Lost Cause

It had been two days since Tara disappeared in the surrounding forest. She was causing havoc chasing away our food. Carlisle still would not let us hunt, so he was meeting with Jacob and Sam about letting Edward and I hunt on the reservation. He figured with the pack patrolling the boarders and staying close to us we wouldn't have a problem hunting. Of course Joshua would accompany us just in case and I really didn't care. I could feel the thirst burning in my throat and I was itching to hunt.

"Jacob!" I exclaimed as we got out of Edwards silver Volvo. "How are you? I appreciate you letting us hunt on the reservation, it means a lot to us," I said while Jacob bear hugged me.

"No problem Bells, you and Edward are always welcome here, no matter the circumstances. I just hope we find that nasty leech while we are out today. It would be my pleasure to come face to face with her," Jacob grinned excitedly.

"Thank you Jacob, but I doubt you or anyone else will see her. She is determined, not suicidal," Edward chimed.

"No problem, you guys ready to head out, I'm starving," I joked.

We waited for the rest of the pack to arrive before we headed out. We let most of the pack head out first so they could phase and head for the border. A few minutes later Jacob announced we could go and that he would be right behind us.

Everything was going well, Edward, Joshua and I stuck close together as we had planned and we were almost finished hunting when Jacob appeared in front of us as I drank from my kill.

"Bells we caught Tara's scent and we have to go back now!" he demanded.

Without a second thought, Edward had grabbed my hand and was almost dragging me back to the little red house. I didn't like the look in his eyes and therefore didn't try to resist. Joshua followed the best he could trying to keep pace.

The rest of the pack arrived back shortly after we did, still in wolf form, some paced, while others growled, I knew something wasn't right. She was only one lone vampire, so why was the pack so agitated?

"I'm sorry, but you guys need to leave right now," Jacob said angrily.

"Did we do something Jacob, I'm sorry if…." I tried to say more but Jake cut me off.

"No, its not you guys, the female vampire is turning this into much more and just gave herself a war. We found the body of someone from the reservation. She just signed her death certificate, no pun intended," he tried to joke, but it was a weak attempt even for him.

"I'll be over later Bells, I'll be able to tell you more then, but you need to leave now, sorry guys," he sighed.

It was a quiet ride home with Edward. There was so much we needed to talk about, but I was so upset that I couldn't even let out a sigh. Edward just stared out of the window as we made our way home, he never broke concentration until we pulled into the garage. He shut off the Volvo and sighed, his hands still tightly wrapped around the wheel. I knew he was deep in thought, so I leaned over to kiss his cheek, and before my lips reached him he had flung the door open and was heading into the house. I was stunned, was he angry with me, had I done something? I didn't know what to think, I just sat there frozen, then I noticed a familiar face heading into the garage.

"Dear, are you okay?" Esme questioned.

"Why does this happen, it never fails Esme? Why cant we just be happy, for once, even for a moment? There always seems to be a problem. Maybe Edward was right, he once said that we were better off not being friends, maybe I should have listened, maybe we…" I cried out.

"Stop Bella, you and Edward are supposed to be together. Sometimes things happen for a reason. If there were no you and Edward, there would be no Renesmee, and you both would be miserable. don't let the situation control you because then you loose control of the situation. Edward loves you Bella, you know that, so please wont you come inside with me? Esme begged.

"Okay," was all I could manage to respond with.

When Esme and I entered the house, Carlisle was on the phone with Sam, they were of course talking about Tara and the body she'd left for us to find. I was starting to think that she was smarter than we gave her credit for. If she left a body for us to find, then she knew we would not hunt there again in respect for the people of the reservation. I wasn't sure of her complete plan yet, but there was a reason for the things she was doing. I only knew it wasn't going to get better.

Joshua was also talking with his family when we came in. They all were unhappy about the situation as we all were too.

"Beth, Melody and Jackie are going home," he announced. "I think its best if they were not part of this anymore," he finally sighed.

"I'm so sorry," Beth said softly, "we will only be in your way, and don't need you to worry about us, plus we need to hunt more often, and with little around we would just take away from everyone else," her voice was sure.

"That's okay, we understand, we just hope that you will come back, under better circumstances of course," Carlisle sadly said.

