AN- Between reading Eclipse and explaining to my uncle that newborn vampires DID have teeth ("But they're babies!"), I've been thinking up this story. I hope you guys like, and I would love some reviews. And also - I OWN NOTHING.

CHAPTER ONE- FIVE PAST TEN

Love is blinding, no surviving.
You Fight Me, by Breaking Benjamin

-

I was off to see my Bella.
I pictured her, awake and waiting, watching for my return. No matter the time.
I glanced at my cell. It was 1:31 in the morning. I knew that was nothing to my Bella, when she was anxious for me.
But what could possibly go wrong, for me? The Cullens hadn't bitten any humans, so the Quileutes couldn't get us on that one. And I laugh in the face of any vampire deciding to face me when I was returning home.
But when it came to Bella...

I pushed my legs faster, feeling myself fly through the trees. Lowering my head slightly, I could just imagine all the different ways Bella could have been hurt while I was gone; that Jacob Black, a new vampire passing through, some villains in Port Angeles... even her own two feet. No.
I told myself again, for the hundredth time tonight, that Alice would have seen it. There really was no reason to worry.
But I couldn't hold back my feeling of utter joy as the trees started to thin and I caught scent of the sticky asphault of roads. I would have Bella back in my arms in no time.

The rest of my run was a blur, since the only thing I saw, felt, smelt, or heard was my Bella. Her laugh, her smile. Her blushing cheeks, her look of intuition. And everything else that made her so uniquely... Bella. And the next thing I knew, I was climbing stealthily to her window, thrown wide open in welcome, as always.
I peeked over the ledge for a moment, and saw her. She was laying curled up on her side, facing the window, her breathing slow and deep; no hitch in her breath as I arrived. Her eyes seemed to be closed. Bless her, she'd fallen asle-

My thoughts were completely caught off track as her welcoming scent hit me. There was nothing violent or amazing enough to explain what she did to me. I felt myself sway, and I clung to the window to keep myself from losing my balance- as if. The balance of a vampire.
If only she knew she dazzled me much more than she said I dazzled her.

I was suddenly surprised as I tasted an excess amount of venom creeping into my mouth, even though I had just hunted. I realized with a sudden burst of knowledge that I had frozen too long- my monster was coming out. I let out a quiet gasp, and flung myself from the side of her house to land back on her lawn with silence that would make a cat jealous. I raised my pale fingers to tightly pinch the bridge of my nose. I was not as prepared as I usually made myself be.
I remained on Bella's lawn like this for a unmeasurable amount of time, until I tried again.

This time I succesfully got into my Bella's room with less difficulty, and creeped over to her bed. I laid down beside her, propping myself up on my elbow to watch her. I adjusted her top to somewhat protect her from my freezing arm, and I gladly wrapped it around her, marveling at the warmth. I allowed it to seep into my marble skin, slowly warming it as I held my Bella. I rested my lips to her forehead for a moment, and closed my eyes. It seemed I had missed her talking, and I frowned slightly. That was my favorite part of her sleeping hours, my only chance to hear her thoughts. I pulled the blanket over her more securely, and settled myself in for the night.

Current time: 2:03

------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------

She stirred. A quick glance at the clock told me it was 5:58. Charlie had already left for work.
I watched her with amusement as she was somewhat thrown off by the barrier beside her, until her brown eyes flew open in surprise, to see her vampire laying beside her.
"Edward! You didn't wake me!" She scolded, but snuggled herself closer to me nevertheless.
"You need sleep. And I'm not leaving, so no need to worry over wasted time."
Bella leaned her head back to study my face, as if she didn't believe my words. Not as if.

She didn't.

I felt my face slip into a mask of pain, then anger. I had done this to her.
I was truly a horrid creature.
She stiffened next to me. I put on my best poker face, but kept my eyes off of her. I was genuinely afraid of what I might see there.

Pain, as she remembered? Confusion at my passing emotions?
And in a perfect world (which it clearly wasn't, for I was here), her eyes would be filled with love, for my return. Never.
I didn't deserve it.

So again, my Bella surprised me as she snuggled into my chest and kissed my snowy neck.
I looked down at her in surprise, and let out a grin. Her eyes were closed and she was murmuring something unintelligable against my skin, her full lips very inviting.
"I love you Bella. I will never leave you again. I couldn't do it if I tried."
"Then don't try." She mumbled.
A chuckle left me. "I think I could handle that."

I wrapped my arms around her and slid her up to my height. She looked at me for a moment, searching my butterscotch eyes, until a sigh escaped my lips and her eyes got a distant, clouded look.
I had dazzled her once more.
I took advantage of her distraction and pressed my lips against hers, allowing myself to be more passionate than I strictly allowed myself to be, and prepared for the worst, and the best.

