Disclaimer: Pssh, I wish!
Okay so I decided to start this new story. Don't worry Bella's House is still being worked on I just wanted to start this one SO bad! It's in a certain amount of mixed views. Depending on where the story takes me. I hope you like it, Bella and Edward at marriage counseling sounded like fun to me!
Bella's Point of View:
"Bye, dad." I said as I turned to the door.
"Wait Bella, you're going to the Cullen's house right?" Of course I was going to the Cullen's. I spent every moment that I could with them, more than Charlie needed to know.
"Yeah dad." I said trying to get out of the door; I was already in a rush. I was supposed to be there at 3 but Renee had kept me on the phone longer than I would have liked. Charlie let out a groan. He still didn't like the idea of our engagement but it was my life as I had so gracefully pointed out and I could do whatever I wanted to with it. I would've argued but I was dying to see Edward.
"I love you dad. Don't know when I'll be back. Call if you need anything. Okay?" Charlie as usual just waved his hand at me already engrossed with whatever sporting even was on now. I rolled my eyes and reached for my coat. I stumbled a little as I slipped into my shoes but then I was out of the house. I locked the door and turned around.
"Edward!" I squealed running up to him. I had missed him more than I thought. The response was completely and totally involuntary. I stood there with my arms wrapped around his waist. He seemed a little bit surprised at first but then he laughed and tightened his grip around me.
"Well, hello Bella." He said still laughing. I could help it though I had to start laughing too. I realized that I still had my face plastered to his chest and pulled away. My cheeks felt hot as I really began to grasp what I had just done.
"What are you doing here? I mean, I knew I was running late but was it really that bad?" I was worried that he'd be mad that I was running so behind but instead he just smiled down at me.
"Oh no Bella. Don't worry your fine. I was just a little worried about you so I drove over but then I could tell through Charlie that you were on the phone so I decided to wait here." He baffled me sometimes. I couldn't believe that he'd come over here just to stand and wait in the rain for me. He was either crazy or just in love with me, maybe a little bit of both.
"You really didn't have to wait for me you know?" There was a little smile playing at his lips and I realized that I had missed something. He might be crazy and in love with me but there was still more to it. "What is it Edward?" I asked a little scared. The Cullen's as a whole were always keeping secrets from me and it drove insane. They always had something planned amongst themselves and Edward always seemed to be the messenger. He just stood there with a perfect poker face looking at me. "Really Edward, what is it?"
"Oh nothing," He said obviously teasing me. He was getting a kick out of it but I was getting frustrated. All I wanted was a straight out answer but no. I have to beg for it.
"Edward," I said trying to sound angrier, it never came out to great though. I may have gotten to Charlie with that voice but not Edward. He'd seen real anger. Hell, he'd experienced real anger. The degree of anger he could conger up was so out of my league. "Edward, please." At least I had that one up my sleeve. I knew that if I kept with it he'd give in soon enough. He let out a little groan followed by a deep breath.
"Well," He sounded worried. This obviously wouldn't be one of those secrets that were bent on making me smile, no; it was going to be bad I could fell it. "I also came so that I could have some time with you before…" He trailed off preparing himself for whatever my response would be but he didn't continue he just stood there, the only person in this world who could pull off on of those horribly cheesy smiles.
"…Before what Edward?" I could here the worry in my own voice. I was deathly afraid of what it was he was keeping from and as badly as I wanted to know, but now I was beginning to think I'd rather be surprised. "Edward," I said again.
"Alice." He said before stepping over to the side of me. Alice, just wonderful, I plan on going to spend a day with my fiancé but instead I get to plan for a wedding that I didn't want to plan for, just dandy.
"So what? It's just like any other day. You know it too, why are you so worried about this one?" I was right. Alice spent every moment she could with me planning for my wedding. I was beginning to think she was working harder on it than she had her own. It wouldn't surprise me actually if someone told me that. Actually, I doubt it would even strike me as odd. That was just Alice's way. I was her 'little human dream Barbie' and it was like a nightmare. She wanted me to do everything I dreaded, shopping, dress up, wedding planning…the list goes on for days.
