Geeze, was that a long break or what?
I'm so sorry, guys. I didn't mean for so much time to come between this chapter and the last. Grrrr! I just couldn't bring myself to write the ending, I guess.
No more excuses! With no further ado, the final chapter in "A New Heart..."
Chapter 49 – Loose Ends
Bellla's Pov
I came to consciousness with a splitting headache.
When was all this vampire/ werewolf mumbo jumbo going to come to an end? I asked myself as I scooted up, craddling my head. Before I even had the chance to open my eyes, arms were thrown around my neck.
"Oh my dear, Bella, you really ARE ok!" a female voice cried and it took me a moment to recall the voice.
"Angela? What happened?" I asked, looking at the girl as she pulled away. Her eyes were red, tinged with worry. I almost didn't want to look at myself, in fear of what I'd see this time.
"Oh Bella, it was horrible-"
"Ah, Angela, it wasn't that bad. Just a little anemic and fainted," Charlie said, poking his head in. My eyes widened a little at Angela and she bowed her head in apology.
"It just seemed a lot worse, I guess. I care about Bella so much," Angela played it cool. My dad came into the room and it was then I realized I didn't recognize my surroundings. It didn't take much to figure out where I was.
"The Quiellete healer?" I asked, noticing several dream catchers, intricately woven to fight off bad spirits in dreams. My dad was at my side, resting his hand on my shoulder.
"Well, you must have really impressed the guys around here. They won't even see me when I think I've sprained an ankle. They're very particular," Charlie joked. I shared a knowing, hidden smile with Angela.
"I hope this won't be a yearly thing, Bella. This is the third time you've been at the hospital since you've been here," Charlie said, trying to sound stern. My heart melted for the man as I looked up at him.
"No dad, it's over. This won't happen again," I assured him. His mustache twitched in a hidden smile and then a look of fatigue came over him.
"You just wait until you have to explain this to your mother. She's been calling like a mad woman the last few hours because she hasn't heard from you. I've got all the angry voice mails to prove it," he said, holding his cell phone out to me like it was a virus. I laughed and took the phone.
I glanced through the phone numbers before coming to my mothers and calling her.
"Isabella Marie Swan, don't you ever scare me like that again-"
"Mom, mom, I'm ok. Just a little anemic, or something. I don't even really remember much," I said, reassuring her. It didn't seem to work.
"You're coming back to live with me! I can't believe that it's more stress you living with your father than living out here in the sweltering heat," she said. I listened to her ramble on for about five minutes, letting her blow off some steam. When she finally took a breath for another tangent, I got to her first.
"Mom, I love it here in Forks. I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry you worried, but there's only so much we can do to protect me from the world," I paused for dramatic effect, lowered my voice and peered around, "It's out to get me."
I roused a laugh from Angela, my father, and after a moment or so, my mother too. Her fear dissipated after that, and it took me a few more minutes of reassurance of my health before she agreed to let me go.
"Bye mom, I'll call you tomorrow," I said.
"You had better. Tell your dad to get you lots of chocolate. I'm sure that'll help with whatever healing is being done," she said. I couldn't help a laugh before I hung up the phone and handed it to my dad.
"Well, I'm going to get going. Have some things to talk to Billy about before I head home to take care of some things," he said. He leaned down and hugged me and I buried my nose in his shirt, realizing I very easily could have died and never had the chance to say good bye to my father.
"I love you, dad," I said, quietly.
"Love you too, Bells. Get some rest and call me in the morning," he said. Within a minute, he had left the room. Angela scurried closer.
I recounted some of the events of the night. There was the bon fire. Jake and I, we had argued. Then the vampires. The wolves. Victoria – Angela.
"Oh God. I'm so sorry, Ang. I never thought this is how you would learn about everything," I said, craddling my still pounding head in my hands. Her hand was gently stroking over my back, offering me her strength.
"It's ok, Bella, really. Paul had started telling me was going on, right before the battle. I hadn't believed him. This might have been the best way for me to not lose my head," she said. I pulled back and looked at her.
