Hi there! I tried my best and typed as fast as possible and managed to give you; the new chapter! I decided Edward and Bella needed to talk things through a little before I wrote anything else, so this chapter is dedicated to that… and something extra (I'm trying to keep the rating 'Teen' here, but I might write the M version of this chapter after I finish the whole story…)! Just let me thank all of you amazing reviewers and let you go on with the story! And don't forget; reviews make me happy!

Disclaimer; I don't own any of the Twilight characters. They all belong to Stephenie Meyer.

DECLARING OURSELVES.

I rolled my eyes at him and grabbed his hand. He chuckled as we made it to the window. I opened it the moment his family exited the woods. Moments later we were flying towards my house. If the Cullens had looked up, they would have seen two falcons leaving their house and heading north.

'That's really something' Edward thought as we flew.

'Trust me I know. It is even better however when you are not morphed into a bird.' Even though he couldn't speak I heard the laughter in his thoughts. What had I misunderstood this time?

'Yes, flying is great, but I was talking about the fact that I am now able to listen to your thoughts. It was about time you know. It was really getting frustrating for me.'

'Only as long as I allow it.' I reminded him. 'And don't forget this is a two way conversation. I can hear your thoughts too…' I turned to watch him as he flew. He had morphed into a grayish colored falcon with, of course, golden eyes. How odd was it that I found myself attracted to him even when he was in that form? I heard him laugh again through our newly formed connection and I instantly realized what had happened.

'I heard that!' He said smugly.

'That's it!' I said trying to be mad, or at least sound mad, at him. I found it impossible but nevertheless continued; 'I'm shutting you out!' And to add some gravity to my words, I did shut him out. Of course I knew I would soon be able to talk to him since we had almost reached my house. In a few minutes, I flew through the still open window of my bedroom and changed back to my human -close to human anyways- form. I turned around and watched Edward doing the same.

Even if the sun was almost up, it was still dark enough for the light emanating from him to be breathtaking. Scratch that out; Edward would look breathtaking even in the middle of the Sahara with the scorching desert sun right above him. Why would the weak, hidden-behind-clouds sun of Forks have the slightest effect on him? Stupid Bella.

In the fraction of a second this thoughts occupied my brain Edward approached me with a determined look on his face and kissed me. Although I didn't need air to survive any more, his kissing did make me dizzy. However, the moment I started to kiss him back he pulled away from me breaking our kiss. He smiled sheepishly. I groaned.

"Did you really shut me out back then?" I could hear the humor in his voice so I decided to play along.

"I believe I did Mr. Cullen. And you know what? There is nothing you can do about it." Maybe I was provoking him. Then again, maybe I wasn't. He accepted the challenge anyways. He granted me my favorite loop sided grin and wrapped his arms around me.

"Nothing?" He said. "Are you sure?" His scent was making me light headed and his golden eyes were disconcertingly mesmerizing. And he was close. So close. So, was I sure? Of course I wasn't. What kind of a stupid question was that?

Before I managed to form an answer he kissed me again. More passionately this time as my previous playful feeling dispersed into thin air. I no longer felt the need to come up with a logical answer to his question as I realized that logic had no place in this moment. I was so enwrapped in his kiss that I didn't even realize we were moving backwards until my leg hit the corner of my bed. To my great disappointment, that brought us to a stop. Edward locked his eyes with mine and spoke in a tone almost apologetic.

"Sorry Bella. I guess I lost it back there for a minute." I looked in his eyes ready to ask him why he thought composing himself was a good idea and then order him to loose it all over again, when something else caught my attention.

"Edward, are you blushing?" I asked not trusting my own eyes. I blinked a couple of times but the facts remained; Edward's cheekbones had taken a gentle pink-bronze shade.

"I don't blush. Ever." He stated matter-of-factly, bringing his left palm on his cheek.

"You have a heartbeat now. And blood of your own." I said trying not to laugh at his confused expression. "You are bound to blush, get over it!"

"No, no, no…" He insisted shaking his head.

"Oh, don't worry." I reassured him. "You don't look anything like me when I blush. If anything, I look like a human-sized tomato. You look perfect. As always." And I was right of course. Although the color had now subsided from his cheeks, he had somehow managed to make blushing work for him. Not that I was surprised. He looked at me dubiously as he sobered up.

"You never, under any circumstances, have looked as you just described yourself." He said and then muttered under his breath "You never see yourself clearly." Out loud he added; "And I don't look perfect." There it was again; his low self esteem was getting on my nerves. I cupped his face with my hands and then raised my head so we could make eye contact. I might have grown a couple of inches but he was still taller than me by a lot. I felt an odd sense of pride when I heard him intake a sharp breath at our bodies' proximity.

"Edward" I said seriously, marveling about how easy it was to say his name now that he was here. "There are a few things I have to make clear. First of all, you are perfect." I saw he was ready to protest so I added; "Okay let's try it this way. Even if you were not perfect, a completely foolish thought since you are, you would still be perfect for me. I believe your recent changes prove that much, as if I didn't already know." That seemed to shut him up so I continued. "The next thing I want to tell you is actually more of a question. I would like to know why you stopped."

