Chapter 2 - Pause

"Bella, the only reason I left was because I thought I was protecting you. I needed you to have a chance at a normal, happy life."

Lies. Bella could feel as if Edward's words are all lies. How does he expect her to believe him when his actions thus far have been the opposite of what love is? Anger starts to boil in her. Who does he think he is, deciding things for her? He's not her father.

"It was so easy for you to leave," she managed to croak despite the pain she feels bubbling in her chest. She'd been through loneliness, self-destruction attempts, and even went down the black hole that is in the form of depression.

"Leaving you was the hardest thing I've done in 100 years," he uttered with bloody tears that could never spill from his bronze eyes.

Instead of feeling relieved or any form of vindication from his confession, Bella retracts her fingers out of his cold grasp. Suddenly, the thought of him touching her irks her. His pupils dilated to see her body recoiling from his touch. In a human speed, he rises up from Bella's bed and takes a few steps back. He may never be able to read her mind but he knows well enough that she doesn't want him there, at least for now.

She sees his face hardened at her reaction but it quickly morphed into a look of determination. He grits his teeth and makes a vow, "I swear I will never fail you again. I'm so sorry."

For a moment there, she wants to believe him. If he had uttered those words maybe three months ago, she would have wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms and kiss his sorrow away. Once upon a time, his approval and happiness were her top priorities. But she is Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen had made her feel unworthy of love. She had gone through the darkest pits of her life and survived, with the help of Charlie, Angela and the pack. She's no longer the same naive Bella he had left her alone in the woods all those months ago. She had survived Laurent and most recently, the Volturi Kings.

Don't forgive him.

Bella's alarmed by the sudden voice in her head. It almost sounded like her inner voice but it's much smoother and has foreign accent, almost Italian-like? Her eyes dart around the room to see if there's anyone else in the room with them but nothing.

"Bella?"

Her attention falls back to the bronze-haired vampire, puzzled by her look of confusion. His eyes are pleading and conveying so much remorse and desperation. There is still a small part of her that rejoices at this sight. In a way she's relieved to know that she hadn't been the only one to suffer from the separation.

He doesn't deserve you.

If Bella is confused, she masks it all too well. She's thankful yet again that the boy couldn't read her mind. She blames it on being tired.

You deserve so much more.

Those words are successful to rile her up as she feels the surge of anger surfing in her chest. Whoever is speaking to her, the person's right. She does deserve better. Even without the vampiric complications that come with the Cullens' territory, no one deserves to get their heart broken and their fate determined by another person.

She had her choice taken away from her.

If she didn't feel offended back then, she sure is now. The adrenaline pumping through her makes her sit up, unable to contain the storm inside of her. Her jaws tense and her eyes narrow at the audacity of this sad excuse of a man who claimed to love her.

Words of insult sit idly by at the tip of her tongue but Charlie beats her to it when he suddenly opens the door and like the coward he is, Edward flees the room through the window.

"Hey, you okay?"

If her resolve momentarily weakened earlier at Edward's apology, it's gone now. It had been two times that she had broken Charlie's heart and despite it all, he's been an amazing parental figure in her life. He may not always have the right words but at her vulnerable moments, he's always been there where it counts.

The wary look sported by Charlie dissipates some of her anger into thin air. Calmness overtakes her. With the biggest smile she could muster, Bella reassures Charlie that she has never felt better.

"Dad?"

In the rare moments when she calls him that, Charlie remains frozen on the spot with his steady hand on the door handle, his heart settling warmly in his chest. He knows she's always been independent and mature all her life so to hear her call him that is something that he cherishes. It gives him the knowledge that he can still protect her.

"Yeah, Bella?"

"Thank you, Dad. For everything."

A lump forms in his throat and unable to express his overwhelming feelings, Charlie manages a nod. He would have gone for a hug but they've never been the hugger type, unless Bella initiates it. He wishes he could be more affectionate but all that goes out the window the moment Renee moved Bella away to Arizona. The most he could afford to do is give her a warm smile and a nod.

He'll always be there for her when she needs her father. He tries to close the door but she asks him to let it wide open. He's surprised by the request but obliges with no questions. If she wanted comfort from knowing he's just two doors away from her, that's something that he could give. If it makes her feel safer, then he's happy to do it.

To be honest, Bella's actually not in the mood to deal with everything that is her ex-boyfriend tonight. Eventhough she manages to catch a nap on the flight back to Forks, her body and mind are exhausted. Moreover, it feels as if her heart and soul are sore. She just needs a break. Without second thoughts, she flew out to Italy to rescue him and now that the mission is successfully completed, all she wants is to close her eyes and get some much deserved rest.

There are too many things to be unpacked; Edward, Alice and the rest of the Cullens. She's also sure the packs won't be happy with the Cullens' return. But those can wait. No one has the ability to stop time even if they wanted so what Bella wished is for a pause.

As she nestles herself in her bed that has witnessed her tears, her numbness and her heartbreak, she closes her eyes, expecting a very peaceful sleep knowing Edward wouldn't dare to step into the room with the door ajar and Charlie nearby.

The exhaustion makes her eyelids grow heavy and she drifts off to the land of dreams. She can still see those mysterious velvety eyes that have been haunting her since they left Volterra. Instead of feeling dread and anxious by those piercing eyes, they somehow bring her just the right amount of comfort to lull her to sleep.

A/N: Yeay to inspirations!