Edward~

Billy had been at it for over an hour. He talked to continuously trying to make Jake come from the kitchen. The officers were sure if they could get him in front of the window without Rose or Bella then they would have one of two options, take him down with as much force as necessary or one of the officers would have a clean shot. They wouldn't shoot to kill but he would be down long enough for them to extract the girls. It was going on hour four of the stand off. Everyone was getting more and more on edge if that was even possible. My friends had taken to passing Lilly around for comfort. She was some small portion of Bella we could hold right now. Lilly didn't understand why Bella couldn't come outside or why she couldn't go in to her. She was starting to get extremely irate with all the adults in her life. Charlie was another story entirely. He paced back and fourth behind the barricades. He hadn't said anything to anyone since he told me he couldn't lose Bella. The pain in his eyes at the thought of losing her was a sight I would carry with me for the rest of my life. Sue Clearwater came with Billy. She tried to talk to Charlie but he wasn't budging from his speechless state. Most of the town gathered to watch the spectacle. Ambulances were at the ready and full staffed. The thought of needing them shook me to my core. I repeated to myself over and over again that Bella and Rose had to come out unharmed, there was no other option. I really did think that if I believed it hard enough it would happen. I wasn't naturally an optimistic person but today I had to believe in the power of positive thinking.

"Son, now I know you love Bella but this isn't the way. You come on out now." Billy's voice was true and strong. The way an adult might of spoken to an ambivalent child. One of the officers came into the circle and whispered something to him. Billy's face dropped but he nodded. the look in his eyes scared the hell out of me all over again. I stopped the officer when he came back over to our side,

"What did you say to him?" I wondered. The officer looked away and walked quickly back to the line of cruisers. I approached Charlie and demanded to be told what they said to Billy. Charlies head snapped up.

"The negotiator we've been on the phone with doesn't seem to think this is going anywhere. Best case scenario was for Billy to talk him down and for Jake to release both girls." Charlies voice was detached. He could be a cop right now and not a father but I didn't have that option. I had no other position in this but to be the man in love with Bella.

"And the worst case scenario?" I asked. I knew what the answer was.

"Worst case is for him to release just Rose. He didn't want her anyway from what we can gather." Charlies voice was a whisper as he spoke.

"There has to be a third option." I had to believe that.

"If there is, I don't see one. We've got ten minutes to come up with something or Billy is going to start persuading him to release just Rose." Charlie turned away from me.

"Tell him to take me instead." I demanded.

"What?" Charlie said.

"Tell him to take me instead. He's insane and it might be enough for him to know if he cant have her I won't either." everyone was staring at me like I was crazy and maybe I was but if it would save Bella's life then it was worth it. Charlie took me by the elbow pulling far from the crowd.

"Edward, that's suicide." he said. I shook my head,

"I don't care. Her life for mine. It's a fair trade." I rambled but never gave my words another thought.

"Edward, he could kill you." Charlie said. My eyes stayed fixed on him. He said it as if my life without Bella could mean anything.

"Lilly needs her mother." I said to him. I placed my hand on his shoulder and stared into his eyes, "My daughter needs her mother, Charlie." I was pleading with him to go with this. I didn't want to talk about this anymore. I just wanted to do it.

"You would really die for her." Charlie said. It wasn't a question for him or myself. It was a statement of fact.

"Yes I would. Start the negotiations and I'll need somewhere I can talk to Lilly. I have to tell her something before I go." I said. It was the first time my voice shook since I made the decision to offer the trade. Charlie started making the arrangements, all I could do was wait.

Bella~

Jake started to pace. The gun in his hand still cocked and loaded. Rose prayed quietly beside me. This was not something I had ever known her to do. We listened while Billy tried to talk to Jake about good times and bad times. It wasn't until he mentioned Sarah, Jake's mother, that Jake started pacing. He held his free hand over his ear and kept his head down. He was crying but not backing down. I couldn't tell if Billy was making it better or worse.

"Rose, it's going to be okay." I whispered again and kissed her temple. I don't know how but I still had hope. I knew Edward and my Dad were out there and as long as that was true everything would be okay.

" I keep thinking about all the things I'll never do." she broke down in sobs again. I brushed her tears away and shook my head,

"Wrong. You'll do anything you've ever wanted to do because you are walking out of here. I promise Rose. You're going to walk out of here." I smiled at her to give her some kind of hope. She laid her head on my shoulder and cried. I couldn't cry yet. Crying was like admitting this was over and I couldn't. I had to much left to do for my life to end this way.

"Jacob, this is chief Swan. Answer the phone when it rings." my dad's voice rang over the mega phone. Jake pointed the gun at Rose and I,

"You two don't say a fuckin word. You hear me? Not a fuckin peep." Jake said. A moment later the phone rang. Jake answered it with a snarl. He put it on speaker and kept pacing.

"Jacob, this is Edward Masen." my heart sang at the sound of his voice. I was right. He was out there waiting for me.

