A/N: Hey guys. As many of you know, fanfiction lost a member of its community May 8th. Anyone who wants to know the details can go to Bronzehairedgirl620's profile page or the end of any of her stories. She was a very close friend of Daddy's Little Cannibal. All I ask is for you to keep her family and friends in your thoughts during ths time.

Dedication: Daddy's Little Cannibal. You won't be forgotten.

EPOV

These past three days were the most excruciating of my entire life. All I could think about was Bella. I wanted- no, needed- I needed her to wake up.

I kept getting flashes of that day as James tortured her in front of me. She had been so helpless, and I couldn't have done anything to help her without causing her more pain.

Today was the third day after we attempted to change her. She was supposed to wake up sometime today if it had worked, and I found that I couldn't bear to leave her side. I wanted to be there if- no, when she woke up. I had to believe she would. I don't know what I'd do if she didn't wake up.

I looked down at her unmoving body. Her wounds had healed earlier today and not even a scar was left. Carlisle told me that it wasn't a guarantee, but it was all I needed to see to know she'd wake. I put her hand in mine and sat down next to her bed. Now all I had to do was wait.

BPOV

I felt like I was floating. For a long time I didn't feel anything at all. I don't even know how long I was like this. It could have been seconds, minutes, hours, even days.

I didn't know what was going on, I couldn't remember anything, I didn't care until one word popped into my mind. It was only one word, but it was all it took to make everything come rushing back.

Edward…

For what felt like a few seconds, my whole life, from my youngest memories until before this happened to me, flashed in my mind's eye.

Everything went black again, then started to lighten, like someone was shining a light at my closed eyes. I tried to reach towards it, but it seemed to only get farther away. Somehow I knew if I didn't reach that light, I would never wake up. I'd leave the people I loved the most behind in a life they couldn't escape. I wouldn't do that to them. I couldn't.

I kept reaching towards it with all my might until a started to feel something warm in my hand. I closed my hand into a fist around that light. The light that would give me my life.

I slowly started getting feeling back in my body. There was a pillow under my head. I could feel material covering me and under my body. I was lying on something soft, I guessed a bed. My face was warm and I knew it was sunlight shining on my eyes.

Lastly, I felt something in my hand. It was cool and smooth. I didn't need to think about what it was. I tightened the stiff muscles in my hand a little and heard a small, almost inaudible gasp.

"Bella?" That beautiful, velvety voice that I had missed so much whispered hesitantly.

I felt myself smile a small smile and then there were two hands on mine. One of those hands ended up on my cheek, his thumb caressing my face. My smile grew bigger and I felt him turn.

"Carlisle! Esme!"

I heard their footsteps on the stairs and knew I shouldn't have been able to hear them. I also noticed that nowhere on my body hurt. I knew my injuries had been serious. I probably shouldn't have been able to survive them at all…

I immediately knew what happened.

They…They changed me…I'm a vampire now…

"What is it, Edward? What's wrong?" Carlisle asked in a strained but calm voice.

"Is she alright?" Esme asked him. She sounded so sad and worried. It broke my heart to hear her like that because of me.

"She's waking up! She squeezed my hand and smiled!"

He had never let go of my hand throughout all of this. I squeezed his hand again just to see what he would do.

As expected, he started freaking out…

"See? She just did it again! She squeezed my hand again!" He yelled. I grimaced at the loudness of his voice. I smiled again, though, when he almost started jumping where he stood.

"Okay, okay, Edward! Stop making so much noise. Her hearing is going to be really sensitive until she gets used to it being so heightened."

I felt a hand on the side of my face again and someone lifting one of my eyelids. My new sight was immediately met by the sun's rays. I squeezed my eyes shut, turned my head away and hissed.

"She definitely changed. Her eyes are black." Carlisle stated matter-of-factly.

"Bella! Love, you've got to loosen your grip. You're crushing my hand here…"

I loosened my fist quickly. I hadn't even noticed I'd tightened it!

"That's great!" He still had his hand in mine, even though I had practically crushed it.

"Ouch…Wow, better not get her mad anytime soon. Or at least until the rest of her human blood is used up."

That was definitely Emmet. His booming laugh followed his statement and I curled up into the fetal position, hissing with my hands over my ears. It hurt so much! It felt like my skull was going to split open!

"Emmet, shut the hell up! You're hurting her!"

The laughing stopped and was followed by him whispering, "Sorry! I forgot."

Someone put their hand on my shoulder.

"Bella, it's okay. Are you going to open your eyes?" Edward asked softly.

He sounded like he was trying to convince a scared child to come out from under the table…But that's exactly how I felt. Everything was so different and it happened so fast…I knew I had to open my eyes and face my new life eventually.

I stopped squeezing them shut and tried to open them. At first it was like I forgot how, but they eventually twitched. I tried again and they opened a little. It didn't seem so bad if I opened them slowly.

