The Wedding

***this is a tribute to wonderful characters that Stephenie Meyer has created....here's to hoping for the best!***



August 13 has finally come. I’m very excited in spite of myself. I made very few plans for this day. Maybe that’s why I’m so anxious. I’ve seen the dress, beautiful white lace, the one I saw in my dreams. Alice took the blueprints right from there. It was sketched out, then sent and hand stitch in Paris. It must have cost a fortune. The dress is vintage lace covering the entire dress. It has a high neck and long sleeves. It's something you’d see in Ann of Green Gables. The sleeves are pure lace as well as the collar. The bodice has tiny ornate buttons that continue down the whole front of the dress. The skirt is not big compared to the dresses of today, but at the time the thought went into my head and was later extracted by Alice, I was thinking of how Edward’s wedding would have been had he married in 1920, before becoming a Vampire, after all, this whole wedding thing is for him.
Alice and I decided on a more traditional hairstyle. It has all been pulled up into a sleek twist of sorts. There are small white flowers weaved through some soft curls that were intentionally left out. Alice did my makeup, while I sat there feeling like a Barbie doll, I couldn’t help but think that today I did look a little bit special. I hoped Edward thought so.
The time finally came for me to put on the dress. The last act before I was to leave Alice’s oversized bathroom and make that final walk as Isabella Swan. Alice helped slip the dress over my head so I didn’t mess up my hair.
“Can you ….,” I fumbled with the first button, “do, this?” I sighed. Alice had insisted that I get my nails done for the occasion. Now I was even more clumsy than normal.
“Oh. Of course.” Her graceful fingers had the 35 buttons done up before I even looked down. “Ok, I’ll be right back. I need tell them that you’re ready!” She clapped as she danced out the door. As my maid of honor she was in charge of everything. There had been rules, and she’d followed them as closely as I ever thought she would.
She disappeared leaving me alone in her room. I turned around and happened to glance myself in the full size mirror. Not bad. Not as good as I will look in a few weeks when Edward changes me, but not bad for a human.
A human, all too soon it would be a thing of the past, that’s how I’ll have to look at it from now on. “Back when I was a human…..,” I thought. I had to block that from my thoughts right now. I had more important matters to freak out about.
In a matter of minutes I will be walking down the aisle to get married. I’m getting married I kept saying to myself. I don’t want to turn into my mother. But there is no way that I’ll end up feeling like her, looking for a way out. This is true love. Edward will take care of me and we’ll be happy forever, I repeated to myself trying to calm down.
I hope I don’t get that look form the few guests that I allowed Alice to invite. I hate that look. The look that says, your way to young to be getting married. The look my mother and father had been giving me since Edward asked them for my hand. “Ugh,” I said out loud. Then I started to hyperventilate. Alice walked in at that precise moment. I looked up with fear in my eyes and suddenly felt amazingly better.
“I thought you might be able to use a little help,” she smiled sheepishly as she pointed behind her to Jasper. I loved it that she saw the future when it was for my benefit.
“Thank you so much Jasper. Do you think you could hold my hand through this whole thing?” I said half jokingly. Knowing that by touching me his magic worked the best.
“I wouldn’t mind, but holding hands with my future sister in law, during her wedding may not look very good to the guests. Besides, Edward might get the wrong idea,” he said raising his eyebrows and giving me one of his debonair smiles.
“Fine, but at least stay close.” I sulked.
“As co-best man, I’ll be on the other side of Edward, but you already know that,” he laughed. I fully got the joke, Alice was the rehearsal Natzi. She made sure that everyone knew where they were to be and when.
There was a knock at the door. “May I come in?” was the soft voice of my father.
“Come in Charlie,” Alice sang.
“They’re ready for the bride. And I was hoping to catch a few moments alone with her before it gets underway.” He quietly said to the room of people, without looking at anyone. He had reluctantly adorn the suit that all the men in the wedding were wearing. Again, it was akin to suits of the 1920’s. He wore a white shirt with thin gray stripes, large collar, with lapels up. A wide gray and brown striped tie, hung loosely tied around his neck. He had a brown vest over the shirt and brown pants. Edward chose the color of the suit. Brown, because I had once mentioned that it was my favorite color.
“Wow, dad you look great!” I said a little too shocked. If Charlie looked this good, I could barely fathom how good Edward would look.
Everyone filed out leaving me with the father of the bride. “Bella, honey,” he started once the door shut. At that same moment my heart started pounding again. Jasper had better keep to his word. I had to remind myself to breath, which made it hard to concentrate on Charlie, but I had to force myself. There was so little time left for things like this.
“What’s up Dad? Wondering what’s for dinner? Sorry, but I’m a little busy today,” I teased.
“I just wanted to tell you, that even though I haven’t always thought that Edward was the best for you, I meant what I told him.” He looked up at me and saw the confusion in my eyes. “Didn’t Edward tell you about our conversation when he came and ask for permission?”
“No, he only said that you said yes, since that was the most important to me, I let it go. Edward wanted to do this whole thing old fashion like. I‘m letting him have his way on that,” I explained grudgingly. Remembering back to the day he proposed and I accepted. It wasn’t the first proposal, but it was the first acceptance. Our physical relationship was very guarded, and when I literally begged to take it to the next level, with my upcoming change in store, he gave me a compromise. Marry him first. That was all. With the marriage sealed I would get two things I wanted: One, him physically; and two for him to be the one to change me. He had played his hand well, and I agreed to be his wife. After only a few short minutes I was fully on board, and slightly excited, but every now and then the nerves crept back up.
“Well, I told him that if he ever hurt you again, I would hunt him down.” he smiled, and continued, “but that I really thought the two of you were a good match. You’re both so mature for your ages. He’ll take good care of you. You both have bright futures to look forward to. I can see that you love him very much and that he loves you too. After you move away to start your lives together, don’t forget that your mother and I love you too,” he ended with a kiss on the top of my head. There was another knock on the door leaving me no time to tell him all that was in my heart.
“It’s time,” Alice squealed.
I looked at Charlie, tears filled my wide eyes and his mirrored mine. “You’ll be fine. You made a good choice.” Charlie comforted me.
“I know I have. I am more afraid of something going wrong later,” I said with a shaky voice.
“Listen, Bella, you two are nothing like your mother and I. You’ve gotten to know each other and you’re both willing to compromise. Plus, the biggest difference, you’re leaving Forks together.” With that he grabbed my hand and started walking, if not dragging me down the hall.
I looked down the hall and caught Alice giving me a backward glace, smiling hugely then she was gone. As we came to the top of the stairs of the Cullen’s home, my heart stopped beating for a different reason than before. In front of me were 14 stairs, at the bottom 30 people waiting for me to fall down them. I had counted them more than once and pled with Alice not to make walk down them. She and my father assured me that I would be fine. I trusted Alice’s premonitions better than my father’s secure arm, but as I stared down at all 14 stairs I forgot all about Alice. Charlie must have felt me tense, because he locked his elbow in mine and whispered, “you’ll be fine. Just take one at a time.”
