A/N: Short chapter today folks. Sorry. But hey, it's in Edward's POV.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Nine Months

Chapter 9

"February"

Edward's POV

She stood there, her eye widened, and scared. Bella was scared of me. Yet, she wanted to know the truth. The truth about me. About vampires.

I swallowed hard, forming the words carefully in my mouth. There was no reason to frighten her further. This ill, dying mortal shouldn't suffer any longer. I loved her too much, though, to not tell her the full truth.

"What are you?" she demanded, hissing through her teeth.

My teeth clenched, hoping that I could get away with a little lie. But the determined look plastered on her face told me wrong. I kept my expression calm, emotionless. Eyes narrowed. Mouth lined. No muscle movement. "You know?" I asked, my eyes not leaving her blinking brown ones.

"No, I don't," she denied, yet she knew quite well.

"You do, unless you wouldn't be here."

"What are you?"

I paused for a moment, realizing that once I told her, everything was going to change. "I'm a vampire."

Her head shook as she backed away. "No…it can't be true. This can't be happening," she whispered, running down the steps towards her car.

I had to catch her. She could be going to the police or…the government, revealing our secret. Although, they would call her crazy and place her under watch, that didn't mean our government wouldn't get involved. The Volturi were ruthless when something like this happened.

In moments I flashed before her. She was taken back from my appearance and stepped back even more. "How did you…?"

I placed my hands up in front of me to prove I meant her no harm, but she only back away farther. "Bella, please you have to listen to me."

She shook her head quickly, trying to circle away around my dangerous body. "No, I don't want anything to do with you."

Her worn out shoes hit the dry pavement as she swerves around my stone body. Bright red tail lights light up a small proportion of the area. The red truck popped and growled as it screeched into the darkness.

I ran after her, flying through the trees. I would reach her home before she did and would have to climb through her small window in her room. It was high but nothing compared to what I have done in the past.

Her room was dark, empty. No noise illuminated from the entire house. Charlie must've not been home. Good, it would be easier that way.

Lights entered the room as Bella pulled up in the drive way. I peered out the small purple curtains, getting a quick glance at her frightened expression. She looked more stressed then frightened in my eyes. This wasn't good.

I knew she would be in his room in less than a minute so I made myself scarce and hid behind the closet door. When she entered the room I could smell her sweet aroma radiating off her body, mixing in with the sweat she had occurred by a sudden fever. I wanted her bad.

Her breathing was heavy as she paced around her room like a maniac. I could smell the confusion off of her. That's when I appeared in front of her, backing her up against the wall. "Bella," I breathed in her ear, making her whole body tense up. "Please don't be afraid of me."

"No, no," she pleaded, sinking to the ground. "Please…"

I grabbed her arms, not roughly, but hard enough to get her attention. "Bella, please there are things you need to know and understand. Dangers. Things more dangerous than me."

"No, let me go!" she screamed, fighting to get free from my hold.

"Bella!" I snapped, my mind growing frustrated, until calming down. "I would never hurt you. You know that."

She shook her head. "But what you are…"

"I don't drink human blood. That's how I choose to live. I don't hurt humans, and I would never, ever hurt you."

"Your family?"

"Yes."

She bit her lip, shaking, teary-eyed, and scared. "But I beg you Bella. You cannot tell anybody."

"But…why?"

"Because you knowing only puts you in danger. Something I never wanted. There are vampires out there more dangerous than me, ones that won't hesitate to end your life. Cancer or not, they will kill you. You can hate me, but for now, you need to trust me."

She breathed hard, her air flying in my face making my mouth water. "Just go," she whispered, as if she was blowing a feather. "If you need me no harm then you will go."

I had to respect her wishes. I had given her a promise and I had to make sure to keep it.

Until I could no longer protect her.

Days grew into months and I had no connection with Bella. I tried but every time I got close, she would just walk the other direction. When I tried to call, she would hang up immediately. She wouldn't even open the front door to her house and I knew climbing her window was out of the question. In other words, the girl was still afraid of me. But I loved her too much to let her go so easily. There had to be some way to get her back. Some way to make her mine forever. That's when the idea of creating her into a vampire appeared in my head. "No," I told myself. "I could never do that to her."

Once she turned, she would lose her family. She would have to leave and never return. I couldn't do that to her while Charlie was under his alcohol condition. Besides, she hated me now. Why would she ever want to be with a monster like me anyways? It wouldn't make sense.

On Valentine's Day I had a plan to tell her everything. My past, vampires, what exists and what doesn't. I didn't care if the Volturi got involved. I would protect her any way.

I had brought things teenage girls were into. The things their boyfriend would bring them for Valentine's Day or be dissed for the rest of the day. I knew Bella wasn't into gifts but I wanted to at least give her some flowers.

The bright red roses bounced lightly as I strolled down the hall towards Bella's locker. The girl had a constant schedule I knew that much and would always be at her locker around eight fifteen every morning. Except today.

People walked by me without notice. The roses in my hand felt lack. Something was wrong.

Just then my phone rang and I knew right then something was happening to Bella. There was a reason why she wasn't here.

"Yes?" I answered, not bothering to look at the ID.

"Edward?" it was Carlisle, and he sounded concerned.

"Carlisle…" I said, swallowing hard, "Bella…"

"She's here at the hospital. Charlie called the ambulance this morning after finding Bella on the bathroom floor unconscious."

My eyes widened with fear. "Carlisle…"

"I would get here as soon as you can," he told me. Then he hung up.

Panic officially set in as I ran out of the building. I didn't bother taking my car either; the amount of time running there would be shorter than taking a car. And I was right because in minutes I was through the hospital doors and in Carlisle's office.

"Where is she?" I demanded, slamming my hand on his desk.

He signed, placing the phone back onto the receiver. "Relax Edward; Bella will be fine but…"

"But what?"

"She isn't…her condition is getting worse."

"What do you mean?" I asked, slowly, stepping away from him.

"Edward, you must understand that Bella is sicker then you realize, then she realizes. The things that girl has been through…it's weighing heavily on her condition. I'm afraid there isn't much time."

I growled, growing frustrated. She may only have a few weeks left. Carlisle's voice rang through my head. I shook mine, hoping it wasn't true. "No, you're lying!"

"Edward…"

"Then why don't we change her?" I asked, desperate to keep her alive.

"Edward…it's harder than it looks."

"What do you mean harder than it looks?!"

Then Carlisle came around and placed a hand gently on my shoulder.

"She wouldn't survive the transformation."