Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All recognizable characters belong to SM.

Happily Ever After is Worth Fighting For:

A Bella and Edward Story Part 54

Grace, who had been napping on the bed next to Bella, climbed onto her lap and started to lick her face. She wasn't used to Bella sleeping so long and was happy to shower her with affection. Bella smiled down at her furry baby and petted her, momentarily distracted.

"I have a feeling that this is another example of how Masen's venomwill eliminate the negative aspects of the transformation." Carlisle said in awe. The other vampires just sat stunned.

Bella was overwhelmed by all of her new senses and needed to take control of the situation in order to calm herself. She turned to Esme and Rosalie.

"Mom, Rose, could you both please mind the twins and Grace for me while Edward, Emmett and Dad take me out to run some tests?" Bella asked.

"Of course, Darling. Take your time. It is our pleasure." Esme assured her. Rosalie just smiled and nodded her agreement as she smiled down at her niece.

Bella kissed both of her children before turning to Charlie.

"Daddy, I hate to exclude you but this is one of those times where it is for your safety."

"Don't worry about me Bella. I'm fine. I just don't understand what the fuss is about. You look just the same to me." Charlie said.

"That's just it, Dad. I look the same." Bella murmured into her father's ear as she gave him a hug.

Thoroughly confused but deciding it was best to not ask questions, Charlie got into his car and drove home.

It wasn't until he parked the car in his driveway that the full impact of what Bella had said struck him.

Bella didn't look like the rest of the Cullens nor did the twins.

They looked human!

After Charlie drove off, Bella joined Edward, Emmet and Carlisle in the backyard.

"Bella, you just hugged Charlie. Didn't you feel a burning thirst?" Carlisle asked solicitously.

"No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I don't feel a burning at all." Bella said causing his eyes to widen in surprise.

"You also seem very controlled for a newborn." Emmett observed.

"I'm as surprised as the rest of you." Bella said.

"I think that we need to test your strength and speed to see if those have been affected." Carlisle said.

"Well, Edward is the fastest and I'm the strongest so that will be easy enough." Emmett said with a grin. He bent over and drew a line in the dirt and motioned for the two to step behind it.

Edward and Bella took their marks.

"Ready, set, go!" Emmett called.

Edward turned to his wife with a mischievous grin, winked at her and took off running. Giggling the whole way, Bella kept up with Edward as they both raced up the mountain and back down.

As the couple was running, Edward pondered the enormity of the situation. He had remained quiet since he had looked into Bella's eyes and saw that they had remained their warm chocolate brown colour. Was it possible that he could hold onto the wonderful parts of Bella that he fell in love with and still keep her forever? It certainly looked that way.

When Bella and Edward returned to Emmett and Carlisle, she felt truly exhilarated.

Emmett and Bella crushed boulders and downed trees before they wrestled. This was at Edward's insistence. He wanted to test Bella's strength but didn't want to risk her being injured by Emmett in case something had gone awry during her transformation. It turned out that he had nothing to worry about. Both Edward and Carlisle were howling with laughter as Bella bested Emmett at wrestling. Emmett just sat and sulked.

"Well, it appears that you are indeed an anomaly." Carlisle mused. "It's simply amazing!"

Emmett and Edward nodded in agreement.

Bella lowered her head and blushed in embarrassment.

All three men gaped at her.

"What?" Bella asked.

"You're blushing!" Emmett blurted out.

"I am?" Bella asked, truly perplexed.

"You are!" Edward said with a gleeful laugh.

"Astounding!" Carlisle said. "I'd love to run some tests on your venom as soon as we get back home."

"I'm afraid that will have to wait." Edward said.

"Why?" The others asked in unison.

"I'd like to take my wife hunting, if you two don't mind." Edward said as he wrapped his arms around Bella's waist and buried his nose in her hair.

Emmett and Carlisle understood that Edward wanted some alone time with his mate so they didn't put up a fuss as they took their leave of the couple.

"Bella, you never cease to amaze me." Edward murmured as he turned her in his arms.

"Masen's venom really has done wonders." Bella said.

"You have no idea of how thrilled I am that you were able to keep your beautiful, brown eyes." Edward said while gazing at her reverently.

"I am happy that you are pleased. I was worried about your reaction." Bella confessed.

"You were worried?" Edward asked truly puzzled.

"I was worried you might not find me as attractive once I was immortal. You fell in love with a human. I just wasn't sure." Bella said. She bit her lip and gazed off into the distance to avoid looking at her husband.

Edward slid a finger under her chin and nudged it upward.

"Bella, Love, look at me please and tell me what you see." He coaxed as he noticed that she had closed her eyes. Tentatively, Bella opened her eyes and was greeted by a look of unconditional love.

"Regardless of your appearance, you will always be My Bella and I will love you forevermore." He vowed.

Bella rose up on her toes and pulled him into a heated kiss.

Edward groaned and pulled away. "You are so good at distractions but we need to go hunt."

"Edward, I truly am not the least bit thirsty." Bella said as she started to unbutton his shirt.

"Nevertheless, I would like to teach you how. I have actually been looking rather forward to taking you for your first hunt." Edward said.

"Oh?" Bella said. "Why is that?"

"When a mated couple hunts together, their animalistic natures surface and let us just say that their activities after the hunt are rather explosive." Edward said as a slow smile spread across his face and he arched an eyebrow at her.

Bella looked confused for a moment before she figured out what he meant. Her eyes widened in surprise. "You mean that when the other couples go out to hunt, that they end up…."

Edward nodded as he smirked at her.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Bella asked excitedly as she took off running with Edward right behind her.

A few hours later, Bella arrived back at the house and burst through the door, wearing the tattered remains of her blood stained outfit. She was sobbing, hysterically and carrying Edward in her arms. His clothing was also in tatters and he appeared to be unconscious.

"Dad, please. You have to help him!" Bella implored as she rushed to Carlisle. The others just looked on in horror.

Author's Note: If you are enjoying this tale, please let me know which parts are your favorites…