Wow, how long has it been? Three months, you say? SORRY! I guess I can't make enough excuses, but, in my defense, I did start piano lessons and get a job. Once again, I PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE! I'll get someone to slap me back to my senses tomorrow...I will definitely try to get faster updates up now that school is slowing down.

Cheers, and enjoy

BPOV:

I had never before seen the world as one of beauty. Without doubt, the tapestries that had hung from the walls of my chamber were of the finest craft. The graceful architecture of my bedroom was elegant. Beautiful? No.

During my studies, I had seen pictures of faraway lands. Along with the descriptions Carlisle had supplied for me, I imagined those places to be beautiful, but I could never be sure.

Now, I fully realized what a beautiful place the earth was. Though I had once thought the light of the moon made everything gray and lacking in color, I now realized that the night was simply a different world. The moonlight cascaded down in pools over the windowsills. The grain of the hardwood floors shimmered mutely beneath the moon's delicate rays. I gazed in wonder at several red roses in a white vase, a shock of color in the mostly-white room, that seemed to glow with a scarlet even deeper than the color of my drapes at home.

A small noise caught my attention. A subtle, smooth sound coming from the corner. One different from the sound of the soft wind whistling through the grass outside. The light was dim, but my eyes were perfectly adjusted and I was able to see every blond hair on Carlisle's head. His eyes were closed, head rested against the wall as if sleeping, but I could tell he was awake.

"Bella?" He voice was barely above a whisper, but it was crystal clear to me. He opened his eyes and stood, advancing slowly as if I were some type of wild animal. "I won't hurt you."

I scanned his eyes, picking out worry, guilt, compassion, and…fear? How could anyone, especially this being, who was practically the person who meant the most to me, more than my parents, almost more than Geneva, fear me? As for the part about hurting me, I would never expect that of him. The thought was almost funny. I let out a little laugh.

He glanced at me now, looking more worried than before. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." I said. In fact, it was the best I could ever remember feeling. Despite the annoying burning in the back of my throat, I could move without pain, breathe without coughing. I no longer had the sticky-sweat of fever clinging to the back of my neck.

I decided it was time to test my limits. Cautiously, I placed my feet on the floor, one after the other. I stood, flexing the muscles in my legs. It felt…good. I smiled. Carlisle smiled back.

"Thank you Carlisle. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"Of course, Bella." He paused. There was something still on his mind.

"What will I do now?"

He sighed. "Anything. There is no obligation for you to stay with me, though you are welcome."

I looked over his shoulder, out at a new world filled with color and hope. Then, I turned my attention back to Carlisle. I felt closer to him than I did my own father. "What about my family?"

"I am afraid you cannot go back to them. I'm sorry."

The hole I had expected to feel did not open up inside of me. I felt no loss, perhaps some for my companion, Geneva, but none for my parents. Still, I was curious. "Why?"

"No one fully understands what we are. To humans, we are beings of beauty, mystery, and danger. You are no longer among the living, Bella. Well," he chuckled, "you aren't human."

I reached up to brush my cheek, which was no longer hollowed with sickness. I did not fully understand what he was saying. "What do you mean, I'm not human?" I had guessed this already, but it still came as a shock, hearing it from someone else.

"You are a--a vampire." The word was almost painful for him to say.

There was silence while both of us contemplated the word. I had heard of vampires in the novels I read. Blood-sucking, cruel, and malevolent were a few of the various adjectives that had been used to describe them, but Carlisle. No. He was the exact opposite.

Deciding to get back to the matter at hand, I asked, "What would happen if I chose to stay with you?"

He brightened. "We would move. Far away from here. You need to become adjusted to the scent of human blood. You would have to pose as my daughter, if that would be acceptable to you," he grinned. So did I. The thought of having a father who actually cared was a happy one.

"And, the matter of…feeding?" I believed I had about that term in my human life, but I couldn't be sure, the memories were blurred.

"Why don't I show you?"

Sorry for the shortness. More updates on the way!