Was I That Gullible

I'm Sorry

A/N: I don't usually listen to songs during writing my stories but, this chapter deserved one. So on Youtube, you'll find 'I'm Sorry' by Keith Urban, it kind of fits, as something she might overhear him singing. xx

Going 3rd person now as we need to know what they are both thinking now xx Alexis

Charlotte had finished by writing this,

"I need ..., I have to ..., thank you, Sir, I have a lot of time to make up for, not just with Isabella, but Peter, you and Charlotte too and I need to sort out how to explain ..., Will she let me? I'm afraid, for the first time in my life I'm scared!" he huffed out and both men smiled,

"Welcome to the real world brother, that's what bein' really in love means, it's the fear that keeps us on our toes!" Peter said laughing,

"Having a woman in your life is seventy-five percent joy, twenty-five percent pure blind panic, but you'll live, just like the rest of the male population!" Charlie had added, also laughing along with Peter. This was where Charlotte's notes ended and well Bella knew the rest.

"Wow! My dad was quite the philosopher, well still waters and all that! God I love that man to bits and I am going to stay around for a while, so Charlie knows how much I appreciate what he's done for me" she said to the room.

Bella still had an hour to go before meeting him and was as edgy as hell, She needed to calm down, soon. Much as she was never much of a hiker before Bella didn't mind it so much now. Wandering out through the back door and into the backyard, past the thinned out edge and into the forest proper, god it was so quiet and peaceful here she thought. All that Bella could hear was the sound of birds, and small animals rustling about or the distant sound of water.

She remembered Charlie took her to a waterfall nearby once, but she'd fell in, so they never repeated that again. As Bella approached still being careful of her footing, something's you never forget, even when you are no longer clumsy. She thought she could hear music but that couldn't be right, it must just be the water, but no, as she got steadily closer she heard the strumming of a guitar and the sound of a man's voice singing snippets of the lyrics to whatever tune he was playing.

Bella slowed and eventually stopped, sitting quietly on a large rock and settled in to listen, 'Ooh, I know this one, it's a Keith Urban song. But what the hell is it called' she thought, and then she knew, as the man's voice reaches her once again, 'I'm Sorry'! The voice was rough and gritty and it didn't take her long to work out just who was singing. Bella felt the pain and misery, but underneath there was hope and longing too.

'Does he know I'm here? Or is he just killing time like me, nervous and anxious like me! ' She again wondered.

He changed two words throughout the song 'Girl' becomes 'Bella' and 'Man' becomes 'Mate', she felt the silent tears running down her face. She prayed the sound of the water covered any noise she made. Carefully getting to her feet wanting to retreat, but that's the cowards way out and they needed to go forward, not back again.

Taking a deep breath, knowing he'd hear it Bella stepped into the light around the little waterfall and sink to her knees, close but not too close. She doesn't want him to feel trapped or hemmed in.

"Thank you, that was beautiful" is all she said and they fell silent,

Except for him reprising the tune without the lyrics this time. It sounds haunting and sad out there in the open air, then he stopped and lay aside his guitar and lifted his head to look at her. His eyes are ...,

No longer black that's for sure but they are also not the gold Bella expected. They are a deep burgundy red and well, just like Peter and Charlottes. She said nothing, it was not her decision but his and if he was happy with it, so is Bella. She never understood Carlisle's rigid stance, surely if he loved his family, the choice should have been theirs!