The ride seemed to go in slow motion. Everything seemed to be slowed down, ready to halt at a moment's notice, at the boom of a gunshot, driven straight into my forever-still heart. The blur of the trees stretched past the windows, feeling my eyes with sense of panic. Everything about my moment screamed to go, to jump out of the prison-like car, and run far away. I forced myself down, focusing on the steady thump of the bass guitars streaming through the speakers.

The latest, high-tech stereo, I corrected myself with a dry chuckle. Even now, Alice was one step ahead of the newest gear and fashion. If I had still been human, I would have been dreading the makeover surely present in the future. Now, I knew I could fight Alice off. For real, this time, with no Jasper to hold me down. This drew a real laugh out of me.

Glancing over, Alice lazily twirled the volume knob down with a single finger, until all sound in the car was the buzzing in my ears, leftover from the too-loud rock music. "So, Bella," She started, and I mentally braced myself for what was about to come. "I don't you and I have gotten any good girl time since we found you. How have you been for the last 85 years?"

"Without Rexy, I wouldn't be here at all," I admitted. I knew I was treading in dangerous waters. "It was so disorientating, being in the meadow and being changed. It's harder being a vampire, than I thought. The moving around sucks. And a person from my past dying isn't easy, at all. Especially when I found out about Charlie. But I loved it from the second I opened my eyes"

Alice's eyes were glued to the road ahead, though I had no doubt she could travel these roads blindfolded. She was hooked to this story, though, and the new, juicy details with it. A slight smile was creeping on her face. She knew what happened next. "Go on," she ordered, a giggle slipping out.

I followed her command. "It was amazing. I woke up – and everything was different. The sight was different, the smells were different – I felt like I had just been reborn. And Rexy was there. He was the most beautiful guy I had ever seen, in my entire life. I loved his eyes more then anything. He helped me through it all. When I got upset over my first kill, he held me in his arms and comforted me, the entire night. I think that's when I feel in love with him. He held me in his arms, even though he hardly knew me, and told me everything would be okay. I believed him. I still do, even today. He makes me feel safe. I know he'll never hurt, or leave me."

There was a brief pause when I finished my story. Glancing over at Alice, her eyes were brimming with the same feelings that brewed inside me. I knew then she wasn't thinking of my story, but Jasper. That made me smile. I couldn't think of a better couple then the two, a little pixie and large, battle-scarred Jasper. Not wanting to interrupt the tender moment, I took my best friend's hand, realizing then how much I had missed her.

At that moment, I would've let her given me even a makeover.

"I have one question," I told her, knowing I was going on a limb. But this, I had to know. It had burned at me from the second I had seen him. I wondered if he had moved on with life, or found one of his distractions.

"Shoot."

"How was Edward? After… he thought I died?" I sucked in a breath, sneaking a peek at Alice.

At first, her entire body went stiff. But slowly, she relaxed, leaning back into the leather headrest. "It was horrible," Alice admitted, looking down. I could catch the pity in her eyes. "He smashed all of his CD's, and the piano. He wouldn't watch TV and movies, and he wouldn't listen to his music, much less play it. He wouldn't come out of his room. At first, he would ask me all the time if I could you. I couldn't. Which, by the way, I'm curious about, how come I couldn't see you as a vampire?"

I was caught off-guard by her innocent question, deep in thought about Edward. The answer was completely obvious to me. "Rexy," I said automatically. "He can block powers, like a force-field of some sort. I guess he was protecting me, too." I had never really thought about that before, being so used to his power.

Alice half-smiled, nodding, "it makes sense, I guess. Do you have an ability?"

Deciding not to speak, I focused on a CD sitting on the headboard. Like magic, it began to rise, slowly and carefully. During my 85 years, I had learned to master my talent. I brought it towards Alice, and she held her hand up, motioning for me to hand it to her. Expertly, I steered the floating disc expertly into her hand, nice and slowly.

She stared at it for a minute, as if she couldn't get out any words. "Wow," she breathed. That said enough.

"Yeah," I answered. "I know."

