Disclaimer: Stephanie owns everything, but me. Too bad, or it could have been me paired up with Edward. (SIGH!)

Chapter 11

Letting Go

I watched as Bella clung to Jacob's fur as he ran down to beach toward La Push. I wanted to scream at them to stop; to wrap my arms around Bella, and assure her everything was going to work out. But I could find no voice. I just watched as they raced away, and felt my heart flying after them.

Bella! I thought wildly.

Once again, what I had brought her into harm's way. It was apparent that I could no longer continue playing with her fragile soul. I would change her the instant we marry. That is, if she'll even have me now.

How could I have done something so foolish? Now, I had not only involved my sweet innocent Bella, but the whole of my family as well. Rosalie had risked everything for me. I wanted to thank her and grovel at her shoes in repentance for every errant thought I'd ever had about her. My first sibling had destroyed her friend for my happiness. Not that I felt any joy at this moment, but she had created the only solution for dealing with the obsessed and crazed Tanya. I knew it nearly killed her to do it, but there hadn't been even a moment's hesitation. Rose did what she could to maintain our family unit. I finally realized exactly how much it meant to her.

Seth had greeted me as I approached the beach.

"Tell the pack to stay back and only attack if necessary. Please," I whispered urgently to him.

The boy-wolf rolled his gray eyes, while his sister thought her own horrid thoughts about my Bella. I shot her an icy glare which scared them from her mind instantly. My request had already been relayed to the pack.

As I had approached the beach, I could hear Tanya's thoughts. She was screaming of murder and rage, and when I first saw her, Tanya was perilously close to my Bella. I almost lost it when I saw her poor breakable body pressed low against the ground. Tanya was leaning over her, thinking only that once Bella's blood no longer coursed through her veins, I would take her as she wished to be taken. I saw the deranged visions of me attacking her beside Bella's corpse. Only Tanya envisioned it as an assault of passion that ended in feverish intamacy. The thoughts had made my stomach turn.

I shouted for Tanya to stop which only served to aggravate her rage further.

Never again! Shrieked Rose's mind. Before I had the sense of mind to react, Rosalie had grabbed hand fulls of Tanya's hair, and pulled her away from Bella. Her body was momentarily airborne as Rose yanked with a force that rivaled Emmett's.

"I think Alice already warned you not to mess with our family." The tone of Rose's voice was seething with acid.

Her words took Tanya by surprise. I am your family, she tried to say, not understanding the vehemence in her friend's voice. Rosalie pulled her hair again furiously.

"Will you leave Edward to his decision?" She demanded.

The smile that stretched her mouth was strained. Behind the stony eyes, Tanya's mind whirled. This wasn't what she had been expecting. In fact, she hadn't really come here to hurt Bella, at all. It was my sisters' loyalty that caused the fury. Tanya had merely expected to scare Bella away, leaving her way open to me. I mentally slapped myself for never seeing this kind of obsessive behavior in her before. There had been many signs along the way. What I had taken for understanding was only space in Tanya's mind. She had married for eternity, while I had done it for escape. I felt beyond guilty for having pushed her so far to the brink.

Alice looked at me. "You don't realize what she's done for him."

"For all of us." Rosalie voiced her exact thoughts. She was thinking of Bella's influence over our daily lives. She couldn't deny the way people seemed to gravitate toward my beautiful Bella. She was even clever enough to crack a smile on Rose's stony face on more than one occasional.

I think she'll come around, Edward. Tanya is not unreasonable. Emmett thought, reacting to my undeniably pained look. He was likewise torn by the scene before him. He kept remembering the day he grabbed a giggling Tanya and Rosalie around their waists and jumped off an insanely high, snowy slope. They all squealed and laughed sliding to a less than graceful halt directly into a snowbank.

I shook my head slightly. Tanya was losing herself in some sort of crazed mental state. I almost felt it as her sanity tore slowly away from her.

