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Honeymoon Suite
Chapter 14: Misconceptions
BPOV
With a violent gasp, I jolted into consciousness.
I felt my eyes blinking, but I saw nothing but blackness. Scrunching my eyes closed tightly, I opened them again. Still I saw nothing but blinding darkness and heard nothing but deafening silence.
As I lay somewhere, confused and disoriented, I tried to recall my most recent memories for clues to where I was and how I came to be here. But my mind was clouded and sluggish. Memories lurked out of my grasp. Instinctively I called out.
"Edward?"
He had to be near -- somewhere close.
Feeling vulnerable, I blinked rapidly in the inky blackness desperately trying to regain my sight. At the same time I groped at my surroundings, hopeful the tactile input would clarify where I was. The material that encircled me felt and smelled familiar. Willing my brain to put things together, I finally placed it - I was in Edward's bed - our bed. With a grateful sigh and release of tension, I concluded I was safely at my new home.
But how did I get here? I searched my memories again as some of the fog had begun to lift. I flushed with warmth as I remembered sultry, salty breezes, star-filled night skies, bright colors and intimate images of my recent honeymoon. All too soon a rush of coldness followed as my mind flashed recollections of hidden faces lurking inside hooded cloaks, a child in trouble, angry words in Portuguese, and Edward's pained facial features.
Lastly, I remembered a nudge in my belly.
I was recalling sights and feelings, but only in jagged pieces like a jigsaw puzzle dumped from the box -- all the pieces were there, but their order presented no cohesive image. What was real and what was imagined? Actually none of them seemed to fit reality -- but what of my life did?
The real question was which were part of my dream come true and which part of a fleeting nightmare?
Frustrated, I called out again into the suffocating shadows, "Edward!" I very much needed something concrete to grab on to and ground me in some reality!
A screaming pain shot through me like the slice of a sharp blade as I sat up. Clutching the source of the pain, I doubled over and panic engulfed me. Why was I in so much agony? Did I fall and hit my head? Wouldn't surprise me. But why would my stomach hurt?
Something had gone terribly wrong - I was missing much of my memory and I felt different. I vaguely remember feeling complete and now I was feeling...achingly empty.
Someone had the answers. Damn it!
I moved to throw my legs out of the bed, knowing I would have to grope in the blackness to find the door. But my body did not respond. I frantically reached for my immobile legs, grabbing and squeezing them to assure myself they were there - they were, but I could not feel my hands upon them.
What was happening to me!
"Edward! Edward! Help!" I screamed, feeling like a prisoner, not only in this room, but also in my own body.
I struggled to pull myself to the edge of the bed with my arms, cringing in pain and yet knowing I would have to endure much more as I would have to fall to the floor before I could attempted to drag myself to the door.
"Someone help me!" I called out again. Damn vampires - they had to hear me!
The blankets were wrapped tightly around me, hampering my movement. Suddenly, the room pitched and rolled about me and waves of nausea demanded all my attention.
As the sensation passed, I opened my mouth to cry out again... Just that quickly and silently, he was at my side, freeing me from the jumble of bindings.
"It's okay, Bella. All is well now," he soothed in his velveteen voice, pulling me to his familiar hard chest and stroking my hair.
"It's so dark, I can't see! And I can't move my legs!"
"Shhhh, you'll be fine soon. Let the medication where off. You need to rest. It's done."
Done? What's done?
Immediately, almost instinctively, my hands flew to my aching abdomen. "My baby," I whispered. Wordlessly, Edward's hands gently folded over mine. Without speaking, he had confirmed that part of my memory was real! My nightmares and dreams colliding. My baby was real - it was all coming back to me now through the drug-induced fog.
I grabbed at Edward in a hysterical panic as his words from the island tore through my mind, "We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part of you. Don't be scared. I won't let it hurt you."
"What did you do? What did you do to me, Edward?" I shrieked at him as fear threatened to constrict my throat closed. I shoved him, wanting to flee from what my gut knew to be true but my mind could not reconcile.
I pushed against him so hard, I tumbled to the floor, bringing down upon me a pile of bedding. I struggled in the cavern of covers, clawing at them for release.
