Learning to Breath

Disclaimer: None of these characters etc. belong to me. They all belong to the wonderful and amazing Stephanie Meyer. I don't think I could ever be that creative. Lol. Stephanie rules!

Author's Note: Hey peeps. This chapter shows the development of Edward and Alex's relationship, and shows more of Alex's Were side. Hope you like it! Oh, and I'm trying to decide whether or not to have a chapter or two with scenes from Breaking Dawn. Please share your opinions in reviews. I would love to know what you think. ; ) Peace!!!!

The Hunt

After a while, I sighed. "I should get going. Tasha will be making dinner." I said. Edward frowned, looking as unwilling to part as I was.

"I suppose I'll see you tomorrow, then." He said. I cocked my head to one side.

"You mean you're not going to sneak in my room tonight?" I asked. He blinked in surprise.

"Do you want me to?" he asked. I grinned, and straddled his lap. I pressed my mouth firmly to his, and focused on satisfying my hunger for him. I nipped at his lips, and shivered when I felt the low rumble of his growl. His hands gripped my hips, and my hands dug into that sexy hair of his. I moaned quietly when his tongue slipped between my lips to taste me more fully. I pulled away when I ran out of breath.

"Does that answer your question?" I asked, grinning. He flashed that sexy crooked grin of his.

"Yeah." He said. I kissed his nose, and stood.

"See ya later." I said, throwing him a wink over my shoulder.

EPOV

God she was amazing. Every time she kissed me, and wanted to do things that made the gentleman in me gasped in astonishment. I chuckled at that mental image. I leaned back against the couch, and sighed. I still didn't know so much about her. It seemed that I thought I had all my answers, until the moment she was gone, and a thousand new questions came rushing into my head. I frowned. It seemed to get harder and harder every time she left. I supposed now that everything was out in the open, we could spend a lot more time together. I smiled. I liked the sound of that. But, it was hard to be patient.

I waited until nightfall, and then another hour, to be sure she was in her room. And then I ran to her house. I scaled the wall easily, and then slid her window open. She was sitting at her desk, and when she heard me she turned and grinned. "Hello, handsome." She purred. I shuddered. I walked over to her, and scooped her up. She laughed breathlessly. I tossed her on to the bed, and she giggled as she bounced on the soft mattress. I pinned her beneath me, and her laugh turned to a gasp in .5 seconds flat. I grinned, and leaned down, and paused a breath away from her mouth. I growled.

"I missed you." I said, nuzzling her neck. Her scent was heavy, and filled me completely. I inhaled deeply. "You smell like freedom." I murmured against her skin. I was fascinated when her pulse jumped beneath my lips.

"You know, you couldn't have thought of a more flattering, not to mention sexy thing, if you had thought for a decade." She said. She flipped us smoothly, so she was on top, and smiled gently. She kissed me gently, and then snuggled into my side. I wrapped my arm around her, and kissed her silky hair. She was already ready for bed in a small, thin cotton tee, and lose sweats that rode low on her hips. She sighed. "So, what are we going to do this week?" she asked. It was nice, having a normal conversation. It was comforting.

"I don't know. Anything you like." I replied. She sighed, and smiled.

"That's nice." She murmured. And then she slowly drifted off to sleep. It was an amazing sensation, to have her fall asleep in my arms. I settled back, and waited for the sun to rise.

APOV

In the morning, I was still lying next to Edward, my face buried into his shirt. "Morning." Edward said, his voice husky. I smiled.

"Good morning." I replied…

The entire week went much like that. Although I must say that we caused quite a stir at school, with all our obvious change in behavior. He held hands, and kissed, and laughed, and many of the students stared. It was actually pretty funny. Especially when they stared with their mouths open.

After school, we would go for a short walk in the woods, then go to his house to visit, and then I would come home for dinner. Then of course, Edward would sneak through my window at night. I still had him come in that way, rather than just knock on the door, since I didn't know how Tasha would react, and I really didn't want to have that particular conversation with Nikki.

One day when Edward and I were walking in the woods, a deer bounded away from us as we approached. Edward's eyes darkened, and his muscles tensed, but then released. It was incredible, this other side of Edward. The predator. The hunter that called to the cat in me. I shuddered. Edward frowned. "Are you alright?" he asked. I nodded. He sighed.

"I should leave soon. I have to hunt. I really shouldn't have waited so long, but I've been distracted." He said, grinning. I laughed, but was thoughtful. I wondered if he'd be mad if I asked what was on my mind. He caught my speculative look. "What?" he asked. I bit my lip, hesitating. "You can ask me anything." He said.

"Well, I was wondering…" I began. He waited patiently. "If I could come with." I said slowly. Edward looked shocked, then horrified. "Wait! Let me explain." I said, throwing up my hands. He waited. "I know how it works. When you're hunting, you're more vulnerable to the scent of humans. But I'm not human. And I figure if I'm in my cat form, then it would be easy for you." I said. Edward considered, but then frowned.

"But why would you want to come?" he asked. I blushed.

"Well, it's sort of fascinating to me. The other side of you." I said. I looked into his eyes. "I have that same other half, Edward. I'd like for you to see it." I said. Edward sighed, then nodded.

