Breaking Dawn

Chapter One

Newborn Army Aftermath

STANDING ON THAT MOUNTAIN AS EDWARD AND SETH fought Victoria and Riley made me feel physically sick. I knew that Victoria blamed Edward for James' death however she had everything wrong. Despite the pain that I was experiencing as Edward sucked the venom out of my arm I had vaguely seen Alice and Jasper rip James apart; not that Victoria would believe that she was too far gone and it seemed that the newborn she had turned had been completely taken in by whatever the sadistic redhead had told him.

I didn't know what I was thinking when I grabbed the rock and slit my arm enough to distract Victoria, in an instant Seth was ripping Riley apart as Edward tore Victoria apart. In a split second Edward burned the remains, thick purple smoke destroying the remaining part of that horrific spring that almost broke us. Tears filled my eyes as I heard Jacob scream in pain. But that part of me, the part that had begged my friend to let me go and find his imprint, only to have him kiss me against my will. I couldn't bring myself to rush off to him. I had already made my choice and I wasn't about to let a teenage wolf ruin my engagement. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't hear Edward approaching me until he was taking my arm in his hands wrapping it in a scrap of his shirt.

"Bella, talk to me. Are you okay?" Edward's panicked voice cut through my thoughts.

"I'm okay. I just … …I couldn't bear to see her hurt you. Jacob took me to a bonfire, Billy was telling the legends. I'm sorry." I said softly leaning into his embrace. "I don't want to talk to him anymore."

"What's brought this on? Not that I'm complaining." Edward asked. "Seth went to talk to Sam."

"I've had a lot of time to think about everything. I've come to realise that I didn't keep seeing Jacob because I wanted to. I'd long ago accepted that I am your mate and you are mine. But Charlie kept pushing." I said quietly looking into his eyes. "It's time to tell Charlie about our engagement."

My heart raced seeing the radiant look on Edward's face. Holding out my hand I felt my engagement ring being placed onto my finger.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear those words." Edward said softly. "It's safe to go home now. The Volturi didn't have anything to do."

"They were here?" I asked involuntarily shuddering.

"Briefly, Carlisle wanted us to go down there, however I need to stop this bleeding. Should we go straight to Charlie's or our house?" Edward asked.

"Charlie's is not home anymore, it hasn't been since the moment we met. Take me home." I said softly leaning against Edward as I looked toward Seth who was now human again. "Tell Billy I'm sorry, but I can't see Jake anymore if he attempts to blame Edward let your Mum know it is completely my choice."

"Will do Bella, Mum and Charlie are kind of a thing now. And for what it's worth I'll try and get Sam to agree to your change." Seth said softly hugged us both before rushing off toward the reservation where Jacob had likely been taken.

"I'm only going to ask this once more and then I won't bring him up again. How did he get hurt?" I asked leaning into Edward as he ran us back to the house.

"Leah misjudged a newborn and it was about to hurt her, Jacob intervened and one side of his body got crushed. Let's get you back home." Edward said softly picking me up and quickly running through the forest until he reached the turn to the Cullen house.

Once we were inside Edward rushed into Carlisle's office to retrieve everything that he would need to stitch up my arm, I was seriously going to have to stop getting myself hurt. But if it helped my mate escape then it was worth it. Though I guessed my fiancé would disagree with me. With the adrenaline of the newborn fight wearing off the cut began to sting. I would never be able to thank the wolves for what they'd done to help us, however I couldn't and wouldn't put Jacob before my mate any longer.

Looking up I saw Edward return with everything he would need, ugh needles. Why didn't I think of that before I sliced my arm with a rock? The saltiness of my blood made my stomach turn once more, I really hoped that wouldn't continue into my immortal life. With Edward taking hold of my arm it didn't take long for him to clean the cut before stitching me up. Suddenly I was thankful we had told Charlie I was having a girls night with Alice and Rosalie.

"All done. What are you thinking?" Edward said softly wrapping his arms around my waist.

"My reaction to blood, my stomach is in knots. As if fainting in front of you that time after blood typing wasn't embarrassing enough." I said softly leaning my head against my fiancé's chest. "How long do we have until everyone gets home?"

"They're hunting. Unnecessarily however it is their way of giving us time to ourselves again." Edward reassured me.

