PHOENIX

EDWARD

The smoke lightened up around so I could clearly see a figure lying against the ground.

"Bella," I whispered as I ran to her side. But slowly, I backed away realizing this could also be the Power.

"Edward…" she choked.

"I'm here, love. Are you okay?"

"I guess so. Is she gone?" she whispered. I knew who she was referring to.

"Yes, yes she is. What about you?" I asked inspected over her. She was covered in ashes and a couple of bruises. But in her mind, she would always be the same clumsy Bella, so I didn't give it much weight.

"I'm significantly better, actually." She chuckled to herself. "Question, Edward?"

"Yes."

"When are you going to leave my mind, so I could talk to you in person?"

I laughed. She was back. I kissed her forehead before suggesting, "Let's leave together."

She smiled and kissed me back, before letting me return to my own body.

BELLA

My eyelids fluttered as I felt the sensation that I was not alone. Opening my eyes, I saw Edward, Carlisle, Alice, and Aro.

Aro. Did that mean he was going to…?

"I can assure you Bella, you are fine," Aro said amused by the look of distress on my face.

I turned back to Edward, who smiled crookedly. I reached up from him, breaking the restraints in the process.

"Sorry, Carlisle," I smiled apologetically.

"It's quite alright, Bella. We know we need to help you with that newborn strength, though," he chuckled. Everyone in the room joined him.

Gracefully, I rose from the chair and stood in front of Edward, who wrapped me in a loving embrace. I rested my head on his chest, relaxing.

"Glad to have you back, love," he whispered.

"Glad to be back," I whispered in his ear. He kissed the top of my head as he rubbed the small of my back.

After our reunion, Edward and I strolled downstairs. Aro, Alice, and Carlisle were already waiting with the rest of them.

"Oh, my precious baby," Esme cried as she came to hug me. She squeezed me so tight, I couldn't breathe – good thing I didn't need to.

Emmett came over and rumpled my hair, laughing. "Bella, I missed you."

Jasper walked over following Alice and nodded towards me. I smiled back. Alice came to hug me also. Rosalie stepped to me and smiled, "Bella…don't scare me like that again."

Everyone sat down, positioning to hear the tale. Jane looked at me grimly as if I had killed a dream of hers. My crazy self would have attacked her by now, but the new me – the old me – just shot a nasty look back.

"Okay, most of you are wondering what happened, right?" Everyone nodded in agreement. "Well, inside my mind there were two Bellas. The Old Human with a little vampire and the Power hungry one. She had all the crazy powers – and the attitude. She was created because my desire for human blood wasn't that strong. So, I never did have to build a resistance to my desires. Slowly, she began to take over. My mind only had room for one Bella so it did the only thing it knew to do: the phoenix effect."

"What? Bella you have to put this in layman's terms…"Rosalie spoke.

"I mean that two Bellas were set on fire. And out of that, I was resurrected like the phoenix. Except mine was a little more dramatic with imploding balls and fighting…" I chuckled. "The cloud of smoke Edward saw was the parts of her and me – you could say our souls being intertwined. But since I was the only Bella that survived, I got to pick what parts of her I wanted. The rest just burned to ashes."

"Well, it doesn't matter how you got back; we are just glad you did," Esme expressed.

"Now, I would like to apologize to everyone who I caused harm to, especially you, Edward." I turned my gaze to his and took his hands in mine. "I know I put you in a terrible position between turning me and then my request for relief. I promise I will never ever let you have to carry that burden again. Without you being there, I don't think your Bella would have ever come back. You had to show that love conquers all. And for that, I thank you. I love you." I kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Bella, I was hurting without you here. I loved you when you were…well…out of your mind. However, that one adventure was enough for me. Your mind is terribly intriguing though. No wonder when you were a human your dreams were so vivid. Your mind is like digital TV and I'm amazed because I was only getting analog. But in all seriousness, I promise to never ever let you experience that again, even if I have to risk my life to do it. I love you, too." He then, kissed me back passionately.

Someone cleared their throat and we sheepishly turned our attention back to our little audience.

