After a disastrous conversation with Edward, he left. Not that I truly expected him to stay after answering his question of what happened with: Damon. He didn't even change out of his suit, he just ran away. The Cullens called his phone, and Emmett even tried to follow him, but nothing. Rosalie was not happy with me, and I was glad. Because the Cullens' understanding and nice treatment to me made me even guiltier. They were sad but not mad.

Dad took me home, where the girls helped me unpack all the stuff I had packed to move to the house Edward had gotten for us. They seemed worried about me, as if I would have an emotional breakdown any second. I assured them I was fine over and over and they still didn't seem to believe in me. Caroline joked they had the right to question my sanity since I had let Edward go for Damon. Elena chastised her for saying stuff like that but then Bonnie said she agreed with Caroline. In the end, they got a smile from me. After they left I laid in my bed, still in the freaking wedding dress, and stared at the ceiling. Perhaps I was insane. I looked out the window at the rain and rolled my eyes with a mirthless chuckle. God, this was pathetic.

"What's so funny?"

I looked back at the window. Damon was sitting on the window seat, drenched. He had a real smile. Not a forced, fake, sarcastic or mischievous. Just a smile.

"I should be on my way to a private tropical island on Brazil's coast" I said. Alice had confessed the real honeymoon plans, the gift from Carlisle and Esme and Edward's surprise.

"Yes, you should" he said walking to the bed. "But you aren't"

He flopped down by my side, kicking off his shoes. We both kept our eyes on the ceiling, and a minute later I felt his wet hand on mine. I turned my hand, palm up and he entwined our fingers.

"It would have been a perfect wedding" I said quietly.

"To a perfect marriage" he said a bit bitterly and I could feel his eyes on me.

I turned my face to the side and smiled at him. He smiled back.

"But what is perfect about me?" I said.

"Perfect is overrated" he whispered scooting closer.

"Wrong is way funnier" I whispered.

"Hm uh" he grinned. "You know… I hooked-up with all kinds of girls, but a bride definitely isn't on my list"

I rolled my eyes at him and smiled when I felt his lips on mine. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close to him and deepened the kiss. He took my hand in his and I felt him sliding the engagement ring off of my finger. I heard it clink as it fell on the floor. I pulled on the knot of his tie, and pushed the suit jacket from his shoulders.

And then it hit me. Was I really the runaway bride who had an affair? God, I was still on the wedding dress, there was still an altar at the Cullen's garden. Edward was gone and no one knew where he was going or what he was doing.

"What?" Damon sighed pulling back. "You're tense"

I frowned at him and he scowled.

"Damon… not now, okay?"

He kissed me softly and wiped away the raindrops that had fallen on my face.

"Come on, let's get you out of that dress" he said standing up.

I stood up and looked in the mirror with a sigh. I took off the comb Bonnie gave me, and undid my hair. The bracelet I had already given it back to Elena and the necklace I had returned to Alice, against her protests. Damon unzipped the dress since I couldn't do it myself, and after I stepped out of it, I took off the sandals. Damon playfully pulled me closer by the garter until I was standing between his legs as he sat on bed. I sighed as he brushed his lips on my ribcage, and held me in place by my hips. He gave me a tug and I straddled his lap, my fingers snaking into the disarray of black hair.

"Damon…"

"I know, I know" he murmured, his lips against the swell of my breasts popping out of the bra. Above my racing heart. "Let me just… stay like this"

I relaxed against him, and wrapped my arms around his neck. He held me to him, peppering me with light kisses.

"I'm crazy" I whispered.

"Yes" he agreed looking me in the eyes. "And I should feel bad for it"

"But you don't" I said smiling.

"Definitely don't" he said.

I crawled off of him, and lay with my head in the pillows. He lay with me, taking off his wet clothes and pulled me to his embrace. I knew it wouldn't be so simple, but at least I hadn't given up and settled down for what was safer.

The holidays passed relatively peacefully. Damon visited me every night, and we didn't do anything but talk, like we talked when we were just friends, before the trip to Florida.

The Cullens didn't hear from Edward, and after Alice informed me he had thrown away his phone, I stopped trying to call him. She was hiding something from me, and I didn't like it at all, but I had no right to demand answers.

Stefan and Damon were hosting a party for New Year's eve, but the Cullens were going on a celebrative hunt trip. I knew it was more of an excuse so the family wouldn't be celebrating with Damon and I while Edward was gone, it would be extremely awkward.

