Escaping Sol
Coming Together
A Twilight Fanfiction
By Ranma15177
This chapter is probably the hardest chapter I've had to write, and for me the most heart pulling…I've once said that Jacob's only crime in loving Bella was that he wasn't Edward, which isn't a crime at all. I stand by that even though I'm a firm believer in the BXE ship. Jacob is a great guy and he has had a lot foisted on him in my story in the last few hours. I kind of wanted to start writing from Jacob's POV, but it seemed wrong to add him after all this time of going between Edward and Bella without him. Maybe I'll write a companion piece…I'm not sure.
As always, Twilight isn't my creation.
I want to thank everyone that has been reading, reviewing, and making me a favorite. You guys all make it worthwhile. I live for your suggestions and comments. They are beyond helpful!
Also, I wanted to thank my husband for doing my beta, and Jexena for pre-reading and giving me her thoughts. She's been an excellent sounding board for this story, and I can't thank her enough for her time and comments!
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EPOV
There was a loud yelp of pain from the wolf that was Jacob. I watched as Bella ran toward the large dog and the Volturi guardsman. Seconds after the start of her mad dash I took off to catch her. She was going in to save Jacob from Felix…or maybe she was saving Felix from Jacob…but either way I didn't want her getting anywhere near the fighting fists of Felix or the biting teeth of Jacob.
"STOP!" Bella screamed at the two and they broke apart for a few seconds and it was just long enough for them to reevaluate their position to fall upon each other again. She was too close even now. It was possible that either one of them could hurt her. Felix gave the wolf in front of him a very nasty smile as he threw a hand full of what seemed to be sand into the large dog's eyes and started forward…and to my great surprise immediately fell to his knees, followed by a confused Emmett, who was quickly tended to by a very worried Rosalie.
"Emmett? Emmett! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Rosalie worried aloud. I was nearly there, less than ten feet away now from the three figures in front of me. Jacob was already blindly going forward when Bella made herself into a human shield of sorts between Jacob and Felix.
"Bella! MOVE!" Esme screamed as she ran toward us, cross still clutched against her chest. I was too far away…there was nothing I could do…too slow. Jacob's teeth came down around Bella's shoulder, neck, and arm. A sound like rending metal came to my ears and I roared in fury, which is what led Jacob to realize he had missed his intended target. He heard my voice.
Bella screamed as Jacob's teeth bit into her flesh and immediately his jaws let go. The damage was done though, he had definitely bit her and she stood looking at him for a second before she half fell, half sat on the ground. The Jacob wolf too sat in a sort of stunned silence for a second before letting out a whine and pawing at his irritated eyes to get a look at who he had hurt. I wrapped myself protectively around my love's shoulder and continued growling menacingly as if daring either one of them to move an inch in her direction.
"I don't think the extra strength helped that hurt less." Bella said quietly to herself in a distracted and scared voice. Both Emmett and Felix were off their knees again…but I was too busy trying to peel back the torn fabric of Bella's shirt to look at her wound to care one way or the other. The marks were already mostly gone, Jacob had not had the chance to do any horrible damage, but she was absolutely shivering in fear. I hissed as someone began to approach, leaning even further into my love's body, and immediately felt bad when I saw that it was my sister Alice, but I didn't stop my possessive hiss.
Alice began to shout over my inarticulate warnings, "What the hell were you thinking Bella?" Despite the danger being over she stayed away from the two of us as I continued to growl and my love continued to shake. Jacob was still sitting…confused. His mind was trying desperately to place the situation in front of him. Esme took a bucket from our earlier efforts and began to clear the werewolf's eyes. Alice began to pace angrily as she reamed Bella for her actions. "Jacob could have killed you! I don't think you realize how horribly that could have ended!" My sister continued to scold her best friend. "DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" I wasn't sure if I had ever heard my pixie sister scream like that at anyone.
"I'm sorry…I wasn't thinking. I just didn't want anyone to get hurt…" Bella's voice was still shaking. She threw her arms around me and my eyes closed against the anger that seemed to swell against Bella for putting herself in such danger. She still seemed so fragile…and why did she always have to put herself in the most untenable of situations? Why would anyone place themselves between two people who were fighting? Let alone a vampire guard in the Volturi and a six foot tall dog monster?
"You failed." I heard the harsh words leave my mouth and wished I could take them back, because when she looked up at me it was with a look that I knew was reserved for her fear of losing me. The anger fell away and was replaced with a need to comfort. "Please. Love. Having you here and alive is everything to me. I just got you back…and Jacob would never forgive himself for hurting you. Please be more careful. I know you are new to this existence, but you know enough from your human life to know that Jacob's people can kill us."
Her head nodded against my chest. My love's sweet voice was muffled by the fabric of my shirt, "I'm sorry Edward. I just didn't want them to hurt each other. What if Felix hurt Jacob? I would never be able to forgive myself."
"I'm really glad you were worried about me Angel. I'm touched." The large Volturi bodyguard smiled and walked forward to ruffle my Bella's hair. She scowled and continued.
"No, it's not like that. I just wanted to protect them. I thought that if I had both Felix's and Emmett's strength my skin would be tougher." She looked at Jacob whose eyes were still not completely clear and gave a lame smile. "I suppose I was wrong."
"How the hell would you come to that conclusion?" Rosalie's scowling voice intruded as she stood over us and my mother continued to clean out Jacob's eyes. "Take it from someone who just watched her husband's arm get torn off in battle. He's strong…but he's not invulnerable, and keep your abilities to yourself if you're going to hurt him!" She growled and I returned the favor. My lip curled back reflexively and Emmett hauled Rosalie behind him as Bella restrained my arms.
"Awww…Kid. Look at you! You look even paler than usual. A little sun might clear that up! Don't tell anybody…but I think there might be a vampire amongst us." My large brother spoke with a smile. Emmett kneeled next to our entwined forms and threw his arms around Bella and me in a brotherly hug. "Rose doesn't mean anything by it…she's just really high strung today. We had a bad morning. Someone attacked us and then somebody else burned the house down. They might just be related items…not sure." He looked directly into Bella's eyes while wiggling his eyebrows and faux whispered conspiratorially to her, "Rose, she was so worried about you! You should have seen what a basket case she's been. What a mess everyone here has been. Thank you for being okay." He leaned his head down on her shoulder and I felt him heave a sigh. "Never do something like that again alright?"
"I won't Emmett. At least I'll try…you'll always know where I am." I saw Bella smile and she ran a comforting hand over his hair. Alice walked over and hugged Bella from behind as her worry faded and gave way to relief. It was fast becoming a strange group hug.
