OLD VERSION OF ATR – PLEASE READ CHAPTER ONE NOTES FOR THE EXPLANATION ON WHY.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters; they all belong to Stephenie Meyer. I am simply borrowing them for my own amusement.

All That Remains

Chapter Ten – Understanding

Get up Bella, get up! I forced myself to stand though the throbbing pain pulsing from my left arm beckoned me to stay down. My lungs demanded more air after expelling its contents from my searing cry. But now I had to satisfy my need for sense of smell. Breathe Bella I told myself. I tried to regulate my breathing to even out the excruciating agony robbing me of my ability to think. The taste in the air had a repugnant odor to it. My nose wrinkled. I could smell Edward and Emmett's scent clearly but it didn't dominate the foul smell that made my muscles tighten reactively as I leaned into my hunting crouch ready for an attack. This response reached my arm pulling my mind in on itself while the pain found new heights of abuse.

My knees hit hard on the ground after my legs gave way, unable to support me further, crippled from the agony. I looked down at my arm for the first time and saw with horror the cause for my loss of control. Another lung full of anguished cries escaped me seeing the shredded remains of my arm. Just below my elbow was gone… How could it be gone?

"BELLA!" Edward cried out seeing me for the first time since the attack just a moment ago. I felt the air around me surrender out of his way from the speed he moved to be next to me. I could see his feet right in front of me as his heartbreaking whispers broke the silence of his despair. "No. Oh no. Bella." my name catching in his throat. His knees folded landing a micro distance from my own.

He wanted to reach out to me, his hands holding midway distance unsure how to without causing more pain. He swallowed deeply. His hands suddenly went into a fist and he was gone. I looked up in time to see him grab the wolf's fur and hurling the animal into the trees. The impact shook the ground followed by the animal's searing cries, yelping pitifully. Edward was about to go in for another attack when Emmett grabbed both his arms restraining him. This didn't stop Edward's verbal attack.

"That's Bella you worthless mutt. I WILL END YOU!" Edward yelled losing control of his actions. He struggled against Emmett fiercely. "YES BELLA!"

I was confused the way he said that, who was he replying to? My head was barely functioning, still lost in the folds of my mind in detaching itself from my arms pain. A gust of air blew into me announcing the arrival of the Cullen family.

"Bella!" Alice was filled with fear. "I just saw… WHERE. IS. HER. ARM?" She screeched spelling out each word venomously. Her focus spun to the whimpering wolf half standing against the tree Edward had just slammed him into. Her lips pulled back over her teeth as she slinked into her crouch ready to spring at the animal.

"Jasper grab her!" Emmett yelled forcefully. Jasper only just caught Alice in time before she was able to launch herself into the attack. Alice's shrill of fury broke through piercingly as she tried struggled against Jaspers hold.

"You can't kill him Alice; this is Jacob Black from the Quileute tribe." Emmett said begrudgingly.

"Jacob?" I said shocked

"Yes" He answered.

I moved toward Jacob to get a closer look.

"NO!" Edward yelled at me. Emmett let go of Edward. He pushed me back away from Jacob making sure he was centered between us. I winced from the pain from the pressure he used on my left shoulder, letting out a small cry.

"Let me look at that Bella" Carlisle lifted my arm up gently examining it closely.

"Where is the severed part Edward?" Carlisle asked.

Edward replied with motioning his head towards the left of Emmett.

"Rosalie, would you mind retrieving it for me please?" Carlisle requested calmly. She complied without hesitation. "Bella this is not as bad as it looks, your arm will repair itself with your body's own venom." I looked at him stunned. He smiled at me gently. "You will need to keep it still for awhile so it will heal faster." Explaining what I needed to do.

"I didn't know vampires had that ability." My shock was obvious in my tone.

"There are many things about our kind that would be new to you Bella. This is only one of them." He placed a gentle and reassuring hand on my right shoulder.

"Esme give me your belt so I can secure the two sections together securely. Edward, give me your shirt so I can make a sling for her."