"Mm remind me to thank them later." I said softly scrunching up my nose. "Dratted thing."

"What's wrong?" Edward asked anxiously.

Sighing softly I cursed Mother Nature. Of all the times to show up it had to be now, when we were alone. Pushing back from Edward I knew he could see my face change, the look of concern in his golden eyes. How exactly did I explain this? I'd always managed to avoid him being around when it showed up. Taking hold of his hand I lead him up into our bedroom hoping that Alice would have had the forethought to buy some for me; rushing into the bathroom I looked through my toiletries that I kept here letting out the breath that I hadn't realised I had been holding.

Once I'd gotten myself sorted out and changed into a fresh pair of pyjamas I made my way back into the bedroom crawling onto the bed where Edward was currently working himself into a state. I sighed softly knowing I should have explained myself properly before rushing into the bathroom. Reaching out for him I felt his arms wrap around me instantly.

"Apparently the reason I have been feeling sick is Mother Nature. We've never been together when it's come you've been hunting." I explained grimacing. "For the next week I'm likely going to be nauseous. But it won't be for long, at least it will be over before our wedding."

"How can I help?" Edward asked his eyes softening.

"Well most girls have hot water bottles but that never works with me, in fact the temperature of your skin will help immensely. Alice has already provided everything I need for the next week. I believe our sister saw my decision about Charlie's before we discussed it. It's been on my mind for a while." I said honestly.

"Perhaps we should invite Charlie over and tell him your thoughts. From his thoughts I've only ever heard his desire for you to be happy. It's my own fault that he pushed you toward the mutt." Edward said quietly though I could hear him.

"Maybe I should remind him about the fact I was kissed against my will if he attempts to bring him up again." I thought out loud nodding my head softly against Edward's chest. "Invite him once everyone is back, then Alice can go and butter him up."

"I believe Alice would you enjoy that. Your father doesn't say it out loud however the pixie has worked her way into his heart." Edward said quietly as he received. Text message from said pixie confirming she would stop by Charlie's on her way home.

On cue both of our cells peeped with a text message, informing us that Charlie had already been collected and they were on their way back. I knew for a fact that this was my home, wherever Edward was. Despite knowing that he wouldn't be going anywhere again, having to be apart from my mate was like repeating that process all over again whenever he had to leave every morning so Charlie didn't see him in my bedroom. But how exactly did I get my police chief father to understand that without telling him out loud.

Looking into Edward's eyes I could see he was completely relaxed, it was like the last barrier of awkwardness had been taken away from us. We'd never discussed my monthly annoyance though I always knew on some level my fiancé knew when it was that awful time of the month. Chuckling lightly I knew that this was going to be the time I found out if Charlie could accept my mate. Wrapping my arms around my stomach I sighed softly as it did it's usual churning.

"Emmett is going to have a field day when he hears me throw up during the next week." I said quietly my brow furrowing.

"I'd he knows what's good for him he will keep his mouth shut." Edward promised wrapping his arms around my waist.

"You can hear his thoughts what are the odds of Charlie being okay with us getting married?" I asked quietly almost certain that my mother would be the harder one to convince.

"Believe it or not despite everything that I did when I … …left. He's been expecting something like this for a while." My fiancé said softly. "Speaking of Charlie everyone is about to come inside. Can I get you anything?"

"I'm not sure eating would be wise right now, I wouldn't say no to a drink. Maybe something that will ease the cold and shock that everything is over." I said softly untangling myself from my mate and sliding off our bed. Sighing softly I knew it was going to be a long week.

"Coffee or tea?" Edward asked taking my hair brush out of my hand pulling it gently through my hair and into a high ponytail.

"Coffee please, I'm banning Alice from doing my hair from now on. I feel much more comfortable with you doing it." I said softly knowing our sister was going to have a hissy fit the moment Charlie wasn't around.

"Sounds good to me." My mate said softly kissing me gently.

Five minutes later we were curled up on the couch, each of us seated as couples though Charlie was still under the impression that every mated pair were siblings. Even with my father in the room I instinctively moved toward Edward, especially feeling the way I did. The one thing I hated was lying to Charlie, I did wish that he knew that my siblings were actually together, but at the same time it wasn't my decision to make. The ruse was important to not draw attention, however my thought process was it looked like Charlie would find out anyway, Sue was after all a member of the Quiluete Elders.

