A/N There's going to be maybe two more after this and it might take a while. Probably from Alice's and Edward's POV as they has been requested.

This one is for Cherry Blushe with love.

BPOV

When I opened my eyes the room seemed wrong, but it was only a moment before I realised that it seemed wrong because I could see everything clearly. Yet there were no lights on in the room.

While it was considering things my brain was racing to recognise other things. The pain I had felt, the pain so vicious it felt like a living sentient force, had vanished as abruptly as it had come. I was not hurting now. Well not much, I had a sore throat. I felt as though I might have been yelling myself hoarse for hours. I was very thirsty. But I was in a familiar room with a glass wall, although I could see that shutters had blocked the view I felt I should remember. I was lying on a bed...and I was not alone.

As though in answer to my unspoken thoughts I heard a voice say, very softly, "Bella?" It sounded like bells tinkling.

My body arched off the bed almost automatically but I was already calming down when my feet touched the floor. I knew that voice. My eyes picked out two shapes in the darkness and I couldn't understand why I hadn't noticed their presence immediately. How could I not? One small woman with black hair, wearing jeans and a red shirt. The colour was...interesting.

The other taller and all in black. I found I wanted to consider this further but another sound caught my attention. There were others too. Movement just outside the door and all my attention snapped towards this new and unknown threat. "Bella, it's just the others. Carlisle and Jasper are worried about you." A different voice.

For the first time I locked eyes with the taller figure. He was so beautiful...I knew him. The worse 'stress response' came to mind when I took in his rigid stance, but it didn't matter. Something tight in my chest loosened...this was where I wanted to be. Where I was. A blanket thought hit me forcefully as I stared at him. MINE. Edward. He was here. He was with me. I shot across the room as fast as I could, which turned out to be faster than I expected, and threw myself into his arms. They closed around me and I let out a whimper. I realised that feeling in my chest wasn't fear. It was terror although I hadn't known immediately where it had come from.

As soon as Edward's arms closed around me everything came flooding back. I only needed something familiar to remind me of...well everything. Though there were some disturbing gaps, I didn't care at that moment. My strongest memory was of a dark place. It hadn't been a place of pain, or of fire or hell. No it had been worse. A place of nothing. No life, no family, no friends, no love and most crucially...no Edward. Terror, absolute.

I had almost believed that there would be no more anything for me ever again. I had existed in that black dark place and tried to force my mind to accept the idea that Edward wouldn't, or perhaps couldn't find me here. I had never deserved him and now he was gone.

But he had come and found me. Better than that he had rescued me. I was out of there and we were here together in what I now knew was his room, at his house. I hardly dared to believe it was real.

I heard Edward give a low groan and I pulled back to kiss him. I clutched him to me tightly and somewhere close but ever so far away I heard Alice giggle. The sound pricked my consciousness but it was so familiar that it didn't seem threatening. It seemed much more important to keep my lips pressed against Edward's. "Ow...mnph...Bella, love...ow..."

Edward was wriggling in my grasp. It took me a full half second to realise that he was trying to free himself. It was an entirely alien concept. I dropped my arms and frowned as I tried to understand what his words could mean, but his eyes were distracting me. They seemed different, clearer. As did everything about him.

"Bella, can the others come in now?" Alice took a slow step towards me and my head snapped in her direction. I realised that she hadn't moved a millimeter until that point.

"Alice..." I breathed.

"Something wrong Bella?" She asked smiling.

"You are even more beautiful than I remember." I said completely honestly.

I heard a chuckle in the hall which distracted me but Edward was at my side before the sounds could make me nervous. His fingers stroked my cheek gently, "It's just Emmett. They all want to see you."

"Why?" I asked completely confused. I had already met them. Somewhere my brain was doing calculations and considering scenarios as it tried to understand what was happening but things kept distracting me. I couldn't give it my full attention. Even now I was staring at the different coloured strands in Edward's hair. Some of them were almost fair enough to be considered blond.

"They want to be here when I explain to you what's happened."

"What has happened Edward?" I could hear the slightly fearful edge to my voice. Everything felt so strange, and I could hear...I could hear fabric rustling in the hall. I could hear cars, but the Cullen house was so far from any road. It didn't make sense.

