A/N- I am so sorry this took longer than expected! You know how I was gonna just take August off and do Camp NaNo to finish my novel? Yeah, so failed at Camp NaNo, but I did get published :) More at the bottom!

Soundtrack: tinyurlDOTcom/tornfic

Disclamer: You know the drill, I own nothing... well, I actually do own characters now! Eli and Bodie. Just not these ones! See you at the bottom!

"You'll be fine," I say over and over as he lies without speaking for what feels like eternity. Esme kneels next to me and grasps my hand. Looking into her concerned face, I say again, "He'll be fine."

The pain rips through my arm like fire and throws me to my knees. I've always been in control of myself; I pride myself on knowing a situation... every situation. But there was so much chaos; I just couldn't hear everyone at once. My concern was to keep them away from Bella, but so much happened all at the same time. Now I'm writhing in pain, basically rendered useless. I hear the internal dialogue of Jane and Alec as they scramble away. They'll return; I am sure of it. I can feel Jasper trying to control everyone's rage and calm Bella.

Bella.

When I can finally focus on her, I can actually feel her beside me. She's growling and snarling. Wild and vicious.

I try to calm her by reaching out, but I don't feel her soft body against mine, only dirt meets my grasp. My vision begins to slip in and out as I try to reach out through the agony in my arm and get to Bella.

"No!" I hear her scream. She sounds terrified, and I hate myself for not being there to rescue her and protect her. My job is to take care of her and I'm failing. I hear my family around me; they're all concerned, angry, frightened.

When I try to speak, nothing comes out. I hear yelling and growling.

"She can't be alone with him!"

"He's her mate. She won't hurt him."

"He needs medical attention. He needs me to set his arm!"

"Leave her be. She knows what to do."

Their voices mingle together into white noise as my thoughts circle back to Bella.

I need her.

I need to be with her.

It feels as though nothing will help me feel better if I'm not close to my Bella.

Time begins to move slowly in pure silence. I relish no noise, no movement, nothingness. Was I destroyed? I couldn't have been. They didn't burn me. I'm still thinking. I'm still hurting. There would be nothing, but fire and brimstone if I had been destroyed by Alec and Jane and their guards.

The agony rippling through my body soon calms, the cessation causes a near numbness, and I float on a sea of blackness.

"No!" I scream at them as the bodies move closer. Looming over us, coming closer and closer, I know they want to take him.

They can't have him.

He's mine.

"Bella, please. Let me look at Edward," the doctor asks me again as he tries to stand, but I won't do it. I know his name, but I can't concentrate. "I have to set his arm. He needs a doctor."

I won't let anyone take him. My only thought is to keep him safe. Safe from everyone and anything that could hurt him further.

He's hurt, he's writhing beside me, and it's my job to keep him safe.

"I'll get him. We'll take him inside." The deep voice coming closer to us makes me want to lunge. The largest vampire stands and I grab at his body, anywhere I can reach, and I shove him with every muscle in my body. He lands yards away.

"Bella, stop!" Several of them yell, but I won't stop. Edward is mine.

Growling erupts from my chest. A feral, vicious sound rattles through me, causing all of them to stop in their tracks.

They will not take him away from me.

Gathering him up as best as I can, I try to carry him, but they move toward me again, and I nearly stumble trying to prepare myself for an attack.

Someone yells, "We have to help Edward! He has to be taken care of so he's not permanently injured!"

Other voices join in the protest, but I do not give a damn what they want. I will protect my mate. I will do it.

"Let her go." A strong voice sounds over the din of the others.

"What?" Several of them turn toward the blond man helping the doctor, who seems to have a damaged leg.

"What?" I hear from all around me.

"Are you sure?" another asks.

"She is his mate. She won't hurt him.." The woman with the caramel hair understands me. I can feel it. "Let her do this."

Their familiar faces look terrified; some of them look angry. They're moving forward again.

"He's mine," I say to the woman kneeling in front of me.

I see her nod slowly, her eyes warm, gold and black. "Yes, he's yours. Take him to the cottage."

I must look confused because the blond man steps forward cautiously with the dark brunette. Their names…. Alice... Jasper. It's coming back now. I force myself to be calm and concentrate more. They describe where to go as I see the largest one come near again. He tells me he'll carry Edward, but I crouch over him again, refusing to allow him to be taken. My body is a shield, just Edward and me, always safe. Protecting my own, I feel every part of my body coil tighter than a spring.

If he moves forward toward us again, he will die.

"Let me carry him, Bella," he nearly demands with his hands out.

"NO!" And I pick up Edward and run.

Moving deftly through the trees, the last thing I hear as I make it into the depth of the forest is one of them saying, "She can do this."

