Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Twilight and all the characters involved in Twilight are the sole property of Stephanie Meyers. Much of the dialect stems directly from Meyers' books Twilight or Midnight Sun.

Authors Note: I am working on trying to get a permanent word program to replace the one my wonderful husband completely annihilated. I am unsure as to how many days I have left on this free trial. I will, however, continue to update no later than every two weeks, if not every week. I hope you enjoy

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I want to send a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed and let me know what they thought. Andrew'sAmy, Misfit123, Bird That Flies At Dawn, LordXeenTheGreat, DacelLuvJason, lildee-dee247, lorri-cullen, Kiwi Mangos, Rachelohplz, KellyRenea, bakerusaf, mundaneity

If I have missed anyone, I am sorry. I thank you too!

Chapter XIV

My mind registered the flame long enough to have an epiphany. The night I got sick and was forced to stay home the next day, I had seen a white flame in the forest. It was in my dream, but it was a white flame just as the one I saw here. I had not been afraid of the flame in my dream. On the contrary, it beckoned me. The voice that came from it was soothing. His voice was soothing. That voice. My mind jumped from the dream to last night. It was the same voice! It was Fin's voice! Could that flame have really been Fin? Hadn't I read somewhere about angels and pillars of fire? It sounded familiar.

I hadn't been able to see Fin last night, but I did see a glimpse of his eyes that night in Port Angeles. His Emerald eyes that seemed to burn in the headlights resembled those emerald eyes that gazed in astonishment at me from that pillar of white flames. It had to be Fin in my dream. How could I have not connected his eyes and voice to my dream sooner?

I felt like hitting my forehead in a duh manner, but instead I just bit my lower lip and continued to look out the window. I continued to try and figure out the mystery of Fin.

"I'm a… a friend." Fin's voice had sounded so sad. He was just as sad as in my dream when I asked if I knew him. "Only in memory." Only in Memory? What did that mean? He had also called me by another name. What was it? McKella? No. "McKenna... You found me." McKenna! That was it! He called me McKenna last night too! "I am sorry to do this to you McKenna… but I am putting you in more danger just by being here." Why did he call me McKenna? Why did that name sound so familiar at the same time? How was he putting me in danger?

Uhg! I was starting to develop a headache. Just as soon as I solve one mystery, several others appeared. Maybe it would be easier to decide that I had just imagined last night and him in Port Angeles. I mean, how is it possible to dream about a man before ever meeting him? He wasn't a man though. Not in reality or in my dream. He started out as just a white flame. He took on the shape of a man, but never actually appeared as a man.

No. I couldn't do that. I couldn't pretend none of it had happened. I wasn't the only one who had heard him in Port Angeles. Fin had stopped that... I shivered thinking about the dark haired man in Port Angeles. Last night, I may have been alone, but it was too real and too vivid. The emotions I felt, I can still recall them with such clarity. No, I couldn't doubt that Fin really did exist, even if I wanted to.

"What are you thinking?" Edward's melodic voice broke through the confusion that was swirling in my head.

I glanced over to him. His eyes were trained on me with curiosity. My heart stuttered at that unearthly beauty that was Edward. "What?"

He lifted his lips up in that crooked smile I loved. "You have no idea how incredibly frustrating it is not being able to hear what you're thinking. Your expression fluctuates from that contemplative eureka look to utter confusion to acceptance and then it starts all over. It makes it hard to figure out what you're thinking."

Wow. I really was easy to read. I smiled sarcastically. "Welcome to human life, where you don't have the edge of being able to read people's minds." I was really glad he couldn't read my mind, even though that only further proved that I was not normal.

Edward's smile lessened, but was still magnificent. "I have spent most of my immortal life trying to shut the voices out. You have no idea how mundane and confusing it can all be."

The sarcasm faded from my smile, innocence replacing it. "Of course, that was until I came along and threw a wrench into your mental workings, right?" I batted my eyelashes like I have seen girls on TV do.

Edward's smile became brilliant again. "Yes. The one person I love and would love to know what she is thinking, I can't. How is that for irony?" He laughed heartedly. I looked at him unblinking as a blush tinted my cheeks pink. I don't know if I could get used to his declarations of love.

Edward looked back to the road. "So that brings us back full circle. What has your mind running a marathon?"

I opened my mouth to tell him about the flame in the woods, but then clamped my mouth shut. If I told him about that, he would probably drag information about Fin out too. I wasn't sure if I was ready to tell Edward about Fin. Even though everything I could think of pointed to Fin being real, it could also point to a nut house if I couldn't prove it. What proof did I have? None. I had nothing to prove he existed. Edward had never mentioned 'hearing' him that night. Jacob hadn't seen him last night. I hadn't even seen him, not all of him at least.

