"That's it baby." Victoria purred softer as Edward's lovely face looked so peaceful now, about to bite down and enter her world. Maybe this Edward would be more fun for her and as much as she hated to admit it, he had kinda grown on her these last few weeks.
Megan was screaming louder as she realized what was happening, wondering how the hell she got sucked into this little scene.
Please – Edward – please don't ! I liked you ! I trusted you ! I know you don't want to do this, that's why you shouted at me at the club !
Megan's mind was trying to beg Edward for her life, and the chance to see her children grow up. Flashes of the children's faces were everywhere in her head. But the horrible thing is that Edward found for a moment he didn't care. He wanted this, he starved for this. Nothing could move him away from her now. Or so he had thought at the moment.
"Go on…bite down and you will taste the greatest thing in the world." Victoria was selling it a little over the top and didn't need to. Edward remembered how fulfilling human blood was from his past.
"Edward." Megan whimpered, sobbing as she started praying in her mind, accepting her fate of death.
He really wanted her blood, needed it right now. But something inside him was stronger than the thirst. He was surprised at himself.
"No." Edward said simply, taking a small breath and one step back from Megan.
Megan wept, now in utter relief with a gleam of hope on her horizon. Her eyes shined large thank yous to his. But, of course, there was still Victoria.
"Edward" Victoria tried to keep her rage controlled, "Right now or I call for Bella in the morning."
"That's not going to work anymore, Victoria." Edward shot daggers back at her eyes with his, "I know it's me you really want, not her. And if you try doing that, I'll take Bella and run. You'll never find us."
"I thought you might pull something like this." She smirked, proud of herself for having a plan B, "So I invited a few friends along to help a bit. Come out, boys."
With a hiss, three large men slowly walked out from the cover of the trees into the clearing towards them. They were all young, muscular, long hair and beards – Victoria's type. Worse, they were newborn vampires with glowing red eyes, certain to do her bidding. Each one of them stronger and more well fed than Edward.
"No…" Megan tried to stifle a cry of fear as they stood beside Victoria.
Edward was nervous for Megan, newborns could not control their appetite this close to a human. He had to get her out of here now.
"I so wanted you to drink your first human on your own, Edward." Victoria looked truly disappointed, "You were so close, too. But either way, you're feeding tonight. Take her." She added to her newborns, referring to Megan.
Giving Victoria a hard shove, Edward flung Megan over his shoulder and leapt on the top of the car, springing onto a nearby tree, crawling up the side with very little effort.
Megan let out a shriek of terror at her sudden predicament, clinging her arms tight around Edward's neck. He was glad he didn't HAVE to breathe, or he'd be in real trouble now.
"GET HIM !" Victoria screeched her orders to her vampires as they instantly obeyed, smiling and following up into the high trees.
Reaching the top of the tree he was on now, Edward paused to think over his options and which would be the best strategy.
"Edward !", Megan clung on with a death grip, breathing hard behind him, "They're coming !"
"Hang on." Edward leapt, almost flew, to a tree far from the one they began with. In mid leap, the new vampire with long black hair and a goatee pounced on Edward, throwing them back as they started to descent in a free fall.
Spinning like a true magical creature, Edward held Megan in his arms bridal-style and landed on his feet, now on top of a boulder.
"Oh my God." Megan trembled, seeing Edward's eyes look into hers with concern.
"You alright?" he asked. God, he was beautiful, she couldn't help thinking, the blue moonlight glowing on his pale marble face.
"And I thought I wouldn't be having any fun tonight." She muttered, jokingly, getting a grin from the good vampire.
"It's not over yet." Edward smelled Victoria close by, leaping back into the trees, carrying her on his back, needing to see where each one of them were hiding.
Megan stayed quiet as they sneaked high on a branch. Not daring to look down, Megan stared at the back of Edward's hair, every strand perfect.
Edward knew he couldn't really hide from them, with a human on his back, a fresh cut on her neck. But he waited for them to approach him, thinking he might have a chance if he could fight them one by one. If they teamed up against him, he was dead.
Something tingled on the back of Edward's neck as he sensed one approaching and he didn't even need to turn before he heard Megan's screams amplified right in his ear.
