"Stripped"

Chapter 19: Fresh Start

Sleep did not come easily to Bella, it evaded her. She knew burning the box and its contents had helped some, but she needed more. She needed to see with her own eyes.

Bella got out of bed and went down to the study. She quickly prepared the locator spell and pricked her finger. Cold Ones didn't have blood, but they had venom and Edward's was still lurking somewhere in her system. Within moments a hold burned into the map around Chicago. Quickly she packed a few clothes and got into her car.

.*.*.*.*.*.

She drove for 15 hours with no sleep and once she hit the city, she pulled over. She pulled out a map of the entire Chicago area and once again pricked her finger. Once she saw where she needed to go, she got back onto the highway and headed for the university's campus.

.*.*.*.*.*.

She knew exactly where they were and she headed straight for the classroom. She snuck in the back and sat there as the professor lectured and she just watched them. Alice and Jasper were sitting next to each other writing down notes, which wasn't really necessary, but for appearance sakes they did. Edward was next to them; he looked normal, as though the last few months hadn't affected him like they had her.

She threw up her hands and froze the room. Slowly she made her way down the stairs and went to stand before him. He was still the good looking God she knew, but now it was different.

"I wanted to say this to your face, but I know if I do it where you can actually hear me you won't ever leave me alone." Bella said, "I loved you so much. You knew nothing of my powers and you helped reinforce my own thoughts that I was worth more than them. I wanted a life with you. I knew the consequences of the decision I was willing to make yet I wanted it because I thought you loved me for me. Then after the whole Jasper incident you left me in the woods like I was trash. I meant nothing to you. You made me feel like I wasn't worth anything if I didn't have my powers." Bella confessed before she leaned in close, "I hate you for that but I can't just blame you. I did it to myself as well. Then again you all did more damage than just that. I have kept the people I consider family and friends at bay because I can't trust them…but no more. I am done with you Edward. I am done thinking about you and about our times together. I have every intention of making them feel like they never existed. I have people that love me for who I am. They love me so much that they have been trying to break down these walls that I have put up because of you and they haven't stopped." Bella sighed as her hand reached out, "I could destroy you right now and though it would be instantly gratifying, in the long run it would just show how much of a hold you have on me. Instead I'm going to leave, I'm going to move on, and I'm going to love and trust. I'm going to open myself up and I'm going to break that promise to you and do reckless things. I'm going to live and you will just be a brief chapter in my life. A cautionary tale in my journey and to remind myself to never allow my own worth to be based on someone else's opinion of me. By letting you live, I also will always have a physical reminder as well. Goodbye Edward."

Bella headed back up the stairs and when she reached the door, she unfroze the room before she walked out. She got back in the car and drove away from the university…refusing to look back, only looking forward.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Merry Christmas," Jeremy said while coming down the stairs, "Can I open my presents?"

"You aren't five anymore Jeremy," Elena said while shaking her head as she cooked pancakes. "You can wait until tonight."

"Who else is coming?" Jeremy asked.

"Everyone," Elena replied.

"Would that include Bella?" Jeremy asked quietly.

Elena shook her head, "I don't know Jer. I haven't heard from her since we had that talk the other night."

"That was four days ago," Jeremy said with wide eyed expression.

"I know. Caroline and Bonnie have gone by the house, but her car hasn't been there and her phone's off. Bon tried a locator spell, but nothing."

"You think she ran?" Jeremy questioned.

"I think she needs space," Elena said with a sigh, "I think Stefan's right and she needs to confront her own demons. She needs to deal with this and until she does, we can't help her."

"So what, we just let her go off on her own and disappear just like that?" Jeremy asked while getting angry.

"We can't do much," Elena said before she moved to hug Jeremy, "It'll be okay."

Jeremy just nodded, but he knew that it wouldn't be. Not until Bella, their Bella, came back to them.

"Come on, we need to get packed up and head to the lake house and get it set up so you better hurry up and eat," Elena said before she headed for the stairs.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Two hours later and they were on the road with Bonnie riding with them. It looked like a moving caravan. Stefan and Damon took the front, followed by Liz and Carol, Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie, with Jeremy, Tyler, and Matt bringing up the rear.

"Bella call us," Matt said, "We're heading to the lake house if you want to come," Matt said before he hung up.

"Straight to voice mail again?" Tyler guessed although it came out more like a question.

