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The Promise

Everyone sat knee deep in silence after this revelation. Rosalie sat down as did Edward; his mouth turned down into a grimace after realizing what he had just let slip. He bowed his head, unable to look at Carlisle, who glared at him with a severe expression.

Billy watched Carlisle carefully. Even with his face frozen, he could tell that the coven leader was struggling, now understanding the cascading triggers of Edward's obsessive behavior, by the change in eye contact, posture, and tone.

Eventually Esme opened her mouth to speak for the first time, hoping to diffuse the tension in the room with pointless platitudes, but Carlisle held up one finger to stop her. He turned toward Billy and the others, his expression becoming more animated. He put his free hand on the shining table and leaned forward.

"I need to draw this meeting to a close, gentleman." He said coolly. "I need to confer with my family in private. I promise I will be in touch very soon."

"The only promise we want from you is confirmation of when you're going to leave." Old Quil piped up solemnly. He rose slowly from his chair, his joints creaking with the effort. "And make it soon, Dr. Cullen. Our patience is wearing thin. Shall we?" He looked toward Billy and Harry. "I for one could do with some fresh air. It reeks in here."

There was a faint rumble of irritation from the burly vampire's chest as he took offence at the intended insult. Rosalie looked at her mate, shaking her blonde head in warning. Alice was sitting rigidly in her seat, her eyes glazed over, her fingers pressed tightly together. Jasper was gazing down at her in concern, his usual equanimity missing. Edward still had his head bowed, unable to meet Carlisle's eyes.

Esme was the one who rose gracefully from her seat to show the men out. They followed behind her in contemplative silence, all feeling that a turning point had been reached. At the door Esme smiled at them graciously, thanking them for coming, before retreating inside and closing the door quietly behind her.

XXXXXXXXXX

Even though Bella was on now on the mend, she still stayed in bed an extra day just to be on the safe side. Jacob had left at nightfall, leaving to go and check in with his brothers, and help to supervise the newest wolf's transition into the pack.

Bella rolled over onto her side, her heart and mind filled with love for Jacob. She thought of him, out there, running in the darkness. She soon fell asleep imagining the wolves, invisible in the night, guarding her from danger. When she dreamed, she stood in the forest again, but she didn't wander. To her surprise she found herself holding onto Angela Weber's hand as they faced into the shadows and waited anxiously for the wolves to come home.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Feeling in a more energetic mood after her recent bout of illness, Bella decided on a whim to go and visit Angela. The dream she had last night about the wolves, where her friend had featured prominently, was still fresh in her mind.

Charlie had already left for the day, so Bella ate breakfast alone, scarfing it down quickly in her eagerness to get going. Soon she was in her truck, with the windows rolled down, breathing in the fresh air, and singing along to an old Patsy Cline song playing on the radio.

The drive to Angela's didn't take long. She pulled up in front of the Weber's house and parked the truck. Running lightly up the short concrete walk to Angela's front door, she raised her hand to knock, only for the door to be opened by Ben Cheney, like he had been standing right behind it. Angela had only recently started dating Ben, so Bella was surprised to see him at her house so early in the morning.

"Hey, Bella." He said, looking uncomfortable.

"Hi, Ben. Er…Is Angela here?" Bella was beginning to think she should have called ahead.

"Sure." Ben glanced up the stairs just as Angela came running down them calling out Bella's name.

There was a sudden awkward silence as Ben kept his head down, avoiding Angela's eye. Bella began to wonder what she had walked into. Had the couple had an argument? It sure looked that way, considering the way Ben was acting. Angela was a closed book, her expression giving nothing away.

"I can come back another time." Bella said hesitantly.

"No, Bella, please I'd like you to stay." Angela answered in her quiet voice.

Ben perked up at the sound of a car on the road. The car's engine stuttered to a stop, followed by the loud pop of a backfire. Ben scooted past Bella immediately, muttering a hasty goodbye. He didn't say the same to Angela, just raced for the car parked behind Bella's truck. Bella saw Austin behind the wheel. She watched as Ben quickly climbed in beside his friend, Austin gunning the engine as he sped off down the street out of sight.

Bella turned around to face Angela, who was no longer able to hide how upset she was. "What's going on, Ange?" She asked sympathetically. She put a comforting arm around the other's girl's waist and led her back inside the house.

Angela swayed, her face slightly red, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Ben and I broke up." She confessed, stifling back a choked sob.

"Oh, Ange, I'm so sorry. What happened?"

"He said he didn't want to be exclusive and that we should both be open to dating other people." Angela dabbed her eyes with her fingers, taking in a deep breath to hold back the tears. "You can imagine what I thought about that idea. My response wasn't exactly polite."

Even amidst her grief, she still managed a watery smile.

"You're better off without that creep." Bella fumed as she followed Angela up the stairs to her room. The house was unusually quiet. "Where's your family?"

"My parents took the twins to a birthday party in Port Angeles." Angela explained, referring to her younger brothers. "I'm just glad they weren't here when it happened." She swiped at her eyes again.

