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Chapter 8: Missing You
"Missing You" – Tyler Hilton
Everytime I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm that's raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time just thinking about you
And it's almost driving me wild
But it's my heart that's breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
There's a message in the wires
And I'm sending you a signal tonight
You don't know how desperate I've become
And it looks like I'm losing this fight
"Victoria."
Rosalie hisses.
"I'll see you in two minutes."
I shut the phone off and abruptly stopped the car on the side of the road. Turn in my seat, rip Lizzie's belt off and take her in my arms. Not a second has passed before I'm out and running in Rose's direction through the woods.
I can feel and hear Victoria behind me she is trying to reach us. I hold Lizzie tighter against my chest and will my legs to take us faster.
She comes closer and I growl when I'm able to listen to her thoughts properly. Her thoughts made my whole body shake with rage when I listen what she was really after.
"Never." I growl holding Lizzie even tighter but without crushing her. She was frightened, looking around wide eyed into the forest, not having a clue of what was going on.
How did she find us so soon? We've just got here! Why was she after her and not me? And most importantly how did she find out about her?! Why would she want to kill her and not me? She was innocent from everything that happened that night with James!
But it didn't matter, it won't happen. She will never touch her.
"So you do care for this one, huh? Unlike your little pet?"
I hissed under my breath.
"Payback time."
Just then I finally hear Rose and Carlisle ahead of us, a minute later we come to an abrupt stop and I hand Rosalie a terrified and wailing Lizzie. She immediately turns around and runs back towards the house, I nod at Carlisle and we head back towards Victoria. When she sees us approach she stops dead in her tracks, hisses, her red eyes burning with hate and runs in the opposite direction.
Carlisle and I don't stop, we chase her.
"She wants Lizzie!" I yell at Carlisle.
"That won't happen!"
Victoria jumps over a wide breach and two seconds later we are doing the same thing. She is running south towards Calgary, if she reaches the city before we get to her we will lose her. It's daytime, too crowded and we won't be able to follow her at vampire speed. And because of the snow it won't be easy to follow her scent either.
"She is heading towards Calgary!"
"We can't chase her there!" Carlisle tells me what I already knew, making sure I won't do anything stupid.
We continue our chase until something comes to mind.
Was she alone?
Damn it!
"We need to head back!"
"Why?!"
"We don't know if she's alone!"
"I'll go back you have better chance at catching her!"
With that Carlisle stops and heads back towards Rosalie.
I continue my chase, getting closer and closer. I use a branch to lift me up in the air and jump from tree to tree using my strength as an advantage. I'm almost over her and use another branch to launch myself at her. My arms wrap around her body and we fall down a hill. She kicks me in the gut with her elbow shoving me backwards but I don't give in as we continue to roll down the hill. So she uses her strength to roll us over in another direction against a giant rock and knocks my head against the hard stone. I'm out of it for a second and she takes the opportunity to set herself free. But I'm quickly after her again.
Minutes later, we reach Calgary and Victoria losses herself into the crowd pulling up the hood of her jacket and hiding her hands in her pockets. I can still see her but I can't chase her anymore, I don't have anything to cover my face with, the sun is breaking through the light clouds and there are too many witnesses. I could care less about them but I knew the Volturi would be all over our asses if I made a mess in broad day light. If it were only for me I wouldn't care but now I have Lizzie to think about.
Damn it!
"If you come near her again, I'll shred you slowly to pieces, dismember every inch of you and then burn you. Understood?" I threatened, knowing she could hear me.
"Let's see."
Resigned that she had escaped and knowing that she won't come back anytime soon now that we were alert of her intentions I head back home and pick up the Volvo on the way.
When I reach the car I call Rose.
"Edward?"
"Are you alright? Is Lizzie safe?"
"Yes, we are home and Carlisle just got here… did you get her?"
"No, I almost got her but she escaped." I cursed. "How's Lizzie?"
"Scared, Esme is now trying to calm her but she keeps asking for you."
"Put her on the phone."
After some shuffling I heard my little angel's whimper.
"Hello?"
"Lizzie, are you Ok?"
"No," She sobbed "Where are you?"
"I'm on my way home. Try to be calm angel I promised you, remember? I won't let anything hurt you."
"I wa-nt mo-omm-a!"
I closed my eyes and swallowed, then floored the gas pedal.
"I'm almost home, you are safe angel."
"No! I want momma!"