A newborn with long blonde hair grabbed onto Megan's back, trying to bite her arm. Edward spun around, careful not to pull Megan too hard so she'd lose her arm, and took on this vampire head on, slamming him into a nearby tree.
The newborn blonde grinned back at Edward, not scared of his strength, and hurled Edward like a rag doll several yards away.
Flying backwards, Edward realized they were about to slam into another tree, and Megan was stuck to his back. She'd be crushed between the tree and the marble Edward. He spun around, letting his face and chest take the impact, splinters flying everywhere.
"Oh EDWARD" Megan thought he was hurt but then another vampire was upon them, shaking a stunned Edward out of the hole in the tree he was embedded in. Megan screamed, slipping off Edward's neck and sliding down the back of his jacket, clinging onto the belted hem, her feet dangling and slightly kicking.
Blinking back to life, Edward focused on the vampire in front of him, and then felt a horrible blow to the face, right below his left eye.
The vampire stuck him with his fist again, making his face jerk to the right.
"Edward !", Megan was struggling to hold on.
Without a word, Edward's hand reached down behind his back and found her hand, holding her at his side. With his other free hand he grabbed the vampire's wrist before him, stopping him from making any more punches to his face.
"Alright, enough of this crap." Victoria's voice was on the ground below, "Get the girl."
Two of the other newborns sprang up, grabbing Megan up with them. Edward had to let go of her hand or she would've surely lost it.
Edward watched them land near Victoria with Megan over one of their shoulders. She was kicking and trying to fight back, bruising her own hands as she punched the back of the one holding her.
"Don't even think about it, that's Edward's meal." Victoria warned them, calling to the last newborn who was now fighting hard with Edward.
"Bring him down here, let's finish this." She commanded.
Hating to admit it, the newborns were stronger than he was, being starved and weak as it was. The one with Edward didn't have much trouble bringing him to the ground.
"Hold him." Victoria sneered, the two vampires who weren't holding Megan leapt on him and forced him to his knees, each one grabbed an arm and braced him tight.
"I know how weak you are now, Edward." Victoria approached him, stroking his sweet face as he looked afraid again, his eyes wide, "All you have to do now is just smell her and you're ready to feed. Don't fight, my pet."
"Bring her." Victoria spoke to the third vampire, not taking her eyes off of Edward's.
The vampire easily yanked Megan over by her hair, standing her right in front of the kneeling Edward. Laughing, the vampire noticed her breasts were right in front of Edward's face and he shoved her closer, making Edward's face press into them as the rest of them laughed.
"Cut it out, Mark." Victoria grinned.
"Cut her throat." Victoria said to the one holding Megan's hair.
He raised a hand, about to put his fingernails into her neck when Megan screamed, closing her eyes and Edward shouted "NO !"
Just then, a large dark figure leapt from above, coming out of the trees and grabbing the one who had Megan. With a howl, the newborn vampire's arm was snapped off and tossed aside by the shadowed figure.
"Now what ?!" Victoria moved back, away from the saving figure, ordering her other two newborns after it.
They released Edward and he immediately reached his hand out for Megan, putting her onto his back and spiraling back up into a tree to get a better view of what was going on.
"No more trees!" Megan complained with a high pitched squeal.
"Wanna go back down there?" Edward raised a brow, glancing back at her.
"No thanks." She grumbled.
"Who was that?" she tried to see down into the darkness.
Edward smiled, seeing better with his eyes.
"That's my brother." Edward said proudly, watching Emmett fight the two vampires at once.
"Oh what a relief!" Megan was sarcastic, "Because your sister is such a saint!"
"She's not my sister." Edward corrected.
"Who is she then?"
"It's a long story." Edward was watching the fight closely, "But she kind of…owns me."
"Owns you?" Megan saw the humiliation in Edward's face and tried to joke, "How much were you? I would've loved to be there for that sale."
With a smirk, Edward changed the subject, "I have to get down there. Emmett's strong but he can't beat two of them alone."
"God, they're gonna get me." Megan mumbled to herself, not trying to keep Edward away if he needed to go.
"No they won't." Edward had an idea, "Run back to your car and drive as fast as you can – get yourself out."
"Okay." Megan liked that idea. Edward landed a few feet away from the car, out of sight of the others and said, "I'm truly sorry, Megan. I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know Edward." She wanted to say more but could only add, "Thank you."
