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Chapter 7- Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

"One more day" Edward breathed in my hair the next morning when he could tell I was awake. His face was nestled in my hair and his lips were tickling the skin on the back of my neck.

"One more day" I sighed in agreement. "One more day until forever." We lay together silently, our breathing synchronized. We both didn't want this new day to start. We wanted to just stay here, right in this moment.

Only too soon I would have to break away from my vessel of peace and tranquility in order to start another demanding day of Alice. How could someone so small and beautiful be so taxing and severe?

"Do you know what Alice has on the agenda for me today?" I asked with some repose.

He laughed quietly. "I don't envy you." He said lightly. "When times get rough, just think about tomorrow night after this is all over and we can be together. Alone." He smiled at the thought. "No panicky Alice, No obnoxious brothers making childish comments and no Charlie down the hall, no Carlisle or Esme or Renee…" He trailed off and there was that uncomfortable demeanor about him again.

My eyebrows furrowed though I wasn't facing him. "What's up with Renee anyway? What about her makes you so uneasy?" I asked suspiciously.

He didn't even cringe or stiffen at my question. I turned to face him when he didn't respond right away. His facial expression was blank. He closed his eyes like he hadn't heard me not wanting to deal with this problem just yet.

"How much has she already guessed?" I sighed. This always annoyed me about her. Couldn't she just let me be? Let them be? Why did she always have to try to figure everything out?

"Her mind is so…strange." He mused irritated. Strange was a good word, not necessarily insulting. I could see he was battling with himself about something. Half of him was so intrigued by her and the other half, aggravated. "I suppose if I could see the tenor of your mind it might be similar to hers in the way that she notices everything. She questions and wonders about everything. Her mind is constantly moving and linking other thoughts together. It is all so clear but bewildering at the same time. It is exhausting to listen to.

"She isn't buying our story at all…Carlisle and Esme adopting a bunch of teenagers. The whole bit. She is wondering why, if none of us are blood related, we all have these strange physical characteristics. Like I said, she notices everything…just like you did when we first met, although I couldn't read your mind so I couldn't tell how much you'd already figured out. Our skin, eyes, even our temperature when she shook our hands last night, were all just clues to an intriguing puzzle for her. In a strange way I am delighted about it all. She is probably the fastest human to ever realize our differences, to this extreme, so easily. She listened to us introduce our family last night and knew something at once from our voices. She has a better poker face than you. Nobody there suspected she knew anything except for me and of course Alice saw.

"I was in a sort of trance about it all. She has met us before so I was wondering why she decides to care now.... I went with you to visit her in April, and when you were in the hospital in Phoenix, she met Carlisle and Alice too. She must have been too worried about you then or I was too worried to read her mind, either way I didn't notice that she had suspected anything. When all of us were in the same room last night, introducing one another...something clicked in her mind that we were different...not human. I don't know how she knew that…so…so directly.

"Normally in a situation like this, we would disappear immediately. She already has ideas. She hasn't come up with vampires just yet but we wouldn't wait around for her to come to any conclusions."

"I can try to…talk to her." I attempted and stopped short. We both knew my abilities in the making up stories department would never deter the profound mentality of my mother.

"This could be bad, love." He warned. "We can't just talk to her, Bella. The Voltourri are here, in town." He reminded me seriously. "... and the only reason Charlie is still alive is because he has no idea about us."

My eyes bugged wide as I realized what would happen to Renee if she found out the truth. "Great." I murmured sarcastically. "What can we do?"

"For now…" He began. "We just have to hope that she is…preoccupied until the wedding is over and she leaves. If she asks questions, we have answers…" He hesitated. "Alice doesn't see her finding out but when I decided we would just tell her…Alice saw that she would try to hijack you." He smiled angelically. "She wouldn't let you marry a vampire." This amused him. I rolled my eyes at his entertainment of this fact.

"What sane parent would let their kid marry a monster?" I tried in vain to playfully nudge his rock hard stomach.

"I hope that if we give her enough to do and make her think of other things…she'll leave us alone." He smiled ruefully, more like he was trying to convince himself.

When I drove myself and my mother over to the Cullen's house, Alice had been hard at work. A huge white tent was set up over the tables and dance floor now. I'm guessing she was planning on rain. The only thing missing were the flowers and she could see they would be delivering tomorrow about midday.

Edward, Carlisle and Emmett took Phil with them to a bowling ally. It was the best we could come up with as Renee wanted to be with me and the girls all day in preparations. I didn't dare leave Phil alone with Charlie. Actually, the boys did invite Charlie and Jasper to come along too but Charlie, who had taken the day off, suddenly had to go into work and Jasper got a look from Alice when he was about to go with them that meant 'don't you dare.' She needed his help decorating. He looked like a bored, punished child as he was forced to aid her at human speed in front of Renee.

