Chapter 13 Bonus Scene

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Chapter 13 Bonus Scene

It was almost next to impossible for angels to feel fatigue, though they did rest when their being needed to recharge so to speak. If Seth still needed to sleep he had no doubt he could do so for days as completely worn out as he felt after leaving Edward.

"Seth, my friend, come with me," Gideon told him as soon as he arrived.

Gideon had watched the evening's progression and had no doubt that Seth would be struggling with the revelations he'd had to make to Edward. Seth had agonized for most of young Edward's life. Having to watch him for so long, yet not help had been Seth's greatest test during the entire time he'd been an angel. To finally get to this point with Edward was at once a great relief, but was painful as well.

Gideon led his prodigy to a place away from the others where they wouldn't be bothered. All the others of their kind watched anxiously as Seth and Edward talked, for everyone knew how pivotal it was that Edward didn't shut Seth out now. If he did, then all would be lost and Seth would fail and there wasn't one of them that wanted to see that happen.

Seth followed his mentor and closest friend, feeling about as distraught as he could ever recall...and because angels never forgot anything...he knew he was right in is belief. He tried to tell himself that he knew Edward better than anyone, knew his moods, his pattern of behavior, and his triggers but this...what he'd told him tonight...he was at a total loss. Edward had seemed fine when he left him, but with Edward you could never tell.

"Damn human," he muttered, though it was said with an incredible amount of love.

"Talk to me, Seth. What is going through your mind right now?" the elder angel asked with infinite patience.

Seth floated to and fro, his mind a chaotic jumble of conflicting thoughts. What if it was too much, too soon? What if once Edward had a chance to digest all he'd told him tonight, Edward shut him out completely, too overcome with hurt and anger to continue on his path to redemption? What if he decided that because he had Isabella, he was done trying to correct his past mistakes? What if he turned his back on everything and everyone and just gave up?

He finally came to a stop and lifted his very anguished eyes to Gideon and said quietly, "On the one hand, I'm relieved beyond measure to have finally told him how long he's been under our watch, but on the other, I'm terrified he'll overreact and we'll lose him forever."

It was as Gideon expected and he reached a hand out and laid it comfortingly on Seth's broad shoulders. "You've carried this with you for a long time, Seth, but you knew this day would come. It's time for Edward to face his past and it's only with your help and Isabella's love that he can move past it. He needed to know how long we've been watching him because it means that all along we've felt he was worthy of our love and care. He'll realize that," Gideon said reassuringly.

Seth sighed and hung his head, closing his eyes for a few brief moments. "We came so close to losing him forever after Anna hurt him so badly. And then, poor Sophie..." he trailed off, smiling when he thought of the sweet girl who tried so hard to reach Edward.

"Sophie was never meant for young Edward, Seth, you know this. Her purpose was to keep him from succumbing to the dark thoughts he was plagued with so that once Isabella was ready, Edward would be, too," Gideon reminded his friend.

"Oh, I know," Seth said with another mighty sigh.

The two otherworldly beings looked down on the two sleeping humans, currently wrapped up in each other's arms. Isabella laid protectively over Edward's chest and held one of his hands tightly in hers. The other was pressed right over his heart, as if she needed to feel it beat as she slept. Edward's other arm was wrapped tightly around her, holding her as close as he could possibly get her, almost like he was afraid if his grip loosened, she would slip away.

Seth felt his scattered thoughts calm as he watched the duo sleep peacefully. "He loves her so very much," he remarked quietly.

"He does," Gideon answered immediately, though it wasn't necessary.

Anyone could see how much Edward and Isabella truly loved each other. Isabella might be Edward's rock and be the one to help him face all he must, but what Edward needed to realize was that she needed him as much as he needed her.

"Do you think he'll ever truly understand how much he means to her?" Seth questioned.

Gideon floated and stopped next to Seth and they both watched as Isabella mumbled in her sleep, only to be soothed immediately by Edward running his fingers through her hair and placing a soft kiss to the top of her head, while being totally asleep.

Seth felt the remaining residual anxiety float away as he looked down on his two favorite humans. He knew he gave Edward a lot of shit about the lovely Isabella, not that he didn't fully agree with what he said about her, but it was just too much fun to mess with Edward to stop, but that didn't mean he wasn't fully aware of how deeply Isabella loved Edward either. It was truly immeasurable.

Gideon gazed upon the slumbering couple and slapped his most favorite pupil on the back and said, "I think it'll be impossible for him to not know. Have faith, Seth. Edward is one of the strongest humans I've ever seen, and with Isabella by his side, he can do anything. Believe in him. Believe in yourself, Seth. It will all work out, you'll see."

Gideon left Seth alone with his thoughts and when he turned around and found him in his usual perch of keeping a careful, but respectful watch over Edward and Isabella, he said his own quiet prayer, "Please don't let him fail," before attending to the others that needed his guidance.

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