Down we went. One at a time, I saw nothing else until I reached the bottom. Only then did I dare look up. When I did it caught my breath. All the furniture had been removed from the Cullen’s open living room, all but my favorite piece. A beautiful grand piano. Coming from that piano was the loveliest sound. Second only to my own lullaby that Edward had wrote for me. This had a similar sound, but it was different. I knew in an instant that Edward was the composer. Tears weld up in my eyes. There wasn’t a place in the room not adorn with beautiful wildflowers. Bouquets everywhere, they smelled amazing. Each chair lining the aisle had a small bouquet hanging from it. The big picture window looked out onto the serene mountain scenery tying it all together.
We turned to walk down between the two sets of chairs. Every one stood up and turned to look at me. I should have been shaking a lot harder than I was, Jasper must have been keeping his promise. My eyes searched the crowd. There was Angela and Ben, both smiling. I’m going to miss her. There was Mike Newton and his family. Mike’s look was sincerely happy for me. At least I was marrying the man I turned him down for. His mother however had the look. There were a few people from the hospital where Carlisle worked and from Charlie’s police station. No one from La Push was there. My heart sank a bit with the thought that my best friend could not stand to see me make this decision.
Then, I looked up. The truth hit me as I saw him for the first time. Nothing else mattered. None of these people staring at me or the lack of some one not in attendance. Edward and myself was all that would ever matter. I saw the look in his eyes. If he was able to cry, he would be. His eyes were a smoldering shade of topaz. He could have made fortunes by being a male model for Calvin Klein. My imagination did nothing for the way he looked. I’ve never even dreamed him so beautiful. I felt my knees getting weak and realized I wasn’t breathing, this made me blush. As the blood rose to my cheeks I saw Edward smile in awareness and he took a big breath of the air that held the smell of my boiling blood and my face reacted again.
We got to the point where my father is to “give me away” and stopped. All I wanted to do is reach out and touch Edward’s all to perfect body. My eyes were locked into a gaze with Edward so I didn’t hear when the judge asked who gives away this women and Charlie said “I do.” That was my queue and I’d missed it. Edward smiled bigger and broke the connection. I stepped up and he took my hand.
The judge kept it short and sweet. Do you take him, do you take her, blah, blah, blah. I had made that non-negotiable. But then right before we were to be pronounce man and wife Edward interrupted with a cough.
“May I please say something?” he asked the judge.
“Of course,” the judge gestured as to say, the floor is yours.
Edward began as he took my hands and turned me to face him. He was all that I could see. “Isabella Swan, I needed to take a moment in front of all the people that are important to us, and make you a promise. I promise you I will never let anyone hurt you. I will never leave you and I will never, never stop loving you. If I lived to be 100,000 years old, I will keep these promises.” There were a few smiles from those “in the know.” “The hundred thousand years” was a good touch, I thought. I smiled through my tears. He let go of my hand and put both of his on my face. He leaned in close and took a deep breath.
“You sing to me,” he whispered and he gently kissed my lips. I remembered how Aro had described the connection between Edward and I. He said that I sang to him. I was his singer. I cringed at the thought of the Volturi, but that wouldn’t be a worry soon enough. Noticing my cringe he wasted no time, and kissed me. It was better than the first time he kissed me. So many of his kisses had felt like he was saying goodbye. This kiss felt like he was saying hello. It was hard to not kiss him back as ferociously as my body wanted me to, but for once I restrained. I let the cold tingling sensation flow from my lips down through my body and back up. He stopped kissing me at that moment and turned his lips to my year and whisper so softly I barely heard it, “breath, my lovely wife.”
I obeyed, after realizing that he was now holding me up completely and I was only a few moments away from passing out. “Would his kisses have the same affect afterward, “ I let myself ponder.
The judge snickered and said, “Well you kissed the bride, so I guess I’ll pronounce you Husband and Wife. Kiss her again!”
This time I did throw myself into the kiss. He was mine forever. He could never leave me now. He was legally mine. I wanted him to feel that with my kiss. Edward pushed me away after a second.
“Not yet, Bella. For that, you’ll have to wait for tonight,” he said very naughtily.
“I love you so much, Edward.”
“I know, me too.”
We started back down the aisle as husband and wife. I was more excited about this moment that I thought I would be. There would be no more curfews, no more leaving him and walking into my house alone. We would always be together. I wanted to scream I was so happy. My heart thumped loud in my chest.
“You ok?” Edward asked, having heard my blood rushing through my veins.
“I’m…just….so….amazingly…..happy!” I stuttered out.
“It’s not too much?” he asked, motioning to the flowers tucked in every nook and cranny.
“Actually, everything is perfect. Thank you for the song, it made me cry,” I sighed.
“That’s my present to you…..Well one of my presents to you.” He smiled mischievously again.





The reception
. By this time it was twilight. The time that has also become my favorite time of day. It is the safest time for vampires. The plan was to hold the reception outside. I thought we should have tents on hand in case it rained, but again Alice had this taken care of. It was to sprinkle in the morning, (which it did) and it would clear up and be a beautiful warm August evening (which it was). We walked out the door through the kitchen to meet my guests and it was like walking into my own personal hell. If the wedding was perfect, beautiful, not over the top……the reception was the exact opposite
There were twinkling lights hung on every tree surrounding the meadow that encircled the house. There was a banquet table set up with more food on it than the 30 human guests could eat in two days. There were round tables strategically placed. At the front of the tables was a stage and a band was finishing setting up. Then I saw it. It confirmed that I would have to kill Alice. A dance floor laid out in the middle of the tables.
The lightheartedness of moments ago had vanished, “you knew about this! Where is she? I‘m going to kill her,” I snarled at Edward.
“Bella, calm down. It’s all in who’s leading, remember prom. You admitted that you had a good time there. And this is your wedding,” Edward tried to convince me.
“Exactly, so they’ll all be staring at me,” I said while trying to find the closest way out of the backyard.
Edward chuckled and drug me toward the tables. The guests were already settling into their seats when the dreaded words sounded from speakers that were conspicuously hidden.
“Ladies and gentleman, let me be the first to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen in their first dance as a married couple,” the lead singer of the band announced.
Three of my top 5 fears were in that sentence. The two left out were Edward leaving me and the Volturi coming back before I was changed. This left me with; standing in front of a crowd being introduced, being married, and dancing.
“Can’t we start the honeymoon right now?” I was pleading with Edward and he was enjoying it too much.
“You would hurt Alice’s feelings,” he smiled as he said the words.
“If I could hurt more than that, I would,” I mumbled as the dance floor got closer to me and my legs started to tremble.
“It would hurt my feelings too. I want to show you off to all these people. Hold you in my arms and never let go. Please, Bella? For me?” he questioned me with those eyes. The ones he knew that I couldn’t say no too. He was playing dirty again.
