The various Cullens and Bella watch the tape. There will be four chapters of this – Bella, Edward, Alice, and then the result of watching it. It's how they react to the parts they find the most relevant, etc.

I don't own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, or anything to do with Edward Cullen. It hurts to write that. My heart is breaking.

Bella's POV

That if you say,

Goodbye today,

I'd ask you to be true.

Cause the hardest part of this,

Is leaving you…

Cancer by My Chemical Romance

I waited until Edward had gone for a hunt before confronting Esme. I caught her in the garden, happily planting flowers, the sundress she wore suiting her perfectly. "Um…Esme…I had to ask you something…but I'm not sure you'll approve at all…"

She smiled at me, radiantly. "Ask away, dear. You know you can ask anything of us." I nodded, pulling down the long sleeve of my black V-neck sweater, and tugging on the hem to cover the top of my jeans.

"I…uh…I wondered…did you keep the tape?" I didn't need to clarify which one it was. She knew – that I could tell from the way her hands shook as she stopped planting the seeds, instead wiping her hands on the gardening smock over the pretty lilac material of her dress.

She cleared her throat, forcing a smile as she looked at me. "Why do you ask, Bella? I'm not sure Edward would entirely approve of me telling you…" She met my determined gaze, and stood up, meeting my height perfectly. "Bella…you don't plan to…"

I hugged myself slightly. "I know it's hard for you to understand, and I know Edward would flip…but Esme…I need some sort of closure. I've been dreaming about it every night now, surely Edward has told you. I love him, but if he won't let me do this…I'll do it without his permission. I don't believe he would have burnt it…not without watching it. And Alice needed it, too. I need to watch it."

Esme sighed, nodding. "Edward will no doubt break something when he finds out…but you do have as much of a right as they did to watch it. And yes, they have both watched it. They refuse to burn it, at the moment. But…I must warn you, Bella…it's not something to be watched lightly."

I nodded. "I know. But I have to…I just do. And I'd prefer it to be when Edward's not around to see my reaction. So…please…" She watched me for a few minutes, and led me inside the house, and into the living room.

Esme vanished for a few moments, before reappearing, holding a small tape. She pressed it into the machine, and turned to glance at me. "Do you want me to stay with you?" I was shaking my head before she finished.

"It's something I have to do on my own…but thank you." She smiled at me, almost in concern, but gave me my privacy. I sucked in a deep breath, and looked at the television.

lionandlamb

A scene I had never seen was beginning. James appeared in front of the camera – I guessed this was before I had arrived. The sight of him struck me as hard as a punch in the stomach, and his voice chilled me to the core. "This is a…memory, shall we say? Of your precious human girlfriend, in her final moments. No doubt this will be fast, but it will not be fast enough for her. Rest assured that when you are watching this, witnessing her pain, her last minutes to live were of agony she never has known before. You failed, Cullen. I won."

The scene changed to the ballet studio.

I watched myself sprint into the room, panic written on my face as I spun, finally looking over at the television. My face visibly softened when I realized it was a video, and I turned to see the figure who haunted my dreams every night.

James stood near the room exit, holding a remote control. From memory, I knew I was staring into his eyes. He walked past me and towards the TV, placing down the control. The video image of me followed him by turning slowly.

"Sorry about that, Bella, but isn't it better that your mother didn't really have to be involved in all this?" His voice was courteous, kindness without warmth, sickeningly nice. It made my insides churn.

I watched myself almost sigh with relief, forgetting about the present danger I was in. "Yes." My answer was strong; I didn't look frightened.

"You don't sound angry that I tricked you." James was watching video-me curiously, almost disappointed that I wasn't furious at the trick.

"I'm not."

He cocked his head. "How odd. You really mean it. I will give your strange coven this much, you humans can be quite interesting. I guess I can see the draw of observing you. It's amazing – some of you seem to have no sense of your own self-interest at all. I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you?" The first time I heard him say it, I suspected that he was hopeful. Now I was sure.

Video-me shook my head. "No, I don't think so. At least, I asked him not to."

"And what was his reply to that?"

On the video, my face twisted in anguish, my lips pursing. "I don't know. I left him a letter." My voice sounded hollow, my hair falling in a damp mass over my shoulders, my white shirt clinging to my sweaty skin.

James smiled. "How romantic, a last letter. And do you think he will honor it?" Video-me's face hardened, my eyes narrowing as I detected his sarcasm. Watching it, I unconsciously moved forward on the lounge seat, drawn to this strange memory.

"I hope so."

