A Potter Secret

The Cullens' Decisions

Bella sits bolt upright, yelling. "Stop!" Bella says. She catches her breath, disoriented, confused. Then she turns to find Edward lying beside her, looking at her. "It wasn't a dream."

"Go back to sleep. You've been through a lot," Edward replies.

"No, you might-"

"I'll be here when you wake up."

She looks at him, wary. "Why? Out of guilt?" Bella asks.

"You think I asked the Volturi to kill me because I felt guilty?"

"Didn't you?"

"I went to them because I thought I'd lost you."

"You didn't even want me." Now Edward takes her by the shoulders.

"Bella. The only reason I left was to protect you. I wanted you to have a chance at a normal, happy life," Edward says.

"But it was so easy for you to leave."

"I had to be convincing. But easy? In my hundred years, I've never had a harder time than what I just went through." She's beginning to believe him.

"I kept seeing you- visions of you. Always protecting me. I thought I was going crazy," Bella says.

"Your own instincts were speaking to you. I wish it had been me. But you're the heroic one. You saved me," Edward replies.

He moves to kiss her but abruptly stops. suddenly her door swings open she spins toward it as the lights flip on and Charlie enters. Edward is gone. "You alright? Another nightmare?" Charlie asks.

"I'm okay. You don't have to worry," Bella replies.

"Last time you said that, you disappeared. You want to talk nightmares?"

"I'm really sorry, Dad," Bella apologizes.

"Just don't ever do that to me again. Okay? I'm supposed to protect you."

"I know."

"Get some rest so I can keep lecturing you in the morning."

He kisses her forehead. Then he exits. Edward steps out from behind the door and kneels by her side. "He won't forgive me easily," Edward says.

"Nope," Bella replies.

"Will you? I don't deserve it, but I hope you will. Because I honestly have no idea how to live without you."

Bella melts as he kisses her. "You won't be able to get rid of me once Alice changes me."

"She won't have to. There are ways to keep the Volturi in the dark," Edward replies.

"They'll come after your whole family. You'd risk that just to keep me human?"

"Just? You really don't understand what you'd be giving up."

"I really do." Bella thinks for a moment before realizing that something deep in her mind screams at her to go for it. They look at each other, at an impasse. She decides something, grabs her jeans, pulls them on. "You're not the only one with a say in it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You all know what Edward wants. And you know what I want. But I won't force myself on you," Bella says. The entire Cullen family surround Bella. The house has been restored to its original warmth and beauty. Edward sits off to the side as Bella addresses them. "I think the only fair way to handle this is by vote," Bella says.

"You can't be serious," Edward mutters.

"Shut up," Bella interrupts. Edward, frustrated, sits back. She faces the family again. "Then let's take a vote. Alice?"