39

BPOV

"Goodbye Bella.", he whispered, quickly pulling himself out of my arms, turning and exiting the door out without looking back. To another woman it might have seemed as if he couldn't wait to leave me. But I'm Dr. Bella. I know better. A fast break is easier. I'm sure the day he gave Katie to Ben and Angela he didn't linger long there either. He was rushing off to suffer alone, like he always did.

I had broken him all over again…just when he seemed to become so strong…so proud.

And now I am broken, too.

His scent still danced around me as I tried to hold in the sobs that were dieing to erupt. Stupid little things began to dawn on me like…I have no pictures of him. But I do have his beautiful, sweet voice on tape. I do have that. I pictured myself laying in my bedroom in Forks, listening to those tapes over and over again, holding my pillow over my mouth so Charlie, next door wouldn't hear me bawling.

Then I pictured myself using the rain stick Edward gave me to smash my father's head in while he slept. That thought gave me a bit of perverse pleasure.

I felt dizzy and didn't realize I was making any sounds until I heard Charlie talking to me, trying to ease me by saying something like 'Come here, Bells, please…take it easy, hon."

All I could understand, after my legs numbly made their way over to him, were my words…I kept repeating the same two words over and over again, almost to myself.

"He's gone…he's gone…", I breathed again as Charlie took my hand into his and gave it a furry little kiss, his mustache tickling my skin.

Then a sob did come out and the tears were blinding me. All I could see was Edward. A thousand beautiful little pictures dancing around in my heart…starting with a trapped, collared vampire being dragged onto the club floor…to a laughing man in a Chinese restaurant, wiping the coke I had spit at him off his shirt…to my nude, masculine hunter that made love to me in the woods…to the heartbroken look on his face a moment ago when he realized we had to go in separate directions…forever.

"Bella.", Charlie's voice was suddenly firm and kinda snapped me out of my transe, "Bella?"

"Yea, Dad?", I stopped my breakdown and shoved it aside for now, even though part of me knew he deserved to see what he'd done by his stubborn ass attitude.

Maybe he was in pain…but was he in as much pain as me?

"Do you need some painkiller or something?", I heard myself blurt out, wishing there were some shot to heal my agony right now.

I'll never even get to know if he's alright, if things with Katie will be alright…if his therapy worked out for him and his family…his heart. Would he ever be able to find love…real love with a woman? After all the abuse his poor heart has endured?

"No, Bella.", Charlie answered, the TV blissfully off now.

I sniffed, trying to hide my hurt as Charlie began talking, holding both my hands in his rough ones.

"Remember when you were little, Bella?", Charlie cracked a little smile and I felt my own face frowning at him in response.

Is this really happening? I lost Edward forever a minute ago and now Charlie wants to walk down memory lane with a smile on his face!! Maybe if I strangle him now I have time to catch Edward before he leaves the hospital.

"What?", my voice sounded so tiny and weak.

Is this really what I gave up my first and only love for? Someone I can reminisce with about my crappy childhood? I almost want to go find James and beg him to finish me off.

"Remember when I bought you home The Little Mermaid?", he asked, his eyes looking a little spacey, as if he were really seeing it now.

I just stared…maybe he's on something really heavy right now.

"Remember?", he looked at me directly now, his eyes more serious and not so nostalgic anymore.

I shrugged. "Yea, I guess."

I have to ask the doctors if he sustained any brain damage when he took that fall. Jesus, that's all I need in addition to all the rest of the crap now piled on my shoulders. It felt like buildings upon buildings were wobbling on my back. And all this weight, without a glimmer of hope or happiness in my heart….was just too painful. I wondered how many years I'd be able to do this. If there was any way I could counsel myself and live with this jail sentence I'd just imposed upon myself. And I felt guilty for even thinking that. This is my father. I should take care of him. He saved Edward.

Maybe that's how I can live with this.

Charlie saved Edward. I owed him for that. And I would pay the price…with the rest of my life. I knew in my heart I loved Charlie. He was there for me all my life. But right now, I could feel no love at all for him. And that scared me. I felt more like a dutiful slave now than a daughter.

