Here is the final chapter in this short tale...

The bruises I had left on Bella's beautiful, brittle body after our first night together had frightened and shocked me. As soon as she had fallen asleep, I had examined her carefully, feeling gently along all of her limbs, her ribcage, and her hips to assure myself that my grip hadn't fractured any of her delicate little bones. Relief flooded me when I confirmed that I had not broken anything. I had not felt the evidence of the contusions, though.

She had slept on, exhausted from both the long journey and our lovemaking, while I sat hunched over her, still worried that I had caused a less obvious sort of damage. I inhaled slowly, intently, waiting for the scent of fresh blood to wash over me. It took me several long moments to realize that her delectable, natural aroma was all I could smell.

But then the morning light revealed the brutal bruises to my appalled eyes. I had vowed that I would not touch her—would not risk injuring her—until she was changed. Her disappointment had been wrenching, and in the end I had given in once again. The knowledge that I had the means to repair any damage I might cause had remained in the back of my mind, providing the small measure of calm that permitted me to worship her body as fully as she wished.

"Edward."

Bella's voice drew me back to the present. Sitting motionless upon the couch, she was staring at me, waiting for me to answer her.

"Did you really think," she began again, color flooding her cheeks, "that you'd need to use all of this on me?" She dropped the suture kit back into the bag.

"Better safe than sorry," I murmured, echoing Carlisle's words since I didn't know what else to say.

"But Edward, there's almost an entire emergency room in here!" she protested mildly. "You… you really believed you would hurt me badly enough to need this?" Now she looked disappointed, even melancholy.

I took her hands in mine. "I didn't know… I wanted to trust myself, but I wasn't sure, and it seemed like if I was over-prepared then maybe I would have a better chance of—of not needing it."

"Sort of like a reverse Murphy's Law?" she questioned.

I nodded. "I suppose so."

Her fingers tightened around my hands. "Oh Edward." A small smile began to curl over her beautiful lips. "I trusted you. Wasn't that enough?"

I leaned in to kiss her. "Yes, love, I know now that it was."

I lingered, enjoying the warmth of her mouth against mine. But when the aroma of her blood grew stronger, I pulled back. The cut had begun to bleed again once she'd set her foot on the ground. It still required treatment. I took her foot in my hands and carefully placed it on the table, folding a thick towel beneath it. Then I went to work.

I didn't want Bella to feel any pain. I offered to give her an injection of Lidocaine, but she declined, saying she'd prefer the minor discomfort to the feel of the needle. While I would have preferred to numb the area, I deferred to her wishes.

I wiped away the blood with Betadine, then I filled an empty syringe with saline and irrigated the wound. She flinched a bit as I performed this necessary task.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," I apologized, "but I have to be sure that all traces of sand and debris are removed."

"It's okay," she said. "It just stings a little."

I smiled up at her, and she returned the smile, nodding at me to continue. I dried the laceration carefully then applied antibiotic cream. I covered it with a thick gauze pad, secured with surgical tape. Then I kissed each of her toes before sitting beside her and pulling her into my lap.

"How does it feel?" I asked.

"Much better. Thank you." She kissed me softly, sliding her fingers into my hair.

We sat entwined in each other's arms for a long time, soft kisses and tender caresses expressing our love for each other. Finally I drew back slightly.

"Perhaps you should lie down for a little while," I suggested, trailing one finger over her thigh.

"But I'm not tired—I'm fine now, Edward."

I arched an eyebrow at her. "I didn't say you were tired, love. I just said I thought you should lie down... in bed."

A lovely shade of rose spread over her cheeks. "Oh! Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

I pulled away and began packing up the duffel bag. However, Bella's small, warm hand on my arm stopped me.

"I just want to get this put away," I said. "It will only take a few moments."

She shook her head. "Just leave it. You can put it back later."

"But I thought it upset you-"

"It did," she replied, "but now I understand. It just shows how very much you care about me."

I pushed the bag under the table and leaned in to kiss her deeply. "Mmm, I do... so, so much."

She giggled as I let her take a breath. "Anyway," she said, "there's nothing in that bag that I need now. You're the cure for all my ills." Her eyes sparkled as her hand made its way down my chest and over my stomach.

I growled happily and scooped her into my arms, carrying my beautiful, beloved bride to our bedroom.

Fin