"Looks like you're all clear," Alice says, checking something off on her clipboard.
I give her a hopeful look. "Really?" These last two weeks had been really difficult, but I could feel myself getting stronger every day, and I was looking forward to when I got the clean bill of health from Alice. Esme had been really great in helping me build back up to solid foods, and Rosalie made sure to take walks with me whenever she could if Edward wasn't around. I just about felt back to normal.
Alice nods. "Yes, the skin around where we removed your stitches might be a little sensitive but everything looks good. I'll prescribe you something to help with that." Her face is smiling but I can still tell that something is off between us.
"Alice, do you…trust me?" I ask slowly. She hesitates for a second and that's all the answer I need. "It's okay if you don't."
She shakes her head. "No, it's not. I want to, I do. It's just that I don't know if you're telling the truth. My brother is biased and frankly, so is Rose," she admits, taking a seat in the uncomfortable looking chair next to the hospital bed. Edward had a meeting and Rose was also called away so neither of them could come with me, but I assured them I would be fine on my own and Alice had told them she would take me back to the house after the appointment and I was a bit nervous about being alone with her but I wanted to gain her approval.
"I wish there was a way that I could prove it," I sigh, standing so we can leave.
Alice seems to freeze at my words and a slow smile spreads on her face. "Maybe you can."
She doesn't really explain what she means as she drives me back to the house and it's only when she sits me down on the big comfy chair in the living room and comes back with a syringe that I start to worry a bit.
"Um, what's that?"
"Truth serum," she says, tapping the syringe filled with a small amount of a green liquid. "I developed it myself. We wanted to find a way to extract facts from enemies without having to torture them, and this was one of the solutions."
"Is it safe?"
Alice shrugs. "I've only tested it on Emmet so far, and there are a few side effects but nothing permanent. Of course, it's up to you if you want to try it or not."
"I do," I immediately say, not caring about her warnings. She did say the effects weren't permanent, whatever they were, and if they would get Alice and the others who were in support of Edward to trust me then it would be worth it.
"Great!" Alice steps closer, kneeling in front of me with the needle. Once I catch a glimpse of the device, I realize a small flaw in my plan. I was deathly afraid of needles. "Are you okay, Bella?"
"J-just do it quick," I stutter out, clenching my eyes shut, trying to slow my breathing.
Alice doesn't hesitate and less than a second later, she's patting my shoulder. "Done.
"Oh. That wasn't so-woah," I grip the arm rests of the chair. My head starts to feel heavy and vision blurs. "There's two of you."
"One of the side effects," Alice tells me.
"You're short," I blurt out, not able to contain myself. "I didn't mean to say that out loud." I blink, once, twice, trying to ward off the sudden tiredness overtaking my body. I feel like I've just done some huge workout and my body and mind are straining to stay awake and focused.
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all," Alice smirks. "I guess it's working. I'll record this and make notes as evidence for the others in the committee so they know there aren't any false reports."
"Oohh, that's smart!" I nod. My head bobs awkwardly and my words slur slightly. "I feel like I'm drunk. But I've never been drunk. So I feel like I might be drunk if I knew what that was like."
"Another side effect," Alice mumbles, writing some things down on her notepad and fiddling with the camera she had set up in front of us. She presses a button and one of the lights turns red. "Alright, let's get started."
"That's a pretty light. It reminds me of Christmas. I haven't celebrated Christmas since my mom died."
"I'm sorry to hear that Bella," Alice says, her tone struggling to remain clinical.
"Alice?" I blink up at her, forcing my heavy eyelids to open. "Alice. Al. Allie. I like Allie. Do you prefer Alice?"
"You can just call me Alice," she says. "Can you tell me your full name?"
"I can," I smile. "I've practiced my whole life."
"That's great. Please tell me your full name." Alice tone is firmer.
I frown. "Did I upset you?"
She shakes her head. "No, Bella. I just need you to tell me your full name."
I clear my throat, and straighten my back as much as I can. "Princess Isabella Marie Swan, Crown Princess of Alynthia. Oh, wait, I messed up. Now you're going to think I'm lying!" I cry out.
"Why would I think that?" Alice asks, making another note.
"Because I'm not a Princess anymore. But Edward says I'm his Princess. Does that count?" I ask hopefully, to show that I didn't lie.
"Sure, Bella," Alice says, and I slump in the chair in relief.
I hear the front door open and two new voices float through the house. I gasp, hoping it's who I've been wanting to see all day and turn in my chair.
My own personal Adonis peers into the living room, scanning the room, and when his eyes land on me, his entire face lights up.
"Hey, Princess. How was the appointment?" He looks back and forth between Alice and I cautiously.
"Actually Edward-" Alice tries to say but I can't control myself and I interrupt her.
"It was great!" I beam. "Alice said I'm all better now so that means we can fu-"
"Okay! Yup, she got the all clear," Alice tells her brother, shifting nervously.
