This is one of my favorite chapters in the book, mainly because of how well Stephenie Meyer wrote it. My version is not half as good—I recommend you skip mine and read the book. But if you've got nothing better to do, I hope you enjoy. All rights belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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It was a quiet ride to Seattle, both of us making a careful catalogue of our wedding day. My vampire memory was far more capable of retaining every detail of our wedding than Bella's. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time to catch our flight.

"Would you like something to eat before we board the plane? Rosalie packed you a small snack." Rosalie was holding true to her promise to befriend Bella, something I welcomed. Bella on the other hand, remained shy and a bit cautious. I'd be miserable waiting for the next one hundred years for my wife and sister to warm to one another.

"Sure." She nibbled her sandwich. "Was your wedding everything you'd hope for?"

"More because of you. I can't imagine there's a happier groom anywhere."

"So it's true, you're gladly mine to keep."

"I'm yours to do with as you wish."

"Wow. I've married prince charming!"

I wasn't going to argue with her warped belief of who I was. I was far from a prince, but I would willingly attempt to be that for her. There was nothing more important than to allow her to live happily ever after.

I smiled realizing she still had no idea where we were headed. She finished her sandwich. There was no noticeable curiosity in her eyes. We walked to the gate and she was able to note our destination.

"Houston?" she asked.

"Just passing through," I smiled. We boarded the plane and took our first class seats. We lifted the armrest between us and Bella snuggled in close to me. She closed her eyes but didn't sleep. I asked the steward for a blanket to keep her warm.

"Honeymoon?" The steward asked.

"Yes." I was too happy to not dazzle the steward. Her thoughts were appropriately re-directed to the single guy behind us. I was grateful the steward left us alone.

I continued to catalogue the wedding and reception. I spent very little time on Jacob's temper tamper, having resolved that Carlisle's advice was correct.

I am not capable of harming Bella. Even before I knew her, before I loved her, from the first moment I smelled her scent, the monster was contained and unable to harm her.

Our plane landed safely and I escorted my wife to the international concourse. Her curiosity peaked.

"Rio de Janeiro?" she asked.

"Just passing through." I told her. We boarded the plane and found our seats. Her stomach started to remind her that she hadn't eaten much. I pushed the call button for the steward. We were served a chicken breast atop a small salad along with a drink. Bella ate some of it absently, drinking the juice slowly.

She excused herself to the bathroom. While she was gone, I requested a blanket. She returned and laid her head across my chest. She was sleep within seconds. I listened as she whispered in her unconscious dreams, repeating our vows, trying her new name and using words like perfect, spectacular and magnificent. I gloated.

It was a long flight to Rio. I spent most of the time reviewing the many adventures I had planned for us and listening for her unconscious words. We deplaned and walked hand in hand to find our luggage on the conveyer belt. A skycap came to our assistance and I requested a taxi, speaking Portuguese. He led us through the double doors and down the wide sidewalk. An old model Ford Taurus yellow taxi pulled up and the skycap loaded our luggage. A tip was his reward.

Bella was wide eyed and appeared alert, however she was still quiet. I couldn't imagine that she was still thinking about the wedding. I wanted to ask her thoughts, but I enjoyed the anxious adventure we were taking. I spoke in Portuguese, telling our taxi driver our destination and requested he take a turn around the southern part of Rio.

It was a warm night around 75 degrees even at nine o'clock in the evening, perfect for sightseeing with a vampire. I pointed out the Copacabana and the hotel lined beaches that hugged the city.

"That's Hotel Chupão" I indicated the newest hotel on the beach.

"It's beautiful, are we staying there?"

"No, I just thought you'd like to see one of Esme's architectural designs." I didn't mention that Esme owned the hotel as well and had named it commemorating the love bite she received from Carlisle.

"Really?"

We passed the hotel and continued to the marina. The taxi driver set our luggage on the curb.

After settling the fare, I grabbed the bags and led my wife down the boat ramp to the speed boat, aptly named Forever love. The vessel was made for high velocity, with the head of the boat shaped like the nose of a bloodhound, pointing forward. I confirmed that the craft had enough provisions and fuel to last for several weeks.

