Lips of an Angel

Chapter 11-Home of the Cullens

During the remaining hours of the night, I told Carlisle and Esme - and Alice and Jasper, who had missed the whole thing - about what had happened between myself and Edward the previous night. Esme told me that I'd done well, but Carlisle seemed a little worried. He asked me if I knew where Edward's pain had come from. I replied with the negative.

We heard Edward stirring again at about nine o'clock the following morning, and Carlisle headed straight up, Esme close behind. I hesitated. On the one hand, I did want to see Edward, but on the other hand, I didn't want him to be intimidated by having three people in the room so early. So I stayed downstairs, but listened to their conversation.

Carlisle gave Edward some more painkillers and some anti-inflammatory pills, and Esme offered Edward breakfast. He asked for eggs, sounding tentative, and I smiled to myself at Esme's enthusiasm. Esme came down the stairs, picking up her pace once out of Edward's eyesight, and headed towards the kitchen.

She began to walk up the stairs as Carlisle came down them, speaking quickly and quietly so that Edward could not hope to hear a word he was saying. Chalk down one of the perks of being a vampire - humans had no idea what you were talking about, as they couldn't eavesdrop.

"It was that cut down his leg, I think, that was hurting last night. He's doing very well, however."

Esme motioned for me to follow her, and I stood up slowly, following her up the stairs to Edward's room. As she walked in, she mumbled to me, "I think he wants to talk to you." I nodded almost imperceptibly, and stood in the doorway, watching as Esme gave Edward a tray of perfectly-cooked eggs.

"Thank you," Edward said, smiling slightly as Esme handed him the food. "I wouldn't have minded something simpler. I wouldn't want you to waste your time on me."

"Nonsense," Esme laughed. "I've plenty of time."

"No, really-"

"You won't win, Edward," I said, smiling slightly. "Just say yes."

Edward had clearly not noticed my entrance, for he jumped a little at the sound of my voice, causing the knife to slide across the tray with a horrible sounding scrape. Esme scolded me with her eyes, and walked out of the room, warning me silently to behave myself. She'd need to be saying that to Emmett, not me. I noticed that she left the door firmly open.

I pushed myself away from the doorframe I'd been leaning on, and strode towards the chair that had been placed on the other side of Edward's bed. I sat down, and watching him eat the vile-smelling food. Ugh. Human food. Truly and utterly disgusting. I pushed away my disgust for a moment.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you just then."

Edward shook his head at me.

"It's fine."

I watched Edward eat for a moment, taking in all the emotions I could catch flitting across his tired face. Pain was there often, but that was to be expected. Confusion, hurt, anger... All negative emotions that it was my job to get rid of. Edward was still my patient, and he'd stay that way until his life was back to normal - if it could ever be normal again.

"I still haven't told my parents," Edward said, running a hand over his face.

"Do you wish to?" I asked.

"Not really."

"Will it not seem odd to them, that you do not visit them, and are not seen out and about? Will news of your visit to the hospital not reach them, eventually?"

Edward let out a slight, humourless laugh.

"No. My parents live down in Kent - Ashford. I go down there sometimes."