I do not own Twilight or any of its' characters

BPOV

Chapter 18

Terms and Conditions

I was asleep in my bed at Charlie's, Edward was lying on top of the covers beside me not sleeping, with Topaz on his chest. The sound of his cell phone ringing woke me up. I looked at the bedside stand, through my bleary eyes I could see that it was six o'clock in the morning.

"Hello?" he answered smoothly. I couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the phone, and even if I could, I was too sleepy to be able to decipher anything. "Yes, I think that can be arranged, what time?" He looked over at me in my woozy state and smiled a little, "that may be a little early for Bella, is ten o'clock alright? Perfect, thank you." He closed the phone and placed it back in his pocket.

"What, who was that?" I mumbled

"Nothing you need to worry about now love, go back to sleep, I'll get you up in a few hours."

I looked at him, perplexed, and then shrugged my shoulders and fell back asleep. Right around nine o'clock, Edward woke me up. He had left and changed his clothes and come back. He sat down beside me, eyes sparkling brilliantly and his full lips curved into a perfect smile. I could smell his rich scent radiating off of his clothes; it invigorated me, what a perfect way to wake up in the morning.

"We have to go see Juno this morning."

I sat up quickly, "Is something wrong with Topaz?"

"No, he's fine, she wants to speak to you and me."

"Was that her who called this morning?" I asked, vaguely remembering.

"It was."

"You could have woken me up you know, I don't mind."

"Bella, we only have a few days left of break, you might as well be able to enjoy some of it before we have to go back." He had a point; I hadn't been able to sleep in the entire time we had been in Forks.

"Thanks." I said gratefully.

"We have to be there for ten."

"Right." I crawled out of bed and made my way down the hallway to get dressed.

When we arrived at the clinic, Juno was in her office, the front desk sent us right in. I didn't see Alice anywhere, so I assumed she was working the night shift. We entered the office and Alice was sitting there with Juno, sporting a pair of pink scrubs with a black and white striped long sleeved shirt underneath. She looked like a Tim Burton character.

"Good morning Edward, Bella, please sit down." Juno said in a fairly pleasant tone. We sat down in the two seats in front of her.

"What is all this about?" Edward asked politely.

"I want to talk to you about our discussion last night, about your request." Alice moved from the back of the office to Edward's chair, balancing herself gracefully on the arm. He absentmindedly put his arm around her tiny waist.

"I have healed many things in my lifetime, using the skills I have acquired through schooling and watching others and also using this innate ability I have been given. But, healing one of our kind, I have only done that once and it nearly killed me, which is why I am what I am now." A somber look came over her, "I knew a man once, a man I cared about very much but could not be with for very obvious reasons, the same reasons the two of you should not be together." She gestured toward Edward and I and he immediately stiffened in his chair. "In any case," she continued "I tried to change him back into a human, and in doing so, nearly ended my own life. The transformation did not take, and as I lay there, dying, he was so overcome with guilt that he changed me instead. When my transformation into this life was complete, I tried a second time to help him, my powers being at their peak as they often are with newborns. The second time I tried, it did work, however, when my part was complete, he left me, leaving me to suffer in this everlasting life without my partner. I haven't seen him since."

"A woman scorned…" Alice whispered underneath her breath.

"Alice, that's enough." Edward snapped. "I am very sorry for your loss, we did not mean to cause you any strife in asking."

She held up a hand, "No, your sister is right, I'm very bitter about what has happened to me in the past; however, just because I chose my mate poorly, it doesn't mean that the two of you are making the same mistake. However, just because it worked once before I cannot make any guarantee that I will be able to do it again. Like I said, newborn vampires are able to harness an astounding amount of power for a very short time, and that may be the only reason it worked in the first place. I don't know if I'll be able to replicate it. I would like to try, but I'm warning you that it is solely experimental and I don't know what the outcome will bring." She cautioned, her dark eyes grim.

"What do you need us to do?" Edward asked.

"I'm going to need Alice with me, to use her vision to see how things are going, if there is any danger, I'm hoping that she will be able to warn me before I cause you any harm." I felt my stomach churn at the indication that Edward could possibly get harmed during this whole process.

Alice nodded, "I can do that."

"I need you, Edward, to not feed for as long as your body will allow prior to the transformation. I feel as if the weaker you are, the easier it will be and the smoother the transition will be."

An uneasy, worried look became very pronounced in all of Edward's perfect features; he was silent for a moment as he considered this, then asked, "how long?"

"How long can you go without before it starts to take a toll on you?" she asked.

