Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight of any of it's characters although i do believe everyone wants to own a piece of Edward. Hm? am i correct.

Summary: She settled for him, knowing deep down it wasn't going to last. When it fell apart, could she convince herself even she deserved more? He had lived with heartbreak longer than he thought possible. Will he let her mend his broken heart? When Edward and Bella meet, things can only get better, or can they?

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Edward's POV.

When you're a little kid you love to be sick, well not love, but being able to miss school and stay home and watch cartoons – get your mom to wait on your every need. You never wanted it to change and for a long time it didn't. But then eventually you grow up and you realize being sick is not as cracked up as it seemed to be when you were little, especially since you're now the adult and have to take care of yourself. And usually I would always agree with this, about the whole being sick sucking when you're an adult – but this time around it wasn't too bad. Oh don't get me wrong; I was sick as a dog. I had come down with the fucking flu for the first time since I was a kid, but I was kind of having fun.

I had been home from school for the last two days and would probably be out for the rest of the week, but my job knew I never called out sick so they understood. Bella had decided that she didn't want me to strain myself at all and kept coming to check up on me and cook me food and even got other people to check on me as well. I woke up around eight in the morning to my sister bringing me breakfast from the dinner, yet I wasn't able to eat all that much of it. I was stuck with her until nine, and I was kind of grateful for her to leave. I love my sister and all but when you are sick her energy is even more tiresome.

I ended up falling asleep again after she left only to wake up when my mom showed up around noon with some home made soup. She had the morning off until she had to be at an appointment at three and wanted to come see her baby boy to see how he was. I hated to say it but I definitely was a mama's boy when I was little. It was nice seeing my mom and just being able to talk to her about things going on, as well as enjoying her delicious soup.

She ended up staying till around two thirty and I was left alone for only a little while until Jasper showed up at my house, cracking up as soon as he stepped foot into the room. I had taken over the living room couch when my mom showed up, it being a lot easier for me to get to the kitchen that way and everything. Of course on top of that I had tissues everywhere, and was wrapped into two blankets as I sat up and watched one of those HBO shows… Big Love. In the last two days I had found myself watching television shows nonstop, especially ones I never really had time to watch.

Jasper made a jet stream to my kitchen and started to look around for food. "Dude where are my wings?"

"What wings?" I asked, not bothering to look away from the television.

He leaned over the counter and looked at me, "The wings from wing night when me and you went—"

"Dude those have to be bad by now." I made a face not even wanting to think about it.

"Well I was going to see but I can't find them, and I know for a fact you barely throw anything away."

I rolled my eyes as I repositioned my blankets around myself, "Not true, that's you. But my mom was just here and she straightened up a bit."

"Of course… wait, why didn't she clean up all your tissues?"

"She did I—I just used more. Now shut, up I'm watching this and don't eat any of that soup!"

Jasper let out a groan before coming and plopping down on the couch next to me with a bag of grapes, "You need to go food shopping."

"I know," I rolled my eyes. "Those are Emma's grapes."

"Jeez I'm not going to eat the entire bag and if I do I'll buy her more, besides what kid likes grapes?"

"Well what grown man likes grapes? What are you doing here anyway?"

He let out a chuckle before tossing a grape into his mouth, "Bella had Nessie ask me to check in on you. She was worried. That girl is so in love with you."

"Well I love her too." I smiled at remembering when I had first told her.

Jasper raised her eyebrow, "Wait have you told her that you love her?"

"Yeah, on Jane's birthday."

"Dude you've been holding out on me! Did she say it back?"

I nodded, an obvious smirk on my face. "Yes she did."

"I had sex with your sister."

It took a moment for what he had said to register in my mind before I turned and looked at him wide eyed, "What?"

"I uh—"

"No, Jasper I know what you said, but what the fuck! You did not just use her for sex, because I may not have my strength right now but I will call Emmett and he will—"

"No, no! And you know I've liked her for a while. We've been hanging out secretly since Halloween and one thing led to another the other night. And you should not give me shit because you fucked Bella the fucking first night you really ever hung out."

"Okay first off do not refer to it as 'I fucked Bella' because I really cared about her as I fucking just told you I'm in love with her. I know we rushed into things but we couldn't help it we have a strong connection, and man what the hell? This conversation is about you and my sister, why won't you guys just date?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. She's afraid it will upset you."

"Upset me? I'd rather you date my sister than just having sex with you."

"You're one to talk…"

"Oh my god could you just fucking stop it."

