A/N: Okay, so I know I left a lot out of the last chapter, but that doesn't mean it won't be mentioned. I'm sure a few of you got confused by Bella's…state, but trust me when I say I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't have put it in if I wasn't planning on doing something with it!

Anyway, this is another chapter to set up the rest of the story. The next chapter should be a little bit more interesting than all of this background stuff.

***WARNING: This chapter may be a little touchy for some people, but there is no offense meant. It's just a part of the story! Actually, the whole story might be, but please do NOT be offended!***

Enjoy!

The Road I'm On

One Year Ago…

A hospital room.

I was slowly gaining consciousness and hadn't even opened my eyes, but I knew where I was. The sterile smell, the rough sheets, the flat pillow, the bright light shining through my eyelids. The heart monitor and oxygen mask were also a hint.

Bright lights were heading directly towards us, not even in their own lane. They just kept getting bigger and bigger…

The heart monitor sped up a little, the beeps coming slightly faster. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will the memories of that night to the back of my mind, but they persisted.

I was jolted forward at the same moment that the collision of the two vehicles reverberated through my head. The car tipped to the right, and kept going. Right over the guardrail…

My breathing became ragged and I felt a sharp pain in my neck. The same pain I felt when it happened. My eyes were starting to hurt with how hard I was squeezing them shut.

It rolled down the hill, my mom's screams echoing through the car. One flip…two flips…three, and then we stopped, all of us hanging by our seatbelts. The squeak of the tires as they turned in the air was all that filled the car…

I took the sheets in my hands, squeezing as hard as I could. I pulled and I heard a rip, and the tension from the sheets disappearing. The monitor was going crazy, and the oxygen mask wasn't helping me. My breaths were short and shallow.

Sirens. I couldn't put how relieved I was into words to hear them. But I was scared. They hadn't moved. My parents…they looked unconscious from where I was, but I couldn't be certain…

I heard movement outside the room, but I didn't open my eyes. There was the sound of feet rushing to my side and someone trying to get the sheet out of my hands. But I wouldn't let go.

They were right outside the car. I heard them say something about two D.O.A.'s before I lifted my head to see an arm retract from inside the car. I hadn't even noticed the broken windows.

"We've got a live one! Get the Medi-Vac!" I looked to my left, not turning my head, to see a police officer standing next to me, his hand around my ankle. He was keeping it from rubbing against the big piece of glass from the window that landed directly under me…

They had gotten the sheet from me, but now my nails were digging into my palms. Someone's hands were on my face, and I could hear a voice. I couldn't figure out what they were saying.

They opened the door and cleared the largest pieces of glass. I started seeing black dots in my vision, and my chin lowered itself onto my chest.

"Come on, kid. Stay with me, now," he said, his voice sounding tense.

He was in the car now, positioned so that he could lift me up slightly. It was just enough to stop the seatbelt from biting into my neck. The weird thing was, I couldn't feel the gash in my leg from the glass.

"What's your name, kid? Open your eyes and tell me your name," he said, sounding calmer than before. I hadn't even noticed my eyes closing with the blackness invading my vision. I felt a sharp pain in the middle of my back as I lifted my head. I cried out and his face fell.

"Where's the medic?" he screamed over his shoulder. My eyes drooped again, but I couldn't lift them back up. Everything seemed to be slowing down…

"Edward! Edward, listen to me. You need to calm down," someone said, the voice coming from above me. I almost didn't hear them as I listened to the erratically beeping heart monitor. The oxygen mask had fallen off the bed, and I was gasping.

I heard screams of pain, but I didn't realize they were mine until I closed my mouth. My upper body collapsed back onto the bed, and I lay there, hardly able to breathe. I could feel my arms being tied down, and someone repeatedly running their hand through my bronze hair, trying to calm me. Someone put the mask over my face. There was a sharp pain in my arm as someone injected something through my I.V. before I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness…

~-~-~-~-~

"Both of them are dead. He's the only one left. He doesn't even have family around here, Carlisle. I don't know what to do with the poor kid."

