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Bella's POV

"Bella," he said. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"

My stomach was bubbling with nerves, and if my heart still had a beat, it would be stuttering erratically. It was such a pleasant feeling knowing that I had made it in time to save Edward, and that my friends had come as well. But I didn't know what to say to him, or what I wanted to hear. He was obviously ready though, not that he had anything to fear. Could I do this right now? Could I talk to him? My body definitely wanted to. My heart seemingly needed to. But my mind knew better. The logic in me told me this would hurt. Edward did not want me then, he does not want me now, and although I have known that I knew our upcoming conversation would pierce that truth straight through my vampire heart. However, he did come all this way to help me. Even if it was out of nothing but guilt, I should still thank him.

"Sure," I said.

We walked silently away from my friends. They didn't say a word, out loud anyway. I cringed at the thoughts I knew were in their heads. This could not get any more embarrassing for me. Of course, I have been proven wrong many times before...

I followed him, staring at his back, until he came to a stop far enough away so no one could hear us. He turned to face me. I continued to stare where I was before, which was now his chest. There was no way I was daring to look into his eyes. I wanted to see them, so badly, but I remembered the power they held, and I did not want to risk it.

No one said a word for a few minutes. I could feel his eyes tracing over me. I wanted to do the same, but I resisted the temptation, afraid it would trigger a breakdown in me. I'm sure Edward didn't have to worry about that. He always has been stronger and better in control of himself than I ever have been, or will be.

It startled me when his voice broke the silence between us.

"What are you thinking?" he asked softly, genuinely curious.

The way he said it, it was the way he always asked me that, like he hadn't been gone for nearly over six months. However, the hole in my chest was proof that he had been gone-... Wait. Something was off. I remember distinctly where my aching heart had been wounded, and yet, now, there was nothing to be felt but completeness, rightness; there was no hole.

Was I surprised that Edward's presence was healing me, had seemingly already done so? Yes, of course I was. That pain had been a permanent part of me for months. Never had I expected it to just...disappear. But maybe the right question is: Should I be surprised? Probably not. I knew just seeing his face again, even if it was a still photograph of him, would have helped the suffering I was in. My need for recklessness just to hear his voice was proof of that.

I exhaled, unaware that I was holding my breath in the first place, and looked up at him. Immediately I was sucked into his eyes, just as I feared. There was nothing I could do for a moment but stare at him, awed, dazzled. He was more beautiful than I had remembered. I wasn't sure if it was due to my human memories being so fuzzy, or if it was my new vampire sight, but every feature on him glowed brilliantly, beautifully, perfectly. Then, I was brought back to my senses when thinking of my sight. Yes, my new, enhanced vision, due to my new, enhanced, eternally damned existence. Admiring the alluring, god-like vampire in front of me came to an abrupt halt. It didn't matter what I was thinking. What I wanted to know is what he was thinking. I wanted answers to my questions, whether I was ready to hear the sad, painful truth or not.

"I just...wanted to thank-you," I finally said, forcing myself to look away. It was the only thing I could say without making it awkward, or scaring him off when I had just barely got him back.

"Thank me?" He stared at me disbelievingly. I couldn't make sense of his tone. He sounded almost angry with my response. "Bella," he laughed, no humor in his velvet voice. I couldn't help but look up at him again, at his face, in his eyes, as he said my name. "I have done nothing to earn your gratitude." He was shaking his head, staring at me with agonized eyes.

I remained quiet, attempting to understand what he meant. Of course I was grateful for what he's done. He came back to Forks, ready to sacrifice himself just to protect me from the Volturi, and Victoria, despite that our relationship was over. I knew he felt it was his fault for all of this, which was why he came back in the first place, but I needed to free him from that belief. He held no obligation to me. He was putting himself, and his family, in harms way for me when my life no longer concerns him. I wont allow him to continue thinking like that.

Before I could open my mouth to speak the painful words that would give the only man I'll ever love permission to leave me forever and never come back, he spoke first.

"I owe you an apology." An apology? He did nothing wrong. I was right. He did blame himself. Typical Edward. "And a thank-you," he added. He watched me carefully, assessing my reaction to everything he said. "But you have to understand that I had no idea that Victoria" - he sneered the name - "would come back for you. I left believing you were safe." His eyes were downcast as he continued. "There's no excuse for what I did to you, what I left you to face." His eyes hardened and he looked back up at me, his hands balling into fists. "But for you to think I came back for you only because I felt guilty is completely absurd, Bella." He narrowed his eyes. "Explain to me how you could ever come up with such a ridiculous concept, as if I would have never returned to your side if I hadn't felt responsible for your death."

