The BITE is here…let me know if you think it worked…I rather like how it all came together…Kris, kejce, gave me a great start on the actual bite...Thanks so much sweetie! Pixel chocolate for you!

Thanks Yuri and Kris for help with Edward's LAST MEAL..

There is a song in this chapter…POWER OVER ME by Mr. Mister. I read that Richard Page wrote it when his infant daughter was in the hospital and very ill. They didn't know if she was going to make it. The song is haunting and actually fits here very well. Here's the link if you are interested listening:

http://www[DOT]youtube[DOT]com/watch?v=IXmLq-FcaHU

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the great and powerful Twilight originator and owner. I own none of these characters and I'm not making a penny off of them…that's Stephenie's part and more power to her!

Chapter 34

~~~Changes~~~

What a lovely dream I was experiencing. Bella was floating up the aisle to me on Carlisle's arm, we were kissing, rice was being thrown, a helicopter ride…and then time spent alone with Bella. With Bella…my wife.

A small hand cupped my cheek as soft lips ghosted over my own and cool fingers ran themselves deep into my hair.

"Darling, I'd love to let you sleep your last day as a human away, but I also don't want you to regret spending the whole day asleep…surely there must be something else that you'd like to do…" The cool kiss on my lips deepened and I realized it wasn't a dream…it was reality.

Bella is my wife. I am Bella's husband.

I opened my eyes to see a pair of golden eyes looking back at me from where Bella smiled as she laid next to me on the bed…our bed.

I reached out and pulled her close to me. Suddenly I pushed her away and put some space between us as I ran my hand up her flannel covered back. "You're wearing clothes…when did that happen?"

Bella laughed softly and pulled herself closer to my bare chest. "About 3:00 this morning, when you started shivering. I got up and brought our bags in and slipped into one of your shirts. Although I don't recall flannel being on an Alice approved list, even though it is soft." She paused and tucked her face into my neck, where I couldn't see her face.

I knew that she was hiding something from me, so I leaned back and put a finger under her chin to lift it. She let me…just like she had allowed and encouraged so many things last night. I knew that if she hadn't wanted me to pick her up and carry her over the threshold, I wouldn't have been able to do so. And heaven knows, if she hadn't wanted to do any of the other wonderfully intimate things that we had done over the course of the sweet dark night, we wouldn't have been able to do them.

"What is it, Bella?" I searched her eyes for what was troubling her. "What is bothering you, Love?"

My insecurities raised their many heads, much like a medusa. Had she been disappointed with our loving last night? I thought back over the night and the touches and caresses we had shared. I thought about the fireworks that I had felt; she had seemed to feel them too. I actually thought that it had gone well, all four times…especially since we were both inexperienced. My new brothers had been right; enthusiasm did seem to conquer a lot of things.

The thoughts of inadequacy must have shown on my face because she growled and pulled me closer, pressing her lips to mine. Suddenly I could feel that she had dropped her shield. There were snippets of feelings and bits of her thoughts crowding my mind.

The overwhelming feeling of love was foremost, quickly followed by satisfaction. Joy was interwoven through both of those. On a softer note, I could feel fear and loss…

Before I could ask about that undertone in her mind, Bella had me on my back, straddling my waist. She leaned down to kiss me again; softly waving mahogany tresses cascaded around us. Her long hair was a shield in itself, a shield against the outside world. We were only two within her fragrant mane. I slipped the flannel shirt down her shoulders and we were lost in each other again…

Sometime later, as we lay tangled in each other's limbs, my stomach growled. It caused us both to laugh yet again. I had never considered laughter to be part of loving someone. I had never considered it to be a wonderful aspect of intimacy, and yet, it was. So, we laughed over my growling stomach.

"Time to feed the human," Bella said as she swung her legs off the bed and strolled across the floor to the dressing room. "Esme had the kitchen stocked with a lot of different things. She didn't know what you'd like to eat today. Since it's only 8, would you like breakfast?" She was into a pair of jeans and a tight blue sweater in seconds.

"Breakfast sounds good, maybe some bacon and scrambled eggs." I took the soft jeans and the long sleeved grey t-shirt she handed me as I made my way over to her. Her eyes never left my naked body and I was thinking that maybe I could go a little longer without eating. Holding the clothes, I winked at her as I said, "I guess I'm going commando?"

