A/N: It's been awhile and I am SO sorry for that. I'll make my excuses at the end, because I have a feeling this is what you've been waiting for.. so, without further ado...

Thanks to my beta and great friend - megsly - she's awesome! Oh! And I might earn the M rating a bit in this chapter - be gentle, it's the first time I've written anything remotely lemony.

Dislaimer: As always, anything your recognize belongs to its owner. Everything original is mine.

Chapter 8 - Time

EPOV

I inhaled, committing her scent to memory once again. The light hints of freesia mixed in with the scent of her strawberry shampoo calmed my frayed nerves.

Bella's fingers were tracing random shapes up and down my torso, her body pressed up against the side of mine. My left arm underneath her neck, my hand on the small of her back, keeping her as close to me as possible. Little huffs of breath were sporadically passing her lips, drifting over my chest, causing small shivers to run up and down my spine.

We'd spent the night relearning every inch of each others' bodies, over and over and over again. It was amazing how after ten years there were still little things I'd notice that I'd never noticed before.

One single ray of sunshine infiltrated our bedroom, momentarily bathing Bella in it's glow. Her skin was luminescent in the pale light. Right before it disappeared behind the clouds, I spotted a small light brown freckle on her left hip bone. I reached my hand out and grazed the spot lightly with my finger. The clouds closed in on the lone sun ray and when I lifted my finger, the freckle was gone. I couldn't help but wonder how many more things I would discover in the years to come.

A jolt of pain ripped through my chest at that thought. I didn't have anymore years. A glance at the clock affirmed that. I had to use all my strength to hold back the sob that threatened to rip through my body at the realization I had barely more than an hour before Alice would be here to get me.

I turned my head and buried into the slender column of Bella's neck, nestling in as far as I could. If an hour was all I had left, I planned on spending every moment of it making sure she knew exactly how much I loved her. I wanted to make her last memories of us good ones.

I knew that later today she would be broken and I wouldn't be able to be here to pick up the pieces. I had to - no, I needed to - make sure that these last moments were nothing short of perfection. In order to face what was coming, I had to sure I'd given her my all. Make sure there was no doubt in her mind that I loved her - loved her enough to sacrifice myself in order to make sure that she and our daughter would survive.

If Bella and Renesmee lived and were happy, then I knew that my existence wasn't in vain.

They would be happy again. Renesmee had Jake now and I knew unequivocally that he would be able to be her pillar of strength for what was to come.

And Bella... my Bella. I'd seen in Alice's head what the next year would be like for her: I'd nearly come apart at at how low Bella would sink in her depression. But, there was hope for her. If the right decisions were made, she would find happiness again. He would be the one to bring her back out of the darkness she would succumb to.

Bella sighed beside me. The sound more melodious than any symphony ever composed. I had to keep it together, for her. Banishing my earlier thoughts from my head, I twisted my body until I was facing her; our bodies sitting millimeters apart from each other.

Her eyelids opened, revealing her topaz irises, fluttering to life once more. I allowed myself a brief moment, closing my eyes, and imagined that it was ten years ago - her golden eyes turned dark chocolate, her alabaster skin taking on the rosy hues of her mortality, and her heart fluttering to life once more.

"Edward?" Her sweet breath washed over my face and I opened my eyes, broken out of my reverie.

Beginning with her face, I let my eyes trail unabashedly over her body, pulling the sheet off as I went. I wanted no part of her hidden from me. Not today.

"Perfection," I murmured, as my eyes finished their route, coming to rest back on her face.

I knew that if she were still human a blush would be creeping its way into her face by now. That not being possible, she instead had taken to burying her face into my shoulder in embarrassment, which is exactly what she was currently doing.

"When are you ever going to be believe me when I say you have nothing to be embarrassed about love?" I asked, cupping her face in my palm; the pad of my thumb brushing across her cheek.

Her lips turned up in a small smile. "Never," she whispered, "You're just going to have to keep telling me that until the end of time."

My thumb stopped its path across her cheek for the briefest of moments while I took in her words. It almost immediately began its motions again, but Bella had noticed. She reached up, taking my hand in hers and intertwining our fingers.