After a few goodbyes, they didn't waste much time leaving. Ryan had decided to stay to help, he knew Tara better than we did so we were glad that he remained with us.

It took me sometime to realize that Edward wasn't with us, and that I hadn't seen him since we were in the car.

"Where's Edward?" I asked curiously. "Has anyone seen him?"

"I think he is in his room dear," Esme said, "why don't you go and check on him, I think you should make sure he is okay."

Without hesitation I bolted up the stairs and stopped abruptly at the door. What was I waiting for, was I afraid he would be angry, was he angry with me? All I knew was that I had to face him, I had to be the woman he loved, strong Bella! But I was afraid, no matter what nothing would change that.

I slowly turned the door knob and took a deep breath before I entered.

"Edward?" I called slowly, "can we talk?"

There was no reply. I opened the door completely and saw and empty room. I glanced around, and my heart dropped when I noticed an open window.

"Carlisle," I screamed

"Bella, what is it, what's wrong?" Carlisle impatiently asked.

"Edward….he's gone," I said as I pointed to the open window in his room.

By that time, everyone was not gathered in Edwards room. People were talking, Esme was panicking, and all I could do was stare. The big open window was haunting to me. I knew what it meant and I didn't know what to do.

Carlisle was barking out orders, people were rushing around like the end of the world was upon us. Maybe it was, for me at least, maybe this was the end for Edward and I. Tara wanted Edward more than anything else in the world and would put up a fight for him, and now so was I. I ran towards the window and jumped as far as I could, my adrenaline was pumping and nothing could stop me now.

All of a sudden I hit the ground with a giant thud and felt a pressure on my back and realized Emmett had tackled me and was trying to hold me down.

"Calm down Bella!" he demanded. "You cant just run off, have you lost your mind?" he yelled.

"Edward is out there, I need to find him right now, let me go Emmett!" I cried out in pain.

"Bella, we have to figure out where Edward is, maybe he went for a walk to cool off," Emmett lied.

"Carlisle, tell him to let me go please," I demanded.

"I'm sorry, but I cant do that, we don't need you off by yourself in the woods Bella. Just calm down and we can make a plan of what to do," he spoke calmly. His voice was reassuring but I was still fuming.

"Fine!" I reluctantly sighed. "Well, what do we do now?" I said pushing Emmett off of my back.

"I'm going to take Ryan, Joshua and Rose to go look for Edward. You will stay with Esme and Emmett and wait for him here at the house. You wont be helping if you're out there with us Bella, sorry but its for your own good." Carlisle explained.

"I understand Carlisle, just find him and bring him home to me please," I cried.

"I'll try my best Bella, I promise," he reassured me.

With that, they were off and were out of sight quickly after. I was nervous, I wanted to know where he was and what he was doing. It was hard to focus on anything, especially when Esme or Emmett were talking to me.

"Bella don't worry dear, they will be home soon, and with Edward," Esme tried to comfort me.

"I know," I replied.

EPOV

I know I should not have left, this was a stupid idea but I had to, I didn't see any other choice right now. I had to find Tara and make things right for Bella and Renesmee this could not go on any longer. People were getting hurt, innocent people, and it was my fault, now all I had to do was get a good breeze and let her catch my scent, then she would come to me.

"This has to end now Tara" I demanded.

"What's the point Edward, we don't have to end you know," Tara grinning devilishly.

"Yes it does, I'm married to Bella, and I love her, not you!" my voice was getting more and more agitated.

Tara growled at the mention of Bella's name. "Don't say her name Edward, she doesn't mean anything to you, I know she doesn't, you love me. I see it in your eyes," she cried.

"You're wrong!" I yelled. "You don't know anything about the love I have for Bella, the love she has for me!" I said proudly.

"My dearest Edward, you are so naïve, don't you see, she has your mind clouded, you're not thinking clearly. We had something special, you and I, you remember right Edward?" she asked.

"Actually I blocked that out, it never meant anything so it wasn't important enough to remember. Now me and Bella make our own, better memories," I said hoping she would get the point.

"I told you not to say her name Edward," she demanded. "What do you want me to do Edward, she has everything I've ever wanted, you. You have always been the only one I have ever loved, why cant you see that? What can I do to prove what you mean to me?" she begged as she reached for my face, I took a step back to avoid her touch, I wanted nothing to do with her.

