Chapter twenty five: Good man.

Renesmee was sleeping soundly, just like any other time I had her hugging into me; but something was off about this time. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something wasn't right. I could feel something within the air; a hollowing of the freshness. I wanted to say that it was the fact she wasn't dreaming, but she was. Every now and then I'd get gentle flicker of her dream. She was back in Forks, with Ivy and the rest of her friends; sitting in a kitchen trying tea and eating cake. Ivy and Suzannah had bulges to their stomach's while Shannon and Renesmee were slim. I couldn't entirely make out the conversation; but it was something to do with childcare.

It would flicker to children then running around the two pregnant and two non pregnant women. Two little boys and a girl dashing around chasing one another. I couldn't help but focus more so on the smallest boy out of the both of them. His hair was a russet copper, and his eyes were as blue as the caribbean sea.

Renesmee leant down to the child at her feet and kissed his head, said that his father would be home soon and told him to go play. He did as he was told; and scurried on out after the other two hyperactive children.

I wanted to take great pleasure in the fact she had said 'father' to this boy, but I didn't. If she was dreaming up some child she adopted, that was fine. But this child having a father, and it was indeed hers, it would mean she had moved on from me.

And that bothered me more than anything. Why, though? I wanted her to move on. I should feel happy about that, but I didn't. Instead, I felt an overpowering surge of jealousy for this make belief father, and I didn't even know if this child was even hers in this dream land.

The dream then flicked to the women out in the garden with the children; watching them play on some climbing frame. Then booming laughter echoed from the house behind them, causing everyones eyes to look and peer through the window. Nathan, Mark and Joshua wandered into the kitchen and straight out the back door to greet their... Wives. Each of them wore a wedding band on their fingers. Each of them were also carrying a fishing pole.

"Welcome back," the girls chanted in a chorus as they made their way over to the pregnant women on the loungers. Renesmee was frowning, and I was able to see her fingers also. There, in vivid gold, was a wedding band.

"He'll be right out, he's just bringing in the fish." Nathan chuckled, nudging Renesmee's shoulder.

Not half a minute went past when the dream flickered to another person making their way out the back; holding a tray of juice for the women. It wasn't until the tray was placed down that I was able to see through the eyes of Renesmee as this child ran from his friends and into the arms of this man.

Dark brown hair, vivid blue eyes and a sadistic glint to his face.

I was staring directly at myself. I was human. Renesmee was human, and that boy that had been running around the grass with the children was my son.

I couldn't handle it anymore. I couldn't watch as Renesmee made up some make belief life of us, on how we could be if things were different, because watching that made me wish it were true. That we could have that life; that it was a possibility. But it wasn't. If Renesmee wanted marriage, and children and all that... It wouldn't be with me. It couldn't be with me.

And for some reason, it hurt me to know that.

Thankfully, a violent yet gentle tap to Renesmee's room door gave me an excuse to pull myself from under her. Hastily, I made my way and answered it.

Jane stared up at me with large red eyes, and a serious glare on her face.

"Aro wants you. Now."

I glanced over my shoulder towards Renesmee sleeping, and then back.

"I'll watch her. You go."

The tone she was using implied that this wasn't up for questioning. This was serious. Without a second glance behind me, despite how much I wanted too, I made hurried out of the house and towards the field where my master was.

I couldn't help but wonder what the hell had happened in the short period of time I'd been laying with Renesmee, but it must have been something deathly serious. Why else would Aro demand my company? Although I was one of the most respected and treasured members of his guard; he wasn't one to merely send for someone for idle chitchat. We didn't run that sort of business, so to speak.

The moment broke through the trees and into the clearing, I was able to see what had happened.

There, sitting on the grass; with Aro, Jacob, Carlisle and Edward around her was the last person I thought I'd see here, especially after she departed with her coven members. Delilah.

In that same instant, I was at Aro's side. "You sent for me, master?"

Aro didn't waste time in pleasantries like he usually did. He looked directly at me after he shared a glance with Carlisle, who nodded his head. Something must have gone on. Some deciding had happened in my absence, and obviously something had happened with Delilah's lot also.

With his eyes on mine, Aro parted his lips and gave me my orders.

"I need you to take Delilah away from here immediately."

