A/N Hello there, and welcome to Chapter 8. In this chapter we will discuss Bella and Edward (oh goodie, what a surprise). I'm so impressed that you decided to read all the way to this chapter and really grateful.

Unfortunately I must admit that I am not responsible for the wonderful world of "Twilight" so I do not own anything at all, that means I'm not gaining anything by publishing this—other than the satisfaction I get from playing God with the lovely characters.

Oh and the Chapter title is of course compliments of Anne Rice.

Hope you like it!

Chapter 8 – EPOV

She was quiet for a long moment, busy brooding and sorting things out in her head. She didn't seem startled at all by my revelation, but I still worried. It would have been marvelous to be able to hear the brooding first hand, but I resigned myself to wait patiently for the next tidal wave of questions.

"When were you born?" she finally asked uncertainly. Even though this question was completely relevant and a logical jump in our conversation, it still took me by surprise. I definitely relied on my mind reading abilities a bit too much.

"June 20," I smiled crookedly and she waited expectantly for the year, "1901," I finally added in a soft voice. It felt bizarre admitting that, even to Bella.

I expected a comment about the fact that I was nearly one hundred and sixty years old, but of course being Bella she would never do the expected. I loved that about her. "A June baby," she laughed, and her smile lit up her whole face. "So where were you born?"

"Chicago of all places, believe it or not."

"I take it you've moved around a lot since then," she stated intuitively.

"Every four to five years ever since I was seventeen," I stated matter-of-factly, "People tend to notice if you're not aging by about that time."

I waited as this information sunk in; I wasn't sure what she would make of it. I had just admitted that I had been aging up to that point, and then stopped. I was certain that she would be exceptionally confused as I re-explained my nature to her, but the puzzlement on her face was actually very mild. At last she decided which question to ask me next and she continued with the interrogation. "What color were your eyes when you were born?" she asked.

I smiled because she was simply too intelligent for her own good. It was amazing that she had combined the fact that I didn't age anymore with the golden color of mine and the rest of my family's eyes. "Green," I stated and I received a radiant smile in exchange for my answer.

"So what brought you back to Chicago?" she asked. Her curiosity knew no bounds.

"My father," I paused for half a second, deciding how I would be able to explain this while being as honest as possible and avoiding anything to do with vampires, "Carlisle was given the opportunity to purchase a large tract of land, a park reservation, just outside the suburb. He came to visit the land and finalize the purchase a little more than three years ago. While in town, he stopped by this less than quaint hospital here in this comparatively old fashioned town; investigating local hospitals is a hobby of his. The day he arrived, the chief surgeon announced his retirement and Glen Ellyn Hospital announced that they were desperately in need of a new surgeon to fill his post. Carlisle took the position two days later and we all moved shortly thereafter."

"Dr. Samuels," Bella said thoughtfully. "He was chief surgeon here before you moved into town. I was here at this very hospital the day he retired. It was the same day as the accident." This new revelation struck me and I felt my jaw drop in shock as my upper eye lid stretched toward my forehead. Carlisle had been in this hospital the same day that Bella had gotten in the accident, the same day she had been here. As Bella continued her story I hung on every word that she said. Her own mind was elsewhere however, whether remembering the day her life changed forever or lost in thought about something I had just disclosed I couldn't decide.

Solemnly, yet still halfheartedly, she explained the events of the fateful day "The driver of the super semi truck that hit us was Dr. Samuels' brother. He had broken a few ribs from impact with the airbag, and came in for surgery, surgery which Dr. Samuels carried out despite the conflict of interest. Unfortunately," she continued with hardly a breath, "During the operation something went wrong. One of the ribs had shattered completely in the accident. One shard had punctured his lung while another one somehow managed to get to his heart. Distracted by the one preventing his breathing, the doctors didn't notice the one in his heart until it punctured his main artery. Mr. Samuels died in the operating room." Bella said respectfully. "Dr. Samuels was completely inconsolable and announced his retirement twenty minutes after the failed surgical procedure."

The news of how my father's position had opened at the hospital was impossibly shocking to me, but it was also completely riveting. The same accident which had cost Bella her mother was indirectly responsible for the job opening which propelled us to move here right away rather than wait a few more years. Through some series of unfortunate events, fate had destined Bella and me to meet here, but why? Fate was bringing me so close to happiness that I could nearly taste it, only to rip it out from under me by condemning Bella to a young death. Why did fate gain so much pleasure from tormenting me?

I looked at Bella and noted that she seemed to be puzzling something as well. She was staring at her fingers and biting down exceedingly hard on her bottom lip and I began to worry that she might break the skin. This idea of course made my throat tickle, but I quickly banished the thoughts of her blood from my mind and focused on trying to figure out what she was thinking. As usual, it wasn't long before I gave up and had to ask, "Bella, please tell me what you're thinking about?"

