38
Bella wasn't ready. Today, she and Carlisle were going to lay her parents to rest. A week had passed since she ended Marcus Volturi's life, and as planned, his body hadn't been able to be identified. It had taken the fire department three days to put out the fire, thanks to the accelerants and explosives that Garrett had used. But now, they had to go back to normal, live their lives, and it was harder than she thought it would be. She'd lived in fear too long, letting him control her every action, and she was done.
"You ready?"
She looked over her shoulder, finding Carlisle standing in the doorway of her parents' bedroom, a frown on his face. He had arrived back late the night before, bringing the lovely Esme Platt with him. It hadn't taken him long to become smitten with the caramel-haired beauty, nor her him.
"No," she replied. "Are you?"
"No," he admitted, "But yes. I'm just . . ." Carlisle pushed away from the door and walked over to her, sitting on the bed next to her. "When you were taken, Bella, our family just stopped. Mom and Dad never got over losing you, and they shouldn't have, but they just kind of stopped living, I guess. And I . . . Well, to be honest, I was angry."
"At me?"
"Oh, hell no!" he exclaimed, nudging her with his shoulder. "I missed you so much, but I missed Mom and Dad, too, and it felt like nothing I did mattered. I guess that's why I stuck around so long. I hoped they'd see me, you know?"
Bella nodded. "I wish I'd had more time with them," she whimpered. "I missed them so much, Carlisle, and when I came back, I was too scared to let them back in, afraid of putting them in danger. I wish I could tell them how much I love them."
"They knew." Carlisle reached over and grabbed her hand. "They died trying to protect her, because they couldn't protect you."
Bella frowned. Charlie had told her and Edward how her mother and father fought Marcus when he took her daughter. "But she'll never know how much they loved her."
"She will, because we'll tell her." Carlisle leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Bella."
"I love you, too."
—MfM—
Charlie stayed with Edward, Alice, Jasper, and Esme while Carlisle and Bella made the trip to the cemetery alone. The world believed the little girl had died in the car explosion that killed Charlie and Renee, and Bella didn't want that fact to change. They'd never know the identity of the child who did die, and she wouldn't put her daughter in any more danger than she had already. Marcus Volturi might have been dead, but there were still those associated with him that might take their revenge on her. Which, of course, was why Bella and Carlisle planned on leaving Forks and resettling with Edward, Alice, Jasper, and Esme, starting fresh so to speak. But in order to do that, they'd have to say their goodbyes.
Carlisle wrapped his arm around Bella as they walked from the car to the two freshly filled gravesites. A marble tombstone sat at the top of their family plot, and she frowned when she saw her name etched in the stone with the date of her death. Isabella Marie Swan, born September 13th, death March 31st.
"Man, this is . . . weird." Carlisle knelt down, placing his hand on the fresh dirt. "I meet someone. Her name is Esme, and well, you'd probably hate her because she says fuck a lot, but she's amazing and beautiful, and well, I'm in love with her. Mom, Dad, I . . . I'm sorry I never told you how much I admired your strength, your love for each other. I love you, love you both so much," he cried.
Bella wrapped her arm around him as she knelt next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't come back for so long. I wanted to, wanted to hold you, tell you I'm sorry for being reckless and stupid. I wanted you to know Charlie, because she's the most amazing little girl, the best part of me. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you had to die to protect her, but I am so thankful that she had someone fighting for her," Bella sobbed, causing Carlisle to shift so that he was holding her. "Edward and I are getting married, and I wish more than anything you were here to walk me down the aisle, Dad, or annoy me with floral arraignments, Mom. I love you, and I will never forget how you. Never!"
Carlisle stood with her in his arms, leading her back to his car. Once they were both inside, he started the engine, but didn't drive away. He smiled and looked at her. "So, you're getting married, huh?"
Bella grinned. "As soon as we can."
Carlisle laughed and looked back at their parents' graves. "I know I'm not Dad, Bella, but . . ." He paused and turned back to her. "Can I give you away?"
"I'd be honored, big brother."
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