Author's Note: This is my take on Edward's version of the some of the events that take place in Stephenie Meyer's New Moon. It is a retelling of large portions of the book, albeit from Edward's POV. Due to this, all dialogue and conversations from New Moon for which Edward and Bella are present together, have been faithfully incorporated exactly the way they appear in Stephenie Meyer's brilliant work of fiction. Please see my disclaimer below.

This 7th Chapter, the epilogue, is called "Warned". It is the final chapter in this story. I managed to keep it shorter than the last two, but I still had a lot of ground to cover. The epilogue wraps up the story, in a way, but it also contains the confrontation with Jacob Black. Edward is not happy with the close relationship Bella developed with Jacob, and Edward's jealousy at their closeness colors some of his actions (or so I imagined). He realizes, of course, that he can't fault either one of them, because his own actions, his leaving Bella for so long, are the cause of the friendship. Needless to say, his distrust and hate for the wolves isn't helping his clarity of thought. Some of the information in this chapter is based on events that, in the Twilight Series, don't happen until "Eclipse" or even "Breaking Dawn", but again, since this is Edward telling the story of "New Moon", he knows more, much more, than he tells Bella, so I chose to incorporate this information when I felt it was necessary to explain an emotion, or a specific point or course of action.

As before, this last chapter is still based as closely as possible (I hope) on emotions, scenes and information gleaned from Stephenie's novels, her official website, and other information readily available on many websites dedicated to the Twilight series.

Disclaimer: Please, let's all be very clear on this: This story is simply fan fiction. All rights to the Twilight series, the books, the characters, and anything related to Twilight, are exclusively owned by Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I have nothing but the utmost respect for this undeniably brilliant writer, whose amazing stories have completely and irrevocably sucked me into the Twilight Universe. I cannot even hope to come anywhere near her incomparable talent for story writing. Stephenie - on the off-chance that you are reading this - THANK YOU!!! Thank you for creating these books; books that have captured my heart and revived the teenager in me.

Thank you, everyone, for your interest in my ramblings. For those of you, who have marked me as one of their favorite authors, please don't despair. I am already deeply immersed in "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn", and am looking forward to writing portions of these books, again from Edward's POV. There still seems to be a lot to tell. I am, however, not going anywhere near "Twilight". I still have hope, perhaps irrationally, that Stephenie, some day, will finish "Midnight Sun". I look forward to that day.

Feedback is welcome and appreciated, whether it be positive or negative. Thanks again.

7. Epilogue - Warned

Life was good again. Well, as good as it could get, I supposed. I was still dealing with the repercussions of my inexcusable actions. For one, Charlie had put Bella on house arrest. He wasn't speaking to me, still very angry, but to appease Bella, he'd relented on his previous injunction. I was allowed back into the house, but only during designated, rigidly observed, visiting hours. I was only permitted to see her after school, and he gleefully kicked me out every night at nine-thirty. Of course, as soon as he had gone to bed, I was back in her room, spending the night holding her, watching her sleep. I was very grateful for my second chance, and was careful not to upset him further. Of course, I also saw Bella every day at school. She had started working at Newton's outdoor equipment store the previous summer, and her work schedule often reduced my time with her in the afternoons. Mike Newton still irritated me, his immature thoughts often about Bella, but he had kept a cautious distance before and after our return, trying his best to be nothing but friendly, at least on the surface. I usually tuned out the more ridiculous travels of his mind, refusing to let him get to me.

Certainly, I frequently wrestled with my decision to give in to Bella's wish, questioning my motives, and hating myself for my selfish desire to keep Bella forever, and therefore, in all likelihood, dooming her soul. I told myself that it wasn't my choice anymore, that Bella had found a way to get what she wanted, with or without me. It didn't help much.

Alice and I had resumed our class schedule from the previous fall. The forged transcripts Jasper had obtained for us, for a school in L.A we'd obviously never gone to, had been accepted at Forks high school without question. Graduation was only a couple of months away.

