Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and the characters that make it amazing. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

Warning: This story is rated M for a REASON. I don't want to give away what happens so all I can say is if you begin to read and it upsets you, please stop. Some may feel sensitive about what transpires between Edward and Isabella towards the middle of this chapter.

Chapter 7

A Bitter End

Isabella decided the next morning, when she was once again alone, that she had enough. The ball, whether or not they would go, was the following Saturday. She had her gown, she had her prince charming, and if he refused to show her by then that things would become more tolerable for both of them, she would grant him his wish. She would go back to her family. It was even more evident that this needed to happen when she joined everyone at breakfast and Edward refused to make eye contact with her. She had known deep down that his openness the night before would not come without consequence.

Esme and Carlisle had left to go into town and Rosalie and Emmett were resting after a late night with the baby. Siobhan came into the room, leading little Emily in. Emily ignored the awkward silence and skipped right over to her uncle. He kissed her cheek and let her pick pieces of bacon off of his plate. While they sat quietly, Isabella contemplated the ball. Carlisle and Esme would be in attendance and Rosalie and Emmett had been retiring early...as well as Emily. If she wanted time alone with him, that would be the time. Everything was riding on that night. She was convinced that he was not ready to love her and she did not know how long she could wait.

When the plates were cleared, Edward set his aside and greeted Jasper. Jasper had just come from outside and he did not look pleased. "There was a raid two villages over."

"My mother and father..."

"They are fine. I have sent David and Xander to accompany them. There are rumors that they are trying to build their numbers."

Isabella's heart began to pound harder with every word spoken between them. Quietly excusing herself, she walked from the room, her food barely touched. Bursting through the doors to their private quarters, she went right to her desk and began to write. She had to send correspondence to her father, she had to warn them. The door opened seconds later and she looked up slightly to see Edward in the doorway with a frown.

"You did not finish your meal." She looked at him, stunned that he would dare come to her like this, after not saying two words to her this morning. She shook her head and continued to write, picking up where she left off. "Please, go finish your food."

For the first time, it was going to happen, she was going to completely lose her patience. Standing from the desk, she braced herself and locked eyes with his. "I have no appetite. You may have lost your family but mine is still very much alive. I would like to keep it that way. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a letter to write. While you live here in your wealth-dripped walls they are barely living comfortably off the land...a land Sir Whitlock has reminded us this morning is no longer safe."

He looked at her in remorse but it only lasted a few moments. Coming around the desk, he took her wrist and pulled her closer to him. "You will eat and then we may discuss protection for your family."

"Let me go."

"I would, but may I remind you, Miss Swan, you refuse to leave."

~EA~

Since they had exchanged the painful words, neither of them had spoken to the other. After he left her to write the letter, Jasper joined her. He swore that he would arrange for two guards to tend to her family, that he would send them immediately. He also promised to send the letter with them. She sat for most of the day trying to figure out what to do. She was hungry but she refused to give him the benefit of her joining him for the midday meal. She was not going to hide this time, though, either. When she received an apology from him, he would receive one from her.

That night, she got ready for bed, her stomach growling. She laid awake for hours, regardless of the fact that she was upset with him. She knew that this was not good, if she was going to be strong for herself, she could not be strong for both of them...and she could also not let her feelings for him overshadow her frustration.

It had been two nights and they had not spoken. On the third night, she left their room, determined to demand an apology from him. It did not take long to figure out where he was, he was exactly where she thought he'd be. On the floor, in front, of his lost child's crib, Edward snored loudly. She hated herself. As much as she was hurting, she had to remember that he was hurting too. Just about to leave, she froze when she heard him. He was on his back, his eyes moving behind their lids, and he was mumbling. At first, she hadn't been able to hear him clearly. Now, she could make out her name.

His face twisted in pain as his muscles jerked. Every few seconds, he'd call out to her, though it was clear that he was in a deep sleep. Unable to walk away from him, she walked over and crouched beside his body. "Edward?" she asked, gently nudging his arm. He stirred but only a little before his breathing became steady again and she heard him whisper her name once more. This time it came out even more desperate than before. Crossing her legs, she sat as close to him as possible and pulled his shoulders up. When his head was resting on her lap, she whispered into his ear, trying to wake him up without startling him. "Edward?" she asked, this time with a little more strength.