She gave him a little hug but he broke away stiffly, apologizing with his eyes.
"I'm still thirsty." He explained, shrugging, ashamed of himself for still wanting her blood.
"I know." She backed away faster, "Good luck with your brother."
She got in the car, starting the engine and instantly peeling away, a little dirt cloud rising up as she began her escape.
When Edward reached the fight, Emmett had the blonde haired one in a headlock. The other one was pounding the back of Emmett's head with a thick tree branch.
Tackling the one with the tree branch, Edward took on this one for himself, freeing Emmett to continue his attack on the blonde.
Victoria was gone, Edward noticed before his opponent had him on the ground, rolling with him, shoving Edward's face into a little brook they nearly landed in.
He still fights human, Edward observed, vampires couldn't be drowned.
The sounds of Megan's screams made Edward's head resurface from the water suddenly. He looked up, seeing Megan's car from underneath. Before he could react, it had landed right on him with a crunch and a thud.
Moments later, it seemed to Edward, he was opening his eyes. Megan was crying quietly near him, he could hear.
"Sleeping beauty awakens." Emmett smirked weakly, looking down at his smaller brother.
"Huh?" Edward's brow furrowed, trying to realize what was going on.
Emmett was standing against a tree trunk, his wrists and ankles chained and held together with silver padlocks.
"Emmett!" Edward gasped, trying to move towards him, then he realized, he was chained to the very same tree trunk at Emmett's side.
"He's awake?" Megan's voice came from Edward's right hand side, a bit around the tree. She, too, was chained with them, a few cuts and bruises on her.
"Megan?" Edward looked even more afraid now, jerking on his chains to free himself.
"Don't even waste your time, bro." Emmett sighed at Edward, "I've tried 'em, they're silver, we're fucked."
"Where are they ?" Edward asked, looking for Victoria and the newborns.
"Went to feed while you were out." Emmett looked up to the skies, inhaling, "I smell them close by though. They're on the way back."
"What are they gonna do to us, Edward?" Megan kept calm, facing this bravely.
Reading Victoria's mind, it wasn't hard to hear what she had in mind.
"They're going to burn us." Edward stated, making Megan cry out.
Emmett frowned at his brother, "TSK – Jesus, Edward!"
"She ASKED me!" he defended.
"Well that doesn't mean you have to tell her – just like THAT!" Emmett rolled his eyes.
"Sorry Megan." Edward turned to her, ashamed again, "They want to burn us. How's that ?"
"Putz." Emmett sighed to himself.
Victoria was striding up to them in minutes, smiling widely at Edward's expression as she approached.
Megan's car was nearby, crushed and empty. The newborns carried armfuls of firewood. The one armed newborn only carried a container of gasoline, setting it down on the ground as he scowled at Emmett.
"Edward, you woke up." Victoria tilted her head a bit, smiling more, "Good. I didn't want you to miss this."
"Victoria…" he began to try and beg for Emmett's and Megan's lives.
"Shut up!" she shouted, "You could've been mine and had a full, wild life. But no, you had to be stubborn and keep fighting with me. Well, congratulations, I get it now. You'll never be mine. You'll always be what you are now. Boring, safe, sensible little Edward. I don't want you anymore. And just since you love your little human friend more than you even want to tolerate ME, you can watch her burn before you, along with your precious brother who was too dumb to stay away from you."
"Hey, I resent that." Emmett cut in, "I am not precious."
"Gas them up." Victoria waved to her newborn servants.
They tossed the mangled pieces of trees all around them, at their feet, going all around the base of the tree, the other with the gas can pouring it on each of them, from head to toe, ignoring their groans and Megan's screams.
"Any last words?" Victoria enjoyed drawing this out as long as she could to torment them.
"I have some last words, for you, Victoria." Emmett grinned, dripping with gasoline, "Two words, actually. Guess what they are."
"Emmett –" Edward breathed, looking at Victoria, "Look, burn me it you must, you're allowed to do that, but killing Emmett is a crime against the Volturi. The same crime that gave me to YOU."
She let a laugh escape her lips, flicking her lighter playfully, only a couple sparks erupted from it as all three of the chained victims jumped every time she flicked it.
"What do I care?" she asked, "There are no witnesses. The Volturi can't touch me."
