Cullenobsession18 - Thank you :)

Edwardlover32 - Thank you :) Don't worry, this story is already complete between 10-15 chapters :)

BIGGEST-TWILIGHT-NERD - Thank you :) And it's no problem about the song. I already had the chapter done, so I couldn't figure out how to put in the lyrics, but I did mention it at least. A little background music, if you will. :)

Note : Chapters will vary in length. This is a very vague muse I am working with, so please forgive me if it's not very good.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

(The Next Day, Bella's POV)

I was so comfortable, I could stay like this forever. While certain areas on my body ached slightly, it was nothing worse than when I'd work out with my mother, and end up slightly achey. I was more comfortable than anything, except for the tickling sensations all over me.

In fact, said tickling sensation was currently driving me crazy.

Groaning slightly, I reluctantly opened my eyes, closing them again when the bright lights of the day burned my sensitive eyes. "Ugh, I hate the sun." Curling tighter into Edward's side, I recognized the irony of my statement, considering my husband was a vampire, and giggled a little, before stretching and frowning. "What the...?"

Opening my eyes, I blinked and took a moment to adjust to the light, before looking down at my body. An eyebrow slowly raised as I took in the multiple white feathers covering me from head to toe. "Why am I covered in feathers?"

"I might have bitten...a pillow or two."

A small laugh escaped me as I imagined it. Can't believe I missed that. Then again... I raised my other eyebrow as last night's events rolled into my mind. "That was...amazing." I smiled up at Edward. Then I frowned. "Or...not?" Suddenly, I felt cold.

Edward was staring at the ceiling with a distracted frown on his face, his arms behind his head. He wasn't holding me, he wasn't smiling, and he definitely didn't look like someone who'd had a good night, the night before.

Suddenly, I was reliving my doubts, and I began to wonder if I'd failed to...please him. "Edward...?"

"Look at yourself." He almost whispered, his golden eyes narrowing slightly but not moving from the ceiling. "I... I'm sorry, Bella." His frown grew. "I'm so sorry."

Frowning, I looked down at myself. Once again, the immediate thing to hit me was the numerous feathers all over my body. Brushing them aside, I felt my eyes widen at the greenish bruises covering my body. They were everywhere, and touching one, I hissed slightly. The ache I'd felt before only seemed to intensify slightly, but it still wasn't overly painful.

"This... this isn't anything." I murmured, realizing he was upset about the bruises. "Is this what's bothering you?"

"What?!" Edward glared at me incredulously. "What else would bother me? I hurt you, Bella! I promised I never would, and I still hurt you!" He hissed angrily, one of his hands landing hard on his stomach, his fingers curling a little. His eyes landed on me again, and I don't know what my expression showed, but his eyes narrowed and he turned on his side to face me. "What did you think was wrong?"

Wrong... I winced, both at my worries and at his terminology. "I..." Oh, how was I to tell him? I guess the honest truth was the best idea. "I thought...you didn't enjoy-"

A hard laugh caught my attention and I blushed as I ducked my head, feeling a little hurt that he was laughing at my insecurities. Then I felt his hand gently on my chin, even more gentle than he usually was.

"Bella, last night was the most amazing night of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed myself." His gaze was guilty and sad. "I just hate that I hurt you."

"Edward, I've had worse from working out with my mom. This really is nothing." I tried to insist.

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter."

Frowning, I felt my own eyes narrow. "You're not going to touch me again, are you?" Maybe it was irrational, but hurt and anger soared through me. When Edward tried to make light of the situation, though confirming my fears, I glared at him and pulled away, climbing out of the bed and heading into the bathroom.

Why...? Why can't he see that this is nothing?? Standing in front of a full length mirror, I frowned as tears built up in my eyes. Admittedly, it didn't look like nothing, but it didn't feel nearly as bad as it looked. I quickly began brushing and plucking feathers off me, growing more and more upset by the moment. Why?! How do I convince him?! Once they were off my body, I angrily began to pluck them from my hair. I could feel the tears coursing down my cheeks, and I paused as a sob threatened to slip out of my throat.

I caught it quickly, closing my eyes and clenching my fists into my hair, struggling not to let it out. The slightest sob, or tremble would give away my state of mind, and I knew that no matter his state of mind, Edward would come barging in here asking a million questions a minute and making up excuses after excuses.

I began to shake, and more tears fell from my eyes. I love him, and he hardly did anything. Opeing my eyes, I tried to see through the blurriness caused by the tears, and almost tore at my hair, trying to get the feathers out. Finally, I gave up and went to he shower, turning the water on warmer than usual and climbing in. I combed my fingers through my hair while still picking out feathers, until my fingers slid through the wet strands with ease. He didn't hurt me. I thought about the nomadic vampires. They hurt me, he didn't.. This is... This isn't anything!

But I knew it was useless to talk about it. Besides, when I was changed, it wouldn't matter. That thought alone almost soothed my worries.

Then a thought hit me.

Shouldn't I be going through the change right now? After all, I'd thought I was going to be changed right after...well...'the act'. My heart jumped with a hint of panic when doubts began to knaw at me. What if he changed his mind? What if he doesn't want me after all?! Then things got worse. What if I really wasn't good, and I disappointed him?!

"Bella?"

Shaking out of my thoughts, I held my breath when a sob shot forth again. No crying, no crying. I mentally chanted, trying to control my emotions.

