Play the Fox

Chapter Ten – Her Love

With foxes, we must play the fox. – Thomas Fuller

After my initial conversation with Bella, we always seemed to skirt around the subject. To my delight – and confusion -, she spent the better part of two weeks as a human. I didn't question her, not wanting to remind her of her discomfort when she wasn't in her natural form; it seemed that she had temporarily forgotten, and I didn't want to pass up the chance to hold her properly for so long a time.

She wasn't as lively when she was human, though; she was calm and centered, where as when she was a fox she was playful and easily excitable. In some ways, she reminded me of a cat; playful when they want to be, but if they don't feel like playing you better stay the hell away from them; case point, the issue of Emmett calling her a dog.

I would be willing to give you everything, you know that?

Bella's words circled through my mind the entire time, though; I couldn't escape them. When I was cooking a small – human – meal for her, they would bounce around. When she would wake up and blink her wide eyes at me in the morning, they would be barely pushed to the background, only to leap out and attack me later on in the day. They followed me everywhere, ghosting around every corner and hiding in every shadow until I came close enough for them to possess my mind. Bella seemed to notice that something was going on, but like the perfect creature she was, she would just start a conversation to get my mind off it.

"I don't understand why humans love television so much," she grumbled on one such occasion. As a joke, Emmett had went and purchased the first season of Angel – a spin off show from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even Carlisle had been slightly amused with the plot line, and everyone would pass through the room every once in a while to catch up on where the show was at.

"What's not to understand? It's perfect entertainment; I can't believe I once went without it!" Emmett chimed in, though Bella and I ignored him; he wasn't the most intelligent one in the family, and he was also stubborn in his ways. He wouldn't think about what Bella had to say, he only agreed with his own thoughts - unless, of course, Rosalie was in some way involved.

"Why don't you understand it, love?" I asked her, turning my attention away from said television and watching her expressions cross her face. Currently, they were a mixture of irritation, confusion, and annoyance; though, when she looked my way, I was delighted to see her eyes flash with love and adoration.

Her nose wrinkled slightly, and her eyes turned towards the ceiling as she put her words together. "The thing is, all these plot lines are already written in books, for one. And, also, if you are really bored, go outside and do something! Go have an adventure of your own, instead of watching fake experiences on a screen in your house."

What she said made a little sense, but there was so much you could argue about. "Darling, I think one of the reasons television was invented was also to bring important news to people; plus, everybody who has ever read a book they really loved has thought at some point that they would like to see it play out before them. That's what movies do."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Okay, I understand the part about the news thing. But, in modern society, it's like everyone has forgotten that there is more to life than your TV screen – what Emmett said, about not having it before; he never realized that he didn't have it. He spent his time doing other things, things that are way healthier than sitting on a couch with your eyes glued to a screen."

Good point. "Okay, you win." I smiled at her, enjoying the way she laughed and shook her head.

"I wasn't actually debating anything with you, Edward," she told me, but suddenly smirked and winked. "But I'm glad I won, anyways."

I laughed right along with her, and when we calmed down I held her face gently in my hands, bringing her lips carefully up to mine. It was like a fountain of sparks shot through my body and set me on fire; I couldn't help but to pull her closer and deepen the kiss. I forgot that we weren't alone, and only paid attention to my life, my everything. Her lips were so warm, so soft against my own.

It was the first time we had kissed – well, actually kissed. I had kissed her many times, and she had kissed me, as well; but this was the first time that our lips had met. In the kiss, I felt everything. How much she loved me, how happy she was, how much she didn't want the kiss to end. I felt the closest I had ever felt to her before, but it still wasn't close enough. The instinct to fully mate with Bella overwhelmed me, and I found my hands moving from her cheeks down to the bottom of her shirt, sneaking under the hem and feeling along her sides. Her skin was so soft.

Emmett started laughing at something on the show, and only then did I remember where we were. As much as it pained me to do so, I pulled away from her, suppressing the need to whimper as our lips disconnected and I pulled my hands out from under her shirt. Bella, on the other hand, felt no need to hide it, and whined quietly as she, too, pulled back. It seemed I wasn't the only one with an instinct to mate.

I laughed slightly, causing her body to shake as well. I couldn't remember when she had ended up in my lap, but I wasn't complaining. Her body was a little warmer than it normally was, and the heat was delicious.

"I love you so much, Bella," I told her, watching her eyes light up with my declaration. She already knew how I felt, of course, and I knew how she felt, but...

"I love you, too, Edward; more than anything." ... it was so much better hearing it out loud.

I smiled, but our peace was abruptly shattered as small scream and a crash issued from upstairs. I recognized the scream instantly, and so I wasn't surprised when my youngest sister came running down the stairs at full speed, Jasper close behind.

I tried to catch a glimpse of her mind, but I couldn't understand anything – for once, she was thinking to fast for me to keep up.

"Alice?" I asked her, but she stared at the door horrified. "Alice? What's wrong?" I stood up, leaving Bella on the couch, and placed my hands on her shoulders. Her eyes frantically flicked up to mine, but the fear never left. I shook her slightly, ignoring Jasper's low growl and angered thoughts. Don't push it, Edward. "Alice? Tell me what's wrong."

"Someone's coming." Her voice was just a breath, and by now the entire family was gathered around us. Bella had made her way over to us, and was now leaning lightly into my side, picking up on my sister's fear.

"Who? Who is coming, Alice?" Jasper asked her, trying to calm her down with his power, but for once it wasn't working.

"The wolves; they think we've made a new vampire." Her eyes studied the windows quickly, taking in everything, before returning to mine. "They're coming to kill Bella, and possibly us."

Okay, I would like to send a little shout out to Littlebug21 – you actually gave me the idea to add the wolves into this chapter. So, thank you!

Review, and remember me.