Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any songs used

AN: Italics are thoughts that Edward listens to.

Chapter Two: Life after death

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Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.

Kahlil Gibran

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One year, six months, two weeks, three days and five hours ago I told my one and only love that I didn't love her anymore. That I didn't want her. I lied. But she doesn't know that. I left her crying in the forest by her house, screaming my name, and it broke my dead heart. I wanted to turn around and go back, tell her I was sorry and beg her to take me back. To tell her just how much I loved her and to tell her I'll never leave again. If only I turned back, then maybe I would have had the chance to still be with her. If only I turned back then maybe she would still be alive...

"Alice? What's wrong? What did you see?" Alice had a look of utter horror on her face and was visibly shaking. She turned her head towards me and I could see all the pain in her eyes. "Bella..." She said but broke off. I grabbed her by her shoulders, looking right into her eyes, her mind for once was a total blank. Not even one thought. "Alice, show me, I need to see."

Alice showed me Forks, Bella's house, there were about five cars parked in front of her house. Billy Black was there and his son Jacob who was crying, so was mike and his dad, Angela's dad was there too. Then in the vision I could hear Billy talking to Charlie. "I'm sorry Charlie, we still haven't found her. I don't think we will... The doctor thinks it best to pronounce her"

Then the vision suddenly changed to Bella's truck wrapped around a tree, a glowing fire surrounding it. There were maybe 20 different people standing around it, trying to put the raging fire out but not succeeding. Then everything went black again. Alice looked broken and I felt dead.

"How long?" I asked knowing that she would understand. I'm not sure Edward, you told me not to look for her so I don't, and this vision came out of nowhere. But I don't think we have long. I don't know if she is... I mean I can't tell if she was in there or not. I don't think she was. I looked at her like she was crazy "Why do you say that?" I didn't see her, normally with visions like that... I would have seen her... her last moments Edward, I don't think she's... dead. I cringed at the word and I could tell that she believed every word she thought. She believed my Bella was still okay, but I had to know. I can't risk her life again. I would go back and never leave her again; I would make her safe no matter what. I would stay with her forever even if she didn't want me back.

Alice finally spoke aloud "I'm going with you." And before I could argue with her she added "She is my best friend Edward, I love her too." I let out a big sigh and looked around at my family that were now standing beside me and Alice. "Go get her son, bring her home" Carlisle said with a big grin on his face. "Go get my daughter and tell her we love her." Esme said full of motherly love towards me and my Bella. "Take care of Alice for me, she has my heart you know" Jasper said aloud Go now and find your own Edward he added in his head. I couldn't help but smile at my family, even if we were missing two members, Emmett and Rose was on another honeymoon.

I finally found my voice. "Thank you everyone. Alice lets go, we have to hurry." My little pixie like sister was already at the door waiting for me, bouncing on the balls of her feet from excitement and anxiety.

It took us one whole day to get to forks and like usual it was raining. The streets were empty, a good sign and the only car in front of Charlie's house was his police cruiser. I couldn't help but smile at Alice who looked just as relieved as I felt. We were going to be on time. Bella was still safe and I would spend the rest of my existence begging her to forgive me.

We pulled into the driveway and made our way to the front door. Alice was already knocking when I got there, unable to hold her excitement in any longer. She smiled up at me and I smiled back at her. Charlie opened the door and his face was that of numbness. No emotion shining through at all, not even anger at seeing us. He moved out of the way gesturing for us to follow him inside. He led us to the living room and the first thing I noticed were all the beer cans on the coffee table and that the TV was off. He sat on the chair and picked up one of the cans. Alice looked up at me then and she looked scared. Charlie grunted and motioned for us to sit. We sat down on the love seat looking at Charlie. His mind wasn't blank, but it was numb, I couldn't read any of his thoughts. I wonder how much beer's he has had today.

