Stephenie Meyer is one of my heroes because she wrote Twilight. Thanks for letting the rest of us play with your characters!

Author's note: Lemony twist at the bottom of this chapter. It's sexy but not too inappropriate. If intimate scenes are not your thing, however, you can stop reading after they've gone into his room and begin kissing. Everyone else, enjoy!

Family Tree Chapter 22

Julian raced through the trees at startling speed and found Dahlia a few minutes later. She stood up when he approached.

"What have you done now?" She asked in a bored tone of voice.

"We were wrong."

"About?"

"Everything. It is not just the Cullen's we need anymore…"

"Stop being ridiculous. You know we need them. They are our best chance. We've gone over this Julian," she hissed menacingly.

"No! Just listen for a minute! Something happened with Bella…something we didn't see coming."

"The human girl? What, did she do us a favor and kill herself off?"

"No…she is altered in some way."

Dahlia looked mildly interested. "Oh? How so?"

"Her eyes changed color and she growled at me."

"Why?"

He hesitated. "I kissed her."

"I always knew you were a fool. This proves it. How could you be so careless? You know she's spoken for! She's as good as one of them!"

"I want her," he whispered with pleading eyes.

"Do you want her more than you want to take down the Volturi?"

He paused and looked at the ground. "That isn't a fair question. It isn't one or the other."

"Yes it is. In every war there are casualties. She will be one of them. It has been decided."

"You simply hate her because you're infatuated with the bronze one!"

Her eyes flashed fire. "He is merely an amusement. Later, his skills will be valuable. I am forming an alliance- not indulging a personal dalliance."

"The hell you are. I've never seen you preoccupied with anyone this way."

"He has amazing potential. The human on the other hand…"

"She has potential too. That's what I'm trying to say to you!"

"Just because she growled at you…"

"It was not just a growl. It was ferocious, deep. Something lies within her, something dangerous. Plus Aro wants her changed. Why else would he desire her so? She is going to be a magnificent weapon to wield."

"Even if she were to change into some beast…what use would she be to either of us? If she growled at you- then you aren't on her good side at the moment. She would not yield to you…"

"You forget. I have persuasion on my side. Bella is affected by my gift."

"We all are, aren't we? Your precious gift," she sneered at him.

"The Volturi seem to think I'm valuable," he told her stoically.

"Is that a threat? I should hope not. I wouldn't want to destroy you this late in the game."

"You're overconfident and I am no longer a young, foolish boy in love."

"I'm confident for a reason and for being three hundred years old, you are still so naive. You may not be in love with me, but she is so frail. Accidents do happen."

"You will not touch her!" He snarled.

"You forget your place Julian."

Dahlia stepped forward and stared deeply into Julian's eyes. He fell to the floor screaming in agony.

"Stop! Please! Dahlia! Help me! Please!"

She stared impassively down at him, writhing in agony.

"The human dies."

He refused to agree and the torture continued. His voice gave out and his body shuddered, convulsing uncontrollably.

"Give her up Julian. She is worthless. But if it makes a difference, I will not kill her until it is necessary. This is my final offer. Nod if you agree."

Julian nodded.

Dahlia smiled.

The forest was still in the wake of such evil.

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Bella's POV

Carlisle finished his examination an hour later. He'd listened to my heart (a little skittish but nothing to worry about), my blood pressure (wow, it's a little high today isn't it?), and my height and weight, (you're entirely too thin for your own good). Edward sat with me patiently until it came time for the blood work to be done. Carlisle nodded to him and he gave me a small kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. I was confused, until I saw the needle in Carlisle's hand.

"Can you make it quick please?"

"Of course, dear. It'll be fine, just a tiny prick…"

I closed my eyes tight and held out my arm. He had me pump my fist a few times and then I felt the sharp prick of the needle piercing my skin. It wasn't the tiny bit of pain involved (I'd been in much worse pain, thank you very much), but the awful smell that still seemed to curdle my stomach anytime I smelled it. The rust smell permeated the air and I fought my gag reflex.

Carlisle watched me with interest as he cleaned his instruments and doused my skin with antiseptic.

"Will it be ok to see Edward now?"

"I'd give it a bit more time for your blood to coagulate. I'll let you know," he said kindly.

I sat up and got off the table. I sat down on his Italian leather sofa, feeling a little out of place.

"So, do you think I'm transmutating into your worst enemy?" I was trying for a playful tone of voice but it came out all wrong.

He smiled patiently at me. "No, I don't. I think you may have some kind of potential there, but I haven't found anything that would tell me that you're turning into a wolf. You know…vampires can growl as well."

I momentarily stopped breathing.

He watched me curiously, probably wondering if I would pass out.

I took a deep, shuddering breath. "Do you think that I might be…changing into something else then?" I couldn't bring myself to voice my desire aloud.

He shrugged. "Who knows? I do find it interesting that you can smell blood the way that you do, Bella. The growling was another interesting piece of the puzzle. You also seem to lack the normal human response to our kind; another thing that makes me think the vampiric tendencies in your blood are stronger than we think. However, vampires do not mutate. The wolves are the only creature I know of that can shift. I have no idea what may happen to you physically in the future; I only hope that whatever it is, it will be something you want. Also, with these things coming to light, we don't know whether or not you are capable of changing into one of us. The venom was stopped too quickly the last time…" he trailed off, suddenly looking wary, realizing what he was saying.

I felt numb. What if it couldn't be done? What if I was never able to turn into a vampire? What if I was stuck?

