Wow! Up to 2278 reviews - amazing:) I'm glad everyone is happier, or at least a little happier.

So, Edward has finally agreed to change Bella. How will the change turn out? Here it is! Chapter 28! Enjoy!

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Edward

"When?" I whispered, trying my best to delay the inevitable. Even still, after my decision, I still feared that I would damn her soul. My precious Bella. My one love feeding like a vampire, a slave to her thirst for the rest of her eternity. How could I do this to her? How could I damn her?

"Now," her voice was resolute. I frowned, my speed gradually slowing to a crawl as we neared the house. She noticed, of course. "As soon as you get us to the house," her eyes narrowed, "Are you driving slow on purpose?"

I released a heavy sigh, "Yes." Would she always see through me? I pressed harder on the pedal, increasing our speed to her damnation.

It was happening so quickly. Was it really only yesterday that I had agreed to turn Bella into a monster? She feared the fact that I would change my mind – which she had good reason for. I couldn't forgive myself, I wouldn't forgive myself, for this. I was assuring her refusal to the heavens. I was keeping her from Allie for an eternity. But, as I had told her once so long ago, I am a selfish creature. As much as I long to save her soul, I long to damn her as mine even more.

I was in front of the house, pulling to a stop. It was so quick. So quickly would I be dooming her to this existence. Even still, I moved swiftly. As soon as the car rolled to a stop, I moved from my seat and stood opening her door for her a moment later.

She stared at me with wide, beautiful chocolate brown eyes and my heart ached. It would be the last day that I could look into those beautiful eyes. In three days they would be a harsh blood red. In a few years, gold. But never, ever again... would they be the brown I had fallen in love with.

It pained me to think of that fact. That simple fact. Her skin would no longer be warm and soft, fragile against my touch. Her eyes would no longer be brown. Her beautiful heartbeat, which I was so undeniably attuned to now that I could pick it out from a mile away, would be gone forever. I would miss it all so much.

But she would still be Bella.

My Bella.

Even after all her frailties had disappeared... after her adorable clumsiness had subsided into the graceful nature of the vampire... she would still be my darling Bella. In the end, that was all that mattered. She would be my angel, here on Earth, with me to the end of our days – if that ever came.

I bent down, pulling her warm body into my arms and reveling in the feel of her soft skin. I held her recklessly close to my chest, breathing in her scent that no longer tempted me in the same primal way. I turned on my heel and carried her slowly up the stairs. I could hear my family's thoughts echoing in my mind.

Edward, I can see that you're going to change her, Alice's thoughts were cheerful, I've already told the others! Jasper's going to be coming back home to us soon, too! I told him that... well, everyone seems to be getting better... I think it would be okay...

I knew Bella's pain was still deep, but I hoped that Jasper would be able to handle it to stay with Alice. She had missed him so much and her thoughts of him were beginning to tire and, sometimes, disturb me. Some of the images she conjured were not ones I would like to see.

Edward, I'm so happy you've decided to welcome her to our family. Esme's thoughts were warm and happy. She was finally getting another daughter and her joy of that fact was not easily disguised.

We'll be there for you, Edward, Carlisle assured me, We'll be in the room, just in case...

I flinched at the idea. I knew precisely what he meant and I prayed that their help would not be necessary. Bella's scent was more pleasant and reassuring to me now more than delicious, but I still could not deny that the monster in me still had a strong pull toward her blood. I could only hope that I could hold back the ravenous beast the moment my teeth pierce her skin.

I set her down on the bed and began rearranging the bed. I scooted the pillows around her, trying my best to straighten the sheets out so that there was no uncomfortable twists of fabric underneath her. She watched me with curious eyes as I continued to work. I glanced up to her, worry in my eyes, "Are you comfortable?"

"Because cushy pillows are going to take the edge off of the unendurable pain?" she said with a smile. Her voice was joking, but it didn't work.

I flinched, my eyes turning their gaze to the bed as I continued, futilely, to make her as comfortable as possible. After seeing the pain we caused in Mike only weeks ago, I could hardly find it in me to put her through the same pain. I was certain that the moment she screamed, I would try to suck the venom back out of her. How could I put her through so much pain?

Because it was what she wanted.

"Edward," she whispered. I looked up at her once again. "I'm fine," she assured me, "I'm comfortable."

I let out a rush of air, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she continued, her voice still soft.

I watched her with doubt in my eyes, still trying to find the strength in me to go back on my agreement with her. I couldn't put her through all that pain, could I? Her eyes traveled the length of the room slowly, as though she were taking in her last looks of everything. Her gaze finally stopped upon my family, our family, standing in the doorway.

"They're here to..." Make sure I don't kill you. I couldn't finish the words.

"I trust you," her response was automatic and certain.

Edward, you'll do fine. Alice thought to me, You'll barely taste her. You'll bite her and pull away. Although, I would suggest you bite her more than once... it'll be faster that way. Once on the neck and then both wrists. Don't worry, it'll be fine.

I smiled gratefully at Alice.

Turning back to Bella, I leaned over her and enjoyed her warmth one last time. I stared into her eyes, searching the depths of the brown I had come to love. I leaned forward and pressed my lips softly to her own.

Thus with a kiss...

"Are you sure?"

She smiled an almost exasperated smile, "I'm sure."

I watched her beauty for one last moment... one brief moment. Too brief. It was all going so quickly now.

I lowered my lips to her neck, finding her pulse easily beneath my lips. The monster in me lurched once, but I could hardly notice it now. I could not kill Bella. I could never kill Bella. I would never kill Bella.

