The drive to Chief Swan's house was awkward at most and stale at the least. There was nothing to say, but of course, Bella insisted on making boring conversation.

"I'm sorry," She had apologized for probably the two-hundred and twelfth time that night.

Juliette replied with a stiff, "okay," and then continued to drive through the dismal night. "It's not your fault you're human."

"But it is my fault I'm accident prone."

"True," Juliette thought, but it came out if her mouth. She still didn't apologize once she had realized what she said.

She slowly brought the car to a stop as she pulled into Chief Swan's driveway, shutting the car off. "Thanks for coming," Juliette told her. "I know I haven't exactly been friendly."

"I think that's my fault," Bella said sheepishly. "Maybe we can actually try to be friends."

"Eventually," Juliette nodded as Bella got out the car. "I'll walk you to the door." Juliette got out of the warmth of her car and escorted Bella to the door, waiting till Charlie came to the door.

"Juliette," Charlie greeted.

"Hello, Chief Swan." Juliette smiled, glad he still remembered her from her time at their home for a project with Bella.

"Juliette, you know it's just Charlie."

"I know," She laughed gently. "Habit.

"That's alright," Charlie said.

"I just wanted to make sure Bella got gime safely. And to thank you for letting her come. I appreciate it."

"No problem, Juliette. And don't forget, you're welcomed here anytime you'd like."

"That's nice of you. I'll keep it in mind." Jules smiled. "Thank you. And good night, Charlie, Bella."

"Night. And call the house so I know you got back safely!" Charlie waved a hand as he watched Juliette walk back to her car.

She glanced over her shoulder and nodded. "Yes, sir!" She climbed into the driver's seat, and started the car, slamming her door closed. She put her seatbelt on and pulled out of the driveway.

After a while of driving down the street, a gentle thump hit the side of the door, and she turned as she watched her boyfriend climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind him.

"Hey, lion-monkey man," She teased.

"Hey, you." He kissed her head and then let her drive in peace.

When they got to the Cullen house, he pulled her onto his back and he smiled at her. "Hang on, spidermonkey."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and he jumped, landing outside the door of his bedroom. He pulled it open and climbed in, setting Jules in the floor. She landed on her feet, and pulled her shoes off.

Edward walked to his bookshelf and pulled a silver bag from the shelf. "Happy Birthday, Jules."

"But?"

"The laptop was from Carlisle and Esme. This is from me. So, open it."

"Okay, okay." Juliette jokingly groaned, sitting down on the bed and pulling the paper from the bag. She placed it aside until she picked up a velvet blue box.

She carefully opened it, finding a silver key in a box. "Now I'm confused."

Edward, however, chuckled and walked to his closet. "Bring me the key."

Juliette sighed playfully, speeding across the room. He took the key from her and turned back to the closet, and he told her, "Close your eyes."

Juliette did so, rolling her eyes.

She felt Edward lift up one of her hands and slip a cool weight around her finger. "Open," He spoke softly, almost as if he were actually afraid. She tilted her head at him before her eyes looked at where his thumb rested. She stared at the twinkling ring on her finger, her brows furrowed. "It's a promise ring, Jules. It's my promise to you that I'll keep you safe and love you, no matter what."

Juliette blinked twice, before she shut her eyes tight and a tear slipped out of her eye. He wiped it away with his thumb and she sniffled.

"It's beautiful," She murmured.

"Like you." Edward smiled, her eyes opening slowly. She nuzzled his nose and pecked his lips.

After she had gotten into her pajamas, he pulled her into bed, his arms tucked around her waist as she placed her head in the crook of his neck.

"Thank you," Juliette murmured.

"You're welcome, babe."

▫▫▫

Juliette pulled a blue sweater over her head as she walked down the stairs, picking up the gold wrapped present that had started the whole ordeal from last night. Juliette carefully tore open the paper.

Inside was a a pretty set of acrylic and watercolor paints, as well as oil pastel sticks. She took a breath and smiled at the giant art kit. Her heart sank a little in her chest at how she had treated Bella and made a silent promise to do better by the human girl. Even though Juliette felt that Bella was impossible sometimes.

Well, most times.

She placed the gift on the table, walking into the kitchen. She looked out the window to see her boyfriend talking to her brother. She blinked, turning to the fridge.

She was still getting used to the notion of Brandon being her half-brother. It was weird to think about it, but she had always wanted a brother and now she had one.

She grabbed the bottle of orange juice and then shut the fridge with her hip, grabbing a glass from the cabinet, shaking the bottle of orange juice and pouring it into the glass.