I trembled and Carlisle rested his hand against my cheek, checking my temperature. "Are you all right? Bella? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let my thoughts get away with me. Sometimes I think out loud when I'm trying to figure something out. You shouldn't think anything of it. I'm not closer to having answers than you are."

I shook myself out of my reverie and looked him square in the eye. "I think I'd like to go home now."

He nodded. "Your arm is fine; a faint trace of blood only."

As if on cue, the door swung open and Edward walked in. He took one look at my face and dipped down, picking me up in his arms. Without saying anything to Carlisle, Edward walked out of the study and toward his bedroom. The door to his room was cocked and he nudged it open all the way. He set me down on his sofa and closed the door behind him.

I waited, surprised. He took a deep, unnecessary breath, perhaps to give him strength of some kind. He turned then and knelt on the carpet below me. He reached out, tucking my hair behind my ears. He stared at me for a few moments until I was fidgeting.

"Bella…have you noticed how the universe seems to keep trying to push us apart?"

I felt a jolt of fear travel through my mid-section. I nodded, cautiously.

"Well, I've decided that I don't much care for the universe dictating our lives. I've been thinking Bella about you; about us. I think it is time for a change," he paused, collecting himself, "I think things have gone on long enough. I'm not as patient as I thought I was."

He blurted out the words as though committing an awful sin.

I wasn't sure what he was saying, but I didn't like it, not one bit. "What do you mean? You aren't…leaving me?"

"No! No! I promised you I would never leave you again and I meant it. I'm just tired of the charade Bella, tired of the fear and the uncertainty and the future. The one thing that is still clear, is how much I love you. You've told me many times how much you want to be with me, how much you love me. You told me that you would give up your life to be like me. You told me you would sell your soul for an eternity of shadow at my side. Are you absolutely certain that is what you wish?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I do! Edward, I love you more than anything. My life is meaningless without you."

"I really hate myself right now Bella."

"Why?"

"Because I want you too much to refuse you."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "You mean it?"

He turned to me with obsidian eyes. "Yes. I can't lose you Bella, not now, not ever. I won't risk it. I only hope that you won't change your mind later. That would be…unbearable."

I felt as though a sun had exploded inside of me. I was filled with light, with sheer happiness. The strength of it robbed me of my ability to breathe. I focused on his perfect face, his haunted eyes, watching me with such sweet concern. "I love you, Edward Cullen."

His mouth tipped up at the corners and he leaned forward, crushing his lips to mine. I gasped, threading my fingers through his damp hair. We kissed leisurely, passionately, as though we had all the time in the world. Edward moved gracefully up from the floor and was on the sofa next to me without breaking contact. He began to kiss my cheeks, my jaw, my ears, and down the column of my throat. His hands roamed over my body possessively, ghosting over my meager curves, eliciting gasps and breathless moans. Gently, he pushed me onto my back and perched over me, his eyes like two pools of melted chocolate.

"Bella…I need you…" he murmured against my forehead as his hands began to undress me. He peeled off my shirt and unhooked my bra with deft fingers. He made no move to remove anything else.

I had no idea what was happening, but my entire being cried out in joy as his hands found my bare skin.

I tried to touch him as well but he caught my wrists and pinned them above my head. He leaned down and plundered my mouth, allowing his body to come flush against mine.

I felt every inch of his perfect marble body pressed against mine, even through his sweater. My hips bucked up a bit, yearning for more contact.

"Greedy little vixen…aren't you?" he whispered in my ear before he licked the shell gently.

"Edward…I want you," I panted wildly, begging him with my eyes, with my body, to take me. I wanted to give him this gift, perhaps the one thing that I had to give that might have value.

He froze and pulled back. He stared at me for a long time, until I began to get uncomfortable. He shook his head and sighed.

"I can't, not like this. I want to Bella, God, I want you, but this is…impulsive. I want our first time to be special, slow. I don't think I could hold back right now Bella…and I would never forgive myself if I hurt you."

I sighed in disappointment. As much as I wanted him and would do anything to have him, I knew that if he felt like he wasn't in control, it could have serious consequences. Knowing this still didn't stop the tears from stinging the back of my eyes. Logically, I knew that he wanted me, I could feel the evidence of his arousal, but to be brought so close to a dream only to have it snatched back at the last moment was pure torture.

"Don't be sad…Bella. I'm sorry. What can I do?" He brushed away the stupid tears that managed to find their way down my cheeks.

"I'm just being silly. It's just hard sometimes, you know? I get all worked up and then…nothing."

He appeared deep in thought for a moment. A light seemed to fill his eyes and with no warning, he moved faster than my eyes could keep track of and had pulled me onto his lap, straddling him.

His eyes never moved from mine but gently, so gently I barely registered it, he moved against me. I gasped as I felt him and responded in kind, just as slowly. He smiled as I began to rub myself against him and he kept still, watching me with something akin to fascination. As I moved over him, I closed my eyes, throwing my head back as delicious feelings began spreading over me. I felt his hands sliding up my hips, over my breasts, caressing them lightly. Then he was kissing them, and kissing me and I was moving against him, and he caught me from behind, lifting me lightly and I gasped and moaned and shuddered and he never let me go…not until I'd come back to earth, my heartbeat slowing, my body suddenly heavy and tired.

He held me and I eventually opened my eyes. He gave me that quirky smile I loved.

"I know that wasn't what you had in mind…but I hope, it was close enough."

I blushed. It had been a strange experience, feeling the things I had through our layers of clothing. Yet, it was better than anything I could have imagined. It was intimate and he hadn't lost control.

"It was more than enough. Thank you…"

He placed his finger to my lips and smiled indulgently. "No Bella, thank you."