gah. sorry this took so long. i was having some trouble with oocness in this chapter, but i think i fixed it all. (well, i hope i did)

i'm going out of town this weekend, so don't expect a new chapter untill at least Monday. i might be able to get one in on Sunday, but that's also the day Arrossire Giovani will be updated so. . . maybe. i dunno. (if you haven't read that, i suggest you do. i'm co-writing it with L.C. Candle)

Warning: this chapter has some foul language. just one word. XD but, this story is rated T don't forget that.

"Jane," Edward hissed. "Shouldn't you be back in Volterra?"

She cackled. "I should. . ." she agreed. "But, since when do I do what I am supposed to do? You know me better then that."

Edward snarled. "Bella has already given you an answer," he said, his eyes black as pitch. "Go home Jane, you have no business here."

"We're not here for Bella," she said with a smirk.

I raised an eyebrow. "We?"

Suddenly, a pair of frigid hands grabbed my arms. I screamed as they ripped me away from Edward, kicking and screaming. My husband tried to lunge at my captor, but he was quickly snatched by Demetri, who pulled him far away from me.

"Let her go Caius," Edward growled, trying to pull away from the large vampire holding him back.

"Oh, I will," he smirked. "Once we take her back to Italy."

"And what if I refuse?" I sneered.

Demetri laughed, "Oh, I wouldn't do that. . ."

"And why not?"

"Because if you do," Jane said through gritted teeth, "Edward here will come back with us. And let's just say that his stay won't be as comfortable as yours will be."

My eyes shot to Edward, who was staring back at me in horror. I swallowed, and looked back at Jane, who was wearing a very smug smile. If I didn't go with them, they would kill Edward.

I pursed my lips. "And if I do come?"

"Edward and his family remain unharmed," Demetri replied, grinning in satisfaction. They had won, and they knew it.

"FUCK!!! NO, BELLA, NO!!" Edward protested, trying to yank away from Demetri. He struggled to pull from his strong hold, but to no avail. His midnight eyes looked tortured, and I had to look away.

"I suppose you know my answer," I said.

"I'm glad you're going to see things our way," Jane said, nodding her head. "Aro was worried that you wouldn't, but I knew you wouldn't let us harm Edward."

I nodded. "Of course I wouldn't."

"Bella! Are you crazy?" Edward roared, his onyx eyes widening.

I frowned. "I'd be crazy to let them kill you."

Aro laughed, stepping out of the shadows. He appeared so suddenly, I had to do a double take. He stood next to Jane, smiling at me.

"How amusing," he said thoughtfully. "You'd be willing to leave behind this place, to come all the way to Italy, to protect him?"

I didn't answer. I just glanced at Edward, my tawny brown eyes begging him to understand. Aro laughed again, and wrapped an arm around Jane.

"Good job, dear one." He said. "I'm very pleased. I never believed a love this strong existed. I am in your dept for bringing Isabella on our side."

She smiled maliciously. "You owe me nothing, master." She nodded. "It's always a pleasure to bring someone new in."

Yes, because torturing people is what you do best. I wanted to spit. But instead, I bit my tongue and looked down at the floor.

"Come Bella," Aro said, and Caius dropped his arms from me. "It's time to depart for your new home."

"Say goodbye to this one," Jane said. Her tone made it obvious that this situation was very amusing to her. "For this is the last time you'll see Alaska."

"We'll let you say your goodbyes," Aro said, waving for Demetri to release Edward. Demetri refused to drop his arms.

"He'll try and stop her," he protested.

"No he won't," Aro said, raising his eyebrows. "He knows what will happen if he tries to interfere. Let them be."

Demetri growled, and dropped his burly hands from Edward. He grumbled a few incoherent phrases, probably profanities, and stomped out the door. Caius and Jane followed in a similar manner.

My breath hitched in my chest. "Goodbye Edward,"

"I can't believe you're choosing my safety over your own," he said, frowning.

We gazed at each other for a moment. He closed the space between us, burying his face in my hair, snaking his arms around my waist, hugging me so fiercely I thought my ribs would snap. He pulled away, letting me go. Another long silence.

"I feel like I should be apologizing," I said, chuckling humorlessly.

"Well you should be," he replied, his tortured expression unchanged.

"But I'm not sorry," I told him.

"You should be," he scoffed. "This whole selfless thing is absurd."

I smiled sadly. "Incongruous. . ."

"Now is not the time for jokes," he said, shaking his head.

"No," Aro agreed. "It's time to go."

He reached forward, and cupped my cheek with a marble hand. "There has never been a story of more woe. . ." he said.

I choked back a sob, as he quoted Romeo and Juliet. ". . .then that of Juliet, and her Romeo." I finished, the sob escaping my lips.

"I love you," I whispered, as Aro pulled me out the door.

Very faintly, I heard him reply. "I'll love you forever," and I wasn't positive, but I thought I heard him add, "You will come home,"

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I sat in a chair in the airport, tapping my nails on the arm rest nervously. Tap, tap, tap. I wasn't breathing. I couldn't even take in a breath without it breaking. I would never see Edward ever again. A sob erupted from my full lips, and Jane kicked my shin.

"Would you stop that?" She snapped. "For God's sake, you're alive, he's alive, be happy."

"Um," I said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think this qualifies as alive?"

"You get the point!" She growled. "You're not a burning pile of ash. And, although the fact disappoints me, neither is you're precious Edward. Be happy."

"I'll never see my husband again," I retorted, not bothering to hide the resentment and anguish in my voice. "Why would I be happy?"

She scoffed, but didn't reply. I sighed, and returned to my tapping. I wondered what Edward was up to. I hoped he wasn't looking for me. I didn't need all this to be for not. I shuddered of the idea of Edward becoming a burning pile of ash.

Images flew through my mind then. Memories that I didn't want to think about, afraid of the pain. But they came anyway, despite the ache.

Edward and I in the meadow.

Alice and I shopping.

Edward and I lying in bed.

Alice and Rosalie yanking, and curling my hair.

Edward and I racing through the trees.

Laurent and I sitting on the patio, waiting for the Cullens to return.

Rosalie and I bonding.

Edward down on one knee, opening the small velvet box.

Emmett being a pervert when Edward and I returned from our honeymoon.

Jasper reading on the couch.

Victoria's burning body.

Laurent smirking arrogantly.

Carlisle smiling at Esme with more love then I had ever seen.

Edward playing the piano.

Laurent's crimson eyes fading into topaz.

And finally, the last image was the picture in the golden frame, of Edward and me on our wedding day.

The last time I saw that picture, I promised myself it wasn't over. But this time, this time it was.

"Come on," Demetri said, grabbing my arm and pulling me up. "They're boarding now."

The picture wouldn't leave my head, no matter how hard I tried to push it away. His beautiful face haunted me, as I made my way towards the gate. I nervously spun my wedding ring around my finger.

Then, before I even had thought about it, I was running, human speed, as far away from the gate as possible.