A/N You guys are the best :-* Love your reviews, hope this chapter answers some of your questions xxx
Rescued.
Chapter 14.
Before leaving Portland Edward pick up the tux's for himself, Jasper and Emmett as they were all groomsmen for this wedding spectacular of the year, I wasn't surprised that there were lots of groomsmen, what with there being so many bridesmaids, but Jessica and Lauren her maid of honor had said who they would be, the groom didn't have much choice. Jessica I didn't know but the groom was a year younger so I knew Mike from school, he was cute, generic, okay if you like that sort of thing, but he always struck me as the needy, clingy type and I had done my best to avoid him all through school, him and his friends.
On the journey home we stopped at the small park by the lake, in a small attempt to wear out Pumpkin before we got home, but after running around the park for half an hour I think I was more tired than she was, though that was probably because I spent far too much time watching Edward and not enough time watching where I was walking. Which meant I spent an inordinate amount of time on the floor.
"That's it, I guess I'm just going to have to keep my arms around you for this rest of the walk." Edward said standing behind me with his arms wrapped around me, his chin resting on the top of my head, after picking me up off the floor for about the fifth time.
"It's not my fault the ground here is so uneven." I retorted.
"If you watched where you were walking instead of watching my ass, that would help." he said and I could hear him grinning.
"What can I say, guilty... its just one of those natural wonders, a thing of outstanding beauty." I laughed.
"I thought we were talking about my ass not yours." he said kissing the top of my head and squeezing my waist.
That's when I saw her sitting by the children's sand pit.
I stiffened in Edward's arms. "What's wrong?" he asked, "Oh, we can go home now, if you want." he added, seeing what I was looking at, but I shook my head and continued walking towards the sand pit.
I stopped right by her side, she hadn't seen me, she looked up and jumped up off the floor throwing her arms around me.
"Oh Bella, oh god Bella I've missed you so much." she said crying as she hugged me. I had to admit she was the closest thing I'd ever had to family, but seeing her amongst the carnage on my graduation had hurt more than it did any of the others.
"Hey Leah." I said, I couldn't help it, I hugged her back.
Edward had stepped back from me when he was sure I was in no danger. "I'll just be by the swings with Nessie if you need me." he said, I nodded and he walked the five metres to the swings.
"Before you say anything, I am sorry for everything Bells, I never meant to hurt you, but you know what Charlie and Jake are like, and... well it all seemed like fun to start with but I was so young and well... to scared to argue. I just wish I'd had the chance to run like you did." she said her breathing laboured and her face sad, she rubbed over he belly, I could see the slight bump.
"What do you mean?" I asked surely she had a choice.
"After that time, I got pregnant, but then I lost it, I've lost lots of them, but this is my little boy Seth. "She said stroking the hair of a toddler playing in the sand. "I can't leave, Jake would never let me take him away, and well I try to stay away from them, but Jake just sees me as some sort of baby making machine, and he can get mad when I lose them." she said.
I got down on my knee's to play in the sand with Seth, he was gorgeous. "Are you trying to say you've had miscarriages and he gets violent when you do?" I wanted to be sure I had this right.
She nodded, I've tried to leave but Jake hardly ever leaves me alone, and when he does he takes Seth with him, he doesn't trust me not to run, and mom and Charlie support him, today is rare, he's just gone to make a delivery, he will be back for us soon, so I don't have long to talk. If he finds out I spoke to you he'd be so mad." she explained.
"Do you really want to get away?" I asked.
"Desperately." she said, I could take her with me when I leave for Seattle.
"Sunday? When will you be alone with Seth?" I asked.
"At around eleven until about one." she said.
"Will you be able to get out of the house with Seth?" I asked.
"I can use the kitchen window maybe." she said and I could see the fear and guilt in her eyes.
"Someone will be there at ten past eleven on Sunday, be ready." I said and kissed her cheek and started to walk away, I would send Angela, that way if this was a trap, which I wouldn't put past them, they wouldn't trap me, and if it was a genuine rescue Angela's car was the most inconspicuous.
"Not you?" she asked panicked, and then I knew it, she had been put up to this by Charlie and Jake.
I turned back to her, "No, I can't go back to that house Leah." I said. "But if you are that eager to get away, come with me now." I offered.
"Now?" she asked panicked, her eyes darting all around the park. "But Jake, he'll be back soon."
"Then come with me now." I said standing and holding my hand out to her, I saw Edward walking back towards us."
"No Bella, you have to come back with me." she said grabbing my arm, but I pushed her away, and Edward was at my side in seconds Nessie on his hip, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me away. "They will go easier on me if you come home." she said. Her words made me feel sick.
"Don't look to me for help again Leah, you've sided with them, I don't care what they have over you, you used up what trust I had left." I said and I turned in Edward's arms. "Take me home." I said. Leah called after me, but I couldn't find it in me to respond.
The ride home was was quiet, but only a short ride, Edward came to open my door for me. Once I was out of the car he pulled me into his arms, "Baby, don't take what happened to heart, despite what they have done to you, you showed compassion and wanted to believe that there was good in Leah. As far as I am concerned that makes you human, they are the inhuman ones. The monsters, and you are so much better than they could ever be, so please baby, don't let this bring you down." he said and wiped a tear that I had unsuccessfully held back at his words.
"Thank you." I said raising my hand to stroke his cheek.
"For..?"
"Reminding me just how great you are." I said, he smiled and kissed me softly on the lips. "How come you've not been snatched up and dragged down the isle before now?" I asked not really thinking before I spoke.
He helped Nessie out of the car and she ran inside to show Grandma Esme her new dress. "Rose, wouldn't have allowed that to happen." he said, shrugging.
"I don't get it Edward why does she have this hold over you, what are you not telling me?" I asked him.
"I told you everything, I swear Bella, I really don't know what her problem is." he assured me.
"Then why does Emmett put up with it, surely he's not okay with how she treats you?" I asked.
"Well to be honest she has never been openly obvious about it, as far as the others are concerned she's just looking out for me, most of it was before she met Emmett." he explained.
"But if she tries anything with me..." I broke off.
"If she tries anything with you, I will put her in her place, and Emmett might see what a manipulator she is." he said.
"So in actual fact it would be better for the family if she does say something." I said.
"Why Miss Swan, what do you have in mind?"
"I don't know, but I bet you look hot in a suit, it might be difficult keeping my hands off you, at this dinner." I said grinning.
He growled and pulled me flush against his body. "Right now we have more important things to worry about." he said before he kissed his way along my jaw and down my neck.
"Oh... er... um..." I said panting as he sucked on the delicate skin at the juncture between my neck and shoulder. "What, um... er would, ugh that be?" I tried to ask as he bit my neck over the same place, and ran his tongue back up my neck to my ear. He was driving me crazy, and I wanted to jump him right there, I pulled away slightly and looked at his face and I could see the lust in his eyes.
"We need to find a way to convince our Pumpkin to sleep in her own bed tonight, I have a gift to open and I can't do that with her in the room." he said, his eyes hooded and dark, his voice seductive, if his hands hadn't been around me holding me up, I would have melted on the spot. But what would I have to do to get Pumpkin to stay in her own bed? Because right now, I couldn't think of anything but being alone... in bed... with Edward.
A/N This chapter was put in as an extra to answer some of your review questions. Most of your other queries will be answered soon ;) Next chapter may take a little longer than normal to write... what with there being a distinct possibility that it will be lemony, and I might need a cold shower or two between paragraphs :D