"I want you to know, with everything, I won't let this go.

These words are my heart and soul.

I'll hold on to this moment, you know.

'Cause I played my heart out to show that I won't let go."

-With me, Sum41

Chapter 15: Sweet Surrender

"All I know is… you can't be just human."

I was suddenly wary of my words. Should I tell her what I knew? What if I offended her? I breathed out as a small smile formed on Bella's lips.

"I thought we've already established that," she joked, but her eyes were guarded, "With your description and all."

I looked into her eyes, trying to unravel the mysteries they held. I never had as much difficulty in reading someone as I have with this beatific creature. And that of course, led me to be more enthralled and captivated with fascination.

"Do you have any theories?"

A flashed a smile at her. "A few."

"Will I be able to know these 'few' theories?" her voice was light, but I could see the worry in her eyes.

I calculated her expression, gauging which I would tell her, or if I should just give up and tell her everything… but I wanted her to be the one to tell me. It was childish of me, but I wanted to know that she trusted me enough that she was able to tell me her secret. I compromised with myself to give only details that would dance around the border of things, but never really reaching the center.

"Er, you're some kind of superhero?"

"Nope," She replied, popping the 'p', "Kryptonite has no effect on me whatsoever."

"Bitten by a radioactive spider?"

She smiled slightly. "No radioactivity."

I couldn't help notice that she hadn't ruled out the whole sentence. I was silent for a while, debating whether I should point that out to her.

"What, that's all you could come up with?" Bella asked, playfully nudging me with her shoulder.

My fingers brushed through my hair, making some bronze locks fall over my eyes. I could feel my face starting to heat up again, suddenly recalling one of my earlier thoughts concerning her.

Bella's eyes lit up with wary amusement. "You're keeping something from me."

I glanced at her, feeling the blood rush up to my face. "No, I'm not."

"What is it?" She paused and I felt her move slightly, "Won't you tell me?"

I looked up and saw that she had moved to sit directly in front of me, so that we were mere inches away. I made the mistake of meeting Bella's gaze. My heart stuttered once as her golden eyes melted into a fiery pit of topaz. The words were out of my mouth before I could even think twice. It was not fair— her ability to dazzle me into submission.

"The first time I saw you, I thought I saw an angel. No one could be human and be as breathtaking as you."

It was true. Perfection incarnate could not have been born into this world by human flesh. There had to be some divine intervention.

A hint of sadness made its way to Bella's eyes and I wanted it to disappear immediately. "I'm no angel."

"You are to me." I whispered as I reached out to catch some locks of Bella's hair as they flew out in the gentle wind, letting it glide through my fingers. I marveled at the soft and silken texture.

"Edward, everything you've told me… they're all… good. What if I'm not good?"

I shook my head slowly. "You're not bad Bella."

Her eyes flashed with contempt. "I'm dangerous."

"I didn't say that you weren't." I said warily, giving her that.

Her face grew confused.

I held her face tenderly in my hands. "You can say that you're dangerous… that much I understand. That much I can give in on. But you're not bad. And I will never allow you to convince yourself that you are."

I could feel my eyes lighten. They always turned gentle when they looked at her, at the same time I couldn't hide the intensity in them.

"You don't see yourself clearly. You're nothing but good. You're the epitome of good— just like an angel, my angel. You're heaven-sent to me, in more ways than one… ways even I can't fathom."

Her eyes widened and I worried if I had said too much. So much for keeping my emotions in check. So much for keeping things light. It would have made no difference, made things simpler if I had just yelled out from the start how much she has me enraptured in her goodness, in her beauty— how she managed to capture my heart.

The patience and kindness in her tone, the compassion and selflessness in her smiles, the gentleness in her eyes— I had known her for such a short period of time but I knew that, and I was willing to bet my own life, all of these pointed to one thing: she was good. And somehow, she was blind to her own goodness, to her own perfection. She was blind to how she stole the position of being the center of my universe and held everything in my life on the tips of her fingers.

And suddenly, it didn't matter to me what she was. All that mattered was how my world became non-existent when she arrived in my life. There was nothing much of the 'my' part that was left in it, because my world now was hers. If she were to be taken away from me, I would find no more reason to exist. She was my life now. Every flicker of emotion, every spur of thought, every breath I took— everything revolved and led back to Bella. My life was hers to own. My heart was hers to do whatever she pleased with it. And it would always be hers, she would hold it, unknowingly as she did now, and I had no intention of taking it back.

And now, I knew I wasn't falling in love with her. Now, I realized as I looked into her innocent topaz eyes that I already was. And this hit me with the speed of a wrecking ball, making me feel off-balanced at such a great change.

I could feel it, the changes taking place in me effortlessly adjusting to make room for her. It was so natural, it was like my heart had known she would be coming, knew that eventually the space in it was going to be claimed by her. But unbalanced as I was feeling, I did not falter, because she was holding me up, becoming my center, my source of stability. My entire being was hers now… if she wanted it. And I would ask nothing in return. Allowing me to be beside her, to be with her, was enough.

Nothing else mattered now.

I didn't care if she was some supernatural being. To me, she would be Bella… just Bella— not some mythical creature, but the woman who I held dearest and most precious above anything else; More than my own life.