Edward was still staring down at my face. I'm sure I looked dreadful, and I felt it too. I really didn't want to plan today, I wanted some time with Edward, by ourselves. Ever since my announcement to Charlie he and I had only gotten to really be alone at night. I knew it drove Edward crazy but I was now 'calling it a night' at about 6 pm so he and I could get some quality time together. Charlie just turned a blind eye towards the whole Edward thing. My engagement had made him realize that he couldn't run Edward off now he just ignored him out of spite.
"Bella?" Edward interrupted my train of thought. "Are you ready to go?" We were already next to the car and I wasn't too sure how I got there. I looked down at the silver machine in confusion and just shook my head. Edward let out a low chuckle. "Well?"
"Sorry," I said still confused. He couldn't really move that fast could he? "I'm getting in." I opened the car door hesitantly trying to delay my time with Alice as much as possible.
"Ugh," I groaned as Edward backed out of the driveway. "Whoever invented 'wedding planning' is an idiot!" I was whining to Edward, normally I would feel badly but lately when the conversation involved Alice that's all I could do.
"Well I'm sure they didn't have a crazy maid of honor intent on making their wedding the greatest in the history of the world." Edward was smiling at me now not even looking at the road.
"So what? They should have thought of people like me! Where's the compassion for the girl marrying into the family of vampires?" I was smiling now too but I tried to hide it from Edward.
"Ha ha Bella. You don't have as much to worry about today though. She's taking everyone." My heart lifted a little bit when he said 'everyone'.
"That includes you, right?" I said hardly able to contain the excitement in my voice. Edward was laughing at me again but I could have cared less. I just wanted to know whether or not I was stuck alone with Alice.
"Yes Bella, by 'everyone' I meant everyone." He was smiling wider now and his eyes were back on the road. As my happiness slipped I began to worry again.
"Wait, why does she want everyone there?" I asked cautiously. I was afraid of what she was planning to do today but then again, Edward would be there so it couldn't be that bad.
"Well Bella…" He started when I heard a squeal from outside my window.
"Bella!" The voice screeched and I jumped a little causing Edward and my nightmare planner to laugh. "Bella! Bella! Bella! Get out of that car now! Come on you're already late!" Alice was bouncing now she was so excited and for whatever reason that made me much more nervous. I went to reach for the door handle but apparently I was too slow for Alice because she grabbed it first and opened the door.
I walked out only to be attacked by Alice. "Bella!" She screamed my name for about the fifth time. "You'll never believe what we're doing today!"
"Alice can you please wait until I at least get inside the house." I leaned out against Edward who was still shaking with laughter. Alice groaned and ran towards the door.
"Party pooper." I heard her whisper as she made her way passed us.
"Edward?" I asked trying to sound sweet. "What's going on here?" I was really frustrated beyond belief I wanted to know so badly what Alice had up her sleeve today that I could have exploded.
"Ah, Bella just be patient you'll find out soon enough." He said as he turned the doorknob to their house. I took a deep breath and walked inside. Thankfully the house looked the same as always, one thing I could knock off my list. The rest of the Cullen's were standing by the door waiting for us or for me, which one I couldn't quite tell. Carlisle was the first one to walk up to me. He kissed my cheek and then smiled at me as if he understood my pain.
"I'm sorry Bella, all of us will be there though so she can't do too much to you." I had all the sympathy in the world from Carlisle he had told me that he'd had to deal with Alice and her crazy love for parties for as long as he'd known her and that they could be quite the pain.
Esme worked her way up to me also but instead of being understanding of me she just bounced over much like Alice. "Bella!" She squealed kissing me on the cheek and hugging me. "You're going to love this place I'm sure, come on!" She was pulling Edward and I towards Alice and I turned towards Edward wanted so badly to be Louis Lane. I wanted him to just scoop me up and carry me off to somewhere away from whatever 'this place' was. Edward just returned my glance with a kiss on the forehead. He had kind of become his code for 'sorry Bella I can't help you here, I love you.' And then almost as if right on cue he whispered those three words into my ear. I smiled tight-lipped as we wandered towards Alice and Esme who were sucked into the computer.
