A/N - Once again thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments and feedback! It is very inspiring!

To my gals.....thanks for all the support, wisdom and laughter...and an extra thank you to my lovely beta, ChangedbyEdward, for helping me become a better writer...MWAH

and by now you know the drill.....all characters and everything related to Twilight belongs to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer - I am just borrowing!

And now on to.....

Chapter Eleven


(Edward's POV)

The rented Volvo purred quietly as I sat staring at the obviously empty Cullen residence. I had expected at least some of the family to be awaiting my arrival, but should have realized something was up when I wasn't able to hear anyone's thoughts as I neared the property. The large house sat dark and quiet, as if it were waiting for me to make a move.

Realizing I wasn't going to get any answers sitting in the driveway, I turned off the engine, grabbed my gear and headed up the steps. Finding a key in Esme's standard hiding place, I slid it into the lock and opened the heavy oak door.

"Hello?" No one answered and although I honestly hadn't expected anyone to, it just seemed the thing to do after the long day of travel. I turned slowly, taking in the expansive entrance that Esme had obviously been in the middle of restoring.

It was easy to surmise that it had been a few weeks since anyone had been to the house and that the family had left in a bit of a rush. Sheets covered the few pieces of furniture and a few newspapers lay on the floor, untouched, as if they had been thrown into the house on someone's way out.

Confused and a little frustrated, I prowled the house for a bit, knowing I needed to hunt before I planned my next move. The wildlife in Buenos Aires had been less than abundant and I knew that I would feel more myself after a trip through the lush forest surrounding the property. Venom surged to my throat as I contemplated the possibility of finding a mountain lion in the area, although in reality I knew I would most likely be dining on venison or bear.

It didn't take long to discover which bedroom was mine. I gazed around the room appreciatively, my mood lightening as I took inventory of my personal belongings. Then, as if struck by lightning, I found myself sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching a pewter frame to my chest.

My body, racked with tearless sobs, shuddered as I slowly brought the frame into focus. And there she was. My beautiful Bella. I gazed at the photograph, taking in each line of her reflection as it stared out at me.

Alice had convinced Bella to pose for the photo just before her eighteenth birthday. She had been playing around with some ideas for a costume party and had dressed Bella up as a 40's starlet, trying to capture the aura of Lana Turner or Grace Kelly. A smile came to my lips as I remembered Bella rolling her eyes at me whenever Alice wasn't looking, but she really had been a good sport, donning outfit after outfit as Alice directed shots, snapping away like she was Annie Liebovitz.

I hadn't been around to see the proofs from the shoot, but knew Esme must have picked the one she knew I would love. I lay back on the bed, clutching the frame tightly to my chest, losing myself to the memory of that day and the fateful days that followed shortly afterward.

I could not deny myself any longer, there was no use. Whether I was near her or not, our fates were sealed together, it was impossible to ignore. I had to go to Forks. I had to explain why I had made the choices I had made and said the horrible things I had said. I had to beg her forgiveness. I would give her anything – anything she wanted – to be a part of her life again. Except. Not that. It could never be that, even though I knew it would be the only thing that she would ask for. I hesitated. Is there a possibility that I am actually selfish enough to curse her very existence just to keep her near me? At one point I thought not, but now, weak from the loss of her and my exile from everyone else I cared for, I feared that I was to the point where I could be just that selfish.

The moment I tasted her blood in Phoenix was the point of no return for me. I knew at that precise second, intoxicated by her sweet essence, that denying myself was futile. When we had returned to Forks, I had fought the urge to attack her constantly and truth be told, I knew that my anger regarding Jasper's moment of weakness had only been a cover for my own bloodlust. I had shoved her away to protect her from me as much as Jasper. That truly offered the proof of what a monster I had become, as I couldn't even be honest enough to take the blame, instead allowing my 'brother' to shoulder the guilt. Bella was obviously not the only person I needed to beg forgiveness from.

Sighing, I traced my finger against the glass, and then slowly placed the frame back on its stand. There was no possibility of staying away, our fates were sealed and I would have to allow the cards to fall as they were meant to.

Opening the large bay window, I leapt out into the dark night, searching for sustenance and internal strength before my long trip home to Forks.


(Bella's POV)

The house was quiet as I leaned back against the pillows and took in my surroundings. Esme had truly outdone herself – the room was something out of my lottery-winning fantasies. As I smiled with pleasure at the warm colours enveloping me, I dreaded the thought of returning to the cold sterile walls of the hospital, but knew that Carlisle only had my best interests at heart.

