Disclaimer: These characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Not even five minutes had passed since Felix had drawn his blade across Bella's throat. No one had time to react before, suddenly, the dead girl's body bucked violently in Edward's arms.
"Bella?" he cried, unsure what was happening. Her eyes were still closed. He had seen bodies twitch after death, but this was something altogether different.
He settled her on her back again and almost instantly her body arched, almost bending straight in half with her middle pointed toward the heavens. Her eyes flew open and she rolled to her side, expelling the blood that was in her lungs with ugly, choking coughs. Her coughs subsided just in time for her to scream once, a horrible scream filled with unimaginable pain, before she slumped to the ground again, her eyes closed.
But her chest continued to rise and fall.
Unconscious, but very, very much alive.
Before anyone had time to process this miracle, another horrible scream filled the air. Not Bella – her eyelids remained closed. Edward could hardly stand to take his eyes off her, fearing that she would stop breathing again, but it was his mother who'd screamed.
"Carlisle?" she cried, on her knees beside her husband's too still body. Though she didn't let go of Felix's arm, Alice suddenly screamed wordlessly, her face pale as she searched for her father's future and found nothing.
Then, Edward understood what had happened.
Years before, when Edward had come of age and joined the guild in an official capacity, he'd had a choice to study magic or join as a fighter. His father had told him everything about his days with the Volturi, and all the ancient texts that were still being unearthed – the great powers that could be his to control. Edward had chosen not to wield those mystical powers, uncertain of whether he'd have his father's strength not to use some of them.
Among the spells that his father spoke of was a rite of sacrifice – giving your own fire of life to another. Once done, it could not be undone.
It had only been seconds before that he thought he would have traded anything so that Bella could live again. The price for his love, his life, to live was for his father's death.
Abruptly, the pure pain he'd felt only moments earlier was replaced by a near total anger. He hardly recognized the guttural cry that rang through the air as his own. He didn't even recognize that he was moving until he had flung himself at Felix, knocking the bigger man right out of Alice and Jasper's grasp.
"Murderer!" he yelled amidst a string of profanities. His fists flew, and though Felix was physically stronger than Edward, the younger man was running on adrenaline and pure hate. They were fairly evenly matched.
Both men ignored the cries around them, going at each other too quickly to be stopped by the hands that attempted to restrain them. Edward had just gotten Felix into a wicked headlock, when he suddenly sat bolt upright, releasing his uncle abruptly. His face twisted into a mask of pure pain, a single cry of anguish coming out of him as if pulled forcibly from the center of his being. His body twisted as he crumpled to the floor in agony.
Jane, her face furious, stood over him, repeatedly twisting a needle into a simple poppet. "You arrogant fool," she spat, looking down on him. "What made you think you could hurt my son?"
She didn't even see Esme rise from where she'd been holding Carlisle's still form, so Jane did not expect it when a well-placed fist collided with her face. The ageless woman fell to the ground, dropping her poppet as she put a shocked hand to her face. "What made you think you could hurt mine?" Esme challenged. Her fists were clenched at her sides and she looked as if she would easily kill anyone who dared to hurt her family again.
~0~
Bella regained consciousness in increments.
Hearing came back first, though that too was slow. At first the voices and sounds around her were like buzzing. She began to differentiate between the sharp, angry noises and the gentle, warm tones. There was one in particular – a familiar, loving voice with an almost musical cadence.
She struggled, trying to concentrate and make the buzzing become real words, but she was too tired and the blackness took her again.
Feeling came next, and that was not as welcome. On the one hand she could feel a warm bed with soft, silken sheets. She could feel a larger hand holding hers, though she couldn't squeeze it as she wanted to. On the other hand – she also felt the twinges of pain. Her chest ached, sometimes with sharp twinges. Her throat felt worse than it had after James had choked her.
Darkness took her again.
When consciousness returned, the pain doubled, but Bella took that as a good sign. It meant she was closer to being able to open her eyes. She focused on her hand - just a little squeeze.
