***You guys are so awesome, thanks for the reviews and always please let me know what you guys think and if you have any suggestions. I don't own anything, and enjoy!:)****

Chapter 8

The Date

It was twilight and Edward and I made our way towards this new place he wanted me to see.

I was still nervous and was worried that being alone with him was something I wasn't ready for.

As much as I love and have always loved Edward, I wasn't sure that just acting like nothing ever happened between us was the best idea.

A lot of mistakes where made in the past by Edward and I, and I had to find it in me to stand up for myself now and be honest with him.

I was not the fragile human he left in Forks, although I was nowhere near as old or as experienced as Edward I deserved to be treated with respect and as an equal and if Edward couldn't understand that I couldn't allow myself to be with him again.

The entire run I thought of all the disagreements Edward and I had in the past and was trying to figure out how to best put into words all the concerns I had.

I wasn't angry with Edward, now that I could see into his mind it was very clear that all the decisions that Edward made in regards to me in the past was his way of trying to show me love.

I thought over this for a moment, I thought of the way others around me had acted towards me in the past and loved me.

Charlie, he was always a quite man indifferent in a lot of ways, but he was honest and protective.

He liked being alone and he didn't have many friends or family, but for the few, like myself, that Charlie let in, that he truly did love, his love was fierce and unwavering.

Looking back at it now I wish I could have been more honest with him about how much he meant to me and how good of a father he truly was.

Renee, was crazy and erratic, but kind and loyal.

She was my best friend, my buddy and I knew that no matter what I ever did, good or bad, my mother would be there for me and would love me until her last breath, and she did.

The more I thought about it the more I realized just how hard love is to understand.

What love is to one person isn't the same for another.

My father and mother loved me as their child, but as a friend as well. Charlie was never one to show his feelings to anyone and if you saw them, consider yourself lucky.

I knew my father loved me, and that is how he showed me he loved me, by his ability to let me know.

My mother trusted me, confided in me, and turned to me. She showed me she loved me by her confidence and respect for me.

Edward showed love by protecting me, saving me and in the end leaving me.

Edward leaving was his ultimate act of love, he believed that by him leaving he was showing that he loved me enough to let me go.

Although I understand it, and understand now how Edward loves, I needed him to understand that he couldn't do things like that in the future.

It sounded horrible for me to think that, it was like saying that the way he loves is not okay, but that is not what I meant and I just prayed that when the time came to say it to him I could put to him better.

Just then Edward said "Here we are."

It was breathtaking, the field around the waterfall was so open. The cave was right off of a cliff right off the tree line. The waterfall fell right in front of the cave.

It was so green all around and the water that fell from in front of the cave was like a heavy mist, making the most relaxing sounds.

The pond the water fell into was small but deep from the looks off it and the water ran all the way through the flat field for as far as the eye could see.

"Edward, this place.. I don't... It is so... I'm speechless!" I admitted

I couldn't find words to satisfy just how beautiful and perfect this place was.

"I thought you would like it." He smiled and threw his thoughts I could see that Edward came here often and thought of me when he did.

He had truly missed me and regretted his decision to leave, I hopped that this evening we could sort through our past and that finally we could be the couple I always thought we were meant to be.

"Are you felling up to talking or would you like some time? I don't want to rush you Bella, I know that I have to right to expect anything from you, but I hope that now that you can see into my mind, you have a better understanding of just how deeply I love you." Edward said.

Well it's now or never.

"Edward, I would like to talk and to be honest I didn't know if coming on this "date" was such a good idea. Please don't take offense to anything I am going to say, but I feel that it is necessary to make a few things understood to you." I told him.

Edward hung his head for a moment, he was trying to gather his thoughts and I had already hurt him by saying I didn't think this date was a good idea.

"Oh Edward no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. When I said I didn't think the date was a good idea I only meant that I didn't think us jumping right back into a relationship was a good idea with out talking some things threw, I don't want us making the same mistakes again.

A lot has happened between us and we should clear things up before we get back into anything to serious." I explained.

I felt bad about what I was saying but it was honest and necessary.

"I understand Bella, we should clear things up, I have many things I want to say to you too." He said

"Okay so first things first, I'm not good at understanding my talent and I don't want to have a conversation like this without giving you access to my thoughts. I can read yours all the time but it seems like you can only read mine when I direct them at you, so I will do my best to keep my mind open to you at all times." I told him.

"That is very thoughtful Bella, later on I will try and help you understand your talent by showing you how I learned to control mine, hopefully that will help you." Edward said.

"Edward I want you to understand I am not angry with you for leaving me, I was at first, but more than that I was confused. I thought you loved me and I had always known that I was not good enough for you, that you had to hold back from me, but leaving me the way you did wasn't fair to me.

I've seen into your mind so I understand perfectly why you did it and why you felt that you had to leave that way, but you can not make decisions like that without me.

A part of me died that day, I knew full well that risk I was taking being with you, I understood the dangers of your world and I wanted you regardless.

Edward when I told you I loved you for the first time I had known you where a vampire, but that night is not the night I fell in love with you.

I knew I was in love with you before I figured out that aspect of your life. The fact that you were a vampire only made me more sure of my love for you, because I understood the struggle you went through to be with me.

