A/N A big thank you for being patient, it has been awhile since my last update and I am sorry, lots stuff going on RL that takes precedence, I will try and get a new update when I can. Thank you always to my awesome Beta NCChris.

Bella POV

I just stood there, my mouth agape, as the water continued to pour over us. I couldn't respond, couldn't clarify the myriad of emotions tumbling through my mind.

The seconds ticked by as my internal debate raged on. My eyes were still on him and I noticed his face start to fall as he started to turn away from me. His voice was rough, tight, caught in an emotional vice, as he tried to control his pain.

"I'm sorry, Bella...I'll go so you can leave, if you want…"

I couldn't breathe as he spoke flatly and began to turn away. I moved instantaneously, reaching for his hand, grasping it, urging him to turn and face me.

"Please, Sam...please stay."

I needed to explain, make him understand why I hesitated; I would beg if I had to. I reached up to brush my fingers against his cheek, recoiling when he shied away from my touch.

"I'm sorry…"

I took a shaky breath and tried again.

"Listen to me, Sammy. I love you with all of my heart, but you have to understand, asking me to marry you...when we just lost our baby? I can barely make it through a day. I can't think that far ahead. It isn't the best of timing. I'm not saying no, just... not yet."

Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over, unheeded, when I saw two slip from his and trek down his face.

Sam swallowed hard, his adam's apple bobbing with the movement, and spoke raspily as he cupped my face and pressed his lips against mine.

"I love you so much, Isabella. I will wait until you are ready, because I can't imagine living without you. I want you to be my wife, to bear my name, and, someday when we're ready, to try again for children together."

His voice was taut with pain and passion as he stared into my eyes, grief and love reflecting in them. I understood; he needed to make a grand gesture. He needed me to know that his disappearing act was a fluke.

I pressed myself closer into his arms and, standing in each other's arms, as we finally wept, sharing our grief, I had to say something, so I lifted my eyes to peer into his.

"I just need time, Sammy. It isn't because I don't love you. I love you so much, but it hurt when you ran off. You left when I really needed you. I just need some time."

I cupped his cheeks; he didn't pull away this time, both of us still crying.

"WE need some time...time to heal...time to get past all of this pain."

He nodded and kissed the top of my head, both of us trying to find our way back to each other. The moment ended when a knock sounded on the bathroom door. Sam quickly wrapped our bodies in towels and moved me to stand behind him, ever the protector. I peered around his muscled bicep to see Paul standing in the doorway.

I felt the blush, that I was so well known for, heating my skin, covering me with its rosy hue from my toes to my face, as Paul spoke authoritatively to Sam and me.

"I am going to say this once, so listen up. The two of you need to get away for a few days. Rachel and I have already packed your bags and booked a little condo in Santa Cruz. Your flight leaves in six hours so you better get going..now."

We were shocked, but thankful that Rachel and Paul were here for us, refusing to allow our grief to destroy our love for one another. This gesture was just one of the reasons the couple was quickly becoming our closest and dearest friends.

I was at a loss for words and, already feeling more emotional than ever, without thinking, I threw myself into Paul's arms. My face blazed fire engine red when I realized I was still just in a towel.

"Shit!"

Paul's laughter chased me as I dashed to the bedroom to escape.

"You're lucky that I consider you a very good friend, Paul Lahote!"

That just made him laugh even harder as Sam slipped into the room and quickly donned some clothes as well. He wrapped his arms around me, his voice husky, as he looked down at me.

"You want to do this, honey?"

I chewed my lip as I thought it over and nodded.

"I think it would do us good, Sammy."

He drew a breath in and inclined his agreement.

"Then we'll go."

I looked over, smiling a bit at Sam sleeping beside me. We had only been at the condo for a few hours and already it was the breath of fresh air we both needed. I could hear the waves as they rushed forward to break against the waiting sand. The seagulls squawked their distinctive language in hopes of finding a stray crumb. Hearing it all outside the window had me itching for a walk along the shoreline. Some people talk about the ocean making them feel small, but not me. Something about the crashing waves soothed me, like a balm to my soul.

I looked around our little condo and smiled at the homey comfortable feeling it had, perfect for the two of us to have some time together and reconnect. I turned my gaze back to Sam, studying his peaceful countenance, my heart jumping slightly at the intensity of my love for him. He had come to mean so much to me in the short time that we had been together, even amidst all the turmoil that seemed to come with it. He was worth it, and so was I.

