A/N Thank you for everyone that has left a review and favorited. I truly appreciate it. I'm sorry it took me longer to get this chapter out, I was sick and had a lot of appointments. I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always you can follow me on instagram ree_713_

Jake looked towards the door. There stood the person that caused my heart to beat and for it to stop. Just hearing his voice sent shivers through my body. Each word he spoke sang to my heart. Even though he only uttered a simple hello, it breathed life into me. I knew instantly that it was wrong for me to have these feelings. I knew these feelings should be gone but I had no control over them.

"Why don't you give her some time to rest?" Jake hissed.

"I'm just here to make sure she is ok."

"I'm ok Edward. Just a little sore and tired."

For a few minutes he just stood there, looking at me intensely. And then he spoke.

"Jacob, can you please excuse us for a moment? I need to speak with Bella privately."

"No Edward, I cannot. I'm not leaving her side."

"Jacob I am fully capable of keeping Bella safe."

"Are you? It hasn't seemed like you are. Quite honestly you've been doing the exact opposite."

"Jake," I intervened. "That's enough, it's not his fault. It's no one's fault. Just give us a minute. I'm sure he has questions about what happened and I at least owe him that."

"You don't owe him anything Bella, you need to finally realize that."

I just sighed and looked at Jacob. He finally relented and began to walk towards the door.

"Whatever Bella, I'll go let your parents know you're awake," Jake huffed as he walked out of the room.

Edward sauntered over to the side of my bed. I could see fear and hurt and hesitancy in his face. Everything in me wanted to calm him but in order for me to do that I could potentially lead him on. That's the last thing I wanted to do, there was already enough confusion going on.

"Edward there's a chair over there if you would like to sit down." I pointed to the chair in the corner of the room. I watched as his eyes looked in the direction of the chair, but never truly focusing on it. His mind was elsewhere.

"No, thank you Bella, I…I just need to get this out."

My heart started to beat faster, I felt the blood drain from my face. I didn't know what would come next but something told me that it wouldn't ease the mess I've already created.

"Edward, you don't.…"

"Stop Bella, let me just say what I need to say please."

I could see the determination and necessity to express whatever he needed to express. There wasn't anything myself or anyone else could do to prevent him from this very moment. In all honesty, I was curious as to what he had to say. But I knew that what he had to say could also further break me. All I could do was sit there and listen.

"Isabella, firstly I would like to apologize for placing you in harms way. I thought I was protecting you by leaving and I see that I actually made things worse. I hate myself for not thinking of the possibility that Victoria would come back for revenge. I hate myself that I not only left you in a broken emotional state, but you are now in a broken physical state because I didn't protect you. I should've been here, making sure you were okay, but I couldn't handle seeing you knowing I couldn't be with you. That was selfish on my part, I should've been stronger. However, I swear to you if I even so much as thought you being harmed was a possibility I would've never left. The sole reason I left is because I thought you'd be safer without me. I'm so sorry."

"It's ok, I'm..."

"No Bella, let me finish. When I left I wanted you to have a normal life. Get married, have children, grow old. Now that I'm back I see that you have already started that journey with Jacob. It's exactly what I wanted for you, but watching you live it is heart breaking..no, that's not even the word for it. I'd rather die a thousand painful deaths than to watch you be happy with someone else. I know that is very selfish of me to say and feel but these past several months have been hell on Earth for me. Right before I came back to look for you I was going to the Volturi to ask for death. If they did not grant my request I planned to expose myself to humans, therefore, forcing their hand at killing me. I don't want to live in a world without you by my side, loving me as I love you. You are my single reason to continue walking this Earth. I know you love Jacob and he is capable of protecting you, but I would not trust that task to anyone. From this moment on I pledge myself to protect you. I will stay in the shadows of your life and promise to only intervene when you are in danger. I will watch you live your life, however you choose, until you take your last breath. At that point, I too will take my last breath."

I was completely taken aback by his words. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. I couldn't believe that he no longer wanted to live. Hearing him say that brought so much sadness. The man I loved, and then hated, couldn't fathom life without me, all the while I felt the same thing. Except he didn't have a Jacob to piece his heart together. I had no idea what to say to him, where to begin. I just stared at him. Until I asked, "What would you like to happen at this very moment?"

"In a perfect world I would scoop you into my arms and carry you out of here. To a safe place where you could rest and continue to heal. I would care for you myself and love you. I would.…"

"Ok."

Edward lowered his head, "I'm sorry if I got carried away."

"No, I mean ok, I accept. I would like for you to do exactly what you just said."

He looked at me, peering into my soul, looking for something.

"What do you mean Bella?"

"I mean exactly what I said. I asked you what you wanted at this very moment and you answered and I want the same thing you want. So are you going to execute that plan?"

"Are you sure? I mean…nevermind, let me get you out of here before you change your mind." He smiled and I could see how genuine it was. We both hadn't smiled a genuine smile in so long. It was so refreshing to see the joy in his face that I could do nothing but return the smile.

And just that quickly he removed my IV and gently lifted me into his arms. It was slightly painful but being in his arms made it worth it. I laid my head on his shoulder and he placed a light kiss on my forehead. At that moment I closed my eyes and took in only the feelings I had at that moment. The feelings of completeness, love, happiness. I didn't think about the consequences or who may be hurt or what I was leaving. I simply acted on my instinctual desire to love and be loved. I needed that moment. A moment where I didn't think, I just acted out exactly what I felt and it was happening right then, no turning back. I was in his arms and he was leaving the hospital room.

"I'm going to have to run so no one will see us leaving, just hold on to me tight. I'll be very gentle, I know this is probably very painful for you. I promise I'll get you comfortable very quickly as soon as we're out of here."

Then everything was a blur and we were moving at a speed I couldn't imagine. In what seemed like 2 seconds I was inside his Volvo, sitting in the passenger seat. It was a slightly rainy night but as fast as Edward moved I don't think one raindrop touched me. He strapped me in the seat with the seat belt and said he would be right back, he had to run back in and get some things. And then he was gone in a blur again.

I sat in the car waiting for him and then I saw movement to my left in the parking lot. I looked over and saw three figures walking towards the entrance of the hospital. As they got closer I could finally make out who they were. It was Jacob with my parents. That was when everything I blocked out broke through and hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized exactly what I was doing and how it would create an even bigger mess. All of the questions my loved ones would have, breaking Jake's heart when all he has done was put mine together again. And then Edward was back.

"Here Bella, take this pill. I got some supplies for the trip and you'll definitely need these pain pills. I want you to be comfortable, it'll help you sleep too."

I swallowed the pill and watched as Jacob and my parents walked into the hospital I had just left.