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Bella's POV:
I woke up to find myself wrapped up in a blanket and buckled into the passenger seat of the Volvo. It was still dark outside and the only light I could see came from the glow of the dashboard instruments.
"How are you feeling, Love?" Edward asked as he watched me stretch and yawn.
"A little sore, a little tired, and extremely happy," I answered, putting my head against his arm. I'd meant my words, too. I knew exactly where we were heading and that tonight would be the start of three excruciating days for both Edward and me, but I was ready for it. I was ready to get it done, move past it, and start my life with my new family.
Edward took my hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing the sensitive inside of my wrist. "There's food and drink in a cooler on the backseat or we can stop somewhere if you like."
"I'm fine for now. Was there any particular reason you just plopped me in the car without waking me?"
"Only that I'm excited to rejoin our family and see the new house with you and I couldn't wait any longer to leave."
"Our first real home together, Edward. Our room will truly be yours and mine. Am I silly for being excited about that?"
He smiled and quickly stole a kiss before focusing on the pitch black road again. "If you are, then so am I, Love."
"Has Esme or Alice given you any clues?"
"Not a one."
"How did you get these sweats past Alice?" I asked as I surveyed the clothing Edward had dressed me in. "The last pair I snuck into the house mysteriously disappeared before I even got them out of the dryer."
"Bella, you can and should tell Alice 'no' from time to time. I'm not denying she has great taste in clothing, but you should also own outfits that you find comfortable."
"I do tell her 'no'. But then a lot of the time, I decide she's right and give in."
Edward smiled and squeezed my fingers lightly. "It's going to be a long eternity with you and Alice. Amazing. But long."
"I really hope I remember you saying that later on because I want to be able to pinch you for it and have you feel it."
He laughed. He actually laughed.
So I did the only thing a mature, newly married twenty-something could do. I folded my arms and pouted.
That made him laugh harder.
His cell phone rang and his smile disappeared instantly. There was only type of issue that would warrant a call to his phone on our wedding night and it wasn't a good one. He flipped the phone open and did that low, quick talking thing that made it impossible for me to hear what he was saying. He nodded his head a few times and then he put the phone away—like that was the end of things.
"Edward, who called?"
"Alice."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing of importance. You should try to sleep. It may help you to be rested beforehand."
"And it will help you if you tell me what the h—e—l—l is going on."
He turned his face toward me, trying to use his amber eyes to do that crazy Jedi mind trick thing to me. "Isabella, don't be so quick to assume the worst."
But I wasn't having any of that crap tonight. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, so help me, if you don't tell me what Alice said."
"Definitely a wet kitten," he chuckled, caressing the side of my face with a single finger. "And while I find your anger amusing, it is completely misplaced. If that phone call had pertained to you in anyway, I would share it with you. But it didn't so I'm won't."
"If it—"
His finger pressed against my lips and stopped my argument, not that it had been completely formed anyway. I just wanted to know what the creepy phone call was about so I wouldn't think up something ten times worse.
"I an ill alk ith u ringer there." Okay, so maybe I couldn't really talk with his finger in the way, but I damn sure gave it a try.
"Most stubborn in existence," Edward said with a laugh as he pulled his finger away. "All you need to know, Mrs. Cullen, is that no one is in danger and nothing threatening has been done or will be done."
I could see he wasn't going to be tell me and I didn't want to spend our first night or day or whatever it was fighting. So I unbuckled and unwrapped myself and focused on picking something out of the cooler to snack on; nothing like an argument to get the stomach awake enough for eating.
****************************************
The sun was just starting to rise when Edward turned off the highway and onto a barely there patch of road. It wound its way through the trees and snow and then curved around a wall of rock.
Only that wall of rock was actually the back end of our new home. It was cut into the side of a mountain, like something Frank Lloyd Wright would have built. It even had a waterfall like on his Falling Waters home, but this one emptied into a small pond that was completely frozen over. Some of the icycles looked bigger than me.
The front of the house was adorned with the tallest and widest windows I'd ever seen and I was sure the view would be stunning even if the only thing visible were the tops of the snow covered trees. But knowing the Cullen family so well, I doubted that was the only view available.
We climbed a set of stairs cut into the rock and reached a set of double doors made of mahogany with ornate bronze hardware and hinges. There was even a bronze knocker on one of the doors and when I looked closer, I realized the base was the Cullen Crest.
"Go on," Edward encouraged. "Knock and let them know we're home."
"I'm sure they just heard you. In fact, they probably heard the car as soon as we turned onto the road."
He leaned closer and whispered so softly into my ear. "Humor them please and knock. They're waiting to throw the doors open and welcome us."
I couldn't help but smile at being so wanted and I wrapped my hand around the handle, giving it two good knocks before stepping back. I'd learned to move away from doors when they wanted to surprise me—specifically when Emmett was a part of the surprise.
The thick doors opened soundlessly and revealed my family, all of them smiling and looking happy to see us—even Rosalie.
"Welcome to Rocky Retreat," Emmett announced, his voice echoing off the rocks slightly.
"Emmett, no one is calling it that but you," Alice told him.
