Rising Sun

Chapter 8 – The Beginning of the End

With snow-white veil and garments as of flame,

She stands before thee, who so long ago

filled thy young heart with passion and woe."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It became my goal for her to enjoy this honeymoon as much as possible. And I'll admit it; I did everything in my power to wear her out in the process, because if she was too tired, she didn't have to think about the one thing that was missing from the honeymoon.

It wasn't really too hard. Bella wouldn't admit it, but she enjoyed the great out doors as much as I do. We had explored Forks and the surrounding woods during our courtship. We found hidden valleys, rivers and forest. We had climbed to the highest canopies and gazed at the stars in the sky (when weather permits it).

This island wasn't much different. We snorkeled, hiked, swam and even sail. I gave her, her first lessons the third day we were here, it surprise me that she was a natural. I even joked with her that she had been lying about growing up in a desert.

We saw parrots and dolphins – most that stayed away from me. During those times we talked too. Talked about the past and the presents, she had expressed the love of traveling and there were places I wanted to take her to. We argue and debated music and literature. She expressed an interest in to attending college, when she was ready.

Before it seemed like there was never enough time to be with her, that I seemed to share her with the universe. But here on the island she was totally mine. I didn't have to worry about some outside influence taking her away, dividing her attention.

We talked a lot about her becoming a vampire; I was still surprised that she had a lot of questions about it.

"Do you think I will remember any of our time together," she asked one afternoon as we lay out in the hammock, our feet brush the water. The warm air was making it sway ebb and flow with the tides.

"There are things that I remember about being human."

"What happens if I forget about you, us our time together," she asked studying my hand. I could see the glistering off, bouncing the lights on her face.

"Than I would court you all over again," I said. "I would take you to the same place for our first date. Take you to our meadow and tell you all about being a vampire. I would go with you to prom and force you to dance."

She laughed. "And give me dirty looks the first day of biology."

"Well I would hope you would forget that."

"I wouldn't want to," she said honestly.

"You wouldn't," I had to ask, thinking back to that first day of biology with her. While I sat there trying to not kill her, she thought I hated her for some strange reason. It was first of many misunderstanding between us. If I were to court her all over again I defiantly have done things different. I don't know how but would have.

"I might not have understood it at the time, but you were trying to protect me," she said turning to face me. "Now that I understand why you were acting like that, I can now appreciate it."

I never thought of it like that. Each mistake had been a learning point for both of us, building something stronger. I couldn't promise I would never make another mistake but I could promise that I would try harder and trust her.

Nights were a different matter. I really didn't think my plan through. The problem was she was sometimes so exhaust that she fall sleep in during dinner. I had to be the one who changed her and got her ready for bed. It wouldn't be a problem if I was trying to avoid any contact with her naked body.

Plus, I had to sleep with her. The temperature was too hot for her not to have my cold body press against her. So while she sleeps soundly through the night, I sat up in agonizing over what was being pressed up against me. How come her blood never tempted me after the first taste like her body?

I was in pure misery during the nights.

And to make matters worse, I had allow Alice to do the packing and each night the lingerie keep getting more and more inviting. Alice had known my taste enough and what looks good in Bella to pick out some of the most incredible pieces. And I would have enjoyed it fully if I wasn't trying to do the right thing.

One night, about a week later, we went to Rio to listen to Samba. I had some CD back home, but there was nothing like listening to the pure rhythms being played lived. She had asked me a lot of questions about the music, and trying the best I could to explain it to her without using a lot of terms. I had study music all my life, my mother was actually a famous opera singer in her youth, so I had grown up around music.

When I started out, I wasn't very good, but was persistent I became better. With indefinite time on my hands I became somewhat of a perfectionist.

We walked along the streets, holding hands; we looked like a normal couple. She was dressed in a cute little dress that seemed to flow on her. An Alice original, a honeymoon present as she puts it. To her, Bella was a new model, a new inspiration. Her body type was completely different from Rose and Alice was in her glory.

