A/N: Whoot! My first-ever fanfic! So yeah, I'm new to this whole thing, but let me know what you think of this- I have other chapters squirrelled away, but I'm not sure what a good ending point would be, so this story's just kind of...waiting. Let me know if I should continue (though I'll probably end up posting new chapters anyways...it's kind of addictive, isn't it?)!

PS- I don't own Twilight. And I can't think of anything witty to say about that. Sorry.

Becoming Human

Edward's POV

Bella smiled at me reassuringly. I still couldn't believe I was doing this to her. I stared into her deep eyes, searching for any type of regret or uncertainty. Her eyes betrayed nothing, though, and the secrets of her thoughts stayed locked behind the inexplicable barrier that saved her from Jane and Alec's powers...as well as mine. Maybe I'd be able to hear her, once she was changed. But I couldn't think about that- about after. I couldn't think about the fact that I was going to stop her heart and her breath and her lovely blush. I was about to make her unchanging. I was about to make her a vampire.

"Edward," she cautioned, seeing the indecision in my eyes. " You promised. This way we'll be together for ever. It's a good thing, Edward. Please, don't back out now. Please,"

I huffed out some air, then breathed in deeply, preparing myself.

"I love you, Isabella Marie Swan," I murmured. "I never wanted you to have to do this for me."

"I'm doing it for me," she replied, obstinate as ever. "Or you're doing it for me, I guess. I never want to be without you. I can't survive without you, as you know. But now, I'll never have to worry about that. Together forever."

I leaned down and kissed her neck, then, holding my breath, I sunk my teeth into her soft skin.

The monster inside of me rejoiced. Finally, that crimson-eyed creature that I used to be would get what it always wanted- Bella's blood. And yet, against all odds, I was able to release my teeth, and pull away. I flung myself away from Bella to resist temptation.

"Well done, Edward," said Carlisle, stepping forward. "You should go now. You won't want to see her like this." He leant over Bella, checking the bite wound.

"Not likely, Carlisle," I began to say, but I was stopped by a strange sensation in my stomach. I heaved, as if I were coughing up human food...only I hadn't had any human food for weeks, since the wedding. I spat the little bit of Bella's blood I had swallowed onto the floor. "Carlisle..." I moaned, then fell to the ground. He caught me in an instant, which seemed an eternity to me as I fell. I felt a strange thud in my chest, and my skin pulsed, just once. Then, I blacked out.

I opened my eyes to a very blurry world. I sighed, turning from my back to my side. My limbs felt strange on my body...heavy, and weak. I tested my arms, flexing them out in front of me, and felt a unfamiliar pull near my shoulder.

"Edward?" I knew that voice. I turned my head to find the source.

"Bella," I murmured.

"You're awake," she said, stroking my forehead. "He's awake," she announced at a normal volume, though there appeared to be no one else in the room with us.

"Bella?" I said vaguely. "Who are you talking to?" My mind was sifting through details slowly.

Suddenly, six figures were crowded around my bed.

"He's awake." said an awed voice- Carlisle, my mind supplied. But wait...awake? Does that mean...

"I was asleep?"

This fairly simple inquiry raised a chorus of responses from around the room.

"That's what going a hundred years without any sleep does to you, huh, Rose?"I recognized Emmett's voice.

"Oh Edward," that subdued voice must be Esme.

"I don't understand..." That would be Jasper.

"I love you Edward." Bella. My Bella.

"Don't worry Edward, everything will click in about 31.24 seconds." Alice.

"Yes, son, you were sleeping." Finally, an answer.

From one figure I registered only stony silence. That would be Rosalie.

I breathed in, and felt a release. I could hardly smell anything, and I had to exhale almost immediately. Wait...sleep, breath, blurry vision, a steady thump in my chest...that all added up to...

"Human," I stated, with a smug hint to my voice. My brain wasn't malfunctioning too badly, if I could figure that out.

"We think so, Edward. We aren't sure..." that was Carlisle, again. The only one that seemed to have answers for me.

Then it clicked. "Human!?!?" I shouted, throwing back the covers. I glanced at Carlisle, then turned to find the face that mattered most. Bella's eyes met mine, and I pulled her to my chest from the side of the bed. "And you aren't a vampire," I murmured, gazing into her deep, thankfully brown eyes. My heart expanded, with a force more powerful than the need to keep blood pumping through my veins.

"How is this possible?" I sighed, hugging my love closer.

"I have no idea," she replied. " You can't imagine how weird this feels, though."

She was uncomfortable. A sting of pain washed through me, and I released her.

"No," Bella protested, pulling my arms around her again. "It's a good weird. You're all warm. It's kind of funny." Only Bella could find a joke in this unbelievable change of events.

"Carlisle," I yawned, losing conciousness again. "What color are my eyes?"

"You'll have to open them," he chuckled. I complied, lifting my gaze to the ceiling.

"Green," he told me.

"Ah," I smiled, pulling Bella closer than I would have dared as a vampire. "Human..."

And, for the first time, Bella watched me fall asleep.