As she looked up to me, I smiled, finally happy to be somewhere. For the past week, I had felt dead, and it was not a pleasant feeling. But now I felt like the world was back as it should be. I was with Bella and as far as I could tell, we were happy. I didn't want to change anything. I felt her pushing away slightly, so I pulled my arms to my side and watched as she took a step backward.

"Edward, I... I don't know what to say. Why? Why did you leave?" I could tell that she was upset with me. If only she could understand. I took a deep breath- through the mouth just in case- and started the longest story of my life.

"Back at your birthday was a hard time for me. Jasper nearly killed you and the fact that my own brother did so, it nearly sent me on the verge of killing someone I was so furious." I cringed, hoping this confession wouldn't scare her. She stood, as observant and uncaring as ever, as if I hadn't just told her I wanted to kill someone. "But this time, when it was me, I... I wanted to kill myself." Now I was pushing it. Surely she would ask me to leave now. I took another quick look and saw that despite a quick flinch, she was fine and wanted me to continue. God, how I loved her so. "How I could hurt you so badly when I was so in control was painful for me. My bloodlust and the lust I was feeling for you nearly ended your life. I left partly for being so disgusted with myself, and I was controlling myself. I hunted every three hours every single day and still you can see from how wonderful you were, that you've left a mark on me. You truly have no idea what effect you have on me." I was worried she wouldn't follow, but I could clearly see that she knew I was referring to the markings in my eyes, revealing my mistakes for the world to see. "Isabella," her name tasted bitter sweet on my lips. I took another careful step forward. "could you ever forgive me?"

She smiled, and seeing it, I couldn't help but smile myself.

"On one condition." She laughed. "Don't ever leave me again." My smile grew and I nodded quickly. Surely, this wasn't an agreement I deserved, but I would take it any day, no questions asked.

"Agreed." I laughed. An idea was hatched in my head, and I acted upon it as if under instinct. I crouched and pounced, landing on her bed with Bella safely in my inescapable grasp. I smothered her body continuously in lustful kisses and lay with her, rubbing soothing circles over her magnificent body and humming her lullaby until she fell asleep. I was content sitting here once again, with the love of my life. A chill ran through her core and I looked down, noticing how we were laying. My arm was laying on her pillow, with her head resting on it. That couldn't have been comfortable. I pulled my arm away from her head and looked over the rest of myself. Her leg had wrapped around mine in her sleep, and her arm had moved upward to rest on my side. She was lying without a blanket, against my unnaturally cold, wet body. In one swift movement, I pulled my leg from hers, placed her arm to her side, and tucked the blanket around her waist to keep her warm. The window was still opened, blowing a freezing cold wind into her once warm bedroom. On the way out, I shut her window and ran back to the house to get cleaned up and changed. I was back to her side long before she woke, and I was not missed at all.

Over the next few months, Bella and Edward never left each other's sides. Bella spent the night with the Cullens at least three nights a week, with Alice as far as Charlie knew. Instead, Bella sat with Edward in his room despite Alice occasionally popping in to ask about something regarding the wedding. Bella now wore the ring proudly and faithfully on her finger, to Edward's obvious enjoyment. Charlie at one point reminded Bella of Jacob, and great strides were made to visit her friend again.

As Bella pulled the phone up to her ear, I sat at her side in an empty chair at the table. I smiled at her as she waited for an answer. I heard it ring five times and then went to the machine. The dog's father said to leave a message, and she began.

"Hi, Jake... Uh, it's Bella. I was wondering if I could come over some time... I'd really like to see you again. If you could-"

"Bella?" Jake hissed, cutting her off. I frowned in disgust to his oblivious rudeness. Bella waved her hand to me in dismissal and I chuckled silently.

"Oh hi, Jake! How ya doin'?" She smiled widely and I looked away, hiding the look of distrust and hatred that had evaded my uncaring look.

"Oh, I'm good. Kinda tired lately, but I've been adjusting." Bella frowned. I hated how he so easily made her sad. I hated everything about him...

"Sam still has you on long shifts?"

"Yeah, but they should be switching again and I'll get a lil' more sleep. So what's up? You wanna come over some time?" I looked back and listened, wanting to hear what they said. Bella made a face at my eavesdropping and I laughed again. 'Sorry' I mouthed. She nodded in a sign that I had been forgiven.

She nodded again as a response to his question and I did my best to keep from making noise when I was laughing hard enough to bring pain. "Yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen you. How about..." She looked towards the calendar by the phone. "Maybe Friday evening? I could come over after school and-"

"Sure, sure." He nearly whispered, cutting her off again. Who taught that animal manners? He doesn't even apologize, the mutt.

"Hey Bells, I'm real sorry but Sam's calling everyone out. I gotta run. But see you Friday after school. Bye!" I heard as he hung up on her- another rude act I would add to my black list for Black. Ha, ironic.

She smiled. "Bye!" How could she smile when he's clearly being very, very rude? It's amazing how things effect her. She stood, tapping me on the head with the phone and placed it on the receiver. She walked to the sink and went back to doing dishes, me by her side.

A/N: Awwe man! I don't want to leave it here! But it's one AM. And I haven't gotten any reviews. And this is my second looooong chapter of the night. So I have to. Oh! And it's right before a fighting time, which is a prime place to leave it. So, I have not choice.

No reviewers, so I can't butter anyone up! You're killing me here, guys!

Mr. Pirate won't stop hitting me! -OW!- And now he's verbally abusing me. He called me a lousy writer! Hey, that's below the belt! -OW OK I'M SORRY!-

I have to go, he's getting the baseball bat.

Review! It hurts me when you don't! -OW!-

-dsmldejection