***Miss me? lol

***Thanks for all of the reviews and kind words that so many of you have provided throughout this story. Some of you completely make my day and I appreciate it!

***I just got home about two hours ago, and the only reason I was able to post so fast was because Kathy and Carol indulge my obsession and had this ready for all of you.

***I still own nothing.

EPOV

I had to stop feeding off humans who insisted on blowing their paychecks in the local pub, but this town was so small that the pickings were slim. My head was beginning to spin and I could feel that I wasn't running as fast as I normally did. I was impaired. How ridiculous a notion, but if you fed from an intoxicated human, especially one who had been drinking all afternoon, you couldn't help but be affected. The alcohol would eventually move through my system and I would be back to the way I should be, but in the mean time, I'd just have to ride out the buzz. And, who better to do that with than my lovely little human?

I dismissed Riley from his duty and knocked on the door, but not before hearing from his thoughts that he was worried that I would do something inappropriate to Bella. He was becoming rather attached to her and through his thoughts I determined that he would feel better once she was one of us.

"Go away!" She yelled.

I smiled as I entered.

"Why do you bother to knock if you aren't going to listen to what I say anyway?" She inquired.

I smiled at her as I plopped down on the bed next to her. "Because I know you really want me here," I smiled, as I ruffled her hair.

"Edward?" She seemed a bit taken aback as she tossed the magazine that she was reading on the floor.

"Yes, love," I answered. "That's me." God, I was feeling strangely silly.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Wrong?" I asked. "Why does anything have to be wrong?"

"Something is different," she observed. "You seem different?"

"Really?" I said, as I inched toward her and placed my head in her lap. She stayed perfectly still, not knowing what to do. She looked uncomfortable. I laughed at her expression.

"What are you doing?" She smiled. Smiled? Had she done that all week?

She looked down into my eyes and, for the first time since I took her, she didn't seem afraid. I reached up and stroked her cheek. I just wanted to touch her. She was so perfect, so precious. I wanted her, but not just physically. I wanted her to want me emotionally, too. It had to be the alcohol in my body that was making me feel this way. "I miss this," I sighed.

"What do you miss?"

"This," I said. "Us; just like this. Remember the meadow? We used to lie like this for hours. We would just stare at one another and be content with that."

She continued to stare at me, but I could see how confused she was. I was confused too. I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing, but she wasn't fighting me and I wasn't threatening her. We just seemed to be.

I closed my eyes and took in her scent. I loved the way she smelled and I wanted to take it all in. "Bella," I said, as I kept my eyes closed. "I've missed you so much. Sometimes I wish we could go back."

"Back?" She asked.

"I wish that I could have stayed with you."

"Instead of going with Victoria?"

"Victoria was nothing to me," I said. "That's not what I mean. I left you that night. It was immediate. I tried to fight it, but it was too strong."

"The night we made love?"

"Yes," I laughed, not that it was funny, but the vodka in my system was making me do and say things that I had no control over. "I left that night."

"But, you're back now," she observed. "How?"

"No," I said, as I sat up. "I'll never be him again."

"You want to be," she said. "You remember the meadow and how you felt before it all changed."

"No! I fed from a local drunk and it altered me. Don't read into it."

"You can get drunk?"

"Not completely," I told her. "But, if it's in my body, it will affect me."

She moved closer to me and it made me want to hold her and tell her how much I loved her. Stop it, Edward! Get control of this situation or it could all go terribly wrong.

"Do you still love me?" She asked.

"Of course I do," I said. "Would I go through all of this trouble if I didn't? Taking you was the only way to make you see."

"Edward, if you're in there, you have to listen to me," she pleaded. "It was wrong to take me like you did, but it wasn't you. I understand that and I can forgive you, but you have to let me go."

"Bella," I said. "You have to stop it." I knew there was a possibility that she could talk me into letting her go. "Don't ask that of me."

She took my hand in hers. "You know this isn't right," she said. "Please…"

I cut her off before she had time to beg me to let her go back to him. I couldn't bear it.

"He doesn't want you!" I snapped. "He's with Alice. He loves her."

