AUTHORS NOTES – Thank you for all the awesome reviews for the last chapter. I am glad you liked how I finished it off. This chapter is in Edwards perspective, enjoy.
Chapter 11 – Scream
EPOV
As I watched Bella walk into the kitchen I couldn't help but listen to her heart as she disappeared from view.
Her heartbeat had been erratic all week and every time I had asked her about it she put it down to being excited about the wedding. I couldn't blame her for I knew that if my own heart was still functioning then it would be doing constant somersaults.
As I relaxed on the sofa awaiting my fiancée's imminent return I realised that I had never been as happy and content as I was now and it was all down to the angel who had given my life meaning, the same angel who I could now hear screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Get the hell away from me." She bellowed in horror.
I took a split second look at my siblings who had all heard the blood curdling noise I just had. I was off the sofa in one swift movement and just as I was about to call her name in worry the next I heard was, "EDWARD."
I along with everyone else reached the kitchen in less than a second and the scene I found before me had me baffled.
Bella approached me, tears in her eyes and her hand now rubbing a purplish bruise that was appearing on her stomach.
"Love, what happened? How did you hurt yourself?" I asked in concern as I pulled her into my arms.
"I didn't hurt myself. He did this to me." She sobbed in my chest.
As she said this I couldn't help but feel confused. Who here would want to hurt Bella? It was as I followed both of my brother's thunderous gazes that it became clear to me. Beckett was who Bella was talking about.
"You did this to Bella? How could you?" I shouted, passing Bella gently into Esme's arms and then approaching who I thought was my closest friend in utter anger.
"Oh my god Edward, you can't be serious? I would never hurt Bella." Beckett told me with a blank face.
"Don't you dare lie to him, not after everything you've done. He's your best friend and you owe him the truth." Emmett hollered in a murderous voice.
I took one look back at Bella tearing and looking at me dead on and knew she would never lie to me. I had no reason to doubt her.
"Get out." I ordered through gritted teeth, staring down at the floor as I tried to keep hold of any control I still had.
"Edward, please listen to me buddy. It was an accident." Beckett answered with a tremored laugh.
I couldn't quite make sense of all that had happened in the last few minutes. One thing I did know however was that anyone who hurt or posed a threat to my Bella in any way was no friend of mine and never would be. Bella is and always would be my number one priority.
I made one quick movement in Beckett's direction, grabbed on to the fabric of the off-white shirt he was wearing and when my face was no more than a few inches away from his I said the last thing I ever intended to say to this pathetic excuse for a friend.
"Get out of my house. Leave me and my family alone and if you even think of coming anywhere near them or Bella ever again I will have no problem ripping you limb from limb." Shaking with anger by the time I was finished.
He pulled free of me, slowly walked towards the back door he had previously entered and just as he was pulling the door open, turned back to me and said with a menacing stare, "I can't believe you would pick a pathetic little human over your best friend."
I was going to respond but before I even had time to open my mouth Emmett and Jasper pulled him through the door and out of view, warning him never to return again.
I was dumbstruck. What had just happened? The guy who I thought was my best friend turned out to be anything but. Plus on top of all that he hurt Bella and that I would not tolerate.
Turning towards my lifeline in complete concern I found myself feeling somewhat relieved. Since first seeing Beckett at graduation I knew there was a slight chance he could lose control and attempt something. Part of me was worried about it all week and now that he was gone I felt more at ease.
However he had hurt Bella. She was in pain and from the thunderous reception Beckett had received off of both Emmett and Jasper it became clear that there was more to this than met the eye.
Bella ran into my arms sobbing in my chest as she did so. It was my job to shield her from harm and I had failed yet again. No matter what we managed to survive through there was always something or someone else waiting to try and take her away from me.
It was as I kissed her tears away and assured her that everything would be ok, I realised I had never been more comfortable with the idea of her becoming like me. At least then she wouldn't be able to be harmed as easily.
"I'm so sorry Edward. It's my entire fault. I should have just stayed away from the house." My Bella mumbled as her crying came to a gradual stop.
"Bella no your place is with me and anyone who ever threatens you with harm has no place in this house and no place in any of our lives." I pushed.
"But Edward he's your best friend."
"He was my best friend and he stopped being that the moment he touched you. You and my family are all that I need and all that I want. Trust me." I smiled, pulling her face to mine for a kiss as she nodded in agreement.
Throughout this whole process Alice, Rose, Carlisle and Esme let the goings on happen as they listened in silence. Once Bella and I had calmed down and Carlisle had examined the bruise now clearly visible on my loves hip everyone came forward one after the other pulling me and Bella into gentle hugs and asking continuously if we would be ok.
"I will be ok. I just want tomorrow to be here already." Bella timidly smiled as I clutched her to my side.
"I feel the same way but I think we need to get everything out in the open." I confirmed.
Within a second of finishing my last sentence Jasper and Emmett came back through the door, satisfied smirks on their faces and rubbing their palms together.
"Don't fret brother, Beckett will not return." Jasper promised wholeheartedly.
"Yeah bruv we made sure of that." Emmett grinned.
"I want to know everything." I intensely asked, gesturing everyone into the living room as I continued to hold Bella at my side.
