Chapter 6

I hear Valerie speaking to Jake as I nibble absentmindedly on my slice of pizza… I pull my headphones off to find out what she's saying…

"Jake, hun, I've missed you… Can't you let Bells go alone or with just Seth and Leah…just this once?" I feel funny as I watch her lips make contact with his jaw.

His face turns to stone… "This first time I want to be there… Bella… do you want a smaller escort? I could be just me and Seth or me and Valerie or me and Leah…even just me and you, but I'm not negotiable."

Dang… He's got that I'm in charge here look on his face… I grin. "Ok, Jake… You, me and Val is a good size. Let's get ready." My cell phone buzzes. I've got a text… I smile. "Val, go to the door… there's a box with 2 outfits in it. Bring it to my room…"

I lock my bedroom door as she opens the box. One outfit is a pink skirt and top… "That's in your size and color Valerie…" I pull out the other piece of clothing… "It's perfect…Alice knows me and Edward so well…" I text Alice to tell her we'll be there in an hour.

1 hour later…

I'm standing just outside the door to the place. Jake insisted I give him a chance to pick a table and scope the place out before I join them… I'm waiting exactly 2 minutes then I'm going in.

As I step through the door, I feel eyes focus on me…all of them…Valerie had done my hair and make-up but the dress is the most perfect piece of fabric ever to grace my body…silk, flowing, and a lovely periwinkle blue with embroidery at the V-neckline and a ruffle at the hem. If you can fall in love with an item of clothing this is it…

Jake is suddenly by my side. "He's over there. I got us 2 small tables; you'll sit at one with him or one of them… I'll be with Val at the other… I'll lighten up I promise… but they have to know that you're well protected…"

I hand him my jacket. "I get it Jake… I really do… Remember though I want you to not think about that thing we did for the wedding… ok?" I walk to the Cullens' table and ask frankly, "I know you heard him so who's sitting with me?" I don't dare to hope, but, as I turn, Edward's hand cups my elbow.

His voice flows through me as he says, "You look amazing, Bella. Thank you for coming…"

We sit at the halfway point between Jake and the Cullens… "You said you might sing… I wouldn't miss that for the world. Your voice is so beautiful, and I've missed it for too long."

"I'll sing for you, Bella. I promise… Would you like a coke or something, my treat?" He seems surprised as I nod…I would usually not let him pay without a protest but I figure that, with all the agony I've been through over the years, it's the least he can do. I wait to see what'll happen now. "I'll order your coke, and then…Well, we're up first Bella… My whole family decided to sing this song for you." I recognize the opening music to Taylor Swift's 'Breathe', as the whole family assembles on the stage.

Edward starts: I see your face in my mind as I drive away

Alice joins in: 'Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way
Rose is solo: People are people and sometimes we change our minds
Alice and Edward: But it's killing me to see you go after all this time
All Cullens: Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, Mmm,

Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Esme: Music starts playin' like the end of a sad movie; it's the kinda ending

you don't really wanna see

Emmett: 'Cause its tragedy and it'll only bring you down
Edward: Now I don't know what to be without you around
Carlisle: And we know it's never simple, never easy; never a clean break,

Edward: no one here to save me; you're the only thing I know like the back of

my hand; And I can't breeeeeeeeathe;

Without you, but I have to Breeeeeeeeathe Without you, but I have to
All Cullens: Never wanted this, never want to see you hurt
Edward: Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve
Rose: People are people and sometimes it doesn't work out
Jasper: Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out
Carlisle: And we know it's never simple, never easy; Never a clean break,

I feel the need to join in… My voice amazingly harmonizes with Edward's:

No one here to save me; you're the only thing I know like the back of

my hand; And I can't breeeeeeeeathe

Without you, but I have to Breeeeeeeeathe Without you, but I have to
Jasper and Alice and Emmett and me:

Its two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend; Hope you know it's not

easy, easy for me
its two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend; Hope you know this ain't

easy, easy for me
Carlisle and me: And we know it's never simple, never easy; never a clean break,

Edward falls silent here and it's just me:

no one here to save me, oh; I can't breeeeeeeeathe Without you, but I

have to Breeeeeeeeathe Without you,

but I have to Breeeeeeeeathe Without you, but I have to-oooooh
All Cullens: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm

sorry…………..

I look over at Valerie and Jake. She has tears in her eyes. I get on the stage next. "I learned to sing and even dance, during my years at Washington University. I'm still pretty shy about it though, so it's good that it's not too crowded here tonight. Here's another Taylor Swift song… 'Perfectly good heart'."

Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
Why would you wanna take our love and tear it all apart now
Why would you wanna make the very first scar
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart

Maybe I should've seen the signs, should've read the writing on the wall
And realized by the distance in your eyes that I would be the one to fall
No matter what you say I still can't believe
That you would walk away
It don't make sense to me but
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
Why would you wanna take our love and tear it all apart now
Why would you wanna make the very first scar
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
It's not unbroken anymore
How do I get it back the way it was before
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
Why would you wanna take our love and tear it all apart now
Why would you wanna make the very first scar
Why would you wanna break, Why would you wanna break it
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart
Why would you wanna take our love and tear it all apart now
Why would you wanna make the very first scar
Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart?

