Chapter 25
Bella's POV
Edward sighed. "It's from my Mother."
"Do you want me to read it out?" I asked quickly. This seemed to be more painful for him than he was willing to admit.
"No… I can do this," he reassured himself. He turned his attention back to the note before taking a deep breath. It wavered slightly before he began to read aloud. He read slowly and evenly, his voice un-breaking. Absorbing every detail of every word.
"My dearest Edward,
Somehow I know this is meant for you. I do not know where this locket came from, and the unusual pictures inside it are even more of a mystery. All that I do know is that when I wear the locket I am filled with a since of happiness, relief and hope.
I have looked upon the pictures countless times. I never told you or your father about this, but as strange as this might sound, I recognise you in them. Though you look different, I can tell that it is you.
Somehow I think that this locket is a sign. It is like you look older and though I don't recognise the other people in the pictures I have a strange connection with them, like I know them somehow.
I like to believe that it shows what will be. You look happier than I have ever seen you, and as I lay here on my death bed I realise that I will not be there for you and your eventual happiness.
I want you to be strong Edward. I have a feeling that there are dark and difficult times ahead, but I believe that it will be all worth it in the end.
I know we have been separated into different wards now but I know you will be all right. Our doctor, Dr. Cullen is a good man. It is too late for me now but he will help you through this. I can tell that there is something different about him. Ever since that night we unexplainably found ourselves locked into our basement I have been having these surreal dreams. They are more like flashes of images but what I see are of you, though you always look pale and havethe strangest colour eyes, not unlike the picture in the locket. I also see images of Dr. Cullen and as unbelievable as this might sound I also see a strange blue box. Somehow I know that Dr. Cullen will be there to save you.
Be safe my dear son, I will always love you. No matter what happens.
Forever and always,
Your Mother."
When he finished neither Renesmee or I said anything, Edward himself was speechless. Edward placed the letter on his lap before he closed his eyes and put his head in his hands. I raised my hand and rubbed him on the back affectionately.
"When we were in 1917 it killed me to know my family's fate and not being able to do anything about it. I should have done something," Edward confessed pained. I'm sure if it were at all possible tears would have being running down his face. His eyes were distanced, dark and pained, consumed by his ever present guilt.
"Don't beat yourself up about it. The past is the past, there's nothing you could have done. God only knows what the consequences would have been if you tried to change it," I said trying to find away to comfort him.
"I know," he paused. "It's just… As I read this I realised even when I had the chance I wasn't there for her when she died. After my father past and I still being a minor was sent to paediatrics. The hospital was overflowing with people. It was chaotic, they had to stick me somewhere. My point is that I spent her last hours lying in my own bed, selfishly concentrating on my own health rather than looking after her," he continued.
"Edward, don't ever blame yourself. What your mother wanted was for you to get through that. It's why she asked Carlisle to save you. We can't change what has been, Edward. It's what makes us who we are now," I said trying to console him.
He nodded and sighed in response. I took his hands in mine. Renesmee leaned over and put her arms around him, giving him a hug.
"Don't worry, daddy. It will be okay. You have me and mommy to take care of now. We have each other," she said innocently.
"Thank you Nessie, love," he said with a half smile, hugging her back. He then turned to me, giving me direct eye contact.
"She's right. We do have each other and I won't make the same mistake with our family. I will be there no matter what," he stated his voice un-breaking.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, just embracing each others company and support. Edward had being through a lot today and it has taken a great deal out of him. I wish there was something I could do. But unfortunately I think time might be the only thing capable of healing this wound.
Edward continued to read his mother's letter over and over, again and again but not saying a word out loud. After a few minutes passed he sighed again.
"I think we should go back downstairs and say goodbye to Jack and the Doctor before they leave. Everyone's beginning to notice our absence anyway," he said quietly.
I nodded and Edward squeezed my hand as the three of us began to head down stairs. Before we left I took the locket and placed it around my neck, fastening it, knowing that forever it will stay with me. As we were going through the doorway of the bedroom I turned to Edward as Renesmee ran ahead.
"You sure everything's alright with you?" I asked in an almost whisper.
"Yes, now that I realise that I have a family now who I need and vice versa. There's no need to be living in the past," he said calmly but spoke with forced enthusiasm. "Now come on before we miss our chance to say goodbye."
