Summary: Bella is a struggling English teacher. An almost-accident lands her in the arms of prince charming. Modern day times and a fairytale type of romance-or is it? AH/M.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Stephenie Meyer and Summit own the right. I just play around with the characters.
A/N: A faster update. Let's hope I can continue this pace.
I'd also like to thank you Angelz1114577 and AnthroBug from PTB for beta'ing this. I'm working on the simplifying thing.
Dreams Come True
BPOV
Chapter 7
Edward and I spent as much time together as we could, though it was limited to a few room service meals. Our limited time together wasn't a waste. However, we continued to find things out about each other. I knew he hated raw onions and he knew I hated cucumbers. Little things like that were important because the way I saw it, we'd be living together for a very long time. We might as well know each others likes and dislikes.
"What is your favorite genre in literature?" Edward asked. We were sitting on the hotel bed, our backs against the cushioned headboard. We had just finished dinner and were eating dessert, which consisted of a lemon tart, complete with powdered sugar and whipped cream.
"That's a tough question! I might as well ask you what your favorite race car is," I teased. I took another bite of cake and smiled. It was really was good. "If I had to decide, then I'd say that I absolutely love the British Classics. I am Jane Austen's biggest fan."
"A romantic," he commented as he took a sip of his espresso.
I shrugged my shoulders, smiling to myself again. I was a bit of a romantic, and I was getting that fairytale, dream-like wedding. I couldn't complain. "Maybe just a little bit," I admitted.
He leaned forward to give me a soft kiss. Like all his kisses, they left me wanting more. Lately, he'd been chaste in terms of physical affection. I had asked why he was holding back, and he'd answered me by stating that he didn't want to be tempted anymore than he already was.
"I suppose our courtship isn't as romantic as you thought it would be? I confess that I wished we'd met on better circumstances."
"I think our courtship is pretty unique. I'm not ashamed of anything that's happened between us, but I admit it is bizarre. I never imagined I'd meet anyone the way I did, or that I'd be engaged to you. Despite all that, I like where this is heading."
He grinned. "I am crazy about you." He gave me another kiss before taking another bite of cake. I had to fight him for the last bite. Thankfully, he let me win.
The past few evenings were spent in seclusion. Edward and I were deliriously happy, mainly because we didn't have contact with the outside world. When I was with Edward, it was like magic. Everything stopped and we were in our own little protective love bubble. We laughed and talked easily with each other.
Although we had fun together, I could feel that he was hiding things from me. He was always so vague and secretive about Volterra and his family. I tried pushing for information, but he would distract me with his Italian words and kisses. I was too weak to resist his distractions.
"Why won't you tell me about Volterra?" I asked.
"You'll be traveling there in a month. What is the point in telling you about it when you could just find out for yourself?" he replied with a lazy smile.
I growled in frustration. I could search on the Internet if I wanted too, but I wanted Edward to be willing to tell me.
"You're deliberately not telling me anything! You know I could go on Wikipedia and read about your country there."
"Yes, but you won't," was his smug reply.
"I want you to tell me. I think it's only fair since you know so much about me and my country."
"I've been to the States before, Isabella. I have done my own research and I've visited numerous places in this country. No one told me about it, I did everything on my own."
I huffed and crossed my arms like a petulant child. He was being mean and I was being stubborn.
"Mia bella," he sang. "I don't want my view on Volterra to affect yours. I want you to see my country for the very first time with brand new eyes. You'll appreciate it, trust me."
I thought about his statement, and had to agree with him. Perhaps he was right. If he told me anything about Volterra, it might sway my opinion. Bree had already told me a little bit about the country, but that was okay. I still didn't really know anything about it. I had to see Volterra with my own, unbiased eyes. It was better that way, really.
"I guess you're right," I said, relenting.
Edward smiled and pulled me close so that I was almost sitting on his lap. He lifted my chin, letting my eyes meet his. "I am happy you agree with me. You're so cute when you're stubborn."
I rolled my eyes at him and he teased me, saying that gesture was unladylike. I came back with a shake of my head and a kiss on his cheek. That shut him up.
Conversation moved to our favorite movies and television shows. Edward told me he didn't have time to watch TV, but that he did love independent films as well as big Hollywood action movies.
Spending time with him like this was easy. Sometimes I felt like I was living someone else's life. Edward, and everything that had happened, still felt surreal. I didn't want this to end, but I knew that it would. He was going back to Volterra tomorrow and I would be staying here, packing up my life.
We had already agreed to correspond over e-mails, text messages, and Skype for the remainder of the month, until I was able to fly to Volterra. Maintaining our relationship was important to us. Things were progressing, and it was no longer just attraction between us. We really wanted this to work well.
