As soon as we entered, I looked around, and blinked. There was no color, no upbeat music. They were playing a gentle, slow song. Couples danced slowly, smiling. Yet there was a bored feeling in the air.

"What the hell is this?"

Elijah laughed, glancing around. "A dance!"

I chuckled through closed lips, looking around in disapproval. "Well, this dance is about to get Nessie-fied. Wait here," I shot at Elijah, dumping my date and marching across the glossy floor of the decorated gym, heading straight for the DJ.

I whispered something to him, grinning and giggling, and finally he nodded. I turned away, victorious, and ran back to Elijah.

"What did you do?" he laughed as he put his arm around me, watching as the DJ shifted through the music, and killed the slow one seeping through the speakers. Everyone stopped dancing and looked around, confused. After a second, a very upbeat song began blaring through the speakers. I grinned widely as heads began bobbing, bodies began moving, people began laughing and dancing.

Elijah chuckled, and shook his head at me. "What is this?" he asked, smirking.

"I Want You to Want Me, by Letters to Cleo," I answered with a smile.

"You want me?" Elijah asked cheekily.

I want you to want me.

I need you to need me.

I love you to love me.

I'm begging you to beg me.

As soon as those lyrics seeped into the gym, the lights went off, and colors began flashing around, red and green, yellow and purple, blue and white. As if a light switch had been flicked, the tone of the dance changed, and became much more fun. I glanced around in satisfaction.

"Let's dance, shall we?" Elijah laughed.

I smiled, and the dance began.

Our bodies moved, and I couldn't feel happier. For a moment in time, I was peaceful. But it wouldn't last forever. Behind my peace, I felt worry. Unease for what I had to do, soon.

Around us, all the boring people from Forks transformed: they were jumping, dancing. I laughed, getting a glimpse of Edward getting his swag on with Bella a ways off.

The song went on for a while, and it was followed by a few more upbeat ones. The dancing calmed down, and finally, a girl trotted over to the DJ stand, and whispered something in his ear.
Moments later, a much slower, much quieter song gently came from the speakers.

"Hey there Delilah, what's it like in New York City? I'm a thousand miles away, girl, but tonight you look so pretty, yes you do. Time Square can't shine as bright as you, I swear it's true..."

Elijah smiled gently. "I love this song."

I bit my lip. "Me, too."

Careful at first, Elijah reached forward, and placed his hands over my waist. I smiled, and in response, wrapped my hands around his neck. We began swaying gently. Around us, everyone else had calmed down, responding to the quiet song. They danced slowly, heads close, hands clasped.

Elijah and I danced perfectly, each answering the other easily. I felt my smile grow terse, as something weird nipped me in the heart. And it didn't help that Elijah refused to look away from me.

We danced for awhile, and before the song ended, Elijah muttered in my ear, "Want to go outside?"

I nodded, and we moved towards the doors, past dancing couples in the darkness. Elijah slipped out first, and I began to follow, when I saw something out of the corner of my eye; I turned, and a small smile gripped my lips. I saw Edward and Bella, swaying very gently, eyes only for each other, a ways off from the others.

"Good luck, you guys," I murmured, feeling tears prick in my eyes. I bit my lip, and rubbed at my eyes before turning, and following Elijah.

Outside, it was a lot less hot. The air was cool and crisp, and I felt my head clear as soon as I stepped out. The music had been great, but it was time to focus. Time was drawing to a fast close.

I felt something warm pressed against my skin, and I reached down, gripping the pocket-watch. It was warming up; beginning to glow. I stared at it warily before tucking it away again, and walking towards Elijah, who stood by the gazebo, decorated with twinkling lights in the darkness.

He smiled at me, and offered a hand. I stopped, gazing at Elijah, then took his hand. He led me up the stairs, and into the small white gazebo.

"Now look at us." Elijah smiled as we began to dance slowly. "You, me, dancing. Did you ever think we'd come this far?"

I smiled slightly. "Nope."

He smirked. "It's been pretty cool, knowing you these past weeks. I think knowing you has made my life an adventure, you stupid bloodsucker," he added with a playful smile.

