Sorry this was a bit of a wait. I hope it's worth it.

This week, we all need to give extra thanks to Sri, Nic and Iris. They saved this story from my self-induced panic attack.

Jasper greeted them as they docked the plane. The rest of the family waited with Bella. Throughout the entire flight, Edward thought he would hurl himself to the house once they landed, but he hesitated. He let Carlisle and Alice depart the plane - the dock even - before he moved. He knew this was what Bella had wanted, but who would she be when she woke up? He'd heard tales of newborns that took the better part of a decade to settle down.

He gave his head a slight shake and then grabbed the duffle bag he'd brought with him. He'd cleared the spot under his floorboards and thrown some of his favorite clothes in it. He'd also cleared some items from Carlisle's safe in their Forks home. He'd left them there long enough. There was a point where he decided they belonged with Bella. Even if he couldn't give them to her, at least they may be near her. Now, there would be a day that he could.

Jasper still waited for him on the dock.

"How-"

"She's been great. Really calm, actually. How are you holding up?"

Edward said nothing. He didn't need to; Jasper knew.

"You're nearly there, man. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks for being there, for-"

"No thanks needed," Jasper interrupted again. "I have a lot to make up to you. I-"

"Stop." This time, Edward cut his brother off. "It's in the past. I think it needed to happen just the way it did..." Edward trailed off. His need to be near Bella was starting to overwhelm him.

Jasper quickly put his arms around Edward and slapped his back. Physical contact between the two was rare but meaningful. They pounded each other's backs, and then Jasper whispered, "Go get your girl."

They'd set up a makeshift bed in the middle of the family room. There had been some discussion about putting her in Edward's room, but ultimately, they felt keeping her in a neutral location may ease some anxiety when she woke up. Plus, they simply liked having her in their space.

Edward was by her side before anyone had noticed him come through the door.

He didn't touch her. His hands hovered in the space between them. It was nearly time. Her heartbeat was strong though sparse. He'd have a few more hours until she was awake. Esme came up beside him and stroked Bella's hair.

"She's beautiful, Edward." Esme adjusted the curls that fell over Bella's shoulders and moved her hand away. As she suspected, Edward finally moved his hands so that they lovingly caressed Bella's face.

"She's been still and quiet. Jasper's felt nothing. He wonders if her shield could protect her from the pain." Esme reflected on the past few days, not only on Bella but of other changes they had made to the property. One in particular brought a grin to Edward's concerned face.

"Thanks." He turned away from Bella for a moment to kiss Esme's cheek, but his hands remained on her. He wasn't sure he'd be able to let go.

The family moved about almost as though it were any other night. None of them sought time alone, and they didn't they leave to hunt. They knew once Bella was awake that they would go as a family.

They were mildly amused at Edward's vigil. His hands were in constant motion as they moved over her face, hair, and arms. Rosalie brought him a chair from the dining room, and he sat down and rested his head beside hers.

It was the early hours of the morning when Edward sat up in alarm. Bella's heart started to race. Jasper was immediately beside him. He could sense the panic.

Edward!

"Bella! I'm here, love."

Edward!

"I'm here." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, taking her face in both of his hands.

Edward! Edward! Edward!

Her screams were frantic, her heartbeat impossible for a human.

"I'm here, darling. It's okay. Let go." He kissed her again. "Come to me, my love."

And then there was nothing.

Jasper put a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Steady," he cautioned. It wasn't quite a warning, but Edward straightened anyway. Emmett moved to Edward's other side. They were there to support him… or protect him, if need be.

Nobody moved. The house was absolutely silent. Bella's heartbeat no longer echoed around them.

Edward blinked. It was time.

His eyes opened when he felt his brothers tense beside him.

Bloodred eyes stared back into his own.

"It's you," Bella whispered.

Bella's head tilted in response to hearing her voice for the first time. She smiled as she brought her hands to Edward's face. He winced slightly as she pressed a little too hard.

"Oh. Sorry." She dropped her hands only to have Edward catch them with his own. "Wow…" she breathed out. "To think I thought you were beautiful before. Now that I really see you? Wow."

