Something Better Than Forever
by Skydancinghobbit
Chapter 22: An
Act of Desperation
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I love him. Not because he’s beautiful or because he’s rich! I’d much rather he weren’t either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit, because he’d still be the most loving and unselfish and brilliant and decent person I’ve ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?
Bella Swan, Eclipse, Chapter 4, p.110
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Landing was bittersweet for Bella, having discovered such rapid friends in the twins. First Disney movies than a game of apple to apples which had left them all roaring with laughter. Promises were made of regular correspondence or even email if they could spare the time. Bella in turn giving her word to do her best to avoid trouble and call them the moment something came up. She had only just stepped onto the pavement of the airport when a pair of cool arms swept her off her feet. Laughing Bella realized patience was not one of Emmett’s better qualities.
"Little sister, at last, welcome back!"
His best whisper was closer to a bears roar in her ears as he placed her back on the ground with a fond rumble. His parents rushing up in his wake, Esme scolding like anything. Carlisle coming to check her over least he had accidentally harmed her in the eagerness of his greeting. Finding no visible injuries or even a sign of pain he relaxed. Golden eyes softening once more to the familiar amber she had missed.
"Welcome back little one, we have missed you sorely"
Looking back it might have been his gentle tone and understanding eyes, or possible the sudden embrace of Jasper, tender and supportive that finally cracked the dam. Biting her lip she fought with the waves of emotion long held back that now lapped against her heart like the tides of the sea, happily she received help from Jasper who smothered it long enough for them to gather her baggage and he himself carried her to the car where he stayed wrapping brotherly arms around her as he allowed the protection to withdraw slowly lest she be overwhelmed with the strength of her own feelings.
Never before had crying felt so, good to Bella, like finally the impasse had been broken and she free to simply be Bella, the fragile human who had found herself in a world where she couldn't understand all the rules. Jasper merely smiled held her through the storm rocking her in the same fashion her mother had when she was young and had fallen off the swings badly skinning her knee. When at last sniffles had replaced the sobs he offered her a tissue running fond fingers through her hair.
"Easy Darlin, you’re breaking my heart over here"
His quiet support meant the world to her, here at last was someone who truly understood how she felt and did not have a comment or suggestion on it. Jasper was truly a gift and she smiled gently, cuddling into his side exhaling the free air as the strange weight she had been carrying lifted. He had not so much as batted an eye as he now sported a tear soaked shirt and rumpled collar. Sweet man that he was, Bella slowly straighten up gifting him a rather watery smile.
"Have I managed to thank you properly for just existing cowboy?"
His golden eyes softened, had they not been that before he sucked in a breath and she was amazed to see even in his eyes venom tears lurking. Then she realized, this was probably the only time in several hundred years anyone had ever taken the time to thank him for some selfless act. The unfairness of the idea made her positively angry watching him struggle for utterance.
"You’re welcome Darlin, and if I may return a compliment, the same carries to you as well"
Soft rumbles of agreement were heard from the driver’s seat where Carlisle sat at the wheel. Who only joined in at this point to gently announce they had arrived at their destination. Smiling she was glad for it. Happy for a moment to gather her wits and fix her makeup. Never did to look like a fright when coming to be company in the home of your best friends. Jasper smiled picking up a brush to attend gently to the back of her hair.
"There, ready for your Cullen homecoming I think"
He then opened the door, stepping aside in true gentlemen fashion as she slid gently from the soft buttery leather seats and onto the ground of the Cullen home, she had just counted to three when Alice bounded into view had she possessed them Bella knew that tears would have been coursing down her cheeks as she met her friend sobbing onto her shoulder
“Oh Bella, Bella I'm so sorry, I never should have taken you to the garden can you ever forgive me?”
She would have continued in this vein for quite some time had not Bella cut her off with a soft bark of laughter. Astonished Alice looked up at her a somewhat hurt expression on her features.
“Alice, there is nothing to forgive you silly woman, they'd have grabbed me had I been outside the city at any time, so its not really your fault. At some point I would have gone wandering in the moonlight even without your excellent idea for a walk. Therefore I forgive you entirely.”
This reasonable statement was met with more hugging and tears, and when those had concluded, squeals and happy dances about their coming days of fun and relaxation. Apparently her hosts had taken great care to plan her time here to best advantage and she laughing went along into the house. Happy it seemed to be within familiar walls. There at the doorway of her room she met Rosalie who was almost friendly, greeting her with a smile and a small gift in welcome. Which turned out to be a lovely pair of earrings. Eagerly she thanked her and then promptly was dragged off with covered eyes to behold the room. Which up till that moment had been screened from view with thick folds of cloth.
“Tada!”
The familiar singsong voice of Alice greeted her ears as she opened her eyes and gasped. Had she not had the 11 hour plane ride she would have sworn she had stepped back into a room in the Castle, this time done in gray and purple tones.
“Alice! Oh I love it!!”
She exclaimed with a squeal running over with all haste to bounce on the thick four posted bed that rather dominated the room. Something she wouldn't have dared to attempt in Italy, least she may have had to explain why and what she was doing. As she landed and discovering it was in fact a water bed lay back with a joyful goofy smile playing on her lips. As she slowly rose from the bed a short time later intent on asking a question of Alice about what the carpet was made from the words froze on her lips.