I heard shuffling again and then Carlisle was on the phone.
"She is in hysterics, hurry."
Damn it! Why couldn't Rose have gone to Seattle instead of Jasper?
"I'm almost there," I said frustrated, the road had never seemed so long "Carlisle… how did she find us? Am I reading too much into this or is it coincidence she attacked when half of us were in another country?"
"I don't know what to think, but we'll discuss this tonight when Lizzie is asleep. I'll call Alice right now."
"Why didn't Alice warn us?"
"She can't see Lizzie, remember? Besides, she is busy looking for Bella, of course something would slip."
I sighed.
"Alright, I'll see you in five."
The timing had been too perfect, something was off. How did she find out about Lizzie? How did she know we were alone and most of us were gone? Had she been watching us for long from afar? Is that how she found out about Lizzie? With one glance she would know she was related to me. Then I remembered her words.
"So you do care for this one, huh? Unlike your little pet?"
Bella.
Had she found her? Oh god! Had she done something to her?! No, Alice would have seen it but… She thought I didn't care for Bella? So she decided to go after Lizzie? But by the way she said it… she knew I had left Bella, so she must had been close to her. If she had seen Bella and Alice didn't see it… it must had been before Lizzie got here, she must have found out about Lizzie if she had been spying on her and put two and two together.
My body went cold and rigid thinking about them being unprotected and Victoria being close. What was strange was why didn't she attack them before? They had been alone and vulnerable. Did she also know I didn't know about Lizzie? Is that why she waited till I found out?
God! So many questions!
How could I ever think Bella would be safe without me? I knew Victoria was out there, I tried to track her just to make sure she wouldn't go after Bella but I never found her. I thought she had run away and wouldn't dare to come back, I underestimated her feelings for James, she had meant nothing to him so I thought it would be the same for her so I gave up and went to South America.
I was so stupid, of course she wouldn't give up James had her wrapped around his finger, she loved him of course she would seek revenge. If someone hurt Bella or Lizzie I wouldn't rest either until I got mine. Now, I had more things to worry about, if Victoria was back she wouldn't rest until she got her revenge and she knew now exactly how to hurt me. I killed the thing that mattered the most to her so obviously she'd do the same to me.
She won't go after Bella because she thinks I don't care about her, she thinks she was like a pet to me because I left her, but now…
"So you do care for this one, huh? Unlike your little pet?"
She knows Lizzie is my weakness.
Now I had this urge to get home, I needed to see her. My little angel, I'll rather burn in hell than have something happen to her. I had been too preoccupied finding Bella I have been neglecting Lizzie, god… I can't even… I couldn't even start to explain the pain I'd feel if I lost Bella, it would be too much but if I lost Lizzie? That would literally kill me, she is the only thing I'm proud of, the only worthy thing I've ever done in my life. She is so perfect and beautiful and amazing… a miracle, the most important thing in my life and I made a promise to Bella, she begged me to take care of her and I promised I'd do everything in my power to make sure that Lizzie will have a happy life, protected and safe. And I had done none of that.
Lizzie, I had become so used to her. Of our mornings together, every time she woke up she would ask me to play for her, then we would watch movies and sometimes I'd take her for a run. I had taken it all for granted and I couldn't imagine not having her in my life anymore, those were our moments. Even if she was still wary and unsure of me I lived for those moments were she would just be herself around me. When she was at ease.
I can't believe I had neglected us from those moments these past few days, since we came to Alberta I felt as if I had this big ass bomb over my head waiting for it to explode on my face. I could almost hear the clock taking my time away. Every time the phone rang the house would go quiet, everyone was afraid of answering and it being the hospital with the news about Bella's death.
Seven weeks.
Alice says five.
Angel, please hang on… you can't leave me.
I'm trying to learn how to be a parent, but it's so hard when I have Bella to worry about on the other side. My priority is Lizzie but with so little time left… for the first time in my life time is gold, I have to make the most of it. But then again, I remember the fear I felt when I heard Victoria. Not fear for me but fear at losing my little angel, and I finally understood the lousy job I was doing balancing stuff. I need Bella, but Lizzie needs me too. She is not Ok with all the changes in her life and now she is in danger too. I can't let my guard down, I have to start thinking with my head and stop acting with my heart. I can't lose focus.
Two minutes later I park my car in front of the house, not bothering with the garage. I'm out of my car and run at vampire speed into the house. I could hear the crying from miles away. I run to the living room where I know they all are the metal curtains had been drawn in all the windows surrounding the house, protecting us from outsiders and giving us privacy.