Alice did a good job distracting my mother. Giving her odd jobs to complete like calling the caterer and the bakery, the florist to make sure they had everything on schedule for tomorrow. She had my mother, me, Rose, and Esme all trying on our dresses for the next day's events ensuring everything was perfect. It was a shorter day than I had been expecting. My nerves were coming on as I realized that tomorrow was coming…whether I wanted it to or not. Time was slipping through my hands. I was elated and miserable, nervous and excited. I shouldn't care what people were thinking about me or that tomorrow I was going to be someone's wife.

In the evening when Charlie had gotten off work and the boys returned from their bowling adventure, Edward brought home Italian take out for our 'rehearsal dinner' and for the first time in history, the Cullen's kitchen table was used for eating. The Vampires looked convincing and would hide their food spectacularly well so Renee, Phil and Charlie didn't notice they weren't eating anything.

We congregated in the living room when Edward said he wanted to give me something in front of the family. It turned out that everyone else had a gift as well and it became an informal bridal shower with men in attendance. I was uncomfortable again.

"Bella," He said as he knelt down in front of me. I was sitting on the white couch next to Rosalie. "I have a gift for you from my mother." I looked warily at him and then at Esme. "My birth mother." He corrected. "She left this to me." Edward, who apparently had stopped worrying about Renee, handed me a small, white bible with gold writing on it. It was obviously very old and tattered. I held it carefully as if my human skin might smidge or hurt the pages. She sat there with Phil and Charlie, the same intrigued look upon her face. This was important to him enough that he didn't care about anyone else but me for a moment. As I carefully turned the first few pages, a piece of folded parchment paper fell to the floor. Deliberately slow, Edward bent to pick it up.

"Sorry," I said as he handed me the paper that was worn and very creased. It had been folded for decades inside this tiny book Edward had cherished. I slowly unfolded it. There written on the side in faded, but elegant 19th century hand writing was an inscription that I could only guess said 'My dear Edward.' I opened it further to find a letter written by Elizabeth Mason to the future wife of her only son. There in shaky but determined elegant hand writing she wrote:

It is my deepest regret that I am unable to meet the only love of my dear son. This Holy Bible has been past on from generation to generation in my family from mothers to their daughters. God blessed me with my Edward and no other children. Edward was handful enough. I planned on giving this Bible to his wife when she was to become my new daughter.

My husband as already past on and I fear my time is coming shortly to meet him. Please take care of my Edward for me and make sure he is always content and full of joy. Stay close to God through out your lives. He will bless you and answer your prayers. Edward was the answer to mine as I am sure you are the answer to his. His soul is the most honest and noble soul I have ever met. He is so strong in the faith he has for God and mankind. Please help him to always remember that strength. Sometimes he can be very selfless. He gives so much to other people while taking very little for him. I am worried after I am gone who will remind him how pure and good he is deep into his inner soul.

I don't know how he does it but he seems to know what I am thinking before I say it aloud. I think he is aware that I have prepared this letter for you, whoever you might be. An angel I am sure for my Edward deserves nothing less. I will tell him he can not read it until the time has come to give it to you before your wedding. I will tell him I will be watching him from wherever I am and I will haunt him if he disobeys me. Edward sometimes has problems following all the rules and if he wants something bad enough, he will just reach out and take it whether he has any right to it or not. My son is the kind of person who will give all he has for the person he chooses to love including his life if necessary.

With all that being said I think it is only fair to also tell you that you are the most privileged girl in all this world to have found my Edward. I know I am a little partial because he is my son, but even without me being his mother, I know you have found the most decent human being that was ever born. I was so fortunate to be his mother, even for such a short time.

I wanted to write all this down to tell you that as much as I have never met you, I love you. I love you so much for loving my Edward. You are indeed a guardian angel and I look forward to meeting you in the next life.

With all my love and devotion for both of you,

Elizabeth

I was quiet while reading this. Silent but steady tears were streaming down my face and I giggled in the appropriate places. She must have had a good sense of humor. When I finished reading, everyone looked curiously at me wondering what Elizabeth Mason had unknowingly waited almost ninety years to say. Edward was nervous. I could tell he had obeyed his mother's wishes. He had never read this letter before, and for that I was grateful. I think if he had read it previously he might not have given it to me, his mother's boasting about him and all. He was unconsciously pacing in front of me where I still sat on the couch.

"Do you remember Edward?" I asked. "Do you remember what she said when she gave this to you?" I smiled and held back a short snicker thinking of anyone threatening Edward this way. 'I will haunt you if you read this before your future bride.' She would have said. "It seems like there is a lot you need to consider." I handed him the letter.

