Chapter Twenty-

Edward was on top of me with his hands covering my ears but that didn't draw out the screaming coming from Celia. I tried to lift my head to look but could only see a burst of fire. I was overwhelmed with emotions.

Was Celia, a girl I considered my daughter, my betrayer, alive or dead?

"Let me go!" I shouted at Edward.

I pushed him off, which I knew was only easy because he wasn't holding me down with any force. When I was sitting up I saw ashes on the floor and felt my stomach twist into knots.

Michael's face was full of shock while Dillon and Jack were looking regretful.

Surprisingly, Edward let me run over to Michael to comfort him. But oddly enough, Michael comforted me as tears spilled from my eyes.

"It's my fault…"

He tightened his hug, "Don't think that. She betrayed us all and that's not our fault."

I closed my eyes remembering the first time I had seen her as a little girl. Her pink room filled with books and her little bed that Emmett and I sat on to read to her as she fell asleep…

"Let's go home," Michael whispered to me.

I opened my eyes and looked towards Edward who was standing beside Dillon and Jack. Slowly, I met each pair of eyes and returned to my son's knowing what I was doing.

I kissed his cheek and hugged him as tight as I could while I whispered, "It's the only way…"

Michael tensed. "Don't do this Mom… You don't need to be the hero. Those men can be free any time they want."

I pulled back a bit, "But will you?" I shook my head trying to be strong. "For once do what your mother says. Go home to your father. Explain what happened. Tell Jacob I'm happy he's got his daughter. Tell him the treaty will remain in tact." I sighed, "Tell them all I will miss them…" My throat felt like it was closing as I whispered, "Tell Emmett that I'm sorry but I guess he was right about being a whore and running off." Tears once again returned but I swatted them away quickly. "I will always love your father and you…" I bit my tongue to stop tears. "My son, I don't think I'll ever see you again." That sickening thought made me push away from him, a clean cut.

What could a mother say to her son… a final farewell that said what? "I may not have said it enough so maybe this final time will really mean something to you Michael, but I love you."

I focused on his face memorizing him. Memorizing his perfect features. I could see his father there too, and I quickly turned away from my past, realizing that this was my future.

"Release him," I softly spoke.

Jack and Dillon stared at me like I was crazy which just made it only harder. Maybe I was crazy after all…

"Jack," I paused searching for the words. "Go visit her… go visit your daughter Jane."

I closed my eyes and thought to Edward, This is the deal remember? Jack and Dillon and my son go free.
Edward nodded where he stood directly behind his two elements.

"Dillon you should go with him… The Volturi will be interested in two elements."

Dillon nodded, "Possibly…" he turned to Edward, "Do I need to blindfold the kid?"

Edward thought for a minute but shook his head, "No, we will be leaving presently so it doesn't matter."

Dillon walked over towards Michael and grabbed his arm, "Let's go."

"Mom!" Michael shouted.

I cautiously looked at him.

"I promise I will find you. I swear it!"

I closed my eyes, "Forget me Michael…"

"You once said nothing is forgotten, just misplaced… That's what you are, misplaced until we find you."

And when I opened my eyes, Michael and Dillon were gone but Jack was standing in front of me. He grabbed both of my elbows fiercely, "Do you know what you are doing?"

His eyes were mixed between angry and sad. I calmly replied, "Giving your daughter back."

He relaxed his grip at the thought of Jane. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

I could picture Michael and the remaining Cullen's in their home as a family; arguments here and there, but Jasper, Carlisle and Esme always settling matters.

"More then anything," I said but knew not to say more because my voice would betray me.

"Send Aro my regards for me, alright? And… and tell Caius that I'm sorry about his daughter. Tell him it was my fault… I don't want him to know about her plans."

"Bella-"

"No Jack… please."

"Aro will read my thoughts…"

"Let him because you can't stop that from happening… but let Aro be the judge of telling Caius."

Edward came from behind me, "We must be going. In less then an hour this place will be crawling with werewolves and other vampires."

Jack brought me into a hug and started to leave the room but as he reached the door I said, "Jack?"

He stopped.

"Spend every chance you can with your daughter… time's always short."

He nodded and left.

It starts with

One thing, I don't know why

It doesn't even matter how hard you try

Keep that in mind

I designed this rhyme

To explain due time

All I know

Time is a valuable thing

Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings

Watch it count down till the end of the day

Clock ticks life away

Its so unreal

You didn't look out below,

Watch the time go right out the window

Trying to hold on

Didn't even know, I wasted it all

Just to watch you go

I kept everything inside

And even though I tried

It all fell apart

What it's meant to be

Will eventually,

Be a memory, of a time

I stared after him for minutes until Edward stepped into view.

When I tried so hard and got so far

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

I had to fall, to loose it all

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

One thing, I don't know why

It doesn't even matter how hard you try

Keep that in mind

I designed this rhyme

To remind myself

It's funny that when I ran away from my past twenty years ago that it came crashing back to me. But this time with more force then I had ever imagined possible. This time, with a force that I was left with only one option… for the safety of my family I would do anything including being with Edward.

How I tried so hard

Despite the way you were mocking me

Acting like I was part of your property

Remembering all the times you fought with me

I'm surprised it got so far

Things aren't the way they were before

You wouldn't even recognize me anymore

Not that you knew me back then

But it all comes back to me

In the end

Would I do everything again, I wondered as Edward took my hand and led me to my new life… I would because even though I don't have my happy ending anymore, everyone else will and that's all that matters. The one thing a sister, a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a friend wants for the people she knows, is happiness.

You kept everything inside

And even though I tried it all fell apart

What it meant to be, will

Eventually, be a memory of a time

When I tried so hard,

And got so far,

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

I had to fall, to loose it all

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

I've put my trust in you

Pushed as far, as I can go

For all this

There's only one thing you should know

What shocks me the most, is that even Edward received his happy ending with me being right beside him. Maybe twenty years back I should have forgiven him… maybe two months ago I should have too… but we can't live our lives with maybe's and most certainly with what if's.

I've put my trust, in you

Pushed as far as I can go

For all this

There's only one thing you should know

I tried so hard,

And got so far,

But in the end, it doesn't even matter

I had to fall, to lose it all,

But in the end, it doesn't even matter.

My life was chosen for me. And maybe my family would come rescue me.. what if they did? Would Edward try again or would he just dwell in the shadows? Who can say for sure? But one thing I do know is that I have loved once and continue to love that person for the rest of my life. No matter how long or short that is, I will love Emmett Cullen.

Just knowing that I found love, is enough for forever because some people never even have that and for that reason, I'm willing to live out my sentence at being with Edward until his heart is content because he may love me, but he will never receive the love I have for another.

And so it ends... Thanks to all of my readers and reviewers. Without you I wouldn't have made it this far in writing this. I hope you have enjoyed Everything Changed and it's sequal, Self Sacrifice.

As of now, I am planning on writing another story, but in a month or so. Hopefully I can have as much support with that as I did with this.

Thanks again,
Christy//DivineRosey

Also, the song in this chapter is In The End by Linkin Park. Hope you enjoyed!