-1Disclaimer: All of the Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Lilly is the only one that belongs to me.

A/N: Sorry it's taking me so long to update. I've been really really really busy. But now that Driver's ed is over with, I should be able to post more frequently. Yay!

In the next few days, Edward only got worse. His skin turned so dark it almost looked black, and his eyes were like the midnight sky. He didn't resemble the Edward I knew at all…yet I couldn't just leave him. He had stuck by me through everything, and now was my chance to show him how much he meant to me. I was too busy reveling in the changes of my beloved, to realize Carlisle had waltzed into the room and was now standing beside me.

"Isabella?" I looked up at him as he sat down next to Edward and I. His face was twisted into a grimace as he stared at his adopted son. I had been inconsiderate to him, and to the rest of the Cullens', by assuming I was the only person this was effecting. I knew I wasn't, but a part of me wanted to believe that I cared more about Edward then the rest of them did. I mean, Rosalie had Emmett, Carlisle had Esme, Alice had Jasper…what would they do if they lost one another? Edward was my everything…I couldn't imagine my life without him…I still can't imagine spending eternity without him. "Isabella?" He repeated.

I looked up at him once again and tried to fake a smile. I ceased after a moment, realizing he could see right through it. "Yes Carlisle…I know." I said weakly.

"You need to go hunting. Alice and I are worried about your health…and not just your physical health…" I looked at him with mock confusion.

"I'm fine Carlisle…Honest." I prayed that he'd let the subject drop. Apparently he had decided to be stubborn today…I let out an over exaggerated sigh. I looked away, knowing I would not be able to face those eyes…

"You haven't hunted in over a month…Edward wouldn't want you to die Bella. Go out with Alice for a few hours, and then you won't have to leave his side at all until he's better."

"But what if he wakes up, Carlisle?" My voice was wavering now, providing evidence of my insecurities. I didn't want Edward to wake up and see that I wasn't there. For the past three days he had been screaming my name, and asking why I had left him. The last thing he needed was to wake up, and to realize that I wasn't there. No. I wouldn't put him through that. "I'm staying here Carlisle. I'm not going to leave him alone…"

He sighed. "Well…the only solution to this problem," he began with a small smile. "Would be for you to order take-out." I couldn't help but smile at this. He was just trying to do what was best for me. It was then that I noticed Carlisle's eyes. They were a light shade of purple, exactly how Edward's had looked before the sickness got worse.

"Carlisle…you're sick aren't you?" I whispered, already knowing the answer. I stood up and walked towards him, as he continued to study Edward. I got on my knees in front of him, and turned his face towards me. "You're sick too…I thought it wasn't contagious…" It was more of a question then a statement.

"It's not…at least not contagious for us. For the animals on the other hand…." I turned around to see Emmett standing in the doorway, his eyes the exact same shade of purple as Carlisle. That's when it dawned on me. Billy.

"Emmett, where exactly did you three go hunting the last time?" I had a good feeling it had been as close to the reservation as they could go without breaking the treaty.

"A few miles below First Beach, why?" Yep. It was most definitely Billy.

"Billy did this, I almost sure of it." I voiced my assumption with fury. Both of the conscious Cullens' eyed me with confusion. I motioned for Emmett to sit down as I explained. "Say Billy knew where we hunted. He knew exactly what we hunted. He knew exactly when we hunted. Let's say he had a way of poisoning the animal we intended on hunting." I watched as realization dawned on Carlisle, and had to suppress a giggle when shock registered on Emmett's.

"But…that doesn't explain how it's contagious…" Thank you Emmett for bringing me to fuzzy part of my theory. He always had a way of shooting my ideas out of the water. Couldn't he just let me finish? I let out a sigh to calm myself down before continuing.

"Well, you're right Emmett. It doesn't. But I also have a theory on that as well." I looked over at Edward, who was starting to twitch slightly. Even in pain, he still looked as if he were a god. "What if the , we'll call is poison for sake of argument, was in a place where the animals could all get to? Say, a watering hole? That way it would look like an epidemic, but in truth; they were being poisoned." I stared at them for a moment, while they stared at each other. Carlisle nodded and Emmett walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"Bella, how did you figure all of this out?"

"I didn't…it's all just a theory. We won't know until we test the water. I do suggest no one hunt around First beach until we know what's making the prey sick." I sat back down next to Edward, tracing the contours of his face with my index finger. He hadn't "woken" up for two days, and it was starting to worry me.

"Why would William poison the animals to get to us? Isn't there a chance of people on the reservation getting sick? If it's putting that big of a strain on us, and we're immortal, imagine the effect it will have on humans." I nodded in agreement. It would most definitely kill them.

"The people on the reservation won't hunt there. It's illegal." I kissed Edward gently, trying to wake him up, for only a moment at least.

"Well, we shall go check this out Bella. Thank you, for everything." He ruffled my hair before leaving Edward and I alone once again. I felt his strong arms wrap around me and his cold lips on my ear. He began to whisper softly, some of it I could not understand.

"Bella, I love you…don't leave me. He's trying…the bastard to take you away from me." I hugged his arms close to my chest , feeling them tremble.

"I'm not going anywhere Edward…he's not going to take me away from you. I promise." I turned around to look at him, to look into his eyes. They were hollow, empty. My Edward was no longer there…

"Bella, please. Tell me you love me…" His voice was pleading, begging me to.

"I love you Edward Cullen, I love you eternally." I kissed him. His lips were freezing, and like the rest of his body, trembling. "I really do Edward."

My girl's in the next room, sometimes I wish she was you. I guess we never really moved on. It's really good to hear your voice it sounds so sweet, coming from the lips of an angel, hearing those words it makes me weak. Lips of, I never wanna say good- bye…but god you make it hard to be faithful with the lips of an angel….(Hinder)