"Is it really you?" I whispered to him.

"Yes. I'm here. Edward. I'm so sorry. So sorry…" he murmured, his voice breaking twice. When I stayed quiet, unable to speak, he continued.

"I made the biggest mistake of my existence, leaving you. I don't know how you'll ever forgive me. I'll never forgive myself. I'm taking you out of here," he told me. And with that he held me as he glided through the cold sea to the shore. He scooped me up into his arms, taking me to my truck. I belted myself in, shivering, as Edward took the driver's seat and revved the engine. He immediately turned on the heater, but it did little because my clothes were soaked. I rubbed my hands together, and once we arrived back at Charlie's, I was beginning to slowly warm up. My teeth had stopped chattering, and my face was starting to warm again. As we stepped out of the truck, I saw Alice standing still on the porch. Her eyes were golden. I hadn't listened to her; in fact I had completely gone against everything she had told me. But she didn't seem angry. She took my arm quickly and pulled me inside so I could change. I figured getting upset with me in my current state wouldn't make her feel any better. I guess she'd forgiven me for ignoring her words. She gave me some warm dry clothes to put on and we went to the living room where Edward stood, looking solemn. But the sight of me in warm clothes seemed to register a little relief on his face.

Alice kissed the top of my head.

"I forgive you, Bella. I'm not upset with you. You got my brother back. And I'll be forever grateful for that. I'm going to leave you both to talk, but I'll see you soon, OK?" she told me softly.

"Thanks, Alice. I love you. See you soon," I whispered. I gave her a hug. She pulled away first, wanting to leave Edward and I alone. She gave Edward a look, speaking to him through her thoughts. He nodded, understanding. And then she was gone. Feeling stronger with Alice's reassurance, I spoke first.

"Come on. Let's go upstairs." I told Edward. He followed my lead and we ended up in my room. We stood facing each other. I reached out and touched his face, curving my hand to fit it. He leaned his face into my hand.

"I thought you were gone forever. I thought I would never see you again." I said, taking my hand away. I felt tears burning my eyes, the painful memories of the past seven months resurfacing and creating a lump in my throat. I tried my best to swallow it down, and blinked.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am. I left to protect you. I'm a monster, I don't deserve you. I never have. Leaving you… was the greatest, most terrible mistake of my existence. I thought it would be better, to let you have a normal happy life without me. So I would never have to interfere in your life again." He started into my eyes, dark orbs penetrating into my head. He thought I hated him. He thought I despised him. That was how I should have felt. I should have just walked out this room right now and never saw him again. But since when did I do anything I should? Since when did I do the "normal" thing? Especially when it came to him. There was no way I was letting him go. Not again. There was no way my love had disappeared. But I was still convinced he couldn't have loved me the same way if he had been able to leave. The way he'd said those words in the forest had penetrated me, penetrated my soul. And I didn't know if I could get back from that. Only Edward could fix that memory, but I wasn't even sure about that anymore. Everything was different now.

"But you said you didn't want me anymore. You didn't want me to come with you. You don't love me anymore." I said, looking him in the eye. I disconnected myself from my words, in an attempt to defend myself from crumbling. All those times he'd said he loved me… were they all a lie?

"Bella, no! I lied, I had to lie. If I hadn't, I would never have been able to persuade you not to come. But you believed me so easily. I couldn't understand how you just took what I said and never doubted me. I thought I was a terrible liar. I was half- hoping you would see in my eyes that it was all lies, that you would work it out, just like you figured out who I really was -what I really am. I wanted an excuse - any excuse - to drop the lie and stay with you, despite my head telling me I couldn't possibly be so cruel to stay in your life and taint it with my existence. You must hate me."

Edward's face was so pained it looked like he was trying not to cry. But I knew he physically could not produce tears. His speech stopped me short. I thought about his words, not sure what to believe any more. But my heart knew he was being sincere this time. I could see it in his face. Suddenly, I realised how much I had missed the signs, that day in the forest. How his eyes very subtly contradicted his words. But he was such a convincing liar that I had ignored the signals. I just thought he felt guilty for having to break my heart. But not enough to stick around.

