Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

This story takes place in an alternate universe and begins almost fifteen years after chapter three of New Moon. When Charlie called Renée to come to Forks, Bella went back to Jacksonville with Renée.

Thanks to Alphie, Be My Escape and Bronzehairedgirl for their help and patience with this story. They were all so much more than beta readers.

Missed Messages

by silly bella

I hadn't expected the car in her driveway when I stopped by her house last night. I'd planned to slip in and watch her sleep, but when I saw his car, I was afraid of what I'd find. I didn't listen. I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to think about it. So I ran. Eventually, I found myself in the meadow. I lay there until dawn, remembering the day I brought Bella here before considering the implications of Gary's barbaric presence at her home. It was one thing to know that she had married. That she and her husband had created a child. That I could never touch her that way. I could never give life; I could only take it. It was entirely another thing to imagine someone like Cro-Magnon spending the night with her. I had never felt so cold, right through to the core of my being. I knew it wasn't the rain.

If this was her choice, I would accept it, but I didn't have to like it. It was, as I had said to her so many years ago, exactly what was to be expected. She'd moved on, far, far beyond me. I couldn't stand in her way. But I didn't have to leave, either. She might never see me, but I could watch over her. I could learn to face the idea of her with someone else. As long as I could be around her, see her, hear her voice, smell her. It would be my penance. Resolved to my future, I ran home in the drizzle.

Emmett gave me the once over when he saw me. "You look rode hard and put up wet," he laughed. "I thought you were going to Bella's."

"So did I. Change of plans," I muttered darkly. He was about to ask me something else when his cell phone rang. I started up the stairs, but stopped abruptly when I heard Emmett speak.

"Sure, Bella. What do you need?" He glanced over his shoulder at me. Why didn't she call you?

I shrugged and listened to the phone call instead of waiting to hear it in Emmett's mind. It hurt that she asked Emmett instead of me, yet I was still glad that she felt comfortable enough with my family to call them for help.

"It's a small favor, but I'd really appreciate it. I need a ride. You can drive my truck." Her voice sounded strained.

It sounds like a bigger deal than she's letting on. "My car is fine. I can drive it," Emmett laughed.

"Do you still drive a giant SUV?" The tension in her voice went up a notch. I smiled. She'd always been a bit uncomfortable with Emmett's Jeep. Maybe it was associated with bad memories.

I laughed along with Emmett. "I still have a giant SUV, but I'll bring a car instead. When do you want me to pick you up?"

"You don't have to pick me up," she murmured. "Just follow me. And give me a ride home." She didn't go into any detail.

"I do have one question." He paused and glanced at me. "Why not ask Edward?"

"Because you look scarier than Edward." She began to explain, to qualify her answer. "Not that he can't be scary. All of you can be scary. But I need someone who can look really scary without trying too hard."

"So I'm going to be your muscle?" Emmett grinned. He liked the sound of that. "What if Edward comes, too. And looks scary with me?"

"Sure. That's fine." She sighed. I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad sign. I couldn't help but wonder why she needed someone scary. Emmett certainly fit the bill. If Jasper and Alice hadn't been hunting, we could have taken him, too.

Emmett checked the clock. "When do you want to leave?"

"Whenever you're ready." It didn't sound like she wanted to wait. It seemed rather urgent, in fact.

"We'll be there in a few minutes." He snapped the phone shut and barked, "I know you heard, so you better put on something dry so we can go. She's waiting."

I didn't bother denying it. I just changed as quickly as I could so we could leave. Bella was waiting on the porch when we arrived. The pervert's car was still there. I tried to ignore it. Why hadn't she asked the creep to do this? That's right, she needed muscle. Puny little Gary certainly wasn't that. She seemed anxious, agitated. Emmett broke the silence, "What's wrong, Bella?"

"Can we talk about it on the way home? I just want to get this over with." She played with the keys as she spoke.

