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Chapter 14

The Call.

Secondhand Serenade.

"And here's your wheel-chair, madam!" Edward grinned widely as he pulled a wheel-chair towards my bed, stopping it towards the end of it.

"I'm a bit tired of them by now. Can't I just walk out?" I asked him, eyeing the stupid chair. I had never liked the amount of unnecessary attention that the stupid things brought. Edward liked to tease me with them.

"Hospital protocol!" Esme grinned deviously, walking over to help me sit up straighter.

"You totally made that up." I giggled, and she shrugged, her green eyes shooting up the ceiling for a short moment. I just shook my head, unable to stop myself from smiling. What could I say? They were being so nice to me.

"I know, honey. Just let him do this for you." She patted my cheek sympathetically and I just rolled my eyes.

"Okay!" Rosalie clapped her hands together, walking in quickly. "I'm really sorry that I can't come home with you...I took so much work off while you were out, I'll be making up for it until your wedding!"

"You never know, it may not be that far off." Edward winked at me and I felt my face heat up instantaneously. Butterflies seemed to take over my insides then, making me blush even harder.

"Right..." Rosalie just chuckled almost awkwardly before turning back to me. "You'll be okay? It's not that I don't trust Edward and Esme, I just get anxious sometimes, I-"

"I'll be fine." I nodded and Emmett laughed loudly.

"What about me, baby?" He looked at her. "I'll be there too you know."

"Yes, but only for half an hour." She shrugged, and then turned back so that she was facing me. "And you! Be good. Don't horse around. Relax a while. Don't forget to study for your finals too. You missed a hell of a lot of school."

"I know, I know." I nodded, dreading the amount of homework that I was doomed to face when I got home. Home.

Where was my home?

I had yet to tell anyone, but I could hear bits and pieces of their conversation while I was unconscious. One conversation that I did remember was the one between Charlie, Renee, and Rosalie. I heard them basically kick me out, and I heard Rosalie agree wholeheartedly. The weird part to me wasn't that. The situation was only weird because nobody had dared to bring it up with me. They didn't ask about it or bother to inform me of it.

Where was I going? They said that I was going home, but where was home for me? Had they moved my things into Rose's? Edward's? Had they even begun moving my things yet, or was I going home to begin packing? It wasn't that I minded leaving. I was excited, for the most part. I just wanted to know. I didn't like the feeling of being unsure. It almost left me feeling homeless. Unstable.

I cooperated, too deep in thought to argue, as Edward helped lift me into the wheel-chair. Esme moved to put my sheets in the hamper before hugging Rosalie goodbye. I thanked her, and did the same before we were out the door and making our way out of the hospital.

"What are you thinking about?" Emmett's loud voice pulled me out of my reverie as we got to his big, green Jeep.

"I'm sorry?" I looked at him, my brow coming together in confusion.

"I asked what you were thinking about...you seemed so out of it for a while." He laughed, helping me to my feet. Edward came around to open the door for me, letting me climb into the seat. He kept his hands on my hips, being extra protective.

I knew that I was going to have to get used to it. Edward was a nervous wreck with me. Between the school shooting, my drowning, and getting hit by that car so many months ago, Edward was going out of his mind with worry. He was so sure that I was a danger-magnet and he did everything he could to stand between the danger and me. It was cute at first, but it was increasingly becoming a bit much for me.

I still wasn't used to the excessive amounts of attention that he had for me.

I sighed, buckling my belt and getting comfortable as Emmett went around and got in.

"Where are we going?" I asked softly, waiting for Edward to get out of earshot. He was talking to his mom, packing the wheel-chair into the back.

"What do you mean?"

"Where exactly is home, I mean?" I asked again, looking around. My eyes nervously finding Edward and then Emmett.

"Well...um...I think this is something that you and your mother should discuss."

"But I can't. She'll be asleep, or at work for a while." I rolled my eyes, annoyed at how evasive he was being. "Come on, Em. I heard everything while I was asleep. I just need to know."

"Fine! But don't you think you should wait for..." His eyes found Edward, watching him as he spoke to his mother. They slowly drifted back to me, looking nervous. "Shouldn't Edward be here for this?"

"He's too worried. Spill the beans."