"Define, 'toll'," Edward ordered calmly.

"Until you start to feel weaker, less controlled, ill even…" Juno described carefully.

"About a week," he informed.

"Double that." She commanded.

"Two weeks?" I whispered in disbelief. I glanced over at Alice, she was trying to remain indifferent, but I could tell she was concerned. I saw her crossed leg start to twitch slightly and saw her touch her hand to her throat. "You want him to starve himself for two weeks?" I said in an alarmed tone as I turned my focus back to Juno.

"I know it's alarming Bella, but I really believe it would make things easier for me and him." Juno said gently.

"Bella, it will be fine," Edward said confidently.

I stared at him, incredulous; this was getting worse by the second, what kind of effect would going without hunting for two weeks have on him? He stared back at me, his face was smooth and confident and reassuring, but his eyes were pleading with me to go along with this. "What do you need me to do?" I asked, resting my cheek against my hand on the arm of the chair, defeated.

Juno, Edward and Alice all exchanged concerned glances, "Bella, I need you to separate from him during his fast." Juno said delicately, as if she thought her words would injure me in some way.

"No! No way, that's out of the question." I said standing up.

"Bella please, it won't be safe for you to be around me when I'm…like that," Edward pleaded, "you don't know how difficult it will be not to…" He couldn't finish.

"I don't care Edward, I'm not leaving you."

Alice rose from the arm of the chair and put her arm around me, "Bella, please listen, it will not be safe for you, and if anything happens, all of this will be for a lost cause. We'll take care of Edward, you have nothing to worry about but if you stay around, I'm sorry, but I really can't guarantee your safety from, him." She looked over apologetically at her brother; Edward; revered in his family for his control and humanity, he looked like he was going to get sick.

"So it's true, I will hurt her." He said solemnly.

"I don't see it happening, but, considering the circumstances, it's too risky." Alice whispered. "Your body is going to be stressed to the max Edward, you already have a hard time around Bella when you're thirsty, it'd be like ringing a dinner bell having her around, especially during the last few days." Edward cringed at the crudeness of her statement.

"Bella this is very important." Juno said sternly.

"Okay," I said, defeated once again, "Okay, I'll keep my distance. I'll do whatever you need me to do to make this easier." I agreed, looking only at him. Everyone seemed complacent after I made that statement, everyone but Edward. He looked miserable, horrified by the reality of the situation that he wasn't always in control of himself, his worst fear was true.

"When is all of this going to start happening?" I asked, trying to change the subject so I didn't have to look at Edward's disturbed expression any longer.

Alice and Juno looked at Edward in anticipation, waiting for his answer, he had a distracted look about him, "Oh," he said shakily, "Bella and I have a month or so off around Christmas. I suppose that would be the most logical time."

Christmas, that was less than a month away, we had been talking about this happening for months and now it seemed to be happening too quickly.

"That is a very good idea." Juno said seriously, "you'll have enough time to 'adapt' before returning back to your studies." It seemed to be becoming easier and easier for Juno to fathom this idea, which eased my mind a bit. Gone was the acidic tone and bitter outlook from last night, today, she was back to exuding confidence, I was actually starting to believe that this might have a chance of working. It was ironic though, when Edward and I decided to go to school in Alaska it was so that I could get away from home and have time to 'adapt' in case I was the one going through the life altering changes, not the other way around. It would be better this way, better for both of us.

"I will be expecting you on December 26th, which means you need to get your affairs in order by December 12th." She ordered.

"Understood." He agreed.

"I have to get into surgery," Juno said glancing at her watch, "I'm sorry to cut things short."

"It's perfectly alright, we understand." Edward said politely.

He stood up from his seat and she reached out and took his hand in both of hers, she locked her dark eyes onto his and said, "I want you to know, that I am going to try my best to help you."

"That's all we ask," He said smiling comfortably at her, "I want to thank you, you don't know what this means to me."

"I think I do." She said with a warm, sad smile.

The dye had been cast, the date and place set, all that needed to be done now was for Edward, Alice and I to fall into our consecutive roles. The three of us drove in silence; Alice was working a split shift so she came along with us. A feeling of finality hung thick in the air of the luxury sedan but it was not an uncomfortable feeling, it actually felt strangely soothing. We pulled into the Cullen's garage, everyone appeared to be home.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"It's time to tell Carlisle." Edward said nervously. Well, almost everything had been done I thought to myself.

