A/N: Wow...I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be saying that we've reached the end of this story...but here I am saying it. This chapter is the last of the actual ToF storyline. Worry not though my lovelies, we have a few more chaps of epilogues still to come. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. All Twilight related material belongs solely to SMeyer. Everything else relating specifically to ToF belongs to me ^_^
Hello, Goodbye
EPOV
Supposedly in theory, there's a place between Heaven and Hell...Purgatory. Somewhere around four am Saturday morning, I'd awoken to find myself there. In my own personal Purgatory...lost somewhere between Heaven and Hell.
Heaven was still having Bella in my arms and asleep, her breaths deep and steady and body warm and soft. Hell was knowing that in just a few short hours, I'd be standing on a dock on the mainland, watching the limo that she would be inside drive farther and farther away from me until I could no longer see it...or her.
It was actually the dream of watching it happen that had awoken me prematurely and caused me to wrap myself around her tightly when I realized she was still beside me. She hadn't yet left.
Even in the darkness of the bedroom I could see her packed suitcases stacked in the corner, like an ominous black shadow lurking and taunting me with its inevitable meaning. She was leaving. The day had actually come, sneaking up on us in its rapid stealth after our last few days together had all but passed in the blink of an eye.
Truthfully, there hadn't been much of anything going on around us over the last few days aside from Bella and I making love, packing, making love again, some more packing of Bella's and Rosalie and Emmett's remaining belongings, and more love making. Somewhere between those two activities that we partook in excessively, we did somehow manage to spend a few hours with everyone else.
The only thing that really stood out from the past few days, aside from our love making of course, was the phone call we got early Thursday morning from Rosalie. And when I say early, I mean it had only been a few minutes past three am. The house phone blaring through the dark house at that hour had woken everyone up, but I was certain that even though there were three different cordless phones, each set on speaker phone in three different bedrooms with six sets of drowsy and half awake ears listening to the wide awake voices on the other end...we had all slept a lot more soundly that night after the call.
Emmett and Kylie had finally been reunited, she was perfectly fine and unharmed, and within an hour of bringing her home, Emmett had already contacted his lawyer to get the ball rolling on pressing charges on Lauren and obtaining full custody of Kylie. After finally hearing Kylie's sweet voice and four of us responding with equally tear filled voices, as well as assuring Emmett and Rosalie that if they needed anything, all they had to do was ask, the six of us said goodnight and ended the call.
I don't think I'd ever made love to Bella as passionately and with as much emotion as I did that dark early morning with only the sounds of the tide rolling ashore eclipsing the sounds of our whispered breaths, words, and moans.
As I curled myself around her even closer and tried to savor as much of the feeling of just holding her as I could, I almost had to laugh at myself. I specifically remembered there being a time when I'd felt I had so much time with her on the island left to look forward to that it seemed it'd never end. Almost as if she'd never have to leave.
It hadn't lasted long at all in its temporary comforts, but just the idea that I'd even entertained the thought for a single second had been beyond naive of me, and frankly, had been completely ludicrous to have held onto for even any momentary length of time.
As yet another hour passed by us and I laid there with her wrapped tightly in my arms, unable to fall back asleep despite my efforts to, I began wishing that the extra suitcases stacked with Bella's were mine and not Rosalie's. I would have given anything to be able to go with her, to just up and leave in a moment's notice so that we'd never have to say goodbye...but I couldn't. After all Carlisle and Esme had done for me over the years, I couldn't allow myself to leave them high and dry like that. The next two months would be incredibly busy at the resort, and we still hadn't found anyone to hire to run the boats. I didn't even know how I was going to be able to do it on my own with the amount of guests we had arriving during the following week.
I'd been counting on still having Jasper with me, and together we would have been able to handle it until we could find some replacements...but Thursday night he'd informed us that he too would be leaving on Saturday. He'd decided that he didn't want to be separated from Alice any longer than necessary, so he booked a flight home to Portland on the same day the girls would be flying home to Seattle. His plan was to get everything situated back home and be back with Ali in Seattle within a week or two at most.
It put me in a really shitty situation, but I couldn't blame him in the least. If it hadn't been for Mike and Eric quitting, and our firing that piece of shit Tyler, I wouldn't have second-guessed leaving with Bella for even a moment.
"I swear, baby...I'll come back to you the very moment I can get away from here," I breathed against her shoulder, placing a feather light kiss upon her soft skin.
I was left with the memories of the past month running through my mind and sound of her deep and steady breathing for another three hours until she began to stir. It had been an hour since the sun had fully risen, casting her nude beauty in its golden glow and driving me insane with the temptation to wake her.
Somehow, don't ask me how because I'll never know, I managed to suppress my urges until she'd fully awoken, stretching and rolling over to face me sleepily.
"Tell the sun to go away...I want it to stay Friday forever," she mumbled into my chest, sighing as she wrapped her arm around me and slid her thigh between mine.
"I wish I could, love," I whispered sadly as I nuzzled the top of her head.
"Mm," she hummed as she pressed a kiss to my bare chest and breathed in deeply. "How long have you been awake?"
"A few hours," I admitted, running my hand up and down her back in long strokes. She tilted her head up to gaze at me and gently ran her finger under my eyes, which I was fairly certain were at least puffy from the minimal amount of sleep I'd gotten.
"Are you still stressed out over how you're gonna run all the activities by yourself?" she asked, concern etched across her features.
"A bit," I nodded and ducked my head down for a quick kiss. "It'll be alright though. I might be able to get Garrett or Jason to give me a hand when they're available."
"I'm worried that you're gonna overwork yourself again like you did the week everything blew up at the resort," she frowned up at me as she caressed my cheek.
