AN: As always, the characters, the plot, and the words in italics all belong to Stephenie Meyer. Other random thoughts and actions are my interpretation of what I think happened and how I think the characters might have reacted. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

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From Chapter 20

"You were hunting Victoria?" She screamed, causing me to listen intensively for Charlie.

I was sure her scream would bring him instantly into her room, but other than a disruption of his steady snoring, he seemed content to remain asleep.

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Chapter 21 Greatest Problem

Her outrage look surprised me. Why was she upset that I would go after Victoria? I was never in any danger, but she had been, and it was even more than I realized.

"Not well, but I'll do better this time. She won't be tainting perfectly good air by breathing in and out for much longer."

Bella's response was rather unexpected. "That is . . . out of the question."

No matter how much Bella argued, I wasn't about to allow her life to remain in danger. 'I hope she isn't suggesting that I allow that assassin to remain alive. Kind hearted or not, Bella can't want to give Victoria the benefit of the doubt about whether Victoria would actually kill her. I hope she's not trying to protect me in some way; killing Victoria would be a pleasure not a crime. Bella needs to realize I cannot allow this threat to her life persist,' I thought just before commenting angrily, "It's too late for her. I might have let the other time slide, but not now, not after –"

"Didn't you just promise that you weren't going to leave?" she questioned with a slight tremor in her voice. "That isn't exactly compatible with an extended tracking expedition, is it?"

Didn't she realize I couldn't, I wouldn't, allow Victoria near enough to harm her. Just the thought of the red-headed assassin caused a growl to begin deep inside of me. If leaving meant terminating the threat on Bella's life, I would leave immediately, but I would return instantaneously afterwards. I would never be able to stay away long, but if leaving meant hurting Bella, than I would stay, but still . . . "I will keep my promise, Bella. But Victoria," just thinking about her caused the growl to rise up into my throat, "is going to die. Soon." I was so ready to rip her to pieces and holding back on seeking her out was going to be hard, but staring into Bella's deep expressive eyes reminded me of why I wanted to stay as well.

"Let's not be hasty," though she might be trying not to show it, I could sense she was beginning to feel panicky. "Maybe she's not coming back. Jake's pack probably scared her off. There's really no reason to go looking for her. Besides, I've got bigger problems than Victoria."

"It's true. The werewolves are a problem." The thought of them around Bella angered me to a degree that was surprising. I guess I felt territorial toward Bella; she was mine and I didn't want them anywhere near her or causing a threat to her. I wanted her safe; I wanted no harm anywhere close to her.

"I wasn't talking about Jacob. My problems are a lot worse [than a handful of adolescent wolves getting themselves into trouble," Bella replied with a huff.

If Victoria wasn't her biggest problem and she didn't see the werewolves as a problem then what did she consider her number one problem? I deliberated for a moment and then wondered if she distrusted me enough to consider me a problem. I was on the verge of asking her, but decided it would be better if I didn't.

The thought was rather upsetting and caused me to clinch my teeth as I asked, "Really? Then what would be your greatest problem? That would make Victoria's returning for you seem like such an inconsequential matter in comparison?"

"How about the second greatest?" She was avoiding the answer and providing me with another one.

"All right." I suspected she didn't want to discuss her Number One problem.

She hesitated before continuing, as if in consideration of something. "There are others who are coming to look for me."

"The Volturi are only the second greatest?"

"You don't seem that upset about it."

"Well, we have plenty of time to think it through. Time means something very different to them than it does to you, or even me. They count years the way you count days. I wouldn't be surprised if you were thirty before you crossed their minds again."

A look of sheer terror washed over Bella's face. 'Was she truly so afraid of them?' I wondered.

"You don't have to be afraid," I tried to reassure her as I watch the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She had to realize I would be here to protect her. I wasn't about to allow anyone, even the Volturi, to pose a threat to her safety. "I won't let them hurt you."

"While you're here."

She still didn't believe me. I guess in a way I deserved that; I hadn't been here when she needed me, and now I was asking her to just trust me without proving I was worthy of her trust. How was I ever to gain her trust back? I was determined to make her believe I was telling the truth. I took her face between my hands, trying to hold it as gently as possible while the tension built up inside of me. She just had to believe I was telling the truth. "I will never leave you again."

"But you said thirty," she whispered it as if it were a dirty word, and then the tears spilled slowly from her eyes. "What? You're going to stay, but let me get all old anyway? Right."

How else did she expect me to keep her while allowing her to opportunity to remain human? It wasn't right to steal her humanity away from her. Didn't she remember her revulsion back in the reception room when she realized Gianna wanted to be one of us? Trying to say it as tenderly and honestly as possible, I replied, "That's exactly what I'm going to do. What choice have I? I cannot be without you, but I will not destroy your soul."

"Is this really . . ." There was so much tension behind what she was trying to say that she appeared to be struggling with what she was about to ask.

I waited, but finally prompted, "Yes?"

"But what about when I get so old that people think I'm your mother? Your grandmother?"