—xXx—

"This crap looks like it's gonna kill me," Ryan said, poking his dry hamburger with his finger. Across from the table was Delilah, dipping fries into the ketchup blob on the side of her plate. This week her press on nails were dark purple, to go along with her newly colored bangs.

"Then don't eat it," Delilah replied simply.

"Maybe I'll keep it as a pet," Ryan said. "Like of of those groovy pet rock things. You had one of them, right mom? In the olden days?"

Miss. McKenzie was at the mirror in the living room, while the two teenagers were eating dinner in the adjoining dining room. Her uniform was a light yellow, with white collars and a little name tag on her left breast. Currently, she was pinning up her hair in some style Delilah had only ever seen worn in the diner - the few times Ryan made her go in there with him, that is.

"If you don't want to eat it then throw it away," Delilah said quickly, becoming exasperated. "Stop prodding it."

Ryan's eyes flashed to her, and a delightful smile took over his face. Slowly, he poked it again. "Does it bother you?"

"Yes. Stop doing it, for god's sake."

"You two fight like an old married couple," Miss. McKenzie laughed as she fit yet another bobby pin into her hair. A cloud of hairspray was shed onto her hair, fixing all the little flyaways into place. She watched closely as the elder woman inspected herself closely in the mirror; dabbing her finger onto her bright red lips and tapping her cheeks to make them seem rosey. Miss. McKenzie was really pretty, Delilah had always thought so. She didn't understand why Ryan's dad left; but then again... She never understood why anyone left. Ryan didn't let it get to him. Or at least, that was what it seemed like.

"As if!" Ryan laughed. "Delilah would be the worst wife. Probably would iron my unmentionables at two in the morning or something else completely anal."

"Nice wording of 'anal.' Was it really necessary?" Delilah grumbled as she picked up the glass of her water. Ryan replied with sticking his tongue out.

She was just about to make a witty comment when Miss. McKenzie made her way into the dining room and around the table; pressing a hard kiss onto Ryan's forehead.

"Alright kids, you be good." She picked up her purse from the side. "I'll be back soon. You can watch TV, there's soda in the fridge and if you need anything; the diner number is on the fridge."

Both of them nodded as they watched her walk to the door.

"Remember to take your medication, Ryan. Delilah, make sure he does."

Delilah nodded again and popped a fry into her mouth. She began to chew it slowly.

Miss. McKenzie opened the door, and looked back to them. Her welcoming eyes screamed adoration towards the two fourteen year olds at the table. She puckered her lips, and blew a kiss to the two of them before departing out of the house.

"Okay, now the dinosaur is gone; lets have some real fun!"

She swallowed the chewed down fry slowly. "Real fun?"

Ryan nodded and kicked himself up off his chair. "You set up the TV and game console, I'll get the video games and the munchies!"

"You didn't eat your dinner, but you want to eat sweets?"

Ryan vanished out the door; his booming footsteps going upstairs to his room. She listened, before finally giving in and walking into the living room. Just as she was told, Delilah began to set up the TV for him.

They forgot to take their medication that night. Too wrapped up in their games, laughter and snacking to remember. And for the first time back then, Delilah felt as though she didn't need the medication to help her. She didn't go off into one of her episodes, she didn't find something to freak her out. She was calm, she was distracted and she was... Happy.

Ryan might've said the same thing, but boy did he need his meds. A kid with ADHD playing a video game and drinking soda... Delilah was positive back then it was not possible for Ryan to get more hyper than what he was naturally; however, that had turned out differently. Without his meds, Ryan acted as though he was indestructible. Invincible. He acted... The way he always made Delilah feel.

The light brown eyes of Ryan stared back at her from the a poster inside a convenient stores window. It wasn't a picture of Ryan, but of another boy Lilianna had taken from the streets. She remembered him; he was one of the ones who wasn't talented. But he had the same look in his eyes in this picture that Ryan wore every single day of his human life, and even more so in his immortal one.

A hand pressed itself onto her shoulder, causing her to gently turn her head and sigh. Alec's soft eyes reflected back at her, defined with the prospect of professionalism and hardship. He didn't need to speak in order for her to know what he wanted.

