Chapter 10:

Lucas breathed out first when they were out of the borders of Forks. Bella sat quietly in the passenger seat, seemingly deep in thought. There was a strange buzz between the two of them, and he wasn't sure if she could feel it as much as he could. Was this the bond pulling between them? Even when it was subtle, he had no doubt that Erlos stayed true to his word and helped him feel everything that was of the greatest possibility even without the true bond between them yet. Even if nothing was quite solid, it felt more than real enough, and he was grateful. A strange sense of contentment and not to forget happiness coursed through his veins and sparked other thoughts and dreams that he had not dared to hope before.

It was odd, to be what he always had been and now have access to something that he had only been witness to, but never able to experience himself.

The colder weather had not put off Alice, Bella decided. Even dressed warmly, her vampire friend had made her look fashionable, or as much as you could in warmer clothes. She let her mind wander as she noticed how tense Lucas was. Not until they passed the borders out of Forks did his shoulders relax. She knew Port Angeles would be the closest to go out and eat with also a few more options to choose from, and she did not mind it one bit. This was her time with him. Inside she felt like bursting with excitement that he was taking her out.

No longer able to wait, she at last voiced her thoughts and asked, "How is it possible?"

Lucas glanced briefly at her, not liking that he was not able to look her directly in the eyes while he spoke. He felt the corner of his lips lift automatically. She saw him. She had noticed how he was and first now, when they were further away from the borders had she asked him aloud. "None of us are entirely sure, Bella. But there is a strong possibility of a bond between us. Yours to Edward is so fragile that since I've been around so much it must have manifested quite clearly between us. These last few days, Erlos has helped by staying in Seattle and tuned in on me. He has been able to enhance what is there for me, so I could get to know what I have been feeling. It has not been without its difficulties," he explained.

"How long?" she wanted to know.

"Probably longer than what you have been aware of. In the start I did not want to believe it, I think. None of us understand this, as it never has happened to another angel that we know of. I did not want to influence your decision either. I wanted you to make it on your own. And then…"

"Then?" Bella said before he could continue.

He chuckled. "Then Talia told me that your decision was set, even if I had not asked you yet. All the possibilities on the choice had locked, they were now solid, only what came after was open again. It was also what made my siblings suggest that Erlos stay close to help me."

Bella knew her choice within her heart, but something did still bother her. "I want you to ask me, to finalize this. When it happens, will our bond be permanent?" she asked, tone determined.

Lucas shook his head, frustrated. "We don't know. You have several possibilities for a soulmate. Only the creators can really tell us who is the next choice as your mate. I know I want it to be me, I wish it after all now that I know. Even if it is just a tiny drop of what could be, I have felt it, and I already care for you. My siblings also want it to be me, thinking that I have been alone for far too long, but they forget themselves. They have not had any mate for almost as long as I."

"What happens if it's not you?" she wanted to know.

"Then my bond to you – as it was a possibility – will disappear, and everything will only be a memory. I will go back to being as I was before the bond between us started growing."

Bella did not like that. How could fate be that cruel? Even if there were so many possibilities, how could it not be natural that it would be him? How would she feel then? Would her dreams revert back to normal? If anything was truly normal in that sense. Would she go back to only feeling friendship, or would she always remember when she had hoped for something more between them? It was uncomfortable. She did not like the idea of him out of her life. How could his creator give him hope then to rip it away?

"The other bonds – possibilities – will they know?" she then asked.

"No, not unless you get connected to another, then that person, whether human or myth, will come your way. Much as you were drawn to Forks when you decided on moving, even if you did not know at the time. Your bond to Edward at that time made your decision to come here, even if you thought differently," he explained.

"Would that also be the reason I did not feel like I fit in anywhere else?" she wondered aloud.

"Probably," he responded. "That, at this point, is mostly guessing though. I do not know everything." He grinned.

"You do know a lot," she pointed out.

"Well, yes. But I'm not all-knowing."

"That would be the creators."

Lucas shrugged.

She swallowed, the clump in her throat from all this not making it easy. "Will you ask me then?"

"After dinner," he promised.

"After dinner," she repeated. Silently hoping that the fates would be kind.


Dinner had been pleasant and mostly a quiet affair. Not in the uncomfortable way. The looming of the bonded fates did cause a lot to consider. Would she really take the risk just to have a chance with Lucas? Yes, she had decided. Of course she would. The normalcy of their relationship so far only enhanced it. She knew what she could have with him, and the feelings between them would only grow stronger if their bond would truly form.

They did chat a little about school and their friends there. Bella had also wanted to know how he would be provided for if he would become human.

"By magic," had been his response. "Documents appear and good amounts of money to get us started in our new life until we can find work. In the past there was no need for documents in the same way as now. Not as many records, but the magic has evolved with the times as well. We get enough through the magic what we need according to the time and where we are in the life-stage at the time, it all depends, and we have no certain answers. Some would also depend on our soulmate. Let's say, a few hundred years ago, with station it depended on who your soulmate would be. A man could easily provide for a female angel, and she would not really need to be equipped with housing in the same way. A male angel would need housing and occupation to fend for his family. All we do know for certain is that we will be blessed then with love for the rest of our lives. It also helps that angels stay a lot on earth in general so we can keep in contact until eternal rest."

