Okay guys, I am LOVING all of your reviews and I must say that I'm not sorry for leaving you hanging like that; it meant that more people reviewed. And I know I kind of lied to you, saying that this chapter would go up sooner if loads of people reviewed, but I honestly couldn't even THINK about writing lately. Oh well, it's here now, to the rescue!

A lot of you have theories about what happened. Well what if I told you that loads of you were wrong?

I'd be lying.

I'll shut up and let you read now.

Enjoy!

x

Bella's Take

"Edward! No!"

I heard the woman's agonized scream – Esme, his adoptive mother – and a wave of sadness passed through me, but I had to focus. I couldn't lose sight of my goal now. Unnoticed, I jumped up into the tree by his room, wincing as the flames roared up, and jumped in. His room was ablaze, and I could feel the heat burning my skin as if I was human again. How could he have survived in this? It was impossible surely.

But hopefully not irreversible.

I found him on his bed, unconscious from the carbon monoxide and smoke. He was very far gone – I could at least see that, though I'm no doctor – and a part of the ceiling had fallen near him. The flames were spreading very rapidly, and I ran over to where he was, picking him up effortlessly. I searched for a means of escape, but I couldn't see any. The window had collapsed and the door was entirely engulfed. I cursed and ran at a wall, knocking through it and out of the house, breathing silent thanks that I wasn't on the same side as his family; that sort of thing would be hard to explain.

I ran then, ran like hell into the trees surrounding his house. His breathing was shallow and every movement of mine made him wince in pain; I knew I didn't have long. I ran to a meadow I had found during one of my stays here in Forks a few years ago. I liked to come here when it was sunny and I would have to stay away from humans, and I had always remarked it as a secluded place if I ever needed to hide for a while. This was the perfect opportunity.

I laid him down gently, mindful of any of his burns. I couldn't see any of his normally pale skin; every visible surface was covered in singed flesh. He smelled horrible and my heart ached at the sight of so beautiful a creature ruined. I flipped out my cell phone, speaking as soon as I heard someone pick up.

"Hey, it's me. I need you to come help me, NOW. Yes, it's about Edward. Just bring the car and I'll explain everything. Thanks please hurry." I hung up before he could have a chance to argue or interrogate me, and prayed silently to whatever God was out there that they wouldn't let this glorious angel die.

I heard the soft purr of a car engine moments later, and scooped Edward up again before running towards the sound. I sighed in relief as I saw the man I considered my father outlined against the dark silhouette of the car.

"Bella," he called, worry plain in his tone as he ran forward to help me. "What the hell happened?"

"Fire…I had to save him. I couldn't let him die." I pleaded silently with him, willing him to understand my reasoning. He nodded.

"Very well, but he is very close to being lost forever, Bella, and you probably didn't help with exposing him to the outdoors like this….If you intend for him on surviving the night you'll need a miracle."

"Well…" I looked down, unsure of how to say this and how he would react. "I wasn't really planning on him surviving…"

I heard his quick intake of breath as he realized what I was saying. "Bella, have you gone mad? You cannot change him in his condition; he doesn't have enough strength to make it through."

"I think he does," I said stubbornly.

"But -."

"Look," I said, finally getting impatient, "Edward is going to die unless I do something, and I refuse to let him die." I spat out the word, hating having to say it. "I need your help though…to stop me if I can't stop myself." I looked down again.

I heard a sigh. "Of course, Bella." He embraced me, chuckling ruefully. "You weren't ever this much trouble before." I let the comment slide, placing Edward's motionless body on the hood of the car. I took a deep breath. I could do this, just focus and try not to get carried away in the blood. It hadn't been that long since I'd fed, but already my throat burned as my predatory instincts wanted to take over and take advantage of my unconscious quarry. I shook my head to clear it and put my mouth next to his neck, where I heard his pulse growing weaker, biting down, and my mouth filled with the sweet lifeblood of Edward Cullen.

Edward's Take

Everything hurt, but I couldn't wake up.