“Fine, but you can’t use that again for a month,” and with that he lifted me slightly off my feet and we began our first dance. The band was playing an upbeat version of the song that had been playing as I walked down the aisle. I preferred that rendition, but this wasn’t bad either. “I suppose you wrote this too?” I asked slightly annoyed, trying not to look at anyone else.
“Yes,” he said matter of fact.
“Show off,” I laughed, “I like the slow one best.
“Me too.”
I hung on to his neck as we twirled around and I leaned close. Smelling his sweet scent helped me forget the 60 eyeballs that were staring at me. We danced around. It was actually a very romantic scene. In the decades to come maybe I would come to enjoy dancing, and forgive Alice…… maybe. I would definitely have time to practice dancing and hopefully the klutziness will not come through into the vampire I was to become.
The dance ended and we danced with our parents. Charlie and I danced next to Edward and Esme. It was not even fair. We looked like a couple of monkeys trying to balance on a ball compare to their exquisite steps. Then, I danced with Carlisle and Renee danced with Edward. Edward must have warned Carlisle because he held on much tighter than my dad and moved me around the dance floor flawlessly. By then everyone was dancing and I wasn’t so self-conscious.
I was dancing with Jasper and not having a care in the world. “Thank you for the ceremony. It really helped.” I gushed. It was easy to forget oneself in his arms.
Jasper smiled slyly. “I stopped after you came down the stairs.”
“You did?” I asked confused. I had felt so good, I figured it could only be from Jasper.
“Bella, you were on your own. If your thoughts and feelings were elevated, it was all you,” he glanced over my shoulder nodding toward Edward and smiled. Edward was leaning against a table, chewing on a straw with his perfect half smile, looking straight at me. No doubt he heard what Jasper was thinking. It was the only way Edward was able to see my thoughts. It was like we were both finding out something about me at the exact same moment. I was happy to be married to Edward. My Edward.
Edward put down his chew toy, strode over and asked to cut in. “May I?”
“She’s all yours. Watch out for your toes, though,” Jasper laughed as he walked away.
The song the band was now playing was a soft, slow song. We swayed in perfect unison to the lingering beat. “Mrs. Cullen, I love you,” Edward whispered in my ear. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes rolled back into my head.
“I love you too, Mr. Cullen.” We dance for a moment in silence. Then, I looked up with tears in my eyes. “This day was perfect. We finally did something without mistakes. And you know what? You’re stuck with me now, you know. I hope you thought this through,” I smirked at him.
“We’re stuck with each other,” he looked at me with very soft eyes, “ Bella, my love, the only mistake I made was not talking you into this earlier.” He twirled me around and ended on the last note of the song with me dipped in his arms. He leaned down and kissed me with a very passionate kiss.

The reception ended and the guests left one by one. We said our ‘thank you for coming’s” and goodbyes to each of them. Edward didn’t let go of my hand the whole time. After the last person left we walked into the house with the rest of our families. My mother was complimenting Esme on her lovely home and Charlie and Carlisle were discussing fishing, of all things. They all turned when we walked in.
“Well, honey you did it,” my mother smiled at me. “Congratulations, Edward. You got the best part of us.” She gestured at herself and Charlie.
“I know Renee. Thank you for coming, I know it was very quick and bad timing. We appreciate it.” Edward was always so polite.
Paul, Renee’s husband’s season was just starting. He was at a new school and couldn’t just up and leave in 2 weeks notice so Renee had come alone. That was fine with me. Charlie was my father and it made it feel good to have them in the same place at the same time.
Renee was leaving, she had to drive to Seattle tonight to make her flight first thing in the morning. Charlie insisted on driving her. Goodbyes were hard for me. This would be the last time I would see them for a long time. We would go on our pseudo honeymoon and then off to college. In real life Edward would change me into a vampire. After that, I would be different. Things would not be the same. I told them I loved them over ten times. They thought I was nervous about being married. I played along. As they took off down the drive tears flowed over my cheeks.
Then there was that familiar hand around my waist and the soft lips on my neck. I closed my eyes and made the decision to not long after my parents. They were better off without me in their lives for awhile. I would not put them in anymore danger. I had my new husband and my new family. They would have to be enough to get me through the next few years. I would miss Charlie and Renee very much.
The Wedding Night

“Bella, are you ready to go?” Edward said softly into my neck.
“Going? Where are we going?” I asked seriously confused.
“You want to spend your wedding night here?” he asked with one eyebrow raised.
“I just assumed…..”
“You underestimate me.”
He swiftly picked me up in his arms and started his all too familiar ‘walk’ through the woods.
“Aren’t I going to need a change of clothes, toiletries, anything?” I asked curious.
“Taken care of.”
We were going very fast and I just hung on for the ride. After awhile I started to get curious as to where we were going.
“We’re camping on our wedding night? I think I’d rather stay at the house,” I mused.
“Shhhh, sweet non-trusting girl. We‘re almost there,” he smiled. I had no idea where I was.
He slowed down and then let me walk. He pointed through the trees. “Just through there. Go ahead, I’m right behind you.”
I walked straight ahead, when the trees finally parted I recognized where we were. It was our meadow. In the meadow there was a tent. Not a camping tent, but a huge cream colored canvas tent. It was bigger that my room at Charlie’s house. I ran to the door and walked in. There were more twinkling lights hung around the tent, illuminating everything. There was a changing screen in the far corner and a suitcase placed on a small dresser. There was pitcher of water and a basin, like you’d see in movies portraying the early 1900’s, with my toiletries sitting next to it. Next to the pitcher there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers. There must have been a hidden CD player, because the most beautiful music was playing. It was piano, they were Edward’s songs. The most unbelievable part of the tent was right in the middle. A huge four poster bed stood in the middle of the room. It was made of rich redwood. There was a thick cream comforter spread over the top. There was a step stool next to the bed, because of the height, a human would need help getting in.
I tried to take it all in. “How…..When…..How…..” I stammered. “Did Alice…..?”
“No, this was all me.” He walked up to me, put a hand on both sides of my face, looking deep into my eyes, “I told you the only mistake I made was not talking you into this sooner.” His eyes smoldered and there was a look I’d never seen before. It didn’t scare me the way a vampire looking at me should scare me, but it did send an electrical charge from heart to my toes, stopping in all the right places. Then he was kissing me. His hands were not guarded anymore. They lingered on my face and slowly moved down my neck. They caressed my collar bone and then moved to the 30 buttons on my dress. They were no match for his nimble fingers. They were undone quicker than Alice had done them up.
The passionate kiss on the dance floor was nothing compared to this. This was all the fear we’d felt in the past year and a half. It was all the time away from one another. It was all the emotion that two people who were this much in love, all wrapped up in one kiss.