"Love, don't worry about me. It's not like what I'll be doing can be considered physical labor by any means. The hardest thing I'll be enduring over the next few weeks will be missing you," I responded truthfully.
"I'll be missing you, too," she murmured, trailing her lips along my jaw.
I groaned as her fingers twisted in my hair and her lips caught the lobe of my ear. My hips bucked toward her reflexively, desperately seeking friction as her lips trailed back across my jaw toward my lips. When her lips came to the corner of my own, I turned my head and captured them greedily, rolling us so she was on her back. My arms hooked under her shoulders as her arms wrapped around my neck and her legs shifted, allowing me to settle between her thighs.
I needed her. I needed her every moment of every day, and with each passing day, that need only ever increased.
My hips rocked against her slowly, the length of my cock sliding up and down her slick sex as our tongues tangled and twined languorously around each other. I had no desire to rush, wanting to commit each sensation to memory, and even as I slid into her and became engulfed by her wet heat, I kept my movements slow and sensual.
We had no use for words. Everything we'd needed to say to one another had been said over the past few days, and anything left to say could be felt in every touch of our lips and caress of our hands.
"Roll," Bella breathed breathlessly as my lips and tongue trailed down the curve of her neck. I instantly complied, hugging her tightly to me as I rolled onto my back, bringing her on top of me.
A loud moan escaped my lips as she sat up, her knees and calves clinging to my sides as her hands pressed down on my lower abdomen lightly. The sensation of sliding deeper within her as she rocked above me, coupled with the way her arms were pushing her breasts together and forming the most delicious cleavage I'd ever seen, was almost too much to bear.
My hands were everywhere on her delicate skin, caressing reverently with the slightest of pressure as I traced her collarbones, the swell of her breasts, her nipples.
"God," she whimpered, her head falling back slightly for a moment before locking her eyes with mine, "I love the way you touch me."
I brought my hand up to cradle the back of her neck and gently pulled her down to me, wrapping my arms around her as I kissed my way across her jaw and whispered to her, "Good...because I love touching you."
Her breath stuttered as it escaped her, fanning my cheek as she lifted her head to press her lips to my own. My hands took purchase on the swells of her hips, pushing her downward gently as I rocked into her from beneath. She felt so damn good I didn't think I'd ever be able to come up with the words to describe it.
Bella tore her lips away from mine in a breathless cry of pleasure as she turned her hips while sinking back down on me, changing the angle just slightly and causing the head of my cock to hit a new spot inside of her. Her walls clenched around me briefly and I knew right then that she was close...really close.
"That's it, love," I murmured softly, rocking harder into her. "Let me feel you."
"Not without you," she panted, shaking her head. "I wanna come with you."
"Fuck, baby," I moaned as her lips latched onto my neck and she sucked hard.
I pushed us up and leaned her back as she wrapped her legs behind me and I kissed my way up her stomach. She tasted sweet and just slightly salty from the sheen of sweat on her skin. She continued grinding against me, leaning back on her arms as I kissed and licked every inch of skin I could find. She was still holding back her orgasm, I could feel it in the way her muscles fluttered around me deep inside her when I captured her nipple between my lips and grazed it with my teeth, and I could hear it in the tremble of her whimpering moans. She wasn't going to be able to hold it back for much longer and neither was I, so I pulled her into my chest, wrapping one arm around her back to hold her to me and guiding her hips with my other hand.
She pressed her forehead to mine, looking deep into my eyes as our breaths came in harsh bursts.
"Let go, honey...come with me," I panted, gripping her hip tightly and pushing her down hard as I felt my release approaching rapidly.
"I love you," she breathed, capturing my lips and moaning into my mouth as she began to clench and spasm around me, triggering my own orgasm and groans as I spilled myself into her in long hot spurts.
"I love you, too, Bella...forever, baby," I vowed, holding her tightly as we came down from our Earth shattering bliss together.
~*~
Five and a half hours later, after having a late lunch with my family for them to say goodbye, I found myself on the end of the dock on the mainland hugging Alice goodbye as the limo driver loaded up the last of their luggage. She'd already parted with Jasper, who was still finishing his packing and getting ready for his own flight back at the house.
"I'll miss you," she sighed as she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck. "If I never said it before, thank you, Edward. Thank you for making Bella so happy."
"It's me who should be thanking you and Rosalie for bringing her into my life. I'll miss you too, Ali...take good care of my future wife for me until I can get up there, okay?" I responded softly.
She smiled up at me and nodded when I'd lowered her back down to the ground, "We always do."
"I'll wait for you in the car, Bells," she said softly as she turned to walk away. She waved one last time as she looked behind her and I waved back, sincerely saddened to see her go. How the three of us had gotten so lucky as to meet three such incredible women was something I'd never comprehend.
"Come here, love," I sighed as her eyes began to well up with unshed tears. I pulled her into my arms and rocked her back and forth as she clung to me tightly, fighting back her emotions.
"It'll be alright, Bella. I'll be back in the states and by your side before you know it," I reassured her.
"I know," she sniffed.
"No more tears, baby...just think forward to all the things we'll do together once I get up there," I told her, trying to be encouraging even though I felt as if I'd crumble with the intensity of my own heartache at seeing her leave.
"Like what?" she pouted petulantly, and just the sight of it brought a slight smile to my face.
"Like sight seeing...we can run around cities with cameras. Make silly poses in front of statues and landmarks and stuff. Hey here's one...you can laugh when your father pulls a shotgun out on me when we tell him we're engaged...how about that?" I joked...well kind of. I was actually pretty terrified that my fear would indeed become a reality when we dropped that bomb on him together.
"He'd never do that," she scoffed and then simpered up at me. "It'd be his sidearm...not a shotgun."