I closed my eyes and opened them a little wider. Things started to take shape in my vision. Half of my face was currently facing the pillow and I could only see the bed. I turned my head slightly and had to close my eyes again. The sun was so bright!

"Carlisle, can we put that shade down a little, so the sun isn't directly on her? Plus, her sparkling is starting to hurt my eyes."

"Sure. Esme, would you mind?"

The room dimmed a little and I slowly opened my eyes again, this time a little wider. I could see someone standing by the side of the bed. The door was open, too. In it were four pairs of restless legs. I smiled, seeing the smallest and largest on their toes.

Alice and Emmet…

"Bella?"

I turned my head some more and saw the man that had made my past life, and was sure to make the one just starting, worth living. I opened my eyes fully and smiled. He looked so concerned and worried for me.

I uncurled my body and slowly stretched out until I heard my joints pop.

He smiled. "Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty."

He stretched his hand out to me and I took it. He helped me into a sitting position and I looked up. I heard everyone gasp and tensed up. When I did that, Jasper moved forward, a wary look on everyone's face.

I looked up at Edward, confused. Why were they looking at me like that?

He knelt down in front of me and said, "We are only being wary because most newborns attack the first thing they see, unless they are restrained. The thirst when a new vampire wakes is usually unbearable. We didn't want to do that to you so we are just being cautious."

I nodded and looked down at my feet, understanding they had more experience with newborns.

He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head so I was looking at him. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Bella. We all went through the same thing. Do you want to try standing?"

I nodded and Edward took my arm. I was a little wobbly at first, but it didn't last long. Edward never let go of my arm the whole time.

I looked up at him after I stopped swaying and he was absolutely beaming at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

I tried taking a step and almost fell. Edward caught me before I fell completely, of course, and I got back on my feet.

"Want to try again?" I nodded and took another step.

I didn't fall this time, so I took another. I didn't fall that time either, so I kept going. I walked all the way around Edward, keeping one had on him in case I stumbled. He let go once I started to go around to his back. I stopped when I was back where I started and looked up at him. He was smiling at me and I could see the love and dedication in his eyes. This time, I was the one beaming.

Carlisle and Esme came around to each side of me and put a hand on each of my shoulders.

"Well, do you have anything to say? You've been quiet ever since you woke up." Esme asked me, squeezing my shoulder.

I looked down and thought for a minute. I knew exactly what I wanted to say when I heard Jasper let out a sigh and laugh softly. I sent him a look and turned to Edward.

"Why are you still so much taller than me?" I said.

It was quiet for a second. Then everyone completely cracked up and I gasped, not recognizing my own voice.

"What happened to me?" I asked quietly. No one answered me, though. Besides, I already knew what happened to me, and I loved it.

I looked around at everyone else and put my hands on my hips. Carlisle and Esme were trying to stop. Edward was doubled over next to me. Alice and Emmet were rolling around on the ground with how hard they were laughing. Rosalie was trying to keep herself up by hanging on the side of the door. Jasper was even laughing hard.

They had to have laughed for ten minutes. "You guys are so mean." I turned around and crossed my arms over my chest. "I was even being serious…It wasn't even that funny…"

Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper were the first to stop laughing.

"I'm sorry, Bella. That was just the last thing any of us expected you to say." Carlisle explained.

I felt arms wrap around my waist and Edward's chin was on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry love. You do realize I'm over six feet tall, right?"

"Yes. What does that have to do with this?"

"Well, before I was about a foot taller than you. Now," He slowly turned me around to face him. "You are only about four inches shorter than me."

He was right. The top of my head reached his chin now.

I smiled again. "Okay, I hadn't noticed that. I guess I was too busy learning how to walk again."

I heard snorting and turned around. Emmet covered his mouth and tried to keep himself from laughing again. I saw Alice doing the same.

"Thanks for the support guys." I said sarcastically.

I turned back to Edward to find him staring at me with a strange look on his face.

"Hey, Edward, why did everyone gasp when I stood up?"

"Because, ma belle, you are even more beautiful as a vampire than you were as a human. And I couldn't be happier that you are like us now."

"So, Bella," Carlisle said, "How are you feeling?"

I took a second to think about this. It was really hard to tell, since I didn't know how I was supposed to feel. And that's what I told him.

He chuckled. "Yes, I know what you mean. But is there anything that would have bothered you if you were still human?"

"Well, my throat hurts a little. Is that what you mean?"

"Yes, that is it exactly. That scratchiness is your thirst. I'm really surprised you didn't notice it before…"

"I was a little preoccupied before…" I threw a glance in Alice and Emmet's direction, and they hung their heads.

"Well, I think we should take care of that," Edward said, taking my hand again.

I smiled at him. "Yeah, let's go. I still don't like being the center of attention…"

A/N: Once again, I would like 5 reviews for this chapter. This story is waiting on you! I have all of it typed and uploaded so all you have to do is review! Flame if you think it's necessary! I respond to all of them, as well!