It wasn't the time to sit and stare at photographs in shop windows. Silently, she nodded and turned herself away from the picture in the window and let Alec take the lead. She followed after him as he made his way through the empty streets of Alabama; first in a slow walk and then picking up the pace until he was in a solid sprint; with Delilah closely following behind him. They were going to an old warehouse, collecting files and letting her go through them. Afterward, Alec was going to hunt with her. Despite having her insecurities on eating in front of people, she didn't seem to mind Alec being there. The one part Delilah hated when feeding was hurting the human, even if they were the dregs of society. They were still human beings, and Alec could make sure it didn't hurt. He made it feel as if the human were just slipping off into a deep sleep.

The abandoned warehouse was exactly the way they had left it, Alec said. She could smell rust in the air, and dirt, and dust. There were silent traces of the Volturi there, but it wasn't... Vivid. If she wasn't looking out for the smells and scents of the four Volturi members she'd met with over the past week or so, Delilah would have probably missed it.

Alec made a beeline for a hardware desk in the middle of the empty space. As she drew in closer, she could see him lining up the files in alphabetical order. Name after name after name, she couldn't remember. But the faces... she remembered them all. The ones who made it, the ones who didn't.

"If you could separate the ones who made it, and who didn't..."

The task was simple enough, but each of the faces she looked at made her heart swell with regret. With hate for what had become of her family. In the beginning, before all this Alec talk, Lilianna's promise of a family had seemed perfect. It was flawed, and it hurt at times; but Delilah slowly melted into it. It became normal, and she never saw anything wrong with it.

Then things changed, and she began to hurt more people than she needed.

They were the ones who were suffering here. The ones who didn't make it and were disposed of. They had no choice, no hope, nothing. Just three days of the most excruciating pain ever; all for what? To be told they weren't useful and then killed off again.

They had been torn from their families. From their loved ones. From everyone they ever cared about, and their existence held no importance to Lilianna. All of that, for nothing.

Smiling face after smiling face, Delilah began to separate them. Pictures of people in a group with a red circle around one, indicating that he/she was the one 'missing.' Some of these dated back way back to when this all began, when she was sure that case had been closed a long time ago.

Then she came across his file.

—xXx—

Renesmee was in safe hands. Jane had personally volunteered to help her for the days that I'd be gone, though I had no idea why. Personally, I would have thought Demetri and Felix would be the ones to offer their services to her; but Felix was more preoccupied with challenging Emmett these days, and Demetri was sharing his attention between Jane and my sister, I was positive Renesmee was the last thing on their minds.

If only I had that ability. She was all I seemed to be thinking about. She was all I could think about, and it wasn't in the way I used to view it. I found myself swaying more to the side where I myself didn't understand why we were apart any longer. The only reason we were currently not training together; is because Aro believed that if Lilianna were to try an attack sooner than before, it would be to rid Delilah first of all. If we could separate Delilah - whose scent they all knew well - from the rest, they would follow her, and give me the chance to deal with them. Although it was a good idea, I hated being away from Jane. I hated being away from Renesmee, but Aro was there. Jacob was there. Renesmee's parents were there, and Jane was there. She was safe. So far, it was Monday. We had one final day ahead of us, before finally heading back to the Cullen's estate.

It was no hesitation of mine to wonder why I have been chosen to be Delilah's baby sitter of course, but I began to view it from Aro's perspective more than my own. Here was a girl, cast out from her family with Lilianna probably wanting her dead. She had come to us, and she needed to be protected. Anyone of us could have done that; but he was viewing it in the terms of Delilah's comfort.

For whatever reason, she had personally asked that I be the one to go with her. She trusted me. Had I done something to make her trust me? I wasn't entirely sure. Did it make me feel any more guilty for what I had planned for her? Of course it did. Did it mean I would change my mind? Probably not.

The days that I spent in her company weren't eventful in the slightest.

They went as followed, actually;

Saturday: Delilah trained hard.

Sunday: Delilah trained harder.

Monday: Take her feeding, and train harder than ever before.

We had just made a little detour before going off to feed, and then continuing our little one on one sessions. It was our last few hours, before I could return to my family... To Reny.

There was nothing I wanted more than to hold her, to call her mine, and to hear her agree. Even here, with Delilah going through files; I was looking down at the faces that meant something to her - but ultimately could be a threat towards Renesmee.