"Leave and never come back, let me be, don't try to interfere in my life again," I said softly, almost feeling sorry for her but realizing she was trying to split Bella and I apart.

"I, I just cant do that Edward, the only way I'm leaving is if its with you," she growled. "I promise that Bella's life will be hell if you don't choose to be with me. There is no other way Edward, I'm sorry. Finding out that you were still alive after all these years was my sign. We were meant for each other Edward," her voice seemed desperate now like she was loosing ground.

"No! Please why cant you understand, I cant be with you, I don't love you, I never have. The only reason why we were together in the first place was because you used your seduction on me, that's it!" I tried to make her understand.

"Don't say that, you don't really mean it," she pleaded.

"Yes I do, there will never be a future for us, plain and simple, this conversation is over," I said turning to walk away. " I suggest you walk away now before things get worse for you."

That's when it hit me, I could feel the pull from her seduction, she was going to do anything she could to get me. I kept walking feeling her pull even more now, it was getting harder and harder to resist. I tried to resist the best I could but it was no simple task, the Bella's face flashed in my mind, suddenly it got easier to resist. I then thought about Renesmee and Bella laughing and playing while I saw their glowing faces, it was working! I couldn't feel her pull much at all anymore. I turned to look back at Tara, she was frustrated and angry but I didn't care, she had no way to control me, and I was free!

"Edward….wait!" she called as I started to run, I wasn't turning back now. The love Bella and I shared could conquer anything and this was proof.

On my way back to the house I could hear that Tara was following me. Her thoughts made me smile, it seemed like she might be starting to understand that I didn't want her. She couldn't understand why her seduction wasn't working on me, and I whispered, "because my love for Bella is stronger," just loud enough so she could hear me.

Then I ran at full speed leaving her a great distance behind me. A few moments later I crossed the river and was heading for the house. I couldn't hear Tara behind me anymore, but it didn't matter, I resisted the one thing I was afraid I couldn't.

"Bella!" I yelled as I approached the house.

BPOV

Waiting with Esme and Emmett was torture, everything was racing through my mind. Where was he, was he with her right now? Was she seducing him like she had once before? Why did he leave without telling anyone, especially me? Esme was trying to keep me calm while distracting me, she called Jake and he came over right away, which I had to admit did help. But either way I was not going anywhere, Emmett made sure of that. Every time I got up and went to the back windows, Emmett was always right behind me. After a while, I got annoyed so I stopped going to the window. Then I heard it.

"Bella!" Edward yelled.

"Edward?" I whispered.

All of a sudden I was at the door, with Emmett beside me of course, and I say my dearest Edward running full speed towards us.

I pushed Emmett out of my way and bolted out the door towards him. I didn't know if I should be angry or excited to see him, all I cared about was having my Edward home, with me.

"Edward," I called as I stopped short of him.

He reached me right after I stopped, "Bella, love, I have so much to tell you," he cried out. "Where is Carlisle and everyone else," he questioned even with the permanent smile that was attached to his face.

"They went looking for you Edward," realizing he didn't know that they had left. Then it hit me, the anger started to surface, "Wait, where the hell did you go Edward? We were all worried. Carlisle, Ryan, Joshua and Rose went looking for you," I shouted.

"Bella I'm sorry, I should have told you, but I know everyone would be mad. Something wonderful happened Bella, you wouldn't believe it love," he said smiling from ear to ear.

"What Edward?" now interested more than ever.

"I did it! We did it, you, me, our love, there is no gift more powerful than love," he exclaimed. He could see I was still confused. "Our love Bella is stronger that Tara's gift. She tired to seduce me, and all I could do was think about was you and our love, and she couldn't affect me with her powers," he exclaimed.

I was speechless, all I could do was just stare in amazement, I could not wrap my mind around what he had just dropped on me. I just stared. He laughed, picking me up and twirling me around in endless circles. Once my feet were on the ground, he stopped laughing and had a shocked look on his face I had never seen before. He took his hand and rubbed my cheek and then looked at his finger.

"Oh my god Bella, you're…..you're crying," he said staring at his finger tainted with my tears. Then it hit me, vampires don't shed tears…..

thank you for your feedback and reviews, this is my first story and im hoping to take this one far keep the comments rolling in and let me know what you think thanks much