AN: If you don't read this then you are going to be wondering where I am going to be for the next week. Ok I'm going to do my best to get the next chapter of His Wish and BRR out by next Thursday morning, but I will not be updating for probably a week after the next chapter. I'm going on a cruise and won't be back until Nov. 2 or 3. Ok so now I hope you enjoy this! I love this chapter definitely on one my fav list. KEEP READING! -SNOWY

100 years later (I think :P)

CHAPTER 12: Bittersweet Freedom

They were all round me, they had cornered me; their alerted red eyes watched me murderously. I took a cautious step back, and the red eyed newborns took an eager step closer too me. They were about ten surrounding me, but I heard others at a distance. I had seriously got myself in trouble—deadly trouble.

One of the newborns shot out at me, I dodged it only to be attacked again from the side. I twirled to the left grabbing the newborns arm in the process and slamming him into another. In half a second, I had six bites on both of my arms, seven newborns on top of me, and three sharp pairs of teeth going for my neck.

Then suddenly all the weight that was pressed on me was suddenly slung off. Piercing screams of pain echoed around me, I winced slightly at the agony in the newborn's cries. As suddenly as it happened everything was calm and silent—my arms were stinging from the bites.

"What are you doing, Ella?" I heard his soft, strained voice behind me. If my heart was still beating, it would have been fluttering.

"Doing what?" I asked innocently. I sat up and turned toward Alex, he was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed.

"I turn my back for five seconds, and you're out here provoking newborns." He said pinching the bridge of his nose, he pushed off the tree and flashed in front of me.

"I did not provoke them!" I protested as he brushed a stray hair away from my face.

"I think you did young one," He said quietly taking my hand and raising it to his lips. I couldn't help but melt at his touch, even though I bristled at the phrase 'young one'. "Are you all right?"

"Just a few scratches," I said calmly, but winced as he traced his fingers along my arm.

"I think Margie saw a whole lot worse—she was quite jumpy." Alex said with a chuckle, but I saw a cold dark memory flash in his eyes. The night, I was changed. Even though he was quite calm about everything, he always kept his promise to never leave my side. Until now, which I was the one that snuck away from him.

"Alex, I think we need to talk." I whispered, purposely avoiding his eyes.

"What is it Rose?" (Rose is Alex's nickname for Ella—because when she was human she smelled like fresh roses) He didn't sound wary, only curious. It felt awful to do this to him.

"Alex, I would like to go on my own for a few weeks." I cringed, awaiting his answering rejection, but it never came. I glanced up at him his face, it was unreadable, and he refused to connect with my eyes. "Alex you have always been there, making sure no harm came to me, but I want to know if I can handle everything on my own."

He snapped his head back up staring straight into my eyes. I was able to see the memory that always haunted him…and me. Most human memories would fade away, but that one memory, he feared more than anything—losing someone else he loved.

"I'll always come back to you, never doubt that," His eyes cautiously doubted my words. Anger flared from inside me. "I'm nothing like her Alex! I will always come back to you, I love you too much to not come back, but I need to see if I'm strong enough to go on my own…"

"Ella…" Alex muttered, sliding his fingers slowly down my neck.

"Let her go, Alexander," Margie whispered dramatically. Alex rolled his eyes.

"And why should I let her go, Margie?" Alex asked sternly, even though he knew she was eavesdropping, it didn't mean he approved it.

"Because I'm going with her," Margie said confidently, apparently she already knew.

"Is that so?" Alex said flatly.

"Grow up Alexander; if you watch Ella under a microscope all the time—I wouldn't blame her if she didn't ever want to come back!"

"I would never—" Margie's' glare shut me up instantly.

"So which is it Alex?" Margie glanced at Alex, who was staring at me.

Instead of answering he reached for my hand and helped me to stand up. With a flick of his free hand, he told Margie to leave. She sighed impatiently—apparently she was eager—but left without another word.

"Are you positive you want to do this?" He whispered seductively, wrapping his arms around my waist. Before I could answer, his lips were on mine. I suddenly lost all reason of ever separating myself from him. He pulled back quicker than I liked, and smiled down at me "Well?"

"You are cruel." I moaned, understanding exactly what he was doing. I reached behind his head and forced his lips back on mine. He deepened the kiss, but pulled back and leaned his forehead against mine. His ragged breathing matched mine.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Alex asked, this time his voice told me he was serious.

"Will you let me go?" I whispered, closing my eyes enjoying myself in his arms.

"I won't stand in your way Eleanor." He promised.

"And you won't follow?" I hedged, pulling back so I could see his face.

"I won't follow."

I studied him for a moment; I could tell he was struggling with the memory of Catherin. I had the sudden urge to prove to him. I pressed myself closer to him; I placed my mouth close to his ear.

"I'll always come back to you." I whispered forcefully.

"I know." He said simply.

We broke apart slowly, hearing our family coming toward us. Alex grabbed my hand and kissed it tenderly before letting our entwined hands drop between us. My adopted family, in seconds stood before us.

"So are we going?" Sarah asked coolly. I blinked rapidly and stared at her, surprised.

"Are you coming too, Sarah?" I asked.

"I thought it would be better if we didn't leave Sarah out, on our all girl's week." Margie chirped in eagerly.

Ok, so I wasn't going to be completely alone, but I couldn't argue—Alex was actually agreeing to it.

"We can leave today!" Margie exclaimed; I glanced at Alex.

"Why are you in such a hurry Margie?" Alex asked suspiciously. Margie just smiled and flashed to my side.

"Make your goodbye sweet Ella, you won't see him for a while." Margie whispered in my ear. "Sarah and I are going on ahead. We are going up north toward Oregon."

Just like that Alex and I were alone again. I hadn't plan on going this fast or abruptly. When I looked back into his eyes I saw that same fear. Before I could say anything he leaned down and very gently touched my lips with his.

"You better get going. It seems Margie is in a hurry," He said quietly.

"I'm going to miss you, very, very much." I whispered raggedly.

"I'll miss you more than you know" Alex said, stepping back from me. A part of my mind was shouting for me not to go, not to leave without him.

"Love you." I said weakly, taking a step away from him.

"Love you," He whispered, and just like our family he disappeared. I watched him weave through the trees until he disappeared in the forest darkness. I felt emptiness in my chest, but my body was eager to move—to taste the bittersweet freedom.

I caught up with my two sisters, and we raced up North, heading toward something big, new, and beyond exciting.