"What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient."

Bodie Thoene

Chapter ten: Home

Ed POV:

We were close to home, I imagine that the rest of the family was already there, It was a long journey and so I stopped every few hours so Bella could get out and stretch her legs. It was normally a two-day drive, but Of course my trip would be a whole lot faster than that. Bella was in the car with me, and I wanted to keep my time with her to a maximum, before I took her back to Charlie's where he would blame me for whatever happened when I left. I still didn't know how Bella was. I was telling myself that I didn't necessarily want to know. Who knows what happened? I certainly did not and I doubt that Bella would tell me. Maybe Victoria was back? Maybe the wolves have been dealing with her in our absence, who knows. Bella was resting her head on my shoulder and had drifted asleep, we pulled up into the driveway and I picked up her up and placed her on the couch in the living while the rest of us were putting things back where they belong. Esme was humming in her mind and thinking about how nice it felt to be home again, to be whole again. Bella was due back in two days, but we figured that we'd brown nose Charlie a little. We were going to finish unpacking later tonight, while Alice and Jasper took Bella back home. Bella was still asleep on the couch.

"Might as well go ahead and wake her up." Alice whispered to me.

"Alright." I said, going to the couch and kneeling in front of it. I stroked Bella's cheek and she immediately responded to my touch, stirring.

"Bella." I said softly. "Bella, love. Time to wake up." I said, stroking her cheek again.

"Huh?" She groaned as she stretched. "What's going on?"

"Just time to take you home. Alice and Jasper are going to take you and I'll follow them there."

"Okay. Let me go get my bags." She said through a yawn. As soon as she had both feet on the ground, she lost her balance and I caught her.

"Alice and Jasper already got them." I told her. I then carried her to the garage where Jasper and Alice were waiting.

I set her down at the car and opened the door for her as she got in. Jasper started the engine and they took off and I went right after them. I was almost to the house when I caught a familiar scent. It was an unpleasant one. I heard rustling and followed it. I then heard their thoughts.

Jake, come on. We're on their land. They're supposed to be back and we're not supposed to be here. Come on! Too late, I smell. Him. Them, whoever it is.

Just relax, Quil. He won't attack us.

What made the kid sound so sure, i didn't know? I ran to them and they growled at me.

Going to go behind that tree to phase.

I nodded. He came back in only a pair of blue jean cut off shorts.

"What are you doing here?" He asked me, in a disgusted tone.

"I could ask you the same question."

"Well we had to take care of your problems."

"My Problems?"

"Yeah the leech, and his red headed friend, they were stalking Bella so we did what needed to be done."

"Needed to be done?"

"Yeah, as in killed, for want of a better word. You can't kill something that's already dead."

This kid was getting on my nerves; he knew that I was almost ready to attack him so he thought of something that would make me NOT want to do that. He was thinking of Bella, what she was like. How Sam had passed the memory of how she was when I turned my back on her in the woods. I couldn't help but cringe.

He was laughing internally. Told you he wouldn't attack us. He had a big grin on his face and phased back and the two ran back towards the line. I ran back towards Bella's house and climbed in her window, and waited.

ALICE:

Bella was kind of quiet on the ride to her house. I don't know about her, but I'm thrilled to be back home. I saw Edward climb through Bella's window.

"He's waiting for you in your room." I told her, while looking at her in the rearview mirror.

She kind of smiled and looked stressed as we turned into her drive.

"Bella, it's going to be okay, he's not that angry." Jasper said, probably sensing her stress.

"THAT angry?"

"Jazz, A little help?" I asked of my talented hubby.

"OK, he should be more relieved than anything now. I'll wait here."

Bella and I got out of the car and I knocked on the door. Charlie quickly answered and immediately took Bella into his arms.

"So glad to see you, Bells! I've been worried sick." Charlie said as he led her in the house and I followed carrying her bag and took it upstairs to her room. I just smiled at Edward pacing in her room and quietly laughed and he hissed at me. I just laughed again as he went back to pacing.

"Alice, did you see anything of the red head? The one from the baseball game?" He asked me suddenly. I was unpacking Bella's clean clothes from her bag so I had a reasonable excuse to be up here for so long. I could hear Charlie and Bella talking downstairs, just small talk.

"No, why?" I asked, skeptical.

"Apparently She and Laurent were stalking Bella while we were gone and the dogs took care of it."

"WHAT?" I whispered angrily.

"Yeah, the mutts are back. But we owe them." He told me, looking me dead in the eyes.

"We'll have to tell Carlisle. He has to know as soon as possible." I replied as I finished unpacking at vampire speed and went back downstairs.

"Bella, your bags are unpacked." I told her.

"Thanks Alice."

"Yes, thank you Alice, thanks for bringing her back." Charlie said to me as he hugged me.

"Well, I have to go. Gotta help Esme get us back in order."

"You guys are moving back?"

"Yes, Esme found LA not at all to her liking." I lied smoothly "And Bella is here."

"Is he coming back?" Charlie said, with a red face, immediately turning serious.

"I think so." I said, mentally smiling.

He looked at Bella. "I want you to stay away from him, Bella. He's no good for you."

"Fine."

Voices were raising. I found this as my time to leave. I got back to the car with Jasper and we went back home.

Edward POV:

Bella and Charlie were fighting over me. I broke my non-beating heart to hear her defending me. After everything I've done to her she is still willing to risk everything she has...for me. I heard her plow up the steps and took my place in the rocking chair in the corner and I stood up when her door flew open and she ran right into my arms. She hugged me tightly and I gently pulled her closer. She began to cry and I patted her back.

"It's all okay. Bella, look at me." She did so. "Everything is going to be okay." I told her, looking her in the eye and knowing it was true. Nothing was coming for us anymore. We move on, something I desperately wanted to do. Bella pulled back and smiled at me and I kissed her.