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Chapter Two

The past few days had been kinda crazy. Everything that I thought I had ten weeks to do, now had to be done in a matter of days. That included packing my room at Charlie's and moving what I wanted to keep for eternity to the Cullen's residence.

Alice and Jasper had both left Wednesday evening after giving me the plane tickets for Charlie and myself. I no longer had Alice to distract me with endless wedding details which I was kind of thankful for, but that also meant I had lost Jasper's calming effect. It had come in handy the few times I was about to have a meltdown.

Edward had spent the better part of Wednesday with me at the house packing my room and sorting through what few belongings I had here. I already had Renee send everything I had left with her that I wanted telling her she could either keep or throw away the rest. Edward made his escape before Charlie got home. We figured the least amount of time Charlie had to witness us together before the weekend would be best. I had made dinner and once again spent the evening with him in front of the tv. At least this evening wasn't as quiet as Tuesday night, but we never were much on words anyway.

Of course like always Edward appeared at my bedroom window as soon as Charlie was snoring. He had me wrapped securely in my quilt as I cuddled up to his side. He was playing idly with stands of my hair.

"This is what you want,Bella?"

"Mmmm Hmmm. If we're going to be married. I had much rather do this without the big production. Besides, if I ever change my mind, we can just have another ceremony at some point in time. You know, maybe we could celebrate our hundredth wedding anniversary with a big to do, nobody but the family would know it wasn't really our first wedding."

I looked up to judge Edward's reaction. He was still staring at the strand of hair in his hands and then his eyes slid to meet mine, my favorite crooked grin starting to form on his face. "Hundredth wedding anniversary huh?"

"Yeah, we'll get there one day. Right? You don't plan on leaving me at some alter in Vegas for one of the show girls are you?"

"No, it's…….it's just a bit awe inspiring to think on the near eve of our wedding to imagine a future where we would be celebrating a hundred years together."

"So how long have Carlise and Esme been married? How long did they wait?" I knew that Carlisle and Esme and Alice and Jasper had only one wedding and that had been enough, Rose on the other hand was pretty much celebrating every decade with a new wedding. I had seen the corner of her closet that was dedicated to her wedding dress collection. Any vintage clothes collector would be jealous.

"Well, Esme and Carlisle were married in 1921, so that's over 80 years. They were married as soon as Esme was stable enough to be in the room with at least one human, the pastor."

"Over eighty years……" I mused. "They still seem like newlyweds on occasion."

Edward chuckled. "You have no idea. We all try to give each other, or each couple space when we can. It's not like we draw a chart up and are like, this is your weekend to have the house to yourself while the rest of us are away, but we try."

Edward continued to play with my hair and on occasion he would lean down and giving me a quick soft kiss or place a kiss on my forehead. "Aren't you tired love? You should sleep. Tomorrow will be a long busy day. Alice did leave us a list of stuff to finish here before she left."

I groaned a bit at the idea of Alice leaving a to do list. "Nope, not tired. Besides that would mean I would miss this."

"What?"

"This quiet time, just the two of us together. I don't want to sleep through it."

"Well, we'll have forever. You need sleep tonight. I can sing to you, to help you sleep."

I snuggled up to Edward a bit closer. He tightened his hold on me and I looked up at him. "Ok, but you only get so many more nights of coercion when it comes to making me sleep."

"Don't I know." He mumbled darkly. I leaned up so I could give him one last kiss. It was sweet and soft and he let it linger for while. Eventually he pulled away and I placed my head on his chest as he held me tight and started to hum my lullaby. I was asleep in minutes.

I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and in my bed by myself. I rolled over to see the clock on my nightstand. It was past time for Charlie to be at work.

I pulled myself out from under my blankets and ran a brush through my hair before skipping down the stairs. Just as I was about to reach the bottom my overzealous quest to reach Edward had me tumbling down the last few steps. However, before I could hit the floor I was securely in Edward's arms and off my feet. He sighed and shook his head and I just smiled up at him.

"Do you think my balance will improve, you know, once I'm like you?"

"We should only hope. But I think I'll miss it. I'll miss having to come to your rescue."

I pouted and stuck my tongue out at him. He just gave me his signature crooked grin and a quick peck on the lips before settling me into my chair at the kitchen table.

"So, I figured I would try my hand at breakfast. You need something more than that colored cardboard looking stuff you usually eat."

"Hey, no knocking of the fruit loops. You might would have liked them too if they had been around at the turn of the century."

"Highly unlikely." Edward placed a plate in front of me with strips of bacon and a stack of fluffy pancakes. I really enjoyed having someone else cook for me, but it was a bit frustrating when the one person who did everything perfect could even cook human food perfect when he didn't even eat it. I had long ago lost the one thing I could do better than Edward.

I finished off my breakfast while Edward watched. I thought it was highly amusing that he enjoyed watching me eat. I wondered if when I did become a vampire if he would still be amused at watching me hunt.

