"My gift…?" I asked, confused.

Edward pressed his forefingers against his temples. "I don't know," he said, shaking his head, "You always hated blood as a human…"

"But, if I don't drink blood, I'll die," I said gaping at him. "If my gift is that I can't smell blood, my gift is going to kill me."

"NO!" Edward roared. His volume scared me, and I took an involuntary step back. Edward saw that he had scared me, and he frowned. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "I just—I can't lose you, certainly not like that."

"You won't Edward," I offered him a weak smile. "We'll figure things out, everything will be fine."

Edward stepped forward, and took my hand. "Come with me," he said, gently pulling me through the trees, not giving me a chance to protest.

We winded through the trees at an almost-human pace, until we reached a small clearing, with a pond, and deer frolicking through the snow, and drinking from the small pool of water.

Just then, the most delicious scent filled my senses. I felt a strong burning in the back of my throat, and my mouth was watering with venom. Before I knew what was happening, I had jumped out of the trees, and had one of the deer's throats in my hands, and I was sitting on my knees in the snow. In an instant, I had snapped the deer's neck, and sunk my teeth into it. The warm liquid made its way down my throat, causing the blazing thirst to completely seize.

Hands shaking, I dropped the lifeless animal's body in the snow. Eyes wide with realization, I turned to face Edward who was watching me, sorrow covering his face. He was obviously ashamed of me. I hadn't been able to control myself for two seconds. There went his gift theory.

"Edward," I murmured, and he was instantly at my side, mimicking my position, and pulling me into his arms.

Edward buried his face in my neck. "Now you see," he said into my neck, "Why didn't want to damn you to this life. You're regretting this, aren't you?"

I pulled away from Edward, to stare at him in shock. "Regret?" I echoed, my voice showing my confusion.

"I couldn't save you from this," he said, shaking his head. "I couldn't save you from Victoria, and now you regret becoming one of us. I'm beyond apologetic, Bella." He asked for forgiveness for the umpteenth time. I then realized that he was ashamed, but not of me, of himself.

"Oh, Edward!" I said, brushing some of his hair out of the way, so I could kiss his forehead. "I don't regret anything, I wanted this, remember? I'm just a little confused. I mean, I thought I couldn't smell blood. And the next thing I know, I've attacked a deer, and I don't have any idea how it happened."

Edward eyed me cautiously, "Are you sure that's all?"

"Edward, you have to stop. I am what I am because of Victoria, not you. I wanted to be changed, remember?" I took his hands in mine, and kissed his knuckles. "I don't regret anything."

Edward beamed. "I love you,"

"I love you too,"

Suddenly, Edward got an evil glint in his eyes. "Race you to Carlisle!" he challenged, jumping to his feet.

I rose to my feet, and smirked at him. "You're on!"

Edward laughed a booming laugh, and we both shot off in the direction of the house again. No matter how fast we both went, neither of us could pass the other. We stayed neck and neck throughout the entire run. When we reached the front yard, we reached a halting stop at the exact same time. We had tied.

"Holy crap!" Emmett exclaimed.

Alice was still hopping on her toes in excitement. "Wow Bella! You're so fast!"

"No one has ever been able to go as fast as Edward," Rosalie gaped. Then she did something I certainly hadn't expected. She shot me a smile. "I'm impressed…"

Edward folded his arms over his chest, pouting. It was rather cute. A grin spread across my full lips, and I poked him in the arm.

"You couldn't beat me, you couldn't beat me," I sang, gently pushing his side with my hip.

"You couldn't beat me either," he said, the smug smile returning.

I smiled arrogantly, "You still couldn't beat me." I said, poking him again. "I have tied with the oh-so-amazing Edward Cullen." I added, sarcasm dripping off every word.

Of course, mister masochistic himself had to ruin the happy mood. "Where's Carlisle? We sort-of have an issue with Bella."

They all looked somewhat apprehensive after that little announcement.

"What's wrong?" Jasper asked, eyeing me like a concerned brother. I couldn't help but smile a small smile after that.

"Bella can't smell human blood," Edward announced. "She smells animal blood just fine, but there was a hiker in the forest, and she didn't smell him at all."

They all stared at me.

"What?" Alice breathed. "Edward, that's huge. I didn't even see that coming. Do you think that's her gift?"

"What does that have to do with her human life?" Jasper asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I couldn't stand the scent of blood," I explained shrugging.

Emmett shook his head. "But you can smell animal blood. Did it smell appetizing to you?"

"I attacked a dear," I said, "So, I suppose so."

Edward chuckled, "It was an interesting sight. One minute, she's fine, the next she's attacking something."

I sighed, ignoring his comment. "So, why couldn't I smell the hiker?"

Alice shook her head, "I don't know, but it has to tie into your gift."

"What was your strongest human quality?" Rosalie asked.

"Klutziness…?" I said automatically.

"That doesn't fit," Jasper shook his head.

We all thought for a moment. None of us could have come up with a trait that could cause me to not detect human blood.

"Stubbornness," Edward said after a while. "Bella was…and probably still is…as stubborn as an ass."

I blinked, not sure whether or not to be insulted by that comment. I decided I was, and I elbowed him in the side.

"What does that have to do with human blood?" Alice asked, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

"Maybe something particular she was stubborn about?" Emmett suggested with a shrug.

Jasper sighed, "That makes sense…" he agreed. "Edward, Bella, do you have any idea?"

There was a long silence again, as we all considered all the possibilities. Edward wrapped an arm around my waist, and pulled me closer to his side. I leaned my head on his bicep, concentrating.

I felt Edward shake slightly and I lifted my head to see he was laughing. I raised a perfect eyebrow at him.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Perhaps it has to do with how you were always pushing the idea that we weren't monsters," he said. "I would disagree, and you would stubbornly continue to press on your opinion on the matter. Maybe this is your last hope to prove me wrong, that not all vampires have to be monsters."

I smiled, "That makes sense,"

Alice grinned, "Oh, Bella that's a fabulous gift!"

Rosalie looked green with envy, and so did Jasper. As a matter, they all looked jealous to some extent. However, none of them looked angry, or discourteous about it.

"Whoa Bella," Rosalie muttered, "You're so lucky… you certainly have the best gift out of any vampire we know."

Jasper sighed, "Well that's not fair,"

"Oh, it's okay Jasper," I said, reaching forward to touch his arm. "Please don't be upset."

He offered me a weak smile, "I'm not, just a little… envious."

Alice chuckled, "We all are,"

"Not upset with you of course…" Emmett began, but I held up a hand to stop him.

"It's alright, I understand." I said.

Just then, Carlisle, Esme, and Laurent stepped out of the house, and approached us carefully.

Laurent approached Edward and I, and took a deep breath.

"I believe," he began, "We need to have a talk."