Edward's Point of View – (returning home after from his run)

I stayed out all night running and thinking about the vision Alice showed me and what Jasper said he felt coming from my emotions. Over the years I have seen different kinds of love from many different people and no two were the same. I have yet to find someone that had the effect that Isabella had on me with just one smile.

There have been many human and vampires both who tried repeatedly to pursue me to no avail, but I never had any interest for any kind of relationship. Tayna has been the most persistent of them all. It has become a game to her and every chance she gets she try to persuade me into giving her a chance. She is part of a vampire coven that we consider to be family so there have been numerous run-ins over the years, and I can only bet the same will happen for years to come.

I know every member of my family wishes I find a mate for very different reasons. They each have their own opinions but in the end they all just want what is best for me.

I tried to work out what I was going to do in my head all night, but no answer felt right. Alice had to call about four times to remind me that I promised that I wouldn't take off and told me that I better come up with a different option. By the morning the only conclusion I came up with was that I was going to do whatever I could to be closer to the woman who held my future. I just hope that after my stunt at the doctor's office that she would give me a chance. I needed to talk to Carlisle first before I did anything. Bella was still human and I have to be very careful with her. Not only that it will be dangerous but I also have to keep our secret. Carlisle will not be due back home until this evening so I stopped on the way back to hunt.

As I got closer to the house I could tell that Alice, Esme, and Emmett were the only ones home. Then I saw in Esme's thoughts that Bella was there also. The three women were in the kitchen while Bella was finishing up a meal prepared by Esme. Since when do we keep food in the house? Esme went to take Bella's plate when she started to cry. I rushed in the kitchen to see what happened. Bella allowed me to hold her in my arms until she stopped crying. It felt like everywhere we touched an electric shock would ignite my body on fire.

Later she told us what happened to her when she was in an accident and my heart broke for her. I squeezed her to let her know that I will always be there. It was hard hearing about how much she loved someone else before. It was the first time that I ever felt what is was to be jealous of someone. I was even jealous of her and Emmett's relationship; they were like real brother and sister. I had to come up with some lame excuse for him not to take Bella home.

That was the best night of my life. Between the kiss and holding Bella in my arms I knew without a doubt that she in fact truly was my mate. When Alice called in the morning it took everything I had in me to walk away from her but I really need to talk to Carlisle about what was happening between myself and Bella. I wanted to make sure if was safe for me to kiss Bella and what kind of effect that my venom would have on her.

I knew I loved her already but I did not want to take away her life.

"Carlisle, can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked as I walked into his study.

"Sure, what do you have on your mind?" He asked while motioning for me to have a seat.

"Actually I was hoping that we could talk on the way to the office" I stated. I didn't want to talk and express my feelings in a house full of vampires that could hear every whispered word.

"Sure, I will be leaving in about fifteen minutes."

After running up stairs and taking a quick shower I went in the kitchen to visit with Esme before I left with Carlisle. Alice came in a moment later on the phone trying to call Bella for the fourth time.

"Hello" I heard my Angel's voice as she answered the phone.

"Hello Bella, it's me Alice. I was calling to make sure you were up and ready to go to Port Angeles to start shopping" Alice said speaking into the phone while twirling around the kitchen like a ballerina.

"Oh hi Alice, I am just getting up but I should be ready in about thirty minutes or so" Bella stated. I told Alice to tell Bella to make sure she eats and to take her medicine before she leaves the house today.

"Ok I will be there in thirty minutes. And I hope you don't mind but Rose will be coming along with us. Oh and Edward wanted me to remind you to eat breakfast first and to take you vitamin." Alice relayed the message. I was however unaware that Rosalie was going to be accompanying them to the mall. I knew that she tried to limit the time she spent with any human. The daycare she worked at was the exception since Rose loved kids and this was the first time she could really be around them freely.

"Yes that is fine. Bye Alice, see you soon."

"Bye Bella" Alice hung up the phone with a smile on her face.

"So Alice, why is Rosalie going with you shopping today. I thought she didn't care for Bell" I asked.

"I don't." Rose said as she rounded the corner. "But for some reason Emmett does and I want to find out why. I also have to meet the girl that has gotten you all wound up" she finished with punching me lightly in the arm.

"Carlisle, are you ready yet?" I yelled desperate to get out of there. Carlisle appeared in the doorway.

"Yes we can leave now." I followed him to his Mercedes and got into the passenger seat. We drove awhile until we were out of any possible hearing range. I didn't know where to begin and I was getting nervous. What if I didn't get a good response to my questions and I realized that being with Bella was not a good ideal.

"Carlisle, I was wondering in all your years have you ever heard of a vampire and a human having a relationship where the human didn't end up dead or a vampire?" I asked as I decided to just cut to the chase. Carlisle was always straight forward with me and I knew that he will try to help me the best way he could without any ridicule.

"I am sorry but no cases where the human life wasn't taken in the end and nothing long term. Are you considering perusing Bella?" he asked

"I want to. She has been apart of my every thought since I laid eyes on her. I want nothing more then to spend the rest of eternity with her. But on the other hand I can't be selfish and only think about what I want." I told him.

"And how will you know what she wants until you ask her." Carlisle asked. I thought about that for a few moments and realized that she will not be able to make a true and honest decision without knowing the real me; the person behind the facades, the monster within. How could she possible love someone as vile as me?

"What about the physical aspects? I kissed her last night and I was concerned about what effects the normal venom will have on her?" I new the venom that was always present in our kind was different; it was like human's bodily fluid. But the venom that was produced when we feed was different; in a way it was perhaps more potent. I had so many questions that I didn't wait to give him a chance to answer before I asked the next one.

I was asking question after question and Carlisle answered all my questions the best he could and promised to look into a few other issues. The only problem was that when we walked into the office I was left with more questions then when I started.

The only thing that I was sure of now was that I needed to tell Bella the truth.