18
Bella was going stir-crazy. A week had passed since they arrived at her parent's house, and Charlie had been bouncing off the walls. Inside, outside, inside, outside. Fits over the type of cereal she had for breakfast, whining because she didn't want to wear the purple T-shirt Edward had gotten her, she wanted a pink shirt. Even though, they didn't have a pink shirt. While they were trying not to show it, her parents and brother were getting annoyed with Charlie, too.
But since they arrived seven days ago, Marcus hadn't made his presence known. Edward and Jasper had taken turns keeping watch throughout the night, had taken to surveying the area multiple times a day, and so far, there hadn't been any signs of the man who had ruined her life. Yet. Bella wasn't naïve. She knew he was out there. Biding his time until he struck again. Just the thought had her anxious and for third night in a row, she found herself slipping out of the bed she was sharing with Charlie and walking downstairs.
Jasper looked up from his position in front of the living room window, cocking an eyebrow in silent question.
"Couldn't sleep," she murmured, wrapping her arms around herself. "Anything interesting out there?"
"Just a raccoon that has made itself at home in the neighbor's trash can," he joked before turning serious. "I missed you, B."
"I missed you, too," she said, softly as she sat on the edge of the sofa. "You and Al."
"You're the only person she lets call her Al." Jasper walked over and sat across from her.
Bella smiled. "Always have been."
"She missed you," Jasper added. "Never really moved on, you know?"
Nodding, she said, "Me either. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you and Al where I was. It wasn't safe."
"There was a time when you trusted me, trusted both of us."
She frowned. "I don't trust anyone."
"Except for Edward."
"Except for Edward," she admitted. "He's different, though. Just like you're different for Al."
Jasper smiled. "Suppose I understand that."
"Has she been happy?" Bella asked. "These past few years. Has she been happy?"
Jasper's smile dropped. "As happy as she can be, considering what she went through, considering she thought she had gotten you killed."
Bella dragged her hand through her hair. "It wasn't her fault."
"Wasn't yours, either." Jasper stood up and walked back over to the window. "You'd better get some sleep."
Sighing, Bella stood up and walked back upstairs, stopping outside the guest room. For a moment, she considered going inside, curling herself up around Alice and begging her for forgiveness. But instead, she walked back into her old bedroom, closed the door, and climbed back into bed with Charlie, letting her tears fall quietly.
—MfM—
When Bella awoke the next morning, she stretched out, searching for Charlie, but when she came up empty handed, she scrambled out of the bed. Looking around the room, she saw no signs of the five-year-old, filling her with dread. Bella threw open the door to her bedroom, stumbling out into the hallway. The doors to her parent's room, Carlisle's room, the guest room, and bathroom were all open, with no sign of anyone inside. Fear overwhelmed her as she rushed downstairs, stumbling on the last couple steps.
The living room was empty, as well. Tears filled her eyes and a scream built up in her chest as she ran into the kitchen, drawing the attention of her mother and father, Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, Edward, and most importantly, Charlie.
She dropped to her knees, unable to keep from crying out. Edward was by her side in a heartbeat, cradling her to his chest. "It's okay, B. Everything is okay."
"Nothing is okay," she sobbed, grabbing the front of his shirt. "Nothing!"
"Mommy," Charlie cried, leaping from her chair next to Alice and hurrying over to Bella, throwing herself into Bella's lap. "Mommy."
Bella was overwhelmed with emotion as she laid in Edward's arms with her daughter in her arms. Years of trying to be strong, trying to be brave, keeping her feelings pushed away so she didn't break down overtook her, and now she couldn't seem to stop crying, stop, stop grieving the life she had been forced to live.
The sound of the doorbell ringing startled everyone, and Alice stood up, hurrying out of the room before anyone could move. Leaning away from Edward, Bella kept Charlie in her arms and wiped the tears off her face before she stood up. However, before she could apologize for freaking out, Alice walked into the kitchen with a large bouquet of blue roses in her arms.
"B," Alice murmured, and she knew what she was going to say before she said, "There's a note."
Holding Charlie tighter, Bella reached over and plucked the card out of the roses, her heart racing as she turned it over and read it aloud, "My love, soon you will be mine. Soon, we will be a family. Me, you, and our beautiful daughter. Soon, my love, soon."