"One month. That is all I will allow, and then I'm sending the jet to get you."
The fact that he had his own private jet didn't surprise me. However, I was nervous. I'd never been out of the States before. I'd been on an airplane before, but going to Volterra scared me. I knew virtually nothing about the country except from what Bree had told me. I only had basic information, and I was sure that my anticipation was going to get the best of me.
"What are you going to do with all that time?" I asked.
"Besides missing you?" He flashed me a playful smile, and then continued. "I'll be working and begging my mom and sister to help with the wedding."
Typically, we were supposed to be engaged for a few months. The Church wanted to make sure that the engaged couple were marrying for the right reasons. Divorce was frowned upon, so it made sense. Although Edward knew the Church preferred that we be engaged for six months or so, he wanted to get married in three months. It would be a short engagement, but I didn't mind at all.
"Your family is going to hate me," I stated. It was a presumptuous statement, but after Bree had told me that Princesses Rosalie and Mary-Alice were hard to please, I'd come to the conclusion that I was in over my head.
"They will not hate you. They'll be surprised, but they won't hate you. I won't allow it."
"But Bree said…"
"Never mind what Bree said. I will make sure that my family accepts you," he interjected.
This was another one of our disagreements. I was nervous about meeting his family. I had a bad feeling that they weren't going to like me. I didn't think I was the ideal woman for Edward, and every time I expressed that, he'd vehemently disagree with me.
"You can't force them to accept me!"
"Yes, I can," he replied stubbornly.
"Edward, stop." I was weary from disagreeing with him again. He was impossible to negotiate with. Sometimes, I wondered how well of a politician he would be since I never got anywhere with him.
"Isabella, I don't want you worrying about my family. They will accept you because I accept you. They will like you because I like you. I won't have anyone from Volterra causing you stress."
I bit back my comment about him being the only one from Volterra who caused me stress, thus far.
"I appreciate your help, Edward. I really do, but I'm not stupid. I know how this whole courtship will look to your family. I'm prepared for them to not like me right away, but I want the chance to change their minds. I'm hoping in time they'll like me just as I'm hoping that I'll like them too, eventually."
He kissed the top of my head and began to play with my hair. "It shouldn't matter what other people think. All you need to know is that I like you enough to know that you're exactly the type of woman I could spend the rest of my life with. In time, I'm hoping we'll grow to love another. I think I could fall in love with you easily, if you let me."
I leaned closer and kissed him softly on his lips. When he said things like that, it made me realize that I could love him too. Maybe it really was that easy.
I spent the rest of the night with Edward, falling asleep next to him. When I woke up, I found that he had moved to sleep on the couch just like he always did, because sleeping together was frowned upon in his old-fashioned ways. I didn't mind that much, though. The sentiment was sweet.
"Good morning," he greeted me as I sat down on a chair.
Bree was here and so was breakfast. I began to pour myself some coffee and offered my cheek to Edward when he bent down to give me a kiss.
"Good morning," I replied sleepily. I looked at him and yawned. Mornings and I didn't always get along.
I could tell that Edward and Bree had been up for hours. They looked wide awake in their impeccably dressed suits. I glanced at the hallway and noticed that his luggage was all set. He was leaving soon.
"I have to leave, Isabella." He took my coffee cup from my hands, setting it down next to my empty plate. I rubbed my eyes and made an angry face at him. I didn't want him to leave because then I'd wake up and everything would go back to the way it was before I had met him. I wouldn't know what to do with myself.
"Do you have to go?" I asked pathetically.
He smiled sadly and nodded. "I'm afraid so, darling. Don't worry though. I'm not leaving you to be alone." He gave me a quick kiss before talking to Bree in Italian.
The next thing I knew, my mother walked into the room and enveloped me and Edward in a big hug.
"Mom!" I exclaimed. I was surprised to say the least.
I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. A voice in my head told me that it was great that my mom was here. She'd help me get ready to move. Another voice told me that it was sort of pathetic that he was leaving me with my mom. It didn't really portray me as a confident person.
"Edward called me a couple of days ago. He explained everything to me, and don't you worry, Bella! I'll take care of everything," she said reassuringly.
Great, I thought. Well, at least I won't be lonely or bored.
"I'm glad that you're here," I said. I was glad because feeling pathetic wasn't something I wanted to feel.
My mom beamed and prattled on about all the things that she and I would be doing in preparation for our trip to Volterra. Her happiness was contagious, and I almost completely forgot that Edward was leaving.
"I'm going to miss you, mia bella."
He gathered me in his arms, pulling me away from my mom and Bree's prying eyes. We stood in the living room, his arms holding me in a tight embrace. I looked up at him, biting my lip. He smiled and kissed me softly before he explained that the hotel room was already taken care of. I could leave whenever I wanted so long as I left today.
