Chapter 19: Emptiness

Hearing Edward's words, he held his hand up, signalling for Jane to end her torture. "What was that Edward?" he asked nonchalantly.

"I surrender okay! Don't hurt them anymore! Leave them and Bella alone. I will join the Volturi if you just leave them alone. I will serve as your guard," Edward pledged.

"Edward no," Carlisle weakly called.

Walking over to his new pawn, Aro ordered Felix help Edward to his feet. "So you will finally join the Volturi?" the excitement clear for all to hear.

"If you promise that my family and Bella will be left alone," Edward negotiated with the Volturi leader.

Grinning, he nodded his head slowly. "You have my word, your family will be kept safe," he informed honestly. He individually looked towards each of his family member until his gaze finally coming to a rest on Bella. His eyes pleaded with her to understand as he bent down on one knee with his head lowered in a bow.

"I will serve you…I pledge my loyalty to you," he vowed

Edward observed the Volturi guards let his family go and moved away from Bella as promised. Gleefully Aro had Edward stand up. "And welcome to the Volturi," he informed triumphantly. Feeling her heart shatter, Bella let her eyes drift downwards focusing on the moss at her feet as hot tears pressed against her eyes

When Carlisle dropped to the ground, Edward hurriedly helped him sit up, making sure he was steady. "Father, I'm sorry," he apologized.

Looking into his son's eyes, he let out a sad sigh. "It is not the child's job to protect the parent," Carlisle reminded sadly, his hand on the side of his son's face. The weight of that sentiment clung to Edward forcing a sigh from his lungs.

"It is not just me anymore, father, you have this whole family here who need you. They need you more than they need me," Edward explained. Resting his hand on his father's shoulder, he let out an unneeded breath, "Never believe that I hated your way of life, it isn't true. I didn't want to hurt people as much as you don't. I'm sorry for making you believe otherwise."

"You are my son, Edward, always," he said quietly.

The largest Cullen, Emmett, came over, helping Carlisle up off the ground, Edward stepped back allowing him to do so. Glancing around at the family he had grown to love during the last month, his eyes trailed on the heartbroken human standing on the sidelines. His steps felt heavier than concrete as he walked over to his Bella. Keeping her head lowered refusing to show her destroyed soul, she only lifted her head as Edwards cold hand took the base of her chin and raised it. He stared straight into her broken eyes his topaz ones imploring her to see his sorrow.

Resting his forehead to hers, he rubbed soothing circles into the small of her back. Burying his face into her hair, pausing to sigh, was he finally able to speak, "I will love you forever…" Trailing off for a second he looked over at Chelsea. "Even if I forget I will love you forever." He vowed sincerely.

Clinging onto him tightly, tears leaving salty trails down her face she stuttered shakily , "I will love you forever; I will never, ever forget you no matter how long you have been gone." Swallowing hard, Edward pulled back brushing his lips over hers with such intensity yet it was the most tender kiss she had ever received. Kissing him back, Bella's arms tightened around his neck, refusing to let him slip away.

Their kiss was broken before its time as Demetri and Felix grabbed Edward's arms, pulling him away leaving Bella standing their broken. Looking at her once more Edward mouthed, "I love you…always."

"I love you too," she mouthed back.

Aro glanced at his guards as they put their hoods on. "We will leave you at peace, as promised, the human will not be touched but will be watched to ensure the secret is kept as just that," he informed before leading his group into the woods. Feeling her legs give out Bella's knees met to sodden ground, Alice right by her seconds later hugging her tight offering the only support she could.

Standing by her husband, Esme placed her hands on his face. "What do we do Carlisle?" Jasper asked quietly.

Looking at his family, Carlisle sighed deeply.

"We try to keep going forward," was his only answer.

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The week following Edwards's departure was incredibly tough on everyone. The Cullen's brought a new house in Forks and began rebuilding their lives as Carlisle had instructed. The atmosphere however told a very different story. They no longer spent as much time together as a family rather choosing to be alone with their partners, in solitude. The sorrow was clear to ever one who entered the house, however the facade they used around the rest of Forks contradicted it completely. Choosing to use the cover story of Edward receiving a scholarship to a high class private school in Britain, showing enthusiasm for the opportunities he would receive as they spoke.

All lay quiet around the home, the tv could be heard in the next room as Alice sat still on the piano seat staring at the ivory keys in front of her. Why hadn't she seen this happening, why didn't she prevent it. Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice her husband slip in next to her until he placed his arm lovingly around her waist. "Dollar for your thoughts?" he quipped trying to lighten the mood.

"I think it would take a lot more than a dollar, there are a lot of them" she tried to joke back.

His southern accent became more prominent as he spoke "What's the matter Darlin'" he asked running his fingers through her spiked hair concerned for his wife as he read her emotions. Guilt, pain, fear, sorrow all rang through. Waiting patiently for her to speak he tried to calm her with his powers.

"I should have seen this" she finally admitted.

Turning to face him she spoke quietly "Edward told me there was something wrong, I should of looked harder," she tried to argued loathing herself. Sighing deeply Jasper moved his hand to her face.

