Starlight

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

My name is Edward Anthony Swan. Until I came to Forks, my life was ordinary and an open book. But then I met her, Isabella Marie Cullen, the immortal woman who would forever change my world.

She and her family were vampires. I'd figured it out after she'd saved my life and I'd done some reading on some old legends. Our relationship had been going nearly perfectly except for a few speed bumps. I'd almost gotten killed by a nomad vampire called James and James's mate, Victoria was still out to get me, but she hadn't been found yet.

Then after I'd nearly been killed by Jasper, Bella had decided I'd be better protected without her, and the Cullens had left Forks. That choice almost destroyed us both as it had sent me into a depression and when Bella had thought I was dead she'd almost died to be with me. Thankfully, we got past all of that.

I loved Bella's family. Carlisle and Esme were the parents I'd always wanted, Emmett and Jasper were like my brothers and Alice and Rosalie were the sisters I never had. And Bella was the one I wanted to spend forever with. Actually, we were going to be together forever as we planned for me to be changed after graduation and our wedding. Yes, I'd proposed and I'm proud to say Bella accepted.

I had yet to tell my parents that Bella and I were engaged. Under normal circumstances, I would've said something before I proposed, but things weren't normal. Bella and I had agreed to keep it quiet for a while as we weren't ready for the public to know and there were some problems with my parents. Bella was still on very thin ice with Charlie, and Rénee was edgy and would've gone into a conniption fit if she knew her only son was getting married before he turned thirty.

So, for the time being, the only ones who knew about the engagement were the Cullens and the wolf pack down on the Quileute Reservation. We weren't going to announce the news to anyone else until the timing was better or at least until we had plans set in stone. So, for the time being, in public Bella wore her engagement ring on a gold chain on her neck so it'd be close to her heart. When we were alone or with the Cullens, she wore it proudly on her finger. Either way, she never took it off her person, she always had it on.

If the engagement itself wasn't complicated enough, we had to deal with the Volturi which was the government body for vampires and who knew about me and my ability to block out mental gifts without even trying and were awaiting my change. And my best friend Janessa Black was a werewolf. She hadn't been too pleased when she found out I was still in love with Bella after all that happened and she wasn't fond of "leeches," but for my sake, she'd persuaded the pack to allow my change and impending marriage to Bella.

At that moment, I was reading out loud in, mine and Bella's meadow, trying to study for a test coming up. "'Some say the world will in end in fire. Some say in ice. From what I've tasted and desire, I hold with those who favor fire. But if I had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great. And would suffice.'" I said smirking at the end from Bella kissing my cheek and neck, lovingly.

In theory we were studying for our English final. Notice how I said, 'in theory.' It was more like, we were lying together in our meadow, I was reading the book aloud to Bella and trying not to lose focus. But staying focused is difficult when you have the most gorgeous girl alive for a fiancé distracting you. Especially when I was actually more interested in Bella's beautiful topaz eyes than the stuff we were reading. Don't get me wrong, I love Shakespeare, but I love Bella more.

"Bella, love, we need to focus. We have an English final tomorrow." I said, chuckling.

"I don't care," she said, as she kissed my neck again. "I know all this stuff anyway. Besides, we can study later."

I smiled as I laughed. I put the book down, deciding to give up for the time being.

Bella giggled as the sun came out, making her skin sparkle. I rolled onto my back and she was on top of me as she kissed me.

"I love you," I said, as I caressed her cheek.

"I love you too," she said.

We kissed again.

"I can't wait until the day when you marry me and the whole world will know that you're mine forever," I said.

Bella smiled as she fingered her engagement ring. "I wish people could know now."

"I do too, but you know why we can't tell anyone of our engagement just yet, Bells," I reminded her. "The plans haven't been set and my parents—"

"I know," said Bella, sighing. "Charlie still doesn't approve of me and your mother would go ballistic."

"Hey," I said, as I cupped her face. "Don't worry so much. We'll tell them soon and no matter what they think, we'll be together forever. I love you."

"I love you too." She kissed me again and then got up. "As much as I would love to just stay here with you all day, we have to go. You need to be back by four."

I nodded and then packed up my stuff.

I drove Bella home and then went back to my house.

