To Mend a Butterfly's Broken Wing, 28: Set in Motion
Title: To Mend a Butterfly's Broken Wing
Author: exquisite_ugly
Rating/Warnings: M (language, sexual situations)
Summary: After the newborn fight things take a different turn with the Volturi. Edward goes missing, the Cullen's leave to search for him, and Bella flees town from the pain of loss. Can Jacob help her deal with the grief a second time? AU, M for language, sex
*~*~*
The sky is filled with question marks/Will the chains come apart?/Those few seconds that I've left to go/Flame and chaos down below/And the earth opens wide/Got to climb a rope on fire
*~*~*
JPOV
I carried Bella into our bedroom, laying her on the bed to remove her shoes and jeans, and then I pulled the blanket over her. She didn't stir once; she was completely spent and exhausted. As soon as she stopped crying on the cliffs, her body had sagged, and she was already beginning to crash.
I sat on the edge of the bed, reaching over to turn the fan on. She loved the feel of cool air washing over her while being near me. She said it was a good mix of temperature. The dark circles under her eyes were a little more pronounced than they had been, she looked even paler than usual, and I could see it in every line of her body and in her eyes. Her nightmares didn't help, and I was helpless to stop them.
I felt sorry for the Cullen's, but I was ready for them to leave and take the drama with them. I knew that Bella would still suffer to some degree because Edward wasn't the same, because she didn't resolve things with him, and because I knew she still loved him. It was something I knew when we became involved with each other, but to truly move on, I knew she needed to fix things with him. I brushed her hair back so it lay over the pillow. I sat there for awhile just staring down at her still face.
I finally went out into the kitchen, restless, looking in the fridge for something and settling on a can of soda. As I sipped, arms braced on the counter, I also knew that I was still afraid that if Edward did come back she would end up choosing to resume her relationship with him. She never really talked fully about what she said and did with Edward while helping him; she would tell me what she did to try and jog his memory, but what they talked about I didn't know.
There was a soft yip outside, and I smiled at the sound. It was our call for each other.
I opened the door and found Quil and Embry.
"Hey Jake," Embry said reaching out and giving me a slap on the shoulder. "We haven't seen much of you since you got back here, so we decided to come over on the off-chance that you would be here and free to come down to the beach for a small bonfire with Bella. I thought maybe the two of you could use a break."
I slipped outside instead of letting them in. "She's sleeping right now," I said, dropping down onto the porch steps. "She hasn't been sleeping very well." I explained to them what happened on the cliffs.
"Oh man," Quil said worriedly. "Is she really okay? Poor Bella."
"It helped," I conceded. "She's still going to struggle, but I think both us know now that she needs to release the tension sometimes. She can't hold all of this on her shoulders, and she can't make him miraculously better. It shouldn't be all up to her."
"This really sucks," Embry said quietly. "I mean, I know this was something that was always in the background for her, and for you, but you were both happy in Hoquiam. We missed the hell out of you, but it was nice seeing both of you happy together."
I smiled. "Thanks man. It really hasn't been easy. I actually feel kind of sorry for them, but definitely not to the point that it's turning Bella into a zombie. I hate them for that."
"It's a hell of a lot to deal with," Quil said.
I sighed, as they perched on the steps with me. After a moment, I got up and got them each a can of soda, and we all sipped in silence for a little while.
"How's Claire?" I asked Quil. "Are things still working out for you?"
Quil smiled. "She's fun to play with. And yes, I know that makes me all girly and shit, but I can't help it."
Embry and I both laughed, poking at him. "Yeah yeah, we always knew you were a little girly," I said with a chuckle.
He rolled his eyes.
"As far as the imprinting thing goes, though, I guess only time will tell. My decision to be the best big brother and eventually best friend is working fine now, and I actually went out on a couple dates with Maggie from the Makah rez. We had a good time, and I really like her."
It was nice catching up on some normal stuff, and I was glad to see Quil trying and successfully having a good time with an actual woman, but still seeing and enjoying Claire. I really hoped it worked out okay for him even though we enjoyed teasing him about playing princess games. We talked about everything except the Cullen's and what could happen.
I smelled her before I even heard her. It was amazing how quiet she had become in moving around; the yoga had balanced her and made her more agile. Her hands rested on my shoulders, and I felt her lips brush against the top of my head.
"Hi Quil, hi Embry," she said softly. She still sounded tired, but at least a little less exhausted.
Quil got up and gave her a full-on body hug, lifting her off her feet. Embry was right there to pick her up as soon as Quil put her down. When she was back on her feet, she had a smile on her face.
"I've missed those hugs," she teased lightly.
"Well, we have plenty in stock," Embry said with a grin.
A smile still on her lips, she turned back to me. I pulled her down onto my lap, and she leaned her forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, feeling her hair tickling my shoulders, her soft breath against my lips. Her hands played with my hair, and I sighed, brushing my lips over hers quickly.
Quil and Embry were purposely looking away from us, chatting with each other. Bella pulled back, turning to look at them. "So, what are you two up to tonight?"