The guilt rushed me, choking the air in my lungs. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to massage an idea from my mind but could think of nothing to calm her. Jasper had only just reached the range of my hearing. It would be a few more minutes before he was close enough to use his abilities.

"Tanya, this isn't Bella's fault." I meant it to be as reassuring as possible. I would do anything for my Bella's life. Tanya should be angry with me. As always, nothing is the fault of my perfect angel. I saw Bella's face pull into a beautiful smile as I stepped into the sunshine.

Tanya seemed to notice it too. I felt her mind break. The anger was no longer focused or coherent. It was the mind of insanity, dark and troubled with no true thoughts. My stomach rolled again. There was no reason left in her at all. The darker side had complete control.

"Not her fault?!" She shouted, kicking out at Bella. She struggled against Rosalie's grip in her hair. Tanya jerked her head back and forth ripping out hair in a sickening disparity. Then, she roared in agony. "Of course it's her fault! It's all her fault!" She shrieked.

Rosalie's hand was suddenly wrenched free. She stood for a split second staring repulsed at the handful of hair in her released hand.

Tanya shrieked, "Your mine!"

She lunged forward again. I watched in shock as Rosalie's face fell blank. There was only thoughts of denial as she leaned forward. I can't believe I'm doing this ... I can't believe this is Tanya ... Oh, I can't believe I have to do this!

As if leaning in to kiss Tanya's pale neck, Rose opened her mouth wide, sinking her white teeth into the cold marble neck.

A wild shriek escaped before the cold body fell lifeless to the ground.

When Rosalie came to the realization of the act, she dropped Tanya's head quickly.

Oh, my god! "I have to get out of here," she said, streaking into the trees.

I'll take care of Rose. You make sure Bella gets somewhere safe. I'm sure Carmen won't be too happy about this. Emmett thought

I nodded to him and he ran after his wife.

Alice distracted Bella as I walked over to the ruins of a woman I had known for nearly seventy years. This was no stranger. I knew her almost as well as any of my brother's and sisters. I remembered every moment we had ever spenttogether, both the good and bad. It all seemed insignificant in comparison to Bella, but each memory was special and comfortable on its own level.

My phone rang.

"Carlisle," I breathed.

"Edward," his voice sounded rang with the rare tone o panic. "Where is Bella?"

"Here," I answered.

"Have you seen Tanya?" He pressed in a rush.

I glanced at the stinking pile of burning vampire. "Yes."

My tone caught Carlisle off guard. "Edward..."

"She's dead."

I distinctly heard Carlisle's quick intake of air.

Quickly, I recounted the attack. I spoke fast even for me, but I knew Carlisle was listening intently to every word. When I finished, he sighed loudly. "Where is Rosalie now?" He asked calmly.

"Emmett followed her into the forest. She's having trouble rationalizing why she would choose Bella over Tanya."

"Of course she would make that choice. Rosalie is nothing if not committed to this family. Anything that will hold us together is worth the risk." I could hear admiration in his voice.

"I agree." I admitted. "How will Eleazar react, and Carmen? Tanya was her favorite."

"They will not be pleased. None of them wanted to estrange themselves from us, as we alone are unique in this world. It would be difficult to lose such ties." I knew Carlisle would suffer if the families were brought to fighting. He had met Eleazar over two hundred hundred years ago, and had convinced him there could be survival for him with out human sacrifice. Eleazar turned willingly, and Carmen, his mate, followed suit. Eleazar recruited his own family over the next two centuries, keeping close contact with Carlisle for emotional support Theirs was a bond forged out of common respect and decency.

"What about the werewolf situation?" I asked prying my mind away from such torturous thoughts.

"They were willing to stand aside for Irina to go after the wolves."

"Surely they're aware it would be suicide?" I interrupted.

"Oh yes. Well aware. Irina doesn't seem phased by anything we said. I think she would rather it ended badly."

My voice caught in my throat. I felt pity for the girl. No one could reject her desire for revenge, when it was only to find release from the pain of losing love.

"What is happening?" I choked out. I sobbed softly as I waited for some grand statement from my father. He alone had the power to make it better.