"Well, we haven't decided. Rosalie and Edward are actually kind of...fighting for custody over you. I mean, the courts are signing you back to her legally...but you're eighteen. Edward kind of wants you to live with him, but Rosalie wants to take this up as her chance to spend time with you. As of now, home is Charlie and Renee's. It's up to you though. You'll save us a lot of time and arguing if you just pick one and go there. I can understand why you wouldn't want to hang around Charlie and Renee's house. So whatever you choose doesn't even have to be permanent!" He spoke quickly, almost tripping over his own words.

"Oh." I felt my eyes widen. I had to pick one of them? "I don't want to pick!"

"Well, either that or we wait for this decade to end, and for one of them to give in."

"That's not fair!" I hissed just as Edward got into the seat behind me.

"What's not fair?" He asked and I pursed my lips.

"She thinks it's unfair that Esme has to sit in the back, since she's older and all that." Emmett lied quickly, surprising me. I looked at him, studying his face quickly. He was so serious looking then. He could have fooled me, if I hadn't been there for the actual conversation.

"Oh, I'm fine." Esme shushed me, climbing into her own seat and pulling her door closed with a thud. "Really, Bella."

"Oh...if you're sure..." I spoke slowly, not pulling my end of the lie. I sighed, turning around to look out the window.

"What?" Edward's voice was perplexed and Emmett chuckled. I had no idea that he was such a fluid liar!

"I think she's still irritated with all of that wheel-chair nonsense." Em rolled his eyes, backing up and out of his parking spot. "She'll be fine."

"I am fine." I tossed in my two cents, hoping to sound legitimate.

"Whatever, child." Emmett laughed, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. I knew that he was laughing at my poor attempts to lie. It was heart-warming really.

I understood my mom's love for him. Emmett really knew how to win a person over. He was just so good-hearted. He was incredibly confident, but not conceited in anyway. Everything he did, he considered those around him. His attempts to please everyone was something that I found beautiful. I didn't know very many men that felt secure enough to do everything that Rosalie expected of him. And that woman...she had high expectations.

The problem was that I had a hard time considering him a dad. He was just too boyish sometimes. He was more like that funny stepdad. I could have seen him as an older brother to me. Someone to protect me, but make me smile too. I had Edward to do those things, but it wasn't the same as the way that Emmett did it. They were just two totally different things.

When we pulled up outside of the house, I shifted awkwardly in my seat. My incision still hurt a bit, but it was bearable. I had had much worse.

Edward went around to help me out, leaving the wheel-chair behind that time. I smiled gratefully at him as he let me wrap myself around him. My arms gripped his neck in a vice. I was happy that he was so strong, otherwise I would have strangled him by then. He just smiled anyway, his green eyes bright as he helped me around the car and up the walkway.

It was terrifying to think about how close to losing him I had been. All because of some random drama with Charlie. I had died on the table two times. I had been dead. If it weren't for Carlisle's passion and compassion, I would have been done for. I would have never woken up, seen Edward's face, and talked to my family. I was scared of that. I had been so close to losing everything that I had worked so hard for.

"Can I cook tonight?" I asked Edward, eyeing the kitchen as we limped past it.

"No. You're resting." Edward laughed, his eyes shining as he placed me on the couch. I crossed my arms, frowning.

"That is all that I ever do! Rest!" I scoffed, leaning back. "Please, Edward? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

"I just don't feel comfortable with you being on your feet so soon." He shook his head warily.

"I do. I miss my feet." I pouted and he laughed, rolling his eyes.

"Fine. But we'll study while you do it, so you have to sit down sometimes." He finally agreed, plopping down next to me on the seat. I just wrapped my arms around his waist, snuggling myself as close to him as possible.

"So..." Emmett began talking, his face showing how awkward he felt as he watched us. "You two will be cool while I run and take a shower. I will drop in before I head off to work, but until then." He bowed his head once before turning to walk out the door again. As soon as he was out of sight, I turned so that I could press my lips to Edward's collar bone.

"I don't think we've had any alone time...since before Rose came home." I shook my head, smiling into the crook between his neck and shoulder.

"I know. I've missed just being us." He nodded.

"Edward...we do need to talk." I sighed, thinking of the many things that he had decided to keep from me. I understood why. I just didn't appreciate it.

"What about?" He sat up a bit straighter, wrapping his arms securely around me. I was intoxicated by his scent, and by his touch. His hands idly ran up and down my back, underneath my t-shirt.

"Seriously." I breathed, pulling back a tiny bit. He was still holding me, but his hands had stilled.

"What's wrong?" He cleared his throat, catching onto the seriousness of the moment.

