Title: Forever Days

Author: Nadia Mack

Disclaimer: I own nothing, which is a tragedy.

Rated: K+ (So far at least)

Summary: One night, Bella's life changes.

Author's Notes: I apologize for the delay. I currently don't have Internet at home so I was unable to upload this chapter sooner. I'm switching providers right now so I should be able to be up and running in a week and a half.

For anyone who doesn't understand the "New Amsterdam" connection: "New Amsterdam" was a Fox-based television show that followed a NYPD detective named John Amsterdam. He was a Dutch soldier who immigrated to the new world in the 1600s. After saving the life of a Native Indian girl and being fatally wounded in the process, the tribe's Shaman restored his life giving him immortality. If you count photography memory, immortal life and a high IQ gifts, Amsterdam has no other special powers.

I also just want to reiterate that this is in no way a crossover. I took the idea from the show and used it as a catalyst to jumpstart this '10 Years Later' storyline. This story has nothing to do with John. This is all about Twilight. Bella is still coming to terms with her own immortality while Edward is trying to reconnect with her. I do have plans of introducing certain plot storylines of Eclipse and (possibly, but not sure yet) Breaking Dawn. Obviously, it's going to take place in my current timeline.

Thank you all again for the feedback. If you have any recommendations or ideas just throw it by me. I also don't mind constructive criticism as well; so don't be shy if there's something in particular that's bugging you.

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Chapter 3: Danger

(Edward's POV)

Walking alone on Raspberry Road, I made my way to Kincaid Park for some much-needed self-reflection. It was closing in on midnight and I knew from the lack of voices that normally permeated my consciousness with inconsequential chatter, I could finally relax and think by myself without the additional distraction.

Only there was just one distraction I could not ignore even if I tried.

I hadn't seen or heard from Bella since last night, and while I was heavily tempted to track her down and see her, even if she was just sleeping (old habits die hard), I knew it wouldn't earn me any points getting back into her good graces.

Yet fate didn't seem to mind when my sharp vampritic eyes suddenly caught her familiar figure in the distance.

Nobody should be around this time of night, especially Bella, but I knew I'd be fighting a losing battle when it came to her safety. At first, I thought I was just hallucinating. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. But when I focused more thoroughly, her figure and intoxicating scent confirmed my beliefs.

Park hours ended at 10pm but it was a quarter after midnight now and there she was. Forested in rich birch, cottonwood and spruce, Bella stood by herself gazing at something in the sky.

Not wanting to startle her, I let my footsteps be heard.

"Hi," I spoke quietly as soon as I was close enough for her to hear.

She turned and her deep brown eyes bore through me for a moment before she sighed. "Oh. It's you."

I should feel embarrassed or at least slightly annoyed by her reaction but instead, I could not help the mirth that escaped my lips. She constantly surprised me.

"Am I intruding?" I really hope not.

"No, it's fine."

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Though my kind didn't need air, the years imitating human nuances have become second nature.

We stood next to each other quietly, letting the night encompass us. After a few minutes, I was starting to get edgy, mostly because she seemed a thousand miles away instead of mere inches away from me. If only I knew what she was thinking.

"I love the night," she murmured out-of-the-blue.

"I remember," I said, thankful she finally filled the silence with her voice. "It's the only way for us to see the stars."

It was then she faced me, a genuine smile glittering on her beautiful face. The will power I called forth had been the only thing that kept me from taking her into my arms. It was a struggle in and of itself, I thought irritably.

"How did you know where to find me?" she asked.

"If I didn't have eyes, I'd still find you."

Her lips curved into another smile. Less open but it held a sort of mystery. "That doesn't answer my question," she said.

"Would you believe me if I told you this occurred entirely by chance?" I said by way of retort.

Bella took some time to think over my words. After a brief moment, "All right." Then she added a shrug. "I believe you."

"Is that all it took?"

"You can lie about a lot of things but never something so superficial."

I grinned. "You always understood me better than most." Here was the moment he needed. "May I keep you company?" I shouldn't expect too much knowing that she could easily say no, but when she acquiesced, it nonetheless surprised me.

"How long will you be staying?" I had to ask.

"I'm not sure. Charlie wanted me to stay until their trip was over, but I thought that was a bit too much… since technically… this is supposed to be his and Sue's vacation."

"It sounds as if he doesn't see you often."

I noted with interest the guilty look on her face.

"I've been busy," she explained simply and it left me once again wondering what in the world goes on in her mind.

"With work?" I realize rather belatedly that I didn't even know what she did for a living. Another fact that will no doubt bother me.

"Yeah."

My hope to learn more about her sank when she did not say anything else. Although she has always been intelligent, back in Forks, she always seemed disinterested. I was hard pressed to discover what her hopes and dreams were, or if she had any at all.

If I could just read her mind for just a second. It was massively torturous not knowing things about her or what she was thinking. Knowing the consequences of my actions had created this invisible and insurmountable gulf between us burned whatever soul I had left, and I just didn't know how to penetrate it.

"Are you happy, Bella?" I managed to ask.

