Chapter 25 – A Necklace Replaces an Anklet

BPOV

"I'm not going anywhere."

I tried to open my eyes to see if Edward was really with me or if I was just dreaming, but my eyes wouldn't open. I felt like I was floating, and the pain was gone. Was I even alive?

I remembered the last time Edward had said those very words to me. He and I—along with Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice—were out hiking. Emmett had been showing off by picking up large boulders and hurling them.

"Watch out!" Alice shouted as Emmett let another boulder fly.

I was yanked out of the way by Edward, stumbling to the ground when my foot caught in some roots. The boulder landed with a loud crash in the spot I would've been in had it not been for Alice and Edward.

"Ow!" I winced as pain started seeping up my leg when Edward helped me up.

I ended up on Edward's back as he raced back to his adoptive parent's home. His fear I'd injured myself beyond healing was comical, and I got a good laugh as his face went from pensive to relief when Carlisle declared that it was just a bad sprain that would heal in a matter of weeks.

I don't know how many pillows I threw at him during the first three days after that. He was at my side constantly and had become a pain. He wouldn't leave me alone and carried me everywhere.

"I swear, Edward, if you don't give me room to breathe, I'll do more than throw a pillow at you."

"And what would that be?" he said, sitting down next to me.

"I'll figure out how to create a fireball and hurl it at you."

"You wouldn't dare," Edward remarked with an uncertain look appearing.

"Try me." I turned to face him, crossed my arms, and glared.

Edward swallowed. "I don't think I want to." He stood and kissed my cheek. "I'll just let you rest, but you should know I'm not going anywhere."

I sighed. I knew that, but he needed to hunt. "Call Alice and ask her to come over."

"Why?"

"You need to hunt."

A hushed voice jarred me from the memory. I had to really concentrate to determine who the speaker was.

"I told you to wait in the hall," Carlisle said.

"I just need to know when she'll wake," someone with a curt voice said. I didn't recognize it.

"It's hard to tell. She suffered a lot of trauma. She might wake in the night or she might not until tomorrow afternoon or the next day."

Well, that answered the question of whether or not I was alive and away from Victoria and James. I wondered who rescued me.

"Call me the moment she wakes. I need her statement," came the same unknown voice. It's roughness was scaring me.

Something started beeping next to me. Someone please make it stop!

"You need to go," Carlisle said as someone took my hand within his.

Maybe the person did it to comfort me, but it wasn't helping.

"What's going on?" Dad asked angrily. He must have just gotten here, wherever here was.

"Nothing. I was just asking to Dr. Cullen when Isabella would be able to talk to me and answer some questions," said the rough voice again.

The beeping still hadn't stopped and was getting more frantic. I squeezed the hand holding mine.

"I said you need to go," Carlisle said. "I'll have someone call you."

I felt cool lips brush against my forehead. "Bella, you need to calm down," Edward whispered in my ear. "Rest. The police chief is gone."

Calm down? How am I upset if I'm asleep? Soon the erratic beeping slowed to a steady beep and it lulled me into a deeper sleep.

EPOV

I couldn't believe the police chief had the nerve to come into Bella's hospital room after Carlisle told him to wait in the hall. I wanted to grab him and throw him out, but I didn't have a chance because Bella's heart monitor started going off. I looked over at Carlisle.

"Get him out of here," I whispered, barely moving my lips as I took her hand in mine.

I watched Carlisle start walking toward the door with the police chief following when Charlie walked in. He was angry.

"Not good," I said in a low whisper.

Bella was really agitated and when she squeezed my hand I looked down at her. "Carlisle," I said, standing and kissing her on the forehead before whispering in her ear.

Her grip on my hand lessened and soon became limp as her heart slowed. I held her hand lightly as Carlisle printed out the latest electrocardiogram. I don't like this read-out. I'm going to ask Jasper to come in. We need to keep her calm; her body is under enough stress as it is. I don't want to sedate her again.

I nodded. Having Jasper in the room was a good idea. Why hadn't we thought of that hours ago? While I waited for Carlisle to come and check on Bella, I texted Alice asking her to go and get my laptop for me. I hoped Jasper brought it up.

Five minutes later, Jasper walked in the room. I got up and moved away from the hospital bed.

Charlie left with the police chief, he told me with his thoughts. Alice told us he wouldn't be back until tomorrow afternoon with Malcolm, he continued, handing me my laptop bag. Alice also wants to know if she can go and get some things for Bella.

I looked over at Bella. "I'll be right back. I want to go talk to Alice."

