Once we were out of the cottage, there was much more space for jumping, and running. Running was incredible. Grass rushed along under my feet. Trees and bushes slipped past like high-speed traffic. The world whizzed by at a speed that should blur it, but somehow never did.

I was so fast. My legs loved running. I laughed for the sheer joy of movement and Edward, running alongside me, laughed too.

Then he stopped and said "ssh, can you hear them?"

I listened, but I couldn't hear anyone.

Instantly, I felt irritated, what was he talking about? Was this some sort of a joke? I growled low and crouched down

Edward held up his hands in front of his face, they were trembling, "sorry," he said, "I'm backing off. It's yours. It's yours."

I didn't understand what he meant, until I smelt something, something delicious.

Edward was still walking away in the opposite direction, but I hissed at him anyway, just in case he had any ideas about looping round and cutting me off.

Then, before he had time to steal it from me, I ran towards the deer and pounced. Once I was on the deer, everything seemed to flow. The animal crumpled under me, I could feel its blood pulsing through its neck, so I bit down there, hard. The blood was released and I drank it. It was soothing, earthy, deliciously tangy.

As I finished, I felt myself calming down.

I turned back towards Edward, who was knelt non-threateningly at a distance, with his hands still up in that pacifying gesture. He was shaking again, I wondered what I'd done to frighten him so much.

"All yours," he said again, "I'm not going to fight you."

I laughed, trying to disperse the tension. "Sorry," I said, "I don't know what came over me."

Edward put his hands down, plunging them deep into his pockets, and smiled, "you're a newborn and you were thirsty. It's natural."

I looked at him more carefully than I had yet done. I took in the new freckles and creases that I hadn't seen when my eyes had been human. I wondered how many details I'd missed under his clothes. I had only seen him naked twice, and both times had been with poor eyes. Now I could get a proper look. The idea excited me.

But, then I worried that this was just another example of my newborn mind jumping around, getting worked up and causing me to act inappropriately. I shook my head and tried to focus on having a conversation. I did not want to jump Edward in a forest. He wouldn't appreciate that at all.

"Do you threaten your family when you hunt together?"

He grinned, "not anymore, " he said, getting up and strolling back over towards me, "but I did once attack Carlisle. And both Rosalie and Emmett have done their share of snapping at me. It's normal behaviour. I know well enough to give you plenty of space so your competitive instincts don't kick in."

"I'm sorry about your arms too," I said, thinking back over my peculiar behaviour that day, "and growling at every one and . . . oh, I've been pretty awful."

"No," Edward said, putting his arms around me and pulling me close, "you are doing wonderfully well. It's a lot to take in at first, everything is overwhelming. We all understand "

"Thank you."

I thought about everything that had happened since I woke up. It was strange to have this new, incredibly clear memory. Everything I had seen and heard was right there, ready for me to take another look whenever I wanted.

"What were you all doing?" I asked, "it looked strange."

"Nothing," he said, "I guess we're just a bit strange." He pulled away and looked into my eyes, checking how dark they were. "Do you want to hunt more?"

I shook my head, "I want to talk more, tell me what was happening before I came in."

"I can't remember." That sounded wrong, somehow, but I wasn't sure why. "Want to race back?"

He started to run before I had a chance to answer, cheating, and - though my emotions were slightly less volatile now I'd fed - my fury stopped me thinking about his answer. I ran after him, growling, determined to catch him and pull his arms out if their sockets deliberately this time. How dare he cheat? I was definitely jumping him now, and he wasn't going to like it one little bit. I wanted to win! I wanted to catch him! I wanted to tear him apart, cheater!

We were still some distance from the cottage when Edward stopped. I saw my chance and jumped on his back, easily sending him sprawling to the floor.

Before I could really get to work, I felt strong arms and a lethargic feeling wrap themselves around me, and heard Jasper's easy voice in my ear.

"Woah, easy there, Bella. This is Edward, don't you want him in one piece?"

"He cheated!" I hissed, scrabbling to get away, wondering why I was so tired. "He cheated! He ran before I knew we were racing."

"Did he now?" Jasper tutted and looked sternly at his little brother.

"Edward, I'm not sure you deserve my help. You should know better than to antagonise her. This is hardly the first time you've taken a newborn out to hunt. Apologise for cheating."

Edward was back on his feet now, brushing himself down, "I'm sorry, love," he said, "I didn't mean to upset you."

I collapsed into Jasper's grip, emotionally exhausted, or maybe just knocked out by Jasper's manipulation,, "no, I'm sorry. I cannot believe I tried to rip your arms off."

Jasper chuckled, "you're just adjusting, Bella, don't worry. With a little bit of consideration," Edward looked shamefaced, "you're going to be just fine."

