A/N-This is a transitionary chapter before the big confrontation chapter. I hope you like it!! Please remember to review. Thank to all my reviewers you guys are great.!! Saranicole, Yours-for- Eternity, solDios, LaineMichelle, 1stepbehind29, FAllenAngel5439, Feel the Pain, Twilight Chick, and ViscountessKiera.
Disclaimer-I don't own any of it.
The plane landed on the ground and I had to release her from my arms. Not having her in my arms made me feel empty. It was almost unbearable. We walked down the long hallway towards the exit, my arm draped around Bella's waist again. It gave me some sense of security to have her close to me. Waiting for us were Esme, Carlisle, and Jasper. I figured my family would be here once Alice had called Jasper to let him know we were alive. I felt a new guilt wash over me as I looked at Esme and Carlisle. Esme stepped forward taking Bella into a hug even though I didn't release her.
"Thank you so much." She whispered to Bella. Next she threw her arms fiercely around me. The look on Esme's face spoke volumes to the pain I had put her through. Tears would have fallen if she were capable.
"You will never put me through that again." It was the sharpest tone I had ever heard from Esme. Waves of pain and regret washed over me.
"Sorry, Mom," was about all I could say. Next Carlisle spoke to Bella.
"Thank you, Bella. We owe you." Carlisle didn't speak to me out loud at least. He simply said "nice to have you home." I assumed he was saving the rest of his thoughts for later. When Bella spoke to Carlisle I realized that her sleepless plane ride had finally caught up to her.
"Hardly," she spoke a sleepy mumble.
"She's dead on her feet." Esme was not pleased with the condition that Bella was in especially because she had risked her life for me. "Let's get her home."
I guided Bella out towards the parking garage only to find Rosalie and Emmett waiting by Carlisle's car. I stiffened immediately I hadn't been expecting to see Rosalie. The anger in me rose up quickly. She only thought of herself when she made that phone call.
"Don't," Esme whispered. "She feels awful."
"She should." I made no attempt to hide my anger. She had been horrible to me since the day Bella first appeared in Forks and she had been even worse to Bella. She took pleasure in that phone call thinking that if Bella were dead I would return to the family.
"It's not her fault," Bella was actually trying to defend Rosalie. She would always surprise me.
"Please let her make amends," Esme pleaded. "We'll ride with Alice and Jasper."
I pouted. I didn't want anything to do with Rosalie. Then Bella spoke again.
"Please, Edward." It was clear that Bella was willing to ride with Rosalie even though she had been uncomfortable around her. I decided that if Bella were willing to deal with Rosalie then I would make the effort. In the very least we would get to spend time with Emmett. I had missed Emmett and I know he missed Bella. He had always thought of her as a little sister.
"Edward," Rosalie's thoughts were clear. She was sorry but what she did was so inexcusable.
"I know," there was little she could say that would make me forgive her any time soon.
"Bella?" Rosalie spoke softly. There was hesitation in her voice. Rosalie was never good at being humble and this was not easy for her.
"Yes, Rosalie?"
"I'm so very sorry, Bella. I feel so wretched about every part of this, and so grateful that you were brave enough to go save my brother after what I did. Please say you'll forgive me." Rosalie meant every word she said. Her thoughts did not betray her. It was very difficult for her to do this and I was pleased that she made an effort with Bella.
"Of course, Rosalie," Bella spoke in sleepy tones. "It's not your fault at all. I'm the one who jumped off the damn cliff. Of course I forgive you."
"It doesn't count until she's conscious, Rose," Emmett said with a small chuckle.
"I'm conscious." Bella barely mumbled before she nuzzled closely to my neck and fell fast asleep. I loved having her so close to me.
"Let her sleep." I said gruffly to them. She needed her rest I had a feeling that Charlie would not be as happy to see us or at least me.
It was as bad, if not worse, than what I had imagined. I could hear Charlie's thoughts as we approached the house. He was worried about Bella. Then he saw our car pull up. Charlie swung the door open and stalked toward us. I lifted Bella into my arms and carried her towards Charlie.
"Bella!" the anger was clear in his voice and his thoughts were screaming profanities at me. Charlie hated me and blamed me for everything. He had every right to blame me. Right now though Bella was priority, she needed to sleep and be yelled at later.
"Charlie," Bella was barely awake but she recognized that we were at her house.
"Shh, it's okay; you're home and safe. Just sleep." I whispered to Bella trying to ease her anxiety. She would have to face Charlie eventually and he had thoughts of grounding until she was thirty.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face here." Charlie was furious. He had some pretty vivid thoughts involving me and his fists. But he was also panicked. It was the second time Bella had run off because of me. He was afraid one of these times she would run off for good like Renee. I could understand his fear. I was afraid that she would run away from me for good too.
"Stop it, Dad." Bella barely let the words slip through her lips. Charlie didn't hear her and continued his rant as he came closer.
"What's wrong with her?" Charlie was close enough to see Bella's pale face and limp body in my arms. A whole new set of thoughts rushed through his mind about Bella's well being.
"She's just very tired Charlie, please let her rest." These were not the words Charlie wanted to hear from me. Charlie preferred for me to be dead amongst the many thoughts going through his head.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Charlie was red in the face and yelling at me. "Give her to me. Get your hands off of her!"