Bella still hadn't accepted my proposal. I couldn't be sure why. Was it due to the untraditional way in which I had asked her to marry me? Was she deterred by thinking that it was just a scheme on my end, to get her to wait? Would she choose the other option, the commitment she had obtained from Carlisle, and give up on her desire to have me be the one to change her? There was a persistent, nagging voice in the back of my head, constantly taunting me. "Why doesn't she want to marry you? Perhaps she is more ardent for immortality than she is for you?" It wouldn't shut up, and drove me to the edge of madness. The idea didn't mesh at all with Bella's personality, and the love she had confessed for me, quite adamantly, I might add, but I couldn't get the voice out of my head.

College was currently at the forefront of my mind. Bella hadn't applied to any colleges yet. This was of course due to my foolish choice of leaving her, causing her so much pain and anguish she had lost interest in everything. Gone numb from the pain of living without me. I would never forgive myself for what I had done, though, fortunately, and still somewhat inexplicably, Bella had accepted my apology.

Bella and I spent most of our official visiting hours filling out applications for college. I really didn't care where we'd end up going, as long as we would be together. Obviously, I was very enthusiastic about this particular activity, still hoping fervently my marriage offer, and her wish for me to initiate her conversion, would sway Bella from running off to Carlisle after graduation. I thought she should go to college. It was a human experience she should be able to have.

I didn't want to pressure her further, but I still wanted to marry Bella more than I wanted anything else. Everything else was less important, and Alice's vision was always on my mind. So far, I had settled on simply waiting for her decision. Time was my friend.

Naturally, Alice had seen my proposal to Bella, and had spent hours on the Internet trying to find the perfect wedding dress. I hadn't said anything, not wanting her to mention it to Bella. Alice had finally found what she'd been looking for, and put in an order with some new designer she had discovered during her hours of searching. From that point on, she had been very careful not to think about the dress when I was around. I had laughed at the more outrageously intricate things she had been thinking of in those moments, just to keep me out of her head. I didn't really spend that much time at home anymore, anyway, but she was determined to keep me from seeing the dress in her mind. I drew a lot of hope from her actions. If Alice was so convinced this wedding would happen at some point in the future, that she had actually already ordered a dress, then that gave me a very good chance at gaining Bella's acceptance of my proposal. I was willing to wait for that. The longer Bella took to think about my offer, the more time it would buy me. Time she would spend human. Experiences she would have while human. I would wait.

Initially, after our return from Italy, I didn't hunt at all, though as the days passed, my thirst became almost unbearable. I knew that the thought of my leaving her, even if it was only for a few hours, was terrifying to Bella, and so I stayed with her and denied myself. I suffered the thirst gladly, because it was no more than I deserved. The burn in my throat became more pronounced, the longer I waited, but I was able to fight it off. The new level of control I had found was still firmly in place. My reactions had changed. Whereas before her exceptional scent would have my mouth swimming with venom whenever it had been a while since I'd hunted, it now barely flowed when I was with her, even though the thirst became more evident with every passing day. Though I tried to hide it from Bella, she knew what the blackness of my eyes meant. Drawing on a courage I couldn't even begin to fathom, Bella insisted that I leave to hunt. I complied, starting out by staying close to Forks, stalking and drinking from the less appealing deer and elk in the forests around town, while she was at work. On occasion, I would get lucky and find a small bear, but that didn't happen often. I couldn't bring myself to leave Bella for longer than a few hours, and refused whenever Emmett and Jasper asked me to go on one of their hunting trips. Eventually, Bella began kicking me out every time she heard they were planning a trip, and insisted I go with them. Her bravery astonished me. Not for the first time, I was in awe of her selflessness.

So far, there had been no more trouble from Victoria, and we hadn't been able to find her scent anywhere in our territory, but I was sure she hadn't given up. It was only a matter of time. She'd be back, and then she would die.

There was one other consequence that had resulted out of my long absence – Bella's friendship with Jacob Black. He'd become her lifeline during that time, and though it went against everything I believed in, I couldn't fault Bella for missing him. She wasn't allowed to go down to La Push, due to her being grounded, and for that I was thankful to Charlie. Jacob Black also hadn't made an attempt to contact Bella, and didn't answer any of her phone calls. He knew that we had returned, and kept his distance, avoiding the vampires he hated like we avoided the werewolves we despised. I was glad for this, too, though I knew it hurt Bella's feelings. It grieved me to see her hurting like this, but the wolves were our natural enemies, and the danger their often involuntary changes from man to wolf posed to Bella was too high. I couldn't with good conscience allow this relationship to continue. Bella didn't talk about Jacob much, because she had guessed at how I felt about their friendship. I hadn't been able to completely hide the distaste on my face every time she mentioned him. I was also a little jealous – perhaps needlessly – but it irked me that he meant so much to her. I was angry with myself for having made their close relationship necessary, and the grudging gratitude I felt for him for saving Bella's life, more than just once, wasn't helping the matter.

