Edward's POV

My drive to the Denali's took awhile. I drove at human speed not really ready to face Tanya. She had come to love Izzy even without meeting her and I knew her heartbreak would be difficult to deal with. As I turned into the pebbled driveway I immediately noticed how quiet it was. Not like there was anything to worry about that. Irina and Kate regularly went on extended hunting trips and Eleazar and Carmen were away in Europe visiting friends.

I pulled up slowly and noticed the large oak door open. Tanya slipped out and stood watching my arrival. She smiled sadly at me and I took a deep breath as I turned the engine off. I slid out slowly taking care to close the door of the Bugatti carefully. I couldn't bear not to take Izzy's favourite car. Her scent permeated the leather seats and when I closed my eyes I could almost imagine her sitting next to me.

Tanya held up her hands and I noticed she was dressed in a deep purple parka. Strange for someone who doesn't feel the cold, but then again Alice went through a fur craze in the 70's, so who was I to judge.

"She's dead Tanya, dead," I murmured as I felt her arms surround me.

"I know but maybe she's in a better place."

She released me and leaned back. "Jeez, Edward. You look like shit."

I stared at her and then shook my head as we walked inside. The Denali's house was expansive just like all of our residences were. Though the Denali's rarely ever changed their décor they chose timeless pieces that matched in with the fads.

Tanya steered me to the kitchen and we both sat down on the oak stools. I looked around slowly and then turned to Tanya. She looked tired, like she had exhausted all her energy. Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, and her jeans had dirt marks all over them. She saw my gaze, and suddenly her thoughts turned to hunting that morning. I frowned.

"Normally you wouldn't stay in dirty clothes Tanya," I said watching her carefully. She shrugged nonchalantly.

"I couldn't be bothered. What with Izzy…" she trailed off looking at the wall. Her face grimaced as she thought more on her hunt.

"What are you hiding from me?" I snapped. Tanya hissed at me and we both stood up instantly snarling at each other. I had no idea what caused her to react that way, but there was no way I could have stopped my own reaction.

"Stay out of my head Edward. You don't know how hard it's been with Izzy.." once again she trailed off and straightened from her crouch. I instantly felt guilty for snapping at her.

"I'm sorry Tanya," I whispered as I picked up the stool that had toppled with our sudden movements. Tanya did not move but continued staring at the wall.

"Maybe it's time you hunted," she said thinking of my eyes. I had only hunted once since Izzy's accident unable to leave her and then too consumed with my grief. I nodded quietly moving towards the back door.

Tanya stayed staring at the wall. Her mind was unnaturally quiet. Normally her mind was a constant buzz, but toady she just went over and over her hunt. I shrugged to myself as I stepped outside.

As I began to run I felt an uneasy feeling start in my stomach. I could not place it, but my ears pricked at every sound that echoed through the darkening woods. I watched as small rodents ran from my presence. Everything seemed normal, but my instincts told me something was off.

Instinctively my lips pulled over my teeth and I hissed. I was being watched. I slowed to a jog stopping when I heard a branch snap. The snow had fallen and it flew away from me as I turned in the spot trying to see my hidden follower. I crouched and snarled. A soft giggle floated through the trees.

"Kate? Irina? Stop playing around," I growled.

I stopped completely and closed my eyes listening for their familiar thoughts.

Nothing

I didn't even register the feel of soft hands circle around my hips nor did I feel the tree break as the force pushed me into it. I snarled and hissed trying to right myself, and get some leverage against my attacker. We tumbled down an embankment snarling fiercely at each other.

"Stop struggling Edward."

I stopped.

I opened my eyes.

I shut them.

This wasn't happening. I was going mad.

I opened them again just to be sure.

Yep mad!

Izzy stared down at me.

"Am I dead?" I asked wondering how I had actually died. Had the attacker been that quick that I didn't even register my own demise? Izzy grinned at me.

"Yes stupid."

"And you're dead too," I whispered as she tossed her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her head. I realized that she had me pinned under her, her hands on my wrist and her legs on either side of me. She rolled her eyes.

"Gee, for someone who boasts about their amazing intellect you sure are dumb," she teased. I shook my head and closed my eyes.

"Are we in heaven?" I murmured quietly hoping we were. She laughed. It was the laugh of an angel and it caused me to open my eyes and stare at her.

"I thought you said we were damned." Izzy lifted her head and sniffed then looked down at me, waiting for my answer.

"No. I said I was damned. You were not."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Because I have no soul."

She laughed again. "Your logic is flawed Cullen. Then I have no soul by your reasoning."

I frowned.

Why did she continue to do this?

She probably just likes to piss you off.

Even in heaven.

