Title: What Dreams May Come

Summary: Bella and Edward settle happily into married life at Dartmouth but Bella's dreams of a mysterious child persist, drawing them into a centuries old deception with devastating consequences. A Breaking Dawn AU.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: Twilight and all related places and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

A/N: After two weeks of writing 5000-word end of year assignments and a short trip interstate to see some of my favourite actors at the HSM 3 premiere in Sydney, I've finally finished this chapter! And some good news: now that uni has finished for the year and my schedule has cleared up, you can expect updates to come much more often. As always, Read, Review, Enjoy!

Quote: Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat - Unknown

Chapter 9: Heartbeat

"Alright, prep work for next week. I want each of you to write a list of the different types of love you have personally experienced and whether you believe they are comparable to each other in terms of importance and meaning to you. We will be reviewing these lists with a discussion of Plato's theories on friendship and Eros. See you next Thursday."

The lecture hall was filled with the sound of closing books and shuffling feet as the rest of the students started to trickle out the large wooden doors at the professor's dismissal. My mind however, was stuck on his words having immediately locked on to thoughts of my husband. I was one of the people lucky enough to have experienced all types of love and I could truthfully say that none compared to that between two people who were the other half of each other's soul. Everything else just paled in comparison to my pale god…and when I start to make mental bad puns, its time to move on to another train of thought.

Sighing, I turned to grab my satchel from the floor only to find that the object of my preoccupied thoughts had already retrieved it, standing next to my seat with his hand extended to pull me to my feet. There were definitely some benefits to being married to man who'd been born and raised in a lost age of chivalry. I had yet to tire of his door-opening, bag-carrying ways. After all, I might as well get maximum use out of them while I was all still delicately human…though knowing Edward, he would persist even after we'd been married for a few centuries.

"Thank you, kind sir," I said teasingly in my best (a.k.a. worst) southern belle accent, as I accepted his hand, proud that I managed to contain my blush to a light pink stain as he kissed the back of it.

"You're welcome ma'am," he drawled back, his drawn out cadence a perfect replica of Jasper's soft tones. Was there anything he couldn't do asides from working at a blood bank or taking a midday stroll on a crowded Hawaiian beach? A girl could get a serious inferiority complex.

With my hand clasped firmly in his, we exited the stately white Thornton Hall which housed the Philosophy department, one of the four oldest buildings on campus along the prestigious Dartmouth Row. We melted into the stream of students heading towards the Green, the wide open park that served as 'emotional hub of the college' according to our orientation tour guide. Up above, a few stray rays of sunlight peeked out into the cloudy New Hampshire afternoon, just enough to give Edward's skin a subtle shimmer as we walked in and out of the dappled shade.

Two weeks into my first (and most likely only) semester of college, and the feeling of panic that had marred orientation week had faded as I settled into a comfortable routine of classes, lunches with Keely and Cam…oh, and spending every waking moment in Edward's arms. We were still in the honeymoon period, so I figured that excessive clinginess was allowed. Not that my husband was complaining or anything if the, uh, activities in the bedroom…and the library….and the kitchen…and the back of my Mercedes…and the supposed-to-be-off-limits supply closet on the third floor of the English department building were any indication.

"Now what could you be thinking about to put such a beautiful smile on your face, love?"

I turned that smile upwards at the sound of Edward's velvety tones, leaning my head to rest against his shoulder as we crossed the road onto the soft grass of the College Green, Edward effortlessly leading us around sprawled students with their heads buried in books and laptops and even neatly sidestepping (with just a hint of his vampiric speed) a stray Frisbee thrown by a group of rather buff looking men.

"Oh, just this and that," I replied airily, "And certainly not thinking about anything shallow, such as what I'd like to do to, I mean, with my husband when we get home."

I peeked slyly out of the corner of my eyelashes, reveling in the darkening hues of his burnished eyes and knowing without a doubt that he would have given anything in that moment to be privy to my thoughts. He lowered his head, sweet breath washing over my cheek.

