Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, the New Moon dialogues, parts of the plot and character names. All other plotlines, dialogues, characterizations, and details belong to the author: Bronzehyperion. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without the author's authorization. ©2009-2010 Bronzehyperion. All rights reserved worldwide.

CHAPTER 17: FLIGHT

Desperately begging for mercy, pointless pleas to spare a life.

The thoughts still penetrated my mind as we got led to the reception room where Gianna was waiting for us. Demetri seemed in good spirits as he left us there. Of course he was. He was about to indulge in a formidable feast. It was disgusting to think what he was heading back to. A room full of innocent harmless beings. A massacre.

"Do not leave until dark," he warned us before leaving.

Gianna looked at us, she was absolutely not surprised to see us, but the cloak I was wearing currently to cover myself up did make her wonder briefly if I had joined the Volturi –which was such a preposterous assumption. I would never become like them.

It was only a flicker in her thoughts until she remembered what Demetri had requested; that we would stay here until it turned dark outside. Her fascination was short-spanned and then she turned back to her job: being the hospitable receptionist.

I could not be bothered to care about her thoughts for long, since I was in close proximity to a girl who had just experienced something that must have been the most traumatizing in her life. Being in a room of immortal beings that could have easily killed her. As if my entire existence intertwined with hers would not be frightening enough – though it never seemed to scare Bella – this must be her undoing. After all, how much could someone deal with and still come out resembling a sense of normal.

And Bella had had been through so much in the past few days. Jumping off a cliff, saving me from myself, facing a group of powerful and relentless vampires. Not to mention travelling transatlantic. It was a surprise she wasn't completely falling to pieces.

Although, maybe she was. I felt her unsteady heartbeat pounding away. It proved she was less than stable at the moment.

"Are you all right?" I asked anxiously, feeling her frame shake violently as she stood close to me. Her breathing was becoming shallower too, like she was having a panic attack.

"You'd better make her sit before she falls," Alice said. "She's going to pieces."

"Shh, Bella, shh," I tried to reassure her and I pulled us to the sofa farthest away from the curious human at the desk.

"I think she's having hysterics. Maybe you should slap her," Alice suggested.

Her comment threw me. I was at a loss what to do. Slap her? Surely Alice was being sarcastic. I could never be violent with Bella. Then again, I read about how people could snap out of anxious situation by being distracted and slapping, given the usual surprise effect would do the trick. I just didn't want to go that far. I opted for trying to sooth her instead.

"It's all right, you're safe, it's all right," I chanted again and again. I pulled Bella onto my lap and tucked the thick wool cloak around her, so she would be protected from my cold skin.

She wouldn't stop crying and the tears started to spill over, leaving her cheeks wet and her eyes puffy. The sobs occasionally choked in her threat and she was blinking viciously, as she continued to stare at me through her watery eyes.

"All those people," she sobbed.

"I know," I whispered. To think of the sacrifice those people had made, their lives given because they had been lured in by beings they would have never been able to resist or fight off. Their pleas to be spared haunted me.

"It's so horrible."

"Yes, it is. I wish you hadn't had to see that."

Bella didn't respond and instead rested her head against my chest, using the thick cloak to wipe her eyes. She took a few deep breaths to try and calm down.

"Is there anything I can get you?" a voice asked politely. It was Gianna, leaning over my shoulder with a look that was both concerned and yet still professional and detached at the same time.

I had heard her coming, but I'd been so focused on Bella that I hadn't paid enough attention to stop her before she could approach and speak.

.

"No," I answered coldly, dismissing her.

She nodded, smiled at Bella and then disappeared. Her mind never hinted at any discomfort. She accepted what she saw and tolerated whatever strange things she experienced here.

Gianna had learned not to question anything, because that would be her best bet to stay human - thus alive – and hopefully eventually become a vampire.

"Does she know what's going on here?" Bella demanded. Her voice sounded hoarse from crying.

But there was more to it. There was an undertone, a hint of something I could not place, and I hated it. As always I wished for her thoughts to guide me and as always my wishes were idle.

"Yes. She knows everything," I told Bella earnestly.

"Does she know they're going to kill her someday?" Bella wondered

"She's knows it's a possibility," I said.

Bella seemed puzzled as she processed my words.

"She's hoping they'll decide to keep her." I clarified.

