Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight (never have and never will).
27. Hugs and kisses.
Bpov:
"Bella, everything is ok. It's all over now."
I looked up when I heard Edward's voice. The last couple of days I dreamt about that voice. I imagined that voice and somehow my imagination had it all wrong, his voice was so much better in real life. I stared at the most beautiful angel that that voice belonged to. It took me only one nanosecond longer before I got up and ran to him flinging my arms around his waist, burrowing my face in his chest. His arms circled around me and crushed me to him making breathing almost impossible but I didn't care, on the contrary, if it were possible to be closer to him I surely would have done so. I forced my face up to look at his. He raised a hand and wiped the last lingering tears in the corners of my eyes. I was aware that some more people entered the clearing but I didn't even look to see who it was.
"Is it wrong of me to feel so happy in these circumstances?" I asked not taking my eyes of his, his green orbs were glowing with emotion. Even though his eyes were shadowed with dark rims and his facial features spoke of tiredness he still looked like a bronze haired God to me.
"No my love, there is nothing wrong with that." He said smiling softly at me, I heard my name being called out behind me but did not bother to look who it was.
"I love…." I was silenced when his mouth came crashing down on mine. I responded instantly, pouring everything I have into the kiss. All the emotions I felt of never seeing him again, of longing to kiss him just one more time. I savored the kiss, to brand it into my memories. So that I could always remember just what it felt like to be kiss by Edward Cullen, after I thought I might never see him again in my life.
The kiss we shared was both urgent and demanding but soft and tender at the same time, as if he too was savoring it. He finally broke it of and rested our foreheads together as we breathed heavily. I could imagine how we must look to other people. Like in the end of a movie where the hero and heroine is reunited and they have a big make out session not caring if the world ended around them. Just like now. People were bustling around us and screaming my name. Nor Edward nor I cared about that.
"You, Edward Cullen". I finished my sentence from earlier.
"As I love you". He said as someone cleared his throat behind us loudly. I would recognize that sound anywhere. Even if I stood in the loudest rock concert, I would hear it as if my father was standing right beside me. Edward pecked me on the nose just like the first time we shared a kiss in my backyard witch felt like eons ago. Edward dropped his arms from my waist reluctantly and I turned to face my father who pulled me into another suffocating hug before Edwards arms were even at his side.
My father rubbed my back in comforting circular movements as he whispered small nothings into my hair. From his chest, I glanced around for the first time. Someone was leading away a now handcuffed Victoria, who surprisingly wasn't putting up any form of resistance. I recognized Emily where she was tending to a small pack of dogs and when I turned my face to the other side of the clearing I saw as a coroner zipped up a black body bag witch contained James's body.
"Come on Bells lets go home, everyone is waiting for you." My father said finally letting go of me. Edward was at my side at once lacing our fingers together as we began to walk back towards the cabin. Everyone I walked past smiled and nodded in my direction and some touched my shoulder briefly before they went on documenting what the police would call the crime scene.
Emily gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and a warm hug while stating how happy she was that I'm ok before tending to the over exited dogs. Edward and my father said little as we made our hike back to the cabin. Every now and then, my father touched my hand smiling at me before concentrating on the forest floor. Edward offered to carry me piggyback stile but I declined saying that I wanted to put this chapter behind me all on my own. He just nodded and kept our fingers laced together.
When we finally reached the cabin, there were more people touching and hugging me. Stating how happy they were that I was ok. My father insisted that the fire apartment's medic check me out since apparently those hundred statements that I was fine, weren't good enough for him. The medic said that physically I was fine but that I just needed a lot of rest, my father muttered something about incompetent medics but I wasn't paying him a lot of attention. I was scanning the area for my father's Cruiser searching for an escape route from all the attention I was suddenly receiving.
"Where is my father's car?" I asked Edward who was still holding my hand.
"At your house, we came in my car since it is a lot faster than the police cruiser." He explained quickly when he saw my quizzical look. I nodded understanding and looked at my still mumbling father.
"Dad can Edward take me home please?" I asked and saw the dilemma in his face. He wanted to be with me but being the chief of police his presence was still needed here.