I watched Edward pull his shirt over the top of his head in one fluent motion. I gasped seeing the perfect frame of his torso as his muscles deliciously flexed with his movement. A fire burned deep in me, fueling the need to have him completely wrapped around every part of my body. His scent swirled in me driving the flames to unbearable levels as they smothered any restraint I had. My mind was so lost with the sensual images it conjured that I hadn't noticed Edward had moved and now his face was only inches from mine. I blinked from his close proximity. His one brow rose emphasizing his amusement from my reaction over the exposure of his torso. I felt his hand hold my chin firmly, his half smile that I loved so much broke into a devious grin. I gasped as his lips hungrily locked hard with my slightly parted lips. I felt a passionate growl ripple from his chest into my mouth as my own moan met it.

I heard the sound of an annoying giggle behind me as it pulled my mind away from the heaven it just found.

"Um… Edward could you stop distracting Bella so I can set her arm in place?" Carlisle requested patiently.

His lips broke from mine. I felt my head fall forward trying to follow his lips, not wanting it to let go. I opened my eyes slowly as my mind was forced to come back to earth. His smiling face leaned in to my ear as he whispered "Later" with a promise I would hold him to.

The change in his face was so abrupt it took me by surprise making my head shake slightly to focus. He hissed snapping his head to face Jacob. I had cleanly forgotten about the seriousness of the situation we were in.

"Jacob's pack has gathered and they are on their way here." Edward snarled.

"I can hear every thought you have mongrel." He pulled his lips back over his teeth "That to." Edward hissed.

"Jake?" was all I could say as I tried to move forward, again forgetting about Carlisle working on my arm. Edward refocused on me intent on holding me in place.

"Bella no!" Edward said gently but with a firmness expressing the finality of his decision.

"I'm nearly done Bella." Carlisle twisted the sleeves of Edward's shirt to reach around my neck as he tied them securely.

"Thank you Carlisle," I expressed my gratitude. He nodded smiling.

"Edward let me speak with Jake please." I asked with my own firmness to my tone.

"It isn't safe Bella." His jaw line tightened.

"Jake won't hurt me now." I pressed.

"He is angry Bella; he isn't in control of himself." Edward hoped I would take heed of his warning.

"Of course he's angry. But I am still going to talk with him Edward." I pushed past him but he grabbed me by the waist. "Edward stop that, I will keep my distance but I will speak with him. He is my friend!"

Edward let out a sigh of frustration and loosened his grip around my waist indicating that he would allow me to do this. I stepped closer to Jacob.

"Jake? You okay Jake?" I tentatively asked.

He snarled but not too aggressively, it sounded more annoyed. Edward spoke for him. "He said nothing is okay." He is finding it hard to believe you are Bella, you are so altered in his eyes.

"Aw Jake, I know. But I am still Bella. I am still me."

Edward released another growl at Jacob stepping closer. I grabbed his arm to hold him back. "He thinks you would be better off dead than be one of us, or more to the point with me."

"You would prefer me to be dead?" I tried to hide the hurt I felt hearing that.

"He doesn't understand how you can be intimate with me after what I put you through" I could hear the regret in Edward's tone.

"Jake… You know how much I love Edward. And he only left me because he loved me; he tried to protect me from this by leaving."

Edward snarled again. Through gritted teeth he repeated Jacob's words. "That was not an act of love." Edward's head hung low as he continued "If it half killed you when I left, how can that be love?"

"Jacob says he would never hurt you like I have." He concluded.

I lifted my arm slightly as exhibit A "And what do you call this, a bloody nose?"

"That is different; he didn't know it was you." Edward was tiring of translating for Jacob and keeping himself as calm as he was.

"Do you think Edward would have done what he did if he knew what was going to happen?" I tried to reason.

The sound of thundering paws approaching matched Edward's reaction. I felt like I was falling sideways but he had simply moved me so I was with his family protected. He spun and everyone lowered into a hunting crouch.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Four giant wolves had just joined Jacob. Hackles bristled and their teeth bared at us, ready for a fight. They moved slowly in our direction. Inexplicability, Jacob leapt in front of them with his back towards us. Why would he go on the defense for us?

Aggressive snarls and growling ensued from his behavior. What was more surprising was the way Edward sprung to Jacob's side flanking him. Emmett followed suit taking position on Jacob's other side.

The largest wolf sounded like he was choking on his snarls. Only Edward could know of the conversation going on between Jacob and his pack. I saw the large wolf snap his eyes on me.

"Yes it is Bella Swan." Edward answered the unspoken question making the wolf shift his glare to Edward.

