A/N: This is my first fan-fic story. I have another in the works that I'll be writing concurrently. Please R/R and give me any pointers you may have.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters, STEPHENIE MEYER does.

EPOV

The light of another morning filtered through the oak trees of the ancient forest into the room. I smiled as Bella began to stir, lightly running a finger down her long, straight nose. Our wedding was less than a week away and she had been exhausted by another day of planning, prodding and primping with my sister Alice. I wish she could sleep longer but I needed to talk to her before it got too late.

I leaned over and brushed my cold lips over her eyelids, cheeks and full pouting lips. Her long brown hair was spread over her pillow like a spider's web and the warmth of her face caused a natural blush to spread across her cheeks. Her beauty was staggering and I drew a ragged unnecessary breath as I tried to memorize this moment. There wouldn't be many more like it.

I pulled Bella closer and gently kissed her lips. At the last moment I ran my cold tongue along her lower lip. "Bella, Bella, wake up sweetheart."

Bella's eyes fluttered open, her long thick eyelashes batting lightly. A wide smile spread across her face when she saw me. Her soft voice barely whispered my name, "Edward."

I kissed her forehead, her eyes, the tip of her nose and then her lips. She kissed back, a spark re-igniting the fire that had been steadily growing hotter over the past few days. When I pulled away, all too soon, her breath was ragged and both of our lips burned. Disappointment crossed her eyes for a second but she just stared into my dark eyes.

"Bella, I need to go hunting for a few days. With the wedding coming up next week I won't have an opportunity to hunt before the wedding and I need to build up my strength for the … festivities." I winked at her when I said the last word.

She sighed a heavy sigh but smiled. "I understand. How far away will you be going?"

"Emmett and Jasper are taking me to Northern California. Alice has already arranged to have you stay at our house. I want eyes watching you and protecting you the entire time I'm gone."

"She nodded but winced at the idea that Alice would be alone with her all that time. That meant only one thing – shopping, makeovers and playing dress-up.

"When do you have to leave?" She chewed her lower lip.

"As soon as you are dressed and we get to my house."

This sigh was heavier now and I knew that being away from me was going to be hard on her. It would be hard on me too; I hated not being near Bella.

"Well, give me a few human moments and I'll be ready to go." She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grabbed her toiletries and headed to the bathroom.

I rolled over on my back and groaned. I hated doing this to her, but I had to make time to prepare my surprise. Emmett and Jasper were coming with me and it would speed up the job, but I wanted to make sure we had more than enough time to get it done and still have some time to hunt. It was true that I needed to build up my strength before the wedding.

I waited until the shower turned on and grabbed her bag from under the bed. I grabbed a few pair of jeans, some shirts, selected my favorite of her undergarments and some socks. She was reading Wuthering Heights again so I packed that away in case she wanted it and added the CD I had made her for her 18th birthday in case she wanted to listen to it. I really needed to get her an IPOD and just fill it with all the music that made me think of her.

I heard her turn the shower of and I zipped up her bag and sat in the rocking chair waiting for her to finish. A few minutes later, clean and dressed Bella came out to see me. I held my hands out for her once again and took her in my arms.

"I love you Bella."

"I love you too Edward."

BPOV

I hated when he left to go hunt but the rational side of me understood that it was a necessary evil. As if he sensed my thoughts he squeezed my hand a little tighter as we drove to his house. We pulled up and Emmett's huge Jeep was waiting to leave. Emmett was loading some stuff into the back; he looked up and grinned at me as I got out of the car.

"Break anything today Bella?"

"Not yet Emmett, but thanks for asking."

I stuck my tounge out at him and he laughed, his booming voice echoing off the trees.

Alice met us at the door jumping up and down. She grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs.

"Bella we're going to have so much fun while you're here!"

I glanced over my shoulder at Edward. His body was shaking with laughter as his fiancee was kidnapped by his sister.

"Don't leave without saying good-bye!"

He nodded and smiled his crooked smile as he disappeared from my view. Alice put me down in her room which she had just recently re-decorated.

Alice's eyes danced wildly in front of me, "So, what do you want to do for the next three days?"