A slave…holy shit. I had just traded places with Edward. I am now Charlie's slave and Edward is free. How strange that only one of us at a time can be free. My free time was up…and over. Maybe that's what I get for exterminating Victoria. But I'm still not sorry about that. Killing her was the same as killing roaches to me.

Edward had set me free from all my fears and hang ups, he really did awaken me, the woman I became with him was someone I really liked. She had no guilt about her pleasures, her loves…she was brave and natural...sexual. I loved being her. Now I'd have to put all that away in storage and be the boring, closed up thing I was before he came into my life, dancing his way into my heart.

I felt something inside me accept that. I would gladly take his place, I knew that a long time ago. If it would've spared Edward all he suffered…all he lost…I'd do it in a second.

Fly, Edward…fly….don't look back…just keep rising…go. I'll stay here on the ground and watch you soar until you disappear in the sunlight you've craved for so long.

Be happy, my sweet love…my noble vampire…my angel…my Free Eagle…my Thumper. I'll miss you forever and ever. I'll never stop loving you…Edward Cullen.

I pictured myself a dried up old woman by the time my thirties came around. I wouldn't even want to date, and I'd never let myself forget how wonderful every moment with Edward had been. I'd be tortured by remembering such deep love…but never being able to feel it again. I don't want anyone else. If some perfect guy ever did show up in my life…I don't even think I'd notice him at all.

And Charlie was still talking.

"You loved that movie so much.", Charlie smiled, remembering, "I'd sit with you on the floor and we'd watch it over and over again. As soon as it was over and the song ended, you'd jump up and hit rewind. And you'd jump around, not hardly able to wait until it rewound so it could play again."

I blinked and looked towards the window…imagining Edward's plane flying past…taking him out of my life. I want to sit on the floor and watch Sponge Bob with him…right now.

"I liked it, too.", Charlie said and my mind was blurring his words a little, "Ariel's Dad had it rough. Trying to keep his little girl safe…thinking the guy she wanted wasn't good enough…but then he proved himself…helped save the ocean…and the King…everyone."

Good, Dad. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.

"And he had it in his power to turn her human…but he knew if he did that, he'd lose her forever…she'd marry the prince and her dream would come true…damn…even now I remember getting real tears in my eyes at the end when he says to the crab…the part about…there's only one problem left…how much I'm going to miss her. Got me every time. And then he gives her legs…gives her the chance to be happy. He lets her go…smiling…even though it's gotta be killing him inside."

"Huh?", I was in so much pain now it made me stupid.

He cleared his throat and swallowed…and his eyes shined with small tears.

He squeezed my hands, kissed them…and then let them go.

"I used to think to myself…I'd do the same thing…if I were him.", Charlie said with a defeated, almost ashamed voice, "Damn it."

He paused again, and then looked up at me while I just frowned down upon him, confused…in shock.

"Goodbye Bella.", he choked on the words, letting a sharp breath out, "Tell Edward he'd better take DAMN good care of my girl. I'll find him if he doesn't, no matter where they're planning on hiding ya."

What?!! I froze and my mouth fell open. If this was some sick joke, I'd kill him myself.

"WHAT?!!", I heard myself shout, shaking all over.

"I'd love to take an hour to say it all but your boy is getting away.", Charlie glanced at the hospital door, "Go get him, Bella. I'm sorry, I was fucking wrong. There's a first time for everything, I guess."

"But, Dad, I can't just leave---", I wanted to go…so badly….but now that Charlie was my Dad again, the Dad I knew…how could I leave him this way? Now?

"Move it, girl!", Charlie raised his voice a tad, "He's got a couple minutes head start on you. Do whatever you have to do catch them. You remember me teaching you how to drive after a suspect, right?"

"Yea.", I remembered. Charlie taught me all he knew. He was still teaching me.

"So move your ass, Swan.", he jerked his head to the door, "NOW! If you don't catch him, I'm gonna be pretty disgusted with you."

I breathed and tears fell from both my eyes. Charlie Swan is my hero.

There was only one thing I could say now.

I flung myself into his arms and whimpered, "I love you, Daddy."

