Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay. Here's the next part and I hope it lives up to expectations so far. Many thanks as always to my beta JenJenSon. I would also like to mention that the trailers for this story are on youtube and the links are on my profile page so please check them out, share them and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, the characters and make no money from this story it is purely for entertainment purposes.

Wounds

Bella POV

"Bella?" a familiar voice asked. My head snapped up in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She sat down next to me on the bench and I let out a sigh of relief. "You gave everyone a bit of a scare you know? It's far too dangerous for you to wander off alone given the current situation."

"I know." I murmured. "But I think I've already asked enough from your family don't you?"

"Bella what you did may have been wrong but I don't blame you for it." Esme said softly. "I truly think of you as one of my own and I have spent nearly a century by Carlisle's side; I just wish one of you had told me the truth."

"We meant to, but to start with we tried to pretend nothing had happened. I thought it would go away." I replied, my voice cracked halfway through but I was trying desperately not to cry. What right did I have? Esme was the injured party here more so than anyone else. "We had only decided that we couldn't ignore it the night he brought me to the house, when Alice had her visions. Of course there were other things that got in the way first and then it was too late."

"I should have guessed." She sighed. "I knew something was wrong but I just assumed he'd had enough of pretending. Did he tell you he asked me for a divorce a month ago? We started the paperwork a few days ago."

"He mentioned it but only the other day...I didn't know he was considering it for so long. I'm sorry Esme, I really am." I sobbed. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Esme wrapped her arm around my shoulders and I heard her take a few unnecessary deep breaths and a small sob of her own.

"I know, you can't help who you love and I know Carlisle and I aren't meant to be anymore. I just thought that after all of these years the least he owed me was the truth." She whispered. "But that's Carlisle for you, instead I bet he spent hours in his study feeling guilty and ashamed when all he had to do was tell the truth."

"You would have really been ok with that?" I asked quietly.

"The whole family loves you Bella, you belong with us." She replied. "It would have worked out just fine. It will work out just fine. We just all need to let time heal the wounds and get on with it, believe me running off isn't going to fix Edward and Carlisle's problems."

"I just felt like it was all my fault." I sighed, hanging my head.

"I think there are at least two others who you can share the blame with Bella, no one is perfect." She smiled. "Now since Alice let me have a head start I can guarantee that Carlisle will be here any moment. I should leave you two alone."

"Thank you." I said, hugging her as tight as I could. "For everything." I watched her dark coat blow behind her and listened to the clicking of her heeled boots as she went and then cried. Esme's husband had cheated on her with her son's ex-girlfriend and she was the one sat here comforting me...making sure I didn't leave. I laid down on the bench and thrust my fingers into my hair in frustration. Now what? I couldn't leave now, not if it wasn't going to do any good...

Carlisle POV

I could smell her now, she was close. I span around searching for her and sure enough my eyes locked on her small form curled up on the station bench. I approached her quietly and crouched down next to her.

"How many times are we going to do this Bella mia?" I asked her softly.

"Sorry." She whispered, wiping fresh tears from her face. I leant closer and stroked her face, her skin so soft and warm.

"I love you Bella, do not make me give you up so soon." I murmured, taking her hand and pressing it tightly against my lips. It was then I caught another scent. "Esme?"

"She was here." Bella replied. "She came to talk to me." I felt myself frown slightly, realising that Alice must have told her where Bella was before she had told me, knowing how worried I was...

Bella sat up and I took a seat next to her on the bench, still clasping her hand tightly in mine, afraid to let her go.

"She was comforting me Carlisle." She sobbed, her body practically collapsing against mine as she cried harder. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her closer. "She should hate me."

"Ssh...Esme could never hate you." I soothed. "Never." I waited while she calmed down and stopped crying. After a few moments of silence had passed she finally broke it.

"What happens now?"

"We go home." I told her. "It is not the same in that house without you Isabella Marie Swan, so I am afraid you are stuck with us."

"Okay." She said quietly, a small smile gracing her lips as I stood and offered her my hand. "Let's go home then." She flushed as she took my hand and I tugged her lightly to her feet. There was no turning back, no walking away; this was Bella and I from now on.

Bella POV

Carlisle released my hand almost immediately leaving me with a stab of disappointment before he slid his arm around my waist, securing me next to him. I saw the women watching us, I felt like the luckiest girl in the entire world right then. Carlisle truly was handsome, beautiful even and having him holding me so close to him, showing everyone I was his...caused butterflies in my stomach almost as strong as his kisses did.

"So what exactly did you tell your father in regard to your impromptu disappearance?" he asked me as we exited the train station. I let out a groan of horror and hung my head.

"I left him a note; we have to see if we can get to it before he does." I said.

"I shall call Alice when we reach the car park and ask her to deal with it." He assured me.

"On the topic of cars..." I started; he turned to face me as we reached the car park. "I sort of killed mine on the way here..."

"Killed it in what way?" he asked amused.

"It broke down just round the corner; I probably have a parking fine by now." I replied.

"I'll get it towed." He sighed. I smiled at him gratefully. He sure enough called for a tow and much to my amazement I hadn't yet received a ticket so that was a bonus. I followed him to his car and he called Alice to explain about the note. He spoke fast and low, so I missed most of their conversation. He smirked slightly as he hung up and started the car. "Were you really planning to visit and colleges on your way to Jacksonville?"

"I was considering it." I said defensively. I felt nervous...Carlisle and I hadn't really had much of a chance to spend time together freely. Everything so far had been stolen kisses and rushed encounters and suddenly we were allowed to be together.

"Is there a reason that you look so smug over there Miss Swan?" Carlisle asked, pulling onto the 101 that would take us to Forks. I noticed that he was driving particularly slowly, could he have just realised the very same thing I had? Or was he just playing human particularly well?