I shake my head, my previous thought forgotten. "How was your day?"
"As good as can be, I suppose," Edward grumbles, running his hand over his face. "We ran into some more possible obstacles. Seems the bastard hired more security after we took you back."
"That sounds like a pain in the butt," I grimace. "Speaking of butts, I like Edwards."
Rosalie lets out a loud laugh, slapping her hand over her mouth to try and suppress her giggles. "Why is she talking like Emmet?"
I point to the woman trying to hide behind the camera. "She stabbed me." I attempt to stand up, but a wave of nausea has me sitting back down. "I think I might throw up."
"Alice!" Edward pushes her out of the way, kneeling in front of me and taking my face in his hands. He's even more gorgeous up close. If only my head would stop spinning long enough to be able to see him more clearly. Still, I reach out a finger to stroke his face. "What the fuck did you do?"
"You're really pretty." The words tumble out of my mouth before I can even try to stop it. "Oops."
"I gave her some truth serum, just to make sure she's not here to double cross us," Alice explains. "I'm documenting everything so you can show those other guys."
"I was handling it," Edward growls. "You didn't need to drug her. Especially when she's just barely healed."
"Allie said this will prove I'm telling the truth," I mumble, leaning into Edwards hand. "And besides, she said I'm all better. She checked, I was there. So now, maybe you'll stop hold back and we can fu-" I slap my own hand over my mouth to stop myself. "Oops. I shouldn't say that word here." I lean even further into Edward's hand, letting my eyes close.
"Well, did you give her a double dose? Look at her, she's barely conscious," Rose says, starting to look a little worried.
"You're really pretty too," I can't help saying. "But Eddie's prettier. Sorry," I giggle.
She rolls her eyes, smiling anyway. "I'll live."
"Are you mad at me?" I ask her. I'd hate it if I hurt her feelings by saying Edward was prettier. Maybe it's because I can see two of him right now.
"No," she scoffs. But the tears are already forming in my eyes.
"I'm sorry," I sniff. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Please don't be mad. I don't want to lose you as a friend," the tears flow faster and faster.
"Baby, she's not mad at you, okay?" Edward gently rubs my cheeks as he still cradles my face, shooting Rose a panicked look.
"You didn't hurt my feelings, honey. I promise we're still friends," Rose comes up beside me and runs her hand through my hair, trying to comfort me, although Edward is blocking most of her.
"Alice," Edward practically growls, standing up and turning to face his sister.
"I've only ever practiced on Emmet so I might have given her a little too much," Alice explains, looking terrified of Edward who looks ready to attack.
"It's okay Alice," I try to comfort her, but I'm not sure if my words are coming out very clearly. I don't want her to feel scared, especially of Edward.
I'm distracted though, by what's in front of me and I can't help myself. I reach out to pinch his ass.
Edward jumps. "Bella!" His cheeks blush bright red as he looks at me with wide eyes.
"Edward looks scary right now but he's really nice. He saved me from the real scary monsters," I explain, hoping she understands.
"Your father?" Alice asks, no longer looking scared and returning to her notepad. Looks like it worked.
I nod. "He's a bad person. He got worse after my mom died. He gave me bruises. And this," I lift my dress to show her the "E" scar on my thigh. I hear Rose gasp while Edward sharply inhales, squeezing his eyes shut and gripping my hand.
"That's terrible. What else did he do?" Alice steps closer.
"He told me I had to marry Jacob." I think for a moment, my mind still jumbled. Like everything is trying to come out at once. "Actually, Edward saved me from two monsters. Jacob tried to force me to do things my mother said were for after you're married. But I don't want to marry Jacob."
"Oh really? So who do you want to marry Bella?" Rosalie teases.
I look over at her confused. Doesn't she know by now?
"I want to marry Edward," I tell her, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I love him. A lot. Did you know that Rosie? I really really love him."
"I believe you," Rose assures me, lightly patting my shoulder.
Oh gosh. Why can't I stop talking?
A small giggle escapes Alice but nobody else says anything.
"Alright Bella," Alice gently continues. "I need you to really focus for this next part okay?"
I nod, sitting up a little straighter but I can't fully concentrate with Edward holding my hand. I push it off of my lap and he frowns.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to but Alice said I have to focus and you're distracting me," I explain not wanting him to feel bad.
He looks like he was holding back a smile but nods anyway. "Of course. I understand."
Gosh, I really could just stare at him forever. When he smiles, there's a tiny little dimple near the corner of his mouth and-
"Bella?"
I blink, trying to remember what I was doing.
"Bella, are you ready?" Alice asks again.
I frown, looking up at her. "I got distracted. I didn't mean to," I apologize. I really only had one job and I couldn't even do that.
"It's alright Bella. Okay, straight to the point, were you sent here to spy on us?"
