A bit wordy, but hopefully worth it. Feedback is much appreciated.



The Cullen House -

His room was fascinating. Modern, comfortable, inviting. There was more history to this room than fad or fashion. Artifacts with their own stories were scattered about. Books, many books not commonly found within reach of the average 17 year old, lined the shelves. A hundred years of journals sat on a desk nearest to the door, while a library of music plastered an entire wall.

Wearing only pj bottoms and nothing else, Edward sat at his desk, reading some long-forgotten literature. Through the windows, the sun was just coming up over the tops of the trees. He looked up and thought of his Bella.

'She won't be up for at least another hour.'

Although he enjoyed watching her sleep, his presence had a tendency to rouse her during the night. Today, he would let her sleep in. He stood up, placed his book back in its place on the shelf and began to dress for the day. It was late in the semester and the air had a distinct smell of winter. As he pulled his sweater over his head, he heard Alice come in. Pausing for only a moment, Alice tossed two boxes of tissues onto Edward's couch.

"You'll need these later." She said, and continued downstairs.

Edward looked at the boxes and sighed, already knowing what they meant. He finished dressing and joined the other members of the family downstairs. Halfway down the staircase, he felt it. A slight twinge in the back of his nose. He waited. There was no use trying to stifle, anyone in the house would hear him anyway. He held onto the railing.

"Hat-CHOO"

From the next room, Carlisle and Esme looked up in Edward's direction. Edward stood in the doorway, sniffling as quietly as possible.

"Feeling alright?" Said Carlisle in his usual passive tone.

"I'm f-fine... ha-CHoo! Hat-CHOO!"

Carlisle and Esme watched as their son was thrown forward by the force of his sneezing. Edward took hold of the door frame to brace himself.

"It's just something in the air... ha-HatCHOO!"

"I see that." Said Esme, already at Edward's side. She handed him a handkerchief. Edward gently rubbed his nose and put the cloth in his pocket. He sighed.

"I suppose I should call Bella and tell her I won't be out much today."

------

In the empty kitchen, Edward sat at the counter. The room was pristine. The surfaces lacked any hint of ware, while the utensils appeared to be placed there only for looks. Edward, with phone in hand, dialed Bella. As her end rang, Edward felt a familiar tickle in his nose. He tried to fight it off.

"Hello?" A young woman's voice inquired.

"Hello, Bella..." Edward inhaled sharply, involuntarily.

"Edward, Hi. I just need to shower, then I'll be ready-"

The tickle recessed, his sneeze was momentarily at bay. Edward continued.

"Actually, I'm not sure about making it out today-" The tickle returned, stronger this time. Edward froze.

"Oh... That's okay. Some other day then." She was obviously disappointed. Edward didn't respond. He closed his eyes, unable to maintain. His nose flared.

"...ha-" His hand flew up to his mouth.

"Edward?"

Edward tried as hard as he could. The feeling drove him crazy. Even with all his effort, in the end, he was powerless.

"Ha-ish!"

"What was that?"

"Nothing. I'm... Ha-ish! I'm just feeling a little under the wea-ha... HA-ISH! HA-CHOO!" Edward paused until he was certain he could continue.

"A little under the weather."

"Okay, then I'm coming over."

"No, that won't be-"

*CLICK*

Edward hung his head and sighed. He was embarrassed at the thought of appearing weak. Especially in front of Bella.

-------------------------------------------------------

Oh, I love your writing style. Adorable.

I love your writing style also!:) Amazing story. Can't wait for more.:D

Aww Edward! Love this!

Even if I'm not a fan of twilight, I definitely love this!

Oh I love this already!

nice job, you!!

awwww Edward! I love it!!! I hope you can continue if you can. if not it's cool.

Outside, an archaic old truck grumbled into the drive of the Cullen house. Edward watched from an upstairs window as Bella got out of her pickup. She slammed the door a bit
too hard and slid on a patch of loose gravel. Bella quickly clung to the frame of her truck to keep from falling over completely. Edward smiled to himself as he went to meet her
downstairs. Bella's shortcomings only became more endearing to him over time.
In the blink of an eye, he was downstairs, nearly to the front door. He gave his nose one last good rub before going outside. He thought, perhaps, if he could maintain long enough,
she wouldn't think it was too serious. He could save Bella the extra worry and himself, the embarrassment of all the unnecessary attention. After all, it was in Bella's nature to care after
others. He opened the door to greet his love. He found her standing there with an expression that was both of awe and caring.

"How are you feeling?" Bella said as she stepped inside.

At that moment, Edward realized it was going to be a long afternoon. Her timing could not have been more impeccable. His nose began to twinge slightly, but Edward's face remained
steady. He was unwilling to be compromised just yet.