"Oh… not much," Embry said quickly.
She looked at him knowingly. "A bonfire tonight, huh? It's okay; I would expect everything to go on normally."
"We just thought maybe you and Jake would want a little break," Quil added since she knew what they were up to.
"We don't have to. I mean, you could probably use a little more sleep…" I started to say, but Bella interrupted me.
"Jake, you could probably use a release yourself. I know I'm not the only one affected by everything, so I think we should go."
I smiled, tracing my fingers up her arm and back to her palm. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Let's go and have a little break."
I went inside to grab a bag of marshmallows we had bought recently along with some chocolate bars to contribute while Bella changed back into her pale green t-shirt and matching hoodie. We drove to the lot and walked down the beach toward the small bonfire. I could see Paul, Jared, Sam, Seth, Leah, and a few of the younger wolves already gathered around it. Kim, Rach, and Emily sat together in the sand chatting.
I even saw my dad and Charlie, pulling Sue along with him, heading toward it. "Hey Bells," Charlie said coming over to us and enfolding her in a hug. "I wasn't sure if you would, but I'm glad you came."
She smiled, linking her arm with his, and he led her toward a waiting log. I watched her as she did well looking content. There were tell-tale signs, though; her eyes were still a little shadowed, there was still tightness to her lips, and I could see she moved a little slower than she normally did as if she were still tired.
She sat with the girls, and I let her have her time with them. I knew she had wanted to see them and catch up, so I stood with Sam and the rest of them. No one was talking about what was going on, and I was grateful for that. Bella looked over at me and smiled. I was glad she had talked me into going, knowing she did it mostly for my sake. My eyes scrutinized her in the firelight; her hair looked like mahogany silk and the occasional sparks from the flames made her porcelain skin shine.
"Jake, you feel up to a quick game of football?" Jared asked with a grin.
"Yeah, sure," I said agreeably. I pulled my shirt off, laughing a little easier, as Paul pounced on Jared and knocked him over.
The game was just what I needed, and I knew the girls' were watching us and cheering us on, so I made a big show of flexing my muscles which made them laugh. When the game was over - me, Seth, Leah, and Paul being the winners - I dropped into the sand with Bella.
"Good game, show-off," she said with a little smirk.
I chuckled and said, "Sure sure. Come on, let's get something to eat. You need to eat more."
We ate some corn on the cob and marinated chicken on a stick and then roasted some marshmallows for s'mores. Bella was laying on her back in the sand, her head resting in my lap, listening to everyone's idle chatter. I could see Bella's eyelids getting heavy after awhile, and I knew it was time to go.
"Hey, let's get home so you can get some sleep." I was satisfied that she had eaten enough tonight, but I knew she needed more sleep.
Bella agreed, and she went over to say her goodbyes. While she was doing that, Charlie came over to me. "I can tell she's wearing herself thin, so I'm glad you got her here to relax a bit. I'm worried about her," he confided.
"I know, Charlie. I am as well. I'm doing what I can to help her, but I know she's worrying about me, too. I got her to vent some stress today, but I'm keeping an eye on her."
"Good, good," Charlie said watching Bella. "Thanks Jake. I know you do it because you love her, but I appreciate how well you take care of her."
He gave me a quick pat on the back and went over to Bella. We drove home in comfortable silence. "I'm glad we went," I said when we got back to the house. "It was good to see everyone. I think they missed us."
She smiled. "Yeah, I think they did. I missed seeing them, too, so I'm glad we went as well."
In the bedroom, she changed and slid into bed. I got in beside her, wrapped my arms around her soft body, and pulled her close before drifting off.
*~*~*
BPOV
I was drinking coffee again the next morning, sipping out of my thermos, as Jake drove me to the Cullen's. He was planning on going into Forks and the surrounding areas to see if he could get work in a garage. We still weren't sure what was happening in regards to where we would be living, but he decided to look in the meantime. I missed working as well, and I planned to call Dana when I got home from the Cullen's. It had been nearly a week since we had left, and I felt bad not calling sooner.
When we got there, Alice was suddenly by the car door, startling me. "Alice?" I questioned. "Is everything okay?" I could feel the worry pounding through me immediately.
"It's okay, Bella. I just wanted to talk to Jacob." Carlisle and Jasper appeared behind her.
Jacob looked surprised. "What? Why?"
Carlisle stepped forward. "Jacob, we wanted to ask you if you would be willing to talk to Edward. Given the… intensity of your encounters with him, we thought maybe it would trigger something…"
I bit my lip; I had wanted to avoid this conversation.
Jake's face darkened slightly. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"It's the least you could do," Rosalie chimed in having appeared behind Jasper.
"Excuse me?" His voice was cold.
"I said as much yesterday, but you're sleeping with his fiancée…"
He snarled, and I gazed at Alice in dismay. Rose was still pissed, and I could feel the pangs of guilt again, along with the fury that she was now harassing Jacob.
