Bella

It was late morning when I woke to the familiar sounds in the driveway. The harsh crunch of tires on asphalt and Esme's van chirping its unlocked state alerted me to open my eyes. As I peeked through my lashes, I was astonished to see the room around me was flooded with golden light, teasing us with idyllic brightness on a school day.

School.

I gasped aloud at the thought and looked immediately to the bedside clock.

We'd slept for much longer than I anticipated.

Whatever happened to me waking up at dawn these days? Did I truly feel so safe that I no longer felt the need to protect myself at early hours?

I shook my head. This was a conversation for another time. I instead prioritized the first need:

We needed to get to school, and Edward's parents were home.

Even before I'd thought of his name, I was acutely aware of the sweet scent hanging in the air. The bloodlust lit a torch in my throat, and I tried to clear my throat, hoping it'd ease some of the flames.

The discomfort seemed to become worse with time, it had been weeks since I'd last satiated my body with his blood. This was a need human food could not satiate forever. My fingers twitched from the sharp pains when I breathed in.

I began to sit up, knowing I needed to wake Edward up, and was alarmed to see the close proximity we shared. I was made quickly aware that I was still on top of him. I jolted in surprise, and swallowed back the venom that dispensed immediately into my mouth.

I'm on top of him.

My leg is literally thrown over his!

Despite the instinctive urge to hunt the scent, I forced myself to stay in touch with the side of my body connected to my humanity.

Edward's bare chest and his pounding jugular was in plain sight below me. It could've been a temptation, had I not been so bothered by our... state.

My eyes nearly rolled out of my skull at the sight of our naked bodies that had been covered only by a thin sheet. The sheet didn't do anything to aid me in my modesty; in fact, I felt it only emphasized our nudity. I felt a blush burn onto my face.

Dear god. Where are my clothes?

I sat up quickly, scrambling to separate myself from Edward and I suddenly became aware of an aching soreness between my legs. I winced.

The pain was a stinging reminder of the physical activities we'd engaged in last night; the reason why I awoke with such discomfort.

A cache of overwhelming recollections from the night before flooded my mind. I found it taking over my sensory skills entirely as I relived the pleasure Edward had given me.

I didn't feel any pain as Edward held my body to his. Much the opposite--I was shaking unexplainably from the steadily building pleasure in the most intimate part of me as he rocked the male-most part of himself in and out of me. A needy groan that sounded from his throat was muffled to a low purr against my neck.

I must've been making the same sounds too, but all I recalled was the sounds of our bodies meeting, and my hands scrabbling to hold onto his back as he brought me to incredible heights. He sent me flying up and brought me gently back down from the precipices of highs with velvet kisses to my shoulder and neck. I felt strangely warm as I opened my eyes to his twinkling eyes on mine, already checking on my well-being.

"This is the most human experience I've ever had." I whispered my admission to him. He stroked my hair tenderly away from my face and smiled shyly. His eyes crinkled at the corners.

"Me too."

We'd been up till the early hours of the morning, barely exchanging full sentences, as we moved from his bed to his couch and then...

I felt a blush warm my neck and chest and shook my head from the lascivious thoughts.

Get yourself together.

I found myself again, ashamed at the sight of my bare body, naked in every sense of the word and hugged the sheet closer to my body.

Dear god. We're both naked and his parents are home.

Parents!

As if on cue, I heard the subtle sound of the keys jingling softly from Esme's keychain. Her mellifluous voice flowed in from outside the door. From what I could hear, it sounded as if she were at the front porch already.

I whipped my leg off of Edward's body in a swift motion and put a hand on his shoulder. I gave him a hard shake, I knew he wouldn't wake otherwise.

"Edward, Edward wake up!!" I hissed. His lidded eyes opened sleepily, the reluctance to be awake was clear as he pulled a pillow over his head, groaning his protest at me.

"Your parents are back! We have school! Get dressed!" I emphasized the last word. At that Edward, slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. I found my bra discarded on the floor, and put it on while pulling a fresh uniform shirt from the closet with haste.

