Disclaimer: I am not the creator of the Twilight Series. That belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like borrowing her characters.

Chapter 6 - Questions and Confessions

Bella's POV:

I sat in one of the small plush decorative stools in the bathroom, facing away from the large mirror, as I combed through my wet hair with my fingers. I tried not to listen as Aro dried off and returned his clothes. After Aro had gone, I stood up and looked at my naked body in the mirror. I could almost see where Aro's tongue had touched my skin. My eyes flickered to the small silver lighter which sat on a nearby tray, decorated with scented candles. And then my eyes found my hip again. I measured the amount of damage a small flame could do to just the tiniest bit of my flesh. I swallowed hard, weighing my options.

"No," I whispered to myself.

I knew that the tiniest bit of flame could ignite my entire body. I have already heard the horror stories, though I hadn't witnessed any such thing myself. I walked over to the large bed to lie down. I closed my eyes, trying to wipe my mind clean of any thoughts. It was hard. My vampire ears allowed me to hear everything.

"Shh…" I said aloud. I was desperate for some quite. I didn't want to think.

Large heavy feet suddenly had my attention. It was Felix. I sighed.

"Don't come in," I said, as Felix's feet approached my door. "I'm not dressed."

Felix stood patiently silent outside of my bedroom door. I continued to lay there for a few more seconds before getting up and dressing quickly. I chose a black tunic and thick black leggings; my wardrobe consisted of mainly black these days.

"Come in," I said as I fitted my feet into black shoes.

Felix entered, closing the door tightly behind him. He didn't say anything. He just looked at me. I stood up and looked back at him. We stared at each other for several minutes. Felix looked solemn. He could see the pain I was in; but I didn't want to think about that now. Without a word, Felix turned silently on the spot and left my room. I resumed my efforts of trying to erase my mind, lying silently on my bed.

Before long, the burning in the back of my throat became unfortunately irritating. The animal's blood from this afternoon didn't fully quench my thirst. I was already hungry again.

This afternoon, I thought. It already felt like decades ago. Edward, I let his name roll through my mind. I thought of his golden eyes, surrounded by that thick auburn hair of his. And then his glorious smile. Edward. His large hands and long fingers, the way they felt against my skin; hard and strong.

"Edward," I said quietly, my voice almost inaudible.

And then Aro's red eyes burned before me. I relived the conversation between Aro and I in my mind. He wants me to ask Edward to stay in Volterra with me. But I couldn't ask that. Edward lived with a large coven, a family in Forks. I couldn't ask him to leave them for me. The thought tore at my soul. And then I began to imagine my world without Edward in it. I shook my head violently. It was too much. I already wanted him. I wanted him to be with me, always. To hear his voice, his laugh. To feel his hands, his arms, his lips. I opened my eyes and starred at the blank white celling before me. My eyes burned with sadness, but I couldn't cry.

Hours passed before I finally pulled myself out of bed. I had finally decided on what I'd do about Aro's proposition, and I decided I would not ask Edward to stay with me. I couldn't ask that. But I would do my best to absorb as much time with him as possible.

I moved quickly, taking the elevator to the floor where the Cullen's will be staying. I listened around me, I wasn't quite sure where Edward would be staying. I heard movement and low whispering in one room. I knocked.

"Come in," a tinkling voice answered. It was Alice.

"Hello," I said as I walked in. I glanced around the room. "Do you know where I might be able to find Edward?"

"Edward mentioned something about… old photographs before he left," Jasper said. His face was smooth and expression less. A haunting vision. My eyes lingered for a fraction of a second on the small moon shaped marks covering his throat.

"Thank you," I said. I shut their door behind me and then took off towards the photograph room.

As I approached the room, I could hear Edward pacing slowly, hear his breathing. Little butterflies did cartwheels inside of my stomach as I opened the door. Edward stood with his back to me, starring at a large photograph of Aro, Caius, Marcus and Carlisle. He wore a dark grey long-sleeved shirt and dark jeans. His hair was in its usual disarray.

"Hello, Bella," he said. And then he turned to look at me over his shoulder.

I smiled. I moved over to him and gazed up at the photograph. It was centuries old and yellowed. I studied Aro's expression. Serious and authoritative. I shook my head and looked away. And then I was surprised to see that Edward was staring down at me. His eyes were questioning.

"Where were you thinking just now?" he asked. His voice was lower than a whisper.

I shrugged and looked back at Aro's face. "I was thinking of the word 'authority,' and about what it means," I said. My tone was low enough to match Edward's.

"'The right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience," Edward said.

"That sounds about right," I said.

Edward reached for my hands and bent until we were at eye level. "Let's not talk about Aro," Edward pronounced his name with a strong Italian accent. And then he grinned smugly.

I giggled. "Then what would you like to talk about?" I asked.

"You. I want to know more about you; your human life, your mother. I have so many questions."

Edward led me over to a corner surrounded by bookcases. We sat on the floor, cross-legged and facing each over.

"Ask me," I said.

"What year were you born?" was his first question.

