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So this is not the greatest, nor the worst chapter, but I hope you enjoy it. It is from BPOV.
Thanks to everyone who put this on alert, in their favourites and reviewed. carolbenatti, shorty84, MyCrazyTwistedMind, TearsInTheDust, .voice, ..fia (Sorry, it will not let me write your name correctly, it edits it down to this), jerseyhalliwell, makki, ErinCullen, Twilight-ObsessedDiva, Flora73, kat, saysay cullen, klcivinski, Nobody, kimbella, leonid, Lizzie2325, rebelangel27, klou2, 71star, sofilu, chewycui, princess07890, mommytwilight, Ballachicki, Amby99, OnyxTwilight, winternow, vampiregurl, sober alcoholic, Night Orchid, tidyKat, tbonemom0512, Emolaaay, solarstar17, P, zuni-yesi, cullengirl08, TexasTwilight77, kdc2239, devliza, s, Troyis, Archerywoman, PureTwilightFan14, izzycullen903, LVQueen1, SoraChan01, taylach, GabzR, twilightlover1710, krazzy hopeless romantic, girlfrakes, devilelf, BonesnBooth4ever, HPfurever, ConfusionPixie, cademan24, anu1989, dbmncgreen and beans and cornbread
I wanted to get this chapter out because I doubt I can update tomorrow and WILL NOT on Friday. Off to New Moon of course! I hope all you guys enjoy it if you see it before I post again.
Enjoy! Sorry if there are mistakes.
Forever Bound
Chapter Twenty Three - All Again For You
Edward. Tanya. Edward. Tanya. Edward. Tanya. Edward. Tanya.
The names had been spinning around Bella's head ever since Mr Jenkins had come to the house and unknowingly shattered Bella's dreams.
Bella's dreams that one day, Edward may make a space in his heart to love her a fraction of the amount that he loved Tanya. The dream that one day they could be happy, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. The dream that she would be pregnant a number of times more and Edward would be as ecstatic about them as he was this pregnancy.
But those dreams were all gone now. Bella knew that no matter what he did to please her, it would always be Tanya that was on his mind.
Bella had retreated to the living room and began to sob. She sobbed for the life she would never have, for the life she wished she could have, and for herself because she loved a man who would never love her back.
She, Bella Cullen, was in love with Edward Antony Cullen and could not be more upset about the fact.
The fact that she had fallen in love with a man that could never love her back broke her heart every second of the day.
Bella had been trying to deny her feelings for her husband; for she knew it would only end in tears. She had even managed to convince herself that what she felt for Edward was due to friendship and friendship alone, but the moment Jenkins planted the truth in her head, the walls around her heart came crashing down, but she wished with all her might she could build them back up.
She loved him for so many reasons. The way he stroked her hair. The way he held her hand. The way he spoke to their child in her womb. The way he calmed her down when she was worried. The way he was there to protect her when she needed protecting. The way he would make a fool out of himself just to see her smile. The way he worried when she was not in his sight. The way he kissed her cheek when she was sad. The way he kissed her when he thought she was asleep. The way he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world and for so much more.
But all of these feelings had been produced from a lie, for Edward had never really felt that way about her.
Bella tried to think rationally for a moment. Although she was aware of how Edward was spending his days, should she not give him the chance to admit it to her before she confronted him? Bella believed that she should, for it was the only way to keep their relationship a fraction of the way it had been for the past month.
Time had no meaning for Bella as she sat there, whispering to her beloved child. "Do not worry my little one. Daddy loves you and will no matter what. It is Mummy he does not love. But do not fear, through it all you will always have me my love, no matter what comes our way." Bella felt another pop in her stomach and as she began to rub the place it burst, Edward walked into the room. He made his way over to the sofa and bent down onto his knees.
"Good evening love," Bella noticed the slip up, he was still clearly thinking about Tanya, "You look beautiful today" It was certain, he was thinking about Tanya. Bella had told him on many occasions that she knew she could never look beautiful.
