Disclaimer: I lay no claim of ownership of Twilight, New Moon, or any of its characters (Stephenie Meyer does). But I do wish I had an Edward of my very own. sigh
Chapter One: Surprise (BPOV)
I awoke to that familiar feeling. The lightest touch of lips upon my forehead, as I was momentarily held tighter to Edward's cold body. A smile played upon my lips as I slowly opened my eyes.
It always happened, this feeling that I was awakening from one dream only to enter into another as I looked up at him. His eyes sparkled in the dim early morning light as he looked down at me, knowing that I was now awake.
"Sorry, did I wake you? It is still quite early," Edward looked at me with slight concern as I stretched a little.
"No, I was getting up. You just helped me along," I smiled even wider at him.
He flashed me a dazzling smile before closing the gap between us and kissing me lightly on the lips.
As he pulled away, I frowned at him, "You call that a kiss?"
His laughter was music to my ears as he gathered me tighter to him, kissing me deeply.
Then he pulled away from my lips and started to kiss along my jaw line. I sighed in content, wishing to spend the day like this.
Then I groaned, remembering. He pulled back, looking down into my eyes again. His slightly confused.
"It's MONDAY!"
He chuckled, "I am aware of that. Though how is this Monday any worse that those past?"
"Monday means school!" I complained.
"I was under the impression that you enjoyed school. Or at least the time you get to spend with me there," Edward noted.
"Yes, I like spending time with you there but I would much rather prefer it if we could stay HERE," I stressed my words. "Not so many prying eyes or intruders," I added as an afterthought, then slightly blushing as I realized the deeper implications it could have.
As the blood flushed across my cheeks, he chuckled low and looked deeper into my eyes. "We could always skip and stay here." His head dipped down as he kissed along my neck.
"And become the talk of the town when the both of us don't show up?" I countered, though not as strongly as I would like, with him kissing me like that, "Charlie would definitely put a restraining order on you without even asking what you did or didn't do!"
Edward looked up at me from where he was kissing my neck, his gold eyes smoldering, "Restraining order? He should arrest me just for what I am thinking right now." As to reinforce his words, his hands slid slowly from their current position at my waist down to my hips and just as slowly back up again.
My breath stopped as I was momentarily muted by his action. A feeling bubbled up within me, wanting to burst and consume him, as it did me. But I couldn't let it; Edward wouldn't let us both be consumed by that bubble, if only for my safety. I knew that.
I glowered at him when I regained my voice again, "You know that you drive me crazy and I can't do anything about it. Yet you continue to torment me!!"
He chuckled low again, and then continued to kiss along my jaw before settling back down beside me, his one arm around my waist while his free hand flitted with my hair.
As we settled together again until it was time to get ready for school, my mind went back to the thoughts I had right before falling asleep. I contemplated how to bring them up when Edward asked, "What are you thinking?" as he looked at the concentrating look splayed across my face.
"Just trying to figure some things out."
"Like what?" The intrigue in his eyes was evident.
"Well, graduation is coming up…" he stiffened slightly next to me, both of us knowing what that meant.
"Yes, and?" He asked hesitantly, pulling himself up to look at me in the eye again.
I broke down, "How the HELL can I expect myself to tell Charlie, let ALONE Renee that we are getting MARRIED?!?"
I realized my sudden outburst could have jarred Charlie from his sleep in his room. I stiffened instantly as I watched the shock in Edward's eyes turn to concern as he checked on my father, and then back to shock again.
"Still sleeping," he muttered as his eyes held me, "But do you care to explain that little outburst? I was under the impression that you were against marrying me." Sadness penetrated his voice slightly.
"Against marrying you?" It was my turn to be dumbfounded. "Never," I whispered, "How could you think that?"
"Well, by the way you reacted when I first asked you," he answered quietly, looking down.
His dejected look pulled at my heart and I pulled his head down to lie on my chest over it.
"I never said I didn't want to marry you," I growled at him, "Of course I do"
He pulled away from me then, cutting me off. His eyes quickly met mine as he whispered, "Really?"
"Really what?" I asked, teasing him, myself calming down a bit.
