Edward's POV

When I walked out into the living room, several pairs of eyes followed my every move. Their thoughts ranged from please; Alice and Esme, of course, to outraged; Rosalie, and worried; pretty much everyone else.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Rosalie snapped as I took a seat on the sofa beside Alice.

"I don't know what you're referring to."

"You took advantage of a mentally ill person," she fumed.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Rose, it's not as if you care about Bella's well-being."

"I may not be obsessed with it but I can still tell you that this isn't right. What happens if she later decides she doesn't want you anymore?"

I sighed. "Then I let her be to live her life."

She smirked. "Seems easy… but what if she does want you to stay? Then what? You're going to turn her into one of us?"

I grimaced. She, of all people, knew how I felt about that. It became a glaring contest between us, everyone wondered who would break first.

"I'm sure when the time comes… those decisions will be made," I finally said, reluctantly.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Then what? You get married and live happily ever after?"

I smiled. "Bella is twenty-five years old now. Marriage isn't completely out of the question at this point…"

"You're ridiculous." With that, she stormed out of the room, Emmett tailing after her attempting to calm her down.

I wonder… what now? Carlisle's thoughts were filled with anxious reckonings of the future.

Could this really have been the worst of it? If so… what did happen now? Surely things wouldn't just go back to the way they were.

Bella's POV

I was woken up the next day by a soft pat on my shoulder.

"Bella," Carlisle whispered. "I need to administer your medication. The family will be leaving soon for a hunting trip, so I need to get this done."

I sat up in the bed and yawned. "Everyone's gonna be gone?"

He shook his head. "Alice has offered to stay behind with you to… keep you company."

More like to watch my every move. But I complied, standing and following him to the study where he handed me the pill. I dry-swallowed it and, thinking that it was over, made my way to the door.

"Bella," he said quickly, "sit down. I'd like to talk to you."

I grind my teeth and turn to face him. "I really don't know if I wanna be analysed today, Carlisle."

He chuckled. "Well, not that your opinion about timing is relevant… I don't want to speak to you as your doctor today." I raise my brow. "I'd like to speak to you… as someone who thinks of you as my own daughter. I just have a few words. It won't be long."

I took a deep breath and sat down in my usual seat, leaning back to get comfortable.

"Well, Bella," he started, "I'm extremely pleased that you're so willing to take the treatment." I nod. "As far as your… relationship… with my son…"

I already start shaking my head. "We aren't in a relationship, Carlisle."

He nods. "Well… how do you feel about what… happened… last night?"

He was struggling to find the words.

I shrug. "It was just… I don't even know," I admit.

"Did he… coerce you to-"

"No." I say quickly. "He didn't force me or coerce me. I kissed him. It's my fault."

"Nothing is your fault," he explains. "I'd just like to get a clearer understanding of the dynamic here."

I attempt a smile. "I don't know, Carlisle. I feel… like these last few years didn't even exist. When I see him now… I feel the same way I did back then. I don't know whether I like that or not."

He furrows his brow. "Edward wants nothing more than your happiness… Even if he isn't the one providing it."

I sigh. "It's complicated." Of course he's try to stick up for Edward. They were family.

"Bella, I don't want you to feel pressured into a relationship with Edward."

"Whatever happens, happens," I say with complete certainty. "I'm not looking for anything… but if anything were to happen…" I wouldn't be strictly against it, I finished for myself.

He could sense that my patience was wearing thin, so he allowed me to stand without question.

"I'm fine, Carlisle," I insist, heading for the door. "Everything is going to work out."

I was trying to convince myself as much as him. I walked straight to the living room and found only Alice lounging on the sofa.

"Good morning, Bella," she chirped, looking up from her magazine and offering me a smile.

I nodded in response. Esme then walked into the room.

"I've made some eggs and bacon for you, honey," she said.

"Thanks." My stomach growled in response.

Before I could escape to the kitchen, Carlisle appeared beside Esme.

"I suppose we'll be off, then," he said, placing an arm around Esme.

Something about that bothered me, but I couldn't pinpoint what.

"We will see you girls later tonight," Esme said warmly. She approached me and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

"Alice, take care of Bella," Carlisle said with a smile.

"As if I wouldn't," she responded.

Then, they were gone. I took a seat on the chair beside Alice's feet and stared at her curiously as she whipped through the pages of the magazine in seconds.

She finally looked up at my confused expression and laughed.

"The other's left earlier. Carlisle and Esme hang back for your meds."

I nodded and settled into the chair.

"You must still be half asleep," she mumbled, picking up another magazine from the stack on the coffee table. "I'll give you some time to come to your senses before we leave."

"Leave?" I blanched.

"I'm taking you shopping," she explained, never looking up from her magazine.

"Alice…" I started to complain.

"No whining," she said sternly, still not sparing me a glance. "You need some proper clothes. I've already gotten Carlisle's approval. You're well enough to go out for a few hours…"

"Hours?" I repeated worriedly.

Finally, she put the magazine face-down on the counter and looked me in the eye.

"I haven't gotten to spend much time with you, Bella. I miss you, too, you know. Edward isn't the only one who wants to be around you."

I lowered my eyes. "Shopping sounds… fun…"

"Good," she said with a smile, once again picking up a magazine. How those trivial things interest her, I'll never know. "Go eat and get ready. We'll take the Volvo."

At that, my eyes lit up. The Volvo. Perhaps this trip wouldn't be a complete waste of time.

