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Dogward/Brokenward/Virginward/Beachward

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

EPOV

She's here with me, in my dark hospital room, comforting me. I did what Maggie said. I'm trying to tell her things. It hurts like hell. The tears fall silently.

The next few days are filled with doctors, flirty nurses 'eww,' tests, physical therapy, family, friends and Bella. She hasn't left except to shower and grab some decent food for the two of us. Hospital food shouldn't be called food.

I've had a lot of time to think about my life. What I want to do, now and in the future. Part of me wants Bella in that future, but the realistic part of me knows it's not in the cards.

Bella and I haven't talked or even acknowledged my late night confession. Maggie is coming by today to visit. I'm nervous. I know she will have questions for me. Do I have any for her?

"Maggie should be here anytime. Do you need anything? I can go get it while you're talking." Bella asks looking up from her magazine.

"Um, I'd like a chocolate shake. If that's okay?"

I get up and amble to the bathroom, making sure the back of my gown is securely closed. Bella's eyes follow me, but quickly go back to her magazine when I catch her watching me.

~M~E~B~

"How have you been, Edward?" Maggie speaks first.

"I feel okay, better each day. They want to send me home tomorrow and to stop taking the pain pills as soon as I can. That's fine, I don't like how they make me feel anyway." I shrug.

"How are the nightmares?" She probes.

"Still there, but not as bad." I answer flatly.

"How about Bella? I see she's still here. How is that going?" She continues. She's not going to let this go is she?

I take a deep breath before I respond.

"I took your advice and I told her everything."

"Everything?"

"Well, almost everything."

"Edward, you need to get it all out. You've come this far. She's been so good for you, to you. She can handle it. She's still here isn't she?"

"I know, but she never asks me any questions. I can't tell what she's thinking. It's very frustrating."

"Keep the communication open with her. Let her know that you're okay with her asking things. She's probably just afraid of causing you more pain."

"What are the plans for when you go home? Are you going to stay with your parents?"

"No, I don't want to stay with them. I'm thinking about hiring a nurse or someone to be around during the day for a few days. You know to cook, clean, help me out with the things I can't do." I indicate to my arm that is virtually strapped to my side.

"One arm is tough, especially with your limited mobility due to the incision. Having someone there would be a good idea." She nods.

She pauses. "What about Bella?"

"What about her?" I question.

"What about Bella staying with you and helping you?"

"I couldn't..."

Maggie interrupts. "Think about it, Edward. My educated opinion is that she doesn't want to go back to her house, because of everything that happened there with James. She's been here this whole time with you, right?"

I nod, thinking about what Maggie is saying.

"Having her help you might just be helping both of you. She either needs to come to terms with going back to her house or she has to make some decisions. By her coming to stay with you and help you, she gets more time to sort this all out."

"I hadn't thought about that." I mumble.

"Just think about it, Edward. I know you'd want to help Bella." She looks around the room. "Well, I think we're done here unless you have something you want to talk about?"

"Is Bella okay?" I hesitantly ask.

"She's not technically my patient, but I feel strongly about keeping her confidences." She hesitates and then says. "She'll be okay."

"Take care of yourself and I expect to see you back in the office as soon as you're up and moving around. Call me if you need to talk."

"Thanks, for coming by here, and for talking to Bella. I worry about her."

"I know you do. You're good for one another." She says over her shoulder as she leaves the room.

I lay my head back on the pillow and close my eyes. I hadn't even thought about Bella coming to my apartment and helping me. I assumed she'd be eager for some freedom, some time away from this place and time away from me. But I wouldn't want to go back to her place and stay either, especially alone. Where is she planning to go? A hotel? Back to stay with her Dad? Jacob's? I don't like any of those options especially the last two. Thinking of her far away from here...it's painful. And her staying with Jacob...drives me crazy. Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. I fall asleep with a more positive outlook about going home.

