Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This was requested so here it is :)

xxx

Was it possible to find a level of happiness that reached beyond the realms of wondrous bliss? I found it unlikely, but then again Holly was always taking my buried human emotions to new levels and this night had been no different. It had been pure pleasure to lie beside her as the clouds billowed cross the starry sky.

Holly had watched the stars avidly, their pale dusty light settling on her face, causing it to glow ever so subtly. Just as she was distracted by their beauty I was distracted by hers, and every moment i could i studied her tranquil face as she lay snuggled into my side. Her wonderful scent pooled around us and her body heat melted through me. I had never felt so human than i had just laying watching the stars with the girl I loved.

Eventually, her thick eyelashes had fluttered closed, not from exhaustion but in complete comfort and i felt nothing but joy that she felt close enough to sleep beside me. It's such an innocent and vulnerable act that I knew, no matter how much she told me she loved me or trusted me, nothing could show it more than that simple gesture.

I had stayed with her, holding her sleeping form to mine until dawn started to break and then the anticipation of her waking was a physical buzz running through my body. We had only gotten to this situation because of her flirtatious teasing game. I was eager to learn what had happened to cause her to decide to play it, for I certainly would do anything possible to entice her to play it again.

There was something thrilling about chasing her through the forest, hearing her laughter calling me forward. When I had arrived at the meadow and seen her standing waiting for me. Her hair windblown and her body still filled with the exhilaration, it had taken every scrap of control to play by her rules. When all I wanted to do was disregard every rule and principle we had, in favour of the road to Sodom and Gomorra, the road of sinful desire that took you straight to ecstasy.

The very idea of what that journey would have entailed was enough for me to want to give up what i had preserved for 104 years, but the sweet girl in my arms now was enough for me to curtail my darker fantasies concerning her body. I didn't want to disturb her from whatever dreams caused her lips to curve into a lazy smile.

Holly stirred in my arms as the birds started to call out the breaking of the dawn, as if the sun didn't already tell us. I smiled down on my angel as her eyes fluttered open and twinkled up at me.

"Morning, Tiger," she said with a wink before she slid her body to rest on mine.

She hit me in all the right places, each of her delicious curves and contours fitting to mine in a way that I doubted could have been any better, could have felt any better. It was like we were a jigsaw and we just fit together. Her eyes were shining with the sunlight. I loved how they looked over me with appreciation. My skin was causing her skin to light up slightly, small rainbows dancing across the ivory canvas while the slight breeze ruffled her hair.

She was a beauty and she was mine.

"I'm not complaining but you never told me the reason for your amusement. And I did catch you." I ran my hands over her body before flipping us so she lay beneath me, completely under my power, a prisoner to my ever wanton will and desire. What more could a man want, than to have such a delectable woman pinned beneath them, looking up at them with an expression that made your heart glow and your veins sizzle all at once.

Holly placed an unexpected kiss on my throat, her tongue peeking out and increasing the sensual heat that her lips delivered.

"You purred." Her voice tickled my skin where the heat buffered against the stone cold surface.

"Purred, are you sure?" I knew it was possible, but I hadn't been aware of doing such a thing. Of course it made sense now, why she had called me the classic cat names for the rest of the night. They had ranged from Felix to Simba, although Tiger was definitely one of my favourites.

"Most definitely, it was very cute. Some scary monster you are." she giggled and teased, her body shaking below mine. The motion made it hard to stop the lustful growl from escaping.

If I'm a tiger then hear me roar, I thought sarcastically but the idea of releasing my predatory side with Holly lit up another fantasy flame. It was definitely something to think about.

I dragged my teeth up the column of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply, fuelling the fire.

"Oh I take it back. You truly are terrifying." Her hand flopped over he eyes, covering their deep pools from sight.

I couldn't have that, and I certainly couldn't have this teasing of my ability to be a predator. I was a man, and Holly was taunting and tempting the red blooded male that rushed to the surface whenever she was around.

My arm wrapped around her waist and with an effortless action I lifted her body from the ground, pressing it closer to mine, causing her head to fall back in away that flashed ecstatic images in my mind.

