Bella was braiding her hair after a scalding hot shower when she heard it. Emmett was in his bedroom humming along to the Mission Impossible theme. He thought it was all a game. Driving like a lunatic, running around in the woods screaming about werewolves, and 'rescuing' a damsel in distress. Didn't he know how dangerous of a game he was playing? Of course not, Emmett was Emmett. He never troubled himself with inconsequential things like rules and consequences. It was up to the rest of them to make sure he didn't go full throttle down the path of destruction.
Bella stormed into Edward's room without bothering to knock. "This fairytale nonsense needs to stop!"
Edward was at his desk thumbing through Emmett's battered copy of American Monsters: A Complete Field Guide. He was on chapter six, shapeshifters and werewolves.
Bella was shocked to see the book. She thought it was among the things Alice threw out during last year's spring cleaning. Maybe there was hope she'd get her favorite flannel shirt back after all.
"It's not nonsense, it's reality. Our reality." Edward said, without looking up from the book. "A reality that almost got you killed today."
The only thing that almost got her killed that day was Emmett's driving.
Bella snatched the book and slammed it closed. "For the last time, it was just a dog. I didn't need you guys to swoop in and save me!."
"You really have no idea how much danger you were in, do you?" Edward closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "That thing-;"
"The harmless dog?"
"The incredibly dangerous werewolf wanted to drag you back to its lair. Had I not arrived when I did, you wouldn't have lived until morning."
The worst thing she could imagine happening to her was waking up with a sore back from sleeping on the ground.
"Let me guess, it would have eaten me?
Too bad her grandma was dead. The werewolf would still be starving after it ate the meager meat off her bones.
"Yes," Edward exclaimed"Werewolves, especially when young, are volatile creatures. One wrong move and it would have torn you limb to limb with its sword sharp teeth!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes!"
Bella crossed her arms. "Tell me something then. If werewolves are so big and scary, then why did the sight of you scare it off?"
He didn't have any silver bullets or his trusty piece of glass.
"I don't know, but I'm glad it did," Edward said, eyes misty. I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you."
Edwards's response rendered Bella speechless. She'd been so wrapped up in her anger over Edward putting Emmett in danger that she didn't stop to think why Edward did what he did. If he genuinely thought he was going up against a werewolf, then why did he bother? He hated her. Why would he risk his life?
"What do you care if I get eaten?" Bella asked, looking down at her feet.
"Is that really what you think? Edward asked after a moment of silence. "That I don't care if you live or die?"
Bella didn't answer. It was a reasonable assumption given everything she'd put him through.
Edward took her by surprise with a tight hug. "I'm sorry."
At that moment, there was no place on earth Bella would rather be. Being in Edward's arms felt a million perfect summer days and fresh from the dryer sheets. It was right. It was perfect. It was home. Where had this beautiful, perfect person been all her life? It didn't really matter. All that mattered was the bright future they'd have together.
Bella smiled and ran her fingers through Edward's silky bronze locks. Her mood darkened when she found a pine needle. It made her think about what could have happened had anyone witnessed what happened on the beach. Edward was free to get himself thrown in room zero for acting like a lunatic but she wouldn't let him drag Emmett down too.
"I'm sorry," Edward repeated. "Forgive me, my love."
"For what?" Bella asked, trying to wiggle free
Edward let her go but stayed within arm's reach should Bella have a change of heart.
"The last week. Making you feel unloved. That wasn't my intention. I just needed time to process things. I didn't want to lash out at you."
Bella had been the same way after her father died. It took her weeks to open up to her friends.
"I'm the one who should be sorry," Bella said. I should have told you about Queen Esme earlier."
While she may not have been Edward's mother, the pain he felt seemed real. It was wrong to give him false hope that they'd one day be reunited.
"I'll admit, I was upset at first but now I understand why you did what you did," Edward said. "A wise man told me not all lies are malicious."
Bella smiled. "Emmett?"
Emmett would never let them hear the end of it if he found out Edward called him wise.
"He told me about your mother..how she took her life. I'm so sorry that happened to you. No child should know that kind of pain."
Before Bella could point out he was also a child who'd lost his mother, Edward continued talking.
"Emmett said my arrival probably brought up painful memories from your past. I don't blame you for hiding the truth. You were just trying to protect me."
While intended to make her feel better, Edward's words made Bella feel even worse. Her intentions weren't as pure as he gave her credit for.
"I want you to know that I'm here for you in whatever way you need me to be," Edward said. "I understand that you may not want or need a romantic relationship right now. If you'd rather just be friends I'll accept that."
Bella nodded. She could handle friendship. Friendship didn't make her heart race and knees weak.
Bella could hear Rose yelling at Emmett to quiet down and go to bed. "I'll agree to be your friend but I have a condition."
Edward smiled. "Name it."
"You need to leave Emmett out of the prince Edward stuff."
"Why? Emmett is brave, smart, and loyal. He's more than capable of helping me save Forks."
If only other people saw him that way.
"Do you remember room zero, the place at the hospital where they tied you to the bed?" Bella asked.
Edward winced. "Yes. That room is a terrible place. I don't ever want to go back there."
"If they find out Emmett thinks you're prince, they'll put him in there."
Whatever version of Emmett came out wouldn't be the fun-loving brother she'd come to love.
"Why? I am a prince."
Bella pinched the bridge of her nose. "You understand people coming back from the dead isn't exactly normal, right?"
"I wasn't dead, I was cursed."
Bella sighed. "Cursed, dead. It doesn't matter. Either way, you have no proof and most people aren't going to believe you."
"Then I'll find proof."
"How?"
Bella couldn't wait to see what kind of proof he came up with.
"I don't know but I will," Edward said firmly.
Any plans of having a normal high school life evaporated. She'd have to devote all her free time to making sure Edward's search for proof didn't involve any more cemeteries or breaking and entering.
"Until then, will you leave Emmett out for his own safety?" Bella asked.
Getting involved with Edward's delusions would be worth it if it meant protecting Emmett.
Edward nodded. "Very well. I'll ask Jasper in the morning if he'd be willing to take Emmett's place."
"No!" Bella exclaimed. "Not him."
Jasper had enough demons of his own to deal with. The last thing he needed was Edward trying to convince him the woods were infested with man-eating monsters.
"Why not? Edward asked. "I took a peek in his room earlier. I wish I'd know he had a collection of swords before Emmett and I went to rescue you."
Emmett was probably too afraid to tell Edward about Jasper's swords. Artifacts from various conflicts, those swords were Jasper's most prized belongings. His anger rivaled even Rose's if anyone tried to mess with them. Edward would have learned that lesson the hard way if even suggested using one to fight imaginary werewolves.
"Jasper has already been through enough," Bella said. "You're not involving him and that's final."
"What about Alice?"
Bella raised an eyebrow. "She weighs like ninety pounds."
Alice barely tolerated gym class. She'd never agree to run around in the woods with Edward.
Edward hesitated. "How about Rose? She's rather...fierce."
As funny as it would be to watch him ask Rose, Bella knew that would be a mistake. There would be no unringing that bell. Rose would snitch winning Emmett and Edward one-way tickets to room zero.
"Then who?" Edward asked. I can't save the kingdom on my own."
Bella bit her lip. Goodbye normal life.
"Me," she whispered."I'll help you."
For the sake of her siblings, it had to be her. She hoped it wasn't a decision she'd come to regret.
Edward grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
