Chapter 9: Come What May

The flights back to Forks were awkward ones, for everyone. They could all clearly see and feel the shift in the emotional attachments; and yet, no one wanted to talk about it. In Bella's case, she was just too tired to even keep her eyes open, and spent most of the flights asleep on Davina's shoulder. This made it more awkward and difficult for Davina to say anything to her nephew; or for him to say anything to her.

As for Viktor, it was probably best that he didn't speak at all. Not only was this none of his business, not only was he exceedingly biased, but Viktor had no filter. Viktor often spoke his mind and cared nothing for whom he might offend or upset; so if he said what he wanted about the situation, he would likely be far too blunt for all their likings.

Charlie wasn't very happy, when Davina returned Bella to him. Before leaving for Italy, Bella had left him a vague note about Davina's family needed her for a few days, and that she was going with her. Charlie was prepared to give both of the girls quite the earful, but Bella was still so tired from all the excitement and the jetlag. They put her to bed, and then Davina did her best to ease Charlie's mood.

"My father had an accident," she'd lied. "He was visiting some friends in Italy, and they called me to come bring him home. My brother's actually with him right now, taking care of him."

Charlie had looked so guilty for ever thinking a negative thought about Davina. The entire time they were gone, he had only thought about his own daughter – he had never stopped to consider just what might have happened to take them away so suddenly.

"I'm sorry to hear that. He'll be okay, I hope," he'd told her.

"Oh, he'll be fine," Davina had replied. "They made it sound worse than it was."

It hadn't been Davina's best performance, but all she could think about was what was going to happen now? What was she going to say to Edward? What was Viktor saying to Edward? Would Bella go back to him, or stay with her? Would that send Edward back to Italy? Would the entire debacle tear apart the family, somehow?

Edward sighed, as he put down the phone. He was finally finished explaining to everyone what had happened, and the he was fine and safe back home. The family had been called before, when Edward and the others were waiting for their flight out of Italy; but there hadn't been too much time for talk, and Davina had been the one to call them, not Edward. He'd said a few words on the phone to prove that he was still alive, but nothing more – he was too embarrassed. And the thought of them arriving in Forks soon…

"Ready to talk about it?" Viktor asked. He had returned to the Cullen house with Edward, while Davina brought Bella home.

Edward said nothing, but didn't try to leave. To Viktor, this was confirmation enough that he was ready to talk.

"I'm no mind-reader, but I know Marcus and his gifts," Viktor began. "I think we both know what Marcus saw between Bella and Davina."

"But…how?" Edward questioned. He genuinely didn't understand how this could happen. "I thought Bella was my mate."

"We all have more than one soulmate in life – our immortal lives are too long not to." Viktor shrugged at another idea. "Or maybe she was never your mate. Maybe you only thought she was, because she was your bloodsinger. You were drawn to her blood, not her; but you wanted so desperately not to give into your urges and eat her, that you convinced yourself that it was love. And, of course, she'd be drawn to you, because everything about us draws them in."

Edward's face turned sour. Could their entire relationship have been an illusion? Something he'd made up in his mind, just to keep from feeding on her?

Viktor saw the gears of self-loathing beginning to turn in Edward's mind. "Look, I know you like to brood and feel sorry for yourself over every little blade of grass you step on; but that isn't what's important, right now."

Edward shot Viktor a dirty look.

Viktor ignored his face, and went on. "What is important, is what does Bella want? She's already made it very clear that she wants to be a vampire; and the Volturihave made it clear that if she doesn't become one, then they'll kill her. The next question is with whom does she want to spend her eternity with?"

Edward's eyes fell.

"If she wants to be with you, then so be it. You wouldn't exactly be my first choice for her, but I might be a little biased."

Edward opened his mouth to defend himself, but Viktor didn't give him a chance.

"Anyway! If it's you, then I'll take my little girl back home to lick her wounds, and show her a good time to try and mend her broken heart." Viktor grew a touch more serious, and stared Edward down hard. "But what are you going to do, if she chooses Davina? We both know you wont stay here – even you aren't that self-torturing. Where will you go? Back to the Volturi to have Aro finish you off? To let him manipulate you into joining them? Because that would force Bella's hand, and you know it. And you cant travel alone."

"Why not?" Edward questioned. "You do it all the time."

