A/N: Since it has been so long since our last update, a brief summary:

Where we last left off, despite discovering that it would be possible for Edward and Bella to have a child together, because of too many risk and unknown factors, in addition to the danger it would pose due to the Volturi, they decided together that it would not be worth the risk to them, their families, and of course, the child as well. But on the positive side, they also found out that Edward's venom posed no risk to her if ingested in small amounts. So as long as they are careful, they can properly kiss, which they experience for the first time.

Chapter 10 ~Change of Plans

Bella

I could not deny that there would always be a twinge of sadness in my heart, knowing of the possibility that Edward and I could have had a child, despite the risks. Yet, I also had to admit that, even with the difficulty of the topic, Edward hadn't kept it from me. He'd been completely open and honest, and we had talked it out in a moderately rational way. There were tears, anguish and pain for something that could've been, but we got through it together, as partners. By the end of the night, I knew we had made the best decision for us. Everything we had been fighting for all that time, the threat and confrontation with the Volturi that we had barely made it through, would have been for nothing if Edward lost me in the end. With the additional knowledge that he could possibly lose our son or daughter as well, and the likelihood that he could also be seen as a "creator" of the child and be destroyed, everything would be for naught.

However, something wonderful had come out of an otherwise grim discovery. Had it not been for the research that ended one prospect in our future, a light would have never been cast upon another—that the contact of venom to skin would not trigger the change, as it was not absorbed through the tissue, as well as not being a risk if, on the off chance, I accidentally ingested a small amount. Which prompted the most passionate, phenomenal kiss that Edward had ever dared to initiate with me, one that I hated to end, with how long I had wanted it. Yet, we had a lot of time, if all went as we hoped.

Still, there was one more thing I wanted to discuss with him in the relative privacy of the treetops, where we still gazed out over the wide river that stretched out for miles below us.

"Edward," I spoke softly, and he hummed his response against my hair as he kept me braced safely in his arms. "I was talking to Angela a little today, about the wedding."

"All right," he replied, his tone obviously urging me to continue. Suddenly, I was nervous again, and I couldn't explain why, and I began tracing abstract patterns on his arm with my fingertip. "What about it?"

"I was just wondering…what would you think about moving it up just a little?"

I felt his lips ghost across my temple as he hummed in thought, not answering me for a moment before he finally spoke. "May I ask why?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, which obviously didn't comfort Edward much, so I continued my thought. "It's going to be hard leaving my dad and my mom, no matter how long or brief of a time we wait, but I know they will be taken care of. Angela said that if she was in my shoes, she would get married right after graduation to adjust to life with her husband before starting with school, and it got me thinking."

Edward watched me with intent eyes as I shifted cautiously to sit on one of the branches in order to face him, anchoring my arm around his neck and taking care not to look straight down, while his secured around my back. "It got you thinking about what?"

"Obviously, we don't have quite the same concerns as the average couple, and I know having time to prepare for our wedding night is important, but I believe we will be able to have that whenever we get married," I started, my eyes remaining locked with his. "Our first several months of marriage are going to be tough, trying to prepare as best as we can for my presentation to the Volturi. I would like to have a little time, maybe two weeks for a honeymoon, before we have to delve into that, and as much time to prepare for Italy as possible. While still not sacrificing every second of our time as newlyweds stressed over it. I know we could have a very long time for all the good things, but we're only getting married for the first time once, if we ever feel the need to do it again at all, like Carlisle and Esme, or Jasper and Alice. This time should be special."

Edward's brow displayed concern as I spoke, and I felt his arm glide just a little further around me. "I want to marry you more than you could ever know, and having time to enjoy just being married to you is important, but stealing that time away from everyone, especially Charlie…"

I shook my head and brought my free hand to his lips. "Just as in the past week, it's not about the quantity of time, but the quality. There are two memories I want to make sure I give my dad before I have to leave him—watching me graduate and walking me down the aisle. Those are the most precious things I can give him, and they will always stand out in his mind. And with a longer honeymoon, I can send him pictures and videos of me as a blissful newlywed, so he'll always remember how happy he made me by giving usme his blessing."

