Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~REDEMPTION~

Story Notes: A story of Bella and Edward as they fight their way through trials and tribulations just to be with one another.

Canon Pairing ~Canon Settings ~ Alternate Situations/Storyline ~ OOC ~

Rated M for Mature Situations and Lemon Filled Scenarios.

Chapter 1

Bella continued along the path, her mind wandering aimlessly, taking in the scents. The sky was an unusual blue today in Forks, white clouds adorning it, floating adrift like smooth cotton. The trees surrounding her were tall and proud, standing in perfect form as if it were their duty to protect her. In the distance, steep hills and rock formations were covered in thick woods and wet leaves as far as the eye could see. Her reverie was occasionally interrupted by the call of a black bird, a gust of wind, or the scream of a hawk.

Bella paced anxiously along the trail, watching as the wet grass wore itself into the ground under her steps. She was waiting for Edward. He was getting ready to leave for a weekend of hiking, well hunting, with Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett. She knew he needed to feed but she just hated being without him for so long. He had told her that he would come and spend some time with her before leaving Forks. But the waiting was beginning to eat away at her. She never performed well when it came to patience.

Edward and Bella hadn't been back together for very long. He had disappeared for one long year, after Jasper's attempt on Bella's life was successfully thwarted at her birthday party. She had gone to rescue him from his ultimate fate at the Volturi and they had remained together ever since. But she wasn't going to think about that now, it was all in the past, and they had both agreed to move on as if it had never happened. Jasper had also seemed quite pleased with that idea.

Bella's breath hitched when her eyes caught Edward standing among the trees, he was looking her way, obviously watching her, studying her, as if he'd never seen her before.

The gaze was mutual, Bella found herself looking at Edward in the same sense, taking him in. Her heartbeat quickened when she noted his flawless beauty. Even from a distance, he was breathtaking. He was so tall and handsome, wearing black jeans and a gray t shirt, with the sleeves clinging tightly around his youthful muscles that rippled beneath his stone flesh, complimenting his broad shoulders. His golden hair fell into messy tendrils as if kissed by the wind itself.

Edward continued to watch Bella, his eyes were intense, dark and observant. He noticed how her eyes were filled with love and adoration for him. He tried to determine if she was looking at him this way because she felt something special, or if she was still fascinated by him somehow. He believed it to be the other way around, he was still fascinated by her, she was the prize and he the lucky winner. He listened as her heartbeat quickened from their private moment and watched as the blood rushed to her cheeks.

As though some unseen force prevailed, guiding their movements, their bodies were drawn to each other. A desire to have one another. Bella kneaded the side of her neck and looked back towards her house, checking to make sure that they were alone. She turned back to Edward. He was silent, still watching her with his steel yet hypnotic gaze, patiently waiting as a look of longing cast across his face. Something about his stance told her that he was not staring at her just because he wanted to merely watch her as he usually did. This time it was different, it was if his eyes were inviting her to him.

Bell didn't have time to consider going over to him, before Edward had moved silently to her, stopping so close that she could feel his breath on her face as he whispered her name. She became momentarily breathless, and absentmindedly wove her fingers through her long, brown hair, drawing it back from her face, quite aware that his eyes watched her every move with intensity. He was looking at her with a tenderness that she'd seen so many times before. He noticed her staring back timidly, and a slow smile played on his lips, becoming soft with pleasure.

Bella's eyes moved over him nervously, and she marveled over the smoothness of his pale skin and the breadth of his shoulders, all of which made her heart flutter. She knew Edward could hear it, so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in trying to calm herself.

Edward laughed softly, "What are you so nervous for?" his eyes looking down into Bella's, seeming to look into her soul.

Bella cast her eyes downward bashfully, only to give in and peek up at him through her lashes. "I'm...I'm not...I was just wondering what you were thinking."

Edward smiled warmly down at Bella from his impressive height and reached out to cup his hand on her cheek, grazing his thumb against it. "Well, If I tell you, you have to promise me that you won't get mad."

