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Chapter 6

A thousand years.

Christina Perri.

EPOV

"Shit!" I hissed and Rosalie's jaw dropped a bit.

"Bella!" Rosalie breathed and Bella shook her head frantically, turning around the corner and dragging herself along the wall.

"Bella," I spoke too, racing up the stairs, ahead of Rosalie.

When I got up there, Bella was stumbling her way back to her room. My legs wasted no time catching up with her and my arms wrapped instinctively around her waist. She was sobbing now, and got suddenly heavy as her limbs grew limp. I began shushing her, letting us both gently slide to the floor, my body acting as her support and safety mat, basically.

"Shh, don't cry. I know. I know...she was going to tell you. She said so herself. She just didn't know how, baby." I breathed into her ear, pressing my lips to her hair and neck. Wherever they could reach. She just shook with violent sobs. I used my hands to rub her rib area gently, knowing that the shaking was probably doing no good to her bruised ribs.

I let her get what she could out of her system. It didn't take long before she was tuckered out, her body tucked gently into mine. I knew that she was going to have to get up though. She needed to go lay down, and rest her injuries, if she wanted to get better, faster. She knew that too. Although the knowledge didn't make her anymore cooperative as I lifted her onto her feet and limped with her all the way back to her bedroom.

She seemed so emotionless as we sat down on the bed together. Her eyes were blank, and glued on the wall in front of us. She hadn't even had the TV on all that time. Her eyes only looked away when Rosalie entered the room again. It was obvious that Rosalie had been crying, her face very similar to Bella's as she looked at us. She just shook her head and walked over so that she was kneeling beside Bella's bed. I watched in utter silence as she took one of Bella's hands, her eyes stuck on Bella's face.

It was as if she was afraid that she'd never see her again. That Bella was ready to send her packing and back to Chicago. I would have wanted to.

"Bella...honey...please. Please, please, please understand..." She let out a shuddering breath. "I have always loved you. Whether it was as a sister, or a daughter...that doesn't matter. You were always on my mind. Always. You were my favorite thing to wake up to in the morning. I know I didn't get to do any bedtime routines with you, but I always sneaked in after mom went to bed. You were so little...you probably don't remember...but I do. I do love you. Please. Don't cry."

Bella just shook her head at her, her face full of pure confusion. Her eyes just seemed so lost as they finally looked up at Rosalie. I almost wanted to laugh, as my eyes had caught that they were both biting their lip. A nervous tendency that Bella had, and I had loved.

"She sounds like she means it, baby. What do you say? Give her a chance. She doesn't have to be 'mommy' or any of that nonsense...just maybe you should let her know you. She has obviously missed your pretty face." I whispered in Bella's year and she curled a bit more into me, and away from Rosalie.

Bella yawned loudly and this time I had to chuckle. The poor thing was exhausted. It had completely slipped my mind how easily tired she probably was, between all of the emotional crap and her injuries. It was a wonder that the poor girl hadn't passed out on the stairs, when she had overheard Rosalie's little episode.

"How about we sleep on it?" I offered both of them and Rosalie nodded, backing up a bit. "We can talk about all of this all day tomorrow. For now, I'd say a certain beauty is becoming sleepy."

Bella nodded in complete agreement before glancing at Rosalie. Rosalie nodded at her, agreeing with her just to agree.

"Okay, well, I'm going to get Bella into something comfortable. And then I'll go change, okay?" I was more asking Bella, but I didn't want Rosalie to think that I was just hanging around and creeping while Bella changed her clothes.

Rose stood quickly and awkwardly patted Bella's arm with her hand. Bella glanced at her before looking back at me. She didn't look at Rose again as Rosalie left the room on her own. I went over to her closet and found a sleep shirt that seemed big enough to cover her for the night. I held it up to her, in offering, and she nodded.

Helping Bella in any way already felt routine. I didn't mind it – not even in the tiniest bit. I loved having her around. I loved seeing her blush. Keeping her healthy and happy only seemed natural. She didn't seem all that opposed to my feelings either.

"Alright." I kissed her on the lips once, twice, and then pulled back so that I could press my lips to her forehead. "I'm going to go take a quick shower and change. I'll be back in here in a little bit. Don't wait up for me, if you're tired, alright, baby?"

She nodded, smiling groggily. I asked if she needed anything else and she shook her head. Without another beat, I went back to my room. I knew that the sooner that I changed and showered, the sooner I would be back in bed with Bella. That seemed to be the only thing on my mind.

Getting in the shower reminded me of just how stressed out I was. The warm water and steam seemed to be exactly what my muscles needed, massaging them into perfect relaxation. I let out a sigh and stood in there much longer than necessary. I let my mind wander to anything that wasn't worrisome or hard work.

After realizing that Bella may have stayed up for me, I hurried out and got changed into a pair of pajama pants and a wife-beater. Once I was dry, I walked out of my room and found myself nearly stunned by the sound of Bella's sobbing. Her door was open, but the room was dark. That was not the way that I had left her, that was for sure.

