Thanks for the great response on chapter one! I really appreciate it. This story is very different for me, the size and theme and i love any feedback you can give. Please thank Wolves&Vamps for planting this seed in my head. Nev for attacking my Commas and OCD for holding my hand. Hopefully you can read this after the bare-chested rob induced haze we were just injected with! I know i'm having a hard time!!!

Chapter 2

Standing over the bear carcass, I wiped a speck of blood off the corner of my mouth with my thumb. I quickly sucked the smear off with my tongue and heard laughter from above.

"Emmett would be jealous," Edward called from the hill above with a bright smile on his face. Leaping down the steep incline, his feet landed with a thud next to the huge black bear. He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.

I licked his lip as he pulled away. "You taste like elk."

His eyes were lighter now, bright yellow, glowing at me in the dark. Edward laughed and said, "Not all of us were lucky enough to snare a bear." I felt his finger run along my shoulder, grazing my skin where fabric should have been. "Although it looks like he tried to take a piece of you with him."

I looked down and saw a large tear in my blouse, revealing a large portion of skin from my collarbone to my arm. I was giddy and well fed. I could feel the blood coursing through my veins, and the excitement of the hunt made me eager. Edward's touch sent a chilling feeling through my body, even after all this time.

Edward was looking around the area, trying to determine where he could dispose of the bear. I watched his graceful movements as he found a small dry creek bed in which he tossed the remains and threw a decaying shrub over the animal in case hunters came through the area. When I was human, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to never change, but Edward was like looking at a photograph. Strong and lean. Muscles tight. Square jaw. Tuggable hair. Everything about him was still perfect. A god. My Adonis, I had called him at the time.

He was exactly the same; I realized as I watched him bend over and his shirt inched up as he threw another pile of debris over the carcass, showing me the smooth skin hugging the edge of his pants.

I wanted my husband as much today as I had all those years ago when I attempted to seduce him on his ridiculous wrought iron bed. Unfortunately, the concerns and issues we had before my change shifted and festered into something wholly new. His concern for my safety and virtue had manifested into remorse and guilt. We allowed it to seep into the fissures of our marriage and settle inside, infecting our life, our love, and our happiness.

I watched him now, brushing his hands together in an attempt to remove the dirt from our hunt. I wanted his hands on me, dirty and raw. I craved his approval. Edward loved me, and he made love to me, but it was like I was still human, fragile, an object that could break. The passion evaporated once I began my new life. Inside, there was a woman begging him to push me against a tree, to feel the pressure of his strength and have him accept everything I was and am and will be forever.

Instead, he walked to me slowly, gave me the same perfectly lovely smile he always did and asked, "Are you ready?" He then clasped his hand with mine, and I followed him home in the dark.

Xxx

At the edge of the forest, just before we crossed into the shorter, tamed grass of our lawn, a breeze flittered past our noses.

We had company.

Unsurprisingly, Edward pushed me behind his solid body, protective as though I was still delicate, and said, "Wait here."

I, of course, rolled my eyes in the darkness and followed but stopped short when I was able to distinguish the scents waiting for us on the porch. One was a vampire, the other a human. They stood, nicely dressed at the top of the steps, and I now noticed a small car on the pebble covered driveway. They were civilized. And a couple, I reasoned by the way his arm snaked around her waist, and she leaned into him.

Edward's head was inched slightly to the left, an indication that he was reading their minds and assessing the situation. He appeared tentative but not defensive which put me at ease. Our visitors must have made their intentions clear.

I slipped my hand into the back of Edward's pants, tugging at him to slow down and wait for me. The couple was smiling as we approached, and as we stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Edward offered a cordial, "Hello."

The man, the vampire, returned the greeting and said, "I'm Hayden and this is Camille." The tall girl with long, flowing, black hair and beautiful dark skin stepped forward with an excited grin. Hayden's honey-colored eyes were not lost on me, and I was forced to admit I was intrigued by our visitors.

I smiled at the couple. "I'm Bella, and this is my husband Edward, but I suspect you already know this," I said, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

"It's a thrill to meet you," the woman gushed, which caused Edward and I to look at one another quizzically.

The situation was odd, so I attempted to break the discomfort by inviting them inside, and they eagerly accepted. I led them into the house stopping in the front room and looking at Camille I asked, "Can I offer you anything? I have drinks." I kept them on hand just in case a patient or colleague of Edward's stumbled by.

"No, thank you," she said, shaking her head a little and letting her sweet smell rush past my nose.

Edward pointed to the couch, and we all sat. Hayden and Camille sat happily on the blue couch, hips touching, fingers laced together. I eyed their connection with envy as Edward and I sat in the two matching chairs across from them, separated by more than the mere distance of the chairs.

Once everyone was settled, Edward asked the most obvious questions. 'Why are you here?' and 'What do you want?' These questions were spoken for my benefit. He already knew what they wanted, of course, since he could pluck the thoughts out of their minds. Whatever it was, it distressed him which only intrigued me more.

