It's late, I know. But it is pretty lengthy. Also, I had received a shit ton of new readers. To whoever has been pimping me out, thank you. And for those new readers, I hope you are enjoying and I fucking love you. All of you.

Leaving was always the hardest.

I tried my best not to cry, especially when Alice and her family left right as the sun peaked from the ocean. I watched from the window as they all began packing their things in the car, most of it Alice's luggage. She came in with her mouth turned downwards, encircling me in a tight hug. She was the first one to cry, her tears staining the fabric of my shirt.

"Please don't cry." I laughed, the tears already threatening their way out. She pulled away and giggled, wiping her pale cheeks as she leaned forward to kiss my cheek.

"We will see each other soon." She promised me, grabbing my hands. I nodded and hugged her once more before we pulled away. Our fingers were laced together as we walk out to the car, Carlisle shaking Alec's hand as Esme hugged Edward.

"Well, I guess this is it Bells." Emmett said, picking me up in his arms. I groaned as he lifted me from the ground, my arms wrapping around his neck as I hugged him just as tightly. He set me back down with a wide grin and touched my chin. "Until next time baby."

"Bye." I smiled, a tear escaping down my cheek. Rosalie replaced him, wiping it away as she gave me a stern look.

"What did I say about crying?" She said as I smirked inwardly. She smiled back and pulled me in her arms. Jasper was next, kissing my forehead as he told me to be safe. Esme gripped me so tightly I had to tell her to loosen up. She apologized and smiled, kissing me on the cheek. Carlisle was last, after everyone had piled up in the car. He brushed my hair behind my ear and pulled me into a hug. He didn't say anything, though nothing needed to be said. He smiled and pulled away, making his way to the large SUV.

I stepped back, watching the car twist around, the back window reeling down as Alice's tiny body stuck half way out the window.

"I love you Isabella Marie!" She shouted as I laughed, my smile wide with all teeth showing as I waved, the car disappearing down the hill. When they were gone I turned around to Alec and Edward who waited for me by the doorstep, talking amongst themselves. Alec was the first to look at me, stepping down the porch as he came to my side.

"Are you leaving?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"Not just yet. Would you like to take a walk with me, Bella?" He asked and I nodded. He smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, taking me towards the path that lead down to the beach. We walked silently at first, the waves heavier today then yesterday due from the storm that came through last night. I stepped onto the rocks as we made our way into the sand, jumping from one to the other.

"Isabella, do you remember when I brought you here to Ireland?" He asked and I stopped on a jagged rock, looking up to him and shaking my head. "You were seven. We stayed for the week and went all over. I took you to a parade downtown. You loved every moment of it."

"I don't remember." I sighed, looking up to him with saddened eyes.

"I suppose you wouldn't… You were still young… Still trying to get used to your new life with me." He said, grabbing my hand to help me jump off a slippery rock. "I was trying to become closer to you. It had been over a year since I found you, yet you still were hesitant. But it was that trip that made you trust me."

"Really?" I asked.

"You were walking on a dock in the morning with a little boy you had met just down the street from where we were staying. He was a little bugger. He made fun of your accent and pushed you on the ground. You cut your knee and came running to me, covered in dirt and tears. I had asked you what happened and you told me the boy pushed you. After I had scared him back home to his mother, I cleaned you up and washed you off." He said as I walked along next to him in the sand. "Do you know what you said to me?" He asked I shook my head.

"Boys are jerks." He laughed. "You said you hated every single boy in the whole infinite universe except for one." He said, holding up his pointer finger. "Me." I smiled and felt his arm around my shoulder bringing me close to him. "It was then I knew I was making an impression. I was making a difference in your life. You had at least admitted you liked me. And after that, it was as if everything fell into place. You became very attached to me."

"You see, Isabella, the point of this story is that no matter what happens… No matter how far apart we are… I will always be that one boy in the whole infinite universe that loves you more than anything in the world." He said to me, stopping us as he gripped my shoulders. "After we leave here… After we are apart… I want you to be happy. And I know you said that you are, but you were hesitant. I don't want you to be afraid to move on."

