Disclaimer: I have no claims over the characters of Twilight all rights belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Rated M

AU Story

Summary: When I first caught her scent, I turned my wanting into hate. Later as my cold yet sparkling hand touch her warm skin, sunlight streamed through the trees making her skin glow as golden as the sun. It was the day that secrets where spilled and lives changed forever. I had at last found a reason for my eternal life, someone who understood my pain.

(A/N: This chapter contains some sexual content.)

Last Time:

Edward's POV

Bella giggled again, her laughter a piece of heaven I was sure I would never get to know.

"I didn't ask you when, or why, you had been changed. Yet."

The look on Bella's face brought a smile to my lips and a chuckle from within me.

"Now, there is no need to ask! You already have the answer."

It was in that moment that I realized just how late it was getting. It was twilight, my favorite time of day and the saddest, because it marked the end of another day. Although this one had been very special to me.

"It's getting late Bella. I should get you home before your dad sends out a search party for you."

Bella smiled at me as I swung her gently onto my back. Tomorrow was Saturday and I already had the weekend planned out for us. I could not recall a single memory of being as happy as I had been today with Bella.

Chapter 7: Wondering Curiosity

TaintedDarkInuShemeeko

Edward's POV

Upon returning Bella home, she unexpectedly kissed me lightly on the cheek before asking in a light voice, "You'll come back later, right?"

I reached out and lightly brushed my forefinger and thumb across her cheek.

"If you would like to see me later, I think I can work it out. I have nothing but time, Bella. I'll come back once Charlie is asleep."

This seemed to please my goddess. She may be half immortal, but she also had limits from being half human. Bella seemed to be thrilled to find out just what those limits were. I however, wasn't in that big of a rush. I was still haunted by Alice's vision of Bella on the ground with a dagger protruding from her abdomen, her sweet blood staining the ground.

As I couldn't read her thoughts, I wasn't sure what she was hoping to do; although I had some idea of what she was curious about. The best thing I could think of doing was to go hunting before returning to her house. I wanted to speak to Carlisle, but what could he tell me? I knew the truth about Bella, but had yet to share what I had learned with my family. With my mind made up, I set out to hunt.

Alice's POV

I had a feeling that Edward was keeping something from us, but I wasn't sure what it was until the vision stole my sight from me.

Edward and Bella standing in the meadow together…Edward removing his shirt and stepping into a beam of sunlight, revealing what he is…Bella giving a small laugh as she stepped into the light…her skin radiating a beautiful golden glow…

The vision changed and what I saw made me want to turn away. I felt like I was intruding on a special moment between the two of them.

A thrill of excitement rushed through me. I knew that I had to keep this to myself for Edward's sake. He would share what he now knew about Bella when he was ready. My biggest challenge would be keeping what else I had seen in my vision from Edward. In order to make sure I did just that I began thinking about, the alphabet in Japanese, and then Russian followed by Chinese. If I could keep that up there was no way Edward would be able to get a clear read on my thoughts.

Of course, my other family members would be wondering about my actions. I would deal with them when I needed to. Jasper would be the first to question my strange behavior. I wouldn't be able to share what I had just seen with him. Edward needed tonight, needed to experience what he would feel tonight. I knew that there could be no other way around it.

Knowing what I did about Bella, there would be no backing out now; not unless he was willing to hurt her. I was sure that hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do; however it didn't mean that he wouldn't if he felt that it would be best for her. I still didn't understand Edward completely; no one in the family did, not even Carlisle.

"Alice, honey, what seems to be on your mind? Did you have another vision?"

I hated to lie to Jasper; that didn't mean I wouldn't do it. If lying to my husband was the only way to make sure Edward would go back to Bella's once he had finished hunting, then so be it.

"No, nothing new, just the same reruns. I was thinking about going shopping next week, some of my clothes are so last season. I'm sure I could find someone without a whole lot of fashion sense to give them too."

Jasper seemed to almost read my mind as he answered.

"You wouldn't be thinking about Edward's new human friend would you?"

I didn't let his words dampen my excitement.

"So what if I am? Bella has no fashion sense at all, have you seen the clothes she wears? Someone so pretty shouldn't be wearing rags to school - it's not right."

Jasper's voice was gentle as he spoke.

"Have you even spoken to Edward about doing that?"

"No, of course I haven't, Edward is not the boss of me. Besides, she and Edward are going to be together for a good while; I've seen it. I can give her my old clothes if I want to."

At some point I won our discussion, mostly because Jasper knew better then to bet against me. I kissed my husband on the lips with the promise of fun later on tonight. I flittered up the stairs to our room, focused on my task; finding clothes I no longer wore and deciding which ones would be breathtaking on Bella.

