Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer and I don't own any of the Twilight series' characters or stories. I borrowed the dialogue and storyline from Breaking Dawn, but the rest is my own take on the story, as seen through Edward's eyes.

A/N: Today is Edward's 110th birthday, but you get the present! In celebration of his special day, I'm posting this chapter a week ahead of schedule. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 10

Enlightenment

There were no words to describe the emotions that flowed through me. I was completely unprepared for Bella's sudden tears. It hadn't been planned and it certainly wasn't expected, but I couldn't deny that, in the aftermath, I felt a clear sense of relief. If anyone had told me a week ago that I could be intimate with Bella again without incident, I would have called them a liar. I knew my own strength and, even better, I knew how fragile her human body could be. I never imagined we could come together in such a way and that the result would be pure joy. It was about so much more than the physical act – this had been the very definition of making love.

Perhaps it was the fresh blood coursing through my veins or the knowledge I had gained since our wedding night or even the sense of release after trying to avoid it for so long. Whatever factors were responsible, the result was an act of love that astounded even my own skeptical self.

What began as desperate kisses and groping hands became tender caresses and gentle movements. The tense control I held over myself became second nature as we moved together. It came so naturally that thoughts of harming her never appeared in my mind. It wasn't possible. Her needs dictated my body's actions and I was astounded by the results.

The night wasn't entirely without incident. After succumbing to my desire and her need, a moment of passion took hold. Our kisses were desperate and our hands searching, touching every available surface until there was nothing left. Both my clothing and hers ended up in a tattered heap on the floor –torn and forgotten. There were no barriers between us, nothing separating us from merging together as one, from knowing each other as man and wife. Just as I recalled from our first night here, we fit together so perfectly that I could not deny she was designed by the heavens just for me. It was a beautiful dance, our bodies moving in sync with one another, each offering what the other needed and meeting it in the most delicious way.

Her skin was perfect, her body unharmed – I couldn't say the same for the headboard. At one point in the night, a sensation coursed through my body that caused every cell to tingle with energy. I felt like a bundle of nerves with synapses firing all at once, taking over my body and overwhelming my senses. For a split second, I did feel a sense of panic that I might harm Bella and I gripped the sturdy wood of the headboard to prevent my hands from crushing her. The wood cracked and splintered as my entire body went rigid in moment of pure ecstasy.

It felt as though I was floating on a cloud, weightless and blissful in a stupor that could only be described as what I imagined it felt like to be drunk. Bella slept peacefully cradled in my embrace, a small smile playing on her lips. I could only hope that our unexpected time together could keep away the bad dreams. She still hadn't explained what had awoken her, what had upset her so much that it led her to pounce on me. I pondered the idea long into the evening until the sun was rising in the sky.

The sun's golden rays cascaded through the windows, illuminating her nude silhouette, bringing out the auburn accents in her hair. I ran a single finger along the smooth expanse of her back, still marveling at the events of last night. I had half a mind that nearly believed it had all been my imagination. I had fought against it, believed it so impossible, that I was finding it difficult to come to terms with the idea that it had happened and that it was possible…and that I wanted to do it again.

If I could blush, my cheeks would be a fiery crimson. To have a taste of something forbidden was enticing and unnerving, to realize that the unattainable was now very much within reach was almost too much for me to handle. I felt I may explode from the feeling of elation that coursed through me. No longer would I have to deny my needs or hers, no longer would I have to make excuses or diversions, or endure her feelings of sadness and rejection. And perhaps, even more importantly, maybe now that we realized we could do this, that we could be that for each other, she really would decide to remain human.

The sun was rising higher in the sky and Bella continued to sleep soundly. I was becoming concerned that she may still be asleep when the cleaning crew arrived. Slowly, I edged myself off the bed. From my new vantage point, I could see more of Bella's exposed skin and I felt a heightened sense of satisfaction when I didn't see a single mark.

I crossed the room, dressing quickly, and picked up my phone before walking through the front of the house and out the door. I walked twenty paces into the soft sand before dialing and bringing the phone to my ear. The cleaning crew was scheduled to arrive in just under three hours.

Returning to the bedroom, I found Bella curled up on her side, her expression serene. I carefully lowered myself beside her, but she didn't stir. She must have been in a deep sleep not to notice the shifting of weight on the bed. Not wanting to disturb her, I crossed my arms behind my head and closed my eyes, waiting for her to awaken.