"Why are you saying this?" I asked, my voice choked up a little. "I will see you again, right?"

"I don't know what the future has in store. No one knows, Bella. I just want you to be able to survive without me. To know that one day, we might not see each other ever again." He said. "I'm not saying that this is now. I just… Want you to be able to live your life without the thought of me interrupting."

"Please…" I said, the tears threatening.

"Ma biche… There is no need to get upset. Know that I love you. No matter what happens in the future," He wiped my tears and smiled brightly. "Okay?" He asked and I nodded, feeling his bringing me into his arms.

We stood there for awhile until we headed back up the trail. As we reached the top, a car was parked in the gravel, a man in a black suit nodding to Alec who nodded back. He looked down to me, smiling as he brought me into another hug. I knew this was his car, taking him back to Deer Isle. I sniffled against his jacket, his cold fingers forcing my face to look up at him. He kissed my forehead and whispered he loved me until he handed me to Edward who was just behind him. I felt his hand grip onto mine and I looked up at my Edward who smiled, calming my nerves.

I watched as Alec walked to his car, his shaking hands with his driver before he stepped in and filtered away, down the hill.

-TSIPWR-

The trip back home was long and I was worn out. I found that I couldn't sleep, not even on the ten hour plane ride, my head too filled to even consider closing my eyes. It was a particularly rainy evening in Hilo as the wheels of the airplane hit the ground. Coming off of the steps, a man handed Edward an open umbrella as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, keeping me close as we walked to the car waiting for us near the entrance of the gate.

I curled up on the leather seat next to him, my arms around his middle as my head tucked into his neck. I could feel him smiling as he kissed the top of my head, his fingers etching around my side as they found my skin underneath the fabric of my shirt and I felt myself drifting, farther and farther.

"Bella…" Edward gently nudged me, kissing all over my face. My eyes fluttered open, my lips pressing together as the rain still came down hard, hitting the windshield of the car that was being driven by one of Edward's drivers. We slowed, pulling into a familiar driveway.

"We're home?" I asked my voice scratchy with sleep.

"We're home." He whispered, kissing the side of my head.

He opened the door just as Maggie ran out, holding an old newspaper over her head. They exchanged hellos as he opened the umbrella, handing it to her. He stepped out, grabbing my hand and giving me to Maggie.

"Hello baby." She smiled, touching my cheeks.

"Hi." I smiled, my voice slurring from sleep.

"Let's get you inside and to bed, okay?" She asked and I nodded, feeling her arm around mine as she walked me into the house. I was shivering once we stepped in the house, Paul greeting me with a smile and a wave as he sat on the couch. I muttered a hello and walked into the kitchen to say hello to Sam who was cutting vegetables for dinner. I gripped him hard, hugging him tightly from behind as he laughed, patting my hands.

"Nice to see you too, Miss. Bella." He smiled.

"You're so warm." I sighed as the heat that radiated from his body warmed my skin, the droplets of rain left on me soaking into his shirt. He turned around, hugging onto my shoulders just before prying my arms away from him.

"You are obviously sleep deprived." He smirked inwardly and patted my shoulders sending me off as Maggie wrapped her arm around me. We headed down the hallway but everything was a blur. Maggie had stripped me down and put me in pajamas and set me into bed. I was covered in the cotton sheets and asleep before I even had time to tell her goodnight…..

It was storming when I woke sometime in the middle of the night. I was sticky and sweating as I peeled the covers off of me. My tank had hiked up, my shorts sticking to my thighs as I ran my fingers through my hair. My room lit up with lightening, a crash of thunder shaking the house as I could hear the waves violently hitting the shore outside. I blinked a few times, turning to my clock that read three in the morning. My arms stretched and my body was too warm.

Up until I felt freezing hands touch my sides. I gasped as lips kissed the expose skin of my stomach, just below my navel. I moaned softly, looking down just as a bolt of lightening brightened my room, black eyes staring up at me with need.