She laughed before opening one of the built in drawers in the wall and tossed me a pair of boxer briefs. Then she flitted to the door. "It really IS time to feed the human…food!" And she was gone, leaving a swirl of laughter fluttering through the room.

I dressed and stepped out into the long hallway. I looked into the other rooms as I made my way to the staircase. The one at the end of the corridor reminded me of Alice and I wondered if that was to be hers' and Jasper's room.

Deciding that I was more hungry than interested in the other rooms, I skipped checking out the second floor and just made my way to the main floor. I followed my nose to the back of the house where the kitchen was located.

The back wall of the room was all windows, just like our bedroom was. I could see the encroaching forest and a swift running river beyond the grassy yard. The sky was beginning to lighten as I entered the room. It didn't look like there was going to be sunshine today either. That's why they had this house in this location. Lots of rain and very little sunshine meant that they could be out and about more than if they lived in, say, Phoenix. Esme had mentioned that they had lived near here 63 years ago. There was something about a treaty, but I don't remember all that she said about that.

I walked up behind Bella where she was standing at the gas range and slipped my arms around her trim waist. She reached up and gave me a peck on the jaw before she continued to scoop perfectly scrambled eggs onto the plate she was holding. It already had several slices of crunchy bacon on it. I heard the toast pop up just then.

"Here, take your plate and have a seat. I'll get that toast for you…" She slipped out of my arms and gave me a nudge towards the table. It was already set with silverware and a napkin. There was also a large glass of OJ waiting for me.

I sat and began eating as she buttered my toast and brought it over. She set it on the table and then sat to watch me eat. She seemed quite engrossed in the show.

"What?" I finally asked. "What are you looking at?"

"Well, this is one of the last times that I'll be able to watch you eat human food. And I like doing it. I'm memorizing it so that I can tell you about it later." Her eyes were intent upon my lips, which caused me to be very self conscious.

"Do you think that I'm going to ask you how I ate bacon later on?" I was just a bit confused.

Bella's laughter tinkled throughout the room. "Not bacon specifically, but just eating in general." A crease formed in between her golden eyes. "That brings something else to my mind. You remember how we told you that human memories tend to fade? That if you don't think of it right away after your change, the memories will get away from you…"

I nodded, they had told me that, but it didn't make a lot of sense to me at the time. "Yes, I do remember that. So the trick is to think about everything I want to remember, as soon as I'm changed? That seems like it would be hard to do. How could one think of all that? All of the high points, some of the low ones and the other in-between things too?"

Bella stood and motioned for me to wait before she flitted off again. She was back in just seconds holding some things in her hands that she quickly set down on the table. She handed me the first item. "Here is a leather journal for you to write in after your change. Carlisle and Esme gave me my first one a couple of days after I was changed. They told me to write out the things that I remembered most. The act of writing the memories out cemented them in my mind; actually just thinking about them locks them in. But I enjoyed writing them down." She shook her head in amazement, "I now have 43 of these journals. They are moved to each new home that we inhabit. They aren't just about my human memories anymore; they are journals about my life now."

"I'd love to read them sometime. What else is this?" I asked, pointing to the other things she had set on the table.

"This is a laptop that has some special modifications. We have to have exceptional ones made, because we can break them so easily. This one is yours, a gift from Emmett. It's got metal keys and a much faster, like NASA fast, processor." She opened it up and got it booted up. "You'll find that you will be able to type much faster than a regular computer can even hope to keep up with. So Emmett upgrades them for us."

"Emmett? Video playing Emmett?" I was pretty surprised. It's not that I thought he was dumb, far from it, I just didn't see him as a techno geek. But then, who would have thought that Rosalie was a mechanical genius?

"Technology is one of his favorite things to tinker with. He loved buying and modifying our gear for Elite Guardians." She shook her head as she laughed. "We have Rosalie modifying cars…and Emmett modifying computers, our Wii and the like." She then picked up a digital camcorder.

"I thought that during the course of the day, you could record things off the top of your head…Things that can trigger memories. I won't limit you to snippets," she said with a smile. "You could tell complete stories too. Then after your change, when you watch this, it may trigger even more memories for you."

