Chapter Three
Back to Normal?
Grace Cullen
Forks, Washington

"Aunt Grace!" Alice exclaimed, barging in on my last period class that Friday. "Carlisle left a note for you in the office. Edward's getting to come home from the hospital today!" She cheered and rushed back out of the room.

I couldn't help but smile enthusiastically. After a week without him, I was more than ready to have Edward home where he belongs. The class period seemed to go on at an agonizing rate after such an exciting announcement.

Finally, the bell rang. I could hardly force myself to walk at a normal human pace out to my car. I wanted to be home with my family, every member under one roof again.

"Hello, Grace." Esme greeted me as I came in the back door.

"Hey, is Edward home yet?" I asked her, putting away my bag before shrugging out of my raincoat.

"No, not yet." She shook her head. "Alice said that he shouldn't be too far away just a moment ago."

"Perfect, then I still have time to think about what I'm going to say to him." I grumbled.

"Don't be too hard on him, Grace." Esme sighed. "Yes, he gave us all good reason to worry, but he was scared. I agree he needs to be reprimanded, but please don't be too harsh."

"Esme, he's my son." I smiled at her. "I'm upset that he left, but more than anything I'm excited to have him home. I doubt I'll be able to stand my ground very long." I laughed.

"Okay, I'm just so worried about him." She laughed half-heartedly.

"Me too." I sighed. "I don't know what we're going to do about this whole siren situation. The last time something like this happened, Emmett slipped immediately and we had to lay low for a couple of years."

"But Edward resisted and didn't cause any scene of suspicion." Esme offered, sounding very hopeful.

"Maybe not to the general population, but Bella is quite an observant young woman. I don't doubt she suspects something is amiss." I sighed.

"I'm sure you're right, sister." Carlisle nodded as he came in the backdoor, easily hearing our conversation from the garage. "From the many times I've met her father I've noticed very perceptive behavior. But, I don't think it's cause for alarm just yet." He smiled at me, kissing my cheek before wrapping Esme into a sweet hug.

I had to look away then, at such a loving display of emotion. I've long since given up on finding that kind of love. So, I moved to the kitchen window to look out across the backyard.

Just in time to see Edward run up and stop at the back porch.

"He's home." I told Carlisle and Esme, walking through the kitchen and downstairs into the living room.

"I'm sorry." Edward sighed, looking defeated as he opened the door, fully expecting to get reprimanded I'm sure.

I suddenly lost all of my nerve, seeing him so broken like that, and rushed to pull him into my arms tightly.

"I know." I nodded, holding him to me tightly. "It's okay, I'm proud of you for being so strong."

"Strong?" He laughed bitterly at me. "I was a coward. I ran away. Away from the temptation, away from help, and away from you of all people."

"I just wish you would've come and talked to me, or, really I wish I would've followed you out of school. I could've helped you. I don't know how, but I'm sure I could've said something to make you stay."

"I was afraid that if I stayed I would go hunt the Swan girl down." He confessed and I took a deep breath, somehow hugging him even tighter.

"Oh, Edward." I sighed. "I don't know what to say." I shook my head.

"I'm just happy you're not yelling at me." He chuckled. "I was more afraid of your anger than of your judgment."

"I could never be disappointed with you." I swore to him, pulling back and taking his face into my hands. "I love you, beyond words, do you understand me? Yes, I may get upset and yes I may overreact at times, but I am always going to be on your side no matter what. Did I think about reprimanding you? Of course. But did I melt the second you came in the door? You better believe it." I giggled as he smiled sweetly at me. "I love you and I am always here for you."

"I love you too, mom." He smiled at me and kissed my cheek. "Thank you."

"Of course." I smiled up at him. "A word of warning though, your aunt and uncle have a lot to say to you." I chuckled.

"I'm sure they do." He nodded.

"Eddie boy!" Emmett suddenly bellowed from his room upstairs.

"And your brother really missed you." I laughed loudly as Emmett's heavy footsteps thundered down the stairs.

