All Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
I could feel something soft running across my face and I instinctively brought my hand up to brush it away. I was having the most wonderful dream about Edward saying he loved me and I did not want to wake up.
I froze as my hand came in contact with something smooth and cold.
"Good morning."
My eyes flew open at the sound of his voice. There, only inches from my face, was Edward's, with a wide grin. My heart picked up pace as I remembered all that had happened last night. He ducked his head and began giving me butterfly kisses all along my jaw and neck. That must have been what woke me up. I leaned my head back to give him more access as I enjoyed the new sensation.
"You stayed." I said as he finally stopped to look back up at me.
"Of course." He smiled.
It felt unbelievably good to wake and find his arms securely around me. I had slept so well for the first time in a very long time, I actually didn't feel tired.
I stretched my arms above my head and I could feel Edward shake beside me. "What time is it?"
"A little after 8."
"Wow." I was shocked. I never slept that late.
He chuckled. "Is Charlie here?"
"No. He left early. He left a note for you downstairs on the table."
I nodded my head keeping my eyes glued to his. He was so glorious, just as beautiful as ever. We stared at one another for a long time saying nothing as we held each other close.
Edward was the first one to break the silence. "When do you want to leave?"
I snuggled closer to him burying my face in the crook of his neck. "Do we have to?"
He chuckled. "I thought you wanted to go get some new books?"
I groaned softly. Unfortunately, I was in desperate need of new reading materials. He had me. "Yeah ok. I need a minute to be human first."
He smiled widely and let me go. I reluctantly got up from my bed and grabbed my bag of toiletries as I headed down the hall to the bathroom.
I instantly blushed deep red as I took in my appearance. I was a total mess. My hair was knotted and sticking up in some places, and my face had been very blotchy before I started to blush.
I moaned as I covered my face with my hands. Edward had seen me like this. Why hadn't he told me I was such a mess? I undressed quickly feeling a little irritated that he had said nothing and climbed into the shower. The water felt unbelievably good and served to calm my nerves.
I dressed quickly, putting my pajamas back on, and walked back to my room to find it empty. I looked around, but could not find Edward anywhere.
"Edward?"
"I'm downstairs." He called just loud enough for me to hear.
I smiled as I shut my door. I opened my closet door and stood there with my hands on my hips. I didn't know what to wear. I knew we were going to a bookstore, but did he have other plans? Would jeans be too casual?
I finally decided on a cerulean blue sweater with a white tank top underneath. I decided to wear jeans, a darker pair, the only ones that really fit me well after all the weight I had lost. I looked at myself in the mirror one last time. I was far from perfect but it would have to do.
I made my way downstairs wondering where Edward would be. I found him sitting in a chair at he kitchen table his eyes on me. As soon as I approached he got up and came to my side. He took my hands in his and smiled.
"You look beautiful." He let go of one of my hands to caress my face. "I love this color on you. It looks lovely with your skin."
I could feel my cheeks get hot and he chuckled.
"Anything is better than this morning." I said feeling irritated again. "Why didn't you tell me I was such a mess?" I demanded.
He shrugged unrepentantly. "You weren't. You were just as beautiful then as you are now."
I rolled my eyes at him secretly pleased, and he smiled crookedly at me washing all my former irritation away.
"What would you like for breakfast? I could take you out." He offered.
I shook my head. "I'll just have cereal."
I let go of his hand and gathered all I needed for my breakfast as Edward sat down and watched. Sure enough there was a note from Charlie on the table telling me he wouldn't be back until late from fishing and I should have a good day. I felt a little self-conscious as Edward watched me eat and decided to distract him.
"How was your night?" I asked as soon as I had cleared my mouth.
He grinned his eyes sparkling. "Pleasant."
I groaned putting down my spoon as a light blush covered my face. "What did I say?"
"Nothing terrible." He soothed.
I stared at him waiting and he smiled. "You said my name, and that you loved me."
"You already knew that." I pointed out.
He shrugged. "It was still nice to hear just the same."
I turned my attention back to my cereal and finished quickly. As soon as I was done he grabbed my bowl and before I knew it was washed and dried.
"I could have done that."
He shrugged smiling. "Are you ready?"
I stood up and smiled. "Yup."
He chuckled as he grabbed my hand leading me outside to his car. I was surprised to find it sitting in the driveway, but I remained quiet as I got in.
Quicker than what seemed possible he was already in the driver's seat and driving down the road.
"Edward, when did you get your car?"
"While you were showering I ran home."
"Hmm." I still didn't know much about his family and I started to feel nervous wondering if they knew about me. I brought my hand to my lips and chewed absently at my thumbnail. Did they know that I knew their secret? What did they think about their brother falling for a human, a sick human at that? Did they hate me?
"What are you thinking?" He asked pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up at him and saw that his eyes were deeply curious.
"I was wondering about you family." I responded automatically without really thinking as I got lost in his eyes.
