CHAPTER 9

-:- To Err is Human, To Forgive Divine -:-

2006 -:- Past Memories

All of my senses were heightened and I was on the edge of panic while I wandered from room to room looking for clues, anything that would give me something as to the whereabouts of Bella or Victoria. I wasn't sure what else to do, I was at a complete loss as to where to start. I could stay and wait to see if they came home, but only at the risk of losing Victoria's trail. If I left, what would happen if Bella came home and I wasn't here? I would be leaving her unprotected yet again. I needed to be in two places at once, three actually, if I included Alice into the mix.

Carlisle was going to get in touch with the realtor, and I needed to get to the lawyer, although it was too late to contact either of them, so we would have to wait until tomorrow. I needed to feel productive, I was tired of waiting. It seemed like that was all I had been doing these last four days. I convinced myself that the best thing I could do was track Victoria and this other vampire who was with her. I wasn't a good tracker by any means, not like James was, but I had learned enough in the last year that would get me where I needed to be.

Strangely, their scents were concentrated in Bella's room I didn't really smell them anywhere else. They entered from her window and must have left that way as well, so that's where I started.

The night air had cooled significantly since I had first arrived in Phoenix, and even though there was a slight breeze, I could still make out Victoria's scent. I took off, following their direction, which looked as though I would be heading toward the heart of the city.

I continued to track them as best I could and I found it was fairly easy considering the numerous smells swirling around in the city air. It seemed as though she was on a direct path, never swaying from her intended direction. It was an hour or so later that I lost their scent, or it just happened to stop at a building close to the city centre. All trace of her and her partner had just disappeared. The street sign seemed vaguely familiar to me as I made my way to the front door of the building. It was much too late for anyone to be around, but I peered through the glass doors to the lobby anyway, noticing the plaque just inside the door. 'Locke and Associates.' Locke. Locke. My eyes widened in surprise. Robert Locke was the name of Renee's lawyer. The realization hit me as though I had slammed into a brick wall. Had she found them using the same means I had planned to? What did this mean? Or maybe she hadn't found them yet. Either way, I needed to get inside the building and find this Mr. Locke.

I managed to scale up the side of the building, to the rooftop, and found the access door to the building. It was easy enough to rip the door from its hinges, and I stopped to listen for a second, hoping there wasn't an alarm I may have triggered. Luck was on my side for once and the building remained silent. I slipped inside making my way down the concrete stairwell to the fourth floor where Locke and Associates' office was located. Opening the steel door, my senses were immediately assaulted with the rich coppery scent of blood. Alarmed, I fought back all of the urges my body was struggling against, and I had to hold my breath to continue inside. Not Bella's blood. I knew her blood, and this was not it. I said a silent 'thank you' to those 'powers above' again that were finally working on my side tonight.

Heading down the hallway to the door of the lawyer's office, my entire body was on edge and extremely tense knowing full well what I could expect. I could only assume the office at the end of the hall contained the body of the deceased Mr. Locke. Still holding my breath, I opened the door slowly and prepared myself for what lay on the other side. But nothing I could have done would have prepared me for the scene that unfolded before my eyes.

The office was turned upside down. Shelves; tables; chairs and books all strewn across the room. Filing cabinets had been toppled over and pictures askew on all the walls. It looked as if a bomb had gone off in here, but that wasn't the shocking part, it was the amount of blood that covered the small space that sent my body aflame. I stood in the middle of the room turning slowly, eyeing it up, taking it all in while fighting my inner demon.

I struggled to gain control of what I knew should have repulsed me, but my body was rebelling and calling me to the carnage. Closing my eyes, careful not to take a breath knowing the demon would overpower my will if I did, I stood in the middle of the room ashamed, disgusted with myself. How could I revel in the slaughter of an innocent man? I couldn't give in, not now, not when I was so close. I opened my eyes, turning back toward the door, and as my eyes locked on the back wall, I froze. Scrawled in crude handwriting in blood was one word:

EDWARD

My breath faltered as I gasped falling to my knees, and the smell of blood assaulted every fiber of my being. My hands dug into the carpet while I fought desperately to control the demon, and bring back the human side of me. The fresh flow of venom filled my mouth, and my throat burned from thirst. I needed to gain control. I needed to focus. She was taunting me, playing with me, trying to bring out the monster in me. She must have known I would come here. But how was that possible? Unless , she had someone watching me.

