Chapter 1

Who knew that there were whole magazines devoted to choosing the correct shoe for your wedding day? Who knew that there could be over 70 variations on the colour cream, and that only one of those indistinguishable shades would be the perfect match for the ribbons Alice had decided on for the invitations? What was the point of compiling a wedding list featuring expensive kitchen appliances for a couple who would be dining on animal blood? Why, oh why was I spending valuable free time debating these mindless issues?

"Stressed, my love?" Edward's dulcet voice roused me from my disgruntled thoughts.

"Am I that easy to read?" I asked irritably, raising my eyes to meet my fiancé's somewhat concerned gaze.

"Well, I think that duvet cover would be crying out for mercy as of now, were it capable of speech, Bella." Edward replied wryly.

I followed his gaze down to the duvet cover that decorated the large bed I was currently curled up on. My fingers were buried in the soft cotton; the finely-spun fabric was tightly wound by the twisting of my fingers. I smiled reluctantly. Weary as I might be of Alice's never-ending plans and machinations, there was no point taking out my frustration on innocent soft furnishings. "Sorry," I murmured, looking back at Edward once more, "I suppose I am a feeling a little frazzled. I know it will all be worth it on the day, but there just seems to be so much to do, organising a wedding."

Edward gracefully lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed beside me. He took my left hand and held it between both his cool ones. The sensation of his marble-smooth skin against mine was calming; already I could feel my stress melting away. He sighed. "There is no need to apologise. I could be more helpful, Bella, I know. She is my sister, and I love her dearly, but I know Alice can be overwhelming in such large doses as you've been experiencing as you plan our wedding." Edward looked abashed. "After all, it was I who really wanted this, Bella, I who wanted to formalise our relationship in this way. Yet it seems to be you, love, who is doing all the hard work and preparation for the wedding." Pain flashed briefly across Edward's face, and I couldn't bear to see his beautiful face marred by it.

"No, Edward," I said firmly, cupping his chiselled chin in my hand as I turned him to face me straight on, "I won't have you blaming yourself for this. I was the one who decided we would have a traditional wedding ceremony, and that we would involve all our family and friends in this. You gave me the option of a quickie Vegas wedding, and I turned you down. I knew that planning the wedding would involve hard work on my part, and I know that my life would be 100 times harder right now if I didn't have Alice here to mastermind everything. Yes, it gets tiring, and yes, I can probably think of other things I'd rather spend my free time doing, but seriously, Edward, I have no regrets. I love you, and I'm prepared to put up with far worse than a wedding if it means I get to keep you forever." I said with a slight smirk.

Edward smiled in response, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. I narrowed my eyes at him, silently seeking an explanation "This is your wedding, Bella," he said sombrely, "and it shouldn't be something you have to merely tolerate. I want you to want this for you, not because you feel that you owe it to me, Alice or anyone else for that matter!" The volume of his voice increased as he finished speaking, and it was obvious from the burning intensity of his darkening eyes how sincerely Edward meant every word he was saying.

I had heard him express such sentiments only once before, in our meadow, the day we had finally decided to go ahead with marriage. My mouth went dry, and I felt a tightening in the muscles low down in my stomach as I recalled Edward's weight moving above me, the grass cool against my back as he kissed me with more passion and intensity than ever before. He had been prepared to give in to my demands, there and then, and my mind began to wander as I imagined the possibilities of just what might have happened that day...

"Bella?" Edward's voice interrupted my lustful imaginings, "Have I troubled you in any way?" God, if only he knew... "It isn't my intention to add to your worry. I just want to ensure this is really what you want."

I gazed seriously into Edward's eyes. I could see the concern and love there, mingled with the fear that I might reject him. That fear had been there ever since the night Edward had held me as I sobbed my heart out, mourning my friendship with Jacob Black. I knew that Edward still struggled to comprehend that I had chosen eternal life with him, life with a monster, over what he saw as a more healthy relationship.

I shook my head vehemently. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to convince Edward that he was everything I desired. No elegant word written by any writer, poet or balladeer in the world could do justice to the way I felt about Edward Cullen. I wished my poor human brain had the capacity to describe how I felt, so I could set Edward's mind at rest, but not having the required verbosity at my disposal, I had to settle for placing a hand on the cold cheek of my own personal muse and saying, quite simply "Edward, all I want is you."

But from the way he cast his gaze downwards, I could see that my words did little to reassure Edward.