"It would probably be better if Carlisle checked her out since the medics here are not really doctors and know very little about trauma cases". Edward said saving me once again as my father nodded.
"Just don't drive like you did when we drove here. I just got her back. I don't want to loose her again." Charlie kissed me on my forehead.
"Of course, Chief Swan". Edward said and we began walking to his Volvo.
"I love you Bells!" I heard my father call out behind us.
I turned around. "I love you too dad!" I called back seeing a tear roll down his face. I ran back quickly to give him a hug before running back to where Edward was holding the car door open for me.
I slid into the passenger seat and Edward closed the door and walked around the car briskly. I inhaled the smell of leather and smiled at Edward as he slid in next to me. He caressed my cheek lightly before quickly pecking me on the lips. He started the car and drove slowly to my house. I turned on the stereo and relaxed as the sound of Debussy filled the car. We drove in comfortable silence all the way to the house, I knew he must have a million of questions for me but he would not ask me even a single one until I felt ready to talk about it.
What did I ever do to deserve someone like him? I thought briefly as we stopped in front of my house. I glanced at it. "How bad is it going to be in there?" I asked with my hand on the door handle.
"As bad as it was back at the cabin but it's your family in there so it won't be bad at all. They all love you Bella and you can do this, besides I'll be there every step of the way."
I smiled at him. I would follow him into the pits of Hades. I thought to myself as he got out of the car and I followed his example. He took my hand and we walked to my house. When I opened the front door a blur of black shot into my vision before I was hit with a force that would have knocked me to the ground was it not for the arms around my waist keeping me in place.
"Bells I was so worried! Are you ok? Do you need anything? What did they do to your clothes?" Alice asked me when she finally let me go to scrutinize my body for any sign of injuries.
"Give her some time to breathe Alice. Bella, baby, I was so worried about you." My mother said pulling me into a hug. "I thought I have lost you forever." I breathed I my mothers perfume, she always smelled floral.
"I love you mom." I said into her chest causing her to hug me even closer to her.
After my mother, it was Esme, Carlisle and Rosalie. When Jasper pulled me into a hug, I noticed a big cut on his arm. "Jasper you know you are bleeding right?" I asked pointing to the cut.
He glanced down and shrugged. "It seemed like the least of my worries considering the situation you were in." I wanted to say something when the wind was knocked out of me as Emmett gave me one of his famous bear hugs.
"I almost lost you little sister, don't you ever do anything like that to me again." He said as he placed me back on my feet as I turned around I looked at the person who was now standing in front of me. His hair was a bit longer than I remembered and in need of a comb, he had shadows under his eyes and his shoulders were hunched forward.
"I'm sorry Bells for everything, I'm really glad that you are ok and alive. Would you please forgive me for being such an ass?" I looked at him and even though he didn't look like the Jacob I knew, I saw the Jacob I loved and cared about. I saw my Jacob.
"I forgave you along time ago you stupid ass." I said as I gave him a hug lifting the mood somewhat.
"Carlisle, Charlie wanted you to check on Bella and then maybe give her a sedative to help her sleep. She's been through a lot these last few days." Edward said suddenly behind me. I glared at him but he just shrugged as Carlisle walked to me with his medical bag. He gave me a thorough examination before declaring the same finding as the medic at the cabin. He then turned to me with a serious look on his face.
"Bella I know that you don't want to talk about your ordeal now but I have to know. Did any of them abuse you…err…you know….err…sexually?" Carlisle asked me staring at me with a serious expression, everyone in the room was silent and I saw Edward clenching his fists.
"No, I wasn't. James saved me before Laurent could do anything to me." I said and everyone gaped at me as if I said I saw mother Theresa abusing small children.
"James saved you?" Edward asked disbelief in his voice.
"Yes he did. He saved me twice and he paid for it with his life." Everyone kept staring at me. Carlisle was the first to recover his composer as he began searching for something in his bag. He finally took out two small bottles and two syringes.
"Bella I'm going to give you something for pain and a sedative to help you sleep. I'll ask your father to arrange that you give your statement when you wake up." I nodded and watched as he injected me, about three minutes later I became very woozy. Carlisle helped me up the stairs to my room when I remembered something and turned around clutching the railing.