"What the Hell does that mean?" Rosalie was obviously still shaken up and she was quick to dissect the last statement out of Bella's mouth. Nevertheless, she kneeled next to her husband and took Bella's cheek in her hand and smoothed her thumb over its apple. She really did gaze at my love with a fond look on her face, and I knew that Rosalie had already forgiven her.
"I…" Bella tried desperately to gather her thoughts. I saw her look at Felix and back to the ground in an instant. Alice gasped and I saw a vision in her mind of Aro walking away from us with his hand around Bella's arm.
"They can't have you." The words ripped from my throat with menace as I released Bella and turned toward Felix. "You have all of one minute to leave this place. Tell Aro that you've delivered Bella to us and that we have asked you to leave. If you don't I will make you leave." The huge creature regarded me for a second and then looked beyond our circle with a lopsided smirk.
"You haven't got the authority to do anything, so quit yapping. However, I believe the man of the house is returning." Felix taunted with his arms across his broad shoulders. We all looked up from our positions in the field next to the burning remains of the house and watched as Carlisle and Jasper strode purposefully toward us. Carlisle's eyes though were on Esme, who really did look like she had been dipped in soot. She stood up immediately from Jacob, who was mostly taken care of and threw her arms around her husband.
"What the devil happened here? Are you alright? Esme…who tried to burn you?" I'd very seldom seen him angry. Carlisle was absolutely snarling by the end of his question. His eyes looked upon the scene and he immediately pegged Felix as his target. I threw myself between Carlisle and Felix and tried to calm my father down.
I had taken a lot of the situation from Felix's mind, and now I would go about explaining to my family, "It wasn't them. We seem to be at a disadvantage. I'm not entirely sure what is going on, but I know that Felix isn't here to fight us. A part of the Volturi has gone against their masters…they're the ones who took Bella, the ones who orchestrated the battle, and they are here with an army to destroy us." I held Carlisle's shoulders and he seemed to calm against Felix right away. However as quickly as one emotion ended a new one began and he began to pace with his fingers on the bridge of his nose as if to remove the tension that had just sprung from my revelation. Jasper had actually physically removed Alice from the group and placed her behind him. He'd almost lost his wife this morning, and his thoughts were absolutely murderous.
A voice that hadn't yet been heard began to speak from behind me, "Really? You don't say! I've got two very irritated eyes that say otherwise! This Felix guy just tried to kick my ass!" Jacob had turned human and put on his clothes while we were busy. "I'm with Carlisle here! What the hell is going on? Don't leave anything out! Bella, Oh my God…is that you? What have they done to you?" He took her hand and as she stood I wondered what Jacob would do. "What have they done?" She walked into his arms without hesitation and I felt the jealousy burn my throat with an excess of venom. I saw tears leaking from his eyes and watched as Bella too shuddered tearless sobs with the obvious pain of what she was feeling. "What have they done?" He repeated quietly.
He was asking her over and over again. This was breaking his heart. I had until now just allowed myself to believe that this was just something that we could slowly work through. I hadn't let myself grieve anymore for a situation I couldn't change. She was here. Bella was herself…slightly more resilient, but still herself. As I watched her crying with Jacob for her lost mortality I cursed myself. She was a monster now. Just like she had always wanted, but would having it destroy her connection to Jacob? Would the pack stay on our side? We had not changed Bella, and therefore the treaty was unharmed…but would they see it that way? More importantly, why did I feel like I was the one to blame?
"I'm not completely dead Jacob…" Bella supplied in a weak voice as he continued to cry and hold her shoulders. The words hurt me in a way that I wasn't prepared for. It felt like someone had shoved a dagger in my heart. "Isn't that worth anything?" She tried to keep her voice under control, but I heard the sorrow. "I died very, very far away from here, so don't blame yourself. There is nothing you could have done. There is nothing anyone can do to change this." She was regretful. I had always known deep inside that she would not be happy as a vampire. I had warned her frequently…but being able to say "I told you so" was never so painful. I began to back away from everyone. I just couldn't stand there watching her filled with pain for what I had inadvertently made her.
At first no one noticed my horrified retreat they were so busy watching Jacob and Bella cry over their loss, but Alice looked up at me first with confusion, and then with glazed eyes that contained fear. "NO! Edward! Don't!" I ran. I couldn't help myself. I had allowed them to steal her away from me and make her one of the living dead. It was my fault! She had wanted me, and she had been punished for our connection. Bella had admitted it to me when she'd said the Volturi had taken her to make an example of her…of all of us. It didn't matter to me what their current alliances might be to each other. I had killed the one person I had professed to love. Emily was right, I was nothing but a selfish demon…this is what we had planned for her anyway. What a horrible despicable monster I was. "Please don't go out there! You'll be killed!" Alice screamed at me to come back, but I found that I couldn't.
I wouldn't turn around. I couldn't watch anymore. I couldn't look at my fiancée without the pain of my sin against her poisoning me. She was safer with Jacob even now. It burned against my heart. How could she possibly love me? She knew my failure. I hadn't protected her. A body slammed into me and I fell face first into the dirt. We lay in the grass just by the bank of the river. I rolled over onto my back breathing in her scent. Bella, and her newborn speed had been the only one who could have half a chance of catching me. I took those deep calming breaths that filled me with her freesia smell. I had thought she would smell differently now, but I was wrong and I greedily drank in her essense…I just didn't feel the hunger that went with it. I still couldn't look at her. It felt like I was drowning on dry land.
I didn't move for a few second and then the voice that had a few seconds ago been broken was now angry. "How can you get mad at me for being stupid and then do something equally stupid yourself? What is wrong with you? There's an angry army of vampires out here with our heads on their list and you are going to chance going out here alone? If you're going to destroy yourself at least take me with you. If you can't love me like this I understand, but don't make me live completely without you! I couldn't stand it." My love crawled over me and stared down into my eyes.
I looked up at her and told her what was in my head, neither of us could read each other's minds…but Bella could now. She could read my thoughts if she stole my power couldn't she? "How could I not want you?" My words were filled with longing. She didn't have to read my mind to know that I desired her. I hoped it was in everything I did.
"I'm so different, I know you've noticed by now, my missing heartbeat…my skin…my voice…my scent? I must be unbearably different to you. I saw how you looked at me just now. Like what I said finally made you realize…"Bella began.
"How badly I've wronged you." I interrupted. "How can you possibly want to stay with me? You were correct back there. I can't give you back what they have stolen from you! I can't give you back your life." I whispered the last words with all of the pain I felt for betraying her trust.
