JPOV

Renesmee was crying. In all this time I had rarely seen her cry. It was heartbreaking to see my angel look so broken and vulnerable, collapsed on the steps, pleading with me to stay. I wanted to walk over to her, to hold her close and promise to never leave her again. I needed to comfort her, to wipe away her tears. You're meant to be together. My mind argued. I wanted to believe that.

I wanted to give her everything that she sought, but giving her what she needed was much more important, and Edward's words were still ringing in my ears, "What kind of life can you give her, Jacob, a family full of human- vampire-werewolf babies? Don't you think she deserves better? Look at her. Are you really making her life better?"

I hated him for those words, despised him for making me see the truth. Ness did deserve more, so much more. She deserved a life with someone who could give her the world. She deserved to live as normal a life as possible. She deserved things that I could never give her.

I dragged my eyes away from her fragile figure to glance at the door. Alice seemed to be keeping everyone inside. She was buying me time. I'd have to find a way to thank her for these last few moments. A light bulb went off in my head. Maybe these didn't have to be the last moments. Maybe I could see her, just one more time before I left, and I would leave. I would remove myself from her life, but I would always be waiting for her to call. I would be far away, but always hoping that someday I would be able to see her again even though I would know it was wrong. Even though I would know, with utmost certainty that I was being selfish by daring to long for her, I would wait, and if there was ever a point that felt right…

When that time came, would I still want it? I knew instinctively that I would never stop loving her, but what if she was with someone else? The thought of another guy holding her, comforting her, touching her soft skin, and running his hands through her silky curls almost broke my resolve, but I forced myself to stay firm. Renesmee ought to have that life.

"Ness…" Her name was a caress on my tongue.

"Please, Jake?" Just an hour more with her. What could it hurt? Her voice held such a delicate plea. I was powerless to refuse her. This one last time I would give in to her wishes. I could put off doing what was best for her for just a little longer.

RPOV

His eyes held new determination. He heaved a sigh. It caused his muscles to ripple in a delicious way. I had spent hours ogling his chest, his arms, his face, eyes, hair starting when I had been around 13. I had him memorized. I could have painted a portrait of him from memory. Yet, I was still so terrified that I would never see him again. If he left, would I forget how he looked? Would I forget his laugh, his smile? Would I lose all recollection of how my heart fluttered when he tensed in protectiveness of me, how his eyes sometimes turned velvety soft when he looked at me, causing my legs to turn weak and my heart to melt?

It was almost too much to bear. The only thing that kept my heart in one piece was that moment. I felt like I was falling, waiting for him to say something. His eyes glanced back at the door. His next words were rushed.

"Meet me at the garden tonight, Ness. We'll finish this then." Then he ran off. We'll finish this. No words of sentiment, nothing to grab onto to use as a flotation device of hope. When I met him that night, he would end whatever it was that we had. I was dying inside. At least I'd get to see him again before everything ceased to matter. Dad came barreling through the front door.

"Alice, stop!" He shouted behind him. I had never seen him like this. It didn't matter though, Jake was already gone. I stayed perfectly still, trying to convince my heart that it wasn't time to die yet. I told myself that I had to hang on. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jake had just used a poor choice of words.

My heart believed me about as much as my brain did. It kept on screaming in pain. I felt like I was being ripped into little pieces. I was dimly aware of my family talking to me. This world held little appeal to me anymore; my family wasn't enough to stop the agony that I was enduring. So when darkness clamored at the edges of my mind, I happily let it claim me, and sank into unconsciousness.

Yes, extremely depressing. I know Edward's a little…bleh, but I promise that he'll be better. Somebody had to be the bad guy. Please review!