Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original characters, content and ideas of this story are mine.

Chapter 2

Facing Reality

BPOV

As I opened my eyes it took a minute for my mind to remember where I was. I could not remember the last time I slept this good. The sweet smell of vanilla assaulted my nostrils and then I realized there was a small scented candle lit on the small dresser next to the bed that I did not remember seeing when I went to bed last night. There was also a face cloth and drying towel on the dresser that I was sure was not there last night. I smiled at Edward's thoughtfulness and I could feel my face turning red as I thought of how attractive he was. How did I not notice him in high school? I quickly grabbed my hygiene products, a change of underwear, a pair of jeans and a navy blue v-neck sweater and headed to the guest bathroom. The shower was unbelievably relaxing and the hot water did not run out like at home which made it easy to stay in an extra 15 minutes. After getting dressed, brushing my hair into a much neater ponytail than the day before and putting away my night clothes I headed to the living room where Emmett was sitting already dressed.

"Hey, you finally woke up. Edward went out for bagels and coffee earlier they're in the kitchen, but he had patients to see this morning so he left a little while ago. After you eat we can grab a cab and head over to the hospital. He wants us to have him paged when we get there."

"I don't really have much of an appetite so I'll just take one of the coffees and we can leave."

The cab ride was quiet with each of us lost in our own thoughts. I thought about all the arrangements that needed to be made and wondered how I was going to make it through identifying my parent's bodies. I could tell Emmett was also very sadden by the lost of his favorite aunt and uncle, but mostly I think his quietness came from wanting to allow me my space to grieve. After paying the cab driver Emmett helped me out of the cab and held my hand as we walked into the hospital.

"Good morning can we please have a Dr. Edward Cullen paged?" Emmett asked the nurse named Jessica in the pediatrics dept. at the hospital and then we sat down in the waiting area.

"I don't think I can do this, Emmett." I whispered trying to keep the tears from spilling over.

"I'll be right there with you Bella, but if you don't think you can handle identifying them I'll do it for you."

I nodded my head desperately wanting to be stronger but the strength I searched for never came and I resigned to take Emmett up on his offer.

"I can't Emmett, I would rather just wait here." Emmett nodded his head and understanding covered his face. Just then Edward walked up and greeted us.

"Good morning Bella, how did you sleep?"

"Very well thank you and thanks for putting the towels out for me."

"No problem at all. I knocked twice before entering, but I'm glad I didn't disturb your sleep."

I offered him a small appreciative smile while biting on my bottom lip and he gave me the most gorgeous crooked grin I have ever seen and again I lost my train of thought.

"Well if you don't mind Edward I would like to get this over with so we can start making the necessary arrangements." Emmett interrupted looking between the two of us.

Edward cleared his throat "By all means, I have a staff member here from the hospital morgue and he will escort you guys down if that's alright." Edward once again looked to me for a response.

"I won't be going down... I just don't think I can handle seeing them right now so I'll just wait here for Emmett to return if that's okay." Bella said staring down at her hands in her lap.

"How about you wait for him in my office that will at least give you a bit more privacy."

When I looked up Edward offered me a sympathetic smile and I nodded my head. Emmet left with the staff member Edward had escorting him to the morgue and I followed Edward to his office. His office consisted of a cherry oak desk that sat in front of a small picture window with off white vertical blinds slightly opened, an expensive looking black leather chair on one side and 2 more black leather chairs in front of his desk. There was a black leather sofa against the wall to my right with a picture of New York's Central Park hanging above it and several file cabinets against the wall to my left, which I assumed contained his patients records.

"Can I offer you a beverage I have Pepsi and bottled water in my fridge over there." I turned to see a mini fridge against the wall behind me. "I'll take a Pepsi, I could use the caffeine right now."

" Please have a seat Bella. So I understand from Emmet you will be graduating soon with a Masters in English Literature."

I swear every time this man opens his mouth to speak it's like listening to the most soothing music I've ever heard and my head goes cloudy every time our eyes meet. Trying to focus on the present conversation I forced myself to look away from Edward so that I could form a coherent response.

"Yes I am earning my degree on line from The University of Seattle and I also give private tutoring lessons to local students at Forks library." Suddenly my mouth felt extremely dry as I looked up and realized Edward was staring at me. I took another sip from my soda wishing I had picked a bottled water.

"Bella I hate that we had to see each other again under these circumstances and if there is anything I can do to make things easier for you or Emmett during your stay here please don't hesitate to ask. Alice would have my head if she thought I was not properly caring for you while you're here. I have cleared my schedule for the duration of your stay so that I may assist with any arrangements you guys may have to make."

Thinking of Alice and her wrath when things are not done as she has instructed brought a smile to my face and when I looked up at Edward again the crooked grin that sent shivers down my spine was back . This was going to be a long 3 days.

Emmett returned about 10 minutes later and his swollen red eyes was all the confirmation I needed that my parents were indeed gone. He pulled me into a tight embrace and whispered "let's get out of here."

Edward offered to arrange for a local funeral home to pick my parents up to prepare them to be shipped back to Forks.

"Emmett the doorman in my building has a spare set of keys to my apartment at the front desk. I will call to let him know you and Bella will be returning soon. I have one more patient to see today and a couple of calls to make ad then I will be at you and Bella's disposal for whatever you guys may need."

"Thanks for everything you're doing." Emmett said and then he led me out of Edward's office, out of the hospital and into a cab. Again the ride back to Edward's apartment was silent both Emmett and I grieving in our own way.

As soon as we made it back to Edward's apartment my cell phone rang in my pocket. I looked at the caller id and it was Alice.

"Hey Alice."