"That's funny." She muttered.

I worried suddenly if she heard everything I've just thought of, but I immediately regretted considering that— my cheeks burned again. I blushed so much tonight, I've lost count.

"I'm serious, you know." I frowned jokingly.

"I know." She smiled gently, holding the hand that was still cupping her cheek. I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. "It's just that, the way you perceive me… that's exactly how you are to me."

I swore that my heart leapt with joy at her words. If that was any indication that she felt even the slightest hint of what I felt for her, my heart would have leapt out of my chest with ecstasy. But I didn't want to assume so much.

She suddenly smiled accusingly at me. "You do a good job of distracting me, you know."

Hmm. I wasn't trying to. I widened my eyes innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your theories?" she asked, curiosity burning her every word.

I sighed dramatically, deciding impulsively. "I told you everything I've got."

"Well, that's not very much." She frowned, but I could see her eyes practically bursting with relief.

From there, I knew that she didn't want me to know… she hoped I didn't know. I would be sorry to disappoint her when the time comes that I would have to tell her the truth— that I did know… well, the general idea, that is.

"I'll find out sooner or later." I grinned at her, teasing.

Her frown deepened. "I wish you wouldn't try."

I held her gaze in mine, looking at her from under my lashes. Her eyes grew darker. "I won't have to… if you tell me what you're hiding from me."

She closed her eyes, closing me off to my only window to her thoughts. Bella drew a ragged breath before she spoke. "I can't."

"You can't…" I brushed her cheek again, loving the feel of her cold skin on the back of my hand. "But you want to."

There was a long pause, the length of a few heartbeats. Then she opened her eyes. The earlier bright gold was now deep amber. "Yes. You don't know how much I want to… how much I want you to know."

"Then tell me." I breathed, my eyes burning into hers.

"I told you, I can't." Bella's voice was torn, agonized. I didn't like that.

I held her hand and started to trace patterns on it again. I could feel her burning stare, calculating, wondering.

"A compromise then." I murmured. "I won't force you to tell me what you are…" at least, not at this moment, "but you have to explain to me why you can't tell me."

I glanced up at her, to see her reaction.

She bit her lip and held my gaze. She pondered on this for a long moment then finally, she sighed. "Fine, but that's all I'm going to tell you."

"For now." I murmured to myself. If she heard me, which I was slightly sure she did, it didn't show.

There was a longer pause.

"Go on then." I urged her.

"I can't tell you because…" she started off hesitantly. "I just can't."

I frowned.

"Edward, what I am… I can hurt you. A small mistake, a tiny lapse of self-control… I could off you by accident." She flinched, her tone became urgent. "I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to make any mistakes that can harm you and dragging you into my world, giving you knowledge for you to be a part of it…" she was shaking her head now, desperately wanting me to understand. Then suddenly, her expression changed.

"I want to tell you what I am. I want you to know." Bella smiled humorlessly. "But I'm essentially a selfish creature Edward. I don't want you to leave my side and I know that if I tell you the truth you so want to know, you'll run away from me. I'm too selfish to allow that to happen."

My heart was pounding as I listened to Bella's words.

"How are you so sure that I'll run away from you?" I whispered, holding her eyes in mine, determined to let her see that I was sure as hell not going anywhere.

"I know you will."

"I won't." I smiled sadly, gazing into her eyes which were noticeably lighter now. "It feels wrong… when you're not with me. It's not the same when you're not by me. I…" I paused, feeling my eyes begin to smolder. "I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore."

I could see that she was torn. Her eyes were clear glass windows to her emotions. It was the only thread I could hang on to when I wanted to decipher her thoughts. It was there, crystal clear— joy, longing, fear… agony. Why though?

"This is wrong." She closed her eyes, groaning. "I should have stayed away. I shouldn't have let it go this far."

"What, are you going to leave again?"

I suddenly felt hot fury at the thought. I wouldn't let her. I couldn't. If she was selfish, so was I.

"I should. It's the right thing to do."

The anger transformed into an aching at the center of my chest. It was suffocating, twisting my insides. I suddenly felt desolate. The mere thought of Bella gone… it was unbearably painful. I felt a lump in my throat.

"You told me that you didn't want me to be hurt…" My voice was but a mockingbird's fluttering wing. I knew she could still hear me though. Her hand was still in mine and I unconsciously tightened my grip on it.

"I don't."

"Then stay." I looked into her eyes, fire blazing in my eyes. Her eyes widened slightly. "Don't leave." Don't leave me.

"I said I should leave…" She looked into my eyes that were burning with anger and anguish. "But I don't think I can leave anymore. I want to be with you too badly that I don't think I can stay away from you, too."

My head was starting to spin at the turn the conversation made. Earlier we were joking with each other, teasing, smiling playfully at my silly theories. And now suddenly, abruptly, we were confessing. And what was more was that it seemed that Bella wanted me too; maybe not as strongly as I loved her, I couldn't even dare hope for that, but for her to return even a fragment of that emotion… I think that the stars were finally shining brighter.

