Anna's POV:
Sitting on a hard, orange coloured plastic chair my eyes swept over the waiting room. It was a small square area, embedded in a corner. The two walls were painted in same glossy white like the rest of the corridors in the hospital. The paint was smooth to the touch and it reflected the neon-light a little, creating a delicate gleam.
The square was closed off by two rectangle shaped flower tubs which contained green plants that were meant to contribute to a welcoming and smoothing atmosphere. As if that was going to help anyone who waited for test results that would inform them if they had caner or if they had to plan a funeral for a loved one.
Whoa, aren't we cheery today. My subconscious raised an eyebrow at me.
I exhaled annoyed just as a nurse whooshed past the waiting area while she furiously thumbed through the file in her hands before she disappeared around the corner. Sighing heavily I let my head fall back against the wall behind me, fumy about being forced into this.
Well I wasn't actually dragged in here kicking and screaming – maybe just a little complaining - but I definitely was not here on my free will.
It was all Edward's and Carlisle's fault. My subconscious mumbled rolled her eyes and then gave me a hard look.
I nibbled on the inside of my bottom lip while I crossed my arms over my chest. Those two had teamed up on me after all!
I had carelessly agreed to Edward's plea to have a check up and of course as soon as we were back Edward held me to my word. After everything that happened the last thing I wanted was a trip to the hospital and play pincushion for the Doctors but the both of them scared me with the possibility of another aneurism.
Damn Vampires and all their medical knowledge! My subconscious whispered crossed, backing me up fully on this one.
And of course they used their success to their advantage. Carlisle had had performed every examination known to man kind on me, or at least it felt like it to me. I had spent the entire day yesterday at the hospital and was back again today for some more tests that I thankfully had already behind me and the announcement of the results.
But as put out as I had been with Carlisle I also felt a little sad because being around his colleagues had made me aware of something; of how people were looking at him.
When I was "imprisoned" in the hospital in the other timeline I sometimes heard the nurses or patients talking about him always with respect and admiration in their words and voices but now people were glancing at him with this scandalised look in their eyes. Carlisle had somehow become the fallen hero who people gossiped behind his back about.
And by "somehow" I meant me and his son.
Unbelievable, everyone in this stupid town seems to be on the bitchtroll's side. My subconscious groused.
…. or maybe they weren't but just loved the gossip…. I mused.
Closing my eyes I exhaled a long breath as I felt my cheeks heat up and another headache announce itself sharply.
"Are you alright?" A concerned voice murmured from my right.
Snapping my eyes open I saw Edward standing in front of me with a worried expression on his face and a bottle of coke in his right hand.
"Thanks," I smiled weakly at him as I reached for the soda he had gotten for me and fished the little bottle of painkillers, that had become my constant companion, out of my purse.
"Another headache?" He sighed as he sat down beside me.
Not bothering to answer I popped the pill into my mouth and swallowed it down with a chilled gulp of sweet frizzy-ness.
"Are we done here anytime soon?" I questioned, stretching slightly yarning to ease my tense shoulders while longing to burry my face into my pillow and slip into darkness.
Jetlag's a bitch. My subconscious shrugged sympathetically.
"Yes, but ….." he suddenly said urgently. Cranking my neck I raised an eyebrow at him, "Charlie is ….."
He wasn't able to complete his sentence because the Chief's worried voice calling my name from down the hallway interrupted him.
"D-Dad what are you?" I shuttered as he marched at a smart and hard pace over to us, where we were waiting for Carlisle.
"I just heard that you spend the entire day yesterday at the hospital and that you are here again. What is going on?" He demanded in an half worried and half angered voice as his face was gaining on the red that covered his cheeks and was spreading over his skin.
Damn small town gossip. My subconscious muttered. Word probably had it that I was dying of cancer or something of that calibre.
"Nothing is wrong everything is fine," I tried to wave him off.
In response he only narrowed his eyes at me, "if everything was fine then you wouldn't be here." He muttered harshly.
"She has a fever that won't go down and she had been suffering from constant headaches and tiredness for a few weeks now." Edward explained.
"Why haven't you said anything?" Charlie asked as his eyes were searching mine, demanding an answer.
"Well …ehm …." I swallowed.
"Charlie, hello, what are you doing here?" Carlisle wondered who suddenly appeared out of thin air.
