Midnight

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

My name is Edward Anthony Swan. Until I came to Forks, my life was ordinary and an open book. But then I met her, Isabella Marie Cullen, the immortal woman who would forever change my world.

She and her family were vampires. I'd figured it out after she'd saved my life and I'd done some reading on some old legends. Our relationship had been going almost perfectly until I'd almost been killed by James, a nomad vampire.

Since then, James's mate had been after me and it'd taken weeks before Bella even let me out of her sight. Not that I minded being with my girlfriend more often. I even enjoyed her nocturnal visits before I went to sleep.

Her family was absolutely wonderful. Carlisle and Esme were the parents I'd always wanted, Emmet and Jasper were like my brothers and Alice and Rosalie were the sisters I never had. And Bella was the one I wanted to spend forever with.

At that moment, it'd been several months since my near-death experience. And I was waking up with a start from my nightmare. I breathed hard and ran my hands through my hair and over the circular scar on my shoulder—it told a painful story.

Carlisle had once told me that after watching James's video of me and seeing how I'd never once begged James to stop what he was doing or cried out in pain from my wounds, he'd gained great admiration of my strength.

At that moment, I was remembering Phoenix and how James had nearly killed me and the Cullens and my own personal fears of what would happen if Bella still refused to change me. I wanted to be like her, a vampire, so I could stay with her forever. But she kept refusing, because she wanted me to be human and not live her kind of life—something else that really frustrated me. I didn't care what kind of life I had as long it was with her.

I didn't have time to think about that as Charlie entered the room with two presents. It was my eighteenth birthday today—something else I hated. I disliked being celebrated and I disliked getting presents because people already did enough for me. I didn't need more. But I was always polite about it, regardless.

"Happy birthday," said Charlie.

"I thought we agreed no presents," I said.

"Well, the one from me's not wrapped, so it doesn't count."

I smiled as I took the camera from him. "That's actually great, thanks Dad."

"The camera goes with this one," said Charlie. "It's from your mom. We coordinated. Well, she coordinated me." I yanked off the wrapping paper to find a handsome photo album. "It's to put pictures in for from senior year." He sighed. "Senior year," he repeated. "How'd you get so old so fast?"

"I didn't. It's not that old," I protested.

"I don't know. Is that a grey hair?" he teased.

I swatted his hand away. "No, no way," I said. I already had bad dreams about aging. I didn't need Charlie reminding me that I was aging and would therefore be physically older than Bella, who was forever at the age of seventeen. But I checked the mirror just to be sure. There was no grey hair. I glared at Charlie, who just laughed and left the room saying, "Happy birthday."

I let out a small laugh myself before getting dressed, grabbing some breakfast and heading out to Forks High. On the radio was yet another report of a missing, probably dead person. The police were saying it was an animal. I was a little worried. The last time "an animal" had attacked, it'd been nomad vampires. But I let it slide as I pulled into the parking lot and found my friends.

"Hey, Edward," said Angela. "Today's the big day."

I looked confused until Jessica said, "Romeo and Juliet essay due."

"Oh, yeah," I said.

"Wherefore art thou, Edward?" said Lauren.

We all laughed and then I pulled out my camera. "Hey, let me take a picture. My mom wants some photos of my senior year."

They all agreed and after they grouped together, I took the photo. Then Lauren's eyes fell across the parking lot. "Oh, good, Cullen's here."

I looked and saw one of the Cullens' cars pull in and then my Greek goddess came out. My friends took that as a cue to leave, knowing I'd be on Cloud Nine since Bella was here. She looked beautiful, as always, and she was smiling.

"Happy birthday," she said, as I pulled her into my arms.

I groaned. "Don't remind me."

Bella looked amused. "Edward, your birth's definitely something to celebrate."

"Yeah, but my aging isn't."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your aging?" she said, chuckling. "I think eighteen's a little young to start worrying about that."

"It's one year older than you."

"No it isn't. I'm one hundred and nine."

"Well, maybe I shouldn't be dating such an old woman," I teased. "It's gross. I should be thoroughly repulsed."

Bella just laughed before we kissed. Eventually, we stopped as we both sighed and the warning bell rang.

"We have to go to class," I said.

"Okay," said Bella. "But wait a second. Someone wants you."

"Edward!"

I looked and saw my old childhood friend, Janessa Black. "Janessa," I said.

Bella bit her lip and then began to pull away. "I'll leave you to talk."

I turned to Janessa, who was smiling and looking perfectly fit and strong and had a nice figure. She also looked lovely with her black hair, dark eyes and tanned skin. She'd grown into a bit of a tomboy, but I didn't mind in the slightest.

"Well, look at you. You know anabolic steroids are bad for you," I said, jokingly.

She laughed. "Well, I'm just filling out, Edward. You know it wouldn't seem so drastic if we hung out more."

"You should switch schools. You can come hang out with the palefaces."