Emmett seemed a little stunned at her words. I stepped forward and reached for her keys. "Let me drive. You can ride with Emmett if you don't want to ride with me. You can explain it to him."

She laughed and covered the keys with her fist. "I don't think so. I'd like to stay mad for this. Let's go. If we get separated, we're headed to the Manitou Lodge Bed and Breakfast. Do you know where we're going? Cell phones won't work there, so if we get separated, you can't call for directions."

"We can find it, Bella," Emmett assured her then glanced at me. It was difficult to imagine that she thought there was anywhere near Forks that we didn't know. It was about five miles from La Push. Closer than any of us liked to go to the reservation. But it wasn't land prohibited by the treaty, so this was safe. It surprised me when she climbed into the jerk'scar. We followed closely. I had no idea that Bella drove so fast. It didn't take long to reach the bed and breakfast. She parked the car and we pulled in beside her. She stepped out quickly, clearly still angry.

After we climbed out of Carlisle's sedan, Bella gave us our instructions. "Just stay here by the car and look mean. I'll be right back." She made her way into the main lodge and came back outside just as quickly. She stopped near the edge of the steps apparently waiting for something.

Then Scary Gary came out of the lodge. Gary came out of the lodge.The lout didn't stay overnight at Bella's. She drove the jerk's car home. "Yes," I hissed triumphantly under my breath. Emmett quirked an eyebrow. "I'll explain later."

"Seems to be a lot of that going around," he laughed. Then it dawned on him. You thought he spent the night. I glared at him. I wanted to hear what they were saying.

"The keys are in the car, Gary. I left it unlocked." Bella held back her anger, but I knew that it could burst forth at minimal provocation when she'd reached this point.

"Bella, don't be so mad. It's not a big deal." The vulgarian tried to put his arm around her. She jerked away from him as if she'd been burnt. Why is she so upset? It was a little misunderstanding.

She held out her hands to keep him at arm's length. I'd never seen her so angry. Her eyes blazed as she glared at him. "You refused to take me home. Instead, you brought me out here." She gestured at the surrounding forest. Then her hands went to her hips. "My cell phone won't work from here because it's out in BFE. It was so late, there was nobody working in the lodge. If I hadn't snatched your keys out of your hand, my choices would have been walk home, stand around outside here all night, or stay with you. Not much of a choice. And for the record, that isn't the way to make a woman like you, particularly if her thirteen-year-old daughter is home alone waiting for her."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands into fists. I shook with rage. No one should treat any woman with such disrespect. And this was Bella. She might not be mine anymore, but I wouldn't let anyone hurt her. I stepped forward, but Emmett barred my way with his arm. "Whoa, boy. She wants to handle this herself. Let her. As long as it's just words, we need to stay back." When he finished speaking I heard his jaw lock in a furious snap. It took every ounce of restraint I could muster to keep from marching over to that scum Gary and snapping his neck.

The boor looked over Bella's shoulder, noticing us for the first time. "That's that Ed kid. Who's that with him?" Realizing that he was eyeing us, we both narrowed our eyes and glared at him. Gee, the kid from yesterday was big enough. The other guy's a real monster.

"He thinks you're a monster," I muttered under my breath.

Yeah, and he called you Ed. Emmett hid his chuckle in a sneer that made him look more dangerous than ever. The display seemed to shake the little rodent; he jerked away to face Bella once more.

"His brother, Emmett." Bella didn't elaborate.

I guess she needs romance. I can do that. I just got impatient. She's going to take a little finesse. "I get it, Bella. I'm moving too fast. You still aren't ready to date."

"You apparently don't get anything. I didn't ask you to come out here, but I can assure you, it was a colossal waste of effort. It's not that I haven't had enough time. It's not that I'm not ready to date. It's that there will never be enough time in the world for me to be ready to date you. Have a pleasant trip back to Florida." With that, she turned on her heel and stormed back toward the cars. She almost tripped once, but she was close enough to the rental car to grab it for support.