There was a great source of heat near me, and I could feel the pain as fire licked at my body, but I couldn't move, having to lie still as the fire spread throughout my body, lighting my mind on fire with explosive agony. It was excruciating.

I found myself wondering what I could have possibly done – what had happened – for me to deserve the fires of hell. I was pretty sure I was dead; only when you died and went to hell were you meant to experience such pain, but I couldn't remember dying. It was such a significant thing in your life, its end, and I was kind of disappointed not to remember it.

I kept hearing voices. One I recognized immediately; the voice of my angel, of Bella. She sounded worried and irritated, and I hoped it wasn't because of me. The other voice sounded familiar too, but I couldn't quite place it. I shrugged the thought away when I tried to open my eyes and failed; there was no sense in worrying about something you couldn't change or understand. I listened to their voices for a while – too low and soft for me to hear anything - then I felt a sharp pain in my neck.

If I thought that the fire before was bad, it was nothing compared to what happened next.

I cried out as pure agony coursed through my veins, spreading throughout my entire body, making every cell a quaking host of individual white-hot points of pain. I had never felt so much pain before; I thought that my skull was going to crack in two at the sensation. I was terrified that I had really gone to hell now, and would have to face an eternity of this terrible suffering. I heard a voice – Bella's voice – trying to console me. I felt her icy hands on my forehead and around me, holding me to her, but I was beyond reach. Her touch felt distant, a long way off. I tried to reach her, but was held back. I tried to picture her in my mind, but each time she faded away, leaving me alone. I cried out again as the pain returned, searing hot in my mind, until I finally blacked out completely, leaving only a dull ache in my head.

Bella's Take

"What do I do?" I asked desperately, gesturing to the prone form in the backseat, eerily silent despite the pain he must be undoubtedly suffering.

"Just take it slow. This will be entirely new to him. Remember how you were when you were first changed." He smiled as he looked away, his eyes glazing over as he lost himself in the memories of a past over seventy years ago. I nodded – I remembered all too clearly.

"How did you calm me down? Get me to listen?"

He smiled. "Newborns…" he paused, considering how to continue. "The scar that is left behind when we first become what we are…it remains extremely sensitive throughout our existence. For most newborns, it reminds them of the pain, the fire. Applying pressure or sometimes even touching it causes them to submit, for fear of experiencing the pain again. They are terrified of it, and quite naturally, but it also helps to calm them down, for they will focus on or do anything you request of them, because they do not want to feel the flames again."

I nodded. "I doubt he will need much coaxing."

The man I considered my father nodded with a slight smile. "And, as the newborn becomes more like you and I, Bella, the scar allows them to experience other things from the pressure on them."

I frowned in confusion. Other things? I voiced the question.

He laughed, his golden eyes dancing in amusement at my naïveté, and I suddenly understood.

Oh.

Other things.

If I were human I would be completely red right now. "Well thanks there, you just made me feel completely embarrassed and naïve all at once."

He laughed. "You're welcome." There was a pause, and then he said so quietly I almost couldn't hear, "He loves you, you know."

I nodded, smiling as I remembered Sunday night. Wow, was that only a few hours ago?

"I know."

"And?" I looked at him, surprised. He seemed agitated. "What are you going to do about it?"

Edward tensed very subtly. I wasn't even sure if I saw it right in the rearview mirror. It was like he could hear and was listening to everything being discussed. I paused, considering my answer, knowing that both the man I considered my father and the man I wanted to spend the rest of eternity with were waiting.

Suddenly I smiled. The answer was all too obvious.

"I'll love him back."

Awww, look at the cute little virgins. Haha, nah I kid. Kind of. They are virgins, but they won't be for long. ; Ooh yes I'm planning things. Mwahaha.

So anyway, yes Bella rescued him. And I don't know why I'm keeping the identity of the father figure secret; anyone who guesses though will be a cyber cookie. There are a couple of hints, but not many, so I won't be too bothered if none of you get it.

Anywho, you know the drill. I await your flood of reviews.

Au revoir, mes amis!

Love you all!

x