She sighed and briefly, I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. Eyes I saw in my every waking moment since I parted from her. It has always been her most expressive feature. They say the eyes were the windows to the soul, and it was truer now than ever before. Though her thoughts were closed off to me, her eyes never were.

"Are you?" I pressed.

"I'm not unhappy," she replied, her deep brown eyes gazed directly into mine before shying away. "I guess I'm somewhere in the middle," she continued. "How about you? Are you happy, Edward?"

"No," I answered with absolutely certainty. "Not for ten years." If my confession affected her at all, she didn't let it show and I have to keep reminding myself that she was no longer the young seventeen year-old-girl I knew. Obviously, the years have changed her but to me, I still saw Bella.

"So you haven't met anyone else either?"

Or maybe my words did affect her just a little bit, and that actually made me ridiculously happy. Maybe even a little smug. Rather pathetic of me, but it couldn't be helped. I'd grasp whatever straws she threw at me.

"None of them are you." I stepped closer, wanting desperately to close the gap between us. "And you're a pretty tough act to follow," I added with a sly but honest smile. It was absurd of her to ever think I could fall for someone else. When a change happens in a Vampire's life, especially one so emotionally altering, it becomes a permanent part of us.

It was forever.

Then she suddenly broke off from me and I could feel the tiny thread of our reconnection shatter. "It's getting late, I should head back to the hotel."

"Don't go," my voice softly pleaded.

"You may think this is easy for me but… it's not. It's actually… uh… a lot harder than I thought," she struggled to explain. "But we've tried this before, and we failed, miserably I might add."

"No," I stubbornly denied. "You tried, Bella. I'm the one who failed."

"If only it was that cut and dry," she said ominously. I suspect that there was a stronger meaning to her words than she was letting on but she left no hint as to what it was. "You have no idea how much I'm fighting you right now."

"Then don't fight it. Stay with me." Been there, done that (fighting against it, I mean). It was dangerous and selfish of me to want her after all that's happened, but I was too far-gone to care.

She shook her head adamantly. "I feel like we're back in high school and we're both saying each other's lines. Aren't I suppose to be the one trying to keep you while your pushing me away for my own good?"

"We were never one to follow tradition." I've tried living without her for the last decade and the thought of the endless years ahead of me without her only reminded me of hell on earth.

"Please… don't…"

I could tell she wanted to touch me, and I wished she just would because I fear any action on my part first would only scare her away. It was only her pride and self-control stopping her.

"Goodnight, Edward."

This was the third time in the last few days that I watched her walk away and it occurred to me; is this how she felt when I turned my back on her and left? This feeling of complete and utter desolation and emptiness? It felt far worse than I ever imagined.

(Bella's POV)

As soon as I was far enough away from him, I walked back to the hotel as fast as I could and as soon as I opened the door to my room, I rushed inside and locked it. My back fell against the adjacent wall and I slid down to the ground as the memories of my recent encounter with Edward replayed in my head.

Tears I promised not to shed for him finally found an escape and it flowed freely.

I didn't lie to him when I said that it was hard. His constant presence left me torn between what was and what could've been. His immortality was his to deal with, and he had a right to choose how to live it even if it cost him what we had, but the eternal life I carried inside of me left a gaping hole that only he could fill.

It should be easy to reach out and take what he offered, but there was a deeper secret between us now that was never there before.

For ten years I've been holding onto a life and a past that's running out of time. Rosalie and to some degree, Edward, was right. I was too young to understand what I was all too willing to let go if given the final choice. At eighteen, it all seemed so much simpler. If becoming a vampire were the only way for me to be with him, then that's the life I would've chosen.

Now I know that life is precious and it's not a gift to just throw away. It was the greatest and most profound lesson that Edward taught me.

In a way, immortality granted me a new outlook on life. It taught me to appreciate nature and the evolution of mankind. Even though I don't have actual combat experience, I've been deployed to a couple of countries acting as diplomatic interference. There were the places that were rife with civil war. In it, I saw the atrocities that humanity was just as capable of committing as the monsters Edward claimed his kind to be.

We were not at all perfect.

And I know I can't stay Isabella Marie Swan forever, and at some point, I'm going to have to say goodbye to my father… my mother… and the rare few people I managed to develop a friendship with. There was also Jacob back in Forks, who I knew I could share my secret with if it became to hard to bear on my own.

But then again, he'll tell me he loves me and that would only intensify the already awkward relationship we have, or lack thereof.

One of the few times I tried to move on beyond Edward's memory resulted only in distancing the truest friend I had. Jacob wanted more and I couldn't give it. Another had too much of my heart and soul that I didn't have the strength to give Jacob what was left. Some day I hope he would forgive me.

I jumped suddenly when I heard the knock on my door and I composed myself the best I could. Assured that I my tears were gone, I tentatively opened my door and was partly relieved to see Charlie standing there.

"Bella?" he said, staring at me with fatherly concern. "I saw your light on so I thought I'd check up on you."

I smiled weakly and opened the door wider, letting him inside.

"I'm not a child anymore, dad," I reminded him in jest.

"I know, I know," he sighed, disgruntled at the fact. After ten years, he's still hung up on playing the protective father. "I hate it when you remind me of that."

"Where's Sue?"