He's a great actor gotta give him that. My subconscious nodded approvingly.
"It's all over the moccasin telegraph that my daughter had to visit the hospital why wasn't I informed?" The police Chief spat at the blond Doctor reproachfully.
"I'm sorry Charlie but the doctor-patient confidentiality does not allow me to share any medical information if Anna …"
At this point Charlie's head snapped around and he looked accusingly and betrayed at me. I rolled my eyes at Carlisle before returning my attention to the Chief.
"What? Do you want to go inside," I pointed in the direction of Carlisle's office, "and get to know my test results?" I asked sarcastically.
"Actually yes, thank you," he nodded shortly and gestured for the blond Doctor to go on.
He seemed to have missed the sarcasm. My smart mouthed subconscious chuckled.
I huffed in annoyance as I crossed my arms over my chest and a pout formed on my face but somehow it was also sweet how he worried about me.
Glancing at Edward he wore a pleading expression on his face and I rolled my eyes before I hung my head in defeat.
They all worried about me it was not their fault that my head hurt, my body ached, I felt edgy and just wanted to lie down.
"It's nothing serious or is it?" The Chief went down to business the second we settled down inside Carlisle's tastefully decorated office.
The Doctor gazed at me waiting for my permission before he answered looking directly at me.
"Your blood-pressure is too high. I will prescribe you something for that. The condition of your immune system is worrisome. Thankfully none of your organs had been affected yet. Your headaches, the tiredness, lack of concentration and fever have no physical causes as far as I can see."
"What does that mean? There has to be a reason why she is suffering from headaches and a fever." Charlie was fully in a concerned parent mode.
"Anna had been under a great deal of pressure and stress for the past couple of months…."
About nine months without break of crap happening and having to deal with it. Suppressed anger, raging hurt, homesickness, …. Do I really need to go on? My subconscious sighed upset shaking her head.
"… and that's catching up with her."
While Carlisle answered Charlie's question Edward, who was standing behind me since there were only two chairs in front of Carlisle's desk, put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it in comfort.
Charlie gazed confused at me before he looked utterly confounded back at the good Doctor.
"She's stressed?" he muttered in a disbelieving and pejorative tone.
Carlisle inhaled deeply and sighed as he leaned back in his chair.
"I am aware that stress does not sound like a serious disease but when short-term stress turns into long-term distress, the immune system can go into a constant state of exhaustion and start shutting down what already is happening in Anna's case. Other consequences of long term stress can be obesity, depression, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, strokes ….."
My heart started to beating faster and my breathing went shallow if Carlisle wanted to scare me he definitely succeeded. Out of the corner of my eye I saw how Charlie rubbed his hands over his blanched face. "So what now?"
"She needs to get out of the tainted atmosphere that is making her sick. The headaches, the fever, the high blood-pressure …. are warnings of her body. She needs to get away from all the stress before it will cause permanent damage."
Carlisle said looking compassionately at the Chief as Edward squeezed my shoulder a little harder.
Charlie's hand grabbed mine and when I looked up I saw an alarmed, tired, scared and heartbroken expression on his face before his eyes snapped to Edward grew cold and started to burn with angry fire, glaring accusingly at the mind reading Vampire.
Oh joy.
(.)
I felt sorry for what Charlie had to go through. He looked worn and years older recently. All of this was hard on him as well and I felt bad for adding to his burden.
"How's your head?" Edward asked me, holding my hand securely in his as his thumb brushed over my skin in circular patterns while we stepped into the Cullen mansion.
"Better," I murmured and sighed as I remembered the Chief's defeated and tired looking from when he saw Edward and me off after we all left the hospital.
"Hey, where is Carlisle wasn't he supposed to be back with you guys?" Emmett asked as emerged out of the living room; a dark shadow covering his face.
His expression matched the general atmosphere in the house which was oppressed and strained ever since we were back from Italy.
"He'll be back shortly. He just had to finish some things." Edward explained.
Emmett nodded reluctantly, "wanna watch a movie with us?" He asked casually or at least he tried.
"What's on?" I questioned.
"Resident Evil."
"Sure," I bobbed my head in agreement and after freshening up a bit first followed him into the media room.
By the time I had arrived Edward was already sitting on the couch, his left leg leaning against the back of the couch and his right one on the ground with a blanket spread out over his torso.