I looked up at this woman, my wife, as she put the camera down on the table next to the laptop. I don't know what I did to deserve such a spectacular creature. Probably nothing, because nothing could make me worthy of such a wonderful person.

Standing, I moved around the table and took her into my arms. "Isabella Marie Swan Cullen Masen…I love you more than words can say. Forever will not be long enough for me to show you just how much I love you." I kissed her as deeply as she would allow, before leaning back. "In a couple of days, one of the first things I'm going to do is kiss you completely. Neither one of us will have to hold back."

Bella looked up at me, an impish grin on her face. "Mr. Masen, have you been holding back on me?" With a twirl, she was out of my arms and at the doorway, where she smiled at me, her exceedingly white teeth flashed at me. In an instant she was gone, her blue sweater fluttering down to the ground, as if out of mid-air.

I gave a low rumbling growl and sprinted out of the room. At the bottom of the stairs I found her jeans in a pile and heard the ringing of her laughter echoing down the stairs. I needed no further encouragement as I raced up the stairs two at a time.

~o~O~o~

Much later, after sharing a shower, and being grateful that there was enough hot water for our intimate endeavors, we were sitting on the soft leather couch in the living room. Bella was interviewing me while the camcorder recorded the conversation. She had set it up on a tripod so that she could sit with me on the couch. We had tried it while she held the camera, but had both agreed that there was too much distance between us. We had been talking for hours. She asked leading questions and I answered her.

What's your earliest memory?

Did you have a pet?

Favorite composition, friends, colors, holiday, books, movies, vacation…that list was very long…

She also asked about my parents. That conversation was hard, but I was grateful to have the chance to hold on to these memories especially.

Esme had called at noon and asked if there was anything else that I'd like to have for dinner, something that wasn't already available at the house. Emmett wanted to cook for me one last time. After a little thought I told her that I'd like Shrimp Scampi with roast red and yellow peppers in a garlic butter sauce served over linguine with a slice of nice rich chocolate mousse cake for dessert.

After saying goodbye to Esme I added this to my memories on the camcorder as my favorite foods:

Rib-eye steak grilled with garlic mashed potatoes and sweet corn with apple
pie ala mode for dessert…

Fried chicken with roasted acorn squash smothered in butter, cinnamon and
sugar and Caesar salad and watermelon slices…

Broiled scallops, steamed spinach with roasted garlic, and a loaded baked
potato and tiramisu...

A cheeseburger, rare and juicy, homemade fries and Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Ice cream…

The family would be arriving about four. The plan was to have a quiet short evening…and then I'd start my change. Alice had seen that the nomads would be arriving on Saturday morning. That would give me three days to change, give or take. Carlisle wondered whether the shot of venom directly to my heart would speed things along. And then a couple of days to try and get a handle on my newborn status before the bad guys arrived. None of us knew if my intuition would turn into mind reading and how that might or might not affect me.

I was actually looking forward to the confrontation with the nomads. How dare these monsters try and hurt my family? They had no right to damage our family out of curiosity, of all things! I hadn't had a lot of time to think about them since Alice first came out with her vision in the meadow. But every time they did cross my mind I found myself feeling really angry. I was willing to do whatever it took to protect my loved ones.

And now I had so many people to call family. I had brothers and sisters, and Carlisle and Esme…and a wife.

It was three when I called a halt to the interviewing. We both needed to be closer than we really wanted to show on the video…and before the family arrived. Bella got me an apple to tide me over until Emmett arrived and performed his magic in the kitchen and we adjourned to our bedroom, again.

~o~O~o~

"Emmett, that was wonderful. Thank you for a wonderful last meal." I sat back from the table, replete from the shrimp dish that he had prepared to perfection. I had also eaten an entire slice of the rich chocolate cake and wished that I had room for more.

"Happy to oblige, Brother," Emmett said as he and Rosalie cleared the table. "Go on into the living room. Carlisle wants to talk to you."

Bella and I made our way out of the dining room and into the living room where we sat down on the couch. The rest of the family was already there and Rosalie and Emmett joined us in minutes. I could feel the change in the atmosphere from earlier. Their arrival this afternoon had been full of joyful ribbing of us and some crude jokes from Emmett, which earned him a smack from Rosalie. She had also told me that I could smack him myself in a couple of days. There had also been many warm embraces from my new family.