His hand stopped at my waist. He lifted his eyes to mine. “I want this to be perfect, too. Let’s take it slow. I can’t loose control. I must concentrate, do you understand.” He said with all the love he had.
“Yes, I understand. I trust you. I love you, Edward.”
He took a step back, gave me a quick kiss and said, “wait right here.” He turned around and walked toward the changing screen. I looked away and saw my reflection in the small mirror that sat on the dresser. I suddenly became aware of the situation. My dress was half open and I looked at myself in horror as I realized that this was it. The thing I’ve longed for was happening. I sucked in my stomach, fixed my hair, made sure there wasn’t anything in my teeth. I jumped when I noticed some one watching me in the mirror.
I quickly turned around. Edward stood leaning against the bottom post of the bed watching me. He was smiling, but for once that was not what I was looking at. He had taken his vest and tie off. His shirt hung unbuttoned revealing his beautiful body. My eyes moved down from his perfect proportioned pecks, to his stomach. My mouth dropped open. He laughed at me. When he laughed every muscle in his rock hard stomach tighten. I followed the muscles down until they met his hips and then followed the line down to his waistband. The tingle was back running it’s course through my body, and he hadn’t even touched me yet.
I didn’t realize I was smiling. I looked up into his eyes and saw nothing but love. I no longer felt insecure about myself. I walked up to him, put my hands under his shirt and urgently helped him out of it. I started kissing his neck. I kissed his chest. I kissed his stomach. His skin was so soft and cold. The cold reacted with my hot lips sending a chill throughout my face.
Edwards breathing was getting faster. “Bella, you have no idea what that does to me,” he breathed.
“I think I do,” I smiled and stood up to look him in the eye. He kissed me. I let my dress fall to the floor. I was so glad Alice talked me into wearing this fancy slip under my dress. At the time I didn’t see the need. I hoped this was not a scene she foresaw. Hopefully it was just a fashion thing. I wanted this all for myself.
Edward continued kissing me softly. Before I knew he had stopped, I was cradled in his arms and he was kissing me again. I was starting to loose control. My body was taking over my mind. Edward must have felt it too. He laid me on the bed and slid in next to me.
“Are you ok,” he asked softly.
“I couldn’t be better than I am at this moment.” I had this stupid smile on my face and no matter what I did it wouldn’t go away.
He gave me an impish grin. “Are you sure?”
He started kissing me again. His hands moved as though they were a wild animal being unleashed. They were exploring the uncharted territories of my body. Each new place his cold fingers caressed made me jump slightly. He stopped just long enough to study my face for signs of pain. There were none. It was not pain that made me jump.
I had to pull away from his kisses to breath. I wanted to stay conscious through this. His kisses never stopped. He kissed my neck, then my collar bone. He slid the soft fabric of my slip off my shoulders and gently pulled it down further and further as he kissed every inch of my skin. The kisses stopped where my leg met my torso. I shuttered. I felt that I actually might spontaneously combust right then.
He slid back up my body to look in my eyes. He looked at me like he really could read my mind, but I was so glad he couldn’t. Mind was screaming, though I wasn’t quite sure what it was I wanted him to do exactly. He seemed to know exactly what to do. He gazed into my eyes, moved ever so slightly and with a small gasp from me, our bodies were moving in perfect rhythm. He was so soft and careful.
Every movement seemed to have been rehearsed, though I knew he was as new at this as I was. That made this all the more special. This was a first for us both. He didn’t have 110 years experience. We were learning together. I was thankful that I waited for my wedding night. I couldn’t imagine this feeling being as good if it was any other time than right now.
We were kissing again. I was breathing harder. The feeling was so amazing. The sensation was so intense and it only got better. I started to see stars. I felt like I was going to pass out. I grabbed Edward’s back as I held my breath. I let out a delicate cry, and my body relaxed against his. I drifted in half consciousness.
I barely heard Edward speaking. I didn’t respond. At the point he was almost yelling. I turned to look at him and tried to register what he was saying.
“Bella, are you alright? What have I done? Are you hurt? Bella, talk to me. Please, Bella.” With every word he got more and more frantic.
I reached up to stroke his face. “Edward, I’m fine.” I said softly.
“But you were so tense and you were digging into my back with those daggers. You cried out. Then you went limp. I thought I killed you,” his voice was full of emotion.
“Edward, I think that is how I’m supposed to react,” I blushed as I said the words. I was embarrassed at how I had lost control. Did I really scream? Did I even care? The answer was yes, but only because I had frightened Edward. “I am sorry I scared you, though.”
Edwards face changed from terror to pride. “Oh” was all he said. Then, he laid on his side next to me. His head propped up on his hand and a smug smile across his face, “I guess I am perfect at everything.”
“Yes you are,” I smiled believing every word. My mind was replaying the whole event.
“Did I even come close to perfection, or were you concentrating too hard to even notice?” I questioned, it came out like I was singing. This was very different from anyway I had felt before.
“Bella, you are perfection. Your warmth made me feel human again. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to concentrate that hard. It was like my body knew how to react. It was better than I could ever have imagined.” He flopped down on the bed next to me. He was now wearing the same stupid grin I was. It made me laugh.
I held up my left hand and examined the ring on my finger. It didn’t seem as heavy as it once had. I never wanted to take it off. I couldn’t believe where I was and what just happened. Without realizing what was happening, I felt a tear streak down my cheek and land in my hair.
“What’s wrong? You are hurt, aren’t you?” he was panicking again.
“No, I’m the opposite of hurt. I have never been so completely happy before. It’s so overwhelming to realize that you finally have everything you’ve ever wanted,” I stopped and looked at him through my damp eyes, “well, almost everything.”
Edward smiled, “I completely know what you’re talking about. Even the last thing on your list doesn’t scare me now,” he paused and took my face in his hands as he so often did. “Perfection will be spending eternity with you.”
He kissed me again. Although I didn’t think I had an ounce of strength left. His kisses started my adrenaline pumping again. My mind was ready and my body was willing. We made love again and again, the rest of the night. When dawn was breaking, I fell asleep exhausted in my husband’s arms. I dreamt of Edward and I going through the decades hand in hand. Nights upon nights just like this.

I dedicate this last and final fan fiction to my husband. He has put up with way more than any man should have to. I want everyone to know that he is my Edward. I am excited to spend my enternity with him by my side.




THE CHANGE



The plane touched down at O’Hare airport in Chicago. It was late, and I was tired and nervous. Edward had kept trying to get me to eat the snacks the flight attendants had been passing out, but all I could stomach was a soda. I was jittery, but I am sure it wasn’t from the caffeine. The time had come to say goodbye to my mortal life.
I was sure about my decision, but it was still nerve wracking. It didn’t help that with every look that wasn’t a smile, Edward questioned my decision. After countless arguments, I had resulted in merely holding up my left hand and moving my ring finger around. That usually shut him up.