How divine she will look with her head falling back on a pillow, just like that.

My fingertips traced her pulse and I loved the small sexy sound that slipped from her full lips. I loved the effect I had on her, from her shivers to her smiles.

My nose skimmed the soft skin of her neck and my body reacted instantly to the smell that muddled my mind, sending it to a dizzyingly dangerous level of desire.

"You smell like heaven," I said, my voice weak with the weight of feelings building in me.

In my eagerness for her touch I tilted her head towards mine and indulged in the sweetest taste on this earth by placing a kiss on her pouted lips. Pure Holly occupied every sense.

"You taste even better." My instinctive seduction was rewarded with another sensual sound. My hands wandered down her body, and I was vaguely aware of half-hearted comment she made about us having to be somewhere, but I had no intention of removing myself from this position. I barely had any recollection of where we had to be that could be any more important than this place that we already were. Especially not when my hand reached and hitched her knee, settling it on my hip, aligning her below me to increase the heady friction our bodies created.

"They'll have to be patient, I'm enjoying my reward," I said between delicious kisses. I wasn't keen on Holly meeting the Denali's, Tanya in particular. There was an unresolved history between us, and I wasn't exactly in the mood for rushing Holly to meet with her.

My wandering hand danced under her top, across her lower abs. Her skin was gloriously warm but it was the heat emanating from her core that caused the ravenous desire in me to spark further.

I couldn't help running my fingertips over the black lace that peeped out of her jeans. When I had chosen the garments I could think of nothing but how she would look in them and the way they would feel to remove. The very same thoughts were running through my mind now, and I wondered if Holly would have any objections to shedding her clothes to allow me the privilege of seeing the reality instead of the fantasy image in my head. My fingers slowly moved towards the centre of her jeans where her brass button was the starting point of my stairway to heaven.

"Edward, we have somewhere to be." Her words stopped my fingers in their tracks as they sat just above the button.

I groaned as I waved goodbye to possibility to seeing my Holly in that black lace combination.

I looked down at her grinning face and accepted now wouldn't be the time to unwrap each layer of clothing from her, but by the love of God, it would be soon. It had to be.

* * * * *

The past few hours had been a bit of a rollercoaster. It had been good to see Holly so settled with her family, and I was happy that she got the understanding she wanted concerning her gift. However, it had been hard to just sit across the room from her and watch her tears, knowing that she wouldn't want me to be beside her to comfort her when her parents were around. It had been made clear to me that she didn't want her family finding out about us when she had skipped ahead of me when we first entered the house.

I couldn't lie and say it hadn't hurt to have her want our love to be a secret, but I understood that she didn't want it to be revealed all of a sudden. That she needed sometime to just settle into the concept before having it sprung out in the open.

Jason, her father, clearly had suspicions and I could see in his mind that, although he wasn't angry of disappointed about the possibility of us being together, he clearly didn't like the idea that we could be on this side without him having any control over the contact I had with his daughter. He wasn't unreasonable or naive to the emotions and urges that came with a new relationship, but he wanted the chance to talk with me properly and understand my intentions before he could fully settle himself with the idea of his little Holly-Berry growing up and being involved with someone. I had to at least respect him for that; his ideals were only ruled by his love of his daughters not a controlling nature.

I hadn't had a chance to talk with Jason yet since he and Sandra had been occupied talking with Esme, Carlisle, Eleazar and Carmen.

I had hoped I would have a chance to grab a quiet moment with him so I was biding my time in the piano room while the rest of the house occupied themselves with catch up conversations and socialising.

It was nice to hear Holly, had come to terms with her gift and was now happily talking with Kate, Alice and Ash.

She seemed so much happier with her family here. I knew she missed them, it was understandable and to be expected. What bothered me was that she never let on to any of this when we were together. She never talked about missing them, or how leaving them had affected her. I hated to think that she didn't feel able to tell me such things. I didn't want her to bury things deep down, even though I knew it was something instinctive to her.

I smirked as I heard Alice's thoughts. She was planning a match making scenario for Kate and Garrett to meet, some kind of evening gathering for the two to meet 'accidentally'.

