AUTHORS NOTE – I am really, really sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I have been on holiday for three weeks and before that I was busy at work. Please forgive me.

Anyway back to the story and I promise you all that I will update more regularly now. I love how this story is progressing and am now completely determined to give it the time and attention it deserves. Enjoy.

Chapter 4 – Remember the Time

EPOV

On the second day Bella only moved when she needed the bathroom. On the third, fourth and fifth day there was still no change. On the sixth day she was so hungry that she had to sit up and make the effort to eat, even if all she could stomach was grapes.

It is now a full week since Bella lost Charlie and the fact that she still hasn't spoken a word worries me more than anything. My family, especially Alice and Carlisle keep telling me that she just needs time and that I have to stay strong for the both of us.

So that is what I did. Even though I could feel my dormant heart breaking at seeing Bella in such distress I knew that if she was going get through this then that meant me holding it together.

It is now the day before Chief Charlie Swan's funeral and I was dreading every moment of it. How would Bella cope? Could I even get her to go? And would the sadness of the occasion tip her over the edge?

There was one element of tomorrows events which I thought might help Bella through this unfaltering catatonic state she now seemed to be trapped in. Bella's mother Renee was arriving for the funeral in the morning and it was my job to arrange someone to pick her up from the airport. Had it been any other situation which brought her to this rainy town then I would be more than happy to collect her myself. But with Bella the way she was I couldn't bear leaving her side for longer than I had to.

I left Bella laying on the sofa staring at the blank TV a few feet away from her in the living room and made my way towards the kitchen. The scene I found as I walked heavily across the white matted tiles left me feeling ever more helpless than I already did.

"Oh, hi Edward," Jasper said when he saw my arrival.

"I'm sorry you have to feel all this Jazz. You know that if I could change it I would." I responded in a feeble attempt to apologize.

No matter what negative situation I or the people I love found ourselves in I always felt guilty, almost as if it was my fault, no matter what it was.

"It's not your fault Edward. The only person to blame for any of this is the person who pulled the trigger and killed Charlie." My favourite sister Alice snivelled as she wrapped her arms around Jasper, trying to console him in any way she could.

"I just feel like there is something I am missing, something I could do that I haven't done already." I objected.

"Edward, all you can do is hope." Jasper advised.

"What do you mean? What is there I can hope for? Bella won't talk, she won't eat unless I practically force feed her and when I look in her eyes there is nothing in them, she looks straight through me." I answered back, all my frustration and anxiety clearly bubbling to the surface.

"What Jasper means Edward is that you need to hope that all Bella needs is closure to start the healing process. 'Hopefully' the funeral tomorrow will be a turning point and we can all move on from everything that has happened." My sister confirmed.

What Alice had said to me sparked something within my brain. Maybe she was right. I had to believe that once tomorrow was over then Bella and I could get on with our 'lives' together.

I slowly made my way back into the living room and sat on the floor, directly in front of the television. I knew Bella wouldn't move, so she would have to gaze in my direction, even if she didn't want to.

"Bella, I know you are in there and I know you can hear me. Please try and listen to what I have to say."

These one sided conversations are one of the things I hated above everything else since we found ourselves in this situation. There was no sign of emotion on her face. I prayed for her to wake up from her internal slumber, then tell me that she loved me and that she was going to be alright. With the lack of progress I was having with Bella however I would have felt better even if she had screamed and sobbed. At least then I would know she was feeling something.

"Bella, remember the time when we fell in love and I said "so the lion fell in love with the lamb", well the lion loves the lamb more than ever and he will never leave her side. I know tomorrow will be one of the hardest days of your life and I promise we will get through it together. I love you."

Every single time I relayed these and similar words to Bella, it finished with me staring over her looking for any sign of change and never finding any.

Just as I was about to get to my feet and move to the armchair at the side of her I spotted something I never thought I would want to see. One solitary tear overflowed from Bella's eye and just the sight of it gave me the hope I had been looking for all week.