"Bella?" Edward's voice sounded puzzled. I wasn't going to look at him though. I already knew if I looked into those golden eyes, he would definitely see right through me and I would crumble and tell him everything, despite myself. Then I felt his hand on top of mine. A cold chill passed through my body, followed by warmth. It was then that I looked at him. A concerned tilt to his brows and slight downward curve to his lips caused a tug of war within me. Should I succumb to his dazzling effects and tell him everything or stay strong in my resolve until I had proof?

I felt myself waiver as I heard myself speak. "Do you believe in Angels?"

The air in the cab suddenly felt heavier as Edward's smirk died away quickly. He turned his attention back to the road. Had I said something wrong? Where Edward had been jovial and in good nature, now he seemed solemn and morose. "Edward?"

Edward kept his eyes trained on the road. There was an unmistakable sadness pitted in the depths of his eyes. He quickly altered his facial features and erased all emotions off his face before turning back to me. "I believe they exist, yes." Although his face did not betray him, his voice did. It was too contrite.

"What's wrong Edward?" I examined his every move, as best as I could with my human eyes. Edward merely lifted his lips in a half smile and shook his head. "So… do you have plans for the rest of the day or would it be okay if I came in?" Edward pulled to a stop in my drive as he sidestepped my question.

I blushed deeply as I looked to the house. Charlie was not home and probably wouldn't be until around nightfall. It would just be me and Edward for a few more hours. My heart raced for a moment at the possibilities. Then I had to scold myself. I was way too young to allow my mind to wonder in the direction it had. I wasn't someone who necessarily believed you had to wait till marriage to give yourself to another… I did however have my own personal rules I had set for myself when it came to boys. The first rule was to not lose my identity because of a boy. The second rule was not to rush into a relationship. The third rule was purely about physical relations. There were pre-requisites. One, we had to be in love. Not just one of those relationships where he says he loves me just to get into my pants. No. I had to love him and he couldn't pressure me. Two, I had to be eighteen or older. Anything younger just seemed too young. I wanted to be an adult when I partook in that act. Lastly, I would have to thoroughly think it through. None of that spur of the moment crap. That is how mistakes are made and accidents happen. I did not want to be that statistic.

"Bella?" Edward cut the engine and handed me the keys.

I gazed at Edward for a short moment, feeling a longing deep in the recesses of my body. Then I diverted my eyes feeling embarrassed. I had already broken rule two and was trying desperately not to break rule one. I would not break rule three. "Yeah, of course you can come in." I smiled trying to avoid eye contact. Edward was so good at reading my mind without actually reading it. I just knew if he saw into my eyes, he would guess as to where my mind had led me.

We spent the rest of the day just talking about various things. I had wanted to ask him more in depth about his reaction back in the truck, about angels, but was afraid to. He had distant himself and obviously changed the subject. It was obvious that Edward did not want to talk about that subject, so I put it into the back of my mind for a later day.

Toward nightfall, Edward had found a subject he found highly fascinating, my childhood. He asked me about the different places I had lived. He was surprised by the fact that I had lived in more cities than years I had been alive. Counting Forks, I think the count is around nineteen. Renee was very whimsical as I grew up. Anytime something caught her fancy, she would put her whole self into it. Sometimes, more often than not, those fancies moved us to another place.

Edward became interested in Renee's personality when I explained to him the many reasons of jumping from city to city. When he asked more about her, I quickly changed the subject. He allowed me to change it and then asked me about childhood friends.

I told him about being acquainted with Rebecca and Rachel. I told him about how I used to play with them at the beach when I visited Charlie. I told him about a few acquaintances I had in Phoenix. Other than Forks and Phoenix, I was never anywhere long enough to meet anyone. Until we moved to Phoenix, I pretty much gave up on the idea of socializing.

"So, you had no boyfriends and no real friends?" Edward's voice sounded surprised. "You were right, you aren't normal."

I smiled sheepishly and shrugged. I guess he was right. Acquaintances aren't really friends. I did have a childhood friend though. For some reason, I felt the need to keep him secret from Edward. It was ridiculous to feel that way, but that didn't change the fact that I did feel that way. What we had was a special friendship, one that I had coveted since the moment I met him. I let my mind go back to that first day we met.

I was chasing after Rachel and Rebecca. I don't know how I became it again? It seemed that I was always it. It really wasn't any fair! When I protested, claiming I was it last time, Rebecca shrugged and Rachel said I could just go play with someone else.

They could be so mean, but I really didn't know anyone else. I was only here in Forks for a couple of weeks. Mom would be back then and take me back home to Corpus Christy. We have been living there for a few months. Before there, we lived in Kansas City. Before that, it was Fargo. I hated Fargo! It was probably only a matter of time before we left Corpus Christy.