"Edward, I heard everything. Where am I going to live? How in the world am I supposed to choose between you and Rosalie? You both mean so much to me, for so many different reasons. This entire situation isn't fair to anyone, and I don't appreciate you keeping it from me." I ranted, pulling out of his arms. I kept my hands on his forearms, gripping him as if he were going to run away from me.

"Bella...you should have told me." He sighed.

"I was busy making decisions..." I spoke slowly.

"So...you have decided?" He asked me, his brow coming together. I smiled softly, moving my thumb up to smooth the crease that had formed there. His face relaxed slowly, and I copped his jaw with my hand.

"Yes. I decided that right now...right now I'm going to move in with Rosalie." I told him and his eyebrows raised, for just a second, before dropping again. I could practically see the hurt in his eyes. Slowly, his lips parted as he was ready to speak, but I stopped him. "No, listen. I want to live with Rosalie until I graduate. After I finish school, and she can have the experiences that she wants with living in the same house...you and I can move in together."

"What about college, Bells?" He asked me, and I shook my head.

"We'll figure it out when we get there. I'm not leaving Washington. Maybe you and I could find a place somewhere near campus? I got into U-dub..." My voice trailed off. I hadn't meant to share that with him just yet. I wanted it to be a surprise.

"You got in? Bella! That's fantastic! How long have you known?" His face lit up, his smile growing into a full, shit-eating grin.

"A few weeks...I just...I wanted that to be a surprise. I wanted to talk about it first. I won't leave you, Edward."

"That's fine. We can move to Seattle, Bella. I'll find us a house, or an apartment. Whichever you want. This is so great, Bella!" He was practically jumping out of his seat as he said this.

I laughed, unable to resist him anymore. My arms immediately snaked around his neck, holding him as close to me as possible. I had unintentionally knocked him back, laying across him as I moved to press my lips to his. He was so beautiful. And sweet. He was perfect in every way and I needed him to know that I was so happy to have him there, with me.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, pretty girl," he spoke into my lips after a few moments of making out. I sighed, moving to lean on my elbows. "We need to eat and study first. Rose and Em will be out all night...we'll have more of this time later."

"Why can't you be like a normal guy and just...you know...not think with your brain?" I asked him, huffing as he helped me get my body off of his.

"Because, I was raised with morals." He winked. "How could you expect any less of Carlisle and Esme?"

"Oh, shut it." I sighed, fanning my face in hopes to cool down a bit. "Can we hurry up then? Food just doesn't sound all that important right now."

"Come on, you haven't eaten real food in so long. You're forgetting how great it is." He stood, holding his hand out for me.

"Are you trying to fatten me up, Mr. Cullen?"

"Well, you are awful skinny." He winked, keeping my hand in his as we walked towards the kitchen. "No, you're beautiful no matter. I just want to get something into your stomach before we start with the hardcore tutoring."

"Right," I said, rolling my eyes.

I watched from the sink as Edward stacked my text books onto the island in the middle of the kitchen. I felt a sigh let out as I realized that we hadn't even talked about everything that I wanted to. I wanted to discuss a lot more than our living arrangements. I wanted to discuss those in more detail. There was more too.

I had heard Rosalie crying, once when Edward wasn't in the room. She was freaking out because she had failed another pregnancy test. And somehow that led to her telling me that I had almost lost that ability as well. I wasn't really sure what I thought of that. Children weren't exactly on my radar. I didn't now what was, all I knew was that I would give anything to Edward.

But at that point, it hit me that even though I was willing...I may not have been able to. That scared me. He had talked about us having babies before. I knew he meant in the future, but that didn't change the fact that he wanted that. My chances were decreasing everyday. I was terrified of reminding him.

"Something wrong, babe?" He was smiling again, and had turned to face me.

"Sorry...just zoned out."

"Anything on your mind?" He asked and I shook my head. I decided to wait until we ate to do the heavy. He was so happy about my acceptance. I wasn't ready to taint his sweet mood.

"Just deciding what to make." I muttered, opening the cabinets.

"Doesn't matter to me. I love everything you cook." He reassured me and I glowered playfully in his direction.

"You love anything anyone cooks. It's a wonder that you aren't as big as Emmett." I rolled my eyes at the thought.

"Emmett is muscle. I'm not as...buff. I think the body-builder look wouldn't flatter me anyway."

"You're right. You're beautiful just the way you are." I copied his words from earlier and he laughed.

