AN – Okay, I am back again. Thank you again, I am really going to work on responding to your reviews but please know that I read every one of them and they make my day. Just working on four stories at once here so trying to keep it all straight.

Here we find out a bit more about Edward's surprise.

I do not own these characters!

BPOV

I woke up in Edward's arms and momentarily forgot everything that was wrong with my life at the moment. How could things be so bad if he was here with me? He smiled down at me, sorrow still evident in his eyes and suddenly it all came back to me. Why, I wondered couldn't I just take his offer and be with him forever, it was all I ever wanted but I just knew that I couldn't. Kissing him gently I pulled myself close to him, enjoying the feeling of his icy body next to mine. Finally I knew I couldn't put it off any longer and reached for my purse and my phone to make the phone call I had been dreading.

He didn't say a word, just held me while I dialed, ready to offer me whatever I should need. My fingers trembled as I dialed the numbers and my voice shook when someone answered. It was over quickly, funny how such a life altering moment could be planned in the blink of an eye. I looked at the piece of paper in my hand; I had eight days; eight days until this was no longer just a bad dream.

"I made reservations, we leave tonight for Forks," I just nodded, not trusting myself to speak right now. Edward understood and didn't push me. "I'm going downstairs to let everyone know and then we can head out to the airport okay," another nod and he gently kissed me and walked out the door. I didn't move an inch the entire time that he was gone and was unsure of how much time had passed until he walked back in the door.

"Are you ready to go?" He grabbed our luggage and looked at me; I could tell he was worried.

"Um…..yes. Just let me tell everyone goodbye okay." He walked behind me as we headed downstairs, everyone was waiting for us; I tried to avoid their eyes because if I looked at the emotion there I would never survive this.

With hugs and promises to call later on we headed out the door. Edward put the luggage in the trunk and quickly opened my door for me and was in his seat before I even had my seat belt on.

"You okay?" his eyes searched mine.

"I don't know," my emotions were all over the place, I was on information overload; my fragile grip on my sanity was close to breaking.

"You don't have to be brave for me Bella, you've done that enough in our lives, let me in, let me know what you need," he held my face in his hands, rubbing his fingers along my cheek.

"Just you Edward, here by my side, please just stay with me," I don't know when the tears started but I felt their warmth sliding down my face before Edward wiped them away with his fingers.

"I'll be here forever, you never need to ask," after he wiped the last tear away he started the car and we drove to the airport. His hand never strayed from mine and he hardly took his eyes off my face. We checked in and headed to our terminal, as the plane filled we sat in our first class seats and I worried about how I would break the news to Charlie, how would he take this. I had thought numerous times in the past about how Charlie would feel after I had been changed, how he would take the news of my death but I had always been comforted by the fact that I could check on him, make sure that he was okay. I never realized how much that simple fact meant to me. Renee had Phil and although I knew my absence would break her heart I knew she would survive it much better than Charlie would.

The plane landed and there was a car waiting for us to take us to the Cullen's house. It was rather late and I was going to wait until tomorrow to call Charlie. He would immediately be suspicious if I called tonight to tell him that I was in town and I wasn't ready to face that conversation tonight. Not quite ready for bed despite the exhaustion that had set in I headed to the front room and sat on the couch, surprising Edward.

"Can we just watch a movie please," I don't want to have to think, don't want to talk; just want to pretend like things are normal." He smiled and nodded.

"Pick out a movie, I'll be right back," with that he was gone. Suddenly the kitchen was filled with the sound of popcorn popping and I smiled, he was always so thoughtful. When he came back in he was carrying a huge bowl and a drink for me, he set it down on the table next to us and sat on the couch next to me, opening his arms and inviting me to sit down with him. I curled in next to him, regardless of his temperature in his arms I always felt warm when I was with him. The movie started and we sat there, my body resting against him and all I focused on was being here with him, the rest would work itself out somehow but for now this was what I wanted, what I needed.

Apparently I was more tired than I had originally thought because the next thing I remembered was Edward carrying me upstairs to our room. He laid me down gently, not wanting to disturb me and then wrapped me in a blanket and wrapped his arms around me and I drifted off to sleep again.

The next morning I awoke and Edward was gone, I got out of bed quickly searching for him and that was when I heard him at the piano, playing something I had never heard him play before, it was haunting. Coming up behind him I seemed to surprise him which never happens with Edward. He looked up at me, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What was that?"

"Just something I'm working on, just trying some things out," he looked down at his fingers, still on the keys.

"It sounded so sad, are you okay?" I walked behind him, rubbing his back, not that there would be any tension but wanting to try to comfort him.

"I'm just scared, scared of losing you, scared that I have missed my chance of making you happy, that in not taking your life I ended up ruining ours," his head hung down and I couldn't keep doing this over and over again.

"No more Edward, no more dwelling on our mistakes and making ourselves miserable. The past is the past, I love our life even with the regrets, it's our life and I wouldn't change it. It's time to look to our future, telling my parents, the surgery, recovery, that is our focus now and then we will go on with our lives."

He nodded, "Okay, Bella, our future that is what matters, our past is just that, the past. I love you and we will get through this."

