Chapter 18: Gift

"Aw, come on, little sis." Emmett laughed. "Just as protection while we strong men are gone."

"Eh-hem!" Alice piped. "You think I can't take care of her?"

I was woken early the next morning by Edwards goodbye kisses. He was going off hunting with Carlisle, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie, leaving Esme, Alice, and I to have the house to ourselves.

Emmett had bought a silver pocket knife and was trying to convince me to take it for protection, thus offending Alice's ability to keep me safe.

"I know you can take care of her, Al, but she should have it anyway." His booming laughter filled the living room.

Edward shook his head and pulled me into one last hug before he left out the door.

"Fine, I'll take it." I sighed after Edward left. I took the cold silver in my hand and slid it into my pocket. In a house full of vampires, I can't imagine a situation where I would need a pocket knife for safety, I thought. With that, everyone left the house except Alice, Esme and I. Alice and Esme had hunted the night before, while the boys got a look at the area. I had a feeling that Rosalie had also hunted with Alice, but she just didn't want to stay in the house and play babysitter all day, so she opted to join the guys.

The day passed slowly, all I could think about was Edward coming home tonight. He promised me that, with more control, we could 'enjoy' ourselves for longer. I laughed at the thought.

"What's so funny?" Alice chimed, sitting down next to me on the couch. I had been absentmindedly channel surfing for the last hour.

"Just thinking."

"You miss him, don't you?"

"Yeah, of course I do." I sighed, leaning my head on Alice's shoulder.

"Maybe you should get some fresh air?" She suggested, standing up.

"Yeah, do you want to go for a walk?"

"Sorry, Bella, I can't. I'm helping Esme set up her bed room. But, if you want, there is a path right in the back yard that leads to a field. It's beautiful right now."

"Ok." I said, happy for a little time alone to think.

"I'll be watching." She smiled, placing a long finger to the side of her head as she skipped back upstairs.

I put on my tennis sneakers and stepped out into the fresh, August air. It was chilly, so I ran back inside and picked up a jacket. Alice predicted that it would soon be snowing, but I wasn't too worried about the cold because, hopefully, by then, I wouldn't feel it anymore.

I found the trail and followed it into the woods. The trees were very thin, and before I knew it, I was standing in the field that Alice was talking about. She was right, it was beautiful.

It was surrounded by mountains, and I could see the changing leaves on the lower half and the snow-capped peaks higher up. Closer to my elevation, the field was surrounded by trees filled with orange and red leaves. Alice was right, snow is on it's way.

I looked through the grass and saw that it was flawless, tall, and still a vibrant green. All except for one patch of grass that was a rusted redish color. It looked almost as if someone had had a bonfire right in the middle of the field.

It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't burnt grass. Red-brown fur swayed in the wind as I approached the massive wolf.

"Jake?" I asked, almost whispering.

His eyes opened, but other than that, he made no move to acknowledge that I was there.

I stopped walking when I was a few feet away. "Jake." I said again, louder and more confident. This time he lifted his head so that his eyes were level with mine. They boar into me with absolute pain and sadness.

I reached my hand out to touch his cheek, but pulled back instantly as a loud, long growl ripped from his chest.

Alice's POV

I panicked. I could see Bella in the field, watching as she took in the beauty of the mountains around us. But suddenly, she disappeared. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring up her future.

"Esme!" I screamed. I explained everything to her and she threw her cell phone into my hands at an almost invisible pace.

Within seconds I was talking to my brother.

"What do you mean she disappeared?"

"She just…I can't see her anymore."

"But…" His voice trailed. I knew what he was trying to say. If I couldn't see Bella, that means that there were werewolves nearby, which meant that she was likely to be in a lot of danger.

"Where did you last see her?"

"Walking in the field behind the house." I said quickly before the line cut out.

I sat still on my parents bed, tearlessly sobbing as Esme rubbed my back and assured me that it would be okay.