I loaded our two large bags in the warm redwood cabin of the boat. With a swift kiss I picked up my wife and carried her onto the boat, smiling the entire way. She started to complain but I had counted three stumbles since our departure from Washington, and I wanted to avoid all accidental falls. "It's my job to carry you to our honeymoon." I told her.

There weren't many people around the marina, in fact the ones presents were either asleep or engaged in festivities.

I prepared the boat for departure, checking the unnecessary emergency communications equipment—I was certain I could swim back to the mainland, with Bella on my back if anything happened. I checked the engine and the indicators were all green. Before I pulled the boat out of the dock, I gathered up a life preserver and set it beside Bella. She dutifully put it on.

I secured the anchor and chain hole plug. Once all things were in order, I started the engine and steered the small yacht out of the marina, heading east for the open ocean, the wind blowing our hair and a warm mist spraying our faces.

I was at ease in the warm night of South America and so was Bella. There were no clouds in the sky and the rich smell of the ocean and starry night comforted our departure into the dark waters.

My wife sat in the back of the speed boat, observing the lights of Rio disappear. I took a short break and turned to watch the wind blow through her hair. I enjoyed her scent mixed with the ocean. It was fresh and vibrant.

I knew her curiosity would peak soon and I subdued my urge to ask what she was thinking.

"There's nothing between here and Africa is there?" She asked. The lights of Rio were a dim glow and the bright stars along with the shining moon were our only light. The directional arrow on the instrument panel pointed east, but I doubted that Bella could see the gage from where she sat.

"We're not on our way to Africa." I smiled gazing at my own magnificent brown eyed angel. The dim taillight glowed behind her framing her body. I was humbled that she was mine, in every way possible.

She held onto the edge of her seat as I moved the power arm forward, increasing our speed. The sky was bright with stars and it suddenly dawned on me that shortly I would try to make love with her.

I considered my concerns and that my wife might have some trepidation as well, but I had plenty alternative plans for our evening upon arrival at our destination.

"How much longer?" she called out from her seat.

"About a half hour." I reviewed my mental notes I had made over the last few weeks. I coaxed myself into calmness.

I could see the edges of our destination.

"Bella, come here." I called to my wife to join me, and reached out my hand to help her maneuver forward to the steering wheel. Carefully. She mustn't fall into the ocean.

She stood in between me and the wheel. Her hair was dark from the ocean spray. I pointed out our destination, realizing that her human eye sight might not allow her to see it for a few more minutes.

"What am I looking at?" Bella leaned her weight back onto my chest allowing me to steady her stance. I was delighted to have her in my arms.

"Just keep looking." We got closer and her body shifted forward as she began to recognize the outline of an island.

"An island?" She sounded surprised. "We're honeymooning on an island?"

"It's called Isle Esme." I confirmed.

"Named after your mother?"

"Yes, a gift from Carlisle. Esme agreed to allow us to borrow it. I thought the secluded warm temperatures would be more comfortable for you."

My wife allowed her weight to fall back onto my chest again. I breathed in the aroma of the night. Her hair, her scent, the ocean all a symphony of smells any human or vampire would enjoy.

I drove the boat around to the Southern point of the island to the boat ramp. Within minutes we were anchored safely to the dock and I was once again free to be myself.

I grabbed our luggage in one hand and lifted my bride in the other. In one easy step we were off the yacht and headed up the dock and path to the front door of our temporary home.

"You know you don't have to carry me from the boat. Over the threshold is all that the tradition requires."

"Just want to be thorough." I enjoyed cradling her in my arms. The closer she was, the better.

The cleaning people had been on the Isle earlier so I was certain that once we reached the door, I would be able to illuminate our surroundings. As planned, I turned the knob, pushed the door open and flipped the lights on.

I carried my wife over the threshold.

I sat the bulky luggage down on the floor. I held onto my wife enjoying the warmness in the air and the heat coming from her human body. I carried her throughout the open space of the great room, turning on lights so she would be able to find her way when she walked through the house.

