Chapter 41 ~ The Cradle Will Fall

Esme came running over with two large comfortable bean bag chairs, Edward looked at her like she had three heads. She smiled sympathetically, " I just thought you two would want to sit and be comfortable to talk with your daughter."

Esme was so motherly, her shattered heart would never stop giving. " Thank you Esme, I hope I can talk with her I do." Edward crabbed my hand and squeezed it.

" Hope, got to have it for it to work." He was right I sat on one bean bag and Edward sat across from me and let go of my hand. 

" No Edward I want you to hear her, feel her, I need her to know we are both here." I extended my hands again.

" will she hear me?" he was so hesitant, unbelieving 

" I will make sure of it." I gave him a reassuring nod.

He took my hands once more, " Ok now I know this is hard but you need to relax, she will sense your fear, she will feel everything you do, so send her all the love you can, together we will make her stronger."

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the inside of my palm, " That will be easy, I love her with all I am."

I gave a nod and closed my eyes, I focused on what I remembered, her smells, her laughs, how her curls bounced, how she felt in my arms and how the music of her heartbeat lulled me to sleep. I remembered her spinning in Edwards arms and how they were hysterical and carefree. I knew Edward would see what I saw, I could feel his emotions. He was so strong, I felt his fear subside and his love wash over me. In that moment I could hear her. She was breathing, she was alone, so very much alone and so afraid.

" My angel, dear sweet child, Mommy and daddy are here, can you hear us?" My voice was soft, I hoped she would respond, I feared if she was heard. Her breath hitched, she came into view. She laid on a pale pink bed she was curled into a tiny ball, she was clutching a blanket.

" Mommy, Daddy?"

Her voice was raspy I was ready to tell her we were coming for her but it was Edward who spoke. " Magnificent Mara, my beautiful brave little girl, Daddy is so proud of you and I promise you I will come for you, If it's the last thing I do in this world, I will save you, I promise you, do you believe me?"

Her sobs were quiet but we heard them, we felt them, " Oh daddy I am so scared, please daddy help me, it hurts."

I felt Edward's grip tighten, " Tell Daddy what hurts sweetheart?"

" My, My arms, they hurt daddy."

I knew Edward was using all his strength to stay calm, " Mara, do you believe daddy?"

" Yes, I know you will try and keep your promise daddy." Her sobs were louder now.

" Mara, tell mommy why your arms hurt?"

She clutched the blanket tighter then she loosened it, slowly we watched as she lifted the sleeves of her gown up, all along her arms were slices and bite marks, over and over. The room was spinning. My baby was being fed off of, her blood was being drained from her body. " They hurt me."

" You listen to mommy Mara, I will not let them hurt you again, do you hear me, I am coming for you, stay strong, don't give them a reason to hurt you anymore then they have." I knew my promise would be challenged by Edward, but my choices were taken from me, my baby was hurt, I needed to take her out of there.

" I won't mommy, I am sorry, I wish they would just let Auntie Emily stay with me, do you know where she is, I miss her?"

My heart was aching, I was starting to crumble, and again Edward saves me, " Don't you worry about Auntie Emily, she is a fighter just like you, you have taught her well, you don't worry, we are coming."

" Ok Daddy."

"Daddy and I have to go sweetheart, you sleep and when you wake I will be there....... I promise."

" I love you Mommy, I Love you daddy."

" We love you brave angel." Edward's voice was straining. " Sleep baby girl, sleep for daddy."

" Ok Daddy, I am so very tired."

We waited until we knew she was sleeping to separate from her. It took all of three seconds for Edward to snap up and glare at me.  " Why the fuck are you making those promises Bella, we aren't ready, I want her out to but you aren't going in there alone!"

I stood, took a deep breath and braced myself, " Edward, our baby needs us, what exactly do you think I am going to do, sit back and let them drain her dry?"

" We go together." He took my face in his hands and pulled me closer, " You make promises Bella, you need to keep them, and you promised I was in this with you, together, by your side, forever."