As soon as Lizzie sees me in the living room, she jumps from Esme's lap and runs to me at vampire speed. I pick her up mid run and hug her to me breathing her in.
She is safe.
Bur she is also a mess, crying and shaking it tears at me.
"Shh… it's Ok, you are safe." I kiss her head "You are safe."
I pull away to see her face properly, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. I needed to see her.
"Are you Ok, angel? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"I want momma!"
I hug her to me again so she wouldn't see the pain in my face.
"I know, I'm so sorry…"
"MOMMAAA!" She screamed agonizingly and I almost fell on my knees.
"Why don't you take her to her room? She might feel safer there."
I nod at Esme, turn on my heel and walk at human pace upstairs to her room. Once there I lay us down and hold her as she cries on my chest and I try to sooth her as best as I can. As best as I can because to her, I'm still a stranger, to her I'm just the man who is supposed to be her father but had failed miserably at it. Making her doubt me and up until this morning only managing to scare her away when she was finally warming up to me.
"I'm sorry, but you are safe now… she won't hurt you I promise. I love you, I'm so sorry."
After what felt like years, she finally fell asleep. Carefully not to wake her up, I disentangle myself from her and walk downstairs to Carlisle's study were the rest are.
"What did Alice say?" I ask Carlisle knowing he had called her while I was consoling Lizzie.
"She said she was sorry, and that she'll try to keep an eye on Victoria from now on."
I nod.
"How did she find us so quickly? We've just got here?"
"I don't know, but she has no chance. She is outnumbered and we just won't let her." Carlisle said firmly.
"I agree." Rose said. "But I'm also with Edward, the timing was perfect… you think she has been watching us?"
"I don't know but from now we have to be more careful, and when Lizzie is out we'll go out in pairs with her."
"I can't leave her," I said then "I have to take her with me to Washington. I'm not leaving her, not after this and I need to meet Jacob face to face."
"We understand, and Alice guessed as much so she went back to Forks with Jasper and Emmett went to Kent instead. She rented a hotel suite for all of you in Port Angeles and I already got you tickets for tomorrow morning, she'll meet you there."
"Thank you."
I hated this, more instability for Lizzie but I can't leave her. I can't, I promised her I'd do better and with what just happened it will only drive me mad with worry and I needed to be focused when I talked to Jacob. Also, I hoped Lizzie being in familiar territory will calm her after what happened today.
The next morning, Carlisle drove us to the airport in Calgary. She had cried when I had strapped her alone in the back seat so I sat next to her instead of the passenger seat next to Carlisle. It also made me feel better, knowing I was next to her in case something happened.
We reached the city and I scanned the streets, looking for any signs of Victoria. Carlisle did the same while Lizzie looked around nervously.
We reached the airport and after thanking Carlisle, I carried Lizzie with my right arm and our bag with my left and disappeared inside.
"Where are we going?" She touched my cheek still looking around.
"Forks, I need to talk with Jacob."
Her eyes widened.
"We are seeing Uncle Jacob?" She asked excitedly and I smiled sadly at her.
"Yes, are you happy about it?"
She nodded furiously.
I wish she could be as excited for me.
"Are you hungry?" I asked changing the topic but she shook her head.
"If you want or need anything just tell me."
She nodded, staring at the people around us.
We documented our only bag and got our tickets, then headed towards the terminal. When we reached the gate we sat and I noticed her bouncing her leg.
"Are you Ok?"
She nodded.
"Are you sure?"
Shyly she touched my arm.
"I need to pee." She blushed.
"Oh." I chuckled, looked around until I spotted the restroom a few feet away. I took her hand and walked us there. I wasn't about to take my eyes off of her, so I kept walking with my little angel about to enter the establishment with her but just when I was about to open the door she went rigid and stopped walking.
"What's the matter?"
"I can't go in there." She whispered horrified with wide eyes.
"Why not?" I frowned.
"It's the boys restroom!" She pointed at the logo.
I looked at the logo and then back at her.
"So?" I asked confused.
"I'm a girl!" She said aghast.
Oh.
"Well, I can't go in there either," I pointed towards the other door "I'm a grown up man, you are a girl so it's Ok. C'mon."
"No." She said stubbornly and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Lizzie, its Ok I'll be there with you." I begged.