We walked by the kitchen noting the calm blue walls and built in cook top surrounded by marble counters. We passed three unused bathrooms and four luxurious bedrooms. The house was a smaller and similar replica of our home in Washington, only the beach house having one long sprawling floor so that each bedroom had a view of the white sandy beach with the crystal blue ocean on one side and the island on the other. The rooms were connected on the island side by a glass walled hallway with small benches and places to sit in front of the walls.

The colors were those of many beach houses. Muted and pale shades of cream white, blue and some yellow. After the tour, we returned to the largest bedroom with a big white bed, surrounded by netting, and I set my wife on her feet. We both looked out the double window doors and saw the moon shining along the sparkling sandy beach.

I was suddenly nervous. Killing her wasn't the only thing that frightened me. Would I be patient enough? Could I control the monster, when he most needed to be corralled? Was she scared?

She trusted me wholeheartedly. Would I betray her faith in me?

This is the girl, my Miss Swan, my lamb, my Bella, my wife with whom I wanted nothing more than to share a physical intimate love with, safely.

"I'll . . . go get the luggage." I stuttered, less anxious for the minutes to pass.

When I returned with the bags, I realized I had forgotten to open the windows in the bedroom. Bella had removed her cerulean silk jacket and small drops of perspiration were rolling down the back of her neck, pooling on her top. I dropped the luggage and opened the windows. "It's a little hot here, I thought that would be . . .best."

"Thorough." Was her quiet reply, her voice sweet and gentle.

I walked over to her and removed the droplets of sweat with my cool hand. Her heart rate jumped.

Keeping my hands busy, I placed her luggage on the stand and unzipped it for her. I placed my luggage on the other stand.

I wanted to reassure. "I tried to think of everything – that would make this . . . easier." I didn't tell her that everything included a rehearsed script, that was no longer available for help. I was too wound up seeking perfection. Moreover, instructions for a human and vampire honeymoon were ludicrous.

"I was wondering," considering various options for relaxation, "if . . . first . . . maybe you'd like to take a midnight swim with me?" Oh. That didn't sound too threatening. "The water will be very warm. This is the kind of beach you'd approve of."

"Sounds nice." She agreed.

"I'm sure you'd like a few moments to be human . . . it was a long journey."

She nodded in accord. I brushed my lips along the side of her neck, blowing cool air. She gravitated her body towards the cool air flowing from my mouth. It was electrifying to feel her warmth at my lips. I chuckled out of my own uneasiness, sending more cool air to her neck.

"Don't take too long, Mrs. Cullen." She leapt as my cold breath and words caused her shoulders to chill. My lips soon followed the cool words and I kissed her shoulder. "I'll wait for you in the water."

I unpeeled my shirt and left it in the room as I opened the French doors that led directly onto the white sand beach. I walked to a palm tree that leaned along the ground before shooting up towards the moonlight. I took off all my clothing and hung it over the palm tree. I walked into the water, allowing it to warm my body.

I stopped when the water was just above my hips and waited. I went through the advice given by Bella's mother and my father. At that very moment I was absolutely positive that we were unconditionally and unequivocally in love with each other.

I gazed up at the moon. I remembered all the nights we had spent together and reconciled that they all had led to this one night. I relaxed my mind and emotions. There was no need to place additional pressure on myself.

We were at the pivotal moment of our love. There had been endless discussions that pointed to this instant. Our emotional roller coasters of loss and reconciliation had directed us here.

Could a vampire caress human and leave the woman intact? Could a human take on a vampire and find the man inside?

There was truly only one way to find the answers. We would take the singular path that would determine whether our love was strong enough to continue in this whirlwind of love.

I didn't know the answer but I knew that together, my Bella and I, would discover what some only dreamed about. We would do the only thing left to do -- try.

I blew a sigh of reprieve as I welcomed the sound of her footsteps across the beach. She stopped briefly at the palm tree and she stepped into the water wading toward me.

I was relieved that she didn't shiver or find the water too cold. Her heart beats were steady and sure. Her breathing was balanced and her pace through the water was graceful.

She stopped beside me, placing her hand over mine as I waved it through the water. She looked up to the same sky that I gazed upon. "Beautiful." She said.

