A/N: Sorry about last chapter and the lack of the A/N, I was in a rush to update it.
Anyway, this is the second to the last chapter.
Last chapter will be up no later than December 31st, 2012.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, you guys are amazing.
Thank you for the reviews and the favourites, it means so much that you haven't given up on me.
Please read and review.
-Chapter 31-
Bella's POV
I watched as the police officers and the SWAT team escorted each and every Volturi member out of the mall. They had lines of officers trying to keep the bystanders away from the scene, investigators were interrogating all of us and some more officers were confiscating the weapons we had.
Alice handed over her gun to one of the officers who safely tucked it in a plastic ziplock. She then walked over to me with a look of relief on her face. I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how her complexion was paler than usual. She looked overexhausted yet frankly she still managed to look beautiful.
"Bella!" She grinned widely, wrapping her arms around me in a cobra-tight hug. I returned the hug and smiled against her shoulder. "We're finally done. No more running and hiding anymore!"
"I know, I'm so relieved." I sighed, feeling more relaxed than I've ever been.
"So am I." She agreed.
Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle and Edward came to us and joined in, making one huge group hug. I have never felt more loved and safe in my entire life.
"No one's after us anymore." Rosalie rejoiced, all of us pulling away from the group hug.
"What a relief." Jasper added.
"Yeah." Emmett nodded, a huge goofy grin on his face.
"I'm just happy my daughter and my son is safe. And that neither of them have their weapons anymore." He gave a mock stern look.
Alice laughed. "I never had the intention to use it anyway. At least it was put to some good use." She shrugged.
"Meh." Was all Carlisle said in response.
Alice and Carlisle went off in a different direction and Emmet and Rosalie went to go talk to some more police officers. Jasper was being interrogated again about the location of the supposed prostitution house. I turned to Edward who looked tired. He had a small smile on his lips.
"Edward." I said, trying to get his attention. He looked at me instantly, and his smile widened.
"Yes, my love?" He asked.
"We're free. We're done hiding. No one's going to come after us and hide anymore." I said, feeling a surge of happiness go through me.
"I know, I'm so happy." He smiled.
I looked down at the floor for a moment, a strange but important thought going through my mind. I bit my lower lip and felt the tears begin to sting in my eyes. I guess some problems just don't go away after all.
"Baby, what's wrong?" He asked, a look of concern on his face. He held me tightly by the waste and rested his chin. "You don't have to be afraid anymore."
I sniffled, taking in a deep, shaky breath. "Oh, I know." My voice trembling. "It's just...my dad."
"Ah. It's okay, sweety, he'll be alright." Edward held me tightly and for a moment, I believed that Edward was right; that my dad will be okay. But I knew that wasn't the case.
"He won't be okay. He has a problem, Edward." I reasoned.
"Excuse me, Miss Swan?" A police man called me over. I looked at Edward and he shrugged, gesturing for me to go talk to him. I walked over to the police officer with the clipboard.
"That would be me." I said, nervously.
"You were filed a Missing Person, November twenty-second, of this year." He noted, looking at me with a weird expression.
"Yeah." I acknowledged.
"Is your father Charlie Swan?" He asked, startling me with the sudden question.
"Yeah." I nodded.
"He was found in Mr. Carlisle Cullen's house with stitches on his forehead. He is currently being taken to Forks General Hospital and then straight to a mental institution. He is also registered in for therapy sessions as well." My mouth was gaped open at the news. Who would enroll my father in a mental institution and for therapy sessions? I had no other relatives other than him that would bother to take care of him.
"Who did all of this? I mean, who enrolled my father in a mental institution and therapy?" I asked, frowning at the officer.
The officer adjusted his waist band belt and then glanced at his clipboard. He jotted down a few notes before answering me.
"I believe a woman by the name of Lily Grimes has offered to have him enrolled in the institution as well as the therapy." He acknowledged.
Lily. Oh my gosh. Did she really do all that for him? How did she even manage to find him?
"By the look on your face, it seems to be that you know this Lily Grimes. Am I correct?" He asked, giving me another creepy look.
"Yeah. She-she was there," I gulped. "at that house." I emphasized.
"Ah, well, when the police officers tracked Mr Swan to Mr Cullen's house, they brought him to the hospital. And word got out on the street that he was there. I guess Ms. Grimes was nice enough to take care of him. Despite the things he has done." I looked at the officer with dismay. He held out a white piece of paper for me.