When I walked in, I could barely see a shaking outline where Bella was laying. Rosalie was next to her, hushing her and promising her that I was going to be out of the shower soon. Bella just cried over her. It was a hard thing to watch, once my eyes adjusted. Rosalie looked so desperate, having no clue what to do with her daughter, whom she hadn't seen in ten years. And then there was my Bella, crying her eyes out for reasons that I had yet to figure out. Rosalie just kept crying with her, and her eyes said that her mind was going a hundred miles an hour.

"Bella, please. I could lay in here with you, if you want? Until he gets back? Tell me what's wrong! Show me! Something, sweetheart. Why are you crying? Is it Edward? Is he hurting you, Bella?" Rosalie sounded frantic now, as she probably wasn't even sure as to what she was thinking by that point.

"No! N-no!" Bella's voice had broken through for the second time that day and I had half expected her to keep on talking. Nothing followed though, nothing more than hollow sobs.

"Bella." I breathed, finally ready to interrupt.

"E-eh." She sputtered, sitting up so that she could see me better.

"Shh, don't cry." I breathed, wrapping my arms around her waist and rocking her back and forth. "Don't cry Bella."

"I hate this!" Rosalie cried, finally breaking down herself.

"I know. It'll get better." I breathed, mostly to Bella, but all the while hoping that Rosalie was listening in some sense.

"Rosalie...why don't you go do something else?" I sighed, and she nodded, getting up and walking out with a sigh.

That was when Bella's stomach grumbled loudly.

"Bella, how about I call my mom and have her bring us something to eat?" I offered her and she nodded, wrapping her arms even more tightly around my waist.

She nodded, not bothering to look up at me. I pulled my phone out and dialed my mother's number quickly. I figured that she would know how to console Rosalie better than I could, being a woman, and that she could help me get some food into Bella's stomach. She could also bring that camera, so I can get some pictures with Bella.

My mother answered on the first ring, surprising me due to how late it was. She agreed to run and get us something and that she would bring anything else she thought necessary – including my camera. I was a bit more satisfied as I put my phone away and helped Bella get comfortably tucked into my side.

When there was a knock on the door, I helped Bella get situated again before heading downstairs to get the door. I ran into Rosalie on the way, and she seemed confused as I barely checked before opening the door. My mother had texted me earlier on, warning me that she was already pulled in and getting ready to come up to the door.

When I opened it, I had Rosalie move out of the way so that I could help mom carry everything in. She seemed a bit in awe of the house as I led her to the kitchen. Bella and I had agreed on Chinese food. I breathed the sweet scent in greedily. My mother seemed to be caught up with Rosalie, so I took my time getting all of the food onto plates. Again, I didn't know Bella's preference, so I mixed it all up and decided that we could just share everything. Mom walked back in, her eyes soft as she took a platter of food.

"How is Bella doing?"

"She's kind of a mess. But I think she'll be okay." I shrugged and she nodded in agreement. "I also think that she's the worst combination of tired and hungry right now. She'll feel better in the morning, at least."

"I sure hope so." My mom sighed as she grabbed some Ibuprofen out of the cabinet. "Does she need any of this?" I nodded, surprised at how instinctual my mother could really be when it came to being a doctor. She chuckled. "I know. I was just wondering if it would help her sleep."

"Thanks." I smiled at her as we made our way towards the stairs.

The three of us went upstairs and found Bella. She was watching TV, her eyes sleepy but expectant. I climbed into the bed and helped her get the food situated. She smiled thankfully at Esme before quickly taking a bite of her fried rice. She let out a light hum, her eyes fluttering closed as she chewed and swallowed.

My pervert brain nearly took over before I remembered the situation.

"You like it, huh?" I gently nudged her, playfully, and she smiled half-heartedly. She had yet to take a break from eating though.

"You're looking better sweetheart," Esme commented. "Just looking a little tired."

Bella's cheeks flushed as she finally took a break from her current activity. Which was seeing if she could inhale all of the food in five minutes. I chuckled at the thought and she gave me the best menacing look that she could muster. I chuckled and tapped her nose with my index finger.

"See you're feeling better already!" I smiled when she did.

I just had to figure out what needed to be done to clear things up with her and Rosalie. No matter what relationship they chose to have, I wanted them to be on the same page and willing. I smiled at her again before stealing a piece of her shrimp. She giggled again.

That giggle was all that I needed to hear.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the messy updating, lately. Things have been basically a mess. I know that I'll continue updating, but I think I'm going to stick to BPOV just for the flow and the fact that I can get my point across a bit easier. I found out that my nephew, who I live next door to and have always baby-sat at least 10 hours a week since he was born, may have lymphoma. They're going to run the tests in about a week and this has left everything feeling a little hectic. I'm an emotional train-wreck, so I'll stick to Bella, who is one as well.

The next chapter will be this and more in BPOV. I struggled with Edward, especially because he was supposed to be a bit more light-hearted than I made him, but I've been frustrated with some things around me, which lead to me feeling a bit rushed and emotionally nuts through this chapter. Lol

Thanks for hanging around! Love you all!

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