A/N: I'd just like to start off by saying thanks to everyone who reviewed my first fanfic, "The Turning Point." I love it when people review. So, anyway, here's "Consequences," the sequel to "The Turning Point." Hope you like it. Please R&R.

Oh. And I almost forgot. At least the first couple chapters will be split into parts like the last story. I started it on BAE first, so that's why. I might just keep with this system, because otherwise I won't have time to update as often. So we'll see.

Consequences

Chapter 1 – To Be a Vampire

Part 1 Bella's POV

"What is it, Bella?" Edward glanced up at me, concern in his eyes.

I sighed. I didn't see any way around this.

"Well, Edward, it's just…it's just…" I started to cry, unable to hold back my feelings of guilt any longer. "I don't deserve you." Edward pulled me to his chest and held me there, kissing me lightly on the forehead.

"Bella, you should know by now that it is I who does not deserve you." Edward kissed me again, his lips moving down from my forehead to my nose. However, far from comforting me, this only made me cry harder. I leaned away from his chest so I could see his face.

"Please, Edward. Don't make this worse than it already is." I buried my face in my hands.

"Make what worse?"

"Edward. Before I tell you this, you have to know that I love you. More than my own life—more than my own soul." I gazed intently at him, willing him to understand.

"I know, Bella, I know…so what is it that you want to tell me?"

"Edward, I thought I was stronger than this. I thought that I could handle it…for you. But…I…I couldn't." Edward looked confused. "You see, Edward, when I thought Jake could be dead, when I thought I might never see him again—" A sob escaped from my throat, and in the brief second I saw Edward's face before I looked away, I knew that Edward understood what I meant.

Once more, Edward held me in his arms, rocking me back and forth.

"Shhh Bella…everything will be alright…I promise…"

Part 2 Bella's POV

I couldn't believe what I'd done. I was married to Edward, and a month later, I had already kissed someone else. What was wrong with me? Edward told me that he forgave me, that I was only human after all, but didn't many human couples go through successful marriages without these kinds of problems? And even if Edward said it was okay, I saw the hurt in his eyes when he realized what had happened—what I'd done.

I decided that this was the last time I would let my weakness get the better of me—the very last time I would ever betray Edward like this. If the problem was that I was only human, then I was going to fix that—once and for all.

Part 3 Edward's POV

I lay on my bed, trying to decide whether or not Bella was ready for the transformation, trying to convince myself that it wouldn't do any good to go to La Push and punish Jacob.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said, sitting up. The door opened, and Bella walked in, her exquisite, floral smell filling the room.

"Hey," Bella said, wringing the bottom of her shirt with her hands with a nervous expression on her face.

"Hey." I patted a spot on the quilt next to me. "Come sit."

Bella smiled and obliged. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her warm body shiver slightly at my cold touch.

"So…What's on your mind?"

"Edward, I'm sorry." Bella's eyes were glazing over, threatening tears.

"I know, Bella. It's okay…you're here with me now. That's all that matters."

I leaned in to kiss her.

"Edward—I want you to know…that when you want to change me, I'm ready."

I froze. I wanted to change Bella, to make her immortal, but she seemed unable to make up her mind; I didn't want to damn her to an eternity of darkness, an eternity of looking over her shoulder and wondering whether or not she had made the right decision.

"Bella—"

Bella cut me off.

"I know that I haven't been very consistent lately. But please, Edward, I know that I want to do this. And you promised."

"Bella. I know I promised, but I—I can't justify doing that to you right now. You married me, and I held up on the first part of the deal against my better judgment. Please, Bella. Wait a while. Please."

Bella opened her mouth as if to argue, then closed it.

"Okay. I'll wait."

"Good." I tilted her chin up so her face was level with mine. "Thank you."

Part 4 Bella's POV

I felt my heart jump erratically as Edward leaned in toward me once more. His cold, hard lips crushed against mine, and I eagerly wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his. I knew it would be only seconds before Edward pulled away, saying that we shouldn't test our luck—that once was enough until I was less breakable. I felt him starting to pull, and I tightened my hold around his neck, knowing that wouldn't keep him there.

"No," I whined.

Edward grinned and gently pried my arms off his neck.

"Bella, you have no interest in your self-preservation, do you?"

"S'pose not," I said, as I attempted to continue what we had started.

"Bella." Edward's tone was sharp now, his teeth gritted. "Seriously. Stop testing my self-control."

"It wouldn't work, anyway," I said, crossing my arms over my chest and looking glum.

Edward smiled his crooked smile.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Bella. You have no idea how tempting you are."

He traced the side of my face with his finger, his icy touch electric upon my skin. He pressed his cold lips against the base of my neck, making my skin tingle. I breathed in his sweet scent, shivering slightly. He kissed me again and again, working his way up my neck to my jawbone. Finally, his lips found mine, and my head was spinning, my heart thumping wildly in my ears. Edward chuckled softly, and he broke off the kiss.

"Much too tempting…" he muttered under his breath.

A/N: I cut this off here for now because I'm about to go over to a friend's house and I can't update for a while. Sorry to cut it off at a sort of cheesy moment. Anyway, I've got to go now. I'll try to update tomorrow.