"What? Of course you have a soul," I snapped at her and her grin widened. She leaned over then her hair encompassing me. Her scent intensified her eyes dark. Her lips took mine and I felt her tongue probe softly. I moaned at the sensation. I thought I had lost this but then again I didn't know what this was. She pulled away slowly.

"You are not dead, this is not heaven and I am alive. Well… theoretically," she whispered against my lips.

I started.

Wait? What?!

Suddenly I was up, upending her in the process. She landed with a thump and pouted.

"You're a vampire," I accused pointing stupidly at her. She smirked.

"Your remarkable when you are this smart," she teased.

I stared at her.

Izzy. Izzy was alive. Izzy was here. In front of me.

"Come on, Cullen. Get it together."

And then I really looked at her. She stood up slowly and brushed the snow off her jeans smiling as it drifted to the ground. Her skin was creamy and porcelain, perfect in its make. Her lips were a soft red, the bottom fuller than her top. Her hair hung past her ribs, flowing like wine with hints of magenta and gold. My gaze flicked to her eyes that stared back at me, ruby red.

My eyes followed her long neck, not missing the fact that no blood pump under her skin now. Her collarbones were strong and straight dipping conveniently towards her breasts. I sucked a breath in between my teeth as I realized what I could now do to those breasts.

"Can of worms," Izzy muttered a smile playing on her lips. I smiled sheepishly realizing I had just been caught out when another epiphany hit me. I crouched and growled at her feeling my lust grow expernentionally. Her eyes widened with my sudden movement, and a hiss left her throat causing my erection to strain painfully.

"I want you," I snarled. Izzy smiled an evil grin before she took off.

"You'll have to catch me first, Cullen." Her voice ghosted between the trees. I floundered briefly wondering where she was, but then I realized she could run just as fast as I could. I tore after her my mind on nothing but my want for her. My need for her.

She was gorgeous in full flight. Her dark hair flying behind her giving me only glimpses of her now ivory skin. She was almost as fast as I was.

Almost.

I flung myself fully into her taking her small waist in my hands and holding her to me. She yelped in surprise and we both tumbled in the snow. My mouth immediately latched onto her neck and I began nibbling the skin.

"Ooh," she moaned.

My hands trailed up and down her torso taking in her lethal body. Though she was soft and curvy I could feel her muscles move sinuously under her skin. I flipped her over, and stared down at her. Her breathing had increased and her eyes were black. Her hair flung out across the pristine snow framing her perfect face.

My nymph.

My lover.

My goddess.

Mine!

I growled as I attacked her lips hoping that I wasn't being to forceful or to strong. I did not want to hurt her, but my need for her far outweighed any takeover by conscious thought.

Hey dickhead. She ain't breakable anymore. Conscious thought left ages ago!

I mentally crowed in victory as I pressed my lips harder against her rewarded when she moaned and opened her mouth. Her tongue enveloped my own as she explored my mouth, my lips and amazingly my teeth.

I heard a faint ripping sound and found my shirt was no longer on my body. Neither was my pants. I chuckled as I left her mouth and laved my way to her ear. She arched under me as I took the lobe into my mouth applying gentle suction then biting down on it.

"Eager are we, baby?" I whispered into her ear. She snarled, and suddenly the world had flipped. I blinked confused as I was now staring up at Izzy who was sitting on top of me.

"I'll show you," she murmured as she tore at her shirt. Her perfect breast bobbed with the movement, and I immediately reached out for them. I frowned when I swiped air. I lifted myself onto my elbows eager to see where she had disappeared to.

Izzy was standing ten feet away leaning against a tree. Her hands trailed up and down her sides before taking her breast into her hands, and swiping her fingers over her dusty pink nipples.

"My nipples are so eager to be touched Edward," she moaned as she tweaked them between her fingers. My eyes zeroed on the movement.

"Izzy," I warned. She smiled at me before letting her breast drop from her hands. I stood slowly watching her every movement. She quickly trailed down her sides til she reached the incline of her hips and the start of the jeans. She tucked her thumbs underneath and then pulled. I sucked in a breath. The material came away with ease but that was not what shocked me.

No panties.

I groaned. She knew how to make me want her. I snarled as I made a grab for her. She giggled twirling away from me looking like a naked sprite in the pristine landscape.

"Not so eager are we now, Cullen?" she teased. Her glorious hair danced above her breast, and I revelled in the stark contrast to how dark her tendrils were compared to her lily white skin.

She was beautiful. Amazing. Glorious. Too good to be true.

Too good to be true.

I grunted as I stumbled after her. The energy seemed to drain from me, and I kneeled in the snow feeling my shoulders hunch. I had been through so much the last few weeks, and now it seemed I couldn't go on anymore not even to chase the beautiful siren that taunted me.

