Chapter 14

Edward had left with the other were still reunited in the foyer to check on Bella staying with her watching her sleep which was his favorite thing to do because he wished he could dream of Bella's beautiful face. While in his thoughts, Bella slowly opened her eyes and groaned shifting positions getting up slowly which was still painful. Edward rushed to her side to see how she was feeling since she had gone through a terrible ordeal. Placing his cold hand on her shoulder, he urged her to lay back down and get some rest, but she said, "I'm fine, Edward I need to get up and stretch my aching body. I could use some help getting up though. I would like to see the others because I know that they have arrived. " Edward helped her get up slowly as he supported her body since she was unable to keep an upright position without slumping again. Heading down the stairs, Edward who was supporting Bella made their way down to the foyer where everyone else was. Alice saw Bella coming down the stairwell with Edward by her side supporting her and burst out saying, "Bella what are you doing moving! You have to lay down and rest if you want a swift recovery!" Everyone whipped their heads turning their attention to Edward and Bella on the stairwell. Bella found it difficult to walk down the stairs, so Edward took her in his arms and sped down the stairs. He placed Bella at the base of the staircase letting her use the sturdy railing for support.

"We were just going to visit you upstairs because we didn't want to do come down, Bella," Esme spoke.

"I'm alright really, though I'm still sore so a little movement won't do any harm," Bella responded.

"Then let's move Bella to the couch so she's not too far from us," Alice suggested since Bella wanted to be with the family.

"Good idea, Alice," Edward stated. He took Bella by the shoulders and led her to the plush couch in the family room. Edward sat down next to Bella as she leaned on his shoulder exhausted, but also unable to sit upright.

Bella picked her head up from Edward's shoulder hunching over still using Edward for support. She had to apologize to the Cullens for putting them at risk for her mistake of begging Edward to take her to the baseball game. Infuriated, Edward wished that he could read Bella's thoughts because she looked as though she was thinking hard about something. He wanted to help her say whatever she was trying to speak. Finally Bella mustered up enough energy and spoke in a quiet tone, "I am so sorry for creating problems for all of you. I wish I could go back in time and fix the problem that nearly risked the exposure of your secret."

"Maybe you should just go back in time and just not ever have gotten involved with us in the first place," Rosalie muttered cheekily. Bella didn't heard what Rosalie said, but Edward did and glared at Rosalie. Rosalie glowered back at Edward who didn't seem to care about the dangers of having a romantic relationship with a human.

"There's no need for an apology, Bella. We had to save you or James would have easily killed you, then Edward would be have been depressed for an eternity for your death," Carlisle explained.

"We could never let any harm happen to you either because you are now a part of our family. Family helps other family members in times of distress," Esme added on Carlisle's expression.

"I'm just glad that you're safe, Bella. Some of would be a major loss if you were around unlike some, but they'll come around. Trust me," Alice stated hinted Rosalie who in response just gave a grimace. Rosalie could have cared less if James left her on a side of a road to die, she couldn't understand how the others could find her charm amusing because Bella was honestly quite boring. Human's lives were short lived and quite monotonous.

Edward exclaimed annoyed, "Rosalie, would you just shut the hell up!"

Emmett interjected offended at Edward's comment, "Hey, why don't you just mind your own thoughts!"

"I would gladly, but I don't have the ability to do that unfortunately, Emmett," Edward spoke in a aggravated tone with his arms crossed across his chest.

Everyone gazed at Edward who looked like was about to explode on Rosalie.

Jasper felt various emotions from everyone that was starting to Jasper suggested," Why don't we just leave this till tomorrow I'm sure Bella is tired from today. We've all had a rough few weeks I'm sure tomorrow morning we'll forget what we were angry about."

Edward wanted to beat the crap out of Rosalie and Emmett, but channeled his anger into something more productive by looking after Bella. Rosalie charged out of the room with Emmett following behind her both were in crappy mood. Alice with a grin on her face, hugged Bella and said good-night heading upstairs, while Jasper just smiled at her and walked by. Carlisle and Esme also hugged and said good-night to Bella as Carlisle headed to his den and Esme headed to the kitchen to finish one interior sketch for her bedroom. Bella had enough strength to walk up the stairs using the railing as leverage with Edward behind her to catch her if she tripped or fell. Once Bella reached the top of the stairs she nearly fainted, but caught the railing before falling to the floor. Edward carried Bella rest of the way up the stairs to the couch in his room, her eyes looks heavy and weary from the little sleep that she's had with this horrific experience. Edward started to walk out of the room when Bella blurted out, "Don't leave me! What if James comes in the night to finish me off?"

"James will not come within one foot of you. I'm just going down to get some food and water since I doubt you've had much food in the last 48 hours. Be back in a few I promise," Edward assured Bella.

Bella kept dozing in and out of sleep with a nightmare of James and Victoria stalking her from tree tops outside of Edward's room. Paranoia kept Bella awake for most of the night, when Edward came back up with breakfast of scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast, and orange juice he nearly dropped the tray to find Bella up barely walking around with fear in her eyes as though she was expecting something to come for her. Placing her tray on the floor, he walked toward Bella dragging her back to the couch sitting her down since she could barely walk without stumbling or fainting.

"Leave me I want to walk!" Bella said defying Edward.

"You can barely take a few step without falling over or fainting, Bella. Please sit I brought some breakfast," Edward begged.

"Fine, I am hungry, but I want to go down afterward I need to talk to Rosalie!" Bella sat on the couch and Edward placed the tray in front of Bella. Bella finished the food and the juice in less than five minutes.

"I'll take you down, but are no way going to talk to Rosalie she'll become reasonable just give her some time and space. She's just acting up, there's nothing to say because you did nothing wrong!," Edward stated.

"She's angry at me I need to know what I did wrong! I don't want her to hate me if I can't fix it."

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. If she goes off on you, call me and I will tell her to back off. She can be a bitch sometimes."