Edward's eyes drifted open and he sat up, startled after taking her in for a moment. Clearing his throat, he pushed away from her and stood, leaving her on the floor. "You should be in bed. It is late."

"Do not turn me away..." she began, standing up and walking over to him. "Please, just come to bed with me."

She put her arms around him and he tensed as he had the last time she hugged him, when he had returned from his trip. Only this time, he did not relax. "You need to sleep. Go."

"You may come with me to bed or you may stay here...with me...on this floor. We have agreed to not send me home and it is rather a waste if we never speak to each other again."

Taking her by the arm, he pulled from her grasp and brought her through the door. Once they were in the hallway, he pulled until she was back in their bedroom. Pulling at the ties on her gown, the ones around her neck, he loosened them and began to bring her gown down to expose her. "Is this what you want? You want to live as man and wife?"

There was fire burning through him and she had no way of knowing if that fire was out of lust or out of hate. Scared, she tried to turn from him but he pulled her by the gowns sleeve back to him. "Answer me, Isabella! Is this what you want?"

"I...I do not know!" she cried, growing more terrified by the second.

"You do not know?" he sneered. He brought her towards him and bent his head, looking her in the eyes. "You have no idea, Isabella, what transpires between a man and his wife?"

"Edward..." she begged, pleading that he let her go.

Bending his head, he took her nipple in his mouth and despite the fear she felt at that moment, a tightening in her stomach began. He took a long pull before wrapping his tongue around it and sucking again. She did not want him to know that she was enjoying it, so she fought to keep her moans to herself. Finally he righted himself and took her by the shoulders. The fear was back as he pushed her down onto the bed. As he unbuckled the pants he was wearing, she winced. Not because of the fear but because her hip felt like it was on fire from the position she was in with her legs hanging over the edge.

Stroking himself as he looked down at her, he used his other hand to pull at her gown, tugging it the rest of the way off. Throwing it to the side, he practically fell on top of her. "If you care to know, I will show you, what it means to be husband and wife!"

She felt his finger slide inside of her and she began to cry. Even that one finger hurt and she was not daft. She knew what was coming next and she also knew it would be excruciating. Turning her face from his, she let the tears come and felt her body shutter in a sob. He grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. The second he saw her tears, he froze. Pushing off of her, the disgust she saw on his face was more than she could ever feel towards him. Self-hatred seethed beneath the surface of his skin as if she could visibly see it.

He pushed away from her and not once had she ever seen a man in such a tormented mental state. She was actually scared for him and that far outweighed her fear of him. "Edward..." she got out as he opened the door to the bedroom, refusing to look back at her. He didn't turn around. "Where are you going? You are..."

The door closed with a small click, she had noticed that he had his clothes in his hand, and she immediately grabbed her sleeping gown. Throwing it on over her head, she tied up the front and slid on her shoes. "Edward!" she called, stepping into the torch-lit hallway. She checked each room before grabbing her new cloak from the bedroom and running towards the front doorway. Of course, it had to be pouring down rain and she tore across the courtyard towards the paths, remembering very well what had happened the last time. Instead of following it far, she got to the cemetery and threw the gate open, her feet slipping in the wet grass.

He was there, leaning against the side of Katherine's tombstone. His pants were on but his shirt was nowhere to be found. It was pitch black but she could make out his figure and see his skin in the moonlight. His shoulders were shaking and as she got closer she could hear the sobs. He did not notice her and she came closer, the rain came down in sheets and she could feel that her clothes were already soaked through. She could make out the goosebumps covering his entire upper body and taking her cloak off, she approached him and set it over him. It was then that he finally saw her.

She could not tell, except from the sobs, that he was crying. His hair was pushed down from the rain and the water was running over his face. He gave her an exasperated look before standing and handing her back the cloak. She refused to put it on. "Are you that stupid, Isabella? How can you possibly come out here to do anything other than curse my name and inform me that you will be leaving and never look back."

She ignored his cutting words, words only meant to cut himself, and shook her head. "Sir, you have no shirt and the weather is deplorable! Please, come back inside before you catch death!"