Once they were done hugging up on us, everyone had exclaimed over what Esme had done to the house and had a good time checking out the house and then their rooms.

I had spent an hour on the piano while Emmett prepared my dinner. Bella had sat beside me and Esme had stayed on the loveseat, listening. My hand was still stiff and there were some chords that I couldn't get to yet. When I was done, Bella took my left hand in hers and kissed it. She had told me that after my change, I would be able to play anything and everything that I wanted, with no more physical therapy. Another bonus!

Now that the time was fast approaching for my actual change, the family had become somber. That fear that I had heard in Bella's mind earlier in the day was back, reflected to some degree from each of those gathered here.

"Okay, Jasper, I think that I need you to use your magic touch and soothe everyone here." I glanced over at him where he sat in a soft leather chair with Alice curled up on his lap.

I decided to continue since I had everyone's attention focused solely on me. "Each of you has told me about your change. About the fire and how much it hurt." Looking around at my family, I could see the memory clearly on their faces. "I'd like to assure you, once again, that I'm making this decision of my own free will. Well, as free as my will can be since I already belong, heart and soul, to my bride here. Three days of pain, to spend an eternity with her…that seems to be a fair trade to me."

Carlisle spoke up. "I'm hoping that by pumping venom directly into your heart, it may shave some time off of the change." I nodded my acceptance of his proposal. "We've set up your bedroom for this procedure. You've been comfortable there and I think that might help. We've got plenty of ice on hand to put into the tub in the bathroom there. An ice bath won't hurt, and maybe it will help." I could see the flare of his scientific mind shine from his eyes. He really was hoping that any or all of his strategies would help make my change as easy as it could possibly be.

Procedure, that was a good word for the step I was about to take. It made it sound like a regular medical thing, and not my death. I was a little afraid, but I was also confident that Bella would be able to do this and that our family would be there to help her, to help us.

Yet again Carlisle went through the steps that we'd take. Well, mostly I just had to lie there and let Bella bite me five times, but it was good to hear the steps, to be informed.

Once everyone was clear on what was going to happen, we talked more about what my first several months may be like. We had already told my manager and Mike and Jessica that Bella and I would be taking an extended honeymoon. They took that well, figuring that I couldn't play concerts or record the music that I had already signed a contract for until my hand was back to 100%.

So the idea of an extended honeymoon made sense to them. Jasper had already made arrangements for post cards to be sent from a few very isolated locations, and I could e-mail whenever I wanted to.

I didn't know if I would ever be able to play concerts in public again. I could compose and record though. Emmett had already mentioned that he might like to have a recording studio, that it might be fun play American Idol with new artists…

That appealed to me, composing and playing in a studio, without all the rock star stuff that had made a stalker come after me. Of course, if I hadn't had to deal with a stalker, then I wouldn't have met Bella.

As the talk became more general, now that the tension had eased up a little, thanks I'm sure to Jasper, the crease between Bella's eyes had smoothed out somewhat. She had dropped her shield to me, so I knew that she was still feeling a little fearful, but I knew that she had accepted my decision. That she actually welcomed it. I think the thought of changing me in the midst of some major injury was actually scarier to her than doing it this way: Calmly and with backup in the form of the family.

Suddenly I was ready. I didn't want to put it off any longer. The sooner my change was affected, the sooner I'd be able to help in the family's protection. And the sooner I could kiss my wife without holding back, on either of our parts. I stood and took her by the hand. "It's time…"

~o~O~o~

At Edward's words, the monster that I kept caged in my mind rumbled a low growl as he batted at the bars holding him back. For my entire life as a vampire I had worked at keeping the beast locked up. When I found that Edward was my singer, I had had to work doubly hard to keep my blood lust under control. Once I had fallen in love with Edward it had been easier, but it was always there.

And now I was going to let the creature loose, at least briefly. My prayer was that I'd be able to bite him and then stop. Edward believed in me, as did my family, especially Carlisle. Alice had also seen our future, a golden eyed Edward smiling down into my joyful face. That gave me hope that I could do this.

Everyone stood and stepped forward to give Edward hugs and warm clasps on his shoulders. Esme put her hands on either side of his face, pulling him down to her level. She kissed him soundly on both cheeks as she murmured, "I love you, Son."

