Chapter 3 ~ I Was Born To Love You

JPOV

Bella sniffled as she and I walked out of the bedroom that housed the already altering man that was her father. My hand rubbed soothing circles up and down her arm as Carlisle talked to Bella, telling her what was going to be going on in the next few days. The same things I had planned myself earlier. I watched the amazing woman that I had just a few hours ago claimed as my wife take in everything that she was being told, her countenance never seeming to be swayed from more than just a few sniffs. I couldn't wait to begin the rest of my journey into our lives together.

Charlie had only cried out in pain once while we were in his room, which was when the tears began to fall down her eyes. I couldn't imagine the kind of torture she felt, seeing her father the way he was, but she had left no room for fighting her in being able to see him. I would have wanted to see him too, had the roles been reversed. Charlie's features were already changing; you could see that the lines around his eyes and mouth from his age had already disappeared as well as his sun-kissed skin tone lightening. He appeared younger and I could already tell we would be beating the women off with their bags at his rugged attractiveness.

Bella had been working on a book for Charlie ever since she found out he was dying. At first, it was going to be for her children to remember him by, memories of happy times and stories of everyone's past. It now was going to serve as Charlie's reminders of who Bella, Sophie and Alex were, and to help him remember his life before his change. She had left the book sitting on the bed in the room where our things were, in case Charlie woke up from his change in any sort of a rage. It wasn't likely, but I had seen it once or twice before.

Pressing a kiss into the soft curls of Bella's hair, I asked quietly once Carlisle had turned to go gather a few things for us to take with us, "You ready to take off now, baby?"

"Yes, please get me away from here, before I hear any more screams. I don't want my memories of this island to be of that. I want to be able to come back here, and remember my beautiful wedding to my husband."

Nodding, I wrapped my arm around Bella's waist and lead her towards the front door. "I most certainly agree. Edward is going to walk you out to the boat while I get the luggage, okay? He has something he feels he needs to say to you."

She turned towards me, her eyes connecting with mine and rolled her big, beautiful eyes. "Okay, Jasper."

I just chuckled, before pulling her into me and pressing my lips to hers, letting her feel every ounce of love and devotion I felt for her. She whimpered softly into my mouth before breaking the kiss and wiped at her dampened lips with her fingers.

"Meanie," she whined before sticking her tongue out at me, eliciting another laugh from me.

Edward joined us as my laughter died down, his look the exact opposite of my own, which sobered me a little. I tried to remember that I was the one who had taken Jasmine away from this world, even if she was the one who had tried to take my sweet Bella from it. She never would have stopped, I knew that. Everyone knew that. Edward's eyes met mine from across the room, and his head nodded sadly, acknowledging my thought process.

I shook my head sadly and kissed Bella's cheek. "I will meet you at the boat in a few minutes."

BPOV

My head swirled with a torrent of emotions, along with the splitting headache that I was sporting from my fall. I had learned that Jasper had taken care of Jasmine, along with help from Charlotte and Peter. Edward had helped carry her off of the island, but didn't want to be involved in her death, with good reason. Nobody should have to be part of the death of the one they thought was their mate.

My heart hurt for Edward. I couldn't figure out what truly had gotten into Jasmine, and why she felt I was such a threat that she thought she had to kill me. I had welcomed her into my home, with my children none-the-less; all because I wanted Edward to find someone to love and to love him back, just as I had with Jasper. I remember thinking the same thing for so long after Jake and I had gotten together, and I was pregnant with Alex. We were sitting on Charlie's front porch, and he was holding Sophie, of course being his normal self with his granddaughter. I felt a chill run up my spine, as if I was being watched, and I knew that somewhere out in the woods, Edward was there.

He saw us, and he knew I had moved on. And right then was when I wished he could hear my thoughts, because my thought was; "Go be happy, Edward. Find someone who can be your everything. You will always hold a special place in my heart, but I've moved on. It's time you do, too." I could have chosen to be angry that he was there, because God knows I held a lot of anger about him leaving, but I had to let that go when I had my babies. Instead I pretended that I didn't know he was there, continuing to act the same as before to not scare him off. To let him see exactly as much as he needed to, to release him to do exactly what I thought was needed for him.

I realize now, that is what brought the crazy hooker lady into his and all of our lives, but maybe this was a good learning experience for him, too. And the way I look at it, she had been able to get him to open up in a way that I never had been able to. Maybe it wasn't such a horrible thing, even though I'm sure he was heartbroken at the moment.