My fiancée took my hand and fiercely continued, "The only thing anyone stole from me is YOU!" She put her free hand against my face and then stroked my hair. "I had already given everything to you: my heart, my soul, my mortality. None of it meant anything if I didn't have you. They stole my life yes…but they couldn't take my soul. That belongs to you. It always has. Even when I didn't know it, Edward I was waiting for you. Each breath I took was bringing me closer so I could be with you. It's more than just love…it's my destiny. I've always known, from the moment I saw you I felt our connection." She put her head on my hollow chest and I held her there.
Bella continued, "The only thing that can separate us now is us…and death. I want to avoid death for as long as I possibly can though, because I want very badly to find out what it's like to live with you every day. I want to see what it's like to just exist for each other. Can't you give me that Edward?" Her eyes would have been filled with tears. I had hurt her again, but the thing that truly bothered me was that I kept failing her. She was only asking for my presence. She was only asking for something I wanted to give her…something that was actually in my power to give.
"Can you forgive me? I'm grieving for something that isn't even gone. It's ridiculous." I admonished myself.
"No, it's not. I'm not the same. I know that. I just want the opportunity to prove to you that I'm still the Bella who gave you her soul." My love captured my lips in a fiery kiss. "I'm right here with you…right where I belong."
"Bella…" We laid there gently caressing each other's bodies. I knew she was right. I knew in that moment that God, or fate, or destiny had given me Bella. They had even given her back time and again after I had failed to keep her safe. I had felt split in two when we were apart, and I could never live that way again. We were both right where we belonged. 'I feel so complete with you here. I've never felt this way. Not in one hundred years. Love, please stay with me. Stay with me forever…till the world is cast into darkness and beyond.'
"Forever." She looked into my eyes and I realized she had heard every word in my mind.
"That's really pretty you guys, but Aro, Marcus, and Caius are on their way. We need to pick a location for this to happen. I don't think this area is large enough…and it doesn't have much of an advantage. The scenery is nice though." Jasper commented offhandedly and looked at me and then at Bella. "Welcome home. We've missed you more than I can say, especially now that I don't want to eat you. Kinda' strange really." I felt the warmth of his statement and Bella was in his arms before I knew it.
"JASPER!" She was hugging him and laughing. He picked her up and spun her around as she laughed. "Look Edward! I'm hugging Jasper!" My Bella looked so happy there hugging her brother without fear for the first time.
Waves of pure joy came off of my brother, and I wasn't sure if it was a combination of the two of them or if it was just him sharing Bella's heart with me. 'She's so happy. So much in love with you, and when she looks in your eyes…it feels like flying. It's heartbreaking when she thinks you don't love her anymore. You can't imagine the absolute panic she just went through. Do it again and I'll break you like a twig Edward.' They stopped, but my brother continued embracing my love, and he looked over at me with a threat in his eyes.
"I deserve that, but it's more important to me to give her everything she wants…and for whatever reason that's still me. She wants me. Despite everything that has gone wrong, she still wants me." I repeated the words over and over to help me believe as I ran my fingers against her cheek and spoke my own epiphany. The smooth stone of her skin warmed my soul. She didn't need to be human to bring me warmth. Her love had always been that feeling…and I was only learning that now that her physical warmth was gone. How could I have possibly professed to know her love before now? Now that I loved her more every second that she existed here with me. I wrapped my arms around her stomach and leaned my cheek against her own.
"That's more than enough of that. Bella, you can't have all the men in the house…you're going to have to share. Oh, and you're enjoying that a little too much Jasper!" My pixie sister skipped up and threw her arms around us. "Now this…this is perfect! You're my best friend Bella…and I won't let either of you hurt each other anymore. Come on. We have to reintroduce Bella to the rest of the family. Jacob and Felix aren't trying to kill each other; Edward isn't trying to kill himself. Bella is back and Carlisle is waiting." Alice let go of Jasper's back and took his hand leading him away toward the remains of our house. Bella and I walked behind them much the same way.
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BPOV:
We walked to the group standing by the burning husk that had once been the Cullen's house. It was completely destroyed, and I was sad to see it lying so low. Edward was right though. It was just a house. As long as the man beside me was alive and well nothing could be bad. "Bella, I'm really happy that you're home. When all of this settles down I want to try to visit that room with you again! It was neat. Jasper! Bella and I got to see this interesting room when you thought I was dead. It was like watching home movies…only better!" Alice gushed. I saw Jasper wince when she reminded him of her brush with death. I winced thinking that I really didn't want to go under again like that if I could avoid it. The sleep it brought was unnatural…even if it was refreshing.
Alice continued to talk in her excitement. "Did Bella tell you that she's the first vampire that could sleep?" I looked at my sister with an incredulous look and rolled my eyes. Edward looked at me with one raised eyebrow. Emmett must have heard because he turned around and laughed.
"Neat! That means that Edward doesn't have to give up any of his weird hobbies! Does she still trip over her own feet, because I would pay real money to see her do that!" Emmett laughed; a throaty booming sound that made me grin, until Felix started filling them in.
"Yeah, when I jumped at her she tripped over her own two feet. It was hilarious. Sure she didn't fall on her butt like you were telling me about, but I bet I could get her to do it. She's kind of clumsy for our kind." I rolled my eyes as Felix, Emmett, Rosalie, and even Jacob began to laugh loudly, but ignored them as I walked toward Esme and Carlisle. Edward led me to them and I felt my trepidation rise. I had brought these people a lot of pain, misery, and confusion. I was afraid that they would finally figure it out and abandon me. I should have known better though because Esme immediately threw her arms around me in a comforting hug.
Edward still held my hand but gave it to his father and held onto my shoulder instead as he began to speak, "Carlisle…Please accept Bella as your daughter. She's traveled far to come home to us, and she is the other half of my heart..." I looked over at Edward with a deep feeling of love. He continued, "The other half of my soul." He returned my look with the most beautiful gaze of longing. I had never wanted anything more than to be accepted into this family, especially by this man who had created my Edward.
Carlisle ran his thumb over my knuckles, looked up with a delighted smile, and spoke, "Nothing would make me happier Edward. I was worried that this day might never come. Dear Bella, I'd like to think that we've always been your family. From the moment you walked through our door unafraid despite our natures…more afraid of how we would accept you as a person. The things you've done for us, the selflessness you've shown time and again has more than proved how much you love us. You saved my son from a horrible fate…twice. The first time, you simply walked through the door and saved him from his loneliness. I've heard the second time was more of a sprint, which I know is quite dangerous for you. I've never met someone so willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of love, simply to be with our Edward. I'm delighted to add you to our family as a daughter…and as my son's mate."
