Hey there everyone :] SORRY it took so long to update. ive had major writers block. So here's the new chapter! hope you like it. A friend checked it for me so i hope ok as far as grammar and spelling.

EPOV

The flight to Jacksonville was a noisy one. The 150 voices that ran through the plane and through my mind were relentless. I heard a woman try to 'self hypnotize' herself into staying relaxed on a 'flying death trap', 2 small children planning their revenge on the nasty flight attendant, and two teens who were thinking of joining the mile high club.

The flight landed and after gathering my bags I headed for the airline entrance. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, I flipped it open to see a new text message.

Hope you enjoy your rental :] - Alice

I looked around a spotted a black Volvo S80 sitting along the curb with a man standing near it holding a sign the said 'Eddie'.

I had to laugh. Only Alice. I sent a quick text back thanking the little brat before collecting the keys and heading off to find my Bella.

BPOV

So far flying solo wasn't so bad. Zeke had come quite a long way in just a short time. In just over a week Zeke started feeling more comfortable in his new body. In many ways he reminded me of a cross between Edward and Emmett. Cautious and sweet but fun and comfortable with what he is.

He didn't seem to fit the newborn image that Jasper had painted with the story of his past. The only things that kept me reminded me that he was a vampire was his speed and strength naturally, his burgundy eyes, and his small instinctive actions like the growling.

He stayed with me most of the time and at night and when my mom and Phil weren't home we would just hang out. We watched movies and worked on controlling his strength. Starting off with a baseball, I would toss it and he would catch it. It took about 20 baseballs and 3 days before he could catch it without it disintegrating but he got it. After we felt comfortable with that we would throw it back and forth lightly, a few dented tresses and a dead bird, a case of the wrong place wrong time for our feathered friend that afternoon, later we had it down. We both gained from that practice. He learned some control and I learned to catch and throw the ball without hurting myself or the other person.

We then moved on to rolling an egg back and forth across the kitchen table. Needless to say it was a messy test. We went through about 3 cartons before getting it. I still smile when I think about the look on my moms face when I picked up a few egg cartons at the local store. She even had the gall to ask if I was pregnant! After telling her no about 100 times I gave up instead just sitting back and listening to her drone on about 'how cute Edwards and I's children would be' then back to 'I don't want to be a grandma yet so I hope your being careful'. If only she knew.

My baseball practice with Phil got better and I could now hit and catch the ball. I hate to get cocky but after this I bet I'll be pretty good at vampire baseball.

The sun was getting ready to go down and I had promised Z I would meet him on the beach a few miles from here. I was only going to be here another 4 days and I needed to make sure he would be ok if I left. I wanted more than anything to take him back to Forks with me but given the attack from the newborns ending just weeks before I knew taking home a newborn while I was still human would cause Edward and the family to be uneasy. So before I left I had to make sure, and I couldn't cancel going home again. Edward was already starting to get suspicious, I could hear it in his voice over the phone when we talked each day.

I tossed on a pair of black shorts then my bikini top, throwing on a white tank top to cover it. After saying goodbye to mom and Phil I took my moms car and headed to the beach. I walked out onto the sand, the beige color still glowing from the bit of sun left in the sky and still warm, and stood near the water.

I jumped a bit when someone said 'hey' from next to me. When I saw it was Zeke I carefully smacked his arm, "What did I tell you about sneaking up on me? Gee everyone keeps saying how amazing a vampires memory is yet not one of them can remember when I say don't creep up on me!"

Zeke's metallic gaze stayed on the water but the edge of his lips curling in a small smile. "You said, and I quote, 'What is it with you vampires? Next time make some noise or shuffle your feet! Not all of us have super hearing.' And I never said that your fiancé did."

"Oh shut it you jerk!" I laughed as I kicked sand at him. Like always he moved to quick to get dusted with the grainy substance.

I took off my sandals and walked into the indigo water until it reached just below my knees. The water, like the sand was warm and its gentle lapping waves massaged the muscles. I both heard and felt the water shifting and sloshing around behind me till Zeke was once again standing by my side. We stood in silence for a moment before he began to speak.

