I don't own anything Twilight. Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyers. No copyright infringement intended. I'm just playing around with her creation.

Previously: Jacob stops in Seattle for food and devises what to tell Charlie about Bella. Charlie learns what happened to Bella, according to the story Jacob thought up. Charlie calls Renée and promises her some of Bella's ashes. Bella goes into depression. Tanya convinces her to go hunting.

Chapter 12: Gifts Aren't Always Good

Bella's Point of View

Due to the hell, we were all currently going through, any form of celebration had been postponed, which meant Christmas and New Years were now behind us. I knew everyone was just trying to protect me and I do appreciate the thought but in a way, I'm glad I found out. Not knowing how I had become a vampire and knowing that Edward had left me but not remembering why was driving me crazy. Now I need to work through the facts that an insane vampire had violated me and despite that, I wasn't a ruined woman.

I had been an enigma of emotions for the last two weeks after I had delivered myself from myself imposed purgatory, Jasper had even run from the house screaming because I was too much for him. Confusion, hurt, love, loneliness, longing, sorrow, abandonment, and lust were just a few of what Jasper had complained about, half of them I wasn't even aware of.

Now that I had back my memories, Eleazar could identify my ability without any shadow of a doubt. What he told us shocked everyone. I was a manipulative shield, which meant I could wrap a shield around anything and do what I wanted with it. Eleazar was greatly pleased with my gift, stating that no one he had ever encountered had a shield like mine, that I had incredible potential.

What Eleazar had planned for me next dumbfounded me. He had drawn up an elaborate itinerary for me to follow and about seventeen hours out of each day involved me learning to control my power. I eagerly welcomed the training for the most part it got my mind off focusing on Edward and the hell he had left me to endure all on my own.

Eleazar had even enlisted Jasper for his expertise in warfare and together they formulated a better plan. The two of them snagged Emmett and myself and dragged us into the woods behind the house. They faced Emmett and I off in front of each other and told me to catch whatever Emmett thrown at me. It took Emmett two seconds for him to throw several enormous snowballs at me.

On instinct, I reached up in an attempt to catch the airborne orb of snowflakes. It turned into powder the moment it collided against my palm. I shook the remaining snow from my face and glared at Eleazar and Jasper who were snickering about twenty feet away.

"Bella, we meant catch with your shield not with your face," Jasper rushed to say since he was fighting off a full-blown laugh.

I snickered a less than humorous laugh at them then looked back toward Emmett, just in time to see a tree flying at me. Impulse took over and I closed my eyes and tilted my head, waiting for the impact to strike. It never came. I cracked an eyelid then the other. I was shocked to see the gigantic tree hovering in midair five feet from me. Emmett was waving his arm underneath it as if it was some kind of magic trick.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the hovering log. I walked around the tree, gawking in total astonishment. Had I really done this, this was my power?

"No way!"

The sudden familiar voice distracted me and the tree dropped from its suspended animation, landing on Emmett's arm. I didn't turn around to look, I already knew whom it was and I froze like a statue. Even after all that he had done, or not done, his voice still had the ability to turn me to putty. I heard him approaching from behind me; snow wasn't exactly the best for stealth walking.

"How was that tree held up in the air?" I saw Emmett nod his head toward me. "Bella, she held it up? My Bella did that?"

I cringed at his last two words, not because of the ownership of them but because of the amount of skepticism in his voice. I rounded on him after five seconds of silence from all around. Edward flinched backwards upon my sudden movement.

"Yes, it was me! Petite, clumsy, uncoordinated, pathetic, broken Bella," with each adjective I used to describe myself, my anger grew each time. "What's the matter, can't believe that the once fragile human could actually have a power?"

"Um…no…that's-"

I cut him off, tired of hearing his excuses. "After you left, I fought tooth and nail to pull myself back together. I've escaped vampires, ridden motorcycles and apparently hung out with werewolves, controlling a power should be a piece of cake," I could see my fuming, black eyes reflected in his scared, golden ones and I started to poke him in the chest. "And you, Mr. High and mighty, all-hearing, overprotective, over thinking, psycho-emotional vampire asshole, newsflash – I ceased to be yours the day you threw me away and left me in the forest, screaming myself hoarse hollering for you. I am no longer your Bella," Edward stared at me dumbfounded and at a loss for words. I could see it in his eyes that my words had struck a nerve somewhere within him because he looked on the verge of tears, not that they could help him in this case if they could fall.

"Um, Bella…" I snapped around quickly, enraged that someone had interrupted my tirade.

