The trees blurred around our speeding form and I kept my head buried in his shoulder, trying to breathe against the rush of air. My limbs were tired but I dared not move them, for fear of falling. Edward's breathing hadn't changed a bit and I marveled at him. Soon though, we had come to a stop in front of his house and the world suddenly seemed very loud against my clogged ears.
"Bella," he chuckled "you can get off my back now"
"I know," I said, "I'm stuck"
Though I couldn't see his face, I could picture Edward's smile at this statement. He sighed and put down my bags, reaching his hands behind him to grab me and swing me forward. Too soon I found my legs standing on solid ground and fell backward.
"Bella?" he asked in alarm as he caught me and scrutinized my expression, no doubt it was more than a little shocked.
"I'm fine" I said, getting tentatively up and blushing. Edward laughed and put his hand behind my back, guiding me up to the door. I reached out my hand, but Alice beat me to it, standing in the hall and beckoning us inside.
"Hi Bella" she said, grabbing my bags from Edward and flitting gracefully toward the kitchen. We followed, entering the room to find all of the Cullen's waiting at the table. Everyone but Rosalie smiled warmly in greeting.
"What's the plan?" I asked, looking around at each of them. Carlisle was the one to answer,
"We'll turn you here, and then go to Volterra to assure the Volturi that it's been done"
I tried to speak, but could only nod. Edward seized my hand and pulled me closer to him. I was shaking, and cursed myself for it, now was not the time to show weakness.
"When?" I asked weakly when I had regained some of my composure. Edward looked down at me, his eyes dark at the prospect of what was coming.
"As soon as possible" Carlisle said, looking at me too. I glanced to see all of them with their eyes on me and color flooded my cheeks. I looked at Edward, my eyes pleading, begging him to help me escape. Without a word, he pulled me back into the hallway and out of the house.
"Let's go to the meadow" he said. Relief washed through me. We drove there in silence, my eyes stared out the window as I tried to control my thoughts, I didn't need images of blood and searing pain slashing through my mind.
And then we were there, looking out over the sky with the wind whipping my hair around my face. He watched me intently, his hands catching strands of my hair and twirling them.
"Thank you" I breathed as the breeze calmed me.
"You're welcome" he smirked, moving in front of me. Our lips met and I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my forehead on his. His hands held my face, gently rubbing my cheek with his thumb.
"Are you okay Bella?" he asked when we finally broke apart. My face was still held in his grasp and his eyes searched mine.
"I think so," I said "now that it's just you and me"
He moved one hand and ran it threw my hair, sending shivers down my spine.
"I love you" he whispered, so low that I almost couldn't hear.
"Will you?" I asked, looking down at the gently swaying grass below
"Will I what?"
"Will you still love me when I'm not so warm and clumsy?"
He pulled my face up so that I was looking at him. He was serious now as he stared deep into my soul.
"I will love you forever, no matter what you are"
I smiled, hugging him close to me and breathing in his scent.
"I'm ready" I said, closing my eyes and letting a single tear slide down my cheek, it was gone by the time he pulled me away.
"Are you sure?" he asked, holding me at arms length
"Yes" I said, and I was amazed that my voice sounded confident.
I didn't know how to do this, what to say, how to act. I knelt down in the grass and raised my head to him, eyes unfocused. He followed suit, hair falling in front of his face as he did so. The moonlight glinted off his hair and cast even darker shadows under his tortured eyes.
He kissed my cheek, and if I hadn't known better, I would have thought he was crying
"I love you" he said again
"I love you too" my voice broke
He sat down and pulled me, still kneeling, to his waiting frame. He bent his head into my hair before gently tilting my head to the side. He lips caressed my neck.
"Shut your eyes" he begged, I tried, but they were frozen open in anticipation. His eyes turned black and his teeth were bared, menacing. He brushed his cheek against my exposed skin before bringing his teeth down and….