Edward gathered our things from the overhead bin. I stood up and stretched. I looked down the aisle at my beautiful family. Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett, Carlisle and Esme, the first class cabin had never been so stunning. I had heard the passengers comment as they filed onto the plane in Salt Lake. Edward had told me, more than one passenger had wondered if we were all going to Chicago for some amazing modeling photo shoot, after he had listened to their thoughts. They probably thought I was the luckiest passenger on board getting to sit next to Edward, none of them would have guessed I was his wife.
All this self doubt about my looks would soon be over. 2 days to be exact. Edward was taking me to his “estate” here in Chicago. “Mason Manor” I jokingly called, only to find out that is what it’s called. His human parents had left him their home in their will. Legally, the estate was mine too, I guess, but I wasn’t used to this what mine is yours, and yours is mine, stuff yet. Edward had tried to talk me into letting him buy me a car in Chicago. Of course, I said no. Why would I need a car when I wouldn’t be let out of the house. We were only planning to stay about a year. As soon as I could control myself I agreed to attend college. Edward had this stupid notion that he could get me into Dartmouth again. I agreed to Juneau. That argument still hadn’t been won.
Carlisle had taken a leave of absences from the hospital in Forks, and would be moonlighting at a clinic on the outskirts of Chicago. That’s where Edward’s parent’s house was located. Edward informed me that there were small forests all over Chicago’s suburbs. They were meant to be animal refuges, but they would work fine for hunting. People weren’t allowed in, so there would be no worries about humans getting in the way. Plus, we weren’t that far away from the Canadian border and the mountains there were perfect for big game.
The rest of us were planning to stay inside the home most of the time, at least during the day, trying to stay out of the public eye. I felt horrible having everyone rearrange their lives to accommodate mine. They had all told me I was being foolish. I was a Cullen now, and Cullen’s stick together. What use is a family if the members are not together?
It was a great sentiment, but it only made me feel worse about not being able to see my parents for so long. It is better this way, I can tell myself logically, but I still missed Charlie. I was trying to muster up the courage to be away from him for possibly 2-3 years. I reminded myself that I had a very loving family that would help me recover quickly.
As we drove towards this new home where my life would start over I started to cry. I’m not sure if they are tears of sorrow or joy, but they’re there anyway. I watched the lights of the city fly by as I sat in the cab, Edward holding my hand.
“You’re so quiet,” he said softly.
“Just a lot on my mind,” I didn’t turn away from the window. I didn’t want him to see me crying. “Do you even remember this place?”
“I past through a couple of years ago, but it’s not the same place I lived in. Everything has gotten so big, and in such a hurry,” now he was gazing out the window too.
I could tell it was killing him to be sitting in a cab going the legal speed. I pulled my eyes away from the blurring lights only after knowing the tears were dried and snuggled in under his arm against his cold, hard body to distract him. He kissed the top of my head. I buried my face in his side and let out a sigh.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said for about the 100th time.
I groaned and held up my hand, again, saying nothing.
“Bella, honey, if you’re this upset, maybe it’s a bad idea,” he was using his velvet voice, trying to not anger me.
I took a deep breath trying to get the words out. I was getting tired of this conversation. I wanted this to be the last one. “Edward. This mood is not because I’m wavering at all on my decision. I will never change my mind, or regret it. I, just, feel like I’m in mourning. I will not be able to see my parents for a long time. I won’t be able to go out in public. I won’t walk along a crowded sunny beach again…..” I trailed off remembering the quick 3 day honeymoon we spent on a beautiful beach in southern Texas.

It wasn’t overly crowded, but there were people. Edward insisted I go out and lay in the sun. He had said that I need to feel the warm sun on my skin. To remember the way it felt.
Being the obedient wife, I put on the little bikini he had bought for me at a little corner boutique. I had tried to protest the purchase, so much money for so little material, but he would hear none of it. The bikini was on for 5 minutes before it was off again. We spent the next hour replaying our wedding night. It was becoming a favorite past time for both of us. Edward was completely relaxed with it now. He had said it was the only time he was more man than vampire.
After our little romp it hadn’t been hard to lie on the beach for a few hours. My body was tired and I loved the warmth that the sun provided. After some time, I could feel my husband’s eyes burning through me as he stared out of the beach house he’d rented. It wasn’t fare to make him sit in the house with me out there. I had gone back inside and took a shower. The shower doors would not be enough to keep out a vampire.
And so our honeymoon went this way. All too soon it was over. We met the family in the Salt Lake Airport during their layover from Seattle and took the same connecting flight to Chicago.
“Bella, we’re here,” Edward voice interrupted my day dream. He was pulling me out of the cab. He tipped the driver and started to walk me towards the house. We had beaten the others.
I stopped dead in my tracks. It was amazing. Large beyond anything I had imagined. There was a white picket fence that encircled the house, with a cobblestone walk way leading to the porch and front door. Just off of the gate was a large sign that read, “Mason Manor.” We walked up the path and he stopped me at the front door. Before I noticed he’d moved, he was putting the keys in his pocket and the door stood open. He bent over and picked me up.
“What are you doing?” I said wrinkling my forehead.
“I’m carrying you over the threshold. Do have to ruin all my fun,” he pouted, but then kissed me hard on the lips, making his intentions clear.
“Now stop that. You’re family will be here soon. There’s no time.” I tried unsuccessfully to squirm out of his arms.
“I have suffered through decades of their PDI’s. They owe me. Stop squirming.” He commanded and kissed me again.
“I can’t wait until I can match you for strength,” I glared at him, while I kept struggling. I was definitely not in the mood for romance.
“Until then you’re my hostage and I’ll tie you up if I have to,” he winked. He kissed my neck and put me down.
“Men,” I heard from behind me. Alice was rolling her eyes at her brother, “Can you think of nothing else? I’m tired of seeing all your romantic evenings planned out before me.” She gave him a crooked smile. Some private thought passing between them.
Edward’s smile widened. “I thought I hadn’t decided to do that…..” He ponder it for a moment, “Anyway, now you know how I feel. At least you can’t hear the live show. It’s sometimes more than I can take.”
She looked off in silence for another moment, then, turned on Jasper who was walking in carrying way too many bags for two people.
“Why don’t you do anything like that for me?” She punched him the arm and stormed off.
“Edward, you have got to get your libido under control. You’re making the rest of us look bad.” Jasper flashed a dangerous look at Edward.
Meanwhile, I had turned 4 shades of red. “Do you all mind not talking about this in front of me.”
“Sorry,” the boys said in unison.

Edward had our room ready for me to go to sleep within minutes. The bed had new sheets and pillows, the works. I was too tired to even care, but I knew Edward like to spoil me. I took a shower, alone, this time. I climbed into bed, exhausted. My mind was running over the next day’s preparations. I couldn’t help wonder if there was anything else I wanted to do while I was human.
