A/N: I hope that the chapter divisions haven't been too confusing. Just PM me if it really is a problem, and I'll fix it. And I almost forgot—this is written in Bella's POV up to a certain point, and then they start switching. When they begin to switch around, you'll notice that I started labeling each part. But, if I remember correctly, there is no POV switching in this chapter. Well, I hope you like it, and I hope it isn't too confusing!

Chapter 2 - Preparation

Part 16

In the morning, when I woke up, Edward was gone. I sat up and looked around, but there was no sign of him anywhere. I climbed out of bed and tiptoed down the stairs, afraid that someone else might be in the house. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I thought I heard a movement coming from the kitchen. My heart stopped for a second as I imagined who could be moving around inside the house. I headed toward the source of the noise, grabbing a chair for protection as I went. As I turned the corner, I bumped into the person who was in the kitchen, and it was definitely not Edward.

Part 17

"Alice, you scared me!" I was too surprised to sound angry. "I thought that Edward and I were supposed to be alone!"

"Oh, um…well…you were. That was until Edward decided to take every possible measure to ensure your safety during your honeymoon." I was nonplussed. "He's out hunting." I sighed. Well, at least he would have to hold up his end of the bargain tonight.

"So when is Edward going to be back?" I asked.

"He should be back in a few hours…around two in the afternoon, I think."

"So why did he have you come to keep an eye on me?"

Alice grimaced. "This is EDWARD we're talking about, Bella. Edward is extremely over-cautious, you know that. It's just Edward being Edward." There was something in her face that made me believe that she wasn't telling me the whole story.

Part 18

"Alice, is there something you're not telling me?" I looked at her sternly, and she averted my gaze.

"Bella, why are you holding a chair above your head?" Evasive tactics. I could easily see through that. Nevertheless, I blushed as I placed the chair back on the ground.

"Is something wrong?" Alice once again avoided eye contact. She was starting to get me angry. "If Edward told you not to tell me, that's his problem. Tell me NOW."

"Well, Bella, don't get angry at Edward, it's not his fault. It's actually mine, really, for telling him before telling you."

"WHAT IS IT?!?" Alice's vagueness was getting on my nerves.

All Alice said was, "They're coming."

Part 19

"WHO's coming?"

Alice looked uncomfortable. "The Volturi. They're coming to Forks, presumably for you. You and Edward need to figure out—fast—what you're going to do. Becoming a vampire is a very permanent decision, so you must be positive that you want to and are ready to be changed. If you are ready, you need to tie up any loose ends quickly. Otherwise, we will do all we can to protect you."

Part 20

I paced back and forth in the living room, waiting for Edward to return from hunting. Finally, Edward arrived, gathering me into his arms and kissing me tenderly. Although dazed by Edward's scent, I remembered why I had been waiting so impatiently for him.

"Why didn't you tell me about the Volturi?" I demanded.

"Bye Edward! Bye Bella!" Alice shouted as she practically sprinted out the door.

"I didn't want to frighten you."

That vampire could be so infuriating. "I thought I told you to screw the protecting me crap."

"I know, Bella. Will you please forgive me?" He blew his dazzling breath into my face, stunning me.

"Sure," I agreed dazedly. He swooped down to kiss me, and I wrapped my arms around him. Edward smiled, thinking he had won this round. "So, Edward, it looks like we need to speed up the arrangements for changing me into a vampire if we don't want problems with the Volturi." Edward looked at me intensely, and then he looked away.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" he asked.

"Yes. I am completely sure." I could see the sadness in his eyes as I said that.

Edward exhaled. "Okay, well if we're going to do this, we will have to do it soon. If you are going through the changing process when the Volturi arrive, you might be all right. But if they decide that we have waited too long to change you, that would leave you defenseless. So I need to change you as soon as possible. That's why I went hunting today. If I was suddenly overcome by thirst and drank your blood, I wouldn't live another day." Edward looked so vulnerable as he said this that I almost, almost didn't bring up our bargain. I knew it was selfish, but I wanted this too much.

"Edward, if I'm going to be changed into a vampire, there is one other thing that has to happen first, remember?" Edward seemed shocked. If it had been any other time, his facial expression would have been comical, but now was not a time for humor.

"Yes, Bella, I know." Edward was scared; I could see it in his face and hear it in his voice. "If something happens, just know that I love you more than anything else in this world."

