The ride couldn't have been more uncomfortable in a car not made for six people. Also, Edward and I couldn't talk without everyone else hearing us. How embarrassing that would get with Tony being Tony. Uncle Gibbs was actually driving the speed limit, which was a surprise to the car's occupants. With the rate we were going, we would arrive at my house in three hours. After the ordeal I went through, I just wanted to sleep in my bed with Edward beside me.
When we pulled up to my house, I let out a sigh, more than ready to get out of the car. Once out, Edward and I walked hand in hand behind the others. We reach the bottom step, and Uncle Gibbs rang the doorbell. I heard hurried shuffling coming toward the door. The door swung open to reveal I tired looking Charlie in his police uniform. He had yet to see me as I was behind Tim and Ziva.
"Did you find her? Is she alright?" Charlie asked Uncle Gibbs, talking about me.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" he replied.
At that moment, Ziva and Tim separated to reveal Edward and I. Charlie walked up to me and pulled me into an awkward hug since Edward would not let go of my hand. He held me there for a couple of seconds before his embarrassment about showing emotions caught up to him. He cleared his throat and said:
"Why don't you go in?"
Since Uncle Gibbs and Tony were the closest to the door, they went first, followed by Ziva and Tim. Charlie held Edward and me outside so he could talk to us.
"Bells, you might want to prepare for a storm that's about to come. You too, Cullen." He told the two of us.
"Why?" I asked him. I looked at Edward, and he looked kind of scared as well.
"I called your mom," he started saying, "and she's here right now."
I swore Charlie naturally does the wrong thing. He should have waited a couple of days before calling her. Now she has even more of a reason to try and take me to Jacksonville. I took in a deep breath and prepared for the force of nature that my mom was. I started walking toward the door dragging Edward along.
As soon as I walked into the living room, I heard a squeal that could only come from no one other than my mom. She looked more frantic than usual and quickly ran up to me and help my sore arms at arm's length.
"Oh my." Renee started. "What happened to you? What happened to your face? Not that there's something wrong with your face, but there is a whole lot of bruises. How could this have happened? I knew something bad was going to happen—my mother's instinct. I could have protected you. I'm such a bad mother by letting you stay here. There was no reason for you to stay. I knew something like this was going to happen."
No one tried to interrupt her. I knew that what happened to me would have happened whether I was here in Forks or Jacksonville. That Ari character would have found me either way. I looked toward Uncle Gibbs, hoping that he could calm his sister down. If anyone could, he could. There was no way he would interrupt her rant, though. She would just start over and make it longer than needed.
Renee finished her rant, seemingly satisfied that she had made her point, though no one was really paying attention to her. She looked at me, looking hopeful for some strange reason.
"Well, what do you think?" Renee asked me.
"What do I think about what?"
"About moving to Jacksonville. It's sunny, just like Phoenix, and I will be able to stay with you anytime you want."
She couldn't be serious. I told her that I would leave Forks or Edward like a month ago. There was no way this was going to make me change my mind.
"No," I told her.
"But, look at what happened. This...," she started once again but was interrupted by Uncle Gibbs.
I'm sorry to say this, but this would have happened whether she was here or in Jacksonville."
"What do you mean?"
"The man that kidnapped Bella was after me and would have found her just to get me. That meant that would have killed you for being in his way. This way was better for everyone, really."
I tried to stay interested in the conversation at hand, but there was no way that I could stay awake. I started to slump into Edward because I could no longer keep standing on my feet. Edward saw this and picked me up bridal style. He turned around and passed Charlie to make it to the stairs, and Charlie surprisingly let Edward past. He carried me to my room and laid me on my bed. He pecked me on my cheek.
"I'm going to have to go back downstairs, love," he told me. I didn't want him to leave, but I knew he would have to.
"Will you hum my lullaby for me?" I asked.
"Of course."
He started to hum the intricate melody that was my lullaby. Before the end of the song, I was already in a deep sleep. I vaguely heard a door slowly closing.
I woke up to light shining in my eyes. I reached for my lamp, assuming that it was what was shining. Charlie probably wanted me up so that I could fix him dinner. I looked at the lamp and notice that it was not on, and the light was coming from the window that I didn't close. I looked at my digital clock on the nightstand, and it read 6 AM. Well, isn't this just great? The day after I'm rescued, I can't spend time with Edward. Mom was probably downstairs waiting for me to return so she can continue to yell at me.
I walked downstairs and noticed no signs of anyone. I walked the pantry to grab my favorite cereal and grabbed the milk from the refrigerator. As soon as I close the fridge, I noticed a note left for me from Charlie. It read:
Hey Bells, Sorry, I had to work today, so I was unable to be there. Your mom has agreed to let you stay, and she could catch a flight last night. Thank Gibbs for that. If you are going to meet the gang later, they're staying at the motel. Charlie
I felt that Charlie was telling me to visit Uncle Gibbs and the others instead of spending time with Edward. At least he didn't make it obvious. I was deciding to go there anyway, the impossibility of spending time with Edward. I hurriedly finished my cereal and grabbed my car key. I walked outside and got into my truck. I revved the engine and started on my way to the only motel in Forks. Hopefully, they hadn't already left like mom had.