Author's Note: Just quickly, I wanted to thank Fluffster and BetaMichelle for, as you can guess, being my betas. I encourage everyone who hasn't already to go check out our Twilight community, twilightfans, over at livejoural and give the Plot Bunny List a read for ideas. Enjoy and please review!

This was what I wanted. Undeniably. In fact, I didn’t think there was anything I wanted more.

Truthfully, I was going to miss a few of the perks of mortality. The necessity of eating, for instance. Going outside in the sunshine without glittering like fairydust. The ability to blend into a crowd. And of course, I couldn't begin to explain to my parents what happened to their little girl.

But when I thought of who I was doing this for, despite his protests that he liked my humanness, it made all my doubts disappear. You can't fight destiny.

I could make out the vampire’s extraordinary eyes from across the dark room, looking me up and down. I stood my ground, staring at him defiantly, daring him to deny my request.

He rose slowly from his seat, pacing away from me.

"Will you do it?" I asked quietly, but firmly. He paused, resting his pale hand on the black leather armchair.

"That depends," he answered at the same volume. He met my eyes and his voice grew louder. "Are you serious about this?" I nodded slowly. "You’re sure this is what you desire?" I nodded again. He sat and rubbed his forehead wearily, although I knew he wasn’t tired in the slightest.

"Believe it or not, I find myself at a crossroads, Bella," he said in his deep, pleasing voice. I cocked my head, prompting him to go on.

He watched me carefully. "On the one hand, you certainly look and smell delectable. I’m sure I would enjoy you." He sniffed the air. "No, no doubt about that. On the other hand, I have been a lucky guest in the Cullen home for a month now, and it would be a poor way to repay them, don’t you think? Not to mention what your Edward will do to me when he discovers it was I that fed off you." He smiled weakly.

"You mean, if Edward discovers it was you," I corrected. I had no intention of telling my boyfriend about any of this.

"When," he restated, lowering his voice. "He would smell it in an instant."

"Then you run."

"And the Cullens? It was almost human of them to take me into their home and teach me their way of life. Especially with you walking around here so often." I sensed a trace of aggression in his tone, as if I came around the Cullen home merely to tempt him.
For the first time since I’d approached him with my request, I stepped toward him.

"Was this life ever meant for you anyway? You’re a hunter. Could you ever be content to live on animals?" I spat the word in disgust. And Edward said I couldn’t act.

I took a few more daring steps, until I was kneeling next to the armchair. He stared at his knees, pondering my words. His finders gripped the arms of the chair, making indents in the leather. I was getting to him already. I decided to push it a little further.

"You know what I want. You know what you want. Why deny it?" I whispered urgently in his ear. He made no move to escape. He was listening. "It’s natural. We’d be doing each other a favour."

And then I unleashed my deadliest weapon - myself. I reached around behind my head and swept my hair back so the right side of my neck was exposed. Then I leaned in toward him and turned my head so my flesh was inches from his face. I caught his expression, looking out of the corner of my eye.

He didn’t bother to avoid me. His eyes, now pure black, stared hungrily at my throat. His nostrils flared, trying to capture more of my scent. I smiled. I knew I had him.

"And Edward?" he asked in a strangled voice, not taking his eyes off my throat. I flinched at the mention of my boyfriend’s name. I’d been trying to keep the projected image of his pained face out of my head throughout this conversation. My reaction didn’t go unnoticed. "What will he think when he finds you cold?"

I’d thought long about that, more than I was willing to let myself. Just picturing his pained expression caused pangs in my chest. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him. But I'd come this far, so close to acheiving my goal. Once he got over his initial disappointment in me, he would realize that I did this for us.

"He’ll deal with it," I replied softly. "He’ll understand." Edward knew it was coming, anyway, no matter how much he refused to believe Alice. He had to be somewhat prepared for this.

"How do you know he can’t hear us?" he asked, his voice slightly more controlled, although anxious. I could tell he was on the last leg of his argument. "He could be on his way here right now."

"Edward thinks I’m safe at home. He has no reason to believe I’m here." That, I wasn’t sure of. He didn’t trust his house guest, so there was a chance he was listening in right now. But I couldn’t say that. "The Cullens won’t be home for hours." The thunder chimed in effectively.

I turned my head back to face him and stared as he deliberated. Finally, he rose, jaw clenched.

"Alright," he said, finally meeting my gaze. "I’ll do it."

I smiled, pleased with my victory, and stood, stepping as close to him as necessary. We were surprisingly close to the same height. He decided to take this slowly, to enjoy as much of me as possible before indulging. His patience was certainly admirable.

He ran a cold fingertip along my exposed throat, then leaned in to smell my neck once more. Sighing with pleasure, he circled me, running his fingers through my hair, then coming to a stop in front of me again. Carefully, he brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

His cool touch reminded me of Edward and made me feel worse. If it was Edward’s face I was staring into, the prospect of pain wouldn’t seem so terrible. Not to mention my incredible guilt from betraying him, sneaking around behind his back. He’d rip this man to shreds if he were to see him touching me this way.

I shivered as he dragged the tip of his tongue from the base of my throat to my chin. I felt like I was being marinated.

"You know, I’m curious, Bella," he murmured in my ear, smoothing my hair with his palm. "Of all the vampires you know, why trust me?"

"Convenience," I stated simply, fixating my glare on the wall behind him. Actually, he was more or less my last option. Edward refused again and again, and he would massacre the other Cullens if they so much as pinched me. This made more sense than leaving Forks to find another vampire.

My simple answer was good enough for him. He chuckled and pressed his cool cheek against my warm one.

"So young...so willing to give up her life for one of eternal darkness. Reminds me of when I was young, really," he mused. If he didn't do this now, I knew I was going to back out.

"Laurent, just do it," I snapped, pulling my head back to meet his eyes. They flashed ruby once before darkening again. His handsome face widened in a smile and he growled with pleasure. He exposed his teeth and lowered his head. I squeezed my eyes shut.

The bite itself was nothing. I waited, feeling the strength leave my body slowly. When I was limp in his arms, Laurent laid me down in the armchair and quietly left the room, no doubt to prepare himself to leave Forks forever.

And yet, as the fire intensified and overtook my body, I smiled, pleased that my life was finally beginning.