"Thanks," I chuckled sarcastically. "Real comforting there, baby."
"Miss," the driver called out, "We need to be leaving for you to catch your flight."
I held out my hand and nodded, calling back to him that she was coming before looking back down at her.
"Soon, love...I promise," I told her as I ducked my head down to kiss her goodbye.
"I'm holding you to that promise," she whispered, hugging me tightly as I lifted her off the ground.
"I love you, Bella. Call me as soon as you land so I know you made it safely. I don't care what time it is here, okay?" I asked her and then kissed her once more.
"I love you too, and I will...I promise," she nodded.
Her lips met mine one last time and it took everything in me to let her go. The very second she began backing away from me, my heart began constricting painfully. When she made it to the open door of the limo, with the driver waiting to shut it behind her, I pointed to my eye, my heart, and then at her. She smiled sadly, and even from where I stood down the dock, I could see the trembling of her lips and chin as she motioned it back to me before slipping into the car where I could no longer see her.
There was no way to describe how I felt as the limo began to pull away with my entire world inside of it, and I could do nothing but stare after it. For as much as I'd told her not to cry, my own eyes welled with tears as the limo disappeared from sight and left me standing, a lone man on a dock in a world absent of the sounds and visions of the one he loved.
I had no desire to head back to the island right away, and instead, found myself sitting on the edge of the dock, staring out at the vast waters before me. For years the sights and sounds that accompanied that specific spot had brought me comfort and a sense of peace...but at that moment, I could find none. I just felt vacant, as if every part of my being had truly left right along with Bella.
I had no idea how long I'd sat there just staring absentmindedly out over the waters, but eventually, I'd managed to lift myself up and get back in the boat to head back to the island. By the time I had made it back to the house, it was just after five thirty, and after grabbing a beer from the fridge, I started trudging up to my room. When I made it to the second landing, Jasper was coming out of his room, dragging his luggage behind him.
"All packed?" I asked and then brought the bottle up to my lips to take a long pull.
"Yeah...Edward, man," he sighed, frowning. "Why didn't you just go with her? Look at you. You're miserable already and she's only been gone what? Two hours?"
"You know why, Jas," I grumbled, shaking my head as I moved toward the stairs to the third floor.
"You're loyal to a fault sometimes, Edward," he spoke again, sounding disappointed and I paused on the stairs and turned toward him.
"I know you don't get it, because you've never really needed anything your entire damn life, but when I needed them after my parents passed, they didn't just bail on me. What kind of person would I be if I did that shit to them?" I bristled in response.
"Jesus Christ, Edward. Esme and Carlisle just want you to be happy, not feel like you owe them something. Don't you see? That's all they've ever wanted for you and it's killed them to see you so damn unhappy for half your life. Do you really think they'd be upset if, for once in your miserable life, you did something to make yourself happy instead of trying to appease someone else?" he argued heatedly.
"No, I know they wouldn't be upset, but it wouldn't make me feel any less of a cad for not being there for them the way they've always been there for me," I reasoned, wishing he could just friggen understand where I was coming from.
"Loyal to a fault...like I said," he scoffed, shaking his head as he started making his way down the stairs.
I suppressed a growl of frustration and trudged the rest of the way up the stairs, chugging down the rest of my beer and tossing the empty bottle in the bathroom trash when I made it into my room. Coming out of the bathroom, I kicked my shoes off and collapsed on the bed, engulfing myself in a cloud of Bella's scent that was still fresh on the bedding.
My head was pounding, my chest was hurting, and I wanted nothing more than to just pass the hell out so I wouldn't stare at the clock until it reached the time when her flight would be taking off.
I'd very nearly dozed off with my arms crossed over my face when a light rap sounded at my door. I sighed, hoping it wasn't Jasper coming to argue with me again before telling whoever it was that the door was open.
"Edward?" Esme's warm voice flowed into the room as the door opened.
"Yeah?" I asked, not bothering to remove my arms from my face.
The room was so silent that I could hear her feet padding across the carpet before the bed sank down next to me as she sat.
"Honey, I hate seeing you like this," she started and I sighed again as I lowered my arms.
"I'm fine, Ma," I told her as I stared at the ceiling.
"No you're not. It was written all over your face when you returned from dropping them off. I haven't seen you look as miserable as you did when you were walking through the lobby in quite some time. If being apart from her hurts you so much, why didn't you go with her?" she asked and I nearly groaned.
"Ma, I couldn't go," I grumbled as I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You and Pop need me at the resort until we can find some more help."
"Oh, Edward," she voiced sadly, shaking her head and rubbing her fingers against her forehead before turning on the bed to face me. "Sweetheart, I love you, and I'm thankful for everything you've done for us over the years...but you're fired."
"What?" I almost laughed. "You can't fire me...I don't even get paid!"
"All the more reason that you shouldn't be doing what you're doing!" she exclaimed adamantly. "I'd been under the impression that you didn't go with her because she'd be leaving on her tour in just a few weeks, but if you're telling me that you chose to stay because we need help, then I'm telling you that you're fired."
"But what are you gonna do about all the water activities and the zip lining tours and stuff?" I argued.
"We'll figure it out. Edward, the resort is our responsibility not yours, honey, and I'll be damned if we ever allow it to interfere with your happiness," she nearly scolded.
My eyes drifted toward the clock on the nightstand, glaring the time of six ten pm at me, "So you're saying you don't care if I leave..."
"No, I'm saying get off your rear end and pack because you are leaving and we're not taking no for an answer," she laughed lightly as she stood from the bed.
"Shit...shit, shit, shit," I muttered, throwing myself off the bed and bolting for the closet. If I raced I might just be able to catch her flight.