"I'm kidding. Jeez, I know you love Bella… well at least now I do, but I knew you cared about her. And even if how you guys started is quite insane I know that I have never seen you happier, dude you weren't even close to being this happy when you were with Tanya."

"I wasn't and I know it's only been about 4 months with Bella but I'm so happy with her."

"I'm glad! You deserve it. I know we don't talk about it much but I know losing Masen was the hardest thing and it killed me to see you go through that and the funk it put you in for the last three years." He sighed and popped another grape into his mouth, "Bella has brought the old Edward back and I love it, everyone does, including Emma, she told me at Jane's birthday she's so happy to see you smile."

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, "Sometimes I feel like I have probably been the shittiest father to her in the last 3 years."

"You know that's not true. Emma was the only thing that truly made you happy in the last 3 years, well aside for your charming best friend over here." Jasper chuckled as he nudged me in the side, "Dude what are you watching? Isn't this that show where they're polygamists or some crap like that?"

I nodded, "it's interesting. I mean this—" I just shook my head, "You don't care so I'm not even going to explain."

"Yeah, so um… do you think your sister would possibly go to Texas with me for spring break?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Going to visit the parents?"

"Yeah, they said to bring you and Emma but I told them that you got yourself a girlfriend and my mom squealed."

I just chuckled as I reached for a tissue, "Why do I feel like we're in high school all of a sudden."

"It's because we are high school teachers and have to deal with all the drama from the kids. It radiates into our own lives."

"That's for sure." I reached into the bag of grapes and pulled out a handful.

"Hey! Get your germy hands off of the grapes!"

"Dude they're my grapes!" I groaned as I laid my head against the back of the couch, "Shouldn't you be grading papers or something?"

"Yeah but hey I'm just doing what your girlfriend told me to do." He closed up the bag of grapes and put it down on the table, "Is she coming by tonight?"

"God I hope so, I miss her. She was only able to stop by yesterday, bringing me my meds." I coughed slightly as I tried to get more comfortable on the couch but it was difficult due to Jasper.

"Yeah, well you needed them, you sound pretty terrible."

I rolled my eyes as I put my head down on the pillow and tried to watch the show but somewhere in between one thing or another I dozed off. When I came too Jasper was still sitting at the edge of the couch making it difficult for me to stretch my legs out, well at least I thought it was Jasper. "Dude can you move your lazy ass."

"Lazy huh?" I gulped when I heard my girlfriend's voice. I looked up to see her sitting at the edge of the couch smirking at me, "Well if you want me to—"

"No, no!" I shot up which I immediately regretted a minute later but didn't vocalize. I pulled Bella to me and gave her a hug, "I've missed you and I thought you were Jasper."

"Really now?" she giggled slightly, "Do you want me to be Jasper?"

"Never, I like you just the way you are." I released her from the hug and smiled at her.

"How you feeling?" She put her hand on my forehead and frowned slightly, "Still warm, you hungry or anything?"

I shook my head, "No, my mom brought over some homemade soup, you can have some if you'd like. I mean of course so long as Jasper didn't eat while I was asleep after I told him not too."

Bella just smiled, "I'm fine, I had a late lunch."

"How long have you been here?"

She turned and looked at the clock on the cable box before looking back at me, "Almost an hour."

"An hour?" I groaned as I lay back against the pillow, "You should have woken me up when you got here."

"Edward, you're sick and need your rest."

I pouted, "But I wanted to spend time with you before you have to go home."

"Well you don't have to worry about that," she smiled sweetly. "I hope you don't mind but I'm spending the night and so are Nessie and Jane. They are up in Emma's room, unless you want them to leave and—"

"No! That's fine!" I smiled brightly and took her hand in mine, "I wanted to spend time with you."

"Well I also took off tomorrow so I can take care of you all day."

"Bella," I whined. "You didn't need to do that."

"Yes I did, I'm your girlfriend and I'm going to take care of you." She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead, "I love you."

I smiled as I let out a soft sigh, "I love you too. I guess it's good you're going to be here anyway. I'll need your help picking out furniture."

"Furniture?" Bella furrowed her eyebrows, obviously confused as to why I would need furniture.

"Well for the guest room—" I sighed, "I thought it was time to pack up Masen's room."

"Edward don't do that if you don't feel—"

I shook my head, "I loved Masen and I will always carry a place for him in my heart but I can't keep his room the same way forever. It's not like I'm going to be throwing away his belongings, just packing them up. It's been 3 years Bella, he's not coming back and I need to face that."

She leaned toward me and began to stroke my face, pushing some of my hair out of my face that had stuck to it from sweating in my sleep, "If that's what you want baby, I'll help you pick out furniture."