I shivered at the last word. He had surprised us both, because Edward's face broke into a beautiful smile. This was an acknowledgement of my place by Edward's side. In Carlisle's eyes I was already Edward's. We would go through with our wedding as planned I hoped, but the man who had brought all of them together had just point blank told me I was Edward's mate. My love kissed me so deeply I felt it in my toes and when he stopped the whole family was there with us…even Jacob and Felix stood in the area around Carlisle, Esme, Edward, and I.
"Great! Now there are two of them." Rosalie gave me an eye roll as well as a smile despite her words and Emmett ruffled my hair. Esme had yet to let go of me. Jasper shook Edward's hand and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Alice bowled Esme and I over onto the grass and kissed me on the cheek.
We all got up again and Carlisle hugged me as he whispered, "Welcome to the family Bella, you've brought him greater joy than I could have hoped, and you are a greater companion than I could have imagined."
"Are we supposed to pitch rice at you or something? I feel awkward because I left ol' Uncle Ben back at the house." Jacob said with an easy smile. I let go of Esme and turned to him shyly and he hugged me. Edward was wrong. Jacob smelled like the forest and the earth. He was like hugging a furnace. Jacob would always be my sun.
"Please don't joke about throwing anything I might trip over. You know I'm never going to be coordinated if this didn't help me." I laughed as he continued to hug me.
Jacob put his lips to my ear and spoke. "Be happy." He backed up and looked at me fondly, but at the same time I got the feeling that he had let me go before this moment, that he had lost me to Edward somewhere over the course of the week. I would have to ask everyone about that later.
"Yeah, congratulations, that's great." Felix shared a quick smile and looked over his shoulder. "In about two minutes an army of two hundred and fifty well trained Volturi soldiers are coming up over that river and meeting us. I assume by the assimilation of Bella into your family that you will then give your support to us to fight and lend your skills to her sire Aro. That would be the best scenario, by the way."
Carlisle looked at Felix. "Is this the concession we were discussing? Is this what Aro wants for her place in my family? He would have had my help with or without Bella's assimilation. These political games mean nothing to me."
"Actually there are a few more, but this is the first. We will discuss Bella's ties to the Volturi and her future when Aro is present. He hates missing this kind of pomp and circumstance. Personally I can't wait for the fight. These guys are just asking for it. Besides I really miss my partner Demitri. Bella's too short to get into a good staring contest with."
"Here, here!" Emmett gave a joking smile.
Jacob looked at Carlisle with a serious face and in an equally serious tone he spoke, "You have me at your disposal. It's my choice now. The pack will fight at the side of the Cullen family until the battle is decided. We are going to put this divide behind us. If we fail…the world is going to be a much darker place. Sam was right to think evil was coming. He knew it in his skin, just like I did. I'll gather my remaining brothers and sisters and we'll be back here at dusk. That gives everyone the opportunity to heal up. If you need us before that time call my father. Bella…you remember his number?"
I tried. The numbers were a jumble of emotions that reminded me of a time when my soul had all but left me. I shook my head no. He looked hurt that I couldn't remember. "Please don't feel bad…At least I remember that you have a father. His name is Billy…and he has a kind face and a voice that can make magic out of stories, and he's in a wheelchair. There are people I don't even recall. Places that have disappeared from my memory. I used to walk to school when I was in Phoenix…I don't remember the way there. My mother is married to a man named Phil…but I can't remember what he looks like and with each passing minute I remember less." I looked at my family and Felix and received a sad look. They all knew…understood. They had been through the same thing.
Jacob then asked me a question that I could hardly bear to hear, "Do you remember me Bella?" I looked sadly at the ground. "Is all that time we spent together…gone?" Jacob lifted my face and searched my eyes for recognition.
The truth spilled from my lips before I could even begin to formulate a lie, "I didn't remember at first. I forgot you Jacob, but then I met a wolf in the woods and it came back. Homework in Charlie's living room, warm soda, and walks over the smooth stones by the beach, our tree by the shore, and fires that reached up to heaven in the dark surrounded by friends telling ancient stories. I remember you Jacob Black…and I will always love you, even if everything else slips away. I promise. You're still my sun." I threw my arms around Jacob's chest and felt him shudder back a sob. I felt the cold venom slide down my cheeks signifying the return of the Volturi.
"Go…I don't want you here when they arrive. You can fight beside our family, but I'll be damned before I let you promise anything to the Volturi. GO!" My whole family watched in amazement as "tears" slipped down my face.
Jacob wiped the venom from my face and gave me a sad smile. "There's my immortality," he said quietly and Jacob became a wolf and ran into the forest just as the shadows on the other side materialized into more substantial forms.
Felix took up a space next to me and ahead of the Cullens. "Sure you can handle this again?" He looked down at me.
I took a calming breath in and out before I spoke. "You'll know it right away if I can't." I tried to smile, but the cold venom continued to flow down my cheeks. I couldn't get Jacob out of my head. Could he still be my friend…even now that I was this?
"You really are an angel…you know that right?" Felix asked with a serious look.
I shook my head. "I don't know about that…but I need an angel in my corner now. I don't want to fail my family."
"You could never fail us, Love." Edward took my hand and stood beside me. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to let anything hurt you."
I looked over at Edward as legions of the undead filed out of the forest behind the three at the front. "I'm honestly not worried about anything that could physically come and get me. I'm more afraid of myself…" There it was; the power that always overwhelmed me. I tried to keep it in the catalogue. I tried to fight it down. I started to drown almost immediately. Who was I? Why wasn't Edward drowning out the other voices?
"FELIX!" I cried out to the bodyguard just as I completely shattered in my mind and dropped into a crouch and scented the air. There were no humans nearby…but there was blood. Wolf blood. It was just out of sight. Waiting behind us…I took in its very essence. It was a leader…strong, and young. Only seventeen seasons…but the blood had advanced him physically. Immediately I lost control of everything else. Edward…I could hear their thoughts. Emmett and Felix had granted me their power. I saw myself flying through the forest after the creature, but I couldn't see if I would get to kill it because I couldn't see the monster itself. My fear and anger were coming off of me in waves.
Half a field away Aro threw his arm out toward me. "CARMEN!" Too late…she would never catch me. I turned from everyone and ran recklessly toward the trees where the wolf creature turned and ran away. I would just have to catch up. This thing was my enemy. This creature would kill me if I didn't kill it first. It was in its nature. My nature was singing for blood, and at this moment any kind would do.
Before I even reached the tree line Edward was on top of me. I snarled at him. 'Bella no! What is happening to you? Stop my love. Calm yourself.' I felt him secure my arms and heard a familiar voice. Carmen sat beside me and stroked my hair as I let out a whine. The calm came over me immediately.