"It's alright but I wouldn't use the word beautiful." I answered and turned to look at my wife. "Not when you are standing here in comparison."

She placed her other soft fragile hand over my heart. Sure and certain. I, however, trembled.

"I promised you, we would try." My nerves took over my voice. "If I do something wrong – if I hurt you – you must tell me at once." I placed my free hand over hers. She nodded her promise.

I led her a little further out into the ocean. She came willingly, "Don't be afraid. We belong together."

"Forever." I agreed and we started to swim, our bodies floating.

***

The sun rose and with the first light, I had a sense of fulfillment and delight. I could feel my warm Bella sleeping soundly. There were no moans of despair and she lay content.

I recalled every move and touch we made. I also remembered that at times I was not in control of myself. I knew there had to be at least one bruise, along her lip. When we kissed, she continued to press closer and closer and I bruised her when I attempted to move my lips to her neck.

There was no need to delay the survey to ensure my recollection was correct. I lifted my head and saw her arms. What I beheld made my still heart sink. I saw the bruises along her arms. Both arms! I raised the sheet that covered us and looked along her back. To my utter horror there were more bruises. There was a long reddening line from the middle of her back along her shoulder curving down toward her side.

Every caress that I'd made, left evidence that I'd lost control. My dry tears welled in my eyes. My breathing became a pant from the heaves of air my lungs expressed. Shame and despair descended on me like the rays of sunshine coming through the window.

There would be no more of this damage to her! She must be changed before the next time. On this, there was no compromise. No amount of dazzle, pleading or womanly tricks will alter the fact -- I am not a monster. I would not abuse her.

I began to stroke my hand along the blemishes, hoping that my cool body would reduce any swelling or discoloration. I listened to the flow of her blood to confirm that there was no internal damage. I established that her injuries were only light bruising, no serious damage. It looked worse than it actually was, I knew.

I continued to treat her arms, and blew my cool breath to spots elsewhere. I rubbed my hand gently along her back, stopping to add extra coolness to the long rising whelp.

It soon became apparent that there was little I could do to prevent the natural course that the contusions would take. They would turn purple and blue and after a week or so they would fade away from yellow. It would be a reminder that I was more vampire than man.

My wife began to stir. She wiggled closer to me. I'd seen her wake hundreds of times and she never woke upset. She always was excited to find herself in my arms. I would make today no different because I wanted tomorrow to be no different.

I persisted to cool the bruises on her back with my hand. I traced each one lightly. She was more fully awake now. She began to explore my chest and shoulders. She laughed.

"What's funny?" I asked.

Her stomach growled and she chuckled again. "You just can't escape being human for very long." I fought back dry tears at her words. I was broken for the harm I had caused her fragile human body. I fixed my gaze on the canopy above the bed. She sensed that something was not perfect.

Her body popped up and she looked at my sadness. "Edward? What is it? What's wrong?" Softly she asked, full of concern.

"You have to ask?" How could she ignore the pain? The bruises were warmer than the rest of her body.

She didn't respond. She brought her eyebrows together forming the familiar 'v' along her forehead. She was still quiet. I tried unsuccessfully to read her mind. Was she angry? Hurt? Disappointed? I ran my finger along her brows. It was frustrating not knowing her thoughts. I relented, "What are you thinking?"

"You're upset. I don't understand. Did I . . . ?"

I looked at her bruises and closed my eyes tightly eager to block out her damage. "How badly are you hurt, Bella? The truth – don't try to downplay it."

"Hurt?" She began a survey of her body, stretching muscles and tendons. I observed carefully, looking for any sign of muscle strain or worse, broken bones. Her body seemed to respond more slowly than usual, only the bruising was out of order. She just needed to tell me where she hurts so we could treat her. Her next words surprised me.

"Why would you jump to that conclusion? I've never been better than I am now."

"Stop that!" I ordered. She would not let me off the hook. I could see the damage. Why would she ignore the obvious?

"Stop what?"

"Stop acting like I'm not a monster for having agreed to this." I waived my hand along the length of her bruised body.

