"…I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up…"

I Won't Give Up-Jason Mraz

oOo

Dressed in a pair of grey skinny jeans, a long sleeved loose purple shirt, a black vest with a lace back, and a pair of black flats, I drove to school for what might be the worst day of Bella's life. Well at least to her since it was her birthday. For some reason she's gotten a huge complex about being older than Edward. Personally, I just don't see why because not only is becoming a vampire going to make you appear younger by eliminating all lines but it's not like an extra couple years is going to change her appearance that much.

When I asked her she just said that I have more time and wouldn't understand since Emmett's 20 but I intend to be turned later that that.

As I pulled up to the school I saw that the Alice and Edward were already there and I quickly pulled into my usually spot beside them. Before I even had the door open Alice was standing there with an excited smile

"Hi!" She greeted as I grabbed my shoulder bag which had Bella's present in it and unbuckled my seat belt.

"Hey, Alice," I smiled jumping out of the Jeep as the familiar rumble filled the air.

"Are you sure she's going to like it, Alice?" I asked about the bracelet I had gotten Bella.

"Once she get's over the whole 'I don't want presents thing' she's going to love it." She gave a huge smile, way to excited about tonight; then again she was for everyone's birthday.

"Geeze, Edward try not to burst with happiness," I giggled as he stood motionless against the Volvo watching Bella intently like he did every day. I remembered that it was just over a year since I had first met Emmett. I had to learn to adjust not seeing him all day, every day. But, since he had 'graduated' last year and was supposedly off at college he very well couldn't come to school.

I knocked myself out of my stupor just as Bella slammed the door to her truck.

Alice obviously to overjoyed to wait for her to walk towards us skipped forward, "Happy birthday, Bella!" she shouted.

I saw Bella hiss a shush causing me and Edward to laugh slightly as she glanced around to make sure no one heard before they started over to us talking.

"How many times have you been a senior?" She asked, in quite a sour mood.

"That's different." Alice almost scoffed as Edward and Bella held hands which appeared to calm her mood a bit. "I wouldn't attempt to give her, her gift yet." Alice commented towards me and either she hadn't heard it or ignored it.

"Got it," I smirked, nodding.

"So, as discussed, I'm not allowed to wish you a happy birthday, is that correct?" Edward spoke to her in one of their cutesy, lovey dovey moments.

"Yes. That is correct."

"Just checking. You might have changed your mind. Most people seem to enjoy things like birthdays and gifts. Some people too much…" He trailed off glancing at me.

"Whatttt I like presents," I pouted, as Alice laughed.

"Of course you'll enjoy it," Alice chimed in. "Everyone is supposed to be nice to you today and give you your way Bella. What's the worst that could happen?"

"See," I muttered as she answered.

"Getting older."

"Eighteen isn't very old," Alice said. "Don't women usually wait till they're twenty-nine to get upset over birthdays?"

"It's older than Edward," she mumbled and he sighed.

"Technically," I said. "Just by one little year, though."

"What time will you be at the house?" Alice asked changing the subject thankfully.

"I didn't know I had plans to be there."

"Oh be fair, Bella!" She grumbled. "You aren't going to ruin all our fun like that, are you?"

"I thought my birthday was about what I want."

"I'll get her from Charlie's right after school," Edward ignored her.

"I have to work," Bella protested.

"You don't, actually," I spoke a bit smugly. "I already spoke to Mrs. Newton about it. She's trading your shifts. She said to tell you 'Happy Birthday'."

"I-I still can't come over," She tried. "I, well, I haven't watched Romeo and Juliet yet for English."

Alice and I both snorted. "You have Romeo and Juliet memorized."

"But Mr. Berty said we needed to see it performed to fully appreciate it, that's how Shakespeare intended it to be presented."

"Really," I sighed as Edward rolled his eyes.

"You've already seen the movie," Alice accused.

"But not the nineteen-sixties version. Mr Berty said it was the best." She said and I groaned tipping my head back against the side of my car.

"This can be easy, or this can be hard, Bella, but one way or the other…" Alice glared.

"Relax, Alice," Edward interrupted, "If Bella wants to watch a movie, then she can. It's her birthday."

"So there," the silly girl had thought she'd won.

"I'll bring her over around seven," he continued. "That will give you two more time to set up."

"Sounds good." Alice chimed, "See you tonight, Bella!"

