Hello, I'm back! I'm so sorry for how long this took. I actually scrapped another chapter idea, because I wasn't feeling it and jumped right into this one, even if its a bit abrupt. Also, I'm not going to lie. The new Animal Crossing game has consumed my life, and is partly to blame. I haven't been able to do anything productive the past few weeks.

VelvetCoral: I definitely agree. Edward is immature in a lot of ways. But I think that despite being immortal, he's capable of change. That's what I'm going for at least, that he's changed some throughout this story.

Kpop2012: Thank you!

Aiyanna Clearwater: Such a dillwad lol!

sam: I'm glad you're glad. It was important for her to grow a bit.

im-okay-mj: yes! she is taking care of herself!

mice: I'm glad you see it that way :)

Woggie: Thank you for reading! I wasn't trying to subvert stereotypes with my race bending. My thought process was actually just that Alice and Emmett are both dark haired, and have backstories that can fit people of color. But you make an important point and I thank you for bringing it up. Also, for Edward and math, I was playing it up for comedy, but I realise I should have been more clear. I definitely think he can do high school level math, just not the dense theoretical stuff. I just wanted to bully him, lol.

BrookeWorm3: Update is here! :)

...

It happened, as most shocking events did, completely unexpectedly.

Edward was sitting at his piano, not playing, but resting his forehead against the music rack, when Emmett strode in and interrupted his rest by rustling his hair. Maybe if you keep trying, you'll be the first vampire to be able to sleep.

"What do you want?" Edward asked, as Emmett continued the annoying action of mussing up his hair, despite his efforts to ignore him.

"Play a game with me. I've been practicing and I'm ready to kick your ass."

He lifted his head, and beheld Emmett's determined expression. Edward could only roll his eyes and get up, indicating with a hand for Emmett to lead.

They settled down by the living room, where Emmett already had the game console set up. It was entirely an accident that Emmett had fallen into video games, an accident that could be blamed on Alia, who had left one of her old handheld consoles at the Cullen house. Edward had gotten Alice to mail it forward to her address, only for it to arrive back at the Cullen house, with a passive aggressive note. 'It's a gift. If you don't want it, throw it out.'

Emmett picked it up one day out of boredom, and didn't put it down for the next 72 hours. When he did, it was to buy as many video games as he could. Rosalie bemoaned all the space the new fixation took up in their room.

"How crass." Edward smirked, seeing the game Emmett picked to be one of those war time shooters he was obsessed with as of late.

"Hey, don't judge." Besides, playing Nintendo games make you sad.

Edward looked forward and pretended not to hear that thought. "Do you think you actually have a chance with this one?" he taunted further, selecting his choice of weapons.

"You bet I do." Emmett grinned, oblivious to Edward's shift in mood.

They played through two matches, with Edward easily beating Emmett. What his brother failed to realise was that the more complicated the game mechanics, the easier it was for him to read his every move. He considered letting Emmett win, but both his pride and suspicion that Emmett would catch on, held him back. Despite himself, he enjoyed these competitions, even if they brought up memories of Alia.

At first, during the month she had left, Edward had brushed off all the attempts to break him out of his depression. It was Alice that had finally gotten through, declaring that he couldn't 'live the rest of his life draped dramatically over his piano'.

They all managed to distract Edward in one way or another. Carlisle went over new medical research with him, which was painfully boring, but at least helped pass the time. Esme made him accompany her every time she left the house, citing a need for him to venture out once in a while. Alice and Jasper also forced him to be a third wheel whenever they went out. Emmett challenged him to various competitions whether they be chess, sparring, or video games. Even Rosalie kept him occupied by bickering with him over trivial things.

With Alia's departure, Edward had been wandering like a ghost, in a state of sorrow and regret that he only pulled himself out of to make it appear like everything was okay. He was half tempted to leave for a few years while his heart healed, so his family wouldn't have to deal with him and his pain. But truthfully, he didn't want to be more alone than he already was.

Also, his siblings would probably follow him and annoy him into coming back.

He should have felt anger towards his family for how they meddled and smothered him… he wanted very much to. But he didn't have the luxury. With his gift, he unfortunately was forced to know that his family loved him very much and did in fact want the best for him. It was impossible to be angry after that.

His own internal world, which he had been preoccupied with for the past few months, mattered little, as soon as he heard a loud gasp and clatter of something being dropped. Edward and Emmett were up instantly as Jasper began asking Alice, "What is it? What did you see?"

Edward walked through the open door of her and Jasper's room. Alice gave a strangled cry as she locked eyes with him. Edward read the vision that she had and froze in place. "No."

"Edward…" Alice said, eyes wide in horror. Her mouth opened and no other words came out.

"What the hell happened?" Emmett looked between them, brow furrowed.

"Is it…" Jasper had wrapped an arm around Alice, and she leaned against him in turn. The rest of their family had piled into the room as well.

"It's only nine o clock…" Alice said faintly to a still frozen Edward, indicating to the clock on the wall. "If we— if we go now— we might be able to get to her before…" she trailed off and began to search the future again. Seeing it unchanging, she closed her eyes in frustration.

The spell was broken. Edward growled and was off in a blur. No one followed as Alice explained her vision to the rest of their family. He was driving away in the fastest car in the garage, Rosalie's SSC Aero, before anyone could think to stop him.

He was driving like a monster, swerving in between lanes at the top speeds he could force from the sports car, the only image spurring him forward the one that he had seen in Alice's mind. He sped past a blaring police car, and nearly crashed into a minivan in the left lane, ignoring the sirens and angry honks. They couldn't hope to catch him at his speeds nearing 200 miles per hour.