I looked at the couple across from me. I assumed they were in their mid twenties. Camille was wearing a university sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers. Hayden was small, thin, and no taller than Camille. His short blonde hair was cut conservatively. He wasn't particularly handsome; although every time he looked at the woman next to him on the couch, his lips curved upwards, and his expression went soft. He loved her.

Hayden threaded his fingers through Camille's and began speaking. "We came to talk to you. You're something of a legend among our kind, you know? Not only do you hail from a coven who doesn't feed on humans, you," and he gestured to Edward, "fell in love with a human."

Edward ran his hand through his hair while Camille spoke up next. "We want to be like you. Or rather, I want to be like you. I am determined to change for Hayden." She turned towards him and smiled. Apprehension crossed his face, but he pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

"But you don't want to change her," I interjected, feeling Edward stiffen next to me.

He shook his head. "I do want her with me forever. But, it seems wrong. Selfish. I'm happy the way things are. Why is it wrong to be content?"

Camille turned to me and begged, "We agreed to find you and ask you for your opinion. Bella, please help me convince him that it's the right thing to do."

I sat across from this young girl, older than I was at the time of my change and saw the desperation in her eyes. She knew her time was limited. That soon she would be older than the man next to her physically. That her body was a ticking clock, counting the moments until her death, while next to her was this immortal man who had the ability to make everything different.

I reached out across the empty space to take her hand. With a small glance towards my husband, whose perfect jaw was clenched and tight, I spoke honestly. "Just because it's the right thing for you, doesn't mean it is the right thing for him. I can assure you that if he has one shred of doubt, your relationship will carry this burden for eternity."

The room was quiet as everyone digested the words I shared. Clearly, my opinion was unexpected, and I wasn't surprised that the first sound I heard was the splintering of wood as Edward snapped the arm off the chair he was sitting in and stormed out of the room.

The truth hurts.

I calmly remained with our guests as they gaped at Edward's abrupt exit. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs in front of me. "Edward has carried guilt with him ever since the day of my change. He doesn't like to admit it, but I know the pain it causes him."

"But, doesn't being together forever make up for any guilt? And you're happy, right?" Camille asked, while Hayden sat quietly next to her.

I sighed. "I am happy. The life I'm leading is exactly what I wanted. I love my husband and my career. I love my home and my wonderful family. There is nothing I would take back, except," and I gave Camille a hard look, "the fact I would give it all up to eliminate his anguish and remorse."

The three of us sat quietly for a while, two of us having no real concept of time, the other reeling from my announcements. I was in no hurry to make this couple leave my home. In fact, if I could save them some of the heartache and pain we had suffered for decades, then I would talk to them as long as they needed.

Fidgeting on the couch across from me, Camille finally spoke. "How did it happen? The change?"

This was information they needed to know…immediately, as it was obvious their relationship hadn't progressed that far. "On our honeymoon," I told them bluntly. "When we made love. It took multiple times for the effect to take hold, but eventually, there was enough venom to trigger my change. Honestly, it was an amazing way to transform."

Hayden who had been silent finally spoke, "You mean, the venom in his…our…it can cause you to change?"

I nodded and ignored the sound of a slamming door in the upper floor of our house.

"But why does Edward feel guilt? I don't understand?" Camille asked, her eyes darting towards the ceiling.

I searched for the right words, but before I could speak, Hayden said, "Because Bella didn't have a choice."

Camille turned to him and argued, "But she did. It's what she wanted. It was almost better than choosing because it was as if nature made the decision for them. The transformation came from an act of love. I couldn't ask for anything better." Her dark hair shook as she spoke, and her face became flushed under its naturally dark tint. I considered how she would make a stunning vampire.

I nodded at her words, knowing that she understood what she was asking for. "But, Edward doesn't accept this. Or me. Not fully. He loves me. He would do anything for me, but let this go. He can't let this go. And, that's what your decision is really about."

The couple across from me was quiet, absorbing my words. I couldn't read minds like my husband, but I was pretty sure they needed some time alone to think about everything they had just heard and witnessed. And, I needed to find Edward. The damage had been done, years ago, but this visit opened old wounds.

I excused myself from our guests. Walking down the shadowy hallway, the morning light reflecting off the yellow hardwood floors, I passed the photographs we had lining the walls. In each home, I made sure there was a place to represent the family, Charlie and Renee, even Phil. I missed them, but they thought I had died years ago with Edward in a freak accident. My memories of them were fading, which Edward said was common, but I still attempted to do what I could to keep the little bit I had with me.

I entered our bedroom. Our sanctuary. It was the place we often had our most honest conversations. I crawled across the bedspread sitting cross-legged in the middle of the mattress. Edward was looking out the window, towards the deep forests that touched our backyard. I willed him to me, and in moments I felt the bed shift as Edward climbed on top and sat so our knees touched.

"Wow. That was really weird," I said referring to the unexpected visitors sitting on our couch downstairs.

Edward sighed. "Yes, I have to admit I definitely wasn't expecting that."

I watched as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair. I was doubtful that the couple had any idea they were going to be the catalyst for a major discussion between the two of us when they arrived, but Edward knew, and he wasn't happy about it.

"Do you remember when we were like that?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course. I remember everything about you," he answered, and I felt his finger glide across my hand.

