Imp AN: The previous chapter actually has three chapters (Chapters 26, 27 and 28) combined. They have been titled as such separately.

Huge thanks to Frannie (Fran S. Flower) for being patient with me and this story and removing all my errors.

Special thanks to Angela (AngelaAbbot) for pushing me to write, hearing all my crazy ideas, and helping me find my muse.

Danielle Lynn Hartman has made an absolutely gorgeous banner for this story, which is posted on Facebook. Thank you so much for putting in so much efforts. You are so talented!

Chapter 29

'I don't want to look back in five years' time and think,

"We could have been magnificent,

but I was afraid."

In five years' time I want to tell of how fear tried to cheat me

out of the best thing in my life,

and I didn't let it.'

-Unknown

It was a déjà vu.

Arms hooked through both of his; he was dragged into the woods by his brothers.

Only this time, they were accompanied by Carlisle.

"What is it?"

"Jenks called … The trial is on the twenty-fourth."

Dumbfounded, he gaped at them, the fault line rippling and dipping before crumbling altogether. He had known it, accepted even, that the foulest of her ghosts were yet to be exorcized, but he had hoped for them to visit her after some time.

"She's not ready!"

"No, she's not," The admission left a biting taste in his mouth, "But she has to face them eventually. If it helps any, I've requested the use of Videocon on the grounds of more than de minimis emotional distress. * Bella won't have to be in the same room as them, Edward."

His breath escaped in a quivering hush, rushing and dredging his fears. A rush of possibilities, horrid, and strong, almost brought him to his knees.

"I want to attend her testimony, then." Anxious obsidian begged pitying gold. "I want to be there for her."

"Absolutely not!"

"Are you mental? You won't be able to control yourself!"

Carlisle ignored the shrill cacophony of protests, focusing on his eldest, most temperamental son.

"Are you sure you can handle hearing everything that happened to her?"

And for a moment, he was tempted to say no, to give in and let others handle things for him. For a moment, fight gave way to flight, weighed down by the dread of pain and lust for blood.

But his indecision didn't last for long.

Burnt sienna gazed at him, silent in their accusation of abandonment. The memory smote, stinging, and sharp, reminding him of the promise he had made to her … the promise her anguished eyes had extracted from him.

"Edward?"

"Yes, I'm sure, Carlisle," Edward vowed, teeth gritted in determination.

"I won't leave her … Not this time."

* More than de minimis emotional distress- Distress more than nervousness, excitement, or reluctance.

AN: Hi guys! Long time no see.

I know I promised to start posting again by the end of 2020, but real life got in the way. My final exams were postponed due to COVID- 19, my cousin's marriage was held post them, and then I had to undergo surgery for a problem, which would have probably become life-threatening later in life.

I'm well, recovering and grateful that I was diagnosed in the nick of time. I just have to undergo one more surgery in a month or two for another health issue, then I'll be done.

But the good news is I've finished writing 'Wreckage' save for the Epilogue (I am working on it), so I can give you a fixed update schedule now. I'll update after every two days. So, the next chapter will be posted on Tuesday.

Please let me know what you think of this chapter.

Until next time!

Love,

Ansha