Bella shook her head reassuringly. "I won't get mad, I promise."

Edward's gaze became bold and his lips relaxed as he sighed. "I was thinking that, one day, You would make a lovely bride...That one day I might be as lucky as to call you mine, to call you my wife." His eyes fell to Bella's lips, fearful of reading the expression in her eyes.

Bella didn't want to spoil what had just transpired between them. She knew Edward's statement was heartfelt, stemming from the moment, from the unspoken passion they had just shared between them.

"Edward" Bella said softly. "I'm already yours." She hoped that would be enough to let him know that she wasn't agreeing to, or denying him what he wanted, but that she was truly his, with or without a piece of paper.

Bella couldn't believe that she was standing there with such a magnificent creature. Edward was perfect and loving in all his glory. But she felt like he was only a dream, what fantasies were made of, nothing more. Maybe this moment was stolen from her memories of him and wasn't real. Perhaps she would soon wake up on her bed and realize that she had only been dreaming. If that were the case, then it was a beautiful dream!

Bella's smile had given way to her thoughts, because Edward was searching her expression with curiosity. His eyes were touching her all over as he swept them up and down.

"What are you so happy about?" he asked, his lip crooking into his perfect smile.

"I'm happy about you. You make me happy!"

Edward arched a perfect brow. "Do I really? Does everything about me make you happy?"

Bella was a bit confused at Edward's question, of course everything about him made her happy, but was he implying something else? Too embarrassed to ask if there was a an underlying meaning to his statement Bella just kept it simple.

"Of course everything about you makes me happy, why wouldn't it?" she said.

Edward smiled in response and lowered his lips, twining his fingers through Bella's hair as he ever so gently kissed her. He felt as her lips quivered beneath his, her taste reminding him of the scent of gardenia. She was stirring something within him that was hardly definable, and he pressed his lips harder into hers. Bella welcomed the dizziness that began to slowly claim her as she was enveloped with total rapture. She inhaled his sweetness, while tracing his cool lips with her tongue and embraced his tender gesture.

Edward framed Bella's face between his hands and gently pulled away breaking the kiss, his dark golden eyes were soft as he stared down at her, his breath unsteady. "I have something to give you, if you'll accept it."

Bella smiled at him approvingly."I'll accept anything as long as it comes from you."

Edward reached into the pocket of his jeans and removed a red velvet pouch. He studied it for a moment running the tip of his thumb over the soft material. He set it in his palm and held it out to her.

With trembling fingers Bella removed the pouch from his hand, it's softness as smooth as a rose petal against her fingertips. She fumbled with the black drawstring and opened it up, letting the contents of the pouch fall into her hand.

It was beautiful. Attached to a silver pendant chain, was a stone - heart shaped locket. It was the color of Edward's pallid skin and just as smooth, it was as smooth as marble. Bella admired it for the longest, turning it over and over again, She'd never seen anything like it before.

"Thank you so much Edward, it's absolutely beautiful!"

Edward smiled with pride. "Open it, see what's inside."

She did as she was asked and opened the locket. Inside was a small fractured diamond, about the size of a pea. It was carefully nestled in a bed of red velvet that matched the pouch.

Bella looked up at Edward with question in her eyes. "What's the diamond about?" she asked "I don't understand."

Edward laughed softly and sat on the ground, pulling Bella to sit in front of him. "Here let me explain." he said, leaning his chest into her back as he wrapped his arms around her and gently took the locket from her hands, closing it.

He spoke over her shoulder, his breath tickling the sides of her neck and sending a shiver down her spine. "See, the stone heart represents my heart. It's cold, smooth and pale just as my skin is. And when you open it, the diamond inside represents my love for you. As the saying goes, 'Diamonds are forever', and so is my love for you Bella, my love for you is eternal. The fractured diamond is also rare, and such is the love we have for each other. There is none other like it. It would take another million years to find such a treasure."

