DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creations of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.

Edward's Gift – Edward's POV

I was sitting on the floor in Emmett's room, attempting to pay attention as he practiced his sermon for my wedding. The more laughter I heard coming from upstairs in Alice's bathroom, the harder it was to concentrate.

I could feel my lips trying to pull themselves into a small smile. Part of me was relieved to hear the laughter, but that insecure part was afraid my gift hadn't been as good as I'd thought, and it started to dominate my mood. My lips tugged downward into a very familiar frown.

Jasper entered the room and stopped in the doorway—I immediately felt my apprehension disappear. I nodded toward him. "Thank You."

"Are those wedding day jitters, or is there something in particular setting you on edge?" Jasper asked.

I debated internally whether or not to mention anything. I loved my brothers, but they were often too quick to tease me. Then again, I didn't see where it would matter much. They could hear the laughter and would just find out from the girls later.

"I gave Bella a gift this morning. Ever since she started looking at it, there's been constant laughter coming from upstairs," I explained.

Jasper folded himself onto the floor next to me. "I take it that laughter was not one of the reactions you expected."

I nodded my head. I couldn't explain my fears to my brother, especially since I knew they were irrational and he would make fun of me.

"Edward, I know they must be blocking their minds, leaving you to only hear laughter," Jasper said. "Trust me when I say that although mirth is something they're feeling, it's only a smart part of it. There's so much love and pride rolling out of that room that it's staggering." Jasper's thoughts flashed across his mind as I looked closely at his face. "Edward, she loves you and even though she's not done, the parts she's seen of her gift are priceless to her."

"How do you know that, Jasper? Have you developed a talent for mind reading today?" I joked.

"It might be handy," he quipped. "But, I don't need it. I told you that I felt pride coming from that room. It's Bella's pride in you for today's gift and everything else you've given her."

Emmett's voice boomed across the small room. "Now if he'd only give her the gift we all know she really wants."

"Don't you know, Emmett?" Jasper asked with a wicked grin.

"Jazz! I don't want to begin to think of how you know, but just forget it now," I hissed.

"Know what, Jazz?" Emmett asked, attempting to appear innocent.

Jasper sat silently as he continued to grin. I dropped my eyes to the floor, wishing to be anywhere else at the moment.

"You know, Jazz can tell me or I can get Alice to tell me," Emmet said. "The fact that you're so antsy, little brother, tells me that she's the reason Jazz is clued in."

"It's nothing," I replied, trying to keep my face blank.

"If it was really nothing, Eddie, then you'd just tell me already," Emmett said.

I growled at Emmett—he knew just how much I despised being called that name. "Let it go. Emmie." That name quickly wiped the silly grin right off his face.

"You know, Edward, sometimes, you can be a real pain," Emmett said, scowling. His words were soon followed by his scary thoughts. "It's okay though. I'll make it up to myself during the ceremony tonight."

I gasped in horror at the thought of Emmett's booming voice carrying across the backyard, saying completely inappropriate and embarrassing things about Bella and myself. I realized this was the fight Alice had tried to warn me about. "No," I yelled at my brother.

"Look at how horrified he is," Jasper chuckled. "What are you thinking of saying, Emmett?"

"Not much. And I would be willing to say nothing at all…if Edward will tell me what you two were talking about." Emmett tossed himself on the floor in front of Jasper and me. The wicked grin was plastered across his face; he knew he had me.

I sighed and looked down at my hands. I was glad once again that vampires can't blush. "Bella will get the gift she really wants tonight after everyone leaves." I looked up to see Emmett staring at me. His grin was gone, replaced by a look of utter confusion. I turned to Jasper. "Some help here! I am not about to go into detail with him."

Jasper laughed heartily and smacked me on the shoulder. Emmett stared at us, clearly missing out on what was so funny. "Emmett, think about what you think the gift is that Bella really wants," Jasper told him.

Understanding broke across Emmett's face—it was actually sort of funny how that confused look eased away and a giant smile came in to replace it. "Ha," he snorted

"Yes, very funny. Now you know and now you will keep your mouth shut," I told him.

Someone approached the door and I let my guard down, surprised to find it was Esme. She was thinking quite intently about pancakes for some reason. The door opened and she came in, smiling at her "sons".

"Hello, boys. How are you this morning?" she asked.

"Fine, Esme," Jasper replied.

"Just practicing my speech," Emmett said proudly.

"And you, Edward?" she asked.

I'd purposefully stayed quiet, trying to figure out why she was blocking me—not that it helped. "I'm a little frustrated at all the blocked thoughts this morning."

Esme smiled at me. "I can certainly sympathize, but you do know we have your best interest at heart. And Bella's."

"I know, Esme," I replied, trying to smile for her.

"Edward, could you stand up and come here for a moment? Bella finished looking at her gift, and she asked me to give you yours."

I pulled myself up from the floor and walked very slowly toward Esme, taking the time to try and figure out once again what was going on. "Did she like it?" I asked.

Esme smiled brightly at me. "She loved it, Edward. And I'm sure you knew that already."

I grinned at my mother. "Jazz might have mentioned that to me."

"Just as I thought. Are you ready for your gift?" she asked.

"Yes." I was surprised to find my voice was not quite steady.

Emmett and Jasper's laughter flowed through the room. I turned and glared at my brothers; it had the opposite effect of what I wanted—it made them laugh harder.

"Now, boys," Esme chided. "You were both nervous the first time each of you married. I don't recall Edward making fun of either of you."

