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Chapter 25 - Reunions

EPOV

I woke up from her stirring fingers inside my hand. I raised my head slowly, but Bella's eyes were still closed. I looked at the time and saw that it was almost three o clock in the morning. I yawned and stretched before I placed a soft kiss on her hand.

"Edward," she whispered groggily and with her eyes still closed.

"Yes, love, I'm here." I leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Water," she said hoarsely. I grabbed the glass next to her bed and held the straw against her lips. She took a few sips before she pulled away. Her eyes fluttered opened and tears filled them instantly.

"Shhh, don't cry." I pleaded. I lay down next to her and pulled her into my arms. "Everything is fine now, love. I'm never letting you go again." I promised.

"I was so afraid that you'd never find me," she whispered with a trembling voice.

"I would have searched to the ends of the earth, Bella. You are my everything and I would never have given up. Never!" I said adamantly.

"I love you, Edward, so much. It was the only thing that kept me going; you and our children," she said.

The warmness of my tears made me realize that I was crying as well.

"He never touched me," she whispered.

"Shhh, love, you don't have to say anything. I love you no matter what happened-"

"I want to tell you," she interrupted me.

"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly and she only nodded.

"I was almost permanently strapped or chained to some of his devices. He drugged me and fed me pills and I knew that if he would have touched me that I wasn't going to be able to stop him. I was high most of the time as he injected me with something almost every three hours." She cried again. I just held her closer and stroked her hair over and over again.

"That first day when he chained me to a table, I thought that this was it, but when he pulled his pants down I almost cried from relief. His manhood was all burned up and had cuts all over. He couldn't get the thing to work; apparently some girl had set him on fire and tried to cut the thing off," she said. "I also realized that if I was disobedient, he would beat me and that it had kept him mad and then he refused to touch me. He would punish me whenever I spoke when not allowed to or when I mocked him, which I did time and time again just to keep him from touching me. I would take the beatings any day over that man touching me." she shivered.

"I wanted to kill him when I saw you hanging there so lifeless. And when I saw the welts on your back…" I swallowed and clenched my jaw, "I wanted to cut him up in pieces, Bella. I wanted to hurt him the way he hurt you," I said softly.

"He gagged me so that I couldn't speak and I knew that it was over. He showed me all sorts of gadgets that he was planning on using on me and I knew that I was done for. Then he told me that he was on his way to pick Abbey up…" she shook her head, "I have never been so afraid in my entire life, Edward. If he had gotten to Abbey-" she said and started crying again.

"She's safe, love, nothing will ever harm you or our children again." I kissed her head again. I started telling her how Sam knew where she lived and how Esme was a part of Sam's plan. I told her how Esme helped us to catch Sam and how Jake helped me to find her. She listened silently but I felt the wetness on my shirt and knew she was crying. She had been through so much…

"I was afraid that if Sam touched me that I would lose you forever," she spoke her real fears out loud.

"Never! I will love you no matter what, Bella. Being violated in that way isn't something you asked for and I would never blame you or break up with you. You are everything to me, Bella, everything!" I exclaimed. "You are stuck with me…" I said with a chuckle.

She raised her head and looked into my eyes. Her eyes revealed so much sadness, hurt and anger, but what made my breath catch was the amount of love that shone through. It broke through every hurt, anger and sadness. It caused her eyes to light up the way I remembered and bring out the softness that I loved so much.

"There's what I wanted to see," I said softly, brushing my lips softly over hers.

"What?" she asked.

"Your love for me, Bella." I leaned down and kissed her again, deeper this time, until we pulled away for air.

"I don't feel so good," she whispered. Her body was trembling and she was sweating profusely.

"It's the withdrawals from the drugs he gave you," I explained. I wanted to go to the morgue and kill Sam all over again.

"I don't want to use the stuff…" she said.

"Your body is still used to the stuff he gave you and even though your mind doesn't want the drugs, your body does," I explained, remembering what I had been through. My mind was the problem, though, not my body. I craved the drugs to keep myself sane from my memories of Bella. My mind literally craved the drugs…

Bella yawned and I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips. I felt bubbly and so very fucking happy that she was safe in my arms and even a yawn from her made my heart swell with happiness and love.

"Close your eyes and sleep, love," I whispered.

"I want to be with you. I can sleep later," she answered.

"I'll hold you until you wake up again. I'll never let go." I promised with a kiss on her forehead.

"In that case…" she said before a yawn escaped her lips again, "I can't say no," she said.