"Edward!" Her voice changed to an angry whisper. "Don't ever say that." Her eyes were full of hurt.

"Look at yourself, Bella. Then tell me I'm not a monster."

"Why am I covered in feathers?"

Damn down pillows. "I bit a pillow. Maybe two. That's not what I'm talking about." My voice rose.

"You . . . bit a pillow? Why?"

I couldn't stand her feigned ignorance any longer. I took her hand and gently stretched it in front of her eyes. "Look, Bella." Only my voice was rough, "look at that!"

There was immediate recognition in her eyes. Her eyes outlined the large bruises along her arm and followed the path across her shoulders and down her sides. She brought her other hand around twisting her arm, discovering more contusions. She pressed her finger into one of the discolored areas and we watched it fade and then discolor again upon release. I then placed my hand over her left arm matching the pattern of her bruises to each of my fingers.

"Oh" she murmured.

"I'm . . . so sorry, Bella. I knew better than this. I should not have –" I lost my voice to the uncontrollable sobs coming from my throat.

Once I gained my composure, I continued. "I am more sorry than I can tell you." I leaned back ashamed and hid my face under my arm. The silent, wet less tears never flowed.

She was very still. After a moment she touched my arm gently seeking my face. I couldn't look at her. She tried unsuccessfully to dislodge my arm.

"Edward." She said my name.

This is where she would tell me off. I took a breath and waited.

"Edward?" She yanked on my arm. I knew she would try to convince me that this was not a big deal. My wife always downplayed my mistakes.

"I'm not sorry, Edward. I'm not! I can't begin to tell you how happy I am." She paused, "happy doesn't do justice to how I feel. Don't be angry. Don't! I'm really f—"

I cut her off. "Do not say the word fine. If you value my sanity, do not say that you are fine."

"But I am," she said each word as if it were its own sentence.

"Bella, don't." I could not allow her to trivialize her injuries and how I had wronged her.

"No. You don't, Edward." I could hear the anger in her voice. I moved my arm to look at her, ready to accept retribution for my behavior.

"Don't ruin this. I am happy." She whispered.

"I've already ruined this." I said coolly.

"Cut it out." She demanded.

I gritted my teeth in total frustration. She was upset with me because I was upset. No -- my wife wasn't rational enough to be upset about the contusions growing on her body, she wanted to be upset because I was taking responsibility for my actions. I'd disappointed her, lost control and she had trusted me.

"Ugh! Why can't you just read my mind already? It's so inconvenient being a mental mute!"

There she goes again, saying something so tangential. What could she mean? It would be easier if I could read her thoughts, yes, but why now? "That's a new one. You love that I can't read your mind."

"Not today."

"Why?"

As if in total exasperation, she threw her arms up in the air and landed them palms up on my chest. The sound of the smack lingered.

"Because if you could read my thoughts then all this drama would be completely unnecessary, you would see how happy I feel right now. Rather five minutes ago. I was perfectly happy. Totally and completely blissed out. Now – well, I'm sort of pissed to tell you the truth."

"You should be angry at me."

"Well. I am. Does that make you feel better?"

"No." I moaned. "I don't think anything could make me feel better now."

"That! That right there is why I'm angry. You are killing my buzz, Edward."

I shook my head and looked to the canopy. My wife was a lunatic. She never behaved as a normal human would. Was she happy with the pain and trauma I caused her body? What was she saying? I couldn't figure out where her 'bliss' came from. She didn't enjoy ---

"We knew this was going to be tricky." Her voice sounded more rational as she interrupted my line of reasoning. "I thought it was assumed that – well, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. And this is really nothing." She rubbed her fingers along her arm.

That's when she began to sound more delusional. "I think for a first time, neither of us knowing what to expect, we did amazing. With a little practice –"

I bolted up and looked her dead in her face. "Assumed? Did you expect this Bella." I pointed to her body. "Were you thinking it would be worse and we still went through with it? Do you consider this a victory because you are still alive and breathing? No broken bones – that equals success?" She was not thinking reasonably. I continued my silent rant. She was out of her mind if she thought this would be repeated. Practice my foot. I don't think so, not while she was still human.