Carlisle remained silent for a long time, and I waited for him.

What's happening? A worried voice broke through my mind. Jacob was standing next to me.

I didn't know what to say, so I shrugged.

What the hell about Bella? The bloodsucker almost had her! He yelled.

I glanced over to Bella standing next to Alice. She was vomiting. Alice just barely managed to bounce out of the way of the oncoming flood of bile.

Carlisle seemed to be thinking about Bella, too. "Please get Bella as far away as possible. They will most likely blame her as well." I could tell it hurt him to make the admission, but Carlisle had never hidden anything from me before. "I'll get back with you after we reach Eleazar again and I know more."

I panicked again. "What, he's not with you?"

"No, they left to confer with each other. They won't know about Tanya yet, but they'll see the burning anytime. I can see the smoke rising above the trees now."

"They'll know as soon as they see it." I said. Jacob kept his black eyes trained on me.

"Yes. I will try and find them before they find you. Stay there, Edward." It wasn't a request.

"I'll be here," I finally assented and flipped the phone shut.

About time bloodsucker. Jacob snarled.

I growled back. "Don't push me today, mutt."

Look, if Bella wasn't safe before, she's screwed now. What do you plan to do about it? His worry was evident.

"I want you to take her and run," I answered. "Go as far and as fast as you can."

I know the perfect spot. He said. An image of a valley flashed through his mind. Mount Rainier stood prominently in the background. I nodded approval.

There was no more stalling the inevitable, so I tried to block the image from my mind as I shredded Tanya's body for burning. I tried to focus on the packs' mind, as they spaced themselves out to surround the beach. Despite the fact we were on tolerable terms with the wolves, it gave me an uneasy feeling to be cornered. I pulled a silver lighter from my pocket, and it lit on the first strike, just as it had for nearly a century. Tanya's body was instantly engulfed in a pale purple smoke.

I wondered silently how I would go, but didn't delve my mind into the mysteries of death. Instead, I ran over to Bella's side. She looked too pale and her skin was tinged green. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her forever, but the boy was already hovering by Bella's right side. She was shaking on the ground.

We need to hurry to make camp by sundown. Jacob warned.

I took one last look at the fragile creature lying on the stony beach. A confused glaze muted her usually vibrant eyes. There was nothing more I could say to her until this situation resolved. I gently picked her up and laid her across Jacob's back.

I could have done without his reaction. The way his mind objectified the love of my life made my toes curl. "Get her away," I hissed angrily.

I plan on it.

Furious at this pup, I leaned in toward Bella's perfect face. "Hold on tight, love," I whispered, my lips grazing her earlobe. Bella's potent scent swarmed my senses, and I exhaled deeply so I could pull in a lung full. I watched with a sting of jealousy as her normal reaction to my scent caused her wind her thin fingers through Jacob's fur.

Then he was gone, taking the reason for continuing my existence with him.

Glancing around, my eyes fell to Alice. She was still trying desperately to see the outcome of today's events. Her continued attempts only produced flashes of horror. In each outcome, a different member of my family lay broken or beheaded. When the images flashed to Bella laying unmoving, I pinched the bridge of my nose and moaned.

Purple smoke swirled around my feet, snaking upwards. Usually, I was an infinitely patient man, but this was the first time in my long existence I felt like I could wait no more. Jasper had walked over and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Brother, you are doing what is right. He will take care of her."

I knew Jasper only meant to calm my nerves, as the waves of energy he was shooting at me had no effect, but he manged to voice my worst fear perfectly. I had no doubt that Jacob would take very good care of her, indeed.

A/N: I know it repeats a lot of Chapter 9, but I was trying to show how torn Edward is over the events. I don't know how well I succeeded, but I tried. We'll met the rest of the Denali coven in the next Chapter!

Please review! It's really the only thing that keeps me going. I'm trying to reply to all of them again, so I can get back in fair graces with the Story Fairy. And as always, I'm open to all suggestions.