Here we are again … I'm embarking on a new journey of a fanfiction story. This time, we're going with a post-apocalyptic vibe. I recently watched The 100 on Netflix. I'd been intrigued to write a story based off that show/series of novels. I decided to write it for NaNoWriMo. I'd starting almost halfway through the month, but I'm determined to, at least, get something going. My goal is to finish the story for NaNoWriMo July Camp …

Chapter Twenty-Three: At Mount Weather

Edward

I spent two days in medical, keeping close watch over Bella. I didn't want to leave because I kept her calm. I also didn't want to leave due to my own crippling fears that someone might snatch her up. I was a fucking mess. I was a neurotic, anxious, angry mess.

"You need to eat, boss man," Emmett said, carrying a tray from the dining room.

"You're back," I smiled, getting up from spot next to Bella. "How was the journey?"

"Slow going," he answered. "Moving three hundred people? Not an easy task. But, we're here. I got Amun and Indra settled into a suite. Rose is acting as their liaison, giving them a tour of the facilities. I wanted to check on you."

"I'm … I'm struggling," I answered honestly, sitting down, and eating the meal Emmett brought me. "How about you? Any news about Jacob? Aro?"

"Jacob is in detention, along Paul, Embry, Sam and Quil," Emmett said. "They're saying that they didn't do anything wrong. That we set them up to fail." Emmett rolled his eyes, sitting down on a stool. "They set themselves up to fail. They chose to stay at the Drop Ship. They could have come to the mountain with us."

"Well, hindsight is twenty-twenty," I deadpanned. "And, Aro?"

"He died from septic shock," Emmett answered. "Alec worked with Amun to try and save him, but he was too far gone. That's part of the reason why were delayed. We burned Aro's body on a funeral pyre."

"Fitting," I deadpanned. "His funeral pyre should have been the Exodus Ship. Maniacal asshole."

"I don't disagree with you," Emmett retorted flatly. "All of this heartache could have been avoided …"

"Power makes you … it corrupts you," I hissed. "Look at Charlie … he was probably the most corrupt of all."

"Why do you say that?" Emmett asked.

"With Jacob and Aro, they were power-hungry monsters, stopping at nothing to stay in power. But, they didn't try to hide their power-hungry actions," I explained. "Charlie? He was willing to float his daughter in order to stay in power."

"No, he didn't. He sent her to the ground," Emmett argued.

"Renee, Dad, and I sent her to the ground. Charlie didn't want to be seen as weak, nor showing favoritism when Bella was caught giving medication to Angela and her baby," I said.

Emmett eyed me with uncertainty. "Bull shit …"

"He told me when we were scoping out the campsite around the Drop Ship," I muttered, shooting a look at my slumbering girl. "He's ashamed of his choices, but the fact that he had zero qualms in floating Bella shows you how corrupt he really was. He was more concerned about how it looked and his approval rating than caring about his own child."

"Fuck me sideways," Emmett scowled. "That's fucking cold. And, he was doing all this on the sly?"

"Outwardly, he said it was optics, but he knew his approval rating was dropping," I explained. "So, power corrupts …"

"It doesn't seem to have corrupted you," Emmett said. "Or, Bella."

"We haven't been in power long enough," I shrugged. "I get that we need to have leadership, but it should not be for forever. A couple of years, at most, for consistency." I finished my meal, wiping my face with a napkin.

"Well, we need your leadership. We're meeting with Amun, Indra and the rest of the tribal leaders tomorrow. You're in charge until Bella wakes up," Emmett said. "Amun feels comfortable with you."

"Should we invite the council members from the Ark?" I asked.

"As a symbol of good faith, but we should walk in with a united front," Emmett said. "Most of the council members are staying here to recuperate from the battle that wasn't."

"It was a bit anticlimactic," I said, arching a brow. "We did all that training for nothing …"

"Not for nothing," Emmett countered. "Most of us don't know how to fight and having that training gave us a crash course. Hopefully, we won't have to use our newfound fighting skills."

