All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

I groaned as I stretched my legs under the covers. I didn't want to wake up. I had slept so well. Edward was there in my dreams rescuing me. Suddenly the events of the previous day flashed back to me. I gasped opening my eyes wide.

I was in my room. How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was a big white house, and Edward carrying me somewhere…

"Good morning."

My head snapped to the foot of my bed where my rocking chair sat. Edward was there staring at me with a slight frown on his face.

"Morning." I whispered feeling confused. I could feel the familiar rush of blood fill my cheeks at the thought of having Edward here in my room. I could only imagine what I looked like.

Sensing my discomfort Edward got up from the rocking chair and walked gracefully to my door. "Get dressed. I'm taking you out to breakfast." He grinned at me before he turned on his heel, leaving me stunned.

I flopped my head back on my pillow. How long had he been here? How had be gotten past Charlie? Where was Charlie, and what about school?

I bit my lip nervously as I decided to comply throwing my quilt off me. I grabbed my bag of toiletries and went to the bathroom.

I groaned upon seeing my reflection in the mirror. Of all the times for Edward to see me in the morning I had to look like this. My hair still had leaves and small twigs in it from the time I spent on the forest floor. My face was tear-stained. I was still in the clothes I was wearing last night and they looked dirty and torn.

My face turned tomato red as I turned on the shower and got in. The water felt good, though I wanted to stay and enjoy it, I didn't want to keep Edward waiting longer than necessary.

As I dried off butterflies assaulted my stomach, as I grew more and more anxious. I dressed quickly in a simple deep blue sweater and comfortable jeans. With one last look in the mirror I sighed, and made my way carefully down the stairs.

I found him sitting patiently at the kitchen table. Upon me entering the room he smiled my favorite crooked smile taking my breath away.

"Shall we?"

I nodded in reply following him out the front door. His Volvo was parked in the driveway and he opened the door for me without a word. I got in and faster than seemed possible he was in his seat next to me.

I didn't know where we were going, but I wasn't too concerned. I had a million questions I needed answered, and one bubbled to my lips before I could stop it.

"How long were you there?"

"There?" He asked cocking his head to the side in confusion.

I blushed. "In my room."

He pursed him lips trying not to smile. "I brought you home last night. Charlie was worried sick about you." His voice had turned disapproving. "You left no note, and he had no idea where you were." He raised an eyebrow at me reproachfully before he continued. "He let me back in this morning before he left for work."

"What about school?" I asked trying to change the subject.

He smirked. "We're sick today. Besides Carlisle wants you to take the next few days easy after last night." His voice sounded stern leaving no room for argument.

I pursed my lips and glanced out the window remaining quiet the rest of the way.

We eventually stopped in front a small restaurant in Port Angeles. He came to my side of the car and opened my door for me offering me his hand. Willingly, I placed my hand in his feeling an instant rush of electricity flow through me. My heart skipped a beat and I could swear I saw a smile spread across his face as if he had heard it.

He walked ahead of me opening the door for me. The restaurant was small, and there weren't many people there.

"A quite table for two." I heard him ask the waitress as soon as she approached. Her eyes widened and roamed over Edward, narrowing as they fell upon me. I looked away feeling utterly inadequate next to Edward and followed her to a table in the far back corner.

"Can I start you off with any drinks?" She asked in a sultry voice. It did not escape my notice that she was only looking at Edward. But he kept his eyes on me seemingly oblivious to her.

"Bella?"

"Orange juice and a water please."

"Same for me." He responded dismissing her.

I opened the menu in front of me and scanned everything briefly. I wasn't really that hungry, but I knew he would force me to eat no matter what.

We remained silent, but I could feel his eyes boring into me. The waitress came back with our drinks moments later.

"Are you ready to order?"

Once again her eyes remained on Edward. She was smiling flirtatiously at him, but he didn't even look up at her. He arched an eyebrow at me expectantly.

"Just french toast for me." I closed my menu and handed it to her. Reluctantly, she turned taking it from me, immediately turning back to Edward.

