AN: I was really glad to see that you all enjoyed the last chapter. I had fun with Bellice's idea. Thanks for the reviews, a lot of them made me laugh. Have fun with this chapter. It may be a little shorter than the last, because there is no flashback. I hope you enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Titanic.

Edward POV

They told her. They told her. What she must think of me now! The words swam before my eyes. "Coward", "Lowly", "Disloyal". There wasn't much of a chance now to convince her that I wasn't as cowardly as Alice and Emmett had made me out to be. But that chance was decreased by the fact that everything Alice and Emmett had said was completely and utterly true. This would be nearly impossible, even for me. But I had to try.

"I can't believe you chickened out of the military!"Her eyes twinkled with the joy in her eyes, and her face was relaxed and laughing. She looks even prettier when she's happy, I thought.

"It's not like it sounds!" I cried, humiliated, hands flying to my face. "I knew it would be better if I didn't! I didn't want to..." I grasped at the thoughts swirling around in my head, trying to find an excuse. "Have an unfair advantage against the opponent." I said, partially satisfied. It was just about the best I could do.

"Bullshit!" Emmett roared, appalled. Yeah right! He added mentally. Then he spoke. "That was your sole reason for joining!"

"I don't agree with war." I stated, hoping that would put it to rest, at least until Bella was gone.

"If you didn't agree with war, why did you even want to be a soldier in the first place?" Alice responded. I probed both of their thoughts quickly and my eyes widened. From the look on her face, Bella had figured out what they were doing. They were trying to get me to admit to Bella's face that I truly did chicken out of the military. That may be true, but I didn't want her to know that!

"People who go to war come back with severe mental illnesses."

"Those people's brains aren't enhanced in any way." Bella crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled smugly. She looked proud of herself.

"I would have blown the secret."

"I seem to remember that you didn't think it was that big of a problem. You could have done it, if you were really determined and dedicated." Alice said, eyes wicked. She was going for guilt tripping. It wasn't going to work, but I had no more excuses left. I had used them all up.

"It's dangerous." I muttered, and looked at my feet. I was not going to lose. I was not going to lose....

"Edward, if you haven't noticed, you happen to be indestructible. If you got hit with a bullet, I doubt you would notice." Emmett retorted. I hated it when Emmett was right!

"If I threw you off this boat, you would climb up the boat, completely unperturbed." Alice folded her arms on her chest in triumph. She saw I would give in.

"No human could possibly kill you unless you promise not to move and let them blow dynamite on you. Even then, I'm not quite sure that would work." Bella smiled that same smug smile and high-fived Alice and Emmett.

"Fine! I was scared! All those thoughts! Those scared thoughts! I couldn't stand it. They made their fears my fears!" I admitted. I had nothing else, no more excuses. The memories came shooting back at me, all the pain and the stressed thoughts. I was so immersed in my thoughts that I was so startled when Rosalie opened the door and poked her head in.

"Alice? We need to get Bella's things out of her room. Bella, I think you should come too. You need to help us decide what you need." No, was my first thought. No, don't take Bella with you. Mike is already as mad as can be and I don't want Bella to get hurt.

Edward, you are way too protective! She'll be fine, I promise! I can see it already! He'll be at a party, drunk and will come home to drunk to notice anything, let alone anyone. Breathe, she'll be fine. Alice explained and her mental voice sounded exasperated. How could she be like this! It's not like she didn't go through the exact same thing whenever Jasper went anywhere.

"Okay! Come on, Bella!" Alice jumped up and helped Bella to her feet, but didn't drag her out the door. Emmett was gone, too. Alice had run out, obviously blocking me. She was translating the story she told Bella earlier into Arabic. She was blocking something big. I started to panic. What if she saw that Mike would be there? I was about to run out and ask her when Bella stepped forward, blocking my path.

"Don't worry. I think it's cute. Don't be ashamed. You may not be a war hero, but you are my hero." I had no clue what to do or say. So I just stood there, wondering what she would do next. She stood on her tip-toes and kissed me gently on the cheek. I watched her walk out the door in a daze, and I touched where she had kissed me. It felt like any other part of me, cold, but it felt like it was burning. My mind was everywhere. Does she like me? Does this mean anything? Did she mean it in a friendly way? I felt dumb, like a crazy teenage, completely ruled by my hormones. I felt almost like a boy-crazy girl, but the genders reversed, of course. I've never felt this before. It's completely new to me. Then it hits me.

I've felt happiness; I've felt sadness and envy. I've felt anger, I've felt relief and I've felt satisfaction and every other emotion out there. But I haven't felt love. And I'm pretty sure this is it.

AN: Sorry for Edward's little ramble right there. I got a little caught up in being in Edward's head. If I took it overboard, tell me in a review. I want to make this your story as well as my own. Review!