"Are you clod?" I teased.
A crooked smile appeared on his face and he shook his head at me what made strains of his hair fall into his with mischief sparkling depths of melted gold and he beckoned me with his finger to ease myself between his legs.
I sighed, smiled back at him and crocked my head to the side before I gave in and rested my body, between his legs and on top of his torso, pressing my cheek against his chest over his silent heart. He covered me with the blanket and placed a kiss on the top of my head while his arms were lazily draped over my frame, in a soft embrace.
Being this close to Edward felt nice …. and safe and comfortable …. It felt good and right and natural and I just let myself drawn in those feelings and Edward's embrace without examining the situation further or second guessing my actions.
"Are you comfortable?" Edward murmured as his lips brushed over my forehead.
"Yeah," I sighed contently.
Emmett's deep chuckle floated from my left over to us as he and his wife were cuddled together on the loveseat. Rosalie rolled her eyes, grabbed the remote out of Emmett's hand and the huge screen in front of the four of us came to live.
We were about forty minutes into the movie, Edward was running his fingers through my hair when suddenly he inhaled sharply, winced and tensed underneath me.
I cranked my neck to look up at him only to be met with a pinched and confused expression.
"What is it?" Rosalie asked.
Edward pushed himself up and me along with him. His eyes were narrowed in concentration and his lips were pressed into a thin line.
"Bella and her mother are coming." He murmured quietly.
"And one of them is furious." Jasper assessed.
Turning my head I saw that he, Alice, Esme and Carlisle had entered the media room and looked equally confused and worried.
"Alice," Edward hissed at his sister.
"I didn't see them coming. I swear." She shook her head while a deep frown covered her lovely face.
"Don't tell me the mutt is with them." Rosalie growled.
"No, it's just the two of them." Edward appeased.
"Son, what do they want?" Carlisle wondered.
"I don't know. Renee is currently busy with cursing me and my existence," Edward's brows drew together.
Anxious, worried and clueless glances were being shared while Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest and huffed in annoyance. I leaned against the back of the couch I had been lying on just moments ago and forced my hands through my hair while Edward placed his hand on my back and rubbed it gently.
A confrontation with Renee was not something I was looking forward to.
"….be that Renee wants to drag Anna out of here. She had never accepted the situation." Jasper's voice rang in my ears when I snapped out of my thoughts.
It wasn't long before someone was furiously knocking at the door and ringing the doorbell as if there was no tomorrow. Carlisle and Esme were the ones to open the front door while the rest of us scattered around the hallway.
Edward stood besides me and wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me gently and protectively to him while I had my arms crossed over my chest and sighed in defeat and annoyance at what was to happen.
The second the front door swung open Renee barged into the Cullen house with a sinister and outraged expression on her face and an icy glare in her blue eyes while she had a firm grip on the family stealing witch's wrist and was dragging her inside.
Her eyes were cast down as tears were streaming uncontrollably down her flushed face. She seemed to be in a daze as she lifted her gaze up for a brief second, catching a glimpse of Edward and me standing close together and a strangled sob forced its way out of her throat whereupon she covered her mouth with her free hand.
Her wide ripped open and red rimmed eyes were glassed over. It was then that I noticed that her deathly pale and translucent skin had an unhealthy greyish tint to it and her cheeks seemed fallen in. She looked horrible.
My brows furrowed as I looked at her; somehow she seemed to be detached from the here and now as her unfocused eyes were moving fast from one point to the other, her breathing sped up and her expression grew impossibly tenser.
Maybe she's in shock? My subconscious shrugged confused at me.
"Well, hello, how may we help you?" Esme greeted politely but she couldn't keep the slight irritation out of her voice at the way Renee just stormed into her home.
Renee huffed derisively at Esme and narrowed her eyes at the beautiful and elegant Vampire before her light blue eyes swept across the hallway and zeroed on Edward and me like her daughter's did just seconds ago.
"Well well, isn't that a sight for sore eyes," she sneered at us with heavy disapproval in her voice.
Suddenly Edward gasped and tensed beside me. When I glanced up I was met with a shocked and disbelieving expression on his frozen face.
"Mrs. Dwyer I assume?" Carlisle addressed her while her in rage burning gaze snapped to him.