The blood was fairly fresh, it must have happened a few hours earlier, after office hours. I placed the palms of my hands on my eyes, trying to contain my anger, while trying not to take in any of the tainted air around me. I could do this , I had to do this. Raising myself slowly from my knees, I carefully moved around the room, trying not to disturb anything. As I looked for more clues, I happened to stumble across the body of the lawyer or what was left of him. She had torn him limb from limb, and I found it odd that she had not drained him. For some reason, she had restrained herself from drinking his blood. She wanted me to see the violence of her act, the desecration of his body. It was a warning to me, I was sure of it. The only thing it did was fuel my rage. I would find her, and I would kill her. There was no doubt, and there would be no hesitation. Victoria deserved to die.

I spent the next hour or so searching the files of Mr. Locke for anything else that could possibly lead me to the whereabouts of Renee and Phil, and Bella. There wasn't anything else I could go on, really. I had no other leads to follow, and I knew I wasn't getting anywhere. And then it suddenly dawned on me, the realtor. I cursed inwardly that I didn't think of this sooner. How could I have been so stupid? I had been so caught up with my hatred that I was distracted and hadn't been thinking clearly. Victoria was playing me and I was falling into her trap. I needed to distance myself from this, from Bella, if I was going to find her. I had to get to the realtor, and hopefully before Victoria. I left the room as is, knowing there was nothing I could do to change what had happened. The police wouldn't have any leads, and the name 'Edward' would mean nothing to them or Locke. Besides, it didn't matter, in less than thirty-six hours this would all be gone.

I wasn't sure if I should head to the office of the realtor or her home. I opted for her home with the idea that most agents didn't work in the office very often, and she probably would have headed home after her work day. I followed the directions Carlisle had given me earlier, tracing my steps back toward Scottsdale, to the home of the woman whose life was now in danger because of me. Carlisle had sent a text message telling me he hadn't been able to reach the woman, which wasn't a good sign. I never called him back, I just wasn't sure what I could tell him. My hope of finding Bella alive was fading and my family didn't need to share this burden, they had enough to worry about. If I failed, I needed to know they were together and safe.

If, by some chance, I couldn't find her … I couldn't finish that thought. There was nothing left for me if I didn't find her. I would not exist in a world without her, especially a world as disturbing as the one we were all about to face. I would find her, or die trying.

I listened intently outside the house of the agent, but it was silent—no beating hearts—which didn't really confirm anything. I found an unlocked window and easily made my way inside. No blood. I breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't here, which didn't really bode well for me, since it was almost early morning and she should by all means be at home. I had a quick look around the house just to confirm my suspicions before heading outside. Dawn was breaking and since I was so close to Bella's house, I decided to head back there to figure out my game plan, and to see if there was any sign they had returned. If the realtor was not at home, more than likely Victoria had already gotten to her, and there was nothing I could do for her.

I let myself into the empty house, making my way back up to Bella's room. The smell of her seemed to calm me a little, even though the scent of Victoria counteracted it and set my nerves on edge. I could not believe this was happening. It really was inconceivable. Me, racing to save a human because the end of the world was upon us all, only to be thwarted by a psychotic vampire hell-bent on revenge. It was a bit ludicrous really. Maybe God was really mocking me, because it seemed everything was fated against us, right from the first day Bella entered my life. Maybe I wasn't fated to love a human.

I couldn't give up now. The clues were here, I just needed to dig deeper. Bella had been here, recently, with Renee and Phil, this much I knew. Where could they have possibly gone? My only two leads were dead, or possibly dead. I needed to find the realtor, and hopefully alive. I was re-tracing my tracks in the house, checking to make sure I hadn't missed anything, desperately looking for something, anything. I sat on the edge of the aged, sectional sofa staring at the large fireplace running through everything in my mind. I was lost in thought, lost in my own reverie when I heard a far off buzzing sound. I frantically searched my pockets for my cell phone which was vibrating incessantly.