Sometimes, Bella's hurt and anger at Jacob's rejection came to the surface. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was picking her up from work. She was furious when she got in the car. "It's just plain rude!" she fumed. "Downright insulting!" At first, I thought it had something to do with Mike Newton. Had he made a pass at her? Had he tried something he shouldn't have? I would rip his head off if that was the case.

"Billy said he didn't want to talk to me," Bella continued. Oh – she had called Jacob's house from the Newton's store. She continued her rant.

"That he was there, and wouldn't even walk three steps to get to the phone! Usually Billy just says he's out or busy or sleeping or something. I mean, it's not like I didn't know he was lying to me, but at least it was a polite way to handle it. I guess Billy hates me now, too. It's not fair!"

I could have gladly punched Jacob at this point, for making Bella so miserable, but she probably wouldn't like that much, so I pushed my fury back down. Instead, I tried to reassure her. "It's not you, Bella," I said. "Nobody hates you."

"Feels that way," she muttered, still angry and folded her arms.

"Jacob knows we're back, and I'm sure that he's ascertained I'm with you," I explained. "He won't come anywhere near me. The enmity is rooted too deeply."

"That's stupid. He knows you're not... like other vampires," Bella rejected my explanation.

"There's still good reason to keep a safe distance," I replied. She was quiet, staring out the windshield.

How to make her understand? The wolves had very little control over their transformations, and if we ever met up with them, even by chance, it would likely end in a fight. I didn't think Bella would appreciate a confrontation during which her friends could get hurt, or killed.

"Bella, we are what we are," I said truthfully. "I can control myself, but I doubt he can. He's very young. It would most likely turn into a fight, and I don't know if I could stop it before I k - " I broke off, before I would say the word. "Before I hurt him. You would be unhappy. I don't want that to happen." I stopped at a red light. Bella turned her head towards me. She was staring at me in horror. "Edward Cullen," she whispered. "were you about to say 'killed him'? Were you?"

Major mistake. I should have stopped myself sooner. I turned my face away from her. The light turned green, and I slowly pressed my foot on the gas pedal. "I would try... very hard... not to do that," I told her, still truthful, but ashamed at myself for having upset her.

"Well," Bella said, shaking her head and inhaling deeply. "Nothing like that is ever going to happen, so there's no reason to worry about it. And you know Charlie's staring at the clock right now. You'd better get me home before I get in more trouble for being late." I was about to turn my head to assure her we were almost there, but I could already hear Charlie thinking about how he could prevent her from ever leaving the house again. He was so outraged, he was actually thinking of wringing Bella's neck. I didn't really blame him for feeling that way, considering how unsafe the motorcycle was for Bella, but his fury meant that he knew she'd been riding it. And that really left only one person who could have caused this latest disaster. Jacob Black. "You're already in more trouble, Bella," I whispered.

Bella clutched my arm, her voice panicking. "What? What is it?"

I could hear Jacob, too, from where he was waiting, up the path on the other side of the house. Best not to mention that yet. I forced myself to stay calm, for her sake. I took a deep breath. "Charlie," I began. "My dad?" Bella shrieked.

I looked at her, making my face smooth to assure her, before I continued. "Charlie... is probably not going to kill you, but he's thinking about it." I drove past the house towards the tree line and put the car in park. "What did I do?" Bella asked, frantic.

I glanced over my shoulder at the motorcycle in the driveway. Bella turned her head to see what I was looking at. It didn't take her long to figure it out. "No!" she gasped. "Why? Why would Jacob do this to me?"

Why, indeed. I had a fairly good idea but no confirmation yet. Jacob wasn't thinking of it, only hate and violent jealousy for me, and my family, in his head, cursing and shouting blasphemous language in the direction of my car. I couldn't hate the dog, though. He loved Bella, too, in his own way. And I still owed him my gratitude for keeping her safe during the time I was... gone. Grudgingly, but I did. No doubt about it.