Edward seemed to be making a move to kiss her on the lips but Bella turned her head and gave him her cheek. Although she loved the feel of his kisses, she did not want to receive one knowing he was thinking of someone else.
Edward appeared to be confused at her reaction. "Is there anything on your mind?"
Bella raised her head and met her husband's gaze. Yes. "No. Is there anything you want to say?" Although she had no wish to hear what would come out of his mouth, she wanted to hear him tell her the truth and restore a little of her faith in him.
"No." The disappointment flooded Bella's body. However, when she looked at Edward once more she noticed he was taking a deep breath. "Actually, there is something on my mind. I think there is something you deserve to know." Here it came; Bella braced herself.
A knock on the door interrupted Edward's almost confession. Of all the moments! However, inside a little part of Bella was breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Mr Jacob Black for you Sir, Madam." Angela curtsied before leaving the room. What on earth?
"Jake!" Bella cried, raising herself onto her elbows to greet him. She had never been so happy to see her best friend. She needed him right now. Jacob walked over to Bella and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly for a moment and Bella relished in his scent of wood and musk.
"Jacob, it is a surprise to see you. What brings you here?" Edward sounded polite but Bella could see through it; she knew Edward severely disliked Jake.
"Well, my hormonal wife ordered me to leave her alone and give her some space for a while, so that is exactly what I am doing." Jacob explained, untangling himself from Bella much to her disappointment. Although Bella knew Jake was trying to prove a point to Leah, Bella knew it would not be long before he left, homesick for his wife.
"Oh. How long are you going to stay for?" Edward asked, Bella could hear the longing in his voice.
"A couple of weeks I guess," Jake replied, shrugging his shoulders, "Just long enough for her to realise she needs me by her side." Bella wondered who would surrender first; Leah could be just as stubborn as Jacob.
"Stay as long as you would like. We thoroughly enjoy your company, do we not Edward?" Bella sent a look in Edward's direction, informing him that he would be wise to agree with her.
"Of course," Edward finally agreed reluctantly, "Stay as long as you wish."
Bella rose from the settee. She took Jacob's hand in her own and led him towards the door. She wanted to talk to him alone. "Let me show you to your room, I am sure you have had a long journey and wish to relax."
-o-
"So, what has been happening since I was last here?" Jake asked as he began to unpack his bag.
"Not much in all honesty," Bella shrugged, conveniently forgetting James' attack, the almost loss of her child and the fact she was now in love with her husband.
"Well, you have certainly got bigger since I left." Jake smiled at her. Bella grinned back, rubbing her hand gently along her stomach. She could not disagree there.
"And what has happened back at home?" Bella asked, not as anxious to hear news as she believed she would be.
"Nothing new. Michael Newton is still trying to woo Jessica Stanley, Lauren Mallory claims to miss Emmett but seems to be able to fill her time with Tyler. Renee does not seem to be worried that Michael returned from the hunting trip without her son but what else can you expect from the White Witch?" Bella rolled her eyes at her mother's behaviour. Of course she would not care if her children were missing; as long as she had the house to herself she would be content.
The two best friends chatted for hours before Jacob finally began to succumb to sleep. Leaving the room quietly, Bella made her way towards the living room, wishing to bring the copy of Wuthering Heights to bed.
As she entered the room, it was pitch black and Bella managed to trip over an item left on the floor. Sighing at her own clumsiness, Bella bent down to retrieve the object, though it was not what she expected to pick up.
Walking towards a beam of light entering from the candle light in the lobby, Bella gazed at the foreign object in her hands. As soon as the light hit, Bella gasped. In her hands she held the most beautiful collection of flowers. There were pink ones, yellow ones, purple ones, each with one daisy placed in between them.
Inhaling their scent, Bella left the room, her book forgotten. She made her way into the kitchen and filled a jug with water, before carefully making her way up the stairs and entering her chamber.
She was relieved to note that Edward had not yet retired for the evening. Placing the flowers on her bedside table, Bella quickly stripped into her nightgown and entered the bed. As she waited for sleep to take her into its grasp she heard Edward enter the room.
