AN- I know, it's a really short chapter. But I wanted to get Edward and Bella back on the same page. Some would call it a filler chapter. I like to call it, Edward and Bella seeing what they do for not only each other, but for their families. And yes, I could have tacked it onto the next chapter, but I may not even get to see my computer for the next two days and wanted to get this posted since it was finished. There was a break here until the next morning anyway. We all know about Edward putting Bella to sleep and hearing her talk and I didn't want to get all repetitive.


Bella Explains

I paced as I waited for Bella to come up the stairs. Rose had dropped her off, via Alice's directions, at Charlie's when they were done shopping. Then Rose had come home. At least it had looked like Rose. I smiled, remembering what had happened. I heard Bella's footsteps on the stairs. Finally!

The minute she was in the room, my arms were around her. She yelped.

"Edward!" she scolded, her heart racing. "Charlie is still awake! And you nearly gave me a heart attack!" She playfully smacked my shoulder.

"I know, I promise I'll be quiet, I just couldn't wait to get here." I confessed.

"Edward, Alice warned you to be careful. Maybe I did go a little overboard this morning." Bella said, but it was with a smile on her beautiful face.

I felt the smile that had finally faded only and hour ago begin to return. I held it in check. That wasn't what I meant.

"What did you do to Rose?" I asked.

"What? Is she okay?" Bella was immediately concerned.

I laughed quietly, "Yes, I would say she is definitely okay." Bella relaxed a little. I sat her on the bed and pulled the chair from the desk to sit in front of her. "Bella, when Rose came home, well I'm still not totally sure it was Rose." I laughed again. "She came through the front door, walked right up to me and said, 'If you ever take that woman for granted, I'll break both your legs.'"

Bella's eyes widened, then she joined me in laughing. "She really said that?"

"Not only that, then she pounced on Emmett and said 'Emmett I love you more than life itself, take me to bed and love me forever.'" We laughed again. "I think Emmett's planning on doing just that. They still hadn't come down when I left."

"Wait, how long have you been waiting for me?" Bella asked.

"Not quite and hour," I confessed, a little embarrassed. She laughed at me. "But Bella, Rose has never said anything like that to Emmett, not where anyone else could hear anyway. I had to know what you did!"

"We had a talk is all." Bella said, blushing a little. My hand touched her warm cheek instinctively.

"About what?" I prodded.

"I was trying to explain us to her. I mean why I feel like I need to change for you." I winced a little at the words. It was a fact that I would change her, but it was still hard to hear. "I think I ended up explaining something else entirely."

"What?" I asked again. Was she being cryptic deliberately ?

"Her and Emmett. It's seems we have the same story. At least, the same ending." Bella explained.

"I hope our ending has less of you smacking me," I said automatically. Bella laughed. My hand moved from her cheek to run through her hair. I thought of something. "But I thought Rose's ending was an unhappy one," I whispered.

"She thought so too. Just like with Alice, once I was done babbling, your sister was able to summarize it into something both true and beautiful." She paused and put a hand to my face, I leaned into the familiar warmth. "'Even half a dream in death is much better than a living nightmare.' Which is what life would be without you for me, and apparently for Rose without Emmett." She smiled at me, taking my breath away.

"Bella," I started. What could I say? Not one, but two of my sisters had been convinced of truth I thought they would never understand. And, in convincing Rose, Bella may have changed my sister's life. "I wish I had more words. You're a miracle, Bella. I would say, I love you, but it isn't enough." Bella's smiled brightened, dazzling me further. She put my hand that wasn't in her hair around her waist.

"It's enough for me," she said, "enough forever." Then she leaned in and kissed me.

I willingly kissed her back, drawing her to me with the hand around her waist and letting the other tangle in her soft hair. Bella was truly an angel. She had saved not only me, but my family as well. At least it made a little more sense now. My own worthiness could never have brought such a miracle to my life. Perhaps adding my family's needs to it, made it a little more likely.


Next up- Practicing on Bell hehehe ;P