Author note: Yay! A quick update! I had so many hits, favorites, alerts and (most important) reviews from the last chapter that I was inspired to pound this one out quickly. I know you'd like to see Bella's conversation with Jacob, but I'm keeping this story EPOV. Don't worry, Bella will recount the important parts. And maybe I'll do it as an outtake after I'm done. Also, Jacob is NOT going to be a bad guy here. (I'm an Edward girl, but, just like Bella, I love Jake too.) I'm keeping everyone mostly in character. I'm tweaking them just enough to make my story work.

It all belongs to the brilliant Stephanie Meyer, of course

I began walking home at a human pace. I needed to think. And I needed to concentrate to make sure I didn't give in to my impulse to follow Bella. Plus, I didn't know if my body would move any faster because I was near paralyzed with fear. She was going to see him alone. He could persuade her against me. I wasn't sure what I would do if that happened. I suppose I would have to go back to the plan I had before she told me she would take me back. I would happily take whatever part of her she was willing to share with me. After spending all day with her I had to believe she would allow me in her life in some capacity. I would act as her protector, from the shadows if necessary. It would be difficult, though, not to intrude on her privacy if I was relegated to the shadows. I would likely turn stalker. Jacob would probably know that I was around, that I was watching. That could become a problem.

Who was I kidding? I would have a problem anyway. I couldn't watch her go about her life with someone else, especially now that I know she still loves me. Every single touch and kiss would be unendurable torture for me. For a moment I imagined watching helplessly while Bella marries Jacob, goes to his bed at night and lies in his arms, carries his children. It would be a catch 22, a web of pain. Unable to bear being away from her, unable to bear being close to her; happy that she is happy, but devastated that I could not be the one to bring her that happiness. All I could do now is hope that Bella spares me the suffering and chooses to be with me, against her own best interest. That's exactly what I hoped for. I was a selfish bastard.

I became aware that my wandering had hugged the treaty line for several miles, and that I was no longer heading toward the house. I changed my direction and broke into a run. As I neared the house, I began to perceive the minds of my family. They seemed to be in a heated discussion.

Alice was thinking about a vision she'd had before I'd returned. It was of me, standing before the Volturi and asking to die. It had lasted only a few seconds and was replaced by a vision of me returning to Forks. It must have taken place in the few seconds that I thought Bella might be dead. She had told everyone, and everyone had an opinion.

Rosalie's mind rose above the rest. How could I possibly have known he would react that way? I can't believe everyone is mad at me. If he's that attached, why did he LEAVE? This whole thing is ridiculous. Of course Rosalie wouldn't understand a selfless act.

Carlisle was the only one not angry with Rosalie. He was lost in thought as the others bickered around him. If that is how he'll react to Bella's death, it's a good thing we know about it now. Even if he stays with her for her lifetime, she will die someday, and when that happens he will destroy himself. I cannot allow this to happen. This family can't lose Edward. I would never recover from his loss, neither would Esme. I doubt the others would do much better. I don't know if she still wants to be changed. Alice said she still loves Edward, maybe that is still what she wants. He may never forgive me if I changed her without his consent, but at least he would live. But if he were able to be happy with Bella, maybe he would see the wisdom of that decision in time. I burst into the house at that moment.

"Carlisle. No. You can't. I won't allow it." I was breathless, as if I had been a human and run the whole way home.

"Edward, I'm so sorry." Came from Rosalie. "I had no idea you would…be so upset." Maybe now everyone will get off my back. I ignored her and glared at Carlisle instead.

"Edward, I have no immediate plans. But we can't lose you." You have to at least consider this.

"No, I don't." I never imagined I would feel the need to protect Bella from Carlisle.

"I will not allow you to destroy yourself Edward. I will do whatever it takes. In any case, we have time to discuss it, and Bella would have to be included in that discussion."

