“Why prolong this?” he whispered as he motioned vaguely at himself.

“Because I don’t want to lose you. You’re part of this family, Demetri. If you would just let us, we’d help you…make things easier, more bearable…” I trailed off.

He smiled, slowly shaking his head back and forth, his soulless eyes never leaving mine. “Do you think that given enough time that I will meet someone else to fill the void?”

I thought his words over. I believed with all my heart and soul that Edward was it for me. That if he were to die there would only be two options for me: that I would live out the rest of my miserable existence without love and all alone or to die. I sighed. “No, of course not.”

“Then why must I linger here?” he pleaded.

“Because I don’t want to kill you,” I snapped getting frustrated with our daily arguments. “I thought we agreed that you would make a real effort to deal with…her death. I’m fairly certain that was part of our agreement.”

He scoffed. “Our agreement is based on the pretext that you will actually destroy me. I fear that has never been your intention. Why should I have to stick to our sham of a bargain if you do not have to oblige?”

Stupid logical vampires. “Fine! I swear that I will kill you if you swear that you will make an honest attempt at living again. Which means that you must hunt.” I stood pulling on his hand with all my newborn strength. “So get up lazy butt. We’ll have to make due with docile animals. No time to go somewhere full of ferocious bears or lions,” I said in mock disappointment.

A real smile flitted across his face. “There’s always wolves.”

I pushed him hard in the chest causing him to slam into the wall leaving a crack from ceiling to floor.

“Oh damn! Esme is gonna kill me,” I groaned. Then I heard one of the most wondrous sounds – Demetri’s laughter filling the room. It was brief, but far more than I ever expected. Perhaps I wouldn’t have to make good on my bargain after all.

“Thank you, Bella. You make this all a little more endurable.” He hugged me tightly. I heard the sound of Demetri’s door opening and Edward’s scent drifted through the room. Of course he’d come in now. Not ten seconds earlier or five seconds later, but now.