AN: Long time no see, huh? Sorry, lots of things going on. Thank you so much for the support! I hope you'll like the new part. :)
I knew he'll be back, anytime soon. It was so hard to sit and wait. Renesmee was watching me, as if she was afraid that I'll disappear like Edward did. She missed him, undoubtedly. She didn't know him, and yet she has lost him... But Alice promised me. And I knew that she would send Edward back. These days filled up with awaiting I spent on watching my little girl, couldn't believe how my heart belonged to her. She was the absolute centre of the universe. Invisible ropes linked me with her, ropes that no one could ever break. All I wanted was her happiness and safety.
I never told anyone what happened on the other side during the holy rite. When flames were slowly absorbing my skin, I had to choose. In that perfect world, I have made my vow, I couldn't see any other way. I was allowed to return for a short time, but my life was quickly heading to an end. I returned only to complete my tasks and to clear emotions. I did not want to pass away surrounded with sorrow. Though I knew I wouldn't be gone completely, thought of dying was frightening me. I couldn't imagine my life without Nessie; I would give up an eternity to be with her, to protect her, and to give her all my love. I had the knowledge of Jacob's feelings, and I could see that they - in some strange way - belonged together. I was a little bit more calm just knowing that she will have someone who would love her absolutely, just like I do. And of course Edward... While waiting for his homeback, I was shivering. I couldn't imagine this moment when I tell him everything, I didn't know how to tell him. My dearest angel, my darling, my love. The other spectrum. He was the second vow, a life for life. Times before I changed into who I am, I used to dream about my life as a vampire by his side. Every cell of my body needed him. But my life as an imprefect human was gone and now I had to deal with the consequences of being one of the immortal. But my immortal life had an end since the beggining, and I knew it was soon.
It was still the middle of the night, I just had my two hours of sleep. I opened the window to hear the crickets more clearly, when his steps sounded on the doorway. I smiled. Perfectly unmoved, clarified, filled only with love and waiting, I headed to the door. 'Edward.' I sighed. There was everything: the relief, the sadness, the wasted months. And love, unbroken. In a second he was hiding his face in my hair and hugging me with all his force. 'Bella.' He whispered in the perfect silence around us.
'I will never, ever leave you!'
'I know.' I smiled. He pulled me back and looked in my eyes. 'What's wrong?' His voice was low, almost silent. I shaked my head. 'Promise me you will not make anything stupid, or interrupt me', I asked. He slowly said 'Alright'. We sat down on the bench.
'Do you know what happened?' I started my story. 'After your departure. I was completely broken and I wanted to kill myself.'
Pain in his eyes told me that he knew, for sure from Alice.
'But Jacob saw it and pulled me out of the water. He met Este then, my first sister. She told me everything, she told me about my pregnancy. She taught me how to use herbs and things like that. She sang me songs just to put the thoughts of you away from my head. And I met my other sisters, Vesper, Zoe and Stella. They are still around. I gave up my school and I was waiting for Renesmee's birth. I couldn't predict if it's going to be a daughter or a son', I smiled, 'but I felt that it will be a son. In the night of Nessie's birth, something gone wrong and she was stiffling. It was extremely painful and I kind of tried to throw it away from my memories, but simply I just can't. I was dying, for real. But my sisters helped Renesmee and me. They conducted the holy rite and changed me into a witch.' I smiled again. There was silence, but I could feel Edward's eyes on me. 'I never told anyone what happened on the other side but Edward, there is the other side!' He frowned but didn't interrupt. I sighed. 'I was too weak, and it was too late. I was almost in the dead's land, but there was a deal, and I had to make a vow. And I did it. I was allowed to return.' I fell silent for a longer while, when finally Edward spoke. 'What kind of a vow?'
'Now, I want you to listen me very carefully. Will you, Edward?' 'Yes.'
'I made a promise that I will return to the mortal world just for a while, to clear up my things, to say goodbye. I wanted so badly to see you, Edward, and tell you how much I love you. To tell you about Ness.' He was unmoved, like a marble rock. I took a deep breath.
'This was also a night when Charlie died. And my time is soon. They won't let me stay longer than I promised. I must go back.'
'Go back?' he hissed. His face was shocked. 'You mean, die?'
'Yes, Edward.' I said carefully. 'I will die very soon'
'No.' He whispered. 'No. No. No!'
'Edward, calm down.' I said peacefully. 'There is nothing you can do with that. I made my decision already. You can't change anything. There is nothing on this world that would save me. Don't waste any more time than we have.'
He was absolutely devastated. I knew that if he could, he would ask, 'Why, Bella?' I could hear the unspoken question in the air. He took my hand very, very slowly and kissed it. He then raised from the bench. I smiled, but inside I was screaming that it is unfair, untrue, that I have to sacrifice myself in this moment, when finally I can feel the true happiness with Edward by my side and Nessie sleeping in the next room. But I said nothing. There was no place for grief or tears. I raised from my seat, when for the first time my strong heart lost its rhythm. The last thing I could see were Edward's eyes, filled up with terror, and his voice in my ears - 'Bella!' - and I faded into blackness, into nothing.