"She wants to be one of them?"

She truly sounded surprised and then I recognized the underlying sentiment I had not been able to pick up on before.

She was genuinely appalled. Appalled by the idea of Gianna wanting to become a vampire. This was a little ironic because a few hours ago she had pleaded with me to make her immortal too.

"Mean it". – Her words from before whispered to me. Had she forgotten about that? Or had the vile display of murder she had just experienced finally made her realize what it entailed to be a vampire and turned her off the idea of becoming one for good.

Bella confirmed my assessment by shuddering. "How can she want that?"

"How can she watch those people file through to that hideous room and want to be a part of that?"

That. That was what vampires did. What they needed to survive. Our nature.

My nature.

I couldn't deny that her words stung, because she defined something I'd so desperately tried to shake for so long.

I was that monster, or at least I had been. And while murdering those who went against the law served the purpose of some strange poetic justice, I had still done the same thing; lure them in and kill them; quenching my thirst by playing judge, jury and executioner.

That creature that could do the vile and murderous things she'd just heard, that creature had been me at some point.

"Oh, Edward," Bella suddenly cried out.

I felt helpless, because Bella was all over the place. This was natural for humans, clearly this was a short term variety on post traumatic stress but I didn't know what the right way to respond to it was. My surfacing human instinct told me to hold her close and shower her with affection, but I didn't know if that would be the right way of comforting her.

"What's wrong?" I asked Bella as I anxiously rubbed her back. It was such a silly question, so redundant. What was wrong? Try everything.

She didn't answer me and simply wrapped her arms around my neck to hug herself closer.

I could feel some hesitation in her movement – like she was afraid to be close to me for some reason and I could only guess as to why that was. Maybe she didn't want to be this close to me but only allowed herself because she was cold and the cloak was warm, or maybe because she knew that for now I'd be her safest bet out of here unscathed.

I didn't want to believe Bella acted solely on these rational motivations; surely she wanted to be as close to me as I to her because she still cared for me.

But for how long? As soon as the worst of her fears had disappeared, as soon as we'd be out of here and on our way back to Forks or maybe once we were back in Forks, she would realize that maybe she didn't want to be close to me after all.

"Is it really sick for me to be happy right now?" she asked, her voice breaking on the question.

The question sounded surreal in more ways than one. Yes, feeling happy while being in a place that resembled hell was a little sick, though I definitely felt it too.

But also, if she was really happy now, I wondered how much of a contribution I was making to that feeling. Given her closeness – which I was basking in – it seemed my presence was a reason to make her feel this way.

And this thrilled me so much – which was as sick as generally feeling happy after just having witnessed death and despair- that I pulled her against me even tighter, feeling the heat of her body, which – although she was only starting to warm up – was like a delightful wildfire burning my icy limbs. How I had missed this torture.

"I know exactly what you mean," I whispered. "But we have lots of reasons to be happy. For one, we're alive."

That was definitely a small victory. Alive meant a future. Alive meant possibilities. Alive meant together. Hopefully.

"Yes," Bella agreed. "That's a good one."

"And together," I breathed.

Bella nodded but just slightly so it didn't seem like she was willing to acknowledge that.

I didn't understand. Here she was, in my arms, hugging me close at her own free will – well sort of, I was keeping an iron grip on her, unwilling to let her go, even if she would beg me too I wasn't certain if I'd be willing to comply – and yet she didn't seem as excited as I was about that fact. And maybe it was the wrong emotion – Lord knows I was still struggling with finding the appropriate ones when confronted with all these human rollercoaster moments – but as long as we were together nothing else mattered.

Her body seemed to agree with me, but maybe her mind didn't. And since I had no access to the latter, I was left guessing as always.

"And, with any luck, we'll still be alive tomorrow," I eased her.

"Hopefully," Bella said but again she didn't sound very confident. Did she think we were going to die? I tried to read her body, for her mind remained a mystery but there were no new signs of anxiety. Her heartbeat was almost regular – she wasn't free of all stress yet – and her breathing came in equal intakes of air. Her body didn't seem as distressed as her words did.

And once again I had no idea of knowing what she really meant. Guessing was driving me mad.

"The outlook is quite good," Alice assured us with confidence.

Her thoughts were entirely occupied with images of Jasper.

"I'll see Jasper in less than twenty-four hours," she echoed her thoughts aloud, sounding satisfied.

