FINALLY! Yep, I'm back. I do not have set dates for updating, likely to be weekly or every other week, I'm not setting a clock on this one. Let's get to know Edward a bit, shall we?

Fill Me with Your Poison Chapter 2

Edward used to think nothing of time. He'd spent days stalking prey, months on missions for Aro, years planning the revelation of vampires to humans, decades on an even bigger plan, and it had passed in the blink of an eye. Never before had three days felt so interminable. As he'd promised, he refused to leave Bella's side, even though she was completely unaware of his presence as she burned quietly next to him. Her mind was silent to him now, which was frustrating, but he'd found that it was like that for every change he'd witnessed. Perhaps the brain shut down during the changing process, as it changed itself. He didn't know; all he knew was that he missed her.

He filled the time by talking to her, telling her about the new life she was about to embark on, wondering more about the one she'd left behind. "You can have anything you desire," he promised, tracing a finger lightly over her cheek. "Together, we can rule the world, or we can disappear and live completely off the grid." He tangled his fingers in her silky brown hair. "I was contemplating moving on, you know." She didn't, but he kept on talking anyway. "I was already tired of this place; these humans with their vapid thoughts and the vampires that were no better."

Sex, blood, good times…Edward had nothing against the concept, but it had gotten old for him. There was no challenge when they came willingly to be eaten or had, or both. "I was thinking of heading back to Italy, coming up with some new ideas…" He trailed off and smiled down at his slumbering mate. "How would you feel about being First Lady of the United States, or hell, the President?" To Edward's mind, it was the next natural step. Vampires had semi-equal footing with humans as it stood right now, although that was only because humans couldn't kill them, and for the moment, vamps were content with that. But it was only a matter of time before they ascended; after all, they were the highest on the food chain. Already some minor royals had become vampires of their own free will; one day, perhaps they would lead their countries. And then?

Edward was no fool. He knew they had to start small; a congressman here, a senator there. Run for office and likely be defeated at first, as humans would more than likely fear giving a vampire a position of power. "Though it's not like we couldn't just take it if we wanted to, and they know that." They had all the time in the world to wait it out and to take power the right way.

"Before you, my love, that was all that I wanted." He pulled Bella gently against his chest. "It was all I had." But that had all changed now. He felt better, happier, than he'd ever been in his lifetime, either one of them. Bella was his focus now. If she wanted to be the queen of the world, he'd find a way to make that happen for her. If she wanted to travel, he'd take her from one end of the earth to the other. If she wanted to do nothing but make love all day every day, he'd thank whatever god had sent her his way.

"I can't wait to know you."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was so strange. The girl was his entire world now and he only knew the most basic facts about her. He used to laugh at his fellow vampires when they fell victim to their mates. He'd thought it rather pathetic that they fell instantly, with no choice in the matter. What if the mate was stupid? Annoying? A terrible lover? He could only be beyond grateful that his Bella was none of those things. He didn't know much, but he knew enough to know that. She was smart enough to get a scholarship to UW. She was sweet and kind and good, if a bit impulsive. But that was okay. It had worked in his favor, hadn't it? And God knew she wasn't a terrible lover. Wasn't he burning to touch her again already? Wasn't he counting down the minutes until he could feel her incredible body moving with his again, joined in a way that only mates could truly be joined: body, heart, and soul?

I'll just go in and see my new sister for myself. No sooner had the thought hit than Edward growled and clutched his mate to his body tighter. "If you step foot in my-our-room without permission, I'll kill you before you cross the threshold," he threatened darkly. Nobody, not even his brother, was going to lay eyes on his mate's naked body and live.

"Damn, bro, I just wanted to see the girl that got you of all people to settle." The hurt in Emmett's voice had Edward relaxing just a little bit.

"You can meet her when she awakens. I'll need you and Jasper to help me feed her." A part of him hated that he had to share that momentous moment with anyone, but a newborn vampire could be volatile, and he'd need his brother's strength to hold her as he showed her what to do.

"Okay, we can do that." Emmett sounded slightly mollified, and Edward decided to give him something tangible to do.

"I could also use your help getting Bella's things and bringing them here so that she has clothes and whatever else she wants on hand. Do you think you and Jasper could do that?"

"Yeah, bro, we got it. Her roommates want to bang again anyway!"

Edward chuckled at the enthusiasm he heard in his brother's voice. "You're not going to change them, are you?" Although if they did, his Bella would have her friends with her in her new life. He wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but if she wanted it, he would make it happen, regardless of his brothers' feelings on the issue.

