Author's notes:
Stephanie Meyer owns everything pertaining to the Twilight Saga.
Chapter 12:
"Are you sure?"
"Sure of what?" I said as I kissed the top of Bella's head. We were enjoying a day in the sun. In fact, the last days we would spend basking in the sun's rays uninhibited. Our bodies aglow, we lay on the beach, the wave gently tickling our toes. Oh, how I could stay here forever, but the logical side of me tells me that can't be. I was hoping this would not come up again until after nightfall. Until we had to leave. All I want to do is enjoy this day, pretend that our eminent departure isn't so close.
"Don't play dumb with me Mr. Cullen. You know exactly what I am talking about." Bella said rather matter of factley. She really is adorable when she gets frustrated like that. I leaned in a little closer, my right shoulder just barely touching hers.
"If the what you are referring to is that of us leaving this island, then yes, yes Bella, I know what you are referring to. Yet some how that does not change the situation. We have been over this time and time again, we need to leave. We need to return home."
"We have all eternity to leave. All eternity to spend with your, oops... our family. What is another day, week, or even month?" She was now pleading with me. Pleading as if her life depended on it.
"And Bella my love, what's not to turn that month into two months, or three, or a year? We need to return to Forks. While I would love nothing more than to stay lost here with you for all eternity Forks is our home. I am sure that your father is worried about you. You may or may not remember, but he is a police officer. If Carlisle was unable to come up with a story as to why we have not returned home that he found believable then Charlie might be using his connections to find us. While he would never find us here, the family could be under suspicion. You know it's time."
"But..." Bella's voice began to waver. "But, what if I... what if I'm not ready?" I sat up and pulled Bella onto my lap, cradling her in my arms. Not being able to read Bella's mind I would use the pace of her heart and her breathing to gauge her emotions, but since her transformation I have to try harder to read her. My sister Rosalie is the only other vampire I knew, well knew of, before her change. The change seemed to put her already overinflated opinions of herself into overdrive, but not my Bella. One things for sure, becoming a vampire didn't increase Bella's confidence in herself. She was worried about her own self control.
"Bella you are ready." I insisted.
"No Edward I'm not. I haven't even seen a human, how do I know I won't kill the first one I see?"
"And how will you get over that here? Do you want me to sail on over to the closest island, kidnap one, then bring it back here so we can see how you will react before we set sail?" She almost seemed to be pondering the idea.
"No Bella, we must leave. We have been over this before. We will set sail once it is dark. All you have to do is let me know when you think you might be getting thirst and I will head for the first available piece of shoreline. We will only hunt in the wee hours of the morning when there are the fewest number of people out. I will stay with you at all times. I will try to set a course so that the boat can continue on it's own while the sun is out while we remain bellow deck away from anybody who may see us. I have long sleeves and gloves just in case I have be out in the sun to alter our course. It should take about a week for us to get home to Forks depending on the winds." Bella was no longer looking at me, her eyes cast down to the sand. Cupping Bella's cheek in my hand I lifted her chin and our eyes met.
"Bella, I know that you are strong enough to do this. I have faith in you." She began to interrupt me, I lay one finger over her succulent lips stopping them just as they began to open.
"Now darling. Why don't we forget all about tonight and just enjoy the next four hours or so that we have left. You really are beautiful. Especially in that bikini." Saying the last part with a devilish grin. Using my hand that is still on her cheek I guided her face closer to mine, then I leaned forward myself and kissed my beautiful Bella.
I know it's short, but I didn't really want to start anything else after their conversation.
Thanks everybody for reading.
