Three months later…
"How is my nephew and niece?" I asked kissing Alice's forehead.
"Good. Kicking the hell out of my bladder" she chuckled letting me in.
We went to the living room, and I greeted Jasper, he gave me a beer and we sat, watching the game. I wasn't a football fan, but it was an important game to Emmett, and we decided to watch it.
"Have you heard from Bella?" Alice asked from the other couch where she was laying caressing her belly.
"What?" I asked confused. "Bella Swan?"
"Yes" she said, "I was hoping to keep in touch with her"
"No" I choked out. The subject brought painful memories.
"We should look for her" Alice said.
"Alice…" I sighed.
"I mean, we didn't even pay the woman! After everything she did…"
"Alice" Jasper said in a soft warning.
"She deserved more than what we did. Let her go, without properly thanking…"
"What should I say!" I snapped. "'Thank you for unsuccessfully trying to save my daughter'?" I sigh, "Leave the subject alone"
"I can't" Alice said. "I want to name the girl Ashley"
"No" I said getting up.
Alice got up too and Jasper sighed.
"It's my daughter and I'll name her Ashley" she said as I went to the kitchen.
"It's my daughter we're talking about!" I snapped. "Your daughter can't replace her!"
"It's not what I meant" she whispered.
"Well, it sounds like it" I mumbled and sighed again, "Please, don't. It would be…"
"It is. It will always be painful, Edward" Alice said.
I turned to find her crying. I pulled her to my arms, embracing her as I could since her huge belly was in the way.
"Please, Edward. It would mean so much to me" she whispered. "I wasn't going to use as first name… It would be Dakota Ashley"
"It sounds great, Ali. It's a beautiful name" I whispered.
"Can I?"
"Yes, of course" I nodded.
She hugged me tighter. A couple hours later, I was saying goodbye to them, and Jazz walked me to the door.
"Edward?" he asked quietly while I put my coat on. He sounded hesitant.
"Yeah?"
"There's another reason why we brought the baby's name subject today…"
"What?"
"It's been three months…"
"I know" I sighed.
"You should go there this week…"
"No"
"It would be her birthday…"
"I said 'no', Jasper" I said walking out.
"We went there earlier" he said following me to my car. "There were flowers. Recently put"
"Esme…"
"Esme doesn't go there alone, and Carlisle is working, unable to make her company"
"I know"
"Who would…"
"I don't know"
"Go there, Edward. It will be good for you"
"Jasper…"
"She would like"
I sighed.
He won. I nodded and got in my car, speeding off.
I walked through the grass, my eyes on the ground. If I looked up I would back down from my decision. I had only came here once before, but I had memorized the way. The scent of wet grass, nature, was calming, but not enough. When I knew I was close enough, I looked up and frowned. A woman, with black hair, in a black skirt, white sweater, black high heels, and bag and coat in the ground was kneeled in front of the grave. She had her head down and put a bouquet in the grave. It was colorful, with several types of flowers. She took off the dead flowers that were already there. She seemed to wipe tears from her cheeks, and touched her lips softly, before touching the ground with her fingertips, a kiss.
"Hey!" I called walking faster.
She looked up, and her eyes got wide. Her brown eyes. Bella.
"Bella!" I asked shocked. "Ahn… hi"
"Hi" she said quietly looking down at the ground.
"What are you doing here?"
She sighed, grabbed her things, and got up.
"I'm sorry. I'll leave. If you don't want me to come back…"
"No!" I said quickly. "What! Of course you can come back. And you don't have to leave"
Her eyes snapped to mine, wide. She was shocked. But why?
"You come here often?" I asked.
"Ahn… Just the last couple weeks" she mumbled.
"You're the one putting flowers" I said remembering what Jazz told me. "Alice must be physic or something. She was talking about you a few days ago…"
"How is she?" Bella asked.
"She' fine. Huge. It's twins. She said you knew…"
"Yeah. I found her in the bathroom, morning sickness"
"Right" I mumbled.
We fell into silence, and I looked down at the grave. It was simple, but colorful thanks to Bella's flowers.
"I should get going…"
I looked at her and shook my head. "Hold on" I said. I took my wallet and my got a check. "We forgot to pay you… then. How much…?"
"I didn't come for money, Mr. Cullen" she said through clenched teeth. I looked at her shocked. "I don't want your money" she said more softly. "I can't… I made mistakes. I-I lost… her. There's nothing to thank me or pay me for"
"Bella…"
"I'm sorry I came here. I understand you don't want…"
"Bella, we don't blame you. Of course not. You did everything you could" I swallowed hard, "She just… couldn't be saved. And you simply disappeared before the funeral… We couldn't even thank you"
"That's nice of you to say" she said with tears in her eyes.
"It's the truth"
She nodded, and the movement made the tears fall. It was instinct. Maybe being around hormonal, crying Alice too much made a habit. I pulled her to my arms, hugging her. Comforting her. Who was I to comfort her? To ignore limits, and pull her to me? And why couldn't I let her go? Was it because she held me tight? Or the fact that it comforted me too?