Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight....but I will own the DVD in 12 days!

The ride to Charlie's was quick of course. I don't know why I was surprised when we arrived at Charlie's a few minutes after we left. I wondered then, if all of the Cullen's drive as crazily as Edward and Alice. But I was just filling my mind with other things to think about. I didn't want to do what I was about to do. Jasper had been right earlier. I hated to lie to Charlie, but I knew that I had to do this to protect him. Edward hugged me tighter and kissed my lips. He pulled away and looked into my eyes.

"I'll be in your room waiting for you as soon as you're done with Charlie. I love you."

"I love you too. I'll see you soon." I said as I kissed him once more. I pulled myself out of the car then and walked with Alice towards my front door.

The porch light was on, which meant Charlie was still up, probably waiting to see if I would come home tonight.

I grabbed the key under the eave and opened the front door. The TV was on and a ball game of some kind was playing. I walked with Alice behind me to find Charlie asleep on the couch. I turned and looked at her and she nodded encouragingly. I walked over and shook Charlie. He must not have been sleeping very deeply because he woke when I shook him the first time. He looked at me with incredulous eyes.

"Bells, is that you?" He sounded skeptical, like he thought he was dreaming.

"Yeah, Dad. It's me. I'm sorry I left. I had some problems to take care of and there wasn't time to tell you."

He looked at me and he suddenly grew furious.

"Well where in the world have you been, young lady? You left me a note, a short one at that, that didn't describe anything. Jake could only tell me you left with Alice, said something about Edward, and that he thought you were in trouble." He practically spat Edward's name. "So? Are you going to tell me where you've been?"

I took a deep breathe before starting. This was going to be a tad bit more difficult than I thought.

"I should probably start with what happened before I left, before Alice even got here. I didn't want to tell you before Dad, it was such a bad time. I was supposed to go cliff diving with Jake. You know what that is, right Dad?" He nodded so I felt I could continue. "Well, I was supposed to go with Jake, but he got busy, and I figured that I could handle it alone. I didn't factor in the weather and that threw everything off. I jumped and hit the water hard and it pulled me under. I thought I was going to drown, but Jake pulled me out and beat the water out of me. He brought me back to his house and we found out about Harry after. I couldn't tell you Dad, there was just too much going on, and too much for you to deal with at one time."

Charlie's eyes had grown wider while I spoke, and I could tell that my drowning scare had gotten to him too. But I needed to continue. I was on a roll, so to speak.

"So then Alice showed up and I couldn't tell you still. You had so much to deal with, and I figured I'd tell you when everything had settled down a bit. So while you were out, Alice and I talked and she found out about my cliff diving episode. When she called home to tell Carlisle where she was, she explained everything and threw that detail into the mix. Esme was curious about how I was so Alice was filling her in. The message ended up being relayed from member to member of the Cullen family and it got to Edward last. The family didn't think that he should hear so much after our break up. By the time he heard the story, it had gotten twisted so that it sounded like I had tried to kill myself. He got really upset, sure it was his fault that I had died. He locked himself in his room and wouldn't come out. Esme couldn't figure out why and was getting scared that Edward would do something stupid like try to kill himself because I was dead. She said that he still loved me like I love him and that this affected him immensely. He didn't know I was alive and wouldn't listen when anyone would try and tell him that I was. Esme got so worried that she called Alice and explained the situation. So we had to work fast. Alice and I got on a plane to L.A. and went to find Edward. Alice knew that if she tried to get into his room to talk to him he wouldn't listen, so she had to bring me. We got to L.A. and explained everything and we made it in time. He didn't do anything stupid."

Charlie's expression changed a few times during me story. At first he still looked worried about the cliff diving and then he looked angry when I explained how Edward had taken the news. He still looked a bit frustrated when I got to the end of my story.