Closing the bottle, she put it back in the fridge and then went to sip from her glass, confused as to why the house was so quiet.

Well, a house full of vampires wasn't loud either, but still. She missed the slight noise of Alice laughing or Emmett making an early morning joke.

Finishing her juice, she rinsed the glass out with water from the tap, before laying it in the sink. She grabbed her backpack from where it laid in a chair and her keys from the basket by the garage door.

Edward raced into the garage as she threw her bag into the passenger seat. "Hey," He said, grabbing her arm gently.

"Hi," she yawned. "What did Brandon want?"

"He was just apologizing for what happened at your birthday party."

Juliette rolled her eyes, "It's okay."

He looked at her and frowned. "You don't want to ride with me?"

"I didn't know how long you were going to take." she grabbed her bag, and shut the door to her car, locking the car. She handed her keys to him and he smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Give me a second." He told her.

She nodded, walking over to the Volvo. She heard it chirp unlock and she opened the passenger door, climbing into her seat.

Edward dragged himself slowly towards the driver's side of the car and sat, stagnate. "Let's skip our last classes of the day." He says and Juliette's brows furrow.

"Okay. Any reason why?"

"I know you're tired of Romeo and Juliet." She nodded in agreement.

"Okay." He grabbed her hand quickly as he started the car, and enveloped it in hers.

"Jules," He said slowly. She hummed into acknowledgement. "You know I love you right?"

"Yes." She nodded. He traced the promise ring on her slim finger and nodded as he began to drive.

She glanced out the window, a sick feeling in her stomach.

It only got worse as she entered her first two classes, Brandon missing from his seat. Bella looked even worse, like a ghost. She looked like she had aged years in the midst of the night and Juliette pressed her lips together, unsure how to comfort her.

The day pasted and after lunch, she and Edward rushed to the car, pulling themselves in before it started to sprinkle with rain.

Edward drove slowly, and Juliette looked at him with worry in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine, Juliette."

"Do you want to tell me the real reason Brandon was there this morning?" Juliette frowned, grabbing his hand.

"He called me late last night and he said he smelt a familiar smell of vampire. So, I went with him and the smell was that on your parents' bodies."

"And you didn't think that wasn't important to tell me?"

"I didn't want you to stress," Edward gritted his teeth, gripping the steering wheel tighter. He pulled on the side of the road, and climbed out of his side. Juliette repeated his actions, her lips in a deep frown.

He stands still and Juliette moved toward him, but slows when she sees his cold, distant face; an unreadable mask.

"Walk with me." Edward gently takes her hand. Dread fills her, but she let him guide her toward the woods. They trek through the leaves and over the mud.

Edward stops by a fallen tree and turned to Juliette.

"We need to leave Forks." Edward says.

Juliette furrowed her brows, pursing her lips. "What? Why?"

"It's time. Carlisle's supposed to be ten years older than he looks; people will start noticing."

"That's bullshit, Edward,"Juliette said firmly. "Why move if you knew you were going to have to leave? So, be a man and te me the real reason why you're up and leaving."

"It's not safe," Edward sighed.

"What happened with Jasper last night showed that I could handle it! I barely got hurt and it healed! Secondly, I'm not completely human like Bella! I'm not fragile, Edward! That was literally nothing!"

"Nothing compared to what could happen. You don't belong in my world."

"That's bullshit, Edward. I was born a part of your world, or have you suddenly forgotten that?"

"You're of legal age now, Juliette. You're staying. I'm leaving, all of us are. Brandon too." He pauses, hesitates. His features are firm and hardened. "Try to understand. Every second with you is about restraint. You're too fragile. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. Reining myself in so I can be with a human."

"He put you up to this?" Juliette said, her eyes bright with anger. "He did!"

Her fists locked together and she grabbed his hand. "You leave me and that's it, Edward. You don't get a second chance, you don't get anything. So, think carefully about this. And if you mean what you said, say it again."

Edward parted her lips, but he hesitated, looking at her eyes. His own eyes soften and gloss over as if he might actually cry.

"Say it again," She repeated, slower as to keep from losing her temper.

He finally sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "I can't."

"I thought so," She hummed. "You can leave, but you're not allowed to break my heart. You can't just tell me you love me and then leave me."

"I'm going to look for the vampires that killed your parents. I made a promise to you to make you safe. And I have go keep it." He touched her shoulders gently. " I'd like to ask one favor though. Don't do anything stupid or reckless - do you understand?"

