Nothing mattered any longer. Fiona had admitted that she loved me—this was enough.

Funny how I never thought that love would be enough. I always wanted something more in my life than love. And yet here I was, content with it.

My mind grew foggy and when I opened my eyes I was on that beach again with Fiona. Only this time she wasn't trying to kill herself and the snow that fell on my arms and legs wasn't cold.

Everything else was the same though—the gray water and sky blending seamlessly in with one another like they were made from the same piece of steel. The snow only added to the surreal quality of the beach. It was silent except for the sound of the waves gently playing a game of tag with the shore.

Fiona stood in front of me in a dress of white. Her long blond curls hung over her shoulders and she looked up at me through her lashes. She smiled and it was as though the heavens had miraculously opened up in the eternal twilight gray.

"Paul," she whispered sounding sad but looking so happy.

I walked towards her aware that I felt nothing—my feet on the sand, the snow that fell on my arms nor the breeze that blew Fiona's hair across her face—I felt none of it.

When I reached the spot where she stood I stopped staring at her. She smiled at me again and I wanted nothing more than to sweep her up in my arms.

"Fiona," I said, "what are you doing out here? You're going to get sick."

Her eyes dazzled me and she laughed the sound echoing over and over again in the silence. "Paul, I'm not going to get sick."

My brow furrowed. "It's cold and you're in that little dress, of course you'll get sick."

Fiona gave me a funny look. "Does it feel cold to you?"

"No," I told her, "But—"

"But nothing. If you don't feel cold, then how can I become sick because of the cold?"

I nodded seeing her logic. We stood there awkwardly for a moment before Fiona turned her head as though she heard something. I strained my ears but all I could hear was the water caressing the shore.

Fiona walked up to me and placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you, Paul. For everything. I have to go now."

"Go?" I replied stunned, "Go where?"

Her smile lit up my world for a moment before I saw the terrible sadness in her eyes. "I have to go away."

"I'll go with you," I said snatching her arm in mine.

She chewed her lip adorably. "You can't."

I blinked rapidly at her. "What? Why?"

"Paul, you can't come with me," she said gently, "I used up all my chances and now they're gone. Don't worry, I don't have any regrets. And I love you."

With her last statement I pulled Fiona to my body and crushed her lips to mine. She didn't pull away but returned my kiss eagerly. For a split second warmth flowed through my body and I felt the breeze from the ocean, the sand underneath my feet, the snowflakes falling and Fiona's tiny warm body crushed to mine—and then it was gone. As fleeting as a snowflake that fell on my skin.

She pulled away with a gasp, the sadness in her eyes even greater than before. A feeling very much like a heart attack ripped through my body as she began to walk down the beach and away from me.

I longed to move to go after her and carry her back to me but for some reason I couldn't seem to move.

"Fiona! Fiona! Come back!" I cried out hoarsely, "come back!"

Inexplicable panic gripped my body and intense burning pain flowed through my chest knocking me to my knees. For the first time in my life since I was probably eight tears came to my eyes.

"FIONA!" I screamed my arms reaching wildly for her as she grew smaller in the distance, "FIONA!"

…………………………………………………………………………………………

". . . 24 CC of that stat! He's going into cardiac arrest! Put him on ice and we'll see if we can make it to the hospital . . ." The EMT roared to his fellows.

Jacob frantically whipped out a cell phone as he looked over the limp forms lying in the back of the ambulance. Fear and panic flooded through his body as he thought of Paul and how he didn't make it in time.

"Doctor Cullen? I need you . . ."

The ambulance flew down the streets the sirens wailing in the air. Traffic in La Push was sparse and they made it to the hospital quickly. One of the EMTs rolled the gurney with Paul on it out of the vehicle and into the hospital.

Jacob followed behind. He was stopped when they rushed Paul into the ER and stood pacing outside its double doors when Carlisle Cullen appeared.

"Jacob, what's wrong?" concern etched in his very being as he took in Jacob's appearance.

"It's Paul and—" he was cut off by another EMT rolling another gurney into the ER.

Carlisle's eyes widened. "And you don't mean . . ."

"We got to him, don't worry about him. But, Paul and . . . I don't know . . . I waited too long. I shouldn't have let him go alone! Now look what I've done!"

Carlisle made to put a hand on Jacob's shoulders but then stopped himself. He looked Jacob in the eyes. "It's not your fault," he said, "don't blame yourself. Blaming yourself only makes it worse. I'll go see what I can do."

Jacob watched with wide eyes as Carlisle walked authoritatively through the double doors and barked out orders.

"You! Get that patient and that one out of here! They need to both be taken . . ." was the last thing he heard before the doors swung shut.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

"FIONA!" I cried the pain almost unbearable now. If a person could shatter like glass that would be the feeling I was having.

My eyes started to close a second time but I forced myself to fight through the pain and keep going towards her. I was on my hands and knees crawling towards her all the while croaking out her name.

I had only gotten a few feet before I saw Fiona ahead of me stop and stiffen. Her gasp echoed across the water.

"Paul," she whispered her voice carried by the wind, "Paul."

The sound of her voice gave me enough strength to move on and after minutes of struggling I reached her. She sat on the sand looking out over the water. Her eyes widened in fear when I put my head in her lap unable to move any longer.

"Fiona," I said.

She rested a hand on my forehead and looked down at me. I felt some of the pain in my body dissipate.

"I really can't leave you," she told me tears from her eyes splashing down on my face and mixing with the snow. "I want to be with you forever."

