Hey! Sorry it's taken me so long, but you get a longer chapter for it! I finally managed to read New Moon...it was part of the inspiration behind this chapter. I will also have a poem from Edward's point of view when he thought Bella killed herself - on my page. :) I want 15 reviews...not too much to ask, considering how many people are reading!

EPOV

I bound her ribs for stability with some gauze out of the bathroom before I let her lead me downstairs. I kept a firm but gentle grip on her hand. If she fell in her more-fragile-than-usual state, I don't know what could happen.

It was getting harder to keep from breaking down in front of her.

We got to the bottom and I slowed down. Bella looked back over her shoulder, confusion etched into her beautiful face. I jerked her to me, an arm firmly around her fragile waist. Bella blushed, making me feel light-headed. I pulled her closer, kissing the spot just below her ear. I felt her shudder and lean into me. I could hear her pulse racing, the vein beating against my lips. I growled playfully.

She giggled, sounding like a little girl. I tangled my free hand in her hair, fingers against her scalp. One of Bella's arms snaked around my neck, and she pressed her heated lips to my throat. The spot she'd kissed tingled and burned, igniting .

I heard footsteps, and Esme's thoughts assailed me. You know, Charlie's beginning to get - agitated. He heard the stairs creaking and is probably wondering what's taking you so long to appear.

I pulled away, steading Bella as Esme came around the corner. Her arms were crossed, but she wore a knowing smirk. "Dinnertime,"

Bella smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much, Esme, you're a lifesaver."

Esme hugged her. "I wouldn't have it any other way, dear." she ushered us into the dining room. I pulled Bella's chair out for her, then took one for myself to her left.

Esme came out of the kitchen with a pot of corn on the cob in one hand and a basket of bread in the other. Charlie jumped up and took the pot.

"Oh, thank you!" my mother said, sitting down and dishing out lasagna. When she picked up my plate, I flashed a startled glance to her, which Charlie caught.

Bella flashed a quick smile to her father. "He's not a fan of lasagna," Charlie nodded, buying it. I thanked her by tracing a circle on her knee. I smiled when she shivered.

I returned my attention to my plate. I suppressed a growl. It smelled horrendous, and looked worse. A mess of noodles, cheese, and marinara sauce in an unappetizing blob. I speared a noodle cautiously and put it in my mouth, when I really wanted to throw it from me. I kept my face straight with difficulty. It tasted like rubber and sour milk.

I noticed Esme didn't have anything on her plate at the same time Charlie did. "Why aren't you eating?" he asked.

She blinked. "I nibbled while I cooked," she smiled politely. "So I'm not hungry." Esme laughed, sounding like wind chimes. "It's a fault of mine, my family's grown used to it."

Bella propped her chin in her hand. I lay a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright, love?"

Charlie looked her over, concern written on his face. "Bells, you look pale. Do you need to go back to bed?"

"No, I'm fine," Bella said, but her voice was soft. "I've slept most of the day away."

"But you're healing, Bella." I said. "You need rest." She really needed to quit fighting it.

She pushed what was left of her food around her plate.

"Bella, you'll also need to call your mother." Charlie said apologetically. "She's been - uh - frazzled."

Her fork hit the plate with a clatter. "You told her?" Bella rubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes.

"She needed to know, Bells. You're saying you didn't want me to tell her that her daughter was in a wreck and spent the night in the hospital?"

Her face crumpled and she squeezed her eyes shut. A few tears fell, and she pushed her plate away. "Thank you for dinner, Esme. Excuse me, please." She shoved herself away from the table and rushed out.

My breath froze in my chest as misery washed over me at her plight. I looked to Charlie. "May I?" He nodded and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

I stood and followed the smell of Bella's tears. Not wanting to intrude upon her venting, I knocked softly. "Isabella? May I come in?"

I heard her pulse speed up and a sniffle. "Mn-hm,"

Opening the door, I slid in and shut it. Bella was stretched out on the floor between her bed and the window. I sat indian-style on the bed above her. Noticing the off-balance stereo, I pushed it back so it wouldn't fall on her dear head.

My position probably wasn't the best one; her body heat was carrying her scent up to me, and I remembered I hadn't eaten recently. I swallowed the venom rising in my throat. How was it I had been given such a fragile angel? It was inconceivable, unbelievable that a sinning would be granted such a prize.

Her hand draped across my knee. I bent over it and kissed her fingers, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb. A lovely blush crept up her face. I stifled my growl of pleasure. She sat up and traced my jaw bone with flaming fingers. Her eyes held the observant light I'd noticed when we first met.

"You need to hunt."

I nodded, playfully wrapping my lips around her fingers. My Bella grinned and swatted my arm.

"I am not your appetizer, Edward Cullen!" she laughed.

I caught a note of surprised horror from Esme. What are you doing?!

Laughing because I couldn't help it, I said, "Nothing, we're just talking." I knew she would hear. Bella looked at me curiously, then again, the light dawned on her.