I felt like we were about to announce something like we were eloping or I was pregnant, something that was happy in nature, but that nobody would be ready to hear. I didn't know why I was feeling so nervous, it really had nothing to do with me, I was just there for moral support, it was Edward's decision.

We entered the house and Alice disappeared, I suspected to look for Jasper, maybe to quickly prime him on what was about to happen so that he would be ready to keep everyone calm. I had no idea how they were going to react. Edward didn't seem nervous; everything about his demeanor was cool and poised.

I was surprised when Alice returned not only with Jasper, but Carlisle and Esme as well.

"Edward, Alice says you have something you need to discuss with us." Carlisle said with a touch of alarm in his voice.

"I do, where are Emmett and Rose?"

"They're on their way down." Esme said, "Edward, what's going on?"

Before he could answer, Emmet and Rose were coming down the palatial staircase. Everyone was now present. I sat down on the couch, Jasper and Esme joining me, Emmett took a seat on one of the steps of the staircase; Rosalie leaned over the banister crossing her elegant arms over her chest. Carlisle and Alice remained standing beside Edward.

"What's going on?" asked Rosalie, her tone icy.

Alice piped right up and started the conversation, "in a very short time, something is going to change in our family, I've seen it."

"Something or someone?" Emmett said flashing me a playful look, Rosalie kicked him in the ribs with the toe of her boot.

"Someone, but it's not what you think." Alice continued. She looked over at Edward, as if asking him permission to continue, he nodded at her.

"For the past several months, I have been having very vivid visions of Edward, as a human."

"Alice, could it be his memories of when he was alive, that you are seeing?" Jasper asked in a slightly patronizing tone.

Alice gave him a sharp look, and narrowed her eyes at him, "No, Jazz, I would know the difference, and besides, he's with Bella in most of the visions."

"How can you tell that he's human Alice?" Carlisle inquired thoughtfully.

"Because, I can just tell, he looks different, he's warm, he's got a heartbeat, he's eating and sleeping and doing other human things." My mind wandered as I wondered what she meant by those last four words.

"But how is that possible?" Esme interrupted, silence came over the room and Edward opened his mouth to speak, but was promptly cut off.

"It's not Esme," Rosalie burst out angrily, "How could it be? He's dead, just like the rest of us, there's nothing out there that exists that can reverse that. It's impossible, Alice is somehow getting her signals crossed, she's finally losing her mind." She spat cruelly.

Alice's eyes dropped to the floor, she suddenly looked very small and fragile, "I'm not losing my mind." She whispered, Jasper threw a loathsome look Rosalie's way.

"Take it easy Rose," Emmett said in Alice's defense.

"Esme brings up a very good question," Carlisle said congenially, "How is such a transformation possible?" He looked at Edward with curiosity.

"Edward and I…" Alice started,

Carlisle gently raised a hand to silence her, "this vision affects Edward; he must be allowed to speak please Alice."

And the floor was his, all six pairs of golden eyes turned to him, all reflecting a different emotion. "It may be possible," Edward started, "I don't understand how myself. There is an individual who was born many years ago into a tribe of people who believe in a legend about a healer that can repair any living thing with an intact soul. Granted this was just a story, I spoke with Eleazar and he claims it to be true, that this healer exists. There are other points to the story, but the long and short of it is that we have found her and she is going to try to help me."

"There's only one problem with that theory Edward," Rosalie hissed, "You don't believe you have a soul. That could pose a difficulty for you."

If looks could kill, Rosalie would have dropped dead from the stare Edward gave her.

"Rosalie, please" Carlisle interjected sternly, "that's enough."

She returned the glare that Edward gave her; looking like she was going to crouch down into a defensive position. "Come down here and say that to me again Rosalie." Edward growled, beckoning her with his hand. To my surprise, she started down the steps. I had seen Edward fight with his brothers, but never with his sisters. She deserved whatever she got from him.

"Now hold on," Emmett stood in front of her, "what the fuck is your problem Rose?" He boomed at her, she stopped in her tracks. "He's our brother and you're trying to start a fight with him, because he's being given a second chance? Honestly Rose, you can be a real bitch sometimes."

"You want to know why I'm starting a fight with him?" Rosalie exploded, "Because he's selfish Emmet! He's selfish, we bend over backwards to help him and Bella and he still does whatever he wants, whatever is best for him and her, not what's best for the rest of his family. And now, he's really done it, he's going to become human for her?" She seethed, pointing in my direction. I felt Jasper put a hand on my knee as my cheeks flushed. "It's a complete betrayal!" Rosalie continued, "What happens if the Volturi find out about his charade? He's already on thin ice with them, he's going to get us all killed Emmett, I'm not going to die for the two of them, I'm sure they wouldn't do it for us."

