I didn't want to tell him that he wouldn't be able to protect me like he used to. I could only catch glimpses of Edward's reaction to his humanity in all the chaos that followed from that night. The most striking was that blissful morning where I, for the first time, felt his warmth. And, even when he was lost in thought, he never seemed anxious or upset. I felt that he was just so happy that this sudden boon had made him cautious. He was just slightly wary that his humanity had been so freely restored to him that it could just as easily be stolen away again.

I was still afraid to talk to him about it, though. I didn't even know how I felt. He was still my Edward, just more on my level. The world seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nod approvingly now that we weren't screwing with nature by having predator marry prey. Our relationship could be normal. It could be whole. It could be spent in the sun.

There could be children.

A dizzying collection of futures were open before us and now, I didn't have to become an immortal. There was no longer a reason to.

And yet….

We arrived at the bar around 7:30. It was near the beach, but far from the place where "Isabella's" body was found. We had been here only once before, just to see. Edward doesn't drink and I'm not a fan either. The music was turned low and the tables were nearly all unoccupied. Murders are never good for tourism.

Unless you happen to be in Forks, Washington. And you happen to be a vampire.

There were plenty of seats in the house, but we moved to the back where a man sat alone at a table.

I felt Edward's hand tighten around mine and I froze when I followed his gaze and saw the man properly for the first time. It was Declan, but he had changed drastically. No longer lanky, but lithe, slender, wiry. He retained his delicate fingers, now accented by the ivory, silky complexion that clashed perfectly against his brilliant amber hair. He smiled perfectly when he saw us and gestured gracefully for us to sit. Neither of us moved.

I knew what he was. What he had become. That's why I was my breath caught in my throat when I met his eyes. Not bloody red and fierce, but a fresh, verdurous emerald that far outshone the color they used to be. They were fluid and caught the dim lighting of the bar in mesmerizing ways.

"Good evening, Bella. Edward." No accent. His voice was measured, even, gushingly polite, like Edward's. "I can tell from your face, my lady, that you're surprised at the sudden change in my appearance. Are you certain that neither of you would like to sit?" Neither of us answered. Edward glared maliciously at Declan, but I could feel the sweat on his palms. I knew, then, that this was not a good idea at all. "No?" His sculpted grin faltered and he sighed regretfully. "Fine, then. Back to my sudden transformation. I imagine, though, that you have had quite enough sudden transformations to last you a lifetime, eh, Edward?" He chuckled in a light, haughty way that made Edward pull his lips back in a snarl. Unfortunately, his snarl was less convincing now.

"Let me tell you a story…."