Always and Forever

Chp. 2

The fire slowly subsided. I could now hear Edward's frantic voice in my ear.

"Bella! Bella can you hear me?"

" Edward." I managed.

"Oh thank goodness Bella! I thought I'd lost you!"

"Edward."

"I'm here Bella. I will always be here."

I slowly sat up. I stood up and carefully walked into his bathroom.

I closed my eyes and positioned my self in front of the mirror. I opened my eyes and gasped. Looking back at me from the mirror was a very pale me. I ran my fingers slowly across my face, tracing my cheekbone, my jaw line, and my forehead.

I looked into my deep black eyes. I was thirsty, but that would have to wait.

I turned around running into Edward.

"Am I… am I really…" I stammered.

" A vampire?" He finished for me. I nodded. "Yes, yes you are. I suppose we'd better go tell the others your all right. Though I suppose Alice already knows."

He took me by the hand and led me back out into his bedroom, and into the hall. At the exact moment Edward opened the door Alice came bounding out of her room plowing into me and pulling me into a hug that would have crushed me before but now I felt nothing.

"ohmygodbellalookatyouyouravamireyoulooksogreat!" she screeched.

Alice's screech had alerted everyone else and they had figured out what happened.

Emmett was the first to come forward and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Ok Emmett just because I'm less breakable doesn't mean I'm not still breakable."

" Does this mean no more clumsy human stunts?"

"Probably not but knowing me it will probably still happen."

He smiled and released me.

Esme came next and pulled me into a more gentle hug.

"Welcome to the family."

"Thank you. You don't know how good that sounds."

Rosalie was the next to say anything.

"I still don't get why you wanted this but I guess since I'm stuck with you forever we might as well get along. So get over here." She pulled me into a hug.

Jasper still seemed like he hadn't forgiven' himself for my last birthday.

Carlisle stepped forward and embraced me.

I looked at my family and smiled.

" So what do we do now?" I asked.

They laughed. "Now you learn to hunt."

I gulped. "Hunt?"

"Your eyes are black as night."

"Edward I don't… I don't think I can."

"Nonsense. Instinct will take over." He assured me.

We left and began walking toward his car I stopped him.

"Edward," I called he turned to face me, " could we run there?"

His face light up. " With pleasure."

With that we took off into the trees. I loved the feeling. I no longer worried about hitting trees or getting sick.

Edward came to a stop.

"So what do we do first? Irritated a grizzly or bother a mountain lion?"

He smiled. "Your pick."

"I don't know you chose!"

"Well I think I caught a whiff of a mountain lion on our way up here. Let's try that."

He led me by the hand to the edge of the clearing and then I smelled it.

I felt the sweet sent fill my nose. I turned to Edward.

"I smell it."

"Go on. I'll be right behind you." He gestured toward the forest in front of me. "Let your instinct take over. It will not lead you wrong."

I gave in to the thirst that burned my throat. I took off toward the smell.

I stopped at the edge of a clearing. There it was, golden brown. It's movements powerful but graceful.

I turned to Edward and he nodded. I took a deep breath (not like I needed it, I guess it's just and old habit.)

I took off toward the cat full speed. I tackled it and let my teeth sink into its neck. Letting the warm sweet blood trickle down my throat.

I got up after a moment and walked back over to Edward.

"You feel better?" he asked me.

"I do." I said smiling proudly. "What about you? Don't you need to hunt?"

"I will. I wanted to help you first."

"Well I'm good so go help yourself."

"No Bella you know you are still thirsty."

"I'm ok! You go hunt. I'll be fine."

"Bella I will but I'm going to make sure you're alright."

"Fine." I sighed.

I smelled another animal. I turned to Edward.

He smiled and told me, "Grizzly."

I gulped hard, making him chuckle.

"You'll be fine." He assured me.

With that I took off into the forest once again giving into instinct.

I stopped for there it was. A grizzly. I slowly crept forward and then sprang onto it.

I felt the warm blood trickle down my thought once again.

"Alright Edward. Your turn."