Follow on story from Heartbreak and Heartache...
Wow I'm blown away by your responses. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Lots of you thought the story shouldn't end with our lovers estranged and maybe you are right. Okay so this chapter will resolve their issue. I've made it a T rating as things get a little heated.
Enjoy...
Oh before I forget I have an author to recommend to you all. LoveRob. I found her when she reviewed Heartbreak and Heartache she too feels the Bella/Jacob kiss was not written right. She has written a few stories both vampire and all human. Pretty hot stuff so take care she rates her stories M but I have to say 'You are my life now' blew me away. It is an amazing read and very well written. Give her try and tell her I sent you. Her profile picture like mine tells you all you need to know.
Broken But Not Beyond Repair.
I do not know for how long I ran. When I reached the outskirts of Denali I realised it must have been well over twenty four hours. I should be exhausted but of course I am not, I could keep going I probably should. Unconsciously I had run here to hurt Bella. My attempt at petty revenge, I knew that if she heard I was here she would assume I was here to see Tanya. A little payback for what she did with the dog. Only trouble is I could never do that to her. Jesus even before I met her Tanya held no interest for me. Yes she was beautiful all female vampire were, I just wasn't interested.
Slowing my pace down to a human walk I decide without much thought not visit our closest friends. The small town is busy today, families preparing for the harsh winter stocking up on supplies in case they are snowed in. Their easy interactions make me miss my family. I know they will be worried about me taking off without a word. They are worried too about my relationship with Bella. They love her almost as much as I do, Carlisle and Esme I know think of her as their daughter. I wander around a bit looking in shop windows listening in on peoples conversations.
As the night draws in I head out of town and back into the forest pondering on where I should go and what I should do next. I am still not ready to forgive her, every time I think about what she did it rips my non beating heart open again. If I could I would cry, no not cry that is not enough, sob my heart out more like. I am a broken man, a pathetic excuse to my species. This wallowing isn't doing me any good.
Nearby, well nearby for us when you can run at our speed we own a small hunting cottage deep in the forest on the far north edge of the forest in Ivvavik northern Canada. It is a remote national park with scenery so stunning it takes even my breath away. There is no access by road and hunters are usually flown in by private aircraft. I of course do not have that problem. I set off at pace running once again.
It only takes me another hour to reach the place I intend to stay at. It is years since we last visited here. Emmett and Rose were the last to stay here, they were bear hunting a few years back and remembered the cottage and stayed a couple of weeks to relax. In other words screw each others brains out.
The inside was pretty much how I remembered it although a lot dustier. Esme would have a fit if she saw the moth holes in her pretty curtains and the cobwebs hanging in almost every corner. I cannot help a small smile crossing my face at the image of my mother's lovely face. It takes me no more than ten minutes to have the place looking tidy again. I can live with holes in the curtains. It's not like I have anyone to impress.
My mobile phone buzzes in my pocket. I had forgotten it was there, I wonder why my sister had not been on to me already then I realise she was waiting until I decided what I was actually going to do before she called.
"Alice, what do you want?"
"Charming brother, just charming. So I'm glad you gave up on that idiot idea of going to see Tanya. I would have kicked your arse to kingdom come had you have gone through with that. Emmett said he'd be right behind me too. So you stay where you are and do all the thinking you need to. We will take care of Bella until you come home."
"Why does Bella need taking care of?" I ask trying to sound only casually interested.
"You know why, she blames herself for you running away again. You know what she is like, she blames herself for you leaving us as well as her. She'll be fine, she's a little sad and she cries a lot and she is very quiet. It is taking all Esme's persuasion to make her eat. Charlie is on the war path too. He gave Jacob a peace of his mind. I wish you'd been here to hear it. I don't think I've ever seen someone so shocked. He actually told Jacob he wished you had stayed around and kicked his arse. I think he's a bit mad at you for running away again though but he understand that you are hurt this time. He'll be okay when you get back."
"So you see me coming back? Are you sure?"
"Positive, in about a week maybe two. It will all depend on how much you can take."
"Can take of what?"
"Missing Bella like crazy of course. You miss holding her while she sleeps and kissing her amongst other things."
"You know me so well. Look I'm gonna go. I do miss her, of course I do but its still too raw just now and I need to deal with how I can handle it going forward. I'll let you know when and if I decide to come home. I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet up here and do some quality hunting while I'm here. It might just help me think an overload of big game blood."
Days maybe even weeks go by I lose track of time. I spend my days just sitting thinking. I replay over and over in my head all our times together. Our first kiss, our first touch, her acceptance of what I am. When I remember our first 'I love you's' I find myself on my knees sobbing dry sobs. Why would she do something like she did if she loves me? Over and over in my head I go round and round never getting any further forward.
I'll be here forever at this rate, my phone died days ago. I brought nothing with me, no clothes and certainly not my phone charger. A thorough rooting through the drawers here found an old charger but it did not fit my modern phone. I needed to go into town. Luckily for me Carlisle kept a stock of suitable clothes in the wardrobes. Once I got the generator working I had a constant supply of hot water and electricity. I showered and changed into warm clothes and set off to find the town on our ski mobile.
The town consisted of a dozen or so shops, my hopes rested on the electrical store. I breathed a sigh of relief when I entered and saw mobile phone accessories hung up on a stand near the till. I paid and moved on to the next store. I bought a supply of food stuff for the freezer, I thought I should make it look authentic. It also meant if I brought Bella at any point in the future I'd have food to give her.
