Where the Heart Lies

Chapter 7: Sealed Hope

Bella

I had been awake for a week now, and no one left me alone as if I was some fragile child. Edward had gone back to work to spend more time in the hospital. The twins were able to spend the majority of their day with me lying in the bed with me watching TV or working on some school work. Esme had decided they needed to be spending more time on educational studies than playing video games, so that is where the learning fits in. I was happy though to be able to have a laptop to get some emails taken care of from the office.

It was strange for me to be able to fit almost back in with the Cullen's like nothing had happened, but from Edward's expressions I knew it wouldn't be easy for him. His confrontation happened right after his shift and the girls went home with my dad for once.

"The spoke with the doctors and they said you'll be clear to leave in a week or two. What are your plans?" he asks casually. I play with my hands twisting them in my lap for a few minutes.

"I plan on going back to New York," I say softly as his eyes burn with an unspoken intensity.

"You're running away again," he snaps. I reach for his arm, but he jerks it away from me.

"Edward that is where I live, the girls have friends there. Our life is there, my job is there," I state trying to get him to understand that it wasn't to hurt him, but a reality.

"You work from home, you can do that from anywhere," he replies which is very true. I do set my own hours and work at my pace, but it didn't matter my life wasn't here anymore.

"Yes, I do. Edward I wouldn't keep you from the girls, not now. But when I am cleared to leave the hospital I am going home," I say softly. "I have always cared for you and this isn't something I am intentionally doing to hurt you, but I have made a life outside of this town," I state as he turns to look at me once again.

"If you leave again I will not be waiting for you Bella. I was getting on a plane the night of the fire. I had planned to do the decent thing and leave you like you wanted me to, but I will not allow you to hurt me anymore," he spits out at me. I wince at just how angry his words are. They pierce me deeply because I didn't know he was leaving.

"You don't mean that. We would come back to visit, it wouldn't be like before," I say, then he says something I have only dreamed about him saying never thinking he would ever hurt me like this.

"There is no we in your situation. Carlie and Emmalin would be staying here. I missed out on them because you were selfish. I will not allow you to take them with you," he sneers at me.

"They are my daughters," I yell back.

"Yes, but they are mine as well," he yells as he walks out the door allowing it to slam behind him. Edward Cullen just broke my heart once again, but if I was being honest I broke his first this time.

Edward doesn't come to visit me after that. I am cleared to leave the hospital the next week. I see the girls every day, but neither one shares anything about him to me. It's like everyone is walking on eggshells when they are around me. I am allowed to leave the hospital, but my doctor says I need to stay in Forks for at least 2 weeks.

"Momma," Carlie says as Charlie helps me out of the cruiser. I wanted to stay in a motel, but Carlisle instited I stay with him and Esme. I was worried about Edward being around, but Alice reassured me he was staying at his house. I didn't even know he had a house of his own.

"Hey sweetie where is your sister," I ask as I sit down beside her on one of the loveseats. She looks around as everyone is getting ready to eat.

"Emmalin stays with daddy most of the time," she mumbles as I tilt my head to look down at her.

"Do you visit with your dad?" I question as she nods.

"Yes, but I don't like doing the things they are doing right now. Daddy took Emma to fish at some beach," she says softly shrugging her shoulders at me. I pull her close to me. We have a quiet and peaceful dinner with everyone except for Edward and Emmalin. I am getting settled in bed when I hear the sound of tires on the road.

"Edward, son it's late," I hear Carilsle say as the door opens.

"I'm sorry dad, but I got called in and thought Emmalin could stay here. I know Bella is here, and thought it would be okay," he says. Just hearing his voice hurts me. It feels like a hole has opened in my heart and it is burning.

"Sure, they are up in your room. Why don't you take her up there?" he says.

"Um, dad," Edward says as I know he probably doesn't want to see me.

"For God's sake, take your daughter up to her mother. I don't know what the issue is, but your mom and I are not middle people," he says all fatherly as I hear the soft tell of feet climbing the stairs.

"Daddy," Emmalin says as I assume she realizes she's moving.

"Shh! I have to go to work. I am going to leave you here with your mom and Carlie. I'll visit tomorrow," he says as the door opens slightly letting in a small sliver of light.

"Mommy," Emmalin says as I look up to see the two of them.

"I'm here sweetie," I say as Edward passes her to me. My hand briefly touches his arm sending a jolt through me. I look up to his surprised eyes, but before I can say anything his is out of the room. I am left with the sensation of our touch on my hand.

****XOXOXOXOXO*****

Edward

I had to admit I was being childish in the whole situation, but I felt that I was right. Bella was running away again from me, and if that was the case I had to distance myself from here to keep the pain at arm's length. I watched her from my office walking slowly through the hallways building up her strength to leave. I wondered what was so bad or awful she couldn't stay here.

"Edward," my dad says as he enters my office the day before Bella is released.

"Yes," I say as I fidget with the papers scattered on my desk.

"Your mother would like you at the house for dinner tomorrow night," he says as I flip my day calendar.

"Sorry, can't make it. I have plans with a certain little Emmalin," I say as he raises an eyebrow at me.

"I think she will understand you cancelling on her for her mom," he half snaps.

"No, I am not changing my plans. I have tomorrow set aside for Emmalin and the next for Carlie. I am not changing my plans for Bella. I wasted several weeks by her side for nothing," I snap as I look up finally to my father. His facial expression is a mix of disgust and sorrow.

"Edward, your better than this," he says softly.

"Yes, I may be, but I will not sit around and waste what little time I have with my daughters. Bella intends to leave with them, then what. I have missed so much and will not allow that to happen anymore. I have work dad," I say as he goes to say something, but leaves instead.

He may be right, but if I only had a few weeks left with my daughters I would spend all the time I could with them. I would never make them chose between their mom or me, but I felt like I was getting the raw end of the deal here. I knew Bella was probably hurting as well, but she had made her decision and I was sticking by mine.

I woke up early this morning excited because I knew I was taking Emmalin to this amazing fishing spot that I had found a few years back. I would have liked Carlie to join us, but she didn't like that kind of stuff so I would plan a more girlie thing for her tomorrow. I ate some cereal and drove to my parents' house.

"Where are the two most beautiful girls in the world?" I say as Alice hits my shoulder.

"I'm not beautiful anymore," she asks jokingly.

"Not compared to my gorgeous mini me's," I say as they both laugh at me.

"Grandma Esme made breakfast," Carlie says as she shovels in a bit of pancake. Emmalin finishes her food in record time as I watch my mom and sister fond over her. I guess they deserve them just as much as I do. They have been cheated time with them as well.

Emmalin and I drive in quiet to my home up the road. When I have her hand I grab the fishing gear I left out this morning and lead the way toward the little river I discovered.

"This is pretty," she says when we enter the small clearing. She takes out a camera and starts to take some pictures. I laugh because Bella use to love to take photos whenever we went somewhere she hadn't been to before. Emmalin was similar to her mom in so many ways that it hurt to be here. I wanted to spend time with her, but the thought of losing her was hurting me.

We had caught several fish when she asked me the question that floored me, "Are you and mommy fighting," she says softly picking at her sandwich.

"No, we're not fighting. It's more like me avoiding her," I mumble as I turn to see a smile on her face.

"I thought so. Carlie owes me," she says as she runs off toward the water. Yes, the two girls were worth the fighting. As I sat there watching Emmalin playing in the water. I made up my mind that I wasn't going to let Bella run away from our issues. Our daughters were worth fighting for even if Bella didn't think we were worth the fight.