But like some sort of gravitational pull, even in her deep sleep she drifted gradually closer until she was once again draped across my chest. Another hour passed before she finally began to wake. Her breath and heart quickened, but she didn't raise her head to see me as she normally would. She laid there for quite some time before finally propping her head up on her elbow.

"How much trouble am I in?" she asked, her voice soft and timid.

So that was why she was silent for so long. "Heaps," I replied sarcastically. I looked up at her and smiled, amused that she thought I would be angry with her.

Her eyes widened briefly before she blew out a sharp breath. "I am sorry. I didn't mean…Well, I don't know exactly what that was last night."

She shook her head, but I placed a finger under her chin, coaxing her to look at me. "You never did tell me what your dream was about."

She lowered her eyes and her cheeks flushed furiously. "I guess I didn't – but I sort of showed you what it was about."

"Oh." What does she…oh. "Interesting."

"It was a very good dream," she whispered. Indeed it was. "Am I forgiven?"

"I'm thinking about it," I teased.

She laid her palms flat on my chest and pushed herself upright. An odd expression crossed her face and her skin paled just before she fell back down to the bed.

"Whoa…head rush."

I reached out, wrapping my arms around her. I gently stroked the side of her face, concerned by her dizzy spell. "You slept for a long time. Twelve hours."

"Twelve?" she asked in disbelief as her eyes surreptitiously scanned the length of her body.

"Is the inventory complete?"

She nodded. "The pillows all appear to have survived."

"Unfortunately, I can't say the same for your, er, nightgown." I gestured to the end of the bed where a few remnants of her lingerie still clung to the sheets.

"That's too bad. I liked that one."

"I did, too," I replied with a smirk.

"Were there any other casualties?"

I glanced behind me at the damaged headboard. "I'll have to buy Esme a new bed frame."

Her eyes widened as she surveyed the damage. She reached out, tracing the deep impressions in the wood. "Hmm. You'd think I would have heard that."

"You seem to be extraordinarily unobservant when your attention is otherwise involved."

"I was a bit absorbed." She bit her lip and her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red.

I reached up, cupping her cheek in my palm. It blazed under my touch and a flash of sadness overcame me. "I'm really going to miss that," I whispered. If she did decide to proceed as planned and become immortal, that was just one of the many things I would miss. With her silent mind, it was one of the few means I had to discern her thoughts.

She seemed to be studying me, as though she were trying to read my thoughts.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"What?"

"You look so guilty – like you've committed a crime," I said with a chuckle.

"I feel guilty," she muttered.

I rolled my eyes in response. "So you seduced your all-too-willing husband. That's not a capital offense."

"The word seduced implies a certain amount of premeditation," she countered.

I nodded. "Maybe that was the wrong word."

"You're not angry?"

"I'm not angry."

"Why not?"

I analyzed her expression for a moment, trying to determine if she was incredulous or just merely curious. It appeared that she fully expected me to be angry with her. I guess I should have expected as much – my reaction after our first night together was less than jovial.

"Well…I didn't hurt you, for one thing. It was easier this time, to control myself, to channel the excesses." I glanced briefly at the headboard, shuddering at the thought of what would have happened if it had been Bella's arms I was gripping at the time. "Maybe because I had a better idea of what to expect."

A slow smile spread across her face. "I told you that it was all about practice." She reached out, poking a finger in my chest.

Of course, how silly of me. I was about to object when her stomach growled loudly, causing me to laugh. "Breakfast time for the human?" I asked.

"Please."

She nearly jumped out of bed, but it appeared her stomach was too enthusiastic for her body to keep up because she teetered precariously across the floor. I appeared at her side, gripping her arms to steady her.

I studied her nervously, wondering if perhaps she was coming down with something. "Are you all right?"

She waved me off. "If I don't have a better sense of equilibrium in my next life, I'm demanding a refund."

I watched uneasily as she dressed, concerned that she may have another dizzy spell. Much to my relief, the longer she stayed upright, the more surefooted she became. I silently chastised myself for jumping to conclusions once again.

Just as the night before, she insisted on cooking for herself. The eggs sizzled as they slid from their broken shells onto the searing pan. Bella's foot tapped impatiently on the floor as she watched the eggs, her stomach continuing to growl loudly, demanding sustenance. Before even a few minutes had passed, she was sliding the eggs onto a plate.

