Hey guys! I hope this holds you up until I review next. R&R

What I own: A plate of steaming Ravioli

What I don't own: These characters.

Chapter 9

Bella's POV

"Are okay baby?" Jake whispered into my ear, caressing my arm with his warm hand. I shivered, and moved closer to him. I started crying, quietly at first, but then my cries getting louder. He rubbed my back soothingly.

"You don't have to go back to them Bella," Sam's voice cut into our moment. I nodded, tears falling heavily from my eyes. "I love you," Jake whispered in my ear. I looked up at him and my eyes sent the same message back. He smiled. Feeling dizzy and extremely tired, I let myself collapse into Jake. "Let's get you home baby," He said, cradling my limp body in his arms. The trip back to Charlie's was hazy. Between Prince laying on my stomach and Jake whispering, "Stay, please," to me, I didn't remember much.

"Thanks Jacob. Did you get it all worked out?" Charlie asked, holding the door open. Jake nodded. "What did she choose?" Charlie said and this time it was directed toward Jake only. Jake grinned so wide that I thought his face would shatter. "Me," Jake said wonderingly. I didn't see Charlie's face, but I'm pretty sure it was a smile.

Edward's POV

Her dark tears. Falling from those chocolate eyes. I would snap his bones for each one that had fallen. Could she really choose him? I wandered to my piano, running my hands over the ivory keys. My hands drifted over the keys, this time pounding on the notes I knew would describe my mood.

Chasing something that won't be,

How did I let you escape?

I took your freedom and locked you in that tiny cage,

Will you ever learn to fly right again?

Alice appeared with Jasper at the top of the stairs. You know she loves only you right? She just turned to him for comfort. Alice said to me in her mind. She looked blankly into the future. Seeming happy with my response, she skipped away, towing Jasper. I could sense his distress in the situation.

"I for one am sooo happy that girl is not with us," Rosalie sneered. Emmet laughed.

"You are such a bitch sometimes," He chuckled and I could hear the thwack when she hit him.

"I'm just saying, it's better for her to be human. In fact, now we can friends. Because now she isn't a stupid human," Rose explained. Emmet laughed louder, and I could hear them going to the attic. Ulch. Time to stop listening. I thought about what Alice and Rose had both said.

When I saw you, my heart exploded

You let me into your world, like I belonged.

Baby, what's happened?

You don't fit perfectly into my arms anymore.

My fingers gradually slowed and I let them stop. I could hear Esme's displeasure toward my quick ending. I sat at the piano, letting my mind shift around, watching the purple sunrise. Time was no matter to me. I saw the sky change from a light blue, to an orange, to a deep blue, and to the now black shade.

"Edward, it's time," Carlisle said. I looked up. He nodded and grasped my arm. Alice appeared by him, smiling her award-winning smile and she grabbed my other arm. Up and at em' punk. She thought, using her powers to try and see if the wolves were there or not. I could tell that she could no longer see them, because her brow was slightly furrowed and her thoughts dark. I stood, and let my two family members lead me into the car.

"Just us?" I asked, looking at the lack of appearance. Alice made a face.

"They didn't want to go…" She told me, getting into the passenger side. I sighed as I crawled into the back. I had texted Sam the night before with the location. If I was going to get her back, I was going to play rough. Alice noted the location, her golden eyes widening.

"Edward..." She said, her tone disapproving. Carlisle stiffened as we reached the already familiar place.

Jacob's POV

"Bella, what is it sweetheart?" I said as we reached the place. It was some dumb forest. Filled with flowers and edged with trees, the meadow stood out. The smell was sickening. Too sweet. And nasty. A little bit like snorting bleach. But Bella was wincing in pain.

"This was…our meadow," she told me, her hand tightening on mine. I snarled with fury. That bloodsucker had brought her here, my grip turned protective. I glared at Edward, who was smirking. He could see Bella fighting the battle in her head. Who would she choose? Finally, she straightened up, removed her hand from mine and walked away from me. Since I had brought Sam and Quil with me, they shared my gasp. Edward's smile widened as he noticed her approach. She smiled too, walking faster.

"Edward!" She called. My heart exploded, pieces shattering and hitting the floor. Edward laughed, holding his hand out to her.

"There's something I need to tell you!" she said, her voice like velvet. My vision was tinged with red, and I sank to my knees. Sam and Quil snarled their disbelief.

"What is she doing?" Sam asked Quil mutely. Quil shook his head. Then I noticed her right hand. It was clenched into a fist. I noticed the way her thumb was wrapped around, on the outside. My heart reassembled and I got back up. She was going to hit him.

"Edward. This is for leaving me," Bella snapped and pulled her fist back. I don't know how it happened, but one moment Bella was there and the next, she was a leopard. She snarled her fury and his eyes widened.

"Bella! What the hell is going on!?" Edward yelled to Alice. Alice said nothing, but was openly laughing. I stared at my girlfriend in awe.

"Talini-Wahya!" Sam said with pride, the same way he would show off his girl, or tell someone that he was the Alpha.

Edward's jaw dropped as he heard the word. Carlisle's eyes shone with interest, and the smallest bloodsucker just kept laughing.

"That is so like Bella!" Alice said, wiping her eyes. I smiled wide, and caught her eye. She winked and blew me a half kiss. Bella had stopped, and turned to me. Her eyes were wide with confusion.

Jake. What's happening!? I heard her in my head. I looked her, my heart on my sleeve, and told her the truth.

You accepted your birthright! You're the Talini-Wahya. And now, you need to calm down and shift back. I told her. As I realized what was going to happen, I rushed over and took off my shirt. As she exploded back into Bella, I covered her with my shirt.

"Err…thanks," She said, running to the trees to change. I could hear Quil whooping with delight and made a mental note to shoot him later.

"Bella?" I called into the brush. She came out, my baggy T-shirt on. She smiled shyly at me and played with the fringes. It came down to her knees and I was glad I had chosen today to wear all black. I didn't want anyone *cough Edward cough* eyeing her. I could sense Sam and Quil getting restless. Bella looked at me, clearing her throat. She leaned in close to my ear, her breath tickling my ear.

"Slaughter em' babe…" She whispered, so softly I barely heard it. I sensed another figure at the border of the brush. I whipped Bella around so she was behind me. Leah burst out of the brush, panting.

"Put these on Bella! I ran all the way here!" She said, throwing white shorts at Bella. I turned around, giving her privacy as she slipped them on. I stayed turned around until she slipped her hand into mine. I smiled at her, and saw Leah roll her eyes and dart away from the corner of my eye.

Edward's POV

I needed her. I watched her sprint away, Jacob shielding her. I needed her to explain to me what had happened. How the heck she had phased. Why she had let herself be taken by this ……monster. If she still loved me and if she thought we would ever be back together. Seeing her with him, his shirt covering her, made me tense with fury. She should be with me! She came up to me, her hand still enclosed in Jacob's.

"Edward, what you did really hurt me. And it hurt because you told me that you would never leave, and yet you did. Seeing you leave made me feel bad and I started to live a life nobody wanted. Then when I began to live again, Jake imprinted on me. And I can't tell you how happy I was. He's my everything. And as much as I know it kills you to hear, I love him. And you're just going to have to earn my trust back…" She trailed off, her eyes brimming with tears. My eyes would be filled with tears if I could cry them. She was leaving me. Forever.

"I still want you in my life, if it's at all possible. All of you," She said. I felt a part of my heart return. She still wanted me. A little. I would be the best friend she wanted, and I would win her back. Alice was shooting me her famous vision look. The "Don't-do-it!" one. But I didn't care. I loved her. And I would stop at nothing to get her.