Renee ignored him and threw a dark look my way as her mouth set into a grim and angry scowl before she placed a left hand on her hip.
"You," she pointed her finger at me, "are going to pack your stuff now," she growled lowly and her body started to tremble with rage.
"I've had enough of your petulant and childish behaviour. Can't you see how much you are hurting others with your selfishness? What damage you are causing? I should have set things right a long time ago." She was shaking her head until her pissed off gaze settled on Esme and Carlisle.
"And you what have you been thinking letting her stay here and supporting her in this ridiculous nonsense," she railed until a harsh, sarcastic laugh escaped her lips, " but then again what am I expecting from people who raised this irresponsible, loose scallywag." Renee swung her gaze back at Edward and glared contemptuously.
I had to bite down on my tongue or I would have told her who's loose and irresponsible. This situation was unbelievably frustrating for me and I had to take a deep breath and close my eyes briefly to draw some strength.
My lips were pressed firmly into a thin line so I wouldn't open my mouth no matter how wronged or pissed I felt because, really, what could I say?
I couldn't even really talk back or say anything to defend myself without giving away the truth and getting us all killed. There was no explanation or justification I could offer for my behaviour. My breathing accelerated and my body began to tremble slightly in rage over my helplessness and uselessness.
Once again I had to keep my mouth shut and take what others were dishing out without being allowed to stand up for myself. I hated it. I detested the position I was caught in and had no way out of.
Edward's arm tightened around my waist and my head whirled around to look at him. His golden pools were shining down at me with sympathy and he looked at me as if he wanted to say something but swallowed hard before his gentle gaze hardened and cooled and his attention snapped back to scene in front of us.
"Mrs. Dwyer this is way out of line," Esme admonished sternly but before she could say any more Renee held up her hand.
"Safe it."
Having dismissed a stunned and upset Esme her attention was back on me and she was not pleased with what she saw.
"Didn't you hear me? You will go and pack your stuff? You will go back home with me. NOW!" She screamed in at me her rage.
Oh really! My subconscious challenged.
I inhaled deeply and clenched my hands into tight fists, feeling my nails burry into the soft flesh of my palm. The sting that my nerve ending sent to my brain kept me from losing my focus.
"And do not," she swung her forefinger at me seeing my reaction, "back talk!" Renee barked.
I stood rooted in place breathing in and out evenly.
"Pack your stuff!" She screeched loudly at me, taking a step forward.
"You are not….." I began but squeezed my eyes shut and stopped myself in time. I had almost told her she was not my mother.
My cheeks were blazing and I felt slightly light-headed. I had almost done something monumentally stupid.
"I am eighteen and I can do whatever I want and I am going nowhere." I declared in a firm and even voice before biting down on the inside of my bottom lip to prevent myself from saying anything more.
Renee was completely taken aback and was opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water. Jasper's stricken expression told me that he was subtly trying to calm the raging human down.
"You," she hissed when she was able to speak again.
"Mrs. Dwyer," Esme interrupted in a tone filled with authority, "I would advice you to control yourself. I will not have people screaming in my own home." She hissed with a sharp edge.
Renee shut her mouth and glared at the other woman.
"Anna is free to stay with us as long as she likes. Further more I'd like for you to dial your anger down or leave my house." Esme told her sternly.
Huge puffs of air were leaving Renee's mouth as she looked disbelievingly and agape at Esme but soon she recovered and her expression twisted into a furious mask.
My eyes swept over the room and I noticed the conflicted expression on Alice's face. She looked like she wanted to go to her best friend and comfort her but at the same time the loyalty she felt for her family kept her rooted in place.
I caught how her eyes flickered briefly to Edward quickly twisting my neck I saw how he slowly shook his "no" just once before my gaze was back at a resigned pixie face. She sighed before her golden pools hardened as Jasper drew her into his embrace.
Meanwhile just as Renee was about to reply to what Esme said we all heard a car speeding hastily down the driveway and coming to a screeching halt in front of the front entrance. A door was opened and moments later fell shut. Loud footsteps were racing up the stairs to the porch and soon a flustered looking Charlie stood out of breath at the Cullens doorstep.
While trying to catch his breath he stepped inside and his eyes roamed over the family stealing witch that was crying silently near the opened front door. His brows furrowed as his daughter was wringing her hands in front of herself and didn't look up at him.