I lowered my body back down onto the bed. This was horrible and there was no way to make it better. We would just have to wait until she had a more durable body. We waited all this time, a few short weeks more wouldn't matter. We would have eternity. I relaxed my body, knowing she would not be injured again, even if she considered the situation a success.

She had waited for me to resolve my issues and then she spoke.

"I didn't know what to expect – but I definitely did not expect how . . . how . . . just wonderful and perfect it was." She started to blush pulling her eyes down into her worried hands. "I mean, I don't know how it was for you, but it was like that for me."

For the love of everything holy, she was focused on my enjoyment? That is not the issue! I lifted her chin up with my finger "Bella, is that what you're worried about? That I -- didn't enjoy myself?"

"I know it's not the same. You're not human. I was just trying to explain that, for a human, well, I can't imagine that life gets any better than that."

I considered that if I were human, she would have no doubts about my enjoyment. She'd forgotten how much of a man I am with her and the pleasures she brings. There would never be anyone for me, just her, and in terms of that part – it was a success.

"It seems that I have more to apologize for. I didn't dream that you would take my angst to mean that last night wasn't . . . – the best night of my existence. But I don't want you to think about it that way, not when you were . . ."

She began to smile, her eyes bright "Really? The best ever?"

I could tell that I needed to explain more to get her to understand that the pain I caused was a disappointment and unrepeatable. I brought her face to mine, "I spoke to Carlisle after you and I made our bargain, hoping he could help me. Of course he warned me that this would be very dangerous for you. He had faith in me though – faith I didn't deserve."

She started to interrupt me but I quickly placed two fingers over her lips.

"I also asked him what I should expect. I didn't know what it would be for me . . . what with my being a vampire." I deleted that I wouldn't have known being vampire or human.

"Carlisle told me it was a very powerful thing, like nothing else. He told me that physical love was something that I should not treat lightly. With our rarely changing temperaments, strong emotions can alter us in permanent ways. But he said I did not need to worry about that part – you had already altered me so completely." Her strong love and adoration had changed me, making me more human, at least that's what I thought.

"I spoke to my brothers, too. They told me it was a very great pleasure. Second only to drinking human blood. But I've tasted your blood, and there could be no blood more gratifying to me than that." I paused to gather my next words. "I don't think they were wrong, really. Just that it was different for us. Something more."

"It was more. It was everything." My wife concurred.

"That doesn't change the fact that it was wrong. Even if it were possible that you really did feel that way."

"What does that mean? Do you think I'm making this up? Why?" Her tone rose higher as she asked each question.

"To ease my guilt. I can't ignore the evidence Bella. Or your history of trying to let me off the hook when I make mistakes." Then my wife did something so unexpected.

She put both hands on either side of my face and pressed her forehead to mine. She spoke with absolute conviction and authority: "You listen to me, Edward Cullen. I am not pretending anything for your sake, okay? I didn't even know there was a reason to make you feel better until you started being all miserable. I've never been so happy in my life – I wasn't this happy when you decided you loved me more than you wanted to kill me, or the first morning I woke up and you were there waiting for me . . . Not when I heard your voice in the ballet studio--" I shuddered at the thought of her near death, all because I challenged a vampire, an expert tracker. She didn't allow me a word, she continued -- "or when you said 'I do' and I realized that somehow, I get to keep you forever. Those are the happiest memories I have, and this is better than any of it. So just deal with it."

She was then sad. I brushed my finger over her frown. "I'm making you unhappy now. I don't want to do that."

"Then don't you be unhappy. That's the only thing that's wrong here."

All my plans to make this the best honeymoon ever would be wasted if I allowed this unhappiness. "You're right. The past is gone and I can't do anything to change it. There's no sense in letting my mood sour this time for you. I'll do whatever I can to make you happy now." I gave her a weak smile, sealing my commitment.

"Whatever makes me happy?"

She was relentless. I could not give her that enjoyment until she changed and I was in no mood to discuss that again. Thankfully her stomach growled.

"You're hungry." I swiftly leaped out of bed. A cloud of feathers stirred around me.