"I'll call Carlisle and tell him to be waiting for you both at the dock," she smiled as I threw a duffle bag onto the bed.
"Ma, wait," I stopped her and pulled her into my arms. "Thank you."
"I just wish one of you would have told us why you were staying sooner. It would have saved both of you a tremendous amount of heartache," she said softly and then kissed my temple.
My room positively looked like it had been ransacked with the way I'd haphazardly thrown stuff around trying to cram as much crap as I could into the one bag. I only cared enough to grab whatever I'd really need until Esme and Carlisle could get around to shipping the rest of my belongings to Seattle as she said they would before throwing the bag strap over my shoulder and running down the stairs. I'd almost made it to the garage door, where Jasper was grinning at me as if watching me run around was the most amusing thing in the world, before I dropped my bag with a groan and had to go running back up the stairs for my passport and any other documents I might need.
In those moments, I would have sworn that if my head wasn't attached to my body, I would have left it behind completely.
"Got everything this time?" Jasper laughed as I came back down the stairs, completely winded.
"I think so..." I mumbled.
"Passport?" he asked and I held it up, just as I did with almost every question following. "License? Birth Certificate? Social Security card? Cell phone? Charger?"
"Jesus Christ! I got it, let's go already!" I yelled as he just continued to laugh. "As long as I have what I need to get my ass on the plane I don't care what I leave behind."
After hugging Esme goodbye, and telling her I loved her, we hopped in the truck she'd come home in and sped our way toward the resort. Just as she'd said, Carlisle was waiting in the boat by the dock for us.
"Do you think we'll make it in time?" I all but yelled as we raced across the water, Carlisle at the helm.
He looked at his watch and grimaced slightly, "It'll be close!"
"Edward, even if you miss it, just catch the next flight out. You'll probably still get there the same day," Jasper shouted to me.
I ran a hand through my hair nervously as my leg bounced up and down in anticipation. The only thought really running through my head at the time was 'This is really happening...I'm really doing this.'
When we made it to shore, Jasper and I quickly tied off the boat before the three of us started running down the dock toward our garage. I didn't even attempt to take the keys from Carlisle, knowing I was far to anxious to get behind the wheel. I didn't need to ruin whatever slim chance I had of getting there in time by getting us into a wreck, so instead, I threw my crap into the backseat of the Hummer and hopped in.
I lost count of how many times I looked at the clock on the dash, or my watch and groaned, knowing time was running out.
"Did you choose to sit in the backseat so you could be a backseat driver, son?" Carlisle chuckled, mirth shining brightly in his eyes as he looked at me in the rearview mirror.
"I haven't said anything!" I wailed and he and Jasper just laughed.
"You haven't needed to...your grumbling and groaning is enough. Relax. If you keep going on like that they'll never let you past security," he joked.
"I dunno, Uncle C...you might wanna stick around just in case he gets arrested for suspicious behavior," Jasper joined in.
"Har, har, har," I mocked dryly. "Real funny asswipe."
"Nah...I'll tell ya what is funny though...Emmett owes me a hundred bucks," Jasper grinned as he turned in his seat to look at me.
"What?" I asked confusedly.
"We made a bet two weeks ago on how long you'd last on the island after Bella left," he chuckled. "He gave it a week at most...I gave it a day."
"You conniving shit!" I laughed as I punched his shoulder. "All that crap in the stairwell was you trying to sway the odds in your favor!"
"Can you blame me?" he shrugged.
"Unbelievable. Do you hear this Pops? Bunch of devious scoundrels in this family," I scoffed incredulously.
"Don't look at me...if you'd have made it to two weeks I would have won the hundred bucks," he laughed and I swear I fish gaped...all out jaw to the floor as the two of them laughed hysterically in the front seat while Carlisle fished out his wallet and tossed a crisp hundred to Jasper.
"You guys are un-freakin-real," I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Oh come on," Carlisle groaned dramatically. "Any man as deeply in love with a woman as the three of you are with yours wouldn't last more than two weeks apart from them. Ask Esme...I've never been able to make it longer than that through all of our years together...come to think of it..." he trailed off grinning at no one other than himself, "I don't think I ever even made it the full two weeks."
The remainder of the car ride was filled with humorous banter back and forth between the three of us, which admittedly, helped subdue a large portion of my anxiety. When Carlisle pulled up in front of the terminal, Jasper and I hopped out and Carlisle met us around back so Jasper could grab his luggage.
"Come back and visit soon, and make sure you call when you arrive so we know you all made it safely," Carlisle said as he hugged me and clapped me on the back.
"Thank you...for everything. I love you both...I couldn't have asked for better parents," I said sincerely as he gripped the back of my neck.
"Everything we've ever done was because we love you. Seeing you happy is repayment enough," he said, giving my neck one final squeeze before letting go.
"Uncle C...it's been real, hopefully we can do it again next year for the whole summer," Jasper chuckled, shaking his hand as they gave each other a one armed hug.
"Edward...for the love of God...go!" Carlisle laughed as he spotted me bouncing from foot to foot waiting for them to finish up their goodbyes.
"Hell...don't gotta tell me twice," I mumbled to myself as I turned and booked it for the doors, leaving them laughing behind me.
As I waited on line to get to the ticket counter, I felt like I was ready to burst out of my skin. I wanted nothing more than to just push my way to the front of the line, and every second that passed that urge got stronger.
When I finally made it to the counter, I about passed out when the woman told me the flight was already boarding and I'd never make it on time.
"Are there any seats left aboard the eleven thirty five to Atlanta?" Jasper asked calmly as I pinched the bridge of my nose.
The woman clicked away on her keyboard for a minute or two and then smiled as she told us that there were three remaining seats left, two economy and one first class.
