***I want to thank all of you who've commented and read this story, especially to those of you who truly got what I was trying to do with this fic. Your SUPPORT means the world!

***Thanks to Lady Tazz and TwiCarol. The story wouldn't have gone as far as it did without the two of you.

***I don't own Twilight or the characters.

Bella

"Edward!" I yelled. "It's been a month now!"

"Trust me, Bella. I know exactly how long it has been." I could feel his frustration. He wasn't the only one.

We'd been roaming the country, well, at least half of it, for four weeks. I was having a great time. We'd checked out museums, historical sites, and stopped in Chicago and explored Edward's roots. As each day passed, I felt I became stronger, not dependent on anyone. I missed Jasper so much it made me nauseous, but I learned a valuable lesson on this journey. Jasper was part of me, his venom coursed through my veins. I loved him with every fiber of my being. But, I was Bella. As much as I wanted and needed my mate, he didn't define who I was or who I wanted to be.

A month ago, I would have found that revelation disturbing, but now it made sense. We can love deeply but still be who we need to be.

"I'm thirsty and you won't let me feed."

"It's my fault you're picky?" He shook his head. "I've given you plenty of opportunities to feed the way you want to feed." More frustration.

"You make me lose my appetite!"

"Okay." Edward looked around the dark streets. "How about her?" He pointed to a woman coming out of a coffee shop. She looked to be no more than my age. "I won't say anything."

"I seriously doubt that." He always had something to say. No wonder he was still single.

I looked at the girl and I could feel her apprehension as she made her way down the street. She was probably nervous about being out alone. She should have thought about that sooner. The streets were a very dangerous place. I kept a safe distance as I followed her.

"Where is she headed?"

"Now you want my help?" Edward smugly asked.

"Just tell me."

"She's parked about two blocks from here. She met with some friends but wanted to leave early. She's picking up her mother at the airport tomorrow morning."

"Don't tell me anymore."

"Well, you might want to hear this."

"Oh, for the love of— what Edward? What is it that I need to know? Is she going to rescue kittens from a burning building? Maybe she's going to save the Rainforest."

"She is getting married next Saturday to the love of her life."

I glanced down at my own engagement ring. I didn't get a very long time to celebrate.

"Her mother is flying in to help her with last minute preparations. She's so happy."

I shook my head. "I can't do this."

"So, pick someone else."

"There is no one else. Even if you weren't here to inform me, everyone has a story, a life, a reason for living. The strange thing is, I don't even want to feed from humans."

"Well, then what are we doing here?"

Hell if I know!

"My throat doesn't burn. I'm really fine with feeding from animals. Come to think of it, I haven't popped up my shield by accident the whole time I've been with you. Why is that?"

He shrugged but I could feel his desire to speak.

"What do you think?"

"I think you're learning to control your instincts and actions, but I also think you don't need to hide from me. You're not the least bit worried you'll disappoint me. I'm not Jasper."

"No, you're not." I reached inside my pocket and pulled out my phone. "He's texted me and called me several times but I was too mad to answer him."

"I've spoken to him a few times. He misses you but wants you to do what you have to do for you."

"I don't want to do any of this without him." He needed to know that leaving me was unacceptable. I understood why he did it, but it wasn't his choice to make. If we were going to stay together forever, then it had to be forever.

"Then don't," Edward said. "You both needed some space. I know from talking to you both, you don't want to be apart. You know what else I know?"

"Enlighten me."

"You don't want to feed from humans and it has nothing to do with me reading their minds. If you really had a desire to drink from them, nothing I said would've mattered. You may have had a slip-up when you were new, but that happens to most of us. You never went back because it wasn't what you desired."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I'm so much wiser than you."

"Only because you're older than me."

He laughed. "You're pretty wise too. You just needed help getting there."

Edward was right.

"What should I do now?"

"You could call Jasper. I'm sure he'd come and get you."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I can't wait for him to come and get me. I need to go to him now. We've let this go on long enough. I'm going home. I need to get back to my stubborn mate and tell him exactly what I want."

I could feel the relief pouring off Edward in droves. What the hell is that about?

"What?"

"Nothing. I think it's a great idea." He smiled. "I'll take you."

"Why are you so relieved?" He seemed awfully anxious to get rid of me.

"You're not the easiest person to deal with. You were a lot less work when you were human, well, except when you were in the path of out-of-control vans or the object of deranged vampires. And, let's not forget about your gift."

"I haven't used my shield on you."

"Not that gift. You project like crazy. Worse than Jasper ever did."

"I do?" I hadn't realized I could project. "Am I really that bad?"

"I miss Jasper." He shook his head. "Far more than I should."

"Sorry. This trip has probably been a nightmare for you. You don't have to take me to Texas. I can find my way."

"The trip wasn't bad, Bella." He took my hand. "I'm glad we got to spend this time together. You're an amazing woman and I'm happy I got the pleasure of knowing you."

"We'll still be friends, right? You'll come visit me?"

"Always." He smiled. "You're stuck with me for an eternity."

"You too."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't ever want to take another road trip with you again."

"You had fun."

"When I wasn't forced to bathe in a stream."