She looked up at me, a dazed look in her eye. She stared past me to the flat screen monitors on my right, her hands playing with her end of the pale green blanket on which I had stationed myself during our conversations. She continued to stare at the reassuring rise and fall of her heart rate and blood pressure as it silently paced across the screen. I had secretly enjoyed the annoying beeping which older models of the machines used to make, at least when I was with Bella. I loved making her heart race and letting her hear it as well as I could thanks to the beeps which represented each beat of her overactive heart.

Suddenly she sat up completely straight on her cot as if finally grasping something important, or maybe even remembering something. "Edward, why was he interested in buying a large park reservation?" she asked, but there was something in her voice, it was almost patronizing.

I had no idea where that question came from. I quickly reviewed the conversation we had previously been engaged in and realized my mistake. Of course the purchase of a tract of park reservation land would sound unusual, if not plain weird. People don't just go around looking to buy reservations. They're not exactly a good investment, unless you're a vampire. "Carlisle is very dedicated to protecting herds of wildlife, you see we like to go hunting a lot, my family and I, it's a good bonding experience, and—,"

"Of course!" she cut me off. I was bewildered. "Animals!" she said excitedly, "You hunt animals!"

I was dumbfounded. It was clearly not a remarkable fact that we hunted animals, if she was referring to the human version of hunting that is. So why was she so excited about this? Was she even referring to the human version of hunting at all? I knew I wasn't, but she didn't know we were vampires. Did she? Had she figured it out? When?

My mind was whirling out of control. If she had figured out that we were vampires already, she must have thought that I hunted humans up to that point. I noted that she didn't look scared in the least, she was smiling contently, apparently proud of herself for figuring out our secret. She should have been scared, she should have been screaming, but having a bloodthirsty murderer alone with her in a small room never seemed to scare her before. I nearly rolled my eyes for the third time since arriving in Bella's room, her lack of self preservation was unsettling, yet so typical for her. I decided that I had to try and set her straight this time, why did she always trust me so completely? She had to understand that I could kill her as easily as a human could kill a butterfly or pop a bubble.

"Bella," I said disapprovingly, "Why don't you tell me what you know." I tried to ignore the tempting, beautiful hint of color that began to fill her face when she realized that her own excitement about the discovery was not reflected on mine. She didn't answer, but began chewing on her bottom lip. I softened my tone a bit in order to garner an answer and tried again, "Bella, please. I can't read your mind," I confessed, feeling frustrated.

This caught her attention and she ceased her attempt to puncture her bottom lip. "Why not?" she asked, innocence and curiosity the only thoughts apparent in her eyes.

"Excuse me?" I nearly stuttered. I had heard her perfectly, but there was simply no way she was asking me this question. She seemed to know a lot more than she was letting on.

"Why can't you read my mind?" she repeated stoically. I stared at her stunned for a moment and she gave me a little half smile, "You triggered the memory when I saw you nod your head when Carlisle and Esme were here," she admitted, "I kind of remember you and Carlisle communicating like that and somehow I just knew that it was an unspoken conversation. I thought that maybe you could all read each other's minds until Carlisle said that it was only with you. So why can't you read my mind?" she asked yet again, curiosity clouding over her eyes.

Bella's vague dreams and memories of her past life seemed to be more than enough to help her realize the truth about my family and me. I was still astounded that she had been able to remember and figure out as much as she had, though. She was paying very close attention to our conversations and picking out little details which triggered her memories, I was impressed, but also worried. If she knew what she seemed to know, then why wasn't she scared? Perhaps she didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation, I would have to explain it to her.

In the half a second which passed while I quickly processed all the information I had just learned, I had nearly forgotten that I was supposed to be answering a question. Unfortunately, it was a question that I didn't have the answer to.

"I don't know," I finally stated. She looked disappointed but not entirely surprised. I truly had no idea why I couldn't hear her mind the way I could hear everybody else's, but I did know one thing for sure. Whether Bella fully understood I was a vampire or not, she couldn't possibly understand the implications that would go along with that fact. I was dangerous and Bella shouldn't be around me, no matter how badly I wanted to be around her.

I began to prepare myself to finally explain my true nature, because Bella would not want me around after that. I knew I had to do it; I had to make sure she understood, and I would respect her wishes if she asked me to leave. Rather, I would stay nearby to keep an eye on her but out of her sight so that I wouldn't frighten her.

