Life After You (TVD + Twilight crossover)

It was a weird feeling, being behind the wheel of a car. It's not something I've done much in the past few months. Mostly, I've been on my feet, tracking Victoria, or on my back, sulking in the woods. Calling once every few months to check in on my family, I spent most of my time on my own, separating myself from a life I no longer wanted.

I was content to live that life before her, I went through the motions of every day without much to complain about. Of course, I was lonely, but at least I had no idea what I was missing.

Then, I met her, I seen her smile, I heard her laugh, I held her in my arms. I loved her. Now, nothing else could ever be enough for me. The small part of me I was missing before, had been ripped open into a gaping hole, my chest felt hollow, on a good day, on the worst, it hurt, it hurt enough emotionally and even physically to bring even me down to my knees.

Lately, the good days have been more and more scarce.

It was about a week ago when I decided I likely should not be alone anymore. I was ready to put my family out of their misery, I was ready to try and get back to the life I had just a year and a half ago, before her. I was ready to go home.

Home? No. No matter where I go, it will never be home without her.

Go back and get her! The small voice in my head started for the hundredth time today, as it does every day. But, I can't. Yes you can, coward! Go to her and beg for her forgiveness.

I couldn't do that to her. I'm still suffering, but Bella? Bella is human, what pain she felt when I left has likely long since faded, she has probably moved on. She could be dating that guy from the reserve now, Jacob.

My stomach twisted at the thought of him parading her around, introducing her as his girlfriend, and in the future, his wife, Bella Black, they could end up with kids! God, I missed my chance. It's been too long. She wouldn't want me anyway, I'm not the same, being without her for so long, I'm just a broken man. I wouldn't be good enough for her.

Then, I never have been, have I?

Finally, I pulled into the long driveway to my family's home. I slowed down as I got closer, my fingers tightening against the steering wheel.

I shouldn't have been surprised when I finally passed all the trees, and the house came into view, to see each of my family members, minus one, waiting for me.

The absence of that last one caused another intense pain to shoot through my chest. Once I had parked, I didn't dare move. I kept my hands on the steering wheel, my eyes dead ahead, looking at nothing.

Wisely, none of my family made move to approach me, though their thoughts were mostly concerned... besides one, Alice.

Alice, who was lost in a vision, a vision that made me snap to attention, my head turned to her and even though every bit of my attention went to her vision, I stared in her general direction.

She was clutching her school books to her chest, talking seriously under her breath with a blonde haired girl, and a raven haired boy. She seemed annoyed with him, her mouth set in a hard line, shaking her head every few seconds as he would talk. The blonde seemed to be taking her side, but their conversation was muffled. She turned her head, looking around the crowd, and I took in her long neck, exposed due to her high ponytail, and her cheer uniform. My Bella, a cheerleader? How could that be? She could barely walk the length of herself without falling over. Grimacing, she nodded, and her voice finally focused in.

"Fine." She agreed begrudgingly, "but you better be quick, this is the last thing I want to be spending my friday night doing."

"What? Would you prefer to sit at home, sulking like you do every other night?" The boy demanded, "whoever the hell has you so broken, you'd better get over it brunette Barbie, you should have left it in Washington, because I can not depend solely on my sexy blonde frenemey -" he gestured to the blonde, who rolled her eyes. " for everything. If you're in this, you're all the way in."

"Says you," Bella defended herself "how long did it take you to give up on the devil woman?" She frowned, crossing her arms, "but I'll never get over.. him." I knew she was speaking of me, and the pain on her face was enough to send me over the edge.

"Let's forget this conversation for now, Bella, we need to get back to class," Blondie wrapped her arm around Bella's shoulder, "Before Stefan becomes suspicious, and you -" she jabbed her finger at the man, "leave before you're reported as a pervert lurking on the teens."

"Okay, but you two better not forget our plan... it's going down tonight." And then he left, both girls rolled their eyes behind him.

"You okay?" The blonde asked.

"Not okay," Bella murmured, "never am, but I'll live. Seems somehow I always do."

Oh, Bella. I know just how you feel. I didn't realize I had left my car, I didn't realize I had ended up standing in front of Alice, with my family surrounding us.

I didn't realize what I was saying until the words finally left my mouth.

"I'm going back for her."