His eyes were pleading, My heart was on fire, I hurt immensely." Edward, I ... I need to save her."

" That wasn't your promise, it was mine Bella!"

I knew if I went alone I would likely die saving her, I also knew if we both went that we would both die and she would have no one. I did what I had to do to save my family, to end this war, it was my daughter but it was all of our lives wrapped up in this nightmare, someone, many someone's were going to die but I had no choice. This day approached faster then I was ready, but it was necessary. Our options, were taken, our time clock was beeping. I turned to Esme, her smile was strong, I knew she knew what I was going to say, " Its time then."

Carlisle grabbed Esme's arm, " No not yet, we aren't ready she isn't ready, she could die."

Esme turned to Carlisle, her face was pouring with Love, she was so brave. " It IS time, I need to do this, it must end, saving Mara saves us all, you know this, I, you all of us knew the sacrifices, please my love, you need to let me go so I can truly live."

Carlisle fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around Esme. She pulled his head to her stomach closed her eyes and hushed him to a calm. So brave indeed.

I wanted to stop all this mess, I wanted to free them all. Esme was right we needed to save her to save us all, they would protect me and Mara with their own lives, it was beyond unfair. I felt no more important or deserving then them but my blood, and hers was the key to a rule that would bring the world to the mercy of the devil himself. 

Rose, Emmett, Maggie, Zafrina, Seth, and Jake came in and looked at us. a flint of confusion was immediately replaced with understanding. Rose pulled Emmett to her, Seth had his hands on his hips with his head down. Zafrina was all business the fiercest of them all, ready to jump into the fire no doubts at all. Maggie was wringing her hands together like she was trying to break them off and Jake only had eyes for me. He was staring, or glaring for a better use of the word at me. 

I cleared my throat and went to Maggie, I placed my hands on her shoulders, I looked right into her eyes, " You can't come Mags."

She was mortified, " Why not, I have been practicing I am good I can do this."

" You are amazing Maggie, but he will see right through you, Moriana can smell fear and you reek of it, I am so sorry."

I saw sadness and relief in her eyes, she shook her head. " I understand Bella, really I do."

I gave her a hug and walked to Zafrina, she was immense next to me but she looked down at me and smirked, " Don't you think of dismissing me."

I let out a single laugh, " Not even the thought crossed my mind, just remember you are me, not you."

She smiled and shook her head, " Got it!"

I went to Seth and placed a hand on his arm, " Hey big boy you ready for this?"

He took a huge breathe and then lifted his head and looked at me, he was ready. " You know it Bells."

I couldn't help but smile, he was so sure of himself. I then walked to Emmett and Rose. Emmett was all for this he was beaming from ear to ear, " Oh Bella Babes this is gonna be sweet!" I shook my head at him, but I was really looking at Rosalie, her eyes were closed and she was buried into Emmett's chest. I reached for her, I thought for sure she was going to bite me or something, but in typical Rose style she shocked me.

" Let's get your daughter and kill these fuckers!" 

Emmett, Zaf, and Seth started laughing. Jake was pacing in circles. I looked back at Edward who was looking at me. He let out a sigh and nodded in the direction of Jake. He was letting me comfort him. 

I took Jake's hand, immediately stopping his pacing. He looked at my hand in his, then at my eyes. " Bella?"

" Come with me for a minute Jake?"

He reluctantly came we left the war room to an office across the way. I shut the door and sat him on the couch with me. He looked lost. " Are you ready for this Jake?"

His lips were in a straight line, his brows were angrily pushed down, " Why wouldn't I be ready to go dive into a heavily guarded castle to save your daughter that you had with Edward in hopes to save the world from evil and most likely die?" Yeah ALL sarcasm.

" Jake, come on, stop."

" No Bella, you stop, it's so easy to just stop for you!" and he was up and pacing again

" Nothing about any of this is easy Jake!"

He placed his fists on the desk, he was hunched over with his head hanging. " I hope I die in there."

I reached over to him grabbing his hand, " Don't you say that!"