There was an awkward silence, and then we were there. My breath caught in my throat as I caught sight of the old house, looming in the distance, so tall. Before, it had looked so safe, my special haven. Now, it seemed to be my prison.

Alice brought the car into a perfect stop, and we sat in the car for a second, both looking at the house and then each other, not sure what to do. In a flash, Alice was out of the car and to my opened door, her hand held out. "Come on, Bella," she nearly squealed. I took her hand, grinning. As vampire and vampire, we flew towards the house, breathless from giggles, coming to an abrupt stop at the door.

Alice took the lead. "Everyone," she said in a normal voice. We knew they could all hear her perfectly well. "Bella's home," she whispered. "She's home." I felt a slight shiver at her words. Of course, I knew, this would always been home, somewhere down inside.

They all appeared like clockwork in the space in front of me. We all looked for a moment – then all rushed together, hugging. Just then, I realized not everyone had taken part in this group hug – Edward and Rosalie stood off to the side, staring at the group with two different expressions.

Rosalie's was pure hostile. She didn't say hello, but I hadn't expected her to. I quickly looked away, to Edward.

He looked like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. His eyes were wide, mixed with emotions that I could only make out as desperate pain and hopefulness. I slowly broke away, walking up to him, leaving everyone else standing still, watching the scene. "Hello, Edward," I whispered, looking down to my feet.

"Bella," he whispered. All he said was my name. I looked up slowly, catching his eyes in mine. He scoped me inside of his arms, and I snuggled inside, enjoying the bursts of happiness rocketing inside of me. All my dreams – all our dreams – felt like they could come together, at that moment.

Alice cleared her throat, and we both turned around, surprised. "Why don't you guys go upstairs and talk things out? I'll explain things to everyone else." Slowly, Edward nodded, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs. I followed, feeling like I was in a dream state.

Once we were in his room, he shut the door behind him. Feeling comfortable enough, I went to take a seat on the golden couch that matched his eyes, avoiding the bed, which I noted; he still had in the first place. I had no idea why he would keep it: vampires didn't sleep.

Edward stood in front of me. "I can explain everything, Bella," was the first thing he said. "I'm so, so sorry. You have no idea I've beat myself up for being so stupid! If only I-"

"It's okay, Edward," I stood up, interrupting him. "It's okay. I don't blame you. I know the story. I don't hate you. Far from it," I added. Right then I noticed how close we were. How his eyes blazed with unspoken emotion. The way his bronze hair flopped into his face, uncontrolled as always, was what I noticed first.

Right then, I realized how much I wanted to kiss him. Edward got closer, and closer… and our lips touched, just like that. We didn't separate. His arms circled my waist, and I put my own around his neck, running my fingers through his beautifully silky hair.

"Bella," he whispered once again, before kissing me deeply. This is what his real kisses are, I realized. He didn't have to worry about hurting me anymore.

It was the best feeling in the world. It felt like I had opened my eyes, peeking at the stars for the first time. The luminary filled them, until I was blind with their brilliant luster. I could feel myself leaving me. I was weightless, floating away then getting snatched back from the feeling of his hands on my waist. Then, I would fly away again. His lips were soft, gentle yet desperate with his love.

Before we realized it, we were on the couch. I ran my hands down his strong, pale chest. Shaking his head, Edward pulled away. We looked at each other for a minute, and it was like the first time seeing him, all over again. I felt like I could see everything about him, spread out in the open. He closed his eyes, leaning in as he brushed his lips against mine again. This time, the kiss was sweeter, and less rushed. When this one ended, I could myself jerk back into an impossible reality, staring, and I lay down on the couch, and he followed.

Together, we laid down, just listening to the steady breathing of the other. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me to steadily his chest. Still touching him, I rolled over, so we were face to face. We looked into his each other's eyes. I realized suddenly, I didn't care about anything else. I could lie in his arms and look into his eyes forever.

"I love you, Bella," he murmured, his cool breath brushing against my cheek, making my entire body tingle. Suddenly, I realized that I loved him, too. I had no problems replying.

"I love you, too," I breathed.

And what surprised me the most was that I meant it.