Carlisle's voice came from a few feet away. "Not so, Victoria."
She turned, watching Carlisle walk peacefully over to them from behind a tree.
"Daddy!" Emmett cooed, smiling in relief.
"Get back!" Victoria lit the lighter, holding it up near Edward's face. Not enough to set him ablaze yet, but another inch forward would do it.
"I know this one's your firstborn." Victoria threatened Carlisle as he stopped walking, staring at her sternly.
"I know he's your favorite." Victoria informed, "Take one more step and he's done!"
Edward blew out the flame from the lighter and Megan let out a laugh at this, but in a half second Volturi guards sprang out, grabbing Victoria and her newborns, wrestling them to the ground and placing silver cuffs on their wrists behind their backs.
"All secure, Lord Aro." One of the Volturi guards reported as Victoria and her vampires were stood up, in shackles, ready to face the slowly approaching Aro.
He shook his head at the vampires with his guards.
"We have one law." Aro sounded disappointed, but calm, "One little law and no one seems to be able to obey it."
"I am so lost." Megan shook her head, mumbling as Edward smiled at her, letting her know it was looking good for them now.
"Aro, my friend." Carlisle smiled a bit, "I thank you for coming here with us to see this for yourself. I know it is a great inconvenience."
"You have done many things for me, Carlisle, over the years." Aro informed, "I'm glad now I have a reason to help you with your request. I could not release your son from his sentence as you first asked me when we met again weeks ago, even though your arguments were many and lengthy, but, now that I see this, I may be able to amend your Edward's sentence a bit."
"Amend." Emmett looked at Edward, "You're dead."
"No, no…" Aro chuckled at Emmett's comment, "Don't be alarmed, I have three choices for your young Edward. He can choose."
"Yes, Aro." Edward bowed his head a bit, grateful that he had some options finally. This was never done for any vampire. He knew he owed this to Carlisle and partly, to Victoria, for her slip up.
"First choice :" Aro began, "Since Victoria will be sentenced to death for this crime, and since you belong to her, you will also be sentenced to death."
"I like that one." Victoria remarked but was slapped across the face hard by the guard near her, sending her down hard without another word.
"Continue." Edward wasn't counting that out yet. If the other two options weren't good, he might just choose death.
Second choice:" Aro paced in front of the chained brothers and human, "You belong to the Volturi and will do great things for us there with your many talents."
Carlisle looked at Edward with a strange look, as if he wanted him to choose this one. Edward kept his stone face rigid and wondered what the last choice was.
"And?" Edward waited.
"You won't want this last choice, young Edward, it's too horrible." Aro winced, just thinking about it.
"I'd like to hear it anyway, if it pleases you." Edward kept his voice respectful.
"Are you sure you don't want choice 2 ?" Aro grinned.
"I like to know all my options before choosing anything." Edward replied honestly.
"I guess you should tell it to him, then, Aro." Carlisle looked nervous.
"Alright." Aro shrugged, "You will be given to another, to learn her ways and teachings and Edward, if you choose this, it's not for only 20 years, it will be forever."
"Who will I be given to ?" Edward frowned, God, not Tanya or Jane – no, no, I'd rather die with Victoria, he thought in peril.
"Some nobody, a lower life form…" Aro took out a little black book and read the name, "Isabella….Swan. Some mortal who lives in a little swamp town called Forks."
Aro looked up at Edward and couldn't keep the smile from growing on his lips, watching young Edward's eyes sparkle to life again in that one second.
"Aww." Emmett felt himself get misty eyed.
Carlisle smiled at Edward, almost glowing as his son dripped with gasoline but never looked more happy in his entire existence. He could hardly speak and he tried several times.
"He's speechless." Aro chuckled with Carlisle.
"Is this a joke?" Edward finally found his voice but it was skeptical. It was too good to be true, he knew they were joking and that just killed him even more.
"Young Edward!" Aro feigned being insulted, "I am many things but cruel I am not."
Edward raised a brow, knowing that was baloney.
"Alright, I am cruel sometimes." Aro admitted, "But I am completely serious. Make your choice, young Edward Cullen."
He breathed out loud, a huge smile on his face. Emmett thought he looked positively goofy.
"Are you kidding?" Edward half laughed, half panted, "Choice 3 !"
