Disclaimer: I own nothing, I simply like to play with Edward :P
Hellooo my fellow readers.
Right this one is the last chapter before the Epilogue please let me know what you think. Thanksssssssss
Enjoy!! and please leave me a nice review
Two days later and we were packed up and on our way home. Edward was teaching me to deal with the smell of humans the same was he was taught just with different consequences. If it got too much for him, he could have killed someone. If it got too much for me, I would probably start dry heaving. It was getting better though, as we walked through the airport to catch the flight back to Seattle I was able to breathe fairly easily by blocking out the smell and focusing on Edward.
As we boarded the plane and settled into our seats I let out a sigh of contentment. We were going home.
Edward held me closer and placed a kiss on my neck.
When we had landed it was twilight, Edward, after ensuring that I would be ok went to get the car while I waited with the bags. While I stood waiting I admired my wedding ring and thought back to my wonderful honeymoon. Over the past few days on the island I had gone through all my happy memories I had as a human, determined to remember them, all my childhood memories and all my memories with Edward. So now as I looked at my ring I was able to think back to my wedding and smile.
"Hello darlin', who'd leave a pretty little thing like you here all alone?"
I looked to my left to see a greasy old man, looking me up and down like I was a piece of meat. Repulsed I picked up our bags and moved away from him but he followed.
"Now, now sweetie, don't be like that. Let me show you a good time" he reached out a filthy hand to grab my arm and I span around to glare at him. Fear crossed his face as he stumbled backwards.
"Leave me alone." I growled and he scurried away, not looking back. I smiled to myself and Edward pulled up in-front of me. He got out and pulled me into his embrace,
"I can't leave you alone for a second can I?" he exclaimed before loading the bags into the car. I chuckled
"I have to say I enjoyed that" Edward laughed and opened the passenger door for me.
Seconds later we were racing along the highway towards Forks.
We pulled into the drive just under an hour later and stopped outside the house. Edward opened my door and helped me out. Then together we walked through the door. I grinned as I saw everyone in the living room. Esme and Carlisle were on the couch. Emmett and Rose were watching a film and Alice and Jasper were on the love seat, Jasper desperately trying to control Alice who was bouncing up and down. There was a split second where everyone just stared and then they all got up to hug us.
"Kid's how are you back so soon? Is everything ok? Bella how did you cope all the way here?" Carlisle asked before we could say anything. We smiled at him
"Don't worry Carlisle, everything's perfect. We'll explain everything later"
"Welcome home children" Esme said hugging us both. "Bella you look spectacular, immortality suits you" I smiled at her and thanked her.
"Well, Eddie. How was it?" Emmett asked winking at Edward and I. I would have been blushed profusely had I still had a beating heart. But Rose saved us from further embarrassment by smacking Emmett on his head. She was next to hug us and whispered "Welcome home sis" in my ear. I smiled at her but before I could reply I was pulled into Alice's little pixie arms and squeezed hard. I mentally chuckled and squeezed her back with all my strength,
"Ow!" she exclaimed and let me go. I burst out laughing, as did Edward and the rest of the family
"Sorry Alice" I said and hugged her again, this time more gently.
"Come on Alice, Bellsie isn't strong!" Emmett said chuckling at her. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at him and then glanced at Edward. He nodded slightly and I grinned evilly
"Ok then Emmett, me and you, arm wrestling now" I said poking him in the chest.
"You're on girly!" he shouted causing the house to shake and rubbing his chest where I'd poked him.
"Ooo this is going to be good, we'll go outside. I don't think Mom would appreciate you breaking any furniture" Alice said leading the way through the back doors. Esme shot her an appreciative glance and followed the rest of us outside.
We got into place around a large boulder and clasped hands.
"Good luck Emmy, you're going to need it" I said. He just laughed and grabbed my hand tighter. Edward stood at the side of me and counted us down. As he reached 1 I felt Emmett start to push. But it felt like he wasn't trying. I didn't have to exert much pressure to keep him where we started. I could tell he was putting everything he had into this and when nothing happened his face was hilarious, first shock then disbelief, then anger until finally he let out a groan of frustration and began to use both hands to try and push mine down. I laughed along with everyone else but then decided to put him out of his misery. With a fake yawn I casually pushed his hand and it slammed backwards causing a large piece of the boulder to break away.