"Since when do you eat eggs sunny-side up?"

"Since now," she replied with a shrug.

I shook my head as I gathered the empty carton to throw away. The sight of the trash bin caught me off guard. "Do you know how many eggs you've gone through in the last week?" I mused. I pulled out the trash bin to show her as I tossed in the newly empty carton. There were several already filling the bin. I knew that she had been consuming more than she normally would since we had been here, but I hadn't realized the extent until I saw the evidence for myself. It almost didn't seem possible.

"Weird," she mumbled through a mouthful of eggs. "This place is messing with my appetite. But I like it here. We'll probably have to leave soon, though, won't we, to make it to Dartmouth in time? Wow, I guess we need to find a place to live and stuff, too."

I pulled out the chair beside her and sat down, folding my hands in front of me. "You can give up the college pretense now – you've gotten what you wanted," I grumbled. In the wake of everything that happened, I almost wished I had agreed to her lopsided proposal. I blew out a slow breath. "And we didn't agree to a deal, so there are no strings attached."

"It wasn't a pretense, Edward," she scoffed. "I don't spend my free time plotting like some people do." She paused, cutting her eyes at me. "What can we do to wear Bella out today?"

I laughed at her absurd impersonation.

Her eyes softened. "I really do want a little more time being human." She reached across the table, her fingers sliding suggestively down my bare chest. "I have not had enough."

"For this?" I asked, wrapping my fingers around her wrist as her fingertips reached my navel. "Sex was the key all along? Why didn't I think of that?" I muttered, smacking myself in the forehead with my free hand. "I could have saved myself a lot of arguments."

"Yeah, probably." She laughed.

"You are so human," I muttered.

"I know." She smiled sweetly, shrugging her shoulders as she took another bite of her breakfast.

Could it be that what I had hoped for was really going to happen? The time I had sought was now freely given…now that we had discovered that we could be intimate with one another? I dared to hope. "We're going to Dartmouth? Really?"

She nodded. "I'll probably fail out in one semester."

"I'll tutor you," I volunteered, finding it impossible to hide my smile. I couldn't believe it. It was really happening. "You're going to love college."

"Do you think we can find an apartment this late?"

I lowered my eyes and rubbed the back of my neck with my palm. "Well, we sort of already have a house there. You know, just in case."

Her fork clattered onto her plate and she stared agape at me for a moment before regaining her composure. "You bought a house?"

"Real estate is a good investment." I shrugged.

She stared at me for a moment before picking up her fork again. "So we're ready, then."

"I'll have to see if we can keep your 'before' car for a little longer…"

She shook her head. "Yes, heaven forbid I not be protected from tanks." Her tone was sarcastic, but she was clearly teasing. "How much longer can we stay?"

"We're fine on time. A few more weeks, if you want. And then we can visit Charlie before we go to New Hampshire. We could spend Christmas with Renée…" I paused, cocking my head to the side. I could hear the distant sound of a boat's motor approaching. The cleaning crew would be here in mere moments.

"A few weeks," she repeated as she slowly chewed. I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. "So I was thinking – you know what I was saying about practice before?"

Insatiable! "Can you hold on to that thought?" I asked, raising a finger to my ear. "I hear a boat. The cleaning crew must be here." I rose from the chair and strode to the bedroom, pulling a clean shirt over my head before returning.

I reached for her now empty plate and placed it in the sink. "Let me explain the mess in the white room to Gustavo, and then we can go out. There's a place in the jungle on the south –"

"I don't want to go out," she whined. "I am not hiking all over the island today. I want to stay here and watch a movie."

I turned to face her. She was standing with one hand on her hip, looking impossibly sexy for someone so irritated. "All right," I conceded, "whatever you'd like." The wooden boards of the porch creaked quietly as my mind picked up on the first thoughts I had heard in a week. I had nearly forgotten how noisy it could be when there were others around. "Why don't you pick one out while I get the door?"

She made a face. "I didn't hear a knock."

A fraction of a second passed before there was a light tapping on the front door. Bella's expression was priceless. It was amusing to know that, even after all this time together, my ability still surprised her from time to time.

I smiled warmly as I opened the door. Gustavo returned the gesture, but Kaure took one glance at me and stepped back behind Gustavo, lowering her eyes to her feet. Libishomen, she thought. I greeted them in their native tongue and gestured for them to follow me, guiding them through the house to explain the various things that needed to be done.

