He stood there with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes were full of hate. I stood in front of Bella protectively.
I am the one who protected her when you left bloodsucker. I would never hurt her the way you did. You have no right to even be near her ever again.
I flinched at his silent thoughts.
"Jacob what are you doing? You can't be here, it is too dangerous." Bella panicked.
His eyes softened when he turned to Bella.
"I am glad to see you are still alive."
"Of course I am. I am with Edward and Alice."
I saw his fists clench as Bella mentioned our names
"They left you before, without a thought for your safety." He spat.
His words cut me deep. If I had any idea that Victoria and Laurent would still pursue Bella after we had done away with James. I would never have left.
"Jacob I thought it would be best for Bella if we left. I did it for her."
"You did it for her; you haven't seen what I have the past few months. You almost killed her." He glowered.
You should have just stayed away. I was helping her to live again
"Yes I know I should have." I answered his silent thoughts
"Jake I came to fetch Edward, in case you forgot."
Bella had guessed his question. She must know him well.
"Yes I know that, but what happens now?"
It is such a pity that the stupid royal vamps had not granted his request
"Well right now we have a flight to catch and I want to get Bella home."
"I wasn't asking you."
I could hear the venom in his voice when he had to speak to me directly. I wondered what was going on between the two of them. Was Bella in love with him? Maybe it was too late for the two of us.
"I don't know Jake. We haven't figured everything out yet." Bella answered looking at me and I could see the questions in her eyes. Yes I knew there was a lot we had to discuss.
"How can you even let them near you after what they did?"
His words were full of centuries of utter disgust that they felt for us.
"Jake it isn't so easy to cut people off. I can't do it."
"Why don't you try at least? Come home with me."
I could see her hesitate. I knew she was worried about hurting any of us. I could tell that even without being able to read her thoughts.
Bella bit her lower lip as she answered him.
"Jake I'm going with them. I don't want to lose our friendship though."
So Bella would rather be around filthy bloodsuckers. Why did I even bother following her here?
"Fine Bella I get it." He said and turned to leave.
There was something that I wanted to say to him but when I looked again he was already gone. I hoped that I would get my chance to thank him.
I could see Bella fighting for control.
"Bella are you sure you want to come with us? You don't owe us anything." I asked hoping that she would really want to come with me.
"Edward Cullen you are not leaving me again and you owe me a conversation." Bella growled
"Of course whatever you want." I answered hiding a smile. I had forgotten how amusing Bella was when she was angry. It was like a kitten trying to be a tiger.
Alice put her arm around her and we walked to the plane.
I didn't take my eyes off Bella's face the entire time. She was so beautiful and I hoped with every fiber of my being that some part of her still loved me. I raised my eyebrows when I noticed Bella sipping a soda
"Are you sure you should be drinking that?"
I remembered what caffeine did to Bella.
"I want to stay awake. If I sleep then all those awful images will fill my mind.'
I nodded in response.
Eventually the flight was over and as we came out of the arrivals lounge. I saw the rest of my family waiting except for Rosalie and Emmett.
"Edward if you ever do that again. I will kill you myself." Esme growled as she pulled me into a hug
She pulled Bella into an embrace as well but I held onto her waist. I couldn't bear to let her go.
"Bella thank you so much. How can we ever repay you?" Esme said softly
Bella smiled timidly
"It was nothing really." Bella answered awkwardly.
I chuckled as her unwillingness to be the centre of attention had not changed one bit.
Carlisle also was truly grateful to her.
I noticed then that Bella was swaying slightly on her feet. She must be exhausted. We needed to get her home and there was still the ominous task of facing Charlie.
I carried most of her weight as we walked towards the cars. I growled when I saw Rose waiting for us. Her thoughts were full of remorse. I stiffened
"Edward not now please." Esme scolded
"I am so sorry." Rose whispered
I feel so terrible about what happened.
"So you should Rosalie." I hissed
Emmett moved protectively in front of Rose
Back off Bro. This doesn't need to turn violent. I will take you on if you try anything.
I raised my eyebrows at his thoughts. Did he really think that he could defeat me when I would just anticipate what move he would make?
"I just want to get home, please." Bella whispered
"Of course, you are dead on your feet."
We rode with Rosalie and Emmett and along the way Bella nodded off against my shoulder. All too soon we were at her home. I hated to let her go but that I wouldn't be Charlie's favorite person right now. I would have to sneak back later as I didn't want to be away from her.
Charlie raced out the house and tried unsuccessfully to pull Bella out of my arms but even semi conscious she clung to me.
