NO! My mind wanted to thrash out, but I was too stunned to move. My world was falling apart, but everything made sense at the same time. Jacob was back to fight for his tribe, Alice was sent to keep me safe from early Volturi, and I owed Edward an apology for my insult. NO! I couldn’t let this happen. I wasn’t leaving.

Too stunned to move, I cried onto his chest. The Volturi were coming here, for me, and I wasn’t leaving my friends and family to fight and die on my behalf.

The wedding postponement allowed me to disappear without question, but the Volturi would keep trying. Staying would get me caught faster, but I would have a chance to save everybody I loved. There was just one problem – how to convince Edward.

As I was thinking, I knew that being changed now would help. But, I still wanted to do this right. Marriage and some other human experiences would come first.

Another realization dawned on me from this thought. My marriage was supposed to be a last good – bye to all these people. I would only have the Cullen’s for the rest of eternity. It would hardly matter if I… I couldn’t even think it. So much death – for me.

I cried all night into Edward’s arms. At random intervals he would whisper he loved me. His scent filled my head, intoxicating me. I fell asleep on the bed next to him that night.

In the morning, I woke up in his arms. His shirt was still a bit damp from my tears.

“Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?”

I nodded my head.

He picked me up and walked me downstairs to the kitchen.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

I shrugged, so he got me cereal.

I focused on eating, too afraid to remember last night. The food was fine. Not overly delicious because I was trying to block out thoughts, not filling because I was too empty for it to matter.

When I was done, Edward picked me up and ran me to our meadow. All the way there, I fought to keep my mind clear. I didn’t want to remember anything, just Edward.

I closed my eyes and breathed his scent, ran my fingers across his body, hugged him closer, buried my face I his hair. I didn’t care about the world, just Edward, my Edward. Everything would be fine; I would be safe, as long as I was with him.

We sat in the middle of the field just watching each other. The few sunrays that made it through the clouds at random intervals danced off his skin. I was so happy to be with him, no matter what happened.

He reached out to hold me and I hung limp in his arms. The second we had reached the meadow, all the memories I tried to hold back flooded my thoughts. All I could do was hold back the tears, but now, in his arms, they flowed freely again.

He held me, rubbing soothing circles onto my back. His cold lips kissed my forehead multiple times.

No! I couldn’t leave and let the Volturi come. No! I couldn’t let my family and friends be hurt. No! I couldn’t leave Edward. No! I didn’t want to think about it. No…

In the middle of my sobs I heard a faint ring. One of Edward’s hands left my back and reached for his phone. I tried to quiet myself so I could hear. All I could make out was Alice’s high voice speaking to Edward to quickly for me to make out words.

When Alice had finished, Edward closed the phone and placed in back in his pocket. He then turned to me and gave me a tight hug.

He pulled my face to his and kissed me the same way he had when he left to lead James away. I didn’t like the feeling he put into the kiss, but his cold lips felt good. I eagerly kissed him back.

When I had to breathe, he pulled away and stood up. My arms were still wrapped around his neck so I was dragged up. His arms replaced themselves around my waist to keep me from falling.

“The Volturi are here.”

No! My world shattered. My body fell limp into Edward’s arms, but I couldn’t even feel that. Nothing mattered. The Volturi were here, for me, and if they didn’t get what they wanted, I knew there would be trouble.

I was pulled out of my shattered state by a musical voice speaking a few feet away from where I stood.