"Nah. Lauren's a good bang, but she's pretty bossy, and Jessica's already going all stalker on Jasper." Emmett's boisterous laugh rang out. "I told him to sic Maria on her and kill two birds with one stone, but…"

"Yeah, not the best idea." Edward had enough clout that he could spare his brother's destruction if one of his newborns ran amuck, but it was a headache that he didn't need to deal with. His only focus now was the woman in his arms.

"I guess not. He can survive another couple of months. We'll go get the stuff and leave it outside the door?" Emmett asked tentatively.

Edward felt a bit bad for threatening his brother's life, but he couldn't apologize, for he still meant it. Nobody was going to see his Bella's lovely naked body but him. "That'll be great, thanks."

"We'll be back in time to run the club tonight," Emmett promised, knowing his brother wasn't going to leave his room until Bella woke up. He hesitated, but figured he'd better tell Edward. "Aro's been calling since he hasn't been able to get in touch with you." He didn't dare suggest that Edward return the call. He knew better.

"That sounds good, thanks." Edward dismissed his brother and shot a glare at his cell phone. It was halfway across the room and he'd have to release Bella for a precious few seconds in order to get it. He wasn't in the mood to play the game with Aro, but if he didn't return the calls, Aro would no doubt enjoy lording his leadership over on him. It was such a joke, really. If Edward wanted to be the public face of the vampires, he would have done it. He preferred quiet leadership from within…for now.

"One day," he murmured to his girl, "we'll take it all." He kissed her softly before releasing her and grabbing his phone. It took him less than two seconds to have her back in his arms, but as far as he was concerned, it was two seconds too long. "I'm sorry, baby. We have to play the game until you say the word." He settled back with Bella's head resting on his left shoulder. He dialed the number and waited.

"Edward, my boy, I hear congratulations are in order!"

Edward's eyes narrowed at Aro's greeting. His brothers knew better than to reveal anything personal about Edward, so one of the staff must have ratted him out. He didn't like the idea that Aro had eyes on him all the way over here.

"And just where did you hear that, Aro?" Edward asked, managing to keep the anger out of his voice. Years of practice had taught him how to keep his voice from betraying his feelings.

Aro's cackling laugh filled the line. "A little birdie told me, of course! I'm surprised that I didn't hear it from you yourself."

Edward heard the rebuke in the words. "I would have if the birdie hadn't beaten me to it." And that birdie was going to be dead as soon as his Bella was taken care of. "I've been a bit busy with my mate."

"I'm sure! And I am thrilled for you, even though the women of Volterra are all heartbroken right now."

Edward rolled his eyes. Being one of the unmated Volturi members had both its advantages and disadvantages, in that the female vampires were always angling to grab power by seduction. Edward had never been stupid enough to allow it, though. He kept his conquests away from his vocation; it was just easier that way.

"I imagine they'll get over it." After all, there were plenty of willing vampires to take them up on their wily ways.

"In time, perhaps." Aro laughed again. "So tell me about the woman that has managed to capture your fancy! I have to admit, I never thought I'd see the day!"

Edward breathed in the scent of his beautiful girl to keep himself from saying anything rash and ending the conversation prematurely like he wanted to. With Aro, one had to be patient and not give in to emotion.

"Her name is Bella and she's, well, she was a college student here. She's twenty-one and an only child. Her dad's a cop and her mom's out of the picture."

"I trust she's as beautiful as her name?"

Edward eyed his lovely girl. "Even more so."

"I look forward to meeting her soon, then."

The demand in the comment had Edward's back up, but he held his temper. "I'm sure she'll want to see Volterra once she has her impulses under control."

"We'll roll out the welcome mat for her! Truly, Edward, I'm delighted you've found your other half. There's nothing like a mate to ground us and keep us from getting in over our heads."

Edward's eyes narrowed at Aro's comment. He was forever suspicious that Edward was going to usurp his power, and though Edward had every intention of doing so one day, he'd made damn sure never to think such a thing around the man. It was just Aro's overly suspicious nature that had him perceiving threats everywhere he looked.

"Funny…I always thought when I found a mate that she'd teach me how to fly. I guess we'll have to see which way it goes, won't we?" Edward knew he shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't find it in him to regret responding to Aro's challenge that way.

"As long as you don't fly too high, Edward. I'd miss you." The edge in Aro's tone left no mistake as to the warning he was giving.

Edward laughed. "As if I'd ever leave my family behind? I want Bella to meet my father and brothers."

"We're anxious to do so as well, my son!" And just like that, Aro's good humor was restored. Edward had only to play the father card and Aro remembered who his favored son truly was. "I do hope you'll have a wedding when you get to Italy. Your mother and I want nothing more than to see our boy and his mate make things official."