"So? What's going to happen now?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Well Dad, I think it's fair to let you know that all of the Cullen's are back. They moved back to Forks. Esme disliked living in the big city and Carlisle preferred his job here in this hospital. The heads of the hospital staff here told Carlisle that if he ever changed his mind, he was welcome back. The rest of the Cullen kids decided that liked Forks better. Well most of them anyway. But they're back now."

I was smiling by the end of this but Charlie had a grimace stuck in place on his face that had nothing to do with Esme or Carlisle.

"And Edward?" He practically growled the name.

"Once everything about the cliff diving had been explained to the family, Edward and I got a chance to talk. We both agreed that the break up was not good for either of us. I heard from Alice and Emmett, the big one, that he was as miserable as I was. He told me he broke up with me because he thought that it would be easier for me to move on once he had left. He hadn't seen any other way to handle things, and didn't want to do the long distance thing for me. He thought that my life would be better if I could move on and see other people. We both know now that that isn't the right path for us at this time. He feels the same way about me that I do about him, Dad. I'm assuming you've surmised that we're back together."

I had grown defensive and wary as I said the last few sentences. Charlie looked at me and he seemed very angry.

"Bella, he's no good for you! He messed you up badly the first time he left! What if he does it again? I won't have you go through that again!"

I needed to calm him down. He was being irrational.

"Dad! It's alright. I've chosen my path for now and I know what I want. I want to be with Edward and I want you to be ok with it. Please just try, to be nice, for me. Please." I pleaded with him a bit at the end, knowing that he only wanted what was best for me. His resolve waivered and I could see that he would give in, at least a little.

"Alright fine. I don't like it, but I guess I have to live with it. You do know you're in trouble for leaving though right?" He looked down at his hands and then looked back up to see my response.

"Yes, Dad. I figured I would be."

"But we wont discuss that now. We'll talk more in the morning. I'm bushed and I'm sure you're exhausted too. Are you staying over again Alice?" He seemed to just now notice her presence in the room and his demeanor changed quite a bit. He looked almost happy. Alice plastered a happy smile on her face before she spoke.

"No, thank you, Charlie. I should be getting home. I've got to help unpack." With that, she swiftly kissed me on the cheek and walked over to hug Charlie before she walked out the door.

I knew that would be Edward's signal to head up to my room. The thought brought me anxious chills. Charlie looked at me and walked over to hug me.

"I missed you, kid. I'm glad you're home safe. We will talk more in the morning." He pulled away from the hug and trudged his was upstairs. I followed suit and waited until I heard his door close to open mine. And there he was, my own personal heaven, sitting on my bed. I closed the space between us and he opened his arms for me.

"I must say. You are a much better story teller than I thought you would be. Very nicely done." He looked down and the smile in his eyes was as bright as it was on his face. He leaned down and kissed me lightly. I pulled away first, sighing.

"I should go get into the shower. I'll be back soon." I kissed him again lightly and got up to grab my clothes and bathroom bag. I walked to the door and opened it, turning to look at him before I closed the door. He smiled and blew me a kiss and whispered to me.

"Hurry back, love."

I smiled at him as I shut the door to my room. I walked quickly to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush. I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face before turning on the shower. The water heated fast and I stepped in, inhaling sharply as the water hit my skin. It felt lovely to stand in the flow of the hot water and just soak. It unknotted all of my muscles that had tensed up in the last few days, and there were plenty.

Eventually, the water ran out and I got out of the shower. I toweled my hair and changed into my pajamas. I cleaned up the bathroom and walked back to my room.

He was still there, lying on my bed and spinning something shiny and large in his hands. I put my bag on my desk and walked over to the bed and lay down next to him. He pulled me to him with one arm, the other still holding the shiny object that I could now see was circular. I looked at him with a questioning look, and he handed me the object. I looked closer to find that it looked very familiar. But I didn't know where he could have found it. I had destroyed all of my CD's after he left. I looked at him and noticed he had a few things lying across his stomach. They looked like pictures and then there was a thin envelope. Seeing those objects, it all came flying back.

These were the things he had given me for my birthday and the pictures of him that I had. The things that had gone missing after he left. I looked up at him incredulously and he could see that I knew what all of the things were. I was shocked and at a loss for words but I tried anyway.

"Where…how…Did you…?" I trailed off, not sure if I could form an understandable question.

He knew what I meant.

"I took these the day I left. I ran back to your room after our talk and grabbed them. But I didn't take them. I left them here for you, but somewhere I knew you wouldn't find them."

"Where?"

"I put them under your floor boards. I knew there wouldn't be a reason for you to go through and dig up your floor, so I knew they could stay there. I wanted to leave a but of myself with you, even though I knew you wouldn't find them."

I rolled off that bed at that point and walked over to my closet to take out the clock radio I had hidden there. I had replaced it with one that didn't play music. I pushed that radio aside and put the newly found one in its place, plugging it in to my wall. The numbers lit up instantly, the time skewed as I knew it would be, from having been out of commission for so long. I took the CD and placed in the correct place. I heard the familiar notes of his lullaby float through the room, softly. It felt like I had heard this just yesterday, but I knew that was not the case. I walked back over to Edward, with the music still playing, and snuggled into his arms. He set the pictures and the tickets on my desk and pulled me closer to him. I thought about all of the things that happened before we had saved Edward. I thought about the cliff diving, and Jake saving me. My thoughts bounced then to the flame on the water. I decided that Edward needed to know about this. I didn't like to bring it up on our first night back together, but this was important.

"So, I hate to bring this up but I feel that it's pressing."

Edward looked down at me with a curious expression. I figured since I had brought it up, I might as well continue, despite how much I didn't want too.

"Did you see from Alice all of what happened before we left?"

"I saw bits and pieces. I wasn't concentrating much on the specifics. I know about the cliff diving, and the dog, but that's about all I paid attention too."

I so did not want to bring her up but I knew that I had too. My skin erupted in goose bumps, and my breathing sped up just thinking about her. Edward noticed and started to rub my arm soothingly, hoping I'd continue.

"Well, long story short, she is back." I didn't think I would be able to say her name.

"Who, Bella? Who is back?"

It looked like I was going to have to say her name and explain everything. I thought it through and realized he didn't know about Laurent either. Oh boy, this was not going to be something I could say easily.

"Ok, so I'm going to start at the beginning. This is a difficult story to tell, so please be patient with me."

Edward nodded in encouragement and I buried my head in his chest, his closeness making this a bit easier.

"It started a while after you left. I wanted to be closer to you and I couldn't think of a way to do it. So I ended up going to our meadow. It didn't help to say the least. While I was there I ran into Laurent. He seemed friendly enough at first, but things changed. He started to walk towards me, but it was like he was circling me. He said he was scouting the area for…Victoria. He said she was back and looking for me. She wants revenge against you for taking James away from her. She figured it would be better for her to kill me instead of you, mate for mate. Laurent was out hunting then and I smelled good. He almost…killed me. But the wolves showed up and killed him I guess. Jake told me about that later. So I stayed in La Push for a while. The wolves found her scent a few times and followed it, but she always got away. Jake was hunting her when I jumped. They caught her scent and followed it. She lost them by swimming. Jake says you have the advantage over them there. So he came to find me on the beach and found me in the water instead. As he carried me towards his house and away from the beach, I saw her. She was in the water. She was so close!" My voice was a whisper but it had turned shrill.

I was breathing much faster now and I could feel myself getting light headed. Too much oxygen. I looked up at Edward after a moment and found his face was white than usual, even in the dim lights. His eyes were wide and they held something in them that I hadn't seen in his eyes very often; Panic. This scared me. Edward was always so in control of himself. If I told him something that scared him, things weren't looking good.

"Edward?" my voice shook as I spoke.

"I…I didn't…realize that she would come back at all. I didn't see this in her. How could I have been so stupid?! How could I leave you alone to face that?! Oh Bella, I am so sorry!" He pulled me closer as he spoke and pressed his lips tightly against me forehead. "I will keep you safe Bella. I promise."