Matt nodded. "Where could she be man?" He asked, worriedly.

"Elena says she needs time," Jeremy said.

"Jer she's got a target on her back. She doesn't need to be going off on her own," Matt replied.

"I gotta agree with Matt." Tyler added. "How's Damon taking it?"

"Let's not go there," Jeremy groaned, "Who cares what he thinks?"

"He cares about her," Matt said, "You can't deny that."

"Yeah," Jeremy said, "But how long before he sits there and throws her away and is after my sister again?"

"I don't think that's gonna happen man," Tyler said. "He's different with her."

"Besides Bella can handle him and she will kick his ass if he screws up." Matt added.

"But what about her?" Jeremy asked, "She's like another sister to me. She's already been hurt by some bloodsucker, she can't go through that again. Look at what that guy did to her."

"I think we should probably stop talking," Tyler said before pointing forward; they had arrived.

They all parked and got out; stretching their limbs in the process.

"Any of you get a phone call?" Matt asked.

"No," Bonnie said.

"I don't think she'd call us," Liz said.

Stefan just shook his head. Damon walked over and punched a rock, making a loud cracking noise which caused everyone to jump.

"Good thing we are out in the middle of nowhere otherwise I would have to be cleaning up another of your messes," Bella's teasing voice said, breaking through the silence.

Everyone turned to face the front of the house where Bella stood with an apron on. They were frozen and completely confused.

"Well don't just stand out here," Bella said, "I know some of you are invincible, but the rest of us are human and can get sick. Besides I need some help cooking and finish decorating the tree so come on."

Bella walked back into the house while the others looked to one another.

"What the hell?" Caroline asked.

"I think the phrase don't look a gift horse in the mouth comes to mind." Tyler said before he grabbed his bags and headed inside, but he couldn't go past the front door. "Jeremy?"

"Go on in Tyler," Jeremy said before following Tyler's lead.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Bella," Caroline screeched while marching into the house, "What the hell is going on?"

"Merry Christmas to you too," Bella replied as she chopped up the vegetables. "What bah-hum bug got up your ass?"

"You disappear for four days; no phone call, no texts, not even a fucking email. Now all of a sudden you're here acting like nothing happened. What the fuck?"

Bella put the knife down, placed her hands on the counter before she leaned on them.

"I dealt with what I needed to and now it's over." Bella replied simply, "We are okay, I am okay. I am sorry I've kept you at a distance," she looked at Damon, "All of you, but that's done now. No more hiding, no more sneaking around, no more lies. Do you have a problem with that Caroline?"

Caroline stared at her, shell shocked. Tyler quickly intervened.

"That's her way of agreeing," Tyler said.

"Good," Bella said with a smile, "Now where are my hugs and Merry Christmases?"

One by one they all hugged Bella and she hugged them. For the first time it felt as though there was no distance between them.

.*.*.*.*.*.

The girls went upstairs to unpack and make up the beds, while the boys went outside to cut some firewood. Damon stayed inside and helped Bella cook. After several minutes of silence, he broke it.

"Do you mean it?" Damon asked.

"Yes," Bella said while looking over to him. "I really do." Bella turned her head towards the stairs, "Hey Elena, can you and the others finish the cooking? I want to take a walk."

"Sure," Elena called back.

Bella took off her apron, "Come on Damon."

Bella grabbed her coat and walked outside, followed by Damon.

"Where are you two going?" Matt asked.

"For a walk," Bella replied, "Is there a problem with that?"

"No problem," Tyler said while holding up his hands in surrender, "Just be careful."

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella and Damon trudged through the snow, into the woods and away from the house.

"Where are we going?" Damon asked.

"Away from prying ears," Bella said simply.

Finally they reached their destination; a little clearing with a couple of boulders.

"Are we far enough away now?" Damon asked.

Bella nodded before she sat down on one of the boulders.

"I want to tell you something," Bella said, "I know you'll probably be mad and you'll chastise me, but I only want you to know this. I'm trusting you."

"Okay," Damon said while narrowing his eyes.

Bella took a deep breath, "I found them…the Cold Ones I was involved with."

Damon froze and grounded his teeth. Every fiber in his body told him to scream at her and start throwing things, but he refrained. Instead, very tensely, he told her to go one with her explanation.

"After our talk at the boarding house, when I got home I broke down. I screamed, I threw some things and then I started to just pretend like I was okay again." Bella said.