Feigning sleep, Bella made sure she stayed perfectly still. She heard Edward make his way around the chamber and a few moments later, he entered their bed. "Oh Bella I wish you knew," she was sure Edward breathed the words into her ear. Her thoughts were soon diverted as Edward pulled her into his arms once more and kissed her cheek.
Bella was disappointed with the reaction it elicited in her body, as a feeling of thrill spread through her treacherous body at the fact he seemed to want her in his arms.
-o-
Bella rose early the following morning, moving quickly but quietly, wanting to keep Edward asleep until the last possible moment. However, as she began to make her way out of the room, Bella made her way over to the bed to wake her husband. No matter what he did, she never wanted him to worry.
Before he was fully alert, Bella left the room and hurried to breakfast with Jacob, although a part of her wished she was still curled to Edward's side eating breakfast with him between the sheets.
At noon, Esme arrived, bursting at the seams with excitement. When Bella asked why, she was informed that every year the Cullen family hosted a Valentine's Day ball and no one other than Bella was going to play the host this year.
Although the last ball Bella had planned did not go the way she wished, Bella would throw herself one hundred percent into this ball, making sure that everything ran smoothly. Luckily, she had Jake to help her as Alice and Jasper had prolonged their trip, for their love of Europe was too strong for them to return home as planned.
Jacob did not relish in the thought of planning a ball, but when Bella explained that it was the only way they could spend time together, he threw himself in it with fervour. Even though they were having fun planning the event together, Bella could not help but let her thoughts wonder to Edward every once in a while, torturing herself with ideas of what he may be up to.
After a week of his stay, Jake finally approached her. "Bells, I know something is wrong so do not bother to lie, you're terrible at it anyway. What has upset you so?"
"Nothing Jake, I am perfectly fine," Bella threw a tight smile in her best friend's direction. He simply looked at her, seeing through her insincerity. Bella cracked and tears pooled in her eyes.
"Everything!" she sobbed as Jacob led her to a chair and held her in his arms. Although she appreciated the comfort, she secretly wished it was Edward providing it.
Jake smoothed the hair out of her eyes, "Tell me all about it Bells."
And that is just what she did. She told Jacob all about James' attack, about the panic she felt at the thought of losing her child, the shock of Rosalie's revelation, the comfort Edward had provided her with and the fact that he had been lying to her the entire time. She left out the fact that she loved him until last. Jake reeled back in shock.
"You love him?" Jake asked for the second time, still disbelieving.
Bella nodded, "Please do not tell me what a fool I have been, falling for a man who could never love me. I know I am a fool, but I just cannot help the way my heart reacts, I simply cannot!" Bella sobbed, burying her head in Jacob's chest.
"Shh. I am not going to tell you that you are a fool. We both know you are anything but." Jacob rubbed her back in soothing circles. "Although I would be quite happy to despise Edward for the rest of eternity, I want you to be happy Bells, and if he is what makes you happy then so be it."
"He does make me happy, but whenever I think about him my heart breaks even more. What am I meant to do Jake?" Bella cried, completely broken.
Jacob sat in silence for a few minutes, causing Bella to believe he had missed her question. Just as she was about to repeat it, two words fell from Jake's mouth. "The ball."
Bella was thoroughly confused. "What about the ball?"
"That is how we will fix your broken heart. We will plan the perfect ball, you will look absolutely mind blowing and Edward will be eating out of the palm of your hand, completely forgetting about this Tanya woman."
"Jake, one night will not change his views. It will not make him forget about Tanya and fall in love with me. And we both know I can never look "mind blowing" as you phrase it."
Jacob scoffed, "Bella, if you were not pregnant I would hit you. You are always the most beautiful woman in the room, apart from when Leah is there of course, but even when she is you come a close second!" Jake informed her, glaring at her. "Although I worry about my reputation for saying such a thing, we need to get you a stunning dress." Bella burst out laughing; she never thought she would hear those words leave her best friends lips.
