Chapter 21

"Left Behind"

Edward's POV

I had decided after trying to break up with Bella because of my own insecurities, that I would fight for her. I would keep her forever she was mine and I was hers forever. Jacob Black had to be lying or the fates had to have something else in store for us. With each day that past I was more and more concerned for Bella's safety, the girl was like a danger magnet. Sure we were the ones out chasing vamps and demons, but somehow if there is more bad luck to have it is attracted to her like everything else actually. People, monsters, creatures, bad luck, it is all attracted to the amazingly beautiful girl I am crazy in love with. I never thought anything could fill my dark world after my parents passed, but Bella did in ten fold. She was the light that lit my darkened sky, she was like a rainbow after a down pour. I think you get what I mean I love the girl more then life and never want to be without her. So in an attempt to protect her I had to undermine her, I knew she would fight me on it, but I had to do it.

Bella's POV

I rolled over my body still feeling a little weak, who knew being taken over by a demon would make you so weak for so long. It had been what like a few weeks and I was still as sore as if it happened the other day. I stretched trying to make the weakness go away, but when I didn't hit Edward's warm body my eyes shot open. I felt around franticly on the bed since my eyes hadn't adjusted, but he was no where to be found. I climbed out of the bed ignoring the raw feeling that cut down to the bones and headed out the door. I could hear muffled voices coming from the dinning room as I rounded the bottom of the staircase.

"So it is settled she will stay here and we will go on without her." Carlisle's voice said and as I rounded the wall everyone fell silent. Everyone was at the table, but me. Where they having a meeting without me? I looked around the room with obvious confusion and as I looked at each face of my family I knew that something was up, something that I wasn't going to like.

"What is going on?" I asked narrowing my eyes, Carlisle gave Edward a nod, then everyone got up from the table.

"Go easy on him Bells." Emmett said ruffling my hair as he passed. I tilted my head at Edward confused and a little hurt that I was left out. He gave me that crooked smile that I loved, but it didn't reach his eyes and in his emerald eyes I could see that something was off. I crossed my arms in a waiting stance, he chuckled at me and rose from the table. He engulfed me in his strong warm arms whispering into my hair.

"Come love, lets get you dressed and go out for a bit." This was defiantly strange we never went anywhere, but on missions lately. Though I could see something in his eyes that told me to be patient so I did as he said, I returned to our room and dressed in the bathroom pulling a brush through my mess of a hair. Edward was already dressed so when I stepped out of the bathroom he reached for my hand and guided me out of the house. As I passed Alice I saw a look of weariness on her face that I didn't understand.

Surly Edward wasn't going to try and break up with me again. Did this have anything to do with Jacob? I wish he would just tell me what is going on before I go loco.

"Edward what is going on?" I asked in a rushed voice as he guided me into the wooded area behind the house we were staying at.

"Just a little farther." He said with a slightly ambushed tone and then just a little bit later we stepped into the most beautiful scene ever. In a break of the trees there was a small pond that connected to a river as beautiful as that was it didn't hold any beauty to what floated atop the water. Brightly colored lotus flowers covered the water like a top layer to it, making the pond look beautiful. Frogs croaked a melody of love and beautifully colored birds chirped in the trees, then across the pond were two little bunnies munching on the pond side grass.

"Edward this is beautiful, how? When?" I wasn't making complete sense, but he got the idea.

"The other day when Alice took you shopping I needed to think and clear my head. I ended up here." He admitted and pulled a blanket out of the backpack I hadn't noticed he had on his shoulder. I was so concerned with something being wrong that I wasn't paying attention to details, but I could see in his eyes that there was still something to be concerned about. He laid the blanket down and pulled me down onto it with him positioning me gently on top of him. He kissed my nose as I looked down at him, he brushed the hair back in a wasted effort, because it fell down again cascading around our faces like a curtain hiding us from the world.

"You are so beautiful." The honesty and admiration in his voice was so strong and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. He brushed my fire hot cheek with his knuckles. "Even more so when you do that." He chuckled and I play slapped his chest.

He rolled me to the side so that I had my head on his chest and my body on the blanket forming to the side of his.

"It is beautiful here." I sighed melting into his touch.

"I think you already said that, but yes it truly is. I think it is a frog mating ground." My head shot up to look at him.

"What?" I asked laughing.

"I think it is a frog mating ground." He repeated himself laughing along with me. "All the lotus flowers and the beautiful melody the frogs chirp, plus I kind of witnessed some hanky panky the other day." I laughed harder cuddling up against his side, then as I laid there my mouth spoke words that I didn't filter.

"So why did you bring me here?" I asked trailing a finger up and down his chest, insinuation in my voice. His chuckle vibrated through his chest and he grabbed my hand in his stopping my trail.

"Bella behave we really need to talk." The seriousness in his voice worried me and I knew something was coming, something I wouldn't like.

"Then talk." I sighed burring my head in the crook of his neck not wanting him to see the hurt caused by his rejection. It wasn't a real rejection, but I still wondered why we were the only ones not at that stage. It will happen in its own time, yada yada, but I was ready, I wanted it to happen now.

