Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.
*This parallels chapter 61 of V&V 'Boot Heels & Body Bags'. Please read that before attempting this.
Enjoy!
****************************LRM**********************************
Chapter 61 – A Journey in the Dark for the Defeated
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
*
After Sidney literally picked me up from the bathroom floor, we exited the aircraft, under the pitying stares of the crew.
I don't need their fucking pity. I need my girl.
As I walked numbly through the airport, Sidney shooed away the handful of fans that attempted to approach me. He needn't have bothered, I'm sure one look at my face would have frightened them away.
I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that anyone would want to harm Bella. She shouldn't have a single enemy. She was good and kind and true.
Too good for me.
Then I remembered the two twits that vandalized her car for no reason other than her relationship with me.
As I stumbled toward baggage claim, my gaze fixed on the floor ahead of me; I was suddenly and unexpectedly pulled into a comforting embrace.
I tried to relax, but couldn't. Every nerve ending in my body was tensed beyond anything I'd ever experienced before.
"Mom" I whispered as she pulled me close. I buried my face in her neck and forced back the tears. There was no way that the paps were going to own this moment. I felt my Dad's sure strong grip on my shoulder as Mom held me.
"Jasper, Alice and Chris will be here in a couple of hours." She relayed in a broken voice. "Oh Edward, I don't even know what to say." She managed to choke out before she started crying.
"How did you find out?" I whispered.
"Emmett phoned Alice." She whispered back.
I broke away from her embrace then.
"Come on honey, we'll take you home." She said before reaching for my hand.
"No." I answered with a frown. "I can't."
"Edward, you need your rest. You won't be any good to Bella if you're .."
"If I'm what Mom?" I interrupted. "If I haven't gotten enough sleep? When God knows what is happening to her?" I answered, my voice rising at the end. I dragged my hand through my hair.
If possible, my mother's face looked even sadder at my words. "We love her too Edward." She whispered.
I sighed. "I know you do, and I know you mean well. But there is no way I'll be able to rest. Not when I don't know where she is or what he's doing to her." I whimpered out the last sentence as I pulled at my hair again. "I can't do this. Not here." I whispered after I glanced around and noticed the curious stares of people walking by.
After my parents were certain they wouldn't be able to convince me to go to their house, they insisted on going with us to Bella's apartment. On the way, Sidney phoned a friend he had on the Seattle police force.
He found out that as soon as the police discovered Bella's car, they set up a search. My heart sank even further when we were informed that it was, in effect, a blind search because they still had no clues which would lead them to a suspect.
The detective in charge of the investigation was in the field, but we left all our contact information with his office. Every minute that passed without a call back plunged me deeper into despair.
My heart remained in my throat as I considered what could be happening to her at that moment. Each scenario that I conjured was worse than the one before.
Once we reached the apartment, and I opened the door, I was assaulted by Bella's scent, the force of which almost drove me to my knees. Sidney and my parents waited in the living room as I forced myself to carry the bags to the bedroom.
This is where I should have found her when I arrived home tonight, curled up in bed, waiting for me.
I stowed the suitcase in the closet before turning around and taking in the room. The bed was neatly made, the t-shirt she'd slept in the night before lay discarded on the chair. I walked over and picked it up before sitting on the bed.
Hunched over with my elbows on my knees, I held the shirt to my face before finally releasing the tears I'd been holding back. I sat there clutching it as the image of my girl, terrified and possibly hurt overwhelmed my mind. More than anything, I needed to hold her in my arms again.
I wanted to find whoever had done this and make them feel every bit of pain that I was feeling now.
Once Bella was back safe in my arms, I might be more forgiving, but that was only if she hadn't been hurt. I wanted to think that maybe this was done for money. At least I hoped it was, and that we'd get a phone call soon requesting some sort of ransom. The alternative, that she had been taken for another purpose, was too painful to consider.
Sexual assault
Torture
Murder
I felt the bile rise in the back of my throat as I tried to will those thoughts away. Thinking back to the things that Jeff had done to her, the broken bones, the cuts on her wrists, raping and murdering her mother, I realized that I needed to face the fact that evil does exist, and is a very real part of the world we live in.
"Oh God" I moaned out loud.
I willed myself to feel angry then. Sorrow and despair were emotions I couldn't control. Anger was an emotion I could hold on to and feed off of. Something I could use.
