*PLEASE READ FIRST*
A/N: Hey everyone I got this up before New Year's so I hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year's.
Quick thank you as always to my beta Dark~Supernaturl~Angel and to you the readers.
Now for the important part. Some of you have messaged about doing shorter chapters the way the outline is set up there's a specific end and a specific beginning for each chapter. This Chapter and the next one I had planned out long before I lost my grandma this year and so it was very difficult to write this one and the next one. It was very painful because in the story Bella lost her grandma which was her rock and I lost mine and it just hit really hard. So I towards the end of my semester in one of my counseling courses (I'm a psych major) we learned about techniques and I decided to apply one them to my own personal life and when I finished I felt better so I took the same premise and the result is the letter at the end of this chapter. The things said in it and the nicknames used for someone are ones my grandma used for me. What I'm trying to say is that this chapter is very personal to me and so is the next one so please be patient with me as I write because it's very hard to write about certain things in the story when they hit very close to my own person life.
Enjoy the chapter my dears and let me know what you think.
See you Next year lol.
"Stripped"
Chapter 26: We Might Fall
Bella stretched and felt arms tighten around her. She smiled as she turned around to face Damon, who was fast asleep. She moved some hair out of his eyes and just stared at him for a while. Eventually she slowly untangled herself from Damon and slipped out of the room. She walked down the stairs and made some tea before she sat down on the couch as she watched the fresh snow fall to the ground.
There was so much going on…so many obstacles in their way. Klaus, Edward, the hunters…when was there going to be a light at the end of this very dark tunnel?
She sipped her tea as she thought back to the last New Year's that she had spent with her Grandmother. They stuck with tradition, which included them watching the ball drop and singing Old Lang Syne. Then her grandmother made tea and once they were done, they would read the tea leaves. Bella's had predicted the arrival of Damon and the death of Elena's parents. She hadn't realized it at the time though. Grams wouldn't say what hers was, but Bella knew it was bad.
"There are some things left to the unknown Sweetie," Grandmama had said.
Bella knew after she died that Grandmama had seen her own death and it weighed heavily on her. For a month it was like she was sleepwalking and couldn't wake up. Grandmama had always been her rock. Damon did all he could, but she was closed off. Then one night she dreamed of Grandmama…it was more of a memory and it was what she had said that stuck out;
"We all have obstacles we have to face to get to the light at the end of the tunnel. All the good things are worth fighting for Sweetie. We go to hell and back for them because the light at the end of the tunnel contains the best things."
A tear fell down Bella's face as she thought about that. Grams had always been right…the good things were worth fighting for.
Bella finished her tea and rinsed the cup out in the sink.
"Hey," Damon greeted as he came in, "You weren't there when I woke up."
"Figured I would give you a taste of your own medicine," Bella replied.
"What's on the agenda for today?" Damon asked.
"Finish party planning." Bella said, "New Year's is in a couple of days."
"Bells I really think we should…" Damon started.
"No," Bella said firmly, "I haven't celebrated New Year's since Grandmama passed and just because Klaus, the hunters and my ex are in town doesn't mean we are cancelling this party." Bella argued.
"You are stubborn," Damon said with a shake of his head.
"But you know you enjoy it," Bella winked, "I'm going to shower and get ready."
"Want some company?" Damon asked.
"Nice try, but you aren't out of the dog house yet," Bella said before she headed up the stairs.
.*.*.*.*.*.
When Bella got back down from her shower, Matt and Rebekah were there waiting.
"You look rested," Rebekah said, "My brother was hoping to speak with you today. Seems he is concerned with the funeral tomorrow."
"Is he at the boarding house?" Bella asked.
"Actually he's outside," Rebekah said.
Bella nodded and walked to the front door to find Elijah.
"Good morning Bella." Elijah said.
"Good morning Elijah," Bella said, "Will you please come in."
"Whoa," Damon interrupted as he appeared next to her. "You're kidding right?"
"Damon, trust remember," Bella said, "Besides I can change locks anytime I want to and resend his invitation."
Elijah stepped inside, "You have a lovely home."
"Thank you," Bella said and led him to the dining room, "Rebekah said you're concerned."
"I worry that the hunter will appear at the funeral. He has already made you, my sister and your friends Tyler and Caroline. I think he may do something…rash." Elijah said carefully.
