Ok. So I am sorry for the long wait. I have been writing some other stuff on top of this so I have been busy to say the least. I know that this chapter is going to be controversial. Therefore, I am forewarning you all. If you have questions or just need to rant about what a terrible person I am for this scene I ask that you do it in a message so you do not spoil anything for people who might read reviews before the story. Without further warning, here you go.

Jacob

I know I should be sleeping. I am tired. I just can't get my mind off of what happens next. Bright and Early tomorrow—today I should say—we will enter a city reeking with leeches in the hopes of exterminating them. I should be excited. Most of the wolves are chomping at the bit for tomorrow. And here I am, dreadfully hurt.

Across the world Nessie is probably going about her day as usual. I wonder if she's worried. Scratch that; I wonder if she's worried about me. I'm freaking out about her. I mean I know she is safe, but I still feel as if something could go wrong. What if she gets hurt hunting bears? What if we lose and those bloodsuckers go kill her?

A sigh breaches the silence of my dark motel room. If I listen I can hear conversations, sex sounds, and snores from many rooms nearby. Luckily, I can tune everyone out when I get lost in my thoughts. Right now there is no place I would rather be then in the world of my head. In my head I can be anything for Nessie. Only in my imagination are we together these days.

I am startled when I hear footsteps approaching. The shock escalates when someone jiggles the lock on the door, pops it open, and walks right into the comfort of my room. As soon as the door is open though I can smell that it is only Bella. As to why she is here at night, I have no idea.

"I'm glad you're awake," she whispers in a voice so quiet that the others probably can't hear it. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure, sure," I groan as I push myself into a sitting position. Bella takes a seat on the edge of my bed without even moving one sheet. "What's up?"

"I'm worried about tomorrow."

"We all are."

"I told Nessie I would look out for you." I can't really think of a response to this new piece of information. Bella is the key to our success. The last thing I want is her dying trying to protect me. If she dies, we all die. "But I know you don't want that."

"You're damn right I don't. Bella, I can't have you trying to save me. For once you need to save yourself first. You're not invincible."

"Neither are you."

"Yeah," I agree. "But if I die, there's still a chance that the Volturi go down. Bella, I want you to promise me that you will not try to be a hero."

"I knew you would say that. Edward said the same thing."

"Yeah, well, Edward knows what he is talking about."

"Jake, I don't want you to die."

"I don't want to die," I admit. "But it will be more of a tragedy if you die. More people care about you. And besides that, you are the only one who can save us all."

"Did you really love me?" Bella suddenly asks, raising her voice the tinniest bit. I am a little caught off guard. Bella and I haven't talked about us since she was human. Ever since Nessie came along we have been more of acquaintances than anything.

"Of course I did," I finally answer. "Surely you knew that."

"I just wanted to hear it."

"Why?"

"Because sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice," Bella whispers with a tone of despair in her voice. When I have no response, Bella continues. "Don't get me wrong, I love Edward. I can't even imagine a world without him. But, at the same time, I can't help but wonder if I'd be just as happy with you."

"You wouldn't be," I reply because I want to boost her ego. It's a lie though. I know without a doubt that I could have made her happy.

"I've seen how you are with Renesmee. It's like watching you with me before things got so complicated. You're sweet and kind. You make her laugh."

"And you think it would have been that way with us?"

"I know it would have. You were always exactly what I needed. You were healthy. I was foolish."

"There's no going back."

She looks me directly in the eye and furrows her brows. "Can I try something?"

"I guess," I reply. Bella inhales deeply and moves forward slowly. Her eyes close as her face nears my own. Instead of running away or slapping her, I close my eyes and wait. When her icy lips do finally grip my hot ones, my whole body convulses in a shiver. I try not to breathe because the scent would gross me out. Instead, I allow her rocky-hard lips to lead in an equally cold kiss. There is no passion here—no warmth from her side.

When she pulls away I open my eyes to find her touching her lips lightly. "Was that what you needed?" I ask, praying that she felt nothing on her end too.

"I think so," she admits. "I'm sorry Jacob."

"Don't be. I understand."

"I just had to make sure that I didn't still have feelings for you. I wanted to be sure."

"You don't have to justify yourself."

"No! I do!" She is losing control of the situation. For the first time I realize exactly how desperate Bella is. She's a mess. "I know now that whatever we had when I was human died years ago. It died with that part of me. And now I know that it doesn't matter what decisions I made when I had the chance to make them. I am with Edward. I love Edward. You are with Renesmee. You love her."

"Bella," I say as I pull her into a hug. I allow her to sob tearlessly into my bare chest. She smells awful, but I wouldn't change this moment for anything. Bella has made her bed; now she must lie in it. And I know that she loves Edward. Right now she just wants to be with someone who understands it.

"I don't regret my choice," she finally says.

"And I don't blame you for it. I never got the chance to say this, but you make one great vampire. You're definitely my favorite leech."

"You're my favorite wolf," she replies with a small chuckle. "Speaking of wolves, you need to sleep. We've got to leave in two and a half hours. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night Bella," I say as she silently exits the room. As she paces down the sidewalk outside, I think about everything that just happens. Even with all the pain and heartache, I'm glad she chose Edward. It led me to Nessie. Tomorrow I will fight with everything I have to make sure Nessie has a secure future. It doesn't matter if I am a part of that future or not, as long as she has one.