A/N: I own nothing, no matter how much it hurts my heart to say so. Also, I decided to try some different POV's. R&R please. By the way, I'm sorry about the shortness. I was eager to get this entered.
BPOV: It was mid-afternoon by the time we finished that long, treacherous hike. I was seriously wishing Edward was a vampire capable of running extraordinary speeds and carrying me with him, but I was also happy for him. He seemed glad to be able to enjoy a reprieve from what he considered "eternal damnation." I didn't see it that way. I saw it as a blessing, but, then again, I was a freak of nature.
"Bella?" We were lying side by side in the grass.
"Uh-huh?"
"What are you thinking?" His eyes smoldered just as much as ever. I was momentarily stunned.
"Er, nothing much, Edward. It's not important."
He sighed. "Bella, when will you learn that I don't take that for an answer?"
"I won't. But I guess I'll tell you. Just promise not to be mad."
"Ah. So it's that bad?"
"No, but I can't be sure of how you'll respond."
"Shoot."
"I was thinking about how you must be feeling."
"Explain."
Reluctantly, I continued, "well, I think you must enjoy the reprieve, and that makes me happy. But I also miss the way you usually are, too."
"In what ways?"
"The running, the eyes, and…." I paused, not wanting to continue. "Please don't make me say."
"Come on, Bella. Please? Nothing you say could ever hurt me." I doubted that.
"I miss the way you might just attack me at any moment."
I expected him to be angry, sad, anything but the reaction I got. He chuckled. "No sense of self preservation. None whatsoever." He played with my hair. His close proximity still made my heart beat uncontrollably.
"I miss everything else, too, though." He stopped and looked up at me, his eyes narrowing in confusion. Wow. Did I really just say that aloud? Ugh.
When he said nothing, I spoke. "That came out so wrong." I looked up at him, but he was sitting up, looking in the other direction. "Edward? I didn't mean it like that. I couldn't be happier to see you this way. Warm, happy…." He turned to me. His face was a deep shade of red, and tears were streaming down his face. I stopped talking, surprised to see Edward like that.
He smiled. It touched his eyes, if only just barely. "It's okay, Bella. I don't know what's wrong."
"How do you feel? Emotionally, I mean."
"Sad, confused, a little angry, and a lot scared."
"Angry? Scared?"
"Bella, I do enjoy the reprieve, but I also feel the way anyone would feel after being shoved into a strange body with strange needs and strange feelings. I didn't ask for this. I will kill the Volturi for it. For what I went through. As for the fear, I suppose I just don't like the risk of being so easily… done away with." I shuddered. The very thought was sickening.
"I-I'm sorry."
"What would you have to apologize about?"
"For upsetting you."
"You didn't do it." I looked into his eyes. They were just beginning to lose their redness from the crying. "I love you, and I don't care what you are." He smiled. His face was back to the slightly darkened color he'd adopted from the… change. He was still pale. "Good, I'm glad." Suddenly, we leaned towards each other. His face was unreadable. I could just see the peacefulness, the joy. And then, we kissed. It was not chaste, not in any way guarded. It lasted a long, long time. He was the one to break it up. He leaned on my shoulder for support, gasping for breath. "Forgot to breath." He grinned. So did I.
"Edward?" He looked up. He was just as "drop-dead" gorgeous as always. I couldn't stop noticing. "Hm?"
"Do we need to be getting back?"
"No. I'm not ready to go back just yet. Do you have your phone?" I guessed what he was thinking. "Yeah. Do you think they'll mind?"
"Doubt it. They might even like it better than letting us go back alone. They don't as of yet know how much of a danger magnet I am." I laughed. "Do you mind if I say that you have a bigger blushing problem than even me?" He grimaced. "I know."
I handed him the phone and he dialed the number. "Carlisle. It's me. Where are all of you?" I couldn't hear the reply. "Yes, we're fine. M-hm. We had a good time." He grinned. "Cliff diving. The dog and I have a truce. It's hard to hate each other when we aren't natural enemies." Another pause. "We were hoping that we might get a lift. It's getting dark out quickly, and the two of us would be a likely pair to get into trouble out here at night." He grinned. "The meadow." I smiled encouragingly. "Yes, that meadow. See you soon." He shut the phone and handed it back to me. "They'll be here within the hour."