"You would really marry me?" I could hear the hope in his voice and see it in his eyes.
"Yes, of course I do," I responded. "I want to spend the rest of eternity with you!"
His eyes light up again as he kissed me, holding me tight to his sculpted body.
As he pulled away from the embrace, my concern was still not sated. "But what do we tell my parents?" My brow creased with worry.
Edward looked at me for a long moment, his hand slowly reaching up to smooth my brow. Then he answered, "We'll tell them the truth."
I gaped at him. He couldn't mean?
He saw the thought in my eyes and quickly corrected himself. "No, no, no, not the whole vampire aspect of it." I felt a little more at ease after he said that. No reason to give the Volturi more of a reason to come after us.
"Then what truth?" I pressed him to tell me.
"The simple truth that we love each other will never hurt each other and will be together forever. No matter what they try to say or do, there is no denying us. We are both adults, can and will do as we please," he stated simply.
"Will that work?" I wondered out loud, more to myself than him.
"I hope so. I don't think I would have any hope of being fully accepted by Charlie again if we ran away and eloped," Edward chuckled darkly, "And think of what Renee might do."
I thought suddenly of what my parent's reactions would be if it did resort to that. I hoped we didn't have to, I knew it would kill them. Then the other, just as worrisome and terrifying issue barring an easy transition into my new life with Edward came to mind.
"Edward, what are we going to do about the wolves?" I asked. Edward's face darkened at the question, the humor gone from his face.
"If they try to interfere…" He growled, his chest resonating.
"You know they will. That clause in the treaty prevents any of you from just biting a human, let alone killing them in any way," I thought back to the scene a few weeks back in the forest by my house, when Jacob had stopped by to remind Edward of that little detail and nearly flew into a rage as he learned my intentions of wanting to be changed.
"I mean, what if they know that I truly and sincerely wanted to be changed?" I continued, "What if I sat down with them and explained my reasoning and proved to them that this was my idea, and not any of yours?"
"That might have worked before, but now that they know that some of us have a couple of 'extra tricks' as vampires, they would probably just assume that one of us was controlling your mind and making you say that," Edward countered.
"Darn," I muttered, remembering that. Then I thought of something. "What if when we got married, we went away on a honeymoon? Somewhere very far away and resort. Newlyweds do that all the time. And if by chance, during one of the nights we were together, I happened to be bite and changed, it wouldn't have happened here in Forks, where the treaty is based. Would they have a case against us then?"
Edward pondered this for a moment, "You know, I don't really know. They would surely try to find a reason to start a war with that, but I am not sure if it would be valid." He thought some more; "We should ask Carlisle about it. I think he would be able to help with getting around this treaty."
"I think so too," I agreed with him, snuggling closer as my fears were abated for the time being. I sighed with content, know that somehow, things were going to work out. We had been through too much already for there not to be a happy ending in our future.
We laid there for an immeasurable amount of time, listening to the wind blowing on the window, and Charlie, as he got ready for work and left. Edward would occasionally kiss the top of my head. Then he sighed and commented, "Time to get ready if you don't want us to be late."
I pouted, but complied. Edward got out of my bed and stood by the window as I went around, grabbing clothes for the day and my toiletries. He came up to me swiftly, pulling into a kiss before saying, "I am going to get my car and Alice. I should be back in about 15 minutes. Is that too quick?"
"No, it is okay. If you get here before I am done, you know what to do." I smiled up at him and he beamed in return. He often was able to pick up his sister and car before I was even half ready for the day. When that happened, they often just sat in the kitchen since Charlie was already gone and watched me eat my breakfast.
"Yes, I know. I will be back as soon as possible," he promised, kissed my forehead and was gone, closing the window behind him against the wind blowing against it. I smiled and turned from the window, taking a few steps to the door.
Suddenly, the wind blew my hair into face. Confused, I turned back to the window, and it was open. I stood there for a moment, remembering precisely that Edward had shut it on his way out. "Edward," I asked tentatively, stepping back towards the window.
A noise behind me made me jump. I turned; ready to chastise him for trying to scare me but instead just stared at the person standing between the door and me.