Ch. 1- Still My Birthday

"Well I was thinking since it's still my birthday, that I'd like you to kiss me again."

"You're greedy tonight."

"Yes I am but please, don't do anything you don't want to do," I added, piqued.

He laughed, and then sighed. "Heaven forbid that I should do anything I don't want to do," he said in a strangely desperate tone as he put his hand under my chin and pulled my face up to his.

The kiss began much the same as usual- Edward was as careful as ever and my heart began to overreact like it always did. And then something seemed to change. Suddenly his lips became much more urgent, his free hand twisted into my hair and held my face securely to his. And though my hands tangled in his hair, too, and though I was clearly beginning to cross his cautious lines, for once he didn't stop me.

-New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Charlie had taken the night shift and for that I was grateful. Even had he been home it probably wouldn't have mattered. Our lines had been crossed, the bridge between human and vampire no longer existed as Edward whisked me up to my bedroom. He gently laid me down on the bed, straddled on top of me looking into my eyes, hesitating for a moment.

"It's okay," I said to him trying to sound reassuring as I brought him down on me. He didn't resist my pull. If he had I would not have been able to move him as easily.

The next morning I could feel the light from the morning clouds shine through my window. My sheets wrapped around my body, a subtle reminder that last night had actually happened. With my eyes still closed I felt around the bed. I could feel my heart begin to beat faster as the fear set in that he was gone.

I had been blissfully happy only a minute ago but now I was reluctantly forced to open my eyes to find Edward standing by the window near my desk.

"I was afraid you would have left," I said breaking the morning silence between us.

"I wouldn't do that to you," he said, his voice sounding oddly distant.

"If this is still about what happened with Jasper or if you're upset about what happened last night-," my heart ached at that last part, fearing that he had not enjoyed his time. If he hadn't then maybe we weren't as compatible as I'd hoped we would be.

"It's none of those."

He turned to face me and what I saw made me get out of bed, fully aware that I had nothing on and not bothering to grab a sheet. Edward took a step back as I stepped toward him.

"Take a minute and look Bella. You have no idea how sorry I am."

"I'm not," I said raising my voice. "Last night was the best gift you could ever have given me."

"Then we need to re-evaluate your definition of a best gift. Bella," he said taking my hands. "Just look."

I looked down to see my arms for the first time. They were covered in bruises and they weren't the only parts of my body: my shoulders and my legs were also covered in the discolorations.

"Well we talked about it. We knew it wouldn't be easy."

"That's not the point."

"But it is. You could have easily killed me but you didn't."

Edward walked away from me to the other window in the room.

"Don't. Don't even joke about that."

"Then stop acting like this. Last night went beyond perfect for me so stop trying to ruin it."

Edward shook his head and turned to face me. "I'm sorry. I am ruining this aren't I?"

"Yeah at the moment you kind of are."

"Okay, I'll try to stop brooding."

I took a step toward him and this time he didn't back away. I took a breath and reached for his hands, our fingers entwining. This time he didn't pull back.

"Thank you." I could still feel how rigid he was. "You're not going to touch me again are you?"

"Not until I'm sure of myself."

"You could always turn me you know."

"Bella now's not the time."

"Okay sorry. I'll wait for you, other than my pending limbo of mortality versus immortality I will wait for you. I love you."

"Love you," Edward said failing to meet my gaze. "Charlie's coming, I'll see you at school."