"What changed?" Damon asked.

"I walked pass the mirror and I saw myself. I mean really saw myself. Then I saw the pictures on the mirror and I realized I wasn't myself anymore. I looked so lost and hollow. Then I realized this is how I looked to all of you and it hit me like a ton of bricks." Bella said before she took a deep breath. "You know that box I have on the top of my closet?"

Damon nodded.

"It has all the little bits of jewelry, pictures, trinkets they ever gave me. I grabbed it and went downstairs. I burned it, all of it, till it was nothing but ash. After that I tried to sleep, but I couldn't so I used the locator spell and drove to Chicago. I found him in class and I watched him."

"What did you see?" Damon asked while coming over to sit next to her.

"Nothing," Bella said, "He still looked the same as the day he left me. I got angry and froze the room. I walked over and I started telling him everything I felt. I told him that I hated him and that I could destroy him if I wanted to."

"Why didn't you let him see you?" Damon questioned quietly.

"Because I knew if I did he wouldn't ever leave me alone and that's what I wanted. I needed to tell him those things so that I could move on, so that I could be myself again." Bella explained as tears started to fall, "I needed to say it to them out loud and to his face for myself."

"How did it feel?" Damon asked while wrapping his arm around her as she started to tremble from the cold as well as from reliving the moment with that guy.

"Freeing," Bella said before she laughed, "Like I could finally breathe. When I left I was smiling because for the first time since he left, I felt like myself. I drove here and I couldn't wait to see you." Bella finished before she turned toward him some more, "I know I've screwed up and kept you at a distance but I hope you can forgive me."

Damon chuckled as he stroked Bella's cheek, "How can I not forgive you?"

"You aren't mad?" Bella asked, surprised.

"Oh I'm still mad but I understand." Damon said, "So just for clarification; no more hiding,"

"Yes," Bella said, "From now I'm open and honest with all of you."

"I'm hoping you aren't open with everyone." Damon said.

"What do you mean?" Bella asked.

"I mean I'm hoping I'm the only one that's gonna get to do this." Damon said as he leaned in.

His lips captured hers. It was a gentle kiss, a kiss that was meant to signify a new beginning, a new time in both their lives. That warm gentle glow Damon and Bella had felt the other night returned and it spread throughout their bodies once again. Finally they pulled away with only their foreheads touching. Bella smiled as she gazed into Damon's eyes.

"I think it's safe to say that yeah, you're the only one that will get to do that." Bella said quietly.

"Thought you said that the next time I wanted to kiss you was going to have to be on a date?" Damon replied while smiling.

"Always the smartass," Bella said before she placed her hand on his cheek. "I've missed that."

"What?" Damon asked, "I'm always a smartass."

"No," Bella said, "Your smile. I've missed it."

Damon felt Bella shiver and noticed her lips were a tiny bit blue.

"Come on," he said while he pulled her up, "You're cold and we need to get you inside. I'm sure the others have gotten a fire going."

Damon kept his arm around Bella as they walked back to the house. The others were sitting out on the porch, drinking coco, when they saw them coming.

"What were you two doing?" Tyler teased.

"Talking," Bella replied as she snuggled closer to Damon.

"About what?" Matt asked, teasingly as well.

"Recipes on how to turn people into toads," Bella replied seriously.

"She needs a volunteer to try it out." Damon added.

"Dinner's about ready," Elena said, intervening. "We've just been waiting on you two."

Everyone walked in, but Bella held Stefan back.

"What is it?" Stefan asked.

"Thank you," Bella said, "For calling me on my crap."

"You've called me on mine plenty of time. I was just returning the favor." Stefan replied.

.*.*.*.*.*.

They all sat down and began eating. It felt like Christmas, like the old Christmases they would have with Ms. Swan at her house; with laughter, drinks, and retellings of stories they've all heard a thousand times. Inside the little house it was nice and cozy, like a real family.

After dinner, the boys did the dishes and the cleaning up while the girls relaxed in the living room.

"So Bella," Carol said hesitantly, "Are you certain you're alright?"

"Yes," Bella said while smiling, "Like I said, everything is alright."

"Present time," Jeremy said while coming in.

One by one everyone exchanged gifts and opened them, some screeching at the surprise inside.

After all was done and everything was cleaned up, they got out a bottle of wine and sat by the fire. Bella and Damon were cuddled on the couch, which earned them glances from the others.

