Hey everyone! I know it's been a while but sometimes my mind is wandering and sometimes I'm just at a blank for some things. Right now, my wandering mind has given me a storyline for not one, but two other stories, so in addition to TS, I have two other stories that I'm sorting through and organizing ideas for. I have the prologues written for both of them and one is almost done the second chapter.

I'm going to be setting up a poll with the titles of both stories and from there, you guys can vote as to which one shall be the next story published after TS is completed.

Now, with TS we are approaching the climax and we only have a few more chapters to go!

And with that, I present you, Edward.

EPOV

"What the hell do you mean, 'I'm done'?" Tanya exploded. Like I knew she would.

"It's exactly what it sounds like," I said coolly. I really wasn't planning to have a fight tonight, but it was also something that was clearly inescapable. I stared at her while she paced the room.

Her silky blond hair bounced on and off her waistline as she paced the room. Her hands found a place on her hips and she took even steps toward and from the length of the room.

When was this going to be over?

It wasn't the fact that I was sitting here waiting for her to respond that had gotten me annoyed. It was the fact that I had all her thoughts screaming at me.

"He can't do this. He's mine. I don't know what he thinks he's going to do, but he's not leaving, even if I have to bind him."

Fun.

"Let me guess, Edward. That little human bitch has got you all wound up around her little finger? Hmm? Is that what it is? Because you obviously don't love her. You told me that yourself, remember?"

"I do love her," I stated, "with all my heart actually."

This stopped her. She turned to me, a death expression etcher on her porcelain features.

"What was that?" She asked sternly, as she paced herself in my direction.

"I said I love her."

Almost as quickly as I finished my line I felt my face go sideways. She slapped me.

"You don't love her. You love me. And if she's becoming a problem, I think I should go and finish her. There will be no you and her, Edward Cullen. You….belong….to me. Or did you forget that?"

I didn't forget. I wish I did. I don't know what I was doing back in my past, but had I known—had I waited, this wouldn't be my problem.

I made a deal with the devil, sold my soul, and now, I can't love who my heart is telling me to.

Bella. If I had told her this, before I had gotten too deep, before I hurt her, this wouldn't be a problem. I shouldn't have put her through this. I've endangered her.

"My body may belong to you, but everything else belongs to Bella."

I felt her grip hold my chin and force my gaze into her golden eyes.

"Everything belongs to me."

"Not…any….more," I spoke through my teeth.

"Oh, really? We'll see about that then," she brought her face up into a wicked smile before turning and walking the opposite direction to her room.

"You don't belong to me, huh? Well let's see how much that changes when I take her life. You will stick to that agreement and if not, she dies." Her mind was loud and ringing in my ears. I wouldn't let her. She won't get near her.

"You will not go near her, Tanya," I got up and stood behind her. She stopped walking, and turned agilely around.

She brought her hand up and slowly began to caress the side of my face, her face softening. "Oh Edward, watch me," she whispered. "If you want, you can be there too, to watch as I strap her to a chair and rip her limb from limb as she helplessly screams in utter pain. Her blood, spattered along the floor and the walls. You can watch me gouge her eyes out, cut off all her fingers and toes, and anything made of cartilage. Watch me break all of her bones, slowly, and hear my laugh above her screams. Then you can watch me, drain her and then set.. her…aflame. How's that for you?"

She opened her pursed lips and entered a maniacal laugh. As if to mock me at how much control she had, how I was to be her little dog and obey every command she gave me.

And yet, I knew, I couldn't do anything about it.

I was willing to try though, even at all costs.

"So baby, are you going to help me do this or are you going to watch? Either way, she must be killed. Your feelings for her have expanded far past your limit, and I can't have her surpassing me."

That was it. I couldn't handle this anymore. The vivid picture of Tanya ripping Bella apart and Bella's harsh cries for help, played over and over in my head. I couldn't let this happen.

Damn it. You let this happen Cullen and now you need to fix it.

"Tanya," my voice was hard. I couldn't let her see my vulnerability. She'd only use it to my advantage and if it got that far, I knew for certain Bella would be dead.

"Yes my baby."

"If you touch one hair on her head, one bone in her body, or any skin that covers it all, I will kill you." I felt insides glower in triumph. I was going to fight to protect her, even if—even if at this point I didn't deserve her. And I sure as hell didn't after all I put her through.

"It's settled then," Tanya smiled and then turned to walk into her room, closing the door behind her.

I turned away from her and rushed out the front door to the car waiting in front. I needed to get home and create a plan before Tanya came. I had to let everyone know. I had to get to Bella.

I only hope she would be awake by the time I get there.

I began to pull out of the driveway and onto the road that lead back to the highway. Taking one last look into my rearview, I saw her, staring through the shade, her face smiling at me as she waved at me.

I turned onto the highway and raced to the airport. Thought after thought coming in my head and drowning me.

