Chapter 24 - homecoming

EPOV

Bella was pacing the floor restlessly as she twirled her ring around her finger.

'Bella.' I called quietly. 'Everything will be fine.'

'But they should have been here already.' She said, anxiously looking outside again. 'What if something happened?'

I got up and wrapped her tightly in my arms. She relaxed against me almost immediately.

'Bella.' I said again, my voice wrapping around her name like a caress. 'They're fine. They'll be here. Don't worry.'

'But…'

'No.' My tone firm. She glanced up at me and I met her gaze evenly.

She had been doing this for the past hour already and I had reached my limit. She worried too much. We'd been an hour early getting to Forks, but the rest of the family was late. I was sure they were fine. Alice was with them and she would have called me if something had happened. They probably just wanted to give us some time in the place we fell in love in private.

'Sorry.' She said in a small voice.

'I'm not angry Bella.' I soothed her quickly, not wanting to upset her. 'There's just nothing for you to get this worked up over. Trust me. They're fine and they'll be here.'

She heaved a deep sigh and then nodded.

'Good.' I turned her around in my arms so she was facing me. 'Since we're still alone for a while…' I trailed off, my lips pulling into a half smile as I leaned closer to her.

Our lips met and I sighed in pleasure. You'd have thought we'd gotten everything out of the way during our little honeymoon. We'd not left the bed the entire time. I smiled against her lips at the memories that flooded through my mind.

Although it had been heaven, I was a bit disappointed we couldn't have a real honeymoon yet. As soon as we dealt with Victoria I was going to make sure she and I would spent as long as we wanted somewhere tropical and secluded. I couldn't wait.

'What's so funny?' Bella asked as she released my lips to trail a path along my jawline down my neck, towards the opening of my shirt.

'Nothing.' I answered innocently.

She drew back and quirked an eyebrow at me. 'Really?' The mischievous twinkle in her eye however made me think she knew exactly what I was thinking about. 'Do we have time?' she breathed against my lips as she stretched herself up to my tiptoes to press them against mine.

I wrapped my arms tightly against her middle, crushing my lips down on hers and slipping my tongue into her mouth. I pushed her backwards until the wall met her back. I placed one of my hands next to her face caging her inbetween my body and the wall.

Don't think… don't think

I hope they're dressed

Edward! If you can hear us, better stop what you're doing

I pulled away with a groan.'It would appear not.' I muttered. 'Can you shield me?' I asked her.

The thoughts of my family were already tiring me out again. Now that I knew how peaceful it could be, I had asked Bella to always shield me when we were around the family. It finally gave me the option to give them the privacy that I hadn't been able to give them for the past ninety years. When we were alone I preferred not to be shielded. It left me feeling vulnerable. Especially with the threat of Victoria around. I was adamant that if it was just the two of us she couldn't shield me. I needed to know if there were others lurking around.

Bella didn't mind. She even seemed to understand why I didn't want to be shielded when we were alone. It cost her not rouble to shield me when my family was around, so I didn't feel bad asking it of her.

As soon as it had come, the voices streaming through my head stopped. It seemed Bella's shield was in place. I relaxed slightly and pulled her away from the wall. I turned towards the back wall, facing the garden and held Bella in front of my body in a loose embrace. Within a few seconds Emmett bounded into the yard with a gleeful smile.

The moment he spotted us standing at the windows - fully clothed - his smile faltered. Rosalie came up behind him and shook her head, slapping him on the back of his head when she passed. Jasper and Alice were next. Alice sticking out her tongue at Emmett and Jasper laughing loudly. Emmett kicked the grass with the toe of his boot like a petualant child.

Bella let out a small giggle at the sight and my irritation with Emmett seemed to melt away. It was worth it if it made her laugh.

'What was that about?' She asked as Rosalie opened the door and stepped inside.

She grinned at us. 'He just lost a bet.'

'Why do you insist on bidding on stuff like this?' I groaned, staring at the ceiling in exasperation. My grip on bella's hips tightened slightly, keeping me grounded. It was just like Emmett to keep placing bets on my sex life.

