A/N: I HAVE RETURNED FROM THE BEYOND!! after many ups, downs, sideways movements, and lots and lots of cookies (yum) the next chapter is finally here!!

now, lots of thank-you's!! here we go: thanks to tizzlexo11, hbpatinadorax, and cem1818 for bugging me at school to STOP listening to the teacher, and START writing my fanfic (yes, oh ye of little faith, this IS a good thing). also, thanks to wingedspirit for keeping my spirit up and talking to me... you rule!

lastly, thanks to TOPAZEYES44 for absolutly everything. you updated (yay!), you helped me through thick and thin and all that gooey stuff in between, and are slowly teaching me how to be threatening. and although i am being very sappy here, i mean it. GROUP: AWWWWW!! ps: the part about the practical joke on emmett in her story is finally up! GO READ, ALL YE FAITHFUL ONES!!

now, just in case you are braindead and/or rabid bunnies and are having touble clicking on the 'back' button to see what happened last, here's a recap:

"Edward," she muttered again contentedly as a glorious smile spread across her face.

A crooked smile appeared on my face also. "I love you Bella," I whispered to her with a newfound confidence.

The smile on her sleeping features grew larger still. And while it did, my heart almost burst open with happiness. Maybe I could stay here with her, just watching her, enjoying her company, for a little while longer…

ONE LAST FINAL NOTE I SWEAR: this chapter actually has something to do with a Vladgor! hehe... enjoy :)

Chapter 12

Bella's POV

I woke to the soft pitter-patter of rain outside my window the next morning. Snuggling deeper down into my covers, I felt a wet spot with my toe at the end of the bed. It had been years since I had lost the command of my bladder while sleeping, and the spot was too far away to be from any amount of lack of self-control. Grudgingly, I sat up and realized that the puddle was forming from the drops of rain leaking through my open window. I closed it, making a mental note to remember to close it tonight.

Groaning, I rolled out of bed and started ready for the day. Charlie was already at work, so I had the house to myself. That was good; I needed time to think.

Pouring a bowl of cereal, I recalled the amazing dream I had last night. Of course, I could have easily interpreted it as a nightmare, but it wasn't. Because Edward was there. I sorted through the important details of my dream that were surprisingly still intact after I woke up: he had told me that his entire family was vampires. That the reason Alice had been lying to me was because she was afraid that I wouldn't understand; afraid that I would hate what they were. But I didn't.

I remembered that Edward had been so intense… so trusting. I remembered his quick, cold touch, his velvety voice, that irreplaceable gleam in his brilliant topaz eyes. If I hadn't known any better, I would have considered the possibility that my memories were actually reality, but I was pretty sure that my imagination couldn't have concocted anything nearly that breathtaking.

As I started the water for my shower, I played over the events in my dream. It hit me when I first felt the freezing water on my body: it hadn't been a dream. Everything I remembered had really happened, just the way I remembered. Additional memories that had been hiding while I thought last night had been a dream finally started to surface. I quickly became aware of other, more crucial details of our conversation.

Edward thirsted for my blood. Edward was a vampire. And Edward had trusted me with his family's best-kept secret.

A chill ran down my spine as the measure of his action's importance dawned on me. If anyone else knew, if anyone else found out…

But they wouldn't. Not from me, at least. I smiled to myself at the thought of keeping his secret. I had always known that there was something special about Edward, and I had been right. It felt as though there was an unspoken connection between us; both understanding each other, even if no one else did.

I rolled my eyes. I had to be kidding myself if I thought that Edward could feel the same way about me as I did about him; it was impossibility. Our relationship was strictly business. He knew that telling me was the right thing to do, so he did. He was a gentleman, and I couldn't ignore that.

The unreasonable feeling I had for Edward must have been what triggered the real dream I had last night. Because Edward would never tell me what I dreamed he had said…. That he loved me… that part had to have been a dream; my mind, so pathetically aware of Edward these days, would have no problem dreaming something like that up.

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Finally I was ready to go. I was just about to grab my keys when I heard a knock at the door. Groaning, I went to answer it; I really didn't have any time to waste. I seized the door handle about to tell them so, until I looked up to see who it was.

"I'm sorry, but I was actually just about to…" My heart skipped a beat. Edward Cullen was standing in the doorframe. Looking at me. On my doorstep. What had this world come to if he suddenly cared about any part of my besides not telling anyone that he was part of a family of vampires?

"Hello Bella," he said in a silky voice, while that crooked smile played across his lips.

My vocal chords didn't seem to be working. Why did my voice have to pick this moment to magically disappear?

I could have sworn I heard a low chuckle before he continued. "I was wondering it you might like a ride to school this morning?"