An hour later Emmett, Jasper and Bella had explained all to me, starting with overhearing the phone call about taking Rosalie, to Emmett approaching him in the forest and forcing him to leave. Then on to the 50 year ban Emmett had given him as he watched him escape right up to Emmett revealing all to Bella just a week previously.
"Why didn't you tell me Emmie?" Rose asked in sympathy at hearing her husband's burden.
"I didn't want you worried Rosie. I thought I had handled it and then this happens." Emmett responded placing his head in his hands.
"Emmett this is not your fault honey. You did what you thought was best." Esme promised him putting one hand on his shaking shoulder.
"She's right Emm. Beckett is the only one to blame for all this." I assured my brother along with agreeing nods from the other members of the family present.
I knew full well it was I who was responsible, at least in terms of what happened to Bella. I was always promising to keep her safe and just as many times I was failing. Bella hated me blaming myself for anything that found its way to us and I knew that now was not the best time to voice this opinion of mine. It would only cost Bella more discomfort than she was already feeling.
"Bella, I know you were trying to keep me happy but if anything had happened to you there would be nothing left for me. You are my only reason to stay alive. So please promise me that in the future you will tell me everything. No matter how you think I might react." I urged, cupping my Bella's face in hand.
"I promise." She answered in a whisper, placing her hand over my own and then leaning in for yet another tender kiss.
After an hour of sitting in utter silence, finally coming to terms with what had happened Alice broke the quiet atmosphere.
"Come on guys, let's put this all behind us. We have a wedding to look forward to tomorrow remember." She shrieked, jumping out of her chair in less than a second.
"Alice is right. Come on Bella, let's go back to your house as planned and the guys can have their stag do." Rosalie continued taking hold of Bella's free hand.
I wanted nothing more than to put the past behind us and now wanted to marry Bella more than ever if that's possible, but I still wasn't comfortable leaving Bella's side after everything. After all, now that I knew what Beckett was capable of there was no telling whether he would heade our warnings.
"I'm not sure about this Rose." Bella worried aloud and with a wary expression.
"Don't be silly, he's gone and if he even thought about coming back me and Alice could handle him." Rosalie assured.
"Rose, I am staying with Bella tonight and you and Alice will stay here with Emm and Jazz. None of us will feel right being apart anyway." I argued.
"I agree with Edward. We can properly celebrate the wedding at the reception and it is probably best that we all have some alone time with our partners." Carlisle finished with a smile, securely taking hold of Esme's hand.
"Fine," Alice and Rosalie shouted in unison, then both folding their arms simultaneously causing Bella to burst into a fit of laughter.
Just one look at Bella's red, creasing face as she continued her episode had us suddenly rolling around in our seats.
I couldn't believe how quickly we all seemed to be putting the Beckett scenario to the back of our minds. I mean it had only been a matter of hours, but it was what we needed to do. Emm and Jazz had assured us that Beckett would not return and if he ever did decide to take the risk I would be ready along with the rest of the family, so there was next to no reason to worry. The only thing I had to be nervous about now was keeping up the pretense of trying to forget about the threat Beckett posed to keep the girls calm and getting my vows right and I had them memorised.
Later on and after everyone had ceased with their laughing I decided it was time to get Bella home, fed and off to bed. We said our goodbyes, promising Alice that I would leave her with Bella in the morning at 6am sharp so she could get ready in the process and drove my love swiftly home.
What Bella didn't know however was whilst she was saying goodbye to our loved ones I had pulled Jasper, Emmett and Calisle aside one by one and warned them to stay on there guard. We all knew from experience that there was no doubt something else was just waiting to happen and how were we to know that that 'thing' wouldn't be Beckett trying to get revenge.
Once we were safely indoors and Bella had finished a full plate of vegetable lasagne it was time for her to get her 'beauty sleep' as she called it, so I lifted her upstairs and into bed.
10 minutes later Bella was washed, changed into her pj's and cosy under her warm comforter.
"Just think Edward. This is the last night I will fall to sleep as Bella Swan. This time tomorrow I shall be Mrs Bella Cullen." She grinned happily, settling comfortably in my arms.
"I know love and I can't wait." I smiled also pulling her even closer to my side.
"You are ok aren't you, after today?" I suddenly wondered after letting my thoughts run away with me.
"Yeah, I am fine as long as you are. I know how happy you were when he turned up at school." Bella answered running her hand up and down my cold chest soothingly.
"Yes I was happy but I didn't know the real Beckett then. I do now and I am ecstatic that he has gone forever." I confirmed taking hold of Bella's roaming hand and pressing my lips to it delicately. At least I hoped he was gone for good.
"Let's not speak of him ever again. We only have happy times ahead. Now get some sleep, we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow." I tried to convince stroking her hair which I was aware always made her sleepy quicker.
Within moments Bella's eyes were slowly closing and just before she drifted off completely she managed to say one last thing, "I love you Edward."
"I love you to Bella."
It was as I settled into my nightly routine of humming Bella's lullaby as she fell ever deeper that I became overwhelmed with excitement and I wished for the break of dawn.
Tomorrow would be the true beginning of my existence, an existence I would live through side by side with the woman of my dormant dreams. Well, that was if something or someone didn't try to tear us apart yet again.
Hopefully you liked the chapter so please review I would really appreciate it.
This story is far from over so that fact that Edward and rest of the Cullen have got so complacent so quickly might be a bad, bad thing.