"You're wrong." Edward said, his voice cracking a little. He started toward the staircase, Emmett stood in front of Rosalie protectively. "Stop it Emmet, I'm not going to touch her." He said disgustedly, "you're the only one who would do that." Rosalie sucked in her cheeks and made fists at her sides when she heard that. Emmett moved to the side of her, still on guard. "Is that what you truly think of me?" Edward asked her accusingly, "you think that I'm selfish and disloyal? You know for a fact Rose, that if you were ever given a chance to go back to your old life you would take it in a minute, leaving Emmett and the rest of us behind in your wake." He continued, his voice rising angrily.

"I would never leave Emmet, no matter what was going on in my life." Her voice was hurt and trembling.

"But you would leave us, so you and Emmett could have a better life." Edward said his voice becoming more even, Emmett relaxed his posture. Finally Rosalie was speechless.

"I'd follow you anywhere Rose." Emmett said quietly to her.

"And Jasper and Alice would do the same, Bella has done the same for me, she has hurt her family time and time again to keep this family safe, and to keep her and me together. I have the chance to finally do right by her, to have a normal life with her. Any one of us would do the same for our partner." Silence resounded over the entire Cullen household as Edward's words hung in the air.

"Edward is right." Carlisle spoke up, "It's different for Esme and I because you are our children, a parent could never leave their children, but a parent raises a child to eventually leave them and find their own path. That is what we expect all of you to do. Edward needs to do right by Bella, and if this is how he feels he can, we must support him."

"Edward," Jasper broke the silence, "what do you require of us?"

"Nothing, I just want everyone's patience and understanding."

Rosalie said nothing; she just turned and headed upstairs away from everyone.

"Well, I'm sure you have Rose's understanding, but definitely not her patience." Emmett joked, trying to lighten the moment.

"You're an ass." Edward snapped at him.

"And you're going to be a weak obnoxious human." Emmet snapped back, "Sorry Bella, that wasn't directed toward you."

"No problem." I replied, feeling the tension in the room let up a little now that Rose was gone.

Emmett and Edward descended the stairs and joined the rest of us in the living room.

"When is all of this going to occur?" Esme asked sadly.

"Christmas." He answered in a serious tone.

"So soon." She gasped.

"Tell them the terms and conditions." I suggested.

"Bella and I are going to need to be separated for awhile," he explained to Carlisle and Esme.

"Why is that?" Carlisle asked, his perfect eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"I need to stop feeding two weeks prior."

Concern now plagued Carlisle's face, he touched the back of his neck and ran his long fingers through his beautiful blond hair; two nervous habits that Edward had adopted from him. "That is going to be a very difficult time for you." He said giving Edward a sympathetic gaze. "It would be best that the two of you are separated, it will be very dangerous for you to be near him Bella." Carlisle warned, turning his focus to me.

"I figured as much." Edward said miserably, his fear was creeping up on him.

"I wish I could better prepare you for the hardship you will face…" Carlisle said in a very fatherly tone, "Fasting is not particularly pleasant." Carlisle would know because he had done it before, shortly after he had become a vampire.

Edward held a hand up to stop him, "I would rather not hear about it, I think it will be easier for me if I just take it as it comes, rather than anticipate what is going to happen."

"As you wish."

"Edward, what about your exams and your schooling?" Esme asked.

"I don't know what to do about that yet." He replied.

"What if you offered to take them early?" Jasper suggested. "If you went to your professors and told them that you had to fly out two weeks prior to break for something, surgery perhaps, maybe they'd cut you a break and let you take your exams."

"And then, you could just fly out here." I added, "I could catch my flight when I finish my exams. We would be separated, there would be no danger involved, and your grades wouldn't be affected. You could 'dry out' here and I'd be at Charlie's."

Emmett laughed, "Dry out. Makes it sound like you're some kind of junkie going through withdrawals."

"You're not too far off, Emmett." Jasper muttered. I saw a look of dread come over Edward's face. I couldn't imagine what this was going to be like for him, but he would make it through alright, after all, he was Edward. To me, he was indestructible.

"Then it's settled," Edward said trying to end the conversation before he heard anything else that might disturb him.

Esme got off the couch and walked over to him and embraced him, she was so emotional, "all we want is for you to be happy Edward. We'll always be your family, no matter whom or what you are. I hope you know that." She kissed him softly on his cheek, it seemed like the reassurance he needed. A look of peace that I hadn't seen in many weeks came over his expression as he gratefully hugged her back.