I thought about it for almost a split second before answering. "Yes," I replied hastily. Another chuckle.

What's the matter with you Bella? I asked myself. Just ignore the fact that an extremely handsome vampire is standing at your door. Ignore the fact that he just offered you a ride with him on his own accord. Don't think about that. Just say something! Don't give him any reason to think that you're mentally inept!

"I mean," I countered with no hint of brainpower whatsoever, "why?"

"I just thought you might want a ride," he said, cool as anything. But then, for the first time, I caught a hint of worry in his features. "Unless… you don't want one?"

No! What was happening?! Of course I wanted a ride, especially with Edward Cullen! "Oh! Oh no, I'll ride with you!" I reassured him. His face brightened considerably. "Thanks so much," I mumbled, trailing off as I made the mistake of looking into his eyes. He gave me a radiant smile, and said, "Follow me."

I put my hood up as he led me out the front door. His shiny silver Volvo sat next to my beat-up old truck. I noticed how strangely the vehicles seemed to mirror us; one was sleek, awe-inspiring, and slightly intimidating. The other was plain, unimpressive, and easy to overlook. Although, if I was being fair, that comparison wasn't completely accurate -- my old truck was more than it looked.

When I got to the passenger's side, Edward opened the door for me, just like the gentleman he was. Then, before I had even buckled my seatbelt, he was next to me, behind the steering wheel.

I must have jumped a bit at his speed because the brilliant smile faded from his face. Darn my over-expressive facial features.

"I'm sorry. It's too easy to be myself around you."

"No, it's ok," I said, my voice coming out a little more breathless than I would have liked. "I don't mind."

He sighed. "I know. But you should mind. I'm more dangerous than you realize," he said ominously. We lapsed into an awkward silence as he continued to speed down the road.

I was lost in my own thoughts for a while before Edward abruptly interrupted the trip I had been taking to my own little Edward-filled world.

"Bella," he asked sounding somewhat frustrated, "tell me what you're thinking. Please." He hurriedly added afterward.

His request confused me. "But I thought you could hear my thoughts?"

"No," he growled as we pulled into the school parking lot. "It doesn't make any sense. There's never been an exception before. I'm used to having free rein in everyone's thoughts, but yours… yours are different somehow."

He was talking more to himself now than me as he opened the passenger's door and helped me out. "It's almost as if I can tune into thoughts like radio stations. The only thing is, the thoughts that I can understand are on FM, and yours are somehow on AM. That's the only way I can think of to describe it."

I suddenly became aware that we were standing on the school sidewalk facing each other, with no recollection of getting there. Somehow, when I was with Edward, I lost track of what I was doing and became aware only of him. I then realized that he was looking at me intently, waiting for a response. "Oh," I replied intelligently. He laughed, but the sadness remained behind his beautifully composed features.

"This keeps getting harder and harder," he mumbled in an undertone to himself. "Have a good day Bella," he said before turning around and walking briskly away down the sidewalk.

I let out the breath I had unconsciously been holding. How had I gotten so lucky?

? POV

I lifted my hand, and he placed one long, alabaster finger onto my palm. Immediately, I felt all of the past days' memories and knowledge unlock and flow outward, as though they were being read like an open book. I stood completely still, saying nothing, making no implications. If he wanted to know, all he had to do was ask.

"So," he started, retracting his finger to its original position, "you delivered the message?"

"Yes."

"Good. In that case, we should have a response from the Cullens and another one of our kind in a little more than 24 hours."

I couldn't keep the excitement out of my voice as I asked, "And… what if they refuse to turn her?"

A grim, humorless smile spread across his face. "Well then, I guess you will have another job on your hands. I do believe you have been lying low for quite a while, and we appreciate that, even though we know that doing so isn't really your style."

I nodded. He knew me well.

"But if—as I suspect may very well happen—they do not reply or they refuse to change her, you may have free rein. Do what you must to turn her, use whatever means necessary."

I smiled; the prospect of being on the job again was invigorating. I hoped that they wouldn't respond. Or better, that they would refuse. It would be more… interesting that way.

"Thank you Aro," I said, bowing my way out of the room. "I will do my job well."

"I know, Vladgor," he said. Then, right before I shut the door, I heard him mutter, "and you have a bit more fun with it than I think is healthy."

A maniacal grin crossed my lips. He was completely right.

Bella's POV

Mr. Banner was talking again. It was another concept I had already learned, more about the steps of mitosis. Today was a lecture day. But instead of taking notes like I usually would have, I was gazing out the window, hypnotized by the thunder and lightning blaring outside. Alice giggled from the seat next to me.