"Esme?" she mouthed. I nodded.

She scrambled up onto the bed to sit beside me. I put an arm around her, feeling possessive and protective. I scooted back to lean against the pillows and pulled her with me. Bella looked up at my face, staring at my mouth. I laughed, and bent to oblige.

I felt her smile against my mouth just as I tasted it. Dried blood. In a flash, my instincts rose up, almost blocking everything out. I struggled to force it down. Bella had noticed my stiffness and started to pull away, but she was still encircled in my arms. I am my own worst enemy, and hers.

All rational thought was quickly fading as my bloodlust ignited.

BPOV

I could feel my insides freeze up. Edward's eyes were blacker than I'd ever seen them, and suddenly he seemed - hostile. I started to pull away to give him space, remembering my cut lip. How could I have forgotten? This was my fault, and yet when he got a hold on himself, Edward would feel the blame.

But something was wrong. I couldn't escape Edward's iron grip, and he wasn't letting me either.

"Edward!" I said firmly, then coaxingly. "Edward, listen to me." His mouth widened in a feral smile, showing all his teeth. Then, I remembered something that could save my life. Esme could hear us.

"Esme," I said clearly and softly. "I need you. Please come help." I swallowed my tension as Edward squeezed me closer, a growl reverberating through his chest. My ribs protested, and it was hard to draw breath.

I heard a faint click, then, someone was pulling me away from Edward and pushing me towards the window. I leaned against my desk, waiting for my head to clear. As it did, I could see Esme holding Edward back. I looked toward the door, scared I would see my dad, but it was closed and locked. I smiled. Go Esme.

"Edward, calm down. Bella is not an animal. She is the woman you love. Remember?" Edward tried to push past her, still looking at me with a hungry look in his eyes.

Suddenly, Esme did something I'll never forget. She slapped him, causing him to stumble back.

Edward blinked, shaking his head. "Edward Anthony, get a grip!" she growled out. His head snapped up to look at her, his eyes wide. He wrenched himself from her grip and sat on the bed, head in his hands.

Relief filled me, even though, for the first time, I was too scared to go near him.

"I'm so sorry, Bella." Edward whispered, agony in each syllable. Then, he stood, and without looking my way, leapt out the window.

My knees felt weak, and I noticed I was trembling. I sank down to the floor, wishing I had let him bite me.

Esme was kneeling beside me. "Bella, are you alright?" I nodded, looking toward the window, knowing he was long gone, and quite possibly not coming back.

EPOV

I did not know where I was running to. I just knew that I had to. If I stopped, I wouldn't be able to handle any of it. If I stopped, I would think of Bella, and how she'd blame herself, because I'd run out. In truth, it wasn't her fault. It was mine.

I know she loathes it when I blame myself, but I cannot help it. It's my nature to shelter her from the guilt that would destroy her, much like it was destroying me. Even though I knew it wasn't really my fault either, I still felt guilty for it. I hadn't chosen to be a monster!

I eased to a stop on the beach in LaPush. I recalled that I shouldn't be here, that the werewolves would have leave to tear me apart should they find me here, but I ignored that fact. I shut my eyes and sat down on the sun-bleached log, listening to the waves roll. I concentrated on breathing through the torment. I should go back to Bella. She would be fretting, and the last thing I wanted was to cause her worry.

I buried my head in my hands, clenching my teeth around the growl that was building strength. Why did I have to be a monster? Why couldn't I have been a normal human? Or in the very least, why hadn't Carlisle just let me die? That way, in my never meeting Bella, I'd never cause her harm.

Another growl caught my attention, and it wasn't coming from me. I turned around to see a ruddy-skinned figure that was all too familiar. Then, the breeze blew towards me and I nearly gagged. That stench! Like fetid meat and old socks. According to them, we smelled just as bad to their sensitive muzzles. Although Bella said that neither of our - species - stunk to her. She'd described me as having one of the best smells in the world, but I believed her a bit biased.

"Cullen, you're on the wrong side of the land." Jacob's silhouette prowled forward. He was still getting larger. Did they never cease growing? "I should just tear you to pieces,"

I stood, suppressing my hatred with difficulty. Bella would not be happy if I shredded her friend.

"I apologize," I said with an exaggerated bow from the waist. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

I began to leave, but he rushed around to stand in front of me. Good grief, I had to look up at him to see his features. He stuck a log-like arm out, barring my way.

"That won't stop me for long," I said, arching an eyebrow in contempt.

Jacob was shaking; I was pushing an already delicate situation. "Look, leech, if you can be gone by the time I've lost it, I'll let you off." His nose wrinkled as his thoughts whirled through my head. I can't believe I'm giving him this chance. I should just kill him and take his body to the pack for us to gloat over. But Bella would be furious, she'd never speak to me again. And I would never make her like she was when he left of his own accord. I would never forgive myself.

