Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for the wait. I got pretty sick the past week and I had college prep to do and it was exhausting, but here it is! This chapter is definitely leading towards something, so maybe take it as a hint! I'm so excited and I hope I can keep this story up with school starting soon!
Also, thank you all for the helpful input. I know that sometimes my writing comes out like a first draft, but I promise that I'll go back and edit what I can. But like I've said before, I do not take your opinions offensively or in a bad way whatsoever. It's incredibly helpful and I am glad you care enough about the story to speak up about it!
So here it is! Please leave reviews! And any other suggestions! Thank you so much!
Lots of Love
-A
Bella's Point of View
"Edward Anthony Cullen, if you do not sit your little ass down, I will kick you so hard that you will not be able to get back into this region until Bella and Ellie are all the way in Forks!" Alice's voice was loud as I was packing up all of Ellie's stuff. She was still asleep as I gathered our belongings up and began to get ready to go.
"I'm asking completely valid questions, why are you cutting my head off?" His voice was low as to not disturb Ellie, unlike Alice
"Oh, let's see," Alice put one hand on her hip and if anyone knew Alice, we all knew he was about to get it, "You've been whining like a teenage boy for the last four hours while we started preparing for the visit. You purposefully woke Bella up early to make sure she was still okay with the idea all together. You've been asking me a million questions every hour and if I keep looking at the future just so you can see it for yourself, I will literally kick you in your pretty little face. So, shut the trap and help us get ready."
I coughed back a laugh and felt Edward's instant glare on the back of my head. It was seven in the morning and Ellie wouldn't be waking up for another hour. I glanced towards them to see a glare down going back and forth between them. In my head, I knew that Alice would win because she always did, which was why I was once again grateful for Edward's lack of power to see into my brain.
"Is it wrong for me to be a little worried about the details?" Edward asked through snapped shut teeth and I sat down on the couch, Esme soon accompanying me. She wrapped an arm around me and I settled down into her shoulder, feeling completely immersed in comfort.
"No. It's not wrong. But asking questions every seven seconds about something that we can't know for sure is. I don't know every detail and you know as well as I do that futures change. Hell, I saw Bella as a nineteen year old vampire and I saw you running back to her and I saw how a million different scenarios would work out but nope. None of them have happened because we change our minds like psychos! Okay? I'm doing my best just like everyone else. Could you just shut your damn mouth and go hang out with your girlfriend for a couple of minutes before Ellie wakes up and we have to all start saying our goodbyes?" By the time she was done, Edward was already nodding his head and looking at the floor. I felt bad for him. I knew exactly how he was feeling because I was feeling the exact same way. I didn't want to leave his side for any length of time, but this was what we had to do.
I got up and headed into our room, grabbing some of the stuff I would need. I had decided to take back a few things since I had grabbed them in a hurried frenzy all those weeks ago. There were some other clothing that I could bring. I went to grab a tshirt that hardly even classified as a shirt because I had worn it to rags and paused to look down at it. Despite all the years I'd had this, I knew the first night Edward snuck through my window that I had been wearing this shirt. I couldn't help the small smile that formed on my lips as I remembered those hushed nights.
We had been so young and so lost in each other that we never thought ahead. Well, Edward seemed to. However, I was lost in the moments. I craved his presence for every moment and the thought of not being with him nearly killed me. His whole being was like a light to my ever needing self and without him I didn't even feel whole. Now, it seemed so silly that I never thought I could face life without him, but it didn't seem silly about how bad I truly wanted him. I loved him then and now.
"I remember that," I heard Edward say behind me and I sent a smile over my shoulder.
"Yeah, me too," I set the shirt down on the bed and sat down, rubbing the sleep that was still clinging to my eyes with the back of my hand.
He sat down next to me and took my hand, "Time didn't seem to go all that fast for ten years, but now it's flying. I've been trying to soak up each minute, but it's like it's never enough."
"It'll never be enough," I chuckled, running a hand through my hair while the other one held onto his tightly.
"And that would be the seventeen year old Bella talking," Edward chuckled, "But I agree."
I laid my head back onto the bed and stretched my arms above my head. He mimicked my movements quickly and I smiled at how simple it was, "I don't know how Charlie is going to take us having stayed here so long. You know, he kind of had to hate you for a while and he's a stubborn man. You may have to do some pining and wooing to get him back on your side."
"I'm in," Just the thought of it made me laugh out loud and he shook his head, "I mean, I'm sure that he will try to kill me but then he'll simply think that I'm wearing a bulletproof vest and think I was very prepared. I'll win him over eventually."
