CHAPTER TEN

"Stop staring," Edward hissed through his tight-lipped mouth.

"She's staring at me," I hissed back while maintaining a nice, soft smile on my face. I tried to not look at her, but ever since we had arrived at church, Abigail kept turning her head slightly to look back at me.

It was not an innocent stare, either. She challenged me with those eyes, and even though I was fully aware of what she was capable of, I was not about to back down and pretend to not notice.

"Isabella, we need to leave."

Edward gently took my arm and led me away from where the people had congregated after the service. He helped me into the cart, and the moment I was seated, I went right back to looking at the young girl, her eyes watching our every movement.

Edward rushed the horse along and turned us away as soon as he could.

"I can't even begin, Bella. You were pushing it today."

"She was staring at me. She probably thought I'd wilt like a picked flower, but I'm not scared of her."

"Well, you should be. You're pushing the limits, because you know that worst-case scenario, I could just snatch you out of this period, but you're not thinking properly. Your presence has already changed history, and if I were to disappear with you, you could be putting countless people in jeopardy. Are you really going to risk damming more people by your thoughtless actions?"

"You don't have to do anything of the sort. I'll be fine, Edward. Just leave me to deal with and face my own consequences, but you'd better believe I'm not going to bend to a vindictive child."

Edward huffed loudly, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"She wasn't just staring at you. I've already found her to be somewhat flirtatious in class. I believe she fancies me. If she was staring at you, it's only because she wonders on what kind of woman I married."

"Oh, my god, that's right. I hadn't even thought of you being subjected to having to teach her. What must that be like? Is she completely evil or…?"

"She's not evil. I believe she did what she did because she craved the attention. She has no parents, and her uncle is the Reverend Parris. I'm sure in her mind, she didn't understand the ramifications of her actions. You have to remember, she's just a child."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I loosened my cloak, since the weather was warming up.

"Bella," he warned.

I threw up my hands and gave him an innocent smile. "I'm sure you're right. I'm sure Lizzie Borden hacked up her parents, because she was just…looking for attention, too."

Now, it was Edward's turn to roll his eyes. "If you must know, Lizzie didn't do it."

"You actually took time out of your missions to check on that?" I asked.

"I was curious. Sometimes, I find myself going to different periods just to know the truth. It's one of the few gifts I receive from being tasked with this responsibility," he explained.

"Okay, and yet you still don't want to know the truth about your God?"

He pulled the cart up to the house and gave me an indignant stare, before jumping down from the cart. I, too, exited and followed him into the small house.

"I'm curious. You bring up such an interesting topic," I began, as he went through the motions of pulling off his church shoes and changing into his farm boots. "You have all these truths right at your fingertips. Would you be willing to share some of them with me?"

He smiled and looked up at me from his chair and shook his head. "Believe me, Bella. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Besides, if I told you, and you were to return to your period with the knowledge, you could do damage if you were to gossip it about."

"You think I'm a gossip? Did you not see my life before? Who, exactly, would I tell? And why would you think I'm the kind of person who'd run around shouting from the mountain tops that a time traveler told me the truth? You think anyone but a psychiatric doctor would take me seriously?"

Edward sighed and slowly stood up, bravely looking me in the eye.

"I could tell you who really shot JFK. I could tell you when the real moon landing took place…" his eyebrows raised, as I waited anxiously, "…or I could go milk the cow. I think I'll take my chances with the cow."

I huffed and smacked him in the arm as he passed. He laughed at my sad attempt and nearly danced himself out of the house.

Once he was gone, I looked around and sighed. There were still buckets of eggs sitting on the floor in the kitchen. I wanted to rehome them, but Edward had advised me against walking about without protection. I briefly wondered how hard it would be to manage the horse and cart.

Not wanting to waste yet another day of sitting around and reading the Bible, I began to heave the buckets to take them out to the cart. However, when I opened the door, the cart was gone, and so was the horse.

In the distance, I saw the horse grazing in the small field, and Edward was just coming out of the barn. I leaned down and set one of the pails by the door, before making a quick and probably not-so-well-thought-out decision to walk to Salem town.

I hadn't even made it past our fields, when the pail of eggs became an annoyance to carry. I set it down to change hands, when suddenly, I heard hooves closing in. I sighed, standing back up to wait for the inevitable.

The horse cut me off, and up high was Edward, nearly shaking with anger.

"What part of keeping a low profile do you not understand?"

I sighed and looked away while he dismounted.

"I don't want to spend my days in a small house reading the Bible. I have an opportunity to meet some of the people and do my own investigating. I can go wherever I like. It's a free country!"