Aro clapped his hands. "I've figured it out! Pedro? Come to me boy." A young vampire walked to Aro as I finally got a hold of everything and as he came closer the more my control slipped. It was this boy? This was the creature that could bring me to my knees? He couldn't have been more than thirteen! I struggled to get up. I could destroy the monster in front of me and I would be able to function again. Thanks to the strength I had borrowed I had fought my way up on my knees, but because of Carmen I couldn't seem to get to my feet. The catalogue wouldn't be pouring into me like an endless sieve if I could kill the boy. Aro pointed his hand in my direction and I heard what he said thanks to my super hearing. "Go…touch her."
"NO!" I screamed and fought against Edward and Carmen…but because she was holding me in thrall and Edward was holding me in the vice of his grip I couldn't get away. I absorbed Carmen's power and immediately was blacking out. Second later it felt like I was being set on fire. My eyes snapped open and the boy Pedro was holding his hands on my face. My body was bowed in agony. I howled in anguish and realized that Edward was being held back by Felix, who I guess had his power back. I was under Heidi and the hands Pedro had against my body were like fire on my soul his power was so dominant it was breaking me.
My family was surrounded by the Volturi, so they could do nothing to help. I heard my voice…it was weak as it formed a sentence. "No…don't touch me anymore…please. Please stop." Edward continued to fight in Felix's arms and calling out to me. As the minutes passed however I slowly felt the fire dim. I felt the abilities all around me fall back into their places. I felt the hold Pedro had on me diminished until it was nothing more than another power that I could borrow without fear. How had this happened? What had Aro figured out that I had missed?
"How are you feeling now Bella dear? Is it better?" Aro's ancient voice asked as Heidi got up without a word and the old Volturi held out his hand to me and I took it as I rose from the ground. Pedro looked nervously at my family and headed quickly away from us. Edward was still snarling and when Aro touched me my love absolutely roared. "Oh my, protective mate you have there! HA!"
"Edward, don't do that. Aro was only helping me. I'm not sure how…How were you helping me?" I questioned the methods as well as the motives but he had definitely helped me.
"You see dear…the more you are exposed to an individual power, the more you can control it. Felix for example, you take his strength easily now. You know how his power feels in your body and you have touched him so many times that it's like second nature now to your senses. It is easier for you to use an ability if you are touching them…your…catalogue? Is that what you call it? It's like it becomes three dimensional. I'm surprised you didn't come to this conclusion yourself!" Aro crowed and he motioned for everyone to be set free including Edward who stalked directly to me and held me next to him.
Aro, Caius and Marcus exchanged a look together, but none of them made a further comment about Edward's reaction. Aro did continue to speak after a point however. "Now, Edward, would you do me the favor of taking our Bella out into the woods to feed? She's probably starving now that she's expended so much energy! Carlisle! It's wonderful to see you again…" Aro was walking away from me with no more thought about Edward and I. I looked at Alice and she smiled and looked toward the forest. As if I needed an invitation? Carlisle began to speak animatedly with Aro and he seemed so relaxed…but I knew better. One of my father's hands was clutched as if he were trying to turn coal into a diamond.
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EPOV
Aro, Caius, and Marcus were all standing together with Carlisle. My family was attempting to look undisturbed, but their thoughts were giving them away. Rosalie was thinking that she couldn't live without Emmett. Emmett was thinking about how fun it was going to be to fight in a REAL battle, but wanted to hide Rosalie away from the actual fighting. Alice was thinking I needed to get going before Bella couldn't function again, she thought that to me directly, and the other thought was that we weren't safe. Esme was terrified at the notion of having her family exposed to this horrible group. Jasper was thinking that we were completely outnumbered and totally outclassed. He was right.
I balked at the idea of going into the woods without backup. If the story was true…if the Volturi had indeed splintered and the other half of their force was in the forest somewhere…
"Alice, which way should we go?" I asked aloud.
My sister seemed to think for a few minutes and pointed toward the South. "If you go toward the woods in that direction you won't meet anyone. They are in the Olympic National Forest to the East of here and some are toward the North. You won't have to worry if you go South, all of the forest between here and Bogachiel is vampire free. Iverson hasn't been that lucky. I see the Volturi playing cleanup there and in Tyee. The Makah are under protection of the wolves…and any deaths they have sustained will be handled by them."
"Why thank you Alice. That's incredibly helpful! Now we know where they are hiding and where we're going to have to come in and deal with the left over population." Aro smiled genially and Caius arched his eyebrow and commented how unbelievably useful Alice was. Jasper continued thinking about the horrible things he would do to them if they dared to come anywhere near his Alice.
I silently agreed that I would help him if it came to that, and then continued out loud, "Thank you Alice. We will be back as quickly as we can." I gave my sister a weak smile as I took Bella's hand and lead her away from the mass of vampires. My love was very quiet, as if she were concentrating very hard, but maybe she was. I didn't know how hard this was on her, and seeing the mass of bodies didn't help me at all either. Their presence was like being in high school. Fortunately I had experience keeping the voices from drowning me out. Bella was new, and the idea that she was grasping at her control was no surprise to me.
"Hey GIRL!" I blinked and looked up as a very flamboyant man walked up to us. "I was starting to think you would miss me the whole trip! I heard about Julian having to tackle you at the airport! Girl you are dangerous! Is this your man-candy? Lucky vampire! Not that I want to trade…but he's a whole lot of sexy. Edward right?" I nodded my head dumbly as I got an interesting mental picture of myself that had I been human would have left me red as a tomato.
"Sorry, what? Sorry…I wasn't paying attention. Louis, this is Edward. Edward, this is Louis. He's a fashion designer." She introduced us as I watched her flinch with concentration.
"Charmed I'm sure." I said while watching Bella carefully. "We really should be going." I started to pull forward, but Bella stopped us.
"Where is your better half? I have yet to thank him…Julian saved my life." Bella asked with a smile and looked around Louis as if he could stash this person behind him. She seemed to be at ease with Louis, and he seemed to be at ease with everyone. His mind was not complex and yet his mind had pattern and shape. He was actually wondering the same thing that Bella was.
The man, Louis, gesticulated wildly as he spoke, "Julian is meeting up with Demitri. I don't like it, but what can you do? He's good at being intelligence…so that's what he does. I still wonder why Julian insists on doing this. Part of me worries that he just does it for kicks. You know, being with the Volturi? It's kind of like a human who bungee jumps without a helmet and an unchecked bungee chord. I'm in because I hate being away from him. I stand out too much to help him with intel though, so sometimes I wonder if I'd just be better off playing house husband and waiting for him to come back all, "Honey, I'm home! This front line stuff is for the birds."