"Alice, none of us knew this would happen, they clearly had someone who could inhibit your powers on their side, you can't force what isn't there." he tried to reassure her hating to see her in such pain. "Come on darlin' don't beat yourself up this can't be changed" he whispered pulling her to her feet gently and leading her away.

The rest of Forks continued their lives oblivious to the real events that lay behind closed doors.

Since Edward's departure Carlisle had thrown himself into his work, using ever spare minute to reseach his patients conditions and how else he could help them. It was easier facing people who had lost family to disease or accidents than it was for him to face the truth about his son. There was one patient though which he could not help for the fear it would bring too much pain. That patient was his son's girlfriend, a girlfriend which Carlisle was sure Edward would have married given time.

As he passed her file to his fellow colleague Dr. Benjamin Rundle his thought started to return to the missing person from his family. Silently walking to his office, telling the nurse he was going for his break, he shut the door where he could be alone, undisturbed in his mental anguish.

Sitting down at his desk, Carlisle placed his head into his hands, his fingers sweeping through his hair as he did. Letting out a shaky sigh, knowing if he could cry he would be, he turned to look at a photo of his family on his desk. Nothing hurts more than losing a child, no-one should have to go through that. Sitting down at his desk, Carlisle placed his head into his hands, his fingers sweeping through his hair as he did. Letting out a shaky sigh, knowing if he could cry he would be, he turned to look at a photo of his family on his desk. Nothing hurts more than losing a child, no-one should have to go through that. He didn't look up when the door opened. "I'm busy," he called to the person through his hands.

"Too busy to speak to your wife?" She asked curiously.

Carlisle sat back in his chair his head tipping back slightly as his wife moved to sit in front of him on the desk. Catching on of his hands in hers she kissed his knuckles encouraging him to look at her. As his head straightened on his shoulders she moved her free hand to run through his hair down to his cheek. Turning his head slightly he kissed her palm before meeting her gaze. "Most of my human memories are a blur, but I will always remember the day my son was born," he divulged quietly.

Esme bit her lower lip, moving her fingers rhythmically over his facial features reassuringly as his weaker side started to show. "He was so small, so innocent and I had vowed that I would never let anything happen to him," he murmured. Closing his eyes and let out a shaky sigh. Closing his eyes, afraid to look at her any more he bowed his head once more. "Am I a bad father Esme?" he asked helplessly

"No, no you aren't a bad father, don't think that" she replied in disbelief at his question

"Then why do I lose my son all the time? I wanted nothing more to protect him, keep him safe and he's taken from me twice, I must be dong something wrong," he insisted.

"Oh darling," she whispered.

Esme kissed him softly. "This was far from your fault," she reassured him. Carlisle closed his eyes falling forwards so his head rested on Esme's lap wrapping his arms around her waist dragging her forwards onto his knee. His lips moving to her hair as she buried her face in his neck returning the embrace.

A week later, Bella was able to walk around without her brace on, so she had some freedom physically but emotionally she was struggling. Edward was gone and she was never going to see him again and that haunted her every thought. During the day she busied herself with school, work, and home, she hardly saw the Cullens anymore.

One Friday, Bella strolled out of school, glad another day was over, to find Jacob leaning against his motorcycle. "Jacob…hey," she said surprised.

Smiling at her surprise his mood soon shifted to concern "You look exhausted, you alright?" he queried

Nodding weakly, in response, he quickly walked over to her, his large muscular arms wrapping around her petite form in a gentle embrace, her smaller arms snaking around his back. The warmth of his body surrounding hers was enough to break down the hard exterior she had erected. Burying her face deep into his chest she sobbed. "This sucks Jake."

"I know," he soothed not knowing how to help.

Pulling away jumping onto his motorcycle, he held out her old motorcycle helmet towards her. "Come on, we need to talk," he told her. Chewing on her lower lip, Bella pulled the helmet over her messy hair, and climbed on behind him wrapping her arms around his waist.

After driving for a while, Jacob killed the engine at the cliff they used to visit. Pulling her helmet off leaving it on the back of the bike, she sat down at the edge of the cliff looking down at the ocean below. "This is very unlike you Bells," Jacob informed coming to sit alongside her.

"What?" Bella asked curiously.

"Giving up," Jacob replied.

She gave him a quizzical look. "The guy is gone a week and you have given up already?" He continued. Her eyes watching the waves crash against the rocks below.

"It's the Volturi Jake, they're not like your council, they aren't as forgiving. They kill if something is out of line, no second chances. The only reason I'm alive is because Edward made a deal with the Volturi," she explained solemnly

Sighing, Jacob reached over to grasp her hand in his. Smiling a little, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze, letting out a small sigh. "Everything will be okay," he reassured her, kissing the side of her head. If only she had the same confidence she thought.

Monday came around too soon, school had just ended and Bella was walking back to her truck. Brushing a strand of hair from her eyes as she walked over to her truck.

The Cullens were standing on their side of the parking lot next to the most expensive car there, clearly showing their wealth. Jasper moved next to his wife, placing his hand in the middle of her back. "Come on darlin, we need to get home," he told her quietly. Nodding Alice went to step into the back of Emmett's jeep, when she froze.

"Ali, what's wrong?" Rosalie asked concerned.

"Someone get to Bella, someone get to her now!" She exclaimed frantically.