Edward had no trouble picturing his Bella, a vision in white, walking down the aisles of the cathedral in Volterra. "I can think of nothing I'd like more, Father."

"Excellent!" Aro clapped his hands. "I'll tell your mother that she can start planning."

Edward laughed. "Bella's heart hasn't even stopped beating yet. Don't let her get ahead of herself."

Aro chuckled. "You know your mother."

He did. Sulpicia was a force to be reckoned with when it came to the man she considered her favorite son. She'd seen Edward as a child across a crowded street fair one day and taken him before his parents could even react, breaking strict vampire law when it came to children. He'd been raised within Volterra until he was deemed of age and turned by Aro. He was the first of their many children and still the baby in her eyes.

"Just tell her to keep it conceptual until we see how Bella does with being a newborn."

"I will, but I don't know if I can keep her from coming to see you both in the very near future."

Edward rolled his eyes. "I'll let you know how she's doing."

"Just know our thoughts are with you and we're looking forward to meeting our new daughter."

"I look forward to you meeting her."

"Good! I'll let you get back to her, son. I remember that first glow of new love."

"Thanks. I'll talk to you soon. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Edward disconnected and tossed his phone on the nightstand. "So, that was my father." He spat the last word. "He's kind of crazy and paranoid, although he has good reason to be when it comes to me." He sighed and breathed in Bella's luscious scent. "They took me from my family, but they never could make me forget. That's why I'm still Edward Cullen. And you'll be Bella Cullen when you marry me." His real parents were long gone, but Edward had held on to his memories of them.

"I guess I took you from your family, too, but you wanted it." He felt a pang at the thought that his Bella might one day hate him for it. "I'll do what I can to help you hold on to yours, if you want." He never wanted her to question her choice to be with him for a minute. From the moment he'd laid eyes on her, he'd been consumed by the need to have her for eternity. He hadn't let thoughts of her life, of his, get in his way. He hated that one call from Aro had him questioning his actions.

"I had to have you. You were meant to be at my side." He brushed a stray hair off her cheek. "If you want to move to that little town, Forks, and forget this place, Italy, all of it, I will. This is my vow to you, my Bella. You come first." One thing Aro had said rang true. If Bella wanted him to walk away from his quest for vengeance and power, one she didn't even know about yet, then he'd do it. She was the most important thing in his world now, even more important than a century of plotting and planning.

His cell phone pinged with an incoming message. Edward sighed and picked it up. He'd been ignoring business for the past two days, and he knew there were bound to be things to be dealt with upon Bella's awakening. The message was from Jasper.

We got your girl's stuff but there's a problem.

Edward was pissed. What kind of message was that? He punched in a reply.

What problem?

"Why my half-assed brothers can't do anything without there being a problem involved is beyond me," he complained to his silent mate. "I love those morons, but I spend half my time pondering killing them." Emmett and Jasper were his closest friends, the two taken shortly after he was, and he did consider them to be his only true siblings, but he wouldn't mind a break from them either. Maybe now, with a mate, he'd take some time to just be alone with his Bella.

As we were leaving, her father came in, took one look at us with her stuff, and had a conniption. He's on his way to Venom.

Get back here immediately, Edward texted.

"Fuck," Edward muttered, closing his eyes and pressing his lips to Bella's forehead. "Looks like we're going to be dealing with your father sooner than mine," he told her. As if responding to his words, her heart began to beat faster. "Finally," he said, tightening his hold on her. "Let go, baby. It's almost over."

The final minutes of the change were agony for Edward. He listened, not making a sound, as her heartbeat became impossibly fast, the venom pumping through her, the minute changes that had taken place over the past few days suddenly very apparent. Her cheekbones were a little more pronounced, her skin was even more luminous. She was even more exquisite than she'd been the moment he'd laid eyes on her. As her heart gave its final beats, he kissed her lips.

"You were meant to be a queen," he murmured as her heart stuttered and stopped. He held his breath and watched as her lashes began to flutter. "Open your eyes, my Bella. Be with me, forever."

Another couple of flutters, and finally, her eyes opened, the ruby red meeting his own for the first time. He said nothing as he gazed upon her beautiful face, and she slowly reached a hand up to touch his face, surprisingly gently for a newborn. He leaned into her palm and pressed a kiss to the heel of her hand.

"Edward," she said softly, her voice somehow sweeter than before. "My Edward."

Those three words blasted through him, and he laughed and crushed her against him. "My Bella. Forever starts now. Are you ready?"

He pulled back to study her beautiful face. She licked her lips, and he bit back a groan, knowing that he had to wait before he claimed her, even though it might kill him to do so.

She smiled and pressed her lips to his in a hard, hungry kiss before releasing him. "Ready."