Chapter Twenty Five

Jake

I felt bad leaving Bella the way we did, but as Alice had pointed out staying with her until she left wouldn't make her feel any better and besides, we had urgent work to do.

"Are you sure this will keep everyone safe, Alice?"

"Sure? No, I can never be sure Jake, all I can do is to try and work out the alternatives. All I know is that if Bella and the Major stayed together a lot of people will die. She would never survive realizing she was responsible for the deaths of all those she loved. Bella had always been too sensitive for that to work. This is the only way I can see to stop the carnage. Everyone will believe Bella is dead if we do our work well and stop looking and asking questions. Am I wrong to be doing this Jake?"

I gave her a quick hug trying to reassure her and cursing my insensitivity.

"Of course not. Now come on, let's get things organized before it's too late."

Alice and I planned to rig the accident to make sure there was no chance anyone would think Bella was still alive. She had rented the car in Bella's name, using a copy of her driver's license that she got from the same lawyer in Denver. Then she left a message for the companion she had discovered was called Charlotte Whitlock by calling the hotel.

I followed the rental car driven by Alice until she stopped at the place we had decided on as best for the accident. There was a steep drop into a ravine one side of the road with railings to stop traffic from falling over the edge. I opened the driver's window, loosened the fuel cap, and revved the engine making sure it was nice and hot before aiming the car at a spot in the barrier that had been weakened by former collisions. Alice had supplied a body which was roughly Bella's height and weight with the same colour hair and placed in the driver's seat. Putting the car into drive Alice then handed me the plastic bag filled with rocks from the area which I placed on the gas pedal and then released the hand brake.

Jumping back I just avoided being dragged over with the car which crashed through the barrier and then peered over the edge to see the car roll over and over as it bounced against the ravine walls on the way down before hitting the rock-strewn bottom. There was a satisfying whoomp as the spilt gas caught fire and we left as quickly as we could leaving behind the slick of oil which had caused the skid and subsequent accident that killed Bella Swan.

We drove back to Forks more slowly, deciding on our story as to what we had been up to. Alice, in her usual attention to detail, had even requested some souvenirs from Yellowstone national park from the Denver lawyer to back up our story. Then we would hear about the crash and act as shocked as everyone else.

Charlotte

I tried calling the guys on my way back and finally got through to Peter only to discover that Bella had not arrived at the house as yet. I explained what had happened in more detail and told him I was on my way. I guess if Bella had stopped on the way for a comfort break I might even overtake her along the road, but I had only gotten halfway back when I ran into heavy traffic.

I turned the radio on to see if I could pick up some traffic news and heard that the road was closed ahead after a fatal accident. I guessed it was probably along that same stretch that had claimed two other lives since we had moved here. Humans sometimes drove as if they were immortal or invincible!

An hour later I finally got through, passing the site of the accident and smelling the smoke from the gasoline fire. The guardrail was gone to be replaced by crime tape and cops swarmed around the area, that side of the highway still being closed and the traffic was being directed by a bored looking traffic cop.

When I got back the Major and Peter were waiting for me concerned because Bella had yet to appear.

"I must have missed her on the road. It's a long drive for a human to do in one stint, she probably got hungry or tired but hasn't she called?"

"No, we've heard nothing and her phone goes straight to voicemail. There's something wrong, Charlotte I know there is."

"How could there be? She'll turn up soon."

The Major shook his head while Peter enquired why I had been so long.

"There was an accident, the traffic was held up after another car went over that spot on the highway. They have got to do something about it."

I heard the Major groan and it suddenly occurred to me what he was thinking.

"No, Major. no, I'm sure it wasn't Bella. You'd know wouldn't you?"

His face was expressionless as he grabbed his keys and walked over to his truck.

"Go with him, Peter. I'll call if I hear anything but watch him."

Peter nodded and ran to join the Major as he started the engine and they raced away from the house while I sank down feeling empty. Was he right? Had I driven past Bella's pyre? I couldn't bear to believe that, it was just too horrible to contemplate.

Alice

Jake got a call from Charlie two days after we returned to Forks and we drove straight over to the house. He was almost incoherent with grief having just been informed by the Denver police that a body found in a burnt out car had been identified as Bella's. Even though we had known he would be hard hit by the news we were both shocked at how badly he took the news. He just sat in his chair crying silently and attempting to drown his sorrows in a bottle. I don't think I'd ever seen anyone so prostrate with grief and felt terribly guilty although I knew I had done the only thing possible.

Despite the hard words between the Quileutes and Charlie his friends from the reservation rallied around to help him with the arrangements and Bella's mother Renee along with her husband Phil flew up a few days before the funeral. Carlisle and Esme offered their help too, but Charlie seemed, rather unjustly, to put the full blame on them for Bella meeting the Major and then running off with him.

The day of the funeral it was raining heavily and the churchyard was inches in mud by the time they lowered Bella's coffin into the grave already prepared. Charlie almost followed her into the grave, but Jake grabbed him just in time and Renee who seemed more composed took him back to the house promising to look after him.