"He chose the worst one, Carlisle." Aro smirked at his friend.
"He's a glutton for punishment." Carlisle shrugged.
"Alright, I hereby sentence you, Edward Cullen, to lifetime servitude to mortal Isabella Swan." Aro handed Carlisle the paper after he signed off on it, putting a hand on Edward's shoulder, "You poor thing you."
Edward beamed as he almost danced in his chains against the tree.
"Take these vile creatures back to Italy for their sentences to be carried out." Aro turned to the guards holding Victoria and her minions.
Edward looked at her face as they took her away – no words were exchanged between then but the emotions in their faces said it all.
Almost looking sorry for her, Edward glared back. All she gave him was hatred and anger for him not being what she wanted. That look melted a bit right before they pulled her away, and became a hint of sadness. Then she was gone.
Looking down, Edward heard Emmett say, "And where does she get it that you're Carlisle's favorite, anyway?"
One of the Volturi guards stayed back a minute to help free the chains from the trio around the tree.
"Let it go, Emmett." Edward rolled his eyes, watching while the guard went to help Megan first.
"I guess this means we're not dieing today?" Megan looked happy but still confused.
"Not today." Edward smiled back brightly.
"Oh, Megan." Carlisle came over to take her hand as she was freed from her chains, "I've heard all about you from Alice. I am so sorry for all you went through tonight. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your caring for my son."
"Oh." She blushed a little, making Edward hurt to think of Bella when he was still so far away from her.
"No problem." Megan said to Carlisle, "He's a very sweet…person. I'm just glad he didn't kill me."
"Me too." Edward watched as the guard began to work on Emmett's chains.
"I will have Emmett take you home right away, if that's alright." Carlisle offered, "The truth is, you should go before Edward is released from his chains. We still have to feed him, he's near starving."
"Oh, I'm fine, Carlisle." Edward tried to forget his thirst now that his life was back.
"Not another word, Edward." Carlisle looked at him strictly.
"Yes, father." Edward gave in, making Megan laugh.
"Can I say goodbye to him?" Megan asked Carlisle.
"Briefly, yes." Carlisle walked with her as she neared Edward.
"This is good." Carlisle stopped her a few inches away from his chained up son.
"This is weird." Edward smiled, truly smiled and Megan was hypnotized by the beauty of it.
"This whole night has been weird." She giggled, "But in a good way. Thank you for…resisting. I know it was real hard for you. I'm glad everything turned out good for you in the end."
"Thank you Megan." Edward smiled at her, "You were the one friend I had tonight, when I didn't deserve any. And please don't offer to drive any more strangers home. You're too nice for your own good."
"No, don't worry." She laughed, "I won't. I'm staying home with my kids from now on, until they graduate college."
"Don't give up on that fairy tale." Edward read her thoughts, "It'll happen. It always does for girls like you."
"Right." She looked down at herself, wet with gasoline, wishing she looked nicer. Edward looked even hotter covered with it.
"Bye Edward." She grinned, waving, sad that she couldn't give him one last hug goodbye.
"Bye Megan." He smiled, turning as Emmett stepped out of his chains, ready to take her home.
They walked away, Emmett glancing at her car as they went.
"At least you can get a new car now." Emmett informed, "Your old one sucked."
"Hey, I worked five summers to buy that car." She argued.
"For a two door Ford Escort?" Emmett asked loudly, "Why?"
Edward laughed as they faded into the trees.
"At least I know what to get her now for helping me." Edward said in a low voice, "You think she'd like a Porsche or a Ferrari better?"
"News bulletin to all car dealers" Carlisle teased, "Edward Cullen is home!"
"Don't unchain him yet, please." Carlisle said to the Volturi guard, "He needs to feed first."
"I will." Edward started to argue but Carlisle cut him off, "I want us to wait until Megan is out of range first. I'm not taking any chances."
"But I want to go home now!" Edward almost pleaded like a child on Christmas morning.
"Not yet." Carlisle said, kicking away the firewood around Edward's feet, "You're very lucky, do you know that? You could've been killed."
"I know what you must've gone through to get me back home, Carlisle." Edward said in a deep voice, looking into his father's eyes with such deep love, "I'll never forget it, ever. I love you, Dad."
