I do not own Twilight or New Moon. That honor belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Author's Note: Thank you to all those who have taken the time to send me reviews. They really motivate me to continue the story!

Family Tree Chapter 4

EPOV

It was dark. There was no light by which to see and there was a terrible burning in my side…as though a large chunk of me was missing. I couldn't move, I was trapped here in my own personal hell…and it smelled like werewolves. I tried to remember what had gotten me here…and the only image I could raise was the face of an angel…an angel of mercy. I tried so hard to call out to her but it didn't seem like she could hear my feeble whispers. Instead, I cried out with my mind, begging her to stay, to hold me through this terrible pain.

Bella! Please don't leave me…please. I will give you all that is left of me…I love you.

I knew I didn't deserve her…and I also knew that she shouldn't be here. I was torn between wanting her close and pushing her toward the light, away from this decrepit dungeon where I was trapped. She could leave and she could be whole. She wouldn't see me suffer and would not suffer as I now did. She would fly among the stars, flit beneath the moon, and smile in the hazy morning light.

But I was selfish, and for that, I would damn her forever. I would cut her wings and cause her to fall bleeding to the earth. It would be I that drank of her life. I that slowed, and stopped her heart. She would never blush scarlet again, and she would be cold eternally. Should she ever die…she would be damned, locked into a cold dungeon that reeks of enemies and left without recourse. No doorway out, no light, no chance, no hope.

I am the stuff of legends after all…evil incarnate.

BPOV

I was so cold. Images kept flashing before my eyes.

I saw Edward with his fangs bared glaring at Jacob.

Jacob wrapping his arms around me.

Edward holding me close in Volterra.

Jacob saving me from a watery grave.

It was endless and I was just a stupid girl. So what if my heart breaks? So what if I go through life on auto pilot? Wouldn't Charlie be safe? Edward and the Cullen's? Wouldn't Jacob be safe? I was the reason everyone and everything was in turmoil. My being a stupid pathetic human. Everyone was fighting so hard to keep me alive and how did I repay them? By being reckless and careless and selfish.

I didn't deserve anyone, not Jacob, not Edward, not even Charlie.

EPOV

She's here…I can feel it. I pushed at the bondage of my mind, struggling with all my might. I could smell her sweetness and it blocked out anything and everything bad. I struggled…until I could see. Many anxious faces swim overhead and peered down at me with anxious eyes. It took a moment, but I knew them. Carlisle, Esme, Japser, Alice, Emmett and Rosalie.

My family.

"Ah son, welcome back." Carlisle squinted down at me.

"Where am I?" I grumbled.

"In La Push, in Emily's and Sam's basement."

"What the devil am I doing here?"

"You were hurt and Jacob was hurt and the wolves found you both unconscious. There was a ton of blood at the site. You both were fighting apparently. Wonder what that could be about." Carlisle chuckled.

"Bella…" I let the name hang on my lips.

"She's fine, she's upstairs with Jacob."

I felt my heart drop to my stomach. She was with Jacob. Not here with me.

"It's not like that Edward." Jasper said hurridly. "She's not…quite right at the moment."

"Why? What's wrong? Help me up damn it, I'm all right." I swore.

"I don't think you should move just yet Edward, you haven't quite healed up yet."

"I don't give a damn! What's wrong with Bella!" I demanded.

Esme and Carlisle exchanged looks.

"I'll help you up there Edward, but don't do anything stupid ok? Right now we're on their land and they didn't do anything to hurt her, ok?"

I doubted that but knew that I couldn't do much until I was healed.

"Fine, just take me to her."

Carlisle and Esme each lifted me and walked up the steps.

I looked around and saw Jacob sitting on the couch, a bandage wrapped around his midsection. Bella's head was in his lap and her eyes were wide open in an awkward sort of way.

BPOV

"My darling Bella. I love you. Come back to me sweetheart." His voice whispered next to me painfully.

I didn't like this darkness. I couldn't see my angel.

"I'm here sweetheart, as much as I can be, and you're safe now." Edward spoke softly.

"We need her to snap out of it, she's lost in there somewhere." Alice said.

Alice? I questioned. I'd never heard Alice in my delusions before.

"It seems like she reacted when you spoke Alice, keep on talking to her." Carlisle urged.

Carlisle? Was I dreaming?

"Can I try?" I heard Jacob ask in a dead tone.

I waited anxiously. I wanted to talk to Jacob.

"Go on." Carlisle said.

"Bella…honey, please. I'm so sorry…we're so sorry. Edward and I…we were both so stupid. Please come back to me, err…us." Jacob stumbled over his words, which was so unlike him.

I had to try, I had to know. There was a dim crack of light at the other end of the dark room full of mirrors. I walked toward it and willed myself to open my eyes regardless of what I was going to see.

I blinked. There were more faces swimming over me than I'd ever seen before.

"Am I dead or something?" I ask wearily.

"No sweetheart, just a little out of it." Edward answered.

"Edward!" I cried joyously.

"Glad you're all right." Jacob said gruffly.

"Jacob, thank God you're ok!"

I looked up into his sad brown eyes. I then looked over at Edward and immediately bolted upright. I surveyed the room, and the injuries that were apparent on both of the guys I loved.

"You are both so stupid!" I yelled. "What the hell were you thinking!"

I was furious. They had let their egos get in the way of everything else.

"Calm down Bella. I know we're both stupid, but it isn't what it looks like." Edward responded softly.

"Yeah Bells. I mean, you only saw us for a second. Other things happened. I mean we both were pretty pissed off…" Jacob added.

"Wait. What?" I was totally confused.

"Well Bella…" Edward continued smoothly, "we left your window and ran into the forest, by mutual agreement, so no one would see us fighting or get hurt. We above all else needed to keep our identities a secret. We were half a mile into the woods and then we were circling one another…"

I felt a chill sweep through me and Jake rubbed my arms, instantly warming them. Edward narrowed his eyes but continued.

"That is when we both stopped and smelled…her. Victoria was there, and I could read her thoughts. I knew that she was heading toward you, knowing we were both distracted."

"Edward explained what was going on, and believe me, I didn't want to hear it, but I knew you were in danger. So we decided to work together, to keep you safe." Jacob added.

"So what happened?" I asked carefully.

"We tracked her and she was just on the perimeter of your lawn. We could see you outside on your porch. You were sitting there vulnerable. Well, she smelled Jacob and knew that we were onto her. She took off but we followed, and we caught her."

I waited in suspense, my heart hammering.

"It was ugly. As you can see, she got hold of both of us. But we…got her much worse."

"Is she…gone?" I asked.

"Yes Bella. She's dead."

I looked at Edward and saw pure love radiating from his eyes. I looked at Jacob and saw a tenderness I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Thank you." I whispered, to both of my heroes.

EPOV

I was so relieved. Bella was safe. Victoria was dead. Jacob and I had reached an understanding…of sorts. The treaty was still intact, though we were on their land. I yearned to get Bella alone, to hold her. I didn't want to do that in front of Jacob…he was wallowing as it was. He knew that Bella belonged to me, and I to her. It was painfully obvious now.

"Shall we break up this little party?" Carlisle asked.

I looked over at him in relief.

"We can take Edward home, and Bella too. We need to get her back before Charlie wakes up."

Everyone murmered in agreement and I felt myself lifted in Alice's arms. It was funny, being carried by my little sister.

"We can put Edward in the Jeep with Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie and Esme. Alice and I will take Bella home." Carlisle said.

"No." a tiny voice cried out. "Please, can I just stay with you for awhile?" Bella begged.

I felt my heart tearing to shreds. The last thing I wanted was for Bella to be alone after what had happened. At the same time, I knew that I needed a few hours to recover.

"Bella, my love. I'll be over in a few hours, I promise."

A sharp pain radiated from my side and I sucked in a breath of air.

"No, Edward. I'll come to your house. You're hurt." Bella said.

"I'll stay with her Edward." Alice whispered as she set me in the backseat of the jeep. "I'll bring her over to the house in the morning, first thing."

I nodded because I knew that was the only thing that made sense.

Alice hurried toward the other car and I saw Bella's face…a mixture of sadness and longing. I knew exactly how she felt right then, I didn't need to read her mind to know that.

As we bumped along, I tried to remember everything accurately. Mostly, it was a blur. I was running on instinct alone, not really thinking, just reacting. Jacob and I were somehow able to work together against a common enemy. We both loved Bella too much to let Victoria live.

Sure, the instinct to take him out was there as well…he had been the first to fall and his vulnerability was appealing. His weakness was an opportunity to finish him. His inexperience was easily recognizable, but he had managed to really hurt her. I could recognize pure talent when I saw it. He had also managed to slow her down enough that I was able to finish her.

It was such a pleasure to do so…

She stared at me defiantly, a murderous look in her eyes.

"This isn't over Edward…she will never be safe, and neither will you. I've seen to that."

Her ominous threat was pitiful. I snorted confidently and opened my mouth, my fangs glistening, ready to finish the job.

"Stooping to working with dogs…that's a new one. Not strong enough to protect her yourself?" she taunted.

"Listen, bitch. You have caused us enough grief, and by us, I mean everyone, the wolves included. No, your time has come, and no matter what challenges we face in the future…you will not be one of them."

With startling speed I swooped down and caught her throat with my fangs. I bit sharply and tore it open, leaving a gaping hole. My nails tore through her skin like she was newspaper, but not before she bit me in turn. She struggled wildly, holding on with her fangs buried in my ribcage, but I tore away, and in seconds, there was nothing of her left. I swooned as her venom began to spread, but it was nothing more than an irritation…or so I thought.

I stumbled and fell to the ground in surprise. The scent of wolves surrounded me and I knew then that I was lost. If Jacob wanted me dead…well, here was the perfect opportunity. I was hurt, vulnerable, and outnumbered. But at least Bella was safe.

I pulled myself from the recent memories and was truly surprised that they hadn't killed me when they had the chance. The wolves knew everything when Jacob had transformed, and knew that there were more important things to consider. They saw to it that the remnants of Victoria were burned, and they also took me back to La Push, though they did this after a great deal of debate.

I knew my scent was just as unpleasant to them as theirs was to me, but they hadn't left me outside, to my surprise. They'd taken me to the basement and then the girl Emily had come and administered to my wounds. She'd called Carlisle and before I knew it, my family was beside me.

The night had turned out to be fateful, and I was hopeful. A new truce existed between the wolves and us, not spoken, but certainly felt.

And my darling…she was safe. Not here in my arms as she belonged, but with Alice, who would certainly watch over her.

I felt myself drifting off…and it was strange. I felt a great calm fill me, and thanked Jasper mentally. I was…tired. I envied humans in only two ways…one, that they had their souls, and two, that they could sleep.

We're home Edward. I'll take you to your room.

I opened my eyes and smiled at Esme. Home at last.