Rikki groaned as she woke up, looking around the white hospital room. She shook her head, trying to think of something over than the pain that was now shooting through her whole body. Lifting her arm up to her head she groaned again, closing her eyes against the bright lights that were looking down on her, she forgot for a moment how she got here. She remembered going to bed, but then what?

And then the memory hit her, vampire, glass, blood, darkness... Shelby... JJ.... she shook her head, they had to be okay. She felt tears running down her face as she thought about her small children, she couldn't even protect them, what kind of mother was she? She felt her whole body shaking as she tried to get up, run to them or something... she had to get to them, she had to make sure she was okay.

And then something else hit her, searching her body for any signs of a bite, chewing on her lower lip as she did so. If he had managed to bite her then she was going to live forever, she would never see Jacob again, she would be stuck on this dammed earth forever.

"Calm down, it's going to be okay." She heard a low voice from the door and she looked up,

"Edward..." She groaned, shaking her head as more tears rolled down her face,

"The kids are fine and so are you... still human or whatever it is you consider yourself." He smiled at her before walking over to her bedside, grabbing her hand in his cold one as he tried to comfort the scared girl, because that's all she is, he reminded himself, she is still just a child and look at what she has been dragged into.

"Where are they?"

"I will go get them for you, it's all okay now." He whispered,

"What happened?" She croaked out before he turned around,

"I had a bad feeling, when we got there you were out cold and he was about to kill you, he's gone now though." Rikki grinned,

"Thank you, you're my hero." He winked lightly before walking out to grab the children from Emma and Rikki's dad.

~ .. ~

"I am going to miss you so much." She whispered as she hugged the man in front of her, tears running down her face. She looked around at the large group, knowing that if they coud cry then they would. She knew that they were all just as close as family, and they all had secrets connecting them together. She sighed, hugging them all one more time before kneeling down to Billy and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"I am going to miss you so much," She whispered to him, her grip tightening on him as he did the same, she could feel his tears on her shoulder and she refused to pull away, she couldn't stand the fact that this could possibly be the last time she ever saw him. She loved him so much, she had grown to love him even more since Jacob's death. He had been there for her and his grandchildren, and she appreciated every moment he spent with her. She knew as much as he did that he didn't have to, but they both depended on each other, but they both knew that she didn't belong here.. not with two small children. Not when she was in so much danger.

"I love you kid." He muttered, embarrased as he said it, she nodded understanding,

"I love you too and don't forget, we can come back at any time and if ever you want to,you can come and visit us."

"I will take you up on that." They both laughed as they finally pulled away, leaving them all to look behind her at the small children waiting in Emma and Rikki's dads arms. She sighed, biting her lip before turning around. They all knew that this was for the best, she was doing right by her children and they all knew it.

"We will see you soon." Alice called as Rikki finally turned to walk away, she briefly turned to look at them, waving. She grabbed Shelby off her dad and carried on walking, tears falling heavily down her face, she couldn't find the strength to turn around and say goodbye again. She knew if she did she would breakdown there and then, and she wouldn't be able to get up again, she would never find the guts to leave if she stopped now.

She looked down at her two beautiful children, their big eyes looking back up at her, she ruffled Juniors hair and then kissed her baby girl on the cheek. She knew this was good for them, Australia had always been her home and now it was going to be theirs.

"Ready then?" Emma asked, smiling, she hadn't seen her friends and family since she had flown over nearly two years ago, although she still didn't want to leave. Rikki nodded, grabbing Emma's hand as she smiled at her best friend, the girl who was more like a sister to her, squeezing her hand as they walked onto the plane.

& she knew that this goodbye wouldn't be forever.

Not this time.