Disclaimer: All Twilight characters and some of the settings, ideas for action, are owned by S. Meyer. I just play with them. No infringements intended. Megan Harris is my own invention. Bella doesn't exist in this universe, some things are not canon and English is not my mother tongue. If you find any errors – I'm up to corrections.
Alternating POVs marked M=Megan or E=Edward. Mental conversation is marked in '…'.
Chapter 20 – Regroup (M POV)
I was lost for words. My mother's comprehension of the whole situation was extraordinary. I wouldn't have to explain anything to her in the future, which took a huge load off my mind. I searched Edward's gaze. I had felt his relief when he had realized I had just been injured slightly, but he had been strained since then. The whole tension fell off him now and he slumped back to the bed's headboard. I raised myself up to sit with him and he pulled me into his arms without a word. I put my head to his chest and caressed his neck, trying to soothe his worries. "We need a vacation, don't you think?" I asked. He smiled absently. "Running away won't help, Megan," he replied. "I'm not talking about running. This is the second time since I've met you that I've had an almost fatal accident. I'd like to go somewhere safe and quiet for a while and you need a break from saving me all the time," I complained. He kissed my forehead and tightened his embrace. "I know, I'm worried about this too," he murmured, "as if something is trying to separate us." I shook my head, "Not separating us, but forcing the decision to be made." He took my face between his hands. "The very last option, remember?" he stated. I nodded and kissed him softly. "I'm so sorry that your mother had to be drawn into this," he said. "Me too, but I think she will manage to keep it secret. I mean, she grasped the dimensions at once. I'm amazed," I answered. He nodded. "Yeah, I know now where your strength comes from. What are those family legends about?" he asked. "I've never been told. One thing I've heard from my grandma was that my great-great-grandmother was believed to have had clairvoyance. That would have been around 1800," I replied. "Maybe you can ask your mother later, what those fairytales say. Let's go back to the hotel when everybody's gone, okay?" he returned, caressing my face. I nodded and wrapped my arms around him once more.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When Edward opened it I was surprised to see Michele standing there. "Megan, um, can I talk to you for a minute before we have to leave?" He seemed nervous. I looked at Edward, but he only shrugged. "Okay, come in," I said. "Should I wait outside Megan?" Edward asked me, but Michele answered. "You can stay. What I have to say, I can also say in front of you," he said. I was surprised, but I patted on the bed, asking him to sit on the edge. "What's up, Michele?" I asked. He took a deep breath and looked at me. "Megan, first I'm glad you're okay and second, I'm sorry for what I've done two years ago. I was stupid and…" he hesitated for a moment, "I've been in love with you ever since, but I knew I had messed up everything, that's why I didn't try to contact you." He hung his head for a moment before he continued, "I just want you to know that if you - both - ever need help with anything or need a place to stay in Chicago, give me a call. Antonio has my number, okay?" I was taken aback. I had expected anything but this from him. Obviously he had grown up over the last two years. I put my hand on his forearm. "Apology accepted and thanks for the offer," I answered. He smiled obviously relieved at me and got up. "I got to go now, Antonio is waiting downstairs," he said and turned to Edward, holding out his right hand. "Thank you for saving her life, Edward, I'm very grateful for it." Edward shook his hand and nodded, "Good-bye, Michele." After he had left, Edward turned to me, holding his hands out in a questioning gesture. I shook my head, "Today is full of surprises: The accident, my mom, now Michele." Suddenly I realized something. "Edward, what about your car?" I exclaimed. He waved aside, "Forget about it, it's been totaled." I cringed. "And now?" I asked. He shrugged, "We will take a cab to the hotel and tomorrow we will go to a car dealer and I'll have to buy a new one." Another knock at the door interrupted him. Edward opened the door.
