Chapter Eleven.

I woke up to heavy bright lights and I realize I am lying in a hospital bed. I start to panic realizing I have no insurance, no money and no home. What if someone calls the cops? What am I going to do?

The monitor starts beeping wildly and none other than Carlisle Cullen walks in along with Jasper. Why are they here? What is going on? My heart rate slows down almost instantly and it's back to normal. I take a deep breath and look around the room and see Milo sitting beside me.

I give him a confused look but then I suddenly remember what had happened. I remember passing out in...Rosalie's arms.

Are they all here?!

"Welcome back, Bella." Carlisle smiles and I hesitate to give him one in return but eventually I do. I look over to see Jasper sitting in the corner by the window and holding his breath.

"If its too much for you Jasper, you don't have to stay." I look to Milo almost forgetting he doesn't know and then return my gaze back to Jasper.

"I'm fine, Bella. I am just in here so you can stay calm."

Milo raises an eyebrow but I ignore it and look over at Carlisle, "What is going on?"

He pulls up a chair and sits down next to me on my other side opposite of Milo, "You're very ill, Bella. Milo has informed me of your situation and I am truly sorry."

"I didn't tell him all the details, Bella. I know you like your privacy." Milo cuts in and I smile at him in return.

"However," Carlisle continues, "I understand that you are homeless and have a hard time finding food?"

"Yes."

"It has taken a very great deal on your body and has worn you down. I don't think you can ever be truly healthy again. You will eventually be fine but your body has taken on a lot of wear and tear for someone so young."

"I can't pay for all of this, Carlisle."

He holds up a hand to stop me.

"I know this and I will pay the bills as well for Milo and Jimbo, although, Milo insists to wait to be fully checked out until you were awake. I am glad you found him and weren't truly alone out there, Bella."

"Thank you." I don't know exactly what to say so I settle on that.

"I'm so sorry. We all are." He looks into my eyes and I want to cry but then I laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"Don't try to dazzle me, Carlisle." I chuckle.

"I wasn't!" he protests but then he and Jasper both laugh while Milo looks on a bit confused. That makes me laugh harder.

Carlisle and Jasper eventually leave the room leaving Milo and I alone.

"So..." he drawls out, "I finally got to meet the Cullen's."

"Yeah."

"That Edward guy...I don't really know about him but he seemed pretty tore up."

"I assure you it's just an act, Milo." I roll my eyes and look down at my lap.

"I don't know....but I swear I didn't say anything about anything but it was like he was picking my brain like really looking into it. It was fucking creepy as hell."

Oh no. He was reading his mind; great.

"I wouldn't worry too much. You always have such an imagination in that brain of yours" I tease, knowing that the Cullen's can hear our conversation.

"Did you know Jimbo's real name is Jameson Hibbo?" He laughs.

"No, I didn't" I giggle.

"Yeah, apparently Jameson and Hibbo create 'Jimbo'."

We both laugh and I try to catch my breath. I thought 'Swan' was an odd last name.

"Speaking of which, where is he?"

"He's getting checked out in room three. I guess he has been without seeing a doctor longer than we both have combined. They drew some blood and prescribed him some meds. He has become really fond of Carlisle and thinks Alice is the sweetest girl on earth." He chuckles. "...Hey, I'm going to go and get a full physical done but I think someone would like to talk to you... that is if it's okay with you."

I don't even have to ask to know who it is. I give a long deep sigh and nod my head, "Sure. Bring him in."

As Milo steps out, Edward steps in and I can feel my my stomach flutter and my heart go a little crazy before it settles down again. He takes Milo's seat and I stare at my hands as if they are so interesting.

"Bella." he whispers.

Wow. It feels so good to hear his name again. It's beautiful velvet caresses me into a peaceful state just like it used to all those months ago.

I stare into his topaz eyes and I get lost within them. I can see the pain in them and I feel even though I love this beautiful man, can't help but be angry at him for ripping my heart out.

"What is it, Edward?" I ask when I come down from the wonderful high.

"I am so sorr-, I am so sorry." His voice breaks and he reaches for my hand but I pull away.

You can't touch me yet, Romeo.

"Bella, I lied to you when I left you that day. I only left for your safety. I thought if I took you out of my world you would be safe and live a long and happy life."

"Right..." I draw out, "Because I'm doing so much better, Edward." I don't give him time to respond. Better strike while im still hot. "...And your world?! Trust me; you don't know anything, Edward Cullen! Do you know what I have been through?!"

"Bella, stay calm. You're still very—"

"Listen here, Edward you know nothing. You don't love me. If you did, you would have stayed. How come you didn't come for me when Renee died or Charlie died?"

"I didn't know, Bella. Alice's viosns are partially blocked when they come to you. She only gets bits and pieces. " His voice is pleading but I don't care. It's all crap. "Bella, please... I love you. I always have and always will. Let me take you home and take care of you."

"Home? My home is burnt to the ground, Edward." I cry ignoring the anguish in his eyes. "You can't protect me or keep me safe. I don't need you. You have proven to me that I definitely do not need you, anymore. You were always trying to shelter me and treat me like a child and I let it go because I loved you and I understood that you wanted to keep me safe from harm's way."

The sobs continue and my voice gets higher but I keep on going because he has to hear it. I don't know if its all for him but the pain is unbearable and Edward was the start of it all; my focal point.

"I may be lying in a hospital bed right now Edward, but look how long I have survived without you. Sure I have been hanging on by a thread and I could have died but I didn't. Im not a child, Edward and you have to see that. I can stand on my own and not be babied. Being homeless proves just how strong I can be."

I look at Edward and he doesn't say anything for quite some time.

"Bella, I...I love you and I hope that you can forgive me and I am so sorry for everything that has happened to you. I will help you in any way that I can. Please just let me love you. I am so sorry. You don't know how sorry I am and how much I hate myself for leaving you. I never should have left."

He starts to dry sob and I feel my heart break all over again. "Look into my eyes Edward" I plead. He looks up at me with so much love and heartbreak, it's too much.

"What do you see?" I ask. "You don't see Bella anymore."


**tears**

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