Esme and I make light conversation while we let Edward sleep. According to Esme, he hasn't been sleeping for weeks, and she was worried about his health. Alice even suggested slipping him sleeping pills but she shot down that idea.
It doesn't take long for him to wake up though. I feel him stir a bit and press a kiss to my neck. He has a sleepy smile on his face as his eyes blink open. "Morning, Princess," he mutters, making me blush.
"Hi," I smile back, before remembering that we have an audience. "We have a visitor."
"What?" He abruptly sits up, his bronze hair sticking up in all different directions like he's been electrocuted. "Oh. Mom, what are you doing here?"
Esme's smile gets wider, if that were even possible. "I just wanted to meet Bella, since you insist on keeping her all to yourself," she says. "Manners, Edward Anthony Cullen," she lightly scolds.
"Mom," Edward groans in embarrassment. "She didn't tell you anything embarrassing did she?" He asks me.
Esme scoffs. "Please! Give me a little credit. I'm saving those for after you get married. I can't scare her off now can I?"
"With you, we never know," Edward says, but I can see the teasing glint in his eye.
""Stop it," Esme says, reaching over to try to tame his hair while Edward bats her away. "Good luck putting up with this one. He's a real handful," she tells me.
"Nuh-uh," Edward tips up his chin. "She loves me already. Most people do."
The whole interaction between the two is sweet and ridiculous all at the same time. I can tell how close they are and I can't help but feel a little jealous. Still, I stifle a giggle at their display.
"Well, I promised your father I'd be back for brunch. He wanted to come too but I thought it was best we didn't overwhelm you. Bella, we'll see you back at the house," she says, more as a statement than a question.
"Of course."
"What about me?" Edward says, sounding offended.
"You're already live there," Esme rolls her eyes. "Rose packed a bag for you with some clothes. I wish I could be of more help but I'll see you soon, sweet girl," she says, kissing the top of my head and waving us goodbye.
"She likes you more than me," Edward grumbles, although he doesn't look upset at all.
"Well I like you very much," I tell him and his face lights up.
"I knew she'd love you," he says. "She didn't say anything out of pocket did she?"
"Uh…she did say we'd make pretty babies," I admit.
"Well if they look like you that's no question," he says, so casually.
I'm not sure how to respond to that. Has he thought about children? More specifically, our children? It wasn't anything I allowed myself to think about growing up in that castle.
I change the subject. "Do you think Alice will let me out of here today?"
"If everything looks good," the tiny doctor struts in.
"How does she do that?" I marvel. Edward just shrugs.
"So?" I ask impatiently as Alice checks everything. I'm sure she's annoyed after the fifth time I've asked but if she is, she hasn't shown it.
"I'll discharge you," Alice says. "But!" She stops me before I can get too excited. "I have some conditions. You still should have help walking to the bathroom, or to take a bath. You can't eat heavy foods quite yet, we need to build your strength back up too." She prattles on all the things I have to keep in mind and I'm overwhelmed by the sheer volume of it.
"Are you paying attention, Bella?" Alice asks when I start to zone out.
"Don't worry. I got all of it," Edward says with a notepad in hand. Where did he get a notepad?
"Good. And also no…strenuous activities until I give the go ahead."
"Okay," I squeak out, trying to hide my bright red face.
Alice looks just about ready to burst out laughing. "I meant like moving around too much outside of walking a few steps. I'll send a nurse to get you all ready."
As soon as Alice leaves the room, I bury my face in Edward's shirt, thoroughly embarrassed.
"What did you think she meant, Princess?" He asks, brushing the hair from the side of my face so he can see me.
All that comes out is a nervous laugh but the nurse comes in to remove all of the things I'm hooked up to. As she does so, a thought occurs to me.
"Edward?"
"Yes, love?"
"Where do I go? I don't have a home anymore." The statement is surprisingly sad despite all the negative things that could be associated with the castle. But it was still the only home I've ever known.
Edward suddenly looks a little nervous. "W-well, I thought you could come home with me. In my room. But you don't have to, we have plenty of rooms. You can have your own if you want," he rambles. "Anything you want, I'm totally fine with."