"He loves me!" She shouted. "And, I love him! You can't make that go away."

I inched closer to her. "Love, think about it. We're not that far from Forks. If he really wanted to find you, he would have done so by now." I'd use every advantage I had, if it got me closer to her.

"He wouldn't give up on me," she said. "I know he wouldn't."

I leaned into her and brushed my lips against hers. "I want to kiss you," I whispered. "It's all I think about." My head was so clouded and it was as if I had no control over my words. I wanted her to know everything.

She placed her hands on my chest and tried to push me away.

"Please, Bella," I whispered. "I want you so bad." If I were human, I would have lost my breath just from the close proximity to her. I was lost in her.

"No," she begged. "I love him." I knew that was true, but I also knew she loved me too.

"He's forgotten about you," I told her. "He's moving on with his life and we can do the same."

"Please," she shook her head, and I knew that I was finally breaking her down. She saw her Edward in my eyes. The Edward she never fully let go of. The one I knew, if given the opportunity, she would still want. I could make her forget Jasper.

"He's not coming back for you," I said, as I pressed my lips to hers. "Let me show you how good it can be. I can be just as gentle as that first night we were together."

She took a deep breath and averted her eyes so that she didn't have to look at me. "You're dazzling me."

"Is it working?"

"It's not fair," she quietly said, but I knew how effective I could be.

"You've dazzled me from the very beginning," I reminded her. "I should have been able to resist you, but I didn't want to. I simply needed you. Let me make it right for the both of us."

"I can't."

"Forget him. I'll take you back to Forks and show you that he's not there." I trailed my lips down her neck. "He's not searching for you. He doesn't want you." I continued to kiss her neck, but she still wouldn't give in to me completely. "Trust me, Bella; I did him a favor by taking you back."

"No," she swallowed hard. "That can't be true."

"You broke him when you chose me," I reminded her. "I heard his thoughts." I tilted her head up and stared directly into her eyes. "He felt abandoned and worthless. He hadn't felt that depressed since he was with Maria. If not for Alice, I'm sure he'd be feeding from humans by now."

"No," she cried. "It hasn't been that long."

"Then where is he?" I asked. "He has my cell phone number; he knows a man named Jenks who could probably trace me. I bought a car and used my name. I've been creating newborns. I know I left a trail." Of course, none of this was true. I had been extremely smart and left nothing for Jasper to find, but as long as Bella believed me, it didn't matter what I said. It was working, I could see how destroyed she was.

I ran my tongue along her jaw and then blew my cool breath in its wake. She shivered under my touch.

"Edward," she breathed out. "No."

I pushed her back on the bed and ran my tongue down her neck, lightly sucking on the skin just at her vein.

"Just give in now, love," I moaned into her shoulder. She was driving me crazy and I knew that I had to have her right now.

BPOV

He was so different. There was nothing mean or vicious in his eyes. Even his voice was as smooth as it used to be. And, his touches were soft and careful. It was hard to resist him. I didn't want to betray Jasper, but it was as if I had no choice. My body and my mind were responding to this Edward. Whatever he was doing to me was working and I hated myself for it.

I tried to push him off me, but his smell was so intoxicating. It made my whole body tingle with anticipation. I remembered everything; his touch, his smile, the way he loved me. It was as if the past few months had never happened.

"What are you doing to me?" I asked, as I tried to squirm out from underneath him.

"Helping you remember what we are to one another," he smiled.

"Stop it!" I demanded.

"I can't," he said. "I don't want to. You can feel it. I know you do, but you just have to let go. We belong to one another. I need you to admit that, before I can turn you."

He lowered his body onto mine, successfully pinning me to the mattress. He slowly and deliberately kissed me, but this time he gave it everything he had. He slipped his tongue inside my mouth and swirled it around, sliding it against mine. I closed my eyes and let him finish. I had hoped that if I didn't struggle and behaved myself, he would let up. He may have been winning my body over, and that was only because he had his vampire charms, but he would never have my mind. I wouldn't be an active participant in this.

If this was going to happen, it was better that it did when he was like this. He wouldn't hurt me now and he wouldn't force me. I couldn't stop the tears that started to slide down my face when he unbuttoned my shirt.