Alice was lucky. Her future was secure. Mine was up in the air. I had no idea if Bella still wanted me, especially because I surely didn't deserve her. Maybe she'd want me gone as soon as we arrived back in Forks. What would I do if she ordered me to go? Would I stay or would I respect her wishes, move back to Brazil and wait for the day she'd forgiven me and perhaps tolerate me as a friend.

Could I give her up?

Could I be a friend if that's what she requested? If she dismissed me the way I had so many months ago. I would deserve the irony of having her back, only to lose her again because she no longer wanted me. But could I live with that any more than I lived with the idea of her death a few days ago?

I had no answer to that. Not yet. Now that she was so close, it was easy to pretend she did want me, that she still wanted to be mine. That she still belonged to me.

Bella stared at me, her gazing intense and a little unsettling because it felt like she was penetrating right through my soul. Like she could read my thoughts where I could not hers.

And I desperately wanted to believe what I read in her deep chocolate eyes – she still loved me and wanted me even if I didn't deserve it.

To try and decipher this, I stared right back and for a few moments all we did was get lost in each other's eyes. Drowning together in the make belief of a perfect reunion where no one had gotten hurt, no one was angry and no one would ever walk away.

It can be that way, I thought. We could be together. If she'd say the word, forgive me and take me back than I would never leave again. No matter how selfish that made me. If she'd grant me a second chance, I'd grab it and prove her that I was worthy of that trust and her affection.

And because I was getting lost in the sensation, I became bold and touched Bella. I simply had to. Slowly, my fingertips traced the circles under her eyes, the tingling of touching her skin coursing through me, pulsing like electricity pushed to the core. I yearned for her so much, in so many wicked ways but one. I didn't want to kill her anymore. I just wanted her.

Always.

"You look so tired," I told her.

"And you look thirsty," she whispered back, studying my face.

I hadn't hunted in a long time and under normal circumstances I would have instantly been incredibly thirsty by what Bella had just pointed out. But knowing I had almost lost her, knowing that once I had almost killed her – which would have had the same outcome; losing her – I didn't feel thirsty at all. The primary urge was there, since it was in my nature, but my mind could circumvent the flame of venom burning my throat easily.

I shrugged. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure? I could sit with Alice," she offered bur she sounded somewhat unwilling which secretly pleased me. Her body really did give me answers her mind was so reluctant to.

"Don't be ridiculous." I sighed. "I've never been in better control of that side of my nature than right now."

I deliberately underlined the word, pointing out my nature to see if she realized what I meant. I didn't want her to compare me to those monsters in there, even if it was a part of what I was. I could control myself; I didn't have to be a monster anymore.

And it didn't matter right now for she was in my arms. She was in my arms and she was safe. I could feel her and taste her fragrance on my tongue and while it burned to have her this close it was the ultimate proof that she was alive and that we were together. A sweet intoxication which I welcomed. I'd rather burn and struggle forever than to never feel the sensation of her overpowering scent again.

Bella was trying to relax; I could feel her body slumping in my arms. Surely she was beyond exhausted. While she kept silent, Alice and I were discussing how to get back to the airport

"As soon as we get out of here, I am going to retrieve our luggage from the narrow nook in an alley close to the outer gates where I have stashed them."

Oh, and find us a car, too" Alice informed me.

I frowned. I'd seen the car she has used to get here. A yellow Porsche. Not exactly inconspicuous.

"What will you get this time, Alice? A Hummer? Bright red Ferrari?" I muttered

I grimaced at the memory of the old Maserati that had gotten me here. Not exactly known for its powerful engine. It had been a squeaky old thing that I had gladly gotten rid of.

Don't be silly, Edward. Italy has no Hummers. Especially not around here. Bright red Ferrari? Nice idea but we would not all fit into one….so unless you want to run to Florence, I'd better get something with a little more space

"I'll go with whatever I can find. Preferably fast."

I left it at that and went back to focusing on Bella's breathing and the comforting sound of her heartbeat against my chest. She seemed calm now, no real signs of stress left – for the moment.

And so I touched her again, not knowing how it would affect her but also not being able to resist the urge to. I pressed my lips to her hair, feeling the velvet sensation of it. I breathed in deep and tasted her on my tongue.

It was heavenly.

