Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or plotlines of the Twilight Saga and the following is a form of fiction based on the brilliance of Stephanie Meyer's work.
Author: ToryD
Beta: Splendorous Night Unfurled
Title: A Forbidden Forever
Chapter Seven
"What did you do to her?" Alice demanded furiously when she took in Bella's mussed up hair and smudged makeup.
Edward scowled at his meddlesome sister as she reached out and took Bella's hand to pull her from his embrace towards the ladies room.
Bella glanced back at Edward with a look of helpless humor that caused Edward to smile his crooked smile at her once again.
"So Edward," Jasper started off as he watched Alice and Bella disappear from their view.
"Jasper," Edward answered as he turned to see his brother's amused expression.
"Things seem to be going well," Jasper observed with a light teasing to his tone.
Edward nodded his head slightly, indicating that they should rejoin the rest of the family. "Yes, I would say so."
"Emmett has Bella's friend Mike cornered so he shouldn't give you any competition," Jasper advised as they found Esme and Carlisle talking with the mayor and district attorney.
"Good evening Edward, Jasper," Mayor Smyth greeted both men, especially Edward who was one of his top contributors.
"Mayor," Edward acknowledged as he shook the hand of the distinguished looking man. Turning his attention to the district attorney, he held out his hand as well. "John."
"Edward," John Reynolds greeted the eccentric billionaire with a firm handshake.
"I was just telling Carlisle and Esme that the hospital should be proud of this year's turn out," Mayor Smyth repeated for Edward and Jasper's benefit.
Nodding his head in agreement, Edward looked about the room in search of Emmett and Rosalie.
'There over on the right,' Esme contributed with a thought aimed in Edward's direction.
Edward smiled his thanks and then turned his gaze to seek out Emmett's. Seeing that his brother was engaged in a deep conversation that obviously revolved around football with Mike Newton served to cause a wave of relief to sweep through him; knowing that Emmett would certainly be keeping Mike away from Bella for the rest of the evening.
"And what is your opinion Edward?" the Mayor asked with a quizzical look on his face.
Edward quickly read his thoughts so he could respond appropriately. "I agree with Carlisle," he began as he turned his full attention to the conversation at hand. "I think we really have to weigh on the side of caution before we begin to think about developing the northern slope."
"But don't you think that we could bring in more tourist dollars?" the Mayor asked hoping to sway Edward to his line of thinking.
"I'm sure you could but at what price?" Edward remarked with a slight edge to his voice as he was first and foremost a staunch supporter of wildlife preservation for reasons that went beyond his own self interest.
Mayor Smyth, sensing that he had better not continue on this line of discussion, quickly changed the subject in an attempt to avoid alienating his top supporter. "So I see that we have a Seahawk in attendance tonight," he remarked with a wide smile unknowing that the reference to Mike Newton only served to irritate Edward all the more.
"Yes, I met him earlier this evening," Edward commented politely while he gazed at Esme with a new sense of purpose. "Carlisle, why is it that my gorgeous sister in law isn't on the dance floor?"
"I have no excuse," Carlisle answered as he strived to put on a shamed face.
"Esme," Edward asked with an exaggerated politeness as he extended his hand. "Would you please do me the honor?"
Esme sent a smug look at her husband before she accepted Edward's outstretched hand.
"If you will excuse us gentlemen," Edward said as he guided Esme onto the crowded dance floor.
"You look happy Edward," Esme observed, staring up into his perfect face as he guided her effortlessly across the dance floor.
"I am," Edward answered with a truthfulness that shown unabashedly through his golden gaze.
"I can't help but be a little concerned," Esme added as Edward dipped her low in his arms.
Reading her thoughts he smiled at her. "I know, I'm a little concerned myself," he added with a slight frown to his brow.
"Have you thought about when the time comes to tell her?" Esme asked with a barely audible tone.
"No, I can't think of that yet," Edward answered, a shiver of dread racing down his spine as he pictured the conversation he would one day need to have with Bella. "I just need to take this one day at a time Esme," he finished in an almost pleading tone for her understanding.
"Well, just know that we're always here for you," she said with a maternal smile that reached out and embraced him with loving understanding.
"Thank you," he answered simply as he stood in awe at her unending acceptance of him.
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"Try not to let Edward mess up your hair again," Alice ordered a hair and makeup repaired Bella as they made their way back towards Jasper and Carlisle. "Oh look, Edward is dancing with Esme," she commented absently as she watched her brother and mother execute a perfect ballroom step.
