AN: Here's more. Reviews are love.

Chapter Two: Preparation

I had ignored Edward the whole time he drove swiftly through the windy road, throwing questions of concern at me.

Eventually he gave up as I thought. He was halfway there when I'd gotten through my thinking.

"I don't understand it," I sighed.

Edward jumped at the opportunity to ask what had happened.

"What?"

"The hallucinations…they returned and… I wonder if Carlisle can figure it out…" I left him hanging and he prodded.

"You know, I could help too," he told me, a hint of impatience dancing around the edge of his voice.

"I started remembering everything on the ride to my house. Italy, jumping off the cliff, the delusions, the hole, James…" I stopped to try to gauge his expression.

He didn't like talking about James. Edward hated him. With a blazing passion.

He had caught something else.

"Hole?" he asked me with another concerned voice. Oh yeah, I didn't tell him.

"Long story about the hole. Present please. Ok, and then when the memory of James came back"-no growling from Edward's chest yet, I decided it was safe to continue- "the fire I'd felt in my veins came back. But it didn't stop. It spread through my whole body, my scar was twenty times hotter. And then it just… disappeared."

I looked at him to try to guess what he was thinking.

He came to a stop near his house and he just sat there. I stared at him forever.

"Please, say something," I begged him after awhile.

"Bella, why did you stay so quiet?" I stared at him.

"I…I don't know. It was just as if the fire consumed me and I didn't want to fight it. I know I should have but I didn't."

A low, barely audible growl escaped Edward, and I turned my eyes from his death grip on the steering wheel to play with my engagement ring.

I had snagged it after I took a shower; the Cullens already knew about the engagement and were thrilled.

I dared a look to Edward, his hard face had softened and he tried to smile at me. But it didn't touch his eyes. This was bad.

"Edward, what?" I asked him, my voice small.

"Nothing, come on," he said as he opened the door and got out.

I followed his lead and got out, sighing in frustration. I grabbed his outstretched hand as we walked up to the house.

He opened the door and led me to Carlisle's office.



I'd been in here before, just once, and I remembered the paintings that were sure to haunt me when we walked in.

Edward knocked on the door (as if he needed to do that) and Carlisle called from inside to come in. He greeted us as Edward shut the door.

"Edward, Bella. What troubles you?" he asked, seeing the worry on Edward's face.

"Um, something's happened to Bella, and we thought we should come to you," Edward told him. Carlisle nodded.

"Well, Bella, what happened?" I relayed the afternoon's spell to him and he nodded.

"Well, I think it's just from the stress. It should be okay, just hope it doesn't happen again."

I looked to him, "What would happen if…" I trailed. He got the point.

"I'm not sure but it seems as if, since you know you'll be turning soon, you're body's trying to prepare you for it. It could be fatal if it were to happen again. Do you know what triggered it?"

I shook my head, "Not really."

"Well, as I said it should be fine. Might want to ask Alice if she sees anything. I'm afraid I can't help any further."

"Alice?" I asked quietly, turned to Edward. He nodded. Carlisle spoke again, "I need to be going now. Good to see you again, Bella. Edward." Carlisle bustled out, giving a brief mental command to Edward.

I turned to look at the painting of the Volturi. I shuddered as I turned to Edward, hearing the door creak.

He was beside my side already, "You ok?"

I nodded, "Yeah, let's go find Alice." He grabbed my hand and led me out of the room and to his own.

I defied a look at the painting once more as we left and shuddered once more.

We stepped into his room and I remembered the last time I'd been in here.

I laughed at the playfulness and went straight to the couch that replaced the bed.

I sat down while Edward played a cd he'd made for me for my eighteenth birthday.

My lullaby came on and I smiled as I played with my ring, leaving it on my finger and admiring the way it looked.

Edward sat beside me and pulled me into his lap.

"I told you that you didn't have to get me a ring," I told him as he caressed me against his cold chest, wrapping his arms around me.

"I know, but then it wouldn't be right. Plus, I still feel bad for not spending money on you for your birthday." I scowled at him and he smiled the crooked smile, sending my pulse rate a little bit higher.

Edward pressed his lips against my hair as I played with the ring.

"Graduation's tomorrow," I sighed.

"Yeah, and?"



"And, my mom's flying in tonight. And I think, since they'll find out eventually, we should tell them…"

"About the engagement?" he asked. I craned my neck to look at him,

"Are you serious? No, Edward, about me turning into a vampire! Yes the engagement."

AN: what? Bella can't always be the dumb one! Give her a shot at being the smart elk!

Edward smiled at the sarcasm marring my voice.

"Ha ha," he said humorlessly.

"What about Charlie? He'd be pissed if he knew we were engaged the whole time," he pointed out.

"Um…well just propose again. I mean you already know what I'm gonna say and I'm sure Mom'll wanna see it. And if Charlie still doesn't like it then we'll just say we're going to school in Alaska. I mean, we can move up there in that house Esme was restoring couldn't we?"

Edward smiled, "You thought it through?"

"Um, yeah, let's just say that…"

AN: well, I guess Charlie is finding out sooner or later… Reviews please!