8. The Conference

Skye

The past week had been exhausting. Eddie had been all over me, and my muscles, muscles hurt. I sometimes wondered if he forgot that unlike him, I got tired and sore. And it wasn't because he was particularly rough with me. It was just that when we made love, because of his strength and prowess, he pushed my body to it limits; and doing that everyday, sometimes two and three times a day, for a week straight, was a lot. Even for a human hybrid.

"What's that smile for?" he asked as he lifted his head from my belly to look up at me.

"You know what it's for." I smiled harder.

He kissed my hip. "I'm glad I make you feel good."

"Hmmm… That's an understatement."

"You still sore?" His cool hands started to caress both my sore butt cheeks.

"Yes, and that feels good." I purred.

His hands moved down my thighs but continued the massage. I closed my eyes. "I can't believe your leaving, again."

"I know. And I am sorry. If it were anybody besides Colin I would back out. But I promised him."

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

"I know."

I took in his beauty. All of it. Not just his face, but his entire essence, and counted my blessings. He was everything I could have ever hope for, flaws and all. And I loved him so deeply. It sometimes scared me just how much.

I ran my hand down his cheek and moved my thumb over his lips. He kissed it gently then leaned into my hand.

"I could stay like this forever," he said and lay his head on my thigh.

"You could, huh?"

"Absolutely." He kissed me again. This time on the inner thigh of the leg he wasn't lying on.

"What time is Colin picking you up?"

"Five a.m."

I turned and looked at the clock. It was a little before midnight. We had been making love for a good two hours and I couldn't stop the yawn that spilled out of me.

"You're tired, get some sleep." He ordered.

"I'm…not…" I yawned again.

He laughed and crawled up my body. I pulled him on top of me and wiggle around. He shook his head at me smiling. Okay, so maybe Eddie wasn't the only one to blame for me being tired and sore.

"You are, and I'm not touching you again tonight."

He rolled us over so that I was laying on top of him now. Bad move, I think as I start kissing down his body to find my big friend. He grabbed me by the shoulders.

"I'm not kidding. I want you to get some sleep. You're going to be here with the kids by yourself for three days. You're going to need your rest." He stroked my hair back.

"Eddie…" I kissed his chest trying to change his mind.

"I'll wake you up before I go." He smiled. "But only if you go to sleep now."

I conceded and laid my head on his chest. As soon as he started playing in my hair I fell asleep.

0~~~~~~~~~0

Eddie kept his promise and gave me one hell of a wake up call. I took a quick nap afterward then went to start coffee for Colin while Eddie showered. Just as the coffee finished there was a knock at the door.

"Hey, Colin. Good mornin'."

He stepped in the door and gave me a quick once over. My hair was loose and all over the place. My skin, I'm sure, was still flush and bright. And I was moving slower than usual. In other words, I looked like I had the shit fucked out of me.

He smiled knowingly.

"Well good morning to you too, Skye. Looks like you had a very good night."

"Try week," I said walking toward the kitchen trying to detangle my hair with my fingers. He followed behind me laughing.

"Where's the 'sex machine' anyway?"

"Shower, he should be down in a few. Coffee?"

He nodded and I took out two mugs and filled them up. He sipped his slowly and I added a cube of ice to mine to cool it down a little. I slid a basket of homemade muffins in front of him. He grabbed a coffee cake crumble muffin and bit into it.

"Damn…this is good." He mumbled through a mouthful.

"Thanks, so you nervous about speaking in front of all those people?" I asked, grabbing a banana nut.

"A little, yeah. I was hoping Edward would do it. I mean he did help with the research…and he's more articulate. But he thinks I should do it, get the notoriety for something we both did."

"Because you deserve it. It was your idea. I just helped bring it together by adding my two cents," Eddie said as he walked into the kitchen. "You gave me credit for my work. That's enough."

Colin tipped his head. "I couldn't have done it without you though. You know you're married to a genius?"

"Am I?" I smirked.

"You could've done it yourself. It just would've taken you longer." Eddie smiled and Colin laughed.

I watched the two of them banter back and forth. It was good to see Eddie laughing and happy. He was so different than when I first met him. He wasn't as moody or hopeless. And it made me happy and proud knowing that I had a hand in that.