If this kidnapper harmed one hair on Bella's head, no one on this earth was going to stop me from killing him with my bare hands. I stood and paced the room as I vowed that whatever he did to her, I would repay ten-fold. My fists clenched as I imagined the damage I could do. Then, suddenly and without warning, the image of a battered and bruised Bella flashed through my mind and I was laid low once again, collapsing to the floor in a heap.
My nightmare was coming true
That was how my sister found me minutes after she and Jasper arrived.
"Oh Edward." She whispered in a scratchy voice as she wrapped her arms around me. She'd obviously been crying. "They're going to find her."
I pulled away and looked at her face. "Did you have a premonition?" I asked hopefully.
She looked dejected. "No, everything I've seen is very muddled." She took a deep breath. "I just know that Bella will survive this Edward. What would have been the point of you finding each other, if only to end like this." She said decidedly.
I wished I could believe that.
I heard a throat clear and looked up to see Jasper standing in the doorway.
"Hey Edward" He said quietly before stepping closer to bend down and give me a half hug. "How are you holding up?" He asked with concern.
"I'm not" I admitted.
He nodded sympathetically.
"There's got to be something I can do. I feel useless" I looked up at Jasper again as an idea formed in my brain. "Jasper" I stood and walked closer to him. "I have an idea." I announced urgently. "I want you to release a statement."
He gave me a serious look.
"I want to direct the statement to the kidnapper. I want it to clearly state that whatever his demands, I will meet them. I'll pay any amount, I'll do anything." I said forcefully. "Anything" I repeated in a desperate whisper. "I will change places with her if they will consider that." I croaked out as my voice broke. "I'm desperate Jazz" I said as I clutched his forearm. "Please."
He swallowed hard as he nodded. "I'll do it..but"
"But what?"
"Well, don't you think you should ask the police first?" He asked.
"No, this has nothing to do with them. I have to do this for me. I've already failed her once by leaving her alone. I won't fail her again."
"Edward" Alice soothed from where she now stood beside me. "You haven't failed Bella. Obviously this guy was determined."
"Edward, there's also something else to consider about releasing a statement" Jasper began "Right now the public doesn't know about Bella's…." He paused before rephrasing. "What's happened to Bella. If we release this statement, it will be all over the news"
"I don't care" I cut him off. "Just do it please."
He nodded before disappearing to make the necessary calls. I sat on the bed for a while longer with Alice, both of us quiet as she held my hand.
I felt fucking useless.
I finally stood and walked into the living room to find Christopher consoling my Mom. He jumped up when he saw me and gave me a hug. "This is so fucked-up Chris" I whispered.
"I know." He whispered back.
Just then there was a knock at the door. Sidney opened it to find two Seattle police officers standing there.
I ran over to them "Do you have information about Bella?" I asked desperately.
"No sir. Actually Mr. Masen, we need a few minutes of your time."
"Okay" I answered, feeling defeated.
They followed me into the kitchen, while everyone else waited in the living room. Once seated at Bella's small table, they began.
"Mr. Masen, we need to note for our records exactly where you were yesterday evening."
"Um, what does that have to do with anything?" I questioned, confused.
"Please just answer the question sir."
"I was in California yesterday. Starting at about five o'clock I was granting interviews at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Los Angeles." I answered.
"Then you flew to Seattle?"
"Yes. I arrived in Seattle at about eleven o'clock tonight." I frowned. "Or I guess that was last night now.." I trailed off.
"When was the last time you spoke with Miss Swan?"
I took a deep breath. "Just before my interviews."
"Have you two had any disagreements recently?"
I looked at him incredulously. "What are you implying?"
"Mr. Masen it's best if you just answer the questions."
"Am I a suspect?" I asked. "Are you seriously wasting time asking me questions instead of getting the fuck out there and finding Bella?" I raised my voice. "You need to find her. She could be hurt. That sick fuck could be torturing her right now" By this time I was shouting.
My Dad was suddenly by my side. "Gentlemen, as you can see my son is in no shape to do this. If my word counts for anything, Edward loves Bella with all his heart. It is not even in the realm of possibility that he would be involved in her abduction. Bella's father is Chief of police in Forks and if there was any reason to suspect Edward of anything to do with this, I'm sure he'd have been here ahead of you and would have already taken him into custody. Your resources would be better utilized elsewhere."
