Edward sucked in his pain, letting out only a whimper or a snarl as each new spasm of pain shocked him. Shouldering him back to our cabana was like dragging the marble statue he always seemed to be and every passing minute brought more grunts of pain that wounded me, too, with their desperation.

Laying in bed, I could only watch as he twisted his body, tearing bedsheets, smashing the headboard to pieces in his fury. Tears continued to stream down my face as I held onto him, asking him, begging him to tell me what was wrong or what I could do. I couldn't lose him. Not here, not now.

Not ever.

"Bella!" he yelped. "Poison…he poisoned…" How? How could that scrawny stranger have punctured Edward's iron skin? What poison could affect the bloodless? I gripped his hand to comfort him and immediately pulled it back. His hands were warm.

"Edward?" His eyes were clenched tightly shut as he tried to master his agony and failed. Sweat rolled down his face in great rivers that mingled with his tears and he labored to draw each painful gasp into his body.

WHAT!?

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Color filled his cheeks, a deep scarlet red from his strain.

His skin bloomed into a rosy peach color, losing nearly all of its snow white pallor. His contortions became less violent, his breathing returned to...normal isn't the word. Normal for a human. Rhythmic. Constant. Necessary.

I brushed my hand across his head, wiping away sweat that couldn't possibly be there. His skin was warm to the touch and was soft and porous, no longer the marble he once possessed. It was a little less than an hour since he became sick and, already, nearly all his symptoms disappeared.

Replaced, of course, with these new ones. His jaw relaxed and his eyes, still closed, softened and he came to rest, breathing all the while, on the sweat-soaked sheets.

"Please, Edward. Say something."

He seemed so peaceful, so angelic, sleeping there. It was unsettling to see him sleeping. But the serenity that overtook him eased the freezing horror of losing him that filled me. He was better now, much better than he was just an hour ago. And yet, behind every loud thud of my heart, there was a dull ache of worry, because he no longer looked as he once did. He looked…

I hesitated. Holding my breath, I reached out a hand for his chest, which rose and fell in perfect rhythm. I placed my palm down.

And snatched it back in shock.

Did I imagine that beat? I put my hand on his chest again and choked out a gasp.

His heart was beating.

His eyes fluttered open and his eyes, now a lush, verdant green color. He sat up in bed.

"Bella…?" I wanted to throw my arms around him. I wanted to cry and tell him how scared I had been and how happy I was now. I couldn't do any of these things. His brilliant green eyes made all the words catch in my throat and all the tears freeze in place. I saw shock flash across his face. His mouth agape in a mix of surprise and fear. He knew immediately what I knew since I felt his heart beating.

He was mortal now.