"I keep trying to convince myself that I shouldn't be selfish, that I should just let you get on with your human life… that I shouldn't steal you from your world… You're too important to me. But whenever I consider the possibility of me leaving, the pain is excruciating." She frowned. "It's getting harder to keep myself in check every day. I'm seriously considering just giving up and letting the chips fall where they may."

"Then just give up." I murmured.

"So easily said…" she whispered, playing with my fingers, "you really should stay away from me."

"No, I can't. I won't."

"You'll just get hurt! What I am… I'm wrong for you."

"I don't care anymore." My eyes flashed with conviction. "I don't care what you are."

Her golden eyes blazed with anger, but I stood my ground. I didn't so much as flinch. "You don't care if I'm not human? If I'm a monster?"

"I don't. Whatever you are, you're still Bella…" I squeezed at her hand, trapping both of them in my own. "You're still the smart, talented, stubborn, beautiful, amazing girl who has touched my heart the way that others haven't."

"If you knew what I am, you wouldn't have said that."

"Wrong, again." I shook my head. "I told you, it doesn't matter to me what you are."

She looked into my eyes, searching for something and I stared back at her unblinkingly. Finally she sighed, visibly relaxing as she did so. Somehow, I knew that she had surrendered.

"You're just as stubborn as me." She smiled softly, sadly. "But I'm still saying that I'm no good for you Edward."

"And I'm saying that that's absurd. If all else, I should be the one saying that, but with your name at the end." I joked, ignoring how my heart had leapt as Bella said my name… it sounded almost endearing to my ears.

She laughed lightly. My heart skipped a beat. "And you accuse me of not seeing myself clearly."

I was slightly relieved as we made our way back to the earlier, lighter mood.

"That's not an accusation, it's a fact. You really don't."

"As do you."

"How so?" I challenged.

"You're beautiful, smart, witty, a perfect gentleman… It's almost impossible to find the right words that would be sufficient enough to describe you. You're perfect in every way." She smirked suddenly. "Besides, haven't you noticed that almost the entire Forks High female population is basically offering themselves up in a silver platter? All those girls want you."

I felt my face heat up again. "That's ridiculous." I scowled.

"But true." She pointed out.

"Well then… they shouldn't be tiring themselves with all the effort." I looked at her again, brushing away the loose strands of hair on her face. "Someone already owns me."

"She's a lucky girl." She teased, a playful smile threatened to form on her lips.

I chuckled slightly. "Three guesses who."

Her soft laugh intertwined with my laughter and I was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful harmony it created. It seemed like she noticed too.

Bella's eyes, radiating with joyful wonder, smothered me with their tenderness. She leaned forward and rested her head on my shoulder and I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist. I breathed in her alluring scent— the slight hint of strawberries complimenting the luscious aroma of freesias relaxed my every muscle.

Bella twisted around and relaxed against my chest. Her hands rested on mine as my arms tightened securely around her tiny waist. I rested my chin on her shoulder and watched the stars dance in the night sky. We stayed like that, never moving, feeling each other's breaths as heartbeats passed us by.

My eyes stayed focus on the sky, waiting. I had almost forgotten why I brought her here. It was almost time.

Bella gasped as the first star shot across the heavens. I smiled as I saw her eyes dance with delight. Other stars fell, following the first shooting star to wherever it landed and I found myself wishing that this moment never end— that Bella could stay beside me, stay in my arms, for as long as we both lived.

"This was why you brought me here." She said, finally getting it right.

I smiled down at her, running my fingers through her hair. "The stars would never be able to compare to your brilliance… but I hoped that you would like it."

Her musical laugh echoed throughout the field. "The way you perceive me is ludicrous… but I liked watching the shooting stars with you. Thank you."

I grinned, sheepishly. "Thank Alice. She was the one who told me there would be a shower tonight."

She chuckled at that.

"Still…" the back of her hand brushed my cheek and left a burning trail despite the coldness of her skin. "It was your company that made it so enjoyable."

"Hmm… I think I can agree to that."

Bella rested against my chest again, now just looking up at the sky.

I sighed in contentment. I could stay like this forever. But the moon that shone in the darkness was a treacherous scoundrel, reminding us of the ever moving time.

"We should head back." I said a few moments later.

"I suppose." Her voice sounded disappointed. I smiled at that.

Bella stood up first, yanking me up with her. She led the way this time, holding my hand firmly in hers— it seemed like it was becoming desensitized with her cold skin. Not that I minded.

I walked slowly out of the forest, not really wanting to face the real world again so soon. And to my pleasant surprise, she followed suit. It seemed like she wasn't too eager to go back either.

Guiltily enough, I couldn't help but feel pleased.

A/N: Did my beloved readers like it? I hope you did. One of my favorite chapters so far.:) So, Edward didn't tell Bella what he knew and Bella didn't tell Edward what he wanted to know… Yet.;) *evil grin* Looks like they've reached an impasse on that issue. But on the bright side, they resolved some other issues as well. You should have heard them. They were constant voices blabbering in my head. Very hard to concentrate on other things when they won't shut up, you know.;)

Anyway, REVIEW please.:) Good, looooooooooong reviews— so that I'll be fueled up to write some more.:)