"Bella?"
His voice eased some of the anxiety she felt at being so trapped in her own body. He sounded relieved, hopeful. She tried to speak but couldn't find her lips, so she squeezed again. He sighed a shuddering sigh, and she felt her hand lift. There was a the slightly wet feel of his lips against her skin, his warm breath on her hand. "Open your eyes," he murmured near her ear.
Bella tried hard to comply, desperate to see him. Flashes of memories were coming back to her. The long weeks apart from him. James's sneering face and bloody body. The feel of Felix's knife across her throat. Being unable to breathe.
What had happened?
She felt so weak and lethargic. Still, she was determined to open her eyes this time. She needed to see him.
It took several minutes and a lot of coaxing from Edward, but finally her eyelids fluttered. Her vision was hazy at first but then she was able to see him clearly.
Gods, he looked like hell. There were deep circles under his eyes - so dark that it seemed like he'd smudged them with coal. His face was bruised, a small gash from someone's heavy ring on his right cheek. Those wounds looked recent.
But he was smiling, and he was so angelically beautiful that if Bella hadn't known better, she might have thought she was heaven bound after all. He cupped her cheek tenderly with the hand that wasn't holding hers, stroking with his thumb as he gazed down on her. "How I've missed you, Bella," he whispered. "You can't even begin to fathom."
She opened her mouth to argue but no sound came out. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Shhh, don't try to talk," Edward soothed her. "Your vocal chords won't work yet."
Her eyes flew to his, anxious. "It's not permanent," he assured. He smiled softly. "A few days, perhaps, and then you can get back to arguing with me."
Bella breathed a sigh of relief - or tried to, anyway. Then she winced at the sharp pain in her chest. "I'm so sorry, love," Edward said, looking so guilty. "It seems I broke a couple of your ribs while I was trying to restart your heart."
She squeezed his hand tightly. Of all the things to apologize for...
Then Bella's eyebrows furrowed again. Carlisle could easily mend a simple broken rib or three. If he had not...
Her eyes went wide and pleaded with him. Dread built up in her when he dropped her gaze, a mournful expression coming over his features. "You should go back to sleep," he said quickly, not wanting to give her all the details.
Stubborn as ever, she shook her head vehemently. Edward sighed, raising her hand to his lips again as he summoned the words. "We couldn't save you. You..." he cut off abruptly, closing his eyes against the memory. "You died in my arms. I felt your presence leave your body," he whispered.
"Then, out of nowhere you were breathing again," he said, omitting the fountain of blood, the tremors that had rocked her body and the blood curdling scream that would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life. "My father... Bella, he had made his decision before anyone realized what had happened." He took a deep breath, looking up and watching her eyes fill with tears. "It was a spell - the one Aro always knew he could master. His life for yours."
Bella's eyes closed, a despair coming over her that was so thick she could scarcely breathe. Her life for his... it was not an even trade, not by a long shot. He was a father, a husband and the beloved leader of a guild who needed him. Her eyes opened and she looked at Edward with an expression full of sorrow and guilt.
"Please, Bella," he whispered, stroking the tears from her cheeks as they fell. "This isn't your fault. He knew that I couldn't be without you. He knew that to lose you would be to lose us both. Please," he begged. "No one blames you. No one at all."
In response, Bella scooted over in the bed. At first, Edward's heart clenched, thinking that she was folding in on herself, but then he realized she was only making room for him. She implored him with her eyes to lay with her. It was a wide, comfortable bed and he looked so tired. She just wanted to hold him because she knew the toll losing his father must have taken on him.
Edward didn't hesitate. He'd long ago kicked off his boots and wore only a simple cloth shirt and pants. He lay in bed, quickly gathering her close to him so that every inch of her body was touching part of his. With Bella finally awake and safe in his arms, he finally let himself feel the events of the day. He buried his face against her neck and it wasn't even a minute later that she felt hot tears against her skin.