My teeth glistened with venom, slipping all too easily past her frail skin and into her neck. I paused, waiting long enough to know that I had left enough venom in her system to be efficient. I tried my best to ignore her blood, still tempting upon my lips. I pulled myself back before I could swallow too much of the intoxicating liquid.

"Her wrists, Edward," Alice reminded me.

I nodded, taking her delicate hands in my own. I leaned down, hastily injecting my venom into her wrists before tearing myself away once again. I fell off the bed and to the floor, all the air leaving my body. I wanted so badly to drink more than two mouthfuls, which was all I had received, but I could not... I would never... harm her.

Her deafening shriek filled the room with that thought.

"Bella," I breathed, my voice rough with the lack of air, even though I had no need for it.

"Edward!" she shrieked, her head falling back and pressing hard against the bed. Her back arched and her limbs thrashed. "It burns!"

I stared at her with wide eyes, trying to will myself off the floor. I couldn't bear to see her in pain. I longer, so desperately, to stop it now. I stood quickly and felt a hand latch onto my wrist. I turned swiftly, staring at Alice. "It's too much," I explained, "I can't hurt her like this. Mike, fine, but I can't hurt Bella like this."

"I know, Edward," Alice's voice was remorseful, "That's why I had you bite her wrists, as well. You can't suck the venom out now. There's too much in her system."

"Why would you -"

"Because," she cut in quickly, "She wants this. You want this. We all do, you know that. I also know that you are very easily deterred by her pain."

"It's for the best, Edward," Carlisle spoke with a sad smile. "She's in pain now, but it will pass in time. It passed for all of us. The extra bites will hopefully speed up the process."

Although I could feel the anger burning through me, I could say nothing that would be justified. They were right. Bella wanted this... I wanted this... Even if I had successfully pulled the venom back out of her system, Bella would have asked me to change her yet again. It would be a torturous process, now or then, and delaying it would help no one.

"Edward!" My anger disintegrated with Bella's cry and I ran to her side. Alice released me willingly. I pulled Bella into my arms, her body still thrashing from the waves of pain that were descending upon her.

"The change will take two days," Alice chirped, "That's shorter than any of us!"

I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Bella would at least not suffer as long as any of us. I leaned my back against the wall, holding her close to me. I held her arms back, fearful that she might injure herself with her flailing limbs. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips softly into her hair.

"It's all right, Bella," I whispered reassuringly. "I know it hurts. It'll be over soon, Bella... It'll all be over..."

I barely noticed when my family had left the room, sending their goodbyes only in their thoughts. I could hardly hear them over Bella's screams, nor would I want to. Nothing concerned me more right now than Bella and her pain, longing to end it. It was like the mental torture caused to her over the years had been forced to surface itself into physical pain.

I hated Mike for tearing her life apart. I hated him for ever existing. And yet, I hated myself more.

How could I have left my angel? I had seen the pain of her earlier days through Charlie's mind. I had been silent in my pain of the realization, but Charlie had been unable to think of anything except for Bella's tortured face when he had first seen me. She had laid on their old couch, her face covered in tears and dirt from the forest floor. The pain in her eyes was unlike any pain I had ever seen. It didn't even compare to the pain I saw in her eyes now.

The pain in her eyes now was purely physical, caused by the fires of our hellish venom. The pain I had caused her when I left was so much more. Her soul had been pained, hurt so much that it practically leaked from her eyes with her tears. No matter how long I existed, I would never be able to atone for what I had done to Bella.

I could only hope that I could make her happy.

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Alice was right, although that came as no surprise. Bella had woken from her pain in only two days.

"They're so red," Bella whispered, standing in front of the full length mirror Alice had prepared for her. I stood behind her, my arms wrapped around her waist. I held her closer than I ever could in her human life and I was shocked with how amazing it felt.

"They'll be like that for a year," I mumbled against her neck, sending kisses along her hardened skin. I missed the warmth, but the benefits gained in its absence were certainly worth the sacrifice. "It's all your human blood. It will work out of your system, eventually."

She stared at me through the mirror, her hand moving to hold both of mine, which were resting against her stomach. "Thank you, Edward."

"What for?" I whispered, my lips turned their attention to her jawline. She shivered against me and I could feel the wicked grin creeping across my lips.

"Changing me," a sad smile touched her lips.

"Is it what you wanted?" I pulled my lips from her skin, my voice softer now. I feared, from the sadness in her face, that she felt she had made the wrong choice.

"Yes, it is," she turned to face me. Her red eyes were still a shock next to the warm brown I had become so used to, but they were exotically beautiful in their own way. "I miss her so much... and I know that I'll never be able to see her again... but this is what I want, Edward."

She wrapped her arms about my waist and pulled me close. I winced slightly and she smiled in embarrassment. No blush. I would miss that. "Sorry," she mumbled, "I'm not used to my strength yet."

"That, too, will come in time," I chuckled.

"Do you think she's happy?" her eyes shined with her sadness.

"Very," I whispered reassuringly. How could she not be? Allie was the sweetest child I had ever met... she deserved nothing but happiness. "She's at peace now. She's happy."

"You know what?" Bella spoke, her voice soft. She leaned closer to me, edging towards my lips.

"What?" I breathed, lowering my head, my lips hovering above hers.

"I'm happy, too."

My lips touched hers.

We were healing.

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I think that was a very sweet chapter. What did you think? A little fluffy?

The next chapter is the last chapter for Healing Her Wounds. I had a very positive response (and that's an understatement) to the idea of a sequel. I have a lot of ideas in mind for the sequel and I'll post more about when you can expect to see it after I post the last chapter. :)

So, what did you think? Leave a cookie and let me know!