But now, I thought of how much time we'd spent together, how many times he'd said he loved me, our meadow, the way he held me, the way he sung me to sleep and composed my lullaby. He must have loved me to do all those things – why waste time with me if he wasn't remotely interested? Why would he spend so much time putting on an act? Why would he use me like that?

I had my answer. He would not. He did love me. He must have. And now he thought I hated him.

Edward spoke again, taking a step towards me.

"I thought if it was a clean break, and that I told you I wanted to move on, you would forget about me. I wanted to erase myself from your life, knowing in my whole being that I would never be able to erase my love for you, Bella. I love you. I always have, and I will for the rest of eternity. I loved you long before you loved me, know that. You're the only one in my heart. And you always will be. Please believe me."

I sunk down to the bed, confused with conflicting thoughts. Edward tentatively sat beside me. I strained to formulate my thoughts into words.

"First, I'm not angry with you Edward. I feel confused. I just don't know what to think."

Edward started into my eyes, looking so sad. He assumed I was going to end it with him. He stayed silent as he waited for me to speak again.

"I still love you, Edward." I whispered. His face changed to shock. He searched mine to see if I was telling him the truth.

"You love me? You still want me?" he asked, his eyes widening. He honestly couldn't believe it.

"If you think that I ever hated you, you don't know me at all." I went on. I touched his face gently, and then moved my hand to his hair. I slowly swept my hand through it. He closed his eyes for a long moment. Then he opened them again.

"And there's no-one else? You never met anyone…?" asked Edward, a little doubtfully. His dark eyes probed mine.

"You have no competition." I told him.

Edward gently took my chin in his hand, and tipped it up. His other hand slid into my hair. Very slowly, he leaned toward me. He kissed me softly. My blood bubbled inside me, heart thumping. He pulled me closer, kissing me harder. He wrapped his arms round me and held me close, kissing me hungrily. I pulled away first, leaning my head against his. This was our first kiss since he'd returned. And just for that moment, it was like he'd never left. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, goose-bumps all over my skin. I felt alive.

"I forgive you." I breathed.

"Do you?" he whispered.

"Yes. I promise you, I forgive you."

"Thank you. And you'll have me back? Even after everything I've put you through?" he asked, looking into my eyes.

"Well, I don't know about that…" I said, in a weak attempt at a joke. Of course I would have him back. There was no way, now that I'd finally found him, that I would let him slip through my fingers a second time. There was no way. Even if he could run miles faster than me.

"What?" he leaned back in disbelief.

"I'm just kidding. Terrible, I know." I reassured him.

He smiled in relief, before turning serious again. He was still beating himself up inside, I could see it. No matter what I said, no matter what I did, it wouldn't stop him from punishing himself for his actions in the forest. I didn't know what to do, so I took him in my arms. I held him tight, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I can't believe you're here. I really thought you had gone forever, Edward."

Edward took my face in his hands and looked me straight in the eye. His face was inches from mine.

"Bella, I was coming back anyway. I had already decided I couldn't stay away from you any longer. It was destroying me. From the inside out. So even if all this never happened, even if I'd never found you this day, I want you to know that I was coming back to you. It wasn't until I actually left that I realized spending eternity without you was worse than an eternity where I had never met you at all. If there's one selfish thing about me, it's that I don't want to waste the one right thing in my life over a lie. Over anything. The one good, pure, beautiful thing in my life. And that is you, Isabella Swan. I will never leave you again, if you'll keep me. I will stay with you until you turn me away."

"You're in for a long wait, then." I smiled weakly. My heart was beating whole again; the large gaping hole had fully closed up and healed. And only Edward could do that.

"I'm counting on that," he smiled gently. He twirled a lock of my hair around his fingers. Then he spoke again, gazing at me.