Following the directions given to me as best as I can, I make it through what feels like acres of dense brush and trees. And just where Jasper had said, there is a small house. It looks like it hasn't been used in a long time.

Making my way into the cold wood and stone building, I can smell mold and dirt. The wood has been sitting a long time untouched, little bugs scurry along in fear and birds that roosted in the eaves have bolted into the canopy of trees surrounding the house.

As quickly and gently as I can, I lay him on a cloth-covered sofa and take a step back. He's lying prone, his detached arm lying still on his chest.

A sad whimpering stirs the silent air, and I move to him to see if I can help him, but realize quickly that it's me. Kneeling in front of him, I rest my head on his stomach, curling my arms around him as best I can in the position on the floor.

What am I going to do? How am I going to help him? He's hurt, badly hurt... I know nothing about fixing anyone. I can't take care of myself. I need constant supervision so I don't ruin everything. Why didn't I let the doctor help him?

A memory flutters to the forefront of my mind as I stare at my mate. Edward once told me that all vampires were monsters. He's certainly not a monster and at this moment, I don't feel like one either.

Edward shifts, slightly moaning, causing me to jump up.

Mine.

"I'll take care of you, Edward. I promise."

Once I know he's comfortable-he seems almost asleep, completely suspended-I walk out of the cabin. If he's going to survive, he needs blood.

Dirt, wood, mold all around me.

No sounds-inside or outside of my head- just me.

When I rise up slowly, I immediately feel my body refuses my decision. Groaning, I force myself sto ssit up completely. Taking inventory, I am sitting upon a musty, sheeted settee in the middle of the cottage that Esme and Carlisle had bought along with all of the land on which they built the new house.

I haven't been inside in years, but immediately recognize the large bay window and exposed wood beams above me.

After the couples became too much when we first moved to Forks decades ago, I came here to hide away. I hadn't wanted to be around them, especially Rose and Emmett, during their honeymoon phases. This was a refuge for me, being alone in the woods with no sounds but the leaves and birds.

I don't understand why I'm alone, but I seem to have healed. Vividly remembering the searing pain of my arm being ripped from my body, I grimace. No voices or thoughts enter my head, and I begin to get concerned as I sit alone in the near-empty room.

Standing causes me to sway to the left, and I catch myself on the hearth. I look about the room, taking inventory of myself and my situation. My clothes are worn and wrinkled, but my body is whole. The room has just the small sofa I was sitting on and a highback chair, both covered with dusty drop cloths. I notice that there's blood around me on a sheet resting on the floor. The smell didn't come to the surface right away, but as I move closer to the small puddle beside the sofa, I can see that it's somewhat dried. Scraping a nail across it, flakes shift and I catch a foul scent. Moose.

Slowly, I make my way across the cabin, moving into the kitchen then the bedroom off to the side. Nothing moves, no sounds are made other than my feet shuffling alone the boards. When I reach the bathroom, I stare at my reflection. My hair is crusted with blood and the side of my face is stained crimson. Looking down at my hands, my nail beds are rust-colored.

"What the hell happened?" I say, thinking aloud.

I stare at myself in the mirror wondering about the stretch of time between the fight with the Volturi and now.

"You're up? Are you alright?"

Her voice is like music, angels, everything. She's standing behind me, covered in dirty clothes, mud and blood patched all over her skin, but she looks incredible. Her eyes are shining gold and, although she's an utter mess, she's completely beautiful. Without speaking, I crush her to me, and I sigh audibly as her arms link behind me and clench my body to hers.

"You should eat. You need to keep healing and it's been a day since you last fed." Her voice is muffled slightly by my shirt.

"Yes, I should hunt… but I want to hold you. Please?"

"All right… but it's getting cold."

My mind stops for just a moment as I feel her body molded to mine, but then her words register.

"Cold?"

"I brought you food." She turns from my embrace and walks back toward the living room. On the exact spot beside the sofa lies another large male moose mortally wounded and dying of shock.

"Drink. Please."

My mouth fills with venom even though I know it will taste horrendous.

Mere moments pass as I drain the body and drop it on the floor.

"How do you feel?" Her voice is low, cautious, unsure.

"I-I'm okay, I think. My arm? Did Carlisle set it?"

She shakes her head, "No, I took care of you as best I could. You came and went in your head and you spoke to me a little." She smiles at this and I want to ask her why, but she continues. "You told me you were thirsty, so I brought you moose and a deer. I should've done more for you-"

"You hunted for me?" She nods again slowly.

"I know it wasn't enough, but I didn't want to go too far away if you needed me. Moose and deer are the only things near us right now. I'm sorry." Her head bows and I'm completely shocked. She hunted for me. Alone. Amazingly, she kept me fed and healed my arm. She did it all. For me.

