Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight Stephanie Meyers has that right.

Thanks to my wonderful Beta's NeeNee246 and toocute24

Chapter 21

When your life flashes before your eyes

"You look beautiful," Edward commented over the table.

"Thanks," I glared.

"You're still pissed at me?"

"What do you expect?" Edward shook his head at me as he picked up the menu. "What would you say if I told you I still did the research on Volturi Enterprises?"

"You didn't?" Edward's voice was pained as he dropped his menu watching me.

"The Bree from your nightmares was Aro's daughter, wasn't she."

"Fuck Bella," Edward got up from the table and started to leave. I had to follow him. Truthfully I was a little worried he might not come back.

"Edward!" I called after him once we were both on the sidewalk. "Please don't run away from me."

"You have no idea what you've done," Edward snarled. "How am I meant to protect you if you keep putting yourself in danger? I told you not to look into any of this. I told you I would give you the truth. Why wasn't that enough?"

"I'm sorry. I was angry," I pleaded, trying to touch his arm but he pulled away.

"I can't do this right now." I couldn't read the emotion in his eyes.

"Edward please," I called as he began to walk away.

"I need time Bella. You have no idea the dangers you are putting us both in."

"I'm going home to Forks tomorrow for the weekend. I don't want to leave with us like this, please."

"You're going to Forks? You didn't say anything."

"It's the anniversary of my mom's death on Sunday. I completely forgot." Edward's eyes softened as he looked down at me.

"Maybe a weekend apart will do us some good." Edward exhaled. "I need time to think."

"I don't want to leave when you're mad at me," I pouted

"Sunday night we will talk."

"About the truth?" I questioned.

Edward exhaled. "Yes."

"Who are you running from, Edward? You can at least answer that."

"I will explain it all on Sunday. Please, love, don't push it." Edward winced.

"Okay," I breathed. Edward pulled me into his arms and placed a soft loving kiss on my lips.

"I'll see you Sunday night. Take care."

"Aren't you working tomorrow?"

"Yes, but not in the office," Edward sighed stroking my face. "I love you Bella. Out of all of this fucking mess, that's all that makes sense."

"I love you too," I whispered, leaning up on my tiptoes to kiss his lips once more. His arms encircled me lifting me off the ground as the kiss became deeper. I gripped his hair pulling him closer to me. When the kiss ended, we were both breathless.

"Why . . . did that feel . . . like goodbye?" I panted.

"It might be once you hear the truth," Edward grimaced before he kissed my forehead. "I'll see you Sunday." And with that he was gone.

oxoxoxo

It was strange going back to Forks after everything that had happened. If I closed my eyes for too long, I might have been scared to think the last six weeks had all been a wonderful dream.

Even my old room in Forks reminded me of Edward. I lost count of the times he used to climb through my window late at night just to hold me.

Once we had declared our love all those years ago, we became inseparable. I was happy I could look back now, knowing all those moments weren't a lie. Our love was just as real to Edward.

I was freaking out a little about going back to Washington D.C., though. Edward was still angry with me, and who knew what was going through his head while we were apart. Edward, I was sure, didn't have a rational side to him.

"Are you sure you're okay Bells? You've been so quiet," my dad asked as he watched me prepare dinner; lasagna, my dad's favourite.

"It's been a really stressful week," I sighed, slicing the tomatoes.

"If it's too much for you, come back home." It was more a plea, the way my dad spoke.

"I'm happy in Washington D.C, Dad."

"I know you are. I'm kidding."

After dinner we sat in the front room. Earlier, dad and I went to mom's grave to lay down some fresh red roses. I wanted to tell her about Edward. How having him back in my life had freed me, but as I looked at Charlie, I realised that in a month's time, I would disappear from his life just like Edward had done to me three years ago.

Would there be a way I could let Charlie know I was safe? Could I leave him a note? I had so much I needed to talk to Edward about. We hadn't even approached any of these topics yet. Where would we be going next? Would my name change? Would I become a Cullen too?

"What's playing on your mind Bells?" my dad asked, sipping his beer.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about mom."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss her even more now with you in D.C."

"I guess you would give anything to have her back too," I sighed looking out the window.

"I would have done anything to save her, even sacrificing my own life."

