Before you all kill me, I have a very good excuse for not updating! We had a family day on Saturday, and I was not home. As a result of said family day, I got very sunburned and a bad case of sun poisoning. I was too busy puking, sleeping, and taking care of my son to write. See, that's what I get for going off all day and leaving you guys hanging, right?

Ok, no more chatter. You know I own nothing! On with the story!

Chapter 10

BPOV

"Edward? You gave me permission to make those calls." I spoke hesitantly.

"Well, I suppose you are right, even though it wasn't exactly me. I suppose I can't punish you for that. So, what did my dear father have to say?" Eddie (the nickname I gave for Bad Edward) sat on the dusty couch and folded his arms across his chest.

"Not much, really. Just that they want to help you. You should really call him. They're worried."

"Well, maybe later. What about your mutt? Still alive, I'm assuming?"

"He is badly injured but he will head in time. Can I ask you something?" I looked up through my eyelashes, it had always been a weakness of Edward's.

"If you must," he replied dryly.

"I understand what Edward would want with me, but what about you? Is this about my blood?"

His eyes grew wide and he gave me a devious smirk. "No, love. As difficult as it may be to believe, I love you every bit as much as he does. I simply have the strength to do what he does not and claim what is mine."

"But I'm not yours! I belonged to the sweet and caring Edward… up until he left me. Speaking of, if you felt this way about me then why did you let him leave?"

"He was always very good at repressing me. The 'monster' he always referred to? I am that monster. I fought with him to come back to you! I told him that you would move on and leave us! He said that he wanted that! I would have taken you with us! I swear I fought for you! I love you more than him because I am willing to do what it takes to keep you!" He was pacing the floor and pulling at his hair.

"Eddie?" He stopped pacing and raised an eyebrow in question. I simply shrugged and said "It's how I refer to you to keep you separate."

"Eddie, though? You sound like Emmett!" He chuckled a little before turning to me.

"May I ask you a question now, love?" I nodded my acceptance.

"If I had taken over and not let him leave, could you have loved me as well?" Eddie almost looked… sad? I was unaware until that point that he even had emotions.

"Honestly? Probably. I loved Edward so much… all of Edward. The good and the bad. He just never saw it. Never believed in me enough." I may not have wanted Edward anymore, but the scars he left on me emotionally were firmly in place.

"I tried to tell him! He thought you could never love a monster." He barked out a harsh laugh and began pacing. He was speaking too low and fast for me to actually hear but I knew that he was arguing with himself. This went on for quite a while so I eventually laid down and let exhaustion claim me.

"Bella? Wake up, please. I don't know how much time we have."

"Edward?" I rubbed the sleep from my eyes ant took in Edward's frightened appearance. It was then that I noticed his red eyes.

"Edward, no!" I cried.

"It was the only way to keep him satiated enough to help you. If it makes you feel better my meal was a man that I pulled away from a young girl." His eyes were downcast and I knew that even though he killed scum, he still felt guilty.

"Was he…" I trailed off, unable to say the words out loud.

"Yes," he answered. I nodded my acceptance and cradled his cheek with my hand.

"I figured if he is the monster within me that if I fed him one of the things he wanted that he would leave you be and stay in place. I am not sure how long it will work, but it seems to be doing the trick for now."

"I understand, Edward. You should know that I don't think he really wants to hurt me. He is a part of you after all. He is just out of control."

"I know, love. I need to figure out some way to gain control in a more permanent way. But for now, I need you to call someone and tell them where we are. The coordinates are on this piece of paper." He slid the paper into my shaking hands.

"I will have to run to the city, possibly to hunt again. The human blood seems to distract him. Once you are home tell the wolves to hide you. Then tell Carlisle to track me. If anyone can help me it will be him."

"Are you going to be okay, Edward?" I asked while stroking his hair. He was going to save me from himself and he deserved at least some form of comfort.

"I will always love you, Bella. I won't lie and say that I won't be in pain, but I love you enough to let you live whatever life you choose. Now I have to go. Here is my phone. Make the call as soon as I am out the door."

"Okay," I choked on the tears that were threatening to break through. Poor Edward.

"Can I just ask one thing?" He looked so timid.

"Yes."

"Can I kiss you, just once more, love?" His shoulders were shaking and I knew I couldn't say no. Paul would have to understand that Edward deserved one last goodbye. So instead of answering I leaned in and lightly pressed my lips to his. The kiss was chaste, as all our kisses had been, but there was a bittersweet feel to it. We both knew it would be the last kiss we would ever share.

With one final look at me Edward ran out the door, his body shaking with sobs.

I picked up the phone, my whole body practically vibrating with a myriad of emotions. Before making the call, I texted the coordinates to Emmett and Jake just in case I couldn't reach one, I had my bases covered with the other. Then I dialed the number I had ingrained in my memory.

"Hello?"

"Jake, I texted you some coordinates. I need you to get the Cullens together and get here. We probably don't have much time."

"Holy shit! I'll get right on it!"

