Edward.

I didn't want to leave Bella. She was hysterical, and I was growing frantic with every growing second. She wasn't processing my words; she wasn't listening, and I couldn't shake her from the episode she was having.

I was seconds away from throwing her onto my back and whisking her away to my home, when I heard the distinct rumble of gravel outside of the house. Charlie was home, and I was positive he could already hear her screaming sobs, for his heart rate increased as well as the pace of his footsteps.

So I left. I didn't know what else to do. Bella was half-shouting 'Uncle Tommy', and I was certain that Charlie was going to look at this as a mental breakdown concerning his brother's death.

Which was partly true. It's just missing the morbid parts about how a sadistic vampire murdered him.

I could hear Charlie trying to soothe her as I fled from the house, cringing with each cry she emitted. And then I saw red.

I wasn't completely sure where the blinded fury sprang from, but I suddenly wanted to burn every single member of the Volturi into small piles of filthy ashes. The twisted, torturing game they were playing with Bella was going to come to an end.

And I would make sure of it.

Running back to the house, I didn't fail to forget how familiar this felt. A sense of déjà vu hit me all over as I remembered the last time I decided to leave. It was a situation similar to this. I was running away for Bella. Only this time, I wasn't going to stop myself.

I ignored Alice, Esme and Rosalie as they watched me fly into the house. I ignored Alice's desperate pleas to re-think my plan, and began to aimlessly shove amounts of clothes from my dressers into the small duffle bag I had placed on my bed.

"Edward, please just listen .. I saw what might happen if you provoke them. You might .." she stopped, but I could hear the word clearly in her mind. Burn. You're going to burn. I saw a fight. I saw fire. Please. I froze, my hand gripping the zipper of the bag. I closed my eyes, reconsidering the situation.

Bella's face appeared behind my eyelids. My beautiful, soft, warm Bella. My Bella, who because of the Volturi, was currently emotionally unstable. My decision was made.

Zipping the bag, I threw it over my shoulder, and glanced back at the three women, who were watching me with wide eyes. I sighed, and approached them. Esme was cringing, and I could tell that if it were possible, she'd be crying.

Please come back to us, Edward. Don't get hurt. Think about what that'd do to us. To Bella. I gulped, but nodded once at Esme in acknowledgement. I leaned in, and gently pressed my lips to her cold cheek. She weakly smiled at me, before throwing her arms around my neck and squeezing me tightly for a few seconds.

When she let go of me, I moved to Rosalie. Though I didn't have the same kind of relationship with Rose as I did with Alice and Esme, I still cared deeply for her. And I knew she returned my feelings, for she simply grinned. Kick some ass. I laughed softly, and repeated my actions, kissing her softly on the cheek.

Alice was next, and I was already wincing at the begging she was doing inside of her head. I can see Bella. I can see her falling apart. Please stay, Edward. We can work this out another way. Please. I sighed heavily, and brought the shaking vampire into my arms. She sobbed loudly into my shoulder, and I gasped as mental images of Bella clutching Emmett while she cried filled my head. Another one popped up where she was tossing and turning upon the black leather couch in my room. I closed my eyes, wanting to erase the visions, and clutched Alice tighter.

"You're just going to leave Bella here alone? With Felix here?" Alice asked skeptically. I softly pushed her away, and swung the duffle bag around my shoulder.

"Well, according to your visions, she'll be here quite often. I assume you're already planning on having her stay here?" I requested, and I knew she could hear the desperation in my voice. She didn't say anything. Her face remained blank, but she nodded, and I felt relieved that she wasn't going to put up a fight.

"Please keep her safe. She's my world."

Esme wailed suddenly, and I watched helplessly as Rosalie rubbed her back comfortingly. I was suddenly thankful that Carlisle was at work, and the other two male vampires of the house were absent. I didn't need anymore of a reason to slow me down.

You don't have to do this, Edward.

I kept my eyes on the ground, but shook my head, disputing the incorrect thought.

