Chapter Thirteen

Bella

When Edward caught up with me I was confused, angry, and thirsty, although I had no idea where the rage was coming from. As soon as I saw him I attacked and took him unawares knocking him backwards and straddling him but then I saw the love in his eyes. This was my husband, the man I had loved so much I wanted to spend eternity with, whatever I had felt when I first saw Jasper was lost in the memory of my Edward. Images of the wedding swam before my eyes and then the honeymoon and I lay my head on his chest taking deep breaths of his scent to sooth my raging emotions. His hand came up to stroke my hair and I heard the voice that had captured my human heart,

"Its OK Bella, you're safe with me, I love you."

We kissed and I felt so much better if still confused but I put this down to having just woken up a vampire.

"My throat is burning Edward, what is it?"

"That's your thirst for blood Bella, it will ease when you've hunted. Come on I'll show you how"

He pulled me to my feet although I could have sprung up as easily as he did.

When he started to run I thought I would trip but I found it so easy and so exhilarating that I soon dropped his hand and ran on alone until finally I stopped throwing myself down onto the ground and finding myself captivated by the way the sun broke on my skin as if on a diamond. I remembered seeing Edward like this for the first time and thinking how beautiful he was. Then a sudden sound had me on my feet in an instant but I held back from attacking as I recognised my husband standing there a little warily.

"Do you want to hunt or just run across the continent?"

I smiled at his joke and held out my hand,

"Show me how to hunt please Edward"

He pulled me close, we kissed, he guided me forward very slowly stopping to listen every few minutes and then put a finger to his lips and whispered low in my ear,

"What do you hear Bella?"

I listened, a slow steady thumping noise that had my mouth filling with venom. He nodded and pointed to the left,

"Its prey, now close your eyes, think about it and your instinct will take over"

I did as he instructed and amazed myself as I leapt the bushes to land on the back of an elk, my teeth fastening on its throat sinking through the flesh to the warm blood running through it. It didn't take long to drain the creature and I stood holding its body when Edward appeared applauding my effort.

We spent all day hunting and talking although I could see something else in Edward's eyes and eventually he grabbed me and laid me down pulling my clothes off and his own until we were both naked and then he took me, not like before on our honeymoon. This time it was more intense and far more physical and I wondered how he had managed not to hurt or kill me on the island. There was something else that was different, my feelings. I had expected as a vampire that my love would be more intense, that I would desire him more and yet...it didn't feel the same but it didn't feel better and that rather disappointed me. From what Rose and Alice had said I would find myself unable to stop, wanting my mate over and over yet I didn't and I wondered if there were something wrong with me. I was just glad Edward couldn't hear my thoughts right now because I knew he would be hurt and he deserved so much better than that. He was my mate and husband, I loved him, we had a child...Oh God!

I leapt up pulling my clothes back on in a panic and startling him

"Bella what's the matter? Are you thirsty? Did you hear something?"

I turned on him eyes blazing,

"Why didn't you remind me about our son? We've been out here all day and you never mentioned him once"

"I'm sorry but I thought you needed a little time to get used to what you are now. He'll still be there when we get back"

"Who's looking after him?"

"Rose or Esme I suppose, he's usually with one or the other"

"What about you?"

"Me? I've been with you, waiting for you to wake up. Now you are we can be together but you always come first Bella, remember that. My love for you runs so deep I couldn't leave you even to be with our son."

I wasn't sure I understood that, now I'd remembered him I couldn't wait to get back, to hold my son in my arms.

"What did you call him?"

Edward didn't answer me and I remembered we hadn't discussed names, then I tried to remember why but it wouldn't come, still it was in the past and probably didn't matter much.

When we got back I had the first proper look at my son and he was a miracle indeed. He looked older than three days with soft blond hair and a beautiful smile. As I stroked his cheek he guided my finger to his mouth and started to suck.

"He's hungry Bella. Would you like to feed him?"

I looked at Esme, what a stupid question. Of course I wanted to feed him, he was my baby after all. She handed me his bottle and I sniffed, animal blood. So he had some vampire traits.

"Hello little one, now what are we going to call you?"

"We thought Charles after your father"

I looked at Edward to see his response to Rose's words but he looked impassive, didn't he care that others were choosing our sons name for us? I think he must have seen my look because he came and sat beside me stroking our sons cheek as he drank hungrily.

"I think Bella and I will talk about that later, she's still a little confused and a lot of babies are named after their father, how about Edward Cullen Jnr.? We could call him Junior for short."

I thought it was a terrible idea but I held my peace for now pleased to see Edward taking an interest in our son at last. At last? Then some of the memories came back, Edward shocked at the idea of my being pregnant but that was all. I guess his shock had stuck with me through the change.

I looked around,

"Where's Alice?"

"She and Jasper went to stay with friends for a few weeks. I think they thought it would be better for you until you get used to us all."

Well my reaction to him when I woke up had been strange so maybe a little time to come to terms with my new life wasn't a bad idea. I didn't like the way I'd felt when my eyes met Jaspers, they weren't right, not for a married woman and to a married man.

"I think I'd like to take our son to sleep for a while, just for a little peace."

"Well he usually sleeps in my arms or Roses"

Esme looked a little put out but I wasn't going to be pushed into anything,

"Well that was nice but now I'm awake I think I'd like to take over my sons care."

Edward shot me a strange look,

"Bella you don't want to be tied down all the time, you need to hunt and there's lots to learn so don't be ungrateful to those who only want to help"

He made me feel ungrateful and reluctantly I handed our son to Esmes eager hands. She smiled and held him close,

"Well Junior what do you think of your mummy? Isn't she pretty?"

I wanted to snatch him back but Edward took my hand and led me upstairs to our room without a backwards glance while I couldn't resist looking back for another glimpse of my little miracle.