"That's a line of thought I could stand to have elaborated. Tell me Mrs Cullen, just what kind of activities were you planning on subjecting said husband to."

I pushed down the sudden spike of arousal the combination of his words and proximity created, biting my lip as I pretended to be deep in thought. A month ago, having a conversation like this in private, let alone while we were walking through a crowded public space would have had me blushing and stuttering but I was getting better at controlling my reactions...besides, who cared about a little embarrassment when Edward's gaze was literally making me weak in the knees, anticipation of my answer clear on his face

"We-llll," I said slowly, "More planning is required, but the basics include a bed and a distinct lack of clothing. There could also be begging involved."

Edward's eyes darkened further if that was possible and I'm sure I heard a slight growl escape his lips. If we weren't currently surrounded by people, he would have picked me up and sped off home in a blink of an eye. As it was, the look in his eye said that that course of action was looking like a distinct possibility anyway. He seemed to study my face for a moment, before tugging on my hand and walking even faster through the grass. The Green was quickly left behind as we ducked between the administration buildings to reach the student parking lot, my legs working twice as hard to keep up with his smooth, long strides before he swept me up in his arms with impatience.

"We are going home right now," he said firmly as I nestled my head against his chest, his pace quickening even further as the faithful silver Volvo came into view.

"What about our last class?" I protested half-heartedly, not really wanting him to change his mind as mine was already clouded with images of hard, pale skin and fingers so talented they should be declared illegal in all 50 states.

"Screw our last class," he growled as he deposited me in the passenger seat, my mouth gaping open at his uncharacteristic language, which also had the effect of making me want him even more.

Peeling out of the lot, I concentrated on keeping my hands to myself as Edward pushed hard on the accelerator, the main streets of Hanover disappearing in the rearview mirror to be replaced with the winding tree-lined roads near our home. I had never been so glad that Edward had picked a house only a 10 minute drive away (well, 10 minutes with him driving anyway, for me it would take 20). My skin was already burning with the remembrance of his touch, my heart pounding with the anticipation. I lost myself in a detailed plan of exactly the order I would remove his clothes in, not even realizing we had reached home til I found myself lifted out of the car and into the house with startling immediacy, Edward's mouth already fused to mine, his kisses sending waves of fire down through my nerves.

Closing the front door with a bang, he pressed me up against it, his hands dropping to help hoist my legs around his waist, bringing his already hard member into direct contact with the almost painful ache between my thighs. My shirt became nothing more than a fluttering mess of material under Edward's hands, my bra tossed carelessly away as his hands stroked my skin, those illegally talented fingers rolling my nipples between them. His lips trailed kisses across my collarbone, his hips grinding roughly into mine…well, as roughly as Edward would let himself, still mindful of my fragility even in the heat of passion.

He moved back as if to carry me upstairs but I whimpered and pulled him close again, licking and biting along the corded muscles of his neck, ignoring the slight sense of irrational annoyance I always felt at not being able to mark his skin as he could so easily do to me.

"Bella," he groaned, "We need to go upstairs."

I shook my head against his neck and clutched my legs even tighter around his waist, running my hands up under his shirt to feel his smooth chest underneath my warm fingers.

"No, don't wanna," I mumbled, gasping as his hands continued their assault on my breasts, "Want you now."

Apparently I turned into a cavewoman sometime during the last few minutes, my words grunted out with inelegance. A part of me knew that with his speed, we could be upstairs and tumbling between our luxurious red sheets before I could take my next breath, but a larger part wanted him now, up against the front door. There was something so very…primal about it.

"Are you su…" Edward started to ask, but I cut him off with a hard kiss, hands determinedly trying to tug at his pants with little success. That was enough for him to get the hint and I could almost actually see in his eyes him giving into the desire coursing through his deadened veins before he impatiently ripped my jeans from my legs, his lack of patience for removing my legs from his waist mirroring my own. His own pants soon followed and with one controlled thrust he was buried inside of me, my moan echoing throughout the house at the feeling of completeness I knew would never fade.

