CHAPTER SIXTEEN

(BPOV)

I could hear the many hushed voices that frantically spoke around me, all of their words seeming to run together and making me flinch away from the harsh light coming from above. It was near blinding. My eyes struggled to adjust and I winced when I tried to move.

My body felt as if it had been thrown down a flight of stairs or hit by a bus.

I was confused and disoriented.

"She's been out for a whole day, her body will heal. She just needs some more time, Charlie. I assure you, Bella will be okay."

Carlisle's voice was even and soft with my father and I tried to sit up, feeling the soft bedding underneath me and hearing Charlie's emotional reply.

"She's so pale."

"Her body has been through a lot, but we got the venom out in time. Any lasting effects will wear off in a few more days."

I shied away from the light and looked down to see the IV still attacked to my arm. My lids felt heavy and when I opened my mouth to call the name that my heart was screaming for, the sudden feel of warm hands skimming up my arms made my breath hitch and I forced my eyes open to see him there hovering above me.

Jacobs face was full of worry when he reached for me, his husky voice calming some of the madness in my head.

"Bells, it's okay, honey. You're alright."

I let a choked breath of relief and took hold of him, his strong arms pulling me into his tight embrace and settling me on his lap.

"Wh-Where am I?"

"You're home, honey. In your room at Charlie's. He's just downstairs with Carlisle."

"Am I-... I can't remember how I got here?"

I saw Jacobs fallen expression and tried to recall the last thing I could about Voltera but nothing was clear to me. Everything felt hazy and distant.

"That may not be bad thing."

My eyes studies his face once more before wandering down to his bare torso and arms. The gasp that left me was loud when I leaned forward ang trailed my fingertips along his forearm. His russet skin was marked with new tattoos and I shook my head in an attempt to clear it, fearing I had missed far more than he was letting on.

"What are these? Where did they come from?"

"They appeared after you went missing. After Aro took you, honey. They led me to you, well, before Alice convinced us to go along with her plan."

"Alice? Is she here? What about all the others? Please tell me no one was hurt?!"

"Everyone is downstairs, honey. Alice and Esme have been here aiding Carlisle since last night." He explained.

"... and Edward?"

Jacob shook his head to me with a tight expression lingering on his face.

"He took off after the battle, Bella. They don't know where he is."

I pressed my forehead to his and tried to keep my head about me as I pondered Edwards whereabouts or what he could be up to.

"What about the rest of the Volturi? The guard? I was afraid I'd never see you again. That Aro would kill me before-"

Jacob hushed my words with a soft kiss, his reply strained and earnest when he huskily replied to me.

"We destroyed them all and he didn't, honey. You're back home and safe with me."

"Tell me what they did to you?" I asked, remembering bits and pieces of things before the chaos unfolded.

"It doesn't matter. None of it does. I have you back. The rest is... not worth mentioning, honey."

"Are you sure you're okay? Nothing's broken or not healing or-..."

He tightened his grip on me and I basked in the comforting feel of his crushing hold.

"I'll be fine. Doc says there could be some lingering side effects but that I should be as good as new before too long. Tell me how you feel. Do you hurt anywhere? Are you sore?"

"A little." I confessed, laying my head on his shoulder and looking toward the door when it creaked open and Charlie stepped in.

"I thought I heard the two of you in here talking. I'm so glad to see you awake, kiddo." He sighed heavily, reaching out a hand to touch my cheek. "Sue just got here. She's down in the kitchen making some home made chicken noddle soup for you. I'll bring it up when it's ready. Carlisle and the others are clearing out. Told them you'd need some space to heal."

"Thanks, dad." I replied, standing slowly on unsteady legs and hugging him close as I thought of the last time I saw him and how damn close I'd come to losing him in Voltera.

"Love you, Bella." Charlie whispered, before placing a kiss to my forehead and heading back downstairs. I took notice of the look he and Jacob shared briefly as he left and it made me shudder. They had been through something while in Aro's lair, and I was certain they were choosing to keep it from me for my own good right now.

"You're going to tell me later, right? What really happened in there at the end?"

Jacob slowly nodded and let his lips graze my cheek as he struggled to answer me.

"...after you're better... healed fully. I'll tell you everything, honey."

After a few more minutes, I made my way to the bathroom, wanting a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes before trying to eat anything. Jacob helped me undress and waited outside the door while I cleaned up. I could see the faint lines of discoloration that marked my pale skin under the waters flow. Some of my bruises were taking longer than normal to heal and I wondered what that meant. My chest and ribs were sore so I was careful with my movements as I dressed and piled my wet hair in a loose bun on top of my head.

I caught sight of my reflection then, the dark circles casting deep shadows under my eyes, despite how long I'd been out already. I felt thoroughly exhausted and looked like death. I soon opened the door and shot Jacob an apologetic look.

"You didn't tell me I looked so horrible."

"You're perfect." He countered, wrapping an arms around me as we crossed the hall back into my room.

"You lie." I half chuckled, the vibration in my chest from it, making me wince when I sat down on the edge of my bed.

"No, you just don't see what I see."

I gingerly touched the side of his face, seeing the way his own eyes were heavy and how his dark circles from the lack of rest now matched mine.

"Does the pack expect you for patrol tonight?" I timidly asked.

"No, Sam and Paul are covering. I'm not leaving your side."

I offered him a weak smile and pulled back the comforters.

"I don't want you to." I admitted, looking up to see him hunker down in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine with an urgency in them.

"I have something to show you." He stated, reaching over to my nightstand and handing me an envelope. I tore it open and skimmed the lettering.

"When did you get these?"

"Alice left them here for you. I told her to wait but-..."

I looked down to see the divorce papers already signed by Edward and I didn't hesitate to pick up the pen laying close by and scribble my own name below his.

I shoved them back in the envelope and handed them to Jacob, seeing his dark gaze filled with uncertainty about the haste in my decision. I took his handsome face in my hands and placed a kiss to his full lips.

"It's always been you. I never should have married him to begin with. You're what my heart wants, Jacob. I don't wanna be without you anymore. I love you and I'm staying right here in Washington. If you'll have me, of course."

He drew me close to him, his whispered words causing my eyes to fill with tears because it wasn't the first time I'd heard them.

"Kwop Kilawtley."

His breath ghosted against my lips as I inched my face closer to his.

"I'll stay with you forever, Jacob."

THE END

A/N: Thank you for reading and for the kind reviews.