With a heavy sigh he started to speak, not looking at me or Alice, but instead looking at a notebook lying on the coffee table next to the beer cans. "I'm surprised you heard so quickly... Not even everyone in Forks knows yet." Alice looked up at him, her eyes wide unable to hide her fear. "Heard what so quickly, Charlie?" She asked her voice shaky. He looked up at us then and I could see his eyes were bloodshot. He looked like he had been crying for hours on end. Then it finally hit me, we were too late. "There was an accident yesterday... Bella drove of the road... she hit a big tree and the truck set on fire. The doctors pronounced her... dead... we never found her body... they said that the fire was too hot, that she just melted away..." He spoke in a dead lifeless voice, tears running down his cheeks. Alice started sobbing uncontrolled next to me. We thought we were in time but we were too late. She was gone... My Bella was gone and I could never tell her how much I loved her ever again. My Bella... She died thinking I didn't love her. I started sobbing then, long heartbroken sobs. I slid down to the ground and pulled my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms tight around me to try and keep myself together.

Charlie got up from his chair and sat next to me on the floor with his arm around my shoulder. "She loved you too, you do know that right? I don't know what happened between the two of you in the forest that day, but I do know she never stopped loving you. And I can see you never stopped loving her either." I sobbed even harder after he said that and he shoved the notebook he was staring at earlier into my arms. "It's a diary of sorts, she started it after you left, and it's full of pictures and poems. Her thoughts and even song lyrics. I think she would have wanted you to have it." He gave my shoulder a squeeze and went to comfort Alice on the love seat. "Thank you." I managed to choke out after what felt like hours.

We ended up staying for the funeral. The whole town was there, everyone but Jacob Black, who I was told was her best friend since I left. His father said he was too sad to come and that he would make it up to her one day. We buried an empty coffin that Charlie, Sam, Mike and I carried. Everyone's minds were full of grieve for their lost friend. Charlie and Renee were holding onto each other as the coffin was lowered into the ground and covered with dirt. Slowly everyone started leaving until it was just Charlie, Alice and I. I sat next to her grave stone running my hand over the fresh soil. Charlie turned around then and walked away. Promising that he would come and visit as much as possible.

Alice bent down next to me and whispered in my ear. "I know what you're thinking Edward, and Bella wouldn't want you to do it. She would want you to live on and be happy. Think of it as her last wish. Think of it as how you can make it all up to her. She would want you to live Edward." I gave her a hug then and said "I know Alice; we actually had a similar conversation about that a long time ago." When we get back we're moving here, we need to be closer to her. I want to be able to bring her fresh flowers every day. "No Alice, I can't stay here in Forks without her." How about Seattle then? It's still close enough to run here and back and the boarding school there is supposed to be really good. I heard the love musicians there. "Fine Alice, Seattle it is."

Hey man, are you okay? Jasper, I always forget how much my pain affects him. I nodded and he raised his eyebrows at me, clearly not believing me. "I'm fine Jasper, I was just thinking." You were thinking about her again? I wish I could help you Edward. But no matter how strong feelings of happiness I send to you, it never seems to work anymore. And it's my entire fault... "No! Jasper, how many times must I tell you this? It's not your fault, it's mine. Please stop blaming yourself." I'll try Edward. "Good, that's all I'm asking." He gave me a sad smile but by his thoughts I could tell that his guilt was lessening. He was listening to me. Good.

"Are you coming to class? Alice said she heard there will be some new students arriving soon." Another pang of guilt hit me at his words. Alice didn't use her gift to see the future anymore. The only visions she now got were one's that she had no control over. She said it hurt too much to use her gift. She didn't even shop as much as what she used to. Jasper gave me another worried look. "Yes, I'll be going to class, and don't worry, I'll be alright." I gave him a small smile that seemed to reassure him and he smiled back before leaving our room. It was times like these that I missed Emmett the most. Rose didn't want to go back to school again so she and Emmett are travelling all around the world for a while. Last I heard they were somewhere in Brazil.