I glanced over at him, seeing how much ten years made him grow, "What happened to the guy who could never be enough? The one who always thought that Hell was the only option for him?"
"Well, I'm still uncertain about the whole Hell versus Heaven, but I realized that self-loathing takes a lot of time away from things that make my life seem actually pretty wonderful. Plus, I don't want Ellie or you to think that hating yourself is a good thing. Teach by example?"
"Are you insinuating that you're teaching me things?"
"Well, you know, I was always very persuasive when it came to you,"
"Whatever. I could be just as persuasive. If I had tried," He snorted and pulled me around and I gently sat across his stomach. I smiled down at him and gently rested my hands on his chest. He gently reached up to hold my hips.
"I guess...you could've," his eyes were darker slightly as they looked up at me and goosebumps gently covered my skin.
"But you were still so scared to hurt me or scare me away. It seems like so long ago, but I can hardly imagine going back to Forks now. Everything the last ten years...and Seattle...I just don't feel like any of it is real. This doesn't even seem all that real if I think about it too much." I sighed.
"I know. And I'm still planning to sneak away at some point and try to get to you even if it means Alice chasing after me with a tree branch," he chuckled and I softly smiled at him, "I don't see it as such a big deal. If we tell them about you, it should just be known that I can't leave you for long periods of times. It's not in my nature."
"No. No, you have to stay. It's the right thing to do and the last thing we need is a group of vampires having it out for us and my father being angry with us. We just need to be two adults and deal with this the way we should...even if we are two teenagers on the inside." I pointed as his chest to make a point.
Edward pouted up at me and I nearly fell over, "Fine."
I smiled down at him and took his hand into mine, "Besides, we have a lot more time than we have ever had before so...it'll all be okay. Plus, if Alice killed you, I'd just have to kill her. It would be a mess."
"Oh, I'd love to see that one," he sat up smiling, gently pushing me off him and we scooted off the bed. Unfortunately, it was nearing the time for us to focus and get ready for our own individual weekend plans. I walked towards Ellie's room, smiling at the sight of her small body curled around her small turtle. I gently sat on the edge of the bed and began twirling my fingers through her short hairs.
"Baby, we have to get ready to go see Grandpa Charlie today," she wiggled and gently wrapped her arms around my waist and groaned.
"But Mommy, I'm comfy," she whispered and I wished I could just let her sleep and we could all go about life normally for the day, but I knew better.
"I know, but you can take a nap while we drive to Forks. It's going to be a rather long drive," she began to move her eyes a little and nod as I pulled her from her warm bed and went downstairs. From there, we were all rushing around. Esme and Rose were both feeding Ellie while I went over the daily routine of medication with Carlisle and finished packing. Jasper and Emmett were pacing around, obviously nervous about the next few days. Jasper was speaking in hushed voices to Alice, but she sent me a reassuring glance every now and again to keep me from worrying. Edward stayed near Ellie, struggling with the separation as much as I was.
Once Ellie was dressed and we prepared the car for the long travel, I ran around to finish packing some of my things. I heard them all playing with Ellie in the family room and I took my moment to reach into Edward's closet and pull out one of his plain gray tshirts and slipped it into my bag. I felt childish for having to sneak it, but I shrugged and finished packing up the rest of my stuff.
I brought my bag down and as I turned the corner, I could see all of the family around Ellie. There was a layer of sadness around the house that I hadn't ever felt before and I knew it was because we didn't want to risk her being far away and for all of us to be separated. Ellie looked over at me and I felt heavy when I saw her eyes looking so sad. I smiled wide at her and waited for her eyes to slightly brighten.
I gently took her hand into mine and sighed, "Ready to get going?"
She sighed, "Yeah."
The whole family followed us out to the car and went to say our goodbyes. Esme and Carlisle quickly gave Ellie a kiss before backing away and giving me a small kiss on the forehead. The rest gave Ellie hugs, Emmett swinging her around and giving her a big kiss. I smiled as Ellie giggled and then ran quickly into Rose's arms. Alice and Jasper had their moment, quickly giving her kisses and telling her that she would be seeing them soon.
Then Edward gently leaned down and took her into his arms. She grabbed right onto him and they remained locked together for a long moment, Edward's eyes were closed tightly and Ellie had her face tightly nuzzled into his neck. Without even realizing it, the two of them had created a relationship that seemed unbreakable. I sighed and watched as he let her go to help her into the car.
