Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or any of its characters, the ones you don't recognize are mine.

Chapter 19

Saying Goodbye

"I'll take that deal," Aro said finally after an excruciating amount of time. "Let's get you some where more comfortable. I'm afraid it's going to hurt."

He took me by the arm and started to lead me towards the house, looking back at Jacob, who was fully awake and conscious of what was about to happen, I feared Aro might not keep his promise. "Wait," I said trying to stop myrself from moving, "Let them go first."

"I'm afraid that's just not possible, you see if I let them go now, who will stop them from trying to tear my head off again." He said finally stopping, noticing my pull on his arm.

I scrambled for a way out, some way to ensure that once I did what he wanted, Jacob would no longer be in danger. "Just let him go then," I said pointing at Jacob's cage, "If I'm going to do this I need to say goodbye."

Exasperated by my constant pleading, Aro snapped his fingers at one of the cloaked men. The man walked slowly to the cage, as soon as Aro let go of my arm I dashed over to Jacob. The cage was unlocked and I slowly opened the cage door, "Don't do anything rash," I said looking him dead in the eye, "please," I reiterated when I saw the fury in his eyes. I turned to Aro who seemed very interested in what was taking place before him, "Can I take him inside to get some clothes," I asked as politely as I could.

"You may, that way you can say your goodbyes to everyone all at once," He said brightening.

"I'm confused," I said, "Everyone?"

"Yes my dear, after you are turned and the pain has left you, I will require you to accompany back to voltare."

I rushed over to him pulling Jacob with me, "That was never part of the arrangement, when I change I insist to be left in the care of the Cullens." I felt Jacob's hand tighten around mine.

"I refuse to discuss this any further, you seem to forget who I am." Aro said once again getting annoyed.

Ignoring his comment, I continued to walk toward the house with Jacob. When we reached the living room I watched as all of the Cullens mouths dropped at one look at Jacob's naked and bruised body. Feeling like I was running out of time I ran over to Emmett, "I need some of your clothes," I said angrily as Emmett simply kept staring at Jacob.

Aro allowed Emmett to usher Jacob and myself upstairs to his room where Jacob put on some jeans and a t-shirt. Emmett then left us alone and I felt all the strength I had been holding on to rush out of my body in one large breath.

"Bella, what is going on? You can't go with them; you can't be one of them." Tears were forming in his eyes.

I walked over to him and threw my arms around his waist, "It's the only way I can help you. They will kill you Jacob."

"It doesn't matter Bella-"

"Don't tell me it doesn't matter," I said interrupting him with fury in my voice, "Let's say you fight him and he kills you; even in the best case scenario, he leaves me alone, but I'm still without you. What kind of life is that for me?"

"It's better than spending an eternity as one of them," He said through gritted teeth.

"You may be willing to sacrifice yourself to save me, but I am unwilling to let you die in my name," My voice was starting to crack; I felt the panic set in and the consequences of the deal I had just made with Aro.

"Bella…"

"Just kiss me goodbye Jacob," I said and I felt his arms wrap around me and push me up against the nearest wall. This was going to be my final moment with Jacob and I wouldn't waste one second of it. I pulled his head to mine and united our lips for the last time. Feeling the desperate energy I was giving off, Jacob, without thinking, stripped off his newly acquired shirt and pressed his damaged yet beautiful, naked chest against me. With his body pressing against me so hard, smashing me against the wall, he struggled to release me from my shirt and bra. Now as bare as him, he took no time to look at me, nor I him, his tongue penetrated my mouth pushing as hard as could, and I welcomed the gesture. He grabbed at my hair, pulling and twisting it between his fingers, as his hips rotated in large circles, making every inch of my female anatomy yearn for the hard member that was separated from me by two layers of thick jeans.

The door sung open and the intense pounding of our hearts stopped immediately, "Oh, I'm so sorry to interrupt. I'm afraid we don't really have time for this my dear." Aro said not turning away from this obviously intimate moment. After staring for awhile he left the room once more and my eyes moved once more to Jacob who hadn't even taken a step back by the intrusion.

"There has to be another way," He said pleading, "I can't lose you."

I dropped my hands and felt utterly defeated, "there is no other way," I said and started to retrieve my bra from the floor.

"You're just going to let them win," He said grabbing my arm as it was reattaching my bra, "just like that?"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO JACOB!" I screamed, "They found me, they are going to kill you." my knees gave out and I was on the floor. I couldn't stop the wave of tears flooding down my face.

Jacob kneeled down to my position and cupped my head in his hands, "We'll run," He said hopeful, "We'll leave and never look back. They will never be able to find us if we just keep moving."

I looked up at his hopeful eyes and didn't want to break his spirit again, but it just wasn't a possibility, "Jacob, my love, my life, they will find us. No matter where we are or where we hide, they will find us. What about Billy and the pack? I can't let you leave everything just for me."

"Fuck everyone else," He said confidant he could forget all ties.

"No," I said now calm and accepting of my fate, "I will do this, I will go with them. You will continue on and make something of yourself, you will grow old…"

"I want that with you," he said taking his hands from my face.

"You will have lots of babies," I said smiling through the soft tears drying up on my face.

"No!"

"And you will be the best man, husband, father, and grandfather to someone."

"Shut up," He said placing his hands on his ears, refusing to hear my words.

"it just can't be me," taking his hands from his ears, "you will love her, who ever she is, and I will love you, and know that deep in my heart nothing could ever come close to the time I spent with you. I will remember the beach, and the forest, and our moments of ecstasy with a smile, but only if I know that you are safe and happy." He shook his head, "Please, for me, let me go."

His head dropped and I knew it was the end. I finished putting on my t-shirt, stood up, and kissed him on his forehead before I started to walk out of the room. His hand reached out with a flash and grabbed mine, but the tension it once had was gone. Without looking back I continued to walk towards my new life as our hands slowly separated with every step.

As I walked down stairs all eyes were on me, the Cullens knew there was nothing that could be done, so they watched as Aro took me by the hand and led me to the couch. "Lay down," He said and I obeyed. He took the hand he was still holding and placed it to his lips; I closed my eyes when I felt his cold touch on my skin. Here it comes…

"STOP!!!" screamed a voice from outside. My eyes shot open and I saw Edward at the door.

"Well, well." Aro spoke with a smile, "The prodigal son returns to save his true love," He looked down at me, "Well what used to be his true love."

"Aro just wait a minute," he said inching toward Aro like you would a guy with a loaded gun. "Please, don't do this."

"What is it with you people and trying to change my mind. I already made arrangements not to kill the dogs outside, I gave her the time alone with the one that she wanted, I'm done." He took my arm once more to his mouth, and I felt his cold breath on my skin.

"NO!" Edward ran over to Aro and pulled my hand out of the way of his mouth. Yanking me off of the couch and throwing me into the arms of Emmett, who caught me and passed to Alice so he could get in on the fight. There wasn't much a fight though, in seconds Aro jumped behind Edward and took him by the back of the head spinning around faster than I could follow and throwing him into the wall. Without enough time to even blink Aro was on top of Edward with his hands around his neck about the separate Edward's head from his body.

"Aro?" A new voice came through the door and all action ceased.

"Grace?" Aro responded with a sad tone that questioned her very existence.

There is only one more chapter left and I'm getting very excited writing it. I hope you like this chapter, please review. Also since this is almost the end I have put up a poll on my page to see if any of you want a sequel, granted since you don't know what the end is yet you can't really tell if it's feasible, but the more votes I get the more I will leave the last chapter open to the possibility. I also have another story out (it's a one shot) called Just Outside Your Window, it's JxB because I just like that pairing so much more than JxE, check it out if you get a chance.