We left for Alaska a few days later, Charlie was doing much better and going to work every day, Topaz was on the mend, Rosalie and Edward hadn't quite made up, but they were civil to one another, and Jacob was off with the pack again. I worried about him, he had been missing a lot of school and spent a lot of time away from Billy, I wondered if there was something going on that was more serious than he had led me to believe. I couldn't worry about that though; there was too much going on now.

When we got home everything was as we had left it on that frantic night that seemed like it happened years ago. I walked into the bedroom and threw my bag on the floor. I walked to the closet to grab a change of clothes and turned back to head toward the bathroom when I stopped in my tracks. We hadn't made the bed before we left; it looked like a murder had taken place in it. The sheets were tightly twisted into distorted ropes that had bound me, the comforter was strewn everywhere and the fitted sheet was coming off the mattress. I remembered the nightmare I had been having that night before I woke up, I shuddered at the thought of it, it felt like the horror of it still lingered in the bedroom, like some kind of dreadful presence.

Edward suddenly appeared in the doorway, "what are you doing love?" He asked innocently.

I turned around, still distracted by the mess I had left and looked at him; he was holding the door casing and leaning forward with complete ease. "Oh, nothing, I was going to take a shower, can you help me make the bed?"

"Of course." He stopped fooling around in the doorway and glided into the room, his pale hands started untangling the ropey sheets. He furrowed his brow in confusion, "that must have been some dream you had." He continued without looking up.

So he remembered, he remembered the state I was in that night. "Yeah, it was pretty awful." The sheet looked like a sheet again, I tucked the fitted one back over the thick mattress before helping him pull down the top sheet.

"Anything you want to talk about?" He asked casually, not taking his eyes off his work, pulling down the comforter.

"I dreamt you died." I said quietly.

His hands stopped, and he raised his eyes up to me in a serious glance, then he quickly dropped them down again, "It was just a dream Bella."

"Yeah I suppose." I said dismissively. The bed was made, no evidence of that awful night remained. "Thanks for your help, I'm going to go take a shower now."

I sat at the huge drafting table in the den, a mixed CD softly playing in the background. I was making a futile attempt to organize my chemistry notes into flashcards for our final exam coming up in three weeks. Chemistry one was a lot more difficult on the college level then on the high school level I thought miserably. I could use all the help I could get on passing this test, might as well start preparing for it early. I was hoping that my perfect attendance and handing in all of my work complete and on time would give me some flexibility with my chem grade this semester because my exam grades were in the low Cs. All my other classes I was excelling in, except for Chemistry one. I might actually have to ask for Edward's help on this one, which I tried to avoid at all costs. I let out an aggravated sigh and pressed on, determined to get a B on this exam come hell or high water.

I heard the garage door open and shut and the familiar engine rev of the Volvo. Edward was home, any minute now he would open the door, hang his keys and jacket up by the door and saunter in, kiss me on my forehead and say 'hello love' with his crooked smile. I smiled and set down my pen and waited in anticipation. Sure enough, he walked in, hung up his things and appeared by my side.

"Hello love." He said kissing my forehead.

"Hello." I said smiling. "How was school?"

"Just fine," he said setting his messenger bag down on the drafting table opposite me. "I'm ready for this semester to be over. Winter session into spring we actually get to start using the kitchen for our culinary classes. I can't stand being stuck in a classroom for eight hours."

"Me neither." I agreed.

"I spoke to my professors today; they're allowing me to take my exams next week."

"What did you tell them?" I asked.

"I told them that I had to return home, my sister is very sick and needs surgery. I'm giving her a kidney." He explained in his most persuasive and believable tone, making his eyes big and innocent.

I started laughing, "That's quite a story. Do you think that they actually believe you?"

"I think most of them do." He chuckled musically, "besides, I'm not using it to get out of a test; I'm using it to take a test earlier, so why should they care really?"

"This is true." I agreed, "Which sister of yours is sick and dying?"

"Rosalie." He said with a smirk.

"Have you made your flight arrangements?" I asked in a more serious tone.

"I have." He said solemnly. "I'm leaving on the 14th, I'll stop hunting by the 12th."

"Is that going to be…okay for you to do?" I asked carefully.

"I think so. I'll be able to be focused for my exams and the trip but I won't be starving. My last exam is on the 13th, I'll even be fine at home for a few days. It's going to start getting very difficult around the 18th or 19th I think."

