Authors Note: This is my first attempt at writing fan fiction so please review and let me know what you think! This will be AU and ExB as vamps. Enjoy!

This story does not have a beta, so mistakes are all mine.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Prologue

BPOV

Of all the memories I have, both in life and in death, the hideous fire is the sharpest. The flames raked across my body, razing away the mortal trappings of this life and leaving me in the ashes of immortality. I can think of no other corporal pain as intense and all-consuming as that blistering transformation. But even the horrific burning pales in comparison to the pain left in the wake of betrayal and loss.

EPOV

I had been watching her when it happened. Still afraid of everything that could transpire if I got too close, I watched from afar. Across the parking lot, she was inspecting her tires. As intuitive as I was, I was continually stumped by this human. Of course, not being able to see into her thoughts was part of that, but she was also different in another way that set her apart from others her age.

If I was seeing correctly—which I most certainly was—it looked like she was getting emotional while looking at her wheels. Isabella Swan; a most peculiar human indeed. That was when it happened. I saw it in Alice's mind a split second before and didn't have enough time to think things through before acting. The van hit the ice patch and skidded at full speed toward Bella. I tried to make it in time but the last thing I saw before the van blocked me was her innocent face with a look of shock etched across it. It was as if she had maybe heard a piece of surprising news or fallen out of a chair. She didn't look at all like she was about to die.

I got to the van before the others and saw Bella wedged between the death machine and her old red truck. I can remember her so vividly in that moment. She had a look of resignation on her face when she saw me. She sort of half smiled at me before she passed out. I could see that she was almost severed in two—the two automobiles keeping her together. I didn't quite know how she was still alive, but all that mattered was that her heart was still beating. I was going to save her.

It all happened very quickly then. I bit her right there in the school parking lot. It was fast and I had to force myself very hard to focus and not think about the way her blood sang in my mouth. It helped that Alice pulled me away, too, but I'd like to think that my willpower was enough. I could see in Alice's mind that Bella would make it and that gave me hope to try and keep her heart beating. The ambulance arrived quite quickly and they recovered her body somewhat intact. I don't like to remember Bella in that instance, but the problem with a vampire's mind is that every memory is as crystal clear and sharp as the next. Her body looked broken beyond repair—and it was. It was completely beyond human repair. However, as long as I could keep her heart beating, the venom would heal her wounds.

Once we were at the hospital, Carlisle found us immediately and cornered me.

"Edward, what happened?" he queried.

I could read his thoughts. He thought that I drank from her after the accident. He knew how I had reacted in response to our first meeting. He knew how her blood called to me. He thought I lost all control the moment her blood had been spilled from the accident.

"Carlisle, don't worry. I didn't lose control. I just had to save her." I started to think about a life without Bella and my voice rose, "The accident happened and I was too late but I just couldn't let her die! All I could think to myself was "Not her." So I bit her."

"But son, how did you stop? She is your singer." He questioned.

It was a logical question coming from a logical man but I just shook my head. I don't know how I had stopped, or why I had stopped. I had no rational answers when it came to Bella.

"Please. Help her. I can't live without her", I begged.

Carlisle just nodded and walked away. He knew what saving her meant—the death of Isabella Swan. Her human life had to die right along with her mortality. I felt a surge of pity for Chief Swan. I could read his mind and see how much he loved his daughter. It was a sadness to see people mourn her, however, if Bella were to continue existing then she had to die in the minds of all those who knew her before.

Through careful preparation and flawless execution, Carlisle was able to get Bella pronounced as dead and brought the body to the house. I still felt extremely conflicted about the entire situation, but I would have to push my feelings aside and deal with the consequences of this day for both Bella and my family's sake. The fact that his was the police chief's daughter made this case high-profile for this tiny town. Carlisle was risking everything in cleaning up my mess.

Things didn't get easier at home, either. Rosalie's thoughts began to assault me the second she heard my car on the highway. There was no hesitation in her berating questions and comments as I walked in the door.

"I can't understand how this happened," Rosalie hissed, "Do you have any idea how horribly wrong this could go? What if someone sees her and recognizes her? What if Chief Swan finds out? You should have let her die."

