"Are you happy with what you see?" I lazily asked Edward as we lay together in my bed. He propped himself on his side to look at me, and I smiled at how his bronze hair fell over his eyes. His free hand ran along the side of my face.

"Mmm. I could gaze at you for hours, Love." My eyes fell slightly. And like a pro, Edward caught it. "Are you worried?"

I bit down on my lip nervously and nodded.

"I know this sounds stupid. But I'm still scared that you'll regret what you've done." His hand cupped my face and he pressed his forehead against mine.

"The only thing I regret," he paused, as if collecting thoughts. "is not getting to you sooner. Not being able to take away the pain fast enough from you. I wanted this to happen differently. In a more relaxing setting. Where you wouldn't be as afraid. Not like how it actually occurred. For that I am deeply sorry." I let his words float in my head freely as I leaned into his touch. Edward's eyes were strikingly sincere as that gazed into mine, filling me with contentment.

What he said raised a red flag in my head and I gasped.

"That's right! What did happen? You never answered me before!" I perked up. Edward frowned as he sat up.

"I'd rather talk about it with everyone else. They can help fill you in, if you really wish to know."

"Of course I want to know!" I slid out of the bed, almost forgetting that I was still very, very nude. Rushing to the closet, I pulled out a quick tank top and sweatpants (I happened to sneak them in there when Alice wasn't looking, after packing my things from Charlie's house). Edward watched me with immense interest and I caught myself feeling bashful. "What? What is it?" I asked in wonder, seeing as he looked a little amused. I checked myself. Nothing seemed wrong.

"You're just beautiful, is all," he commented, walking over to my side and kissing my temple. "Can't I admire my wife?" I smiled when he said it. Hearing him call me his wife made something in my marble body still flutter. Edward kept his mind-blowing smile on his face when he left the room, going into his own to find clean clothes. I quickly brushed my hair, relishing the new sheen it had. It was also much softer than it once was. I put it into one of my classic messy buns and joined Edward in his bedroom. He wore a pair of grey slacks and a simple white shirt. I leaned on the door frame, smiling innocently as he ran his hands through his hair to minimize the bed-head look. When he turned to look at me, he gave me a quizzical look.

"What? Can't I admire my husband?" I repeated his compliment, making him smile and walk over to me. He scooped me into his arms and kissed me tenderly. Oh yes, I could definitely get used to this!

We walked hand in hand downstairs, where all the Cullens sat amongst each other in the living room.

"I knew you would want to talk about what happened, so…" Alice explained.

"Thanks," I replied.

"By the way, don't think I'm going to ignore that you're wearing those disastrous sweats!" I frowned instantly as my new sister winked. "But we'll talk about that later."

"How is your throat, Bella?" Carlisle asked. I thought a moment, forgetting about my thirst. It still was there. Lingering deep in my thoughts. The satisfaction felt by my first hunt didn't quench it for very long. Luckily, I wasn't in a hurry to go hunting again quite yet.

"I'm alright right now."

"Hmm. You will want to hunt soon, before the thirst overpowers you again like before," Carlisle suggested. I saw Jasper nod in agreement.

"Okay. Can do."

"You and me, Bella. You and me and the grizzlies," Emmett smirked. I smiled widely and nodded.

"It's a date."

"Come, sit." Carlisle motioned for us, making me tense up. Edward left my side to grab a couple chairs from the dining area so the two of us could join the others. "Now, Bella, what is the last thing you remember?"

My eyes fell to my hands in my lap. I flexed my fingers mindlessly. "Um…I remember the pain, mostly. Jane was breaking my bones…and it was getting harder and harder to breathe, and I was bleeding a lot…" Edward placed a hand on mine, holding them gently in my lap. I brought my face up to look at him sadly before continuing, "Then, I saw Edward's eyes, and heard so many different voices…everything went black after that. All I could feel was the burning."

"Jacob was the one who got Jane off of you," Carlisle said.

"Yes, Edward already told me that. Is he okay? Did he get hurt?" There was urgency in my voice. I remembered how battered Jacob was in last I saw him. And Sam. "What about Sam?" Carlisle's eyes darkened.

"Jacob is fine. His injuries healed like the others did. But Sam…Jane really did a number on him."

"Sam is in a coma, Bella," Edward said. My eyes bulged.

"What? No!" Edward squeezed my hands.

"I've been keeping tabs on him in the hospital, and it looks like he may pull through, but Jane, she used so much force on him. I'm sure it was because she could sense that he was the pack leader. His mind couldn't take it, and it shut down right after he phased back into a human."

I thought back to his giant form in the grass, struggling to get up. Jacob was nudging him with his nose…and he was hurting because of me. Because of me.

"What about Jane? What happened to her and Alec?"

"After Jacob pulled Jane off of you, Jasper and Rosalie helped him restrain her while Edward got to your side. I came to look at you once Alice said that you lost too much blood. Esme came as well, but Alec appeared to help out Jane."

"So I told Carlisle and Esme to help the others while Edward and I watched over you," Alice continued.

"Right," Carlisle nodded. "Esme, Emmett, and I were powerful enough somehow to get Alec down enough to—"

"We ripped him apart!" Emmett said proudly. "Made sure that little brat wouldn't hurt anyone again!" I got a glimpse of his giant grin and I felt a strange wave of relief.

"You…you killed him?" I asked, needing to hear the confirming words.

"Yes, we did." Carlisle sighed. He didn't sound happy about it. "I don't like hurting anyone, even if they are like them." I pictured the limbs being torn, Alec possibly screaming, and then a large fire billowing through the trees behind the house.