"Please don't leave me." Bella whispered as I lay her down on her bed. The familiar purple duvet covers were still on. I felt so comfortable being in her room again. Her room had always been a haven to me. This was a place where we had shared, some of the best moments together.
"I am not going anywhere. I promise you." I said as I kissed her forehead. She was out before I even left the room. I would come back later once Charlie was asleep.
"You are never to set foot in this house again." Charlie warned as I got into the car
I hoped that his anger towards me would calm down, but I knew that I had earned it.
"You are going to have to act like a real vampire and sneak in to see Bella until Charlie allows you in the house again" Emmett chuckled
"I don't even know if Bella will want to see me again." I mumbled sadly.
Of course she will want to you back in her life, she flew half way across the world in the hope of saving you.
"Yes Rose I know that she still cares but I hurt her terribly."
Edward I know she still loves you. I am so sorry that I have been such a jerk about Bella. I will try to be better behaved from now on.
"Thank you Rosalie, I appreciate that."
I will never forgive myself for what I did, which caused you to go to the Volturi.
"It is all over now Rose. Let's just leave it as water under the bridge alright." I said gently.
You are far too kind, thank you.
"No matter what happens, you will always be part of my family Rose."
She smiled in response.
"What conversation am I missing?" Emmett grumbled
"Edward and I were just sorting out a few things." Rose answered
"Good I am glad."
Thank you for not being too hard on her.
I glowered at him. Did he really think so poorly of me? Yes I could get angry but I was a reasonable person most of the time.
I was anxious to get back to Bella but I knew it would be a while before Charlie went to sleep. He was way too tensed up.
When we got back to the house, Alice suggested we go hunting to distract me. It had been a while since I had hunted and it would occupy me for a while.
Alice noticed my preoccupation
Edward you will be with her again in a few hours. You need to hunt.
"Yes I know." I grumbled
There was smugness to her thoughts which irritated me. She had said right from the beginning that I had made a huge mistake when we left Forks. Alice knew that I saw how right she had been about everything. There was nothing that Alice enjoyed more than being right. We stayed close to home and found some elk. It didn't fully satisfy me fully but it helped.
As we were walking back I turned to Alice.
"Can I ask you a question?" I asked casually
I already know what you are going to ask. You want to know why I promised Bella that I would change her myself.
My eyes narrowed and I waited
It's what she wants Edward and I have seen that it will happen.
I shook my head.
Why are you so against it? Isn't Bella allowed a choice in all of this?
"Of course but that isn't the right choice."
Alice rolled her eyes at me
Well I am telling the family what happened anyway as I can see that Bella is going to want us to vote on the issue.
"She can have as many votes as she likes. As long as I am alive Bella will stay human."
We will see in time, her path is still pretty set.
"Do you think she still loves me?" I whispered
"Yes Edward, I don't need my vision to see that." She said gently.
I felt oddly comforted by her words. I looked at the time then and was sure that Charlie would be asleep by now. I ran to her house feeling the wind blowing behind me. It felt great to be running for pleasure again. As I ran I thought of Victoria and how she wouldn't be breathing for much longer. I would take care of her, so that Bella could be free from her sick desire for revenge. I had seen in Alice's thoughts that Victoria would be around again. I would be ready.
Bella slept for a long time and I began to worry that she had slipped into a coma but after what felt like forever she opened her beautiful eyes.
"Hello." I whispered
"Did all that really happen?"
"Yes, I am afraid so."
"So I didn't dream it, you really are here."
"I am here and I am not going anywhere." I said and stroked her cheek gently
Just then tears started falling down her face. I pulled her into my arms and rocked her gently.
"Why are you crying?" I asked confused
"Because I must have drowned right? I can't believe I did that too Charlie." She sobbed
"Bella I wish I could make you see. We are both alive and we made it back from Italy."
"Then why am I not waking up?"
"Because you are already awake and I have been waiting for my chance to talk to you."
I could see the comprehension slowly dawn across her face.
"Charlie?" She gasped
"He is fine but you should know that I have been banned from the house."
"No way, I can't believe he did that.
"Well I hurt his daughter in the worst way possible. I didn't expect a warm welcome from him."
"I will talk to him. So what have you been doing these past few months?"
I was reluctant to answer. I didn't want to tell her about the black hole that I had sunk into since I had left her.
'Nothing too interesting, I only tried my hand at a bit of tracking and hunting." I murmured
"Wow my imagination must be really used up if that is the best I could come up with."
I took a deep breathe
"Bella I came here because there is something that I need to tell you"
"You came here to tell me that you are going to be with Tanya right?" She said sadly
"Bella you silly girl, that couldn't be further from the truth."
I could see the confused look on her face. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to tell her what I had been dying to say.