"But, I'm a girl!" She stomped her foot and I wanted to cry and laugh with amusement, she was like a little kitty.
God, angel she is so much like you.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Alright, but be quick."
She smiled and nodded.
Of course with my luck, the bathroom was almost full. The women stared at me with wide eyes and amusement as I entered one of them even gasped and I knew if I could I would have blushed. But as soon as they saw Lizzie they understood and smiled warmly at me which didn't help with my invisible blush.
She handed me her blankie, doll and backpack and rushed into the nearest stall closing the door behind her. I reclined on the sink and stared down avoiding curious eyes, concentrating on the torn blanket in my hands.
"Wonder if she's his daughter… they are obviously related."
"Damn it! I forgot my ipod!"
"Where's the mother? Why is he in here?"
"Fuck, I got my period."
"I still have one more hour till the plane leaves…"
"He's hot, she must be his sister… or niece he is not wearing a ring."
"Where are my tampax?"
This was so far away from my comfort zone.
"Lizzie? Are you done?" I asked nervously.
"No talking when I'm peeing!"
JESUS!
The woman next to me chuckled and I returned to inspecting the old quilt. I could tell it was old but still soft, I examined it closely and then something in the corner caught my eyes, I smoothed away the wrinkles and read the gold cursive sewed letters.
IMS
My angel's initials, it must have been hers when she was a child. How couldn't I notice it before?
Finally I heard the toilet flush, so I straightened up. Lizzie came out and I held her up so she could reach the sink and wash her hands. When she was done she took her stuff back and I hold her hand as we walked out of the restroom.
On the way back to the gate, I kept thinking about her blankie and realized I knew so little of my own daughter. I knew a lot about her personality but I had no idea what she liked besides apples and Shrek, I hadn't known her blankie used to be Bella's for god's sake. I didn't even know her favorite color, Rosalie probably knew more than me.
The plane was delayed 30 minutes so what better moment than the present to start I thought to myself. I wanted to know my daughter I promised her I'd do better, so I walked us to a little Italian café next to the gate while I wracked my head with topics to talk to her about but couldn't find one. I had been spending almost a hundred years with old vampires I didn't have any clue of what kind of things kids were into. I decided to start with something easy and familiar.
"Your blankie is pretty." I commented as I sat us in a private booth.
She nodded.
Sure, something easy.
"Who gave it to you?" I probed.
"Momma." She said playing with the corner.
"Was it hers?"
She nodded again. God, I wish I could just read her mind. She was driving me crazy with curiosity.
"Who gave it to her?"
"Her dad when she was little."
Charlie.
My poor angel I can't believe all she has been through alone. I would never forgive myself for leaving.
"Did she tell you a lot about Charlie?" I asked softly.
She nodded.
"She says he liked fishing."
I chuckled.
"I know."
"You knew him?" She looked up at me curiously.
"I did," He hated me "He was a nice man he loved your mom a lot."
She looked down again.
"Momma misses him. When she is scared she talks to him when she thinks I'm sleeping."
"Bella is scared?"
She nods looking sadly at her little purple boots.
"Do you know what she is scared of?" I asked barely above a whisper, not really wanting to know. I was afraid of the answer.
"She was scared of leaving me alone." She said quietly, still playing with her blankie. "But now she is sad, she cried when I left. I miss her too."
I passed my hand through my face and pulled at my hair. This pain… this pain was too much.
I need to find you angel.
"What about you? Are you scared of something too?"
She nodded.
"What are you scared off?" I'll do anything to make her scares go away.
…
…
She touched my hand.
Victoria growling while chasing us. Victoria catching us and taking Lizzie away.
"Victoria?" I tried not to growl her name.
She looked up at me.
"You know her?" She asked with wide eyes.
"I know who she is, but don't worry she won't touch you. I won't let her hurt you."
"Can she hurt you?"
"Not physically."
She nodded.
…
…
…
"Is there something else you are scared of?"
She thought for a second.
"Wolves." She muttered.
"Wolves?"
A shiver ran down her body giving her goose bumps.
"Why?" I frowned, did Bella tell her the old Red Riding Hood story and got scared?
"I saw one once, it was very big… like a horse" she trembled again "But Uncle Jacob and Seth arrived in time, Seth said Uncle Jacob would deal with him and told us to go."
My frown deepened.
"Can you show me?" I said worriedly, stretching my hand out to her. Had they been in danger?
She placed her hand over mine.
