A/N: First of all, I am really, really sorry this took so long. After I got over my writer's block and was ready to submit this, Fanfiction wouldn't let me upload it, but finally, it took it! So, here's chapter 8 for all of you who have been waiting so long!

A/N2: Just so all of you know, Edward's thoughts are bolded so you can tell the difference between his and Bella's. Everyone else's is the same.

Disclaimer: If I owned Twilight I would most certainly not be writing fanfiction for it. I would me working on New Moon.

Edward's POV

Bella was taking her change really well. It surprised me. I knew she wanted it, but she shouldn't be taking to it this well. Should she?

She came down with Alice in her own clothes. Alice had mentioned that she was going to go get some of Bella's own clothes.

She smiled at me.

I wish she would blush…

Sorry.

For what?

For almost dying and making you change me.

Bella, you couldn't have helped it…and I had no choice, you would have died!

I didn't have to go off the diving board…

No, but you did and there is nothing you can do to change that.

If it wasn't for Jason…

Jason?

A boy I knew from school, he was teasing me about my clumsiness, I let it get to me and tried to go off the diving board just to prove him wrong.

You what?

Please tell me you aren't mad…

You have no sense of self-preservation whatsoever!

You're mad…

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you did that on purpose…

Just because I had a death wish, didn't make me suicidal, I didn't do that on purpose you know.

I know, but still.

I'll admit that that wasn't the smartest thing I've done…

I still miss you blushing, and you tripping, it's comical really…

She just smiled and shook her head. If I hadn't known better, I would have said that she tried to trip just then.

We climbed into his car and headed for Bella's house. Carlisle had said that instead of them driving to the hospital, when Bella wasn't even there was pointless. So he would drive her to them. Her mom was to meet us at Bella's house as well, she was staying at a hotel nearby. Both of them were very grateful to him for saving her life.

If only they knew…

We arrived at her house in no time. Bella insisted that she walked. Not that there was any doubt that she couldn't. The argument was for show. In the end, I won and ended up carrying her into the house followed by Carlisle and Alice.

Charlie and Renee were very pleased to see their daughter.

I sat her down on the couch and sat down next to her.

"I can't thank you enough for taking care of Bella!" I could tell Charlie was having problems getting his words out.

"I feel so bad, as if it was my fault that she got hurt!"

"It's not your fault, mom. Don't tear yourself up about it."

Bella's mom promptly went over to Bella and embraced her.

"You're so pale Bella! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine mom."

It took a lot more convincing than that though. Her mom had overreacted again. She fussed over Bella's paleness and lack of blushing, I'm sure she would have fussed over the lack of tripping had she actually seen Bella walk.

Charlie was just glad that Bella was okay, he thanked Carlisle, Alice and I profusely. He couldn't believe that we would fly all the way out there just to make sure Bella was okay.

We assured him it was no big deal.

He asked us to stay for dinner, but we politely refused.

Bella offered to cook and glided into the kitchen, not even giving Charlie a chance to argue.

"Should she be cooking?" He asked Carlisle.

"I don't think it would hurt her. It's probably best that she gets into a normal routine." Carlisle replied. "If you need anything, just give us a call. I'll send Edward or Alice over every other day or so to check up on her."

"That will be fine, thank you again."

"Our pleasure."

"Oh, by the way, is it okay if I take Bella shopping this weekend? For a girl's night out?" Alice asked.

"I don't think that would be a problem…Bella did you hear that?"

"Yeah, dad. So I can go?"

"Yes."

Alice squealed and Bella sighed happily. I will never understand Alice's need to shop.

See you tonight. I thought as we left.

See you tonight.

Bella's POV

I walked into the kitchen and looked into the fridge. Fish. That's all that we had.

Okay, so I'm going to the store tomorrow…

I worked in the kitchen while listening to my mom and Charlie's thoughts.

Mom was staying for dinner before she went back to the hotel. Her plane didn't leave for a couple of days, she wasn't sure how long she was going to have to stay. I'm still not sure she's convinced I'm okay.

Her thoughts were mainly on how she felt so sorry that I got hurt. She still blamed herself. She was glad that I seemed okay, but she was still worried about my paleness…

She would just have to get used to that.

Charlie was glad that I was okay and home. He was also wondering what I was fixing for dinner. How could he wonder, all we had was fish?

Dinner went over without an incident. I told mom and Charlie that I had eaten at the Cullen's before I came over and if I was hungry, I would heat up some leftovers. They looked convinced.

I asked mom why Phil didn't come, but she said that he couldn't make it because of a game. I didn't pry.

Mom left right after dinner, once she had left I told Charlie that I was going to go up to bed. He nodded and said he'd probably go to bed soon too.

I hadn't even got to my room and I knew Edward was there.

Edward's POV

She walked in and for that moment, I wished that she would trip so I could catch her and see her blush.

She heard my thoughts, and hers danced along the same lines.

I wish I could blush, just to make him happy…

Don't go regretting what happened.

She thought about that for a moment and her thoughts changed to how we could be able to spend all of eternity together. Her dream was now a reality.

It was nice to finally hear her thoughts, but it came at a price… I wished that I could see her blush, to see her trip, to see her sleep, to see her need to breathe, to see her eat, just one more time.

The last time I saw her blush was when she tripped walking out the door when Charlie went to take her to the airport. I was there of course to catch her, she had blushed and cursed her clumsiness. "But that's what makes you, you" I had said. That was the last time I had seen her trip as well.

I had seen her sleep since then, but it was a pained sleep, interrupted by screaming and writhing…torture…

The last time I saw her sleep peacefully was when she was in my arms, sleeping the night before she left.

The last time I had seen her eat, was that very night, at the dinner I made her.

Edward, you hypocrite!

What?

You tell me not to regret what happened, and look what you do, regret changing me!

I did not!

Did you just hear your thoughts? It sounded like regret to me.

It was not regret, it was sorrow.

So you're sorry you changed me?

Forgive me Bella, for taking your life from you. I am selfish, I couldn't bear to see you die, I couldn't let you live the way you should have. I couldn't leave you alone.

If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't be here. You have saved me countless times. You saved me from Tyler's truck, from those guys in Port Angeles, from James, from a life of hell at Forks. And I know you could have killed me at any moment, but you didn't. And I didn't go off running and screaming did I? You may be selfish, but I have no sense of self-preservation whatsoever. Because if I did… she did not finish her thought, she did not need to. Here was my Bella, using my own words against me.

You never cease to amaze me Bella. And may I ask, is that the end of our never-ending argument?

Yes, and I won.

We both laughed.

What do you want to do tonight?

I never thought of that. We could go to your house…

All right, I'll have you back here by four though, just in case.

Okay.

Oh, by the way, Alice said there was going to be a storm tomorrow night, we were going to play some ball, do you want to come?

Sure!

You'll be playing right?

I've never hit a ball in my life! Not without serious consequences…

Have you hit a ball as a vampire?

No…

Then it's settled then. I'll teach you.

Okay…

We went back home after that. Alice was pleased that Bella would be playing. Bella still seemed nervous, but I convinced her that it would be okay. So did Alice.

We spent the night in an epic chess match. Bella and I ended up in 3 stalemates in a row. We had to give up after that, declaring a rematch for the night after the game. I took her home and we sat in her room talking for a long time, with Linkin Park playing in the background.

A/N3: So, there is was. I hope you enjoyed it! R&R please!