“Well, the smack itself didn’t do much damage, luckily. Just a bruise or two on your chest. What really did the damage was the landing, as it always does.” Edward was looking down shamefully once again. All I wanted to do was to wrap my arms around him and let him know I was all right. But I felt that what he needed now was to sulk a bit and then I would step in.

“It wasn’t really anything serious. Your spinal chord and spine are fine. You only fainted from the extreme psychological stress and a miss-sent message to your brain. You probably will be taken off of the IV in a few hours. We, of course, just didn’t want to put you in any more pain than necessary.” He smiled and I thanked him. He left then, giving Edward and I some time to straighten things out.

“You know I’m not mad at you.” I smiled and he looked up.

“Well you should be. It would be the normal thing to do."

I smiled and returned in a playful tone, “Well there’s really nothing normal about our relationship at all, is there?” His eyebrow raised and he smiled.

“I suppose you’re right.” We quieted and I decided I had to break the silence. I twiddled my fingers, thinking of something to say. Questions of Jacob filled my head. Where was he now? Does he hate me? So many questions. But I felt like all of these wouldn’t be the best idea. But with my newly formed question, I hoped Edward would answer them all without me asking.

“You know, I’m going to have to see him eventually.” We both knew who I was talking about. His lips pressed into a hard line and his eyes measured my own expression.

“I don’t want you anywhere near him. Didn’t you hear me before? He could kill you! And then what would happen? I would be forced to kill him and the treaty would be broken. We would have to move or fight and–”

“What are you talking about? What treaty? What do you mean fight?” My voice grew slowly more and more concern filled, causing it to rise until I was practically yelling in a high pitched tone that hurt even my ears.

He sighed. “As you know from Jacob’s little tell-all story from the beach that night, werewolves and vampires are enemies. The only reason we can live here is the fact that we only feed on animals. If we were to feed on a human or attack the pack, the treaty would be broken. They would want a fight to the death to protect their people. We would fight or run, probably run now that you are involved. I would never put you in danger unnecessarily, as you know.” I nodded and looked down.

“What if I was supervised? On… your land. I just… I need to talk to him. I’m afraid he’s blaming himself for everything that has happened to me in the last few days. I don’t want him to do anything rash. And… If you’re enemies, he must not approve of us. Couldn’t we try, Edward? Please?”

I could tell it was killing him for me to feel like this. I was winning this battle. Whether he liked it or not. He looked back to the window, deep in thought, and I stared with pleading eyes into the back of his head.

“I’ll try. But you’re not getting any privacy or alone time or anything. I will have to be able to hear you and him. And in case he starts losing it I have to be able to step in to get you out of there.” I smiled and he pressed his lips into a hard line, shaking his head.

“Thank you, Edward. I love you.” I kissed him and once I started feeling dizzy, he pulled away.

“I love you too, Bella.”