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12. Memories In Slow Motion part 2:

Bella:

I lounged in the bed, my back propped up against the pillow. Edward rested his head against my chest, his arms wrapped around my hips.

"You were blushing," he said and I could feel the vibration of his voice in my chest.

"What?" I asked, my hand pausing in its idle motion of stroking his messy hair.

"At the meeting, when Emmett called you Danger Magnet, you blushed," Edward replied softly, "I haven't seen you blush in a long time."

He propped himself up on his elbow to look me in the face. The weight of his gaze made me remember what it was to blush and...I felt it. I felt my cheeks warm and heard his soft intake of breath. He looked at me in what could only be described as wonderment and trailed his fingers across my cheek.

"How I've missed this," he whispered.

"Edward stop it, you're making it worse," I mumbled, dropping my gaze.

"Good," he said, "I want to make it worse. I haven't seen your skin painted that color since the night I changed you. It's a gift."

He yawned then and I knew that he must be tired. Ever since Elizabeth came to us, we'd regained the ability to sleep. With the exception of the first time, we'd only felt the urge to fall asleep after a good meal and we had all just gotten in from a hunt. Edward took his original position and I resumed playing with his hair. It wasn't very long until I felt his weight become that much heavier and knew that he was asleep. As I continued to pet his so soft hair, I felt my own fatigue begin to take me and I gave myself over willingly. As Edward had said, it was a gift.

"Edward," I choked, "Please, make it stop!"

"I can't," he replied in a strained voice, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, my angel. I'm sorry..."

"It hurts," I gasped, as the fire forced its way through my veins for the second time in my life.

The first time had been painful, but this, this was a gallimaufry of torture that defied words. Someone was making a high pitched keening sound and it took me longer than it should have to realize that it was me. I felt Edward pull me closer to him. He felt wonderfully cool but no matter how cold he was, it was no match for the fire that consumed me now. I was trapped in a white hot blaze and I couldn't get out.

"It will be over soon," he promised, his voice sounding as if he were a long way off, "I love you, my Bella, so, so much."

My unfocused eyes caught the bleary shape of his head. I felt his lips against mine and as he moved away, my eyes focused for a split second. I saw his perfect face one last time before the all devouring darkness took me.

"I love you, Bella," Edward whispered to me as he pulled me closer.

"I love you too, Edward," I replied, nestling closer to him.

"You've made us complete," he said, "You know that, don't you?"

I didn't reply. I had no idea what he was talking about. He kissed my forehead before he rested his cheek against the top of my head.

"You've made us all better," he continued, "I discovered something new today."

"What?" I asked.

"A new...ability," he replied, "You remember how I could only read thoughts?"

I nodded.

"Well, today and very much by accident, I discovered that I could now project thoughts, too."

"What do you mean?" I asked, pulling away so that I could look him in the eyes.

"I can project my thoughts now, Bella," he repeated, "I was never able to do that before...not until you."

"So are you saying that I somehow made you...stronger?" I asked.

He nodded, "I don't know how, but you did. Maybe that's your special ability, to empower those you love."

"I guess," I shrugged, "Has anyone else...?"

"I think Alice had gotten a bit more powerful," he nodded, "I think she's able to lock onto the future a bit more firmly than she used to."

"Interesting," I replied, "I guess we'll just have to see what happens, then."

"I guess so," Edward replied.

"I can't believe that you actually went through with it!" Jacob growled at me, his muscled arms flexing menacingly.

"Jake, you knew I would," I replied, "I had to...I love him to much to let him go."

I heard the table snap and winced, but didn't back down. No, I had a right to live my life...and death the way I saw fit. But Edward was right, I should have left him alone. But he had been gone for so long and I wanted to see that he was safe with my own eyes, not that I didn't trust Seth, but still.

"Jake, please," I pleaded.

"Do you know how disgusting you smell?" Jake roared.

I felt my resolve break. I had had enough.

"You don't smell like a bed of roses to me, either, Jacob Black but at least I'm trying!" I snapped, "Do you have any idea what you put me through? You just up and disappeared without so much as a goodbye! At least I gave you that!"

His livid face lost some of its heat as my words hit him. I glared at him through eyes that would plainly give me away. I was still new. They were still vivid red. Red and black met and I watched his face crumble. I was so startled by the one-eighty on his face that I actually took a step back.

"You're right," he sighed, his large shoulders slumping, "You did say goodbye...and I wish you would have left it at that. But tell me, Bells, did it ever occur to you that I wanted you to forget me?"

"No," I whispered, my own anger fading away, "No, it didn't but Jake, I can't just forget you. You're my...you were...no, you are my best friend. You were my sun in my darkest hour, that's not something I can allow to fade away."

He looked up at me through hair that had gotten so much longer than it had been the last time I saw him, his face half hidden by it. If I could cry, that look on his face would have made me do it. I decided I wanted to lighten the mood.

"Gee, Jake, you look like someone died," I tried and immediately realized my mistake.

"Goodbye, Bella," he replied softly, his voice full of sorrow, before he ran out of my life for the second and last time.

I awoke with tears in my eyes. I wiped them away just as Edward began to stir next to me. He smiled up at me when he saw that I was already awake and I returned it but it was only half hearted. He noticed my lack of enthusiasm and pulled me into his arms. I knew that he had never been able to read my mind, but sometimes I thought that he could. But that was what love did. It made you able to read the other person so completely that it was almost like telepathy.

"Jacob?" he asked.

"Are you sure you can't read my mind," I joked.

"What was it this time?" he ignored my attempt at humor.

"The last time I saw him," I replied, "That memory hasn't crossed my mind in such a long time."

"What other memories did you see?" He asked.

"The change," I replied, "And when you told me about your new ability."

"So not happy dreams, then?" he said.

I gave a noncommittal shrug, "The one about your new ability wasn't so bad, just odd."

I lapsed into thought about my dreams...paying special attention to the one about Edward's abilities.

"Edward," I said, "Do you think Elizabeth has that power?"

"Telepathy?" Edward asked.

"No, the one that you suggested I had," I said, "Empowering the ones she loves?"

"That is a good possibility," Edward nodded, "It's a better theory than the one we had, which was no theory at all...But how would bringing back our human traits make us more powerful?"

"I don't know," I answered, "Maybe it's not so much power as it is a gift. I mean, aren't we all obsessed with our humanity? Maybe Elizabeth picked up on that and projected it so that we gain some of our humanity back."

"I like that," Edward nodded, "Yeah, lets go with that until we're able to find out more about her. You're a genius."

"I try," I smiled and kissed him.