Twilight 5

Aftermath

BPOV

As I laid there, a million thoughts went through my head: Everything that had happened, things that were going to happen. Slowly, the memories of the past week flooded my vision...

My bachelorette party with Rosalie and Alice…last minute wedding jitters…walking down the isle with Charlie by my side ready to hand his baby to her soon to be husband... Edward's reaction when he saw me in my wedding gown for the first time...the feeling of love resonating from both of us as we said our vows and were pronounced "husband and wife"…The joy that filled my entire being when he kissed me as my husband, and I as his wife…Our honeymoon…I blushed warm, as I thought of the intimate moments Edward and I shared last night. I heard a soft chuckle and cold arms enfold me.

"Good morning, my love." A velvety voice that never failed to make my heart beats increase. After a soft peck on my cheek, I turned over to see my favorite crooked smile and gaze into an endless topaz sea. He was radiating love and joy through his entire being. "Are you hungry? I brought you some food." He brought over a tray with fruits, pancakes, and a glass of orange juice. I looked at the tray of food, than back at his watchful eyes and said, "Yes, but not for food." I pushed the tray aside and wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He kissed me back with amusement and I giggled as he nibbled on my earlobe. He pulled away and a pout appeared on my face.

"We'll have an eternity to enjoy this pleasure but you really must eat." He put the tray between us and fed me a chocolate dipped strawberry.

"Are you trying to get me aroused or is the chocolate for your benefit because you know how I am with sugar even this early in the morning."

He chuckled as he cut a piece of pancake and held it out for me to take a bite. As I leaned forward to take a bite, I decided to bypass the piece of pancake and nibble on his finger instead. A look of surprise showed on his face but relaxed as I started a pattern of kisses up his forearm, pass his elbow, to his shoulders, his neck, I got to his ear and whispered, "I'm hungry, dearest husband of mine, can I have some more?" He took my waist and flung us onto the bed making sure I wasn't hurt in the process. His eyes burned with desire like they had last night. The next couple of hours became a blur. I only remember being extremely happy as he held me in his arms and whispered, "I will love you forever."

I have never been as happy as I've been in the past 24 hours. I thought I'd explode from all the joy radiating inside of me. I turned to see his face as he laid there watching my every move. It felt right to be here by his side. I felt an overwhelming sense of thankfulness toward Carlisle. If he hadn't changed Edward, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the happiness, no, the wholeness I felt with him next to me. I thought about his parents and what they might have been like. I unconsciously raised my left hand and the glimmering of my ring caught my attention. I admired it for while before I looked up to see Edward looking out the window.

I could see that Edward was thinking about something and started to look anxious. I asked, "What's wrong?" He glanced at my face before he looked away which started to make me anxious, "I've been thinking about the moment I change you." The feeling of anxiety increased and he could see it in my face. "I'm not going back on my promise; I was just wondering if there was any place special you wanted to do it?" My face relaxed and then said, "It doesn't matter. As long as I'm with you and you're the one to do it, we can do it anywhere that pleases you." I tried to be cute but apparently it didn't work.

"That's not what I asked. I want everything to go smoothly and I want you to be as comfortable as possible." He was up to something but I couldn't figure out what it was yet.

I could sense something else hiding beneath this façade he was trying to fool me with.

"Edward Cullen are you afraid?" I've never seen him go from perfectly fine to falling out at the seams. He tried to hide behind what seemed like defiance.

"No, of course not, it's just that I would never forgive myself if I…" I put my pointer and middle finger over his lips before he could finish. I stared into his eyes assuring him that he would not fail, that he loved me too much to hurt me. The fear slowly subsided until comfort was all that could be seen in his eyes. He looked down.

I lifted his head up by his chin so that I could look him in the eyes.

"Edward, my love, my husband, I refuse to live out my life as a mortal. I want to be by your side forever. I would walk through the fires of hell if that could make you human. We know that's not possible but if it was, I would take that chance without a doubt in my heart. Please understand that I trust you with my whole heart and being. There is no doubt in my mind that you will not hurt me anymore than necessary."

"What about the pain?" he said with a gravelly voice, looking down again.

"There is nothing that can or will scare me from spending an eternity with you. If three days of pain is the price to pay, I will gladly pay it." The love that shined through his eyes took my breath away. If I thought he was beautiful before, now he was simply radiant. He leaned toward me and pressed his lips on mine. It was a kiss of surrender. I knew he wouldn't have anymore doubts about changing me. Too soon he broke that kiss with a smirk on his face,

"You still haven't answered my question."

I glanced up with a quizzical look on my face. "What question?"

"Do you have any preference for the location of the change?" He sat back making himself comfortable.

"I told you as long as you were by my side and you were the one to change me, the location didn't matter." I was starting to get the feeling that he was hiding something from me.

"All the same, I'd like you to choose a suitable location for this life altering occasion." He tried to dazzle me into submission but I refused to be a prey to his antics yet again. There was something going on that he didn't want me to know and I was going to find out what it was.

"Edward Cullen are you stalling?" At that moment his phone rang, he glanced at it than answered, "What is it Alice? Okay, hold on." He held out the phone to me. "She wants to talk to you." He handed over the phone.

"Hello Alice. Yes. Uh-huh. Really? Okay. Thank you. Uh-huh. I'll tell him. Thanks again. Bye Alice." I put the phone down, folded my arms and glanced up at him. He sat there with a straight face, suddenly interested by the color of the sheet, trying not to give himself away. I cleared my throat to get his attention. He looked up already knowing that Alice had told me everything.