Rebecca was the faster of the two of the twins, so I focused on chasing Rachel.

"Ha-ha, you can't catch me!" Rachel mocked me. She glanced back at me with a gleam in her eyes.

I hated that they were both so smug. I never caught either of them. This game really wasn't much fun. I was way too slow to catch them.

Rachel ran into the spray of the ocean and turned to taunt me. I stopped running then. They knew I hated to go into the water. It was too cold and wet! I crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn't going to play.

Suddenly, I felt a hard push in my back and fell to the ground, hitting a log with my shins. I felt the skin on my hands give way to the rocks I fell on. I could feel the beginnings of bruises on my leg where I hit the log.

It really hurt. I could feel the throb reverberating off my shin bones. The burning in my hands caused tears to come to my eyes. I turned over and looked through blurry eyes as Rebecca looked down concerned at first, but then shrugged. "Sorry, it was an accident." She then ran off to join Rachel in the water. They were kicking the waves that lapped the shore line.

I sat up and let the tears spill over. I hated it here! I wanted to go home! I hid my tear stained face in my knees and cried. I wanted mom to come back now and take me away. Becca and Rachel were so mean!

I heard someone walk up and then saw a pair of bare feet in front of me. When I looked up, I saw a tan boy. I didn't know him, but for some reason I liked him. It was like something clicked in my head and I wanted to be friends with him. I had never really wanted to be friends with anyone. I wanted friends, just not anyone I had met until now.

He knelt down to me and took my hands. I enjoyed him holding my hands; it caused a flutter in my stomach. He looked at the tiny dots of blood that had seeped from the small scrapes carefully and then looked me square in the face. With all seriousness in his voice he spoke. "It's okay. I don't think you hurt the log that bad." His full lips tilted upward in a huge grin.

My tears were quickly forgotten when the absurdity of what he said made me laugh. "No, but the log got me pretty good!" I pointed at my leg where a red spot was visible. It would definitely bruise.

The boy looked down at my leg and shrugged. "I think you're tougher than that old log anyway... It just snuck up on you." The grin never left his face as he dabbed his shirt on my hands to wipe away the blood. He definitely was younger than me. I was nine, but I don't think he was much younger than that, maybe seven or eight.

The boy looked out to the water to where Rachel and Rebecca were making a lot of noise. A cloud of sadness descended on me at that point. Of course he would rather play with them. There were two of them and they were laughing and having fun. I was only one and crying. I felt like crying some more because I would be left alone yet once again. I didn't want to be alone. "Wanna get them back?" He kept his gaze on the twins.

His words surprised me. "What?"

He turned to look at me with mischief in his eyes. "Wanna get them back?" He repeated.

"You don't want to go play with them?" I was completely bewildered as he made a face and stuck out his tongue in a disgusted manner. I laughed again.

"Heck no!" He exclaimed. His expression was classic. "Those two are only good for one thing!" His grin grew more sinister. "Torture!"

"Really?" I knitted my brows in confusion. "Are you sure?"

Jacobs face was full of certainty as he nodded. Then it fell in misery as he nodded his head pathetically toward the twins. "They really are horrible." A shiver ran through his body.

That decided it. They were horrible to this boy who I liked. I may have just met him, but I wanted to be his friend. "Let's do it!" I smiled widely at him. He returned my smile and we both turned to look at our new prey.

"Bella, you're dosing off, maybe I should leave?" It was more of a question than a declaration.

I shook my head negatively and held onto his hand possessively. "No, please don't go." I yawned feeling my eyes grow heavy again. I hadn't been sleeping well lately and it was starting to weigh heavily on me now.

Edward gently ran a finger lightly over my hand, causing a sigh to escape my lips. "Bella, I can come back tomorrow." Edward made no move to leave. I knew then that he wasn't trying to convince me that he should leave, but himself.

I tightened my hand around his and looked at him pleadingly. "Please stay a little longer?"

Edward chuckled. "How about I stay just until you fall asleep?"

I smiled. "Thanks." I readjusted myself and laid an arm over him and snuggled closer. "Edward..." I tried to keep my eyes open.

"Hmm?" He stroked my hair back with his fingers. My eyes fluttered shut as I was almost brought back to my childhood when Renee used to do the same thing. It was relaxing. However, Edward smelled far to good to drift to far back into my childhood.

"What about your childhood?" I yawned, but strained my eyes back open. If he was staying until I fell asleep, I wanted to stay up as long as possible.

Edward stalled in his movements for a moment. I tensed thinking I had said something wrong again. Then his hand continued to stroke my hair. "I don't really remember it to well. All my memories before the change are fuzzy." Sadness haunted his words.

"I am sorry." I looked up at him and he smiled down at me. "How did it happen? The change I mean?"