I couldn't help but grin at my little pixie sister's enthusiasm. She was certainly a force to be reckoned with, although Holly seemed to handle her constant buzzing nature well. It wasn't really a mystery given how her sister held so many similarities with Alice.

When I thought of Ashleigh I felt a problem circling in my mind. Some her thoughts had shown that Holly's family weren't coping as well as Holly hoped. I felt sympathy for the girl. Everything had been turned on its head, and now she was living a life that was so far from its original path. I knew she held no resentment towards any of us for what happened, in fact her opinions of us all were high, but there was something that registered in my mind that made me uncomfortable. She was so comfortable on this side of the portal, perhaps too comfortable. She clearly didn't like her life on the other side at the moment, and I noticed that sometimes her mind drifted in the realms of 'what if'. What if she was changed, what if she abandoned her world in favour of this one. What if she did these things and lived forever with Holly. I knew these thoughts were just innocent wonderings, but there was part of me that couldn't help but ponder if some conviction lingered underneath them all.

I knew Holly would never want this life for her sister. She often said she didn't regret her situation, but I knew that it was only because it was either this or death. If her sister chose the immortal route then it would be a very different situation, and I wasn't sure if Holly would want that.

I sighed and settled myself on the piano bench, resting my fingers on the comforting keys as I played out a small improvised tune that flowed though my mind.

My mind relaxed into the song and the mental voices faded away pleasantly.

I wasn't in this state of tranquillity long before the distinct violet scent of Tanya drifted into the room along with her lithe figure which sauntered around the piano.

I was tense instantly and stopped playing to focus on what she was up to.

As usual with her attempted seductions, her mind was busy reciting the American constitution in various languages. She always did this to stop me from guessing what her plan was. The problem was that I had recognised the pattern a while ago and so no matter how much she avoided revealing her intentions, the very act of hiding it made it clear to me.

"Hello, Tanya. I hope you're enjoying your visit so far," I said, my voice just as tense as my body.

Her amber eyes cast a coy look at me as she slowly came closer. It was almost laughable that she treated her seduction of me similar to approaching a frightened flighty animal.

"It's been nice meeting Holly. She's a lovely girl, very interesting. What she is." She came a little closer, crossing the room but coming towards me at the same time, as if it would disguise her real intention. Her voice was casual and vague as if talking about Holly was not what she considered to be an interesting topic but felt obligated to mention.

The mention of Holly made a smile instinctively form on my face. My mind went back to this morning when she had lain in my arms.

"Yes she truly is unique."

Tanya misread my smile as an invitation and came at me head on, leaning over me as I sat on the piano bench. Her chest was inches from my face and I tried to shuffle back but there wasn't enough space behind to put the desired amount of space in front of me.

"Tanya." My voice warned her, but she edged closer, her strawberry blonde hair falling like a curtain.

"Oh come on, Edward, just one little chance that's all I'm asking," Her voice purred in my ear, and I gulped as I considered how to let her down (again) without appearing to be anything less than a gentleman.

I didn't have time to even arrange a single idea because Holly appeared. A vision or pure anger, growling savagely as her eyes darkened to a mesmerising midnight blue. They were fixed on Tanya and never before had I seen such rage flood her beautiful face.

All I could do was stare, in wonder, shock, awe, desire, and incredulity. She was so primal, and ferocious that I couldn't help but admire it. There was no part of her that resembled my soft Holly, but I didn't find as much fear in me as I thought I should have. There were, however, other feelings.

The rest of the family entered the room in a state of shock and amazement as they took in Holly's new self. It was truly something dazzling to look at, the complete transformation that she had undergone in mere milliseconds.

In reality, I knew her appearance was no different, but there was something about the way her posture was predatory and her eyes blazed, along with the furious sounds that left her mouth that triggered a primal urge in me.