"Thanks, I'm happy to know how beautiful I am." His green eyes rolled up the ceiling before he went back to my book. "Okay, I'm going to read over this. You can cook or whatever until I have it down."

"Sounds good." I agreed, getting started with the mushroom ravioli that I had decided on.

After a while, I sighed, looking at Edward. He was sucked into my calculus homework, his face perplexed. Slowly, I walked over and looked to see if I recognized anything on the page in front of him. My brow came together when I did. There wasn't a single familiar thing on there.

"What in the world..." I began to ask but he shushed me. I giggled. "Seriously. We really are in for quite the tutoring session. Look at all of that! I don't know anything!"

"Bella, could you please stop talking? I can't think over your voice." He huffed and I felt my smile disappear.

"Sorry." I squeaked, turning to walk away. I found myself at the opposite end of the kitchen. My face, and the rest of my body, was growing hot with a fresh blush. I hadn't meant to upset him, or annoy him. I was just trying to make conversation. I should have known better. It was obvious that he was busy. I was supposed to be grateful of how he was helping me, not a pain in the butt.

"Bella...wha-are you crying?" He gasped, rushing over, practically knocking the textbook off of the table.

"I..." I was about to argue, but as soon as I moved my lips, a tear hit the counter below me. This triggered even more, making me shake my head. "I didn't...I ca-"

"Spit it out, come on, Bella...did I hurt your feelings?" He asked me and I just looked away, unable to do anything. I had locked up, and the words weren't natural like they had been. "Bella...oh, my beautiful girl. Sometimes I forget how...much of a sweetheart you are. I did not mean it that way. I was just getting stressed with the work in front of me and I shot my mouth off. I definitely had no reason to yell at you, beautiful." My stomach flopped and I slowly leaned into him, his arms encasing me gently. "Don't cry."

"I'm...I'm sorry." I just cried, ruining his blue polo with my tears.

"You have nothing to apologize for." He hushed me. "I should be the one apologizing!"

"I just...I go from so happy one minute to freaking out the next. You know I don't mean it...I'm just...hormonal or something." I sniffled. "I'm stressed out and my body chose to take it the wrong way."

"What are you stressed out about? You're healed. All that's left is that scar, but in time, that won't even be there."

"Edward, I know...I just...look at how behind I am!" I cried, walking over to pick up my forgotten textbook. "I don't know anything and I'm supposed to be taking finals and graduating. I...I just...I feel like there's so much that I'm supposed to live up to right now!" I began sobbing, my temper tantrum taking over. "Edward, I may not be able to give you kids someday. What if I don't graduate on top of that? I'm nothing special outside of that. I'm not even special when it comes to these things. I mean...how am I supposed to hang onto someone like you when I am me?"

"How do you even think that way?" He cried, gently gripping my upper arms. His green eyes pierced mine, making me freeze in my place. "Isabella Marie Swan, I have never been more disappointed in you. How can you think that you have to hang onto me at all? It's me that's been holding you in a vice grip these days! Do you even realize how close I came to losing you? What I would have done? I can't go on in a world where you don't exist, Bella! I couldn't go on without you. I need you as much as you need me.

"And as for these standards...erase them. I love you. I love you for who you are, not what you do. You're so smart, and you're so beautiful...you underestimate every damn thing that you do. Yet, when you turn around and set your mind to something," he spoke, holding up his hand to snap once. "You accomplish your goal completely!"

"Edward, I-" I tried to interrupt him but he shushed me again.

"No! I refuse to listen to it! You mean the world to me. You are what is important. Not school, work, or babies. We'll always have options when it comes to that. I just need you to know that it's not the baby that I'm after...it's the woman that will raise the baby with me. We can adopt, or figure something else out. You certainly do not need to worry about any of that! These are things that we need to figure out together, Bella. Don't let it ball up inside of you!"

"Then why didn't you tell me?" I cried back. "You've been under the impression that I didn't even know that my own freaking ovary was missing!" I backed up a bit. "How long were you going to wait to bring it up? Until we wanted to have kids?"

"Bella, no. Of course not. Rose and I wanted to sit down and talk to you about it...we wanted to talk about it together."

"I just don't know right now." I sniffled, and he shook his head.

"I am so incredibly sorry for shouting at you, Bella, but you need to remember these things. Sometimes we're going to stress. Sometimes we'll disagree. But no matter what...no matter what the situation is, I cannot live without you and you are the most important thing in my life." He breathed and I nodded, holding my arms out. He just nodded back, quickly wrapping himself around me. "Let's just order some takeout and then relax for tonight. Calc can wait."