After Emmett had roughed Edward up sufficiently, Carlisle asked for Edward and I to join he and Esme in the dinning room.

I hadn't had the nerve to reprimand Edward, but Carlisle and Esme did. Carlisle reminded him of his rebellion as a young vampire and how much he had worried us he was going to rebel again. Esme berated him for "abandoning his poor mother" without so much as a goodbye. Finally, they both settled down and hugged him just as much as I did. They were just as happy to have him home as I was once everything had been said.

Carlisle's next course of action was to brainstorm possible solutions. After so many different possible options, we all finally settled on an overexposure tactic. Edward would stay in his class with Bella and work to become used to her scent. I would be on speed dial and Alice would be on alert for any changes. If he felt he couldn't handle it, he would simply get up and leave and I would cover him.

Monday morning, there was a permeable change in the air. I had a strange feeling as I began to get ready for school, but I decided it must have been nerves about Edward returning to school.

"Are you ready?" I asked Edward, greeting him at the doorway of his room as he put on his shoes.

"I have no choice but to be it seems." He sighed, grabbing his jacket before offering me his arm to walk me downstairs.

"If you start to feel the least bit overwhelmed, leave and come find me. Please." I begged him.

"I will." He promised, opening the backdoor for me.

"Have a good day, Esme!" I called out to her.

"You too!" She called back from her studio.

I got into Edwards passenger seat, just as I always do, and turned around to say good morning to Alice and Jasper, just as I always do. Everything was perfectly normal as Edward pulled his car into his normal parking spot. Everything was fine.

Right up until I got out of the car and made direct eye contact with Bella Swan across the parking lot.

A horrible feeling wrenched it's way through my entire body and I actually stumbled a little in shock. Jasper quickly reached out and caught me.

"Mom? Are you alright?" Edward asked me, quickly coming to my side.

"Fine, I think." I nodded. "I don't know what happened." I shook my head.

"Here, lets get you to your classroom." He offered, putting his arm around me and walking with me to the school.

I had another terrible gut-wrenching feeling the moment I unlocked my classrooms door. Something deep in my bones was telling me that something was going to happen today. I convinced myself that it must have had something to do with Edward returning to school. I had begged him to be careful that morning, but, it seems it was me who needed to be careful.

I don't recall the exact moment I realized something was wrong. I was explaining act four scene four of Romeo and Juliet, and the hairs on the back of my neck were bristled in warning the entire time.

Mid sentence, my classroom door was kicked in and a wild-eyed teenaged boy came stomping into the room waving a pistol in the air.

I knew no injury would come to me or Alice, but what about my students? I couldn't let anything happen to them when it was my responsibility to protect them. I had to fight for them like I would fight for myself and my family.

So, I lunged at him.

"Everyone, under your desk! Now!" I yelled as I tried to pull the gun away without hurting the boy. I was able to throw him off of his feet, causing him to stumble to the ground. I turned around to push students farther back under their desk and in my panic I think I pushed someone a little too hard.

A shot rang out and my students started screaming. I quickly looked around, trying to see if anyone had been injured, and that's when I realized I was the one who was supposed to be shot.

I concentrated and let a growing red spot form on my stomach and back to give the illusion of a gunshot wound. I'm unpracticed with my gift, and so I'll have to hope it's convincing enough in the stress of the situation.

I turned around and rushed the boy, ripping the gun from his hand and using the but of it to knock him out. I quickly unloaded the gun and set it on my desk before collapsing to the floor.

"Aunty Grace!" Alice cried out, running towards me. "Someone call an ambulance." She ordered before leaning in close to my face. "It's not convincing enough for the paramedics. You need to bleed more and pass out." She directed and I nodded my head, trying to focus on the illusion of a gunshot wound. "That's better." She nodded.

"The paramedics are on the way. I'll go get help." Someone offered before leaving the room.

"Pass out." Alice whispered to me and I shut my eyes, putting off the appearance of being unconscious.