"Well we better get going. I want to get some gambling in before the conference," Colin said looking at Eddie. I saw in his thoughts that he also planned on taking Eddie to a few strip clubs. I shook my head and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, I guess we should go. Let me say bye to my wife," Eddie pulled me to him.

"Yep." Colin poured him another cup to go and went to wait in the car.

Eddie kissed me passionately. "I'll call you…often."

"Good, I'll be waiting." I wrapped myself around him and he lifted me off the ground.

"Take care of my babies. And yourself." He kissed my nose.

"I will." I pecked his upper lip.

"I hate leaving you." He sighed.

"I hate it too."

He stood me up and squeezed my ass. "I'll see you in a few days."

I nodded.

"I kissed the kids before I came down, but kiss them again for me once they wake up."

I nodded again and he kissed me again before disappearing into the darkness of the yard.

Edward

"You are so whipped." Colin teased.

"I'm having a hard time seeing your point. I mean shouldn't I be? She is my wife." I smiled.

He looked out the windshield and shrugged.

"I really don't have one." He laughed. "And yeah, I guess if it was going to be anyone then it should be your wife. If I had a wife like Skye, I'd want to be whipped too…into submission."

I laughed.

"I didn't know you were into that kind of thing." I raised an eyebrow.

He smiled. "I'm not really. I was just saying. But hell, I might like it now that I think about it."

I laughed harder.

"So...how do you feel about hitting a few strip clubs while were in Vegas? You know, help put some of those girls through college." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"I'm game." I shrugged.

"Skye won't be pissed at me if she finds out?" he asked hesitatingly.

"No, why would she?"

"I don't know. Maybe because you'll have a naked woman shaking her shit in your face…on your junk."

"Skye knows I'm not going anywhere."

"Well that's good that she's not the jealous type, but some of those girls are amazing."

"My wife is amazing."

"Touche'. I can't and won't argue with that. Not at all."

"Besides, it's not like I visit strip clubs often. The only time I really go is when she drags me in them." I told him.

"What? Your wife takes you to strip clubs?" He shouted and twisted in his seat.

I was glad he wasn't driving.

"Yeah, she likes to watch and learn new moves." I cleared my throat, "She actually takes a pole dancing class at some club in Portland."

"She dances for you?"

"Yes." I damn near growled, as the images of Skye's last performance floated around my head.

"Earth to Edward!" He snapped his fingers. "Damn where did you go?"

"Reminiscing." I grinned.

He shook his head smiling. "You're a lucky motherfucker. I hope you know that. Skye's great."

"She truly is."

And he was right. I had the best, most beautiful, and sexiest wife any man could ask for. I was a lucky man.

0~~~~~~~~~0

We made our way back to the rooms because by now I'm damn near carrying Colin and he is beyond drunk.

"Wait a minute," he slurred. "Where are we?"

"In your room." I told him.

"My room? I don't want to be here. I want to be where the honey's are."

"You've had enough of the 'honey's' tonight. You've got a speech to give tomorrow and you need to be lucid." I dropped him to the bed. "Go to sleep and stay in this damn room. I will hear you if you try to sneak out."

I started to walk away.

"Ed?"

"Yeah."

"How come you're not as fucked up as I am? You drank just as much as I did."

"Actually I didn't but I have a high tolerance. Now try and get some sleep, C."

I need to go and throw this shit up. I thought.

He fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. I started toward the door again.

"I know what you are." He whispered softly and I froze in my tracks. "You and your family. Or at least I think I do. I know you're…not human…not completely." I waited on abated breath and didn't dare turn to look at him. "I just...I can't figure out Skye and the kids. They don't exactly fit in," he said confused.

I took a deep breath and turned to face him. He was wide awake it seemed now and looking right at me.

"Colin..." I started then stopped not completely sure what to say.

He held his hand up and shook his head.

"I…I just wanted you to know that I don't care. That it doesn't matter to me. You've never hurt me or anyone else that I know of, and you're the closest friend I've ever had. My best friend. And from what I've seen, I can honestly say that you're one of the most giving and loving... beings... that I've ever met."

I shook my head.

"Thank you. And you're my best friend too. And that's something that I can honestly say I've never had."

"Then I'm honored to be the first." He grinned closing his eyes.

"Listen, I'm sorry I didn't tell you and I can't elaborate even now, because knowledge can be very dangerous to someone like you in my world."