Because of that reason alone, I hated them. I wanted them all to perish, and to burn under either my sisters gaze, or my personal hand in lighting the flames. File after file was separated, and it seemed as though most of the people were being placed to the left. All of these individuals had been stolen their lives; and now, from what I could presume, they were dead. I had seen her move 'Damien' to the right, meaning that pile was the 'alive and kicking'; so the much larger pile was the ones who hadn't made it.

It was less of them threatening Renesmee's life, I eased it off. It wasn't until Delilah came to a hasty stop that I registered something wasn't right. Leaning against the table, I arched an eyebrow at her questioningly.

"Something wrong?"

"This is me..." She whispered.

It was? I idly moved around the table, and stood beside her while I looked down to the paper.

Ryan McKenzie.

It wasn't her, but one look at the photograph made me realize what had her frozen. Indeed, there was Ryan. And there was Delilah, cowering while Ryan had his arm wrapped around her shoulder; forcing her into his side. She didn't look any different as to what she did now, so I presumed this photograph was taken shortly before she had been taken from her everyday life.

"I remember this day..." She whispered. "It was his birthday... He was so hyperactive that day, he spilt two cans of soda; and tried to clean it with his shirt. In the middle of the mall, he just... Stripped down. This was taken in the photo booth after he dragged me in there..."

I watched as Delilah got lost within her own memory, her hand idly dancing over their two faces. If I were to look at this and not know these two, I would have presumed this was a young couple very much in love. The two opposites of one another, but fitting together perfectly. I could see it in both their eyes; the hidden adoration for one another. And oddly enough, I recognized that look. I had seen it many, many times before. Staring back at me from my fireplace mantle.

The smile Renesmee had on her face that day she took the picture of us both.

I was falling for her at that moment. Hell, it was destined to start from the beginning. From the very moment I walked into Renesmee's life, or more so she came crashing into mine, I was bound to be hooked. Had Aro suspected such a thing? I highly doubt it. Before Renesmee, I never paid attention to anyone; nor anything, but there had been something about Renesmee. There still was something about her, a spark of energy. Her willingness to take on everything life had to throw at her, and still managed to come out unphased. She was either very good at hiding being broken, or she was naturally very brave, and strong.

I believed it was the latter.

"You look happy there." I commented. "That smile, although hesitant... It's genuine."

"I was happy," she broke out a laugh, though I knew it wasn't in hilarity. If she were human, I predicted that there would be tears streaming down her face. "I thought I wasn't... But I was. I'd give anything to go back there..."

"I think most immortals would." I said truthfully. In all my years, there was only a select few who were thankful for their transformation. Who willingly said goodbye to their human lives, and expressed a deep want and love for this life.

"Would you?" She turned her eyes up to me, and despite it being a very personal question... I couldn't lie to her.

"Truthfully, yes." I nodded. "I would go back, but not to stay."

Confusion wrote itself across her pale face.

"I'd go back to say goodbye to my loved ones. To my mother. But I would chose this life, always."

Delilah parted her lips and a small breath. The words that followed the breath stunned me beyond any natural feeling.

"And forever... Because of that, right?"

She knew? She knew of that? Of course she must've. Renesmee and I had been very open in expressing our love for one another; and Lilianna had been watching, thus meaning Delilah must've been part of that also. She had saw us, she had heard us, and she had witnessed first hand to see a person who was on top of the world, but was now currently living without that.

"Yes."

"If it wasn't for you turning, you wouldn't have met Renesmee."

"Exactly." I nodded. "All the wrongs in my life led up to her."

"But you gave up so easily. You let her leave you... You let Lilianna win."

I know what she was saying was true. And it pained me to take it in, but the more I heard it, the more I personally began to believe it. By doing what I was doing, I was letting Lilianna win. I was letting her take the last happiness from me, but I had always been a stubborn fool.

"I only ever bring darkness into her life, Delilah." I sighed. "She deserves better than that."

"Sometimes even the darkest of darkness needs light, Alec."

What? What was she getting at here?

Delilah went onto explain, so I presumed my look must've given her the impression I didn't understand.

"You think that you're corrupting her life. That you're... Bringing her darkness." I nodded in agreement. "But what if that isn't what's happening. What if... She's bringing you light."