Carlisle walked up the stairs with us, leaving everyone else in the living room. He was going to give us a few minutes alone together before I began what was sure to be the hardest few minutes of my immortal life. Then Emmett and Jasper would join him outside our door, waiting to see if they would be needed to stop me.

At the door Carlisle gave me a hug, murmuring that he had faith in me. Then he turned to Edward. "Son, we'll be with you through all of this. I am so proud of the man that you are. I cannot thank you enough for bringing joy to my daughter." He stepped forward and hugged Edward tightly to his chest. Edward returned the embrace, with tears brimming in his eyes. They stepped back from each other and he reached his hand out to me and together we stepped into our bedroom.

The blankets had been pulled from our bed and lay folded neatly on the chair next to the deck doors. The light was dim, but I could see the syringe full of my venom laying on a sterile drape on the side table.

Edward stepped over to the stereo system. He turned it on and one of his compositions began playing softly over the hidden speakers. His eyes were such a dark green; it was hard to see where his pupils began. He reached his hand out to me, a smile on his face, and asked, "Mrs. Masen, may I have this dance?"

I placed my hand in his warm one and stepped close to his body. He pulled me close to him and rested his head on my hair, our arms twined around each other. We swayed to the music for several minutes and I wished that we could just remain like that forever, just the two of us in our own universe. I knew that he felt a quiet rage that the nomads were pushing this change upon us so quickly. But I also knew that he was ready, as ready as he could be, for me to end his life, his human life. He was so very ready to embrace this new life as a vampire, to be my mate, my consort, my husband for an eternity.

I was ready, too, as we slowly danced closer to the bed. I lifted my head and our lips met and touched sweetly, before passion swelled between us once again. When our legs touched the bed, I flipped us around so that I landed on my back, with Edward above me. He smiled down at me, his green eyes blazing. I let our passion grow into a raging fire and once he was totally engaged in my kisses, I turned us once again so that now I was in a position of dominance. As his groan of need filled my ears, I leaned closer and placed my lips against his throat, right where his pulse was strongest.

"Please, Bella…do it now," whispered my husband, my life. Taking in a deep breath and thinking a nearly wordless prayer, I sank my teeth into his tender flesh over that sweet pulse. He didn't even whimper as the first taste of his sweet, warm blood flooded my mouth. It danced along my tongue and I swallowed. As it slipped down my throat, I felt almost dizzy with the relief from thirst that his human blood gave me. I knew that I had to take enough to weaken his body, but not enough to kill him. As I swallowed a second, third…sixth mouthful of his life force I was afraid that incapacitating blood lust would soon come upon me. I felt the monster inside me roaring out his joy at this turn of events. Finally, after ninety years of being denied, I was letting him loose.

My hand sought out Edward's and I twined his fingers tightly within mine, trying to beat back the beast within. I would win this battle. Edward would be mine for eternity…if I could only stop. I felt his grip tighten infinitesimally and with strength I didn't know I had, I pumped a massive amount of venom into the wound at his neck and then sealed it with a sweep of my tongue. I withdrew from his neck. A thin line of his warm blood trickled down my chin. I had done it. The beast remained leashed while I issued the warrant for my husband's death.

Pausing just a moment to call Carlisle into the room, I swiftly pulled Edward's left wrist to my mouth and bit there too. I pumped another portion of the venom that was now flowing freely in my mouth into that wound and then sealed it. On to his right wrist, his left ankle and then his right one.

Edward was nearly motionless; the shock of his blood loss had stilled his body for this moment in time. As my venom began to make its way through his body, I could see him begin to tense up. That's when Carlisle stepped close beside the bed and after a glance into my eyes he placed the syringe over Edward's chest. With sure fingers he forced the needle deeply into his heart and pushed the plunger before withdrawing the needle.

For a moment there was no reaction and then Edward's body arched up from the bed. He was suspended there for span of time and then he fell back to the bed, still once again.

His head suddenly thrashed back and forth briefly and his hands balled into fists. I immediately picked up one hand and caressed it, hoping to ease the pain that I knew was beginning to burn through him at least some small whit. I slipped my fingers into his fist…and he squeezed my hand back before becoming still once again.

Now all we could do was wait for the time to pass, for his heart to pump the venom throughout his system. I listened to his heart beating, it was already becoming labored, but I memorized each sound, knowing that soon I wouldn't hear it again.

