Chapter 3 - Who Says You Can't Go Home?

2 years later….

I can do this, I am a stronger woman, I have a job I will be starting next week, I have an apartment of my own. I can do this, I kept chanting in my head as I waited in line for my luggage. 2 years ago I left a scarred, broken woman; I am returning a strong independent woman with my whole life ahead of me. I have missed Forks, my dad and of coarse my brother Emmett. He had just opened his own bar called "The Barn, Bar and Grill". He has a new woman in his life. I have spoken to her a few times on the phone, she seems great for him. I went back to the little community college in Phoenix and got my degree for a Pharmacy Technician and work for a neighborhood pharmacy for a while. Then one night talking to my dad he asked me when I was coming home, I never intended on staying gone for so long, I figured 6 months to a year. I knew he missed me and I missed my home. Thankfully he got a hold of Carlisle for me and there was an opening in the hospital in Forks. Mom had informed me that her and Phil her new husband were moving to Jacksonville FL. For his job, he is a minor league baseball player, so the time seemed right, I was coming home. Needless to say I was nervous, but I had found out that James was living and working in Seattle and had a new girlfriend. A few weeks after I left he got drunk and went into work yelling at everyone and needless to say he lost his job. Apparently his fathers help him get a job at the bank he was now working at, and the rest was history. I am glad I won't have to see him everyday, or worry about running into him on a daily biases.

I will never forget that night, I still wake up from the nightmares from time to time, but I know there is nothing to be done, I can't live my life in the past. My heart will always remember the baby I once carried only for a little time, but I know I must move on which brings me to the present..

"BELLA" I heard my loud brother yell, breaking me out of my thoughts. He ran up to me and grabbed me up in a bone crushing hug, oh how I have missed these hugs.

"Em, Em, put me down, I cant breath" I laughed out as he swung me around. He put me down and stepped back to look at me.

"Damn Bells you look great, look at you, not that I am complaining but you cut your hair, I never thought you would part with your hair"

"Well Em this is the new me, I needed it, besides I didn't cut that much off just 6 inches and it will grow back it is easier to take care of this way."

"It looks real good Bells really, I would like you to meet someone, the love of my life, Rosalie, Rose, this is Bella, Bella this is my Rose"

"Rose, hi it is great to finally meet you" she pulled me in for a hug, it felt nice to have a friend, someone to talk to, we had gotten really close over the past few months talking thru email and thru the phone. She was beautiful; she had long blond hair and bright blue eyes.

"Bella, finally!!" she laughed as she held me.

"So, Emmy I see you still got your Jeep, good to see some things stay the same." I laughed out, he still had his silver Jeep, the thing was a monster, I could hardly climb up in the thing.

"Em you look so good, I am glad Rose here has been taking care of you"

"Bells come on you know I can take care of myself, I don't nee a woman to take care of me" next thing I heard was a thump and Em apologizing to Rose. I had to laugh. My brother who stood 6'2 and was built like the Hulk was being brought down by a girl. Of coarse Rose towered me and could hold her own, they really were a great couple.

"So Bells Dad found you a great apartment, they are new just under a year old not far from the hospital, but seeing how you love my Jeep you wont have to walk to work"

"What Em, what are you talking about wont have to walk are you forgetting I don't have a vehicle yet, I need to go find one" he broke me off by laughing, Ok so I was confused.

"No Bells I found you something I think you would really like."

"Em really what, what did you find me?"

"Well lets just say it's a Jeep, but not like mine" He was laughing, I was not sure what he was finding so funny.

"Ok Em so what kind of Jeep?"

"It's the new Compass they are really awesome vehicles. Bells I really hope you don't mind but I really wanted to get you something." I was listening to what he was saying was he worried I would be mad at him? I could never be mad about that.

"Em please just shut up, Thank you, I am grateful that you thought of me." "so what can I do to pay you back?"