He looked at me, " You don't understand, If I die then you live, a world without you Bella is no world I want to be a part of." He turned and kneeled before me. " I rather live in a world where you hated me then a world where you didn't exist."

Well I knew I wasn't dead yet because my heart was killing me. " Oh Jake, I'm so sorry."

He smiled, it wasn't happy, it was accepting. " I understand Bella, you love Edward, he is your happily ever after, your end game, I know." He took my hands. " And you are everything I will ever look for in a woman and never find." He shrugged, " It's who we are, no one fault it just is."

I knew in that moment whatever happened between Jake and I was never in malice, he really did love me. A love I could never return. It stopped mattering, he accepted it but was still willing to fight at my side and sacrifice his own life for me, Mara and a man he envied immeasurably. I leaned close and kissed Jake on the cheek, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. It took a few seconds but he wrapped himself around me, " I love you Bella."

I closed my eyes, " I know Jake."

Chapter 40 ~ Past, Present, Future

Edward was in the shower so I left a note on the bed letting him know I was heading to Carlisle's office to give more blood. As I walked down the corridor I heard my name, I turned briskly to meet Jake's arrogant gaze. " What do you want dog?"

" Hostile much Bella? What's your deal?"

I quirked an eyebrow and pursed my lips, and I took a ' fuck off ' stance " Look Jake I think it best you keep your distance, I have issues with my temper, but out of respect I WILL leave your wounded body here for Edward to finish off."

" For real?" He was furrowing his brow, his smile wasn't so much a smile as it was a vacant emotional line, his face was telling a story almost.

" Yeah Jake, for real." I went to walk away but he grabbed my arm. It took everything in me to keep my cool. " release me Jacob or I swear to God I will fucking shred you!"

" Shred me fine, at least that way you will pay some attention to me for Christ sake!" He was ripping mad, I blamed the blind rage for his stupidity.

" Attention? Jake apparently I gave you way too much attention at one point, and in a haze of darkness when I was succumbed by my curse you took advantage of me, so you can stow the play with me play with me attitude."

He let go of my arm, but as he stood there with a hooded glare I felt his anguish, bitterness, and lust.

" You have no idea Bella what it's like to be near you, and not be able to love you."

" Fuck You Jake, if you loved me you would never do what you did!"

" What I DID! I know it's hard for you to get it through your fanatical mind Bella, but I did nothing to you that you didn't want or need."

My eyes widened in horror, " WANT? NEED? What do you know? NOTHING Jake you are a foolish child, I thought Edward was dead and you took what little I had and sucked it out of me."

" Yeah OK Bella, do me a favor tell me about that night?" He had his fists on his hips and a rage full look on his face. 

Truth was I couldn't tell him because I couldn't really remember, I just stared him down and after a few moments, a grin replaced the angering line of his lips, " You don't even fucking remember do you Bella?"

Every second I stood next to him the angrier I became, " I have to go Jake, Carlisle is waiting."

He shifted blocking my path, " He can wait, answer me!"

I released a frustrated breath, " Fine, No I don't remember, Edward told me, but before you go on and tell me to go fuck myself or deny anything you know what he told me was true!" I stated matter of fact.

He  dropped his head and shook it, " I never said I denied it, it was the greatest night of my life Bella, I would tattoo it to my face for the world to see if I knew it wouldn't shame you."

My heart skipped, he was so hurt, so unbelievably in pain. " Jake I ...." I literally had no idea what to say so I figured I would take the cowardly way out, " I'm sorry I can't remember, but I love Edward, you know this and honestly I'm just thinking about Mara and getting her back right now."

He simply nodded, " Yeah, well that's what I originally came here to talk to you about before you threatened me." He forced a smile, the pain was screaming at me. " It looks like we have located her whereabouts in the castle."

I knew I should address the Jake and me thing further but his words totally woke me up, " You found her? Is she Ok?"

He turned, " Follow me you can see for yourself." He started walking toward the ' War Room' as I like to call it. I wanted to stop off and let Edward know my plans changed but I was too anxious to see, so I followed Jake.