"I love you, Bella, so much," I said before I leaned in for a kiss. The kiss was lazy and very slow but oh so fucking erotic. "Please rest now because we have two eager children that want to see their mommy," I said.

"I can't wait to see them. Will you bring them to me when I wake up from my nap?" she asked.

"I'll ask Rosalie to bring them, Bella, because I'm not leaving your side right now," I said in earnest. I knew Sam was dead, but I had already lost Bella once and came very close to losing her again, which made me a very overprotective man.

"I love you, Edward," she whispered softly before she closed her eyes and before long I felt her steady breathing.

She fell asleep almost instantly, but I didn't mind at all. I held her in my arms – like I promised – and just feeling her breathe was heaven to me. Her heart pounded lightly against my side and with every beat my life felt fulfilled.

I came so close to losing her forever and the mere thought made me shiver. It was hard to believe that I had found her only hours ago and that she was missing for four days. It was a nightmare that I never wanted to relive again…not knowing where she was and what she was going through was enough to drive me insane.

I haven't told her about Sam yet. I had no idea why, but I figured that she already took a huge leap by opening up to me about what Sam had done to her. I had to bite my tongue the entire time and clenching my jaw to keep myself calm seemed like the best solution at the time. I wanted to kill Sam all over again.

I would tell her about Sam when she woke up…figuring that it would be a step closer to closure…to healing!

Every time Bella shivered in my arms broke my heart, knowing that she must have some flashbacks or nightmares. I stroked her hair lightly and tightened my arms around her until I felt her calm down and breathe evenly again.

I wanted to mention a psychiatrist but decided to wait until she was out of hospital. It was good for Tristan and Abbey and I think it might be good for Bella since she had been through so much shit. Plus, the fact that she never dealt with her rape six years ago was also a stumbling block in her life. She needed to get help to free herself from Sam's chains. She needed to break free from him because it was the only way she would truly be healed.

I sighed.

I missed my children. I missed eating dinner with them around Emmett's massive dining table. I missed the small-talk we'd have after dinner. I missed giving them a goodnight kiss.

They missed Bella very much and would ask me every night where she was and if she was okay. Tristan never believed me when I told him that Bella was fine and that I would find her. He wasn't as innocent as Abbey was and knew his mom was in trouble. He kept saying that he could hear the evil in Sam's voice and that he knew Sam was hurting his mom. I had no idea what to say to him except to promise him that I would find Bella and bring her back home.

I have seen a totally different side of my son with Bella's kidnapping. I saw a vulnerable side; the side he so desperately tried to hide because he believed that he was ten years old and not a baby. He tried to act all grown up, but with Bella's kidnapping he showed me that he was still a little boy – my little boy – who needed comfort and so much love.

Abbey was a completely different story. She was clingy and refused to let me go anywhere without her. I even had a hard time going to the bathroom.

Where Tristan withdrawn himself at times, Abbey wanted undivided attention and comfort. Tristan broke down every night when I tucked him in and I had to spend almost two hours in his room to comfort him. He tried to act brave in front of my family – even though he failed miserably – and broke down when it was just me and him.

I felt so much closer to Tristan in those times and the bond we shared became even stronger. I could say, in all honesty, that I finally have a real father-son bond with my son. We've been through a lot together and in such a short time of knowing each other that it made our bond stronger; unbreakable.

"What has you thinking so deep?" she asked groggily, bringing me out of my reverie about my children.

"Tristan and Abbey," I answered before I kissed her lips. They tasted like medicine and were chapped and dry. I miss her sweet lips that always felt like satin.

Her sigh broke my heart.

"How are they doing?" she asked in a trembling voice.

"They've been better," I told her the truth. "They've been seeing a psychiatrist and she's been helping them a lot. Abbey is already doing better…" my words faded because I didn't want to upset Bella.

"Tristan is struggling?" she asked but it sounded more like a statement.

"He's been having a really difficult time to come to terms with what happened to you. He keeps to himself and breaks down at night when I tuck him in. He really misses you, Bella…we all missed you," I said.

"I hate Sam. I hate him for ruining my life and for causing my children pain." She cried. "I have never hated someone more than I hate that man, Edward. The mere thought that he was planning on kidnapping Abbey-" she shook her head and shivered in my arms.

"I wouldn't have let that happen, love." I swore.

"Where is Sam?" she asked.

"Well, they caught him but he managed to escape-"

"No," she interrupted me. I tightened my arms around her and kissed her head.

"Emmett went after him and Emmett almost had him before he shot Emmett-"

"Is Emmett alright? No, please tell me Emmett wasn't hurt?" she interrupted me again and started crying.

