A/N - will make this is as short as I can! First, apologies for the delay...major case of writer's block and RL got in the way! Big thanks to my rockin' beta, changedbyEdward for beta'ing this almost the minute I sent it!!! I hope y'all aren't too angry with me for this chapter but I promise......things will work out!

I want to thank everyone for the kind reviews.....I know I sound like a broken record but I will respond and I have read every single one - thank you all so much for sticking with the story. It has been nominated for a couple of categories at theindieTwificAwards so if you feel like voting - please do so.....there are alot of great stories nominated over there!!!! OK no more babbling!!!!!

Steph owns everything Twilight - I am just borrowing.....wishing it was mine!

(Edward's POV)

I stood in the middle of my hotel room staring at the two of them in disbelief. "Alice, are you sure?" She nodded and I moved to the window, staring out into the Seattle night.

I should never have left.

How many times had that thought crossed my mind in the past week?I had believed that leaving Forks behind, leaving Bella behind, would keep her safe, give her the chance at a real life. Yet, all it had done was cause her pain.

Memories of the images Carlisle had thrown at me, showing me the inner turmoil I had triggered in her life were almost more than I could bear. Yet this was only one of the horrible things I had provoked. Charlie's death was my fault. If I hadn't left and forced my family to follow, we would have been here to protect Bella and all those she cared about. And now there were more names to add to the list…Jessica, Lauren, Mike. If I hadn't left, Bella would still be alive.

That final thought was like a dagger to my chest and once again the venom surged to my throat. The anger I felt towards Carlisle for changing her had dwindled, but I still could not completely forgive him for making that fateful choice.

Jasper spoke, tearing me away from my thoughts. "Edward, that isn't the worst of it. We believe that Victoria didn't just kill Newton. We think she turned him."

"She turned him? Mike Newton is a vampire?!" I looked into their thoughts, seeking confirmation. Neither of them had actually seen him, but they were convinced that it was a strong possibility.

We had severely underestimated Victoria and now Bella and the town of Forks were paying the price. I wasn't really concerned at the thought of Newton being turned – he was a newborn and would be strong, but he had never been the brightest bulb on the tree, so I knew he would make a mistake and that we would get him in the end. However, it did bother me that Victoria had ripped three people from Bella's life – she would ultimately feel responsible for this. It also concerned me that Victoria appeared to be building an army and if the trail of death she had left in her wake were any indication, it was not a small group.

Sighing, I dropped to the closest chair and pushed my hands through my mess of hair. "How is she?"

It was all I could do not to drag myself through each of their thoughts, I was so desperate for any information on her at all, but fought back the urge. I had betrayed everyone and it would take a lot to make up all the ground I had lost. Not intruding into their minds was one of those efforts to try and regain their trust.

Alice smiled tentatively. "She's beautiful, Edward. And she's coping very well. You..." She stopped mid-sentence and I immediately stood, going to her side as Jasper placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Al, c'mon, darlin', what is it?" No matter how many times Alice had these visions, Jasper always feared for her. I knew he feared that one would be so strong that she would not make it back to him.

The vision passed and Alice looked at me worriedly.

"What, Alice? Talk to me! Is it Bella? Is something wrong?"

She shook her head and pointed to my phone, as it simultaneously began to ring. Exasperated, I grabbed it from the nightstand and saw immediately that it was Carlisle.

"Carlisle, what's wrong?"

"Edward, you need to come to the house immediately and make sure Alice and Jasper come with you." I tensed as I heard growling in the background, along with Emmett and Rosalie's voices.

"What's happened?"

"Son, I would rather not discuss it over the phone, but you need to come to the house. Bella would like to speak with you."

His words ignited a scorching flame and I was overwhelmed by the emotions that flew through my being. Bella. She wanted to see me. It had been so long and I could not wait to hold her in my arms again. I told Carlisle we were already on our way, ended the call and turned to face my siblings, only to find Alice's face encased in worry.

"Edward," she began, "you need to know this is not going to be a walk in the park. Bella is scared and upset and very agitated. I actually have never seen her as angry as what I have just visualized. You need to be prepared that this is not going to be as easy a reunion as what you were hoping for."

"It doesn't matter, Alice. I will take whatever she is willing to offer. I just need to see her, have the chance to beg her forgiveness…"

Alice cut me off, shaking her head violently. "You aren't going to have the opportunity to do much of that today. She is really upset, Edward. You need to understand that and be prepared."

I nodded, although I was convinced that Alice was probably over-exaggerating, wanting me to go easy on Bella at first. It didn't matter – all that mattered was she wanted me. She wanted to see me and nothing was going to stand in my way.

I followed Alice and Jasper out to the Mercedes and slid into the back seat. They were both quiet, lost in their own thoughts, which was exactly where I needed to be. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the back of the seat, allowing the purr of the engine to lull me into a relaxed stated of consciousness. Memories flooded my head.

Bella's first day at Forks High...

At the restaurant in Port Angeles...

In the forest when we declared our love...

Each memory was a snapshot of our time together and the parade just continued.

In the hospital after James...

Prom...

Playing baseball...

Our meadow...

Her birthday...

Remorse filled my senses and I gripped the seat as the visions that my family had so recently shared came to light. Instantly I felt my mood lighten and calm enveloped me. I cracked an eye open and saw Jasper watching me from the rear view mirror, his eyebrow raised in question.