I tried to pass Bella to Charlie but she clung to me. It was the first sign she had shown of wanting to be with me. I found some joy in the gloominess of this situation. Bella may want to be with me. Of course, she could just want to yell at me and tell how much of a jerk she thought I was or she was too unconscious to know what she was doing. Either way I'd take it. It would mean being with her for at least a little longer.
Bella found her voice again. This time she had some authority behind her words. "Cut it out, Dad. Be mad at me."
We had made it to the front steps of Bella's house. Charlie was standing between the front door and me. He was not about to let me in his house.
"You bet I will be. Get inside." Charlie was definitely going to ground Bella for life after this.
"Kay, let me down." Bella sighed heavily as I set her on her feet. Her legs were not ready to hold her weight. She tried to take one step forward and quickly began to fall face first toward the pavement. I quickly grabbed her around the waist.
"Just let me get her upstairs and then I'll leave." Charlie wasn't overly excited about letting me in his house but the thought of me leaving made his day. Bella had a completely different reaction.
"No!" Bella was distraught over me leaving and if my heart weren't stone it would have skipped a beat. She didn't want me to leave. This was the second time she had that reaction to the thought of me leaving. It gave me some hope but I was still unsure of her reasons and the fear resurfaced.
"I won't be far," I whispered so only she could hear. And I wouldn't be. I couldn't bear to be away from her even for a minute. Leaving her here would be hard enough. Even if it would only be for a short time I needed her to be close to me. I walked past Charlie and had him direct me to Bella's room. Technically I had never been in to her room or as far as Charlie had known. I carried Bella into her room. I pried Bella's fingers from my shirt and placed her on her bed and covered her in her blankets. I gently placed a kiss on her forehead and walked back down the stairs. Charlie was close behind me trying to decide which thoughts he would actually share with me. None of them were pleasant or polite. He settled on telling me never to step through his door again. I was banned from seeing his daughter. He shared a few other choice words with me and I walked back to the car, still hearing the many thoughts running through Charlie's head. I couldn't blame him; he was only looking out for Bella.
I drove back to the house with Emmett and Rosalie in silence. I would go back to Bella's soon. It was only midday in Forks and Charlie would be watching her like a hawk. I would return tonight when Charlie was a little calmer and a little less likely to check her room every five minutes. Bella would be asleep for hours she wouldn't know I was gone, even though I would. I had to be there when she woke that was critical.
I prepared myself for the conversation Carlisle wanted to have with me. He was angry and hurt but most of all he was concerned with what the Volturi had thought. I walked into the house and Esme hugged tightly once again. The relief to have me home was clear on her face. I was comforted by being back in the big white house by the river. This was my true home.
"Edward, Carlisle is waiting in his office for you." I smiled at Esme and walked up to my father's office. I felt guilty for what I had put him through. I knew he was concerned that our relations with the Volturi were in jeopardy. I stopped at the door and knocked once before entering.
"Edward, I am so happy to have you back home. You have no idea the worry you put us through."
"I know I am sorry. I just ….I…." I couldn't find the words to describe all the many feelings that had coursed through me the last few days. The love my life was dead, I attempted suicide and put Bella in danger once again. I slumped down in the chair across from Carlisle, defeated.
"Edward I know this has been a trying few days for you but I need to know what happened in Volterra. I am worried about you. What will happen if Bella decides she can't be with you?"
"I know that it is a possibility. She doesn't have to take me back but there has to be a way."
"I don't know Edward. But you have to promise that you will not do something like this again."
"I won't there is too much to exist for and besides Aro doesn't want me dead. I am too valuable in his eyes. Plus he didn't want to hurt your feelings. He sends his regards."
"Aro was always fond of me. I am grateful he didn't give you what you wanted. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, Edward."
"I'm sorry, Carlisle."
"Did Aro say anything that we need to be concerned about?"
"No. He was perplexed by Bella. Neither he nor Jane could affect her. He was very entertained by the whole thing really. Caius on the other hand was not impressed. He wanted to destroy Bella. Alice had to show Aro that Bella would be changed in order for us to leave."
"He believed that Bella would be changed?"
"Yes, Alice showed him one of her many visions of Bella being like us. He is very excited to see how she turns out."
"Well you and Bella are home safely now. We will deal with the consequences later." Carlisle was hiding his thoughts from me. It was not a good sign for things to come. I excused myself from the room and headed to Bella's. I had been away from her too long. I was getting anxious. I left the house and ran straight to Bella's. I could hear Charlie's thoughts coming from the living room. I quickly pushed Bella's window open and stepped into my one true sanctuary. An amazing calm flowed through my body. I was home.
I sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the room. I had to be careful of Charlie who repeatedly checked on Bella. Several times I had to duck into the closet avoiding Charlie's interruptions. It was late evening and I didn't know how long Bella would be asleep. I thought long and hard of all the things I needed to tell her. Begging would most likely have to happen. Bella was hesitant every time I touched her and I needed to know why. Had she moved on just like I wanted? I was deep in thought when Bella began to talk in her sleep. The first thing she said would have stopped my heart dead if it still beat. "Jacob" The word slipped through her lips and cut me into a thousand pieces. Any doubt I had in my mind had now multiplied ten fold.