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face； too。 I couldn't stop myself；
though I was afraid it would hurt me later； when I was alone again。 He
continued to kiss my hair； my
forehead； my wrists but never my lips； and that was good。 After all； how
many ways can one heart be
mangled and still be expected to keep beating？ I'd lived through a lot that
should have finished me in the
last few days； but it didn't make me feel strong。 Instead； I felt horribly
fragile； like one word could shatter
me。
Edward didn't speak。 Maybe he was hoping I would sleep。 Maybe he had nothing
to say。
I won the fight against my heavy lids。 I was awake when we reached the airport
in Atlanta； and I even
watched the sun beginning to rise over Seattle's cloud cover before Edward
slid the window shut。 I was
proud of myself。 I hadn't missed one minute。
Neither Alice nor Edward was surprised by the reception that waited for us at
Sea…Tac airport； but it
caught me off guard。 Jasper was the first one I saw—he didn't seem to see me
at all。 His eyes were only
for Alice。 She went quickly to his side； they didn't embrace like other
couples meeting there。 They only
stared into each other's faces； yet； somehow； the moment was so private that I
still felt the need to look
away。
Carlisle and Esme waited in a quiet corner far from the line for the metal
detectors； in the shadow of a
wide pillar。 Esme reached for me； hugging me fiercely； yet awkwardly； because
Edward kept his arms
around me； too。
〃Thank you so much；〃 she said in my ear。
Then she threw her arms around Edward； and she looked like she would be crying
if that were possible。
〃Youwill never put me through ：hat again；〃 she nearly growled。
Edward grinned； repentant。 〃Sorry； Mom。〃
〃Thank you； Bella；〃 Carlisle said。 〃We owe you。〃
〃Hardly；〃 I mumbled。 The sleepless night was suddenly overpowering。 My head
felt disconnected from
my body。
〃She's dead on her feet；〃 Esme scolded Edward。 〃Let's get her home。〃
Not sure if home was what I wanted at this point； I stumbled； half…blind；
through the airport； Edward
dragging me on one side and Esme on the other。 I didn't know if Alice and
Jasper were behind us or not；
and I was too exhausted to look。
I think I was mostly asleep； though I was still walking； when we reached their
car。 The surprise of seeing
Emmett and Rosalie leaning against the black sedan under the dim lights of the
parking garage revived me
some。 Edward stiffened。
〃Don't；〃 Esme whispered。 〃She feels awful。〃
〃She should；〃 Edward said； making no attempt to keep his voice down。
〃It's not her fault；〃 I said； my words garbled with exhaustion。
〃Let her make amends；〃 Esme pleaded。 〃We'll ride with Alice and Jasper。〃
Edward glowered at the absurdly lovely blond vampire waiting for us。
〃Please； Edward；〃 I said。 I didn't want to ride with Rosalie any more than he
seemed to； but I'd caused
more than enough discord in his family。
He sighed； and towed me toward the car。
Emmett and Rosalie got in the front seat without speaking； while Edward pulled
me in the back again。 I
knew I wasn't going to be able to fight my eyelids anymore； and I laid my head
against his chest in defeat；
letting them close。 I felt the car purr to life。
〃Edward；〃 Rosalie began。
〃I know。〃 Edward's brusque tone was not generous。
〃Bella？〃 Rosalie asked softly。
My eyelids fluttered open in shock。 It was the first time she'd ever spoken
directly to me。
〃Yes； Rosalie？〃 I asked； hesitant。
〃I'm so very sorry； Bella。 I feel wretched about every part of this； and so
grateful that you were brave
enough to go save my brother after what I did。 Please say you'll forgive me。〃
The words were awkward； stilted because of her embarrassment； but they seemed
sincere。
〃Of course； Rosalie；〃 I mumbled； grasping at any chance to make her hate me a
little less。 〃It's not your
fault at all。 I'm the one who jumped off the damn cliff。 Of course I forgive
you。〃
The words came out like mush。
〃It doesn't count until she's conscious； Rose；〃 Emmett chuckled。
〃I'm conscious；〃 I said； it just sounded like a garbled sigh。
〃Let her sleep；〃 Edward insisted； but his voice was a little warmer。
It was quiet then； except for the gentle thrum of the engine。 I must have
fallen asleep； because it seemed
like seconds later when the door opened and Edward was carrying me from the
car。 My eyes wouldn't
open。 At first I thought we were still at the airport。
And then I heard Charlie。
〃Bella！〃 he shouted from some distance。
〃Charlie；〃 I mumbled； trying to shake off the stupor。
〃Shh；〃 Edward whispered。 〃It's okay； you're home and safe。 Just sleep。〃
〃I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face here。〃 Charlie bellowed
at Edward； his voice much
closer now。
〃Stop it； Dad；〃 I groaned。 He didn't hear me。
〃What's wrong with her？〃 Charlie demanded。
〃She's just very tired； Charlie；〃 Edward assured him quietly。 〃Please let her
rest。〃
〃Don't tell me what to do！〃 Charlie yelled。 〃Give her to me。 Get your hands
off her！〃
Edward tried to pass me to Charlie； but I clung to him with locked； tenacious
fingers。 I could feel my dad
yanking on my arm。
〃Cut it out； Dad；〃 I said with more volume。 I managed to drag my lids back to
stare at Charlie with bleary
eyes。 〃Be mad at me。〃
We were in front of my house。 The front door was standing open。 The cloud
cover overhead was too
thick to guess at a time of day。
〃You bet I will be；〃 Charlie promised。 〃Get inside。〃 i'〃Kay。 Let me down；〃 I
sighed。
Edward set me on my feet。 I could see that I was upright； but I couldn't feel
my legs。 I trudged forward
anyway； until the sidewalk swirled up toward my face。 Edward's arms caught me
before I hit the
concrete。
〃Just let me get her upstairs；〃 Edward said。 〃Then I'll leave。〃
〃No；〃 I cried； panicking。 I hadn't got my answers yet。 He had to stay for at
least that much； didn't he？
〃I won't be far；〃 Edward promised； whispering so low in my ear that Charlie
didn't have a hope of
hearing。
I didn't hear Charlie answer； but Edward headed into the house。 My open eyes
only made it till the stairs。
The last thing I felt was Edward'