"Carlisle." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I managed to track down the real estate agent—she's been out of town." I said a silent prayer as I processed his words. "She's heading to her office this morning, and has agreed to meet you, first thing. She thinks you are acting on my behalf and are prepared to make a substantial offer on the house. I also mentioned you wanted to talk with the owners. She said she would see what she could do, but the owners were living in Baltimore. She said she would make some calls. You have the address to the office?"

"Yes. Carlisle, thank you." I didn't feel the need to share what I had found at the lawyer's office and Victoria's message to me. He had enough on his mind without adding that to it. I started to pace nervously and eventually made my way back up to Bella's bedroom, hoping it would calm me a little.

"Edward, is everything okay? Has something happened you aren't telling me?" His voice was rife with worry.

"No, everything's fine. I'm just on edge, it's been a taxing evening."

"I'm sure it has."

"How's Alice?"

"Nothing's changed …" His voice trailed off, and now I could tell he was keeping something from me.

"Please don't keep things from me, what is it?"

"It's just, this is taking quite a toll on Jasper. I'm not sure how much more he can take, and I don't know what will happen once the news breaks. Panic is going to take over, and he…"

With a deep breath, and a huge sigh, I sat on the edge of Bella's bed. I had never really thought about the repercussions this would have on Jasper.

"Can we isolate him? Maybe if we get him away from the majority of the population?"

"Yes, this is what we've been thinking. Once we're together, all of us, we'll figure this all out. Edward, don't worry about us, just come back to us as fast as you can."

Both of us were silent for a moment, before I spoke.

"Okay. I'll let you know what the woman has to say." My voice was a little defeated, but I couldn't help it. Everything seemed to be crashing down around us all.

"Don't give up, Edward." Were his last words before I ended the call.

I gathered what little energy I had left, and lifted myself up from Bella's bed. Grabbing the housecoat hanging on the backside of the door, I took one last deep breath, inhaling all I could of her scent. I prayed to anyone who was listening that this would not be the last time I would smell the sweetness of freesias and subtle hints of strawberries which were ingrained in my very being. The little spark of hope was still alive.

.

I DROVE THE PORSCHE downtown, because I couldn't exactly move freely in the direct sunlight anymore. It was going to be difficult to make my way to the office as it was without drawing attention, but I still had over an hour until my meeting, so I could take my time. I ditched the car as close as I could to the location of the office. I was fairly certain I wasn't going to need it, and besides, I was sure that car wouldn't go unnoticed for much longer. I was slinking along the shadows of the alleys and hugging the walls of the buildings, trying to get closer to the office, when I heard the sound of sirens making their way closer to my location. They couldn't have spotted the car already, could they? While I drew closer to my target, I realized the sirens were headed for the same location I was.

My stomach sank as I watched a police cruiser and a coroner's van pull up in front of the building where two police cruisers were already situated. I was too late. I cursed myself and my timing, and the fact that I hadn't come here immediately. How could I have been so stupid? Standing in the shadows across the street, I watched in horror, listening to the officers describe in detail the scene they had witnessed upstairs. It was almost identical to what was in Locke's office. The room in complete disarray, the body massacred, everything was exactly the same, except for the one word smeared on the wall in blood. An 'x' was stroked through it, but I could still make out the word in the mind of the officer:

—BELLA—

Every cell in my body screamed in outrage. My breaths became ragged and short while my nostrils flared trying to get a grip on my anger. I placed my hands against the brick wall of the building, hanging my head trying to think of my next move , and then, I heard it. It was a cackle of sorts. A high pitched laugh, made of pure evil. I looked up to where the sound was coming from and I saw her in the shadows of the alley across the street from where I was hiding. I could see a bit of her red, flaming hair as it caught slivers of the sunlight. It fluttered in the breeze and the wind carried her scent and my body snapped to attention. Our eyes met and hers lit up as the corners of her mouth turned up into a devilish grin.

Edward. I could see her laughing, shaking her head. Don't you like my gifts? I thought they were very fitting. One for each of you.