"Don't talk to me like a child." Juliette sighed. "But I can do that."

Her phone vibrated in her pocket as she pulled it out. To her surprise, it was Charlie.

"It's Charlie," She told him.

He nodded, and she answered it.

"Juliette!" Charlie's voice is frantic, and Jules tries to stay calm.

"Yes, I'm here."

Edward is careful to touch Juliette's trembling waist, and he pulls her onto his back. Her legs wrap around his waist and she presses the phone to her ear.

"Take me home," She mouthed to Edward. "Let get my car."

Meanwhile, Bella runs through the woods, searching, as it gets darker and darker, until it's deep into the night, Bella's sharp desperate breaths turn into pants until she trips and falls to the damp forest floor. She looks up, the trees spinning around her.

Juliette pulled up in front of the Swan house, looking at the giant search party. She climbs out of her BMW and slams the door shut, taking quick paces to Charlie's side.

But in the woods, Bella remained on the ground, curled into a ball. Darkness shrouded her like a blanket, devastation paralyzing her. Her head raises at the faint sound of her name being called in the distance from a search party. She's too wrecked to respond. Rain begins to pour and she doesn't register it, lying there, dazed.

She begins to hear an animal snuffling. It gets closer. It sounds large. Scary. Then she hears a whisper, move, Bella.

She lifts her head, looking for Brandon, but sees something else instead, a dark shape, huge and black. Its eyes reflect light for a split second; they're inhuman, savage. Bella, terrified, manages to drag herself to a cluster of trees. She squeezes between them, breathing hard. She closes her eyes, trying to disappear. Bella's eyes open to find herself floating several feet above the ground, trees pass by. She's being carried home.

Juliette hovers in a tree, her eyes focusing on Bella and Sam Uley. She hopped down after they walked past, speeding back to the Swan house.

Half the town is gathered - a tired rescue party that includes Mike Newton and Jacob Black. Charlie, beside himself with worry, pores over a map with Billy Black and Harry Clearwater.

"I'll call the Cullens again. Her note said she and Brandon went for a walk." Charlie sighed, eyes in worry.

"They left town, Charlie." Billy says.

"Hospital said Dr. Cullen got a big job somewhere else." Harry Clearwater sighs. Harry puts a reassuring hand on Charlie's shoulder. "We'll find her, Charlie. Charlie is glad for the comfort of his two friends."

"Charlie!" Jacob yells. Charlie spins to where Jacob points. Juliette sneaks back to Mike's side, as he glances down at her. dam Uleu, emerges, a tall, strong Quileute Indian with cropped hair and a fierce expression. He's carrying Bella.

Billy smiles, "It's Sam Uley. He found her."

Charlie bolts to her; he's never moved faster in his life. He wraps his arms around Bella, lifting her from Sam's arms.

Charlie has tears in his eyes as Juliette stands behind him. "Thank you, Sam. Thank God." Charlie carries Bella to the house, cradling her.

Harry and Billy give Sam a nod of praise and gratitude. But Sam backs away, avoiding any accolades. Jacob walks alongside Charlie, peering at Bella with worry. Then Jacob slows, feeling eyes on his back... he turns to see Sam Uley staring at him. Jacob, uncomfortable, quickly looks away. Juliette glanced at the man who rescued Bella, the scent of wet dog filling her nose. It wrinkles and she follows Charlie into the house.

He's carrying her up the stairs of the house "What were you thinking, Baby? Why were you out there?" He asks.

"He's... gone." Bella whimpers as Charlie lays in her in the bed.

He comes back downstairs, looking at Juliette who sits calmly on the couch. "Juliette," Charlie says slowly. "Are you alright? Billy told me the Cullens left."

"I'm a legal adult," She shrugged. "I asked to stay."

"Where are you going to stay at?" He asked. She simply shrugged, not wanting to elaborate on the arrangement Esme and Carlisle had left for her.

"Then you're staying with us," Charlie said. "Go get your things, you're moving in."

"Charlie.." She started.

"I don't want to hear it. Go get your things." Charlie said firmly, and Juliette bit down into her lip. "I have a spare bedroom you can stay in. And I don't care how grown you are. You're welcome to work, but you're living with me until you go to college. I don't want you staying by yourself."

"Okay." Juliette sighed, pulling her keys out of her pocket, walking to the door. Out of all the things, that had happened, she hadn't been expecting that. But she was partially glad to have Charlie looking out for her.

She wondered if Alice had seen that coming, but then again, the future was always unsure.