The family cheered while Emmett stormed off. I chuckled but began to feel guilty thinking I had upset him.
"Don't worry Bella he just has a wounded ego" Jasper said smiling. Rose grinned at me as well,
"Don't worry I'll go and cheer him up" and I could tell by the look in her eyes as she ran after him that she would enjoy that as much as he would.
"Edward, Bella. I hate to break up your fun but we're all very curious over here" Carlisle said.
"Sorry Carlisle, lets go talk" Edward said and took my hand leading me inside. We sat around the living room and Edward began to tell them about the honeymoon. He explained about the change, my first hunt and my love for animal blood which should have repulsed me. I watched Carlisle's face as he listened, the scholar in him coming out full force and I could tell he was asking Edward a million questions in his head. Finally Edward came to the walk back to the house where we had smelled the cleaners. Esme gasped and Carlisle looked worried while Jasper looked confused at our emotions, probably expecting to feel remorse or guilt. Alice meanwhile looked gleeful, waiting for their reactions.
"Oh Bella, you poor soul. Are you ok?" she asked her face full of motherly concern. Edward and I laughed and looked at each other
"I'm fine Esme. Human blood smells disgusting to me" I said beaming. As I finished the sentence Emmett and Rosalie walked through the back door looking dishevelled and happy. I giggled.
"What?" everyone but Alice, and Edward exclaimed. And I could help but laugh at the looks on their faces.
"You heard right. She stopped dead as soon as I did. I held onto her but she made no attempt at escape. She casually asked me what the smell was and when I told her she just told me that they smelt like rotten garbage."
No one said a word. They just stared at us like we were talking crazy. Eventually Carlisle spoke,
"Wow. Well Bella, it seems that you were born to be immortal" I grinned at that. It was exactly what I had thought from the first moment I knew I loved Edward. I looked at my husband and leant up to kiss him. I could tell he was smiling into the kiss and when we pulled away his eyes sparkled with love.
We spent the rest of the night as a family, watching films and cuddling up to our significant others. It was a taster of my life to come and I couldn't have been happier.
We sat down with the family again the next day to discuss our next steps.
"Firstly, we can't stay in Forks much longer" Carlisle began "I think the best thing to do is for Bella to call Charlie tomorrow and tell him that you two are flying home tomorrow night. We can stage the crash as if it happened when you were on the way back from Seattle." I sighed. We had discussed all of this before the wedding, the best way to give Charlie and Renee some semblance of piece would be to fake my death. They wouldn't have to wonder then where their daughter was or if she was happy. We had now however decided to use a car crash instead of the plane.
"Ok, that seems best" I said "What about bodies though? Surly we can't just disappear after a crash"
"Well we still have some of your blood from before Bella, just in case we needed to do this. The plan was to crash near a river then put a trail of blood from the car into the woods. It will make it look like an animal attack." Carlisle said, though I could tell he wasn't completely comfortable with the idea. I winced
"Sound's painful" I said "But if it's the best way. And what about Edward? Surly you don't have any of his blood on tap?" "Well no but we're going to put some of his shredded clothing near a patch of your blood. That should be good enough" Carlisle finished
"Ok so I ring Charlie tomorrow. Where are we moving to?" Carlisle smiled, happy to be onto a less morbid subject.
"Well, we thought we would let you decide that Bella." I looked at them,
"Wow. Well I don't really kn..." but then a memory flashed to the front of my brain and I smirked. "I think I could cope with a decade or so showing Tanya that Edward is officially off the market" I said winking at Edward. He grinned back at me obviously remembering our conversation in the rainforest. I could see the smirks of the other members of the family as well and grinned. This was going to be fun.
"Ok then Denali is it" Esme confirmed.