Bella smiled as they looked her way, but I could see the puzzlement in her eyes as she locked gazes with Kaure. Porque é que aqui? Será que não compreender que ela está em perigo? (Why is she here? Does she not understand that she is in danger?) she thought. Kaure's heart was hammering in her chest and the color seemed to drain from her face. She stared at Bella with wide eyes before her gaze flickered to mine, her thoughts accusatory.

Bella opened her mouth to speak, but I led Gustavo and Kaure into the bedroom before she could utter a word. O que aconteceu? O Que uma bagunça! (What happened? What a mess!) they thought in unison as they surveyed the dusting of feathers that covered the room.

"Comece por favor aqui. Eu serei na sala de visitas se você tem quaisquer perguntas," ("Please start here. I will be in the living room if you have any questions.") I instructed. They nodded together and immediately set to work, although their thoughts were focused on anything but the feathers.

I turned, walking quickly from the room and appeared at Bella's side, scooping her up in my arms. I placed a soft kiss to the crown of her head before letting her down.

"What's with her?" she whispered, peeking around me to see if anyone was listening.

"Kaure's part Ticuna Indian," I explained. "She was raised to be more superstitious – or you could call it more aware – than those who live in the modern world. She suspects what I am, or close enough."

Bella leaned back in my arms, looking up at me. She arched an inquiring eyebrow. I could still hear a steady stream of worried thoughts coming from the bedroom. It was curious that Kaure's fear was focused more on Bella than on herself.

"They have their own legends here," I continued. "The Libishomen – a blood-drinking demon who preys exclusively on beautiful women."

"She looked terrified."

"She is – but mostly she's worried about you."

"Me?"

"She's afraid of why I have you here, all alone." I laughed to myself, imagining what we may have been doing had Gustavo and Kaure not been in the house. "Oh well, why don't you choose something for us to watch? That's an acceptably human thing to do."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure a movie will convince her that you're human," she retorted, her words dripping with sarcasm. She shook her head, reaching up to wrap her arms around my neck. She lifted herself to reach my lips, but instead I lifted her up, bringing her to me. I kissed the corner of her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her skin, and began moving down, trailing kisses across her jaw and down her neck.

"Movie, schmovie," she muttered.

Ele mata-a! (He's killing her!) Kaure gasped, snapping me out of my lustful stupor and I immediately set Bella back down on her feet. Seeing the scene through her eyes and knowing what she believed me to be, I could understand why our display of intimacy had shocked her so. Kaure's eyes were locked with Bella's. I glanced between the two, Kaure's expression one of shock and Bella's one of embarrassment.

"Pesaroso," ("Sorry") she whispered, lowering her eyes.

"É perfeitamente bem," ("It's perfectly all right.") I assured her.

"She was thinking what I think she was thinking, wasn't she?" Bella asked after Kaure had hurried from the room.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes."

Bella's fingers glided along the spines of the movie collection. "Here," she said, picking one and handing it to me. "Put this on and we can pretend to watch it."

I took a cursory glance at the cover. A musical – must be one of Alice's. "Very honeymoonish," I teased.

Bella curled next to me on the couch while the movie played. My attention was divided between her and listening to the thoughts of Gustavo and Kaure as they surveyed the damage and did their best to restore the cottage to its pristine former state.

"Will we move back into the white room now?" Bella asked.

"I don't know…I've already mangled the headboard in the other room beyond repair – maybe if we limit the destruction to one area of the house, Esme might invite us back someday."

I smiled to myself, realizing how my words would sound…and not minding one bit.

Bella looked up at me, a mischievous grin on her face. "So there will be more destruction?"

I chuckled. She was insatiable. And to be quite honest….so was I. "I think it might be safer if it's premeditated, rather than if I wait for you to assault me again."

"It would only be a matter of time." What she didn't realize was that it was becoming more and more likely that I would be the one to initiate something. A matter of time, indeed. Her cheek blazed against my chest and her heart began beating faster.

"Is there something the matter with your heart?" I teased.

"Nope. Healthy as a horse. Did you want to go survey the demolition zone now?"

As tempting as that sounded, it would most likely give poor Kaure a heart attack. "Maybe it would be more polite to wait until we're alone. You may not notice me tearing the furniture apart, but it would probably scare them."

"Right," she sighed. "Drat."