He chuckled then, "You worry about me? You show concern for me after I... Good Savior, Isabella! Do you understand what I almost did to you? What I did do to you?"

At the last question, the amusement was gone from his voice, he just sounded angry. She shook her head."You did not hurt me! I mean, of course, you did...but it was not...I am well aware that it will hurt when we...partake..."

Closing his eyes tightly, he pulled the cloak from her grip and forcibly wrapped it around her. "Go back to the castle!"

"I will not leave you!"

"Why?" he asked, completely exasperated and all but screaming it at her.

"Because...because I love you!" she relented in a tired tone. Breathing heavily, they both stood there watching each other as if waiting for the other to make a move. She was not sure what that move should be...from either one of them...but he was shaking from the cold and she instinctively went towards him. Pulling him towards her, feeling as if it were her turn to force him into something, she grabbed the back of his head and kissed him. The kiss was hard and intense and her first.

She had never kissed anyone before this moment, except for her father—and then it was only on his cheek. This was more and she could not pull away. Now that their lips were actually touching, she truly did not know what to do and he was not making any moves. Just as she went to pull away, she felt his hand tighten on her good hip, holding her there. Then, she felt the pressure against her lips intensify and before long, his tongue was licking along her bottom lip.

Seconds later, they were caught up in each other, their lips and tongues crashing together as they both took what they wanted from the other. His body pressed into hers and she could feel his erection pressing into the thin gown under her opened cloak. His skin was smooth under her fingers as she felt down his back, running her fingers over his muscles. She could not help but moan against his tongue and it seemed to break him from the spell that she was currently still under.

He did not pull away, instead, he put his forehead against hers and met her eyes. "Why do you love me, Isabella? After all that I have done to you. How can you possibly care for me?"

Not breaking eye contact she thought for a moment, wondering how to possibly explain why she loved him the way she did. She did not understand it anymore than he did. Finally, she said, "My father traveled a lot, much like you do. I saw that my friend's parents were almost always both there...they did not travel like my father did so often. I asked my mother once why she loved him so, even though he left us many days out of the year. She never did give an answer, just said that someday I would understand. I understand now and I regret to inform you that just as she was unable to answer me, I can not supply an answer to you either."

There was silence between them and the second she shivered, he pulled the cloak shut at the front and rubbed his hands on her arms to warm her. "Let's get you inside, Beauty."

"Please do not leave me once we are back inside. Please."

"I shall not."

~EA~

He kept his word-eventually. The second they were through the doors of their bedroom, he told her to take her gown off, that she needed to get dry before she could get sick. "Bella, I am sorry for my behavior...it was...it is...unforgivable..."

"You did not hurt me," she said, turning into him as he gently and cautiously helped her out of her gown. Immediately, he pulled a blanket around her. "You will not. I know that you will not."

"I wanted to," he whispered, bringing her over the bed and pulling the blankets over her. Sitting beside her, as if tucking her into bed, he took her hand. They were both exhausted, she could see it in his eyes as he looked down at her.

"You didn't," she replied again. "Do you...are you...still feeling angry with me?"

He let go of her and, with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees, he rubbed his face. "No...I feel only remorse for my actions."

"You're going to leave, aren't you?" she asked, knowing the exact reason he was not climbing into bed with her.

He looked at her, his mouth opening slightly. The idea of him walking away for good, just as Esme had been afraid of, now terrified her completely. He was going to do it this time. "Sleep, Bella. It is time for you to sleep."

"Will I see you in the morning?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"I will not leave you tonight. I will be right outside your door," he said, kissing her forehead before trying to stand up.

"No! Edward, please! You promised you would not leave me tonight!" She grabbed his arm firmly, refusing to let him go.

"It is not safe for you to be around me."

"I want no one else!" She felt desperate now, like a hole was being torn low in her belly.

"I have sent for Jacob..."

"What?" Isabella gasped. "No...I..."

"Word has been sent to him to come for you and take you home. You are going home, Beauty," he said in the sweetest tone he had used with her since she arrived, yet the happiness did not touch his eyes. He looked like he might cry again.

More of her own tears fell, "Stay with me tonight, please. Just stay."

"I'll be right on the other side of the door," he said, though she could tell his resolve was waivering.

