Chapter 12

One slip can leave you breathless

Edward jumped for me, missing only by a few inches. I watched him plummet down into the water mouth opened wide in horror. The swing was moving fast and I was waiting for my life to flash before my eyes. It didn't. I came closer and closer to the edge. I closed my eyes and a tear fell. I waited for the pain. It didn't come, I opened my eyes seeing a flash of white run speedily up the cliff edge.

I exhaled realizing that I had swung up but I barely missed the cliff edge. That would have been horrible. I breathed out and suddenly I was moving toward the cliff edge faster, and faster. I held my breath. What is going on? What did I do in this life to deserve this?! Someone up there in the sky must be angry because I am in love with a vampire. How rude, well you know what buddy? This is non of your beeswax! So just leave me alone! In a matter of seconds I was being raised into the air. Going to heaven? Dying is easy, I never imagined it like that. I closed my eyes and let myself drift up. I opened my eyes yup, I was so dead. How silly of me to think I actually didn't hit that! HA! Good one. Death was pretty painless. So much better than being hurt.

The white light was the most prettiest thing I'd ever seen, it shown all around me. I closed my eyes again and when I opened it I screamed. I was eye to eye with an angel. The angel must of came to get me! thank you angel! His facial features were distorted by the blinding light. He glistened shooting rainbows everywhere.

"Bella, why do you enjoy giving me heart attacks? I love you don't you see? No more danger for you." I'm sorry I didn't mean too, I love you too angel. Nope no more danger, not while I'm with you.

My foot was throbbing and I didn't like it. "owie." I murmured. In a matter of seconds I was in the freezing arms of the angel he took me out of the light. I don't want to go angel. I want to go to heaven. I don't want to stay here. I'm cold. once we were out of the sun I realized the angel was Edward.

Either I am dead and so is Edward, or I am alive and so is Edward. Either reality I can live with, since I'll be with Edward.

"what happened?" he didn't speak, he just kissed me.

"I'm so, so sorry." dang it I am dead.

"its fine we're together." I forced a smile, it wasn't fine. I never got closure. Things were too distant and I felt the tears coming on. I didn't think angels could cry. Edward wasn't crying.

"Bella what's wrong? You're safe now." I looked at him and shook hard through my sobs.

" I didn't get to say goodbye to Charlie, its happening too fast. Too fast.." Edward looked confused.

"the wedding? Is that what you're talking about? Its not too late to back out Bella." we're dead, could we still get married in heaven. I suppose anything is possible. I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't understand me though.

"no, not that. I will never regret that choice Edward. Mark my words, quote me if you will. I want to marry you."

he stared at my intently. "then what's the problem?" I breathed out loudly. I didn't know angels had to breath. Heaven looked a lot like the real world now that I thought about it…strange.

"no, me dying. that's what I'm talking about! Everyone is going to be heartbroken when they find our bodies here Edward!" he looked at me in horror. Oh my god it had just dawned on him. What a horrible way to find out you're dead. Wait how did he die?

"Bella we are not dead." I stared at him. That was the only explanation, wasn't it? Awh crap.

"we…aren't?" he shook his head and laughed, suddenly I started laughing too.

"you scared me to death, you are not funny." I stared at him.

"you are the one who had me convinced I was dead!" we looked out, the sun was setting I looked at it. It was glorious. I turned to Edward. He was smirking at the sunset, I smiled and snuggled up to him. He was glorious. what did I do to deserve such a perfect man by my side? How can he love me, look at me!

A tear filled my eye and glistened there for a moment before he wiped it away and kissed the wet spot it left…

Edward's POV

I gazed down at the beautiful angel in my arms. She thought she had died, I wouldn't have let her die. I did like the idea of us being in heaven together though. I sighed and kissed her strawberry scented hair. Oh how I love that smell.

When I missed her only by a few inches only a couple of hours earlier. I was so terrified she was going to die I fell like a rock. A useless big cold rock. How could she love me if I couldn't protect her from a rock and a rope? I'm surprised I have kept her alive so far.