I could see the conflict in Edward's eyes—he didn't want to take more time away from my dad than he would already be losing, but even he couldn't deny that the logic was sound. "So, how soon after graduation are you thinking?"

"Maybe closer to your birthday. Then, somewhere tropical might be really nice for our honeymoon, and you might even convince me to wear a bikini," I teased, nudging his leg gently with mine, and that bashful smile of his that I'd fallen in love with all those months before finally made an appearance. "I love you, and I want to give myself as much of a fighting chance to protect you as I can, in addition to being able to enjoy the simple pleasure of being your wife."

"I believe that is manageable, especially if Alice has anything to do with it, but I already know where I'm taking you for our honeymoon."

"What, I don't get a say?" I challenged, raising my eyebrow at him. "And Alice is not going to be allowed to go overboard on this. I want something simple and elegant."

"We'll rein her in as much as we can, love," Edward replied with a smile, his hand coming to rest on my thigh and running gently up to my hip, drawing him closer to me. "And it's not so much that you don't have a say as that it is a surprise, as well as being secluded enough for some true privacy. So that we don't have to worry too much about onlookers if we happen to be outside during the day, or any other activities we partake in, and close enough to tourist spots that we'd only need a short boat ride to reach them."

"Sounds kinda perfect, actually. I'll trust you on this."

"Good. Now climb onto my back and trust me to get you to the house before you freeze up here."

.

.

.

The conversation that I believed would be the hardest was actually so simple, I nearly checked my father's forehead for a fever.

Edward and I sat down together with Dad the following week and explained our reasons for setting our wedding date in June rather than closer to the end of the summer. I expected more suspicion on the rush down the aisle, as most fathers, including my own in the past, would exhibit. So, when he'd quietly sat there, deep in thought for a couple of minutes, I braced myself for either a police style session of twenty questions or the silent treatment, assuming that I'd been lying about my virginity status.

"That is actually a very logical plan," my dad said suddenly, lifting his gaze to look between us. "Marriage is a tricky enough thing to adjust to on its own without trying to tackle a multitude of life changes all at once, especially at your age. I still think eighteen is a little young, but I understand. Just promise me that you'll remember that you have your whole lives ahead of you, and there is no need to rush into it all right away, okay?"

My mother, on the other hand—a handful was an understatement.

"Isabella Marie Swan, what on earth are you thinking?" she exclaimed through the phone during our call the following evening. "You're too young for this. Give it some time."

I sighed, rubbing my forehead as Edward's hands rested on my shoulders, massaging gently. "Mom, you knew this was coming. A wedding date usually follows a proposal, and you seemed okay with that."

"Bella, it hasn't even been a month yet, and you are eighteen years old. Live your life a little first. Go to college, have some fun. I'm not saying don't be with Edward, but marriage is a huge step that, while it's easy to get swept up in the romanticism of it, is not easy once that fades. And I would hate to see you regret not having taken this time to be young."

I shook my head slowly while leaning back against Edward's chest. I understood where she was coming from to a degree. She and my dad had married very young, for all the wrong reasons. While neither of them ever made me think or feel as if I were a mistake, their marriage ultimately had been—but that was them. "I understand that, but you've always said that I've never really been or thought young. Marriage itself doesn't keep anyone from experiencing any of those things, and we won't do anything any differently just because we're married."

"Then, what's the rush, baby? You can still live together and have each other there, for years, if need be. Then you know you can co-exist without something so binding, and before children come along."

"Okay, first of all, kids are nowhere in our plans at this point, and we are going to be taking all the precautions we can to prevent it," I said, attempting to keep my voice level as I brought my free hand to clasp Edward's on my shoulder. If only she knew how truthful I was actually being. While I had come to terms with and accepted our circumstances, I still felt a slight tug on my heart. I doubted there would ever come a time where I wouldn't think "what if", despite our reasons and logic behind it all. "And this isn't just something that we impulsively decided in the heat of a romantic notion. I never make decisions like that, and you know it. We've talked this out at length and this is what we want, and what will make us happy. It might sound old fashioned, but neither Edward or I feel comfortable just 'living together'. We deeply love each other, and I would at least like to have your understanding if I can't have your approval."

