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Disclaimer: SM owns the Twilight Saga and all its characters.

Chapter 9

Luke's POV

When I got home, Scott was lying on the couch, looking at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

"Scott!" I whispered. He sat and looked at me expectantly. "Dave already knows. Aro called him. Where's Kurt?" I had a pretty good idea of where he was.

"Upstairs, with her." Scott confirmed. "This was not supposed to happen! He couldn't have reacted that way." He said referring to Edward. "He couldn't have done this. Bella should have let Kurt kill him. He deserved it!"

"I never thought he would either but he did. Bella would never let anyone hurt him. In spite of it all she still loves him. Henry will probably call in a few and someone will have to go tell the wolves in the morning."

"I don't mind going."

"You'll have to make sure that they won't attack the Cullens after. Stay there until you're sure they won't do something."

"Why can't we let them go? We should let the wolves kill him. I will tell them that the rest of the family had nothing to do with this but I will not defend him!"

"You know it would crush Bella to wake and find him dead. She will love him forever, even if he doesn't. I also gave them my cell phone number in case someone from the Volturi decides to come."

"You WHAT?"

"I had to."

"No you didn't. Why are you so fucking determined to keep him alive? Bella loves him but he doesn't love or deserve her. Maybe she would get over it faster if he just died."

"I want to kill him as much as you but unlike you and Kurt I am actually thinking about the consequences of my actions. He hurt Bella pretty bad but she still loves him. It was the last thing she said. She will never get over him. Besides, you know that if someone from the Volturi comes they won't kill just him. They would kill the entire family and that would just put Bella through more pain. And they shouldn't pay for Edward's mistakes." He seemed to be deep in thought. Probably trying to define his opinion.

"Maybe you're right." He said.

I headed upstairs. Not one sound was heard in the house.

Alice's POV

Luke had just left the house and I was worried about Bella. Was it possible that I was going to lose my best friend again? After I just got her back? And all because my stupid brother decided to let his anger and insecurity get the best of him!

"Can someone explain me, now, why are you all on Bella's side? How could you? She lied to me! She USED me!" I had never seen Edward so… insane.

"Stop this right now Edward! You have no idea what you're talking about so keep your mouth shut!" I had never been so harsh with him but he was already testing my limits. I couldn't hear him say those things about Bella. I understood that he was suffering but that was his fault. He was suffering because of his assumptions. He should have let Bella explain. It was time to end this madness.

"You think you know what happened but you don't son." Carlisle said calmly.

"Everything that you said tonight was wrong. Every single word that came out of your mouth was terribly wrong and when we tell you what really happened, you'll realize you just made the biggest mistake of your very long life. I'm just afraid it'll be too late." He had to listen to us.

"Really? And how exactly do you plan to do that? There is no other explanation. Bella lied. She made a fool of me and of you!" Damn! This was going to be hard but I swear he will listen to me! Even if I have to ask Jasper and Emmett to hold him while I speak.

"It'll be the last time I'll ask you to stop! You know there is other explanation. Deep inside of you, you know Bella would never do what you think she did. You know she would never lie to you like that! You know she loves you."

"No…"

"You do Edward! Now shut up and listen to what really happened."

"But I know what happened. Bella found out about us and started dating me so that I would turn her. But then she thought that marrying me was too much of a sacrifice and went for the easy way!"

"Shut up and hear Alice, Edward!" Emmett yelled.

"You are an idiot Edward! We found Bella. I found my best friend, my sister, again after all these years of thinking she was dead and you come back and take her away from me! How could you do this? Are you insane? I promised her it would be alright… I told her you would understand. I will never forgive you if something happens to her!" It hurt to say this. Edward was the only one who truly understood me, besides Jasper. But what he had done…

Jasper took no time to embrace me and send me calming waves. It felt so good to be in his arms while he whispered soothing words in my ear. I leaned my head against his muscled chest, letting his scent calm me.

"It's okay darling. Bella is going to be fine. Now, why don't you tell us what really happened to her?" He whispered calmly.

"I can start if you want Alice." Carlisle offered.

"No. I'll do it." I unburied my face from Jasper's chest and took two deep breaths before I started.

"The day we returned, Esme sent Emmett to enroll us on school. When he was coming back, he decided to stop by Bella's old house. When he arrived he told us that there were vampires there and that the female looked like Bella. We finished cleaning up here and Carlisle, Emmett and I went to visit them, hoping to confirm that it was in fact Bella. It was her brother Luke who opened the door but when she came down and saw us standing in the doorway she froze. I immediately realized it was her and hugged her but she ran away. That night she came over with her brothers and told us what happened."