"My apologies Mr. Masen, but it's necessary for us to investigate every possible suspect. I'm sure you can understand that an extremely wealthy man such as yourself would have the resources to deal with any problem. Say for example they regretted their very public engagement and wanted to get out of it..."
"Gentlemen, we're done here." My Dad snapped.
"Just be aware that we will be subpoenaing you phone records Mr. Masen."
"Get the fuck out" I murmured, by this time my head was in my hands as I leaned my elbows on the kitchen table.
After I heard the door to the apartment close behind them I spoke in a quiet voice, knowing my Dad was still standing there. "He's right you know."
"What are you talking about Edward?"
"I have a hell of a lot of money Dad. Enough money to accomplish anything I want and I still couldn't keep her safe." I muttered in self-loathing.
"Edward" He said. "Stop this right now. There is enough hurt and pain in this situation already without you inflicting more on yourself." He cleared his throat then. "No one is to blame for this other than the evil bastard that took her son."
I nodded once. Realizing then that if I stayed in this apartment one more minute I'd lose my mind, I stood and walked into the living room. Sidney watched me enter. "We need to leave." I told him.
He nodded.
"Where are you going son?" My Dad asked.
"I can't sit around here anymore." I admitted. No one tried to talk me out of it, probably realizing their arguments would be futile.
Once we were in the car, I instructed Sidney to drive toward Sequim. About ninety minutes into our drive, we came across a stretch of road where news vans from a couple Seattle news stations, along with several emergency vehicles were parked along the side. The police had cordoned off a section of the lane, and were directing traffic around it. I immediately spotted Bella's car on the side of the road in the cordoned off area. I had Sidney pull off the road just past the last police car.
I jumped out of the vehicle before Sidney had even cut the engine. As I got closer to the cordoned off area Bella's car came into view again. I reeled as I saw the smashed window, the gravity of the situation hitting home.
If he used that much force to get in the car, what harm has he done to her?
My panic level began to rise again.
An officer approached me as I watched forensics experts combing through every square inch of the car.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to turn around and go back to your vehicle.."
"That's my fiancée's car over there." I snapped as I gestured toward Bella's car. "I need to know what the hell is going on. Do you know anything yet?"
"Mr. Masen, this is an ongoing investigation, I can't give out any information at this time."
What the fuck?
"The fuck you can't" I bellowed, angry now. "You don't get it do you? I'm not fucking leaving until I know something."
There was some commotion across the road, and I turned to see a couple of news crews getting in position to film the discussion between me and the officer.
I was beyond caring by that point.
The officer glared at me. "Sir, I won't tell you again. Return to your vehicle."
I began to desperately run my hands through my hair again before I felt Sidney's hand on my shoulder. "Sir" I shook my head, determined not to move from that spot until I knew something. He spoke again, "Edward".
I looked at the officer. "All I need to know is if there have been any breaks in the case. Are there any leads? Any at all? Even something small is better than nothing." I knew I sounded as desperate as I felt.
The officer glared at me. "Return to your vehicle Mr. Masen or I'll be forced to take you into custody." He said forcefully.
Sidney spoke again then, "Please Edward, you don't want to be handcuffed."
I turned to him. "I don't give a shit about that Sidney" I snapped.
"But Bella would sir." He said quietly.
He was right. It would break my girl's heart to know I'd been handcuffed. I swallowed thickly before returning to the car in defeat.
Refusing to leave the site, Sidney and I sat in the vehicle and waited, hoping to learn some new information soon. As the minutes ticked by, I became more and more agitated.
Why the hell hadn't they located her by now? Do these people even know what they're doing?
I pulled out my cell, debating whether to call Charlie. I didn't debate long before I was dialing his number.
"Edward" He said.
"Chief, I just.." I didn't know what to say to this man. I'd failed his daughter. I was certain that he probably hated me.
"Son, where are you?" His kind tone of voice took me by surprise.
"I'm next to Bella's car waiting for information."
He sighed. "I was searching near Sequim, but just got a phone call that they found a wrecked car in the forest. I'm driving there now."
"Do you think Bella was in the car?"
He was silent for a moment. "It seems likely. The wreckage isn't really that far from where she was taken. For a car to wreck in the forest in the middle of the same night she was abducted, it seems too coincidental."