"Yes, I do. This has to come to an end. Bella's life and emotions are not a game that they can play with. I'm going to do whatever it takes to stop this," I explained firmly, praying silently that I wouldn't receive another argument from any of them. I was surprised when I saw all three of them nod in acceptance.

"Take care," I mumbled softly, before descending the staircase. They didn't follow me, and I sighed again as I heard Alice and Esme cry out at the same time. Throwing the back in the passenger seat, I drove the Volvo quickly to Bella's house, and was relieved to hear that the hysterical sobbing had stopped.

I parked the car at the end of the street, and quickly ran the short distance to the two-story white house. I scaled the tree, and moved to the edge of the branch that was closest to the window. I growled lowly when I saw that the window was cracked, and her intoxicating scent was wafting through the breeze. She was waiting for me to come back.

I opened it all the way, and as quietly as I could, pulled myself through.

I found her on the bed, sleeping. She was breathing softly through her open mouth. Her eyes were reddened, and slightly puffy due to the incessant crying she had done. Her hair was messy, and I could see a few damp strands that had probably been in the way of her tears at some point in time. She was miserable. That's exactly what I had to do this.

I leaned down, and not without hesitation, gently palmed her flushed cheeks. She didn't stir, so I continued to softly stroke her reddened face. She sighed peacefully, and I couldn't help the smile that plucked at my lips.

"You don't know how much you mean to me, Bella," I whispered.

"I'm going to stop this. I'm not going to let you be in pain ever again, I promise you."

Her heart rate was picking up, and I froze for a minute, fearing that she might be awake. But after a few seconds, she turned around and snuggled closer to my hand. Her heart returned to it's normal pace.

"I love you, Bella. Don't ever forget that," I concluded in a hushed tone. Suddenly, her soft breathing stopped, and I knew that she could hear me. I stood, dropping her hand, and jumping through the window before she could see me. As I hit the ground, I could hear her yawn loudly, before muttering a soft 'Edward?'

I swallowed down my desire to return to her side, and pushed myself back to my Volvo. I gripped the steering wheel tight, watching my strength so I didn't crush the material underneath my fingertips.

Three hours later, I was on an airplane. I opted for a first class seat, not wanting to be bothered by the lustful looks of the coach passengers. I had already endured enough of it as I was boarding.

My mind reeled in the possible outcomes of my appearance. I didn't know what I would have to do to convince them to leave my Bella alone. Obviously, my request was just going to confirm that Bella does in fact know of our existence. I could be punished for this. They might want to kill me for saving Bella from her impending doom as a child.

But ultimately, I knew what they wanted from me. I was far too precious to kill. When I had been there before, I had the option to leave. It was my choice. But now, I didn't think I'd be granted that opportunity.

They were going to subject me to a life far more worse than death. A life far more worse than this.

My phone vibrated nosily from my pocket, and I ignored the scowling balding man who sat a few seats away from me. I pulled the silver phone out, checking the caller ID out of curiosity. It was probably Jasper, Emmett or Carlisle, calling to scold me for my sudden departure. But it wasn't.

'Bella' appeared on the screen, and everything inside of my body plummeted. I didn't want to answer it. I didn't want to upset her, but I had to.

"Bella," I breathed her name as I pressed the green button. She inhaled a sharp breath.

"Edward, where are you? Are you coming back tonight?"

I frowned at the sound of her voice. She was panicking.

"No, Bella," I mumbled miserably. I could hear her fearsome gulp through the phone, and I hated it. I closed my eyes, mentally willing myself to tell her the bad news. "I'm not coming back tonight."

"Okay …" she sounded crestfallen. I sighed, but she continued. "I'm not acting insane anymore, Edward. It's safe, I promise," she joked heartily. I wanted a lighter. I wanted to douse myself in gasoline, and light myself on fire. I wanted to burn for what I was about to do to her.

