Bella

He wrapped his arms around me and I sighed with contentment. I snuggled up against his chest; I never wanted to move.

"What does Charlie think about you being here?" he asked.

Charlie. He had been a little harder to convince than Alice had originally thought.

"Brazil!" He had practically shouted. "You want to take Bella to Brazil for a month?"

Alice had been calmer.

"Charlie, she will be perfectly safe. Jasper and I have both been there before. She will never be out of our sight." I had to look away at that point so as not to give Alice away. We both knew I would be searching for Edward alone.

"It will look great on Bella's college applications. The big colleges really go for the humanitarian angle." It had taken a little more cajoling on Alice's part but Charlie had finally agreed. He made sure I checked in with him every few days, using the cell phone that Alice had given me to save him long distance charges.

"He doesn't technically know that I am here actually," I answered Edward now. I felt bad about lying to Charlie but being in Edward's arms made it worth it.

"Where does he think you are?" He sounded amused.

"He thinks I am traveling with Alice and Jasper doing volunteer work abroad. You know, to fluff out my college applications."

"Jasper knows you're here too?" He was surprised. Alice had argued, threatened and finally begged until Jasper had gone along with the plan. I secretly thought that he was holding out deliberately, making Alice work for his acquiescence, to teach her a lesson about interfering. I knew that he missed Edward too. He had held out longer against Alice than I thought he would (he could not really deny Alice anything she wanted) but had finally given in.

"Yes, it took a lot of convincing on Alice's part. She knew that Charlie wouldn't allow us to travel without a male escort." I laughed at the thought of Alice needing protection. "Charlie still didn't like the idea of me traveling to another country though, no matter how worthwhile the cause is. But Alice has Charlie wrapped around her finger and he finally agreed."

"Where are they now?"

I had to think about that. "Um, Santiago, I think. I am supposed to check in with Alice everyday. It seems silly to me since she already knows what I am doing or going to do, but it makes me feel better to talk to her. She always knows the right things to say." Alice had encouraged me every time I had called, telling me not to give up hope, that Edward loved me and wanted to be with me. It was reassurance that I had desperately needed.

"What do you mean?" How would I describe this to him?

"Well, it has been difficult to track you down. I knew you were in the city but it is not like I could put up signs or something. You know 'Have you seen this man?'" I laughed at the thought of Edward's reaction if I had. He smiled slightly. "And I don't speak the language either so trying to make people understand has been interesting too. But she really just helped me keep my resolve."

"Your resolve?" I could hear a touch of wariness in his tone.

"Mmm-hmm. My resolve to keep looking for you. Alice has been encouraging, telling me not to give up hope and soothing my anxiety about seeing you again." I saw his lips turn down at the corners.

"I'm glad you didn't give up. And I'm sorry that you were so apprehensive about seeing me again. The way that I have treated you is abominable and I can never make it up to you but I will never stop trying." There was conviction in his tone but there was sadness too. I didn't want him to be sad.

"Edward, I am just so glad to be with you again like this. I was so afraid that you would turn me away, that Alice was wrong and that I was making a fool of myself. But being here, having you hold me again, it makes me so happy. Nothing else matters except that I get to be with you now."
"Bella, I promise you that I will never, ever leave you again." His voice was strong with conviction and I knew he meant it. "Being without you these last months…I don't ever want to feel that kind of pain again. And now, after seeing you and being able to touch you and have you in my arms again-there is nothing that could ever take me away from you again." We sat together quietly. I was content just to be held in his arms, knowing he was mine again.