They cried themselves to the point of exhaustion. It was, for Edward especially, cathartic. He knew that the next few weeks, his grief would be powerful, but it would not be crippling with Bella at his side. He pulled away from her slightly, letting his grief turn into joy at being able to hold her again.
Because he knew that his father had given him a gift that not many ever got. She should have died that morning, leaving him entirely alone until he found a way to join her. He would never take a single one of Bella's breaths for granted. He kissed her reverently then, starting with feather brushes at her forehead and working his way down to her lips. Then he kissed her slowly until they both fell asleep.
~0~
Sometime after Edward and Bella fell asleep, the door to their suite opened, and a figure stood in the doorway. He was only alone for a few minutes before he was joined by a second figure.
Marcus looked his niece over. Though her eyes were red from crying she held herself straight and tall. She unconsciously rubbed her hand – sore from where she hit her wicked step-mother.
Her lips quirked up slightly when she saw her son and Bella tangled in each other's arms, finally sleeping peacefully. The ache in her heart lessened infinitesimally.
"Would that you could see what I see, my dear," Marcus murmured, his voice monotone as ever. "The ties that bind them are strong and vibrant. The brightest and most unbreakable I've seen since…" he trailed off, and Esme didn't need him to finish.
Even after all these years, Marcus could not say his wife's name. Didyme had refused to make the journey to immortality with Marcus. What she didn't know was that it was too late for him. He had already done what he needed to ensure his longevity. After Didyme died, Marcus had no choice but to live. That was when he'd lost his luster for life – when his voice became as dead and flat as a wilted flower.
There was no doubt in Marcus' mind that Carlisle had saved his son's life with his actions. "I do regret, though, that things went as they did."
Esme's lips tightened to a thin, hard line.
"Aro has offered a place in our burial grounds for Carlisle, and a hero's funeral," Marcus said plainly.
Esme scoffed. "As soon as Bella is well enough to travel, I'm taking him home where he belongs. Where he is truly loved."
Marcus nodded, expecting as much. "We have among us now a couple of very skilled druids. They are opening a portal that will lead you only a few miles outside of Forkshire," he intoned. "It will be ready by daybreak."
For the first time, Esme turned to look at her uncle, surprised by his words. If he'd had any emotion left in him he would have offered her a kind smile. Instead he said, "We are not all heartless creatures. Carlisle was a good man, and your Bella seems like a strong woman. Neither one deserved to be sacrificed. All things considered, though, I am glad that your father is not getting what he wanted."
Esme pursed her lips, considering his words. "Won't you come with us, Uncle?" she asked softly. "If you don't agree with him, why do you serve him?"
"I've my own daughter to consider," Marcus responded after a moment. "My gift is useful to Aro. He knows that my feelings have changed since we followed Jane and Alec to immortality, but he also knows I will not put Chelsea in danger."
He cleared his throat then and seemed to stand a bit taller. "Sleep if you can. I will have two carriages ready for you at dawn."
"Thank you, Uncle," Esme said softly, taking his hand and squeezing it to show her sincerity. He only nodded in response, but squeezed back with the lightest of pressures.
~0~
The town was just coming alive for the day when the two carriages pulled into Forkshire.
Leading was the funeral carriage. The back of the carriage was ornate – a glass covered carriage bed lined with ornately carved wood, painted black. Carlisle's body rested peacefully atop of silk cushions. In the raised driver's platform, Esme was tucked between Alice and Jasper. Occasional tears leaked from the the corners of her eyes but she held herself tall and proud as they entered the city.
Behind them was a plainer, but very comfortable, carriage. Laurent and Irina rode up front while Edward, Bella and Angela, who had been collected from the farmhouse in the nearby town, rode in the covered cab. Edward pushed aside the curtain so he could see what was going on.
Of course, news of Carlisle's death hadn't had time to reach Forkshire, so the townspeople reacted with horror and surprise when they saw the funeral carriage. From the window, Edward saw Jessica and Lauren look up, and their hands go to their mouths. He saw a few of the Knights ride up beside their carriage, and heard them inquire after Bella and Angela. Irina responded that they were well, and the Knights rode forward, offering Esme and Alice their sincere condolences before they rode off to tell Sir Charles the news.