"I'm sorry Louis. I was hoping to see him before I left from Port Angeles but then Aro made that ridiculous speech and had Felix drag me off. If you see him before me can you tell him I said thank you?" Bella voiced her regards. I watched her give Louis a quick hug and I began to walk again.
"Oh, Angel?" Louis called back to her and Bella spun toward his voice. "Stop making my designer frocks into crap that look like it was stuffed into a paper shredder! You're killing me here!" He pointed to Bella's shirt and rolled his eyes. "You know that would have cost three hundred dollars boutique right?"
"Louis! I'm sorry. I admit it's a bit of a mess…" My Bella was fingering the fabric as she looked away completely embarrassed.
"Really? What is that smell? Is that werewolf? Oh my God! You're a danger magnet…did you know?" Louis waved us along and I looked down at my beautiful mate.
"I see that you made friends while we were away. What is all of this Angel stuff?" I asked with a crooked grin as she hid her face.
"It's the nickname that Felix gave me. It just kind of stuck. I don't feel much like an angel." Bella gave a more relaxed smile as we walked from the clearing into the forest.
"I've always known you were an angel." I responded back to her comment.
"Yes, the activity I'm about to engage in is thoroughly angelic. By the way…I do this a lot, so I hope you can't get bloated." Bella commented as she pulled me along by my hands and laughed.
I was relieved that she was taking this aspect of our lives with acceptance. I answered her question and formulated one of my own. "I don't think so, although I have to wonder what you mean by that."
"For whatever reason," Bella supplied as we ran, "I seem to run out of energy quickly, and especially when I'm overusing my ability. I eat like a pig."
"Don't worry. I'll always come with you. Besides, I've got good news. It won't affect your girlish figure. Drink away." I assured her as we wove through the trees at a swift but easy pace, and when she scented the deer at the same time as I did it took me by surprise. Although deep inside I was still stuck on my fantasy from this morning her beautiful laughter as she faded in and out of my sight…had it really only been this morning? I was beginning to mark time from a very different gauge, the time before Bella had arrived and the time after.
"I'm not sure how much I'm going to need Edward…but I know I shouldn't over hunt…" My love queried with an uncertain look in her eyes, her voice so low I could hardly hear.
"Take as much as you need. It's different when you're a newborn. I don't want you to suffer. Besides, I missed your first hunt; I want to see you…" I let the words trail off to see if I had said too much, or offended her. The smile she graced me with was unexpected.
"So, you like to watch?" Bella questioned me as her finger traced my shoulder and up to my jaw. Immediately I felt the need to touch her, but she was down the side of the hill and away from me before I could get my hands on her. She sprung lightly into a doe and I watched as her teeth sank easily though it's sinewy neck. Her intrusion had almost gone completely without notice by the heard at large. A smaller buck had noticed her though, and despite the wild fear I saw rolling in his terrified eyes I saw him begin to run at Bella with his antlers down.
The second he had let out a bleat the rest of the heard began to run the opposite direction. Bella looked up from the mostly finished carcass that she had drained and sprung lightly to her feet. The horrible grace she showed while avoiding the antlers unnecessarily and the way she snapped the creature's neck was alluring. She fell upon the new creature and I finally joined in the hunt garnering my own large doe and I lightly bit a second to paralyze it. I had seen Jasper do this for Alice on occasion, and it made me happy to think that I too now had a mate that I could hunt for.
Bella had finished the buck and the heard had moved away from us, but if she had given chase I was confident that she could have caught more. She was very comfortable and calm. I had been an absolute basket case about hunting at first. It was a very horrifying addition to a life that I was uncertain that I wanted. Carlisle had been extremely patient with me. I worked on instinct alone and was disgusted for hours on end afterward. I got the strange impression that Bella would not be as difficult. In fact she sat down next to me and took my hand as if she were in awe of me.
"I have a small confession to make." My angel would have been blushing if she had been able.
"I can't imagine what that might be. I don't see any confession worthy things happening here." I smiled back coyly as I timidly passed her the slightly squirming doe and she tore delicately through its neck to the blood beneath. Watching her like this was turning into a very erotic activity, and despite the way I had always felt about this aspect of who I had become, I found myself enjoying the way her throat moved and the way her body curled over the creature. I ran my hand over her back and down to her thigh as she finished draining the deer under her.
My Bella seemed to come to a decision and continued her comment, "I've always wanted to see you hunt. I mean, you already knew I was curious…but more than that I was sure it would be something that wouldn't bother me. I always thought you would look beautiful…" Bella said the words nervously as if she was worried that I would be offended. She also knew how touchy I was about this subject. I had always been more so when she was human, afraid of her reaction…the running and screaming. Now that she had said this to me I was absolutely astounded.
"And?" I asked with a small smile.
Bella smiled back at me with the nervousness abated, and continued. "I was right. I've never seen anything so amazing in my life. You make everything look so effortless. I'm a little jealous. I'm still not delicate, or graceful, and for some reason when you were watching me I felt a little more at ease."
I crushed her against me and decided to tell her what had been in my mind while I was watching her. "You are completely absurd! I've never seen you look so…I don't even know how to describe it. You have so much charisma when you hunt. The grace you're speaking of has not in any way eluded you, I assure you of it. It was wholly erotic." I spoke the last word nervously, afraid of her reaction, and at the same time I was excited to see where the comment would take us.
I was completely unprepared for the next words my love spoke. "Would you like a shower?"
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BPOV
I was thoroughly disgusting by now after having fed a multitude of times, and changing into a vampire, and my travels. Edward seemed completely astounded by my question, and I saw the twitching muscles in his hands and jaw before I realized what I had said. Had I somehow offended him? When he threw me over his shoulder and started to run I was surprised. I was equally so when he skidded to a halt and lowered me to the ground. "Stay here…looking just like that…Don't move, and I'll be right back." He had gone back to the carcasses and picked them all up effortlessly and run out of sight. I was blinking my confusion even when he returned. "Good Lord…Perfect." He threw me over his shoulder again and I giggled.
"Edward, please…" I laughed as I spoke and he ran. "I can run you know. You don't have to carry me."
Edward muttered with a bit of a seductive growl and it made me shiver, "To give you the opportunity to get away? Never again. I've been given an invitation to something that I've desired, and I'm not going to let the opportunity pass me up ever again." We had sprinted for what I knew was miles and as he gently set me down I was unsurprised to find us at my home. "Please wait just a moment while I open the window. I won't be a second. Don't move an inch." It was almost humorous the way he kept asking me to stay still.