"I remember coming her as a child." He started, "Though many are gone and fuzzy the one memory was me coming her with my mother a few months ago before all of this. We stood here in the water just like thus, watching the waves move against the shore and watching the sky change colors. She loved taking pictures. Anywhere we went she had that damn camera" he laughed. He shook his head and walked up onto the sand. I followed. He sat cross-legged and played with a shell as he finished the story.

"I remember her begging me to come. At that time I was more concerned with my friends and parties to really care, I saw her everyday so why was she making a big deal over it? I finally gave in and came with her. We stood in the water, her clicking away with the camera gushing over the colors of the sky. She turned to me and recited a quote that was her favorite." He paused for a moment. "The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."

"W.M. Lewis" I said remembering that quote from English class. It is a historic quote.

Zeke smiled over at me. "Yup. And I never understood that quote until the night they were killed. I sat and looked over the photo albums my mother had kept. In each photo of both her and my father they were smiling. They lived each day to the fullest." He laughed and shook his head before continuing again still laughing softly. "I remember both of them making these off the wall, random, vacation plans. It was like they woke up one morning and were like 'we're going to Disneyland, or Jamaica, or France.' I think I was out of this country more than in it for about 3 years. It was always weird. I honestly think they just grabbed a globe and pointed to some random spot."

That kind of reminded me of my own mother. We were always going sight seeing. Partly due to Phil traveling and just boredom. "Sounds like you had it all as a kid." I said reaching over and touching his arm.

His smile faded and his eyes dropped to the sand. "I never thought so. Its amazing how you never realize what you have till its gone."

I decided to drop the subject. We sat there for about 10 minutes in silence just watching the waves role in and out.

I heard a small whimper come from Zeke's direction, and turned towards him. "What's wrong Zeke? What's the matter?" It wasn't often I caught him doing that but I had a feeling as to what was coming next, so it wasn't a big surprise to feel Zeke's lips against the corner of my chin then move up to the corner of my mouth. He did this often when he was getting 'hungry'. To most it would have looked like he was kissing me, but I knew that wasn't the case. However it reminded me of Edward…and how much I missed him. It had been to long to be away. I missed his smell, the icy, minty and unique smell that only he had. I missed the topaz and butterscotch color of his eyes and the warmth and love they held. I missed being with my 'family' and having to deal with Alice's crazy, non-stop, wedding planning, and Edward coming to my rescue when she got a bit to out of hand. But most of all I missed waking up with him by my side, his arms wrapped around me, where I felt safe and warm…despite his obvious low body temperature. I wanted to run into my fiancé's arms and stay there forever, never letting go.

But at the same time I couldn't leave Zeke either. I cant explain what it was. I just had this need to stay and help him.

I felt Zeke brush his check along mine, almost in the way a cat would, before returning his lips back to the corner of my mouth giving me a gentle nip with his teeth. It was a noticeable pinch but it wasn't close to breaking the skin, just enough to get my attention. The pinch was quickly covered by the cool lapping of his tongue. It felt weird but every time he did that it made me laugh, and I knew he did it just to get a rise out of me.

I started laughing at the situation remembering the night I sat on the expensive leather couch at the Cullen's, watching the Discovery Channel thanks to Emmett. Him and his damn bears. They had been showing some of the animals in Yellowstone Park they had been following and recording. They caught a Pack of wolves and I remember watching how the wolf pups would lick at their parents faces for food. Funny how even though Z was a newborn, a fairly quiet one mind you, he still proved he was a vampire with these little instinct driven displays.

Zeke opened his eyes and I felt him laugh against me before he pulled away smiling. I kept laughing at him. He was so much like Emmett in this way I couldn't help myself. "You're such a dork." I laughed reaching out to smack his knee. But, like always, he was to fast and caught my hand before I even got close. He let out a small growl, which I knew was just play, still holding my hand.

Then, almost to fast for my mind to process the movement, I was yanked to my feet and placed behind Zeke, a heart stopping, and bone chilling, shrieking hiss filling the air. From behind Zeke I could feel his muscles tighten and coil through his cool skin.