Seeing it a s hopeless situation, she did one of the bravest things she had ever done. Grabbing his arm up higher this time, she pushed herself up and all but forced herself on him. Skipping the soft kisses they had exchanged outside in the beginning, she went straight for the heavy and desperate. It worked. While for a second she thought he would push her away, he eventually gave in and kissed her back. Her heart soared and her body was screaming for him. They stayed that way until her abs began to protest and her hip began to throb from the angle she was in. Sitting back, she pulled him right along with her and he watched her with that amused smile he was so good at.

"You really do not want me to leave, do you? You are more upset that I would leave than when I almost...did what I did to you..."

"Shhh. Do not think about it, Master Cullen. Kiss me again," she practically pleaded with him. He went to say something else but shook his head, as if changing his mind. Bringing his lips down to meet hers, it was not lost on Isabella that he was laying on top of her. She wanted more and he did not seem to know what he wanted. So, for the rest of the night, they helped each other to become comfortable as the kiss continued.

~EA~

Isabella woke the next morning with swollen eyes, sore muscles, and a throbbing headache. Edward, of course, was not with her and she would have thought she dreamt the whole, wonderful ordeal had her lips not been swollen. She looked around the room, frowning when she saw her soaked gown and clock balled up where they were left the night before. Dressing herself, she headed out for breakfast when a realization finally became real to her. Jacob Black was coming here. Jacob Black was coming to take her home. The night before could be the last night she would ever share with Edward. Turning, she went through each of their rooms, desperately seeking him out.

When her search failed, she headed to the breakfast table and nearly fainted in relief when she saw Edward there. His plate was already clean and little Emily was in his lap telling him some story that he seemed to be completely taken by. Isabella smiled to herself, knowing the tales small children could create. He looked over at her and there was no smile to give away that he was happy. "Emily, love, run along. Isabella will come find you a little later."

When the girl was heading towards her parent's quarters, Isabella began to speak. "Sir, I do not wish to return home."

He sighed and rested his elbows on the table, his fingers coming together as if he were praying. "Bella, it is too late. Young Jacob is coming for you."

"What did you tell him?" she asked, her heart melting from his use of her nickname.

"I explained that you are unhappy and I am not well suited to care for you. So, I am giving you...to him..."

"I am yours!" Isabella protested, appalled that he would treat her like an object to be handed off to someone else who could use her better.

Edward looked like he was in pain and she could tell he did not know what to say. There truly was not much to say when it came to giving away your wife to another man. "This is for the best."

"No. It isn't. Did last night mean nothing to you?"

"Last night was the worst and best night of my life since losing my family. I shall never be able to show you how sorry I am for what I almost did..."

"If you want to make it up to me, do not send me with Jacob!"

"You do not know of what you are asking," he answered after recovering from her blunt request.

"I know that..." Isabella began to argue but she let her voice trailed off before she could finish. What did she know? That she loved him more and more by the second? That she would never be the same if she went back with Jacob? That she could never love Jacob?

"You know nothing. You are young. You think you understand..."

Anger replaced all of her sadness at that point. It was one thing to say she was confused because he was confused, it was another to use her age against her. Pushing away from the table, she stood and began to walk towards the front door. She needed air. "Isabella, you need to eat."

Spinning around, she spat, "How dare you? What does it matter that I eat? What does it matter that I am unhappy?"

"I am letting you return to your home!" he replied back, frustrated and standing up.

"Quit pretending that you care for me! Just stop!"

Turning again, she walked towards the doors and threw them open. For once, the weather was in her favor as she stepped into the warm fall day. Heading towards the stables, Isabella was surprised how many people were milling about on the large property. She walked past each of them with determination, figuring there was probably always that many people there but this time she just didn't want them to be. Sliding the wooden door open to the stables, she saw there were two horses still in the large wooden structure while their friends were out in the pastures. She needed a horse that was common and she did not take time to fit her horse with a saddle. She chose the one closest to her. The horse was a beautiful dark brown color with deep black hair.

Needing to get away, and quick, she climbed onto the horse. She had to use one of the stall gates to help practically jump up onto it and as soon as she was seated, she felt the horse start. He walked back quickly, as if surprised but he seemed to realize she was inexperienced and took her lead. Kicking his sides gently, he started out slowly as they made their way across the courtyard. She held on as best she could, wishing she had grabbed a saddle, and worked on keeping herself steady. By the time they hit the wooden bridge, which she took a second to thank the heavens was already lowered, she prompted the horse to speed up.

