A/N Hi again! This is the second chapter for you all. Thank you to those who reviewed! It really is amazing that people seem to enjoy these stories. I kind of put the songfic on hold because I'm quite busy, but your requests will be written. Here's a suggestion of something to listen to when reading this, if that's what you like to do... It's called "The Sun" by Aidan Knight. This was the only thing I listened to when writing this, even though the title is quite ironic. It's a beautiful song and it really got me into the mood of the story. Anyways, please review! Thanks again!

Carlisle P.O.V.

What is hope?

Hope is what you feel when you don't always know the answers, when there is that missing puzzle piece, that gap, that your imagination takes over. Your mind replaces the bad possibilities with the good, making us feel like there is always a something to look forward to, to believe in, when most of the time there isn't. At least that's my theory.

My theory has changed over time. At first, I believed Hope was something to cherish. After all, Hope had come to my rescue before. Then, Hope started to vanish. It was deceiving, a trickster. Not only was it failing me, but others as well. It took me a while to notice this, though. I probably had known long before I noticed. I just had something that I was clinging to.

That something was Hope.

Hope didn't like that I had uncovered its true identity, because not only was Death beating me senseless, but Hope was Death's accomplice.

At the exact moment I realized this, Hope joined in the brawl. I didn't dare move an inch, of my body. I left myself laying on my back, lying the way I had fallen. I couldn't feel my arms, my legs, my face. Nothing seemed to work. Nothing seemed to forgive me. Nothing seemed to care.

Hope had left me, and it might possibly kill me.

My eyes snapped open, to find that the rain had begun to fall. I stared up at the clouds, letting the rain drops fall on my face, concentrating on the numbness of where they fell. It wasn't painless numbness. There was still a sharp sting as the rain collided with my skin.

The clouds were swirls of black and grey, no light from the moon was to escape. Would this be the calm before the storm? I hoped not. But then of course, hope was not to be trusted.

The wind whistled through the forest. I felt like a little boy, lost and alone, waiting to be found. I closed my eyes.

Alone.

~oOo~

It felt like years had passed, before I began to feel something. I never thought the monster would leave me alone, but like in everything else, fear resides. It quickly retreated from my soul, leaving me breathless. What it feared, I did not know.

A weight was lifted off my body. I felt like I could float away. Something must've cared enough to scare the monster away. Something must've cared enough to let me feel at peace, even if it was for a moment. Something must've cared enough to send an angel down to me.

I felt the pain sweep away, as she brushed my hair off of my face. I kept my eyes closed, begging for this moment to last forever. I heard the angel move beside me, as she lay down. I felt the slight connection of her arm to my chest as she moved it to a different location. I felt her breath on my lips.

I didn't open my eyes. I don't if know if I could. If I opened my eyes, the angel would go away. I was sure of it. She was a dream, and dreams never last forever.

She touched my eyebrow, a silent plea to open my eyes. I couldn't, they were locked in place. I tried again; it seemed they weighed a thousand pounds, each one pushing down on my eyes. I fought them, slowly opening, my eyes adjusting to the darkness.

There she was, her face so close to mine, tempting me to close the distance. To kiss away her worry, that was so evident in her eyes. I wanted nothing more.

But I couldn't.

Because I knew what that would do to me. It would crush my heart until it turns to dust, take all that I have. Because I knew, that it would be the last time, I would kiss her. Because I was selfish.

She wanted it. I could tell.

I wanted it. She could tell.

She leaned in closer, her hair falling around us. I braced myself waiting for the pain to begin. I could feel my eyes water, waiting for the storm.

The rain began to fall more aggressively around us. She met my gaze. She saw something, but what it was, I do not know. Her eyes filled with understanding. She understood what it would do to me. She knew what pain was to come. She knew that I couldn't do it. It would be like saying goodbye to her.

She knew me so well.

I knew her just as well. Her eyes gave her away. She was trying to hide her pain, hide it from me. She always did this. The wall she hides behind was built of glass this time. I could see right through it. She knew this, she was the architect. Yet, she continued to show me what it was she wanted to hide. She didn't turn away, or avert her gaze. She gazed at me so intently.

