Chapter 6: Farewells

I saw the stony look in both of their eyes and braced myself for the inevitable conversation.

"So…" Edward said, gazing mostly at Jacob. "I assume that there are certain matters to discuss?"

Damn…This won't be fun…

"What would you like to discuss, Edward?" Jacob said curtly.

"I would like to know why you are trying as hard as you can to keep me from reading your thoughts, Jacob. Have you done something wrong?" he asked.

"I've done nothing wrong at all. I'm just trying to be the better man," he replied.

"Bella, please tell me what's going on," Edward turned his stony gaze to me.

"Umm…" I began. Wow. You're off to an excellent start, aren't you? "I opened up to Jake last night about our discussion from yesterday and how I was really confused about what I wanted to do."

"Yes, and if I remember correctly, we were going to talk through that together today," he interjected.

"Right… well I needed someone else to talk to about it because it was really breaking me down, and Jake added in another option for me: him."

"Of course he did," he coolly flicked his gaze in Jacob's direction.

"Edward, I just couldn't see any of the options you gave me working and making me entirely happy. I didn't feel like I should have to compromise so much with my own future. The option Jake gave me gave me the freedom to love how I wanted, in my own time and on my own terms, and if I ever want kids down the road, he can give them to me."

Edward stared at me blankly for a moment but I didn't miss the flash of hurt behind his stony gaze. "So, you've chosen Jacob then?"

"Yes, Edward. Jacob finally imprinted on me and I've chosen him," I said firmly. Jacob wrapped one arm around me and pulled me closer to him—giving me some moral support.

"Are you entirely certain that this is the life you want, Bella? Is everything we have experienced together a lie?" he flashed his agonized, topaz eyes at me.

"No. It wasn't a lie, Edward. Meeting you changed my life. You opened up my heart and made me a person capable of love. I always loved you Edward. You were my life, but…" I paused and glanced up at Jacob for reassurance, "I found a love that was somehow even stronger than ours. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have thought such a thing would be possible for me. In your world, I discovered things I couldn't have dreamed up or thought to realize, and I found myself getting stronger from it. So, Edward, none of what we shared together was a lie. I'm sorry that I had to realize what I truly wanted while we were still together. I never wanted to hurt you," I met his gaze and hoped that he could see the truth shining in my eyes.

"I told myself that if you chose to stay human for me, that a day might come where you found another person who was able to give you all the human experiences that I could not. I tried to tell myself that I would be okay with it and respect your wishes. I had no idea how this would actually make me feel. It's bittersweet. I'm happy that your soul will still be intact in this world. I'm happy that you're choosing to stay human. I just wish that you had wanted to stay human for me instead of for Jacob."

Jacob shifted his weight uncomfortably—itching to fight and defend what was his, but I patted his arm until he calmed down. "Staying human for you, Edward, would have been a sick joke. Every day I got closer to 20, 40, 60, and 80, you would stay perfectly you—forever seventeen. One of my worst nightmares was the one I had on my 18th birthday. I thought I saw you with my Gran in our meadow, but it was really me at 80!"

"I would have loved you no matter what, Bella. I would have loved you until your heart stopped beating."

"I know. That's why I'm sorry that I couldn't cope with my own vanity and truly believe that you could love me as a wrinkled old woman. I'm sorry I had to hurt you like this, Edward. I'm sorry I had to be selfish," I began to tear up.

"You're human," he said gruffly, "It's in your nature."

"Can you ever forgive me?" I asked him despondently.

He paused and studied my face for a little longer than necessary. It was annoying Jacob—I felt him tense up beside me.

"There isn't anything to forgive as far as I'm concerned," Edward said evenly. "You're doing with your life what I truly wanted—you're staying human and in my eyes, holding on to your soul. As long as your soul exists in this life, I will love you. Even from a distance, if that is where you want me to be. All I want is your happiness and I can clearly see that Jacob makes you happy. He was the one to patch you back together after I abandoned you and maybe he is your true savior," he mused.

"I'm whatever she needs me to be," Jacob finally spoke up. "I'm her protector, her friend, her mate, or any other role she needs me to fill."

"That's answered then. Bella, even though it is against my better judgment to leave you in the care of a mutt, I believe he is capable of protecting someone even as accident-prone as you," he joked bitterly.

