Tomorrow would change everything. Edward sat on the couch in the quiet house, his fingers idly tracing the veins on Bella's hand as it rested against his. A calm before the storm, the stillness felt almost surreal, but Bella's nervous energy was impossible to miss.
Earlier that day, she had gone hunting like she never had before, returning with a faint grimace and a hand resting on her stomach. "I overdid it," she admitted sheepishly, slumping against the kitchen counter. "I didn't want to risk… you know, during…"
Edward had laughed softly, pulling her into his arms. "You'll be fine. Carlisle trusts you, and so do I."
But Bella wasn't so sure. She had spent the entire day meticulously planning everything—from hunting to keep herself controlled, to making Edward's favorite snacks, to ensuring they savored this last night together.
Now, the night stretched before them, their last evening before Edward's transformation. Bella was adamant about savoring every moment of his humanness, and Edward was more than happy to oblige.
They spent hours talking. Edward rested his head in her lap as Bella played with his hair, her cool fingers brushing through the soft bronze strands. "Do you remember the first time we did this?" she asked, her voice soft.
Edward chuckled, tilting his head to look up at her. "In my room. You had just discovered my record collection and were so unimpressed with my 'outdated' taste."
"Hey!" Bella protested, laughing. "It wasn't that bad. I just didn't expect you to have such a strong opinion on jazz."
He grinned. "You ended up loving it by the end of the night."
"I loved you," Bella corrected, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It didn't matter what we listened to."
Edward sat up, cupping her face in his hands. "And I loved you. From that very first moment, Bella. Human or vampire, that will never change."
Her lips trembled as he kissed her softly, the warmth of his touch sending a pang through her. It was moments like this she feared losing after his transformation—the heat of his skin, the way his heart raced whenever they kissed.
Later, as they lay tangled in the sheets after making love, Bella's fingers traced the lines of Edward's chest, memorizing every curve, every inch of warmth. "I don't want to forget this," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"You won't," Edward promised, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. "And neither will I."
They eventually moved to their room, settling in for a movie. Bella insisted on preparing snacks for him—popcorn, chips, a small tray of cookies she'd somehow found tucked away in the pantry, and his favorite drink.
"It's like high school all over again," Edward teased as she handed him a bowl of popcorn.
Bella smiled wistfully. "It is, isn't it? Remember how we used to do this in your room? Just us, watching something terrible until it got boring enough for us to—"
"Make out?" Edward interjected, grinning.
"Exactly." She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her laugh. "Those were good times."
"They still are."
They watched the film, but neither paid much attention to the plot. Edward's gaze drifted to Bella more often than the screen, marveling at her beauty. Bella, in turn, found herself distracted by the sound of his heartbeat—strong, steady, and achingly human.
At one point, Edward reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Do you know how lucky I feel?" he murmured.
Bella tilted her head, her golden eyes meeting his. "Lucky?"
"You've given me a chance to be part of this world with you. To stay with you forever. And tonight… you're making it perfect. Just like everything else you do."
Her lips curved into a soft smile, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. "You're the one who's perfect, Edward. I've never met anyone more selfless, more compassionate. You're everything I've ever dreamed of and more."
Edward kissed the top of her head. "And yet, you settled for me."
"Settled?" Bella pulled back, pretending to be offended. "You're my dream come true, Edward Masen. Don't you dare think otherwise."
They laughed softly, the sound filling the room as the hours ticked by. When the movie ended, Bella turned to him with a playful smile. "I think we should make out now. For old times' sake."
Edward chuckled, pulling her into his lap. "You never have to ask twice."
As the night wore on, they found themselves lying on the living room floor, surrounded by blankets. Bella traced patterns on Edward's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"What's the first thing you'll do once you wake up?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Edward thought for a moment, his gaze soft as it rested on her. "Kiss you. Because I know I'll still be me, and you'll still be you, and that's all I'll ever need."
Tears she couldn't shed filled Bella's eyes, and she pressed a kiss to his jaw. "I'll be right here, Edward. Every step of the way."
They stayed like that until the sound of Carlisle's car pulling into the driveway signaled the end of their stolen time. One by one, the rest of the family returned, their faces composed but their eyes betraying a mix of emotions. Alice and Jasper were the first to greet Edward, their smiles encouraging. Rosalie and Emmett followed, with Rosalie surprisingly quiet, her usual sharp demeanor softened.
Finally, Carlisle entered, carrying his medical bag. His calm, measured presence filled the room, and Edward felt a surge of gratitude for the man he considered a second father.
"Are you ready?" Carlisle asked, his gaze shifting between Edward and Bella.
Edward nodded, standing from the couch. "Let's do this."
