What if Alice had a vision as soon as Edward told Bella the Cullens were leaving and it changed his decision? With the damage already done by his words, can Edward convince Bella they belong together after having confirmed all of her worst fears about their relationship?

CHAPTER 1

"You don't want me," Bella said, her voice faint.

"No," Edward's voice was hard.

"Well that certainly changes things," Bella replied.

"Just promise me you won't do anything reckless," Edward said. "For Charlie."

Bella nodded and then Edward leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Before she could lift her eyelids, he was gone. She called out and stumbled into the woods in an attempt to find him, stop him but she fell. This pattern repeated over and over but she lost track of time until she fell once more and this time, she stayed down. What was the point in going on if Edward was no longer there?

Edward trudged slowly up the steps toward his family's house. He ignored the buzz of thoughts emanating from the structure easily, his thoughts consumed by Bella's face when he'd told her he didn't want her with him. It had been like putting a knife through his own heart when he'd said the words. But she had believed him without question. As if he could possibly ever not want her, not love her.

"Finally!" Alice shrilled the moment he stepped through the door.

Edward blinked and looked around. The family, minus Emmett and Rosalie, was gathered there but there were no bags, no packed boxes indicating they were ready to leave.

"Carlisle, you were supposed to be ready when I got here. You said you'd take care of telling them we were leaving," Edward said.

"We can't leave now," Esme said. "Alice..."

Edward winced as Bella's future winked out of existence in Alice's mind. It had happened the exact moment he'd told her he was leaving her. Edwards jaw tightened.

"So, if we're staying, why is she not back in your visions?" Edward asked.

"I don't know," Alice confessed quietly. "I just know she's not out of danger just because you've changed your mind about leaving to keep her safe - a stupid idea to begin with."

"Alice," Carlisle chastised.

"I'll go check on her," Edward said turning to the door.

"No," Alice said. "You just broke her heart. She won't want to see you."

"How do you know? You can't see her anymore," Edward argued.

"I don't need to be able to see her to know that," Alice retorted. "I'm female. I know. I'll go."

But by the time Alice, Jasper, and Edward arrived in the woods behind Bella's house, they were forced to maintain their distance as a crowd had gathered and a Quileute werewolf was present not far from the house. Edward scanned the thoughts and gasped in agony.

"What is it?" Alice demanded.

"It's Bella," Edward managed to get out. "She's missing."

Alice's eyes narrowed and she said, "How is that possible, Edward? What did you do?"

"I...I took her up the path into the woods," Edward said. "I told her we were leaving and then I left. But she was on the path, it was only a few yards from the clearing."

"You took Bella into the woods and left her there," Alice hissed. "You really are an idiot."

"Alice," Jasper cautioned, his eyes on Edward.

"No, she's right," Edward said his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I know better than to take Bella into the woods at all, let alone leave her there. I just...all she had to do was turn around and walk straight down the path."

"I've got her," a deep voice called and the vampires attention turned.

"He's gone, he's gone, he's gone," Bella's mumble was clearly heard by the three Cullen's and each iteration was a slap to Edwards' soul.

"Let's get her inside," Charlie said.

It was a week before any member of the Cullen family got to see Bella and when it finally happened, it was Carlisle.

For a week Edward and Alice stood vigil in the woods outside Bella's house but a Quileute was always there so they could not approach. However, they could hear quite clearly what was happening and being said and Bella had been put into bed and had not moved, not once, since she had been brought back to the house. Each conversation about her had Edward flinching and Alice sending her brother death looks. Jasper had managed to spend only ten minutes in close proximity to Bella before her pain had made him double over and flee with a quick apology to Edward.

Finally, Charlie had called the hospital in terror at Bella's condition. Dr. Gerandy had been about to step into surgery so Charlie grudgingly agreed to have Carlisle come to the house to check on Bella.

"Hello, Chief Swan," Carlisle said softly. "I'm sorry to be here under these circumstances."

Charlie harumphed at his words and said, "Since this is your son's fault, I suppose you might as well be the one to fix it."

"Charlie," Carlisle chided gently but Charlie glared at him.

"I want you to think about something, Dr. Cullen," Charlie said bitingly. "What if this was one of your daughters? What wouldn't you do to the guy who hurt one of them this badly? Now, remember that it was your son who did this to my daughter - don't tell me not to be angry, not to blame him for this. If I wasn't an officer of the law, I'd hunt him down and torture him for days before killing him for the pain he's caused her."

Carlisle had nodded once to that. He didn't have to worry about anyone hurting his daughters feelings in such a way but he understood Charlie's instinct to protect his daughter. He also knew that Edward had heard every word Charlie spoke.

The doctor knocked softly on the bedroom door before he opened it and stepped inside. A worried Charlie hovered in the doorway.

"Bella, can you look at me?" Carlisle asked softly, kneeling next to Bella's bed.

Bella's eyes blinked open and Carlisle had to fight a flinch at the emptiness in their depths.

"Charlie, maybe you better wait downstairs," Carlisle said.

Once Charlie was out of ear shot, Carlisle focused on Bella again.

"I'm going to check your vitals, Bella," Carlisle said gently.

"We both know there is nothing physically wrong with me, Dr. Cullen," Bella said flatly.

Carlisle flinched slightly at the formal title. She had always called him Carlisle but it was clear that she was blaming all the Cullen's for Edward's decision. In the woods, Edward shook his head sadly and Alice frowned.

"Charlie is very worried about you," Carlisle said quietly. "You haven't moved since you were brought home."

"Why are you here?" Bella asked. "You were all supposed to be gone. I wasn't even supposed to get the chance to say goodbye."

Carlisle hesitated and Bella sighed.

"Alice," Bella said.

"Yes," Carlisle said. "We won't be leaving Forks after all."