Edward was lying next to me. I hadn’t even heard him come in. He didn’t say a word. He just wrapped his arms around me, and kissed the back of my neck. At that moment I realized what one thing I wanted to do while I was still human. I stifled a chuckle, grabbed on to his arms and drifted to sleep. Sleep came so peacefully these days. Something about knowing Edward would be there when I woke up helped me sleep more soundly.
I woke up late the next morning. Edward was sitting in bed next to me reading. He glanced over at me. “Feeling better?” he questioned with sarcasm. He had obviously been hunting, his eyes were a beautiful topaz, showered and changed his clothes, and was half way done with the book he was reading.
“I am perfect,” I drew out the words while I stretched my body. “What time is it?”
“Twelve-thirty,” he spat out. He sounded annoyed. I liked that. It wasn’t too often that I could get under his skin.
“Is that all? Wake me up in an hour.” I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow so he wouldn’t see me smile.
“What’s wrong with you? I’ve never seen you sleep so much. Are you sick?” he was more worried than annoyed, ruining all my fun.
I rolled back over and laid my head in his lap. I knew that this jester would buy me forgiveness for anything. He started to stroke my hair.
“Edward, I was thinking last night, what the one thing I wanted to do before you changed me. Do you know what I came up with?”
“I thought I gave you the one thing you wanted to do? I thought I did it pretty well too,” he added sounding a little hurt.
“That was the last big thing I wanted…..and you know you’re perfect at everything you do,” I let my hand run up his leg. I wanted to distract him, it worked. “Anyway, the one thing I wanted to enjoy, besides being with you,” I added, “is sleep.”
“Sleep,” he mused. “Ok, that makes sense. Do you want me to let you get back to it?”
“Nope. I was thinking we could try out that other thing on my list again.”
I could tell he wouldn’t put up a fight on that one. I lifted up his shirt and kissed his cold skin. It was like kissing a rock. I had learned that my hot breath nearly drove him to distraction. I made use of this knowledge and breathed heavily on his stomach. His muscles tightened. I was going to enjoy this. I let my tongue wander up his six pack. My mouth never wandered away from his stomach, even though I could tell he wanted it too.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he groaned.
“It’s the other way around,” I said between kisses. I blew my hot breath up at him.
“Unless you want me to unintentually change you right now, you’d better stop,” he softly grabbed my head between his hands and pulled me up to his lips
We made love in the middle of the afternoon with the sun warming up the room.
It was a warm cloudy August afternoon. Luck was on our side. Edward took me around to all the historical sites. They were the places he remembered from his mortal youth. It was evening time by the time we reached the cemetery where his parents were laid to rest. I felt as though we had come full circle.
“I wish I could have met them,” I wondered aloud. “Do you think they would have liked me?”
“I know they would have. They only wanted to see me happy. And Bella, my love, you do just that. You make me happy.” I could see the love for me now, and for his parents from long ago. “They are my past and you are my future.”
“Forever starts tomorrow,” I gazed up to his eyes.
“For time and eternity,” he countered.
We stood there in the warm evening without talking. I wondered what the future would hold for us. I wondered what mysteries the past still held. We had so much time to be together and learn everything about one another. Suddenly tomorrow seemed too far away.
“Let’s go home,” I grabbed his hand and we started walking home.

I woke much earlier than the day before. I was too nervous to sleep. The sun was just coming up. I went to get dressed and stopped. What does one wear when being transformed into a vampire? Comfort came to mind. I pulled on a navy blue vallour jogging suit, with a white cotton t-shirt underneath the jacket. Edward liked me in blue. I pulled my hair up in a high bun, exposing my neck. That will make things easier, I thought to myself.
I walked down the stairs to the waiting family. I had never been more nervous to walk into a room full of vampires as I was at this moment. I turned the corner and they all looked up. They were assembled to greet me. I started to shake violently. It was Jasper that came to me first.
I jumped at his touch. The feeling that swept through me was so precious. Tears weld up in my eyes and then flowed freely down.
“Thank you, Jasper,” was all I could mutter out. I wasn’t sure why I was crying; excitement, nerves, knowing what pain was lying ahead of me. Even with Jasper’s magic, I was overwhelmed.
I notice that Edward was not by my side. He was sitting in a chair across the room, his fingers pinching his nose. I longed to go to him, but knew he needed to concentrate right now.
Carlisle was messing with a bunch of bottles. Morphine, I guessed. The plan was to give me the drugs and hopefully take the edge off the pain. I didn’t think it would work, but I was willing to try anything. I absent mindedly rubbed the scar on the back of my hand remembering the pain that had burned so fiercely from James’ bite.
“We’re just about ready Edward. Bella, will you come sit here for a moment?” Carlisle said more as a command than a question. I crossed the room without questioning him or looking at Edward. I stood next to Carlisle and his bottles.
Before I could sit, Alice was holding my hand. I looked up with fear in my eyes. She hugged me tightly.
“I can tell you with 100% accuracy this will work out perfectly,” she smiled and her fairy like eyes sparked.
“I believe you, but I’m still scared,” I confided.
“I’m sorry. The rest of us are going to leave for awhile. We don’t need a bunch of vampires around with your blood…..” she didn’t finish her sentence, but I had gotten the point. “We’ll be back afterward. I want to help you anyway I can. Just remember 3 days, and it will all be over.”
In turn, they all hugged me and gave words of support. Once they had all filed out the door, I was sobbing. I wished that Jasper could have stayed, but he was the last one that could have handled this.
My face was in my hands, when the touch I need so much was around my waist.
“Shhhh, sweet Bella, shhhh. Everything is going to be fine. I won’t leave you for a moment. I promise. I love you,” his tone echoed my sobs. But he wasn’t trying to talk me out of this anymore, and for that I was grateful.
He was kissing me all over. They were goodbye kisses again. The familiarity in them made me cry harder. All the horror stories I had heard over the past 2 years were running through my head. I still didn’t doubt my decision, but was terrified for the pain.
I reached up and kissed Edward with all the warmth I could muster. I needed him to remember the feeling of my heat on his lips. I pulled back with a renewed vision. I was going to be brave. I was going to treat this the way I did with all my decisions. The hard part was over; deciding. Now all I had to do was endure the pain for a few days. I could do anything for a few days.
“I’m ready,” I said to Edward, “are you?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” and we both turned to Carlisle.
“I’m ready. Bella, sit here,” I obeyed and he got out a needle.
My head started to swim. I looked away quickly. They both laughed.
“She kisses your lips with those razor sharp teeth a million times a day, but a small syringe makes her faint,” it was Carlisle teasing. It wasn’t in character for him, which made me wonder if he was as nervous as we were.
I felt the sting before I saw it. I hoped this helped.
“OK, I’ll leave you two alone. I’ll just be outside with Alice.” He crossed the room and was out the front door.
It had been decided that Alice and Carlisle would stay close. Alice would keep a careful watch over us, looking only a few seconds ahead of things. If needs be, Carlisle could run in and help in any way he could.