"Yeah!" shouted Emmett "We'll show you a real snowball fight Belly" He said. I smiled back,
"Bring it Emmy"
Over the next few hours we discussed the last minute details. Of course we all just couldn't up and leave at once, so it would have to be staggered after the funerals. Emmett and Rose were already meant to be at college so they would `leave` straight after the funerals with the excuse that they wanted to get straight back into school as a distraction. Alice and Jasper would `leave` next around a month after the funerals, saying that they had postponed their college courses. Then a month or two after they leave, Esme and Carlisle would announce that they were leaving, stating that Forks held too many bad memories and that they wanted to be closer to the rest of the family.
We would actually just be hiding out in the house for a few months and then leaving together.
Later that evening I picked up the phone and dialled my old house number for the last time. The phone rang twice before Charlie picked it up,
"Hello" He said
"Hey dad" I replied, Edward and I had been working on trying to make my voice sound more like my old one all morning. It was better but I still thought Charlie was going to notice.
"Bella! You're voice sounds different, happier. I'm glad. How are you sweetheart?" I breathed a silent sound of relief.
"I'm great thanks Dad. Were having a blast and I'm exceptionally happy, don't worry about me"
"That's great Bells, so when do I get to see my little girl again" I felt a stinging behind my eyes and realised that this is how it felt to cry as a vampire. Edward rubbed my shoulders gently and kissed the top of my head. I took a deep breath and continued
"Well we're flying home tonight dad so maybe tomorrow?" I said, desperately trying to keep my tone happy.
"That's wonderful Bells, I can't wait" Charlie said "Have a safe flight "
"I'm sure we'll be fine, thanks dad. I love you" I said softly, sobs threatening to break free at any second.
"I love you too baby girl. Bye"
"Bye" I whispered, hung up the phone and then collapsed into Edwards arms. Dry sobs wracked my whole body while Edward held me close and I clutched his shirt crying into his chest.
"It's ok Bella, it's all going to be ok" I could tell from his voice this was hurting him. He never wanted me to have to do this. To have to say goodbye to my family. And that thought made me sob even harder.
Eventually I calmed down and looked up at Edward; he was looking at me with worry all over his face,
"Sweetheart are you ok?"
"I'm fine Edward, sorry. I knew this was going to be hard but I'll be fine. This is the best thing I can do for him. I know Charlie; he would never give up if I just disappeared. I can't do that to him."
Edward ran a finger gently down my cheek and placed a kiss on my lips.
"I love you" he said
"I love you too" I replied kissing him harder.
Alice and Jasper entered the living room before we could get too into it, but it was cutting it close,
"Argh, my eyes!" Alice said jokingly, I glared at her and she laughed.
"Are you ready for later?" she asked
"As ready as I can be" I answered sadly, then turned to Edward "Sorry about your car Edward"
He laughed,
"It's a car Bella, it can be replaced"
"I know but not everyone can afford to purposely wreck a car to fake their death. Plus that car holds a lot of memories. I'll be sad to see it go." Edward hugged me
"If you like, we could use the Vanquish. I don't mind" I looked at him closely
"Edward, you love that car!" He smiled
"Not as much as I love you" I grinned and kissed him hard
"I love you too" I said and he kissed me back forcefully.
"You two are so strange" Alice said before dancing out of the room dragging Jasper with her.
I paced the living room waiting for Edward, Carlisle and Alice to get back. They had gone to set the scene for our big crash. Edward and Alice could make sure the area was clear and would stay clear and Carlisle was there with the blood to make the scene look as believable as possible. Even with their 'talents' though I was worrying.
Eventually around an hour and a half after they had left I hear them running towards the house. I ran out to meet them, the trees rushing past me; as soon as I saw Edward I leapt and landed in his arms,
"Hey" I said "I missed you" and proceeded to kiss him
"Ok, ok kids break it up" Carlisle said laughing at us
"Sorry Carlisle" I said "I was worried" Carlisle chuckled
"You worry too much Bella, I would be afraid of you having a heart attack if it wasn't impossible."
I laughed and unwrapped my legs from around Edward but keeping hold of his hand and running back with them.
"So everything is set up right?" I asked
"Yeah we just have to wait for the call, then everything will be in motion" Alice said as we approached the house. I didn't reply I only nodded.
