Edward's POV

Bella had fully forgiven me and I was thrilled. Now we could enjoy some more alone time in France before maybe returning home. or perhaps we could go on to a different country; India, China, Brazil, Africa... there were so many places and things I wanted to show her. It would be like a pre-honeymoon. Maybe, if she felt so inclined, we could have the wedding abroad and fly everyone to somewhere like Rome to see us exchange vows. My head swirled with ideas as I waited for Bella to finish getting dressed in the bathroom. We had been so intimate with each other, yet it still embarrassed her to be seen naked by me.

Her shyness is just one other thing I found adorable about her. That sweet blush that brushed her cheeks. Oh, how I would miss it when she became a vampire. I was not longer worried about changing her. It was inevitable and I knew that if i did not, surely Alice or Carlisle would give in. I was secretly glad that she would sacrifice so much for me after all our kind had put her through. I knew that I would spend the rest of our lives, the rest of eternity, making sure she stays happy and never regrets the decision she's made.

"I'm ready to go out." Bella said, emerging back into the bedroom. She was light, faded jeans and a flowing black top.

"And where are we going?"

"Well it's only like two o'clock and it's super cloudy so I don't really care what we do as long as we're outside."

I stood up, grabbing my wallet and the room key. "Maybe we can go to the Louvre today. What do you think about that?"

I didn't have to say another word. Before I knew it, we were inside the famous museum. Bella had originally been worried about the line to get in but thanks to a member of the French vampire coven, who was in charge of collecting the art, we were rushed right past the waiting line of people. It thrilled me to see how excited Bella was, jumping from one item to the next like an excited child and chattering all the while about how amazing everything was. I was glad to be able to share the beauty of it all with her and that we shared a love of fine art.

"Oh, wow... look at how old it is..." Bella whispered, in utter awe of the Winged Victory Statue. "It's missing body parts and has seen better days but I think it's amazing."

"Look, there's a gift shop." I pointed to a glass door off the side of the exhibit. At this point we had been in the museum for the better part of the day and only had a small window of time before it closed its doors for the night. The shop held many marvelous things from framed prints of famous works to pencil sharpeners made to look like Greek statues. I began picking up whatever I thought Bella might like as she wandered off towards the commemorative coffee mugs. I selected some unframed prints by several artists and a book on the Louvre that I hoped would make a fine addition to our future book collection together.

"I found a mug for Charlie and a some weird looking earrings that look like the Mona Lisa for Renee." Bella dumped some things on the counter next to my pile. "I wish we could see the rest. This place is so huge there's no way anyone could see the whole thing in a day."

"It's going to rain tomorrow as well." I told her, paying for our items and giving instructions for them to be sent to our hotel. "So, if you's like to come back we can."

"Good. I love Paris." She said once we were outside. The sun had fully set and the street lights lit a cheery nighttime glow on the streets. "I could stay here forever!"

"We could if you really wanted to. We can stay as long as you'd like." I took her hand and headed off towards Notre Dame where I heard there was a wonderful restaurant.

"Edward!" I heard a voice shout behind me. I turned around and looked into a dark alleyway. I could see it was Adeline, the youngest member of the French coven. Finally, I found him...

"Who is it?" Bella asked, trying to see into the shadows.

Adeline stepped towards us, her long, raven hair tied in a knot. Her face was a worried mask and she nervously bit her lip as she approached. Oh, no... he's not going to like this... I finally saw what was on her mind. It was Daphne in a dingy hotel room, speaking rapidly to a certain red haired vampire.

"No." I whispered. "It isn't... she wouldn't."

"I'm sorry, Edward... but she did... Emma told us about your relationship with her. I'm sorry it turned out like this, but she told that red haired woman that you and Bella are here. Gerard said that she even told her what hotel you're staying at. We just thought you should know and to be firm that our promise to help you is still open if you shall ever be in need." I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you this.

"Don't be." I told her, holding Bella close to me.

"I'm sorry, but I must go back now. I'm supposed to be helping Gerard and Phillipe look for her." She smiled at Bella briefly before turning from us and disappearing into the shadows, thinking all the while about how sad our story was.

"What's going on?" Bella asked. I could hear the fear in her voice. "Tell me."

"We need to leave." I said simply, leaning the way back towards the hotel, my arm tight around her.

"Daphne really told her everything?" Bella guessed.

"Yes. We need to leave. I need to call Carlisle and see what he thinks we should do."

"What are our options?"

I signed as I opened the hotel door for her. "Well, we could stay here and rely on the French coven. We could go home and have the werewolves as well as my family. Or, we could just go to another country and hide out."

I felt her shake under my guiding hand. She stayed silent until we got in our penthouse elevator. "I'm scared, Edward. I don't want to run all the time."

"I know, Bella, I'm sorry." I felt like my chest was contracting. I didn't want to believe that Daphne would do this to me. I couldn't. There was once a point when she loved me and we had promised to always be there for each other and watch out for each other no matter what. Now she was basically handing Bella and I both death sentences. I felt betrayed and angry and I wanted revenge. But I had Bella to think about. I had to keep her safe.

When we got back to the room, I took our large suitcases out of the closet and lay them on the bed. Bella started ripping clothes off the hangers and tossing them into the suitcases. Suddenly, she broke down, still emptying drawers through her tears. I dropped what I was doing and went to her, wrapping my arms around her. I held her closely, trying to calm the flood of tears. Then a tapping came at the window. It was Emma, her usual cheery face was gaunt.

"Bella, Emma's here, okay?" I gently let her go before motioning to Emma to come in.

She slid in soundlessly. "How are you two holding up?"

"Could be better." I said.

"I just want it all to stop. Why can we never catch a break?" Bella moaned and flopped down on the bed.

"What do you plan on doing next?" Emma asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. We might just go to the airport and take the next flight back to Forks."

"The clan and I were talking... you might be safer with us." Please let him say yes... she'll never think to look in the catacombs...

"We really can't intrude like that Emma and put all of you in danger."

"Yes, yes you can." Don't you see? If they come here and see you're gone the first place they'll look for you is Washington.

"I suppose you're right." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "We'll come tonight."

"Yes, come as soon as possible. Gerard and Phillipe have found them and are watching them closely so that we know where they are at all times. We're going to attack tonight."

"Attack?" Bella shot up and and looked at me, fear in her eyes.

Emma nodded her head. "Yes. We need to rid ourselves of both of them. Daphne has betrayed out most sincere trust by leading Rachael to you. In our society it is punishable by death."

Death. Such a strange word to our kind. A final, stone word that mean the end of Daphne. I rush of emotions engulfed me. On one side, I needed to protect Bella and by eliminating Daphne I could make that possible. On the other hand, this was Daphne. The same woman I had spent countless, endless days with. Traveling and making plans. Sending flowers and shopping for homes on raining English streets. I couldn't, wouldn't kill her. "There has to be another way."

"No, Edward. She needs to be gotten rid of. We can't have her polluting our family. There is no other way. Now, pack a small bag and come as quickly as you can to the catacombs. Nicolette will be waiting for you." Then she slipped out as soundlessly as she came.

I knew, at that moment, there was no other choice. I had to take Bella deep into the confines of the Paris underground. There we would hide like rats while the French coven killed the woman I once swore to protect.