Bella POV

By the time I got home, the sun was quite low in the sky and I was surprised to feel a slight, cool breeze when I stepped out of the truck. The heat we had gotten was too intense, too out of character for Forks. I knew it wouldn't last.

Carlisle's car was still parked outside and thankfully the cruiser wasn't there. I wondered if Charlie had been purposefully avoiding Renee. Seeing her still hurt him, I could tell. The blind twitched upstairs as I unloaded my bags from the truck.

"Honey, I'm home!" I called jokingly, expecting him to greet me in the hall.

He didn't reply so I traipsed upstairs to find him. Edward was on the bed, just where I left him. He sat as still as a statue, staring at the blank wall.

"Hi," he smiled and turned his head when I entered. "I was starting to worry about you. I thought your truck might have broken down,"

"Traffic was heavy," I explained. "Not to mention the fact my truck doesn't go over a hundred miles an hour like you're used to,"

I sat beside him on the bed, curling up beside him. He lightly placed his arm around my shoulders but didn't relax his body.

"Did you have a nice day?" he asked.

"Yeah. It was great to spend time with Renee. She's like a breath of fresh air," I said, snuggling even closer to his non-responsive body.

"That's good," he answered.

"I'm sorry you had to be cooped up in here all day. You came back from hunting to see me and I abandoned you," He must have been bored here.

"Bella. I just want you to be happy and it's good that you spent time with your mother. I don't have a problem with that," he told me.

"But you do have a problem with something! I can tell. What's wrong Edward?" I knew something was bothering him. He was acting detached, the way he did when he was upset.

Slowly, he shook his head before looking down at me. "I'm just feeling a little frustrated with myself. I shouldn't have acted so…aggressively or treated you so roughly. I promise myself I won't hurt you, I think I'm being careful. Then one look, one touch from you and I forget it all,"

"You don't forget," I was adamant. "You never hurt me."

"But I could, so easily." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I love you, Bella. Your smile, your personality. Then I come so close to taking advantage, to using you for my own pleasure-"

"Your pleasure?" I spluttered. "Tell me you don't feel guilty for showing me you love me because that is getting really old. Do I have to keep re-assuring you?"

He opened his mouth to speak but I wouldn't let him. "How can I explain it? Edward, I know you love and respect me. You've proven that all throughout our relationship, even when I didn't deserve it. But to know that you desire me, after months if what felt like rejection, that's an entirely different thing. It makes me feel confident… attractive. It's the reason I let my mother buy me a ridiculous negligee! It makes me feel like I might be enough for you-"

"Bella, you're more than enough for me. More than I deserve. Never doubt that," He spoke sincerely. His eyes were burning into me, imploring me to believe him.

"I will on one condition," Maybe a bribe could work.

"What is it?" he was wary.

"You stop doubting yourself. I love everything we do together," I hoped he could see just how much I meant that.

"Deal." He smiled crookedly then. " So what exactly did your mother buy you?"

Me and my big mouth. "Nothing,"

He shook his head. "I distinctly remember you mention something. I have excellent hearing,"

"Forget it, I'm not taking it out. You'll see it soon enough anyway," I knew that would appease him.

"I'll look forward to that so," he grinned. "Did you get anything else?"

I pulled my bags onto the bed enthusiastically. "Yup. I got the cutest gloves for Esme and a new pink binder for Alice. And I got a bracelet for my mother. It was kind of expensive, I hope you don't mind,"

He groaned. "Did you not buy anything for yourself? I've been waiting so long for the right opportunity to give it to you and that's all you get?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't need anything. Everything I want is right here," Then I blurted out,"I bought you a present," . So much for waiting for a romantic setting. It wasn't even a present really, considering he was ultimately the one footing the bill. Then again, it was the thought that counted.

"I don't need anything," he told me. "You're all I need," Now he was using my words against me. "Unless of course, you got me a new shirt because I don't have one to wear home,"

Why did he choose now to be difficult? I picked up the embossed paper bag from the jewellers and handed it to him. There were butterflies swarming in my stomach. I wondered if he felt a tenth of these nerves the night he gave me my ring.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to wear it. I won't be offended. Or we can return it," I jabbered on like a fool, while he slowly opened the box.

I waited for his reaction. His grin faded, then softened into a look of awe. Slowly, he traced his index finger along the outline. He was completely silent.

"Do you like it?" I asked, my voice sounded weak.

"Like it?" he sounded incredulous. "Bella, I love it. Thank you,"

A thousand emotions bubbled under the surface. But I could be nonchalant, now that I knew that he liked it.

"It's a Claddagh ring," I informed him. "You did seem to like Irish legends after all. Aren't you going to put it on?"

He removed the ring from the satin box and slipped it on his finger. To my delight it fitted perfectly.

"You wear it like this," I showed him. "So the heart is pointing inwards. It's so everyone knows that you're taken,"

"My heart most definitely belongs to you," he agreed.

"The heart represents love, that's obvious," I took his hand in mine, my engagement ring and his Claddagh ring sitting beside each other. "The crown is for loyalty and the hands represent friendship. The circle is never-ending, a bond that can't be broken,"

"It's a very good representation," he said, his voice sounded even better than normal, crackling with emotion. So often, he was a mystery, keeping his emotions hidden from everyone.

"I thought so," I tried to be modest. Secretly I was thrilled that my gift was a success.

"It's perfect. I'll never take it off," Edward wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

Somehow, he had the ability to convey so much love and emotion in an simple hug. His presence, his smell, it was perfect to me. I understood that it took an incredible amount of control to hold me in this way. Tight enough to feel his emotions, yet gently enough so he didn't hurt me. I melted against him, letting him envelop me and wipe away the stress of the crazy, bittersweet day I just had.

He raised our entwined hands to his lips, kissed my knuckles lightly before reluctantly pulling away.

"I have to go home for a while," he said, a note of sadness in his voice. "I need to get cleaned up and Carlisle needs his car. Do you want to come with me?"

As much as I hated to be separated, I didn't want to face any teasing from his family, especially since Alice had seen what happened this morning. I also wanted to cook something for Charlie, I'd hardly spent any time with him since he came back. So with a hug and a kiss, I said goodbye to Edward. He promised to be back later and I knew I would be anxious until he returned.

I watched out the window as the sleek black car disappeared around the corner. In the distance, I could see thick grey clouds rolling in.

Thanks again for reviewing last chapter! This is the second last chapter and you know I forgot most of you lucky people were getting BD tonight. I have to wait until Saturday and I won't be able to read until that night. Since there have been some queries, I always intended this to be set between Eclipse and BD. It was only going to last as long as the good weather did in Forks.

I put a picture of the ring on my profile.