The movie was clearly a pretense as Bella dozed in and out of consciousness. I busied myself listening to the thoughts in the house, finding it more manageable when there were only two minds speaking to me, although I much preferred the silence. I wondered idly if I would find it difficult to acclimate to life outside of our island paradise once we returned home, returning to the customary clamor of thoughts vying for my attention.

"Nós somos terminados, senhor. Há algo mais?" ("We're finished, sir. Is there anything else?") Gustavo called from the kitchen.

"Isso será todos. Obrigado," ("That will be all. Thank you.") I replied.

Kaure took one last worried look before following Gustavo out the door.

"They're finished."

Bella propped her head on her elbow, tracing a finger along the collar of my shirt. "So that would mean that we're alone now?" she asked, looking up at me through her lashes.

"How about lunch first?"

Her brow furrowed. She glanced at me, to the kitchen, and back. I could see her struggling with the dueling desires in her mind. Deciding to relieve her of the difficult choice, I took her hand and led her to the kitchen, gesturing that she sit while I prepared something for her to eat.

After consuming a rather large sandwich and a plate of fruit and cheese, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her full belly. "This is getting out of hand," she grumbled.

"Do you want to swim with the dolphins this afternoon – burn off the calories?"

She shrugged. "Maybe later. I had another idea for burning calories."

"And what was that?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

A blush bloomed across her body. "Well, there is an awful lot of headboard left – "

She didn't have to ask me twice. I appeared at her side and scooped her up in my arms, pressing my lips to hers and kissing her deeply as I carried her to the bedroom.

-x-

I'm hoping you won't wake and notice my absence, but, if you should, I'll be back very soon. I've just gone to the mainland to hunt. Go back to sleep and I'll be here when you wake again. I love you.

I folded the paper and placed it atop my pillow. I hated to leave her for long, but after two weeks, I needed something more substantial than the nearby marine life to sate my growing thirst. It was nearly midnight and she had been sleeping soundly. I chose this time, hoping that she would not notice my absence.

I stole away in the darkness, choosing to swim rather than take the boat. It was certainly the faster way to travel. I swam along the coastline of the mainland, avoiding the ports and seeking an area of the coast that would lead straight into the rainforest.

I ran through the dense foliage, already sensing the presence of a large cat nearby. After running some distance, I looked high in the trees and spied a jaguar lying across one of the large branches, watching me with some measure of curiosity. I wasted no time. The tree shuddered as I leapt up through the branches, wrapping my arms around the feline, and sinking my teeth into the pulsing artery of its neck. The blood flowed, thick and warm, dulling the ache in my throat.

Two jaguars later, I leaned back against the trunk of one of the ancient trees and sighed in contentment, feeling sated for the first time in weeks. I glanced up at the sky, nothing between me and the canopy of stars above. The jungle teemed with life, chattering and agitated, unnerved by my presence.

I leapt back down to the ground, eager to return to Bella. I ran back to the coast and swam, not stopping until my feet reached the sandy shores of Isle Esme. Silently, I crept back into the house. The scent of oil and cooked meat assaulted my nose and I grimaced at the odor. A dirty pan lay in the sink and several pieces of what looked like fried chicken sat uneaten in the garbage bin.

The television glowed, illuminating Bella's face as she slept curled on the couch.

I leaned down, kissing her lightly on the forehead. She stirred, but didn't awaken. I quickly showered and changed, washing away the remnants of ocean that clung to me. I returned to the living room and scooped Bella up in my arms, cradling her to my chest. I laid her gently on the bed and lay down beside her. Her skin was balmy, her hair damp with sweat. I pulled my shirt over my head and held her to me, hoping to provide some relief from the heat.

She draped herself across me, hitching her leg over both of mine, taking advantage of the coolness of my skin. She slept peacefully until nearly eight in the morning when she awoke with a start.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, placing my palm to her forehead. She was still burning up. "So much for thoroughness. I didn't think about how hot you would be with me gone. I'll have an air conditioner installed before I leave again."

"Excuse me!" she gasped, wriggling away from me toward the edge of the bed, her hand clamped tightly over her mouth.

"Bella?"

Her feet padded quickly across the floor and she disappeared into the bathroom. Concerned, I followed behind her, arriving to see her kneeling on the tiled floor, clinging to the sides of the porcelain bowl while she wretched, expelling the contents of her stomach.