After a couple of hours I heard a new sound, the grinding of teeth. Edward had his jaw locked, apparently against the pain. So far his body had just become very tense and he had shuddered violently a couple of times. I had laid myself as close to him as possible when the ordeal had started. I had begun talking to him. Telling him about what our future could hold, all of the possibilities before us. I remembered that I had heard Carlisle and Esme during my change and I wanted Edward to hear me now. At the sound of his teeth grinding, I leaned over his face and spoke softly, "Darling, you don't have to keep it in. Scream if you have to."

Edward's eyes fluttered open and I could already see the red overtaking the beautiful green, soon it would be completely gone. I knew that he could comprehend what I was saying as he whispered through his tight jaw, "No. Rose said it did no good to scream and I won't put you through that." With another look deep into my eyes, his jaw locked tighter and his eyes fluttered closed once again.

"Oh Edward…" There really weren't words to help, but I started talking again, telling him how much I loved him and needed him. When he started to sweat, I stripped him while Emmett and Jasper filled the tub in our bathroom with ice and then they helped me get him into it. I leaned back and had them place him back against my chest. I kept running my fingers through his hair. I don't know if it helped a lot, but his hands unclenched the smallest amount. They kept bringing new ice over the next several hours.

After 24 hours we moved him back to the bed. The ice didn't seem to be helping anymore. I lay next to him on the bed again. Jasper sat in the corner, using his gift to pour soothing emotions over us both. He wasn't sure it was helping Edward a lot, but he could feel some relief from him, so he kept it up.

Everyone else came and sat with us for periods of time. They took up the one sided dialog and gave me a bit of a break. I was encouraged to leave for short amounts of time, but wouldn't.

Carlisle checked on us every hour. He said that everything was going well.

Esme thanked me once again for giving her another son to love.

Alice was already planning Edward's new wardrobe and told him all about it during one of her visits.

Rosalie had driven his Vanquish here. She told him all about the special modifications she had made to the engine and that he would be able to drive incredibly fast very soon.

Emmett said that even though newborns were supposed to have some sort of superior strength, he didn't think that Edward would be able to bet him, so he was challenging him to an arm wrestling match. He also said that he'd teach him to hunt grizzlies.

The stereo had several of Edward's CD's in, set to play them randomly. But 48 hours into his change I put my IPOD on repeat play of Power Over Me by Mr. Mister. I listened to it over and over again for several hours. The song was haunting, but summed up how I felt and it comforted me.

I sit and watch you sleep, as you dream your dangerous dreams
I feel the healing heat, as the inner voices scream

Your pain is mine, my blood is yours, I feel so helpless just watching you

This is the power over me, I'm rendered helpless, you've got me on my knees
You have the power over me, nothing is certain, I wait for recovery

They say it's always the same, two steps forward one step back
Whatever He arranges, we must do the best we can

Your pain is mine, my blood is yours, can you hear me, I'm calling you

You have the power over me, I'm rendered helpless, you've got me on my knees
You have the power over me, nothing is certain, I wait for recovery

I'm prayin' on my knees

You have the power over me, I'm rendered helpless, you've got me on my knees
You have the power over me, nothing is certain, I wait for recovery
Look at the power over me, I'm rendered helpless, you've got me on my knees

~o~O~o~

Alice danced into our room 61 hours after my first bite. Her face was glowing as she flung herself into my lap where I sat leaning against the headboard of our bed. My right hand was running through Edward's hair.

"Yes, Alice…" I asked, my brow arched up in inquiry.

"He's going to wake up in 57 minutes! You need to shower and get cleaned up. You know you only get one chance to make a good first impression!" She was off my lap and rummaging through our closet. She came back with two stacks of clothes, apparently one for me and one for Edward. "First put these on him…"

Carlisle had entered on her heels and had checked Edward while she was talking. I glanced at him for his professional opinion. A wide grin was on his face. "You know, one should never bet against Alice. I think she's correct. Listen…"

I had been listening to Edward's heart slow down over the course of the last 61 hours. Now I could hear that the interval between beats was becoming longer, and yet the beats themselves were becoming harder. The venom had almost run its course through his body. Carlisle, and Alice, were right, Edward's heart was nearly at the end of its time.

