What Happened Last Time…

Bella?... he called to me, I gasped loudly as I realized that he didn't speak my name, he thought it.

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Bella's POV –

My breathing quickened as I gasped for air. Did I just hear his thoughts? Is that possible? I felt waves of relief coursing through my as I thought that maybe that was my vampire power too… maybe I would be a mind reader. I was quickly running though how much fun we could have, both as mind readers… my breath hitched in my throat. Stupid Bella. Of course he isn't going to be with me. He's only here to ease his guilt… then he will leave and I can hunt Victoria and go to Italy.

I began contemplating exactly what I would do to Victoria when I finally sunk my teeth into her…

Bella…? Love… can you hear me? The liquid silk voice called to me again. I struggled through my thoughts to try and locate my voice. I wanted to call out to him to tell him that I could hear him, but I couldn't form the words.

I felt a hand in mine, surprised at the feel of it. I knew it was Edward's hand, but it didn't feel cool. It felt, almost… warm. I knew the transformation was almost complete; between the feel of Edward's skin and the fact that the burning was actually beginning to fade. I felt relieved that this torture would soon be over.

Bella… I heard again. I could feel the tension and pain in his voice as he mentally spoke to me. Edward.. I cried. Edward, I can hear you but I can't tell you that I can. I was so frustrated that I couldn't make my mouth work to tell him I could hear him and not to stop. I never wanted to his voice to go away. I heard him gasp and wondered what happened. I was immediately on alert.

Bella, calm down love… I can… I can hear you…

I froze in shock. He could hear me? Edward could hear me? You can hear me?

"Yes," he choked out, out loud. "I can hear you Bella.. you can hear me?" Yes… was all I could manage.

Edward began to sob quietly at my side and I squeezed his hand and wound my fingers around his.

My head hurt, how could I even tell my head hurt with all the burning? Love, it's almost over – it has to be, you're doing wonderfully, you're going to be perfect. Why did he care? I wondered.. I never got to project my thoughts to Edward because as that moment I heard a car fly up the long driveway.

Who? I asked.

Our family was his only reply.

My mind began racing ahead at a speed that I could barely keep up with, Our family…the Cullens? They aren't my family. I bitterly thought.

"Edward!" I heard Alice trill. "Edward I called you a million times! Ohhh Bella! Oh she's beautiful Edward! Better than my vision."

"Alice, how long?" Edward asked tensely.

I heard the silence and imagined Alice standing there in front of Edward, small hands balled into fists concentrating hard to get the specific time I would awake.

"That's exactly what she looks like.." Edward chuckled.

I gasped. Now he could see my thoughts? How am I doing this?

I don't know love, we'll figure it all out. Don't worry – we have forever, Bella.

I loved how he caressed my name, he didn't just speak it, he felt it. Wait forever? Was he going to stay? My mind sped up again.

"Bella slow down, I can't even keep up with you like that." Edward said out loud.

Sorry… I tried to calm myself.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Alice screeched. "You can hear her?!? I didn't even see this in my vision, how could I not see this…" Alice was trilling words out so fast I couldn't comprehend them. I briefly wondered if I would ever be able to do that.

You already do, love. I smiled at that. I found myself actually enjoying that Edward could read my mind. And now that I could read his, this meant we could have entire conversations without anyone knowing.. The possibilities are endless… I thought. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself again…. He's not staying I remembered as a sharp pain that had nothing to do with the burning shot through my chest.

In a second Edward was beside me. No Bella. I am staying, I will never leave you again. Love, I am so sorry. I only wanted you to have a normal life. We put you in danger every second we were with you. You are so extraordinary Bella, I do not deserve you. Especially now, that I've cause you so much pain. I hope you can forgive me even though I do not deserve it at all. I promise you this; I will kill Victoria the second I know you're adjusted and okay.

Edward, stop. You don't have to stay for me. It's ok. I tried in vain not to think of my plan to kill Victoria myself, then go to Italy.. I knew as soon as I thought it Edward would know and try to stop me. I didn't need him trying to intervene on my behalf because he felt guilty for this. This isn't his fault. None of it is, I made my decisions too.