I took a step from the shadow of the building and stopped, realizing I was trapped by the brilliant sunlight and I couldn't go after her without risking a huge scene. The streets were filled with dozens of people going about their day, trying to get to work at this early hour.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. It looks like you're stuck in the shadows, such a pity isn't it?

She knew about my talent, her lips weren't moving, but I could still hear her. How did she know?

I know you can hear me, how convenient this little talent of yours. Carlisle is quite the collector of gifted vampires. She laughed again. I'm sorry, but I'll have to be leaving you. As you can see, it's been a busy morning. Before I go, I just wanted to share something with you. She cackled again, and the sound of it sent shivers through my body. I fought the urge to go after her. It was taking everything in my power to keep myself glued to the wall of the building and its shadows.

I found her. It was all too easy. This… She gestured toward the building where the officers were coming out of. And Mr. Locke, were all just a show for you. A game, if you will. You didn't know where she was, but I did.

At first, I was shocked you left her all alone. I guess she didn't mean as much to you as I thought. She did try and tell me that, but of course I didn't believe her. And then she just gave up, like she wanted me to kill her, like she welcomed it. Perhaps she knew it was inevitable, well that, and she was staring at her parents lying on the floor after I snapped their necks. An eye for an eye, Edward.

I saw an image of wood paneled walls, a little too dark and out of date and the floors were covered in a dark patterned carpet. To the right was a large window and on the other side a large, tan fireplace. It was Bella's house here in Phoenix. I saw the aged sectional sofa where Bella sat, the same sofa I had sat on only hours ago. She was staring with wide eyes, a little scared and sad. I briefly caught a glimpse in the mirror above the couch … red hair. I was witnessing this through Victoria's eyes.

That's right. I found her.

The vision swept toward the entrance of the kitchen where I saw the bodies of Phil and Renee lying on the floor, motionless, lifeless, necks at an unnatural angle.

The rage started to boil inside of me as I continued to see the vision, horrified and helpless all at once. Through Victoria's eyes, I watched as she stalked slowly toward Bella and crouched in front of her. She gripped her hair wrenching her head back, exposing her neck and I couldn't help but notice it was too pale—ghostly almost, not the cream and roses I was used to. This is what Alice must have meant. Bella was pale, but her skin was like silk over stretched glass, frighteningly breakable. She looked too vulnerable for this world. Bella refused to cry out.

She whispered two words. "Do it."

She begged me, Edward! She begged to die. How does that feel? She told me you didn't love her anymore, that her death would mean nothing to you. What a pity she died thinking that. When it's so obvious you do. This is more divine than I thought it would ever be. You'll spend eternity reliving the notion that your precious Bella died thinking you didn't care!

A snarl ripped from my lips and the next thing I knew my body was racing across the street, out of the cover of the shadows, out into the revealing sunlight as I leapt across traffic, running across the roofs of cars, carelessly denting them as I jumped from one to the next. I was moving too fast for the human eye, but I knew people could see the destruction I was causing. My only focus was the red-headed devil on the other side of the street. I could tell from the look on her face that she was taken by surprise by my bold move. She thought she was safe from me, that I would never chance the risk of exposure. But she didn't know what I knew, none of this would matter by tomorrow. Whatever anyone witnessed today, it didn't matter.

It happened in a matter seconds, our bodies collided and we slammed into the concrete wall of the building next to her. Crushing the stone and causing irreparable damage that was just not possible for a mere mortal.

"You were never to touch her!" I screamed at her, my rage bubbling over. The brief look in her eyes was one of terror, before it changed as the realization of what just happened dawned on her. She wasn't inexperienced, she was lethal, and instantly she resisted, and her body forced me backward, crashing into the building on the other side of the alley. Bricks and dust fell around us as each of us struggled to gain control over the other.

"Her blood was so tasty," she snarled at me, our faces inches from one another. "But you already knew that, didn't you?" Our strengths were evenly matched as we tried to resist the others' movements. Our eyes locked in hatred and I tried to pivot to avoid her teeth but with the brick wall to my back, I had nowhere to move.

"Why do you resist what you truly are?" She laughed maniacally. Her teeth glinted, sharp and keen. "Admit it, you hungered for the blood of the lawyer." She leaned in closer, and ran her tongue up the length of my cheek.