"Then I'll kill him," Damon smirked at the thought.
"You can't," Bella said.
"How do you know?" Elijah asked surprised.
"I do my research," Bella replied, "If a vampire or werewolf or witch kills a hunter, they are cursed."
"Tormented actually," Elijah said, "Visions of people telling you awful things until finally you kill yourself."
"It happened to Nik after he killed the hunter I was in love with." Rebekah added, "It's a very nasty curse."
"What do you suggest we do then?" Damon asked annoyed.
"We could trap him," Elijah said and looked at Bella, "You're a very powerful witch."
"Problem with that is that he has this nasty little talisman that bounces anything I throw at him back onto me…it wasn't exactly fun." Bella replied.
"I could remove the talisman," Elijah said, "If he were distracted long enough."
"What kind of distraction?" Damon asked suspiciously.
"Perhaps one of you could make a little speech," Elijah said while staring at Bella.
"No," Rebekah said, "If he gets a shot off at her, we are exposed and she is dead."
"Well do you want to be the bait baby sister?" Elijah asked.
"Tyler," Matt said.
"What?" Bella asked.
"Tyler, he said he will do it," Matt said as he held up the phone.
Bella took it, "Ty?"
"It's okay Bella, I can do it. This way Elijah can get the talisman and you can take him out." Tyler said.
"Tyler it's too risky." Bella said.
"I'm a hybrid Bells," Tyler said with a laugh, "Unless he plans on ripping out my heart or cutting off my head in front of everyone, I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear. I can take the hit."
"I won't win if I argue with you will I?" Bella asked.
"Hey I learned to argue from the best," Tyler said, "Just tell me when and I'll do it."
Bella handed the phone back to Matt, "Fine you got your distraction. What else is on your mind?"
"About my brother," Elijah said, "What exactly do you plan on doing with him?"
Bella looked at Rebekah and she nodded.
"I plan on getting the cure and giving it to him," Bella stated. "Let's face it Elijah, your brother is not going to stop and as much as I know you want him to be redeemed, he doesn't want it. This way you all get to keep your brother who lives and we don't have to worry about him attacking us."
"What if I turned him again?" Elijah asked.
"Doesn't work like that," Bella said, "Like I said I've done my research; once someone takes the cure they are human for the rest of their lives…they can't be changed back."
Elijah was silent for a while.
"Elijah it's the only way," Rebekah said, "This way at least we don't lose him."
Elijah sighed, "Very well Isabella. I accept your plan…I will not interfere as long as he is unharmed."
"Elijah, tell them what you were telling me about Klaus and Kol." Rebekah prodded.
"I assume you know that Klaus brought your ex here?" Elijah asked.
"Rebekah mentioned it." Bella said.
"Klaus wants you. He wants to align himself with you and when your guard is low enough, he'll grab you." Elijah said.
"Typical," Damon muttered.
"I think you should play along." Elijah said.
"What?" Damon asked shocked.
"Play along," Elijah said, "If he thinks he has the upper hand he will be more vulnerable."
"How do we know you aren't playing us?" Damon asked, "You could be on their side."
"Isabella saved my sister…for that I owe her a debt and I am a man of my word so," Elijah stood and raised his right hand, "Isabella Swan I, Elijah Mikaelson, solemnly swear by my word that I will help you in getting rid of the hunters, your ex, and incapacitating my brother with the cure. This is my solemn vow. My word is my bond."
"I accept it," Bella stood at her words. "Now we have a party to plan so it's time to get started."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella and Rebekah were at the dress shop looking for outfits.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Rebekah asked, "The party."
Bella sighed, "Please not you too."
"I'm just trying to look at what could happen." Rebekah replied.
"I'm not backing down," Bella said as she pulled out a red dress, "This is so pretty…you should try it on."
Rebekah went to the dressing room and tried on the red silver beaded sleeveless dress with the fringe at the bottom. When she came out, she was smiling.
"I love this," Rebekah said as she did a little twirl.
"I'm thinking this blue one for Elena, the purple for Bonnie, and the red one for Caroline," Bella said while holding up the dresses.
"What about you?" Rebekah asked.
"I'll just get something from my closet." Bella shrugged and headed to the cashier.
Rebekah quickly changed and then headed back out. She looked through the racks and found an off the shoulder, lace overlay, with long sleeves, and the color was a deep burgundy.