"What was all that talk about singers?" Alice asked me suddenly.

"La tua cantante," I translated in fluent Italian.

"Yes, that," Alice said

I shrugged. "They have a name for someone who smells the way Bella does to me. They call her my singer—because her blood sings for me."

And right now it was the most beautiful melody. What had once been my temptation in the worst way; a desire to massacre Forks High school and drain Bella of the last drop off her blood was now a siren call for eternity. Not one to kill, but one to cherish forever.

Alice laughed at my explanation. To her most of this was trivial. She found Bella and me dramatic but of course also enjoyed the drama enough to meddle.

We spend the rest of the time quietly. I could feel that Bella was fighting to stay awake and I could only guess why. She should sleep because it would make time pass quicker and also, I suspected she had been awake for quite some time already and her body would cave if she didn't allow it to rest, even if her mind couldn't stop racing.

But she never did sleep. She held me close; as I held her and occasionally sighed when I would press me lips tip her hair, nose or forehead. She didn't flinch when I'd touch her wrist with my lips and she certainly didn't push me away. I tried not to doubt that her little moans were ones of satisfaction, but I still wasn't sure on where we stood. We'd have to have a conversation about that eventually.

Eventually, I could hear thoughts approaching. Freshly fed, Alec was coming to tell us that we were free to go. I tightened my arms around Bella protectively, looking at the back of the room, waiting for him to appear.

When he did, I noticed the satiated thirst for his eyes were ruby red, swimming with human blood.

While I could smell the residue of blood on his lips and tongue, I didn't envy him one bit.

I was no longer that monster. More than ever I was perhaps a man or trying very hard to be.

"You're free to leave now," Alec told us warmly, as if we were friends that had been visiting.

"We ask that you don't linger in the city."

I didn't say a word, for it was a moot point. We would not linger. We wouldn't be here any longer than necessary.

"That won't be a problem."

Alec smiled, nodded, and disappeared again.

"Follow the right hallway around the corner to the first set of elevators," Gianna told us as I helped Bella to her feet.

"The lobby is two floors down, and exits to the street. Goodbye, now," she added pleasantly.

Alice shot her a look and her thoughts were less than kind.

Stupid woman. They'll kill her once she gets too old, or when she will be less accommodating.

We left through a purposely luxurious lobby which upheld the pretense of a welcoming space well.

Outside, the party was still in full swing in the streets. The street lamps were just coming on as we walked swiftly through the narrow streets.

It was near twilight as the sky become darker – there was a fading evening grey overhead covering the last of the sun. I felt better here, glad to be in an open space.

I looked around, finding my cloak did not stand out in the way it might have on a normal evening in Volterra. There were plenty of others in black satin cloaks, and most of them were wearing plastic fangs to pay homage to their saints.

"Ridiculous," I muttered as I pulled Bella along.

"Where's Alice?" Bella suddenly whispered, sounded panicked.

I realized she must have missed our conversation earlier, where Alice had announced she'd find us transportation to get out of here.

"She went to retrieve your bags from where she stashed them this morning," I eased her mind.

"She's stealing a car, too, isn't she?" Bella guessed dryly, her panic dissipated.

I grinned. "Not till we're outside."

We made our way to the entry and it was difficult for Bella to keep up. I could feel she was spent; her legs were barely able to carry her. I wound my arm around her, trying to support all of her weight – and enjoyed the feel of having her close.

Edward, once you're through the gate, it's the black Fiat to the right of it. Not what I wanted but the only thing available.

I gently pulled us through the dark stone archway and led Bella towards the car Alice had described.

Instead of taking the passenger seat I joined Bella in the back, because I didn't want to spend a moment separated, even if it was just by a seating arrangement in a small confined space. I refused to let her go now that I still had the chance of holding her.

Alice was apologetic. "I'm sorry." She gestured toward the dashboard. "There wasn't much to choose from."

I smiled at the images Alice showed me. She'd spend two whole minutes looking for a fast car at an abandoned parking lot close to the small space she had hit the luggage she and Bella had carried.

When she realized she'd already had her fast Italian car pick of the day, she'd opted for a black Fiat which looked insignificant and was easy to steal.

"It's fine, Alice." I grinned. "They can't all be 911 Turbos."

She sighed. "I may have to acquire one of those legally. It was fabulous."