Edward's smile faded into a straight line. "Well, It was 1918 and the influenza was running rampant. My mother and father had already perished. Carlisle was the physician at the hospital we were at." Edward's eyes lifted into a smile. It was obvious that he loved and respected his adopted father. "Carlisle did the hardest thing imaginable for a vampire when he changed me." Edward looked down at me. "See, when we taste blood, especially human blood, a sort of feeding frenzy occurs. Carlisle was strong enough to stop though." Edward sighed. "I was the first. A few years later, Esme joined us." Edward stopped momentarily as I sat up. I readjusted myself into a sitting position so that I wouldn't fall asleep. Edward looked at me peculiarly and then smiled. I am sure he realized what I was doing. "You know, I will be here tomorrow. It's okay if you sleep."

I shook my head thinking about tomorrow. I had told Jacob that I would call him tomorrow. Maybe I could call him and reschedule. I had a sudden feeling of remorse at that thought. Was it right to break plans with friends because of a guy? Is that what I would do normally? No. I would not break plans with a friend because of a guy for one reason. I had never had a boyfriend before. Then again, I hadn't really had any real friends either. This was all new territory for me. Maybe the best thing to do would be to work it out so that I could spend time with both?

Edward grinned as he wrapped his hand into mine and delicately placed a kiss to my knuckles. "I was hoping to take you to my house tomorrow. Give you a formal introduction."

I had been feeling elated and dizzy from the kiss Edward left, but then the atmosphere shifted to dread. The possibility of being with Jacob tomorrow was bombarded out of my thoughts. "You want me to meet your family?"

Edward nodded as his face became concerned. "They won't hurt you." Edward lifted a brow questioningly when his promise did not placate me. "I will keep you safe." He promised.

I nodded my head, "Edward. I am not afraid of your family. It's just. I don't think they like me very much." I cringed remembering how they all glared at me at school.

Edward's confusion quickly vanished as he tried to hold back a laugh. "You're not worried about meeting a house full of vampires, but instead worried they don't like you?" I could hear the absurdity in his logic, but lately, I haven't been very logical.

I nodded. "I really don't think…"

Edward interrupted before I could say anything else. I hadn't even see him move, but then his face was a few inched from mine. "You are absolutely incredible." His words were both overjoyed and sad at the same time. That seemed to happen a lot with Edward. His words always seemed to hold double meanings. I couldn't think as to what that double meaning meant because I was too busy trying not to hyperventilate.

I released a breath slowly, trying to keep control of myself. The last time we were so close, I practically attacked him. I was fighting the urge again as his sweet smell set my body afire. "I... Edward..." I closed my eyes as he brought his hand up to cup my cheek. The small movement caused a tremor to cascade through my body.

"Yes?" His voice came out as a soft whisper.

I opened my eyes to see him gazing at me in a way I was unfamiliar with. It made me feel like I was burning. "I... I uhh..." I swallowed as he brought his other hand up and weaved his fingers through my hair. It was hard to say anything. I just wanted to stop thinking and just feel. "We probab..." I could feel myself hyperventilating now. His gaze seemed to sear through me. I felt his hand on my cheek getting colder as my cheeks burned.

"Bella, you are truly amazing." His eyes gazed into mine. Neither of us blinked. "There is something about you..." His voice trailed off and suddenly I felt stunned. Something was off. Instead of me feeling dazzled by him, he seemed to be dazzled by me. It was like he was stuck in a trance.

"Ed..." His lips came to mine before I could ask him why he looked at me the way he did. When his lips met mine, the question was forgotten. Everything was forgotten. The only thing that registered was his lips on mine. I must have forgotten to breath too because the next thing I realized I was hanging limp in Edward's arms.

"Wha... What happened?" I questioned him. Edward looked concerned and half confused himself.

"I am not really sure." He looked abashed for a moment and then guilty. "I am sorry about that. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have done that."

I shook my head negatively. "Edward, don't apologize. I kinda... Well… I mean… I sorta like when you... umm... kiss me..." My cheeks burned hot. I put my hand to my cheeks, but then realized it was my whole body that felt hot.

Edward frowned. Of course he would think he was putting me in danger. He didn't like the fact that I enjoyed being with him more than feared him. "Are you feeling well?" He looked into my eyes and saw something he didn't like. Concern flooded his face.

I nodded my head. I felt fine. It was then that my head started to spin. I knew my eyes were wide open, but all I could see was white flickering through my vision. "Edward… I…" Panic seized my words and tightened my throat shut. The room began to tilt as I fell back in Edward's arms. I vaguely felt myself being lifted and Edward's melodic voice, but I couldn't make anything out. My eyes were too heavy to stay open and then nothing. Everything was black, but I felt a burning throughout my whole body. It wasn't uncomfortable though. Instead, it was familiar.