Chapter 31: Reunion

My eyes were closed and I sighed. We had been on the on the plane for 10 hours out of our 15. Changing flights was more complicated then I thought, but finally we were on the last stretch home.

Edward was holding my hand and lay kisses on my every so often.

“Edward?” I asked when I opened my eyes and looked at him.

One of his eyes opened and looked at me. “Huh?”

“How are Charlie and everyone?”

“Fine, at least since the last time I saw them. The last time I saw them, it was middle November. Who knows what's has been going on with them, they are pretty unpredictable.” He smiled and closed the eye he had opened for me.

“Wouldn’t Alice have seen you and me coming?”

He shook his head. “Something is wrong and she has been kept in the dark about the future. I don’t know what happened but, I don’t know if she has had it fixed yet.” I leaned back into the plane seat. “Don’t worry about it my love. Everything will be ok.”

“I know it’s just am not sure if after this plane ride I can run home.”

Edward chuckled but didn’t reply.

Once the plane landed, Edward and I come into a crowded Seattle airport. The air in the terminal was so thin. It made me sick to my stomach but I didn’t even want to know what it smelled like to Edward. But looked at each other, we both needed to get out.

Once out, the Washington day was partly cloudy and the sun was peaking through a lot. Edward pulled up his hood and took my hand. I slipped into my new cape, also putting up my hood, and walked out of the terminal.

The air was brisk while Edward and I ran back home. I let my senses take over and I knew that I was so close to home. By accident I started to use my talent, wanting to get home faster.

“Bella, relax.”

I smiled sweetly. “I know I just really want to be home.”

“Me too. Come on, we are almost there.” Edward took my hand and ran faster.

In no time, we were in the forest just outside the Cullen’s home and Edward stopped. His hand jerked me back and he caught me in his arms.

“Edward, come on, let go. We are almost there.”

“I want it to be a surprise. For all of them.” I looked at him and laughed. His face was glowing and a smile widened across most of it.

“For goodness sake, don’t you think they have been through enough?”

“Please Bella, come on. Just this once?”

I rolled my eyes. “What has gotten into you Edward Cullen? How are we supposed to get past Alice’s future telling and everyone else’s super senses? They could smell us from here!”

He looked at me. “You don’t smell that bad love.” I hit him.

“I was being serious.”

“I can hear their thoughts. All of them are home and they are all watching an old movie. Alice still can’t see the future, just what's going to happen next in the movie. And everyone seems to be tuning out all their senses.”

“Alright, fine. We will surprise them, but for the record it was not my idea.”

He kissed me on the lips, pushing me a step back.

“Thank you, honey.”

He pulled my hood up and wrapped the cape around me tightly. The cloak came down to the top of my shoes, helping to have no recognizable parts. Edward pulled his hood up too and buttoned up the jacket. He grabbed my hand and we briskly walked to the front door to our family’s home.

We got to the front door and Edward ran the doorbell, after taking a few seconds to locate it. We both had our faces bent down so they couldn’t see our faces when they opened the door. I could feel Edward chuckling by my side and I nudged him to be quiet. A smile spread across my face in anticipation.

The door swung open and Esme was standing in the doorway. Synchronized, Edward and I took off the hoods on our heads. Esme screamed and Edward still had the huge smile on his face.

“What’s the matter dear?” Carlisle came up from behind Esme and his mouth fell open.

“Oh my god.”

“Not god Carlisle, Edward and Bella.” Edward was chuckling still as he watched the shock on Carlisle’s face. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Esme started to reach in for a hug but hesitated.

“Is that really you Bella?”

I smiled and nodded. “The one and only.” Taking the initiative, I walked into her arms and hugged her. She started to sob against my shoulder. I just held on to her tight, never wanting to let go.

“What is taking you so long? Stop screaming and come in so we can finish this movie.” Someone yelled from the other room.

Letting go of Esme, I hugged Carlisle while Esme started suffocating Edward in a hug.

“I am so glad you are back. We missed you. We missed you so much,” Carlisle said as he let me go.

“You have no idea how much I have missed you guys. I am so glad to be home.” I smiled.

Alice got up from the living room and started to stomp to the front door.

“We are trying to finish a movie in here, can you just…” She didn’t finish her sentence because she had made it around the corner and we staring at me. Her eyes looked like she was going to cry. She dropped the remote in her hands and made a run at me. Latching herself on me, she sobbed.

“Bella! Oh my god, Bella. Bella, I missed you so much! Please, never leave ever again. Oh Bella, I love you.” She was babbling but I didn’t mind. She was in my arms and that all that mattered.  Rosalie came into the room next, followed by Emmett and Jasper.

Emmett ran to me and gathered Alice and I into a hug bear hug.

He laughed. “Bella, your back!” When he let go, Alice let go as to not be crushed again. Rosalie walked up to me and gave me a short, soft hug
.
She whispered in my ear, “I missed you Bella. Thank you for bringing back our brother.” I smiled.

Suddenly, the sound of a slap echoed in the house. Everyone turned to Alice, who had her hand raised to Edward. You could barely see a handprint on the side of his face. I was stunned that Alice actually landed a blow on Edward.

“How could you! All you did was run off, not without as much as a ‘see you soon’ or ‘be right back’. Nothing!” She was angry but her body was shaking from sobbing.

Edward enveloped her and pulled her close. “I wasn’t expecting to come back Alice. I was ready to upset the Volturi when Bella saved me.”

His eyes looked at me but I shied away from his eyes. It was a complete bold faced lie. But when I looked up, Carlisle noticed and was staring at me. I smiled in return and so did he, but his eyes showed the concern and suspicion.

“Well, I'm sure the both of you want to rest. The plane trip was probably murder.” Esme took my hand and pressed it between hers.

Edward laughed. “Not as much as the terminal was. There were so many people.”

“Alright, well, we are finishing up Casablanca if you would like to join us.”

I couldn’t help jumping. “I love that movie!”

“Good, we will finish it together.” Esme linked arms with me and steered me towards the living room, followed by everyone else.

We all settled down and turned on the movie. I looked around at all the faces in the room.

God, I missed my family.