DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters! I wish I do *sniff sniff*
"Carlisle, why isn't she waking up?" I tried to keep my voice calm but seeing that it's been 48 hours since the encounter at the warehouse, I haven't really been able to pull myself together.
We were back home, and we had laid Bella in her bed back at the cottage. Carlisle has been monitoring her condition while the others were back in the house still reeling at the thought that my human girlfriend just killed a vampire.
"Edward, she will wake up" Carlisle assured me. He was standing at the foot of the bed while I sat beside her sleeping figure, holding her hand. After what happened, I was afraid of letting go.
"But I still don't understand why it has to be so long!" I was anxious.
Want me to get Jasper for you? He thought.
"No, I'm fine" I lied.
"Son, she's physically exhausted. Who wouldn't be after all that happened. Her body needs to recover. She'll wake up once she's ready" Carlisle assured. I still can't believe it. It was so impossible, yet she was able to destroy a vampire. Carlisle's thoughts flashed back to what happened and I let out a grimace. They were not there to see everything that had happened but Alice had seen it in her vision and she gave them the full details of everything that had happened.
"I'm sorry but to be honest, I've never been this perplexed in all my three hundred years of existence. Bella is quite an extraordinary individual don't you think?"
I had to agree with Carlisle. I had underestimated Bella, but I still can't wrap my mind that she wasn't an ordinary human.
However, she was never bothered for a second about what I am so why should I be bothered about what she can do? After all, she was still Bella albeit stronger than normal, but nevertheless, still My Bella.
"Edward, you should hunt. You need to be yourself when she wakes up" He interrupted my thoughts.
"I can handle it"
Are you sure?
I nodded. For now, I was in control.
I tried not to think of the memory of how I let the monster inside me almost consume me and would have ended Bella's life when her blood was spilled. I couldn't tell my father that I was that close to losing myself because they had trusted me that I would not hurt Bella. I had showed them that I was able to control my thirst but yet, when blood was spilled, I was at the mercy of my true vampire nature. If I hadn't stopped breathing... I cleared that thought and shoved it at the very back of my mind. I was going to be strong for Bella. After I was so close of losing her, I found a new sense of strength in fighting the monster inside me that desired her blood. I would use that strength to make sure that what happened to me in the warehouse, would not happen again.
Bella stirred beside me and her eyes slowly opened. She took in her surroundings for a few seconds before her eyes fell on to me. That was when she jumped up and slammed her body onto me and wrapped her arms around my neck in a fierce embrace.
"Edward I'm so sorry for leaving" I could hear her trying to bite back a sob.
"Oh Love, I thought I lost you!" the pain in my voice was apparent that she held me tighter, making her strength apparent. It was not enough to hurt me, but it was there.
"You had us worried there for a second." Carlisle spoke, and Bella realized that we weren't alone in the room. She loosened her grip, so she can look at my father beside me but instead of letting go, she snugged closer, so she could see us both.
"I'm really sorry for causing trouble to your family Carlisle." She apologized sincerely, and my father smiled.
"Bella, it wasn't your fault and please do remember that you are part of our family now."
She looked at him for a few seconds before replying.
"Thank you… for being there. I'm glad you found me when you did, or I don't know what could've happened if that fight lasted a while longer." I tensed at her words.
"Where are the others?" Bella suddenly changed the subject as if sensing my distress.
"They're at the main house Love, they were really worried about you" I told her.
"We should go to them. I want to thank them and tell them I'm okay." Bella looked at Carlisle.
"Of course. I should go ahead and let them know you'll be joining us. I'll have Esme prepare some food for you" Son, I'll give you some time alone before you join us. Carlisle added in his thoughts before he sprinted back towards the house.
After a few of Bella's heartbeat, I was aware that we were finally alone, and she was staring at me with so much intensity.
"Are you okay?" I knew she was referring to my eyes that was slowly losing its golden glow.
"Now that you're here, I am more than okay." Her face was just inches from mine and before I could add anything else, Bella pressed her lips slowly into mine and it was like everything that had happened the previous days didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was her and me, here together.
I couldn't get enough of her as I deepened my kiss with a sense of urgency that I never felt before. The thought of losing her made me want to cling to her... to taste her... to make sure that she was really, truly alive. I heard her soft moan as she moved her body as close as she can while my arms instinctively wrapped around her.
We were in that position for a few intense moments until Bella broke the kiss to catch her breath, yet she kept her body where it was. Our foreheads were glued together as she closed her eyes trying to pull herself together. She bit her lip softly and resisted the urge to kiss her again.
I've been wanting more and more every time Bella and I would be this intimate and it didn't help my resolve when I see her looking at me and her eyes shouting that she wanted more too. But that was something I would not be willing to take the risk.
I knew I was in control, but it didn't mean I wouldn't be putting Bella at risk if I let myself be consumed with desire. It was a desire so strong it made the thirsty monster look like a joke, but I had to be the one to show restraint because if the recent events taught me any lesson, it's that Bella would not think twice about putting herself in danger and she would rather take the risk of getting hurt so she can be with me more than anything else.
