"So, where do you want to go?"

I opened my eyes. Edward stood beside my bed, smiling his crooked smile as I yawned and sat up. My smile. I looked into his eyes, starstruck as always as he kissed me good morning. A sense of calm had filled my mind since the day before. What a day that had been- telling Charlie about our engagement.

"No. Never. Can't happen," he'd muttered loudly, as though his words could change reality. I was fearing the mother of all Charlie blowups by that point in time, even as Edward stood still as a statue beside me. Thankfully, we'd asked Jasper to stand a ways from the door, and Charlie found himself much happier at this announcement than he might have been otherwise.

"Dad, I love him, and I know it seems early. But Edward and me--," I stopped short, looking into his angelic face. Words failed me. Thankfully, my boyfriend--excuse me, fiance-- did not have the same problem.

"I will love and protect your daughter, Officer Swan." He turned his head back to me. "For as long as I live."

Eventually, with a lot of help from the feel-good nature of the room, Charlie was essentially silenced into a confused, but nearly complete, acceptance. Renee, however, was another story.

"WHAT?"

"No, mom, really," I said, talking quickly and loudly to my panicked mother. "Its not like I'm getting married tomorrow--"

"But you just got out of high school! Bella, you're too young!" Her voice- not unlike my own, I had to admit- rose several octaves with each word. Even then, it was plain that she was thoroughly upset. I tried a more peaceful approach.

"Mom, listen. We know we're young, but Edward and I have known each other for a long time now, and I know it will work out. Trust me, please."

She gave a momentary sigh, then seemed to recover. "Honey, look what you're laying on me here! One minute you graduate, and now marraige? You've got your whole life ahead of you, and all the time in the world to experience it. Would it kill you to take things a little bit slower?"

I nearly dropped the phone as the last sentence came over the airwaves. Seeing my expression, Edward seized the phone. A few minutes later Renee was back on.

"Well, I love you, Bella," she said softly, a trace of uncertainty still lingering in her voice.

"Love you too, mom."

The phone line went dead.

That day had been what was likely the first of way too many tests that came with this marraige thing, but as I watched Edward leaning silently against my bed, holding my hand tightly in his, it all felt of no moment. Suddenly, they opened up again, revealing those liquid, golden eyes.

"So," he said playfully, "where to, my love?"

I smiled back. "I think I have an idea."

Twenty minutes later we were driving down the highway under a blue sky. It might not have been Edward's preference for a day on the town, so to speak, but even the sight of a cloudless day left me feeling weightless and free. And I was free, from all the problems and fears that had progressed in the weeks before. Victoria, the newborns- it was all gone now. Just me, Edward, and lifetimes more of this to look forward to. He was currently listening to his radio, as The Fray played at speakers throughout the car. I had my head tilted against the window, looking out into the quickly passing countryside. Seeing my hand on the armrest, I traced one finger across the intricately chiseled stone that now lay sparkling against my pale skin, thin gold band tracing my ring finger smoothly; moving my hand from side to side as it played beams of sunlight across the dashboard. Edward gave a small grin as he noticed my occupation.

"More fun than you thought?"

"Oh, definitely," I murmured. "Wait- make a left here."

"I know," he replied. "You don't have to be a mind-reader to figure this one out, Bella." He looked at me with mock suspicion as I laughed, my hand encompassed in his.

I breathed in deeply as we both stepped out of the car, the sound of slamming doors alone occupying the deep silence of the wooded parking lot. Pine needles lay in soggy piles about the pavement, the barrier on the side growing rugged and dismantled with age. The ground was obviously just drying up from the ever-present rain of Forks, but the sun shone down brightly. Within a few moments Edward had scooped me up into his arms once again, as we raced uphill. It was as exhilarating as always, though far more frightening than any roller coaster I could have dreamed up. Even then, I always felt so safe in his arms, it barely seemed real. But it was. Me and my boyfriend. Or, I guess, fiance.