"I… I was afraid I was rushing things." He admitted.

"Rushing things? I would have to say that this is already overdue, don't you think so?"

"Look Bella, it's not like I don't want to. I want it, want you, so badly that I can barely control myself. But I first have to make sure you want it as much as I do. I have to make sure you are ready. I have caused you enough pain as it is." I looked at him in disbelief. He wasn't sure that I wanted it? That I wanted him? He wasn't sure I was ready? Typical Edward.

"Edward" I started again "The last three moths while you were gone I was hardly myself. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep or do anything useful… Damn; I couldn't even breathe without hurting! Doctors actually said I was catatonic. I spent these months thinking everything we had was a lie. Because that night in the forest I believed you Edward. I love you so much that I believe everything you say; I simply can't help it. And what you told me that night hurt me so much, made me so depressed and miserable, that not even my parents -the king and queen of gods for crying out loud- could get to me. Then I turned into a goddess myself and all I could think aboutwas, now that I was immortal, I could be with you. Really be with you. Only to remember that you didn't want me anymore. It was excruciating trust me. I focused all I had on my training but it didn't help. Finally, I accepted that no matter how you felt about me I would always love you, as pathetic that might be. As pathetic that might make me. Then that vision came. And I saw you saying you loved me too. That you left me so I could be safe. You have no idea how that felt like. Suddenly my heart returned to its place, the hole in my chest disappeared and I could breathe again. Now you are finally here and you are finally and undisputedly mine. And after all that you think that I'm not ready? That I don't want you as much as you do when all I can think of is you?"

Only when I finished all I had to say did I realize I was crying. Edward had seemingly transformed into a statue. He was looking at my direction but gave no indication he could actually see me, neither talking nor breathing, like he had fallen into some kind of shock. Then I saw something changing in his eyes. He brought his palms on both sides of my face and brushed my remaining tears away with his thumbs. His face was close to mine again and his scent made my head twirl.

"When I was away," he said "I was exactly as you described yourself; empty, useless and in pain. I thought that it would be easier for you than it was for me. That one day you would forget all about me and be happy again. While we were in the forest I saw you believed me and the moment I left, I felt like I should ran back to you, fall on my knees and beg for your forgiveness. However I left and stayed away, letting misery have me, because I thought that I was protecting you, that I was keeping you safe. But I was faltering; if it hadn't been for your vision or the Volturi, I don't believe it would have been long before I returned and did exactly what I said; beg you to forgive me and take me back. You have to, you must understand that it had become almost impossible for me; I was wallowing in self pity and I couldn't stand being near anyone, not even my family. Because no matter what I said or did that night there is only one truth; I love you. I always have and always will. I've been waiting for you for far too long and now that I found you I'm not leaving. I will not repeat the worst mistake I ever made. I simply can't stand being away from you. Never again." A sole tear escaped his eyes as I whispered his name.

"Edward…"

And that was all I managed to say as he kissed me once more, almost desperately, as if his life depended on that sole kiss. He wrapped his arms around me again and he pulled me closer.

"Please Bella. Please forgive me." He whispered. "I'm so sorry for what I put you through. So unbelievably sorry."

"There is nothing to forgive, you silly man." I groaned as I kissed him this time. "I love you too by the way, but I guess you must have pretty much figured that one out on your own by now…" He chuckled huskily as he placed kisses on my neck, causing a small moan to escape my lips. That was enough to send him, to send both of us, over the edge.

He lifted me from the floor and placed me swiftly on the bed without ever stopping kissing me. Suddenly, I felt we were both awfully overdressed for the occasion. I started fumbling with his shirt's buttons again and this time managed to take his shirt of. With one fluid movement it ended up on the floor and was soon followed by our shoes that were now lying at the other side of the room.

I let my hands move up and down his chest and abdomen, feeling every single muscle of his, tight under my palms. He moaned and hastily took my shirt off, as his kisses started getting lower from my neck to my chest. His hands slid over my waist as he reached for my jeans. A few swift moves later they followed my shirt on the floor. He stopped for a second to take a better look at me.

I heard him moan again and a sly grin appeared on my face as I realized why; I would have to thank Angela later. That blue laced lingerie she had persuaded me to buy seemed to work miracles.

He started placing kisses down my throat to my stomach and back again as I entangled my fingers in his hair, simultaneously wrapping my legs around his waist. The remaining pieces of our clothing were soon discarded and thrown somewhere at the other side of the room. I couldn't care less.

All I could feel was his hands roaming my skin. All I could sense was his perfect body trembling under my fingertips. All I could see now was him. The perfectly sculptured muscles of his chest, his tussled bronze hair, his face, his eyes. And I didn't want to see or feel anything else in my life. Ever again.