I heard another hiss, almost mirroring Zeke's, and I knew it was another vampire.

"Let her go NOW!" the other voice roared. Except I knew that voice. The velvet lined voice that I had grown to love.

"Edward?" I looked around Zeke's back to see that it was in fact the man I had missed so much these few weeks. "What are you doing here?" I felt Z loosen up a bit at the sound of Edwards name.

Edward took at step forward, and Zeke released another hiss, this time not quite as scary or loud.

However after everything we had just been through with the newborns and Victoria I could only imagine how this looked to Edward right now. A newborn holding me and trying to keep me from him. He was looking at Zeke the same way he looked at the newborns in Victoria's army.

At Zeke's hiss Edward lunged the distance between the two before I could blink. However Zeke still had the advantage of his newborn strength and, just like he did with me, grabbed Edwards arm before it came in contact with his chest.

"Would you two stop! Please!" I yelled trying to get their attention off of one another. "Edward, Zeke STOP!"

Their growls kept escalating but they both stopped, Edwards wrist still shackled in Zeke's grasp. But when Edwards eyes darted to mine I saw that the once warm butterscotch eyes were now black and icy, anger lurking in their depths. But I wasn't the only one to notice and Zeke shoved Edward a few feet back and quickly came to stand in front of me.

To Z, though he may know Edward is my fiancé and wouldn't hurt me, his actions, body posture and the look in his eyes when he looked at me set Z into protection mode. When Edward lunged at him again, Z met him half way. Snarls, growls and hisses filled the dark warm air as they clashed grabbing a hold of one another. I HAD to stop this or someone was going to get hurt.

I ran my way to them, surprised I didn't trip. I yelled as I got closer. "That's ENOUGH! Stop this! Someone's going to ge…" However as I got to them Edward had pulled his hand out of Zeke's grip and as Zeke went to grab at him again…I got in the way.

Zeke's hand brushed the top of my left arm as I reached for them, I felt the sting of a contact burn as I fell onto the sand. Both of the vampires before me stopped and released on another.

Zeke reached out to help me up, but Edward got there first leaning down to my level checking me over.

"Do you see what you did?" Edward hissed turning his icy glare back at Z. "You could have killed her! You newborns are nothing but senseless, thrust-driven, murders! How many people have you killed already? I bet even you parents weren't safe from you were they? Did you kill them too?"

I gasped. I had NEVER heard Edward act or speak like that. His voice was so full of hatred, anger, and disgust it…it was NOT my Edward talking.

I looked over to Zeke who looked like, well someone who just had their greatest fear and regret thrown into their face. He took a step back, his eyes wild darting to the sand below his feet, he closed his eyes and shook his head looked back at me and opened his mouth as if to speak. But instead he shook his head again, turned around and was out of sight before I knew what was happening.

I looked at the spot where he stood for a minute before turning my attention to Edward. His eyes slowly turning back into the topaz I loved.

"Bella, lov…"

"How could you?" I screamed, pulling away from Edward, and standing up on my own. Luckily my arm was just red, no blood. "What the hell is your problem Edward? WHY would you say something like that to him?"

"I…"

"Do you realize that you probably just ruined EVERYTHING he and I worked on?"

"Bel…"

"Don't!" I said looking up at him, I could feel the tears stinging my eyes. I lowered my voice to barely a whisper. "I don't know who or what was here a few minutes ago Edward. But the THING I saw may have looked like MY Edward but it wasn't." The tears streamed down my face, like the rain on my windows back in Forks. Edward took a step towards me, arms outstretched, and I could see a small hint of pain and horror in his eyes. "MY Edward would not have acted like that so quickly without knowing the story. He wouldn't have attacked someone who showed no signs of aggression towards me, and MY Edward would NOT have said something like that to anyone." I took a step back and turned slightly, he didn't follow. "I can only pray I will NEVER have to see that THING again. It was a real monster and I KNOW MY Edward isn't."

I turned and ran down the beach and into my car, slamming it into drive and taking off. I parked my car in town and ran around looking and calling for Zeke. He liked being in this town so it was my first place to look.