As they made their way through Forkshire much of the town fell into step beside and behind the carriages on the way to the Guildhall. They were almost there when Edward tightened his arm around Bella. "Your father is riding alongside us," he murmured into her hair. He looked across to Angela. "Your father, as well, and Ben," he said kindly.
Bella tried to straighten up, eager to see her father again, but she was still very weak. "Shh, we'll be there in just a few minutes," Edward murmured to her.
As they got into view of the Cullen House, Edward heard his eldest brother's thoughts clearly. Someone had ridden ahead to tell him the news. Now he, Rosalie, Eleazar and the rest of the guild all waited in the courtyard. Their faces were all painted with grief, some, like Rosalie, crying openly. Emmett's thoughts were a mixture of guilt that he hadn't been there, and utter anguish that his father was dead. He seemed to be keeping that inside, though, as Rosalie was leaning on him.
Edward found some measure of relief that his eldest brother seemed to be almost back to normal, though he saw in Emmett's frustrated thoughts that he still tired easily.
Jasper brought the carriage to a stop near the steps to the Guildhall. He climbed down first, grasping Emmett's hand briefly in sorrow, before turning to help Esme down from the carriage. Emmett pulled his mother to him instantly, wrapping her in his strong arms. Esme's tears began in earnest then as her eldest child held her.
In the next carriage, Father Webber pulled open the door and Angela was in his arms in the next instant. Out of respect to the grieving family and guild, they kept their joyous reunion silent, merely clinging to each other. Then, somewhat reluctantly, Father Webber released his daughter to Sir Ben's arms.
Sir Charles stepped up to the carriage door as soon as Angela was clear of it. He peered inside, his anxious eyes finding his daughter leaning heavily on Edward. When Bella didn't speak he looked up at Edward for an explanation. Edward murmured that she couldn't speak and she was weak but she would be fine. Accepting that, Charles lifted Bella into his arms, cradling her like she was a small child again. She wrapped her arms around his neck as tightly as she was able, tears flowing freely.
"Sir Charles," a quiet voice interrupted them a minute later. Charles and Bella both looked up to see Seth Clearwater, his eyes watery, looking at them. "They're ready to take Carlisle inside. Will you help carry him?"
Charles looked from his daughter to Seth, knowing that Bella couldn't yet walk on her own. Edward had joined the rest of his family by the funeral carriage, though his ever watchful eyes darted over to them frequently.
"I'll hold her," Seth said. Then he looked at Bella, "If it's alright with you."
Charles appraised the young boy. He was tall and broad, obviously very strong. More than strong enough to carry Bella, though his daughter looked so unbearably frail at the moment that Charles was loathe to let her leave his arms. However, the look Bella gave him was pleading, her eyes full of sorrow. Charles knew that she would want to help if she could.
For Bella, Charles nodded, shifting her into Seth's capable arms.
Because Emmett still suffered periods of muscle fatigue and weakness, he would not chance carrying his father inside. Instead, he and Alice stood on either side of their mother. Edward and Eleazar stood on either side of Carlisle's head. Sir Charles and Jasper stood in the middle. Tanya and Katrina quietly took their places at his feet. The six carried their fallen leader inside. Behind them were Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Alice and Seth carrying Bella. The rest of the guild and a few of the knights filed into the Cullen House in a line.
Once Carlisle's body had been settled in the dining hall, Esme requested that everyone vacate the area to give her family a little time to grieve alone.
Bella was surprised when Edward came and retrieved her from Seth's arms. She looked at him, her eyes full of questions. He kissed her forehead in response. "You're part of this family. You must know that by now."
How could they look at her though? Carlisle had given his life for hers. She doubted any of them, Edward aside, would have made that choice.
