A/N: Sorry this update has been so long in the coming; I've been insanely busy this last week and really should be studying right now. Oh well; we all have to be irresponsible sometime. Not a whole lot happens in this chapter, but it's a bit of Edward/Bella fluff so it should be alright. The next chapter will be more story-heavy. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed!

Disclaimer: The Red Eyes idea is, of course, from Stephenie Meyer courtesy of Alphie, and Twilight is all Ms. Meyer's.

Enough for Forever: Chapter 2.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Exhilarating as the last couple of days had been, I was looking forward to seeing Charlie again. I was more than glad of the fact that because of my special abilities, I had nothing to fear in terms of trying to eat him. As Carlisle had said, I was perhaps the luckiest one of them. My skin, though frigid, was warmer than that of the others', and I had virtually no desire to eat humans. While they appeared edible, the animals which I had been hunting seemed much more appealing.

The most profound problem concerning my continued co-existence with my human friends came in a form that I least expected: my eyes. They were brilliant red. Edward assured me that this was good, since the color was caused by my stored human blood and would go a long ways to helping me control my newfound hunger, especially when fortified with my recent hunting.

The color, however, did pose a problem. I hadn't much noticed them at first, or cared, but eventually when the topic of my going home came up I did consider them. The prospect of wearing sunglasses for the next year didn't much appeal to me; neither did feigning blindness, since overprotectiveness from Charlie was the last thing I could afford.

It was Carlisle who came up with the saving idea. Contact lenses. Luckily, my eyes were brown, so the dark colored lenses had no difficulty blocking out the red of my eyes.

"The red eyes were a bit of a problem eighty years ago," Edward said, grinning at me once my pupils looked normal-colored, "But luckily you've been born into a slightly more technologically advanced age. Think about it – a year of absolute avoidance of human contact."

He was trying to goad a response out of me. There was no debating the fact that I would spend a year away from all humans, and much more besides, to be with Edward. He knew that though, so I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of confessing my undying love for him. I'd already done that. Instead, I merely smiled at him, in a oh-you-will-pay-for-this-later sort of way.

As Edward was driving me home to Charlie for the first time since I had been changed, I eyed my bad leg and my reattached walking cast. It would be another couple of weeks before I would be allowed to take it off in a manner that was doctor-sanctioned; considering the easy grace with which I had been outrunning mountainlions for the last week it seemed somewhat superfluous. Edward could sense my ire at being forced to wear the dratted thing, and was smiling but trying to hide it. I snarled at him, and he bellowed out laughing. In spite of myself, I smiled too; in the last week Edward seemed happier than I'd ever seen him, and I was too, for that matter. I had secretly always worried that I would spend a significant amount of time convincing Edward that no, he did not steal my life and yes, I would want to spend forever with him in case he ever did decide to change me, but now I realized there was no need for that. Quietly, I thanked whatever stars looked out for me for being so wonderful. I knew there would be heartaches in the future, with Charlie and my mother, but Edward was worth it. He was worth it a hundred times over.

We pulled into the driveway, and Edward was around to open my door in a flash. He made a great show of helping me out of the car and carrying my stuff; I could sense Charlie's awareness of our presence. He opened the door just as we were climbing the steps, and I saw the smile on his face freeze into a stunned expression for an instant before returning, joyous and puzzled. "Bella, you look absolutely wonderful," he hugged me. "Are you cold?" he asked after a second.

"Yes, dad," I said, shooting an amused glance at Charlie, "Glad to see you too. I missed you. Anyway, I feel like I've been permanently frozen. I think I want to take a hot shower."

"You do that, then, honey," Charlie said smiling after a second, "I missed you, too. But first tell me how it was."

How was it? It was exhilarating. Hunting, feeding, feeling my own power and grace, my newly born instincts – and above all that, Edward. I could be with him now as I never could have been before. I no longer felt fragile and delicate in his arms, and he no longer had to guard his every move around me. If Charlie only knew. A sideways glance at Edward, and I could tell by his grin he was thinking much the same thing as I was. "It was wonderful," I said truthfully. "The entire thing was so much of a surprise, I don't know how to thank you. We stayed outside nearly the entire time, and my leg wasn't so much of a problem as it might have been. Dr. Cullen says it's healed much better than they'd hoped; I might be able to take the cast off soon." I threw a wholly felt irritated glance at the cumbersome thing.

"That sounds lovely, Bella," Charlie reached to ruffle my hair. I could tell he was still slightly taken aback by my coldness, but at least my hair was normal. Turning to Edward, he said, "Sounds like you took care of my girl." Edward's expression sobered, and I had the urge to mentally whack him. "Did you have a good time too?" Charlie continued.

"Yes, sir," Edward said slightly seriously, though his smile lightened his face quickly.

"Well, I'm glad. You should both be getting to bed, though, you've had a long week," he paused for a second, "Although you certainly don't smell like you've been camping for a week. Oh, and Bella, be sure to call Renee tonight."

"Sure, dad," I said, smiling. Grabbing Edward's hand, who still held my stuff, I climbed up the stairs into my room. We exchanged a glance filled with mirth as he tossed my bag on my bed. Before he could turn to leave, I grabbed hold of him and pressed my lips against his. He deepened our kiss, and my hand twisted in his hair, his in the small of my back. We stayed that way for a long moment, and finally pulled apart. Our breathing was reflexively faster, and the scent of him filled my senses until I feared I could no longer pull back. I could sense Edward battling against himself, too, and we both stepped back a bit. I smiled shakily at him.

"We really should behave, you know," Edward said, smiling back at me once he'd regained his control. "Don't want your dad thinking you've been changed into a vampire, run amok the forest for the last week, and been savagely kissing your vampire sweetheart all the while."

"Yes," I replied, deadpan, "The vampire existence and the good-spirited, if out-of-season, hunting is all well and good, but let's not test Charlie with any tales of kissing." Edward glared at me, and then resolved himself in a gentle, lingering kiss that could almost be described as chaste.

"You should be getting into that bath," Edward said, his voice slightly rough, "And I should be getting home to rest up for school." I arched my eyebrow at him, and I could hear a quiet, involuntary growl issuing from his throat. "Bella, let's not test ourselves further than we have to, right now."

"Alright, my love," I said soothingly, my own voice still heavy with desire. I stepped forward and placed my hand lightly on his chest, "But will you come back later tonight?"

He grabbed my hand and held it with both of his against his cheek. Mumbling into my palm, he said, "I don't think I could stay away if I tried." Then he quietly turned to leave.