"It'll be fun, you'll see." I grinned as Alice gave a huge smile and kissed Bella on the cheek before grabbing my hand so we could go to our first class.

oOo

My previous happiness had started to ebb as I began to think something might actually happen tonight but Alice said she didn't see anything and I just figured that I was being stupid. But my mind kept drifting away so much so that I had made a complete fool of myself in English and Alice had to pinch me when Mr. Berty had asked me a question about Romeo and Juliet.

As the day went on though Bella seemed to be relaxing about the whole plan a bit.

We sat at our usual table at lunch. Now that Rose, Devan, Jasper, and Emmett had graduated it seemed like the students were a bit more relaxed around Alice and Edward and we all sat at the table with the others: Mike, Jessica, Angela, Be, Eric, Conner, Tyler and Lauren. It counted in my book as a compromise even if there was a invisible line which no one but Bella and I crossed unless it was sunny. After that the afternoon passed quickly and I drove my jeep as Alice drove the Volvo back to the Cullen house to set up for the party.

As soon as I got to the house, probably a good 20 minutes after Alice, my door was yanked open and I was quickly out and in the arms of my very own vampire. "Hey babe," He smirked as I wrapped my arms and legs around him.

"Why hello there," I got a wide smile, "I think you're getting more and more impatient."

"It just so hard," He muttered before pressing his marble lips against my soft ones a mixture that should never work but in my world it was a fantastic combination.

"Piper we only have 4 hours," Alice called from the door.

"You're helping to mister," I smirked, "Alice and I already have jobs for everyone."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to offer my opinion to Alice as she turns into a pixie tornado that I'm going to try and stay out the middle of." He let out a loud laugh.

"Well then I guess we better get done early so we can have more alone time together." He smirked and bent his head down kissing the crook of my neck.

"I can't wait," I purred.

"Piper! Emmett!" Alice yelled causing Emmett to growl slightly. Giggling I pulled away and he set me on my feet reaching in my Jeep and grabbing my bag and the garment bag which had my dress for the night in it.

oOo

By 6:55 I was dressed in a simple dark purple dress where the top was draped over to one shoulder and the fabric was twisted and wrapped around my natural waist to form the bodice and from there down it flowed to my knees. On my feet I had a pair of black platform heels to help make up some of the height difference between Emmett who was at this moment standing at my side as we waited for Bella and Edward.

"Try and smile," Alice pleaded with Rosalie who was in a particularly foul mood since Devan had forced her back to the house for the party from Africa.

"Please Rose," I frowned and she rolled her eyes and gave a little quirk to the corners in a painfully forced smile.

"This place sure is pink," Emmett muttered and I let out a little giggle looking around at the pink birthday cake, roses, candles and lighting. Alice let out a little 'humph' as Bella's truck pulled up outside. As the pair got closer I heard Edward laughing all the way up and into the house.

"Happy birthday, Bella!" well all shouted as we were told to by Alice and I watched as a blush came to her cheeks.

Edward wrapped an encouraging arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head as Esme and Carlisle walked forward. First up, Esme, hugged her carefully and kissed her forehead before Carlisle put his arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry about this, Bella," He fake whispered. "We couldn't rein Alice in."

Next Emmett stepped forward and I watched him with a soft giggle, "I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-face like always."

"Thanks a lot, Emmett," she blushed even more causing him to laugh.

"I have to step out for a second," he paused and winked at me as I rolled my eyes, "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone," He added to Bella

"I'll try."

"Time to open presents," Alice declared as we both stepped up and Alice dragged her to the table with the silver packages.

"I told you guys I didn't want anything."

"When do we listen," I smirked as Alice took the camera and replaced it with Devan, Rosalie, Emmett and Jaspers gift.

"Um…thanks."

I looked over to the three and watched as Rosalie actually cracked a smile while Jasper and Devan laughed. "It's a stereo for your truck," Devan explained.

"Emmett's installing it right now so that you can't return it," Jasper finished.

"Thanks, Devan, Jasper, Rosalie," she grinned. "Thanks, Emmett!" she called and I heard his booming laugh causing Bella to laugh too.

"Open mine and Edward's next," Alice insisted

"You promised," she turned, giving Edward a hard glare just as Emmett bounded through the door stepping in beside me and I saw that Jasper had surprisingly stepped in closer to get a good look.

"I didn't spend a dime," Edward assured her.

"Give it to me," She sighed causing me to giggle and Emmett to chuckle. "Shoot," she muttered and I saw the droplet of blood and felt my eyes go wide.