"Well I was hoping you would ask me that" uh oh that is never a good sign, I knew he was up to something.

"Bella Boo Boo, I was wondering if you would like to help out at the bar on the weekends, you know like bartend or sing, or"

"Whoa there Em sing, no not singing ok I will bartend but defiantly not singing, got it?"

"Yeah yeah I got it" we were pulling into an apartment complex, but it wasn't like I thought it would be it was nice for Forks. I had at least 6 floors, it look really nice, I just hope I can afford it.

"Ok Bells were here, I got you bags lets head on up, I think dad said it was 403, dose that sound right Ro?" "Yeah that's it, come on Bella lets take a look"

I was shocked, it was beautiful I walked into the foyer, and into the Living room, there was a fireplace and a balcony with French doors, the kitchen was amazing with stainless steal appliances and a breakfast nook, a bar and recessed lighting throughout the whole apartment. There were 2 bedrooms and 2 baths the master bedroom was huge, with walk in closets and a master bath with a walk in shower it was amazing it didn't have doors you kind of walk around the wall and there was the shower, there was a huge tub with jets around it, I defiantly couldn't wait to try that out. I was in awe of this place.

"Wow Em dad done amazing, I don't know if I can afford this, this is to much."

"Bells dad knows the owner of these condos it was really a done deal when he heard you were coming home, I mean you remember Billy right? He owns these, Rose and I actually live over there across the lake in the building with the G on it your building is E so we are neighbors!" he was laughing as he grabbed me up in another hug. I realized at that point how much I really missed my big brother it was defiantly great to be home.

"Bells I missed you, it is so good to have you home, it wasn't the same without you." He kissed me on the forehead.

"Well it is good to be home, now show me my new car so I can go surprise dad at the station."

We walked out the door and there sat my jeep not as big as Em's, but you could tell this was a vehicle Em picked out it was perfect.

"Em I love it, thank you" I hugged him tight.

"Your welcome Bells welcome home"

After hugging Rose and promising to meet up with her the next day for a day out I was on my way to the Police Station to see my dad, I can't believe after all these years he was still working there. He could have retired 4 years ago but he refused, he said "I don't know what to do with myself on my days of Bells no way could I handle having 7 days a week off", I just laughed at him. That was my dad a great man and loving father. I don't know what I would do without him.

I turned into the lot and parked by his cruiser I was glad he was he. I walked in to be met by Sue his secretary, she just smiled real big at me, and got up to give me a hug, she was a good lady, I know she loved Charlie even though he picked on her, and I had a feeling it was mutual on his part, I wish they would just tell each other and move on, parents?

"Bella dear it is so good to have you back, All Charlie has talked about for the past week was when you were going to get here."

"Well I guess this will be a surprise for him then I was supposed to meet him at 5 at the diner but decided to stop by here first"

"He is going to be so happy, go on back, you know the way."

"Thanks Sue"

I walked down the hall and peeked into his office, it was so funny he was sitting there looking at picture if me and Em when we were just kids, it was the day Em lost his favorite ball, he was crying and I was rubbing his back.

"Hey old man, you haven't changed"

"Bells" he got up and rushed over to me and wrapped me in his arms, I felt so safe, so loved, at home.

"And who you calling old" he laughed out.

"Oh Bells I have missed you, let me look at you", he took a step back.

"Your hair, it looks beautiful, you look beautiful, defiantly a sight for sore eyes."

"Come on lets go grab a bit to eat" we turned and walked out of his office.

"So what do you think of the Jeep Em found for you?" he asked as we walked to our cars.

"I love it dad really, he did good."

We sat in the café for what seemed like hours just talking and catching up. We talked about our child hoods, how I went back to school, and my job I was to start the following week. It was good to sit and laugh with him, I knew then everything was the way it should be.

I pulled into my parking spot and made my way to my apartment. I was happy to be home and be with my family. I fell asleep with my future on my mind and for once I wasn't scarred.