Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, but I own a bed that I'll be curling up in and nursing my head soon.

Edward POV

I walked out from the trees, under the cloudy sky with the vampire I loved in my arms. Setting her down in the middle of the meadow, I drank in the sight of her running around and laughing. Bella twirled and danced in bliss, rolling over in the long waving grass. She spun onto her back and laughed, arms flung wide open.

Sitting up, Bella patted the ground next to her. I slid down on the slightly wet ground and pulled Bella into my lap. She leant back against me, her hair running down my back. I placed my lip on her neck, entwining my arms around her waist.

We rested like that for a long moment, content as the scent of the flowers washed over us in lazy waves. Knowing that Bella had to do what she wanted to do - read my mind - I knew that I should tell her something first, before she found out in her test. I hoisted Bella's slight weight off my lap and planted her on the grass, facing me.

"Bella, I need to say this before you find out by yourself by your abilities, but I don't know how to say this. When you first came here, I was angry. I thought you were changing what I thought about you, what I felt for you. But when we... you talked, and you were going away, I realised something." I looked into her eyes earnestly. "Bella, I can't live without you. I don't know if my feelings towards you are mutual, but I need to tell you. Bella I -"

She cut me off. "I love you."

Was se saying that she loved me, or that she didn't? I decided to continue – if I was going to be rejected I may as well state my case and clear my feelings for her.

"Yes, Isabella Marie Swan - Bella - I love you. I will always love you, even if you don't feel that way about me. The emotions that run through my veins, soaking into every cell, every little bit of me cry out this one fact: I will love you forever, every day of eternity. And I would spend all eternity with you if you allowed me." My eloquence was limited by the intense feelings that overrun my common sense.

Bella swayed away from me, her cascade of chocolate hair flowing over her face. She stayed like this for a while, before looking up at me.

"You don't mind that I was there running with the dinosaurs?"

"Never."

"That we've only just met?"

"I've known you for all my life that I've lived."

"I want to spend eternity with you, Edward and I will if you let me. But honestly, I hope this isn't a proposal. Very romantic setting, but my clothes could do with a bit of a clean." She laughed, and the sound was music to my ears.

What she had just said sunk in, and joy consumed my body in a fear cleansing fire. Her eyes lit up and I hugged her, swinging her to the ground beneath me. She gasped in mock terror and I moved her to rest on my chest.

"I'll get a ring on that little finger of yours one day, Bella. I can be quite persuasive. I guess this was worth a day of missed school,' I whispered. Then I remembered the reason I had taken her to the meadow so soon.

"You'd better do what you want to do with my mind, Bella. Before you decide you want to stay with me forever." If she wanted to spend eternity with a demon, I wouldn't stop her, selfish fiend that I am.

I saw worry emanating from my loves eyes.

"It doesn't matter what you've done, I will always be with you. You still want me to do this, Edward? I'll try my best not to harm you, but I can't promise that you'll be okay," she told me.

Do it before you can talk yourself out of it. If you want to spent your existence with me, you'd better first decide whether I'm worthy of an angel." I wasn't joking. I didn't deserve an angel, but I wanted one. I wanted Bella.

Bella scoffed. "Angel."

She shifted off me and I rolled on one side, looking at this heavenly apparition.

"Just in case, Edward. I love you too, more than you could imagine," she told me. I was fit to burst, but Bella couldn't lie. For the first time, I was in love, and loved.

Bella took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She froze, her body turning into marble. I sat still, watching her, worrying. The sun started to lower in the sky; hours had passed while she sat unresponsive. I made up my mind to take Bella back to the car and get Carlisle, she started to shake. The tremors grew, running up and down Bella's spine, flinging her arms around like an electric current was running through her veins.

I ran to Bella's side and her eyes sprung open, pitch black. Her thick lashes rested on her white skin as she stared, wide-eyed at the blood red of sunset. Her limbs threw themselves in every direction, convulsing in unrealistic ways. But it was all too real. She made no sound, no whimper. I tried to hold her down but her strength, so much stronger than mine, threw me off. A crystalline contact touched my mind and a silvery voice emanated through it.

This must be how that vampire I killed felt. But I don't think Edward would rip out my throat to help me.

