Saying Goodbye

An hour later Edward shook Bella awake and whispered "Don't wake up Christina I'll carry her. Are you ok Bella?"

Bella spoke quietly and said "I'm fine ok. It's just so hard to- oh never mind. I'm fine Edward; let's just grab what little we can carry and run."

Edward pulled Bella close and said "You're not fine. I might not be able to read your mind but I can see the pain in your eyes."

Bella pushed Edward's arm off her shoulder and said bitterly "I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to Jacob. Christina loved him Edward; maybe we could rest at his place until morning."

Edward sighed and said "Bella we can go see Jacob alright. However we just can't stay long. I knew this would be very hard on you; I'm sorry that I'm putting you through this amount of pain."

Bella sighed and said in a more gentle tone "Edward could you carry Christina? I'm going to go grab some clothes and food for our trip. You never did tell me where we are going. I need to know how much food to pack Edward."

Edward sighed and said "Pack enough only for you and Christina Bella. I don't eat remember."

Bella said "Don't talk like that around Christina. She probably is still in shock over what you said last night."

Edward pretended to be hurt and said "When we were dating you thought it was cute when I said things like that."

Bella sighed and sadly said "That was before I was running for my life and had a baby. Now when you make statements like that I want to kick your ass."

Edward sighed and said "If I tell you where we are going will you stop being a bitch?"

Bella didn't say anything or even look at Edward. She just kept packing food and clothes into small bags. Edward walked over to Bella and said gently "I didn't mean it I'm sorry. Bella this is hard on me to. If Vampires could cry I'd be crying right now."

Bella sighed and said "Edward why are we doing this? We weren't afraid of the clan then why are we afraid now? I can't believe that I'm running from a bunch of blood sucking pigs that want to kill my daughter just because she's different!"

Edward looked away from Bella and said sadly "Are you forgetting what I am Bella? I'm one of those as you called them so bluntly blood sucking pigs."

Bella put down the bag of food that she was holding and hugged Edward. She couldn't believe that she had been so stupid and selfish. Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed hard into Edward's chest.

Edward gently lifted Bella's face so she had to look at him. Then he said "Bella I'm not mad at you. You're just stressed out about the move. Saying goodbye makes people scared, sad and angry."

Bella sniffled and said "Are you scared or angry?"

Edward sighed and said "Depends on who you think I'm angry at. I'm not angry at you Bella. I'm angry at those monsters who want to kill my daughter."

Bella sighed and said "I have to see Jacob one more time. He's been my best friend since I was little. I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to him."

Edward sighed and said "Grab Christina and we'll go. However we cannot take the car. We'll have to go on foot I'm sorry Bella."

A few hours later Bella, Edward and Christina were outside of Jacob's house. Bella lightly knocked on the door and waited for Jacob to answer. Jacob opened the door and said "Bella it's great to see you. What are you doing here so late though?"

Bella started to cry and Edward said "Jacob we don't have a lot of time to explain. Let's go inside and talk. Bella calm down. You don't want to wake Christina."

Bella sniffed and swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. Jacob sighed and said "Bella what ever is the matter? Edward you can go place Christina on my bed ok. The poor thing looks really tired."

Edward carried Christina into Jacob's room and laid her down on the bed. Meanwhile Bella sighed and said "Jacob I have something to tell you. Edward and I have to leave."

Jacob put his arm around Bella and said "Do you mind if I ask why?"

Bella took Jacob's hands and said "The other vampires want to kill Christina. They gave Edward a choice and he chose what he thought was best for us. I'm going to miss you so much Jacob."

Jacob hugged Bella and said "We'll you don't have to leave tonight. Where are you going Bella?"

Bella sighed and said "I don't really know Jacob. Edward didn't tell me. He just said that if they found Christina they'd kill her. I can't take that chance Jacob. Christina's safety is more important than my own."

Jacob sighed and said "Are you sure you're alright Bella? You're pretty close to having a mental break down. I think you guys should spend the night here-I mean you and Christina should stay here. Edward can leave if he wants; he doesn't seem to get the fact that you're human. If you don't rest you'll get sick."

Bella started to cry into her hands in between sobs she said "I won't leave him again. He promised we'd stay together."

Jacob snapped "So you'll stick by him even if his pace and rash behavior kills you. Bella that is the stupidest thing I ever heard. I'm not asking you to not go at all. I know that you have to go. However what I am asking is for you to talk to Edward about staying here tonight. Dry your eyes ok Bella."

Bella wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Then Edward came downstairs he saw Bella's puffy and red eyes he pulled her into a hug and said "Oh Bella, is saying goodbye really that painful?"

Bella sighed and said "I'm fine Edward. Please just tell me where we are going. I know you hate it when I get pushy but I need to know."

Edward sighed and said "Bella I think Christina is sick."

Bella gasped and said "Edward we aren't moving until she's strong enough to make the trip."

Jacob said "Bella relax alright. Edward does she have a fever or just a cough?"