A feral growl erupts from deep in my chest.

"Don't" I spit in response.

I know that what happened was impulsive and risky but something inside me rebelled against the thought of living without her. My family had assumed the worst when it happened. Even though they were across the parking lot, they all thought I had killed her when I smelled the blood. Alice was the only one who had faith in me. I could understand why they jumped to the conclusions they did when I saw their thoughts filled with the strange way the girl had consumed me these past couple of weeks.

It wasn't only her blood that had captured my attention but her peculiarities as a human piqued my interest as well. She was unlike any other I had met in my entire existence-so when her life was endangered I not only feared for the loss of her blood but also for the loss of this precious soul.

All these thoughts raced through my mind. My family was looking for an explanation although none would ask aloud. I couldn't help them-how could I explain what happened when I didn't fully understand the situation fully myself?

Rosalie glared at me from across the table. She was extremely upset with me-not only about the fact that we now had to move—obviously staying in the area with a newborn vampire who looked eerily similar to the police chiefs daughter who recently died wouldn't be the smartest idea—but also because of the life I'd stolen. Of us Cullens, Rosalie was the most at war with her fate as an immortal. She longed for the life that was taken by Carlisle, and although she didn't resent him for it, I'm not quite sure she was entirely gracious. For me to have stolen all the potential from Bella Swan's life was the most wretched thing I could do. I couldn't say I disagreed.

As much as I was hopeful that my impromptu saving was successful, I also had immense fear and guilt hanging over my head as to what this would mean for the future, for both Bella and myself. As I continued to field Rosalie's glares and silent accusations I still could only think about the girl lying so still upstairs. I could sense that she was in pain, her heart beating terribly fast. I knew all too well the scorching torment spreading through her veins at this very moment; changing her, transforming her and ultimately saving her. Once again Bella Swan defied all logic by remaining silent throughout. She had not stirred in the slightest since we brought her back home. For my part, the change was usually accompanied by howls and uncontrollable screams, and yet silent she remained.

Jasper walked into the living room. I could see that he was having a truly awful time dealing with everyone's personal emotional storms. Rose was throwing daggers at me and I'm sure Jasper felt the anger rolling off of her.

"He did the right thing you know" Jasper addressed Rosalie. "He couldn't just let her die and you know it".

"But he didn't even think about the consequences of his actions! She is now doomed to this life forever! And not to mention the impact this has on our own family!"

"I didn't have time Rosalie! You were there-you know how fast everything happened! I would've lost her if I waited until she was transported to the morgue. You know she wouldn't have lasted after the van was pulled away from her without the venom already in action!"

"He's right. You already heard Carlisle say he approves of Edward's actions" Jasper responded.

I silently thanked him. He felt it and gave me a reassuring nod. At least it wasn't my whole family who felt hostility towards yesterday's events.

"Yes that's true, but he did NOT say he would've done the same if he were in Edward's place. Approving is not enough. He has to approve-what's done is done!"

"If what's done is done then just accept it, babe", Emmett added coolly as he entered the room. He walked over to her side and attempted to snake his arm around her waist but she shrugged him away and huffed away to their room. Emmett just shrugged and plopped himself down on the couch while simultaneously flicking on the TV.

I could tell from his thoughts that he was truly okay with the decision. In his mind, I didn't have a choice. If Rosalie were in Bella's place, he would have absolutely done the same thing. There was some trepidation evident in his mind, however, regarding the situation that would arise when Bella woke up.

I had to admit I was worried as well. We had interacted, but my relationship with Bella certainly wasn't stable, or even entirely positive. Sure, I was completely fascinated with her since the first time I met her, but I wasn't sure what she thought of me. When she woke up she would be confronted with the truth of our family, but also with the realization that she herself was now immortal. I was beginning to get seriously worried when Jasper piped in.

"Edward, please, for all our sake's, go hunt. Stop thinking about right and wrong and what ifs for a little while".

"Yeah alright" I mused back. I knew he would be appreciative of one less set of emotions to navigate through.