Chapter 17 – Living Again

"So, now that you remember everything and have your father, will you leave us?" I looked at Carmen, "Why would you think that?" She sighed, "You have your life back, I just thought….." I sighed, "No, Carmen, absolutely not. I have my memory back and my dad, but you're still my sister. All of you took me in and have been there for me and treated me like a sister. I am not going anywhere. Carmen, you're my family, that's not going to change." She held my hand as walked back to the house. She sighed, "Ok, but what about Edward?" My eyes widened, "We'll see." She laughed, "Are you going to tease him still? It is actually fun to watch. You taking down your prey. Oh, how you have grown." I nudged her, "Stop. That's none of your business." She giggled, "If you say so," she trilled in a singsong voice. She danced ahead of me and I jumped on her back, "Just stay out of it, old woman." Carmen walked us into the house, both of us laughing. Eleazar was sitting with Esme, "Feeling better?" I nodded, "Yes." Jasper, Rosalie and Edward were descending the stairs. I immediately expanded my shield over Carmen, because I knew she would still be thinking about what I told her.

Jasper looked at me perplexed, "Are you going to head back to Denali?" Looking at Carmen and Eleazar, "Tomorrow." Carmen smiled, "Tanya, Kate and Irina can take care of your father until then." Carmen looked at Alice, "Now, you promised to show me your closet when I came over." Carmen took my hand and we went into Alice's room. Alice followed in after us as Carmen was already looking through her clothes. "Honey, this would look beautiful on you." Carmen held out a dark blue satin blouse. I looked at it, "This is mine." Alice giggled, "You left it here before your birthday. I never got the chance to give it back to you." I took the blouse from Carmen, "Thank you, Alice." I took the blouse, picking up a faint scent that was not Alice's, Jasper's or anyone else's in the house. I inhaled at the blouse, picking up a faint floral scent. I looked up at Alice and she smiled, "That's your scent from when you were human." She looked in the closet, "Matter of fact." She went into the back of the closet, came back with a garment bag and opened it. I recognized the blue fabric and smiled, "My prom dress." The floral scent was much stronger. I laughed and took it from her, sitting with Carmen, "Alice was bored one day and in an attempt to keep her busy, I let her use me as a dress-up doll. This was after my leg was healed. She dressed me in my prom dress again, among other things. The whole time I silently begged for Edward to come home and save me." Alice gasped, "Are you serious?" Carmen and I laughed, "Very much so. Alice, you knew how much I hated letting you dress me."

Carmen took the dress, "It really is beautiful." I smiled, "It is, but you should see the shoes she put me in. I swear, I thought she was trying to break my other leg." Alice grumbled, snatched the garment bag with the dress away and went back into the closet. Carmen looked to the door, "Eleazar wants me. I'll be right back." She dashed out of the room and I went into the closet to calm Alice. "Alice, please don't be mad at me." She looked at me, "I'm not. I'm actually very relieved. You remember everything. I was starting to think that…." "Alice, I was remembering some things. I think over time, I would have remembered. I just think it wouldn't have been as painful as it was." Alice patted my shoulder, "What was it like?" I blinked, "A floodgate opening. A wall finally broken down. My memories came back in flashes and, even my human memories are not muddled or foggy. They are clear as my memories from the day Irina found me." I sighed, "Even that day… when he…." I closed my eyes, "I know he thought he was doing the right thing, but…." I deliberated, "No, I'll him this later." Alice smiled, "He's in his room. Tell him now." I looked up, "Ok." Alice gawked at me, "You have to ask, where do you think your personality came from when you didn't remember anything?" I shrugged, "I think part of my personality was still intact, but I think, mostly, Irina." Alice and I laughed. "But I have to admit, I kinda like it. I mean, I still know when to hold back, but I don't let that go too far like I did before." Alice smiled and I looked up, "Let me take care of this."

