Summary:
Just read it!

No delay was intentionally done!!
I was on a camping trip with my school and the results are a very, very bruised leg, bloody red eyes (ha!) from the sleep deprivation and tons and tons of unwanted insect bites!

Since chapter 13 I've never had received so many death threats in my life! So, hate mail is eagerly welcome compared to that! You guys have are the main reason why I dream about the different ways how to chop my head off! Of course everything is welcome! Thank you!

Shining Through (EPOV)

'Edward, please talk to me! Say something, honey. I know it is hard, I know what you're going…'

'What? Are you going to actually imply you know what I am going through, Esme?! Just stop it and leave me alone! Is that so hard to do?'

I knew that my mother was the one and only person I had no any right to yell at, but it's been a month since Bella left and all the rage and sadness and anxiety were spitting out now.

One month… The longest we've been apart since our wedding. Now I could finally comprehend Bella's emotional state when I left her – and it wasn't a nice feeling. I felt every nerve of my body tingle at the thought of her. Yes, she is a vampire and she is capable of taking care of herself, but I am not capable of taking care of myself. She was the one who always looked after me.

Funny how the roles had changed since her transformation. Even when she was more than ever thirsty and it was painful to hold out for even a couple of days, Bella took the role of a caring wife since day one and always backed me, looked after me, loved me unconditionally.

I'd been so self-absorbed, that I didn't see her own inner struggles. And now she left me. I wish I could hurt myself somehow, so that I wouldn't feel the inner pain.

Right now it was the 31st day and the minutes were up by 16 just a second ago.

Bella, where are you, my Bella? Where haven't I searched for you?

I won't give up on us. I know our love is strong enough and I will prove it to her. I will. I will love her for her and not take all she offers me and give only what I don't need. Nobody – no werewolves, no vampires, not even God will separate us.

Unless she doesn't love me anymore…

No! I didn't want to dwell on that thought. She sold her soul in order to be with me. What more of an assurance can I get?

'Please God, let everything be fine with my daughter. You've let them suffer enough already. Let me bear their burden.'

As I came back to the present I sensed Esme's desperate thoughts. Her hands were slightly trembling on her waist and her mouth was a thin straight line. Once again I hated myself for acting so cruel to her.

My mother was sitting on my left side at the dining table in the living room. Alice was curved up on one of the love seats – her head pressed gently on Jasper's lap. She had closed her eyes and put her middle and index fingers on each side of her head. I knew she was once more checking on Bella. She did that each 5 minutes for the last month.

Still, she didn't see Bella making any specific decisions. When I was penetrating her mind and her greyish visions, all I could make out was my wife running endlessly. Without looking back. One time Alice saw her hunting down a man, but that was 10 days ago and since then she was running again.

'Hmm, you know Edward when it comes to you and your wife I feel like the most stupid and normal human being on this earth! When it concerns any of your futures, then it's all just a shade of grey. Nothing is certain with you too! You're driving me insane!'

I took Alice's posture in and saw her whole body tense and her jaw clench and unclench as she hopelessly tried to decipher any of Bella's intentions. Jasper's eyebrows narrowed together as he felt her tension, but he let it unsaid.

And then I saw her smile.

'No, I was wrong. I was terribly wrong. There is one thing certain – for both of you. You love each other.'

I didn't feel that I was smiling too. It was when Esme's unsure hand cupped my cheek that I felt the ends of my lips arcing in a smile.

'I am so sorry, Esme. I shouldn't use you as a sewer for my rage. I am sorry and I really love you, mom.', her eyes warmed up and she smiled now too.

'I know that, honey. You don't have to apologize for anything. Just have faith. We know she is fine. But Edward, give her time! She is fairly young and she is pregnant! Pregnant, sweetie. She has to come to terms with a lot of thing, but most importantly herself. And the fact that she had finally realized that is good.'

'You know she loves you more than anything in this whole wide world, Edward. But I will be extremely angry if you ever doubted her. Be supportive and help her through this time – don't betray her by thinking she gave up on you.'

'You know, right when she heard she was expecting your child she told me she wished she could cry for hours and hours – from happiness. And you know why?'

'Wh-why?', I whispered, locking my eyes with hers. She shook her head and laughed at my eagerness to hear it.

'Because now she is carrying a bit of you everyday inside her. Because no matter where she is, you are always with her, in her.', she took my whole face in her hands now and stroked my cheeks gently, just like a mother would do when her child is anxious and in need for comfort.

'She really told you that?', I began to jump on my chair. My feet were shaking from excitement and relief.

'Yes! Of course she did! Edward for someone so extremely smart and talented as you are, you can be very dumb whereas her love for you is concerned. No, actually you both are stupid. Even Eleazar and Carmen are jealous of your bond and they've been together much, much longer.'

