A/N: Wow!! I'm updating!! Woo hoo!! Well, I don't have school so that's why lol. But I was less than please with the reviews.

For my other story, I got like 20 review total the last time I updated. Can you top that? Because which ever story that gives the most reviews gets the most updates, because that's how I measure love…so REVIEW!!

Btw, I've thought very briefly of adding Nessie to the story, in the end. But she wouldn't be Bella's blood-related daughter; I'd have to make her like…12-13 and Bella would have had to adopt her…tell me what you think and vote in the poll on my profile!!

Edward's POV

"Bella- I was stupid. I wasn't thinking about the consequences…I was only thinking of you. I didn't know I was only making it harder for you." I knew I was speaking in fragments. But I couldn't get the words out right.

"Edward- Edward- w-what are you talking about?" Bella asked frantically. "I-I just don't under-understand!" Bella was hysterical now; tears rolled freely down her cheeks, pouring endlessly from her chocolate brown eyes. Her voice was broken and shallow, rising an octave higher with each word she uttered from her lips.

"I was never supposed to come here in the first place; But you needed me- I was worried about you. I love you so much…I had to come. But, I forgot about them; I forgot about how they could punish me. I didn't think about the consequences…I didn't think about how they could keep me from you forever." I said. Bella had stopped crying now, and had begun deep, frenzied breaths. She ran into my arms, which were welcomingly open.

"They?" she asked breathless. "Wh-who are they? And- I mean…whoever they are, they- they can't do anything to you! To us…" she said crying into my chest. I gently ran my fingers through her hair, deep in thought about how to break these dismal words to her; how unfair, I thought that what could be my last words to her will have to fill her heart with worry and dread.

"The Volturi." I whispered into her chocolate hair. "The Volturi are the ones who punish- the dead." I spoke the last word hesitantly. "And we aren't supposed to be seen by the living. And they punish those who disobey." Bella was quiet for a while; too quiet. I wondered if she had fainted in my arms, but when I looked to check, she was awake. "Bella?" I asked worriedly; I needed a response. I needed to know she was still breathing, that she understood.

"Edward…" she said with a weak, broken voice. "How do they punish- the-the dead?" her voice was muffled by my chest. This was the going to be by far the hardest part of this last exchange of words between us. I didn't answer, for a while, considered how to tell her, mulling over my thoughts, all while at the same time, trying to remember every last detail of this moment; trying to store away as many memories as I possibly can- the scent of her hair, the feel of her skin, the exact lighting- the broken look on her face…

NO! I wasn't going to remember her this way; only happy memories, the kind we had before all of this started. That's how I'd remember her. That's how I'd always think of my Bella.

"Edward?" Bella's voice brought me back from my mind trip. I smiled at the sound of her calling my name; I would miss it so.

"Yes, love?" I breathed.

"How-will you be punished?" I could tell it hurt her to ruin this perfect moment in time, but I didn't hold it against her; she had every right to know.

"Usually, we are sent to hell; Purgatory if you've done something horrible." I shuddered at the thought. An eternity, neither alive, nor dead- stuck between the bridge of both worlds, forbidden from both worlds.

"For how-long?" her voice cracked. I shook my head, slowly, knowing she wouldn't like the answer, before remembering that she couldn't see me. Still, I let my silence respond. Bella cleared her throat and stepped out of my arms- but I wanted her there, longed to keep her safe, hidden from the evils of the world. "So you came to say goodbye?" she said attempting a small smile for my benefit. But her face dropped just as quickly as she had smiled. "B-before you g-go to hell?" she asked. I was utterly confused now; to my knowledge, I wasn't going to hell- yet…

"What? No, love. I'm not going to hell or purgatory- the Volturi haven't found out I've been breaking the rules. I'm here to tell you good bye, because I won't be able to visit you anymore." I expected Bella to sob, as horrible as that sounded; but it was true. I just didn't think Bella would be able to handle this on top of her already awful situation. A tear escaped her eye, sure, but she didn't react like I thought she would.

"So…this isn't goodbye forever?" she said, smiling now; she was almost laughing happily- tears rolled down her cheeks more often, but she was still laughing.

"No- not if I stay in heaven," like I was supposed to all along… I thought. "But I should see you, eventually." I said, stepping closer to her. "On the other side." I added with a little humor.

"Oh, Edward!" she threw her arms around me. "I thought I'd never see you again- I thought you were saying good bye forever!!" she laughed, wiping tears away. Then, without warning, she slapped me lightly on the back of my head.

"What was that for?" I chuckled.

"For making me think I was losing you." She sighed contently. "Oh Edward…if I'm going to see you eventually, and if every moment you're with me puts you at more risk, I was you to leave. Now."

Bella's POV

I had to laugh at Edward's confused expression on his face when I told him to leave. "Oh Edward, you know it's not like that. I still want you…I always will. But I'd rather you still have a chance of living on in heaven than ruining your chance at eternal life because of me; why, I'd never be able to live with myself." I spoke blinded by tears. Edward looked back at me with hesitation and hurt in her piercing green eyes. "Edward, the sooner you leave, the better." We stared at each other for a while then; I tried to take in his features again, seeing as I wouldn't see him for a while. I let out a shaky sigh, though, almost slipping my cover.

I begged myself not to cry- not to let my sobs rip their way through my throat; I tried to force back the screaming pleas I wanted to speak instead of my selfless lecture I just told him. I wanted to tell him how long and far from dying I really was and how I couldn't wait, how I wanted to die now if it meant I was that much closer to being with him. But I reminded myself of Alice and forced those thoughts to the back of my mind immediately. Not to mention I didn't want to worry Edward.

"You really want me to go?" he asked warily; he stroked my cheek, and I almost lost it then, and it showed both in my face and his. That's when I knew I wasn't really fooling him.

"Yes." I said. "I do."

"This is goodbye then." I had insisted we say out final goodbyes in the meadow; this is where it all began, after all. So it seemed only natural that it end here as well…

No, not end, I told myself. This wasn't a last goodbye- more like a "see you later" type of thing.

"Not goodbye." Edward said kissing me on the cheek; "A small farewell, until we meet again, up there, love" Edward smiled as he beckoned toward the clouds.

"Hmm…I can't wait; no more pain, no more suffering- just you and me forever."

"Bella- promise me you'll live life to its fullest; promise you won't-" I held up a hand to stop him; I knew what he was going to say.

"I promise- I will never try to take my life again." We paused to kiss passionately and hug in the grass, before Edward felt a tug, warning him to leave. "Take one last look." I said hugging him one last time. "I imagine I'll look…different the next time you see me."

He laughed before kissing me on the lips one last time- my hands tangled in his hair, and my lips pressing onto his…until they weren't there anymore.

A/N: DON'T FORGET TO VOTE ON THE POLL!! AND REVIEW SO ILL UPDATE THIS FIRST NEXT TIME!!!!! THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE ALICE-JASPER'S FINAL GOODBYES