Much gratitude to Frannie for hosting the Song to Story contest which brought One Look to life, and for being an amazing beta.

Thank you so much for the support and for reading and reviewing. I hope to keep you entertained throughout this story. It's told only in Edward's pov.

I hadn't stepped foot in my hometown in over five decades, and as I tugged at the latch on the gate of my childhood house, a smile formed on my lips when the latch caught, and memories from my human life flashed before my eyes.

My father had slammed a hammer into the latch a night I'd missed curfew. That way, both my parents could hear the gate opening during my struggle with the latch. There were times I was so invested in finding a way to join the army headed to Europe that I'd lose track of time.

I didn't have the heart to repair the latch. It could be easily straightened with my new force, but it was the last token I had from my mortal life.

I let myself into the house.

I usually hired people to keep it in good condition without changing anything from the inside or outside. I had failed to contact such a team in the past couple of decades, and it showed.

My house was the only one on the street still holding the Victorian style without being modernized.

I made quick work of the white sheets covering the furniture before I sat on the bench in front of the fireplace in the living room. It had been almost two years since I'd left Forks and my family and their ways behind.

There wasn't a day that passed when I didn't think of them, but I didn't regret the decision to rid the world of such scumbags who had nothing better to do with their fleeting life than torment young women.

If it was possible, I preferred not to imagine Carlisle's face and how opposed he must be to my new lifestyle. Or the way Esme would welcome me back, despite the fact that I'd ripped them apart with my decision to send them all away.

Away from Bella.

I covered my face with my hands. In such moments, when I was alone with my thoughts, Bella's face was the star of my nightmares. Because it wasn't her beautiful porcelain face my mind conjured, it was the drawn look … hollow, dull brown eyes I saw – Alice's vision since I'd first decided to leave Bella during her hospital stay in Phoenix.

Surely, she was over me by now.

Humans tended to forget people they didn't see often. Soon, I'd become a foggy memory for her. Maybe, she'd even imagine I'd been a figment of her imagination; the sour-looking, pale boy who used to be her biology lab partner could have never been a vampire.

Of course, my subconscious knew Bella's feelings for me. I had Alice's visions as proof that we were destined to be together. If I'd stayed, if I'd caved to Bella's wishes, we'd have a beautiful and happy future in front of us…as equals…as immortals.

I kicked that thought away, unable to accept the idea of Bella losing her soul for a monster like me.

What would she think of me now?

Surely, she'd see me for the monster I was. She'd be afraid, for the first time.

I snorted. She'd probably beg me to change her so we could do it side by side.

I cursed under my breath, feeling my heart breaking, and the pain of it was like thousands of knives penetrating my skin from a million different directions.

I drew the curtains against the glaring of the summer sun, feeling more vampire than ever.

I sat at my old piano, hitting random keys, trying in vain to think of anything else but the pain Bella was in, or Carlisle's betrayed look, or Alice's reproachful expression, even Rosalie's knowing glare. I hated how true all these images were.

The pull toward blood was more acute than ever since I'd succumbed to the dark desire once again. Human blood kept me sated for longer periods of time, but it didn't matter when I stumbled upon criminals and rapists. They were everywhere, and only I knew how many so-called decent men entertained such impure thoughts.

Chicago weather wasn't that different from Forks, except this city had sun during the summer.

I tried not to go out often, spending most of my time repairing the house and repainting it.

My neighbors noticed someone had moved into the only house on the street where no one had lived in ages. Even when I'd been in the city, back in the fifties, I hadn't stayed this long. I'd take care of my business, inheriting my money and the house, hiring a team to keep the house from collapsing before I'd joined my family in Wisconsin.

During my hunting trips, I remembered the advantage of living again in a big city. I could blend in, get lost in the crowd; people rarely took double looks if they found someone odd-looking. Humans tended to have a need for their self-preservation. Most of them, anyway.

September found me avoiding time at home as much as possible. If I'd ever believed living with Rosalie and Emmett was purgatory, listening to my newlywed neighbors was a new level of agony. There were times I was ready to knock on their door and snap their necks, or less morbid, tie them to ice blocks.

Today was a particularly difficult day. It had been exactly two years ago when my life had been tilted off its axis, and I had to make the most difficult decision.

I tried not to think about what Bella was doing right this moment. Had she moved on? Was she thinking of her eighteenth birthday, too? Did she still remember me?

I kept the cowl of my hoodie over my head as I darted into the first pub I found in my adventure. The evening was still young. This place was a sure win for finding what I needed.

I ordered the cheapest beer before I scored the table in the darkest corner.

Most thoughts of the patrons were still focused on their jobs, their mundane problems, their families.

A group of teenagers wandered into the pub, looking confident about breaking the law. One of the young girls headed to the bar to order drinks, flashing her fake ID and a large smile at the bartender. I had to laugh at that. Girls like this one made me question the reason why I bothered saving them from their predators. It was like they were asking for trouble.

Then, a scent I thought I'd never smell again hit me like a wrecking ball. She breezed past me into the dark corridor leading to the bathroom.

The bottle of beer exploded into a thousand pieces when my fist clenched around the too-thin glass.

What was she doing here, in Chicago?

I listened intently to the familiar sound of Bella's heartbeat as she returned. It increased to an alarming rate as she passed my hiding spot. She couldn't have spotted me.

She took the chair at the table right across the room. Her friends offered her a drink, coaxing her to open presents. She didn't seem impressed. The dark-haired boy next to her handed her a box.

I watched, mesmerized as her cheeks bloomed with color. Her eyes darted around the room, then settled on me.

I realized my mistake when her mouth opened in shock. I'd moved out of the shadow, drawn by her magnetic pull. I couldn't help but gravitate toward her, like a lost moon, finally finding its planet.

I was confident her eyes couldn't see the color of mine, but her shock was from seeing me after such a long time after I'd promised her she'd never see me again.

Bella dropped the box she was holding. The engraved mug from her friends shattered, making the boy complain loudly about her clumsiness.

Her hair was longer, the same chocolate color I'd fallen in love with. Her wide brown eyes drank in my features. I was thirsty, but not enough to mask the red, though I was too far away from her to see that.

One of her friends called her name sharply.

Bella startled, turning to her friends and apologizing. To my surprise, so after this, they all got up to leave.

I sat rooted in my chair while they walked up the steep steps to the street.

"I forgot my phone." Bella's voice shook slightly, but I was the only one to catch the undertone.

She managed to convince the others she didn't need help and opened the pub's door quickly. I was already hurrying up the stairs and intercepted her halfway there. I caught her arm by instinct, feeling the way her skin burned. I had to take her away from that enclosed space. If we were to talk, it had to be out in the open where she wouldn't tempt fate with her delicious scent.

For some insane reason, she allowed me to escort her outside, and into the first alley I found.

What made me different than some of those low-lives I killed for the way they treated women?

I tugged at my hair, keeping my back to her. It was a poor attempt to give her the option to run away. If that were what she chose, I'd understand.

"Are you going to say anything?" she demanded, her heart hammering against her ribcage.

Was she scared? Was she angry?

It was excruciating to be so close to her and not look at her. I turned around and walked to her, offering my hand. I wasn't sure why I expected her to actually put her small, fragile hand in mine.

Bella kept her arms wrapped around her torso. "What are you doing here?" she asked, a billion questions dancing in her eyes.

"I live here," I answered. I wanted nothing more than to return her question because I couldn't understand what had made her decide to attend a college in Chicago of all places. Unless…she'd hoped she'd run into me.

That sounded like my Bella.

"My Bella," I breathed, walking even closer.

"You lost the right to call me that." The venom in her voice made me freeze.

I deserved her hate.

"I apologize for ruining your party." I decided to distract her, make her forget about daring to speak to her as if I had any right to consider her still mine.

"Traditions," she sneered. "Ruined birthday parties are apparently your specialty."

Her words cut deep into my heart. It sounded like she hated me, which, even though I deserved it, the idea gutted me.

I searched her eyes, hoping to get a glimpse of what was really was in her mind. Actual horror filled her brown eyes as she gasped loudly. Under the full moon's glare from above, I could see my own red eyes reflected into hers.

For the first time, she looked truly frightened. But then she took me by surprise with her next words. "I don't live far. Would you like to come over and tell me what you've been up to?" Hearing the tremor in her voice made me regret everything.

I should have never dared to tease fate and listen to Alice's visions.

I should have never returned to Forks when I'd gone to Denali after that first day I met Bella.

I should have never, ever attempted a relationship with this precious girl.

I deserved the severest punishment for a damned soul like mine for hurting her.

I didn't deserve her faith in me, even when she could clearly see my red eyes, and she knew what that meant.

"Why did I think you'd choose safety?" I teased. I hoped our old playful banter would keep her from being too scared of me.

"Because I'll always choose you." Her simple answer gave me such hope; it had me soaring.

Was it possible for Bella to forgive me?

Bella won't make it easy for him, but this is a HEA.

Let me know your thoughts, please. I love reading your opinions.