A/N I am amazed by the unbelievable response to the last chapter. It seems you guys don't like the cliffhangers so much! :) Can't say that I blame you, but they're definitely fun to write! Anyway, here are the answers you've been waiting for... plus some! Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
Chapter 46 – Answers
The Ativan that Edward had given her moments ago in the car helped tremendously with her mood. She knew it was a low dose, but it was enough to soothe her nerves. As she held his hand, fingers twined tightly with his, she took a deep breath and twisted the knob.
She felt Edward give her hand a gentle squeeze to let her know he was right there with her, and if possible, she loved him more. She knew that with him by her side, she would be able to handle anything; it gave her the confidence she needed to continue.
She pushed open the door and gestured for Edward to go first. Once he was across the threshold of the house, he stepped to the side and allowed her to pass him. "Dad," she called in a slightly shaky voice.
She heard hushed whispers from the kitchen before Charlie finally answered her. "In the kitchen Bells," he called out. She noticed immediately that there was a strain in his voice that wasn't usually there. Something was definitely going on.
Still holding Edward's hand, she let him lead her into the kitchen where Charlie, Carlisle, and Jake were sitting around the kitchen table. Not even really thinking about it, she brought the drink carrier over and set it down in front of Charlie.
Edward followed suit with the bag of food but then pretty much stopped dead in his tracks as something caught his eye. Everything that happened immediately after that was a blur. Without any warning whatsoever, Edward dropped Bella's hand and lunged for the folder on the table, his face filled with so much hate and unconcealed rage.
Before he could tear into the folder to see the information it held, Carlisle was right there behind him, placing a restraining hand on his shoulder. He kept his voice reasonable, but Bella could hear the worry there. He was begging Edward to see reason. "Son, I know you want to tear in to this prick, but there are better ways. At least sit down for a few minutes and listen to everything we know."
Something his dad said to him must have sunk in, because he didn't open the file. Instead, he hesitated, although he maintained a death grip on the poor folder. After standing there for what seemed like an eternity, he turned and finally met her gaze. There was still so much unrestrained hatred in his eyes. For the first time since she had met him, Bella was terrified; not of Edward himself, but of what he would do to the unsuspecting fool who had tried to hurt her. He looked absolutely murderous.
As he stared into her eyes, it seemed like something inside of him broke. She never looked away though, silently pleading with him to just hear Carlisle out. She knew that if he were to open that folder and see the results without waiting for any further explanation, he would be unstoppable. The last thing she wanted was for him to do something stupid out of love for her. She would never forgive herself if that happened.
After more than a minute of staring into her eyes, he finally moved back to the table and slowly replaced the folder, unopened. She couldn't help the relieved smile that crept onto her face at his gesture. She knew he had done it for her; in answer to her silent pleas. Before she could even blink, Edward was right there in front of her, wrapping her in his arms and holding her tightly to his chest; his face buried in her hair.
As if it was second nature, she pulled her hands up behind him and laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart race. That's when Edward started sobbing. "I'm so sorry Bella. I didn't mean to overreact and scare you. I just love you so much and want nothing more than to protect you." He leaned back slightly and used his index finger to lift her chin. When their eyes met, he asked, "Can you ever forgive me, Love?"
He actually felt that he had done something that required her forgiveness when all he had done was love her unconditionally and want to protect her. Pulling herself back in to him and resting her head over his heart again, she whispered, "There's nothing to forgive."
She let him hold her right there, in the middle of her kitchen, in front of their fathers and a relative stranger. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but finally, someone in the room cleared his throat. They both pulled back slightly and saw three pair of eyes looking back at them. Her dad looked slightly embarrassed at the public display of affection, but didn't say anything. She couldn't help the smile that took over her face. When she glanced at Edward, she saw he was smiling too as he met her loving gaze.
Finally, it was Carlisle who spoke into the tension filled silence. "I have to warn you both that the information in this file is going to be difficult to hear." He paused for a brief second, making eye contact with her dad, who nodded discreetly. "We discussed everything in detail before you both got here and decided that this was definitely something you would need to know in order to protect yourselves. Are you ready to hear the truth?"
Edward walked to the fourth chair at the table and pulled it out. He sat down and pulled Bella down onto his lap. He gazed at her so lovingly, asking the question with his eyes. He wanted to know that she was ready to hear this, so she brought her head to the crook of his neck and laid it there. "I'm ready baby," she whispered to him.
He squeezed her waist and kissed her head before finally addressing his father. "Alright dad, we're ready to hear the truth. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
"Together," she whispered so quietly she wasn't even sure if he heard her. "Forever."