I took a few breaths in and looked at Jasper who had called on me.

'What's up, Jasper?'

'Emmett will be here with Rosalie in about 20 minutes. There's going to be a thunderstorm soon. Will you be game, tonight?'

'It's better than sitting all day inside.', he added when sensing the disbelief on my face.

'No.'

'Edward, if I didn't think it was actually good for you, I wouldn't recommend it. Or are you afraid to lose?'

'It's not that, Jasper.', I smiled at the competitiveness of my brother. Emmett was no better for matter too.

'Come on, Edward…'

'No, Jasper.', I answered with a more sharp tone now, but that didn't scare him away. Of course not.

'Edward,…'

'Jasper, stop it. He won't go.', this time it was Alice.

Ah, my little all-knowing sister. Of course she saw the decision I made, which was triggered by Esme's ode to Bella.

Now that I knew I couldn't possibly lose her and that she was safe and sound, I had to take care of something. I had to take care after my family. It pained me to realize that I had wasted 31 days and 34 minutes until now, when I could have already solved all the barriers that blocked Bella and mine happiness until now.

Looking straight into the depths of Alice's pleading watch, I raised an eyebrow in her direction. I guess she was wrong again, because I was sure that my decision was as clear as daylight right now.

No any signs of grey in her mind this time.

'Edward, this is wrong. There is another way.'

She plopped on her feet without making any noise and within the fraction of a second so were Esme and Jasper. Thank God that my father was working the night shift otherwise this was going to become a huge scene.

I decided to hurry up before Emmett arrived, because he and Jasper could try to stop me.

'No Alice, this is not wrong. Just as Bella, I've come to terms with this trap that we're in and now that I am finally going to do the right thing – for the first time not for me, but my wife and child – you will not come in my way. Nobody will.'

'Edward, what's the matter?!', Esme screamed from behind my back.

'What is he planning on doing, Alice?', Jasper hugged Alice's waist and looked down at her while asking with the most composed voice possible given the edgy environment.

Just when she opened her mouth to tell him I cut her off.

'Alice, don't! Just so that you did see this doesn't mean that you have the right to squeal it to everyone.', I growled at her.

'He is going to offer himself to the Volturi in exchange for them leaving Bella and the child with peace.'

'NO!', Esme yelled, 'I WON'T LET YOU DO THAT!'

'How are you sure this is going to solve the problem?', Jasper thought.

'Jasper, I just know. Believe me.'

'I do.', he answered me simply.

This caught me entirely by surprise. I didn't even dream of having somebody backing me up. I quickly kissed Esme on her left cheek. She stood frozen on her feet, her gaze was distant and empty. Did she even notice me? She wasn't breathing at all and her hands were numb at her sides.

Alice had her jaw wide open and she quickly exchanged looks with her husband. They were so tuned to each other that wordless communication could express their feelings better than a thousand words.

She sighed heavily and headed for the stairs, taking Esme gently by her side. Jasper followed them closely and when they were at the bottom stair, I heard my sister's warning as loud and clear as if she'd had yelled it at me.

'Edward, there's no turning back. At least there's no turning back where things won't go horrific if you back out on your promise. Once a Volturi for the rest of eternity a Volturi. Form here on I don't see a future where we'll see each other again. But Bella is worth is a billion times and even more. I respect your decision and so does Jasper.'

'Bye, Edward. It's been a pleasure and the highest honour to consider you my family. There may be clouds now, but yours and Bella's love is shining through.', when Alice voiced her final thoughts I heard her sob at Jasper's shoulder.

Esme was still quiet, leaning on Alice. I wanted to go and hug her, but I knew she wouldn't let me go if I did so.

And I had to let go. Let go of them, the incredible creatures that had been the closest thing to me… until Bella came. And Bella had to let go of her family too. I wasn't sad, because I could endure anything as long as I was with Bella. She was the only one that mattered to me. The faces of my family faded away when my mind caught sight of her. I knew that this was the right decision.

I knew that Aro would agree with my deal.

'Edward, I don't think I have to explain anything to you. It's been great to know you, brother. Now go before Emmett comes here… or Carlisle.'

I just nodded at Jasper and after that I headed for the garage where I stepped inside the Aston Martin.

At the right was parked my silver Volvo and the sad feeling that washed over me now was so overwhelming that I had to take a few breaths before I started the engine and headed to Seattle – with a smile big smile present on my face now. Because as soon as I had secured my child's safety I was going to be with my Bella again.

I knew it. I was sure. It was so simple now that I hit myself on the forehead with my right palm.

--

Once I drove into the multi-story parking lot, I headed slowly for the departure hall. It was very crowded there and I really doubted if I could get a ticket to Italy departing immediately. On my way to the automatic doors that were the entry to the airport, I picked dozens of different thoughts coming from all directions.

