A/N: Okay, I know, quick update, yay!

OH and I made like, quite a few typos, I was ignoring them along the way, and forgot to go back! So here's typo-free-ness. (yeah. it doesn't make much difference, but it would've bugged me)

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Chapter 7

I awoke on the couch in my room at the Millards' house. Edward was reclined against the wall across from me, watching me. I wasn't sure what to say -- should I be mad at him, or grateful he had saved me. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

"…Thanks," I mumbled, looking away, though I saw him smile from a peripheral glance.

"You've been out for about three days now," he said softly. Then he laughed. "Your family thought I had murdered you when I carried you back."

I couldn't help myself. I smiled, but it quickly faded. "Wait, I'm mad at you," I said, sounding stupider than I intended.

He frowned. "For?"

I laughed bitterly. "Oh, let's see, what could I possibly be mad at you over?" I asked sarcastically. To my surprised, he chuckled.

"Oh, right, that," he said. "I suppose saving your life doesn't make up for that?" he asked, angry now.

"I can take care of myself," I retorted. "I had a plan." I didn't convince him. He laughed harshly.

"Was the escaping part going to happen before or after you passed out?" I glared at him, then stormed out of my room. He was right behind me.

"The least you can do is let me explain," he pleaded.

"What's to explain? I was a boring human, you left, you didn't love me anymore, and now I'm interesting, and you want me back. But why should I want you back, after you shattered what was left of my sanity? I've moved on, just like you wanted, and you should too!" I spat at him.

His eyes narrowed. "You don't know the truth."

I sighed. "Fine, Edward. I'll listen to what you have to say. Then you leave. Happy?" He grinned.

"Extremely." Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me back into my room. I plopped down on my couch.

"Okay, Edward. Speak," I commanded.

He pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. "Alright," he said, suddenly businesslike.

"I am eternally sorry for leaving you. It was stupid and irrational. I wanted you to be safe from us, and I didn't want to change you. I see now that I couldn't stop that."

I stared at him, disbelieving. "You do know," I whispered. "That you didn't keep me safe, don't you? I died that day."

"Alright," he said to himself more than to me. "I'll find a way to make you forgive me. I never stopped loving you, Bella," he said with sincerity. I wanted so much to believe him. "And I never will." And then he turned and left.

I stared after him sadly. Why couldn't I forgive him?

No, that wasn't quite true. If I was being honest with myself, I forgave him the first time I saw his beautiful face.

But relationships. Relationships are built on trust. And I know I'll never be able to trust him completely again. As much as I want to, even though I'm a vampire, and his family can't kill me, even though I'm interesting, I can't convince myself he won't leave again.

Saira poked her head in my room, Ayla right behind her.

"Forgive him," Saira said simply. I rolled my eyes.

"Ayla listened when Edward left?" I guessed. They nodded.

"Bella, you didn't hear his thoughts," Ayla said in a pleading voice. "You can't even begin to understand how much he loves you."

I shook my head stubbornly. "What if I do forgive him? What if he leaves again? I can't deal with that for a second time."

Ayla's eyes narrowed, and Saira rolled hers. "This is your warning, Isabella Marie Swan." Ayla said in a voice that Satan himself would have feared. "We can't force love. But it's there, and we'll intervene, that's a promise."

I scowled. "Just get out; I'm still not done recovering from my werewolf attack."

xxx

After a few hours of wallowing in self pity, I finally got up and walked down the stairs. Halfway down, I tripped.

"Olivia," I groaned. It didn't really hurt, but her power was still annoying. I had thought when I was a vampire, I'd be done with tripping. Stupid probability power.

I heard snickers from downstairs, but a lot of them. One guy was laughing a big, booming laugh, and it was familiar, but I couldn't place it right away. I entered the main room curiously, then stopped in the doorway.

Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice stood on one side of the room, next to Olivia, Saira, and Ayla, who were smiling evilly. Amber, Mark, Richie, and Nick stood closest to me, and Carlisle, Esme, Aaron, Marie, Alex, and Adam were the farthest away. Adam had made progress in the last three days -- his eyes were starting to turn the familiar golden color, though Alex's eyes barely had any gold in them.

"We warned you," Saira said. I scowled -- it seemed like I was doing that a lot recently.

Alice ran forward to stand by me and dragged me to a couch. I tried to get up, but Amber put a force field in front of me. Sometimes I hated my family's powers.

"Now, I know you've had a lot of stress recently," Alice said soothingly. "With the werewolves, Victoria, your father, and Edward."

"Is this going anywhere?" I asked impatiently.

"We'd like to show you some of Alice's memories," Jasper explained. "With Marie's powers."

Then I was suddenly engulfed in some of Alice's vision and memories. One was me being mauled by the werewolves, which I guess is how Edward knew to come after me. Another was Edward in a room I had never seen before, though it looked like it was in a turret. I could tell that he was about to be killed by who I recognized from Edward's stories and Carlisle's picture were the Volturi, the powerful 'royal' vampire family. The image shifted to one of the Cullen kids pulling him away, out of the room, and out of danger.

"Stop," I whispered, and the pictures stopped coming. I didn't want to see anymore. I covered my face with my hands. "Why?" I demanded.

"Why what?" Emmett asked, confused.

"Why did he go and try to get himself killed?" How stupid can you get?

Alice spoke in a tone that questioned my mental health. "He thought you were dead. We looked for you for about a week, making sure you weren't somehow alive. Since no one remembered you, he gave up hope."

"Why would he care? If you haven't noticed, he left me. He didn't love me!" I shouted hysterically.

Rosalie shockingly spoke up. "You're such an idiot sometimes," she hissed. "You know the truth, stop denying it. Look," she said, then broke off as Emmett, Jasper, and Alice gaped at her. "What?"

"You don't like Bella," Emmett reminded her.

She ignored him, and continued in a kind tone. "He loves you, Bella. You know this, accept it. He lied to you to get you to let go, so you could get over him. You remember your birthday party?" She took my shiver as confirmation. "If he hadn't read Jasper's thoughts, you would have died. He hurt you because he loves you, and he couldn't stand to see you hurt. You love him too, so stop being stubborn, and take him back!" she said fiercely.

It was the most she had ever said to me. I heard the truth in her words, and, though I hated to admit it, my sisters had done it.

I nodded and took a deep, unneeded breath.

"Where is he?" I asked. Everyone grinned. My siblings, old and new, converged on me and led me to my Jaguar, which I hadn't even been able to get to Quebec, with the little time I had been there. I didn't object when Alice got behind the wheel, I merely slid into the passenger seat while the other Cullens filed in. Everyone else went back to the house.

We arrived in about three minutes. I walked to the door at human speed and opened it. Edward was standing by the doorway, smiling my favorite crooked smile. He looked over my head.

"Thank you," he said gratefully to his siblings, who disappeared up to their rooms.

"Hi," I said, not sure what else to say.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven? Though I'd understand if you're here to tell me to get out of your life forever. I mean --," I pushed myself into a hug, burying my face in his chest.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. He blinked.

"You're sorry?"

"For being a stubborn idiot."

He laughed, then lifted my chin and kissed me gently. I smiled, knowing my dormant heat couldn't spaz at his touch anymore.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I know," I sighed happily.

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A/N: Okay, yeah, all sappy at the end, I know. Yay for reuniting! More twists to come for all you plot-twist-lovers, I promise!

Yeah, I updated twice tonight, so might not update for a week or something. PLEASE review or I might give up. I'm serious -- I want reviews, what better way than threats?

Much love to you all!

-Ayode-