The knob on the door turned slowly, I could hear it over the water. That thing needs to be oiled. I thought wryly. A house taken care of by a vampire, and they still have creaky hinges. I stood up straighter, tilting my face back in the water so it could wash the tears off my face.

"Bella, love?"

Love. The mental snort was followed by a roll of my eyes. I wasn't really feeling all that loved at the moment. Angry, hurt and scared, yes, but not really loved. In all honesty, I could see his point, if I looked really hard, but... I hate being treated like a glass doll!

"Bella?!" The anxiety in the voice overrode my thoughts.

Turning to the door, I sighed. "I'm in the shower!" Promptly, I blushed. Right, vampire. Super hearing, as if he didn't know. I blushed deeper when it hit me just how much he could probably hear, and I wondered why I'd never thought of that before. "I'll be out soon."

"Bella, please understand. I hurt you after I promised myself I wouldn't. I love you, and I can't help but... I hurt you, Bella! I just can't trust myself around you like I thought. I'm...so sorry."

Sorry... Not as sorry as me. I frowned, and closed my eyes, as I lifted a handful of shampoo towards my head and began working it into my hair. "Why am I still human?" I asked, shampooing my hair thoroughly, trying to ignore the feathers floating in the water by my feet. "I thought I would be undergoing the change by now." I didn't want to talk about our issue at the moment, the hurt was still too fresh. This felt like a still dangerous topic, but safer than the other. I rinsed my hair, trying to sort out the jumbled thoughts going through my mind.

There was silence for a long moment, and I paused in conditioning my hair, my hands tangled in the locks. Regrets. He... He has regrets.

"It's too soon." Edward was quiet, but I could hear him moving by the door. "After...last night, I need a little more time. Maybe...a few more days." There was a sharp intake of breath and a low growl. "I'll leave you to your shower." I heard him walking away and the door shut.

And I let more tears fall as my hands fell out of my hair. I leaned forward, closing my eyes and breathing through my mouth as the water washed over my hair, slowly washing the conditioner out. This... I think I'm going to need help. I thought sadly, knowing this whole thing was going to be an issue.

'Maybe...a few more days.'

'Maybe...'

Maybe? That wasn't reassuring. My heart pounded uncomfortably and I sighed as I quickly finished my shower. Once I was done, I turned off the water and got out, wrapping a large towel around my body as I went. I left the room, keeping my eyes glued to the floor and walked over to my things, grabbing out my clothing and getting changed where I was.

I was too lost in my thoughts at that moment to care about much, except the fact that Edward wasn't happy, and nothing was going the way it was supposed to be. Well, that, and I felt like I was alone, and considering Edward and I were the only ones here, it didn't really make sense to be worried.

Once I was dressed, I checked out a mirror on the dresser and at least thanked God there were no more feathers in my hair. Now that my shower was over with, the bruises were more pronounced, and I could see they looked pretty bad, but they didn't feel that bad.

Shaking my head, I brushed out my hair and exited the room. I found Edward in the kitchen, cooking breakfast and took a moment to decide if I really was that hungry. Part of me wanted to run away, and not even accept the fact that things were...awkward right now, and another part of me wanted to confront him and try to convince him, but... I didn't know how.

Why does he have to be so stubborn?! I thought with a loud sigh.

"Breakfast will be ready in..." Edward turned off the stove and put something on a plate before turning around. Without meeting my gaze, he put a plate of bacon, eggs, and pancakes in front of me, before vanishing, reappearing and placing a large glass of orange juice next to it. "Eat up." His smile didn't meet his eyes, when he reluctantly met my gaze. "We have a lot planned to do."

Frowning, I felt my eyes narrow as he vanished from the room. Lots planned to do? I ate slowly, hardly hungry at all, and managed to eat about two thirds of what was on my plate before putting the rest in the fridge. Wonderful.

It seemed like I was sighing a lot today, but it was helping me keep my tears at bay. Leaning against the counter, I debated about calling Charlie or Alice to come talk to me. I needed someone I could talk to about this... Wincing and blushing, I mentally narrowed the list to Esme or Alice, considering the nature of my problem.

I stayed like that for a while, lost in thought.

(Edward's POV)

I hurt her.

I hurt my Bella.

I'd vowed to never hurt her, and I did. I promised to try with her, and lost control. I left hand prints on her body, as well as several deep hickeys. I knew it probably wasn't something I should be worried about, but I couldn't help it. I loved my Bella and I hurt her. How? How could I let this happen? How could I move past this, when I feared for even touching her and causing worse damage??

I couldn't meet her gaze. She told me I hadn't hurt her, that she'd had worse, and even Alice told in a text message that I was worrying over nothing, but I couldn't let it be. I left those marks on her, because I wasn't careful. I bit the pillows beside her, and could have bitten her!

My eyes burned with the reminiscence of tears as I looked out over the water. I was standing on the beach, mentally berating myself over and over for betraying my own trust.I had hurt my beloved wife, my miracle. How was I to forgive myself for this, especially seeing the very bruises I caused??

Closing my eyes, I could hear the sniffles coming from inside the house, and I winced. I'll distract her. We've already done so much, but she expressed enjoyment of alot of the activities out here. I knew that if I could distract her until my strength is better, I could change her, and then never worry about accidentally hurting her again.

I still winced, knowing the risks I would be taking, to change her and then having to keep her under some control after.

I... I will do this. For Bella, I will do this.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hope you like it.

R+R please

Thank you

Tenshi