Hello and welcome to my (and Edward's) take on Breaking Dawn! I'm probably going to skip around a lot in the text. If you have any requests, please let me know!
I'll take this opportunity to plug my two other stories that are also in EPOV: Salvation (New Moon), and Possession (Eclipse) Check them out, they're good. I promise!
I'm going to start with Isle Esme, just because I want to. :) Everything before (including the wedding) doesn't interest me too much. Unfortunately for lemon lovers I'm probably not going to go there and instead fade to black the same as Stephenie Meyer did. What can I say? Edward is a gentleman, he doesn't kiss and tell. And there are more than enough lemony versions out there anyway.
Enough rambling, I'm following pages 77 - 85. HUGE thanks to my super beta, katmom, without whom I'd have a badly punctuated story!
I don't own Twilight or Breaking Dawn.
Resurrection - Part One
Ah, the glory of pure speed. I lifted my face into the wind created by the boat racing through the water. It was dark but that didn't matter for me, I was able to navigate through the sea just as well as if it were the middle of the day.
"Are we going much farther?" Bella asked. Her knuckles were white where she was clutching onto her seat. I smiled indulgently, she wasn't happy about the boat but we'd reach our destination soon enough.
With the engine noise, it was difficult to keep up conversation so we stayed silent for the most part. It was just as well, as we drew closer to the island, my misgivings about the coming night started to grow.
I had tried to plan as best I could for this. It was Bella's one wish to experience love making as a human, before she was changed. I'd agreed, despite my fears about hurting her. It was natural, I told myself, and it was what all husbands and wives did together. Only we weren't a natural couple, not with Bella's frail humanity and my stone-like exterior.
My cold body was a problem; it wouldn't have done to have Bella wrapped up in blankets to keep from shivering next to me. After a lot of thought, I decided it would be best to go somewhere tropical, and secluded. That way my coolness would be a welcome relief to the hot climate. When I consulted Carlisle and Esme for advice, Esme had suggested we go to her island, Isle Esme.
At my request, Carlisle had also tried to advise me on what to expect on our wedding night.
"I know you love Bella, Edward. Nonetheless, you will have to be extremely careful. As vampires, all our sensations are heightened, and of course there is the exceptional strength we possess. It would be too easy to get carried away and forget that Bella is human."
"I promised her, Carlisle. How can I keep from being...overwhelmed when I'm with her? What exactly should I be watching for? I need to know what to expect."
"Sex is a powerful thing, particularly for us. We don't change often, as you know, and strong emotions have the ability to alter us. With you that isn't an issue, Bella has already changed you in that way. Making love with her will be difficult because of the feelings you will experience. But you are strong, Edward. You have incredible self-restraint. I don't doubt you will be able to keep yourself under control."
"I wish I had the same faith in myself that you have in me." I had said, not convinced by Carlisle's words.
"Don't over think it. I know it's easier said than done, but try to enjoy the moment. I'm sure everything will turn out fine."
That conversation, as well as ones I'd had with Emmett and Jasper, weighed in my mind as the boat continued to slice through the water.
Eventually I was able to make out Isle Esme ahead of us.
"Bella, look there." I said, pointing to the dark shape. She followed my hand, squinting.
"Where are we?" She asked as I changed course slightly.
"This is Isle Esme." I smiled at her. I maneuvered the boat to the wooden dock, stopping right against it.
"Isle Esme?" Bella sounded incredulous.
"A gift from Carlisle – Esme offered to let us borrow it." I suppose it was strange to think of giving an island as a gift. What was the use of having wealth if you couldn't spend it?
I placed our suitcases on the dock before reaching for Bella and scooping her up into my arms.
"Aren't you supposed to wait for the threshold?" She asked, as I lightly jumped from the boat onto the wooden planks.
"I'm nothing if not thorough," I smiled. Keeping Bella cradled in one arm, I bent down to pick up both trunks in my free hand and proceeded up the dock and into vegetation where a path led up to the house.
As the house became visible, I felt Bella's heart start to race. Her breathing also became laboured. I glanced at her but she kept her gaze forward on the house. I guessed she was nervous about what was to come. Would she want to delay? I couldn't blame her if she did, my own fears were coming back in full force.
We reached the front of the house where I set the suitcases on the porch so I could open the doors. I looked down at Bella again, this time waiting until she met my eyes. I tried to smile reassuringly at her as we crossed the threshold.
I kept her in my arms as I switched lights on throughout the empty house. A set of stairs led up to the main bedroom. After I turned the lights on there, I set Bella back on the ground. She still didn't say anything, but stared, with wide eyes, at the enormous bed situated in the middle of the room.