"And for you?"

"Nothing for me. Thank you." 'Of course', I thought. He looked up at her for the first time to hand her our menus flashing her a dazzling smile. She looked stunned and weakly grabbed the menus from him slowly walking away.

I giggled softly knowing exactly how she felt.

"What's so funny?" His brow was furrowed in confusion.

"Nothing." I blushed.

He clenched his jaw and his eyes narrowed incredulously.

"How was your camping trip?" I asked changing the subject again.

He grinned knowing I was trying to distract him. "It went well."

"How was your weekend?"

I shrugged. I debated briefly as to whether or not I should bring up my visit. I wanted to see how he would react to the name. My curiosity got the best of me. "Some old friend of my dad came over from the reservation with his son, Billy and Jacob Black. Do you know them?"

I watched as he tensed ever so slightly and his eyes narrowed briefly before his face turned carefully blank. "I can't say I do."

I nodded my head once pursing my lips. "They seem to know you." I retorted.

"A lot of people claim to know me Bella. That doesn't mean they do." He sat back and crossed his arms across his chest with a smug expression on his face.

I scowled at him. He was being evasive again. Just then my food arrived. The waitress placed my food in front of me and left without another word. I unrolled my silverware from my napkin and cut a small piece off placing it in my mouth trying to formulate my next question. Edward took the opportunity to change the subject.

"What were you doing in the forest Bella?"

He was staring forcefully into my eyes making it impossible for me to think straight. I blurted out the first thought that crossed my mind. "I was thinking."

He frowned. "In the forest?" He arched an eyebrow at me skeptically and then exhaled sharply. "What were you thinking about?" He sounded unreasonably frustrated.

I felt my face get hot. I couldn't tell him the truth, that I had been contemplating my relationship with him.

"I just had a lot on my mind. That's all. I lost track of where I was going, and wondered off the trail."

He groaned. "Do you have any idea how dangerous you're little walk through the forest was?" He snapped. He sounded angry.

"I was perfectly fine…until I got lost." I added sheepishly.

He looked at me for a brief moment before his face relaxed. "Promise me you will never go into the forest alone again."

"Why?"

He sighed. "Let's just say there are things more dangerous than you could possibly imagine lurking there."

I nodded my head in agreement taken back by his confession. Was he referring to mythical creatures? Could the stories really be true?

It remained quiet for a few minutes as I took a few bites chewing slowly. I took a sip of my orange juice and finally looked up at Edward. His eyes were focused on something over my head and he seemed lost in thought. His eyes snapped back to mine after a few seconds, they held such sadness it made my heart ache. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I knew better and kept to myself.

"Bella, may I ask you something?" He seemed weary.

"Ok."

"What happened the weekend I was gone with my brothers?" His voice was very tender and there was a hint of sadness to it.

My face paled and I could feel my heart rate pick up. I hadn't told anyone. I opened my mouth to speak but it suddenly felt very dry. I reached forward and took a sip of water.

"I had a doctor's appointment." I whispered as I looked down at the table in front of me. I felt a wave of nausea hit me and I pushed my half eaten plate of food away from me in disgust.

"What did he say?"

I could feel my eyes fill with hot tears. "I'm getting worse." My breathing increased and I felt a huge lump forming in my throat. A few tears escaped down my cheeks as I looked back up at Edward. His eyes were burning with an emotion I couldn't place. They were very soft and gentle persuading me to continue. I took a deep breath.

"I have only a few months, six at most. I'm just…not ready yet." My voice sounded very weak and was just above a whisper. Though it was hard for me to say, I was surprised how relieved it made me feel to finally share this burden with someone.

"And so you pushed me away." He stated in a caring voice.

I nodded. "It wasn't fair to let you get close. It still isn't fair." I mumbled more to myself than to him.

"Oh, Bella. I wish you had just told me. I would have been there for you. I would have helped you through it. You shouldn't have to go through this alone."

I felt fresh tears spill over and down my face. "Why do you care so much? You hardly know me?"

