Edward.

My eyelids instinctively closed as my fingertips fluttered gracefully amongst the piano keys. The melody was new to me, stirring inside of my head as I allowed it to project through my fingers. It reminded me greatly of Bella's lullaby, but it was different. It was more .. powerful, more demanding.

I frowned immediately. Her lullaby didn't need to be remixed because of our issues at the moment. The composition was supposed to reflect on how beautiful she was to me, and pounding heavy notes into wasn't going to help resolve our problems in the slightest. I sighed, and pounded both hands on the keys, causing a loud mixture of keys to clash loudly. I kept my eyes closed, before lowering my head and resting my forehead softly against the frame of the grand piano.

Bella's vampirism was probably the single most astonishing thing I have ever witnessed in my life. As a newborn, she wasn't incredibly blood-thirsty. She managed to keep her hunting habits scheduled around the same time as the rest of the family. She lived in this house without causing an uproar. She was content, and she was perfect. She was amazing, just as she always has been.

But this was terribly hard for me. Even now, sitting in this room, knowing that Bella was just upstairs was unbearable. This wasn't us. This distance certainly wasn't comfortable, and I knew she felt the same way. We had always been so together, so complete. This wasn't normal, nor was it right. We belonged together, now more than ever.

But I was so torn, so confused, that I didn't know how to fix things. Every normal, healthy relationship has it's complications, I knew that. But what Bella and I share is far from normalcy. In my opinion, my love for her withstands any kind of love known to man. The proof? She was here, right now. If my feelings for her weren't so extraordinary, she would've been dead quite some time ago.

Sighing once more, I raised my head. I rose from my spot at the bench, and crept quietly out of the room. I heard laughter, and my stomach swelled immediately. Her laughter. It was still the most beautiful sound in the world, and just hearing it brought a smile to my face. I stepped closer, and leaned my head into the next room. Bella was sitting cross legged on the floor, next to an excited Emmett. He had set up one of his game consoles, an Xbox 360, I believe. The smile was evident on her face, her eyes determined as they twinkled up at the screen in concentration. I couldn't erase the toothy grin that was glued to my face. Watching her like this, happy and playful, only pushed my feelings for her into overdrive.

I heard a soft chuckle from the opposite side of the room, and turned to see a grinning Alice. She was perched on the sofa, her knees raised to her chest, while she rested one of those ridiculous celebrity tabloids on the top of them. Getting harder, I bet. I scowled at her, and she smirked, before turning her eyes back to the magazine in front of her. By now, Bella and Emmett's game had finished, and both were staring curiously up at me from their places on the floor. I gave them a forced smile, before surrendering my strength, and plopping onto the couch next to Alice.

That dress is hideous. You shouldn't even be allowed to go to a junk yard in that, let alone an award's show! I laughed softly, but she didn't pull her eyes from the magazine. I glanced back at the television, to where Bella and Emmett had begun their next game. It was some skateboarding game, which frankly, Bella was horrible at. I didn't have a doubt in my mind that Emmett already knew of this, and chose the game on purpose.

Wow, that one is gorgeous! I have to find out who designed that, I'm going to have to- Her thoughts stopped abruptly, and I immediately sat up in concern. She was going to have a vision. I moved closer to her, and watched as her eyes glazed. I watched in silence as the vision begun.

A deserted highway. Dark gray pavement with a solid, yellow line to separate it. It was night, the sky was dark with the exception of the bright full moon. Two people stood silently, moving slowly, circling each other. Victoria was hunched, teeth bared as she growled menacingly at the other. Bella growled back, moving closer to the furied red-head vampire. Her arms were stretched, prepared for Bella's attack. Something in the distance caught Bella off guard, and she whipped her head up to listen. Before she could turn back around, Victoria had already sprung, knocking the two to the ground.

"No!" I snapped viciously. Alice was already standing, her eyes fixed on me. The noises of skateboards grinding against metal bars came to a halt, and I heard one of the controllers drop to the ground. I whipped my head to where Bella sat. Her face fell when her eyes met mine. In less than a second, with her new vampire speed, she was sitting next to me.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

I couldn't say anything. I opened my mouth to speak, but I felt the anger creeping up towards my throat. Regretting what I might say, I closed it. I turned to Alice, looking up at her as she stood before me.

"When?" I asked through my gritted teeth. She frowned, and her shoulders lowered in disappointment. I'm sorry, Edward. I have no idea.

I could feel my entire body tense, and my knuckles bound into tight fists. I raised my left arm to smash it into Esme's glass coffee table, but a small hand grabbed it before it made the impact. I gasped at the feeling of Bella's fingers. She pulled my fist into her lap, and I uncurled my fingers. She held onto them as she stared at me in desperation.

"Edward? Alice, what did you see? Please tell me!"

I groaned, and lowered my head. Bella's fingers entwined with mine, and the change in me was extraordinary. I felt myself calming, and for a second, wondered if Bella had inherited the same kind of power as Jasper's, but I knew that it was just her touch. It always had that effect on me, even when she was human. Her fingers tightened around mine, and I finally looked at her. I couldn't lie to her. Not now.