"This will do nicely." Rebekah smiled at the dress.
She compelled the other sales girl to take it into the back and have it ready for later that day for pick up.
"Where to now?" Rebekah asked once she returned to Bella.
"Research," Bella said, "Something is seriously up. I mean this hunter didn't just stumble into town."
"You think he was sent here?" Rebekah asked.
"That's what I'm thinking." Bella replied.
"Well maybe Bonnie's new professor friend could help us." Rebekah suggested.
"Who?" Bella asked.
"The professor that took over for Bonnie's grams at the college. He seems to know about our world." Rebekah said.
"What's his name?" Bella asked.
"Shane something." Rebekah said.
"I'll give Bonnie a call," Bella said as she pulled out her phone. "Why don't you head to the Grill and go check on Matt?"
"I don't think so," Rebekah said and pointed in front of them.
There walking towards them were Esme and Carlisle.
"Shit," Bella said.
"Bella," Carlisle greeted as he stopped in front of them.
"Beat it Cold One," Rebekah sneered.
"It's alright," Bella said, "Go ahead, I'll be there in a minute. Call Bonnie for me."
"Are you sure?" Rebekah asked.
"I can handle them." Bella reassured the Original.
Rebekah nodded before walking away.
"Hello Bella dear," Esme said.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Bella asked, skipping pleasantries.
"We're concerned about you." Carlisle said.
"No you're concerned about who I'm with and if I had to guess it's Edward leading the charge on that." Bella corrected while crossing her arms.
"Do you know Damon? Do you know Klaus?" Esme asked.
"I know enough about Klaus to know I can't trust him and I won't." Bella said, "As far as Damon goes, I know more about him than you or Edward. You want to do something to help me then leave me alone. You did it once before. I'm sure it won't be hard to do it again."
"They are killers Bella." Carlisle said seriously.
"Your dad was a minister Carlisle right?" Bella asked. "John 8:7, 'Let he among you without sin cast the first stone'. Didn't you learn anything in church?"
"This isn't a game Bella," Carlisle said seriously.
"I know that," Bella snapped, "I've known since the day I first found out that I had powers. You don't know what you have stepped into so I suggest you pack up and leave before it's too late to get out."
Bella pushed pass them and headed into the Grill where she saw Rebekah sitting with Bonnie and another man.
"Bella," Rebekah said, "Everything alright?"
"We'll see," Bella said and sat down.
"Bella," Bonnie said, "This is Professor Atticus Shane,"
Bella tensed a bit…something was off about this guy.
"Call me Shane," he said and shook Bella's hand.
Again something pulled at Bella the moment he touched her, but she kept her poker face.
"Bella, nice to meet you." Bella said.
"Rebekah was just saying you wanted to talk to him," Bonnie said.
"Yeah it seems you've spilled the beans," Bella said jokingly.
"Actually I figured it out going through Shelia's things." Shane said, "Plus my wife was a witch."
"Really?" Bonnie said, "You never mentioned that."
"Yeah," Shane said.
"Where is she?" Rebekah asked.
"She died a few years ago with our son…car accident." Shane said.
"I'm so sorry," Bella said sincerely.
"I try not to think about it," Shane said, "Anyways how can I be of help?"
"Actually I was hoping to see if you had some of Shelia's old books. There may be something in there." Bella said, not giving him too much information.
"I can check," Shane said.
"Great," Bella said, "Will you excuse me a moment. I need to use the restroom."
Bella headed back to the bathrooms just as Matt was coming out.
"Hey Bells," Matt said.
"Hey," Bella said, "Can you do me a favor?"
"Yeah what's up?" Matt asked.
"That guy sitting with us, think you can get one of the other guys to accidentally cut him?" Bella asked.
"Why?" Matt asked.
"My gut is telling we can't trust him." Bella said.
"You don't want him to know something is up do you?" Matt asked.
"No," Bella said.
"I got it," Matt said and headed off.
Bella waited and returned to the table.
"Look guys I still have a lot to do before the funeral so I'm gonna head out. It was nice to meet you Shane." Bella said.
"Believe me the pleasure was mine," Shane smiled, causing Bella to tense more.
Rebekah followed Bella out and to the car.
"What's wrong?" Rebekah asked.
