Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

I wrote this story without expecting people to read it, but I am ecstatic that you guys really like it! Thanks for all the encouraging reviews.

This chapter is written in Edward's point of view.

Enjoy.

Chapter 11: Relocating

EPOV

After excusing Bella and myself from my family, I guided her back into Forks' forest. The smell of fresh snow and pine provided a relaxing aroma after tonight's little run-in with the werewolves.

Next to me, Bella sat down by a tree trunk with a huff. I leaned my back against that same trunk and studied her. I wasn't just admiring her features, but also scanning her for any signs of injury the wolves could have inflicted. If they ripped a limp off or something, I surely would have noticed by now. Bella was completely unharmed, and I could breathe easier after that assessment.

A frustrated sigh escape her lips, "I'm always doing something wrong."

"You couldn't have known about the treaty line, Bella," I reminded.

She picked up a rotting branch on the ground and easily crushed it into pieces before speaking again.

"If I waited for you like I said I would. None of this would have happened," She insisted.

I opened my mouth to protest, but she was already standing in front me and that was a good enough silencer.

"I just wanted to show you that I can do this by myself. That I can control my thirst for you and for your family. I don't want you, definitely not them, to worry about me. I didn't think I'd run into werewolves in the process," She ranted.

Hence the reason why she left without me. She wanted to prove to me that she can, in fact, control her thirst for human blood. I have no doubt that she can, but it was going to take some time.

"I'm still very proud of you, though. You didn't stray into town," I smiled softly.

She gave a small laugh, "Go, Bella."

"And you won't have to worry about werewolves, anymore. We'll be leaving soon. Relocating," I informed.

Her eyes became alert again, lighting up like red balls of flame.

"Where are we going? You never mentioned we'd be leaving so soon " Bella questioned curiously.

"New Hampshire. My brothers and sisters are registered to attend Dartmouth this fall," I explained and hesitated on my next thought.

"We should, too," I finished.

"You can't possibly mean you want me to go to college when I'm still like this, do you?" Bella asked.

Like what? Like a goddess? She's always going to look like that regardless of what she does.

Bella turned her back on me, "I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Being around so many humans at once isn't the best idea right now."

"Well, you can't get used to them if you don't expose yourself to them. You'll need to hunt more as a precaution," I insisted.

She swirled around to face me. The motion was so fluid, it looked like she was a ballerina doing a point turn.

"I can't do it, Edward. I'm not ready," She protested with her lips pulled in a tight line.

"You must, Bella. For yourself. Unless you want to lock yourself up during the day and come out during the night. Like a real vampire," I said.

The look on her face told me she was actually considering it. Unbelievable.

"At least then, I won't be tortured by the scent of their blood burning through my nostrils like a blazing fire ready to consume every part of me. Why do I have to sacrifice myself for their protection, Edward?" She exclaimed.

"Who was there to protect me when you sank your teeth into my neck? No one! That's who! So, why should I spare them, any of them?" Bella demanded in a rough tone.

I groaned running a frustrated hand through my hair, "You will never forgive me for what I've done, will you? You keep bringing it up like I don't remember every time I look at you! The whole point of this is so you can have a normal life."

She glared at me with her crimson eyes, "I don't think that's possible."

"You will never know if you don't try. Do you remember what it felt like after you killed that man? Hell, you were practically begging me to kill you. Now, you want to tell me that all this isn't worth it?" I questioned.

Bella turned her gaze away from me looking into the distant trees. I reached out to touch her, but retracted my fingers at the last moment. Why are things so complicated between us?

I caught a crunching sound nearby and sniffed the air. A hundred different scents flew into my nostrils all at once until I sorted out the one that interested me. There was a bear moving through the trees. I recalled that Bella must still be very hungry after Jacob's little intervention back there. Without a word, I sprinted off in the direction the tangy scent was radiating from.

"Edward? Edward!" Bella called after me.

I ignored her calls and spotted the bear standing outside of his cave. The bear's back was turned toward me making him an easy target. I leaped onto his back in a single bound and quickly snapped his neck.

Bella was sitting against the tree trunk when I returned dragging the bear behind me. She peeked behind the tree at the scent she obviously smelled. I let the bear lose from my grip and it landed next to her. Despite her hunger, she was still mad at me and refused to drink.

I tilted her chin up to face me, "Drink, Bella."

"Hmph," She huffed stubbornly.

"I'm not in the mood to play games," I warned.

She refused to pay me any attention. If this was defiance at it's best, I believe she's going to need something better. With one swift motion, I brought her face to the bear's neck and that was enough to do the job. She eagerly bit down and began drinking.

While she was busy consuming her prey, I felt the need to apologize for shouting at her earlier. Nonetheless, I meant everything I said.

Her eyes were still closed when she disengaged. She swallowed the last gulp and I noticed the trickle of blood flowing from her lips to the corner of her mouth. My hunger roared to life, but there was something so erotic watching this drop of blood slowly sliding down. It was beginning to leave a trail at the corner, and I figured my apology would come in another form.

I always wondered why blood and sex were the two prominent things on Emmett's mind, but now, I think I can understand why.

