Disclaimer: I own nothing! All character's belong to SM.

Bella Age: Eleven

Chapter Fourteen: Growing Pains

"How is she feeling today?" Edward whispered as Esme left Bella's room.

"She says the stomach ach is getting worse. I don't know what to do. I gave her every medicine I could think of."

"Call Carlisle." Edward said frantically.

"Edward, I can take care of Bella without consulting Carlisle, especially since he will be home first thing in the morning." Esme was wondering if it was be safe for Bella to wait, but she just fell asleep.

Esme continued, "You can stay on guard while I go hunting, then when I get back you and the boys can go to get your mind off of it, okay?" Alice and Rosalie had left earlier in the week to for to Milan for a fashion show.

Edward snorted, not really liking the idea but it was better than nothing.

Esme looked back at Bella's door and sighed. "I will be back as soon as I can."

Edward nodded and took residence on Bella's floor and waited for Bella's illness to go away.

It was 4:30 in the morning, and everything seemed calm in the Cullen house.

Bella had woken up and felt very disoriented. Her stomach wasn't hurting anymore, but she felt sore. She sat up slightly, and decided to head to the bathroom and see if the heating pad was still in there.

She opened her door, and expected to see someone there. And there was, Esme.

"Hello dear, how are you feeling?"

"Uh, I don't really know. Sore? Is the heating pad in the bathroom still?"

"I think so, do you want me to get it?"

"No, I want to. Maybe walking around will make my stomach feel a little better."

Bella headed down the hallway to the guest bathroom. When she got there she tried to go to the bathroom because she knew once she laid back down she would have to pee.

When she shut the door she felt something on her legs. She went to swipe at it but what she felt was warm. She looked down and let out a horrified scream.

"Bella? Bella! What's wrong!"

"Mom! I-I'm bleeding! Oh God! It's everywhere!" Bella began to hyperventilate. She inspected her legs to see if she had cut herself, but noticed it wasn't from her legs.

Esme knocked on the door to let Bella know she was coming and slowly opened the door.

"Oh honey." Esme sighed in relief but in fear at the same time.

Bella began to sob, "What is wrong with me? Am I dying?" Esme went to get a wash rag when Edward called out to her.

"What's wrong we heard yelling." Edward knew exactly who had screamed, so did Jasper and he followed to calm down Bella.

"Oh, it is nothing. Can I talk to you boys a second. Bella dear here, use this." She handed Bella a damp rag to wash herself.

Esme silently closed the door and walked toward Edward and Jasper.

"Boys, I really hate to do this but Alice and Rosalie aren't here and Bella needs a female here. There is a ten dollar bill in my purse could you please go to the nearest drug store and pick up some pads? I am really sorry to have to do this to you, but I trust you two can do this without making Bella feel embarrassed. We will just tell her Alice had some in her bathroom. Please?"

If their faces could be any whiter, they would have been.

"P-pads?" Edward gasped.

"Please hurry." Esme said as she heard Bella's crying grow louder and rushed back into the bathroom.

Jasper gulped loudly, Edward had never seen him so shook up. If the circumstances were different Edward would have found this comical.

"Did we hear her correctly?" Jasper thought to Edward.

All Edward did was nod his head slightly. Jasper snapped out of his stupor, and grabbed Edward to knock him out of his own thoughts.

"Come on we have to hurry. She needs us." Edward just nodded.

"How is she feeling?" Carlisle asked Esme after Bella finally fell back to sleep around eight in the morning.

Esme sighed, "She is really shaken up. I had no clue this would happen so young. I wish I could have talked to her about this before."

"It isn't your fault darling. None of us noticed anything. Well, that's not true. I know the boys, myself included, tried to ignore her growing. And Alice and Rosalie have been gone all week for some fashion show. Don't be so hard on yourself." He opened his arms for his wife.

Esme leaned into Carlisle's embrace and held back yet another sigh.

"When did our little girl grow up? I remember her first birthday party. I remember when Renee brought her to meet us, she was just a new born."

Carlisle tightened his grip slightly and kissed her forehead. "We will get through this, together."

Upstairs, Bella was having a nightmare. She was running from a monster, and not a boogieman type monster, no, she had just seen this monster drain the blood out of all her family members. This monster had red eyes, and a black cloak. Bella was in the forest in her backyard, and the monster was just behind her, as if it were letting her be ahead of it. All of a sudden Bella felt something ice cold and hard on her shoulder and she let out a gut retching scream and jumped up in her bed.

"Shh, Bella you are okay and safe." Edward said soothingly. He had no idea just touching her shoulder would cause such a reaction.

"Edward? Where am I?" Bella asked breathlessly.

"You are at home in your bed. You were screaming and I came to check on you."

"Oh. I'm sorry if I woke you. I had a horrible dream. And wow, you are really cold! Are you always like that?"

Edward looked at her surprised. "I uh, I just have cold hands." She had never noticed his body temperature in all the years she had been there.

"How are you feeling? Do you need anything? More medicine?" Edward asked to change the subject. But when Bella's face turned bright red, he regretted the direction he had taken this conversation.

"Uh, no. I'm fine. I must seem so gross right now. How is this normal? I feel so disgusting." Bella was in tears. Once again, her body had betrayed her.

"Oh Bella," Edward wrapped his arms around the little girl stuck in limbo, "It's natural. It happens. I do not find you gross in the slightest. I want to help my best friend go through her first… period." Edward had a hard time saying that word.

Bella sniffled but wrapped her arms around his waist, "I'm scared."

"Why Bella?"

"Because what if…What if it doesn't stop? Will I feel like crap the rest of my life?"

Edward bit back a laugh. He knew it was a serious fear of hers, but he thought Esme had talked to her about this? He was about to say something but there was a light knock on the door.

"Honey, how are you feeling? I made you some chocolate chip pancakes." Esme smiled at Bella and held up her comfort food.

"Thanks mom." Bella let go of Edward and smiled at Esme through her tears.

"I need to go, ask Carlisle something. I will leave you two alone." Edward made up an excuse to leave the room so Esme could talk to Bella.

"Okay Edward, thank you for being here." Bella looked at her best friend. Edward smiled back at her and hugged her lightly. As he shut her door he could hear Esme trying to start the conversation.

"Okay Bella, we need to talk about puberty."

A/N: So I must confess, this really happened to me. Though I was younger, it happened. I had no idea that my "stomach ache" was really cramps. Good thing my mom is a nurse, even though she didn't catch on at first. Anyway, Bella had her first period and that means we are getting to the hormonal Bella and where the story will slightly pick up. I will warn you it will be a few more chapters before Bella and Edward really start liking each other. But next chapter we will see jealous Edward :).

ALSO! Just a reminder, if you have a tumblr, I officially have one now. My username is Omnilight and my photo he same flower as on this website. I hope to see you there :)