"We'll take the first class seat, please," Jasper smiled at her as I pulled out my credit card and he turned toward me.
"When we get into Atlanta, you can probably get a nonstop flight straight to Seattle within a few hours," he said and I nodded with a sigh.
"Let's just hope I don't get stuck on standby for days," I commented as the woman took my passport and credit card to complete my transaction.
"Worst case scenario, you fly with me to Portland and drive up to Seattle from there. I can fly in after I get the house on the market and tie up any loose ends there," he shrugged easily. "Oh, and check your bag plane-side so you don't have to retrieve it from baggage claim and go back through security again."
I nodded and stepped to the side after the attendant handed me my boarding pass and belongings, and waited as he checked in for our flight.
It had been about a year and a half at least since I'd last flown into the states...and I'd completely forgotten how making your way through security and customs made you feel like you were being herded for Christ's sake. Thankfully, I managed to avoid being person number umpteen in the line who was randomly selected for a bag search. Jasper won that prize and I stood off to the side snickering as they took all of his belongings out of his carry on and analyzed them, much to his annoyance because when they were finished he had to pack everything just so again.
And everyone in our family always claimed I was the anal retentive one. If they'd opened my bag, it probably would have appeared to them like a bomb had gone off in there.
"Shut up, dickwad. I like being able to find what I'm looking for in there without having to search for it," he grumbled.
"Whatever you say, man," I chuckled, pulling the strap of my bag over my head as we headed for our departure gate.
After tossing my bag on the floor at my feet and sinking down into an uncomfortable chair to wait the almost three hours until our flight boarded, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and my brow furrowed as it blinked at me. I hadn't even felt it vibrate or heard it ring, but sure enough, there was a text message from Bella when I opened it.
Boarding now. Just wanted to tell you I love you and miss you already. Talk to you soon XOXO - B
I smiled as my thumb ran over her words on the screen and hit the button to compose a message back to her knowing she'd probably check her phone when she landed in Houston in the morning.
Hope you had a good flight. I miss you and love you too. See you soon...promise. -E
I slipped my phone back in my pocket and slid further down in my seat, settling in for the wait as Jasper played poker on his cell. By the time one out of the three hours had passed, I was beyond uncomfortable and exhausted, so I got up to walk around a bit.
"Hey man...I'm gonna go grab something to drink. You want anything?" I asked as I stretched.
"Yeah, bring me back an iced tea or something, thanks," he replied with a nod, focused on his game.
Bored out of my mind and restless as I perused the tiny convenience shop, I pulled my phone back out and called Emmett, figuring I might as well ask him to pick me up from the airport so I could surprise Bella whenever I managed to make it into Seattle.
"Uncle Edward!" Kylie's voice squealed into the phone after it rang a handful of times, making me laugh.
"Hey sugarplum," I chuckled. "How'd you know it was me?"
"Daddy told me when we looked at the number," she answered, and I could hear the smile in her sweet little voice. Man I'd missed that little girl. I couldn't wait to see her again.
"Have you been having fun with Daddy and Rosalie?" I asked as I pulled two bottles of iced tea out of a cooler.
"Uh huh...we're painting my new room today. Rosalie bought me all new furniture and stuff for my room because Daddy only had my baby stuff and I can't fit in it anymore," she said excitedly.
"That was nice of her, huh?" I replied, a little choked up knowing Em had held onto those few pieces of her for so long.
"Yeah...I like her. A lot. She let me come with her to her work when Daddy had to go somewhere yesterday. She taught me how to change a tire...it was pretty cool," she laughed, and I had to as well.
"I'm glad you like her, sweet pea. We all do. She's a very nice person," I smiled.
"When are you and Nana and Poppop coming to visit?" she asked sweetly.
"Soon, honey. Real soon," I told her as I heard Rose in the background calling for her.
"Gotta go, Uncle Edward...love you, here's Daddy," she said after yelling back at Rose that she was coming.
"Love you, too, Kylie," I grinned, wondering if she'd even heard me before she'd handed off the phone.
Hearing her sound so happy on the phone only reaffirmed what everyone in our family had always believed, that she belonged with Emmett. It infuriated me to no end that Lauren had been as cruel as she had to rip her away from all of us when we loved her so dearly.
"Sup, bro?" Em chuckled.
"Hey douche...thanks for betting on me. You owe Jasper a hundred bucks," I laughed.
"Aw heck, man! You didn't last a single day?" he griped.
"Barely made it a few hours...Ma fired my ass and sent me packing," I told him as I paid for my drinks and headed back toward Jasper.
"Darn meddling family...I so would have won that bet, too," he grumbled and I had to stifle a chuckle.
"Heck and darn, huh?" I snickered.
"Shut it...it's better than Rose's drats," he laughed. "Hey...shouldn't you be on a plane already?"
I spoke with him for a while longer, telling him all about our race to the airport only to miss the damn flight and have to wait for Jasper's later one. He filled me in on what was going on with the Kylie situation, and I was beyond glad to hear that Lauren had been arrested, and thus far had been unable to make bail. Apparently she'd blown through everything she'd gotten out of Emmett in the divorce, and her parents refused to post bail for her after they heard what she'd done to Kylie. I didn't blame them. Not one bit...I wouldn't have posted it for her either, regardless if I was related to her or not.
There are just some things in this world that are completely unforgivable, and abandoning a child that way is one of them.
Before getting off the phone, Emmett assured me that he'd pick me up at the airport so I could surprise Bella, all I had to do was text or call him with an arrival time. I made him swear on everything sacred that neither he nor Rosalie would spill the news of my arrival to Bella, and when I finally hung up and closed my phone I just shook my head.
I was screwed. Emmett couldn't lie or even hide the truth for shit.