"Your world?" He turned to stare at the ceiling.

"Yes, C. My world. And it is truly different from yours. That's why I choose not to live in it completely." I walked back to his bed and he looked at me. "No one can know that you know. You must never speak of it again."

He started nodding his head.

"Yeah, I figured that." He yawned. "Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut."

And with that he was out like a light and snoring softly.

0~~~~~~~~~~~0

As I walked to my room I replayed the entire scene in my head. I sighed as I entered my room and headed straight to the bathroom to throw up all the liquor I had consumed that night. I wished Colin would've told me that he knew about me before I drank all that shit. I hated throwing it back up. It burned my nose and was all I could smell for a good hour afterward.

I washed up then fell on the bed still in deep thought. I worried what Colin knowing could mean for us. All of us, Colin included. He had been piecing it together for years now and I knew it was only a matter of time before he confronted me. Tonight he'd had liquid courage and it helped him work up the nerve to finally say what was on his mind. I could only hope that now that he had it off his chest he'd keep it close to his heart and mind my warning. Because if the Council ever found out I honestly didn't know what they would do. In the days of old he'd have to be killed or changed. But since the downfall of the Volturi and conception of the Council it hasn't been addressed. Would they also require his life? Because with either decision that's what he'd be giving up.

I let out a deep breath then took out my cell to call Skye.

I listened intently while she recapped the day at home for me. Then and I told her begrudgingly about what had happened with Colin. She wasn't surprised that he figured it out, but she too was worried for him, and us. Once again we had taken a human into our lives and they figured out what we were. It was a risk we ran by living and interacting with them. We knew this. But in all honesty two humans, wasn't that bad considering we'd been living amongst them for over hundred and fifty years.

"Angel, don't worry about the Council. Carlisle and I will..."

"Edward, they're already jealous of this family," she interrupted me.

"Some of them are. But not all of them." I agreed.

"They don't like us. They don't like the fact that we're vampires that don't act how they feel we should. They don't like that we consider ourselves family. They don't like how the others are now emulating and look up to us. They don't..."

"Stop. I know that they don't approve of everything that we stand for."

"How about nothing that we stand for. They hate everything we do and don't do."

"Skye, let me worry about the Council." I said. "Besides, they'll never know that Colin knows. He's not going to say anything."

She exhaled loudly. "You're putting a lot of faith in him."

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do but…"

"No buts. Either you trust me or you don't."

"Fine, Edward. I trust you." She conceded and I smiled.

"Good. Everything will be fine. It will all work out like it's supposed to."

We said our 'good-nights' and our 'I love you's, then I lay in the bed and closed my eyes.

She was right, the Council would not be happy if they found out that Colin knew about us. It was still our number one law. 'Keep the secret.'

I sighed.

It wasn't my fault I hung around smart, and way to observant humans. It wasn't like I didn't try to hide it. In all honesty, the only way people wouldn't figure us out, was if we dropped off the radar completely. Avoided humans altogether. And I don't think I could do that. I loved being around them too much.

0~~~~~~~~~~0

Colin had sobered up by the next evening and was more than prepared for his speech. I sat at the table with a few of our colleagues from the hospital, and his parents, who had come from California to show their support. His father was a big man with dark, mocha colored skin and curly black hair. His mother, who was stunning, was the extreme opposite. She was very petite with the same light brown eyes and hair as Colin. Unlike Colin however, her skin was like coffee with too much creamer in it, fairly light and unnaturally smooth. She was beautiful.

I watched him blossom on the stage, behind the podium and wondered what he'd been so afraid of. He was a natural born orator. Charismatic and charming. Funny and witty. Intelligent and eloquent. He commanded and demanded the crowd much like he did with the women he'd meet. I chuckled to myself and shook my head. I should have seen this coming. Colin was able to adapt it seemed to almost any situation.

As he came toward the closing of the speech I thought about the conversation we'd had earlier that evening.

There was a knock on my door and I knew it was Colin by the smell of his cologne. I opened it and told him to come in. He walked past me but took me in quickly.

"You're not ready yet?"

"Almost," I said buttoning my shirt. "I kind of wanted to talk to you about last night. You know, now that you're more lucid."

"Alright."

He sat on the sofa and waited.