"Edward, please." Esme piped up as I opened my mouth to argue. "At least let's talk about this. I have missed you so much. We can't lose you." She darted over to me and hugged me to her. I love you. You're as much my son as if I gave birth to you. I can't lose another son. I was slightly disarmed by her words. She remembered her crushing human loss. Her thoughts took an unexpected fierce turn. I WON'T.

He is extremely tense, ready to snap, and it's not just because of this conversation. What else is happening? Jasper's voice continued his thought. "Can we talk about that later? We need to decide what we are doing right now. Edward, what's going on? Where is Bella?"

The story spilled out about Jacob and Bella and how she still wanted to be with me and she was there now telling Jacob the news. Everyone was sympathetic of how hard it must have been to let her go to him, even Rosalie. Everyone was confident that she would return to me, more confident than I was. We talked for nearly two hours, deciding what we would do now. Alice and I would go back to school, Carlisle back to the hospital. We decided on a cover story, Esme didn't like LA. Bella would never be unguarded for a moment. The others would take turns watching out for her when I couldn't be with her.

My panic attack simmered in the back of my mind as I struggled to pay attention to our conversation. Every moment was more and more difficult without hearing from Bella. Alice couldn't see her when she was with the wolves. I had no way to know if she was ok or if she was ever coming back. "I'm calling her, Alice. It's been too much time. I'm just going to call her and make sure she is ok." It rang four times and went to voicemail. Alice urged me to try one more time before flying off the handle. The others gathered around for the second call. Everyone held their breath.

"Hello?" Bella's voice. Thank God. "I'm sorry, the phone was on vibrate and I didn't realize it was ringing until it was too late."

"It's been quite a while, is everything all right?"

As I spoke, I could hear Jacob in the background. "That's him?" He sounded angry, but in control.

"Yes, I'm fine. We are still talking. I'll be back soon." She answered simply. She sounded very calm, not at all annoyed at my interruption. That was a relief.

Jakes voice was suddenly booming. "He's checking on you? How dare he? Bloodsucking pompous ass! Give me that." Then he was shouting right into the phone. He must have taken it from her hand. "You want to protect her huh? Where the hell have you been for the last six months? I'm the one who's looked after Bella all this time! ME! NOT YOU! LEECH!" I didn't get a chance to respond before the phone clicked off.

I called right back in a panic, but it went to voice mail. Jasper and Emmett were on me and pinning me down before I even hit the end button. They had a very good hold. I couldn't move an inch. I wasn't sure how they got the drop on me. I didn't even hear it in their minds. Either they both acted without thinking first or I was too distracted to notice what they were thinking. "Let me go!" I growled. "Bella…"

"You don't know Bella is hurt." Carlisle spoke. He was ready to jump in to help hold me down if I started to overpower my brothers. They all knew if I got loose they would never catch me. Think about what you are doing, Edward. If she isn't hurt, and you break the treaty, you incite a war for absolutely no reason. If she is hurt, you would only get yourself hurt going in after her. And the rest of us would have to handle the retaliation of the wolves.

But I couldn't think. I barely registered his thoughts. I continued to struggle futilely against Jasper and Emmett. My mind raced with images of the dog hurting her. Even if he just lost his temper and phased too close to her the results could be….they are so volatile! And that would just be an accident. What if he wanted to hurt her? What if he would rather see her dead than with me? Why did I ever let her go to him alone? But what else could I have done? Keep her prisoner, like she said?

Alice's voice broke through my concentration. "I see her, Edward! Look! I see her!" My mind filled with a vision of Bella driving down the highway in her truck. She was crying in hysterical, broken sobs, but seemed otherwise unharmed. My vision has cleared. She must be away from him. I instantly relaxed against my brothers' hold. Bella was all right. She was coming to me.

"Em, Jazz, I'm all right." Jasper felt my mood downshift out of panic mode. He loosened his grip some but didn't let go. Emmett was confused, wondering if I was trying to trick them by stopping my fight against them. I told them in a calm voice. "Alice can see her. She's ok, but she's very upset. I want to meet her on the road."

"It's true. Let him go." Alice said.