AN: Happy Easter!

I want to say a HUGE thank you to my pre-reader babylopez2008. You're awesome! Thank you :)

Also, thanks to Angel N Darkness, Humble4, traceybuie, team jazper, khartgrove513, IcarusToSun, GothMisfitFreak,DreamOfTheEndless, april666king, and TheCryingDevil for reviewing.

Enjoy...

Edward

I did it.

I told her.

I'm in love with her.

What I feel for her must be love. I have no other explanation. When I said those words to her, it seemed right. It just reaffirmed how I've been feeling all along.

I almost feel relieved, but she's just sitting there, looking slightly dazed. Her eyes are darting back and forth between my face and somewhere off to the side.

Did I tell her too much? Is this the thing that will finally push her over the edge?

Sure- she can handle vampires, but she can't handle a little love?

I reach out to push her mouth close. My cold touch seems to waken her up.

"Uh..."

Well, that's a start at least.

"I'm not expecting you to say it back, Bella." I hope this will ease her fears.

"I'm sorry... I, uh, wasn't expecting that... It's a lot to take in."

I can't help but feel the sting of disappointment. I let go of Bella's hand and back away from her slightly, trying to give her as much space as the couch allows.

"No," Bella says. "I didn't mean..." She sighs and trails off. She's quiet for a few moments before she resumes. "I'm not as fluent as you are with words, so I'll apologise now." She lets out a small giggle and then clasps her hand around mine.

"What I meant was... I have... feelings for you. I'm just, I don't know how to get close to you. Does that make sense?"

I try to process what she's said, but it feels like she contradicted herself.

"Could you explain that a little more please?" I ask.

She removes her hand from mine and begins to play with the hem of her t-shirt as she bites on her lower lip. She chews on it and I think I hear myself moan. I hope she didn't hear it. If she did, she doesn't say anything about it.

"It's just that... I lost my mom." I see her swallow.

I can only imagine how difficult this must be for her. I know mine died too, but I'm lucky. I can't remember it. Human memories tend to get a little fuzzy the older you become.

She takes a deep breath before continuing. "I can't go through that again. I just can't."

"Go through what?"

She lets go of her t-shirt and turns all of her attention back to me.

"I loved my mom with all my heart. I still do. Her death..." she trails off. I can see that she's becoming upset, so I hold back. I believe she's strong enough to pull herself back together again. It doesn't take her long to do so. "That was the most painful thing I've ever had to live through," she whispers. "I don't think I'm strong enough to endure that kind of emotional pain again."

She stops and I take a moment to think over what she's said.

"So... you mean that you're afraid?" I conclude. "You're worried that you'll lose me?"

Bella nods.

"Oh, Bella," I say as I cup her face in my hands. "I promise you this; that will never happen. You can't get rid of me."

"I want to believe you. I'm trying."

"That's all I ask for."

I stroke her cheeks with the pads of my thumbs. She's so soft and warm. I remember not to press too hard. I imagine comparing her to a feather or a flower's petal. It helps me to handle her delicately.

Her eyelids flutter slightly.

I wonder...

"Can I try something?" I ask her quietly, so as not to ruin the moment.

She looks from my eyes to my mouth and back again and asks, "What?"

"This," I say as I lean towards her, angling my lips so they slowly come into contact with hers. I decrease my haste the closer I get. Every inch of distance covered only adds to the anticipation of the moment.

I close my eyes the second my lips gently apply pressure to hers.

This part of her is even softer. And her taste... my senses are on high alert. Everything has intensified for me. I can't even begin to describe the effect this girl has on me.

Her breath hitches in her throat while I make a conscious effort to hold mine. I can't lose it now.

I apply more pressure which she reciprocates as she brings her hands to rest on my arms. She slides one of them round to my back and tries to bring me closer.

One of my hands ends up in her hair, pushing her face closer to mine as we kiss. The other is now holding on to her waist.

Sensing that she wants to be as close to me as I do to her, I move my hands so that I can easily lift her using my vampire speed and put her on my lap. Her legs move to straddle mine.

I've never felt so much warmth. It's like a sensory overload.

Bella breaks the kiss to breathe. While she attempts to catch her breath, I begin to kiss the column of her throat, careful to avoid her pulse point. I don't want to tempt fate.

Now it's her turn to cradle my face. She tries to use her strength to pull me back up to look at her. I help her out, and as soon as I do, she attacks my lips with as much force as she can.

I have to say I like this side of Bella.

Her right hand remains where it is, while the other moves to run through my hair. She grabs a hold of the hair at the crown of my head and pulls.

God, I like that.

When she isn't pulling my hair, she scrapes her nails over my scalp. It's enough to drive me crazy.

I can't stop kissing her. I don't want to. I refuse to.

I run my tongue along her bottom lip in the hopes that she'll part hers. She does, and I'm rewarded with a taste so intense that my mouth starts to fill with venom.

Too much too soon? Perhaps.

She pulls away to breathe again while I swallow the poisonous fluid in my mouth. Once I do, I quickly return to our kiss, almost not caring if she is able to breathe.

I can't seem to get enough. I just need her.

I apply more pressure as Bella's hands fall from my head and move to my chest. It feels like she's... pushing.

I reluctantly stop my assault on her lips, although I don't move from the proximity of her face.