Sighing softly I wrapped my arms around my waist leaning my head against Edward's chest as his arms wrapped around me, I could see that he was having a silent conversation with Alice, likely about my current thought process. Suddenly I wished that I would let my mate into my head it was becoming increasingly annoying bring on the outside of it. Furrowing my brow I gasped seeing Alice nod her head in agreement. My thoughts were of course broken by Emmett.

"Now don't you look cosy. What did you do to make Edward this outwardly open?" Emmett's voice boomed as Charlie turned to look at us.

"Something you want to tell me Bells?" Charlie asked looking between us. "And what happened with Jacob, Seth said you've stopped talking to him."

What I wouldn't give to be able to see inside his head right now. I'd have to ask Edward later. Breaking eye contact with Charlie I looked up at Edward seeing him looking down at me again. Leaning in to kiss him I felt his arm replace my left hand around my waist, making sure that my engagement ring; the beautiful heirloom which had once belonged to Elizabeth Masen was visible. I'd always feared that Renee would be the one who disagreed with my marriage however Charlie had never approved of my relationship with Edward after he returned. It was time my father heard some home truths. Taking a deep breath I prepared to be forceful.

"Edward and I are engaged, he proposed to me a week ago and I said yes. He's my everything, my heart, my soul. You saw how devastated I was when they left, you keep blaming Edward for hurting me, but you don't get it, you don't want to see that it destroyed him just as much as it did him. He didn't leave because he stopped loving me. And if you want to be in my life anymore it's about time you dealt with that because he's not going anywhere." I said firmly.

"Congratulations, I'm not going to say it's a shock. I've been planning for this for a while. You're not coming home are you?" Charlie asked.

"Thank you Dad. I'm already home Dad. This was home the moment I met him everything else was just a formality." I sighed softly grimacing.

"What about Jacob. He's hurting and your ignoring him." Charlie sighed. "Despite Edward being your soulmate he was there for you when… ..sorry."

"There's a lot that you're going to find out about Jacob; I'm pretty sure that you're going to be told soon. But I can't tell you. What you do have to understand is Jacob isn't the innocent boy you think he is. At every turn he's attempted to split us up, even before Edward returned and Alice came to see if I was okay he was attempting to keep us apart. The motorbikes he brought to you, he helped me fix them up but I bet he never told you that. I was grounded for rushing off to save Edward from killing himself. And I was punished for it, what would you rather I died too? Because that's what would have happened if he had been successful." I paused for breath as I instinctively moved closer to Edward.

"Bells I …" Charlie started.

"I'm not done. At every turn Jacob Black has attempted to force me to be with him. And what did you do? You and Billy encouraged him. Do you have any idea how much that hurt not just me but Edward. The last time I went down there to appease you he decided to forcibly kiss me, despite knowing I'm very much in love with Edward. And I couldn't even break his face without hurting myself. And what did you do? Take Jacob's side. I love you Charlie but I refuse to let immature teenage boys attempt to break us up anymore. I don't care if that means you are upset with me he's done too much to hurt me. And you've just brushed it under the carpet." I finished angry tears starting to fall.

"I'm sorry Bells, I was so focused on protecting you from being heartbroken I didn't see what was staring me in the face. Billy was so determined that Edward was bad news I let it affect my own judgement. Had I known how much his son was attempting to split you up I would have asked him to leave. Would you like to press charges for the forced kiss?" Charlie asked.

"I just want to live my life with Edward, I'm sick of having to protect my relationship because others around me think they know what's better for me than me. I lived without Edward once, I refuse to do it again." I said quietly looking at my father. "Even if that means cutting people out who try and force me to talk to Jacob."

Sighing did it I rubbed my forehead, I didn't feel well enough to have another argument with Charlie about Jake, he'd shown his true colours to me when he had tried to force himself on me not once but twice, knowing full well that my fiancé could hear every thought that he showed toward him. And as much as it would hurt to cut Charlie out if he continued to be on the wrong side I would be forced into it. Edward's arms wrapped around me as he looked at his future father in law.

