Gritting my teeth in pain I stepped gingerly away from Edward, and began walking towards Elizabeth. I was about three feet away from her when she seemed to realize I was up to something. Though I didn't think it possible, she kicked up the burning pain a notch and I dropped to the floor with a strangled gasp. Jasper twitched and cried out, as I had let go of him to get over here. Everyone else responded, even Elizabeth, and I suddenly had an idea.

"Sorry, Jasper," I choked out, fighting the urge to scream. I then concentrated on the intensity of the pain, and Jasper, seeming to catch on, projected his emotions mainly at Elizabeth. She let out a shocked gasp, and shut her eyes tightly against the pain that she was now causing herself. Her momentary distraction was all I needed to reach out and grab a hold of her bare ankle. Though she began repeatedly kicking me in the face, immediately the pain subsided, and my family members all leapt up from the floor.

Within a matter of a few mili-seconds, Elizabeth was pinned to the wall with me still clinging to her. She had stopped kicking me as soon as Emmet got a hold on her legs, and I was surprised she could still use them at all.

"It's your decision, Edward," said Carlisle from his spot behind her head. Before I knew what was happening I was ripped from Elizabeth's leg, and Edward had torn her to pieces.

"She's not my mother anymore," he growled, turning quickly and sweeping me up into his arms. I winced as my broken face repaired itself, but smiled reassuringly as Edward gazed down at me, worry creasing his brow.

"Nobody gets to hurt my little sister," said Emmet solemnly. "Not even my sort-of aunt!" We all laughed, and Edward let me down so we could carry the pieces to the yard. Edward volunteered whole-heartedly to start the fire and throw each piece of his mother into the flames, one at a time.

* * *

We were all sitting around the living room chatting and laughing, when I suddenly got an idea. Quickly, I grabbed Edward's arm before he could see what Alice was about to. He growled in frustration, but didn't fight back. Alice threw a hand over her mouth with a conspiratorial "oh," before ushering everyone out of the house to go hunting.

"What's wrong, Bella?" Edward's voice was laced with worry, his eyes scanning every inch of me as to be sure I was alright.

"Edward, you know you don't have to check me over," I told him. "I am a vampire." He nodded and gave me a crooked smile. I slammed my mouth into his, catching him off guard. He moaned into my mouth, and kissed back fervently. I pulled back and settled myself into his lap carefully, pulling his arms around me from behind.

"I love you, Isabella Cullen," he whispered into my hair. I smiled, and replied,

"I love you too, Edward Cullen." I felt him bury his face into my hair, before he winced and dug his face in deeper.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.

"Emmet just thinks that we should be getting hot and heavy right about now," he whispered, turning his head and pressing his lips to the side of my neck. I lifted up my arm and placed my hand on his face. I was surprised when he retracted it, and turned my head to look at him.

"I think I would like to hear everything for a while," he told me softly. "If someone else comes to get you, I want to be ready for them." I leaned back, feeling his arms tighten around me as he whispered in my ear. "After all," he said, "words are there to be heard." I nodded in agreement, closing my eyes as the feeling of Edward enveloped me, flooding my senses.

"Yes," I agreed.

"Words are meant for listening."