Bella's grip on his hand tightened as they followed Carlisle to the prepared space—a room transformed into a makeshift clinic with sterilized equipment and a reclining chair. The sight of it made the reality sink in for both of them.
Carlisle explained the process once more, his voice steady. "I'll inject morphine to help numb the pain initially, but the venom will take over quickly. Bella, you'll need to bite his neck, wrist, and ankle to ensure full venom circulation."
Bella's hands trembled, and Edward turned to her, cupping her face. "You can do this," he whispered. "I trust you."
Tears welled in her golden eyes, but she nodded. "I won't let you down."
Edward settled into the chair, his heart hammering in his chest. Bella sat beside him, her hand gripping his tightly. Carlisle prepped the morphine injection, his movements precise and practiced.
"This will feel cold," Carlisle said as he carefully injected the needle into Edward's arm. Bella clenched her fists at her sides, her enhanced senses catching the faint chemical tang of the morphine as it entered Edward's bloodstream. She could see the chill spread through his veins by the slight tension in his muscles and the hitch in his breath.
Edward's fingers twitched, his hand reaching for hers. Bella took it immediately, her grip firm yet tender, like she was trying to tether him to her. He turned his head toward her, his expression calm despite the tremor in his voice. "I love you," he murmured, his golden-green eyes locked on hers.
"I love you more," Bella replied, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. She blinked quickly, trying to keep the tears from falling.
Carlisle's voice broke through the fragile moment. "It's time."
Bella felt a surge of panic rise in her chest, but she pushed it down. She had prepared for this, trained herself for it, but none of that mattered in the face of Edward's trust in her. Her hands trembled as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his neck.
The scent of his blood was overwhelming. It hit her like a wave, the warm, tantalizing aroma that was Edward and only Edward. For a brief, agonizing moment, she almost pulled away. But she closed her eyes, focusing instead on the sound of his heartbeat, the feel of his hand in hers, and the memory of his soft confession, "I trust you."
Her teeth pierced his skin swiftly, the coppery taste flooding her mouth. Edward gasped sharply, his body stiffening beneath her. The sound tore through Bella like a knife, but she didn't falter. She pulled back quickly, her lips trembling, before moving to his wrist and then his ankle, following Carlisle's precise instructions.
Edward's breaths became shallow as the venom began its relentless work. His muscles spasmed, and a raw, guttural cry escaped his lips. Bella recoiled slightly, her hand flying to her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
"Bella," Carlisle said gently, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "You're doing fine. It's begun."
"I hate this," she whispered, her voice breaking as she looked at Edward's contorted face.
Rosalie, standing near the doorway with her arms crossed, stepped forward. "He'll make it through," she said firmly, though there was a softness to her voice that Bella rarely heard. "Edward's stronger than all of us give him credit for."
Emmett stood behind her, his usual humor absent as he nodded. "She's right. He's got this, Bella."
Alice knelt beside Bella, her small hand resting lightly on Bella's knee. "I saw this moment," Alice said softly. "It's painful now, but he'll wake up, Bella. I promise."
Jasper stood at a distance, carefully controlling the room's tension with his gift. The waves of calm he sent toward Bella were subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to keep her from completely unraveling.
Edward's cries grew louder, his body writhing as the venom consumed him. Every sound, every twitch of his muscles felt like a stab to Bella's chest. "I can't… I can't bear this," she choked out.
"You can," Carlisle said with quiet conviction. "You're stronger than you think, Bella. And Edward needs that strength right now."
Time stretched endlessly. Each second felt like an eternity as Edward's transformation progressed. Bella stayed by his side, gripping his hand tightly, her other hand brushing through his hair in an attempt to soothe him.
"He's strong," Carlisle reassured her, his voice calm and steady. "He'll make it through this."
Edward's cries gradually subsided as his body stilled. His breathing slowed, shallow but steady. His skin had taken on a pale, marble-like quality, cool beneath Bella's trembling fingertips.
The family dispersed, one by one, giving them privacy. Alice lingered for a moment longer, squeezing Bella's shoulder before leaving the room.
Now alone, Bella leaned over Edward, her eyes searching his face for any sign of movement. "Come back to me," she whispered, her voice trembling. Her fingers brushed against his cheek, his skin no longer warm, but still impossibly Edward.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a sudden, sharp intake of breath, Edward's eyes snapped open.
Bella froze, her heart clenching painfully as she met his gaze. His irises, no longer golden-green, gleamed with a crimson intensity. Something about them was different—something otherworldly and new.
"Edward?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
His lips parted as he exhaled, his gaze flickering with a mixture of confusion and recognition. And then, as his focus sharpened, Bella realized she was holding her breath, waiting for the man she loved to fully awaken to this new world.
Here's a short chapter, will be updating again in a week or so...
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