Viktor smiled. "I'm different. I spent 1500 years alone, before I found Davina. I'm also not the one that's gonna be nursing a broken heart."

"You talk as though she's already made her decision," he snorted.

"Hasn't she?"

Davina sat propped up against the headboard of Bella's bed, as she checked the messages on her phone. It was a little after midnight, and all of her family had already made it back to Forks. They were hounding her to sneak away from Bella and Charlie, and come home – they missed her and wanted to thank her for helping to stop Edward from getting himself killed. But Davina refused to just disappear on Bella. Even if she'd left a note explaining where she'd gone, and promised to return; Bella would still undoubtedly panic and run over to their house to make sure Davina hadn't left her the way Edward had.

Bella began to squirm around in the sheets, and whine in her sleep. The nightmares she'd long since left behind seemed to be returning to plague her mind once again.

Davina put her phone away in a flash, and turned her full attention to waking Bella. When she awoke, she gripped Davina's hand as tightly as she could. She looked up at the vampire in pleasant surprise. "You're here."

Davina smiled down at her. "Where else would I be?"

Before Bella could respond to her rhetorical question, Charlie opened the door – he'd heard Bella having another nightmare, and come to check on her. "Hey. You okay?"

Bella sat up to see her father better over Davina. "I'm fine."

Charlie didn't look convinced.

"Dad, you don't have to worry," Bella insisted.

"You know, last time you said that, you took off and I didn't see you for three days."

"…I'm really sorry, dad."

"Bella, do not ever do that to me, again." Charlie's tone was commanding, yet his eyes looked sad. It was a father's worst nightmare to lose his little girl, and not know why. "And you're grounded…for the rest of your life."

Davina hid a smile, as Charlie backed out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Fathers…"

"I thought you'd be home, with your family," said Bella, as though nothing had happened.

Davina let out a heavy sigh. "Well, they are certainly trying to get me there."

"What's stopping you?"

"You mean, aside from not wanting to panic you by disappearing, while you've slept?" The smile faded from Davina's face, and her eyes fell. "…I don't know what to say to Edward. I feel like a villain that swooped in and stole his girl…I don't even know if you still want to be with me, now that he's back."

Bella placed a hand on Davina's cheek, and pulled her closer. She touched her lips to the vampire's in a gentle and comforting kiss.

"What was that for?" Davina asked.

"Because I love you," she replied genuinely. "And I still want to be with you. I just…I'm afraid of what Edward might do, when he finds out."

"You think he'll go straight back to Italy, when he finds out," Davina guessed. Bella nodded. "Well, there's only one way to find out for sure."

Bella and Davina waited for Charlie to fall asleep, before sneaking out to go to the Cullens' house. The entire drive was nerve-racking for them. Bella had had some practice in talking to Edward about this; but that had been an hallucination, that only seemed to care about the fact that she was about to jump off of a cliff. This time was going to be different. This time, Edward was going to be very real; and his sole focus was going to be the topic at hand.

Edward was waiting outside the house for them, when they arrived. He'd asked the others to stay inside, while he spoke with the two girls. Only Viktor seemed to know what exactly was going on, and yet he refused to divulge anything to the rest of them. He told them once that this was between Edward, Davina, and Bella. If they wished to tell them anything, that was their decision, but it was not his place to gossip. From that point on, he ignored anyone trying to ask him about it.

Bella's heart was racing as she approached her former love. She wanted so badly to hold Davina's hand for comfort, but didn't want to flaunt it in Edward's face, so she resisted.

"I know you both have something you want to say to me," he began, calmly. "But I have something I want to say to each of you first, if that's alright."

Bella and Davina both nodded. Neither had known where exactly to begin, or how. Him wanting to start it all made things a lot easier.

Edward looked to his aunt first. "Thank you. Thank you for coming back and taking care of Bella, when I didn't." He turned to Bella, now. "Bella, I'm sorry. For everything I put you through. I only left to give you a chance at a happy, normal life; and to keep you safe from me. Instead…Instead, I hurt you more deeply than I ever intended. For that, I'm more sorry than you could know."

"She lost her mate," said Davina. "That's a devastating loss."

Edward shook his head. "I'm not her mate. Not anymore. I'm not even sure I ever was."