"How about how many of those fancy hotels you forced on me? You really should get in touch with your nomad side. What if your mate likes nature?"

"The universe wouldn't be that cruel."

"It would serve you right, Edward Cullen."

I pulled him into a hug. "Thanks for sticking with me and looking after me."

"You could've done it all on your own and I honestly believe you would have come to the same conclusions."

"I think you're right, but I would've been very lonely." I would never forget the time I'd spent with Edward. He helped me to understand and accept who I was.

"We're not that far from Texas." He glanced at his watch. "If we get in the car now, we could be there by tomorrow night."

If I were still human, my heart would be racing and my stomach would be fluttery over the fact that I'd be coming face to face with the only man I've ever loved in less than twenty-four hours.

"You're projecting again. And, now I'm excited to see Jasper." He laughed. "Come on, let's go."

The ride to our destination was a long one. Edward did all of the driving and we didn't talk much. He was giving me my space and letting me work out my fears and anxiety. Jasper and I had a long journey in front of us. I wasn't going to just get over him leaving me, even if I did understand his motives. I knew he did what he thought was the right thing and I was certain he'd changed his mind when he started texting me and calling, but I was too stubborn to let him explain. I was hurt and not ready to deal with it.

But, things were unusual for vampires and their mates. Our minds process things in a different way than a human would. We can look at a situation from all angles and even if we didn't like what we saw, sometimes it was just the way things needed to be. We had nothing but time on our hands, so being separated for a month, year or even a decade didn't affect us as much as one would think.

Would I ever want to be away from him again? Absolutely not.

Would I have preferred we worked this out together? You can bet your ass I would have.

I learned a lot during our time apart. I wasn't perfect. I was a newborn, still learning and finding my way. And, even though I was no longer human, I was still going to make mistakes. As Jasper would, too. He made a big mistake leaving me in Seattle, but he had his reasons. I could respect his decisions the same way he'd always respected me.

Looking back on the first few months of my newborn stage, Jasper did everything he possibly could to help me. He gave me my space, held me when I slipped up, forgave me when I couldn't turn to him or asked him to give into temptation with me. He told me he'd support whatever decisions I made about my diet. What else could I have asked of him?

Perhaps it wasn't my fault that I couldn't trust him. Maybe I was wrong to shut him out, but I was so new. He did the only thing he could do at the time. I was a stronger woman for it. I knew I could survive on my own now.

I glanced at Edward who was trying to find a good enough radio station. Well, almost on my own.

But, I didn't have to be alone. I had a mate that I was lucky enough to find from the very beginning of this existence. A mate who wanted to share in my fears and screw-ups. One who would always be there, even if we weren't together.

Unconditional love. That was what Jasper and I had. I felt it more now than I ever had before. It was all so clear now. I got it and I would never forget it.

"I'm home."

"Yes, love, you are." Edward parked the car a few feet from the driveway.

"You're not going to come with me?" I could feel the goodbye.

"You don't need me."

"I'll always need you."

"And, I'll always be there, but right now, you know exactly what you have to do."

He got out of the car and with vampire speed had my door opened and me out of the car. I giggled even if my head didn't spin anymore. He laughed at me and I felt his amusement.

"Was it always this easy being with you?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I didn't do well when you were human. I was always so worried about protecting you that I missed much of who you were. I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay." I smiled. "I'm kinda glad those memories have faded. This is the only Edward I want to know. The one who really sees me."

"I do." He kissed my cheek. "You're fantastic and Jasper Whitlock is a very lucky man."

When we got to the walkway in front of the house, I nearly lost my breath. Where did that come from? Was this how Jasper occupied his time? I could feel the love and dedication that went into constructing such a masterpiece.

"It's a really nice path." Edward smiled.

"It's the path to my soul." I was so overwhelmed. I didn't know how I was finding my voice.

"I think you should follow it."

I nodded.

"Goodbye, Bella." Edward let go of my hand. "Thank you."

"For what?" I was confused. He was the one who helped me.

"Redemption."

"But?"

I felt the wind in my face as he took off toward the car.

"No problem," I whispered.

The path was illuminated with the most eloquent lights I'd ever seen. It was almost as if they were lighting the way to my destiny. I allowed my eyes to wonder up the walkway, but I stood frozen at the bottom. I inhaled deeply. He smelled so good. Once I looked up, my eyes connected with the golden ones staring back at me from the top of the path.

Love, honor, respect, commitment, need, desire, lust, mine…

I wasn't sure what I was feeling or if I was projecting. Were these Jasper's emotions, too? For all I knew, they could have been both of our emotions. Apparently, we had some things to work out with being empaths as well.

I didn't know if I should run into his arms or let him come to me. I was standing not twenty feet from him. I could feel how much he loved me, how happy he was to see me, but I couldn't move.

So many emotions were swirling between the two of us. The air was covered in our feelings, but the most relief I felt was when I realized I was no longer drowning or gasping for air. For the first time in a month I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

We had an eternity to figure out the rest.

***It was always my intention to end it here. I'm thinking that's not going to fly with you all, so I'll do one more chapter in Jasper's POV as soon as I can.

***I'm also toying with a little outtake of Char's sexy fantasy;)