She didn't look at either of us. "Let's get out of here." I could feel the heat of her anger as she flushed red. This wasn't the kind of blush I liked.

Emmett tossed me the keys behind his back and mouthed, "You drive," as he opened the front door for Bella. That puts you up front with her. Maybe you can close some distance. He climbed into the back seat. I started the car and Bella's tears cascaded as she took several deep breaths.

"Bella, are you okay? What did he do to you?" I knew she cried when she was angry, but I wanted to at least check if it might be something else. I didn't want to assume. She shook her head. Clearly, she still didn't want to talk. My hands tensed around the steering wheel. "Did he lay a hand on you?" I would kill the bastard. I would tear his head off his scrawny neck. I wouldn't feed on the cad, but I would kill the vulgar little wretch. Painfully.

She laughed. "No. He's just persistent. All he did was irritate the hell out of me."

"We could rough him up a little bit if you want," Emmett offered from the back.

Her laugh was louder this time. "You could eat him, for all I care."

"What do you think, Edward? Are you thirsty?" Emmett raised his eyebrows playfully. I grinned back at him.

Bella's eyes widened as she looked from one of us to another. "He's harmless. Just annoying." Emmett laughed, and Bella hung her head. "For a minute, I thought you were serious."

"What exactly happened," I asked. "You promised to explain on the way home."

She shook her head. "He's one of Tony's fraternity brothers. He's always been aggravating, but he's taken it to new levels since Tony died. Or maybe it's just that Tony blocked me from most of it. Although he didn't show up as much before Tony died. Gary started asking me out right after the funeral. He's been remarkably persistent. One of the good things about moving back here was getting away from him. But apparently, he found some conference in Seattle and decided to stay an extra weekend so that he could see me. He called out of the blue on Monday. I finally told him he could come to dinner Friday. He insisted on dinner and a movie last night. When it was over, he didn't want to bring me home. I'm sure you could both hear the rest."

"Do you feel better now?" I asked, knowing very well that I certainly felt better. She really wasn't interested in this slug. She never had been. She hadn't wanted the boor here in the first place. After last night, this news was the sweetest relief.

"I'm fine. And thank you. Thank both of you for helping me out." She sounded calmer. "I don't think he'll be back."

I decided it was the right time to point out that I sent the flowers, just to make sure she knew. "You do know that those flowers weren't from him? Well, except the ones he brought Friday night." The ones that smelled like gasoline. I held my tongue, biting back what I wanted to say. I could afford to be a little gracious now that she'd sent him packing.

She blushed and turned quickly to look out the window again, facing away from me. "I knew. I just figured I didn't need to tell Marietta that they were from you. You don't need to send me flowers, you know. You shouldn't." She glanced in my direction. "But they are beautiful. The whole house smells wonderful. And the poetry on the cards was a nice touch, too." She sat incredibly still, but she pressed her hands together as if to keep them from shaking. "And they certainly made Gary wonder. Perhaps they'll help keep him away."

Way to go, bro. I told you the flowers would work. And adding the poetry to the cards was genius. Emmett leaned back quietly in the back seat.

"I've never seen anything like those arrangements. And the floral combinations were surprising but beautiful." She seemed to be concentrating on something.

I hadn't thought about the fact that she might not know the language of flowers. "When I was young, each bloom carried a coded meaning. You sent specific messages when you combined certain blossoms together in a bouquet. Sometimes the message even changed based on color as well as variety."

She sighed uncomfortably. "And what do the arrangements you sent mean?" She seemed a little worried and began to bite her bottom lip.

"Red tulips declare love. They symbolize a lover's heart, and the black center shows how it is burned to a coal by the passion of love. The yellow ones mean you love hopelessly and utterly." I glanced at her. She was listening, but her expression was blank. I kept talking. "The orchids denote ecstasy because I feel ecstatic seeing you again. The daffodils stand for chivalry. That was as close as I could come to something that says that I want to take care of you." I checked again. She stared out the window.

