Author's Note: Be warned that this chapter contains a trigger warning. Mentions of miscarriage.


By the time I realized it, five years had gone by.

Tears, pain, and frustration had gone and left me, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

I had just gotten home one night after a long day at work when I gasped as I came face to face with the last person I expected to see sitting in my living room.

"Leave." I said, shaking my head at him.

"What? So, we don't see each other for five fucking years and that's the first thing you say to me?" He asks, in disbelief.

I shake my head, "Leave!" I shout.

He sighs, "I suppose I deserve that after all this time. But if you'll let me explain…" He trails off.

"Did you not understand what I just said? Leave! Get the fuck out! I don't want to see you ever again! Get out!" I yelled out as I moved to open the front door.

He sighed again, "Look, I understand that you're angry. I do, but the distance was necessary. Endrizzi was monitoring us all. He wanted to find you. While I get that you are angry at me, you don't need to shout at the top of your lungs." He says, calmly.

"I wouldn't have to shout if you had left when I asked you the first time." I snapped.

He nodded, "I'm not leaving until you hear what I have to say." He finally informs me.

I shake my head, "I could care less what you or anyone of your family has to say. It's been five years, Edward. I've moved on, so should you." I told him.

"Right. Did you think that I was lying when I said forever? Because I wasn't. Neither was my father when he told you that once you're in this life, you're in it for the rest of your life." He told me.

I glared at him, "I didn't say I was leaving the life, asshole. What I am saying is that it's been five fucking years. I've made a life out here, and I don't plan to leave it behind like you did to me. I will not." I finally said.

His jaw flexed as he stood in front of me. "Isabella, look, I-" He began before I shook my head.

Tears sprang in my eyes as I stared at him, "Do you have any fucking idea how much it hurt to be without all of you? By myself. How many fucking nights I spent crying over you? Wondering if the next day would be the day I fucking got a call telling me that something went wrong? No? That's because you fucking lied. You lied. You fucking lied to me, again! Over and over and over again! You left me! Abandoned me! Leaving me behind like a forgotten thought. You don't fucking get to come here acting like you didn't leave, because you did! All of you left me alone to eat shit!" I yelled at him.

He shook his head, as he moved to stand closer to me. "You think that this has been easy for me? It hasn't. I've had to stop myself many times from coming here, just to make sure that you were alright, and to beg you to forgive me for all of this. But I couldn't because I knew that if I did. I'd be putting you more in danger than you already were. And I wasn't about to do that to you." He told me.

I scoff and shake my head, and lick my dry lips as I wipe my face. "I play the scenarios over and over in my head, but I always knew it'll never turn out as happy as I imagine them to be. Nothing will ever change what happened between us. Or take my feelings for you… but it won't be the same either. I'm sorry if you thought that by coming here it would be, but, it's not going to change anything. I- I can't be with you anymore. I don't want to get hurt again." I whispered.

He nodded, before something flashed in his eyes, "Is there somebody else?" He asked me, tightly.

I shook my head, "No. But that's beside the point, it isn't any of your business if there is someone new in my life. You need to leave." I told him, firmly.

He sighed, almost sagging in relief yet remained stiff as well, as he turned to leave.

As he did the moonlight hit his face, and gave me a view of his face, causing me to gasp at the sight before me.

"What happened to you?" I asked, in disbelief.

He shook his head, "Don't worry about it. It's not important." He quietly told me.

I frowned as I looked at his face, a scar that began from the top of his right brow, and went down to his cheekbone. It was thick and jagged, but this didn't affect how handsome he was. No, it made him look more enigmatic, and mysterious, yet more handsome.

"Will you ever tell me?" I asked, quietly.

He let out a defeated sigh before turning to look at me, "No." He whispers harshly.

I frowned, wanting so badly to press the issue. I decided instead to change change tactics. I would let him stay, and talk. There may be a reason as to why he left me. Right?

"Why not? You wanted to talk earlier. So, talk. Tell me why you've been gone so long. Tell me how you got that scar. Tell me what happened to everyone else. Am I still in danger?" I asked, eyeing him intently.

He gave me a look before shaking his head, "I don't know what you want me to tell you. You want me to leave, but now you want to talk. I'm getting confused. What do you want? I'll leave if that's what you really want. I understand that you're still angry and hurt about us not being together for all this time. But that doesn't mean I'll stop trying to protect you. I can't forgive myself for doing this to you. It wasn't our intention to cut you out like this. But it was necessary. Endrizzi is gone now. I don't care if I lost your trust, love, or affection. I now know that you're safe, that's all I care about." He tells me, ignoring my questions.

"I never said…" I trailed off as he gave me a sharp look.

"As for your other questions, you can wait. It's late you should probably get some rest after being on your feet for so long." He said.

I nod. "You're right I am, but you don't need to leave," I replied quietly.

He raised a brow, "Oh? Now you want me to stay." He said, turning to look at me.

I shrugged, looking away from his intense stare before nodding. "I guess I do." I sighed.

He sighed, before turning to look out the opened doorway. "I know you didn't want my brothers or your friends together but they are together. They're happy too. Jasper and Alice have a son together, Jace. He's four years old. Emmett and Rose had a little girl named Lillian. She is a few months old. As for everyone else, they are fine and well as well." He informs me.