I grabbed a pair of pants and threw them at Edward. They landed effectively on his face. I saw him give me a look of amusement through the pant leg that was draped over his head as I ran into the bathroom. I squinted at him, as if to silently warn him once again.

I didn't bother to ensure if he was dressing himself, I ducked into the bathroom and tore a brush through my hair, before tying my hair back with a rubber band. I splashed water on my face and swigged mouthwash at the same time that I buttoned myblouse.

I spat my mouthwash and caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. An excitable, youthful girl stared back at me with a half smile on her face. She looked... innocent.

I barely recognized myself.

I've never considered myself young. I barely knew my own age. In the laboratories, I'd only been used as an object and saw myself as such.

I was never subjected to the luxury of self discovery.

Never had I felt youthful in any way.

It was incredible to think that a single person had shown, no, impacted me in such a way that even my monstrous instincts could be tamed.

Better than tamed... perhaps even... changed?

An optimistic smile lingered on my lips as I exited the restroom. In the bedroom, Edward had just managed to put on his uniform shirt and pants with a belt. I caught myself staring for a moment at his casually disheveled hair that contrasted with his clean and smoothed button down as he fastened his tie at a leisurely pace.

I found him strangely attractive in this way, his effortless charm made even a simple dress uniform offer it's own appeal. My eyes shamelessly gawked at his strong forearms, exposed from the rolled back sleeves.

How did we have each other all night yet I still want more?

My cheeks flushed at the very thought and Edward caught the subtle change in my expression instantly. His smirk looked amused all of a sudden, and he settled on giving me a wink. My heart reacted instantly, beating away shamelessly in my chest, and I hoped he couldn't hear it.

"We're home," Carlisle's announcement took me by surprise and the moment was over, like a bubble that was popped out of existence. I gave Edward a panicked look and ran down the stairs. I heard a soft chuckle from behind me but didn't bother turning around.

Esme was in the entry way holding a fussing Rosie. Carlisle came in through the door way with a couple suitcases, setting it down as he turned his attention to me.

My cheeks warmed as I thought about what we were hiding from his parents. Should I feel ashamed about what we've done?

"Hi Bella," Esme greeted me warmly. "How are you today?"

Don't say anything unnecessary.

Act natural.

"Finethankyouforasking." I said in a breath. If she noticed my awkwardness she didn't say anything.

"Hey dad, how was your conference?" Edwards voice sounded from behind me, addressing his father casually as if they hadn't nearly walked in on us sleeping naked. Carlisle was friendly as usual. He smiled at his son and gave him a thumbs up.

"It went well. Thank you for watching the house."

"No problem." He responded, casually. Edward already had a backpack strapped over his shoulder and held my bag in his other hand. He slung the strap of my bag over my shoulder chivalrously with a nod towards me. I admired how his face gave away nothing suspicious, and painted a perfect picture of calm.

"Bella and I are running late for school," he added smoothly. "Now that you're home, can we head out?"

Carlisle nodded as Edward grabbed his car keys.

"Of course, don't let us keep you. Have a nice day at school, you two." Carlisle said jovially.

Did they really not suspect anything?

We went to school as we did on any other day. Despite the fact that we weren't sitting beside each other in the first class of the day, social studies, I could feel the knowing glances and subtle smiles we exchanged during the lesson.

I was aware of a new feeling building within me, a sense of assurance about myself... A lack of my usual self-consciousness.

I feel the way Edward usually looks.

The air of perfect calm, of poise.

Was I finally becoming accustomed to this routine that was only intended to be temporary at first? I've never felt certain in myself.

In who I am.

Edward

The open windows in the classroom created a backlight for the reddish tints in Bella's hair. I gazed lazily at the fine hairs that were caught in the light, the shape of her lips as she laughed.

I was caught staring at her blatantly from across the classroom, she caught my gaze with amusement. Bella narrowed her eyes teasingly and grinned knowingly at me; my lips turned up involuntarily in response.

You're beautiful when you smile.