It took him about 10 seconds to get to the end. He looked a like he might actually be crying too if he could. His mother had seen his soul. His real soul. How could he think that could be lost? He was still the same perfect Edward he was when he was human.

Edward knelt in front of me now with his arms lightly in my lap. He was laughing as some of his human memories were coming back to him.

"You are, you know?" I told him looking into his fierce gold eyes. "You are so pure and good, and you haven't lost any of that." I said and remembered the other humans were here. I leaned closer to whisper so only he could hear. "You are worth all the pain I will endure. I want to be with you forever. I know God will let me keep my soul just as you did. I am meant to be with you, Edward and I will do as she says. I will take care of you for her. Forever." He just kissed me. For a moment it was just us alone in the room with his mother's words. I sat back to get a better look at his face.

"So..." I continued. "Who knew you were a huge mama's boy?" I grinned. Teasing him was always so entertaining.

His threw his head back with one big chuckle, "weren't we all back then?" he said. I could tell his thoughts were still with his parents. "I still wasn't as good as she says…Mischievous doesn't begin to describe me." He said lightly thoughtful.

As he stared past me into another time period, there was that look of pure joy on his face that I rarely got to see.

"She just sees me as a mother sees her son. Kind of…forgets the imperfection, erases the flaws from her mind." He grinned sheepishly.

Flaws? I thought. Edward doesn't have flaws? I was sidetracked until Renee's face caught my attention. She was undoubtedly frustrated by all the new clues to her puzzle.

"We're next!" Alice Chirped. "We're something new."

"What is this?" I asked suspiciously. I was not a good gift recipient.

"Oh it's nothing, Bella." Esme contrived. She wasn't fooling anyone…She gave in and told the truth. "It's a tradition." She sighed frustrated at my bad gift receiving skills.

"We're all contributing to your 'Something old, new, borrowed and Blue.' Don't argue or this will just take longer." How well the Cullens knew me. Charlie and Renee just laughed as though they had got the inside joke. Phil looked absolutely bored.

Alice skipped forward pushing Edward to the side giving him a look that could only mean, 'watch out, she is noticing'… Edward gave a wayward grin as he read her thoughts. She nodded as if she could read his and I assumed he was apologizing. Alice and Rosalie both gave me something new. Alice gave me a bag of makeup. All expensive products from a department store in the mall I couldn't shop at.

"This is for tomorrow." She said excited. I could tell she would begin with the playing dress up right now if I let her. "It's new, not only literally but also because you yourself are a stranger to makeup." She was making fun of me.

"Only because she doesn't need any." Edward defended.

I smiled but rolled my eyes at her comment. Makeup was an unnecessary and a waste of time.

Rosalie set a small box on my lap as Alice sat next to me on the other side. I sighed. I hated gifts on my birthday let alone a day I shouldn't be getting gifts. I untied the little ribbon on top if the box (noticing there was no wrapping paper to be found at this gift opening event) and inside was a Dark Hyacinth Blue Garter. My face flushed bright red. I pulled it out of the tiny box just in time to hurry and shove it back in as soon as I knew what it was. I turned bug eyed at Alice who was already laughing anticipating my reaction.

She leaned over to me speaking so low no other human could hear. "It's for tomorrow too." She giggled and I looked up to see the other Cullen's trying not to smile. Edward rolled his eyes but half smiled. He wasn't in on the embarrassment but he didn't protest to this either. "It matches perfectly with your other 'new' gift I want to give you. I would have brought it out now but I saw your reaction and you wouldn't speak to me for ten years if I showed it to you in front of Charlie…I thought it would be best to give it to you alone…" She smiled and Rosalie smiled as a co-conspirator. I knew exactly what that gift would be and I made a mental note to avoid Alice and Rosalie at all cos

Renee's gift was borrowed. She gave me the set of pearl earrings and necklace she wore on her first wedding to Charlie. I liked this gift because it was borrowed. I could give it back to her after the wedding. That was nice that she kept the necklace and earrings all this time. I could tell Charlie was a little touched though he didn't show it much.

Charlie was a little shy about his gift. I could tell this whole gift giving party wasn't his idea. He wouldn't be here unless absolutely necessary. We were so much alike, I wished at this moment I would never have to say goodbye to him. He stood up and walked over to Edward. I was surprised, I know he had been making grandeur attempts at being nicer to Edward, but he was actually going to give Edward a gift. I smiled excitedly at Edward and Charlie.

"Bella shouldn't get all the fun." He said simply. Edward held out his hand and Charlie dropped a couple of gold and white looking objects into Edwards's palm. "This makes you my family, Edward." I was elated. Edward looked touched again like he hadn't expected Charlie to ever accept him this deeply. I was curious what Charlie gave him. I looked to Edwards hand and saw a pair of old antique cufflinks Charlie had never worn before.