"Edward," Bella began.

"I'm not made," he told her. "I love you, Bella. All I want for you is to be happy." He looked at Davina. "All I ever wanted for you was to find your mate, so that you would know the joy you see around you every day. And now you've found your joy, and you're happy. What more could I want for both of you?"

"What about you?" Bella asked.

"Denali," said Edward.

Bella blinked. "What?"

"It's a place in Alaska," Davina explained. "There's another family of vampires there – smaller – who live off of animal blood, like we do. We call them our cousins." She looked at her nephew. "You're going to stay with them?"

Edward smiled, lightly. "I spoke with Tanya, earlier. We leave at dawn."

"We?"

"Viktor's…curious about another family of vegetarians. He's looking forward to meeting them," said Edward.

Davina made a face of understanding. "He wants to make sure you get there, so we don't worry."

"And once I'm there, and Viktor's finished telling her everything, I'm sure Tanya won't let me leave."

Davina and Edward shared a laugh. It was true.

As happy as she was that he was being so understanding and forgiving, Bella couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Was this the beginning of the family being torn apart? "Wait, Edward, you don't have to go."

"Yes, I do," he argued. "Bella, the only reason I've been able to resist your blood is because of my feelings for you. If I stay, knowing that you love someone else, that you belong to someone else…I don't want to risk hurting you, again."

Bella's eyes fell. She knew he was right. But she still hating forcing him to leave his family, however temporary.

"Besides, the two of you won't really be able to flourish with me hanging around." Edward flashed another mild smile. "Constantly worrying about the ex-boyfriend, and his feelings? You'll never be able to grow as a couple."

Bella and Davina returned his smile. They were glad to hear that he was supportive of their relationship, and that he would be going somewhere safe with support to give them space; but they didn't want to come across as selfish and uncaring by behaving too excitedly.

"I'll be alright," he assured them. "Now, let's go in. Everyone's waiting."

Bella and Davina spent the rest of the night at the Cullens'. After announcing his departure from the family, and blessing for the new couple, the family held an impromptu going away party for Edward. Nearly everyone was curious to know how Bella and Davina had fallen in love, but no one dared ask aloud – it wouldn't have been fair to Edward. It was bad enough having to hear them all think it.

As dawn neared, Davina and Bella returned home. They wanted to walk Edward and Viktor out into the woods, before they left, to say goodbye. The issue was taking their leave in a manner that wouldn't alarm Charlie. While they did that, the rest of the family said their farewells to Edward, once again.

"I'm surprised he let me come with you," said Bella. She held Davina's hand, as they walked away from the car towards the meeting spot.

"Well, I did tell him that Edward was leaving with him to care for him, after his accident in Italy," said Davina. "Hearing that you were going to be saying goodbye to Edward of your own accord? I'm surprised he isn't throwing a party."

Bella smiled.

Davina stopped, and her ears perked up.

"What is it?"

"There's someone else with Viktor and Edward." Davina sniffed the air. "Oh, no…"

The two girls picked up speed. When they arrived at the meeting spot, Jacob Black was there. He was questioning Viktor and Edward. Who was Viktor? Why is he here? Where's Bella? What happened to Bella?

"Jake?" said Bella. Jacob was visibly relieved to see Bella was still human. "What are you doing here?"

"He wanted to make sure you were still human," said Edward.

"You stay the hell outta my head," Jacob snapped.

"It doesn't take a mind reader to know what you were afraid of, little pup," said Viktor.

"Viktor," Davina scolded. She didn't want him causing an incident, by pissing Jake off.

Jacob gave Viktor a challenging look. "You know, the treaty doesn't apply to you. I'm doing Davina a favor right now, by not ripping your head off."

Viktor laughed to himself. It was amusing to see such a young, inexperienced wolf threaten him as though he actually stood a chance.

Jacob took his silence as a win, and turned back to the other two vampires. "I'm here to remind you about a key point in the treaty."

"We haven't forgotten," Davina replied.

Bella looked amongst the three of them. "What key point?"

Jacob, who wasn't up to date on Bella's change of relationship, stared down Edward. "If any of them bites a human, the truce is over."

"But if I choose it, it has nothing to do with you," Bella argued.

"No. No, I won't let you." Jacob moved closer to her, as though close proximity would somehow make her more susceptible to what he wanted. "You're not gonna be one of them, Bella."