There standing on the lawn, was a shirtless Edward and Jacob and both looked ready to kill so great was the anger in their eyes, only this time it seemed they were intent on working together.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I love him. Not because he’s beautiful or because he’s rich! I’d much rather he weren’t either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit, because he’d still be the most loving and unselfish and brilliant and decent person I’ve ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?
Bella Swan, Eclipse, Chapter 4, p.110
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Landing was bittersweet for Bella, having discovered such rapid friends in the twins. First Disney movies than a game of apple to apples which had left them all roaring with laughter. Promises were made of regular correspondence or even email if they could spare the time. Bella in turn giving her word to do her best to avoid trouble and call them the moment something came up. She had only just stepped onto the pavement of the airport when a pair of cool arms swept her off her feet. Laughing Bella realized patience was not one of Emmett’s better qualities.
"Little sister, at last, welcome back!"
His best whisper was closer to a bears roar in her ears as he placed her back on the ground with a fond rumble. His parents rushing up in his wake, Esme scolding like anything. Carlisle coming to check her over least he had accidentally harmed her in the eagerness of his greeting. Finding no visible injuries or even a sign of pain he relaxed. Golden eyes softening once more to the familiar amber she had missed.
"Welcome back little one, we have missed you sorely"
Looking back it might have been his gentle tone and understanding eyes, or possible the sudden embrace of Jasper, tender and supportive that finally cracked the dam. Biting her lip she fought with the waves of emotion long held back that now lapped against her heart like the tides of the sea, happily she received help from Jasper who smothered it long enough for them to gather her baggage and he himself carried her to the car where he stayed wrapping brotherly arms around her as he allowed the protection to withdraw slowly lest she be overwhelmed with the strength of her own feelings.
Never before had crying felt so, good to Bella, like finally the impasse had been broken and she free to simply be Bella, the fragile human who had found herself in a world where she couldn't understand all the rules. Jasper merely smiled held her through the storm rocking her in the same fashion her mother had when she was young and had fallen off the swings badly skinning her knee. When at last sniffles had replaced the sobs he offered her a tissue running fond fingers through her hair.
"Easy Darlin, you’re breaking my heart over here"
His quiet support meant the world to her, here at last was someone who truly understood how she felt and did not have a comment or suggestion on it. Jasper was truly a gift and she smiled gently, cuddling into his side exhaling the free air as the strange weight she had been carrying lifted. He had not so much as batted an eye as he now sported a tear soaked shirt and rumpled collar. Sweet man that he was, Bella slowly straighten up gifting him a rather watery smile.
"Have I managed to thank you properly for just existing cowboy?"
His golden eyes softened, had they not been that before he sucked in a breath and she was amazed to see even in his eyes venom tears lurking. Then she realized, this was probably the only time in several hundred years anyone had ever taken the time to thank him for some selfless act. The unfairness of the idea made her positively angry watching him struggle for utterance.
"You’re welcome Darlin, and if I may return a compliment, the same carries to you as well"
Soft rumbles of agreement were heard from the driver’s seat where Carlisle sat at the wheel. Who only joined in at this point to gently announce they had arrived at their destination. Smiling she was glad for it. Happy for a moment to gather her wits and fix her makeup. Never did to look like a fright when coming to be company in the home of your best friends. Jasper smiled picking up a brush to attend gently to the back of her hair.
"There, ready for your Cullen homecoming I think"
He then opened the door, stepping aside in true gentlemen fashion as she slid gently from the soft buttery leather seats and onto the ground of the Cullen home, she had just counted to three when Alice bounded into view had she possessed them Bella knew that tears would have been coursing down her cheeks as she met her friend sobbing onto her shoulder
“Oh Bella, Bella I'm so sorry, I never should have taken you to the garden can you ever forgive me?”
She would have continued in this vein for quite some time had not Bella cut her off with a soft bark of laughter. Astonished Alice looked up at her a somewhat hurt expression on her features.
“Alice, there is nothing to forgive you silly woman, they'd have grabbed me had I been outside the city at any time, so its not really your fault. At some point I would have gone wandering in the moonlight even without your excellent idea for a walk. Therefore I forgive you entirely.”
This reasonable statement was met with more hugging and tears, and when those had concluded, squeals and happy dances about their coming days of fun and relaxation. Apparently her hosts had taken great care to plan her time here to best advantage and she laughing went along into the house. Happy it seemed to be within familiar walls. There at the doorway of her room she met Rosalie who was almost friendly, greeting her with a smile and a small gift in welcome. Which turned out to be a lovely pair of earrings. Eagerly she thanked her and then promptly was dragged off with covered eyes to behold the room. Which up till that moment had been screened from view with thick folds of cloth.
“Tada!”
The familiar singsong voice of Alice greeted her ears as she opened her eyes and gasped. Had she not had the 11 hour plane ride she would have sworn she had stepped back into a room in the Castle, this time done in gray and purple tones.
“Alice! Oh I love it!!”
She exclaimed with a squeal running over with all haste to bounce on the thick four posted bed that rather dominated the room. Something she wouldn't have dared to attempt in Italy, least she may have had to explain why and what she was doing. As she landed and discovering it was in fact a water bed lay back with a joyful goofy smile playing on her lips. As she slowly rose from the bed a short time later intent on asking a question of Alice about what the carpet was made from the words froze on her lips.
There standing on the lawn, was a shirtless Edward and Jacob and both looked ready to kill so great was the anger in their eyes, only this time it seemed they were intent on working together.