Maybe she really isn't here…a figment of your imagination.

A figment of my grief.

I heaved a sob. As if my pain beckoned her she was there. Her arms enveloped me and her hands finding my face.

"Edward," she whispered kissing the side of my lips. I did not move. I couldn't bear to wake up and have this taken from me.

"Edward," she whispered again kissing the other side of my lips. I kept my eyes closed, and refused to breathe in her scent.

I felt her hands trails down my arms, soft and light until they reached my hands. Somehow she brought them up to cup her own face, but I still refused to open my eyes.

"I will never leave you again, my love," she whispered. I sobbed against her lips. It was too good. Too good to be true.

"Never, never again," she murmured as her fingers trailed through my hair. I pulled a ragered breath in between my teeth, and opened my eyes. Her red iris' stared at me, no longer in lust, but love.

"Izzy…Bella please I don't understand," I stuttered. She purred gently taking me into her arms, and bringing my against her chest. She tugged me gently letting us both fall to the ground, but never releasing her grip on me.

"I know, baby. I know," she cooed.

Soon Edward.

"Okay," I murmured against her. She stiffened briefly before her hands begged me to look at her.

"Please Edward," she begged her voice soft as her fingers trailed through my hair.

My lips took hers, and I crawled up her body fitting into it like the missing puzzle piece. She sighed and her hands roamed my back.

"Edward, Edward, Edward," she begged and I moved myself between her legs pushing into her slowly. She was warmth and love and home. I moaned as her legs wrapped around my torso pulling me deeper into her. I stopped briefly to look into her eyes searching for everything that had been taken from me.

"I love you, Edward," she whispered. I found it. I moved slowly taking myself almost out before plunging back into her depths. She moaned and purred, but her eyes never left mine.

The colours changed and snow fell, but I kept moving within her. She was all that mattered.

"Edward, please," she pleaded softly. I knew she had come many times, and I frowned in confusion as her request.

"Please come with me darling. Let go."

"No! Never! I don't ever want to let go," I snarled tightening my hold on her. She smiled sadly stroking me face.

"I'll never leave Edward. Not even death can tear us apart." She moaned lowly and I realized that I had not stopped moving thrusting evenly into her. I could feel her tightening around me readying herself for another orgasm.

"Never, never, never ever," she promised her voice raising an octave. I panted trying to reign myself in. I didn't want this to end, but my body seemed ready to betray my mind.

"You can have me, all of me. Whenever you want."

I struggled and fought but in the end I came screaming her name. She was screaming right along with me until I felt her sobbing softly into my shoulder.

"Izzy?"

She sniffed and buried her head deeper into the crook of my shoulder.

"I'm sorry Edward. All I do is cause you pain. I'm so sorry, and I will spend the rest of eternity making it up to."

I frowned and despite the horror that filled me, I pulled away from her. My hands found my hair and I pulled wildly at the ends.

"Are you real?"

Izzy's laugh rang out softly amongst the trees.

"Yes, Edward, I am real. You can thank Tanya for the simple fact that I am here."

My head snapped up and I stared at her. She lay propped against a small rock her left hand splayed across her smooth white stomach her right playing coyly with a strand of hair.

She was real.

"Edward if I was some…something you imagined to cope with your grief wouldn't I look human?"

She had me there. I doubt I could have imagined her to be this perfect. While she was beautiful as a human she seemed suited to become a vampire. Almost like she was made for it.

"How old are you?"

Izzy sat up and frowned. "Um, a week I think."

"How are you so…controlled?" I asked staring at her. I didn't want to take my eyes off her despite the fact that I realized she was a vampire and this was reality albeit a strange one.

Izzy giggled. "I'm not sure controlled is the word I would use. Now that you're here I feel more comfortable, more stable, but my thoughts are still distracting."

I nodded. "Would…would you like to hunt with me?"

Izzy laughed. "Are you asking me out on a date Cullen?"

I grinned as I stood up and held my hand out to her. She took it gently and I noticed her temperature was closer to mine. Reality was slowly cementing itself into my mind.

This was real.

"Sex and a hunt. What could a girl want more?" Izzy grinned. I smirked.

"Hunting naked?"

Izzy frowned and then glanced down at her body. She tipped her head back and laughed. It was magnificent and it was mine. She was mine. For the rest of eternity.

A/N:

Just a note: More lemony goodness very soon...also we are very soon coming up on the Cullens/Izzy match-up and it is epic.

Also Edward is still struggling with Izzy being 'alive'. I've always found this strange in fics when Edward realizes she ain't dead and everything is unicorns vomiting rainbows...a lil more mental confusion, people!

LEAVE-THE-LOVE-TAKE-A-CANDY

I am not a stranger...just take the goddamn candy...