God, I can see Ariel in her wedding dress doing and saying the same thing to King Triton.

"I love you, Little Bells.", his voice broke as he called me my three year old nickname. His one arm wrapped around me and his hand rubbed up and down my back…and then he released me.

"Now get outta here.", he said gruffly, "They'd be headed to JFK airport. Take the quickest route. Cut off anything that dares to get in your way. No more bullshit now…GO."

"Okay.", I jerked backwards, coming back to place a big wet kiss on Charlie's face, "Thank you Dad."

"Bye.", he raised a hand as I took one last look, busting out of the hospital door.

The two policemen outside Charlie's door looked at me for a moment, wondering why I was running. I spun around, facing them and ordered them in no uncertain terms.

"Take care of that man, I mean it!", I pointed at them, not even waiting for their reactions before I spun again, my sneakers squeaking on the floor as I sped out of there…some nurse yelling at me not to run through the halls as I ignored her.

I was on the street now…my mind going through my options. My truck was home. Edward had driven us here in his Volvo. I raced to it in the parking lot and realized before I got to it, that he still had the keys. I had driven this car once before, when I rescued Edward from Raven's place. One thing my Dad taught me was driving like a cop.

But how to get into the car without a key?

My father taught me this awhile ago, in case of emergencies. I never thought I'd have to use it for real. But I can open Edward's car lock with my cell phone. I flipped it open and went to the menu, going to sounds…hitting the one Charlie had me name Renee.

I hit the ringtone and held it up to Edward's lock. It just made a little hum sound and the lock clicked open. How cool is that? Thanks again, Charlie!

My father knew all kinds of great little tricks like that and he shared them all with me, just in case I ever needed any of these tips in an emergency situation. So many times he'd hear stories of girls who might have gotten away, if they had the guy's car key, or something like that. He never wanted me helpless and unprepared, unable to do all she could to escape.

"Sorry, Edward.", I was in his car seat and moved the wheel all the way up so I could reach down under and pull the gold and green wires out.

Hopefully he'd never know I had to do this to his baby. Maybe on our 25th anniversary I'd tell him…maybe.

I was flying out of the parking lot and prayed to God that no cops would snag me. Would I stop? No. I had to catch up…I was way behind them. I had to haul ass. Good thing I have a Volvo under my ass.

"Please, please, please…", I was driving like a maniac, swerving around cars and trying to dial my cell phone at the same time.

If I could call him, I could stop him. But I kept getting Edward's voice mail. Did they take his phone away from him? Maybe that was part of being in the witness protection program…cutting all ties to the witness.

"DAMN IT!!", I threw the cell phone in the empty passenger seat next to me, giving up on that idea.

I was honking and screeching around slow traffic, wondering why no sirens were behind me yet as I bolted through the narrow streets like lightning. I glanced at my speed.

83 miles per hour. I was glad at least it was a weekday and the afternoon, not lots of traffic in my way right now.

In the back of my head, I wondered how I'd even find Edward to stop him. I had no idea where he was going, what airline he would be using…what gate…part of me considered giving up…this was impossible!! It would never work! Only in the movies was it ever so easy! But I couldn't give up. Edward is my life now. I have to try and save it. To go back to Forks now…after this chance of going after him…it would cause me physical pain. It would break me. It would make me a shadow.

Please Mom, please…I mentally begged…stop him…don't let him get away…help me find him.

I talk to my mother all the time, in my head, just about my little every day things…she knows how much I love Edward. She might've been the one to straighten Charlie out just now. I hope she is still with me, fighting on my side.

"No, no NO!!", I was coming upon a busy street, filled with cars. Bumper to bumper…nowhere to go…

I felt tears come to my eyes as I looked at Edward's digital clock on the dashboard. How many minutes had I been driving? He could be at the airport right now, escorted by federal marshals, passing all the traffic if they wished.

I clenched my eyes and whimpered, shaking…and then a loud, blaring siren sounded in the distance…I spun around, looking…hearing it approaching…coming closer…closer now…all the cars were moving aside…pulling over to clear the road…

Are you kidding me?