Charlie was reading the Washington Inquisitor, where it reported the latest murders. It worried me a little as I knew Victoria was still out there. I wondered if she was behind all this. She did want me dead.

"Four o'clock on the dot," said Charlie, as I sat beside him on the couch. "You always were punctual. Or was it that girl of yours, making sure you got home on time?"

I rolled my eyes. "'That girl' has a name, you know. It's Bella. And now she's too punctual for you?"

Lately, he'd been finding every tiny little thing a good reason to poke at Bella. He was still mad about me disappearing for three days with little to no word and for suddenly taking Bella back after our disastrous break-up. I'd been grounded for three days because of that and he was still edgy.

"Dad, I know you're still mad about the incident, but I thought you said you accepted Bella. Why are you acting like this?" I asked.

"I just want you to get some separation from her," said Charlie.

I sighed. "Dad, there's nothing you can say. Bella is in my life, she is my life"

Charlie didn't look surprised, but disappointed. "Yeah, I'm gathering that."

"What other reasons do you have?" I asked. "Come on, spill. Say it."

He hesitated and then said, "I don't want you with Bella because I think you could pick a better girl."

"Like Janessa?" I guessed. One look from my dad told me I'd guessed right. "Dad, she hasn't even spoken to me in weeks." Janessa hadn't answered any of my calls or my e-mails since our last talk in the meadow where I'd proposed to Bella. She was still upset with me, not that I could blame her. I'd unintentionally broken her heart when I had chosen Bella over her.

"I know, but you could at least try talking to her again? She's going through a rough time right now. Her dad's really worried about her," said Charlie. "I remember when that was you. You needed a friend and Jan was there."

I sighed again. "Okay, I'll try talking to her again."

Charlie looked pleased and I made up my mind to try talking to Jan again. I could only hope that she would listen.

Janessa hadn't spoken to me in weeks. I wanted to mend our friendship, I wanted to try and fix it, but she just wouldn't give me the chance. After another unanswered call and e-mail, I went out to my car and silently debated for a long while if I should just go to the Reservation and confront her or not.

Suddenly, there was a crash which snapped me out of my thoughts. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella.

"You really need to stop scaring me like that," I said.

"Sorry," she said. She looked worried. "Are you going down to the Reservation?"

I sighed. "Alice." She'd seen my indecision. I was going to kill that little pixie. "I was debating about it, why?"

"Edward, you have to understand, your safety is everything to me," she said. "Janessa may have accepted our plans, but you heard what she said about the pack's feelings about it. They don't like it. What if they hurt you?"

"They won't," I insisted. "Janessa wouldn't allow that. They won't hurt me and neither will Janessa."

"It's not Janessa I'm worried about. And the wolves may not hurt you intentionally, but wolves have no control."

"Bella, please, don't worry so much. It's going to be all right," I said, as I squeezed her hand. "Look, she's my friend and that's it. I have until graduation to see her and then I'll be one of you and then she'll probably hate me forever. Need I remind you she's the reason they're even allowing me us to be married and for me to be turned without the treaty being broken?"

Bella sighed as she returned the hand squeeze. "I remember what she's done. But it's impossible for me not to worry. I thought I lost you once. I don't know if I could bear it a second time."

I held her close and rubbed her back as she buried her face in my chest. "You'll never lose me, I promise."

She just returned the embrace and didn't say much.

In the end, I decided not to go to the Reservation that night and I went up to my room, to get some sleep with Bella curled up beside me.

The next day at school, it was almost fun.

Mike, Eric and Angela were helping Jessica, our school valedictorian, prepare for her speech at graduation. It was funny to watch as Jessica rejected all the clichés in speeches and said most of their suggestions would get diplomas thrown at her.

"Jessica doesn't need clichés," said Bella, looking quite amused. "Her speech's going to be epic."

"Epic? It'll change lives," said Jessica.

I bit back a laugh.

Just then, Jasper and Alice sat down beside us smiling, much to my surprise. Normally they sat with Rosalie and Emmett or were by themselves.

"Hey, guys, what brings you to our table?" I asked.

"I've decided to throw a party," said Alice.

"After all, how many times are we going to graduate from high school?" asked Jasper.