"Edward?" She called right before he was about to close the door and I quickly listened in.
"Yes?" He leaned back into the car to get closer to her.
"I'll see you again, right?" She asked and I smiled because I knew it was a yes.
"Of course. In just a few days, you guys can come back to us and we'll all be together," he smiled at her.
Her response caused my heart to fall and break while simultaneously being permanently put together, "I love you, Edward."
"I love you too, Ellie," he reached in to give her a kiss before closing the door and gently turning to me. My belly filled up with butterflies and I suddenly wanted to tell the Denali's to quit ruining everything and stay exactly where I was. However, I heard my father's voice and the onslaught of questions that were surely heading my way and the thought left my mind.
Edward gently pulled me towards him and I smiled, "I think we're being very dramatic over this entire parting. It's only a few days and we'll all be back tog-" I was caught off by his lips smashing over mine and I almost fell back with the force of it. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt him smile against my lips.
"I know," he said once he pulled away and I gasped in a breath, "But I want you to know that we'll be back together. And this is not like the last time. It'll never be like that again. I promise."
I looked up into his perfect eyes and I felt a conviction well up into me and I nodded, "I know. I'll tell Charlie you said hello."
He shook his head and chuckled, "Oh, he'll love that." He kissed my forehead and helped me into the car before closing the door softly as I rolled down the window.
"Tell the Denali's I said hello," I smiled at all of them and opened Ellie's window so she could wave at them.
"Just go so you can come back home," Edward moved away from the car to stand with his family and I longed to be next to them.
I whispered softly, just loud enough that I knew they could hear as I drove out of the driveway, "I'll be home soon."
I took the exit into Forks and felt the fatigue of the entire drive set in as I turned off of the highway. In the back of the car were soft snores from Ellie who had passed out right after we got out of the driveway. I kept imagining what questions would be coming out of Charlie's mouth and how I could explain how simple and easy it was to give into something like this. They had made promises and they were good people who genuinely cared about my daughter.
I couldn't help the amount of dread and worry that were now forming a bitter ball in the back of my throat as I followed the roads that I knew all too well. Forks hadn't changed much in all the years since we had lived here ten years ago; it never really did. It was a place of simplicity and routine. If you didn't want to live in a place like this, you never could. It was made for a certain type of person, someone like Charlie, who could live in the same day a million times and never grow tired. Sometimes I wondered how he even put up with me, who added so much chaos without ever really causing any damage.
I remembered the first time that I came here and felt the rain somehow clouding around me and cloaking my life. I felt like it was surely a challenge that I would struggle through and then quickly leave once graduation was over, but looking back at how easily it was to stay and fall in love with things; I knew that I had never been able to leave. From the first time Edward walked into the cafeteria and we became biology partners, I was done for. And Charlie had to deal with a hormonal, completely in love with her boyfriend daughter to someone who was struggling to even get up in the morning without that boyfriend to a women who decided to have a child and now, finally, for the women who ended up with the boyfriend and the child. The thought made my head hurt.
I pulled into the driveway, noticing how his police car was sitting nicely in the driveway. I quickly grabbed my phone to send a quick text to Edward, letting him know that I was at Charlie's before jumping out of the car and touching my toes to stretch out my back. I groaned before opening the back door to see Ellie rubbing her eyes and looking around. I smiled at her.
"Hey Sweetie, we're here," I whispered as I began to unbuckle her seatbelt.
She let out a large yawn and sighed, "Grandpa Charlie's house?"
"Yep!" I tried to focus on her and make it seem exciting instead of focussing on my nervousness for what was to come. After a few seconds of struggle, we made it to the door in one piece and I rang the doorbell. Immediately, I heard footsteps towards the door and I couldn't help but smile because I knew he had been waiting.
"Hey!" Charlie opened the door and ushered us inside, quickly scooping up and eager Ellie into his arms, "How's my favorite girl?"
"I'm good, Grandpa!" She hugged onto him and I enjoyed the image as I brought in our bags, gently setting them down in the living room. Already, Charlie had pulled out some of Ellie's favorite movies and toys, having everything set up long before we got in.
By the way he was acting, I knew he was rushing towards us having a talk and I wished desperately for something to distract him for a little while. I glanced at the time and decided to focus on lunch instead of my thoughts and worries.