A big wolf growling at Bella and a toddler Lizzie, Lizzie crying terrified in Bella's shoulder. Jacob and Seth stepping in.
"PAUL!" Jacob screamed "Calm down!"
"Bella get inside, we'll deal with him." Seth said softly "It's Ok, he's just new at this."
I swallowed as soon as the vision ended.
Werewolves?
WEREWOLVES?!
Bella's been hanging around with werewolves?!
Oh my god! This is… damn it! She is a danger magnet! First Victoria and now newly phased werewolves?! Seriously? Is someone trying to give me a goddamn heart attack?!
No wonder Bella said Jacob's friends weren't safe, but god why would she be near them in the first place then? Young unstable werewolves?! What the hell was she thinking? Werewolves and not only that, young werewolves?! They are dangerous, unstable and unpredictable, if she knew that why would she go to La Push?
Then, it occurred to me that this must be the reason why Victoria didn't attack them. Bella went to live at La Push shortly after I left, into wolves' cave that would be reason enough for Victoria to stay away. But, had Bella known about Victoria's threat then? No, if she had known she would have warned me in her letter.
I had tons of questions I only hoped Jacob would answer them. But knowing now that he probably was a werewolf too, it will probably be harder than I thought.
"Are you Ok?" Lizzie's voice brought me back to the moment.
"Yes, yes… sorry. I was… shocked."
"It's Ok, he didn't hurt us." She looked at me worriedly and I kissed her forehead.
"Lizzie," I looked at her seriously "who are Jacob and Seth's friends? The ones you told me momma said they weren't safe. Do you remember?"
She nodded.
"How many are they?" I said hiding the worry and fear I felt inside of me.
"There are five of them… but I only know Sam's name, Emily's husband. I think one of them is Embry, but I'm not sure which one he is."
Holy…
Seven young werewolves running loose around my reasons for existing, putting them in danger just by being near them while I wallowed alone in a dumpster in South America. God, I never thought I could hate myself even more. I couldn't believe the danger I had put them into.
"Are you mad?" She noticed my glare.
"What? No! Of course not…" My gaze softened "it's just, I worry about you." I caressed her hair "I don't want you to be scared."
"Are you scared of something, too?" She asked quietly.
…
…
"I'm only scared of losing you or your mom."
"Why?"
I stared at her incredulously, hadn't I told her enough? But then again, I had told Bella the same thing a thousand times and her faith in me broke so easily. It just took a few words, one lie.
I don't want you anymore.
I sighed.
I guessed words weren't enough I had to show her too. I stared at my daughter, once again marveling at the miracle in front of me. I had a daughter, as impossible as that sounded.
"Elizabeth…" I mused "You have a beautiful name."
She looked at me as if I was crazy, I might as well be. Then I realized I wasn't answering her question.
"Did you know my mother's name was Elizabeth too?"
Her eyes widened for a second and she shook her head.
"You look so much like her…" I placed a lock of her hair behind her ear. "But you have your mother's eyes."
"Esme is not your mom?"
It was my turn to shake my head.
"She is not my real mom, but I love her as if she was. My real mom died years ago, same as my father."
She looked down, a frown between her eyebrows.
"Were you sad?" She asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Were they sick?"
I knew where this was going.
"Yes, I was sick too but Carlisle saved me."
"How?"
…
…
"He turned me into what I am." I said, a little nervous for some reason. We had never discussed what I was we had never said the word.
…
…
"But… weren't you happy? That you were saved."
"Not at first." I decided to be honest, it was only fair.
"Why?"
"Because I felt lonely."
"You were alone?" Her brows furrowed with worry and I smiled sadly at her pulling her into my lap.
"Not really, I had my adoptive parents and sisters. But I felt lonely… I was so sad, always by my own." I said softly remembering all the years I spent by myself, in my room with my music and my inner thoughts, away from my own family not standing to be near them with so much happiness around them while I couldn't feel it.
"For years… I struggled… with, accepting what I was. I hated everything, the world, the people… everything reminded me of what I thought I'd never have, what I didn't deserve because of what I was."
"You preferred you weren't saved?"
"Yes…" I said carefully "But guess what?"
"What?"
"One day, what I thought it would be another boring tedious day… I met someone who turned my world upside down. Someone who made me question everything that I thought I knew, my views, my beliefs. Someone who saw beyond of what I was."
"Who?"
"You mother."
Her eyes watered.