"I don't know where the hell you think you get off…" Jacob started, his face set in hard lines, as he advanced on her.
"Rose, please," Carlisle said tiredly. "I know this isn't easy for you. It's not easy for any of us, but you need to stop."
She backed off, still looking mutinous, but she stayed quiet. Jacob glared coldly at her, and Alice said quietly, "Jacob, would you please talk to him? I know we don't have any right in asking for your help, but we would greatly appreciate it."
He sighed and met Alice's eyes. "I guess, but only because it was you that asked."
Edward was in his room, sitting in his armchair reading, music playing in the background. His smile widened when he saw me, and he pulled me into a hug. It surprised me, but I felt Jake loose a low growl from behind me.
"It's okay, Jake," I said softly.
Edward looked behind me, his brows drawing together. "Who is this? What's he doing here?"
I felt a slight comfort that Emmett, Jasper, and Alice weren't too far behind in case this didn't go so well.
"Edward, this is Jacob Black," I told him. "Everyone seems to think you talking to him might help. You knew him as my best friend, though you didn't quite… get along," I added reluctantly.
Edward glanced at me. "If we didn't get along, why is he willing to help?"
"It's not so willing," Jake sighed. "We sometimes came to a very slight agreement, but we are born enemies."
I could feel a flash of tension, and I was worried that this wasn't such a good idea.
Edward had stiffened. "Why is that?"
"You are a vampire. I am a shape shifter. My brothers' and I turn into wolves and protect people from vampires. We are destined to destroy them."
Jake didn't seem to be holding back in telling Edward the truth. Edward bared his teeth slightly, but retained his cool. "Oh? Then why aren't we fighting?"
Jake moved closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "We had a treaty set in place by my grandfather and Carlisle. If you hurt humans, or cross over into our land, then there will be a problem. Carlisle has said you don't feed off humans, so there was a tentative agreement we would leave each other alone."
He paused, and I could feel him and Edward sizing each other up. "We had more contact before everything that happened. You and Bella were dating, and I was her best friend who was in love with her."
Edward snarled low in his throat, and everyone moved a step closer. "Jake…" I warned. I couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt or Edward getting hurt.
"Jacob, be careful," Alice said her own voice nearly a growl. "Don't provoke him."
Suddenly, Edward wrinkled his nose. "What is that smell?" he said irritably.
Jacob barked out a laugh.
"We don't smell so good to each other. So, Edward, you really don't remember me? You don't remember me kissing Bella, trying to convince her to leave you?" He was goading him, and I felt fear flash through me as Edward flung a hand out grabbing hold of Jacob's shoulder.
I saw the slight wince on Jake's face, and I cried out. "Jake! Edward!" I yelled and everyone rushed forward as Jake's body spasmed. He caught hold of Edward's hand, twisting it, pushing it beyond where a hand should normally go and Edward hissed.
Before anyone could do anything, a flash of remembrance crossed Edward's face. "What? Jacob?" he gasped. He recognized him, let go of him, and Jake released his hand as well.
"What the hell is going on?" he said weakly. "Oh my God. Bella."
He looked so worn and frightened. "Are you okay? What happened to me?"
My hand touched Jake's shoulder to make sure he was okay, and I gaped at Edward. "I'm okay," I whispered faintly. My whole body was shaking as he reached out to me. He took my hand. How could I deny him that? Emotions swamped me as his family converged on him.
"Edward? Can you tell us what happened?" Carlisle asked.
"I…" he paused and held on to Alice, his other free hand still holding on to mine for dear life.
"I came home after seeing Bella before she went to the Blacks' to see Jacob after he was hurt. I heard no thoughts; they just surrounded me. I fought them, but there were too many and their powers were intact. They wanted to wait for Alice; they meant to take her as well, but they had to leave."
He hesitated, thinking, and said, "There was someone there I didn't recognize. I felt as if someone was drilling into my skull and paralyzing me, but all he was doing was staring at me. I still have no idea who he is."
My other hand gripped Jake's, still in shock and trying to absorb what was happening, when Edward sat down. He gripped his head tightly as his family still crowded around him. "What… what's going on?" Edward asked weakly. "Why are you all surrounding me?"
He was gone again.
"Edward, no! Come back!" Esme cried holding on to him. Carlisle had his hand on her back trying to calm her. The bleakness in his eyes echoed my own feelings.
Emmett's eyes closed momentarily. "It's better than before. It's better. He's beginning to come back to us. It's lasting longer."
Jake turned toward the door, his eyes unreadable. "Jacob? You made him come back," Alice said. "Thank you."
Jake just looked uncomfortable. "Stop trying to coddle him, but do not under any circumstances leave Bella alone with him while doing so."
"We wouldn't do that," Jasper said bristling. "We're always close by."
Jake looked at Edward. "Edward, I'm sorry for what happened to you. That surprises me because you're supposed to be my enemy and you were willing to turn Bella, to take away her life, and turn her into one of you. I will never allow that to happen, but I do hope you can find some peace."