I noted that each day we were together, a minuscule amount of her bitterness, her instinctive urge to fight, and her general paranoia was slipping away. It left her still critical, of course, but somehow happier.

She smiled often, as if she couldn't recall a day of her dark past. She often hung out with Rose and Alice, engaging in what sounded like fun conversations while Emmett and Jasper and I were at baseball or at the music store.

Though Bella was introverted by nature, I even saw her responding to conversation with some of the girls in the classroom. They approached cautiously; they didn't entirely win her friendship or trust and they knew it. But like me, they were intrigued by her and felt a need to know more.

All the males in the class who previously questioned why I even associated with Bella now spoke wistfully about her in the halls. Now that she opened up, they noticed her.

"Why hadn't I noticed Bella Swan before?"

"…Look at her ass… unreal."

"Edward is a fucking lucky son of a bitch to have her."

I felt a healthy dose of smug satisfaction course through me selfishly every time it happened, but my paramount priority was and always would be Bella. I was genuinely glad for her.

I was convinced that she finally recovered from her darker days; and it made her more beautiful than ever. Her eyes were brighter, her mouth was always smiling and her cheeks were warm and rosy.

Has it already been almost a month since I met this shy, timid girl hiding behind her hair?

The amount of growth she'd gone through in the short period of time was astounding.

I wondered idly what other kinds of basic human experiences I could offer her.

After the bell rang, I approached Bella who was packing her books into her bag. She noticed me beside her desk immediately and a smile stretched across her face at the recognition. I returned it without a thought, it was so natural now.

She makes me so happy.

"You're going to baseball tonight, right?" She'd asked.

"Yeah, I am. But that's not what I came here to talk about," I said. Something in my words I must've caught her attention, she frowned and a V formed between her eyebrows. A shadow of the paranoid Bella was back.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she wasn't quite "fully" recovered.

"What's wrong?" She whispered automatically, grabbing my hand to pull me down to her. I chuckled, it was so like her to worry like this. I squeezed her hand back playfully.

"Absolutely nothing is wrong." I assured her. The grip on my hand loosened. She seemed to hold her breath as she waited for me to continue. In the awkward silence, I finally mustered the courage to prompt the subject on my mind.

"So... prom is coming up." I mused as casually as I could. Bella raised an eyebrow.

"Prom? What is that?"

Shit. That's right. She didn't know what prom was.

"It's a party, of sorts. You get dressed up and dance."

Damn, great job selling the idea of prom to her.

She didn't say anything but her eyes revealed a slight sparkle of interest as they always did at any new information.

"I... I've never danced before." She admitted, she looked away, and I could've sworn I saw a look of regret on her face.

I'll explore that later.

"You don't have to be good at dancing to go," I reassured her quickly. "I know I'm not. I just thought maybe you'd want to go, since Jasper and Alice will be there, and Emmett and Rose, too.. maybe we could all go together?..." I wanted to slap myself for how nervous I sounded, blabbering.

Bella finally turned her eyes back up to me, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip before she took a breath to speak.

"Yeah. That'd... be a lot of fun, I think." She said softly. My heart was pounding in my chest.

Wow. She actually didn't say no!

"Is.. that a yes?" I clarified hopefully.

"I don't have anything to wear--" I cut her off with a fierce shake of my head.

"I'll buy you any dress you want, money isn't a problem."

Anything you want, just please say yes and go with me.

"Well I guess I can't say no to you, can I?" She agreed softly, a small, minx-like smile on her face.

Yessss!!

"Great." I said with a smile. Bella offered me a small one in return. I noticed a mew message on my phone, and I murmured to Bella to excuse me.

The message was from "Bros before Hoes" and Jasper's message lit up on my phone.

Bro. What'd she say?

I texted my response, my two thumbs dancing giddily across my screen. My excitement could not be contained.

As long as I can get her a dress, we're in the clear!

FUCK YEAHH!

Awesome!! I'll let Alice know to take her shopping.

Rose is free, if they want to go tonight.

Thanks guys. See you soon.