Don't deny it.

With the shift of her head I managed to get some leverage, and pushed her body far enough away from me, spinning and kicking out, aiming high enough to hit her in the belly to drive her back. She stumbled backward, and I jumped on top of her, slamming her head into the asphalt.

"I'll rip your throat out," I growled, my lips peeled back as I lunged for her.

I couldn't concentrate on her thoughts. Rage and torment clouded my mind, it was difficult trying to anticipate her moves. She moved faster than I expected and rolled us over, and was suddenly on top of me.

"I was going to let you live … I wanted you to spend the rest of your days in misery. Feeling the same loss I do. But I see it's not going to be possible." Her red eyes gleamed as her mouth curled into a smile and her hands went to my neck. I needed to focus, and force my anguish aside. I pushed with everything that I had, and vaulted up, throwing her away from me.

"Where is she?" I yelled, my chest heaving with all the pent up rage building inside of me.

Her shrill laugh reverberated down my spine.

"You should have just killed her if you were going to cast her aside like that. I did her a favor. She wanted to die." The image in her head flashed back to Bella on the sofa, and Victoria leaned in closer to Bella's neck and her eyes fluttered close, waiting, willingly. She didn't move or cry out as Victoria sunk her teeth into her pale, soft flesh and her sweet blood flooded her mouth, taking all that was mine.

"NO!"

I leapt at her just as she did the same and we met violently in midair. I slammed my fist into her face, the sound of lightning echoed off the walls of the alley. A burning sensation erupted across my knuckles as I felt her teeth slice my flesh. We landed in a tangled heap, and the ground beneath us cracked under our weight.

"Where is she? Where is her body?" I demanded of her. I picked up a piece of the broken asphalt and slammed it into the side of her head, but it only crumbled from the hardness of her marble skin.

"You'll never see her again. I took her just as you took James from me. She's gone," she hissed.

We moved so fast, that I was sure we were no more than a blur to the gathered on-lookers. Our bodies twisted and turned, slamming into the walls and each other, creating nothing but a giant mess of destruction as we continued to battle. Revenge fuelled us both, but pain and anger over-powered my desire for revenge and it brought the demon out in me. Her screams rang out as she charged me one last time, her teeth bared reading to strike at my throat. But I was focused now, and I was faster. I lunged at her just at the last second, and held her in a grip so deadly she couldn't break free.

Her eyes were wild and terror-filled, and images of her life flashed before my eyes. All the innocent people she had killed and terrorized over the years. Vampires I didn't recognize, a tall muscular blond boy and a man with long sandy hair. Her last thoughts were of Laurent, and finally, James, their time spent together as one.

And then, echoing Bella's last words, she whispered, "Do it."

With one effortless, merciless movement, I snapped Victoria's head clean from her torso. A feral scream tore through my body as I claimed my victory. Everything was closing in around me. I couldn't breathe, even though I knew I didn't need to, but my mind and my body would not connect. My breaths were ragged and fast, my chest pumping up and down trying to get the oxygen into my lungs. The more I tried to tell myself I didn't need it, the more my body told me otherwise. My breaths were coming out in hysterical sobs as I collapsed to my knees still holding the fiery-headed mass in my hands. My fingers tangled themselves in the red and I crushed them together as my anger and frustration and sorrow all fled my body.

Edward, I heard a soft feminine voice calling my name.

I could hear the whispers and thoughts all around as the on-lookers were stunned at the inexplicable scene they had just witnessed. And I didn't care. The only synapses that were firing in my brain were repeating one thing over and over, "Bella. Bella. Bella…" My ragged breaths continued to the pulsing of her name, and it was coming too fast for me to stop. All I could hear was an unexpected sound that seemed to match my breaths, and I slowly comprehended the sound was me; my breaths had turned to strangled cries. And I didn't. She was gone , taken from me.

Edward. Can you hear me?

2016 -:- Present Day

"Edward. Can you hear me?"

A deep masculine voice overpowered the feminine one I had been reliving.

"Edward." I felt a hand gently shaking my knee, as I realized I was in Carlisle's den with Charlie, and not back in Phoenix.