My desire for Bella wasn't just carnal anymore. It was sweet, almost like using chocolate as aphrodisiac but instead, you have blood. This blood on her lips was my chocolate. My aphrodisiac.

I quickly tossed the bear out of the way, and cradled her face in my hands. She felt me, I was sure but she didn't move a fraction of an inch. Slowly, I flicked my tongue out to catch the drop of blood sliding from her mouth. I let my tongue swirl across her bottom lip, collecting the crimson liquid I found there. Nothing could ever taste as sweet as Bella did to me, but licking animal blood from Bella's lips was pretty damn close.

"Edward," She breathed a heavenly sigh.

I moved my lips against hers like a feather, hesitantly asking for permission. To my delight, she parted her lips slightly, but that was all I needed. I kissed her gently, probing my way for more access. Bella placed her arms around my neck, and I took that chance to slip my tongue into her mouth. It swirled against hers automatically, and I groaned when I tasted the blood still lingering on her palate.

Bella pulled my bottom lip into her mouth and began sucking gently. My whole body yearned for her. Without breaking the kiss, I pushed her back onto the grass. One of my arms reached back to cradle her head. Her tongue darted into my mouth with the searching eagerness of an inexperienced teenage girl. In fact, that is exactly what she is.

Once again, I found my morals being tested. I groaned against her mouth from the pleasure of her sweet tongue, and the dilemma of whether or not I should go on. While I fought within myself, Bella kept twirling her tongue against mine. Stroking the underside with incredible persuasiveness. Two can play that game.

I broke away from her lips and ducked my head to kiss the skin against her neck. Letting my tongue slowly graze across the expanse of her creamy skin.

"Come to Dartmouth with me, Bella," I whispered against her ear.

"Is that what you want?" Bella asked running her fingers through my hair.

"Yes," I replied.

Bella dropped her hand and looked up at me, "Fine. If it ends badly, remember that it wasn't my idea."

"Hi!" Alice chirped opening the front door before I could knock.

'Way to go, Edward!' Alice thought cheerfully.

I frowned at her knowing exactly what she was referring to. She certainly shouldn't have been watching us.

'Carlisle wanted me to keep an eye on you two,' Alice thought as if that justified her spying.

She immediately pulled Bella to her side and locked their arms together.

"How did hunting go?" Alice asked with an implied tone.

I glared at her hostilely, because Jasper and Emmett were chuckling softly on the couch. Of course, she would tell them about what happened. Great. Just great.

"Fine," Bella answered Alice's question.

"More than fine I would say," Emmett chuckled louder.

Esme walked by and slapped the back of his head. "Ow!" Emmett exclaimed.

"And why would you say that?" Bella asked curiously.

"Weren't you and Edward a little tongue tied out there?" Emmett asked with so much implication dripping into his voice.

Bella gasped looking horrified, "How can you possibly know what happened between Edward and I?"

All eyes rested on Alice.

"What's going on here?" Bella pondered out loud.

"What? What did I do? I can't help what I see!" Alice defended.

"See?" Bella asked.

I placed an arm around Bella's shoulders, "Alice has visions. She can see the future."

"Cool!" Bella exclaimed jumping out of my arm.

"Who am I going to marry?" Bella asked curiously testing Alice's credibility.

'Me! You're going to marry me!' I mentally shouted at her.

Alice frowned after a short second, "You're future is very hazy. There are decisions you haven't made yet that would let me see the possibility of your future mate."

What?! She didn't see Bella marrying me? Alice flashed me a quick sympathetic look while Bella was pondering that little tidbit Alice gave her.

"What do you mean? That I don't have a future?" Bella questioned.

Alice shook her head, "No, that's not what I meant. Think of it as you are walking along a straight path and that path splits up into two roads. Which one will you take? You're future isn't clear to me because you haven't made that decision, yet."

"Oh," Bella shrugged indifferently.

This news bothered me more than it should have, because I expected Alice to see Bella marrying me. That was how I wanted it to happen. That was how it should happen. It was the only thing that made sense.

'Does it really make sense, Edward? You created her, but you don't own her,' Jasper questioned me through his thought.

Of course, it makes sense! I love her. My feelings for her were true.

'Just because you love her doesn't mean she has to love you back,' Jasper responded after feeling what I felt for Bella.

I growled in his direction and he redirected his gaze somewhere else to avoid a confrontation in front of his wife. I knew he only meant to caution me, but I didn't want to hear it tonight. Bella and Alice both looked at us with concern.

"What's going on, Edward? Is everything okay?" Bella asked.

I smiled and lied, "Everything is fine."

"Okay, why don't everyone go pack? The moving trucks will be here early tomorrow morning," Esme insisted hoping to ease any tension left in the room.

For the rest of the night, everyone focused on packing up the Cullen mansion.

To be continued…

I want Dartmouth to play a part in this story, because I expected it to play a part in Breaking Dawn and that never happened. So, it's going to be in this story.

Thanks for reading. Please review! I'd like to hear what you think, even if you didn't think it was good.

For3ver Immortal