It had comforted Bella somewhat, but also made her more curious about some of his siblings' past. He would know with how long he'd been around. She had decided that those questions could wait, and thanked him for being honest. Where he had replied he could not lie. As if she had forgotten. That was perhaps the biggest comfort. She knew he spoke true. She could even feel it.

Lucas stopped the car by the woods a good distance away from the Forks border. He went to open Bella's door and held out a hand for her to take. She gave him a smile in turn as their hands connected and the hum between them intensified. He lifted her up into his arms and jogged deep enough into the woods. Stopping, he let her down carefully. He took off his jacket and his sweater, and then, through the slits in the shirt he wore, he let out his wings. He felt the full effect of his powers return and the soft glow on his skin confirmed it further. He let a sword consisting of golden light appear between himself and Bella. She stared wide-eyed. "Isabella Marie Swan?" he asked, his voice more ethereal.

"Yes?" she responded. Her tone steady.

"Will you keep your soulmate bond to Edward, or do you want me to sever it, as is my right to help you find a new healthy bond?" His voice rang through the trees and he briefly felt the presence of Ariel, Erlos and Talia as they landed close to them. They would oversee everything.

"I want my bond to Edward to be severed," Bella responded, her voice still going strong. She had truly decided. There was no doubt. No regrets.

Lucas saw the thin thread of her bond to Edward appear. Carefully he moved the sword created of light and let it cut through. The bonds dissolved instantly and so did the sword.

Bella felt as if she could breathe easier at once. She felt how right it was and how she was grateful to what she had had and experienced, but that was now part of her past. She did no longer feel the remnants of any sliver of feelings towards Edward.

She let her eyes rest on Lucas. His glow had dimmed.

Lucas fell forward with the force that seemed to hit him. A moment he could see the golden thread that came out from Bella and from himself as they met and formed a tight knot. As it solidified and became smoother it strengthened between them and he felt his breath leave him as he felt the pull towards her intensify. He leaned down on the earth with his hands and knees. Barely registering Bella's worried call of his name.

"Do you accept your new bond to Lucas?" Talia asked Bella.

Ariel and Erlos went on each side of Lucas and helped holding him a bit more upright.

"Will he be alright?" Bella asked, worry filling her tone. She reached forward, needing to touch him, but Talia stopped her.

"Will you accept your new bond to Lucas?" she asked again.

"Of course!" Bella cried, angry that Talia could even think that she would say no. She met his eyes head-on.

"Good. Now we must wait for the bond to settle," Talia then explained.

Only Bella could have made that final decision to him and he saw as the golden thread – no – rope – turn even thicker and pure white light went around the golden again. Finalizing the bond. It was the last he saw, before his world went dark.

"He fainted," Erlos snickered.

"Don't be an idiot," Ariel told him, as they helped their brother lay down on the earth. Careful to not hurt his wings.

"He's still an angel," Bella breathed as Talia let her pass so she could sit down beside Lucas.

She could feel the new bond. If she ever had thought that Edward had been her world, she was clearly mistaken. The power of this new bond was so intense and she knew without a doubt that he was her whole world. There would never be another. And if he perished, so would she.

"Yes, until he sacrifices his angel form to fully be with you, he will remain an angel," Talia responded, staring at her unconscious brother. She had not seen this in his lifepath. "Remarkable," she then muttered as she took in the bond that had formed between him and his mate.

"Indeed," Erlos breathed.

"It's truly magnificent," Ariel said happily.

"What is?" Bella wanted to know, staring at Lucas' siblings and their awestruck expressions.

"You bond," Talia answered, softly.

Lucas blinked then, confusion filling his gaze as he stared up at Bella. Their eyes met and everything hit him strongly again. She was his. He belonged to her. They were soulmates! They were one.

"On that note I do believe it is time for us to go," Erlos muttered, feeling everything between them. Not wanting to impose on the newly formed bond he signaled Ariel and Talia. "Congrats, brother. We'll talk later."

Bella barely registered the three other angels leaving as in that moment Lucas sat up and pulled her into his lap. With a squeak of surprise as she practically fell against his chest, she settled as his arms came around her and she let all these new sensations course through her. It was so utterly wonderful.

He let himself nuzzle her neck and then pressed his lips against it. He felt her heart as it picked up its speed and then he recognized a spike in her natural scent that certainly made his own body respond. He chuckled and trailed a few other kisses before he pulled away. Her face was flushed and her lips parted and her gaze heated. Making sure his grip was tight around her, he shifted her weight so he could stand. He had to give up his wings to fully be with her, and he would have no problems in doing so, but something in his mind warned him to not hurry just yet.

"What's the matter?" Bella asked, already tuned to him.

"I was thinking of getting rid of my wings to fully mate with you, but there is a warning in the back of my head. Only our creator can do this, and it means I have to wait." He stopped and tried to concentrate. He opened his mind to the divine and let the knowledge course through him. "Alright…" he muttered. Then he focused back to the world around him and noticed that he was still holding her against him. "Ah, not too long, but apparently there is something around here that I will need my angel-form for. As you have already accepted me, I cannot stay that long in this form unless I want to cause myself pain."

Bella marveled at his openness. She hadn't really thought through everything in the moment they had shared and felt her body heat when he had reacted to her. She had felt him and it had only been intensified when their eyes had met. Knowing she would hate for him to be in pain she rested her head against his shoulders.

He released her slowly and let her stand. And for a while they just stood - holding around each other. Enjoying the moment there and then. Connected and just being.