"How do you know? Did you see them?"

I was looking down at my right hand; my wrist was gripped tightly within my left hand. Flexing my fist, the faint, white line of the scar stretched across my knuckles, forever reminding me of that day.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, but they died in a car crash the day before the bombs. They were caught up in the pandemonium and a woman collided with them head on, they were killed instantly." I saw the expression on his face drop, as my words sunk in. I couldn't tell him the truth—that they suffered at the hands of a vampire who had tortured them and inflicted horrific pain on them—that was my sorrow to bear, not his.

He was finding it difficult to swallow this information. I could see the turmoil on his face. He took a deep breath trying to control his emotions.

"I guess it's for the best. At least they didn't have to go through it all. They didn't have to live through this." He was quiet for a moment and his thoughts briefly flashed to the first year after everything had happened and all the people he couldn't save.

"I sent word with every traveler that came our way, but they were few and far between. Every day for the first year, I woke up thinking that today was the day I would go and look for them. I had no idea where to start, so I was always waiting, hoping someone would bring something, some news. But there was always so much to do, so many people to help and before I knew it, a year had gone by, and then another. There was no word from anyone, any of our loved ones from other parts of the country, and we were beginning to think we were the only ones who survived, that only the far north where we were, survived. You can't imagine how terrifying the idea of that was.

"There wasn't a day that went by I didn't think of them," he finished quietly.

"Charlie, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I struggled to maintain control. "We should have gotten word to you. I should have tried to come back."

"After how I treated you and your family? Edward, I place no blame on you. You were trying to save her, save us all, and I was too stubborn to see that." We both were too caught up in our grief to really hear what the other was saying. Each of us holding on to the blame.

He cleared his throat, and his voice was thick as he spoke.

"It's nice to have some closure. To know they're not suffering out there somewhere. You've brought me more peace than you'll ever know. Thank you." He smiled half-heartedly, and his thoughts were of Bella as a little girl. I recognized the image in his head, it was one of the pictures that used to be on his mantle. She was standing on a dock, in some overalls and red rubber boots, with her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She was holding a fish in both her outstretched hands, and was beaming a toothless grin at the camera.

I chuckled at the image, and Charlie laughed along with me knowing why I was amused.

"She hated that picture, and constantly asked me to take it down. I never did though. Those two weeks in the summer when she came to visit were the best two weeks of my year. I knew she hated coming to Forks, even though she never would've said it. She thought I didn't understand, but I did. So when Renee suggested California, of course I agreed. That's why it was such a surprise when she made the decision to move back. But that was Bella, always trying to make everyone else happy." He chuckled while he remembered picking her up from the airport almost eleven years ago and the awkward car ride back to the house. Neither of them were much for conversation.

"Charlie, she loved you more than you can possibly know. She was always so worried about you." My guilt was rearing its ugly head again. I took Bella away from her father. "I'm sorry, Charlie," I whispered.

"Son, from what your father tells me, you and I have wallowed in enough guilt about what happened. I'm not going to tell you to stop, because I know that's impossible. What we can do is honor them a little and start to re-live our lives. I've been trying, believe me. Sue, Seth and Leah have been more than I could ever have hoped for. But I haven't really been fair to them either. We have a tradition, a ceremony if you will, for the ones we've lost. I've never been able to properly say goodbye to Bella and her mom, thinking that they may be out there somewhere."

A look of reluctance must have crossed my face, because Charlie sensed my alarm.

"Carlisle told me you've never had a chance to fully grieve, and neither have I. I think it's time, Edward, for both of us."

I shook my head. "I can't do that, Charlie. I'm not ready."

"Okay, I can understand that, whenever you're ready. I can wait."

I didn't know how to break it to him, but I would never be ready. I didn't want to have that conversation with him right now, so I just nodded my head instead. Charlie could have his 'ceremony' and honor Bella's death, but I definitely wouldn't be there.

"Thank you again, Edward. I can't tell you how much this means to me, to be able to talk with you after all these years. I never thought I would get the chance to apologize to you and your family. And when I heard the name 'Emmett' over the radio, I didn't want to get my hopes up. You get used to disappointment real fast that way."