"Right now don't worry about it," Bella said. "You gonna stay here?"
"If you don't mind," Rebekah said.
"Go for it," Bella said and got into her car.
She pulled up to her house and saw Klaus standing on her front porch. She got out and grabbed the bags.
"Need some help?" Klaus asked.
"I got it," Bella said before shutting her trunk.
"Don't be like that," Klaus said, "I want to be friends. I want to extend an olive branch." He was trying to charm her.
"Little too late don't you think?" Bella asked.
"Never too late I don't believe," Klaus said, "You can't fight on all fronts Bella."
"Don't underestimate me Klaus," Bella turned to face him, "You did that once before and it didn't work out."
"True." Klaus said as Bella put the bags in the house. "Have dinner with me."
"Been there done that," Bella said.
"Come on," Klaus said, "You can even bring Damon, my sister, whoever you want."
Bella thought back to what Elijah had said earlier and sighed.
"I have a funeral tomorrow to attend to." Bella started.
"You're actually going to the funeral of the madman that tried to kill you more than once?" Klaus said in disbelief.
"Yes," Bella said, "I'll have dinner with you on the condition that you, Kol and none of your little minions are anywhere near the funeral. It would be nice to grieve in peace for once in this town."
"Very well," Klaus said, "You have my word."
Bella shut the door once Klaus disappeared and sighed.
"Don't worry. I'm taking you with me this time," Bella said as she turned around to see Damon.
"Let me ask you something," Damon said, "Why do you constantly argue with me, but when Tyler said he would handle the distraction you caved?"
"Because Tyler trusts me so I am showing him the same trust. He had to earn that trust…you never did. I always gave it freely to you and you kept throwing it back in my face." Bella explained with a shrug.
"Matt wanted me to bring this to you," Damon said and handed Bella a bloody napkin, "Seems Bonnie's new friend had an accident."
"That was quick," Bella said while taking a step away from the napkin, "Mind bringing it into the kitchen?"
"What's going on?" Damon asked.
"Something about that Shane guy isn't right and I want to know who I'm dealing with," Bella said as they entered the kitchen. "Get me the cauldron."
"You could say please," Damon replied as he put the napkin on the counter.
"Why, you never do," Bella replied sweetly.
"Fair enough," Damon said before he got the cauldron down. "What exactly are you planning on doing with that?" Damon pointed to the napkin.
"I want to find out a little more about Bonnie's Professor Shane." Bella said and started throwing stuff into the cauldron.
"You aren't going to like lick it right?" Damon asked.
"This coming from the person that drinks blood," Bella teased. "No I'm not but I needed his blood to get a look into who this guy is. Wanna drop it in?"
Damon did and the cauldron started to smoke.
"You might wanna step back," Bella said as she measured out a powder.
Damon did and Bella tossed it in, causing it to make a little explosion. Bella breathed in the smoke deeply and then looked down into the liquid. It started to swirl and Bella started to fell lightheaded.
"Bella," Damon's voice said.
Bella's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she lost focus.
Once she regained it, she saw she was standing in the middle of a road. In front of her was a car overturned with a man and a woman climbing out of the car; both were bloody. The man was pulling something with him and it was a boy.
Bella walked closer and saw it was Professor Shane.
"Oh no," Bella said.
"Is he okay?" the woman asked.
"He's not breathing." Shane replied.
"No," the woman said and pushed Shane aside, "Sam…Sammy, baby come on, wake up. Come on, breathe!"
"Caitlin," Shane said as tears started to fall.
"No," Caitlin pushed him away, "I can bring him back."
She started to chant and Bella knew what she was doing.
"Oh shit," Bella said.
"Caitlin stop," Shane said, "Something is wrong."
Caitlin stopped and then suddenly some type of energy blasted out from Caitlin and she fell to the ground. Her eyes were open, but the light had left them.
"Caitlin!" Shane shouted as he ran over to her, "No," he cried, "NOOOOOOOO!"
"Bella!" Damon yelled.
Bella sat up, breathing hard and looking around to see that she was on the kitchen floor with Damon sitting beside her.
"Are you alright?" Damon asked.
"Water," Bella choked out.
Damon quickly got her some and was back at her side.
"Might warn me next time you go all white eye on me." Damon said. "What did you see?"