"What are you thinking Edward?"

"Hmmm? Oh, nothing."

I placed my fork on my plate after I had finished my last bite. "Nonsense, you've been watching me intently, you look like you're in deep thinking mode. So, what's bothering you?"

"Nothing, honestly. I was just enjoying watching you. I can't believe that in a matter of days we'll be married. I've…I've waited for this moment for a while and well, it's just kind of hard to believe it's almost here."

I nodded. I couldn't believe I was 18 only out of high school almost a month and about to be married. Angela knew I was going to be married by the end of the summer, but the news really hadn't hit town big yet. Jessica didn't know, so she wasn't spreading gossip and since we hadn't sent invitations and I refused to have an engagement announcement in the local paper no one was the wise except the family. I guess I needed to call Angela and give her a heads up, or maybe I could do that when we returned. I swallowed hard at what everyone would think when we returned to Forks.

"Now what are you thinking, you just got a deer in the headlights look, you're not going to back out on me are you?" Edward reached over and took my chin gently in his hand so I would look up at him.

"No, no….I'm not going to back out, it's just…….now everyone really will think I'm pregnant or something, us running off to Vegas for a weekend and coming back married."

"Bella, how many times have I told you, it doesn't matter what everyone thinks. I mean, so what. It's not as if we'll be here for much longer anyway. Just the summer. Besides, we and our families know the truth. We're getting married because we love each other."

I nodded. He was right. We loved each other and we wanted to spend eternity together, literally. Who could care what the townsfolk were gossiping about anyway? I sighed. Who was I kidding? I would be on pins and needles in town until we left in August, but I would be happy.

Edward and I spent part of the day at the Cullen house helping Esme and even Rosalie with the to do list that Alice had left behind. Rosalie and Esme both were gifted seamstresses and since we didn't have time to outsource the fitting of our dresses that was on the order of business.

My dress was a simple design with lace over satin, but it had needed to be hemmed and taken up at the shoulders a bit. I was now standing on a raised circular platform in the middle of Rosalie's closet as her and Esme worked over me pinning up the hem and shoulders and making other mental notes about my dress.

I tilted my head one way and the other taking in the image before me. I had yet to understand how I was going to be able to be a beautiful bride for Edward. The dress was simple and elegant and on someone like Rosalie, I'm sure it would have looked extravagant. However, trying to transform me into a beautiful bride was going to be some work.

I blushed at the thought of having to stand up in front of a room full of people next to Edward. I was glad the only witnesses of our day was going to be family. I had seen Edward in a tux once. That night he had drug me off to the prom. He was beautiful. I was plain.

Esme looked up at me and watched for a moment as I scrutinized myself in the mirror.

"Bella?" Esme's caramel smooth voice sang out.

"Hmmm?"

I broke away from my study and looked down at the woman who was soon to become my new mother.

"What are you thinking about? You looked very preoccupied and a bit upset."

"I was just thinking……..I was just wondering how in the world Alice is going to be able to make me into a suitable bride." I whispered the response and blushed again.

Rose sat back on her heels and Esme stood up to take my face in her hands and forced me to look at her.

"Nonsense. You're beautiful just the way you are and you're going to be a lovely bride. "

"Yeah, but I have to stand next to Edward and he's way more gorgeous than I could ever hope to imagine and then there's just plain me and I still can't fathom that he wants to be with me."

"Bella, listen. You are beautiful; Edward sees that, he believes that with everything in him. You are the most gorgeous thing to him, inside and out. The two of you together are breathtaking. You are meant for each other. You're not getting cold feet are you?"

"No, no not about being with Edward, it's just, I don't feel worthy sometimes to be next to him. But not enough to not want to be with him. He's my life. I couldn't live without him. I know that for certain. I've tried and it didn't work so well."

"No, it didn't. For either of you. And don't worry, you are worthy to stand beside him."

Rose had stood up and joined Esme and I now. She smoothed out a few folds in my dress and then looked at me.

"I know that I haven't always been the kindest to you and well, we've had our discussion about why I don't necessarily want you to choose immortality, but know this, I am glad you are choosing Edward. Besides Carlisle and Esme, I've known Edward longer than our other siblings. You can't possibly know the changes you have brought to him, for the better. He's a whole person now, not just the shell he walked around in for so many years. I'm glad he found you. I know I wasn't as enthusiastic at first and I may not show as much as Alice, but I am glad, I am happy for you and for him."

I was floored. I never had expected as much from Rosalie. She gave me one more smile before gathering her pins and measuring tape and leaving Esme and I alone.

"Here dear, let me help you out of this, so you don't stick yourself and I'll hang it up so we can work on it tonight."