"So, I guess since the girls are here… no nookie?" I wagged my eyebrow suggestively but this only caused Bella to laugh.

"First, I can't believe you just referred to it as nookie and second, you are sick mister and need your rest."

I pouted but knew it was no use to battle. I was still feeling like crap, "Fine you win, why are the girls upstairs? It's still really early."

"They didn't want to wake you up." She leaned over and pulled something out of her purse, "Jane made you a get well card."

I took it from her hands and thanked her as I looked through the card, "She didn't have to do this."

Bella smiled, "She knows, but she likes doing those types of things and she wants you to feel better."

I chuckled, "Yeah, Emma already asked me if she could miss school and come take care of me but Tanya started freaking out saying that she did not want Emma bringing home the flu or something." I just shook my head, "That woman gives me a headache."

Eventually the girls came down and Bella reheated the soup my mom had brought over and made the girls grilled cheese sandwiches as well. We all ended up sitting around the living room chatting, Nessie filling me on what I had missed the last few days and how the sub they had for me was doing.

"He's okay, he taught music and such but he's so old." Nessie groaned as she pulled at her sandwich, "Everyone keeps asking when you're going to be back, of course I can't tell them because only a handful of kids actually know you and Bella are dating."

"Yeah I was a little surprised that Jacob didn't—" I stopped myself when I saw Nessie narrowing her eyes, "I mean I didn't think he would…" I started to fake cough figuring it was probably the only way out of this one.

"Mom?" Jane asked as she picked at her grilled cheese, "When is grandpa coming in again?"

I widened my eyes and turned to look at Bella who seemingly tried to avoid my gaze, "Excuse me?"

Nessie started to crack up, "You didn't tell him dad's coming in? Priceless."

"Shut up Nessie," Bella sighed. "So my dad's coming in next weekend."

"I see," I nodded slightly. "He's a cop right?"

"Chief of Police," Nessie corrected me, a huge grin on her face.

I gulped at this, "Um, how long is he staying for?"

"Just the weekend, he wanted to visit Jane." Bella reached over and tousled her daughter's hair, "He's coming in next Friday Night and leaving Monday morning."

"Does he know—"

Nessie decided to chime in again, "About you? Oh yeah! I mean you guys went to Disney World together for Christmas; of course my dad was going to know about that. Oh yeah when I was there he said to tell Bella's boyfriend that he has a gun and he's not afraid to use it."

I just laughed at this, "Oh I see."

"No I'm serious, when James and Bella B-R-O-K-E-U-P he tried to pull his gun out on James," Nessie said nonchalantly. I turned to look at Bella and she just looked down at her bowl of soup.

"You do know I can spell right?" Jane asked with a roll of her eyes.

Eventually the girls headed upstairs to sleep in Emma's room. I made my way up to my room to collapse in my bed while Bella cleaned downstairs. I told her she didn't need to do that but she insisted, especially since it was really only the dishes we ate on that needed to be cleaned and my mess of tissues. The entire time I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling as I waited for Bella I couldn't help but worry about meeting her father. I had met Renee and Phil but from the little information that Nessie had given me I was scared shitless.

When she appeared in my doorway I couldn't help but smile, she was just so beautiful. "How you feeling?"

"Better now that you are here." I moved myself up so I was against the pillows and held out my arms for her.

She rolled her eyes and smiled as she shut the bedroom door and made her way over to me. Slipping into my arms, "You should probably go to sleep soon."

"I don't wanna!" I whined which only caused her to laugh.

Bella perched herself up on her elbow and looked down at me, "Way to sound like an eight year old." She shook her head and continued to laugh before leaning down and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Nu uh," I pointed to my lips and puckered up.

"Seriously?" She just couldn't stop laughing at me. I wasn't sure if I should let me ego be bruised or laugh right along with her. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Well…" I smirked up at her as I brought my hand over to run up her leg.

I had never seen Bella so mad yet so cute at the same time, so in a way it wasn't really like she was that mad. She lifted herself up, not bothering to move herself from the straddling position she had around me. She continued to glare and slapped my chest, both of us covered in sweat, "I cannot believe you."

"What?" I tried to act all innocent but I knew what she was referring to.

"You tricked me into having sex with you," she said with a humph sound in her voice.

"On the contrary, I could not trick you into such a thing."

"Argh, Edward you are sick the last thing you needed to do was that when you should be resting."

"Well if you think about it I wasn't straining myself too much, I mean you were on top after all—"

Bella slapped me in the chest again, "You are incorrigible."