Bella's heart stilled within her chest at the pure perfection of Edward's grace. "Wow," she said softly as she froze in place to watch the man who had stolen her heart.
Alice rolled her eyes and took Bella's hand to pull her towards Jasper, who was in conversation with a small group of men.
"Alice, Bella," Carlisle called out to them in welcome as he stepped to the side to allow them to join the group. "Alice you remember Mayor Smyth and District Attorney Reynolds."
Alice smiled cordially at the two men.
"Gentlemen, I'd like to also introduce you to Bella Swan. Bella this is…" Carlisle's stopped in mid introduction as he took in the look of horror on Bella's now pale features. "Bella?" he questioned her softly as he carefully placed a hand at her elbow.
Bella stood frozen in abject horror as she came face to face with the man who had torn her world apart six years ago.
"Is she alright?" Mayor Smyth asked with a look of concern lining his weathered face as he stared at Bella's stricken expression.
'Edward!' Alice called out to her brother silently. "Bella?" Alice called softly as she tried to pull Bella from some unseen terror.
Emmett and Rosalie both turned instinctively towards their family as they felt an immediate sense of danger engulf them.
Mike's gaze followed Emmett's line of sight and then his heart fell to his stomach as he saw the same heartbreaking haunted expression on Bella's face as he had seen six years before when she had been so cruelly cross examined by the bastard who now stood only a few feet from her. "Damn it!" he cursed as he leaped to his feet to rush to Bella's side.
Edward tensed as he heard Alice's urgent summons. "Something's wrong," he told Esme as he turned to immediately search out Bella.
Mike glared at the district attorney briefly before he stepped protectively in front of Bella to block her view. "Bella, come with me," he ordered softly as he gently led her from the pain of her past.
Edward felt a wave of fury fill him as he caught site of Mike leading Bella away. Seeing Alice's anxious expression he motioned for her to explain.
'I'm not sure what happened,' she conveyed through her mind. 'One minute everything is fine and then the next Bella's frozen stiff like she was really frightened of something.'
Edward nodded as he followed through the doorway where Mike had disappeared with Bella.
"Bella," Mike called to her softly as he tried to pull her from her internal horror.
"What happened?" Edward asked urgently as he approached Mike, who was holding onto Bella by her shoulders.
Mike threw Edward a silencing glance as he shook his head indicating that now was not the time to go into the details of Bella's frightened reaction to the District Attorney who had ripped her life apart.
Edward quickly read Mike's thoughts and was instantly filled with an overwhelming rage that had his hands shaking as he sorted through the visions that Mike's mind had sent of a sixteen year old Bella being made to relive the details of her beating and attempted rape. 'RAPE', the word reverberated off his brain as his body filled with the need for the blood of the man who had dared to cause Bella pain.
Alice and Jasper came rushing out in time to see Edward's obvious struggle. 'Not now Edward!' Alice imparted forcefully so as to stall his unmistakable thirst for vengeance. "Jasper," she instructed with a hard look so her husband could use his gift to restore some semblance of control back into Edward.
Mike continued to speak softly to Bella, "Honey, it's Mike and you're safe."
Edward clenched his teeth and growled under his breath at Jasper's intervention into his emotions, not wanting to have his rage dulled until he saw John Reynolds dead by his vengeance seeking hands.
'Edward!' Carlisle's urgent voice interrupted his thoughts. 'Bella needs you now so get a hold of yourself.'
"What happened?" Emmett asked as he and Rosalie joined the family who each had an anxious expression on their pale faces as they surrounded Bella protectively.
Alice filled Emmett and Rosalie in while Esme crossed to Bella's side with a worried expression on her beautiful face. "Bella, its Esme dear," called very softly as she took hold of one of Bella's shaking hands.
"She certainly knows how to be the center of attention," Rosalie commented venomously under breath as she stared daggers at Bella's down bent head.
"Rosalie!" Carlisle admonished her through his tightly clenched teeth while quickly looking towards Edward, who was thankfully totally engrossed in Bella's condition so he didn't hear Rosalie's hateful comment.
Bella seemed to unfreeze from her internal panic and raised pain filled eyes to Mike's anxious face. "Mike," she whispered as if she were seeing him for the first time this evening.
"Right here Bells," he soothed, using his pet nickname for her as he smiled coaxingly to her.
"Oh God!" Bella cried out as the fog lifted and she felt an overwhelming rush of pain to her heart. "Mike," she cried out with a tortured tone that served to send a chill down to Edward's soul. Tears slowly filled Bella's eyes as she fought against the unbearable pain of her past that she had buried so deeply for so many years.
