CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I would guess you were probably thinking that we were coming to the close of my extraordinary tale of time travel. In some ways, I kind of wished it were true. I had Edward, and he had me. We were on our way to making a baby, one who would carry on the time-traveling tradition.

I was so naive.

Naive to think it would all be so easy. Fall in love. Have a baby. Live happily ever after.

I was such an idiot.

I sat in the diner, staring at my parents with a dopy little smile gracing my lips and the glisten of tears in my eyes. I had never met my mother, and yet, there she sat, looking the picture of perfection.

Edward had not only delivered my father but the first time I would ever set eyes on the woman who brought me into this world. My whole life, I had wondered what she would be like. Would she smell nice? Would her laughter make me smile? Was she as beautiful as the photos had captured?

"I know this isn't the same. I'm sure you wanted the chance to hug your father even once more, but this is what I could deliver…"

"It's perfect," I said with a shaky breath. "Truly. This is the best moment of my life," I let out a small, nervous giggle. "I'm staring, aren't I?"

"Maybe just a little, but that's to be expected," he replied.

The waitress walked up to the table, effectively cutting off my view.

"Can I get you something, dears?"

Edward pretended to look over the menu. I stuttered and was surprised to even see the menu sitting in front of me, which had been there this whole time.

"Oh…I…uh…I don't even know if I can eat anything. I'm just so nervous," I babbled.

"First date jitters?" she asked.

I laughed and looked at Edward. "I guess this is a first date. Would you call it that?"

The waitress looked confused.

"I think…I'd call it a beginning," Edward replied, looking into my eyes. He handed his menu to the waitress and added, "I think we'll have what they're having. Looks good, doesn't it?"

He nodded his head towards my parents, and I looked around the tall girl to see the milkshakes in front of them. My mom laughed at something my father said, and then she took a sip from the thick straw.

"It does," I said, handing over my menu.

The tall waitress left, and I couldn't help but return my focus to my mother and father.

"I'm sorry. I'm being rude. I just can't help it," I said, shaking my head. "Truly, Edward. You've shown me the worst…" I said, thinking of Dachau, "…and now, you've shown me the absolute best sight I could ever see. My mother. She's…everything and more."

Edward reached out and took my hand in his.

"I'm happy you're happy. I wanted to do something nice for you. You deserve it after everything you've endured. Not only Salem in the 1600s, but Salem and prison. Salem and witches. You did it, and not only that, but you managed to find me my prize."

I bit my lip and blushed at his praise.

"The book...did you do what you needed to with it? I know you were working hard."

"Well, I had to go through its contents and decide what needed to be seen in the future and what should be lost. Every page carried a drawing of a plant and all its properties, including the year of when the plant was last seen. Some are still around to this day, and some are extinct. Unfortunately, the final task for now will take me away for quite some time.

"I planted the book in Ani, Turkey. The excavation will take place in the late 1800s, and the book will be shipped off to a museum and praised for its enlightening contents. I'm to travel back to when the plant was last seen and take samples, so I can time travel to various periods in time and make sure the plant survives. I have no idea how long I'll be gone."

I swallowed the huge lump in my throat. Suddenly, my parents were forgotten. Edward had brought me here to tell me he was leaving, and he made it quite clear that I would not be going with, since he was to time hop quite a bit. Enough to not want me to go and slow him down with my limitations.

"Oh," I sadly replied.

My hand slid out of his, as the waitress returned with our shakes. She placed one down in front of me, and I stuck the straw in my mouth, happy for the distraction and unable to look up at my table companion.

"Bella…"

"No, I understand," I said shortly.

"I wish I could take you."

I waved him off. "Don't be silly. Time travelers are supposed to be firstborn male…not firstborn male and the woman they procreate with."

"Bella!"

"I'm sorry. I…I need to see to a restroom."

I jumped up from the table and quickly headed past my parents toward the restroom. I ran straight to the sink, and like a cliché, I broke down in front of the mirror.

I was so naive.

I was not sure how long I spent shedding tears. Probably longer than I cared to admit. The restroom door opening was the only thing that would get me to stop. Immediately, I turned on the water and began to wash off my face, embarrassed for making a scene in a public place, no matter what year I was in.

"Are you okay?"