"It's not as bad as some of his other ideas," Jasper replied. I wasn't sure if he was taking up for Emmett or just trying to keep the peace.
"Yeah, Boulder Bodega was not appreciated," Emmett informed me.
Esme pushed past each of them and wrapped her arms around me. "Welcome home, Bella."
"Yeah, what she said," Emmett, Jasper, and Alice echoed.
I was ushered into the house and had pretty much everyone talking to me at once, but none of it could draw my eyes away from the gorgeous interior. Right in the middle of the home, going straight up through both levels of the house, was a glassed in greenhouse full of bold and beautiful tropical plants and one massive looking tree. Sprinklers must have been set into the ceiling because the mist that had been falling down over everything suddenly stopped.
"I've made a few improvements," Esme mentioned, leading me closer to the glass. "Like allowing us to have something green to see to combat all the white outside, and to remind us of Forks. But the majority of the home is untouched, especially the exposed ceiling beams in each room. They make the rooms seem bigger and airier to me."
I finally pried my eyes away from the greenery and took a look at the rest of the room. The wood and furniture were dark colors, but the white walls and rugs worked with the many windows to keep the room bright and cheery.
"Her bedroom now!" Alice pretty much shouted as she picked me up and ran up the stairs with me.
"Alice, we should wait—" I didn't bother with the "for everyone else" that was on the tip of my tongue because they were already standing behind us. "Hi, Carlisle. Missed you earlier," I said, trying to act like I wasn't unsettled by them all appearing that way. And for the most part, I wasn't—I was looking forward to being able to do that my own very soon.
Carlisle chuckled. "Emmett was in front of me."
"Bells, close your eyes," Alice commanded.
"Not on your pixie vampire eternity," I replied, moving away from her and toward Edward. The last time I'd fallen for that close your eyes stuff, I'd opened them to find myself in a ridiculously short and tight dress.
Alice stuck out her bottom lip and batted her lashes. "Edward, make her play along."
He only chuckled and tightened his hold on me.
She sighed and dropped her hands from her hips. "Fine. If Bella wants to be stubborn and not even close her eyes for two tiny seconds …"
"She's not going to fall for it, Alice. Just open the door already," Emmett told her. "Ain't none of us getting any younger here."
I had this really witty retort about how I was the only one getting older, but I didn't think Edward would appreciate it, so I kept it to myself. Some days, his inability to read my mind really came in handy.
Alice finally opened the door to the room and pranced her way inside. "I'm slightly jealous and I love my room," she said as she moved to let me get a glimpse of the room.
The walls were pale yellow and the curtains were a shade of blue I couldn't name, but they went perfectly together and with the furniture in the room. It was literally like stepping back into time, when bedroom sets were huge and bulky and unbelievably beautiful. The bed was gorgeous—a sleigh bed with only the slightest curve to it and a matching footstool just in front. There was even a matching nightstand, wardrobe, and dresser with mirror. The rug on the hardwood floor had pale yellows, pinks, and blues, mixed in with some darker greens, giving it a very earthy feel. There was a second rug, just as white and fluffy as the one downstairs in the living room, sitting in front of the small fireplace that was all our own. And set on each end of the dresser with the mirror where two white vases full of freesia. The beauty of it all forced me to pinch my thigh and make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Bella?" Esme called.
I realized I was standing in the middle of the room and hadn't really spoken or moved yet. "Um …"
"Sweetheart, if you want us to change something," she offered.
"No!" I cried. "Not a thing. No one touches this room! I'm not even touching anything until I'm sure I won't break it."
Emmett snorted at me, but I ignored him.
"Esme, this is so beautiful and I love it," I said as I hugged her. "Thank you."
"It was my pleasure. Edward, what do you think?" she asked as we turned to look at him.
But he was gone and no one could remember exactly when they'd seen him last. I looked around the room again and to Esme. "It's from his era, isn't it?"
She nodded. "I should have asked. I just assumed he would like it."
"I doubt it's that he doesn't like it," I said, trying to reassure her. "I'll just go find our beloved grump and see if I can't get a straight answer out of him."
"Just a few tiny words of advice," Alice whispered into my ear. "Stay back until he asks for you and don't call him a grump. He's in the garage."
"Which would be?"
"Down the stairs, take a right, and it's just beyond where the cliff side ends."
I followed Alice's instructions and I could hear the music coming out of the building long before I reached it. It looked nearly as big as the massive garage back in Forks.
I knocked on the door only to get him to turn down the music, which he did immediately. It took a couple of tries to slide the door open, but I managed it. Edward was sitting on a stool at the work bench, twirling a large crescent wrench in his hands like it was nothing more than a pen. His lips were pulled down into a fierce scowl and he didn't even lift his head to look my way or say anything to acknowledge my presence. It had been a long time since I'd seem him so upset.
"That was pretty rude of you to take off without telling anyone. Or without thanking Esme for our beautiful room."
He said nothing; he only continued to twirl that silver tool.
"If you don't like it, I'm certain Esme will order us different furniture. Would you prefer something more modern? Maybe we could ask her to do a Japanese theme."
His lips twitched just a little.