"I don't know if I ever told you, but I really loved it when you climbed in my window at night and stayed with me," I confessed.

He laughed quietly. "I knew."

"How?" I demanded, unsurprised since Edward truly did seem to know everything.

"Your heartbeat. Every time I got there your heart tripled in speed," he told me and placed his hand over my long dormant heart. The sorrow was evident in his eyes.

"Did you know that in your room that night, before the fight with Victoria, I really wanted this ring?" I held up the antique gold diamond and twisted it around my finger.

Edward pulled my hand forward and kissed the ring and my palm and raised an eyebrow. "That I didn't know. And I'm not sure I believe it now."

"I did want it, but I was scared. It all moved so fast, but at the same time everything felt right." I sighed and smiled at his gorgeous face. "I realize now we were pawns in a larger plan. Fate."

"Is it fate when you pluck someone out of their previous existence and force them into your own?" His voice trembled slightly, either out of anger or sadness; I wasn't sure which.

His eyes cast downward, and I forced myself to speak evenly. "Are you talking about me or you? Because that is not what happened to me."

"Don't deny my failures, Bella," was all he said in response.

"Edward, do you remember how desperate we were? How ridiculously in love? How we almost lost one another more than once?" I reached my hand to his face and forced his eyes to my own. "Do you remember when I jumped off a cliff and you submitted yourself to the Volturi? Do you remember when James tried to kill me, and Victoria and Riley…do you remember these things?" I threw these things at him because he did forget; he didn't remember clearly. "The only way to be together was for me to become like you."

He didn't speak, but I saw the anger boiling beneath his eyes. I was determined to settle this for once, so I pushed further. "Sometimes I think you aren't hung up on whether or not this was my choice but the fact you never wanted me to be a vampire in the first place. You wanted me weak and frail. You wanted power over me. You never wanted…" and I gestured to my supernatural self, "this."

I suppressed a cringe as I saw the pain develop on Edward's face. I didn't want to hurt him, but I needed this to end. My husband needed to be whole. His mouth opened and shut several times before he abandoned his attempt to speak. His fingers moved to the bridge of his nose as he struggled with my accusation.

"Bella, you and I both know that my actions caused your change. My desires and ultimate lack of control. I should have known I could infect you that way, but I wanted you so badly, I never stopped to think."

I scoffed at his words. "Your desires? Do you not remember me walking out of the bathroom in a white, lace negligee, one size too small? I wanted you from the minute I walked in that room. I'm the one that crawled on top of your body and slid down on top of you. I'm the one that whispered reassurances to you when the blood lust became too much, and together, we worked past it. Don't you see? It was destiny. Neither of us had to choose. Nature chose for us."

Below us, I could hear the soft voices of Hayden and Camille as they conversed. They were happy sounds, not angry or sad like the words coming from our room. I could hear Camille giggle which again caused further pain to settle on Edward's face.

"What?" I asked knowing he could 'hear' them better than I could.

His face became stony. "She has convinced him. You were right. They hadn't had sex yet because they were unsure of the safety, and Hayden wasn't positive he could remain in control. But now," he paused and ran his fingers quickly through his hair, "the story of our honeymoon solidified their plan in their heads."

Surprised that anyone would take a look at the pain we were suffering and decide to join our ranks, I said, "Well, they're young and in love. They want each other. I can't say I don't relate. I definitely can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing. Edward at no time in my life, from the moment I laid eyes on you, could we have been kept apart."

I looked at my husband with his disheveled hair and pained eyes and inched into his lap. Kissing his stubborn jaw, I told him, "I love you. All of you, even that chauvinistic, arrogant know-it-all that lives in your head. But, you also have to accept me for who I am."

He wasn't looking at me as I spoke; he was staring off to the side, head slightly cocked, listening to the couple below. I trained my ears to follow his but heard little, only Camille's quick breaths and Hayden's slow movements. Edward, on the other hand, knew exactly what they were thinking. I could tell by his expression that the decision had been made by these two, and sooner rather than later Camille would join us.

Overwhelmed by distress, Edward hugged me tight and then released me, sliding me off his lap. Without another word he left the room, and a moment later, I heard the thick, wooden, screen door open, the large, coiled springs creaking as it swung open. That was followed by the loud slap of the door against the house. He was leaving, I knew this, but I was surprised when I heard the engine of his truck flare and the rocks kick off his tires as he sped down the driveway.

Lying back on the pillow, I had no doubt that the events of the day had finally pushed Edward to acknowledge the issues we had. It had taken years for him to clearly hear the words I had tried to say over and over, but I think the visit from Hayden and Camille finally made it sink in. His regret was killing our marriage.

I lifted my hand in the air, letting the sunlight from the window cast a glitter of diamonds from the skin on my hand and arm. I shifted my hand until the light caught my ring, letting it reflect onto the ceiling. From the minute he bent on one knee and offered me this ring, and this life, I knew exactly what my future would hold.

It was time for Edward to let go of the past and live with me here, in the present.

Sigh...so sad. Poor Edward...LET IT GO! okay, reviews are like rob shirtless and showing his new hot stuff body...aka..awesome.