Worried and bewildered he took scene in front of him in and became more confused and clueless by the second.
"What is going on?" He asked no one on particular before his eyes fell on his ex-wife.
"What's wrong? You call …. sounding hysterical and told to come here immediately. Some-something about Bella?" The Chief shook his head as of to clear it and glanced briefly at his child.
Renee's face was flushed and her narrowed eyes darkened in hatred as she looked between her ex-husband, the waling mess that was her daughter and me.
"Renee?" Charlie's questioning and slightly demanding voice echoed down the tastefully decorated foyer.
"Oh, don't "Renee" me here!" She screeched in a shrill tone all of the sudden making most of the audience shrink back a little at her outburst.
"How could you? How could you screw up that badly in so little time?"
"I….what?" He asked stunned and confused, risking an embarrassed glance at the Cullens and me while Renee crossed the distance between them in two huge strides.
"What? What! I sent the girls to live with you for a few months and you mange to fuck it all up." She yelled at him while she was poking her finger into his chest pushing him up a few steps.
"God, this was why I didn't want them to live with you in the first place. I just knew you would screw this up." She continued.
"Renee, what brought this on?" He asked looking completely lost.
His ex-wife barked a short sarcastic laugh before she answered.
"You are seriously asking me what this is about?" She didn't give him a chance to answer. "Look around you, Bella is a mess and that for months now. Anna moved out of your house and you …. What have done about it …..I tell you what; nothing!" She yelled at her ex before she whipped around.
"You," she started as her sight fell on Edward before her gazed wandered over to me which soon transformed into a heated glare.
"And you how can you do that to your own sister?"
Oh you don't wanna know that, let me assure you that. My subconscious muttered, shaking her head at Renee.
"How can you be so blind? I have always thought you were smarter than that." She spat at me in disappointment and disgust.
"And you," she pointed at Edward, "going after sisters … what kind of sick fuck are you."
"I will not have you talk about my children like that," Esme stepped in but Renee ignored her.
"Can't you see that he is using you like he used Bella? The second he had you, he will dump you just as fast as your sister," the family stealing witch whimpered painfully from her corner, "open your eyes." Renee exclaimed.
"I have no idea what this is about but let me assure you I am not like her," I hissed lowly.
"Oh, you think so? What do you know? You are still a child and you will come back home with me." She vowed.
"Renee listen…" Charlie murmured softly, lifting his hand to touch her shoulder, trying to calm her down but it had the opposite effect.
"No," she shrugged his hand off harshly, "no," she repeated, "you have no idea what he has done to our Bella."
"What do you mean?" The Chief's brows furrowed and he cocked his head to the side.
"It's time that he stood up to his responsibility." She pointed at Edward.
"What responsibility? What are you talking about?" Charlie cried out confused.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the confounded looks that Emmett and Rosalie exchanged before she continued to glare darkly at the blubing bitchtroll and make her as uncomfortable as possible.
"You wanna know what I'm talking about?" She asked in a high pitched voice.
Charlie looked expectant at her while the rest of us waited curiously for her answer.
"Bella is pregnant!" Renee barked in a steely tone and surprised and shocked gasps filled the space. "The Doctor just confirmed it."
Oh hell! No way! My subconscious whispered stunned and the popcorn that she was about to pop into her mouth fell out of her hand.
My jaw went slack as the words registered in my mind. My eyes immediately snapped to Miss sniveller who had her head ducked and was hiding her face behind her a thick curtain of her hair while she had her arms slung around her middle.
She's pregnant! My subconscious mumbled in shocked disbelieve. Seriously doesn't she know how to use contraception?
"He," Renee was furiously pointing her forefinger at Edward, "knocked her up and then after he had his fun just dumped her!" Her eyes narrowed icily. "Does my other daughter also have a bun in the oven? That would be just perfect." Renee sneered sarcastically and placed her hand on her hip, as she was puffing up to look more threatening.
My eyes were fixed on the sobbing mess that stood near the front door as I opened my mouth but I just ended up licking my lips and shake my head being temporary too taken by surprise to be able to speak.
One's lacking words facing so much dumpishness. My subconscious spat.
"First you get Bella pregnant and after you had her you go for her sister," Renee went on with her angry rant.