"So... Seeing a bloody, screaming, dirty vampire / werewolf battle might have been the sane way of showing you this world?" I asked. We stared at each other for a split second before we both laughed out loud.
"Oh, Bella, I'm not crazy! Not any crazier than you, anyways," she said, giving me a playful shove. I wrapped my arms around the girl in a quick hug before there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, who's laughing? There is no laughing in the healing hut of doom," a voice said and I looked up to see Paul walking into the room. I laughed again. I couldn't help it. Paul? Playful and silly? It was strange.
Angela got to her feet and walked to him. She slid perfectly under his arm and wrapped her own around his back. She didn't take her eyes off him as she spoke.
"Paul even got the chance to tell me about imprinting," she said. His eyes were locked with her and he was grinning ear to ear. Angela looked at me then. "It's kind of weird, I guess. But I'm sure fate knows what it's doing," she said.
I sat on my bed, astounded. Angela was taking this even better than I had. It was all so alarming. As if I'd stepped into an alternate demension.
"Well... That's good, I'm very glad things are working out for the best," I said, clearing my voice. Paul had a very crooked smile as he watched Angela. I found myself hoping he didn't corrupt Angela too horribly. The thought made me laugh slightly. Angela, corrupt? Impossible.
"Anyways, we'll talk later, Bella. Someone else wants to see you," Paul said, tugging on Angela. She gave a quick wave and then ducked out. The next second, Jacob was in their place.
He stood still for a few moments, just watching me. I stayed still, watching him back. A second before I was about to scream, kick, cry that he should come over to me, he lurched forward and sat on the bed, pulling me tightly into his arms.
"Bells, I'm so, so sorry," he whispered. I could tell his eyes were shut, fighting back tears. I did the same thing, clutching at him, keeping him as close to me as possible. His lips were on my cheek, on my lips, my neck, shoulders, every where he could reach.
"I should have smelled them coming. I should have known, I could have protected you better. I can't believe the last things we'd said to each other before I thought-" his voice cut off abruptly. I knew he was reliving the night all over again. I blinked my eyes open, trying to force back the tears.
"It's ok, Jake. I don't blame you, it's ok," I whispered, running my fingertips painfully through his hair, holding him closer to me.
It was so horrible remembering the night before. The worst moments of my life had to be staring at everyone with Victoria's hands on me. Knowing that the last thing I'd said to Jake hadn't been 'I love you.'
He crawled up into the bed, barely fitting. But we made it work. He pulled me almost all the way into his lap and cradled my head under his chin. I realized then that my headache was subiding. I breathed more easily as the tension disinegrated.
There were several moments of silence where Jacob just ran his hands through my hair, craddled my cheek, kissed my forehead. I spent most of the time running my hands over his chest, buring my nose into his neck.
"The last thing I remember was Victoria biting me... This wasn't like last time. When James bit me, I'd caught some of the conversation around me. I had heard Carlisle and Edward talking. This time, there was nothing," I whispered. His grip around me tightened, to the point I could barely breathe, but I sat through it.
"Victoria only had her teeth in you for about two seconds. I tried to get to you, but I had to kill a newborn first. By the time I got to you, Edward had already ripped her to shreds and was caring for you. I begged him to help, to suck the venom out, but he wouldn't. It was his idea in the first place to change you, I think... Alice came, she talked some sense into him. He sucked the venom out. He said he's sorry... That he knows you'll never forgive him, but he promises we'll never see him again..." Jake said. Halfway through his explanation of the night, I had pulled back to watch him. He told the story while looking at the wall across from where we were laying. I could tell there were too many emotions for him to deal with.
I had the same emotions.
I breathed out heavily, closing my eyes when he finished. I didn't really know how to feel. It was quiet for nearly ten minutes before I broke the silence.
"... I wish he'd stayed," I whispered, my voice sounding small and weak. I felt Jacob's gaze turn to me. I couldn't bring myself to look at him.