I instantly regretted my words and cringed.

"Not for another eighty years, Bella," he snapped. I was sure his opinion on my intelligence lowered a bit more.

"You know what I mean." I kicked the pail, a little frustrated that he never had any faith in me. "Just give me a chance, Edward. You're treating me like a child. I can be an asset. You don't have to protect me. I can take care of myself."

He let the strap go from the horse and slowly walked towards me. For a small second, I was worried he might slap me. His eyes still seemed to burn, but the closer he came, the more I wondered if he was going to try and kiss me. My mouth opened to protest, and I took a slight step back, but his arms were around me in seconds, and before I had a chance to scream in surprise, he did his time travel whooshing thing.

I had forgotten the sensation, and it seemed I was better for it. My head began to hurt. My eyes closed voluntarily, as I pushed against him, trying to get him to stop, but it was of no use. His grip was too tight.

When we finally did stop, I fell to the ground instantly when he let go of me. We were in a forest, but even I knew we hadn't gone back to my time period, because the last time we had traveled, it had taken us a lot longer.

"Where?" I croaked.

"Does it matter?" he snidely asked.

"Take me back, now!" I ordered.

"Or what?"

I began to feel my vision slowly come into focus. I couldn't stand just yet, but I mustered up the most menacing stare of my life.

"I think you're in need of a little time traveling timeout," Edward spat. "You're more than welcome to go and find someone to complain to…however, I think you'll find yourself at a severe disadvantage, being stuck in 1780s France. If you should decide to pop in at the palace that's set through those trees over there, dressed like a pauper, be sure to bring something to Queen Marie. I hear she likes cake."

My head swiveled around towards the direction Edward had pointed, and I could just nearly make out a vast structure through the tree line.

"Are you out of your mind? You're going to get us killed!" I hissed, afraid we would be found out by a palace guard.

"No, Bella, you're going to get us killed. If you keep going on the way you are, you'll certainly get yourself killed. I don't care if I die. If it's my time, then it's written, but it can't be your time. I won't allow it."

My mouth opened, ready to unleash an unholy number of expletives, but something about his face took my voice away.

"Why is it so important to you that I live? What aren't you telling me, Edward?" He looked away immediately and walked a few paces towards the dense tree line. "From the moment we met, you've obviously disliked me. You think I'm unintelligent, a burden…and yet, you stay with me. Why? Because I was the chosen one? Chosen for what, exactly? I thought it was to help you in 1940s Germany, but that wasn't it. I hardly did a thing on that mission. You said your father looked through time and saw Esme was the one. Is that what this is about? You're only putting up with me, so I can bring about the next generation of time changers?"

Edward didn't say a word. He kept his back to me, probably working through a proper response or lie. But his silence told me everything I needed to know.

Subconsciously, my hand went towards my neck to see that the language modifier was still in place. This was 1780s France? How long could I survive here on my own?

I sighed and began walking in the opposite direction of the palace.

"Wait!" Edward called after me, but I kept going.

"Bella! Please, just…" he stuttered, as he ran after me, practically on my heels.

"Just what, Edward?" I snapped back at him. "There's nothing I want to hear from your mouth unless it's the truth. You want to abandon me here? Fine. Go ahead. But I'm not going to stick around until you can admit what you've been hiding this whole time."

His face was pained from the expectations I required, but I wouldn't relent.

"Okay. I'll tell you," he replied softly.

He sighed and shook his head, slowly walking a few steps away and finding a rock to lean against.

"You're right. I looked through time and saw you were the one. I wasn't happy. Not because I didn't think you were beautiful or worthy. I was unhappy, because I knew it was time to find you, and I didn't want to like you. For once in my life, I didn't want to be beholden to my responsibilities, but…I put on the show and hoped that, just maybe, you'd be like most girls of your time period and fancy a one-night fling. Then, I could just move on, forget about you and come back in eighteen years to collect my prize."

Unable to look at him, I felt my face fall, as my heart ached. My head was a mess, unsure of how I was supposed to accept this information. Once again, I would love nothing more than to track down destiny and kick some ass. Why me? Out of everyone in the world, why did it have to be me!

"I'd feel something and immediately shut it off. It angered me. I'm already taxed with enough responsibility, and just the idea of you…I've tried to make myself believe that all you were was just another thing I was supposed to do. I'd tell myself over and over that I had no feelings for you. You were just another mission. Another responsibility. I never should've even taken you to Germany, but I hoped that maybe I could influence you into liking me enough to complete my mission. Then, you asked to come with me to Salem, and the truth was, I said yes all too quickly, not because I hoped to seduce you, but because I craved your company.