"Bella!" Emmett greeted her, seeing her for the first time since the carriages had pulled up. The look on his face brightened considerably. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there," he said, pulling Bella out of Edward's arms so he could hug her. Bella hugged him back fiercely, trying to convey how sorry she was in that one embrace.
"Carefully!" Edward admonished his brother when Bella hissed in pain. "She has a number of broken ribs."
As Jasper and Alice dragged a chaise into the dining room, Emmett settled Bella down on it as gently as if he was handing the most delicate glass vase. Bella squeezed his hand, noting that even that small gesture took a great deal of energy. She was already exhausted though she'd awaken only a couple of hours previous. Edward came to sit beside her, putting his arm around her again.
"What happened?" Rosalie asked finally. She was standing at Carlisle's side, looking down at him and occasionally wiping away tears.
Together, the family told the story of the past two weeks and several days. From Angela's accounts, what Edward had gleaned from the minds around him and Alice's visions, they were able to fill in Bella's parts of the story, looking to her for confirmation as they did.
James and Jane had been the only ones who knew exactly what had happened. Jane had hired James, and paid him an exorbitant amount of money, with the intention that he not only retrieve Bella but also to set her up. All he needed was to get Bella to attack him.
Of course, Bella had been a lot smarter and a lot tougher than James had anticipated. Wanting her as panicked as possible, he'd let her believe he intended to rape her at the earliest opportunity, keeping her constantly on edge. Then, when they were safely in Volterra, he'd sent Victoria away on an errand. He'd sparked Bella's anger by implying Angela's death, and then he'd made sure she saw where he left the dagger before he attacked her.
Edward had read in his thoughts that, while he had not been close to death, Bella had hurt him a lot worse than he'd ever expected. He was quite incapacitated and had only kept his right arm because Carlisle had gotten to him in time. Not that it had mattered in the long run.
Aro had pinned all of his wife's scheming on James and had sentenced him to death almost immediately following the incident in the courtyard. Because James had kept her ignorant, Victoria's life was spared, though she was imprisoned for withholding evidence that would have exonerated Bella. As she was being led away by Demetri, she screamed that she would have her revenge.
"And Felix?" Emmett prompted. His normally jovial tone was harsh and his fists were clenched.
Edward grimaced, gritting his teeth as a white hot rage came over him.
It was Jasper who answered. "Aro spun the story that Felix expected his dear nephew and niece would act rashly in the face of Bella's execution. Rather than draw it out, he said that Felix tried to get it over with quickly so they would not have to put Edward and Alice to death as well. Since she was already sentenced and Felix would have been her executioner, Aro said it was not a murder. However, as a precaution, both Aro and Jane left with Felix last night. They said they were taking him away until they were sure his mind was clear of any malevolent thinking."
Emmett all but leaped to his feet. "That's not good enough," he seethed.
"It's not," Edward agreed. He had argued that from the beginning. Bella guessed that was the source of the angry buzzing she'd heard as she was trying to wake up.
"You said they're separated from their army... perhaps now is the time to strike. If we could find them-"
Emmett was cut off by Esme's sharp cry. "No!" At the same time, Bella tugged anxiously at Edward's hand.
Edward looked at Bella. "After what Felix did to you..."
But Bella shook her head, her eyes wide and fierce.
"She's right," Esme said, her tone final. "Think it through, both of you."
"Killing Aro and Felix will only incite a war between us," Alice said calmly. She hadn't spoken much since the previous day. Her thoughts were usually quiet, and Edward knew she was taking their father's death hard, wondering if she could have prevented it.
"Our guild is strong," Emmett said.
"Not strong enough," Jasper snapped. "If we are, it's only just. The cost would be too great and Aro's influence is still strong throughout the countryside that even if we did win, we would be sacrificing not only good, innocent people, but our credibility as well."
"Listen to him," Rosalie implored her husband, gripping his arm and trying to get him to sit down again.
Esme eyed both of her sons with a serious expression and then looked at her fallen husband. "Do you think your father gave his life so that you could give your lives avenging him?"
