Again, unbetaed. Where are you HI??? Seriously, anyone know where she is? This is for quirkyalice, who rocks!!!! Mainly because we're holding a contest about St. Patrick's Day, all the information is on my profile, and I've got a C2 made and everything! So, you should write for it, and read them, because I've gotten one in so far, it is AMAZING! Love you all!

Me no own...unfortunately. I really wish I did, because that would rock! But I do own a copy of The Host, which rocks!!!

Chapter 14

EPOV

I couldn't stay here and let Bella be killed. She didn't deserve the fate that she had been dealt. Why should such an amazing woman be killed because of something which was outside the realm of her control? If those damn wolves had actually done their job correctly, she would be under a gravestone right now. But she wouldn't be, would she? A little voice in my head asked. I was losing strength every day I spent away from her, and I was so close to going back to Forks to be with her again. I couldn't stay away from her, as hard as I tried. Then, when I did go back, Charlie told me about her death. He said she had been mauled by a bear, and that her body had never been recovered. I was so close to going to Italy, but my family wouldn't let me. They kept telling me I had to stay strong, that Bella wouldn't have wanted me to kill myself; she would have told me to keep going. But I couldn't. I just stayed in my room, not speaking to anyone. I had to be dragged out to hunt, and even then, as soon as I had taken down one animal, I went back to my room. I didn't even play any music, because everything reminded me of her. Clair De Lune was the only song I would listen to, because it reminded me of Bella's uneasy grace.

Then Alice had taken it upon herself to 'cheer me up'. Her heart was in the right place, but she should have known that I wasn't able to love her the way I loved my Bella. Our entire relationship was a sham, and I was so happy it was over. But Bella probably didn't believe that it was over. I didn't deserve her trust.

But now that she was back, she made me whole again. She was the only person who could keep me whole. Now that I had her again, even though she felt she hated me, I couldn't let her go. I couldn't go through losing her again, and I would be on the first plane to Italy, and no one would know until it was too late. If I had to, I'd keep a wolf near me so that Alice wouldn't see.

I heard keening coming from the direction of her house, and the moment I heard it, my knowledge was certain. I had to go back. There was no way I could let her die without saying goodbye, without telling her how much I loved her, how much I cared, even what I would do. I stood up off my leather couch, and ran.

Usually, running calmed me. Today however, it just caused my fear to be heightened. I could hear the screams from the decimated vampires, but the one voice I couldn't hear was my Bella's. She wasn't dead, if she was, I would know it. Without her, I ceased to exist.

It was total destruction at her house. There was a thick cloud of choking purple smoke, and I could smell the burning from a few miles away. She had to be alright, I knew it. I would be fully aware if she had died, I wouldn't even be able to breathe. It would be ten times worse than how I had felt when I thought she had died, because even then I held out hope that she was ok, futile as it seemed.

Getting to the house, I saw the heads of several of Bella's family on a fire. The girl who seemed like Alice, Carlisle's friend James, and a blond haired man were all there, in the fire. Robert Uley was standing in front of Bella, trying to rip her to pieces.

"No!" I screamed, and ran at her. Everyone stared at me, and watched as I ran over to my beloved. Her arm was hanging away from her torso, there were pieces of her leg on the ground and her breathing was labored. She was barely moving, and her beautiful face was scrunched up in agony, more than I had ever seen on it before, even in the ballet studio almost a century ago.

"Bella, oh no. God, no Bella, please," I whispered, lifting her and running off, towards my own house. I had to get blood into her, and fast.

"Stop! What are you doing with her? We won't hesitate to attack you leech, even with the treaty my great grandfather made with your coven. Do you understand?" Uley had phased back into his human form, and was chasing after me, totally naked.

I turned back around, hoping that I could stop the destruction of the rest of Bella's family. My one little white lie could save Esme's best friend, and save one of the couples in their family. I could so easily change the fate of those who hadn't already succumbed to the fire, just by a few words. Could I do it? Of course I could, I had to. This was Bella's family I was thinking of, and hopefully, soon to be my family. But they didn't have to know that we weren't mates.

"You're attacking Cullens, you are aware of that, aren't you? This is my mate, and by that virtue her family are members of the Cullen family as well. Therefore you aren't killing Corellis, you are killing Cullens. And don't think we won't hesitate to stop you, because we will. Now I'm going to try save my mate, and ensure that she survives. If she doesn't, I will seek revenge for Bella and her entire family. Do you hear me pup?" I snarled at him. He slunk backwards, phased, and immediately afterwards ran off. I could hear his thoughts telling the rest of the pack to leave immediately, that they were breaking the treaty by being there. Running into the house, I called my family.

"Go to the Corellis, I know that at least three of them are dead, but we might be able to save Emma, Andy and Sarah. But you have to go now, time is running out. They're all in pretty bad shape. I'm staying here with Bella, I'll see if she wakes up." My family left, Emmett patting my back. I smiled weakly at him, and looked back down at Bella. I had to apologize, I didn't know if she'd make it past the hour, and if this was my last chance...I had to tell her how sorry I was for 98 years ago.

"Bella, I need you to wake up for me, I can't go on without you. I was an idiot, I'm fully aware of that. But we've been given a second chance, one that I know I don't deserve, but I got it. So we have to do this, I need you to wake up and be here with me. I love you, I always have and I always will. Please, wake up for me Bella, please. I want you and I need you here right now. If you go, I'll die as well. Please, please. Open your eyes." I whispered, alternating words with kisses, trying to dazzle her into consciousness.

I stared at her face, and watched as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Edward?" She whispered weakly. I had to strain to hear her, even with my vampire hearing.

"Bella," I sighed, relief evident in my voice. She was awake, and alive. I just hoped that she'd let me explain.

"Edward," She said, her voice stronger. Then, in a move that surprised me, she lifted her head and kissed me. Our kisses were nothing like before, we were finally equals, and that made me overjoyed. I could kiss her with my full strength, and not be afraid of hurting her. Our mouths moved in unison, and our tongues danced around each other. Her mouth tasted like honey, like the most beautiful flavor you had ever tasted, multiplied by a thousand.

I didn't know how long our kisses lasted, but eventually they had to stop. We pulled away, and I smiled at her.

"Edward, I was a fool. Can you forgive me? I don't deserve it, but if you can-" I cut Bella's apology off with another kiss.

"I love you Isabella Marie Swan Corelli, I always have and I always will. There is nothing to forgive," I grabbed her hand.