He joined me at my level, kissing my lips as my mark burned and sizzled in my skin, my lips producing a slight groan of pain as I touched the mark. He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together as he kissed me harder, his upper body nude and pressing against mine as it cooled me efficiently.

He kissed my mark, up to my jaw bone his lips skimming down to the mounds of my breast, just above the fabric. I could feel his hand lifting my shirt higher, his hand ducking underneath as he palmed at my breast. I moaned and writhed underneath him, his cold fingertips pinching my nipple. I let out a loud grunt, his mouth covering mine to silence me.

"Please…" I pleaded, my voice coated with need. He growled his hunger and my head tilted to the side. I wanted so much more as my legs parted, feeling his grind against me, both of us fully clothed.

But I took what I could.

His teeth sunk in my skin.

And I was walking on air.

-TSIPWR-

I felt something smooth running from the tip of my nose, just between my eyebrows. It was light and soft, over and over again until I felt my nose twitch with a sneeze. I turned and pushed the object away and covered myself with the blankets. They slightly shimmied down after a few seconds, the soft object circling around my ear lobe and then into my ear. I gasped and sat up, pushing whatever it was out of my way.

A large thump hit the ground and a loud cackle filtered in the room. I rubbed my eyes and groaned, not even having to look to know it was Peter.

"What are you doing?" I asked him, bringing my hands down as he sat on his bottom at the floor, grinning like an idiot, a feather pinched between his fingers. He let it fall to his palm and he sat up, blowing it away and towards me. My hands swatted it away and I glared at him, bringing my blankets up closer to me.

"A week was not enough time away from you." I said dryly, laying back down. Peter chuckled and got onto the bed, lying down next to me.

"Don't deny you've missed me." He said pointedly. I turned in the bed, staring at him with his lazy smile. "You've been asleep all night and day! It's time to get up."

"I don't need to do anything." I told him, lowering my chin. It was then when I had looked past him at the room I was in. I looked down to the blankets, cotton instead of satin and I had realized I was in my own room. Not Edward's.

"He left." Peter said.

"Where did he go?" I asked, bringing myself up to rest my back against the wall.

"Out of the country, I think. Somewhere in Europe. He didn't want to wake you, said he would call tonight. Though he has already called three times already." Peter rolled his eyes as I stood from the bed, walking to my jacket that hung on my doorknob to dry. In the pocket was my cell phone, a brand new one Edward had bought me just a few weeks before leaving for Ireland. Several missed calls and a text message.

Heading off to Italy. I will not be back until the end of the week. Nothing but business, I promise. Call me when you wake. E.

I could feel the pit of my stomach twisting. He said nothing was wrong, but my mind told me otherwise. Why would he just fly off to Italy after returning from Ireland? I looked back at Peter who sat on the bed, knees up as his arms rest against them. He watched me as I turned, pressing Edward's name and setting the phone to my ear.

"Bella…" He answered immediately.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, my heart pounding in anticipation.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" His voice was smooth and collected, something he was able to pull off even if there was something wrong.

"You just left… Without even saying goodbye." I told him, my body leaning against the door, my voice a whisper though I knew he could hear me.

"Isabella, that's not true. Do you not remember last night?" He asked me and I reached my fingers up to touch my mark.

"That wasn't a goodbye." I murmured.

"That was my kind of goodbye." I could hear his smirk… "Aro just wants to check up. That's all."

"Shouldn't I be with you?" I asked, my voice a little pitiful.

"No. You should be exactly where you are." He said.

"You said you won't be back until later this week." I whispered, my biting at the tip of my thumb.

"Yes, Aro wants me to stay longer. It's normal, Bella, I promise you." He told me, easing the nerves that were high with electricity. "I'll be back before you can even start to miss me."

"I already miss you." I said, groaning inwardly at how pathetic I may sound. I knew I could make it own my own without him. Before we were even together there were times I wouldn't see him for weeks at a time. This would be no different.

"I miss you – I'll be back soon. I'll call you tomorrow." He said just before we said our goodbyes and hung up. I set my phone onto my computer desk and looked back to Peter who was keeping the feather up in mid air by blowing, his cheeks large and round as he sucked in deep and quick breaths. I walked up to him, grabbing the feather and watching it drift to the ground.

