Disclaimer- Twilight and everything in it belongs to Stephanie Meyer. I suppose I'll get over it one day.

I would do it for you, for you.

Baby, I'm not moving on

I love you long after you're gone.

For you, for you.

You will never sleep alone.

I love you long after you're gone

And long after you're gone, gone, gone.

-Gone Gone Gone, Phillip Phillips

###

Edward's POV:

I stood under the tower, eyes closed. While I waited for the clock, I was reflecting over everything I'd done wrong. This list was far too long, and most of it seemed to date back to a period of time eleven to ten years ago.

I had made so many mistakes with my Bella. I ruined her life, and now she was dead. I couldn't possibly deal with this knowledge for much longer. This was what I held with me as I prepared to end my life.

My grief-filled musings were interrupted by a mental voice. It was incredibly beautiful; somehow purer than any I had ever heard. But the message that it carried was shocking.

'Edward, stop. This is Bella. I'm alive. I'm not dead. Stop…'

I considered for a moment that it was actually Bella, then dismissed the notion. I couldn't hear Bella's thoughts. Perhaps it was an angle, telling me what I wanted to hear before I died. Yes, that was it. Perhaps it was even Bella. Of course she would want me to stay alive, even without her in the world. But I simply wasn't strong enough. I was preparing to step out into the sun, when the angel's thoughts changed. She was in awe, and wonder. An angel, in awe? Who had ever heard of such a thing?

'It did not matter if he did not want me. I would never want anything but him.'

My eyes snapped open. Did not want-

My angel crashed into me, actually causing me to stagger back a few steps. It looked exactly like Bella, only different. Her features were raised and highlighted in a way that I supposed other people would find more beautiful than the original. But to me, Bella could not be more beautiful then she already was. But her eyes- they were a strange but stunning white-gold, no longer the beautiful brown that I loved, but no less gorgeous or unique. They looked almost like... Like they eyes of a vegetarian vampire. Did that mean that she was truly...

"Bella?" I said, eyes widening, hardly daring to believe it.

She stared at me, then launched herself into my arms, which came around her automatically. It felt wonderful. She still fit perfectly into my embrace. After a second, I noticed that she was no longer warmer than me. We were the same temperature. "Edward," she sighed. I was shocked by the musical quality of her voice. She was one of us then. Her thoughts were filled with awe, bordering on... Her mental shield snapped back in place. I missed the sound of her mental voice, but I was fine as long as she was in my arms. Something struck me. What would Bella be doing in Italy, much less as a vampire? No; it made no sense. I must be dead.

"Amazing," I said. "Carlisle was right."

"Edward," said Bella, "We're not dead. But we need to leave. I don't want to have to explain this to Aro..." she trailed of. Then she sighed. "Dang it. Too late."

A few seconds later, I heard the mental voices of two of the guard. They were blocking out their thoughts, like they had been when I visited their castle to ask for death, by thinking of random things that weren't important. For the first time, I wondered how they had learned to do that. Did they have another mind reader with them? Even while I thought this, I tried to sweep Bella behind me. She stayed put, as stubborn as ever.

Felix and Demetri approached. They looked surprised... but they weren't looking at me.

"Bella!" greater Demetri warmly. "We weren't expecting to see you back here for a few more weeks, at least. You look like you're in a good mood."

I looked at Bella. Her face was like stone. This was a good mood? More importantly, how did she know the Volturi?

She whispered in my ear, "In a bit." Then she turned towards Demetri. "I suppose Edward couldn't leave peacefully." It was a statement, not a question.

Felix spoke up now. "I'm afraid not," he said, his grin revealing razor sharp teeth glistening with venom.

Bella sighed. "Let's wait for Alice, at least," she suggested. "She'll be here in a few seconds."

Exactly three seconds passed before Alice arrived. She greeted Bella, then shot me a glare. 'Bella, shield me.'

Alice's thoughts vanished. I was shocked. Bella must have a strong power, that she was able to do such a thing- that she was able to not only read Alice's thoughts, but also shield them. I was about to ask, then decided that it could wait, for now. We had been apart long enough, I thought, pulling Bella into my arms.

Bella's POV:

He shocked me by hugging me, and I tensed slightly on instinct. Frowning, he seemed about to pull his arms away, but I wrapped mine around him with an iron grip. He relaxed, but. I still didn't know why he had hugged me in the first place.

Then it hit me. He felt guilty. Of course, that was it. When I thought I had died he blamed himself. Still, going to Volterra had been an overreaction. I would have to set things straight eventually, explain that whatever happened to me wasn't his fault. He should be able to... leave... without feeling ashamed. It wasn't as if he could make himself like me, just so I would feel better. My heart cringed at the thought of giving him a free pass to leave again, but I knew it was the right thing to do. But not yet. I would give myself this time with him. I clutched him closer as we walked down the streets of Volterra.

