Toni's P.O.V.

The Cullen's weren't in school for three days and denied all of my calls for five before I had had enough of their bullshit. I wasn't exactly sure, but I suspected that it had something to do with the whole fiasco that had happened at my belated birthday party. So, instead of going to school on that dreary Thursday morning, I rode out to the Cullen's house to figure out what was going on.

When I arrived, my face immediately opened with surprise before it darkened and became angry. I couldn't believe they would go and do something so drastic without telling me! I slammed my car door shut, making sure that if they didn't hear me pull up to their house, they heard me now. I marched right up to their front door and walked right on through. I maneuvered past all of the scattered boxes and misplaced furniture until I came across one of the vampires I was seeking out.

"Toni," Carlisle said. His face gave away nothing, but his eyes showed remorse.

"Trying to run away?" I asked with malice in my voice. I was livid that they thought they could just leave after everything we've gone through together. It angered me as much as it hurt me.

"We don't mean any harm," he tried to reason with me.

"You don't? Well, you aren't doing a good job," I said.

"This is a choice I have agreed with to keep my family safe," he said strongly.

"Am I not a part of this family, too?" I asked with tears forming in her eyes. I could remember many times since I've met the Cullen's where Carlisle mentioned that I was like a new daughter to him. He even allowed Rosalie to give me a necklace with the Cullen Crest on it, a necklace I was wearing. I grasped the necklace, looked down at it, and back up at Carlisle.

"Does this necklace mean nothing?"

Carlisle sighed and took a step towards me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and made eye contact with my moving eyes; I felt like crying and wanted to avoid eye contact.

"You are a part of this family, Toni," he said.

"I don't understand, Carlisle," I said quietly.

"This decision keeps you safe, too. For now, at least."

"What do you mean, 'for now'?"

"You and Edward are mates. Mates cannot be away from each for long before they start to feel pain. You see, when we meet our mates, our souls are binded together by a string. When we are away from our mate, the string stretches to accommodate for the distance. If we get too far for too long, the string snaps, leading to a slow and excruciating death to both mates. We don't know how it will affect you, seeing as how vampires who find their mate as a human turn them in a day or two's time, but I can only guess that it would kill you first," he explained.

"Then why are you trying to leave? Why is Edward trying to leave?" I asked with a pleading voice. I didn't want him to leave; we were just officially starting our relationship and I had invested so much in him already. Besides, I didn't want to die, at least, not like that.

"He thinks he's saving you from us. Jasper lunging at you put him on edge," Carlisle said exasperatedly. "We've all been trying to dissuade him from his decision, but he won't listen to any of us."

"And you're all just going to go along with his decision?" I asked incredulously.

"I don't like to keep the family apart. Alice and Jasper already left and now that Edward wants to leave, well," he drifted off

"Alice and Jasper left already?"

"Yes. Jasper is truly ashamed of his actions and Alice thought it would be a good idea to take some time away from the family."

I looked down and said, "I feel so terrible."

"Don't," Carlisle replied. "It wasn't your fault or anyone's fault. It happened, and now we deal with the consequences."

I let everything sink in before I realized I wasn't going to change their minds.

"Is everyone else here? Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, and Edward, that is?" I asked.

"Yes, they are packing right now," Carlisle answered.

I called out for Edward and he appeared on the stairs a beat later. He was staring at Carlisle and it looked like his mouth was moving quickly.

"I'll let you talk," Carlisle said. He left the room, leaving me and Edward alone.

"Edward, please come here," I ordered politely. I knew that if I didn't ask him, he would stay as far away from me as possible. I had picked up on his habits as we spent time together and discovered that if Edward thought he did something wrong, he would give me space, even when I didn't want it.

He descended the stairs and sat on the couch, beckoning me to sit next to him with a pat on the cushion. I made my way over to him and sat down. I immediately grabbed his hands in mine and looked him in the eyes. They looked sad, but determined, as well.

"What's on your mind, Edward?" I asked him.

He didn't give me an answer.

"You know, not everyone can read minds like you."

He smiled a little at that.

"Which means you have to tell me what's wrong," I finished.

Edward breathed in, then out slowly.

"I don't want to hurt you more than I have," he said.

"Don't you think you're hurting me by leaving?" I asked him.

"I've said things that have hurt you and I have done things that have hurt you, Toni. I almost allowed someone to hurt you. I feel ashamed as a mate for not being able to protect you," he confessed. "I want to take some time away to reflect."