I nod, hesitating for a second, blinking as the memories, and pain hit me in full force.

While I was over here, everyone moved on. They were all happy. Without me. While I was out here, alone, and suffering. They were out there moving on and forgetting about me.

Edward was suddenly in front of me, leaning down to look at my face as he did. "Isabella? Are you alright?" He asked.

I nodded, swallowing thickly before I let out a choppy breath, "Uh, yeah, I- I am fine. I just- I just didn't realize so much had changed while I was out here." I told him as I put some distance between us.

"We've all missed you. If that is what you're worried about." He says, as he moves towards me again, turning me so he can look at me. "Don't turn away please, I've spent years thinking about you and missing you. The thought of your face, and holding you. I can't bear to not see you right now, especially when you're literally a few feet in front of me." He whispers as he reaches up to caress my face with his thumb.

I swallow hard, and nod, but don't meet his gaze.

"What's wrong?" He finally asks as he wipes my face again.

"Nothing. I just... I just-" I trail off, unable to finish.

"What are you hiding from me, amore?" He asks, frowning.

I feel my body stiffen as I look at the small object on the bookshelf, a sob ripping through my lips as my eyes fall on it.

"You're right. I am hiding something from you." I sob.

He nods, as a frown appears on his face, "I figured as much when you began to try to pull away… so what is it? What's wrong?" He asks as he tries to pull me to him.

I allow a small hug before pulling back, immediately missing his touch, before I make my way over to the back window, and stare as more tears fall from my eyes.

"We- we would have had a baby too…" I whispered, turning to look up at him.

He blinked, before swallowing hard and moving to close the door, locking it before turning back to look at me. "Explain, please." He said, in a controlled manner as he stared me down.

I nodded, as I turned to look back out the window.

The street was quiet. Nothing but the soft hum of cars passing by as I stared, blinking hard.

"I was working at a bookstore… Setting a few new books on the top shelf when I slipped and fell. All I remember is being on the top of the ladder one moment and waking up in the hospital in the next. I was told I was only ten weeks in. There was nothing to be done." I whispered.

He let out a heavy breath as he stared at me. His eyes were full of sympathy, and pain.

"Please don't look at me like that," I begged, swallowing hard. As my hands began to shake.

"I'm not looking at you in any way that I am not supposed to." He says reassuringly.

I nodded, breathing unevenly. "Yes, you are. You look at me with that sympathy, and I don't- I can't handle it. I don't deserve it." I whispered, looking away.

He slowly moves towards me and wordlessly pulls me into his arms, as I clenched my fists, and hit his chest as a gut-wrenching sob rips through my lips.

"Please don't cry, amore." He whispers thickly.

This only made me cry harder as I held onto him for dear life.

"This wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself for it. It was an accident." He whispers as I feel his hold tighten around me.

"How is it not? I- If I had just stayed put… if I had just stayed here… maybe… maybe… maybe just … maybe then we could have had…" I stuttered.

He pulled away, and shook his head, before forcing me to look up at him. "No. You do not go there. Do not keep blaming yourself like this. There is nothing that will change what happened. Don't do this to yourself." He firmly says.

I swallowed hard and nodded, "I'm so sorry. I let you down." I whispered as I felt exhaustion begin to take over me, pulling me under before I had a chance to do anything about it.


I woke up sometime later drenched in sweat.

Did I dream that up? Was he really here?

The distinct smell of cologne suddenly hit my nose, and I turned to see him sitting there in the wingback chair in the corner of the room. The room was submerged in complete darkness, sans for the light coming from the streetlight.

"Ed-Edward?" I gasped, blinking away tears.

He sat up slowly, blinking as I stared at him. "Are you alright?" He asked, concerned.

I swallowed hard, but nodded, as I looked around the room. "What are still you doing here?" I whispered, guardingly.

He sighed, "I can't leave you." He admitted.

I frowned, "S-Stop lying." I breathed, taking in a shaky breath...

He shook his head, as he moved to get off the chair, before kneeling next to my bed. "I am being serious. I can't part from your side. Doing so would be unbearable. I don't want to. I've already spent the last five years away from you. I am not doing that again." He says.

I sighed, as I turned to look out the window. "Yes. And while you were out there trying to supposedly keep me safe. I was out here. Living, wondering about you and everyone else, worried, and alone. You don't get to play the sympathy card when you're the one who left." I snapped.

He moved toward me, "I am not playing any card, I am being honest with you. I stepped down. I am only a skip. Aro has chosen to take the reins after everything that's happened. Temporarily. " He informed me.

I frowned, turning to look at him, "Why? I thought he didn't want to do that?" I asked him.

He sighed, "Because I told them that I wasn't willing to put your life or my own on hold any longer. So, while I may not be putnthere right now, I am going to be handling business while I am out here. I came out here to check on you and talk to you. Nothing more. I am not here to force you to do anything. Just to talk." He promises me.

I sighed, "I can't go anywhere, I have a life here now, a job, friends… I don't want to just leave again." I replied, flatly.

He nodded, "I know, which is why I am going to stay with you, here. Until my business here is done." He replied.

I stared at him in disbelief, before growing down at my feet.

What was he playing at? Where did that leave us?