A knock on the door startled Bella and I from our own ruminations. I had all but forgotten to wonder what Bella was thinking about, and now I was interested. Unfortunately, from right outside the door I heard the familiar mind of the night time nurse and groaned, "Alyssa" it must have been later than I thought. Time always went too quickly when I was with Bella.

Bella smiled indulgently and began tracing the knuckles on the back of my hand. It felt miraculous. "Come on in," she said sweetly. The door opened at once and Alyssa entered, carrying a tray of the most atrocious smelling mush, masquerading as human food. "Oh hi Alyssa, how's dinner going, anything exciting tonight?"

I smiled briefly at Bella's delightful tone but felt the smile falter as I was bombarded by Alyssa's thoughts. And what do we have here? Mr. Gorgeous himself, hanging out after visiting hours yet again. "Hi there honey, nothing too exciting tonight. Just meat loaf and green beans, but I'm afraid it's after visiting hours. I'm going to have to ask your guest Mr. Cullen here to head home for the evening." What's he doing with her anyway? I mean sure, she's kind of cute, and she has that whole damsel in distress thing going for her. Maybe he just likes hanging out with patients, like mother, like son I suppose. Alyssa zeroed in our Bella's and my now clasped hands. They look a little too comfy there for my tastes. It's definitely time for him to leave this room, oh I wish he were just a little bit older. I wonder if he's eighteen yet.

"I'm sorry Alyssa, I lost track of time," I said truthfully, "I suppose I should be leaving now," I lied.

That's right you're leaving. "Follow me Mr. Cullen," As closely as you'd like. "I'll show you out," she said as she placed the tray down on Bella's table then rolled it in front of her. Maybe I'll flip my hair when I turn around and try to catch his attention.

I slowly stood to follow Alyssa out of the room but didn't let my eyes leave Bella's. I hardly noticed Alyssa's attempt to capture my attention as she flipped her short blonde dyed hair as she turned around. I had no intention of leaving the hospital anytime soon and I cared to spend as little time as possible with Alyssa. Bella looked miserable at the thought of me leaving, and I felt the tiniest bit of elation that she still cared for me enough to miss me when I was away. Somehow, she really did still love me it seemed.

That thought made me so happy that I walked back toward where Bella sat in her bed and leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Her heart rate picked up so much with the contact I heard Alyssa, who had resigned to watching the screen rather than our display of affection, beginning to worry that the machine was malfunctioning. If I hadn't been so accustomed to Bella's hastening heart, I would have been concerned that her involuntary response was due to fear, rather than irrational excitement. I didn't know exactly how much Bella knew about me at this point, but I was rather certain that she had ascertained my vampire nature despite my efforts to keep it secret. That would be enough to terrify anybody, that is anybody except for Bella.

"Be back soon," I whispered in her ear as I straightened myself up to leave, noting the completely un-horrified expression lighting up her face. If anything, Bella was beaming and her smile was luminous. Her eyes were twinkling invitingly and her heart rate was starting to return to normal. I was overwhelmed with the site, she was so beautiful. Brain cancer and a cold hospital room had never looked so inviting.

Alyssa was growing impatient with our exchange. I marveled that the endlessly perceptive Bella seemed to be all but oblivious of the vile woman's thoughts. "Thanks again for dinner Alyssa," she said softly.

"Good night Rachel," Alyssa responded, somewhat icily, "Enjoy your dinner."

The poorly concealed irritation finally caught Bella's noticed and she graced me with a conspiratorial half smile. I eagerly returned the gesture, but let the semi-smirk retreat from my features once outside of the little room. Alyssa's thoughts were simply too trying.

Well I think little Miss Rachel has received more than her share of attention from you tonight my dear. Now you better start sucking up if you don't want to lose your visiting privileges altogether.

I nearly scoffed out loud at Alyssa's vindictive and highly presumptuous thoughts. However I did not want to lose my visiting privileges, no matter how unlikely it was that Alyssa had the power to revoke them, so I heeded her unspoken warning and promptly turned on what remaining charm I possessed. It was easier knowing that Bella was nearby, she always brought out the best in me. I channeled my outright bliss at having Bella back in my life and allowed the lightness to fill my features.

"Your job must be so rewarding, Alyssa," I began, tilting my head so that I was gazing at her through my eyelashes, "You get to help so many people. And Heaven knows these children especially need a little comfort and support."

Alyssa's thought processes had released any hold on reason they had previously possessed. She stared at me for longer than normal and finally spoke, "Yeah, you're right," she said, less than eloquently. I easily recognized the tell-tale signs of what Bella called "dazzling" and decided to press my advantage.

"I wish Rachel had someone to look after her though. It's just not fair that nobody is here for her, don't you agree Alyssa?" I asked determinedly.