"And Jane?"

"Jane got away from us. She subdued Jasper, Jacob, and Rosalie," I heard Rosalie snort at that in irritation. "and disappeared. No doubt she went back to Volterra to inform Aro of what has happened."

"Then…we are still in danger?" I asked, my hands still fidgeting under Edward's. Even after the change, I was in danger. My family was in danger.

"We destroyed one of Aro's prized guard members. He and the other leaders will not take that lightly. I would not be surprised if they come here to confront us themselves. Especially when Jane informs them of our truce with the wolves."

"How…how long do you think we have?" My eyes focused on Carlisle's mouth, watching it move slowly. Nervously.

"I'm unsure. I would assume that Aro would like to strategize carefully. I know he will not be happy with Jane, so he may deal with her first. Maybe a couple weeks? I can't imagine them waiting longer than that."

"Then we'll fight! We'll train and prepare to take them all down!" Emmett growled. Rosalie's hand fell from his head and squeezed his shoulder. Esme frowned.

"The good side of this is that I can see them better. Alec isn't around anymore to shield their decisions from me. So I'll know when they are coming. No one has made a choice yet." Alice sounded relieved when she spoke. There was a hint of hope in her voice.

"I still feel as though I'm to blame for this," I shrugged. "None of this would have happened if I was in the picture." At my side, Edward's face smoothed out but looked sad.

"Nonsense, Bella!" Esme cried. "You're the best thing to happen to us, truly. We don't regret meeting you." The others nodded, even Rosalie, to Esme's statement. Edward leaned over and pecked my cheek.

"Esme is right. You are officially a Cullen now. We protect each other. We'll think of something." Carlisle shot me a small smile to reassure me. I appreciated it.

"In the meantime, we need to help you adapt to your new life," Jasper added. "You're going to need to control your strength and thirst. That's my department."

"Will I be able to see Jacob anytime soon?" I wondered aloud. I felt terrible about what he endured. A part of me wanted to apologize. Another part of me wanted to show him that I was fine. He had to be freaking out at La Push about me.

"You should wait a few days at the very least," Jasper said. "If you saw him right now, you'd want to kill him. Your mind is calm right now because you fed, but if you stood in front of a werewolf right now, you would only focus on destroying him because you would see him as an enemy."

"An enemy?" My voice cracked.

"It's because he is another supernatural being. Vampires and werewolves have very rarely coexisted peacefully. We are a special exception. Regardless, our basic instinct is to fight them," Carlisle explained.

So if I saw Jacob right now, I would really want to kill him? I shook my head in disbelief.

"Don't worry, Bella. I've been updating Jacob whenever I check on Sam. I should be checking on him later today. I will let him know that you are alright, and that you can see each other soon."

"Thanks, Carlisle."

"Why don't we go for a walk, Bella?" Jasper freed himself from Alice and walked over to me. "Do you mind, Edward?"

"Of course not. Go ahead. I have a few things I'd like to attend to," he replied, letting go of my hands. Jasper flashed me a peculiar smile. I got to my feet and followed him outside. We walked silently towards the side of the house, and proceeded down the long road around the forest.

"So how do you feel?" Jasper asked me once we hit the pavement of a nearby road. I wasn't sure where he was leading me, but I trusted him.

"Like I said before, I feel…connected to everything. It's incredible," I said, listening to the birds as they fly overhead, smelling exhaust fumes and moist dirt. Jasper chuckled beside me.

"Yes, that is one of my favorite things about this life." He looked a bit forlorn as we walked. "I like being able to hear and see everything. That, with my ability to feel emotions, makes everything much more pleasurable, yet difficult at times."

"I can imagine. It must be hard to be able to sense how everyone is feeling. Especially if they are angry or sad. It must hurt."

"Sometimes, but I've gotten used to it over the decades." I got the feeling that Jasper wanted to tell me something. But he was hesitating for some reason.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, hoping the change in subject would ease him some.

"A place where we can be undisturbed. I know that the forest is a favorite of everyone, but I prefer a more…secluded setting."

"Oh." What was he up to?

"Getting scared? Ha, don't worry, it's not that far away." He smiled at me. We were going somewhere high. The road we were on was empty but going upwards. I could see mountains in the distance. Was that his destination? "Would you like to really test out your speed? I wouldn't mind getting in a jog."

I smiled brightly at that. We were going to race.

"Sure. Where's the end point?" He rose a hand and pointing to the peak of one of the taller mountains.

"Are you serious?" I was shocked. Were we honestly going to go all the way up there? Even with my new skills, that looked scary.

"Stop worrying. You will be perfectly fine. Hopefully your clumsiness has gotten better."

I winced.

"Fine. What do I get if I win?"

"What would you like?"

"Hmm…" I scratched my chin as I pondered. I thought back to how hesitant he was just moments before. "If I win, I'd like you to tell me why you were so weird before."

"Weird?"

"Yeah. You were hiding it, but I could tell you wanted to say something. If I win, I want you to tell me what it was." His eyes flickered. A moment later, he nodded.

"Alright. If I win…you have to get rid of your sweats." I gasped. I didn't expect Jasper to say that. Alice, maybe. Not Jasper.

"What? Why?"

"Because if you don't, Alice will make both our eternities hell." I forgot how much of a force Alice was, and I could only imagine what Jasper had to put up with in terms of her fashion obsession. With a deep groan, I lowered my head.

"Okay, fine. You got a deal."

"Good."

"Should I count down?" I teased, getting ready to run. Jasper followed suit and nodded playfully. "Alright. On the count of three…one…two…three!"