Ok sorry it took so long to update. I have been really busy with the trip to Nashville then Thanksgiving and the dreaded holiday shopping. But Finally here is chapter ten. Thank you to all who reviewed last time. I really enjoy knowing what people think about the story. I am curious to know what everyone thinks about this chapter. Enjoy

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

What could I have said to make Bella cry? I knew the Volturi were scary but I would protect her. "You don't have to be afraid. I won't let them hurt you." I didn't want to see Bella cry. It broke me more and more each time she shed tears over me or the situation I had put her in.

"While you're here," she said accusingly.

This had to stop. I needed her to understand I would never leave her again. I gently took her face in my hands and stared into the depths of her beautiful brown eyes. "I will never leave you again." Then, as only Bella can do, she shocked me with her words.

"But you said thirty! What? You're going to stay, but let me get all old anyway? Right."

This was the dreaded topic. Not the Volturi wanting her changed or dead, but turning thirty. She wanted me to change her and I couldn't do it. It had caused so many fights before I left and now it started all over again. "That's exactly what I am going to do. What choice have I? I cannot be without you, but I will not destroy your soul." I couldn't condemn her to an eternity of damnation. I loved her. I loved her enough to know this was not the life I wanted for her.

"Is this really….." Bella was trying to ask a question but it clearly pained her to do so. I brought all of this on her and even though she took me back I would have to live with the constant questioning and my own guilt forever. I waited patiently for her question but it didn't come. I tried to coax it out of her gently.

"Yes"

"But what about when I get so old that people think I'm your mother? Your grandmother?" Tears streamed down Bella's face as she asked these questions. It was so hard to see her upset over such trivial things. I leaned in close to her and brushed the tears away from her cheeks with my lips. It was the most amazing sensation.

"That doesn't mean anything to me." I breathed gently on her skin. "You will always be the most beautiful thing in my world. Of course….." I paused; the next part scared me to say. If she agreed with it I would be broken all over again. "If you outgrew me-if you wanted something more- I would understand that, Bella. I promise I wouldn't stand in your way if you wanted to leave me."

"You do realize I will die eventually, right?" Bella demanded. She was always so cute when she was angry. I still wished I could have calmed her fears in some small way.

"I'll follow after as soon as I can." It would not be easy but I would find a way to follow her. Existing without her was not option I would choose again.

"That is seriously…….sick." Bella was not impressed with this decision.

"Bella it is the only right way left-" I knew what she wanted but I couldn't do it. I couldn't take her soul.

"Let's just back up for a minute." There was anger in her voice and she seemed to have found strength in that. "You do remember the Volturi, right? I can't stay human forever. They'll kill me. Even if they don't think of me till I'm thirty," Bella sounded really angry, she really didn't like the thought of thirty. Note to self never refer to thirty again. "Do you really think they'll forget?"

"No," I shook my head, they wouldn't forget. Aro had found a new pet interest and would not let it go. There was always a way around it, there had to be. "They won't forget but…."

"But?" The anger flew out of Bella unlike I had ever seen.

"I have a few plans." I said confidently.

"And these plans," her anger grew with every word. She was never this angry when we talked before. "These plans all center around me staying human."

"Naturally." I was more than capable of out smarting the Volturi. She highly underestimated me and her tone was getting to me. We stared at each other for a long moment. Then Bella pushed my arms away and sat up. I was startled by her response and afraid it was all too much for her.

"Do you want me to leave?" I knew I didn't hide the pain on my face well when I asked this question. I didn't want to be away from her.

"No, I'm leaving." I watched her fumble from the bed in search of her shoes. What was she up to? I had a very bed feeling about this.

"May I ask where you are going?"

"I'm going to your house." My house? Maybe she wanted to talk with Alice. I couldn't imagine another reason for her retreating to my house of all places.

I moved to her side and found her shoes. The last thing I wanted her to do was wake Charlie up. "Here are your shoes. How did you plan to get there?'

"My truck." She obviously hadn't thought this through. All that noise would alert Charlie of her escape.

"That will probably wake Charlie."

"I know. But honestly, I'll be grounded for weeks as it is. How much more trouble can I really get in?" Bella wasn't looking at the whole picture. If it had to do with me Charlie would blame me. He already hated that fact that I was back in Forks never mind near Bella. He would seriously come after me if Bella fled one more time on my account.

"None. He'll blame me not you."

"If you have a better idea I'm all ears." Something was possessing Bella. There was a reason for this behavior that I was unaware of and I started to get the felling it had nothing to do with Alice. I had to talk some sense into her.

"Stay here." It was simple enough and I could always hope that she would actually listen to me for a change.

"No dice. But you go ahead and make yourself at home." She was teasing me. It is strange how comfortable we were in each others presence after everything we had been through. I loved this and yet I didn't want her to go to my house. I had to try and persuade her to stay. She made a move for the door but I was much faster and blocked her way. Bella then decided that the window might be a feasible escape route. My mind conjured up horrible visions of Bella trying to climb out the window. I caved. There was nothing that would stop her.

