In between getting married and moving I realized that I forgot to post this chapter. I've had it in my notebook for months and forgot to post it. So sorry!

The song for this chapter is Oceans Wide by The Afters.

Disclaimer: I keep thinking that if I could just get a hold of something tangible, I could buy some chicken n' dumplins and never be sad again. Unfortunately, these characters are not mine.

Chapter Twenty Four: Oceans Wide

I flew through the small wooded area near Peter and Charlotte's house. My mind wasn't on the hunt. As usual it was occupied by thoughts of Bella. My thoughts never seemed to be far from her these days. Now that my anger had subsided completely, I was left with remorse and regret. I was obsessed with her. My thoughts swirled between reliving our moments together and wondering about what she was doing.

Was she happy?

Had she found someone else?

A sickening thought suddenly made its way through my brain. Had she take Edward back?

I didn't believe she would sink that low but how was I to know? I hated the thought that my abandonment might have pushed her to desperate measures, enough to even listen to that scumbag. She'd grown so much since she'd moved to Utah, enough that I was sure she wouldn't listen to the lies spewing from that coward's mouth.

But what if she had?

I was lost in my worried that I didn't hear my visitor until he was practically on top of me. I ducked and the other vampire went sailing over my head. He landed on the ground in front of me and I crouched, prepared to fight.

"Whoa, whoa! It's just me!" I stopped, unsure if I was somehow hallucinating.

"Emmett?" He stood and grinned, dusting himself off.

"In the flesh!" I stared at him before pulling him into a hug, pounding him on the back. He returned the hug before knocking me over the head.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"That," she said seriously, "was for what you did to Bella. Seriously, bro, how could you?"

"Believe me, there's nothing you could say to me that I haven't already said to myself."

"So why haven't you tried to fix it, you idiot?"

"She never called me! She didn't come to the cabin! I was there for days; she had plenty of opportunity and when she didn't come, I assumed she wanted nothing to do with me." Emmett scrubbed his face.

"You're a real idiot. Did you ever think that maybe if you answered your phone, you wouldn't have to assume such idiot ideas?"

"I was angry, okay? And then I felt like it was too late. It is too late." Emmett began shaking his head and chuckling.

"And here I thought there was more than just air between those ears," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Dude, Bella did come after you."

"No, she didn't, Em," I insisted angrily. "I was at the cabin. For days! She didn't show and she didn't call."

"She didn't call because she was undergoing the change, you idiot!" My body stilled.

"What," I whispered.

"After you left, Edward got her alone."

"How? Everyone was there!"

"Believe me, we all regret it. He got her alone and tried to convince her to take him back." So she had returned to him. My heart plummeted. "But she got made, told him that she'd rather die than go back to him." My heart soared and pride surged through me. "He didn't like that and attacked her. I got him off of her but it was just too late for Carlisle to save her."

"What happened to Edward," I asked through gritted teeth. My vision was tinged red.

"Carlisle banished him. I was ready to tear him limb from limb and burn the pieces but you know what a pacifist he is. We tried to call and tell you but you didn't answer. As soon as she woke up, she went to find you. When she didn't answer her phone, we worried he'd had an 'accident'. Rosalie and I found her curled up in a ball sobbing and saying your name. She's been…" Jasper didn't want to imagine the last year if Emmett couldn't even describe it. Guilt rushed over him and he felt pained that he'd broken the most beautiful, precious girl he'd ever had the honor of being loved by.

"Well, she puts on a good show. She occupies her time learning but at night, she goes into the middle of the forest and cries. Watching her parents struggle through has really done a number on her. Her heart's just not in it, Jas. It's all the motions but no real interest, nothing but the bare minimum. She needs you, Jasper. She's lost without you." I was filled with a burning hope as strong and heady as the sun after a cold, dark winter's night. But I was nervous, embarrassed. How could I possibly face her after putting her through such hell?

"Hey, stop it," Emmett said firmly. "I can see you tearing yourself down and talking yourself out of it. I promised Bella I would make this right and if that means tearing you into pieces for delivery, I will. And you will never do anything like this again or I will end you." I could see the earnest conviction in his eyes, could feel the sincerity.

"You're a good brother, Em," I said, patting his shoulder.

"Yeah, well, she's my favorite," he said, slugging my arm. "Now, what do you say we fix this and stop you from being a broody, hormonal monster?"

"I was not broody or hormonal," I said running through the trees towards Peter and Charlotte's.

"That's not what Charlotte said," he muttered.

"What?"