My heart stopped to see out of the corner of my eye my mother standing behind me looking concerned. Would it be inappropriate to wail and hang onto her, hoping she could take all my problems away with a single hug? Probably.

"I'm sorry. I'll be out of your way in a minute," I said, my voice wavering from speaking to the woman I had dreamed of speaking to my whole life.

"I saw the gentleman out there with you. He looks upset, too. I hope everything is all right."

I backed up from the sink and blotted my tears with my wet paper towel.

"Oh, uh…he was just telling me that he's…" I searched for an explanation, "…to be deployed. I'm just scared and…heartbroken."

My voice cracked, and it brought on a whole new wave of tears.

"I'm sorry. That must be so hard. My boyfriend is working for the sheriff's department. Every day when he goes out, I feel as if there's a breath held in my chest. The phone rings, and I worry it'll be a call telling me he's hurt or worse. It's silly. Nothing ever happens around here, and yet, I still worry."

I nodded, unable to come up with a response.

"Look, I know it's not much, but…you want to know what I think?"

I nodded again, daring to dream I would receive advice from my mother of all people.

"It doesn't matter how far away a person may go. They could be worlds away, but somehow, they'll always find their way back. Love conquers all. One way or another, if you and your gentleman are meant to be...are soul mates…nothing will keep you apart."

I let out the breath that had been trapped in my chest. I was amazed at how appropriate her advice was. I wiped off the remaining tears that blemished my cheeks and gave her a smile.

"I'm Isabella, by the way," I said.

"Isabella. What a beautiful name, I love it. I'm Renee."

"I know this is going to sound completely inappropriate…but can I get a hug?"

I would have been embarrassed with my request, but I figured, what the hell did I have to lose? I would be out of this time period soon, and my unusual request would be lost in the past.

She smiled and brought me into her arms. My mother was kind. My mother would give advice to a complete stranger in a restroom and then hug the weirdo girl. This told me everything I needed to know about the woman I had never met.

I shut my eyes tight to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. She would still think I was upset about Edward. She would never know how extraordinary this hug was. A daughter from the future, able to appear in the past, and get the one thing she had always wanted. And Edward had given me that.

We pulled apart, and I thanked her. I felt better.

I returned to the table and found Edward looking as if he had spent the whole time pulling his hair out.

"You didn't say anything…" he began, noting my mother's appearance back at her table.

I shook my head and gave him a smile. "I know the rules, Edward," I assured him, and he let a sigh of relief escape. "I'm ready to go. I got what I needed and so much more."

We left the forgotten shakes on the table and stood. I looked over to my parents one last time and nodded my head at my mother's smile before leaving.

I walked towards the forest from where we had come, Edward following a few paces behind. When we were back to our original landing spot, I turned to face him.

"I'm ready to go back. Thank you for this. I'll never forget what you gave me."

He walked forward with his arms open, and I walked to him, ready for him to jump us back to my future, but instead, he just hugged me. He finished with a soft kiss on my hair. I looked up into his eyes, and just as I went to say something more, we were off.

Edward pulled me tightly to him, and it wasn't but a few seconds when our journey ended. I looked around, even though my head was still slightly spinning, and noticed we were back inside my small, one-bedroom home. For some reason, I'd just thought he would take me back to his parents' house. I felt a stab of disappointment lurch in my heart. I didn't want him to leave. This was all happening too soon.

"It's as if we never left. I brought you back to your time, only a minute after we left for Dachau," he explained.

I applied pressure to my head and sat down on my small couch.

"How long was I gone for?"

He took in a breath and seemed to think the days over in his head, searching for the correct amount.

"Nearly three months."

"Wow. I feel like before never even happened. I was only gone a few short months, but now that I'm back to my time, it feels as if it's the wrong life. Does that make any sense?"

Edward bent down on one knee in front of me, so I could look him in the eyes.

"Absolutely. Let me help you to bed. You might need to call off work for a few days."

I took his hand, and he walked me to my bedroom. How was this my bedroom? It looked staged. Who lived in this impeccably kept place? Not a picture on the wall or a frame on a bedside table of a loved one. If a stranger had come here, they might think it was a rental house. I felt as if I'd had no identity before. Before Edward, I was just a wisp, and now, how could I go back to my mundane life after living what I had?

