Chapter Text
Angel kept a protective position by Bella as she sat on the stairs. He missed the old, smaller hotel, as there hadn't been so many stairs. Bella might have been able to walk unassisted, now, but she still struggled with the stairs. Even with Angel holding her hand, it was hard. Sometimes Bella would just fly down, but she was supposed to exercise her legs more, and build her muscle control. Bella had stopped halfway down to rest and collect herself. Angel kept guard, ready to chase off any other guests who complained or asked what they were doing.
Bella hugged her knees and talked to herself, quietly reciting a poem by the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books. Bella preferred the Disney version of Pooh over A.A. Milne's Pooh, but she did really like this poem. She had learned it by heart. It was just about a kid sitting on the stairs.
Finally, Bella had finished. She reached out to Angel, he took her hand, and they continued down the stairs.