"See, I was mad that day… I thought I was mad because Jasper had been difficult during lunch at our old school in Forks, I worried he would do something that would expose us."
I remembered that day so clearly, how I had looked for any excuse to tune out Jasper, and decided to look for the new human. Who was on almost every thought of the student body, but I couldn't hear her. So I had to look at her.
"But the truth is, I was mad at my own life, I thought it wasn't worth it. But then, I saw your mom… and everything changed."
"What changed?"
"Life was worth it again."
…
…
I took her tiny hand and traced the pad of my thumb over her knuckles. Her skin was so smooth, porcelain like. Not as pale as mine but almost, I used to think my skin was repulsive, but when I saw hers… so much like mine, even the thought was abhorrent.
"Lizzie, I loved your mother with all I had… I love her with all I have, she made me see the world with different eyes, she…" I took a breath to keep my voice from shaking with emotion "she saved me, she gave me so many things… she made me look at myself in a different light and… made me love life… and the most important thing, she keeps saving me, she gave me you."
She looked up at me with questioning eyes.
"In my world… our world, we don't expect much from life. Nothing ever changes, some of us say we are damned, I used to think that too until I met you."
"Me? Why?"
I smiled sadly at her, she was so innocent.
"Because you are part of me, part of my world and still you are so perfect, so good and innocent, there's no evil in you. How could I hate something so pure?"
I looked into her beautiful chocolate eyes, the same ones that captured me that day on the lunch room.
"You might not understand a word of what I'm saying but… it gives me hope, that there was a reason for everything that happened to me before, all the struggle… what I've become, you are a miracle… a sweet little angel."
She blushed and looked down, staring at our hands.
"I know I hadn't done a good job. But I'm new at this… and I'm trying, not just because I promised your mom but because I want to, too. I want to be a good dad for you, you deserve it."
I used my finger to lift her face so she could see m when I told her this. She needed to believe me and I hoped she could see the truth in my eyes.
"I don't know half of what I'm doing but I'm trying, I want you to trust me. It would be easier if you help me and tell when I mess up. I won't be mad… like yesterday… I shouldn't have yelled at you."
I gave her a sad smile.
"Next time you can ask Emmett to punch me for you." I winked and she giggled softly between her tears, lightening the mood.
"But in all seriousness, I want to do better." I cleared her tears with her blankie "My wish is that at some point you'll be comfortable enough to call me dad… but I understand if you are not ready, you barely know me."
I said the words even though they killed me, I wanted that so much. To hear her call me dad… there weren't enough words to describe the need.
"I barely know you but in spite of that… I love you, you are my daughter and I love you, I really do. It's so simple, I just do. And being your dad… that's the greatest thing life has given me."
"I don't know what I did to deserve you or your mother but I'm grateful for whatever it was that I did. I love you, if something happened to you I don't know what I would do… that's why losing you it's my greatest fear."
She looked down, absorbing what I just told her and I cradled her against my chest.
"I'm sorry about your mommy." She finally said, surprising the hell out of me again and I felt my eyes sting. She was so good.
"It's Ok it was a long time ago." I kissed her hair.
"I don't want anything happening to you either."
"Nothing will happen to me."
As long as you are Ok.
After that, Lizzie quieted and remained like that until we boarded the plane. I asked her if she preferred the window seat and she nodded, sitting in the wide first class seat. She looked around curiously, staring at what everyone was doing around her absorbing it all. I noticed she was a curious girl, always looking around I guessed it was a reaction to having been so sheltered all this years. Being around people was new to her.
One hour later we landed on Seattle, we took off from the plane and picked up our luggage at baggage claim, after that we headed out to where Alice and Jasper would be waiting for us. I heard them before we spotted them Alice was sitting on a bench near the entrance. She smiled broadly as soon as she saw us and stood up to meet us halfway while Jasper waited in the rental car.
"Lizzie! How are you sweetie? Did you have a good flight?" She asked excitedly.
Lizzie nodded.
"That's great! You are going to love Port Angeles, have you been there before?"
She shook her head.
"That's Ok your dad will surely take you for a ride before we go tomorrow."
"Of course" I kissed her head and looked up to my sister "Hello to you too Alice." I deadpanned.
"Hi!" She smiled ignoring my tone and I rolled my eyes at her.
"Have you heard anything from Emmett?" I asked not being able to hold myself any longer.
"No, sorry."
I nodded and we started our walk towards the car.
