Guys, I'm sorry. But this time it wasn't my fault! I was grounded, but even if I was allowed on the computer, I probably wouldn't have gotten on because I had bronchitis. Excuses aside, my grounding's over and I can get back into the story. Thank you all for reviewing. I never thought I'd get more than 50 or so.

I opened my eyes. Energy pulsed inside of me, anger and hatred threatening to eat me alive. I fought my way free of the murky waters of James thoughts. It was impossibly hard, like fighting my way through a marsh. Each step was increasingly difficult, the currents trying to drag me down again. But know I had something solid, real, to hold onto. The thought of Bella gave me the strength I needed. Finally, I was free.

I searched the room. Laurent was already finished off, and Jasper was at Alice's side, his arms thrown up to protect her from Victoria. But in the center of the room, I saw James. He was already much the worse for wear, missing several chunks of flesh, as well as his left arm, which I spied halfway across the room.

Circled around him was Rosalie, her face twisted in a fierce snarl, and by her side Emmett, his eyes filled with bloodlust. Esme's face was contorted with indecision; like Carlisle, she hated to fight. My father stood next to her. His face was turned away from me, but I knew that he was disgusted. He would fight, but he would hate every second.

And next to them.. Bella.

Her beautiful face was filled with hatred. Her hands were clenched into fists, and as I walked forward, her eyes locked with mine. In them, I could see two hundred year's worth of pain and loneliness. And the culprit was standing not a few yards away.

My family parted silently for me, and Alice spun towards us, her dark eyes unfocused. I tried to see her vision, but it was a mass of writhing darkness. It terrified me.

Again I was filled with hate and fury. I looked at James, and I knew that I had never hated anyone in the world like I hated him at that moment, and that I never would. I wanted to kill him. I hadn't ever felt bloodlust like this, even as a newborn. I knew that it would be impossible for me to leave him alive. He had to die, and I wanted to do it.

I won't go into details there, except for that Jasper and Emmett helped me. Esme, Alice, and Carlisle turned away, but Rosalie watched with vindictive glee on her face. Bella watched, too, but not with pleasure as Rose did. Her eyes were stony cold as she watched, like it was something repulsive but necessary for her to witness. And I suppose it was.

I will say that he suffered long before we ended his existence. We made him pay for every minute of the two hundred years he had stolen from Bella. Maybe it was relief that I saw on his mangled face when I struck the final blow. I will say that, too, that it was me who killed James. It is something I will never forget, no matter how long I live.

When it was finished there was silence for a full minute. "Is it over?" Esme whispered. Her thoughts were anxious and fearful. Then a horrible scream broke the still. I spun around, pressing my hands to my ears to protect them, as windows shattered and glass rained down on us. I had forgotten about Victoria. She stared at James's remains, horrorstruck.

She screamed again, and Jasper shouted, "Someone shut her up!" Rosalie wheeled about, all too eager to obey. Victoria's scream cut off with a gurgle as she gauged the danger. Scrambling, she headed for the door.

Rosalie started to follow, but Alice said softly, "Leave it, Rose."

With difficulty, I pulled my eyes away from James. I found Bella immediately. She stood a few yards away from me, staring in shock and wonder at James. "Bella," I called to her softly.

She looked up, her eyes glazed. She didn't seem to see me at all. I wondered if ghosts could go into shock.

"Bella," I called again, stepping forward. She wrapped her arms around me, pressing her face into my shirt. She was trembling.

We stood there for a long time, and my family watching us. Finally her arms relaxed, and she pulled away. "Thank you," she whispered. Her voice was raspy and full of emotion. She turned, looking at each of us. "Thank you all."

I pulled her back into my arms. I wasn't quite ready to let her go. I still had James's memories; they felt evil, dark, like some strange pollutant inside my mind. She looked down at his body, and she said quietly, "Is he really dead?"

That reminded me. I nodded at her. "He's definitely dead." I glanced at my brothers. I didn't want to scare Bella, so I whispered, "We should get out some gasoline. I don't want to take any chances." Jasper nodded at me.

Bella stepped away suddenly. She frowned, looking down at herself. "Is there something wrong?" I asked her fearfully.

Bella blinked. "I don't know. I feel funny." She sounded funny, too. Her voice echoed as she spoke, like it was coming from somewhere far away. "It's not bad exactly," she reassured me. "Just funny."

I saw the same glowing I had noticed the first time I kissed her, like her skin was lit from inside.

With a sudden dread, I knew what was happening.

I'm afraid this is nearly the end of our story. There's one more chapter, maybe two at most, left.