Bella seemed to be more confident in that dress; she had more of sway to her hips. Which haven't escaped the noticed of the local men. They had kept their distance, most of them having some clue on what I was, plus a few growls here and there had helped.

I wanted her to experience the world as much as possible as a human before she sees it through a vampire's eyes. I had been to Rio once, with Carlisle when he was in the mist of purchasing the island. It had been almost seventy years ago, when the music was still being just played on the streets. I remember watching a couple of people dance to it one night, lost in the movements.

I had fallen in love with it because it likeness to Jazz.

We had stopped at a local place that had been recommended to me by the cab driver. He had pointed it out as we flew through the streets towards the docks. The place was actually a little hole in the wall, but according to Bella had the best Brazilian food that she has ever tasted.

"You had Brazilian food?" I asked as she finished up the frango com quiabo.

"No, but I did eat a lot of Mexican food back in Phoenix," she said.

"Taco Bell is not Mexican food."

"Actually it wasn't Taco Bell, we had a small Mexican Restaurant near my house, it was kind of fun because they didn't speak English and we didn't speak Spanish so mom and I weren't always sure what we ordered."

"You think you are going to miss food," I asked. I forgot that food was supposed to have a taste. To me it just didn't smell or look editable.

"Not really, I don't eat much."

"Yah, kind of notice that one," I said. Her usually lunch was yogurt, a sandwich or a salad and diet coke."

We finished up and walked around a bit. "You seemed to be eating more," I said, surprised that she finished all that was ordered.

It seemed that her diet had taken a curve lately and she was eating much more. Mostly eggs. Maybe being out of the damp air had done her some good.

After dinner we strolled around the shops, we still had another hour left before the place we were going to was opened. She stopped for a second to look at something in one of the galleries windows.

"You like it," I asked. She had never shown that much of an interest in art. There were some pieces in the house that she had mentioned that she liked. But as many art galleries that we went to, she never stopped at piece like that. The colors were a lot bolder than my taste, but I could see what she found so appealing. She liked bright colors, the pieces that she did like in the house seem to be on the brighter side.

"It's happy and warm."

"Romero Britto, he is a pretty well known pop artist. I went to one of his showing when he was in California." This must be one of the main galleries that showed his pieces. I smiled and usher her in. "Go pick out a piece."

"Edward, these are probably originals."

I raised my eyes. "You do know every single piece we have in the house is an original."

"Are you sure," I could see in her eyes that she was eyeing one with the couple on it - Heart Kids. She hadn't been used to spending money on a whim, unlike us. She thought through every purchase more than once. It wasn't like we were frugal, but there was certain things we like to indulge in, fast cars, well made clothing, art to name a few. Esme would be delighted if we sent a couple of piece from Brazil. She had hinted on it, when she had started the project.

The gallery owner came over to us, very interested in the fact that we have been staring at one of paintings for a long time. He was used to clients of all different nature; from those who were just tourist taking a peek to people like me brought souvenirs like this home.

He greeted us in Portuguese; I smiled and returned the favor.

"You want that one," I whispered in her eyes. She nodded her head, not taking her eyes off the piece. I smiled; she was finally letting me spoil her.

"We can probably pick up a print somewhere," she said, not taking her eyes off this one.

I rolled my eyes, she had a lot to learn about being a Cullen and one thing is that we don't own prints. The three Picasso, four Dali, a Monett, two O'Keefe and a Montgomery plus a bunch of undiscovered artist made up our art collection and probably could revival some of the top museum collections. That wasn't including our own private collections. Each of us had personal pieces too – except Jasper. Poor guy for the life of him couldn't figure out what was so fastening about staring at a picture on the wall.

A couple of minuets later, Bella owned her first real piece of artwork.

"I guess it is useless to make a big deal about you purchasing it."

I laugh, I could get used to her allowing me to spoil her.

She reached up and kissed me on the check. "Thank you," she said. "But we could have bought a print."