I blinked at him. This was not how I imagined the conversation to sound like. My mind tried to understand if he was being serious. That's when I remembered his words as we readied ourselves to fight Riley. If you think I came back for you out of guilt, then you are greatly mistaken. My eyes widened as the truth slowly, but surely, sunk in. He came back because he cared? It truly mattered to him that I was alright? And as my mind unwillingly allowed my heart to begin to hope, something from somewhere in the back of my mind stopped such a regret-filled act.

First love is always the hardest to forget, the dark voice sneered, crushing down any hope that had been forming in me. You don't ever truly lose all your feelings for them. Then, to prove it's point further, it reminded me of Edward's cold, distant voice way back in September. Of course, I will always love you, in a way, he had said.

I sighed silently. Of course my pessimism, or logic, depending how you look at it, had to go and ruin any form of serenity I could possibly gain from this reunion, aside from the luxury I find in just being in Edward's presence. Ruin it with memories of the past. Clear, vivid, honest memories.

It was painfully obvious, now, that Edward came back not entirely out of regret for leaving, as I had thought, but because somewhere inside of him he couldn't shake off his selfless manner, his gentlemanly ways, his all around typical Edward habits. His feelings for me had died out, I was only human after all, but it had only been six months since he left, which, as he had once told me, is considerably a short amount of time for a vampire. Time is weighed differently when you're immortal. In that short period of his new life - the one without me - he had moved on but had not quite entirely forgot his first love or the feelings he once had. Upon hearing the gruesome fate of Forks he couldn't help but feel bad, feel responsible, and still feel that unyielding, undeniable force to protect those he never wanted to see harmed, even if they were in his past. I was one of those people who Edward would not want to be dead, in either form, vampire or not, no matter what his feelings for me are. He was a good guy. I always knew that. But that gave me no reason to hope for anything higher than that level of pity.

And then, a lighter voice intruded the darker thoughts my mind had concocted. It was an angelic sound, white, pure; completely the opposite of the dark voice that had occupied my head, so it was refreshing and I let it in. I started as Edward's voice brought me back out into reality.

"When I heard what was in Jane's head, what was in Mike's, Angela's, Jessica's... In Victoria's!" he hissed. Edward spoke quickly this time, his words flowing together. "I left for your protection, Bella. Not for you to deal with the mess I unknowingly, and so foolishly, left behind. And, like adding salt to a wound, you go placing your life in the hands of werewolves. To think your desperation forced you to trust one of the worst creatures out there besides Victoria herself, and it didn't even help-" His words stopped abruptly as he took a deep breath, eyes intensely focused on me; still sad, always sad. "It sickens me to think how horribly I've wronged you. Sickens me more than any human or vampire could ever comprehend. Never, never had I meant for any of this to happen." I didn't know how, but his eyes deepend further into sorrow. The sight pained me.

"Look, Edward, you can't keep forcing the blame on yourself for the things that happen to me. It's not your fault, none of it. So just stop..." I trailed off, frantically searching for the right words, when immediately Edward's jaw tightened and his fists clenched. His body firmed, and suddenly he was unusually confident - unusual compared to how he was just moments ago.

"Bella, I came back because I love you."

I froze, all my previous thoughts, dark or not, wiped clear from my mind. What did he just say? Was I, without permission, hoping again, and this time had I become delusional? I had to be hearing things. Edward's dark topaz eyes glinted angrily when he saw the doubt on my face. But he did not understand. The swirl of skepticism that was plainly indicated on my face was not distrust in him, but in myself.

"You don't believe me." It wasn't a question. His anger was replaced with anguish. He closed his eyes, but his suffering was still evident on his face. His tight fists continued to strain, until his diamond hard knuckles looked about ready to tear straight through his marble skin in a fury. "I can understand why my words, after all I have put you through, would seem untrustworthy. How could any sane man put the woman of his existence through the pain I had put mine?" His clenched fists, which I was eyeing worriedly, pulsed one last time before relaxing. Edward opened his eyes again.