Meanwhile Charlie's face paled until he was sheet white as his wide ripped open eyes roamed over his daughter that pressed her hands over her face and started to cry harder.
It was then that I noticed the bracelet with the reddish-brown wooden wolf dangling off her wrist. She was still as selfish as ever, claiming to love Edward while all along leading Jacob on to keep her safety net.
Suddenly I noticed how the Chief's cheeks flushed and his face turned seven shades of red before his now disgruntled and accusative gaze flew to Edward.
Slowly coming out of my stunned stupor I cranked my neck and looked up at the Vampire standing next to me. His face was set into an emotionless mask as he took in Renee's verbal onslaught.
It worried me how calm he was about all of this. I couldn't help but wonder what damage Renee was inflicting on him not only with her words but also with her thoughts.
Realising that I intended to put a stop to Renee's accusations and misplaced ire but by in the same moment the shock of the remaining immortal's melted away and was turning into confusion and in some cased lack of understand as well as disgust and resentment.
"What do you want from us?" Rosalie spoke up haughtily, beating me to it, and raised a perfect eye brow at Renee as a small evil smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Do you even have to ask?" Renee exclaimed as Charlie was currently not able to speak while his into fists clenched hands were shaking at his sides.
"I think there has been a misunderstanding." Carlisle lifted his hands up and tried to take control of the situation.
"A major one." I agreed.
"Misunderstanding? Bella is pregnant what's there to misunderstand?" Renee railed.
"What did you think you would accomplish by coming here?" Rosalie hissed in disgust as she looked straight at Bella.
"Did you really think you could somehow get your claws back into Edward?" The gorgeous blond laughed spitefully. "God, you're so pathetic and delusional it's actually pitiful."
"How dare you?" Renee growled as her face flushed bright red in anger.
"Edward is not the father!" The words blurted out of me, like lava out of an angry volcano, catching Charlie's attention and curiosity but attracting also Renee's ire.
"Are you really that stupid?" She taunted me, shaking her head. "What crap did that boy feed you? Look at him!" She raised her voice, pointing at him with her hand. "With his looks he can have any girl he wants. Are you really that stupid to believe that a hormonal, spoiled, self-centred teenage boy like him passes up the opportunities he's getting."
"Oh, it's definitely not my brother who passes up the opportunities." Rosalie made a gibe at the family stealing witch.
"Rosalie;" Carlisle hissed at his daughter, not wanting the situation to escalate.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Renee's face darkened as she challenged the blond Vampire.
"Why don't you ask that dear daughter of yours who the possible baby's daddy is?" Rosalie derided before her gaze wandered to the shaking form of the family stealing witch. "Dear Bella do you even know how many possible fathers there are?"
Rosalie looked highly satisfied when Renee took a step back in shock and disbelieve, completely taken aback by the accusations made about her daughter before she narrowed her eyes and exploded in furry.
"You ….. you," she was waving her forefinger at the blond Vampire not able to find words before she unloaded her rage on Edward.
"What's with you," Renee screeched sharply at him, "hiding behind your sisters lies…."
"You should knock Jacob Black's door down and make a scene over there if you want to rip the head of the guy who made your daughter pregnant off but just for the record … it always takes two to tango." I glared at Renee.
Suddenly I was drained and exhausted emotionally and physically and all I wanted was for Renee to go away ….. for this entire situation to be done and over with.
I really didn't want to have to deal with her crap anymore.
Or pay for her mistakes. My subconscious reminded me of everything I had lost because the bitch troll, of all the pain and suffering I had to endure because of her and of the punishment I had to take …..
I just really didn't want to deal with all of this anymore!
"J-Jacob?" Charlie shuttered shocked.
"Yeah, that was quite a sight Edward was faced with when he caught them." Rosalie informed the stunned parents and their bewildered gazes slowly turned to their pregnant daughter.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," her voice was so quiet, rough and scratchy that I had to strain to hear what she said before she lifted her head up and exposed her tear stricken face, not even bothering to brush the wetness off her cheeks instead her arms remained wrapped around her middle as if that was the only thing that kept her somehow together.
"I … I didn't," she shook her head as she shuttered incoherently, "I … I didn't want to ….. I didn't mean to ….. it just happened."