He laid down and beckoned for me to join him. I did so willingly. We remained there until we heard the rustle of branches and looked up to see Alice and Jasper emerge from the trees. Edward stiffened a bit when he saw Jasper, but he relaxed quickly. "Hello. You didn't take long." Alice smiled. Jasper tried to mirror the action, but he had his teeth clenched, making it hard. Trying not to attack, I guessed. Edward obviously realized that.
APOV: Jasper whispered to me when we saw Edward and Bella lying there in that meadow. I knew they couldn't hear us. "Alice, I'm already having second thoughts."
"You can do it. I can see that." I said this as I saw us safely arriving home, Edward blushing furiously. It was good to have this ability. Jasper was reassured. I purposely reached up and rustled a branch, trying to make sure we didn't startle Edward. He and Bella looked up immediately. I saw Edward stiffen when he saw Jasper. Jasper didn't miss it either. Edward saw the look of sadness flicker across Jasper's face, and he immediately relaxed. Bella watched only Edward, though she did notice us as well. They must have had a good time, though I couldn't be sure. I purposely had avoided any visions of them, not wanting to intrude on their personal time. Of course, they always had a good time when they were together. It was like Jasper and me. Inseparable. Jasper clenched his teeth. Even I noticed the waves of the delicious scent of Edward's blood rolling off of him. He smiled. It was genuine. "Hello. You didn't take long." I smiled, and Jasper did too. It was strained, though. Still, Edward seemed to appreciate the effort. He stood up with Bella and joined us. Wow, I thought. He smelled great. Jasper was sending off waves of emotion. He was making the atmosphere tense. I nudged him, and he stopped immediately. Bella looked at him as if to say "It's okay. We understand." He smiled. Edward stepped toward him, but he stopped him with a desperate warning growl when he reached out his hand. He drew it back quickly, muttering an apology.
I spoke up. I hate it when everyone gets this tense. "Alright. Edward, do you mind if I take you and Jasper takes Bella? He wouldn't be able to stand your blood for long if you got that close." Edward looked reluctantly at Bella. She nodded. "I trust him, Edward." Jasper calmed him, and Edward spoke. "Okay. Let's just go."
I grabbed him and held him like I was cradling a baby. Jasper did the same with Bella, and we were off. I could feel Edward's skin getting hot, and I stared straight ahead, not wanting him to feel too uncomfortable. He gasped out my name, and I looked down at him. He was a very deep shade of red. Even his arms. He was grinning, though. "Wow. That feels good, despite the awkward position." I laughed despite myself. He joined in. Bella was looking at Edward curiously. He nodded to her. She smiled. Wow. They had a great connection when both of them were the same species. He realized this, but I knew he would be a vampire again as planned. So would Bella. It was a matter of weeks. Until then, I thought devilishly, we could all enjoy the constant blushing. I was so glad he couldn't hear that.
And then, too soon, we were there. I let Edward down, and he immediately ran over to Bella. They hugged and then looked around, noticing at once that only Edward's Volvo was there. Jasper spoke. "We ran here, so we didn't need a car. We'll meet you at the house." He turned, grabbed my arm, and we ran into the trees.
EPOV: I put my hand on Bella's shoulder and watched Alice and Jasper make a hasty exit. I hoped that it wouldn't be this way all month. I turned to Bella, smiling wistfully. She grabbed my hand and led me into the Volvo. I was still extremely relaxed. It could have been Jasper's doing, but I was sure it was the work of a good day in the meadow. We sat in the car for a long time, silent. Bella broke the silence. "That was fun. Are you tired? Hungry?" I nodded. I was. "Quite." She smiled. "How about an Italian restaurant?" I laughed. "Oh yes. How about we go to the one in Port Angeles?"