A Little Retribution

By: chartwilightmom

Fandom: twilight

Summary: For the Etched In Ink Fest. Tiny drabble. Bella has a broken
heart, see what Edward does to repair it. Tattoo inspired, link for tat at the
end. AH/OOC.

Status: Completed

Fic type: Books/Twilight

Pairings/Main char.: Bella, Edward

Published: 2012-04-20

Last updated: 2012-04-20

Words count: 1,932

Chapters count: 7

Converted using www.FF2EBOOK.com

Date: 2018-01-31
1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Twilight character names belong to Stephenie Meyer. All

characterizations, plot lines, backgrounds and details belong to the
respective
author. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted
without express written
authorization. ©2012 chartwilightmom. All
rights reserved worldwide.

A/N: This is my contribution to the Etched In Ink Fest. Thought I would

have just a little bit of fun, 7 chapters makes this drabble, all posting
today. At
the end I will give the link for the tattoo that inspired this.

Special thanks to Sparkly Red Pen, where lemonpie whipped her red pen
all
over this quickly.

Make sure to check out all the other stories: etchedininkfest

BPOV

Entering college, I knew that I would learn a few things, besides the course
of
study that I was there to pursue. College is a larger version of high
school, with
more life lessons and more freedom to fuck up.

I figured that I would learn about living on my own, paying bills, it would be
my
first attempt at being an adult. I also knew that I could learn about
drinking and
sex and love, the fun stuff.

Love.

I didn't expect that out of all the things I would learn, I would learn that
love
would be the hardest and most painful, but also the most beautiful.
2. Chapter 2

~2

BPOV

My eyes sting from crying. All I want to do is bury myself in my bed, under
the
covers, and hide from the world. The motley of emotions stirring in me
was vicious,
anger, regret, humiliation, fear, and sadness.

It has only been a day since the world I knew crumbled before my eyes.

A lie, that was all it took.

A soft knock at my door brings me up from my cocoon of misery.

"Go away!" I yell.

I know who is behind my door, I don't need to ask or guess. It would only
be a
matter of time before came over, after he didn't hear from me, I
haven't answer my
phone or emails in hours. Knowing Alice, she probably
called him.

"Bella," Edward's voice calls from the other side of my door. He sounds
concerned
and angry at the same time.

"GO AWAY!" I yell louder.

I listen as I hear his footsteps fall backwards, moving away from my door,
then
hushed voices saying something in the other room, but too far away
for me to hear.
Then loud booming steps, marching closer to my door.

BANG!

BANG!

The door is no match for Edward, giving way and busting open. He is in the
doorway, the look on his face a mixture of pain and relief as he searches
the room,
his eyes finding mine.

After a few seconds of staring at me, he finally speaks. "I'm going to kill
that
son-of-a-bitch."
3. Chapter 3

~3

More tears, either from residual pain or from the comfort of being in
Edward's
arms, I don't know. We have been wrapped up together on my
bed for the past two
hours, Edward giving me comfort and protection in his
arms. Once I am able to talk
again, I tell him my side of the story.

"I thought I would surprise him, so I drove over to his apartment. When I
opened
the door," I pause, sucking in a sharp breath, the memories of
what I saw were seared
into my brain. "James was on the couch, getting
fucked from behind by Laurent."

"I wished I could have warned you, but I didn't know." Edward whispers,
kissing my
head for the hundredth time. "He hid this from me, I just don't
why."

"You didn't know?" I croak.

James and Edward have been friends since freshman year. I am not the
only one that
has been betrayed here. My heart broken from finding my
boyfriend in the ultimate
lie, Edward's trust in who he thought James was,
shattered.

"No."

My fingers trace over the inside of his wrist where his family crest is etched
into his skin, the images showing all that you ever need to know about
him. "I'm
sorry, Edward."

"Were we both blind to his true self? There had to be some sign of his
preference," Edward muses.

"I've been trying to think back, but all I feel is more resentment from his
lies."
4. Chapter 4

~4

Two weeks have passed and the closeness between Edward and I, forged
together from
the lies that James said, has grown. We have always been
close, but something
happened that day he came to my room and busted
the door down.

I was exposed to tenderness from Edward that I didn't know he had for me.
He
repeatedly kissed my head, held me for hours and apologized for the
lies he never
told.

Each day we spend as much time together as possible, protecting each

other from
the new world we are both now exposed to. He would escort
me to class, we would eat
every meal together, and he would be there in
the evening, studying alongside me and
holding me as we slept.

Each day my heart healed a bit.

Each day my heart grew to love another.

Lying in my bed, Edward's arms around me, I took courage in my words and
actions.
Nestled against his chest, his heartbeat strong sounding perfect in
my ear while his
thumb gently rubs my exposed skin on my arm, I move my
head to kiss the beat where
his heart is.