We didn't have to wait long for the call. It came around 2 and a half hours after we arrived back at the house. Edward and I had been in his room listening to music and reading when it began to ring. We came downstairs just as Carlisle answered it.
"Hello"
"Carlisle it's Deputy Rivers here, I'm afraid I have some bad news. We've just been called out to a crash just outside of Forks. I'm so sorry Dr but we think it was your son and his wife." I leant into Edward where we stood. I was so glad I would only ever have to do this once.
"No!" Carlisle shouted the perfect tone of disbelief and anguish in his voice "Are you sure?" he asked
"I'm afraid we can't be completely sure sir, there aren't any bodies. But it is defiantly you're son's car. If you come down to the station we can talk more" The deputy replied, nervousness lacing his tone at Carlisle reaction.
"We'll be right down" He said before hanging up abruptly. Carlisle turned to the rest of us. "Here we go kids, Esme and I will do down to the station. Then as soon as it is confirmed we'll ring you. Edward, Bella, You can hunt close to the house but other than that stay here. It'll be best." We nodded and watched as he and Esme walked out of the door.
I sighed and pulled Edward back upstairs. For the next couple of hours we lay together, kissing occasionally and comforting each other with our presence.
"I hate to even think of you dying, even if it is pretend" Edward said as he kissed my neck, I wrapped my arms around him moaning quietly
"Me too" I said breathless "The thought doesn't bear thinking about"
A while later we were wrapped around each other under the covers, contented. Esme and Carlisle had rang Alice and Jasper and asked them to go down to the station and to 'call' Rosalie and Emmett on their way. I could hear Esme pretend sobs and screams of anguish when he had rang as well as Carlisle's tone of pure agony and I hated it. The think they did for family was amazing and I would be eternally grateful to them. Edward held me closer as we had heard, he must have sensed my unneeded desperation to find Esme and hug her until she calmed down.
Now all we had to wait for was the funerals. Edward and I had already decided that we would not be going to them; I couldn't bear to see my grieving friends and family and would have probably tried to run into the middle of the service and scream that I was still alive.
It was a week and a half later that the funerals took place. Mine and Edward's empty coffins would be laid to rest in the cemetery right next to each other. Charlie had called Esme a few days ago to discuss our head stones. Hearing my father for the first time since I had called him myself made me realise just how much this had affected him. He sounded like he had aged 30 years in that weeks and a half. His vice was rough and had no life to it. Esme soothed him and helped him to decide on what he wanted on my headstone. Eventually they decided that Edward and I would share a headstone with the message "Together in death as they were in life". By the end of the phone call Charlie had broken down into heart wrenching sobs and I was almost screaming in pain into Edward's chest. Edward quickly gathered me into his arms and jumped out of the window, needing to get me away from the house and my pain filled father. As we headed towards the meadow, I heard Esme break into sobs also and promise to go round to Charlie's with some food and company. Well at least I knew he was going to eat.
We reached the meadow and Edward lay down pulling me on top of him and holding me closely.
"Bella sweetheart, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry" he repeated his apologies for a full 10 minutes before I hit his chest to shut him up.
"Edward stop apologising. I chose this! And I don't regret it. I just hate what it's doing to Charlie. But imagine how he would be feeling if you hadn't changed me. I couldn't have moved around with you all to time. I would have had to stay in Forks" he opened his mouth to argue but I stopped him "Edward you know it's true. That would have broken me; I wouldn't have been able to live. I doubt I would have made it to 40. Imagine how Charlie would have felt if I'd have died unhappy and alone. At least now he can know I was happy. I was in love. He walked me down the isle and watched me marry the man that I love with all my heart. That's the best memory I could have left him with and I did. Edward I love you and I'm unbelievably happy. This is just the hard patch we have to stumble over to get to our happily ever after." He stared at me, looking into my eyes, determining my sincerity. Eventually he sighed and pulled me closer,
"I love you Isabella Marie Swan Cullen" I smiled and settled down onto his chest, the sobs finally stopped
"I love you too Edward Antony Mason Cullen"
There you are, I hope you liked it. Let me know with a nice little review pleaseee