"Can you get everyone together for a meeting to make sure we're on the same page when it comes to meeting with Amun and his group?" I asked. "I'll join you, but I …"

"You got it, Edward," Emmett smiled. "There's another conference room on the garage level. It's bigger than the one down in the command center."

"Thanks for wrangling everybody," I said with sincerity.

"I'll let you do whatever it is you do while Bella's recovering," Emmett said, vaguely waving his hand. "What do you do?"

"I sit and talk to her," I replied, taking her hand again. "My dad, Renee and Austin all say that my presence is helping her. She's calmer and sleeping deeply."

"I thought she was sedated," Emmett frowned.

"She is, but when I leave, her heart rate increases and she grows agitated," I described, kissing her knuckles. "I'm here, Princess. I'll stay here until you wish me away."

"Has Charlie come in to see her?" Emmett questioned.

"If he has, it hasn't been while I've been here," I huffed. My face flamed with anger toward Charlie. I focused on Bella, counting her breaths and listening to the steady beat of her heart. I brought her hand to my lips, kissing her palm. She sighed, shifting on her gurney. "I love you, too, Princess." Turning back to Emmett, I gave him a smile. "Three in the large conference room?"

"Perfect," Emmett nodded. "I'll let everyone know."

He left and I picked up a tablet I had in my quarters. I typed out a proposal of what we'd offer Amun and his people. I also created a separate document for the Ark, dividing up the work amongst the survivors and the residents of the mountain. I worked so diligently that Rose had to call down to medical to get me up to the conference room.

Leaving Bella with Alec, I met with our combined council members. I was surprised to see Charlie sitting there, but he was not there as chancellor. He was taking Daniel Hale's spot, representing the mechanics station from the Ark.

"Sorry, I'm late," I said, sitting down at the head of the table. "I was working on a couple of things while I was sitting with Bella."

"How is she?" Sinclair asked. "We heard that she was badly beaten."

"She was beaten within an inch of her life," I answered with a snarl in my voice. "She's recuperating in medical. She's sedated, but getting stronger every day. I was hoping she'd be awake to meet with Amun and his contingent of people, but she still needs time."

"Should someone so young be in charge of our people?" Eleazar asked. "Charlie, you should be leading these negotiations."

"Yes," everyone responded, clearly exasperated with Eleazar.

I continued, "Bella got us here, safe inside the mountain. We created our leadership system and things are working for us. We're working together. It's all because of Bella. And, for now, her responsibilities fall to me. I'm not her, but I will do the best to honor her wishes."

"Eleazar, we agreed to follow their leadership structure. It's working," my father said, arching a brow. "You're the only one with reservations, but you've seen how the mountain is run. Even with Bella being gone for almost a week, it's still going strong."

Eleazar held up his hands in surrender. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he chuckled resignedly.

"So, with this meeting tomorrow, I have a proposal of what we'd be willing to trade or negotiate with," I said, reading from my tablet. "Obviously, I'd like the ability to trade with them, exchanging wares and services. Education, as well … teaching us how to live off the land and giving them opportunities to learn different aspects of the mountain or the Ark. Hunting has been touch-and-go. With more mouths to feed, we need to make our food last longer."

"We're also interested in learning about their homeopathic remedies," Renee said. "Kebi has agreed to help us, if we provide her with medical supplies."

"We need to be able to replenish those medical supplies," I said. "We've been lucky, but what happens when we run out of those suture kits? It's not like we can go to the medical supply store to get new ones."

"We can install a ration system like we had on the Ark," Renee suggested.

"I don't want to do that, but it's something to think about it," I shrugged. "Is there a way to reuse instruments, sanitize them?"

"We're doing that already. Our concern is the gauze, pads and other items that can't be reused," Dad explained.