"I love you too, Edward."

Part 21

The honeymoon was over. It lasted all of two days, but Edward and I didn't really care. Edward would be changing me tonight, and I wanted to go see Charlie one last time. I also wanted to see Jacob before I changed into a vampire. I wasn't sure how things would turn out, but I did want to say goodbye to him all the same. Saying goodbye to Charlie was very difficult. I'm not usually very emotional, but the combination of saying goodbye to Charlie and Charlie's talking about my trip to Alaska put me over the edge. My tears were bordering on hysterics by the time I reached La Push. I just sat in my car with my head on the steering wheel and cried. I thought I had understood the sacrifice of becoming a vampire and saying goodbye to everyone you loved, but I did not understand the severity of the feelings that came along with this.

After a while, I heard a tap on the window, and I looked up, tears streaming down my face.

Part 22

"Hey, Bella." His voice was gentle and full of concern.

"Hey, Jake," I sniffed.

"Can I come in?"

I opened the car door, and Jacob got in the passenger seat.

"Are you okay, Bella?" Jacob asked. I just looked at him, amazed by his intelligence.

"Okay, stupid question. What I mean is, what's wrong?"

"The Volturi are coming, and I need to be changed tonight. Even doing this now is pushing it. So I'm saying goodbye now because I don't know exactly who I'll be after this."

"You know," Jacob said, excited, "You don't have to go through with this right now. Our pack could help you again, and then you could stay a human longer."

I shook my head. "It's too dangerous, Jake. I'm not going to have you risk your life to protect me. It's bad enough that the Cullens are risking their lives for me, and I can't stand the thought of both of you getting hurt." Jacob tried to interrupt, but I overrode him. "The Volturi are very good at what they do—they would kill you if you ever faced them in a fight."

"But what if I don't care?" This was not going as well as I had hoped it would.

"What if I do?" Jacob remained silent, so I continued, "Jake, I may not have chosen you over Edward, but that does not mean I do not care for your life." Jacob glared at me accusingly. "Jacob, seriously, I love you. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

"Too late." Jacob stepped outside the car and slammed the door behind him, turning his back on me.

Part 23

I ran out of the car and followed Jacob. "Jake! Wait!" Jacob turned around and looked at me, his eyes red. "Please… wait a minute and hear me out!"

"What, Bella? What could you possibly say to me to make me feel better?" I opened my mouth to answer, but Jacob continued to speak. "Seriously, what could it be? You're going to become one of…them, a MORTAL enemy, and you don't want to hurt me?!?"

"Jake, I…" I had no idea what I was going to say. "I just…just…" Jacob's face looked tortured for a second, and then he did something I had not seen coming. He kissed me.

Part 24

I tried to fight Jacob off, but he wouldn't let go of my face. "Jacob!" He didn't listen to me. "Stop!" Jacob broke off. "I'm MARRIED, for Christ's sake! You can't just go and KISS married women!"

Jacob grinned mischievously. "I'm sorry; I forgot that you were married." He grinned again.

"What do you look so happy about?" I shouted, "Wipe that little smirk off your face! It's not funny!"

Jacob burst out laughing, choking out, "You… are… so hilarious…when you…are…angry." I kicked Jacob's shin, afterward nursing my big toe and hopping on one foot. This caused Jacob to laugh even harder.

I was fed up with Jacob, and even more so fed up with myself. I didn't know why I had even bothered to go visit Jacob; I thought he had decided to let me go. Instead, he had kissed me, and now I was even more confused than before I came, if that was even possible. I felt the urge to punch Jacob's face with all the force I could muster, but past experience told me that would be a bad idea.

"Goodbye, Jake. I'll see you later…or not." This was not the way I wanted to end things between Jacob, but I couldn't see any way to end this better.

"I'll see you later, Bella." Jacob smiled at me, and his smile told me that we would work things out…eventually.

"Jacob, thank you for…everything." I walked back toward my car, got in, and drove away, the tears running thick and fast down my face.

Part 25

When I returned to the Cullen house, Edward was waiting for me. He held me close, and I breathed in his comforting scent. We stood there, arms around each other, until Carlisle and Esme arrived. Edward carried me upstairs and set me down gently on his bed. It was then that I realized how tired I was. I yawned, and Edward lay down beside me, putting his arms around me. As my eyelids closed, I realized that this would be the last time I would ever sleep.