In my rear view mirror, I saw a giant, red, gorgeous fire engine!! Lights flashing…sirens squealing…the symbolism almost knocked the wind out of me.

The road was clear and the fire engine breezed right down the street. I didn't hesitate…I roared after it…before any cars could pull back into traffic…I could follow the fire engine as long as it was headed the way I wanted to go. It would cut through streets with no resistance like a hot knife through butter…and I would be sitting right on its coattails.

How many laws am I breaking again?

I was very happy for a couple minutes, smiling at the confused faces of a couple of firefighters on the back of the truck. Maybe they thought I was a volunteer firefighter or something. I certainly didn't look the part, but I didn't worry about that now. I just thanked God or my mom or whoever for this break and took advantage of it for all it was worth.

This is too good to be true…I'm almost there! What I'd do when I got there was going to be fun.

The fire engine turned left finally…and I had to turn right. Oh well, thank you, fire engine!! You ROCK!!

And then…my heart stopped.

Cars were bumper to bumper…for miles!! The line seemed to stretch out ahead of me for light years!!

I turned and fumbled around for my cell phone again, hoping to try that again, my confidence dwindling with super speed. Something was holding traffic up big time. Was there an accident? I couldn't see anything.

I jerked my arm, not finding my phone anywhere on the floor by the passenger seat. My purse spilled over and a few things fell out. I didn't pay any attention to that until my head spun around, about to feel under the seat for my phone…but then something caught my eye.

A little sliver of paper with red writing on it. A fortune.

The one you love is closer than you think.

"Where? Where?", I whimpered aloud to myself, searching everywhere I could look from my dormant vehicle. I couldn't sit still like this anymore. It was killing me.

I went with my gut and opened the door, getting out of the car, slamming the door closed.

A couple people honked at me but I ignored it. I scanned the inside of every car I walked past, looking for my Edward.

"EDWARD!!", I started screaming his name in a loud bellow, "EDWARD CULLEN!!"

Maybe this isn't a great idea, calling someone's full name in the street when they're on their way to join witness protection.

I don't even know what kind of car the marshals drove. Everything is against me here.

I was yelling so loud I didn't even hear it until about five minutes later.

Drums…loud, booming drums…like thunder. Chanting voices…male…Indian!! It was a slow, deep chant…it sounded like Indian warriors on their way to heaven…or the spirit road, as they call it. It was so loud I'm sure no one could hear me at all. But I was quiet now…I ran towards the voices…unsure why…it just felt right.

Maybe they were having the festival on the road crossing this one and they were blocking traffic or something. I ran my ass off…I had to get there.

This has to be right…this has to be the way. Please let this be.

They had told me my voice was good, that it had medicine. They told Edward he would be free. And by some unreal coincidence, they were here now, blocking traffic…the traffic that threatened to remove Edward from my world.

God, another Disney flashback. Now I'm Pocahontas, racing to save our futures, our two worlds…to make them one…finally…one.

I don't know how I did it, but I somehow got to them. I choked for another minute…out of breath…sweating like a pig. A couple of the men in their twenties, dressed in their beautiful ceremony headdress and costumes, were nice enough to steady me and wait for me to calm myself down.

"Are you alright?", one of them smiled at me, waiting patiently.

"I need your help.", I panted, my hands on my knees, bent forward as I tried to control my breathing, "Please…I'm desperate!"

A few moments later, traffic had still not moved an inch…and I had thirty loud, strong Indian warriors' voices calling, "FREED EAGLE!! FREED EAGLE!!"

And they were blowing their horns, like Indians from days past.

This was while they broke into little teams and spread themselves out amongst the trapped cars. I nearly sobbed from the emotion I felt at these wonderful men who helped me instantly, not asking me lots of questions. All they knew was that love was on the line. I had lost him and they would help me find him. It was enough for them.

I didn't want to call his name out, just in case there was anyone in the area who would want to hurt him. Freed Eagle would work. I remember the look on his face when they'd named him that. I think that truly is his real name now…in his heart.

I kept searching every car I walked past, looking for my bronze haired beauty. I would give anything to see that hair again.