"Bella you know I love you more then anything and all I want is to do what is best for you." He waited and I nodded my head in his neck.

"I love you too." I whispered against his skin, causing small goose bumps to appear there. He seemed distracted for a moment, but hen continued.

"I talked with Carlisle and the others and we all agree that it is best that you stay behind for the next job." My head shot up again to stare at him in disbelief.

"Why?" I could feel the betrayal and the hurt rising in my chest.

"You are still weak from the last incident and we don't want you getting hurt." He explained, but I huffed crossing my arms.

"We or you?" I asked the obvious question and I knew the answer.

"Well me, but everyone agrees."

"Don't I get a say in this?" I asked annoyed at them planning behind my back.

"Sure, but the decision has been made." He said it with finality, but I wasn't having it.

"I am not being left behind." I stomped my foot like a teenage girl, not even sure when I stood up.

"Bella it is done you are staying here with Esme."

"No." I yelled at him and started back towards the house.

"Bella where are you going?" I didn't answer him I just continued towards the house.

Was I being childish? Yes

Did I care? No

Everyone was sitting in the living room when I entered and they looked up at me waiting. I crossed my arms in a waiting fashion just as I had done to Edward earlier.

"So you all just want to leave me behind too?" I asked feeling the hurt swell up in my eyes.

"Bella it is for your own good, you are still weak." I interrupted Jasper.

"I am fine." I stated angrily. They all glared at me disbelieving.

"Please calm down and listen to us." I heard Edward's velvety voice behind me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I wanted to step away from him or knock his arms off, but I couldn't.

"I don't want to be left behind you need me." I stated mater of fact.

"Actually we will be alright without you this time and then next time when you are stronger you can go." Edward explained.

"So you all are in on this, you all are going to betray me?" I asked disbelieving as a single tear ran down my face. "Alice? Emmett? Rose? Jasper? Esme? Carlisle?" They all nodded their heads agreeing with a apologetic face. "Jacob? You too are you going to leave me behind also?"

He gave me a small smile and I noted as he walked over to me that he was already fully healed. "Bells I know it doesn't happen often, but I am going to have to agree with Edward on this one." That was it everyone was against me the tears spilled over and I took off running up the stairs, somehow I made it to the bed without tripping. I flung myself on it belly down and cried into the pillow.

Deep down I knew they were just doing this, because they loved me and wanted me to be safe, but my stubborn side didn't want to see it that way. I felt like they didn't need me or want me, I felt like the baby of the family that couldn't make her own choices. I felt the bed shift and I was pulled into Edward's arms.

"Love I know it doesn't seem fair, but it is only one time. Please do this for me." He pleaded with me and I wanted to give in, but I couldn't. I couldn't let him go off without me, I couldn't let him fight without me.

"I don't want you to leave me." I cried. I was scared of what would happen if I wasn't with him.

"I will always come back love, nothing could keep me from you. I promise." His words were completely honest and I just cried into his chest a plan forming in my mind. As the perfect plan came to mind I started to calm down. I sat up and wiped the tears away, Edward looked at the sudden change with confusion.

"Ok." I said.

"Ok what?" He asked a little stand offish.

"Ok you can leave me behind."

"Don't say it like that we will be back, I am glad you agree." I held up a hand to stop him.

"I don't agree, but you can leave me." But that won't keep me from coming. I added in my head, but he could see the wheels turning he knew something was up. He pulled me back into his arms and held me there kissing my forehead.

"So what is the job?" I asked needing more information.

"Two vampires, apparently two little vampires, almost childlike." Edward brushed my hair back with his hands placing kisses atop my head.

"Where?"

"Italy." My head shot up once again.

"Your going to Italy and leaving me here." I stated irate.

"Bella we are only few hours outside of Italy, it really isn't that far. Only like a six hour drive there, three hour job, then six hour drive back." He explained.

"So fifteen hours?" I questioned.

"Give or take a few." He kissed my lips to silence me. It being that far away it was going to be a little more tricky for me to follow, but I would just have to do it.

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow at ten so we get there just before dark to track, then hunt once the sun sets." I shivered which was a natural reaction to the sun setting, because that was when the monsters lurked.

So the plan started to form in my mind now I just had to wait. Edward and I made up with some intense kissing and the topic that I tried to address in the frog mating pond came to mind, but I knew this was not the time. Other then getting up to use the bathroom and eat I spent the day in bed with Edward. He didn't seem to be onto my plan so that was a good thing.

Edward's breathing was steady next to me and his arm felt heavy over me, I knew he was asleep. The house was quiet so I snuck out of the bed and down to Carlisle's study. I flipped the lamp on and started going through the material on his desk, there had to be something about the hunt somewhere. I found a map of a tiny town outside of Volturi, Italy, it was circled in red. That must be where they were going, I clicked on Carlisle's computer and found a route map and printed it off for myself. I also found Carlisle's coordinates and time lines so I jotted those down. I folded up the papers and hid them under my shirt in case someone ran into me in the hall. I flipped the lamp off and headed back up to the room. Sneaking into the closet I put the papers into my get away bag, then climbed back into bed. With everything in place I fell into a nightmare of a dream.