I was beginning to feel agitated and I didn't like it. Before I could focus on the feelings Edward's fingers were in my hair and his lips were at my temple. "I'll explain everything my love I promise. Don't be afraid. Please don't. I won't let anything hurt you."

His plea was so heartfelt that I misgave. I pressed myself into his arms and let myself believe that there was nothing to fear. "Okay."

Alice came to stand next to me and the door opened. Emmett was the first to appear in the doorway and he was grinning from ear to ear. "Look who's up." He said cheerfully and I felt an answering smile stretch my face. How could I not when he seemed so happy to see me?

Jasper was on his heels and he nodded smiling too. They all seemed very happy to see me in fact. Carlisle and Esme and even the formerly hostile Rosalie. Jasper slowly made his way over to us and I felt my body relaxing. Even in Edward's arms I had still been on edge but it was fading more now. I felt safe and almost comfortable. There was no threat here.

I was enjoying the feeling when something clicked into place in my head. I remembered a conversation I had had with Edward. "Are you...doing that?" I asked Jasper.

"Only a little," he said and Jasper looked much more relaxed than I had ever seen him. Though under his smile, I had the feeling he was waiting for me to say something else.

I didn't know what else I could say so I just stared around the room at the other Cullens. Other than Alice who was bouncing on her toes, they all seemed to find me an item of great curiousity. "What...what's happening?" I asked a little uncertainly. It seemed like as good a question as any. Edward's arms tightened around me slightly and I looked up into his face. "Edward?"

"How much do you remember Bella?" He asked and his fingers resumed their stroking through my hair. It was incredibly pleasant and soothing, but it also made me think about Edward's hands. Hands that had touched me in ways...Very distracting.

I fought to concentrate. "About what?

"About...how you got here?" His voice was gentle and I wondered what he could possibly have to tell me that would involve his whole family being present.

"Oh...I don't know..."

"What's the last thing that's clear?" Carlisle asked speaking for the first time from his position by the door. Esme was at his side and she was grinning like the proverbial cheshire cat.

I thought back. I remembered camping with Edward. We had been in a clearing in the woods and I had been having more fun than I had ever had in my life. We had a tent and a weird shower thing that Alice had bought. My eyes flicked to her and I grinned widely. Had I thanked her for that? She was still bouncing but more thoughts had already carried me forwards. I remembered Edward leaving to go hunt and...Jake. I gasped and Edward's arms held me tighter.

Rosalie and Emmett were suddenly closer than they had been I almost panicked. Jasper put a hand on Emmett's arm, "Shock, not anger."

Emmett nodded. Despite his more agressive pose his expression wasn't frightening at all. He still looked cheerful, but maybe a little confused. "Why is she not clawing at the wallpaper?"

"Emmett!" Esme hissed.

"What? I'm sorry, but is this not a little weird to anyone else?"

"I told you," said Alice looking a little smug. "I told you it would be okay."

"What? What's happening?" My voice sounded strange in my ears suddenly and it frightened me all over again. But Edward was still holding me and he kissed my temple again.

"We need to do this now," said Alice and she sounded definite. She looked me straight in the eye and I found myself calming further. Alice would tell me the truth. "You remember Jacob Black finding you in the woods?" I nodded. "You remember him being hurt?" I nodded again. That was why I had gasped. I heard that awful sound he had made when he hit the trees again. "Do you remember seeing him the next day?"

I thought for a long instant, "Yes. I went to tell him the truth." The emotions came flooding back with the memories, "I went to be honest and...Do. It. Right."

"You left Sue's house alone afterwards didn't you?" I pulled myself away from the memory of Jake's face as I broke his heart. I nodded once again. Alice took a step forward and Jasper mimicked her. She made a tutting sound over her shoulder but otherwise paid him no attention. She put her hand and my shoulder. "And then you fell Bella."

Then I remembered and I shuddered. "Yes...I wasn't paying attention...Charlie tried to come with me but I didn't want him to..." I looked at Alice. "I thought if I was alone and away from Jake..." The sentence died in my throat. I wasn't sure why I had stopped myself but I knew there was a reason.

