A/N… FYI…no animal drinkers in this story. All of these vamps have yellow eyes, not gold, not red.

Chapter 14 – Epi – I Still Believe

Through the heartache
Through the tears
Through the waiting
Through the years
For people like us
In places like this
We need all the hope
We can get
Oh, I still believe

"I Still Believe" by Tim Cappello

EDWARD

My apartment was quiet but not empty. I smiled at that thought, staring at the blank document on my laptop. I ran a hand through my hair with one hand and pulled my old journal to me with the other. It was time to start the next book.

Vampires.

I snorted, shaking my head at the thought. I was going to bring a bit of truth to this book. While all my characters were based on my friends and family, the storylines in the first two books were obviously supernatural fiction. However, this time around, it would be a touch truthful.

Thumbing through the book, I stopped every few pages or so to read. The loss of Rachel was first. Rules of the vampire, taught by Charlie, were next. Then there was preparing and fighting, blood and iron, crosses and solemn vows by kids not even old enough to drive.

But deeper into the journal gave me more than monsters. It read of first kisses and pure, young love. It told of making love for the first time on a rainy summer afternoon and sweet brown eyes that looked at me like I was all they'd ever need. And it spoke of heartbreak and loss.

I couldn't even recall that feeling now because the most beautiful girl was sleeping in my bed down the hall. We'd meshed our lives together after moving her from California three months ago. Bella had called it messy and complicated, but it really wasn't.

Some of her boxes were still in the guest room, and Max's fur was everywhere, not to mention his toys and bedding and slobber. There was more laundry now, and long brunette hair clogged the drain in the shower. Some days the bed barely got made, or there were handprints on the mirror in the bathroom. Sometimes, it was two sets of handprints on the mirror – a thought that made me rub my face to focus.

Okay, so maybe a touch messy, but I wouldn't change a fucking thing. Bella and I had meshed so well that it shocked most of our friends and family.

And my God, she was so happy! She was bright smiles and plans and job interviews and hardly any panic attacks. They didn't disappear; she was simply getting better at handling them – or maybe I was getting better at handling them. The second we'd pulled out of her apartment in California, Bella wiped her hands of Renee, and it was as if a weight was lifted off my girl's shoulders.

From that moment on, she focused on us and the future.

We'd survived Alice and Jasper's wedding, both of us having been in the wedding party, and I glanced up to the pictures from that day. Max, front and center in a bowtie that matched everyone else's, made me smile.

Bella had gotten the job with my sister at the museum, and she liked it way better than the appraisal position she'd had in California. She could focus on the avenue of study she liked – books on the occult and mythology. She took Max with her every day, and her coworkers loved him.

I picked up my coffee mug, taking a sip and gazing out over the Seattle sky that wasn't quite awake yet.

Bella wasn't the only one planning a future. Before going back to Forks, I could barely see the next steps – my third book, the TV series, just normal daily shit. Now, I saw so much. Correcting the detour. It felt like we'd done just that.

I set my mug back down, eyeing my journal again, but movement in the doorway caught my eye.

"Morning, baby," I said, smiling up at her.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" she asked, walking to me in adorable pink plaid pajama shorts and a white T-shirt of mine.

"Never," I whispered, pulling her to my lap. "Sorry I'm up so early."

She rolled her eyes, curling into me and snuggling her face into the crook of my neck. "Don't apologize for something you can't control. Or for working."

Max walked in and curled up on the bed we'd put in my office for him. Bella liked to read in the chairs on her days off, and he was wherever she was, so there were dog beds in every room, it seemed.

"Mmm," I hummed contentedly into her hair. "Not really working. The page is still blank."

She giggled. "Just write it, Edward. Quit worrying about the reality of it." She sat up and cupped my face. "Forget what we did and figure out what Meg and Max would do."

"Besides naughty things to each other?" I asked teasingly.

"Mmm, so many naughty things," she whispered, pressing her lips to mine. "You can't blame a girl for being attracted to the hero."

"Right…because he can resist the brave, brunette journalist," I teased playfully.

"I'm just sayin'. He's hot and fearless. She's brave and clever. They both need a release from all the stress, Edward. Give them what they want," she urged, smiling when I cracked up. "You know you want to," she whispered like it was a secret.

I picked up her hand, pressing kisses to her ink, which was detailed and intricate and made me want to add to mine on my chest. But it was the warm, loving eyes – those healing eyes – I needed more than anything.

"God, you're beautiful first thing in the morning," I said without thinking, raking my fingers through untamed dark locks that spilled down around her shoulders. "I want this every damn day for the rest of our lives. You okay with that?"

Bella tilted her head like she always did, smiling softly at me before pressing a quick kiss to my lips.

"Yeah, Edward. I'm really okay with that."

~oOo~

"Man, oh man, it's kinda intimidating to see all your fans in person," Bella teased me as we walked Max down the streets of London. "The internet is one thing, but wow!"

"Shut up," I said through a laugh. "And quit stirring up shit online…Mrs. Cullen."

She grinned, shrugging a shoulder. "I can't help it."