I had hoped he would want me to stay with him but I didn't want to just assume anything. "I want to stay with you, in your room. But I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything. I don't want you to get sick of me." There. My biggest fear. I wasn't kidding when I told Rose I had everything to lose. I only had Edward left and if I somehow pushed him away…
"I do feel like I owe you," Edward says, and my heart drops thinking that's the reason for his behavior. "Before you, my world was dark and filled with vengeance. It was all I thought about, and that? That would have ultimately destroyed me. I would have been no better than your father if I didn't have any light in my life. And then you came in and blinded me with your brilliance. It's like every time I look at you, I can see my whole future. It's not one of servitude for my kingdom, but one of hope. So yes, I owe you everything. But that's not why I want you to stay with me. I want you because it physically hurts when I'm away from you." He touches my nose with his. "And the day I get sick of you is the day pigs fly."
He's done it again. He's absolutely blown me away with his words.
"I only hope you don't get sick of me," he continues. "My family can be…a lot."
"Your family is amazing," I tell him honestly. "They're everything I've ever wanted. And so are you."
His face lights up and the nurse walks in. It doesn't take her long to get me all ready to go and by the time she lets me know I've been discharged I'm practically bouncing with excitement.
"You ready to go home, Princess," Edward asks.
Home. It's a concept I haven't really had the chance to experience until him. But I didn't need to go home, I was already there. Edward had become my sense of home ever since he came into my life and now he was offering it to me on a more tangible level.
"Let me just change first," I say.
Edward grabs the small purple bag Esme left on the couch and helps me to the bathroom. I'm still sore from the bruises and cuts, some of which have stitches, so Edward helps me change. He makes a show of being a gentleman and closes his eyes, although I'm certain he tried to peek once or twice.
"Edward!" I scold after about the third time his eyes "accidentally" pop open.
"What?" He looks at me innocently. "I have to make sure I'm putting the right arm in the right holes."
"We'll you've been working on the left arm for about five minutes," I mock glare.
"I'm being careful."
"Careful my butt," I mumble which only makes Edwards smile bigger.
Eventually, I'm changed out of the hospital gown and into a large T-shirt and sweatpants. They smell like Edward. "Are these yours?"
Edwards stares, his eyes darkening, as he gives a slow nod.
"They're comfy. I'm keeping them," I tell him with a cheeky smile.
Edward doesn't seem bothered. "They look better on you anyway." He steps closer, his voice low and husky. I want him to kiss me, and by the look in his eyes, I can tell he wants to do more than that, but he snaps out of it the second I wince when he brushes my hair off my shoulder pressing on a bruise. "Sorry."
"Not your fault." I go up on my toes to give him a light kiss and lean into his chest. "I hate feeling so weak."
Edward's head snaps to look at me. "You're not weak," he practically growls.
My mouth curves into a sad smile. "I've never been able to stand up to my father, or even Jasper and now look at me. Covered in cuts and bruises. I can't even kiss you without pain."
"You're not weak," he repeats, gently lifting my chin to look up at him. There's a fire behind his green eyes. He's determined to make me believe him. "You're the strongest person I know. Anyone else would have given up a long time ago."
That's one thing I will admit. I never gave up, but only because I never considered that as an option for me. "I'm so broken," I admit, feeling no qualms about being open and vulnerable with him. But I couldn't burden him with all the healing I still had to do from the betrayal of my father and Jasper.
"Let me pick up the pieces," Edward says. "Let me be there for you. I couldn't before, but from now on I'll always be there for you. If you need to cry, scream, vent, whatever you need. Just please don't ever feel like you have to try to go through it by yourself."
I wrap my arms around his waist. "Thank you. Let's go home."
Edward's family's home is practically a mansion. It's about half the size of the castle and had enough rooms to accommodate his entire family and then some. The land they're using as Ruthenia isn't too large. It's the size of a small town with only a few houses and shops built including the hospital.
"Home sweet home," Edward says, helping me up the front steps.
"You're here!" Esme is there waiting for the both of us, and she immediately pulls me into a hug. "How are you feeling, Bella?"
"I don't think it's changed much since you saw her this morning," Edward says, reaching for me.
Esme mock glares at him, moving me out of the way. "I was worried."