"But believe me when I say this. I need you, Bella," he stated, looking me pleadingly in the eyes. "My world isn't the same without you. I left you inexcusably but with good intentions. I thought it was the right thing to do; right and wrong seem to continuously be messing me up these days, I'm as conflicted as always. But I only wanted the best for you. I wanted you to have a chance at a normal, happy, human life, something you could never achieve with me, or my family, around. You were human, and although I loved you beyond belief I was the one who constantly put you in danger, because it was me who constantly dragged you into my world when you were too fragile to survive in it. I am sorry, Bella." His voice went softer. "Sorry for what I have done to you..." He raised his arm, reaching out to me, unclasping his fist and curving his hand like he was caressing my face from a distance. I knew he was examining, memorizing every detail on my new, flawless face. Then he lowered his arm slowly, so slowly, like he was afraid if he let go of me he would lose me. "It seemed like leaving was the only way to keep you safe. I figured that, if you thought I moved on, then you would, too. I knew it would be excrutiating, but I had to try."

When he spoke again I could feel my mind clearing, being refreshed, cleansed with answers, correct answers, ones that made sense. I could see the logic, the truth. I could taste the sweet honesty emanating from Edward's mouth. I felt the ghost of my beating human heart accelerating. Because the words that came out of Edward's, my personal angel's, mouth were sincere, unvarnished, absolutely right. And, deep down, underneath all the hurt, all the sorrow, all the torment... Underneath all that, I knew the truth the whole time. Edward loved me. Just as much as I loved him. Our bond would never break, and neither distance nor time would make it fade.

"The whole time I was away I saw your face, everywhere. When I closed my eyes, when I opened them, it didn't matter. You were all I could think about. I had to fight myself over and over again to make it through day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute, until I was dead set on coming back to check on you, just to see you, make sure you were okay at least. But, of course, I knew that if I came back at all, the moment I saw you I would no doubt be on my knees begging you to take me back. As undeserving of such a mercy as I am, I still would have done it." He paused, studying my face, making sure I was still listening. And I was, completely.

"After everything I told you before... After all the times I confessed my love for you... How could you believe my lie so easily in the forest?"

I took a sharp intake of breath, as tears that would never be shed swelled in my eyes.

"Bella," he sighed, a crooked smile forming on his face - it was not a happy one. "Really, Bella, what were you thinking?

And as he stared at me questioningly, I wondered the same thing. From this new perspective, from Edward's point of view, everything makes more sense. The fearful days leading up to Edward's goodbye, and all the grim days that followed; the pieces of the puzzle were coming together, forming a complicated, misguided relationship. Yet, in it's completion, it would be a masterpiece of our love for each other.

I choked on my dry sobs. Was this what it was like to cry as a vampire? I sounded so helpless, even to me.

Edward did not hesitate before walking the distance between us, and closing it. Before I knew it, his arms were wrapped around me. They were strong, comforting, healing. What confused me was their warmth. Edward's skin was no longer cold to me, no longer hard as rock. That realization had me break out in another round of sobs, and I pressed my face into Edward's chest. I was a vampire. I was the one thing he had forbidden me to even think about becoming, as the thought had repulsed him. And now, even though my irises were a dangerous red, and my throat burned for blood, and my teeth were soaked in venom, and my heart no longer had a rhythm, Edward still loved me, every bit of me. It was never about not wanting me around for forever. It had always been my soul he was truly worried about.

When my body was content with the amount of emotion I let slip, it calmed, relaxed. I took a deep breath and pulled away from Edward, so I could see his face; I've been without it for far too long.

He stared at me devoutly. My lips parted, my voice got ready, I held the words on the tip of my tongue...and I think back to Eric. Or to be more precise, Eric's words. A smile spread across my face as I immediately knew the answer to his question.

You're just gonna go running back to him like nothing ever happened?

Yes. I was. Love is simply irrational. And Edward... If there was anyone on this planet who deserved to be forgiven, to be loved, it was Edward.

"Edward, I love you." A conviction of rightness engulfed my body. I felt whole again. It was sweet bliss.

"Yeah." He closed his eyes, tilting his head up toward the clouds. When he looked down at me again, a grin lit up his face, and to my delight it reached his eyes. "I know," is all he said.

I stared at him.