I shake my head, horrified. "I'm not! I promise I'm not! I would rather die than help my father with anything like that. Please, I promise I'm telling the truth," I looked over at Edward and Rose, begging them to believe me. I can feel a panic rise as my mind considers the possibility that they won't
"We know," Alice assures me, writing something down on her clipboard.
"I'm not, I promise! I'm not!" I repeat.
"Alice, you're making her upset," Edward raises a hand to reach out to me but Alice stops him.
"Do you still feel any loyalty towards your father or brother?"
Did I? "I feel something," I admit. "I don't know what it is. I can't say it's hatred because I don't want to hate them, but not loyalty. Maybe once I would have defended them, but not anymore. Not knowing the things they're doing behind their own people's backs. Edward has my loyalty."
"That's good to hear," Alice tells me, jotting down a few more notes. "I think I just have one last question."
"Alice," Edward growls again, this time, a scarier warning, but for some reason it makes me feel things I shouldn't.
"Ooh, say my name like that," I blurt, and even in my hazed state, I can feel a blush spreading.
Rosalie is practically on the ground trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard, and Edward looks like he doesn't know whether to be worried or ravish me. I hope he chooses the latter.
"Last question, promise," Alice says, tapping her pen against the notebook, bringing my attention back to her. "Do you have any part of you that might ever consider betraying Edward or Ruthenia?"
"No," I answer, the easiest answer of the session. "I'd never betray Edward. Or Ruthenia."
"Okay, great. She answered your questions. Do you have an antidote or something?" Edward impatiently asks Alice.
"It should wear off by the morning," Alice assures him.
"Emmet usually just sleeps it off," Rosalie adds.
Edward nods, coming over to scoop me up into his arms. I clumsily wrap my arms around his neck.
"This is my favorite ride," I announce, and Rosalie snorts. "Whee!"
"Alice, I am so close to killing you right now," Edward grits out. "Come on, Princess."
"Where are you taking me?" I ask, burying my face in his neck. "You smell nice. Like trees. And Edward."
"I am Edward," he says, gently.
"Even better." I lay a loud, open mouthed kiss on his neck.
"We're going to bed," he says, both to me and his sisters.
My eyes widen and I glance back to Alice and Rosalie who are both watching us in amusement. I turn back to Edward and loudly whisper, "So we can do things?"
"So you can sleep this off," he says, whisking me away down the hallway.
"You don't want to? I want to," I admit, alarm bells going off at how much I'm openly sharing.
"Oh, I very much want to, Princess," he says, shifting me slightly so he can open the door to our room. "But when you have a clear head."
"I have a clear head."
"Count to ten," Edward says, laying me down on the soft bed. As soon as I make contact with the mattress, I feel a wave of tiredness taking over my entire body.
"Easy. One, two…two…seven…" I blink up at him. "I was doing something."
"Yes, you were," he chuckles, settling into the bed next to me. He lifts my chin to look at him and his expression turns serious. "I would have believed you without it."
"I know." I don't need any kind of truth serum to know he was telling the truth.
I don't know what I would do without him. I would probably still be lonely in the dungeon, scared of what my father had planned for me next, or stuck with Jacob, forced to endure his abuse for the rest of my life.
And even though Edward lied about who he was, he always cared. He was the first person to listen to me and to see me as more than just a useless Princess. He saved me when it could have cost him everything. But not just that, he took the time to understand me, and he didn't judge me and instead embraced who I was. He meant so much to me, and I hope he knew that. I wasn't doing a very good job if he didn't.
"Edward," I shoot up, wanting to make sure I tell him sooner rather than later.
"What's wrong, Princess?" He lifts his head to look at me, concerned.
I can feel myself frantic, wanting to make sure I get this out before I collapse from exhaustion. Truth serum can really take a lot out of you.
"I have something really really really important to tell you." I throw in an extra really for good measure.
His eyes search mine for answers. "You can tell me anything."
I lean over him, grabbing his face to make sure he's really looking at me.
"This is really important," I emphasize. He tilts his head slightly, waiting for my next words.
"You're my best friend. But don't tell Rose, okay?" I tell him, dead serious.
His worried eyes quickly soften, and I see the corner of his mouth turn up slightly, just enough that I can see that little dimple as he lets out a light chuckle. His eyes light up and I can feel how much he cares just from that one look.
"You're my best friend too," he whispers, tucking a strand of my hair that had fallen behind my ear. "Don't tell Emmet."
I beam. "I've never been anyone's best friend before," I admit. And to get to be Edward's feels like the world's greatest gift. "I'm lucky you found me." I tilt my head up to kiss the tip of his nose, before falling back next to him.
"No, Princess," I hear him, but my eyes start to get heavy. I can't turn my head to look at him so I let his words comfort me as I drift off into sleep.
"I'm the lucky one."