"I love you." I cried, squeezing him again. "I love you so much. I know that I'm probably the neediest girl ever...but I need you to know that I'm also the most grateful."

"Everyone has a past, Bella. Nobody can change it. All I can do is help you become the girl that you're meant to be. My happy, beautiful Belle. Okay?" He placed his hands on my cheek, his eyes showing the words that he didn't have to say.

"Now. Let's go relax. Go put something comfortable on and then we'll just be us." He pressed his lips to my hair before going over to shut the stove off and pick things up.

"Thank you, Edward." I smiled at him before turning and running from the room.

I was pretty much embarrassed of my little episode. I felt like such a freak for turning upside down the way that I had. I wasn't used to being so vulnerable. I just couldn't help it. The waiting and the silence was killing me. And then Edward asking me to be quiet just struck the wrong nerve, setting me off. Of course, Edward always knew what to say to me. He always did the right things.

It didn't take long for me to find a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt to slip on. The pants were black and white, plaid, and the top was just a blue, FHS t-shirt. It was comfortable and nicely worn, so I was happy to wear it. I quickly ran a brush through my hair and then went to brush my teeth and finish cleaning up.

While I changed, I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed of the scar on my side. It went across my hip and ended just above my pubic bone. It was big and hideous looking. I hated that I was probably going to live the majority of my life with the stupid thing. I carefully covered it back up, making sure that my clothing was secure so that Edward didn't have to look at it.

After I was ready, I ran downstairs and found Edward and Emmett talking. They seemed to be discussing something work-related. I ignored them, quickly going into the kitchen to find McDonald's on the island, alongside a giant bowl of popcorn. Edward had probably had Emmett pick it all up for us.

"Edward, what all is yours?" I called out and they both came in, smiles on their faces.

"See, you look much more relaxed." Edward walked over and began emptying out the paper bags of food. "I just figured that we could share a mix of everything. I didn't know what you were in the mood for, but I did know that I'm not picky."

"Sounds great." I smiled, giving him a quick peck on the chin.

"So, I'll see you two love-birds around," Emmett said, suddenly seeming awkward again. "I'm going to go home so that Rose and I can try and get pregnant again."

"Okay, TMI, Emmett." I groaned, rolling my eyes at his over-sharing.

"Sorry. See ya' later kiddo. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" The door closed with a slam behind him, and I was sure that he intended for that to be intimidating. I just smiled and shook my head.

"Don't do anything he wouldn't do? That doesn't leave much for us to avoid, huh?" Edward wiggled his eyebrows and I giggled.

"No kidding." I bumped my hip with his after grabbing the popcorn, and then turned to go into the living room.

"So, what should we watch tonight?" Edward asked, placing the food on the coffee table in front of us. He had turned it into a fast-food platter. It had all of the different foods on the side, set up like finger foods. Then he had chopped up the cheeseburgers, and stuck toothpicks through those. Finally, the middle held the condiments. I smiled, grabbing a chicken nugget.

"I think you deserve to pick tonight." I told him. "You've been so great. Just take a break and enjoy it."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." I smiled.

"If you say so!" He opened up Pay Per View, a channel full of movies.

We were interrupted from our comfortable silence by my phone buzzing.

"Ugh, what the heck?" I muttered, leaning forward to pick it up.

MOM it read and I answered it immediately, knowing that Rose wouldn't call unless it were vital. She knew that it was date night.

"Is everything okay?" I asked upon answering.

"Bella? Can I come over?" She sounded like she was crying, and I immediately sat up.

"What? Yes, of course. What's going on?" I asked, panicking.

"I just...can we talk when I get there?"

"Absolutely. Um, yeah. I'll talk to you then? You promise you're okay to get here?" I stood, smoothing out my shirt.

"Yes! Just wait for me."

"Bye."

"Love you!" She called but hanged up quickly. I shook my head, sitting down to let it rest in my palms.

"What's going on?" Edward rubbed my back soothingly.

"It's Rose...she's on her way." I groaned and shook my head.

A/N: They just can't catch a break around here, can they?

I got some amazing reviews! If you want me to drag out the falling action/resolution of this story you'll review!

And, if you really like me, you'll check out my new story, Unwritten! I'm hoping to update it tomorrow!

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