AN: okay, so a lot of people asked for an Edward POV, and don't worry you will get one- just not yet. I kind of thought this had to be Bella's but I think the next one will be Edward's.

alas, this chapter is a shortie

"Bella who did this to you?" he asked looking upon my cold, hard, vampire body with concern.

I looked down,

"Bella? Who was it?...Please Bella, tell me."

"It doesn't matter anyway." I answered dumbly, of course it would matter to him, he had always been so over-protective, I had thought that would change...after...well after.

I gulped back a sob, there I was in the arms of my one true love- who didn't even love me back.

Which brought up another question; why was I in his arms at all? If he didn't want me- then why was he holding me so close?

Stop deluding yourself. By brain pleaded, this would hurt me later- I knew, but I couldn't stop.

Maybe this was all a dream, it was so easy to believe he wanted me, the way he was looking at me now, eyes filled with concern and pure love...Stop it!

"Was it Laurent?" Edward asked, "Victoria?" I nodded my head at the second name.

He hissed, a feral look coming over his face.

"Edward please, what's done is done." I said solemnly.

He heard the double meaning in my words, I was sure of it.

A mixture of different emotions danced across his face, rage, fear, anguish...

"Bella, how could you think that?"

I touched a couple fingers to my head, had I lost the mysterious glitch in my brain that blocked him from my thoughts when I was changed?

No, that didn't make much sense, I could block other's powers...a lot good that had done me with Alice...

I could have puzzled over this for hours, but Edward's penetrating eyes were still just inches from mine.

"No Bella, I can't read your mind- silent as ever- but I don't need to, to know what you're thinking." he said answering the confusion on my face.

"How could you have- for one moment- thought I didn't love you?" He continued, "What I said in the woods that night," he pinched the bridge of his nose and went on, "that I didn't want you, that you weren't good for me..." he shook his head, "How could you have believed me?"

I was silent, this has to be a dream.

"I left to protect you- to keep you from this life. And now to find you like this-" he gestured to my pale skin and golden eyes, "-to find that it was for nothing, that all I did was leave you un-protected."

He shook his head again a look of clear pain flashing across his eyes. "I was useless around my family, they made me come home from time to time but I hated to put them through my own hurting."

I understood how he had felt, I remember when I had woken up, broken, alone. Justin had found me and brought me back to the others, I was still in so much pain, unable to mask it then, I couldn't stand to make them miserable with me after they had been so kind as to take me in.

Suddenly remembering my family, I whipped around in Edward's arms.

The Cullen's had all turned their backs to us, giving us as much privacy as they could stand. My family, on the other hand, were staring at us intently.

"Bella, you-uh- want to explain all this?" asked William.

"Hold on a minute." I answered quickly turning back to face Edward, "So you're saying that you love me?" I asked him, Stop this! My brain screamed, Don't do this to yourself, please! I ignored it.

"Yes Bella, I love you much more than the moon and sun itself, I have always- and will always- love you more than anything on this earth." the sincerity was impossible to doubt.

I leaned up to kiss him, and he, sensing what I ached to do, bent down and met me halfway.

The floating feeling was back, his hands on my face sent tingles along my skin and in return was running my hands through his soft, reddish-brown hair.

"Eh-hem" grunted William impatiently.

"Okay, now I'll explain."

AN: Okay next chapter will be EDWARD'S POV (cheers) YAAAAAAAY!