Looky here, another chapter! I know I said I wasn't posting anymore yet, but... I'm enjoying the love, so I thought I'd spread it. Happy reading :)

Chapter 3

Edward sat in the back of Carlisle's car, Bella on his lap. He was grateful to the tinted windows, but with Charlie driving closely behind them, it wasn't like they were about to get pulled over anyway. She'd refused to let him go long enough to get changed, so he'd wrapped a blanket around her and carried her out, ignoring the raised eyebrow of the doctor as he did so.

She was wearing her pyjama's, and for the time being at least, if that was how she was comfortable, then there should be no problem with her keeping them on.

Hopefully, she'd allow Esme or Alice to help her when the time came for her to shower and change. Edward wasn't comfortable at all with the idea of leaving her to her own devices, her words in the hospital had put the fear of god in him with regards to her lack of value in her own life.

"I've called Esme and asked her to get the others to leave for a few hours while you get Bella settled in your room," Carlisle said quietly. "I don't believe having them bombard her with greetings and apologies as soon as we return home is a good idea."

Edward nodded gratefully. "Thank you. Carlisle… can I help her? Will she get better?"

"You're already helping her, son," Carlisle assured him. "Keep spending time with her, and when she's ready, talk to her. Tell her that you realised your mistake, that you won't make it again. I have every faith that Bella will be fine with time."

Edward nodded, his hand moving through Bella's hair. She shifted slightly, pushing her face harder against his chest. She'd fallen back to sleep sometime during the journey, and he hoped it was because she felt safe cradled in his arms as she was.

Esme was waiting impatiently on the porch when Carlisle finally pulled the car to a stop. Charlie pulled in behind them, and opened the door for Edward to climb out, Bella still secure in his arms.

"I'll come by tomorrow when I finish work," he said, bending a little to kiss Bella's temple. "If she wants to speak to me, my phone will be on all night, and I'll keep it with me tomorrow."

Edward nodded. "Thank you, Charlie. For letting me see her."

Charlie clasped his shoulder briefly. "Thank you for bringing my daughter back. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, are you letting people know you're back or not?"

"We'll have to let Billy Black know, as it's part of the treaty. Otherwise, I think we should keep it on a need to know basis until Bella is feeling better," Carlisle said as he got out of the car.

"That'll be the treaty that stops you hunting… humans, right?"

"It isn't the treaty that stops us drinking from human beings, Charlie, rather it's our consciences. We wouldn't kill somebody, simply for the sake of sustaining ourselves. No, the treaty was made so that we and the wolves could live side by side with as little strife as possible," Carlisle explained.

"Ah. Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Carlisle nodded. "Of course. You're welcome anytime, like we said. Have a good evening, Charlie."

"You too."

Edward headed into the house, offering Esme a small smile as he passed her. Taking Bella into his bedroom, he sat down on the wide couch, laying her down beside him. He tucked the blanket around her, and put his jumper under her head as a pillow.

"Here's her bag, son," Esme said, walking into the room.

Edward took it, opening it up and speedily putting her clothes into the wardrobe beside his own, smiling at the sight.

"We're going to have to order a bed," he said, glancing back at his girl. "She can't keep sleeping on the sofa."

"Already got it covered, Son. A king size bed will be delivered first thing in the morning," Esme assured him.

"I hurt everyone by making us leave, didn't I?" he murmured, shaking his head. He'd never before realised just how selfish his actions had been. He'd not only allowed Bella to form an attachment to him, but there were strong bonds between her and his family as well.

"We all understood the logic behind your decision, Edward, no matter how much it hurt. I will warn you though, there has been talk of tying you up and locking you in the basement if you ever try and leave her again."

Edward snorted. "Right, like I'm stupid enough to ever leave her again. Esme… I didn't think I could love her more, but when I saw her in that hospital bed… her scent doesn't even bother me now. Or, it does, but not in the way it once did. It's more… comforting now, than tempting."

"You'll probably be better discussing that with Carlisle, but if I may offer an opinion?" She asked, continuing when he nodded. "When we were here before, you always held part of yourself back from Bella. Now… I think you've completely accepted the mating bond between you. The way you now describe her scent as comforting… Carlisle's scent is comforting to me, and I've heard Alice say the same thing about Jasper."

Nodding thoughtfully, Edward looked back at Bella.

"Even as ill as she is, she's still so beautiful," he sighed. "I just want her to be happy again."

"And she will be. Now that you're with her, she'll be fine, Edward. I told you, have a little faith in both yourself and her."

Bella stirred on the sofa, her fingers clutching at Edward's jumper as her eyes fluttered open. He saw her panic for a second when she realised she was alone, before he was beside her, stroking her cheek.