~M~E~B~

"Thanks for the shake, it's really good." I say between sips. Bella is drinking a shake also.

"I was thinking about when I go home." I pause. "I'll need some help for at least the first few days. What do you think I should do? I really want to go home, not to my parent's." I say, watching her reaction.

"Home is good. It's where you're most comfortable. Booboo will go crazy when he sees you." She laughs.

"I know, but I don't think I can stay alone. I can't bend over yet and only have use of one arm. I guess I should hire a nurse or something."

"That's silly. I can stay with you. I know my way around your place already. I know what you like to eat, the music you like to listen to and the shows you like to watch. We used to be roomies, remember?" She teases.

"I couldn't ask you to do that, Bella." I shake my head, trying not to be too convincing.

"You didn't ask. I offered. I want to do it. I want to help you." She says with conviction.

"If you're sure?" I ask.

"Absolutely. I'll take care of everything. You just rest." She beams, quickly taking out her phone and texting.

I guess Maggie was right, Bella wants to help me, and I might even be helping her. I'll see how she feels
about her house over the next few days.

~M~E~B~

"Wow, the place looks great." I say when I finally make it up the stairs and into the apartment. The place has obviously been cleaned.

"Hi boys." I try to bend over to pet Booboo and Buddy, but it hurts. They are so excited and going crazy jumping on me. Good thing they're small dogs. I don't need a paw in the gut.

"They missed you." Bella smiles and I can't help but smile back. It feels so good to be home.

"Do you need anything?" She asks.

"No, I think I'll just rest on the sofa and watch some tv."

"You better protect your incision with a pillow. Those dogs aren't going to leave you alone any time soon." She says while helping me lower myself onto the sofa and handing me a pillow and the remote.

"I'm going to work on dinner. Just call if you need anything." She offers. Bending down, she puts her hand on my shoulder and gives me a kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. Hmmmm. What's that about? Not that I mind, just different.

Our evening is relaxing. I doze off and on, but try not to take any pain pills. We try watching a comedy, but it hurts too much to laugh. We end up watching some lame chick flick. Bella seems to enjoy it.

"I think I'm going to go to bed." I say, feeling a little awkward. Before the hospital Bella and I shared my bed every night.

"Okay, I'll help you get settled. I'll sleep out here and you can just yell if you need me."

I'm disappointed to be sleeping alone, but this is how it is now.

I'm able to do most of my nightly ritual. I just can't bend over to put on sleep pants. I stand in the bathroom thinking about how this is going to work. When I asked Bella to help me I didn't think about things like this. I get an idea.

I wrap a towel around my waist and walk out of the bathroom.

"Bella, can you help me please."

"Sure, what do you need?" She stops short inside the bedroom door.

"Um, I need to change my pants can you just help me get them off and on my feet?"

"Surfer towel change style, huh?" She teases as she kneels in front of me.

She pulls my pants down by grabbing the loose fabric at the knees. I step into my sleep pants. "Can you just slide them up above my knees?" I ask.

It feels so intimate to have her close, helping me, her warm hands on my thighs, gently sliding my pants up to where I can reach them.

I let out the breath I've been holding. "Thanks, I think I can get it from here."

I turn and waddle into the bathroom to get my pants all the way up. I'm so happy to be out of a hospital gown.

When I leave the bathroom Bella is sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I brought you some water and a pain pill. I know you're trying to wean yourself off of these, but you may need it in the night. Call me if you need anything, anything at all."

She rambles as I'm getting into bed.

"Do you need anything else?" She asks concern in her eyes.

"No, I'm good." I give her a reassuring smile.

She tucks the blankets under my chin, leans down and kisses me on the check. "Sleep tight, Edward." Then she's gone.

I can feel exactly where she kissed me, tingly. It's so good to be home... with Bella.

A/N

They are back home, getting into a comfortable routine again.

What should Bella do about her house?

Thanks for your support and love :) Next update Saturday!

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