I gasped in shock at the sudden contact and fact, although I knew of Bella's past...hobby...but responded immediately. "Bella is that you? Are you in pain? Can Carlisle help you? What happened? Do you--"

My rushed questions were cut off by a question. I wonder... Edward, can you hear my thoughts?

I frantically nodded. 'Bella, are you in pain? I want you to know, I love you. Please, stay with--"

I was again cut off with a disgruntled sounding response. Edward, I can't hear you. If you want to know, I'm not in pain.

I was sure she was lying through her teeth, but she didn't make any more contact. The presence faded away, leaving me feeling hollow inside. I realised that was how I had felt every day before Bella had come. I made a vow to myself that I would keep her with me, forever.

Bella's eyes sprang open again, filled with relief as her eyes met mine.

"You almost gave me a heart attack, Bella."

Her eyes closed again, but she didn't freeze. I picked her body up, cradling it in my arms. How I wished that I could have Jasper's ability, to be able to send out waves of safety and reassurance would be very useful. I trace the lace-like bruises under Bella's dark eyes. She left them closed as I ran through the trees, running fast than I had ever done before.

Bella lay limp the whole time, allowing me to carry her without complaint. With relief I saw the familiar shape of the Volvo emerge out of the gloom. Stowing Bella in the passenger seat, I told her to stay. She showed no sign of hearing me, but I ran away to fetch something for her to feed off. Seeing a stray doe, I quickly leapt upon it, breaking its' neck.

I re-traced my path, the deer breathing shallowly in my strong arms. I saw Bella staring vacantly out the window of the car. She walked over to me and I placed the doe on the ground for her to feed on.

"Feed," I told her.

An appealing look crossed her tired eyes before her chin set, stubborn. "Do you want to share, Edward? You must be as tired as I am. In fact, you are going to have some. I won't unless you do."

I helped her into the cover of the trees. A little deception was in order.

"Fine. Ladies before gentlemen."

"I'm too weak to be able to rip out the throat, Edward. You'll have to do it for me."

I shrugged but tore out the throat, resisting the flow of the blood. Bella knelt down beside the deer, her hair flowing in the red stream, covering her face. Involuntary shivers ran under Bella's snowy skin, flowing to the tips of her fingers, and her muscles clenched, feeling their strength gradually return. The doe didn't last very long, even under Bella's experienced touch. Shaking her dripping hair out of the way, Bella frowned at me.

In the next instant she was on her feet, poking me in the chest. It was amazing how such a small contact made me feel, so happy, so exhilarated. Although it did hurt.

"I was meant to carry you back," she accused me. "And you were meant to feed as well. You promised." Even when complaining, she sounded beautiful. I held her close to me, looking down into her amber pools, shimmering with wild beauty.

"I never promised, Bella. I'll feed later when you're safe at home. Everyone will be worried."

She leant up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek with bloody lips. If poking me in the chest had sent a thrill through me, this was enough to send my dead heart pumping. Using my temporary incapacity, Bella grabbed my car keys.

"You're in no state to drive, Edward. Let me, please." She dashed around and hopped into the Volvo, giving me no time to retaliate.

Yep, although she had been having a fit on the ground half an hour ago, she thought that one contact with her made me unable to drive. She was right, but I'd never admit it. I shook my head at Bella and grimaced, but I slid into the passenger seat.

'This is my car, Bella."

"Careful or I might just throw up blood all over your car, Edward."

I groaned, but Bella gave me a look that translated into: Shut up or let your car be bloody-fied. Stupid, ugly, demonic...smart, beautiful, angelic vampire.

I responded with a grumbling, "Fine."

The scenery outside was beautiful, but it couldn't compare to Bella. I looked down, ready to use my last resort on her: sad, puppy/bambi/smouldering eyes, a lethal combination. As I did so, I saw Bella lean up toward me and my downturned lips met hers.

It was like frozen fire ran through my veins; cold and warmth met and collided, swirling crazily. Our mouths moved together, hard but soft. This sweet sensation could sate my thirst, sustain me forever. Ending the moment, Bella went limp, my arms breaking her fall. I slung her into the back and started up the car.

My fists clenched as I started the car. What had I been thinking? Here Bella was, tired, not thinking straight and I had taken advantage of her. I may be a vampire, but I was also a nearly 110-year-old teenage male. I was no better than the humans at school who wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of a pretty girl. And here was Bella, much more than just pretty.