Alice face fell, "You thought I would see you...You thought..."

Yes I had thought. I just hadn't taken into account my own stupidity and clumsiness. "Did you? See me?"

"I did Bella, but only in time to see you fall...and be to late to prevent it happening for real." She bit her lip and looked so upset that I instantly tried to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry Alice," I said.

"Sorry?"

"Yes, I must have scared you and I was stupid to go wandering by myself. I just needed to be away from there and I..." My eyes flicked to Edward; I had hoped if Alice saw me that Edward would come. And he had. I knew that now. I didn't remember it, but I felt it.

"Edward and I were here with Alice and we tried to get to you..." For the first time Emmett looked less than happy and his words struck a chord, 'Too late'...'Tried to get to you'... These phrases meant something; they added up to something important.

I looked from Alice to Emmett but it was Edward who spoke, "You fell Bella. We found you and got you to shore but..." His breath escaped him in a shudder, "It wasn't in time."

This made no sense...it made perfect sense...no sense...perfect sense...no sense...perfect sense... "Not in time?" Was all I could say.

"Bella," Edward whispered my name and kissed my temple, "You lay in a hospital for...forever." He said and his voice broke. I tried to look up at him but his eyes were screwed shut, "You were never going to wake up. You were going to stay there until you died..." He took several deep breaths and finally looked at me, "So...so I...ow..."

Edward wriggled and I realised I had locked my arms around his waist. As he had spoken his own agitation had made me want to comfort him and...no sense...perfect sense...perfect sense...perfect sense...

I let go of Edward and stepped back. I felt a rush of calm, not my own, wash over me but it couldn't blunt the shock I was feeling. Edward was holding both his hands in front of him, "Bella, please...I...I thought you...no I wanted..."

I put a finger to my lips. "Shhh." I said.

"Just give her a second," Jasper said quietly and I appreciated it. I needed at least a second, preferably a few.

I looked down at my hands, my white hands. I had always had pale skin but this was different. My skin was as white as...as Edward's. I ran my tongue over my teeth, my oddly sharp teeth, and for the first time since I had sprung from the bed I was aware of a burning in my throat. It was worse than I remembered it being and I thought again how thirsty I was. I imagined going to a tap and filling a glass with cool, clear water, and drinking the whole thing.

I wrinkled my nose. I didn't want water. Then I deliberately thought of something else, something warm and red and thick. I gave a pained groan as the burning increased a hundred fold. As I tried to fight it I sank to my knees. Before a second had passed Edward was kneeling in front of me. He didn't seem to know what to do with his hands which fluttered uselessly.

I tried to remember but nothing was there. I remembered being pulled under by the water. I remembered the feeling as the wet flooded my lungs. My body had convulsed twice maybe three times as it tried to expel the invading water, but there was nothing else. There was only the crushing black water everywhere. Then there was no water...there was just the darkness. The terrifying nothing.

Then the pain and now...here. Here and with Edward by my side. Not just Edward, the whole Cullen family was here and they all seemed to want to help, even Rosalie. And I was...a vampire? It sounded silly even in my head. Not that there were such creatures, but that I could be one. Me, Isabella Swan from Forks, Washington. I was a vampire and I was surrounded by a family of them.

Abruptly something else came to the forefront of my mind. A dream I had had the last morning I had woken up...human. I had dreamt of growing old and dying. Edward had still been there by my side and I had known with absolute certainty that he would not live long after I died. The idea had been horrifying and...that would never have to happen now.

I would never have to grow old and leave him behind. I could stay by his side until the end of the world...or forever. Whichever one. It was like waking up from a nightmare to discover the world have granted wishes in my absense. We could stay together and be young and strong. I almost laughed, but then I remembered...Charlie, Renee, Jake, Billy, Sue, Seth, Leah, Angela, Eric... The list was a long one. If I was one of them...what did that mean for the life I had led before? I had a feeling I knew. "I'm...I'm like you now?" I asked and Edward nodded. He looked tormented and I found that I couldn't bear that. "You...you saved me?" I asked and I was proud of myself for my choice of words.

