I don't want to give anything away, so I won't. ENJOY!!!

Kate's POV:

As we turned to face the oncoming Volturi guard I felt lighter than I had in a long while. I could die now, knowing that he loved me....except I didn't want to die. I'd cooled down, and realized that Irina wouldn't come back, even if I died for her, and I wasn't planning on letting Garrett die for anything. The thought that he could somehow, even after I was dead, not exist, was too painful for words. I saw the mist coming, Alec's own personal form of disorientation, and held Garrett's hand tighter. He squeezed back, and I knew that that was the last thing I ever wanted to feel, if there had to be a last thing. Suddenly, without warning, the mist stopped. It curved above us then, as if we were surrounded by our own bubble, and I wasn't the only one to look towards Bella, who was saying to Edward, "I am all over this." Perhaps we had a hope after all.

Aro was explaining the vote to us, as if we were young children. It made me even angrier as we kept up the charade. For some reason, though, Edward was smirking, as he asked Aro if Renesme could live if we were sure she was no danger. Aro agreed, but I didn't see how that helped us. There had never been another creature like Renesme...

"Why don't you join us, Alice?" Edward called, and I wasn't the only person who jumped in shock.

"Alice?" I whispered, and I wasn't the only one. Alice, Jasper, an amazon I recognized as Kachiri and two vampires I did not know bounded through the wood. I watched eagerly as the two unknowns were introduced as Nahuel and Huilen. The Volturi looked stunned as Huilen and Nahuel explained themselves, and they weren't the only ones. Most of us were still shell-shocked.

Finally, Aro and his guard left us, clearly unwilling to enter this fight, now that it was so evenly matched. I froze. My brain couldn't work, and it wasn't until Alice said, "Seriously, people, they're not coming back! Everyone can relax now!" that it hit me.

A grin spread across my face and I turned to see Garrett wearing the same one as he lifted me up into the air, laughing the special laugh he saved just for me. I was laughing too as he set me down and, without thinking, I kissed him. This kiss was longer, and slower, because we had all the time in the world to enjoy it. When we broke apart he was grinning, and I could feel my own grin returning. I turned around looking for Tanya when I saw her, kneeling in the snow, looking heartbroken, Carmen and Eleazar beside her.

Then it hit me. Hard. Irina. My beloved sister. Gone. Dead. Suddenly my body was filled with more anguish than any should have to hold. My anguish only increased at the thought that I had forgotten. How could I forget about her? My sister. I felt like I would burst at the weight of the emotions inside me. Anguish. Guilt. Blame. Hatred. Hurt. Love. Pain. More guilt. More love. More pain. Without really realizing it, I collapsed into the snow, Garrett supporting most of my weight. The sting of her betrayal was nothing, nothing compared to this. I couldn't handle it, couldn't comprehend that she really was dead. This was pain that went beyond tears. It touched my very soul, and turned me completely comatose. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I would never see her laugh again. She had such a pretty laugh. Never would we play chess. Many don't know what an amazing chess player she was. Almost as good as me. We'd never go hunting together. I'd never hear her sing the blues. Few people know how good she was at singing. We'd never again discuss Jane Austin novels, something we both have a passion for, and never again would we play baseball. So many things I'd never tell her. So many things she'd never say. I could never again tell her how much I loved her. How much I missed her when she left. I would never say anything to her. Ever.

I'd always been close to my sisters, especially after the death of my mother, and losing Irina was more than I could bear. We were supposed to be together forever...it only made me remember with more pain my mother's death. It was supposed to be her, me, and my sisters, and now it was just Tanya and I. Alone. We had Carmen and Eleazar, but in the end my first real family was almost destroyed. I've never shared much about my human life, because there wasn't anything pretty about it. I lived in the mid eighteen hundreds, a poor orphan. Throughout my entire human life I'd searched for my family, and family I might have had left. I grew up in an orphanage in London, but when I turned 18 they turned me out. I was glad to be rid of the place at the time, hoping for a better future. I was smart, clever, and talented, and was sure that my lack of connections and money would not hinder me. I was wrong. Soon enough I became ill with the small pox. My mother found me dying on the streets. Being poor there were many of us. She saved me and Irina soon afterwords, Tanya having been changed before us. My mother and sisters were my first real family, and though I could never track down my human one I'd come to terms with it a long time ago. Now our family was almost gone. My mother died for an immortal she could not control, and now Irina died because of it. Anger at the Volturi and at my mother swelled within me. If my mother had left well enough alone with the immortal children! If the Volturi had let Irina be! Guilt washed through me again for thinking those things.

An emptiness like nothing I'd ever felt washed over me. My sister. Gone. I'd told her everything, from the day I was changed until the day she left. She knew every inner working of my mind, and I knew hers....or at least, I thought I did. Her betrayal had hurt because I thought I knew her, but I'd rather she betrayed me a hundred times over than this. She was who I'd confided for the last 150 years, and suddenly she was gone. The pain that washed over me was so agonizing that I'd have given anything for it to end. Anything. I felt disconnected with everything around me. I barely heard my sobs, or registered the heaving of my chest. Every unpleasant part of my life was resurfacing in this moment, and I couldn't face it. If vampires could pass out I knew I would've a long while ago. I would've even enjoyed it. An end to all the pain inside me. Any escape. As it was I was loosing most consciousness.

It took a very long while for me to regain my sight and ability to hear, and even longer to control my dry sobs. Most people had left the clearing, but I could see Tanya, comforted by Carmen and Eleazar, as well as all of the Cullens and Maggie. It was only then that I was aware of Garrett, who's arms were around me. He wasn't saying anything, but it didn't matter. Like that day in the forest, words weren't necessary; he was just going to let me get it all out.

"Kate," said Edward, as he and Bella, carrying Renesme, approached. Garrett released me so that I could move freely, but I knew he wouldn't go very far, and for that I was grateful. I stood up, as did Garrett, as Edward continued. "I am so very sorry," and he meant it, "It shouldn't have happened, and there's nothing I say to fix it, and for that I am sorry as well," and with a nod to Garrett Edward lead the way over to Tanya, Bella looking at me in sympathy, but knowing that she couldn't say anything more than Edward could. Renesme touched my cheek, her own form of thank you for what we'd done, and I felt marginally better, knowing that we saved her, even if it had cost us Irina.

Maggie came up next, and didn't say anything, simply wrapped her arms around me. I knew it was her way of telling me that she was there. We'd never really talked about Irina, but I knew that if I needed to she would be there. I'd never talked about Irina to anyone but Garrett, not even Tanya. There would have been too much pain for us to both talk about it. Now, I supposed, it didn't really matter either way. The pain of the betrayal was gone, replaced with a more acute misery.

Maggie left after a few minutes, because the rest of her coven was returning to Ireland.

"But, we will see each other again soon?" she confirmed.

I nodded. Verbal responses were far beyond me.

She smile slightly as she took my hand briefly and said, "It will get better, I promise. I'll see you," and with a wave she took off running after Liam and Siobhan.

I remained in the clearing long after all others had left. Garrett was the only one who stayed with me. I sat in the snow and thought, hard.

I was alone.

Alone.

But I looked at Garrett and realized that I might not be anymore...

This was a really hard chapter for me to write, so I'd appreciate a lot of feedback from you guys about her reactions and feelings, cause I've never had a sibling die, so even though I've experienced death it's never been someone so close to me. I know you were all probably expecting more about the Garrett/Kate relationship, but I don't think she'd be ready for that right after her sister died. Tell me what you thought!

XOXO

GossipGirlHere