Hello Everybody.

I am so sorry that i havent been able to update in soooooooooooo long, i know it is so annoying when an author does that but i feel as if i have a decent reason for it. first off i have been trying to keep up with my schooling. i dont remember if i have told you guys or if it was on another fic, that i am a homeschooler. In addition to doing all of the work i have at home, i am also trying to finish up my Associates degree in English Literature before i head off to college as well as my Girl Scout Gold Award. i have also recently gotten braces and my computer broke down. I am also trying to study for the ACT and raise my score a couple of points so that i am elligible for a college scholarship and i have started writing a book. I really havent forgotten about you or any of my other stories (If you are following them too) but i dont really know how much time i will be able to devote to writing fan fics over the next couple of months. I will try my very best to keep these stories alive, i just hope you can all bear with me through the long haul.

anyway, here is what you all have been waiting for forever, i do have the next chapter writen out in my notebook and i will try to get that posted sometime in the next couple of weeks.

as always, I own nothing, but i recently was given a poster signed by the ENTIRE CAST OF PUSH! so excited about that. SO there. I dont own the movie or the book but i have that to my name muahahahahahahahaha!

enjoy ;)

Chapter 7 – Love is a Weapon

Edward's P. O. V.

As I walked into the light, Bella gasped, her eyes wide and mouth agape.

She got down slowly off the rock, and walked towards me.

I couldn't explain the emotions that coursed through me with each and every step she took in my direction. It felt like hope – but hope for what? — and worry — but what did I have to be worried about? — and a strange longing.

I couldn't explain it, but as all this was going on inside me, Bella was coming nearer and nearer to me, until she was a foot away from me.

Hesitantly, she raised her hand to my face.

When her hand made contact with my marble skin, I recoiled slightly, like a child anticipating a slap, but the movement was so quick and small that Bella didn't notice it.

Her fingers traced the contours of my face, trailing from my jaw to the corner of my lips. As she did this, I could see the refracted light dancing on her face.

"You're beautiful," she murmured, bringing her fingertips up to trace the circles beneath my eyes.

"Beautiful?" I repeated, catching her hands to still them. "Bella, this is anything but 'Beautiful.' This is the skin of a…." I trailed off there. I didn't want to frighten her away, and she was supposed to figure this out on her own; according to Alice and Cassie.

"What?" she asked, a pucker forming between her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

I released her hands and took a few steps away from her. "I'm a monster, Bella." I said as I retreated into the shadows.

I hid my face in my hands. What had I done? Why had I shown her?

"Edward?" Bella called. "Edward, you are not a monster." She was walking towards me, the sunlight catching strands of red in her dark hair. "Not to me."

I glanced up into her dark eyes, trying to understand her reasons.

"Why do you trust me?" I asked, watching the emotions play across her eyes.

"Because," she said defiantly. "You are protecting me, you are a good person, and I can't help trusting you."

"You shouldn't," I muttered, looking away. "No one should, especially not you."

"Hey," Bella said gently, placing a hand on my cheek. "Edward, you can tell me what's bothering you, I promise I won't laugh."

But that's not what I'm worried about, I thought, the strange feelings filling my chest as I looked into her deep eyes.

I began thinking of how things would happen, as I knew they would. Bella would run from me, screaming as she went. That was only reasonable.

"According to Cassie," I began, not knowing what to tell her. "You're supposed to figure it out on your won. But the sunlight should be a big clue."

"Could you be any more cryptic?" she asked, sarcastically. I smiled weakly.

Bella was too pure, too innocent for the horrors that plagued my world. The trials of her life were hard enough on her. I'd seen as much at Tanya's house, I didn't need to add another worry onto her already huge burden. I would try to keep her ignorant on the truth of this matter for as long as possible.

"We should get going," I said finally, breaking the long silence.

Bella looked at the lake, drinking in the beautiful scene before us.

"Okay," she said, shouldering the backpack

I lifted her up onto my back and we took off into the dark woods.

XXX

It was a few hours after sunset when Bella asked if we could stop for the night.

I stopped next to a huge oak tree, letting Bella down.

There was enough natural light for her to see what she was doing as she rummaged in the pack, pulling out a flashlight and a couple of granola bars.

"You want any?" she asked absentmindedly, holding out a silver wrapped package.

I shook my head, "No thanks."