"Okay. But the first sign of something going wrong, and you get out, okay?" he said, sternly. I grinned, and saluted him.

"Yes sir." I said. Edward rolled his eyes, and grinned. We walked on together, but I was secretly dying for tomorrow.

The next morning was Saturday, and sunny. The perfect day for a hunt. The trees would previde shade, so that Edward's beautiful glittering skin would not give him away. I wouldn't actually be hunting, though I might chase a couple critters. Raw meat had absolutely no appeal to me. Edward had left last night, to clear it with his family. Most had already hunted, but Alice and Carlisle agreed to come along just in case something went wrong. I knew Edward was just being over cautious, but it was sweet. In an annoying overprotective kind of way.

I walked to his house, in no hurry. The sun warmed my skin, and a breeze teased through my hair. I sighed in contentment, and then broke into a run. When I reached Edward's house, they were already outside, waiting for me. I grinned. "Hello, Carlisle, Alice." I said, giving them each a hug. Carlisle smiled, and Alice giggled. Then I faced Edward, and rose on my toes. "Hello my love." I murmured, and kissed him softly. His eyes melted, and he smiled.

"Hello. Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded.

"Be right back." I said. I ducked behind and tree, and stripped. I sighed as I changed, feeling the release of the shift.

I came back out, my clothes in my mouth. I gave them to Edward, who folded them and placed them on a nearby rock. I yawned, and stretched, flexing my claws. Edward was staring again, but so were the others. I sat down, and swished my tail. "Are we ready?" I thought exasperatedly. Edward blinked.

"Did you say something, Alice?" he asked. Alice shook her head. "Alex, I think I can read your mind." He said, breathlessly. I blinked.

"You can read my mind?" I asked.

"Yes. But, I don't understand why." He said, frowning.

"Who cares?! This is great!" I said, bounding forward. Edward laughed. I rubbed my fur against his cheek again. "Later, there are quite a few things I have to show you." I said. Edward looked at me quizzically. But I just bumped his shoulder. And walked towards the woods. They all followed silently. I walked next to Edward, and I could tell he was a bit amazed, probably due to my size. After a while, Carlisle and Alice went one way, and Edward and I went another.

When we were walking, we both caught a scent at the same time. I caught wind of a bunny, a personal weakness, and Edward smelled a small group of deer. I bounded off toward the rabbit, and Edward slinked off towards the deer. I came back after I'd caught it, then let it go again, and followed Edward's heavenly scent.

He was crouched low when I found him, and intent on something. I settled into a bed of moss to watch him. He coiled his muscles, preparing to spring, while I searched for what he was looking at. And suddenly I saw it. A puma, beautifully sleek and golden, licking its paw. I sprung towards it, letting loose a roar that shook the earth.

Edward didn't even have a chance to look for me. I was in between him and the cat in a moment. He looked at me, confused. I snarled at him, and crouched. Edward straightened, and held his hands forward in surrender. I looked back at the cat, who was crouching in fear behind me. I nudged her shoulder, and yowled. She licked my cheek, and bounded off towards the mountains. Lady Bast be with you. I thought. Edward looked so confused.

"What's wrong, Alex?" he asked. I looked from him back towards the direction of the cat.

"Don't you see, Edward? She's one of us! She may not be a Were, but she is a cat. It is my duty to protect all of my kind, as long as I am able." I said. Edward's eyes widened, and he looked sick.

"Oh god. I am so sorry. I didn't even think about it." He said. He seemed so sickened by the thought of hurting another like me, that I yowled softly.

"It's alright. You didn't see. It's okay." I said. I licked his cheek gently. Edward seemed surprised.

EPOV

I couldn't believe I hadn't seen before! Alex was almost too late. If I had killed that cat, and Alex had seen, I wasn't sure what I would have done. But at the same time I was sickened, I was in awe. She was so fierce, when she had leapt in front of the puma. All coiled muscle and power, and sharp fangs and claws. Amazing. She reassured me it was alright, and then licked my face. It was an interesting sensation. Her warm rough tongue felt odd against my marble skin but not unpleasant. She bumped my shoulder, and we headed out. I had already fed, but when I had found the mountain lion, instinct had taken over. I grimaced.

"I truly am sorry." I said. Alex growled.

"Edward, stop beating yourself up!" she demanded. I smiled a little.

"Sorry, I can't help it." I replied. Alex made a sound that I assumed was her version of a laugh. She bounded out of the trees, and into the sun. God she was beautiful. I smiled at her, as I walked out of the shade. She paused, and then went into a clump of trees to change.

When she came out, she was fully dressed. "God, you're beautiful." She said, before wrapping her arms around me and kissing me firmly on the mouth. When she pulled away, we were both short of breathe. I heard Alice's trilling laugh from behind us.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything." She said. I rolled me eyes, but Alex smiled.

"Nope. Come on, let's go in." she said, linking arms with Carlisle, then Alice. Alice grabbed my arm, and we all walked together up towards home.

Ending Note: Well, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! It took me forever to write, but I was kinda distracted today, so sorry if there's a butt load of mistakes. I'm still not sure if I should make this longer, and include scenes from Breaking Dawn, so please review!!!! Peace!!!! ~~~~~~~~:D~~~~~~~~