"We don't have any options. He's got to go into foster care. But, according to his records, he's seventeen. So, he'll only have to be there until his next birthday."

"But…he's going to need help. Even after that. He won't be able to live on his own like this."

"Well, we'll see what happens after he wakes up. He'll have to be here for at least a month, anyway. Spinal surgery is nothing to laugh about."

"Carlisle, how are we going to tell him? Besides the fact that his parents are dead, he won't be able to walk for the rest of his life! How do you tell a kid that hasn't even begun his life that he'll never be able to be normal?"

"You just did," I said. They had been standing right outside my door with it open. I heard everything. And I felt defeated.

I woke up with a start, my eyes shooting open and scanning the room. I sighed and lay back, resting my head on the pillow. I hadn't had that memory come as a dream in a while.

It had been the worst news I could have had after that accident. I remember the date. It was September 14th. Exactly five months ago.

I knew my parents were dead, even if I hadn't wanted to believe it while I was still in the car. But, somehow, I knew. I had come to accept that, keeping my feelings in until all the nurses and doctors were done examining my injuries. And even then, I tried to stay as quiet as possible.

Today was the day they were going to talk to me about what I was going to do. I had ended up having to stay in the hospital for a month longer than they expected, because of my flashbacks. That was what happened before I blacked out. I would grab at things, hurt myself to try to distract my mind from the images I tried to keep hidden. They thought I was suicidal at first, but they came to realize I wasn't even thinking when this was happening. It just happened and I tried to stop it. That was my first attack, and understandably the worst. They weren't as bad anymore, but I still woke up screaming or crying.

The younger nurses stayed with me sometimes, trying to get me to talk to them about myself, but I wouldn't. They would sit down next to me in the chair and talk, but I would look at them before turning my head back to the only window in my room. Eventually they would leave, but they always came back. One look into their eyes as they walked in and I knew what they were trying to do.

But a relationship was the last thing I wanted, or needed, at that point. I wouldn't have been able to stand someone constantly asking me what was wrong or if I needed help. I knew I would, but it hurt knowing that I couldn't do things on my own anymore.

The only person that I ever let help me was Dr. Cullen. He wasn't like the other doctors. He came in and did what he needed. He would tell me what he felt like I needed to know, but didn't ask me anything that wasn't completely necessary. Even then, he would apologize like he was interrupting something important. He came in at that moment, a serene look on his face.

"Hello there, Edward. As we told you yesterday, there is something that needs to be discussed," he said, the apologetic look on his face again. I nodded and he continued.

"Now, I want you to know that you don't have to answer right away, but my colleagues and I have been discussing your case, since you are still a minor. But I'm going to cut to the chase. I'm sure you don't want to sit here and listen to me talk." I smiled slightly and he smiled back.

"You need to decide where you are going when we decide you are okay to leave. As far as I can see, you have two options. One is going to a foster home. We'll make sure they can meet your…needs, and you'll all your meds. Two is to go live with a family member. Anyone willing to take you in. You'll be monitored once a month to make sure everything is going well, and to make sure you're happy there," he said quietly. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"There are no family members. None of them…approved of my parents' marriage, on either side. All of them moved to the East Coast just to get away from them," I spat harshly. But Dr. Cullen didn't say anything. He just nodded.

"There's no other option?" I asked tiredly. He looked at me before his gaze slid to the window. He looked like he was thinking deeply. He blinked once and turned back to me, resting his elbows on his knees.

"There…might be something else…but I…I'm not…I don't know if you would like this idea," he said slowly. My body tensed and I waited for him to continue.

"I have mentioned this to my family already, and they are okay with this arrangement, but I wanted to give you the other options first. If you wish, you could come and live with my family and me." I felt my eyes grow wide and he continued.

"My wife, Esme, and I adopted four teenagers, all of them your age. They have lived with us for a while now, and said they would be happy to have you. My wife would be happy to adopt every child in the world, so she agreed as soon as I mentioned it." He stopped talking, a small smile on his face, and looked at me, gauging my reaction. I couldn't get my mouth to form words at first, and when I did, they were quiet.

