Set in an AU of L where Beau survives Joss' attack as Bella had in Twilight.

Disclaimer: The original plot of Life and Death and all its associated characters and canon are the property of Stephanie Meyer; however, this story is of my own mind.

Chapter 1: What If?

Edward always said that he wishes he could become human for Bella, to give her everything he thinks he can't because she's human and he is not. All of the Cullens would give anything to be human again; as stated in Midnight Sun, none of them "would hesitate if he or she were offered a chance back, if he or she could trade immortality for mortality again…[they] would stand in fire for it. Burn for as many days or centuries as were necessary."

I assume this is the same across the Life and Death universe, meaning Edythe wishes she could be human for Beau. So…what if Edythe did become human again? How would Beau react to a softer, more fragile Edythe? How would she react? How would their futures change?

That is what this story tells…

Edythe drove quickly down the slick wet roads of Forks, Washington, heading toward the Chief of Police's house. It was a Saturday morning, one where Charlie Swan was away for the weekend fishing. She was on her way to pick up Beau to go enjoy a movie in Port Angeles before Beau went to a "guys' night" with Archie for the weekend.

Archie, along with all the Cullens save for Carine and Earnest, were actually on a weekend hunting trip. Edythe had already gone the week before, staying close enough to get her fill and then returning to Beau, of course. Since returning from Phoenix, Edythe objected to leaving Beau's side for more than was absolutely necessary; though she needed to stay fed, she felt no need to go far to find game.

While she was driving in excessive of a hundred miles an hour, Edythe could see all her surroundings perfectly. So when something white and sleek in her periphery caught her eye for a fraction of a second before disappearing before she could focus on it, she could not help but rake her eyes in every direction to pinpoint the source, the vehicle slowing as she entered Forks proper.

The something was quick and unsettling to Edythe; her forehead creased, torn between pulling over and going after it, or continuing to Beau's house to make sure he was okay. She decided on the latter and continued on, arriving on his street moments later.

As she went to turn down the familiar road, however, she felt a sharp pain in her head, a pinprick concentrated between her eyes. It got worse with each passing millisecond, to the point that Edythe nearly blindly pulled off to the side of the road, throwing the car in park and pressing her fingertips to her temples.

Everything spun for a split second before going full dark.

Beau glanced up at the clock for the ninth time in the past five minutes. It had been nearly half an hour since he had called Edythe that he was ready to go. It only took her roughly eight minutes to get to his house, with her insane driving style. He got worried after twenty minutes, and that panic had grown steadily. He debated between calling her and calling Carine, though he didn't know if Carine was at the hospital or not. He found himself walking to the front window, glancing outside to see if Edythe was waiting for him outside. He couldn't see her car, as he hadn't the past two times he had looked.

Hesitantly, he stepped outside, moving to the sidewalk to look down the street. He knew part of him was being paranoid and impatient, but he ignored it. His eyes wandered to the end of the road, where he spotted the silver Volvo pulled off to the opposite side from his house. His eyebrows pulled together as he made his way towards it, sensing something amiss.

As he got closer, he could see Edythe inside, her body slumped against the driver's side door. He picked up the pace, calling her name quietly, knowing she should be able to hear him. There was no response, and Beau could see her eyes were shut, her form slack. He sprinted then, practically running into the door as he reached it. He pulled the handle, releasing the catch slowly as her body leaned into the door.

"Edythe," he murmured, his hand going to her arm to steady her. She didn't respond, her head falling limp, and he shook her lightly, repeating her name with no response. He looked her over; he knew vampires didn't sweat, but her skin was covered in a thick sheen of perspiration. The hand that was wrapped around her arm was not freezing from her normally icy touch. He laid the back of his hand against her forehead out of habit and his eyes widened at the intense heat coming from her; she was so hot she would be running a fever if it were possible.

Thoroughly panicked, Beau gently lifted her from the driver's seat, cradling her small form against his chest and hurrying around to the passenger side, laying her down before getting in the driver's side himself. He turned the car around, heading back toward the Cullen mansion.

He arrived within fifteen minutes, pushing the speed limit the whole way. He saw the Mercedes in the driveway and felt a small pang of relief that Carine was home. No one came out to meet them as he pulled up to the house. Beau exited his side, slamming the door before hurrying to get Edythe, calling out to Carine and Earnest loudly. Though in the back of his mind he knew they could hear him if he had just spoken at a normal voice, he was too worried to care, and his urgency showed in his tone.

The Cullen parental figures were there a half second later, watching as Beau pulled Edythe out of the car. She was curled against his chest, her body still and unresponsive. Carine stepped forward, her amber eyes focused on her eldest daughter limp in Beau's arms; she showed no panic, only confusion and some urgency.

"What happened?" Carine asked, and the coven leader's confusion made Beau even more on edge.

"I don't know," he replied, "I hadn't heard from her and so I went outside and found the car pulled off the road, with her in the driver's seat like this. Is she hurt?"

"I don't think so," Carine said uncertainly, "Bring her inside, quickly." Beau obeyed silently, carrying Edythe into the house and to the living room, laying her gently on the large white sectional sofa. She did not respond to the change, nor did she stir. Carine moved closer, with an anxious Earnest not far behind.

"Vampires don't react this way if they've been injured," Carine told Beau; as she spoke, she reached her hand out to touch Edythe's hand but froze, shock taking ahold of her.

"What is it, Carine?" Earnest asked, obvious concern in his tone.

"That's not possible," Carine breathed after a moment, her eyes taking on Edythe in a different light, seeing now what she was did not see originally. She had not registered the heat coming from Edythe, attributing it to Beau's frenzied state, not realizing the intense temperature was radiating from her daughter's body. Now, touching her, Carine could feel the stark difference, something Carine had not felt from Edythe since she had taken her from the hospital in Chicago a century ago. The doctor's eyes raked over Edythe, taking in the sweat that was forming across Edythe's brow.

"Earnest, get my bag," she instructed quietly. Earnest disappeared immediately and Carine leaned over Beau to examine Edythe closer. She found nothing physically wrong with her, aside from her obvious unconsciousness, and the even more unexplainable fever and perspiration. When Earnest returned, Carine procured a thermometer strip; half a minute later, her suspicions were confirmed, though she could not believe it.

"She's running at hundred and three point five," she said, the confusion coloring her tone.

"Carine, what's happening?" Beau asked in a strained voice.

"I don't know, Beau," she tried to answer, "I've never seen anything like this, nor heard of—"

Her words were caught off as her ears were subjected to a new sound, one she never thought she would hear again. A sound that confused and rattled her more than she expected. The low gasp from Earnest confirmed she was not the only one hearing it. Both vampires stood frozen for one long moment before Beau revived them with another question.

"What? What's wrong?" he demanded, thoroughly worried. Carine didn't answer immediately, her hand reaching for Edythe's wrist. Her thumb pressed gently at the inside, below her thumb, feeling the confirmation before she looked up at Beau. The honey eyes were perturbed, and filled with questions.

"I can feel a pulse," she said quietly, "And her heart just started beating."

A/N: Just a small side note, even though L&D should have taken place in 2005 when Twilight was written, I've decided to fast forward it to present day (mid 2020), to allow for ease of explanations and technologies.