I want nothing more then her living a grateful long human life. Okay I am lying to myself, I admit defeat. I do want more. I want to marry her, live with her, then have children with her. I want to kiss her pregnant belly and sing lullabies to it. And talk to it like an insane person. I want to keep a baby book and thousands of useless videos of our child doing nothing. I want to keep a baby book and hear our child's first words. I want to walk into Forks High in fifteen years, for our high school reunion. I wanted to see Mike Newton, in all his glory, gaze at us. I wanted to watch his jealously as I walked in holding her hand, I wanted him to see all that we have become together.

More than anything else, I want to sit on an old porch swing watching the sunset, caressing her beautifully wrinkled face my hand sahaking from Arthritis and simply from her presence.

I could never give her that, any of that. As much as I want to. If I could be human for her I would be in an instant. I hope she knows that. I breathed out heavily, she yawned and snuggled to my chest. I smiled, this was everything I ever wanted. To be next to her, while she was like this so beautiful. The full moon made her wet skin shine, she snuggled closer shivering.

I grabbed a blanket from the side of the tree that I placed there so we could watch the sunset together, at least that part of the day hadn't been ruined. I wrapped it around her and hummed her lullaby. Soon she was snoring softly. I kissed her hair gently, I cant believe I was actually this close to her, while she was dressed like that. She smelled delicious, but I wasn't moving away. Nothing could move me from this position.

I ran my fingers through her wet tangles, I pulled my fingers away not wanting to rip her hair. Tiny water droplets were clinging to my finger, they reminded me of tears. Bella's tears, the tears she cried when I left her…NO! I wasn't going to think about that again I was never leaving her again I was going to give her everything that she wants that I can give her. As much as I want everything for her.

I heard a squeak, it sounded much too loud to me. Of course it wont even stir Bella, its just squirrels chattering. I laughed and decided to watch them for a while. They chased each other one holding a rather large walnut. I smiled watching them chase each other. You don't see that very often. I looked up at the sound of flapping wings. Three rather large birds were swooping down towards the two squirrels. They wanted that walnut.

The birds swooped down to grab for it, the little creature wouldn't give up the nut. Stupid thing just give them the nut and you will live! I covered Bella's ears, this was going to get ugly. I didn't have the heart to wake her. The big birds swooped down and stuck their beaks into its back, the other squirrel fighting along side it.

They were clawing it and pecking it, it was bleeding. I held my breath, and pinched the bridge of my nose. I had to resist. If I could resist Bella bleeding, and she is my singer, then I can handle a poor little squirrels blood. The birds clawed the poor thing until it couldn't move any more. I, as a predator, know the tingly feeling that comes with the kill. Even though its not my kill, I still have that tingling feeling in my abdomen.

I growled and the birds flew away screeching and the other squirrel dashed up the tree. After a few minutes of mourning silence the other squirrel crept down the tree and went over to its mate, is what I assumed was what the connection was between the two squirrels. It went over cautiously and started licking the wounds. The broken squirrel squeaked, and its mate examined it and I almost saw wetness in its eyes. I wasn't aware a squirrel felt emotion. But this one did.

I suppose I shouldn't judge, though, I've never seen a vampire fall in love with a human. Until now. I smiled at the thought. Soon enough the squirrel ran away taking the walnut with him, the only thing left of his one true love. Like I had with Bella, I've never spoken that to anyone. The fact that when I left her I 'borrowed' one of her clothing items and a stuffed animal and bought her strawberry shampoo, I wasn't leaving without a trace of her. I also copied the pictures of her and I.

I don't know why she always thinks I'm leaving her, that didn't work so well for me. I'm not doing that again. The world is strange when you're in love, its like it turns the opposite way it usually does. Turing everything topsy-turvy, its like running a thousand miles per hour on a straight away you keep going and you cant stop no matter what. Maybe a better example is when vampires feed, when the blood touches our tongues we suck and suck and can't stop. Impossible. But when the world is spinning backwards when you're in love, you're priorities change. Like right now for example, I could have eaten that squirrel whole but I wont move for my life. Not for all the blood in the world. I wasn't moving, not while my angel slept on me.

"Edward stay with me…" my angel whispered to me.

"okay, forever." I told her, in the soft loving voice I liked to use when I spoke to her.

"look at her Edward, come to mommy! Oh look Edward she's walking to me!" my mouth dropped open, she wants children!

"Walk to daddy now! Oh Edward! Look at her, yes go on! Go to daddy! Oh Edward she's walking to you! Oh I love you so much!" I smiled wider, she wanted to have children with me!