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Fire. I couldn't put out the fire. Where was Edward? He would put the fire out. Dreams. So many dreams. Screaming. Someone was screaming in pain. Someone help her. I floated in and out of consciousness. Something was wrong with me but I couldn't wake up to find out what it was. I don't know how long I was out. The sun was shining through the windows as I slowly opened my eyes. Blinking at the harsh light I flung my hand over my eyes. That's when I heard him. The sweetest voice I had ever heard.

"Bella?" Pulling my hand away I saw him. My love. Edward. Sitting beside me just holding my hand. If vampires could look horrid he would have. "Are you really awake?"

"Edward? OH my love. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I went to the dance studio. I shouldn't have. He said he had my mother."

"Shhh, love. It's alright. That's behind us now. You're back with me and that's all that matters." He said kissing me sweetly on the lips almost as if he was afraid he would break me. "Carlisle!!!!!!!!!!" He yelled. I winced as I heard a stampede of footsteps all rushing for Edward's room. Everyone rushed in Jasper and Emmett getting stuck in the door as they both tried to get in at the same time. I laughed heartily as they struggled.

Alice was the first to reach me. "OH Bella it is so good to see you awake." She squealed pulling me roughly into her arms pushing Edward away. I smiled sweetly at her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. What happened?" I asked looking to their faces.

"You don't remember? " Alice questioned looking at Edward.

Shaking my head I turned to see Edward's face. It was sad. He looked like he was about to cry. But vampires didn't cry. "Edward, what happened?"

"I think that we should give you two some space. Come on guys. You can visit with Bella later." Esme walked over to me, hugging me and placing a kiss on my forehead. Everyone followed suit even Rosalie who whispered in my ear before she left. I'm sorry she said. Esme quickly herded everyone from the room with a reluctant Alice bringing up the rear. Edward stayed across the room where he had ended up when Alice had pushed him away.

"Edward? Would you tell me what happened? Please?"

"Are you hungry?" Was all he asked. Well that was odd and evasive. What was going on?

"No I'm not hungry. I want you to tell me what happened after the baseball game. Stop stalling. You are making me worried. "

"That's surprising that you are not hungry. It's been 2 months since you've eaten. You're not the slightest bit hungry?"

"GOD DAMN IT EDWARD. NO FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT HUNGRY. JUST TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!!" I screamed at him pushing the blankets away pushing away from the bed and coming to stand face to face with him. He tried to move away but I pushed him back against the bookshelf. Wait a second; I've never been able to push him. What was going on?

"I COULDN'T SAVE YOU THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON." He screamed back. I stepped back surprised at his anger.

"What do you mean you couldn't save me? I'm here. I'm alive. To me that looks like you did." I said pulling his face to look at me. He looked so upset and I couldn't figure out why.

"Not technically." He said turning his face from mine.

"Edward what the hell do you mean?"

"Bella, love I wasn't able to keep you from turning. James got to you and bit you. I wasn't able to suck the venom out. You are no longer human love. You are one of us now." I watched his face as he said this. He looked devastated.

"Edward this is what I wanted. Maybe it came about the wrong way. I wish you had been the one to change me but what's done is done. We can't change the past. Do you still want me? Even though it was James that turned me?" I gazed up at his face hoping.

"Oh God Bella. Of course I still want you." He crushed me to him inhaling deeply. "Thank God you smell like you again. For days you smelled wrong. You smell like my Bella again."

Pulling slightly away from him to look up at him questions in my eyes. "What do you mean I smell like me again?"

Crushing me back against his chest, I felt Edward's lips trail along my neck line and collarbone placing small kisses here and there. "For the last 3 days you didn't smell like you. When someone is injected with our venom during the change that person smells like the one who turned them. For days you smelled like James. I almost couldn't stand it. But I couldn't just leave you. You were in so much pain. But I still couldn't leave you. I love you too much."

"Edward I love you too. But what about Charlie? And Renee?" I questioned pulling away. Sadness jumped to his eyes and I knew. They thought I was dead. In my heart I knew that after what James had done there was no going back. The only way that Edward and I could be together was if they thought I was dead. "How?" I asked my voice quivering with sadness; I almost ached for the ability to cry.

"You were hit head on by a drunk driver on your way to Phoenix. The car exploded on impact. There was no body to bury. It was easier for them. The funeral was 2 weeks ago. Alice and I went. Everyone knew that we had been close. Charlie was the only one to know that we had had that "fight" and we broke up. I hated seeing him like that. I tried to apologize but he wouldn't listen. I met your mother. She was heartbroken that we hadn't the chance to meet before. But she saw my love for you in my eyes and was finally able to get Charlie to talk to me. He was bitter because I was the reason that you left, he knew that you loved me but he still thought that you left because you hated it here. But he knew that you loved him. He didn't even mention what you said before. He was so angry at me but he didn't have anyone else to lash out at but he knew it wasn't my fault. He's a cop so he knew. I have never seen anyone so devastated. It's the first and only time, vampires and wolves put aside their differences."

"Poor Charlie. How is he now?"

"He is getting better. He started dating. Alice checks up on him every now and then."

"That's good. Now…" I said pausing as my mind finally registered that he had said it had been over 2 months. "Want to tell me why I have been unconscious for 2 months?"

"That is something we have been trying to figure out. Physically after the first 3 days you were a vampire but for some reason you just wouldn't wake up. Even Carlisle was concerned. If you hadn't woken up today he was going to call Tanya. But Alice saw you. She knew that you would wake up today she just didn't know when."

"I think my body needed to heal. I think my body knew how badly it was damaged and then going through the pain of the change. I think it just knew." *Oh god. I'm a vampire. I get to be with Edward forever. I wonder if he knows just how much I love him*

"Oh Bella I do. And I love you. " He said still crushing me to him. *Wait a minute I said that in my head. So he can read my mind too. Well aren't presents going to be a blast.*

"Yes my love I can hear what you are saying in your head. But that's only because you haven't developed your gift yet. You are still a newborn vampire. You are the only one of our kind that has the gift that you do and after you have feed I will help you develop it. "

"Edward do you know what my gift is?" I said pulling away from him putting some distance between us.

"You are a shield my love. You have the ability to protect your mind and body as well as others from unwanted attacks. "

"Well that certainly is an ability. How did you figure this out? Let me guess. Alice?"

"Yes and no. Yes Alice did have a vision of you using your power and no because you managed even while you were unconscious to shield yourself from pain. At least you did after the first day. I honestly don't know how but you did." Edward pulled me against him once again his face buried deep in my neck, It was only when I felt his teeth lightly skim my neck that I realized I was starving.

"Edward." I said murmuring against his chest.

"Yes love?" He whispered against my neck.

"I think we should go hunting." I could feel his smile against my skin. Pulling away he cupped my face in his hands and kissed my cold lips. His eyes were black and I knew that while I had been unconscious he had feed only when necessary. He had barely left my side and then only when Carlisle threatened him.

"I would love to my love." Giggling as he grabbed my hand and we ran out the bedroom door and practically flew down the stairs. I could hear the gasps of surprise by my family as we raced through the front door. My family. I liked the sound of that. We stopped at the edge of the driveway and I threw Edward a curious glance.

"Let's see just how fast you are now love." Growling at the challenge I raced off in front of him. I had to admit Edward was fast but I was slightly faster. I stopped halfway through the woods as I caught a scent. Not human. I sniffed the air as Edward caught up to me. Not grizzly. Inhaling deeply I could see Edward was watching me to see if I could pick up the scent. He smiled as the thought hit my head and he knew. "Mountain lion." He grinned and took off. I was closely behind smiling. That mountain lion didn't have a chance.