EPOV

I looked up to see Jasper grinning at me as he held his manic wife upright. Even Carlisle was having trouble keeping his face straight. Bella's blush deepened as she took in the additional witnesses in the room.

"But Bella, you wouldn't wake, your breathing..." I trailed off as her glare returned.

Carlisle jumped in, drawing her fire. "Edward, she wasn't unresponsive, she was asleep. If you had given me a minute, I could have explained. Bella is particularly sensitive to doxylamine succinate. I was trying to tell you that she had taken cold medication, which would explain her unconscious state." I suspect that she probably took her normal dose, not calculating the extent of her weight loss, and overdosed slightly. Nothing to be too concerned with; she would have slept it off in time. I think you must have caught her at the deepest part of her sleep cycle. "Her lung capacity was decreased because of her cold and slightly shallower because of the medication. Had you been human, you would barely have been able to tell the difference."

You overreacted Edward and you panicked. His mental voice was sympathetic. I understand why, given your history, but now you need to explain yourself to Bella.

Bella's voice interrupted his silent message. "Carlisle, how do you know I am susceptible to cold medication?"

He smiled at her. "I have been one of your doctors, Bella. I have access to your medical records. It seemed prudent to check if you had any allergies or intolerances, given the circumstances."

Her eyes widened slightly as she digested this piece of information. She sent him an odd look.

"And have you checked them recently? Since you got back?"

He looked slightly abashed as he answered her. "Yes."

Bella's eyes flashed to me and then back to Carlisle. I looked up in time to see him shake his head slightly. Realising that he had my attention, Carlisle began to recite the names of all the muscles in the human body alphabetically in Latin. I recognised my family's favourite method of blocking me and resolved to confront Carlisle at a later date.

Bella relaxed back against the cushions. The tension drained from her face, leaving her looking exhausted. Alice pranced over to give her a hug. My sister's eyes widened in horror when she took in Bella's pyjamas, but wisely she said nothing. Alice contented herself with fussing over Bella's sleep knotted hair, muttering to herself about the dehydrated state of Bella's skin.

Carlisle took pity on my Bella after a minute. "Alright, the show is over. Alice and Jasper, let's give Bella and Edward some peace. Edward, you need to get Bella home before Charlie wakes up." The last thing Charlie needs is to wake up to find Bella gone. Again. "Bella, it has, as always, been a pleasure to see you again. I am sure that I shall see you soon at a more, umm, conventional hour."

Edward, if you are still concerned about her breathing, I suggest you organise a nebuliser in the morning. Otherwise, she should be fine in a couple of days.

My love closed her eyes again, overcome with embarrassment. "Thank you, Carlisle. It was good to see you again, too." She opened her eyes to stare pointedly at Alice, who had rejoined Jasper in the doorway. "I'll see you at school, Alice."

Her glare shifted to me as I opened my mouth again to argue. I did not need to be able to hear her thoughts to read the warning she sent me.

I'd quit while you are behind, Edward, Alice advised as she pulled Jasper out of the room, trying unsuccessfully to sound sympathetic. Jasper's parting image was one of me grovelling in front of a fuming Bella. Very humorous. I knew I would be hearing about this night for some time to come. At least I would be spared Emmett's attempts at humour for a few more days.

BPOV

I wanted to die. I just wanted to die of sheer embarrassment. Edward had taken me to his house in my pyjamas. Not the nice pyjamas I had bought to wear for him. Since I had known he would be away, and had been feeling lousy, I had worn my comfy old sweats and holey t-shirt to bed last night. I didn't need Edward's gift to know Alice was already planning a shopping trip for new pyjamas as soon as vampirically possible. And Carlisle, Edward's father, the man who would be my father-in-law if I ever acceded to Edward's wishes, had seen me in them. If only a hole would open in the floor and swallow me whole.

"Bella?" Edward's voice was unexpectedly tentative. "Will you look at me, please?"

I sighed and moved my gaze to his. He face was tense and his golden eyes were worried.

"Was this entirely necessary, Edward?" Could it actually have been any more humiliating?

"Bella, you wouldn't wake up. I was ...worried." My eyes turned curious at his pause. I waited silently for him to continue.

"I was terrified, Bella. You were unconscious, and all I could think was that I couldn't lose you." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't live without you, Bella. You are my life. I literally can't breathe without you."

My heart softened at his words. We hadn't discussed his trip to Italy since the night we got back. Clearly, Edward was still traumatised by it.

"Come here," I said softly, opening my arms. He went one better, stretching out on the sofa with me and enfolding me in his arms. A wave of exhaustion washed over me as I snuggled on his perfect chest. His cold skin was heaven against my overheated body. I was almost asleep when he moved away. I moaned, protesting his absence.

"You are shivering, sweetheart. Come on, let's get you home."

I sighed heavily and struggled to sit up so I could climb onto his back. Edward shook his head and reached down to pick me up. He cradled me to his chest gently and started out of the room. Alice was waiting for him by the front door holding a blanket. She tucked it around me securely and skipped back upstairs without saying a word.

Our trip back to my house was fast and silent. The cold air woke me up at little and I lay content in Edward's arms, my favourite place in the world, watching the trees speed by. After only a few minutes, Edward was scaling the tree next to my bedroom window. He deposited me on my bed and sat down next to me.

I drew in a deep breath to try and disguise a yawn. That proved to be a mistake. The cold air tickled my throat, causing a coughing fit. Edward held me while I struggled to get my breath, then lay me down on the bed, tucking the blankets around me snugly. After the heaven of his arms, I wasn't about to sleep alone again. The mere thought of being alone opened the crater in my chest, despite his physical presence. Throttling down the bleakness that the memories caused, I pulled the blankets back and scooted over so he could join me.

"I don't think so, love." His voice was amused.

The hole in my chest grew, even as I recognised the irrationality of it. I drew in another breath to settle myself and found myself hacking up a lung instead. All amusement vanished from Edward's voice as he soothed me through my wracking coughs. "Slow breaths, my Bella. Just breathe."

"Please, Edward." I begged shamelessly when I regained control of my lungs. "It's not as if you can catch my cold."

"I'm not worried about myself, Bella," he chastised me gently. "You are sick. I don't want you to get cold."

"But I can't sleep properly without you," I confessed. "Why do you think I took the medicine?"

He tried to look exasperated but his golden eyes glowed at me. "Well then, my only love, it's time you went back to sleep."

He tucked the blankets back down around me but came to lie on top of them next to me. I figured that was the best I was going to get and cuddled up to his side. Edward slid his arm underneath me and held me close. I was starting to drop back off to sleep when he spoke again.

"Bella, will you tell me something?" His voice was unusually serious.

"Of course, Edward. Anything." What would he want to know? My mind went back to the exchange with Carlisle about my medical records. I hoped he wouldn't ask about it – that was a conversation I really didn't want to have right now.

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

I pushed my torso up on my elbow to see his face. His eyes were earnest, confused and a little hurt. I started to laugh.

"Honestly, Edward. After tonight, do you really have to ask that?"

I knew he would freak.