"Victoria," I muttered, spitting the name out as if it were something revolting that I just tasted. She gasped, and her stillness made me nervous for a few seconds, before I heard her inhale a sharp breath.

"Well, she can't do anything, right? I'm a vampire now. I'm strong," she announced. She spoke with such confidence and clarity. If I didn't know what Victoria was capable of, I would've believed her. I shook my head, earning another frown from Bella.

"It's eight against one, though. Surely, she can't do any damage!"

It was my turn to tighten my hand, grasping her own fingers tightly. She noticed my behavior, and scooted closer to me on the couch. I was grateful. She was the only person who had the power to calm me like this. Not even Jasper could break through my anger. Only her.

"Bella, in the vision, it was just you and her. You got distracted and turned your head, and she lunged at you. And then it stopped," Alice explained, frowning as she finished the sentence. I sighed once more, the vision of Victoria toppling onto Bella flashing through my mind. I let out another low growl. Bella was still as she sat next to me, letting the information sink into her. She let go of my hand, and I felt empty without the contact. She stood, and turned to walk away. She only made it a few steps, before she turned back to us.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to be ready to fight then, won't I?"


Bella.

I predicted it, of course. I knew Edward would jump at the chance to rebuttal my proposition. But regardless of the fact that he's against this or not, it won't change Alice's vision. And according to the vision, Victoria and I were going to have a face-off. One on one. Vampire against vampire. To be honest, it frightened me quite a bit. Sure, I knew that I had somewhat of an upper-hand, considering I was a newborn, and my strength probably tripled hers, but I wasn't skilled like she was. I needed to be trained, and taught how to fight.

Which explains why Edward was being so unreasonable. He had been the only other one to actually see Alice's vision, yet he refused to accept it. He sulked around, demanding that I give up on the idea of being trained, because I didn't need it.

"We're just going to see where Alice's visions take us. We'll be extra careful. She won't get near you. You won't need training," he had reasoned with me in a soft voice. I knew it was in his nature. He had always been protective of me. But damnit, I was a vampire now. I didn't need to be treated like the fragile, breakable little human that I was before.

Of course, his intentions were only the best, and I knew that, I did. But I couldn't help but think that he had absolutely no faith in me. He didn't think that I stood a chance against Victoria. It stung a bit. His love for me was adoring, and very much appreciated, but right now, especially after everything that was happening with us, it wasn't needed. At least, not this kind of love. This overprotective, barbaric, unnecessary shield that he casts over me. I hated it when I was a human, and I hated it even more now.

I was frustrated. It wasn't directed at Edward, or anyone else for that matter. I was just frustrated that things could never be normal. There always had to be someone out there that wanted to kill me. James, Laurent, and of course, Victoria. I was a death magnet, that was for sure. Let me tell you, it's incredibly annoying to always have to fear for your life. It's really draining, even for a vampire.

Which was why I was nestled in my favorite patch of grass in the meadow. Our meadow. He hasn't been here since he found me bitten. When I had left, I told Alice quietly, but loud enough for Edward to hear, that I was going to be here. There was hope in my chest that he would follow, and we would work things out. Because even to the extent of our issues right now, this was our sanctuary. It was ours, and I knew it would make things easier for both of us.

But I had been laying here for the past two hours, and there was no sign of him.

My eyes were focused on the sky. I'd move from star to star, analyzing each one as I tried to dig up some knowledge in my previous Astronomy classes. The information was vague, but it was there, hidden in the back of my mind. Once I remembered one small little fact, I was bombarded with everything that connected to it. It was a joyous feeling to be honest, to have everything connect. If only life could be that easy.

I sighed, and turned my head to study a new star, when something cracked quietly in the forest next to me. I gasped, and immediately sat up. I kept my eyes locked onto the dark entry of the trees, searching for any familiar topaz eyes. The silence took over, but I wasn't reassured.

"Edward?" I whispered, my voice shaking. Silence.

Maybe .. tonight was the night. Maybe Alice's vision was prolonged, and Victoria's attack would be tonight. It would explain why the Cullen's weren't with me. A sickening, horrifying chill ran through my bones, and I whimpered, standing to my feet.

"Who's there? Come out now," I demanded, trying to sound dominant and cold. But I failed. My voice broke with the last word, and I coiled back into my patch of grass, my head whipping in every direction for a sign of Victoria.

Another crack. It was the sound of footsteps against thin twigs. This time, it came from behind me. Before I could turn around, a new scent hit me. It was so foul, so disgusting that it burnt my nostrils just inhaling it. I bit back my gag, and turned around. I gasped, and froze immediately.

"Bella?"


Finally, some action! I'm sure you were all getting a little tired of just hearing about Bella & Edward's problems, so I'm actually beginning a plot now, haha. I love the Victoria action in Eclipse, so I had to make her my main enemy. Anyways, I hope I didn't disappoint. Let me know what you think. As always, your input is most important to me.