I kissed the tear away trying to convey to Bella silently that I would always be there for her and would forever be the one 'person' that would try to take away her unhappiness. I was elated. Even though she wasn't crying happy tears, she was letting me know with this one salty droplet what she was feeling and most of all letting me know she was listening.

It was now late evening and Bella still wouldn't eat. When Carlisle arrived back from the hospital he brought with him a nutrition booster. He injected this into Bella's arm to give her a much needed energy lift which she would need to function the next day. I needed some nutrition of my own and for vampires like me that meant only one thing, blood. My family knew full well that I wouldn't leave Bella, especially after today's developments which I had relayed to them. This meant that it was left to Rosalie and Emmett to catch and deliver.

Once I had my fill of deer that my siblings had killed and dragged back to the house for me to feed on I proceeded back inside. Then I decided to take Bella up to bed so she could get some rest before the dreadful day which would soon be looming on the horizon.

I had just settled Bella under the sheets when my mother Esme entered the room.

"Edward, Renee has just been on the phone saying that you were meant to ring her and let her know who was picking her up tomorrow."

"Oh no, I totally forgot. I promised Bella that I wouldn't leave her. Can someone else go possibly?" I asked.

"Son, I will go and get Renee myself, don't worry about it." Esme smiled.

"Thanks mum." I whispered trying not to disturb my silent beauty.

Just as I was about to turn away and settle on the bed next to Bella, Esme got onto her tip toes and lovingly wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"I have seen you be so strong this week and keep everyone sane. But Edward, I know you need someone to be strong for you as well and I am that person. I love the people in this house more than my own existence and it is my job to protect you."

Esme pulled away and placed her hands on either side of my face.

"Now listen son and promise me you will do as I ask. If ever you feel it getting too much for you then come to me and I will use every fibre of my being to make it better for you." My mother vowed.

"Promise me, Edward." She encouraged.

"I promise."

My mum tilted my head down and kissed the crease which had been etched in my forehead since that fateful phone call which sent my fiancée into hibernation. Then she gently pulled away and left, shutting the door behind her.

I turned to face my Bella lying completely motionless under the sheets, her eyes still blank and open.

As I settled on the bed preparing myself for yet another sleepless night I couldn't help but think about what Esme had said to me. Maybe I did need someone to help me through this, especially now when the silence was becoming unbearable. At this moment Esme was the right person for the job, but if I had my way it would be me and Bella helping and looking after each other.

The morning of the funeral was so hectic and emotional for everyone. Well everyone except Bella it seemed. Again she looked totally void of feeling as she woke up and it took Alice and Rosalie an hour just to get her up and dressed.

Esme was picking Renee up from the airport and because the plane was running late were going to meet us at the church.

Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett went to the church ahead of us to make sure everything was ready and to await the arrival of the hearse carrying Charlie's body.

Alice and Rosalie sat in the front of the funeral car (Alice driving) when we decided it was time to leave. I settled in the back with Bella.

Throughout the short but tense journey I rubbed her shoulders and stroked her hair. It was when we were getting closer and I pecked her cheek that I realized something was definitely going on inside of her. As my lips made contact with her porcelain skin I heard one of the best sounds in my universe. Bella's heart had starting racing at my touch. So, that must mean I did still have an effect on her.

When the car pulled up at the church I could hear the thoughts of the people already inside. These thoughts confirmed to me that Charlie's coffin was there and that Renee had arrived safely. Now all I had to do was get Bella inside and support her through the worst time of her life.

Rosalie and Alice went in first leaving myself and Bella outside. I kissed her on the forehead (there's the racing heart sound again), took her hand and began edging her towards the door.

Before I had time to take even a second step forward I stopped as I felt Bella squeeze my hand with all her might. First I looked down at our entwined fingers, shocked that Bella was finally beginning to come around. Then I looked up at her face, a face which now was soaking with tears. I lifted my free hand to wipe the fresh tears from her face when she looked at me. Bella was finally looking at me and not through as she had been for what seemed like forever.

I could instantly feel my silent and breaking heart fusing back together again, but it was what happened next that glued it all back into place.

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