DISCLAIMER: Margoite de Flench does not own TWILIGHT.

Chapter Two

A pair of dark brown eyes was staring at me, as if expecting me to come in through the window. Bella was there, sitting on her bed.

I was taken aback when I saw her; she was not who I expected to see.

Bella was alone, which I hoped but not expected to see. But what shocked me more was her appearance; she had still her brown her, and her skin was as pale and delicate as I remember it. She was…young. Until now. She was the same Bella I left before, twenty-two years ago. Nothing changed in her that much, only her eyes that were darker now and her scent was more delicious – chocolaty, flowery- or I had just forgotten how she smell. I started to doubt my memory.

"Edward. Edward Cullen."

There was recognition in her voice. A mixture of chill and gratitude flowed in me at the thought that she hadn't forgotten me for the past twenty-two years. I scolded myself and quickly stopped from rejoicing to the thought. Bella had suffered enough.

I hesitated. "B-Bella?"

She gave me a sad smile. "Unless I'm mistaken."

Like the times we have been together, I cannot read her mind and it was so frustrating. I want to know what she was thinking right now. She didn't look well, but she didn't look bad either. What puzzled me was her form. She seemed to stop at 18. She didn't look older. Bella was still the Bella I left many years back.

"You haven't changed," I said lightly.

A long pause.

"What do you expect?" She snapped.

Again, I was taken aback. I hesitated.

"I expected a lot of changes," I answered. She didn't reply. Honestly, she didn't notice that she hadn't changed? Or is she not a human now? But, impossible! I can still see her fragile skin, everything about her screamed that she was human. Just to make sure, I voiced my thoughts.

Her face was blank and didn't convey any emotions, unlike before. It made me frustrated even more. "I have never been human since I was left alone."

I felt another twinge of remorse and guilt by leaving her. I was torn into pieces.

Still, the confusing matter was in my mind, waiting to be answered.

"I can sleep now," she said. "Another thing I noticed in Bella was the way she talked- blank and dreamy. More like of Alice who was seeing the future. "Please don't leave me."

I stared at her.

"Please," she begged. "I need you."

Looking into the depths of her eyes, I was lost again. My resolution faded.

"Please?"

I sighed. "I will stay. Tomorrow, we talk. There are lots of things in my mind that you need to answer…"

I hummed her lullaby. She murmured sleepily. "Its nice to hear it from you."

I kindly smiled at her. At the back of my mind, I was asking the question: Is this really Bella?

My throat was burning again. Her scent became stronger.

Instead of thinking about her scent, I shifted it to her difference. Small difference that made it big. Then I caught a wave of thought near me and I know it was Charlie. Didn't he notice Bella not getting older? Instead of fishing –which he always dreamed- it was another dream: Bella. Bella's face, laughing. Bella at her childhood, the Bella this day and… I glanced at the bed where Bella was, and she was there, sleeping peacefully. I checked myself if I was dreaming. Then I laughed to myself sarcastically. Stupid! How one can dream if one cannot sleep for more or less than one century? I have to let Carlisle check my brain. Maybe, my mind reading has some side effects.

Bella started talking again.

"Mom…Don't leave. I don't want him. I hate him. Mom, mom…"

Was she talking about me, hating me?

"Mom, I found Edward. I'm safe."

I sighed. So it was not me whom she hated. But who? Charlie? Impossible. They have been good to each other… Or has that changed?

"Edward, please don't leave."

The words rung like a bell to me. It was the same thing she asked of me many, many years back. Again, a decision was made. I will not leave her. I will never leave her, unless she wants me to.

Morning was coming nearer. It was raining, but the rain won't stop me from asking questions to Bella.