I shook my head. "No dice, I've seen you transform, you're too fast. Even for me," I sat down stubbornly on the log again. Crossing my arms, I frowned up at him. The burning in my throat was getting harder to ignore. I needed to hunt, then get back to Bella.

Memories of her scent rose up in my mind, until it was almost as if she was next to me, blowing at me. The venom in my esophagus rose with a gurgling sensation. I swallowed.

The tip of Jacob's nose was twitching, his hands were clenched at his sides. His eyes were alight with - empathy? I couldn't name it. "What's wrong? You look like you got on the wrong end of a polecat." he muttered.

I clamped my mouth shut, resisting the urge to have someone to rant to...and then to rip his head off.

"Fine," he huffed. "Leave now, before you're in shreds." tremors were rippling his muscles as I watched. He wasn't going to last much longer. Think calm, think calm, think calm. He was chanting to himself.

I could tell he was telling the truth. I nodded in acknowledgment, then rushed into the wind, faster than a blink.

Finally, I could clear the smell of wolves from my nose. Something else caught it's attention, however. I shuddered to a silent stop and turned my head, feeling venom flood my mouth.

A wolf, of normal size, shape, and smell, was a few paces to my left, along with its mate. I was so hungry by now, I could've eaten rodent and would've been satisfied. But wolf was my second favorite, the one I hadn't told Bella about, for obvious reasons.

I crept through the bracken, and up a tree. I was directly above the two wolves, both female. I launched myself from the branches and landed on the larger one's back, biting into the scruff of her neck as she started to thrash. After but a few moments, she was still, and I was ravenous - practically inhaling the blood as it rushed into my mouth.

Just as I swallowed the last of it, her companion slammed into my spine. I heard a snarl as she bounced off and hit the ground. I stood and walked over, and she looked up and glared at me with pain-hazed eyes. As I bent over, she snapped at my face. Feeling sorry for her, I grabbed her muzzle and wrenched her neck in an unnatural direction, ending her pain.

After I drank her dry, I stood and checked myself, smirking when I saw I was still clean. If I could find one more large animal, I could go back to Bella. Then, I knew I wouldn't endanger her. The thought of seeing her brought a smile to my face.

BPOV

I sat there, staring out the window for almost an hour. My bed was at the wrong angle to sit on and still see out, so I was on the floor, my chin propped on the sill.

Then, a cold pair of arms encircled my waist. I turned my head and my eyes met a crystilline set of topaz orbs.

"Oh, Edward!" I cried out, locking my arms around his neck. He picked me up gently, cradling me against him, and sat in the rocking chair. I gurgling cough was rising in my throat; I began to sob, relieved.

Edward hugged me close. "Bella, are you alright?"

"Now that you're back." I sniffled. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Edward!" The tears came faster. I clung to him, my grip such a one that a normal person would've been left gasping for air.

He stroked my hair tenderly. "For what?"

I was hiccuping so hard I could barely speak. "It's my fault – if I hadn't – then you – and Esme - !" I lapsed into breathless sobs again, fingers locked into Edward's collar.

Edward rocked me gently, kissing the top of my head and rubbing between my shoulder blades. "Bella, this is not your fault." He hesitated, then continued in a strangled tone. "It was barely even mine."

I stared up at him, tears stopped in shock. He wasn't blaming – well, not completely – himself?

I touched his forehead, searching for a temperature. Finding none, I asked, "Who are you and where's the real Edward Cullen?"

He chuckled, stroking my cheek with the knuckles of one hand. Expression tender, he quoted: "Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged!" Shakespeare. He was quoting Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet to be exact.

I could feel my pulse accelerate. After a moment, I unglued my tongue from the roof of my mouth.

"Sorry, my brain just shorted out. Replying quote, deactivated." I breathed, dizzy.

Edward smiled, tapping the tip of my nose. I sighed happily, loosening my choke hold on Edward and drying my face.

There was a quiet knock; Esme entered.

She didn't look surprised to find snuggled together.

Walking over, she stroked Edward's hair back from his face in a motherly way. He looked up at her, eyes wide. After a moment, I realized she was talking to him with her thoughts. He began to whisper, so quietly and quickly that I caught nothing. His point, I'm sure.

I ignored their conversation, tracing the stitching outlining a pattern on his shirt with one finger. He didn't even seem to notice. As Edward murmured to her, I shifted into a more comfortable position. With a sigh, I closed my eyes, exhausted.

When Edward moved underneath me, I looked up through bleary eyes, to find it quite dark in my room. His crooked smile greeted me. He had a lock of hair in his face that my fingers itched to brush away, but I was too tired.

He lay me gently on the bed and pulled the quilt up. Lying down beside me, he pulled my body against his sculpted chest.

He cradled me protectively against him. I felt so safe in his arms. Edward kissed my neck and began to hum my lullaby. I fell asleep with the voice of an angel in my ear.