EPOV

While playing Bella's lullaby, I started thinking about what Carlisle thought in his office.

'She's in pain, Edward. She's trying to shield you from it, but it's not good. She needs to be taking it easier, school isn't a good idea anymore, are you going to take the GED with her? You don't have to, you have plenty of diplomas.'

I nodded subtly. Being with Bella regularly, I knew how well she could hide her pain. She never let it show. There are times when I could see the slightest wince, they were so slight that sometimes even I could barely see them. Sometimes, it felt normal to be with Bella, though I never completely forgot, it all faded to the background. There were times when I was just Edward and she was just Bella. Then the realization would suffocate me all over again.

'You really must talk to her.'

I nodded again.

'Whatever you decide, we'll support you. If she says 'yes', we'll need to speak to the wolves, the treaty.'

I nodded again, I hadn't forgotten about that key point in the treaty.

He had some other passing thoughts like, 'what is he going to do without his mate?'

As much and as deeply as I loved Bella, I had never thought of her as my mate. It wasn't the lack of connection or love I felt for her, but I hadn't thought that a half-vampire half-human pair could be mates. It was unheard of, thought there weren't many vampires that could stand to be this close to a human for such an extended period of time. But the more I thought about it, it made sense, the feeling that came with being with Bella. The instant feelings that rose once I saw her. If Carlisle was right, and I was now certain that he was, Bella would truly feel the same for me as I did for her.

It was now absurd thinking about how a few weeks ago, I wanted her to run away from me, that I considered leaving her. All of those thoughts were gone, just like that.

Carlisle was trying not to think about how much time she had left. Esme noticed too. It brought out her maternal instincts. Bella didn't look much different from when I had first met her, but with our enhanced vision, we could see the changes however subtle.

It was no longer a decision for me. I no longer tried to reconcile my beliefs about my soul with what Bella's transformation would do to her. I couldn't see how even vampirism could taint Bella's purity. I had already made my decision, all I needed was two more 'yes' from Bella.

She broke me out of my train of thought with her wandering eye.

"I'm feeling very insignificant right now," she muttered, once again taking in the room. If only she knew just how significant she was to me. Even my siblings, they had all become attached to Bella in the short time they had known her. It was like a gravitational pull to Bella, one couldn't help but getting pulled in. Humans, vampires, werewolves, no one seemed to be able to resist her, and she couldn't have been less aware of that fact.

"You inspired this one." I hoped to convey how important she was to me.

BPOV

He finished the lullaby, there were tears forming in my eyes.

"Thank you." It didn't convey how grateful I was for Edward. He turned to me and kissed me, letting himself linger for a minute.

"Did you want to talk about school?" He asked gently.

"No, not yet," I sighed gently. "Do you compose a lot?"

"Not in the last couple decades, I just started again." I selfishly hoped I had inspired him like he did for me. He started playing something completely different, the beginning was slow and sweet.

"I'll give you a hint with this one," he whispered sweetly.

My eyebrows furrowed. I wasn't sure what he was talking about.

"Your touch brought forth an incandescent glow..." It all clicked after he said that. The music perfectly fit to what I had written. I looked at him in disbelief.

"You-," I didn't even know what to say. The music was beautiful. Possibly the sweetest thing anyone had done for me. He started softly singing the words along with the music. I couldn't have imagined it any better.

"Do you like it?" He looked a little nervous.

"Do I-do I like it?" I turned to face him.

"I should have as-," was all I let him get out before I kissed him fiercely. I pulled away after a minute.

"I love it. You actually left me speechless," I proclaimed. "Thank you."

"I'm glad you liked it. When you showed me your journal, I had ideas for some of them, that's why I thought they were songs," he shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.

"You were right," I said after a minute. "They're songs. They must be if you thought of music this beautiful for them." I bit my lip, blushing a little. I had never done any reflection on what my writing actually were, but it felt right with to pair my words and Edward's composition. It paralleled Edward and myself, it was perfectly paired, it felt right with him. The guilt was seeping in again, but I suppressed it, not wanting to ruin this moment.

"I'm always right," he chuckled.

He kept playing each song more beautiful than the last. He also wasn't above teasing me about some of what I wrote.

"You were enchanted to meet me?" He grinned.

"The second time, absolutely."

"Cinnamon?" He asked.

"A taste is sweet, but anything more burns you," I shrugged. I could tell he was pondering that. He played one more, while playing he said, "This one bothered me a bit, to be honest."

"Our coming-of-age has come and gone

Suddenly the summer, it's clear

I never had the courage of my convictions

As long as danger is near

And it's just around the corner, darling

'Cause it lives in me

No, I could never give you peace."

He kept softly singing the words that matched perfectly with the music he'd written, until the end of the song.

"Melodramatic, isn't it?" I chuckled, maybe that was why he was bothered by it?

"No," he scoffed. "It's as good as the others, but I could never give you peace, that disturbed me. You could never give me peace? Every time I see you, talking, laughing, breathing, anything really, you give me peace, you've given me a peace I hadn't known in my entire existence. You brought forth a part of me no one has ever seen."

"Edward," I sighed. "First, I'm supposed to write whatever I feel. That's the whole point. Second, it's true. Don't you think? One day, not far from now, I won't be doing any of the things you just described."

He was about to refute me when I stopped him.

"Let's not get into this now, I loved this and you. Thank you, it was beautiful."

"As I love you," he said wistfully, I was also very aware that this was the first time he had actually said that he loved me. His actions had proved he did, but it was still nice to hear. "And, like I said, I was inspired by what you wrote. Whatever I wrote, was just a reflection of you, but thank you."

I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I hope your family likes me," I said quietly.

"They loved you," he chuckled. "And I may get Esme to cook for you more often. It's the only time I've seen you eat. Your people pleasing is duly noted."

"You better not," I gently pushed him. "I felt so bad I couldn't eat more. She really shouldn't have gone through all that trouble."

"I told you she likes to fuss over everyone. Nothing I can do," he shrugged innocently and laughed, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and I tried to playfully push his arm again, but Edward grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. My breath hitched.

He leaned in even closer to me, "You know, I feel the same, I was absolutely enchanted to meet you," he whispered, his cool, sweet breath blowing in my face. Then his cold lips pressed against mine again.

We didn't stay much longer. Edward was the one to suggest we leave, I didn't argue because I was tired and he looked insistent. He didn't leave my side for the rest of the night, except for a moment to only reappear in my bedroom through the window.