(Bella's POV)

I felt like I was in a dream. The most wonderful dream. I must be dreaming. I couldn't remember anything before this moment. He…Edward, my Edward, was embracing me, tightly. And me? I was a vampire. I didn't need any sort of confirmation to know what I had become. It felt so right. I looked up at him. His eyes shined. It made me smile. I took my chance then. I lifted myself up and took his lips with mine. He seemed delighted. He kissed me back without restraint. Again, I couldn't help but feel cheated. The kiss lasted too briefly. He pulled away. I looked back at him, pouting. He chuckled at me, pulling a bit of my hair and wrapping it around his fingers, kissing it.

"Edward…what happened? I can't remember anything…" He sighed and led me to sit back down with him on the couch. Sitting felt strange, uncomfortable.

"You know, Bella…you could have told me your new boyfriend was a werewolf." I gulped. Regret washed through me.

"I'm sorry…you know…I didn't find out too long ago myself…but, what did he do to me? I can't remember what happened really. Just saying goodbye to you….answering the door…he was yelling at me." Edward took my hand in his and looked down.

"He transformed Bella. I guess my scent made him angry. But a young, angry werewolf is quite possibly even more dangerous than a hungry vampire. They'll kill their own mother, their best friend…their lovers…." He looked at me, eyes full of regret. "He knocked you out cold. Damaged your organs from what I could tell, you were bleeding internally…I called Carlisle, he said you didn't have much time left…" he paused, his expression changed, he looked like he was in physical pain. "I didn't have any other choice, Bella…I'm so sorry. I couldn't lose you again. I'll understand if you can't forgive me." I brought my hand to his chin, and lifted it up so that his eyes met mine.

"Edward. No. Don't feel bad. I know you wouldn't do this unless you didn't have any other choice. It's not your fault Jacob hurt me. And you saved me. I would be dead right now if it wasn't for you!" He cringed at the mention of my death. I took him into my arms. "I love you. Don't you believe me?" He smiled the tiniest bit back at me.

"Of course I do Bella. I love you too." I let him go gently.

"I guess I really am yours now, though. Jacob won't want a vampire for a girlfriend." He scowled. My attempt to lighten the mood had failed.

"Bella, he almost killed you! How can you take this so lightly?" Great. He was angry with me.

"He couldn't help it…he didn't know what he was doing…" My new voice was feeble in it's attempt to defend him. I knew Edward was right, but I couldn't bring myself to be mad at Jacob for it. I sighed.

"I'm sorry Bella…but I didn't want to win you back this way. I've taken your mortality…taken you…by force. You deserve better."

"I didn't exactly give you any other options…" Was all I could come up with. He was not satisfied with this answer, but he did not press the subject. Instead, he looked back at me with a smirk.

"The family wants to meet their newest member. Alice is literally bouncing off the walls…Jasper thinks she's gone mad…"

"So…you all want me to live here now?" I still couldn't help but feel like an intruder. I hadn't even spoken to any of the Cullens' besides Edward in almost two years.

"Bella…of course. You were always family. To all of us. Did you think I would put you out on the streets after confessing my undying love for you?" He smirked again and drew me closer to him.

"No, I guess you wouldn't." At that thought, I smiled and nodded.

My new 'family' was waiting for me. Excitement overtook me and I jumped up.

"Let's not keep them waiting then." He laughed at my enthusiasm and stood beside me, taking my hand in his. His hand wasn't cold anymore, I noticed. "What happened…your hand…your whole body…it feels warm…"

He smiled down at me before explaining.

"Of course, Bella, we're the same temperature now, love. You're not human anymore. To them, you'd feel just like how I used to feel to you." I grinned back. His touch had always felt wonderful…but now it was absolutely exquisite.

We left his room and he pulled me along the hallway. I looked around astounded. Everything was so clear, perfect. Like a cloudy veil had been lifted from over my eyes. I took in the new smells I had never noticed before. Hints of lavender came from Alice and Jasper's room. Sandalwood wafted from Carlisle's study. Other lovely scents filled the hall, but I ignored them. I jumped suddenly at the sound of a bird landing in a tree outside. How had I heard that? Edward chuckled beside me, obviously amused.

