Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters.

Chapter Two: Confrontation

Months Later…

Edward sat in the same fetal position he had kept himself in for most the time he had been away from Bella. Only when the thirst was too strong to ignore did he go hunting. Otherwise, Edward stayed in cheap motels, away from his family.

For a while, he had attempted to track Victoria. He didn't actually think she was a threat, but the fact that she knew Bella and that one of her traveling group had been killed to protect Bella, left an uneasy feeling about her. He had wanted to take care of her so there was nothing to worry about regarding Bella's safety, but as it turns out, he was not a good tracker.

More recently, Edward had been trying to convince himself to check on Bella. He wanted, no, needed, to know if she was alright. To see with his own eyes how she was doing and if she was happy. The only problem was whether he would be able to actually leave again if he were to see her. He knew that if there was any chance she would take him back he would beg, for all of eternity if necessary, to win her heart back.

The memory of her horrorstruck face when he told her his family was leaving made up his mind for him. He would go to see Bella. If she was decently happy without him he would leave her to her human life. If she wasn't, he would beg, grovel, do anything to make her love him again.

With that personal agreement in his head, Edward set out to look for his love.

-x-

Charlie was not the man Edward had known. He looked ten years older than he had before the Cullens had left only months prior.

Edward stood just out of sight in the trees behind the Swan household, hoping to catch a glimpse of his love. Seeing Chief Swan as ragged as he was caused a slight panic to rise in Edward's stomach.

Was Bella sick? Had something happened to her? What else could have Charlie, the generally cheery man, looking so drawn and old?

One thought told Edward everything: Oh Bella…I haven't heard anything about you in forever. I hope you're doing better in Florida.

So Bella had opted for a new start in Florida. Edward headed back to his family, unsure of what to do next. He had conflicting emotions. He was happy that Bella was doing what he wanted her to do: be human. But another part of him, the part he thought of as selfish, was upset that she had appeared to move on, that she wasn't waiting for him to come back to her in Forks.

-x-

Alice was slightly excited Edward had decided to come back to his family, even if it was only for a little while. She wanted to start telling him that he should see Bella, at least go and see her just to know how she was doing, and that was so much easier when he was there in person. She had seen him, before they left, eventually giving in and going back to Bella, but she wanted to help the process along.

Alice skipped to the door, in order to open it for Edward to enter.

"Don't start," was all he said. Obviously he had heard her plans, but that did nothing to deter her.

But Edward! You want to see her; you need to see if she is okay. I need to know that she is alright and since you won't let me see into her future, going to see her is the only other option! Alice started their circular argument in her head, knowing the rest of the family was probably sick of hearing it.

"Alice. Stop."

No Edward, you stop. You need to stop being so stupid! It's ridiculous. Did you really think that you would leave and she would just move on, knowing you still loved her?

Edward twitched slightly, something he hadn't done before. What, Edward? What hit a nerve, that she'd move on? He stayed stalk still. Or that she knows you still love her? There was a definite unconsciously guilty twitch.

Okay, so it's that. But why would you be guilty about her knowing you love her. Of course she would know. You were leaving to protect her! Surely she knows that! Again, he twitched. Alice didn't need to be psychic to gather the meaning behind those unintentional revelations. Are you telling me she doesn't know why you left? How on earth were you able to leave her if she didn't know?! How could you just say "I love you, but I'm sorry, I have to leave."? That just doesn't make any… The look on Edward's face hit Alice hard with realization.

No! NO! You didn't tell her you didn't love her did you?! Oh my dear lord! EDWARD! What did you do to her?! Do you have any idea how that would feel?! Imagine if one day Bella had walked up to you and told you she didn't love you anymore, that she was leaving and didn't care about you? How would you feel?

"It's not the same," he mumbled.

"The HELL it's not the same! What, you're a vampire, and she's a human, therefore she couldn't possibly love you as much as you love her? When did Rosalie rub off on you?"

"It isn't the same. She is a human, she'll forget this. She'll move on, marry another human and live happily."

"Right. I'm sure she'll forget you soooo easily. Yeah, that's it. A week after you left, she was probably dating Mike Newton because it was only you that kept her from doing it. Don't you get it, Edward? You were the only one she wanted!"

"Things change. Humans change."

"You really think she'd move on so easily? You really think that's all her love was?" By that time, most of the family had congregated outside the room they were standing in. It wasn't like them to get into shouting matches, but Alice was so angry with Edward that she didn't care what the rest of her family thought.

"She already has!" Alice had opened her mouth to start arguing back but stopped short.

"What?" She asked blankly, confused by what he meant.

"She already has, Alice. She's moved on with her life, she's happy."

"What? Impossible. How would you even know?"

"I went there Alice. I went to Forks before coming here. If she was happy I'd leave her alone, if she wasn't I'd beg to be allowed back into her life. But she was happy, so I left."

Alice eyed him, suspicious. She didn't believe that Bella could have actually moved on so quickly, it didn't seem possible with how much she had loved Edward. Jasper had compared it to the feelings Alice herself held for her husband and she knew she would ever be able to get over losing him. "You actually saw her happy? You didn't just rely on the thoughts of the people that know her, did you?"

Edward's eyes glanced quickly to the side and then back, "yes."

He was lying. She snorted without humor. "You're an idiot Edward."

Sighing sadly, Edward nodded.

Knowing she couldn't believe him, Alice did the one thing she hadn't done in over six months, she looked into Bella's future. Alice heard the distant snarl from Edward, furious at her for doing what he had asked her not to, but she was too focused on and confused by what she saw. There was nothing really to see, but it wasn't like normal, it wasn't as if her future had disappeared, it was just darkness, as if Bella's future was in a dark room.

As she came out of her vision, she saw Edward looking at her with his head cocked to the side. She was just as confused as he looked.

"What does that mean Alice?" Edward's anger was forgotten.

But all she could do was shake her head. She didn't know; that kind of vision had never happened before and she didn't know what it meant.