When I finally opened my eyes in the feeling of gravity returning to normal, I couldn't help but sigh. The meadow had stayed the same as ever. Same as the day I first saw it, and saw him, sparkling like a million faceted diamond. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as Edward's face softened in the light, while I could have sworn I saw a glimmer emanating from one side of his pale face. He caught my guilty gaze, and I let his eyes call me in slowly. In one smooth motion he held me in a gentle embrace, jaw angled forward as I leaned my face into his. A kiss is natural for love. And yet, it felt like much more, knowing how he was struggling and fighting to offer me such a simple gesture. I felt all the more passionate for it. Moving back, his lips parted mine, and I locked into his eyes once more.

"You remember," he said softly, "the first day we came here."

"Yes," I murmured, deep in the decadent scent of his breath.

"I was afraid, then, that you would run. And yet..." he paused, complete adoration on his expression. "You never did." His path of sight seemed to take in all that stood around him at that moment. "Look where we are now, my love." I felt his hand touch the ring, closing around it gratefully.

"And still alive, at that."

He smiled almost mournfully. "At least one of us made it out breathing, right?"

I laughed hollowly. "Yeah."

His expression turned to concern. I felt my own emotion flipping channels to his as he spoke.

"I want you to know, Bella. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, whatever the circumstance." He seemed to pull me in closer. "Are you sure you want this life?"

I might have fought him any other day, but the worry in his eyes told me better.

"Edward Cullen. You should definitely know by now that I'm in this all the way. Besides," I twiddled the ring up and down my finger, "I believe we had a deal." He gave a half-hearted smile.

"Sure."

"But even then, I want it. Badly. If a little bit of mythical monstrosity in my life is what it takes to be Mrs. Cullen for all eternity, I can deal with it."

He sighed dramatically. "I suppose so. Who else could handle a Mrs. Bella anything?" I gave a scandalized gasp, smacking his wrist as we both sat down laughing.

Hours passed- I don't know how long it might have been. The sun stayed high in the sky as we laid in the deep grass of the hillside, now dry and soft in the heat of the coming summer. Somehow it felt that everything was perfect, as Edward's head leaned lightly against mine, gazing up into that endless blue. We talked sometimes, reminiscent and amused, but for the most part we were just still, enjoying the beauty of the golden afternoon.

But, of course, all good things must come to an end.

"Bella. Bella, its late."

I felt a hand on my arm, and suddenly I awoke to Edward's face angled dangerously close to my own. For some, perhaps. I just saw it as opportunity.

"Nrmph!" he muttered, surprised as I kissed him quickly. Bemused, he turned to look at me again, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet.

"What, couldn't handle a little sweet nothing?"

"Okay, sure. You got me," he mumbled. I could've sworn I saw a blush rise to his face as he spoke. "But it is getting late." I forced myself to look into the air. He was right. The sunlight was only a reddish stain on the dusky purple sky, and disappearing fast behind the trees.

"I don't want to go." The words slipped from my mouth before I could see how immature it sounded.

"Neither do I," he replied, voice far more forgiving than I would have guessed. "But Charlie might get a bit concerned."

"Oh, right." Honestly, I figured we had the right to a little more forgiveness there. The engagement was official. Reluctantly I walked down the ledge with Edward, my hand entwined in his once again. The forest was dark by now; only glimpses of light piercing the canopy. I remembered the last time I'd been out in the woods this late- when Edward left. A shiver ran down my spine. Suddenly, Edward froze.

"What?" I asked sharply, watching his gaze widen. He jerked his head toward me.

"Bella, run."

"What? Why---"

"Run!"

Panic masking his words, I trembled in one spot as he ran off in the some other direction- his speed and the darkness made it impossible to tell. My hands shaking as the silence of the night enveloped me, I leaned back into a tree, sliding down on the ground. Night had overtaken the land by now. I didn't know how long he'd been gone when a sound penetrated the air, chilling me to the bone. A low, familiar moan rang through the air, quiet, but sending my mind into a variety of scenarios. Standing up and walking behind the tree, I scanned the darkness for anything- movement, light. Until my eyes fell to the bottom of the hill, just yards away. My mouth fell open in a silent scream.

Jacob.