Chapter Six – Almost Time

Bella

I watched Edward's handsome face as I told him that Garrett Richardson wasn't necessarily a bad man. Though the images were coming to me at blinding speeds, I knew one thing: Garrett had tried to save Hayley from her fate.

"What do you mean?" Edward asked. His face was so close that I could smell his pleasant breath as it brushed across my senses. He smelled of leather, spice and something I couldn't quite place.

"He's disoriented, and he doesn't seem to remember everything. Some of his memories are fuzzy."

"Can he talk?"

"No, but that might be because he doesn't want to come inside. I just see images."

"Why did his voice… umm… thoughts become clear now?" he asked, seemingly confused about how to process what I said.

I sighed, trying to come up with the right words. "He's tied to his body, I think," I said, but I paused and shook my head. "I'm sorry. I'm having trouble trying to describe what I see, feel, and hear."

Edward stroked my cheek softly with his thumb, his palm resting against my neck. "You're doing fine, Bella." His voice was soft and sincere as he waited for me to continue.

"It's like how your daughter is tied to your emotions," I started, and he nodded. "He's tied to his body. Once you were aware of her, open to the idea of her presence, her spirit represented the real her. For Garrett Richardson, the fact that someone knew he was dead freed him. Only a little, though. His tie to Katherine and the truth behind their association may be the only other thing holding him here."

Edward scowled. "He deserves it for taking her."

"Maybe, but like I said, there seems to be more to this than just Garrett taking her." Edward nodded slowly, his eyes starting to droop, probably drained physically and emotionally.

"Sleep now," I whispered, pressing my lips against his cheek. "We'll talk in the morning."

Edward nodded sleepily and sighed as his eyes closed fully. "I'm glad you're here, Bella," he whispered so softly.

I stroked up his cheek up and into his soft hair. "So am I." I allowed my eyes to close, hoping the three spirits around me would allow me some pleasant dreams, instead of the usual nightmares.

~oOo~

Bright and warm light started to filter through my darkened eyes. I grumbled, trying to hide my face from the source. Giggles filled my ears when I suddenly remembered where I was.

I was with Edward and Hayley.

I tried to stretch, but I found myself unable to do so. Wrapped securely around me, Edward seemed rather comfortable.

"You look funny." Hayley's giggles filled my ears again, finding the sight of my disheveled hair funny. I turned to face her, touched by her sweet beauty. She was happy again, and I hoped she'd remain that way for the rest of her stay. "He's dreaming about you," she whispered.

"Hmm," I said. I looked to find Edward's head on my chest, warm and stubbly from his overnight beard. One of his arms draped over my waist while the other was under him. One of his legs locked around both of mine, and he was sleeping peacefully on his stomach.

I took the time to admire him, since this was the only time his face held no sadness. "Bella," he whispered, his eyes still closed.

"See," Hayley said smugly. "Told you he was dreaming about you,"

"It would seem like he is." I had no idea what to say in the light of this new information.

"You dreamed of him, too," Hayley teased. "I heard you."

I blushed and rolled my eyes, causing another fit of giggles to occur. Edward shifted and moaned, "I don't want get up."

"Come on, sleepyhead," I said. I ran my hand through his hair. He hummed sweetly and looked up at me. His eyes widened when he realized where his chin was resting.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he muttered, blushing and then rolling over, falling on the floor. "Darn, I forgot it's only a twin bed."

I laughed, clutching my stomach as he jumped up on his feet, declaring a perfect ten landing. Hayley's laughter filled the room, and for just a few moments, the room warmed significantly, reminding us of her presence.

Edward gasped and looked at me, his eyes filled with warmth I had never seen before. "Do you feel that?" he asked. He looked around the room, as it brightened.

"I do. She is so happy, Edward. She said your laughter is doing it."

He smiled brightly and I stared numbly. He was handsome. "I'm hungry," he grumbled. I poked his stomach with my finger. He laughed and swatted at my hand playfully.

"Didn't you eat like two burgers and a large fries last night?" I argued, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I think he ate half of your fries, too," Hayley reminded us.

Edward scowled. "I'm being double-teamed. Not fair." He pouted as he scratched his grumbling stomach.