"Any of you?" Bella asked, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"We're all staying," Carlisle said carefully. "Bella, it's been a week…"

"I wasn't aware there was a timetable for getting over a broken heart," Bella snapped. "But I suppose I should have expected it given what he said to me."

"What did Charlie say?" Carlisle asked confused.

"Not Charlie," Bella said bitterly.

Carlisle nodded realizing that Bella meant Edward and what he'd said to her in the woods. No one knew exactly what he'd told her and Edward had refused to talk about that day to anyone.

"What the hell were you thinking, Charlie? How could you let one of them in here, let him near her?" Billy was yelling loud enough that even Bella heard him.

Bella sighed and sat up. She swayed slightly but Carlisle steadied her with a hand, letting go when she shied away from his touch. Bella stood slowly and walked down the stairs, holding tightly to the wall to keep from falling. Carlisle followed closely behind her, ready to catch her if she wavered.

Billy was still shouting at Charlie who was yelling right back when Bella reached the first floor.

"That's enough, both of you," Bella said, her voice quiet but it brought the two men to stunned silence instantly.

"Billy, I love you and I understand your issues with the Cullens, but this is Charlie's house, my house, and we'll invite anyone we want into it," Bella said. "Dr. Cullen was not the one who hurt me and he came here to try to help me when Charlie called. The Cullens will never step a foot onto the reservation but you don't get to dictate where they go in Forks. It's their home, too."

"Bella…" Billy began, his eyes warily going from her to Carlisle.

"No, Billy," Bella said. "That's the way it is. You are always welcome here but so are the Cullens. This house is neutral territory. Deal with it."

"Not all of the Cullens are welcome," Charlie said quickly.

"Of course," Carlisle said in understanding. "I don't think he'd even consider showing up at your door."

"He better not," Charlie said. "I can't guarantee my gun will stay holstered if he does."

Billy shifted uncomfortably at that and Bella smiled faintly. Everyone but Charlie knew that shooting Edward would do absolutely nothing.

An uneasy silence settled over the room for several moments before Charlie broke it.

"Are you…okay now, Bella?" he asked glancing at Carlisle.

Bella shook her head. "I can't just flip a switch, Dad," she said. "I can't stop loving him just because he doesn't love me too."

Carlisle looked confused at the statement but before he could say anything Charlie spoke.

"But you…you just shut down, Bells," Charlie said, his voice breaking.

"I know," Bella said quietly. "I couldn't…the pain was too much. I couldn't bear to feel it. But I'll be fine, eventually. I can't…I can't pretend I'm okay now but I will be. I have no choice. Who's going to cook for you if I never leave my room?"

As far as teasing went, it was weak but Charlie smiled brilliantly at her for making the effort.

"You should eat, Bella," Carlisle said quietly.

Bella nodded slightly and Charlie smiled happily.

"We have pizza," Charlie said. "I'll get you some."

"Is that all you've been eating for a week?" Bella asked.

Billy chuckled slightly at that but Charlie looked slightly embarrassed.

"Actually, Harry and Sue Clearwater have come by for dinner several times this week," Charlie said. "Sue keeps bringing food and sticking it in the freezer so you might not have to cook for weeks."

Bella nodded and smiled at Billy knowingly. She walked over and hugged him briefly.

"Thank you for taking care of Charlie for me, Billy," she whispered so Charlie wouldn't overhear.

"It wasn't just for Charlie," Billy said gruffly.

"I know," Bella said.

"Bells, do you want this heated?" Charlie called from the kitchen.

"Cold is better, Dad," Bella said. "I'm going to walk Dr. Cullen to his car."

Billy looked at her sharply but she returned the gaze coolly before following Carlisle out the door.

Stepping outside, Bella felt Carlisle stiffen slightly and she looked over to see the very large Quileute standing next to her door.

"You seem familiar to me," Bella said to the man.

"I'm Sam," he rumbled.

"You found me in the woods," Bella said her eyes widening in realization. Her look was speculative, as she gave Sam a once over.

"Yes," he said shifting under her gaze.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I appreciate you finding me."

Sam nodded once and then returned his gaze to the woods.

"Thank you for coming," Bella said to Carlisle.

Carlisle nodded and walked to his car. He looked back sadly at Bella once before driving away.

Bella looked toward the woods and said in a normal conversational tone. "You don't need to stay and watch the house. Clearly, Sam is here to protect me. You need to go eat."

Sam looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and astonishment. Bella met his eyes and he tried not to flinch at the emptiness in them.

"How did you know they were there?" he asked.

"Well, you haven't taken your eyes away from the woods for more than a second so clearly someone you see as a threat is out there," Bella said. "And I always know. I can feel them."

"They are a threat, Bella," Sam said with a frown.

"Not to me," Bella said.

"After what they did to you," Sam began.

"Not they," Bella cut him off. "Him. And I know what he did. I was there, remember?"

When Bella shuddered at the memory, a growl reverberated out of the woods and it was loud enough for even Bella's human ears to hear. She shot a finger in the direction and snarled, "Back off."

Sam looked like he was ready to laugh when she looked back up at him. "What?" she demanded.

"You'd make a pretty good…" he trailed off uncomfortably.

"Werewolf?" Bella asked softly.

Sam met her gaze in shock and Bella chuckled slightly. "Yes, I know what you are," she said. "I heard you in the woods before you changed and picked me up."

"They told you! I can't believe the Cullens told you," Sam said with fury.

"The Cullens didn't tell me, Sam," Bella said quietly. "It was actually someone from La Push who told me about the Quileute legends – both the cold ones and the wolf legends."

Sam went pale at that news. "We broke the treaty," he whispered.

"Please don't worry," Bella said. "The Cullens don't consider it broken. They won't retaliate."

Sam just nodded and watched Bella as she walked back into the house.