DISCLAIMAR: ALL TWILIGHT CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER. I OWN NOTHING BUT MY IDEAS!

I got up and closed the window so that the cool weather would not affect her. She needed as much sleep as possible to regain her strength.

I stood by the windowsill and regarded her under the soft moonlight. Her face was paler than usual and her cheekbones were more pronounced. I could easily see the veins in her throat and deep circles under her eyes. Her hair was darker and it was obvious that she was severely dehydrated.

Her forehead creased and she begun stirring and moaning, throwing the covers over the bed. I sighed and went back to her bed, picking up the fallen bedclothes and rearranging them back over her before getting in. We had been back from Italy four days ago and she still had nightmares whenever I was not touching her; however, for what I had gathered from Charlie's thoughts, they were not half as bad as they had been before.

I felt as if I could throw up whenever I saw his memories.

I held her in my arms, trying not to touch any part of her bare skin so as not to make her cold and she instantly calmed down, resting her face in the crook of my neck and inhaling deeply.

Could it be that she needed me just as much as I needed her? Was it possible that this human girl felt something remotely similar to the mating-pull I felt towards her?

I had been so sure about doing the right thing by being away from her, doing what "Nature" dictated as rule and trying not to interfere with her human life. Now I was certain beyond doubt that if Nature did not want vampires mingling with humans, there was a higher power that had created us to be together.

And then it hit me.

She and I. There was no other way.

And it did not matter what was "right" or "wrong". There were no rules now, no labels of species.

I was meant for her and, somehow, she was meant for me too.

I looked at her in awe.

For this beautiful, young, magnificent human had known it all along. She had tried to tell me and I had not listened.

Bella's heart-rate changed and her eyes fluttered open. There was not that disoriented look any more when she woke up. She looked at me straight in the eye and gave me a small smile. I could not help it but softly kiss her and rub my nose against hers.

"I have finally understood, my love"

She didn't say anything, just quirked an eyebrow.

"Don't pay me any attention" I smiled, "You and I are meant to be together and that is the way someone, somewhere wants it. I cannot keep fighting what is meant to be, nor I have any right to do so."

She only gave me an understanding look, her eyes so wise in her eighteen-year-old body.

"I love you, Edward Cullen. And you and me are meant to be together. Forever. There's no way around it" Her eyes closed again as sleep took over her again.

"I love you Isabella Swan." I whispered, only hoping somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear me, "and I promise I will make you happy every day of forever."