A/N: Okay things are about to get interesting and little more heartbreaking. Enjoy!!!!!!!

BELLA

On Sunday morning, Alice insisted on getting me ready for the meeting. She said she wanted to show Jacob what he was giving up. I beg her not to, telling her that this whole thing was hurting him as much as it was me. She wouldn't hear it, though and with the help of Roxy and Rose, I was forced to endure three hours of torture.

By the time they were finished, I was dressed in a pair of tight dark blue jeans that were a little faded with a navy blue tank top (I couldn't believe Alice put me in Edward's fovorite color to make Jake even more jealous.) with a black sweater over top of it. She gave me a pair of black ballet flats to wear becuase she knew I wouldn't be able to walk in heels. I had on the standard make up with the Alice flair and a hint of blue eye shadow. The girls had pulled my some of my hair back into a butterfly clip and curled the ends.

We had to leave almost as soon as I was ready. That's how long they took in getting me ready. Edward ran to the meeting spot with me on his back. Like always, I closed my eyes and buried my face in his shoulder blade. When he stopped and put me down, I wobbled slightly but did not fall. He kept his hand on the small of my back until I steadied myself.

I didn't look at the pack that was lined up a few feet from us. Instead, I occupied myself with counting the blades of grass at my feet. I tuned out what Carlisle and sam were discussing. None of it really applied to me. I was just here because it wasn't safe for me to be alone. At some point, Edward had grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. He knew how hard this was for me and I was glad for that.

"Bella?" Carlisle said startling me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him and blinked.

"Yes." I said.

"Sam would like to talk to you." he replied.

"Okay." I said and walked towards Sam.

He stared at me for a mkinute. I could tell whatever it was that he was going to say was going to be hard for him. I put my hand on his shoulder as a comforting gesture but he gently pushed it away. I felt my stomach drop. Somehow, in that one little gesture, I realized that I was about to lose one of my families.

"The elders ask that you sign the treaty as well, Bella." he said. I could hear the sadness in his tone.

I didn't understand. Why should I have to sign the treaty? It wasn't like I was a vampire or anything. What reason would they have for me not wanting to me in La Push.

"Why?" I asked. My voice shook as I swallowed the lump.

"They think that it's best for all involved if you don't come to La Push anymore." Sam explained.

"No." I shook my head trying to fight the tears. "That's not fair. Why should I have to lose half my family over this?"

"Bella, this is as hard for us as it is for you but we have to think about what's best for the pack." Sam stated his voice shaking just slightly. "If Jacob is conflicted about you and Alyssa then that effects all of us. It would be a distraction and someone could get hurt. I know you don't want that."

I knew what he was saying made sense. Of course, I didn't want any of them to be hurt but they were my brothers. How did he expect me to just walk away? I didn't think I had the strength to lose anyone else let alone five more of them. I couldn't handle it. Hadn't I already lost enough?

"But...but..but.." I managed to choke out.

"Bella, please." Sam pleaded. "I know how hard this must be. To have someone you love ripped away from you by something you can't control. God knows, I wouldn't have left Leah if I could've avoided it. You have no idea how hard it is to have to see her on a regular basis and know how much I hurt her. I don't want to see Jake go through that. And I don't want to see you go through that either. Please, just sign it."

I couldn't hold in the tears anymore. I felt Carlisle place a hand on my shoulder and squeeze it gently. I finally gained the courage to look at my friends. They had varying degrees of pain on their faces. I could tell that all of them had been crying. Jacob's was the last one I saw. He seemed torn between sadness at having to ask me to do this and relief that he wouldn't be hurting me anymore.

I could tell from their faces that they wouldn't do this if they didn't think it was best. I took a minute to think about the story of Leah, Sam, and Emily. I had never really had any contact with Leah in La Push but when I did see her, she always looked so sad. I knew that must be torture for her to walk back the man you love everyday and know he belonged to someone else. I also knew how much it hurt Sam to know he was the one who broke her. Did I really want Jake and I to end up like that? Of course I didn't. I wanted him to be happy even if his happiness meant my losing my family.

"I'll sign it." I stated my voice cracking.

"Thank you." Sam replied.

"Before we sign, my family and I wanted to inform you that there may be a vampire in or around Forks. We have reason to believe that he may be a threat to Bella's safety." Carlisle explained.

"We have not picked up anything new since Roxanne." Sam stated.

"I've had experience with him." Roxanne stated in a small voice. "He is very good at not being found when he doesn't want to be."

"And what kind of experience do you have with him exactly?" Sam questioned.

Roxanne looked uncomfortable. It seemed like she wasn't ready to tell the pack her whole story, yet. Edward, of course, came to the rescue.

"The kind of experience that makes her a realiable source for this particuliar vampire." he said as if that settled the mattered.

