A/N: Another chapter, woo. The full one is on my AO3 (same name as here) because I don't want to risk this story being taken down, whoops.

Enjoy. c:

Blood Bound
Chapter III :: I Need You

Things are okay for a little while after what transpired with James. Alec notices Edward battling some kind of internal demon, and while it concerns him, he doesn't ask or pry. It's not his place, but Alec isn't an idiot – he knows it probably has to do with what happened with the tracker.

Bella was okay, she didn't get hurt, at least not physically. Emotionally, though, was an entirely different story. Whenever she looks at Alec, her eyes go haunted, and he doesn't need to be able to read her mind to understand what she's feeling.

Guilt over being the reason he almost died.

He tries to reassure her he's okay, but no one believes it. And the worst of it all is Carlisle looks at him with the same expression Bella wears, but magnified twenty times worse.

What happened with James will stick to them like adhesive for the rest of eternity; Alec knows it. He wishes, with every fibre of his being, he could go back and erase what happened, that they could go back to being normal. But nothing will ever be normal ever again.

There is a shred of it during Bella's birthday celebrations, but this too is wiped away when Jasper flips out at the scent of Bella's blood. It's almost as if no matter how hard they try to have some kind of peace, some kind of normal, it's ripped away and leaves blood and bruises in its wake.

"We have to leave."

Alec looks at Edward, eyes tired. "What excuse are you going to use to bring Bella with you?"

"She's not coming."

Alec blinks a few times before narrowing his eyes. "Are you an idiot? Mates can't be separated; it'll kill both of you."

Edward levels a glare at the human, a low snarl slipping from behind clenched teeth. "She was fine before me. She'll find a way to survive once I'm gone."

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Alec retorts, "No, she won't. Your lives are intertwined now and leaving will kill her." He raises his head high, saying, "Guess she'll need someone to look out for her."

"What?"

Alec's hand starts to tremble at the mere thought of it, but he won't give in to the utter pain his entire soul screams at him to not do this. "I'm staying."

Edward's eyes go wide. "No, Alec. If you think Bella will die when I'm gone, you can't imagine what you being separated from Carlisle will do to him."

"It'll be hell, I know that. But I'll throw your words back at you; he was fine before me, he'll be fine after me." Chewing on his lower lip, Alec swallows hard. "Besides, maybe we were never meant to be a part of your world."

With those words said, Alec opens the door, but not before turning his head to give Edward a grim smile. "Tell him goodbye for me."

Walking away from the only place he's ever called home, Alec's entire frame racks with shivers as he moves further and further away. He doesn't want to do this; he wants to see him one last time before he disappears forever. He was good at this, leaving, but his heart twists painfully as tears drip down his cheeks.

It takes him a good hour of walking to reach Bella's home and his feet hurt like a bitch, but he knocks on Charlie's door, smiling at the man whenever he opens it with a shocked expression. "Hi, Charlie," Alec greets. "I just wanted to check on Bella. How's she doing?"

"She's… god, I don't know," Charlie admits. "Broken. You don't look too good either," the chief remarks, eyebrow cocked in concern. "As much as it doesn't surprise me Edward left her behind, I'm pretty shocked Carlisle left you. You two were practically joined at the hip."

"Haha… Let's just say it was without his knowledge," Alec replies with a tight smile. "He'll be okay. He was fine before I walked in his life."

"Yeah, but I've seen the way he looks at you. It's obvious to anyone you mean everything to him," Charlie says with a sigh. "But I guess looks can be deceiving."

Alec nods. "Can I stay with you guys for a couple days? I just want to make sure Bella will be okay before I move on."

"Where are you going?" Charlie sounds worried and Alec can't blame him for it.

"I dunno. Somewhere, but Bella has my number, and if she needs me, I'll come back. I promise."

Bella's father scrubs a hand over his face. "Why don't you stick around? You understand Bella's pain more than anyone. You can do more for her than any of us ever could."