I finish my song and sit beside him at our table and take a sip of my coke. Other people are going up to sing as we speak in low voices. He said to me, "I'm glad you learned to sing… I loved hearing you… I thought I was doing the right thing… I see now that I was so wrong…"

"But you refuse to learn from your mistake…" I whisper. "And you break my heart more and more each day you stay away from me …You do not deserve this punishment that you've inflicted upon yourself, Edward…" Tears begin to run down my face. "I don't deserve this punishment either…" I grab my purse and jacket and run for the door. Valerie stops me as I reach it. She points back to the table. Jake and Edward are face to face. Edward's face looks pained…like he's burning. "Jacob Black! You stop that! Whatever you're thinking, STOP!" I yell. "I didn't bring you here to hurt him, Jacob!"

Edward sits heavily in his chair. "I wanted her to be safe and happy… I never meant to hurt her…J-Jacob… I do still…"

Jake growl at him. "Then tell HER, parasite! Not me! I'm here to protect her from physical harm…I wish I could prevent emotional harm too, but I can't. Her heart has always belonged to you. Even while she was mine in marriage… Her heart always had your name on it… So do something about it!"

"What would you do, Dog? If you'd been the one to leave and hurt her…?"Edward is staring at the floor, now.

My poor ex-husband is stuck teaching the only man I'll ever love how not to be a jerk. "Idiot leech! I would have been back the next day on my hands and knees begging for her to forgive me! You don't need to worry though! That part is done already! She forgave you, dang it all, so long ago it doesn't matter anymore! Don't you GET IT, CULLEN? All you have to do is say 11 words and you're back in the arms and life of the woman who loves you! WHY WON'T YOU SAY THEM???"

Edward's voice is so soft I can barely hear him say, "I don't deserve her forgiveness, mongrel!"

Jake's fist connects with Edward's jaw. "You still don't get it! Your opinion doesn't matter! She thinks you deserve to be forgiven… The ONLY THING that will make her happy is having YOU in her life!!!" He's now pounding on Edward's body and face… Alice and the other Cullens are now on the defensive. I know that fists won't do damage… Their teeth are the only weapons that can hurt each other…but I sink to the floor as Carlisle tries to break it up. My make-up is all over my face. My hair is a mess. The dress will have to be dry-cleaned…but I don't care. Jake's angry voice rings out through the bar. "Her love is the only thing that can redeem you…Your love is the only thing that can heal her…SAY IT! OUT LOUD! NOW! AND MEAN IT!!!"

Our eyes meet as I finally hear the words that glue my soul back in place. "Bella, I love you and I'll never leave your side again."

Alice and Esme have smiles on their faces. The rest look relieved. Since we're both on the floor, I crawl over to him. I close my eyes as his cool arms wrap around me, pulling me onto his lap. My hands are on auto-pilot…working into his hair… pulling his mouth to my lips in the kiss I'd been hoping for…and dreaming of for the last 9 years. It doesn't disappoint. I'm feeling just as hot and bothered as he used to get me… and I won't have privacy enough to fix that for at least a few days… Oh, well… Its worth it.

His lips touch my temple as he whispers, "Never leave you again…I swear. I love you so much.You look tired, love. Do you want to sleep at your place or mine?"

"Hers Eddie-boy…I need to be sure about her safety… in that house and your hands…And I'm warning you now, leech…" Jake says menacingly, pointing a finger at the love of my life.

"Don't call him that, Jake, and please don't ruin this for me…" I plead. As he glances at me, he stops talking but his look, and I'm sure his thoughts too, say everything he'd wanted to vocalize.

As his arms tighten around me, Edward's next words confirm my suspicions. "I'll be begging for that if I hurt her again…I swear."

The car ride home is tense; Jacob had driven the 3 of us to the bar and Edward had been in Alice's car, so if he wasn't leaving my side Jake had to drive the 4 of us. Since that kiss, Edward hadn't let me off his lap or out of his arms. Leah and Seth meet us at my door wanting details.

"Jake will fill them in, Edward. I'll get ready for bed… will you…stay with me… in the… room? Like you… used to?" I hold my breath as he nods. I've got a satin nightgown in the closet just waiting for this occasion… literaly. I bought it one day out of the blue… Pun not intended… It's knee length and midnight blue with a bit of lace… I had taken one look at it and said to myself, 'Edward will see me in this one day', and I can't wait to see his face when it happens.' I grab it and dash into the bathroom to shower and change. As I open the door to my room, I notice 3 things: he's got a pair of lounge pants on…he's got the bed turned down… and his eyes are closed with his open arms waiting for me… "Hmmhmm…" I wait for his reaction…

His eyes open; I see him swallow. "Bella, you look…"

I grin and walk over to settle into his embrace… "For you, love. Only for you…"

His gaze rakes over my body before he controls himself. The last words I hear for the night have such emotion, "Sleep my love. Sleep and know that I am with you…forever…"