Edward's POV

Ihad decided to stay close to home to hunt, so my choice was limited. I soon stumbled upon two male foxes fighting. I wondered what started the fight - was it territorial? It wasn't long before the wind shifted, and I could smell the real reason for the fight. A vixen sat a little ways away watching the two. The winner would be her life mate. I stayed down wind and waited to see which one would be the loser, Bella came to my mind as I watched. However, Bella was more than a life mate; I had come to see her as my soul mate.

A yip of pain made me look back at the foxes. The victor had been decided and the loser was on his way out. He was wounded, and I let the scent of his blood fuel my predator instincts. I was a mere blur as I closed the distance between us; he seemed to know that he was in more danger now than he had been earlier. I cut off his escape, and as he went to jump through the bushes I snatched him up, breaking his neck in one swift movement.

After my evening snack I made my way back to Bella's home. It was barely eight-thirty, so I knew that Charlie was still up and I assumed that Bella was still downstairs with him. I slipped quietly into her room and was surprised to find her lying on her bed talking on the phone. A smile brushed my lips as I noticed how quickly she turned toward the window when the curtain blew back. Being half human still slowed her reaction; making it easier for me to surprise her.

I could tell by her lack of response that she figured the movement was merely the wind. Bella jumped when she turned her head toward the door and found me sitting at the end of her bed.

"Hey mom, I'm glad this pregnancy is being kinder to you than I was, though it probably just means that you and Phil are going to have your arms full with him or her. Well, I have some research to do for a paper, so I'll talk to you later. Love you, mom."

My smile grew larger as she ended her call and turned to look at me.

"Edward, how did you get in here?"

My answer was simple.

I gave her a small smile. "The window."

"Do you do that often?"

"Not that much, just the last couple of months or so."

I watched as Bella blushed. I couldn't help but wonder - if she wasn't half human would she still be able to blush?

"Okay…so did you learn anything while you were spying on me?"

I smiled at her as I spoke.

"I find it quite fascinating when you sleep. I learn the most interesting things. I probably know more about you than you do, like the fact that you talk in your sleep. I've learned a lot about you just by listening to you as you dream. You often talk with you mother."

I leaned closer to her, "I learned two and a half nights ago that you love me."

My words caused Bella to blush in embarrassment. I reached a hand up to gently turn her face back toward me.

"Why won't you look at me? There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Can you not tell that I feel the same way for you? I love you as well, Bella Swan. Out of the two of us I was the one that fought this feeling. There is no reason for me to deny it anymore."

It was in that moment that I decided something else. I gently took her hands, making her look at me.

"Bella, there is something I would like to do. I want to take you to meet my family. I was hoping that next weekend would be alright, unless you would feel comfortable doing it tomorrow?"

My words seemed to take Bella by surprise.

"Wait a minute. You want to take me to your house to meet your family?"

I chuckled lightly at hearing Bella's words.

"Yes, that is the general idea. I understand that's what boyfriends and girlfriends do. I'm hoping to meet yours sometime soon."

What Bella said next took me by surprise.

"Tomorrow will be all right with me, that way we can get meeting the parents out of the way. Charlie won't be a problem; it's meeting my mom I'm worried about. See, I haven't really told her about you. Well, she knows about you, she just thinks that you're human. Thinking that you're a human also means that you're off limits. My life would be longer then a human's, so..."

"So I'm a secret from your mother? Let me rephrase that - you haven't told your mother what I am?"

Bella continued to stare into my eyes.

"Of course not, it's not my secret to tell. I have enough trouble keeping my own secrets. I like my life, so I do my best to keep it safe."

Seeing how uncomfortable Bella was, I was starting to think that maybe I should excuse myself for the night.

"Perhaps I should go so you can get some rest."

I was getting ready to turn and leave for the night when I felt Bella's fingers brush my arm. Though this time there was no warm flooding of heat; I did feel a strange tingle against my granite skin.

"No, don't go! Stay? Please?"

One look into her beautiful chocolate orbs and I felt myself melt. I would do anything to keep that sad look out of her eyes and keep her happy.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

I still found it unnerving that no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't read her thoughts. I had no way of knowing what she was thinking. However, I now agreed with Carlisle - Bella was truly a drug to me. Her scent had a very strong effect on me; much like my scent could draw in a human. I had assumed it had been my smell that had drawn Bella to me; though now that I knew that she was only half human, I wasn't so sure.

Taking a deep breath I drew in the sweet, seductive scent of freesia and lavender with a small hint of strawberry. I found myself leaning towards Bella.

"Hold still for a moment - there is something I want to try." I said to her gently.