"No!" Edward roared and I felt Emmett quickly push me over to the side against the wall as a large crash was heard and I looked over to see Bella amongst shattered crystal just as another clash was heard and my head quickly swiveled towards Jasper. He snarled and struggled, trying to shove past Edward. Slowly not wanting to draw attention, I stepped further away trying to work my way over to Bella as Emmett grabbed Jasper from behind. Just as I was about to step up to her I watched her fall to the floor and another gash was made. Suddenly all seven eyes were on us or more specifically Bella but I'm sure my racing heart didn't help.

"Emmett, Devan get Jasper outside," Carlisle spoke.

"Come on, Jasper." Emmett nodded and I watched him struggle against his grasp twisting around with his teeth bared. Rose joined to help Jazz, but also to get out of the room where the smell of blood with permeating. I quickly took a couple steps forward and saw Edward take a defensive position over Bella a low growl coming from his clenched teeth.

"Let me see, Edward," I whispered and he seemed to register who I was and immediately let me by. I quickly clamped down on her upper arm to stop some of the blood flow being careful not to touch the glass myself on the floor or in her arm.

"I'm so sorry, Bella." Esme cried and I heard her leave after the others.

"Let me by, Edward," Carlisle murmured and I looked up to watch Edward nod slowly and let him pass.

"Here, Carlisle," Alice said handing him a towel.

"Too much glass in the wound," he shook his head and I watched him rip a long strip from the bottom of the tablecloth and twisted it around her arm above my hand. "Bella, do you want me to drive you to the hospital, or would you like me to take care of it here?"

"Here, please," she whispered.

"I'll get your bag," Alice said.

"Let's take her to the kitchen table," Carlisle said to Edward and he effortlessly lifted her as Carlisle kept pressure on her arm. For the first time I looked down at myself and saw that the front of my dress was covered in blood along with my hands. Quickly I got up and walked into the kitchen to see Alice already there.

"Alice can you get me the bleach?" Not even paying attention to what was happening over to the side and quickly the water was turned on along with a hard brush and I quickly got to work cleaning off my hands and nails before pouring straight bleach on them.

"Here I got your clothes," she muttered before quickly leaving out of the room. I walked around the corner and into another room and changed before walking back into the kitchen and grabbing a plastic bag to tie my dress in.

"You see, he thinks we've lost our souls." Carlisle explained talking about Edward I'm guessing.

"That's the real problem, isn't it?" she guessed. "That's why he's being so difficult about me and Emmett's not being about you." She flipped her gaze to me and I gave a quick nod.

"I look at my…son. His strength, his goodness, the brightness that shines out of him, and it only fuels that hope, that faith, more than ever. How could there not be more for one such as Edward?" Carlisle spoke. "But if I believed as he does… If you believed as he did. Could you take away his soul?" That paused her, "you see the problem."

Stubborn as ever she shook her head," It's my choice."

"It's his, too," Carlisle tried but held up his hand when she was about to argue. "Whether he is responsible for doing that to you."

"He's not the only one able to do it," She eyed him.

"Oh, no! You're going to have to work this out with him. That's the one part I can never be sure of. I think, in most other ways that I've done the best I could with what I had to work with. But was it right to doom the others to this life? I can't decide." I bit my lip thinking of Rose which I knew in some ways he regretted for her sake.

"It was Edward's mother who made up my mind." His voice came out in a whisper.

"His mother?"

"Yes. Her name was Elizabeth. Elizabeth Masen. His father, Edward Senior never regained consciousness in the hospital. He dies in the first wave of the influenza. But Elizabeth was alert until almost the very end. Edward looks a great deal like her, she had that same strange bronze shade to her hair and her eyes were exactly the same color green." He supplied and I stepped forward a bit never hearing this before.

"His eyes were green?"