It was comforting talking to Charlie, and I said as much to him. In the past, we were both so fiercely protective of Bella that we never could come to any common ground. And now, through Bella's death, we finally could. The irony was definitely a bittersweet moment.

We made our way back out to the living room, and the family, along with Seth, were in what sounded like a heated debate.

"So say we all," Emmett bellowed.

"Emmett…" Rosalie said exhaustively. "I told you, enough with that sci-fi crap. No one cares."

"What do you mean? Do you realize I'll never know who was a cylon and who wasn't? It'll now become one of the great mysteries of life. And don't even get me started on 'Lost.'"

"This is serious. Can you be serious for once?" Rosalie scolded Emmett.

Seth was amused at the two of them bickering, and amazed that Rosalie had that much power over him. He thought he would diffuse the situation and pipe in.

"I miss Big Mac's. Or Coca-Cola. Oh, wait, real chocolate!"

"Oh, no way, dude! Definitely not something I miss." Emmett laughed at his own joke.

"Okay, boys, that's enough." Carlisle had noticed us standing in the doorway, and was trying to change the subject to spare us from this conversation. "Let's talk about something else."

"I'm not allowed to talk about what I miss, but Esme and Jasper can talk about the last Harry Potter book all they want. Don't tell me, Jasper, the thought hasn't crossed your mind to swim to England and find Rowling and ask her who bites it in the last book. Come on, admit it, you want to know if Harry dies." He wiggled his eyebrows at Jasper nodding his head.

"Well, it never did cross Jasper's mind, until now," I volunteered, as everyone's heads snapped around to look at us, not realizing we were there.

Seth's thoughts were utterly confused at my words and I realized I might have shared too much. He wanted to hear more about my 'ability' and was about to speak up, but, thankfully, Emmett continued.

"See? We are so serious all the time. I think we should have a night where we just lay it all on the table. God forbid this family talk about all the things we miss the most." My smile dropped a little at his suggestion.

Carlisle looked at me, and quickly back to Emmett.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"Why not? Because it'll make everyone sad to think about things we miss? Who cares?"

Charlie stiffened a little beside me, and everyone else noticed as well. Seth lowered his head, and everyone's thoughts turned to Charlie and me … and Bella.

"Emmett," Carlisle spoke softly.

"Oh," Shit. Emmett started back-pedaling as it was dawning on him as to what he was actually saying. "I'm sorry, I didn't even realize. I wasn't thinking. Too soon?"

Charlie chuckled a little. "No, it's not too soon. I think we're good. Or we will be." He patted my shoulder and smiled warmly at me.

Esme's thoughts were a little shocked at the affection Charlie was demonstrating toward me.

That's quite the change. Maybe Charlie and Edward can find some comfort in each other. This is a good thing…us coming here. Carlisle was right.

In fact, everyone's thoughts pretty much mirrored hers, as they watched Charlie's hand giving my shoulder a tight squeeze.

Alice stood up and whispered to Jasper, he nodded his head in agreement, and they headed out of the room.

"We'll be right back," she yelled over her shoulder as they stepped outside. I could see what they were planning and was so incredibly grateful for my family and their kindness.

"Well, Seth, looks like we should be heading back—"

"Sure, sure. I know, chores," he replied sarcastically. Charlie was saddened a bit as he thought of Seth and how excited he had been in the last few hours spent with us. He hadn't seen his step-son this happy in a very long time, and he hated having to take this moment away from him. It was as if our family had brought out the boy in him again, the boy that was stolen from him when the bombs went off, and instead brought forth a man before his time. I sensed his hesitation, as did Esme.

"Are you positive you have to go? We could have dinner?"

"Thank you, Esme, that is very kind of you, but we need to head back so our people don't get worried. We'll radio ahead and let them know we're on our way. It's not the best thing to be out past dark. You forget how dark it really does get. And I'm not sure how the truck's lights are."

"Of course, we understand," she said sadly. She was so happy to have laughter and life back in our lives, she didn't want to see them leave.

"Speaking of the truck…" Rosalie interrupted. "How did it survive?"