I whirled out of the closet and ascended the stairs, passing Esme, Emmett and Carmen and knocked on Edward's door. He didn't answer and I rolled my eyes. I opened the door and found him halfway to the door. He looked at me and I made a face, "You took too long. I remember you being much faster." He half-smiled, "You were never so forceful." I closed the door, "My sisters and I say its 'assertiveness.' But if you want me to be the human Bella you left behind….." He held up his hand, "Please Bella…." I held up my hands, "I'm sorry. Maybe it was easier when I didn't completely remember, but now I do." I folded my arms, "I just want to ask you something and say something." He looked at me, "Yes?" "You meant when you told me that you would never leave me again? No matter what?" "Yes." I walked up to him, staring him in his eyes. My eyes held a determination as he stepped back. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him down on his couch.

I leaned closer to him, "If you ever, ever leave me again, I will hunt you down. I don't know how it was for you, but for me, my world shattered and no matter how hard I tried, I could not put it back together. After you left, I stopped living. I merely existed. Edward, I may be immortal now, but if you leave me, I will not survive." Edward looked at me. We stared into each other's eyes. As he was about to respond to me and pressed my lips to his. I pressed my palms to either side of his face. His hands were on my shoulders, until they moved down to my waist. He held my closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I pushed him back and he looked at me, "One more thing. I'll hunt you down and tear you apart. And all I'll say is 'Have fun putting yourself back together.'" To my surprise, he laughed, "You need to move away from your sisters, especially Kate and Irina."

I scowled, "Tanya will tolerate anyone taking her baby sister away. Not even you." I laughed and he held me closer. Edward kissed my hair, like he has done so many times before. Someone was coming up the stairs and the door flew open, "Is this finally over?" Edward and I looked back to Emmett, with Alice half-hidden behind him. I looked up at Edward and he looked at me. I pursed my lips and got up. I turned to face Emmett and Alice stepped away from him. I snarled and caught Emmett around the waist knocking him down. "Edward, she's cheating." I caught him in a headlock, "Oh no, I've been holding this in since I was human." "Isabella!" Carmen scolded. I looked up, "Oh Carmen, come on." She looked at me and I groaned, pushing Emmett to the floor. "Oh sure, listen to your sister." I whirled around and my eyes widened. Jasper held me back, "You are so lucky Jasper's here." Jasper towed me downstairs, "You have a temper worse than a newborn." He sat me on the couch next to Eleazar, "You see it too." I looked at Eleazar, "You're just happy that there's another man around to help you insult me." He hugged me, "Pretty much." I smacked his chest, "Oh, get off me."

From up the stairs, there was a loud tumult, "That's what you get for barging in." Edward came downstairs, with Emmett, who was rubbing his neck. Emmett looked at me, but Edward held up one finger, "I said leave her alone. You had it coming to you." Edward took my hand and sat with me. Emmett grumbled to himself, "Girl always had a temper." I looked after Emmett from the corner of my eye, but Edward squeezed my hand. "He's just upset that you took him by surprise like that."

Soon, we were on our way back to Denali. I was anxious to see my father. I knew he would have hundreds of questions. This was truly going to be the move difficult thing I will ever have to do. I felt that I was more anxious now, than I was when I was on my way to save him from Victoria. I called Tanya before I board the plane; Charlie had woken up. Victoria must have bitten him in more than one place, so more venom was in his body. She took him hunting, but he was waiting for me. I bit down on my lip on the drive home. "Bella, stop," Edward tried to soothe me, but to no avail, it didn't work. I would have to tell Charlie the entire truth. I would leave out some details, like Edward spending nights in my room, but he would need to know. Carlisle was generous enough to stay with me while I spoke with Charlie. Kate was outside, just getting off her motorcycle as we arrived. "Isabella!" she hugged me, "Are you feeling better?" I smiled, "Yes. How's my dad?" "He's inside and dying to talk to you." I groaned, "This is going to be hell." Kate took my hand, "Honey, I've been to hell. Trust me, this isn't it." I nodded, "Yea, hell was when we messed up Tanya's car and couldn't fix it." Kate groaned mockingly, "Exactly."

Inside, there was nothing out of the ordinary. "Dad?" I looked in the living room. Edward came behind me, "I think he's upstairs." I sighed, "Might as well get this over with." I went upstairs, "Dad?" I knocked on his room door, "Dad, it's me, Bella." The room was silent. I opened the door to check the room. Looking around the dark room, my eyes widened, "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"