I can already see myself speed down the 101 with it when I go shopping in Seattle.

"I'll get you one for Christmas," I promised to which Alice turned to beam at me in thanks.

Knew you would, she teased.

"Yellow," she added to her request.

I'll hold you to that. If it hadn't been for me meddling like you warned me not to, things would have turned out quite different…you would have been dead. Or a part of the Volturi. Probably dead though because you're so melodramatic.

I wanted to reject the words, reject the fact Alice had a point – she loved being right – so I decided to focus on being grateful and happy to have Bella in my arms. I kept holding her tight and was actually finding the cloak useful as it kept Bella warm and comfortable, even if it looked beyond ridiculous and represented everything I didn't want to be – or join.

She must have felt the same, because I could feel her heartbeat become lower and her breathing slower. Bella was becoming really sleepy now but still fighting to stay awake.

"You can sleep now, Bella," I murmured. "It's over."

"I don't want to sleep. I'm not tired."

She was so incredibly headstrong.

I pressed my lips to my favorite spot under Bella's ear, where I could feel her blood pulsing. It made my throat burn and my tongue drown in venom, but I ignored the bloodlust with ease.

"Try," I tried and encourage her.

She wouldn't.

I sighed. "You're still just as stubborn."

We were on our way to Atlanta. After arriving in Florence we had all changed – Alice had bought me new clothes, calling it a crime against fashion to not buy me 'some Italian' at the airport. I had not cared, only Bella's wellbeing interested me and she seemed better after she had changed into clean clothes as well. Alice had put on the charm and managed to book us last minute tickets to Seattle with stops in Rome and Atlanta since it was the only thing available.

Once in Rome we didn't have much time to catch the flight to Atlanta and now we were up in the air, where Bella had just ordered a Coke after the flight attendant had asked her if she wanted anything.

"Bella," I said disapprovingly, frowning, knowing what caffeine did to her. Since she didn't have coffee regularly and even a Coke was enough to get her hyped up I wondered what a rush of that would do to her body now. She was exhausted and a jolt of fake stimulance might be damaging.

"I don't want to sleep," Bella reminded me. "If I close my eyes now, I'll see things I don't want to see. I'll have nightmares."

I could not argue with that. The last thing I wanted was to have recent events come back and plague her in her much needed sleep. Still, she had to get rest at some point and it was only a matter of time until her body would succumb to being so worn out.

Alice was behind us. I could hear her murmuring to Jasper on the phone; she was sharing the details of our arrival and updating him on everything that had happened in Volterra. I gathered from her thoughts that my family were already on their way to Seattle to pick us up.

It would have been a very good time to talk to Bella and I knew there was plenty to talk about, but I preferred holding her in my arms, tracing her face, as she did mine.

It felt so perfect, so divine and I knew that talking would only ruin the feeling. And who knew how many moments we'd have left. Bella seemed like she wanted me, but I wasn't certain what her life was like in Forks now. Maybe she'd find that there was no longer a place for me there once we'd be back and everything had sunk in.

Maybe she had found new routines to stick to; maybe there was no room for me anymore.

Bella didn't speak either but she also didn't sleep due to the amount of soda she kept ordering.

I had decided against commenting on it again, instead reveling in the fact of being able to touch her. I could not resist the urge to touch her: pressing my lips into her silky hair, kissing her forehead. The pressure point on her wrists where the steady beats of her heart proved that we had really managed to escape the horror of Volterra and that she was alive and with me.

I kissed her in all kinds of spots on her body but never her lips and with good reason. If I kissed her, I knew that I would not be able to stop easily.

I knew that I'd treasure the touch of her lips against mine in such a way that I'd want to pour all my love and desire into it.

This was great in theory but in practice I had no idea if this is what Bella wanted. What if she didn't? What if she and Jacob Black had gotten closer? If that was the case – and I hoped that it wasn't because I felt like I'd have to kill him if he'd taken Bella way from me – even if that was completely my own fault- than she would turn away and I was uncertain if I'd be strong enough to bear it.

I suppose I was terribly afraid of rejection. So far she hadn't rejected me, but I didn't want to push my luck or Bella for that matter.

When the sun started to rise, casting a grey sky in an odd light of yellow and orange, we arrived in Seattle.