"Bella .. I don't think I'm coming back. Ever," I whispered numbly. She gasped loudly, and closed my eyes when I heard her shocked whimper.

"What are you talking about? You-you were just here earlier! What do you mean you're not coming back? Where are you?"

My unnecessary breathing transitioned into fully heaving. I was shaking; trembling in my own self-pity and hatred.

"I'm on a plane. I don't know if I'll be coming back, Bella. I highly doubt it. I'm sorry."

There was it. Her estranged cry, proving that my assumptions about what a disgusting excuse for a body I was were correct.

"But why? What did I do? I'm sorry, Edward. Whatever I did, I'm sorry! If you don't want to be a couple, that's fine, I just don't want you to leave!" she wailed loudly, and I was sure the balding man could hear her from his seat, for he arched his eyebrows curiously at me. I turned my in my seat, and pressed my face against the window.

"You didn't do anything, Bella. I'm not leaving because of you, I'm leaving for you. I have to stop this. I'm not going to continue to sit here and watch them break you down and belittle you. It has to end," I explained roughly.

"Edward, please don't tell me you're going to see the bad guys. Please tell me your plane isn't going to Italy," she begged me, her voice faltering with the tears that I knew she was crying. I sighed.

"I'm sorry, Bella."

"No, Edward! Please come back! Please, I'll-"

"Alice will be there to get you soon. They'll keep you safe. But please make an effort to stay out of trouble for me."

"Edward," she whispered pleadingly. Closing my eyes again, I let my thumb slip to the red button that was only inches away from my face. I blew out a breath of uneasiness.

"Goodbye, Bella." I applied a small amount of pressure to my thumb, before the dial tone broke through the call. I was listening to the operator give me options on how to make another phone call. I shivered at the loss of her voice.

I let the phone fall into my lap, not bothering to close it. The robotic operator continued to prattle on about calling options, but I couldn't find the energy to close it and end the rant. Suddenly, my sense of good thinking and pride for this idea didn't appeal to me. I didn't want this now. I wanted to be in Forks. I wanted to be close to Bella.

I didn't want this anymore.

The intercom buzzed on, and the captain began speaking about how we were beginning our descent into our destination. I numbly lifted my face, turning to look out the window, where the sky was lowering before my eyes.

A dark gray sky came into view, and I could see the rain sprinkling the cement of the landing strip. I watched the few first class passengers stand, retrieving their carry-on belongings, and exiting the plane. I sat, ramrod straight, unable to move.

I could leave. I had time. I could turn around and buy a ticket back to Seattle.

I could hear the thoughts of an annoyed stewardess approaching me. She was going to ask me to leave. I felt her hand brush my shoulder, and I turned my head to look at her. I saw Bella's crying face. I saw the tears cascading from her bright, happy brown eyes.

I jumped from my seat, ignoring the protests of the angry woman, and leapt from the plane. I ignored the man that welcomed me as I stepped into the doors, his accent thick and almost hard to understand.

"Welcome to Volterra!"

This was going to end.

Okay, I apologize for the short length, and the delay of the update. I say this a lot, but I have been extremely busy. I'm going back to Pennsylvania next thursday for my cousin's wedding. I've been working myself, trying to learn the Thriller dance by Micheal Jackson. Ugh, it's frustrating, but it's the things I do for my family.

So, last time I updated, I let you know that voting was going on for the nominees of the MTV Movie Awards, but now you can finally vote for the actual categories for the winners. Twilight is nominated for at least .. seven, I believe? So go vote. And if you find better suitors, that's fine, but you all better vote for them for best kiss. You cannot deny that kiss wasn't hot. Whew. And I won't post the link, because last time I failed majorly at the html, so just go to the MTV website, and navigate your way from there.

And I want to mention another story I've been reading. I love it so much, and I'm already devotedly hooked. Please go check out The Vampire In The Basement by michellephants. It's rated M and it's definitely AU, but it is so amazing and you won't be able to stop reading. That's it for now. Please review! I love your input! :D