Disclaimer: i don't own these characters.

Hmmm, so some liked the humorous side of Bella and others-not so much. I'm just going to say this: First we're seeing things from DPOV and not getting Bella's thoughts and feelings. She's grown quite attached to Demetri, and Leah, one she hates, is going to be his mate. So, she was not really thinking much about Demetri last chapter, but of Leah's discomfort. Ok, moving on. This was supposed to be the meeting to discuss a plan, but it got sidetracked by apologies. So nothing big happens here, just some amends. Thanks for the many comments. Feeback of all kinds is helpful. I can't get better if no one points out my mistakes. So, thanks!

Chapter 17 Amends

DPOV

Carlisle walked past us with Seth and Jacob following. Where were the rest of the Cullen's? The entire family was supposed to meet here to discuss our options.

Leah's dark face filled my thoughts replacing the Volturi and the Cullen's entirely. I could still feel her scorching lips against mine, the taste of them, her divine scent.

How was Leah handling being in there with Bella? Being separated from her was difficult, but I knew I had to deal with Edward before going back inside.

Edward's hard eyes glinted and a crooked smile played on his mouth. "Ah, now I understand." He said simply.

"Understand what?"

"What I just walked in on," he replied. "Leah imprinted on you?" he confirmed.

I nodded.

"Well, good luck with that," he smirked. "She's…feisty." He finished with a low chuckle.

"Indeed. I seem to have witnessed some of that first hand this afternoon," I agreed.

Edward walked to the other side of the hall staring intently at the picture before him. "I owe you an apology, Demetri."

"It is not necessary."

He turned back to me, an odd look on his face. "I accused you of attacking a human, I think an apology is the least I can offer."

I nodded. "Fine. Apology accepted, then. Can we go back in now?" I asked hopefully. The few minutes I'd been out here were driving me insane. She was stuck in a room filled with vampires that she could not stand. And then there's Bella. Goodness knows what she was doing to provoke Leah. Getting those two to be friends was going to be difficult to say the least, but something I was hell- bent on achieving.

"Sure." Edward answered as he held the door open for me to enter smirking as he read my thoughts.

"Can you not block my thoughts?" I asked.

He laughed. "I can dim them to background noise, but they are always there. And to be honest, you are broadcasting quite loudly right now," he replied. "My power is slightly different from Bella's," he continued as we went through the door. "She has to actually turn it on, so to speak, in order to catch people's thoughts."

I nodded barely hearing the last part as my eyes found Bella's worried face. I knew that seeing Edward was going to be difficult for her, but they would work it out. I gave a reassuring smile before searching for Leah.

BPOV

After grabbing me into a tight embrace and relaying that no one blamed me for Tyler's death, Carlisle took a seat next to me on the couch. All the introductions were done and he was deep in conversation with Alyria about her blood donors.

Leah was sulking in the back of the room as far from everyone as possible. She kept shooting me death stares, but said nothing more than her angry outburst when she'd entered the room ten minutes ago.

Jacob and Seth were back at the desk trying to decide what the fact that Leah had imprinted on a vampire actually meant.

But I wasn't interested in any of that. All I wanted to hear was what was taking place out in the hall. I'd heard Edward's velvety voice as he ridiculed Demetri. I kept telling myself repeatedly that Virat was the cause for the things that had been said, that everything would be fine between us, but a part of me wasn't being rational and was certain that Edward hated me and couldn't trust me.

The door opened and both of them entered warily. Demetri's eyes fell on me briefly before locating Leah leaning against the back wall. Indecision was written all over his face. I could tell that he wanted to go to her, but that he was afraid that she would reject him. Instead he took the chair next to Christian but positioned it so that he could still see Leah.

I couldn't bring myself to look into Edward's eyes. He hadn't come completely into the room yet and his caution was causing my mind to spiral out of control with ridiculous scenarios for why he couldn't bring himself to join us.

Kattra's soft hand touched my shoulder briefly as she lowered her face to my ear. "You can use my room," she offered motioning to the door on the left.

"Thanks," I whispered as I stood and glanced back at Edward who was still standing immobile. "Can we talk?" I asked hesitantly.

He nodded once and moved human pace towards the door I went through, closing it softly.

The room was huge and very red. There was absolutely not one thing that wasn't red. Even the electronics were a shiny cherry hue. I walked to the window moving the gauzy curtains aside trying to find the courage to talk to my husband. Suddenly I felt like a small child who had misbehaved and was about to get a big lecture from their parents. "I know you're disappointed in me," my voice broke as I began reliving the argument again. I could hear his breath sighing across the room, but nothing else. I turned around slowly my eyes carefully working their way to his face. Please don't let him be looking at me the way he was last time.

But, his expression was carefully blank. Unless I was willing to use my powers to hear his thoughts I was going to have to go about this the unpleasant way. I bit my lip as I took a step to him. "Please say something. I know I messed up. I'll go wherever you want me to go. As far away from people as possible for as long as you deem necessary. Please." I begged.

The silence that stretched out was painful. The sound of the clock ticking on the nightstand seemed to echo louder with each passing second and still he made no move to speak, his face still void of all emotion. I dropped my gaze as I tried to gather my thoughts, tried to find the perfect words to undo the mess that had been made.

"I love you, Isabella Cullen," his beautiful voice rang out as he closed the distance, yet still refrained from touching me. "Nothing you can do will ever change that. But, if you have changed your mind about me…well, I would accept that."

"What are you going on about?"

"Demetri," he answered simply.

"Is a good friend." I countered. "I love you, Edward. Forever," I whispered.

He nodded like he truly needed the confirmation. "You have been informed of Virat, I presume?" He asked.

"Yes. Demetri told me everything."

"Good. So, you know that I wasn't really myself last night? That I didn't mean anything I said? Right?" His hand took mine and everything just felt right again. "I'm so sorry for hurting you."

I pulled him into me, my head resting on his shoulder feeling more at peace than I could ever remember. "There's nothing to forgive, Edward."

"That's not entirely true. I should never have abandoned you that night at the club. If I had been there you would never have attacked him, never tasted human blood, never had a human's death on your hands," he murmured.

"Please don't do that. Don't put this on your shoulders. Only two people are to balme and that's me and Virat. I have to live with Tyler's death for all eternity and I deserve that. An eternity of guilt is getting off easy. You," I shook my head, "do not need to suffer for something that was never in your control."

He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it softly, his hand trembling minutely. "Thank you," he said thickly.

He led me to the bed without ever letting go of my hand. "Carlisle has a plan, but I do not think you are going to like it," he paused searching my gaze. "I certainly do not like it," he muttered.

"There'll be plenty of time for plotting. Right now I just need you." I pressed my lips to his gently. We hadn't been this careful since we'd first gotten together. I stroked my hand down his cheek, my lips still moving slowly against his when there was a knock on the door.

Kattra peeked her head in. "Carlisle is ready to begin," she said softly. I nodded but went right back to kissing Edward. He wrapped his arms around me and deepened the kiss, his tongue like hot silk against mine. "We'll finish this later," he assured me as he trailed kisses softly down my neck.