Jasper gasped aloud at the intense pain he felt radiating off of Bella and grabbed a hold of Alice's hand for some measure of comfort.
Edward, reading through the curses in Mike's head, found that Mike was extremely upset with himself for not insisting that Bella confront her past demons before she had reached this the point of a complete breakdown. Knowing that Bella was ensnared in her own internal hell, Edward approached her cautiously. "Bella," he called to her so softly that he wasn't sure if she could hear him.
Bella turned instantly towards Edward's soft velvet voice as if he were her only lifeline in the sea of pain that she was now struggling to emerge from. "Edward," she whispered with such a painful pleading reflected in her tear-filled eyes.
Taking the few steps that separated them in one, he pulled her gently into his arms and held her trembling form close to his unbeating heart.
Bella melted into Edward's strong frame while her tears continued to trail down her pale cheeks. Tucking her head into the curve of his neck, she breathed deeply to try to pull on his strength.
"Jasper," Edward called softly to his brother. "Can you please get our coats and have the cars brought around?"
"Yes of course." Jasper replied solemnly as he turned to do Edward's bidding.
"Alice, if you could please drive my car while Jasper drives Bella and I home," he said in the form of a statement rather than in the form of a request.
"Of course," Alice agreed immediately as she watched Bella with sympathetic eyes.
"Carlisle," Edward began as his eye searched out his fathers.
"I'll follow you," Carlisle confirmed Edwards's unspoken request as he immediately knew that Edward needed his medical assistance for Bella.
"Thanks," Edward acknowledged as he tightened his hold on Bella's still trembling form. "I'm going to take you home now Bella," he whispered into her ear softly.
Bella nodded slightly as she eased up on her tight grip on Edward's tuxedo lapel.
"Bells," Mike stepped forward, not knowing if Bella should be leaving with Edward.
Edward, reading Mike's thoughts tensed. "If you will give Alice your phone number we will call you later to let you know how Bella is doing," Edward said with an unshakable air of authoritative dismissal.
Seeing that Bella had seemed to be more at peace in Edward's arms, Mike relaxed a bit and nodded his head agreeably. "I call you tomorrow Bells," he quietly promised. "Here's my card, please call me no matter what time it is," Mike instructed Alice as he handed her a small business card.
"Of course," Alice promised as she turned to follow a slow moving Edward and Bella out of the hotel.
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"She should sleep for at least seven to eight hours," Carlisle announced as he dispensed with the syringe he had just used to sedate Bella.
"Thanks," Edward said as he sat by Bella's side while holding her hand tenderly in his.
"Edward," Carlisle began with a worried tone. "When she wakes up she is going to be in much the same state she was in at the hotel. I can only guess at what happened to her, but whatever it was it appears to have been so horrific that she pushed it so deep that she never really dealt with the emotions at the time; so now it will be like she has just experienced them as if it were yesterday. She is going to need your patience and understanding."
Nodding his head sadly, Edward continued to stare at Bella's sleeping form with an anguished expression on his beautiful face.
"Son, it may be that Bella won't be able to face a physical relationship with any man until she deals with this pain from her past," Carlisle imparted as he put a supportive hand on one of Edward's slumped shoulders.
"I understand," Edward answered with a deadened voice.
Closing his eyes against the intense pain that he felt emanating out of his son, Carlisle continued with his advice almost hesitantly. "She may find it easier to talk with a woman, maybe Alice or Esme?" he suggested as he released Edward's shoulder to begin to collect his medical supplies.
"I'll ask Esme to talk with her," Edward said convinced that if anyone could help Bella through this madness that it would be his kind-hearted mother.
"Alright then," Carlisle said as he crossed the room to the doorway. "Call me if you need anything."
Edward broke his eye contact for the first time in an hour from the woman who now held his heart. Glancing back over his shoulder at his father he offered a half-hearted smile. "Thanks Carlisle. For more than just this," he said as he motioned to Bella's sleeping form.
Carlisle smiled gently at his son, knowing that Edward was conveying his gratitude for more than just his medical services. "You're welcome son. I'll send Esme over in the morning."
Edward nodded once in acknowledgement before he turned his intense concerned gaze back to Bella, a gaze that would remain unbroken in the quiet eight hours to come.
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A/N Poor Bella, all that pain that she now has to deal with. Next chapter Bella's story of her past comes to light. Please shoot me a review, even if it is only a word or two. Thanks for reading!