I could hear the others waiting for me downstairs. Their nervous, unnecessary, human movements as they prepared themselves. I looked at Edward. He smiled at me, reassuringly. I gripped his hand tighter as we descended the main stairs down to the living room below. Alice was the first to jump up, racing…no, dancing over to me with her usual grace. Even as a vampire, I didn't believe I would ever be able to achieve that kind of flawless movement.

"Bella!" She tore me away from Edward, hugging me tight. I smiled into her neck as she embraced me for what seemed like an eternity. She pulled me back, holding me at arms length. Examining me.

"Edward…She's beautiful…" If I had been able, I would have blushed a deep crimson at that point. Edward seemed to sympathize with me.

"Thank you, Alice…I was well aware of that…" He chuckled lightly as he reached for my hand. My new sister relinquished her hold on me.

"But these cloths…god, it's the same thing you were wearing days ago…this is unacceptable…" She trailed off, mumbling about my poor style and how she would change it. I was afraid that she would grab me, right then and there, and drag me up to her room. Treat me as her dress-up doll until she was satisfied with my appearance.

Instead, to my great relief, Edward wrapped his arms around my waist and held me to him. I smiled up at him, and he returned a bright grin. The rest of the family approached. Jasper came up first, smiling, nodding at me, and taking his place by Alice. Carlisle and Esme came up to me next. She reached for my hands and held them for a moment, looking me up and down. She seemed to be satisfied with how I had turned out.

"Welcome to the family, Bella, dear." She hugged me gently, releasing me to smile up at her eldest son.

Carlisle stood behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. He flashed his brilliantly white teeth at me.

"I'm glad you're feeling better now, Bella. We hope you like it here." Emmett came up and slapped me hard, on the shoulder, he frowned a bit when I didn't even flinch at the contact. I felt Edward tense up behind me.

"Damn, she is strong, isn't she." He laughed to himself and Edward sneered at him. "Glad you finally came around, Edward, she makes a much better sister when she's not so breakable." He grinned, but Edward didn't find the humor. I smiled back weakly. Rosalie followed behind him. She smiled at me tentatively, not sure how to react. She nodded at me. "Bella…" Was all she could manage. I smiled back. I knew that it wasn't really anything about me that Rosalie didn't like. It was more the fact that I was…or had been, a human, and that my interference with the family posed a threat to her preferred lifestyle. I could understand her fears. Now that I was one of them, I no longer posed that threat. Perhaps, now we could become friends. I hoped so. It seemed as if, at that moment, Edward could really read my thoughts. He whispered in my ear, not even a murmur, but I heard it clearly.

"Don't worry, She'll come around. Give her some more time." I nodded silently.

He looked down at me briefly, before addressing his whole family.

"I think it's time for Bella to go hunting…" He smirked at my reaction. I tensed up now, against his chest. His- no…Mine- no…Our family nodded, not quite in unison at his statement.

I became suddenly anxious. Was I ready for this? I felt the burning in my throat. It screamed at me to find the one thing that would satisfy it. Blood. Human blood. I shook my head. No. I would never let myself slip. I would stay true to the Cullen lifestyle. Feeding only on the blood of animals. I knew it would be hard to ignore the burning when I came into contact with humans. But I would find a way to manage. All the others did.

For the first time, I could truly appreciate the absolute pain, the suffering Edward had endured every moment he spent in my presence before my change. It was torture. It only made me love him more. Either, my Edward was a masochist, or his love for me was even more powerful than his thirst. Now that I felt that thirst myself, I knew what his devotion meant. I pressed myself against him at this thought. He smiled back at me.

"Are you ready, love?" He took my hand and led me out the front door, onto the steps.

"I guess I have to be…" He laughed lightly, and I smiled. I knew he would help me. In comparison to everything else that had happened in the last seventy-two hours….teaching me to hunt would be a cake walk.