I wondered alone through the woods nothing in sight but trees and grass. The feeling of loneliness and despair hanging over me like a dark cloud. Alone I made my way through the never ending forest, then a streak of bronze caught my attention and I turned to be face to face with Edward. Though his emerald eyes were no more, they were the color of blood. He didn't look at me with undying love anymore, he looked at me with hate. I felt my heart stutter and in the blink of an eye he was gone. Leaving me to wonder alone once again.

I awoke with my heart pounding in my ears, the sky was dark so I laid my head on Edward's chest and he instantly pulled me into his arms. He held me tight and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next time I woke it was to Edward planting kisses on my face and as I opened my eyes the first sight I saw was his smiling face.

"I love you." He whispered against my skin as his lips came back in contact.

"I love you also." I said trying to sneak my own kisses in. I could wake up like this every morning forever if I had my way. Though it didn't take long for reality to sink in and I knew that soon he would be leaving and I would be following, secretly. "What time is it?"

"Eight." he sighed sounding sad.

"Already." I sighed honestly feeling a little stressed, his arms tightened around me. We only had two hours before he would be leaving me, but I wouldn't be far behind.

"Unfortunately, I need to go meet with Carlisle and Jasper real quick. Be right back."

"Ok please hurry."

While Edward was gone I got up and dressed quickly checking to make sure I had everything ready to go after they departed. I made my way out of the room finding everyone with the exception of Edward, Jasper, Jacob, and Carlisle in the living room.

"Hey Bella how are you doing today?" Alice asked looking guilty.

"Sorry that I over reacted yesterday." I said nonchalant. They all smiled and opened up for a space for me to sit between Alice and Emmett.

"Glad the tantrum is over." Emmett chuckled. We all sat talking and chatting reminding me how much I loved the family that I had now. Sure I still missed my mom and dad, but I really loved the people around me. So much so that I would give my life for them as they would for me. The four missing men entered the room and I looked up to be meet them with a confusing disarray of faces. Carlisle looked contemplating, Jasper looked weary, Jacob looked excited with a tad bit of disappointment, and then there was Edward. He had a worrisome, but determined look on his face. They all had me confused, but as Carlisle spoke it all made sense.

"There is a slight change in plans, Jacob is going to stay behind with Bella and Esme. To make sure all is safe here." I think I felt my jaw hit the floor in shock as my eyes diverted to Edward's. Jacob wasn't staying here to make sure all was safe, he was staying here to make sure I stayed here. I couldn't believe Edward allowed this, by the look on his face he wasn't too happy about it. Did he really not trust me that much, that he had Jacob watching me? Well you were going to sneak out behind them.

"I don't need a babysitter." I said with venom in my voice, this was outrageous. We always left Esme behind and I guess I know understood a little of what she felt, but a babysitter, seriously?

"Bella please don't argue with us on this." Edward sighed and I could see it was killing him to leave me behind with Jacob. But not quiet as much as it was killing me to be left behind.

"If someone else can stay behind why can't you stay with me?" I asked and everyone slowly left the room while I waited on Edward to answer, he came over slowly placing his hands on my shoulders looking me in the eye.

"Bella please you know I have to go, I am second in command. I wish with all my heart I could just stay here with you, but I can't. Trust me I don't like Jacob staying here with you at all, but it is the only choice. I won't have you following us and getting yourself killed."

"I can handle myself." I mumbled irritated. "You can't make me stay, even if Jacob is here I still plan on going." I argued determined.

"Bella." Edward's voice was stern and full of authority. "I order you to stay here." I looked at him shocked, he had never really used his authority on anyone, but here he was ordering me. I didn't say another word I stomped away from him like the baby I was and up to my room.

As I laid in the bed staring at the ceiling lost on what to do or what to think, I had a very bad feeling about all of this. Something wasn't right.

"Bella." Alice's voice invaded my thoughts.

"Hey." I sighed sitting up and laying my head against the headboard.

"Cut him some slack he just loves you so much and wants you to be.." I interrupted her.

"Safe, yeah I know." I sighed annoyed.

"Well we are about to head out I just wanted to say bye."

"Bye, be careful." I told her giving her a hug, no matter how irritated I was, I wasn't going to let them all leave without giving them a proper farewell. So after I told Alice I loved her and goodbye I headed out to tell everyone else. Carlisle gave me a short talk about how Edward was just trying to do the right thing, which I already knew and didn't need to hear again, but I appreciated it. Edward was last on my list of goodbyes. He held me tight in his arms.

"I love you so much and I know your mad at me, but I hope you will understand and forgive me." He pleaded holding me as close as possible.

"I love you too and all will be forgiven when you get back. Promise me you will be back." I sighed into his chest.

"I promise."

"I guess this is goodbye." I sighed as Carlisle walked by patting Edward on the back.

"Not goodbye, see you later." He said and he kissed me passionately. It was a kiss that was full of emotion and made me weak in the knees. I wanted him to kiss me like this forever, it was so blissful I felt like I couldn't contain it.

"See you later." I whispered as his arms left me and he walked away from me. Esme came up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. Once the car was out of view I shrugged out of her gentle embrace and ran to my room, our room alone.