"Bella, no!" he roared so loud that I even flinched. I hadn't realized Alice was still talking until she abruptly stopped.

"Edward wha…" she gasped without finishing. I sighed as I could imagine the vision she was receiving at the moment. As Edward read her mind and saw the vision, he passed it to me so I didn't have to imagine. It was actually very neat to see what one of Alice's visions looked like.

It was like you were there, but looking at the situation from afar. I was momentarily lost in the vision when Alice was by my side grasping my other hand that was draped across my stomach.

"Bella you can't be serious. You're not going to taking Victoria on yourself OR going to Italy. If I have to lock you up in a steel room under the house so be it I will."

Ugh Alice, so dramatic. I thought to myself, and to Edward.

Both Alice and Edward's grip tightened on me as I gasped. I heard my thoughts through Edward… but why? I didn't understand it and was growing quickly confused.

Alice was the first to speak and shed a little light on the situation. "Bella Marie Swan! I am not being dramatic!"

My entire body tightened as I realized she heard me, I could hear through Edward's thoughts that she didn't realize I hadn't spoken those words, but thought them. I think I'm getting a headache. Can vampires get headaches?

Edward mentally laughed at my question before he tried to explain. Bella, try to send something to Alice… like speak directly to her using your mind only.

Ok…here goes nothing… Uhh, Alice.. testing testing 1..2..3..

Edward burst out laughing, very creative, love.

Well sorry, it was kind of short notice I shot back.

"woaaaah.. Edward.. did she just.. did I just.. can I… can she…" Alice was speechless.

Spit it out, Alice. I chuckled… this could be fun, I thought, directed at Edward only.

"Alice, I'm not sure how it works yet.. but it seems like Bella can speak to you through your mind." Edward said. "No, it doesn't work that way… Alice she can't hear you… screaming won't help! Alice stop!"

I laughed out loud when I imagined Alice screaming to me and Edward hearing her. Wait, why can't I hear her through you? I asked Edward.

I'm blocking her thoughts from you, she confuses me sometimes and I didn't want to make your headache worse.

Oh, thank you.. I don't really want to be screamed at right now. I tried to move a teeny bit to loosen Alice's death grip on my poor hand.

"Alice, let Bella's hand go, you're hurting her." Edward said.

Thanks…

"Oh sorry Bella! Edward, how is this happening?"

"I'm not sure yet Alice…. I wonder if she can speak to everyone this way…"

"I don't know, but we'll have to find out later – it's time… Jasper, Carlisle, Esme, Rose, Em come up here it's time!" Alice shrieked.

It's time.. what does she mean its time? Then I felt it, the pain in my arms, legs and torso magnified a thousand times. I screamed out at the intensity of the pain, though I quickly clamped my mouth shut, successfully stifling the scream. My heartbeat picked up it's pace. I could barely discern one beat from the next, it was almost humming now. I thought it was going to burst from my chest and fly away. I almost wanted it to, it hurt so badly.

Bella, hang on... this is the last part I promise. Just a few more seconds, love.

I let myself get lost in his velvet voice as I tried to disconnect from the pain. He started humming my lullaby and I mentally sighed. I hadn't heard him hum to me in what seemed like forever when it really has been less than a week.

My thoughts abruptly stopped as the pain disappeared along with my heartbeat. I was done. I heard Edward chuckle as I envisioned a baking sheet of golden brown biscuits being pulled from the oven.

I hesitantly opened my eyes and quickly drew in a breath that I knew I no longer needed.

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A/N: Woow, that was a tough chapter for me to write. I was having some issues with how I wanted it to play out, and classes have been hectic. Work has been terrible, buuuut SPRING BREAK NOW!! Expect more chapters soon!! I hope you enjoyed this, Read and Review if you wish!!! :) I love seeing the reviews, I want to know if you like it or not! :)