It was no surprise to Alice and me to see our family there. Jasper stood out - though never overly obvious, as he kept his eyes and thoughts fixated on Alice. He gave me a brief mental nod, chiding me for endangering Alice as much as being happy I was alive and well before all his attention completely turned to Alice.

She went quickly to his side; they didn't embrace like other couples meeting there. They only stared into each other's faces silently communicating everything they needed to.

I envied them; they knew that they'd be together no matter what. That they had forever. I didn't know if I'd even get to keep Bella for another day.

Carlisle and Esme waited in a quiet corner far from the line for the metal detectors, in the shadow of a pillar.

The moment we were close enough, Esme came up and hugged Bella fiercely.

"Thank you so much," she said in her ear.

Then she threw her arms around me, and I could sense and hear all the emotions she had kept bottled up. Not having the ability for a physical outlet like crying, she transferred them into my own mind, making me feel terrible for being so selfish and disconnected all these months I knew I would never have done anything differently – I simply would not have been able to because the pain – which was completely absent now; there was only the simmering uncertainty as I didn't know exactly where Bella and I stood.

"You will never put me through that again," she nearly growled.

We're a family, Edward and family doesn't run away from each other.

I grinned, repentant. "Sorry, Mom."

"Thank you, Bella," Carlisle said. "We owe you."

Son, he quietly acknowledged me. There was a strange pride and comfort in that word. He still wanted me to be his son. And he hadn't lost all his faith in me.

"Hardly," Bella mumbled disconnectedly. Sleep was overpowering her completely, as she started to sway and Esme and I had to keep her upright.

"She's dead on her feet," Esme scolded me. "Let's get her home."

Home. I had to admit I was not sure if I wanted her to go home. Things would be different there and I was sure that her home was no longer a welcoming habitat for me.

In the parking lot Emmett and Rosalie were waiting, leaning against the black sedan, their thoughts a mixture of relief and guilt. Emmett felt relieved.

Would have sucked to go up to Italy and hurt these bastards for killing you. Even if you were stupid enough to go there in the first place without back-up, bro.

Rosalie surprised me with genuine remorse on her mind.

I am sorry, Edward. I should have been more careful and I should not have been selfish to believe Bella's death would have things go back to normal. I know you care about her and she has shown bravery for going to Volterra and save you. Which I am grateful for.

It angered me and I wanted to tell her to save it for someone who cared. I had no desire to hear her remorse and I didn't feel like I wanted to give her the chance to make amends.

"Don't," Esme whispered. "She feels awful."

"She should," I said, knowing Rosalie could hear me.

"It's not her fault," Bella said, her words barely audible as she struggled to get them out.

"Let her make amends," Esme pleaded. "We'll ride with Alice and Jasper.

Edward, the family has been apart long enough, Esme begged silently.

I glowered at Rosalie, desperate to block her thoughts out.

Don't be stubborn. I am truly sorry.

"Please, Edward," Bella pleaded.

I sighed, knowing I might as well get it over with. Esme had a point. The family had been separated too long. And I should give Rosalie the chance to make amends, if not with me than especially with Bella.

I towed Bella toward the car where Emmett and Rosalie got in the front seat without speaking,

We got in the back and Bella leaned into me, her head on my chest, no longer able to resist the call of sleep. The gesture made me feel calmer and allowed the initial anger to subside.

"Edward," Rosalie began.

"I know." I acknowledged her apology brusquely. That was all I was going to give her.

"Bella?" Rosalie asked softly.

Bella's eyes fluttered open and she seemed shocked. This wasn't a surprise as Rosalie had never directly spoken to Bella.

"Yes, Rosalie?" she asked, sounding hesitant.

"I'm so very sorry, Bella. I feel wretched about every part of this, and so grateful that you were brave enough to go save my brother after what I did. Please say you'll forgive me."

She sounded sincere and I knew she was, even if there was a hint of embarrassment there which annoyed me. Her ego never allowed her to completely let her guard down and be open to the possibility of accepting her imperfections.

"Of course, Rosalie," Bella mumbled generously.

"It's not your fault at all. I'm the one who jumped off the damn cliff. Of course I forgive you."

The words came out like mush.

"It doesn't count until she's conscious, Rose," Emmett chuckled.

"I'm conscious," she said but it just sounded like a garbled sigh.

"Let her sleep," I insisted, but I sounded less angry.