My heart started pounding in my chest. I thought for a moment I was having a heart attack. I took a step closer to Edward, although every instinct in me told me to run the other way. I had made the choice and I would stick to it.
I realized that we had not planned this all the way out. Was he just going to bite my neck once or multiple times? Was the neck better or the chest? I was panicking.
Edward took my hand and led me to the couch. He sat me down and stroked the back of my hand. “Calm down Bella. We’ll both get through this,” I wasn’t sure who he was consoling, himself or me. “Carlisle and I were thinking that you’re chest should be the first place,” he touched my chest right above my left breast. A touch like that would have driven me crazy yesterday, now I shuddered. “Then, another on the neck, with those locations two bites should be enough.”
“OK,” was all I could get out.
“Bella, I love you so much,” he was breathing heavily too.
“Edward, I trust you. You’ve made me happier than anything in my whole life. You’ve shown me how to love….,” I felt like I was saying goodbye.
“Bella, you’re not going anywhere,” he soothed.
“I love you,” I blurted out as he leaned in to kiss me.
He started kissing me on my mouth. Soft warm kisses, from my lips to my neck. Any other day it would been the start to a romantic night, but today it made tears streak down my cheeks. He then moved down my neck and then to my chest. I lifted my chin back exposing my neck and chest. He stopped at the precise spot he had pointed out before. I held my breath. I could feel his cold breath sting my bare skin. The seconds dragged on for a millennium.
“I love you,” he breathed out. The words were drawn out with such sadness and pain. That was the last sound I heard before I felt the razors splice open my skin.
The pain was excruciating. I scream out loud, and tried to push him away. There was no way I could. He had my hands pinned down to my side. I was thrashing and kicking as I felt the blood draining away.
I was suddenly worried that he wouldn’t stop. The initial pain subsided slightly. I was feeling weak. My mind was starting to float away, I pondered of the sensuality of this. His mouth against my skin, his firm hands on my arms. I had wanted it to be Edward’s venom to run through me, and now it was. It was as if time was holding still. I was able to find a word and it came out soft and gentle. I had stopped fighting and pled with a whisper, “Edward.”
Edward jerked back at the sound of my voice. His eyes were blood red. I was startled by what I saw there. A monster stood where my loving Edward had been. I had to tell myself that he was in there somewhere. Before he had time to move to my neck, the pain was back. It was amplified ten fold. The venom was doing its trick. I tried to push him off me. He grabbed my neck and sunk his razor sharp teeth into it. Any sensual feelings that had existed were far gone now. I groaned under the throbbing of my wounds.
From the first bite to the last, no more than 20 seconds had past. The pain in my chest hit me again, and was now burning as the venom moved its way slowly through my veins. I was reeling from the pain and the burn of the venom continually got worse. I was convulsing in agony now. The pain in my neck caught up to the pain in my heart.
Edward pulled away and was looking at me. I could see the turmoil behind the red eyes. I was trying hard not to scream. I was desperately trying to kip my wits about me. I wanted this to be as easy on him as possible.
He looked at me and snarled. It seemed that he was pondering over a very difficult problem. His was crouching in the same stance I had see James in that afternoon long ago. I was struck with fear as much as pain.
“Please Edward!” I shouted. “No!”
He held perfectly still. “I’m sorry,” was all he said. He lowered his head in shame and turned around quickly standing up right again, but I had notice the subtle change in his face. It hurt me to see him look at me that way. In an instant he was sitting in the chair across the room, the bridge of his nose between his fingers. At the same moment, the door flew open and Carlisle and Alice ran in.
Another waive of burn was moving its way down my neck. I closed my eyes and groaned. After a brief moment I opened them again. Alice was kneeling in front of me.
“Is she ok?” she asked Carlisle over her shoulder.
He looked at me, smoothing my hair. “Try to take deep breaths. I know it’s hard, but breathing helps the pain some.”
Was he actually talking to me? All I heard was soft noises coming from his mouth. I felt that my skin was forming blisters from the heat. I wanted to jump in Lake Michigan and put out the fire.
“Can you try and get him out of here?” Carlisle asked Alice quickly before turning to me, and sticking another shot into my arm. It felt like a tickle compared to the torture I was under at this moment.
“I’m not leaving!” came the snarl from the corner where a monster had taken over my sweet Edward. “Stay back.”
I didn’t know how much more I could take. As if the thought tempted fate, the venom from my chest must have found my heart. I felt as though my blood was boiling. I let out a blood curling scream. All thoughts had eluded me now. Primary instincts took over. I had to make it go away. I scream again. The room was spinning. I fell on my knees, heaving. I wanted to throw up it hurt so bad.
“Edward!” I cried out. “Help me, please!” I was begging.
There must have been something in the sound of my agony that brought my Edward back to me. I felt his cool hand on my head. “I’m here. I’m here,” he kept repeating.
“Edward, I’m sorry. It just hurts so badly!” I scream again.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. Carlisle give her more morphine,” he yelled, pleading.
“I already did. I don’t want to give her too much. Her heart can only take so much,” he spoke so soft I barely heard him over the horrible sound that was emanating from my lips.
Edward picked me up and was carrying me away. I didn’t know, nor did I care, where he was taking me. I just wanted the pain to go away.
I found myself lying in the middle of our bed. A scene from the exorcist flashed in my mind. That must be what I look like. The pain was seizing my body. I convulsed again and again. Edward stayed by my side. He rubbed my back, held me tight in his arms, and even hummed my lullaby to me. Nothing helped the pain, but having him near me made me want to continue, as if I had a choice.
It went on like this for what seemed forever, the pain never ceasing. Every few hours Carlisle would come and give me a shot, but after the sun came up the first time, he told me the venom was too strong in my veins and the pain killers would do nothing more. I wasn’t all too sure how much they helped from the beginning, but I wasn’t ready to find out. The pain slowly faded even without the drugs. By the time the sun was rising for the third day since the torture began, I was finally able to lie still on the bed. The pain was still lingering near my heart, but the rest of my body was mostly engulfed in a dull pain. This I could handle. I tried speaking; only soft words would come out.
“Am I dead?” I moaned.
“No,” Edward quietly answered, “you’re in our home, in our bed.”
“I think I might rather be dead,” I tried to force a smile on my lips. My muscles were so tired from the thrashing, that it took effort to turn the sides of my lips up even a little.
“My sweet Bella, please don’t ever say those words again. I would never be able to go on without you. I know now that you are much stronger than me,” he was looking worn down and his eyes were still sparkling red.
“This was painful for you too, wasn’t it?” I felt a new kind of pain wrench at me.
“Bella, I hope to never see you hurt again. It will take a lot more to damage you now, but I will die trying to keep you from hurting again,” and I knew that he meant it.

