Hi! See me at the bottom for an author's note but right now here's the next chapter. :D Enjoy!

*** Chapter 5 ***

The still shadowy sky echoed her feelings as Bella lay on her back, her eyes transfixed on the glimmering dots of fire that Edward had said he loved so much. She could imagine that he had joined the great heroes of legend and become a constellation. One that would lead her to the cliff where he had fallen so that she could do the same.

She was sad though when they started to fade to give way to the bright, golden hues of sunrise. She hated that she had no power over the sun; to make it stay away and leave her in the dark she was wading in.

She wanted the morning sun to cry with her. There shouldn't be any light in a world where Edward didn't exist for he had been the brightest light of all.

Bella didn't know how long she lay there but the sun slowly rose higher and higher and her gaze grew blanker and evermore lifeless until she realised that she had fulfilled her wordless promise to Alice. She had not gone to the cliff at dawn like she had wanted to but now that it was noon she would be able to travel unhindered. She left with a guilt-free conscience as well when she realized the people of Creolle no longer needed her, they were safe in the city.

Her worldly possessions lay next to her bed in a heap and she didn't bother picking them up, her shoes also left by the bedside. Her blue dress that she still wore was torn in a few places, a cool breeze playing over her already frozen skin as she walked sightlessly past people and shadows.

She could feel eyes on her, words spoken, but never gave it a second thought as she wandered further and further away from the living. In what felt like seconds she came upon the cliff edge where she had last glimpsed Edward, his face one of shock as he disappeared forever leaving her alone in this realm.

The wind played with the loose strands of her hair and flittered around the hem of her dress, her arms spread delicately outwards as if she were about to gracefully take flight. She carelessly stepped forward to where the rocks were loose and cracked, her breath leaving in a sigh of relief.

Vaguely she heard someone coughing nearby, figuring they would pass her and let her be she longingly looked over the open space of sky.

"Bella?" The honey-velvet voice that made her heart skip beats was whispering in her ear, Edward himself was beckoning her to come to him. He saw her and still wanted her even in death and one of her feet moved forward as if she was simply taking another step except there was only air.

Just as her body was giving way to gravity she felt strong arms around her waist and she was wrenched backwards. The force of it knocked her breath out in a huff and her head snapped backwards as she and the unknown person collided with the uneven ground.

She struggled and screamed and pleaded with a ferocious energy she didn't know she still possessed without Edward by her side but it was no use and the arms grew firmer around her. The person's heavy breaths pushing against the side of her face and brushing against the loose strands.

"Bella! Bella stop! It's me…stop fighting and calm down." That voice. She knew it to the depths of her soul but it was coming from the wrong direction. It was also desperate and panicked instead of the soothing cadence he always spoke with.

"Edward?" Bella cried, her eyes becoming blurry with hot tears so that when the person laid her gently on the ground and loomed over her she couldn't make out a face. The colours though were familiar; green and blonde-brown blurred together and then he spoke again.

"Bella what were you doing?"

After several rapid blinks, the hot liquid trailed down her cheeks and her eyes cleared as she took in the face she thought she'd never see again. His beloved features were tired, hair matted with his blood and a bruise forming over his temple as he looked down at her confused and Bella couldn't remember seeing anything so beautiful.

She must be dead, there was no other explanation for why she was back in his arms. She must have stepped off like she had planned and was now in the underworld. She had been right, it had brought her back to Edward.

But why, if he was dead, was he not healed of his injuries?

The morning light created a halo around his head and shoulders and it took her breath away as more tears formed, she would now be with him forever. "I needed to be with you. Are you not happy to see me?"

"Of course I'm happy to see you, I thought I never would again but you still didn't explain why you were about to step off the…" His voice faded away as he looked down at her in understanding and worry. His strong, warm hand moving to grip her waist as he braced himself on his elbow.

"You're dead and I wanted to follow you." Edward's brows drew together in pain and he felt his insides trembling in anguish. If he had taken only a moment longer he would have been too late to stop her.

"I'm not dead Bella and don't ever do that again…even if I am gone I want you to live on without me. Do you understand?" His voice was desperate and harsh to his own ears and he regretted his tone when he saw Bella flinch and look up at him in confused determination.

"How can you say that? You cannot ask me to…I love you and I will not survive this world if you are not beside me. I just cannot." Bella's eyes closed as more tears slipped down her cheeks. "Besides, it's too late, we are both dead, so why must you worry?"