Carlisle who had attended the funeral with the rest of the family although they kept in the background, took the opportunity to get us alone and speak to us while the others were mingling with other mourners.

"Is Bella really gone?"

I stared at him puzzled, this was the last question I had expected from him at this stage.

"I'm sorry, Carlisle?"

"I want to know if Bella is really dead. She didn't organize this to stop Charlie looking for her, did she?"

I had feared he would come to this conclusion eventually but he wasn't sure and was looking to me to dispel his fears.

"Do you really think Bella would have put Charlie through all this?"

Jake took Carlisle's arm pulling him away.

"I really don't think Bella would hurt Charlie like that Carlisle, and talking like that is irresponsible, especially at such a time."

He shook his head looking embarrassed.

"I suppose not. I'm sorry Alice, but I felt I just had to ask."

Jasper

I stood in the shelter of the trees watching the funeral and feeling Charlie's distress. I understood his grief only too well, but the question that went over and over in my mind was why had Bella rented a car to drive back to the house? What made her drive back without Charlotte? It didn't make any sense, I knew she had been reluctant to leave and sad to be away from me, but she'd sounded happy enough on the phone.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was my fault Bella was dead. I'd insisted on her leaving in order to keep her safe and she had died trying to get back to me. With her dead my own life was at an end, there was nothing worth living for any longer.

Only my own guilt prevented me from approaching Charlie to offer my condolences. I was sure he blamed me for her death and perhaps taking his grief and anger out against me would have helped, but now Bella was dead he would stop hunting for her and for me and that was for the best. Eventually the pain would subside and hopefully, his memories of his daughter would brighten his life once more. If only I could expect the same for myself, but the pain I now endured would continue for eternity. That's all I had to look forward to.

Unable to make any decisions I went back home with Charlotte and Peter but that just held memories of the good times Bella and I had spent together. I couldn't escape those even had I wanted to.

My friends had become my shadows watching my every move, ensuring I didn't do anything stupid. What they failed to realize was that it was too late. I'd already done the most stupid thing by sending Bella away. I'd spent so long on my own it should have been easy to go back to a solitary life but I couldn't. I couldn't think or find the energy do anything. I just sat looking out over the countryside and wondering what she had been thinking.

Charlotte had given me the two photographs Bella had ordered on the shopping trip shortly before she vanished and never went back to collect. I hung them in the bedroom I used as my refuge and spent hours staring at them and wondering why she'd chosen those two of all the photographs in the collection. I imagined walking into them, to see her sitting there in the landscape and smiling at me. Holding her hand out to me and asking me to join her.

Where she'd gone now I couldn't follow, she was out of my reach. I no longer felt that sensation that told me she was there in the world waiting for me. I had expected to become disabled by crushing sorrow now my mate was dead, but as Charlotte pointed out we had not become connected physically.

"I think that may be the reason you can continue even if you feel you don't want to. Major, you have to think of what Bella would want."

"Bella would want to be here Charlotte, standing here smiling at us, living and breathing."

"That's not what I mean and you know it. Bella wouldn't want you to give up. If you do then you are ignoring her love for you."

I was angry, so angry I could have punched Charlotte but she was right. Bella wouldn't want me to give up but what point was there in going on? She was gone my very reason for living."

I couldn't stay here any longer, I was just making life unbearable for my friends and so I left, although I had no particular destination in mind.

I was tempted to check on Charlie, but I guessed I would be no more welcome now than I had been before. If he was learning to control his grief and pick up the pieces of his shattered life then seeing me would only make things more difficult and he didn't deserve that. I couldn't get her out of my mind either. There was no crushing pain but a dull ache that filled the space her love had inhabited and I wondered if it would ever fade and allow me to forget her. Was I glad about that? I couldn't even answer that.

Being close to her resting place felt right even though I could do nothing except sit and watch as the grass grew over the earth mound and the stone dulled with the weather. The passage of time was marked by the bouquets of flowers that were placed, withered, died, and were replaced by friends and Charlie every week.

Peter

The Major had been gone a long time and we were getting worried as he hadn't even kept in contact. He had been almost silent since he discovered that Bella had been in the car that went over into the ravine and then one day he was gone. It was as simple as that.

Charlotte thought the time had come to go look for him.

"I feel responsible Peter, he left Bella in my care. She died on my watch and I can't forget that."

"Char, it's not your fault she decided to leave Denver and come back. Fuck me, she knew why we'd sent her away. Why'd she have to do something so fucking stupid?"

"Peter it's the Major I'm worried about. How would you feel if you lost me?"

"Yeah well, that's different. We're you know... together, have been for years now."

"It's not different, she was his mate. He'd finally found her and now she's gone. We need to find him before he does something stupid."

"OK, but where the fuck do we start?"

"I have no idea, how about Forks? We know he met her there."

"You think he's hanging around her grave? Fuck me, that's sick."

She hit me rather hard around the head.

"Will you stop doing that, it rattles my brain woman."

"No Peter, I'd have to hit you in the crotch to do that."