When we entered, Emmett, Rose, Esme and Carlisle were there and had their backs to the door and were facing the large screen." So we found her?" It was literally all I had. They collectively turned with determined faces. I looked to Esme who had a more harder look to her. It was odd I had not seen that particular expression on her before. I quickly walked to the screen staring at it. " Where?"

Rose Just pointed to a Pink light, " There, she hasn't moved all night." 

I turned to her, " All night? You found her and waited till now to tell me?"

She rolled her eyes, " I came by your room hours ago but... well you SOUNDED occupied so we just kept tabs on her till you were FINALLY decent." Her attitude pissed me off.

" Yeah well that's not OK when it comes to my daughter, you should have knocked!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, " Hell to the no Bella, I am mimicking you to pass as you in a NORMAL not NIGHTMARE induced daily lifestyle, I don't need to see that shit!"

Carlisle naturally intervened, " OK ladies, how about we catch Bella up on the evenings events outside her bedroom?"

I angrily rolled my eyes and face the good doctor as he began to tell me how an indicator light began flashing erratically followed by another and another. " It looked as though some sort of a fight broke out in the ballroom of the castle, as we watched we noticed in the midst of the chaos a single light, Moriana's fled the room and stalled in this area here." He pointed to a room on the map. " Then out of nowhere her light was accompanied by a pink one, as I watched further I realized it must be Mara's."

I was gaping, no doubt, " H-H How?"

He shook his head understanding, " You have a few lights here as indicators, colors mean something for you, well pink can be used to show childish innocence, or a characters child-like personality. It made perfect sense that it would be her." 

Of course it made total sense to me, that is exactly the color I would give Mara. " She's OK?"

Esme placed her hand on my shoulder and lightly she rubbed, " Yes dear, it looks like she is fine."

I nodded, " Alright this is good, maybe I can try and communicate with her?" I looked at everyone hoping I would get approval? I don't know, but it was Rose who spoke.

" Uh Yeah what the hell else would you do stare at the fucking light." She was such a bitch but i was grateful she at least answered me.

" OK can someone go get Edward he should be here for this." Esme shook her head and shuffled out the door. 

Emmett sat down and was just staring at me, I went and sat by him, sitting Indian style with my hands folded on my lap. Immediately Emmett mirrored me. I raised a brow at him, and he followed suit. " Really Emmett?"

" Really Emmett." was his response

" Oh no don't do that." I snapped

" Oh no don't do that." He said equally aggressive. 

I just put my head in my hands and sighed, only to hear HIS sigh in return.

Moments later Edward entered the room with Esme, I got up walked to him and hugged him, "Hey."

He was about to respond when Emmett began hugging Edward. Then Rose started laughing. 

Edward looked at me, then Emmett. " Uhm Hey Em, what the?"

I just shook Emmett off Edward, " He is trying to perfect me."

He smiled, " Well for Emmett, that could take forever." And that was all that was needed to shake Emmett out of his Bella routine.

" Yeah Fuck You man." He walked over to Rose and sat down, sulking.

Carlisle told Edward everything I already knew, " So Bella is going to try and communicate with Mara, and it is probably best you are here for this."

Edward shook his head, " Thanks." He turned he gaze to me, " You ready to do this?"

I shrugged, " It has to be done."

He smiled, " yeah, let's do this then."

Chapter 39 ~ Release

  After I shut the door Edward was sitting on the edge of the bed with a smirk on his face that said,' Ha Ha you are so easy to fool.' I couldn't help but smack him right upside the head.

" What the fuck Bella, what was that for?" yeah he wasn't smirking anymore.

" I am on edge Edward, I don't need little jokes, and surprises!" I snapped

" Really? Are you serious right now Bella? This whole operation is all you, you run this show so you are constantly shocking the hell out of me." He was irritated. " On top of it you have people all over here following us, you, whatever, and lets not forget that I am on edge just as much as you are, GOD FUCKING DAMMIT BELLA!" 