"Jake will take care of me," I said firmly.

Another flash of pain suddenly crossed Edward's face and I glanced up at a guilty looking Jacob.

"I guess I shouldn't have expected you to contain your thoughts forever," Edward said angrily. It didn't take too much thought to guess what Jacob had shown Edward—any of the scenes from last night would have had the power to hurt Edward like that. "So, Bella, you're willing to be a werewolf's mate but not a vampire's wife?" he said dejectedly.

I blushed crimson and couldn't find my voice.

"Whatever makes you happy, Isabella," he said. He paused for a moment and finally began again, "Well… all this excitement in one day and it's not even noon. Come on you two. We need to head back to the house and talk to the family since…circumstances have changed—both with us and with Victoria."

I shuddered and a deep feeling of guilt settled into my stomach. I definitely didn't want to have to face The Cullens and tell them that I had broken up with Edward—especially after all they had been through on my behalf. Jacob patted my back apologetically and steered me toward Edward's Volvo. "Everything will be okay, Bells," he leaned down to kiss me gently on the forehead. I sure hope so I thought as Edward drove us to the Cullens' house.

The door to the house swung open right when the Volvo pulled into the driveway—they had heard it coming probably from the freeway. As I got out of the car, that uneasy feeling still had a hold of my stomach. I walked toward the familiar house as though I were walking towards the gates of Hell. Jacob steadied me when I felt like my ankles would give out. You can do this. Think of Jacob. It's all for him…

Edward reached the door before us and passed by a waiting Esme without a word. "Hello again," she greeted us smiling.

"Hi," I replied weakly.

She looked concerned but beckoned us inside anyway. It seemed strange that a place that used to hold such comfort and peace of mind for me now held nothing but fear and guilt. All the Cullens were already gathered in the living room, casually lounging on the furniture and leaned against the staircase. Alice's eyes were wide with fear—probably because she could no longer see my future. Jacob and I settled onto the empty loveseat and prepared for the awkwardness that would soon follow.

"Well then everyone, what is it that we need to talk about?" Carlisle asked.

I glanced over at Edward who was still standing. Would he talk first or would I? I guess he sensed my discomfort and he started for me.

"It seems that there has been a change of…affection," Edward said slowly. When his family looked at him with confused eyes, he continued. "It seems that Jacob has imprinted on Bella and that she has chosen to be with him instead of me."

The Cullens simultaneously gasped and searched our faces questioningly.

"I can't be angry," he added. "I've seen the pack's thoughts through Jacob's mind, and the level of devotion and love a wolf can offer his imprint is…irresistible. Bella was already in love with him. She has been ever since we left her a year ago. I can feel the pull that Bella has for Jacob in his thoughts and it's unlike anything I've ever seen before—like his entire world revolves around her."

"I would do anything for Bella," Jacob said solemnly.

"I guess…that we can't be angry either," Esme began slowly. "You are human after all, Bella, and it's only natural for you to want to live a human life. We love you no matter how you choose to live—you've made quite an impression on us all," she smiled gently.

I scanned the room to see how my friends were holding up. Jasper still looked pained from thirst, Emmett looked somber, Rosalie looked…happy, Carlisle smiled with Esme, Edward still had that stony look in his eye, and Alice looked sad. Very sad.

"Alice?" I asked quietly. "You don't hate me now, do you?" I was genuinely worried that my closest girl friend would no longer talk to me again.

"I'm…disappointed," she began slowly. "I saw how you would be as an immortal, and it was a life that was perfectly suited to you. However, I also want your every happiness and if you've chosen the dog, then I wish you the best. I'm just anxious because I can't see your future at all anymore. As long as you're with Jacob, I won't be able to see how you are at all."

"You could just come visit me or call like normal people do," I began.

"I'm not sure…Edward will probably want us to leave," she said uncertainly.

"No! Please don't you all leave me again. I still love you and you mean the world to me. It was terrible after you left, thinking that you had never existed at all," I pleaded.

"It's time for us to move on anyway," Edward said stoically. "Carlisle is much too young-looking to pass for 30 anymore. It's just our time to move on."

"But we'll still be in touch. We won't completely be gone," Esme interjected quickly. "I mean… if that's what everyone wants." I knew when she said "everyone" that only meant Edward.

"If Bella still wants us to be in touch, then we will. We won't abandon her again," Edward said firmly.