"I love you, too, son." Carlisle mussed Edward's wet, oily gasoline hair, then winced as he smelled it.
Edward laid his head back on the tree trunk, closing his eyes as he pictured himself knocking on Bella's door, hoping Charlie didn't answer it.
Before he could get past that part of his dream, the smell of fressias and lavender filled the air all around him. His throat burned more than it had before and he jerked his head up, seeing Carlisle spin around to the north side of the forest.
"That's BELLA!" Edward almost shouted, then smiled from ear to ear, "BELLA, WE'RE OVER HERE !!"
"No, no, no…" Carlisle shoved Edward's shoulders back against the tree, "This is not a good idea, you haven't fed for nearly six weeks !"
"I don't care !" Edward frowned at him, then called again, "BELLA !!"
"I'm gonna kill Alice !" Carlisle fumed as he saw Alice running towards them first.
"ALICE" Edward was struggling against his chains, looking for Bella, "Where's Bella ?!"
"Ooh, Edward," Alice looked him over, wet and in chains, "I like it."
"Right there." Alice pointed as a little figure came running from the darkness, slight moonlight dancing across her.
"EDWARD !" the beautiful voice squealed as Edward's entire body seemed to glow, bouncing up and down within his chains.
"BELLA!" he screamed happily, wishing she had vampire speed to get to him faster.
She was almost to the tree when Carlisle caught her in his arms, stopping her.
"CARLISLE!" Edward and Bella screamed at the same time in anger.
"Carlisle, JEEZ" Alice scolded, "Way to screw up a beautiful moment!"
"How screwed up will it be when Edward bites into her while she's hugging him?" Carlisle asked in his own defense.
"He won't." Alice smiled wide, "I brought him all the blood he wants from the hospital blood bank."
"Well he drinks it first, then I'll let Bella go near him." Carlisle stated.
"Oh, Carlisle," Alice made him let her go, "Edward has control of himself."
"We'll watch in case he starts to lose it." Alice bargained.
"Alright." He finally let Bella go completely.
"YES" Edward beamed as Bella charged towards the tree, throwing her arms around his wet neck and kissing Edward's lips, small kisses over and over, trailing them over his closed eyes and nose, down his cheeks, back to his mouth again…
"I'm. Never. Going. To. Stop. Kissing. You." Bella said each word between each kiss.
Edward was kissing her back with equal passion, in between his kisses, saying, "I'm so sorry I left you. I'll never do it again."
"You can't." Bella kept kissing him, grabbing his wet hair with both hands, "You officially belong to me now forever."
"Yep." Carlisle grinned at their sweet love, "I have the paper to prove it."
"We have to frame that." Alice took it, reading it over with a smile.
Bella was going wild, kissing down his neck now. He stunk like gas but she didn't care.
"I like you chained up this way." Bella teased, "You can't push me off."
"I don't want to push you off." Edward replied honestly, groaning because his lips couldn't reach hers while she kissed his neck.
"What's this?" Bella smiled, touching the lion's claw around his neck.
"Oh God, please rip that off me." Edward forgot it was there and he hated it being around his neck.
"Really?" Bella asked.
"Yes, please, tear it off." He looked as if it was hurting him to have it around his neck so she plucked it off.
"Throw it far away." Edward breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've seen me in gym, I can't throw anything far away." Bella answered, making Edward laugh and smile at her as if she were the most precious jewel in the world.
"I love you Isabella Swan." He looked drunk for a moment, smiling at her, in awe.
"I love you, Edward Cullen." She grabbed the chains crossed over his chest and kissed his half bare chest right above where the chains were, making him moan out loud.
"ALICE" Edward's eyes widened, "BLOOD NOW. Bella, move away!"
"I told you!" Carlisle hurried up and gently held Bella, moving her back away from him.
Bella didn't struggle, knowing Edward was very weak and needed this more than her kisses at the moment.
"Okay, Edward, hang on." Alice opened her bag as Edward panted heavily, staring at Bella's face with a deep hunger she never saw that intense before.
"Move it, Alice!" Carlisle watched helplessly as Edward's eyes were squinting in pain.
"Here you go…here you go." Alice held up a huge sports bottle with a straw sticking out of it, putting it to Edward's lips.
He sucked it up hungrily, his voice moaning out in relief as his eyes closed, swallowing and sucking.