"What's wrong Edward?"

I shook my head, not fully trusting myself to speak just yet.

"It's Renesmee isn't it?"

No Bella, not Renesmee. I chose not to respond one way or another, willing to let her believe what she wanted as long as it would take the notice of me.

Bella continued with her musings, "I feel the same way. I can't believe it's only been ten years and now she's mar..."

I cut Bella off with a searing kiss, moving us until her body was positioned underneath mine.

I once again drank in her form. When I was done, I held her gaze with mine, daring her to look away.

Ever so slowly I pushed myself into her until there was no where left to go. A small gasp left her lips as her eyelids slowly closed.

"No Bella. I want your eyes open," I said, slightly louder than normal. "Please, love, don't look away from me," I added in a hushed whisper.

I withdrew myself almost completely and then pushed back in, with slightly more force than before.

This continued for what seemed like ages, her body taking everything I gave it and giving it back to me tenfold.

I brought my face down to hers, planting small kisses along her jawline until my lips were right next to her ear.

"I'm going to say this one more time, and then never again - you are pure.. and utter... perfection." I emphasized each word with a thrust of my hips; both of us finally falling over the edge.

I rolled off Bella, but kept our bodies joined. I wanted to stay like this until the last possible moment.

Finally the time had come.

Edward, Alice thought. She didn't need to say anything more, I knew this was it. Ten minutes.

I finally withdrew myself from Bella, both of us gasping at the immediate loss. I placed one last kiss to her forehead before throwing on my clothes from the day before.

"Going hunting with Alice?"

I turned to find Bella propped up on one arm, her mahogany hair cascading over her shoulders and onto the bed.

"Yes, love."

"When will you be back?"

How the hell am I supposed to answer that? "I don't know."

I felt my body contract in panic, there was no way Bella was going to let that slide. But then she did something I hadn't expected.

Laying back down on the bed, she pulled the sheets up around her, not so subtly inhaling the scent of us that had to be permeating them.

"Well, I'll be here... waiting... when you do," she said coyly, batting her eyes.

I let a small smile play across my lips at her antics.

"I'm sure you will," I said, crossing the room and pulling her up into my arms.

I pulled her back slightly so she was looking at me.

"I love you. Don't ever doubt that. You and Renesmee are the reason for everything I do."

It was the only way I could get across my point without causing too much suspicion. As it was, she was eying me warily, but the look faded away.

"I know Edward, I love you too."

Her lips met mine in one final kiss. I made sure to pour everything I felt into that kiss knowing it would be the last.

Edward, we have to go... now.

As hard as it was, I pulled myself out of the kiss, backing myself off the bed.

I was at the door, pulling it open when I felt her hand take mine.

She was still on the bed, but her upper half was stretched out over the edge, her arm reached out. She gave my hand a small squeeze.

"Goodbye Edward."

"Goodbye Bella," I whispered, extracting my hand from hers and pulling the door shut behind me.

~*~

"I love you sweetheart, please don't forget that... ever," I whispered into the phone, ever cautious of my choice of words.

"I love you too daddy. See you when I get home," Renesmee's soft voice filtered through the phone.

I clicked the phone shut, my fingers curling around it and squeezing until the phone became a pile of dust in my palm.

"Edward," Alice said quietly, reaching out and uncurling my closed first, "it's time."

Time. It was something I always thought we had an abundance of. Something I never thought we'd run out of. At one point, the thought of living forever, having all the time in the world, had bothered me. I had thought I was a monster, condemned to this life. But then there was Bella...

It had only been ten years since Bella and I met, fell in love, overcame extreme obstacles, and then got married. Not to mention the child that I never thought possible. Renesmee had been the one thing Bella and I never knew we needed to complete us. Getting to witness her grow and mature into the woman she was today was something I had never dreamed of, yet was so glad I got to be a part of.