"I definitely do want you to stay in touch," I said genuinely. "You will always be my friends and I owe my life to you several times over."

My friends smiled at me gently and I suddenly had a strange feeling. "You had another reason for wanting to leave already, didn't you?" I asked blankly.

The golden-eyed vampires exchanged quick glances before Edward finally spoke up. "I always forget how perceptive you are, Bella. I spoke with Sam before we left the clearing. He feels that they can handle protecting Forks and La Push on their own if Victoria is the only one left. If that's the case, we will spend our time tracking elsewhere and trying to find her before she makes it back here again. We're not going to let her harm you. And I feel confident that a ten-man wolf pack is enough to keep even you safe from harm."

I heard Jacob snicker next to me. He'd have fun telling Leah how much of a man she was later on.

"What about the Volturi?" I asked frantically. "They still think I'm going to become a vampire."

"Edward still feels that Demetri, their tracker, won't be able to find you. With us away from Forks, it will make it increasingly harder for them to locate you. Your human years may be over before they think to check on you again. Sixty, seventy years of your human life are merely a blink of an eye to creatures as old as the Volturi," Carlisle mused.

"And I will always be waiting to see their decisions," Alice said confidently. "If they try to send anyone for you, I will see it and we'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

I nodded, my thoughts calmed for now. "When will you leave?" I asked quietly.

Carlisle stepped forward and replied, "Most likely tomorrow. We will spend the rest of today packing our belongings that will travel with us and storing those that will stay here. I need to give notice to the hospital that I have gotten a job elsewhere and must leave immediately."

"So… is it goodbye for now?" I asked sadly.

"I'm afraid so, Bella," Esme replied. "But we will still be in touch, just like you wanted," she promised.

I nodded, trying to hold back my tears. I walked around to each of my friends and embraced them as hard as I could without hurting my arms against their stone bodies. When I reached Jasper, I stared at him hesitantly. I wasn't sure if I should try to hug him or not. I knew how difficulty interacting with humans was for him. I felt his calming mood float around me like mist and he stepped forward to close the distance between us. He embraced me gently for a moment before stepping away. I was so touched that he endured the pain just for me. "Goodbye for now, Bella," he said gently.

I hugged Alice and breathed in her beautiful floral scent. "You'll always be my sister, no matter what," she whispered in my ear. I felt the tears spilling over as I hugged her and held onto her until she shifted uncomfortably.

"Sorry," I blubbered. I made it around to Edward who I also stared at hesitantly. I can't expect him to want a hug from me. I broke his heart I told myself sadly. He finally stepped forward to embrace me and I inhaled his sweet smell for the last time.

"I will always love you, Isabella Swan. You changed my…existence for the better," he whispered in my ear.

The tears that were slowly streaming down my face picked up speed and I felt I might choke on them. "I'm so sorry I hurt you," I whispered back.

He smiled weakly. "You'll be happy now—happier than I could have ever made you. Knowing you'll live your life human and with your soul, I couldn't ask for more."

He turned his eyes back to Jacob. I saw a flash of anger in them for a moment, but they finally sunk in defeat. "You take care of her, Jacob Black. If anything happens to her on your watch, I can't guarantee that I won't come find you and rip you to shreds," he growled quietly.

Jacob nodded and steered me toward the door of the Cullen house. Edward threw Jacob the keys to the Volvo and said he'd pick it up from Charlie's later in the afternoon. "Goodbye, Bella," they chorused as I walked out the door.

After Jacob helped me into the passenger seat of the car, I looked up at the beautiful house that held so many memories for me. I cried to myself and wondered when I would ever see it again. Jacob took my hand and I looked over at his concerned face.

"You did great, Bells. Everything will be okay," he said confidently.

"I'm just glad they're not going to disappear of the face of the earth again," I replied. Knowing that they would always be around somewhere, whenever I wanted to talk to them made me feel exponentially better as we headed down their long driveway.

We rode in silence until Jacob reached the end and we were facing the freeway. "Where to now, my lady?" he teased.

I thought for a moment. "Let's go see Charlie. I haven't seen him in a couple of days and we'll need to let him know."

"Let him know what?" he asked.

"That I'm going to be with you forever," I smiled.

"He'll like that," he smiled warmly as we made our way to see my father.