Chapter Eleven
Fifteen Earth Days Later
I slowly opened my eyes, my ears twitching as I listened to the soft sounds of Bella's breathing. I smiled and pulled her tighter into my side.
"Edward up time now?" Bella mumbled, "Morning."
"Good morning," I chuckled softly. "Are you actually awake? Or are you tricking me with your night talk?"
"Bella awake." She said, slowly sitting up. She was rubbing her eyes and doing that strange yawning that she did. "Bella awake."
"It looks like it," I chuckled, patting her leg. "Are you ready to start the day?"
She finally opened her eyes and looked around. Slowly she smiled and patted my arm.
"Edward awake," She said. "Start day now?"
"Yes, I guess it is time to start the day now. Would you like to bathe?"
"Bath?" She asked, cocking her head to the side, thinking about it. After a moment, she nodded. "Yes bathe please." She pointed at me. "Bad smell."
"I smell bad?" I laughed. "You are so critical of me."
"Bad smell Edward," She said, crinkling her nose. "You bad smell."
"You smell bad." I joked, poking her in the stomach. "Let's go bathe then we both need to start our days."
"Bella go Alice, learn." She said as she moved to let me crawl out of the pod.
"That's right, you go with Alice, and you learn."
"Edward work," She said, completing her morning routine of giving me the rundown as if I couldn't remember the job I had been doing since we landed. "Edward stay, work here, commander, protect. Bella learn."
"And what are you going to learn about today?" I asked her as I hoisted her onto my back.
"Bella learn…" She thought about it. "Emotions."
"Oh yeah? And which emotions?"
"Love." She said, nuzzling her face against my back. "Happy. Joy."
"I think you've mastered emotions," I chuckled. "What about mathematics?"
"Mathematics," She said. "No. Math sad Bella. Reading happy Bella."
"I like reading to," I told her, plopping her onto her feet when we reached the bath. "But I prefer mathematics."
Bella and I stripped our clothes off. I was able to bathe in the nude now that Bella was taking her blockers. It helped a lot with the feelings, and she was able to calm down. Although, I did have to admit that I miss her trying to mate with me, as sick as it was.
"Warm." Bella said as she floated in the water.
"Does it feel nice?" I asked as I sunk into the water.
"Bella warm. Edward warm for?" She said.
I chuckled at her. "Yes, it's warm for me."
Over the past couple of days, since Alice has been working on Bella's language skills, her capacity for our language has grown significantly. She was able to express herself a little more clearly. The small syntax of the language were still somewhat lost on her, but her growth was still incredible, nonetheless.
"Alright, time to get out," I said as I lifted myself onto the edge of the pool.
Bella let out a small whine before diving under the water. I watched as she swam along the bottom of the pool, her arms expertly reaching out and pulling herself. I refrained from laughing as she quickly swam to the top and broke the surface to grab me. Much like am ambush predator catching its unsuspecting prey.
I laughed as she latched onto my legs. She was laughing as well, until I grabbed her and pulled her abruptly from the water. She shivered in the cold air.
"Mean Edward," She said through chattering teeth. "Mean."
"I am sorry, but I did say it's time to get out." I told her as I wrapped a warmed towel around her. "Bella and Edward work."
She grumbled and dried herself off. After we both dried off and got dressed, Bella hopped onto my back and walked with me to the control area.
Alice had set Bella up a place in the area where most of my work usually took place. With an increased number of people needing to see my father, this was safer.
Bella went straight to her place in the corner of the room. She looked around then placed her hands on her hips before turning back to me.
"Alice where?" She asked.
"I am not sure," I told her as I sat in my chair. "Perhaps she's waiting on Jasper."
"Jasper," She said, rolling his name around in her mouth. "Jasper gone."
"Yes but he is coming back today." I said before frowning as I looked over my scanners.
"Edward sad?" Bella said as she looked at my frown. "Why sad Edward?"
"I'm not sad," I said as I pressed a few buttons. "I'm confused."
"Edward sad," She said, putting her pointer finger on my lips. "Sad lips."
I chuckled, "No, I'm not sad. This is a confused face as well."
"Edward learn Bella," Bella said, tugging on my arm.
I sighed internally. Without Alice here to occupy Bella, she required me to keep her entertained. It was much like having a child around because she was in constant need of stimulation. Which Alice said is actually quite normal for someone like Bella because up until this point she's had to survive every second of the day. Her brain is constantly racing and now that survival isn't something she has to think about, she needs constant stimulation.
"Yes I will help you," I told her, forcing myself to move from my control station. I'd have to check the reports after Alice came back. Bella wouldn't be patient enough to allow me to get any work done.
"What do you want to learn?" I asked her as I sat down on the ground in front of her.
Bella picked up her tablet and started expertly scrolling through the variety of educational studies.
"Emotions," Bella said.
I chuckled. "You've mastered emotions. Do something harder."
"Emotions Edward," Bella chastised softly as she placed the tablet between us. "Faces."
"No, if you're going to do something you've mastered faces, we're going to do something a little harder," I told her as I scrolled over to the scenarios. "Here. We'll do this one together."
