I had said we would be getting updates from Edward's point of view for a bit but I decided to throw in some Bella, just to get a different perspective on things. Not a lot happens here, I'll tell you that now. It's a filler of sorts and I'm working on the Carlisle conversation now. But it lets you know where Bella and Charlie stand on things!
Thank you as always for all of your lovely comments and reviews! Please, keep them coming!
Disclaimer: I own nothing Twilight related.
Bella's POV
I didn't want to move. Sitting on the river bank, Edward's arms around me, his breath caressing my skin, I felt content. It was a feeling of peace I hadn't felt since before Edward had left. The turmoil of knowing something was off, the day in the woods, the endless, agonizing days of trying and failing to put myself back together again, were nearly worth it if they led to this kind of peace.
"It's getting dark," Edward whispered. I didn't answer. He nuzzled my neck, his good arm tightening around my waist. I squeezed the hand of his bad arm which I was currently holding. We had spent the last few hours mostly in silence, me sometimes squeezing his hand or leaning further into him, him burying his face in my hair, occasionally giving me a brief squeeze around the middle. It was our way of not only expressing our feelings but double checking to make sure the other was really there.
I was almost ashamed to admit I hadn't taken the time to consider how Edward was dealing with all of this. I had been focused on myself, my hurt and the questions I had that I had never considered what might have been going on in Edward's head.
I suppose it was because I thought he was okay with his actions, the decisions he had made. That had been my belief up until he had told me otherwise when he had broken down earlier. Now, I was beginning to see how hurt he was by his actions. The price he was paying was high.
"Bella, I don't want to give Charlie any more reason to hate me," he said gently, reminding me that I needed to return home at a decent hour.
"Charlie doesn't hate you," I spoke before I thought. Edward snorted.
"He doesn't hate the man who caused his daughter to shatter into a million pieces for months on end? The man who is now back on her life, currently holding on to her as though his life depends on her - which it does - and who she spent days at his bedside, caring for him when he didn't deserve it? He doesn't hate that guy?"
Edward's question was rhetorical and honestly, I couldn't argue it. Personally, I thought hate was a strong word but in the case of Edward and Charlie, it was more or less appropriate. Which I, in turn, hated. I honestly didn't think Charlie would ever warm up to the idea of Edward being back in my life. He hadn't exactly been sold on the idea before Edward left as it was.
"I guess I should get going," I sighed. "I don't want to though." Edward tightened his grip on me, his way of saying he didn't want me to leave either. He let me go though and stood, offering me his good hand to stand. I accepted and allowed him to pull me to my feet.
"I'll follow you home," he stated. "I want to make sure you get their safely."
"No you won't," I argued. "Carlisle hasn't released you. You can't go running or driving or whatever it is you're planning on doing."
"I can drive," Edward argued.
"No, you can't."
"I can."
"Edward, you can't," I said firmly. "You need to make sure you're fully recovered before you start driving around Forks."
"I'll have Emmett drive me then," he stated. I sighed. There was no convincing him otherwise.
"Fine," I relented.
We walked back to the house, hand in hand, again enveloped in an easy silence.
"Emmett!" Edward called when we were in the backyard.
Moments later Emmett bounded through the backdoor.
"You bellowed?" he asked, smirking.
"I want to follow Bella home, make sure she gets there safely. Can you drive? Carlisle hasn't released me yet and Bella won't hear of me going against his orders," Edward asked. Emmett laughed.
"Sure, I'll drive. I'll also keep Charlie from kicking your ass," he told Edward. Edward refrained from commenting even though I knew he wanted to.
"You ready Bella?" he asked me instead. I opened my mouth to answer but was interrupted by a flash of yellow coming up the driveway.
"Alice!" I exclaimed. Next to me, Edward went rigid. I squeezed his hand reassuringly. He squeezed back.
Alice parked her Porsche and leapt out with more grace than should be legal.
"Bella!" she called. "I was afraid I was going to miss you! Which really wouldn't have mattered as I will be seeing you tomorrow but still, I'm glad I got here before you left!" She hugged me tightly.
"Hey Edward," she said, a hint of tension in her voice, a smile no longer gracing her face.