"And what might that be?" He asked. I ignored him and continued.

"Eighty years ago, while you were hunting, Bella decided to go for a walk in the forest. She didn't go very deep into it but it was enough for the Volturi to catch her. They knocked her unconscious and took her to Italy. Bella was kidnapped by the Volturi."

"What? Did you actually bought that crappy explanation. I can't believe this!"

"This is the truth Edward!" Why was he being so difficult about this? Why wouldn't he listen?

"How do you know? How can you know for sure that she didn't lie to you?"

"Because it wouldn't make any sense! Why would she decide to come over after we found her if she had left all those years ago? Just listen Edward!" he seemed to be calming down so I continued.

"As I said, The Volturi took her and Aro changed her. They came back to fake her death. Aro threatened her to make her stay with them. She stayed in Italy for ten years. During that time she was highly trained and Aro got closer to her. Now she sees him as some sort of father. When she left the Volturi, Scott went with her and Luke and Kurt joined them soon after."

"If that is the truth…" he still didn't believe it! But at least he was considering it, that's something already. "Why didn't she come back right after she left the Volturi?" I knew he was going to ask this.

"Especially because of you." Esme said.

"Me? What did I do?" He asked surprised.

"Nothing Edward. She didn't come back because she was afraid Aro would regret letting her leave and came looking for her. She knew how much that would hurt you and she didn't want you to suffer." I explained.

"Guess what? I still suffered! I still hurt! It still does!" He admitted, pain filling his voice. "We could have fought together. I would have never let them take her again." He whispered.

"They are too strong. The Volturi are more powerful now than ever. She knew we would never been able to fight them off and she didn't want to risk our lives." I reasoned. He had to understand.

"I don't know if I can believe it, Alice."

"You have to, Edward! Besides Bella did everything she could to minor our suffering and ended up suffering even more herself."

"How can you say that?"

"Because we know Bella used her power on us." He sent me a confused glance.

"How so, darling?" Jasper asked, pulling me closer to him, like if he was afraid I would disappear. Maybe it had been Bella's story…

Talking about this remind me of how much she must have suffered. Memories of Luke's pained eyes filled my mind and Edward looked at me questioningly.

"She absorbed our pain and guilt. Not all, of course, but as much as she could. We would have suffered a lot more if it wasn't for her. Though… Bella's gift is not perfect therefore it has some limitations. Actually it's more like consequences…"

"And…" Jasper urged.

"When Bella has nothing to do with the situation and she's using her gift on strangers, the effects are almost null. But when she's involved in the situation… we're not sure of this because neither Bella nor her brothers talked about it, it's just a theory… we think that she absorbs the feelings literally." I concluded. "Which is probably the reason why she didn't tell us. Luke told me that she didn't want us to feel guilty because it had been her choice."

"This means that she felt our suffering like if it was hers?" Jasper asked. "All of us?" I nodded. "No wonder she had said she was used to be in so much pain." He commented.

"Do you believe now?" I asked Edward. How could he be so blind? How much would he have to hurt her, to hurt himself until he realizes he's wrong?

"I don't know." He whispered looking at the floor.

"How can you still not know?" I was tired of this! "Stop Edward! Stop fighting this! You know this is not just some story Bella invented. You know this is the truth! You just don't want to accept it because you would have to admit that you messed up!" I had gotten up from the couch and was standing in front of him. "She's not important just to you, you know? She's my best friend, my sister, and the only reason why she's not here laughing and catching up with us is you! Every word you spoke tonight killed her a bit more. This is your fault and you better fix it! I want Bella here again!" I demanded, sinking in the floor crying tearlessly and sobbing. I wasn't trying to hurt him or make him feel guilty, though he should. I just wanted him to realize that he was wrong and started thinking of something to bring Bella back.

I stayed on the ground until I felt two strong arms wrapping around my small figure and lift me off the ground. I knew it was Jasper. God! I needed him so much right now! He carried me bridal style up the stairs whispering in my ear, over and over again.

"Ssshh! Everything is going to be fine Ali. Edward will bring Bella back. Don't worry."

Edward's POV (Sorry- Daughtry)

I stared as Jasper carried a sobbing and very nervous Alice up the stairs. I don't think I ever saw her like that. What hurt the most was that as her words sank I realized she was right. So right!