"I'm all right. I prefer the rez school's exclusivity. This place takes in any old riffraff."

"I see. Then why are you slumming it?" I asked.

"I was just buying a part for the Rabbit. You should really come take a ride when it's done," said Janessa.

"Is it fast?"

"Uh…it's decent."

We both laughed.

"I'm kidding."

"Good. Hey, happy birthday. Your dad told my dad, so he told me." She took something out of her pocket. "I saw this, the other day and thought of you." It was dream catcher made of wood and feathers. "It catches bad dreams."

"It's kind of perfect," I said. "Thanks."

"No problem," she said. "Well, I'll be seeing you."

"See you later."

She hugged me and then we let go. Janessa then left the parking lot and I entered the school with my girlfriend.

"So, how come Janessa Black gets to give you a gift and I don't?" she asked.

"Because I have nothing to give back to you," I said.

"Edward, you give me everything just by breathing."

I exhaled and made her smile. "See? Thank you. That's all I want."

"Edward!" said Alice.

"Eddie!" said Emmet.

The two leapt over a railing and hugged me.

"Happy birthday!" Alice sang.

"Shh!" I said. "And don't call me Eddie, please."

They both laughed and handed me a darkly wrapped gift.

"I thought I said no presents," I said.

"I've already seen you open it and guess what, you love it!" said Alice. "You're going to wear it tonight, our place."

"What?" I asked, looking at the three vampires.

"We're celebrating your birthday at our place tonight," said Emmet. "Alice has already gone and done the whole shebang on this. So, are you coming?"

I hesitated, but then Alice said, "Come on. Please? It'll be fun."

I sighed. "Alright, you win."

Alice squealed and high-fived Emmet.

"Great, we'll see you at seven," said Emmet.

I pressed my gift into Bella's chest as Alice went off with Jasper and Emmet took off with Rosalie, their husband and wife. Bella just looked amused. "You can't trust vampires. Trust me," she said, as I sighed in exasperation.

During English, we watched Romeo and Juliet. I'd always had a small liking of that story, but it wasn't enough that I was crying my green eyes out like Jessica, Angela, Mike, and Eric were. When we were sure we wouldn't be overheard, Bella and I started talking.

"What's the matter with you today? Why don't you want to celebrate?" she whispered.

"I hate being celebrated," I whispered back.

"There are worse tragedies. Look at Juliet. She killed herself just to be with her true love."

"Yeah, I guess."

"I do envy her one thing, though."

"What? Romeo's practically perfect if you like that obviously beautiful kind of thing."

Bella looked amused. "Not the guy," she said. "The suicide."

I raised a questioning eyebrow.

"It's nearly impossible for some people. For humans, a little poison, a dagger to the heart. There are so many different options."

I sighed. Sometimes I forgot that she sometimes wanted her mortality back. Sure, a lot of the myths about her kind were just that, myths, but wasn't there more than one way to kill a vampire? "Why would you say that?" I asked.

"Because I had to consider it once," she murmured. Her eyes closed and I knew what she was thinking of—James, Victoria, and my being close to death. "I didn't know if I'd get to you in time. I had to come up with some kind of plan."

I took her hand in mine and gently rubbed it with my thumb. She still blamed herself for what happened, even though no one blamed her. "Hey, it's fine. I'm okay now. It's all right," I murmured. "It's okay."

She sighed as a tear escaped her eye—another one of her gifts. Unlike other vampires, she could shed tears. "I know," she said.

"Just out of curiosity, what was the plan?" I asked.

"That I'd go to Italy and provoke the Volturi."

I was confused. "The what?"

"The Volturi," she repeated.

Before I could question her further, Mr. Berty asked her to repeat the last few lines of the film to see if we'd been paying attention. All eyes of the class were upon us, making me feel uncomfortable, but Bella remained calm and recited the last few lines perfectly. This seemed to impress the teacher as class resumed afterward.

Not daring to talk, Bella then passed me a note.

I'll explain about the Volturi later tonight at the house before the party, I promise.

I just nodded and accepted it.

Later, Charlie let me go to the Cullens for my birthday and I found myself in Bella's room dressed in a fine suit. Bella was wearing a green dress with a black jacket. She looked simply perfect as she walked into my open arms.

"You look handsome," she said.

"And you look beautiful," I said, as I kissed her.

She smiled a little. "Thank you."

"So, who're the Volturi?" I asked.

Bella sighed and took me to Carlisle's study where a huge painting was hung on the wall. "The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family. They're at least 3,000 years old. I guess they're the closest thing to royalty my world has."

I frowned as I recognized one of the vampires. "Is that Carlisle?"

"Yeah," said Bella. "He lived with them for a few decades. He described them as very refined. No respect for human life, of course, but a respect for the arts and the sciences at least. And the law. Above all the law."

I raised an eyebrow. "Vampires have laws?"