At that both Edward and Emmett backed down nearly instantly. Emmett sat down hard beside Rosalie and Edward turned his face into Bella's hair, taking deep, calming breaths of her light scent.
Satisfied that no one was going to take off on a fool's errand, Esme sat back in her chair.
"I should have been there," Emmett said sorrowfully at the same time Alice said, "I didn't see it..."
"No, now is the time for all of you to put away your guilt," Esme said firmly. "I won't have you playing a game of 'what if.' The only way to ensure that nothing bad happens in your life is not to live it. It wasn't anyone's fault. Do you understand?"
Bella couldn't fathom how Esme was doing this - holding them all up when she should have been incoherent with grief. But the older woman waited until each of them, Bella included, had acknowledged their words. Whether or not they believed it, they would not repeat it again.
After that Esme suggested they all have a moment alone with Carlisle, if they so chose. She gave Edward and Bella the option of going first because she could see Bella was close to exhaustion.
"I'll talk to your father, dear," she said kindly, squeezing Bella's hand. "I'm sure he'll understand that we can care for you here for a few days."
Bella nodded appreciatively, a light blush coloring her cheeks. In all honesty she wanted nothing more than to let Edward curl her into his arms.
The rest of the family left, allowing Edward and Bella to say their private goodbyes. Not surprisingly, Edward was more than able to speak for both of them, though Bella echoed him in her thoughts.
He told his father he was sorry. Sorry he was dead. Sorry that it had ended this way. Sorry that they had all lost him before they were ready - though he doubted they could have ever been ready.
He told his father thank you. Thank you for Bella, and thank you for the precious gift of life.
He promised that he would not waste this second chance. He would live his life to the fullest. He admitted that part of him still wanted to take the blame for everything - if only he'd left Bella alone way back when Alice had had her first vision...
But he said that he saw now. He realized that, many years ago, Esme and Carlisle had much the same same choice. They chose life. They chose love. They chose their three biological children and their three adopted children...and neither of them regretted it for a single day. Not even now. Edward knew well that when Carlisle made his choice, he'd done it without a shred of regret.
Bella held Carlisle's unnaturally cold hand, fervently hoping that he knew. Though she couldn't say the words out loud, they were in her heart. She promised she would love his family forever and take care of them to the best of her ability.
She promised that she'd work every day to be worth his sacrifice.
Edward kissed his father's forehead a final time before he pulled Bella up into his arms. They exited the dining room to find most the guild, and many of the townspeople, milling in the downstairs room. Edward found Sir Charles, letting Bella give him a kiss on the cheek before he took her upstairs to his room.
Bella's eyes were already drooping when he set her on the bed, but she was awake enough to make one final request. She moved her hands to the buttons of his shirt, unbuttoning them with clumsy fingers.
At first, Edward was confused about what she wanted. Surely she wasn't up for...
But no. Now that they were finally alone, safe in this room that they would one day share for good, she wanted to feel all of him. He caught up with her thinking quickly and helped her undress him before his tender hands undressed her. Then he gathered her close, skin to skin. "I love you," he whispered to her as she drifted off.
It was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard.
~0~
Over the next few days, as Carlisle's body laid in repose in the dinning hall of the Cullen House, the entire town must have passed through the doors of the Guildhall. His loss had struck every person in some way; Carlisle Cullen was more beloved than the royal family of Forkshire.
With so many people to take care of her, Bella got stronger quickly. The day of Carlisle's funeral she was talking in whispers and walking on her own two feet. Edward was always right next to her and when she needed to lean on him, she did.
They stayed at the feast celebrating Carlisle's life only long enough to eat their fill - something Edward insisted on because he knew Bella needed the food to regain her strength. Then they retreated upstairs to his room. As had become their custom over the last few days, they undressed each other. This time, Bella whispered that she loved him as she reached between them to find his length.
Edward gasped, shocked, and looked into her eyes, ready to protest that he didn't want to hurt her. She was ready for his argument. "You won't hurt me," she whispered as she stroked him. "Just go slow."
