A/N: I'm back! I'm SO sorry it took so long to post! I've been really busy with school work; as I'm sure some of you have been. I have a cold and stayed home from school today. (Yay!) Ha. Not all fun and games though; I still can't pronounce my v's and b's. (Plus I hate make-up work and tests…yuck.) Please review so I know you guys are still out there!

Esme's POV

Edward was not going to show; if I knew one thing about my son it was his dedication, and today he wasn't listening to his instincts. Or was he? The others were all fussing under their breaths, talking bad about my son; how "un-Edward" he was being. I, too, was apprehensive about his latest behavior. Edward was certainly known to over-react, but forgetting his responsibilities was definitely not his forte.

We were pacing, waiting at the treaty line. The pack had not shown yet, nor had they given us any clue that they were actually going to show. The pack wasn't usually prone to lateness. But then again, they were just a bunch of over-grown teenage boys.

Where was Edward? Was he just making this whole charade up? No, no. Why would he do such a thing? Surely they were going to show; he was going to show. Why would he bring us all out here for nothing? This does not begin to be making sense. It's a good thing we're such patient people.

"Where the hell are those dogs?" Emmett's rage overpowered, his voice nearly causing the ground to shake. Well, maybe not all of us…

"Where's Edward?" Rosalie snapped with him, staring at Carlisle unpleasantly. I was going to have a talk with those two when we returned. Carlisle simply gazed back, serene and soothing as usual. "I'm sure he has a perfectly sensible reason why he is not here with us now."

That's my Carlisle; always the reasonable one. Got to love him. "Bull shit!" Emmett called, grabbing Rosalie's hand. "I don't see or hear the mongrels. If they don't show in five minutes I'm going to personally kick Edward's ass."

Ugh, typical Emmett, wanting to get back to his sports game on ESPN. I ambled a couple of spaces forward, grabbing my husband's hand and squeezing it tightly. I knew, under that expressionless exterior, my poor dear was losing his cool. It was common, somewhat, for him to break down. Just us, one night out of every six months. There was stress in his everyday life that I could not get rid of, much to my displeasure. Many times it was about losing a patient's life. Most of the time, very young ones that he grew attached to.

"Don't worry, Emmett. They are coming; Edward wouldn't lie to me." There was assurance in his voice; strong. It could fool them, but it certainly couldn't fool me. His selfless tasks of keeping everyone sane kept himself balanced at the same time. But it could not fool poor silent Jasper in the corner either, rubbing his temples, trying to remain still with Emmett and Rosalie's brewed emotions. Alice hugged him and whispered some words; he calmed a bit, causing Emmett and the others, including myself to relax.

"They will be here." I backed my husband, not trying to sound overly optimistic. That's always a dead give-away of my insecurity.

Emmett snorted, Rosalie leaned against his chiseled muscles. He tensed his arms around her. "I sure hope so; if not, your otherwise "perfect" son will be utterly imperfect."

Edward's POV

So she just left. I should have known; I mean a one night stand is exactly what it sounds like: a one night kind of fling. Yet, part of me hoped she would stay. Just around; enough for me to know she would be there if I needed her. Kind of like how Bella knew she had Jacob. Just someone to comfort you, not someone to marry or have a future with. I mean, I didn't even love her. Well, I did, but not in the same way I loved my Bella.

I loved her in the past…you can't really stop loving someone who you cared about before. It would be like to suddenly rekindle and then stop loving a past best friend. Tough, you see.

I finally searched through the many voices in my head, hearing her smooth indifferent tone preaching issues in her mind, reassuring herself about random personal problems. I turned myself in her direction. After a few minutes of brisk running, I ended up near an apartment complex. I recognized the design and curlicues of the expensive name on the sign. It was Alice's and Jasper's usual local getaway. Whenever he had troubles they would head over to this place.

Now I just had to follow her scent. Easy enough, I knew it well. It wasn't entirely unbearable as some fellow vampire or human smells went. It actually had a lively kick to it…just not floral and delicate like Bella's.

I swiftly flashed by the receptionist's desk and up two floors. She was located in room 272. I ignored the "Privacy" tag on her doorknob and barged through, flicking the door shut in enough time not to be noticed. But, she's a vampire also, so of course she was out in a flash, only letting a brief glimpse of surprise control her face. She composed it quick and nonchalantly.

"Obviously you didn't take time to read the sign. Privacy means private, you know." She flicked her hair over her shoulder and slowly walked, (for a vampire, anyway) over toward the couch and crossed her legs seductively. But her charm wasn't going to work this time.

I stopped in the middle of her floor, rather frantic. My voice, not to my surprise, sounded squeaky and unfamiliar. "Please tell me what you did. You did something to me. I know it. I wouldn't hurt Bella this way…just wouldn't. Could you come with me; maybe if you explained to Bella what happened, she'll believe me. I couldn't have hurt her like this without some kind of…of…"

My words hung for a while, I grabbed my hair in annoyance and sank to the armchair across from the sofa. She didn't look away from me, but somehow I knew she wasn't totally dedicated to helping me fix my problem. She had to have done something to me. She must have developed a new power or something…

"Edward, I did nothing to you. You…you simply did not think things through. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I suddenly intruded on your life. It wasn't mine to impose on. I will be going back to Denali. I just had a weak moment; I needed someone I could trust. But, I'm better now and I will be leaving soon."

Was everyone in my life leaving me? My closest sister, Alice, was thinking about taking a break sometime soon with Jasper. I barely even got to see her since this whole problem began; now she was planning goodbyes? Jasper, although I could bear to be apart from for a while, I would miss too. I never got enough of my family, and now everyone was going to suddenly depart the mansion. Everyone and everything was falling apart.

"I see." I answered, my jaw set and my tone severe. If everyone was leaving, so would I. But, for one last time, I had to see if Bella would take me back. If she said no, well, I could not argue. I hurt her, and if she thought it best to not see each other, I would have to go. No matter how much It hurt…no matter how much my mind would eat away little by little, torturing my non-existent soul with reminiscence of my horrible mistake.

I turned to leave when her voice stopped me. "Edward, don't be a fool and blame all of it on yourself. You may be immortal, but you're still a man." I sighed. How familiar those words were. My feet were suddenly stuck to the ground, as if glued. I knew what she was thinking before she said it, but she repeated the words regardless.

"If it helps, I could maybe go see Bella tomorrow before I leave. But so help me, if she tries anything I am totally not going to argue."

I didn't smile, but secretly I was pleased. Hopefully, if I had my sister help convince her this afternoon as I wished she would, Tanya could help Bella see reason.

"As you wish," I replied, still discontented. For the same reason, yes, but also for another—now, I had to face my restless family over at the boundary line.

A/N: Did my benadryl and cold medicine affect my writing at all? Ha-ha. Please leave a review! I need to know you guys are still reading!