"Is he still here?" Bella hissed through her teeth, her fury very evident on her face.

"Yes. He's waiting for us there." I nodded towards the path at the edge of the forest. Bella jumped out of the car, starting towards the trees. Before she could take but two steps, I had my arm around her waist to pull her back. Bella's anger was not so easily contained. "Let me go," she screamed towards the forest. "I'm going to murder him! Traitor!"

"Charlie will hear you," I reminded her. "And once he gets you inside, he might brick over the doorway." He had already considered it.

Bella glanced back at the house, and the motorcycle. "Just give me one round with Jacob, and then I'll deal with Charlie," she demanded, struggling against my grip on her. I wasn't about to let that happen. She wasn't going near her friend. Besides, the only reason the Judas dog was waiting by the trees, was for me.

"Jacob Black wants to see me. That's why he's still here," I said. Bella stopped struggling. "Talk?" she asked. Mostly, yes. There was something he had been sent to say. Something I didn't want Bella to hear, because she didn't know the extent of the treaty. The distinction the pack wanted to remind us of would bode for serious consequences, and Bella didn't need the extra worry it would cause her.

"More or less," I replied. Her voice was anxious. "How much more?"

I gently pushed her hair out of her face. "Don't worry, he's not here to fight me. He's acting as... spokesperson for the pack."

"Oh," she exhaled.

I could still hear Charlie fuming in the living room, and threw a glance towards the house. He was looking at the clock, wondering where we were. It was past the usual time Bella got home from work. I had to make this quick. "We should hurry," I said as I pulled her forward towards the trees. "Charlie is getting impatient."

Jacob Black was leaning against a tree, his face hard when he looked at Bella, sneering at me. "Filthy, reeking bloodsucker."

I stopped as soon as Bella was able to see him, not wanting to put her any closer to him. He was not fully under control, the tremors rolling off his arms, and coming towards us in waves. I could feel them on my skin. His hands were balled into fists; he was trying to prevent shifting into his other self. I could see that he didn't want to hurt Bella, but I wasn't taking chances with her safety. I shifted her behind me to block her in case the dog lost it. She leaned around me and stared at him accusingly. He didn't look away from me, his eyes full with jealousy and hatred. "Bella," he nodded towards her, his voice cold.

"Why," she whispered, her voice breaking. "How could you do this to me?"

The sound of pain in her voice upset him and the sneer left his face. "It's for the best," he answered, his eyes still cold.

"What is that supposed to mean? Do you want Charlie to strangle me? Or did you want him to have a heart attack, like Harry? No matter how mad you are at me, how could you do this to him?"

Jacob winced when Bella mentioned Harry Clearwater, but he didn't answer her. I answered for him, wanting Bella to hear why the dog had betrayed her. "He didn't want to hurt anyone – he just wanted to get you grounded, so that you wouldn't be allowed to spend time with me," I murmured to her.

"Shut up, shut up! Get out of my head, stupid bloodsucker!" Jacob glowered, furious at my invasion of his thoughts.

"Aw, Jake," Bella groaned in response. "I'm already grounded! Why do you think I haven't been down to La Push to kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls?"

"But I thought the leech..." Jacob's eyes flickered back to Bella, his face showing the confusion he suddenly felt. "That's why?" he asked her. He was immediately sorry he'd said anything.

"He thought I wouldn't let you, not Charlie," I again told Bella what the mongrel wouldn't.

"Stop that," he snapped at me.

Sorry, dog. Bella needed to know, and I wasn't going to keep it from her. And, I was jealous, too. It was an irrational feeling, but I couldn't suppress it.

Jacob shivered once, and gritted his teeth. "Should've known the bloodsucker would mess with my head."

"Bella wasn't exaggerating about your... abilities," he spit through his teeth. "So you must already know why I'm here."

I did. But before I could let him get to that point, there was something I did owe him, something I had to tell him, though I hated having to do that as much as he hated me.

"Yes," I said, keeping my voice soft. "But, before you begin, I need to say something."

He waited silently, still struggling to control the shivers that indicated that he wasn't fully in control of himself. The waves of the tremors rolled off him.

"Thank you," I said, my voice pulsating with the sincerity of my feelings, trying to convey my gratitude for what he had done for the girl I loved. "I will never be able to tell you how grateful I am. I will owe you for the rest of my... existence."