I focused and thought about a different danger that she was in not long ago. I needed to make sure that she won't intentionally put herself on that situation again.
"Bella…" I grabbed her hands from behind me and placed it in my chest. She let her fingers trace small patterns in my chest and I had to focus to keep me from being distracted by her touch.
"Hmmm?"
"Will you promise me one thing?" She sat up straight and became serious. She waited for me to continue.
"Promise me that you won't put yourself in danger like that again? I know you can take care of yourself, but it would kill me if anything happens to you" I didn't want to tell her that I've already contemplated that when I thought I would be too late.
She made the choice of staying here with me and my family, so I vowed that I would be with her and protect her as long as she lives, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Bella took time to answer and I sensed that she was conflicted.
"I don't know if I can promise that" My brows furrowed, and she lifted her fingers, as she smoothed it out.
"Edward, I'm truly sorry about what happened. I should have been more stubborn about the idea of joining you and the others in fighting James instead of going off on my own." She said without batting an eyelash, and I didn't know if I was going to be relieved or be worried at the idea.
"I was too complacent to take him on my own. Maybe if I had my memories, it wouldn't have been that difficult but If you ask me if I would do that again, I would, without hesitation." I couldn't believe what she was saying!
"But – "I tried to argue but she silenced me with her fingers on my lips.
"I know you want to protect me, I really do, and I love you for that. But when I was fighting him, I felt a sense of duty to make sure that he doesn't harm anybody else. I needed to fight him. I don't have my memories, but I knew then…" She paused before continuing and she was choosing her words carefully.
"Fighting is in my blood. I knew it. I can feel it. I felt it when I knocked down those thugs in Port Angeles and I felt it when I was facing James. But I'm not just going to fight for the love of it Edward. I fight to protect. I fight to make sure no one else gets hurt. That's why I didn't want all of you to go after James. I fight to protect anyone that needed protection and for those that I cared about... Even if those I cared about are seven really strong vampires." She added playfully in the end and I was in awe.
I couldn't believe what I just heard. Her conviction was so strong it felt like talking to a totally different Bella.
I remembered her words when she spoke of her memories. There was chaos everywhere, explosions, people needing help. It was like the world was ending. What kind of world was she living that made her have this kind of mindset? That made her fight? That made her want to protect others? To fight someone that she knew that was stronger than her?
Even if this world held mythical creatures like us, we had a semblance of normalcy in our lives. It made me think that she would be better off here with us than going back home which I was glad she had already decided before.
This was a side of her that I did not expect. Gone was the girl that was scared because she lost her memories. This was a side of her that made me love her even more.
"I can promise you this instead" She continued and I was curious.
"I promise not to make any rash decisions like that if we get into some kind of trouble again" I raised one brow at her.
"You think there's more danger in the future?"
She shrugged. "I'm not Alice but I have a strong feeling it's not going to be easy getting a happily ever after here"
I had to laugh. "Only you can associate vampires with a fairy tale ending" She stuck her tongue out at me playfully then made a serious face.
"But Edward… If something does come up. Please… let me be by your side" She looked at me pleadingly but what she's asking was hard.
"I can be strong if I want to. I know that now. With or without my memories" the last part caught me off guard.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not going to dwell too much about my lost memories from now on." She decided.
"So, you have no plans of trying to find your way home?"
"I still do of course but I'm going to take my time. If I find my way home, then good. If my memories would return, then better. That's going to help me a lot but right now, I just want to enjoy these moments here… with you if you may." She pressed her lips softly into mine in a chaste kiss and I never wanted this day to end but I remember that there were others who were probably wondering what's taking us so long.
"I guess it's time for us to go back to the main house. Everyone wants to see how our hero is doing" I smiled and stood up, so she could get out of bed.
"I didn't do all that you know" She reminded me.
"True but you were the human who fought a vampire with just an aerosol and a lighter and managed to get out of it alive" I told her and then something Emmett said made my smile. "Emmett's so blown away by what you did that he plans to call you Buffy for the next few days" I knew she was familiar with the reference when I heard her watch video clips of the TV series when she was staying at the main house. Bella was wide-eyed then she let out a girlish giggle.
"Fine… Go get my wooden stake Spike! It's time to invade a vampire's den!" She pointed to the direction of the main house as she started to run with me following in her pace and my laugh disturbing the forest behind us.
END OF BOOK ONE
A/N: I do not own Buffy and Spike and any reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
OMG! I did it! It's done! This was my very first fanfic and I finished it! Yey! There's a lot to come of course so I hope you stay can stay tuned.
I want to take this opportunity to thank those who have reviewed my story!
' probably . lost . in . a .book, Twilove4ever, cbmorefie, Overnight's child , sujari6, Onemilllives, Reinbeau, orchidluv, LAoR
You guys ROCK! Thank you so much guys for your support! It means a lot to me and also to the silent readers and those who followed and favorited my story. Thanks so much!