"Time." I replied softly. A small smile crossed his face and he reached for my hand.

"If it were not for the current predicament Bella I would certainly be treating you to dinner instead of heading straight home." He murmured. "Never the less, Alice seems confident that whatever is happening will be very soon and then we will all have one less thing to worry about."

"Carlisle, you don't eat. I hardly think it's necessary for you to take me to dinner." I laughed, drawing a chuckle from his lips also.

"If it makes you uncomfortable what would you rather?" he asked.

"I don't know...I've never really thought about it." I replied honestly. "I'll let you know if I think of anything."

I must have dozed off because when I next opened my eyes I was in a bed. The bed was huge and covered with violet sheets; the pillows were so soft I hesitated in sitting up. I glanced around and realised that this must be Alice and Jasper's room. I spotted the enormous closet and vanity immediately before noticing the smaller closet on the opposite side with a pair of work boots sat in front of it, the door not fully shut and the sleeve of a shirt trapped in it. There were lilies in a vase on Alice's side of the bed and a small stack of old, well read books on the other. It was touching to see how different the couple were and yet how they shared this space.

"Good morning sleeping beauty." Jasper's voice drawled causing me to jump. He sat on the floor near the window...in face he looked like he'd been there the whole time. "Sorry to startle you."

"What time is it?" I asked groggily.

"Mid-afternoon." He replied.

"How long have you been in here?" I asked nervously.

"Sorry Bella, the past few months have been rather awkward for me with all the emotional roller coasters." He explained. "When you're asleep, if I just focus on your emotions I get to sleep too."

"What like actually sleeping?"

"Well, not exactly." He admitted. "But it's like a shut down for me, it's a relief."

"Oh, well I'm glad my being human has at least one redeeming quality." I grinned. He got up and sat on the bed next to me.

"Bella, we all love you. You have no reason not to have every confidence in yourself." He told me firmly, dropping his arm over my shoulders. "Alice once told me that there would be more people to join our family before it was complete; you're like that darlin', one of the missing pieces." I leant against him as he squeezed my shoulder.

"Thank you." I murmured. He got up and moved to the bedroom door, the minute he opened it, a cheerful Alice entered with a plate in hand. She presented me with the plate containing a sandwich and then a cup of coffee from her other hand.

"Surprise!" she grinned.

"Alice, it's mid-afternoon why are you brining me food in bed?" I laughed. Jasper excused himself from the room and Alice sat herself cross-legged at the end of the bed.

"Because you haven't eaten lunch yet and I thought you'd be more comfortable eating and tidying yourself up without an audience." She replied. I leant my head to the right to glance in the mirror as Alice stifled a giggle.

"Yeah, good idea." I agreed. "I can't believe you guys managed to get me from the car to here without me even waking up."

"Well, you did wake up, sort of." Alice grinned. "When Carlisle and I brought you up here you told Carlisle he smelt nice and when I tucked you in you obviously thought it was Carlisle because you asked me for a kiss."

"I did what?" I gasped, feeling myself flush.

"Yeah you did, but I only kissed your forehead." She replied. "I love you, but I didn't want to risk being pulled into a steamy kiss with my sister."

"Oh god, can I die now?" I groaned.

"So eager for death?" Edward's voice chimed.

"Is every member of this family going to march in here to witness the human in bed?" I asked.

"My apologies." Edward smiled. "I was just coming to request a talk with you, when you're done in here of course."

"Um...sure." I nodded, biting my lip.

Half an hour later I followed Edward out into the garden. The ground was soggy beneath my feet but it was no longer raining.

"Where are we going?" I asked him, as he started into the trees at the edge of the garden.

"Just a little way into the words, I wanted to talk to you in private." He replied. "Don't worry, Emmett and Carlisle and some of the wolves are running patrol right now and we won't be long." I nodded and followed him until he stopped in a small clearing. "Bella I just wanted to talk about everything."

"I'm sorry." I burst out. He spun around and took both my hands in both of his.

"I'm sorry too." He said softly. "I should have just told you I was leaving and why."

"Why did you leave exactly?" I asked, thinking back to the accident just before Christmas...it seemed so long ago now.

"Bella, I love you but...Alice was right the whole time. You don't belong to me." He whispered.

"That's just it Edward, I don't belong to anybody." I told him, tugging my hands away from his. "That is the exact problem we have. I love you, but we don't work. I can't have you choosing my whole life for me, even if it's what you think is best for me. I deserve to make my own choices and my own mistakes."

"I was only trying to protect you." He replied quietly. "But you're right, I handled things badly. I cannot lie and say it doesn't affect me to see you with someone else, especially Carlisle; but I can't stop you either. He loves you. My whole family loves you."

"I know." I whispered. It was true; I knew that they loved me. I saw it and felt it in everything we did together. I had never felt anything like it.

"What happened with Leah...I'm sorry about how it happened and how you found out but I will never be sorry it happened." He said, his face twisting with emotion.

"You love her." I nodded, realising that he really did love her. "Then I'm happy for you."

"Things may be awkward to start with but Bella I'll always be a part of your life. I'll always be here." He said, stroking my cheek softly. "And you couldn't have found anyone better than Carli-"

"Edward?" I asked. "What is it?"

"I can hear their thoughts they're close." He said. "Jacob and Leah found them."

"Where?"

"They're outnumbered."

"Go." I told him.

"No, that's what they want, you alone and unprotected." He said, shaking his head. "they'll already know you're here." He snapped his head to the right suddenly and a howl broke out, I saw his face contort and I knew he was making a tough decision.

"Go!" I shouted. "Help them!"

More to come! Remember reviews make me type faster meaning you get a horny Carlisle sooner!