It was then, Edward realised that Bella still thought he was departed and that she had fallen to her own demise and joined him. This beautiful, frustrating woman below him was going to be the true death of him.

"Bella…listen to me, we have not passed on. I fell off the edge yes, but I did not die. I managed to stop my fall on a small ledge and it's taken me this long to climb back up the cliff face." He had made sure she heard him, his free hand gently moulding to her wet cheek as he saw all her emotions flit through those honey-coloured eyes.

Grief. Confusion. Relief. Wonder.

"Are you truly here?" Bella asked as her own hand came to rest uncertainly on his bruised cheek, his head automatically leaning into her touch.

"Yes…and I cannot believe how close I came to losing you. I mean it Bella, no matter what, you go on…for me." His eyes narrowed as she furiously shook her head. Tendrils of long wavy brown hair spread loosely around her face and Edward only just now noticed the state she was in. She had smudges of dirt and what looked like dried blood on her arms, chest and face, her gown ripped in several places and dark circles from lack of sleep under her eyes.

All Edward could think was that he was responsible for her current state.

Her love for him would destroy her if he was gone, but would it not be the same for him if she no longer existed? He realised then that it wasn't fair to ask her to live on when he knew he wouldn't be able to do it either.

"It's okay Bella…forget it…all that matters is that we are both alive and safe and I will not lose you again." Bella's eyes were glossy with unshed tears but this time he could tell they were of joy not sorrow as he brushed his lips against hers.

They were soft as silk and salty from her tears as he deepened the kiss and his focus singled until it was only on the feel of Bella in his arms that held him to the earth. After they leant away Edward carefully helped Bella off the ground and once they were both standing he drew her into his arms again; not able to stand even a second of not touching her.

"We should find a place to rest." He said and the sound was muffled as he nuzzled into her hair, his lips pulling into a satisfied grin when he felt her shiver in his arms. The weather was warming up so Edward knew it was in reaction to him and it pleased him even now to know she felt the same way as he did.

"I will lead you to where I was staying…I think maybe your sister, Alice, took me there." The surprise of hearing of his adoptive sister's appearance was over-shadowed by the torment in Bella's voice. Glimpsing the flickering despair wash over her features. "I was not in my right mind at the time so I do not remember who helped me."

"I'm here Bella. Please don't think about what has happened…we only have our futures to worry about now." Her tender smile was all he needed for the rest of his life and he was glad when the dark mood passed and she held him closer as they began to walk to the room Bella had occupied the night before.

Bella was overwhelmingly happy but her lack of sleep and the stress of the travel and fighting had worn her down and she needed rest. She knew she would be able to sleep easily now that she had Edward by her side.

Ignoring the shocked stares and gasps as they passed a few individuals from Bella's village; they silently watched as a thought-to-be dead man walked past. Bella tightened her grip on his arm and Edward grinned down at her in amusement.

"I see it was not only you that had assumed the worst."

"They have come to look up to you as I have and they were saddened to think you had perished." Bella didn't add on that none of them had been inflicted with the agonizing pain that she had suffered. It would have ruined the relieved mood they had found themselves in as they entered the small space that was Bella's for the moment.

She had no idea whose home it was but she was grateful for their unending hospitality as the room was left uninhabited and waiting for her return. Which wouldn't have happened if Edward had not stopped her.

After a quick glance, Bella saw that Edward was removing his weapons and piling them next to hers on the ground and so she made her way over to the bowl of now warm water and found a clean rag. Pushing him gently to sit on the bed, she made sure he was comfortable before she carefully cleaned his wounds.

Edward could have sworn that her touch was like a butterfly's – so gentle and loving – as she wiped away the blood and sweat. He couldn't keep his eyes off her even though she noticed him staring several times. Each time her lips would flicker into a grin before she concentrated on her task once more. That in itself grew more difficult as the time went on.

Eventually he could resist no more and placed his hands on either side of her waist after he swiped clean the last of her skin with a rag of his own. Edward's warmth was what Bella craved the most in this world and as it seeped through her tattered gown she felt herself slowly melt into him. The cloth forgotten as it sloshed back into the bowl on the ground.

"I love you Isabella…I've waited my whole life for a ghost that I knew so well and now I have her finally captured for my own." He stated with ardour, his eyes glowing emerald green in the candlelight as he pulled her closer; she went willingly, his mouth joining to hers.