"Alice said to find something old." Charlie beamed. "These are really old. They were my great grandfathers. I had one of the guys at the station look these up on the internet and they date back to 1901. I thought it would be a good omen. Something that has lasted over a century in my family…they should stay in the family."

"Thank you Charlie." Edward stood and actually hugged my father. Today was a poignant day. Things were going to be different. With all the love in this room, I couldn't imagine my life with out ALL of these people. "Thank you for everything," Edward broke the hug and shook Charlie's hand.

Esme and Carlisle's gift was ridiculous, even Edward thought so. As Esme stood up from her chair to come bring it to me, she was concentrating really hard on not thinking about it. She wasn't as practiced as her other children or it wasn't in her nature to try to deceive Edward, either way Edward stood up in front of her in protest.

"Mom," He cautioned as he caught Alice's eye and then my mother's. He sat back down letting her get on with it as though he hadn't interrupted. She gave me a box even smaller than Rosalie's and smiled as I held it in my hand.

"I already have lots of new things." I tried to say. They shushed me excited for this one more than any other. I was terrified to open the harmless little box. If Edward would react this way, what could it possibly contain? "What does this stand for? I already have old, new, borrowed and…blue?" I said the last word fast and low.

"It's just another new." Esme waved as though it was no big deal. "It is actually for both of you actually." She stated rather flustered. "It is more of an actual wedding gift, not for the sixpence custom." She finished. "It is good luck to have one of these of your own when you get married."

I sighed again as I lifted the lid. Inside the box was a key. A key to what exactly? A key to something no doubt highly expensive and ludicrous. I put it back in the box and gave it to Esme. "I am very grateful for all you guys have done for me. And for Edward also…Please don't get me wrong. I don't even want to know what the key goes to… I know that without saying, we will not accept anything more gifts. Right Edward?" He had to be on my side. He knew what the key went to and he stood up to stop Esme from even giving it to me.

"She's right Esme…Carlisle." He nodded at both of them and turned to me. I was slightly smug that he sided with me. "This is too much. Thank you but I can't accept this." I was even curious now. What did Edward think was too much? Charlie, Renee & Phil all looked bewildered and left out. They were trying to figure out what they were missing.

"It's right by the school, tucked deep in to the trees. You'll be able to go hiking, camping…fishing." Esme was looking for outdoor human excuses when she really was thinking…Hunting. "It's perfect; I have already been there to make sure everything is ready. I have already renovated the whole thing for you. You can't say no. I worked so hard…" She trailed off insulted that we had refused her gift.

I was confused at first not understanding what she meant. Comprehension lit my face as the light bulb went on.

"A house!" I bellowed. "You can't just give people a house!" My arms were in the air and I was waving them around yelling incoherently but loud.

Edward's cold hand rose up and caught my wrist pulling it down to my side. This silenced me for the time being.

"Thank you." He said as he walked over to hug his mother. His father meeting us in the center of the room to hug us next. I looked at him like he was a traitor. He was accepting their gift.

"Edwa-" I started but was abruptly cut off by Charlie.

"I can't let you go through with this either." He sounded a little embarrassed. What gift could he give us compared to a house? And not just any house…It was probably ridicules just like this one, huge and unnecessary.

"I was just going to make sure they had a washer and dryer…let alone a house." He muttered sadly under his breath.

"Charlie," Esme turned to him. "Oh my goodness, that would be perfect! I couldn't find a good deal on any while I was there." I knew Alice had been involved in seeing the future for this. "I have to be fair to all my children; we have bought a house for the others when they were married…" She said as though to be reassuring. Jasper stepped in and calmed all of us down and I flashed him a dirty look. This wasn't over. I would fight this again when Jasper was not here.

We didn't talk about it anymore. I hugged and thanked them all and made my way toward the front door. I was getting nervous for the next day and trying to avoid Alice and her…'gift'. I wanted to go to my safe place. I only wanted to be alone with Edward. I quietly held his hand and subtly pulled him away, I couldn't pull alone. I knew would follow.

"Let's go to our meadow." I said once we were outside. It had been awhile since we had been there. He smiled and gently tossed me over onto his back. He ran freely, happily. It had been an emotional day for both of us. We both just wanted to get away. We lay in the grass together for hours talking about his birth mother and everything that had happened. I couldn't be mad at him for accepting Esme and Carlisle's gift after he saw how much Esme had really done for us in her head…she would have been really hurt if we didn't accept it. I sighed.

It was getting dark and we were about to head back home when I felt Edward stiffen into his granite self. I heard nothing. Someone was out there. Someone dangerous. Edward stood quickly and with out a word he swung me onto his back and started running for home.