"What d'ya mean?" Jacob's confusion was evident. He glanced at Bella, but her face was just as confused. I needed to make myself clearer.

"For keeping Bella alive," I clarified, my voice rough with the onslaught of the emotions that were flooding through me. "When I...didn't."

"Oh!" Jacob understood, but the hard face instantly reappeared. "Whatever, bloodsucker."

"I didn't do it for your benefit," he muttered.

I was aware of that, but it didn't change anything. "I know. But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel. I thought you should know. If there's ever anything in my power to do for you..."

"Leave, why don't you...?" Jacob raised his brow.

Nice try, mongrel. "That's not in my power," I replied to his unspoken request.

"Whose, then?" he growled.

I gazed down at Bella and caught her eye. "Hers," I said. I loved her more than my own life, and I would never voluntarily leave her again. "I'm a quick learner, Jacob Black, and I don't make the same mistake twice. I'm here until she orders me away."

"Never," Bella whispered, staring into my eyes, and the love shining out of hers took my breath away.

"Ugh, ugh – enough already. It's sickening. I hate his guts." Jacob pretended to gag.

Bella heard it, and frowned at Jacob. "Was there something else you needed, Jacob? You wanted me in trouble – mission accomplished. Charlie might just send me to military school. But that won't keep me away from Edward. There's nothing that can do that. What more do you want?"

"I just needed to remind your bloodsucking friends of a few key points in the treaty they agreed to. The treaty that is the only thing stopping me from ripping his throat out right this minute."

I knew what key point he meant, and it was of great concern to us. I had already discussed it with Carlisle and the rest of my family. We took the treaty seriously, and didn't like having to go back on our word. But we would, and it probably would mean we'd have to leave. We didn't think that the wolves would follow us across the country, but we'd never be able to come back to this region again. Ever.

"We haven't forgotten," I told him.

"What key points?" Bella asked simultaneously, as quick on the take as always. She missed nothing. Ugh! I had really not wanted for her to find out about this yet, but Jacob was adamant in making his point. He was glowering at me, his hate and jealous resentment sparking out of his eyes.

"The treaty is quite specific. If any of them bite a human, the truce is over. Bite, not kill."

Bella immediately understood the distinction. Thanks a lot, mongrel. I really had not wanted this over her head. It would worry her, and she had enough worries as it was. Charlie being one of them. He had started to pace the living room floor, glancing at the clock every few seconds. He'd be coming out to look for us, soon.

"That's none of your business," she snapped at Jacob.

"The hell it..." he managed to say before his voice failed him. "She serious? She's gonna let these filthy leeches turn her into one of them? NO! I will kill him. I will kill them all." Jacob Black was losing control. His body was convulsing, and he was no longer thinking straight. All I could hear were pieces of words that didn't make much sense. The tremors became more pronounced and he was fighting them, pressing his fists against his temples, trying to control the spasms that would set him off. Nausea reached his consciousness. He felt sick at the thought of Bella becoming one of us. I couldn't blame him; I would probably feel that way, too, if our positions had been reversed, but I needed to get Bella away from him before he exploded into a wolf.

"Jake? You okay?" Bella asked anxiously. She started to move towards him, but I yanked her back behind me. "Careful! He's not under control," I cautioned her.

Jacob had managed to push back the tremors, and scowled at me. "Ugh. I would never hurt her."

That remark stung. I didn't need his reminder. I would never forget how much I had hurt Bella, with my foolish assumptions and irrational actions. My breath escaped in a hiss.

I almost missed Charlie stepping out onto the porch. He'd seen my car when he looked out of the window. He was extremely irate. "BELLA! YOU GET IN THIS HOUSE THIS INSTANT." We were too far up the path for him to see us, but he guessed we had to be somewhere within shouting distance.

There was a beat of silence, and then Bella recovered. "Crap."

Upon hearing Charlie's rage, Jacob's mind was instantly filled with regret. The hate left his face and he looked at Bella. "I am sorry about that," he mumbled. "I had to do what I could – I had to try."

"Thanks," Bella said, sarcastically, but her voice was trembling. Worried about Charlie, I guessed. She was staring down the path towards the house.