"Bella! Stop! You are going to make it worse. You need to heal," Edward's urgent voice boomed around me.
No! My baby! Our baby! Have to protect it! My safe haven had become the house of horrors! My child forcibly taken from me!
Without warning, the covers were ripped away and I again was blinded. This time by the sudden, intense brightness that blotted everything from my sight.
My arms flailed still seeking escape as my mind raced, but Edward easily locked my arms to my sides and I lay powerless, wracked with pain, on the floor as my eyes adjusted to the lighting.
"Stop, Bella. It wasn't a baby - it was a thing..."
My eyes finally focused on Edward's face as it hovered only inches from mine. His intense crimson eyes filled my sight.
"No, Edward! No!"
My world froze before spinning violently and nausea gripped me again. I had been betrayed, rendered unconscious and raped of my child. It was the blood of my baby reflecting in the blazing redness of Edward's eyes! All that remained of what we had created in love was glaring with malice at me as I writhed in vain under Edward's steely grip.
"It had to go, Bella! Carlisle and I removed it the only way we could..."
"No! How could you do this to me!"
The physical and emotional pain flowing uncontrolled through my body congealed in to one force that shattered all that I believed to be true about the man I loved. My protector had betrayed and violated me. I relented. The fight had poured out of me and my whole body went limp. I had nothing left, not even hope.
* * *
EPOV
"No! Edward!"
Bella had been sleeping soundly since the flight left Rio, however, she suddenly started vocalizing in her slumber. The same heated crucifying words whispered over and over again.
Then the words changed as did the volume and feeling in which they were spoken.
"No! How could you do this to me?"
Each word slashed through me, injuring me more than anything physical ever could. Her subconscious was speaking the truth her too-kind conscious would never vocalize.
Her arms began to thrash, her breathing escalated, and her heart rate kicked into overdrive.
Alarmed, I touched her to wake her, but she was clutched too tightly in her vivid nightmare. I could feel the eyes of the passengers on the plane shifting to us. I did my best to block out their burning inquiries-- and my own internal berating voice. "Bella, honey, wake up," I pleaded urgently as I moved to catch her arms lest she harm herself.
When her eyes flew open the look in them was wild and defiant -- it frightened me to my core. It was as if she didn't recognize me -- or indeed, was seeing what I really was for the first time. In shock, I freed her arms immediately.
Her hands moved rapidly to her abdomen, frantically rubbing the bump that was increasingly noticeable under her shirt. She ran her hands over it, comprehending the nightmare was real. She was pregnant.
For the first time since we left the island, I dared to touch her affectionately. I deserved the punishment of restraint when it came to touching her -- it was too much to ask after defiling her body in such an inexcusable way. I had made my existence literally her burden to bear.
Yet I felt the need to somehow bring her comfort.
I let my hand come to rest on her hands where they lay on her slight roundness.
She recoiled from my touch. It was subtle, but present none the less. I retracted my hand.
We sat again in silence, the apology that left my lips too soft to be heard by human ears.
"How much longer until we land in Texas?" she inquired after fifteen minutes and forty-five seconds of muteness.
"Another hour. Do you need anything?"
"I'm cold."
Reaching overhead, I rang for the flight attendant.
"Yes, Mr. Cullen?"
"My wife needs a blanket, please."
"Of course, I'll get one for you."
The attendant moved fluidly to the first-class overhead compartments with a congenial smile, though her thoughts dwelt on how we looked too young to be married and our lack of color concerned her. Seeing Bella and I through her eyes haunted me -- Bella's paleness mirrored my own and we both bore the same dark shadows under our eyes.
In a daze I took the light blanket from the woman. I opened it and lay it gently across Bella. Without looking at me, she pulled it around her like a protective shield, shifting toward the window and curling into herself -- shutting me out. Though she feigned sleep, I could see her open sallow eyes reflected in the glass of the window. A new fear gripped me: how long did I have to save her? What harm was being done to her body to already be seen in her eyes?
