Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Author's Note: This is it. The last chapter of my two — nearly three — year endeavor. Two years of grappling with my Muse, ordering her to help me, and the like. I hope you like the finally. After this comes an epilogue and then, eventually, the sequel: A Ripple in Romania. Hope you enjoy this.

For the last time,

Lenny

Apocalypse Now - Jacksonville Blues

"James, I need to stop," Bella whispered in my ear. She hadn't spoke since she broke up with Edward, and, frankly, I was just happy that she could still talk.

"Sure thing," I skidded to a halt and let her off my back.

She tapped me on the shoulder and I turned. "Huh?"

"Do you think Edward will commit suicide?"

I blinked. Was this a precursor to her leaving me and going back to her beloved? "I don't think he's that desperate. He'll probably get over you… in a few years."

She sighed deeply. "That's good. I don't think I could ever forgive myself if he did something because of me."

"Like I said, I don't think he will," I sniffed the air and caught the faint scent of another vampire. "Hell, we need to go. Now," I slung Bella onto my back and ran for all I was worth.

Four hours later we were almost to the Romanian border and safety.

"James, I…" Bella paused, as if unsure to tell me. "I have to go."

I stopped and let her down. "Whatever, human."

She pursed her lips and stalked off into the trees.

As she did, I found myself staring at her butt. I shook myself, that was definitely not acceptable. Ever. Especially considering the fact that she had just broken up with her boyfriend.

My train of thought was broken by Bella's agonized scream. I rushed through the trees to find her in the grip of one of the Volturi guard.

I grabbed the guard by the back of his cloak and pulled for all I was worth. He came rocketing toward me in a shroud of grey cloth. Lucky for me, he was stunned enough so I could twist his neck until it snapped. I dropped the guard and grabbed Bella. "Were there any more of them?"

She gasped for air, clutch at her throat. "He was the only one."

"He was probably just a scout. But that means we need to get moving. We're close to the Romanian border, it shouldn't be long now," I picked Bella up and ran.

All through the forest behind us, I could hear the sounds of the Volturi running. I could smell them. Animals fled in all directions at our approach. That many vampires in the forest made them uneasy. Hell, that many vampires in the woods made me uneasy.

A feral snarl came from just behind us and I felt something pull on Bella. I spun in place, my boots skidding as the momentum threw the other vampire off my back and into a tree. Bella squeaked as I dashed over to the vampire and snapped his neck. "Did you really have to do that?"

"It was essential. Otherwise, he'd have ran back to them and told where we were. You might think it's brutal, but they'd do the same to us if they caught us."

"Still, you could have just knocked him out," she bit her lip, staring into the dead vampire's cloudy eyes.

"Not possible. Come on, they're right behind us."

She looked back into the forest, the trees were shaking violently. "Fine."

The Romanian border is a grim place. All grey. Even the grass is a shade of grey. Of course, it didn't help that there was a storm brewing. Rain started to fall in huge drops. It reminded me of the first night that I went home with Bella. Nice and rainy.

Something behind us snarled for the second time that night. This time, I spun before it could rip Bella off my back.

Felix stood at the edge of the forest. "So good to see you, James. But didn't I hear that you died a while back? Oh, that's right, you didn't die. You got stared at by a bunch of stupid humans," he laughed. Felix never had been any good at jokes. I think it pained his brains.

"It was better than my second death. What do you want, smart arse?"

His smile flickered. "Just what didn't happen the first time. I want your second death." Felix charged.

I waited until he was at arm's length to make my move. I sidestepped neatly to my left and Felix went whirling past. He cursed and charged again. This time when he got at arm's length, I punched him square in the face. Felix went flying off into Romania. I smirked. "That should teach him."

Bella whimpered. "Won't he come back?"

"If he's smart. If he get's caught on the Romanian side of the border, he'll be taken prisoner and killed at a moment's notice."

There was a roar of pain. Apparently Felix had finally come in contact with the ground. He came speeding back. Until the last moment, he attacked me from the front. Then he went for Bella. I felt my neck snap back and he tore her from my grasp. Bella screamed and I used the momentum of the snap to whip myself around.

Felix had her by the throat. She was struggling violently; one of her arms hung limply, swinging as she struggled. He grinned savagely. "I've got your little human, what're you gunna do now, James?"

I licked my lips. My mind raced as he stroked her throat. There was no possible way that I could save Bella without endangering her life. Something clicked. There was a way, but it meant doing something that I had hoped that I'd never have to do.

"Bella, how do you feel about vampirism?"

She paused in her struggling, then her eyes widened. Bella sighed and lowered her head. "Do whatever you have to do, James. I trust you."

I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes and trying to find some peace. Thunder rumbled overhead. How cliché. My eyes opened to see Felix's grinning face. I snarled. It was time to end this.

I ran forward, charging Felix and calling his bluff. He tossed Bella aside into a convenient pile of rather sharp rocks. She cried out in pain, but I had no time to sympathize. Or rescue her, for that matter.

My hands found Felix's throat and I tried to twist it so his neck would snap. But things are never that easy. He bit at my hands and wriggled out of my grasp. I growled and went for his neck again. This time I managed to attach myself to his back. Once more, I grabbed his throat. A sickly snap emanated from it as I twisted as hard as I could. I dropped to the ground. He'd died that easily? It wasn't possible.

I looked quickly around, making sure that Felix was the only one around. Surprisingly, he was. Then my thoughts turned to Bella. She was lying in the stones, bleeding slowly to death. I scooped her up in my arms and carried her across the Romanian border.

"Are you sure that you want to go through with this? I'm sure you're wounds could heel on their own."

She smiled, gasping for breath. "Not this time. I'm far too breakable to stay a human. Just look at me…" she gasped again. "I've known that I was supposed to be a vampire since the first time Edward told me what he was…" her eyes closed for a moment, I was just about to take a bite out of her neck when she stopped me. "Let me finish. I'm not ready to die just yet. This time, I want to be changed for a different reason. I want to be like you. I want to stay with you…" her eyes closed again. "I'm ready."

I frowned; then I smiled and kissed her forehead. "As you wish," I leaned over and gently bit her neck. I could feel the venom flowing from my mouth into her neck. Bella was well on her way to becoming a vampire. I pulled back, she wasn't breathing anymore, but I knew she was going to be okay. "Sleep well, my love."