Author Notes: WOWIE! 180+ reviews. You guys are like totally awesome. You're the best. Now enjoy this happy chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The months following the death and funeral of Jessica blurred together. Winter turned into spring and spring turned into summer. Now summer was almost over and school would be starting in a few short weeks. No one seemed happy about it. It was as if summer flew past them one day. Bella went to bed one night and woke up and summer vacation was almost over.

Bella and Edward laid on a blanket in the middle of the meadow. It was a rare sunny day, a blistering 87 degrees out, a rare day for Forks. The sun shone down on Edward causing his hard, granite-like skin to shimmer in the sun. Bella watched him as his eyes were closed and lips turned upwards in a smile.

Edward was enjoying the heat as well, letting him warm him up a little. Bella reached over and a ran a hand down his face. He leaned up and over and gently pressed her lips against his, kissing him tenderly, carefully. Edward opened his eyes and she pulled away. He was surprised, and happy; jubilant even.

"What was that for?" He asked, curious. He desperately wished he could read her mind sometimes, but also loved the fact that she always surprised him, doing things different from what he would have thought she'd do, even after living with her for almost 12 years.

"For just always being there when I needed you." She told him, smiling shyly and blushing. He grinned and kissed her a bit more, but then pulled back the moment Bella opened her mouth.

"No, none of that." He said gently and she closed her mouth. "Bella, my silly Bella, you lived with vampires for 12 years and you know how things can get. Especially between Emmett and Rose, but I could never get like that with you. I can't afford to lose control. I would hurt you, possibly kill you, and I wouldn't like that too much."

Bella frowned and looked at him. "Well, I'll end up like you one day." She said softly and kissed his cheek. He frowned and shook his head.

"No, never." He said with absolute in his voice. Bella sat up and stared at him and opened her mouth to speak, but he spoke up first to finish what he was going to say. "Bella, sure, being a vampire has it's… perks. Reading minds, super strong, super fast, never having to worry about Aunt Flo visiting every month, making you miserable. But it also has it's downsides. You never eat or sleep and you're constantly repeating high school and maybe the occasional college here and there, but you're constantly living life as a teenager and the only way you grow is mentally. Not to mention your soul will be damned to the seven pits of hell. I can't… I won't do that. Not willingly."

Bella stared at him, but giggled at the Aunt Flo part. "Edward, the Volturi. You heard what they said when they visited last September. How about we make a compromise. We'll think about it for a few days and then give each other our stipulations, does that seem reasonable?"

Edward thought, then nodded. It did seem reasonable. "For now." He replied and pulled her down and held her close, breathing in her strong human scent. "Lets enjoy our time together today." Bella closed her eyes and nodded, listening to Edward breathe since he didn't have a heart beat, her eyes drifted close and her breathing evened out as she fell asleep. Edward pulled another blanket around her as he held her, covering her from the sun as she slept.

He ran a hand through her hair and thought of all the things she had been through throughout her life. Was he really ready to end her human life? Was he really ready to stop listening to her heartbeat? Would he forget the sound? He was sure he would over time. He didn't know if he wanted to lose that sound, or the sound of her talking in her sleep, or anything human about her. He wanted to be selfish and keep her human as long as possible.

It figures. He thought ruefully, I just HAD to fall in love with a human. Then he cheered up at the idea of falling in love with Bella. Better Bella than Tanya! He thought victoriously. Maybe the Alaskan vampire would leave him alone now. He would like that, though he doubt it would stop her vial, disgusting thoughts. Why couldn't Tanya find a nice, normal Alaskan man to care for her needs? Maybe Alice and Rosalie could set something up next time they were in Denali.

Bella slipped her hand in Edward's as they walked back towards home, taking their time as the sun began to set. They had been out at the meadow all day.

"Today was nice." Bella said, happily. Edward beamed, happy to have made her happy. "We need to go there more often." He wholeheartedly agreed with her. He never seen her so relaxed in a long time. He realized he misses that happy girl he watched grow up.

"How would you like to go to Isla Esme? Just the two of us?" He asked suddenly. "Just for a weekend or something before school starts?"

Bella looked thoughtful, she hadn't been there in years. "I don't know. It's really mom and daddy's get away from the unruly vampire children." He chuckled. It was true and it was a good thing they weren't too unruly too often. Edward did not like being apart from his parents for so long.

"We'll think of something, Edward." She said cheerfully and hopped on his back. "Promise." He held her as he took off running towards the car and she laughed as she buried her face.

Yes, today was a good day for both of them.

To Be Continued…

Notes: Lets hope the happiness is here to stay for a while! I'm very good with drama and angst and tragedy, when it comes to happiness… it's harder. I like torturing the characters. It's a very good stress reliever, but I decided they need some happiness in their lives and I needed to move forward with Bella and Edward romance.

Also, I'm thinking of making this a very long story and writing snippets (outtakes) in between. Like things that happen that I didn't post but want connected in the story! Anyways, review!