"Here's a note that Ms Grimes addressed to a certain Ms Swan." He handed me a piece of paper that had been creased harshly. I tucked it in the back of my pocket.
"Thank you." I nodded, about to turn away.
"We'll have the word out that you're all right." He said.
"Thank you. Thank you very much." I smiled full of gratitude.
"That's what we're here for." And with that, they all left.
-Later on-
"The officers said that we're free. There's no charges whatsoever." Jasper said, congratulatory.
"Yeah, they took out all of that freaky spy equipment from our house." Rosalie smiled.
"I don't have to run anymore!" I sighed, plopping onto the living room couch of Rosalie and Emmett's house.
"I know! We're free again." Rosalie muttered, happily.
"All of Charlie's money will be handed over to you, Bella." Jasper added.
"Seriously?" I asked, shotting up from the couch.
"Yeah. Seriously." He rolled his eyes, sarcasm drooling in his tone.
"Wow, that's amazing. I can pay for his healthcare." I smiled, biting my lip.
"I still can't believe all this happened to us." Emmett murmured, still sounding shocked.
"It's a lot to take in." I agreed.
"We'll feel better and get back to our normal routine in no time." Alice smiled, holding on to Jasper's hand. They were the cutest couple I have ever seen.
"Yeah." I frowned.
"What's wrong?" Rosalie asked, laying a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll be seperated again." I cringed at the thought of going back to Forks.
"That reminds us..." Rosalie and Emmett said in unison.
"What?" All of us asked, with curiosity in our tones.
"Well, this house is awfully big for the two of us. We have eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms..." Rosalie began.
"And having you guys staying with us was the best ever, despite the circumstances." Emmett smiled.
"So, we were wondering if you guys want to move in with us, we'd be delighted!" Rosalie grinned, clapping.
"You're not kidding!" Alice was the first one to squeal.
"No, not one bit. The house is all paid off and the hydro bill along with everything else is pretty easy enough to pay." Rosalie couldn't stop smiling as she beamed at each and every one of us.
"I would most definitely move in!" Alice smiled.
"I would, too." Jasper nodded.
"I have a house back in Forks, but if you don't mind my visiting, I'd say it would be all right for my kids to stay here." Carlisle agreed.
Everyone looked at my direction as well as Edward's. Well, moving back to Forks will only flood me with bad memories. Plus, Vancouver is a very beautiful city, it will be a great adventure to live here. Immigrating here wouldn't be all too bad. And to top it off, I could go to University here. It will be so close to home. Charlie will be in an institution in Forks and no doubt Carlisle will volunteer to check up on him. Of course, I will, too, every couple of weeks. Or whatever the visitor's time is.
Moving here wouldn't be too bad. I'll be with everyone that I care about most.
"I'd love to move in." I smiled.
"Yay!" Rosalie leaped into my arms for a tight hug. "You guys will love it here, trust me!"
"We trust you." I winked at her as she pulled away.
"What about you, Edward?" Emmett asked.
Edward didn't even have to hesitate. "If Bella's going to be here, then I will, too." He said simply.
I gave him a hug and he kissed me on my forehead. Finally, everything is starting to fall in place perfectly.
"Great. Let's go take care of all this legal junk first. Let's head back to Forks and gather whatever crap we have left." I muttered, thinking about all the paperwork I'll have to go through.
"Yeah, I don't even know what we'll do with that house we got." Alice looked at Edward.
"It belongs to the Cullen family name. You can keep that as long as you want, you can get a house sitter, if you please." Carlisle interjected.
"Awesome!" Alice squealed.
Before they stood up, I got to my feet.
"Wait, everybody." They halted. "I have something to say."
"What is it?" Rosalie asked.
"Thank you all so much for doing this. You don't know how thankful I am for all your help. I know that this hasn't only benefited me, but if I didn't have any of you, I would be long gone." I said, tears starting to prick my eyes again.
"You're so welcome, Bella." Rosalie smiled, genuinely.
"That's all." I chuckled, and they laughed too. They left the room, leaving me and Edward together.
"And thank you," I kissed the tip of his nose. "for not giving up on me."
"I love you, Bella." He said. "There wasn't a moment that I doubted that I wouldn't find you."
I sighed, looking up at the most amazing man I have ever met.
"I love you, too."