"Shane, his wife and son were killed like he said, but his wife died using Expression." Bella said after gulping down the water.
"Expression?" Damon asked.
"It's a type of sorcery." Bella said.
"Magic," Damon said.
Bella shook her head, "No witch considers Expression magic," Bella said, "It draws on the darkest parts of energy. It's malicious and when used it had destroyed lives and towns."
"Like what?" Damon asked.
"Pompeii, Roanoke, Gardens of Babylon, Atlantis, those places and the people in them were destroyed by this type of power. Shane's wife tried to use Expression to bring her son back from the dead. It backfired and it killed her instead. Expression is very dangerous and dark." Bella said, "It can consume your soul."
Damon was silent for a minute. "Were you trying to use that the night Anna died?" Damon asked.
"I thought about it, but I didn't try it." Bella replied softly. "There are many forms of Expression. Some use it to bend others to their will or to incapacitate them."
"Like that mind burning thing you and Bonnie do to us vampires?" Damon asked.
Bella nodded, "Years ago a witch learned to take elements of Expression to make our craft stronger when used in the right way."
"Something is still bothering you." Damon said.
"I wasn't in long enough to see more then what I did." Bella said, "I need to go back in."
"You sure?" Damon asked.
Bella nodded, stood up, and got some more of the powder. She tossed it into the cauldron. Again Bella lost focus and when she refocused, she was on an island near a well.
"What the hell?" Bella asked as she looked around.
She saw Shane in the well, bleeding.
"Atty," Caitlin's voice said before she appeared.
"I knew I'd see you again." Shane smiled at his wife.
Caitlin smiled, "Atty we can be together."
"How?" Shane asked.
"Silas," Caitlin said, "He can bring me back and Sam. Down in the cave is a book that has everything you will need…Sweetheart bring us back…make us a family again."
Bella sat up and gasped for air.
"What did you see?" Damon asked.
"I don't know," Bella said, "But I need to talk to Gretchen…now."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Damon pulled up to the store and helped Bella out.
"You sure about this?" Damon asked.
"Yeah I won't be long." Bella said and walked inside.
"I thought I told you not to come back," Gretchen said.
"I know, but I needed to." Bella said. "Who is Silas?"
Gretchen paled and tensed.
"I warned you," she said quietly. "Your grandmother though, she knew this day would come. Follow me."
Gretchen led Bella to the back room.
"Sit down," Gretchen said. "Do you know anything about that necklace?"
Bella's hand went up to her neck, "It was Grandmama's."
"That necklace has been in your family for a long time…passed down to each Swan witch to keep. The entire magic of your ancestors is stored within it." Gretchen said as she unlocked a trunk.
"What?" Bella asked.
"When a Swan witch dies her magic goes into that necklace." Gretchen said, "Your Grandma came to me one day when you were just a baby, but she had a vision and she saw your future. She begged me for my help…she was so afraid for you."
"What did she see?" Bella asked.
"I don't know. She never did tell me or Shelia, but it scared her enough that she gave me that necklace and she had it sent to a witch by the name of Deveraux in New Orleans for safe keeping." Gretchen said and sat down. She placed an envelope and a book onto the table. "She had every intention of keeping you away from whatever it is she saw and it had to do with vampires. The day she passed she came in here with these." Gretchen said as she pointed to the envelope and book. "She said she had called her friend in New Orleans and that the necklace would be returned to you and that the day you walked in wearing that necklace and asked about something that chilled me to my bones was the day that I was to give you these. I've never opened them. They are for you, but I think this is what she was afraid of."
"I don't understand," Bella said.
"Silas is the person that scares us witches." Gretchen stated. "I think after you read this letter you will understand better than I could. All I know honey is that this path you've chosen…there won't be a happy ending for everybody. Anybody really."
Bella took the envelope and the book and stood up.
"Isabella," Gretchen said, "Please make sure the next time I see you it won't be in a casket like it was your grandmother."
"I don't make promises that I can't keep," Bella replied.
"That's the exact same thing she said to me the last day I saw her." Gretchen said. "Goodbye Isabella."
"Goodbye Gretchen."
Bella walked outside to a waiting Damon.
"Well?" Damon asked.
"Not now," Bella said, "Just take me home please."
Damon didn't question her. He just got in the car and drove her home.
.*.*.*.*.*.