Before leaving, I put my laptop bag down on one of the chairs and kissed her forehead, whispering that I would be right back. The family had moved to the waiting room on the fourth floor at some point.

I walked into the waiting room and looked at Alice. "Walk with me for a minute," I said before leaving the room. I stopped at the elevator and waited for her.

"Edward, Emmett could have taken me."

"I know, but there are a few things I need to get at the house anyway."

"I could've gotten those, too," she said, getting into the driver's seat of Carlisle's car.

"What is it I'm getting?" I asked her.

"A CD," she answered.

"And," I prompted.

"And," she said. "I didn't see you getting anything more than a CD."

I smiled to myself as she sped away from the hospital. "That's what I thought you would say."

"Charlie gave me Bella's house keys. Where's her room?"

"Top of the stairs and to the right. End of the hall," I told her when she parked in front Bella's house. "How did you know the code?"

"Emmett gave me the remote to the gate," she told me right as I took off at a run. Be back in ten minutes.

I slowed as I approached the house, entering moments later. I went directly to the music room and grabbed the CD of soothing songs I'd finished three days ago. In my room, I pulled out my jewelry repair kit and the matching necklace that went with the anklet in case I couldn't repair it and had to take it to a jeweler.

I was back at Bella's house three minutes before Alice came out. "Edward, would you come inside for a moment? I want to show you something."

I went in the house and followed her to Bella's room where a bag sat on the bed. I had not been in here, and neither Emmett nor Jasper mentioned anything or thought anything about what they saw. Above her bed hung a painting of the two of us; I remembered posing for the picture in high school. I couldn't believe Bella still had the painting.

Alice motioned to the two nightstands. I moved to look at the frames and photo album. On the right side of the bed were two frames: one was a black heart with the words "P.S. I Love You" engraved in white, displaying a recent picture of us from the photo shoot; the other was also black but rectangular with the word "Love" written on the mat, paired with another picture taken during the photo shoot. I swallowed the venom pooling in my mouth. The message was loud and clear in my mind. Bella loved me, or at least, loved the pictures; I was hoping for the former.

On the left side of the bed was a pearl heart frame with a picture of me taken in high school. I picked up the black photo album that said "Live, Laugh, Love" on it with a picture of me kissing her in the window, flipping through it. The pictures were either of both of us together or me alone. The last picture was more recent. I looked at Alice. "Did you send her the last picture?"

"No," she answered, seemingly having already gone through the album. "She must have found it online and printed it. There are more frames in the closet and a few frames on her dresser of all of us."

"You weren't snooping were you?"

"No, they're laying on the closet floor, like she was trying to decide what to hang. Some have a post-it on the edge of the frame and some don't."

"Alice, we really—" I started, following her into the closet. I was stunned into silence.

There were eight frames on the floor filled with pictures. The one that really caught my eye was the one of her and me on a motorcycle. It had been taken in Italy.

"We better get back, Edward. Jasper's getting ready to call to tell us he can't keep Bella calm."

I nodded. I hadn't wanted to be gone as long as we'd been. I had a fleeting thought about grabbing one of the bedside frames, but instead I just grabbed my bag as we left.

Less than five minutes later, I was back in Bella's hospital room, having run instead of riding back with Alice. Jasper was on my laptop. I handed him the CD, and he put it in without question. As I took Bella's hand, her lullaby started playing.

BPOV

Edward helped me into his car, being very careful of the wisps of silk and chiffon and the flowers he'd just pinned into my hair.

"At what point exactly are you going to tell me where we're going?" I asked. I really disliked surprises and he knew that.

"I'm shocked that you haven't figured it out yet." He gave me a mocking smile, causing me breath catch in my throat. Would I ever get used to his perfection?

"Your junior prom," I said questioningly.

"Yes," he answered while smiling at me again.

I smiled back at him. We had talked about going and he had asked me, but I had never given him an answer. "I'm sorry I never gave you an official 'yes.'"

"I didn't need an answer. I saw in your eyes when I asked you that you would go with me. That was all the answer I needed."

I laughed, placing my hand on top of his.

The dream faded, and I felt myself smile as I heard my lullaby being played. I opened my eyes and the light over the bed hurt, causing me to close them again. "Would someone turn off the damn lights?"

The light was quickly turned off and Edward appeared in my line of sight when I opened my eyes again. I gave him a slight smile.

"Are you in any pain?"

"No," I said and my voice cracked. "A little thirsty though."

"Carlisle will be here in a few minutes," Jasper said. I turned my head toward him and gave him the same smile I gave Edward.