Edward met his eyes. "Thank you for being honest with me even if I don't remember what happened before."
"I think this has been enough for one day," Alice said coming over to hug me. "If you feel up to it tomorrow…"
I nodded, knowing I needed to leave now. I had planned to stay a little longer, but this had knocked me for a loop and I needed a little break.
"Thank you, Jacob," she said and we slipped out the door.
"I still have to check with the garages," Jake finally said after the silence stretched too long. "Do you want me to take you home first?"
I nodded, feeling the need for some normalcy. He took me back to the house, held me tightly to him, and kissed me. "We'll talk later?" he said.
I smiled a little at him. "That's fine. I'm going to call Dana and just relax."
After he left, I stretched out on my bed with Tinker on my lap, and called Dana. "Bella!" she practically screeched in my ear. I winced and inched the phone away. "Oh my God, I was just thinking about you and how no one has heard from you yet. I'm so glad you called!"
"I'm sorry it took me a little while. It has been rough so far," I admitted.
"Oh Bella," she sighed. "I'm sorry. How is Edward? How's Jacob handling everything?"
"He's suffering from memory loss. He doesn't remember enough to tell his family what happened, and he's having trouble remembering the past. He's starting to remember in spurts now, though. He had a bit of a breakthrough today, but reverted. It's scary seeing him look so lost," I said closing my eyes and stroking my cat to keep me calm.
"Shit, Bella, I had no idea…" she began and hesitated. "I can't believe what happened. I'm sorry, honey. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not really. Things are so up and down, and we're just trying to deal with everything. I've been going over there to help him. Jake is hanging in there; I worry about him, though."
She sighed. I rolled onto my stomach, nudging Tinker over, so I could look out the window at the green trees.
"They're supposed to be leaving soon," I said quietly. "But nothing has been resolved with Edward like this, and I don't want to leave that hanging."
"I wish I could say something that would help," she said. "That's a hell of a lot to deal with. I guess you just have to take things one day at time. Make sure you let Jake help you, though. You shouldn't face this alone."
"I know," I said. "But tell me, how are things in the bakery? How is everyone?" I desperately wanted to hear about something normal.
She told me how Jamie and Brian were becoming more serious, and I was happy to hear that. Everyone else was doing well, and Dana said she was still dating the same guy. She said they were thinking of moving in together. The bakery was still doing well, pulling in a steady business.
"Oh, I didn't forget what I told you. We're branching out; we put up a website and are planning to advertise for in your area between Forks and Port Angeles, if you're still interested in doing some catering. It would only be a bit here and there until I decide fully how I want to do this."
"Seriously?" I asked surprised. I had really enjoyed my job, and I liked the idea of having that distraction. "I mean, we're still up in the air about living arrangements…"
"It's fine," she replied. "I'm not saddling you in one area, I promise. If you're interested, that's great. If you don't stay there then I'll look for someone in your area who wants to do this. I'll probably look now actually in case we get enough interest there. I'd like to branch out into a couple places actually, if I can."
"That'd be great," I said honestly. "I could use the distraction."
"Perfect! I'll get the word out and let you know what comes in."
"Thanks Dana," I said gratefully. "I miss you all a lot. Will you tell everyone I said hi?"
"Of course," she said. "We miss you, too. Tell Jake and his friends we say hi as well. I'll talk to you soon. I'll be thinking about you and hope everything works out okay."
After we hung up, I stretched out and almost immediately dozed off.
The fire inched closer to us, encircling me and the people I loved in its heat. I didn't know where to go as the flames began to lick along the edges of the precious forest I had come to love so much.
Marcus, Caius, and Aro glided silently over the grass, nearly shadows in the darkening sky against the brightness of the fire.
"You will come with us," Caius said. His voice rippled up my spine, and I felt fear reach new heights as his papery hand reaching out for those he meant to take.
Marcus eye's, blank and colorless, said, "And the rest of you die."
Aro's eyes flashed to me. "You can save them."
I woke with a piercing shriek, trying to get a hold of myself and shake away the vestiges of the nightmare. I had no idea what time of day it was, but Jake was in the room within seconds, perching on our bed, and holding on to me. "Bells? It's okay, it was just a nightmare."
"It seemed like it could be real," I murmured. I still didn't know what exactly happened to Edward when he was gone, but I had started wondering about my nightmares recently. They always seemed to tell me something real.
He pursed his lips, a little furrow forming on his brow as he thought about that. It looked like he suspected that as well. Just then my cell buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. It was Alice. I cast a worried look at Jake as I answered.
"Alice? Is it about the Volturi?" I asked on a whim.
She sounded surprised and upset. "Yes, it is. I just had another vision. Their plans are being set into motion. Aro's message was to be prepared, and he showed me the arrival time."
"When?" I whispered.
"We have one more week before we have to leave." I closed my eyes, feeling sick.
"So far they're coming solely after us, but it's possible they could change their mind. And Bella? They will destroy anyone who gets in the way of their plan."