"And make me the laughing stock of the household, I think not. Plus it holds a fond memory for you."

"I don't think Jasper would say anything," she said.

"He's color blind," I said walking towards the bar we were heading to.

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Vampires can be color blind."

We head back near sunrise; she had curled herself into the bench with the one of the blankets. I had a feeling she was going to sleep today for the most part. But by noon she was up, wanting to go for a swim.

We played in the surf and walked along the beach. Her bruises had but all but faded out of existence, by now. She seemed happy, but sometimes I would catch her looking at me with a type of longing I could feel. As much as I wanted what she wanted. I had to be the strong one; Bella just gave into me too easily. She has since the beginning of our relationship. She was a strong independent person, who just happened to fall in love with the wrong guy.

I had heard the thoughts of our classmates, on how over protective I was. I seemed like a tyrant, controlling her. And I know she had suffered in silences when she couldn't answer the questions that had been directed at her by her parents or friends. She held on to our secrets stronger than I could imagine. Protecting us from the world's accusations.

And that had won that place in each of our hearts, and I knew that they would fight to the death to protect her. She had gone from being Edwards's girlfriend, to being a part of the family.

We had moved out of the white room into the blue room. The cleaning crew wasn't due to arrive until the next day, so until than, the white room was off limits.

Tonight had to be the worse in the lingerie department. It was black and lacey, bringing out the cream and rose colors of her skin more. It hung in places it should be illegal to hang and invited me in the worse way.

I caught the smirk as my eyes popped open. She noticed it. For the last week I have been trying to keep my admiration to myself in hopes to discourage her, but she kept getting bolder and bolder. She was stubborn.

"What do you think," she said pirouetting.

"You look beautiful. You always do," I said. I am going to kill Alice when I get back. She had to know that this was going to happen. She was probable having a good laugh at my expense. What I wanted to tell her was she looked dangerously sexy, but I didn't want to encourage her. Next thing I know she is going to be declaring that it was too hot to sleep with something on; at lest the nighty covered her up… somewhat.

"Thanks," she didn't sound happy as she climbed into bed. I put my arms around her, pulling her against me, and getting ready for another night of torture.

She closed her eyes as I turned off the lights. "I'll make you a deal," she said.

No way. These deals don't always end in her best interest. "I will not make any deals with you."

"You haven't even heard what I'm offering."

"It doesn't matter," I said. I wasn't going to be tricked into anything.

"Dang it. And I really wanted…Oh well."

She said the three magic words. I knew my other half was winning. I had long ago realized and accepted I would never be able to deny her what she really wants. I just lucked out that she was too innocent to have gotten what she wants, because I would have caved in by the first day.

"All right. What is it you want?" Damn it she was smiling. The little minx. She wasn't as innocent as I thought, or she was learning how to seduce me. Either ways, this could be dangerous.

"Well I was thinking…I know that the whole Dartmouth thing was just supposed to be a cover story, but honestly, one semester of college probably wouldn't kill me," she was throwing a bone at me on one of the things that I really wanted. For her to experience college before going vampire. "Charlie would get a thrill out of Dartmouth stories, I bet. Sure it might be embarrassing if I can't keep up with all the brainiacs. Still…eighteen, nineteen. It's really not such a bid difference. It's not like I'm going to get crow's feet in the next year."

Why did she have to do this? Throw the one bait she knew I would take. And I knew I couldn't last a couple of months. A week or two, no problem – but a couple of months was asking too much. I would cave and cave hard before than.

"You would wait. You would stay human?"

I was getting angry, she wasn't playing fair. She had all the hands and I was being dealt nothing.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I could feel my temper rising. Wasn't it torture enough that I had to lie next to each night, knowing what was there? Had once taste the forbidden fruits, to become additive to it. And now being denied it. "Isn't it hard enough without all of this?" I grabbed a handful of lace around her thighs. Stop it Edward, this isn't her fault. You have to learn she is human ruled by her emotions. I took a deep breath, still mad at her and myself. "It doesn't matter. I won't make any deals with you."

