Yeah - I know it´s almost been three weeks. I´m sorry.. but RL got in the way.

I know you don´t care about the excuses - so I´ll just leave them out :)

For those of you that´s left (patient readers)

Enjoy:)

After Math

This was it. The inevitable fight was over.

A smile formed on my lips at the thought of the downfall of the Volturi regime. But at what cost?

I had ripped Aro´s head from his body and tossed it into the flames. It all happened so fast and it was a lot to take in. I hated to fight; I hated to end another being´s life. I had to get away so when the head was in the flames I turned and walked away.

Never again.

I had walked for a couple of minutes till I reached the clearing where the fight had started. Now was the time to deal with the after math of the fight. How many of our loved ones had we lost?

I stood there for what felt like ages, even for me. I dreaded the after math. I didn´t want my still dead heart to ache more than it already had.

Calm washed over me and I knew that Jasper was close, but that was not what calmed me the most. A pair of strong arms snaked around my body and pulled me close. Edward didn´t posses Jasper´s powers but he had always had the ability of calming me down.

I crossed my arms and reached around to hold his arms. My safe place.

"It´s over love," he whispered in my ear. I didn´t respond. I was afraid of what he would tell me. Afraid to know who I had lost forever.

"Come on," he said and took my hand. He led me across the field and over to one of the bonfires. The fire stood high up in the sky and the sickening smell of burning vampire filled my lungs.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed Nessie standing alone besides the fire. She had her back towards me and her head was bowed down. Edward squeezed my hand reassuringly and I released his hand and ran to her.

"Nessie baby, what´s wrong?" I asked her while I hugged her close, grateful that she was safe.

"I don´t know where Jake is," she answered while tears streamed down her cheeks. "I´ve looked everywhere."

Nessie started sobbing and shaking all over.

"Baby, it´s okay. Jake´s fine. He´ll be here in a minute. Don´t worry, everything will be fine," I tried to reassure her. Even though I wasn´t sure that everything would be fine, she had to be comforted.

Her body relaxed a little after that and she composed herself. I stood there for a couple of minutes just holding my daughter and relishing in the feeling that at least she was safe. Edward and Nessie were both safe.

Minutes after Jacob came storming out of the woods and ran straight to us.

"Nessie!" he called out and took her out of my arms.

"Oh Jake," she breathed and started sobbing again. "I thought I had lost you."

"Never, baby. Never!" he answered her in a strong voice.

Edward came up behind me and kissed me on the neck. We stood beside the large fire and held each other.

"Is everyone OK?" I whispered. I had to get it over with. I had to know.

"Everyone´s fine," he answered and held me tight. Relief washed over me and I relaxed against Edward´s chest.

I couldn´t help feeling just a little victorious standing just beside a large bonfire containing valuable members of the Volturi guard in pieces.

This really was over, and we had won. The amazing and kind of mind blowing thing was that we had won without casualties. Who would have thought? Going up against someone as powerful as the Volturi you have to be prepared to lose someone. Every single one of us had come to the field this morning prepared to die for the person standing next to them. We each had our different reasons, but our bond could not be broken. We had faith, hope and determination. Most importantly we had love, love for each other was what had kept this family together for so long and love was what was going to pull us through the hard times.

Having seen Nessie and knowing that Jacob would take care of her I was ready to face Charlie. Face the consequences of today and the consequences of my choice in this life.

"Edward, where´s…?" I didn´t get to finish the question before Edward nodded and motioned me to follow him.

We ran though the forest and reached the house in no time. We stopped outside the house and I took a deep breath and sighed.

"The need to know only deal has to go now, doesn´t it?" I asked.

"I think so, yes," Edward answered me and held on to my hand protectively.

I was a bit scared to tell the whole truth and nothing but. After what Charlie just had been through though, he had a right to know. Edward would help me explain it and hopefully Charlie would understand.

"Let´s get it over with then," I breathed.

I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. I could hear Carlisle and Esme talking in whispers in his study, so I started walking in their direction.

