A/N: Three chapters in 2 weeks, ya'll should be proud!
"Are you all right?" I asked, all ready knowing the answer. Bella was practically convulsing in my arms. My cold heart ached every time a ripping sob emitted from her chest. "Shh, Bella shh." I caressed her hair as I carried her over to the sofa, laying her across my lap.
"I think she's having hysterics, maybe you should slap her," Alice said. I threw her a look, thanks for stating the obvious Mrs. I-can-see-the-future. I scoffed at the idea of laying a finger on my Bella. My poor sweet angel has seen so much today, it's a wonder her heart hasn't stopped dead in her chest.
"It's all right, you're safe, it's all right." I murmured in attempt to comfort her. She was shivering now. Alice handed me a cloak and I wrapped it around her, shielding her from my cold skin. I continued to hold her and stroke her hair, whispering that everything would be okay. Eventually her shaking stopped, and she just sobbed quietly into my chest. She cried for all the poor innocent people being killed for no reason. They had done nothing wrong, simply fallen into a trap. "I wish you hadn't had to see that," I told her. Just one more thing I could add to my ever growing list of mistakes and regrets.
Bella took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself. I rubbed circles on the small of her back with my thumb. If only Jasper were here… I realized how much I took his abilities for granted. Bella's sobs stopped and she blinked up at me, there were tears caught on her lower lashes and the circles under her eyes were slightly green. I could tell that she was about to say something so I stared at her expectantly.
It took her a few moments but she finally opened her mouth and cried "Oh, Edward!" Suddenly she was sobbing again. She flung her arms around my neck, startling me. My shirt was growing damp from her fresh tears. I glanced at Alice but she looked just as alarmed as me.
"What's wrong?" I patted her back.
"Is it wrong for me to be happy right now?" She sniffled, her voice broke twice.
I pulled her closer to me, tighter than I should have.
"I know exactly what you mean." I whispered. "But we have lots of reasons to be happy. For one, we're alive." If only barely.
"Yes, that's a good one." She nodded.
"And together." Finally, after a long and painful absence, we were together. And together we will be, for now that she has returned to my arms, I do not have any intentions of letting her go.
"And, with any luck, we'll still be alive tomorrow."
"The outlook is quite good." Alice said, a smile crept into her face. "I'll see Jasper in less than twenty-four hours." I glanced at her, trying to give her a look of gratitude.
Don't worry Edward. Yours and Bella's safety is enough repayment. We missed her too you know. I gave her a curt nod and lowered my eyes to Bella's. She was staring up at me intently, lost in thought. A flash of guilt ran through me when I saw how gaunt and exhausted her face appeared.
"You look so tired." I said, tracing the lines on her face.
"And you look thirsty."
"It's nothing." And really it wasn't. In fact I felt more in control of my thirst than I had since I left her. The burning in the back of the throat was nothing more than an annoying pang.
"Are you sure? I could sit with Alice," she offered.
"Don't be ridiculous." I scoffed. Even if I was desperately thirsty, it would be impossible for me to leave Bella now. Very much impossible, even the thought of leaving her only for a moment made my stomach churn. No, I would not leave her side.
She lay quietly in my arms while Alice and I spoke about what had passed with the Volturi. After several hours we were permitted to leave, through the front entrance thankfully. I don't think Bella would have been able to take another trek through the underground.
I only relaxed once we had exited the castle and were out in the streets. The roads were still full of half-drunk people dressed in long dark cloaks, shiny plastic fangs and painted white faces, some with a drabble of what I assumed to be their best attempt at blood coming out of the corners of their mouths.
"Ridiculous," I muttered. It was these kinds of prejudices that kept vampires in hiding.
I pulled Bella though the crowd out to where Alice was waiting for us in a stolen car.
"Sorry," she gestured towards the vehicle. "There wasn't much to choose from."
"Its fine Alice, they can't all be 911 Turbos." I grinned at her.
"I may have to acquire one of those legally. It was fabulous."
"I'll get you one for Christmas." After what she did today she deserved it.
You're too good to me Edward, but if you insist I won't say no. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Yellow." She said, smirking. I lowered myself into the car and pulled Bella once more onto my lap.
"You can sleep now, Bella." Poor angel, she was so exhausted. I could tell by the way her body was slumped against mine that she wouldn't stay awake much longer.
"I don't want to sleep. I'm not tired." As she spoke her eye lids began to fall, I kissed her forehead gently.
"You're still just as stubborn." Some how, against my better judgement she managed to stay awake, though I knew it was difficult. Once we were relaxed in the car I was able to look her over. I could see some distinct differences in her physique from when I'd last seen her. Her body seemed thinner and frailer, almost as if she was recovering from a strong illness. There were dark circles under her eyes that rivalled mine and her face looked gaunt. Although her hair had never been especially think and lustrous it hung limp around her petite face. I wondered what had happened to cause such a toll on her body. Perhaps school had been difficult this year? Or could it be Charlie? Dozens of excuses came to my mind, but I knew none of them were true. I swallowed and pushed the thoughts out of my mind, I would discuss it with her later.