"Shh, love," I whispered. "He is fine, Bella, but Sam committed suicide. He is dead and will never hurt you again," I said.

Her sobs racked through her chest and she started crying uncontrollably. The excruciating pain from her cries sent me over the edge and I started sobbing with her. Her fist clenched around the material of my shirt and she pulled her legs up to her torso while I gently cradled her shaken body.

"I can't believe it's finally over," she sobbed.

"It's over, love. You and Abbey are safe from that monster," I said while tears streamed down my cheeks.

Bella cried her heart out on my chest and after a while her body relaxed in my arms. I raised her chin with my forefinger and looked deeply into her eyes. They were swollen and red from the crying but she still had the most beautiful eyes in this world. Her eyelashes were wet and a few teardrops still lingered on them just waiting for more to follow so they could escape the tiny hairs and roll down her cheeks, but the tears never came and soon the lingering teardrops disappeared and her eyelashes dried.

"Kiss me, Edward," she said with a pleading voice.

I slowly leaned in and brushed my lips ever so softly over hers. The content sigh encouraged me to deepen the kiss, so I graced my tongue across her bottom lip before I gently sucked the fullness into my mouth and nibbled softly on it. Her hand slid up my shoulders, around my neck and into my hair until her fingers locked in my hair. I worshipped her lips until the tip of my tongue touched her top lip, begging for entrance. She opened her mouth and my tongue slipped into the warmness, finding her tongue and slowly swirling it around hers.

Our kiss was sensual and even though it was slow it was the most passionate kiss I've ever experienced with Bella. The love we had for each other bubbled to the surface and consumed us in ways that I never thought was even possible. With every lick and nip and brush I felt her love for me and pushed me to express myself even more. So many emotions were in our kiss; love, joy, fear, passion, hope and relief for being in each other's arms again.

Life wasn't able to push us down or break us apart. We were stronger than ever; stronger than ten years ago, stronger than two months ago and even stronger than a week ago. We knew what it felt like to live without each other and we knew how hard we had to fight to be together. We knew what it felt like when the person you love most in the world was kidnapped and almost killed. But, we were still here and we were still together. Our love would never die and we would take anything this cruel fucking life swings our way. Together we would be able to do anything and everything.

"I want you so much," she said out of breath.

"I want you so much, too," I said back, leaning my forehead against hers.

Suddenly the door swung open and Rosalie jumped into the room, "Surprise!" she yelled.

Bella started crying when she saw Rose and Rose quickly made her way to the hospital bed to hug her friend. I unwillingly let go of Bella and climbed off of the bed.

"Are you okay? How are you holding up?" Rose asked Bella through tears.

"Except for the withdrawals, I'm doing okay. I just want to go home," she answered.

"I brought you something that might cheer you up," Rose said with a smile. Bella's entire face lit up and the sparkle in her eyes doubled.

Rose turned around and left the room only to return a second later with Tristan and Abbey.

"Mommy," they yelled together and ran towards her bed. Bella sat up and held her arms out for our children. I chuckled when Abbey attempted to jump onto the bed and failed miserably. I helped her onto the bed where she joined Tristan in Bella's arms. Tears flowed down Bella's cheeks and I noticed how Tristan was crying as well. My chest constricted at the sight in front of me…it was such a beautiful reunion.

"I missed you guys so much," Bella said. "My babies," she cried, kissing them on their heads.

"I'll let that one slip this time, Mom," Tristan said while wiping tears from his face. Bella chuckled and the most beautiful smile broke across Tristan's face.

"Did that man hurt you, Mommy?" Abbey asked softly.

"No, baby, daddy found me before he could hurt me." Bella cried.

"Why are your face full of bruises then?" she asked.

"I've fallen down a couple of times," Bella lied without blushing.

I understood why she felt the need to lie, but maybe it wasn't the best idea. Abbey was stronger than Bella thought and I think that deep down she knew Bella lied.

Tristan knew she was lying as he cocked an eyebrow at her and pierced his lips. She only shook her head sideways before she pulled them in for another hug.

Abbey raised her head and looked directly at me.

"Daddy, I missed you last night," Abbey said with a pout. Rose and Bella chuckled.

"Well, Princess, I'm sorry about that. I missed you too, but as you can see, mommy really needed me too," I said back copying her pout, but by the giggling of Rose, Bella and even my son, I knew I failed miserably.

Abbey jumped from the bed onto my lap and hugged me fiercely before she placed a wet kiss on my cheek.