Edward still obviously wasn't his normal self. Maybe it will take a while before he comes to terms with today's events. There must be a lot of things going through his mind right now.
He smiled to me and we both made our way downstairs. Still hand in hand as we entered the living room I saw that Renesmee was now with Jacob and everyone was circled around the Tardis.
Jack and Emmett were saying their goodbyes as well as the Doctor and Carlisle. After they were finished it was now mine and Edward's turn to say goodbye.
Dropping Edward's hand I walked over to the Doctor and pulled him into a hug. I think he was surprised by our close contact.
"Thank you for everything Doctor, for getting us home, fixing the paradox and dealing with those foul Weeping Angels. You have no idea how much it means to me that I am home safe with my family," I thanked him sincerely.
"My pleasure," the Doctor replied simply.
"But do you have to go so soon?" I asked disappointed as I pulled away from our embrace.
"Yeah, sorry. I have to get Jack back to Wales," he said with a smile.
"Sorry, I have some trouble to sort out with some Weevils running amok back in Cardiff," Jack apologised.
I stepped over to Jack and said my goodbye to him before Edward followed me with a hand shake. Edward then stepped towards the Doctor and shaking his hand as well.
"Doctor before you go there is one last thing I want to ask you that I didn't get a chance to ask you earlier," Edward asked seriously. The Doctor nodded in response.
"Before you blocked me from your mind I heard in your thoughts that you held anger and resentment towards vampires and also mentioned a place called E-space. Why do you feel that way?" Edward asked earnestly.
"Do not worry Edward I have nothing against you Cullens, I consider your family as friends but it's a different story with vampires in general. My kind have a history of great wars and battles and Time Lords and vampires have been old enemies for generations. E-space was the last place other than earth I encountered your kind. One of them called themselves the Great Vampire King. But he perished along with his servants. I thought they were the only ones of your kind left but I began to find covens here on earth in recent years. My theory is that one of your kind escaped during a battle and colonised here on earth," the Doctor explained.
My jaw dropped, Edwards eyes widened, every vampire in the room was stunned. No one was expecting that answer. There was a dead silence. The Doctor was taken by surprise by our reaction. Suddenly the wolves in the room burst out laughing. Seth even fell to the floor, tears rolling down his face. All the vampires in the room growled at them.
"O my God! You're aliens!" Seth exclaimed through his uncontrollable laughter.
The Doctor frowned. "I wouldn't be laughing so much if I was you. Werewolves like you are from the planet Vulpana."
The wolves stopped laughing immediately and became just as stunned as the vampires. Leah was the most shocked by the Doctors latest news but Quil and Embry just stared at each other wide eyed. The atmosphere in the room grew to a stunned silence. Until Carlisle broke it with a soft chuckle.
"At least we know where the first vampire came from. That mystery has been bugging me for years," Carlisle laughed.
No one could control their laughter after that, nobody knew what to make of the Doctor's latest revelation.
We all couldn't be aliens could we? I mean it would explain a lot but even if we were it wouldn't matter. I was still me, Edward was still him and my family were still themselves.
Everyone said their last goodbyes as Edward and I stepped away from the Tardis.
"Doctor do you really have to go? There's still enough time to have Bella's and Edwards ceremony. Stay and celebrate with us," Carlisle suggested.
The Doctor smiled. "Sorry, we really have to get going and anyway I'm dreadful at weddings, especially my own," the Doctor replied, declining Carlisle's invitation.
Jack said his final goodbye and entered the Tardis. The Doctor was about to enter after him but he turned back around quickly.
"I'm sure we'll see each other again. I'm looking forward to it," the Doctor paused then turned to me. His smile becoming a now serious expression. "Bella, you now have a very strong power there. Please, be careful who knows what could be done if it was in the wrong hands."
I nodded in response and the Doctor smiled before entering the Tardis. Edward put his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. Everyone took a step backwards as the now familiar noise of the Tardis began to fill the room. The Tardis faded and was gone.
Everyone either filed out of the room or went back to their private conversations. I let out a sigh. That abruptly caught Edward's attention.
"Are you okay love?" he asked, concerned.
"Of course… It's just no matter what we do in life time after time it's filled with danger and the abnormal," I said through a sigh.
"I know, but I don't think our lives will ever become anyways normal or even calm," Edward replied.
"Probably not. We have lots of time to make it work anyway," I stated.