*~*~*
Chapter 29
Author: exquisite_ugly
Rating/Warnings: M (language, sexual situations)
Summary: After the newborn fight things take a different turn with the Volturi. Edward goes missing, the Cullen's leave to search for him, and Bella flees town from the pain of loss. Can Jacob help her deal with the grief a second time? AU, M for language, sex
*~*~*
The sky is filled with question marks/Will the chains come apart?/Those few seconds that I've left to go/Flame and chaos down below/And the earth opens wide/Got to climb a rope on fire
*~*~*
JPOV
I carried Bella into our bedroom, laying her on the bed to remove her shoes and jeans, and then I pulled the blanket over her. She didn't stir once; she was completely spent and exhausted. As soon as she stopped crying on the cliffs, her body had sagged, and she was already beginning to crash.
I sat on the edge of the bed, reaching over to turn the fan on. She loved the feel of cool air washing over her while being near me. She said it was a good mix of temperature. The dark circles under her eyes were a little more pronounced than they had been, she looked even paler than usual, and I could see it in every line of her body and in her eyes. Her nightmares didn't help, and I was helpless to stop them.
I felt sorry for the Cullen's, but I was ready for them to leave and take the drama with them. I knew that Bella would still suffer to some degree because Edward wasn't the same, because she didn't resolve things with him, and because I knew she still loved him. It was something I knew when we became involved with each other, but to truly move on, I knew she needed to fix things with him. I brushed her hair back so it lay over the pillow. I sat there for awhile just staring down at her still face.
I finally went out into the kitchen, restless, looking in the fridge for something and settling on a can of soda. As I sipped, arms braced on the counter, I also knew that I was still afraid that if Edward did come back she would end up choosing to resume her relationship with him. She never really talked fully about what she said and did with Edward while helping him; she would tell me what she did to try and jog his memory, but what they talked about I didn't know.
There was a soft yip outside, and I smiled at the sound. It was our call for each other.
I opened the door and found Quil and Embry.
"Hey Jake," Embry said reaching out and giving me a slap on the shoulder. "We haven't seen much of you since you got back here, so we decided to come over on the off-chance that you would be here and free to come down to the beach for a small bonfire with Bella. I thought maybe the two of you could use a break."
I slipped outside instead of letting them in. "She's sleeping right now," I said, dropping down onto the porch steps. "She hasn't been sleeping very well." I explained to them what happened on the cliffs.
"Oh man," Quil said worriedly. "Is she really okay? Poor Bella."
"It helped," I conceded. "She's still going to struggle, but I think both us know now that she needs to release the tension sometimes. She can't hold all of this on her shoulders, and she can't make him miraculously better. It shouldn't be all up to her."
"This really sucks," Embry said quietly. "I mean, I know this was something that was always in the background for her, and for you, but you were both happy in Hoquiam. We missed the hell out of you, but it was nice seeing both of you happy together."
I smiled. "Thanks man. It really hasn't been easy. I actually feel kind of sorry for them, but definitely not to the point that it's turning Bella into a zombie. I hate them for that."
"It's a hell of a lot to deal with," Quil said.
I sighed, as they perched on the steps with me. After a moment, I got up and got them each a can of soda, and we all sipped in silence for a little while.
"How's Claire?" I asked Quil. "Are things still working out for you?"
Quil smiled. "She's fun to play with. And yes, I know that makes me all girly and shit, but I can't help it."
Embry and I both laughed, poking at him. "Yeah yeah, we always knew you were a little girly," I said with a chuckle.
He rolled his eyes.
"As far as the imprinting thing goes, though, I guess only time will tell. My decision to be the best big brother and eventually best friend is working fine now, and I actually went out on a couple dates with Maggie from the Makah rez. We had a good time, and I really like her."
It was nice catching up on some normal stuff, and I was glad to see Quil trying and successfully having a good time with an actual woman, but still seeing and enjoying Claire. I really hoped it worked out okay for him even though we enjoyed teasing him about playing princess games. We talked about everything except the Cullen's and what could happen.
I smelled her before I even heard her. It was amazing how quiet she had become in moving around; the yoga had balanced her and made her more agile. Her hands rested on my shoulders, and I felt her lips brush against the top of my head.
"Hi Quil, hi Embry," she said softly. She still sounded tired, but at least a little less exhausted.
Quil got up and gave her a full-on body hug, lifting her off her feet. Embry was right there to pick her up as soon as Quil put her down. When she was back on her feet, she had a smile on her face.
"I've missed those hugs," she teased lightly.
"Well, we have plenty in stock," Embry said with a grin.
A smile still on her lips, she turned back to me. I pulled her down onto my lap, and she leaned her forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, feeling her hair tickling my shoulders, her soft breath against my lips. Her hands played with my hair, and I sighed, brushing my lips over hers quickly.
Quil and Embry were purposely looking away from us, chatting with each other. Bella pulled back, turning to look at them. "So, what are you two up to tonight?"
