A/N: For those of you who have set this story on their alerts, I want to apologize if you got several notifications of this chapter going up. There was something that I found, after I had posted that needed to be fixed, and the editor wasn't allowing me to do so, so I had to delete it, and re-do.

I'd like to thank you guys, again, for the interest you have shown in my story. It makes a girl feel good.

So, here we are at Chapter 6.

Who's wondering what's going on with Edward?


Edward was driving.

He had no particular destination in mind. But, the feeling of the Volvo's tires gripping and hugging the turns as he raced along the smooth and winding Washington roads was soothing to him.

His emotions had gotten the best of him. Something that he had promised himself he would never do. But, then again, how many times had he broken that particular promise to himself, before?

When it came to Bella, he didn't feel very much like he was in control of anything.

As he drove, he let his mind wander back through their relationship from its beginnings. How her blood had called to him, so insistently. How he had tried, and failed to avoid her. And how he, at last, had accepted her inexplicable hold upon him and surrendered, not only his will, but his un-beating heart, as well. He was hopelessly, and devotedly hers.

The fact that she was human did not tarnish his affections. In fact, it made their time together all the more precious to him. After all, mortality did not equal up to eternity and he wanted to cherish every moment that he had with her.

Yet, when the day came that Bella decided that she wanted to become like him, he was torn.

He told her that he would not be the cause of her damnation. She argued with him, she brought it up at every possible opportunity, coaxing and reasoning with him. She told him that she did not believe the way that he did. She did not see him as something evil, or monstrous. She played his selfish nature against him; the very selfish nature that she refused to believe existed.

Looking back, Edward now realized just how much she had begun to sway him towards her point of view. It was as if she had placed a rose tinted mirror in front of him, and forced him to view himself as the man that she envisioned.

He began to let down his guard. He began to enjoy his quiet moments. And, for the first time in over a century, he felt whole.

The problem with pretending to be something that you are not is that you start to believe it.

He recalled first trying to keep her away from her shape-shifting friends. He was worried, not only about what they could possibly do to her, but also, what kind of trouble she could get into all by herself. Alice, for whatever reason, was incapable of seeing her, when she was in their presence and the idea of her being harmed was terrifying to him. But, gradually, after she proved to him time and again that she would resist, he had given her free reign. At least, this way he could know when she would be with them. And, this had made her so happy…

And he found himself behaving differently afterward.

Jacob had affections for Bella that reached far and beyond mere friendship. And the thoughts and fantasies that the boy nearly shouted into Edward's head were nauseating to him. Even so, he allowed everything. He had even asked Bella, on more than one occasion, if she wanted to pursue a life with the boy, instead of remaining with him.

He became proud of his tolerance. She was, after all, human. He could not expect perfection from her. Nor, did he want perfection. He only wanted her love.

He accused Bella of being in love with the mutt. She did not deny this. She, instead, professed to Edward that she loved him, more.

He told himself that that would be enough.

Then there was the tent. Freezing, as she was, she needed the warmth. There was nothing that he, personally, could do to help her. And so, he sat back and allowed the mongrel to crawl into her sleeping bag and hold her.

Edward had opened up to him, while his angel slept. He discussed things with Jacob that he dreamed he would, before. Because, he told himself that he should be thankful to him. He was thankful, despite how horrible it made him feel to see her in Jacob's arms, because he was helping her.

But when the dawn of battle had come, Edward realized his mistake. And, he was not thankful at all.

The dog had taken advantage of his beloved Bella's tender heart. He had forced a plea from her; a plea that not only allowed him to taste her lips, but also, for him to vow to return to her.

And his new found, permissive demeanor crumbled and left him to face himself anew.

He, unlike his precious Bella, was not human. And, he was possessive of her. And he did not have to play fair. And, when the battle had ended, and he marched across the field to remove his beloved from the arms of that filthy, naked, man-boy wolf, he saw his opportunity.

Edward did not lie to the boy. He told him that he had done what he could do. And this was the truth. But his apology, he knew, would leave Jacob to believe otherwise. And, in truth, Edward was sorry. Sorry that he had to go to such lengths to be certain that he would be able keep Bella for himself.

But, now, in light of the unforeseen problems with Bella's transformation, he could see it all backfiring on him.

How could he allow Bella to see her father? If she did, the Blacks would surely know that she lived. Jacob would certainly tell her what he had done. And, why would she not believe him? What would happen, then?

There was something especially different about Bella now. Edward could see it, in her eyes. Though her blood still pumps through her veins, it no longer sings for him. But, likewise, he no longer holds thrall over her. She loves him still, he believes. But, there is something about her that he cannot put his finger on. A strength, perhaps, which she does not even see in herself, that tells him he could lose her.

He needed to do something. He had to go back. He had to tell her that he was sorry. But, he wasn't ready yet. T here were decisions that he had to make, first.

Carlisle had practically moved into his study.

He had begun to flip through a very old volume that had been copied during one of his trips to Voltera, many years ago. It contained a history, of sorts, regarding the origins of the Elders and the creation of the elite government.

He did not expect to find anything concerning Bella, in this book, but he found the study of it, incredibly interesting.

There was a story of a fourth being that Carlilse had never had the pleasure to meet that was quite fascinating, indeed. This gentleman had a taste for humans that did not involve bloodletting, which was not common to the average vampire. He could not be considered an incubus, for he did not feed upon the women that he sought after. There were even, amazingly, records of children that had been born to him; children that were watched and studied by the others, usually, from afar. There were many notes written about these hybrid children, and quite a few sketches to go with them.

Carlisle was still pouring over this very book when Alice came by to check in on how the search was going. She danced her way over to the desk and peered over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of what he was reading. So involved, that he didn't even realize that she was there until her finger stabbed at something near the bottom of one of the pages.

"Carlisle," she breathed, her tone urgent. "Do you see this?"

His eyes traveled to the point above her finger and studied a sketch of what appeared to be a birthmark, on the side of one of the children, which was curiously defined.

"Carlisle, I've seen this before!"

Okay guys, you know what I'm going to say. Please read and review! It keeps the muse happy. It's much better when I don't have to beat her with sticks. And hey, lurkers... Psst! Yeah, you guys... That's right, I see you, there! That goes for you too. Pretty, pretty please?