"I turned you Bella." He still looked as though he was in pain and I reached out to stroke his cheek.

"That's what I said."

Alice let out a high-pitched giggle, "Isn't she great? I knew it, I knew how it would be."

While I was pleased for Alice, looking at her had been a bad idea. The colour of her shirt was...mesmirizing. A fact she seemed to guess, "I hate to rush this, but I think Bella should hunt."

The word itself startled me. How was I supposed to hunt? I had no idea what it even entailed. Edward had been somewhat murky on the subject. "Are we all going or...?" Rosalie asked.

Edward got to his feet and held out a hand. I took it without question, "We'll be fine. Won't we Alice?" His face was disturbingly blank.

She nodded happily, "No human casualties."

Edward led me to the door and from the room without another word. No one moved to stop us though I felt Jasper's eyes on me. As we walked down the hall and stairs I kept wanting to pull Edward to a stop so we could talk, but then I would change my mind. We were going to be alone soon and I wanted that too.

Edward pushed open the door and the amalgamation of scents filling the air almost made me stagger. "It's okay Bella."

"Is it?" I asked a little fearfully. I didn't know what to think or how to feel. I had wanted this, I had even asked Edward to consider doing the very thing he had done. But now I felt confused. Edward was clearly not happy and if he wasn't happy how could things be okay?

"Yes, I'm going to show you how, it's easy I promise." I nodded and let him lead me out into the night. I wanted to go with him anyway and the burning in the back of my throat was getting harder and harder to ignore. I needed to make it go away. I heard a pained moan and then realised the sound had been coming from me. Edward glanced at me and smiled tightly. "Come."

He gave a gentle tug on my hand and I hurried to follow him. He sped up and I found that keeping pace was easy, even over the uneven ground. I seemed to see everything in a kind of slow motion. Despite the fact that my feet were moving much faster than they had ever moved before, my brain had no difficulty working with my body. After a few seconds Edward released my hand and we were running together.

XXX

Edward didn't speak for some time, but it didn't seem to matter. Just being here with him, running through the trees and being able to keep up...well I had thought camping was fun. But this was different. I felt different. I felt like there might be a chance now. In the back of my mind I had always been a little afraid. I...had been...human, Edward was not and no matter how I tried to work it out I had known that things would only get harder as time went by.

But this...well there were bound to be things I hadn't thought of yet, but I had the time to figure it out now. Edward and I had nothing but time, vast acres of time in which we could grow crops. If we wanted, but more importantly, if Edward wanted. His silence was starting to make me uncomfortable and a horrible thought struck me. What if Edward didn't want me by his side forever? Perhaps I was too different now from how I was and ...

"Bella?" Edward had slowed and I followed his example. As soon as the wind stopped whipping past me I could smell them. The scent wasn't particularly appetizing but it was something and I knew that once I had it, it would taste good.

I needed no more encouragement. My body shifted into a low crouch and I sped into the trees with Edward close behind me.

XXX

I hadn't hunted particularly cleanly or wisely. By the time I was on the herd of deer I was so crazy with the scent of their blood that I had fallen on the first one I saw. The others had tried to scatter while I drained the first one. Fortunately Edward was there. He broke the necks of two others and left them on the ground. Then he claimed one for himself which he drained slowly.

I wasn't sure if there were rules of ettiquette for this situation. Perhaps we were supposed to share but I was very greedy for their blood. By the time I had finished with the second one, Edward was sat waiting for me. I considered how awful I must look, I had gotten blood all down the front of...the designer jeans and cashmere sweater I was wearing. The boots on my feet were unscathed however I knew I would never have been able to walk let alone run in heels like this had I still been human. It took me less than a tenth of a second to decide Alice must have dressed me, and even less time to lose interest thereafter.

Edward indicated the third deer and I smiled, though I was sure I looked a fright, then I gave the animal my full attention. When I was done I flopped backwards onto the ground. All the blood I had drunk seemed to be sloshing around inside of me. I felt as full as I had ever felt, yet I wondered if there might be more deer around somewhere close.

Then I was a little shocked at myself. How much could I possibly want? I sighed and heard Edward get to his feet and sit down again next to me. "How do you feel?" He asked me quietly.