I laughed. I could not believe he'd just said that. How many times? Well, how many times could you graduate from high school when you're stuck looking like a teenager for all of time and eternity?

"A party?" said Angela. "At your place?"

Jessica stared. "I've never seen your house."

"No one but Edward's ever seen their house, much less been to their house," said Eric.

"Another party, Alice?" asked Bella.

"It'll be fun," she insisted.

Yeah, and that's what you said the last time you threw a party, I could've said, but didn't. My eighteenth birthday had been a complete fiasco as it'd ended with me getting injured and Bella deciding it was best for us to be separated. But who knew what would happen? Maybe just this once, we could have no troubles.

"I'm sure it'll be great," I said, honestly, making Alice squeal with happiness.

I frowned when she then got that look on her face which meant she was having another vision and from the look on her and Jasper's faces, it didn't appear to be a good one. Bella also looked worried. She knew what Alice was seeing as she could hear Alice's thoughts. This made me worried too.

Later that day, Bella and I drove up to the police station where Charlie was going to give me a lift home as my car had broken down this morning, Janessa had my motorcycle, and Bella had to get home soon. From the station's window, I could see that Charlie was talking to two worried parents.

I looked at Bella and then we sat down on the bench outside the door. "Bella, about earlier, I know you saw what Alice saw, and we agreed not to have anymore secrets, so please just tell me what's going on."

Bella sighed. "Believe me, I want to, but I'm not sure if I should," she said. "Not just yet, anyway. We're not completely sure about what's going on and until we are, I don't want you to worry about anything or me until there's reason to."

I bit back a sigh of frustration as I wrapped an arm around her and she snuggled in close. "Bella, I know you're invulnerable and all, but I'm always going to worry about you. You're my fiancé."

"I know," she said.

I looked through the window again. "I wonder what's wrong."

"Their son went missing in Seattle over a year ago," said Bella. She had the vampire-enhanced hearing. "Charlie's doing what he can, but…so far, he's had no luck."

She got a look on her face that I knew all too well.

"Do you know something about this?" I asked.

Bella hesitated and then said, "We've been tracking the situation in Seattle for a while. Unexplained disappearances. Killings. If the situation gets anymore conspicuous, the Volturi will step in."

I inhaled sharply, now even more worried than before. The Volturi were like the vampire government. I hadn't liked them one bit when we'd met a few months ago. Granted they kept the vampire population under control, but still, they were cruel and sadistic. One of their biggest rules was that any human they were aware of that knew of vampires either had to be turned to killed.

"If they go to Seattle, they could come here," I said. "They could see that I'm still human and then they'll kill us all." Not just me, but all of the Cullens and Charlie and even the pack if they wanted to.

Bella shook her head. "No, it won't get that far, I promise you. But we'll go to Seattle if we have to."

Just then, Charlie came out of the police station.

"Hey, Dad," I said, faking a smile and hiding my emotions. "You ready for dinner?"

"Yeah, starving," said Charlie. He gave Bella a look. "It's still just you and I, right, son?"

I bit back my anger at this as Bella smiled and nodded. "I'm just dropping him off. I have to get home now. See you later."

"Bye," I said.

She stopped walking when she got to her car. "Oh, Edward, my parents wanted to remind you about the airline ticket you got for your birthday."

Charlie stared at me while I silently swore revenge. I hadn't told Charlie about that birthday gift for a reason. Bella, I'm so going to get you for this. This girl drove me absolutely crazy sometimes. Could it have been more obvious that she was trying to get me away from Forks for a few days?

"What airline ticket?" he asked.

I didn't want to tell him, but I knew I had to. "It's a round trip ticket to see Mom in Florida, that's all."

Charlie frowned. "Well, that was generous."

"It expires soon, so you might want to use it this weekend," said Bella.

"Well, I can't just drop everything and go," I said, as I gritted my teeth.

"It might be your last chance to see her before graduation," said Bella.

Translation: it'll probably be your last chance to see her before you're changed and can never see her again as you'll be an immortal vampire. I'll admit, she had a point, but I was not going to say that aloud.

Charlie actually seemed to like the idea. "Might not be such a bad idea. Get out of town for a couple of days, get some distance."

