Chapter 25: Finally…Happiness
Bella was sitting on her porch listening to her iPod when Edward showed up in his Volvo. "Edward hey," she greeted smiling walking off the porch. Edward walked over and kissed her briefly.
"What are you doing later?" He asked.
Bella smiled a little. "Nothing really, why?" She asked. Edward kissed her briefly.
"Meet me by the woods," he whispered.
Bella nodded. "Okay," she answered. Edward kissed her one more time.
"I'll see you later," he told her.
She watched him take off again and rubbed the back of her neck confused.
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That evening, Bella was standing at the entrance of the forest, pacing back and forth a little. She looked up when Edward walked up the hell. "Ready?" He asked.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
Edward smiled as he held onto her hand and they moved into the forest, heading towards their meadow.
Afterward, Bella was sitting down when she noticed that Edward was still standing. "Edward sit down," she insisted.
"Not yet," he answered.
She gave him a quizzical look. "I know we've been through so much…and I think that's what brought us closer together," he said quietly. Bella smiled softly and Edward let out a deep breath as he sunk down on one knee. "Isabella Marie Swan, I will always love you, I loved you from the moment I saw you and I will you forever, will you be my wife?" He asked. Bella smiled happily.
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes,' she replied.
Edward slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her deeply. Bella kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Edward pulled back, smiling. She smiled back, moving her hands over his face. "I love you," she whispered. He smiled softly.
"I love you," he answered.
He kissed her again and hugged her tight. Bella hugged him back, burying her face into his neck.
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Alice shrieked and hugged Bella tight. "Yay! Another wedding to plan!" She exclaimed. Jasper chuckled as he hugged his sister and shook Edward's hand.
"Alice, you can't strain yourself too much," he pointed out, gently tapping on her baby bump.
Alice slapped his hand away. "I can still plan weddings," she insisted. Jasper rolled his eyes and kissed his wife's forehead. "Do you even have a date thought on yet?" She asked anxiously.
"Alice, we've been engaged for like a half hour," Bella answered.
Alice giggled softly, shaking her head slowly. Jasper sat next to his wife, kissing the side of her head. She leaned against him with a smile on her face. Edward had his arm around Bella's waist, while kissing her temple. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she answered.
Edward kissed her forehead with a smile. He was possibly the happiest man alive. He held Bella's hand, moving his fingers over her wrist.
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Later on, Edward and Bella were sitting out in front of her house. They were discussing their own wedding ideas. "Maybe we should just go to Vegas or something," she commented. Edward chuckled, holding her hand.
"Then have Alice kill us," he answered.
Bella let out a sigh as she looked at the engagement ring. "We have to put a stop to the big wedding plans though. It's not what we want," she pointed out.
"I know, we'll tell her that," he assured her.
Edward kissed the side of her head. "We have months before we even have to worry about a wedding," he said quietly. She smiled and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so happy," she whispered.
He wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. "I have dreamt of marrying you for so long, I'm still waiting to wake up from this dream," he answered. She looked up at him with a gentle smile on her face.
"This is no dream," she assured him quietly.
Edward placed his hand on her face and kissed her tenderly. Bella kissed him back with a smile. Edward watched her get out of the car. "I love you Bella," he called to her.
"I love you too Edward," she answered.
She closed the door to the car and went inside. Edward smiled as he started his car back up and drove back home.
Bella walked into her house and closed the door behind her, leaning against it. She bit her lower lip and a huge smile came across her face. She looked at the ring on her left hand and let out a deep breath. She was engaged, she couldn't believe it. She was engaged to a man who had adored her from the beginning.
However, as she stood there, she lifted her shirt up to see the scar still sitting there, it felt like it was taunting her. She bit her lower lip, closing her eyes tight. "Dad, I'll be back," she called.
"Bells…" Charlie started.
Bella was already gone.
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Bella pulled up on a old dirt road that she hadn't be down in so long. Her heart was pounding hard against her chest as she parked the truck in the same exact spot.
(Flashback)
Bella was driving down the dirt road that was shortcut back to her house when she felt her car hit something. She let out a gasp and slammed on her breaks. She got out of the car, pushing her hair behind her ear.
(End Flashback)
She let out a deep breath as she got out of her truck and looked at the same spot, what she had hit was just a rock. The tire tracks were still on the rock. Her tire tracks from before had faded from the weather. She let out several deep breaths, feeling like she couldn't breathe. "Hello Bella," his voice echoed in her head.
(Flashback)
Bella gasped and spun around to see James there. An evil sneer was showing on his face. "J--James…what are you doing here?" She asked.
"I was wondering the same thing about you," he replied.
She backed up when she tripped over a stick falling on her butt. "You've been a bad girl Bella," he hissed. She let out a yelp when he grabbed her hair and yanked her up from the ground. "Come on!" He snapped, dragging her through the forest.
(End Flashback)
Bella walked down the path he had dragged her on. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stepped over the broken logs that had fallen over from the winter storms. She tripped once but she gained her balance by grabbing onto a tree. "Were you seeing that Jacob kid?!" He snapped.
(Flashback)
Bella held onto his wrist. "Were you?!" He snapped yanking her closer.
"No I wasn't I swear," she sobbed.
"I don't believe you Bella," he answered.
He threw her down on the ground. Bella let out a yelp and looked around when he suddenly straddled her sides. "Naughty, naughty Bella," he hissed. She let out a sob as she tried to move away. "Stop struggling!" He snapped angrily.
(End Flashback)
Bella stood in the clearing that James had taken her to. She put her hands over her ears as if to block out the memories. "You have any last words Bella?" James asked.
(Flashback)
Bella let out a sob as she tried to move when she felt the cold steel of his blade dig into her stomach. She let out as shriek and looked around. "You've been a bad girl Bella," he hissed quietly. Bella looked around and she finally grabbed the biggest rock she could find and smashed his head with it.
(End Flashback)
Bella let out a scream when someone touched her arm. She grabbed a rock that was by her and went to hit the person when they grabbed her wrist. Edward stood there with concern showing in his eyes. "Bella…" he whispered gently. He reached up and wiped the tears from her face, tears she didn't know she had shed. She let out a deep breath, dropping the rock.
"He can't hurt me…" she whispered.
Edward shook his head slowly. "No, he can't," he answered. A small smile came across her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Edward hugged her and kissed her shoulder. "You are the bravest woman I have ever met Bella," he whispered. He lifted her up off the ground. "I love you, so much," he whispered. She sniffled and held onto him.
"I love you too," she answered.
Edward set her back down on the ground. "I'll take you home," he whispered. She shook her head and lied down on the ground. "Bella…" he started.
"Just stay…stay with me," she whispered.
Edward lied down beside her on the forest floor, wrapping his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest and sleep claimed her. He kissed her forehead as they fell asleep in each other's embrace.