After a quick second passed, I was still trying to decide if I should look confused, offended, or laugh at his response. He chuckled at my blank reaction.

"Aren't those your famous words?" I raised an eyebrow at him, so he continued. "Your coven of friends seem to think so." He looked like he was suppressing laughter.

I grimaced. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing," he said innocently. I narrowed my eyes.

"But for the record," he said casually, leaning closer to me, his lips brushing against my ear, creating a shiver of goodness that twirled through my body. "I still love you as well," he whispered. My breathing stopped, my body stiffened. I understood now. Again I had to think back to my argument with my friend's. I still love him! ...Oh God... That's what he was talking about. My friend's had shown him what I feared they would, whether purposely or not, I didn't know, nor did I care at this point.

Edward pulled back, his face just inches from mine. He flashed a breathtaking smile my way, one that I could not help but return despite the fact I was humiliated.

It was then, in our blissful, serene moment in each other's arms, that Edward's muscles tightened, his body froze, his smile vanished completely. His head snapped up. His eyes were wide, shocked.

"What is-?!" he hissed dangerously.

I noted the thick sound of fearful concern that coated his voice. My stomach knotted, poking and prodding at my nerves. Edward pushed me behind him protectively. And then, just as I was tensing for some sort of fight, Rosalie sprang into view, looking fierce, yet scared, matching Edward's tone. I gasped at her worn out appearance. Her clothes were tattered and torn; her gorgeous face ripped at; her golden hair was twisted and tangled; one of her arms looked misshapen. When she came to a stop upon seeing us she was hunched over, like she couldn't stand straight no matter how hard she tried. She was barely recognizable without the superior, majestic air encircling her every move... I couldn't help that my jaw dropped open in shock. What had happened to her?

Edward growled menacingly, his eyes burning with hatred, and I knew exactly where that passion was targeted at. Just behind Rosalie were vampires, unknown to me, but were definitely the ones my once almost-sister was running from.

Edward moved faster than I had time to comprehend. He pushed me back as he ran to Rosalie, doing the same to her. Three vampires launched themselves at her, startled when Edward appeared. I hissed as the first man hit Edward, who didn't move an inch at the expected impact. His arms wrapped dominantly around the newborn.

The other two had slid to a stop, confused at their new enemy. Rosalie turned to assist her brother right away, preparing to tear off his hostage's head, when the other two crouched down, hissing at her, and sprang. Edward threw himself, still holding the boy in his arms, in front of Rosalie, knocking her backward and blocking the path of her attackers. I cringed, while at the same time crouching down to leap into action. But Rosalie got there first. She threw the two smaller vampires off of Edward. He, in return, was able to rip the head of the boy he was holding.

My fingers dug into the ground involuntarily; I was still waiting to fight.

Rosalie looked tired as she stared into the forest, where I couldn't see the newborns she threw. I could hear them perfectly though.

As they advanced on Rosalie, Edward moved in front of her again. Rosalie moved to Edward's left, wanting to help him fight, just as I did, but he kept her back. She glared at him. "I can still fight. I'm not useless," she hissed, irritated. Edward didn't respond. He lunged into the covering of bushes and trees.

I listened to the growling, tearing, and screeching for as long as I could. It became too unbearable to listen without knowing what was actually going on. I edged closer, quickly. Rosalie, though, stood where she was without moving, her arms folded across her chest. When I reached her, about to go in after Edward, he reappeared. I looked at him, startled. The fighting hadn't stopped. I stared past him, where the chorus of snarls was coming from, and a new smell hit me.

Oh. It made sense now.

Edward answered aloud the obvious question Rosalie and I had once shared, before I figured it out by their scent.

"Ben and Mike heard the newcomers," he explained. I nodded. Rosalie only looked more confused. Well, as confused as her expression could look being distorted the way it was; and yet, she still looked like a goddess of beauty.

"Who?" she asked, peeking behind Edward, where I now heard Ben telling Eric - who had just joined them - to start a fire.

"Rosalie what happened?" Edward asked frantically, ignoring her question. "Where are Emmett and Esme? Are they alright?"

My eyes widened as I remembered that wherever Rosalie was attacked, she hadn't been alone. And what happened to Alice...?

Rosalie's eyes became pained as she thought about them. I didn't like the look in her eyes, nor the one in Edward's as he read the meaning behind her emotions. Something was wrong.