Chapter 12

A/N This chapter is for the reviewer who said 'please.'

Thank you for your kind words.

…

As the couple whirled to face the voice, Edward put himself between Bella and the threat. Angela watched his face harden, and his eyes take on a glassy glow that was menacing, and, well—unnatural. Feeling as if she had cornered a wild predator, she made no sudden moves and dropped her eyes, but held her ground.

Bella spoke first. "Angela, I'm not sure what …"

"State your meaning, Angela," Edward said as he wrapped his arm around Bella drawing her into the safety of his side.

Angela took a step into the room under Edward's warning glare. Closing the door, she turned to face them. She looked at her friend, caged in by the protective arms of this stranger, and the pieces fell into place. With deliberate movement, Angela crossed the room to sit in Bella's desk chair.

"Edward, come," Bella whispered as she towed him to her bed and pulled him to sit next to her. He followed, keeping his eyes riveted on Angela.

Once seated, he pulled Bella against him and nodded for Angela to begin.

Angela gave Edward a level look. "I saw you in the gym at the spring dance when we were kids. I thought you were one of the parents, but I remember how you looked at B and Mike dancing, and I remember how she changed for the rest of the night." Her eyes narrowed. "You haven't aged since we were kids. I guess we just caught up to you."

Bella cut in, "How did he look at us?"

"Like he wanted to drag Mike into the woods and hide the body," Angela said with a smirk.

Bella looked at Edward. "Really?"

Angela watched Edward as he gave Bella a wry grin and played with her fingers tracing her nails with his index finger. "I didn't like the fact that your people allow a man of that age to lay his hands on you. I would have respected you better than that man-child." He looked up to see Bella's eyes glistening and frowned.

"That was when you knew," she whispered and sniffed.

He wiped a thumb under her eyes and looked deeply into her eyes. "That was the night I knew."

"Knew what?" Angela asked.

"That I would love her as a lover for an eternity even if galaxies apart," he breathed as his eyes rested on Bella.

Bella sighed and mouthed, "I love you."

Outside of their bubble, Angela's voice rose in irritation. "So let's try again. Who are you?"

Edward pinned Angela with glowing eyes, causing her to sit back with a gasp, "What are you?"

Bella sat forward in alarm. "Angela, don't—he's my—I …" Bella gave up and turned to Edward.

He brushed the hair from her face and tucked it behind an ear, calming with his touch. "Do you trust her, love?"

Bella hesitated, studying him. "Maybe she could help us."

Edward nodded in thought as he ran his knuckle down Bella's cheek before turning to Angela. He deliberated for a long moment before closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths.

He squeezed Bella's hand as he opened his eyes and gave Angela a straight look. "I am not from this world, but I am bound to Bella. I am going to leave this room and allow Bella to speak with you openly. Say whatever you need to your friend, but listen to her. She needs someone from her world right now. I would like to think you could be that person."

Angela sat frozen with her mouth agape as he turned to Bella.

"You are my forever-bound, my love. If you need more time, I will understand and be back in one turning."

Bella latched onto him in panic. "You're not leaving now, without me."

His features softened as he leaned in and kissed her sweetly, "I will not leave without a goodbye kiss. I'm just going to give you time with Angela." He cupped her face and held her gaze. "Tell her everything. Go back to the forest, love. Help her understand."

With round, scared eyes she nodded and lifted her lips to his for one more kiss.

He stood and ran his hands down his thighs. After hesitating for just a moment, he nodded and left the room.

The two girls stared after him.

"What about a forest?" Angela asked in a dazed voice.

Bella took a deep calming breath and forced her eyes to return to her friend.

"I—I was five years old and was traveling with my mom and dad in the Olympic Peninsula …"

~o0o~

Edward paced outside of Bella's room as the smell and oily feel of this world closed in on him. His skin crawled with revulsion, and he wished only to run to the portal—save for Bella.

His Bella—would Angela talk her into staying, into walking away from him? What would he do if she turned from him, rejected him?

His footsteps stilled, and he swallowed thickly. He would go through the portal and watch her short life unfold from the lonely perch of the grove.