I began to feel hopeful until I realized that he'd said the car was wrecked.
Oh God was she injured?
"Have they said anything about injuries?" I asked in a weak voice.
"No" He took a long pause. "I doubt I'll have cell phone reception out their either Edward. I'll let you know as soon as I can okay?"
"Yeah" I forced out. "Thanks Charlie."
"Bye Edward"
I don't know how much time had passed as I waited to hear from Charlie when suddenly I noticed a lot of commotion outside. I watched as a swarm of cameramen and reporters dashed across the street. Some went straight to the policeman I'd spoken to earlier, the others walked toward my car, obviously wishing to speak with me.
Sidney tried to stop them, but I wanted to know what was going on. I opened the door and stepped out, going to stand beside Sidney.
"Edward, are you aware of the wreckage found in the forest?" The first reporter shouted.
I nodded.
It seemed that all the voices spoke at once then, asking different versions of the same question: "Were you also aware that they've recovered a body from the wreckage?"
Body?
I felt myself sway as two strong arms gripped me before I landed on the ground. "I need you all to back away now." Sidney said in a demanding tone. "Have you no decency?"
My hands fell listlessly to my sides. The thing I'd most feared was now a distinct possibility.
Was Isabella gone? Gone from me forever?
I knew I wouldn't be able to go on without her, but I needed to know the truth. Even if it was too hard to bear.
I was abruptly furious that I had to hear about this from a group of reporters. I stormed over to the policeman to get some answers.
"Who was in the car they found?" I demanded.
"Mr. Masen please return to your vehicle." He answered with narrowed eyes.
"Please" I begged. "Whose body did they recover?"
The cop just glared. "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. In this state we have laws about divulging information, and you are not the next of kin. So I guess you'll have to wait just like everyone else."
What the fuck was wrong with this guy?
Having reached the end of my tenuous patience, I finally lost it. Thankfully, I held back from taking a swing at the guy, but I was close, very close. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Can't you see that I'm dying here? All I want to know is if she's alive, you stupid fucking asshole."
He raised his eyebrows. "And that just bought you a trip to the back of my squad car." He announced as he gestured to the nearest police car and pulled a set of handcuffs from his belt.
I didn't put up a fight, I knew better. Five minutes later I was cuffed and seated in the back of the car as promised. Sidney stood outside, patiently waiting. As I felt myself breaking down once again, I realized that Sidney was positioning his body in order to block the paps and news crews from getting their much sought after photos.
As each moment passed, I became more convinced that Bella, my beautiful Bella, wasn't returning to me alive. All I required was confirmation of that fact, and I would make my plans. There would be nothing to hold me to this world if she weren't in it.
The thought of the seemingly endless years that stretched out before me without her was infinitely more painful than anything I'd endured in my life. I knew I wouldn't be like Duke, or even Charlie Swan, and be strong enough to carry on without the woman I loved.
Maybe if we'd had fifty years together, I would have been more accepting of my fate, but not now. We hadn't even had the chance to start our life together before it was ripped from us.
If God really existed, how could He have allowed this to happen to her? She was the best person I'd ever known, despite what she'd been forced to suffer. Hadn't she been through enough already? Didn't she, more than anyone, deserve happiness? Couldn't He have done something to save her?
Why?
I'd been lying to myself all night. I had known the entire time, deep down, that this was how this evening was going to end. I also knew what I needed to do. As soon as my beautiful girl was laid to rest, I would find a way to leave this world. I couldn't stay here. Not without her. God would just have to forgive me.
After all, He owed me one.
With my mind decided, a strange feeling of calm washed over me. I knew I would be with her again, it wouldn't be the way we'd intended, but somehow I knew we'd find each other again, even in death.
Images came unbidden to me then, the most heart-wrenching was the image of the little girl from my dreams a couple nights before. The little girl that I knew now would never have a chance to exist. I drew in a shuddering breath.
Closing my eyes, I forced my memory back to the first time we'd said 'I love you', our first kiss, and every one after that. The feel of her soft warm body against mine as we danced and I sang low in her ear. The expression on her lovely face as I dropped to one knee and proposed. Holding her close as we planned our future together….
To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do
-LRM—
I heard voices, and realized that I'd dozed off. Turning to my right, I saw Charlie standing outside the squad car arguing with the cop. A minute later, the cop was removing my cuffs.