Edward kissed the side of Bella's neck and opened the necklace. "Here let's put it on you."

Bella's whole body seemed to be centered on a heartbeat, she looked back at Edward adoringly as he slipped the locket around her slender neck. Reaching up to caress the necklace she knew it would always mean so much to her, that when she looked at it, it would remind her of the most treasured thing in her world.

Edward closed the clasp and let his hands fall gently around Bella's neck, caressing it as his fingertips traveled out to her shoulders and down the length of her arms. He smiled to himself when he felt her body tremble under his touch. He laid his cheek against her neck and spoke softly. "If you take the locket and put it here..." He took the stone heart into one hand and pulled the neck of her shirt out with the other, just enough to drop the locket in, down against the creamy skin of her chest. He closed his eyes as her breath hitched and her heartbeat quickened, breathing her scent in. He slowly let his breath escape his lips before gaining his composure. "I will always be next to your heart, our love will always be present even in my absence." He reached up and placed one hand against the locket pressing it gently to her heart, feeling her own heartbeat reverberate against it. "I love you Bella." he whispered softly.

Bella leaned her head into Edward's, his cool breath sending a soothing sensation throughout her body and smiled at how she loved hearing her name cross his lips. He always managed to somehow make it sound so sensual, as if it were an honor to speak it. "I love you too Edward, Forever."

Edward pulled back as usual and wrapped his arms around Bella's waist. "I have a good idea!"

"And what would that be?" Bella questioned with curiosity.

Edward placed a kiss on the top of Bella's head knowing already that she would agree before he even asked. "How about you come with me to my house to see me off for the weekend hunting trip?"

Bella hesitated for a slight moment and frowned. "You do know that if I do that, it will make it even harder for me to see you leave."

Edward nodded and pulled Bella in tighter to him. "I know, but forgive me for being selfish, I don't think I could stand to leave you just now. Just give me a few more moments with you before I go." he begged.

Bella agreed and Edward helped her to her feet, pulling her onto his back.

Walking into Edward's house, Bella instantly smelled the aroma of garlic and oregano. She locked her fingers into Edward's and lifted her eyes to him in confusion. "Why is someone cooking?" She knew full well that vampires didn't eat human food.

Edward laughed and shook his head, pulling Bella towards the kitchen. "It's Esme, and she's cooking dinner for you." he said sheepishly.

"Why would she be cooking dinner for me, if she didn't know I was coming?"

Edward looked at Bella out of the corner of his eyes guiltily, as if he were a kid that had just been caught with his hand in a cookie jar. "I kind of told her that you would be coming over with me this afternoon." He pulled her hand that he was holding to his lips and kissed it sweetly.

"So you just assumed that I was going to agree to come here with you?" Bella questioned, a bit annoyed.

Edward sighed and shook his head. "No Bella, I was only hoping that you would."

Bella instantly dropped the subject when she realized that Edward had no reason to lie to her. He was just being Edward, always trying to take care of her. His intentions always meant well, besides she thought of no other place she wanted to be right now than by his side. She placed a hand against the locket under her shirt and smiled, turning towards the kitchen.

"Let's go see what Esme made!" she said and pulled Edward along with her.

In one sweeping glance Bella saw them all. The Cullens, except for Esme who was at the stove preparing the food, all sat around the kitchen table, obviously awaiting her arrival. She immediately smiled at each one quickly, their smiles welcomed her as they traded hellos. They were all seated perfectly at the table minus Emmett. He was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on Rosalie's chair across from him.

Alice jumped up from her seat with a peal and flitted to Bella's side engulfing her in a tight hug. "Bella! I'm so glad your here! Are you going to stay for a girl's weekend?" Alice piped enthusiastically.

Bella looked to Edward confused again, then back to Alice as she bit at her lower lip. "I...I don't Alice, I didn't know that you were having one!"

"Oh come on Bella, please stay the weekend! We'll have so much fun! Please!" Alice's cherubic voice pitched as she begged.

