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BPOV
Edward was towing me through the corridors as I staggered blindly behind him. I think I was in shock but my brain was too sluggish for me to know for sure. My mother hated me; it was the only explanation for what had happened in her room…but why? What had I done? How could I make….
Suddenly a black blur tackled me and I went crashing to the ground dragging Edward with me. "OMG Bella! Are you ok? I mean I heard about what happened but Esme said I couldn't "bother" you or I couldn't go shopping for a whole WEEK. And I would have to come straight home again anyway, and that is just a waste of good shopping time and you weren't answering my texts and I was so worried" Alice paused to breath and was just about to launch in another tirade when a hand clamped over her mouth
"Don't you ever need to breathe" Edward demanded as he slowly removed his hand and somehow managed to stand up, righting both Alice and I in the process. She smiled impishly "sometimes" she allowed before rounding on me again and squeezing my middle in a crushing hug. "I'm so sorry Bells" she sounded sadder then I had thought possible for Alice.
"Alice! Let her go" Edwards voice cut across my reply, which was probably a got thing as I had no clue what to say. Hmmmm that seems to be happening a lot lately. Alice disentangled herself from me and linked our arms, "Come on then, lets get you home, you look awful" she told me kindly, completely ignoring Edward. "But that's ok, make up will fix it" she started to drag me towards the door. Ah hell no! I looked back at Edward who shrugged helplessly we both knew there was no stopping Alice. She tugged me out of the waiting room full of staring people, and down the hall. Edward trailing behind us.
I was in the mercy of natures most powerful force.
Alice.
EPOV
Under normal circumstances I would have been biting back a laugh at Bellas face as Alice prepared to torture her with Bella Barbie. But at the moment I was in no mood for laughing. Seriously.
To be honest the only reason I was letting Alice get away with this was because it would take Bellas mind of her parents. Both of them.
And Bella would need all the help she could get taking her mind of her parents. Because sometime in the next two weeks would be Charlie's funeral. My stomach twisted as I thought of what burying her father would do to my Bella.
1 WEEK LATER.
EPOV
Bellas hand tightened around mine as the priest droned on. "…Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…" I blocked him out I had no interest in hearing the words he was saying, they weren't personal to Charlie, they were the same words that were said at every funeral. And this wasn't any other funeral, not to me and certainly not to Bella.
I focused my attention on Bella and saw her struggling to hold back the tears that were threatening. I squeezed her hand back, silently lending her support. She glanced up and met my eyes quickly. Hypnotising, chocolate pools of sadness thanking me silently… drawing me in. and then they were gone as she focused them back on the coffin. I felt I slight pang and quickly squashed it, this was so not the time it wasn't even funny.
I heard Rosalie sniff behind me and felt Emmett move to comfort her. Jasper and Rosalie had come back early from their grandmothers when they had heard what had happened. Wanting to be there for Bella. I was grateful to them, I liked knowing that Bella had good friends to take care of her.
I realised that the priest had finally stopped talking and there was a moment of silence. The priest motioned to Bella and she stepped forward to accept the handful of dirt from him, breaking contact from me. She walked to the edge of the grave where Charlies coffin was being lowered into the ground.
She walked steadily head bowed. When the coffin had reached the bottom of the hole with a soft thud she stepped right to the edge and stared down into it for a moment. For a fleeting moment I imagined her throwing herself in after him, but I quickly banished it. She was too strong… too brave for that.
There was a moment of heavy silence. As Bella stood alone by the graveside. Then slowly she raised her hand over the pit and let the soil fall through her fingers. "Goodbye daddy" she whispered. Her voice cracking only slightly towards the end. The dirt fell on top of the shiny wood with a sound like heavy rain. It sounded final, like a string had been cut. The string that tied Charlie to the earth.
Bella stepped away from the edge and walked back towards me slipping her hand into mine again. She seemed stronger, more determined. And I felt a rush of pride for her.
Suddenly I realised that Jake wasn't going to the graveside for his turn. I looked around confused and saw him sitting as still as a stone staring at the ground with tears running down his face. Obviously he had no intentions of saying a goodbye.
Some men who worked in the graveyard started to fill in the grave. The shovels of dirt hit the coffin with a sickening thud. People stared to drift away in twos and threes, probably going for a drink to cheer themselves up.
My family and Rosalie and jasper each gave Bella a hug and whispered condolences. Before heading back to the house, telling me to bring Bella home later to eat. Emmett and Jasper supported Jake as they helped him from the graveyard.
It was only me and Bella left now. Standing alone in front of the freshly dug mound of earth that was covered with flowers. Bella would want to be alone. I gently squeezed her hand again. "I'll be in the car… when you're ready" I turned to go but she stopped me. "No, I want you to stay with me" her tone was sure. I nodded and waited, letting her decide when she wanted to move closer.
I didn't have to wait long. Together we moved forward to stand in the spot where the headstone would be. We stood in silence for a while. I looked at the grave and silently thanked Charlie for being a good friend and for giving me Bella. I'll take care of her for you, I swear. I promised him silently.
"He's really gone" Bellas voice broke into my thoughts. I had no idea what to say to her. Suddenly she looked at me and smiled tightly "You know what I realised when I was standing here looking down at his coffin?" I shook my head and smiled sadly back at her. "I realised that he would want me to be happy, he hated seeing me cry. So I'm done with it. No more crying over him, he wouldn't want me to. And I also realised that just because he's dead that doesn't mean he's gone. He's just here in a different way" I gave her a more genuine smile this time and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're right, Charlie would want you to be happy" I agreed. Another silence settled between us. "Do you think he's happy?" she asked suddenly, she sounded so vulnerable and I looked at her in surprise, she was watching me trustingly; confident I wouldn't lie to her.
I looked up towards the sky as I mused over my answer. Suddenly the clouds broke and a beam of warm sunlight hit my face, lighting up the graveyard. It seemed Charlie was answering for me. "Yeah Bells, I think he is" I whispered softly, so as not to break the spell. I turned my face back to her, and gasped inwardly.
The sun was shining on her, bringing out the red tint in her hair. Her face was lifted upwards towards the light and she was laughing silently, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She was beautiful, literally taking my breath away. God, I loved her.
She turned to face me and gave me the first proper smile I had seen on her face in ages. My heart ached for her. "I think he agrees with you" she told me, her voice a curios mixture of happiness and sadness. I smiled and scoffed at her playfully., more to take my mind of my heart then to cheer her up. "Of coarse he does, I'm always right!"
She laughed at me softly and linked her arm through mine, "okay, we can go now" she said throwing one last look towards the grave, and the sky.
A.N. I am sooo sorry for the delay, I hade this chapter ready days ago but my stupid internet wouldn't let me post. I hope you liked it. A thousand thanks to all who reviewed keep it up. You guys are my beta!
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~LittleMissBookworm