"Bella? What's wrong?" I asked. I swept her hair from her face and held it in my hands as she continued to vomit.

"Damn rancid chicken," she groaned, holding her palm against her forehead.

"Are you all right?" I asked. I had never seen her so violently ill before.

"Fine. It's just food poisoning. You don't need to see this. Go away." She moaned, waving me off.

"Not likely, Bella." She should know better than to believe I would leave her at a time like this.

"Go away," she insisted, pushing herself up, her arms quivering as she struggled to support herself. I placed my hands under her arms and lifted her up, despite her efforts to shoo me away.

She leaned over the sink, cupping her hands together to catch the cool water and bringing it to her lips. She turned off the faucet and gripped the counter with both hands, swaying unsteadily. Careful not to jostle her too much, I gently picked her up and carried her to the bed, setting her on the edge, but still supporting her to keep her upright.

"Food poisoning?"

"Yeah, I made some chicken last night. It tasted off, so I threw it out. But I ate a few bites first."

"How do you feel now?" I asked, placing my palm on her forehead, feeling the fire pulsing beneath her skin. Could it be something more? A tropical parasite perhaps?

She looked up at me. "Pretty normal. A little hungry, actually."

Hungry? I couldn't imagine she would be feeling hungry after such a bout of nausea.

"Would you fix me some eggs?" she asked.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," I said, shaking my head. "Let's wait a while to see if this has truly passed before you eat something that could upset your stomach further."

She sat up in bed, taking small sips of water. After an hour had passed, I agreed to make her some breakfast. I fretted nervously over her, but she appeared to feel fine. After her initial bout of sickness, she seemed to have returned to normal.

We spent the afternoon on the couch. I felt it best to keep her activity to a minimum to allow her body to recover, even though she insisted that she was fine. She turned in my arms and groaned, a strange expression crossing her face.

Just as suddenly as before, she jumped up and ran for the kitchen sink, her hand clamped over her mouth. I followed behind, holding her hair and rubbing small circles on her back.

"Maybe we should go back to Rio, see a doctor," I suggested.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and shook her head. "I'll be fine right after I brush my teeth." She waved me off, insisting that she go to the bathroom unassisted this time. I paced nervously outside the door, listening for any signs of distress. I heard the normal sounds of water, of toothbrush bristles rubbing against teeth, swishing and spitting, and running water again – then the sounds of shifting objects. Was she looking for something? Then there was silence – ear splitting silence. I could hear her heart begin to quicken, worrying me further.

I knocked timidly on the door. "Are you well?" I asked. "Did you get sick again?"

Silence, and then finally she spoke. "Yes and no," she said through the door. What did that mean? I was becoming increasingly concerned. If she wouldn't allow me to take her to a doctor, my next step would be to call Carlisle.

"Bella? Can I please come in?"

"O…kay?"

The door creaked as I opened it slowly. Bella was sitting cross-legged on the floor with an odd expression on her face, the contents of the suitcase in a state of disarray. I knelt beside her, placing my palm to her forehead once again.

"What's wrong?" I asked. She was staring off, as though she hadn't heard me speak. Her eyes were glassy, her expression blank. I inched closer to her, wrapping my fingers around her arm and shaking her lightly.

She blinked several times before turning to me. "How many days has it been since the wedding?" she whispered.

"Seventeen." What an odd question to ask at a time like this. "Bella, what is it?"

She furrowed her brows and held up a finger. I could see her lips moving, silently counting. But why? She counted again, using her fingers as though she were ticking off items on a list. Each time she counted, her heart beat faster and faster. All the color had drained from her face.

"Bella!" I begged. "I'm losing my mind over here."

She lowered her hands, staring blankly ahead. Without looking, her hand reached into the suitcase, groping through the contents until her fingers clutched a box of feminine products. She held it up.

I was utterly perplexed. "What? Are you trying to pass this illness off as PMS?"

"No," she gasped. "No, Edward. I'm trying to tell you that my period is five days late."

Wait….what?

A/N: I know I say this a lot, but truly, thank you all so much for your support of this story. Your favorites, alerts, PMs, and reviews mean the world to me. I hope you all enjoyed some of the fluff in the last few chapters – be prepared for lots of angst in the near future.

Thanks to my beta, Nellybear85, for keeping me on track and giving me a head's up when the text may get tricky. And congrats to misticbutterfly who is currently on fan fiction maternity leave.