"Go on," Bella said suddenly, interrupting the silence that had surrounded them, "Ask Liz."

"What did Klaus want?" Liz said.

Bella swirled her wine around in its glass and sighed, "A partnership in exchange for something."

"What?" Damon asked.

"It was more of a, I help him he helps me," Bella said before she stood up.

"What did he offer?" Elena asked worriedly.

"What do you need help with?" Caroline asked.

Bella looked into the fire before she took a deep breath.

"What if you could be human?" Bella asked before turning to the others, "What if you could go back to living normal lives? All of you?"

"Bella I don't understand," Elena said confused.

"There's a cure," Bella said before swallowing, "A cure to turn you back into a human. The hunters that are coming, they have a mark that grows with each vampire kill. Once that mark is complete, it's a map that leads to a cure."

Silence. Dead Silence.

No one spoke or even breathed; they were attempting to process everything.

"A cure to be human again," Elena whispered in disbelief.

Bella nodded, "I help him capture the hunter, and he gives me the cure."

"Then he leaves," Tyler said hopefully.

"No," Bella said, "I've seen what he wants," he looked at Elena, "He wants you human so he can make more hybrids."

"No," Elena said while shaking her head, "I won't let him do that."

"Elena you could be human again," Jeremy said, "You all could, we could go back to being normal."

"What about me?" Tyler asked while looking at Bella.

"I don't know just yet," Bella said, "I need to do more research and there's one person who can help me…help all of us."

"Who?" Caroline asked.

"Rebekah," Bella said, "Klaus and Kol daggered her. She's the only one who knows where the sword is buried. She could help us."

"She can't be trusted," Stefan replied.

"Yes she can," Bella said, "I know I can trust her."

"She killed Elena," Jeremy growled, "And Alaric."

"I know," Bella said, "But right now Jeremy Klaus wants this, even if no one takes the cure we take this from him then we would have the upper hand. We change the game and call the shots."

"It's never that easy with him," Bonnie argued. "He always beats us."

"But we didn't have Bella on our side before," Elena said while standing up, "But here's my question; if we were to go back to being human, who would take on Klaus?"

Silence yet again and everyone turned to Bella.

"You were going to take him on yourself," Bonnie said, "Last time I did that I nearly died."

"I'm stronger than you Bonnie." Bella said, "Look nothing is definite yet and before we even go down this road, we need to decide on Rebekah."

"We need to decide," Matt said shocked.

"I told you no more hiding anything. We are all in this together and I'm not going to go behind your backs like I have anymore. We put this to a vote and decide what we do." Bella replied.

"I think we need to sleep on it," Stefan said; being the voice of reason.

"Sleep on it," Carol screeched, "The answer is obvious," She looked at Tyler, "You're taking the cure."

"Mom," Tyler said.

"No she's right," Liz said, joining up with Carol, "You all are taking the cure."

"Mom," Caroline said, "We need to think about this."

"What's there to think about?" Liz asked, "You can be human again. Things can be normal."

"What if I don't want to be human?" Caroline asked, "I know this isn't what you expected for me, but I'm glad I was turned. I've grown up so much and I don't know if I want to give up this part of me. It's because of this that I'm not that selfish spoiled brat anymore."

"I can't listen to this insanity," Carol said before she headed for the door, grabbing her coat along the way.

Liz followed her.

"Mom," Caroline said while going after her.

Bella stopped her, "Caroline don't, let me okay."

Caroline nodded before she went back over to Tyler. Bella grabbed her coat and ran after Carol and Liz.

"Carol! Liz! Stop!" Bella called.

"How can they even be thinking about not taking it?" Carol asked after whipping around. "What are they thinking?"

"Do they even have any idea how this affects us? Do they even care how we feel?" Liz asked.

"They do, but do you have any idea how your reactions, your outbursts make them feel? You just basically acted like they are monsters. They thought you were past that." Bella explained.

"We are," Liz said, "It's just…."

"You want things to be how they used to be," Bella said, "But you have to understand what they are has become a part of who they are. It's shaped them and helped them understand themselves. It's also showed them that there is more out there and that they've helped people." Bella looked at them, "We don't know for certain how this cure will work. I don't know much about it, only that it exists which is why I need to talk to Rebekah."

"And if it's safe, they take it," Carol said seriously.

"Carol what if it only helps Tyler so much?" Bella asked.