I let out a small chuckle, "Thirsty."

"Bella, I'm sorry." I thought he might have been wanting to say those words for a while.

"Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry for everything. I wish that I hadn't..." He ran his hands through his hair again. "It was wrong of me and I know it. I knew it then but I..."

"Are you sorry you saved me?" I asked quietly. I had to ask the question no matter what the answer might turn out to be.

"No, no Bella of course I'm not. Having you here with me, awake and alive and...Well, I've never been this happy. But I...I understand if you are angry. It's okay for you to be angry with me." He ran his hands through his hair, "It's okay if you hate me. You should."

I had heard enough. I couldn't bear this distance between us anymore. Perhaps it was my new temperament but it was intolerable. I couldn't bear the distance, so I closed it. I pressed my lips against his and I decided everything else could wait, thank you very much. This was what I needed to be doing now. Edward hesitated for a moment and I thought I might combust if he pulled away from me.

He didn't. Edward surrended to the kiss with a groan and tangled his fingers in my hair. Without breaking the contact I climbed into his lap and sighed when his other arm went around me. My hands clutched at his shoulders, "I don't hate you Edward. How could I? I love you."

Edward held me, kissing my hair, my face, "You don't know how it feels to have you with me again. I thought you were...gone." He kissed me again and I tangled my fingers in his hair.

Edward let out a hiss as I squirmed in his lap. Whatever was wrong here, I took comfort in the fact that Edward still wanted me. He was hard and pressed tight between us. To me that just seemed like a waste. "Ow...easy Bella."

"Okay, what's all that about?" I asked and I pulled back from the kiss a little.

"Newborns are very strong. You are very strong."

"Stronger than you?" It didn't seem possible. In fact it seemed a little ridiculous.

"Yes, quite a lot." I took a second to process that information then I loosened my grip on him..

"Ummm...sorry," I mumbled as my lips found his again. I made a concentrated effort to remember that I needed to take care but it was difficult. The words I was longing to speak were out of my mouth before I could stop them. "I don't hate you Edward. You can't hear my thoughts so you're just going to have to trust me." Then something else occured to me, "You still can't right?"

Edward smiled a little and shook his head, "Not a thing."

"You wouldn't just be trying to make me feel better would you?"

"I understand the question, but no." The smiled looked just a little more genuine.

"Good then take your clothes off."

"Bella, perhaps this isn't the best idea..."

"Perhaps it is."

"We should talk about what happened. Don't you want to know about the last few weeks of your life? Don't you want to know why I...did what I did?"

"I do. I want to hear all of it, but right now," I smiled as I turned his words back on him. "Can we make love instead? Please. I want you inside of me again. Please."

Edward couldn't stop the smile this time, "Bella..."

"Are you going to make me beg?" I demanded hotly.

Edward hesitated for a second then he pulled me back down to him. As soon as our lips met I knew my request was going to be granted. His hands felt different against my skin now, we were the same temperature and, the biggest factor, it would be very hard for him to hurt me. "How are you...how are able to do this?"

"Do what?" My hands didn't pause in their unbuttoning of his shirt. I was sure I could tear it off him if I wanted, but I didn't want to have to go back to the Cullen house in torn clothes.

"Focus, on anything besides blood."

As soon as he mentioned it I felt the burn in the back of my throat. It was back, it had never really left, but I didn't want to think about it now, "Is that unusual?" I asked as I pushed the shirt down his arms.

"Un-heard of," he said and his voice was husky was unneeded breath. I was kissed the curve of his neck now.

"I guess I'll always be the freak, no matter what I am."

Edward's fingers slid into my hair on both sides of my head and held me gently but firmly, "You are not a freak. You are my beautiful, wonderful Bella."

He pressed a kissed to my temple and I wished I could cry. For some reason, my eyes were not even wet, "Am I?" I asked quietly.

"Are you?" Edward coaxed.

"Am I still yours? Do you still want me?"

"Bella..." his voice was incredulous and the hands that had slid to my shoulders were suddenly gone.

"I just mean...you fell in love with human Bella. Are things...do you feel differently now?"