"What are they…" I began asking Edward but he just pressed his cold finger to my lips.
"Just wait." He said smiling and since his happiness was infectious I felt a smile pull across my own face. As we walked closer towards the computer screen I thought I could see a building.
"Look Bella!" Alice squealed once I was close enough to make out what was on the screen. It was a tall elegant building, it was entirely made out of brick and it had a steeple on the top. When I was finally able to pull my eyes away from the beauty of it I looked up to read. 'Presbyterian Church of Seattle' in extra large bold letters.
"Alice, what is this?" I asked dumbfounded. She couldn't really expect me to get married there. It was a place suited for Edward maybe but me, definitely not. I'd probably trip and fall and break the one of the elaborate stained glass windows.
"Well Bella it's a church." She said giggling. I groaned. Alice really new how to push my buttons.
"I got that from the picture Alice, but why do I need to look at this picture?" Alice laughed as Edward squeezed my hand realizing how uneasy this situation made me.
"Well, silly," She said and I waited. "You are getting married and a marriage requires a church." I felt my mouth fall open as I realized that she was being serious about this. Edward rubbed some more soothing circles into my hand before I could get myself together.
"Alice, I can't get married there!" I was panicking, the place was too perfect, too big, whatever happened to Emmett just getting a license and marrying us in the backyard?
"Why not Bella, don't you like it?" She sounded hurt as she asked whether or not I liked it and I felt more own guilt wash over me.
"It's not that Alice, its beautiful but…" I couldn't finish what I was saying; in fact I couldn't finish a rational thought. All I could do was stare, dumbfounded at the church on the computer screen.
"But what?" She asked waiting patiently. "Bella?" She asked after another minute of my staring at the computer screen.
"Its so big." I whispered and Alice just laughed.
"Of course its big Bella! Don't Bella, we can't just fit everyone in some stuffy old place." I felt my mouth drop another inch as Edward pulled me into him. He kissed the top of my head and Alice started off again. "Besides Bella we're going out there today anyway. Actually, we're going to be late if we don't get a move on soon." My eyes bugged out of my head.
"What?" I asked Alice feeling a little woozy. She was hitting me with all of this so fast…
"Bella don't worry. It'll be fine!" Alice was so happy as she kissed my forehead and bounced over towards Jasper. I turned slowly towards Edward, prepared to do anything in order to get out of visiting this church Alice was speaking of. I just stared up at him wide-eyed for a moment and he stared down worried.
"So," He said and I just shook my head. "What's go you worried?" He seemed so serene and at peace about the whole thing but I couldn't believe it.
"Can we go sit down?" I asked finally finding my voice. This conversation would be so much easier on a couch.
"Sure, love." He said picking me up into his arms and pulling me towards his room. Within seconds we were on the unnecessary bed that sat in center of his room. "Now, Bella, what's wrong?" He asked me so sweetly but it still sent me on edge. What's wrong? What did he think was going to happen? I sure as hell wasn't going to get all giddy and start bouncing up and down with Alice.
"It's so big and, and, and" I was stuttering at a loss for words. When I came to a conclusion. "I have to do this don't I?" I said wishing that he would say no but I already knew the answer.
"No one's forcing you." He said but I knew I was stuck. There was no way around it. I was getting married in that giant church whether I liked it or not.
"When are we leaving?" I sighed. Throwing in the towel was the best option here. One of my fits at Alice wasn't going to get me anywhere in this argument
He looked down at his watch and picked me up again. As almost as if nothing had happened I was strapped into the backseat of Alice's Porsche ready to go. We were leaving now. Driving out to Seattle to visit this church that was probably bigger than any building I had ever been in and ten times more elegant. Edward turned towards me. "We're leaving now." Was all he said before erupting into laughter. Any other day I would have been clutching my sides but too much was on my mind. Edward could tell too because as soon as Alice pulled out of the garage he grabbed my hand.