I sighed. Well, maybe it wasn'tsuch a terrible idea. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing Mom." I looked at Bella. Now had come the time for my sweet revenge. "But only if you use the companion ticket."

Bella didn't look surprised I'd said this as she quietly laughed.

"Wait, there's two tickets?" said Charlie. He didn't look quite as pleased now. "Super. That makes me really happy."

"Well, Mom has been asking to officially meet Bella. Why disappoint her?" I said, smiling sweetly at Bella. "Will you come, Bells?"

Bella looked just a tad annoyed before smiling again. "Sure, I'd love to."

As I got in Charlie's car, I gave her a look that said, You brought this on yourself, you know?

We flew out to Florida over the weekend.

What happened when we told Charlie of the tickets aside, I actually did want to see my mom. I wanted to know that her life was full and satisfying. We ended up having tons of fun in Florida. It was relaxing and I was glad I'd come. Even better, unlike my dad, Mom really liked Bella. They got along perfectly, which was a load off my mind. Maybe my mother wouldn't have a conniption fit when she found out of our engagement. Just maybe.

Bella ended up staying indoors when it was really sunny outside. We claimed she was allergic to sunscreen and burnt real easily. Thankfully, Mom believed this story and didn't question us further.

She and I sat outside the house lounging in beach chairs one afternoon.

"Aren't you going to miss this?" asked Mom. "Can't you just feel the vitamin D soaking up into your pores?"

"Yeah, I am going to miss this," I admitted. Feeling the warmth of the sun would be something I'd miss after I was turned.

"You know, colleges in Florida are a lot sunnier," she said. "I'm just saying, if you go to the University of Alaska, I'm never going to see you."

I put on my sunglasses and tried to come up with something to say. "They have a really great science program."

Mom smirked. "You mean Bella program?"

I laughed. "Mom."

"I'm just saying," she said, chuckling. "She's a great girl. The way she watches you, it's like she's willing to leap in front of you to take a bullet or something."

Mom had no idea just how true her statement was. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No, but it's an intense thing. You're different with her, happier. And sometimes, I swear you're joined at the hip. She moves, you move, like magnets."

I shrugged. How could I possibly explain the depth of my love for Bella? How could I explain all that we'd gone through just so we could be together? We were eternally linked and nothing could change that.

"I don't know, we're…"

"In love, I get it," said Mom. "As long as she makes you happy and you're making the right choices for you, then I'm happy too."

I smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

Mom then got up. "All right, enough with the heavy." She quickly disappeared for a moment and then came back with a large present wrapped in purple wrapping and tied with a lavender ribbon. "Congraduation. I know you didn't want me to spend any money on you, so I didn't. This didn't cost me a cent."

I smiled as I opened the box and my smile widened when I found that the gift was a large quilt made of entirely of all our old trip T-shirts.

"Oh, Mom, you didn't," I said, chuckling. "Are this all our old trip T-shirts?"

"Yep," said Mom, looking proud and happy.

I took out the quilt. "Get out of here! This is great."

"I saved them all," she said. "I thought they'd make a good quilt, to help you keep warm up in Alaska. Remember this one? Ensenada?"

I nodded. "The Snake Pit."

"Yeah," she said, laughing. "But this one is my favorite." She pointed to one of the shirts. "The three-headed lobster from Maine."

This was an amazing gift. I absolutely loved it. "This is really amazing, Mom. I love it."

"Honey, I'm glad you like it," said Mom. "I just figured that when you get older, have kids, we can add to it. Maybe go visit the world's largest ketchup bottle or something."

I then hugged her tight and bit back my tears. My tears were both happy and sad. I had just realized how much I was going to miss my mom after I became a vampire. I could never tell her I was going to be eternally young and outlive her by centuries or that I was probably never going to see her again. Everything she spoke of, that could never happen. I was never going to become a father because Bella was a vampire and couldn't have children.

"Thanks, Mom," I whispered, as she returned the embrace.

"Oh, I'm glad you like it, sweetie. Just thought you should have a little piece of me up there in Alaska," she said.

I swallowed painfully. She had no idea how much that was true. "I love you so much Mom," I whispered.

"I love you too, Edward," she said.