This was all foreign territory for me and I wasn't sure how to proceed. Being practical, I decided Bella would probably want to freshen up after the long journey.
"I'll...go get the luggage." I said, leaving her and running back down the stairs.
When I returned I found Bella in the room, tentatively touching the netting above the bed. Coming up behind her I could see sweat beading on the back of her neck. She didn't turn when I reached out to wipe away the drop of perspiration from her skin. Usually I would've turned her around to face me, or at least asked her to do so, but I knew why she wasn't doing it herself. It was for the same reason that I stood behind her, not touching her. I didn't know what to do next. Did most couples simply jump into bed? That didn't seem quite the thing to do at this moment. I decided I would let Bella dictate what pace we would go at.
"It's a little hot here," I said. "I thought that would be best."
"Thorough," Bella murmured. I laughed, mostly from nerves. Part of me was wishing I did have some experience with this, perhaps we wouldn't be feeling so awkward if I did.
"I tried to think of everything that would make this...easier." I grimaced at how that sounded, feeling worse when I heard Bella swallow. Maybe moving away from the bedroom would be the best idea. It would take away the expectation.
"I was wondering," I began slowly; "if...first maybe you'd like to take a midnight swim with me?" I could hear the unsteady note in my voice and took a deep breath. "The water will be very warm. This is the kind of beach you approve of."
"Sounds nice," Bella said mechanically, her voice breaking with nervousness.
"I'm sure you'd like a human moment or two...It was a long journey." It was clear Bella needed some time to herself and I didn't mind the idea either. She nodded in acknowledgment. Bringing my lips to her ear, I whispered, "Don't take too long, Mrs. Cullen."
I could feel the start she gave upon hearing her new name. Trailing my lips from her neck to her shoulder, I gave her a final squeeze.
"I'll wait for you in the water," I told her. The doors on the opposite side of the room led straight out onto the beach. I crossed the room, unbuttoning and shrugging out of my shirt as I went. Quickly I opened the door, stepping outside and leaving Bella alone.
I knew she was nervous but I wasn't sure exactly why. Was it because of the actual act of love making? Or was she becoming wary of the transformation that would take place soon? Perhaps she was just tired from the long trip. Whichever the reason, I could be patient. I'd waited for her for over a hundred years; waiting until she was ready wouldn't be much of a stretch.
Realizing that I hadn't bothered to bring a swimsuit with me, I opted to go completely bare. It was an isolated area; no one was here except Bella and myself. I took off the rest of my clothes, hanging them on a tree near the water. The moonlight flooded the beach, illuminating the sand and water.
Quietly, I walked towards the edge of the water, staring at the way the light reflected off the waves. My mind was full of doubt. If Bella was ready to take that final step, would I be able to keep from harming her? For her to suffer more was the last thing I wanted. Jacob's thoughts at the wedding haunted me: She's insane; I'm going to kill him before he kills her. There's no way she could come out of that alive, he knows that as well as I do. Goddamn leech, and he thinks he loves her.
Shaking my head to dispel the memory, I tried to focus on being positive. Bella had faith in me, Carlisle did too. I just had to find it in myself. The waves lapped at my feet and I walked in until I was submerged up to my waist. I wondered what Bella was doing back in the room. Should I go and check on her? No, she needed the privacy. My checking on her would likely only make her more nervous.
Presently I heard soft footsteps on the sand behind me. The familiar sweet scent washed over me. Bella. She waded into the water, before coming to a stop beside me and placing her hand on top of mine.
"Beautiful," she said. I could see her face uplifted in my periphery.
"It's all right," I responded, far more interested in my wife. Following my lead, Bella had also left her clothing on the tree. Seeing her this way, for the first time, caused me to fight a sudden surge of desire. It seemed she was ready after all. In the moonlight our skin looked to be the same colour, not so uneven anymore. "But I wouldn't use the word beautiful," I spoke again. "Not with you standing here in comparison."
She never would believe me, but she was truly exquisite. Being a mind reader had caused me a lot of anger at having to listen to the constant barrage of teenaged male thoughts regarding her. Bella smiled at me, raising her hand to place it over my heart. The warmth of her touch made me shudder, as fire began to race through my veins.
"I promised we would try," I whispered. "If...if I do something wrong, if I hurt you, you must tell me at once." I didn't take my eyes off her face, gauging it for signs of anxiety or fear. But she only nodded, looking at me with infinite trust. Taking a step forward, she leaned her head against my chest.
"Don't be afraid," she murmured. "We belong together."
Giving in to the moment, I brought my arms up to hold her close to me. I couldn't dispute the truth of her words.
"Forever," I said. Gently, with her still wrapped in my arms, I took us deeper into the warm sea.
A/N: Like I said, same fade to black. Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a review.