Spending a night without Edward, as it turned out, would be more difficult than I had imagined. After shopping for an entire day, going over endless check lists with Alice, and hearing Emmet boast about his sermon all day: I was exhausted. It didn't help that there was no velvet voice to sing me to sleep.

There was a quiet knock at the door.. I could almost feel Charlie's nerves through the wood.

"Bells, can I come in?"

"Sure dad," I responded slowly.

Charlie opened the door slowly, peaking in as if expecting to find me busy with something.

"So.. Umm.. Are you nervous for tomorrow?" He asked.

"A little.." I lied. I was beyond nervous.

"Well I just wanted you to know that.. I love you Bells. I can't say that I fully agree or empathize, but I understand your decision. I wanted to make sure you understood that you had my full blessing."

"Thanks dad," I held back a tear at his words.

"Well I'll leave you to get some sleep, you have a big day ahead of you."

"Ok goodnight dad."

It was the first time I had heard Charlie accept the fact that tomorrow was the day he would say goodbye to me. Although I'm sure he didn't understand the heavier meaning of the word goodbye, what only I knew it would mean. I lay my head back against my pillow, exceptionally tired from the day's work.. But not quite exhausted enough to calm my nerves.

It took me two hours to come to terms with the fact that sleep was not going to come easily to me tonight. I was far too anxious, and far to wound up to keep my eyes closed long enough for sleep to find me. I glanced at the clock .. It was nearly two in the morning. Stupid tradition.. I thought to myself. I jumped out of bed, eager to find a way around the rule that Alice had set for me tonight. Racking through my closet, I pulled on my brown jacket and a pair of old dirty boots, heading for the door without hesitation. I hadn't even reached the doorknob when..

"Going somewhere?" I heard the smooth velvety voice from behind me.

"Only to see you, of course," I slowly turned to see him leaning against the window, his smile beaming.

"How did you plan to get past Alice?" he teased.

"The better question would be, how did you get past Alice?" I was honestly curious.

"I have my ways," and he was suddenly in front of me, his eyes locked on mine. I felt his fingers wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him. His eyes fierce, he bent down and pressed his lips to mine. It was unexplainable, the ability he had to still make my heart flutter when he touched me. It was a feeling I would never get used to. I was sure my body would find a similar way to react, even after my heart stopped beating.

As he kissed me with more force, I could feel him slowly tug me away from the door, back in the direction of my bed. He was less careful, as if part of the wall that he kept between us in these moments was slowly being torn down. He backed up against the wooden frame of my bed, and quietly seated himself on the mattress. His lips level with my throat, he began to trail them up and down: from the hollow at the base of my throat, to my earlobe and back.

Unable to control any of my limbs, my legs began to give out from under me. Before I fell close enough to the floor, his hands were around my waste, holding me up and pulling me slowly on top until I was straddled across his lap.

"Edward.." I whispered. He stopped his slow trail of kisses and put his mouth up to my ear.

"Its excruciatingly painful, trying to spend even a moment away from you," he whispered seductively into my ear. "I should remind Alice never to dream of such a thing again."

"If only it were…" I gasped for air as his mouth once again began to trail kisses down my neck.. "that easy." My breath once again caught when his hand found the small part of skin left uncovered by my t shirt. The iciness of his fingers against the heat of my skin ran a chill up my spine.

He lifted his head from my neck and searched longingly into my eyes, as if asking permission to go further. I was speechless, my mind refusing to form a coherent thought as I stared back into those butterscotch eyes. As if he didn't already know that I longed for him… as if he didn't know that anything he wanted from me was instantly his.

He kissed me more passionately now, more eager than he had ever been. My heart was beating at incredible speeds now, as his hand slowly traced up my stomach… sliding his fingers slightly under my t shirt. He stopped at the base of my bra, afraid to go further. This was my only chance, I had to act quickly before he realized and put the wall back up. I reached for the buttons on his shirt, nervously fidgeting to unbutton them.

"Bella…" he whispered. I kept going, trying to accomplish all of the buttons as quickly as possible. Before I could go any further, his hands were around my waste again, pulling me closer to him. He released one hand, only to take mine and put it on his shoulder. When he did the same with the other.. I knew this was as far as he would let me go. He kissed me for another long moment, before slowly pulling his face away from mine.

My face expression must have shown obvious disappointment, for he looked at me apologetically.

"You started it," I said, practically breathless.

"I know… I'm so very sorry," he truly looked upset. "Its so hard for me to stop, you're the only thing… the only one I've ever wanted."

"I've missed you…"

He ran his fingers through my hair, catching a loose strand between his fingers and tucking it gently behind my ear.

"Only one day left," he promised. "After tomorrow, you will finally be mine."

"I'm already yours."

He reached to slide the jacket from my arms, and then lifted me gently and lay me down on the mattress. He reached down, sliding my shoes off of my feet and tucking the comforter around me. He was behind me then… his arm wrapped around me as he gently kissed the back of my neck.

"Sweet dreams my love," he whispered into my ear. As he hummed my lullaby, I slowly drifted to sleep in my lover's arms.