It was only a short while later when we pulled up on Bella's street.

Anxiety crept up on me again, as I felt Charlie Swan's silent anger bellowing through the small house. I'd never been able to hear him well, but he was loud and clear now.

He hated me and would do anything to keep me away from his daughter.

I deserved it, undoubtedly, but it still pained me and I feared that he would ground her or only allow her to see Jacob. I knew he favored the boy and while I could definitely not blame him, I also didn't want him to push them together.

The car halted and I opened the door to carry her from the car.

"Bella!" Chief Swan shouted as he approached us.

"Charlie," she mumbled, trying to wake up but failing.

"Shh," I whispered. "It's okay; you're home and safe. Just sleep."

"I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face here." Charlie yelled at me, practically running now.

"Stop it, Dad," Bella groaned, still not sounding very coherent.

"What's wrong with her?" Charlie demanded.

What did he do to her? If he hurt her any more than he already did, I will kill him.

No idle threat, albeit an impossible one.

"She's just very tired, Charlie," I assured him quietly. "Please let her rest."

I knew it was the wrong sentiment. I knew that I was out of line to tell him what to do, but I wanted her to sleep because she needed it.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Charlie yelled. "Give her to me. Get your hands off her!"

I tried to pass her to Charlie not wanting to anger him any further and risk him having a heart attack; his face was too red and his heart was doing overtime - but Bella clung to me with locked fingers and I'd be lying if this didn't silently please me. She wasn't dismissing me just yet now that she was home. Though maybe she was too sleepy to process it.

"Cut it out, Dad," Bella said with more volume, as she managed to open her eyes and look at her dad

"Be mad at me."

Interesting. She wanted her father to be mad at her, even if it was my entire fault. I took her protectiveness as a good sign, although it was unjustified for her to take the blame.

"You bet I will be," Charlie promised her. "Get inside."

"Kay. Let me down," she sighed.

I complied and set her on her feet. That only worked for a second before she trudged forward and I caught her before she could hit the sidewalk.

"Just let me get her upstairs," I told Charlie."Then I'll leave."

"No," Bella cried, panicking. Again I was met with this unfounded joy I felt at her plea. I wasn't happy she was panicking, but as long as she didn't send me away I might have a chance to keep her and have her forgive me. Even if I didn't deserve it.

"I won't be far," I vowed, whispered low enough so that only Bella would hear. I'd never be far away again if she'd want me to stay.

I didn't wait for Charlie to stop me and carried Bella inside and up the stairs to her room.

I made a point of putting her down first, prying her soft fingers off my shirt. I covered her up and took a second to let nostalgia wash over me.

It had been months since I had been here and the last time I had, I'd covered up all the things that could remind Bella of me under her floorboards. I wondered if she had ever found them. One of the many questions and things we'd have to talk about.

Wearing my new clothes, I realized I'd lost the photo I had taken with me last time I was here. I didn't know where I had lost it but it must have been somewhere between Volterra and here.

I sighed at the loss of that memento, wishing I'd be able to redeem myself and get the chance to collect new mementos.

The scent was exactly as I remembered and memories filled my mind as I thought of the first night I had spent here. The night I had realized I loved her. My midnight sun.

That had not changed; in fact it had only become stronger. She was still my only light, my only point of reference.

My only true meaning. She was everything.

But I had no way of knowing if Bella still felt the same. I was certain she still cared; her affections gave proof of that but maybe the time apart had allowed her to move on, like I had wanted her to.

I didn't have a chance to dwell on that for long, because Bella's bedroom door slammed open, revealing a furious Chief Swan in the opening.

"I don't know why you are back and I have yet to hear Bella's explanation," he started, surprisingly calm, despite his angry features.

"But I will tell you one thing with absolute certainty. You will not and I mean never, set a foot inside my house again."

I didn't protest him or pleaded for him to let me explain a few things. I listened to his anger and his thoughts transpired the pain I had put his daughter through.

I deserved far worse than Chief Swan's wrath.

"Now get the hell out!"

A/N: Edward is mirroring Bella in this chapter. They both have the same insecurities. Both worried the other doesn't want them anymore. Next chapter, we'll clear that up.

As always, thanks for all the support. I try to do Edward justice, since he is my favorite (and sometimes the most underrated and misunderstood) character.

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Have a great weekend!