"After all he did... He still saved me in the end. I just... I hope he doesn't do anything stupid," I whispered. I felt Jacob tense a little, but after a moment, he relaxed. His hand began soothing my hair again.
"I hate him, Bella... For everything he's put us through... But I know how you feel," he said. I rested my temple against Jake's chest, letting my eyes flutter shut.
"I don't want him in my life. I just don't want him dead, Jake..." I whispered. The room fell silent again and eventually I brought my hand up to stroke his chest, fondly. Memories washed over me, of everything I'd been through with Edward... Would I know if something bad happened to him?
It was then the wrapping on my arm caught my eye. I sneered at it.
"How ironic. She bit the same place her lover vampire James bit me..." I said, lifting my arm slightly to look at the handy work. Jacob reached up and interlocked his fingers with mine.
"The healer says you're good to go. You had just lost a lot of blood. No broken bones, no smashed organs, nothing. That's pretty good for you," he joked. I couldn't help smiling as I looked up at him.
"What about your arm? I saw that wretch mess with your arm," I said, turning a little to try and see his arm. He waved the one that was interlocked with my hand and smiled.
"Just a sprain now. It'll be healed within the hour," he gloated.
Stupid werewolf accelerated healing.
An hour later...
We slowly made our way up the steps to Jake's house. There was a light shining in the living room window.
"Hey dad, we're home," Jake called as I shut the door behind us. As I turned, I saw Billy sitting in his wheel chair, watching tv. He muted it as we came inside fully.
"How are you feeling, Bella?" he asked, concern shining from him in every way possible. I smiled.
"I'm fine, Billy. Really, I feel as normal as my clutzy self," I assured him. He broke out into a smile.
"Good, then you won't mind knowing that your dad told me today that he wants to buy a house down here on the rez," he said, turning the volume back up on the tv. I'm pretty sure I paled.
"Charlie wants to move to La Push?" Jacob clarified and Billy nodded, eyes glued to the tv. When no one said anything else, Billy turned to look at Jacob.
"Well, you have to understand. Charlie would die without Bella's cooking, and I refuse to babysit the two of you every night," he said the last part under his breath, with a chuckle. Now, instead, of paling, I went scarlet.
Jacob just shrugged and said, "You got a point."
"Have you had dinner yet, Billy?" I asked, my mind running on overdrive. I needed some time to think.
"No, actually, I haven't. But you don't need to push yourself, Bella," Billy said.
"It's not pushing at all. It'll give me some time to think," I said. He gave a quiet nod. Jacob reached for my hand as I passed him and he stood up to give me a brisk kiss before leaving me to my task.
Searching for pots, ingredients and utensils, I let my mind take over. I didn't know if I would be able to take each thought my brain threw at me.
Dad wanted to move to La Push...
Alice had been here, she'd protected me, like she said she would...
Victoria was dead. There was no longer a threat to my life.
Edward was sane again, or so it seemed.
But where was he?
This last thought sent a quiver of fear down my spine. Edward couldn't die. Ever. He was a vampire. He should walk the earth for eternity.
What kind of world did we live in that something like me could kill a vampire?
I could feel Jake's gaze on my back as I started to stir the boiling noodles I'd put on the stove. I took in a deep breath and then turned around to face him, leaning against the counter. He was leaning in the door frame to the kitchen, taking up whatever space was within it.
His eyes burned into mine with such intensity, I grew dizzy. I watched him, my gaze never wavering.
Just like my love for him would never waver.
A/N : Ohhhh my gosh, it's over. *cries* Nooooo!
Anyways, this fanfic will 'technically' end here. But, there will be a chapter posted, hopefully within the next week. The lovely little lemon I promised you guys for getting this story to 1000 reviews. It'll sort of be the epilogue, I guess.
GLEE! Post your reviews and comments and let me know how much you hate me for taking three weeks to give you this tiny chapter.
Again, all my apologies.
~ Love!