Prompt by Juliangelus: Stop light

Rating: T

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. The Twilight Saga and all characters, recognizable settings, etc. involved within are the property of Stephenie Meyer.

A/N: Thank you all so much for all of your support, it means a lot to me. I'm having fun with this and can feel my confidence coming back, so hopefully I'll have something for Alter Bound and Preternatural Alliance very soon. :)

Stay

It wasn't supposed to end like this. Edward knew better than to believe that a happily ever after entailed a fairy-tale ending, he knew there would be ups and downs, but he didn't think it would all end so soon. He didn't think that everything would blow up, leaving him standing in a rubble filled battleground alone and uncertain. He never thought he could have pushed his mate, his wife, to run…to abandon him, abandon them. He loved her so much, he loved her beyond words and meaning, he loved her too much to have let this happen. Beyond that, Bella was a fighter. She fought for their love as a human and after her change. It was who she was, what she was, down to the very venom and flesh and bone that made her. That he had riddled her so full of doubt that she fled, that she lost her will to fight, tormented him. If that was torment, knowing that no matter how deep and consuming his love was, is, for her, that he had failed to protect her enough, support her enough, show her how much he adored and respected her, was agony.

As he raced along the highway, weaving in and out of traffic, desperate to make it in time to stop her getting on the flight Alice had foreseen her boarding, he thought of everything that had brought them here. He clawed through his memories, trying to pin point where exactly it had all gone wrong. Desperate to know what he did, or didn't, do to cause this. Desperate to figure it all out because if he could do that, he could fix it. He could change whatever needed to be changed. He would do anything for her, anything. He just had to find a way to make her know that.

On that thought, Edward realized that their problems—as individuals, as mates, as a family—couldn't be pinpointed to one, singular incident. No, instead her faith in them had been worn down throughout the years because of many things. Small slights here and big fights there led to this, this disaster.

Bella struggled immensely throughout her newborn years and had succumbed to her bloodlust numerous times—and she hated herself a little more after every 'slip'. Edward had tried to be there for her, tried to comfort and reassure her but she shied away every time, creating more and more distance between them. Jasper tried explaining it to him she was erecting all of these walls between them, though it wasn't just him, she was creating walls and spaces between herself and everyone in their family with the exception of Jasper. Jasper had tried and tried to explain and counsel, but Edward didn't pay enough attention, thinking that their relationship would repair itself. They were mates, they loved each other, of course it would fix itself. In hindsight, Edward realized that he didn't heed Jasper's warnings because he too frightened, too unsure as to what to do to fix everything.

"She sees and feels nothing but censure and disappointment from everyone, Edward." Jasper told me. "She sees the regret and remorse in your eyes whenever she fails to achieve perfection. And she interprets that as regret and remorse about her, that you regret changing her, loving her. I know that's not true, but she doesn't.

Think, Edward. She was once close with Emmett, but because it caused so many problems with Rosalie, he stays away from her. She in turn avoids most of the family to avoid Rosalie's hate and derision.

Bella's shield interfering with Alice's gift has created distance between them, so she not only feels like she's disappointed her best friend but has lost her. Hell, Edward," Jasper sighed. "That's all she feels is disappointment from others and inadequacy in herself. You need to do something, Edward. I don't know what, but you need to fix this because if you don't…if you don't fix this soon, I don't see her sticking around. That and I love her too much to see her hurting all the time."

Looking back, Edward wished he had listened then, heeded Jasper's words and advice. But he didn't. And instead, he pushed her into the arms of another man and had broken her heart even more.

Edward growled as he slowed for the red light creating another obstacle to reach her in time. As he sat and waited for what felt like an eternity for the light to change, he thought about how his life paralled this intersection, this traffic light. He could stop. He could go. He could turn or continue straight ahead on his path to Bella.

He thought about how if Bella would have stayed, he would have told her that he wasn't angry about the kiss. He would have told her that though it hurt him, he understood. Edward would've told Bella that he didn't think less of her, but actually thought less of himself. He would've told her that what hurt the most was that he hadn't fought hard enough against her walls, silence, and distance. He hadn't fought enough for them and he sure as hell hadn't fought hard enough for her.

Edward would've told her that his sorrow came from failing her. That the only person she felt safe enough with to seek solace, comfort, acceptance, support and love from was not her mate. No, she didn't find that in Edward, she found it in Jasper.

Edward would've have told her that it wasn't entirely her fault, that it was primarily his and his alone. He would've done anything to reassure her of his love and devotion.

But instead, she had fled. Consumed with guilt, embarrassment, and shame, Bella had fled as soon as she had realized what she had done. Before Jasper could stop her from running, she was gone. Jasper realized, and assured Edward, that Bella was not in love with him. No, all of her love was for Edward. She was confused, hurt, and reeling from yet another slip and had impulsively kissed Jasper out of gratitude more than anything else. She was overwhelmed by it all and had acted out in desperation for love, touch, and affection. But not because she was in love with Jasper, because while she does indeed love him, the love for a mate and the love of a cherished friend and confidant is not the same.

As the light turned green and Edward slowly approached the intersection, he realized that everything would change; it would have to if he wanted Bella. Not only would his relationship with Bella change, but also so would his relationships with his family.

Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett had been shocked when Jasper ran into the house and pushed Edward out the door, telling him what had happened and demanding he go after her. Rosalie called Bella a home-wrecking whore and used it as further ammunition against the girl she had always hated. Alice was worried, not for herself, but for Bella. Alice knew that Bella would never intentionally hurt anyone like that and was distraught for what her one-time best friend was going through.

The moment Edward realized that Bella was gone, he took off out of the house and after his love, only stopping to pay attention to the quick-fire visions wracking Alice's mind. Edward chasing and catching Bella. Edward and Bella together. Bella laughing as she combed her fingers through Edward's wet, disheveled hair. He realized that in all of the visions where he is able to save his marriage, save his mate, that they were separated from the family. He supposed that he should be shocked that his decision was so quick and easy, but he wasn't. He loved his family, but it didn't compare to what he felt for Bella—not a single bit. He felt his keys hit him in the back and turned around. Alice and Jasper were there. Wishing him well and wanting the best for them all knowing that they were saying goodbye for a long time to come…if Edward managed to catch Bella in time.

Edward came to the intersection and once again thought to himself that it wasn't supposed to end like this. No, it wasn't going to end like this.

He turned right at the traffic light and sped to the airport, bypassing every traffic law he had to in order to get to his mate, his Bella, in time. Because no, it wasn't supposed to end like this.

And it wouldn't.