"You can't fight cancer, dad."

"I know."

"So you would give up everything for 'the one'?" My dad eyed me suspiciously. "I mean hypothetically," I added quickly.

"How are things going with your boss? What's his name again . . . Jacob?"

"He is a good friend," I sighed, shaking my head. "I am seeing someone though."

"You are?" My dad sounded impressed. God, if he knew it was Edward he would flip.

"Its still early, but he makes me feel alive again."

"Is he a work colleague?"

"I'm his senior PA. You should see how we work together, dad. Jacob is so impressed with us."

"Mr. Cullen, is that him? When I rang your office the other day you answered the phone with that name."

"Yes," I knew I was blushing.

"What's his first name?" Crap, well why lie? There were plenty more Edwards in this world after all. He would never consider it was the same Edward.

"Edward," I whispered.

"WHAT!" My dad spat his beer out. "Are you kidding me? Are you dating this guy just because of his name?"

"No," I laughed. "We connected on day one. What does it matter if his name is Edward?"

"Please tell me you're not still holding onto him Bella. Having a boyfriend with the same name isn't going to bring him back."

"I'm happy dad. This Edward is older. He makes me feel alive. I think I am falling in love with him." It felt good telling him some truth. I only hoped that once I disappeared, my dad would piece it all together. He was a cop after all.

"You're in love with him!" I nodded. "How much older is older."

"He's twenty four, nearly twenty five." My dad nodded, taking another sip of his beer. I heard him mutter under his breath that he still hated the name but that was fine. It just felt good to tell him in some way what Edward meant to me.

oxoxoxo

Flying back on Sunday was one of the worst plane rides I'd ever had. Edward had had three whole days to think up some stupid reason I shouldn't leave with him or why I shouldn't know about his past. But then, I had spent the last three days realising all I wanted was Edward, no matter what. If he had been the cause of Bree Volturi's death, it must have been an accident. His nightmares weren't that of a murderer. I knew Edward wasn't capable of that.

I was hoping he'd be waiting for me in my apartment, but when I arrived back home, it was empty. Everything was just the way I had left it on Friday evening. Edward must have spent the whole weekend at his flat.

I began unpacking my bag while I rang my dad to let him know I was back safely.

"Take care Bells. Be happy," my dad called as he hung up.

I floated around my apartment for a few hours until I couldn't take it any longer. I grabbed my keys and headed over to Edward's apartment to see if he was there. I wasn't going to wait all night for the truth.

As I arrived at Edward's front door I could hear voices inside. One was definitely female; I could tell by the high screech.

Nervously I knocked on the door, pulling the courage to cope with whatever was about to happen.

Edward opened the door looking stunned. "You're really early," he stressed, looking behind his shoulder.

"I didn't tell you when I was getting back," I whispered, trying to look over his shoulder to see who was inside. Edward closed the door more to block my view.

"Can I meet you back at your place in an hour?"

I was about to speak when the voice chimed again, but this time I knew exactly who it belonged to.

"Edward, you can't just flip like this . . . I . . ." Alice moaned coming into my view, stopping dead in her tracks as she looked at me. "B . . . Bella?"

"Alice," I sobbed as we embraced each other tightly. I couldn't control my whimpers. I had missed her so much.

"Bella . . . what are you doing here?" Alice turned to Edward. "How could you keep this from us?"

"I had to protect her, Alice." Edward sighed, closing the door.

"I can't believe you would do that to me," Alice sobbed, still clinging to me. "I am your sister, Edward. Surely you could have trusted me with this."

"Bella and I just needed time. It hasn't been easy for us."

"Does she know?" Alice asked.

"No." Edward dropped his head as I looked up at him.

"You need to tell her, now," Alice scolded. "We all told you three years ago. She'll understand. You're not the monster you think you are."

"Tell me what?" I pleaded, searching Edward's eyes.

Edward took a deep breath, but just as he was about to speak, someone burst through his door like a battering ram. Three stocky men barged in, knocking Alice and me to the floor.

"Well, well what do we have here?" one of the stocky men chuckled.

"Let them go. It's me you want," Edward snarled as he went for him. The other two guys were quicker, though, pinning him to the floor. I wince as Edward's head hit the floor, hard.