I clicked off my phone, and turned to Bella.

"I have baseball soon, but Alice and Rose can take you shopping?" I asked her. I hoped she'd say yes.

"Ummm, sure." She said but it sounded like a question. I pulled out my wallet and handed her a blue card.

"This piece of plastic will pay for anything and everything you want. Get yourself a dress, and anything else you may need." She stared at it, wide-eyed. "Feel free to buy dinner for the girls too, we'll be late." I informed her.

She nodded, swallowing hard.

Why did she appear so uncomfortable with the idea of money?

"Sure, thanks." She said, but I could tell she was worried about something.

Bella

I felt so out of my element. First, driving in Rose's red Porsche convertible wasn't exactly the subtle ride that I was used to, with other cars honking at her. I jumped at the sudden noise that blared at us when we were stuck at a red light.

It's not like we were driving illegitimately, why are they honking?

"Why are they honking?!" I exclaimed over the incessant horns and the loud music she seemed to enjoy losing hearing to. Alice giggled from the backseat, pointing to the SUV beside us.

"It looks like they're interested in you, Bella!" Alice giggled. I turned, and a man I didn't know in the driver seat winked at me.

Threat. Destroy him now. I shook my head at my repressed instincts making a comeback.

Whoa. Calm down, Bella. He didn't mean any harm.

The man suddenly shrank back, from the window, diverting his eyes away from mine as if he could feel the monster within me.

"Perhaps not interested. Just intimidated," I joked with a wink. They all laughed.

We went into a small boutique, dimly lit with many racks all around the store. Although I found myself smiling at Alice's overly optimistic chattering, and Rosalie's sarcasm, my eyes continued to scan the only exit of the store and searched for the back door.

"Bella?" Alice looked towards me, her lips pulled back in a wide smile that revealed deep dimples in her cheeks. " "Did you want to look with us?" I returned the smile, and waved at her back.

"Uh, I'll let you decide what I should get. I don't exactly have a sense of style." I found myself admitting the truth often when I was with the girls. Alice seemed pleased with the answer, clapping excitedly as she exclaimed she knew 'just the thing.'

Alice pawed through several racks taller than her, complaining that everything would have to be altered to fit her short stature. Rose seemed to be caught between only a few dresses; she didn't have much of a selection being so tall. I eventually found myself observing more than just the perimeters of the store, and sat in a bench in a fitting room.

Rosalie found a long lavender gown with tresses sparkling and a train. She looked like a plant Esme had mentioned once before, wisteria. Alice found an electric blue dress. The skirt flared at the hips and the layers of tulle beneath made her look like a blooming flower. It complimented her tiny frame. I offered encouraging comments to both, that I genuinely felt.

"I really like both of these on you two." I said with an oddly animated nod. Both Rose and Alice exchanged a sly smile. Rose giggled before she jerked a thumb behind her.

"Don't think we didn't select something for you, too, Bella. Get in here!" I was practically pushed into the fitting room and wanted to groan at what little I saw from the garment bag.

As if the silence was a cue, Alice chirped from the other side of the door,

"We'll be right outside, let us know when it's on!"

I managed to slide into the dress, amazed that they had found something that fit me so well without questions of measurement. I didn't dare look in the mirror, I felt embarrassed enough just looking at the slit that went up to my thigh.

"Guys. I can't come out like this." I whined.

Upon their encouragement, I groaned and came out of the fitting room. The girls whooped and cheered at the first sight of the dress I wore.

"Don't you like it, Bella?" Alice sang.

"She probably hasn't looked in the mirror yet," Rose snickered, sitting up in her purple dress. She stepped onto the pedestal I stood on, and used her hands to physically turn my body to a three sided mirror.

I had no choice but to stare back at my reflection. I blinked a few times, I didn't recognize myself. I was wearing a maroon dress with a plunging neckline and a dreaded slit to match. It didn't seem to have any of the extra adornments or bright colors that Rose and Alice's dresses seemed to have. This one was simple. Albeit revealing, but still simple.