"I want to go to college."

"No you don't. And there is nothing that is worth risking your life again. That's worth hurting you."

"But I do want to go. Well, it's not college," she said honestly. "As much as it's that I want – I want to be human a little while longer."

I closed my eyes, trying to get my temper in check. "You are making me insane, Bella. Haven't we had this argument a million times, you always begging to be a vampire without delay?" How many arguments, including prom. Now she decides as soon as I finally agreed that I would do it, that she wants to be human. Emmett and Jasper right, female species was hard to understand.

"Yes, but…well I have a reason to be human that I didn't have before."

Why do I not like this is where this was going. "What's that?"

"Guess," she said dragging herself off the pillow to kiss me. I kissed her back trying to keep my passion in check. If I didn't kiss her, she would get hurt, if allowed myself to get lost in that kiss; I would end up regretting it.

I sometimes amazed myself how much control I have on my body because right now I was about ready to say to hell with, roll her over and give into the temptation. But I was able to fight it.

After giving her enough time that she wouldn't be hurt, I pulled away and cradled her against my chest. "You are so human, Bella. Ruled by your hormones." I had to laugh. Humans couldn't be count to do the correct thing, when their hormones run wild. Years of high school had taught me that one.

"That's the whole point, Edward. I like this part of being human. I don't want to give it up yet. I don't want to wait through years of being a blood-crazed newborn for some part of this to come back to me."

It only last a year, love. Bella understood this from a human perspective where time actually had meaning and mass. In my world it was a completely different story. Time had no meaning, it was pointless. We were unchanging so was our world. We exist day in and day out without time affecting us. I wasn't going to push it anymore tonight. In a couple of weeks she would understand.

"You're tired. Sleep, love." I said and started to hum her lullaby. She curled up more closely to my body. I would put up with the torture tonight like every night, just to have her safe and happy by my side. Well safe and a little less happy – maybe I should enjoy the nights while they were still here. Soon she wouldn't be carted off to dream land.

"I wonder why I'm so tired," she muttered sarcastically. "That couldn't be part of your scheme or anything." How well she knew me. I chuckled and went back to humming.

"For as tired as I've been, you'd think I'd sleep better," she whispered.

I stopped, a little surprised. "You've been sleeping like the dead, Bella. You haven't said a word in your sleep since we got here. If it weren't for the snoring, I'd worry you were slipping into a coma." After almost a year of sleeping with her, I became somewhat of an expert on her sleeping patterns. I know that she usually talks before slipping to a deep sleep and still tosses a little during rain storms. But for the last couple of nights she has been knocked out cold, no moving, no talking, no waking up. I was starting to think my plan was working.

"I haven't been tossing? That's weird. Usually I'm all over the bed when I'm having nightmares. And shouting."

"You've been having nightmares."

"Vivid ones. They make me so tired." She yawned. 'I can't believe I haven't been babbling about them all nights."

I thought she was finally done with her nightmares. I thought by bring her here she found peace in her sleep.

"What are they about?" It wasn't like her to not to talk about them.

"Different things – but the same, you know because of the colors,"

"Colors?" She lost me. I might be calling Carlisle.

"It's all so bright and real. Usually, when I'm dreaming, I know that I am. With these, I don't know I'm sleep. It makes them scarier."

"What is frightening you?"

"Mostly…"

"Mostly…"

"She shivered a little and whispered "Volturi." I knew that wasn't the completely truth but I also learned when she was ready she would tell me. I hugged her tighter, as if I could protect her from them and her nightmares.

"They aren't going to bother us anymore. You'll be immortal soon, and they'll have no reason."

Something was passing through that mine of her. She was worrying about someone else. "What can I do to help," feeling helpless?

She shook her head, "They're just dreams, Edward."

I wish I could buy that, but her dreams seemed to mirror what was going on in our life.