"Edward, will you never learn?" The guy chuckled. "You can't run from us."

"Fuck you Diego," Edward spat.

"Someone wants to see you," Diego sniggered. "It's pay back. Felix is going to be so impressed, he doesn't even know I'm here." Diego looked towards Alice and I. "So who do we have here?" he grinned darkly grabbing Alice first. I was so near the door I was contemplating making a run for it to get help. "You're a pretty little thing. How do you know this man?"

"I'm his sister, you asshole," Alice shrieked. "Let him go."

"How does it feel knowing your brother killed someone?"

"Only Felix would know how that feels," Alice snarled. "He can punish Edward all he wants but he is the reason Bree is dead." Diego lost it, hitting Alice hard in the face.

"Alice!" Edward and I both called. I was the only one who managed to rush to the floor to catch her. She was conscious but completely dazed.

"And who are you?" Diego grabbed me, pulling me up by my hair. It hurt like hell.

"GET YOU FUCKING HANDS OFF HER!" Edward roared, almost breaking free from his hold.

"My, you must mean a lot to him. Look at the passion and anger in his eyes. He didn't even blink an eye when I had my hands on his sister," Diego mused, turning me so my back was against his chest. "What's your name beautiful?" he whispered in my ear as he pushed me a little close to Edward.

"Diego," Edward pleaded, his eyes becoming wet. "Please let her go. She knows nothing."

"Well fuck me, Edward has a heart. Who would have known?"

"Please Diego. You have me. You win. Let her go," Edward pleaded, dropping his head.

"Did Edward tell you about Bree? What he did to her?" Diego was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek as he gripped my waist harder.

"Bella doesn't need to hear this," Edward snarled looking up.

"You killed her. Bella needs to know this." I was shaking. "How does that feel Bella? Do you have feelings for this man, too? For this . . . monster?" Tears were streaming down my face. Was this it? Was six weeks all Edward and I would ever have? "If you do, you are in love with a murderer."

"I'm not the fucking murderer!" Edward roared.

Diego laughed darkly and suddenly I felt something cold against my cheek. I turned to see my scared brown eyes reflecting in a sharp blade.

"You know nothing of pain Edward," Diego glared. "I was in love with her but all she saw was you. I told Bree you were bad news but she didn't listen. She had to fall head over heels for you." Diego turned to me. "Bella, Edward should have told you that every female who loves him dies. Sorry sweetheart. It pains me to have to do this."

"Diego," Edward's voice was breaking. "I am begging you. Kill me, not her. PLEASE!"

Diego's laugh was dark. I could feel the blade graze down my back digging into my spine. I was trembling, unable to control my sobs.

"I love you . . ." I whimpered looking at Edward.

"Bella . . ." Edward pulled against his hold with all this strength.

"This is payback. You took my love, now I am taking yours," Diego snarled as I felt the blade dig into my back. I screamed out in agony as the knife sliced through my skin.

I fell to the ground, already feeling lifeless as my blood seeped out of my body. I could hear Edward yelling my name. Then there was scrambling and shouting but I was slipping too far into the darkness to know what was going on.

"Bella," Alice was shaking me but I was too far away. "Hold on."

"Bella, Bella . . . love. Hold on. Don't you go anywhere! I'm going to start telling you the whole truth, so you better be listening," Edward pleaded.

"I . . . hear . . . you," I forced out. I wanted to hear the truth even if it was the last thing I ever heard.

"I'll tell you everything, I promise. Just stay with me," Edward begged.

How could I deny him that? I wanted to stay with him. Nothing in my life meant more to me than him.

They say that when you're dying, your life flashes before your eyes, and it did. But, all I saw was Edward. His voice, his smell. The feeling of being wrapped up in his loving arms.

Edward was my life. In my darkest hour, that was all that made sense. So I held on for as long as I could, concentrating on his voice alone.

If anyone could keep me here it was him. I wasn't going to give up when I knew I had a life to lead.

Well, what did we think of that? I bet your weren't expecting that ;)

Thanks for all the support for this fic! I have A LOT of new readers, so welcome and for those of you who have been here from the start and reviewed each chapter you rock

Bee xxxx