Bella could tell that time was passing as the daylight faded but her focus never strayed from Edward the entire night. They had pulled off their rugged clothes and even though both had injuries neither of them seemed to care as hands and lips caressed.

Skin rubbed against skin as they twisted together on the old, wool-filled bedding, the only sounds were their moans and breaths as their love took form. Everything was wiped from their minds except for the other part of their soul that they held in their arms and no matter how close they were it wasn't enough.

A placid bite was left on Bella's neck.

Nails scraped down Edwards back.

Bella's leg ran over his tensed calf as the other circled his hip.

That night they truly became one and as they both drifted into blissful rest they made sure that they held each other close, their grips never letting up even in sleep.

***B***

Bella shivered then giggled as she rested on her front, her eyes slowly drifting open as her arms curled around her half of the shared pillow. Edward was softly kissing his way up her exposed back and she couldn't help but compare this sunrise to the one of the day before. The colours seemed brighter and more vibrant, the breaking dawn was warmer despite the encroaching chill and Bella felt like everything glowed around her.

Edwards long fingers stroked along her ribs as he came to rest against her, his front covered most of her side and back; she finally felt safe and loved. His weight slightly pressing on her was comforting beyond words as it finally drummed in his presence. He was safe and he was there.

"Mmm…good morning my love…how was your sleep?" Bella rolled her eyes and felt a smile pull at Edward's lips which were currently skimming over the skin of her neck and shoulder.

"You know very well how I slept." In truth, they had only slumbered for an hour or two at the most. The rest of the time they had spent either exploring each other's bodies, making love or talking and Bella couldn't even find enough energy to complain.

Not that she would anyway, it had been the best night of her life.

His deep knowing chuckle sent goosebumps over her skin and made her squirm as his hands grew bolder and before long they were twisting in the sheets again.

***B***

Later, after what felt like hours of vigorous bed sports, Bella and Edward managed to pull away from each other with promises of returning once they found some food and filled their stomachs. What they did not count on was the appearance of the delicate looking woman with hazel eyes and short raven black hair who blocked their way out of the room.

"Alice?" Edward asked surprised and he vaguely remembered hearing Bella mention his sister's name yesterday. Their long reunion had driven it from his mind and Bella's as well. "What are you doing here?"

"I came two days before I saw you arrive…I had a vision of you falling over the edge of the mountain." Edward had always trusted Alice's visions and it was for this very reason but he knew that sometimes it did not tell the whole story and he knew she could not have prevented his fall. As her brother, he knew all her moods and could see the worry and stress that she had tried to hide; Alice's love for him ran as deep as his own for her.

"Thank you." Bella said suddenly, her eyes reverently staring at Alice and Edward looked between the two women confused.

"No Bella, thank you. The future I see is slightly better but for a second yesterday, it returned to blood and death and I was sure you had jumped." Bella shook her head and explained how she was about to step off the ledge when Edward had pulled her back. She didn't mention what happened after it and Alice never asked what they had done since then.

"I am glad to hear and see that you are both well. After you have eaten we must speak urgently, I have some food in my room." With that she turned and walked towards the adjacent door from theirs and Bella was glad of the gloomy interior when she felt herself blush. How much had Alice heard of their vigorous activities of the night?

Bella was distracted from her thoughts when Edward asked her what Alice meant and she told him that Alice knew of her attempt to reunite with Edward. That she'd begged her to wait at least until late morning before executing her plan if she really wanted to do so.

Edward was speechless for a moment and they both realised that they owed Alice everything; she'd managed to save two lives because Edward would have willingly jumped after Bella.

"Please…sit…eat, you must both be hungry after your long journey." Alice said gesturing towards a food laden table. It seemed that she'd been prepared and waiting for them to emerge all morning and Bella felt herself blush again.

"Thank you sister, not only for this delicious smelling food you have prepared but for saving Bella and myself."

"My dear brother it was done out of pure selfishness, I love you too dearly to lose you…and besides, Bella will be important to me as well…we will be the closest of sisters eventually."

"Well no matter, we're both grateful for your gift." Edward said as he pulled Bella over to the table, sitting beside her on the small wooden bench. "And while we are on the topic of your sight…what else do you know?"

Bella wanted so badly to ask all the questions that she'd thought up since the night Edward had spoken of Alice's sight but she knew now wasn't the right time, especially when Alice's features tightened and her eye's turned guarded and dark.

"What?" Edward asked worriedly. "What did you see?"

"It's not something I've seen recently that I need to tell you…it's something I saw twenty seven years ago, eight months before your birth. I was eight at the time and had no idea who I was seeing up until recently."

"What did you see Alice, just spit it out…"

"I need you to remain calm and just listen, can you do that for me Edward?"

Bella had never felt like more of an outsider than at that moment as the two siblings talked – she wasn't sure if she should go – what Alice had to say sounded serious but personal. Edward made her mind up for her as he gripped her hand firmer, whether he was reassuring himself or her she couldn't say.

"I'll try but that depends on what you'll say."

"I guess that's as good as I'll get then…" Alice sighed. "My vision was of your parents. Elizbeth and Marcus…she was heavy with child when they first ran away together…Edward your mother was Queen of Grecia, and your true father was the late King Caius."

There was a tense silence as Edward adjusted to the new information about his origins but for the life of him he couldn't understand her words. What she spoke of was impossible and she must've been mistaken.

"I think you have the wrong family Alice, Marcus was my father, people used to say we looked a lot alike…"

"You looked like him because not only was he the captain of Caius' personal guard but he was prince and brother to him as well."

"So what you're saying is that Edward is the first born and the rightful heir to Grecia?" Bella asked in shock. She had unknowingly fallen in love with royalty and as amazing as it should be it only made her feel like it was the worst thing possible to happen to Edward. The current ruler was not one to deal with a challenge to his throne fairly.

"Yes, that's right…Elizbeth was afraid of her husband so she enlisted the help of the brother she'd fallen in love with originally, before she was forced to marry Caius."

Edward was still silent and as still as a statue, "There has to be some mistake Alice, it simply cannot be."

"I know it was a long time ago but did you ever see your mother wear a uniquely styled ring? It had an engraving-"

"…of a snake." Edward finished, his voice was low and his tone reflected his darkening mood as he glared down at that very ring he wore on the smallest finger of his right hand. "She never took it off except the time she allowed me a look and then right before I ran from our besieged house."

"Does the symbol not seem familiar to you?"

Edward scoffed in disgust and his right hand clenched into a fist. Bella didn't know the recipient of his anger as his hand slipped from hers to run through his already messy hair. Tugging at chunks until it must have hurt.

"Of course I do. You would have to have lived under a rock to not know that it's the insignia for Grecia and its royal family. Apparently I've lived under that rock for years." Both Alice and Edward were silent as they stared carefully at each other, as if they were fighting a silent battle and it was Edward who broke away first.

"What else are you not telling me Alice?" he harshly spat out. "What else are you going to keep hidden from me?"

"You know why I didn't tell you sooner…if I had told you when we first met then you would not have found Bella in time and she would be dead by now." That seemed to calm Edward down and he quickly glanced towards Bella as if to reaffirm that she was safe and sitting next to him. His long fingers entwining with hers again.

"I know Alice…I just…this is just a shock. Never in a thousand years would I have guessed that that would be the reason for the way my life has been."

"I am regretful that your mother was not the one to have told you and I'm also sorry for the second vision I must tell you of…" Alice was sad as she stared lovingly at her little brother, her instincts to protect him were strong but she knew he needed to hear this. She had seen that this would be the critical turning point in what happened to everyone she loved and she'd also seen the multiple outcomes of several different decisions. Now, it was Edward's choice that would set them all on their next course of action if nothing else happened before that.

"Caius was responsible for their death, I saw him giving the order to his men…that vision came an hour before the one I previously told you about when you first found out about my gift. I'm sorry Edward."

Edward had somehow known from the minute Alice had mentioned who his mother was running from that Caius was possibly responsible for him becoming an orphan. The confirmation still delivered a significant blow to his already shifting universe however and regrettably it was too late to avenge his parents' deaths. The bastard was already dead.

AN: Thank you for the favourites, followers, reviews, comments and feedback I really, really appreciate them and it's so encouraging. I especially love hearing your ideas of what's going to happen next. :D

Hopefully I'll be able to update every Wednesday (AEST (UTC +10:00)) from now on so it's a bit more consistent. I hope you have another lovely week!

Bye lovelies! :D