I sat in the windowsill, watching my beautiful wife sleep in the bed that I had come to love. She shifted uncomfortably under the covers, as if there was supposed to be something else in bed with her. I was supposed to fill in that space, but after what I had done, I couldn't be near her.

She denied all of my self-accusations, saying that it was because of my 'heroic rescue' that she was still alive, but I knew my swimming her to land had nothing to do with her gratitude. She really wanted to get away from Carter.

I had held her with one arm, the other smoothly slicing the waves. She was out cold, and it had just made me swim harder.

"Bella, I am so sorry." I yelled over the roar of the waves. Her head lay on my shoulder, her body softly pressed to mine. I kicked as hard as I could, using all of my vampire strength to propel us farther ahead. "Please, Bella. Be alright." I pleaded over the deafening slap of the water. She groaned a short, soft noise, and tightened her weak grip on my arm. "Please..." I looked at her pale face for a split second, and was slapped in the face with a wall of water.

The cast on her arm seemed to glow white in the darkness. I couldn't be near her without hurting her, but I couldn't leave without hurting her even more. It pained me to be in such a…what had I called it two summers ago?

An impasse.

She stirred in her sleep, and Bella's lips parted to say a name. "…Carter…"

My heart wrenched. So she did love him. Suddenly, her face contorted into a pained mask. "Carter! Stop…Edward…please…" she pleaded, then turned over and murmured "I love Edward…not you…" she breathed, and my stationary heart gave a flutter. I needed to stop being so quick to judge. Bella and I are married, for God's sake!

The sun began to rise, and Bella's small frame stirred on the bed. "Edward?" he called out softly.

"Over here." I said in a speaking voice. Charlie was already at the station, having spent two weeks and four straight days at home just about going crazy, he went to work today.

"Why?"

"huh?"

"Why aren't you over here?" she said, and I heard the edge of panic in her tone. It flashed in her eyes, and I chuckled at her fear.

"I don't want to hurt you again. So I've been here all night."

She sounded almost angry. "Get over here, Edward."

I stood carefully, and sat softly next to her. "Edward…" she sighed.

"Do you know how much I love you, Bella?"

She looked up, surprised, and then smiled. "I'm getting an idea."

I smiled over at her, and let her pick up my hand.

"I'm so sorry, Bella. About everything. So very, very sorry." Her eyes narrowed, and she dropped my hand.

"WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING YOU? IT WAS MY FAULT!!" she screamed, and I could see the tears beginning to spill out. She glared at me through the fog, and I instantly felt horrible for making her cry.

I couldn't let her think it was all her fault, but I couldn't convince her that she was just an unlucky human. I sighed, and picked up her hand, the not incased one, and she tried to pull it away, but I pulled it closer, and examined every finger with careful scrutiny, before sliding her wedding ring off.

She stared up at me, looking like someone was about to kill her.

"Look at this ring, Bella." She blinked for a few seconds, and then looked between the ring and my face.

"It's my wedding ring." She said quietly, and one last tear rolled out of her eye.

"What did I tell you on our wedding day?" A spark of realization light in her eyes, and she smiled a tiny smile.

"That my burdens were now your burdens."

"Exactly." I said, sliding her ring back on her third finger. "So, even IF it was your fault, it would really be mine. But that is only IF."

She smiled hugely, and I whispered, "Want to go to my house?"

Bella nodded, and then stood up, took a step and fell over. I caught her, and smiled into her hair.

"You know, soon enough, you won't need to catch me."

My smile faded and I realized tomorrow was the day we had decided on.

"Tomorrow…" she sighed, and looked back at me. She gauged my expression, and rested her free hand on my cheek. "You know, I'm sure about this. I'd give up anything for you. Especially this." She said, smiling as she pointed to her crimson cheeks.

I smiled a forced smile, and she stroked my cheek. "Seriously, Edward. I would give you everything. Even this." She put my hand on her neck, right at her jugular vein.

"Bella, don't even talk like that."

She stayed silent. The steady thrum of her warm pulse drummed under my cold hand. I realized there was something I needed to ask her.

"When I…." I trailed off, not able to talk about how easily I had lost control and attacked her. She nodded, showing she knew what I was talking about.

"Is that why you didn't fight against death?" I asked, feeling her pulse speed up under my hand. It felt so good…I could still remember the sweet taste, the amazing liquid that flowed hectically under the thin skin…

"I fought against death. But I didn't fight against you. They are two entirely different things." She said, and laid her over mine on her neck. "If they were one and the same, I wouldn't be here, now would I?"

I nodded quietly, and slung her on to my back.

"I want to play a song for you." I said, as I felt her legs securely wrap around my waist.

"Alright. It's raining, so run fast." She giggled.

"I don't know if I'm fast enough to out run a drop of water…" I chuckled, and took off out the window, across the lawn, and toward my house.

Ok, wrote this in one day. I think it's good, and so does my beta (I hope.)I finally got my friend Brenda to read this story, so, here is a shout out to Brenda:

TODAY IS YOUR THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!! YAAAAY! When do you want your KFC bucket? (Told you I wasn't kidding about the KFC. It's seriously in the fridge, I tell you! In the fridge! I WILL KEEP REPEATING THAT UNTIL YOU TAKE IT!!) Happy Birthday to the best SSBFFWAOWEC EVER!!! I give you 24 hours with Edward. I'm that nice.

Ok, note to Brenda over.

I am sick in bed today, feel like crap, and am frankly SICK of glowing screens. I have watched Blades Of Glory twice, Transformers for the third time, and a whole bunch of Family Guy episodes. I also bought a crap load of songs off of iTunes… lol

Expect another update tomorrow!!

P.S. including the AN this chapter is 1,170 words.