I got lots of favourites and alerts last chapter, it made me very happy :) Thanks everybody! I'm not going to bother with explanations, they consist of a mix of loss of time, annoying family members who hog the internet, and just plain laziness :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Bella's POV:
"What are you doing here?" I asked them.
"We read your book, we've come to apologise," Edward stated. A small part of my mind had wondered if this would happen, but I could never let myself consciously consider it, in case I began to hope. Hoping is painful.
"You don't need to feel guilty," I said.
"We're not here because we feel guilty, we are truly sorry," Edward said, his eyes smouldering, scattering my brain for a few seconds.
"It doesn't matter, I'm fine," I tried to convince them, looking away from his intense gaze.
"No you're not Bella. We hurt you, I hurt you, and I'm so sorry for that," he said sincerely, his voice sounding pained.
"It doesn't matter, I'm over it," I lied, trying to seem off hand.
"Last we heard, you were about to jump off a cliff, and now you're fine?" Alice asked sceptically. I flinched back.
"That was over a year ago," I muttered.
"Bella, I know how you feel-"
"No you don't," I cut Edward off, "That book, they're just words, they don't tell you anything. You have no idea how I feel!" I let some of the pain out in my angry outburst.
"I do. Not because of the book, because I feel exactly the same way," he said.
"That doesn't make any sense, you left me," I said after a moment. I was desperately trying not to let myself hope.
"I left because I thought it was what was best for you. I thought you'd be better off having a safe human life. I hated living without you, but when I came back you were gone. I thought you had moved on and you were happy without me," Edward said, pain in his voice. The truth was finally starting to dawn on me.
"I thought you'd moved on without me. When I saw you all on the TV… I thought you'd forgotten me," I admitted sadly.
"I could never forget you," he said, his voice full of sincerity as he took a few steps closer to me.
"So all of this was just a huge misunderstanding?" I asked, amazed that I could have such bad luck.
"The odds were always stacked against us," Edward sighed.
"But you're here now, you'll stay?" I asked, looking for reassurance.
"How can you still doubt that? I love you more than anything else in the world," he said, coming even closer.
"It never made sense for you to love me; it was much easier to believe you never did," I murmured.
"They were all lies love, so that you would let me go. The guilt of hurting you that way will forever haunt me.
"I don't want you to feel guilty," I said, looking up at him sadly.
"Still the same selfless, stubborn human I see," he said, as he leaned his head down to kiss me.
"Don't go getting all mushy on us now," Emmett complained. Edward glared at him and Rosalie smacked him across the back of the head. I had totally forgotten his family were even there.
"What?" Emmett asked indignantly.
"Ruin the mood, much?" Rosalie said. I laughed; it felt so good to have my family back. Edward turned back to me and brought his lips to mine, as though there had been no interruption. I had waited too long for this, and in true Bella fashion, I reacted instinctively, my hands reaching up to entwine in his hair. He pulled away and chuckled as I caught my breath.
He pulled me over to the couch and sat me on his lap. I relaxed into his chest.
"I never knew you wanted to be an author, Bella," Emmett said.
"I never planned any of this. I used to write in a journal, to help clear my head and sort through my thoughts. My room mate found it one day and thought it was a story. I could hardly tell her it was a journal, she'd have me committed. So I let her think it was a story and she sent it in to be published, without my knowledge. I never really wanted any of this," I said quietly, staring around the large hotel suit.
After a minute, Jasper asked, "So, where are you going next?"
"I've got two more places after Jacksonville, and then I'm done," I said.
"Done?" Edward enquired, raising an eyebrow. I nodded my head.
"I appreciate everything I have here, but it's not really for me. Travelling and being in the spotlight all the time isn't really my thing. I think I'll go back to Forks, I've missed it and I haven't seen Charlie in so long," I smiled at the thought of going home.
"That sounds nice," Esme said.
"Will you be coming?" I asked them all.
"I think it would be best if we were to go straight back to Forks. It's too risky being in such sunny places," Carlisle said.
"Oh, right," I said, dropping my eyes so they couldn't see the hurt in them. It was only two weeks tops; I could live without Edward for that long, couldn't I?
"I'll stay with you," Edward whispered in my ear.
"Really?" I asked, looking up at him hopefully.
"I said I'd stay, didn't I?" he asked playfully. I smiled and yawned. The sun was beginning to set, and I was exhausted after such a long day.
"You're tired, let's get you to bed," Edward said. I rolled my eyes; he still treated me like a child.
"We'll need to leave tonight, it will be sunny tomorrow," Alice said.
"What will you do?" I asked Edward, worry obvious in my voice. I didn't want him jeopardising his safety for me.
"I'll be sneaky," he said, winking. I laughed and hugged my family goodbye.
"See you soon, Bella!" Alice said happily.
That night was on of the best in my life, everything was finally falling back into place.
And that's the end :) Sorry if it wasn't as long as you would have liked. I get some people say my stories are too short, but I am trying.
The next story I'm putting up is one of my favourites, and it's my longest one yet, so I'm really excited about it :D Thanks a whole bunch for all of your support, I really, really, really love you guys :) Bye!