Usually our lovemaking was languid, Edward drawing out every pleasurable sensation in me that he could, delighting in my body's response to him. Right now however, slow was the last thing on my mind and my husband apparently agreed, thrusting into my willing body with as much speed and force as he had ever allowed himself. Clutching onto him, I rode the waves of bliss pouring through me, hands digging into his still clothed back as he groaned in my ear, his usual whispers of love and devotion left behind as we lost ourselves in the moment. I dimly registered the sound of splintering wood as stars exploded in my vision, the feel of Edward letting go, of coming within me sending me spiraling off a precipice of pleasure.

Once I managed to regain some sort of control over my faculties, I noticed that we were now on the floor, Edward having gently lowered me down as he sat on the hardwood floorboards.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, pushing one slightly sweaty strand of hair out of my eyes.

I grinned contentedly, the sudden gelatinous feeling in my limbs causing me to drop my head back against the door, my eyes alighting on a casualty of our hasty coupling.

"I'm more than fine, I can't say the same for our front door though," I giggled, pointing up at the hand-sized hole punched through the stained timber.

Edward had the good grace to look a little sheepish, especially since he'd been so good at not destroying any furniture or soft furnishings during our lovemaking since we'd moved in.

"I may have gotten a little…over-enthused," he said lightly, though I could see a slight hint of recrimination in his gaze that came from his inevitable thought that it could have been me he'd broken and not the door.

Determined to not let him dwell (and wanting to get off of the floor, hardwood may look pretty but it's exactly that…hard), I lightly ran my fingers down his chest.

"You know, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind…there was supposed to be more begging," I said slowly, peering up at him from beneath my lashes, a little move that Alice has assured me was perfect for appearing alluringly innocent. Of course, knowing me, it looked ridiculous but Edward seemed to like it, judging by the stirring I could feel between our still joined bodies.

"What my Bella wants, my Bella gets," he said huskily and the entryway disappeared before my eyes, a slight breeze whistling past as he vaulted up the stairs with me cradled against him. I think skipping class just became my new favourite hobby.

"There is no freedom without death Bella…especially mine."

The words reverberated around my skull as the darkness closed in around me, all air forced from my lungs by the Volturi's clawed grip on my throat. Suddenly, the grip vanished and I dropped wheezing to the ground, my mouth gasping open as I tried to draw as much oxygen in as possible.

Looking around, I froze as I found myself in unfamiliar surroundings, the red brick buildings of Forks High replaced with the interior of a small cottage, the thatched roof leaking water to the ground as I came to hear the sounds of Mother Nature's fury battering the walls. Shivering, I pulled my cloak tighter around me…cloak?

I looked down, my small form was drowning in the ash-coloured cloak of a Volturi, a sickening feeling rising in my chest as I tried to comprehend what was happening. A murmur of voices broke into my thoughts, growing ever louder till one was positively shrieking, the high-pitched shout tinged with panic and denial.

Spinning, I found I was no longer alone in the cottage. A group of figures, dressed the same as me were gathered around a woman who was backed up against the cold stone wall, fire and desperation in her eyes. She was beautiful, with thick black hair cascading around a pale face, her crimson eyes marking her as a vampire as surely as her ethereal beauty did. She was screaming in a language I did not recognize, the icy calm I had come to associate with vampires nowhere to be found as she tried to keep the enclosing Volturi at arm's length. A soft whimper sounded from behind her and I strained my neck to see its source, to see who she was protecting with all the fierceness of a mother bear.

Hidden behind her skirts was a child, a green-eyed child, my nightmare child, looking as young as I had first seen him. Yet something was different, something was not right. His eyes…his eyes were young, filled with terror and tears but none of the age-old weariness I had come to expect in his tortured gaze. This child was as young in soul as he was in body, as yet untouched by the cruelties of life.

