“The Volturi.”

“Yes.”

I sat next to him and twisted my ponytail around my finger. They were near. Somewhere. Alice had seen them. Waiting.

“How many did Alice see?” I asked.
“Only Aro,” Said Edward, “But that doesn’t mean anything.”

I rested my head on his shoulder, staring at the floor, I knew I had to ask. “Edward,” I began, “You know what they are coming for…”

“I’m not biting you now,” Said Edward, getting up.

“But what is going to happen when they come to make sure I’m changed, Edward? What then?”

“Nothing!” He said, “Nothing is going to happen. Nothing will ever harm you. Not while I’m around.”

“But, Edward, they are more powerful. If you did it now then I will be like you and we won’t have so much worry.”

“Until they want you for their army.”

“IF I’m talented.”

“They have reasons for thinking you will be. Bella, you are the one exception to my talent, as well as theirs.”

“Edward-”

“No!”

“Listen-”

“Bella! Enough! It’s not going to be now, just forget it.”

He began to leave the room. I got up and followed him, “We aren’t finished here!” I said.

“Yes. We are.” He continued, walking down the long hallway.

“Okay, it doesn’t have to be now, but it IS going to happen! You’re forgetting I’m in a house FULL of vampires who WANT to see me change!”

We were on the staircase now. Edward stopped and turned around so quickly that I fell onto the step below me. I glanced down to see Esme, Carlisle, Jasper, and Alice standing at the bottom, obviously hearing the shouting.

“They wouldn’t dare,” Edward hissed, then turned and ran out of the house.

Tension was high between me and Edward. It seemed that lately it was all too easy for me to set him off, something I could never do.

The Cullens said nothing. They looked at me for a moment, then returned to whatever it was they were doing.

I still sat on the stairs, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for Edward to come back. But he didn’t come.

Dejected, I went back up the stairs, and into the bedroom. It had been raining for quite some time, making the room gloomy. There had to be someway to make Edward happy with me again. Suddenly, I had an idea.

* * *

When Edward finally returned, he found my surprise. The window was covered with the blanket, making the room dim despite the afternoon. I had draped red tissue paper over the lamps, casting a rosy glow. I had surrounded myself on the bed with rose petals, and was wearing black lingerie that I borrowed from Alice (they fit, to my surprise.)

“Hello, sailor,” I teased.

“Nice lace,” said Edward.

“Come here.”

Edward smiled and shut the door. Bliss returned to our relationship faster than it had gone.