Sorry for the late, late, late update. Life has been psycho, and I totally didn't know what to do with this chapter, so here's what I got...there may be another one up tonight if you inspire me with happiness *wink wink* :) Enjoy!


Bella stood in the cool gray tunnel, drinking in the sight of Edward. She knew she shouldn't let herself be attracted to him, that she'd only get hurt time and time again, but she just couldn't help herself. He had an air of mystery, the look of angst, the carefree smile that just made her knees shake, her heart flutter, and stomach flip. She, Bella Swan, was falling for the most unattainable male life from residing on planet Earth, and yet, she was okay with it. She saw his wet jersey clinging to his body as the rain poured over him. It traced the defined lines of his hard abdomen, and Bella suddenly felt faint. She wrenched her gaze away from the boy and started down the tunnel, fixing her bun as she walked. "Ah, Bella, there you are," a male voice greeted.

"Coach Black," she replied, nodding her head to the dark man in a wheelchair. He stopped rolling and slammed down his brakes. Removing his cowboy hat, Bella saw his hair, grown salt-and-pepper with age. "Did you need something?" She blinked her eyes, adjusting to the darkness found farther inside the tunnel. Billy nodded.

"I need you to stay with Edward for the next few weeks." Bella sucked in a sharp breath, and Billy heard. He chuckled lightly as he continued. "We need to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid to hurt himself more before playoffs." Bella smoothed the front of her shirt, trying to seem less excited than she was. An inferno of excitement was tearing through her core, and she was afraid her blush would begin to show. She ducked her head, hoping, that in the dimness of the tunnel, Billy couldn't see her happiness.

"But…Angela is the head—" Billy Black waved his hand in front of him, and Bella came up short.

"Bella, you're father, and I have been friends since you were a little girl. I know you better than Angela. I know that I can trust you." He raised his eyebrow in a way that seemed as if he were asking her a silent question. Can I trust you?

"Yes," Bella murmured, though he hadn't really asked her a question. Billy nodded and wheeled himself around, disappearing down the tunnel.

Bella could barely see him as he called over his shoulder. "A car will pick you up outside." She heard the squeak of his wheels and then nothing. She was alone again.

That was how she'd ended up here, sitting on a comfortable leather barstool at the granite counter of Edward's high-end kitchen. Esme and Carlisle, Edward's parents, stood in front of her, briefing her as if she were on a top secret mission. "Don't let him eat too much. He's a binge eater," Esme was saying, her voice filled with concern. I would have never even guessed that Edward was her stepchild. "Oh and no weightlifting or physical labor or…" Her eyes rolled to the ceiling as she mentally checked for more no-no's for Edward.

"No alcohol with his medication," Carlisle said sternly, though his eyes were soft. Bella nodded, making sure she had everything written down on the small sticky note they had handed her.

"Oh! Please, don't let him watch the news tonight. It would just depress him to see his injury." She dropped her gaze sadly to her shoes, undoubtedly concerned for her son. Carlisle nodded in agreement, his eyes watching his wife wipe tears from her red, streaked cheeks.

"Look, are you guys sure you just don't want to stay? I mean, you are his parents." She was silently chanting to herself. Please say no. Please say no. Please say no please say no pleasesayno pleasesayno. Esme smiled sadly, dabbing the corner of her eyes with a tissue.

"He won't accept care from us," she said, smiling, though her voice was dripping with melancholy. The door creaked and everyone turned to look as it was pushed open. Esme and Carlisle rushed over to the door, standing perfectly still after mouthing a request for Bella to stay put, to which she complied, sitting hidden on the barstool where she could see him, but he couldn't see her. Esme went to Edward right away and asked how he was feeling. He just shrugged, but Bella saw him wince with the slight lift of his shoulder. Esme did, also.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit down, darling?" The concern rang throughout the house, and Edward sighed, shaking his head as he stood in the entryway, as if he didn't belong in his own home. Bella watched as he slid his shoes off, clenching and unclenching his fists. He knew that there was something us. Bella wondered what he would think when he found out that something was her.