"We'll see Alice, I need to take care of some things first." Bella said, turning her head to look over at Edward shooting him an annoyed glance.

Alice sighed as a devious grin flashed across her face. "Okay, but I'll know the very second you make up your mind to stay!" she said, and pranced back to the table smiling to herself with pride.

Edward ushered Bella to the table and pulled out a chair for her while he waited for her to sit. After tending to her needs, he made his way to Esme who was standing at the counter, finishing the final preparations for Bella's meal. He smiled warmly at his mother and wrapped an arm lovingly around her neck. He leaned over the food and took a quick whiff. "It smells so good I would almost eat it!" he said smiling back at Esme and winked.

Esme playfully elbowed her son in his ribs. "Stop it Edward! Or I will make you eat it! That way poor Bella here won't have to eat alone!." she said, as she smiled and looked adoringly towards Bella, her eyes focusing on the locket beneath her shirt.

Bella self-consciously reached up to the locket and covered it with her hand as she returned Esme's smile and laughed. She had realized the Esme must have already known about it and blushed when she realized everyone was watching her. Her eyes quickly flicked over to Jasper, knowing he hadn't fed yet, but felt a sudden sense of relief as he shook his head laughing, feeling Bella's embarrassment.

Esme walked over to the table and placed the plate of Chicken Scallopini in front of Bella. "Here you go sweetie, please enjoy!." Bella nodded a thank you and was thankful when everyone turned up their noses as she began to eat. One by one each one got up and left the dinner table. She thought it to be quite amusing really.

Bella's eyes were drawn around when she felt a presence by her side. She smiled awkwardly at Edward as he sat down beside her. She was glad when he pulled his chair closer to her, making her feel less alone. Edward was seemingly lost in conversation with Carlisle, the only one left in the room besides them, so she proceeded to eat in peace.

Bella jumped when she heard a low chuckle at her side. She turned her eyes slowly to Edward. Her face grew hot with a blush when she realized that he had been watching her eat, and she now knew that she had been making a pig of herself. She immediately sat the fork on the plate and placed her hands in her lap.

Edward leaned in to Bella with a smirk on his face. "I take it you were hungry?"

Bella smiled sheepishly and slowly turned her gaze back to him. "Yeah, I didn't eat breakfast this morning, wasn't hungry."

Edward frowned at her confession and put his arm around her waist pulling her into him, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "Come on, let's go up to my room." Bella nodded, moving from her seat and followed Edward, holding his hand as he led the way.

Once in his bedroom Bella moved to the bed and sat down, pulling one leg beneath her. Edward joined her, sitting beside her and taking her hand into his interlacing their fingers.

"I hate leaving you, you know." Edward said, admitting he didn't like being without her as much as she did him. "But it will only be for a short time, it will go by quickly." he said reassuringly.

Bella frowned but nodded in understanding. "How long will you be gone?" she asked, shifting nervously on the comforter beneath her, not wanting to be left alone. She still hadn't been able to deal with the feeling of loss when Edward would go away, afraid that she wouldn't ever see him again. A cold chill shimmered across her flesh at the thought, no matter how short the time.

Edward loosened his grip on her hand, having seen her suddenly engulfed in a chill, thinking it was his icy hands that had caused it. "Are you cold?" he asked, furrowing his brows in concern.

Bella fluttered her eyelashes as she sighed softly, already missing his touch. "No, I'm not cold," she mumbled. "It just bothers me to know that you'll be gone for any length of time." She leaned closer to him, her eyes pleading.

Edward leaned closer to her, their breath mingling. "You will be fine, I promise." He placed his hand over her locket still hidden against her chest. "You will have me right here with you. Our love is enough to sustain us in the absence of one another right?"

A blush began heating Bella's face and she looked away from him. She refused to answer him knowing, that wasn't what it was all about. She was afraid of telling him just how badly it hurt her to be away from him. She didn't want to tell him her true feelings about it and have him constantly beating himself up over it.