I need to calm down.

I can't see her eyes. She's looking down, avoiding my gaze. Her breathing is harsh and irregular.

"Too much?" I ask. I notice my voice sounds husky.

She nods her head in reply.

"I would apologise, but I'm not sorry," I tell her. I chuckle. "Best first kiss ever."

She looks up at me abruptly. Her breathing has now calmed down a little more.

"That was your first kiss?" she asks me quietly.

"Yeah," I reply.

She looks confused at my answer, like maybe she doesn't believe me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You were just... really good at it," she admits. She blushes. I think she's embarrassed.

"You forget I can read minds. I've been able to see what other people imagine or remember for decades now."

"Decades?" she asks, sounding shocked.

"Yeah."

"How old are you?"

"One hundred and nine."

Her mouth forms into the shape of an 'o'.

"You weren't expecting that, were you?" I ask.

She shakes her head and removes herself from my lap to sit back on the couch.

She's quiet for a moment. I decide its best to leave her to her thoughts.

Is this her finally rejecting me? If so, it hurts.

"I should be thoroughly repulsed... dating such an old man," she says.

I'm shocked. I turn to look at her.

"Did you just make a joke?"

She laughs and I join in with her. Bella stops before I do. I decide now would be a good time to ask her a certain question.

"How would you feel about dating such an old guy?" I ask.

Bella smiles at me shyly.

"You want to date me?"

I nod. I want more than that. I'm afraid that if I speak, then exactly what I want will be blurted out.

"Okay."

My cell starts to ring. Whoever it is better have something important to say.

I apologise to Bella before taking my phone out of my pocket and answering it. She lets me know its okay by smiling.

"Edward," Jasper begins. "We caught her scent. She's close by, in the Seattle area. You'd better come and join us. I know you want to be the one to find her."

As much as I want to, I also don't want to leave Bella.

"Are you one hundred percent positive?" I ask.

"Definitely, you should get here before Emmett gets bored of waiting for you. Oh, and don't worry. Alice sees Esme taking Bella back to her place."

Trust Jasper to know exactly how I'm feeling.

"I'll be there," I reply before hanging up.

"Who was that?" Bella asks.

"Jasper. They've found the nomad. I hope you don't mind, but I have to go and join them. I'll have Esme take you home. You'll be safe now we know where the vampire is."

Bella agrees and Esme meets us at the foot of the stair case.

I leave Bella with a kiss to her forehead and a promise that I'll be back soon.

I have a vampire to kill.

Bella

"I'm sorry, I promised myself I was going to leave you two alone, but I'm just so happy for you," gushes Esme from the driver's seat.

I turn to look at her and smile.

"He's a great guy. I care about him," I tell her honestly. "Did you hear us?"

She nods. "You'll get used to it. It's just one of the hazards of being around vampires I'm afraid. Although, we will always try to respect your privacy."

I try not to be too embarrassed but it's difficult. I mean, she heard me making out with her son. I feel my cheeks heat up.

"Please don't be self-conscious, Bella. I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just couldn't contain my happiness for the pair of you. He's been alone for so long, you see. I was worried that Carlisle changed him too soon; that Edward was too young to find love and he would be forever stuck that way. It broke my heart. I'm just so grateful to you, and for you, Bella. You're a part of this family now. I'm so happy you are."

Esme's little speech makes me feel emotional. It's felt like a long time since I was a part of anything. To be a part of another family is more than I ever hoped for.

"Thank you, Esme. You have no idea how much that means to me," I reply.

The rest of our journey is silent. I think I have too much to process to try to form a coherent conversation with Esme. She doesn't push me to either, instead leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Today hasn't turned out how I thought it would. I mean, I didn't know what to expect from going to the Cullen's home, but it certainly wasn't a declaration of love, or being told that they were close to catching the vampire who attacked me. I think I'll be able to sleep a little better tonight.

Does that mean Edward will no longer be staying round mine? I sure hope not.

Esme drops me off in front of my house and watches me walk and enter my front door. I wave to her through the glass, knowing that she will be able to see it from this distance before she drives off.

Once her car has left, I make my way into the kitchen to get a drink. As I pass the dining table, I notice a note has been left on it. It's from Charlie, saying that he'll be home late today as he's covering a shift for his deputy. I leave the note on the table, grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and head into the living room. I take a seat on the couch and pick up the book I've been reading from the coffee table. I manage to read two pages of To Kill a Mockingbird before I hear a knock at the door. I wonder who it could be as I get up to answer it.

When I do, I'm greeted by a tall man. He looks messy, like he's been living in the wild or something. I try not to focus on the dirt that covers parts of his face.

"Bella?" he asks.

"Yes? Who are you?" I question warily.

"I'm a friend of a friend. You can call me James."

"Okay... what friend is this?"

"Victoria. Although, you probably don't know her name. I believe you met in the woods over a week ago."

The woods?

Victoria?

...The nomad?

I feel my eyes widen in surprise. Is James a vampire too? I look into his eyes and see that they're red.

Crap.

I clear my throat and ask, "What do you want?" I try to sound brave but I don't think I pulled it off.

"You, of course."

The last thing I remember before blacking out is the cold, dead feel of being in James's arms.

They're not at all like Edward's.

AN: Don't hate me!

Until next time...