Wearing a shirt-like white dress and red ankle booties I went to the boarding house earlier to help with preparations. Elena was already there too, and I helped her cooking while Stefan took care of the playlist and Damon chose the wines. He had smiled at me when I arrived, but didn't say anything. No one knew he had been sneaking in my room every night, and for now, I wanted to keep it private. People arrived and problems were forgotten for a little so we could celebrate the arrival of a new year. I was talking to Jenna and Alaric, they were telling me their college experience, and in the middle of the conversation, Damon joined, and casually wrapped an arm around my waist. Jenna faltered a bit on what she was talking, but continued without a second glance at Damon's possessive hold on me. Between talking to friends, dancing with Damon and dining, I had barely noticed my dad's absence.

"Guys!" Caroline called out. "Countdown! Ten!"

Elena smiled at me, and we both knew what the other would wish for the New Year. For Klaus to leave us alone. Damon pulled me closer and I bit my lip while looking up at him. He pulled my lip away from my teeth with his thumb gently and smirked at me. I felt his phone vibrating on his pocket but he rolled his eyes. I smiled at him.

"Three, two" I counted.

"One" he said and crashed his lips to mine.

I wrapped my arm around his neck, and his arms tightened around me and he lifted me. I giggled against his lips as he spun me around, but he shut me up by deepening the kiss. That kiss was promising. And I should have known better. After all, most promises Damon did, he couldn't keep it.

I panted for air as we collapsed on bed. Damon chuckled and pulled my body close to his.

"At least you didn't tear my dress" I giggled.

"I wanted to" he said sadly.

"I would have thrown you across the room"

"Baby, you don't scare me" he smirked.

"Well, you should fear me" I frowned. "I could kill you"

He scoffed and I narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled and kissed me, getting on top of me.

"You could… but you wouldn't… I'm too fucking good" he said smugly.

"Eh" I shrugged.

"Eh?" he scowled at me and I giggled. "Woman, admit it, I rock your world"

"Hm…" I teased and then laughed at his scowl. "Okay, tiger, you rock my world"

"No one compares to me" he said with a smirk.

"We'll have to see that" I laughed.

"No, no. You will have to take my word on that, you're mine, no one touches you" he said kissing my neck. "He was the only and last"

"Your possessiveness is cute" I smiled.

"What did we agree?"

"Sorry. The word cute and Damon shouldn't be associated" I rolled my eyes. "Your possessiveness is sexy? Is that better?"

"Way better, mia bella" he whispered against my lips.

I pulled him to a kiss and he immediately deepened it, thrusting against me.

"Another round?" I asked arching an eyebrow.

"Impressed?" he smirked.

"You seem like a horny hormonal teenager" I said teasingly just to take that smirk off.

He bit my shoulder playfully and then kissed the spot.

"It's okay, I know you're impressed about my stamina" he said.

"Maybe" I smiled.

I felt his lips curve into a smile against the skin of my neck.

I gasped as I felt my heart constrict. Damon pulled back alarmed and I gasped for air.

My vision became blurry as Damon called my name and then I wasn't in his room anymore. I saw Edward. He had chased me to an alley and now gripped me by the throat, snarling at me. I couldn't breathe and clawed as his hands. I could feel my heart beating faster trying to pump blood to my head but to no avail. And then Edward bit me, tearing the skin and flesh on my neck. I screamed at the pain and then everything blurred.

"Bella!"

I blinked a couple times, breathing heavy and stared at Damon's face.

"What's going on?" Elena asked entering the room wearing a robe.

"It's fine, I've got her" Damon barked as Stefan followed Elena. "Out!" he barked.

Stefan pulled Elena out, closing the door after them. Damon looked down at me with concern.

"What happened?"

I sighed and closed my eyes, the tears burning behind my eyelids. I could see Edward's face, his green eyes slowly tainting with red. I opened my eyes and Damon wiped the tears.

"Edward" I sobbed. He scowled. "He killed someone"

He seemed shocked and then his eyes filled with rage.

My phone rang and jumped out of bed, grabbing my bag. I saw an unknown number and answered it.

"Hello? Alice?" I asked desperately.

"No"

"Edward" I sighed and wiped my tears. "What…?"

"Are you… alright?"

"Edward, what have you done? Who did you kill?"