"Then why can't you stay here until then and just wait out that last week with Carlisle and Esme?" I said in a more desperate tone than I had intended.

He dropped down into a squat beside my chair and touched my face lightly. My heart beat faster, I felt like I hadn't been like this with him for so long, I had spent so much time sleeping, and worrying about Charlie and Topaz that I hadn't had too much one on one with the person I craved most.

He gently rubbed my cheek bone with his thumb and looked at me serenely. "Bella, you know why I can't stay." He whispered.

"But you've been like that around me before, why does it have to be any different now?"

"It just has to be, there have been times where I have gotten close to you after it's been a few days, and I've felt this surge, this need…then it's easy, I can just leave while you're sleeping or showering and go hunt and everything becomes easier. But, if I get any of those feelings now, during this time, I can't just go out and do what I need to do. That restriction is going to pose a danger to you. It will just be better if I'm not around at all."

I sighed, and nodded sadly, "Fine."

"Please try to be understanding about this Bella, I need your support more than I've ever needed it before. Please, this is very important. It will all be over soon and then you can have me any way you like me."

I placed my hand over his on my face and closed my eyes, taking in the coolness that radiated off his skin, it brought me comfort. I brought his hand to my lips and kissed the top of it and then clasped it in both of mine. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it. You can have whatever you want from me."

December 14th came sooner than I hoped. Edward would be leaving in a few hours and I wouldn't be able to see him again until after the change had occurred. My nerves were shot that morning as I paced around the kitchen waiting for him to get ready. I got no sleep the night before; I didn't want to miss any time with him. We had gone to bed and he wanted me to sleep but I couldn't. I insisted upon staying up and him holding me and kissing me and talking to me for hours. At one point, I even threw the covers off of me and molded my body against him to take in all the iciness of his granite body. That didn't last long though because I started shivering uncontrollably and became covered in goose bumps. I said that I didn't care, but he didn't listen and wrapped me back up in the warm comforter. He had hummed my lullaby to me and told me about the first time he saw me. I tried to engrain everything about him in my mind. His flyaway bronzed spiky hair, his beautiful piercing amber eyes, the strength and tone of his muscular body, the sound of his thick, melodic voice, his pale skin that practically glowed in the moonlight, and the sweet, intoxicating scent of his clothes, his breath. I loved everything about him, every part of him, every expression and thought he shared with me. I tried to remember all of it, I didn't know what would be left of him when I saw him again and I was afraid.

I downed yet another cup of coffee, if I kept this up my whole body would be shaken apart by nine o'clock, I had to calm myself down and be supportive. I couldn't let him see that I felt like my world was falling apart.

He appeared in the kitchen carrying his bag, I hadn't had quite enough time to compose myself as thoroughly as I would have liked to.

"Bella, are you alright?" He asked skeptically.

"I'm fine, I'm just really tired."

"I told you that you should have gotten some sleep last night. Are you going to be alright to drive home?"

"Of course I will, I'm fine, really. I promise, as soon as I get home I'll go back to bed, I don't have class today." I said assuredly, it seemed to work.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Ready when you are." I said cheerfully. I set down my mug on the counter and put my jacket on and grabbed my purse.

I stayed at the airport with him until the last possible second. There were no seats in the terminal, so we sat on the floor together, I was coming off my caffeine high and I lay quietly with my head against his thigh. He just sat running his hands through my hair contently. I think he actually braided it at one point. I loved him so much. When the announcement was made for him to board, I felt my throat tighten. We stood up and he enveloped me in his arms. He squeezed me so hard it almost hurt; he buried his face in my hair, taking in my scent that meant so much to him.

"We'll be together again soon." He whispered, almost tearfully.

"I know." I choked.

"I love you more than anything Bella." He said, kissing my head a hundred times.

"I love you too."

He stood back, his hands resting on my arms and stared at me, as if he were trying to remember every part of me. He leaned forward and kissed me long and soft on my lips, I wrapped my arms around his cool neck. The last announcement to board flight 907 to Seattle barked out around us. His kiss went deeper and then suddenly ended, "Hopefully that will last me two weeks." He said softly, smiling at me now.

I smiled back at him, "I'll see you on the other side."

He kissed his two fingers and placed them on my cheek and let them fall slowly along my jaw. "I'll see you soon love." With that he turned and sauntered toward the gate. He was the last one to board, the stewardess looked annoyed, and shut the door behind him and with that, Edward Cullen was out of my life for the next two long weeks.