Incredible.  Bella is so incredible.  And amazing.  Sexy beyond words.  What has gotten into me?

I was sitting quietly next to Bella on the bed as she got her much needed rest before her meeting with Sam, when a feeling of need and lust washed over me.  In the same moment I heard a loud groan come from Emmett and Rosalie's room, followed by a whispered, "Sorry" from Jasper.  Oh boy.  I ducked my head and tried to fight the feelings Jasper had unintentionally sent roaming through the house.

"Mmmm."  My head snapped up to see Bella, still asleep, moaning my name.  "Oh, Edward.  Edward."

In an instant I was kneeling over her, my hands on either side of her head.  I felt a rumble in my chest as I whispered her name, every muscle in my body aching to touch her.  My growl - evidently more audible to human ears than I had noticed -- caused Bella's heart to falter for a moment, settling into a quicker rhythm.  She began to adjust and stretch, letting out the most adorable sounds as she did so.

"Mmmm, what time is it?"  With some effort her eyes opened just enough to see me, but then slipped closed again after her question.  I waited a moment, wondering if she was falling back to sleep.  When I determined she wasn't I informed her that it was almost six.  Her eyes snapped open at my words and she sat up, a surprised look on her face.  I moved, allowing her to sit comfortably but not taking my eyes off of hers.

"Edward?"  I saw the confusion on her face and realized I wasn't hiding my state of mind very well.

"I'm sorry, love.  Alice and Jasper retired to their bedroom for the evening, and they seem to have caused quite the mood.  I think Jasper may have inadvertently spread his emotion to the rest of the house.  And then I heard you speak..."  I let my sentence trail off as I watched her face turn from confused to mortified, and then to startled as a shiver ran through her body.

I tried to stifle my knowing smile.  "See what I mean?" 

Her response was better than words.  She put a hand on either side of my face and pulled me to her as roughly as she could manage.  I gave into her request, kissing her back as gently yet forcefully as I could.

I tried to tune out Emmett and Rosalie as their flirting moved to the next level.

Whoa, she's so hot right now.  Oh man, here she comes!  The image of Rosalie flying across the room and knocking Emmett over was paired with the crash of Emmett hitting the ground and the sound of Rosalie's laugh, clearly impressed with herself.

Bella pulled away, her eyes wide.  "Was that Rosalie?"  I didn't get a chance to speak before Emmett bellowed the answer across the house.

"Damn right!  That's my woman taking charge!"

I rolled my eyes as he answered, his response making Bella's cheeks turn an irresistible shade of pink. 

Bella's eyebrows crunched together, raising in the middle of her forehead as her eyes pleaded for -- what I assumed to be -- privacy.  With no more encouragement needed, I swiftly swept Bella into my arms and flew down the stairs and through the back door.  She had her hands around my shoulders, and adjusted herself so she could wrap her legs around my waist, sending a jolt through my body. 

About fifty feet into the forest was when I decided I couldn't wait any longer.  I pushed Bella's back up against a tree, leaving her legs wrapped firmly around my waist as I let my lips mold to her smooth skin.  I left a trail of kisses along her jaw, skipping down to her collar bone and continuing there.  I felt the heat of her blood rushing under my lips as I kissed down to the hollow of her throat, her heart hammering the blood through her veins at a rapid rate.  The sensation that used to make me crave her blood now only made me hungry for her body.  I moved back up to let our lips meet, her mouth demanding more than I was giving.

I moved my hands to her waist, sliding them up her silky skin as I lifted off her top, tossing it to the ground.  I leaned back slightly to gaze -- or gawk -- at her incredible body.  Her chest was heaving while she tried to catch her breath.  I let my eyes fall to her waist and felt her hips move beneath me.  I stilled my movements, trying to maintain my essential self-control as her body reacted to the moment. 

I leaned in slowly, kissing along her stomach and up to her side.  I felt her breathing quicken under my touch, and her body tense perceptibly as I reached her ribs, where I knew she was ticklish.

Moving back to her lips, I kissed her more tenderly than before.  I slipped my tongue through her lips to meet hers, feeling a sensation I had never felt before from our kisses.  Her sweet taste was intensified in this moment, and I wanted her more than I ever had.  I wanted her on a deeper level, the need gaining quickly in strength and urgency -- a terrifying need I recognized as my throat began to burn.

I jerked back when I realized the taste had been intensified with -- blood.  "Bella?"  I swallowed the venom that had pooled in my mouth as I begged for her to answer me.  "Bella, are you Ok?  Why are you bleeding?  Bella?"

Her lips were pressed in a tight line, her eyes squeezed shut.  "Bella!"  Her eyes flew open and I could see the pain through them -- the lava she felt enveloping her body.  "NO!"

I was back at the house in a matter of seconds.  Carlisle was already on his way out the door when I came in, having heard my yelling in the forest.  "What is it, son?"

I was nearly shaking when I spoke, trying to spew the words as quickly as I could.  "I think she had a cut, and my venom entered it when we were kissing.  I have to suck it out, now!"  I laid her down on the floor in front of me as I leaned in, preparing to repeat the process to save Bella from the change, the previous encounter still vivid in my memory.