"I'm still here, baby. I was just putting your clothes in our wardrobe."

Bella stared at him for a moment. It was like she was trying to memorise every last millimetre of his face. She sat up slowly, clutching his jumper to her chest.

"You shouldn't have brought me here, Edward," she whispered, her legs pulling up to her chest. "You should have left me in the hospital."

Moving slowly, Edward moved to sit down beside her.

"Don't you want to be here, Bella?"

"I don't want to be a bother, Edward. I'll be a bother here. I cause you all pain."

"You don't cause any of us pain, Bella. The only thing that caused any of the family pain was being separated from you. None of them wanted to leave you, sweetheart. It was all my fault."

She shook her head. "I don't need your pity, Edward. You shouldn't have come back. I don't want you here to wait me out until I die. Why didn't you just let me be? I was nearly there! Edward, I was nearly safe, and you brought me away!"

She was getting hysterical, and he heard rather than saw Esme flit from the room to find Carlisle.

"Bella, listen to me please," he begged, as she tugged on her hair. He wrapped his hand around hers so she couldn't hurt herself any further. "I love you. I left to keep you safe, but I was wrong, okay? I was wrong, because all I did was hurt us both. I love you, baby, I love you."

She was sobbing as she shook her head. "No, no, lies… you're lying, Edward. You told me, you told me, you don't love me anymore. You told me, Edward. You did. You told me. And I didn't listen because you told me to stay safe for Charlie, but I didn't listen Edward. I can't, and everybody thinks I'm pathetic for being brokenhearted, Edward but I'm not, you see, I'm not. I'm not brokenhearted, because it's not there anymore, Edward, because you took it with you, see, so they're all wrong."

She was rambling and no matter how hard he tried to calm her, he couldn't. She was getting more and more worked up.

"What happened, Son?" Carlisle asked as he entered the room.

"I don't honestly know," Edward replied, watching Bella worriedly. She was rocking in place now. The remnants of the tears on her face seemed to glitter as she rocked back and forth, muttering the same rambling nonsense over and over.

Carlisle crouched down so he was directly in her eye line, but she continued moving as though she couldn't see him.

"Bella? Bella, can you hear me, sweetheart?"

She didn't reply, seemingly in her own world. Edward stroked her arm, hoping to garner some response. She flinched away from his touch, but the rocking slowed until she was still, his jumper clutched close to her chest once more.

"Bella?" Carlisle asked, and this time she looked at him. "Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?"

She shook her head. "Too hot. Always too hot."

"Okay, anything else?"

"Feel… funny," she whispered. "Pulling feeling in my chest. Restrictive. Hurts sometimes."

"How long has that been happening, sweetheart?"

She looked at Edward but didn't reply.

"Since I left?" he guessed, and she nodded her head.

Carlisle sighed, but nodded. "We believe that you are Edward's mate, Bella. The pulling in your chest, and your extreme suffering with his absence has been caused by your separation. Do you feel better when Edward is in contact with you?"

She nodded again, although Edward noticed that she seemed to shy away from him with her admittance.

"Baby, it's not just you," he assured her. "It affects me too."

"You… you look fine," she whispered, and while she blushed, he could hear a small accusation in her words.

"Looks can be deceiving," he replied quietly. "I've been a mess since we left you, Bella."

"You don't have to lie to me, Edward," she sighed. "Really, I don't want you to be here just because I can't get a grip. I'll…"

"You'll what, sweetheart?" Carlisle asked, bringing her attention to him.

"I don't want to be a charity case," she choked out.

"You'll never be a charity case, Bella," Carlisle asserted, frowning slightly. "Have I ever lied to you?"

She shook her head slowly. "Not that I know of."

"When we left, Edward believed it was for your safety. After Jasper got overloaded with his own bloodlust and that of the others, Edward was terrified of what else could happen. From the day we arrived at the new house, he saw on the floor of the attic, and stared at your picture. We had to force him to hunt once a fortnight, but other than that he didn't move. He only changed his clothes when he couldn't take the separation anymore and he decided to return to you. Bella… the mating bond goes both ways."

They gave her a few minutes to take Carlisle's words in, and she turned to Edward. "You won't leave again?"

"Never."

"Promise?"

"I promise, baby. I'm far too selfish to believe I could ever be without you again," he whispered, holding out his arms for her.

She crawled into his waiting arms, settling herself into his embrace.

"You're home for me," he murmured into her hair. "I will never be able to voice how much I missed you. I could never leave you now."

"I love you."

The words were quiet but clear, and Edward felt like his insides were about to burst open with happiness.

Carlisle smiled at the two of them.

"You should enjoy the peace and quiet for a little while. The others will be home soon and they're all looking forward to seeing you, Bella."