I took her hand in mine and squeezed it. The pain I had felt earlier was dying now and all that was left was a dull ache. "Then we'll be together, forever."

She smiled through her tears. "Okay then, what now?"

I pressed her hand to my lips and looked up at her face. "We wait. Together. Forever."

………………………………………………………………………………..

Jacob paced the room overlooking the place where the operation was happening. The guilt was nearly unbearable. How could he have let this happen? He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard from inside the room the beeping of the heart monitors jumping wildly.

Nurses and Carlisle attended the operation all working frantically. Shouts of encouragement as life came back echoed in the room. Jacob stopped his pacing and pressed his face to the glass.

Life would not end in death.

………………………………………………………………………

I looked questioningly at Fiona as I felt a tug. Her eyebrows were also raised. The tug wasn't coming from anywhere physical—it was almost like it was coming from inside my mind.

It was then that I noticed the darkness settling around us. I squeezed Fiona's hand tighter and placed another kiss on it. I would never get tired of kissing any part of her.

"Paul," her voice was scared. "What's happening?"

The pull on my mind was stronger now as was the darkness. The inky black was blotting out the sea and sand and even the snow until Fiona and I sat in complete darkness.

"Shh," I told her with another kiss, "Everything will be fine as long as we're together."

"Together," she echoed me.

……………………………………………………………………………..

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

That beeping noise was really starting to get on my nerves. I tried to move but found that I was much too uncomfortable. I growled low.

Beep.

This was obnoxious. The noise really needed to stop. Couldn't someone get some sleep with out a noise bothering them? It was probably just Seth or Collin trying to annoy me.

Beep.

My eyelids fluttered open and I gazed upon a white halo of light. I blinked rapidly trying to clear my vision. Drop ceiling tiles and florescent lights came into view. I turned my head to the left and saw a plain white wall with a sea foam green chair next to it.

Jacob was passed out asleep in the chair. And he looked like hell.

I shifted trying to get more comfortable and he woke with a start. He was confused at first but then his eyes widened and he leapt to his feet.

"PAUL!" he yelled.

"Yeah," I said irritated, "where am I?"

Jacob looked down at his feet. That's when I realized where I was. I was in a hospital. It would explain the needle in my arm, the uncomfortable feeling and the white walls. But if I was in the hospital then where was—

My right hand was holding something. Quickly I turned my head to the other side and there was Fiona. She was lying in a hospital bed next to mine. Fury exploded in my head at the thought of her hurt.

But she was alive—even if she was unconscious. Anger turned to concern. Why was she in the hospital? I could gather why I was, but I couldn't remember her being hurt. The grip on my hand was solid—even if I had wanted to pull away I couldn't.

"Wh—what happened to her?" I said never taking my eyes off her sleeping form.

Jacob answered quietly. "Right before you pushed her away the bloodsucker managed to break a few of her ribs. She's alright now."

"Now?" I asked.

He sucked in a breath and I heard him settle back into the chair. "We thought we were going to lose both of you. After the rest of the pack took down the bloodsucker you were injured and not healing—Carlisle said it was because of the venom—and I started to rush you to the hospital. We discovered Fiona after you and you guys were brought here separately. As soon as you were separated you started to have a heart attack . . . I—I didn't know what to do so I called Carlisle."

Jacob shifted in his seat. "He took you in but . . . Fiona was also starting to die and her injuries weren't that significant. Carlisle placed you both in the same operating room and well . . . both of you started to get better and then . . . you—you reached out somehow and grabbed Fiona's hand. As soon as you touched her, Fiona's heart rate went right back up to where it should be . . . you two haven't let go since then . . . the doctors are calling it a miracle . . ."

I stared at Fiona. We had saved each other. Again.

"Fiona," I murmured rubbing circles on her hand with my thumb, "Fiona, wake up please."

Her eyes flickered and then opened. "Paul?" she asked and then turned her head to look at me.

"Fiona, I'm here for you. I told you we'd never be apart."

She smiled weakly at me. "Forever."

……………………………………………………………………………………

2 Years Later

I couldn't believe my eyes as I sat in a sea-foam green chair. I hated being in hospitals but this time I didn't worry.

A sharp crying filled the air and I looked at Fiona with pride. Even with her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat she was absolutely gorgeous. She looked into my eyes and gave me a million watt smile.

I returned it and squeezed the hand that I held. Fiona turned away from me as a nurse approached and placed a tiny blue bundle in her hands.

"Paul," she said happily, "look—look at our son."

Sitting on the side of her bed I put one arm around Fiona and glanced down at the tiny infant settled in her arms. His mouth was open in a hearty scream and his little pink face was screwed up in anger. Fiona rocked him and his cries stopped.

A tuft of dark brown curls stuck up off his head and when he looked at me with gray eyes I felt a surge of pride. Fiona and I had created a beautiful child.

I stroked his head and kissed Fiona on the cheek.

"Hey there, Ethan," I cooed at him, "Can you say hi to your mommy and daddy?"

Fiona laughed and I kissed her again—this time on the lips. It never bored me to hear her laugh. I could spend the rest of my life hearing Fiona laugh or watching her smile.

"Ethan, love," she said, "welcome to the world. Welcome."

THE END

.................................................................................................

Awwww. And there you go. The end! And Paul didn't die! Aren't you happy? Thanks to all my readers and reviewers for making this story worthwhile and dealing with my long abscences between updates. You've made this worth the write and I appreciate it!

xoxo

Lynn