He seemed to fight a chuckle. "Hmmm. Well, our hopes differ then. You see, this was all just a little too easy, too quick. To be honest, I'm disappointed. I expected a much greater challenge. And after all, I only needed a little luck. When Victoria couldn't get to your father, I had her find out more about you. There was no sense in running all over the planet chasing you down when I could comfortably wait for you in a place of my choosing. So, after I talked to Victoria, I decided to come to Phoenix to pay your mother a visit. I'd heard you say you were going home. At first, I never dreamed you meant it. But then I wondered. Humans can be very predictable; they like to be somewhere familiar, somewhere safe. And wouldn't it be the perfect ploy, to go to the last place you should be when you're hiding – the place that you said you'd be."

I found myself gripping into the material of the lounge, biting into my cheek.

"But, of course, I wasn't sure, it was just a hunch. I usually get a feeling about the prey when I'm hunting, a sixth sense, if you will. I listened to your message when I got to your mother's home, but of course I couldn't be sure where you'd called from. It was very useful to have your number, but you could be in Antarctica for all I knew, and the game wouldn't work unless you were close by. Then your boyfriend got on a plane to Phoenix. Victoria was monitoring them for me, naturally; in a game with this many players, I couldn't be working alone. And so they told me what I'd hoped, that you were here after all. I was prepared; I'd already been through your charming home movies. And then it was simple a matter of the bluff. Very easy, you know, not really up to my standards. So, you see, I'm hoping you're wrong about your boyfriend. Edward, isn't it?" James was almost smiling. Video-me was staring. "Would you mind, very much, if I left a little letter of my own for your Edward?"

The me on the screen paled, horrified, as James touched the object I knew to be a camera out of the video's frame. He moved the camera, satisfied.

"I'm sorry, but I just don't think he'll be able to resist hunting me after he watches this. And I wouldn't want him to miss anything. It was all for him, of course. You're simply a human who unfortunately was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, I might add." He moved towards video-me. "Before we begin…I would just like to rub it in, just a little bit. The answer was there all along, and I was so afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun. It happened once, oh, ages ago. The one and only time my prey escaped me."

I could only imagine how Alice had handled this when she watched it for the first time. She, like me, had been a victim of James. Only, she couldn't remember; I had video proof of my participation in his fun.

"You see, the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made the choice that your Edward was too weak to make. When the old one knew I was after his little friend, he stole her from the asylum where he worked – I never will understand the obsession some vampires form with you humans – and as soon as he freed her he made her safe. She didn't even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature. She'd been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her visions. In the nineteen-twenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments. When she opened her eyes, strong with her fresh youth, it was like she'd never seen the sun before. The old vampire made her a strong new vampire, and there was no reason for me to touch her then. I destroyed the old one in vengeance."

Video-me gasped, amazement dawning on my terrified face. "Alice." I could hear the astonishment in my voice, remembering the shock it had given me when he told me.

"Yes, your little friend. I was surprised to see her in the clearing. So I guess her cove ought to be able to derive some comfort from this experience. I get you, but they get her. The one victim who escaped me, quite an honor, actually. And she did smell so delicious. I still regret that I never got to taste…she smelled even better than you do. Sorry – I don't meant to be offensive." I stifled a laugh. Offensive? Oh no…homicidal? Definitely. "You have a very nice smell. Floral, somehow…"

I could feel the bile rise in my throat. That was how Edward described my scent. James stepped towards video-me, now frozen, and lifted a few strands of my hair, smelling it. He let it fall back into place, and touched my throat…then my cheek. Video-me was breathing erratically, eyes wide in terror.

"No, I don't understand. Well, I suppose we should get on with it. And then I can call your friends and tell then where to find you, and my little message."

I watched the fear in my own eyes, watching James circle me. Then he dropped into a crouch. Video-me turned, trying to run. James blurred, appearing before me, and I vaguely saw his foot hit my chest.

I watched myself hit the mirror, the glass spider-webbing out around me, and shattering, joining me as I fell to the ground. James strode towards me, blood beginning to seep on my back, but I didn't look to be in pain – only shock.

"That's a very nice effect. I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That's why I picked this place to meet you. It's perfect, isn't it?" His back was to the camera, but he sounded pleased with himself.

I had begun to crawl to the door, when his body blurred, and he appeared again. He lazily stepped on my leg, a sickening crack echoing on the tape, almost drowned out by my own scream of agony. Video-me rolled, gripping the left I now know had been badly broken.

"Would you like to rethink your last request?" He touched my broken leg with his toe, and a blood-curdling scream ripped from my lips. "Wouldn't you rather have Edward try to find me?"

Tears began to gather as I watched myself hyperventilate. "No! No, Edward, don't…" James fist hit my face, fast, and video-me flew back into the mirrors my body had smashed before. As I watched my body hit the floor, I saw the blood drip from my hair, over my forehead.