All of a sudden Alice burst through my door "Come on Edward you're going to miss your first class if you keep sitting around in your room." She pulled me up by the arm and started dragging me out the room. "Alice, it's still half an hour till first period." I moaned. "I know but the new kids are coming today." She practically sang as she dragged me out of the room. "So what Alice?" She gave a small huff and stopped pulling me. Edward, they are in a band! They are performing at the Battle of the Band show tonight at school. I hear they are good! I sighed at her, she was so excited because she didn't know what they looked like or if they were as good as she heard they were. "Why don't you just look today Alice? Once wouldn't be the end of the world would it?" I asked, already knowing the answer. We have been having this conversation almost every day for more than a year now. "You know how I feel about that Edward, and besides, it's more fun this way!" She grinned up at me and for once she truly did look happy. I smiled back at her, picked up my book bag and let her drag me to the big cafeteria or as I like to call it, the mess hall.

We sat at our usual table, there were 8 seats but no one ever sat with us. Just like back in Forks, the humans knew to keep their distance from us. They knew we were dangerous or at least in the back of their minds they did. Unfortunately just like back in Forks, I was still the single Cullen, or as they seemed to call me the hot Cullen brother. I felt a shiver go down my spine and Jasper laughed. He knew my feelings well enough to know what and who I was thinking of. Tina... She was worse than Jessica, Lauren and Tanya combined. Don't look now but she's on her way over here man. I felt my body tighten into a defensive position. She was a typical dumb blond or at least that's what Alice tells me. She had long blond hair and clear blue eyes. She was extremely beautiful by human standards.

"Shove off Tina; he's not in the mood for you today." Alice scolded her. "Actually I came over here to see you Alice, have you heard who's joining our school?" Tina asked her. It was clear that she was just as excited as Alice about the new people to come to school. "Oh sorry Tina. Yeah I have I can't believe they are going to go to school here in Seattle. I mean they could go anywhere they wanted!" Alice squeaked at her. "What is so special about the new kids?" Jasper just had to get them started. "Oh my God! I can't believe you said that! They are just about the hottest band ever." Tina screeched. "Well if they are as good as you say why don't they have a record deal?" He countered. Now I was actually curious too. If they were really good why didn't they have a record deal and albums out? I raised my eyebrow at Tina to ask my silent questions. She let out a huge gust of air and huffed. "They don't want any contracts now, they want to finish school first. Two of them are seniors and the other two are juniors." Well I guess that is a good reason. "Oh, what are they called anyway?" I was really curious now. Music was a passion of mine. "They are called Faceless Angel and they are the best" Alice sang happily from my side, probably just happy that I'm taking an interest in something. "Yeah, apparently one of the members lost someone close to them. That's where the name comes from." It seems we all lost someone important then.

The door to the mess hall opened then and two of the most beautiful people I have ever seen walked in holding hands. The girl had dark red hair, almost purple(ultra violet) that went just over her shoulders. Her skin was very pale but not sickly, almost like my own. But she had dark blue eyes, she couldn't be one of us. The guy she was with had short black hair and brown colourful eyes. His skin was the same as hers, as ours. They couldn't be, could they?

Edward, are they? Are they vampires? Alice's mental voice pulled me from my thoughts and I shrugged my shoulder to her. "I don't know." All of a sudden Alice leapt up and went right over to them, Jasper and I followed close behind just in case. She beamed up at them. "Hallo, I'm Alice Cullen; this is my brother Edward and my boyfriend Jasper Hale." They looked a little shocked at seeing her but recovered soon enough. "Hi there, I'm Susan Cooper and this is my boyfriend Jack Stevens, our siblings are around here somewhere as well, Izzy and Mark." Edward, can you read their minds? Alice asked in her mind. I looked left and then right, moving just my eyes. Strange. She leaned into the one called Susan. "I know what you are." She said so low I could barely hear her. Susan started laughing at her. "I know what you are too Alice but don't worry, we're also vegetarian." I looked at her then. "But your eyes?" I couldn't help asking. She laughed another tinkling laugh. "I can change appearances, makes doing my hair a lot more fun don't you think?" Alice smiled a huge smile at her then bursting to the seam with questions for Susan.

The bell rang then to signal the start of first period and we all went our separate ways. But not before Alice made Susan promise that her and her family will sit with us for lunch. Something tells me lunch might actually be interesting today.

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AN: Thank you so much to the 3 people that have reviewed so far. I can't tell you how happy it has made me. As always please review, it only takes a minute. I could really use your opinions on the story.