Bella, Bella, Bella, my heart ached at just the thought of her. I missed her like crazy. It has been weeks since I have seen her and held her in my arms. As I drive back to the cottage I realise it is the first time I have though of her and not winced in pain. Missing her seems to have taken over the heartache. Maybe I have moved more forward than I realised.
When my phone was fully charged and I turned it on there were hundreds on missed calls and twenty some messages. Mostly from Alice but a couple from Bella stuck out. With a deep breath I opened the first one.
Hey
I miss you like crazy.
Please come back to me.
I love you.
I always will.
Bella X
It was short and simple but it made my heart soar. She still loved me and she wanted me to come back to her. She hadn't gone to him, she said she wouldn't but I couldn't be sure. I knew he was fighting for her with everything he was. Her second message was a bit different.
Edward, I love you
but this is getting beyond a joke.
Are you coming back?
Are you even reading my messages?
I cannot function without you.
I don't eat, I don't sleep
Please Edward I need you.
My heart shattered into millions of little pieces at her words. She needed me like I needed her. Like me she did not function on her own. We are meant to be together. I resolve to make my way home over the next few days. If I am going home to see my Bella I need to hunt.
It is dark when I get back, strange the lights are on inside and I cannot remember putting them on. I only ever put them on when I was reading. Cautiously I approach and enter the cottage by the back door silently. Her scent hits me slap bang in the gut. For a moment I am stunned by her scent now permeating all around me. Bella, Bella is here, but how?
"Bella?" I say quietly walking slowly into the open lounge area.
She is sat in the middle of the sofa looking nervous and chewing her nails. She turns at the sound of my voice and her beautiful face changes as soon as she lays eyes on me.
"Edward I... well Alice saw that you had made a decision and thought we could do with some quality time alone. She brought me here on foot and will stay nearby. You don't mind me being here do you?"
Walking forward slowly towards her I say.
"No Bella my love I do not mind you being here, in fact I love that you are here. I missed you so much, I'm so sorry I ran out on you again."
She moves to my side and when her small delicate hand brushes over my lips to silence me I know I am home.
"Sshhh love, it was my fault not yours and I can never ever apologise enough for doing that to you. I love you so much I was so scared I had lost you. Please Edward tell me you forgive me, that you still want me."
"Bella, I too was scared, I thought you would leave me, choose him. I was petrified as well as hurt and angry that is why I ran. I love you Bella, I cannot live without you. I do not want to ever be without you again. This time here alone has only cemented what I knew already, we belong together."
Our kiss is like non other that we have ever shared. Tears pour down Bella's cheeks as she pulls me closer and runs her fingers into my wild hair. We kiss and kiss falling back onto the sofa, our lips do not part. Her hands in my hair, my hands in hers. With a groan I pull us apart.
"It's late love and you need to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise."
"Edward I want to sleep in your arms. I never want to spend another night away from you unless you are hunting. Can we do that?"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Hand in hand we walk into the bedroom never taking our eyes off each other. She goes and undresses in the small bathroom and I get undressed and changed into comfy sweats and a clean t shirt while she is in there. I am in bed when she returns. She climbs in next to me and places her head on my cold had chest. I worry that even though I am dressed in sweats and a t shirt she will be cold.
"Love, you'll get too cold."
"No, I won't. I like it, it feels perfect, you feel perfect. Do you like the PJ's Alice had me bring?" she asks looking at me like butter wouldn't melt.
I had tried to ignore what my body was telling me when she walked back into the bedroom from the bathroom dressed in what I can only describe as torture gear. Midnight blue boy shorts and a camisole top edged in wicked black lace. I thought my heart was going to start beating again. However, the throbbing was much further south.
Now she was wriggling and pushing herself closer and closer to me. I could not let things get out of hand. It would be all too easy to give in to her grinding into me but I had to remain I control. Yes I loved her and I wanted nothing more than to be with her in every sense but we had made an agreement. Before we made love she would marry me, we would try on our honeymoon. I had promised her and I would stick to my promise.
"Bella, please be still, you need to go to sleep. Alice told me you have not been sleeping well. Now I'm here you can sleep again."
"Edward, I need to be close to you. I've missed you so much I just need to be close to you, to feel your body next to mine. Please let me feel you, touch you." her hands start to move dangerously low.
Petrified of losing control I am out of the bed and away form her in a flash. I can hear Alice laughing somewhere nearby. She will have known that Bella would attempt seduction tonight she was enjoying my trouble in controlling my fiancee's amorous advances.
Pinching the bride of my nose I caution her.
"Bella, please. I love you I truly do but you have to behave. I only have so much control. I promise we will try once we are married but I cannot spend the night in bed with you if you persist in touching me and grinding your... your …... well you know exactly what I mean. Please love behave for me."
"Okay I'm sorry I guess I just want you so badly. I ache for your touch Edward and I have missed you so much I just cannot help myself. I promise to be good if you come back to bed. You are right I do need to sleep, I long to sleep in your arms once again."
Slowly cautioning her with my eyes I walk back to the bed and climb in. She lifts up the covers to allow me access. My arms open to allow her to climb in. She is good and keeps her word. She is asleep in minutes, I allow myself the pleasure of stroking her bare arm. She doesn't stir she is out for the count.
Tomorrow I will take my love home.
So now that they have made up are you guys a little happier? The final chapter will be them arriving back home and the families reaction.