She was trying to tell me something. Her eyes filled with understanding, pain, longing. I lifted my hand to touch her cheek. I watched it as it made contact with her skin, then quickly moved my eyes to hers.

I could've burst into tears.

She gazed at me with light in her eyes. Just a glint of something. Something I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. Something only she could create out of nothing. It made me desperate with envy. I needed whatever it was that she created. I had been deprived of it for so long. Her eyes began to water. Then the most beautiful thing happened. It would've been the subtlest of movements, but to me, it was like fireworks being set off, lighting up the pitch black, cloudy sky.

She smiled.

The smile was sad, but filled with hope. After I had lost all of it, she found it again. Made it good, transformed it into something undefeatable. She made me want it, made me envy her. I brushed away a drop of rain that ran down her cheek. For a second, it looked as if a tear had escaped from her eye.

She leaned in until our noses brushed against each other. Warmth filled my heart. I can do this. Forget about what comes after. I wanted to share that smile, to be happy with her. I could do that.

The moment her lips touched mine, my heart became heavy. It filled with every ounce of love I had ever felt for her. I wanted to make sure she knew this. I put my hands on either side of her face and kissed her again, this time I gave her my heart.

I had never felt so much sorrow, as she began to pull away.

She closed her eyes and began to pull away from me. I couldn't let her do that, not now. I needed to say something, to keep her with me, keep the monster away. Selfish…

I stood up with her, still holding her arm, eyes never leaving her face. She was the one who would save me from myself. She was the only one who could ever make me truly happy. She was the one I needed to let go. But, she needed someone stronger, someone who could keep her safe. She needed someone who wasn't so selfish.

It's too late now.

~oOo~

Esme's P.O.V.

I stood up, not knowing what do. I came here thinking I could say a final thank you. But after kissing him, knowing that it could possibly be the last time I would, it killed me. His eyes had begged me to kiss him, and I wanted to, so badly. Seeing him lying in the snow, his face painted with agony, I had to do something. It was the least I could do. But there was something else. He was scared, bracing himself for something. I knew how to read him. He was scared. But that kiss…

That kiss…

I could feel my heart expand with overwhelming love. It felt like committing suicide, when I pulled away. I was clinging to him. The thought of letting go, scared the hell out of me. But that scared look in his eyes, that something that I had never seen in him, brought me back to reality. I was selfish for kissing him. It hurt him.

I stood in front of him, my clothes cold and soaked from the snow. He stood there, his hair brown from the rain. Everything about him pulled my closer. I wanted to ask him so many questions, but those questions would ruin me. His last memories of me would not be sad. I promised him that. But he doesn't know it.

His hand slid up my arm to my cheek. I automatically leaned into it, savouring the feeling he gave me, knowing that I would have to leave, making this moment last forever.

"It's not forever." I choked out, talking to myself more than to him.

He looked at me with love and envy, his hand still holding my face. We stared at each other, trying to read the other's expression.

"I wish I could be like you." He whispered adoringly. I looked at him, confused.

"I wish I could find hope, in the most hopeless situations." He said, pain washing over his features. He looked away, his shoulders tensing. "But I would rather you have that skill, than I." His gaze met mine again. He had no hope. He truly thought we would never see each other again.

"Carlisle." I whispered. His face fell with the mention of his name. No hope…

"After everything we've been through," I took his hand. "You still have no hope?" I smiled at him, hoping my words would give him what he needed.

His face became thoughtful, still searching my eyes for something.

"I have hope. For you." He whispered.

My heart filled with sadness. Only Carlisle…

He thought I will have a different future than him. That I will end up somewhere he is not. The thought terrified me to no end.

"I'm not leaving your side." I contradicted him, confidently.

His eyes became softer, turning to liquid. He looked like he could shed tears.

"I knew you would say that." He kissed my cheek and touched his forehead to mine. I closed my eyes, running my fingers through his hair. He knew I loved him more than anything, he knew how grateful I was for him, he knew these things. There would be times we wouldn't be side by side, but they wouldn't last forever. The Volturi would not be an exception to that.

"I promise." I whispered against his lips.

A/N Okay, that was difficult! Sorry it took so long to get published! The missing moment from Eclipse will be posted as soon as possible! Thanks for reading! If you have time please review. Suggestions…*hint hint*