"Not very many. And only one that's regularly enforced."

"Let me guess," I sighed. "You're not supposed to reveal yourselves to humans."

"Something like that," said Bella. "And we don't make spectacles of ourselves and we don't kill conspicuously. Unless of course, we want to die."

I sighed in exasperation and tried to get that image out of my head. "You know, you've really got to stop talking about that kind of stuff, Bella. I can't even think about someone hurting you."

"Edward, don't worry. The only thing that can hurt me is you. And I don't have anything else to be afraid of."

"That's not true."

"What?" she said. Then she caught on. "Victoria? She'll come for me one day. Alice will see when she decides and we'll be ready."

"I could protect you. If you change me," I pointed out.

Bella just leaned into my embrace. "Edward, you already do protect me. You're my only reason to stay alive…if that's what I am." Then she looked serious. "But it's my job to protect you."

I sighed. Heaven, this girl was a stubborn piece of a work.

"It's my job to protect you from everyone except my sister," she said.

I looked and saw Alice bouncing in saying, "It's time! It's time, it's time, it's time!" I mentally groaned and shot a look at Bella that said, "You just really hate me, don't you?" as I was pulled downstairs.

Candles were everywhere, there were presents, and the Cullens were all decked out in fine formal clothes. Carlisle was looking at me sympathetically. "I'm sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in," he said.

"As if that were even possible," said Esme, as she hugged me. "Happy birthday, Edward."

"Thanks."

There was the snap of a camera. I looked and saw that Alice had my camera. "I found it in your bag. Do you mind?"

I bit back a laugh and shook my head. The little pixie drove me nuts sometimes, but she was the little sister I never had. I could hear Emmet teasing Bella. "Dating an older man," he said. "Not bad, little sis." Then Bella sighed in exasperation as I bit back a laugh. I tapped Emmet on the shoulder.

"Don't tease her today, please?" I asked.

"Okay, it's your b-day," said Emmet.

Bella looked at me in gratitude as I pulled her into my arms. Alice kept taking pictures and I was beginning to enjoy myself. I kept opening presents and thanking the person who'd given it to me. Everything was going fine until I got a paper cut on Esme and Carlisle's present.

Everything happened so fast at that point it was like a blur. My blood made Jasper go berserk and nearly attack me. Nearly everyone had to restrain him and I somehow ended up with an even bigger cut on my arm. Carlisle took control of the situation. He had everyone leave while he tended to me. I could tell Bella didn't want to, but she obeyed.

"Hey, Jasper!" I said, before they left. "It's all right. I'm not mad. It's okay."

Jasper didn't say anything, but his eyes gave him away as he was led out of the room and Carlisle took me to his office to be stitched up. My jacket was off and my shirt sleeve was rolled up. I knew it wasn't my fault, but felt guilty about what happened.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I never wanted this."

"It's not your fault," said Carlisle. "Jasper hasn't been away from human blood as long as the rest of us. It's still difficult for him."

I sighed. "Carlisle, how do you do it?"

"Years and years of practice," he replied.

"Did you ever think of just doing it the easy way?"

"No. I knew who I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to help people. It brings me happiness, even if I am condemned regardless."

"Condemned?" I repeated. "Like Tartarus?"

Carlisle was silent, but his face gave him away.

"Carlisle, you couldn't be condemned. You couldn't. It's impossible."

He smiled. "Thank you, Edward. You've always been very gracious about us."

It was then that I caught on to the real reason Bella wouldn't change me. She thought I'd be losing my soul if I became a part of her lifestyle. "So, that's it, then? That's why she won't change me?"

"Imagine the situation in reverse. Hmm," said Carlisle, as he wrapped up his work. If you believed as Bella does, could you take away her soul?"

I didn't answer him as I rolled down my sleeve and put my jacket back on. Bella then entered the room, looking upset. "It's late. Charlie wants you home now. Come on, I'll drive you back."

I followed her out to my truck and we drove in silence. The silence wasn't broken until we arrived at my house. "You can't protect me from everything. Sooner or later; something is going to separate us. It's going to be an accident or an illness or old age, as long as I'm human. And the only solution is to change me."

Bella shook her head. "That's not a solution. It's a tragedy."

"You're not going to want me when I look like a grandfather."

She didn't respond at first. She just got out of the car and then quickly opened my door. "Edward, do you not understand my feelings for you at all?"

"Carlisle told me how you feel about your soul," I said, after a brief moment. "I don't believe that. So don't worry about mine."

She sighed. "You should go inside."

I sighed again as we walked a little ways until I stopped. "It's still my birthday. So, can I ask one thing?"

"Anything," she said.

"Kiss me."

She nodded and then I cupped her face and kissed her. I inhaled sharply. Her touch still sent electric shots through my body—in a good way. When we broke apart, I whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said. "Goodnight, Edward."