I glared her way with a side glance. "Mmhm."

God, I loved her. We'd waited to get married until after I'd finished book three and once the TV show had started. We'd decided that our wedding day needed to be the date that she'd moved away with Renee. It was the ultimate full circle to correct the detour.

We were honeymooning in Europe while at the same time, I was doing a small book signing tour for the third book. This one was bigger than the first two, because apparently, everyone loved vampires – and that Max and Meg finally got together. We were also fulfilling our part of a promise made in Forks.

"I really can't help it. You're absolutely not an eligible bachelor anymore."

I laughed. "Bella, I never was. I was always yours."

"See? They don't get that. I do. I can't help it. The readers love it, but the fan girls, not so much."

Grinning, I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "We're almost there, silly girl."

She nodded, running a hand over Max's head. "We'll have to be careful because this is probably all sorts of illegal."

"Yeah, probably."

We got to the River Thames, finding a spot that was empty of people. Bella pulled her backpack off her shoulder and opened it. Inside was a small plastic container with both Victoria's and James's ashes – some of them anyway.

Emmett had dumped his container the day we'd killed Victoria – in front of her, actually. Alice and Jasper, who had honeymooned in Hawaii, had taken their containers to a volcano. Rose released hers in Puget Sound. As far as I knew, Billy dumped his at First Beach in La Push.

"You know, we could wait and do this in Ireland tomorrow," I suggested.

"No way! There are scary legends in Ireland about that vampire – Abhartach. I'm not taking any chances," she argued, shaking her head.

I grinned. "You would know, Hermione, since you run the restricted section now."

Bella's giggle was musical and perfect, and she buried it in my upper arm.

The sun was setting and we were alone, so I sat us down on a bench by the river's guardrails. She loosened the lid and surreptitiously tipped the contents into the water. We both went quiet for a moment, watching the ashes disappear as the sun finally set completely.

Bella's gaze met mine, and tears welled up in those beautiful dark eyes. "That was for Dad."

I cupped her face, trying to catch those tears. "Yeah, baby. That was definitely for Charlie."

"And Jake and Rachel," she added with a nod.

"Them, too."

I let out a deep breath, thinking back to when Jake had sent me the key. So many emotions had run through me – fear, sadness, anger. Sometimes I wished that Jake and Charlie had said something sooner so that we could've all fulfilled our promise to come back without losing them. But knowing Charlie the way that I did, I was certain he'd wanted to end it on his own – without bringing his daughter into it again.

Kissing Bella's temple, I reveled in her strength, her beautiful spirit, and her loving nature.

"You ready to get something to eat, baby?" I asked, because we still needed dinner.

She nodded, tucked the now-empty container back in her purse, reaching for Max's leash. We started heading back the way we'd come because there were a few restaurants closer to our hotel.

We turned up a street, and Max growled low once. Not loud, not aggressively, not even with a show of teeth.

We both glanced down at him and then to where his attention was aimed.

"Holy shit," I breathed, pulling Bella closer.

Bella nodded, glancing up at me. "I told you they were everywhere."

It was just one – a man with long dark hair in a ponytail. He looked like he was from another era, with a graceful walk and a severe face. But those eyes were yellow. No one around him paid any attention because they didn't know what the fuck he was, but we did. He never noticed us either, for which I was extremely grateful.

"Room service?" I asked.

Bella giggled. "Oh, hell yes."

~oOo~

"You know, the actress who plays Meg is close but no cigar," Garrett said, thumbing through the latest script.

Grinning up at him, I nodded. "I know. But she is doing a good job."

"Oh, totally," he agreed. "The guy playing Max is killing it too."

"He's a nice guy. You'd never know he was British; his American accent is perfect," I pointed out, opening up a blank document because I needed to get started on the fourth book.

Garrett was no longer my assistant, but I liked the guy, so we'd not only become friends, but I'd also gotten him a position as one of the screenwriters on the show. He knew my work inside and out and he was a fan of the characters, so he was there to make sure they stayed as close to the original work as possible. He still worked with me at my home. It was giving him the experience he truly needed, too, since he was a fresh graduate from UW.

It had almost been four years since Garrett had brought me my mail with the key from Jake. I glanced over to my bookcase, where the cross-shaped key leaned against one of the pictures we'd taken just before we'd left Forks. It sat next to a picture of the same people as kids. The latter showed the happy faces of those kids ranging from twelve to fourteen. The former showed people who were as close as family – maybe stronger than blood.

There were a few more framed pictures up there. There was Bella's and my wedding day. There was the day we cleaned out the Swan house – Jasper and Bella had inherited it from Charlie, but they didn't want to sell it to just anyone. They'd sold it to Emmett and Rose, who were expecting their first child in the next few months.

They were the ones left to watch over Forks. Emmett was still a member of FPD, so he heard and saw things way before the newspaper ever did. So far, the Pacific Northwest was vampire free. But our vow as kids still held – we'd all come back if we were needed. In fact, I'd bought my parents' old place in Forks from them in order to keep it as a safety net of sorts.

Garrett stood from his chair, holding up the script. "Let me send them the changes you want and see what they say."