There was something else I needed to know. "Just one more thing," I said to Bella, and then turned to Jacob. "We've found no trace of Victoria on our side of the line – have you?"

I heard this answer before he said it out loud, but he spoke for Bella's benefit. "The last time was while Bella was... away. We let her think she was slipping through – we were tightening the circle, getting ready to ambush her – but then she took off like a bat out of hell. Near as we can tell, she caught your little female's scent and bailed. She hasn't come near our lands since."

I nodded. "When she comes back, she's not your problem anymore. We'll..."

"She killed on our turf," Jacob interrupted me with a hiss. "She's ours!"

"No..." Bella injected, but before she continued, Charlie was yelling again.

"BELLA! I SEE HIS CAR AND I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! IF YOU AREN'T INSIDE THIS HOUSE IN ONE MINUTE...!" Charlie broke off his threat, knowing that he had been clear enough.

"Let's go," I told Bella, and started to pull her towards the house. She half-turned back to Jacob, and I could see the torn look on her face through his eyes. Jacob was dealing with his own pain, thinking of the promise he had made her. "Sorry," he whispered so low, that I wasn't sure Bella would be able to hear it. "Bye, Bells."

"You promised," Bella said, desperation in her voice. "Still friends, right?"

"I can't. Not if you are with the filthy bloodsuckers..." Jacob shook his head, but edited his words "You know how hard I've tried to keep that promise, but... I can't see how to keep trying. Not now..." I understood how he felt, and I almost felt sorry for him. I had experienced the same kind of anguish, when I'd thought I could leave her. I didn't like having to cause him pain, but there was no way I would allow Bella to be near him without me. The treaty forbid me from crossing into their land, and I wasn't about to let her go to La Push alone.

"Miss you," Jacob whispered, reaching his hand out to her, too far away to touch her. His face was contorted with pain.

"Me, too," Bella choked out, and extended her hand towards him. "Jake..." She took step forward, and my arms tightened around her waist, restraining her.

I was jealous. I was insanely jealous of this stinking dog, whom Bella loved. Not more than she loved me, but she loved him nonetheless. My entire face went cold, hard with the internal burn of the jealousy. I couldn't blame either one for how they felt towards each other, having caused this friendship with my long absence, but the green-eyed monster was eating me alive. And my ingrained distaste for the wolf wasn't helping me think clearly.

"It's okay," Bella whispered to me. No, it certainly wasn't okay. "No, it's not," I replied, my voice as cold as my face.

Jacob had watched our exchange. "Let her go," he snarled at me, furious again. "She wants to." He took two hasty strides towards us, and that was just too close. I pushed Bella behind me to protect her, and spun around to face him.

"No, Edward," Bella cried. Charlie's roar prevented the fight that would have surely ensued.

"ISABELLA SWAN!"

"Come on, Charlie's mad," Bella tugged on my arm. "Hurry!" I relaxed at her touch. I pulled her towards the house slowly, all the while keeping my eyes on the dog. If he made one wrong move, he'd pay the price for his folly. He kept watching us, scowling at me, while we retreated towards the safety of the house. Then he turned away, and was gone.

I refocused my attention on Charlie. He was very angry with Bella, and I needed to help her face him, trying to do what I could to defuse his rage. We got out of the tree line, and Bella saw her father's face, on the verge of apoplexy, and shivered in my arm. I gently squeezed her waist in encouragement. "I'm here," I whispered. Bella took a deep breath.

I was here, with her, and for as long as she wanted me, that's where I would be. The love I felt for Bella would never fade, and though I still had my reservations about her choice to become one of us, I was looking forward to forever – with her by my side.

A/N: The song "What I've done" by Linkin Park was playing in my mind, in my house and in my car throughout the experience of writing this fanfiction. It will always represent Edward in New Moon to me. Lyrics below.

"In this farewell, there's no blood, there's no alibi

'cause I've drawn regret from the truth of a thousand lies

so let mercy come and wash away

what I've done

I face myself to cross out what I've become

erase myself and let go of what I've done

put to rest what you thought of me

while I clean the slate with the hands of uncertainty

so let mercy come and wash away

what I've done

I face myself to cross out what I've become

erase myself and let go of what I've done

For what I've done

I start again

and whatever pain may come

today this ends

I'm forgiving what I've done"