Rosalie shrugged and sent a smug smile my way. 'Because it drives you up the wall.'

'Though why anyone continues betting against me, is a mystery.' Alice announced bounding through the door.

'What was the bet?' Bella asked.

'I'm not sure you want to know.' I grunted staring pointedly at the ceiling again. Of course Bella wouldn't let it go. She spun around in my arms and lifted one eyebrow at me. I pursed my lips. I didn't want to embarrass her with emmett's lewd ideas of fun. But I knew she wouldn't except some lie either.

'Emmett bet that they would interrupt us.' I said after a moment of silence.

'Interrupt us?' She echoed, confused.

Jasper laughed and Alice giggled from the corner wiggling her eyebrows at us. understanding dawned across Bella's face.

'OH!' she gasped. 'Damnit Emmett, bet on something else!' She yelled, knowing he would be able to hear it.

I grinned and shook my head. 'I doubt it. He enjoys pissing me off too much.'

'You shielding him again?' Jasper asked as he looked between Emmett and me.

I shook my head at Emmett. He was still on the lawn making an idiot out of himself pulling face and making rude gestures at me. I was glad I couldn't hear his thoughts.

Bella nodded. 'Yeah. We've decided whenever you're all around I'm going to shield him.'

Jasper grinned up at me suddenly, I eyed him back wearily. This couldn't be good. 'please, no pranks.'

Alice's tinkling laugh echoed through the room and I winced. I dropped my head unto bella's shoulder in defeat. I was in for it, I knew it. They were going to pay me back for ninety years of invading their privacy.

'Perhaps we should just sporadically lift it, so they can't catch me off guard all the time.' I suggested to Bella.

I turned to look at her face, it was pulled into a sly grin as she stared back at me.

Carlisle and Esme were last to come through the door with a sulking Emmett in tow.

'How've you two been?' Esme asked as she stepped through the door and engulfed Bella in a hug. I released my hold of Bella and smiled at Esme over Bella's head.

'Good.' I answered. 'We arrived a few hours ago.'

We spent a few minutes catching up. They wanted to know where we'd gone for the honeymoon, Emmett wanted to know what we did, which of course led to many horrible jokes coming our way. We suffered through them, mostly, but by the time Carlisle changed the subject I was ready to murder him. Or at least thoroughly embarrass him in wrestling.

'how long until Jacob will be here?' Carlisle asked.

I glanced at my watch and frowned. 'Probably in a few minutes'

'Where did he agree to meet us?'

'I told him to just come over here.' Bella muttered, glancing at the front door.

'Perhaps you should stop shielding Edward then, Bella. That way we'll know when he's coming.' Carlisle suggested.

As she nodded, the bell rang. I frowned and looked at Alice, who was already frowning at the door herself. Hadn't she seen this coming? Was she not paying attention?

Esme looked around wearily but then shrugged and headed to the door to open it. she swung open the door and revealed Jacob in the doorway.

The voices of my family slammed into me as Bella lifted her shield from me. I staggered back a step. I wasn't used to this anymore. All their thoughts filled up my mind and for a moment I was utterly disoriented and confused what was going on. I shook my head trying to clear it, to focus on my surroundings. After a moment I seemed to get my bearings a little. The front door was open and everyone was focussing on that. So I directed my gaze towards the front door as well.

Fuck I knew it. He's back. A new mental voice growled at me.

My eyebrows shot up as I localized the voice. it was coming from the doorway.

Right... Jacob.

I suppressed the urge to growl. Barely.

he winced as my gaze landed on him, seemingly remembering that I could hear his thoughts. Then a smirk appeared on his face as he met my stare head on.

That's right. you can hear me, can't you? you fucker. You wanna know what you did to her? you can pretend all you want but I know you are a monster. You left her a broken shell. She was hollow, a zombie. She had to wrap her arms around herself to keep from falling apart.

His lips pulled up in a snarl as he regarded me. I tried to remain calm. But the images flashing through his mind were harrowing.