"What was that for?" he whispers in the dark.

"A thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you, Bella."

I don't argue with him, both of us clinging to the other while trying to heal
from
James' lies. But I am ready to move on from clinging, my heart
wanting more than just
a security blanket.
"Edward? Do you think of me more than just a friend?" The courage
whooshes out of
me as the words escape my mouth, my face retreating to
be buried in his chest once
more.

"Truth?" he asks. The truth is important to both of us, knowing that, I had
to ask
the question, hopefully I will get the answer I seek.

I nod my head against him.

He sighs before speaking.

5. Chapter 5

~5

EPOV

I know I will not make the same mistakes as James. I will not lie to Bella.
Lying
in my arms, she awaits my answer. Her question simple, meaningful
and it does nothing
but seek the truth—from me.

I can't blame her for asking. Her heart has been destroyed and I assume
her faith
in men went along with it, my own friend betraying both of us.

But each night and day, she allows me into her life, to help her heal, to
protect
her. She trusts me. And each day she became a part of my heart,
my healing and
becoming my whole world.

And I trust her.

"You know I've always cared for you, but when I heard what James did, and
saw the
effects on your tear stained face, something brought out more of
those feelings."

"How much more?" she quietly asks, the words almost muffled from her
position.

"I never want to lie to you, I want to be the man that James failed to be for
you,
and I want to be your best friend, your lover and your protector."

Her head lifts, unshed tears lingering in her expressive eyes. Taking a deep
breath, I speak the words and mean them with all of my heart, "I want you,
all of
you."

"Oh, Edward," she says, my name sounding magically coming from her lips.
"I want
you too."
6. Chapter 6

~6

EPOV

Our first kiss after she told me she wanted me was nothing like I have ever
felt.
It was powerful and all consuming, the feeling spreading throughout
my body, her
desire being as prominent as mine.

I hadn't seen James since the day all hell broke loose. It was a good thing.
The
anger that is directed to him could be even more destructive to me
than to him. Going
to jail isn't something I'm willing to try.

Instead my aggression, my feelings of mistrust all poured into taking care

of
Bella, of protecting her.

As our lips met, a fire consumed me, desire raging through my body for
her. My
hands trace along her body, the truth of the goose bumps on her
skin giving away her
excitement as I explore and remove her pajamas.
Once she is naked, bare for only me,
I give in to the temptation and place
my lips upon her skin.

Everywhere.

Consuming.

Whispered words confirm our want for each other, the desire to be joined.
The
moment I fill her is the moment that nothing is left but the truth; I am
hers as she
is mine.

The ripples of pleasure wash over us, the ocean strong, fulfilling and
powerful.

Once she is asleep in my arms, I know that I will never want to let her go, I
will
do my best to never tell her a lie.
With that thought, I know that I must tell her what I have done. I just hope
she
doesn't mind my brand of retribution.
7. Chapter 7

~7

EPOV

That first day that I let Bella go for her classes, I immediately started to
think
of retribution for James.

Lies.

Someone who lies like this deserves to be marked, even if the whole world
doesn't
see the mark.

A quick phone call to my brother and a plan was hatched.

"Bella, I need to tell you something."

"What is it, Edward?"

The fear of what I might have to say to her is evident in her voice, the fear
of
falling apart again lingering.

She isn't the only one that has that lingering fear of heartache.

"Please don't be mad, but I took the liberty to enact some

retribution."

The room is silent, her breathing even but the look on her face shows that
she is
thinking.

"What?"

"A tattoo."

She sits up in bed, still naked from our lovemaking, her perky breasts
moving
causing my focus to be distracted.

"Of what?"
"Let's just say that he's going to have a hard time getting anyone to believe
him
anymore."

"Oh, my, God. What did you do?" Her mood has changed from concern and
what could
be interpreted as anger to excitement.

"Would you like to see a picture?" I offer.

Knowing what I did, what I arranged could be something to come back and
bite me in
the ass, I took the liberty to acquire some insurance.

During the few hours that James was so drunk that he passed out, I snuck
into the
tattoo parlor where my brother worked. His co-worker, Victoria
was the one giving
James his new ink and was all for me taking some
pictures.

Grinning to myself as I remember the final picture, one I specifically posted

online without James' face; I grab my phone and click on the favorite link
to the
website where it resides.

"Holy shit!" Bella gasps, covering her mouth, eyes bugged out of her head
as she
looks at the screen on my phone.

"So, are you mad?"

"No."

"Really?"

"How can I be? You told me the truth."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. Here is the link for the tattoo. Warning,
NSFW!

chartwilightmom . blogspot 2012/04/ little-retribution . html