Being able to see her find her own happiness in Jake was another thing I would be eternally grateful for. I knew that no matter what happened to me, or Bella for that matter, Jake would never let anything happen to her. He'd kill for her; he'd die for her. I knew that he'd do the same for Bella, as would the rest of my family. It was the only assurance I had going into today.

At some point during my musings, I'd fallen to the forest floor. I brought my eyes up to Alice, who was kneeling in front of me, her small hands placed in mine, squeezing with all their might.

"You're sure Alice? This is the only way?" I managed to ask through dry sobs, though I already knew the answer to the question.

Her arms surrounded me as I fell apart on the forest floor. My sobs echoed through the woods around us. A symphony to the hole growing in my heart.

"Edward," Alice's voice was rough with her efforts to hold herself together, "you know this is the only way. You've seen what I've seen, you know what will happen if we don't. It's us they want, the rest would be collateral."

I nodded my head in understanding. I knew that this was the only way to save our loved ones, but I couldn't help but wish I had more time. Time - there was that damned word again. Standing up, I squeezed Alice's hand that was still clenched in mine.

Hand in hand we walked towards our fate.

APOV

As we approached the field, my fingers tightened around Edward's. This was it. Our entire existences led to this one moment, the moment where we would sacrifice ourselves for those we loved.

Edward and I sat, side by side, on top of one of the boulders, facing east. They would come at noon, when the sun was at it's highest. But there would be no sun today. No, today was the perfect day for the end. Dark clouds littered the sky, their gray hue a fitting tribute to mine and Edward's grief.

I thought back over my life. So much had happened since I found Jasper in that diner sixty-nine years ago. Sixty-nine years, about the average length of human life. Funny how I'd always thought we had forever. We were untouchable, immortal, time didn't hold the same meaning when you had forever.

I imagined this was how a human would feel as they approached the twilight of their lives. They knew the end was coming soon and there was nothing they could do to change it. Yet so much was left to do, so much left unsaid. I never imagined I'd be in this position, wanting just one more day to say my goodbyes.

But I had had my 'one more day', in fact I'd had five of them. Five days since the vision that changed everything. Five days since both myself and my brother had to accept that our time was coming to an end. Most people didn't even get one day to finish any unsettled business, we'd had five and all I could do was wish for more.

It had been hard because no one else knew what Edward and I did; no one else was aware of what today would mean for all of our futures. We'd had to keep this from our family because I knew that if they knew they'd insist on standing at our sides. We couldn't allow that to happen when sacrificing ourselves could save those we love.

I knew the plan would work, I'd seen visions into the future. Our family would continue to live, thrive even, for countless years into the future. Both Bella and Jasper would have a chance at finding happiness again, but the outcome of that was ultimately in their control. Edward and I had taken steps to ensure that they knew we hadn't sacrificed ourselves in vain. We'd left reminders for them to find over the years to assure that they never questioned our decision and that they knew it was okay to be happy again.

The next year would be pivotal for Bella and Jasper's futures. I had seen two outcomes for their lives, one ending in happiness, the other leading to an eternity of grief. I knew that there would be moments where one small decision, one way or another, could cause everything I'd seen to fall to pieces. But I had to have faith that they would both pull through this. Together they could overcome their grief and make it out alive. Not alive in the true sense of the word, for I'd seen inconceivable years into their futures. They would live, of that there was no doubt; but their actions in the next year, the choices that they would face, would determine whether they lived those years in happiness or in the depths of despair.

As for the rest of the family, the next year would be hard, they would grieve, but eventually there would be something to give them reason to stay strong, reason to move on, reason to live and love when Edward and I could not. Our existence would never be forgotten - there would be the most beautiful memorials made in our memories.

It was the knowledge of a long happy future for our family that gave us the courage to walk into that field. The very field where the vision had hit me just five days ago. How appropriate.

They would come any moment now.

I'd planned it out perfectly - Jasper and Bella would be miles away by now, going to pick up furniture for Renesmee and Jake. By the time they got back, it would be over. Those who came for us long gone. There would be no chance of anyone in our family getting hurt, we'd seen to it.