"Jake, don't say anything to Paul. I can't have him hurting himself further trying to get to me. Do whatever you have to in order to make him stay put," I ordered.

"I'll have Sam give him an Alpha order not to move from the bed and I won't say a word to him. You just stay put and we'll be there soon! Hang in there, Bells!"

I ended the call and began pacing the floor. My life had become some sort of unreal supernatural soap opera. My thoughts went to Edward and how Carlisle could help him. I hoped he could get better and find his true mate. It couldn't have been me or he never would have left in the first place. He just needed to find her. I had to believe that he would. Then I thought about Paul. I couldn't wait to see him. Although I hadn't been gone for long, it felt like forever. Not to mention that we could be together freely as often as we wanted. He would never have to leave me.

Then I remembered Charlie. I hoped that someone had come up with a good story for him so that he wasn't freaking out. Between the Cullens and the wolves I figured that they would have thought of something convincing.

The door burst open and cut off my internal rambling. I must have been pacing for some time.

"Hey, Baby Bells! You ready to blow thins joint?" Emmett had me in his arms before I could blink.

I explained everything to Carlisle and he instructed Emmett and Rose to accompany Paul and I to a safe location. He had faith that he and the rest of the Cullens could catch up to Edward, but he wanted us protected just in case. He also knew that the wolves had to stay in La Push to protect their own imprints as well as the rest of their people. With that we were all off like a shit, running in opposite directions. Rose was on Emmett's right side with Jake in his wolf form on his left. I was going to get my man.

PPOV

I wasn't sure what Sam's Alpha order was all about. It wasn't like I could fucking get up anyway. Dr. Fang had shot me up with so much morphine I could barely form rational thought. Finally I gave up fighting the morphine and fell asleep.

I smelled her and kept my eyes shut tight, afraid I was dreaming and if I opened them she would be gone.

"I know you're awake, baby. Come on, you need to wake up. We have to go." Hell, this dream was good, it even sounded like my girl. Then I felt soft lips being pressed to my own and my eyes popped open.

"Holy…" I didn't even get to finish the thought because my Bella was kissing me like there was no tomorrow. I tried to pull her to me and then cursed my damn injuries.

"All right you two. Break it up. We've got to get on the road." The Hulk tried to sound harsh but ended up giving himself away by laughing.

"You're here." I sighed, kissing her again."

"I am." She replied

"I'm" kiss "never" kiss "letting you" kiss "out of" kiss "my sight" kiss "again!"

"I'm counting on it, but for right now we need to get going." Bella gave me one final kiss before getting up and I whined in protest, lips still puckered.

"Em, can you carry him, GENTLY, to the car?" Bella asked the Hulk.

"You betcha, Hells Bells. Come on, Benji." I raised my eyebrow at him and he shrugged. "Hey, you call me the Hulk. It's only fair that I give you the name of a fictional character."

"But Benji? Seriously? What about Wolverine? Wouldn't that be more appropriate and… manly?" Everyone burst into laughter and I grumbled all the way to the giant freaking Hummer they put me in.

Bella was in the back seat waiting and they laid me down so that my head was in her lap. The back seat wasn't nearly long enough to accommodate my long ass body, but I was snuggled up against my girl so I could have cared less.

"So, who's gonna' fill me in on what's going on?" I asked once we were on the road.

My girl explained the whole fucked up story, and I growled when she got to the kissing part. I may have understood, but I was a jealous mother fucker and didn't like anyone touching what was mine.

"So, if he let you go then why are we going into hiding?" I asked.

"He's afraid that he won't be able to stay in control and wants me out of his reach in case he can't. This isn't his fault, Paul. He's really trying." My sweet, forgiving girl.

"Well, you'll have to forgive me for not feeling sorry for his ass. He is the one who left in the first place. While I am seriously grateful that he did, he still only has himself to blame." Everyone remained quiet at my words, but I wouldn't take them back. That asshole drove himself crazy.

"So, where are we going?" I asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

"We're going to a private island that we own," Blondie answered.

"You freaks own a fucking island? No shit?"

"No shit, Fido," Emmett answered with a chuckle.

"How are you feeling, Paul?" Bella's eyes and hands were roaming over my torso looking at the damage.

"I'm better. The outside stuff and the bones are healing pretty fast. The internal injuries are taking a little while longer. I'm tough, though." I puckered my lips, indicating I wanted her to kiss me. She giggled and then leaned in for a soft kiss. When she pulled away she had tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked her.

"I was so worried. The last time I saw you… you were bleeding and in so much pain. I can't live without you, Paul."

"Well, the feeling is mutual. So, from now on, you are to be stuck to me like glue, got it?"

"Got it. And Paul?"

"Mmhmm?"

"I love you." Her declaration was soft, and even though it wasn't the first time I heard it, the words made me feel whole.

"I love you too, baby. Always."

So, I know it's short, but I'm still sort of sickly. Ugh, that sun poisoning kicked my ass! So, I hope that you guys are happy that Paul and Bella have been reunited. Don't forget to review!