He'd never been able to ever since we were kids. Esme had caught him in a lie one time when we were like eleven or twelve, and ever since then he'd stammer and fidget every time he tried. His talents in deception peaked at a slight bending of the truth. Any further than that and even a five year old could call him on it. By age seventeen I'd lost count of how many times Jasper or I had to do all the talking while he tried to remain stone faced and stare at the floor and even then he'd fidget nervously. I probably would have laughed hysterically at him at the time if I hadn't been scared shitless of getting busted myself.
Which half the time we did because his fidgeting gave us all away.
"You shouldn't have told him," Jasper sang amusedly, still playing his damn poker on his phone.
"Yeah...I'm realizing that now," I snorted as he snapped his phone shut suddenly and turned toward me in his seat.
"You know...I was thinking, how long is their layover in Texas?" he asked and I quirked a brow at him as I rested the side of my face against my thumb and forefinger.
"Six hours, if memory serves...why?" I asked as he rubbed his chin.
"Because it's possible, if you can get the right connecting flight time, for you to actually arrive before them. It's definitely something to check out when we get to Atlanta," he suggested and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"That'd be great, but I'll settle for just getting there the same day if at all possible," I replied as I stretched my legs out. Why oh why couldn't they make waiting area seating more comfortable? Really...after a while it was like sitting on concrete for crap's sake.
"Can I ask you something? Seriously? Because it's been plaguing my mind for years now," he asked after a long stretch of silence between us.
"Shoot," I nodded once, not bothering to open my eyes as I rested my head against the back of the chair.
"Have you really been hiding on the island for all these years because of what happened between you and that Tanya chick?" he asked and I scoffed.
"No...I'll never really get why all of you keep thinking that, but no. I just...I don't know how to explain it really. When it first happened...yeah I went to the island just to get away, but it was only supposed to be a mental vacation of sorts," I answered.
"What made you stay then?" he asked curiously.
"You ever just find yourself somewhere and there's really no reason behind it, but you just feel like you're supposed to be there?" I asked as I shifted in my seat, sitting a bit more upright as I turned to face him.
"Yeah, kind of I guess," he shrugged.
"That's it...that's the only answer I can give you. Once I was finished feeling hurt, and betrayed, and angry...I just lacked the desire to leave because some part of me felt like I belonged there...that for reasons unknown to me I was meant to be there," I told him, and as much as I tried to suppress my idiotic grin in response to his smirk, I couldn't.
"You mean you were meant to be there to meet Bella," he teased. I just shrugged, still smiling like an ass.
"Fate works in mysterious ways, Jas...I think we can all attest to that at this point. It's definitely been one hell of a crazy ass summer," I chuckled just as they started announcing the boarding of first class passengers for our flight.
"And to think I almost didn't come," he mused, shaking his head as we stood and gathered our bags.
As we settled into our seats, I couldn't help but think about how purely coincidental this past month had truly been. Had any of the three of us not changed our minds at the last minute, none of us would have been there while the girls were. I'd been planning to go to Chicago and Emmett hadn't been sure if he'd be making the trip this year or not. It had been Jasper's last minute change of mind that had prompted me to stay rather than leave, and it had been the knowledge that both of us would be there that had tempted Emmett into changing his mind and joining us as well. I guessed it really was true that fate worked in mysterious ways.
My thoughts traveled back to his teasing that I was meant to be there to meet Bella, and even though it seemed kind of ridiculous to think that some supernatural force had kept me waiting there for her for eight long years, I couldn't deny the truth that after having met her...I would have waited longer.
For her...I would have waited there forever if I'd had to.
"Kill that light, will ya? I'm exhausted," Jasper mumbled, fluffing a pillow behind his neck as we began taxiing toward the runway. I clicked it off and settled myself in for the long flight, hoping to get some sleep as well.
I was out cold before the plane even left the ground.
~*~
"I'm sorry, Sir, but if you want a nonstop flight to Seattle, the best I can do is put you on standby and hopefully one will have a last minute seat available," the ticketing agent in Atlanta informed me.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair agitatedly, ready to smack my forehead into the counter.
"I know a nonstop flight would be more ideal, but, if you don't mind having connections, I can try to book you on a flight plan that will guarantee your arrival in Seattle tonight," she offered kindly.
"I don't really care about connections...I just really need to make it there at some point today," I nodded, leaning against the counter as she instantly started clicking away on her keyboard.
"Okay, I have two choices for you. I can fly you into New York and then to Seattle with an arrival time of eleven pm, or, I can book you on a flight to Pittsburgh where you'll catch a connecting flight to Minneapolis and then another to Seattle...it's quite a bit of jumping around, but it'll get you in at seven rather than eleven," she said, shooting me a sympathetic smile.
I let out a humorless chuckle, incredulous at what I was about to go through just to make it to Seattle at a reasonable hour, and answered her as I handed her my credit card, "I swear I'm borderline masochistic for this...but I'll take the second plan."
She laughed lightly and nodded as she took my credit card, asking for my ID as well, and completed booking my flights. When she asked if I'd like to check my bag, I declined, fearing I'd end up losing it somewhere in all of my connecting flights.
"Thank you for choosing Delta Airlines. Enjoy your flights," she said, smiling in a way that had me chuckling as I nodded and walked away. Yeah...even she thought I was crazy for putting myself through all the additional hassle for just a few hours difference.
It didn't matter though. I'd go through just about anything to fix my mistake of not leaving with her like I should have to start with.
"Get it all settled?" Jasper asked as I met back up with him where he'd been waiting for me in a Starbucks coffee shop.
"Yeah...my first flight takes off at ten thirty," I nodded, taking the cup of coffee he was holding out to me.
"First? How many do you have?" he laughed.
