21

Bella stood by the edge of the water, watching the gentle swells building just past the horizon, moving toward the shore. As in true PV tradition, after the historic battle of the sexes, a giant bonfire formed on the beach. Behind her, she could hear everyone laughing, having a great time. Music was blaring, people were dancing, their carefree laughter, the futures they all had. The lives they had in front of them.

She envied them

Sighing, Bella turned to join the party, but stopped when she found Emmett standing ten feet behind her. Compared to earlier, when he had been wearing a pair of black dress slacks and a white button up, he was now wearing a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a flowery shirt that looked like someone had thrown up on it. It would have made her laugh if she hadn't been annoyed that he was standing behind her.

"Don't worry," she quipped, folding her arms in front of her. "I'm not going into the water."

"I don't care if you do," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah?" she asked. "Everyone else does."

"I don't know why. Looks relaxing."

Bella hummed, but didn't reply.

Emmett stepped toward her, but stopped when she moved backward. "I'm not going to hurt you, Bella."

"I know. You just want to save me," she jested.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow much like Edward did and she almost laughed.

"Because it's bullshit," she scoffed. "Kufs killed my father and it's going to kill me."

"It doesn't have to, though," he pleaded.

"You can't guarantee me anything," she argued. "I was there every day as my father wasted away. He lost his hands first. Couldn't hold a piece of paper most days. They shook so bad he would hurt himself. Then his legs started failing him. He needed help getting out bed, to the bathroom, to wipe his own ass. He would cry from humiliation as he grew weaker and weaker. And by the end, he could . . . he could barely say my name," she cried. "He begged for mercy, for someone to make the pain stop, but we couldn't do anything for him. So, he decided to end it for himself, and somehow, he found the strength to drag himself out of bed, out of the house, to grab his board, and drag it down the beach, and into the water."

"I wish I could have saved him, Bella," Emmett said, softly. "I truly do."

"Me too." Bella brushed the moisture off her cheeks, looking back toward the bonfire, where she saw Edward. "If you fail to save me, he will never forgive you."

Emmett tensed, but said, "I know. That's why I can't fail."

And without anything else to say, Emmett turned and walked back up the beach, joining the party, and leaving Bella more confused than ever.

—BDBH—

Bella stayed by the edge of the water for a bit longer before putting a smile on her face and heading back up the beach and joining the party. While the last thing she felt like doing was letting loose and having a good time, she knew it was important to her family to at least try.

Alice and Jasper were dancing on the far side of the bonfire, their heads pressed against each other's, lost in their own world. It made Bella happy that Alice had found Jasper, found the love of her life. She wanted her best friend to be happy, to have a long, and healthy life and Jasper would give that to her. They would spend the rest of their lives together.

Carlisle and Esme were laughing at something that Tanya and Seth said, while Emmett was in deep conversation with Rose, who even in the orange glow from the fire was blushing. Bella bit her lip to keep from giggling as she made her way through the crowd. She spotted Edward for a moment before he disappeared into the crowd.

Bella had just opened one of the coolers when a hand reached around her, startling her. When she stood up, the back of her head hit the front of theirs, causing both of them to cry out. Spinning, she was surprised to see James holding his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

"Jesus H Christ, Swan," he swore, taking a step backward.

"What the fuck did you think was going to happen when you tried to cut around me?" she snickered, reaching up and pulling his hand down. "Oh, for fuck sake, you're not even bleeding!"

"Still hurts," he grumbled.

"Whatever," she scoffed before turning and opening the cooler and grabbing a bottle of water. "What do you want?"

"For you to be okay."

Sighing, she let the lid to the cooler close as she stood up and faced him. "So, you know."

James nodded. "Laurent told me."

"Great," she muttered, opening the water and taking a drink.

"He was worried. Everyone is worried about you."

"So I hear."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Because then you would look at me like you are now," she replied honestly.

"And how is that?"

"With pity."

"You think we pity you?" James questioned.

Bella nodded.

"Well, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," he scoffed.

"Excuse me?"

"We don't pity you, Swan. We're sad, we're heartbroken, we're . . . Shit, I don't know. We want to support you, be there for you and Esme, Carlisle, and Peanut." James paused and smiled. "Be there to support Edward."

Bella felt her cheeks warm, causing James to laugh. "Shut up."

"He's different, isn't he?" he asked. "I've seen you with other guys, Swan, and you've never been like this before."

"I love him," she murmured, unable to keep her voice from wavering. "I love him, and I'm dying."

"We're all dying, Swan," he whispered, leaning forward and kissing the top of her head. "From our first breath to our last, it's up to us on how we spend the time we have. If you love him, live for him. No matter how short that time may be."

Without giving Bella a chance to say anything else, James disappeared into the crowd.

—BDBH—

Bella once again found herself standing by the edge of the water. The sun had completely disappeared, but the moon was shining brightly, casting a delicious glow over the water. Bella bit her lip and wished she had her board. Night surfing had always been a favorite of hers. There was something freeing about the darkness.

"Are you going to go in?"

She smiled as she looked over her shoulder, finding Edward standing behind her. "Maybe."

"Hmm," he hummed, closing the distance between them, his arms wrapping around her waist. "I'll go if you go."

Bella smiled and turned in his arms. "Is that a dare, Mr. Mason?"

"Not a dare, per se," he snickered. "Just really want to see you wet."

"Oh, you've seen me plenty wet," she purred, pulling away from him and reaching for the hem of her tank top, peeled it off slowly, and tossed it in the sand before him. Her blue bikini sculpted her breasts.

"Fuck," Edward murmured, nearly tearing his tank top off and dropping it on top of hers.

Bella smiled as her hands gripped the top of her black cotton shorts, pulling them down and kicking them to him. Edward caught them, letting them drop with the rest of their clothes before he took a step toward her. Bella squealed and took off into the water, falling back as a wave washed over her.

"Gotcha," he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him. The moon highlighted the droplets sliding down his face.

"So what are you going to do with me not that you've caught me?" she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Love you forever," he whispered.

Closing the distance between their lips, Edward kissed her. Softly at first, but with more urgency with each passing moment. Bella slid her hands up to the back of his head, her fingers tangling in his hair. Her heart was racing and she wanted more. No, needed more. More time, more life, more him.

"Oh, God," he groaned, hoisting her up against him ever tighter as his lips moved to her neck, down to her cleavage. "I'll never get enough of you."

"I hope not," she whispered, and when he tilted his head back and looked at her, she lost all sense of control. "Edward, will you ma—"

The sound of loud laughter and excited screams cut her off in mid-sentence, and taking a deep breath, she looked over as Esme, Carlisle, Jasper, Alice, Rose, Emmett, Tanya, Seth, James, Laurent, and so many more came running into the water, splashing each other. She pulled herself out of Edward's arms, giving him a look before they found themselves surrounded by their friends and family.