Disclaimer: I do NOT own Twilight or its characters.

Author's Note: I've been going back through my reviews and noticed that people are commenting on how short my chapters are. I'm trying to make them longer, everyone. I'll try and keep that up, but there is no guarantee. However, now that it's summer for me, I can spend awhile writing! )

Once again, I appologize for the slowness of my posts.

--------------------------------------------

Chapter Five

Our eyes met and for the briefest moment, all felt right. That moment was soon gone, however, when Edward looked away and began talking with Alice. I couldn't hide my hurt any longer. Had I still be human, I would have burst into tears then.

It wasn't that I felt I needed Edward's attention all the time. It was the fact that he just brushed me aside the moment he got back. He didn't want me anymore. I could feel the whole re-opening as I stood there, limp.

Something was holding me up, but I don't know what. Before I knew it, I was unable to stand this any longer. I turned and hurried up the stairs with such a pace I didn't think it was possible. The door closed behind me swiftly and I found myself in the room I had woken up in only hours before. Hours seemed to be years now.

Why was he so different now? I understood Alice's logic for it, but I didn't understand it as fully as I should have. I didn't have much time alone to gather my thoughts before someone was knocking on the door. It was then that I took notice to my composure; collapsed on the bed and hugging a pillow tightly. It was rather pathetic, but it helped me to feel better, in a way.

"C-come in," I stammered out, my voice smothered due to the pressure of the pillow, which well muffled my dry sobs. I wanted nothing more than for Edward to come bursting through the door, telling me that everything was okay and he wouldn't leave anymore. That was the one thing I hoped to have, though I didn't figure he would be the one knocking.

That was why my now-dead heart nearly lept out of my chest when I looked up to see Edward standing there. A quiet gasp came from my lips before I sat up and tossed the pillow aside, with more force than necessary mind you.

"H-hi.." Was the only word I could get out through my shock-stricken features and the bubble which had formed and blocked my means of speaking.

Within moments and in one fluid movement, Edward was at my side, seated on the bed and facing me.

"Bella," he started before reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together,"I've really messed up. I'm so sorry for abandoning you, again, when you needed me most. I'm just so afraid.. So worried. I didn't want you to go through this, ever. I didn't want it to happen the way it did. I'm so sory for everything. I love you."

Had I still been human, crystaline tears would have been falling down my unnaturally paled cheeks as I stared at him. For a moment, I looked down at the engagement ring I still wore, though it seemed that was so long ago. So long ago that he had proposed to me, though I knew it wasn't.

"I love you, too, Edward. More than anything. Please, don't regret changing me. It's one of the best things that has happened to me. We can be together now, forever.." My voice trailed off and broke at the end, breaking with emotion that had already clouded my eyes.

"Forever," I heard Edward echo before he hugged me to his chest and I allowed myself to melt into the tenderness of his embrace.

E. POV

While I had been standing in the livingroom upon arriving back home, everyone had taken the opportunity to shout things at me through their thoughts. Most of the things they had 'said' weren't the most pleasant.

However, it was the site of Bella and the words of Alice that had caused me to realize the errors I had so easily made. So far, I had done quite a good and thourough job of condeming myself to Hell. The minute I had seen her rush upstairs, looking as broken as ever, something inside of me had changed. I had to make things better, or take the risk of losing her forever.

Quickly, before I could be scolded any more than I already had been, I rushed upstairs and followed Bella, knocking on the door moments after she had entered the sanctuary of her room. Even as I was leaving, I could still hear Carlisle's thoughts.

Poor girl. She has gone through so much in her life. And now she has to deal with being a new vampire. Now she has to go through never seeing her family again. I don't want to break that news to her until she's gotten through this. We all will have to move, think things through, and fake her own death thouroughly.

I hated those thoughts, true as they may be. Bella deserved to live every ounce of her life as humanely as she could, but I was too selfish to allow that to happen. I was thinking only of my future, rather than her's, when I allowed the changing process to take place. But, I was also giving her what she had wanted.

Gathering her into my arms the moment she had told me she loved me, I realized that everything would be okay. We would get through this, just as we had gotten through everything else that stood in our way. Together.

We would be married soon enough, living together, and somewhere rather than Forks. Everything was going to be perfect.

I thought.