"I'm remanding you into the custody of Chief Swan, Mr. Masen." He said in a quiet voice before taking a few steps away from us.
"What have you been up to Edward?" Charlie asked almost playfully.
I looked at him dumbfounded; noticing his eyes were red-rimmed just like mine probably were at that moment, while his mood bordered on jovial.
Charlie patted my shoulder. "She's okay Edward. They found her."
His words reached my ears as if I was hearing them underwater. "What?" I whispered.
He put his arm around my shoulders then and smiled a worried smile. "That's what I've been told anyway. Seems that she beat the shit out of the ranger and made her escape."
"The ranger?" I asked, confused.
Charlie lost his smile. "Yeah. That bastard that grabbed her in the park, he was the one that took her last night."
I will fucking kill him.
Charlie's words finally began to sink in. "She's really okay?" I asked with a tentative smile.
He nodded. "Come on, let's get to the hospital." He said as he started toward his truck.
"Hospital?" I halted in my tracks. "I thought you said she was okay?"
Charlie swallowed. "I'm not really sure about her injuries. She was in the car when it wrecked, from what they found out, she actually caused the crash." He said quietly. "She escaped and was able to call 9-1-1."
The body?
"You mean, he's dead?" I asked.
Charlie nodded. "Saw the body bag myself." He answered as a pained expression crossed his face.
I decided to ride with Charlie, and told Sidney he could go get some sleep. He refused, simply stating that he would follow us. "Did you call anyone yet?" I asked Charlie.
Charlie nodded. "As soon as I got a phone signal, I left a message for Emmett, and I called your parents." He said. "I tried to call you, but got your voicemail."
"Oh shit" I said before running over to the car and retrieving my cell phone from the back seat.
Even though I'd heard that she was alive, I couldn't calm my nerves as we rode back to Seattle. Until I saw her with my own eyes, I wouldn't be able to relax.
"How did you convince the cop to let me go?" I asked Charlie.
He grinned. "I just reminded him of how many people really like you and sympathize with what you're going through. Then I asked him if he wanted to be known as the prick that locked up Edward Masen. It only took him a minute to make the right decision."
Yeah, I'm secure enough in my manhood to admit that I love Chief Swan.
I chuckled. Charlie and I didn't say much during the rest of the ride. I did find out that Emmett and Rose were on their way, and that their plane would land soon.
The drive back to Seattle seemed to take forever. Knowing that Bella would be at my Dad's hospital helped ease my mind considerably. Her ambulance was going to arrive there at least thirty minutes ahead of us, and knowing that Dad would be there to see to her care helped keep me from totally losing my mind during the long drive.
Dad met us in the waiting room of the ER when we arrived, where we also found Mom, Alice, Jasper and Chris. "Charlie, Edward, Sidney" He greeted us with a serious look.
I held my breath as I waited for him to speak. "I think she's going to be fine. They're running a CT scan on her head right now to be sure. She's got a scalp laceration which we don't think was from the accident."
"He hit her over the head?" Charlie asked solemnly.
Dad nodded. "It appears that way." He took a breath. "Other than that, there appear to be no broken bones, no internal bleeding."
"When can I see her?" I asked.
"After the CT scan, she's being moved to a private room. We'd like to keep her overnight. Once she's settled in her room, she can have visitors."
Dad chewed the inside of his cheek before continuing. "She's semi-conscious at best and after her pain medication kicks in she'll probably sleep for quite a while." He said as he eyed me carefully. "I must warn you both that she's pretty badly beaten up. Some of her bruises are from the car crash, and she has some cuts and bruises from her hike through the forest afterward."
I sensed a 'but' coming.
Dad sighed. "But it's obvious also that her abductor hit her. Several times. Her face is badly bruised and swollen. I wanted to prepare you before you see her."
I swallowed hard. "Dad" I said in a whisper "What else did he do to her?" I realized that I probably shouldn't have asked that with her father standing right there, but I needed to know.
Charlie's shoulders tensed as he and my father both realized what I was asking. Dad's voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "They are also running a rape kit, but I honestly don't think that's a concern Edward. I guessed by the state of her clothing that nothing like that happened."
Charlie and I both let out a breath at the same time. While we sat in the waiting room, Emmett and Rose arrived. The both looked like hell, sort of like the rest of us.