"I just wanted to check on you. Goodbye"

"Edward, no" he had already hung up.

Alice called me half an hour later, apologizing for not being able to stop. She couldn't recognize the place Edward was, but was sure he had killed a man who had just raped a girl. She said he was reverting to his past rebellious ways. He was drinking from criminals. Well, although knowing that innocent lives were safe, the fact that Edward was drinking from humans worried me. Damon insisted that I should go to sleep and rest, but I just couldn't. I closed my eyes and saw Edward's turning red. Damon updated Stefan and Elena on what was going on since they had been waiting outside the room, worried about me. In the morning, Damon drove me home, stating I was in no condition to drive.

"I'm fine, Damon, thanks for bringing me" I said as he walked me to the door.

"If I see him, I'll kill him" he said seriously. "He knew the danger, the consequences you would suffer…"

"Maybe he just… didn't care" I mumbled getting my keys.

"Or he cared too much" he mumbled.

I opened the door and suddenly, Damon grabbed me. I looked at him questioningly and he walked in ahead of me with a scowl.

"What?" I asked worriedly.

"Blood" he mumbled.

I froze as I saw what he had sensed. Dad was on the kitchen's floor, in a pool of his own blood.

"No!" I screamed running to him. "Dad" I cried shaking him. "No, no, no… Daddy"

"Bella" Damon said softly trying to pull me away from my dad.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped.

I put my hands over dad's chest and blinked the tears away as I muttered the spell.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked worriedly. "Bella?"

I felt pain, most in my head and chest, but continued. My vision became blurry and I took a deep breath. Damon pulled me away forcefully and shook me.

"No, I can bring him back" I cried struggling against his grip.

"No, you can't" he said frowning. "You would kill yourself"

"I don't care" I snapped.

"Well, I do, and I'm selfish" he said and cupped my face gently, his thumbs wiping the tears. "I'm so sorry"

"He's gone…" I mumbled and then glared at Damon's chest. "I'll kill him, Damon. I will kill Klaus with my own hands"

He pulled me to a hug and dragged me away from the kitchen. He called Liz Forbes and Stefan. Soon I was sitting in my living room, surrounded by my friends, still all bloody, while the police officers and forensic team worked in the kitchen. Caroline seemed not to know who to stay with, me or her mother – her mother told her to stay with me and I kept saying I was fine and didn't need anything.

"I… I can't stay here" I mumbled as Elena cleaned my bloody hands with a wet towel.

"It's okay. Bonnie got your stuff, you're staying with me" she said softly.

"I have to solve so many things… The funeral, the Council…"

"Shh" Damon said pulling me to him. "That doesn't matter now, mia bella. Shh" he whispered rubbing my back. "I'm sorry"

"He knows I'm alive…" I sobbed. "What does he want?"

"He left a note… Well, Maddox did" he whispered. "He said he wants the Cullens away for good and he has something that belongs to you"

"What?" I frowned.

"Bonnie looked at your stuff, your talisman is gone" Stefan said softly.

Klaus wanted the Cullens gone or he would kill them all. I buried my face in the crook of Damon' s neck and he picked me up. He told Stefan to drive, and sat on the backseat of my car cradling me. My eyes burned from having cried them dry. It all felt surreal. When Damon put me down I realized we were in his bathroom. He started a bath for me, and kneeled in front of me, slowly unbuttoning my dress with his eyes locked on mine. When he pushed the fabric off my shoulders I saw the red stains and looked away as my stomach turned. Damon pulled off my heels, and helped me up. There was too much blood everywhere. In my legs, arms, on the floor, on the clothes… Damon's jeans were stained on the knees and his shirt had light stains from holding me. I ran to the toilet seat and threw up all I had eaten the past day. Damon held my hair and called out for Elena. She entered the bathroom, but it was like my ears were full of water, I couldn't understand what they were saying. She picked up my bloody dress and took it away. Damon helped me up again and I took off my lingerie before stepping inside the huge tub. Damon sat on the cold floor leaned against the side of the tub and used a sponge to wipe my shoulders and face.

"Call Alice" I said staring at the wall. "Tell them not to come back"

He nodded and pulled my hair away from my face.

"We have to do something about my mom" I said. "She is in risk… Maybe you could compel her and Phil to completely forget about me, or into thinking I'm dead"

"Bella…"

"No, please. We have to" I whispered.