"It'll be fine, don't worry." Yeah right, I thought to myself but I just smiled in response to Edward.
"Bella?" Alice asked from the front seat. She and Jasper were riding with us while Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie were all riding over in Carlisle car. "Are you excited!" I could tell she was excited, her car was driving faster than ever and it made my heart race.
"Alice, slow down." I said trying to keep my voice from cracking. She just laughed and asked me if I was excited again. "No not particularly." I responded my voice completely void of emotion. She just shook her head and drove on. In a good 15 minutes we had made the entire ride. The church wasn't in Seattle probably because it was the size of the city itself but it was sitting on the outskirts of the city.
"Ready?" Edward asked undoing my seatbelt as if I were five years old since I was just staring up at the church in awe. I stepped out of the car in a daze and just stared back up at the church. It was so much bigger than I had though and the angels depicted in every window where about twice my size. It was extraordinarily intimidating. It made me dizzy just to try and look at the top from under it.
"You alright?" Edward said and I snapped back to reality. I looked around us and noted that all of my future family had already gone inside.
"Yeah I'm fine." I lied to him and grabbed his hand. He squeezed mine in return and led me towards the door. When we walked in everyone was far away staring at the marvel that was this church. I looked around for a second myself before catching my breath.
"Are you Bella Swan?" I heard someone say and my head shot up.
"Yes." I replied to the man that was most obviously the Priest he seemed very put together and professional in his robes but I found him intimidating. From the little I knew of the bible I had thought that priests were supposed to be inviting and warm, but he just made my knees tremble. His appearance had nothing to do with it. He was short and fat and reminded my slightly of Charlie. He was nearly bald except for the two thin patches of hair on either side of his head.
"I'm Pastor Dan." I heard him say as he held out his hand to me. I took it reluctantly as it required me to pull my hand out of Edward's. He dropped my hand quickly as he had taken it turning towards Edward. "And you must be Edward Cullen?" He smiled up at Edward and Edward being the gentleman put out his hand returning the gesture. "Well I'm glad to meet you, I hear you want to use our church for your wedding, is that right?"
"Yes we would actually." Edward responded smiling down at me trying to get me to play along.
"That's good, now your sister said that she could get the plans all worked out, is that alright with you two? She seemed to have a real grasp on your plans." I smiled and shook my head quickly letting Edward respond again.
"Yes, if you don't mind she really is the mastermind behind the plans for the wedding." Pastor Dan just nodded his head and seemed perfectly content with working with Alice, it seemed like everyone but me would want her planning their own wedding.
"Well now that we have that settled I had something I needed to ask the two of you." He seemed to be very serious about it so I got up some courage and responded.
"What's that?" I asked quietly surprised at how mousey my voice sounded.
"Well to get married here the two of you will have to attend pre-marital counseling." I felt my hand tremble in Edward's and he squeezed it in response.
"What?" I asked completely confused. Wasn't counseling something you did after marriage.
"We like to make sure that newlyweds and even those just engaged have a grasp on what they are going to do after the marriage or help them decide if this is really the best decision, especially when they are your age." I felt sick as he talked about and Edward seemed to decide that he needed to get him away as fast as possible.
"Alright," Edward said. "That sounds fine by me…by us." He finished it of when I didn't respond.
"Great! Do you think you two could come by tomorrow for your first session?" He asked and I felt sicker. Tomorrow? That was so soon! Edward just nodded his head and the pastor mumbled something about marking the calendar and seeing us soon, I couldn't concentrate. As he walked away Edward pulled me towards him. He just looked at me worried and I could only get one phrase out.
"Pre-marital counseling?"
I hope you liked it! I'm really excited about writing it! If it sucks though tell me and I'll stop now! Thanks for reading and please review!