"WHAT?" I shouted and glared at Jasper who was staring down at the ring of rocks surrounding Edward and me. I stared at the rocks planted in the snow, uncovered by the white powder. I don't remember those when we got here. I gave Jasper a curious eyebrow lift.

He arched an eyebrow in response. "Bella, you moved those rocks on your own and they were aimed directly at Edward."

My head snapped up to look at Eleazar who nodded, as did Emmett. Edward kept his face lowered and his eyes on the rocks, I could swear I understood what was going through his mind as he stared at the solid objects. He was shocked that he was the target for the, which made sense considering how livid he made me.

"I can honestly say I didn't know about the rocks but can you really blame me?" I crossed my arms and glared narrowly at the man in front of me. His eyes were still downcast and filled with sadness.

After minutes of absolute silence, he finally looked up at me and spoke. "No matter what you may think, I have always loved you and always will."

Despite how heartfelt his words were I couldn't hide the skepticism I felt in my heart and my head and the growl that echoed from my throat agreed with the rest of me. Edward flinched at my snarl and I almost felt bad for him, almost.

"Even if what you say is true and you do love me, it's going to take more than sweet words and a crooked smile for me to get over the pain you caused me when you left," he sighed heavily at my terse words because he knew I was right. "I now remember what happened and its going to take time getting over what happened to me."

He stared intently at me, seeing if my face held any conviction of my words, he nodded once when he realized that everything I had said was true. I was sad that my words hurt him but they were the truth and he needed to understand that I wasn't going to just fall back into his arms the moment he came back into my life.

"I completely understand seeing as it was a very traumatic experience. If there is anything, I can do to help you get things back to the way you want them, please let me know," Edward leaned forward and kissed my forehead, as he had done so many times before. He then gave me small smile and walked away toward the house.

I crossed my arms over my chest and watched as he slowly walked away in to the trees. My hands tightened into fists at the urge to rush to him and take him in my arms and show him my love but there was an ache in my heart, and I still needed to get past it.

Edward had left me a year ago, taking with him the one thing I cared for most, himself. Since it wasn't possible for me to take away his one thing, he cared about most, since it was me, I would take the next best thing.

Emmett cringed when I looked evilly over at him. "Oh Emmett, could I ask you a favor? It involves getting back at Edward."

He stood absolutely still, nervousness seeping from around him. Was he that scared about what I would ask him? I walked up to him slowly, stood on my tiptoes and whispered into his ear what I wanted him to do and a smile creped across Emmett's face.

Everyone else may think it's a trivial thing, but it will make me feel better.

Edward's Point of View

Once Bella, and the guys returned from their training session, I wanted so badly to rush over to the girl and take her in my arms, but her words from earlier played repeatedly in my head. She had a point. After what I had done, after I had ripped her heart and soul apart and leaving her body a soulless, walking thing when I left…she needed time. This was the only case where I could argue that time moved quickly for vampires. I wanted her in my arms now, to feel her lips on mine, and her fingers in my hair…I could feel every second that ticked by while I waited for our true reunion.

Bella walked right passed me without so much of a passing glance and headed straight upstairs, a small smirk on her lips. She was cooking up something inside that silent mind of hers, of that I was positive.

Eleazar and Jasper wondered over to the chess table and immediately immersed themselves into a rather intense game. From the way their minds were scheming, I had a feeling this was going to be a very long game.

I glanced at Emmett curiously when he starting imagining a bear dancing to Swan Lake in a tutu. My eyebrow arched upward when a bunch more woodland creatures dressed the same as the bear and dancing as well joined in the bears activity. He walked over and quickly lifted Rosalie from her seat in the recliner, sat down and placed her on his lap.

Something was definitely up. Normally if Emmett wanted to keep me out of his head he would picture his wife naked or her doing things to him. There was something undeniably unusual about Emmett's behavior.

I watched the chess game proceed but kept my ears and mind trained on Emmett, something was up and I needed to know what. Things with Emmett involved were never a good thing; he enjoyed practical jokes too much to consider myself safe.

"I need to go away for a week."

Hearing Emmett's not so quiet whisper got my attention. Where was he going? I tilted my head slightly so I could see them from the corner of my eye.

"What do you mean, you need to go away, what the hell does that mean?" snapped Rosalie.

Emmett sighed and sifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Bella asked a favor of me and I need to retrieve something from our home in Canada. If I leave tomorrow, I should be back within a week."