We traveled in mostly silence. Our conversations reserved for only the most basic inquiries. It was agony. Not knowing her thoughts, yet too afraid to ask for them. She feared me, she feared the future and yet here I was -- ever present, close to her when I'm sure she only wanted to put as much space between us as possible.
As we boarded our final flight, I contemplated staying behind in Houston. Carlisle and Esme would be there to greet Bella at the airport in Washington -- they would care for her.
I started to slow as we walked though the bustling terminal to our gate, eventually coming to stop. Bella continued several more steps before glancing over her shoulder in realization I was no longer walking next to her. She stopped and looked back at me. Her face was an emotionless mask, her eyes dull and tired. Her fire extinguished.
"Edward, the gate is this way," she offered in a curious but otherwise flat tone.
I started to shake my head slowly, not knowing what I was going to do.
To my dismay, Bella returned the look. She seemed unsure as well. What the hell are we going to do now?
Coward! It yelled in my head. You infect her and then leave her? She does deserve better than you! Go ahead, let Carlisle clean up your mess -- again. Run, run away like you always do...
"No," I stated out loud. "Not this time."
"What?" Bella asked, obviously confused.
"Nothing, just talking to myself, I guess," I dismissed my outburst and quickly caught up with her. I may not deserve her and she may opt to leave me, but I would not abandon my responsibility this time.
"I'm so very tired, Edward," Bella whimpered once we began toward the gate.
Tentatively I reached around her to support her, hearing in her voice that she did not want to admit she needed assistance. I bore most her weight to the flight gate, thankful I was again able to secure a first class seat. We boarded immediately upon arrival at the gate. I wrapped Bella in a blanket and she quickly fell into a deep, silent sleep until our landing...
"Bella? Bella, wake up. We've landed," I weakly shook her shoulder.
"We're here? Home?"
"Almost. Carlisle and Esme are waiting for us."
"Anyone else?"
"I don't think so...I don't know for sure." I tried to isolate the minds of my family to confirm who was here, but there were just too many excited thoughts surrounding me on the plane. So many plans and overflowing anticipation of happy reunions -- it made me sorrowful. I would be reunited with my family -- then Bella and I would again be the object of pity.
Gathering our carry-ons, I ushered Bella ahead of me to the front of the plane.
The female flight attendant beamed at us as we approached the door.
"Good bye Mr. and Mrs. Cullen -- and congratulations!" Her eyes flashed to Bella's hands as they clutched her budding belly and winked knowingly at her.
Bella stifled a muted cry and moved quickly passed the woman. I shot her a wounding glare, immediately feeling remorse for frightening her like that.
Gliding up next to Bella, I placed an arm around her waist. She still appeared very tired despite her nap and she moved stiffly. I searched impatiently ahead of us for the familiar minds of my parents. Finally hearing their presence brought a much needed sense of relief...until I sensed another familiar, though unwelcome, mind.
Why the hell was Rosalie here?
CPOV
Once at the airport, we waited for Edward and Bella in the baggage claim area. I had already retrieved their bags having identified them by scent. I stole brief glimpses at Rosalie, still wondering why I was standing next to her and not the more likely candidate on this mission: Alice.
Esme gasped audibly when she saw them and I quickly realized why. It appeared Bella had truly become a Cullen - her skin was chalky pale and the shadows under her slightly sunken eyes were dark. My gaze moved rapidly from Bella's to her husband's. Edward's eyes were already fiercely locked on mine. I didn't need his gift to hear his pleas of urgency.
Bella trailed behind Edward as he held her hand. She offered us a tentative smile as they approached.
Although Esme reached out to Bella, in a burst of energy, Bella charged into Rosalie's open arms.
"Let's go home, Bella. Don't worry, I'll take care of you," Rose crooned as she placed an arm around Bella's shoulders and escorted her toward the exit.
Esme and I were dumbfounded by this unlikely scene and staggered for a moment deciding whether to catch up with Rose and Bella or retrieve Edward who seemed to be rooted to the spot where Bella had just left him.
"Edward?" Esme called to him, but he appeared to be in a state of shock. Her words jolted him back to reality. His wide eyes met ours, but his voice was of utter disbelief. "She's protecting it."