If you had truly not wanted to be with me, if I was really not what you wanted anymore than that would have been one thing, but I have seen you only left to protect me, and that Edward is not okay.

You leaving killed me inside, I needed you, I loved you and I suffered because you were trying to protect me. You should have talked to me about leaving before you deceived me the way you did.

It wasn't just your life that you were effecting when you left, you changed mine and hurt some of your family, if you want us to be together again, you have to promise me that you will never leave me in the dark again like that.

I am not human anymore, I deserve to be treated with respect and as your equal. You can't keep things from me and you can not make decisions that involve me without me." I said

I had be as honest as I could and I wanted him to understand what I needed from him, if he still wanted me.

"Bella, you are absolutely right. I thought I was doing the right thing when I left you in Forks. My world was no place for you, and even though you had given yourself to me and accepted the dangers of my world I couldn't let you be hurt or die because of my selfishness.

I wanted you to have a normal life, human life and there was so much that I couldn't give you. Looking back I should have told you why I was leaving, I should have found another way but I knew you loved me and that nothing I could say would make you understand.

You would have followed me to hell if I would have asked you, I just thought given time you would forget me and that you would be living the life you were meant to live.

Obviously I was wrong, apparently fate had this life planned for you all along. I will never be able to full express how sorry I am for the mistakes I've made and all the promises I've broken but Bella I will be better I will do better.

You're a vampire now and although I loved you for you as you loved me for me, it is easy to see that now you are changed we can be equal partners, where once I held back." Edward said

Through his thoughts there was not doubting that he did understand and was genuine in the fact that he would do all that I had asked, I couldn't help but be hopeful.

After that we talked about things that had happened during our time apart. He asked more about Charlie, Renee and Jacob. He asked about high school and all that I had left behind when I left Forks after my change.

He then told me about how he had acted after he left, how he never came around much and on the rare occasions that he would find his family and visit, it was to hard for him and them.

He said a day never went by that he didn't think of me, and that his family's thoughts constantly made his decision to stay away that much harder.

He said he had considered checking on me a few times but thought better of it.

After he finished telling me all about his life after Forks, we discussed what his family was doing here.

Edward said that Carlise had been asked here by Aro and the rest of the Volturi. He said Carlise and the Volturi had a history together and on occasion they would invite him and the rest of the Cullens along with many other covens to Italy.

He said they were holding some kind of ball and that all the heads of the covens would met with the Volturi to discuss any important matters at hand and to remind them all of the rules set in place for our kind.

Edward wasn't looking forward to this and he said none of the Cullens were, but that to refuse to go would be a very bad idea and that was why he was back with his family here in Italy.

Just then Edwards cell phone rang, it was Alice she said that we needed to come home. Aro and a few other members of the Volturi were coming over in a few hours to speak with us and she saw that us being there was necessary.

"Okay Alice we are on our way back." Edward said.

"Well, love we have to go, I'm sorry our evening got cut short." He said.

He was sorry, he wanted more time, he had so much he wanted to say but thought it best not to. He didn't want to rush me, he was trying to be respectful and give me space.

"Edward, you should just say what it is you are wanting to say." I told him.

He knew my meaning and as I stood up he took me in his arms and looked as deeply as he could into my eyes.

"Bella, please forgive me. I need you, you are and always have been my life. I love you, will you please give us another chance?" he asked.

I knew we would have to take things slow and his thoughts said he knew that as well, so with that I gave him my answer in the most fitting way I could think of.

I leaned up and pressed my lips to his, putting as much love and understanding into the kiss as I could and told him silently

"I forgive you Edward, I love you too and I want us to try as well."

With that he deepened the kiss and images of all the kisses we have ever shared went through his mind, he truly did love me.

He pulled back a few moments later, looking into my eyes again, "Shall we love, Alice is waiting?"

Just then an idea occurred to me and I couldn't help but smile.

I wanted to race him like Emmett had earlier that day, I had never really "ran" with another vampire and Edward was the fastest anyone had ever seen, but seeing that I was still technically a newborn I might have a chance.

"Let's race back and if I win you have to go with Alice and I shopping, the whole trip, every store, you have to try on just as many outfits as I do and then me and the rest of the girls get to paint yours and the rest of the guys toenails." I said.

"The other guys are not going to go for that, especially Emmett and Carlisle." He stated.

"Well you better not lose." I laughed

"Okay fine, if I win you and the other girls have to let us guys take you and the girls out for a night on the town, but we get to pick out your wardrobe for the evening and you have to let me buy you a car." He said.

"I am not going to let you buy me a car Edward and there is no way the girls would let you and the rest of the guys pick out our clothes for an evening out." I told him.

"Well you better not lose." He laughed, using my words from before against me.

Just then his phone rang and we both knew it would be one of the other Cullens calling in regards to the outcome of the race and no doubt protesting.

We both laughed and in unison said "Your on!"

"I won't hold back Bella!" He said silently, with that same smile on his face that drove me wild when I was a human, and apparently it still did.

"I won't either!" I admitted to him.

"On your mark, get set, GO!" I told him and we were off!......

*** Well guys there you go, I thought that this was appropriate for their first "date", so who should win the race??? Please let me know how you are liking the story and if I need to work on anything! As always I love hearing from you guys and I hope to post again tomorrow! :)***