Bella. Pale and drawn. Bella, wrapping her arms tightly around her midriff as she tried to hold herself together. Bella screaming in her sleep. Bella trying to smile but a sadness lurking in her eyes, a hollowness in her cheeks. But all those horrifying images were nothing to his pièce de resistance.

He grinned at me evily, there really was no other way to describe it.

This is how we found her, the night you destroyed her He snarled at me in his thoughts.

My breath left me in a woosh and I sank to my knees. I was aware of the alarm of my family and of Bella around me, but the image Jacob was showing me was too much.

Bella was curled into a tight ball on the forest floor. She was ghostly pale, her lips almost blue, she was shaking uncontrollably and sobbing her heart out.

I gripped my hands in my hair. 'Stop' I begged. I couldn't bear to see this.

'Stop?' Jacob said out loud in an incredulous voice. He took a step into the house, earning a few snarls from my family. 'Stop?' he echoed again. 'You didn't stop when you did that to her!' He barreled right up to me towering over me in a threatening way. 'you destroyed her and now you walk back into her life and pretend nothing even happened! You don't deserve her. You deserve to see this image for the rest of your life!'

I bowed my head and nodded in agreement. He was right. I deserved more than this actually. I had hurt bella enormously. It appeared more than she herself had even let on. The images he was shoving at me were proof of that. She had been broken. There had been nothing left of her.

Just as Emmett was about to step in and backhand Jacob across the room, Bella stepped in. She put one hand on Jacob's chest and pushed. Hard. He sailed across the room and landed heavily against the wall, sliding down it pathetically.

Bella stepped in front of me in a defensive crouch. 'I don't care what you think he deserves, stop doing whatever you are doing to him, or I will kick you out of here.' She growled at him. Actually growled.

My eyes widened at the scene unfolding in front of me. Bella was choosing me. Holy shit!

I had thought from Jacob's thoughts that they had bonded during my absence, that they had grown close and perhaps even fond of each other. But it appeared Jacob had overplayed his hand.

Jacob gazed at Bella in confusion as she stood crouched before me.

'Bella?' he asked uncertain. She bared her teeth at him.

'You would be wise not to antagonize her. Although she is very controlled for a newborn. She is still exactly that. A newborn.' Jasper warned him in a calm voice.

'What did you do to him?' Rose demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

Jacob sprung to his feet lightly scowling at me. 'I showed him what he did.' He said.

'It's fine.' I ground out, slowly getting to my feet.

All this tension in the room wasn't helping Bella. And she would never forgive herself if she attacked Jacob. Although I personally would love to see that happen. I dusted off the knees of my jeans casually, taking those few precious seconds to compose myself. My face slipped into a neutral mask, disguising the pain residing deeply in my chest. The imagine jacob had shown me still deeply imbedded in my mind.

'I'm fine.' I said again. Jacob growled at me, which earned him a hiss from Bella in return. I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. 'It's alright, love.' I told her gently.

She eased out of her crouch and turned her upper body hallway towards me. 'Are you sure?' she questioned softly. 'you looked like you were in pain.'

I gave her a small smile, although I wasn't sure that was convincing enough for her. 'I'm fine.' I assured her.

Jacob scoffed. I narrowed my eyes at him in warning. He just glared back.

Fuck it I might as well keep going… Jacob thought to himself before turning a particularly nasty smile my way. Then he started thinking through all the images he had shown me yet again, on a loop. Beside that he threw in some choice commentary about me; the fact I had destroyed bella, the audacity I had at showing back up in her life… it wasn't pretty.

I struggled to keep my face blank under his onslaught.

'Bella.' Jacob called. 'We should talk.'

'Yes. But only if you promise not to do that again, Jacob.' Her voice was stern.

Jacob grinned slyly and nodded. I clenched my jaw. Emmett threw me a weary glance, he was closest to me and could see the tension in my body. b

You look sick, bro He added in his head. Is that fucker still doing it? He asked a moment later.

I nodded my head almost imperceptibly. Emmett growled and moved to take a step, I quickly put out my arm to stop him, shaking my head minutely at him.

