Bella insists on being discharged barely a fortnight after she wakes up. Old enough to make her own decision, the hospital have no choice but to let her go. She's no longer contagious, and is strong enough to make a journey. Privately, they warn me that it is unlikely she will live to see England. Death is much more likely. But I can't talk her out of it, and I know better than to try already. She's determined. She sits up unaided, dresses unaided, and would walk out of there if I let her. However, if she won't let me stop her leaving hospital, she'll let me carry her to the car.
"Emmett, I am capable of walking - oh!" I take no notice of her attempts to get me to put her down, and carry her gently to the waiting car - ready to take us both to the docks.
She sleeps most of the journey, and then for most of the boat trip. Nonetheless, she looks horribly tired when we dock in Plymouth, and I make the decision to keep her there overnight. I get her into a bed, force some soup down her and then leave her to sleep.
"Hello, Mum, it's Emmett."
"Oh, thank heaven. We were expecting you hours ago. Has anything happened?"
"No, no. We've reached Plymouth. But she's absolutely exhausted, Mum, so I've got us a hotel. She can rest tonight, we'll come up to Bodmin on the train tomorrow."
"Oh no you won't. Your father will come with the car, I'll not have her getting on a train if she's already tired out. She can go to bed when she gets here, if she wants. Her room is all ready, but can she handle stairs?"
"As long as it's only one flight," I say cautiously, not certain she'll be able to manage that.
"Oh yes, dear, she's in that lovely little room next to the library."
"Didn't that used to be our playroom?"
"No dear, the other side - what was your father's study. I've aired it all out, and your grandmother made a lovely new blanket for the bed. And we blitzed some of my old things - a little out of date, but she'll have things to wear at least. This clothes ration's awful, so I'm not sure about new material any time soon, but we'll see what we can do. I'll see you tomorrow, dear, and we'll have to get some food in you." She hangs up efficiently, and I chuckle quietly as I hand the hotel manager back the telephone.
Bella is difficult to rouse the next morning, and she's slightly flushed. But when Carlisle arrives with the car, her face lights up. Jacob is beside him, smiling broadly. He cradles her like spun glass, and insists on being the one to carry her to the car. He looks stronger, in the three weeks since I saw him last. He's still too thin, but he doesn't have the frightful look that Bella still holds in her face.
When we eventually reach home, Alice is standing on the steps, well wrapped up even though the June sun shines, and Esme is right behind her. I fly out of the car and into my mother's arms. I put the last five horrific years and the last horrible, horrible few months into the hug. She puts me aside very gently as Bella walks - agonisingly slowly, and supported by Carlisle - up the steps to the door. Esme doesn't so much as blink, she simply enfolds Bella in her arms, and kisses her cheek.
"Welcome, Bella. We're so pleased you're here." With anyone else, it would sound forced and fake. With Esme, it's the most natural move in the world, and Bella embraces back. She looks painful next to my mothers warm, cosy, rounded frame.
"It looks lovely."
She closes herself away privately with my parents as soon as we arrive. I sit in the garden with Jasper, Alice, Edward and Jacob, watching Jasper fuss over Alice like a mother hen, making sure she's warm enough, asking her if she wants anything to eat or drink. She declines, so he sits himself down on the picnic rug at her feet.
"How is the English going, Alice?" I ask her, and she instantly beams. I'm struck suddenly by how pretty she is.
"The English, she goes well," she chirps, exactly like a bird. "I am becoming influent!"
"Fluent," Jasper corrects, smiling up at her. "Fluent."
"Yes, this fluent, I am becoming him." Jasper shakes his head in despair. "Why does he do this? I am improving much."
"Yes, you are, Alice. Jasper, keep quiet. How's your Dutch coming?" Alice, Jacob and Edward laugh at him, and I lie back on the grass and close my eyes, letting my mind drift to Bella and my parents.
BPOV
They've been very, very kind. Already I have been given a cup of tea to drink and a bowl of soup, a blanket tucked around my legs and there is a large and friendly dog sprawling at my feet. The dog frightened me at first - a huge Great Dane with a large wagging tail. Immediately, I thought of the dogs at the camps.
"We can put the dog out -"
"No, please, I must get used to him."
"Let him sniff your hand, it's how he makes friends," Esme encourages gently. I put my hand down to him, and he sniffed, licked, barked calmly and then put his huge head in my lap. Huge great brown eyes gazed up at me with such understanding, I immediately felt comforted. It was like he knew that I had suffered, and wanted me to feel better. I tentatively scratched behind his ears and got a sloppy kiss and a large dog lying at my feet. "Here, you look chilled. Some French onion soup - we grow our own vegetables here - and would you perhaps like tea?" Esme asks, pressing a porcelain bowl full of steaming, thick soup on me and offering the teapot.
"Mrs Cullen -"
"Oh, darling, call me Esme."
"Esme, thank you, this looks delicious. I want to thank you both, from my heart, for everything you have done and are doing, for my family. But I do feel that your hospitality -"
"Absolutely not, young lady," Carlisle says firmly, leaning forward. "You, Jacob and Alice are welcome here for as long as you need. We have the space and the money, and besides, you are in no fit state to leave yet. And we already feel, through Emmett's letters, that we know you, and we have become very attached to Jacob and Alice."
"Then you must let me earn my keep. Please do not argue with me. I want to do something towards the house, something to benefit. I wish - I need to feel helpful, with purpose."
"Then when you are back to health, we can see about finding you work somewhere. But you will be under my direct care and supervision for the next six months. It will take at least that to restore you to a healthy weight and suitable strength for any kind of work. That is the agreement. You'll do what I say when it comes to your health. And I say that as a doctor."
"I will agree." I set the bowl down with a sigh. I'm full and the warm room is making me very, very tired. I yawn before I can stop myself. "I am very sorry."
"Nonsense. What would you like to do now? You may go to bed if you so wish, and I'm sure Carlisle would recommend it, wouldn't you, dear?"
"I would."
"May I see Jacob and Alice? And I would like to see Emmett. Are they in the garden?"
"Shall I fetch them?"
"I should like to go to them, if I may." Carlisle sweeps me up in his arms before I can protest, and immediately, the dog complains. "Can he come?"
"I doubt we could stop him," Carlisle laughs, and then whistles. "Come on, Trick."
"Trick?" I ask, watching the dog follow us, tongue hanging out, almost smiling.
"He was a pain as a puppy, always hiding things. Hence, Trick."
EPOV
Trick's bark jolts me back to consciousness. I hadn't realised I'd dozed off. I wake up with ten stones of Great Dane slobbering happily all over me, and a familiar laugh. I manage to persuade Trick that I am not his new chew toy, and sit up to see Bella now perched next to Alice in a garden chair. She's wrapped in a blanket, and a cardigan, and looks more content than I've ever seen her. Trick bounds over to her happily and puts his head in her lap.
"Well, somebody's popular," I say, laughing.
"Oh, so you woke up then?" Edward teases. "So good of you to join us." Jacob has already gone over to his sister, and they're whispering in what I think is Hebrew. She embraces him, and then looks around for me.
"Emmett, I know I am once again infringing terribly upon your kindness, but I am so very tired. I think I should like very much to go to bed." I carry her upstairs and give her into Esme's care, who gets her into a nightdress and then straight into bed. She's asleep in minutes, and only then do I go into my room. I kick my shoes off, and lie down. Exhaustion sets in, and I can feel myself falling asleep. It is so very warm, and so very comfortable…