She let out an agitated groan but complied. She crossed her legs and stared at the screen as it showed two people interacting with one another. I more-so watched her than the screen because of how enthralled she was. Everything was so new to her, and she met everything with cautious curiosity. It was sweet.
"Edward home?" Bella asked, pausing the video. She pointed at the room the two women were in.
"No, this isn't my home," I told her as I backed out of the video and went to the astronomy section. I showed her my planet. "This is my home."
"Outerra."
"Yes, good job," I smiled, handing her one of her reinforcement treats. I didn't like using them, but I did have to begrudgingly agree with Alice that they were a good way to reinforcement positive behaviors in Bella and help her remember information. I had seen the improvement since Alice had started using them.
"Thank you," She said as she popped the small gummy into her mouth. "Edward home? Edward sad?"
"Sad? Sad about what?"
"Home," She asked. "Edward home sad."
"No, my home is not sad."
She let out a huff, "No! Edward home sad."
I had to think about it for a few moments. After a minutes, it dawned on me.
"Oh, I see. Am I sad not to be home?" I asked.
"Yes, Edward home sad."
"No, I am not home sick," I said.
She huffed again. "Edward not sick, sad. Home sad."
"It's home sick," I explained calmly. "That is what you want to say. That's when you miss your home."
"Miss mother?" She said after a moment, making a connection.
"Yes, exactly," I smiled. "Home sick means you miss your home like you miss your mother."
She nodded. "Edward home sick?"
"Not really," I smiled. "I have my whole family here, even though they aren't awake yet."
"Edward mother," She said. "Sleeping."
"Yep. My mother is still sleeping."
"Edward sick mother?"
"I do miss my mother."
"She awake?"
"Soon hopefully. I think you will like her. She's very kind. She will definitely like you."
"Bella hungry now." She said, abruptly changing the subject as she tended to do.
I laughed. "Alright I guess I should feed you."
"Damn drone." She muttered, shaking her head.
"Give the drone a chance." I chuckled. "I haven't even called for one."
"Damn drone." She repeated.
I shook my head laughing. She'd been spending way too much time around Alice, who often cursed at the drones for their incompetence. Bella more than likely didn't know what it meant or why Alice used such a tone with them, but she's really taken a liking to Alice and has started mimicking her mannerisms.
Instead of drone coming in with breakfast, Alice and Jasper walked in. I was surprised to see both of them, but I was excited for Jasper's report. Bella, however, was not too happy with either of them.
"Alice late, Bella learn." She snapped, putting her hands on her hips. "Bella learn Edward, Edward work."
"I'm sorry," Alice chuckled, bringing her the tray. "I wanted to welcome Jasper home."
"Alice work, Bella learn." Bella scolded, grabbing the tray from Alice. "Alice not working Bella not learning."
"Wow, good job with your verb tense usage." Alice praised. "Here's breakfast, we'll learn after you eat."
Bella opened the tray and began her eating ritual. Alice had been working with Bella to get her to slow down when she ate. So that meant, Bella had to open everything. She also had to use her specially made utensils now, which she did not like.
"Fix your hand," Alice reminded, placing her hand over Bella's to remind her how to hold her fork.
"Hard," Bella muttered as she tried to find the right placement.
"Yes I know it's hard, but you're doing a great job." Alice praised.
Bella finally got her hands to hold the utensil correctly. I was shocked she did so, because she was already annoyed with Alice, usually Alice wouldn't push her when she was annoyed. Probably because Bella tended to become violent when she was very agitated.
Jasper walked over to Bella and gently ruffled her hair. Bella looked up at him with the meanest sneer she could muster.
"Jasper gone. Alice gone. Bella not learn." She snapped. "Bella Alice learn all days. Jasper gone."
"What?" Jasper said.
Alice laughed. "I believe she's mad at you for me not being here. And she doesn't really like you all that much anyways."
"Why doesn't she like me? I am nothing but nice to her."
"Not all that much."
"You gone again! Go away!" Bella snapped at Jasper, grabbing his hand and chomping down on it.
"Bella!" Alice snapped. "No, you do not bite."
"It's alright, it doesn't even hurt." Jasper laughed.
"It doesn't matter if it doesn't hurt, she does not need to be biting, period." Alice said, clapping her hands together.
Bella hated the sharp smack of hands clapping together. She released Jasper's hand and moved away from Alice, crossing her arms in frustration.
"Come here Bella," I said, opening my arms.
Bella stood and stomped her way over to me. I knew the stomping and the huffing was a display of anger and frustration, but it was extremely adorable. She sat on my lap and curled up in my arms.
"Edward we've talked about this," Alice sighed heavily.
"I know but she was already frustrated with you this morning." I said as I held her tighter. "You know how funny she is about her routines."
Alice shook her head. "Well, I think today is shot."
"Just give her a minute," I said before turning to Jasper. "Do you have anything to report?"
"Yes, loads." Jasper nodded, thumping down in the chair. "But I'm not sure if I should speak in front of the biter."
Bella hissed at Jasper. I pulled her back against me.
"She is going to nap soon, wait until then." I said, placing a kiss on top of Bella's head.