"That beast? You couldn't kill it if you tried!" Seth laughed, and Charlie joined him.

"I had the truck over at Billy Black's place before the bombs hit. The engine was out of it getting repaired. Billy's son, Jake, was trying to fix it up on the off chance Bella came back. At the time, that kid was kind of taken with Bella."

"Don't remind me," I mumbled.

He laughed at me before continuing. "We could only protect so many vehicles from the EMP's. Eventually over the years, some of the trucks died, and this ol' girl didn't have fuel injection, so Jacob re-built the engine from scraps lying around and got her running again. She's one of the few we have left. Bella's still here in spirit I guess."

She had that truck less than anyone, but it'll always be hers…Seth's thoughts trailed off.

"I think so too," I agreed with him. He nodded his head, before he realized I had answered his thoughts.

"Wait! Hold up! So what's this whole thing about you reading minds and Alice seeing the future? Why … er … how can you do that?" Seth asked.

"Come on, Seth. Time to go. That's another story the Cullens will share when they feel the need to. We've over-stayed our welcome."

"What? No. I—"

"Seth. It's time to go," Charlie warned.

Fully disappointed, Seth slowly stood up, knowing he couldn't push Charlie on this matter.

"Fine! But promise me you guys will fill me in next time we see each other." He looked at me speculatively. "And I want to know about these 'Ravagers.'"

"Yes, we promise to fill you in," Carlisle agreed on our behalf.

We walked Charlie and Seth outside, and watched as Jasper and Alice were finishing loading up the bed of the truck with some of the supplies we had stocked out back. They had placed countless cases of 'Ensure' and other canned goods, as well as blankets and extra clothing that had never been worn by any of us. At the end, near the tailgate I saw the case of Johnny Walker and a case of M&M's.

"I don't know if the chocolate will have held up. I hear the shelf life isn't that long, but you can give it a try," Alice said warmly to Seth.

"Are you freaking kidding me? You've had chocolate all these years and haven't eaten it?" He was completely shocked and grinning like a fool.

"We aren't that big on candy around here," Jasper mused.

"Are you sure? Really?" Seth asked Alice and she nodded, fully content with herself as Seth ran over and picked her up in a giant bear hug. She was a little stunned by his actions, and Jasper moved ever so slightly concerned for her safety, but I reached out and stopped him, reassuring him he meant no harm.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I don't care if it's all white and crusty, we'll still eat it!" He set her down, towering over her and ruffled her hair.

"Hey, lay off the hair! There are some clothes in there too, and I suggest you burn what you have on, and wear the stuff I've packed," she teased, pinching her nose. "You kind of smell a bit."

"What do you mean? I do not! I just washed this stuff yesterday. Maybe you are 'crazy,' psychic girl."

"You do too, just a little trace of wet dog or something." She wrinkled her nose in disapproval.

"Are you two finished?" Charlie mocked. "Alice, we can't take all this , really, we can't take your supplies," he said seriously.

"Charlie, it's the least we can offer. I will bring more medical supplies in a few days when we come to visit." Carlisle lifted the rusted tailgate and slammed it shut. Charlie stood for a moment, knowing it would be pointless to argue with any of us.

"I can't thank you enough for coming to visit. Since Doc Gerandy died, we've been without a proper doctor for three years now. Leah's been amazing, taking his place and all—he trained her pretty good over the years—but even she can't do everything that a surgeon such as yourself can. It will be much appreciated." Charlie bestowed his gratitude and offered his hand.

Carlisle took it, shaking it in return. "You said the clinic you have is near the bunker, right?" Carlisle's thoughts switched to the possibility that the clinic was on Quileute land.

"Yep, in fact it's right inside, we never moved it," Charlie confirmed.

"Okay, we've got some things to tie up here first, but you can expect us in a few days." Carlisle's 'things' he was referring to involved: the ravagers, the Quileutes and me. I took a deep breath, knowing that this talk was inevitable, even though it was definitely not something I was looking forward to.

We said our good-byes, and watched as the truck roared down the lane, the taillights twinkling in between the trees as daylight was coming to an end.

"Inside. Everyone," Esme said with a firm voice.