I folded my arms as a sudden chill made my skin prickle. I thought only of the old man, and the story he had told me in the forest. Feeling forbidding pulse against my heart, I gazed away and stared at the thick knot of trees expanding into the forest behind the school grounds.

Elijah gazed at me. "I don't think I've told you how beautiful you look right now."

I flushed, and put a hand to my cheek. "Thanks," I murmured, but my tone was wrong, and something caught in my throat. I swallowed hard. Elijah wasn't stupid; he knew something was up. Narrowing his gray eyes that made me think of the rain, he said, "What's wrong?"

I looked away, eyes searching anywhere but his face. "Elijah... there's not much time left."

An anguished look came over his face. "I don't want to lose you, Nessie."

I stared up at him, his gray eyes, his soft blond hair, feeling a choking sensation in my throat. I shakily replied, "I know."

Elijah moved his head towards me then. Vaguely, in the back of my head, I knew what he was doing. The sane part of my mind told me to back away, not to let him touch me. But the other half, the not so sane half, told me that I couldn't move away. And I didn't try to stop Elijah as his lips pressed against mine, and he kissed me.

It was long, and sweet. We closed our eyes, and I lifted my head, moving my lips with his. But as quickly as it had began, it was over. I moved away, and dropped my hands from Elijah's shoulders. We stared at each other.

Elijah just gazed at me. I had never seen him look so heart-broken. I felt tears prick in my eyes, and at the back of my dazed brain, I knew that he had tasted something wrong in that kiss.
He could tell my heart wasn't in the right place. "What is it?"

I heard the sadness in his voice, and it hurt me. "It's time to go," I murmured.

He stared at me for a second, then wrapped his arms around himself, something shining in his eyes. "Don't leave."

I felt tears in my eyes. The old man's words returned to me, slicing at my heart. The plain truth was in front of me, yet I didn't want to accept it. I had grown used to living in this world, this time; I liked being with Elijah and my young parents. But it wasn't supposed to be like this.

So as I stared at Elijah's big, puzzled eyes, I knew there was nothing I could say to help."Your time to change the past is up. I want to give you the future you want, Elijah. But I can't," I said, every word dragged out, raspy and soft.

He shook his head.

I bit my lip, and took a step towards Elijah. "Years from now, you'll meet a man in a flea-market. He'll offer you a beautiful, old pocket watch that controls time. And you'll want to use it to go back in time, to give yourself another chance at us." I shook my head. "Don't do it again, Elijah."

Elijah's voice trembled. "I don't understand you, Renesmee."

I looked down. "Good bye, Elijah."

Elijah watched, helpless, as I turned away, and left the gazebo. I felt the tears falling down my face, but I withdrew the pocket watch, and felt it burning in my palm. I left the school grounds, and I left everything. After all the days of waiting, my time had come. I was going home.

The forest soon enclosed around me. It was dark, and frightening; as I ran, my dress caught, and ripped, shredded streaks of fabric falling behind me. I kicked off my heels, and left them behind in the darkness; my hair fell, and became a curly mess. The sparkling magic of the night had faded with the sound of the dance, far behind me. I was a dying Cinderella, racing before the clock struck twelve. I was the mysterious maiden, running away from everything.

I finally came to a stop, and stared into the trees. There, from between two large, mossy trees, appeared the old man.

"You did well, Renesmee," he sighed.

"It doesn't matter," I murmured. "I broke his heart."

The old man gazed at me, eyes glittering. "I will never forget the day at the flea-market," he murmured, suddenly looking very, very old and exhausted. "Elijah was a young man by then... and so sad. So desperate. I hope you do not blame me for offering him the watch? All I wanted was to help. I did not know how... delicate... the situation was, " the old man rasped. I shook my head, body trembling.

The old man nodded slowly. "Very well. I wish things could have been different... but, Nessie... you're quite sure this is the right thing to do?"

I hesitated, clutching at the watch in my hands. "It has to be," I murmured. "I do not love him."

Looking sad, the old man sighed again. "Yes... it would be cruel, to stay here only to act as his toy. He loves you, yet your heart is already taken. I can see that."

