Chapter 3: Edward Meets His Match

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

A/N: Alice on earth was not watching Bella carefully, as the 'thing' with the Volturi and Victoria hadn't occurred yet, that's when she started monitoring her at Edward's request. As for the double Edward, yes, he knew there was another of him, but thought he had left, since he, himself, had gone (on earth). As to why he was thinking that she was crying over him, he had a lapse in logic, due to his desperation to see her, forgetting there was a 9 month time difference.

This was not supposed to happen. Looking at his mirror image, Edward roared at him, "Why are you still here?"

"Whaaaat? Why are you here? Better yet, who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm Edward Cullen."

Eddie sneered. "That's impossible. I'm Edward Cullen."

"Well, it appears that I am too."

Bells who had cringed against the headboard, shuddered, and the dream catcher slid from her hand to the floor.

Picking the object up, he dangled it in front of her, and asked, "Bella, what is this thing you were holding?"

"It's a dream catcher." Her mouth dropped open. It probably occurred to her that he was not her Eddie. "Wait … how do you know my name?"

"How do I know your name? God's teeth, don't you remember, love?" He walked closer to the bed, the wood and beaded piece swaying between his fingers from its leather thong.

"Get away from her!" Eddie shouted, grabbing the artifact. He pushed his doppelganger aside, and replaced it on Bells' headboard.

Defiantly staring at the unwelcome intruder, Eddie announced, "I have no idea where you came from, and I don't believe who you say you are. Just leave, and go back to wherever it is, and I'll forget this ever happened."

The initial fright seemed to have evaporated from the girl though, and curiosity now reigned in its stead. How could this be? Her tongue loosened and out popped, "But, Eddie, aren't you curious about him. I mean … he looks exactly like you—the same eye color, hair, voice, everything. It's uncanny."

Edward couldn't imagine anyone referring to him as, Eddie. It was common … vulgar. "Eddie? She calls you, Eddie?"

The eyebrows on Eddie's face rose an inch. "Bells, you really want me to interrogate this arrogant … clone."

Edward's lips twisted in an ugly sneer. "I resent that statement. I am certainly not a clone."

"Hmnph … That remains to be seen."

"If I was, it would stand to reason that my remarks would be nearly as rude as yours."

Bells grabbed Eddie's hand, then canted her head at him, "Please …"

Eddie appeared to be a bit leery, but his belligerent posture relaxed somewhat.

"I'll sort this out with the imposter, but not in here. I won't have you more upset than you already are."

He glared at his double, then gesturing to the window, sarcastically offered, "After you … Edward."

They both landed lightly on the ground outside her room.

Edward was very irritated at this point. His talent for mind-reading had profited him nothing tonight. He couldn't pick up a single thought from Eddie's brain, drat it. He'd have to wait for verbal answers.

Eager to start the conversation, Eddie inquired, "Now, do you mind telling me who you really are, and why it is that you're here?"

"I told you already. It's the truth. I am Edward Cullen. I come from Earth. Our father built a machine that allows passage between our two worlds—parallel worlds—although not exactly as parallel, it appears."

"You mean, your father. Mine never did any such thing."

"Perhaps, not yet, but believe me, he will. The other scientists of Terros II will revere his name for all his inventions."

"How is that possible? Carlisle is a doctor, not an inventor."

With his forehead wrinkled in thought, Edward remarked, "A doctor. Oh … I suppose this world is more different than he expected."

Frowning, Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger in exasperation. "I'm trying so hard to read your thoughts, and still … nothing."

"I can't read yours either."

"Perhaps that's a good thing," Eddie muttered, as he averted his eyes. Then, looking straight into Edward's golden orbs, he said, "When you entered the room, you asked me why I was still here. What did you mean by that?"

"I mean, I've left my Bella behind. I cannot ensure her safety if she continues fraternizing with my family members, and so, I assumed you'd left as well."

"I did."

Edward extended his arm, with his palm facing up. "And yet, here you are, standing before me."

"I couldn't stay away from her, so I came back, or rather she brought me back."

"She brought you back."

Eddie shook his head. "There's not enough time to elaborate. Sufficient to say, I'll never leave her side again. The separation nearly killed us both."

"I think that's a very injudicious choice. I'm never returning home. I can't, even if I so wished it."

"Why not?"

"The device is gone. I no longer have it in my possession. Hopefully it's on the shelf in Carlisle's lab where it belongs. I dropped it outside the transfer tunnel, so I wouldn't be tempted to go back."

"What will you do? Where will you go?"

"I'll settle in Alaska. Is the Denali coven there?"

"Yes, it still exists."

"I'll take my leave then, but I think you're making a big mistake. Ultimately, it is your choice that matters.

"Tell Bella … I'm sorry, I meant to say, Bells … where did she pick up that idiotic nickname? He sighed. "Never mind. Just please tell my love that I didn't mean to scare her. I only wished …" He hesitated a beat, composing himself. "… To see her face one last time before going on."

"I'll tell her."

"One thing more; cherish that woman. I know how much she means to both of us."

Edward took a step back, and like a bolt of lightning streaked out of sight. He made up his mind to never look back or regret his decision.

# # # # #

This was not what Bella anticipated. The portal behind her closed, and there she was once again in the wooded area outside her home. Did Edward do this on purpose? Make her follow him round in a circle? If he thought he could shake her off his tail, he had another thing coming. Her sadness was lifting. She'd show him. Stubbornness was a virtue that she practiced on a consistent basis. Bella would convince him to stay. He didn't mean those things he said to her. That was only the guilt eating at him for the stupid mishap at the Cullens'.

Speaking of eating, it was dark, and Charlie would be home soon, tired and hungry. She'd better get crackin' and put some dinner on the table.

For the next few minutes Bella would forget about all that happened so far this day. The kitchen was a familiar place, and she lost herself in preparing a meal. When she opened the freezer though, she was surprised at how much meat there was wrapped in neat little packages. When did that get in there? Charlie knew she was a vegetarian. Maybe there was a big sale? Ah, well …

Charlie waltzed into the kitchen, and she had to stifle a laugh. "Hey, Dad."

He gazed behind, and all around himself. "What's so funny? Why are you looking at me like that? I realize how handsome I am, but really …"

"I'm just surprised, that's all."

"At what?"

"That furry caterpillar on your face is finally gone." He must've shaved it off this morning before heading to work. He looks weird without his mustache—practically naked. Eww! Scratch that thought.

He self-consciously touched the area above his lip. Confused, he asked, "Are you feeling all right?"

"I was feeling really down for awhile, but I'm better now." I'll feel more than better when I find Edward and persuade him not to leave … and I will, or name is not Bella Swan.

"Must be. I didn't get the joke though," he answered, unzipping his jacket. Slipping it off, he hung it on the peg near the door. "What was troubling you, kiddo?"

She sighed and leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Edward and I broke up."

A snicker escaped. "Is that all?" His gun belt was next to be placed on the adjoining peg.

"Da-aad!"

Charlie threw his arms up in surrender. "Hey … I'm just being honest here. Believe me when I say, there is something not right about that boy. What about the Newton kid? Why don't you give him a fair shake?"

Her eyes rolled round and round. "Ugh! No way. Don't even go there."

"Why not? Is he that popular, that you don't think you'd stand a chance? I happen to know he likes you."

"No-duh … I hadn't noticed."

He sat down in the nearest chair, and said, "Well, I don't see what the problem is. He seems nice enough, and comparatively … cute, I guess."

"Dad—the problem is, he follows me around like a bloodhound."

Springing off the chair, Charlie said, "He does what?" He reached for his jacket, muttering, "Maybe I should go over to his house right now, and straighten that kid out."

Bella grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. "I don't mean that literally. I mean … you know … he's harmless enough, but it's just that he makes such a pest of himself."

"Oh … all right then." He looked up at the clock. "How long 'til we eat?"

"Another twenty minutes or so. I'm going to go upstairs and take my shower while the chicken is roasting."

# # # # #

"He said what!"

"It's true; he claims to have come from another world like ours with a few discrepancies. He's all alone, veritably stranded here. He left his Bella and wondered why I hadn't left you as well."

"That's unbelievable. Did you confirm what he said?"

"You mean by reading his mind?"

Bells nodded enthusiastically. "That's exactly what I mean."

"I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried. It was very peculiar. His thoughts were shielded, just as yours are. He couldn't read mine either. I wonder if it's because it was like picking through my own brain." Eddie frowned, then added, "I don't even want to think about it anymore. It's mind boggling."

"I'll say. You know, there's something else I don't understand. Why didn't you notice his scent before he whisked into my room? You're always saying how sharp your sense of smell is."

"Because it's my own scent, Bells. "He's my exact duplicate."

"Oh … I guess that answers that question."

"Speaking of scents … do you smell something cooking?"

"Yes, chicken." The girl sat up suddenly alert. "Oh my gosh, it's late, and Charlie's home. He probably put it in the oven. I better go down and tell him that Jacob's all right."

"You also better check on the food."

Bells laughed. "Yeah, before he burns the house down."

Eddie put his hand to his ear. "You'll have to wait to speak to Charlie. I can hear the shower going."

"That's odd. Why would he be showering now? He usually does that in the morning."

Before Bells uttered another word, the noisy old rusty water tap shut off, and bare feet were padding toward her door.

# # # # #

As Bella sauntered toward the bathroom, she thought about her Edward. How she wished she could wring his neck, vampire or not. He was always making decisions for her. And he was once again trying to protect her—by leaving? For someone so smart, that had to be the dumbest decision on earth.

She turned on the shower head and was disrobing, when she felt the weight of the device in the pocket of her jeans. Pulling the eCod out of her pocket, she hid it under the sink where the towels were kept, then laying her dirty clothing on the commode, stepped into the stall.

With the showering done, she wrapped a towel around herself, and picked up her laundry. Walking into the bedroom, she stopped, startled, her dirty clothes dropping from her grasp. The girl blinked in amazement as she saw herself sitting on the bed with Eddie beside her. Bella swayed unsteadily; the lights went out, and two cold hands buoyed her up in an icy grip, preventing her from collapsing in a heap.