Wow, sorry guys. I managed to get my hands on Eclipse, and I had lotsa school. Forgive me? This is probably the second to last chapter, as my story is almost done. The next, and final, chap will be long, so give me a bit to have it out. Please review, because the more I get, the sooner I update!

I stepped forward, putting myself between them, hands out. Edward hit me with a jolt that snapped my head back, sending me into darkness.

I opened my eyes to see Edward's worried face inches from mine. I smiled woozily. "Ow. You know, if you wanted to sweep me off my feet, you could've just picked me up."

"Bella," his voice was full of relief as he kissed my neck.

There were silver scars down the left side of his face, and his throat looked like it had been chewed on, then healed over. I trailed a finger over them gently.

"Do they hurt?" I asked, worried. I had been so scared. Now, I was just giddy with relief at him being okay.

"A little," Edward admitted. Then he pushed my hair out of my face. "But I heal very quickly. Are you alright? That was an idiotic stunt, you could've been killed."

He helped me to my feet, and pulled me gently to his side. "I'll have a few bruises; you're a rock!" I was quiet for a moment. Edward mistook it for pain and gestured Carlisle over. Nathan watched in interest.

"She's fine, Edward. Like Bella said, she's bruised, but no worse. Although I'm not sure the jostling was good for her head injury." Carlisle smiled.

Edward tipped my chin up, eyes searching and scorching. "What are you thinking about?"

"You owe Nathan an apology." I mumbled, burying my face in his shirt. "He was helping me, and you attacked him like a jealous human."

Surprise shone in every facet of his sparkling skin. I'd forgotten about the sun. Good thing we were deep in the woods.

"Bella, I was worried." he crushed me to him. "I didn't know what to think. When you were carried off, I was too infuriated to listen to his thoughts."

"Why didn't you read it when you first saw him?"

He kissed me gently and passionately. "Because, silly Bella, I've been blocking out people's thoughts for years now. I didn't have a chance to open up and examine him. I was too busy trying to keep you alive."

I smiled, melting. Edward turned to face Nathan.

"Bella is right. I do owe you an apology." he held his hand out.

Nathan grinned and took it. Then, he ran a hand through his windblown hair again. "Aw, it's alright. You're protective of her, that's good."

Edward smiled, but was silent. I knew he was reading Nathan's mind. Nathan just looked confused.

"What? Did I say something?" His bewildered face flickered back and forth from Carlisle to me, then Edward.

I shook my head. "No, he reads minds. He's finding out if you're dangerous or not." I offered a comforting smile.

Nathan nodded, but looked slightly spooked . . . and exposed.

Edward's shoulders relaxed into a more normal position. "Thank you, Nathan. I can only be in so many places at once. Considering Bella's a bit accident prone, I need all the help I can get protecting her." he winked at me.

My heart raced, but I wrinkled my nose in a show of irritation.

Carlisle turned his head to the west (at least that's what I thought it was . . . the sun was in the opposite direction, and it was still before noon.), and his nostrils twitched.

I followed his gaze, and saw a plume of smoke rising above the trees. It was so far away, it looked like the wisp of smoke from a spent match. I stared harder. The smoke was a strange purple color. What could be burning that would give off violet smoke?

Edward's grip on my waist tightened. "Let's go, Bella." He swung me up on his back, and I tucked my chin into the place between his shoulder and neck, eyes closed. Carlisle and Nathan followed us as we ran toward the smoke.

He began to run, so smoothly we could've been standing still. I kissed his neck, lingering. Edward let out a laugh that surprised me away. Something smacked me on the shoulder as I reeled back, causing Edward to stop and catch me as I flew off.

My sleeve had been torn away from my shoulder and my skin was ripped open in a deep gash, oozing blood. I looked away, head spinning. I breathed through my mouth, battling the nausea and dizziness.

"You let me get hit by a tree," I accused through gritted teeth.

Edward looked tormented. His eyes remained creamy, instead of turning black. "Bella, I'm so sorry!"

A low snarling alerted us. Both of our gazes flashed to Nathan, whose eyes had become onyx. He was shaking, struggling not to move, I could tell. Then, he snapped.

Edward was hindered by me being in his arms; I knew he wouldn't be able to help me. I felt myself wrenched away.

Teeth sunk into my shoulder muscle, near my collarbone, meeting and crunching through bone. Nathan's mouth left my skin, spitting out shards, then attacking my shoulder with a vengeance. I screamed.

It was the strangest, but painful, sensation. I could feel my blood being sucked from my veins, and it didn't hurt. It was draining, like I could feel my insides drying out. Another hoarse cry forced its way past my clenched lips. I was losing control of my muscles, going limp. But strangely, I wasn't scared.

Teeth were pulled out, wrenched away. A loud howl met my ears, broken off by a snapping sound. I fell to the ground.

I felt myself picked up and cradled gently. More of the same tearing noises ripped through my tender eardrums. I tried to turn my head to see, but it wouldn't move. My vision was fading fast, as the expected burning erupted and began to spread.

I whimpered; I had no strength left for anything else. "Easy there, Bella. Hold on, for Edward." Carlisle's voice rang and echoed in my head. So he was the one holding me.

I smelled more smoke. I wondered vaguely if I was on fire, because the burning was roaring through me with terrible speed. Another strangled cry forced past my tight vocal chords. My back was arched in pain.

Edward's gentle hands pulled me to him, a dry sobbing ripping from his chest. "Bella, no, Bella!"

I tried to tell him I was alive still, barely, but my mouth wasn't cooperating. The burning was getting worse, I was starting to sound like a wounded puppy as I bit down on my sore lip, whimpering.

"Hang on, Bella, please, I love you."

And then he was running again.