Edward was, just as he had said he would be, back. I smiled as he picked me up in his arms and walked us through the open door to Charlie's house much like a man would carry his wife over a threshold. "Why do you keep telling me not to move? I'm not that flighty Edward." I said it with all of the humor I could muster, because I knew the truth. He was terrified that I would go away.
"I have not dreamed in over a hundred years Bella, but I fear that I am in a dream. That I am still sitting on that horrible cliff in reality. I keep expecting something to wake me up, and be lost again in misery. I need you to survive, and if I have just conjured you in my head, then I want to stay here in my mind forever. It wouldn't be a bad thing as long as I could have you. I keep expecting you to disappear Love. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. Please forgive me. Over time I'm sure it will get better." Edward walked up the stairs as he said this.
"Don't worry about that, if I have it my way I'll never leave your side again. I'm just kind of relieved that I'm not hearing you in crazy stereo in my head. You kept me safe all the time I was in Volterra. You remember how I used to hear your voice when you were gone? I heard it all the time I was away from you. I know I should worry you'll think I'm psychotic but I don't care. You always take such good care of me Edward, even when there's no way for it to be possible." I whispered the words and I watched his face go from a tortured mask to an expression of pure joy. "Even if I were just your hallucination, you would be mine. At least we both have that."
"Bella!" I was pushed up against the wall of my old bathroom. His hands were quickly divesting me of my destroyed shirt and then my skirt in a fashion that was full of every bit of needy passion that both of us felt while his fingers ran over my skin. Unashamed to be taking what we both knew we needed. I was removing his pants while he threw off his shirt and I pushed the fabric of his slacks and the boxers at his hips down toward the floor. I wanted to look at him desperately, but we were busy tangling our tongues together, and it made it next to impossible to see the stiffened member that had sprung up between us and poked against my stomach. He was kissing me passionately when I kicked off my shoes which meant I was completely naked, but Edward had yet to remove his own shoes which held his pants around his ankles. "Awkward. Pardon me." He leaned over to remove the shoes at his feet and I watched the smooth curve of his naked back as it ended at his hips in a trance like state. He was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't wait for this potential energy to become real. In my desire to continue I ran my fingers over his spine.
Edward let out a small tortured gasp and pushed me up against the wall again his hips pressing against mine in the most erotic way. He growled the next words with a look of pure desire on his face, "put your legs around my hips. Don't let go…never let go." I did as he asked and we both moaned as his distended length brushed against my sex. I had never been naked with a man before. Even when Edward and I had been fumbling into our physical relationship the most we had ever seen of each other was from the waist up. I wanted to look at him…but I would allow this constant press of our bodies until I got the opportunity to really look. He needed me right now to be against him. I understood his tactile needs. The only thing more wonderful than looking at Edward was touching him. He obviously felt the same. His hands alternated between caressing my grasping thighs and fondling my breasts. Alternately I was busy brushing my hands, lips, and body against anything I could reach.
The fumbling walk between this side of the small bathroom and toward the tub while we groped and fondled was filled with sighs and groans as I felt him coming torturously closer to something we both desperately wanted. He was surprising me with his multitasking skills once again when he bent backward to turn the knobs of the shower on. The water came forcefully from the tap and Edward clicked over the shower so that the water fell like rain around us. I pulled the curtain back to keep the water off the floor and realized that we were working in tandem without any words necessary. I couldn't help but be amazed how much we were of one mind.
The water felt incredible. He'd turned on the hot water full blast and had neglected the cold…and I truly felt the warmth running over my cold flesh. I closed my eyes and moaned at the sensation. Edward whispered into my ear and licked the lobe, "Don't think I didn't hear that. Are you enjoying the water more than me, my love?" Edward pressed my back against the tile and I felt the head of his shaft pressing at my entrance.
"Edward!" I gasped at the feeling as I called out his name. He was trailing kisses down my throat and over the skin of my shoulders. My back arched bringing him closer…pressing him further inside of me, and my mind slammed back down to earth. What were we doing? "We shouldn't do this. What about waiting?"
Edward leveled his eyes at me and I watched the water beading on his skin and moistening his hair. "I told you. I need you. I need you now. Please Bella. Don't turn me away." He took my hand with the ring and kissed it. "I, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, take you, Isabella Marie Swan, to be my lawfully wedded wife, binding us for all eternity and forsaking all others as long as we both shall live." He paused for a second and then gave me the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. "Let me cherish you for all time, and love you for every single day of forever. I cannot stand this life without you here beside me, and I want to be by your side for all time. Everything is emptiness without you. You are my destiny too Bella. Please come with me on this journey." He had a very serious look on his face and I watched the water cascade over us, the liquid supplying me with the tears that I knew would be falling if I could produce them. I could have sworn I felt the drip of my stolen venom tears, but that was impossible. I gasped at the way my heart lurched in adoration for the man with me. Was I getting married in the shower?
"Well!?!" I heard Rosalie's raised excited voice on the other side of the door as I heard an obvious scuffle break out over who got to be closest. I was only slightly mortified. "Emmett!" I heard Rosalie giggle and I swore that I could also hear Esme and Carlsile talking as well as Alice and Jasper.
"Alice get everyone out of my house. Now!" I screeched. Edward had lowered my feet to the shower floor and was laughing but still held my hand and seemed to be waiting for me to continue. I really was getting married in the shower.
"Now we should throw the rice?" Emmett mock questioned.
"Do you have any idea how long it took me to figure out which side of the house was the bride's and which was the groom's? Nope! You have to finish. We're here for the wedding of the century." I heard Alice giggle. "Everything I bought burned down with the house anyway. We don't have time for driving off to Vegas and this is strangely romantic. Emmett you're on. Mazzeltoff."
I heard his laughing voice on the other side of the door, "Since Edward already said his vows I will deflect over to Bella. Do you have vows Miss Swan?"
"I'm all wet..." I sputtered confused.
"Not confessions Bella, Vows." Emmett said with mock annoyance and everyone outside in the hall and the two of us burst into laughter.
"Could this get any more mortifying?" I asked with a broad smile across my face.
"I could start singing." Emmett spoke through the door. "That's what most people do in the shower, but you two are always about pushing the envelope of strangeness. Here, let me start. I Bella Swan being of sound mind and naked body…"
"Emmett, that's what people say when they're writing a will…well excepting the naked bit," Edward's eyes danced with mirth as he spoke to the door. "Here let me. I, Isabella Marie Swan, do take this man…" His replication of my voice was exact. I punched him lightly in the shoulder and as he fell back a step from me I finally got a good look at him naked. My breath caught in my throat. He was magnificent. I had been about to say something but my words got completely stuck in my throat. His narrow hips, his amazing chiseled muscles, and his still erect penis stood in front of me in all his glory and I thought for sure I was going to pass out. He smiled crookedly at me, "Breath, Bella." I croaked almost inaudibly in response.