"Some of them are in bouquets, and their messages blend. Irises, sweet peas, honeysuckle and jasmine describe the hope that love will bind us together for a long and happy time." She let out a deep breath. "Heliotropes represent devotion, red heather passion, asters new beginnings and white zinnias consolation for absence. Together, that bouquet pleads that if you will give me another chance, I will make up, with my devotion and passion, for leaving you. I think they came the same day as the birds-of-paradise, which show hope for the future and recognize something strange and wonderful. I suppose I'm strange and you're wonderful." Emmett laughed in the back seat, but Bella remained quiet. Or was she uninterested?

She asked what the flowers meant, not if you could bore her to death. Cut to the chase.

"Ranunculi suggest that I find you charming." I actually turned and grinned, but she was looking away. "Violets pledge my faithfulness and represent love in its truest form. The tricolor pansies mean I think of you and I hope that my love can ease your heart. The camellias place my destiny in your hands." This time when I glanced, she had lowered her head. "Poppies represent the wonder of dreams, sleep and rest. They're rather self explanatory, because I miss watching you sleep. And I confess that I have come back, since that first night, to watch you." She looked at me this time, her mouth a taut line. "The red roses promise deep and passionate love and the white ones stand for love of the soul." She laughed, a short bitter laugh, but at least she was listening to me. "Lilies-of-the-valley suggest a return of happiness."

"That's all a little overwhelming, Edward," Bella murmured. "But I appreciate that you put so much thought into it." Tension hung in the air. "But you shouldn't send any more." It was gentler than what she'd said to Scary Gary, but did it mean the same thing?

"The next time Rose is mad at me, you are helping me pick the flowers, bro," Emmett laughed, trying to ease the strained atmosphere.

I was afraid of the silence, afraid of what she might say next, so I teased Emmett. "Sure, Emmett. You can send Rosalie a bouquet of protea and anthuriam,"

"What do they mean?" Emmett was suddenly worried. It had occurred to him that I might put together the wrong message.

"The challenge of desire and intense attraction, generally of a sexual nature." Bella laughed when I explained it.

Emmett narrowed his eyes. "Why do I think they might get me in trouble?"

"They're unusual. Ostentatious. She'd probably like them, especially if you told her what they meant." But they're definitely unusual. I chuckled, thinking of Rosalie's initial response to that particular arrangement. "And since it's Rosalie, you might add some jewelry."

Bella listened to the exchange. She stared at me, then at Emmett. "You told him to send me flowers, didn't you Emmett?"

"Can I plead the fifth?" Emmett asked as we pulled into her driveway. I stopped the car.

"They are beautiful. Thank you." She held my gaze. I tried to dazzle her. It just made her laugh. But her voice was stern and filled with reproach when she said, "No more, Edward." And with that, she jumped out of the car and walked determinedly to the house. I watched her, unable to take my eyes off her until she closed the door.

I turned to find Emmett sitting in the front seat. "See what I mean? I don't think the flowers helped." I backed out of the driveway, frustrated.

"She was a little cold. And while the flowers themselves didn't do you much good, I think the coded messages thing and the poetry helped. That impressed her, the time it took for you to do that." Emmett nodded as he spoke. Clearly, he was quite sure of himself.

"I'm not so certain about that," I muttered.

He tried to offer me some encouragement. "She was still upset about that bastard. You just caught the brunt of it."

"And the other days?" I waited for him to explain that one.

Instead, he just lowered his head and shook it from side to side. "I don't think you need to bother with any more flowers. If Rosalie were that upset with me, I'd go for jewelry, followed by a little romance. I don't think that's going to work with Bella."

"You're right about the jewelry, but I can do romance," I insisted, insulted.

Emmett just laughed. "Not the kind I'm talking about. You'd break her." I shot him a dark look. It was a good thing we were home because I didn't want to continue this particular conversation.