The rest of the family would cut their vacations short once they knew. Renesmee and Jake would be the last to know: Bella would not want to cut their honeymoon short with such tragic news, the family would agree.

"I can hear their thoughts now, they're getting close," Edward whispered, squeezing my hand tightly in his. I squeezed it back.

"Yes, they'll be here within the next five minutes," I said, my voice shaking.

"I just wish I could tell Bella I loved her one more time," he said - his voice broke on Bella's name.

"Me too."

It was true what they said - before you die you see your life flash before your eyes.

I spent the next minutes reflecting on my life, Edward did the same.

Then, just as they had in my vision, they emerged out of the forest on the far side of the field. They seemed to float through the thick fog that had settled on the ground.

Neither Edward or I moved from our position.

There were ten of them and they came to a stop fifteen feet from where we sat.

"Edward. Alice. I assume you saw us coming? How delightful!"

"Aro," Edward hissed, "Of course we saw you coming, and we know why you're here."

"Wonderful," Aro clapped his hands together before looking around the field, "but where is your family? And your pack of dogs? Surely they wouldn't let you sacrifice yourselves like this."

Neither of us said anything, we didn't want to give away anything about where the rest of our family might be, especially with some of them being so close.

A smile took over his face as realization dawned, "Oh, they don't know that we are here or what you are doing, do they?"

Edward jumped down of the rock, pulling me along with him.

"Of course they don't. It's us you want, so here we are."

Aro's eyebrow's bunched together before his face went void of emotion.

As I opened my mouth to speak, a vision took over my mind.

Rosalie and Emmett deciding to come home early.

They arrive at the house, no one is there.

Rosalie catches mine and Edward's scent and follows it into the woods.

Emmett calls Jasper and Bella who are now headed home.

Edward tensed beside me.

"They'll be okay, we've still got at least twenty minutes til that comes to pass; they should be gone by then. Everyone will be safe Edward," I thought.

His hand squeezed mine in understanding.

Luckily, Aro didn't seem to notice.

"Well then, since you know why we're here I guess it's just a matter of you choosing - come with us, or die."

Edward pulled me to his side, wrapping his arm around me protectively.

"I think you know our answer," Edward said.

Aro took a deep breath. "Well then, I need you to take those," he motioned to our clothes, "off and put these on."

Edward and I exchanged curious glances.

"Why is he making us do this?" I asked Edward.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Can you not get a read on him?"

Edward shook his head as he took the clothes Aro was offering.

"You can go behind the rock and change, but don't do anything you'll regret."

Once behind the rock both Edward and I turned our backs to each other and changed into the clothes we'd been given.

"Edward, what are they playing at? And why can't you read their thoughts now when you could a while ago?"

"I don't know Alice," he whispered into my ear after pulling me into a hug, "I think they have a shield with them who can do the same thing Bella can. As soon as they thought they were within my range the shield went up."

I nodded, hugging him closer to me.

"That's enough, come back."

We pulled apart and walked back around the rock.

The clothes were taken from us.

"Your jewelry as well."

I took off my Cullen crest necklace and Edward his cuff; we handed them to Aro.

His eyes darted to our wedding bands.

"No," Edward practically shouted, "If you're killing us the least thing you can do is let us keep our wedding bands."

"Fine, fine," he said, handing the jewelry and clothing to the woman beside him.

"Because you've been so cooperative, I'll make this as quick and painless as possible."

Edward pulled me into his side and then there was nothing.

?POV

My eyes flitted back and forth between the two piles of ashes at my feet and my captors.

Their end had come so quickly. One minute they were standing there, the next a flash of light and their bodies were engulfed in flames. My eyes finally settled on the ground, just shy of where I knew the two piles of ashes were. I could smell the sickeningly sweet stench of the plume of purple smoke that was snaking upwards.

It took my body a few moments to catch up with what my eyes had seen and I felt myself fall to ground - my body convulsing in dry heaves. I squeezed my eyes shut, trails of tears coming out of the corners and streaming down my face. I tried to push the memory of what I'd seen out of my head, but the images replayed like a slide show in my mind.