Those words had stuck with me through the last few years. When Jasper had spoken them to me, I found them hard to believe, but as I grew up, the truth of them had made me strive to do better, to be better, to find my place in the world unapologetically.

Breaking free from my thoughts as Sam stirred, I smiled and brushed my fingers over Sam's cheek, my touch delicate, feather light. When he spoke, it startled me. He'd obviously be awake for some time as I watched him.

"I can feel you watching me, talk to me, Bella. Tell me what's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

I smiled a bit again as I laid my head on his shoulder, taking comfort in his arms.

"I was thinking of how peaceful you look while you're sleeping and how I love to hear the waves crashing against the shore. It's calming to me."

I spoke softly, to not disturb the quietness surrounding us.

"Can we go walk along the beach?"

He nodded just barely and mumbled something unintelligible while pulling me closer to him. I played with the hem of his shirt and snuggled into him, breathing in his woodsy scent better than the most expensive cologne.

"If that's what you want, but when we get there I want to talk a little bit about us..."

I immediately tensed at his words. His tone, the phrasing, it all took me back to my time running with vampires. Our conflict was too fresh, too recent, and I flinched away slightly. Sensing my discomfort, Sam was quick to soothe me.

"I love you, Bella, more than anything. Don't ever doubt that! I just want to talk about our future, about the prophecy and the Pack."

He pulled me tighter to him, stroking my tense back until I sighed in relief and placed a kiss over his heart.

"Okay. If that's what you want."

The uncertainty was still there. Recent events had shaken my faith in our relationship, for or not, even while feeling relief, I was unsure what he meant.

He could tell and he gave me a crooked smile as he tucked me into his side and whispered into my ear.

"Relax, honey. It's nothing bad, just some things that we need to discuss."

Of course, I knew that, so I nodded and did my best to put on a brave face as we got up to get dressed for our walk.

We walked along the beach, hand in hand, a comfortable silence between us as we gathered our thoughts before diving into the essential conversation. The sensation of the gritty sand sinking beneath my feet was relaxing as I prepared myself mentally for what would come.

"Bella..."

"Sam..."

I blushed as we both started at the same time and gestured for him to start. He took a deep breath and squeezed my hand before starting again.

"I love you more than I ever thought possible and..."

He paused to tip my head up so that my eyes were meeting his.

"You were right to tell me not now on the proposal. I needed that from you. It would have been rushed and I wasn't asking for the right reasons. With everything else happening around us, it would be just too much right now. I still want to marry you, but we need to wait for the right time."

My eyes pricked with tears at his confession and it felt like a weight had been lifted off of my chest. I hadn't wanted to hurt him by rejecting his proposal, but it was too soon, especially after tragically losing the baby we'd wanted so much.

I gently pulled his face down to mine and rested my forehead against his.

"Thank you, Sammy. We just need time to heal together."

I stopped for a second, just staring into his eyes. The moment felt very intimate and I knew it was a new beginning for us, the start of our healing. It was a fresh start not only for us, but also for the tribe we were destined to protect. My thoughts switched to the prophecy.

"What do you see this prophecy meaning for us?"

He took a minute to think about it before answering me, his voice low and melodic.

"Sweetheart, I see it as a new start for all of us, you, me, the pack, and the tribe as well. You are what I needed, what the pack needed, and we are on our way to being what the tribe needs in the future.

"I lost my way, but you found me, and together we are guiding each other through all of this. Love, pain, joy...all of those things make us stronger, Bella. You are my heart and soul, Bella. I really don't know who I would be without you. So much has changed and I have you to thank for that. This is what we needed, to get away and re-evaluate our future. Someday we will get married on paper but in my heart, we are already tied together in every way that counts."

I lost it then; tears started rolling down my cheeks at his heartfelt words. I loved him just as much as he loved me. Everything between us felt right and back on track finally. He pulled me close as our lips met in a passionate kiss. This was our second chance to do right by each other, to be who we were meant to be.

"This is our new chapter in life. I love you with every breath, Sam."

I squealed a little when he picked me up and spun me around joyfully. His face broke out into a huge grin as he rubbed his nose lightly against mine.

"To new beginnings for us and everyone, Bella."