"Mom you should really quit the yoga before you hurt your back and tell dad I said he better start doing some form of exercise other than just sitting in front of the TV the whole time oh and Alice when I finally return to school one day you can pick my outfit for me, ok?." The words came out slurred as if I was drunk. It must be the morphine injection Carlisle gave me.
I spotted Edward standing against the wall. "Are you coming or what? I don't want to be alone right now." I don't know if he understood me, but he glanced at my mother and she nodded. He quickly came up the stairs and took over from Carlisle helping me to my room. I fell on my bed and he untied my shoes for me, he very patiently helped me under the covers and kissed me softly on the forehead.
"Don't go." I said weakly fighting off the arms of unconsciousness, as they threatened to pull me under.
"I'm staying right here, I promise." I heard him say before I fell into a dreamless sleep.
I awoke to a dimly lit room. I stared at the familiar furnishings of my room. Everything was quiet. Accept the rhythmic breathing from somewhere close by. I turned on my other side and looked at the person sleeping in my rocking chair. Edward's body was twisted sideways, his knees pulled up slightly and his head resting on the backrest of the chair. He was covered in a blanket and all you could see was his head and his messy hair. In the dim light I could make out the sign of stubble, he looked so peaceful. I sighed and climbed out of bed. I slipped on some slippers and with one last glance to Edward, headed downstairs. Everything was peaceful accept the constant sound of a chainsaw coming from my parents room, Charlie sure knew how to snore.
I headed towards the kitchen and slipped out the back door, I walked over towards the swing and sat down. I started to swing lightly and thought about everything that had happened to me in the last week. Being kidnapped, being manhandled, being almost killed twice and finally being saved. The last three moths was one hell of a ride. I remembered standing on my favorite rock looking out over Forks on my birthday and I how thought that a storm was coming. Well it wasn't a storm. It was a hurricane. It almost ripped me to shreds and ripped my family apart. It blew Edward into my life, for that I was ever so grateful. I stood on that rock thinking that nothing ever worthwhile happened to me in my seventeen years in Forks but I was wrong. Boy was I wrong, that seventeen years gave me great friends who really cared about me. They didn't mind scratches and bruises when it came to my well-being.
They stood up for me when I met Edward. They accepted him without prejudices. I had a family and I never really appreciated them until it was almost too late. The storm was a revelation to make me realize that I had everything I could ever want right before my eyes. I smiled. My family had grown bigger without a doubt. What started with Dad, Mom and Alice now ended with Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Jacob, Carlisle, Esme and Edward.
As I thought about a certain bronze haired angel, he just happened to walk through the back door. He smiled and I smiled back as he walked to stand behind me. "I thought I might found you here". He said as he kissed me on the neck and I liked the way his beard felt against my neck.
"Yeah I had a few things to think about." I stood up and indicated for him to sit down. He obliged and as soon as he sat down, I sat on his lap straddling him so that I could face him. I crossed my hands behind his neck the exact same time his arms circled slid around my waist.
"I could certainly get use to this." He joked and I smiled.
"So what did you think about?" He asked.
"The past three months mostly. My seventeenth birthday and you of course."
He frowned lightly. "Aren't you the busy thinker? So let's start with the last three months."
I sighed. "You know how you don't appreciate something until you almost lost it or were about to lose it?" He nodded. "Well I just realized that I never was satisfied with what I had and didn't appreciate it at all. I was always thinking that other people's life was more exiting and better than my own. I didn't appreciate my friends or family. So I had a revelation to look at things from a different angle."
He smiled suddenly. "Do you mean like the glass is half full rather than half empty?"
I shook my head. "No more like if the glass is half empty, work like hell to fill it up again. Don't expect that everything is your right and that you deserve it. If you want good friends, then be a good friend but don't let people use you. If you want to be appreciated in your family then appreciate your family members and if you want your relationship to succeed fight like hell to make it a success."
He looked away. "What if that relationship just causes harm to the one you love?"
I sighed and pressed my finger against his chin forcing him to look at me. "Then it's time to find out just how strong your love is. It's easy to love when everything is going according to plan but when something goes wrong, you will find out just how strong that love is."