"Well, Bella, you already knew we came to take you away," Aro began. "But after I saw what a horrific state you were in, my brothers and I decided to let you go…unless you care to join us…?"

"No, thank you. I'm happy where I am – with Edward," I smiled as I kissed Edward's cheek.

"Well, that's quite alright," Aro said approvingly. "But, we will be making frequent visits to make sure things don't regress." At that time, Marcus came towards Aro lightly touched his shoulder. Aro nodded and I understood the exchange. I used my powers to read minds to hear exactly what he was transmitting.

"Ah, thank you Marcus. That is very thoughtful," I said, appreciative. I turned back to everyone else. "According to Marcus, my relationship with Edward relationship has intensified. If that was ever possible," I joked.

Jane groaned in disgust. "Can't we go, now? I need to hunt now." Then, she looked at me, "and it looks like Bella does, too."

Indeed, I have not hunted since my first time with Edward. Moreover, all that mind battling drains you.

"Well, your eyes are pitch black, Bella. You have to make sure you keep yourself up. You never know when you will succumb back to the scary Bella." Carlisle looked at me pressing his point.

"Well, we need to get going. I am starting to feel a little thirsty myself," Aro chortled. "Until next time, stay out of trouble, Bella," and with that The Volturi were gone.

"Now, I guess we can go hunting, Edward," I suggested. He kissed me again before leading me out the door.

Back from hunting…

Hand in hand, Edward and I returned home – hopelessly in love. I kept caught him stealing glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking. If I was human again I would have blushed.

"Bella, honey, do you know how much I love the way you are. The way you walk, hunt, smile, talk…I love you," he said before opening the door for me.

I stood outside defiantly. "Edward, you have helped me enough today. Don't you think it's time for me to help you?"

"I'll think about…but for now, after you, my queen," he smiled. I curtsied for him and swept myself inside the Cullen house. Alice was standing at the foot of the stairs.

"Bella, want to go shopping?" she beamed. Uh oh, I didn't know what to. Truthfully, I would like to shop with Alice, but she wears me out.

"I'll take a rain check."

She frowned, but shrugged and went to ask Rosalie.

Edward and I plopped down on the enormous golden bed. I rolled over to the side so I faced him. I outlined his full lips before kissing them. His hand was at the nape of neck as my arms wound around his shoulders. I pulled away this time and he frowned. I laughed.

"It's not funny, Bella. I missed you so much. If I could cry, I would have. You know that? I thought I lost you…forever. You are the love of my life. If you were no longer in existence, I wouldn't have been far behind you."

I kissed him again. I sat up and rested against the headrest while Edward repositioned himself so that his head rested in my lap. I ran my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. "But I'm curious, Bella, what did you keep from that dominatrix?"

"Well, I have most of her powers, just without the attitude." He peered up at me. His eyes were stunning.

"Are you still repulsed by human blood?"

"I think so, I mean I never tried to be around humans. But I'll doubt I'll like it."

"Bella, you have no idea how good that feels," he stated as he moaned in satisfaction. I didn't know just massaging someone's scalp could do that but…

"So have your crazy desires changed?" Edward asked suggestively.

"Like what?"

"Oh I don't know: you desire to attack Jacob, smack me, or your crazy appetites." I knew what he was referring to, so I played along.

"Most of them," I hinted.

He rose from my lap. He repositioned his body over mine and his lips twitched at the sides as he tried to suppress a smile. "What is the exception?"

"I'll show you sometime," I suggested seductively.

His lips found mine as he worked his way down kissing my neck. "Love, I'll like for you to show me, now. It's amazing really. How after hunting you could still be, craving something," he spoke roughly with lust coating his tone.

"That's exactly how I feel," I smirked.

"Sweetheart…" Edward called, unbuttoning his shirt as he spoke.

"Yes," I responded doing the same. Suddenly, he was at my ear and I sighed.

"Are you ready to scream my name?" he purred.

I nodded as I let Edward satiate my craving.

A/N I had originally planned to end the story right here, but I decided I had a couple ideas for it. So if you guys want me to keep going, just tell me otherwise...I won't. Review please... :)