The following morning I felt weak, but healthy. I felt like I'd run too far, and needed to rest, but that I felt better for it somehow. When I opened my eyes, Edward was not there. A note rested on my bedside, his elegant scrawl hard to read at first.

I'm needed for a family discussion. I'll meet you here at 2pm.

Edward

I exhaled, disappointed. I decided to make myself useful to pass the time. I cleaned my room, even organizing my closet and drawers and making my bed. I cleaned bathrooms, the kitchen, the laundry room, then added the living room and Charlie's room to the list too. I did the house's laundry, everything from clothing to bedsheets and towels. I cooked an elaborate lunch, and even considered vacuuming my truck.

Charlie helped a little, after he got up, but seemed to sense that I was on the war path with any form of dirt in our house, and quite frankly, I think he was scared to be in my way. He practically asked me if it was alright if he went to Billy's for dinner. I shooed him away, saying that I was going to get groceries probably, or nap after all my hard work today. After a brief hug, he disappeared, and the house became like a prison. I kept checking the clock. Had five minutes really only gone by since the last time I checked? I had an hour until Edward would be showing up. So I turned to self care instead. I shaved, plucked, exfoliated, dried, moisturized, cleaned, and even painted my nails I had killed as much time as physically possible. I had only seven minutes to wait. I sat, nervously, at the kitchen table, contemplating starting some sort of food. I gave up and began literally watching the clock.

At exactly 2pm, the front door swung open, and in came Edward. I breathed a sigh of relief, until he turned to look at me. He looked exactly as he had yesterday, tense, eerily calm, unsettling. Yes, it was definitely time to make food. I opened the freezer, looking for something to keep myself occupied. I pulled out some beef, and checked the fridge, plenty of vegetables to wash and cut.

I started on that as Edward stood, watching me. He took over the knife, as he usually did, when I cooked.

"How would you like these prepared?" He asked simply.

"Smaller chunks for the cauliflower and broccoli, and I guess the carrots and onions could be diced." I said. He began to work on that, as I cleaned the remaining things. He worked unusually slowly as I filled the sink with hot water to help expedite the defrosting of the beef strips.

"How did the family discussion go?" I asked. "I'm sorry if I've caused trouble."

"You haven't done anything wrong Bella. You need to stop trying to take blame for the faults of others." he shook his head. "It was fine. A lot was discussed. Things have come up, that, as a family, we've been ignoring for a while."

"Oh?" I asked.

"Well for one, Carlisle is pretending to be almost thirteen years older than he is biologically."

That statement surprised me thoroughly. What did that have to do with Edward nearly killing me? "Oh?"

"Well it's about time we considered moving on, as a family. And we had a lot to discuss about when and where we'd be going."

I swallowed a dry swallow. I knew this. This was something he had talked about in the past. After graduation of high school, they would all move again, a different sun-less city, a new hospital, a new house. Some of their homes were old ones revisited. But this didn't have that warm recollection, and sense of new hope that Edward had previously discussed. This felt wrong, and sad.

"I bet Alice is invaluable in that planning." I smiled, trying to ease him.

"She is." he responded simply. Our conversation felt so cold that I was physically starting to get anxious. How long would Edward be this distant? This was almost worse than when we had first met, but at least with that there was more eye contact. I wasn't going to broach the subject of when they'd be moving. Obviously Edward and Alice would finish school here. We only had one more year after all.

"Can I ask a morbid question?" I said, trying to elicit a smile. Nothing came.

"Of course."

"How long will your eyes be this dark?" I asked. He turned his red eyes toward me. Even in this colour, he was beautiful.

"It depends how much I feed. If I gorge myself on animal blood it will dissipate faster." He looked back down at the vegetables. "I'm sorry it upsets you."

"It doesn't upset me. I'm curious as to the differences between my blood and animal blood."

"You were right. That is quite morbid." He evaded.

I couldn't think of anything more to say. Edward seemed content to be quiet too, and that was how we stayed while cooking. When I was done the meal, Edward looked at me, in depth, this time. He looked almost normal, worry, and love seeping through his cold demeanor.

"How are you?"

"I'm honestly okay. Physically I'm a little tired, but my neck doesn't even hurt. Emotionally, all I'm worried about is you." I was brutally honest.

"I'm perfectly healthy, as always." he evaded again.

"And emotionally?" I pressed.

"I'm calm."

"You're weird. You aren't behaving like yourself. Hell if anything it feels like I'm trying to date Jasper."

Edward hung his head slightly, closing his eyes, and steadying himself. I wondered if maybe I'd pushed too far. He clearly needed some time to center himself, but how could I possibly help him if I had no idea what he was going through? I needed the communication to even begin helping, and instead, I got android Edward.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." He stepped towards me, giving me a tight hug, and a kiss on the forehead. "I have to go hunting. My eyes are unsettling my family."

He began to pull away, and I gripped onto his arm, weakly.

"You're coming back tonight right?" I wasn't sure what my face, and or voice portrayed, but Edward looked pained again for a brief moment.

"Of course. I'll be back in the early morning. I'll try to keep it short."

And again, he was gone, almost as suddenly as he had showed up.

It took a moment for my stomach and nose to remind me what I had been doing. I barely ate the meal we had prepared together. I packed the majority of it away for Charlie in the fridge. I headed upstairs, into the bathroom, and did something I never usually would do, and certainly didn't usually condone. I took a night time sleeping aid.

I had some left over from my last accident, and tonight I really needed it to settle myself. It was only 4 pm when I tucked myself into bed, but I fell asleep as quickly as a toddler.

When I woke, Edward wasn't there.