So clearly Edward had reached his limit, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He had been holding it all in for so long. Scared I would snap and turn the world to ash, watching and waiting to see his daughter, and naturally when everything went down and we all witnessed Emily get slaughtered by my father and told that OUR daughter was in their hands, he held it together.... for me. So I would give him this, it was his turn. I took a step back against the door and let him go.

" Bella, I get it you are getting flashes and feelings of a past that existed, you did things you had to do, but at the end of the day, you got to forget... I didn't." He ran his fingers through his hair with purpose. "Me? well I got to know that you were out there somewhere, the love of my forever, with out me but hopefully happy, never knowing of me, and our daughter somewhere to. No mind wipe for me though, just a torturous forced marriage and a useless existence I couldn't escape from."

I never really thought about his sacrifice much. Now I just felt selfish and all consuming. Could it be a side effect of having Satan as a father and a succubus for a mother? I desperately wanted to grab Edward hug him, kiss him make him feel how much I love him, but he needed to release this... all of it, so I would wait.

" Bella, when I found out you were in the same town I lived in I was terrified and electrified. I wanted to know you but I wasn't allowed. Watching from a distance only takes you so far before you want to com bust. You were so innocent, totally washed clean of all the sin that flowed through your veins. So I kept my distance, until the itch of you ate through my flesh and I had to touch you to relieve my suffering." He chuckled a bit in the memory. " Zaf yelled at me for a long time when I told her I needed to talk to you. Kept saying if I did we would all die, you would remember and that would be the end of it all." Finally he looks at me... " Then you walked into the bar and my blood felt like acid, the pain was unbearable, and I knew I was screwed, and for a brief moment I became a selfish prick, I spilled my drink down your back." He started walking toward me, as if I were prey. " All those nights you worked late for Tanya, you have no idea how I wanted to grab you, pull you to the floor and fuck the ever loving shit out of you, it took every ounce of strength I had in my body to walk away."

He was literally an inch from my face, this man I would die a thousand deaths for, but he looked like he was a million miles from here, recounting everything. " But that night, I had to talk to you, what harm is there in a drink right?" he shrugged. " But you, your skin, your smell, your energy sucked me in like a tornado, and tore me apart, I knew that I wasn't going to ever leave you again." Gently he caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb. " It was too late, that little selfish mistake set off the domino effect of disasters, there was no going back, but Bella you know what?"

I couldn't talk so I just nodded and possibly grunted something. " It was worth it." He took his hands and put them on my hips, " Your touch was worth it." He leaned in and kissed my forehead, " Your mind was worth it." He placed a hand on my chest, " Your sacrifice was worth it, and I know that sounds horrible but, hiding and fighting from what we are together was not a life worth living." 

It made sense, he needed to lift the veil from my eyes, and although at the time it was careless it turned out being the best thing he could do. I watched as Edward's eyes shifted to my lips and like magnets we connected, his kiss claimed every inch of me. He wrapped his arms around me. We embraced each other fiercely as if our lives depended on it. This wasn't Edward the man, this was Edward the monster that lives within him. He pulled back from me for just a moment, his gaze was dark, full of hunger, I heard him hiss as he took his hand and caressed my neck. He slowly turned my head and with gentle force, sunk his teeth into me.  I let out gasp and was about to shove him across the room when suddenly my body became warm. My heart exploded like a box of fireworks. Pure pleasure surged throughout my body making me shiver all the way down to my core. I grabbed two fist fulls of his hair and held him there, I didn't care if he took every drop of my blood if it meant I could feel this feeling forever. But he released me, he looked at me with those amber eyes and a smile that screamed sex! I leaned in and licked the lingering blood from his lips.

" Oh Bella, you taste amazing." 

I knew Edward was shattered, he finally broke and I decided to make it my sole purpose for the night to put him back together. I put on my all too eager game face, and smiled back at him. " Now you have sin coursing through your veins." He shook his head, amusement painted across his face.  

