Authors note; I have returned to Bella's POV as many of you thought that it was about time we heard her voice again. Thanks for all of your responses to that question and also the many fantastic reviews. I have chapter 13 almost ready to go and an outline for the rest of this story including the ending which may just take us back to Italy. So without further delay, Chapter 12. Enjoy. J bug

Would you mind if I pretended we were somewhere else

Doing something we wanted to

Cause all this living makes me wanna do

Is die because I can't live with you

And you don't even care

I'm weak in the knees for you

But I'll stand if you want me to

My legs are strong and I move on

But honey I'm weak in the knees for you.

CHAPTER TWELVE

As I watched the taillights of Charlie's cruiser disappear down the street I heard another vehicle approaching fast from the opposite direction. I didn't even turn my head to look as it stopped in front of my house. I didn't have to look; the sound of the Volvo's engine was embedded in my brain. I just closed my eyes and smiled. I could picture him perfectly, leaning up against the silver exterior. Looking like some kind of male model as he gazed up at me through the panes of my bedroom window. Edward was back. I opened my eyes and he smiled, his crimson eyes staring back at me.

I gave a small wave then gestured that I would come downstairs. Turning from the window I ran across the bedroom and took the stairs two at a time. However as I reached the front door I hesitated, listening to my heart pounding, my breathe coming fast. Reaching for the doorknob with a shaky hand I realized I was nervous. I didn't know what to say to him, where to begin and I didn't really want to know why he was here or for how long. There was so much I wanted to say and at the same time nothing I wanted to say because I didn't want this moment to ever end. He was here waiting for me on my front porch. And that was all that mattered. The longer I took to open this door, the longer he would stay. I could prolong this anticipation and pretend everything was normal once again.

When I managed to get the door open he was standing on the front step gleaming slightly in today's rare Washington sunshine. I think I might have gasped. He was so beautiful that it hurt me just to look at him and words were no longer possible. Edward stared at me and because I could no longer speak I just stared back at him.

"Hello Bella" he said at last.

"Edward" I managed. We continued to stare at each other as if last night hadn't really happened.

"Do you want to come in?" I said standing aside.

"No I better not."

"Oh" I struggled to get out as my chest began to hurt. I realized with increasing anxiety that he wasn't planning on staying.

For another endless moment we just stared at each other. He was close enough that I could have reached out and touched him instead we just stood there awkwardly like we didn't know each other at all. Sneaking glances out of the corners of our eyes and looking awkwardly at our feet. It was as if we were strangers again. Maybe last night had been a dream after all. It was hard it imagine right now that we'd ever been that close.

In the increasingly heavy silence I was beginning to sweat. Charlie had been right. It was almost seventy degrees today and I was too warm. As I pulled the heavy sweater away from my neck, desperately trying to get some air Edward took a step backwards and grimaced, closing his eyes for a second. I had forgotten all about my neck. Of course he would be blaming himself. But it wasn't that bad in fact I had forgotten all about it

"When did you get back?" I asked trying to change the direction of his thoughts.

"Yesterday"

"How long are you planning on staying?"

"I didn't plan on coming back" he said offering nothing else.

"How's your family" I tried again, grasping for some sort of answer, some form of conversation "How's Alice?"

"Everyone is quite well" He paused as if deciding what he could tell me "I'm on my way to Carlisle and Esme's anniversary party this afternoon I just wanted to check on you before, before I "

"Where's the party" I said interrupting him from saying what I didn't want to hear. I also desperately wanted to know how close his family was. I'd been imagining where they might have been these past months and it had been driving me crazy. Edward didn't answer my question. His face took on a pained expression then he turned away, staring across the street. "How's Charlie?" he asked absently as he tried to change the subject.

I looked at the back of his broad shoulders for a second and then it hit me "You're not staying" I whispered. I was so stupid how could I possibly have thought… All of a sudden my head started to spin dizzily and as I leaned back against the door frame to stop it I realized that he had only come here today to say goodbye to me. Not to get back together or take me away with him. Last night apparently had meant nothing. As he turned around again to face me my legs no longer seemed able to hold me upright and I noticed a ringing in my ears.

"No, I've actually got to get going" he paused, looking into my eyes "Bella we both know I can't stay"

Black spots entered my line of vision as I started to slide down the door and I realized with horror that I was fainting. He caught me just as my knees buckled and before my head hit the ground.

"Bella are you alright? Can you hear me?" It sounded like Edward was in a tunnel his voice far away and echoing . I managed to open my eyes for a second but the world was spinning wildly and my stomach was doing flip flops. So I closed them again as I struggled to remain conscious.

"Lets get you inside" he said cradling me in his arms as he lifted me off the porch.

I felt his strong arms go around me and I circled my arms around his neck. Pressing my cheek against the white of his shirt. I let him carry me into my fathers house.

"Last night really happened didn't it" I mumbled into his chest, my dry cotton filled mouth barely able to form the words.

"Yes" he said in a low voice as his eyes found mine.

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Thanks for reading. It feels good to be writing Bella's POV again. Let me know what you think and I promise chapter 13 will be up soon. J bug

Oh yeah, the song lyrics are from Serena Ryder- Weak in the knees.