"Yes…Elizabeth worried obsessively over her son. She hurt her own chances of survival trying to nurse him from her sickbed. I expected that he would go first, he was so much worse off than she was. When the end came for her, it was quick. It was just after sunset, and I'd arrived to relieve the doctors who'd been working all day. That was a hard time to pretend, there was so much work to be done, and I had no need of rest. How I hated to go back to my house, to hide in the dark and pretend to sleep while so many were dying. I went to check Elizabeth and her son first. I'd grown attached, always a dangerous thing to do considering the fragile nature of humans. I could see at once that she'd taken a bad turn. The fever was raging out of control, and her body was too weak to fight anymore. She didn't look weak, though, when she glared up at me from her cot, 'Save him,' she commanded me in the hoarse voice that was all the throat could manage. 'I'll do everything in my power,' I promised her, taking her hand. The fever was so high, she probably couldn't even tell how unnaturally cold mine felt. Everything felt cold to her skin. 'You must,' she insisted, clutching at my hand with enough strength that I wondered if she wouldn't pull through the crisis after all. Her eyes were hard, like stones, like emeralds. 'you must do everything in your power. What others cannot do, that is what you must do for my Edward.' It frightened me. She looked at me with those piercing eyes, and, for one instant, I felt certain that she knew my secret. Then the fever overwhelmed her, and she never regained consciousness. She died within an hour of making her demand. I'd spent decades considering the idea of creating a companion for myself. Just one other creature who could really know me, rather than what I pretended to be. But I could never justify it to myself doing what had been done to me."

I watched his eyes go unfocused like he watching the past play in his head and I pictured it all.

"There Edward lay dying. It was clear that he had only hours left. Beside him, his mother, her face somehow not yet peaceful, not even in death. Elizabeth's words echoed in my head. How could she guess what I could do? Could anyone really want that for her son? I looked at Edward. Sick as he was, he was still beautiful. There was something pure and good about his face. The kind of face I would have wanted my son to have. After all those years of indecision, I simply acted on a whim. I wheeled his mother to the morgue first, and then I came back for him. No one noticed that he was still breathing. There weren't enough hands, enough eyes, to keep track of half of what the patients needed. The morgue was empty of the living, at least. I stole him out the back door, and carried him across the rooftops back to my home. I wasn't sure what had to be done. I settled for recreating the wounds I'd received myself, so many centuries earlier in London. I felt bad about that later. It was more painful and lingering than necessary. I wasn't sorry, though. I've never been sorry that I saved Edward."

Shaking his head he focused back on Bella and I before speaking to Bella, "I suppose I should take you home now."

"I'll do that," Edward appeared in the door with an unreadable expression.

"Carlisle can take me," she said and a saw he looked down at her shirt which was splattered with blood.

"I'm fine," Edward said in a monotone voice that made me a little worried. "You'll need to change anyways. You'd give Charlie a heart attack the way you look."

"I can get her something," I whispered but he had already left and I sighed getting up and walking into the other room to see Esme mopping and looked over to the side seeing Rose standing there. "How's Jasper?" I asked walking closer to her.

"He's very unhappy with himself, he feels weak." Nodding I looked down at the bag I was still holding.

"Can you burn this? I'll never be able to wear it again." She gave a little nod and took it outside just as Edward and Alice came back in then Alice quickly took Bella upstairs to change. I passed Edward who was leaning the stairs on my way up to Emmett's room.

'Please don't do anything rash,' I whispered in my head not turning around to see his reaction. I slowly made my way to the couch in Em's room and sat down looking outside, it seemed so calm but I knew this was just the start to something after how Edward looked.

I only had to wait about 5 minutes before Emmett came into the room and instantly came to my side kneeling down and turned my body towards him looking over every inch of my body.

"I'm fine Em," I whispered, "Not even a scratch."

I watched him take a deep breath, slowly I leaned forward and grabbed his chin which he easily could have moved but didn't as I pressed my lips to his.

"What's wrong Piper? Are you scared?" He whispered pulling back.

"I'm worried."

"Everything will be fine."

"I don't believe you." I was picked up and he walked over to the bed gently laying me down. The only part of his body touching mine was a hand which ran down over my arm to my side. He looked down in my eyes and I noticed that they were a dark gold almost black from the accident tonight. Gradually, he leaned in and I slowly shut my eyes as his lips met mine. Almost timidly I ran my hand over his back up to his curly hair tangling my fingers in it. I felt his hand tangle up into my hair and his lips pressed against mine more, in an urgent kiss. Responding I pressed my body up against his causing a low rumbled in his chest. He pulled back gently, signaling that he had reached his limit but stayed hovering over my body for a couple seconds before shifting over to the side.

He kept his eyes locked on mine as his fingers brushed through my hair and I slowly raised my hand up caressing his cheek, "Edward's going to do something, I know it," I whispered and he gave a little nod.

"I'll never leave you Piper, not really" He whispered and I moved in closer to his body not caring about the cold.