I stayed with Bella a long time after that. I answered her questions, and listened to her thoughts. We talked about everything- except for the few tiny details that I was from the future, and that I was her daughter.

I finally left around dawn, and when I finally struggled back in the window of the guest room and collapsed on the bed, I found myself exhausted. And I crashed.

I slept for a good twelve hours. My sleep wasn't dreamless this time; I saw flickering images of my parents, of a lion eating the head off a lamb, and of Elijah laughing at me, for some reason.

I actually was forced into the waking world eventually, when I heard a voice, and someone rudely shook my arm. Sleepily, I opened my eyes, and blurry images of Elijah swam before me.

"Nessie. Nessie, wake up. Bella's on the phone."

I yawned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Who?" I slurred.

He rolled his eyes, shoving his cell phone towards me. "It's your madre."

Yawning again, I grabbed the silver, chipped phone from his hand, and held it to my ear. "Yeah?" My voice was low and full of sleep.

"Abigail!" She sounded breathless. "Hey! Look, this may be weird, but I had to call you. I know how you're... well, you were into me and Edward, right?"

I straightened, feeling my sleep waning, and listening closely. "Uh-huh."

She took a breath. "I... I dreamed about him last night, after you left. And today, when I sat next to him in biology again... we talked. About more than germs. And I mentioned the dream."

"Go on."

She hesitated then. "I- thought about last night. About what you said. The whole destiny... me and Edward... thing. And... well, I ended up talking to him a lot today. We even sat together at lunch. It's weird, how fast this is happening... but it feels so... right."

"And?" It was fairly amazing. I'd only spoken a total of six words in this conversation, but Bella went on like she hadn't noticed.

"And, I... I need to see you, talk to you in person."

I nodded out of habit, forgetting she couldn't see me. "Oh, uh, right. Yeah, okay. Where are you?"

"High school parking-lot."

Ah. That seemed to be a popular place.

"Okay, I'll have Elijah drive me there. Stay. There."

"Sure. Bye."

I ended the conversation (literally: I stabbed the red end button on Elijah's phone) and tossed it back to him. "Have Elijah drive you where?" Elijah inquired.

"School parking-lot. Something's up with her and Edward."

"That's good."

I yawned, and got up, stretching. He took a step back, watching through scrutinizing eyes. I sighed and glared at him. "What?"

"Where were you all of last night? I was worried."

I swallowed hard, thinking of my conversation with Elijah before I'd gone to see Bella. "I went over to Bella's house. We talked about... stuff."

I went over to a mirror, and began fixing myself up. I didn't need too much help; I always looked pretty good (all vanity aside). The sleep was all drained from my system, and I felt pumped. This was the day. This felt like the day the lion and the lamb would fall in love.

Elijah stalked after me as I abandoned the mirror and trotted into the hallway. "What kinda, stuff?"

We headed for the front door, and I gripped the handle, swinging it open easily. "About Eward, about me, I think God was even brought up at this one point," I said, only somewhat sarcastic, as I stopped for a brief moment and turned to look at Elijah. "How was your school day?" I'd slept through the whole day, and he must have just gotten home.

"Fine. There was a shock when Bella sat with Edward at lunch, though. Gossip, gossip, gossip."

I smirked and moved away from the door, approaching his truck. "And how's Michelle?"

"She's working. She doesn't like you much, by the way."

"Yeah?" I pulled the passenger door open, while he went around the grabbed his own door. We slipped into the seats, and he stabbed the key into the ignition. "Why's that?"

He chuckled as the car stammered to life, and we slammed our doors. "I told here you were an experiment in my time-traveling business, so she thinks I'm lying, and you're my pet hooker, or something."

I laughed out loud. "That's beautiful."

We backed out of the driveway, and began driving down to school. "So you excited? Bella and Edward, finally getting together?"

I nodded, but felt suddenly unhappy. If my parents were sorted out... that left the whole issue of me being stuck in the past. And how the hell could I ever figure that guy out? "Yeah. Excited."

He heard the despondent octave in my voice, and glanced over at me. "Come on, pussy cat. I know it's confusing, but we'll figure this out."

"Yeah, totally."

Elijah gave me a glare. "It's no easier for me than it is for you, so shut up. I'm trying to help you, but I'm not a god with all the answers. I'm a kid, like you."

It was my turn to glare. "I'm not a kid, human. I'm a vampire."

"Half vampire."

I growled low in my throat.

"Don't bite me," he whimpered, looking like a little kid about to get pimp-slapped by the school bully. I couldn't help it: I laughed, and fell back into the seat. Maybe he was right. We couldn't solve this problem by worrying and fighting, so I might as well relax.