"Jake, I know when I came back here it messed up all your plans and I'm sorry about that. I really am but Bella and Rose they didn't do anything. This is all my fault, let me make it right. Take me instead." Edward's statement was like a ton of bricks over my head. I gasped. Jake's eyes met mine.

"Why should I take you? What's in it for me?" Jake wondered. Rose was staring at me.

"When I'm out of the way. Bella might love you again and if she doesn't then you didn't lose her to me because I'll be dead." I wanted to vomit. I felt my stomach roll over and the nausea hit me all at once.

"I'll think about it." Jake told him. I could already see the wheels turning in his mind.

"Charlie says to tell you you've only got ten minutes to make the decision." Jake clicked the phone off. Edward's voice was gone.

"Jake you don't want him. You want me. I did this not him. He didn't make me break up with you. I did it on my own. You should kill me not him." I rambled. A rueful, greedy smile crossed Jake's lips.

Edward~

Charlie briefed me and got me ready for what I had to do but before I went I had to talk to Lilly. Alice brought her to me in the empty store next to Bella's. Charlie cleared it out for me so Lilly and I could talk in private. Alice sat her down then walked to the door, she was giving us as much privacy as she could.

"Lilly do you remember what you said this morning?" I asked her with as big of a smile as I could manage. I kneeled in front of her taking her tiny hand in mine.

"I wished you were my Daddy." she said. It struck me again how small she was.

"that's right. Lilly I'm sorry I haven't been around and I'm sorry it took me so long to meet you but I am your daddy. Your honest to goodness blood father." I told her. It felt good to say the words. I watched the news wash over her. Her eyes lit up, "I knew it! I knew the very first time I saw you!" Lilly yelled. I opened my arms for her and looked up at Alice. She was crying but smiling.

"I have to go help your mommy now. I just wanted you to know I love you with all my heart and I love your mommy too." I hugged Lilly to me tightly and squeezed her. Trying to memorize the feeling of her in my arms.

"I love you too Daddy. Forever and ever." she said into my neck. Charlie knocked on the glass motioning for me to come out. Jake had made a decision.

I carried Lilly until the point where I couldn't anymore. I looked down at Alice, my tiny sister. She laid her head against my chest and sobbed.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to be your brother but Ali, I love you. Please always remember that." I said to her. She nodded. Jasper came over and held her gently to him. I knew they were just friends but maybe someday they would be more. The thought cheered me up a bit. Emmett was waiting for me at the opening in the barricade.

"Edward, I can't tell you what...." the big guy choked up. I smiled,

"It's okay buddy. Just take care of my girls, okay? If something happens. Promise me you'll take are of them." I said. Emmett nodded, "I promise." I slapped Em's arm and walked to Charlie so he could escort me over.

"Remember Edward, he's going to send the girls out as you go in but you cannot have contact with Bella in anyway." I nodded understanding. He could still shoot her and I couldn't take that chance. I looked back over my shoulder just once and saw my family gathered on the side walk. Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Lilly would be joined by Bella and Rose in a moment and things would be right again. Everything would be as it should be.

I walked into the large opening where Billy had been and waited for him to open the door.

It only took a moment before he appeared in the window with both of the girls. Rose was bleeding and crying but other wise she looked okay. Bella didn't appear to be physically injured. Her face crumpled when she saw me through the glass. I smiled. I wished in that second that I had to ability to speak into her mind. I wanted to tell her it's okay. I chose this. I want to do this for you. My thoughts were ripped apart by the sound of a familiar piercing scream. I turned briefly and witnessed my mother trying to break through the barricade.

"No Edward! Oh god no!" she cried. For a moment I felt a pang of guilt. If Jake killed me she would be alone. Then I remembered she had chosen to be alone anyway.

"That's my son!" she screamed. I turned back around and focused on what I was doing. I couldn't falter. Nothing could slip by me. This was to important. Bella's life was to important. Jake opened the door, I heard the familiar ringing bells. They sounded louder then they ever had before. Rose was shoved out first and she walked half way before being met by Mike Newton. He ran her across the line to her waiting husband. Jake stood behind Bella now, the gun pointing into her back. He held her in place with his arm over throat.

"I am sending her out but if I see one weapon I will shoot her." he screamed. I took a quick look around motioning for every one to lower there weapons.

"Edward don't do this." Bella compelled me but what choice did I have? Seeing him hold her that way. Watching him point a gun at her!

"Bella I have too. I messed up all Jake's plans and now I have to pay the price. It's okay. Don't cry. It's okay." I said. Her eyes shut tight. She took a deep breath and shook her head

"No." she said before she stomped down on Jake's foot. He lost his balance and cursed but let her go and she ran to me. Automatically I opened my arms for her even though it was against what I was told to do. She ran into them flinging her arms around my neck. I heard Lilly crying for her. Screaming at her but she didn't move.

"You bitch!" Jake screamed and raised his gun.. I threw Bella to the ground with all the force I had right before Jake raised his gun and shot me in the chest.

A/n- Thanks for all the reviews! I know I am like a cliffie queen right now but I don't mean to. I just stop where it feels natural. I feel like if I force it wont be good. Again thanks for all the reviews!