Renesmee... Bringing me light?

"Were you this easy to talk to before her? From what I've heard... People are scared of you for a reason, but right now... I'm not scared of you. You're kind, and sweet, and you have a heart. It's battered and bruised; but who's isn't? What if she was meant to... Save you from the harshest person to criticize you of them all? Yourself."

I didn't believe I deserved Renesmee. I believed she deserved better. I believed that I was corrupting her life, and only bringing sorrow and darkness. I never once understood why she looked at me the way she did, or why she smiled at me the way she did... Or loved me the way she said she did. I let her walk out on me, because I believed it was so god damn easy to do so. I believed that if I were her, I would have walked out too. I was a monster, a beast that thrived off other peoples misery and death. I was heartless, and careless, ruthless and mean.

I was all that, because I could never accept the fact someone could love me, and not be Jane; or my mother. I had lived in a world where I was rejected at birth by my father, I grew up in a place who scrutinized me and my sister because we were mere twins, and I never once told Grace the way I felt about her because I began to believe everything those bullies once said to me. I had become what they said I was.

I was the one criticizing myself most here.

"You're a good man, Alec." Delilah's hand rested itself on top of mine. "She just saw it before you did."

I couldn't breathe, strangely. Despite not needing to breathe, I felt as though I needed to gasp for air. My world came crashing in around me, and I realized then just how much of a fool I had been. Renesmee had saw the good in me, despite me not believing it was there. There might not have been when I first met her, but as our time went past; I changed. I evolved, and I had become someone I never thought I could be. She had seen it, she had watched me flourish; and even then... She never once asked me to change. She still wanted me, despite all the bad things I have done in my life.

"I... I do not understand," I blinked.

"Of course you don't. Because you're a Volturi guard. You don't understand anything. You just go out, mess with people, kill them and then run home to your precious little sister and act as if you have nothing to care about in the world!"

"Because I don't have anything else to care about in the world, Renesmee."

"But you should care about me!" She hissed. "We. Are. Friends!"

I tightened my jaw. She walked clumsily towards me. Still holding both her shoes at my side, I watched her carefully. The smell of drink was powerful off her. I watched as a tear ran itself down her face; the one of many.

"Don't you feel anything for me at all?" She whispered. "Anything?"

I stared blankly at her. Nothing present but a stern look. Her hands swiftly took hold of my face, and I did all I could not to flinch away. "You care about me, don't you? Even just a little bit?"

I couldn't say. I don't know why... But I couldn't. Emotions were for the weak. Caring for someone was a weakness. It only got you hurt, and I was tired of that happening. I swallowed; but kept my eyes on her. "It's not bad to feel, Alec. It's what defines us from being monsters."

She had known all along how hard I was being on myself; and yet she never once said. She never once judged. She let me take my time, and slowly open up to her; even if she was feeling everything I did for her now, before I'd opened up to the thought of caring for someone other than Jane.

I had always believed I was a patient man with my limitations; and viewed Renesmee as an impatient, stubborn little pain in the ass... But if all this were true, if she had indeed sat and waited for me to care for her in the way she did me, she was the patient one. And I was the pain in the ass.

"I find it strange you call me a good man," I commented dryly, finally finding my voice. "When I am planning on destroying your coven."

"You're doing your job." Delilah retaliated. "Your job doesn't define who you are... Alecza-"

I flinched, and it caused Delilah to stop mid sentence. "I'm sorry..."

I shook my head swiftly. "She must've referred to me as that."

Delilah nodded gently and pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. "She would switch between the two."

Of course she would. She used Alec when she was in her happy-go-lucky mood as a human, toying and playful; yet when she was being serious with me, it was always Aleczander. It was one way I could tell what she was feeling towards me, and what her moods were each day. Now, in the present times, she must've referred to me as Aleczander a lot; for this was no playful thing any more. This was deadly serious.

I had pondered if Lilianna knew how serious what she was doing was, but evidently she did. She knew full well what she was getting herself into and yet she still continued to do so.

"How did we get onto the subject of me?" I decided it was best to just change the subject. I'd much rather prefered to be in silence, but Delilah was in her talkative state. Something that hadn't really occurred in our short time together. The only talking that went on was when she'd train with me specially, and she'd ask a question. That was all. I somewhat craved for that sense of distance between us again, but I could not put this to waste. If Delilah was talking, I needed to let her vent it out. Even if it was to me. "You were telling me about your time with Ryan."

