Disclaimer: All characters are Stephenie Meyers. I don't own them. I wish I did but I don't. ;o)

This chapter is in EPOV. As will the next one.

I am making up for only putting one chapter up the other day. So far you have received 2 yesterday. I am hoping to have three up today as it is Easter and I will be doing family things over the next few days. Hope all of you can wait a couple of days for more updates after today.

Enjoy the next chapter!

As always R&R please.

~munchkin1978

Chp. 20

EPOV

I was almost home. Almost to Carlisle. I kept telling myself that Bella would be fine. She had to be. I made it home in about an hour. When normally for a human that is would take 3 hours with traffic. My cell was vibrating in my pocket and I answered it quickly.

"Edward."

"Yes Alice."

"Are you home yet?"

"No almost. Did Victoria change James?"

"Yes."

"Did Jasper look after it?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for having your vision. We would have lost her if we were any later."

"I know Edward. We will look after things here and take care of it. You look after Bella. Take care of our sister."

I snapped the phone shut and tossed it on the dashboard. I was mad at myself for breaking my promise again. I promised her that no one would hurt her again. I broke it. I couldn't let it happen again. That was two times I broke my promise. I shook my head. I couldn't think about this now. I needed to go faster. I need for Bella to be okay. I listened to her heart. It was beating regularly now. Her blood was regenerating but she would need a transfusion. Carlisle would insist on taking her to the hospital for that. And I know Bella she would refuse if she were awake. I was brought out of my thoughts when Bella started to stir again.

"Edward." She cried.

"I'm here my love. I am driving you to Carlisle."

"I still smell blood. Not as bad as before."

"You hit your head again. Not as badly as last time." I looked at her in the rearview mirror. "Does anywhere hurt love?"

"My arm. She broke my arm like… And my shoulder. I think that is all. Well besides my hand." She was looking at her hand. It was not the same hand that she always stared at. It was the other hand the one without the scar from James. She would have two scars. Two scars to remind her of my broken promises. My hands were tensed up on the steering wheel and she noticed it.

"Bella I am so sorry." I paused waiting for her to say something like she always did. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have come back to find you. If I hadn't this wouldn't have happened. I broke my promise to you again."

She watched me with her chocolate brown eyes. She was trying to sit up when I pulled into the drive and zoomed down the tree-lined road to the house. "Edward please don't be." I parked the car right in front of Carlisle who was standing there waiting for us. "You don't need to be sorry. This was not your fault. I was the one that went with him."

I didn't say anything. I didn't want her to see the remorse I felt. Carlisle came and took her inside and I followed. I made sure she was comfortable and then disappeared to my room to wait. Carlisle would let me know when it was okay to come and see her. The others were not back yet. But outside I heard a car coming down the drive. Then I heard Alice's thoughts. She was singing to the radio. She was in Bella's car. I settled down in my chair with my thoughts.

If I hadn't come back to find her would this have happened? Would it have happened anyhow? She did come back on her own. Victoria must have been waiting. I didn't want to think about what else may have happened. How much more Bella could have been hurt.

It must have been quite some time later when I looked up from the book I was reading. I heard someone in the hallway and then a knock on the door. I knew right away it must be Bella. I couldn't hear any thoughts. I was still very curious why I couldn't but I pushed that aside for another time. She poked her head inside and opened the door and closed it behind her. She kneeled down with a grimace but was still smiling. She removed the book and put it down beside me on the floor.

"Edward. Please don't blame yourself. I didn't know where he was taking me. I had no idea where it was. I know you are blaming yourself. I want you to stop blaming yourself. It's over. She is gone. You and your brothers killed her. I'm alive and right in front of you. And before you say it, and I know you will. I'm very glad you came into my life. It proved to me that you still love me and want me in your life. I know you wanted me safe but this would have happened even if you had not come back. Victoria wanted a mate for a mate. This made me realize something."

I looked at her. Her chocolate eyes were burning into mine. I started to look away. She stopped me and pulled my chin back to face her.

"I realized that it didn't matter if I was 18, 20 or 25, I was never going to get over loving you Edward Cullen. You are my life. My forever. As I am yours. It's over. Nothing else in the world matters but us right now." She kept looking at me and continued. "It doesn't matter if I am your teacher. It doesn't matter if you are the student. What matters is that you love me and I love you. I want my forever now. I want to stay safely in your arms for eternity. The past is now the past."

I snapped out of it then. She was my everything. My world. My forever. She was telling me it wasn't my fault. She was telling me not to blame myself. It was over. Nobody else would harm her. I was finally warm inside. I usually didn't feel anything. I looked deep into her eyes and lifted her gently into my arms as I stood, and kissed her till she was breathless. "Bella, my love, my forever" I whispered into her lips. I kissed her again and again. With each kiss came more of an urgent wanting. I had to restrain myself. I didn't want to hurt her. She had been through enough today. I lifted her again and sat back down with her in my lap.

I realized she had a cast on her arm and a bandage wrapped around the other hand. It covered the scar that Victoria left. I could see the bruises starting to form on her arms. I didn't want her to be so fragile anymore. I loved her being human but it was just too dangerous for her. Alice had seen her as a vampire so long ago. I didn't want to change her but I would have to. I would have to if I wanted her to be safe. My lie from seven years ago didn't keep her safe. This would.

I listened to her breathing and she must have fallen asleep shortly after that. I didn't know what time it was or how long we had actually been sitting there before I heard a knock on the door. I heard Alice's thoughts before she poked her head around the door. "Can I come in Edward?" Alice usually didn't ask she just barged in but she knew Bella was here.

"Come in Alice." I said quietly knowing that she heard me loud and clear. I looked down and Bella was still asleep.

Alice stood before me. We were going to have one of our, I read your mind and answer conversations.

"Is she okay?" I nodded. "I heard what she told you."

"I knew you would." I said in a barely audible whisper.

"Do you believer her?" she asked in her thoughts again. I nodded again. I did. I truly believed her. I had to stop believing I was at fault for everything that had happened to her. We didn't know it was going to happen or change. Since Alice's visions were so subjective. I would be forever Bella's and Bella would be forever mine.

I felt her stir moments later. I knew she was waking up. A moment later I knew she was fully awake because she kissed my neck, leaving the spot on fire on my skin.

"Edward I'm sorry I shouldn't have fallen asleep. What time is it anyway?" I pulled my arm around to look at my watch. It was 8 pm.

"It's 8"

"Oh my god. Charlie."

"Alice called your dad and told him you were here visiting Carlisle and Esme." I looked up and Alice was gone. I secretly thanked Alice for the last bit of info I pulled out of her mind. Bella had no idea Alice had even been there.

"Bella I have to say something to you." I paused. "Thank you. Thank you for making me see our forever. I want nothing to come between us. I want you to be safe and with me always."

"I want that too Edward. I have always wanted that."

"I'm not asking right now but in the future would you marry me first so we can have our forever."

She looked at me. She watched as the words had left my mouth. She wanted to see if I was cuckoo. When she realized I wasn't, that I was serious she kissed me. "Yes when you're ready to ask I will." I looked at her. She was serious. She kissed me again breaking my gaze on her.

My love was saying yes to when I was ready to ask. My heart soared. Well it would be if I had one still. We would have our forever together.