He kissed me quickly. "Are you always this stubborn?" He asked and I chuckled.
"I don't know, ask my mother."
He laughed lightly. "So what did you think about me?" He asked plying with the hair in my neck.
"That you are the best thing that ever happened to me. There is a few things I was wondering about when I was all alone in that cabin."
He looked at me quirking one of his perfect eyebrows. "Like what?"
"What is your favorite color? What is your favorite food? What is your favorite ice cream? What is your favorite hobby? When is your birthday? Favorite movie? Favorite song? What is the stupidest thing you ever did? And my personal favorite. Who is your favorite super hero?"
He looked at me biting on his lower lip. "You were held captive in a cabin and you thought about all my favorite things?" He asked jokingly.
"Yes I realized that I didn't know all the little things about you that I really wanted to know."
He smiled and sighed. "My favorite color is blue. My favorite food is Mac and Cheese. My favorite ice cream is chocolate. You already know my favorite hobby, playing the piano. My Birthday is the seventeenth of January. Pearl Harbor is my all time favorite movie. My favorite song is the one I wrote for you."
I interrupted him. "You wrote me a song?"
He smiled. "Yes now shut up, I'm talking. The stupidest thing I ever did was trying to kill myself two years ago." My mouth dropped open. "It was right after my mother went crazy, I'll tell you about it later. Lastly I don't have a favorite super hero but my brother always was my hero". I looked at him stunned. "I scared you now didn't I?" He asked and I shook my head.
"You surprise me everyday, do you know that?" I asked him and he smiled again.
"I could say the same thing about you. So I told you mine it's only fair that you share."
Great I should have known he would do this to me.
"Blue, Pizza, mint chocolate, motorbike riding, thirteenth of September, Resident Evil, Eyes on fire, I took away the wet paint sign on a bench in Port Angeles and Batman".
He frowned. "Your birthday is already past?"
I nodded. "Why does it matter?"
He sighed. "I never got you something for your birthday."
I laughed and kissed him lightly. "Your first day of school was on my birthday so you can say you gave me you." He smiled and kissed me. "I told you, No Name, good manners never hurt anyone". He laughed and it started to drizzle lightly so I stood up and took his hand leading him to the kitchen.
I made us some breakfast and my family eventually joined us one by one. "Bells, Carlisle and I have been talking and we think you should talk to a psychiatrist about what happened to you. He has recommended the same person who helped Edward through everything that happened to him." Charlie said softly.
Alice was suddenly very interested in her fingernails and my mother was humming to herself as she washed the dishes. "She is really good Bella and I think it will help you." Edward said breaking the silence.
"I'm perfectly fine dad. I don't need to talk to anyone. I'll give my statement and then I'm done talking about it."
"Bells, we just want what's best for you".
I sighed and looked at Edward for support. "Don't look at me like that Bella, you were the one who said you fight like hell to fill the glass up again and Jane would be a good place to start fighting."
No fair using my words against me, I thought as my family looked at us completely lost.
"She helped you?" I asked looking at him. He nodded and I turned to my father. "Ok then, I'll do it but I'm just going to tell her what happened and then I'm done."
He smiled. "Thank you Bells, she will help you'll see."
I glared at Edward. "Whatever, I'm going to go shower before the cops arrive for my statement. No more discussing me behind my back." I turned and began walking up the stairs.
I couldn't help but think that maybe we were in the eye of the storm. It was now calm and peaceful yet once you think the storm is over the last part of the hurricane hits you even worse than before.
A/n I apologize for taking so long to update. I was super busy the last two weeks and I had to update the other story I'm working on as well. At the moment I'm taking turns on updating the stories which means it takes a bit longer before you get a new chapter but I'll try my best to update this story again next week. It will most probably be the last chapter but I'm still deciding on that. All good things come to an end eventually, right?
Thanks for all the stupendous reviews; they were great and made me feel all warm and fussy inside. Thanks for adding the story to your favorites and alerts lists. A special thanks to my wonderful beta, Princess Blair Rose, for polishing this chapter to perfection and all your support. Be sure to check out the story she's busy writing "Bella Cullen" it's really good, there is a link on my profile for her story.
Thanks for reading.