Do I go to the hospital first? Do I go home first? Should I tell the others to be ready? When and how do I tell Bella? Will she be willing to listen to me after everything? Is she already over everything I put her through? Will she forgive me? Will she leave me? Will she stay after I tell her that I broke things off with Tanya?

So many questions, so little time. I needed answers and yet I don't know where I want to start everything.

I think I should go to the house first to get the others aware of the situation, then go see Bella. But I really want to see her. I want to see her eyes again. I want her to love me again.

I fucked up so bad, really bad.

Hours had passed and I was finally pulling up to the Cullen mansion. The lights illuminating through every window except mine on the highest level. Parking the Volvo into the garage, I had to decide where to enter the house.

The front door? No. They know I'm here and I'm not really willing to get my ass beat again.

The garage door? No.

I walked out the garage and looked up at my room window.

Bingo.

I jumped up, the air gushing through my hair and my open button down flying behind me. I stood on the ledge and with little force, used my hand to push my window in. Stepping in, I slowly closed my window and examined my room. Everything was still in order, not like I was expecting it to be any different. I took a deep whiff of the air that surrounded me.

Sweet strawberry and lavender filled the place. All belonging to her, the girl I love, and willing to save from Tanya's claws.

I walked to the shelves on my wall that held my endless collection of music. From the 1900s to today, each record and CD, held a special place in my heart. I turned on the CD played that hung in between the shelves and allowed the sweet melody of Claire de Lune fill the room. It brought me back to when I had first time I had brought Bella to my house.

"No bed?" I smiled at her words as they echoed through my head. Her face was just as vivid in my mind. It was almost if she were standing in front of her. Her forehead, creased in several spots as she tried to decipher a great mystery.

God I love her.

I turned around and there was the bed. The bed she tried to figure out why I never had; the bed she so strongly objected to sleeping in; the bed she tried to seduce me in.

"Why do you so strongly object to this bed? I like it and I thought you might want to something to sleep comfortably in." I stared her in her eyes, something hidden, I didn't know what.

"Well now that you're here, I guess I can see how comfortable it is," she said, a sly smile on her face.

"I think you could've seen that from the beginning, without me, had you slept in it."

"Not necessarily. You see," she chewed on her bottom lip, her gaze looking down to my chest, then back into my eyes as her eyes got dark, "I figured we could test this lovely bed out. The stability might not be good enough."

I laughed. I sat down on the bed, running my hand across the cool sheets and across the fluffy pillows. The feel reminded me of Bella's skin: soft. I never wanted to let her go every time I held her. The feel of her was so good. And her hair was the same way. All the nights I slept with her, my face stayed in her hair. It smelled so good that I was willing to drink in as much as I could before the night was over.

That may never happen again.

I ran my hands through my hair. I might not feel her run her hands through my hair again, either.

Why? Why did I do this to myself? To her?

"Of all people!" I threw my hand down on the bed. The frame made a small noise.

"Edward?"

I looked up, my eyes meeting with Alice's sad ones. She came over and sat down on the bed next to me. She already knew and didn't speak. I silently thanked her.

"She woke up tonight," she whispered.

I felt my eyes widen as I turned to face her, "She did?"

"Yes," she smiled warmly at me and I felt one come across my face then disappear just as quick as it came.

"What?" Alice asked worriedly.

"You didn't see it yet?" I questioned.

"I haven't seen anything yet. What's going on?"

"Tanya is planning on coming to Forks, to kill Bella." I heard a gasp I continued anyway, "She thinks Bella has made me forget who I'm supposed to love and she also thinks that Bella's control over me is affecting me too much."

"The agreement right?"

I nodded, "I wish I never did it. I wish I just steered clear. Now, I put Bella in even more danger."

"Well she asked about what happened with you."

My eyes went to Alice's and I quickly grabbed her wrists, "Alice, I pray to God, you didn't say anything to her."

"I didn't. I told her that it was better from her to hear it from your mouth what was going on."

I let out the breath I didn't even realize I was holding. I couldn't face Bella if she knew before I told her.

"Thank you," I breathed.

"You're welcome, Edward," she paused, "I think you should tell everyone what's going on. So they can be prepared and so someone can keep watch on Bella."

I nodded and then stood up and began my way to the door, Alice on my heels.

If it was one thing I needed to do before I faced Bella, it was to face my family. As hard as it was going to be, it needed to be done…..for Bella.

So, I'm going to give Edward credit here. He's trying. I mean, he stood up to Tanya despite whatever happened in their past that's causing him to stay tied to her. But I don't know how ready Bella's going to be when he comes to talk to her, but it has to happen, right?

Anyways, next chapter, a character for which has not seen the light of day in this story will make their first appearance. I've been debating and I finally decided, what the hell?

Also, don't forget to go to my profile and vote for the next title story. I'm going to keep it open for a week. So starting tonight, Tuesday August 8th, 2010, it will be open until next Tuesday.

So vote, read, review. (: