A/N: I don't know what to do to convince you guys to post more reviews, so I guess I'll just have to live with the ones I'm getting. I would definitely like to thank those of you who have been reviewing every chapter. I promise to recognize you guys sometime in a future chapter. : ) Chapter title borrowed from "Just a Dream". (Yes, if you haven't noticed, I usually lean toward the country side of music. I'm from a miniscule town. Don't judge me.)

Part Twenty-Five

Counting on Forever

"You wouldn't!" I panted, screaming helplessly.

"What's the point?" he reminded me bitterly. "There's no one around to hear you scream, Bella. It's just you and me."

"Wh-Why would you do this?" I asked incredulously, trying to stall him.

"Because Jake is my buddy," he explained, making sure to keep in close proximity to me. "You and your boyfriend were going to get him into trouble with the law. He doesn't deserve that, Bella. You of all people know that that's not really who he is. He's not really a criminal."

Suddenly, my thoughts flashed back to Edward's chaste words at the hospital. I swore I wouldn't tell anyone about your 'troubling past', but that was for my sake, not yours! But that could have meant anything! "One last question?" I begged, eyeing the knife that was now pressed against my throat with pure anxiety.

Sam rolled his eyes. "What is it?"

"Back at the hospital…" I gulped involuntarily, the knife sinking into my skin slightly. I recoiled quickly, grimacing in pain.

"Well, I haven't got all day," he urged, apparently unaware of the injury I'd sustained. "Make it quick then."

I nodded, pressing my forefinger to the long, narrow slit. "Edward said something about a 'troubling past', right? What did he mean by that?"

"That was two questions," he said, and with a flick of his wrist, began to advance toward me again. I closed my eyes, waiting for the reality to sink in. I couldn't make myself watch him as he got closer, closer, and still closer before pressing the cool blade to my chest yet again. I inhaled deeply, taking care not to finish the job myself by breathing in too deep.

"So that's it, then?" a sweet, familiar voice asked. I opened my eyes, hoping against hope that I was not mistaken. "You would have just let him kill you?"

Momentarily stunned, Sam backed away, staring; mouth agape, at the new visitor.

"Edward!" I squealed, taking advantage of the opportunity to run straight at him, jumping into his arms and latching my legs around his waste. He smiled at me, peppering my nose, my eyelids, and my jaw with kisses, and then lingering for a moment on my lips. "I thought… I thought you were…"

"Dead?"

"Yeah," I said, tears threatening to spill over my cheeks yet again. "But you didn't. I-I mean… you aren't."

"But you would have let him kill you?" he persisted.

"Yeah," I repeated. "I don't know how to live without you. Besides, I had tried everything. I was completely defenseless."

Before he could further continue the argument, we were rudely reminded of Sam's presence in the tent. "Excuse me, lovers, I hate to break up this little love fest, but you are aware that I'm supposed to be killing you, correct?"

"Get behind me, Bella," Edward ordered, placing me back on the ground. I backed up obediently. "On my word…" I waited. After a day and a half on the beach with no food whatsoever, I was definitely in no condition to argue with him.

Sam closed in on the two of us, trying to block the tent's exit to no avail. "Go!" Edward whispered hoarsely. The two of us ran, full speed, out of the giant tent, and immediately, we were surrounded.

"Come out with your hands up," the officer closest to the tent ordered through a bullhorn. "There's no escape."

After a couple of minutes, Sam obviously decided that there was no other possible escape. He exited the tent, leaving the knife and all of his other possessions behind. Two of the policemen stepped forward and handcuffed him, shoving him forcefully into the black-and-white car. I noticed two other guys, Quil and Jacob, already concealed in the cab of the car.

"It's all over, Bella," Edward whispered, wrapping his arms around my waste and kissing my cheek. "The court found enough evidence to sentence them to a lifetime in jail."

"B-But… Embry!" I said, dumbfounded.

"Already in his own little cell and everything," he said. "He was the first to talk. Once the police caught up with him, he sang like a canary."

I smiled in spite of myself. "So that's it then? It's that easy?"

"It's that easy," he said.

"But how did you get away from the hospital? Doctor… I mean Sam said that they caught you off guard."

He laughed. "They underestimated me, Bella. It was quite simple, actually."

I smiled again, this time brighter and with more confidence, as Jacob, Sam, and Quil rode out of my life. I felt an enormous weight lift off of my shoulders at this revolution. I was going to make it. Edward and I were going to make it, after all.

A/N: Okay, so nothing long, but I think this story is almost over. I've already got an idea for another one… So keep on the lookout for the next chapter AND my next Twilight fic. REVIEW! Thank you,

C.J.

P.S. REVIEW!!