I settled myself as close as I could get to him and tucked my head under his chin. Despite his words, and the fact that Victoria was hunting me, I felt safe in his arms. I leaned back to look in his eyes. They were fierce and determined.

"I love you Edward. As long as you're here with me, I'm not scared. I know you mean what you say. I just need you now. Victoria can wait. Tonight I need to be with you, forget everything but just us."

He looked at me and smiled, trying to do what I asked of him, and push Victoria out of his mind. I tried my hardest too. It didn't take that much effort. Staring into his eyes, everything else seemed to melt away. I didn't worry about anything and didn't think about anything either. Not one thought that passed through my mind dealt with anything but Edward. He leaned down and kissed me. This was the kiss I had waited for, the one that put the others to shame. It was a kiss that made the last few months seem to disappear, take away the pain and fill the space with a sweetness that I hadn't realized how much I missed. He deepened the kiss, to my surprise, and I felt his hands knot themselves in my hair and he pressed me closer, if that were possible. He pulled away, too soon for my liking as usual.

"Oh, my Bella. I think it's time for you to sleep. I love you."

"I love you too. Good night."

"Goodnight, my beautiful Bella."

I fell asleep soon after, the lullaby and Edward's arms putting me to sleep. I started to dream. I knew I was dreaming but it seemed so real, just as the last dream I had did. Edward and I were in the meadow again, just the two of us, standing two feet from each other. His face was dark and his arms were crossed over his chest. I was crying, tears slipping down my face silently.

"Please Edward. You cant leave me now. Please."

"Bella, things aren't the same as they used to be. I'm not the same. I cant do this anymore."

"But Edward, I need you. Please just stay for a few more days. Please"

"I'm sorry Bella."

Those were the last words he said to me. He turned to leave and walked away. I felt her before I saw her. She had one hand around my neck, and the other around my stomach, pinning my arms to my sides.

"Edward!" I screamed. I couldn't think of anything else to do.

He turned and looked at us with a passive look on his face, and turned and walked away, leaving me with her.

"Aww, poor Bella. I guess Eddie doesn't love you anymore. Too bad…so sad. Good thing you wont be alive much longer, hmm?"

She sank her teeth into my skin and I screamed. She bit me again and I screamed louder. She leaned down for a third taste and I woke up screaming. I sat bolt upright in bed, still screaming. Edward was by my side in a second.

"Bella! Bella shh! It's alright, I'm here. What's wrong?"

I tried to calm my breathing but I couldn't see to be able too.

"You…a-and Victoria…a-and teeth…biting…you…left…you left and you let her bite me!"

His face was horror struck as I continued to hyperventilate. I tried to listen for Charlie over my breathing and I could hear him snoring. It was faint, but it was there. Edward wrapped his arms tighter around me and pulled me closer. He stroked my hair, trying to calm me. It was a while before either of us spoke, my breathing still loud.

"That will never happen Bella. I will take care of her and you will be safe. I swear." He picked me up and walked me over to the rocking chair in my room. I was reminded of those times when I was little that Renee or Charlie would rock me in this chair to calm me. It had always worked then. It wasn't working too well this time. I started sobbing quietly into Edward's chest as he rocked us.

"Ple-please E-Edward. Don't…don't leave me. Please. I need you…please." I kept repeating a variation of those phrases for a few minutes. Edward reassured me every time I spoke.

"It's alright, Bella. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with you. I love you." He spoke quietly in a soft whisper and kissed my forehead every now and then trying to calm me.

This dream had shaken me worse than almost any other. The dreams I had after Edward left were pretty bad, but this was worse. Worse because I knew he was back and, despite what he promised, he could leave at any time, and I would be left to Victoria. I knew he would never do that to me but I couldn't shake this dream. He started to hum by lullaby again, trying to help me back to sleep, and I unwillingly sank back into a fitful night. Images of her flashed through my mind, but nothing solid stuck.

Longest Chapter yet....reviews would make my day even better... : )