"It's not up to you."

"You know what we'll do to you. I won't have a choice," he pressed.

"So they don't come back to Forks," said Viktor. "She'll have to stay away, after faking her death, anyway."

Davina shot Viktor a look that told him to shut up.

Bella moved closer to Jacob, and lowered her voice. "Jake…I love you."

Jacob's heart swelled at the sound of those words. Oh, how he's longed to hear her say them.

"So, please, don't make me choose," Bella went on. She glanced back at Davina. "Cause it'll be her."

Jacob was in shock. "Her?! You're with…since when do you like girls?"

"I don't," said Bella. "But I love Davina."

"That's why I'm leaving, Jacob," said Edward. "Bella's made her decision."

Jacob was speechless – there were so many questions racing through his head. When did this happen? How did this happen? Was Bella gay, now? Or was there still a chance for him? If she'd moved on from Edward, why did she run away for three day, only to return with him? Was she just being pulled in by the natural allure of a vampire? If so, how could he get her away from them, and convince her that this wasn't really something she wanted?

"Look, kid, your little treaty isn't going to be violated," said Viktor. "None of them are going to be biting Bella, because I'm going to bite her. And as you so cleverly pointed out before, the treaty doesn't include me."

Jacob grew angry, as he turned to face the ancient vampire. "You're not gonna touch her!"

"And you're not gonna stop me," Viktor replied.

Jacob began to seethe – he was on the verge of shifting.

Bella threw herself between them. "Jake, don't. Please, don't fight him."

Davina flitted to her father's side, and whispered to him in Mandarin. She understood he was itching for a good fight, but this was neither the time nor place for it. She begged him to shut his mouth and stop trying to provoke a shifter wolf.

Jacob watched Davina with her father. He saw Edward watching him, ready to snatch Bella at the slightest flinch of him beginning to shift. Then he saw the pleading look in Bella's eyes. She was so desperate for him not to fight the vampires. Was it concern for his safety, given there were three of them? Or was it concern for vampire friends?

But they weren't her friend, they were her future family. The family she would join, when she became one of them – when she became a disgusting bloodsucker. The thought of her becoming one of them made him sick. So sick, that his anger was growing. But he didn't want to hurt her, so he turned and ran deeper into the woods.

Bella was sad to see him go so hurt, with so much left unresolved. But what more could she do?

"We should probably go, too," Edward suggested.

"Agreed," said Davina.

"Very well." Viktor smiled down at his daughter, as he kissed her on the head. "Until next time, little one."

Viktor and Edward walked a little ways out, while Davina returned to Bella's side. The boys hesitated a moment. Edward wanted to wish them well, but no way sounded quite right in his head. So, instead, he flashed them a comforting smile, and flitted away.

"It was nice to meet you, Miss Swan," said Viktor. "Be good to my little girl."

"I will," Bella vowed. "I promise."

Viktor nodded in acknowledgement, and took off after Edward.

Davina sighed, as she put her arm around Bella. There was still so much to deal with, but she was happy – they both were. Edward had been completely understanding and supportive of their relationship, and was going somewhere that he had a support system, instead of traveling alone with his thoughts. Things were looking up.

The school year had begun horribly, for Bella. She was turning a year older than Edward, who still refused to turn her. Then he'd left her broken, and alone. But now the year would end with her getting everything she'd wanted. She had a love who would never leave her, and who was willing to have her turned.

All that was left to do was to plan when and how she would become a vampire. How and when she would fake her death, so that Charlie and Rene wouldn't search for her. But that would turn out to be easier said than done. And Victoria's plans for revenge would turn out to be more complex than simple sneaking into Forks on occasion, trying to get to Bella.

There were more problems headed their way, than they knew. But they would face them the way they would face everything from now on: together…

Well, that's the end of New Moon, guys. I hope you like the story, so far. It'll be a little while before I'm back with Eclipse, unfortunately. I need time to go through it and make my notes, timeline, etc. As always, I'm open to suggestions and ideas, if you have any. And please let me know what you think about the story so far.

How will Breaking Dawn play out, now that Bella is no longer with Edward? Will there even be a pseudo-Renesme? Or will the Volturi find another reason to come for the Cullens?