If Delilah had been human, which I now knew she would love to be again, she would be blushing. The shy smile on her face, and her eyes averting down to the file clarified that.

"I once thought like you, y'know. That I was darkness, and misery, and I wasn't any good. That I didn't deserve a friend like Ryan... But when I was with him, when I am with him, I feel like a better person. I become who I always wanted to be."

I couldn't help but realize the... Similarities between our situations. Renesmee honestly did make me feel as though I was a better person, even though I never believed I had deserved it. After everything I had done wrong in my life, I didn't think it was possible to feel like a 'good' person again. I had accepted that a long time ago; and it never once bothered me until I had met her. Until I was faced with the purest of people, the kindest of hearts, and the sweetest taste of humanity ever; and all I had to offer in returned was a... Dark, battered, sinful and sadistic nature in return. It didn't seem right to offer her that, when she deserved the world.

"I asked him once... Why he was my friend, and you know what he said?" Delilah looked up at me again. I held her gaze and nodded gently.

Oddly, I actually did want to know what he'd come back with.

"We decide who we want to be close with based on how messed up we are. We look for what we think is the fix, what could make us better."

... Was that true? Did we all look for the other half of us, the total opposite as to what we were, to try and counteract our own personalities? It made sense, if I was to think about it hard enough. Renesmee and myself, with her deeming purities, innocent, good heart and insecurities when I had met her, and I with my sadistic streak, a belt full of sins, a tainted heart and my... Well, to put it rather bluntly, my arrogance. We counteracted one anothers personalities to a tee, and seemingly Ryan was Delilah's counterpart.

"He past his psychology test and thought he could diagnose anyone, and had an answer for everything. Not too sure if it made sense, but it made me feel better..." She laughed.

"It makes sense," I nodded. "It seems as though your... Mate is indeed a smart boy."

Delilah's eyes snapped up to mine, large and wide. "My mate? Oh, no, no, no. We're not mates... I wouldn't even know what to look for in a ma-"

"Delilah," I placed a hand onto her shoulder, silencing her automatically. "I have been around for a long, long time. I have seen many people with their partners, their mates and couples who weren't mates. From what I understand between you and Ryan, you are indeed mated."

Delilah just stared at me with her large red eyes. She was trying to take everything I was saying into account. I could see the turning clocks within her head, and it wasn't hard to understand that she was trying to think of a way to... Dismiss it, more or less.

"I shouldn't have said. Forgive me for prying," I nodded, deciding I'd dismiss it myself. "Let's finish up here, and head out for a hunt."

If she wanted to say something, she didn't. Instead, she continued on with her work, separating files and piling them up while I stood at her side and watched with a close eye yet again.

She was dedicating herself to this cause, and truthfully; the thought did occur to me that perhaps I could be able to... Convince Aro to let this small group of individuals leave. Although they were created for the wrong purpose, and we did execute those made for that - perfect example of being that girl when the Cullen's faced the army of newborns - but this time it was slightly different, was it not?

That girl hadn't helped us in the way Delilah had. She came to us with valid information, she helped us when we would have most likely been left in the dark, and lastly... She was giving up everything. Not a lot of people were able to earn my respect, in fact; it was almost as impossible to receive as much as it was to get Marcus to smile, but it did happen on a rare occasion. Renesmee had gained it, her human friends had managed to gain it; and now... Delilah had it. She was putting everything out on the line for us, for her loved ones, and for Renesmee. In my eyes; that made her one of the most respectable beings on this planet alone, alongside one of the bravest.

It only took Delilah a matter of five minutes to complete her separating of files; and once she had, I took her place and began to look through the names and faces. She stood beside me, pointing out the ones who had offensive and defensive gifts. There was an 'unknown' pile, for the ones she wasn't entirely sure of. The rare few that came to that pile would send Delilah into a fit of apologies.

I couldn't really blame her, nor judge her in forgetting what some of these faces did. She had done well so far, and it was expected there would be a few problems here or there. For what she had done for us already; I couldn't be harsh on her for forgetting certain things.