Hayley looked at her father for a few moments before turning to look at me. "Thank you," she said for only my ears to hear. I nodded.

"Well, if you have food in downstairs, then I'm sure we can make something suitable for breakfast."

"I should have something," Edward said as he tugged me from the warm, inviting bed. I shivered, and Edward pulled me his arms. "Sorry. I should've turned up the heat last night." His hands ran over my arms a few times before taking my hands in his. I held his gaze as he blew his warm breath over my cold fingers. He kissed a few of them gently. "Better?" he asked. I just nodded. He smiled happily and led me to his kitchen.

Together we went through his fridge and pantry, finding all the ingredients for pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He stopped at the thermostat and winced. "Why don't you get breakfast started while I start a fire?"

"Of course," I said. Once Edward was out of sight and I was in the kitchen, I called out for Hayley. I grabbed several items from the fridge and pantry as I waited.

"Yes?" she asked. She sat on the countertop, her legs crossed in front of her. She smiled brightly at me.

"You're getting stronger," I said as I turned my attention to the bacon. When the room's atmosphere had changed earlier, I'd known what was coming.

"Yes," she whispered, instantly frowning.

"Can you see the light, Hayley?" I looked over at her as the bacon sizzled. She nodded. "Will Garrett be able to tell us the rest of the story?" She nodded again. "Did he hurt you?" She shook her head.

"All I needed was to make sure Daddy was going to be okay," she said softly. "With you here, I know he will be."

I couldn't help the tears that formed and started to fall. "What are you waiting for now?"

She shrugged. "I don't think he's ready."

I knew he wasn't. It was almost as if he'd just gotten her back – maybe not in physical from, but I was sure he felt her presence, her personality, and heard her voice. They were all something more tangible in comparison to memories.

"Can you do something for me before you go?"

Without a word, as if she knew what I would ask for, she looked over at a drawer, and it sprung open. I removed the pan from the burner before checking what was inside the drawer – a digital recorder. She knew what I wanted from her.

"Leave him a message," I said, pressing the "record" button. She nodded.

~oOo~

"I haven't heard from Hayley for a while," Edward said as he rinsed a plate. We had a quiet breakfast and decided to wash up before heading to the mall to begin retracing Hayley's steps. She had promised to wait another day. I needed the time to prepare Edward for her departure.

"She decided to give us some privacy," I said before giggling. Hayley was very clear what she hoped would happen while she was gone.

"I'm sorry," he said, blushing again. He needed to stop doing that. It made him irresistible. "I'm sure if you told her about your boyfriend, she'd back off."

This time I blushed. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Oh."

Giggles echoed around us. "Well, that made her happy," Edward grumbled.

"I'd say," I said. I winced when I sensed that Garrett Richardson was back in the area. His thoughts were going so fast that it was making me physically ill.

"What is it?"

I held my face in my wet hands, trying to string the images to coherent thoughts. "Shit."

Edward took my face in his hands and made me look up at him. "What is it, angel?"

"Katherine," I choked back a sob. "She's thinking about leaving town."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, but Garrett came to warn me."

There was a loud knock at the front door before I had a chance to explain further. Edward cocked his eyebrows in confusion. "Who could that be this early?" We both looked at the clock and noticed that it was just after seven in the morning.

"Sorry, I'm not a physic," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

He laughed a bit with a shake of his head before kissing my forehead. "Come on. Let's get rid of whoever is here so we can find out what Katherine is up to." I nodded, his hand taking mine. I smiled warmly at him as he led me to his living room.

The room was considerably warmer than before with the roaring fire lighting up the area. I sat down on a chocolate brown couch while Edward went to get the door. I flipped open a photo album that sat on the coffee table in front of me. I smiled, finding pages and pages of pictures of Hayley and Edward.

I heard muffled voices coming from the foyer, and they were increasing in volume. "Edward, I have every right to talk to someone that claims to see my granddaughter."

"Mother, I do not need you scaring her away. I'm asking you to leave."

"Not until I give her a piece of my mind," a female voice said loudly. I sighed because I should be used to this, but I wasn't. It never got easier to deal with those that decided to remain close-minded.