"What do you guys want for lunch? I could cook up something," I called as I walked into the kitchen. As I opened the cabinets, I was surprised to see the shelves were full of food, and the kind that could be cooked. In the time that had passed, I wondered if he had suddenly taken it upon himself to eat something more than steak from the local diner.
"Noodles, please!" Ellie shouted and I started on lunch. I wondered what else had changed since I had left. For the past few years, I didn't focus on the little things like how he kept his house and cabinets, but now it seemed so much more put together. As strange as it would sound, it would almost seem like another women was here when I couldn't be. At least I would have a question to ask in defense of his.
I heard them playing in the living room and I decided to take my time with lunch. Moving around, I glanced at the pictures hanging on the fridge, Charlie standing in a lake fishing with his friend Harry. In the corner was a picture of Ellie, her being only one at the time, her two front teeth peeking out of her smile. She looked so little compared to my little girl that now loved to run around like a crazy girl with all of the Cullens and talking with witty remarks.
As I scooped lunch onto three plates, I heard Finding Nemo start playing in the living room and I began to make my way towards the room. As I turned the corner, I saw Ellie's eyes glued to the screen and I laid the plate on the small coffee table and smiled as she began to absentmindedly eat. I went to sit at the small table that Charlie had moved to border the wall in the living room and began to eat. Charlie, who was now suspiciously quiet, sat across from me and began to eat. I watched him from the corner of my eye as I pretended to be lost in the film as well, even though he knew that I had seen it about a million times.
"Well, Bells, you can still cook," Charlie broke the silence casually, but I could feel the tension in his voice.
"Thanks, but I think my cooking skills have been limited to pasta and chicken nuggets lately," I chuckled and moved around the noodles on my plate.
"Bet the Cullens have loved that," I dropped my fork at his words and looked up at him to see him raising an eyebrow at me. I shook my head, looking over at Ellie who was still immersed in the movie and I wanted it to stay that way.
"Not now, Dad," I whispered low, trying to sound serious.
"No, I think now is a good time. Let's go outside," Charlie stood from the table and my stomach dropped to the floor as I stood on shaky legs. I walked over and leaned down to catch Ellie's attention, "Honey, Grandpa is going to show me something outside, okay? We'll be right back."
I followed Charlie out the door, feeling the tension coming off of him like waves. Despite the many years that we had lived apart, I still felt a weird nervousness when it came to confronting him. He had given up a lot for me and tried to fight so hard when I seemed like a lost cause; I hated hurting him or disappointing him.
"Dad, before we start, can we just-" he cut me off quickly.
"No, Isabella. We can't just talk about this lightly. I know that I have been civil over the phone about this whole situation, but enough is enough. You are not seventeen anymore and you cannot be running off to the Cullens and becoming so incredibly dependent on them. If you need help, you should have came to me and we could have figured something out. But not only are you seeing them, you are staying with them? With that little piece of shit that left you on the ground crying? I won't have it," Charlie's aggressiveness caught me off guard and instantly set me on fire.
"Hey, first of all, I am perfectly aware that I am not seventeen. You have no idea what you are even talking about. I am not dependent on them and I could walk away from them whenever the hell that I wanted to. Back off. I am an adult and this is my life. You don't even know the whole story to be able to say anything like this!" I shouted, feeling anger boiling at my skin.
"I don't know anything about this? How about when I had to pick up my broken daughter laying on the bathroom floor after she cried herself to sleep? How about when I had to run to my daughter who was screaming in the middle of the night from nightmares? How about all those times? Imagine Ellie screaming in the middle of the night because the man she loved left her in the middle of a damn forest at night and didn't look back. It's been ten years and I thought you would have learned by now that they cannot be trusted ever again. He is worthless and he broke you. How do you expect me to be okay with something like this?" I had never seen him so angry and so much like a father. If it weren't for my equal anger, I would have been proud.
"You don't think I know all of those things? Dad, I remember it all but I was an overdramatic seventeen year old who thought my whole life was centered around one man. I don't feel that way anymore. My whole life won't fall apart if he were to ever leave...and it's now because I want him around and not because I need him. Dad, I know what it is like to have my daughter screaming in the middle of the night, but not because a boy left her. It's because her own body is trying to kill her. That is why I went to the Cullens. Carlisle has dropped everything to try to help us. He's in contact with so many people and he's trying everything to get the best treatment for her. They care about her and that is all that matters to me. They are helping me keep my baby girl alive so she has a chance to even have her heart broken by some boy," I felt tears sliding down my cheeks and I rubbed angrily at them, shoving them off my cheeks.