"Take it slow, Edward." Carlisle advised, "Don't make yourself sick. Take it easy."
Bella watched, realizing this was the first time she got to see him drink blood. She wasn't sure if it was right or not, but she was happy to see him so content, getting what he needed and thirsted for all this time. The color slowly came back to his cheeks a bit more. He wasn't rosy faced like a human, but he looked more like himself than before.
Finally, he sucked that bottle dry, the sucking sound against the empty bottom of the bottle signaling Alice.
She took the bottle away and Edward growled, "MORE." Almost like an animal, with no patience or hint of his usual polite manner.
"Coming." Alice didn't take any offense, knowing how Edward was feeling.
Panting, Edward looked at Bella and winced, looking at Carlisle.
She was sitting on the grass with Carlisle close at her side, watching this.
"Edward feels bad you have to see him like this, Bella." Carlisle said softly, knowing his son's facial expressions too well.
"Don't, Edward." Bella looked at him, "You've seen me eat. It's no big deal. Keep eating until you're okay again. I'm not scared."
In his frenzy, he shivered and choppily groaned, "I love you Bella."
"I love you, too, you goofball." She smiled, tears in her eyes that he was really coming home.
"Here." Alice stuck the straw into his mouth again and he moaned, gulping it down again with ferocious speed, closing his eyes.
"See, he's starved himself for so long that now he truly can't stop drinking until he's full." Carlisle explained, "If he had killed a human tonight, just her blood wouldn't be enough. He'd have to keep going and going until he was completely saturated. It would've been a bloodbath."
"He was strong to have resisted that tonight, being in that club." Alice commented, Edward was so lost in drinking that he couldn't even hear any of them at the moment.
"Why does he look like it hurts?" Bella asked, watching him drink, cringing but growling like a panther.
"His body is hurting right now." Carlisle informed softly, "After denying it blood for so long, now that he's getting it, his body is adjusting itself, strengthening itself again. It's very uncomfortable for Edward right now. But he's okay. Just sit here with me until morning. Then it should be safe to release him. Alright?"
"Yes." She trembled a little, wishing she could help him.
"Can I help Alice ?" Bella asked, watching her feed Edward the third bottle now.
"NO" Edward, Alice and Carlisle all yelled at once.
"Shh, Edward," Alice put her hands over Edward's opened eyes, closing them again, "It's alright, she won't come close to you."
"Just sit here with me." Carlisle repeated, "This is not a good time to test the boundaries between human and vampire. Edward is strong but no vampire is THAT strong."
Bella shivered a little, thinking that Edward was so animal like during this. He hardly could speak. Maybe this is why he didn't want her hunting with him, as he once said but she hadn't understood. She did now.
The rest of the night went on that way – Alice rushing to refill bottle after bottle, each time Edward getting more demanding as she tried to keep up. Alice never got upset at Edward or even looked the least bit irritated. She soon became Bella's new hero.
Bella didn't realize it, but hours later, she'd fallen asleep on Carlisle's legs. When she began to awaken, she found Carlisle's jacket over her like a blanket. The sun wasn't shining, but it was morning.
She started to sit up, seeing Alice still feeding Edward a bottle, only now Edward was drinking it slowly, his head leaning back against the tree, eyes closed in peace. Bella grinned to Carlisle, silently thanking him for serving as her bed for the night.
"He's almost good as new." Alice smiled at Bella, then back to Edward.
The sucking noise against the empty bottom sounded again and this time Alice took the straw away, looking closely at Edward's face. His eyes stayed closed, his breathing was normal, no longer strained.
"Edward?" Alice tapped the side of his cheek softly.
His eyes fluttered open, a tired, sleepy look there staring back at her.
"More?" Alice asked loudly, almost slowly as if speaking to a mentally challenged person.
Bella looked at Carlisle, clearly bothered by this.
He explained, "Now that Edward is nearly back at full strength and is nearly full, he will be very tired for a few hours. His body has been working hard all night realigning itself. He's perfectly alright, though."
With hardly a movement, Edward nodded to Alice, his eyes almost crossed in their dreamlike state as his sister closed his eyes for him with her hand again.
"Okay one more should do it." She announced, "Then we can let him out of the chains and take him somewhere to get him cleaned up. Then we can go HOME!" she almost cheered that last part.