No one spoke. I closed my eyes to keep from looking at Edward. I remembered I had wanted to speak to him, but I couldn't remember why. I started crying as I remembered being taken by Victoria and being pushed into a room with James. I felt one of them wrap their arms around me and I clung to them taking a deep, painful breath—pine needles, fresh air, and winter invaded my senses. It was Edward who held me. He said nothing and just held me as I cried. Too soon for my liking, he pulled away.

"I'll be right out in the hall," Edward said, leaving me with Carlisle.

"I'm not going to ask you any questions other than what is necessary. Are you in any pain?"

"It hurts a little to breath and my throat is a little sore." He checked my throat and felt the sides of my neck.

A nurse came in with some ice chips and placed the cup on the table as Carlisle listened to my lungs.

"What are my injuries, besides my leg?"

"You have four cracked ribs," he responded. "I have to ask one very personal question and need an answer. When was your last menstrual?"

I thought back a moment. "Two weeks ago." I gasped. There was only one reason he would be asking. "I-I-I was raped wasn't I?" I asked in a controlled voice. I felt numb and sick.

"Yes."

"What's next?" My voice shook as my control started to slip.

"I've already done the SAE and given it to the officers. I'll have one of the nurses come and give you a morning after pill."

"Blood work?"

"With the lab," Carlisle responded, crossing his arms. "Do you not trust that I have thought of everything?"

"Of course," I shouted. My control broke and the dam burst open, tears spilling down my cheeks.

I couldn't tell you how I ended up wrapped in Carlisle's arms, but it reminded me that I wasn't alone. "What happened to you wasn't your fault, Bella," he whispered, rubbing my back.

"I-I know."

"And it's okay for you to be angry, but remember that you're not alone."

I nodded, calming once again. "Thank you. How long I have been out and who found me?" I asked, pulling away from his embrace.

"You were unconscious when you were brought in around one in the morning. It's now eight in the evening," he said, standing before raising the rail.

Over fifteen hours!

"I'll have the nurse bring you some pain meds, too."

I stared at Carlisle in a daze. I couldn't believe I'd been out so long.

"Try to rest. You've been through a lot and rest is the best medicine."

I nodded again as he turned and left the room.

I wasn't alone long as Edward entered a moment later with a bag. "Alice and I went and picked some things up for you," he said, placing the bag on a chair. "I'm not sure what Alice packed for you, but hopefully it's fit for the hospital."

"Edward, who found me?"

"You brought me to you," he said, lowering the railing and sitting on the edge of the bed facing me.

I thought for a minute. "I remember calling for you several times and you never appeared. Did you hear me calling?"

"I did and more. The last thing I heard before I was magically pulled to you was, 'I love you, Edward.'"

I couldn't remember if I thought that or not. "I wish I could remember," I said, looking over at him, trying to will the tears not to come again. It was true I still loved him, but I wasn't ready to say it to him out loud. I shook my head. "Wait, what more did you hear?"

"I didn't hear anything other than you calling for me."

"Then what do you mean by 'more'?"

Edward looked away. Turning back to me, he sighed. "I felt your pain."

Was that even possible for Edward to feel my pain? I wasn't sure it was.

I resolved to look into that when I was next able to magically travel to Scotland. I had a feeling that it would be a long time before that would be possible.

There was something more pressing that I needed to know.

EPOV

I watched Bella closely as confusion marred her beautiful face, and it was a few minutes before she spoke again. "The anklet you gave me—Victoria tore it off my ankle. Did someone find it?"

I pulled the repaired anklet out of my pocket. "I found it," I said, holding it out to her.

She fingered the anklet. "Would you hold onto it for me until the cast comes off? I wear it on my right ankle and it would feel wrong on my left."

"Then, will you wear this in the meantime?" I asked, smiling as I took out a small box out of her bag and opened it to reveal a necklace.

Her eyes went wide and moved from the necklace to my face. Her lower lip, I noticed, had disappeared into her mouth.

A nurse came in before she had time to answer, handing her a paper cup of medicine and a small cup of water.

I waited until the nurse left before holding the necklace out to her again.

"Will you put it on me?"

I smiled at her as I took it out and fastened it around her neck. I was glad she accepted the gift. To see my birth mother's necklace around Bella's neck was heart-warming. It gave me a sense of hope, more so than Alice had. Alice had been right, though. Bella had come back into my life, but last night's events had me believing I would never see her alive again. I was going to do everything I could to ensure Bella was safe, and hopefully she hadn't figured out how to create a fireball. She once threatened just that, but had to stick to throwing pillows. Pillows I could handle, fire hell no.

A/N: Thanks to jennej for her help in editing this chapter.