightly, "No. That will be all for now. Thank you very much for your help."

I gave her another smile before walking off and mentally rolling my eyes. Desperation was not a turn on and women just did not seem to get that.

Another half an hour passed before my dad showed up. He gave me a warm hug as we exchanged greetings.

We walked into Bella's room together where she was still out cold, but at least resting comfortably.

"She has matured so much," I said quietly.

"She has. Very successful with her job as an editor and I believe she is looking to writing her own work," Carlisle said.

"Alice said that she got the job at Volturi Publishing House. That is really exciting."

"She doesn't know your back yet, does she?" Carlisle asked suddenly.

"No, I told Alice to hold off. I know she will be angry."

After a few more minutes of conversation, Carlisle said he was taking over her case and that he wanted me to shadow him. We got special permission from Dr. Fitzgerald for me to do so.

I quickly called Alice up and reported the news back to her. Within the hour four of my closest friends showed up to support the one that I had missed the most.

I excused myself to let them hover over her so that I could take a few minutes to myself.

-oo-

"Dr. Cullen, I just checked Ms. Swan's vitals. She seems to be coming off of the sedatives and should be awake in a few minutes," Susie called from down the hall.

I quickly threw my white jacket back over my scrubs so that I could get ready to face her. I nodded to Susie and started to head towards my father's office to fetch him.

"Dr. Cullen!" Susie called from behind me. I quickly spun around to look at her. She made her way over to me, "I forgot to mention, Tanya called for you."

I sighed and simply nodded at her before continuing down the path to my father's office.

We made it to Bella's room and I could hear her voice faintly on the other side. The others were getting ready to spill that I was here, but I decided to beat them to it and reveal myself to her.

To say that she was upset would be an understatement. I attempted to explain to her but she refused to listen to me. Thanks to our friends' help though, she calmed down enough to let me explain what happened to her.

After that was done, she agreed to let me talk to her alone. This is where it all turned sour. Her father walks in right in the middle of the conversation and all but threw me out of the room.

Chief Swan had always treated me like a son. I knew that he would probably despise me now, but it still hurt to come face-to-face with it.

-oo-

I didn't dare go back into her room without my dad. I decided to keep it strictly doctor-patient conversations because I figured that would make Bella more comfortable.

That was just the surface though. Underneath that hardened layer, I felt like a burning man. I had a lot of things I needed to tell her and now that she was right there, it was too much to bear at times.

We were going to release her later that morning after she woke up, but she started complaining over feeling dizzy. That should not have been happening. Twice she actually fainted and we were forced to keep her until the spells stopped. That took about two days before we gave her a final scan and strict orders to rest while she was at home.

Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett and Alice had set up a routine to come. There was always someone with Bella, and they would rotate every few hours to be with her. Even though I didn't go in her room, it didn't mean that I wasn't close by. I used the time that she was asleep to catch up with my friends.

We finally sent her home three days after she arrived. Emmett took her home.

I called up Alice the next day to see if she could give me Bella's number. I figured I could at least try and call her.

"I can give it to you, but don't call her just yet. I haven't been able to get a hold of her since she got home yesterday," Alice said.

"Is that normal to not hear from her?"

"Not really. I usually talk to her at least once a day."

"Well keep me updated, okay? I will hold off on calling her."

I hung up with Alice and went back to my next shift at the hospital.

Over the next two days, I kept calling Alice. She still hadn't heard from Bella and was going to go over to her house later on the third day of nothing.

I kept freaking out, hoping that she was okay. Alice told me that she had a handle on it and suggested that I hang out with Emmett and Jasper.

Later that day, I finally got a call from Alice.

"I saw her. Go ahead and call her."

I ended up at the gym for a few hours and then paced even longer in fear of calling her.

Finally building up the courage to dial the number, she answered on the third ring. Her voice was breathless and tired. I knew she was unsure about meeting with me, but after a little begging, she finally agreed.

I hung up with her after about forty-five minutes on the phone. We had made progress; at least she talked to me without crying or yelling.

I couldn't help myself; I did a little happy dance for my upcoming coffee meeting with Bella.

-oo-

A/N: What did you think? We are going back into the past next chapter to see what Edward's deal was while in high school. I am working on it now; it is kind of difficult to write, so just bear with me.

Reviews are almost as good as seeing Rob shirtless, in romantic Italy. Almost.