Author's Note: First of all, I want to say beaucoup thanks for all the WONDERFUL reviews I've gotten! I'm really glad all of you have enjoyed my story! This is the last chapter, but if I get a lot of feedback begging for more I might continue. However, I think we can all agree that it really isn't necessary to go on. I hope you all enjoy Ch. 2!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Edward and Bella, Stephenie Meyer does.


Ch. 2: The Beginning

For a long while I lay in the bed, jaw clenched, pain making my body rigid, fire licking at every inch of me as I tried to pacify my shrieks. I had never felt so alone, so dead. Emmett was right, this was hell.

I don't know how long it was until my angel returned to me, but when I felt his cool hands sliding against my burning ones, and felt his lips press gently against my forehead, for an instant the pain ceased.

"Edward," I squeaked, my voice strangled. Edward stroked my cheek gently and then placed my hand up against his icy neck, the fire tingling in my fingers as I felt his skin, the coolness comforting.

"I'm here, Bella."

He never left my side for the next two days, his hand always holding mine, even when my parents came to say goodbye to me. Later I found out that Carlisle had arranged me to be announced dead at the end of the three days. I have brief images of Renee and Charlie leaning over me, clutching one another with grief. I wished to console them, but my throat was sealed, my eyes only able to flutter open slightly. It made me sad to know that I would never see them again, but I told myself that perhaps one day there would be an explanation of what had happened, and I would be reconciled with them.

By the middle of the second day my mind had taken all the stress it could, and although I never lost consciousness, I spaced out completely in some sort of awake coma. I didn't even know it when Edward and Carlisle moved me to their home, nor when Alice changed my hospital clothes out for some ones that she had apparently bought years before in precognition of the incident.

On the third day, the fire abruptly stopped. My eyes opened, and the pain was gone, the fuzzy feeling in my mind erased. Slowly, I sat up, blinking harshly. It didn't take me half a second to realize I was in Edward's room, lying on his couch. I shook my head and stretched, as if I'd awoken from a long sleep. I searched my memory as I stood; had it all been a dream?

Edward seemed nowhere in sight, and so I walked towards the window and stared out at the landscape, sighing deeply. It had not been the first time that I'd had a dreamt of becoming one of them, but never in such detail. Sighing, I lifted my hand as I always did after such a dream to check if I had deathly pale skin.

I froze. My hand was white, whiter than I had ever seen it, and slightly shimmered, like frozen marble. A streak of sunlight shone through the trees into the room, and, slowly, I walked towards it, noticing suddenly how much more graceful my hips swung, the feathery way I glided; my usual clumsiness seemed to have momentarily vanished. Holding my breath, I placed my hand in the ribbon of light, gasping suddenly as the brightened skin flared to life, glittering like thousands of sparkles had been glued on.

Dull panic seeped into my chest, and I pulled my hand away, my lips setting into a hard line. I stared at the sunlight, squinting, and then slowly raised my hand again, the creamy white bursting to glittering stone. Shaking, I looked down at my chest, seeing it fall and rise, and slowly moved my hand lightly above where my heart should have been beating.

I dropped my hand. No, I wasn't ready for that just yet.

My gaze lifted to the forest again and I stared at it hard, trying not to think, trying to gain courage to place my hand against my chest. I had to know. My hand could have been a trick of the light, but a heartbeat couldn't stop. Not for a human, anyway.

It took a good five minutes, but finally I lifted my hand, and, shutting my eyes, placed it lightly on the left side of my chest. Instantly, my breath caught.

Nothing.

Panicking, I pressed harder against my skin, praying for a light heartbeat. When nothing greeted me, I lay my hand against my neck. I winced slightly as my fingers grazed a sore patch of skin, but no pulse pounded underneath.

I was near hysterics when suddenly a strange sensation took over me, and I turned my head. I could smell something behind me. Not just somethingΒΈ but someone.

Edward.

Instantly I whipped around, and sure enough, there he was, his face worn. Dark purple shadows shimmered slightly under his eyes, eyes that glittered black with hunger. His expression was slack, defeated, and as I stared at him, I realized that the hunger I saw in his eyes was no longer for me.

His gaze roamed my body, his gaze unreadable as he took in my new form. I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, still feeling my breath catch as I looked at his face, taking in his beauty. He caught me looking and slowly raised his eyes to mine, his face changing into a new expression that frightened me. His eyes were round and large as if he wanted to cry, but his jaw was set like he was angry. I took a step backwards, and his mouth opened slightly, then closed, as if he couldn't bring himself to talk to me. My body grew even more chilled than it was and I felt a terrible ache begin in my stomach as I clutched my hands together.

Slowly, Edward's shoulders relaxed, his jaw unclenching. He titled his head slightly and looked at me, his eyes roaming my face, searching. It took me a long moment to realize that the expression I had seen on his face had been fear, fear that I was different. He couldn't decipher if I was still the same, if my feelings for him had remained intact. His hands twitched as if he wanted to reach out for me, but was hesitant of my reaction.

I knew that he had not wanted me to be this way.

After a long moment, Edward seemed to come to a resolution, and he stepped forward, and slowly touched my shoulders with his fingertips, sliding his hands around so that he was pulling me into an embrace. I was surprised when I did not stiffen at his icy touch; it felt neutral, not frigid nor hot, but pleasant.

Edward's arms encircled me and he pulled me close, my head going to rest gently against his marble chest. A deep sigh ran through him as I tentatively ran my arms around his waist, feeling his muscles relax as I touched him. I felt his hand reach up and push my hair behind my ears, and a moment later he lifted my chin and pulled it up, so that I was looking up at him.

"Edward," I breathed, staring into his black eyes. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but he didn't say anything as slowly he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.

I automatically stiffened, but felt Edward's hands gently run down my spine as, for the first time, his lips moved slowly against mine in a more fluid motion. I felt his mouth open slightly, his lips teasing, and I opened my mouth and breathed in his scent, closing my eyes tight as its familiarity washed over me.

My body went rigid as I felt him turn his head and begin to truly kiss me, his lips dancing over mine as he pulled me closer. Kissing had always been almost clinical with the wary and rehearsed movements Edward and I had always had made. Now his tongue was slipping inside my mouth, running over my teeth, teasing me to explore his own. I felt suddenly the emotion that Edward had held inside be released as I relaxed, running my tongue over his teeth, tentatively at first, then with building passion. Edward placed his hand gently against my cheek, and I slowed, prepared for him to pull me away, to tell me that it was too much. But instead, his fingers gently wound around my hair and then traced down my neck, making me shudder in delight.

For the first time, I was one to pull away, my eyes staring up at his, the grief suddenly lifted from his black irises. I smiled softly, and he smirked, pulling me into his arms so that our still hearts rested against each other.

So it hadn't been a dream, after all.

"Bella," Edward whispered for the first time, his voice cool against my ear. "Welcome home."

All right, so that's the end! I've really enjoyed writing this and hearing all the positive feedback. I totally welcome any kind of review-- even if you loathe the whole thing, feel free to drop me a line! --Candlepen