"1987."

"What is your mother's name?"

"Renee Higginbotham Dwyer."

The questions went on like this for a little while. Edward asked me questions about my favorite color, my favorite sport, my favorite books. Those were easy to answer. And then the questions shifted and he began asking me questions about my childhood, about phoenix and what it looked like, my bedroom back home, my friends and relationships, not that I had ever had any. And then Charlie. I told him that I missed Charlie and how I wished I had known him better. I missed my mom too. My mom and her eccentric, experimental behavior. I missed Phoenix and the hot air and blue sky. I missed Lily. Lily was my only friend in Phoenix.

"Do you remember your childhood?" I asked. Edward had been sitting very still and silent as I talked. I already missed the sound of his voice.

"I remember some things," Edward said after a long pause.

"What year were you born?" I asked. It was my turn to turn to ask the questions and his turn to talk.

"1918, but my human birth date is 1901." Edward offered me a smile.

I tried to hide the shock in my voice. "How… did it happen? Did Carlisle change you?"

Edward began at the beginning. He told me about his childhood, of what he could remember. He was born in Chicago. His father's name was, Edward Masen and his mother was, Elizabeth Masen. He talked about growing up during World War I and how he had dreamed of joining the army as soon as he had turned 18. But when he was seventeen, he and his parents became sick with the Spanish Influenza. Both of his parents died. Edward talked about his mother. He missed her sometimes, but it has been decades since he last saw her.

"Human memories aren't as clear as vampire memories," he said. "I don't remember her well, but I do remember her eyes. Green… like mine." Edward dropped his gaze.

Releasing me from his eyes, I realized I wasn't breathing. I took in a slow breath.

"Green," I said. "I wish I could have seen them."

Edward laughed a shaky, short gasp of air. And then he looked at me. He gazed at me for a long moment, and then slowly he reached up and tucked my hair behind my left ear. His skin burned against my cheekbone.

"Your eyes were brown," he said. Edward's eyes smoldered, dazzling me. "Pools of chocolate brown."

I nodded. "They were" I breathed. "How did you know?"

Edward sat momentarily perplexed and then he suddenly jerked his hand away from me.

"Sorry," he said, apologetic by the sudden tension. I didn't miss the shock in his eyes before he cleared his face.

I leaned in closer to him. "How?" I asked. I was confused by his reaction, but even more confused by his statement. How did he know my eyes were brown? He couldn't have known.

Edward didn't answer. I could see thoughts turning in his mind.

"Tell me," I said. I was alarmed now, but I hid it well.

Edward looked up at me, searching my eyes.

"I saw a photo of you once, in Charlie's office," he said. "You were younger, maybe thirteen. It looked like a yearbook picture."

I groaned loudly and nodded. "Eighth grade," I said. "I can't believe he still has that."

Edward laughed with me. And then suddenly, I felt his fingers against the knuckles of my left hand. I met his gaze.

"I wish I could have known you. Seen what you were like as a human," he said.

"I don't wish that," I said. "Immortality brought me to you."

I boldly kept Edward's gaze. I didn't look away though I was embarrassed and surprised by my own words. I wanted to see his expression… and I was glad I did. Edward's eyes seemed to melt into liquid topaz, and then his face warmed at my words. He leaned in close to me, his lips inches away from mine.

"I cannot imagine my world without you in it," he said. And then his lips touched mine.

This kiss was very much like the first. It stung, as if an electric current had passed through where our lips met. It was the most wonderful feeling I had ever felt. And then they moved. His mouth opened, just the slightest, and I involuntarily slid my tongue against his. My stomach did little flips as Edwards grazed his fingertips over my jaw and neck. I drank in his smell, his taste, his touch. I was… in love with Edward Cullen.

We spent the next week talking about our separate pasts, my human life and Edward's immortal life. He talked about all of the different high schools he has been to and how many times he has been to each of them. I laughed when he told me he was currently attending Forks High School.

"I wish I could see that," I laughed. "You, sitting in a classroom full of students, brooding over homework and other assignments." I chuckled effortlessly to myself.

"Bella," Edward said. "Homework is not the challenge. I could recite an entire Chemistry book by heart. No, the challenge is being able to live amongst humans while still keeping our secrecy."

"How do you do it?" I asked.

"Magic," Edward teased.

I rolled my eyes.

"Patience," he corrected. "You have to 'act' human."

"Act?" I asked.

"Yes. You have to learn to control your every move. If you move too quickly, a human may notice. You have to walk, talk and move like a human. And of course, you cannot go to school on a sunny day."

"How do you pull that off?" I scoffed.

"In Forks, the weather is always cloudy," Edward said smugly.

We laughed about Forks High School a little longer until Edward brought up hunting again, and I was reminded of how thirsty I was feeling.

"Edward. Do you think Aro would let us go hunting again tomorrow?" I asked. "I'm thirsty."

Edward studied my eyes. "You don't look thirsty," he said.

"I know," I agreed. "But I can feel it." I touched my throat with my fingertips.

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