"Well enough." He wondered how long he would be able to keep this up.

He placed an arm around Bella, leading her further into the house. The whole family was home today and Edward hoped the others could provide a proper distraction when he was
otherwise... engaged. Answering his prayer, Alice and Jasper came downstairs to greet Bella as well. Edward was grateful for their presence. He imediately felt a sneeze that couldn't be
avoided.

"Hi, Bella!" Said Alice with her usual smile, while Jasper kept his usual distance.

As Bella turned toward Alice and Jasper, Edward took advantage of her momentary lapse. His hand flew up, stifling two quick sneezes behind her.

"Heh-ung! Heh-ung!" Edward shuddered with the strength of his sneezes, but as soon as they paused, he straightened gracefully.

"You're not fooling anyone." Bella said, having caught him. That didn't take long.

Edward sighed. Perhaps it was for the best. It was embarrassing enough having the sneezes. Trying to hide them for the length of the day would have been all too impossible. He took
Esme's handkerchief and, as politely as possible, rubbed the tickle away. Bella instinctively put a hand to Edward's forehead.

"Really?" Edward said, wryly.

"Force of habit." She noted after feeling no change in his typically cold skin.

"Do you know what you have?" She added, concerned.

"I'm not entirely sure." He replied sheepishly.

"We should ask Carlisle."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edward sat atop the desk in Carlisle's office. The room itself emitted an air of age and warmth. Books of nearly every era and subject were scattered about. One entire wall was
covered, floor to ceiling in paintings and photographs. They altogether illustrated many of the Doctor's own memories and stories. Carlisle sat infront of Edward and Bella stood anxiously
at their side.

Bella looked at Carlisle. "Isn't there anything we can give him?"

"There's not much to do but wait it out, I'm afraid."

Edward wasn't listening to their conversation. He was preoccupied with problems of his own. The tickle in his nose had returned full force and was threatning to burst out any second. Bella
may have been aware of Edward's illness, but he was still a gentleman, after all, and letting a sneezing fit get the best of him was not, in any way, becoming of a gentleman. He fought his
nose silently, but nothing seemed to help. Carlisle and Bella continued, oblivious to Edward's dilema.

"...Most medications aren't designed with our kind in mind."

"Hmm" She leaned back against the desk.

After a moment, Carlisle asked (aloud, for Bella's benefit) "Edward, when did it start-"

Edward held up a hand to pause the question. He whipped out the handkerchief and quickly covered his nose and mouth.

"Heh...haa...ah Hatchoo! HatCHooah!... ha-HatCHOO!"

He stepped away from Carlisle and Bella, hoping his outburst would be ignored. Unfortunately, the tickle would not subside and poor Edward could barely catch a breath.

"Hat-CHoo! Ha-HatCHOO!...HaCHOO! HatCHOO!"

Bella and Carlisle could only watch as each sneeze shook Edward's sturdy frame. As they grew more powerful, he began to bend forward under their force.

"Hat-CHOO!"

The tickle withdrew for a moment. Edward tried to make a coherent sentence.

"It only started thi.. this morning-" His voice wavered, going up slightly in pitch.

"huh..AtCHOO! Hat-CHoo!"

This was the worst kind of mortification. Not only was he unable to hold himself steady or speak properly, all this had to happen in front of Bella. Edward tried his best to repair his
decorum. He uncovered his mouth just enough to speak.

"I really do apologize-...huh..Hat-CHoo!" He quickly replace the handkerchief in time to catch another bout of sneezes.

Bella's face held a mixture of concern and pity. Edward picked up thoughts of the same nature coming from his father. Bella moved to stand next to Edward.

"Don't be silly. You can't control it."

Edward knew only too well the truth of that statement. He would have answered her, but for the inevitable. His hand hovered in front of his face, hoping desperately to fight the incessant
tickle away.

"Heh... ha..hah...heh, heh- Ha-HatCHoo! HaCHOO! Hat-CHooah!"

It would indeed be a long afternoon. Edward's sneezing had seemed to worsen since that morning. Nevertheless, Edward was determined to remain a gentleman, however helpless.

yay for more. I love Edward being helpless with a cold (except by Bella of course)

I really like how you've kept the gentleman in Edward, yet altered his personality to be a little less... brooding.
Niceeeee. I liked this a lot.

i love this so much.

this is awesome

Oh boy! A sneezing Edward? Um, yes please? This is fun - and I like the way you put your words together.

"Nevertheless, Edward was determined to remain a gentleman, however helpless."

~swoon~

You really write him well. =)

dun dun dun even real life bishies that are sick tend to make girls met >w< eeee