It was my mom. "Everybody left with their recovery wishes to you. You can come down now," she said. I got up and we walked down into the living room. My dad stood there with a police officer. "Ah, there she is," he said to the officer. "Ms. Harris, I need your testimony on the events, if you're already up to it?" he asked. "Yes, sure, what do you want to know?" I returned. "Tell me what you remember, and I'll write it down." I thought about the wording for a moment. "My fiancé and I stood behind the trunk of his car to put something inside when we suddenly heard some screeching behind us. We turned around and saw that car coming towards us. Edward pulled me to the side and dragged me out of the way. He saved my life," I nodded firmly at the end. He looked at Edward with scrutiny. "That was very brave, young man. So one of the cars was yours?" he asked. "Yes, the Volvo was mine. Are you going to tow it away for evidence?" Edward answered. The officer shook his head, "No, we have photographed the whole scene and secured all evidence. You can call a wrecking truck, I guess." Edward sighed, "What a mess." The officer turned to me, "Have you been injured?" I shook my head. "No, just a few abrasions and bruises, that's all. What about the other driver?" I returned the question. "He's in hospital and there will be charges against him because of inadequate speed and property damage. If you want to file a charge…" I interrupted him immediately. "No, we don't want to file any charge against him. I'm okay and the car was going to be sold anyway, so no charges from our side." I looked at Edward and he confirmed my explanations by nodding at the officer. "Okay, then all you have to do now is to sign this and then it's all over." He held a piece of paper out to me. I put my signature on it and the officer left quickly afterwards.
Edward came up to me and pulled me into his arms. 'Thanks for the cover. That was almost professional.' I could hear him snicker inside my head. "I'll go outside and collect whatever is left of our personal items and I'll call the wrecking company, okay?" he asked aloud. "Okay, I'll wait here." He kissed me on my cheek and left. I slumped on the couch next to my dad. He took one of my hands and kneaded it softly. I could see that he had been worried about me. "I'm okay, dad," I whispered. "I know. Tell you what, if you ever let this man out of your hands, I'm going to give you a behind," he said. I chuckled. "Seriously, I mean it. I've never seen someone so young so tough and determined and with so much compassion. I'm more than proud of your future husband, Megan." My dad had a serious expression on his face. "Thanks dad, I'm glad you like him," I replied. "I assume you will walk down the aisle with me?" I asked him. He took a deep breath. "I wouldn't want to miss that for nothing!" he answered. My mom came into the room with a pot of tea. Dad got up, "I will see if Edward needs some help, okay?" I nodded at him and he left the room. I decided it was now or never. "Mom, I would like to know what those legends of your family are about before we go back to the hotel," I asked my mother. She sat down next to me and spoke in a hushed voice. "I have been told a fairytale as a kid, I never believed a word, but now... Rumor is that some centuries ago, members of my family have worked for a household in Volterra which was led by so-called walking dead." I cocked my head. "You're talking about vampires, right?" I wanted the confirmation that we spoke about the same thing. She nodded. "The name was different back then, but yes. Your great-great-grandmother was the last one to know them from first-hand experience. After some incident during that time, the family left Volterra and headed for the New World." I took a deep breath. "Do you know what family names they used back then?" I inquired. She shook her head. "I'll have to look it up. Why do you need it?" I lowered my head. I wasn't sure how to put it into words. "Maybe I can do some research. I need to find out if they still know about us, mom." I whispered the last words because I heard a noise from the front door. Dad and Edward came back.
Edward carried the box with the veil I had put into the trunk. It looked rumpled, but the box was still closed. "Oh my god, I had completely forgotten about this," I jumped up to get the box. "I thought so," Edward smiled and handed it over to me. "And the cab is on its way here. We can go back to the hotel, if you want," he added. I sighed and looked at my parents. "Would you mind if we leave early? I really don't feel like staying up long and we have to organize a few things tomorrow." I would have loved to stay up all night with them, but I was tired. "Sure not, dear," my mom said. "You need a rest and we'll see you again around Christmas, right?" she smiled. I hugged her and dad good-bye and promised them to call as soon as we got back to Forks. Dad told Edward he'd take care of the wrecking company. Edward gave him his address and mobile phone number just in case he needed it. When we got outside, the cab was already waiting for us and we headed back to the hotel. The hosts looked very shocked when they saw me, but I convinced them I was alright. I let Edward tell them the whole story and went to our room. I opened the box in the bedroom to take a look at the veil. It was made of beautifully crafted lace from Brussels and had been given from mother to daughter in our family over generations. Nothing seemed to be damaged, so I put it away and closed the box again. I sat on the bed and looked out of the window while I reflected on today's events. I could have died, my mother had been drawn into the whole vampire mess, the car was wrecked, Thanksgiving had turned into a drama – I shook my head. I had put up a strong and calm façade for everybody, but inside I was shaken to the core. I couldn't keep it up anymore. I shrugged out of my clothes and crawled under the sheets in my underwear, feeling exhausted, not physically but mentally. As I curled myself into a ball I felt tears starting to flow down my face.