I knew that Felix and Demetri were staring slack-jawed at Edward and I. Their mental shields had improved over years of working closely with me, and yet they were still no match for me if I made an actual effort. Never before had I shown any interest in taking a mate. And yet, here I was, intimately close with Edward. Felix was mildly jealous, but I wasn't paying any attention to him. I was more focused on the bronze-haired god that I had never thought I would see again. I suspected Edward might have heard the direction that his thoughts were going in; he shot him a death glare.

The walk to the Volturi's castle was completely silent, except for the sound of our quiet footsteps on the cobblestone. The guards knew better than to ask me any questions and expect an answer. That had tried that for years before they gave up, and realized I wasn't giving out any information freely. Besides, I was quite happy where I was, in Edward's arms, but I knew that he would have to leave. I didn't want to waste whatever time I might have with him, as pathetic as that might sound, even in my own head.

Eventually, we did arrive at the less classy sewer entrance. I raised an eyebrow at Felix. He shrugged and smirked. It was the quickest way, but we didn't often use it. Alice went first. She hopped down lightly, landing easily on her feet. I motioned for Edward to follow her. He looked momentarily panicked. I realized it was because he was worried — worried for me. This gave me a warm glow in my stomach. I hadn't had someone to look after me since he left. I had all but forgotten what it felt like. A smile almost slipped through, shocking me. I had not smiled in ten years. Motioning for Edward to go on ahead, I contemplated these new feelings. They felt good right now, of course… but what about when he left again? I cringed, jumping down into the sewers. It would tear me apart. The pain would literally be too much too bear. I would just ask Aro to kill me, then…

Alice froze from her position in the front. Then she turned back too me, slowly. Through my shield, I saw a vision of myself asking to be killed, and Aro granting the request rather than let some other coven have use of my talents. "Bella," she hissed. "Please enlighten me as to exactly what I am seeing."

I flinched. Nice going, Bella, forget about the psychic. I frowned, and experimented with my shields. The mental shield couldn't block things in the physical world, and the physical shield had no affect on special vampire talents. So maybe a bit of both..?

My mental shield, and Alice's face, informed me that the combination shield was effective. My almost grin was wiped off my face by Alice's next words.

"This isn't over."

Who knew such a little vampire could look so scary?

Edward was very confused by this turn of events. He opened his mouth, but Alice beat him to the punch.

"Oh, please," she snorted. "It's not like everyone who knows you hasn't had to watch one sided conversations before."

He paused, then opened his mouth again.

"No, I will not tell you what we were talking about."

Edward shut his mouth.

We had been moving barely faster than human speed through the labyrinth of underground tunnels. But now we entered the tasteful lobby where Gianna worked. She looked shocked to see me with Edward.

'What do you know, she's not gay after all.'

I snorted at the same time as Edward did. We looked at each other and smiled, me for the first time since he had left. It was so easy to forget the last ten years of my life. It was as if they had never happened. But they had, and I couldn't allow myself to forget that he didn't want me. This wiped the smile off my face, and replaced it with a look of desolation. Edward looked concerned, and I barely had time to wonder why before he swooped down and kissed my forehead.

I touched my hand to my head, where his lips had touched. This was more than I had any right to expect, and yet I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or worried. I was terrified at how much harder it would make this when he left again. But my common sense was overpowered by my desire to just stay in this moment, where he felt guilty, where I could pretend he loved me.

Demetri cleared his throat, and I started as I realized that Edward and I had been staring at each other's faces for far too long. I looked away, slightly embarrassed. This was also new. I hadn't felt embarrassment in so long. I'd pretty much been a zombie.

Ha, more like a vampire.

I brushed off this ridiculous attempt by my brain at humor, and kept walking along the lobby, and into the corridor that led to the gathering room. I knew everyone would be there; Heidi was due to return at any minute. I brushed off my disgust at this, and put my hand on the immense golden doors. I hesitated, for some strange reason, and looked back at Edward. He smiled at me reassuringly. I didn't understand why he was looking at me like that. It reminded me of something… a fuzzy human memory of before… it was almost an expression of lo—

I shut down that thought before I could finish it. He didn't love me. But he was here now, and that was all that I needed for now.

I opened the door.

###

So… I'm not dead. Just busy with school and terrible about updating. On the bright side, this chapter was the longest yet! Still only about two thousand words, but oh well.

On another note, I've noticed I have a disturbing habit of leaving you on cliff hangers. That's probably not a good thing. I suppose you must be somewhat frustrated. I promise to update at least once more this weekend, and hopefully much more often— it's just that I have a history project that I've got to work on.

Anyone know where I can find info on the Salem Witch Trials?

-Anna