Title: Mad

Penname: Elise Montgomery

Rating: M

Pairing: Edward/Bella

This is a teaser for my FoxyFics contribution. To read more about it, and to learn how to get the whole story and many more in a compiliation benefitting Parkinson's Disease, please visit

http:/www(dot)foxyfics(dot)blogspot(dot)com.

This story begins at the end of New Moon. They've just gotten back from Italy, the Cullens voted, and Edward has proposed. Bella turned him down gently and then...well, here's what I think should have happened.

A/N: SMeyers owns everything. I just like playing in the sandbox.

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Marriage.

The word made my scalp prickle. Edward had to have known what marriage meant for me; complete and utter failure. If he wanted a way to prove we wouldn't last, a ring on my finger might have been the most obvious. The thought of being with him forever? Nothing made me happier. The thought of being his wife? Nothing terrified me more.

"What are you thinking about?" Edward opened his eyes and placed a hand on my stomach. I shivered even though the room was warm.

"Nothing. Everything. I just need some sleep."

"The past 24 hours have been—"

"Crazy?"

He smiled sadly and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "Yeah. Crazy."

"But you're here now." My fingers ghosted over his eyelids and the dark circles underneath, "and you're hungry."

"It can wait."

"If you need to go—"

"It can wait." His eyes sought mine and held them. "I love you with my entire being. I swear I will never leave your side again. Unless it's the best thing for you."

My breathing hitched and I quickly sat up, moving as far away from his body as he would allow. I didn't get far. Edward pulled me back into his arms and held me there. "Hey, hey." He tried to soothe me but it was too late.

I broke free and jumped off the bed, feeling the hysteria rise from my chest. "How could you say that to me? After all that's happened, how could you say that again?"

Edward sat up on the bed and furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm sorry if it upsets you but I mean it. I will never leave you again, Bella. Never. Not knowing what I put you through. What I put everyone through."

I blinked and wrapped my hands around myself. "Are you…what did you say?"

"I said I'd never leave your side again."

"After that. What did you say after that?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "Bella, that's all I said."

I looked him in the eyes and struggled to see if he was lying; he wasn't. I took a few deep breaths before sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I guess I..." I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my palms and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I think I'm too tired to think."

Edward gave a chuckle and lay back down, pulling me with him. "It's okay. What did you think I said?"

"It's not important."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

This time my smile was genuine. "Now that you're here, It's perfect."

Edward pressed his cool lips to mine and I felt the world spin on its axis. Even after all those months, his effect on me hadn't waned. I let it wash over me and lull me into peace as Edward stroked my hair. "Sleep, sweetheart. I'll be here in the morning."

"Edward," I mumbled sleepily, "I love you so much."

"But you're not good for me."

I flinched but didn't bother to open my eyes; I knew Edward hadn't breathed a word. The eternally seventeen-year-old boy was lying beside me, quiet and pensive. I placed my hand on his chest but it did little to help me distinguish the real from the fantasy.

Edward, the cautious voice my mind cobbled together while I was alone, didn't leave just because the real Edward came back; it lay between me and everything I knew I wanted.