She was just as much the predator as me, and I couldn't resist the heat that the idea bought to me. The fact that she could be just as raw and dominant as me sent my mind into a flurry of wonderful mischief we could get up to. I felt a unrelenting need to make her mine in every way, tame her in the most seductive manner. The very idea of having this wild and wonderful creature submit to me was something I found myself strangely enticed by. I could feel my whole body fizzing with the ravenous need to have her voluptuous body succumbing to mine.

Holly's body turned in a flash aand a wild hiss sounded from her mouth. It wasn't dangerous but it was a warning for the rest of the family.

She wasn't open for negotiation right now, and we each knew that the anger that was filling her right now was not something that could easily be reasoned with. God what a violent game of desire we could play with that heat burning within her.

Finally Tanya peeled herself from me, and the movements seemed slow compared to Holly's rapid actions, but I knew Tanya's speed was far from slow.

"Holly?" Tanya questioned and the spark in Holly's eyes lit up into pure fire. Pure midnight fire burning inside of her.

"Stop her!" Alice screamed, and it shocked me out of my place on the bench.

Holly was tensed to spring, and I knew I should stop her. I couldn't let her harm Tanya, not really. She wouldn't like herself for doing it, and I didn't want her to find any reason to doubt herself and her control.

Jasper leapt into action while the rest of the family looked on in wonder.

Jaspers arms couldn't hold her; even the waves of calm had no effect.

Holly just stalked forward as if there was nothing in her way.

She looked like a tigress stalking towards her prey, and I marvelled at the pure power she held, the pure dominance of her strong figure.

The urge to hold her to me and take her as my own increased and pulsed through me. Even if it wasn't decent or socially polite, it was a need that kept my eyes glued to her.

Edward, that is not an emotion I need battering at me right now. Jasper's thoughts infiltrated my lust filled my mind but I couldn't care to tame my raging feelings right now. Not when Holly was before me in her wild state.

"Emmett, some help here." Emmett's arms flew around Holly, and Rosalie cooed in her ear. She and Holly had a good relationship, and I knew they both shared a mutual respect for each other. However, even Rosalie couldn't tame my tempest girl right now. The storm flying through her was too strong to control.

I watched every single one of Holly's lithe movements in rapture. The way her body still flowed effortlessly even thought she was bound by both Jasper and Emmett. She was full of determination and nothing was going to stop her from her task of exacting her punishment on Tanya.

That idea had a fleck of worry ignite in my mind. I inched forward, contemplating joining the attempt of stopping her. But no sooner had I moved than her beautiful dark eyes burned at me.

If you even enjoyed one moment of it! I might not tear you apart but something will definitely be ripped off!

The heat in her statement and the raw power she was displaying made actual fear pass through me and I instinctively covered my crotch.

I should have kept my calm, but I was still a man and the only things I wanted to happen involving myself and Holly were good things, things that felt heavenly. I certainly didn't want my virginity ripped from me, literally.

"Christ Holly, you been on steroids or summit?!" Emmett shouted, and it earned him a guttural growl.

"She was all over him!" she hissed and I felt a swell of pride. Jealousy. That was the cause and creator of this wondrous creature before me.

She was fighting for me and she thought I was worth killing for.

She felt enough passion for me to sacrifice her feeling of self and murder just to keep me as hers and only hers.

It was an odd twisted sense of thinking but I couldn't feel more love for her then now as she stalked towards Tanya's cowering form.

"Uh I didn't realise... I wouldn't have if I'd known" Tanya mumbled, half stunned, from the corner of the room where she was cowering in her defensive crouch.

Holly's expression faltered from the anger and I saw the vivid azure blue glowing around the edges of the powerful midnight shade.

Holly's family had only just started to arrive at the scene, their human reactions too slow to keep up with all of us. It was definitely for the best because the look of horror on her parents' faces when they saw their daughter was bad enough without them seeing the whole event.

My baby girl, what's happened to her? Did I make a mistake by choosing this for her? She seemed so normal and happy but she doesn't even look like my Holly now.

Sandra's voice shook as she called her daughter and it matched the worried tone in her mind. All she could see was the fury reflected in her daughter's deadly dark eyes. There really wasn't any physical sign of her soft baby girl left in the shell of the powerful creature before her.