"If I may," Jasper interrupted. "We have a seed bank, and a lot of the medical things use cotton. We can plant cotton, which will give us an opportunity to replace what we're using. I'll get to work on creating seedlings."

"Cotton was abundant in the southern part of this country. It might still be growing in the wild," Rose said, reading from her tablet. "We can send people on a scouting mission."

"Another option," I said, making notes on my tablet. "Do we have any other questions about our proposed alliance with Amun and his people? I want to have a partnership with them, a friendship."

"I think you have a solid plan," Dad nodded, sliding his hand to my mom. She grinned proudly at me.

"What about Jacob and his men?" Charlie asked.

I stood up harshly, scowling at Charlie. "I'm not in a place to discuss his actions without causing significant bodily damage to him or without completely losing my cool about the whole situation."

"Understandable," Sinclair said. "We can table that discussion."

"I don't think we should. The longer they breathe …" Charlie argued.

"This matter is closed," I clipped. I strode to the door of the conference room. "We'll meet with Amun and his people tomorrow. Until then, I'm going to spend time with Bella. She needs me."

"You're ruling with emotion," Charlie snapped.

"And, you ruled by the numbers," I yelled. "You were going to kill your daughter because your approval rating was tanking. If ruling by emotion means that my approval rating goes down, then so be it!" I clenched my fist, glowering at Charlie who was gaping at me.

With another scathing look, I opened the door and left the conference room. I didn't go to medical bay. I went down to the bottom level and screamed in an abandoned hallway. I reared back, pummeling the wall with my fists. I kept hitting the wall and screaming until two sets of arms restrained me.

"You'll break your hands," Eric said. "Or the wall …"

"Or both," Lauren sighed, wrapping her arms around my waist, and pushing me onto the floor. "What the fuck, Edward?"

"Leave me alone," I huffed, placing my throbbing hands on my knees. Blood was dripping from my knuckles onto the floor and my anger was growing exponentially. "I haven't had a chance to … I need to rage. I need to break something!"

"You did," Lauren said softly, gently taking my wrists and showing me my battered and bruised knuckles. "Talk to me."

"You're not who I want to talk to," I spat bitterly. "The person I need is sedated and beat to hell in medical." Tears welled in my eyes. "I promise not to break the wall, but I need to lose it on my own."

Lauren leaned forward, squeezing my shoulder. "I get that, but you have until I find either Renee, Alec, or your dad. Your hands need to be tended to." She gave me an awkward hug, standing up and dragging Eric away from me.

Shoving my hands into my hair, I sobbed and internally raged. I wanted nothing more than to use my fists to beat the hell out of Jacob Black, Charlie Swan or myself. I continued to lose it until Renee came down, crouching in front of me. "Oh, sweet boy," she whispered, brushing my hair back. "So much on your shoulders."

"I hate them," I choked out. "I hate Jacob. I hate Aro. And, I abhor your husband."

"I can't speak for the other two, but my husband hates himself right now," she said.

"Good," I sneered. "Can I beat the hell out of him?"

"No, Edward," Renee deadpanned. "Charlie knows he fucked up."

"He started all of this," I snarled, my eyes flashing with loathing. "It could have been avoided. All of it! If he hadn't been such a ginormous douche, I could have saved Bella. I could have protected her."

"I agree," Renee said softly, sitting down next to me and taking one of my hands. "But, it's not your fault, Edward."

"Then, why is she fighting for her life in medical?" I whispered, fat tears rolling down my cheeks. "Why did she have to suffer the most because of his choices?"

Renee methodically washed my hands, cleaning out the pieces of concrete from the cuts. She wrapped my hands with gauze, carefully cradling them in her lap. "You have a lot of feelings because you're dealing with everything all at once. Your strength comes Bella and she's …"

"She's broken," I said.

"Bruised," Renee countered. "You're both bruised. Her bruising is physical where yours is emotional and mental. I'll do what I can to help you, but for now, you need to step away from it all. Go back to your suite …"

"No … not without Bella," I argued.