"Yeah," she ogled, "Yeah I agree."

"It's only right that I step up and take care of her," I stated calmly, "She needs me, and I'll need to spend lots of time here with her. Sometimes even after visiting hours. But that won't really be a problem, right Alyssa?"

Alyssa just stared, trying to piece together what I was asking, well demanding of her. "Uh, I—," she fumbled for words and I seized the opportunity to shake my head left and right, aiding her in her decision making process. Automatically she copied my action, shaking her head slowly, then more vigorously. "No, no problem at all," she finally conceded.

"Alright, I'll be back in about tomorrow to check on Bella. Why don't you get back to serving the remainder of dinner?" I suggested, wondering if she would even remember this conversation later on. Alyssa seemed pretty out of it.

I began to walk away and I heard the cogs in Alyssa's mind turning as realization of the agreement we had just made began to sink in. "Wait," she called after a moment. I halted out of curiosity, hearing only questions in her mind. "Um who's Bella?" she asked.

I bit my lip realizing my slip up. It was too hard to call Bella any other name, even one as harmless as Rachel, but it still didn't feel right on my lips. My mind of course reverted back to one of the many Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet quotations, "A rose by any other name…" I shook my head to dispel the Shakespearean thoughts from my mind and promptly decided to lie my way out this infrequent occurrence of a blunder in speaking. The only time I ever seemed to make mistakes was when I was around Bella, I always got a little too comfortable and let my guard down.

"Bella?" I asked with the exact necessary amount of innocence, "Doesn't sound familiar. We were previously discussing my extended visiting entitlements with Miss Meyer, perhaps there is a connection?"

Extended visiting entitlements, is that what we were discussing? Sheesh I need to pay attention, he's TOO YOUNG for crying out loud. And he's a little intimidating, actually. There's just something about him, I can't place…

I listened and waited with a patient look on my face, quite in contrast to the reality of my state of mind. I was anxious to be rid of Alyssa and her irritating thoughts. Her subconscious was finally starting to pick up on the danger that I presented and she stepped back, increasing the distance between us, if only the tiniest bit, before she spoke again.

"I'm not really supposed to…" she began, but I smiled with the most saccharine grin I could muster and stopped her in her tracks.

"Perhaps you can simply make a little exception, for me?" I tried not to smile when I realized she was in a daze yet again. There was no doubt I would get what I asked.

"Um, I guess I could maybe allow that, but not like everyday, okay?" And as long as you come see me. She did a double take and felt her subconscious warning again "Danger". On second thought maybe you shouldn't come see me, handsome. You're a little bit scary, and too young anyway.

I smiled at her normal human response, the response Bella should have. She should be scared. I could kill her with frightening ease. Simply because I would rather die a thousand painful deaths than allow Bella to be injured was no excuse. I always slipped up and let my guard down too much around Bella. I could easily harm her, and she should be more aware of that. My stream of thoughts left no break in the conversation as I was able to process the sum of them in less than half a second.

"That's wonderful Miss Alyssa," I addressed politely, "Thank you for your time."

"Your welcome honey, anytime!" she answered eagerly, momentarily forgetting her subconscious fear. I turned to walk toward the exit of the building and she walked the other way. She had completely forgotten what she was doing, but she continued walking anyway hoping it would come to her. I stifled my laugh and waited for her to return to the food cart and finish serving dinner to the hungry children. I wasn't completely sure about what time humans ate dinner in this time period, but I felt pretty confident it was supposed to be before eight. Alyssa must have been running behind and I only added to her tardiness by exacting her approval of my staying outside of visiting hours.

Amused, I listened to Alyssa figuring out her task and rushing back to the food tray. Then I heard something interesting. Why does this Rachel girl get so many exceptions anyway? She shouldn't have been allowed to be transferred to this hospital in the first place. I heard Augusta discussing it with Dr. Minor; they pulled some strings to get Rachel here, said that she needed some sort of special chemotherapy. And then earlier today, that handsome doctor asked Sheryl to allow Rachel some sort of home visit. She doesn't even have a home, where did he want her to go, to his house? And now this? What is so freaking special about this Rachel girl?

It was certainly true that I would have had no problem slapping the woman so hard that she flew through the wall for thinking such ghastly thoughts about Bella, how could she not see what was so plainly obvious? Bella was the most incredible being on this planet. I controlled myself however so as to not mess up the tentative agreement I had just made about my visiting hours. More than that though, I was excited, and a little nervous. According to Alyssa, Carlisle must have asked for Bella to come to our house for a few days before the procedure. I decided that I had to get home and ask him about this, but first I had to say goodbye to Bella, then maybe wait for her to fall asleep.