Edward left me on the bed, as I pondered my sad, dismal life. He returned with a long white nightdress. Even my clothes bored me.

"Want help?"

I lifted my arms, and he expertly undressed me and then slid the soft nightdress over my arms and head. I ground my teeth for what I knew was coming.

"Don't be sad. You're going to go for a few months…maybe a year or so…thinking you'll never see me again. You'll live your life and be happy, Bella. I want you to be happy. But I promise you, I'll come back, and when I do, I'll come back to this moment, and all you'll have lived through will be rewritten, and you'll never even remember it."

He squeezed my hand in his, and I gave into the desperation and flung my arms around him.

"God, please, don't go," I whispered. "I don't want to go months…or years…without seeing you. Can't you check in whenever you can? Can't you take me part of the way?"

He pulled my arms from around his neck and held them firmly in front of us.

"Please, don't make this harder on me," he begged. "You have no idea…"

He reached his hand out and caressed the side of my face. He brought me closer to him and rested his forehead on mine.

"I never really expected to fall in love with you. I love you, Bella. Whatever happens, please, always know that truth."

I cried and pushed myself closer.

He brought my chin up with his finger and began a deep, feverish kiss that only made me cry harder. His eyes were tight, unable to look at me. He shook his head and let go of me completely, stepping back. Before I was able to get to him, he vanished.

I fell to the floor, a sobbing mess, crying out for him, begging him to come back, but knowing he couldn't hear me.

"Please…please, don't do this to me. Please…"

And then, as if he could hear me through time and space, he was back.

On the floor, he pulled me to him, and we cried together. He held me tight, and I held him tighter. This way, if he left again, at least I would go with him.

He pulled my face to his and began a kiss that wouldn't end. I maneuvered myself to straddle him, our lips never leaving one another. I picked myself up a little and rubbed myself against him. He broke the kiss then and pulled me up with him and immediately began shedding his clothes. As he unbuttoned his shirt, his lips landed back on mine, while I tried to rid myself of my panties.

Once his shirt was off, as were my underwear, he reached for the nightdress and brought it up in one swift move, leaving me completely bare.

I laid down, as he rid himself of his trousers. Only seconds passed without touching one another to get these irritating tasks done, but when he joined me, he wasted no time and shoved himself fully into me.

He lifted my leg and began to pound into me over and over. It had been so long since I had been with another, and it took me a minute to adjust to his barbaric lovemaking.

Edward's teeth bit and gripped my nipple. I let out a small yelp, and he only picked up his pace. His fingers ran through my hair on my head, and he finally let go of my breast to look me in the eyes.

"I love you."

I wanted to reply to his sentiment, but he was hitting just the right spot. My back arched, and I let out a very unladylike scream and curse word as I came hard.

I'd swear I saw him smile before burying his face in my neck. He kept pushing, and I widened my legs, hoping to give him deeper access, so he, too, might feel the overwhelming joy I was experiencing.

He roughly grabbed my neglected breast and pinched hard, as he grunted and filled me.

His breathing slowed near my neck, and he pulled out and flopped down beside me.

His hand was on my stomach, rubbing gently, and our legs were still tangled together. I let go of a slow, satisfied breath and stared up at my ceiling fan.

"You could almost say, it's taken us centuries to get here," I joked softly.

Edward rolled onto his side and put his head up on his hand. He ran his other hand over the soft skin of my stomach again, caressing it reverently.

"And worth every minute."

His hand left my stomach and reached to brush my wayward locks from my face.

"I'm sorry about…earlier. I do love you, Bella," he said sincerely, almost as if he was trying to convince me.

"I know. I love you, too," I whispered. "I wish I were stronger. Strong enough to tell you to go. I wish I knew your mother's secret. How she can stand to lose your father for so much of the time…"

"He always comes back to the minute after he leaves, so he erases all the time spent apart. My mother just thinks he goes and comes back nearly instantly. She never remembers the months on end of silence and lonely suffering. That's what I wanted for you. To erase the hard part."

I snuggled into his arms and lay my head on his chest.

"We'll figure out something," I said.

He ran his fingers through my hair and didn't reply.