As soon as they saw us, they rushed over. Emmett wrapped his arms around his Dad's shoulders, as Rose hugged everyone else. After Emmett pulled away from Charlie, he looked him in the eye. "She's really okay?"
Charlie nodded. "Haven't seen her yet, but I believe Dr. Cullen."
"Carlisle" corrected my mother with a smile.
"This shit is all over the news, but we need to know what really happened" Emmett stated with sadness in his voice.
My mother pulled Emmett and Rose down to sit beside her as she relayed everything that we knew in a quiet voice.
Rose softly cried during the entire exchange while Emmett gently rubbed her back. "He's dead?" Emmett asked.
"Yes. Bella fought hard, forcing him to crash the car. She escaped." Mom said with a smile.
"Thank God." Emmett muttered before rubbing his face with his hands.
About five minutes later, my Dad came to inform us that Bella was settled in her room. We all made the trek up there, and debated in the hallway about how many should go in at a time.
"She's fast asleep" My Dad informed. "It's not really going to disturb her if everyone is in there at once."
In the end we decided to go in two at a time until everyone got to see her. Charlie and I were first. I tried to make Emmett take my place, but he wouldn't hear of it.
Charlie walked ahead of me as we quietly slipped into the room.
The first thing that struck me was how small she looked lying in that bed. Almost like a little girl. As I moved closer, I gasped when I got a good look at her bruised and swollen face. I immediately moved to stand on her left side. My throat tightened as I took in her injuries. The entire left side of her face was one big bruise, her eye puffy and swollen. It didn't look like that eye would open much once Bella woke up. Her bottom lip was swollen and cut. There was a small bandage covering a three inch square section on top of her head, obviously where she'd had stitches. The right side, where the Chief was standing, had a couple bruises, but in no way compared to the left. Her arms were also bruised in several spots, the rest of her body covered by the hospital gown and blankets.
"My God." I heard Charlie mutter.
I glanced at him then. He looked as if he might be sick as he took Bella's hand in his and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. He leaned over and placed a light kiss on her forehead before sighing audibly. He then looked up at me with a sheepish expression. "Sorry" He muttered. "I'm just having a flashback to seven years ago. I never thought I'd see her like this again." He said in a broken whisper.
I looked back down at her beautiful damaged face as I clasped her left hand in mine, being mindful of the IV tube. As soon as I touched her, the familiar electric hum was present, and my world righted itself once again. The emotions of the last day finally over whelmed me and I knelt down beside her bed kissing her hand over and over, my effort to hold back the tears failing somewhat as a few escaped, falling on her hand and on the ring which rested there.
When the others entered the room, I stepped back from the bed to allow them access, but I knew I wouldn't be able to leave her.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house as each member of our family told her how much they loved her. No one mentioned her kidnapping, which I thought was prudent. We really didn't know how much she was able to hear at that point, and the reminders of her ordeal were best left alone until later.
Emmett lightly touched her hand as he bent down, laying his head beside hers on the pillow before he whispered something in her ear. Everyone stayed around waiting. No one mentioned it out loud, but it was obvious that we were all hoping she'd wake up soon. After a couple of hours, my Mom coaxed Jasper, Alice and Chris into going down to the cafeteria with her, but Rose, Emmett and Charlie wouldn't leave. Mom didn't even bother to ask me.
Emmett got Rose to stretch out on the sofa with her feet in his lap as he rubbed them. The room was suddenly very quiet. Charlie and I were sitting in chairs on either side of Bella's bed, still holding her hands. I was just wishing that my Mom would think to bring me some coffee from the cafeteria when I heard Bella let out a small groan.
I stood from my chair and hovered over her as three other pairs of eyes watched. Bella blinked several times while struggling to open her eyes. When she finally was able to focus, she smiled weakly up at me. "I knew I'd make it back to you." She said in a hoarse whisper.
*******************************A/N********************************
A/N Song recs: Placebo 'Running Up That Hill' and Snow Patrol 'Run'
Didn't really mean to show the police in a bad light, but Edward seems to attract the arrogant ones.
I hope this chapter was everything you'd hoped for.
Next up is V&V…Bella's reunion with Edward and the family…and beyond. Watch for a sneak peek on Facebook and Blog. Review please…do I need to beg?