"I was going to call you and tell you about the wolves stench near La Push when I received your text."
I nodded subtly. After my conversation with Lizzie, I had fired a text message to everyone explaining everything so they would be on alert.
"Werewolves, I can't believe she had been near them all this time! First Victoria and then werewolves… Edward was right, she is a magnet for danger. Leave it to Bella, everyone else will be better off when the vampires left town, but she had to start hanging out with the first monsters she could find. Wasn't she supposed to stay out of trouble?!"
Alice ranted to herself.
"This complicates things, Edward. If Bella is in La Push we won't be able to get to her without breaking the treaty." I know I have been worrying about the same thing the whole flight "Of course with Lizzie here I can't see how things will go."
"Hey man." I greeted Jasper as we exited the airport and he nodded.
"She is nervous." He told me.
I looked down to Lizzie, I was holding her hand while we walked and I noticed her biting her lip.
You used to bit your lip too angel.
I handed Jasper our bag and I kneeled in front of her.
"What's the matter?" I asked her but she shook her head.
"We'll go and pay for the parking ticket." Jasper said pulling Alice with him and we were left alone.
"Are you Ok?" I asked her again.
"Why are we here?"
"We are looking for momma." I thought that was obvious?
"But, are you leaving me here?"
"God no! Of course not, why would you think that?"
She shrugged.
"Lizzie, I told you… I love you I won't ever leave you, Ok? Can you believe me?"
She looked down, playing with her blankie again.
"Lizzie? Do you believe me?"
"You love mommy."
"Yes I do, what's that got to do with anything?"
"Then… why did you left her?"
…
…
…
"I guess I deserve that." I said in a broken whisper.
Alice arrived then with her rental car and I looked down at my little angel.
"We'll continue this conversation tonight." I kissed her forehead.
Once we arrived to a Motel at the limits of Port Angeles, Alice took Lizzie to change her into her more comfortable clothes and I took the opportunity to call Jacob. I walked out of the Motel and into the woods across the road, out of earshot and took out my phone. Dialing the number Carlisle had given me this morning.
It rang about four times and I was about to hang up when a grave voice answered.
"Hello?" The man said, I guessed it belonged to Billy Black.
"Hello, good afternoon I was looking for Jacob Black?"
"Who is this?"
"Edward Cullen."
There was a long pause, confirming it was Billy. Of course he knew who I was.
"Hang on." The voice said ice cold.
…
…
…
"This should be good." A younger voice answered not long after, it was still grave but younger.
"Hello Jacob, how are you this afternoon?" I said politely.
"I have no time for pleasantries. What do you want?" He spat and I tried to control my temper. I wanted to do this as civilized as possible.
"I need to talk to you, it's important."
"Speak."
"Not over the phone, I'm in Washington. Can we meet?"
He thought for a moment before agreeing.
"Meet me in the field about ten miles west from the river, you know the place?"
"I do. How much time do you need?" I asked.
"An hour."
"Thank you, Jacob."
"Whatever, but if you are looking for her you are wasting your time. She is not here."
I tried to hide my disappointment.
"I guessed that much."
…
…
"Is she here?" his tone changed, it was softer now.
"Lizzie?"
…
…
"Yeah, how is she?"
"She's… adjusting."
"Is she coming too?"
"No."
I wouldn't risk her like that, we didn't know how this conversation will turn and if it got heated which I know it would I didn't want Lizzie there.
"I figured."
"I'm bringing my brother with me maybe you should bring Seth too. If you want to phase I have no problem with that."
He paused, obviously not expecting me to know that much and confirming him being a wolf too.
"I'm not afraid of you, leech." He said harshly.
I tried not to chuckle, he sounded like a petulant child.
"I'm not looking for a fight Jacob I'm just bringing a peace maker of sorts."
"Whatever," He scoffed "see you in an hour."
With that he hung up.
I went back to our room and found Lizzie and Alice sitting on the bed with their backs to me. I almost choked on my own breath when I saw what Alice was showing Lizzie.
It was a photo album, from our last months in Forks, the short months I had with Bella. She must have gone to the old house while she was here.
"And this is your mom and I in Port Angeles. I took her shopping, she hated it." Alice made a face and Lizzie giggled. "She only wanted to go back to your dad."
"You were friends?" She asked in surprise.
"Yes! Your mom was my best friend we did a lot of stuff together."
"Like what?" She looked up curiously at her.