Several passers-by began to eye Edward's unnaturally immobile form. I closed the space between us and murmured, "Son, start walking."
He stumbled forward as I grabbed their bags. Esme and I flanked Edward as he continued to mumble. "She won't let us touch her. She thinks it is her duty to protect it."
"Edward, whatare you talking about?"
He froze and looked at me incredulously. "Rose's mind is set. She won't let anyone near Bella or...the baby...as she thinks of it."
I grabbed him by the upper arm to keep him moving. We needed privacy - and quickly - Edward was falling apart.
When our stunned little group caught up with Rose and Bella, they were already in the back of the Mercedes. I loaded the suitcases in the trunk and hurried to the driver's side of the car, pausing only to snag the parking ticket that fluttered on the windshield. What was the point of a loading zone anyway?
Edward leaned in through the still open back door and glared at Rose, who maintained an arm around Bella. Esme came up behind Edward and spoke into his ear, "Sit up front with Carlisle. There's more room. I'll check on Bella."
Still reeling from the sudden turn of events, Edward slowly moved up front as Esme slid in next to Bella and shut the door. I sped away concerned that World War III was about to break out - vampire style. Edward's hands trembled on his knees as he sat stoically next to me. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see Rose stroking Bella's hair as Bella rested her head on Rose's shoulder.
Then the momentary window of silence was shattered.
"You have no right, Rose," Edward hissed through clenched teeth.
"Neither do you, Edward," she replied with venom in her voice.
"Need I remind you that I am her husband?"
"You don't own her! She wants this baby. End of story. Or are you going to rip the baby out of her against her will, dear loving husband?"
"Rose, stop," Bella pleaded. I was unsure what troubled her more, the arguing or the visual Rosalie had just created.
Edward plowed on, "What do you know of what Bella wants? All I hear is you speaking poison in her ear."
Edward stiffened in his seat and a look of agony crossed his face before Rosalie resumed her defense.
"Afraid I'll tell her the truth, Edward? That she doesn't have to do everything you say? That she can make her own decisions? This may be her only chance to have a baby - before her humanity is taken from her." Rose's voice was escalating.
"We don't know what it is. I won't let it consume Bella for its needs." Edward was again speaking through his teeth but his voice somehow louder than Rosalie's.
They both were drowning out Bella's requests for the bickering to stop.
"No you won't, Rose!" Edward responded vehemently to Rosalie's unspoken thoughts.
"Really?" she mocked. "You try to stop me." It was not a threat, but a promise she spoke.
"I'll destroy you before I let it harm Bella." Edward's tone left no doubt he would follow through with his threat.
"Emmett may have something to say about that," Rose smirked.
"Enough!" Esme shouted over the bickering as Bella gestured she was about to vomit.
I pulled over and Bella leaned over Rose's lap to heave out the car door.
"See, you're upsetting her!" Rose's accusation flew at Edward while she held Bella's hair.
Edward's fingers began to curl into fists, but his anger was now secondary to Bella's suffering.
Bella leaned back into the car, wiping her mouth. "Please, Carlisle, can we go home?" she begged hoarsely.
"Of course, dear. Buckle up." I switched off the headlights and slammed the gas pedal to the floor. This twist in events was unexpected. My eyes searched the rearview mirror for Esme and I tried to read what she was thinking.
"She's thinking of her son. Her real son," Edward offered up in a hushed tone.
His face was set like stone - he was preparing for something I hadn't anticipated. This was a battle for life and death. Bella would fight for the life of the baby. Edward would fight to avoid the death of his wife.
Minds were set, lines had been drawn, and our family was to be splintered.
A/N: As a reviewer on Twi said, "And the adventure begins..." So well put.
What was it that Rose thought in the car that put Edward in such agony? That will start the next chapter...so stay tuned.
This story has a new banner custom made by m81170 featured on the thread at Twilighted -- check it out. As always, you are invited to hang out at Isle Esme at www(dot)twilighted(dot)net/forum/viewtopic(dot)php?f=52&t=6768)
Big hugs to my prereader RosaBella75 and my beta RowanMoon -- Two lovely ladies I consider friends and help me overcome my numerous insecurities.
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