"Hey yourself, and thanks for letting me know you made it safely I was worried when I didn't hear from you. I had to call my brother for an update. How are you?" she spoke so fast it took my brain a few minutes to catch up and there was a awkward pause before I responded.

"Bella?"

"Yes I'm here, I'm sorry Alice I was just so exhausted when I got here yesterday and things went kind of fast this morning. Emmett and I have just returned from the hospital."

I really was sorry for worrying her especially under the circumstances.

"You're forgiven Bella as long as you are okay I'm good. Hey I contacted your professors about your finals and they are going to allow you until the end of the week to take your finals on line for full credit and I went through your appointment book and rescheduled all of your tutoring sessions for the next 2 weeks. Esme and Rosalie are taking care of all the floral arrangements as well as the repast for your parent's service. Carlisle has arranged for the Forks funeral home to pick them up from the airport."

My mind started spinning as Alice spewed out the details of my parents funeral arrangements. I was still not prepared to talk about this though I knew I had to. The sobs came and I barely croaked out a weak "thank you Alice."

"Bella I am so sorry I did not mean to upset you honey." Alice said apologetically.

"It' s okay Alice, I have to deal with this whether I want to or not."

"Edward told me what happen at the hospital and I am so glad Emmett is there with you. Listen I have to go pick up the boys for Rosalie she is working extra hours so that she can see both her and Emmett's clients while he's gone so I will check on you later, love you."

"I love you too Alice, bye."

Rosalie and Emmett has 2 son's ages 2 and 6 and they own "McCarty's Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center" in Forks. Alice is a clothes buyer for Bergdorf Goodman department store and takes up resident in her New York apartment 3-4 months a year. She is recently engaged to Jasper a detective with Forks police department and now wants to open her own small high end clothing boutique in Port Angeles, WA. Carlisle is the head Neuro surgeon at Forks Hospital and Esme is a part time interior decorator and volunteers in the children's ward at Forks hospital 3 times a week. Edward is a Pediatrics physician at the Univ. of New York Medical Center, and me well my dream is to own a book store that offers tutoring for English and Reading at a low cost to local grammar school and high school students.

"Bella , Edwards on the phone he wants to know if you wouldn't mind us all going to a restaurant for dinner tonight his treat."

"Sure, I guess." I really wasn't in the mood for going out to dinner but I couldn't be rude to Edward after he so generously disrupted his life to accommodate us for a few days.

"He says to meet him at a Restaurant called the "Rainbow Room" at 7:00pm sharp. I'm going to take a nap before dinner. Are you going to be okay."

"Yes I'm fine Emmett go get some rest. Oh and Emmett," he turned back around to face me, "thank you for today I don't know what I would have done without you there."

"No problem Bells, I'll see you in a couple of hours."

I went to my room to inspect the wardrobe Alice had packed for me and silently thanked her when I saw the black evening gown in my garment bag. I cringed at the 4 inch black heels she packed to go with the dress and a small matching black clutch purse. I would definitely have to be careful to not let clumsy Bella rear her ugly head tonight. Looking at the clock I realized I had a couple hours before I would need to start getting ready for dinner so I decided to read. I pulled out one of my favorite books "Water For Elephants" and began reading.

The blaring sound of my cell phone next to my head startled me awake. I hit the talk button without looking at the caller id and once again my senses were heightened by the most melodic voice to ever speak my name.

"Bella, it's Edward did I wake you?"

"It's fine what time is it?"

"it's almost 5:00pm. I was just calling to let you know the funeral home has picked up your parents and will have them ready for you to take back home by Wednesday. I know you guys are scheduled to leave on Tuesday but I could fly back to Forks with them on Wednesday so that you do not have to change your travel plans since after today I am off until next Sunday."

"No Edward, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. I'll stay if you don't mind putting up with me for one more day."

"It is my pleasure to have you guys stay with me and I would be offended if you did not stay the extra day at my apartment."

"Then I guess that settles it. Emmett can leave on Tuesday so that he can get back to his wife and their boys and I will stay the extra day to fly back with my parents."

"Sounds like a win-win to me. I can't wait to see you at dinner."

"Yes, me too." and with that the line went dead. Did he really just say he couldn't wait to see me at dinner? And did I honestly just tell him me too? Okay Bella you are reading way too much into his words he is just being a gentleman. I quickly took another shower and shaved my legs thanking Alice again for always knowing what to pack. After using the curling iron to place soft spiral curls in my hair that cascaded down my back and applying lip gloss and mascara for a natural look I got dressed and headed to the living room where Emmett was.

"About damn time Bella I thought I was going to have to come burst down the bathroom door to get you!"

"Oh quit your whining and let's go."

I had butterflies in my stomach the whole cab ride to the restaurant in anticipation of seeing Edward again and the closer we got the happier I was that I used a good antiperspirant deodorant. We arrived at the restaurant at about 5 minutes before 7:00pm and was escorted to our table where Edward was waiting. As we approached the table Edward stood up with a glorious smile on his face that could make all the angels in heaven sing, but that's not what caught my attention. It was the beautiful woman sitting next to him with the flawless skin and beautiful long strawberry blond curls framing her face that caused the lump in my throat.

"Bella, Emmett I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Tanya. Tanya these are my house guest I was telling you about."

"I am very pleased to meet you two I have heard nothing but good things from my Edward about you and I am so sorry for your lost." her voice was just as angelic as her face.

Her Edward! I didn't even know jealousy was a part of my nature until that very moment. Unable to speak I offered her a polite smile the best I could and quickly took my seat.

"Very nice to meet you Tanya and I can certainly see Edward has good taste."

What! I made a mental note to choke Emmett in his sleep tonight!

"Thank you Emmett you are too kind."

I needed a drink this was definitely going to be a long night!

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 2. Please show me some love and leave a review!