"But if this is the right thing, why does it hurt so much?" I hissed suddenly.

In the deep lines carved into his elderly face, the old man looked like he considered giving me a reassuring pat, then thought better of it, and said, quite simply, "Love is pain. When I was young, I committed myself to science, to inventing..." he pointed to his own creation, the little pocket watch I now held in my pale hands, "and I never had to worry about love. I suppose that I can never truly understand, then..."

I gazed at him, saying nothing. There was a short silence, where we both held our own thoughts to ourselves. And at the same instant, we both looked up, and seemed to agree in silence.

"It's now or never," I breathed.

He had been gazing at the watch, and shook himself, nodding and pushing the glasses up his crooked nose. "Of course. Now... you must promise me something. This watch has created more than good... and I want it gone. Destroy it, Renesmee," he said softly. "When you are home, make sure it is disposed of." I saw slight pain cross his face at the thought of destroying his precious invention- a time-controller. I stared at him in shock.

"Are you sure? It's... it's brilliant..."

"But it must be done," he replied firmly, placing a hand on mine, and our eyes met briefly. "Good bye, Renesmee."

I felt a tear fall down my cheek, and suddenly, I reached forward, and hugged the old man. He seemed quite surprised, but didn't pull away. No matter how much he'd pissed me off sometimes, he was still a part of this world, a part of the time here I'd grown fond of. I knew I'd miss everything about it. Suddenly, the prospect of being home was a terribly joyful one.

"Thank you," I whispered into his ear.

There was a pause, and softly, he said to me, "I'm sorry for everything, Renesmee. Had I never offered Elijah the watch..." His voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat. I shook my head, and drew away.

"Oh, and one last thing."

I peered at the old man. "Yeah?"

He hesitated, a slight smirk on his old face, and finally said, "Up until now, I haven't been very straight-forward with you, I'm afraid... it's the laws of time-travel, my dear. But I feel like, when you tell this story, you should at least be able to identify all the characters." He smiled at my confused look. "I am known as... Matthias," he said at last.

I drew away, and smiled at the old man. It meant a lot to me that he finally trusted me with his name. "Matthias," I repeated, smiling sadly. I bit my lip, questions surging into my mind. "Look, I... I was wondering something..."

The clock began ticking suddenly. I gasped, and took a step back, holding it in my palm. Matthias (it felt so weird to have a name for him, after this whole time of him simply being "the old man") took a step back, watching curiously. The clock's face snapped open, and the little black hands were wheeling round and round, faster and faster. Everything began to glow.
"Renesmee!"

I turned quickly, shocked.

Elijah was running towards me. I could barely see him over the light, over the blurry images. But the last thing I saw was Elijah come running to a stop feet from me, eyes wide, mouth open in shock.

At last, it all faded, and there was power, rushing, whispering.

And then... the dream was over.

Elijah stared at the spot where Renesmee Cullen had disappeared, for a split second, face frozen in shock. And then without warning, he flew at Matthias.

"What did you do to her?" he snarled.

Matthias, as old and tired-looking as he appeared, got a steely glint in his eye, and stared at Elijah coldly. "It was time for her to leave. You knew she wasn't going to stay forever," he growled.

Elijah stared shakily at him, hands trembling in fury, as he imagined wringing the old man's neck. Shouting out in anger, Elijah turned away. "What was the point of all of this, then? Why did you give me the watch? Why did you bring Renesmee into this world?"

Matthias gazed quietly at the young man, looking sad. "I had no choice, Elijah. You see... it was you who brought Renesmee into the past."

Elijah's eyes narrowed to angry slits. "Don't you dare lie to me!"

Matthias did not glance away from Elijah, and simply took off his spectacles, and wiped them on his gray shirt, replacing them slowly. "You have met Renesmee before, in another version of this time, and you lost her then, too. You swore to give your life to finding her... and as a young man, you found me at a flea-market. And the watch. That damn watch," Matthias whispered, closing his eyes briefly.

