"Ouch! Paper cut," Bella whispered.

Suddenly a single drop of blood fell off of her finger, Brea looked over at Jasper... a grisly snarl escaped his lips. Brea rushed towards Bella pushing her out of the way, in a flash Edward shoved Brea... her small body hit the wall, sliding down onto a glass table. Everyone turned to look at Brea, who sat up...picking glass out of her arm.

Carlisle jumped to Brea's side...

Brea turned and looked at Emmett and Alice, who dragged Jasper out of the room.

Edward stared at Brea.... Concern filled his eyes.

Alice turned towards Brea, sadness filled her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, I-I can't," Alice sighed.

Carlisle examined Brea's arm.

"I'll have to stitch this up," Carlisle said.

"I'll carry her to the kitchen!" Edward replied, but stopped...staring at the blood.

"No! I'll take care of her, Edward. Check on Jasper! Go!" Carlisle ordered.

Carlisle picked up Brea and rushed her to the kitchen, with Bella following behind.

"I sure know how to kill a party," Brea mumbled.

"It's not your fault! Jasper hasn't been away from human blood as long as the rest of us, but I think it was very brave... saving your sister," Carlisle smiled.

"Seems like you're the only one it doesn't effect," Bella spoke up.

"Centuries of practice!" Carlisle laughed.

"Did you ever think of... you know living differently?' Brea asked.

"I enjoy my work too much! Helping people, saving lives. I'm hoping there's a point to my existence, even if I am damned," Carlisle said.

"D-Damned? You aren't damned!" Brea replied.

"Then you and I agree! But Edward doesn't believe there's an afterlife for our kind! He thinks we've lost our souls," Carlisle sighed.

"That's why he doesn't want... He thinks I'd be damned?" Brea asked.

"If you believed as he did, would you risk it?" Carlisle questioned.

After Carlisle cleaned up Brea...the sisters quickly left.

Walking out to the truck, Bella held Brea's hand.

"Brea, you need to stop protecting me!" Bella said.

"I can't help it! You are my sister, if I lost you then I would have lost my best friend! My other half," Brea sighed.

Suddenly Edward appeared next to Brea.

"I'll drive you both home!" Edward said.

Both girls nodded.

On the ride home it was complete and utter silence. Finally they pulled up to the Swan's house.

"Edward, say something!" Brea sighed, as Bella climbed out of the truck.

"What do you want me to say?" Edward snapped.

"That I was dumb for pushing Bella out of the way! That I'm a klutz! That I need to be more careful," Brea said.

"A normal boyfriend wouldn't have flung you into a wall! A normal boyfriend wouldn't have to fight the urge to kill you," Edward growled.

"Stop! I don't want normal, I want you!" Brea snapped.

Brea climbed out of the truck, slamming the door.

"Y-You can't protect me for everything! Something is going to separate us.. Accident, illness, old age... as long as I'm human," Brea said.

"That's your solution? Me ending your life?" Edward asked.

"No! You'd be giving me forever!" Brea replied.

Edward's jaw tightens up.

"Carlisle told me how you feel about my soul, but I don't believe that," Brea sighed, grabbing his hand.

Edward moved away from her.

"You need to go in! It's getting late," Edward said.

"I'll leave my window open for you," Brea replied.

"I won't be coming back! Not tonight," Edward whispered.

"Then... Can I ask for one thing? It's still my birthday. Kiss me?" Brea asked.

Edward nodded. Pulling her face towards him, kissing her carefully, gently...but it changes, he becomes urgent, with an almost painful edge....as if it were goodbye. He abruptly pulled away, taking one last look at Brea before walking off into the woods.

"

She slowly walked inside....heading straight to bed.