Thinking about it for a few minutes, Alec lets out a sigh afterwards. "Yeah. Yeah, I will."

"Good. The couch is all yours," Charlie says with a small smile. He looks over Alec's shoulder, eyes going wide, before he scoffs. "Looks like someone couldn't just let you go."

Alec knows who it is without turning, but he does in a slow, deliberate manner. He nods at Carlisle, who looks shattered, but Alec won't let it deter him. "Let's go somewhere more quiet," he murmurs. He looks at Charlie. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Don't wait up."

Charlie shuts the door, and Alec walks towards the back of the house. Once they're away from prying eyes, Alec doesn't expect Carlisle to shove him against the house and kiss him. Alec can feel every bit of desperation, every ounce of sorrow, and he can't help but grip onto his shirt and return the kiss with his own anguish.

Alec breaks the contact, brushing his fingers against Carlisle's cheek, a tired smile on his face. "You know this is how it has to be."

"No, it doesn't," Carlisle whispers against Alec's lips, claiming them once again. Alec feels tears well in his eyes and drip down his face as he clings onto the only person he ever loved, a shuddering breath slipping free once his mate pulls away. "I can't leave you, Alec. I can't."

"You idiot," Alec murmurs affectionately, tangling his fingers in Carlisle's hair. "Yes, you can. You survived for centuries without me."

A ragged sigh leaves his beloved at those words. "I can't," is all he utters, leaning their foreheads together. "Don't do this. Please."

Alec trembles as his hands clench on Carlisle's shoulders. "We have to. You'll be okay."

The mortal jolts when Carlisle slams his hand against the house, leaving cracks in its wake. He moves off, his entire body shaking, and Alec wishes things could be different. He wishes things could go back to how they were, before James and all this hell was unleashed. But they have to do this.

"Bella and I were never meant to be a part of your world," Alec whispers, and Carlisle turns violently, fangs bared as he snarls. "It's for the best, Carlisle. You know that better than anyone."

What's best described as a painful whine leaves his mate at those words, and Alec hates that sound more than any other. It's full of anguish, of despair and sorrow, and his entire body screams at him to ensure it never leaves his beloved again. His body moves on its own, and he rests his head against his mate's shoulder, wrapping his arms around him.

Carlisle crushes him to his chest, and Alec winces at the pain, but he doesn't try to move away. They remain intertwined for a good five minutes before Alec looks up, seeing onyx instead of topaz, and it makes him nuzzle Carlisle's shoulder. "You have to go before someone sees you."

"No," the word comes again, and Alec sighs, nuzzling his shoulder again.

"You have to." He tips his head up. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

Another whine, another moment of Alec's entire soul yelling at him to stop making Carlisle let out such pained sounds. "I can't live without you."

"You can. I believe in you."

Alec leans up, capturing his beloved's lips once more, and finds himself shocked when Carlisle shoves him against a tree, devouring his mouth like kissing him is his sole source of oxygen. But, being human, Alec breaks the kiss, but places his lips against Carlisle's cheek.

"Goodbye, my love. You'll find someone better for you someday. I know you will."

A hand grips his wrist when he tries to leave, and Alec's blue stares into anguished onyx. "No, I won't."

Alec places a hand over Carlisle's, and he lets him go after a few minutes. "Thank you for giving me the best three years of my life. I'll always remember them, and you."

Before any other words can be said, Alec bolts into the house, tears falling down his cheeks as he sobs.

Hearing Alec sob, smelling the salt of his tears, and not being able to do a damn thing about it, is one of the worst pains Carlisle ever felt in all his centuries. But once the door slams, signifying this truly is the end, he runs through the forest, letting out a despairing roar before punching a tree.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to change Alec one day and have forever with him. Now that's nothing but a dream, one violently ripped away from them. And the thought of Alec falling into anyone else's arms but his makes a sick feeling wrench through Carlisle's entire core.

Bella and I were never meant to be a part of your world.

