Hey! Me again. Sorry it took a little while to get a new chapter up...for the 32 people who've even looked at this story. Anyway, hope you enjoy it...ummm and there is a little romance ahead and implied intimacy, so if you want to skip this chapter you can. (note this is my first shot at writing romance so be nice and tell me how i do okay?)

Disclaimer: I do not, and never will own twilight...despite the fact that Eclipse is going to be released on my birthday. (Edit: This chapter's contents were updated 08-26-09)

Parker's POV

Only the sudden gasping of her already shallow breathing told me it had worked. I briefly wondered why she didn't cry out, but then I remembered the path the bullet had carved through her chest. I hoped the change would be able to repair damage done to her spine. I leaned against a nearby tree as I pulled her limp body onto my lap and cradled her head against my chest.

In a vain attempt to keep my guilt-ridden thoughts at bay, I whispered words of encouragement softly into her ear. My heart burned with such fear that it felt as if I were changing all over again. What if, when she woke, she was no longer my Celeste that I loved so much? Would she hate me for what I had done to her, the pain I'd forced her to endure? Was I even in time to save her life? My fears continued to ravage my mind as I held her.

Gradually, her wounds healed. I watched in amazement as her body subtly continued to change. She gained mass: replacing the muscle she had lost due to lack of food and sleep during our little army adventure. Her skin paled, and her body temperature slowly dropped as her weak heart slowed. Her breathing remained ragged and shallow, but her spine was repaired. Her facial expressions began to mirror the pain she was in and her hands clenched into fists.

Finally, after three miserable days, her heart stopped. I was amazed she hadn't vocalized her agony, but then again Celeste had always had a large pain bench. My gaze was fixed on her face as she opened her once gray eyes. The crimson orbs of a vampire stared wonderingly back at me.

"Hello." She said quietly. Her musical voice had never brought me more pleasure.

"Hello," I replied, looking down longingly into her ever-intelligent eyes. "Are you alright?" I asked, needing to make sure she was no longer in pain. She nodded her head. I loosened my grip on her slim frame as a sign she could get up if she wanted. She stirred, as if testing her range of motion, and then stood in one fast, lithe movement.

I watched her as she realized how quickly she'd just moved. She looked down at her hands, studying their change in color and texture, not entirely believing they were hers. Her eyes flashed up to meet mine, bursting with curiosity and slight concern. I looked up at her sadly, pleading with my heart for her understanding. I told her what I had done, what I had forced her to become.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

She was sitting down now, leaning against a tree on the opposite side of the clearing from myself, a factor I did not overlook. I had no idea what she was thinking, but I wished she would tell me. Not only to know, but to hear her voice again; she hadn't spoken since she first opened her eyes. I studied her face, looking for her reaction, and the anger I feared. She looked stunned, but I couldn't see any anger on her glorious face. Not that it was any comfort really. Celeste had always had a unique talent for hiding her anger.

I stood up and looked towards the creek. I hadn't noticed it three days before when I'd carried her bleeding body away from the battle. It was a little stupid to turn away from her, but I couldn't stand to just stare at her face and wonder what was going on in that wonderful head of hers.

"Look," I started, still not facing her. "You can hate me for the rest of eternity if you want. I just acted on impulse. I'm sorry. There's no excuse for making you face this, but I just couldn't stand there and watch you-," I stopped, because suddenly she was standing in front of me. She hadn't even made a sound when she moved.

I looked her in the eye, and instantly regretted it. Even if I'd wanted to, I couldn't look away.

Hesitantly, as if afraid she was overstepping some invisible boundary, she reached up and rested her cold hand on the side of my face. Despite my fear for her anger, I leaned into her hand, inhaling her sweet sent. She stroked my cheek with her thumb as I closed my eyes, relishing her cool touch.

"I'm not angry," she spoke softly, her voice full of emotion. I opened my eyes to look at her face. To my relief it was soft, practically glowing with love as she continued, "There is nothing I could love more than to spend the rest of eternity with you, no matter what we are."

The release I felt was beyond compare. I was euphoric at the knowledge that she still loved me even after I had damned her to a life of blood; she would be mine for the rest of eternity.

Celeste's POV

I could tell by the look on his face that he was pleased with my answer, though that may have been an understatement. Personally, I was just delighted he was happy. Of course the revolution that I was now a vampire was quite disturbing, and it would have to be faced. For the moment however, it could be pushed back to the far corners of my mind. Right now, Parker was with me again, and nothing could take him away from me. I smiled up at him with my usual, lopsided grin.

He smiled back, taking my hands in his and wrapping my arms around his neck, drawing my body much closer to his in the process. It startled me briefly, even though we'd been married a year and a half now, we had never had any intimate contact. If anyone had seen us too close together back home, things could have gotten very messy, very quickly. However, it seemed this new development in our humanity changed things drastically.

He let go of my hands, in favor of my waist, and pulled me even closer. Apparently being a vampire didn't change much about your other desires. If my heart were still beating it would have stopped at the closeness of him. He leaned down and briefly rested his cold cheek against mine. His nose glided along my jaw, accelerating my unnecessary breathing and sending a shiver down my newly repaired spine. He smirked: obviously proud of himself.

He captured my lips with his in a chaste kiss, before continuing to explore my jaw line. My arms tightened instinctively around his neck. My fingers burred themselves in his hair, and I pressed my body against his cold, hard frame.

I think that's what broke his self-control; Parker never was fond of the slow, easy steps rule of physical contact.

He smiled against my skin and captured my lips with his once more, parting them softly. He slipped his tongue inside my mouth as his hands found their way up my shirt, exploring my skin underneath.

A.N. Ahem. uhh yeah. No lemons in this fic. Anyway i'd kind of like to know if this chapter was good or not, so if you feel like it please review! And thank you to the two wonderful people who already have!!!

colonel Z