Hola, my loyal Twilighters!!

I haven't gotten a lot of time to write lately because I was finishing up Driver's Ed, but it's over now!! Thank God!! I Passed, btw.

Anywho, I think you'll enjoy this chapter!! It's got a lot of...closure. Yeah, that's the word. It's short, but there's a kinda cliffy at the end, depending on how you look at it. Remember, this isn't Twilight, but at the same time it is.

Hope you like and review!!

Ch. 18 - Awakening To Reality

Edward POV

"Edward?"

The relief I felt was almost comical. "Hey, sweetheart. How are you?"

"Edward." Her eyes met mine, and then came to life. "Oh, Edward! I'm so glad you're safe!" She hugged me with what I was guessing was all of her strength.

I hugged her back gently. "You have no idea how relieved I am that you're the same."

We held each other, just reveling in the feeling of being together and safe, and after a time had passed, I felt her pull back slightly from our embrace.

There were a million questions in her eyes.

"Edward. What happened? I got bi-bitten." She choked out the last word, and I felt her shiver. It broke my heart, and I knew she was remembering the pain.

I kissed the top of her head. "Shh... We're fine. Everything's fine. I saved you from the change, and that's all that matters."

"Edward, how-how did you s-stop it? I didn't think the pain would ever end."

I caressed her hair lightly. "Bella, my sweet Bella, don't ever doubt that I won't find a way to save you every time." I put my lips to her ear. "I sucked the venom out."

She nodded her head against my cheek. "Thank you. I want to be changed, but I--" She cut off abruptly, but I knew what she wanted to say was important to her.

"What," I prodded her gently.

"I--" She took a deep breath. "I want you to be the one to do it. I--"

I put my finger to her lips."Shush, love. We'll talk about it later." I kept up a cool facade, but inside I was reeling. She wanted to be changed? Could I do it to her? I didn't know if I could, but at the same time I couldn't imagine life without her.

I felt her shake and smelled her tears. Wrapping my arms around her, I let her soak the front of my shirt.

"E-Edward, I-I'm s-s-sorry. I can-can't s-stop," she sobbed into my chest.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just the last few days catching up with you. Let it out."

And she did. Her sobs turned into whimpers, then short pulls of breath before she eventually stopped.

I rocked her back and forth slowly. "Better?"

"Yeah." She turned and looked over her shoulder, glancing around as if just realizing that we were someplace she'd never been. "Edward, where are we?"

"We're back in Forks. You've been out for about three days, love."

"Oh, god. Three days?! Wait, what happened with Alec, and the rest of the Volturi?"

I quickly filled her in on what Desmond had told me and what I had experienced - skipping over the gory details, of course - and let her know everything all up to now. "This is the Cullen's house."

Her eyes grew wide. "You mean, the same people who freak everyone out at school? I'm at their house?!"

Her voice was shocked, which made me chuckle. "Yes, love. You're in a house full of vampires."

The knowledge didn't seem to faze her. She looked around again. "Is Alice here?"

"Yeah. She's letting them know why we're here and filling them in on everything."

Her voice came out disbelieving. "So...wow. I can't believe I'm home now. Back in Forks... Oh, god. Does my dad know I'm back?"

I shook my head no, and she got quiet. Okay, deep breath.

Moment of truth.

"You can still go back to your regular life without me, you know. I love you enough to let you go if that's what you want."

I held my breath as I waited for her response. I wasn't lying as I told her I would give her up if that's what she wanted.

I loved her too much to be selfish in such a way.

Bella POV

I gave him a soft smile, and let him hear the truth. "Edward, I love my parents, but that part of my life is over. I know that sounds cruel to them, but being with you just feels right. Something tells me that they don't need me as much as you do."

He shook his head at me. "But I don't want you to stay with me out of obligation either. I-"

My hand came up between us and covered his lips gently. "Hey. Shh... I want to be with you, Edward. I love you."

His smile was hesitant, then radiant underneath my fingers before he kissed them. He brought his right hand up to twine with mine, brushing my cheek with the back of his hand. "I love you, too."

I pressed my lips to his, fitting mine against his perfectly. The kiss was gentle and sweet, lasting for at least a minute. I played with the hair at the nape of his neck, and his hand ran through my slightly curled hair and smoothed it's way down my back.

I shivered.

He broke the kiss as he smiled. "I love how I can do that to you."

"What?" Melt me like chocolate on a hot day? Sure, I thought wryly.

"Melt you like chocolate."

I laughed. He might not be able to read my mind, but we were so connected that he had no need to. We laid there in gentle silence, and I traced patterns on his hand as I finally had to start coming to the reality of letting my family go, and it was then that I thought of something that had to be taken care of.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?" His voice was lazily content.

"There's something I need to do soon. Can you help?"

He didn't hesitate. "Consider it done."

I took his hand in mine and kissed his palm. "Thank you."

We laid in quiet contentment once again, and he didn't ask me any questions about what I needed to do just yet. I had a feeling he was letting me come to him in my own time, and for that I was grateful.

And I would tell him, when I myself came to terms with what needed to be done.

"I know who one of them is already."

Edward's voice brought me back to the present. I gave him a look. "What?"

"The Cullens. I know one of them."

I sat up slightly and waited until his eyes found mine again before speaking. "What are you talking about? You told me before that you'd never met the Cullens."

"That's the problem, love. I haven't."

Okay, now I was really, really confused. He wasn't making any sense. There had to be something left out. "What are you not saying?"

His eyes left mine and took my hand in his, tracing patterns on my palm as I had done to his. His voice was quiet, "I know who Carlisle is."

I felt my brow furrow. "Dr. Cullen? How do you know him, Edward?"

His eyes met mine again, and they held shock."He was the doctor who took care of me and my family during the influenza."

So what does Bella have left to take care of?? Hmm... You'll find out soon!! And what about Carlisle and Edward?

When will those two talk about their history?? Reviews are LOve!!

BroodyBrittney23