 "No."  Her voice was only a whisper, and the word was spoken through gritted teeth.

 "Bella, it's almost over."  I reached down to take her mouth in mine when I felt her small hand pushing at my chest, away from her.  I looked to her hand and back at her eyes, my own begging for explanation.

 "I. . . want. . .this."  Her words were forced, separated by pained grunts and shallow breathing.  She let her eyes fall closed again, her mouth still straining to keep her lips together. 

I stared at her -- completely horrified -- for what seemed like an eternity.  Could I let her do this right now, with all that has happened?  I knew it had been coming, but Carlisle and I had prepared for an easier transformation, steps to be taken that could help speed the process along and make it less painful. 

I whispered, no, under my breath as I leaned in again, nearly to her mouth when I was yanked back.  I turned my head to see Rosalie standing beside me, her hand still on my arm.

"What are you doing?  I need to do this now, there is no time!"  She leaned in front of me to meet my eyes, her own filled with -- sympathy?  I had heard her thoughts when she had spoken to Bella earlier, but I didn't realize that she had completely changed her mind.  If I wasn't so furious with her at that moment, I may have actually thanked her.

"Edward, this is what she wants.  Don't take it from her again."  You know it's going to happen, and you know it needs to happen soon.  Don't ruin this because you're selfish or afraid.  Just let it go! 

My anger erupted at her thoughts, a growl forming low in my chest.  She reflexively backed away as I shoved myself away from Bella, launching forward toward Rosalie.  I was halted mid-air by none other than Esme, causing me to fall to the floor next to her feet.  I didn't feel the strength to stand, so I raised my head to look at her instead, confused and ashamed.

I had heard her mind scream in maternal pain as I hit the ground, but she willed herself to stay strong and be the mother I needed in that moment.  "Edward Cullen.  You will not attack your sister for trying to help.  This is what Bella wants, and we knew this day would come.  You need to just be with her right now.  You need to help her through this."  She knelt next to me, kissing me on the forehead.  "Please, Edward, be the man I know you are.  Bella needs that man."

I dropped my head for a moment, conceding to the decision, and then quickly crossed the floor again to be at Bella's side.  Everyone's thoughts began to fill my head as I tried to focus on what I needed to do.  Alice was nearly bouncing with the joy of the image in her head, an absolutely stunning vampire walking next to me, hand in hand.  Wow.  Jasper was tempering her emotions with a calm, peaceful feeling, knowing I might lose it if she displayed her excitement any more than she already was.  I scowled at Alice, hiding my own brimming excitement at the image she was showing me, as Jasper answered my stare.  Sorry man, I'm trying.

Carlisle spoke aloud, his tone urgent and meaningful.  "Edward, you need to get as much venom as possible into Bella right away.  Start with the jugular vein and carotid artery."

I leaned forward, hovering over Bella's rigid body as I let my teeth sink through the skin on the right side of her neck.  The warm, sweet sensation of her blood filled every corner of my mouth, nearly sending me into the frenzy I was so desperately afraid of.  My eyes rolled into the back of my head as I let the smooth liquid flow down my throat.  I let the stream continue for a few seconds before, with a great deal of effort, reversing the flow to pump venom into her system.  I tried to match the blood she had lost with venom before releasing her neck, my throat burning in a screaming pain for more of Bella.  I followed the same pattern on both of her wrists, ignoring the monster that begged for more each time.

Bella's heart betrayed her motionless frame, telling me with every labored beat that she was in severe pain.   I felt completely helpless while I watched her make the ultimate sacrifice, for me.  I was so close to her, her blood in my body and my venom in hers.  I didn't know I could have loved Bella any more than I already had until that moment -- seeing the lengths she was going through to solidify our forever.  She was more than I could ever ask for.  More than I deserved. 

Her heart was strained, pumping in erratic rhythms as the venom coursed through her bloodstream.  I picked her up as gently as possible and carried her up the stairs and into our bedroom, laying her lightly on the bed.  I curled my body to hers, running my hands along her smooth skin as I tried to release some of the tension she had in her body, knowing it would not ease the pain.

Carlisle appeared at the door with a large blanket and a stack of ice packs.  He thought to earlier, showing me the image of he and Esme putting the blanket in the freezer before they left for the airport, anticipating that the change would be soon and hoping this would help.  I gave him a thankful smile as I helped him cover Bella with the blanket and scatter ice packs over her body.

I laid back down, adjusting myself to be as close to her as possible without disrupting our arrangement.  The helpless feeling I had at that moment almost took over.  There was nothing I could do, nothing that would ease the burn.  I whimpered as I felt her body twitch under my arm, knowing the pain she was enduring, and not understanding how I could possibly be so useless.  In an effort to take her mind off of the fire, I began to hum her lullaby into her ear.  I felt her expression shift and sat up slightly to see her face.  She was smiling.  It was the faintest smile hidden behind a mask of fear and pain, but it was there.  I felt my voice falter and my chest heave with dry sobs as I sang, my piece taking on new levels of meaning and devotion in that moment.

I stayed right there with Bella, singing and stroking her arm for the duration of her change.  I stayed with my wife -- my soul mate -- while she was dragged through the deepest, darkest pits of Hell to stay with me.  Forever.