"What?" I cocked my eyebrow, "Are you telling me you didn't enjoy it? I know it's so hard for you to be quiet because the girls—"

Another slap in the chest, "Edward Anthony Cullen!" she rolled off of me and grabbed the sheet wrapping it around her body, "Really I ask again, what am I going to do with you?"

I turned to my side and looked at her, "I have no idea but I love you."

She blushed sweetly and looked over at me. This was her thing, she tended to blush a lot when I said these words. "I love you too."

The next morning Bella let me sleep in while she got the girls ready and off to school before coming home and making me some soft boiled eggs with pieces of toast in it. I was actually able to pull myself out of bed without trouble and showered before changing into a pair of fresh pajama pants and a clean gray t-shirt. After finishing breakfast Bella and I made ourselves comfortable on the couch and started to look through websites and books my mom had brought, or suggested for furniture as well as color schemes and such for Masen's old room.

Even though I knew that maybe it was finally time to do this I couldn't help but feel terrible about it at the same time. I always thought that if I kept his room the same that he would come back. That the hospital made a mistake and that Masen survived the car accident, that it was another little boy that looked like him that died and that Masen was off living with other people and would one day return to me. But as much as I hoped and wished for those exact things I knew it wasn't going to happen. But I also knew no matter what I would remember the times I did have with my son and would cherish them till the day I died.

Bella must have realized something was up because she put her hand on my shoulder and kisses my earlobe, "You okay?"

I turned and looked at her and smiled, "Yeah. Thank you for offering to help me with this."

"Hey what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't help out," she smiled lovingly at me before pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Now how are you feeling health wise?"

"Pretty good," of course as soon as I answered I started to cough.

Bella raised her eyebrow and stared at me, "Oh that sounds good."

"Hey I really am starting to feel better, I mean I still have a cough and feel a little eh, but a big improvement from yesterday."

"Well that's good." She reached over and ran her fingers through the back of my hair. "Wouldn't want you to be sick for the weekend."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why?"

"Well…" she blushed softly, "No reason."

"Oh oh," I chuckled, "Didn't get enough of me last night?"

"Oh shush! You are like a teenager," she rolled her eyes.

"At heart, at heart baby," I leaned over and started to tickle her sides.

"Edward stop!" She squirmed as she tried to get away but I wasn't having it. The whole room was filled with my laughing and her giggles for the next five minutes until I finally let up. She fixed her outfit and glared at me, "That was so not funny! I almost peed my pants."

"That would have been a sight," I chuckled and pulled her into my lap. "You know we are fully alone right now and I wouldn't mind," I slowly trailed my fingers up her jean clothed thigh, "making you scream baby."

"Edward," Bella groaned as she tried to pull away from my grasp, "As fantastic as that sounds we shouldn't even have had sex last night… you are still sick, you need your rest."

I rolled my eyes and buried my head in the crook of her neck, "Fine, but I'm not letting you go."

Bella let out a sigh of defeat, "I guess I can deal with that."

"Hey," I started to tickle her again.

"Stop, stop," she giggled, trying to pull away from me, "okay I can definitely deal with that."

"Good," I whispered and pressed a kiss against her neck, "Bella your dad's not scary is he?"

She started to giggle, "Well he does have a gun and will probably threaten you that he has it."

I groaned into her neck, "Oh god."

"Don't worry." She reached up to run her fingers through my hair, "He's going to love you. Especially if you bring Emma around, he's a sucker for kids. Jane has him wrapped around her finger." She sighed contently, "but yeah I'm thinking of making dinner on Friday or Saturday? I'm not sure yet."

"Are you picking him up at the airport?"

She nodded, "Yeah Friday at like umm… six thirty, which is why I think dinner will be better Saturday."

"Do you want me to come with you to the airport?"

She pursed her lips and stared at me, "Maybe? But if you do we'll have all three girls and—"

"Well it's up to you."

"I'll see if Nessie wants to go to the airport, if she doesn't I'll have her start dinner and she can watch Jane and Emma." She leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek, "Are you afraid to meet him?"

"Would you think less of me if I said yes?" I lifted my head and looked up into her eyes.

Bella shook her head and smiled, "No I think it's rather cute."

"Oh yeah it'll be real cute when your dad shoots me in the head."

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A/N: Life once again has been kicking my ass, drama with the boyfriend that hopefully will work out. Anyway! Here's chapter sixteen and I hope you all enjoy it. Who can resist a sick Edward? He'd just be so darn cute! Don't you guys agree?

Thanks for all the reviews! I love them as always and hope that they keep coming!