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

My focus went back to the laptop screen. I pulled up a search for werewolves, which also brought me shapeshifters and Native American legends. I wasn't sure werewolves were my next step with Meg and Max, but it was a good place to start.

I heard the front door open and close, and Garrett greeted Bella.

Glancing up at the beautiful brunette in my doorway, I smiled at her T-shirt.

Fight Evil. Read Books.

Her face was fierce and a little panicky, though.

"Bella, you okay?" I asked, and she immediately sat down in my lap with her phone in hand.

"I need to show you what I was working on at the museum today," she whispered, giving a quick glance toward the door to make sure it was just between us. She pulled up her recent photos. "We saw him," she whispered.

My eyebrows shot up, but I took her phone. She'd taken pictures of a book – probably something she shouldn't do –several pages, in fact. The book was ancient, with parchment-like pages and what looked like handwritten text. Sketches of vampire teeth, claws, even their strange feet when they slept hanging upside down, it was all there – and damned accurate. The book appeared to be someone's diary or journal.

"Keep going," she whispered.

The next photo was another sketch. It was the vampire we'd seen on the streets of London on our honeymoon. A frail looking man with a long, dark ponytail and sharp angled facial features. The text and ink were black, so the yellow eyes weren't showing, but the predatory glare was definitely there.

"Oh, shit," I gasped, meeting her gaze. "That's him."

"Yeah, I know. He's…something. Look." She swiped to the next picture, and I read the text.

It is unclear as to how long this immortal has survived. Witnesses claim to have described him going back centuries for various murders. From Jack the Ripper in England going all the way back to a string of deaths in the 1500s in Croatia, the same man has been described by witnesses – pale skin, yellow eyes, dark hair, and a sharp nose. When approached for questioning, the subject vanishes in the wind.

I skimmed through more pages, where it was thought the original vampire was from a small village called Istria in Croatia. The man in question kept returning back from the dead until the villagers severed his head. Alilovic was the man's name, and he had a wife and son who escaped to Italy to a town called Volterra.

I put the phone down and glanced over at Bella. "There are lots of legends about Volterra."

"Now who's been in the restricted section?" she teased, kissing my lips quickly. "This guy is old. He's fucking ancient."

"Mmm, clearly," I agreed with a nod. "I don't see anything stating he was here in the States, but this is a pretty old book."

"Yeah, it's from 1892. What if that's the same guy we saw, Edward?"

I cupped her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You're worried? Because honestly, I don't think he even saw us, baby."

"Okay, well…hear me out," she started, getting up to pace. "What if he was there for your book?"

I chuckled a little. "Baby, you have any idea how many books there are on vampires? I mean from Bram Stoker all the way to me. It's horror and satire and romance, even graphic novels and comic books. Some use the regular mythology; some make up new shit. I can't fathom mine has garnered any attention from him or any other vampire out there."

She took a deep breath and let it out. "I know, I know. And I'm watching for more documentation from local witnesses, but…"

It was when Max got up and walked to her that I knew this was really worrying the shit out of her. She threaded her fingers deep into his fur, and I cupped her face.

"Sweetheart, breathe. It's okay," I soothed her, pressing kisses to her lips. "We got this, even if he decided to come here." I pulled her ear closer so Garrett couldn't hear from the dining room. "This entire apartment is a safe zone, Bella."

Her eyes widened, and I nodded and pulled her closer.

"Yes, ma'am. The windows? Treated with dead blood. The aquarium in the living room – holy water – the whole damn thing. This room? The door and this desk are hawthorn, the doorknob is iron, and the windows face the east, so the sunrise hits here first. In that closet is a crossbow with silver-tipped arrows. We're also thirteen stories up in a building filled with security cameras."

Bella studied my face. "You always knew they were coming back."

"I did. I trusted your dad that much."

Her eyes welled up as she nodded a little. "Yeah, me too."

"I also trusted you, baby. You said there were others out there, and I believed you. We all did. Alice and Jasper's place is the same way. Rose and Emmett just enhanced what your dad already built into that house. We're as safe as we can be."

I kissed her because I could, because she was just everything I'd ever wanted since I was thirteen years old. We'd been thrown into a world that the rest of society knew nothing about, and we'd taken it seriously with promises vowed in blood and honor.

"So if more come…"

I nodded, kissing her one more time. "We'll all be here."

~oOo~

A/N… I'd like to thank everyone who came along with this story. It was different, not the usual vampires, but something I've wanted to play with for a while now. Traditional vampires are fantastic to play with.

I need to thank a few people for helping keep this story straight… Cheryl Sunshine Edmonds, DrivingEdward, maplestyle, Suebee, and Beffers87. Also a big thank you to JenRar, because I just threw this story at her out of the blue, which made her go… What is this!? LOL

Thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing. Judas is now complete, and this one is now complete. I'm not quite sure what's next, but I'll let you know.

Until next time… Mooches, Deb ;)

Songs added to the playlist:

"I Still Believe" by Tim Cappello

"Love Goes On and On" by Lindsey Stirling feat. Amy Lee