"Yes, you were," he whispers to himself, snarling and punching the tree again. It falls to the ground with the force of the impact.

Carlisle hears someone approach, and he turns to see Alice looking at him with a sorrowful expression. "We have to go," she murmurs, sadness in her eyes.

"I know," Carlisle replies. He steels himself for centuries without Alec and finds himself gagging at the thought. Alice rushes to his side, rubbing his shoulder as her father dry heaves. It lasts for a few minutes, and once it's over, he gasps for air.

"I can't imagine how hard this must be," Alice whispers.

"I wouldn't want you to," is the broken murmur she gets as a reply. Carlisle straightens, eyes hardening. "Let's go."

If Alec thought he was close to Bella before, well, it was nothing compared to their bond now. Whenever Bella woke herself up screaming from violent nightmares, he would be right at her side, gripping her hand as she calmed herself down. He knows Charlie's grateful for his presence and Alec's thankful he can be there for his friend as well.

He rarely sleeps anymore due to night terrors that are worse than Bella's, but he doesn't tell anyone that.

The two of them start to hang out with Jacob more, and Alec's happy Bella has another support in her life. He lets them do their own thing while he watches from the sidelines, even though Bella tries to get him to partake in what they're doing. He doesn't want to intrude on their time together, so he sits and lets memories of happier times pass through his core, and always finds himself sobbing when he remembers.

One particular day, as Jacob and Bella work on motorcycles, Alec finds himself violently trembling, feeling sick to his stomach. He excuses himself to throw up, but the shaking doesn't stop even after he's emptied his stomach contents. Bella is beside him in minutes, hand on his shoulder as he starts to dry heave.

"You can't live like this," Bella says to her friend. "As much as I love Edward and no matter how grateful I am you're here, you need to be with him. Don't you remember what Edward said? You two can't be separated."

Alec doesn't reply, just continues to dry heave and gasp for air. Jacob comes over to them, concern written all over his face, and Bella looks at him. "I'm guessing neither of you have the Cullen's contact information," Jacob mutters, and Bella shakes her head. "Figures. Nice how they can just leave you two behind without thinking of what it'll do to either of you."

Alec starts throwing up again, this time blood, and Bella gasps. "We have to get you to a hospital. Now."

He tries reassuring her he's fine, that he doesn't need a hospital, but his words are silenced by more blood spilling from his lips. Jacob curses, and Alec barely registers him saying something before he runs in the house.

"It'll be okay, Alec," Bella tries to reassure, resting her forehead against his shoulder. "He'll come back. You won't be suffering too much longer."

Those are the only words Alec hears before his vision swims and everything goes black.

He wasn't living. Living would be having his beloved by his side and holding him each and every night as he slept. No, Carlisle would say he's only existing. His children try their best to get him to do something, but he refuses them each and every time.

It's been a few months of absolute hell. Not knowing if Alec is okay, if he's even alive, or if he found love with someone else… it's torture. But Carlisle knows he'd know if Alec was no longer living. He'd feel it in whatever soul he has left.

He doesn't expect Alice to come rushing into his home one day with wild eyes and fearful expression. Carlisle immediately knows it has to do with Alec, and he sits her down, trying to be the calm one as he asks, "What did you see?"

"He's–... oh god, Carlisle, he's dying," Alice whispers.

Carlisle swears his heart skips a beat as ice cold fear rips through him. "What?"

"I saw him in a hospital, hooked up to so many machines, and the doctors saying he doesn't have much time. You have to go back; if you don't, we'll lose him forever."

That's all she needs to say. He stands, clenching his fists. He shouldn't have let Alec convince him. He should have fought tooth and nail to keep him beside him. And now his failure could cost him his mate.

Knowing running would be faster, but having to keep up human appearances, Carlisle uses the car to drive as fast he can to Forks. He reaches the hospital in record time, and feels the surprise from his old coworkers at him being there.

"Dr. Cullen," one of the nurses says, alarmed. "We didn't hear you were coming back."

