Twilight is Stephenie's sandbox I just like to play in it.
I am back from vacation. I am so very sorry about the delay but I wasn't allowed to bring my laptop with me. This story is NOT over.
Bella wasted no time when I climbed into her window, she was throwing herself into my arms before my feet were firmly planted on the floor. I almost toppled over but managed to
steady myself and pull her into an embrace.
"Sorry, I just missed you," she mumbled embarrassed into my chest.
"As I missed you, love," I smiled and pressed my lips into her hair.
She continued to hold onto me and breath deeply as if she was acclimating herself to my scent. I took the opportunity to do the same. She smelled as luscious as always. I clung to her as
tightly as possible without hurting. I didn't know how much time I had left with her and I didn't want to waste a moment of it.
We stood embracing each other for several minutes before she started to pull away. I started to brace myself for what was coming. She knew and she was going to send me away.
"Edward" she whispered, "there are a few things that I'd like to talk to you about but I…" she trailed off blushing and looking intently at the floor. I wondered what would cause this
reaction to knowing my vile secret.
"You what, love?" I questioned hesitantly.
She took a deep breath before raising her eyes to meet mine. Her face was still tinted pink with her blush.
"I was hoping that we could put that off until tomorrow morning. I want you to hold me tonight. I have missed you so much," she murmured looking down again. I put my fingers gently
under her chin and raised her eyes to meet my gaze.
"I would love nothing more than to hold you all night." I said with conviction.
She answering smile was dizzying. It took her less than a second to pull herself back into my arms. I was glad to have a few more hours with her but I was wary of the resulting panic
and fear that would surely occur while she slept.
She dropped her arms from around my neck and took my hand to lead me over to her bed. She pushed my shoulders for me to sit down and I obliged. She curled up in my lap and I held
her tightly.
"Before I go to sleep I need for you to answer one question for me," she whispered into my neck.
"Anything" I promised. She knew the truth all that was left was the details.
"Do you really love me?" she asked so quietly that I almost missed it.
"With my whole heart. You are my life Bella. Of course, I love you." I answered instantly. I was surprised by the question but happy to be able to say the words again anyway.
"Then that's all I need to know. I love you too, Edward." She whispered happily.
She stood up from my lap then and pushed my shoulders again. I laid down on her small bed and arranged myself so that she had room to lie beside me. She shook her head and
motioned for me to scoot towards the middle. I raised an eyebrow in question but complied none the less. She climbed on top of me laying flush against my body with her head resting
upon my chest where my heart lay unbeating. I wrapped my arms around her but I was wary of the intimacy of this position. I had never laid like this with anyone before and I felt that it
was most inappropriate but I have to admit that being this close to her made me exceptional happy. I would lay like this all night if she asked me to. I would do anything to be close to
Bella for a little longer.
"What are you thinking, love?"
"Just that I love you and that I'm glad that I have finally found a position to sleep that will alert me if you try to leave. Oh and that you smell like heaven." I felt her cheeks heat up at her
admission.
I chuckled and tightened my hold on her.
"What are you thinking?" she asked timidly.
"Just that I love you and how happy I am that you love me as well. Oh and that you smell like heaven." We both laughed at my answer and then she yawned.
"Are you truly comfortable enough to sleep like this love? I know that my chest must be cold and very hard." Her comfort was more important than my need to be close to her.
"I'm completely comfortable right here. I fell like I am home when I am in your arms, Edward, " she mumbled sleepily before yawning again. I kissed the top of her head and hummed to
her as she drifted off to sleep.
Bella slept peacefully all night. She spoke only once. She called out for me and asked me to stay. It made my heart swell to know that even now that she knew I was a soulless monster
she wanted to be with me. Even if it was only in her dreams. I tried to take comfort in the fact that she wanted me to hold her tonight and that she said that she still loves me. I was
afraid that it was because she only suspected that I was a vampire. My chest constricted with the thought that she would run away from me screaming once the truth was confirmed.
I tried to replay the images that Alice had given me before of Bella and I together still in love but I found that they were clouded with my fear and doubts.
The sun had been up for about an hour when Bella began to stir. She pressed herself close to me and buried her face in my chest. I drank in as much of her as I could before it was too
late. I tightened my grip on her and kissed her eyelids as they began to flutter.
"Good morning Edward" she mumbled sleepily before yawning and stretching out beside me.
"That it is my love" I tried to infuse my voice with as much joy as I muster but I think Bella noticed my less than happy mood because she frowned slightly.
She kissed my lips lightly before pulling away from me and rolling out of bed mumbling something about stupid human needs. I didn't think that I was supposed to hear her.
