Hello all. So I was rereading eclipse and I am always astonished that Bella doesn't have more of a backbone. This popped into my head. It is set the morning after Edward and Bella get engaged, during Alice's little talk with Bella. Standard disclaimers apply since I am not Stephanie Myer. Hope you enjoy! Even if you don't please review!

Bella's POV

Last night had not gone to plan. If I was completely honest with myself I really didn't have any problems marrying Edward. I was completely sure that I was his and he was mine so marriage was just a formality in my mind, most of the time weddings were expensive and unnecessary since I really don't like spending money on myself and hate it when other people spend it on me. I mean when someone gives you something they spent money on it's like they are saying "hey you're great but you know what I think you should have…" it's insulting to say the least. Back to the marriage thing though.

Again I reiterate that I have nothing against marrying Edward but the way he presents it like it should be used as a bargaining chip is really hurtful. I wanted him to change me because I want him to want me beside him as his equal always. He sees himself as a monster and thinks that I will come to hate myself for my decision based on the experiences of Rose and Esme, two women who were changed under traumatic circumstances with different beliefs and wants. Anyway, I had agreed to marry him, in exchange he agreed to try and have sex (que blush) along with change me himself. He also agreed that we could just go to Vegas. I could be totally comfortable and he could officially call me his by law.

Which is why I wasn't all surprised when Alice wanted to talk to me.

"This isn't about you, Edward," she shot back.

He laughed. Something about her response was funny to him.

"It's not," Alice insisted. "This is a female thing."

He frowned.

"Let her talk to me," I told him. I was curious.

"You asked for it," he muttered. He laughed again - half angry, half amused - and strode out of the garage.

I turned to Alice, worried now, but she didn't look at me. Her bad mood hadn't passed yet. And I knew exactly why she was upset but I would play her game for a bit.

She went to sit on the hood of her Porsche, her face dejected. I followed, and leaned against the bumper beside her.

"Bella?" Alice asked in a sad voice, shifting over and curling up against my side. Her voice sounded so miserable that I wrapped my arms around her shoulders in comfort.

"What's wrong, Alice?"

"Don't you love me?" she asked in that same sad tone.

"Of course I do. You know that."

"Then why do I see you sneaking off to Vegas to get married without inviting me?"

"What made you think you wouldn't be invited. It was Edward's idea to sneak off besides there won't be a lot to see." I said calmly.

"I don't care whose idea it was. How could you do this to me? I expect that kind of thing from Edward, but not from you. I love you like you were my own sister."

"To me, Alice, you are my sister."

"Words!" she growled.

"Believe what you will but you can most certainly come with us through the drive though chapel."

She was still grimacing.

"What?" I demanded.

"How much do you love me, Bella?"

"Why?"

She stared at me with pleading eyes, her long black eyebrows slanting up in the middle and pulling together, her lips trembling at the corners. It was a heart-breaking expression.

"Please, please, please," she whispered. "Please, Bella, please - if you really love me . . . Please let me do your wedding."

And with that I started to snap. "Now why on Earth would I want someone who is known for going over the top to plan a wedding that I really don't want to have?"

"I'll bet Edward would like it better if you did this traditionally, though he'd never tell you that. And Esme - think what it would mean to her!"

I groaned. "I'd rather face the newborns alone. Besides this isn't up to you!"

"But I saw…" And when Alice said that I snapped the rest of the way.

"Oh because you've seen it automatically makes it the best choice!"

"You won't have to do anything but walk a few yards and then repeat after the minister."

"I said no and that's is final. I am done with both you and Edward constantly taking advantage of me." I decided it was time to lay down the law. "Edward get in here I know your listening but I want you to be able to see my face when I say this!" As soon as he appeared I started. " First, I want you both to remember that I love you got it?" When they nodded I continued " At every turn you two have manipulated and used me. Alice, you constantly dress me up, play Bella Barbie and thrust me into a spot light that I don't want. You use your visions to your advantage, granted a lot of the time it is helpful but you NEVER ask you take the decision away from me and your family cementing the vision into place. Edward you think that because you have lived longer you automatically know what the best things for ME are. You are constantly trying to wrap me in bubble wrap and while I understand the impulse behind it doesn't mean I appreciate and will no longer tolerate it. You took not only me away but yourself which is why Victoria is still out there. You have done everything in your power to deny me my choice in joining you. Hell you even managed to turn marriage into a business contract to get your way and delay it. It's true I never really gave much thought to marriage as it was beaten into my head that it was something done later in life but you pushed and pushed so now you get what you want. Are either of you really interested in what I want?"

At the end of my rant there was silence for a moment, Edward looked horror stricken and Alice looked a mix of angry and sad.

Alice was the first to recover. "Bella I never meant to take away your choices but I stick to my beliefs that you will regret this."

I got even angrier "Did you not listen to a word I just said. Maybe you aren't the sister I thought you were. Even Rosalie would realize when to back off and except that she wasn't going to get her way."

Edward spoke up next in a small voice "I… I am so sorry love. I never meant to hurt you please believe that. I know I can be overbearing but you are my life Bella you can't expect me to accept situations when your life is in danger."

I simply told him "That's not what I expect of you. I expect you to treat me like an adult instead of a child to be protected from even knowing danger is near and choices to be made for instead of with."

Edward replied "Why haven't you said anything before?"

I replied "I couldn't but last night made me realize that though I love you, please grasp that that hasn't changed, I have let you rule my life and my choices for far too long. I agreed to be your wife. I will fulfill that promise but know that I don't believe that it will change anything about us it will only change what the law sees us as."

Edward looked at me with such sadness in his eyes that I wanted to take back my words but I knew that I needed to hold my ground. If I was ever going to get him to view me as an equal he was going to have to learn to deal with my opinions

Finally he said, "I have made a mess out of everything, at every turn. But I did not realize that in my efforts to protect you I was hurting you in a different way. I can never express how deeply sorry I am. Can you forgive me?" He finished in a voice that signaled he was close to sobbing.

I quickly said "Of course I forgive you. There was never any doubt of that. There aren't any conditions on it but I need to know that from now on I can be sure that you not only want me to be your wife but your equal in every way."

Edward gave me a smile and said "my one wish is for us to be together until the end of time. I never let myself hope for anyone to love me like you do and I certainly don't deserve you after everything but rest assured, my love, from this day forward I will treat you as you deserve and will listen to your opinions before consulting anyone else, including myself, in any decision that pertains to your life in any way." He finished with a grin, as a smile grew on my face.

With his promise and the knowledge that I was once again fully in control of my life past today we continued packing and left to face the oncoming danger that once again threatened our family. I was finally confident that we would be just fine. Once tomorrow was over Edward and I could continue on into our little perfect piece of forever.

Again anything recognizable is not mine. I hope you enjoyed it!