On the plane from Rome to Atlanta Bella ordered a coke which disturbed me. Bella must be really trying not to fall asleep if she's resorting to caffeen. I frowned at her, why would she not want to rest? The point of exhaustion she was at could not be healthy for a human. She noticed my disapproving stare and sighed.
"I don't want to fall asleep. If I close my eyes now, I'll see thing I don't want to see. I'll have nightmares."
This shocked me. I stared at her aghast, but she was looking through an in flight magazine. Bella was having nightmares? This was why she didn't want to fall asleep, because she was afraid? I pinched the bridge of my nose and exhaled. I could tell she wouldn't want to talk about what haunted her dreams, so I stayed silent. I spent the flight holding her in my arms and looking disapprovingly upon her copious refills. Perhaps Alice's sweet murmurings to Jasper on the phone behind us had me feeling romantic, but I simply couldn't keep my eyes off her. I traced and retraced the bones on her face, her eyes, her ears, her lips. I kissed her hair, her forehead, her shoulders, her arms. It was as if I was making up for all the months apart. Every time I kissed her I felt her familiar warmth resting on my lips.
The flight was smooth, and once we landed I braced myself for the welcoming party I knew would be waiting. Alice immediately rushed to Jaspers side, and Esme crashed into me. I could see the gratitude and remorse on her face. Her eyes swelled with emotion. I hung my head in shame, what I had put my family throught was despicable. The more time I spent with Bella, the more ashamed I became of what I let happen.
"You will never put me thought that again." She growled at me.
"Sorry mom," I said not meeting her eyes. I knew this had been hard on her.
"She's dead on her feet, let's get her home."
Either Carlisle had called, or he heard the car, because Charlie was outside waiting when we pulled up to the Swan house. I felt a small warmth inside of me as I looked up at Bella's bedroom window. The large familiar tree stoop outside the house, with the long branch hanging close enough to the window that there wasn't much of a jump required to enter her room. It felt strange being back in Forks. Every thing looked normal, as it had when I left, but at the same time it all felt different. The rain started falling a little harder and I pulled the hood of Bella's jacket down over her head.
"Bella!" Charlie shouted. Bella stirred in my arms trying to mutter something.
"Shh, it's okay; you're home and safe. Just sleep." I whispered to her.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face here.' Charlie bellowed at me. His face was turning purple with rage. I winced at his thoughts, I had never known Charlie to be a violent man, but I had my doubts now. Bella attempted to say something but all that came out was a gurgle of meshed up words.
"What's wrong with her?" Charlie demanded.
"She's just very tired sir." I said politely. Charlie fumed and tried to pry her from my arms but Bella gasped and latched onto my shirt, refusing to let go. I sighed and carried her upstairs into her roon, despite Charlie's protests. I tried setting her on her feet but she swayed and I caught her before she hit the ground
"I won't be far," I whispered to her. I pried her fingers off my shirt, lucky I was a vampire, if I had been human I would have been left with nail marks in my skin. I softly laid her under the covers and found that she was asleep before her sweet head hit the pillow. I stood there for a moment, watching her chest rise up and down, until Charlie coughed from the door way. I sighed and followed him down the stairs.
"So are you back for good?" Charlie asked. I simply nodded and tried to make my self look tired. He took a long look at me before sighing and motioning me towards the door.
"I'm tired and we both need sleep. But don't think this is over boy." He growled. "We will talk about what happened here."
Once again all I could do was nod and close the door behind me as I exited. I walked towards Emmett and Rosalie, waiting in the convertible on the street. I paused, looking back at Bella's bedroom once more before I got in and closed the door.
"Let Charlie go to bed then you can come back." Rosalie said softly. "Besides I think we all need to talk before you go locking yourself up in Bella's house."
I sighed and leaned back; trying to clear my head, but Bella's face still swam beneath my eye lids.
"Hey Edward," Emmett chirped. I opened my eyes and saw that he was looking at me though the rear view mirror. "It's good to have you back." He face was as serious as I had ever seen it.
I mean it. He thought. I smiled at him before turning around to catch a final glimpse at Bella's house before it disappeared into the trees. The sky was pink behind it, and I couldn't help but notice as a light switched off in the small window over looking the front yard. I smiled, I would see Bella again in a few hours, and until then Charlie would be awake pondering the strange circumstances surrounding his daughter. Today was a new day, a new dawn, and I planned to take complete control of this new beginning.
A/N: I'm not sure how many chapters to make, should I just make an epilogue or continue through to the end of new moon?
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