"Edward," I whispered, as I tried to make one last attempt to show him that I didn't want this. "Stop making me think I want this."

"You do want this," he said, as he pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it to the side. "I won't hurt you. I can be tender for you. I can be whatever you want me to be. Please, just give me a chance."

He ran his hands up my bare ribcage and over my bra-clad breasts. My body shivered from his cool, skilled touch.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, as he lowered his head to the exposed skin of my chest; slowly running his tongue over my lace-covered nipple.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to suppress a moan.

"No," he smiled. "You can't hide from me. I know you want this." He positioned himself between my legs and lifted one of them over his hip, gently rubbing his erection against my center. "Just as much as I do."

My body immediately tensed up when I realized he wasn't going to be able to stop, and I panicked when I realized that a small part of me didn't want him to. I had to try. I couldn't give up on Jasper. I didn't believe that he wouldn't come for me, but what if Edward was telling the truth? What if he was already in Texas with Alice? Could he move on that fast? I knew it was possible, especially if my betrayal had hurt him deep enough.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Edward started moving faster against my center, and then suddenly his hands were at the button of my jeans.

"No, Edward!" I screamed. "I don't…"

"Shh, Bella," he whispered. "Let me make love to you. It will all be okay after that. I promise I'll never hurt you again. I'll make you just like me. That's what you've always wanted."

"No!" I slammed my palms against his chest, but I couldn't move him. "I'm saying no and you said you wouldn't force me!"

He released my hip and growled loud enough to scare me. Had I finally pushed him too far? Was he going to rape me and turn me, all in one night?

"Fuck!" He roared, as his head snapped in the direction of the window. He jumped up off me and paced the room, frantically running his fingers through his already messy tresses. He wasn't his usual composed self; something was making him react.

"What is it?" I asked. "You're scaring me."

"I won't give you back," he screamed. "Not ever!" He continued to stare out the window.

"Jasper!" I yelled, as I sprang out of the bed and headed for the window. That was what had Edward so unsettled. I saw the Cullens, all of them, and the wolves quickly approaching the driveway. I was afraid to believe it, but where was he? Could they have come without him?

I started to cry when I saw him step through the trees with Peter. He looked around, probably surveying the property. I knew he could feel my presence.

"He came!" I smiled. "I told you he would."

Edward grabbed my arm and pulled me down the steps. "He'll be sorry he did."

"No," I struggled against his hold. "I did everything you asked. "

"Not everything," he growled. "And, once I'm finished with you, he'll never want you. You'll wear my mark for all of eternity."

"No," I screamed, as he took me out onto the porch, effectively stopping my rescue team in their tracks. Not only were the Cullens and the wolves with Jasper, but so were the Volturi. Edward was strong, but not powerful enough to handle all of them, and now I hoped that he could get out of this without losing his own life. As much as I despised what he had done to me, I knew in my heart that he didn't intentionally set out to hurt me.

Edward grabbed the back of my hair and pulled me closer to him. I felt an incredible surge of anger and as I looked into Jasper's eyes, I realized he was projecting. He was growling and baring his teeth. I continued to stare at him and then I smiled. I wanted to show him that I was okay. He didn't look relieved; actually I saw what could only be described as sheer terror in his eyes.

"Jasper," I smiled, but before I could tell him that I was fine and Edward hadn't hurt me, I felt the piercing of my flesh and a burning sensation quickly course through my neck.

"I told you I'd never let you go," Edward whispered in my ear. "Now, you'll always be mine."

I heard Jasper scream, "No!" And then he charged right for us. I felt the impact as I was thrown from Edward's arms.

Everything went dark after that…

JPOV

By the time I reached the driveway, Edward had Bella on the front porch. Everything happened so fast that there wasn't even time for me to manipulate Bella's emotions. She smiled at me, but she had no idea what Edward was about to do. I looked at her in total fear.

"You'll never get there in time," Peter said, as Edward grabbed Bella's hair and positioned his teeth at her neck. I felt the fury rise from within me as I watched Edward claiming Bella. Just as she called my name, he lowered his teeth to her skin.