As we neared the last remaining file, both Delilah and I stiffened in sync at a unexpected visitors voice. It wasn't unknown however.

"Delilah?"

She looked at me in worry, and in a plead. I nodded my head gently.

"Speak of the devil, and he will come."

Her lips twisted as she tried to fight a smile.

"Go. Speak with him. I will go over some of these on my own."

She nodded in agreement, and I watched as she turned around. Standing in the large open doorway of the abandoned warehouse was Ryan. It started off slow with her walking to him, but the pace picked up soon after; and it wasn't long until she was in his arms and he was clinging to her for dear life. It wasn't needed to be said, evidently, but it was clear they were expressing to one another just how much they missed each others company.

"Are you alright?" Ryan pulled back and stared down at her.

"I'm fine," she said. "I'm fine."

"Everyone's worried about you, Delly. They don't know what the hell to think; I don't know what the hell to think." Ryan began his little rant towards her. "Lilianna's telling them all you are a traitor. What the hell did you do? What did you say to her?"

Delilah stuttered for words. I could see, or more so sense, that she had no idea how to get these words out. Or how to explain it, so to speak. It would have been easier to just show him what happened; but I doubt that thought had even crossed her mind.

"She made the ultimate sacrifice." I mused in answer for her. "She gave up her own life, so to speak, in order to cover for the rest of you."

Ryan blinked in my direction, then turned his eyes back to her. "I was listening and caught some parts. But what I don't get is why."

"Scotty... He was- She was going too- I mean, I couldn't let him-"

"Lilianna is a vindictive, vicious person now, Ryan. She isn't going to stop by any means, and she plans on using you all. Even those that you view as superior to you, such as Scott, Mary and Delilah. They too are in the very same boat as you are; and if they are deemed un-usable anymore, she will dispose of them."

It took a second for Ryan to take in what I was saying, but the moment he did; his mouth fell agape.

"She threatened... Scott?"

Delilah nodded her head and hid her eyes from him. I felt a sudden pang of sympathy for her; yet all I could do is watch as Ryan embraced her into yet another hug.

"You're giving up so much, Delly." Ryan whispered into her hair. "Is this really worth it? Ask yourself that question... Risking your life for this? We could run away together. I can go back and get Damien, and the others... We can just run off."

I turned myself away from them, seeing as I'd obviously been brushed off as no longer needed in this conversation. I was willing to help Delilah, but there was an extent as to where my help could go. This choice was hers, and if she chose it; then it was indeed her own choice.

The Volturi may, or may not, follow after them after all this; but if she felt as though that was the right thing to do, I would not stop her. I would not ruin her life like it had been done before, I would not take away her choices in things. I would not become another Lilianna to her.

"You don't have to do this..." Ryan finished in the softest of whispers.

From what I could hear, for I was no longer watching, Delilah took a step back. There was a long pause before I was able to hear her voice, and the words that came out gave me a sudden feeling of pride and respect.

"I know. But I want too."

Whatever was going on behind me, I couldn't be positive. It was only when Ryan addressed me that I looked over my shoulder to them again.

"Alec. D'you mind if I take her out for a walk?"

I glanced towards Delilah, and found that she too was watching me closely. I could see the desire to do so desperately, be there a hidden reason behind it or not, that I felt as though I couldn't refuse. Who would I be to stand in the way of this? By the sounds of things, this was more than likely the last time Delilah would see him like this. The next time they met would be on the battle field.

"Go ahead. Take your time, just don't go too far."

Both of them nodded and sent me thankful glances. Automatically, Ryan began to lead her outside. I hoped they got whatever it was off their chests, no matter how long it took.

I turned my eyes back down to the files and tuned them out; allowing them to receive some privacy.

A/N:

Sorry for the late update guys! But nevertheless; here it is!

Currently finishing off the next chapter; while planning out how to begin the others.

Things seem to be moving sweetly! So much so, I've actually began to plan out the ending!

Ugh, writing the end will be hard. After all this time, it's going to end. *cries softly*

Anyway, I presume I'm gonna have the next chapter done within the day; so if you'd like it up as soon as it's done; just to treat you guys for being amazing; get those reviews in! 1,670 should do the trick.

I love you guys!

Take it easy.

-C.H