"Ha Ha!"

I didn't want to admit that I was as worried as she was. The Major was our only real friend and if he needed us we should be there for him. Even if he didn't know he needed us or want us right now."

We drove up to Forks arriving to find it shrouded in mist and rain.

"Fuck, it's depressing up here. Why the fuck would the Cullens want to live here?"

"So they can be outside during the day I guess. Don't forget he's a Doctor."

Oh yeah, Dr Fang. So now what?"

I stopped in the centre of the town waiting for further instructions and she looked around,

"Well, there's the Police Station."

"And?"

"Bella's father is the Police Chief here."

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

"I'll call in to get directions to the cemetery and see if he's there."

I waited in the truck while she went in to do some sleuthing, humans made me uncomfortable, all, that is, except Bella. She'd gotten under my skin somehow.

When she came back a few minutes later she gave me directions and I started the engine pulling out into the sparse traffic.

"He's there but he looks like shit. I don't think he's getting over her death anytime soon."

"That makes two of them then," I said pointing to the lonely figure standing by a flower-covered mound.

As we approached he never even lifted his head.

"Hey Major, you need to move. You're too conspicuous standing out here in the rain, soaking wet and with no coat."

As I touched his shoulder he tensed and snarled,

"Go away, Peter."

"Nope. Can't do that Major. Now, I really don't want to be rolling around in the dirt with you but I will if I have to."

He turned to look at me then and I saw a soul in torment.

Charlotte looped her arm in his and we stared down at the headstone Charlie had erected over his daughter's grave. It was simple, just her name, her age when she died and a simple sentence,

OUR LOSS IS HEAVEN'S GAIN

After a while, Charlotte encouraged him to accompany her back to the truck.

As we got in I glanced around and noticed another solitary figure standing in the trees and watching us.

"Who's that?"

He glanced over,

"Quileute wolf. He just watches me."

We drove to a nearby motel and persuaded him to shower and get changed out of his sopping wet clothing.

We heard the shower running and Charlotte began to lay out some of the clothes she had brought him from the house as he had left with nothing but the clothes he stood up in. Suddenly we heard a tap on the door.

I gestured for Char to open it while I stood against the wall beside it ready to act if necessary.

"Is the Major here?"

It was one of us a tiny one, pretty, with a pixie haircut.

"Who?"

"I'm Alice Cullen and I need to speak to the Major now you are here."

"What do you want with him?"

"Look, I'm not the enemy. I helped him contact Bella in the first place."

I peered around the door.

"Oh, right, you're Mystic Meg. Well, news flash. Bella's dead."

"I'm aware of that but I still need to speak to him."

Charlotte stood back and invited her in while I sat on the bed and waited to hear what this pixie had to say to our friend.

She cocked her head to one side listening to the shower running.

"Oh good, he can't hear us."

She lowered her voice looking very serious.

"You have to get him away from here. The longer he stays the more likely Charlie is to learn he's here and confront him."

"And that's a problem because?" Peter asked sarcastically.

"The Major wouldn't have a problem taking out a human, even a cop."

"Exactly. The Volturi only need an excuse to take him out and if he kills Charlie that will give them one."

"Why would they care what happens to this human?"

"They don't, but they do care that his daughter associated with vampires and that your Major was also interested in the girl. In fact, he's making himself too obvious, they worry he'll give himself away and that's not allowed as you well know."

The bathroom door opened and Jasper walked out still dripping, a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Alice? What are you doing here?"

"I live here, remember?"

"Why are you here in this motel room?"

She shrugged.

"You might as well know, you have to go. You're making yourself too conspicuous. God! After all I did to stop this very thing happening. The Volturi will come here if you don't leave."

"Let them, I don't care anymore Alice."

"You may not, but Charlie will go down with you and I am trying very hard to avoid that. I don't think Bella would have wanted you to lead the Volturi straight to his door."

"Trying to avoid? What do you mean Alice?"

"I'm trying to keep you all alive for Bella's sake. You have to leave Forks before the Volturi decide to visit. Remember the law, keep the humans in the dark? You aren't exactly helping."

"Why do you care Alice? Bella's gone so why do you still care?"

Alice didn't say anything she just stared at him.

After a few seconds, I looked at him too. He looked puzzled and then frowned at her.

"Tell me the truth, Alice. She is really gone isn't she?"

"Of course. You spend every day at her grave, Major."

He touched his scarred chest and swallowed.

"Really gone?"

She sighed impatiently.

"Yes, Major, and you need to be gone too. I'm sorry I didn't help you much after all but I know she'd want you to keep going."

"Do you Alice? Do you really know what she'd want?"

She nodded.

"Yes, I know she loves, loved you, very much."

"I'll see you again soon," he said and went back into the bathroom shutting the door quietly without waiting for Alice to go.

"I'm so sorry for everything, but please, leave Forks now."

After she had gone Peter looked at me shaking his head.

"What the fuck was all that about?"

I shook my head.

"I have no idea, but I think we missed something that he didn't."