Jasper appeared on his other side, calming him down, and trying to ease my suffering as well.

'Can we talk alone?' Jacob asked Bella.

A growl escaped my lips before I could stop it. 'Over my dead body.' I ground out, grabbing Bella's wrist and yanking her behind me. She stumbled slightly by the sudden movement and ended up pressed tightly against my back.

'Good thing you're already dead then' Jacob growled back.

'Jacob.' Bella admonished. But she touched my back as well, indicating she wanted me to release her. 'Edward, I'll be fine. I'll just talk to him outside.'

I shook my head at her. but her eyes flashed in warning.

'I'm sorry, Bella, I'm not trying to decide anything for you.' I quickly said. 'But please, don't go outside with him alone. If you don't want to take me, at least take Rose or Alice.' I pleaded.

Jacob snorted. pussy. God what happened to your balls man?

I quickly tuned him out, as he had some more choice ideas about where my manhood had gone. Part of me really wanted to assure him my manhood was safe and sound and thoroughly enjoyed by Bella. But I had a feeling Bella wouldn't appreciate that. Not to mention the jokes that would follow form Emmett. I grit my teeth.

Bella was still looking at me, but not looking convinced by my argument. She put her hand against my cheek and smiled at me.

'I'll be fine. Now stop worrying. I'll be just outside.' She said, her voice sure and calm, but leaving no room for me to object.

The message was clear. If I didn't let her do this I would show her just a few days into our marriage that I was already violating her trust again. I grit my teeth and nodded once.

Jacob snorted again, rolling his eyes at me. Bella gave me one last glance and warning with her eyes and then let go of me. It took almost all of my strength to stay where I was. She turned around and walked over to Jacob. He stepped aside as he opened the door and waited for her to pass through first. She glanced back at me with a reassuring smile before heading out, jacob followed, too closely for comfort for me, and gave me a smug smile. As if he'd won. I growled but bella threw me a warning glance, stopping me from coming after him. I crossed my arms over my chest and clenched my jaw tightly. Willing myself to calm down. The door closed behind them and I sank down to my knees again.

The pain I had tried to hide in front of Bella ripped through my chest. I groaned under its weight and fell to my knees yet again. Esme crouched in front of me, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder and rubbing slightly.

'What did he do?' Carlisle asked softly.

'He showed me what it did to Bella when I left.' I whispered, my voice empty and hollow. The images were still on repeat behind my eyes.

'She already told you that you hurt her.'Rosalie reminded me gently.

'Not like this, Rose.' I answered shaking my head. 'Not like this.' I took a deep breath. 'She.. She followed after me in the woods that day. She was blue and shaking and falling apart. All because of me. I tore her apart when I left. There was nothing left of her.'

The family was quiet for a moment mulling that over.

'You may have hurt her, Edward. But she forgave you. She told you that you hurt her and you had to work to earn her back. Don't let this come between you again.' Esme warned me quietly.

Come between us? That was the last thing I wanted.

I shook my head. 'I just wish she would have told me it had been that bad for her.'

'Did you tell her how bad you were?' Alice asked.

'yes.' I said.

Jasper cocked an eyebrow at me. 'I doubt that.' He snickered.

'Alright fine, I might have edited.' I sighed shaking my head, trying to clear it.

'Well, she probably did the same then. You can't blame her for that.' Rose said. 'She probably did it to spare your feelings. And seeing your reaction now, she was probably right. Who knows how long it would have taken you to forgive yourself if she would have told you the full extent? You'd have taken that much longer getting back together.'

I heaved a deep sigh and then nodded. 'You're probably right.' I admitted.

Rose's head whipped around as she stared at me. 'What?' I asked.

'Did you just agree with her?' Emmett asked.

'I have been known to do that.' I muttered.

Rose started laughing and I gave her a small smile, not able to muster much else just now. The rest of the family joined in the laughter before we were all shushed by Alice, who was nervously hovering by the door.

'Edward, focus on what's going on outside. I can't see anything!' She said panic seeping into her voice.