" I want to taste all of you."

Yeah that did it, I grabbed onto Edward's shoulders, with my leg and kicked the legs right out from under him and he crashed to the floor. He looked at me in shock. I straddled myself on his lap, and smiled a winning kind of smile, " what were you saying about pulling me to the floor and fucking the shit out of me?" His smile started small, and then he was beaming like a child at Christmas.

" Alright Bella but...." in a fluid movement he flipped me  so that he was now towering over me. " If I'm fucking you then I am on top."

Edward wanted to play, I knew he was desperately looking for a distraction from his thoughts. I knew all too well how the mind could manipulate a moment and turn it into a nightmare. So, I buried everything, my fears, my worries all of it, there was only Edward. I lifted my head grabbed his lower lip with my mouth and sucked, his low growl was a welcome sound. " Alright let's play!"

His hand hovered above my breasts for what seemed like an eternity, his eyes were glued to mine, I knew what he was seeing because it was the same thing I saw in him.... everything! Our love, fear, joy, and uncertain future. It is this moment here that mattered. We didn't know what tomorrow would bring or the day after. In the end who would win? The now was our focus and he saw that in my eyes. With his finger he tore through my shirt like it was tissue paper. He laid his soft lips upon the valley between my breasts, and with his teeth gripped my bra and snapped it open. " beautiful." It was a whisper and just a simple single word, but it was a prayer to my ears.

I stroked his hair with my fingers as he tasted every inch of my breasts, his fingers were tapping on my shoulder, a pattern, bump, bump, bump, faster and faster. " What is that?" I asked through heavy breath. 

He looks up through long dark lashes, and his amber eyes look at my damned eyes and over to his fingers, " The most amazing sound in the world Bella." Obviously my face showed my confusing. " Your heartbeat." I had never thought about how I had a heartbeat and he didn't and how that sound would be music to my ears when I laid on his chest. " You Bella are truly the most unique and most radiant creature on this planet." And just like that I fall in love with him all over again.

He didn't fuck the shit out of me on that floor, he made love to me on that floor. His tongue tasted every part of my body, his hands explored every inch of my skin, and I gave him more of myself then I have given anyone. We climaxed together, and laid wrapped around each other until the sun came up, our eyes didn't part from each others gaze once. Skin on skin for hours, the intensity made me want to cry. But I didn't, this wasn't about me this was about Edward, and I was strong for him, I was unselfish, and I was his.

Chapter 38 ~ Preparation

After everyone left to eat I sat in a chair just staring at the screen at all the indicator lights and the blueprints of the castle hung up next to it. Emily was there, I couldn't help her, why didn't I check up on them, what was I thinking, God could I have saved her?

" Bella?" I look up and Edward is watching me. His gaze is weary, so much sadness and terror in his eyes. Mara is his daughter and he didn't lose it like I did. Instead he held his shit together... for me, so I could fall apart.

" Oh Edward come here." I stand, opening my arms and he slowly reaches for me, grabs my wrist and pulls me into his arms. " We will get her back."

" I know Bella, I am so sorry about Emily." 

" I know," I grip him tighter, " I hope I don't fuck up."

He lifts my chin with his finger, " you are the strongest, most amazing woman I know, I doubt highly that you are even capable of failure."

I chuckle, " have you been drinking, no offense but it seems like all I do is fail, otherwise I wouldn't have fallen for Aro and Moriana's trickery, Jasper would still be alive, and Alice would be nothing but ash."

He just shakes his head leans in and kisses me with undying passion. Taking my hand I caress his cheek lightly digging my fingers into his jaw. When he stops he is glaring at me with love, lust, hope, everything.

" Bella, we have all been fooled, but you can only have the wool pulled over your eyes for so long, Aro knows this, eventually he knew you would put the pieces together, that we all would, he just never expected that you would become this strong, this fast."

" Oh Edward, if I am so strong why are you making me feel better when I should be the one making you feel better?"

"Because I love you, and loving you makes me the strongest man in the world."