I closed my eyes and reflected on the day's events. Spending the afternoon with Alice had been both exhilarating and exhausting. I knew she had been concerned that I was angry with her for leaving, but honestly, the only person that I hadn't forgiven, other than myself, was Edward. We were both at fault in our relationship and now as I reflect on everything that happened, it is clear to me that it was doomed to fail. He had no right to be the only one to make the decisions in our relationship, but I was just as guilty for allowing him to do so. Where had my self-worth gone? In truth, I was just a shadow of my former self after everything that happened in Phoenix. If I had been stronger and more in control, we might have survived. Instead, I had wallowed in everything that had passed and clung to him helplessly. No wonder his feelings for me had changed. I was pitiful.

A slight rap at the door pulled me from my dark thoughts and I sat up quickly. "Come in."

They had all disappeared shortly after I finished my supper, heading out to find their own fare, so I was startled to find them all back so quickly and in my room, no less.

Alice was smiling, but quiet, as she stood close to Jasper, and Carlisle seemed on edge, standing in the doorway, his fingers tapping against the frame as Esme came and sat down beside me. My heart came to my throat. They had decided I wasn't strong enough and were sending me back early. I knew it.

"Bella," the look on Carlisle's face terrified me. I instantly relaxed as a wave of calm came over the room and I saw Carlisle glance back at Jasper with a look of gratitude. "Bella, we have had some terrible news."

My breath hitched and I heard myself whisper, "What's happened?"

"Darling," Esme grasped my hand in hers comfortingly, "I'm so sorry, Bella. It's Charlie."

The room swirled around me and I fought to control the nausea building in the pit of my stomach as Carlisle hesitantly filled me in on the details of my father's murder. Jasper moved towards me, but I waved him off, the tears silently sliding down my cheeks as I took in everything Carlisle was telling me.

Not Charlie. Not now when we had come so far in establishing a relationship after so many years of living apart. For so long, I had wanted a relationship with my father and now that I finally felt that we had something, he was gone. I fought against the fog as it attempted to seep its way into my brain and forced myself to focus.

Carlisle moved towards me, taking my hands in his. "Bella, I need you to understand. This was not a random act of violence. Charlie was targeted." Seeing that I was understanding what he was telling me, he continued, his next words making my blood run cold. "Bella, it was Victoria."

Victoria. James' mate. The red-headed she-devil that had disappeared into thin air before we even returned from Phoenix. How could we have not known? Their companion, Laurent, had warned us not to take her lightly and now she was back. She had killed Charlie. My father was gone.

I fought back the sobs begging for release. "She's coming for me, isn't she?"

"We won't let her near you, Bella." Jasper promised quietly as Alice silently nodded in agreement. I saw the pain in her eyes and knew she, too, mourned the loss of my father.

"Alice, you didn't see what was going to happen?" I couldn't help but ask her.

"No, Bella, I'm so sorry!!" The guilt in her voice made me instantly regret my question. "I don't know why I didn't see it happening. I had no idea until I saw a vision of Carlisle telling you and by then, it was already too late. I'm so sorry!" Jasper pulled her close and pressed his lips against the top of her head, murmuring words of comfort that only she could hear. He watched me closely, begging me with his eyes to allow him to offer me some comfort, but I shook my head, offering him a ghost of a smile as the tears continued to fall. I needed to feel this…needed to know it was real so that I could grasp onto the anger that I knew I would need for the road ahead.

Then it hit me. I wasn't the only person in danger. I gasped as his beautiful face and bronze waves exploded in my mind. "Edward!" His name echoed in the room and I realized it was my own voice that had said it. "If she's after me, she'll be after him as well! What if something has happened? What if she's already hurt him?" The questions poured out of me and this time, Jasper ignored my request and sent waves of calm towards me.

"Bella, he's fine. I've seen him." Alice turned in Jasper's arms to face me. "He's not in danger. She is obviously after you, knowing that will tear him apart."

I shook my head in denial, not understanding how Alice could think it would bother him in the slightest that she was after me, although I assumed he would feel some guilt about putting me in harm's way in the first place. It didn't matter. Victoria was on the warpath and we were all in danger. Any of us could face the same fate as my poor father. A fresh stream of tears poured down my face as Charlie's face flashed through my mind. He was gone.

Not wanting to lose control, I turned back to Carlisle as he suddenly grasped my shoulders, forcing me to look him directly in the eye. I needed some time alone, to process everything that happened, but before I could ask, my world once again spun out of control as I grasped the understanding of his next question. "Bella, I need you to make a choice. Will you join us? Will you allow me to turn you?"


End of chapter - Reviews are calming, like Jasper....I need calm....please review...or send me Jasper!!! :o)