"Okay," I sighed heavily in defeat, "I'll give you a ride."

"Either way," Bella seemed indifferent to my offer. "But you probably should be there, too."

Bella had an ominous tone to her voice. Something was definitely up and I was missing it. "And why is that?"

"Because you are extraordinarily opinionated, and I'm sure you'll want a chance to air your views." I really didn't like where this was going. There was really only one thing I could think of that I would have such a strong opinion on.

"My views on which subject?" My teeth were clenched as I spoke in preparation for the answer I knew would follow.

"This isn't just about you anymore. You're not the center of the universe, you know." This was definitely not going in a good direction. And what did she mean I wasn't the center of the universe anymore, when had I been the center of the universe. "If you're going to bring the Volturi down on us over something as stupid as leaving me human, then your family ought to have a say." No, no, no, my mind screamed knowing exactly where this was headed and not liking it one bit. She could be so stubborn.

I spoke each word distinctly in order to remain calm. "A say in what?"

"My mortality. I'm putting it to a vote." No! My mind screamed in rebuttal. I didn't argue though for fear of breaking our still fragile relationship. It would be fine, my family knew how I felt about changing her they would support me. I could appease her and win this fight all at the same time. I knew that my face did not hide the displeasure I felt. I quickly picked Bella up in my arms and leapt out the window. It was odd that after all the time we had spent together I had never taken Bella out the window. I guess I never really had a reason to before.

"All right then, up you go." The disapproval was clear in my voice and I made no attempt to hide it. I helped Bella onto my back then took off running. It was amazing how wonderful it felt to have Bella's arms around me while running through the blackness of the night. Everything was rushing by in a blur and then Bella did the most amazing thing, she pressed her lips to my neck. It was amazing the sensations the smallest touch could induce.

"Thank you. Does that mean you've decided your awake?" She laughed. The beautiful sound eased what few fears I had. This would work, it had to.

"Not really. More that, either way, I'm not trying to wake up. Not tonight."

"I'll earn your trust back somehow even if it's my final act." I had to. Every time I heard the doubt in Bella's voice it brought the pain and the guilt back. I had changed her, not in the way she wanted, but enough that it was noticeable to anyone her knew her. She trusted no one, not even herself and I had caused that.

"I trust you, it's me I don't trust."

"Explain that, please." She had confused me. I had given her no sound reason to trust me again and yet she trusted me before she trusted herself. The house was close by and I slowed down so that she could finish explaining. I wanted to hear what she had to say on this matter and part of me wanted to postpone the talk we were about to have with my family.

"Well…." Bella struggled with the words she wanted to use. "I don't trust myself to be….enough. To deserve you. There's nothing about me that could hold you." Nothing about her that could hold me, everything about her bonded me to her forever. She never saw herself clearly. Her beauty alone was enough to captivate almost anyone then add in all the things that I found special, her warmth, and the soft lines of her body and of course her blush. I reached around and gently pulled her from my back. I held Bella tightly to my chest.

"Your hold is permanent and unbreakable. Never doubt that." I realized then that Bella had never told me what her greatest problem was and it was becoming clearer to me what it might be. I decided now was as good a time as any to ask. "You never did tell me….." It was harder than I thought to say the words. I feared the answer more than I had originally thought.

"What?"

"What your greatest problem is."

"I'll give you one guess." She sighed heavily and reached up to gently touch her finger tip to my nose.

I nodded. I knew this would be the answer but I wanted to make sure I wasn't overreacting. "I'm worse than the Volturi. I guess I've earned that." Bella rolled her eyes at me.

"The worst the Volturi can do is kill me." I watched her with tense eyes, what could I possibly do that was worse than kill her and this was something I could possibly do if I wasn't mindful every moment I was with her. "You can leave me. The Volturi, Victoria…they're nothing compared to that." My face contorted involuntarily to reflect that agony I felt. She feared me leaving more than death. If I were to find anything good in that fact it would be that I knew for certain her love for me was deeper than I could have imagined. Only the fear of losing true love would make death inconsequential.

"Don't," Bella whispered trying to console me. "Don't be sad." I raised the corner of my lips trying to put her mind at ease but it didn't make either one of us feel better.

"If there was only some way to make you see that I can't leave you. Time, I suppose, will be the way to convince you."

"Okay." Bella agreed to this. She was willing to let me try. I could live with that. I would put everything I had into making her smile on the daily basis. There were so many things I wanted to do for her. I wanted to take her on a trip past Albuquerque that she would remember and enjoy, I wanted to see her graduate, and I wanted to hold her in my arms every night and to be honest I wanted more. Bella had agreed to time and that was the best thing she could have offered me.