I made her breakfast and sat with her while she ate. Worrying every time she opened her perfect little mouth that she was going to utter the words that would break me but she never
did. We just made the same easy conversation that we always did. I was beginning to think that Alice's visions were off and that Bella didn't know that I was a vampire.
When she was finished eating and had we had cleaned the kitchen I caught her staring at me intently. She had a very thoughtful expression and it almost looked as though she was
examining me. I began to feel sort of self conscious so I decided to occupy her mind before I lost mine.
"So what are we doing today? It was your idea to skip class today after all." I raised a questioning eyebrow at her as she shrugged.
"Whatever you want to do is fine. I just really missed you and thought we could spend some alone time talking."
Her heart began to beat rapidly and she looked nervous as she chewed on her bottom lip. Oh how I wish I could see into her mind just once.
She said that she wanted to talk. I had no experience in this type of thing but from what I have gathered from normal human relationships it is never a good thing when a woman tells a
man that they need to talk. Bella is not like other humans, maybe this won't be so bad after all. I let my mind drift and decided that if today was to be my last day in her angelic presence I
was going to enjoy it thoroughly.
"I'd like to take you somewhere special and then we can talk all you want to." I looked deep into her soulful eyes and silently pleaded for just a little more time with her. Her eyes seemed
to glaze over and become unfocused as she stared into my eyes. She shook her head as if she were trying to clear it.
"Somewhere special?" I nodded "Okay let's go."
I didn't want to waste even a moment of our time together so I decided that we would drive her -for lack of a better word- truck instead of running home to get my car. She consented to
let me drive since she didn't know where we were going but complained not only because of how hard I was pushing her senior citizen vehicle but also because I was keeping her in the
dark as to our destination. Her annoyance was oddly endearing to me.
I parked at the end of the pavement and was out of the truck and opening Bella's door for her before she had time to blink. I took her hand and helped her out.
"Wow, you are fast," she said breathlessly. I chuckled at her tone.
"That was nothing, hop on my back and I will show you how fast I can really move." I smiled crookedly at her and she blushed a lovely rose color. I turned and knelt down and she
climbed up on my back. The warmth was incredible. I stood up and she clutched me as tight as she could with her arms and wrapped her legs around my waist as tight as her fragile legs
allowed her to. I found it difficult to remain gentlemanly but managed to with great effort.
"Hold on tight my love, I am going to be going pretty fast. You may want to close your eyes, the wind may make them sting." she immediately tightened her grip on me and buried her
face in my neck. I had to suppress a growl of pleasure that was building in my chest. The contact between us was heavenly. I took off at top speed running towards the place that I once
regarded as my sanctuary. Bella's bedroom had replaced my meadow as my favorite place.
Even in the shade of the clouds the meadow was beautiful. Bella's presence added the last missing piece to the serenity and I truly felt as if I was home. I gently lowered Bella to the
ground and watched her as she looked around the meadow with an awestruck expression.
"Edward, it's beautiful," she whispered as if talking any louder would disturb the tranquility surrounding us.
"Yes," I agreed "now that you are here it is perfect." I closed the distance between us and took her into my arms and kissed her sweet lips. We stood kissing each other for what could
have been hours before my phone began to buzz to interrupt us. We both ignored it ringing the first four times but the fifth time it began to ring Bella pulled away and laid her head
against my chest, I growled in frustration and she giggled.
"You better answer it," she whispered and pulled away from me to sit down in the grass. I plopped down beside her and flipped open my phone.
"What can I do for you Alice?" I grumbled.
"Sorry to bother you Edward but I just saw that the sun will be coming out very soon. Bella is going to see you. I tried to warn you in time but you didn't answer until it was too late.
Even if you leave right now you will still be exposed," she sounded so upset.
"It's okay, Alice. She already knows, so I suppose it had to happen some time right?" I sighed in resignation.
"True and it is so funny," she laughed as she hung up. I was confused as to her mood swing but decided to ignore it for now. I had to prepare Bella so that she wouldn't be completely
taken by surprise when she saw the monster that I truly am. I took a deep unneeded breath to steady my nerves.
"That was Alice on the phone she says that the" I was cut off by Bella screaming my name in a panic and throwing herself on top of me.
"What's wrong?" I called from below her as she used her jacket to cover my head.
"The sun is out. Don't worry I have you covered completely. As soon as it moves behind a cloud you should run for the shade." she was speaking so quickly that I almost didn't catch it all.
I suddenly understood what Alice found funny and had to admit to myself that it would be humorous under different circumstances.
"Bella," I began but she cut me off again.
"No, Edward. I will be fine. Don't worry about me just save yourself." I could feel her pulse racing and hear the panic and fear in her voice.
"Bella, listen to me, the sun won't hurt me." I told her quickly so that she'd let me get through it.