Emmett and Jasper calmed themselves and apologized. "Sorry, Mom."

Esme turned toward me and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Edward, Bella wants you to know that she loves you with everything in her. She wants for you to feel a fraction of that love as her gift to you." My mother pulled me tightly against her and hugged me. After a few seconds, she released me and kissed my forehead. "The kiss is from a mother to her son. The hug is from Bella."

I could feel the stupid grin sitting on my face and I knew Emmett and Jasper would tease me for hours, but I just couldn't bring myself to care. Bella loved me. She was marrying me today. Nothing else mattered.

"Thank you, Esme," I said sincerely.

"Promise me something, Edward," she requested. Her face was serious now.

"I'll try, Esme," I replied cautiously.

"Believe, if only for today, that you're worth the happiness you're feeling now. That you are worthy and deserving of Bella's love. She needs for you to believe and let that acceptance roll off of you, even if it's just for today."

"Don't worry, Esme," Jasper said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "If Edward has trouble accepting, I'll help him out."

Esme smiled at the three of us then left the room quietly.

"A hug, huh?" Emmett asked as I sat on the floor across from him again.

I smirked—I couldn't help it. I would never be able to explain to my brothers why a hug was such a big thing.

"Well, as stand-offish as he was before he met Bella, I could see where a vampire strength hug would be a unique gift," Jasper said thoughtfully. "And we all know how Bella loves to put her hands all over Edward," he added with a chuckle.

Emmett's laughter filled the room and he nearly knocked me over as he clapped me on the shoulder. "A hug! I get it now."

"Thankfully. It would've taken all day had you needed us to explain it to you," I said, pretending to be aggravated with him.

"Jeez, Edward! You're awfully grumpy for a man getting married. I hope you're in a better mood for your next wedding."

I laughed by myself at that one. Jasper and Emmett just watched me, waiting for the sound to subside.

"What did we miss?" Emmett asked.

"I'm fairly certain that Bella won't be interested in having another wedding," I replied.

"You never know, Edward," Jasper said. "She's a woman and they're allowed to change their minds."

"You've met her, haven't you?" I asked Jasper. I could feel the look of shock on my face. "I know you've at least felt the strength of her stubbornness."

"Outshined only by her love for you and her desire to keep our family safe at all costs," Jasper replied.

I was grinning foolishly again. How could I not? The most beautiful angel in the all the world was marrying me today. I had everything I never thought to possibly hope for. We'd both been through so much to get to this day. To have it finally here and to have everyone so happy with us and for us…I couldn't find a single reason why it should be any other way.

I grabbed Jasper around the neck and tugged him into a quick hug, while I playfully kicked Emmett in the chest. "I'm glad you two are my brothers."

"Edward, I have a question," Emmett said. His thoughts were simple. "I hope he lets me."

I sat up straight, letting go of Jasper, curious to see what my brother wanted. "Yes, Emmett?"

"I know the sermon is supposed to be serious, but…Well, I was hoping I could just make a small joke to ease Bella's nerves," he replied shyly. Emmett and shy did not go together well.

"What kind of joke? Why would Bella have nerves?" I asked.

Jasper snorted as Emmett grinned at me. "She's a woman, Edward," Jasper said. "All women have nerves as they stand at the altar. They can't help it."

"What kind of joke?" I asked again.

"I was hoping that I could start the sermon by welcoming everyone. And then I could mention something along the lines of how Bella tripped into your life. And maybe about how that clumsiness helped you to fall deeply in love with her," Emmett replied.

"That sounds excellent, Emmett," I said. "Bella will like it."

"Are you sure?" Emmett questioned.

"She will at the very least let you get away with it," I said, smiling brightly.

"Why?" Emmett asked. I could see he was worried, thinking about what type of pranks Bella might play against him.

"Relax, Emmett. You'll get away with it because you're her big brother and she loves you," I replied, punching him in the shoulder.

"Little squirt really did a number on our family," Emmett mused.

"No offense, but I'll be glad once she's changed. Then I can hug her without worrying that I'm going to snap at her," Jasper said rather sadly.

"Even though you don't have that physical contact with Bella, she loves you, Jazz," I told him. "You know you never feel apprehension from her when she's with you. And even if you had, I know for a fact that she loves you. She told me that she never once blamed you for her birthday. She felt horrible for putting you in that position."

"Damn! How does such a big heart fit into such a little thing?" Emmet asked, truly curious.

"If only I had the slightest idea," I mused. "She's an angel in every way."

"And she's all yours. In exactly five and one half hours," Jasper said. "We should probably go and hunt now. Wouldn't want for me to snack on one of your wedding guests, now would you?"

My brothers and I shared a laugh at the very idea. "No, Jazz. I think Bella would have a problem with that one," I laughed. "Although, if it has to happen, can I suggest Mike Newton?"

"Any chance that we might get to tussle with some wolves today?" Emmett asked hopefully.

"I haven't heard that Jacob was back, so I doubt it," I said. I frowned at the thought of Jacob Black coming back now. Would he show up? How would Bella react if he did? What about her parents?

"No worries, Edward. Just happy thoughts," Jasper said, clapping me on the shoulder.

I felt another wave of calm flow through me. "Race you guys," I said even as I was running from the room. They never had a chance of catching me.

The happiness I felt couldn't be contained, so I slowed down and let my brothers catch up to me. I was finally happy with myself and my family—more gifts from Bella and her love. Twilight definitely couldn't come soon enough.