"I know, but staying with them? How is that a probable solution?" His voice got quiet and I knew my tears were actually aiding me for once.
"They are always there to help, twenty-four/seven. Carlisle is never far from her and he's always willing to help. I wasn't going to stay with them and I planned to find a hotel nearby to help or even take the trips back and forth, but they insisted. And for once in all the time that I've been fighting for Ellie, I gave in. I let it happen. And it's been great to just have people helping even if it's just getting lunch ready while I take a nap or playing with her. I'm not dead on my feet and work was understanding and it just worked. I didn't plan it. I didn't go searching for them until it was necessary and I was out of any other options. Dad, please. You haven't even seen them with her," I sniffed and tried to keep my composure.
Charlie crossed his arms and stared out at the lawn. I felt my stomach rolling and I took the moment to take my sleeve and wipe under my eyes. I took a few deep breathes, taking in the smell of the rain for the first time in a while. I never noticed how fresh the air always felt even if it was always cloudy. It made the nerves that were standing on edge at the moment become soothed. I glanced through the window near the door, seeing Ellie staring at the television still.
I chanced a glance at Charlie, seeing him rub his face for a moment before turning towards me again, "Are you with him?"
"What do you mean?" I whispered, wanting to avoid the question for a moment longer.
He scoffed, "You know what I mean, Bells."
"I mean," I ran a hand through my hair and wanted to hide under a rock to avoid the subject, "It's something. It's healthier than it was when we were younger. It's new. It's better. Dad...I know this is all hard, but the way he is with Ellie is remarkable. And he makes me happy. He makes all of this...easier? God, I don't even know. These weeks have been like a dream and I'm still catching up, but I promise I am keeping Ellie's feelings and health in the most important place in my mind. It comes first."
He looked tired at the subject already, considering the limited amount of relationship conversations we had shared in our time together, "And he's good with Ellie? He's okay with this whole situation? The responsibility? The life it all entails?"
I smiled slightly, feeling a little bit more like myself, "He's great with her. He's helped me take care of her along the way and he seems to really love it. He wants to be there for her and the way she acts around him, it's obvious that she wants him there. She's asked for him every time we were ever together. It's so amazing to see her with him. He knows that this is all complicated and sometimes is too hard to bear, but he loves her. And I think Ellie really loves him. The whole family is crazy about her and she's just finding her way right into their hearts without even realizing it. Edward's good for her."
"Do I have to like him?" He asked, his mustache slightly twitching in the corner and I grinned at him, happy that he was at least giving this idea a chance.
"Eventually?" I leaned back against the door and sighed, "He's different now. He's less...of an angst teenager who is trying to figure out his life. He knows what he wants now and has been working hard on himself. After all this time, I think you'll like him. He's not the same kid that you wanted to kill a few years ago."
"I want to visit with them...get a good reading on the entire situation before we get too caught up in this," Charlie tried to sound tough, but I knew he trusted my judgement. I had always been ahead, even as a teenager. He knew that I would never let my child come second to a man or anything else that came in the way.
"Okay, Dad," he reached out to wrap an arm around me, pulling me into him. I let out a gust of air and rested my head against his shoulder. The worry that had been building up on me was now released and breathing became a little easier for me. I almost felt silly for being so overwhelmed, like he wouldn't be understanding or compassionate about the news. He had always been the best at seeing things that I couldn't even when I didn't understand; I was a bit more like him than I had originally thought.
"Hey," I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow, "What's with all the kitchen stuff?"
"Kitchen stuff?"
"Yeah. You have food,"
"As most humans do,"
"Dad," I laughed as I looked as his confused expression, "All you ever had before was some quick microwavable dinners before I would go grocery shopping. What's going on?"
He sighed and glared down at me, "You know, it's possible I had an awakening and just figured out this whole life thing at last."
I snorted, "Okay, but who is helping you with this epiphany?"
"Oh, Bells," he moved to sit on the small bench on the porch and sighed, "I guess...you know, I had time to finally figure some of this life thing out. After years of making sure you knew who I was and then watching you raise a child, I realized that it had been a long time since I had done anything for myself. I started taking trips with Billy, finally getting to see a little of the world...meaning anywhere but here. And I was content. And then I met someone..."
My whole mind exploded because it almost seemed impossible for my father, who was still very much stuck in the seventies, could get up and start living a new life. He was young, having had me so young, that it wasn't that weird. The idea of him finally having someone that made him feel like how Edward made me feel made my heart light. The kindness that he had always shown people would hopefully be returned to him. That's all I wanted.