"So since Romeo is gone for the week, looks like you're stuck with me." He made a face with a smirk and I rolled my eyes, sitting down next to him. "You have fun?"

"I did." I nodded with a smile, looking over to him. "How about you?"

"Same old boring shit with my family. Kids running around everywhere and my Grandma Agnus yelling at my Grandpa to get off his ass and actually do something for a change. Nothing's different. I was so ready to come back." He said, stretching out his legs. "Then there was seeing my ex step-mom. That was a whole fucking shit storm as it was."

"Why?" I asked.

"Her and dad cannot stand being in the same room as each other." Peter groaned, rubbing his chin. "But that's what happens when people get divorced because your step-mom cheated on your father and is with the same guy she cheated on him with."

"Wow." I stifled a laughed, covering my mouth.

"No, you can laugh. We are a really fucked up bunch, it's actually comical." He snorted and I smiled. "You're lucky you don't have any family to deal with like that." He said, hitting a sore spot. I knew he didn't mean it, considering he was still laughing. I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck, bringing my legs in closer.

Was I so lucky?

I wasn't sure.

"You want to go out with Emily and I?" He asked, turning the subject. "We're gonna grab a bite before she leaves for Honolulu." I nodded my head and stood with him. He left me to get ready and as we walked out to the car I realized that the sun was setting. We met with her at the local seafood joint, the three of us at a booth as we stuffed our faces. Emily was leaving for Honolulu for a week to celebrate thanksgiving, her family always waiting a week after the actual date for lower plane tickets and less crowds.

I watched as the two of them sat across from me, hands always on each other, lips kissing every so once in awhile. It made me miss Edward. I wanted him to be next to me. But we were so far away now. I smiled and talked, telling them of my time with Alec and Alice and everyone else I loved. I told them of the food I ate and the places I visited. We ended the night at the edge of the street where the car was parked.

"Be safe. But have fun." I told Emily, bringing her into a hug.

"Trust me, I'll be with my overbearing mother. I'll be nothing but safe." She smiled, hugging onto me tightly. When we pulled away I stepped into the car, giving the two of them their privacy to say goodbye, but I could not help but watch.

They whispered to each other, Emily's arm coming up and wrapping around Peter's neck. She was dark against him, her native colors coming through as her wavy black hair went down her back. She was naturally beautiful, with the personality to match. Peter wiped the tear away from her face as she pushed her face into his neck. There was no denying they would miss each other, especially since Peter was just gone for a week.

I watched as he touched her chin, kissing her gently before whispering those three little words.

I love you.

They said it so easily. So effortlessly. That was how you knew it was true, when they could speak those words without hesitation. And I had wondered for a moment if Edward had ever told me those words while I was sleeping, or tried to when we were together. There were several times the emotions hung over me, wanting to break from my lips but I had always caught them in my throat.

I was nervous.

Scared.

What if I said them but he did not feel the same way?

Would he ever feel that way?

Peter took Emily to her car, kissing her once more before shutting her door. She waved at me goodbye, her eyes glassy and her cheeks puffy. I smiled weakly and waved, watching as Peter came into the car on the drivers side.

"You okay?" I asked him silently. He nodded his head and looked over at me. His eyes were slightly red. As if he were going to cry, but he never did. I knew he was terribly in love with her, he would miss her and he didn't want her to go.

I knew exactly how he felt. The emotions were too much at times. The words, catching up with you. I knew what it felt like to see someone leave and what it was like to kiss them goodbye. I was beginning to miss Edward terribly and it was only the first day. The clouds hovered over and it rain once again, but I knew that as I sat in this car that I could not hide what I wanted so much.

Despite our background, despite what happened between us or what it was before we were together… I knew something that vibrated in my bones, something that overwhelmed me every time I looked at him, every time he came to me and put his teeth on his mark, every time he kissed me… There was no other way around this. I was in too deep. I love Edward with everything that was in me.

And I could not deny it any longer.