As soon as he got off the highway, he abandoned the car and began to run. It was only when he made it into the city that he let out a cry of frustration. He had no idea which hospital to go to, and didn't bring his new smartphone with him. It took twenty minutes longer than it should have, running from hospital to hospital, until he caught the scent.

By then, Carlisle and Alice had caught up to him, having ridden on Jasper's fastest bike. The others were trailing behind, another twenty minutes behind in Emmett's Jeep. Neither said a word, but their thoughts were clear enough. Alice only spoke up when Edward was about to charge through the hospital's main doors. "We shouldn't draw attention to ourselves."

Edward instead changed his course to the windows leading upward, leaping from vantage points, until he reached the top floor, which was only three stories high. As soon as they were through the window and into the abandoned corridor, the scent hit them all. Alice stopped breathing and fell behind them as they made their way to the hospital room. He felt her struggle with the overwhelming power of the blood. Edward continued toward the door, only vaguely registering Carlisle's words to Alice, "Why don't you stay by the door and keep watch?"

Alice nodded gratefully, touching Edward's arm quickly before he and Carlisle entered.

Edward could only stare in horror at the sight in front of him.

Part of him had hoped that it was a mistake. That what he'd seen in Alice's vision was a fluke, that coming here and seeing it with his own eyes would make the nightmare disappear. But it was worse. It was so much worse. It wasn't only that Alia was lying, covered in bandages and connected to several machines, looking pallid and frail. It was her heartbeat, normally a vibrant drum, rendered weak. It was the ventilator around her face, the only thing keeping her breathing. It was how her thoughts were full of darkness, and weak confusion, the quietest he'd ever heard from her. It was the rich tang of her sweet blood, seeping through the bandages around her leg and abdomen, and how his traitor body felt hunger for it.

Carlisle moved before Edward did, picking up her medical chart and skimming through it in two agonising seconds. Broken leg, broken ribs, cuts along the back… Severe brain trauma. Tossing the chart aside, Carlisle moved into full doctor mode, lifting her eyelids, taking her vitals, gently pressing the pads of his fingers around the back of her head. Alice must have told Carlisle about the outcomes she saw, but still, he persisted, until his hands slowed, and he looked to Edward solemnly. "Edward… They did their best, but the brain damage is very severe. She's losing blood. Her nervous system is beginning to shut down. She…"

She wasn't going to make it. Edward's legs finally moved. He slumped over Alia, burying his head into the sterile hospital sheets by the crook of her shoulder. Her hair brushed against his forehead. Lavender… he thought miserably, taking in the harsh chemically perfumed scent. It was her favorite scent. He took a hand in his, shuddering at how cold it was. He felt a rush of agony as he realised she was still wearing his mother's ring. "You idiot… you reckless little idiot."

"Don't blame her, son." Carlisle said gently. "Humans are fragile... their lives so short compared to ours." he put his hand on Edward's shoulder. "I'm sorry it ended up like this."

Edward let out a choked, tearless sob. He lay there in his grief as Carlisle stood behind him, presence silent and strong. Carlisle only moved away when footsteps approached the room. He didn't have to do anything, as Alice directed the nurse in a confident, if not too high voice, to help her find her way to a different wing. Despite protesting at first, Alice succeeded in drawing him away.

Carlisle voiced what he had been contemplating in his mind. "It doesn't have to be the end for her."

Edward sat up and pressed Alia's cold hand to his lips. If Carlisle were by himself, he wouldn't have hesitated. He would have bitten Alia, for the chance to save a life, to prevent such a pointless waste. But Carlisle was hesitating because of Edward. Even though Carlisle's beliefs were strong, with those beliefs being the foundation for their family, he still wanted Edward's consent. It was infuriatingly noble. Maybe he knew that even if Edward refused to turn her, Alice would step in and attempt to do it herself.

"Everything I did… all the pain I caused her…" Edward said. "It was all for nothing. It only drove her to this."

"You didn't cause this." Carlisle said, voice quiet, but firm. "It was an accident, based on a spur of the moment decision that even Alice couldn't foresee until too late."

Logically, he knew Carlisle was right. But logic had never helped his guilt before.

What Edward didn't know until the very moment he first laid eyes on Alia that terrible July night, was that he didn't care about protecting her humanity as much as he thought he did, not weighed against the possibility of losing her like this. Maybe he would be damning her. Maybe she'd hate him. It didn't matter.

He fell into her mind, trying to scour it for more insight. Any ray of hope… any indication that she could power through, open her eyes. But there was nothing. He could feel her thoughts getting weaker as he sat there and deliberated.

"You have to make a decision, Edward." Carlisle reminded him again.

Edward looked away from Alia reluctantly and turned to Carlisle. "I'll do it."

He expected Carlisle to protest, and doubt his control and insist on doing it himself. But the thought didn't even cross his father's mind. Instead, Carlisle breathed a sigh of relief. Outside the room, Alice had returned without the nurse, and she gasped as Edward made his decision.

Edward didn't have time to question what she had seen. All he could focus on was Alia in front of him. His sweet Alia. The one he had dared to fall in love with despite how foolish it was. He always had been rendered a fool around her, throwing away all reason. He put aside his doubts, all his guilt, and brushed her hair away from her shoulder.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her slender neck. It was unlike the way he'd fantasised kissing her, but sweet all the same, the skin warmer than her hand. He steeled himself, already feeling dizzy from the proximity of her weakly beating heart.

He plunged his fangs into her neck, sealing her destiny for better or for worse.

...

More songs from the Alia playlist that I can give you without worrying about spoilers now:

Flowers by Eva Noblezada (Hadestown soundtrack)

Blue Lips by Regina Spektor

Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens

Murder Song (Acoustic) by Aurora

Happiness is a Butterfly by Lana del Rey