A/N- This takes place between Eclipse and the first chapter of Breaking Dawn. Enjoy! and please review.

It had been three days since Edward and I had broken the news to Charlie. It had been two days and twenty hours since the Edward had left on a hunting trip and two days and sixteen hours since the leak. The leak that let the news of Edward's and my engagement seep through the tiny town of Forks.

I originally thought it was Alice who had spilled the beans. I had envisioned her gleefully sharing the news as she went about town – I can say it – wedding planning. But, it turned out that she, along with Emmet and Jasper, had also gone hunting.

Rosalie, was my next thought. She would have loved to see the discomfort etched across my face as I took in the stares and whispers.

But, as I had just tripped over the curb trying to escape a group of my former classmates, no doubt gossiping about the fact that I was – well – engaged, it wouldn't be long before I discovered the source of the leak.

My tumble had landed me in an ambulance, which I discovered after being out cold for several minutes. The doors opened and I was wheeled into the hospital by a couple of bored EMTs.

I had been waiting for five minutes when a familiar face surrounded by blonde hair arrived at my bed side.

"You know Bella," said Dr. Carlisle Cullen quietly, "I think I've smelt your blood more than any other human being's."

I blushed, embarrassed by my constant clumsiness, "Trust me, if I could help it, you'd smell it a lot less."

He chuckled. "Alright I am going to have a nurse come in and help me stitch up your head, and then we'll run some tests to see if everything else is okay."

"I feel fine, really, maybe just a little nauseous," I said.

"I am not surprised at that. You've definitely suffered a concussion," he said with a kind smile. "I'd like to have a few x-rays also, though."

"What do x-rays have to do with my head?" I asked, suspicious.

"I am sorry, Bella, but if I don't give you a complete check up, he won't be happy."

I groaned. Edward was miles and miles away, and his overly protective legacy continued to radiate towards me like a curse. Despite all the tests, which I would endure, he would still be extra cautious with me for days, as if I could be anymore breakable.

But that wasn't the only thing that made me angry – or as angry as I could be with Edward. While he zipped off on one his trip, I was the one who would have to endure the spotlight of the town's gossip. It wasn't fair, this was for him.

My anger started to alleviate as I remembered his dark eyes in the meadow. They had been fiery black and underlined by severely purple circles. He had been thirsty; the trip was necessary. But, I brightened at this thought too. Edward had been even more eager for me that day. Not my blood but all of me. It had been overwhelmingly tempting to not stop him, to let him proceed, barreling right through his desire to wait until after the wedding to "try." But, for some reason, I couldn't let him do that, not when it was something that I could actually do for him.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Carlisle cheerily talking with a nurse on the other side of the curtain.

"I bet Esme's delighted, having another son married off," said the nurse.

"She could not be more thrilled. We are both very happy for him, and he couldn't have found a more perfect match," Carlisle replied, proudly.

My jaw dropped as their conversation continued.

"They're very young," commented the nurse politely.

"Ah," said Carlisle patiently, "but age can often be – objective."

What? Age can be objective? I thought, Just like my request to keep the wedding plans quiet until Edward got back, apparently. Damn leaks.

"Oh, the bride-to-be," said the nurse coming around the curtain. "Now your not gonna want to be tripping when you go down the aisle," she said jokingly.

My eyes widened at the thought. Mine and Carlisle's eyes met and I saw that he was hastily covering up a smile that had sprung up at her words. His face quickly shifted into an apologetic grimace at his lack of confidentiality.

It was hours later and I watched the sun set outside my bedroom window. I missed Edward. He had left so quickly I hadn't bothered to ask him when he'd be back, but I knew it had to be soon. I could have called Esme to find out, but I really had no desire to talk about the – well the - the wedding, ugh.

It was now twilight and my mind wandered to Edward's face, and the pain my hesitation caused him. When he returned I would have to try my hardest to act pleased, I thought as I sat down on my bed, wrapping my knees close to my chest.

Then Jessica Stanley's face swam in front of mine. She had come in to the Newton's store yesterday. She had given me an odd smile as she greeted me, hand in hand with a boy she was dating. She seemed a little smug at the fact that she was free to have fun and date while I was tying myself down to some stiff, overbearing, control freak...with an amazing body...but that wasn't the point.

Lost in my apprehensions, I hadn't realized how stiff and still I had become. I was so lost in thought that I hadn't seen the perfectly sculpted Edward Cullen climb through my window and slink into the shadows of my dark room.

A/N- Hoped you liked it, tell me what you think!