"Yes, I do feel different." The hands were back and they clutched my waist, "I love you more than ever."

"I'll try to believe that." I said slowly.

"You must Bella, you have to believe..."

"If you try to believe that I am not angry with you and that in no way do I hate you." Edward sighed and I could see that he might be about to start arguing with me again. I didn't want to hear it. Instead a slid a hand between us and caressed the bulge inside his black jeans. "If at the end of...this; at the end of everything I have to learn we can be together then it will have been worth it."

Anything else he might have had to say I silenced with a kiss. I was aching for him. I wanted to feel his hands on me, I wanted his mouth on my skin, if he didn't touch me soon I was going to scream. But he did. His hands pushed the sweater over my head and then reached for my jeans.

He had me out of them in less than a second while I was still struggling to get him out of his pants without ripping them down the centre.

He moved to help me and soon we were both deliciously naked on the ground. His fingers dipped between my legs to stroke me and I cried out. Everything was so vivid to me now and the pleasure as he stroked my clit was overwhelming. Edward's mouth was on my breast and I writhed under his touch. He whispered my name and moved on top of me. "Are you..."

"Please Edward, I need...oh please please," I babbled.

With a groan Edward positioned himself at my entrance and slid into me. My hands instantly went to grasp his shoulders but I remembered myself in time. Instead my fingers bit into the compact earth beneath us as he began to thrust slowly.

I let him set the pace and it was torturous. Every time he moved he ground against me and I gasped and raised my hips to help him. But Edward would not be rushed. He took his time, raining kisses on my face, my neck and finally my mouth. His tongue stroked my bottom lip and I instantly returned the kiss. Somehow it seemed to spur him on and the pace quickened.

He began to thrust faster and I began to cry out more loudly. "Ohhhhhh Bella..." He groaned into my ear.

"Yes," I whispered. My hands kept wanting to touch his skin but I kept reminding myself to be careful. I wondered if Edward had had to focus like this every time we had been together intimately. I didn't envy him. It was agonising. "Faster," I begged. "Harder."

Edward seemed to hesitiate for a moment but not for long. He pressed his lips to mine again and we were together like never before. His hands scrabbled to touch every inch of me they could, his mouth didn't break away from mine unless he was calling my name and he was moving inside if me and it was so, so good.

On every thrust he hit my clit and I was incoherent with the pleasure of it. He didn't stop, didn't let up, he drove my body more and more frantically towards the release it needed. My hips rose to meet his every time and I realised I was clutching his shoulders, but Edward didn't seem to mind. "Edward...unh...oh god yes...yes I'm going to..." the words deserted me as the pleasure reached an almost intolerable level and I could feel myself falling.

"That's it Bella. Come for me my love." I wailed in release and dragged my hands away for fear I would damage him. My orgasm washed over me and I kept whimpering with pleasure every time he thrust and it got better.

XXX

"I had intended for us to talk about things for a while." I lay sprawled on top of Edward in the aftermath of our lovemaking. It had taken some time to satisfy my need for him to the point where I could lie quietly for a moment. I could tell that Edward wanted to have this conversation and it was the only thing that kept me from kissing him again. And again and again.

"I think this was a much better idea." I said happily.

His fingers stroked my shoulder and I trembled, "I want you to know, to understand, I did this because I didn't see another way. You had been unconscious for weeks and..."

His voice cracked and I could hear the pain he was trying so desperately to hide from me. "Edward, you don't need to..." I began.

"I do need to. I have to."

"Okay." I said quietly.

"Your father, he was planning on turning off the machines keeping you alive."

"He was?" I felt a spasm of pain in my chest. I tried to imagine Charlie being forced to make that kind of decision. It would have destroyed him.

"Yes, he believed you would not wake up and...he was right. He didn't want to leave you in the hospital, he was afraid that somewhere you might be suffering."

"I was." I said with a shudder as I pressed myself close to him.

At my words Edward's whole body seemed to tense, "You were?"

"Well, not exactly," I said trying to choose my words carefully. "But I was...still here. I couldn't move or speak, I wasn't anything but I still...was." I sighed, "It's hard to explain."