Sam didn't reply. Instead, he held out the treaty that already had all of the elders names on it and a pen. All of the Cullens signed it before I did. I had to gather enough courage to actually sign it. When it finally came my turn, I took the pen in my shaking hand and signed my name. I couldn't hold the tears in, they dripped on the paper. Edward and Roxanne were standing on either side of me the whole time. When I finished signing, I turned to Edward and broke down. He made shushing noises and rubbed circles in my back. Roxanne was stroking my hair telling me it would be okay.

There was silence for a few minutes then Sam called my name. I turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry." he said. "I wish there was an easier way."

I nodded and went back to cry into Edward's chest. The rustle of the leaves on the ground told me that the pack had departed. I heard Edward whisper something to the family and they were gone too. My knees buckled underneath me as the weight of everything that had happened over the past year finally came crashing down. Edward pulled me gently to the ground. He sat and rocked me.

I thought of everything I lost. Edward, Jacob, my father, the pack. Who was next? Alice, Jasper, Emmett? I couldn't lose anymore but I had a funny feeling something bigger was coming. I pulled myself from his chest.

"Am I meant to spend the rest of my life alone?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?" he said.

"I mean, I'm losing everyone I love. Jacob, the pack, Charlie. And it's only a matter of time before I lose you guys too." I explained. "You can't stay in Forks forever."

"Do you honestly think that we're going to leave you here by yourself?" Edward said. "Wherever we go, you're going from now until the day you die. You have them and you have me, always."

"I won't ever have all of you." I whispered. I didn't know why possesed me to say it but I couldn't take it back now.

"What's that's supposed to mean?" He asked.

"You have Roxanne now. So she'll always be top on your priority list."

"I think you have the wrong idea about Roxanne and I."

"What do you mean I've got the wrong idea? You hold hands, you kiss, and you go out into the woods and talk all night. What idea am I supposed to get?"

"Bella, when I left you, there was a whole in my cold dead heart." he stated. "Then when I came back and found yu with Jacob, it only got bigger. I spent four months watching you get closer and closer to him and the whole just got bigger and bigger. I was so lonely without you. Then I met Roxy and I thought that she was someone I could spend enternity with."

"I'm still not seeing how I got the wrong idea." I stated.

I knew he had a hard time getting over me. I also knew what he was thinking when he met her. The recap was only hurting me more.

"But I don't love her." He finished. I was astonished. "I'm content with her. I could see myself just settling with her. She knows I feel this way and she knows I'll never love her the way I love you. I have never stopped loving you, Bella. She knows that and she doesn't love me either. We're both just really lonely creatures and we find that we help each other stifle the lonliness. She wouldn't blame me if I chose you over her. She just wants me to be happy."

I heard what he was saying but it took me a minute to process it all. He still loved me. That shocked me. What shocked me even more though, was realizing that deep down, I still loved him too. I wanted things to work with Jacob because I didn't want to give Edward the chance to hurt me again. So I convinced myself that I was fine without Edward. The truth was I did love him.

I didn't know what to say so I just let my instincts take over. I leaned up and kissed him with more passion than I ever had before. He kissed me back for a couple seconds before pusshing me away.

"No, Bella." he said. "As much as I want you to do that. I don't want you to make this decision right now. You have just had your heartbroken and half your family takne away from you. I don't want you to make a decision you could rgret simply out of a desperation to feel loved. I want you to take some time and make sure your head is completely clear before you decide."

I nodded. I knew he was right. However, I knew what I wanted too. I'd take some time, though, just to make sure this is what I felt. He was always so smart when it came to my emotions. I knew, though, that with my level of emotional exhaustion that I wouldn't get anywhere until I got some sleep.

"Take me home." I said. "I think I need a nap."

"Okay." he chuckled.

He picked me up bridal style and ran me back to the house. I closed my eyes and buried my face in his chest. He didn't stop running until he laid me on my bed. (Less than five minutes later.) He pushed a piece of hair that had fallen out of the clip behind my ear.

"Do you want me to stay with you?" he asked.

"No." I replied. "I think I need to be away from you to keep my head clear."

"Right." he said. "I'll be around if you need me."

He pressed his cold lips to mine for less than a second before heading out of the room. I took off my shoes and crawled under the covers. I fell asleep thinking happy thoughts and not caring that I was still fully clothed.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I'm sorry for the cheesy chapter title but I couldn't think of anything else. Also, I hope I didn't make it seem like Edward was cheating. I didn't want that but I needed a way to tell Bella that Edward doesn't love Roxanne. Also, I don't know the ritual behind the treaty signing just go with what we have. And finally, I agree with Sam. Keeping Bella away from La Push is the best to avoid an Leah, Sam, Emily thing. Anyway that's it. Please review. I probably won't be able to give you anymore until Saturday with the holiday and everything. Happy Nondenominational Holiday Seaon to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it.