11

I took my time peeling off my wet clothes, whilst Edward had remained in the shower but I didn't blame him, I could not imagine how he felt after spending two hundred years in a make shift tomb. Although we didn't dirty like humans, we didn't sweat but I could certainly feel grimy if I didn't shower every so often, it was most likely a psychological thing. If I had spent even a year in a tomb, I would spend hours in a bath tub filled with bubbles just to feel normal again.

I put my damp clothes into the laundry hamper that sat snuggled into the corner of the room and wrapped the towel securely around my chest, making sure to fold it tight under my arms. Once the shower eventually turned off after some time of him mumbling trying to make sense of the workings of the shower, a contraption invented way past his entombment, I sat down on the edge of his bed. He walked into the room with his own towel wrapped around his waist, although it hung deliciously low on his hips, revealing his defined stomach and muscular v leading downwards.

I shook my head and stopped ogling him, choosing to instead look down at my feet and flip my damp hair out of my eyes. He chuckled half-heartedly, and took a seat next to me, although he gave me some distance, it was an extraordinarily large bed after all. It was relatively brand new which was odd to me, my room still had the same sturdy wooden bed from the 1800s but Edward's bed was definitely from this century, I didn't want to pry and ask him what happened to the bed we once shared.

"I was surprised you came back here," he spoke quietly, honestly, his voice thick of emotion.

If you had told me a year ago I would return to Volterra and sit on the same bed as Edward, I would have laughed in your face and scolded you for being so ignorant.

"Me too. Emmett mailed me the royal emblem coin so I knew war was upon us. I wasn't going to break my oath, no matter how much it hurt," I responded just as honestly, my voice nearly croaked at the end but I covered it well.

Silence lingered between us.

"I will never forgive myself for what I did to you. I caused you such pain and I am the one person who should protect you at all costs. I am so sorry Isabella," Edward placed a hand on my towel covered thigh as he spoke.

His apology meant a great deal, it sounded much more sincere than the apology he rattled off at the battle of Velinis. I covered his hand with my own, drawing little circles on the back of his hand. His skin felt odd, it was pasty white too. He needed to feed after his centuries of entombment. His own thirst hit me hard, venom pooled on my tongue, my fang like incisors broke through my gum.

"Are you okay?" He asked hesitantly, I turned to face him revealing my teeth.

He seemed shocked at my appearance. I entered his room with burgundy eyes and now they were black, with my teeth on full display, I looked incredibly different and it was all because of him and his insistence about not feeding.

"No, not whilst you refuse to feed. I feel the thirst you feel. As long as you refuse to feed, you are causing me pain. I cannot take it much longer," I strained out, clutching his hand. He squeezed it, looking at me.

"I couldn't feed earlier. I can't keep my mind off you. A sick part of me expected you to stay and help me through this, even in my weakened state, I feel more powerful, more dangerous than before. The entombment is something I never expected to work so well, I feel enhanced in every aspect but I don't trust myself feeding…not without you," he explained. His dark irises locked with my own, he was dazzling me and I was falling hard.

I let go of his hand, and paced his room. He just stared, curiosity getting the best of him.

"I will help you any way I can in regards to feeding. But things cannot go back to where they once were, I need more answers, you need to earn my trust and forgiveness Edward and it won't be easy, it could take some time," I bit out quietly.

It was hard to resist him, it would be so easy to fall back like puzzle pieces in perfect harmony and forget his lies…tackling our past would be much more difficult.

He stood and knelt in front of me, holding onto my left hand, his pale lips kissed the back of my knuckles and he looked up again, his vulnerability on show, which was incredibly unusual for him.

"I will do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness and trust back Isabella. I will wait forever if need be," he whispered quietly. I just hoped his remorse was genuine.

"I hope for both of our sakes, you do," I added just as quietly.

I didn't want to spend the rest of my existence feeling the pain of not being near my mate, the magnetic pull was hard to fight against, it went against every cell of my being to stray far from him.

He nodded and stood up gazing down at me, I had forgotten how he towered over me.

I reached up, tracing the scars of his dismemberment on his neck. He didn't even flinch when I traced them which I found odd, considering I was the culprit.

"I nearly killed you, how can you stand to be so close to me?" I enquired. I was genuinely curious about this. Hell, I was surprised I wasn't in the castle's dungeon awaiting execution.

He smiled again but it didn't reach his eyes as he tucked a stray loose hair out of my eyes.

"I didn't fight against you did I? If it made you feel better, I would have let you kill me. If that is what it took for you to end the hurt of losing your parents, I would have happily have perished for you Isabella," he spoke confidently down towards me, his sweet breath was enticing me.

"Even now? If I wanted to kill you now, would you resist?" I challenged, taking a step back so I could see his reactions better.

A pang of hurt crossed his features but he stepped back and spread his arms wide and closed his eyes.

"If that is what you need Isabella, do it. I can only hope you wouldn't let me suffer. This time I won't raise a hand against you. I regret that abhorrent action immensely, I promise not to resist or ever raise a hand against you again," he pledged, kneeling again at my feet.

He was vulnerable again, ready for death at my hands. I stood for some time contemplating my actions. I couldn't do it, no matter how much pain he caused me.

I kneeled so I was somewhat level with him and lifted his chin with my finger.

"I don't want you dead. It sounds ironic but I don't think I could exist in a world where you did not live," I replied with a smile.

He opened his arms and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I promise you, I will explain myself and reasoning for keeping your parent's fate a secret after this war, there is much more to their story, please believe me," He pleaded into my hair.

I nodded, feeling the tears begin and roll down my cheeks. He stroked the blood out of my eyes and kissed my forehead. I wasn't ready to hear what he needed to say about them, not whilst we were at war. I could not let it conflict against me as a soldier.

We stayed like this for some time, him holding me against his bare chest, and I let him hold me together again. After everything, it was the one place that I felt safe and loved. I still couldn't let myself forgive him so easily but for now, we were on amicable terms which was better than what we were before I nearly killed him.

"Anyway, we need to go," I piped out, sometime in the evening. The room was filled with shadows and next to no light, it was the perfect time.

I stood up and opened his wardrobe, Alice of course stocked it with appropriate clothes for this time period. Edward would fit right in with the fashion of this century. I threw some dark jeans at him, followed by a dark blue button up shirt and some boxer shorts.

He held up the boxer shorts with a mystified look.

"Are these undergarments? They are so small and barely cover anything!" he exclaimed, stretching the waist band.

"Yes, get them on prince charming," I laughed, snatching one of his t shirts for myself. He hadn't even seen woman's underwear, I could only imagine his reaction to what some woman wear, some underwear covered very little.

His t shirt was of course too long for me but it would suffice. I ran across the hall into my own room and pulled on some black leggings and flat shoes.

I waited for him outside his door. He joined me in the hallway and I inspected him appreciatively. Jeans definitely suited him, it was much better than the fashion of 1800s but Edward had suited breeches and tights but jeans gave him a more masculine appearance.

"Where are we going?" He enquired, looking me over. He was used to me in dresses and too many layers of clothing.

"I made Alice a promise, you are going to feed and I will be there to help," I responded confidently, leading the way out of our tower.

A/N- Bella is remaining strong, Edward is not forgiven but there is no harm in her finding some comfort in him.

See you all next Friday!

-Not A Morning Girl