"'Tis okay, daddy, I'm happy that you were here for mommy. Besides, Trissie helped Rosie to tuck me in and he even read me a bedtime story," she chattered nonstop. "Tonight, though, I want my daddy," she added with a huge grin before she looked at me with those puppy eyes and pouting nonstop.

I chuckled. But the thought of leaving Bella alone crippled me, so I looked at Bella and then back at my beautiful daughter and back at Bella. She saw what I struggled with and gave me a warm smile.

"Daddy will be home to tuck you in, sweetie, I promise," Bella answered for me and though it saddened me that I would not be with Bella tonight, I was sure as hell happy that Bella made the decision for me and that I didn't have to choose myself.

Abbey clapped her hands and giggled before she hugged me again.

"Dad, can we play some Xbox tonight?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, Tris, that would be awesome," I answered in excitement because ever since Bella was kidnapped he wanted to do nothing but sit around. He wanted to do something with me tonight and it filled my heart with so much joy. I had hope that we were going to get past this ordeal. We would do it as a family; together.

Rosie excused herself because she wanted to get to Emmett. I told her that I would go to him before I left the hospital.

Bella started her detoxification and had to stay in hospital for four days. Four fucking days. It was the same amount of days she had been missing, but this time was different because I knew exactly where she was and that the bastard who did this to her was dead and would never hurt her again.

Charlie was the next visitor and it was just as emotional as the reunion with Rose, Abbey and Tristan. Bella clung to her father as if her life depended on it and I felt the tears prick my eyes.

"Where were you?" Bella asked Charlie.

"I had a lot of paperwork to file and I had to give statements and take them, Bells. Plus, I had to make sure..." He looked at Abbey and Tristan playing on the floor before he added in a whisper; "that bastard is dead." He hissed through clenched teeth.

"I'm so relieved that he is dead, Dad," she said with a shiver.

"You and me both, sweetie," he said.

Charlie looked at me and smiled widely before he winked.

"When are you going to do the honourable thing and marry my daughter, Edward?" He asked. Bella punched him in his gut, "Dad!" She exclaimed.

I knew he was joking, though, and I only chuckled.

"I don't know, Charlie, as soon as your beautiful daughter is ready," I said.

"Pfft, I was ready ten years ago, Cullen. I would marry you right now-"

"Really? Are you serious? Bella, please be serious..." I pleaded like a dork. "Don't make jokes with me now, please," I continued my pleading.

Bella smiled through a wave of tears and Charlie only grinned.

"Edward, nothing would make me happier than to marry you right now, but I don't want to marry the love of my existence lying in a hospital bed with needles and tubes stuck to me," she said.

"I understand, besides I want to dance with you as my wife..." I said and raised my eyebrows. "Give me a date, Bella," I said.

"What?" She asked astounded.

"I want us to set a date right now, so give me a date," I smiled.

"How about early in the new year?" She asked.

I shook my head, "Nope," I popped the p. "Sooner," I said, "before Christmas..."I added.

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed. I leaned in and kissed her because she had looked so damn cute.

"Christmas is in two weeks, Edward," she explained.

"What happened to 'I'll marry you today if I can'?" I said in her voice causing everyone in the room to erupt in laughter.

"Next week Saturday then?" She asked, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth and nibbling on it.

I smiled. I pulled her bottom lip from her mouth with my thumb and index finger before I kissed her softly.

"Next week Saturday will be perfect and I can't wait," I said.

"Yeah, mommy and daddy are getting married," Abbey clapped her hands and twirled around and around. "Mommy, can I wear a princess dress?" She asked.

We laughed again before I crouched down in front of Abbey and picked her up, "You can wear whatever you want; you can even wear your pyjamas," I whispered, knowing how much she loved her PJ's, and she gave me the most adorable smile.

"Thanks, daddy, but a princess dress will do just fine," she said with sparkling eyes.

"I don't care what I wear, I'm just so happy that my mom and dad are finally getting married," Tristan said with a crooked grin, the same grin Bella always said she loved about me, and that it turned her heart to mush and made her knees weak.

"Charlie, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked. He nodded and left the room. I kissed Bella's forehead and chuckled, "Don't worry, love, we won't kill each other," I said with a smile before I left the room.

"I didn't mean for it to happen this way. I mean, I wanted to ask for your blessing, Charlie, but you kind of jumped the gun in there," I said nervously.

"Son, I just gave you my blessing. I know you love her more than anything in this world and I know that you will take care of her..." He said with a grin. "Well you'd better because I have a gun and I will hunt your ass down if you don't," he added seriously.

"Strangely I believe you," I chuckled. "I'll never hurt her again, Charlie, I love her more than my own life," I said.

He placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed a bit.

"I believe you. Seeing how much my grandchildren love you and how much Bella loves you, makes me believe in you, Edward. Just don't fuck it up..." He said with a cocked eyebrow.

I laughed out loud. "I won't, and Charlie, thank you for your blessing and for believing in me," I said.

I couldn't believe how close Charlie and I had become over the last couple of days. I have the same respect for him as I did when I was growing up. He was like a second father to me and now that I have forgiven him for keeping Bella and me apart, I've grown to love him again just like I did when I was a kid.

Charlie suggested he take Tristan and Abbey home where I'll join them in a couple of hours.

"Does this mean you will move in with us, dad?" Tristan asked.

"Yes, definitely. I'll need your help, though," I said.

He made a fist-pump in the air, "I'll do anything to help." He smiled. He wrapped his arms around my middle and hugged me tightly. He was going to be tall, I thought to myself.

"Sooooo..." Bella stretched out the word, "you and Charlie, hey?" She asked when Charlie left with our children.

I laughed.

"Me and Charlie? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked while laughing.

"You're talking and being civil towards one another," she said.

I looked deeply into her eyes, cupping her cheeks and let out a deep sigh.

"Bella, four days ago we thought we lost you forever, and then when I found you, we thought that we already lost you." I swallowed the tears away. "That's bound to bring even the worst enemies together. I mean, even Jake and I had come to some sort of friendship," I said while I wiped the tears from her eyes. "Don't cry," I pleaded with a hoarse throat.

"I can't begin to imagine what you were going through," she whispered, fumbling with the blankets. I noticed how her fingers were trembling and that she seemed on edge.

"I'm fine now, love, but tell me something," I said, raking my free hand through my hair "How are you holding up?" I asked.

She looked away from me and swallowed.

"I'm...I don't know, I'm on edge and the only thing I can think of is to find something to stop the withdrawals, but I'm not a drug addict and I don't want to become one. You and our children are the one thing that keeps me from finding something to help with the withdrawals. It's just so hard, Edward, and I feel like giving up," she said through sobs.

"Shhh," I cooed and pulled her into my arms. "I'll help you, love, I've been through the same thing and I know what you are feeling and how hard it is," I said.

"It's only going to get worse, isn't it?" She asked. Her entire body was shaking.

"I won't lie to you, Bella; it's going to get harder. It's your first day without the drugs and by the third day you'll feel like dying, but the detoxification helps a lot and I'll be here every step of the way," I answered. "You're going to hate me and may even say mean things, but I forgive you, love, and I won't leave your side, I promise," I vowed.

"I'm c-c-c-old," her teeth clattered together.

"I wanted to talk to you about Abbey and Tristan..." She said and looked at me with fearful eyes. "I don't want them to see me like this and think that it will be better if they don't come back for a couple of days...at least until the worst is over," she continued.

"I agree, but it's going to be hard to keep them away," I said. "We'll work on something," I added with a kiss on her forehead. Her forehead was covered in sweat-drops even though she complained she was cold.

I wished that I could take away this burden. I wished that I could fast forward to next week where Bella would be through the worst of the withdrawals.

The doctor came to see me while Bella was sleeping and told me that Sam had given Bella heroin and that it was a miracle that she hadn't OD'd. I thought that Sam knew exactly what he was doing by shooting her up with heroin. He knew exactly how much to give her so that she wouldn't OD. He wanted her to get addicted so she wouldn't leave and she would stay with him to get more drugs. I've heard so many stories how pimps especially, would turn their prostitutes into addicts to make them dependant.

No, Sam knew exactly what he was doing and for him to do this to Bella within four days made him a fucking expert.

A chill ran down my spine at the thought of Bella being in his hands for more than four days. What would have happened if we weren't able to find her?

Four days worth of heroin was easy to kick, but by Bella's withdrawals I would say that she was already dependant on heroin.

Why were there such vile monsters in this world? Why did they have to exist? They only caused pain in people's lives and have no purpose on this planet.

Bella had fallen asleep again and my heart soared at the sight of my sleeping angel. How had I lived ten years without her? How could I have gotten through one night without her?

Hell! I was living in hell that's for sure.

No more! We would be together forever now and no one would ever come between us again. I would guard Bella with my very life...

oOoOoOoOoOoO

Review, review, review.

The next chapter is written and I'm emailing it to my beta later today or tomorrow.

Sadly, this story is coming to an end, I'm not sure but maybe 6 or 7 more chapters ;) there's still one plot unfinished and its coming sooooon...