When he opened them, they burned slightly, like a fire about to go out. "I told you that the watch controls time, and so we struck a contract. I would help you find Renesmee again, but I alone would have the power to send her home when I felt time was up. It's dangerous to have time-travelers stay in one place too long," he said heavily. "And so I went back to her time, set up a false shop in Forks, and like a mouse to a trap, she arrived. There, I gave her the watch, and it took her... here." He opened his arms to the forest surrounding them.
Elijah stared at him, eyes swimming with angry tears. "Why didn't you tell me this before? I could have had a chance. I could have stopped her-!"

"From returning home? Elijah, face it. I did not know Renesmee before this mission began; I only knew you were in love, and so I went back in time to help you. But now I understand. She is in love... with another man. And you could never have kept her from leaving. No matter how many times you keep going back in time to find her, she'll always slip away, like a sparkling fish in the river. You can't catch her." Matthias gazed, with a quiet, old sadness, at Elijah through his gray eyes.
Elijah said nothing. He gazed at Matthias with absolutely no emotion on his face.

"So when I first met you, a year ago... and here, meeting Nessie, and unlocking the truth to the watch... this whole time... it's all been about something that I do... in the future?" he asked quietly.

Matthias nodded, anxiously watching the boy's reaction.

Elijah said nothing. He stared at the spot where Renesmee had gone.

"So she's gone?" he inquired, flatly.

Flinching, Matthias went over to touch his hand to the boy's shoulder. "Do not waste your life looking for someone who doesn't even exist yet. You must forget her."

Elijah stared at Matthias with such a blank look on his face, he might have very well already forgotten her. "But I will always remember her." He had a haunted look on his face, and he turned around, leaving Matthias in the forest.

"Good bye, Elijah. My time here is done, as well," Matthias said softly.

Elijah stopped in his tracks, and paused. But did not turn to face the old man.

Without waiting for an answer, the old man turned, and began strolling away, quiet calmly, into the thick of the forest. He whistled to himself in the cool night air, hands in his pockets. For all he acted, he was going on a cheerful afternoon stroll.

And then, his whistling faded. He was gone.

Just like Renesmee.

A show of hands: who's confused? That was a lot of information thrown at you really fast. So to help anyone who's lost or wants clarification, I'll summarize what Matthias was talking about.

This isn't the first time Nessie and Elijah have met. According to Matthias, in a different version of the past, Nessie and Elijah have crossed paths before. Elijah fell in love with her, but Nessie had to leave him, for Jacob. Elijah, who was in love with her, grew up yearning for a way to find her again. One day, many years after he first lost Nessie, he goes to a flea-market, and happens upon Matthias there, with a booth of strange old instruments... including the watch. Elijah strikes conversation with the old man, and reveals his past with a lost love. Matthias' heart goes out to the young man, and so he decided to help him: by using his pocket-watch. He makes a plan with Elijah, to go back in time and give the younger Elijah another chance with Nessie.

So, Matthias goes back in time, and meets the younger Elijah, and begins training him, preparing him for Nessie. He then sets up a false antique shop the day Nessie comes into town. She goes in, and this is where our story with Nessie began. The whole time, it was a plan to give Elijah another chance at love with Nessie, carefully set up by the old man. But he realizes that bringing Nessie back in time has caused too many problems, and he sees that its pointless to try and make her love Elijah. So he sends her back, to her proper time, and warns Elijah to not waste his life looking for her, so that he will not repeat the past.

Pretty complex, huh? I hope it all makes sense now, that it's all been revealed. Feel free to message me if you have any questions about anything. I'll be happy to enlighten (:

Also, thanks for waiting so long for this update. I've had this chapter written for awhile, but I wanted to go back and edit, to break off parts and add others, so it's just right in the end. Thanks for reading, and I only have one chapter left. Shoot, I'm gonna miss writing this story... I've grown rather fond of it.

And lastly, I don't own the lyrics of "I Want You to Want Me" by Letters to Cleo, or "Hey There Delilah," by the Plain White T's, so don't sue me. You may, however, idle over to YouTube and listen to those songs, if you haven't already, because they're great songs (: