Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer, not me.
Author's Note: I hope you like the way things are going. I am really trying to stay true to the character's "voices" so please review and let me know what you think. Poor, tortured Edward returns, with bad timing, I might add.
Return
Alice called insistently. She had done this before, calling every half hour until he answered. He knew he could just throw the phone away but a small part of him continued to worry about his family. He had instructed Alice not to look for his future and he truly believed she would try not to. Therefore, this 24th call in 12 hours was probably something about the family. He finally acquiesced by putting the phone to his ear and pushing the button. He did not bother with a greeting, neither did Alice.
"Listen, I wasn't looking, I swear but sometimes it happens and I can't help it. I saw her, I saw Bella jump off a cliff. I don't have any idea what happened. Everything disappeared before she even hit the water. I'm going to Forks to find out what happened," Alice said in a rush.
"No, you're not. I'll go. I won't contact her like I know you would. I'll just check and see what's happening. I'm in Rio now, please arrange for a plane ticket, I don't have any credit cards with me. I'll be in touch." Edward's voice was hoarse from disuse but he was sure Alice could hear the finality. He would just go check. If Bella really was gone, he would call Alice once he reached Italy. It would be too late for her to stop him then. If Bella was ok, he would leave and allow her to continue on with her human life, uninterrupted.
As he reached the street, he received a text from Carlisle telling him that an airline ticket awaited him at the airport. He was grateful to have a family that cared so much for him even though he had abandoned them. He would have to visit soon, before he went to Italy.
On the long flight to Washington, he made plans. He swore to himself that if Bella was not dead, he would keep his distance. He had made a pact with himself to give her at least one year. He was halfway there. However, he couldn't deny the lightness that he felt at the prospect of seeing her again. He felt a strange lightness at the prospect of confirming her death as well. He knew that upon learning of her death, he would end his own existence. The idea of finally ending his current state of misery was calming. He did not allow himself to consider how his family would react. He had been a drain on them for long enough. It was almost a relief to feel something other than the all consuming pain he had experienced since his lies to Bella in the forest.
He ran the distance from Port Angeles to Forks in record time. Upon arriving at Bella's house, he found it deserted. He had run by the police station but Charlie was not there. He decided to wait at her house for the night. If Charlie did not return, he would track down one of Bella's friends, preferably Angela Weber, to get the information he sought. With some apprehension, Edward crouched beside a large tree just up the path from Charlie's house. He had an unobstructed view of the driveway and would easily hear any thoughts or spoken words in the vicinity.
He felt relief wash over him when he heard the rumble of Bella's ancient truck a few miles away. He was surprised to hear the thoughts of an adolescent male. He gathered from the thoughts that Bella was with this young man. He saw her through his eyes, looking too pale, too thin. She was curled up next to this boy. Edwards felt the pangs of jealousy despite his stated hopes for Bella to move on. The conflicting feelings of relief and jealousy kept him still as stone in the dark shadow of the tree.
The truck pulled into the driveway and Edward was annoyed to see this child driving that decrepit vehicle. Then he spotted Bella and his attention was momentarily distracted by the sight of her, alive and well right in front of him. The boy's thoughts intruded on Edward's revere. He said something about being glad Bella was ok and Edward had to relive the cliff jumping incident in this boy's mind. He felt a grudging kind of appreciation as he saw the child dive in and save her. How did he do that? He was only a teenaged boy. How did he manage to survive those waves and pull her out? How could one so young be so strong?
Edward's musings were interrupted by much louder thoughts coming from the truck. He realized, with both rage and revulsion, what was happening. Had she really moved on as he intended? Who was this child who was currently man-handling his Bella? Besides the typically lustful thoughts of a teenager, Edward heard questions. He attempted to focus on those. The boy was asking himself if Bella truly wanted him or was she just trying to fill the void that was in her life? Edward was not able to identify all of the emotions coursing through him. The rage was familiar, as was the pain that felt like he was burning. There was also guilt at what he had apparently put Bella through. He now recognized jealousy that another man was touching his Bella. There was fear, for the first time. Fear that he would spend the rest of his existence experiencing these unmanageable emotions. It did not seem like he would ever find relief. Certainly not sitting in this forest, watching this scene unfold in front of him.
When he believed that it could not possibly get worse, the door of the truck opened. His Bella was glued to this oversized child as they got out of the truck. A strange and unpleasant odor reached Edward and he realized things had gotten much much worse. His perfect recall told him that this boy, who was currently pressed up against the love of his existence, was a werewolf. The scent was not one of the distinct ones that he remembered, but a descendent. A Black by the look of him. Edward heard the exclamation in the boy's head when he caught Edward's scent. He recognized it as the vampire smell that was a fixture in Bella's room. What was this hormonal adolescent doing in Bella's room? The boy knew Edward was nearby and did not react. Edward felt stabbing pains where his heart used to be when Bella explained that she could never be whole. He knew that the boy's smirk was not meant for her. He realized that Edward was close and chose that moment to kiss her again. The rage that surged through Edward was barely contained. Only by repeating his belief to himself that Bella was better off did he manage to stay by that tree. He wanted to leave. He wanted to rip this man-child to shreds. He cold not stand this display any longer, but his feet would not move.
For reasons he could not identify, except his own need to continue to punish himself for hurting Bella, he stayed. He attempted to drown out the sounds and thoughts coming from Bella's bedroom by humming. He was unsuccessful. After what seemed like an impossibly long time, they began talking again. He smirked at Bella's comment that Charlie wouldn't mind finding Jacob there. That was probably true. All humor left him when he heard Jacob's thoughts at the mention of Sam. He saw glimpses of the wolf pack chasing a redheaded vampire. Someone he knew. Despite all he had attempted to do, all they had both endured, Victoria was back and she was hunting Bella. Edward did the only rational thing that came to his mind. He took out his phone and called Carlisle.
"I need you here, now," he said shortly. True to form, Carlisle asked no questions.
"Meet us at the house at dawn."