"Edward!!", I tried to keep my voice from becoming a scream, "Edward!!"

I could hear the calls for Freed Eagle even now, way back here as they walked way up ahead of me. Their voices rose up and boomed like a god's would…and I felt hope budding again deep inside me. He has to be around here somewhere…he had to hear his name.

I wiped my eyes and kept moving…hoping the next car would be the one…then the next…and the next. This would be perfect, to find him before he got to the airport. Once there, I would never find him.

"Please, Edward…just answer…", I cried to myself like a four year old girl.

Maybe he didn't get stuck in this traffic. Maybe they'd taken another road.

Then I heard a chorus of high pitched Indian warrior voices, celebrating something.

My heart burst in my chest as I looked up ahead from where the sounds were coming.

I felt a big gush of wind blow my hair back away from my face, wiping my tears. Did they find him? Was it just other people participating in the festival?

I heard lots of honking…cars sounding angry as they barked out loud. I heard thuds against metal…and drums pounding in a happy tune…warriors doing a war cry…sounding pleased…victorious.

Then I heard…"Bella!!"

Am I losing my mind? Or did I really hear that? The Indians don't know my name.

"BELLA!!", a male voice roared out again, more intense.

I couldn't see anything…just cars.

I heard fast thuds against metal again and realized it was footsteps…walking on…cars?

I found myself climbing on top of this poor guy's beat up old Buick, a faded blue thing. His shouts and his honks would not disturb me. I was listening for my name again…searching for my warrior prince.

"BELLA!!" I finally heard it again and turned towards it.

Everything paused and came to a crashing halt then.

All standing on top of trapped cars that were filling the skinny street, there were five Indian warriors….and in the center of them like a sore thumb stuck out a pale white skinned one with bronzish colored hair, wearing t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers…and of course, his bear claw around his neck…and the biggest smile I'd ever seen. This was a new smile of his I never saw before. It melted me in a half second.

"Is this your Freed Eagle?", one of the more handsome Indian warriors smiled, at Edward's side.

"EDWARD!!", I squealed, climbing over a couple more cars as he did the same to reach me.

"Bella!", I was in his arms finally and was being drowned in his lips, kisses soft but getting more and more intense as he tried to talk between each one.

"I guess so.", another warrior's voice said to my left. They sounded genuinely happy for us and if I had time, I would've kissed every single one of those guys. But at the moment, I only had kisses for my Edward.

"What are you doing?', his brow creased as I opened my mouth and kissed him harder, my fingers clutching into the sides of his hair, "What's going on?"

Did he still not realize that I can't live without him? Doesn't he know this means I'll never leave him again?

I heard the marshals shouting a few cars behind us as we both stood on some poor guy's hood. The honking didn't bother me at all. We just kept kissing. Nothing could move us now.

"I want to go with you, Edward.", I pleaded, kissing him even rougher than before, "If you want me to. Please say you want me to."

He smiled before I kissed him again…and he closed his eyes during this kiss. I held his face so he couldn't get away from me.

"God, I want you to, Bella.", he breathed, kissing me this time, "How I want you…I love you, I love you so much!"

I leaped into his arms, holding him as the Indian warriors and a bunch of spectators in their cars began clapping and honking little tunes, celebrating right along with us. Only in New York…

"I love you.", I whispered into his ear before I kissed it, letting happy tears blink out of my eyes. His hands were like heavenly skin touching my back…then my ribs. I can never lose these hands again.

"I was dieing more every step I took.", Edward breathed into my ear now, "We can't be apart, Bella. We just can't."

"I know, I know, I know….", I whimpered like a little girl, kissing him again, this time a little softer.

"What about Charlie?", he asked now, bringing reality back into our little bubble.

"He told me to go get you.", I smiled with a touch of sadness in my voice, "He told me to tell you- you better take damn good care of his girl."

"I will, I swear!", he promised, his arms crushing around my waist. And I knew he meant it, all the way down to his bones, "I SWEAR!"

"I know you will.", I looked into those dazzling emerald eyes of his, "And I'll take care of you. We'll both take care of Katie…we can do this."