He began pacing again and running his fingers through his hair.

"Edward."

He started and whipped toward the door.

Bella smiled, and his world righted.

"Come on in, Starboy. Angie has questions."

"Are you all right?" he breathed into her hair as pulled her to him.

She gave him a squeeze. "I'm fine. We're fine."

"Yeah?" he drew back to read her.

"Yeah," she said as she took his hand and led him back into the room.

~o0o~

As she pulled him to sit next to her, Bella was humming with excitement. Edward shared a secret smile with her.

"So you're not from around here," Angela said with a shaky voice.

Reluctantly, he turned away from Bella.

"No, I'm not," he said.

Angela stood and stepped to the cork board over Bella's desk. She had brought everything with her, all of her mementos of his impact on her life.

Angela pointed to the picture he had given Bella of the farthest known star.

"So your home is in the dark spot?" she asked with awe.

He studied her before saying, "Yes, my world is beyond what your world has been able to see."

"Well, how does it work? Is it like going through a worm hole or time travel?" Angela pressed.

"No, it's not time travel. Time is a measuring device created for mankind. It is merely eternity broken into pieces, so time on my planet is relative to time here. It's more a choice of consciousness. I am there, and then I am here."

"So do you go through a place like Stonehenge or something?" she asked.

He had to think for a moment, "You mean the circular rock formations in your world?"

She nodded.

"Well, no—not quite. From what the Oracle has told me, the Great One created seven interconnected worlds. When a darkness spread through two worlds, the connections between worlds closed. Your world was damaged but preserved. The two other worlds did not survive."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The stone circles are more like bus stops. They hold no power but are a reminder for where travelers had appeared in times past. Not understanding the closing of the paths between worlds, your ancients built monuments and temples and began to worship the travelers, forgetting the creator," he explained.

Taking Bella's hand, he continued. "I'm not completely sure how we traveled between worlds in the past, but for me, it is simply a matter of fixing my sight on Bella and going through the nearest door to find her. It seems to be related to ancient trees." He shrugged feeling suddenly self-conscious.

He dropped his head, looking at the delicate hand encased in his and felt the mood of the room shift as Bella and Angela held an unspoken conversation.

Angela spoke first. "So you're really going with him?"

"Definitely."

Silence bore down on the room.

Angela huffed. "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

Bella leaped off the bed and hugged her friend. Angela's eyes watered as she tried to be happy for her friend. Her eyes caught Edward's, and he nodded and mouthed, "I will."

He would lay down his life for Bella, to protect her and keep her happy. This promise to Angela was as easy as breathing.

Angela sniffed and drew back from Bella. "So what do we need to do?"

The three got down to business in arranging for Angela to mail Bella's letters to Charlie and Renee and talk up Bella's trip with her other friends. In a year, Angela promised to meet Bella in the forest that Edward had mapped out for her.

Angela helped Bella pack a backpack. Edward felt that only what could be attached to your person could go through the portal.

With teary, goodbye hugs and last words of promise, Edward led Bella away from her friend, and from the only life she had ever known.

~o0o~

He reached out, catching a lock of hair between his fingers. He had wanted to touch her for so many years. When she was little, her braids were so tempting, but now, she stands before him, her glossy hair wisping around her face, teasing.

"I love you, my beautiful forever-bound," he whispered as one of her curls wrapped around his index finger.

"I love you, my beautiful Starboy," she whispered back.

"Are you sure?" he asked as he pressed his lips to hers.

"Sure and ready, Edward. I promise."

He was proud that her voice only showed a fraction of the coiled nerves she was trying to hide.

He released her, and taking her hand; they began to walk through a forest very much like the one they'd met in years ago. The ancient trees towered over them; witnesses to magic swirling around the star bound couple.

She lost herself in the night, feeling the trees, hearing the encouragement of the wind and the beckoning of the stars guiding them.

As her heart stirred at the enormity of the moment, she drew closer to Edward.

He wrapped his arms around her, and as he looked at her with a soft smile, tear tracks shimmered on his cheeks. "You feel it too, my love. It gives me hope."