"We'll discuss that later" he said softly.

Damon called my mother to tell her my dad died. The next day she showed up at the boarding house with Phil, her eyes red and swollen. The woman was crying more than I that moment. I fought with Damon for calling her, and he said that if I really wanted to compel her to forget about me, I needed to say goodbye. Mom wouldn't stop trying to take care of me and it was a bit annoying. She, Liz Forbes and Jenna planned the whole funeral while I took care of other stuff. I had inherited everything, the house, the one in Forks, the money he saved. The official report said there was a burglar at our house, dad fought with him and ended being stabbed in the heart. I talked to Mrs. Lockwood, saying I wanted to take my father's place on the Council. She said I should think better when my mind was clear but I insisted and she agreed. All I wanted to do was go to Ric's apartment and kill Klaus but everyone was watching me carefully.

The day of the funeral, I put on the long-sleeved lace black dress and black pumps the girls chose, and met Damon, Stefan and Elena downstairs.

"When this is over, you compel my mom to go, never come back and she must think I died with dad" I said grabbing my coat.

"Bella, don't do this… She's your only family" Elena said softly.

"Exactly, I refuse to put her in danger" I said firmly and slipped my arms into the sleeves. "You brought her here. You owe me, Damon"

He nodded and we fell silent as my mom and Phil descended the stairs.

"Oh, Bella" Renee cried on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, honey"

Phil watched us with worry. He was at the funeral of her wife's ex-husband and she was crying enough for herself and her daughter. Needless to say, he was at loss of what to do. Renee let me go and I put the red rose over the freshly put dirt. I stood back up and Damon's hand brushed against mine. He laced our fingers together and I could feel his eyes on my face. Slowly my friends scattered away until it was only my mother, Phil, Damon, Liz and I.

"I'm sorry, Bella" Liz said wiping her tears. "Anything you need…"

"Thank you" I mumbled.

She nodded and walked away. I squeezed Damon's hand and let go of it. He walked to my mother and her husband.

"Renee, Phil…" he sighed.

"Do it" I said.

"You will go back to Florida and never come back" he said firmly. "You will mourn the loss of Charlie and Bella, if anyone asks, she's dead"

I looked away from the grave and saw Jake and his dad. I frowned at them, and looked back at my mother.

"Goodbye"

She blinked a couple times, and with Phil's support, she walked away to their car.

"You too, Damon" I said quietly.

"I'm not leaving you" he said.

"I don't want you, Damon" I snapped. "Leave me alone!"

He stared at me with shock. I hadn't show emotion over the last days, and suddenly I was and it was against him. He looked at something over my shoulder and nodded before turning away and leaving. I sighed and walked to Jake.

"Billy" I said in greeting.

"God, Bella, this is… I don't know what to say" he said with a deep frown.

"Why are you here?" I asked looking down, my hands in the coat's pockets.

"Jeremy called Embry" Jake said. "Why didn't you call us, Bella?"

"Wasn't I dead? How could I call?" I said coldly.

"I'm sorry, Bella…"

"I don't want to hear it. Not now" I said shaking my head. "I need you to leave"

"We want to be here for you" Billy said.

"My dad died because of the Cullen's presence… I don't want anyone dying because of a pack of werewolves as guests. I'm sorry, Billy. I'll call you, maybe even visit when this is over"

"You would be in danger" Jake protested.

"He can't kill me. He needs my gifts to break the curse"

Not a lie. Klaus did need me, but then he would need to kill me.

"Bella…"

"Jake, go. I can't deal with… I don't want anyone unnecessarily dying"

"Alright, we'll respect your wishes" Billy said and took my hand gently. "Anything, you can call us… We are family, Bella, Charlie was like a brother to me, and I see you as my own daughter"

"Thank you" I mumbled.

I walked back to the grave as they left. I traced the name engraved on the headstone.

"I'm sorry" I whispered and of course, there was no answer.

Elena walked down the stairs slowly and gave me a small smile. It was the first time in weeks that Damon left me. I had texted Elena to come down from Stefan's room when he fell asleep. I put my finger against my lips and motioned her to follow me. We silently went to the basement and I stopped just outside the cellar.

"I agree with you. He had kept his side of the deal. He will help" I whispered.

She smiled with relief and we entered the small room. I grabbed the dagger, and pulled out of Elijah's chest.