"Sleeping," he answered. "The whole of the animal kingdom could stampede in our room and she'll still be out like a light."

That cheered me up almost immediately and that it also made me grateful for the reprieve from the embarrassing emotional breakdown I just privately had.

"What are you still doing up?" I asked.

He remained quiet and my eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Seriously dad," I lifted my head back and sighed toward the ceiling. "You didn't have to wait up for me, you know. I wasn't kidnapped and I don't trip randomly on solid ground anymore."

"Of course not," he rebuked but still looked decisively guilty. "But sometimes you do."

I rolled my eyes. That was three years ago on a beach with crabs everywhere. It wasn't my fault that certain crustaceans had a habit of appearing out of nowhere, especially when the sun's down. It could've happened to anyone.

"In earnest, though, Bells, are you okay?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?" No matter how blasé Charlie could be about many things, when there's something bothering him, he really knew how to get to the point.

"I don't know," he responded truthfully. "You've been distracted the last couple of days. Whatever it is, you can talk to me, you know. I worry about you, kid."

"I know." I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, dad. Trust me, I'm fine."

He made a face, hesitated and then let it go. "Well then, I guess its goodnight to both of us now."

"Goodnight, dad."

"Goodnight, sweetheart and I love you too."

When I was alone again, I thought about Edward. It was impossible not to, especially when he's so near. Would he come here? Sometimes I half expect to catch him watching me sleep, and I certainly would not know how I would react to that if that happened.

I suspect I wouldn't have a problem with it unlike normal people. Even as a mortal I didn't react normal. Edward constantly pointed out my lack of self-preservation. I'm probably just an aberration created at birth and have long accepted it.

Now that I have my emotions finally in control, maybe I'd get some sleep and gain some new perspective in the morning.

Yeah right.

This was going to be a long night.

(Edward's POV)

Edward?

I spun around, a hundred yards away Carlisle's figure appeared in my line of sight. By now I'm sure Alice had told the rest of the family about Bella's presence in the city, and Carlisle, my father figure in every way but blood, was checking up on me.

Not wanting to be rude, I crossed the length between us to meet him half way. I just finished hunting and we were secluded enough to not be seen.

Are you okay? Carlisle asked through his thoughts.

A few more steps and we were finally close enough to talk to each other. "Better than before but I'm afraid it won't last long," I admitted fearfully. The mere thought of not seeing Bella ever again constantly haunted me.

"Alice mentioned that you spoke to Bella."

I nodded correctly. "Briefly"

"Is that wise?"

There was no anger or reprobation in Carlisle's voice, just concern. He'd always supported whatever decisions I made on behalf of my life, even when he thought otherwise. He has never hidden anything from me, his mind was free of any prejudice, and it was what made him stand apart from other people of our kind.

"I know it's selfish of me, but I've tried living without her and its unendurable, Carlisle," I said painfully aware of my failings in that regard.

He nodded in understanding. "You have options."

I disregarded those immediately. "Taking her life isn't an option for me." I didn't understand why was I still fighting the idea of making Bella a vampire. "Neither is staying away from her. The only thing left for me to do is to stay with her for however long she wants to be with me."

"So she still feels the same way?"

"I…" I stopped, unsure exactly how Bella felt about me. Our connection was still there, strong as ever yet incredibly fragile at the same time. She kept me at a distance and that left me uncertain about my place in her life. "I think so."

"Before you decide anything, there's something you should see." Carlisle handed me a folded newspaper. Anchorage Daily News it said right on the top. Underneath the heading was a front page story about an ongoing investigation of multiple deaths in the surrounding county and the bodies subsequent disappearances. Two of the six victims were named and so far officials found no link between them other than that the deaths are happening almost at random and so close in time.

I knew right away where the cause stemmed from. "A vampire did this."

"When Alice saw this she had a vision of Victoria."

I blinked. "Victoria." She was James mate. Fast. Strong. And very dangerous. "She's here in Anchorage?"

"Alice is under the very strong impression that she's here to settle a score with Bella."

"What?" Anger began to build inside of me.

"Don't make any rash decisions, Edward. We don't know what's happening yet. Victoria's constantly moving, changing thoughts and directions. It's making it difficult for Alice to see her next move."

It dawned on him. "She's making newborns."

"I believe so. I wouldn't be surprised if a few more names appear in the news in the next few days."

"Why now?" I honestly did not understand. "Why would Victoria come after Bella now, especially with us nearby?" It hardly made sense. "It's been years, and Bella's been out in the open, completely unprotected."

"I'm sorry, Edward. I don't have an answer for that." Carlisle paused, letting his thoughts speak for himself.

She needs to be warned.

My gut reaction was a resounding no but I knew if I ever had a chance at making it work with Bella again, I have to trust that we could handle this together. So I curbed that natural protective instinct that I always carried for her and buried it away. I've stood on my high horse long enough… this isn't the time for me to be noble; I need to do what's right.

"I'll tell her."

To be continued…

Endnotes: There are definite parallels in this chapter with Eclipse. Like I mentioned earlier, I'll be incorporating certain aspects of the latter two books to coincide with my timeline. I'm still toying with the idea of eventually tying this story into Breaking Dawn.