"You were there all that time? Trapped in your body?" Edward's voice was flat but I could hear the tension underneath.

I nodded against his chest, "Time wasn't real wherever I was, I wasn't aware of anything but I still existed."

Edward hissed, "Your father, Rosalie, everyone was right."

"About what?"

"Bella I only turned you because it was my last option. I would have sat by your bed every day until you died. I would have left you there to suffer."

The agitation was at the surface now and I stroked his chest as I tried to calm him, "You didn't."

"Only because my hand was forced."

He sounded disgusted with himself and I had had enough. I was not fool enough to believe there would be no difficulties now, it I knew it was better than the alternative. "But don't you see? You're torturing yourself because you don't think you did right by me, but you did. How can you be sorry you turned me and sorry you were going to not turn me. Did that make sense?"

"Yes, oddly enough."

I pushed myself up onto my elbows. "Edward, have you ever heard the expression about crying over spilled milk?"

"Of course."

"Then stop. Stop this. I can see it in your face. Stop being sad that I'm here with you, that I'm alive...sort of. Stop punishing yourself for saving me."

"I just...I know what you're going to have to live through. Your father, your friends. Bella, you're going to have to let them all go. I've taken all your choices away." The pain in his eyes was hurting me too.

"Edward, I had no choice and neither did you. My choices were to either live forever, young and strong by your side. Or to spend the rest of my life in that horrible...limbo. To be trapped and alone wondering why you didn't come for me."

"Bella..."

"Stop now." I pressed my lips to his for a moment. "This is the epitome of a pointless conversation. I'm here now with you and there's nothing you can do about it."

"But that's why I feel...I don't want to do anything about it."

"Good, neither do I." I kissed him again and just as I was thinking that I had distracted Edward he pulled away.

"Is that what you're going to do? Stay by my side?" I couldn't believe that there was any doubt about the matter.

"For as long as you'll have me," I said definitely.

"Your talking about forever you know." I was sure there was a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Works for me."

"We'll have to leave Forks." He said as though expecting an outburst.

"I know."

"It's not safe for new vampires to be around people. The call of human blood...it's hard to fight when you're used to it." I tried to imagine wanting to hurt people and found I couldn't. But I would take Edward's word for it.

"And I supposed to be dead after all...right?" I assumed as much.

"I must confess I didn't have many options." Edward had stopped meeting my eyes.

"Okay...But I am supposed to be dead?"

"You just...disappeared from the hospital." He said reluctantly.

I took a moment to let that sink in. "So...what does Charlie think happened?"

"He...he doesn't know." I felt my heart constrict in my chest. Though I tried to tell myself that this was just one of the many complications I would have to deal with.

"How?" I asked.

"Alice helped me, they all did. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get you away. You were only alive because the machines were helping you to breath and when you turn someone..." His voice trailed away.

"I don't think this is the time to omit details." I said gently.

He seemed to accept the truth of my words, "Well, the change takes a few days and normally the human is screaming in agony while it takes place. But Alice said it would be different for you."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure. Carlisle thinks you didn't experience it the same way because your brain was effectively isolated from your body."

I considered that for a moment. I had very little knowledge of medicine so I would have to take the doctor's word for it. Though this made sense of the sudden and agonising pain I had experieced before I had awakened. "So how did you get me away?"

"Alice saw it all. I... I began the change and then, with Carlisle's help we brought you here." I raised my eyebrows and he continued, "We hid you in a laundry hamper and smuggled you out."

I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped me. It seemed odd to imagine a group of vampires doing something so human, "Did you ever see an English show called Fawlty Towers?" I asked.

A second later Edward was grinning too, "With the body? Yes, I did."

"I suppose you couldn't risk anyone seeing you leaving with me." How would they have explained carrying the unconscious body of the sheriffer's daughter out the hospital? Not easily.

"Exactly."

"Was it fun?" I asked giggling again.

"For me no. I was worried about you constantly and it seemed so...undignified. But Alice..."

"She knew I would be okay I guess," I said and I was still smiling. "I bet she thought it was funny."

"Emmett too."

"And none of them mind my...being here with you all? Rosalie always seemed to disappove?" I said cautiously. I didn't know what I would do if the rest of the Cullen's didn't really want me.