"I liked to dress her, but like you she hated it but put up with me because she knew it made me happy." She said pointedly but still playful and Lizzie looked down at the album with a slight blush.
"Who's that?"
"That'll be Jessica and Angela, but we don't like Jessica, she wasn't a nice person." Alice said in mock seriousness and Lizzie chuckled.
"And who's that?" I glared at the picture she pointed at.
"That'll be Mike Newton, your dad and he were so close… thick as thieves!"
Jasper laughed out loud from his place in front of the TV and I snorted.
Lizzie looked up to me curiously.
"We don't like that guy either." I told her sitting down next to her and pulling her on my lap.
"Did you call him?"
I nodded subtly as Lizzie continued to watch the photo album.
"How long?"
I lifted one finger over Lizzie's head, signaling one hour.
"I have this photo." Lizzie said then, getting back our attention and I looked down at the photo she was referring to and my eyes stung again.
It was the picture Alice took of Bella and me at her birthday party, I guessed Bella reprinted it after I hid hers. I had erased them from her computer but I guessed she must have still had them in her memory stick.
"You do?" I asked her in a thick voice.
"Yes, it's in my backpack… you want to see it?" She asked me shyly.
"Of course" I answered eagerly and turned around to grab her backpack for her.
She opened the zipper and produced a plastic green box, full of stickers and glitter. Alice stood up and without words asked Jasper to follow her outside.
"Green is your favorite color, right?" I asked curiously and she nodded with a small smile. "Shrek?" I guessed and she smiled wider, glad I understand. "You surely are one of a kind." I kissed her cheek and she blushed.
After a moment Lizzie opened the box, and I gasped at all its contents. She didn't only have one photo she had tons and not only that. She had a copy of her birth certificate, a list with names… my name, my family's names and numbers, our numbers from Forks, my old number. There were also pictures of me and Bella from prom and high school, a small notebook and drawings obviously made by her. I saw it all as she rummaged its contents looking for the photo.
"This is my treasure's chest." She explained.
"It's so pretty." I said in wonder.
"Momma helped me decorate it. She drew the lion."
"The lion?"
She nodded.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
God, angel… where are you?
"Here it is." She said giving me the picture and I smiled sadly at it.
"Can you show me more?"
She nodded excitedly and looked back into the box. Then took out another photo.
"This is our cabin in La Push… see that window?"
I nodded, not being able to talk.
"That's me and momma's room… you can't see it but behind that tree, Seth made me a swing with a tire. He painted it green."
"That was nice of him."
She nodded.
"He is my best friend he says I'm his best friend too."
I frowned, what kind of teenage boy would be best friends with a little girl?
Lizzie took out another photo, making me gasp again. It was of her as a toddler, crawling inside of what I assumed was the cabin, but that's not what made me gasp, what made me gasp was Bella. She was so skinny skin and bones. I knew she didn't find out about her sickness until a year after I left so that couldn't be the reason. Then I remembered what her doctor had said… He said the reason behind her sickness was because of the serious case of anemia she suffered a while ago, which weakened her blood cells.
Why did Bella have anemia? Did she stop eating? Didn't she have money for food? No, she sold the house, she had money she even bought a place in Seattle. God, so many questions!
I looked at my watch, half an hour to see Jacob.
Lizzie kept showing me her photos, and I immediately understood why it was her treasure's chest. It held so many precious memories to her. She had pictures with Bella, Jacob and Seth, there was also another one with who I assumed was Emily. Then there where pictures of her favorite places in La Push which she explained why she liked them. My favorite ones where the ones from her as a baby, she was so beautiful… I can't believe I missed all that. The only vampire in the world to ever conceive a child and here I lost all the important stuff… the milestones, her firsts. I was so incredibly stupid, I shouldn't have left, not only because of missing out on Lizzie but because now I knew it wasn't the right thing to do. I shouldn't have done this to us I shouldn't have spoken for her.
"Edward," Alice came into the room "It's time."
I know, I know I am horrible! But I promise to update as soon as I can!
So, what do you guys think? How is Edward doing now? Poor Lizzie was so scared! And now she thinks Edward wants to get rid of her! What will happen now? Do you think Jake and Edward will get into a fight? So we know Bella is not in La Push... WHERE IS BELLA?!
Please let me know what you think! I need your reviews to inspire me! They are almost as good as Daddyward kissing your nose!
Feliz Año Nuevo! (Happy New Year!)
Saludos!
tpec