A/N: Oh, wow! Thanks so much for everyone who reviewed!! They all made me smile, and I especially loved the ones who gave me some insight of what you want of the story.
Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews!
I'm going to start this chapter off with an attempt at Carlisle's POV....let me know how I do? There's a reason I chose him, but I'm not too sure how I did lol. So please bare with me!
Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, still own nothing.
Strong Support
Chapter Three
CPOV
Taking one look at my sorrowful wife was all the incentive I needed to want to go find Edward and bring him back home. "Honey-" I started to say in an attempt to cheer her up, although not quite sure what I had even planned on saying. It'll be okay? He'll work things out? Just hang in there? None of these quite seemed right, they're too far too overdone.
"I know it's irrational," she walked into my open, awaiting arms which wasted no time in closing in on her tenderly. "I'm just so angry with Edward right now...but all I want is for my baby to come back home," her voice cracked and I had a feeling that if she could cry, she would be weeping right now.
"I know, I know," I murmured over and over again into her hair in an attempt to calm her down. "But it's probably for the best that he's not- for the time being anyway," I added quickly at the look on her face just then.
She didn't so much as pull away from me, but she went a little rigid though. "What?" She asked in a tone that had a mixture of both hoarseness and hurt in it.
"We're all angry with him," I tried to reason. At this, she reluctantly nodded her agreement. "Do you really think he should come home to an angry, over protective family?"
She signed and let her head fall onto my shoulder, as if exhausted. "I guess you're right."
We stayed in this position, which was loving but awkward since I had no clue what to say. I was thankful when she finally broke the silence.
"But he's still my son, and I want to see him..." Her words made my frozen heart skip a nonexistent beat in my chest.
Not knowing how to respond, I made a horrible attempt to change the subject a little. "Do you know where he is?"
"No," she sounded miserable, proving that this was not a very smart thing to ask her. But then her voice took a more hopeful tone. "I think Rose might, though."
This surprised me. How on earth would she know? I'm quite honestly surprised she'd even so much as think to ask. "Why do you think that?"
"She followed him when he went upstairs to grab a few things," she explained. "Of course I thought he was just going up to his room to sulk...." she trailed off before regaining her trail of thought. "Where he was headed to may have come up?"
She sounded hopeful, and I have a strange feeling that no matter what I, or anyone else would say, she already has her mind made up. "Maybe," I agreed with a smile when I saw her face light up at my simple answer. At least I was able to help her a little.
Alice chose to dance into the room just then.
"Hi, honey," Esme greeted her, although sounding slightly distracted.
"Emmett is going to stay with her," Alice announced happily in response to the unasked question.
Esme smiled and a little flash of relief crossed her face, but I could tell she was not fully concentrated on this conversation. "That's great, sweetie." she replied but she sounded faraway. "I'm gonna go talk to Rosie," she declared before leaving the room.
"What was that all about?" Alice asked once Esme was out of the room, although she would be able to hear no matter where in the house she may be. If she didn't have her mind set elsewhere, that is. "I could practically see the gears turning around in her head."
"You don't already know?" I couldn't successfully hide my surprise from my voice.
She simply shook her head, "I'm all focused on Bella," she explained.
"Oh. Well, Esme is probably going to ask Rosalie where Edward went off to."
This news seemed to disappoint her a little, for whatever reason. "She's bringing him home?" Her tone proved me to be correct, she was definitely not looking forward to her brother's return home.
I shook my head, "I think she knows that would be a bad idea."
Her whole body seemed to practically scream relief. "Then why does she want to know, then?"
"I don't actually know," I said as she moved toward the refrigerator. "I think so that he can be brought back home when everyone calms down a bit. I'm not sure though," I admitted.
"We don't want him back here!" she exclaimed, turning around with the fridge door still open.
Well I don't know if I'm right," I said, neglecting to mention the calm down factor of my guess could take a while.
"I hope you're not," she said as she grabbed a bottle of water. "What else could it be though?"
"She could just want to be sure he's okay," I offered.
Her expression turned thoughtful before she nodded her agreement. "That could be it," she complied. "She wants to make sure her son it safe," it sounded as though she were trying to convince herself.
"What's the water for, anyway?" I asked as she reopened the fridge to shuffle though its contents again. "New diet?"
Although I was expecting some sort of weird retort- anything to know my formerly happy daughter was still present- I got nothing. "It's for Bella. I want her to have something in her stomach." Then her look became one of indecision. "I don't think she'll eat anything, do you?"
"No," I confirmed. "It would be a good idea if she did, but I don't think she'll be up to it. I'm not sure she'll drink either," I said, eying the water bottle which was held in between her ice cubed hands.
"It's just water," she protested. "No harm in trying, right?"
I nodded, "right," I agreed despite knowing Bella had no intention of drinking.
That was my CPOV....Please, be brutal!