Bella's head whipped around to follow the laughter that surrounded her. Edward released one hand to bring her face back to his. "Don't worry about them. Maybe now you'll understand-"

His words were silenced when Bella's mouth pressed against his. She only pulled it away again when more laughter surrounded her.

"Sorry. I just thought about it, and then..."

"It's all right, my love. Newborns aren't known for their impulse control." He held her face in both of his hands now. "Let them laugh. I don't mind a bit."

Bella's smile reflected Edward's. He slowly moved his head toward her.

"It hurts!" she blurted out, her hand grasping her throat. This time, Edward joined his family as they laughed. Bella's smile turned a little sheepish. "Sorry. Again, I just thought it. I didn't mean to say it out loud."

Edward took her hand and led her out of the house. "Let's get you fed, my darling. There's plenty of time for that later."

"An eternity."

Edward stopped. Suddenly, it hit him. He held an immortal Bella's hand and was about to take her on her first hunt. They were going to be together. Forever. He wasn't sure he'd ever felt a moment of such pure joy.

"An eternity," he echoed, and then he pulled her as he burst into a sprint.

They ran for a while, and Bella delighted in keeping up with Edward. Her euphoria turned to precision focus once she caught the scent of a herd of elk.

Any fantasies Edward may have once held of teaching a newborn Bella how to hunt were put away for the reality. She tore away from the group, faster than even Edward now that she was in pursuit. He stopped and watched her run into the herd, ignoring the young and the weak on the outskirts to take out a young buck in the center. She leapt and took it down in one graceful movement. Edward watched her settle into her meal before seeking his own.

Bella stood over her kill and stared at Edward across the clearing. She straddled the head of the elk and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. She continued to hold his gaze, and she brought her now blood-covered hand back to her mouth and licked it clean.

Holy fuck, he thought. He wanted to lick her clean.

He continued to drain the elk as he held Bella's eyes. He needed her. Now. Edward stood up, about to make his way to her, when he received Jasper's version of a cold shower, just enough lethargy and boredom to stop Edward in his pursuit.

Settle down, brother. She's still too new and likely to break you in half.

Edward knew his brother was right. Still, he thought. That would be a hell of a way to go.

Jasper couldn't read Edward's mind, but knew his brother well enough to read his expression and laughed out loud.

She's doing astonishingly well. Let her run and feed some more. You're going to want to stick around for more than one round. Trust me. Jasper silently commented on her quick adaptation to Edward. For all his experience with newborns, he'd never seen one quite like Bella.

Once everyone was sated, they made their way back together. For a newborn, Bella had done a remarkable job with her first kill. She also seemed to regain her mental filter. They spent a great deal of time watching Bella explore her new limits. She ran, climbed trees and cliffs, and leapt rivers and gorges. While she'd never felt more free in many ways, she felt the tension in every limb as she exercised restraint with Edward. Every part of her wanted to throw him to the ground and finally feel him move within her, but she maintained enough rational thought to keep her in check. But if the rest of the family didn't leave them alone soon, she was sure she would snap.

She was hungry again. If she could get her appetite in check, she hoped she could reign in her other desires. She ran, allowing her instincts to guide her, and the Cullens followed. Nobody detected humans nearby, but they couldn't risk it.

Jasper laughed at Edward's reaction to Bella's current prey: cougar. He couldn't read Bella's emotions, but he could Edward's. Their original plan had been to make sure Bella wasn't alone with Edward. They were afraid of her newborn unpredictability, but Jasper decided to let the rest of the family know they needed to change their plan. Edward and Bella needed to be alone. There were things that needed to be worked out between the two of them… Things they didn't need the rest of the family around for.

"Esme, we should go home by the cabin, show Bella what you've been working on." Jasper spoke quietly beside his mother. Bella could likely still hear, but she was probably too absorbed in her meal to bother listening in.

"Already? Are you sure?" Esme looked to Edward, who seemed to be absorbed with Bella, but she knew he was listening.

"She's in control, but have you seen the two of them? Let's leave them be."

Bella finished the cougar off, and this time, Edward approached her, and as he helped her to get rid of the carcass, the family pulled back.