"What?" I asked, trying not to draw too much attention to our conversation.

"It's like you've never seem a thunderstorm before."

"I have! Just never this big or continuous." I made a face. "I usually don't like the rain."

Alice gave me an enormous smile, her eyes wide and gleaming with happiness. "Well I love thunderstorms."

I should have known better than to ask, but I was too curious. "Why?"

"Because… then we can play baseball."

"Um… come again?"

But then, Mr. Banner called on Alice, asking for the answer to an unknown question. "Prophase," Alice answered without skipping a beat. She leaned over to me and whispered, "Ask Edward about it later."

I smirked. She could count on that.

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Edward was waiting for me after gym again. We quietly fell into step with each other as I followed him to his Volvo.

"So," I started as he opened the door for me, "you enjoy baseball?"

He gave me a knowing smile, and I fell into one of his trances. Stupid hypnotic vampire.

"Ah, I thought Alice might have mentioned that…" He looked away, freeing me for the time being. "Yes, when the weather is right, we do enjoy a nice, fair game of baseball."

I raised an eyebrow. "And is there any particular reason why baseball and thunderstorms seem to go hand in hand for you family?"

Edward smiled to himself, seemingly recalling a humorous memory. "Well, our games tend to get a little… loud," he said, glancing at me. "Our hits and catches always seem to blend in with all the thunder better if we don't want the locals to assume that trees are snapping and falling down… not that it would make much difference here in Forks if a couple old trees came down."

I laughed. We were already in my driveway, thanks to his ludicrous driving.

"I'd like to see that," I said to no one in particular, looking out into the woods beyond the house. I turned involuntarily to look at Edward, only to see that he was staring back at me. His smoldering gaze immediately locked onto my eyes, making it impossible for me to look away. He seemed to reach into the very depths of my soul, his eyes breaking through even my strongest defenses. I was momentarily spellbound, unprepared for this silent attack. His velvety voice penetrating my conscious mind, enhancing the trance he was putting me through. "I'll have to show you sometime."

Unconsciously, I nodded my head. He smiled, and turned his head, slowly releasing me back into reality.

I wasn't sure how long we sat there, just enjoying each other's company. But the time passed, and eventually, Edward sighed. "I think it's time for you to go, Bella," he said without looking at me.

I nodded, and got out of the car. "I'll see you tomorrow…?" It was more of a question than a statement, so I was relieved when Edward answered.

"Of course," his silky voice cooed. "Goodbye Bella. Have a good night."

"You too," I responded as I opened the front door to my house and let myself inside. As soon as I shut the door, I ran to the window just in time to see his Volvo speeding away down the road.

Edward's POV

I was in a remarkable bliss. Troubled as I should be, fearful as the world should be in my presence, just for the moment, everything seemed all right. And it was all thanks to Bella.

Although her blood was still the most succulent thing I had ever smelled, my mind had taken control. Alice was right; I would sooner kill myself or forfeit a game to Emmett on purpose (probably the former) than jeopardize Bella's life in any way. Loosing her was a concept I couldn't bare to wrap my mind around.

Getting out of my car, I found myself actually whistling. I immediately stopped myself before setting foot inside. There was no need to give Emmett one more thing to tease me about.

However, as soon as I stepped over the threshold, an eerie silence hit me. "Hello?" I called into the house, at the same time searching for someone's thoughts. I found all of them together, crowded around a coffee table in the dining room.

I walked in, preparing myself for what they could be about to say. All their heads turned to look at me at the same time. Reading their expressions, I knew this couldn't be good.

"Carlisle? What's the matter?" I asked, glancing at each one of their faces in turn.

No one spoke as Carlisle handed me a piece of paper that he had been holding. It was slightly yellowed with crease lines down the middle of the page in both directions. I could feel Jasper silently sending waves of calm my way, and I looked down at the paper to see what was so terrible.

As soon as I read it, I knew. "No…" I whispered, closing my eyes.

Edward Cullen—

You have 24 hours in which to turn the human into a vampire. If you fail to do so, we will take matters into our own hands. She knows, and that's not allowed.

We will be watching.

A/N: yay! group hug, its finally here! or you could say "grab your knives and sharpen your pitchforks, she ended it there!!" but fear not, i will update again soon. hopefully. (insert evil Vladgor laugh here). please dont shoot me down for not updating tho, because my family is going through a little bumpy road time here, so we're just all trying to stick together and get through it. but never fear, i will ALWAYS put my fanfic before school. maybe not my family, but definitely school.

remember, i love your comments!! REVIEW!! Hakuna Matata,

-RW

find a cure.