She raised an eyebrow, but rolled her eyes and opened it for herself.

She pulled a notebook from the messenger bag she's brought to Forks and began scribbling something in it by the light of the flashlight.

"What are you writing?" I asked, sitting down next to her on the leaf-strewn ground.

"What?" she asked, startled from her work. "Oh, This? This is just my journal. When I have time, and am stationary for a few minutes, I write," she shrugged. "You can read some if you like…" she let her words trail off as she offered me the thick notebook.

Intrigued, I took it from her and opened it to the first page where a poem was written in a hasty, fluid scribble. I took the flashlight from Bella, she didn't need any more surprises tonight.

The poem was interesting to say the least. It was titled Love is a Weapon, and it read like this:

Love is a Weapon

By Bella Marks, age 13

Love is a weapon

It steals your values,

Rearranges your priorities,

People are built up on it

Then are brutally torn by it

Love is a double edged blade

It slips through your fingers like water

Allowing you to fall

But sometimes

Allowing you to fly

Love has no limits

Love has no safety net

If you fall,

You fall onto asphalt

You scream out in pain

But no one is there to hear

And no one cares to hear

Love is a weapon

Nothing stops it

Anything helps it

I love you, Daddy.

I looked up at Bella who was watching me, gauging my reaction with shimmering eyes.

"I wrote that right after he went missing," she whispered, looking away as the tears began streaming down her cheeks.

I could relate a little to what she was saying. I'd lost both of my parents after all, bit I'd had the good fortune to become a Cullen, Bella didn't have that. Heck, she didn't even know what had happened to her father.

I reached out to touch her shoulder. Bella completely broke down, curling her legs up against her chest.

I set the notebook aside and rubbed methodic circles into her back, hoping to comfort her in some way.

After a few minutes, Bella seemed to regain control. Straightening up she announced that she was going to bed.

I handed her back the book, not wanting to read more if it would upset her again.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she got oout one of the silver blankers and a handful of clothing folded so as to make a pillow and, within twenty minutes, she was deeply asleep.

I watched her still figure, wondering what higher power could bestow these hardships on such a delicate creature as Bella. Maybe she'd done something terrible in another life, but I couldn't picture that.

As the night wore on, Bella began to speak again.

At first it was only an incomprehensible mumbling, but that soon turned to words.

"…Dad…" she said. "…Dad…." She began to toss and turn a little under the blanket. "…Don't… Nick… Dad…" her words becoming higher in pitch the longer she spoke.

I had the funny feeling that she was reliving the last time she'd seen her father.

"…it's a trap…" she muttered. "…don't…"

Bella was silent for a while; so long in fact that I thought her dream had ended.

"Edward." She said it so clearly I thought she'd woken up, but her eyes were still closed and her breathing was even. "…Edward…stay…"

I felt my heart soar at these words. I couldn't explain why, but the fact that she wasn't having a nightmare about me meant a lot.

Bella rolled over to face me, her beautiful features graced by a small smile.

I know that I had to protect Bella from Division, from sorrow, but, more importantly, from the demons in my life. She shouldn't have to carry a weapon. She shouldn't have to worry.

From now on I would be her shield.

XXX

Cassie's P.O.V.

I was asleep when the vision came to me, and it startled me so much that I leapt out of the motel bed I'd been sleeping in.

Emmett, who'd been watching TV at the lowest possible volume, looked over at me. "What happened?" he asked.

"Shut up," I snapped as I began drawing in my black notebook. "Yes," I mumbled as the picture began to resemble something (so I'm not the best artist in the world, sue me). "It's happening."

"What is?" Emmett asked, leaning in to see what I'd drawn. "What's happening?"

I smiled. "You'll see," I said, smiling. "I hope Alice doesn't tell him…" I mumbled, but just then my phone lit up on the nightstand.

The message was from Alice.

Don't worry, we've been waiting for this for nearly a century, I'm not about to screw this up – A

"Emmett," I said looking up from the text. "Can you get me something?"

Emmett looked confused but nodded. "What do you need?"

"I need a beer."

XXXXXXX

How many of you liked that last line? i thought it was too perfect not to put into the story

did you like it?

did you hate it

i know this is a bit of a filler chapter but i will try to have the next one up sometime by the end of the month :)

leave me a message.

LOVE YOU ALL!