Author's Note: Okay, people this is my freaking final attempt. Review because this may be the last chapter you ever see. Also, FATE IS BOTHERSOME can use some readers too.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

During my temporary unconscious state, I was able to regather my emotions and thoughts. For the first time in a long time, I was able to form fully coherent and rational thoughts. I felt gradually replenished, and more importantly, I felt a lot more like myself. When I felt like I was ready, I was pulled away toward consciousness by something from deep inside of me.

My eyelids opened slowly. I felt a pressure being put on my lips and warm life-giving liquid being forced down my throat. Alex was mouth-feeding me. It must have taken a lot of self-control for him to accomplish this. Any normal vampire would not have been able to store blood in his mouth to transfer to another. Yet, he was doing just that because of me.

I swallowed the gulp that he poured into my mouth and used my hand to nudge him gently. My slight touch alarmed him, and his closed eyes opened. Our eyes met for a split second before he pulled away and sat himself on the far corner of the bed. He probably thought I would be unhappy with our positions just then. But I knew there was a large difference between him trying to resuscitate me and taking advantage of me.

I pulled myself off the mattress and pulled the blanket to the side. I didn't feel as weak as I remembered; that must be thanks to the blood that I was being fed. The events that occurred before I collapsed flooded back into my brain. I remember the rain, the lightning, and the pain. I sighed and pushed that aside for the moment.

"How did I get back here?" I questioned.

"When I came home and saw your note, I immediately went to look for you. I found you unconscious in the middle of the forest. I carried you back here. You were unconscious for four days," Alex said with an emotionless tone.

He wasn't even looking at me as he talked. I knew that he must be really angry at me by the tension in his body. I could stand it if he yelled at me, but I couldn't deal if he pretended he wasn't angry and kept his distance from me.

"Alex, I'm really s-"

"Bella, do you have any idea how worried I was?"

His kept the emotionless tone, but I could tell it was difficult for him to even talk to me. He rarely ever cut me off, but the fact that he did worried me.

"During the time that I was looking for you, my mind ran through a million possibilities of what might've happened to you while I was gone. I felt like my head was going to explode. And then only to find you lying so still on the forest floor. You weren't even breathing, and I couldn't wake you up. What was I to think then? I thought something had happened, and I would never be able . . . "

His voice began to crack and he stopped mid-sentence. He put his head in his hands leaving the words he just said to linger in the air. I felt like my heart had dropped to the ground. Alex has been more composed than anyone during the recent events, and now I've caused him to break down too.

I inched toward him and reached out to touch his shoulder. He lifted his head to look at me for a split moment. Then, he sat up, grabbed my waist, and pulled me into his chest. His arms wrapped themselves around my shoulders tightly. His grip was so tight that I couldn't even breath. He laid his chin on my shoulder. I tried to pull away slightly, but he tightened his grip.

"Bella, just stay for a moment, please. Just for a moment," Alex pleaded over my shoulder.

His words were not for the benefit of my strength. He could easily keep me in his grip with me not fully recovered. He said this for the fact that I may choose to teleport away from him.

I suddenly couldn't bring myself to push him away. For me, he has done so much, and I could never return the feelings he has for me. Maybe for just a moment, I could show him the affection that he truly deserved. I slowly wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my head on his shoulder. I felt Alex kiss my head lightly.

Just like he said, he released me after a moment and stood up from his seat. He smiled forcefully at me and reached down to smooth my hair. He was an inch away from my hair before he abruptly pulled away. I looked up at him questioningly. He pulled his eyes from mine and walked toward the door.

"Bella, you should be strong enough to go hunting now. Get ready. I'll wait for you in the garden," he said as he was walking away.

I was extremely curious of his reaction just now, but he was out the door before I could ask. He pulled the door shut behind him to leave me alone. I swung around so that my feet could touch the ground. I noticed that I wasn't wearing what I had on before and that these clothes weren't drenched with rain. I took a moment to wonder who dressed me but decided that wasn't really that important.

I got off the bed and ran my hand through my hair. I truly didn't know what I needed to do to get ready. It wasn't like I needed a gun to hunt. Although, I was barefoot. I walked to the closet to find some decent shoes.

While I was searching through the small mountain of footwear that I have, my thoughts wandered to Alex. I couldn't deny that I was wrong about him. He didn't just want me because he couldn't have me. Although the fact that he can't have me still stands firmly. But this was no game he was playing. The way he treated me was clearly absolute devotion and affection. And his insistence on sticking by side obediently may be the only reason why I'm still sane.

I felt like I owed him so much, but I couldn't even give him anything. All I could do was to enjoy the devotion he had toward me. Was I wrong to be so stubborn with the way I felt? What would happen if I just allowed him a chance? The thought of it was deafening. This was the first time I really gave this a thought. Alex was rapidly becoming my only comfort while Edward became my pain and loneliness. Even the thought of his name sent surges of agony through my body.

The sound of the door opening caused me to snap out of my thoughts. I had stopped searching for shoes amidst my argument with myself. I shook my previous thoughts off and quickly picked up a pair of simple tennis shoes. I slid them onto my feet and tied the shoestrings.

"Isabella," a voice that sent my emotions flying called.

I raced back out of the closet and froze when I saw the person seated gracefully on my bed. He was staring absently out the window, but I knew he was fully aware of my presence. There was hardly anything he wasn't aware of. I haven't seen him in almost three weeks, and I thought I wouldn't even live to see him come home again.

He turned his head to look at me and got up swiftly to greet his daughter. I launched myself at him, unable to contain the relief I felt at the sight of him. He caught me in his arms and patted my back as I clung to him like he was a lifeboat.

"Silly child, when will you allow me to be at peace? I came back to an empty mansion, because everyone was out looking for my only daughter who promised me she would be careful while I was gone. I find a note in your room telling me your last wishes. Then, I see your lifeless body being carried back here in the rain. What were you thinking?"

His tone wasn't the least bit angry. He sounded concerned and understanding. He broke our embrace and held me at arms' length. He examined me carefully as if checking to see if I was in anyway physically harmed. He seemed at least satisfied with his findings, but he frowned at the grief in my eyes.

"Father, I'm sorry," I muttered looking at the floor.

"I'm sure you are, but for what? For being reckless and not considering what how your father would feel when you leave him behind? Or causing even more chaos in the mansion than there already is?"

"For everything," I replied feeling more and more ashamed.

My father used his hand to lift my chin up off the floor so I could see his face. He was smiling kindly. He tucked my hair behind my ears and out of my face. There was no one better at making a girl feel safe than my father. Probably because there wasn't really much that can harm you when he's here.

"Even if you made a mistake, you must keep your chin up and move on. I don't blame you for anything. I know you felt that your decisions were correct at the time and that's all the reason I need." I nodded and smiled.

My father led me to the bed and we both sat on the edge. I could sense that there is something he wanted to tell me. I still didn't know why he went to London and why it took so long. For a long time, my father stared out the window deep in thought. He held onto my hand tightly.

His calm exterior was all a lot of people see but I knew better. I knew there was something troubling him and more than enough for him to worry about. His status and power over our kind seemed very admirable on the outside, but for him, it was an overly heavy responsibility. My father sacrificed his own happiness for the good of others throughout his entire existence. I knew he was exhausted deep inside. He was the loneliest person in the world.

"Isabella, it seems I have no other way," my father said to break the silence. "But I will be wrong whether I choose my sister or my daughter."

Author's Note: Review!