"What?" she said confused.
"I said that the sun won't hurt me. If you release me I will show you." I said slower so that she could understand me.
"Are you sure?" she asked skeptically.
I lifted her off of me carefully showing her myself monstrous self in the process.
I closed my eyes and braced myself for her screams of terror but they never came. All I heard was her gasp. I opened my eyes and she sat gaping at me with an expression that was a
mix of shock, admiration and wonder.
"Are you scared?" I asked her not wanting to hear the answer.
"Not at all. You're beautiful. Your skin it's like diamonds." she said in a tone that reflected her awe. She reached over and stroked the back of my hand before pulling it into her lap so that
she could inspect it more closely.
"Wow" she whispered, "I guess I was wrong." she looked at my hand quizzically as if it held the answers that she was in need of.
I knew that she thought she had made the wrong assumption about me being a vampire. I was relieved for a moment but I debated with myself whether it was better to keep her in the
dark or not. On one hand I wanted her never have to know the true horror of what I am but on the other I wanted to have no secrets between us. I wanted to deserve the trust that I
saw in her eyes every time she stared into mine. The desire for her to really know me won out.
"No love, you weren't wrong. I am exactly what you think I am." I told her in a soothing voice.
"What? How do you know what I think you are? And if you are what I think you are why are you not burning up right now?" her voice was rising with each question that she asked.
"Calm down, love. One question at a time. I will tell you anything that you want to know."
"Really?" she asked warily.
"Yes, really. Now to answer the questions that you have already asked: Alice saw you having an epiphany while we were gone so that's how I know that you know I am a vampire. The
sun burning me is a myth." I carefully monitored her heart rate and her breathing to make sure that she wasn't going into shock or wasn't too frightened. I had just admitted to being a
monster after all. Her heart sped up but not dangerously so and then evened off as she gazed into my eyes.
"Okay, so the sun thing is a myth what else about um, v-vampires isn't true?" she asked quietly.
"Let's see what are the things in popular vampire canon isn't true. We are effected by garlic, it just stinks. You know that we have extra sensitive noses. Crosses and holy water don't
bother us either. That is just something that humans have made up to make them thing that they have a chance. A stake through the heart won't kill me, in fact very little will actually
even hurt me. Oh, and we don't sleep in coffins. In fact, we don't sleep at all." I stopped talking to make sure that she was still okay. Her head was cocked to one side ans though she
was deep in thought and she looked confused.
"You don't sleep? Then what have you been doing at night when you come to my room? I thought you were sleeping with me." she blushed as she said the last part and looked away
embarrassed by the double meaning in her words.
"It's not possible for me to sleep, love. I have been lying beside you at night watching you sleep. I find you completely fascinating when you sleep." I admitted.
"Oh okay then." she said coolly as if it didn't matter that a predator just admitted to be lying in her bed every night watching her sleep.
"Why aren't you afraid?" I asked bluntly in frustration.
She looked taken aback by my tone but answered my question in a calming voice.
"Edward, do remember last night when I asked if you really loved me?" I nodded "Well I already knew what you were and I had decided that as long as you loved me that it didn't
matter."
I was stunned in to silence. She took this opportunity to place herself in my lap and wrap her arms around my waist. I instinctively wrapped my arms around her and pressed my cheek
into her hair.
"I love you Edward Cullen. Every part of you and nothing you can say or do will change that." she said confidently as she pressed her warm lips to mine.
"As I love you Isabella Swan." I said letting all the love I felt leak into my voice as I leaned in to press my lips to hers once again. Kissing Bella was a joy that I thought that I was going to
lose today. I was in shock that Bella would want me even thought she knew the truth.
We spent most of the day sitting in the grass in the center of the meadow talking about my life as a vampire and what little I remember of my human life. I was a little afraid to tell Bella
that i was in fact over a hundred years old but she looked excited by that fact and launched into a new line of questioning about the historical event that I had 'lived' through.
The sun was begining to set when Bella's stomach made itself known. Bella blushed as it rumbled.
"Come on love, let's get you some dinner." I stood and offered her my hand. She climbed on my back and we were back at her truck in no time. I stopped at the dinner in town and Bella
got herself and her father some take out. The police cruiser wasn't in the driveway when we got there but I could hear the chief's thoughts so I knew he was close by.
I help Bella out of the truck and told her that I would be back when her father was asleep. I brushed my lips across her cheek and held the door open for her. I was just inside the tree
line across the street from her house when her father pulled into the drive. I decided to ask Bella when I could meet him when I came back later. I took off towards my house knowing
that I was in for a ribbing from my siblings for the sun thing but I found that I didn't care because Bella knew the whole truth and she still wanted me. I was happier than I had ever been
in my entire existance.