Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or any of the characters.

A/N: This is set a bit after New Moon.

Edward's POV:

It was one of those rare moments where Bella and I were separated from each other. I usually spent times like these trying to distract myself from the pain in my chest caused by not being with her. But, today, I couldn't find anything that would suffice.

Charlie, after arriving home from work and noticing that I was still at his house with his daughter, had kicked me out. And I mean that in a literal sense of the word. He still believes that I'm not right for her. He also thinks that I will just get up and leave her…again. But, I would never do that to her…again. I would never cause Bella any pain, if I could help it; if I could somehow convince her that she didn't want pain. But, the truth was: she did.

We had had a fight before Charlie came to the house, which was why I didn't notice him coming. The fight was about sucking Bella's soul out of her body, and her never being the same again; her becoming lifeless; a walking nothing. Her argument was that, if I were willing to let go of the fact that I would never again see her blush or feel the warmth of her skin, we would be together forever and always.

I was lying on my couch, listening to Tchaikovsky, weighing the pros and cons of the situation for the thousandth time this week. I knew everyone else was on her side. I knew that the Volturri were going to come eventually. And I knew that Bella would die one day and I would be left alone in the world once again. Maybe, just maybe I should be selfish. I could change her so that I would not end up alone. I couldn't stand to be without her sweet flesh. She was my flower in a meadow of weeds.

I was stuck. Change Bella and watch as the things that I love about her leave her body, or not and watch her get old and die. The thought of the latter made me wince. I didn't want her any other way than she was now, that was my biggest problem. Neither of us could win, but she was right, I had to make up my mind soon, before it was too late.

I had two more hours to kill before I could sneak back into Bella's room via her window. The CD ended and I got up to put in another one. It was the only thing I had to do. Alice, Jasper, and Esme were gone for the night and all of Saturday. They were hunting somewhere in Africa for some godforsaken reason. Rosalie and Emmett were still on their billionth "honeymoon", Carlisle had just started his graveyard shift at the hospital, and I was left alone to think.

Bella's POV:

Stupid, stubborn Edward. I thought maliciously as I showered. I wanted to smell good tonight. I had to convince him somehow that he had to change me, and soon.

Charlie had already gone to bed; I could hear him snoring. So, I quietly dried off, put on some pajamas and tiptoed to my room. Edward would come through my window in about an hour and I had to think of a better argument to hit him with. I curled up under my blanket and closed my eyes hard, willing myself to think harder. There had to be some way…

Edward's POV:

I was thinking so hard that I didn't hear the phone ringing. It must have rung about three times before I snapped out of my reverie. I ran to the phone to check the caller ID. It was Alice! Finally, someone to talk to.

"Alice!" I picked up the phone.

"Edward!" Something was wrong; her voice was urgent and filled with panic.

"What?" I demanded.

"It's B-"

Then the line went dead. The earth shook violently beneath me and things were falling off of shelves everywhere. I couldn't keep my balance and I fell over, only to get right back up and fall again. This was something that had never happened to me before. Unlike Bella---

Bella! My mind screamed.