"His agony defines him. His memories destroy him.

But his hope is what sustains him, feeds him, encourages him. It's his purpose. And he doesn't deny it.

Offered the chance to leave all pain and misery behind, Edward knew that it was better to suffer his loss than to forget it. For in having it, Bella remains his and only his.

To forget would be the ultimate betrayal, abandoning her once again to a world of lonliness and despair. He had already done that once upon a time, and he did so spectacularly.

He'll find her. He has to. 

HE HAS TO."

- icrodriguez (the most beautiful review I have ever received.  THANK YOU for allowing me the honour of displaying it here.  It sums up the tone of this story beautifully, hearts, Erin)

Left in the woods, an unfortunate run-in with Laurant and 45 years later - Bella finds herself facing everything she has ever wanted.  Does it want her back?  What will she discover about how Edward has been spending his time...

Rated for later chapters.

Bella Swan is twenty-seven years old, newly single, and mom to an adorable Kindergarten student with a knack for accidents. On a typical, fall afternoon, she experiences the shock of her life during a casual conversation with her son. When an unexpected revelation leads to the most emotional reunion imaginable, how will Bella reconcile the path her life has taken with the past she never chose? Takes place nearly ten years post New Moon. Canon - AU. ExB

Edward Cullen was a loner, an outcast. He clearly hated everybody, including himself. He was not a nice person. So, why was I so drawn to him? And why did I get the crazy feeling he felt the same way?

WARNING: This story will deal with the aftermath of child abuse and rape. If that bothers you too much, I strongly recommend that you don’t read.

Thanks to steffyxxface for the lovely banner!

You know those fics where Edward doesn't come back and Bella forgets about him and five seconds later she's in bed with Jacob and none of it makes any damn sense?
Yeah, this isn't one of them.

This story picks up from the moment in New Moon when Jacob has driven Bella home after the cliff diving incident, right before he catches the scent of Alice. Only in this telling, Alice wasn't looking, so there's no sudden appearance at Bella's house, no Rosalie calling Edward and sending him on a suicidal mission to Volterra, and no reason for Bella to do anything but believe that Edward didn't love her anymore. This is simply a story of what might have happened if everyone stayed mostly in character and Edward's return was delayed. Yes, delayed. Because we all know that he was "this close" to coming back on his own anyhow.
So what would have happened if Bella had tried to move on with her life?  Would she have found happiness with Jacob?  And would Edward be too late?

* First in a series of stories

~I thought of Jacob’s warm arms wrapped around me, his infectious laughter, and his ability to keep me from falling to pieces again… The pain choking my heart relaxed and I could breathe.~

~“More than anything,” I whispered, not caring what I'd just agreed to. When it came to Bella, it didn't matter what the question was. I just wanted.~

Winner of:

Best Author, Most Romantic, Favorite Jacob, Most Suspenseful, & Best WIP in the Wolfpack Awards | Best Non-Canon Pairing (Incomplete) and Best WIP in the Moonlight Awards | Best During the Series in the Razzle Dazzle Awards | The Storyteller Award in the Shimmer Awards | Best JacobxBella in the Silent Tear Awards  

Edward leaves Bella, much like the beginning of 'New Moon', however, this time, they are all human and there is quite the twist.  Why did Edward leave Bella?  And what secret is Bella keeping when he leaves?

Can they make a nightmare turn into a dream?

THANKS TO EMERALD_ROSALIE FOR THE ABOVE BANNER AND ATHENALOVE FOR THE BELOW.

We always want what we can't have, but their love for each other was so much more than just temptation. He was the eager young teacher, Bella's friend and her inspiration in a high school world where she didn't quite fit. She was the bright young woman who took Edward completely by surprise, his saving grace after years of closing himself off from life and love. When their days are turned upside down by their secret relationship, will they find a way to be together?

Rated for subject matter and sexually explicit material in later chapters. Huge thanks to Anne Cullen for the awesome new banner and to m81170 the beautiful fan art/banner below! You are both amazing!  

When the Cullens move back to Forks, Edward decides to follow in Carlisle's footsteps and become a doctor. As he becomes more and more frustrated with his monotonous life, Bella is admitted with a serious illness.

Will he be able to resist?

Thanks M81170 for the wonderful banner!

Bella Swan spent the first two years of her life in Forks developing a friendship with Jacob Black that finally turned into something more.  As she begins her senior year of high school, a new family moves to town and Bella slowly begins to question the path she thought her life would follow.  Sometimes there is a difference between what you think you need and what you never knew you wanted.  Takes place during the timeframe of New Moon and Eclipse.  J/B at first, but eventually E/B. 

Bella Swan's been a vampire for around a century, and has been with the Cullens since the 1920s. When the Cullen family moves to the sleepy town of Forks, WA, she finds quite a few things she never expected, including a human boy that turns her world on its side.

rating for later chapters (non-explicit sex and violence)