Fourteen.

I talked to your Dad.

BPOV

After the six of us finished our short celebration, a loud, ominous bell sounded through the house.

"Dinner bell," Jasper explained as he and the rest filed downstairs to the dining hall.

I bit my lip and looked up at Edward. "Um, do I go?"

"Of course. Mother made it a point for me to invite you." He tugged lightly on my hand. "Now come on, Cullen mealtimes are observed like national holidays."

My mind was racing as we walked down. I had to spend an hour with his parents, who I was pretty sure hated me. At least the Duke did.

We paused outside the doorway.

As if sensing my distress, Edward said. "Bella, it'll be fine, I promise." He kissed me lightly.

Then we walked in the room.

At one end of the dark, elegant table was seated Duke Cullen. On the opposite was his wife. At his right hand was Emmett, and Rosalie at the left. Jasper was next to Emmett and likewise Alice with Rosalie.

Alice looked over and smiled, then motioned for me to sit next to her.

Which was also next to Edward's mother.

I slowly moved over to the table, then slid silently into my seat, keeping my eyes at the table. Hopefully they would just ignore me.

"Hello, Bella," a pretty woman's voice chimed.

I nodded at her warily. "Hello, Duchess."

She smiled warmly. "Please, dear, call me Esme."

Esme had a presence that put me at ease almost as easily as Edward's did. I felt myself returning her smile.

The food was served, and the Cullen's ate in silence for a few minutes.

"So, Bella. Has Alice set an appointment for dress shopping yet?" Esme asked kindly.

I looked, slightly nervous at Edward. He smiled encouragingly at me.

"No, actually. I'm surprised." I raised my eyebrows at Alice playfully.

She scoffed. "Well, its not like you gave me much notice. But I did send one of the messenger boys with a note to my tailor."

Esme laughed quietly. "I'm sorry we doubted you, Alice. Edward, when are you thinking of doing this?"

He looked at me and I shrugged. "Probably before we leave, I guess. So would in a week be okay?" He asked, looking at both me and his mother.

I nodded, and then was distracted by Alice and Rosalie's discussions about America.

"The parties and such are supposed to be even better than they are here," Rosalie said excitedly.

"True, but they don't really have land in New York."

I glanced down the table at Duke Cullen. He reminded me slightly of a sullen child, but he didn't look too angry.

He glanced up and our eyes met for a fleeting second before I quickly averted my eyes.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I shot another look down the table.

He was looking at me curiously, but not unkindly. Slowly, the corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile, and he ducked his head politely.

I smiled back, and then turned my attention back to my meal.

*****

Later that night, Edward and I had returned to his bedroom. Despite my assurances that we were engaged and I didn't mind, Edward refused to share his giant bed with me. So we were in the same positions as last night, talking in the slow moonlight.

"Bella, are you sure you want to move to America?" Edward asked. "I know we didn't even talk about it yet. I'm sorry if I assumed anything."

"I would move anywhere if we could be together. It'll be easier in America. We won't have to hide." I smiled at the thought.

He let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, good. I was so worried."

I rubbed slow, sleepy circles on his fingers with my thumb when he suddenly spoke.

"There's one thing I want you to do before we go."

Completely awake, I sat up and waited.

He shifted his weight somewhat nervously.

"Edward, it's okay. Just tell me," I said, even though I was worried about what he would say.

"Well I know you probably won't want to and I wouldn't want to either but- you should write to your parents one last time," he finished breathlessly.

I relaxed completely. "That's all? My Lord, Edward. You can ask or tell me anything, you know that."

He laughed shortly. "Well Emmett told me how much Rosalie misses her parents sometimes and I didn't want you to have to. So I was thinking if you wrote a last letter it would help your resolve things."

I pondered this for a minute. Could I really just pack up and leave my whole life behind? I had already done so by coming to stay with Edward, but moving across the ocean would be the final nail in the coffin.

Could I?

Of course I could. I had told Edward many times that I would do anything to be with him and I meant it completely.

"Do you have any paper?" I asked.

Edward shot up and ran into his study. A few seconds later he came stumbling back in with paper and a fountain pen.

"Thanks."

He had moved back to the door. I looked at him questioningly.

"I thought it would be best to give you some privacy. Don't worry, I won't be too long." He crossed the room quickly, gave me a kiss, and then hurried out.

I sat there, staring out the window for a long while. A light appeared in the distance and startled me. With a jolt, I realized that that light was in my room.

Pressing my face to the glass, I squinted at the scene.

A blond servant was going around the room, packing things into a wooden chest. Another one joined her as they stripped my childhood room of all my belongings.

A strange pain entered my heart and I pressed the pen to the paper.

Dear Mother and Father-

I'm leaving. I'll never ask for anything from either of you ever again.

I'm sorry to leave without a goodbye, but it couldn't wait. I couldn't live this life, and I think you know it.

Please, if you've ever cared about me at all, you'll let me go. Don't try to find me.

Tell Sir William Black that I'm sorry as well. And please don't marry his son to one of my cousins.

Goodbye forever.

Isabella Marie Swan.

Sorry for such a long wait! This one definetly takes a liberty or two with the lyrics, but it's necessary. Thank you all for so many wonderful reviews and feedback.

A shoutout for a reader: i'mxaxreader is doing a story in a similar format to mine with the song "You Belong With Me." She's just getting started but I can tell it's going to be great.