And, how right I was to do so! Her cheeks immediately blushed scarlet, and she threw herself quite enthusiastically to my touch.
I struggled for a moment to restrain the monster in me, then allowed myself a few more seonds to the moment. I laid my hand carefully into the arch of her back, while she tangled her fingers into my hair, attempting to hold me to her.
As if she could hold a vampire. But she wouldn't have to, if I was even close to the right person for her.

I reluctantly parted from her, carefully removing her hands from my head while she caught her breath. I chuckled, and lightly kissed the tip of her nose.
"Isn't it breakfast time for Bella?" I asked in a sing-song voice, but she remained quiet. "Bella?" I asked, glancing down at her. She had a content smile on her face, and her eyes were closed once more. I was acutely aware of her fingertips doodling randomly over my jaw.

"No response? Let's go." I muttered, and in a swift movement, Bella was now in my arms and I was bouncing down the stairs. By the time her eyes flew open, and was uttering a protest, she was seated at the kitchen table.

Her mouth remained open in awe, and I took the moment to retrieve some cereal and milk for her, crinkling my nose in disgust at what my Bella ate. I soon had a bowl and spoon in front of her as well.
She looked at me appreciatively. "I've taught you well."
I let out a laugh. "You didn't teach me a thing. This was all on my own account." I said, waving my arm at the food in a dramatic sweep.
She laughed, and the sound was music to my ears. I reminded myself of one of my goals I made for myself since our first day in the meadow- make her laugh more.

It was 6:50.

"Angela is coming over today. I told her it was payback for the carpal tunnel she gave me when I wrote those addresses with her so long ago." Bella told me, her eyes on the remainder of food in her bowl.
I chuckled. "And what torture is in store?"
Bella stared at her spoon, which was tapping against the side of her bowl in a very uncomfortable pattern.
"Bella?"

She still didn't look up. "Er... We're- I'm going to have to show her something."
My curiosity flared up quickly, along with anger at her lack of sharing.
"And what's that, Bella?" I struggled to keep my voice even, as I watched her squirm under my searching gaze.

Even I barely caught the movement, as she raised her left hand slightly, flashing the ring at me. "That."

"Oh." I said, then stood and walked over to her chair, hugging her from behind. "And no Alice involved? I like."
She fumbled again. "About that..."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Who are you and what have you done with Bella?" I asked.
Bella turned and glared at me as fiercely as she could. "I promised her!"
"And I promised you Vegas... A marriage every ten minutes, you know."
I could almost hear her roll her eyes as she stood to wash her bowl. "Can you just accept I'm trying to make you happy?"

My breathing hitched. "And what about your happiness?" Yes, I would love to have a nice wedding, if not quite Alice's version of a nice wedding. But since I had already somewhat forced her into this, she needed to do it how it felt right to her.
"Edward, I'm just happy being with you." Though she kept her back to me, I could visualize the blush in her cheeks, her eyes serious and loving on me. I felt my face light up, as I refrained from jumping with joy, maybe cracking the ceiling with my head in my enthusiasm.
"So, when are they coming?"

Bella turned around and walked over to me, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss me, as I pulled her into a hug. "About ten or so."
Another glance at the clock on the wall showed me that only an hour had passed since she'd waken.

"Then what do you want to do for three hours?" I entwined my hands with hers. Three days ago, she would have chosen the time to get ready to tell Charlie of our engagement, but we had gotten quite succesfully through that. We chose to tell him when it was what he thought to be just him, Bella, and myself, when Jasper was right around the corner to keep check on his emotions. Jasper said that he was mostly just shocked, and somewhat angry at himself. I had heard him wondering in amazement, asking himself why he hadn't seen this coming. And it had only kept him up one night, to top it all off.
We got a similar reaction out of Renee as well. She was more upset, her thoughts spinning immediately to some thoughts of her and Charlie I didn't wish to see, but was altogether happy for us.

Bella shrugged, so I led her over to the couch and laid down, pulling her with me. She lay curled against my stomach, and smiled. "This will be fine."

Current time is 7:03.

------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------

It was 9:56, and Bella had just returned downstairs, wearing some jeans and the blue sweater that I loved so much. Her hair was freshly blow-dried, and she smelled absolutely wonderful. She sat down at my side, and we both stared unseeingly at the television. The sound was nearly muted, as we both just stayed within our own thoughts.
10:03, and I heard a car pulling up the corner. Though I couldn't catch scent of the driver through Bella's stunning one, I heard Angela's thoughts as she wondered what horror waited for her. I let out a small smile. Wedding planning was hardly torturous. They would have a good time with Alice.
10:04, and Angela was on the phone, telling Ben where she was, and that she didn't know when she'd be back. If only I'd known the irony of that at the moment because at-
10:05, and we hear a scream, cut off by a gunshot.

And Angela's thoughts just as abruptly vanish.