There was a growl and as Edward leapt forwards, something rock hard rammed into him. He was pinned onto the ground by Emmett and Carlisle. Alice was staring at him in shock and horror. Edward tried to register what was going on. He had jumped towards Bella and somehow ended up on the ground. It was only then he realised he was snapping and growling at Emmett and Carlisle. He stopped as he heard Bella whimper and whisper, "Edward? Ow...it hurts. What's going on?"

Edwards POV

I made to get up; but with Emmett's bulk stopping me, I could only answer, "Its fine, Bella. Its fine, my love." I suddenly felt a huge weight lift off me and realised that Emmett was dusting himself off. I could hear his thoughts. They were all true, for once in his life.

"Man, what was Edward thinking? Can't he even fucking remember what happened last time? He's such a selfish idiot sometimes. I'm sure Rosalie didn't act like this when I was being changed. Maybe I should ask her, Rosalie... "

I stopped as Emmett's thoughts trailed off to less appropriate places and crawled over to Bella. I heard Carlisle's panicked thoughts but ignored them as I stared into Bella's unfocused warm brown eyes. There was a hint of red around the edge now. I sighed; how could I doom such a wonderful angel to eternal damnation. I really was too selfish. I glanced away to see Alice staring at me angrily. Oh well. I would pay for it later.

"Edward? What were you doing? Ow...it burns. Anyway, why was there growling?" Bella's silky voice reached my ears. I looked back down again into those depthless eyes and hesitated.

"It was nothing." I soothed, against telling my angel the truth. I wondered if she would buy it. She always knew if I was lying. Maybe her pain would distract her. I watched her eyes widen and cursed in my mind.

"Don't lie to me, Edward. I heard growling and DON'T YOU DARE tell me I was hallucinating." Bella's reproachful voice shot back at me, louder than I thought she could manage in this pain. I rolled my eyes. She always knew what I was about to say. And telling her that she was hallucinating HAD been my second choice. Trust her to know.



"Well...uh..." I faltered, not quite knowing what to say.

"Please, Edward." Her voice pleaded and her eyes drew me in. My mind went blank and I couldn't think of anything but her beautiful face and Angel's voice. Her wide eyes were begging me and I answered reluctantly, "Well, let's just say I was debating whether my choice was right."

"What choice? Oh...Edward, you're editing. Please tell me, please?" Her eyes blazed at mine as I shook my head stubbornly. Her eyes narrowed. She closed her glorious eyes and screwed them up like she was in pain. I frowned at this and leant in, "Bella? Bella?"

"EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN! You WILL tell me what's going on!" Her eyes opened suddenly and she looked furious. I flinched knowingly and replied, fed up, "I'll tell you later. After this." Bella smiled, as if she were in bed and asking me to tell the truth and not being changed into a vampire. I honestly could not believe her sometimes. This made me think of the time when I rescued her from being crushed by Tyler's van. She was so stubborn when she wanted to be. I smiled back at her, lovingly, but she suddenly shuddered, "It hurts. It's burning, please Edward make it stop! Edward!"

I watched in dismay as the strength she had before, to stop herself from crying out, crumbled and her eyes became unfocused and instead of the happiness that had lit up her face before a terrible pain showed. I felt cold arms drag me back then as I growled. I couldn't bear it. She wanted me to stop it. She did. She wanted me to...

"Edward!" Carlisle's sharp voice relieved me of my senses and I turned to face him. His face was serious, "You can't do this. You're too worried. If she asked you to kill her, you would do it without thinking. It's not because you don't have self control. It's because you love her too much. Take my advice and come back to the house with me, I'll let Alice stay."

"But, Carlisle, she wanted me to stay with her. I promised her." I begged. Carlisle frowned at me, "Not so you could kill her. She'll forgive you." I felt my shoulders slump as I let him take me towards the house. I turned once to see Bella before she was hidden from my view.

"I promise you I'll take care of her. You can come back the day after tomorrow when she wakes up." I heard Alice think to me as we moved through the forest, away from Bella. Away from my true love.