What I've done... I couldn't... I couldn't have done what I did? What if she doesn't wake up? The thought terrified me.

"Alice is right, Edward! You fucked up and you better find a way to fix it. Bella did not deserve what you did." Emmett said leaving the room with Rosalie following closely after giving me a pointed glare. I was surprised with her; her relationship with Bella had never been very easy.

I remained seated on my side of the couch, with my head on my hands and my elbows on my knees. Why hadn't I let her explain? Why had I jumped to conclusions? If I hadn't been so foolish I could be holding her in my arms right now, marveling in her scent. As I thought about it my arms burned as if longing for her sweet presence and my lips tingled asking for the soft caress of hers. What the hell got into me? How could I have done this?

I should die! Why didn't she let her brother kill me? I deserved it! How am I supposed to live knowing what I had done?

I had waved off and downplayed her love; I accused her of betraying and using me... In how many more ways could I have offended her? How am I supposed to fix this? She won't ever even want to hear of me again after this! If she recovers the state I put her in. Carlisle too left the room. Only Esme remained.

"Edward, son..." She started sitting beside me and putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. I wasn't the one who should be comforted! I didn't deserve it.

"Don't say anything, Esme. I just... I need..." What did I need? I needed Bella! Just like I had during the last eighty years. She was the only thing I needed and now, the only one I can't have. And it's all my fault!

"Right now you need to listen to me, Edward!" She whispered softly.

"It's not worth it! It won't change anything. I've hurt her, offended her and put her in a coma like state that she might never recover from. The person that I love the most, the one that means the world and beyond to me is a coma and may never wake up so nothing of what anyone has to say to me matters. I'll never be able to fix this! I'll never get her back! And that's eating me inside because there is no way that I'll be able to live knowing that I did this to her and I can't take it back now."

"Stop Edward! Not everything is lost yet. Bella will wake up! She will come back to us! She's strong. So much stronger than this."

"How can you know? You heard Aro, her brothers... not even Alice can see it!"

"Bella is my daughter in every single aspect but blood and I have a feeling she will pull through this. A mother's heart is never wrong and mine is telling me that Bella is going to recover. I know that she's going to come back for us." There was so much confidence in her voice that anyone would have believed and I wanted so badly to hold on to that thought.

"Even if she does, Esme. What can I do? She won't even want to hear my name after all this."

"You'll apologize..."

"Apologize?" I asked in disbelief. "Sorry is such a small word..."

"But its meaning is so powerful when said sincerely, Edward."

"Sorry won't be enough! A thousand sorry's wouldn't be enough. Nothing will ever be enough to apologize for what I did Esme!"

"Bella loves you, Edward! That will never change! What you feel for each other is so much stronger than words. Bella stayed away all this time to keep us safe. To keep you safe, because she loves us, you more than anyone else. She was just trying to protect us."

"I tried to do that too once, remember? I thought we had all agreed it wasn't a good idea. Bella more than anyone else."

"It was different this time, Edward!"

"How so?"

"You left because you wanted to protect her from yourself. You doubted yourself to be able to protect her from our world, to be able not to hurt her. Bella was trying to protect us from the Volturi. She knew that if she had come back and they wanted her again we wouldn't let them take her without a fight and she knew we wouldn't stand a chance if that happened."

"But when there wasn't danger anymore... she didn't come back..."

"She was afraid, Edward. She was afraid you wouldn't want her because she was a vampire. She was afraid of not being good enough for you. And that was always the biggest problem in your relationship: your insecurities. You didn't trust yourselves to be good enough for the other. The fact that you were a vampire and she was human just helped to foment you insecurities. You know how much you love her and she knows how much she loves you but none of you actually realizes how much you love each other. You still doubt the other's feelings. You can't let anything get in the way of your feelings. What you share is so beautiful, so pure."

"It doesn't matter now, Esme. Even if she wakes I'll never be able to see her again. And if I could there is no way I could ever apologize for all that I've said."

"Don't say that, Edward. You are meant to be. You've already been through so much. You can't give up now, son. I know that it was difficult for you to understand why she would stay away but if you tried to put yourself in her shoes... If the Volturi had taken you and threatened Bella and us to force you to stay with them, would you've come back right away? If you knew that they may regret it and come back for you, would you have returned and risk causing Bella pain when they took you back?"

I could understand it now, to an extent. I knew that if coming back could cause Bella any kind of pain, I would have stayed away. I would never risk hurting her so much, nor would I risk her life. Because I knew that if they came back for me she would have fought back, just like I would have done for her.