"And now, we've been here, trapped for weeks, and when I look at you and think about this future that's been laid out…I no longer see a burden…a responsibility. I see the woman I'm supposed to love, and I can't bear the idea of anything happening to her."

I hadn't even noticed that, throughout his declaration, he had moved closer and closer, until he was nearly touching me. My eyes never faltered, as I took in his words. Edward's hand brushed along my face, and as much as I should have protested or snapped out of it, I didn't. I let his face move toward mine and allowed for our lips to touch. I gave in to the sensation and closed my eyes, feeling for the first time in my whole life an appreciation for the man who dared to kiss me.

I wanted to believe that my head was a mess from the quick time travel trip, and that was why I hadn't protested, but I knew the truth. I wanted that kiss. I loved that kiss. I didn't want it to end.

Edward ended it, and I opened my eyes, ready to question his actions, but I saw the sincerity his eyes held, so nothing more came from my mouth.

"I need you to promise me that you'll be safe. That you'll do everything in your power to not antagonize any of the children who are involved. Don't give them a reason to name you. Let this go. Please."

His hands on my arms squeezed with every plea from his mouth. I finally was able to look away and sighed, irritated that I would give in to his request. I slowly nodded, and he pulled me into his arms to embrace me for this decision.

When we broke apart, I looked back towards where this palace…Versailles…was peeking out from the trees.

"Were you really going to leave me here if I didn't comply?"

"I'd never leave you alone in any time period other than you own. Besides, knowing you and your proclivity for putting yourself in danger, I might come back and find you leading the revolution and Marie Antoinette's beheading moved up on the timeline."

I scowled and was just about to let him have it, when two guards dressed impeccably happened upon us.

"This land belongs to King Louis. Surrender yourself, peasant!"

"Peasant?" I asked, offended.

Edward grabbed my wrist, and I looked back at him long enough to hear him say, "Run!"

Pulling me along, I ran with him, hearing the guards chasing after us. Edward pulled me against him, and we disappeared from the late 1700s. This time, however, I felt as if my brain had been slammed against my skull. My natural inclination was to bend down, but Edward's strong grip kept me in place, until the unsavory ride was over.

The second we touched back down in our house, I bent over and vomited all over the floor. It ran down my cloak and splashed onto Edward's feet. The second the contents from my stomach had finished emptying, I felt myself falling towards the floor, but thankfully, Edward caught me, saving me from landing in the filth.

I had never experienced a hangover before, but this had to be similar. My head was pounding, and the nausea was overwhelming. Edward helped me into our bedroom, untying my cloak and helping me out of it.

I flopped down onto my pillow and closed my eyes. The room still hadn't stop spinning.

"I'm sorry," I attempted.

"Shhh. It's okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you that far into the future. I know better. Just lay down and keep on your side. I'll go and get you an empty pail."

The smell of my puke was making me even more sick. Thankfully, Edward came back quickly and set the pail down next to me. I managed to open my eyes long enough to see him attend to the mess I had left on our floor.

"You're going to feel like crap for a few days. Your body isn't made to time jump so quickly."

I huffed loudly. "Was this part of your plan? Make me feel like shit, so I can't get in the way?"

"Bella, I'd never hurt you just to get you to comply with my wishes."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"I deserved that." He took the mess he cleaned up outside and brought back a cup of water. "Would you like me to procure you some aspirin?"

"Let me sleep for a little while and see if I can shake this."

I turned over and groaned out in pain from my throbbing head. I hadn't heard Edward move out of the room, so my curious eyes dared to open, only to find him standing by his side of the bed, staring at me.

"What?" I hissed.

His eyes darted around, before he finally lowered himself down and lay beside me. "I just worry about you sleeping right now. There's a chance of you getting sick again, and I think I should be here, just in case you roll onto your back and asphyxiate on your own vomit."

I groaned out once more and closed my eyes. "Whatever."

He didn't touch me, but it felt weird knowing he was probably laying there looking at me, while I attempted to find sleep. Not wanting to open my eyes, I finally decided it would be best to get him talking, and then maybe I would be lulled to sleep by his voice.

"Edward…what's the best time period you ever went to?"

He didn't say anything, so I slowly opened my eyes to find him staring up at the ceiling in contemplation.

"Well, when I was a child, and I found out what I'd be capable of, I had dreams of going into the 1400s and being a knight. It was silly and something I'm sure my father would frown on if he knew, but when I went for fun…not for a mission…I found I didn't appreciate the period as much as I thought I would've. I find most time periods to be disappointing. I spent my whole life reading and educating myself for the time when I came of age and could time jump, and for the most part, I've always been disappointed. I guess if I were to answer your question, I'd have to say I'm fond of the 1950s."