I shrugged in response, unable to put into words what I needed to say to Jasper regarding that day. I am sure he knew that he was not the only one to blame for what happened that day and when the time was right, I would make my peace with him. But at that moment, my only thoughts were with the one who was waiting for me.

(Bella's POV)

An eerie silence hung over the library as Emmett and Rosalie eyed me warily from the sofa. I hadn't spoken to anyone since Carlisle had disconnected the call with Edward and I knew that they were unsure of what to say to me.

I walked towards the French doors that led out to the expansive yard and stared into the lush green woods that lined the property. So many emotions were rushing through my body and I was having a difficult time remaining calm. Venom pooled into my throat as I fought against the anger that itched to be released.

Carlisle stood beside me and I waited for him to speak, but he remained silent, as if in thought. Finally, I could take the silence no longer, so I turned to face him. My jaw felt as if it were locked in stone as I spoke to him in a low forced tone. "How could he do it, Carlisle? How could he just leave me like that? How can you do that to someone you supposedly love?"

I didn't wait for a response, whirling to face Emmett and Rose. "I know you both mean well being here, but I need to do this alone." I turned back to face the door, not bothering to watch to see if they left.

Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder, urging me to turn and face him. "Bella," his tone was soft and comforting, yet I felt nothing of the sort. "I know you are angry, but please give Edward a chance to explain himself."

"There is nothing to explain. He deserted me. I don't understand why and frankly I don't want to. I just want him to know that he doesn't need to worry – I don't plan on staying around to cramp his style."

"Bella, you can't leave us…where will you go? We love you and want you to remain a part of this family."

"How can I stay, Carlisle? He never wanted this existence for me. He didn't want to be stuck with me for all eternity, so I don't plan on forcing him. I don't think I can stay and ever look him in the eye without blaming him for Charlie's death. If he had stayed, if the past 6 months had not happened, perhaps my father would still be alive."

And there it was. The truth of my hostility towards Edward Cullen draped the room in a cold dense fog. Anger rolled off me as I fought the destructive urge that quelled beneath.

"Bella, please." Carlisle placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me to face him.

His golden eyes were imploring, an ocean of emotions laid out for me to see as I peered into my maker's face. The devotion I felt towards this man was overwhelming – he had rescued me from the darkness that had enveloped my life and had given me a whole new world. I knew that whatever he would ask of me would be difficult, if not impossible, to deny, so I shook my head and lowered my gaze to my feet.

"Please, Carlisle, don't ask me. I need to speak with Edward before I make any decisions, but you know that I won't be able to deny anything you ask of me."

I felt his arms tighten around me and I burrowed into his embrace, allowing myself the indulgence of having him be a father to me, even if only for a few moments more. We stood there quietly, lost in our own thoughts, only moving when we heard the distant purr of the Mercedes pulling into the drive. I pulled away and looked up at Carlisle, memorizing his image in case it would be the last time I saw him.

"Please tell Edward I will be in the backyard. I would appreciate a few moments alone with him." Without waiting for his response, I opened the door and disappeared into the twilight.

I moved soundlessly across the lawn, positioning myself near the tree line. Anxiety wound around my being like a constrictor strangling a rodent for a decadent meal. How did we come to this? Distant foggy memories of another discussion in a forest like this teased at my memory and I fought to capture the images in my mind. He had left me, deserted me, forcing his family to do the same, never considering the consequences of the choice he made. How could someone who supposedly loved you make that choice? How could he leave me, defenceless?

A door opened then closed and I raised my eyes to meet his as he approached me slowly. A small smile hinted at his lips and the part of me that still craved his touch burned to run to him and close the distance between us. But I stayed where I was, and urged my body to turn to stone as he moved towards me.

"Don't come any closer," I seethed and watched as it became his turn to freeze in place. His eyes searched mine, longingly and with a bit of trepidation – I was convinced he was well aware by my body language that it would not be the reunion everyone had hoped for.

"Bella." His voice was like the whisper of an angel, beckoning me closer.

"Don't, Edward. I don't want to hear it." Immediately there was silence. "I only have a few things to say to you and would appreciate that you allow me to talk without interrupting."

He eyed me, his eyes begging for an opportunity to speak, but he simply nodded his assent.

Hundreds of thoughts surged into my mind as I tried to decide how to proceed, when all I wanted to do was run into his arms and never let go. I moved away from him and closer to the trees, trying to distance myself from the magnetic pull he had on me. I captured a vision of Charlie in my mind, holding it close to my heart and allowed the anger to once again take control.

"Why, Edward? Why did you do this to me? How could you do this to me? To Charlie? It's your fault, Edward. My father's blood is on your hands! How could you let this happen?" The questions hurled out of my mouth like daggers and I watched his beautiful smile shatter into a million pieces.

A rush of pressure echoed through my ears as I felt my body shake with anger. The anguish written across Edward's face told me he had no answers and I screamed in frustration while he watched me silently, his eyes pleading with me to let him explain. But it was too late… I sucked the cold evening air into my dead lungs and spat at him, "There's no way I can ever forgive you. You are exactly the monster you always begged me to see you for. I hate you for what you've done. I hate you!!"

With my final words I tore off through the trees, praying my newborn abilities would carry me far away into the night, away from the insanity that had become my life.

End of Chapter - please don't throw stones!! Would love to hear your thoughts though!!