"I just want to know what you are thinking. I know you have questions and some of them I can answer. Some I can't."

"Why's that?"

"Because there are rules. Ones that I must follow. Ones that you'll have to follow to keep everyone I love safe. Things that I would rather not get into here."

He nodded in understanding.

"So what are you exactly?" That was Colin. Straight to the point.

"I can't answer that. But you're a smart man and I'm sure you have theories."

He got up and walked to the desk. Grabbing a notepad and a pen he wrote something down. He then held it up. It had 'Vampire?' scribbled in his neat handwriting.

I looked at it and raised my eyebrows.

"What gave me away?" I said and his eyes grew to the size of saucers as he flopped on the couch.

He was quiet for a second then he looked me over. Really looked me over.

"Uhhh... Little...little things you'll only notice if you really pay attention or are around you enough to catch them."

"Like?" I prompted.

"Your mannerisms and the way you speak when you're comfortable. They're very old fashioned. It makes you seem out of place, like your in the wrong century."

I smiled. I thought I was getting better at that. Learning the new lingo and speaking with slang. Guess not.

"And I know you're only thirty, but you still look like you did when I first met you. You haven't aged at all."

"Yes, well that tends to be our biggest giveaway. But trust me, I'm a lot older than thirty."

"How much older?" He asked.

"Uhhh...a hundred and some odd years." I shrugged.

"But you look so young."

"Biologically I am. I stopped aging at seventeen."

"Wow..." He took a deep breath. "So Skye? Does she know?"

"of course she knows."

"But she isn't like you..."

"She's human. Mostly."

"Mostly? How can you be mostly human?"

I laughed at his facial expression.

"It's a long story. Another one that we should discuss at length at home."

He nodded then looked at me.

"Okay... Well how did this happen? Why? Were you born this way?"

"No, I was bitten by Carlisle."

"Your father did this to you?"

"Carlisle is not my biological father, but he is my father in every sense of the word. You see my mother and I were dying from Spanish Influenza. Carlisle was our physician and my mother on her deathbed asked him to save me in anyway that he could. Carlisle, to this very day believes that she knew what he was. And that to her, me living in whatever capacity he had to offer was better than the alternative."

"And so he bit you?"

"It was the only way he could save me at that point. He had exhausted every other option and he knew that his venom would give me a new life. It is a different life, one that has taken me a longtime to get use to."

"Venom?"

"It's the stuff that runs through our veins instead of blood. It's what makes us so strong, resiliant, and ageless. It's secreted in our body fluids but is most concentrated in our saliva. So when we bite someone it enters their bloodstream and quickly takes over."

He rubbed his head in deep thought.

"I know it's a lot to deal with. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more..."

"And I have so many questions. But there's no way that you'll be able to answer them all tonight. So let me clear my head, get focus on the task at hand and we can talk about this later."

"Yes, you're right. I don't want you to be distracted."

He let out a breath. Visibly relaxed and headed for the door. I let out a breath, visibly relax, grabbed my suit jacket and headed out behind him.

My name being mentioned brought me out of my thoughts. Colin was thanking me, his parents and the powers that be at the hospital for all our work, understanding and continued support. Afterward we had dinner and mingled with the other doctor's until nightfall. I excused myself early so I could call Skye and the kids.

I spoke with Lisette first, and then the twins. Stevie was last, and of course he just listened. Skye said his face lit up when he heard my voice.

"One more day." I told her.

"One more day." She repeated.

"Yes, tomorrow there's a luncheon and a bunch of pharmaceutical reps will be here, but I plan to leave after the luncheon and head on back. I want to spend a some time with my family before we leave them."

"They're really going to miss the kids. Esme and Rose have been here everyday since you left. They're so sad."

I sighed.

"I know they are. But they'll come around. It'll just take a little time. I'm sure that for the first couple of months someone will always be there visiting us."

"I feel so bad. They've all been so good to me, and now I'm taking their youngest son and baby brother away. Not to mention their grandchildren and niece and nephews…"

"Mon amour, they understand the need for us to breakaway for awhile. I told you before. We've all done it."

She sniffed.

"Angel, stop. Please don't cry." I wished I were there right now to hold her. I wished I could tell her about my conversation with Colin and how well it went but that was out of the question now. It would just upset her more. "It's fine. Okay?"