Hearing that both Rosalie and I snorted in disbelieve.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't want this. This is not how it was supposed to be," she wailed backing up against the wall behind her and slid down to the ground.
Renee rushed to her daughter's side, pulling the family stealing witch into her arms, cradling her to her chest while Charlie stood rooted in place not knowing what to do looking entirely floored with all the information and revelations.
Renee's hands stroked despairingly over ever part of her daughter they could reach in a desperate attempt to calm her child who's hard and uneven breathing as well as the squeaking crying sounds filled the silent and tense air. Renee was whispering softly into her ear, her face was pressed against the sight of the blotchy one of her daughter whose tear filled and red rimmed eyes sought out mine and were pleading with me.
I found it astonishing that even in a moment like this she actually had the guts to look me in the eye.
"Please ….give …. give him back …. give him back to me ….. please …. I beg you ….. please ….give Edward back to me…." she cried bitterly in a frantic and high-pitched voice obviously completely disconnected from reality.
There simply are no words. My subconscious shook her head in utter bafflement.
As tragic as this scene must have looked for someone from the outside I found it ironical to see her completely broken on the ground struggling, trashing and writhing against the one who wanted to help her while she screamed and cried over the shattered ruins of her life and lamented her loss.
Just a few short months ago the roles had been reversed and I had been the broken doll.
It was kind of comical – at least to those with a black humour – how we had come a full circle.
I sighed pressing my fingers against my temple as my head started to pound sharply and painfully. A low hiss escaped my lips as Edward drew me closer to his body.
"Anna?" His quiet voice murmured against my ear.
I shook my head.
"I'm so sorry. ….. I didn't ….I didn't want this. I'm ….I'm so sorry …. Please this was not how it was supposed to be … this is not how," Bella chanted suddenly hysterically as she was sitting curled up on the ground and rocked slightly back and forth.
Somewhere deep inside I felt sorry for her in that particular moment. She looked so lost and miserable but the bitch troll was also the reason why all of us had gotten to this point and the pity and sympathy I felt for her turned into a conflicted knot in my stomach as rage, hurt and hate merged with them.
"Bella?" Her mother called her name fearfully.
"No," The family stealing witch shook her head before she slung her arms around her legs that were pressed tightly against her chest and buried her face against her knees wauling bitterly.
"Baby, please you are scaring me," Renee whispered in a teary and frightened tone, rubbing her daughter's back that was shaking as her body convulsed with every gut-wrenching sob that left her mouth.
No matter what Renee or Charlie did their child wouldn't calm down and soon she was crying so hard that she had trouble breathing.
"Please do something!" Renee cried, panicked and scared, looking pleadingly at Carlisle.
Alice, who wore a pained and troubled, expressed on her beautiful face, was already at his side holding his black medical bag. The blond Vampire took the bag out of the pixie's hands, placed in on the ground and fished a vial and a syringe out; preparing to give the hysterical bawler a shot of what I assumed was a tranquilizer.
(.)
Warm water drops bickered rapidly down on my naked body and I enjoyed the feel of the refreshing liquid touching my hair and washing over my skin as I stood in the shower.
I was bracing my hands against the dark cream coloured titles and opened my mouth to breathe in and out while water was dripping down my chin. But even a luxurious and long shower couldn't diminish the tension in my body or chase the tiredness and exhaustion out of my mind and muscles.
With a deep and heavy sigh I shut off the water and exited the shower cabin. A cool breeze that carried the scents of the forest blew inside the bathroom through the opened window and I shivered slightly when it touched my heated skin, causing goose flesh to arise.
The stars were twinkling and shining in the dark sky as I walked up to the open window to bask a little in the cool breeze and to cool down from my hot shower.
After I dried myself I slipped into hot pants and a spaghetti straps top. Just when I was about to tackle my wet hair I remembered that I left the new bottle of hair care spray on my desk.
Sighing in annoyance I more stomped than walked back into my room. Not two steps inside someone knocked on my door.
"Come in," I called while pursuing of my goal that was standing gloriously in the middle of my desk taunting me.
I glared and pursed my lips.
"Anna?" Edward's soft voice murmured from behind me.
"Mhm," I answered feeling victorious when I held the plastic bottle in my hand.
? My subconscious raised a perfect eyebrow in confusion and a spell of worry for my sanity before deciding to ignore my insane emotions and continued to read the Cosmopolitan.
"Are you alright?" He asked carefully as he saw me grinning at the bottle of hair products in my hand.
"Sure why shouldn't I be?" I replied and whirled around to look at him.
"I just though after ….." he shrugged helplessly.
I sighed and shook my head suddenly feeling incredibly tired.
"Shouldn't I be asking you how you are? I mean with her being pregnant and all….." I trailed off and moved to sit down on the end of my large, comfy bed.
He cocked his head to the side and gazed impassively at me for a brief moment. His silken hair fell into his golden pools which started to shine with a strange light.
Edward crossed the space between us and kneeled down in front of me, placing both of his hands on my thighs. His cool fingers made my muscles flex when they touch my warm skin and a soft gasp escaped my lips.
His eyes narrowed and he licked his lips before he shook his head.
"Do you doubt my feelings for you?" He asked me in a quiet and meek voice while his amber depths burned into my brown eyes, vulnerable and sad.
I inhaled deeply and heavily before I sighed slowly and pursed my lips.
"It's …. It's not that I doubt you," I paused gathering my thoughts to be able to articulate my feelings correctly, "she was your first girlfriend, your first love and will forever remain your other soulmate even when you chose me …. and besides after everything she has done to me," my voice failed me then and I exhaled a shaky breath before I was able to continue, "she will always be a hard limit … a sore spot for me."
Edward stared into my eyes for a long while and swallowed hard before he opened his mouth and closed it again. He cast his gaze onto the floor while his expression narrowed into a thoughtful mask before he looked up at me, amber pools blazing.
"When I read in Renee's mind … why they were hear I was shocked …. but I think that this pregnancy can be a very good thing that happened," he murmured slowly and carefully, his eyes were cautiously gazing at me.
I blinked at him in confusion.
He licked his upper lip while rubbing his palms slowly up and down my thighs once and continued.
"Maybe this child will help her find peace with the situation and help her create a new life for herself. This way we would also not have to worry about her doing anything reckless. She is going to be out of our lives for good now."
I wasn't quite sold on his train of thought.
"You told me yourself that she went against me in the last book for the sake of her daughter."
Still I wasn't convinced, maybe because when it came to her I just always expected the worst.
"But is this what you want?" I couldn't help but ask when suddenly, out of the left field, insecurities overwhelmed me.
"Anna," he breathed my name as he rose on his knees and took a gentle hols on my face, letting his thumbs brush over my cheeks as his golden pools were burning into mine.
"I love you …. only you, Anna. Please never doubt that." He pleaded with me. There was so much desperation and hurt in his voice it caused my chest to constrict painfully.
Chewing on the inside of my bottom lip I gazed into his tense and slightly scared amber depths for a long moment, holding my breath before I nodded my head and a quiet "I ….. OK." left my lips.
Edward exhaled in relief and his expression softened while the corners of his mouth tugged upwards and his eyes sparkled with new light.
"Let's pack our bags and leave." He suddenly blurted out.
"Huh?"
"This place here is not good for you. You are eating those painkillers like candy just to get through the day." His amber pools clouded with pain and anguish as he looked straight at me.
I pressed my lips into a thin line while my breathing accelerated a little.
I knew that I was taking way too much medication but the headaches became steadily worse and more frequent there was nothing I could do about it.
"Your fever is only going to get worse if we stay." He croaked and grabbed my hand holding them firmly in his.
"I want the both of us start our lives somewhere with no reminder of the past holding us back and with no incidences to come haunting us. I know there is a lot to talk about after what happened in Italy. I know that you are angry, angry at me maybe, and how unfair it is that you are being punished for something you haven't done."
I was, kind of, a small part of me resented him for ever giving the bitch troll the time of the day as irrational and unfair that was, which I was aware of, but I couldn't help feeling this way at the moment.
"I'm not trying to run away from anything," he vowed desperately, "I just want to give the both of us a chance to breath, to prove to you how much I love you and that you are the only one who my heart belongs to."
Swallowing hard I pulled my hands out of his and saw hurt and rejection flash cross his face before I leaned in to wrap my arms around his shoulders and buried my face in his neck.
"OK," I mumbled against his skin and felt him nod as his arms slung around my back. He pulled me firmly into his chest, holding me in a tight embrace.