Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight…darn!
Thank you so so so so so so so so much for reading and reviewing!! Ye are the best…and I owe you a happy(ish) ending!!
We found Ali sitting on a leather couch talking animatedly; enjoying the attention. The Cullens were all watching her, obviously amused. I glanced at Edward, who, I noticed, was trying to hide a smile. What was Ali saying?
"And then Edward killed Victoria and saved Mommy" I heard her finish. She was telling them a story! Colour rushed to my cheeks but nobody noticed. They were all wrapped up in Ali who was smiling up at them, waiting for the praise that was bound to come. She was not disappointed.
Esme and Alice cooed over her; Carlisle gazed down at her with a fond expression; Jasper and Emmett chuckled quietly. Even Edward seemed appreciative.
"She's such a cutie" Alice exclaimed, never taking her eyes from her. "Do you know any more stories?"
Ali nodded excitedly. Her eyes sparkled and she was cheeks were rosy; she was having such a good time. Could I possibly take her back to LA away from all this; away from a proper family? But I didn't have a chance to contemplate this as she was about to begin another story. I had to stop her before she completely mortified me.
"Ali sweetie, time for a nap" I ordered firmly. She nodded, unwilling to question me. Carefully she climbed off the chair and took Alice's hand.
"Will you show me where to go" she asked as sweet as sugar. I could practically see Alice melt. Ali had totally won her over.
Alice regained her composure and glanced over to me for affirmation. I nodded smiling. I silently hoped that Alice would be able to handle her.
"So are you coming back?" Emmett demanded once Ali was gone.
"I don't know yet" I mumbled. "That's up to Edward."
"You mean you think he doesn't want you back?" Esme asked throwing Edward a dark look. "If he has let you think that he is lying. I have never seen him as depressed as he's been there last three years. His ridiculous pride might stop him begging you to come back but it sure as hell won't stop me."
I was slightly taken aback by this. "When you say depressed you mean…"
Esme began to answer but Edward cut across her. "It's nothing Bella. It doesn't matter now anyway because your back and I won't let you go again."
"Unless you accept that Ali is yours, I can not possibly stay." I repeated for what felt like the millionth time.
His smile drooped a little but otherwise his expression remained unchanged. "Okay, let's say that, hypothetically, that Ali is my daughter; why would you leave me…taking her with you without telling me? I can't buy it."
All eyes were on me. Except Carlisle's who had disappeared; I vaguely wondered if he had gone to work. They waited for an answer but there was no one easy answer. What could I tell them to pacify them for now?
"Obligation." I whispered. Yes…totally lame but it would have to do. "I didn't want you to feel tied to us, mostly her, for the rest of her life. I know you would do it and not care what you were giving up but I couldn't do that to you."
"Bull!" Edward exclaimed. "Are you going to tell me the truth or do I have to persuade you?"
Every fibre of my being wanted to be persuaded; Edward was well aware of that fact and was more than will to be persuasive. But I was the one in control; I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of persuading me.
"I was stupid. I didn't think it through and I wish more than anything that I hadn't left you" I whispered unwillingly. "But the baby's safety was the deciding factor."
He frowned; whether it was at my transparent honesty or my answer, I didn't know. "You wish you hadn't done it?" he repeated thoughtfully. "Well undo it. Come back to me and never ever leave for the rest of eternity."
"You know my condition." I breathed. His topaz eyes were firmly fixed on me, taking my breath away; dazzling me. Even after three tough years he still made me feel like the untroubled teenager I used to be when I met him first.
"Even though I don't think it is possible in any shape or form" he muttered "if you believe it…if you believe it with all your heart then I have no choice to believe it wholeheartedly."
"Thank you" I said almost soundlessly.
"You're staying?" Alice exclaimed gleefully; I hadn't noticed her re-entering the room.
"I guess so" I muttered without taking my eyes from Edward's. Something there told me that he wanted to be alone with me. I was more than happy to oblige.
After Ali had woken up I decided that it was time to drag myself away from Edward's side and so back to Charlie's. He had, of course, offered to accompany me but I decided that he was safer away from Charlie and any loaded firearms.
When I pulled up at Charlie's I had to bring in the shopping. While I was taking them from the car boot I ordered Ali to stay next to me. Under normal circumstances Ali is good to follow orders but Forks seemed to extract a rebellious side to my daughter.
As soon as I turned away something across the road caught Ali's attention, probably a butterfly or something. It wasn't her fault that she ran across the road; it is what your average three year old would do. I should never have given her the chance, but I just assumed she would do as she was told like she always did.
A car happened to be speeding down the road at the time. What are the odds of that happening? I turned and nearly had heart failure when I realised she wasn't beside me. I saw the driver's face go pale and realised with a start what was going to happen.
I dropped the bags letting the contents spill onto the ground and ran forward to try and save my daughter. By the time I had gotten to her it was too late to run. I scooped my terrified baby of the road and help her tight in my arms, silently imploring that I would take the brunt of the impact and that Ali would be okay.
For a moment everything went black. When things came back into focus I felt white pain, I felt like I couldn't move, I felt blood streaming. But for once none of this mattered because all I noticed was that Ali was lying limp and lifeless in my arms.
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