I smiled, my first true smile since this whole thing had started yesterday. With one last hug I walked over to the phone to call Charlie. He was surprised to hear that I was in town but quickly agreed to meet with me. I told him we were on our way and took a deep breath as I headed to the garage, Edward following me.

It went better than I thought it would, telling my parents about my illness. There was the expected tears, the denial, the anger but I had the support that I knew I would, the offers to be there by my side to do anything they could to help me/us fight this. Edward stayed by my side the entire time, everyone too distracted by the news to study him and ask any questions. He was my pillar of support that I needed in order to get through this. Every night he held me in his arms and with him I felt safe, secure, powerful, and I knew that together we could fight this; with him by my side I could overcome anything.

All too quickly the visits with my parents were over, a blur of airports, tears and sadness. I knew that now reality was looming. We boarded yet another plane and I noticed that we weren't heading back home and looked at Edward in confusion.

"A surprise for you my love, I thought we could use some alone time before we headed back," always so thoughtful that husband of mine, always so willing to give me more than I deserved.

"Thank you," words couldn't describe the joy I felt at that moment, the utter amazement that he was all mine. He knew me better than I knew myself and understood that I just wanted to be with him, my rock for a while without the interruptions, without the accusations, without the looks, just him and me.

We boarded the plane and I didn't even look at where we were going, didn't even listen to the announcement. I wanted to be surprised, to just enjoy what he was giving to me for once, not fight it ever step of the way. Looking at his face it was the happiest I had seen him in over a day and I wanted to savor that, take it in and remember it.

The plane landed and I could see true excitement in his eyes as we exited. I still had no clue where we were but I didn't care. Once again a car was waiting for us and I looked out the windows of the town car trying to determine where we had landed. Nothing looked familiar as I looked around so I didn't worry about it and just focused on Edward. He looked so serene sitting next to me, like he truly wanted to focus on the here and now and not dwell, for Edward this was amazing, he always overanalyzed ever single action in our lives, it was nice to see him relaxed.

"So, where are we?" With the simple act of his smile he dazzled me; his happiness did amazing things to me.

"We're in the Bahamas, I rented us a private house on the beach," it sounded perfect to me.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" he smiled at me, but he couldn't completely hide the sorrow in his eyes at my comment.

The car pulled up to a mansion, no other houses appeared to be close by. Edward leaned forward and informed the driver that we would let ourselves out but to please just bring the luggage into the entry of the home and be back in three days. He placed a bundle of bills in the driver's seat and we walked out. Edward let us out and carried me to the house.

"Wow, carrying my in, I can walk you know," I laughed.

"I know, I know, but that wouldn't be right, after all this is our second honeymoon, no walking over any threshold for you," he kissed me, it was a hungry kiss, a fervent kiss. Realization slowly dawned on me, second honeymoon, what exactly did this mean. The first one had ended in disaster and I couldn't imagine him wanting to relive those memories.

"Second honeymoon?" I tried to keep my voices steady but I knew that my erratic heartbeat was betraying me.

"Yes Bella, to everything. I don't want your only memories of a honeymoon to be pain and rejection, I want you to have the happy memories you deserve." His lips were on mine again and I closed my eyes. All thoughts were lost; I just wanted to enjoy what he was giving to me.

I could feel the sensation of walking upstairs and I didn't open my eyes until we had stopped. We were in a room, painted a very light blue, empty except for the large wrought iron bed against a wall and a dresser. There was a balcony from which you could see the endless view of the ocean, it was stunning. He watched my face, wondering at my reaction and I smiled, a glorious, blissful smile, the smile that only he was ever capable of putting on my face.

"Are you sure Edward?" He simply nodded and placed me gently on the bed. We heard the door closing downstairs and knew that we were alone. My stomach was twisting in anticipation of what was coming. I wondered why now but why I didn't care enough to utter the question out loud.

He stood up and his eyes took in every inch of my body, a body that had always been open to him but that he had refused to acknowledge until this moment. I just stood still, looking up at him, shivering with desire for him.

"Bella, you have to let me know if I hurt you again," the worried look was starting to take over and I had to distract him before he started to over think things.

"Edward, don't think, just do," I leaned forward kissing him, trying to convey thru my lips what I wanted and needed from him, "please Edward, let go."

No other words needed to be said he was suddenly next to me on the bed, exploring me with his fingers. I was surprised to find that they were trembling slightly and that only served to excite me even more. He was always so firmly in control of every aspect of his self, it was so frustrating. But to know that I could do this to him, it made me feel dangerous like him.

It was everything we had hoped for on our honeymoon but more. He was cautious but loving, attentive, intuitive. We were one finally; whole, complete, undivided. I mourned for the years that we had lost, but looked forward to our future and the infinite possibilities it now held. The next three days were spent alternating between enjoying the water, sand and sun and getting lost in each others embrace. The time spent here was the highlight of our lives and we were sad when it was time to head back to the lives we had managed to forget for a few days. No word was uttered the entire time on the island about my impending surgery but as we got closer and closer to home we both could feel the weight pulling our shoulders down, forcing us to face the reality of yet another fight we had left to face.

Hope you enjoyed that. The next few chapters are a bit rough so just a warning. More coming tomorrow and thanks again for reading.