"Oh… not much," Embry said quickly.
She looked at him knowingly. "A bonfire tonight, huh? It's okay; I would expect everything to go on normally."
"We just thought maybe you and Jake would want a little break," Quil added since she knew what they were up to.
"We don't have to. I mean, you could probably use a little more sleep…" I started to say, but Bella interrupted me.
"Jake, you could probably use a release yourself. I know I'm not the only one affected by everything, so I think we should go."
I smiled, tracing my fingers up her arm and back to her palm. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Let's go and have a little break."
I went inside to grab a bag of marshmallows we had bought recently along with some chocolate bars to contribute while Bella changed back into her pale green t-shirt and matching hoodie. We drove to the lot and walked down the beach toward the small bonfire. I could see Paul, Jared, Sam, Seth, Leah, and a few of the younger wolves already gathered around it. Kim, Rach, and Emily sat together in the sand chatting.
I even saw my dad and Charlie, pulling Sue along with him, heading toward it. "Hey Bells," Charlie said coming over to us and enfolding her in a hug. "I wasn't sure if you would, but I'm glad you came."
She smiled, linking her arm with his, and he led her toward a waiting log. I watched her as she did well looking content. There were tell-tale signs, though; her eyes were still a little shadowed, there was still tightness to her lips, and I could see she moved a little slower than she normally did as if she were still tired.
She sat with the girls, and I let her have her time with them. I knew she had wanted to see them and catch up, so I stood with Sam and the rest of them. No one was talking about what was going on, and I was grateful for that. Bella looked over at me and smiled. I was glad she had talked me into going, knowing she did it mostly for my sake. My eyes scrutinized her in the firelight; her hair looked like mahogany silk and the occasional sparks from the flames made her porcelain skin shine.
"Jake, you feel up to a quick game of football?" Jared asked with a grin.
"Yeah, sure," I said agreeably. I pulled my shirt off, laughing a little easier, as Paul pounced on Jared and knocked him over.
The game was just what I needed, and I knew the girls' were watching us and cheering us on, so I made a big show of flexing my muscles which made them laugh. When the game was over - me, Seth, Leah, and Paul being the winners - I dropped into the sand with Bella.
"Good game, show-off," she said with a little smirk.
I chuckled and said, "Sure sure. Come on, let's get something to eat. You need to eat more."
We ate some corn on the cob and marinated chicken on a stick and then roasted some marshmallows for s'mores. Bella was laying on her back in the sand, her head resting in my lap, listening to everyone's idle chatter. I could see Bella's eyelids getting heavy after awhile, and I knew it was time to go.
"Hey, let's get home so you can get some sleep." I was satisfied that she had eaten enough tonight, but I knew she needed more sleep.
Bella agreed, and she went over to say her goodbyes. While she was doing that, Charlie came over to me. "I can tell she's wearing herself thin, so I'm glad you got her here to relax a bit. I'm worried about her," he confided.
"I know, Charlie. I am as well. I'm doing what I can to help her, but I know she's worrying about me, too. I got her to vent some stress today, but I'm keeping an eye on her."
"Good, good," Charlie said watching Bella. "Thanks Jake. I know you do it because you love her, but I appreciate how well you take care of her."
He gave me a quick pat on the back and went over to Bella. We drove home in comfortable silence. "I'm glad we went," I said when we got back to the house. "It was good to see everyone. I think they missed us."
She smiled. "Yeah, I think they did. I missed seeing them, too, so I'm glad we went as well."
In the bedroom, she changed and slid into bed. I got in beside her, wrapped my arms around her soft body, and pulled her close before drifting off.
*~*~*
BPOV
I was drinking coffee again the next morning, sipping out of my thermos, as Jake drove me to the Cullen's. He was planning on going into Forks and the surrounding areas to see if he could get work in a garage. We still weren't sure what was happening in regards to where we would be living, but he decided to look in the meantime. I missed working as well, and I planned to call Dana when I got home from the Cullen's. It had been nearly a week since we had left, and I felt bad not calling sooner.
When we got there, Alice was suddenly by the car door, startling me. "Alice?" I questioned. "Is everything okay?" I could feel the worry pounding through me immediately.
"It's okay, Bella. I just wanted to talk to Jacob." Carlisle and Jasper appeared behind her.
Jacob looked surprised. "What? Why?"
Carlisle stepped forward. "Jacob, we wanted to ask you if you would be willing to talk to Edward. Given the… intensity of your encounters with him, we thought maybe it would trigger something…"
I bit my lip; I had wanted to avoid this conversation.
Jake's face darkened slightly. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"It's the least you could do," Rosalie chimed in having appeared behind Jasper.
"Excuse me?" His voice was cold.
"I said as much yesterday, but you're sleeping with his fiancée…"
He snarled, and I gazed at Alice in dismay. Rose was still pissed, and I could feel the pangs of guilt again, along with the fury that she was now harassing Jacob.
"I don't know where the hell you think you get off…" Jacob started, his face set in hard lines, as he advanced on her.