"You did everything for me. You fed me, cared for me, you kept me whole." My words mean more than I think she knows, but she stares up at me from her spot by the hearth. Moving closer, I gather her into my arms.

"You are the reason I'm here. You understand that?"

Her eyes meet mine and just before her lips touch mine, I hear her words, quiet and honest.

"You are the reason I'm here. I know this."

Unable to control myself any longer, I pull her body into mine as our mouths meet again and again. Her taste is indescribably perfect, and I want nothing more than to stay in this moment for eternity.

She pulls herself tighter to me, ripping my shirt at the arms with her grip.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. For the rest of time, you can destroy every shirt I have." Laughter bubbles up in my throat and she looks at me as though I'm insane.

"You will be with me forever. For all of time and all of eternity, you are mine, Isabella. Mine."

Her flickering golden eyes widen, and then she's overtaken and I welcome her taking me. She pushes and I allow myself to land on the floor in front of the fireplace. As she rips my shirt completely off of me, she straddles my hips and my hands grasp her at the waist. Her skin is firm, but she's still soft and smooth. Her body doesn't feel icy cold, but perfect and taut.

"You are mine." I nod.

"And you are mine." She smiles widely and then attacks my mouth with hers.

Our bodies freed from clothing and inhibitions, roll and meld together in perfection. Her lithe body slides against mine, and again I smile at the thought that I belong to her forever.

"Take me, Edward." Her words are labored even though I know she isn't struggling for breath. She's overwhelmed by her emotions and senses. Cupping her face in my hands, I stroke my thumbs along the apples of her cheeks then along her ruby lips. "We will have each other. Always."

As our bodies collide and connect, I've never felt more whole than in these moments.

We are moving together in tandem, driven by need and desire when I'm dumbstruck by her words.

"So good. It feels so good. He's mine. Always mine. He'll never leave me. He's okay and he's here and he's mine."

Her words are coming out in a jumble, and I know her newborn senses are probably becoming too stimulated, so I slow her body even though my body dislikes the lessened pace immensely.

"Shhh. My sweet Bella. Shhh." I croon into her ear.

"I didn't say anything." She sits up, still astride me, and looks down upon me with confusion.

"You just said it felt good and you were getting so overwhelmed."

"I didn't." What is he thinking about? Am I doing something wrong?

As I hear her words but her lips don't move, I am literally struck silent. She- I heard- she didn't...

"Edward?"

"Think something again."

"Think what?" She questions me, and I can't blame her, but I cannot control myself.

Flipping her onto her back, I ask again, "Think anything. Just think something again. Think about geometry or cookies or hunting. Anything!"

Resting my hips between her legs, I watch with rapt attention as she pouts slightly. With her mouth firmly closed, I hear, "I love you."

"I can hear your thoughts, Bella." I jump to my feet then pull her up to me. "I could hear you!" I scream as I swing her around, holding her by her waist.

"I thought you couldn't hear inside my head? I thought I was on a different wavelength or something was wrong with my mind?" I shake my head and pull her into me. I can't hear her thoughts now, but I tuck her into my arms tightly. I could hear her.

Feeling her body against mine reminds me of our previous mission, and I sweep her off her feet, carrying her into the small bedroom off of the kitchen.

Her body once again engulfing mine as we move together, her thoughts ring through and mix with her words. She's praising and pleading, and I do everything in my power to live up to everything she wants and deserves. She is my perfection and my future and every hope I've ever had and every dream I didn't know I wanted.

Hours, days, weeks pass by and we spend them together. We hunt, we make love, we explore the forest, and we talk.

She can be distracted easily, but she works hard at maintaining her humanity and has yet to speak of craving human blood. Even when hikers passed within a few miles of where we were hunting, she barely flinched.

It will be a struggle for a while, but we will succeed together.

E/N- So there you have it. Well, almost. There's an epilogue already done and awaiting betaing and approval. Once I get the green light, you'll get yourself more vampy-goodness!

Thank you times a million to HolletLA, who beta'd this last minute for me so I could get this out to you this weekend. She's truly a blessing.

Also, huge thanks to Sunshinegal3 for not only supporting me through all of CampNaNo, but also for always reading and rereading and reading again. Love you!

And now the really good news- I'm being published! It's a m/m love story and if that's your thing, I'd love to share. Send me a DM and I'll send you the information. The proceeds go to an amazing charity called the It Gets Better Project!

Thank you to all of you who've sent encouragement and for being so patient. I really wanted to give Darkella her due and I appreciate all of you who have kept reading. THANK YOU!