Carlisle had heard Alice giving me my orders to shower, and he shooed me off. "Go, I'll be right here and I'll get him into these clean clothes. I'm guessing it won't take you long." I flung my arms around his neck, giving him a quick hug, then sped into my bathroom and into the shower.

Alice was waiting when I emerged two minutes later. She made me sit while she quickly brushed my hair out and blew it dry. I slipped the jeans and red sweater on that she had handed me. "But Edward likes me in blue!" I tried to argue with her.

"Yes, he does, but you don't want to be wearing one of your favorite things when he goes all caveman, um, vampire on you. Do you?" Then she winked at me and I had to laugh with her. Now that an end was in sight, I could afford to lighten up just a little.

During this entire fourteen minutes, I could hear that the intervals between the beats of his heart were becoming longer. The rest of the family had gathered in our room. They were leaning against the walls, listening to his heart beat its last.

Jasper had already told everyone that they were to move behind him and Emmett once Edward awoke. No matter what Emmett said, a newborn was stronger than any two of us in the room and Jasper wanted everyone to be protected. I was the only one allowed to be close to him, and even then Jasper was going to be keeping a sharp eye on the situation. He'd be ready to intervene in a fraction of a second.

The clocked ticked closer to 9:08 a.m. The ticking seemed to pick up speed as Edward's heart slowed down. Suddenly his heart gave one more very loud beat, then three very soft ones…and that was it. I felt as if my own dead heart would clench as I realized that I wouldn't hear that sound again. I dropped my shield to him, hoping that he could feel how very much I loved him.

Everyone was very still as we waited to see what would happen. Would he awake and leap to his feet, disoriented? Or would his waking be slow and measured? Every change was unique and there was no way to tell just how his would be.

I remembered back to the first night I had watched Edward sleep. I had thought then that he would be spectacular as a vampire and I had been right. The changes to his facial structure had refined his already ample male beauty. His hair was slightly more bronze colored, still thick and unruly. His jaw line was even sharper now. His lips were fabulous. I could hardly wait to kiss them and I thought about how it might feel, being able to kiss him just as deeply as we both wished.

Suddenly his lips curved up in a smile as he gracefully sat up on our bed and faced us. His voice, which had always held a velvety sound, was now sublime, as he said, "Kissing you would be my pleasure, Mrs. Masen."

Edward was on his feet and stepping towards me where I stood several feet in front of our family before I could even comprehend his actions. I allowed him to take me by the hand and pull me into his arms. Just before he dipped his head to my lips, he looked Jasper in the eye and said, "Yes, Jasper, I'm going to kiss my beautiful wife before I head out to hunt. And Carlisle I will tell you about how the venom in my heart helped me."

I looked up into his red eyes, noting that his smile was even more dazzling as a vampire than it had been as the very handsome human he had been. I heard Carlisle gasp from somewhere behind me. "So, your gift has manifested itself into mind reading."

All I could think was, I love you, Edward…and as his lips came down to mine, my husband answered my unspoken thoughts, "I love you too, Bella."

~o~O~o~

A/N…Well, that was good for me! How about for you? Even though I'm posting this at 3:30 a.m…sigh…I really should have gone to bed hours ago!

So, he can read minds…I'm not surprised, were you? Now he needs to hunt, and then get some control over himself because it's Wednesday and the nomads are going to be here on Saturday! He also needs to wrestle with Emmett, at least just a little bit…wonder who will win? ;F

Please leave me a little love in the way of a review…I'm getting very sad that Guarding Edward is getting so close to being done…sigh…still a couple of chapters to go…but still!

The Eddies & Bellies are accepting nominations starting later today...think about nominating your favorite fics. I've added the link in my profile.

Also:

A head's up: The Twilight Indies Awards is a new contest for good fanfictions that you feel haven't been getting all the reviews and views of the most popular stories. It would make me beyond happy, but only if you feel it, that when they open nominations up on June 16th, you'll consider nominating this story and others that you enjoy.

The website is here: www(dot)theindietwificawards(dot)com

Thanks so much for reading…I do appreciate it very much! I've allowed for anonymous reviews, so those of you from twilighted who don't have an account here can leave me a review too…so don't be afraid, go ahead and let me know what you think of my story!

Kathie