She took a ragged breath to settle herself. "Is it much further?"

"We are here."

She turned in a circle but saw only stars and trees.

He laughed softly before taking her by the shoulders and turning her to face two large trees. They seemed to be holding hands and bowing their heads toward each other.

"These are the oldest trees in this forest. They are hundreds of years old, and they are our portal."

She smiled brightly. "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning," she said bouncing on the balls of her feet.

He smiled and kissed her before placing his forehead against hers. "Come home with me, Bella. Be my love, my family."

Her eyes swam as she nodded. "Yes," she said as her love swirled and wrapped around him.

With a promising kiss, he took her hand and led her between the bowing trees. One step, two steps, three and the world fell away leaving them suspended in each other. Edward wrapped around her, melding to her as they took the fourth step as one.

With the fifth step, the darkness changed to a defused light, and the forest fell away leaving a circular grove of trees. Bella breathed in air infused with the smell of fresh cut grass, watermelon—his smell. An overwhelming rush of emotion flowed over her. Him—this world smelled of him, a whole world of him.

He chuckled as her giddiness washed over him. "Welcome, love."

She stepped away, taking in the filtered light, the clean, fresh scents sweeping over her on a gentle breeze. The world was quiet, still, and she wondered how far removed they were from people. She didn't have to wait long for her answer.

"Edward! You waited too long. The turning was almost complete."

Bella peeked around Edward to see a man in a, cream-colored linen tunic and pants approaching across the expanse of the grove.

His eyes shifted from Edward to Bella.

"What have you done, Edward?"

Edward brought Bella around him, wrapping his arm around her and cleared his throat. "Elder Carlisle, this is Miss Isabella Swan from the planet Earth. Bella, this is my mentor and friend, Carlisle."

Bella stepped forward as Carlisle took a step back. Edward felt her happiness diminish and frowned at Carlisle. Bella's voice broke the shocked silence. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Edward thinks very highly of you," she said.

Carlisle looked at the couple, and although his eyes softened, he shook his head. "You brought her through with you? What were you thinking? Did you even consider the impact on our world?"

Edward felt Bella begin to shake next to him. He pulled her into his side and urged a peaceful calm through his palms as they ran the length of her arms.

"Carlisle, I will come before the council on the morrow. We are worn and in need of peace," Edward said as he stayed focused on Bella.

Carlisle looked at the rings under Edward's eye, the sickly paleness of his skin, and nodded. "Of course, son, she will stay in the infirmary until the council meets with you and we know she is safe."

"No, she stays with me. We will meet the council on the morrow."

Carlisle shook his head but stopped abruptly when Edward's eyes began to glow in warning.

Carlisle cocked his head. "She's your one."

"Aye, sir," Edward said. The corner of Bella's lips quirked at the acknowledgment, causing him to smile and turn to his mentor. "Yes, she is."

Edward felt Carlisle's wall of pride mixed with concern hit him and stood taller with the impact.

Carlisle's eyes rested on the puny girl, but through the filter of Edward's regard for her, he smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Isabella Swan. We will look forward to seeing you on the morrow."

With his left arm around Bella's waist, Edward reached out his right arm. Carlisle clasped his forearm below the elbow.

"It's good to have you safely back, son."

"It's good to be home, sir," Edward said as he pulled Bella closer into him.

Carlisle smiled knowingly and walked away.

Alone again, they shared a secret smile and Bella began to vibrate next to him. He teasingly moved away from her, and she gave an excited squeak and bounced after him. Smiling broadly, Edward picked up his pace causing her to skip to keep up. He broadened his steps, and Bella chased after him, giggling.

They ran around the grove until she was dizzy. He slowed his steps and let her catch him. Picking her up, he swung her around as she giggled and squealed.

"I'm here!" she panted as her body slid down his.

He kissed her. "You're here," he whispered as he placed her on her tiptoes while her arms remained around his neck.

They stilled and shared the joy filling the grove as she caught her breath.

He brushed her hair back, running his knuckle down her cheek, and took her hand.

"Come, let me walk you home."