More sniffing.

"Alright."

"Alright. So tell me what's on the agenda tomorrow?" I tried to change the subject.

"The moving truck is coming tomorrow to collect the boxes. Everything will be there by the time we reach. Jazz and Alice are coming to get the twins and Lisette. I think they're taking them hunting and camping in Washington. And Rosie and Em will have Stevie…"

"Wait a minute. I want all my babies home when I get there. I haven't seen them in days."

"I thought you'd like to have one last kid free night. I mean once we move to New Orleans..."

"Your family will take over," I said smiling.

She laughed. "I suppose you're right."

"I'm sure your dad can't wait to get his hands on them. He's been trying to get us down there since you had JR and EJ."

She laughed again. "Okay, I'll have them home by dinner then. They don't have to stay all night."

"Good, then I'll see you tomorrow."

"I love you, Edward."

"I love you too. Goodnight, and no more crying. Promise?"

"Promise."

0~~~~~~~~~0

The luncheon was pure agony. Why did I go to a luncheon when I didn't eat?

Ugh…the things you do for friends. Needless to say, I spent half an hour in the bathroom throwing up the little I did eat.

There was a knock on the door. I cleaned my face, rinsed my mouth then went to answer it.

"Colin, what's up?" I asked confused.

"Umm…nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not going to be riding back with you."

"Oh...okay." Was he afraid to ride back with me.

He smiled. "I met this hot little plastic surgeon while cruising the booths downstairs and we're going to dinner."

I shook my head and smiled.

"Seriously C, I wish you would just settle down already."

"I don't know if I could be with only one woman. Besides, I don't think one woman could handle me alone."

I laughed.

"So you're staying another night?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Don't know. It's just dinner right now." He wagged his brows. "You could stay too. She has a friend with her who is a cosmetic dermatologist."

"Not going to happen. I want to get home to my wife and kids. You remember them?" I teased.

He laughed.

"You're a good guy, Ed. Go home to your wife. Take my car." He lifted his hand to give me his keys.

"No, it's okay. I'll have the concierge get me a rental."

"No way, I'm the one who wants to stay. I'll get the rental and you can take my car."

"No. I'm fine. And since you're staying I'm going to go ahead and leave now."

He shrugged.

"Okay, I'll call you when I get home and you and I will have that talk. Or will you be in the air by then?"

"If you stay the night then yes, we're leaving tomorrow morning."

"I guess I'll be visiting New Orleans sooner than I thought."

"Well good, you know that you're always welcomed."

"I'm gonna miss you, man."

"Me too, C. Me too."

We shook hands, bumped shoulders in a manly hug, and then he turned and walked across the hall. I closed the door, called the concierge, got a rental, and grabbed my bag.

0~~~~~~~~~~~0

I walked in the door and headed upstairs toward the bedroom. Skye was in the shower singing, Chaka Khan's 'Through the Fire', and not paying any attention at all. She hadn't even heard the car pull up.

I stripped off my clothes and walked into the shower. I stood in the opening watching her. The steam was causing her scent to fill the room. I inhaled deeply.

"How long you going to stand there watching me?" she asked without turning around.

I moved toward her and wrapped myself around her wet, steamy body. She shivered.

"I was just admiring the view. Sorry, let me warm up." I moved directly into the stream of water allowing it to warm my cool skin. "How did you know I was here? You weren't paying any attention."

"I smelled you as soon as you entered the room."

I kissed the back of her neck and her shoulder. She melted into me and I held her close.

"How long until the kids come home?" I nibbled her ear.

"A couple of hours. You're early," she said.

I smiled and caressed her breasts. "A couple of hours, huh?"

She nodded.

"Plenty of time…" I whispered as I walked her to the bench, "Bend over..."

She leaned over and placed her hands flat on the bench. I palmed her ass and gave it a rough squeeze. She tossed her hair and looked over her shoulder eyes smouldering. I smiled, leaned over her then kissed her mouth as we became one.

0~~~~~~~~~0

When the kids got home they had a light dinner since they had been hunting all day. Then we all retired to my and Skye's bedroom to watch movies. Everyone piled in our bed and snuggled. Skye had Lisette on her lap and EJ laying on her thigh. JR was wedged between us but was laying in my side, and Stevie was asleep on my chest. We were going to need a bigger bed, I thought and smiled as I looked everyone over.

