So, it's been a while…but, I remembered how much I love this story. Hope that's alright…

Chapter 6

Bella's POV

Even I could hear Jessica's erratic heartbeat in the deadly silent room. Nobody was breathing. Other than the two of us who actually needed to breathe, however. It wasn't long after Jessica's realization that a silent call from Emmett told Edward, Jasper, and Carlisle that they were needed.

Edward lowered his mouth to my ear. "I need to go, but Alice and Esme will stay here with you," he whispered. I was so anxious and sad and tired that I didn't have the energy to question or fight him. I just nodded, and he kissed my hair lightly before getting up and leaving. As soon as he did, the emptiness I always felt when he was away immediately started sinking in. I was able to hold back the tears until after he left though, which I was thankful for. And it took less than ten seconds after he was out the door for Esme to replace his arms with hers and hold me close. I cried softly into her shoulder, ignoring Jessica's incredulous look as she took in the scene in front of her.

"It's okay my love," Esme whispered as she rubbed my back. "He'll be alright."

I looked up and her and knew that I must look just terrible. My cheeks and eyes were raw from crying, but she wiped my tears away gently. I suddenly felt so tired, but had no desire to move from my spot on the couch. I glanced to my left from the corner of my eye to see Jessica sitting up, completely straight, and looking ahead at nothing in particular. When she noticed that I was looking at her, she turned her head toward me.

"Bella?" I knew I should be comforting her just then, but I didn't know how. What could I possibly say to make it okay? She saw the tears in my eyes, but I knew that she had no idea what they were for. For all she knew, I was scared for my life. It was what any normal human would have though, but it had established long before then that I was no normal human.

Regardless, this was all my fault. And if my family was out there, cleaning up yet another mess that I had caused, the least thing I could do was to help things here.

However difficult it was, I somehow found it in me to smile at her. She just looked at me in surprise. "You still have leaves in your hair Jess," I said, reaching over to pick a few out. "Do you want to take a shower? I'm sure Alice has some clothes you can borrow." I looked over in the direction of my soon-to-be sister-in-law, who just nodded slightly and got up from her seat at a very human pace.

"I'm going to go out and do what I can," Esme said as I pulled myself, albeit unwillingly, from her arms. "But don't worry. None of us will be far, and Alice will stay here with you." With that, she kissed the top of my head and flitted gracefully to the front door.

Jess didn't get up to move, but instead stared at the door that Esme had just left from.

"I know, they move fast," I said, holding my hand out to Jessica, who just stared at it.

"They…" she said, trailing off before she could finish her sentence, though I knew what she must be thinking.

I knelt down in front of her, and took her hands in mine. I still remembered how I reacted when I had found out about the Cullens, and I knew that it was nothing at all how I should have reacted. I should have been terrified. I should have run away from Edward, screaming. And while Jessica's reaction wasn't exactly normal either, it was probably much closer to that end of the spectrum than mine was.

"Jess, listen to me. You are safe. They won't let anything happen to us. Now, why don't we get cleaned up and I will answer any questions that you have."

Her blank eyes looked into mine, and I finally saw realization there. She nodded, and let me lead her upstairs.