Bella thought about Jacob's proposal. It had to be worth a try did it not?
-o-
It was finally the night of the ball and Bella had not slept a wink the night before.
The entire day had been spent making final preparations and making sure everything would run according to plan, well everything that Bella could control. Whether Jake's plan would go to plan was another matter entirely.
Bella was in Jake's room, preparing. She did not want Edward to see her before they would enter the ball together, and she knew he would never look for her in Jake's room. She has pulled on her dress, and was adding the finishing touches to her hair. Having rid herself of her fear of curlers, Bella was using them to enhance her curls, wanting her hair to look just like it had on her wedding day. Fifteen minutes before they had to make their entrance, Bella was ready and made her way towards her chamber.
Knocking on the door, Bella waited for Edward to answer. When he did, Bella was sure it was an angel standing in front of her. Edward looked stunning, the grey suit he was wearing setting off his eyes, causing them to look like a thousand sparkling emeralds. Bella wanted to gaze into them forever.
Breaking herself out of her thoughts, Bella noticed Edward was gazing at her. It looked as if he was having trouble drawing breath. Bella heart began to dance wildly in her chest; had he noticed the effort she had put in?
"Are you ready to go?" Bella asked, trying not to stutter. Edward simply nodded.
He offered Bella his arm, which she took a little too eagerly. The sparks flew down her arms once more. It took all her self control not to remove her arm and rub the sensation away.
Leading her towards the ballroom, Edward stumbled a few times much to Bella's confusion. As they entered the ballroom they were greeted by a round of applause. The pair nodded and smiled at the couples as they passed and walked into the middle of the dance floor.
Murmurs began to spread throughout the room as people caught a glimpse of Bella's midriff. They had not told anyone but family of the pregnancy and this was the first time they had been seen in public since Bella began to show. Bella was thrilled that people knew she was with child, but did not react to people's mutters.
Edward offered her his hand and they began their first dance of the evening. Somehow Bella was able to dance flawlessly, with Edward making the mistakes. He was probably gazing around the room for Tanya, Bella thought bitterly. In a moment of immaturity, Bella had refused to invite Tanya and the Denali family, wanting to lessen the risk of something going wrong.
They did not talk as they danced, and simply stared at one another. Bella gazed into Edward's eyes, searching for the truth behind them but they revealed nothing.
As the dance came to a close, Bella released herself from Edward's hold, much to his disappointment and made her way over to Jacob, wanting to inform him that his plan had failed. Once she had reached Jake, she turned around and gazed at her husband once more. He was smiling and kissing numerous women on the cheek. Although Bella knew it was harmless, she could not help but feel jealous.
"Cheer up Bells," Jake smiled at her. Bella shook her head, looking at her best friend.
"How am I meant to cheer up Jake? Your plan has failed and all our hard work resulted in nothing. Nothing has changed in the slightest." Bella turned to look at Edward, who was still beaming and still surrounded by too many women for her liking. "I just wish I could make him feel as terrible as I do." She muttered.
Jacob appeared to have heard her and leant down to her ear, "You can."
Without warning, Jacob spun her round to face him and pulled her face to his, pressing his lips against her in a passionate kiss. Bella was extremely confused, Jacob had a wife and he knew she was in love with her husband!
She pulled away slightly but Jacob simply whispered "Trust me," before he connected their lips once more. It suddenly all fit into place. This was the final tactic Jacob had for causing Edward to react to Bella.
With that in her mind, Bella pressed herself closer to Jacob, wrapping her arms around his neck. The kiss only lasted a few seconds longer, before Jacob pulled away. He gazed over the top of her head and Bella noticed him smile triumphantly. "Look," he said, inclining his head in Edward's direction.
Turning her own head, Bella's eyes connected with her husband's. There was something in them that she could not understand, yet before she had the chance to determine what it was, Edward marched from the room.
---
Like it?
How do you guys feel about lemons in the future? Good/Bad idea?
What is going to happen now?
Until next time. :)