With a cry, my head jerked up as the Volturi finally grabbed a hold of the woman, pulling her ruthlessly away from the boy. His tears became a torrent as one of the vampires snatched him from the ground, his squirming body held tight as he tried to reach the now-hysterical female vampire, who was being restrained by three of the Volturi, her every muscle straining as she tried to free herself to no avail. She was hauled out of the cottage into the driving rain, lightning illuminating her distraught features before she disappeared from view, still screaming, though now it was only one word, one name.

"Gabriel! Gabriel!"

"She tried to hide me so she was punished."

My gaze whipped back to the other side of the room, apprehension filling my veins. The last Volturi and the crying child were now frozen in time, appearing as nothing more than macabre statues but next to them stood a young teenager, familiar haunted, pained green eyes burning into mine.

"She tried to hide me so she was punished," he repeated, gaze dropping to the ground.

"Why?" I croaked out desperately, "Why was she trying to hide you? Who are you?"

"I'm something that shouldn't exist, something that defies all laws, something alive yet blessed by the gift of the dead."

His head raised again, sorrow shining in their depths. All noise outside the cottage ceased abruptly, replaced by the slow beating of a fragile human heart…of his human heart.

"I need you to save me Bella, you're the only one who can."

I shot up gasping, my chest heaving with exertion as awareness slammed full force into my senses. Through heavy curtains, I could see the last fading rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon as I bunched the comforter underneath my grip, trying to bring my racing heart back to its normal speed. I now knew, without any doubt in my mind, that my nightmare child was real…that he was real, that he was human and for whatever reason, he was relying on me to save him from…something.

Footsteps sounded across the hallway and Edward appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening with worry as he took in my disheveled appearance and frightened expression. After we had rather enthusiastically carried out my plan, checking off all three components of a bed, no clothing and begging, he'd left me to rest as he tried to find someone to fix the door, and sleep had quickly overtaken my spent form. Though from the view outside, I must've only been out for an hour or so.

"Bella, what is it, what's wrong?"

He crossed the room in a split-second, pulling my shivering form into his arms as his eyes skimmed over me for any visible signs of injury. I savoured the feel of his cool embrace, burying my head against the curve of his neck.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong…just had a weird dream."

"No don't, don't do that," came his sharp reply, pulling back from me and pinning me with his frustrated glare.

"I know something's wrong Bella. You've been having nightmares since our honeymoon, ones that leave you in a cold sweat and shivering. You've been jumping at shadows and seeing things that aren't there. I want to help you love, but I can't do that if you don't talk to me, because in your case, I am not a mind-reader, remember?"

I bit my lip, wanting nothing more than to tell him everything, to tell him all about the mystery child. I wanted him to comfort me, to tell me that everything was going to be fine, that we would figure this out together but something held me back. A whisper in the back of my head said keep the secret, don't tell, keep the secret to keep him safe, a whisper that grew ever louder as I opened my mouth wordlessly a few times, trying to begin the conversation. The whisper grew into a roar and I gave in, dropping my head to my chest.

"I told you, nothing's wrong Edward. They're just nightmares, please drop it."

"I can't Bella, everything that affects you affects me. You are my life and I need you to be honest with me, please."

His voice was almost my undoing but the chanting in my head returned with a vengeance, scrambling my thoughts til all I knew I wanted was for him to leave it alone, to leave me in peace.

"Just leave me alone!" I yelled, a sudden, irrational anger colouring my words.

Silence descended over our bedroom at my outburst before I heard the rustle of fabric and found the courage to lift my gaze, only to find Edward pulling on a shirt and shoes, eyes averted from the bed.

"Wait, where are you going?" I asked, panic welling up in my heart. He couldn't leave, I didn't want him to leave. To stop asking me about the dreams yes, but actually leave?

"I'm going hunting," he said evenly, his voice betraying none of his emotions and I was too much of a coward to look him in the eye and see the hurt I knew my perceived lack of trust in him had caused, "I'll be back before sunrise if you decide you want me around you again."

Without another word, not even a goodbye, he pushed open our balcony door, jumped effortlessly to the ground and disappeared into the foreboding darkness of the forest.

What had I done?