"I'm feeling better, Esme. I think I just didn't like being stuck in that hospital bed," I tell her.
"Poor thing," she brushes my hair out of my face. I had a feeling Esme was the kind of mom who loved to take care of her children. If she wanted to do the same with me, I had no complaints. "Are you hungry? I'll make you something. Do you like soup? Alice mentioned you would have to take it easy. I'll make soup," she decides without letting anyone else get a word in. She kisses my cheek, then Edwards, and goes off towards the back of the house.
"You must be Bella." I finally notice the man standing patiently next to where Esme had been.
"What gave it away?" I laugh.
"I'm Carlilse," he sticks his hand out for me to shake, but I remembered what Rosalie and Edward had told me.
"Oh! It's nice to meet you, your highness," I try to curtsy but he stops me.
"None of that please," he insists. "Besides, it's Edward that will be the king."
"The king?" I turn to the man next to me.
"Not yet. Once we take back our kingdom I'll be officially crowned. Dad's still the king," Edward tells me, pointing at Carlisle.
"So should I start calling you Prince Edward?" I ask, knowing he would think it's absolutely ridiculous.
"No," he scowls, not having any of it.
"You call me Princess," I point out.
"Because you are."
"Not anymore."
"You're my Princess," Edward says, as if that trumps everything. He flashes me that crooked smile I love and I can feel the blush creeping up on my face.
"Well, then," I turn back to Carlisle. "It's nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine," Carliilse chuckles, clearly amused by our conversation. "Our family owes you greatly for what you did for my son."
"I really didn't do much," I insist.
"You did more than you will ever know. Now," Carlisle's claps his hands together. "I better check on my wife before she goes completely overboard."
"Come on," Edward grabs my hand, hoisting the bag from the hospital over his shoulder. "I'll show you my room."
He leads me down the hall and around the corner, stopping in front of large double doors. He gives me a nervous smile before pushing them open.
The room is large, much larger than mine, with a small, almost living room like area to the left with couches and even a bay window. On the right is a huge bed with blue bedding and another door that must be the closet or bathroom.
"My mom helped me redecorate so you'd like it too," Edward says, watching my reaction. "But if there's anything you want to change-"
"It's perfect," I assure him. "I love it."
"Good," he smiles. Edward puts the bag down on a chair. "Oh! Look at this!" He tells me excitedly. He seems to catch himself, frowns, and then scoops me up into his arms without warning.
"What are you doing?" I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck to steady me.
"You shouldn't be walking too much," he says, rolling his eyes like I'm the crazy one. He walks over to the bookshelf next to the window. "I found your favorites. It's not all of them, but just let me know which ones are missing. Or if there's any other ones you want. And…" He shifts over to the window. "I know it's not the same as yours but you can see the garden from here. And also-"
"Edward, slow down," I tell him, worried he's going to run out of breath.
"Sorry," He says, sitting in the bay window with me on his lap. He gives me a sheepish look. "I just want you to be happy here."
My heart swells. Nobody's ever put my happiness first and I had a feeling Edward would jump through hoops to make sure I was.
"Thank you," I look up at him and he beams. "And I am."
"Are you sure?" He asks. I can hear the insecurity in his voice. Edward has always been fairly confident in everything he does from what I've seen, but that was nowhere to be seen right now. "I don't want you to feel trapped here. Or like I kidnapped you or something."
"I kidnapped you first," I joke. "Is that how you felt at the castle? Trapped?"
"No," he says immediately, shaking his head. "I knew how I could get out if I needed to and Emmet was there. I had options. And I want you to know that you do too. You can't go back, but if you don't want to be here, we can get you set up somewhere far away, a new identity. You'd never have to worry about money or anything, I'll make sure of that."
"Do you want me to go?" I ask
"I-" He turns his head away from me, looking out the window. "I would do whatever's best for you. And if leaving is what you want then that's what's going to happen."
"Do you want me to go?" I ask again.
He doesn't answer me, still facing the window.
"I think it's very noble that you're putting me first. I know that you'll always put me first," I say. "Which is why I need you. And I think you need me too."
Edward finally looks at me again. "So much."
"I'm not going anywhere unless you send me away."
He tightens his arms around me and buries his face in my hair. "Never."