Hey, thank you to those of you who told me to continue! I was just wondering if it was any good and worth continuing.
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Thank you! I like to know that my story is worth the read!

Chapter 3: Struggles

Edward's Point of View

I watched from the doorway, smiling, as Bella slowly put her daughter to bed. Renesmee, whining a little for having to sleep, was slowly losing her ground. Bella's quiet, beautiful voice humming a lullaby was enough to make Renesmee feel at peace. Bella continued to hum after her eyelids had fluttered shut and even when Renesmee's breathing had slowed to a slow, steady pace.

Bella turned to face me, a small smug smile on her lips. Her daughter was no match for her soft lullaby, and she was proud of it.

She was about to lean in to kiss me, when something made me stop her. I quickly remembered the image I had seen in her mind… of her and Max in a clearing… and him approaching her…

First, however there was another issue I wanted to talk to her about.

"Bella," I whispered to her, now in our own side of the room. "Carlisle, in his mind, did you tell him something about your transformation that you did not tell me?"

I saw her pause and sigh. "Edward, you know I always want you to be happy. At the time, I never saw the need to tell you the truth, I thought maybe you would be happier that way, without knowing what actually happened."

"Love, you have to tell me these things. I can't believe you kept something like this for me for so long!" I saw Bella look down, upset that I was upset with her. Why didn't she tell me? If not at first, surely she could have found sometime to tell me, and then she tells Carlisle instead of me. I was hurt.

"So, you really remember and felt everything?"

She still wasn't looking at me, "Yeah, everything, it was horrible. I told Carlisle because Alice was getting visions of Carlisle with another vampire, and I was hoping if he was going to change the vampire, he wouldn't waste his time doing what he did to me. Now I know it was just Max, who is clearly already changed."

"Why couldn't you tell me as well?"

"I didn't want you to be upset."

"Well, now I am. Congratulations."

If she was human, there would probably be tears in her eyes. I felt sorry, where had the attitude come from? Before I could apologize for being rude, she ran out of the room. About to run after her, I was stopped when the image of Max close to her face, running his finger across her cheek, slowly, stopped me. What was happening between us? I couldn't make myself move. I was too startled.

Bella, my light, my love, my everything, was she slowly moving away from me, had she had it with me?

This couldn't be happening.

Bella's Point of View

The end of the lullaby came, and Renesmee was already fast asleep. I smiled warmly at her peaceful rest. If there is anything I miss from being human its sleep. After a long day, it is nice to know that you can come home to a comforting bed, and forget about your troubles from the day. The next day you can start anew. As a vampire, it is just one long day. I wondered briefly if Edward had seen in my mind what had happened in the meadow with Max. I was so confused about it, that I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Turning around, I saw Edward staring at me from the doorway, I was proud of how quickly I put Renesmee to sleep. I skipped over to him, and stretched up on my toes, about to kiss him, when he stopped me.

He hadn't done that in a while. Recently Edward had been acting so weird, I urged him to ask Max about why it seemed like Max was blocking part of his mind to him. Maybe Max was blocking his mind, maybe that was part of his power, but Edward should have just asked instead of becoming more and more worked up about it. I decided I would ask him tomorrow.

"Carlisle, in his mind, did you tell him something about your transformation that you did not tell me?" His voice sounded so accusing.

So, Edward had finally figured out my transformation did not go as smoothly as he had thought. Obviously I had kept it from him, there were too many other things to worry about at the time, and I just had not found the right time to mention it to him. I did not think he should be so angry with me. He had not been upset with me in a long time. I only kept this secret to protect him… to keep him as blissful as I usually felt.

He continued to question me angrily, and I couldn't stand it.

"Well, now I am. Congratulations." What was his problem? I did that for him.

In the end his sarcastic comment left me wanting to cry. I just wanted him to be happy. I thought maybe there was another reason he was upset, he had probably seen something run through my mind about Max. I was angry that he thought anything of that. Before he could say anything more, I ran out of there.

Max was downstairs sitting on the piano. His fingers were running over the keys, silently. He played no music, most likely only imagining the music in his head, like Edward often did before he played something. He was probably thinking of Renesmee who might be awoken by the noise, but I knew that it would only help her sleep. I didn't stay and chat, however, and I ran straight out the back door and out into the surrounding forest. I ran to the little spring that Alice had taken me to.

The night sky had no moon, only stars so there was little light and the dark water moved slowly on its winding path. Little lightning bugs swarmed through the air, lighting each other's path. The smell of the wild lavender and now, being late summer, wild honeysuckle filled the air with its sweet aroma. Besides the quiet sound of the water over the rocks, and the crickets calling to their mates, I heard someone fast approaching the spring. I guessed it was Edward, and was instantly frustrated. Couldn't the man deal without me for five minutes?

I needed some time alone. There was so much to think about, why did Max's touch make me feel like that? Why was Edward getting upset so easily? Could it really be because of Max? Harmless, kind, brotherly Max?

He sat down next to me, and patted my back. Patted my back? Who was I? His little sister?


I looked over at the man sitting next to me, my own anger growing, and when my eyes met his face I jumped ten feet in the air.

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