I can't help but smile adoringly into the eyes of the greatest man I have ever known. " Maybe that's the key to it all then."

He smirks " enlighten me"

" Love, it's the key to it all."

" Oh we could only be so lucky." He leans in again and gripping the sides of my face kisses me deeply, reaching all the way into my broken soul, shaking it back to life filling it with light.

I light cough catches our attention turning we see Maggie smiling at us," Hey Maggie." I say slightly embarrassed

" Well hello you two love birds, so sorry to interrupt your.. err.. well whatever it was but the good doctor wants to start taking your blood, he thinks if we take a little at a time it will be safer for you."

I nod, " sounds good, thanks I will be right there."

" alrighty sweetie." She exits the room fairly quickly.

Edward and I return our attention to each other, " Ready?" he murmurs

" As ever." hand in hand we walk to the clinic. As we enter we notice the counters and wall dividers are all being moved ," What's going on in here?" I chime in all surprised

Carlisle looks up at me with narrowing eyes, " Well it looks like this plan of yours will bring in a whole lot of casualties or injured, so I will need room."

He is angry..... at me. " Look Carlise I know why you are upset with me."

He stands and stalks over to me rather abruptly, " Please Bella, don't."

I gasp at his massive attitude change, " Excuse me Doctor but you are out of line here."

" Am I Bella?" he looks down, shakes his head, he looks like he is trying to sort things out. " I love her so much, she has been through more in her lifetime than most of us, I don't want this for her."

Esme, ahh yes. " I know Carlise, she told me."

He looks at me, his stare is piercing, " Then why, how can you let her just go?"

" Because it's not my choice, but more so because the life she has now is no life at all." Feeling resigned to the fact that many people are likely mad at me I embrace my choices, and feel forced to be a soldier for Esme's. " Sitting in front of waiting pools, dropping flowers in them for a century, reliving a horror that only in our nightmares can we comprehend is not an existence." 

Carlise is just looking at me speechless, no sign of relenting, so I continue. 

" She blames herself Carlise, she is torturing herself, your love is a beautiful thing, but it's received by a shell of a woman that once was, her heart is dead, and if you want to restart it you need to let her have her closure."

Finally his eyes soften, he looks from me to Edward who is just holding me tightly, he has such pride in his face. " Let's get that blood drawn, Bella, come on." 

We don't talk anymore, Carlisle takes as much blood as he can without causing me harm. As we walk out of the clinic and down the corridor we realize we are being followed. I furrow my browse confused, I look at Edward, he has a hint of a smile on his face, no worry. We continue on our way and we hear footsteps, many more coming up to us. Again I look at Edward and he looks back at me and just shrugs. " Edward you hear that right?"

He just nods and suppresses a smile. " Edward what's going on?" Finally I stop walking and at the same moment all footsteps cease. I look around I don't see anyone, " Come on for real what is going on?"

" I believe we are being followed Bella." He says it like I should expect it.

" Well shouldn't we be worried?" 

He turns to me, " No."

And he just continues and as our speed picks up again so do the footsteps and as we turn a corner I push Edward to the wall and peer around where we were to see Seth, Rose, Emmett, and a few others coming our way, I jump out of them, " What the hell are you doing besides scaring the shit out of me?"

Rose simply folds her arms, " Well this is great, if we scare you how the fuck are you going to take on mommy dearest and daddy demented?"

Emmett lightly taps her arm, " Bells we are following you, to learn you."

And it hits me, of course I told them to learn my walk my gestures. " right." I look at Edward he is laughing silently. " And you couldn't just tell me this?"

" Oh come on Bella this was much more entertaining." He quips " Besides I thought it would take your mind off things."

I just shake my head, " Jerk." I say jokingly. He just shrugs, puts his hands in his pockets. I turn my attention to Rose, " Very well but I am going to take a shower now so do me a favor and DON'T follow me in there."

" Oh trust me this cause will only take me so far." She snaps back

I smile, " Good." I take Edward's hand and head to our room.