I put the photo album on the table and stood up. Edward came in, following a beautiful woman with a hair color that was a close match to his. Those gorgeous green eyes of his were apologetic as his hand ran roughly through his hair.

Everything about this woman radiated warmth, sweet and love, but the fire behind her eyes said differently. She was furious. "Who the hell do you think you are?" she screamed.

"Mother!"

"Mrs. Cullen, I'm Isabella Swan," I said patiently.

"Oh, I know your name. What I want to know is who gave you the right to harass my son?"

"Mother. You need to calm down," Edward said firmly. "I won't have you disrespecting a guest in my home."

"It's fine, Edward. Mrs. Cullen," I started as I listened to Hayley whispering in my ear. "Hayley's favorite Saturday activity with you was making cookies."

She huffed angrily. "That doesn't prove anything!" She crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her boot-clad foot repeatedly. "A lot of grandmothers bake with their grandchildren on the weekends."

"Yes, they do, but I don't think many use your secret ingredient." Her pale green eyes narrowed as her lips pursed together in a thin line.

"Oh no," Hayley whispered from just beside me. "Can you tell her to please forgive me for telling?" I chuckled a bit, which caused Mrs. Cullen to advance toward me.

I blushed, my entire face flaming. "I'm sorry. It's just that she asked for forgiveness for telling me that you use three tablespoons of Ghirardelli cocoa mix for your chocolate chip cookies."

Mrs. Cullen gasped and held a trembling hand over her mouth as I continued. "And even though you never allow the boys to have fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies, you always let Hayley have two."

"Hey," Edward said. "I knew it." Hayley giggled and started to dance merrily around Edward and her grandmother.

"She's really gone," Mrs. Cullen suddenly sobbed. Edward wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed against him.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cullen," I whispered. "Edward, I'll give you some privacy." Edward's eyes widened and his face went pale white instantly. He was afraid of me leaving. "Umm, how about I step outside for a few minutes?" Edward nodded and pointed to a coat rack as he led his mother to the couch.

I grabbed a grey jacket that was at least three sizes too big for me. At least it covered up my hands since I had no gloves. I knew I wouldn't be alone once I stepped outside. I had to admit, I was frightened of what Garrett Richardson had to say.

Now that Hayley would soon be leaving us, I knew this was something I'd have to get Edward through and it wouldn't be easy. I was a bit relieved that now his mother knew; she'd be able to help me get him through this, too.

I stepped outside and found a comfortable rocking chair under the front porch. I found a storage bench, pulling out a warm throw. I curled up on the chair and looked at my surroundings. It was a pleasant, higher-end neighborhood, and the street was quiet and peaceful. A car sped past when suddenly a dark mass moved among a cluster of trees across the street.

"Jacob, stop trying to freak out. It's getting old."

The mass disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. "Aww, Bells!" a disembodied voice said in my ear. "You're no fun."

"Well, considering you know I've seen it all, I thought you'd have given up by now."

His boisterous laughter echoed around me. "You're right, Bells. But I'll get you one day."

I smiled a bit and pursed my lips to keep from laughing. He didn't need further encouragement. "What do you think of him?" I asked, averting my eyes from his pale brown ones.

Jacob Black had been my best friend since I was two years old. Our fathers had met on a snowy hillside when I'd accidently slid into Jacob, toppling us both over. Jacob was a handsome twenty-one-year-old man with long dark hair much like his father's and mocha skin that I envied.

And he was dead.

He had died months ago when a drunk driver had ran a stop sign, instantly killing him and landing his father in a wheelchair. He refused to cross over when his time had come, so he could watch over his father – and me.

He was a stupid, overprotective ass.

We'd never saw our relationship as anything more than family-like. It didn't help that we'd seen each other's privates when we were toddlers. The experience had scarred me deeply. I chuckled at the memory of me screaming my head off as I jumped butt-naked from the bathtub. Jacob nudged my shoulder with his energy, snapping me back to the present.

"He's a good guy, Bells."

I nodded in agreement. "He is, but –"

"You have your work cut out with him."

