Chapter 36: Edward's Decision

EPOV

I felt anger and disappointment, but most of all loneliness. It amazed me that I had become so dependent on Bella. She was the force that made me happy, and made me feel alive. I felt as if there was no other hope in the world.

I managed to get dress late in the evening. I hadn't eaten a thing sending away all the food that was brought up to me. But I found myself lingering by her suitcase. It was hard to believe that she was gone when her stuff was still here. I knew she had meant well, but I needed her. I loved her.

"Edward, may I come in?" Rosalie asked softly from the door of my room.

"Please tell me that you're coming to tell me that Bella is coming back." I pleaded as she stepped inside shaking her head. The small glimmer of hope I had seen at her arrival was immediately put out.

"I spoke to her, she's back in Forks." She admitted looking very worried. "You look like crap."

"Thanks," I mumbled crawling back into the bed in my jeans and shirt. "I feel like shit."

"Edward," She began in a soothing tone I didn't want to hear.

"No, Rose. Don't go there. She left me." I said in anger. I had no idea how to deal with the amount of emotions I was feeling.

"She left you, because she loves you." She explained as I glared at her.

"That makes sense." I answered rolling my eyes. "I leave the people I love all the time."

"Listen to me, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." Rose stated getting up and standing over my bed. She really was a force to be reckoned with when she was angry. "Bella loves you more than you know. She's killing herself at home crying. I'm surprised she still has tears to shed."

"Then why did she leave? I was going to make everything work out." I added as Rose sighed.

"If I knew her reasoning I would tell you. But Bella is not thinking clearly. Her biggest concern was that I made sure you moved on and were happy." She explained.

"I can't be happy without her." I proclaimed as Rose nodded.

"And neither can she." She agreed.

"What can I do? She doesn't want to be with me." I added staring at the picture she had left.

"I know she does. She just needs a little push in the right direction." Rose continued. "I know I'm going against what Bella told me to do. But I don't care. She may be my stepsister, but to me she's my sister. I love her dearly, and I want her to be happy. And her happiness is with you."

"What are you saying?" I inquired as she rolled her eyes in frustration.

"I'm saying you better get your but up, and go knock some sense into her." She replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Would she listen?" I questioned as Rose laughed.

"Does it matter? Make her listen, she loves you." She finished getting up. "Don't wait too long."

I watched as Rosalie left my room. She had a point. I was not going to mope around my room. I could do something about it. I could bring her back and I would fight Parliament to make her my wife.

I got out of bed leaving my room in search of Ben. I needed him to get everything ready, because as soon as I got the all clear I was on my way to the States. I was going to fight for my Bella.

BPOV

Anne came into my room a few hours after I had arrived. I had slipped into his shirt letting his scent encompass me. It was the closest thing I could do to not actually have him with me.

The clock said I had only been away from Edward for less than a day, but I literally felt as if we had been apart for ages. I felt cold and empty.

"Bella, sweetheart." Anne said coming inside with a tray with some macaroni and cheese. I usually adored her mac and cheese, they were my favorite. But not today. "You have to eat."

"I'm not hungry." I whispered smelling his shirt yet again.

"It's not healthy." She added taking a seat next to me as I shrugged. I honestly was not concerned about my health.

"I miss him." I admitted as she put the tray on my nightstand ushering me into a hug.

"I don't understand why you left him." She replied kissing the top of my head. "Your father and I are really worried about you."

"Anne, he's the future king and I'm just an average girl. I'm not that special." I said with a sigh. "He deserves someone who will help his image not hurt it."

"Bella, you're a great young woman. You're smart, caring, beautiful and so many other things. I don't see how you will ever hurt his image." She added.

"I come with baggage. Look what Jacob did, and look at all the pictures that were leaked from our trip. The world thinks I'm a whore." I explained more tears falling.

"Isabella, you have never and will never be a whore. We all make mistakes." She continued.

"But most people don't have theirs plastered on magazines and newspapers." I objected as Anne sighed.

"I know, sweetheart. But it comes with the territory." She continued as I looked up into her eyes.

"Do you think I was wrong to leave?" I asked.

"That's a question only you can answer, Bella." She replied. "That answer is within you."

I didn't reply simply moving back to my pillow. I knew I loved Edward in more ways than I could ever hope to explain. He was the love of my life. The half that made me whole. But had I done the right thing?

That was the question I didn't know whether I could answer or not. I knew I wanted both of us to be happy together. But I also knew I couldn't allow him to give up his throne. It wasn't right for me to ask him that.

I definitely didn't have the answer to that question.

EPOV

I waited in one of the studies as Ben made a few calls. I needed to get the required clearance to go after Bella. It wasn't as easy as jumping on a plane and getting to Seattle. I was thankful that Bella had once told me the way to get to her house, and Rosalie had specified concrete directions.

"Two days at the very least." Ben said as he hung up his phone.

"Two days!" I said in disbelief. "Can't we do anything quicker?"

"I have a contact working on it, Edward. But this is short notice. We're doing the best we can." He explained as I sighed loudly running my fingers through my hair.

"It's not fast enough." I commented in frustration. "I need to go get her back."

"I'll try to work something out, Edward." Ben replied and I knew I was being unreasonable, but I couldn't be reasonable.

"What all the noise here?" My father asked walking inside as I glared at him.

"You caused this now you fix it." I yelled my temper spinning out of control.

"Started what?" He asked in confusion.

"Bella left, because of you." I said gripping the chair for support.

"When did she leave? I've been out of the castle all day, I just got back." He defended as I sighed.

"She left in the early morning hours." Ben answered as I turned to him.

"How did you know when she left?" I questioned.

"I crossed paths with her as I was headed up to bed." He admitted as I shook my head. "I tried to stop her…"

"Why didn't you wake me?" I stated in pure anger. This was going too far.

"Edward," My father warned placing his hand on my shoulder as I took it off.

"No, Carlisle." I said my blood boiling. "He should've woken me up. He could've stopped her and he didn't."

"Edward, have you stopped to think." He started. "Maybe this is all for the best."

"No, it's not." I yelled loudly. "I don't want anyone, but Bella. Either Bella becomes my Queen or I don't take the throne."

"You're upset," He answered as I shot him a glare.

"That's rather perceptive of you." I stated sarcastically.

"You need to relax." He continued as I made my way to the door.

"I meant what I said." I stated forcefully. "Get me the jet ready. As soon as the clearance rolls through, I'm going to get Bella back."

I walked out of the room fuming. My father would just have to accept the truth. It was probably selfish of me, but I didn't care. I loved Bella, and she was the only woman in the world I would ever want to be with. No one in the world would ever come close to comparing with her.

A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters, because it was very natural to write. I found that it flowed, and I hope all of you were able to sense it to.

I finsihed my finals, and I'm trying to catch up on my writing now. I'll see how that all works out, and if work and the holidays let me I'll try to post more often. But I'll need at least a week to get to writing.

I want to thank everyone for all the good luck wishes for my tests. I'm now waiting to hear back on scores, and I'll let you know how I do. I know a lot of you have them coming up, and i wish you luck. I know I needed it.

Next Chapter: (I'm not telling)

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