I walked him to the door, giving him another hug before I did something stupid like beg him to stay. He took one last look into my eyes. His gaze was intense and penetrating right through my core.
"I'll see you soon?" I asked. Even though I knew I would be seeing him in a month, I needed the confirmation from him.
This wasn't real. He was leaving and I'd never see him again. It was all a dream.
"I'll see you soon, Isabella," he promised. He took a step back so that Bree could say goodbye to me.
Bree gave me a hug and promised to have him contact me as soon as they landed in Volterra. She assured me that she would help me with anything once I got there. I had come to see her as a genuine friend, one that I would really need when I got over there.
She walked out the door and went with the bellhop outside, but Edward hesitated. He looked torn. Before I could ask him what was bothering him, he walked right up to me and pulled me into his arms. I could barely react from the suddenness of his kiss. It was a deep kiss full of longing and affection.
He slowed our movements until we were just gently pecking. It was the last kiss I'd get from him, so I had to stock up.
That kiss had me believing that this was indeed real.
"Call me when you land?" I asked as he pulled away slowly.
"I will." He kissed the tip of my nose and chuckled. "You look sleepy."
"I just woke up."
He gave my hand a squeeze before saying goodbye and leaving with Bree. The very last image I had of him was his tall, lean frame, walking gracefully toward the end of the hallway.
I sighed as I turned around. My mom was bustling around the room, gathering my things and talking to herself.
"Bella, hurry up and eat. We have to go back to your place and start packing," she said hurriedly. She had in her arms my big canvas bag, which was filled with my belongings.
"Okay, okay," I said.
"Oh, honey. I know you miss him!" she gushed as she brought her arm around me. She patted my back consolingly before telling me that she'd keep me busy so that I wouldn't have any time to pout about him.
"I am not pouting!"
Her smile clearly had an "Oh, yes you are" air to it.
I huffed as I loaded up my plate with fruit and pancakes. I ate my breakfast in silence, mulling over the past week. So many things had changed. I was scared out of my mind that something awful would happen. Things here were okay, but what would his family think? I couldn't help but worry about them and how they'd see me.
"Bella! You need to get going!"
I quickly finished my plate, and then ran into the bedroom where I found my mom sitting on the bed.
"I'll be ready in half an hour," I said as I grabbed some clothes before heading into the bathroom.
An hour later, I found myself throwing out things from my bedroom. Bree and I had already been here, packing clothes and my work things away. However, we hadn't gotten around to actually cleaning the place.
Mom and I were cleaning and trying to get everything organized for when the royal movers came. Apparently, Edward had arranged for them to come and help me pack my things and to have them ship my belongings to Volterra.
It didn't take much time to clean the apartment. I wasn't a messy person, and the place was so small that there really wasn't much to clean up.
Since Edward and Bree had already taken care of the shipping of my belongings, I really didn't have anything else to do after cleaning.
Once my tiny apartment was clean, we tackled the packing room by room. I wasn't going to take anything from the kitchen and all the furniture would have to stay, not that I wanted to take it with me.
We took a break to have a late lunch. Edward had provided us with our own driver, so we hopped into the car and directed him to a little sandwich shop.
"Is Dad super pissed at me?" I asked. I took a sip of my iced tea and waited for her answer.
"He's surprised, but he likes Edward. I think it was the military background that won him over."
I chuckled. "I didn't think he'd like any guy that I'd bring over! Mom, I know this whole thing is crazy, but I really think it could work."
She reached out and held my hand. "Honey, I think this is something wonderful. Every person deserves someone who will love them, and I can see that Edward can do that for you. You may not have known each other for a long time, but your hearts are already getting to know each other."
"He makes me nervous, but in a good way. There's this element of mystery around him. He's one of the nicest guys I've known, but there's a certain edge to him. It's not dangerous, more like interesting," I explained.
"You've got butterflies!" she exclaimed. She smiled, and then looked at me with a serious expression. "Bella, love isn't always about being practical and marrying someone for convenience. Once in a while, the fairytale happens. You get swept up in the emotions and it all falls into place."
That particular statement struck me. I was marrying him for convenience, but there was also a fairytale feeling to it.
I had told myself that I just had to go with it. Things like this didn't happen to a person like me, so I might as well enjoy it.
"I think I have to let him sweep me away," I said.
"I think you're right."
A/N: Edward and Bella have their work cut out for them, huh? Bella is willing to let Edward 'sweep her away.' That will be entertaining, I think. The next chapter takes place in Volterra. ;)
Translation: mia bella=my lovely.
Till next time
Tina