"Yes. You're surviving on air and stubbornness," Renee said, cupping my cheek. "Come on. Get up." Renee stood up, offering me her hand. I scowled at her, standing up on my own. She looped her arm through mine, guiding me to the elevator. I blindly followed her to my quarters, and she used my swipe to let me in. "Just sleep and disconnect, Edward."

"I don't know if I can," I frowned.

Renee took out a small bottle. "Sleeping pills," she said. "They'll help you relax." She walked to the kitchenette, grabbing a glass, and filling it with water. She shook out two pills, holding them out. "Take these."

I picked up the two pills and swallowed them with the water. I grimaced at the bitter taste of the pills. I looked at her. "I'm sorry for lashing out at Charlie."

"He needed to hear it. Everyone in that room needed to hear it," Renee murmured, guiding me back to the bedroom. "Get some rest, sweetie."

I sat down on the edge of the bed. Renee untied my boots and pushed me back onto the mountain of pillows. I had no fight left in me. I let Renee tuck me into bed like I was a little boy. She pulled up the blankets and brushing my hair back. She pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Radio me if you need me."

I stared off into space after Renee left. Eventually, my eyes grew heavy. Rolling over to my side, I picked up Bella's pillow and curled around it, drifting off to sleep. And, for first time, thanks to Renee's sedatives, I didn't have nightmares of what could have happened.

xx MWMA xx

I woke up refreshed, but disoriented. I wasn't sure where I was, but the dull ache in my hands reminded me that I was in my quarters, having been medicated by Renee. I got up and padded to the bathroom. I blinked up, staring at my reflection. I grimaced, seeing the haunted expression in my green eyes. I shook my head, tearing off the gauze off my hands. They were still torn to shreds, and I'd need to get the redressed. I stripped out of my clothes and took a long, hot shower.

Once clean, I went down to medical and saw my dad. He wordlessly wrapped my hands before he hugged me tightly. I spent a few moments with Bella, who was being weaned off the sedatives. I wanted to be with her, but the summit with Amun, Indra and the tribal leaders was happening this afternoon.

After eating breakfast, I did some work in my office. I saw several requests from Ark residents to be moved to the mountain, asking to be transferred to my team. I approved their requests, informing Marcus of their change in assignment. I also arranged for quarters for the newest transfers.

I went up to the conference room a little after one in the afternoon, meeting Amun, Indra and their council of leaders. Everyone from the meeting yesterday, save for Charlie, were inside. "Amun, it's good to see you," I said, shaking his hand.

"You look much better, Edward," Amun smiled. "How is your Bella?"

"They're weaning her off the sedatives. Hopefully, by tomorrow, she'll be up and around," I replied. "Kebi has been invaluable, helping with her care."

"My daughter is one of our foremost healers," Indra nodded. "We are proud of her."

"Shall we go into the conference room?" I said, gesturing to the room. "Can we get you something to drink? Water? Apple cider?"

"Water will be nice," Amun answered, sitting down at the table. Rose and Jasper disappeared to get the drinks, returning with a tray of glasses of water. "This is so clear."

"In the mountain, we have a water filtration system that reduces the silt inside the water," Jasper answered. He blinked to me, arching a brow. "We'd be willing to share the water with you. You'd have to provide containers, but we'll give you as much you as want."

Indra took a sip, moaning quietly. "This is cold!"

"We have coolers that we use to keep our water cold and to freeze our food," I said. "There are a lot of amenities here in the mountain, that we're willing to share with you. We also want to learn from you. You've acclimated to living here, on the planet's surface. Tracking skills, trade, medical care, and anything you'd be willing to teach us."

"I think this is the beginning of a strong alliance," Amun said. "I don't want to compare you to Jacob, but they wanted to use our expertise. They took without offering anything in return."

