Affliction

AFFLICTION

a Twilight fanfic (Jacob/Edward)

by lordoberon

Part 4 - last chapter

Edward's POV

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She stared at him, and stared, and stared. The more Edward looked at her, he would have thought, the guiltier he felt. But instead he only found himself falling in love with her over and over, just like he had the first time he had looked at her without the thirst garbling his emotions. He would never stop loving her. Never, never, never. If he had a heart it would beat that rhythm: Never, Bella. Never, never, never.

Never, Bella. Never, never, never. I will never let you go. I can’t. Please love me. I am yours.

He stood up, and approached her slowly. He approached her like he would a deer that he was about to drink from, except this deer was frozen and quiet instead of running in fear. Maybe this was Bella’s way of finally showing fear. Maybe he had finally scared her? She had had that same look on her face after she had seen him fight Victoria, except this one was also sad as well as afraid. Gently, like he had then, like he reminded himself to each day, Edward wrapped Bella in his arms.

He felt her hot tears on his chest, and in another second he heard the mind of his other love: Look at her. Look at him. They don’t need me. They never needed me. I’m just nothing.

Edward made his voice loud and firm, but not too harsh. “Jacob. Jacob, come here.”

Bella lifted up her head, and stared behind him, at the great wolf. Then her eyes searched Edward’s face. “Edward…tell me. Tell me everything.”

That was the first time that Edward ever felt that she was much more powerful than him, because her love controlled him. It was the first time he told her EVERYTHING. It felt like a confession, as he told her. He began to feel lighter, freer, with every word.

By the time Edward was done, his words were tight, and small, and quiet. He didn’t want Bella to leave him. He didn’t want Jacob to leave him, either. Ah, so this was how it felt to be at the mercy of the one you loved. Previously he had had that power. Now he was powerless.

When Jacob came up behind him, Edward wondered, Is this it?

Then, a hand slipped in. It touched over Bella’s hands where they were clasped behind Edward’s neck – he could feel them trembling over hers – and then, that warm, large hand crept slyly over Edward’s ear, around his cheek, to trace over the shape of his lips. Edward tilted his head back into the caress, purring against that warmth and the love in that gesture.

He smiled as Jacob’s warm body (he had put his pants back on) stepped behind him, and pressed tight against his. Then Jacob’s warm arms were around them, around both Edward and Bella. She didn’t even need to ask if Edward’s story was true. Jacob’s warmth in that hug showed her that it was.

The three of them stood there for a long time, basking in the love, trying to adjust to a new level of acceptance, trying to wrap their heads around it all.

Then Edward wriggled his way out from between them, and gently pressed one hand to each of their backs. He pressed Bella and Jacob together.

It felt strange, for a second, to see the two together. He had never wanted Jacob and Bella to be together. Sometimes, Jacob had made him quite angry with his lustful thoughts towards Bella and the way he taunted Edward on purpose. But now Edward realized that it had all been out of love, and a boyish inexperience. Edward himself only wanted Bella happy, but now he realized, he wanted Jacob happy, too. And they were happy with him.

The two embraced. Jacob’s hands went around Bella’s waist, and then one stroked her hair, soothingly. Edward heard them murmuring sweet words to each other, and smiled.

It’s going to be alright after all. We’re going to be alright, all three of us, because we’re together.

~ the end
 

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