By that afternoon, the pain was almost non-existent. I sat up in bed quickly with no warning. Edward was at my side. He was looking at me with grief in his eyes. “How are you feeling?” He was caressing my skin. I could feel his cold fingers and it made me tingle.
“Better, I think,” I mused over this. “There is a weird aftertaste in my mouth-Must be all that morphine.”
The sun was shining through the window. I noticed the sparkles on the wall and sighed. “I love the way you sparkle in the sun,” I looked over at him. He was not in the sun at all. I looked down at my bare arm and saw thousands of small crystal dancing in the sunlight.
I gasped and looked from myself to Edward.
“Bella, you’re beautiful you know.” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My skin was beautiful. I turned my arm from side to side and watch the colors bounce off of it. “Amazing,” I said not to him as much as to myself.
“You are amazing,” he said shaking his head. He took in a lung full of my hair, “same old Bella.”
I copied his action and breathed him in, “Wow. What have you done? You smell wonderful. Better than wonderful. I’m not sure I can restrain myself”
He chuckled, “Join the crowd.”
Then it hit me. The taste, his smell, the quickness of my movements; I was a vampire. Edward’s venom now flowed through my veins. I had never felt closer to him than I did at that moment. I reached over and pulled him close to me.
His head crashed into mine with a loud bang. It should have hurt, made me bleed even. Neither happened, but Edward was laughing.
“I guess I’m not aware of my strength,” I was laughing along.
I heard giggling outside the door. “Go ahead and come in,” I gestured. But the door didn’t move.
“They’re downstairs,” Edward said, “Emmett thought the bang was you falling down. Alice told him what she already saw happen, and him and Jasper are now rolling around laughing.”
“I heard them all the way down there?” I was amazed.
“Annoying, isn’t it? At least you can only hear what they say out loud,” his eyes didn’t leave me for a second.
“Now what do I do?” I wasn’t sure what this gnawing feeling I was having, but I was getting agitated sitting around doing nothing. It felt like an itch that needed to be scratched.
“Would you like to go down and see the family? Alice won’t quit screaming in my head to bring you down.”
“Sure, let’s go,” I slid off the bed and grabbed the door knob and opened the door. The entire door came off the hinges and hung in my one hand. I stood staring at the door blinking.
“Nice. I can finally pull out all the stops tonight, and you rip off the one thing keeping them out,” he was teasing me, and I wasn’t sure if I was ok with that.
“I hope being clumsy isn’t my gift,” I grumble as I set the door down as carefully as possible. “Edward I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Are you sure? That really shouldn’t be an issue any more,” he said raising his eyebrows.
“Follow me, please,” and I led him to the bathroom and stopped at the threshold.
“Would you like some privacy?” he asked casually. I could tell he had no idea what I was planning on doing.
I stepped through the door and turned keeping my eyes shut. When I opened them I was staring at a familiar stranger. She had similar features: Slim body, long brown hair, same height and build. But the stranger had red eyes and white teeth, and she was simply beautiful. Even I couldn’t deny that.
“It’s like looking at an angel,” I said softly, disbelieving my own eyes.
“This is how I’ve all ways seen you. You’ve always been my angel. Not even a stupid vampire could change that,” he gave me the half smile that always melted my heart and his eyes held my gaze. He kissed me softly on the lips. I did not think that I would have the same human reaction to Edward as I had before, but I was wrong.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He kissed back with as much force. I pushed my body into his and sent him flying into the mirror. He landed on the counter with glass falling all around him.
“Edward, are you alright,” I cried, trying to help him up and brushing the glass away.
“Well, that’s one way to ruin the mood.” Emmett was now standing in the doorway chuckling, with Jasper on his heels.
“That’s one scene I won’t have to try to out do. Thanks, Bella,” Jasper winked at me.
“Think again,” Alice looked at her husband, “I think it’s sweet that they have this passion.”
“Alright everyone shows over. If I could blush right now, I would be,” I announced embarrassed at the mess I created.
“Maybe we could put that on a bumper sticker,” Emmett said to Jasper, ignoring the snarl that came from Edward’s chest. “Hey, brother, don’t get so bent out of shape, your girl can take care of her self now, remember?”
“I do remember, and that reminds me. Bella, didn’t you want to challenge Emmett to an arm wresting match?” Edward was the one winking at me now.
“Are you up for it Emmett or are you afraid a little girl might beat you?” I teased him following him down the hall toward the stairs.
I was about to follow the crowd down the stairs when someone stopped me. I turned around, irritated for no apparent reason and I thought I heard a growl come out of me, and saw Rosalie smiling back at me.
“Sorry about that,” I apologized, “I feel like I have a switch that turns on and off a bad mood, but I’m not in control of it-Does that make sense?”
“You’ll get used to that,” it sounded like advice, so I made a mental note. “I wanted to officially welcome you to our family. You are very brave……and very beautiful.”
“Rosalie, that means so much. Thank you.” I hugged her being careful to stay soft this time.
Edward had been lurking on the stairs, ready to thwart off any cat fat that might happen. “She was polite?” it sounded more like a question.
“She’s going to have to get use to the idea that her aspirations were not the same as mine. I try not to be too critical. If the roles were reversed and she was deciding not to become part of the family, I might be just as upset. It’s all in the eye of the beholder,” I smiled my new white teeth at him.
“Is it weird if that new smile turns me on?” he cocked his head to the side as he said it, looking embarrassed.
“I’ve been lusting after yours for almost 2 years. Let’s be weird together,” I took one step towards him and let him do the rest. His hands were on my face and this kiss was like all the others I remembered.
“Edward,” I said without moving my head an inch, “I thought you said the thirst would be overwhelming?”
“It’s not?” he pulled his face back and looked at me.
“No. Not that I know what it feels like, but I assumed it would be the same as when I needed a drink of water. I can taste what I can only imagine is venom, but no desire to leap out the window at the first person to walk by. Unless, you consider what I want to do to Emmett,” I pondered the ways that I could take out Emmett.
“Carlisle will want to talk to you. But since there’s no need for you to rush off somewhere……let’s try something I’ve been lusting after,” there was evil mischief in his eyes.
“Edward? The door,” I said pointing to the mass lying against the wall.
“Damn it Bella, you’re always ruining my fun,” instead of dragging me off to bed, he kissed me.
He brushed ever so softly across the new scar on my neck. He pulled my top of my shirt down slightly and kissed that scar too. “I am sorry I had to cause you all that pain,” he said remorsefully, “but I’m really very glad that I was able to give you the one thing you so desperately wanted,” and he started kissing me again.
“The only thing that I’ve ever desperately wanted was you. This just happened to come with the package,” we kissed on the stairs until we heard a groan from the kitchen. It was Jasper.
“Edward, you’re killing us. Are you capable of not be romantic for 5 minutes?” he yelled.
When I looked down the stair Jasper was being knocked off his chair by a flying shoe. I looked down at Edward's feet. He was wearing only one.
We both laughed, and he kissed me again.