"You know she was dying, it was the only way to save her life. Believe me, if there was any other way I would not have done it." Edward impatience seeped through his answers.

"I think that you will find the treaty was broken long ago by Jacob." Everyone, including Jacob looked at Edward with that remark.

"It was him who told Bella what we were." Hearing half of the conversation was irritating.

"You think I should have let her die?" Edward snarled with Jacob and the Cullen family backing him up.

"But he can make an exception. He is Ephraim Black's heir and it is him and him alone that can grant us the exception to the treaty between us."

Another look of disbelief crossed the wolf's face. He howled with anger but backed away taking the pack with him. We all remained frozen to the spot until they were out of sight.

I was at Edward's side instantly leaning into him. His arm wrapped around my waist holding me close.

"You went to our defense." Edward answered Jacob's question. He paused "Fine, you protected Bella but that is why I stood by your side." He nodded "Thank you."

Jacob's eyes fell on me; they looked quite different now they were not consumed with hatred of what I had become or with killing me. I lifted my good arm and reached out to touch his face. His eyes closed for a moment before his nose wrinkled.

I let a little laugh escape my lips. "I know Jake, you smell pretty bad to me as well." I let my hand drop.

"He is going back to his pack to sort things out. The leader Sam is not letting this go but was unwilling to fight Jacob" Edward translated Jacob's intent.

"Please come back soon" I asked gently.

"He isn't sure that is possible." Edward sounded a little pleased passing on that information.

"Jake, best friends still?" my voice croaked

"Not possible when we are on opposite sides." Edward's voice was flat.

"I am not giving up Jake. You are still my best friend." I felt the sadness creep into my voice.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Edward didn't say anything of what Jacob was thinking.

"Please Jake" I wasn't sure what I would do if he didn't come back. I couldn't exactly call him. And going over to his place was completely out of the question now I was a vampire. But I couldn't lose Jacob's friendship, he was family to me.

He got up and moved a little closer to me. He nuzzled the side of my face. I turned my lips onto his cheek and kissed him as I stroked his other cheek. "Come back Jake." He nodded and the turned and sped off in the same direction of his pack. I didn't allow myself to move until he was out of sight.

"That was a close one" Emmett stated the obvious but also broke the somber atmosphere. I could hear the sighs of relief from the Cullen family. Edward wrapped both of his arms around my waist firmly and rested his head against the top of mine. His muscles were tense.

"I think we should head home" Esme suggested. I didn't blame her for wanting to leave this behind her. I felt the same.

They all sped off but I stayed in Edward's arms, he wasn't ready just yet to let me go. His lips kissed my forehead. "Bella, I am so sorry you got hurt. I will never leave your side again." His anguish poured through his words.

"I am fine Edward." He tensed at my words. "Hey, I am but I am also in favor of you holding me like this forever. I think it is a fair trade especially if you keep your shirt off." I smiled up at him reassuringly.

"Let's head back." We didn't run which pleased me. I like having some time alone with him. No onlookers or eavesdropping on us. We reached the water's edge closest to the house. Edward picked me up and hesitated. He looked over the river and frowned. He let off a heavy sigh.

"We don't have go back right now, I am happy to be over here with you." I looked deep into his eyes making sure he understood that I was not in any hurry to back at the house.

He gave me a weak smile and turned heading back towards the edge of the woods. He sat us down on the grass patch near the woods edge. My back against his chest, his legs straddled each side of me. For a while we sat silently watching the water flow by us. I liked the sound of it, my nerves felt calmed as if Jasper was here giving me the warm and fuzzy sensation he does so well.

I closed my eyes as the direction of the breeze changed. Edward's scent washed over me like the summers evening rain. I breathed in deep allowing it to fill my senses. If there were words to describe his scent I would not know them all. But it was so much more potent to me now from when I was human. If you could multiply it by infinity, and take it to the depth of forever, you would only be brushing the surface in comparison.

I felt my lips part slightly allowing my tongue to drink in his scent. The once dormant hunger for him had been awakened and craved for his touch, I wanted him, I needed him. My body leaned back nestling into his chest. Edward picked up on my desires and chuckled. His arms lifted me gently as he rolled me over so my back pressed against the grass. He spoke softly "Later"