"What's wrong? Why don't you answer me Bella?" Edward asked, his face worried.

Bella turned back and smiled adoringly up at him through her lashes, pushing her fears to the side. "Nothing is wrong Edward, I was just thinking about how much I was going to miss you."

Edwards eyes softened as his lips lifted into a soft smile. Even his shoulder muscles relaxed, as the worry lifted from his face. He slipped his arm around Bella's waist pulling her into the middle of the bed. He watched as she slowly turned her eyes to him and saw something in them he had never seen before. Was it desire? His look of intensity caused her heart to frolic inside her chest as her breath hitched. "I love you Bella." he said softly, weaving his fingers through her hair as his other hand drew her closer to him. "I will always be here for you, I will never leave you."

Caught beneath his magnetic spell, Bella became weak when he lowered his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and relished this moment of awakening sensations, spinning inside her head. She had never felt anything so sweet, so wonderful, so intoxicating, as his kiss. She could feel his cool lips tremble as he continued to kiss her, his hands now framing her face between them.

Edwards hands traveled to her neck, tightening in it's grasp. He pressed his lips harder into hers as he let a soft moan escape him. He felt Bella's hands wrap themselves in his hair pressing him into her with the same fervor. He broke the kiss for the slightest of a second, gasping her name before taking her bottom lip into his mouth and caressing it with his tongue, tasting her, then devouring her mouth completely with his.

Bella felt one of his hands trail lower and brush against the tender bud of her breast through the thin cotton sweater she was wearing. She opened her eyes and took Edwards expression in, aware of what might transpire next. His need for her, the passion and the desire that imprisoned his face was truly breathtaking.

Edward feeling eyes on him, looked up and saw Bella gazing at him. The love she held in her eyes for him overflowed. It was amazing and he wanted so badly to show her just how much he truly loved her, but his fear of hurting her was beginning to take over. He pulled his hands back to her face embracing it, as they looked into each others eyes, their breathing unsteady.

"Please tell me to stop Bella." Edward gasped, begging her. He laid his forehead on hers breathing in the sweetness of her breath. "Please!" he panted. When she didn't respond, he leaned in and locked his lips onto hers, kissing her feverishly.

Bella climbed up onto him gently pushing him down on the bed. She knew he could have stopped her from doing it, but he didn't. She wondered to herself if he was actually going to take this all the way. Her heart began to beat so rapidly she thought it would shoot straight out of her chest. She moaned one part in ecstasy and one part in pain when Edward reached up and grasped her waist too tightly, pulling it down to meet his groin.

Edwards eyes popped open and everything came to a sudden stop. He looked up at Bella afraid of having hurt her. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" His face became frantic as he moved her off of him, checking her over.

"I'm fine, really, you just grabbed me a little too tightly and I think it scared me more than anything." Bella said, smiling reassuringly.

Edward nodded but didn't believe her. He took her into his arms and held her tightly, kissing her forehead. "I think we need to just hold each other, for now" he said. "I shouldn't have let things go as far as they did." He listened for Bella's rebuttal, but it never came.

He knew she wouldn't tell him the truth just to keep him from feeling guilty and stopping. But he wasn't going to take it any further, not if he was already hurting her and they really hadn't done anything. He would definitely have to wait until she was changed before he would even attempt to try it again. He closed his eyes and savored the moment, the comfort of Bella's embrace.

As Bella sunk into his arms, she thought of how lucky she was to one day spend forever with Edward. He could have chosen and had any woman he wanted. But he had chosen her. To this day she still wondered why, that he had picked her. It had to be more than just her scent that drew him so close to her, there had to be something more. It could be destiny or fate or just pure luck. Regardless of how, all that really mattered was that they were right here right now, and nothing, nothing and no one could ever change that. They would never be torn apart from this moment on.

Chapter End Notes: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review and let me know what you think!

Coming Soon... Chapter 2, Edward goes on his trip leaving Bella alone, find out what happens to her!!