"I remember when we first met. How I used to anger you by hiding the truth about me saving you from Tyler's van. How you used to say my name, and I would feel so… alive. When I saw you lying on the ground next to Mike when you passed out in class. That's when I knew. You had me. Mike invited you to Prom, and I hated it. I felt jealous, so jealous. So angry. I wanted to be the one you said yes to. I was so attracted to you. And then I was falling for you so fast there was no way to stop myself. Come to think of it, the first time I ever saw you I knew. That I would care for you much more than I should. Looking into your eyes, how deep they were. An irresistible scent to draw me in. And never knowing what you were thinking. I got to know you, in a way I haven't got to know anyone before. For the first time, I could show someone the real me. The human part of me. You reminded me what it means to be human. You made me feel. That's part of why I love you so much."

I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. He'd never told me that before. And I was so sure I loved him first. I guess I hadn't known anything back then. Edward touched my lips with one finger.

"If I ever lost you… for real… I couldn't live on this planet any longer. I would go to Italy and force the Volturi to destroy me. I can't live in a world where you don't exist." said Edward in a whisper.

"Then what are you waiting for? Turn me and you can keep me forever." I said. I was deadly serious.

"Bella, no. Not right now, not when I've only just got you back."

"Why? I'll grow old and die one day, and what will you do then? I wouldn't even let it get that far. It's sick. Turn me now, and you'll never have to lose me. Never. Do it."

"No. I can't. And If I lost you forever, I would follow you. I would find a way to die too."

"What do you mean, you can't? I will die, Edward. One day. And you'd lose me. Is that what you want?"

"No, of course not! Did you not hear anything I just said?" he demanded, shocked. His eyes widened, searching mine.

"Then why won't you just do it?"

He took my face and pressed his lips to mine to stop my mouth. I tried my hardest to resist. I kissed him back, before dragging myself away.

"Just a few more years, that's all I want." He begged, holding my hands in his. "Please."

"That's too long. I'd be years older than you."

"It doesn't matter. You'll still be the same person. You'll still be my Bella."

"You're not going to change your mind, are you? When I do eventually become like you, I want you to be the one to do it. That's all I want. If you want to make me happy, that's what it will take."

Edward paused, thinking hard.

"One year. One year, and I'll think about it."

"You'll think about it." I shook my head, sighing in resignation. He was unshakeable.

"Bella."

"Yes?" I said, looking up.

"I'll do it."

I looked at him. He was serious, I could tell by his face. But I couldn't quite believe him.

"You will? You'll change me, right now?"

"No, Bella, not right now. Not today. But I will do it. On one condition." He said calmly. There was a catch.

"OK. What is it?" I searched his eyes, eager for his answer.

"Marry me first."

But before I could react, there was a banging on the front door. I looked at Edward for answers. He took my hand and we went straight downstairs. I opened the door.

Jacob.

The moment he saw us he turned away and walked to the nearby forest. I glanced at Edward. He was straining to keep his face calm. I had no idea what thoughts Jacob was thinking to make Edward pull that face. I just knew it wasn't good. Edward held my hand tighter, and we walked out the door to follow him, the door clicking shut behind us.

Edward stopped walking for a moment, looking down at me.

"Bella. You didn't get a chance to answer. Will you marry me?" he urged. My mind raced, thinking back on all the memories of my parents' failed marriage, and how that had affected me. How that had changed my views on the whole affair of marrying someone. But since I was planning on spending eternity with Edward, it was illogical to not want to marry him. I was so young, and I had so much to learn. But I knew there would be no-one else I would rather be with. No-one compared. So I answered.

"Yes."

Edward gave me a wide dazzling smile, and kissed me softly for a long moment. He hugged me tight in his arms.

"I love you," he whispered into my shoulder, before holding out his hand for me. I slid my hand into his. I held tightly as we followed Jacob towards the forest, and I didn't know whether my increased heart rate was because of love or fear.

There we have it! We all know what happens next, as Jake reminds them about the treaty etc. the same as in the original noverl Reviews are welcome, feel free to leave your comments. I love feedback, it helps me improve my work. Thanks so much for reading! Much love... :)