"Presley and poodle skirts?"

He laughed. "There's more to it than that. For one, I find it to be one of the most civilized periods. People were just nice and wholesome. Religion wasn't damning. For the most part, people were honest and tried to do their best."

"Segregation?" I reminded him.

"Every period has its downfalls. In all my travels, I've found that no point in history is exempt from grave mistakes. Even the future, where you're from, people aren't as evolved as much as they could be."

I nodded and snuggled into my pillow. "I guess you're right."

We didn't say anything for a few minutes. I closed my eyes and felt myself getting marginally better, but there was still a firm, continuous pounding in my head.

"Do you still have your heart set on England in the early 1900s? After experiencing what a drag it can be to not have modern comforts?"

I laughed and instantly regretted it. I rubbed my head hard to help lessen the pain. I just might have to take Edward up on that aspirin after all.

"I think after this, any point in the future will feel more comfortable," I replied. "However, no. I don't have my heart set on England anymore."

I felt the bed shift from Edward's weight. From the sound of his voice, I knew he was looking at me. "Really? That…surprises me. Is there another time period you'd attempt?"

I opened my eyes and was thankful I didn't feel the spinning sensation any longer.

"Yes. I've actually thought a lot about it. The day you asked me that question, I didn't think it through. As much as I'd love to be integrated into my favorite Austen novel, I have a time period far better to explore. I'd go to 2012 and see my dad again. Choosing England was so stupid of me. You have this gift. This amazing gift, and I can use it to see the ones I love most again. I feel this overwhelming relief. It'll be like he never died."

As bad as I felt, I managed to forget my pain just thinking of the possibilities. However, when I finally did come down from my cloud, I could see something was off about Edward's face.

"What?" I asked cautiously.

"Bella…" he swallowed and looked down, unable to look me in the eye. "I can't take you back to 2012. Believe me when I say, I wish I could. I wish I could give you that gift, but…there'd be too many questions. Too many chances the future could change…"

"What questions?"

"Your father would wonder why he saw you one minute as this young girl and then see you as this grown-up woman. He can't know about time travel. I can't just tell people…"

"Why not? I'm not asking for a skywriter. Just one person. That's all!" I fumed.

"There are too many possible outcomes…"

"My father wouldn't tell a soul. He was a good man! He didn't deserve what happened to him. I know you hate your father, but I loved mine, and I have the chance to help him. Why do you get to choose who lives and who dies, like some hand of God? We're here so you can save millions. I'm only asking to save ONE!" I screamed.

"Bella…please…"

I felt my breaths become shallow, and as angry as I was at Edward, deep down, I knew he was right, but I couldn't allow myself to think objectively. I pushed off the bed and stormed out of the small room, desperate for some air, but the moment I exited, I could feel what a fool's decision that had been. The pounding in my head picked up even harder, and I managed to make it outside, before I found myself holding onto the door, retching my guts out once more.

I collapsed to the ground, my tears falling into the very putrid pile I had just unloaded. I felt as if my dad had died all over again. I'd had this hope, and it had been ripped away from me. I told myself my outburst and tears were fueled unfairly by the pain and sickness time travel had done to me.

Edward placed his hands carefully on my shoulders and whispered his apologies. I wanted to shrug off his touch, but I had no fight left in me. I felt as if I had spent an hour on that cold, wet ground just outside our door, but I knew Edward wouldn't have allowed for that. Eventually, he picked me up with ease and carried me back to the bedroom. I was so out of it, that I hadn't even noticed him pulling off my long skirt.

"You need to change your shift," he said quietly, handing me my spare.

I sat down on the bed in my dirty shift and waited for him to go. Even after he had gone, I still couldn't find the strength in me to do as he had directed. I lay down and let the clean shift fall to the floor, as I curled up and let my pillow become stained from the tears I couldn't hold in.

Not even bothering to cover myself up with the blankets, I finally was able to find sleep. Covered in grime and a mess I didn't even want to think about, I felt a tad guilty I hadn't changed, especially when I awoke and found my body covered, wrapped in Edward's warm embrace.


AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I know its been awhile. I will try and post the next chapter by the end of the week. With all the uncertainty in our world right now, I hope these stories provide you some relief from the craziness. I pray that you and your families will remain safe and unexposed. My heart goes out to all of you!

Thank you to DOLLYBIGMOMMA for editing.

STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.