"Do you want me to sing to you? I'll sing all night if it will keep the bad dream away." I offered.

"They're not all bad. Some are nice. So…colorful. Underwater, with the fish and the coral. It all seems like it's really happening – I don't know that I'm dreaming. Maybe this island is the problem. It's really bright here."

Says the girl who grew up in a desert.

"Do you want to go home?"

"No. No, not yet. Can't we stay awhile longer?"

"We can stay as long as you want, Bella."

"When does the semester start? I wasn't paying attention before."

She was okay if she still was torturing me. I started to humming, luring her away to dreamland. She quickly fell into a move less sleep.

When I was sure she was safe in dreamland, I detangled myself from her and reached for my phone. I stepped outside, keeping my eyes on her sleeping form. She didn't move, which was strange. Sometimes at night I would get a book from her shelf and I noticed that she would move in her bed to be closer to me. As Renee put it once, readjusting herself to be closer to me. I took a deep breath and dial the phone.

"Is something wrong Edward," Carlisle asked.

"I am not sure," I said running my hands through my hair. I hope I haven't disturbed him. If work wasn't pulling him away, I was with my constant worrying over Bella. I said something to him and he just laugh, saying that it was payback for what he put me through with Esme.

"Okay, take a breath and tell me."

"She's having nightmare but isn't moving."

"Nightmares? Is everything else okay?" I didn't want to answer that, because I know what he was asking. Was I able to control myself.

"Yah, I guess. Look Carlisle she usually moves around a lot and very vocal when she sleeps but she been sleeping like the dead."

"Anything else in her normal patterns."

I thought for a moment. "She eating a lot…We went through almost six cartoons of eggs here. She seems more tired than normal. She is also having mood swings."

"Let me do some research, Edward, it might be nothing. Just keep an eye on her and let me know if anything is changes in her habits."

I hung up the phone not totally satisfied. There was nothing Carlisle could do at this point. He was a thousand miles away and couldn't examine Bella body. But I could.

I held two medical degrees and I knew her body too well. Even though I never practice, I have kept my license up dated. I walked back in, hoping she was a sleep and pulled back the top part of her nightgown. She moved a little. I ran my hand over it, trying to see if I felt anything different.

Our hands were so sensitive; the slightest abnormality would trigger it. I kept running through the list in my brain of possibilities. Listening to breathing, it was fast but even. Her lungs sound good to, no extra fluids. Her blood smelled the same, so nothing was wrong with her blood. Her breast seemed a little more swollen than before, but other than that, her skin seemed to be in good order. She also put on a little weight, but I figured it had to do with all the eggs she was eating.

I leaned down listening to her heart. It was normal, a little fast for her to be sleeping but I just wrote it off as the humanity in the air. Maybe it was my imagination.

I did have a tendency to pull things out of proportion.

Maybe this place was messing me as much as she claim it was doing to her.

I settle back into bed. Taking comfort that she was in my arms and that she was safe and nothing could hurt her.

She sleeps more soundly than before, but I couldn't tell if she was having a good dream or bad one.

Or dreaming at all.

It was much later when she woke with jolt. She was breathing hard, gasping for each breath. I never seen her like this, when she usually woke out of nightmare, she was coherent as if part of her was still back in the dream world. She came right wake.

"Bella?" I tighten my arms around her and shook her gentle. Making sure she was awake and not sleeping.

"Oh," she gasped again. Than out of the clear started to cry.

"Bella! What's wrong." I touched her face, wiping her tears away. The more I wiped the more they flow.

She was shaking and crying. "It was only a dream." What had happened in that dream to cause her to cry like this?

"It's okay, love, you're fine. I'm here," I said taking her in my arms and rocking her gentle. "Did you have another nightmare?" I held onto her tight as she buried her face into my chest. "It wasn't real. It wasn't real"

"Not a nightmare." She said shaking her head. She pushed back tear. "It was a good dream."