"Unless you're much older than you've admitted, spent time in Japan, and failed as a samurai warrior. But since they were warriors sworn to protect the nobility of the land, I don't see you failing at that. Not after the lengths I've seen you go to in order to protect our family."
"Come here." Two words said with not a lot of emphasis, but I listened to them anyway. Once I was close enough, his arms wrapped securely around me and he buried his face in my hair.
My own arms went around his neck and my fingers got lost in his coppery, silky hair. "I love you, Edward."
"I behaved horribly to Esme."
"She'll forgive you."
"She always does," he replied, making it sound like it was a bad thing. "You and she are a lot alike in that regard."
"With love comes compromise and forgiveness. I don't remember who said that, I just know from experience how very true it is."
A small groan escaped him as he moved his forehead to rest on my shoulder. "I really wish Emmett would shut up already."
"What's he thinking?"
"That I need to get my rear end inside and apologize before he makes me."
"I'm surprised he's the one saying it."
"Trust me, they're all thinking it, but he's the loudest. As usual."
"So much for them leaving it up to me to find out what's bothering you."
"No secrets, Bella," he reminded me.
"Exactly," I agreed. "So tell me why you left."
He lifted his head and his expression was so sad and sorrowful. "One of the things I'm afraid you'll have no choice but to learn about is the frustration that comes with not remembering. I know what period that furniture is from. I'm sure pieces just like it must have been in the home I grew up in. But when I tried to recall it, there was nothing. There are a few blurred images of my mother and father, and the keys of a piano. Those three days, they stripped away so much more than my disease and my humanity. Bella, I … I feel sick and guilty that I'm actually going to allow you to go through this."
"Allow … I hate that word. It makes it seem like it isn't my choice. Like it isn't necessary for us to have the live we agreed we wanted. And another thing, Mr. Cullen," I said, poking him in the chest even though it did nothing. "I don't want to hear anything about how you lost your humanity. Do you think Mike Newton has more kindness and compassion than you do? Or Angela? Well, okay, you probably don't have more than Angela, but she's on her way to sainthood or something with her ability to be nice to Jessica and Lauren."
That crooked grin I adored so much made its appearance on his face. "You're not funny."
"You're smiling," I countered, pointing at his grin.
"I'm beginning to think you absorbed parts of each of my family's personalities while you were sleeping. I keep getting glimpses of them in the things you say and do. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn Emmett had told you to say that."
"You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
"No, not bad. Just unusual."
I shrugged. "You have to admit no one can do unusual quite like I can."
My words got a real laugh out of him. He pulled me closer and I could see the sorrow in his amber eyes had melted into that tender look he so often gave me. "I would never try to deny it, Love."
"So can we keep the room?" I asked, really wanting him to agree. I would never want him to be uncomfortable, though, so if he didn't want it, I would live with that.
"We can keep the room," he replied.
I totally did a victory dance where I didn't actually dance and just smiled instead. "Thank you."
"Come on, Silly Bella. Let's go inside so I can apologize to Esme and let her know how much I like the room."
"Well if you had stuck around, Silly Vampire, then there wouldn't be a need to apologize. Though, I must say, the garage is impressive. Rose is going to like tinkering around in there."
Edward winced and seconds later, I heard the perfect lilt of Rosalie's voice. "I. Do. Not. Tinker."
"Sorry, Rosalie! You know I'm horrible with car lingo," I told her.
"Tinker," Emmett chuckled. "Sounds a lot like—"
"For the love of all that is holy, don't do it man!" Jasper begged.
"And you want to join this for pretty much ever?" Rosalie asked, quirking one perfectly golden eyebrow at me.
I smiled wide, my heart full of conviction that my answer was the right one. "Yep."
"Bells, you're going to love being a vamp," Emmett said as he took me under one massive arm. "Let's discuss possible activities for your upcoming newborn status."
"Emmett, if you don't return my wife to me immediately, you will regret it," Edward promised.
"Actually, Edward," Carlisle interrupted. "It's time that you and I head out to prepare ourselves for the night ahead."
Edward nodded stiffly, looking as though Carlisle had just told him to walk the plank over shark infested water—Damn Emmett and his pirate stories, I thought before focusing on Edward again.
I pulled away from Emmett and took Edward's hand into mine. "No worries and no regrets. Remember?"
He nodded and gave me a tired smile.
"Just keeping thinking about how when this all over you can give her the kind of affection you really feel for her," Jasper said, laying a hand on Edward's shoulder. I hoped Jasper wasn't trying to calm or reassure Edward—as much as I wanted this to happen, he had to want it as well.
Edward nodded again and leaned forward to kiss me. "I'll see you tonight."
I grinned and stepped away to show him I was still ready for all of this. "You better. Or I'll make Emmett and Jasper track you down for me."
He moved too quickly for me to see, wrapping me up in his arms as his lips brushed against my ear. "I'll be back. And when I return, I will make you mine completely and for eternity, Isabella."
Most of breath left me in a gasp at his possessive words and the rest was stolen by his fiery kiss. Sexy husband? Check. Loving family? Huge check. The opportunity to live this way forever … Priceless!