"You're such a chick," I told him as the depressing building of Forks High School loomed before us in the bird-crapped windshield of his truck.

"Does it show?" he asked in a girly voice, batting his eyelashes. I resisted the urge to smack him, because I didn't want to snap his arm in half. Yeah, that might end badly. Really, I was just happy that last night seemed to be behind us, just like our fight a few days back- he was good at letting things go. I admired that. The guilt of his words still stung, when I thought about the story of his dead parents, and his dead uncle.

With a great heave, the truck pulled itself into the parking lot, and stalled before I hopped out, not waiting for Elijah to park. I saw Bella immediately: surrounded by some of the girls from school. From the looks on their faces,
I could tell they were making her re-tell the story of the van accident again. Chuckling, I pushed forward and touched Bella's arm. Immediately, the air crackled as I felt power sweep through me. I could hear her thoughts immediately.

I wish they'd leave me alone- oh, hey, it's Abigail. She got here fast. I better say something. Wait she's touching my arm. Why-? I smiled softly and pulled my hand away as I glanced around the group of girls. "Sorry, but I've got to talk to Bella. Bye, girls," I purred.

They glowered and looked disappointed as they stalked off, and I shook my head after them. Bella stepped in front of my vision, looking paler than usual.

"Hey, Abigail. Okay- this sounds, weird, but..."

Something caught my eye suddenly.

Edward Cullen.

He was brushing past us, and stared at Bella before he had gone. Everything suddenly slowed as their eyes briefly met and then broke apart, and she bit her lip, scuffing her foot and crossing her arms. The cold, rainy air around us whispered softly in my ear. As I slowly turned, I saw Edward walking up the hillside, towards the forest. Something clicked.

"The meadow," I murmured, eyes widening. I'd heard the story a hundred times too much before, between both mom and dad. The forest, where Edward revealed his true nature, and they truly became... a couple. The lion and the lamb.

"What did you say?" Bella asked softly.

If nothing else, I knew one thing: Bella had to go up there.

"Follow him," I said in a low voice.

She blinked, looking to where Edward was disappearing, then back at me. "What?"

I grabbed her arms and steered her towards the hill, where it sloped away from the school, lined by bushes and trees, and where the wilderness began. "Follow Edward Cullen."

Bella held my gaze for a moment, then nodded briefly. She brushed past me, and slowly followed my father, her future husband, up the hill. They vanished into the forest, where, hopefully, things would go according to plan.

Elijah apparently had finally gotten the truck parked, and walked over to stand by my shoulder, staring at the forest. "Now what?" He squinted.

I smiled slightly. "Now... we follow them."

I took his hand, and quickly, sped across the grass, practically dragging the human after me. With my speed, we were in the forest within seconds. It was truly a beautiful place: dark, peaceful. Shaded and gloomy, but perfect. It was its own little world, and now I shared it with the lion and the lamb.

"Where did they go?" Elijah muttered, looking a little out-of-breath from the sudden leap.

"There," I murmured, eyes narrowed, as I searched the forest and saw them a ways off, in a small clearing. Bella was standing, frozen, and Edward was pacing around her, looking stricken and angry. "Come on."

"We're gonna spy on them?" Elijah balked.

"I have to know if it turns out right!" I snapped, slipping into the weeds as I silently approached. Elijah followed a little more clumsily, but I knew neither my parents would notice. They were far too busy.

I came to a stop in the bushes a ways off from them. Everything was slowly brightening, as the sun make a brave peek out from behind the clouds. I stayed in the shadows, though, and never took my eyes off from my parents. Finally I could hear them.

"Vampire," Bella was whispering.

Edward closed his eyes, voice low and dangerous. "Are you afraid?"

I gazed at my mother's face. This was amazing. Like stealing someone's memory, or falling into a dream. I was experiencing my parents in their first moments together. It was a gift any child would want.

"No," she finally said, softly.

Edward said nothing, then opened his eyes. The hazel in them burned like gold, and his voice seethed as he whispered, "Then why don't you ask me the most basic question. What do we eat?" I saw bitterness and anger in his eyes. Suddenly, all the creepiness that he'd brought me over the past few days was forgiven: I think that part was done now, and we could move on. Now, I could feel for him, feel his regret that I felt, the shame and anger
that came to me when I thought about the monster I am.

"I don't care," she breathed, slowly turning to him. "I know you are a good person."

He shook his head. "You're a stranger to me, Bella. But I don't want to hurt you. Something... about you..." He took a deep breath. "Intoxicates me."