I kissed Stevie's head. He smelled so good. So innocent and pure. I turned to Skye who was sleeping but had one arm wrapped around Elisabeth and a hand tangled in Edric's big curls. I reached over and stroked her cheek. Her eyes slowly floated open.

"Give me Elisabeth. I'll put her and Etienne to bed then come back for the other two."

She rubbed Lisette's back. "Let them stay."

I smiled.

"Really, I was hoping to give the bed one last workout." I winked.

"Not tonight. Let's just enjoy this." She gestured to the kids. "It's so sweet."

I moved toward her and nodded.

"Alright. Come here." I pulled JR closer to me to make room for her.

She shifted and lay her head on my arm. I wrapped her up and when she looked up at me I captured her lips.

"I never thought I could ever be this happy." I told her.

"How happy are you?" She grinned.

"I don't think there's a scale that could measure it. I have everything that I've ever wanted but thought was lost to me because of what I'd become." I stroked her face. "You have given it all back to me. All my hopes and dreams. I don't know how I will ever be able to show you the extent of my love, or the happiness you've given me."

A single tear ran down her cheek. "You just did."

"Skye, it's not enough."

"Yes it is. It's enough." The tears continued.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Happy tears, Edward. These are happy tears." She smiled.

"Right, I forgot about those." I kissed her forehead.

"It's late and we've got an early morning. Get some sleep." I told her as I ran my finger along the underside of her chin.

She nodded and closed her eyes as she snuggled in with two kids laying on her. The woman was nothing short of amazing.

0~~~~~~~~~~0

It was about three in the morning when my phone began to buzz. I shifted and grabbed it off the nightstand.

"Alice, it's late…"

"It's Colin! He's in trouble!"

I sat up. "What kind of trouble?"

"He's going to be in an accident, a bad one. You need to go to him."

I sat up a little more trying to be careful. I was buried under a mountain of kids.

"Where is he?"

She tells me and I sigh. "That's far, Alice. Can I even stop it?"

"No, but you may be able to save his life if you get there in time."

I slowly slid from under Skye and JR then lay Stevie in the cradle next to our bed.

"How long?" I asked Alice.

"Thirty-two minutes and counting. Jazz and I will meet you there."

"Alright."

I woke Skye to tell her the news. She of course started to freak out. I had considered not telling her and just leaving, but I didn't want her to wake up and find me missing. It took me a minute to calm her but once I did I took off toward Nevada.

The night seemed darker than usual even with my vision acuity. The sky was blanketed in clouds that covered the moon and normally brightly lit stars. The air was warm, still and eerily silent. I didn't even hear any wildlife, which was odd this high up. The weather had been rainy until I reached the Oregon Nevada border. It had stopped here but the roads were wet and looked slick. I could smell the oil and gasoline rising out of the wet pavement.

The sound of Colin moaning made my feet move faster. I ran quickly onto the deserted highway and looked around. I smelled burnt rubber and noticed the skid marks on the wet pavement. The raindrops had beaded up on top of the melted rubber. I started walking toward the edge of the road where the skid marks ended. Why in the hell didn't they put guardrails on these winding mountain roads? I looked over. There was a fifty foot drop then nothing but rocks and trees.

Where the hell was Colin's car? I couldn't see it but I knew he was there because I could hear him. His mind was racing and he was terrified. I peered further over the side and finally spotted the BMW. It had broken through some trees and become lodged, hood down and trunk up, between two giant boulders. I sighed as I tried to decide which would be the quickest way down. That was before I heard and felt the explosion.

The smoke and flames billowed into the air like a beacon. Colin's car had became a blazing inferno.

"Fuck!" I shouted covering my face with my forearm as the wind carried the heat from the blast quickly up the mountain side. It was intense even from here.

The time for debating was short lived. The explosion and Colin's horrifying screams ended that in an instant. I didn't think then. I just jumped.

I landed on all fours on a rocky shelf that protruded from the mountain side. I hopped from boulder to boulder and tree to tree to get to him.

When I got to the car Colin was half way hanging out the window. He wasn't wearing his safety belt. And it looked as if he'd been conscious at some point and tried to crawl free.

I stepped closer then covered my nose. The smell of burning human flesh singed my nose. It was putrid and unforgettable, definitely something I'd never forget.