"Son," Carlisle began, reaching out to touch his son, but then thinking better of it and letting his hand drop to his side. "We believe that you need someone to…" he fumbled for the words, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to find the best way to say that Edward needed a babysitter, "look after you while you recover, you know, cook, clean, get the bills." He paused for a moment, registering his son's expression before continuing on, "Just simple things that will make your recovery process less painful." Edward's mouth opened and closed quickly.

The words that escaped his open lips were comical. "But, Dad!" Bella laughed quietly, remembering how only a few days ago she had said the same thing to her father when he wouldn't let her go to Emmett's apartment.

"No buts, Edward," Esme chastised. She pressed a hand to her flushed face. "She's just going to stay at your house until you can play again." Edward rolled his eyes and dragged one hand down over his face.

"You just wanna make sure I don't do anything stupid." His voice was sharp as he countered his mother and father. Bella ran to the archway that separated the kitchen from the entryway, so that she was visible. She was ready to protect Carlisle and Esme's intentions, ready to yell at Edward, but, to Bella's surprise, Carlisle nodded in agreement.

"You are correct." As if sensing Bella's presence, his head tipped in her direction, but Bella could only see that in her peripherals. She was stunned to silence by the profile of Edward's face, by his sharp nose and angular jaw, by his green eyes and thick lashes. Her pink lips parted in a small "o" as his gaze met hers. She watched, a little smugly, as his eyes widened. "So no more complaining." Carlisle stated strictly

Bella couldn't hear what Edward murmured, but she could see his lips move. His gaze hadn't disconnected from hers, so Bella broke the trance, turning around and heading to the kitchen. It was nearly dinnertime, and she was hungry. She grabbed a few things out of the fridge and dug through the cabinets, finding a pan. She was vaguely aware of Edward and his parents chatting in the room over, but she didn't pay attention. She couldn't hear anything over the roaring of blood in her ears, her heart like a jackhammer against her ribcage. She splashed some olive oil into the pan and began frying strips of chicken.

The sizzling meat soothed her, a common sound heard at her own home. She took a shaky breath, waiting beside the gas stove. Her stomach fluttered as she heard someone approach. She turned her head ever so slightly to see that it was only Esme. She couldn't help the brick of disappointment that slammed down onto her. "We're leaving," Esme said quietly. Bella cocked her head to the side, pressing her lips together in a frown, her eyebrows knit together in concern.

"Are you sure you're not going to stay for dinner?" Esme nodded, surprising Bella by walking up to her and giving her a hug. Even more surprising, Bella found herself hugging the beautiful woman back.

"Please take care of Edward. He may not be my blood, but he's still my son." Bella gave Esme a squeeze and released her, flipping the chicken before it burned.

"I will, don't you worry." Esme nodded again, and Bella heard Carlisle calling her name.

"You're a good person, Bella Swan." With that, Esme left, leaving Bella standing confused next to the stove. She turned off the heat and pulled the chicken off. She wrapped it in tortillas along with lettuce and cheese and corn and salsa, putting them on a plate. She cut up a few apples and set them next to the plate of wraps. She sat staring at the plate for about five minutes, wondering if it was worthy of Edward, wondering if she was worthy of Edward. Shut up. You don't have to be worthy of anyone. She told herself angrily.

"Edward!" she called finally, an eep escaping her lips after she realized she'd actually said his name. A blush crept up the back of her neck as she pulled her hair from its bun, letting it cascade down her shoulders in loose, chocolaty waves. He pulled up short in the archway, his face neutral.

"What?" he asked slowly, annunciating the "t" sound. Bella nodded her head in the direction of the wraps, and Edward shoved, grabbing one and shoving it wholly in his mouth. He chewed. "Weh eh sho goowd." Bella shook her head.

"Could you swallow your food before complimenting me?" she asked, surprising herself by the sarcastic edge in her voice. Edward snorted and grabbed another wrap along with some apple slices, disappearing out of the kitchen. Bella watched him go and grabbed one of her own wraps, eating it slowly, delighted by the taste. She ate some of her apples as she cleaned up her mess. Finally, she found herself in a sparkly kitchen.

She walked through archways, trying to find Edward. She found him, sitting on the couch with his eyes staring intently at the television. She sat next to him on his white suede couch, twirling a thick, wavy, curl of brown hair around her index finger while eyeing Edward warily as he pressed an icepack to his scratched and bruised shoulder. "What?" he asked temperamentally, his eyes never leaving the plasma television mounted on the wall. A news woman spoke in a brisk, severe voice as pictures of a missing family flashed by on the screen, with bright words beneath reading, Have you seen us?

"You should go to the hospital," Bella told him, carefully measuring his expression. His straight jaw tightened slightly, the muscles of his face tensing. Trying to remain calm and mask his fear, he snorted, watching the local Wisconsin news morph to national news, headlining story teasers covering the screen.

"No." The one syllable word fell of his tongue, dripping with finality as his green eyes followed the writing flashing above the platinum-blonde hair of the newswoman. Bella's chocolaty brown eyes scanned the room. These were the first words he had said to her since his parents had left, aside from the standard, "Stay away from my stuff." She tucked her knees under her chin, absorbing the art-deco vibe given off by his house. Asymmetrical furniture in dark browns and whites covered the open floor plan, which seamlessly flowed from one room to the next, making the whole room light and airy. Late evening sun dripped in through the spotless windows, adding a slight glow to the shaggy, auburn hair covering Edward's head.

"You're scared of the doctor!" Bella said playfully, waiting for his gaze to catch hers as she stared at him. Again, Edward snorted impolitely. He turned his head just long enough to see that Bella was still watching him, plotting a plan against him.

"I am not scared of some wanna-be in a lab coat." Though he pretended to watch the television, his eyes betrayed his lie, twitching slightly as Bella silently laughed. "Why are you here anyway?" Edward asked suddenly, his tone low. Bella's breath hitched in her throat. Images of Billy Black telling her he could trust her flashed through her mind as she tried to think of an answer, but coming up short. I know I can trust you. He had said, but what did he mean by it? Did he really trust her? Bella snapped back to the present, realizing she'd been gaping at Edward. Lucky for her, Edward was still completely focused on the television, absorbed in a rescue story. Bella leaned back against the cushions, remaining silent as she tried to think of an answer. "I'm here to make sure you're okay by playoffs," she settled on, dropping her gaze to her feet as Edward didn't reply.

"Up next, can a hurt Packer cause a hurting season? Find out next on…" The newswoman's face disappeared as Bella clicked the power button, Edward's face snapping angrily toward her.

"What did you do that for?" He was nearly shouting at the top of his lungs, even though he wasn't even two feet from Bella.

"You are not allowed to watch news about your injury. Your father said. Period." Bella's lips were pressed into a thin line as Edward's liquid green eyes solidified into hard, edgy emeralds.

"I'm twenty-two. I do not listen to my father." Edward spat the last word, as if his father were garbage. "Besides, I need to see if I look good injured." Bella watched, stunned as Edward snatched the remote from where she had it poised at the television. A video of Edward on the ground, shaking in pain as bystanders looked on. Bella saw herself hunched over him, removing his helmet and throwing it to the side. She blushed deeply, hoping Edward didn't see how long she'd stared at him while she was kneeling by him. The screen went dark again.

"Not as good looking as you hoped?" Bella quipped, nonchalantly inspecting her nails.

Edward grunted. "Too good," he said, turning his face toward Bella, "I thought you might faint."

She pushed him playfully in his good arm, and he laughed lightly.

"Seriously though, we need to get this thing X-rayed." Edward groaned as Bella helped him to his feet. She towed him to the front door, in complete disbelief that she was actually holding his hand. Ugh, I don't get this way over guys. I am a strong, independent woman. She pulled herself out of her thought quick enough to see Edward reaching for his keys. "Ah, ah, ah," she said, "I'm driving."

Edward threw his head back and groaned loudly. "So many rules! In my own home!" Bella laughed and towed him out the door to his car, slipping into the driver's seat and throwing it into reverse as soon as Edward piled into the passenger's seat. "Careful!" he choked out as she neared the end of his driveway. "I love this car!"

"Oh, look, he does have a heart," Bella crooned in response. Edward rolled his eyes toward the window, glaring as the houses flashed by. Bella was mentally cheering for herself. She was in a Lincoln Navigator with Edward Cullen. How much better could life get?


I'd take Edward in my Lincoln Navigator...but mine's white...so yeah...haha Review?