APOV
I rushed back to Bella's side as quickly as I possibly could. "How's she doing?" I gasped out between unnecessary breaths as soon as I stepped foot into the room.
He sighed as he repositioned Bella on his lap. "She's fast asleep," came his frustrated response.
"But isn't that a good thing, though?" I asked, completely startled – which doesn't happen very often if you're a psychic. "I mean, she's not hurting right now."
He shook his head, "her sleep is far from peaceful," as if to emphasize his words she let out a muffled whimper against his shoulder. "She keeps tossing and turning, too," he said after her whimper sank into the room. He paused, "she was sleep talking a little before, but it was way too muffled to understand."
He moved some hair out of her face and I noticed that he was indeed right. She must be working up a sweat, since her hair is sticking to her face.
I smiled a little at the tender side of Emmett. Nobody outside of this family would ever know it, but underneath his huge exterior is a sweetheart. "Try coaxing her to drink this when she wakes up?" I asked, gesturing to the bottle of water.
He nodded in response as I set the bottle down on the nightstand. I was about to leave, but instead I took another look at the broken girl I've come to love.
"I hope she cheers up soon," came the voice of Emmett, mimicking my thoughts exactly.
"So do I....I miss my sister," I sat down next to him and took Bella's hand in mine, intertwining out fingers together.
"We all do," he placed his hand on top of our intertwined ones. "We all do," he repeated in a whisper so soft that even I had a hard time hearing it.
"I'm going to go find Jasper," I said after a moment of silence. "See how he's doing with all of these crazy emotions running around."
He nodded as I freed my hand and stood up. "That's probably a good idea," he said barely glancing up from the sleeping form in his arms.
As I made my way to the door, I saw him reclaim her hand out of the corner of my eye.
As I was too busy concentrating on if I could tell when Bella would be back to her normal self again, I almost ran right smack into Esme. "I'm sorry!" I apologized quickly, taking a few steps back.
"It's not your fault, dear," although she said the words kindly-as to be expected from her- I could tell that she was a little angry.
"What's wrong?" I asked, knowing that me almost walking into her couldn't be why she was angry. Esme almost never gets angry, and I know it wasn't about to happen because of an accident that hadn't even taken place.
"Mom?" I asked, knowing she likes it when we call her that. As if to prove just that, her eyes gleamed with a certain bit of pride. "What's wrong?" I asked again after a while when I saw that she was lost in her own train of thoughts. "Didn't Rosalie know where Edward went?"
She nodded sulkily," oh, she knows alright."
"Then what's the matter?" I asked, surprised. "I thought I'd see you exceptionally happy if it turns out she knew."
"Or so you thought," she sighed. "Your sister refused to tell me, though."
I couldn't help but notice that she didn't relate herself to Rosalie. "Why not?" I demanded, nobody even ever so much as thought about saying no to Esme before.
She just shook her head as if she were ashamed. Of what, I can't imagine. "She thought that if I knew we'd all go after him." She had to pause for a moment, and I took that opportunity to put my arm around her in a form of support. Inhumanly strong or not, she looked as if her knees were about to give out from underneath her.
She gratefully leaned against my arm before saying anything else. "I just want to make sure that my baby boy is safe." She pulled me into a hug just then, as if she were afraid that I might leave her too.
"Why is she still defending him?" I asked once she let go of me, despite looking as though she was tempted to give me another hug.
"She believes he's doing the right thing," she explained, stating what I already know. Even though I already know the answer though doesn't make me agree with it any more.
I shook my head in disbelief. "How?" I demanded. How can she possibly think that?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I really just don't know."
"She saw the state Bella was in," I persisted, despite having gotten no argument in the slightest from her.
"I know," she said. "I love Rose, but I think she may be a little too focused on preserving Bella's humanity while we can."
Think? A little? Those questions came to mind but I decided against voicing them, since I shouldn't be surprised Esme was already seemingly taking back what she said about Rosalie in the first place. She can never stay angry at her children for long.
"Rose will eventually realize that Bella's humanity is her decision, though," she pondered thoughtfully. Although I didn't really think so, I didn't argue with her reasoning on the subject.
"Do you really think she'll still want to become one of us?" I asked hesitantly, not knowing if this was the best time to ask. Sure I want Bella in this family, for the rest of eternity, but I can't force her to.
"I hope so," Esme said with a sad smile. "No reason I have to lose two children because of this."
"Let's hope you're right," I agreed before heading off to find my husband and check on him.
A/N: I'm sorry about the wait, and thanks again for all of the wonderful reviews! I love hearing what you guys think!
I know it hasn't been a lot of Bella and Emmett, but it would get a bit boring since Bella's still a little zombie right now. So, here's the background on what's happening with the rest of the beloved family.
I promise to do some BPOV and EmPOV's soon!
Please be honest, how was this chapter?
Parts you hated? Parts you loved?
Let me know!
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