A/N: These wonderful characters still belong to Stephenie Meyer. My birthday is coming up, though. Maybe she'll give them to me as a present??

EPOV

I was about to find out how Bella and the rest of the family would react to my plan. Carlisle embraced my ideas, but was not thrilled about the enormity of what we were about to do. He was headed to his office to begin an extensive list of everyone who would somehow be touched by our solution to prevent war. It would be extremely important to not leave any person who had ever heard of the Cullen family unaffected.

The plan heavily relied on Bella's mental and emotional strength, which neither of us felt one hundred percent certain of. Her friendship with Jacob Black would never be salvaged, but that was not likely to be restored now anyway. It may comfort her, though, that he would be able to live a happy and normal life, as would we. At least, as normal as we could ever expect. What I worried about most, though, was how she would feel about Charlie and Renee.

While Carlisle worked on his task, I was going to explain to Bella what our intentions were for the little town that she considered home for the past several years. When I quietly entered our room and saw her laying on our bed listening to the CD that I had made for her, I was overwhelmed by my love for her.

She looked like an angel, a peaceful smile on her lips, her long brown hair spread across the pillow. Her eyes were closed and it reminded me so much of how I would watch her sleep when she was still human. The memory of those first few times I heard her call out my name in her sleep came flooding back to me, and I found myself smiling just a bit at the way my still heart had soared at that sound.

She was my entire existence, and I could not allow anything to threaten her happiness ever again, even her own choice to become a vampire.

Just then she opened her eyes and looked up at me. I could tell she was relieved to have me with her again, which only made me happier. The plan, the wolves, the war, would all have to wait just a bit longer. Right now I could not think of anything but being with her, loving her with all my heart and soul.

She seemed to need me as much as I needed her at that moment. She wondered aloud if we should be discussing my idea instead of making love, but she quickly dropped the subject once I assured her everything was going to be fine, and we continued to get lost in each other.

We spent the next hour simply loving each other with everything we had, until finally we just held each other, and I planted gentle kisses all along her forehead. I could have laid there holding her forever, but her curiosity would no longer tolerate silence on my part.

"So, are you going to tell me what you and Carlisle talked about now, or do I have to call Carlisle in here to tell me himself?" she finally asked.

"Yes, I suppose you do need to know." I looked at her and tried to figure out where to start. Her expression told me that she was beginning to feel stressed again.

"Is it terrible, Edward? Please tell me everything."

"I'm not sure how to explain it, but no. I wouldn't say terrible. It will, however, change almost everything." I tightened my grip around her waist and pulled her closer to me for one last kiss before beginning.

"Okay, so let's hear it. What's the solution?"

"You," I replied, and kissed the top of her head. It took a second before her voice caught up with the confusion on her face.

"And how exactly am I the solution?"

"Bella, the wolves are not going to let us live in peace, anywhere. Sooner or later it will come to a vicious fight, and I can't bear to see you hurt, or to have you suffer a loss that you would have to live with forever.

"Carlisle and I discussed a plan that involves you using your abilities, but it's something that you would have to feel comfortable with and strong enough for. It involves planting false memories, and erasing others, and will affect many people."

She was looking at me with huge eyes, trying to digest what I had just said. She lay in my arms still as a statue, just staring.

"Bella, love, tell me what you're thinking. Please?"

She began shaking her head, apparently in disbelief that I would consider something as radical as this. I was prepared to begin thinking of another plan, but her reaction worried me. After all that we had been through, did she now think of me as a monster, because I was willing to alter so many people's lives so that we could continue ours?

"I can't believe it." She was more speaking to herself than me. This obviously was not going to work. I couldn't ask her to do something so against her character, and felt ashamed that I had even attempted it.

"Bella, I understand if it's something you aren't willing to do. I had to make the suggestion, though. Even though I didn't like the idea of affecting so many lives, either, I just haven't been able to come up with an alternative yet. Please don't hate me. I promise you that I will find another solution." I felt desperate for her forgiveness, then she spoke again.

"What?" She looked right into my eyes. "No, Edward, it's not that. Not at all. I can't believe I didn't think of this myself. This could really work!" Her acceptance and enthusiasm caught me completely off guard. All I could do was nod, waiting for her to continue. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said "I guess I'm not used to being the one with any power over a situation, and it just took me by surprise that I could do something to help everyone."

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. I couldn't help but smile as I cupped her face in my hand and looked into her eyes. "You never cease to amaze me, Bella. Just when I think you couldn't possibly have the strength to handle something, you come out fighting like a prize winning champion."

I had to wonder, though, if perhaps an important part of this had escaped her.

"But," I said carefully gauging her reaction, "You realize that this includes Charlie and Renee also?"

She looked away from my eyes briefly, and nodded. If she didn't want to talk about that part right now, I was not going to force her.

"So, when…how?" I could see many questions forming in her mind, and I wasn't sure I could answer them all without Carlisle's help.

"Let's get dressed and go talk with everyone downstairs. I think Carlisle has been working out some details and between all of us we can figure it out."

"Okay," she said, and we both getting up. "But, Edward?" She turned to me, still looking concerned.

"Yes, love?"

"Do you think even prize winning champions feel anxiety attacks coming on before the big fight?" She had her arms wrapped around her waist, and I was at her side in less than an instant.

"I'm sure they do, sweetheart." I tried to sooth her as my arms cradled her against me. "I'm sure they do."

Okay, so a little teaser about what's going to happen. Time is running out before the wolves descend, though…… Please review!! Please review!! Please review!!