"Rose, please," Carlisle said tiredly. "I know this isn't easy for you. It's not easy for any of us, but you need to stop."
She backed off, still looking mutinous, but she stayed quiet. Jacob glared coldly at her, and Alice said quietly, "Jacob, would you please talk to him? I know we don't have any right in asking for your help, but we would greatly appreciate it."
He sighed and met Alice's eyes. "I guess, but only because it was you that asked."
Edward was in his room, sitting in his armchair reading, music playing in the background. His smile widened when he saw me, and he pulled me into a hug. It surprised me, but I felt Jake loose a low growl from behind me.
"It's okay, Jake," I said softly.
Edward looked behind me, his brows drawing together. "Who is this? What's he doing here?"
I felt a slight comfort that Emmett, Jasper, and Alice weren't too far behind in case this didn't go so well.
"Edward, this is Jacob Black," I told him. "Everyone seems to think you talking to him might help. You knew him as my best friend, though you didn't quite… get along," I added reluctantly.
Edward glanced at me. "If we didn't get along, why is he willing to help?"
"It's not so willing," Jake sighed. "We sometimes came to a very slight agreement, but we are born enemies."
I could feel a flash of tension, and I was worried that this wasn't such a good idea.
Edward had stiffened. "Why is that?"
"You are a vampire. I am a shape shifter. My brothers' and I turn into wolves and protect people from vampires. We are destined to destroy them."
Jake didn't seem to be holding back in telling Edward the truth. Edward bared his teeth slightly, but retained his cool. "Oh? Then why aren't we fighting?"
Jake moved closer, his eyes locked on Edward's. "We had a treaty set in place by my grandfather and Carlisle. If you hurt humans, or cross over into our land, then there will be a problem. Carlisle has said you don't feed off humans, so there was a tentative agreement we would leave each other alone."
He paused, and I could feel him and Edward sizing each other up. "We had more contact before everything that happened. You and Bella were dating, and I was her best friend who was in love with her."
Edward snarled low in his throat, and everyone moved a step closer. "Jake…" I warned. I couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt or Edward getting hurt.
"Jacob, be careful," Alice said her own voice nearly a growl. "Don't provoke him."
Suddenly, Edward wrinkled his nose. "What is that smell?" he said irritably.
Jacob barked out a laugh.
"We don't smell so good to each other. So, Edward, you really don't remember me? You don't remember me kissing Bella, trying to convince her to leave you?" He was goading him, and I felt fear flash through me as Edward flung a hand out grabbing hold of Jacob's shoulder.
I saw the slight wince on Jake's face, and I cried out. "Jake! Edward!" I yelled and everyone rushed forward as Jake's body spasmed. He caught hold of Edward's hand, twisting it, pushing it beyond where a hand should normally go and Edward hissed.
Before anyone could do anything, a flash of remembrance crossed Edward's face. "What? Jacob?" he gasped. He recognized him, let go of him, and Jake released his hand as well.
"What the hell is going on?" he said weakly. "Oh my God. Bella."
He looked so worn and frightened. "Are you okay? What happened to me?"
My hand touched Jake's shoulder to make sure he was okay, and I gaped at Edward. "I'm okay," I whispered faintly. My whole body was shaking as he reached out to me. He took my hand. How could I deny him that? Emotions swamped me as his family converged on him.
"Edward? Can you tell us what happened?" Carlisle asked.
"I…" he paused and held on to Alice, his other free hand still holding on to mine for dear life.
"I came home after seeing Bella before she went to the Blacks' to see Jacob after he was hurt. I heard no thoughts; they just surrounded me. I fought them, but there were too many and their powers were intact. They wanted to wait for Alice; they meant to take her as well, but they had to leave."
He hesitated, thinking, and said, "There was someone there I didn't recognize. I felt as if someone was drilling into my skull and paralyzing me, but all he was doing was staring at me. I still have no idea who he is."
My other hand gripped Jake's, still in shock and trying to absorb what was happening, when Edward sat down. He gripped his head tightly as his family still crowded around him. "What… what's going on?" Edward asked weakly. "Why are you all surrounding me?"
He was gone again.
"Edward, no! Come back!" Esme cried holding on to him. Carlisle had his hand on her back trying to calm her. The bleakness in his eyes echoed my own feelings.
Emmett's eyes closed momentarily. "It's better than before. It's better. He's beginning to come back to us. It's lasting longer."
Jake turned toward the door, his eyes unreadable. "Jacob? You made him come back," Alice said. "Thank you."
Jake just looked uncomfortable. "Stop trying to coddle him, but do not under any circumstances leave Bella alone with him while doing so."
"We wouldn't do that," Jasper said bristling. "We're always close by."
Jake looked at Edward. "Edward, I'm sorry for what happened to you. That surprises me because you're supposed to be my enemy and you were willing to turn Bella, to take away her life, and turn her into one of you. I will never allow that to happen, but I do hope you can find some peace."