Bella whispered from the back, misinterpreting my fury, thinking it was aimed at her, not me.

"Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

I sped up, heart pumping. I hoped that I had imagined what I had seen. A flash of glowing red had sparkled malevolently at me from the roadside. A disconcerting glimpse of movement later the car stopped – held from behind. I snarled gutturally as Bella was thrown against the seats, letting out a small whimper. A white limb of stone smashed through the window, snatching at me.

I heard a commotion in the back; Bella was struggling with her own attacker. I had a brief thought before I had to deal with my own assailant: She's too weak to resist. I would give up my life to save Bella's, but my opposition wasn't giving me that chance. I swung a wild right hook and took a huge bash in the chest in retaliation. Despite myself, I let out a low moan. I heard Bella's hair swish as she turned towards the sound.

My captor fell to the ground with a thump and I realised what Bella had done. Using up her needed strength, she had saved me. I resolved to do the same, starting to scramble towards her. I froze when she did, was silent as she let out a hiss.

"I know you...niece," Bella snarled. Whirling around blindly, she cried out to me, "Run Edward, get away from here!"

Some force made me obey, and as I unwillingly ran, trying to resist, I thought I heard her sigh behind me, "Thank you."

My vision turned black as my grief crashed around me. I would never see Bella again. Was this punishment for all the human lives I had taken? Was this my personal hell, my damnation eternal in life as well as death? My limbs froze as quickly as they had moved. I saw the starlight shine on a golden head in the shadows. The figure stepped forward, and I saw the golden eyes and the familiar compassionate face they were set in.

Carlisle held my arms, steadying me. I let him hold me, grateful as five other faces surrounded me. Jasper was likewise supported by Alice, my emotions running rampant and affecting him powerfully. I looked into the caring eyes of the six around me, but the ones I wanted to look into were gone, taken from me forever.

"Why?"

The tearless sobs came, wracking my body.

Carlisle kept his cool. "What happened, Edward? Where is Bella?"

She's in heaven with the angels she belongs with. My insides felt like they were tearing themselves apart.

Alice murmured, "Edward, what happened? Is Bella hurt?"

I hope she's not. I had just realised a broken heart is physical after all.

Rosalie turned to Carlisle. "What's wrong with him? Has Bella hurt him?"

No, she only left me behind. A harsh screech filled my head and the edges of my vision darkened.

Emmett shifted awkwardly. "Do you need anything, Edward? Is Bella okay?"

I need her and only her. The world spun before me.

Esme stepped up and I waited for the name that would make me lose my fragile grip on sanity.

"We'll find her, Edward. But we need your help. She needs your help. We all love you."

Knowing that Esme had spoken the truth, I slowly sat up, feeling the stiffness in my movements. I tautly got to my feet in robotic steps. I told my family blankly: "Bella's been attacked. She was too weak to fight. I couldn't save her, she made me run."

Carlisle mused, "Too weak? But she's strong and powerful. Who attacked her?"

"She had an earlier...issue with her mind. She called the assailant her..." My throat clogged with dread.

"Yes," Alice urged.

"Her niece," I moaned.

Sharp intakes of breath surrounded me and I looked up. My family were tensing their shoulders and stretching muscles. Emmett cracked his neck.

"Well, let's get on with it. Saving damsels in distress is all part of my day's work, even if it is our sister. Get up, Edward, my man. It's time we kicked some primeval booty."

I looked fondly up at my brother. He had called her sister. That one little word touched my frozen heart. I allowed Emmett to help me to my feet while I deliberated on that statement.

"I've always wanted to know how some well rounded, well ripened cow tasted."

Hee, hee, Edward called the niece a cow – a fat, old cow. I was feeling tired, so there's bound to be misteaks (hee hee), mistakes in there somewhere. Please point them out and I will fix them. Anyway moo-ving on (I'll stop the lame cow jokes here) – this is how Edward was affected. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and I know I need to update Manly Men soon, but I have no real inspiration. The whole 'why would Bella risk Edward will be explained soon! This is probably a crap chapter, more action coming up soon. Anyway, R&R and I think, for this effort, I deserve flames :(

Ninja Spork (is sleepy – no vampires here)