Esme helped me from my dress and I put my jeans and t-shirt back on. I padded down the stairs to where I had left my sandals by the door, hoping to find Edward somewhere in the house. We had only been a part for a couple of hours with a few other things Esme had needed me for earlier and I missed him terribly. But I couldn't quiet feel him in the house.

I had noticed over the past several weeks my innate ability to sense when Edward was near. I knew he could always sense my presence. My smell, my heart beat, his over sensitive hearing. I on the other hand was cluing into the gentle rhythm and tug of my heart when he was or wasn't nearby. I could feel my heart race in the bad way, the way that was telling me he wasn't nearby.

"He went into town for a moment with Emmett. Alice called with an errand while you girls were upstairs. I believe they should be back in less than half an hour." I turned to notice Carlisle descending the stairs. He must have caught me looking around and almost turning into a frantic. I relaxed at his words.

"Thanks. I guess I'll just go up to his room and lay down for a bit while I wait on him. Unless there is anything else I need to do?"

"No dear, you go on ahead." Esme had joined Carlisle in the living room by now. I smiled at them both and made my way up to the third floor and the corner suite that was Edward's and I guess soon to be mine as well.

I was slightly tired. I hadn't slept much the night before preferring to stay awake while I had Edward to myself. Plus the fitting had tired me emotionally. I eyed the bed in the center of the room. The one I had once loathed. It still irritated me to an extent, but not so much anymore. I crawled up on it and made my way to the center before reaching under the decorative pillows and pulling out the pillow I kept here now. I snuggled up to it, inhaling the scent of Edward.

I must have been more exhausted than I thought because the next thing I remember was waking up to the feel of Edward's lips on mine. At first I thought it was a dream. I shook my head slightly trying to hold onto the dream without waking up.

"Bella, wake up, my love." And then another cold brush against my lips.

"No, dream. Good. Not waking up." I mumbled.

I heard Edward let out a soft chuckle. "Bella…..I have to get you home. Charlie will be home soon."

I shot straight up, almost knocking Edward in the process, except with his super speed he was out of my way in time.

"Oh, no! Charlie. I've got to cook dinner, this will be the last night I'm at home with him." I was in a panic now, my heart was racing. I looked out the back window of Edward's room. Sure enough I could tell the day was nearing twilight. I felt Edward run his smooth hand across m cheek before pulling in for another kiss. It was soft and loving and it calmed my heart beat.

"Come on love, let me get you home to him. He'll want you at home tonight."

I nodded as I continued to shake the rest of the sleepy cobwebs from my mind. Edward drove me home and I made it in time to get dinner well on the way to done before Charlie got home.

We spent another subdued evening at home in the living room with the tv. I couldn't remember spending this much 'quality' time with my father in a long time. He was fidgety most of the night, switching positions on the couch and changing channels more often than usual.

"Dad? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, sure, why?"

"Nothing, just wondering." I turned back to the book I was not reading. My mind was scattered over a vast array of territories, none belonging to the object in my hand. In approximately 48 hours give or take a few, I was going to be a married woman. Me. I was going to be Mrs. Edward Cullen. I was no longer going to be my parents' little girl. I knew I was still struggling with that a bit. If I was I knew Charlie was in internal torture.

I was glad that in a few short days I would have the whole spectacle of a wedding over with and I could just focus on being with Edward and loosening a few of the strings to my ties with Charlie and my mom. Maybe this was going to be a better way of cutting ties. I had been hoping that after some time had passed I might be able to visit again at some point in time, but that wasn't assured.

"Bella?"

"Hmmm?" Charlie pulled me out of my random and roving thoughts.

"I'm not going to stop you, and I will be there, but I just wanted to make sure, before we leave tomorrow, this is what you want."

I looked across the room at my dad. He was sitting up on the couch bent over his clenched hands, elbows perched on his knees.

"It is dad. I want to be with Edward. I'm certain about him. I just wasn't certain on the whole ceremony, huge party part."

"You don't have to do this now Bells. Why not next summer or when you both finish school? Things might change when you leave for school." I noticed his eyes quickly flicker towards the wedding photo on the mantel of him and mom. They had gone to Vegas, she 19 and he only 20. I knew he was worried Edward and I would end up in the same fate, but he would never voice a comparison of Edward and I with him and Renee.

"No Dad, they won't change. For either of us. And Edward's right. We might as well do this the proper way if we're leaving together."

Charlie sat there for another moment and nodded his head. "Well, I can't say no to that. He is trying to treat you right in all of this."

"He isn't trying Dad, he just is."

He just nodded again and stood up. I noticed for the first time that he had already turned the tv off before he had spoken up earlier.

"Night Bells." He leaned down and gave me a kiss on the cheek and patted my head. "Guess this is the last time I'll kiss my little girl goodnight." He choked the last bit out and quickly turned and retreated up the stairs. I stifled back a tear. I didn't need to tear up. I would be blotchy when Edward came by later. If he wasn't already upstairs.