My mother was silent for a moment before I heard her sigh. "Of course, I understand, Bella. I remember what it's like to be young and in love. I only wish you would take a little more time to experience life, that's all. You haven't even been in Forks for a full year yet. I know you love Edward. That was clear as day over the summer, as was how much he loves you. I also know that your first love is not necessarily your last."

The tone of her voice took me by surprise. I'd never heard her sound so sad when talking about my father, even as vaguely as she was speaking of him in that moment. To be honest, I would have been less shocked if she told me that she'd sprouted a second head. I knew she meant well, coming from a stance of experience, and I respected that. Besides, she had no way of knowing how much of a teenage crush our relationship wasn't. "He's it for me, Mom. Anything I want to do in life, I want Edward there, experiencing it with me." I paused, swallowing hard as I prepared myself to be completely dishonest with my mom for the first time in my life. "I'm gonna graduate, go to college, and have my boring nine-to-five job for a while before we even start thinking about more than that. It's not like I'm going to be missing out on wild college parties that I wouldn't go to even if I'd never met Edward. My life is going to be good."

My mom sniffled with a small laugh. "You're right. I always have said that you were pretty much born an adult. You're more mature now than I was at thirty. I just want you to be happy, baby."

With tears in my eyes, I glanced back at Edward and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I am. Happier than I've ever been, and I need both my parents there with me when I get married. I know baseball season is in full swing in June, but please say you'll be there."

"Bella, do you honestly think I would miss out on my baby getting married? Of course, I'll be there. I'll just fly in for graduation and book a hotel room until after the wedding. I'm sure Phil can manage without me for a few weeks," she replied with a chuckle, and I couldn't help but join in—we both knew that it was Phil who took care of her.

"Thank you, Mom. I love you," I said softly, clutching the phone to my ear.

"I love you, too, sweetie."

We said our goodbyes and I ended the call, setting my phone on my bedside table. Edward sat down on the edge of my bed and pulled me down into his lap, and I rested my head on his shoulder as his arms circled around me.

"You weren't lying, you know," he said suddenly as I was lost in thought, and I brought my gaze up to him. "While it won't happen as immediately as we are telling people now, you'll have all those things someday, if you want them. College, a 'boring nine-to-five', anything. Whatever will make you happy that I can give, it'll be yours."

I smiled, stroking my cheek with my hand. "And my life will be good, even once my heart stops beating. I'll know that my family and friends are safe, as much as I'll miss them, and I'll have you. Anything else is secondary and inconsequential in comparison. I've just never felt like I had to be so deceptive with my mom, not even when I told her I wanted to move to Forks."

Edward gracefully pulled me back with him as he lay down on my bed, wrapping a blanket around me before cradling me against his chest. "I know, and a part of me will always hate that you have to, just to be with me."

"Nothing in life comes without sacrifice, some things more than others. Just promise me that you won't let me forget all the good things," I implored, pressing my body closer to his side. One thing that had been nagging at me for a while was something Edward had told me once—that he didn't remember much from the months before his transformation, and even the things prior to that were hazy at best, for the most part. There was no way to be certain of the reason why—whether it was his illness just prior, something occurring during the change itself, or another factor entirely. Leaving my parents was hard enough, despite the necessity; I didn't want to lose my memories of them, too.

Edward's lips pressed to my forehead and he hugged me just a little tighter. "I won't. I promise."

"I can tell you one thing I'm not going to miss," I stated, desperate to change the morose topic, and found an opportunity when I shivered. "Is not being able to properly snuggle with you without a barricade of blankets."

I felt his cool breath against my skin as he gave a soft chuckle at my small pout. "I have to admit, that is one of the few things I will not miss as well."