Edward chuckled before leaning into me and placing a tender kiss on my lips before he began to reply.
"You're right," he smiled crookedly. "We have forever and ever and ever and ever…."
THE END
___________________________________________________
Authors note:
Whoa!… I can't believe its over!
I actually cried writing the last few lines. Not because it was sad or anything just that I'll miss this story so much! :(
I hope everyone enjoyed my first fan fic and hopefully the stories to come are much improved.
I would like to thank everyone who added me to their faves and alert lists, much appreciated but more importantly I would like to thank my reviewers.
Wow as I write this I have 158 reviews!!! Omg thank you all so much. Really, all your comments mean the world to me.
I would officially like to thank with all my heart (in no particular order):
Hawkesey
OhItsHer
CuteyAngel2008
piper-rox
AliceCullenRocks-2009
artsycherry
Saya namie
PrincessJellyBabies
xxFrequentlyDazzledxx
Digsy Galley
MorganCullen1234
Silvermoon of Forestclan
Plate Captain
Ana568
Wunmiii
DancingWithDaffodils
rraiissa
rubysun13
twilighter no1
pluto-nfl
Bad Wolf Jr
twilighter
Moosical
cullen1994
RidingInTheTardis
WeepingAngel123
ecsc
ironyheartsap
Last but not least my fantabulous unofficial beta Raven-Rach. Your spell check has been wonderful xxxx but most importantly thank you for giving me the confidence to post this story. Otherwise it just would have been sitting on my computer for the rest of eternity. Raven-Rach is the best, craziest, most trust worthy, maniac in the world!… Did I mention that she's an extremely talented writer too. [Rach: Aww wow, Aine, that was completely unnecessary! I loveyou- you creative genius you!!]
There's a link to her in my favourite authors on my profile. Check out her stuff, I order you! :) You won't regret it. [Rach: yes you will, I feel insignificant even standing in this fantastic woman's presence!!]
Now before I sign off I would like to announce that I WILL be writing a sequel to this story. As of this moment it is still unnamed but I'll think of a name don't worry.
All I can tell you about the sequel without giving too much away is that it will be bigger and better, much darker and depressive also the first chap will be in Nessie's POV, yey! Actually it might mostly be in her POV but it will alternate between Edward, Jacob (or Jacbo as Raven-Rach and I now refer to him as lol), Bella and The Doctor. [Rach: heh heh, we looooove Jacbo!!]
As a special treat here's a preview of the sequel. Its in Bella's POV. Now before you read it I want you to know that I don't know myself when I will start posting the story. I have exams coming up and I also have a lot of other stories I might want to post first. I have a twilight fic called 'The Secret's Out' and I'm really looking forward to that. But I want you to understand that I will eventually post the sequel, I even have most of the first chapter written. It might be in my physics copy and not on my laptop but technically it's written lol. [Rach: I've seen her physics copy- great fanficplots are hidden in there among scientific formulas that I don't understand!! You guys are in for a serious treat!]
Also I have ideas for spin offs to this story. Like Emmett's adventures with Torchwood or Carlisle's travels with the Doctor and many more. I might also post some outtakes to this story eventually as well.
Anyway enough of my nonsensical rambling here's the preview:
10 YEARS LATER…
I fell to my knees as I held my breath, closed my eyes and covered my ears, in the centre of all this anarchy and pandemonium.
I could sense the blood that was being spilled around me. It has been a month and twelve hours exactly since my last hunt. The thirst burnt worse then the fires of hell. Worse than when I met Edwards's human incarnation.
I was ravenous with little amount of strength that was thread bare. I had to hunt. I needed to hunt. I wanted to hunt. But I couldn't do it. Not only for my beloved family, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did. I would ask the Volturito kill me immediately. Yes that would be the only option if I stooped so low. I know they probably wouldn't do it. To be so kind and give me that sort of solace.
My existence once full of love and happiness has become one of desperation.
I know that it's impossible that I'll ever see my darling Edward again but I'm doing this for him and our daughter. The memories of them are all that get me trough the dark, cold, lonely, nights.
When I think of Renesmee and how much she's grown into the beautiful woman I once seen before me I fill with unbearable pain because I know I won't be there for her. I'm the only one who was in our family who could possibly understand what she's going through. I just hope wherever my family may be now that they are content and that this sacrifice has been worth it.