…..
When Edward sat at the table, he pulled Bella with him. He knew that he needed her close to him when he heard what Carlisle had to say. With her sitting on his lap, he gazed into her endless brown eyes, silently asking her if she was ready for this.
Knowing immediately that he was asking exactly that, she leaned her head into the curve of his neck and rested it there. He heard her soft whisper, "I'm ready baby."
He knew with Bella by his side he could handle absolutely anything so he squeezed her waist and kissed her head before addressing his father. "Alright dad. We're ready to hear the truth." He paused briefly, glancing down and Bella, and then added, "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
He felt her snuggle in closer to him as he heard her whisper, "Together. Forever."
"Alright," Carlisle began. "As you know, Jake took prints from all over the house. There were four sets found. Bella's and Charlie's of course. Edward, yours were also found – in some very interesting places I might add," he said with a knowing grin on his face. "But there was one other set that was found and identified."
He took a few deep breaths before continuing. "Edward, you need to trust your gut more often," he told him. "The fourth set belonged to James Ellsworth. His prints were in the system because he was arrested in LA County on rape charges before he moved here with his mother, Victoria Ellsworth.
"A week before the case went to trial, the poor girl turned up missing. Because she wasn't there to testify against him, the charges were dropped and he was released into his mother's care. The detectives in LA County suspected he was somehow involved in her disappearance but never found any proof, nor did her body ever turn up."
Carlisle sounded appalled at what he was relaying, but Edward understood now how necessary it was. He squeezed Bella tightly to his chest, knowing that she would always be his primary concern. He would gladly take a bullet for her if it meant saving her.
"So what's going to happen now," he heard himself ask. They had James' prints inside Bella's house. There was no reason they should have been there so it had to be him who trashed everything. Edward wasn't a forensic scientist or anything like that, but they should be able to at least arrest the prick, right?
Carlisle looked at Charlie as if to see how much he thought they should share. After a brief silent exchange, Charlie finally cleared his throat and spoke. "Edward, here's the thing... As soon as Jake got the results and looked into James' background, he sent Seth to the school to arrest him. Principal Denali said that he hasn't been at school since Monday.
"After having no luck at the school, Seth went to the place James' mom is renting. She was there, but she was absolutely no help. In fact, she's in custody awaiting a tox-screen. She was unnecessarily belligerent with Seth, so he brought her in. She appeared to be high on some sort of illegal drug – possibly meth.
"Anyway, Seth called for back-up and Quil and Embry came to help him search the house. There was no sign of James." Charlie looked like he was at his breaking point; like he was afraid he couldn't protect his little girl, and Edward knew exactly how he felt. He unconsciously held Bella tighter to his chest and felt her squeezing him in return.
"Edward, son, this is extremely hard for me to say, and if it was anyone but you I wouldn't even dream of it, but I need you to take care of Bella for me. Watch over her and keep her safe, please? I see how much you love her and I know you would do anything to protect her." Edward was about to answer but Charlie continued talking.
"Until we find James, Carlisle and I have agreed that Bella shouldn't be left alone. From the prior rape charge to the fact that he is obviously one sick fuck because of what he did to Bella's room, I don't want to take any chances. As Chief of Police, my time will be better spent at the station, leading the efforts to find James. I need to know that you're willing to help me with this, Edward. Are you willing to keep our precious girl safe?"
Charlie stared into his eyes with such a penetrating gaze that he was speechless for a few moments. Finally, he looked down at the beautiful woman he held in his arms. She was looking up at him, her doe-like eyes filled with fear, and his decision was made.
"Charlie, you don't even have to ask. I want nothing more than to keep Bella safe and I feel so honored that you would trust me with that task." He looked at Bella and her right hand that rested on his chest. Seeing his ring on her finger solidified his resolve and he pressed forward.
"I love Bella with every fiber of my being and I want nothing more than to protect her for the rest of our lives. Charlie, sir, I have a question I need to ask you. I was planning on waiting until after we graduate to ask, but now I think the sooner the better." He looked into Bella's gorgeous eyes again and saw so much love reflected back at him. She knew what he wanted to ask and she was silently telling him she was ready.
"Sir, I would like your permission to take Bella as my wife. I know we're young, but I can honestly tell you that I have never and will never love another woman for as long as I live. Bella carries my entire heart and soul with her and if anything were to happen to her, I honestly don't think I would survive it." He took a deep, nervous breath, and then went on.
"Charlie, will you give me Bella's hand in marriage – if she'll have me?" he asked, looking directly into his eyes and then down at the love of his life. He smiled at the radiant look on her face. She was positively glowing with excitement.
