Emerging Swan

Chapter 16 - Bound to You

Sweet love, sweet love
Trapped in your love
I've opened up, unsure I can trust
My heart and I were buried in dust
Free me, free us
You're all I need when I'm holding you tight
If you walk away I will suffer tonight

I found a man I can trust
And boy, I believe in us
I am terrified to love for the first time
Can you see that I'm bound in chains?
I've finally found my way

I am bound to you
I am bound to you

So much, so young, I've faced on my own
Walls I built up became my home
I'm strong and I'm sure there's a fire in us
Sweet love, so pure
I catch my breath with just one beating heart
And I embrace myself, please don't tear this apart

Christina Aguilera ~ Bound to You

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A/N

I swear, I didn't mean to not update for two months. It just sort of happened. I'm sorry. Epilogue, and then we're done!

Lucy xX

***

Edward Cullen, 2020

Events: 2015

"Ed, dude, seriously," Emmett stressed, rolling his eyes as the four of us guys conversed over beers. "That woman is smitten with you. Stop being such a pussy."

"Em, dude," I stressed back, mocking him as I rolled my own eyes. "That woman does not deserve the shit I put her through."

"She doesn't care," Jacob said flatly. "She really, truly doesn't care. She wouldn't mind being kidnapped if it meant she got to keep you. Trust me on that. Besides, it's over. The Bitch is in prison, Tanya got sacked, and your sister's disappeared off to Fairyland."

I grinned at Jacob, eyeing the ring on his finger. Jacob and Vanessa had married four months previously, and they were thriving. Their child had been born two months before they were married, which had been a subject of slight controversy. Vanessa's father was a stickler to the rules and expectations of old-age, Victorian society. Including not having sex until being married. Hence why her father, who lived across the country, was pissed as holy fuck when she told him he had a grandchild. He'd threatened Jacob rather a lot, but had eventually calmed down enough to talk to Jacob and Vanessa about their kid.

"Honestly, I wish Alice had been like your girl," Jasper said gloomily. "I loved her, but fuck, she could be a bitch. I'm glad to be rid of her."

"If only I was," I said, sighing as I finished my beer. "Fairyland apparently isn't far enough away to send me annoying voicemails asking if I've come to my sense yet."

"If you got your shit together and actually grew some balls, she might get the hint," Jasper said with a smirk.

"Yeah," Emmett said, needing to add his two cents. "I mean, you and Bella have been together like, what? Eighteen months now? So it's not like she's gonna decide that she's had enough, is it? She's in love with you, and you've helped her put her past behind her."

"That's true, actually," Jacob agreed, nodding. "You have. I mean, I'd never have guessed that she was a victim of what those disgusting men did to her until she told us, but if she can fuck your brains out then hell, you've mended her. Mission accomplished."

I cringed at Jacob's wording, but, I supposed, he had a point.

"So I repeat: grow a pair and propose to her," Jasper said.

I choked. "Fuck you, man."

"What? You told him you wanted to propose to her," Jasper said, jerking a thumb towards Jacob. Jacob flashed him the finger, causing Emmett to snigger.