James stalked towards my broken body, and I watched myself raise my hand to protect my face. He gripped it, lowering his lips to my wrist, and bit in. Blood tricked down my arm, but video-me was oblivious to the pain, completely unconscious.

Tears had began to drip down my face, but I couldn't turn it off. This was the part of it all that I couldn't remember. My rescue.

For several long seconds, James continued to drink. And then the door to the room was ripped off his hinges, and Edward appeared. Jasper, Emmett, and Alice were all behind him. Edward's lips peeled back, and a snarl echoed through the small room.

James had looked up, a grin prompting blood – my blood – to trickle down his chin. Edward began to lunge towards him, but then he saw me. He blurred, appearing by my side in less than a second, eyes wide in horror.

"Oh no, Bella, no!" I remembered this. I had been drifting to consciousness. Video-me was still dead to the world, and I watched in sick fascination as the other strange noises I had heard all became clear.

Emmett and Jasper pinned James against the broken mirrors, ripping him apart viciously. Alice had moved to Edward's side, a hand on his shoulder, but her face was twisted in regret and guilt as she watched my still body.

"Bella, please! Bella, listen to me, please, please, Bella, please!" Edward was sobbing, his face contorted in anguish. I began to cry harder as I watched the scene, audibly sobbing. "Carlisle! Bella, Bella, no, oh, please, no, no!"

Carlisle pressed material against my head, and video-me gasped, my body convulsing enough to show them that I was partly aware of what was going on. In the background, Emmett and Jasper were finished with James. They glanced at what was happening to me, but left the room, shame written on their perfect faces.

Edward bent closer to me. "Bella!"

"She's lost some blood, but the head wound isn't deep. Watch out for her leg, it's broken." Edward roared at Carlisle's words, watching as Carlisle gently prodded my ribs. Video-me gasped loudly, moaning. "Some ribs, too, I think."

Alice was watching me, fluttering in the background, trying to find some way to make herself useful without becoming a hindrance. She settled for kneeling beside Edward, eyes flickering along every one of my injuries.

"Edward…" Video-me was attempting to talk, but my voice was incredibly weak. Edward's eyes widened, and he leaned closer, concern and love on every part of his face.

He inhaled. "Bella, you're going to be fine. Can you hear me, Bella? I love you." The me on the video repeated his name, only increasing the worry on his angelic features. "Yes, I'm here."

"It hurts." As I watched, my tears kept coming, and I unconsciously traced the scar on my wrist, wishing I had waited to watch this with Edward, but praying he hadn't watched it, anyway.

He stifled a sob. "I know, Bella, I know…" He turned to Carlisle. "Cant you do anything?" His voice was filled with desperation and angst.

Carlisle looked at his son, sympathetic, but calm. "My bag, please…hold your breath, Alice, it will help." My gaze flickered to the Alice on screen, becoming aware of how black her eyes were. Yet she stayed.

"Alice?" Video-me murmured. Alice looked at my face, a hesitant smile appearing on her face. Edward glanced at her gratefully, before turning back.

He nodded. "She's here. She knew where to find you."

"My hand hurts."

The anguished look was back on his face. "I know, Bella. Carlisle will give you something. It will stop." But he was almost puzzled as he looked at my hand. I could see why; there was only a bit of blood, my other wounds looked worse.

"My hand is burning!" I tried to jerk up, screaming, the material covering my eyes partly. Alice gently, but firmly, held me down to avoid further injury to myself.

Edward was frightened. "Bella?"

"The fire! Someone stop the fire!"

Edward lifted my hand, showing it to his father. "Carlisle! Her hand!" Confusion was apparent; he couldn't see any fire.

Carlisle glanced at it, and his face blanched. "He bit her." Edward gasped, complete horror flooding his entire being as he stared at my hand.

Alice moved around, to my head, and laid it in her lap gently. "Edward, you have to do it." She brushed away the tears I couldn't see from the video, stroking my cheek.

"No!" Edward shouted, staring at her. Video-me murmured Alice's name, and I echoed it out loud as I watched, tears still slipping from my lashes. I wanted this pain…I wanted to become vampire…so why was it terrible to be watching it now?

Carlisle sighed. "There may be a chance…" His voice was doubtful, but Edward latched onto it, regardless.

"What?" I could almost hear the unspoken promise in his voice to do anything, no matter what.

Carlisle moved closer to Alice, working on my scalp wounds. Alice looked away, focusing on my face as he worked, eyes darkening. "See if you can suck the venom back out. The wound is fairly clean."

"Will that work?" Alice's voice was forced; she was fighting hard not to give in.

Carlisle looked at her for a moment. "I don't know. But we have to hurry."

