See note at the end.
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Alice tended to Edward. Esme grabbed hold of Declan's throat and dragged him back into the house, Declan moaning and screaming in agony all the way. I remained with Alice and Edward in the garage and I'm glad that I did. I heard later that Carlisle had been gravely wounded. Declan changed him and broke all of Carlisle's ribs with a single punch before chasing us into the garage. It was the perverted glee and loathsome smile with which Declan shattered Carlisle's nearly mortal body that wrested Esme from her husband's side, she had said. Jasper could help Carlisle. She wanted to go after Declan.
She had Carlisle touch Declan and, like Edward, Carlisle was soon immortal again.
While Declan writhed in pain, Jasper tied him up, carefully avoiding his touch and sat him in the dining room. They all wanted to know if I was fine. I didn't know what to tell them.
When all was in order, we stood before Declan in the dining room.
"I just want what everyone wants. Is that so wrong?" He looked at the three couples standing before him with a pained look. No one bothered to answer.
"What are we going to do with him?" I asked. Silence followed. The Cullens were glaring at the prisoner and I imagine most of them, except Carlisle, were not thinking of many wholesome thoughts.
"Yes, you are all very intimidating. But Carlisle would never dream of killing a human."
"I won't have to. Alice tells me that Aro is not very pleased with the way things turned out." Alice grinned.
"I wasn't lying about that, Declan. Things are fuzzy where you are concerned, but Aro is upset about something that's happening here in Forks. I have to guess that's you." Declan was silent for a moment and he shifted uncomfortably in his bonds.
"I've already contacted Aro. He apologized for any trouble you might have caused and assured me that you acted of your own accord. One of the Volturi is already on their way here to collect you."
"I hope it's Jane." Alice giggled.
"I may be written out of the story, but the damage is done and, I think, irreversible." And he threw a vicious glance at me that crawled up the back of my neck. "Aro will be merciful. He needs me."
"That's not what I saw." He ignored Alice.
"I'll write to you, Bella. And I hope you will write to me. I would love to hear how your little romance plays out."
I spent the next two days at the Cullen house. On the first day, Emmett and Rosalie returned, the former being gravely upset that he missed a chance to brawl with the bad guy, the latter coolly unmoved. On that last day, a cloaked figure arrived in the middle of the night to take Declan away. I was sleeping when he came, but I found Alice pouting the next morning that it wasn't Jane, but some soldier in the Volturi's employ.
Esme cornered me in the dining room. It was the first time I had seen her in this room over the past few days. When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she raced over to hug me. If she could cry, I imagine she would have.
"Oh, my Bella, what would I have done without you?" She held me away slightly so she could look into my eyes. "What would Edward have done?"
"Thank you, Esme. For saving us,"
"Bella, Bella, you're part of our family. You've made Edward so happy. I couldn't let anything happen to that. For as long as you live, I will always be here to protect you, my daughter." She hugged me again, but I shifted uncomfortably. "Yes. Alice told me what Mason said to you."
"He's right. The damage is done."
"No. No, not at all. May I ask you something, Bella? When you first discovered what Edward was, did you run from him?"
"No."
"You stayed, in fact."
"Yes."
"And still loved him?"
"Of course."
"And when he was human, did you not try to keep him out of danger? Demanded he not confront Mason alone?"
"And? It didn't amount to anything. Mason still hunted us. He could have killed…."
"Did not amount to anything? You're here, unharmed. Edward, as well."
"But Carlisle…"
"Was only hurt. You were very brave, Bella, and don't let anyone fool you into thinking differently. It took great strength to handle the events of the last few days the way you did. You and Edward. I'm so proud of you both."
I loved Esme and looked up to her, but I didn't realize till then how much she loved me.
I found Edward in his room, holding his head in his hands. He didn't look up as I sat down beside him. I put my arm around him and pulled his face away from his hands so that he could see me.
"Do you miss being human?"
"I only miss seeing you happy." I smiled and kissed him.
Yes, the damage was done. But I could see the better story in his eyes. I could see my love for him reflected there. Happily ever after, here we come.
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A/N: Here endeth the story. Due to other obligations, I did not get to devote as much time to the details of this story as I would have liked. The content is subject to change or to be added to over the course of the next few weeks. Hope you enjoyed it!