Author's note:

I know... it's been a looooooong time. I've been so caught up reading smut over the past year that I've barely thought to write. But, I'm back and I'll try to finish this one up. Lots of story ideas in my head but I'm a very new writer, so I'll beg for some grace on my stories. Now... on to the good stuff.

BPOV:

I'm starting to genuinely question my grip on reality.

Maybe I've lost it.

Either way, I've decided I don't care. Not when Edward (or my best hallucination of Edward) is kissing me and professing his love to me. If this is a dream, it is worth every single moment of torture when I awaken.

Edward seems to sense my inner turmoil and stops kissing me. Im more than thrilled that he seemed loathe to do so.

"Bella, love...please tell me what you are thinking."

I didn't mean to, but the truth slipped out. The unedited, hurtful truth. "You left me." I regretted the words the moment I looked into his eyes. Even when tormented by my blood in the early days of our relationship, I never saw his eyes hold so much anguish.

"Yes, I did. And if I live a thousand years, I'll never do anything worse than hurt you. I know it's no excuse, Bella but please believe me when I say I only did it to give you a better life. I realize now that all I did was hurt us both."

Edward paused for a moment. When he spoke again, he seemed to be so hesitant. Almost...shy? As if he would be blushing if he were capable of such a thing.

"Bella... I don't want to leave anything to assumption here. I know you said you forgive me, but... will you allow me the honor of calling you my girlfriend again? And before you answer, I need you to know that one day, I want to call you my wife instead."

Well... if my heart hasn't stopped already, I'm sure it's about to. All I can do is look into his eyes and nod my consent before he continues.

"And Bella...I will love you better this time. I will make sure that you never doubt my love for you again, no matter what you hear."

His hands are suddenly in my hair, making me shiver with delight. Tugging softly on my hair, he nudges my face toward him again and begins kissing me as if he couldn't get enough. But he didn't stop there.

It appears that some of those carefully planned boundaries have come undone tonight. He begins peppering kisses along my jawline and finally, reaches my neck.

Did that squeak come from me? Probably.

And of course he heard. I see amusement on his face when he pulls back just enough to whisper in my ear, "Bella, love... you still need rest. If you'll allow me to carry you back to bed, I swear I'll stay beside you all night until you wake.

This time, he picks me up bridal style and Carrie's me back to the bed. He tucks me in and crawls under the covers beside me, all while whispering to me how he loves me. Soon after he begins humming my lullaby, I drift off into a sound sleep. For the first time in months, I feel like my world is right again.