"I should have gone with her. Jasper said that she needed time alone to thing, that her emotions were overwhelming her, I thought a walk would be good. I shouldn't have sent her on her own." I continued to sob.

Bella's point of view (where it left off with her)

I looked around, scanning the trees just in time to see a white flash running straight for Jacob.

Before I could even get enough air to scream, Edward collided with Jakes massive body, causing the ground to rumble.

I watching in horror as they tossed and tumbled through the grass, ignoring my screams and cries for them to stop.

I gasped as Jacob sank his teeth into Edwards arm, tearing away the marble flesh that always seemed so immovable. Edward didn't even seem to notice, if he did, he didn't let that stop his fighting.

They moved impossibly fast for me to keep up with what was going on, all I knew was that Edward was hurt, and odds were, Jake was as well.

I scanned the area for something that might get their attention. Everything was happening so fast.

I put my hands at my sides out of annoyance and felt the small, cold object that lay in my pocket.

I pulled it out and flipped the blade open. It was small, only about two and a half inches, but it would do enough damage to get at least Edwards attention.

I held the knife high as more growls came from the battling men. With as much force as I could gather, I thrust the knife into my chest. I wasn't hoping to hit my heart, I didn't want to die, but I was hoping to draw enough blood to attract their attention away from each other.

All of the sudden, the snarls stopped. I stood still, watching them as Edward and Jacob both turned to face me and take in what I had done.

Maybe it didn't work? I thought when I didn't feel anything. I looked down and saw the flawless silver stained red as the blood pooled in my hands. I fell, but before I hit the ground, I felt Edward catch me and lay me gently on the ground.

"What do you mean this is my fault?" I heard him exclaim. He and Jacob must have been having a conversation where Edward was reading Jakes thoughts and responding out loud. "I'm not the one that broke her heart…Ok, yes, I did. But she's gotten past that…No, you filthy dog, you left this time…Yes, I know…"

Then I heard murmurs coming from Edward and I could only assume that he was talking to someone on the phone. If only I could just lose consciousness. I thought dryly.

I shuddered and cried out as the pain rippled through my body again. "Hurry." I heard Edward yell. "Bella, Bella, can you hear me? It's alright, Carlisle is on his way. Oh, God, Bella, why would you do this?"

I wanted to answer his cries, but I couldn't seem to get enough air in my lungs. "Yes, dog, he's on his way…No, there isn't anything I can do for her, he's the doctor…Yes, I have a medical degree, more than one, but Carlisle is the one currently practicing medicine…If I were to do anything now, I could kill her." I heard Jacob whimper at Edwards words.

My eyes fluttered open and I saw Edward leaning over me, his golden eyes lighter than ever. At least he got to hunt, I thought in the back of my mind.

Within seconds, there was a second set of icy hands probing the wound on my chest. I could hear other voices as well and wondered who else was watching me.

"I'm sorry, Edward." Carlisle said, grimly.

"What do you mean you're sorry? Isn't there anything you can do?" Angels shouldn't sound so sad.

"The only thing you can do is change her. And fast, too. She's lost a lot of blood. She didn't hit her heart, but she did get a major artery and I'm afraid that there is very little chance at this point of helping her otherwise. If you bite her once right now, right here, then we can carry her back to the house and you can bite her a few more times."

I heard Jakes growls grow more distant as he ran away from me again.

"Bella, can you hear me?" Carlisle sounded calm.

I could only manage a moan, but he took that as a yes.

"Edward is going to bite you. Bella, you will die if he doesn't." My eyes fluttered open again in approval.

The next thing I heard was Edwards soft voice in my ear. "Bella, I love you. This isn't how I wanted it to happen. I'm so sorry. I promise, I will never hurt you like this again. I love you."

And I felt his cold lips press to my throat as he broke the skin. Finally I lost consciousness.

hope this lives up to your expectations :) im not done yet, i promise!