"Hi Alice," he replied, trying hard but failing to give her a real smile. I wondered what he was seeing in Alice's thoughts. Jasper had gotten out the car but stood apart from our small group, his hands in his pockets, a lock of blonde hair falling over one eye. He nodded at me but remained silent, not addressing Edward at all. Edward glanced at him and for a moment, looked as though he were going to fall apart. I reached for his hand again in a gesture to comfort him.
"Emmett, you follow us. I'm going to ride with Bella," Edward said, pulling himself together.
"See you tomorrow Bella!" Alice said, hugging me once more and then skipping off towards the house, pausing long enough to grab Jasper's hand and pull him along.
Edward opened my door for me before walking around to the passenger's side of the truck. I buckled my seatbelt and watched Edward out the corner of his eye, absentmindedly running his hand over my dashboard. His eyes fell to the gapping hole where a radio should be but he said nothing.
"Is everything okay with Alice?" I asked, navigating down the driveway.
"No," Edward said softly. "But I couldn't see what was going on. She was focusing on you and keeping a list of fashion designers on repeat in the background of her thoughts, just to keep me out of them."
"And Jasper?" I pressed. Edward shook his head.
"He's angry at me," he said. "Which I can hardly blame him. He's angry and hurt and worried. I think him and Alice must have had a pretty intense talk while they were gone. There was bits and pieces of it coming through his thoughts. I didn't listen long though - I couldn't bear it."
"It will work out," I soothed him. "It's just going to take time."
He grunted and took my hand for which I was glad, eager for the contact. He stared off out the window, lost in his own thoughts. I stole glances at him while watching Emmett in my rearview. He was dancing in his seat, his lips moving to whatever song was on the radio. I stifled my laugh.
"Emmett is insane," Edward commented. He was watching him in the side mirror, no doubt reading his mind.
"His enjoying himself," I said. Edward nodded in agreement.
"Hey Bella?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"I love you," he said sincerely. "I know I've said that a few times already today but I have a lot of time to make up for so get used to hearing me say it all the time." Tears sprang to my eyes.
"I love you too," I told him. "Thank you for coming back." Edward looked at me, a genuine smile on his face but his eyes sad.
"As if I could stay away," he said. "I was nothing without you. I'm the one that should be thanking you. You gave me another chance after all. Most women would have told me to go to hell."
"I'm not most women," I informed him.
"That is so abundantly clear," Edward muttered mostly to himself.
My house came into view. The sight of Charlie's cruiser in the driveway made my stomach churn. I wasn't ready for the father-boyfriend confrontation that was bound to occur. Edward seemed to sense my anxiety.
"Its okay Bella," he assured me. "I'm not going to do anything to set Charlie off. I'm going to walk you to your door, kiss you goodnight and then go back to my house with Emmett." I nodded, wishing he would stay.
I parked my truck, Emmett pulling in behind me.
"Nice moves," I called to Emmett when I was out of the truck. He grinned and gave me a thumbs up. I saw the living room curtain move. Charlie had seen us.
"He's not happy," Edward said at about the same time the front door opened and Charlie appeared on our porch.
"Bella, get in the house," Charlie ordered me, his eyes burning holes into Edward. "I need to have a few words with Cullen."
"Dad," I tried to diffuse his temper. "Edward was just making sure I got home safely." My plan was to sell Edward's concern over my personal safety. I could tell it wasn't going to work.
"Go on inside Bella," Edward whispered. "It will be fine." Emmett quietly got out of his jeep, no doubt to be on hand to step between Charlie and Edward if the need arose.
"Edward…"
"Inside Bella!" Charlie bellowed.
"Please Bella," Edward pleaded with me softly. "Go inside." He gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be back," he whispered. "I need to speak with Carlisle first but I will be back tonight, as soon as I can - I promise."
I had no choice but to believe him as I forced myself to pull away and turn towards the house.
"Bye Bells!" Emmett called.
"Bye Em," I called over my shoulder. My eyes met Edward's and he gave me small, reassuring nod.
"Dad," I half warned, half pleaded when I reached him.
"Go inside Bella," he growled, his eyes never leaving Edward. The sheer amount of testosterone swirling around my front yard was unbearable. I was certain Charlie thought he had the upper hand, that he, being in a position of authority, scared both Edward and Emmett. He had no idea that two deadly creatures were standing mere feet from him in the form of two teenage boys. But I wasn't worried about Charlie. Neither of them would do anything rash. Charlie however… I stood in the hallway to listen.
"What are you doing here?" Charlie snarled at Edward.