"You want me to what?" the woman asked, a look of shock taking over her beautiful features.

"I said put this on," the elder man said, shoving a set of clothing into her hands.

"You too," he said to the man, handing him another set of clothing.

A few minutes later the two had changed.

"Thank you. Now, because of your cooperation," he said, motioning to the other standing around him, "I will make this as quick and painless as possible."

Before I could even register the movements, two men were tearing apart the man and woman in front of me. Their screams joined the gruesome sounds of their limbs being torn from their bodies in creating a ghastly symphony that echoed throughout the surrounding area.

It only took seconds to dismember them sufficiently, but that time would forever be embedded in my memory. I'd never escape those images as long as I lived.

The men piled the body parts together, placing the heads on top, facing one another. Their eyes darted back and forth between the man at my side and each other.

I was about to turn my head away from the sight in front of me when the woman's eyes met mine.

"Please," she plead with me, her amber eyes drilling into mine.

Before I could say or do anything, a flash of bright white light illuminated the area and they erupted in flames.

Both their faces registered shock for a split second before it was over, the fire quickly taking over.

I was pulled out of my memories by a set of granite hands, pulling me to my feet. A cold finger was placed underneath my chin, lifting my head.

My eyes opened, meeting a pair of burgundy irises.

"You have been a great help to us today, and we are grateful."

I felt some of the tension leave my body. This is it, I thought to myself, They're going to let me go home! Finally!

"However, I do believe that I'm going to have to go back on our agreement."

I could feel my eyes getting wide at his words and what they meant for me.

As I opened my mouth to protest, he placed an aged hand over my mouth.

"Shush, shush. I will let you go home, but just not right now. I find that I have one more task for you and then you're free to go."

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.

What have I done to deserve this?

Oh, nothing much. You've just betrayed your family and friends.

I hung my head in shame, because I knew that whatever fate had in store for me I more than deserved. Not only had I abandoned my family for my own selfish desires, I'd betrayed my best friend - in the worst way possible.

I let my grief overtake me as we ran through the woods, finally making our way to where our cars were parked.

I was escorted to the second vehicle, a small SUV, keeping my head down as I got in. I scooted all the way over to the window, my guard getting in beside me. I let my head drop against the window, the coolness of it somewhat dulling the headache I had. I didn't even bother trying to hold the tears back, they fell in silent streams down my cheeks, splashing onto my hands.

"Uh, what is that putrid smell?"

My heart began racing. I recognized that voice, but it wasn't possible..

Turning my head slightly, I looked into the seat behind me.

My eyes widened at what I saw, then the darkness overcame me.

A/N #2: I am SO sorry that this has taken so long to get to you! The past month and half has been slightly crazy, but still... that's really no excuse. Now that my life is seemingly back on track, I'm hoping to get out an update every other week. I do finally have a job again - at the local humane society - and I'm not quite sure what my hours are going to be yet. But, like I said before, I'm shooting for every other week.

End Notes: Well, there you go. I hope that this at least makes up a little for the lack of updates lately. I won't keep you too long, but I want to recommend a few fics for you to check out. Kind of a 'thank you' to the ladies over on Twitter and on G-chat who keep me entertained and WC w/ me.

"No Place Like Home" by tellingmelies - This story is AMAZING. I especially love her characterization of Bella in this story. The dynamic of Bella and Edward's relationship is another one of the things I love about this story!

"Horizons", its sequel "Boxing the Compass" & "A Dark Horizon" by Megsly - She's my beta and she's awesome. Her story "Through Your Eyes" was one of the first FF's I ever read and I've been a fan ever since. "Horizons" and its sequel "Boxing the Compass" are simply breathtaking in their level of creativity and uniqueness. I'm always left guessing at what's going to happen next. "A Dark Horizon" is an alternative version of "Horizons"... no, scratch that... it's the original version of "Horizons". It's not for the faint of heart and there is a TON of heart-fail in it. It's a dark story, it's not for everyone, from what she's told me there is no HEA. You've been warned. But, Megsly's amazing writing shines through once again in ADH.