When they pulled up back at the house, they both got out.
"Rebekah is staying at Elena's with Matt." Damon said.
Bella just nodded.
"Talk to me," Damon said.
"Grandmama left these for me. She was trying to hide them from me but then the day she died she changed her mind." Bella said confused. "I need to be alone."
Damon was about to protest, but he stopped.
"Okay," Damon said, "I'll be by tomorrow to get you for the funeral."
Bella nodded and kissed Damon on the cheek.
"Thank you," Bella said and walked inside.
She locked the doors and lit the candles throughout the living room as she walked into kitchen. She got one of her Grandmama's favorite teas, brewed, and poured it. She walked into the living room, set the envelope and book down before she lit the fireplace.
So many questions swam through her head, but the answers to all of them, she knew laid within that envelope. She took a drink from her cup then sat it on the table and grabbed the envelope.
She smiled as she looked down at the handwriting. She had always loved Grams' handwriting. It flowed seamlessly and it was almost like a work of art. She took the envelope and smelled it…her grandmother's perfume was faint yet still there, along with the lotion she always used.
It was the little things that she missed most about her Grandmama and Pawpaw. Pawpaw had passed when Bella was eleven, but she loved him. The hugs, the prayers they said at night when Bella was a little girl, tea in the morning and watching M.A.S.H together, going to the park, catching the ice cream man, Pawpaw making fun of the people at the mall while Grandma shopped. Trying to guess the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune during dinner time. Them picking her up from school and taking her to the store. Getting into the candy drawer. Pawpaw letting her put make up on him for fun.
When Pawpaw died it was just the two of them. Grandma taught her everything about magic, but that's not what Bella remembered most. It was the time they spent together. Their little conversations, how she encouraged Bella and supported her. How she would call her at school to pick something up.
Those little things meant the world to her. Both her Grandmama and Pawpaw had always watched over her and loved her.
Bella swallowed thickly as she opened the envelope and started to read.
My dear sweet baby girl,
I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of you and all that you have accomplished. You are a beautiful, courageous, strong young woman and I am so blessed to have had you in my life. There are not enough words in the world to tell you how wonderful you are and how precious you are to me.
My dear if you are reading this then I am gone and as I feared long ago my vision of your future is coming to pass. When I first saw it I feared for you and wanted to protect you. On New Year's Eve I got a vision and I know I will not be there to help you, but know this, I know you can defeat what is coming. I was scared for you and I tried to shelter you, but you wouldn't let me. I knew once Damon was in your life that this would begin and at first I despised him, but now I see…he makes you happy. He pushes you, challenges you, and he makes you live. You change him too, you make him question the choices he makes instead of him just jumping in to kill the problem. I know you don't see it, but you two were made for one another.
You are stronger than even you know. You have more power coursing in your veins than our entire lineage. There is dark magic, there is light magic and then there is Expression which, as you know, has always been forbidden…because it could not be controlled. I was wrong about it…Expression can be controlled and used for good when used by the right person and you are that person my dear sweet girl. You have a gift when it comes to magic…one that surpasses my own and the time will come for you to use it. Expression has always been meant for you. I saw it when you were five…you used it to bring back a dog the mayor had hit. Again when you were eight and we had that horrible drought, you made it rain. I expected terrible disasters to follow, but they never did because the power of Expression was always meant for you to use.
In the book I have left for you is a diary of sorts of a witch from the beginning of our line. She too had the gift of Expression, but was manipulated into using it for the wrong reasons. I know you will not make the same mistake she did. The book contains everything you will need to know about what you will face and I know you can win…but as you know everything comes with a price. Underneath the floorboard in my room contains a vial with my tear. You know what to do and you shall see what I saw because I cannot explain it with words.
Be brave my little one, be strong, and trust yourself as you have always done. That is what makes you the person you are. You know who you are, you know what you stand for, and you love so deeply that you will risk everything for those you love. Never lose that or the faith you have always held that good will triumph always. I know that these dark days that you will face will wear you down, but know that I am with you…you may not see me my dear, but I am right by your side.
We might fall Isabella, but falling doesn't matter what matters is if we decide to get back up and go on.
I will love you and I will be with you always and forever my baby girl,
Grandmama.
Bella put down the letter as tears streamed down her face and she sobbed as the loss of her grandmother washed over her once again.