Edward said "She felt hot when I laid her on Jacob's bed. She seemed very weak, I don't mean to scare you Bella but she needs a doctor now, or she could die."

Bella snapped "Wait you put her to bed tonight, if she seemed sick you should have told me. Edward sometimes you can be so impossible, she might be half vampire but news flash she's human to!"

Edward sat down and put his head in his hands. Jacob went over to him and said "I'm sure she'll be fine. You made a mistake, but that doesn't mean you aren't a great father. Christina loves you."

Bella stood up and said "I'm going to go check on Christina. Edward could you call the doctor please, I'm not mad at you. I just got a little over protective I'm sorry."

Edward sighed and said "You're right Bella; I get too obsessed with the fact she's part vampire. I do forget the fact that she's a human to. I thought I was wrong about the fever because of my hands being so cold. I'm sorry Bella."

Bella stood up and went upstairs to Jacob's room. Christina sat up on the bed and said "Mommy I don't feel well, why are daddy's hands so cold? They felt like ice mommy."

Bella sighed and said "Christina I know what daddy told you last night was a little scary. However you need to trust him. No matter what your daddy is he loves you very much."

Christina started to cry and said "Daddy is one of those monsters. I saw a lot of those monsters in my bad dreams."

Bella put a comforting arm around Christina and said "Does your daddy look like a monster?"

Christina sobbed harder into her hands. Edward and Jacob both came upstairs and said "Bella I called the doctor and he thinks she just has a bad cold. He said she needs to rest and shouldn't move around too much."

Bella sighed and said "Edward Christina is still very scared about what you told her tonight. I think you need to put her to bed tonight so she sees that you won't hurt her. Also if we're leaving in the morning we need to get some cold medicine for her. Jacob I hate to ask but could you please go get the medicine."

Jacob nodded and went to go pick up the cold medicine. Edward sat on the end of Christina's bed and said softly "Chrissie what are you so afraid of? I'm not going to hurt you. I might suck blood but I don't hurt people ever."

Christina sniffled and said "If you don't hurt people how do you feed?"

Edward smiled at Christina and said "I only go after animals. Does that make you feel better? I love you Christina and you mommy and I will never let anyone hurt you."

Christina smiled at Edward and asked "Why are your hands so cold daddy?"

Edward sighed and said "I haven't eaten yet today. Once I eat my hands will be a little less cold."

Christina said "Daddy promise me you'll never go after a cat or a dog."

Edward sighed and said "You have my word, a cat or a dog wouldn't fill me up any way. I've heard that their blood isn't as think and rich as that of a deer or a fox."

Christina coughed loudly and Edward took her hand. Bella stifled a cry with her hand and said "I know it hurts Christina. Uncle Jacob will be back shortly with your medicine."

Edward started to softly hum a lullaby to Christina. Bella closed her eyes. She knew that song, Edward had written and played it for her when they were dating. Christina burned with a high fever and both Bella and Edward we grateful that they had stopped to see Jacob before they left. Before Bella left the room she gave Christina her medicine for both her fever and her cough.

Christina protested "Mommy do I have to take this stuff? It smells awful daddy please tell me I don't have to take it."

Edward spoke firmly and said "Chrissie you have to take your medicine. You know vampires are about more then sucking blood and stuff. They have special powers at the good ones do. My power is I'm able to read minds."

Christina coughed and then asked "What am I thinking daddy?"

Bella smiled at Edward and nodded for him to continue with what he was doing. Edward gently said "You are thinking that you want to get better so you can play with Uncle Jacob. I'll let you in on a little secret you can only get better if you take your medicine."

Christina said "If you can read mommy's mind I'll take the medicine."

Edward and Bella exchanged worried glances and Bella whispered "Edward you can't read my mind."

Edward and said "She doesn't need to know that. Bella she's two and a half, it should be easy to pull one over on her. All you need to do is tell what you're thinking."

Bella said "I'm thinking that I want Christina to get better. Edward what are you thinking?"

Edward sighed and said "Not now Bella. All that matters to me is Christina's safety. First thing tomorrow we're leaving Forks and never coming back."

Bella stood up and said "We're not going anywhere as long as Christina still has a fever. Edward you're doing it again, you're forgetting that she's human to like me and can get sick and possibly die."

Edward noticed tears swimming in Bella's eyes and said "Waite for me downstairs ok. I'll get her to take her medicine and everything will be alright. I love you so much Bella."

Bella went downstairs to say a final goodbye to Jacob because she knew that Christina wouldn't have a fever in the morning. Jacob saw Bella's eyes about to overflow with tears and said "Don't cry Bella. I'm going to miss you so much when you leave. Come here I have a little gift for you before you leave to help you remember me."

Jacob handed Bella a braid of hair with beads on it attached to a necklace. Jacob fastened the cord around Bella's neck and said "When ever you miss me just hold it in your hand and I'll always be with you. I guess this is goodbye Bella, I'll never forget you or the times we've spent together.