"What do you mean?" Carol asked.

"I mean what if it cures his vampirism, but not his werewolf part. I know you've seen him change…do you really want him to unwillingly go through that pain?" Bella asked.

"No," Carol said heartbroken. "I didn't even think about that."

"There are a lot of things we need to think and talk about which we should do tomorrow. Come on let's go back to the house and get some sleep." Bella said.

Liz and Carol nodded before they started to head back to the house. Bella stopped dead in her tracks.

"You guys go ahead. I want some fresh air." Bella said.

Liz and Carol continued walking while Bella turned around.

"They're gone," Bella said into the dark.

Damon came into view and leaned against a tree.

"So that's why you asked me those questions that night," Damon said while shaking his head.

"Yes," Bella replied, "I wanted to know."

"You kill Klaus, you kill me," Damon said, "He is the sire of our bloodline."

"I'm not going to kill him," Bella replied.

"Then what are you going to do?" Damon questioned.

"I'm going to turn him human. Then I'm going to have Liz arrest him for murder and have his ass sent away." Bella replied.

"They won't let you," Damon replied, "Kol and Elijah. Rebekah I can see that, but not the others."

"I know," Bella said softly. "But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now nothing has been decided."

"What if they don't want to be human?" Damon asked, "What if it doesn't work?"

"We at least have to try," Bella answered before she walked over to him, "I think we actually have a shot to end this, but I'm not doing anything until I know what all of you want."

"Five days ago you were completely distant now you're actually asking us what we want." Damon commented, "I swear you girls and your mood swings."

"Um I think vampires have the market cornered on mood swings," Bella countered, "You guys are more up and down than a roller coaster."

"But it's one hell of a ride," Damon said with a smirk before his expression turned serious, "You really think Rebekah could help?"

"Yes," Bella replied confidently, "I know she'd want it. She tried to warn me the night the pastor…died, but Klaus and Kol stopped her."

"She's not trustworthy," Damon commented.

"No, but talking to her can't hurt." Bella replied.

"When did you say you would give Klaus his answer?" Damon sighed.

"I didn't," Bella said, "All I said is that I would call him."

Damon nodded, "You look like you need sleep."

"Driving over 30-hours with maybe 4-hours of sleep will do that to you," Bella replied with a laugh before she yawned.

"Come on," Damon said before wrapping his arm around her; "You look like you're about to fall over and go to sleep."

"Do I look that bad?" Bella asked as they walked.

"You look exhausted, but I'd be worried if you weren't. After everything that has happened, I think you're allowed some sleep." Damon said as they approached the cabin.

"Damon," Bella said while leaning into him, "Will you…stay with me?"

"Aren't you worried what the hens will think," Damon teased; referring to Bonnie and Caroline.

"I can take them," Bella replied with a small smile, "I just…I feel safe with you."

"Hey any excuse to get into bed with a beautiful woman I'll take it," Damon said which caused Bella to pull away and glare at him, "I'm just kidding," Damon said before he pulled her back to him, "You definitely need some sleep. When you're tired, you take things way too seriously."

Damon and Bella walked into the house and they found that everyone had already gone to their rooms for the night. Bella quickly changed and got under the covers, where Damon was waiting. She laid across his chest before he started to stroke her hair.

"I didn't get to give you your present," Damon said as he stroked her hair.

"It's okay," Bella said sleepily, "I don't need anything."

"I'll give it to you tomorrow," Damon vowed, "Away from everyone."

Bella nodded and in barely a whisper, before she lost consciousness, she said, "Merry Christmas Damon."

Damon smiled before he kissed the top of her head with his reply of, "Merry Christmas my sweet Bella."

A/N: Merry Christmas my dears! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday. I just got home so sorry this chapter is a little late, but I hope you enjoyed it. Really quick a couple little tidbits.

Stripped along with some of my other stories has been nominated for the Burning Diamond awards. So I would really appreciate it if you would go to crossoverawards . blogspot . com and vote you have until December 29th to vote so please even if you don't vote for me there are a lot of awesome stories nominated.

Second there will probably not be a new chapter until sometime after the New Year I'm sorry, but I'm going back to having at least two chapters written before I post.

Thank you Dark~Supernatural~Angel my wonderful beta and bookcover designer. I hope your Christmas went wonderfully.

Merry Christmas all and remember to review and vote they'll be the best Christmas presents ever!