"If it's what you need, then I guess I can't stop you," I said. I didn't want to see him go, but if he wanted to better himself, who was I to stop him.

"I just don't want you to leave because of what happened with Jasper."

"I am, partially, leaving because of that, but not entirely because of it. It gave me a glimpse of reality and gave me a better perspective to look at."

"I won't be gone long, love," he said, noticing the sorrowful expression on my face. "A year, at the most. And when I come back to you, I want to take you somewhere."

"Where do you want to take me?" I asked curiously.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," he said with a smirk. I made a sound of protest and pouted before I allowed a glum smile to grace my face.

"Alright. I guess I can wait for you until then. But don't expect me to be entirely happy with this," I said with a sigh.

"I don't expect you to understand, Toni, but I do expect you to respect my decision," Edward said seriously.

"I know. And I do respect it. I just don't like the idea of it, is all."

Edward enveloped me in a hug and held me in his arms. I didn't want him to go after all that we went through to establish our relationship. I knew I was going to miss him like crazy; I was going to miss all of them like crazy.

He reluctantly let me go.

"I know you have to continue packing," I said, "but can I at least get one kiss for the road?"

Edward leaned in and placed his lips upon mine, savoring the kiss. I tangled my fingers in his hair and kissed him. I deepened the kiss and refused to stop. It was Edward who had to pull away and allow me to breathe. I gasped for breath and looked away, feeling embarrassed by my actions.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," I said abashedly.

"It's fine, Toni," he said. "It wasn't like I wasn't enjoying it, too."

I smacked him lightly in embarrassment and giggled. We sat there in silence before Edward sighed.

"You have to go back to packing, don't you?" I asked reluctantly.

"Yes. Carlisle would like to be out of town right after the sun sets," Edward answered.

"Alright," I said. I stood from my seat, and Edward followed suit. I wanted to say my goodbyes to everyone before I left.

"Can you come here, please?" I called out to the rest of the Cullen's. Rosalie and Emmett entered first, followed by Esme and Carlisle. I rushed up to Rosalie first, savoring the hug she enveloped me in. Rosalie was one of my favorites in the Cullen family and I didn't want to see her go. I let Rosalie go and then wrapped Emmett in a big hug. He wrapped his arms around me and lifted me in the air.

"I'm gonna miss you, T," he said as he set me down.

"I'll miss you, too, ya big bear," I responded.

"Don't get into too much trouble while we're gone and remember not to listen to what anyone says in that school. They're too dim-witted to understand anything," Rosalie told me with a sad smile.

"I'll use my best Rosalie imitation," I said, causing Rosalie to let out a little twinkling laugh.

I, then, moved on to Esme, who gave me a soft hug. Esme pulled back from the hug and looked at me.

"Take care, hon. We'll be back in no time."

I nodded silently as a sob bubbled in the back of my throat. I hiccuped, but otherwise held it back.

"This isn't the last time you'll see us, Toni," Carlisle said. "Just think of us as being on a long vacation."

I took a deep breath as a way to control myself. I took a few seconds for myself, and then looked at each of them individually. I would miss Emmett's jokes, Rosalie's comforting talks, Esme's kindness and cookies, Carlisle's wise words, and, most of all, Edward and his love; but I knew they needed time away. Maybe I couldn't understand it, but I knew it's what they needed.

I took a backward step towards the door and said, "I guess I better get going. I know you're all going away and everything, but please don't forget about me."

"We could never-"

"I know you wouldn't," I said, cutting off Rosalie, "but what I mean is, don't forget to call or text or even send a letter from time to time. Just because we can't see each other doesn't mean we can't speak to each other."

"Of course," Esme said. "I'll make to remind them every so often."

"Okay. Thank you," I said with relief. "Okay. I'm gonna go. See you later?"

"Yeah. See you later," Emmett confirmed.

"Soon, love," Edward said.

I nodded her head and turned so I was facing the door. I walked out of the Cullen's front door and proceeded down the few stairs leading up to it. I climbed into my car, put my seat belt on, and started the car. I sat there, staring at the house for a moment before I put the car in drive and drove away from the Cullen's.

That night, I cried, as I felt alone for the first time since I had moved to Forks. That night, I, also, promised myself that I would not let myself become so consumed with grief that it took over my life. I was strong and I could get through the separation. The only thing I was worried about was the mating bond and how it would affect me in the months to come.