She thought that would make a difference. To me it wouldn't matter how old she was, she would always remain young and beautiful in my eyes, and I would remain by her side forever despite what others might think. She was my precious love, my life, what made my cold stone heart race with pleasure and ache with pain; she would never be rid of me and she had to realize that. The tears were streaming down her face now and I used my lips to remove them from her soft pale skin. Their taste was salty yet sweet and delicious, just like she was sweet and delicious.

"That doesn't mean anything to me," I murmured as I continued to brush my lips against her cheeks. "You will always be the most beautiful thing in my world. Of course . . ." I paused and winced ever so slightly at the imagined pain because I knew that part would hurt deeply if she ever chose that path. "If you outgrew me – if you wanted something more – I would understand that, Bella. I promise I wouldn't stand in your way if you wanted to leave me." It would only be fair; it would hurt like hell, but I wouldn't deny her what she wanted even if it wasn't me.

"You do realize that I'll die eventually, right?" Her words cut deeply but demanded a reply.

I always knew what would happen after she was gone. It was the reason I went to the Volturi in the first place. I had explained this to her the night of her birthday. I had planned it while sitting in the hospital room after James attacked her. That was when I had first resolved that soon after her death mine would follow. There was no world or existence for me without her. It was a question that was easy to answer. "I'll follow after as soon as I can."

"That is seriously . . . sick."

It was not the response that I had expected. "Bella, it's the only right way left –"

"Let's just back up a minute," her voice was hardening with anger. "You do remember the Volturi, right? I can't stay human forever. They'll kill me. Even if they don't think of me till I'm thirty" – there it was again, that inflection as if she were speaking a dirty vulgar word – "do you really think they'll forget?"

"No," I knew they never forgot anything, "they won't forget. But . . ." I had thought about this too.

"But?"

I smiled as I recalled the planning process involved with what to do when the occasion arose, for it would arise, and there would be no stopping it. Of that I was also certain. "I have a few plans."

"And these plans," her tone was hardening as she spoke. "These plans all center on me staying human."

It was easy to tell she was not pleased with my idea of keeping her human. Why she was so determined to give up her pure eternal soul was beyond me, but I was just as determined that I would save her soul for something better than an eternity as a monster that thirsted after human blood. "Naturally." I would not give up easily; I could be as unwavering as she was and I would prove it.

We locked eyes and it felt like a wrestling match of wills taking place; neither of us was ready to buckle in to the other. We both stood our ground, and on my part, I was steadfast in my decision.

I wasn't sure how long this staring match continued, but suddenly Bella took a deep breath and pushed my arms away from her sweet warm body. I was reluctant to release her but I would not turn this into a physical wrestling match as well. Bella sat up in the bed and I asked "Do you want me to leave?" It would hurt, but if she was pushing me out of her life, I would go because it was her choice, but it still hurt to think she didn't want me anymore.

"No," she replied firmly, "I'm leaving."

I had my doubts about her honestly leaving. Where would she go, and what would be the purpose of her leaving? This was her home. I watched her climb out of bed and stumble around in the dark looking for something. Finally, I asked, "May I ask where you are going?"

"I'm going to your house."

I wasn't sure what she hoped to find there, but I did realize what she was searching for in the dark. I got up and walked over to her side, picked up her shoes, and offered them to her, "Here are your shoes. How did you plan to get there?"

She bluntly replied, "My truck."

She wouldn't want Charlie catching her sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night, so I warned her, "That will probably wake Charlie."

She let out a deep breath, which blew into my face and sent my senses reeling. "I know. But honestly, I'll be grounded for weeks as it is. How much more trouble can I really get in?"

If she wasn't so serious, I would have laughed as I replied, "None. He'll blame me, not you."

"If you have a better idea, I'm all ears."

Without out any real hope of deterring her, I offered, "Stay here."

"No dice," she replied. "But you go ahead and make yourself at home."

She headed toward the door but I instantly blocked her path. 'Maybe I could find a way to make her stay' was a thought I threw out before allowing it to fully formulate. Making her do anything was a false hope that she would stay because in her stubbornness to carry through with her plan she turned around and promptly walked toward her window. I knew she was determined to leave by one route or the other so I gave in and offered, "Okay, I'll give you a ride."

"Either way," she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "But you probably should be there, too."

"And why is that?" My curiosity was at an all time high. She was going to my house and now she was suggesting that I would want to be there as well. She had something planned, but without being able to read her mind, I could only wait for her to share the answers with me.

"Because you're extraordinarily opinionated, and I'm sure you'll want a chance to air your views."

I wasn't sure I liked the sound of that, and I wasn't sure I would like what she would say next. I felt my teeth clinch as I asked, "My views on which subject?" I was afraid I knew where this was headed and I didn't like it one bit.

"This isn't just about you anymore. You're not the center of the universe, you know. If you're going to bring the Volturi down on us over something as stupid as leaving me human, then your family ought to have a say."

I definitely knew I would not like what she would say next but I asked anyway. "A say in what?"

"My mortality. I'm putting it to a vote."

'She wouldn't dare?' I thought. But if I had learned anything about Bella over the past year, it was not to underestimate anything she might say and do once she made up her mind. She was almost as tenacious as the bear that attacked Emmett, and all I could do was concede to her in this matter.