Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, Stephenie Meyer does. Alas.

Setting: Between Eclipse and Breaking Dawn

I know many of you must be unsatisfied with Stephenie Meyer's response to the question about Bella's period. Here's my answer.

Warning: Chapter 3 and beyond will contain adult material.

Bella's Point of View

Edward and I were studying in the dining room while Charlie was still at work. Or, at least, he was pretending to study and I was watching him pretend to study.

Unexpectedly, I felt a familiar wetness between my legs. My monthly visitor was here early, and I wasn't prepared the way I normally was. I stood up quickly, hoping to get away to the bathroom before Edward noticed. Of course, his vampire senses and impossibly fast reflexes kept me from getting away.

"Are you bleeding?" Edward asked, grabbing my hand to look for cuts. I knew he would smell it, and it would be harder for him, not to mention awkward, and that was why I always made certain to use a tampon before I even began to bleed.

"Well, yes…" I said. Finding no cut, he grabbed my other hand to look.

"What happened? There's no knife or even a sharp pencil."

"You can't see it."

"It'll be ok, Bella, just let me help,"

"It's under my clothes."

His eyes widened. "How did you get cut through your clothes?"

"Just let me go to the bathroom," I mumbled, blushing.

"Oh," he dropped my hand, more flustered than I'd ever seen him. Glad to be able to escape, I ran to the bathroom.

* * *

I took my time in the bathroom, in no hurry to face Edward again. Why did he even have to ask? He'd been to medical school, for God's sake! He should have been able to put things together. By now he should have figured out what it meant when my scent changed that way.

But more importantly, why should he react that way when he does understand? He'd spent a hundred years listening to peoples' deepest, most private thoughts, and he was still stuck on this taboo? The situation was ridiculous.

We were adults, engaged to be married, and we were planning to have sex soon, while I'm still human. We needed to be able to talk about normal bodily functions like grown-ups. It was especially important because this particular aspect of my sexual health could have a direct impact on him, because of his own condition.

The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got. Maybe if we could actually communicate about this issue, I wouldn't have to take such precautions. I didn't really enjoy inserting a tampon two days before there was anything for it to absorb.

And another old idea crept back into my head, one that had made me giggle and blush when I first thought of it—sitting next to him in Biology class the first month after we'd fallen in love. I had never been so glad that he couldn't read my thoughts! Maybe it was time to make a proposal, now that the subject had been broken. I went back into the kitchen, ready to confront him.

* * *

Edward didn't look up from his book when I came in. I think he was hoping to act like the whole thing had never happened.

"Edward, look at me."

He complied. When he saw the stern look on my face, he apologized and changed the subject back to our homework.

"Edward, we need to talk about this. I've been wanting to for a while."

"About what?"

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe he was playing dumb. "You know what. If we're mature enough to be engaged, we should be able to talk about a normal human body process like adults."

"Right," he said, looking straight ahead, still tense.

I sat down, touching his arm. "I've been wondering, is it harder for you? When it's that time of the month for me?"

He shrugged. "A little. It's not the same as…your other blood. Not as…fresh."

"Well, that's good, I guess. I'd feel bad if it made things very difficult. I wouldn't want to have to stay away from you one week a month."

"I wouldn't want that either."

Edward looked up and I heard footsteps on the porch. Charlie.

"We'll talk more tonight," I whispered. His eyes widened. I felt sure that if he could blush, he would be redder than I've ever been. He didn't stay long that afternoon.