Rosalie whined and started kissing his cheeks and jaw line. "Couldn't I just go with you?"

"I did debate that but I thought maybe you could help Bella out some more. Show her that her life will be alright, she will be alright."

She nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll let you go but you have to make it so I last for the next week without you." A smile appeared on his face as Rosalie jumped from his lap, grabbed his hand and pulled him from the house.

Thank god, they were leaving the house to do their activities; I don't think I could handle hearing them. In addition, if Bella heard them I don't want to imagine the ramifications that might follow.

Now that the house was free of the sex-crazed monkeys, I cautiously walked up the stairs, nervous beyond all get out. I stopped outside Bella's room and took several unnecessary deep breaths then knocked on the door gently.

"Yes?" Her voice answered quickly before she pulled the door open and stared up at me inquisitiveness written on her face.

"Um, I was hoping you could join me outside on the porch?" I ran my hand shyly and embarrassingly through my hair; honestly, I was surprised I even managed to get the question out. It used to be so easy talking with her, why the sudden change.

"Why don't we go out on the balcony, its closer?" she pointed to the French doors on the opposite side of the room and I nodded sheepishly. I followed her through the doorway and we stood in silence on the snow-covered balcony. "Obviously you want to talk to me, what about?"

I clenched my hands into fist to avoid reaching out for her, the need to touch her was getting painful but I fought it. "I know this probably isn't the best time for this discussion but I hate being in limbo and I know you do too." She nodded in agreement and I continued. "After what happened to us this last year and learning what harm can befall us when we are apart, I want you to know that I will NEVER, EVER leave your side again. I'll be like glue, stuck to your side; a crow bar couldn't pry me away. Even if you ordered me away, I wouldn't go; it hurts too much to be away from you." I paused to think over my next words. "If things had gone differently…I would have been back by the start of our senior year."

Bella continued to stare at me, saying nothing. It looked as if she was thinking but your guess was as good as mine was.

Alice's Point of View

Maybe it just took some time, maybe in a few more days my gift wouldn't be so sporadic any more. Ever since we had learned about Bella's shielding talent had now rendered my talent almost null-n-void. Before the restoration of her memories, I had absolutely nothing, just a fog whenever I tried to see Bella, but now, I was getting a fragment here and a morsel there.

I would sit for hours on end, hoping to get anything regarding my best friend. Now that the Quileute wolves knew about Bella and the fact that, she was still 'alive', it was imperative that I learn what her future held.

To say that I was surprised when I actually got a vision of Bella was an understatement.

Edward and Bella were standing on the back balcony the snow falling down gently as if they were feathers in a light breeze. Edward telling Bella how much he loves her, how much he has always loved her, and will always love her. Telling her that despite what she thinks, she is far from a ruined woman.

"I have a question to ask you." He kneels down on one knee and takes her hands in his then gazes up into her slightly shocked face. "I know that we still have a lot to work through and we will, together. I nearly lost you when James attacked, I lost you to my own stupidity when I left, I thought I lost you when you disappeared from the meadow, and I feared I'd lost everything we had when you had amnesia. I don't want to lose you again ever again." He reached into his back pocket and held out a delicate platinum band with a small heart shaped diamond up to her. "Bella, I'll love for the rest of eternity and even longer if we're allowed…If you're willing, please say you'll be my wife."

Bella stared down at him, a mixture of shock, love, hurt, and determination on her face, and in her eyes. She fell to her knees in the snow in front of Edward and looked deeply into his eyes then smiled. "Yes, I'll be your wife…but there is one thing I need to do first."

My vision cut off there. I sat on the couch staring at the wall in shock for several reasons. One, I wasn't actually trying for a vision at that moment. Two, that was an amazingly long vision for a vision regarding Bella. Three, Edward proposed and Bella said yes. I jumped up from the couch and started to do a crazy dance in the middle of the room. I was so happy that I ignored the many questioning eyes watching me.

"Darlin' what's got you so worked up?" Jasper asked with a hint of concern in his voice as he got to his feet by the chess table and took a step toward me.

I was too excited for words. I bounced my way over to my husband then wrapped my arms around him and continued bouncing, completely messing up the chess game in the process.

My brother was getting married and Bella was officially going to be a member of the Cullen family.

Chapter End Notes:

What do you think about Bella's gift? Do you think Edward explained his feelings well enough? I hope so, I was having trouble thinking up the right words. So who's glad Alice finally had a vision?

Warning: two chapters and the epilogue left. I can't believe it's almost over.