Alice drove us to the center of town, where she promptly dragged me from store to store, forcing me to try on countless outfits while only actually buying a fraction of them.

"Alice," ii sighed as we approached what must have been the tenth store, "I can't pay you back for any of this." I held up the bags I was carrying.

"My treat," she gleamed.

I sighed. "I can't do that, Alice."

"You can and you will," she said sternly.

I decided to give up and just follow her into the store, where she picked up a frilly pink blouse and held it up against, me. I rolled my eyes but decided not to say anything more. I tried to distract myself.

I wondered when was the last time I actually paid for something in a store… years ago.

Alice busied herself by comparing different clothing items to each other. I needed to get to the Volvo without raising suspicion. I'd been very careful not to make any decisions as to what I was going to do just yet, to keep Alice off my back.

Then I remembered; she had left her cell phone in the car.

"Alice?" I asked sweetly, walking up to where she held up almost identical outfits.

"Mmhmm?" she said, not losing focus.

"Can I use your phone really quick?"

She looked at me. "Why?"

Of course, after the last time she entrusted me with a phone, I'd be suspicious too.

"I want to call Edward. I… miss him." I was sounding as convincing as I could. She took the bait.

"It's in the car…" She pulled the keys out of her back pocket. "You know where we parked?" I nod. "I guess you'll be okay for two minutes. Just remember," she leaned in toward me. "I'll see any funny business."

I nodded shakily as she handed me the keys. I tried to keep my cool as I made my way out of the store. Thunder sounded in the distance and the clouds became heavier. It would probably rain soon. Once I was outside, I high-tailed it to the car.

I didn't even notice the people hissing and cussing at me as I pushed them aside.

It wasn't the same Volvo he had back in Forks. It was the latest edition. Either way, it was his car and that's what mattered.

I got to the car and immediately unlocked it and jumped into the driver's side. I turned the key to start it and the engine roared to life.

"Bella!" I heard a high-pitched voice squeal.

I looked out of the window and saw Alice, still quite a few feet away, running at human pace to catch up to me. It was too late. I gassed it and watched her disappointed scowl in the review mirror as I drove away.

I made my way out of the main town and found myself on the vacant roads leading to the mansion. Trees and dirt were all there was on either side of the road.

I grumbled to myself as I drove; only pushing 65 on the speedometer. Edward made me feel too much at one time, that was the problem. I was confused about us… angry at him… yet still, somehow, unbelievably in love with him.

I was a fool.

But I did love him.

Did he know that?

Did I even know that?

It was so different with him.

I was at 75 miles an hour now, but I couldn't bring myself to pay attention to that. I loved going fast. Ever since I met the Joker, I lived for the fast life. But that wasn't my purpose.

I saw a stray tree branch on the other lane. It looked like it could do some damage. I quickly jerked the wheel to jam into it. It ricocheted off the bumper and crashed into the window, causing it to splinter. Great. Now I could just barely see where I was going.

I opened my side window and pushed my head out. I was immediately doused with water. Rain. Even better. Things just weren't going my way these days.

I narrowed my eyes and tried to see where I was going. I saw a street light up ahead. I pressed down on the accelerator. I was almost at 90 miles an hour.

As I got to the pole I made a slight turn into it. The passenger door took most of the blow, maybe some of the bumper too. The entire car seemed to shake as I sped back onto the road.

I started laughing. Why was this so much fun? And so satisfying? I heard the faint ringtone of Alice's phone coming from somewhere next to me but I didn't let it distract me.

I was driving past the turnoff to the Cullen mansion now. I pumped the gas even more. The car was in it's highest gear, and continued to climb. 105 miles per hour.

I saw a turn up ahead. I wasn't about to slow down to take it. I turned the steering wheel as far as it could go and took a sharp turn. I felt the back of the car hit into something, probably a light-pole.

Wouldn't have caused me much worry, except the car then decided it was done. The wet road only added to the skidding.

"Shit," I muttered, trying to regain control of the flailing vehicle.

I had already taken my foot off of the accelerator, but it wasn't slowing down. I pressed the break. The tires stopped but the movement didn't. Handbreak next. Still nothing. I was screwed.

"Fuck!" I yelled as the car skidded across lanes.

Then, I saw headlights.

My survival instinct kicked in before logic could. Instead of swerving back to my lane, I swerved directly into the bushes.

The car still did not stop. It was slowing down somewhat as it made its way through the bushes. I was in a state of panic, but I couldn't bring myself to scream.

I placed my hands over my head as the car jerked and bumped into almost everything. I didn't want to die. Not now. Not like this. What the fuck is wrong with me?

After only a moment, the car crashed into a tree trunk.

The last thing I remember is the car becoming airborn… then my head slammed into the steering wheel. I was out.

Pain. That's all I could register. I couldn't move, couldn't scream. But it hurt everywhere.

"Bella!"

Through the haze, I heard an angel calling me. Why was it that I always thought I was dead? And why did I always assume I'd be in heaven if I was?

"Bella! Oh God, please, no!" I heard the angel. It was getting closer. "No! No, no, no! Bella, please!"

Now, it was almost right beside me.

I couldn't manage a reaction before the blurry haze took over once again.

Finally, I realized, this was it.

A/N This seemed to be what was wanted so I decided to roll with it. Relax, Bella isn't dead. But there's definitely more fluff and possibly some smut coming up. Let me know what you think!