"Dr. Cullen, are…are you…serious? You're not joking around, are you?" He shook his head, his smile growing at my question.

I sat there, a surprised look on my face, trying to believe what I was hearing. This man- this doctor was going to let me, a paralyzed orphan, into his home, and let me become a part of his family. He was giving me an option that didn't include having to live in a house with a whole bunch of other homeless or orphaned children. Or relatives that wouldn't have cared if I had died, as well. It was an offer I couldn't let slip through my fingers.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't be a burden on you and your family?" I asked. I might not want it to slip by, but that didn't mean I wanted to hurt his family.

"Of course not, dear! Why would you think such a thing?" Both Carlisle and I turned towards the door to see a woman with shoulder length brown hair standing with her arms crossed over her chest, a surprised and almost hurt look on her face. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, and was really beautiful. Inhumanly so. She walked in and stood behind Carlisle, putting a hand on his shoulder. He stood and looked at me.

"Edward, this is my wife, Esme. You must forgive her. She got so excited when I mentioned you coming to live with us, I almost wasn't able to leave for work alone this morning. She's not always like this, though." Esme walked over to me and wrapped me in an unexpected hug. I awkwardly hugged her back, looking at Carlisle for an explanation. He just shrugged and I mock glared at him. She pulled away and sat down on the side of the bed, taking my hands in hers.

"I don't want you worrying about bothering us. It would be a pleasure to have you come live with us. But if you'd rather go to a foster home, that's okay, too. We're not trying to pressure you into saying yes," she said. She sounded sincere, but quickly turned to sadness as she finished. I just shook my head slowly and she looked confused.

"You don't have to pressure me. I'd…I'd really appreciate it. I…I don't want to go to a home." She smiled brightly and hugged me again, and I returned the embrace a little more this time. Carlisle smiled and walked out quickly, looking back once before disappearing around the corner. I could only guess what he was doing. Esme pulled back and kept her hands on my shoulders.

"Now, I know you're not going to want a lot of help with anything, but I want to tell you know that you can come to me or any of the other kids for anything. You already know Carlisle will help you. They already know about you being paralyzed, but whether or not you tell them your story is up to you. Carlisle felt it best that I know, since I'm his wife, but they will only find out if you want them to, okay?" My eyes had dropped to my lap at the mention of my "condition" and she took my chin in one of her hands, raising my face so I was looking at her. I nodded and she smiled again. I could already tell that I wouldn't regret this decision…

I was released from the hospital the next day, Carlisle and Esme there to take me to their home.

My home.

~-~-~-~-~

I woke up that day happier than I had ever remembered. I still hadn't met the other kids, but Esme assured me they would welcome me with open arms. They had to go to school today, but they would be home around three. They were only two weeks in, so it wouldn't take me that long to catch up.

It took a few hours to get all of the paperwork filed and approved, even with Carlisle being my doctor, so it was a little after noon before they let me leave. I hadn't had an I.V. for a few months now, since I was able to do everything by myself except get up. Once I was able to eat and drink they took it out.

I got dressed while I was waiting for Carlisle with the wheelchair. Esme had bought me all new clothes, and gotten the old ones from my…other house. She had brought me jeans and a t-shirt, and I tried to put them one as quick as I could. The shirt was the easy part. The pants were the hard part. I looped my index fingers through the front-most belt loops and let the legs fall off the bed. I managed to get my feet in the holes, but completely forgot about not being able to move my hips to get them under me. I pulled them up as much as I could, getting them almost all the way up, before they wouldn't budge anymore. Now came the kick to my pride…

"Umm…Esme?" I asked hesitantly, half hoping she wasn't there until I remembered the nurses. It made me thankful she answered.

"Yes, dear?" she asked.