I would admit, there was something pleasant about being back in one's own bed. My flannel sheets were just the thing to ease me back into my present and get rid of all the headaches that came with time travel, letting me drift into a deep sleep.

When I did wake, there was a loud banging, but it wasn't from inside my head. Once I worked out that the harsh, repetitive sound wasn't an aftereffect from jumping to and fro in time, my eyes opened to see my ceiling fan and reminded me what time period I was in.

I reached my hand out, finding a cold, empty spot beside me, and it started my heart. The banging sound continued. Before I managed to work myself up, I stumbled out of bed and towards the door. I then realized I was still naked and grabbed a robe and covered myself quickly, so I could get rid of the nagging caller and get back to investigating Edward's whereabouts.

Don't freak out, Bella. Don't freak out.

I unlocked all the locks and pulled the door open while rubbing my head from the tiredness.

Alice pushed her way through, screeching and nearly sending my head straight into a full migraine.

"Holy shit! There you are! I swear, Bella, I was this close to filing a report! You didn't show up to work yesterday or today. You didn't call out. What in the hell happened?"

"What day is it?"

"What day is it?" she repeated my question. "Bella, it's Thursday."

"Thursday?"

"Oh, my god. Were you roofied?" she asked, concerned.

I looked around and then realize I had been asleep for well over a day and a half. Where was Edward? Was this because of the time jump? I'd slept so hard that I hadn't even woken up to eat or go to the bathroom?

"No…I, uh…food poisoning. I spent yesterday in my bed and the bathroom. I'm sorry. I should've called," I attempted to lie.

Alice looked to breathe a sigh of relief. She clutched her chest and deflated.

"Where did you pick up food poisoning from? I need to know, so I can stay clear of that place."

I wanted her to leave. She needed to leave, so I could get back to freaking out.

"It was some old salmon in my freezer. I should've known better. You know what? Just talking about it…" I made a face, as if I were about to puke once again, and Alice immediately stepped back.

"Oh, my god. I should stay and help you…"

"No!" I nearly screamed in her face. "I…uh…I don't want anyone to see me like this. It's embarrassing," I whispered. I walked back to my front door and held it open for her. "I'll probably take tomorrow off as well. I'm sorry, Alice."

She walked through and stood on my porch.

"Okay, I'll tell Mr. Cullen. That is, if he should decide to show up. Maybe he ate bad salmon, too."

I felt my heart constrict upon hearing his name. I ground my teeth to keep myself from bawling.

"Mr. Cullen?"

"Yeah, he didn't show up, either. Yesterday, I entertained silly fantasies that maybe you two finally hooked up. In fact, I wouldn't have been upset if he'd answered the door dressed as you are."

"I really need to go, Alice. I'll see you on Monday."

I quickly closed the door before any amount of leaking could occur from my tear ducts.

"Edward?" I said quietly.

I rushed back to the bedroom and looked in my closet. I looked in the bathroom and under the bed, as if there was some logical reason why he would be in any of those locations.

I went out to the kitchen and looked around. I looked for any clue of where he would have gone. What he was doing. He couldn't have just left, could he?

As the moments passed, I began to feel the panic lessen, only to be replaced with dread and despair.

He couldn't have left me. He wouldn't do this to me. He loved me. Edward loved me.

I returned to my bed and flopped into it. I fluffed my pillow and slid back under the covers, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. I wanted to cry, but my tear ducts were on strike. They told my brain they didn't need to work. He would come back.

My hand slid over the place where Edward had been lying before I had fallen asleep. My fingers slipped under the covers, and that was when I felt something foreign in the sheets. It crinkled from the pass of my hand. I pull the sheet down and saw a small piece of paper.

I instantly grabbed it and pulled it up before my eyes.

My face fell, and I let out a hefty breath that didn't return. I couldn't breathe. Such a simple task, and yet, I couldn't find within myself the ability to do it. My hands shook, causing the small note to fall from my fingers, landing in my lap. The two small words on it looked up at me, mocking me.

I'm sorry.

Edward loved me. Edward loved me. Edward…loved me.

Didn't he?

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. Next week, Redemption update. In the meantime, hope everyone is remaining safe and healthy! Well wishes to you and yours.

Thank you DOLLYBIGMOMMA who always drops everything to jump on these to edit.

STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHANIE MEYER.