"Esme wants to show you something she's been working on." He spoke as he hoisted the drained cat over his shoulders. She followed him to the ravine's edge and laughed as he dropped the cougar into the abyss.

"You brought me out here for dinner and then you cleaned up after me." She grabbed his hand, feeling much surer of herself. "Is this vampire dating?"

Edward looked at their joined hands and then at her, his radiant smile reflected in her eyes. "I guess this is."

"I can't wait to see what's next." She kept a hold of his hand, pulling him with her to rejoin the family. They didn't need Jasper's gift to feel Edward's joy. It emanated from every aspect of Edward's being.

This time when they ran, they did so hand in hand.

Bella sensed they were near the house when they slowed down. She hoped it was because they were going to wish Bella and Edward well, and then go off someplace else. As she held Edward's hand, her desire for him only increased. She felt like she was practically vibrating from want. She was finally with her mate, and she was losing control in her struggle to not claim him.

Esme approached her, and walked with her and Edward for a few minutes before they stopped in front of a small log cabin. It immediately reminded Bella of Edward's place near the ocean.

"I started this when we came here from Alaska. I didn't know who it was for then. I just needed something to do to work out my grief; I thought I'd lost you both in those days." Esme stopped for a moment, briefly overcome with emotion. The last time she was here, she thought she'd never see Bella again and the Edward she'd always known was lost to the darkest places of his soul. She placed her hand over Bella and Edward's clasped ones. "I'd like to give it to the two of you now. It's unfinished, but Emmett's spent the past few days bringing in everything I'll need to finish it."

"Can we finish it?" Bella blurted out. She then winced at her own behavior. "I'm sorry. I should have thanked you first. This is such a beautiful gesture, but I'd like to be a part of building my place here."

"You'd like to help me?"

"I'd like us to finish it." Bella turned to Edward. "That's if you don't mind. I just know how much you enjoyed working on your place in Forks."

"I'd love to finish this with you," he replied. He didn't know how he could feel happier than he did at this moment, and yet he knew he would. Edward had only seen the place in Esme's mind. During his depression, it was something he was vaguely aware of. When he sat with Bella and waited for her change to be complete, Esme had revealed her plan to gift them with the house. Receiving it today surprised Edward. She'd meant for it to be a wedding present.

He finally looked away from Bella. The euphoric grin he wore didn't quite match Bella's expression. She watched him with barely contained desire. It only made Edward smile more. He needed to get her alone now. Jasper and Emmett were both giving him a silent teasing, but he ignored them. It was time to finally be alone with the love of his life. His eternal mate. "Let's go take a look." He was aware of the family departing as he led Bella up the stairs to the front door. He paused before opening the door, once again tempted to carry her over the threshold. He resisted. He decided that they would finish this, he would marry her, and he would get to do it then.

She watched him pause and had enough of waiting. She lunged at him. The hunt had subdued one hunger but magnified another. Her mouth was eager on his, and when he responded, her moan sounded of both pain and pleasure. The taste of blood lingered on their tongues, and each of them sought to lick the other clean. Bella lifted herself, wrapping her legs around his waist. His hands went straight to her ass and gripped her as she writhed against him.

She licked and sucked and nipped his tongue as it explored her, only to be rewarded with the same when hers entered his mouth. The back of her legs hit a counter. She hadn't even registered they'd made it into the house. She relaxed her legs enough to sit and lean back so she could take in the man in front of her. Her hands moved to the hem of his shirt with the intent to pull it off. Instead, she ended up ripping off fistfuls of fabric from either side.

"Shit. Sorry. I'm getting why you didn't want to do this with me when I was human."

"Trust me. I wanted to do this with you from the moment I saw you."

She wasn't listening. To reduce Bella's frustration, Edward had grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it away from his body.

The fire of the change had nothing on the fire that burned in her now. She pulled him to her, her kisses frantic now.

She pulled away again, this time to use her mouth to explore his neck. "I can't get close enough to you." This need, this want... Even if she could claw her way into him and live burrowed in his chest, she still didn't think she'd be satisfied.

Edward wanted to respond, but he had no words. Instead, he crashed his mouth to Bella's, and let his lips and tongue tell her in other ways.