"Everything Bella said is true Charlie, you might not have liked my choices and trust me when I say I will never forgive myself for what happened last fall. However if the roles had been reversed and Bella had sent me away, no matter how much it would kill me I would have supported her choice. Jacob Black however has manipulated her at every opportunity. Both of us feel anxious being away from each other, that reason alone is why I was always there when you came home. She's my life, like she's already told you I can't live in a world she's not in. Don't we deserve to be happy without immature teenage boys." Edward finished as I felt my tears falling.

"When you put it like that I guess you're right. You have my blessing to marry Bells and if Jake tries anything I'll deal with him. Billy Black may be a friend however I won't hesitate to walk away if he continues to shove his son on my daughter. Oh and Bells?" Charlie asked.

"What's on your mind Dad." I asked softly.

"Firstly you can be the one to tell your mother, secondly given your attire I'm guessing you are moving here straight away." Charlie said softly.

"Um kind of. Alice always keeps clothes here for me. Yes we share a bed but no we aren't doing anything but sleeping. We're waiting until we are married." I said quietly. "She's going to kill me."

"If she attempts to belittle your choice then it's her insecurities. I might not have liked Edward but I have witnessed the way you two complete each other. But as your father I hate seeing you grow up." Charlie said softly.

"I promise I'll call her soon. But not today there's been enough excitement." I said quietly.

"She might surprise you and be excited." Charlie tried to reassure me. If that was the case it would be a shock to me.

"I'll remind you of that when she cuts the call short." I said quietly moving closer to Edward.

"Do you want to stay for dinner Charlie?" Esme asked my father.

"I best get going, I have the night shift at the station. Maybe next time." Charlie admitted standing up and hugging me awkwardly. "See you soon Bells."

"I'll come by and make dinner for you after I collect the rest of my clothes. That's if Alice let's me she's a stickler for fashion." I said teasingly.

"Hey." Alice said quietly.

"You know I love you Alice otherwise I wouldn't sit there while you play dress up." I said honestly.

"Go easy on her Ali, Bells isn't used to being spoiled." Charlie said quietly before turning to leave.

"You know I will Charlie." Alice said softly.

Once Charlie had left I closed my eyes trying desperately to keep my stomach contents where they were. I absolutely hated Mother Nature; when I was finally turned it was one thing I wouldn't miss about being human. Squeezing Edward's hand I wished beyond anything that he could hear my thoughts. For just once I wished I wasn't a mental mute. I knew that despite not being able to hear my thoughts my fiancé was getting remarkably good at reading how I was feeling by my face. Sighing softly I looked at our family specially Alice hoping she would understand given she was the one who saw my predicament before I did.

Rushing upstairs into our bedroom I managed to make it into the en suite bathroom making it to the toilet just as I lost the battle with my stomach. Forget what I said earlier I absolutely wanted to destroy Mother Nature. After another bout of vomiting, I felt Edward's hand rubbing my back gently. Leaning back against his shoulder I cuddled in, suddenly seeing the rest of our siblings standing in the doorway.

"Before anyone gets any idea I'm not pregnant." I said quietly.

"Then why are you throwing up?" Rosalie asked looking between us.

"That's just what happens to me when it's that time of the month. And no Emmett you aren't allowed to tease me." I explained looking between Rosalie and Emmett.

"You'll get no teasing from Emmett I can assure you of that Bella. He knows the consequences if he does." Rosalie said softly. "And family call me Rose."

"Aww babe that's not fair. It's so much fun to tease the human." Emmett complained though I could tell he didn't mean it.

"And if I wasn't in pain and feeling so bad Emm I would let you tease me." I said quietly leaning against Edward. "It's only one week."

"Alright I'll behave." Emmett promised.

"Thank you." I whispered softly feeling Edward pick me up and the chain flush.

"It's time for Bells to sleep, we can figure other things out later." Edward said softly carrying me into our bedroom as the rest of the family exited.

Once I was placed in our bed I took a deep breath thankful my fiancé was so quick to make everyone leave. Not only had we destroyed newborns (well my family had I just watched feeling useless) I'd also said finally closed the door on Jacob. As I got comfortable, Edward got changed into pyjama bottoms sliding into bed beside me. Scooting closer I rested my head against his chest listening to him hum my lullaby, by the second verse I began to fall asleep, this was home. Forever started now.