"Do you see it now? Can you understand why she stayed away? She didn't want to hurt you, to hurt us more. She does love you. More than anything."

"None of this matter anyway. I've ruined all my chances."

"You don't believe she's going to wake up? Do you have so little faith in her? Or is it you that you don't trust to get her back?"

"It's me, Esme. It's always me. I don't deserve her. What I've done can't be forgiven. And her brothers..."

"Bella loves you! And you deserve her. You are mates. You are meant to be with each other. The bond you share is too strong to be broken by words or other people. Her brothers will never be able to destroy your feelings for each other. They can't break the bond that unites you! They won't be the reason for you to be separated."

"But..."

"Hear me out, Edward! You and Bella will never stop loving each other. You'll never get over it. Being away from each other will only bring misery and suffering to both of you. You have to bring her back to our family. She's important to everyone. Our family is not complete without her and I'm not going to spend forever watching you suffering and wondering what could have been. You deserve to be happy!"

"But how am I supposed to get her back? To say I'm sorry won't be enough..." I don't know how many times I had said this sentence during our talk.

"When it comes to it, you'll only have to show her how much you love her, how much you care about her and how you can't live without her. But before you do that you'll have to set your insecurities aside. You need to trust her love for you and realize that you are meant to be together. Because you are."

Esme was right. The only thing that really affected my relationship with Bella was the fact that neither of us believed to be good enough for the other. I had been blind for too long. I wouldn't give up. I'd do everything in my power to get Bella back and bring her to the family again.

This situation was still my fault and I would carry this weight for as long as I live and if, by any chance, Bella forgave me, I would spend forever trying to make it up to her.

Lost in my thoughts and resolutions as I was, I hadn't noticed that Esme had gotten up until the couch shifted again when she sat back down. I looked up at her and noticed she had something in her closed hand. She reached for one of mine and opened it, placing what she was holding in my palm. I stared at it, only to find the engagement ring and the charm I had once given to Bella. I could feel them like if they suddenly weighed a hundred pounds as guilt washed over me once again. I simply stared at the two small objects. It felt so wrong to have them in my hands.

"I think she never took them out during all these years, you know?" Esme said softly. I tore my eyes from my hand and met her gaze. "I saw in her eyes how difficult it was for her to take them out and her brothers were shocked, to say the least." She explained as I focused on the two objects again.

"She was wrong. These are not mine." I said referring the two objects. "They always belonged to her. It feels so wrong to hold them in my hand..." I tried to give them back to Esme but she refused to take them. "Please Esme, take them and give them back to her whenever you can." I begged. She shook her head.

"No. You keep them until you can give them back to her. You will be the one to place that ring on her finger and give her your heart again."

"I never got my heart back. It has always been hers. It still is and it will be for the rest of the eternity, no matter how this mess turns out. My heart will be forever hers."

"Just like hers is yours." Esme whispered placing a hand over the place where my unbeating heart was. "Don't do anything reckless, son. Bella loves you. You just have to prove it once she wakes."

"You're disapointed with me?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"I understand that you too are afraid and you can't help but over react sometimes. I won't lie and say that I'm not disappointed with you for what you've done but I know you love Bella and you'll do anything to get her back to us. I also know that you're feeling remorseful and that you regret what you did." She smiled softly and I felt comforted.

"I don't know what to do. I feel so lost!" I cried. Bella was everything to me I can't lose her.

"I'll always be here to help you as the rest of the family. Just believe in yourself and in your love for Bella. And hers for you. Your love will break all the barriers and surpass all the obstacles, as long as you believe." She smiled and I got up and headed to my room, with Bella's ring and charm still on my hand. I could not stand to be in the living room anymore. Memories of what had happened just a few minutes ago haunted me and even after my conversation with Esme, I needed some time to wallow in pain, guilt and regret, just like I deserved, while I found a way to make things right again. To get my sweet and precious Bella back to my arms, where I would undoubtedly keep her forever.

So what did you think? Did you liked Esme and Edward's moment? I thought it would be sweet some mother and son time. We can't forget that even though Edward has been an idiot he's suffering because of this too so I thought that it would be good if Esme was the one to open his eyes and comfort him a bit. Tell me what you think. I'll try to update soon. Don't forget to REVIEW. I'm going to bed now. It's already so late. I will probably fall asleep during classes tomorrow. LOL HUgs