"I know the pain feels raw now, Angela. But it will pass." Bella soothed. "There are plenty more fish in the sea."

"I need someone like your Jacob. He doesn't have any brothers, does he?" Angela joked, already feeling better with Bella's staunch support.

Bella laughed as she settled down on Angela's bed. "Oh, Angela, you have no idea." She declared with an enigmatic smile. "Remind me to introduce you sometime."

"See you at school, Angela." Bella said a few hours later as she waved her friend goodbye. She had worked her magic; Angela was in much better spirits than when she had first arrived.

Bella's good mood didn't last long. As she climbed into her truck, she felt unusually jumpy. She hadn't felt this bad since Edward Cullen was stalking her. She looked around, but the street was empty. She spent the whole drive glancing anxiously in all her mirrors, but there was never any sign of another car tailing her.

It wasn't until she reached her house that she spotted the black Mercedes parked across the street. She stared in disbelief as she watched Edward Cullen climb out of the car as soon as she stepped out of her truck. She shook her head, taking a deep breath, trying to find her resolve, as well as her courage to send him on his way one last time. If he didn't leave immediately, she would call Charlie and brave the consequences when she filed an official report.

"If you don't leave right now, I'll call the police." She called out, phone in hand.

Edward gazed at her, his eyes and face unemotional. "You won't do that." He said tonelessly. "Come for a walk with me."

Bella didn't answer. She couldn't think of a way to protest, but instantly knew this time, she didn't want to. There was something in his air, something that told her that whatever he wanted to tell her this time was significant, something that it was vital that she hear.

Edward didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he captured her hand between his icy fingers, pulling her toward the east side of the yard, where the forest encroached. Bella followed unwillingly, trying to think through her rising panic, thinking about how foolish she was being, going into the forest alone with him. But, again, she let her gut instinct guide her.

They had only gone a few steps into the trees when Edward stopped. They were barely on the trail-Bella could still see the house.

Some walk.

Edward let go of her hand and leaned against a tree and stared at her, his expression unreadable.

"Okay, lets talk." Bella said, sounding braver than she felt.

Edward took a deep breath.

"Bella, we're leaving."

Bella took a deep breath, too, as she let this surprising revelation sink in. She thought she had been prepared for anything. But not this. It took a lot longer for the relief to flood through her than it should have.

"I'm glad to hear it." She said curiously. "But why now?"

"Its time. How much longer can we stay in Forks after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over again regardless."

His answer confused Bella. Her brow furrowed as she scrutinized him carefully. He looked defeated; his tone dispirited. And suddenly she knew he was lying, that it wasn't his choice to leave. The decision had been made for him.

Bella shook her head back and forth mechanically, trying to clear it. She couldn't believe after all this time, after everything she had endured, that it was finally happening. Edward waited out her reaction without any sign of impatience. It took Bella a few moments to gather her thoughts before she could speak.

"Well, Edward, I guess this is goodbye." She didn't disguise the elation in her voice. "Even after everything, I wish you well." She added graciously.

Edward took a deep breath as if her words pained him. He stared, unseeingly, ay the ground for a long moment. His mouth twisted the tiniest bit. When he finally looked up, his eyes were different, harder – like liquid gold that had frozen solid.

"Bella, I want you to come with me." He spoke the words slowly and precisely, his cold eyes lighting up for a moment with faint hope, the hope quickly dying when she shook her head.

"You…. don't…. want….me?" Edward tried out the words, pain etched all over his face.

"No."

Edward stared, uncomprehending into Bella's eyes. She stared back without apology. Her eyes were full of resolve, there was no escaping the truth in them.

"Well, that changes things." Edward murmured, as if speaking to himself. He looked away into the trees as he spoke again. "I'll always love you." He looked back, and the icy planes of his face showed his devastation. "I would like to ask one favor though, if that's not too much."

Bella wondered what he saw on her face, because something flickered across his own face in response. But, before she could identify it, he'd composed his features into an indifferent mask.

"What is it you want to ask?"

As Bella watched, his frozen eyes melted. The gold became liquid again, molten, burning down into hers with an intensity that was overwhelming. "Don't do anything reckless or stupid." He ordered, no longer detached. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Bella shook her head. "I'm not a reckless person. Or stupid."

Edward clenched his teeth. "You are when it comes to Jacob Black. The wolves are dangerous, Bella. For your own safety, you must stay away from them. If you promise me this, I'll make my own promise in return. This will be the last time you'll see me. I won't come back. I won't put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I never existed."

Bella could hear the blood pounding in her head. She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. He wanted to make her promise to stay away from Jacob in exchange for his promise to stay away and never come back. He was seriously crazy and deluded, if he thought for one minute, she would agree to that.

"I owe you nothing. My answer is no." She stated coldly. "Goodbye, Edward, and good luck. I have a feeling you're gonna need it."

Then, with her head held high, she turned and walked away from him back toward the house.

A/N-thanks for reading!