"Poor baby." Alice put the straw into Edward's mouth again, stroking his cheek, "He shouldn't have starved himself this way but he was trying so hard to stick to our way. He really is something."
"Yes he is." Bella said before Carlisle got to say it.
"How many did he drink?" Bella looked around on the grass, piles of empty plastic blood bags as far as her eyes could see.
"Don't ask." She replied, "Let's just say – a lot."
After a few minutes, Edward was finished with that bottle and Alice took it out of his mouth.
"And now we check with Edward." Alice said to Bella, smiling at Edward's dormant face, "He's so cute, isn't he? He looks asleep, doesn't he?"
Bella smiled, fully agreeing with her.
"Eddie." Alice held his face up with her one hand, making his lips smush together as if he was going to kiss someone.
"Alice." Carlisle frowned, "Don't humiliate him in front of Bella."
"I'm not." She defended herself, "She thinks he's cute."
"Just ask." Carlisle's eyes went firm.
"Killjoy." Alice grumbled, cooing, "Edward…do you want some more babycakes?"
"I'm sorry, I don't usually get to be so cute with Edward." Alice giggled, "I love babying him."
Carlisle grinned. He knew Alice and Edward's bond was strong but he also knew Edward would be mortified if she went too far with this in front of Bella.
"Edward, do you want more?" Alice saw Edward's eyes open lazily, trying to focus on her face.
"Still thirsty?" she asked again, holding a new bottle up to his mouth.
He almost sucked on the straw part but then choked and groaned, shaking his head in a no response.
"Okay, he's had enough. Good." Alice said, Bella finally let out a breath of relief.
"What now?" Bella asked.
"Now we can take those damned chains off him." Carlisle stood up, taking the chain cutters and snapping a couple links near Edward's ankles. Alice held Edward's body up as Carlisle cut the chains off.
Finally, Edward was free of the tree and Alice helped Carlisle carry his limp body over to Bella.
"Yes, it's okay." Carlisle answered Alice's silent question, laying Edward's head on Bella's lap. Right away Edward's arms curled around her legs, gently squeezing them to his cheek.
"He won't hurt you." Alice knew, smiling at Bella's happy face.
"Thank you both." Bella had tears in her eyes as Edward's sweet touch again. And he never cuddled on her lap, as if asleep before. She loved it.
"We'll get the car and bring it closer." Carlisle nudged Alice, saying "Pick up everything, don't leave anything behind."
"Okay."
Bella scratched her little fingernails up and down Edward's back. The leather jacket was off him now and only his torn up red t shirt remained.
"You're so sweet like this." Bella said in a low hushed voice as his closed eyes hypnotized her, "Now I see why you like watching me sleep."
She smelled the gasoline on him again and nearly sobbed. He almost got burned to death last night, she told herself. Because of her. Now she was getting a clue of what Edward went through, blaming himself for her injuries.
"What you go through for me." Bella's lip trembled, "Why? I'm just some little nobody. There's not one special thing about me…except you. And you look at me like…I'm some goddess or something. When are you gonna wake up and see me right?"
Carlisle walked back up towards the two of us and smirked, looking down at us.
Bella blinked, wiping her eyes as she turned away.
"Bella." Carlisle said carefully, "You ARE special."
Oh great, he heard what I said, Bella realized, super vampire hearing.
"A vampire sees lots of things most humans can't see." Carlisle informed gently, "We all see you right. That's why we all love you so much. Edward, most of all."
"Thanks Carlisle." Bella heard her voice break a little as she kept stroking Edward's hair, the wetness turning cold now.
"Here comes the car." Carlisle looked, seeing Alice driving his black vehicle closer.
"Allow me?" Carlisle reached down to scoop Edward up into his arms, as if he were light as a feather, "Go sit in the back seat and Edward can rest his head on your lap again until we get to the hotel."
"This boy needs a good bath." Alice announced.
"Yes, I don't want Esme seeing him like this." Carlisle laid Edward in the back seat, Bella let his head lay on her legs as Carlisle closed the door, getting in the front passenger side.
Bathtime next!
Yes, I had to put a nice bath in there, kill me. Edward deserves it, after all he's been through.
Love WinndSinger