Her curiosity stirred as well. "So why exactly did you decide to ruin Esme's pillows?"

I was already dressed and began to rub the feathers out of my hair. "I'm not sure I decided to do anything last night. Just be glad that it was the pillows and not you." I recalled the exact moments of pleasure when I bit the pillows, it was a stimulating memory. I couldn't resist forcing a grin across my face. Damn lucky it was the pillow.

She got out of the bed and I could see the full extent of the damage. There were bruises covering her entire torso. Only a few spots of unblemished skin were visible on her upper body. I looked at her legs and gasped. There were black and blue contusions there as well and along her cheek bone. I had to turn away from the carnage.

"Do I look that hideous?" She sounded giddy! She went into the bathroom and stood in front of the full length mirror taking inventory of the bruises. She groaned.

She was in pain, I went to her side immediately, "Bella?"

"I'll never get this out of my hair." She pointed to her head full of feathers.

"You would worry about your hair." I murmured and relaxed somewhat. She was not in pain. I began to help her remove the feathers at vampire speed.

"How did you keep from laughing at this? I look ridiculous."

I found nothing to laugh about this morning and now looking at her in the mirror, there still was nothing to laugh about. She may make light of this if she so desires, but this was a serious breach of acceptable behavior on my part. I wouldn't make her unhappy, but I sure wasn't about to laugh about the damage I caused either.

"This isn't working." She stopped pulling the feathers out of her hair. "I'm going to have to wash it out." She pressed her body against mine "Do you want to help me?"

Her attempted seduction would not work. "I'd better find you some food." I turned and zipped out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

I heard the shower come on and I began to make breakfast. I shredded cheese and put the bacon in the pan. I shook my head often, trying to remove the picture of my wife's body full of the contusions I caused. "Bella put on something that will cover up most of those bruises," I whispered to myself.

I found her some bread to make toast and dropped three slices into the toaster. The bacon sizzled and started to turn brown. I placed a small glass of juice on the breakfast counter in front of the stove. I then poured her a glass of milk.

The bacon was done and I removed it from the pan. I sliced a fresh orange and added a few blueberries to a plate. When I heard the shower turn off, I cracked opened three eggs and began to beat them swiftly. Added salt and pepper, placed a clean pan on the stove, added butter, and turned on the heat. I could hear her going through her suitcase to find something to wear. I poured the egg mixture into the hot pan. Soon the cheese omelet was done and I slid it onto the plate just as she walked into the room.

My wife had on a white cotton dress, probably sleeveless, but she had a pink shear top over it that covered nearly all of her arms. The dress was long, nearly to her ankles and she had a pair of flip flops on her feet. I placed her plate on the counter and turned to add the plate of buttered toast. She was barely in her seat when she began eating.

"I'm not feeding you often enough."

"I was asleep. Hey this is really good. I'm impressed, especially since you don't eat."

"Food Network." I was glad my preparations were working out so well, at least when it came to cooking. I had made her happy with breakfast and I relinquished a smile.

"Where did the eggs come from?"

"I asked the cleaning crew to stock the kitchen. A first for this place. I'll have to ask them to deal with the feathers . . ." I don't want to go back into that room, the scene of the crime. Had it been another person that had bruised her, they would be dead now—seeing as though it was me, I will have to deal with my banishment.

She finished every bit of food I had served. "Thank you." She leaned across the counter and kissed me. I pressed my lips to hers and remembered the bruise along her cheek and lips. I leaned away.

"You aren't going to touch me again while we're here, are you." Her words stung me. I would always caress and hold her. I didn't want to do anything but touch her.

I wouldn't touch her like I did last night, not until she changed -- certainly not for my physical pleasure. It wouldn't matter if she was human or vampire, I would never touch her again in any manner that would cause her injury. Never. I raised my hand to gently touch the undamaged side of her face.

"You know that's not what I meant." She whispered.

I lowered my hand. "I know. And you're right. I will not make love with you until you've been changed. Even then, I will never hurt you again."

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A/N – A shameless self-plug for the one shot of how Edward and Bella rekindled their romance, its rated M and called Breaking Dawn Isle Esme.