Not too sure to know what to do. "Then why are you crying?"

"Because I woke up," she wailed, wrapping her arms his neck and sobbed into my throat.

I have learned one thing in this relationship is trust Bella to do the complete opposite of what she should be doing or think. Her feeling and emotions were all backwards.

I tried to not laugh, hoping the situation would smooth itself out. I never had seen her come out of dream with that much emotion.

"Everything's all right, Bella. Take deep breaths."

"It was so real," she continued, "I want it to be real."

"Tell me about it. Maybe that will help," I said leaning back taking Bella with me.

"We were on the beach…"she trailed off, sitting up right. Her eyes were red making her eye color even more pronounced.

"And?"

"Oh, Edward," she looked like a new set of tears were forming.

"Tell me, Bella," I said now worried. This wasn't like her at all.

She clutched her arms around my neck and locked her lips with mine, taking me by surprised. She was pushing all her desires and need into that kiss and for a moment I was giving in. My control was getting less and less, as I fought with myself. I knew I was losing. I could never win a fight with her involved. I lost the first time when I tried to stay away from her. The persona I pushed on her to scared her away didn't work and she had become the undoing of me.

I struggled to hold her away, a part of me wanting to say the hell with it. She wants it you want it. Stop fighting it.

I had to do the right thing, once in our relationship. I finally broke free, my better half winning this round, but weak. I don't know how much longer I could do this.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to change her now. No stick with the plans, Edward, everything in due time.

"No, Bella." Please stop doing this to me I can't keep fighting it.

Her arms dropped as the tears started to spill again. Why was she doing this to me?

"I'm s-s-s-sorry," she struggled to say the words between the tears. Had I hurt her again by my rejection, didn't she understand that I was doing this to keep her safe?

I took her into my arms again, hugging her tightly. How can I make her understand I want this as much as she did, but she was too important to me? I would never be able to live with myself if something had happened to her.

"I can't Bella, I can't!" I moaned. I can't keep fighting this, especially if we both want it.

"Please, Please Edward." I knew at that moment I had lost. If she would have asked me for my head I would give it to her, if she had ask for the stars I would bring her one and she asked me to make love to her and I will. I closed my eyes feeling weaker than I ever did.

I pulled her under me as I took her lips, giving in. I wanted her too much to fight it anymore. I need her to much. I could easier deny myself blood before I could deny myself her love.

I needed the warm of her arms had to offer to make me forget. I will always be addicted to her.

She was my own personal heroine and I would keep coming back to her, I needed her. Her body had become more of an addiction than her smell had ever, and I wanted it all, needed it all.

She welcomed me in. I came home.

The pillows didn't suffer this time around; it was the 17th Century French headboard. Esme is never going to allow us to come back.

*****************AUTHOR NOTES***************************************

There is some debate over when exactly Ness was conceived. For all tends and purpose, I am going with the first night. My reason is that in the book, it does mention that Bella thinks that Ness is the reason behind those strange dreams she has on the island.

Like a lot of this story, there are extensions. I figured that knowing Edward, he would want to go to Rio to listen to music and give Bella some human experiences.

Samba is considered by some forerunner of modern Jazz. Edward grew up during the birth of Jazz and the Blues and it is mentioned in the Twilight that he had a Jazz CD in his stereo the first time Bella visit.

Like Jazz, Samba has it's beginnings in Africa and mixed with the sounds of Europe. It is a pure Brazilian dance (the type you might see at carnival time). It begin in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Romero Britto is a famous Brazilian neo-pop wall decorator, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor. He combines stereotyped elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work. He is known for his contemporary work.

Jasper and his color blindness came to me during a discussion with a friend of mine. At the time, my friend who was born color blind, had an operation that helped his eyes see color. He had a hard time figuring out colors, because unlike the rest of us, he had never learned his colors. I thought it would be fun for Jasper to be the same way. As a human, Jasper was color blind, and when he was turned, his eyes were able to see color.