Edward had been frozen, watching me writhe as he thought. "Carlisle, I…I don't know if I can do that." He was ashamed, wanting to protect me from this fate…but not wanting to risk my death.

His father looked at him sharply. "It's your decision, Edward, either way. I cant help you. I have to get this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her hand." He watched me continue to convulse.

"Edward!" Video-me was screaming again, and writhing. Carlisle moved to my lower body, trying to touch my leg in order to hold it down.

"Alice, get me something to brace her leg!" As Alice lowered my head, Carlisle was there, attempting to help my scalp wounds. Alice moved to my leg, holding something I couldn't recognize through the tape. "Edward, you must do it now, or it will be too late."

Edward bent, slowly gripping my hand, and lowered his lips to it. Watching the tape, it looked like he was kissing my skin…until video-me began to scream. Alice was almost hugging my leg to keep it still, and she was singing, trying to soothe me.

"You have set me a banquet of love…in the face of hatred…crowning me with love beyond my power to hold…" She reached up to hold my other hand, looking at Carlisle as she sung. He was holding my head in place.

And then, finally, Edward stopped. He spat the blood out, shocking me as I watched, and video-me began to pass out again. "Edward?" I sounded so weak that I surprised myself.

"He's right here, Bella." Carlisle was looking at his son with pride, and he released my head, nodding for Alice to let go of my leg.

"Stay, Edward, stay with me…" I sighed.

He watched video-me, his eyes filled with love, prompting another sob from me as I watched it. "I will." He was smiling slightly, proud of his success.

"Is it all out?" Carlisle asked. Edward looked at him, and nodded.

He spoke quietly. "Her blood tastes clean…I can taste the morphine." He turned his gaze back to me, reluctant to touch me and cause more pain, but his hand hovered in the air.

"Bella?" Carlisle spoke again. Video-me whimpered in reply. "Is the fire gone?"

"Yes. Thank you, Edward."

Edward looked at me, and a strange expression covered his face. "I love you." Video-me murmured an 'I know', and started to drift off again. Carlisle didn't want me to go that soon.

"Bella?" Edward glanced at his father sharply, prompting a raised eyebrow.

The me on screen wasn't so happy in her reply. "What?"

"Where is your mother?" Carlisle sounded almost apologetic, but he continued to bandage up my numerous injuries to make the trip to the hospital more bearable.

Video-me sighed. "In Florida. He tricked me, Edward. He watched our videos." Edward looked at the TV, clearly showing the camera the disgust on his face. "Alice. Alice, the video – he knew you, Alice, he knew where you came from…"

Alice blurred as she moved towards the TV, and suddenly the video ended. I assumed that was when my adopted vampire sister had discovered that the camera was still recording, and stopped it.

lionandlamb

My hair was sticking to my tear-streaked face, my arms wrapped around my legs, and I was shaking as I watched the blue screen of the television. A deep sigh echoed behind me, and I spun, only to find myself staring into golden eyes.

"Oh, Bella…I didn't want you to see that…" Edward was beside me in a flash, pressing his lips to my forehead, and rubbing circles on my back. I nodded, drawing in a shaky breath, and buried my face in his shirt. "What possessed Esme to let you watch it?"

I let my breath out in a rush. "I…I don't know…I just…I had to, Edward…don't be mad at Esme…I begged her. You watched it, Edward…I deserved to." He was silent, still holding me to him, and shushing my sobs.

"Did it…did it help at all? Will it stop your nightmares?" I glanced at him sharply, and he nodded. "I hear you, Bella. In your sleep. You dream about it every night…have done since it happened. I just want you to be happy…reassured…safe."

I wet my lips, staring at the TV screen. "I thought I'd never see you again," I admitted. "The pain…it was nothing compared to knowing you'd blame yourself for this. And I knew you'd track him down, no matter what…I've never been more scared, Edward."

He touched my cheek gently. "I know…I know, Bella…I've never been more scared of losing you. Even when Tyler nearly hit you with the damn car…it was nothing compared to the fear that you had knowingly put yourself in danger. Danger you were only in because of me. I didn't want you to see the tape because I didn't want you to relive that day unnecessarily. Not again."

I drew his chin down to press my lips against his, smiling softly into the kiss. When I drew back, I pressed my cheek against his. "Never leave me…"

His eyes were filled with horror and sadness, both as blatant as the other. "I promise I wont leave you…unless you are in danger, I will stay as long as I'm wanted." The vow was sealed with a kiss, the unease in my stomach beginning to settle as I put the tape out of my mind.

Until tonight, at least.

That took forever to write, so I'm hoping for a few reviews. I think I'll do Alice next, because hers will be shorter than beloved Edward. So please review if you want more, because reviews equal inspiration.

Just A Little Bit Dramatic