"Someone just got a good look at the hardware." Alice giggled out on the other side of the door and I internally combusted with embarrassment as everyone on the other side started to laugh again, but I swore there were a lot more voices than just my family. I covered my face with my hands but Edward hadn't let go of mine, so he was covering my face as well. "Bella…come on! If you ever want to get to do anything with it you're going to have to speak." She sounded really excited. I laughed lightly.
"Alright Alice, I'm speaking. See?" I said while staring up at Edward's eyes, pointedly not looking at his wondrous body or his startling erection so that I could finish speaking. "I, Isabella Marie Swan, take you the man of my heart, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, as my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you every single day of forever, forsaking all others for all of eternity. No matter what lies ahead, no matter what this day brings…I promise to go where you go, and return to you and only you at the end of every day. You are my heart and soul. I feel as if I've been lost and now that I'm here I've been found again. I love you more than I'll ever have words for." He kissed my knuckles as I finished with adoration in his eyes. Everything was quiet for a second.
"That was very beautiful Bella." Esme said with a watery voice and everyone laughed again at my mother's quiet interruption.
"Darling, are you crying?" Carlisle spoke at last.
"I always cry at weddings, you know that my love." Esme returned.
Emmett cleared his throat meaningfully and continued, "Alright, if that's all from the peanut gallery can we go on? If there is anyone that has any reason these two people in the shower should not be joined let them speak now or forever hold their peace. I do mean forever." Emmett paused for only a second before speaking again as if leaving that statement in the air were dangerous. "Well then, by the power vested in me by the State of Washington thanks to the endless power of the internet I pronounce you man and wife. Edward, for God's sake kiss the bride." He did, and very enthusiastically besides. I heard an absolute eruption of clapping and I blinked. How had I not noticed them? How had my power been turned off? "May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." I heard laughter as I guessed that Emmett introduced the door to all the people in the house. However many that might have been.
I decided to ask. "Alice? How many people are in the house right now?" I spoke quietly and with a bit of hesitance.
"Probably around two hundred and seventy, and I don't like the venue, but what can you do?" Alice snickered as I heard Jasper break into howls of laughter along with Emmett. "Don't worry Bella, the Volturi are insisting that they hold a proper ceremony that doesn't take place in a tub later. For right now, just enjoy yourselves! We're going to leave. Be back with us at twilight. You have Edward's cell if things get out of hand before then, and hopefully they will. Congratulations!" There was a prolonged commotion of sound, followed by silence.
We were alone, and I knew it because I reached out to the catalogue that our passions had seemingly made silent and there was nothing but Edward's ability to read minds available to me.
"You knew all of them were out there?" I accused my new husband.
"Yes, I had already started to speak when they all came in. Alice really did divide the house up. It was incredibly funny. Would you like to see? I'll let you in my head if you like." My Edward was caressing my sides and kissing and nipping my skin in an alternating fashion.
"No…that's okay. I'm guessing the view from in here was better anyway." I trailed my hand down to his erection and he hissed and pushed his hips against my grasping hand. I would have to get over my embarrassment eventually. Now would be a great time to practice. "Where were we?" I asked with an innocent look on my face.
Edward immediately had my back pressed up against the wall again and one of my legs up around his hip. I groaned aloud as I once again felt him brush up against my core. He shuddered as he spoke, obviously speech was an effort. I wasn't going to even try. "I believe we were going to consummate eternity." He brought his hand up to my clitoris and began to rub in slow circles as he entered me. I gasped at the feeling of his shaft buried so deeply inside me, and when he had fully penetrated into me, I could only groan out my passion against his neck. He began the slow torture of finding a rhythm to our lovemaking and he spoke with longing in his voice, "Bella…Oh God Bella!"
If the feeling of him entering me was staggering, I couldn't begin to describe the feeling of him sliding in and out. I gasped and shuddered as I felt the engorged tip slide along my tunnel, and Edward bucked under me. It wasn't the easiest of positions to start off with, I thought, but he seemed more than willing to put up with the awkwardness. I was starting to feel like my leg was going to give out so I locked that leg too around Edward's hip. "Never let go." I said through moaning and panting breath. I focused on bringing myself up and down on his erection as we kissed and grabbed at each other's bodies. I felt my muscles contracting around his member as I descended into my first orgasm, crying out against the incredible feeling of synapsing muscles and the way my vision blurred with the water still cascading down our bodies.
The water had long gone cold, but it didn't matter. Edward growled at the feeling of my body tightening around his own and he doubled his efforts. The comfortable thrusting of our mutual passion gave me time to memorize the feel of his body against my own. The slap of our skin at each joining of his member into me and the way I could feel the sway of our hips as his body marked me as his. I felt the light slap of his testicles against my behind as I began to fall on him more vigorously. Minutes later I had cum again and we were letting inarticulate 'I love you's' and names become a language. Soon I was reduced to simply moaning at the end of each thrust and Edward was silently straining against me. His eyes watching me as his breath came in deliberate rushes with our exertions, and as he finally came into me I felt the throb and jerk of his completion which sent me over again. "Edward…"
He shook slightly and pulled me close huddled against his body under the spray of cold water. His hand touched my head lightly and then Edward ran his fingers through my wet hair. I listened for the voice in his head because that was what he seemed to want. 'I never knew what was missing. I never knew my own mind until I knew you Bella. Oh, God. Bella. How could I have survived without you? How did I? I don't even remember a time without your grace. It's like my whole life is rewriting itself in your company. This was the most incredible feeling I have ever shared with someone, and you're the only one I'll ever share my body with. Please share yourself only with me.' Edward looked into my eyes and I smiled back at him and clutched him against my cold flesh.
"Only you. Forever." I promised him with a whisper. He withdrew from my body and I groaned against my loss. He began to wash my hair and body and I did the same for him, not speaking, but sharing more than we ever had before through caressing hands and searching lips. His eyes were full of desire by the end of our mutual cleansing and his erection was evident against me again as we rinsed off the soap on our bodies and in our hair. This is exactly what I had seen with Alice's vision, and now that he was turning off the water I saw that I had been right. The shower was excellent, but he was taking me to my old room now and when he pushed me down on my bed I knew that he was ready once again to express his unending love, and what eternity meant for us.