"You're keeping it!" Rose exclaimed aggressively as she walked out of the dressing room with a wink, and I could now see why she was dating Emmett with his booming voice. I chuckled at the thought of comparing this slender blonde goddess to her burly counterpart.

"It's not so bad." I admitted with a small smile. I looked over at my reflection once more, the color was growing on me.

Ironic that a half vampire would wear blood red to a party.

I saw Alice's face practically glowing in the mirror as she waited for a final verdict from me.

I gave her excited expression a curt nod of affirmation in the mirror and she squealed, hands clapping.

"I knew it!!" She cheered.

With her usual sneaking timing, Rose seemed to appear out of nowhere, and placed a small pink bag with handles into my fingers.

"We had to get Edward something too," Rose defended with another wink. I took a peek in the bag and my eyes widened at the intricately folded ribbon and lace at the bottom.

"Edward... will wear this?" I couldn't imagine what he would use this for, how he could possibly wear it. Perhaps they were joking about wearing it?

It looked extremely revealing, from what I could see of the black lace.

Perhaps it would be used as an over decorated instrument cleaner?

When both girls burst out laughing, I knew it at least wasn't something for Edward to wear.

"No, silly. This is for you. To wear for him. When you get it on." Rose wiggled her eyebrows in a terribly Emmett-like fashion.

"Get what on?" I asked with a tilt of my head. I heard, again, another resounding peal of laughter.

"We'll explain later," Alice said delicately, but I noticed the gestures Rose made somewhat mimicked the motions Edward and I shared last night. I felt my face turn presumably, as red as the dress I wore.

How could they possibly know about that?

My face must've been beet red, which earned it's third round of laughter from the girls. Alice and Rose were both bent over, wheezing from their shortage of air.

"Edward will die when he sees you in this!" Alice managed to say as she clapped her hands excitedly. She hopped up and down like she was the energizer bunny herself.

I'll die too, of embarrassment.

Edward

After a long day of both music lessons and baseball, I was eager to return home to Bella. From the intermittent updates I'd received from Jasper and Emmett, Bella seemed to be having a good time with their girls. I was relieved at that, and excited to ask her how her day had been. I found myself subconsciously driving slightly above the speed limit.

It was evening by the time I'd made it home.

"I'm home," I called out but I didn't hear an answer. I noted the note on the refrigerator in my dad's illegibly handwriting: "working late. Be home in morning." I nodded as if to acknowledge the note for its message. I proceeded to peek into Rosie's nursery, with the door left ajar, to find my mom asleep in a rocking chair. Rosie was curled up in her crib, I knew better than to disturb the both of them, so I turned out the lights and closed the door as softly as I could behind me.

I took light steps up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

How could being away from her for merely four hours make me obsessed with her?

I opened the door, hoping she'd perhaps be preoccupied with either the ipad or a book. But instead, I found her waiting on my bed, sitting on her knees in a sleeveless bodysuit made of lace. The delicate lace was a stark black, and contrasted beautifully with her creamy skin.

My jaw must've dropped, it took all I had to remember to shut the door behind me. My mind was somewhere between dreams and reality, between the strange fantasies I'd had of her before ever meeting her, of what we'd shared last night, and this moment in the present.

"Missed me?" I asked with nearly no breath in my lungs. I approached her slowly, as if she were a creature to be startled by sudden movement. I saw Bella's teeth sink down into her lips.

Two words.

Sheer. Arousal.

"Do you like it?" Bella sounded so timid, and when she hid behind a curtain of hair, I knew immediately that this was not her idea. I grinned at the thought of the girls telling Bella I'd merely "like" it.

She was a vision.

"'Like' doesn't come close," I murmured, as I placed my fingertips against her neck. I traced the outline of her bodice, towards the plunging neckline which exposed ample cleavage.

My uniform pants were growing embarrassingly tight, and by the level of Bella's eyes, I could tell she had noticed, too. She squirmed, rubbing her thighs together, and I knew in that moment, despite her shy resolve, she wanted it just as much as I did.