"What exactly were you wondering?"
I started nibbling at my nail again as I contemplated telling him all my concerns. He had looked back towards the road as he waited.
"Well…I was wondering what they thought about this." I said gesturing between the both of us with my free hand.
"This?" He asked raising his eyebrows at me.
I sighed. "You know, us."
"There are no secrets in my family. It really isn't practical."
I gaped at him. "You mean they know everything?" He had told them all my secrets--his entire family new my most private thoughts and concerns, my own family didn't even know. I couldn't believe he had betrayed my trust. At first I felt hurt, but I was soon overcome with anger. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes as I looked away.
"Calm down Bella. Not everything." Edward quickly soothed reaching out to grab one of my hands. I pulled my hand away and folded my arms across my chest.
"Do they know I'm sick?" I demanded.
He sighed heavily. "Yes."
Never had I felt so betrayed. He had promised he wouldn't tell. He had promised. Hot tears fell down my face as I stared out my side window.
"Do they know I'm dying?" I whispered.
"Yes." He said in a low tone.
I tried to swallow but my throat was too tight. "I want to go home."
"Please let me explain." He urged.
I shook my head. "Did you tell them about me after you promised not to? That's all I want to know right now."
He paused. "Yes, and no. They knew you were sick Bella, we all did the first day we say you." I didn't say anything as he tried to explain his answer to me. "As you know we have an enhanced senses and can tell from the smell of someone's blood when they are sick."
I furrowed my brow as I finally turned to look at him. "You knew all this time. Why didn't you say anything?" I demanded.
That still didn't explain how his family knew I was dying. Why had he been so persistent to find out what was wrong with me if he already knew? What kind of game was he playing with me?
"You didn't want anyone to know. It would have seemed odd for me to approach you and tell you that I knew you were sick without you telling me first. You would have been suspicious and never would have trusted me." I looked down at my lap reaching up to wipe the tears from my face.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he gathered his thoughts. "That night in the woods, when I brought you home…Carlisle knew something wasn't right. You were in too much pain…" He trailed off with a pained expression on his face as he remembered that night. I had never seen him struggle for words so much before it seemed almost human. "I talked with my sister Alice after I brought you home."
I frowned in confusion not understanding what he meant. He sighed. "I am not the only one in my family with a special ability. Alice can see the future." I tried to control my surprise as he continued with his explanation. "I asked her to look into your future for me. I wanted to know if you were going to be all right. If you would recover…" He trailed off lost in thought.
"What did she see?" I asked softly after a few minutes.
He kept his eyes on the road as he answered. "That you were getting sicker faster than anyone had expected." I knew there was more, but I did not press for more information. I could guess what else she saw.
"How bad was it?"
He clenched his jaw and I watched as his knuckles tightened around the steering wheel. His nostrils flared and I knew what he had seen. I had witnessed it myself a thousand times in other patients I had seen at the hospital in Phoenix when I went in for treatment.
"Oh. I see." I whispered fighting back new tears that were on the brink of spilling down my face.
"Later you confirmed what she saw in her vision." He hesitated. "I never told anyone how sick you were, but in having Alice look into your future everyone found out."
"They must hate me." I stated in a soft voice.
He turned his head quickly to look at me. His face looked angry. "Why on earth would you think that?"
"For allowing you to get involved with me, for being too weak to stay away from you. I'll only hurt you in the end." I added weakly.
He exhaled sharply. "It is, I, who was too weak to stay away from you. I am the dangerous one here Bella. I am the one who should be hated for allowing you to get close. If I wasn't so damn selfish…" He hesitated before he continued. "My family does not hate you. They are happy that I have finally found someone to love and that loves me in return."
"They don't think it's odd that I'm human?" I asked skeptically.
"A few think I'm crazy, but as long as I am happy they are fine with it."
I smiled weakly, all my previous anger gone. It was quiet for a minute or two until Edward broke the silence. "Are you still angry with me? Do you want to go home? I will understand if you do." His voice was uncertain and anxious.
"No." I replied smiling at him. Relief filled his face as he looked at me. "Will you tell me about them?"
"My family?" He verified.
"Yes. I would like to know more about them."
"Well Carlisle you have already met. He is my father in most senses of the word. He is married to Esme, my mother. She is the most loving person I know." He smiled affectionately as he mentioned her and I knew then that he cared for her deeply. "I already told you about Alice. She is married to Jasper. He also has a special ability. He can feel and manipulate the emotions around him." My eyes widened but I did not interrupt. "Then there is Emmett. Nothing seems to ever bother him. He is married to Rosalie. They have a very…interesting relationship." He chuckled once before continuing. "Of course you have seen them all at school before."
"You care for them a lot." It was a statement not a question.
"I do. In many ways we are much like any other family. Until recently they were the most important things in my life."
I blushed as I realized he was talking about me. He chuckled reaching up to caress my face.
"We're here." He announced.