"Where's Alec?" he snarls, and she looks taken aback.

"How did you–... no matter. He's in the ICU. Come with me."

Carlisle follows her and when they reach the ICU, he would have sobbed if he could at feeling Alec's familiar warmth once again. But it's laced with something cold, and he rushes to his precious mate's side.

"Alec, my love, I'm here," Carlisle whispers, kissing his forehead. "I'm here, so you can wake up."

The nurses and doctors look shocked when Alec's vitals start to return to normal, and his eyelids flutter before those beautiful blue eyes open. They look unfocused, glossy, so Carlisle runs his hand over Alec's forehead, seeing the bewilderment in those eyes when they realize who's there.

They dart over to Carlisle, and immediately well up with tears. Alec reaches for him, and everything is right in their world when their fingers interlock.

"I'm so sorry, my darling," Carlisle murmurs, dusting his fingers over Alec's face. "I shouldn't have left you, no matter how much you insisted we would be okay."

Alec shakes his head, using his fingers to spell out something on his mate's hand. 'Not your fault. Mine.'

"No, sweetheart, not yours. Both of ours."

'Not leaving?'

"No. Never again."

A smile breaks out on Alec's face as he tightens his grip on Carlisle's other hand. 'I'm sorry.'

"Don't be, my beloved. But now we know we cannot live without each other."

Alec nods, looking like he wishes he could do more than just hold Carlisle's hand. He notices, and looks at the doctor treating his beloved. "Is there a way you can maneuver him so I can hold him? It'll help," he adds on at the doctor's surprised look.

"He's already recovering when we thought he never would, so I'll see what I can do."

An hour later, Carlisle has Alec in his arms again, right where he belongs. He kisses his hair, and Alec curls against him, gripping onto his shirt.

"Never again," he swears, and Alec nods, slipping into sleep.

No longer being trapped in cold, unforgiving darkness is something Alec finds himself grateful for. He didn't think Carlisle would ever come back, not after what happened between them, but after hearing everything that happened with Bella and Edward, well, he's grateful it didn't come to that with them.

Finding themselves back at the Cullen's home, Bella embraces him, holding onto him tightly as she mutters he can't ever do that to her again. Alec laughs, saying it wasn't his intention to do such a thing, but promises he'll do his best to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"It won't," Carlisle said at those words. "Because we'll never leave each other."

Alec blushed, nodding, and went to Carlisle's side, tucking himself against him with a soft smile. He was filled in on everything that happened while he was in a coma; Jacob turning into a werewolf, Victoria hanging around, and then the Volturi. A shudder passes through him at the mention of the oldest vampire clan, and Carlisle nuzzles him, stopping the raw fear pulsing through his core.

"They know about Alec," Edward murmurs. "I told them you planned to turn him within the year."

A year. One more year of being mortal, and then he'll have forever with Carlisle. He looks at his mate, seeing his eyes harden, and he buries his face within his chest, wrapping his arms around the man he loves more than anyone in the world.

"I'm fine with that. I'll be 30 in a year, which is a pretty good immortal age," Alec whispers. Carlisle sighs, weaving his arms around him and pressing his nose into his hair. "We knew this would happen eventually, especially now that we know we can't live without each other."

A hum is all he gets as an answer, those cold arms tightening around him. "I supposed we can be damned together," Carlisle utters, and Alec nods, tilting his face up to kiss him. It's meant to reassure, not spark or ignite, and after a moment, they break the contact with soft smiles on their faces.

Breathing in his mate's scent, the one thing which always serves to calm and ground Alec, he wishes he could take things to the next level. He knows that's a door which will never open, but that doesn't mean they can't do something to take the edge off. He looks into those topaz eyes he loves so much, and takes Carlisle's hand, leading him to the bedroom.

Shutting the door behind him, he presses his mate against the wall, a little grin on his face at Carlisle's confused expression.

"I think we both need to get the edge off."

With that said, he kisses him once again.

TBC...