Before she could make it to the end, there was a loud whistle behind her and her horse came to a sudden stop. It turned then even as she tried to keep him pointing in the other direction. "No. Keep going..."

The stubborn animal hung his head as if he could feel her disappointment. He did not stop though. With a slow, defeated stride, he continued back over the bridge. Isabella seethed when she saw who was whistling and yelling. "Come on, girl!" Edward called.

Now that her chance of leaving on her own was seemingly pulled out from under her, she noticed the pain in her hip. She refused to cry, though, keeping her head up. Nothing she could do was right, she did not even properly guess the sex of the horse. No wonder it was not listening to her, she thought, then rolled her eyes at herself as she could not believe she was actually considering this animal as if it could have known that. Finally, they were directly in front of Edward and the horse still stood with her head down. "Isabella, will you please step down from Mulan?"

"No. Mulan, run! Come on!"

The horse just walked a small circle and came back. Groaning, she jumped down and crossed her arms. "If you are unaware, I was trying to run from you this time!"

"Perhaps, if you are to try to leave again, you choose another horse. One that is not my own!"

"This is your horse?" Isabella asked, incredulous at her luck. Then throwing her hands in the air, she said, "I am giving up. I do belong to you and because of that, I will do as you wish. Just know that you are hurting me more by giving me away than you could ever hurt me by keeping me to yourself."

He looked down at the ground. "I want you to explain to me why you are so happy here. You say you can not explain how you love me...you also have given me no reasons to keep you here. If I do not let Jacob Black take you away, what kind of life do you see yourself living in a place such as this? Fairy tales from your youth are filled of white horses, prince charmings, sparkling castles...true fairy tales are not your perfect perceptions of such things. A true fairy tale is finding someone whom you would give up everything for. I can not expect you to have that with me. Jacob Black can give you that, Isabella."

"I have not believed in fairy tales since I was a baby-when I grew up with the knowledge that people in our village were being slaughtered for nothing. I do not want a fairy tale. I do not want to be a princess. I want to be Bella. Only your Bella."

"You will be happy. You will see. When you are surrounded by your family." Isabella tried to not roll her eyes at this new approach. He was trying to convince her but she had a feeling he did not believe a word of it anymore than she did. She felt hope. He was struggling with her leaving.

"You have feelings for me too, Edward. I can feel it. I felt it when you took care of me after I was lost in the woods, after I hid from you, and last night..."

"After I nearly raped you?"

The word sounded harsher now that it had actually been spoken aloud. "You did not know what you were doing. You were deeply upset. You were more upset about it than I was...you said so yourself! I'm not giving up on you. You are a good person and you love me, I know you do! If you did not love me, you would have hurt me last night but you stopped!"

Stepping towards him, she looked into his eyes. "I am begging you, please, please just let me stay. I want to stay here with you!"

"With neither of our hands being forced, you would still choose to marry me? You would leave behind your Alice and Jacob Black to marry me?"

"Yes," she answered with conviction. "I do believe that is what a true fairy tale, according to you, is."

He frowned as she took both of his hands and shook him a little to get him to respond. All he said was, "'Tis too late, my Bella. He should arrive sometime today. Soon."

"Send him away, then!"

Edward shook his head, "You do not mean that. A part of you must still love him. Let him come, let him see you. If you still feel the same way you do when it comes time for him to leave, I will keep you here. Until then, I want you to decide for yourself who you shall be with. I must return Mulan to the stables. I beg you to go eat."

I know some of you are going to struggle a great deal with this chapter, and I'm deeply sorry if I upset some of you. Keep in mind that back in these times, Bella would be very naïve about things, especially dealing with a husband and what is expected of her. I know that some of you like to have beat the crap out of Edward and I understand. With that said, I hope most of you are going to stick around to see how this plays out. I'd love to hear from you but please don't be too harsh with me. I do promise things will eventually get better.

A new chapter is also up for 1979 and I'm sure Scorpsifer would love to hear your opinion of it. Check it out!