"He´s not awake yet," Edward whispered in my ear.

Carlisle had heard us come in and came out from his office and stood at the top of the stairs. His eyes lit up when he saw both of us alive, if that´s what you would call us. He quickly came down the stairs and hugged us both.

"Edward, Bella. It´s good to see you. We have been so worried," he said.

"We´re all okay, everyone´s okay," I said, "What about Charlie?"

"He will be okay. He has not been awake yet, but I don´t think it will be long now," Carlisle answered. "He had suffered a minor concussion. He was lucky, really."

I snorted.

"Lucky? He was lucky?" I had a hard time seeing Charlie´s luck in this situation.

"Forgive me Bella, I only meant that it could have been so much worse. The doctor in me is used to saying people have been lucky when it could have turned out so much worse," Carlisle explained it to me and I just felt like such a moron. Off course he didn´t think Charlie was lucky to have been in that situation.

"Oh. No I´m sorry Carlisle. I didn´t mean it like that. Thank you for taking care of him for me."

Here he was, the loving and caring man first risking his life and his family for my sake numerous times and then mending me and my family every time we needed it and I was accusing him. I felt so ungrateful when in truth I was just the opposite.

"Anytime Bella. Anytime," Carlisle sad, "you can go see him. He should be waking up very soon. I´ll go call Sue and get her to come over."

"Thank you and yes – she should be here too," I said and hurried up the stairs.

"I´ll be right outside if you need me, love," Edward said and placed a light peck on my nose before he released me. I smiled at him and walked in to Edward´s old room where Charlie was.

He looked so peaceful laying there on the bed. He was attached to a couple of tubes. My best guess was that Carlisle had given him some pain medication and some fluids.

I went over and sat on the bed and took his hand in mine. I knew that the day would come when I had to say goodbye to Charlie, I knew I couldn´t keep him forever. But this was not the way he was supposed to go. He was supposed to grow old and turn grey and die happily at home in his own bed. But not now. Not like this.

It dawned upon me how close I once again had come to losing him and I started to sob. He was my only connection to my past – the only member of my human family I had left.

"I´m sorry. I´m sorry dad," I whispered in between sobs.

While I was sitting there holding his hand I suddenly felt a finger trace over the back of my hand. I quickly looked up and looked straight into Charlie´s big brown eyes.

"Bells what are you… AUUUWW Charlie said. He had attempted to sit up. Bad idea.

"Dad. It´s okay. Just lay down. Carlisle will come and check on you in a second or so," I said and before I had a chance to say anything else, Carlisle came through the door.

"It´s good to see you´re awake there Charlie," Carlisle began with a smile.

Charlie attempted to sit up again, not liking all the attention I guessed.

"It´s best if you don´t sit up just yet, Charlie. You were hit pretty hard on the head and you have a minor concussion. I´ll just check your vitals and then you can have some privacy," Carlisle continued.

"Th... thanks" Charlie muttered. He was clearly uncomfortable. He hated being the center of attention, just like me.

Carlisle was done in no time and smiled at Charlie.

"It all looks just fine Charlie. You´ll be up and about in no time."

Charlie nodded and looked around the room.

"Oh," Carlisle said, "I almost forgot. Sue is on her way over here. She´ll be here in 5 minutes."

Charlie nodded again but blushed just a little. I heard Edward give a low chuckle and I scowled at him. No doubt where I had gotten my trademark blush from when I was a human. Edward had loved my blush – I on the other hand didn´t miss it.

Carlisle, Edward and Esme, who had stood in the doorway during the examination, all left the room quietly and thereby left me alone with Charlie.

"So Bells," Charlie began. "Now that we´re alone, I was hoping you could tell me what happened?"

He looked at me with pleading eyes. He didn´t know. He didn´t remember.

Was that good or bad?¨

The story is coming to an end - almost done with the last real chapter... only two left...

So be kind and review my baby :)

(It won´t take you that long ;) )