I woke up in a place that I had most definitely not fallen asleep in. Gone was the grass half trampled by the stampede of elk that I had caused, and in its place was the stony banks of a shallow river.

To say I was confused was an understatement.

I was laying on a rolled out sleeping bag, which made the pointy-stabby stones a little more bearable, but only added to my confusion. A gentle splashing sound caught my attention and I turned my head to see Edward standing in the river.

Edward had rolled up his pant legs so they wouldn't get wet as he stood in the few inches of water that moved in gentle ripples over the stony river bed. He was wearing a grey t-shirt that seemed just a little too tight, not that I would ever say that to him. Edward bent down and splashed the clear water over his arms, and scrubbed at his face and I watched as he slowly rid himself of the dried remains of last nights meal. He ran his wet hands through his hair, droplets of water clung to his bronze locks and as he righted himself he shook his head like a wet dog and I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

At the sound of my laughter he turned to me and grinned, "You're awake," He remarked as he started to walk towards me, water splashed around his legs as he moved.

"Yes, also confused. How did I get here?" I mumbled as I forced myself into an upright position.

Edward smirked at me, the sort of smug smirk that made me want to smack him "You were dead to the world, my dear. And I really had to clean up, so I carried you here." He explained it all as if it were completely normal. As if his actions were the only sane thing to do in that situation, instead of what they actually were. Totally bizarre.

I rolled my eyes and resisted the urge to lob a small stone in his general direction, "You couldn't have just left me there and come back?"

"And risk you running off again? Not a chance." His tone was teasing, but I could sense a hint of seriousness there. It seemed to be Edward's way, he didn't know how to address any of his insecurities, instead he either covered them with anger or in this case, dismissive humour. My running away had deeply affected him, more than I had realised, and I felt like shit for it. I honestly hadn't stopped to think about how he would feel, not for long anyway. I had figured he would be worried and a bit angry, but other than that I had paid him no mind. I was totally and completely absorbed in my own selfish issues that I didn't think about how Edward felt.

I ran away to burn off all that anger and nervous energy, desperate to leave everything behind, not stopping to think that Edward would feel left behind. Abandoned. Forgotten.

I shot to my feet and rushed to Edward's side, my feet splashed in the ice cold water but it didn't slow me as I crashed into him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held myself against him with every ounce of strength I had. It took a moment for Edward to respond, but when he did he quickly wrapped his arms around me, one circling around my body to press a hand against my lower back and the other on the back of my head.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what's this for?" Edward's voice rumbled against my ear, and I pressed myself further into the crook of his collar bone.

"I promise that if I ever run away again, I'll take you with me." I said the words with my cheek pressed against where his heart sat silent in his chest. I couldn't promise that I wouldn't run away again, because I didn't know if that was a promise I could keep. Edward didn't respond, but I felt his hold on me tighten a little bit. I took a long deep breath of his scent, and instantly felt even worse. Mixed with his warm summery scent was the scent of grief and heartache, of relief and gratitude, and yet underneath all that was a bitter sort of apprehension the sour taste of fear and abandonment. "I'm sorry," I said the words sternly and clearly, I didn't want there to be any misunderstanding between us.

"Bella, you don't have to apologise." Edward murmured and I could feel it as he rested his cheek against the top of my head.

I pulled away from him slightly, but I kept my arms looped around his neck. I slowly grazed my finger tips over his skin as I brought a hand to cup his cheek. I held his face in my palm, and forced him to look at me. "Yes. I do." I asserted as I gently caressed his cheek with my thumb as I stared deeply into his golden eyes, "I was gone for over two months. You went from comforting me, to chasing after me in the woods, to then losing me in the woods." I shook my head and frown sadly at him, "I didn't even stop to think about how that would have made you feel. So yes, I do have to apologise, Edward. Because I am sorry, I am so so sorry that I made you feel like I had abandoned you. I never wanted to do that to you." As I finished my little speech my voice had become steadily less strong and sure, and more coarse as I tried my best to keep my tears at bay. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat, "I will never do that to you again. I'll never leave you behind like that ever again."

I stared at Edward and waited for him to respond, he studied my face for a moment and I watched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw, his eyes seemed sad and brimming with tears, his mouth pressed into a tight line. "Promise?" He whispered, his eyes flickered down and he looked so damn vulnerable. Gone was the century old vampire, and in his place was a nervous and insecure seventeen year old boy. Someone who was usually so guarded and composed, was standing before be completely bare, his heart exposed and in my hands. In that moment I knew I had complete power over him, and I would never abuse that power ever again.

"I promise." I vowed, and I paused for a moment before I continued. "Can you forgive me?" It was a desperate plea, I needed to know that he knew that I wouldn't leave him behind again.

"Of course!" Edward breathed, his forehead coming to rest against mine. I closed my eyes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, I felt his smile before he said. "I wasn't going to say anything… I wasn't sure how."

"Well, I guess it helps to have a girlfriend who can sense your emotions." I teased.

I stepped out of Edward's arms and splashed my way back to shore, I could hear Edward close behind. "So what are we doing today?" I chirped.

"I thought we could start heading home." Edward replied nonchalantly. I plopped down on the sleeping bag and looked up at Edward as he walked towards me. It occurred to me that I would be more than happy to remain in the woods with Edward forever. Eating whatever we could catch, sleeping under the stars and bathing in mountain streams seemed like a delightful way to spend eternity. I didn't need four walls and a roof, I didn't need shops or cars or any of the other amenities that human civilisation afforded me. I had no urge to blend into human society, moving every fifteen to twenty years, changing my name and identity. I would be content to simply roam the wilderness with Edward. Home, to me, was wherever Edward was.

That being said, I saw what he wanted, what he needed. Edward loved his family, and I wasn't sure that Edward even knew how much he needed them, how much he relied on them. He needed his brothers, who teased and annoyed him and pulled him out of his shell when he got lost in his own head. Edward needed his sisters, Alice who understood Edward in a way that no one else could, the burden of their gifts bound them in a way that no one else could possibly understand, and Rosalie who was fiercely protective of him, like a lioness defending her cub. Edward needed his mother, a person who saw who his was under his mask and could hug him and make him feel safe and small and protected even though he towered over Esme by more than half a foot. Edward needed his father, a man who has been by his side for over a century. A man who has stood by him through every trial and tribulation, never wavering in his gentle love and support. Edward needed Carlisle (even though I was sure he would be loath to admit it) for advice, because even after a hundred years of life there were still things that Edward didn't understand. Even as much as he complained about it, he even loved going to school over and over. He needed to blend, to pretend, because some part of him needed to hold on to his lost humanity. Edward loved having a place to call home, a place to escape to whenever the burdens of his existence became too much. He loved having his own room, a space to fill with all sorts of stuff, a place to relax that was wholly his own.I knew that if I asked, he would follow me anywhere, he would go full native and live a nomadic lifestyle with me. That was the reason I could never ask. It was no skin off my nose to go back and live in a house and bathe daily like a normal human being, it wasn't like I would be sacrificing anything.

Not like he would be. As much as I wanted to be, I couldn't be Edward's whole world. There were things that he needed that I couldn't give him. And that was okay.

I beamed up at him, giving him a megawatt smile. "Home sounds good."

A/N: Thanks for reading, the first chapter of this fic from Edward POV has been posted so go check it out! Lunar Eclipse.