Clearing my head of all thought, I turned and smiled a little at Edward, looping my arm through his. "Ready to escort a lady out to her chariot?"

He chuckled lightly, opening the front door for us and lead us out onto the beach. The sun hit his skin, illuminating it as I stared openly at the beauty of it. It took me back to a completely different life and time, when I saw his sparkling skin for the first time.

"You would have hated to have been called a lady back when we were an item, Bella. It's truly amazing what time has done for you."

I jabbed a finger into his side teasingly, hissing a little when I forgot how rigid and stiff their skin was. Silly me. "Was I really so bad back then? I thought that was the girl you fell in love with."

Edward's face straightened a little at the mention of his love for me, and I could tell I had made him uncomfortable.

"It is the girl I fell in love with. That doesn't mean I don't really like who you have become today. You are an amazing woman and mother. Jasper is very lucky."

"You are too kind to me, Edward. And I think it's time that you moved on from me, honestly. I know that it's hard for you, being unchanging and all, but I'm married to your brother now. Things are much different, and I hate to see you looking so unhappy. You need to smile more."

He sighed wistfully, and stopped walking, looking down at me with intent, golden eyes. "Bella, I can't just stop. Trust me, I have tried. You will always own a part of my heart. I know who you belong to, and I will never try to come in between the two of you. I'm not pining away for you, or heartbroken that you married Jasper. The only reason I wanted to have a moment alone with you was to convey my sincerest of apologies to you for bringing..."

His pause didn't go unnoticed by me, and my arm tightened around him to comfort him. He gave me a small, sad smile and continued, "...Jasmine into your life, and into Sophie's and Alex's as well. I had no idea she was harboring any sort of animosity towards you, because somehow she was able to block some of her thoughts from me, or else I would have gotten her away sooner. Maybe a life wouldn't have been lost, but a love would have been regardless." He paused again, sighing as he dragged a hand through his sun-kissed bronzed hair.

"Either way, everyone was telling me that you wouldn't let me apologize for this, but I had to, because it was at your wedding. I want you to know that she was taking your pictures, and they were salvaged. You will have wedding photos. And I'm so sorry for not grabbing her in time before you were injured. I just thought she was coming to you to hug you. Then I smelt blood, and it took me a second to make sure I was in control before I grabbed her."

His head dropped at that admission, and I had to stop him there.

"Edward, please don't beat yourself up? Yes, you did have to make sure you didn't attack, but I'm your singer. That's to be expected. Actually, it's to be expected that you viciously murder me, but here you are, touching me and talking to me like a normal person. You are such a good person, and a wonderful soul. Don't let the sins of someone else bring you into despair. I'm alright now, okay?"

I nodded and smiled before continuing further. "As far as my wedding, it was perfect. I remember it clearly, and every single thing about it was exactly as I wanted it to be. I am very glad to hear that the pictures are saved though, because there will come a time when my memories won't serve me as well. If you need to be forgiven by me for something, then it's already done. Yes, you brought her in. But, you didn't know, and you loved her and wanted her to be a part of your family. There is nothing to really apologize for. Everyone is and always was very safe, Edward."

Edward looked down at me with what I could only describe as glassy eyes, the way Esme's eyes looked when she was going to cry, but the venom that poisoned their bodies never allowed them to produce the tears. It was the look of relief, and of awe. I didn't understand why he was felt that way about me, because I just spoke the truth, and the way I felt about things, but I lifted up and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you for caring so much, Edward."

I lowered back down onto my feet and smiled at him. He gave me his signature crooked smile and began to walk us again towards the boat.

"I'll always care for you, Bella."

Something in us had shifted. It was as if he was finally able to let me go.

A/N: Your support so far has been so great, you guys! You rock my socks off! Another person who has stepped up and taken one for my team and beta'ed for me whilst Mrs Monster isn't able to is the great NCChris. I am truly honored to even have such a wonderful writer reading my story, much less critiquing it and helping me make it better. Not only has she helped me with this chapter and the last, but she rec'ed my story over on the Jasper's Darlin's blog. =D I can't tell you how it makes me feel to see it happen, even if they have done it before. It's always a huge honor, and I appreciate Chris bestowing that on me. She's amazing and such a great person and an even better friend. Make sure to head over to her profile and check out her stories, if you haven't already, which would baffle me. But...you know, really... check 'em out!

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