"Actually Rosalie tried to talk me into changing you earlier," he said with a humourless laugh.

"She did?"

"She said...basically what you just said. That it was my, your, only option."

"I think we'll get along fine in the end," I said with a grin.

"Speaking of the others, they will be getting anxious." Edward got to his feet and held out his hand to me. For a moment I just enjoyed the view then I got up too.

"Why?"

"They're just concerned about you. Alice told them you would be different but Jasper imparticular...well as I said newborns can be hard to control." He stroked my cheek. "Always the exception."

"So you expected me to be all crazy when I woke up?"

"That would have been the norm." Edward picked up my jeans and handed them to me.

I sighed, "Always the freak, I told you so." I said as I shimmed into my pants.

Edward smiled and wrapped his arms around me, dropping his shirt back on the ground. "My freak then."

"Of course," I said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Edward pressed his lips to mine and I sighed into the kiss. His skin didn't feel cool against mine anymore. We were the same temperature now. "Would they worry to much if we were another hour or so?"

"Yes, but I don't care." Edward was pushing the jeans I had just pulled on back down my hips.

XXX

I crept slowly along my tree branch carefully. I couldn't afford to make a sound. My adversary was somewhere close by and he wanted to get me just as much as I wanted to get him. I was stronger at the moment, but I knew I couldn't afford to take any chances. My smallest slip would be capitalised on.

This wasn't about winning now, it was a matter of pride. If he could take me down, he would do so and he would laugh. I grit my teeth and listened. There were sounds everywhere, but they belonged here. I was looking for one that didn't belong.

My nerves were jangling and it took every bit of restraint I had not to launch myself int the trees and begin the search again. But I knew he was close...and apparently less patient that I was. I heard him. He was closer than I had thought. He was approaching my tree so slowly I didn't think he had seen me. If he had he would have made his move.

So I waited two more crucial seconds, then I saw him finally. My hand tightened around the gun in my hand and I swung off the branch aiming straight for his chest. With two dull thwack sounds I hit my target and heard a bellow rage as I landed. I couldn't stop myself from grinning widely and punching the air. "Yes, yes! Two out of three to the ladies."

Edward and Rosalie were the first to appear from the other direction as Emmett threw his paintball gun on the ground in disgust, "I want a re-match." He growled.

Edward had already swept me up in his arms, "Don't be sore Em, she took you down fair and square." His kisses my temple, "And very elegantly I might add."

Jasper sauntered into the clearing with Alice on his heels, "You know, it was much easier when we weren't evenly matched. Alice and Edward nearly always took each other out and then it was just Rosalie versus Emmett and me."

"Get used to it," said Alice with a giggle.

"You just wait until your strength wanes missy, I'll have you then."

"Ah, but I don't think it's the strength Emmett," I said seriously. After a few sympathetic nods of my said I sighed, "I think I'm just better than you."

Edward roared with laughter then swept an arm over my shoulder, "We're going to hunt," he said.

"Again?" I asked. Though truthfully the idea of more blood was quite welcome. As soon as I thought of it the burning returned to my throat. Plus in the southern Andes, there were lots of mountain lions and they were so much better than elk or deer.

"Yes," said Edward and he looked at me meaningfully. When we hunted together it tended to culminate in phenomenal love-making sessions.

I nodded, "Okay." Alice gave me a grin and waved us both off. Jasper had started to look more relaxed when we left them now as well, apparently he had gotten over his fear that I might flip at any moment. Rosalie was still comforting Emmett over his (total) defeat.

Edward took my hand and we begun to run, but we didn't get far. Within a minute there were footsteps behind us. My automatic intinct was fear but Edward reached for my hand, "It's Alice," he said. The next second he gave a groan and both of his hands went to his head.

"Edward!" I gasped horried. Alice emerged through the trees. "Alice, something's wrong, you have to help..."

"He's fine Bella, it's just...he saw what I saw."

"What did you see?" I asked frantically.

"We have to go back to Forks. It's your father, it's Charlie."

XXX

A/N This one turned out to be longer than I expected so I hope everyone likes it.