He helped me stand back up. Then he turned back to Edward, "what about you," he asked, "are you going to be able to come back with everyone else,?"

Edward sighed. "I'm fine."

"No," Jasper said firmly, "you're not."

"What's wrong?" I asked. Had I permanently damaged him with my rough behaviour? Didn't Jasper get me off in time? What had I done to him? And, if he was hurt, why shouldn't he come back to everyone else, where he could recover? Was he too hurt for any recovery to be possible? Was Jasper suggesting he crawl under a bush and die alone like an animal?

"Calm down," Jasper said, helping me do just that. "Try to slow down before you get caught up in these psnic spirals. Why didn't you tell her?" He asked Edward.

"I didn't want her to worry."

"Well, you messed that up. She is definitely worrying now."

"That's more your doing than mine," Edward said irritably. "It doesn't count as helping if you're the one who sets her off. And, no, she wasn't going to hurt me, not really. Being grabbed by you probably made her more upset."

"What is it?" I begged, "what's happening?"

Edward closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead roughly, pacing up and down in front of us.

"Sssh," he hissed. "Please be quiet."

Nobody was saying anything.

Edward didn't seem pleased. He started packing up and down, tugging at his hair and rubbing at his forehead.

Jasper closed his eyes too and started humming again.

When Edward stopped pacing, Jasper opened his eyes. "I think she would have worried as soon as she saw you do that," he said.

Edward growled.

Jasper shrugged, "come on, Bella," he said, "race me this time. I promise not to cheat."

I grinned, I would like to run again. "Ready," I said, "go!"

We ran neck and neck. It was fun and exciting, but less infuriating than racing Edward. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't end this race by trying to murder my opponent.

Back at the lodge, Rose, Emmett and Alice were waiting for us.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking especially at Rose, "I was horrible!"

She shook her head, "you were thirsty," she said, just as Edward had said. I hoped that I wasn't going to be furious and hissing every time I needed to hunt.

"It's harder to get a sense of perspective when you're thirsty," Rose went on, "don't worry, Bella, you're doing great."

The atmosphere changed when Edward walked in. I saw his siblings giving each other quick glances.

Edward looked tense. He frowned and clenched his hands into fists.

"Edward?" I asked, walking towards him, "are you feeling all right?"

"Fine," Edward replied. "That's not really appropriate."

I frowned, "what's not appropriate."

"Not you," he said irritably, "Alice. No. No. I don't think . . . Could you all just try speaking one at a time?"

I stared at him.

He closed his eyes and backed into the corner of the room.

"Let me look at you," Rosalie said.

Edward scowled at her and put his arms tightly around himself.

"Edward," she prompted, "come here."

He shook his head, "shan't." His head wasn't the only thing shaking. His hands were trembling again.

Jasper tutted again. "Edward," he said in turn, "don't be obdurate. Listen to Rose."

"Can't help listening to her," Edward muttered, "can't help listening to any of you. Don't have to let you start poking me as well."

"Edward!" Jasper said again, much more sternly this time, he walked closer to Edward, who flinched away from him. "Behave yourself," Jasper warned, "Rose wants to help."

Edward sighed, but he unwrapped his arms and looked at Rose.

"Slow down," he said, "I can't answer it all at once."

Rose sighed, "Edward, 594 by 32."

"19008," he said.

"Good," Rose smiled encouragingly, "capital of Trinidad?"

"Port of Spain, and Thursday."

Rose frowned, "Thursday?"

Emmett interrupted, "er . . . my fault, I was wondering what day of the week our anniversary was going to be this year. It was the Trinidad thing, it reminded me . . . sorry."

"What is going on?" I asked, "none of this makes any sense."

Edward looked at his feet.

"Will you talk, or shall I?" Jasper asked.

"Is 'neither' an option?" Edward asked.

"No!" I said.

Edward sighed, "there was a slight problem," he said, "while you were, well, not exactly with us, I had a disagreement with Jane, and . . ."

"Did she hurt you?"

He shrugged, "a little," he said, then, seeing my face he allowed, "slightly more than a little. And I . . . it's hard to explain, I'm having trouble filtering out thoughts. Everything everyone thinks is just screaming at full volume all the time. I can't focus. My family were trying not to think. Obviously it's easier for some of them than others."

I didn't laugh. None of that struck me as remotely funny.

"What was this disagreement about?" I asked.

Edward frowned and looked at Jasper, who glared right back at him.

"Fine," Edward said, having determined that Jasper wasn't going to agree to keep this quiet either, "Jane was eager to try out her gift on you and see if it worked when you were a vampire. I tried to stop her and, well, failed pretty spectacularly."