"If we work together, we can do so much," I smiled. "I would be remiss if I didn't call on your expertise. We have the knowledge to maintain the mountain. You have the knowledge to survive out in the world. Together? We can rebuild a civilization, one of mutual respect, and cooperation. Do you agree?" I extended my hand to him.

Amun looked to his mate, who was smiling brightly at him. With a subtle head nod, he turned back to me and took my hand. "We agree."

"With winter coming, we'd like to open up the mountain to your people, should they like to stay," I said.

"That is a kind offer, but we will return to our winter encampment. It's about a three-day trek from here. There are buildings that provide us with shelter. We'd like to extend an invitation, if you'd like to see that," Amun offered.

"We can come with you when you depart, but not without water from us," I said. "And supplies …"

"You are far too kind, Edward," Indra said.

"If I may," Dad interrupted. "Kebi expressed an interest in staying to learn more about our medical care. We can also learn so much from her."

"Let us speak to our daughter," Amun said.

"Of course," Dad nodded. "She's doing a shift in medical at the moment."

"How about this?" I began. "Dad, you take Amun and Indra to medical and we can give a tour to the rest of you."

We separated and I showed the leaders the different parts of the mountain. They were the most impressed with the hydroelectric generators, shocked that water could be used to create electricity. When we met up with Amun and Indra at the dining hall, we shared a meal before they left. Amun and Indra said that Kebi could remain, under the care of Renee. Kebi argued, but she wasn't ready to be on her own quite yet.

After dinner, I went down to medical and found Charlie standing over his daughter's gurney. He was awkwardly holding her hand, staring at her slumbering face. Gritting my teeth, I stepped into her room and cleared my throat. Charlie looked up, standing from his spot. "Edward …"

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I haven't seen her since …" he trailed off, backing down. "She's still my daughter."

"She's in here because of you," I argued. "All of this … it's your fault."

"I know that, Edward and I will forever hate myself for it. I don't need to be reminded about what a horrible chancellor I was," Charlie snipped. "Nor do I need some smart-mouthed kid …"

"A kid who saved your child when you were ready and willing to kill her," I interrupted. I looked up at him, narrowing my eyes at him. "After today, I will not interact with you, or care about you. You are not worth my time. I will support Bella in her decision, whatever that may be, in regard to her relationship with you."

"If she forgives me, you won't stop her from seeing me?" Charlie asked.

"If she forgives you," I answered. "But, I don't. I won't. I never will. The consequences to your actions all lie with her. She's in this situation because of you." I arched a brow at him. "Are you done with your visit?"

His eyes were glassy as he nodded his head. Bending down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, Bells," he whispered. "I'll try to see you soon." He skirted past me, glaring at me. "Cullen …"

Renee and Austin walked out of Bella's office. Austin looked completely flummoxed. Renee's face was impassive. Austin mumbled something about getting some supplies, leaving quickly. Renee sighed, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry, but you know how I feel about Charlie. I won't speak to him again," I said.

"I'm not disagreeing with you," Renee began, "but, this wasn't the place to bitch out my husband." She walked over, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Everything you said, he needed to hear. Not in a placing of healing. Focus on positive energy."

"I'm sorry," I frowned. "I should have …" I scrubbed my hands through my hair.

"You're fighting for her. I respect that, but he's still her father and deserves a chance to make things right," Renee said. "I'm in the mindset of you, but I thought I lost him. We're living separately, but talking. It'll be some time before I can fully forgive him." Walking to me, she cupped my cheek. "For now, focus on Bella."

"I can do that," I whispered, sitting down next to Bella. "I can definitely focus on Bella." I picked up her hand, kissing her palm. "I love you, Princess. I'll always love you."

A/N: Charlie's on the shit list … Should Edward forgive Charlie for his abhorrent behaviors? What about Bella? Leave me your thoughts.

Up next will be a combination chapter of Edward and Bella … Will she wake up in the next chapter?