"I…kind of…need your help. I can't get my pants up anymore," I finished in a sigh. It was a good thing I didn't have an ego or everyone in the hospital would have heard it pop…

Esme came behind the curtain like I asked her something anyone would ask her. She came right over and draped my arm across her shoulders, wrapping her own arm around my waist. She lifted me off the bed enough for me to get my pants up higher on one side and then moved to my other side and repeating this until I got them all the way up. She set me back down and I buttoned them before leaning back to get the zipper all the way up. I sighed and she smiled at me, ruffling my hair with her hand.

"That hair doesn't need help being out of control, Esme," Carlisle said as he walked in. He smiled at me and I smiled back.

He pulled the curtains back and pushed the chair over to the bed. He got on one side of me and Esme was on the other. They lifted me off the bed and set me down in the chair, lifting my feet so they could put the little rests down. He pushed me down the hall and we rode the elevator to the main lobby. I looked at the desk to see a familiar face standing next to her mom, trying to see over the top of the counter.

The little girl turned around as we came out and her face lit up with a smile. She ran over, her brown curls bouncing up and down, and threw her arms around my neck. I picked her up and set her down on my lap, Carlisle pausing on our way to the door. She pulled away and signed to me, her eyes sad.

Where are you going, Edward? She asked. I took one hand from around her, using the other to keep her from falling, and signed back.

I'm going home. I don't have to stay here anymore. Her eyes grew wide, but she still looked confused.

Can you walk again? Did they fix you? My smiled faded slightly, and I shook my head.

No, but Dr. Cullen is letting me live with him and his family so that I will have people to help me when I need it. She smiled sadly and nodded her understanding.

I hope you're happy with them, Edward. You deserve to be. She wrapped her arms around my neck again and I hugged her back. She pulled away just as her mother spotted where she was. She walked over, a smile on her face, and stopped next to me.

"Sorry about that. She hasn't stopped talking about you since she walked in your room that first day," she said.

"It's okay. I enjoyed talking to her. No one else but Carlisle really bothered, unless you want to include the female nurses…" I trailed off. Esme and Carlisle laughed, and Carmine shook her head. Danni just looked at us, waiting for an explanation.

Your mom was telling me about how you always talk about me. I told her I didn't mind. I was happy to talk to you rather than the lady nurses here, I signed. Her mouth formed a small "o" and she blushed.

So, what are you doing back here? I asked, changing the topic. Her face lit up and her hands started going a mile a minute in her excitement.

They have this thing that they can put behind my ear that might let me be able to hear things. She looked at her mom, who smiled and answered her unspoken question.

An implant. It goes under the skin behind her ear and takes the sound waves right to her brain, instead of through her ear. It's like a permanent hearing aid. They needed someone to try it out, and Danni immediately offered. I couldn't say no after how excited she looked. I nodded and turned back to Danni.

I hope it works out for you. You're a good kid. And thank you. She blushed again, a shy smile on her face, until she saw my last message.

For what? She signed, confused again.

For being one of the only people to talk to me, just because you wanted to, not because you pitied me. You might not have realized it, but you helped me, I said. She hugged me again, tears spilling down her face. She pulled away and hastily signed, trying to get it right while she cried silently.

And thank you, Edward, for treating me like a normal person instead of the little deaf girl no one wants to take the time to talk to. I felt normal when we talked. My world might be silent, but it doesn't make me less than anyone else, she said, her smile back on her face. I smiled back and hugged her to me, her tears soaking my shirt as she buried her face in my chest.

She pulled away after she stopped crying and smiled at me. Her mother picked her up and she rested her head against her shoulder. She waved to me and I waved back.

Good luck, Danni.

You, too, Edward.

And with that, we went our separate ways, both of us heading for a new life.

A/N: Okay, so hopefully you have recognized the clue as to how Bella is going to be able to communicate. If not…well, they'll be meeting in the next chapter, so you'll definitely know after that. This chapter was a little longer than the first one, so hopefully it makes up for not updating for an entire week. My other story only has the Epilogue left, so after that's done they should come faster.

And the title of this chapter is The Road I'm On by 3 Doors Down. The lyrics didn't really fit, but the song title did!

So, tell me how you like it, now that you know a little more of what's going on! Favorite part? Favorite line? Anything?!

Please review! ;p