The humans were living such an easy, but also fairly meaningless life. Only somebody whose dilemma was where to park his car – on the left or right spot – was bound to be a human being. They were the most ignorant living creatures I've ever met.

I sighed in frustration and quit trying to block the silliness coming my way.

'I wonder whether Greg will like my new tattoo on my neck. I did it all for him – it has his initials and mine too!'

'Who would win in a fight? Mighty Mouse or Micky Mouse?'

'I want sex!'

'How could this moron over there ignore me? I'mma gonna show him some decency!!'

'It's not fair! I was like so much better then Patricia! And she was like not even good! I wanted to be in the cheerleading squad!! Urghh, it's like so frustrating and everything. I wonder what will happen tonight on Gossip Girl…Oh, it's so not fair. Life can be so cruel, I think.'

'If I wasn't going on this stupid vacation with all of my freaking family, then I could be playing World of Warcraft right now! I hate my life and this stupid family reunions.'

'Look at that pregnant girl over there. It's like a new trend these days. In my time, if I even dared to kiss a boy, my father would have thrown me out of the house and disowned me straight away. This generation is not heading for a bright future. I can't stand seeing how they're tearing down everything we've built with our bare hands.'

As I filtered all the thoughts on my way into the big hall, I froze in place. Just in front of the doors. My movements caused the mass of people behind me to stumble against each other. Their yells were thrown at me, but I didn't care.

I didn't care, because I was looking right where the last train of thought had come from. As the automatic doors were going open and close each time a passenger went through them, I took glimpses of the most perfect face in the world.

Bella. My existence. My love. My soul.

Finally my patience ran flat and I crossed the threshold, now being just an inch away from her. There was nothing at the moment that prevented my eyes from this miraculous view.

I took her in – from bottom to top. When my eyes glided over her belly, I could see an obvious increase of her stomach. This moved me over the edge and I took her in my arms. I wanted to do a thousand different things, but started with the most urgent one.

'Edward,…', she whispered in one breath.

God the sound of her voice was like magic to me. I wanted to shout when my name escaped her loved lips. But after I heard what I wanted, I brought her closer to me – some of the onlookers were whistling, others were murmuring angry threats.

When our lips finally met, I groaned from behind my throat. Her lips were the softest they've ever felt on mine and her tongue was putting down the fire that had tortured me for so long. It twirled itself around mine.

I was biting on her lip and so was she.

'Mommy, mommy what are these people doing there?'

'Just follow me, Max! And watch out when we near the escalators. Come here, let me take you.'

'But, mommy, look. This boy is... doing something with that beautiful girl. She is more pretty than you are, you know. And she doesn't have this hair above her mouth like you have. Although it is difficult to see. The tongue of the boy is there right now. Why?'

'Max, I said let's go! And I don't have hair there. See?'

'Yes. Now you don't. But daddy said you made them go away. It was something like cold fax or lax, I think. Maybe tax?'

I smiled at the child's perception. Only children were innocent, pure. And so was going to be our child. But then better and nicer and smarter and cuter. It was going to be ours, which meant it was going to be perfect.

The kiss was still on fire and my hands were rubbing Bella's back now. Up and down. Up and down. She had her hands in my hair and her breasts were gently massaging my chest.

I felt drunk. Like I had too much from the wonderful floral wine that was my wife.

'Edward… I am so sorry. But I had… to. I had…to think and figure… things out. I love you! That's the only thing I know.', she said through moments when my tongue was outside, licking her upper lip.

By the time she whimpered she loved me, my breaths were ragged and I connected my forehead with hers.

'Bella, my Bella. I know. I love you, love.'

'I love you, Edward.'

'I love you, Bella.'

'I love you so much.', her voice tripped at the last word.

After that I felt her own tongue penetrate my mouth and I nibbled on it – causing her to whimper and tense.

Bella was pulling on my hair now, when a security guard neared us. He walked with measured steps towards us, but when I growled at him he chose a different direction, ignoring us completely.

'Let's go home, Edward. I want you to make love to me.', her hoarse voice was music to my ears.'

'I am not going home, Bella.', I answered directly. The truth shouldn't and couldn't be avoided now.

'Then… where are you going? Were you leaving me? Because if that's what you want then I…'

'Bella, hush, love. I was going to buy a ticket to Italy.'

My eyes were connected with hers and she understood instantly the meaning behind my words. After a long pause she said firmly:

'I am coming with you.'

'Okay.'

'What? You're not going to lecture me about safety measures and my being a magnet for accidents?', she giggled when I stroked her right cheek.

'No, I am not. But I don't think that neither one of us is going somewhere now.'

'Why?', her eyes were as innocent and enticing as the first time I ever met her.

'There's going to be a thunderstorm for at least 4 hours. Come with me.'