I felt myself leaning closer and closer to her. Bella shifted some in front of me.

"Don't move."

In that very small moment our lips were touching. I found myself stiffen and then relax as Bella leaned more into the kiss. I felt a frenzy coming on, but this frenzy was unlike anything I had ever felt before. My left hand slowly traveled down Bella's side and I could feel her tremble under my touch.

I had no control of what I was doing. The dark tee shirt I was wearing was soon up over my head and fluttering to the floor. Bella's hands were warm as they explored my chest. While my lips were busy with Bella's, my ears picked up the sound of something ripping, though I was unsure what it was.

As the need for one another increased, I felt myself getting even warmer. Bella moaned my name and the warm feeling that I was becoming accustomed to spread through my whole body. A strange thrumming sound startled me; it sounded so close but I wasn't sure what it was.

My breaths were coming out as pants as I lay myself down next to Bella. Her skin felt so good again my own. Her mahogany hair lay out behind her like a long, silky curtain as she laid her head again my chest.

I felt my skin spasm under Bella's touch as she drew figure eights on my chest.

"I think I know what my touch can do to you, Edward. It brings you to life, so to speak. I can hear something that sounds like a bird's wings; I think it's your heart beat."

At first I didn't know if I should be happy or scared, in the end I decided on the first. It meant that I didn't have to worry about killing her if I was with her. I found myself thinking about a lot of different things in that moment with Bella.

I knew that once I had truly decided I wouldn't be able to hide it from Alice, and she would know of my choice. Before I was even sure of it, before I had a chance to share it with Carlisle, Alice would most likely tell everyone in my family.

I was aware of Bella's even breathing before I was aware of my own. For the first time in ninety years, I felt myself start to drift off to sleep.

When I awoke the next morning I was surprised to find that I was still lying next to Bella. Her left hand rested against my right pec, and her head was lying against my heart. The thrumming was gone, but the warm softness of my skin still remained.

Lifting my arm I ran my hand through Bella's long, curling mahogany locks. It was the first time in my unnatural life that I found myself at some sort of peace.

It was also the first time that I wished I had some other power other than being able to read minds. The thought of being able to stop time at this moment seemed very appealing right now. Something else started to nag at me; the fact that I had just deflowered Bella. I had soiled her virtue and what was left of my own.

To keep myself relaxed, and to not disturb the angel that was asleep on my chest, I just kept reminding myself that I had everything planned out. I would introduce Bella to my family and then spend a little more time with her before I popped the question to her, taking her as my wife. Something inside told me that she wouldn't tell me no.

However, I couldn't help but worry about what her answer truly would be. Since her mind seemed to be shielded from me, I knew that I would just have to be patient and hope that I had been able to read her body language correctly.

The moments from last night returned to me…Bella's wondering curiosity had led us to an amazing discovery. Though she did not have the power to reverse my change from an undead monster; she did have the power to make me feel and be alive - if only for a few hours. I noticed that the warm softness of my skin was now becoming hard and cold again.

My hand was still absently combing through Bella's soft brown mane and I noticed the feathers that were in her hair, as well as all around us. Though she could warm my body and give my dead heart a beat, she hadn't robbed me of my strength. I remembered biting down on the two pillows as I reached for paradise while making love with her. My still heart had no regrets; my head however pained me as it reminded me that it could have been Bella that I had bitten.

I had no idea what would have happened if I had bitten her. Would the venom change her into a monster like me, since she was half human? Or, would it act as a poison as it did to other mythical creatures we fought with? Perhaps she would be immune to my venom due to the half of her that was already immortal.

Once again, my heart told me not to worry since nothing bad had happened. However, just because nothing happened this time didn't mean something wouldn't happen the next time Bella and I were together. My mind said there wouldn't be a next time, while my heart disagreed completely, telling me that practice makes perfect.

I felt Bella start to move against my chest; she was fighting to stay asleep while her body was trying to wake up. Today was going to be the day that Bella met my whole family face to face. I was even more curious to see what their reaction was going to be when they learned the truth about Bella. Would they be full of amazement as I had been, or would they react to her in horror? I couldn't see why they would, but it was still something that could happen. Rosalie was one of my biggest concerns; she had a talent for being cruel. I didn't want Bella to be the focus of that cruelty.

There was one thing I was sure of as the cloudy new day rose around us. I had at last found my home, and my reason for being.

(A/N: Sorry about the semi-short chapter, I do hope that this answered some questions as well pleased some of my fans. I do hope everyone enjoyed, Chapter 8 is titled Heart Calls Me.

Don't forget to leave a review they brighten gloomy days and make me want to update.

Until next time,

TaintedDarkInuShemeeko)

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