"No!" I screamed, as I felt the immense pain she was in. I headed straight for them, ignoring the screams and doubts coming from the others. I smacked into both of them, sending Bella flying across the porch. Carlisle rushed to her side as I grabbed Edward and threw him against the house. The others scattered, trying to stick to the initial plan. There was so much chaos and I could feel everything in that moment, but the only thing I wanted to do was kill the vampire that I had in my grasp.

I heard Bella screaming out in pain and I knew we had little time, but my rage wouldn't allow me to abandon my current task. I had to finish this.

"You failed her," Edward laughed, as he threw me against the railing. "You were too late." I sprang to my feet and lunged for him. He shoved me with enough force to make me lose my balance, but Peter caught me and pushed me forward, causing me to collide with Edward as we rolled down the steps.

"Jasper!" Carlisle screamed. "Bella needs you, now!"

I knew I had to go to her, but everything was moving at lightning speed. The wolves quickly took care of all of the newborns, but once they got to Riley, Aro intervened. I could feel his curiosity as he approached him.

"Stop it!" I heard him command, and then he took Riley's hand. "This one is entirely too loyal to destroy and he has a soft spot for Isabella. I believe you inadvertently led us to her, didn't you?"

"I don't know, but I'll go wherever Edward goes," he said. "I'll suffer the same consequences."

"Fine," Aro said. "Alec, he is your responsibility until we return to Italy."

I pulled Edward up into a standing position and threw a fast punch, but he read it in my thoughts and shifted to the right before I could make contact. As Edward and I struggled with one another, Carlisle called to me again. "Jasper, you have to change her. The venom is coursing through her body. You have to finish this."

Bella screamed out in pain and I could feel the rest of my family's anguish, but it was nothing compared to feeling Bella's torment first hand.

"It'll be my venom," Edward stated. "She'll belong to me forever. You won't be able to come between us."

"The hell I won't," I screamed, as I punched him in the jaw, causing him to fall to the ground. I was full of fury and wrath now. I got in a few good kicks before Edward grabbed my leg and pulled me down, rolling on top and pinning me to the ground. Felix and Demetri intervened just as I bit Edward on the shoulder, causing him to yell out in pain. In his moment of weakness, I rolled us over allowing me the advantage of being on top and reached for his neck, but just as I was about to snap it, Aro stepped forward with Jane.

"Jasper," he calmly stated. "You have other business to tend to." He pointed to Bella, who was shaking and screaming in Carlisle's arms. "Leave Edward to me," he said. "Don't make me unleash Jane on you and your family. Bella won't stand a chance then." I quickly monitored his emotions and I knew he was dead serious. He wanted Edward and he would stop at nothing to get him. I couldn't risk Bella.

"Jasper," Carlisle said. "She needs you. If you don't do this now, I will."

I let go of Edward and ran over to her. She managed to open her eyes when I took her hand. Her pain was overwhelming, so I tried to replace it with tranquility, but I was in overdrive, feeling everything that everyone else was experiencing and I wasn't much help to her at all.

I squeezed her hand and whispered, "I'm sorry that I didn't get to you sooner."

"You promised when the time was right," she cried out.

"Bella, I…" I looked to Carlisle, but I was conflicted. What did she want me to do?

"Not his venom," she screamed. "Please, not his venom." She cried out as her anxiety radiated through me.

"Shh, darlin'," I whispered. "I'll fix this. I promise."

Edward growled in the background as Felix and Demetri contained him. Emmett stepped in to assist, but Edward's strength was proving to be a challenge. The wolves surrounded them, so Edward had nowhere to run if he did manage to escape. I could feel him starting to give in. Bella had managed to break him with her pleas that it shouldn't be him who turned her. I could feel how alone he felt. He finally seemed to be getting it. She wasn't his.

"Carlisle," I said, as I took Bella from his arms, placing her in mine. "Is it too late? Can I stop this?"

"You can try," he said, but I could feel his doubt.

***I know…the next chapter is almost done. We're almost there. Stick with me!

***Oh, and before I get lynched on Bella's bedroom behavior in this chapter…she was being dazzled and she fought it as best she could.