"I wanted to make sure Bella got home okay," Edward answered smoothly. "It was getting dark and I don't like the idea of her traveling her at night by herself."
I snorted. If only Charlie knew why Edward didn't like me traveling at night by myself. Images of crazed stalker vampires and La Push boys turned werewolf came to mind.
"Don't like her traveling at night but it's okay to leave her in the woods by herself, huh?" Charlie retorted. Even though I was on Edward's side, I had to give Charlie a point.
"I didn't know she would try to follow me…" Edward's voice cracked. I knew he hated having that night thrown back in his face but when it came to dealing with Charlie, he would have to take it.
"Left her out in the woods to die, you did. We searched for hours trying to find her and when we did, she was barely breathing! For months she did nothing but barely breathe! And then you come waltzing back in her life as though you never did anything wrong, never broke her heart, shattered her into a million pieces! You've got some nerve showing up here boy!"
I willed Edward to remember I'd forgiven him and we were working on moving past everything that had happened. However, I knew Charlie's words were hitting him where it hurt.
"I'm sorry," Edward replied, his voice shaky at best. I heard Emmett mumble something to Edward but couldn't make out what it was.
"Sorry?" Charlie said, his voice growing louder. "You ruin my daughter and all you have to say for yourself is 'sorry?' I only let her go to LA when I found out you were in that accident because your sister looked so damn desperate I couldn't tell her no. But now? Now, if you expect me to tell you you're welcome in my home…"
I couldn't take being on the other side anymore.
"Dad, stop it!" I demanded, pushing the door open to return to the front porch.
"Bella," both Charlie and Edward spoke at the same time. Charlie glared at me and Edward anxiously gazed at me.
"Go back inside Bella. You don't need to hear this," Charlie said. I rolled my eyes. As if I was going to miss Charlie's booming voice.
"Dad, Edward is back in my life. I told you, it was all a big misunderstanding. Even Carlisle told you that. You don't have to like Edward but please, be civil!" I half asked, half begged.
"Bella, you don't have to defend me," Edward spoke.
"Yeah, he was an ass… Umph!" Emmett was cut off by Edward jabbing him in the gut with the elbow of his good arm.
"Bella, I will not stand by and allow you to be hurt again," Charlie told me.
"He's not going to hurt me again," I argued. I wasn't sure if I completely believed that but I think I did. Or at least was close to believing it.
"He did once and he will again," Charlie retorted.
"No," came Edward's voice, quivering fiercely. "I won't. I can't."
The weakness I heard in his voice was enough to make my own heart hurt for him. I went to him, tossing a look to Charlie over my shoulder that dared him to protest. Surprisingly, he didn't.
"Edward, don't do this tonight," I told him quietly. I slid my arm around his waist. "I know you want to apologize but not tonight, okay? You've done enough of that today." I knew today had been trying for him with first his apologies to Esme, Emmett and Rosalie and then his break down with me. I knew how badly he wanted to set things right but tonight, with Charlie, it wasn't going to happen.
"He hates me," Edward whispered, putting an arm around me and burying his face in my hair. "He truly does." I squeezed him tightly then kissed his cheek.
"Emmett?" I asked, pulling away from Edward only enough to look at Emmett. "Take him home." Emmett nodded and stepped toward Edward.
"Come on bro," he said, tugging on Edward's arm. "Let's get back to the ranch. There's plenty of time for your swashbuckling ways later." I grimaced at Emmett's choice of a metaphor.
"I love you," Edward whispered before letting me go.
"I love you too," I told him. He kissed me on my cheek then whispered he would be back before getting in Emmett's jeep.
"Later Bells," Emmett called. I waved at him then turned my attention to Charlie, glaring.
"That was uncalled for!" I huffed.
"Cullen is bad news Bella," Charlie tried to argue.
"I'm an adult," I reminded him. "I will decide who is or isn't bad news. And like it or not, Edward is a part of my life. He's explained himself to me and I have decided to give him another chance. If he screws up again, then it will be shame on me."
I prayed he wouldn't screw up again. I couldn't take getting hurt like that again. Charlie looked floored that I had stood up to him.
"I don't like him Bella," Charlie muttered. "I don't like him one bit."
"Well I do," I stated. I didn't give Charlie a chance to respond. I headed up the stairs to wait for Edward's return - praying that he did actually show up.