The closer I moved toward him, the more I could feel the venom in my veins reacting.

"Shit!" I jumped back.

Vampires and fire did not mix, but I needed to get him out of there, and quickly.

I went to the closest tree and broke a long branch off. I hooked it under his arm then used it to pull him from the car. His legs were on fire. I quickly put the flames out and began accessing the damage. His face had multiple lacerations and had already started to swell. He also had a deep, open gash on his forehead that was bleeding profusely. His breathing was labored and I could hear gurgling in his chest when he tried to inhale. He had some broken ribs and his lung sounded like it had been punctured and was filling up with fluid. Possibly his blood. His legs…his legs were burned beyond repair. His pulse was thready and I'd bet my right arm that his brain was swelling by the second. He wasn't going to make it. I had taken too long.

"Eddwarrd?" He groaned.

"Shhh… don't try and talk." I soothed.

"On the road..." He managed.

"Shhh…fuck…" I said quietly.

His eyes closed and mine widened.

"Colin!" I screamed his name.

They opened again.

His thoughts flashed through his head. I was shocked to see that it wasn't an animal he swerved to miss. And it wasn't a human either. It had moved out the way entirely too fast. It had been too dark for him to see a face clearly, his human eyes not able to see that great in the night.

"On the road...not human," he choked.

I grasped his hand. "I know, C. Damn it, I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

He shook his head. He wasn't blaming me. Not one little bit. But I was. I knew better.

"Dying..." he said and I looked away. I couldn't look in his eyes.

"Bite…" he said and I froze staring at him.

"What? No!" I shook my head.

He nodded and moved his head exposing his neck.

"No! You don't know what you're asking for! You'd lose everything. Your family…your entire life as you know it."

"Please…" he gasped, winced, and then passed out.

I ran my hand through my hair and pulled him to me. His heart was slowing down. I quickly ran through my options. It was obvious someone, a vampire someone, had run him off the road. But why? Was it because he was my friend and was close to my family? Did someone know that he knew? Or had he just been unlucky and ran into a vampire in the mist of travel or a hunt? Whatever the case, it wasn't safe for him anymore. Death was the best choice. The easiest choice. And it would all end there. But selfishly I wanted my friend to live. He was the only real friend I'd ever had that wasn't related to me.

"Choose already, you're running out of time," Alice said appearing out of no where.

"I can't…"

"Then I'll call 911. The humans will find him." She took out her cell.

I grabbed it.

"Don't!"

"Edward…we have to call them so they can find him."

"If we leave him, he'll die."

"He's dying already. He'll never make it back to mom and dads or a hospital. At least this way his parents would have closure."

"Alice!"

"There's only one other option…and he asked for it."

"You said if I got here in time I could save him." I growled and she looked at me. "This is what you meant by saving him? I was never going to make it in time to save his human life, was I?"

She shook her head.

"I'm sorry…but you must choose before it's too late."

The internal battle began but ended quickly when Colin started gasping for air. I made my decision right then. I took a deep breath and leaned over him. "He doesn't understand what he's asked for," I said as I moved his head aside and bit into his neck.

The skin gave no resistance and popped like a cola can being opened when my teeth punctured it. His blood spilled into my mouth and I drank from him until the flow slowed. Then I pushed my venom into his veins. His heart rate increased and I moved down his body ripping his clothes so I could get to his other pressure points. After I finished the bites Jazz showed up with a limp body.

"What the hell? Who is that?" I asked.

"There needs to be a body if he's gonna be dead," he said.

"Where the hell did you get a body…and how did you…?" I stopped and Alice was smiling. "Hell, nevermind."

"I saw him as a vamp and the body is from the morgue. We stopped on the way," she said.

I watched as Jazz pushed the body into the car with the branch. It caught fire immediately. There would be nothing left of it.

"So you stole a body?"

"Don't worry, we covered our tracks. You know, changed a few records. That's what took us so long. He won't be missed. He was a John Doe." Jazz informed me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, we need to get him home," Alice said before calling the police.

I scooped Colin up and we started to run back to Astoria.

0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0

AN: So a pic for Colin is up on my profile page? What do you think about Eddie's decision? Did he make the right one? A new member to the Cullen family... Should he have a power? I haven't decided.