Before I even had chance to step into the house Alice had pulled me into a hug.
"I knew you would come back!" She said.
I smiled into her hug.
"Yes well you have an advantage when it comes to things like that." I said, pulling out of the hug.
She smiled sheepishly.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room where all the Cullens were sitting.
The guilt flooded over me once again.
Esme walked towards me and gave me a hug.
I gave her one back, more guilt sweeping over me.
As Esme pulled out of the hug I took a look at the family. They were all smiling at me.
Well apart from one of them.
"Welcome home." Esme said.
I laughed slightly. That didn't seem true.
I shook my head.
"It's a flying visit." I said.
Esme's smiled dropped.
"But why, Hermione?" Emmett piped up.
I sighed. I didn't know how to answer that without sound ungrateful. And I was grateful for all they ever did for me.
"Because I ruined it." Was all I could think to say.
Emmett looked at me confused.
"No-one is mad at you." Alice said, from behind me.
I laughed again.
"At least one of you is, trust me. I don't need to be a mind reader to know that." I said.
Edward finally looked up at me but he still had the stern look on his face.
All the Cullens were now looking at me and I felt the need to cry. I cursed my vampire body for not allowing me to do that.
"I want to thank you all so much. I don't know what would have happened to me without you but I can't stay here." I said.
"Hermione can we talk?" Jasper said. "Alone."
I looked at him and nodded.
We walked upstairs into his room.
I sat on his bed as he stared out the window.
"No-one wants you to leave." He said, still looking out the window.
"No I don't want to either but I have to."
"But why?"
"Because Jasper I was a complete idiot. A selfish bitch even and everybody in this family has been nothing but nice to me and I threw it all back in their faces. How can you want me to stay after what I did, after what I said?" I stared up at him.
He sighed and finally looked at me.
"Because I love you and everyone makes mistakes but I forgive you. You were always going to feel some kind of connection to Edward as he was the one who turned you into a vampire and I was stupid to think that would never happen." He said.
"Please don't blame yourself." I whispered.
"But don't you see? You were right. This is all my fault. I ran away and just left you..." He started.
"And I handled in typical Hermione fashion. Make it all about myself, act like a diva. You were dying..."
"But you didn't know that because I didn't tell. I was so much of coward. That word sums me up perfectly." Jasper said, now kneeling in front of me.
"No it sums me up perfectly. Along with a lot more stronger words." I said.
He smiled at me.
"I am on my knees here Hermione. Don't leave." He said.
I put my hands on either side of his face and stared him in his golden eyes.
I kissed him and then pulled away.
"I have to." I said. "I need time away to think, to be away from here. I am not saying I will never come back. It will just be a holiday."
I smiled at him but he didn't smile back.
"Then I'll come with you." He said.
"No I need to be away from you as well. I need time to clear my head." I said.
He looked at the floor and I put my hand under his chin and pulled his face up to look at mine.
"You are too good for me." I said.
He shook his head.
"Don't say things like that." He said, a sadness in his eyes.
I kissed him on the forehead, got up from the bed and left his room.
I heard Edward playing the piano as I walked past his room.
I opened the door slightly and he stopped playing.
"Can I come in?" I said.
He nodded.
I walked in and closed the door behind me.
I sat down on the piano chair next to him.
"I love that song you play on this." I said, pressing a random key.
He smiled my favourite crooked smile.
"I called it Hermione's song." He said, looking at me.
I nodded and looked back at him.
"Thanks." I said.
"Where are you going to go?" He asked, his eyebrows creasing together.
"I think I might go to Africa for a few months. Zafrina said I was welcome to visit them whenever I wanted to so I am going to take her up on the offer." I smiled.
"I don't want you to go." He said, staring at the piano. His eyebrows creased harder together.
"You have a funny way of showing it Edward." I said.
"I know. Because it's not right for me to be the one begging you to stay." He said.
I nodded.
"Then that says a lot don't you think?" I said.
He finally looked at me.
"Maybe it does." He said.
I felt a sting in my eyes as they once again refused to let the tears through.
"Right I best be off." I said, getting up from the seat.
Edward grabbed my hand.
"I love you." He said.
I stared at him straight in his eyes. His beautiful eyes.
I slowly took my hand out of his.
"Then show it." I said, leaving the room.