"Who?" I asked, immediately curious.
He chuckled and patted my head, "Focus on your girl and I'll focus on mine. I'm not ready to bring the lovely lady around here just yet, but give it a few months." I smiled and nodded at him, feeling his arm wrap around my back.
As I went to slip into the house, he chuckled, "How did I just know that you would be able to convince me to give that boy another chance? You're a stubborn one."
"Yeah, but Dad...he's not a boy anymore. He's a man. And a good one," I felt proud because he had changed. He had transformed and become a stronger internal person, willing to go the distance even if it was difficult. He was ready to go through thick and thin to be together and fight for what he believed in. Even though he wouldn't admit it, I knew that he was starting to believe in himself.
"We'll see," he muttered and went inside. I shook my head at him, wondering when he would order a meeting to see him and when I would be meeting the new love interest. Life was continuing to move and change so rapidly, I nearly had to smack myself in the face to keep up.
Alice's Point Of View
The group of them, only four for this visit, were traveling through the forest. The sun was setting gently in the background and the air was light with a chill of night. They were nearing their destination, slowing down their speed as they saw the house in the distance. The lights were on. And the other group was waiting.
I blinked and looked at Edward, who was looking out the window. The sun was still high in the sky and we had time to continue preparing. Although, I knew he would hardly be any help during the next few days, constantly pacing and staring at the clock like the hours would suddenly go by. As much as I enjoyed seeing him happy, he was incredibly annoying with his needy persistence.
"Thanks," he muttered and shot me a glare.
I rolled my eyes, "It's your fault for reading my mind."
Carlisle walked into the room, once again glued to the paper. He was worried, even though I assured him relentlessly that Ellie was in good enough health to wait a couple days, that maybe there was something that was missing. His anxiety and thoughts were not helping Edward, or really anyone else, stay calm. I knew Tanya and Kate would instantly grow suspicious of the entire encounter if most of the family was distant.
"Okay, you all need to relax. Bella is safe and at her father's. We have only three days out of our entire eternity on this world to deal with them before we go back to our normal life and we can worry like the overbearing worrier that you all seem to be. So cheer up and start acting like the people that you are when they are here, okay?" I felt myself vent and Jasper sighed, probably feelings everyone try to relax a little bit.
Emmett bursted, "Why is everyone so worried? It's the damn Denali clan, not some foreign people that we don't know. Why is it such a big deal?"
Esme came in and sat down next to Rose, sighing heavily, "Honey, we burned a lot of bridges...or at least hurt them. The last ten years, we all could hardly be in the same room with each other. Other people were victims of our family fighting that didn't need to be. I'm sure they're hurt and confused."
"It's my fault," Edward sat down in the chair, suddenly looking his age, "When I first left Forks, I couldn't be around any of you because every time you saw me, you thought of Bella. I couldn't stand having her in my head more than she already was. It would nearly convince me to go running right back to her, so I went to friends. They didn't understand and I didn't have the energy to explain. They knew about Bella, but not how intense it had gotten. And when they pushed, I pushed back. There were words said that shouldn't have been. I ruined a lot back then. After that, I left and said some very derogatory words against them and never went back. I should have."
"Well, we can't go back and change everything that we have done, so let's make the best of this weekend. Can we do that?" Carlisle asked and the room went quiet and we sat in silence, staring at each other. For the next few hours, we only spoke short words, trying to keep it casual but never becoming too relaxed. Our greatest fear was losing the relationship, but I wasn't too worried. Instead, I focussed on making Ellie the dress that would be an exact replica of the Little Mermaid's pink dress that she seemed to love so much. The thought of her dancing around in it made me bubbly, so I focussed on the seams that had to be perfect.
Although I was focussed, I was conscious of the sun setting in the corner of my eye as I worked on the gown. I gently set the needle down once the sun was no longer anywhere near the center of the sky and headed down the stairs. As I did, the family mimicked my movements, obviously taking it as a hint that it was nearly time. Everyone was dressed casually, but standing like stones as I stepped into the room. I stared at the forest, remembering my earlier vision and how the sun had been low and twilight was about to take its turn. In the distance, I began to hear the faint rustling of the bushes as bodies ran through. I turned to the family, hoping that we could all figure out a way to make things better instead of worse. Most of all, I hoped Tanya wouldn't show her worst side towards Edward or the two most important people for them.
Edward winced at my thoughts as I whispered, "They're here."