She shivered. Wow. Brutal way to put it, Dad. "My dreams. My thoughts. I... I can't stop them. I know that you are my... my..."

"Drug?" he whispered, laughing bitterly. "I'm wrong for you, Bella. I could... kill you."

She trembled, but just shook her head. "I trust you."

He stared, hazel eyes smoldering. "Don't."

They were quiet. Elijah and I watched, fascinated.

Suddenly Edward grabbed her arm, and pulled her away from the woody clearing. "Come with me. You- need to see what I look like. In the sunlight." With that, he threw her on his back, and they became a blur as my father ran. Up the mountain, through the ferns and bushes and trees.

"That's pretty intense," Elijah said after a moment.

I shook my head. "It's amazing. Edward... somehow, finding out that I'm not right for him, has opened his eyes to Bella. It's perfect."

His eyes crinkled as he smiled. We started walking.

"My parents have told me this story for years," I said at last, rubbing my arm as I looked around. "Of meeting in the forest, and then this. And then the meadow."

"The meadow?"

I nodded, eyes shining. "Magic."

He scoffed. "Ha. Right."

I pushed him away, and he laughed, almost falling off the path and tumbling down. Catching himself, Elijah attempting to knock me aside (stupid move for a human). He was met with a severe pain in his hands, to which I laughed at.

"You deserved that," I told him.

We walked for a ways in silence, just listening to the forest and watching the rain gently fall. For once, I felt no hostility towards the wet drops. Forks was growing me; and I had begun to grow even fond of the weather.

"Dude, watch out!" Elijah hissed suddenly. I turned, and moved quickly as Edward and Bella came walking past, neither noticing us in the shadows. Edward looked like he was in pain, and Bella looked strained, but fascinated.

"Please. I trust you," Bella whispered.

They came to a stop, and Edward clenched his hands before slowly turning and facing her. His eyes burned, and he looked cold as he spoke. "I'm the world's most dangerous predator," he breathed, staring at her.

"Way to put it," Elijah remarked. I giggled and shoved him lower into the bushes, where we crouched.

"I don't care," Bella said quickly.

His eye searched hers. "I've killed people before, Bella."

Bella bit her lip and shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

Elijah blinked. "She's gotta be kidding."

I grinned and kept watching, never taking my gaze off of my parents.

Slowly, Edward took a step towards Bella, voice low. "I want to kill you, Bella. I've never wanted a human's blood more in my entire life."

Silence.

"I know you won't hurt me," Bella said softly, brown eyes wide.

"Moron," Elijah scoffed.

I rolled my eyes as Edward slowly took her arm, and led her away. We watched, quiet, not daring to speak in case we broke the peace of the forest.

"That's amazing," I murmured.

"You just watched your parents fall in love," Elijah agreed, propping his head up with an arm and smirking. "How touching."

I sighed, putting my hands together. "You don't understand, stupid. I just saved my very existence." The lion and the lamb had realized they were terribly wrong, yet perfect, for each other. Hopefully, Edward would forget my existence completely and go on, dazzled by my pale, pre-vampire mom.

"Kudos," Elijah chuckled, clapping me on the back. "Now... the only problem facing you is... the whole time-travel thing."

I hesitated, then smiled, glancing over at him. "Yeah. But heck. If I can get a vampire and a pale chick to fall in love, I think I can tackle this thing pretty easily."

Elijah smiled back, and we crouched there for a moment, meeting each other's eyes.

"We should go," he said at last, smiling flickering.

I looked down. The day was over. Course, I'd spent most of it sleeping... I shook my head, knowing I should be grateful that Edward and Bella appeared to be a sealed deal. So that, even if I was stuck in the past... at least I'd exist.

That chapter was fun to write. I sort of use Elijah as a way to spoof the seriousness of Edward and Bella's love... I mean, come on. If a dude says to you, "I want nothing more in the world right now than to kill you"... wouldn't you be freaked out? Nope, not Bella.

Speaking of Elijah, I've got a little secret about him, that I feel like sharing right now. I named him after this guy, Elijah, that I really liked when I started writing this story. Do you ever do that? Name a character after someone in your life? I leave little clues in all my stories(:

Kiley34: Hey! Thank you so much for pointing that out. I'd love to claim I brilliantly changed it to match my story, yet I'm gonna have to admit it was a lowly author mistake. We're just human, after all. Thanks!(:

Bloodsucker: Hi there! Thanks so much for all your reviews, I've never personally thanked you. And I cant find the trailer your talking about. It's driving me crazy! Care to show me the link? Thanks :D