"Three," I snorted, shaking my head as I lifted the cup to my lips.
"Don't feel bad. I've got two. Got a two hour layover in Los Angeles," he shrugged.
Since my flight wasn't taking out until an hour and a half after his, I sat with him at his departure gate for the next almost two hours until they began boarding his flight. When they started announcing the boarding of all first class passengers for his flight, I stood with him and shook his hand while giving him the ever typical one armed hug. I clapped him once on the back, telling him that if he didn't make it up to Seattle before Bella and I left on her book tour, we'd see him at Christmas.
I waited until he disappeared down the jetway and then made the short trek over to my own departure gate. It didn't take long before I was bored out of my mind, and tired of listening to the woman behind me prattle endlessly on her phone about the cruise she'd been on, so I pulled out my phone and powered it up. It only took a minute before it was chirping and vibrating in my hand, notifying me that I had three missed alerts. Two text messages and one voicemail. I smiled when I saw the text messages were both from Bella.
Just landed in Houston...I miss you already. Call me when you wake up XOXO -B
Our flight's been delayed =( Ali's fuming...it's kinda scary. Wish you were here with me. Love you. XOXO -B
I glanced down at my watch as I lifted my phone to my ear, waiting for the automated recording to start so I could enter my pin for my voicemail. I still had almost twenty minutes before my flight even began boarding, so I got up and went in search of a quieter area, listening as Emmett's groggy voice reminded me to let him know when my flight was coming in so he could be there to get me. I ended the call and sat down in a chair as I started composing a text to him, letting him know my flight number and what time I'd be arriving.
The second it was sent, I pulled up Bella's number and hit send before raising it to my ear.
"Hello?...Alice, damnit! Bugger off, will ya?" she answered, making me chuckle as I heard a slight scuffle in the background.
"Hey...sorry," she sighed moments later.
"Did I call at a bad time?" I sniggered.
"Never. You're saving my olfactory senses from Alice's assault," she laughed. "She's been shoving these smelly ass perfumed magazine pages in my face for an hour now. I'll never understand why she and Rose have to sniff each and every one of them."
"Em does the same thing with deodorants in the store," I chuckled. "So how was your flight into Houston?" I asked, sinking down into my seat and closing my eyes.
"It was fine...boring and long and I couldn't really sleep, but it was okay. Did you get my message earlier about our flight being delayed?" she asked as I heard what sounded like someone smacking paper and then Ali grumbling in the background.
"Yeah, I got it. How long are you stuck there now? Didn't you already have a six hour layover?" I asked, wishing I could just be there with her. It was in that moment that I realized even if I hadn't hopped the plane with Jasper...I wouldn't have lasted longer than the first phone call with her before running after her.
"Yeah...the board says our new departure time is five thirty. We're gonna be stuck here all damn day. Ali's pissed because she wanted to take a wing by her parents' place tonight, but with us not getting in until like eight tonight now, she won't be able to before they go to bed," she said and I started grinning like crazy.
I was going to beat her to Seattle...as long as none of my flights got delayed anyway.
"I'm sorry, baby. I wish I could be there with you," I told her truthfully.
"Me too...I miss you like crazy already and it hasn't even been a full day yet," she replied. I hated how sad she sounded, but I knew it'd be gone by the end of the day and knowing that made it at least slightly bearable.
"I miss you too, Bella," I said, biting back a sigh when I looked down at my watch. They'd be boarding my flight any minute now. "Baby, I'm sorry to cut this call so short, but I have to run. Call me tonight as soon as you land, okay?"
"Aw, do you really have to go already?" she whined and I could just picture her adorable little pout.
"Yeah, sweetie, I do...but I'll be waiting for you tonight," I grinned, knowing she wouldn't really get what I was telling her.
"Okay," she sighed. "I love you. Tell Esme and Carlisle and everyone we said hello."
"Will do, love. I love you too...talk to you soon," I replied, hanging on the line for just a few more moments to say our final goodbyes before getting up and heading back to my gate.
The flight to Pittsburgh sucked. I was stuck in the world's most uncomfortably hard seat between a business man who reeked of pine as if he'd bathed with a car freshener, and a scary woman with jet black hair that had streaks of hot pink in it and multiple facial piercings who growled...yes growled...every time I shifted in my seat and accidentally brushing against her arm. As if I had copious amounts of room on either side of me in which I could maneuver myself.
By the time I stumbled out of that plane, my ass was numb, my legs were cramped, and my head was throbbing from inhaling too much of the "eau de pine" that had settled in a cloud around me.
The flight to Minneapolis wasn't half as bad, if you excluded the sadistic stewardess that I swore by the time the plane was getting ready to land had made it her life's mission to wait until my elbow was hanging out in the aisle so she could ram it with her beverage and snack cart. At least I'd had a single seat all to myself in the small aircraft...not that it'd been any more comfortable than the last seat I'd been in.
Out of all of them...I'd have to say my flight to Seattle was the most interesting of all. I'd ended up getting a window seat in yet another smaller aircraft, but it was my neighboring traveler that made the flight unforgettable. He was probably twenty five at most...and overwhelmingly obviously homosexual. Not a day in my life have I ever judged a person for their sexual orientation, race, social status...whatever...and in the beginning of the flight, he'd been pleasant enough that I'd entertained his friendly chattering rather than being rude and ignoring him while feigning sleep.
That was until he'd literally groped my thigh and told me how "drop dead gorgeous" I was.
Yeah...I spent the next three and a half hours damn near terrified of the man next to me, sporting the hot pink sweater and flower sequined jeans, and wearing make-up thicker than any drag queen I'd ever seen before as I literally tried to become one with the wall and window next to me.