…..
Charlie listened as Carlisle told Edward and Bella all about James' past in LA: about the rape case and the unfortunate disappearance of the poor girl. He was falling to pieces inside knowing this punk was after his daughter. The thought of losing her was too hard for him to even think about.
He wanted nothing more than to protect his daughter, but as Carlisle and Jake had pointed out earlier, the best way to do that was for him to return to the station and put his efforts into finding James. Carlisle promised that Edward would do everything in his power to take care of Bella; all he had to do was ask.
When Edward asked what was going to happen next, Carlisle looked to Charlie, silently inquiring as to how much they should share about an open investigation. He looked at Carlisle and then thought about Bella. After a few seconds he cleared his throat and told them how there was no sign of James; that he hadn't been to school since Monday and they didn't find him at home either. He told them about how Seth found his mother strung out on drugs and how she was now at the station awaiting a tox-screen.
Finally seeing the love and concern that Edward showed toward Bella, his mind was made up. He had to ask Edward to protect Bella, no matter what the cost. He had no doubt that Edward would give his life to protect her, just as he would himself.
"Edward, son, this is extremely hard for me to say, and if it was anyone but you I wouldn't even dream of it, but I need you to take care of Bella for me. Watch over her and keep her safe, please? I see how much you love her and I know you would do anything to protect her."
He went on, feeling it necessary to let him know exactly what he would be taking on if he agreed. "Until we find James, Carlisle and I have agreed that Bella shouldn't be left alone. From the prior rape charge to the fact that he is obviously one sick fuck because of what he did to Bella's room, I don't want to take any chances. As Chief of Police, my time will be better spent at the station, leading the efforts to find James. I need to know that you're willing to help me with this, Edward. Are you willing to keep our precious girl safe?"
Charlie searched Edward's gaze, trying to understand what he was thinking for several seconds. Finally, Edward looked down at Bella, safely cradled in his arms, and smiled. "Charlie, you don't even have to ask. I want nothing more than to keep Bella safe and I feel so honored that you would trust me with that task." Edward looked at his precious girl again and his eyes rested on the hand she had against his chest.
When he met Charlie's eyes again, there was a resolve there that Charlie hadn't seen before. "I love Bella with every fiber of my being and I want nothing more than to protect her for the rest of our lives. Charlie, sir, I have a question I need to ask you. I was planning on waiting until after we graduate to ask, but now I think the sooner the better."
Slightly confused, Charlie sat there and waited for him to continue. It only took a second before he did. "Sir, I would like your permission to take Bella as my wife. I know we're young, but I can honestly tell you that I have never and will never love another woman for as long as I live. Bella carries my entire heart and soul with her and if anything were to happen to her, I honestly don't think I would survive it."
He sounded nervous but his words were so sure. Charlie believed him when he said he would never love another and that Bella carried his heart and soul. He could see it in his eyes.
"Charlie, will you give me Bella's hand in marriage – if she'll have me?" Edward asked, looking directly into his eyes and then at his daughter. After watching Edward look at her for a minute and the smile that took over his face at what he saw, his own eyes followed down to Bella.
Charlie gazed at his daughter and saw exactly what Edward saw – pure happiness and love – written all over her face as she looked at Edward. He couldn't help but smile at the happiness she had found, even if it meant losing her in a way.
He felt the tears well up in his eyes, but took a deep breath and addressed his daughter. "Bella? Is this what you want?" he asked, already knowing what her answer would be.
She tore her eyes away from Edward to look at him. She looked so happy that Edward had asked him for her hand she could hardly contain herself. With a radiant smile on her face, she answered him with conviction. "Yes, Daddy, more than anything. I love Edward with my whole heart and soul. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I know that he will love and cherish me and that he'll keep me safe. I want to marry Edward and eventually start a family with him."
He couldn't doubt the sincerity in her voice. She was so sure that Edward was the one for her. Who was he to stand in the way?
"You realize that you'll still be expected to finish school, right?" he asked her.
"Of course," she said. "I wouldn't dream of dropping out with less than a year to go. Mom would roll over in her grave. Plus, I think I might even have enough credits to graduate in December. I can look into it on Monday when I go back." She looked at him with hopeful eyes, practically begging him for his permission.
With a resigned sigh, he looked at both of them. "Promise me one thing," he said, speaking directly to Edward.
"Anything, sir," Edward replied without hesitation.
"Don't take my little girl away from me completely," he said. "Welcome to the family, Son."
A/N So, what do you think? Please leave me some feedback and let me know! Thank you to everyone who is following the story! You are all amazing! 3