I pushed aside the lace triangles, revealing ample breaststhat made my mouth water.

Her nipples are so pert, I noticed.

"Let me show you, exactly how I feel about this."

I gazed at Bella's relaxed features as I waited for my breath to slow, still amazed that her hand was entwined in mine. We were in bed, in post orgasmic glow, simply sharing a blanket together. Her lingerie was discarded in a heap, forgotten by the side of the bed. The lace was replaced by a beautiful flush that began in her face and trailed down to her navel.

I watched, bemused at the rising and falling of her chest.

I couldn't believe this paranoid girl who used to suspect anything I did was an ulterior motive now trusted me... Now put her hands in mine without a second thought, even asked me for sex.

My mind was blown. She had changed her world for me. And hopefully I had changed her.

"Edward?" She must've recovered, her voice was steady. I rolled my head lazily towards her as I played with our fingers.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think it'll always be this way?" Her voice sounded strangely small, again.

"What will be what way?" I asked her idly. I took her knuckles and pressed a kiss to the back of them.

Was she speaking of our relationship?

"Do you think things will stay this way... safe. Do you believe I won't have to run?" Her question caught me off guard, I found myself frowning as I peeked down at her.

What are you asking me?

"What brought this up?"

Her eyes were darker now, both from the lack of blood feeding and black with fear. I could practically see her reliving her days in a cage with volt, and I knew her answer before she uttered it.

"From Volt..." I let go of her hand only to wrap my arms around her body. I pulled her a little closer to me, more protectively this time, before I pressed a kiss into her forehead.

"No matter what happens, I won't let Volt take you." I murmured into her hair. "They'll have to go through me first."

I swear on that front.

She rolled over, and propped her head up on an elbow. What a lovely view. I thought, looking at her rounded breasts that spilled over onto the bed.

Stay on topic, Edward.

"I want to believe they won't come for me. I really do," she said earnestly, her long brows pulled together in an expressive plea. "But I know Volt is still looking for me. And they'll never stop." She whispered.

I couldn't lie to her.

I couldn't promise her everything would be okay until I knew it would be.

"I have full faith that you'll be freed, one day, Bella." I said quietly.

I waited for her breaths to slow. I hoped she would go to sleep.

When I thought Bella was asleep, I opened the drawer, pulled out an iPad, opened the internet browser.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked sleepily.

"Looking up Volt." I responded calmly as I could.

"No, dont, they'll know!" She exclaimed a little too loudly. I shook my head, pressing a finger against my lip.

"Not if I go through incognito or another privacy browsing mode." I murmured, knowing she may not understand the caveat.

I typed in "Volturi" and thousands of results were listed, all open to the public.

I read as fast as I could, feeling Bella's terrified face stare me down all the while. So many online titles and articles popped up that caught my eye.

Conspiracy. Illegal operations? VOLTURI LABS, A HOAX?

I didn't have to read the articles to know Volt's work was likely underground, or through the dark web.

"Bella, it looks like Volturi's work is... hidden to the public." I decided to conclude.

It was true. It appeared they were receiving government funding during the war for "war efforts" but it did not specify where the funding went. Many theories spiraled downwards from there.

"It looks like there's no real proof they're still an active laboratory." I admitted.

"No," Bella exclaimed. She sounded as if the wind had been knocked out of her. "That's not true... they're still out there."

There were conspiracy sites that offered suggestions as to where the money was going. Some theories were alternate dimension studies, aliens, then... cadaver studies.

I read the article as fast I could, my eyes skimmed over the words "mutant" and "genetic engineering." I swallowed.

They weren't too far off.

"It looks like people suspect Volturi's malpractices. But no one has proof of it."

"That means..."

"It'll be difficult to involve any authorities. Especially if there are only rhetorics surrounding them and not actual accusations."

But we had one case...

Bella herself.

"What do we do?" She whispered.

She sounds so scared.

"For now, let's get some sleep."

This isn't something we can take lightly. Volt was still out there. And until they were, Bella wasn't safe.

By extension,

Neither was I.