"ZEKE!" I screamed as I ran through the streets. Though the sun had pretty much gone completely down, there was still some light left. People, though not many, were still out walking.

"ZEKE!" I looked down every alley and street as I ran.

"ZEKE!" I had to find him. I had to make sure he was ok.

"Excuse me miss but who are you looking for?" a man stopped and asked me.

"I'm looking for my…" friend who is a vampire, but he and my fiancé had a fight and he took off…yeah I don't want to see a psych ward just yet. As I opened my mouth to answer I saw a lady walking her dog. "DOG! Zeke is my dog!" I said hoping he would buy it. "He's a chocolate lab. Have you seen him?" I smiled. 'Please just say no and move on.'

He shook his head. "Sorry miss, but no I haven't. I hope you find him though."

I thanked him and continued on my way running and yelling. I got down to streets before I spotted him, sitting on a bench by a small park. Casually I walked up to the bench and sat down, noticing his eyes were downcast.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I heard him speak just loud enough for me to hear. "I didn't mean to hurt you honestly. And I didn't kill my parents, I wouldn't have done that they…"

"Hey." I leaned over and wrapped my hand around his arm. His eyes met mine, they were still black. "What happened was NOT your fault. It was an accident. You were just doing what your instinct told you. And I KNOW you didn't kill your parents. Though you may be a vampire, newborn or not, to have the strength you've had in the last week is amazing. Edward say vampires have no souls. But they way I look at it, it's not WHAT you are it's WHO you are. Humans kill others everyday yet they still have souls. Having a soul isn't defined by being 'alive', it's defined as knowing what's right and what's wrong, and even though you have the power to do wrong, you do what's right instead."

"Edward was trying to protect you." He added looking away.

"Zeke, I'm going to tell you the same thing I just told Edward. That 'thing' you saw him as is NOT Edward. I have no idea who or what that 'thing' was. And given the situation, and you showing no signs of hurting me he had no right to act like that or say what he said. I can promise you that wasn't my Edward. I don't know what happened to set him off like that but it was uncalled for and he knows it."

We sat in silence for a few more moments before I stood up. "Go hunt. I have a surprise for you. A bit of a stress reliever if you will." He sat there looking at me. "Go."

He shook his head and shook up taking a few steps before turning around. "By the way, Bella. I think I'm more of a Golden Retriever." He smiled.

I paused. What was he… "Ha-ha. Riigghhhttt. Well of that's the case they need to check your papers cause the only thing I've seen you retrieve is this smart ass attitude."

He just smiled. "If I find your sense of humor would you like it back?"

"Nah. But if you find my sanity I WILL need that back."

He laughed and took off. I walked back to my car and drove home.

I walked into the kitchen and saw a note sitting on the counter with a few grocery bags.

Hey Sweetie,

Phil and I are headed into town for a few days.

Be careful and behave.

Love, mom

Well at least I have that going for me.

The house was empty. Where was Edward? Did he leave?

"Well…I found your sanity! But it got away at the last moment."

"You're sooo funny."

"It's a gift." Zeke said pulling me into a hug.

He tensed a half second later and back away from me quickly looking at the floor.

Edward was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He looked withdrawn in a way. Like I had seen when we came back from Volterra. "May I speak to Zeke for a few moments? Alone preferably. I promise I won't do anything."

I looked to Zeke who was looking at me. I nodded my head towards Edward telling him it was ok. I knew THIS Edward and I felt safe leave Zeke alone with him. I watched as Zeke walked out the door then turned to Edward. I walked up and placed my hand over his cheek. He leaned his head into my palm and inhaled.

I missed this.

"I missed you." I whispered placing my lips against his cold check lightly.

"I missed you too, Love" he whispered into my hair as he wrapped his arms around me. THIS was the Edward I missed.

We stood, just holding one another for a few moments before coming back to reality.

He took a deep breath and released me, before walking towards the door which Zeke had exited. He looked back and I saw the corner of his lips start to curl up into a smile.

Maybe this would work after all.

Well what do you think? i hope that you forgive me for making Edward seem a bit harsh but it had to happen...sorry :( i'll tryt to update soon :] much 3 to all