He stroked her cheek, able to deny her nothing even if he'd wanted to - and he most certainly didn't want to deny her this.
So he brought his mouth to hers, gently nudging her lips open with his. He found a comfortable position so that he could ease himself inside her while making sure not to add any pressure to her ribs. It was a shallow position, but they were in no rush. They just wanted to to feel each other again.
They made love slowly, simply enjoying the way their bodies were connected. They moved against each other wordlessly, letting their bodies and lips communicate for them.
To Edward, it was fitting. There was no time he felt more blissfully alive than when he held his girl in his arms and lost himself inside of her. He had buried his father today. Now he was fulfilling Carlisle's dying wish - for him to live.
He was alive and in love. Though his heart ached for his father, he was also blissfully happy.
They were free from the weight of Alice's vision, so he no longer counted time like sand through an hourglass, finite and rapidly running out. His father had given him not only a second chance at life but a second chance to correct mistakes he'd made.
The very next morning, he corrected the mistake he regretted the most.
He went to Eleazar and asked him to extend an invitation to Bella to join the guild.
Eleazar smiled patiently. "I'm glad you came to your own conclusions, finally," the older man told Edward. "I would have done it anyway, but it makes my job easier not to have to fight you on it."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "You are the leader of the guild now, Eleazar. I will follow your command, you know that.
Sighing, Eleazar stood and clapped Edward on the shoulder. "Of course, I know that, Edward. With most things I would have no doubt. That girl of yours though... You know you will have to trust her to protect herself. You will endanger your guildmates and yourself if you're constantly looking out for her on the battlefield."
Edward frowned, shuddering at the thought of Bella fighting the battles he had in his short career. Then he sighed. "I will learn to deal with it. You have my word on that."
~0~
The months after Bella's rescue and Carlisle's death were trying. The guild struggled to reorient itself, stumbling through the loss of their leader. But Eleazar was more than competent, if a little less charismatic, and they soon fell into a new routine.
As promised, Eleazar visited Bella barely a week after Carlisle's funeral. He apologized for keeping her gift a secret.
"I understand," Bella assured him, sitting at her father's table. "Edward was trying to protect me. It's taken a while, but I understand his plan. He was right, in a way. I would have been too eager to rush into the magic. I'm glad that he had Jasper teach me self-defense first, for what little good it did me," she frowned.
Eleazar chuckled. "You are very like Edward, you know. A good match, I would say. He too expects far too much from himself. You had only been working with Jasper for a short time, and James was a very experienced fighter. From what I understand, you did admirably, my dear. Further than that, you demonstrated a level head under pressure and you were most certainly very brave - keeping your friend as safe as you could.
"And that's why I'm here. Isabella, you would be a great asset to our guild. I am extending you an open invitation. When you are ready, you have a place among our ranks," he promised.
He left shortly thereafter, letting Bella think. When Edward came around he surprised her by giving his full and complete support.
"You belong in my world, Bella. I can see that now. You are stronger than I ever could be, and I would be a fool not to want you by my side, always. Join us," he entreated. He picked up her hand, pressing his lips to her knuckles. "Join me."
Bella smiled and flipped her hand so that she could clasp his. "Equals?" she asked.
Edward smiled back. "As it was meant to be."
"Then," Bella began slowly, a mischievous smile on her face, "I will join you and your band of miscreants...if..."
Edward's eyebrows shot up, wondering what she was playing at. "If?"
Her eyes became impossibly tender. "If you'll marry me."
For one, two, three seconds, Edward was sure he had heard wrong. She'd wanted time...before.
But then again, it was a whole new world now.
His answering smile was dazzling, and then he threw back his head as he laughed. He pulled her forward then, into his arms. "Isabella Swan, everything I have, everything I am, is yours. Of course I will marry you," he murmured before he kissed her.
When they were both breathless and grinning like children, she smiled and put her head against his chest. "As it was meant to be," she echoed.
And so it was.
A/N: Epilogue next. Probably before the week is out. Thank you to josieswan for beta work.