With a determined nod, Edward smiled that lovely crooked smile of his, his eyes full of hope and strength again.

"We WILL do it.", he replied, the bravery glowing around him, "Together."

"Yes, Edward.", I used his trademark servant phrase, "Yes."

"Yes.", he agreed, kissing me again, with a new energy that said we would make it now…everything would be alright. It would take work and pain and struggle, lots of it…but I was ready for it. I once thought it would be impossible…but now…I feel like anything with him is reachable…we can get there.

I know we have love on our side but I also know that it takes more than love to last in this world. But we do have more. I began to list all the other things we have going for us when we were interrupted.

"Cullen.", the male marshal was standing on the car behind us, along with his partner. They were just frowning at us, waiting.

Edward and I turned to them, remembering.

"This is not what we call hiding you.", the female one squinted her eyes.

"Oh. Sorry.", Edward cringed a little.

"She coming with us, I assume?", the male asked dryly.

"Yes.", Edward squeezed my waist and turned us towards the marshals.

But we didn't even get a chance to start walking off the car when a giant, exploding BOOM sound erupted all the way down at the end of the long line of cars. Everyone started screaming and jumping out of their cars. I couldn't see well but I saw black smoke and it was in the direction I had come from when I left the Volvo. The marshals grabbed us and jerked us away, shoving us into the back seat of their car. They were in the front seat, wheels squealing as we took off, tearing down the road.

"What the hell was THAT?", Edward peeked out the back window as I did the same beside him.

The male marshal was on his cell, yelling as his partner stared at him.

"We're nearly there now.", he shouted, "We also have Bella Swan with us now, too. Yes! Print it!"

He snapped his phone shut and looked at the woman at his side.

"It was the Volvo!", the man yelled and looked at me in the rear view mirror, "Did you drive his Volvo here?"

"Yea.", I admitted.

"Great.", he grumbled, "You're lucky to be alive, you know that?"

"What?", I asked, "What happened?"

"His Volvo just exploded.", the male marshal informed, still driving at the speed of light.

"My Volvo!", Edward's head spun back around, looking out the windshield again, as if he just lost his puppy.

Oh shit. I'm dead. Maybe I proclaimed our undying love a little too soon. Please don't let him be mad at me.

"Forget the car, your girl drove it over here!", the woman turned to us, looking at Edward, "It must've been on a timer. We had someone on the way to check the car out but you must've beat him there."

"Oh my God!", Edward breathed and looked at me, "Thank God you got out of the car!"

Jesus. That fortune saved my life! How wild is that?

"Is this always the way you guys take care of people?", I heard myself scolding them, wishing my father was in charge of this operation instead of these guys.

"Hey!", the woman frowned, "You're alive, we're doing our job. Now shut up until we get there."

"Hey, don't you talk to Bella that way! Who the HELL do you think you are?!", Edward defended me with no hesitation. I felt so proud of him. He's already standing up for us, and against a woman. He is going to be fine. He's a fast healer.

"The good thing is no one else got hurt.", the man said, "People near your car got out of their vehicles to see the show. Well, they thought it was a show, with the Indians and all. That was very lucky."

Luck is still on our side. Thank you!

"Yea.", Edward's mouth hung open, thinking of what could've happened.

"And…", the woman added, "It can work out for us. We're gonna leak it to the press that the Volvo exploded and claimed the lives of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. You're dead. And that means you're safe. No one will come looking for you."

"Oh God.", I felt my stomach tighten. Edward looked at me, solemnly.

"My Dad…", I said in a little voice, "He'll think…"

Or maybe he'd be smart enough to realize it was a trick to keep our enemies away from us. If not, he'd think he let me go and then we both got killed because of it. He'd blame himself for my death. He'd hate Edward for getting me killed along with himself. Please, Dad, figure it out. Don't believe I'm dead. Know that I'm going to be happy somewhere.

"I know.", Edward said, his voice just as small as mine as he held my hand, "Joseph and Katherine…Emmett…"

"I hate this…I really hate this…", I complained, almost to myself.

"I'm so sorry, Bella.", his eyes softened and gazed into mine, "If you'd never met me, this wouldn't have happened…"

"Hey.", I jerked on his hand, looking right back at him, "I'd rather be dead now…than to have lived a thousand years and not know you. So shut up."

He managed a little smile then as I leaned into his arms, knowing I could find some peace in those arms. They were so good at holding me and melting away my sadness and fears.

"Yes, Volvo killer.", he teased as I pinched his nipple through his t-shirt, making him yelp out and yank away for a second.

"Alright, enough back there.", the man scowled at us, "We're here."

"Let's hope they check our plane for explosives.", Edward grumbled under his breath to me as we parked and got out of the car, the marshals coming with us.

Sitting in the plane, all we knew was Wyoming. Edward had peeked and saw it written on the tickets the female had picked up at the ticketing counter. He had whispered this information to me as our marshals sat in the seats across from us, facing us. I let Edward have the window seat. I was okay with flying, but the takeoff…I absolutely hated.

What do I know about Wyoming? Not much. I whispered into Edward's ear.

"Is it nice there?", I asked, as if I'd care, as long as we were all together, and he'd have Katie.

He smiled and glanced at the marshals, then whispered back.

"I've heard it's nice. Mountains and lots of wildlife. People go there a lot to camp in the woods.", he informed.

I smiled back at him, letting it tell him what I truly felt. That doesn't sound so terrible. Actually, it sounds wonderful. I thought back to my first thought about being in a relationship with him, and how we had mountains in our way. It made me chuckle to myself that we'd be surrounded by mountains now.

After I nearly crushed Edward's hand while we took off, we were in the air and the marshals loosened up a bit.

They informed us where we were headed and said they'd tell us more once we were there. I didn't realize it but they would also be assigning us jobs to further hide us. I wondered if I could still attend college now but I decided to wait to ask that later.

I laid back in my seat, just finding comfort in the quiet ride of the airplane…and that Edward's hand was holding mine. I turned to him and opened my eyes…and he was laying back in his seat, staring back at me, as if studying me.

"What?", I got concerned right away.

"Are you afraid?", he asked with a deep voice.

"Yes.", I had to be honest, "You?"

"Yes.", he told the truth too and I was so glad.

"But I'm not sorry.", I brought his hand to my lips and gave it a gentle kiss, "I'll never be sorry, Edward Cullen. Love you."

"Love YOU.", he grinned back, kissing my knuckles now.

I remembered when Edward had taken my check for twenty thousand, promising I wouldn't be sorry. He was so right.

He smiled and asked, "What do you desire, notebook girl?"

I blushed fully. This is the first thing he asked me, inside his vampire cage. And all the seduction and fire was still there in his sexy voice. I guess he'd always be a flirt…and I was okay with that…as long as he flirted with me and no one else.

He gave a little laugh, getting the same blush from me as I'm sure he got out of me that first night.

"Don't be afraid.", he repeated his words to me from that night, his finger playing around my jawbone, "I won't bite…much."

He moved my face aside with his finger and opened his mouth, coming towards my jugular vein with those lips.

"Wait, no..", I put a hand to the base of his neck as he halted, "Can I just…kiss you?"

He smiled darkly at me.

"Where would you like it?"

"Everywhere.", I changed my original answer and surprised him. Before I had said on my lips, on my mouth! I was so afraid of him. But yet I knew I needed him even then.

He smiled and leaned towards me again.

"But for now, how about right here?", I pointed at my lips.

"An honor.", he replied, as sweetly as he did that first night…and he kissed me…deep and so well that my toes tingled when he was finished.

He sighed and grinned at me, looking a little dizzy.

"How was that?" he asked for my approval, as he did that night.

I sighed in response, staring into those two divine green orbs slightly above me.

"Your eyes are so pretty.", I stole that from my conversation with him in the awaken room.

"Well, thank you.", he took my face into his hands, ready to kiss me again, coming closer, and adding, "It's not often I get compliments on my eyes. I appreciate that."

His eyes are magical. I'm not afraid anymore.

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See next chapter soon!!

Love

WinndSinger

Yes, there will be a scene where Bella meets Katie and Ed and Katie will be reunited.

See ya soon!