"Yeah," I said. I shivered violently when I felt another presence nearby.

"He wants to talk to you," Jacob said, looking across the street. "But he needs you to come to him."

"Am I safe?" I asked Jacob. Across the street, a dark mass darted back and forth, as if it were pacing.

"I'll keep you safe, Bells. Always have."

"It's not your job, Jacob."

"Maybe not, but until there's someone else to take care of you, then I'll be around."

I sighed and looked into the front window. I could see Edward holding his mother as she cried into his chest. Hayley sat beside them, her pale hand stroking her grandmother's hair. Edward's eyes met mine through the window, and a small smile lit up his face.

"He's a good candidate for the job," Jacob said, somewhat teasing and honest at the same time.

I laughed softly and looked over at my best friend. I missed his comfort dearly. "He's almost ten years older than me."

Jacob laughed again, his eyes still on the figure across the way. "Come on, Bells. You and I both know you've got an old soul."

I smiled a bit. I'd never really had a boyfriend before. My gift made it almost impossible to have a real relationship. Late meddling exes or parents attached to their sons made it difficult to get past the first date. Would Edward see me as anything more the one that delivered Hayley's message?

"Stop over-thinking it, Bella. Just go with the flow."

I nodded and smiled at my friend. Though I wished he'd cross over where his grandparents and mother awaited him. I was still happy to feel his presence. "I'll take your advice."

"You'd better, because if you don't I'll haunt you," he said jokingly.

I laughed again, desperately wanting to give my friend a punch in the shoulder and a hug. I sobbed a bit, unable hold it back.

"Oh, Bella," Jacob whispered.

"I'll be fine."

"Sure, sure," he said, just like he used to.

"I'd better go talk to him. He showed me earlier," I gestured toward the other dark shadow, "Hayley's mother is thinking of leaving the country."

"Do you want me to scare her a bit?"

"No. If Garrett Richardson is right, we only have three days to find Hayley's body and prove that her mother arranged for her kidnapping."

Jacob whistled. "Damn. The mother."

"Yeah. From what Garrett has shown me, she tricked him into thinking that Edward was abusive and that they couldn't be together without her daughter."

"What a bitch."

I nodded. Several things were still left unanswered. I stood up, wrapped the blanket around me, and walked to the only being willing to tell me everything.

Edward

I soothed my mother's hair for a several minutes as she continued to cry softly against the flannel shirt I was wearing. "Edward. I was so horrible to her, but it's only because I couldn't stand someone hurting you further."

"I know," I said. "Bella would never hurt me, Mother." I was confident in my words as they left my lips. Bella would never hurt me intentionally; her loving nature would never allow her to.

"She must be a good person. She kept her calm and chose not to raise her voice. She's really beautiful."

Hayley giggled from somewhere behind me.

"Not you too," I mumbled. Though I agreed with her completely, I wasn't ready to tell her that. I kissed my mother's hair and sighed. This was the first time since Hayley's death that I'd held my mother for more than a few moments.

God, I'd been a terrible son. I hadn't been the only one grieving for my daughter. So many others loved her as much as I did. I'd never taken into account their feelings and grief. I'd been too absorbed in my own despair, allowing it to consume me, and I'd pushed everyone away.

The lights started to flicker, and the room's temperature became colder as the fire in the fireplace quickly dissipated.

"Dad," a weak version of Hayley's voice whispered. "Something is wrong."

I stiffened and pulled away from my mother. "What is it, Edward?"

"I don't know, but something isn't right."

A bloodcurdling scream came from outside toward the front of my house.

I quickly ran outside, my mother trailing behind me. Bella stood in the middle of the road with a blanket wrapped around her small frame.

I scrambled to reach her and she swayed slightly, as if some force held her up, before falling into my arms.

Her lips were blue, and she was so cold. My mother wrapped a jacket around me as I pulled Bella in my arms and back toward the safety of my home.

"What the hell happened out here?" my mother asked.

My eyes darted around the yard, and there behind one of my evergreens was a dark mass.

"You've done enough," I growled, looking right at the dark entity. I held Bella closer to my body and pressed my lips to her cold forehead.

"Stay away from my family."