As soon as Holly's mother uttered her name, Holly's body drained of every ounce of fury. It seemed like she literally melted away back into her usual calm and happy self. There was no sign of her alter ego left at the surface, although Tanya's buzzing scared mind was still very wary.

"I'm sorry," Holly whispered in a voice that seemed so small and vulnerable that all I wanted was to wrap her in my arms and hold her in a loving embrace.

The rest of the family relaxed although Carlisle was already running through the possibilities of what had happened.

"I know Tanya had no idea of knowing. I just lost it," Holly muttered and a faked smile flickered on her face.

Edward, she's not feeling too great about herself right now. Jasper's thoughts caught my attention and I instantly made my way to her side.

"We understand that but what happened to you?" Rosalie asked, her mind completely focussed on Holly and her understanding how much fury she would feel if it had been Emmett instead of me.

I reached my hand for hers but I couldn't grasp it like I wanted because her father's eyes cast a warning glance at me.

She wasn't herself, that was not who she is. She's still my little Holly-Berry. And Edward, I'm watching you, mister, so no funny business. I ducked my head in a silent agreement and I heard Holly's faint chuckle at her father's behaviour.

"What you mean Rose? I was just angry that's all" Holly's voice was confused and I wondered if she truly had no realisation of just how different she had become.

"Holly it was so much more than that, Jasper and Emmett struggled to hold you. You were faster than I've ever seen you move. You were just a blur," Alice said, peering at Holy with astonishment.

I could barely see her. It was like her shield intensified so much and her body changed that her physical being distorted the vision. She was gone so fast I barely knew what happened. Alice's thoughts both intrigued and worried me. I had known Holy had changed but I didn't know it could have affected our abilities so much.

I'm totally having some fun with this. Finally someone who can't cheat! Emmett's thoughts were as usual completely lacking any seriousness. He couldn't see the consequences of Holly's state, only the benefits.

"You were different, not our softie Holly anymore," he said, his mind already plotting the best time to test out his new playmate.

I zoned out of the conversations and thoughts as I watched the love of my life crumble from a creature of confidence and power to a girl scared of her own body.

Holly's quiet everyday confidence was one of the many things I loved about her, so it hurt to see her shrink away in horror at what had happened, and doubt herself.

I didn't want to lose her to her own self doubt. I never wanted her to feel anything but safe, secure and happy with this life, just as she had been when she was human and friends with us.

The covetous thoughts that had consumed my mind a few seconds ago were wiped away in an instant as i watched Holly try to reassure her family and herself that she hadn't been lost. That somewhere in the statuesque marble form of her darker side there was still the soft, warm girl.

Sandra mentioned Holly's eyes and in frantic motion Holly examined her eyes in the nearest reflective surface.

"They weren't completely one flat colour, the colour faded from black to blue round the edge. I could see them almost glowing underneath the black" I said and Holly's gaze cast to me for the first time since she returned to her usual state.

The pain, worry and panic in her eyes was heartbreaking to see and I felt the fear that for the first time since she changed she would truly resent what had happened to her. That this moment would be the moment when she finally realised the monster I was for choosing this life for her.

Her hand squeezed mine and I felt maybe it was in a dire need for some security so I gently brought her towards me, ignoring the speculative thoughts of Jason. The idea that Holly saw me as her safe harbour or place of security was enough to make my dead heart swell with pride and love. I would do anything to protect this girl from every element of life that threatened to remove the innate happy sparkle that was almost always present in her deep, blue eyes.

She was my reason for existence, the reason for every one of my smiles and the object of my every wish and desire.

So many people had contemplated the meaning of life or what gives it true value. Through my years of living without Holly I too had ponder it, but as I gazed into the soulful, vulnerable, beautiful eyes of this sweet scared girl I knew only the answer.

Love and only love.

It's sacred.

It's the very base element of the spirit.

It's the only thing that is worth dying for and living for in equal measure.

That is why the only thing my life will ever want or need to have meaning and purpose is Holly. Her safety, her happiness, her feelings.

Because really, what else matters when you're in love?

A/N: Hope you like. x