Edward met his eyes. "Thank you for being honest with me even if I don't remember what happened before."
"I think this has been enough for one day," Alice said coming over to hug me. "If you feel up to it tomorrow…"
I nodded, knowing I needed to leave now. I had planned to stay a little longer, but this had knocked me for a loop and I needed a little break.
"Thank you, Jacob," she said and we slipped out the door.
"I still have to check with the garages," Jake finally said after the silence stretched too long. "Do you want me to take you home first?"
I nodded, feeling the need for some normalcy. He took me back to the house, held me tightly to him, and kissed me. "We'll talk later?" he said.
I smiled a little at him. "That's fine. I'm going to call Dana and just relax."
After he left, I stretched out on my bed with Tinker on my lap, and called Dana. "Bella!" she practically screeched in my ear. I winced and inched the phone away. "Oh my God, I was just thinking about you and how no one has heard from you yet. I'm so glad you called!"
"I'm sorry it took me a little while. It has been rough so far," I admitted.
"Oh Bella," she sighed. "I'm sorry. How is Edward? How's Jacob handling everything?"
"He's suffering from memory loss. He doesn't remember enough to tell his family what happened, and he's having trouble remembering the past. He's starting to remember in spurts now, though. He had a bit of a breakthrough today, but reverted. It's scary seeing him look so lost," I said closing my eyes and stroking my cat to keep me calm.
"Shit, Bella, I had no idea…" she began and hesitated. "I can't believe what happened. I'm sorry, honey. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not really. Things are so up and down, and we're just trying to deal with everything. I've been going over there to help him. Jake is hanging in there; I worry about him, though."
She sighed. I rolled onto my stomach, nudging Tinker over, so I could look out the window at the green trees.
"They're supposed to be leaving soon," I said quietly. "But nothing has been resolved with Edward like this, and I don't want to leave that hanging."
"I wish I could say something that would help," she said. "That's a hell of a lot to deal with. I guess you just have to take things one day at time. Make sure you let Jake help you, though. You shouldn't face this alone."
"I know," I said. "But tell me, how are things in the bakery? How is everyone?" I desperately wanted to hear about something normal.
She told me how Jamie and Brian were becoming more serious, and I was happy to hear that. Everyone else was doing well, and Dana said she was still dating the same guy. She said they were thinking of moving in together. The bakery was still doing well, pulling in a steady business.
"Oh, I didn't forget what I told you. We're branching out; we put up a website and are planning to advertise for in your area between Forks and Port Angeles, if you're still interested in doing some catering. It would only be a bit here and there until I decide fully how I want to do this."
"Seriously?" I asked surprised. I had really enjoyed my job, and I liked the idea of having that distraction. "I mean, we're still up in the air about living arrangements…"
"It's fine," she replied. "I'm not saddling you in one area, I promise. If you're interested, that's great. If you don't stay there then I'll look for someone in your area who wants to do this. I'll probably look now actually in case we get enough interest there. I'd like to branch out into a couple places actually, if I can."
"That'd be great," I said honestly. "I could use the distraction."
"Perfect! I'll get the word out and let you know what comes in."
"Thanks Dana," I said gratefully. "I miss you all a lot. Will you tell everyone I said hi?"
"Of course," she said. "We miss you, too. Tell Jake and his friends we say hi as well. I'll talk to you soon. I'll be thinking about you and hope everything works out okay."
After we hung up, I stretched out and almost immediately dozed off.
The fire inched closer to us, encircling me and the people I loved in its heat. I didn't know where to go as the flames began to lick along the edges of the precious forest I had come to love so much.
Marcus, Caius, and Aro glided silently over the grass, nearly shadows in the darkening sky against the brightness of the fire.
"You will come with us," Caius said. His voice rippled up my spine, and I felt fear reach new heights as his papery hand reaching out for those he meant to take.
Marcus eye's, blank and colorless, said, "And the rest of you die."
Aro's eyes flashed to me. "You can save them."
I woke with a piercing shriek, trying to get a hold of myself and shake away the vestiges of the nightmare. I had no idea what time of day it was, but Jake was in the room within seconds, perching on our bed, and holding on to me. "Bells? It's okay, it was just a nightmare."
"It seemed like it could be real," I murmured. I still didn't know what exactly happened to Edward when he was gone, but I had started wondering about my nightmares recently. They always seemed to tell me something real.
He pursed his lips, a little furrow forming on his brow as he thought about that. It looked like he suspected that as well. Just then my cell buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. It was Alice. I cast a worried look at Jake as I answered.
"Alice? Is it about the Volturi?" I asked on a whim.
She sounded surprised and upset. "Yes, it is. I just had another vision. Their plans are being set into motion. Aro's message was to be prepared, and he showed me the arrival time."
"When?" I whispered.
"We have one more week before we have to leave." I closed my eyes, feeling sick.
"So far they're coming solely after us, but it's possible they could change their mind. And Bella? They will destroy anyone who gets in the way of their plan."
*~*~*
Chapter 29