When the stewardess finally opened the cabin door, I nearly bowled over at least twenty people trying to escape as 'Vince the Violator',as I'd begun referring to him in my head, continued to make goo-goo eyes at me while slipping his number into my back pocket. Yes, my friggen back pocket. I made a mental memo right then and there to never let the person that had been sitting next to me for hours on a flight exit a plane behind me...ever.
I was also gonna call Esme first thing in the morning and have her express ship my wedding band to Bella's house because if I ever had to get on another plane without her, that sucker was going to be welded to my finger. I didn't give a crap if we were married yet or not as long as it got the message across that I was undeniably and permanently unavailable...to anyone of any sexual orientation.
After waiting for my bag in the jetway for the final time, and making sure 'Vince the Violator' was long gone, I slung the bag over my head and headed off toward the restrooms. I could still smell that damn pine tree air freshener scent lingering on my clothes, mixed in with Vince's Gucci perfume that he'd raved about for twenty straight minutes because he'd gotten it at a steal of a price.
I reeked...there was no denying it. By the time I'd changed into new clothes and tried to freshen up a bit...I still looked like I'd been through hell and back, but at least I didn't smell quite so offensive anymore.
On my way back toward the departure gates, I stopped to check the information boards announcing the arriving flights and smiled when I saw that Bella's flight coming in from Houston would be landing in just twenty minutes. I made my way over to the gate she'd be coming in at and dropped my bag at my feet, leaning against a column with a clear view of the door she'd walk through.
While I waited, I fished out my phone and dialed Emmett. He laughed when he told me that they were all waiting down by baggage claim for me and the girls since their flight delay had caused their arrival time to be so close to my own. I spoke with Kylie and Rose for just a few minutes each, both sounding genuinely excited to see all of us.
I couldn't get over how happy Kylie sounded each time I'd spoken to her over the last few days. It was almost as if nothing that had happened to her just a few days ago had affected her at all, and that the pain I knew she'd endured with missing her rightful daddy had just vanished the moment she'd been reunited with him.
Her happiness coupled with how much she seemed to adore Rosalie already thrilled me to no end and ensured me that everything would work out as it should in the end.
Time seemed to slow to an agonizing crawl after I slipped my phone back into my pocket. I continuously shifted my weight from foot to foot, anxious for that damn door across from me to open already. My hair probably looked like something out of a fright night horror flick, sticking out all over the place with how many times I'd dragged my hands through it, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Finally...finally after what seemed like a lifetime, her plane approached the gate. Ten minutes later, the door opened and people slowly began emerging. I grinned like a lunatic when I saw her come around the bend, looking at Alice next to her as she said something and shook her head. I pushed myself off the column and waited for her eyes to find me, and the moment they crossed through the doorway, she finally looked up.
I'll never forget the look on her face, her brows furrowing and mouth dropping open as she stopped dead in her tracks, the person behind her bumping into her because they were looking down at something in their hand. She staggered forward a bit but never took her eyes off me as Alice looked up and shouted in surprise loud enough for the entire concourse to hear her.
"HOLY SHIT! NO FREAKIN' WAY!!"
I bit my lip and chuckled a bit, continuing to grin at her as her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears and I took my first step toward her. Her bag slipped from her shoulder, falling to the floor at her feet as her chin and bottom lip began to quiver even though a smile was beginning to form across her lips. In true to Bella form, the first step she took she managed to get her foot snagged in the strap of her bag, but the slight stumble didn't deter her in the least as she took off at a sprint toward me.
Within moments, I had her sobbing and laughing in my arms...right where she would always belong.
"I told you I'd be waiting for you tonight, baby," I murmured in her ear, holding her tightly as I nuzzled my cheek against hers. She pulled her face back, glistening tear tracks trailing down her face, but a beautiful smile gleaming up at me.
"How? How are you here?" she asked, completely unable to believe that I was standing right before her.
"Would you believe me if I told you Esme fired me and I've spent the last twenty six hours getting on and off four different flights after I missed you at the airport by just minutes?" I asked, smiling down at her as I swayed us from side to side.
"You chased after me? Like some cheesy romance novel?" she giggled, ecstatic.
"Damn right I did...What kind of future husband would I be if I didn't?" I joked, leaning down to finally press my lips to hers.
The second her warm lips touched mine, everything around us ceased to exist. There were no sounds of travelers speaking to one another, no loud voices filtering through speakers, or jet engines...just the soft hum of her sigh as I threaded my fingers in her hair and pulled her further into me. I'd never been more content than in that moment, finally having her back in my arms after stupidly letting her leave without me.
I'd never make that mistake again. Not in a million years, because it was only when I had her in my arms that I felt like I had everything I could ever want or need.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, cradling her face in my hands as I brushed my lips back and forth across hers. "I never should have let you leave without me."
"I don't care," she whispered, shaking her head as she gripped my sides under my shirt. "You're here now...that's all that matters to me."
I ducked my head down as I nodded slightly and pulled her bottom lip between mine, unable to resist kissing her again. When she tilted her head and I felt the moist warmth of her tongue, I parted my lips and met it with my own. So lost in our own little passion filled world we were that we barely heard Alice's subtle prompts of clearing her throat to get our attention.
"Uh...guys? Everyone's kinda...staring," she finally spoke. I shook with silent laughter as Bella giggled, but neither of us pulled away.
"Okay, seriously...some guy is pulling out his video camera right now probably thinking he'll have the next big hit YouTube public porn video," Ali scoffed, and that did it. We broke apart laughing loudly together.
I smiled down at her, feeling completely whole for the first time since I watched her disappear in her limo while standing on that dock, and pressed one final kiss to her lips.
"Come on, love...let's go home."
See you all in a week or two with the first part of the epilogue series!! ~Jersey~