He was still for a moment then he reached across the table and gently placed his hand to the side of my face. "I know you better than you think. I care about you Bella, more than I should." He admitted stroking my face with his thumb.

Our waitress showed up then and I quickly turned away from her cleaning my face with the back of my sleeve.

"Can I get you anything else? Anything at all?" Again she was only looking at Edward, but he paid her no attention.

"No. Just the check please." I heard Edward say in a gruff tone of voice.

She returned with the check in hand leaving it on the table without a word. Edward pulled a bill out of his pocket and left it on the table offering me his hand as I got up. I took it shyly and together we walked to his car.

I keep my eyes forward as he maneuvered his way through the streets of Port Angeles. He said that he cared for me. What did that mean? Could he possibly be feeling the way I am? Was it possible that he craved my company as I craved his? I had to find out what he was. It was his turn to come clean and be honest and stop being so damn evasive.

"What are you thinking?"

I turned to look at him and noticed he was eyeing me with curious eyes. "I'm trying to figure out what you are." I answered honestly.

I saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel, but his face remained calm. "Are you having any luck with that?"

"I have an idea…something Jacob told me."

"What did Jacob tell you?" There was an edge to his tone of voice that had not been there before. He sounded defensive.

I looked away feeling slightly foolish for even suggesting it.

A few minutes later he broke the silence that had fallen between us. "Is it that bad?" He prodded gently.

I shrugged.

"You can tell me anything."

I took a deep breath and looked down at my hands in my lap fidgeting with my fingers as I spoke. "Jacob told me about an old legend involving…" I paused, how was I to tell him?

"Go on." He urged his voice staying even and controlled.

"About vampires and werewolves." I finished my voice soft and low.

I chanced a look his way and saw that he was gripping the steering wheel too tightly; it looked as though he was about to snap it in half.

"And you immediately thought of me."

"No…He mentioned your family…and his."

"What did you do after you heard his story?"

I looked down again afraid to meet his gaze as I continued with my story. "I needed to think, so I excused myself and went to bed. I had terrible dreams all night. My head was spinning, trying to make sense of it all. I got up early giving up on sleeping. That's when I went for my walk. It was early morning and I needed to clear my head. I didn't know what to do, and I had to make some decisions…" I trailed off in a low whisper.

"What decisions did you have to make?" His tone of voice matched mine.

"I had to decide if what Jacob said was true, and what I was going to do about it." I admitted.

"And what did you decide?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly hedging my time even if for a brief moment. "It doesn't matter what you are, vampire or not. I need you too much to be without you." I confessed turning crimson.

"It doesn't matter to you that I am a monster?" He questioned in an angry incredulous tone.

I snapped my head up to look at him almost in shock. It was the first time since we got in the car that either one of us had spoken above a soft murmur.

"No." I admitted after a short moment. "It's too late. If you really wanted to hurt me you would have done it by now. Plus Jacob said you weren't supposed to be dangerous."

"I'm still dangerous Bella. Never forget that." He answered curtly.

I said nothing.

"He honestly told you I wasn't dangerous?" He asked skeptically.

"He said you weren't supposed to be dangerous."

He scoffed.

"Am I right then?" I challenged.

His jaw tensed and his face looked torn. Eventually he gave a short nod and my eyes widened.

"I'm right." I whispered.

He frowned. "You haven't asked the most important question yet."

I wondered what he could mean as I looked around shocked to find that we were already back at my house parked in my driveway. "How did we…"

"There's a lot about me Bella you still don't know." He sighed unhappily staring out the windshield at the sky.

"Will you tell me?" I asked sheepishly.

He turned to look at me, and the look in his eyes took my breath away. The mere intensity was enough to melt steel. I could see the vulnerability, and unease he felt. I knew it was just as hard for him to talk about who he was as it was for me to talk about being sick.

"It's getting cold. Let's go inside." He insisted tearing his eyes from mine.

I readily agreed as question upon question entered my mind. There was so much I wanted answered I wasn't sure which question I should ask first.