EDWARD
I guess I knew this day would come eventually. I had kinda hoped that, by some miracle, it wouldn't though. But, alas, it has. The family discussion about that day in the forest is happening. It has taken 18,292 days to get to this point. I had thought that they would drag it all out of me after Bella's disappearing act. Fortunately, they waited until we got home, or rather got away from our camping companions. Speaking of, they had gone with us most of the way home. They were all apologies, especially Tanya. Luckily, she kept her distance. That is until the day that her sisters decided it would be best for them to go their own way. Coincidently, that was also the day that she tried to talk to me alone.
My entire family is staring at me. It seems that not a single one of them knows exactly how to start. Carlisle takes an unnecessary breath. But before he can even open his mouth I completely cave. I tell them all about how I wrote the note for Charlie to find. I tell them how I convince Bella to go for a walk with me in the woods behind her house. I tell them everything I said. I told her we were moving on. She misunderstands at first. She sincerely dismissed the episode with Jasper. She told me her soul was already mine. I told her that I didn't want her to go with us. I told her I don't want her. I told her I didn't love her. I told her she wasn't good for me. I told her we were moving on to other distractions. I made her promise not to do anything reckless. I told her she would forget. I promised she would never see me again.
My family is utterly quiet. No one is even breathing. I can't bring myself to look at them. I can't bear to look at myself, how can they. I understand. I am such an ass.
CARLISLE
He…told her…that he didn't love her. I have to convince myself that he is telling the truth. No wonder he didn't talk for so long. Now I can fully understand his reluctance to tell us what happened. He also told her that he didn't want her too. He implied that the family didn't want her when he told her we were leaving without her. Bella must think that we abandoned her and never looked back like she was unworthy in our eyes. And we reinforced that belief everyday that we were gone, everyday that we didn't contact her. We're lucky she didn't strike us down a long time ago. I know my son has been hurting, but how could he be so cruel?
JASPER
Bella dismissed my indiscretion on her birthday. She didn't fault me for my nature. That's further proof of how good Bella was. She was way too good for Edward. I can see that in his leaving her. She must have been devastated. Yet she didn't strike at any of us. She rightfully thinks that we all consider her unworthy of our time, beneath us…
EMMETT
I can't even wrap my mind around it. I could never do anything like that to my Rosie. If I were Bella, I would beat the shit out of Edward. Hell, I might beat the shit out of Edward anyway. Lying to sweet Bella like that was just shitty. I'm not even sure I can call him brother anymore. Okay, I don't really mean that. That doesn't mean that he's not pissing me off though.
ESME
Oh my…poor Edward. He had to lie to the love of his existence. Poor Bella…I wish we had known earlier. We could have contacted her right away and…I don't know what we could have done. I never thought Edward would be so cruel, especially to sweet Bella. I know he thinks that he did what he did for her own good. I was under the impression that he had at least discussed our leaving with her before he told us that we needed to move on. That was bad form, my son. I only hope that Edward gets the chance to rectify his outrageous lies.
ROSALIE
He did not tell Bella that. Okay, that's it. Now I will make it my mission to help Bella make Edward work for it. That is, of course, if she takes his sorry ass back. I wouldn't if I was her. How can he claim to love and the pull that? If that's how he shows affection, then I am so very thankful that we are not mates. Emmett would never do such a thing to me. He knows better.
What was Edward hoping to accomplish? I mean really. His moping has been severely irritating. He became completely obsessed. That obsession has meant that Emmett and I haven't gotten to have another honeymoon in over 50 years. That makes me cranky. When I'm cranky, I tend to make an effort to make those around me miserable to pass the time. I just decided to make Edward my main focus. He had better be fully prepared. Actually, he should thank me. Edward deserves much worse.
ALICE
…speechless… Edward had rendered me very briefly speechless. I can't believe he went that far. Bella deserves better. He made her feel worse than worthless. Not to mention, the damage he has done to himself. He might have ruined any chance they have of being together. I hate to even consider that, but I am forced to. She seems to have a new family. What if she's found another man? A man that treats her right? That would devastate Edward, not that he doesn't deserve that.
She thinks we consider her a complete waste of our time and effort. What if she's replaced all of us? I don't know what I would do in her position. I've missed her everyday. Has she missed me? I need to tell her Edward lied to her. Okay, maybe he should be the one to do that. But I should tell her that he had no right to speak for Jazz and me. I will tell her how long we have been searching for her. She'll have to forgive me. Then things will go back to normal. What if she asks about those months between when we left and when we started looking for her? What can I tell her? What if she doesn't let me talk to her at all?
EDWARD
My family's thoughts are jumbled, but they have the same themes. First, there's the disbelief. Then, there is a very brief wave of pity for me. Of course, after that comes the sympathy for my Bella. Finally, the anger at my lies and implications shines through. Rose is wrong though. She can't make me any more miserable than I made myself. Jasper's relief at Bella's completely sincere dismissal of her birthday only serves to reinforce my self-loathing. Alice is concerned about a very valid point. What if Bella has replaced us? What if she moved on like I asked her to, but secretly hoped she wouldn't?
We all talk some more. The anger and name-calling of my siblings are overshadowed by the quiet disappointment of Carlisle and Esme. We unanimously decide that, if nothing else, I need to explain my lies to Bella. If she never wants to see any of us again, so be it. If she is open to us sticking around for awhile, only then will I stay. Of course, part of that is accepting whatever it is that she has become. We will also accept her new life and new friends. Hopefully, they will accept us too. I wonder how much she has told them about us.
The first step towards that reunion is going to be hard. Somehow we have to be in the same place, at the same time again.