A/N: I hope you guys are enjoying my story so far. The reviews I've received so far are much appreciated. Thank you!

Chapter 3:

Bella's POV

"Bella, sweetie, are you awake?" Esme's voice woke me from my dream. I opened my eyes but couldn't find the strength to lift my head.

"Esme," I whispered.

"Shh, save your strength," she replied as she stroked my hair. I nodded. "Charlie has been calling. You should call him soon."

"It's almost time," I struggled to get the words out. She nodded. "Is Edward still here?"

She nodded again, looking down.

"I want to see him, please," I begged. Esme was out the door in a blink of an eye. I glanced at the door and saw Edward lingering with his brothers and sisters behind him.

"Come in," I whispered. "And close the door."

Edward walked slowly into the room and closed the door behind him. He made small strides toward my bed.

"Hi," I whispered as I looked into his eyes. I could see pain all over his body. It's probably difficult for him to have me here when he just announced his engagement to Tanya.

"Hi," he replied. I patted the bed inviting him to have a seat.

"I wanted to tell you something," I began. It was taking every ounce of my energy to make sentences.

"Bella, there's no need. You don't need to apologize for being here. I'm glad my family has been here for you. I wish I would have come sooner…" Edward seemed to be struggling with guilt.

"Shh," I started. "I wasn't going to apologize for being here. I love your family. They feel like my family too… I wanted you to be the first to know that I'm going to ask Carlisle to just let me go naturally…" Tears were falling down my cheeks now. I had decided not to change the moment Emmett repeated the words of Edward's engagement that night in the stairway. Edward's face twisted in agonizing pain.

"Bella, you have to let him change you. You can't die!" Edward shouted.

"I don't want to cause you any pain, Edward. What will happen to me if I change? I can't go home… and I won't stay here and watch you marry Tanya… There is no where for me to go."

"You can stay with Carlisle. I'll leave if I have to," Edward looked hopeful. He looked over at my night stand noticing the picture of us from prom. He looked back at me curiously.

"Esme gave me the picture," I admitted.

"That was a wonderful night. You looked so beautiful," Edward whimpered.

"I must look hideous right now," I laughed uncomfortably.

"No, you just look weak…" Edward sighed.

"Tanya is really beautiful," I spoke up.

"She is…" Edward began. "She's no Bella, that's for sure."

I know he read the confusion on my face as he reached over to pull the covers up tightly around me. I grabbed his hand and he looked at me cautiously.

"What does that mean?" I asked nervously.

"Now is not really the time… Bella, would you be willing to change if I changed you?"

I thought for a few minutes. That was always my greatest wish. I wanted Edward to change me more than anything. I felt my cheeks blush.

"Can you give me some time to think about it?" I asked.

"I can do that…" Edward promised. "But, Bella there isn't much time."

"I know," I admitted.

"You should call your dad. He and Jacob are worried sick." I nodded and reached over for my cell phone as Edward left the room, quietly.

My conversation with my dad was short. I tried to be optimistic for him but he could tell that I sounded awful and asked to speak to Carlisle almost immediately. Alice and Rosalie came to sit with me.

"Bella, please let us change you," Alice begged.

"It doesn't even have to be Edward if you don't want it to," Rosalie added.

"Alice," I whispered, "Can you see Edward marrying Tanya?"

Alice looked down into her hands and nodded.

"Her visions are subjective, remember?" Rosalie added.

"It will be better for everyone if I just die," I sighed.

Edward's POV

I had been hunting with my brothers for hours but still hadn't caught anything. My concentration just wasn't there at the moment.

"Thank you for taking care of her," I told them as Emmett and Jasper walked over to where I was sitting against a tree.

"She's like our sister. We all love her and would do anything for her," Jasper spoke quietly as he took a seat next to me.

"Edward, you have to tell her that you love her and want to be with her… That's the only way she'll let the change happen," Emmett was skimming pebbles into the stream across from us.

"I love her very much," I agreed. "It's just all so complicated."

"Tanya will understand," Jasper declared.

"And if she doesn't, so what! What do you want?" Emmett demanded glaring at me with such intensity I was almost frightened.

"I want Bella," I sighed.

"Alice says she only has three days left. That third day will be too late," Jasper added as he pat me on the shoulder.

"I'll go talk to Bella," I got up and started toward the house.

"Edward, you should hunt first," Jasper scolded. I nodded and followed the scent of the nearest animal I could find. Soon enough, I would tell Bella how I felt.

The sun had gone down by the time I made it back to the house with my brothers. Tanya was in the living room with Esme. She looked up at me and I told her I would be back in just a little while. Alice and Rose were in Bella's room when I got there. Rose was behind Bella, braiding her hair as Alice painted Bella's fingernails. I was grateful to them for being so kind to her. I smiled. Bella's eyes were closed, but she had a slight smile on her face.

"Is she sleeping?" I asked hesitantly. Her eyes fluttered open.

"Just resting," she sighed.

"Can I speak to you alone?" I asked. She shook her head, no. My eyes narrowed.

"I feel really comfortable right now and would rather not move. Besides, whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of your sisters. They'll hear you anyway," Bella giggled. Rose cut her eyes at me.

"Bella, I love you," I admitted. Bella only looked slightly shocked.

"Edward, you don't have to say that just so I'll change," Bella whispered. I felt movement behind me and noticed my brothers were listening as well.

"I'm not just saying that. I've always loved you. I never stopped," I would be crying if I had the tears to do so. Why wouldn't she believe me?

"If I change, you'll be with me?" She asked uncertain of the answer to her question. I hesitated maybe a moment too long.

"I will change, Edward. But it's not for you. It's because I don't want to cause your family any more pain."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Why wouldn't she understand?

"Tonight?" I asked. Alice and Rosalie nodded.

I turned out of the room and found Tanya sitting alone in my bedroom. She looked upset. I knew she had heard what I had told Bella. I walked over to her and she reached up to touch my face. She brought her lips hard onto mine. I couldn't resist. Before I knew what was happening, both of our shirts were off and we were going at it, hot and heavy before someone cleared their throat loudly. I looked up and saw Emmett holding Bella. Her hand was over her mouth in shock and tears were streaming down her face. Emmett looked as if he could break me in half if he hadn't been carrying Bella.

"Take me back," Bella whispered.

"I'll deal with you later," Emmett's mind promised me.

"Tanya, you have to leave," I told her as I buttoned my shirt.

"Tell me you aren't dumping me for that pathetic excuse of a human!" Tanya's eyes glared at me.

"She's not pathetic and it doesn't matter anyway because after what she just saw, she'll never take me back anyway!" I spat.

"She'll never love you the way I do," Tanya told me as she picked up her bag and headed out.

"You're right, but only because her love is pure and magical and yours isn't."

"So the engagement is off?" Tanya asked with a hiss. I nodded.

"I'm sorry Tanya… I never should have turned to you after I left her," I felt broken. I never wanted to hurt either of the girls.

"Don't be… I promise this isn't the last you've heard from me, Edward Cullen!" Tanya slammed the door as she left the house. I looked up and saw Alice glaring at me.

To Be Continued.