Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters/ locations etc from the series.

Chapter 21-

Finishing Touches

Very slowly- so that the rest wouldn't fall apart in my hand- I pulled the white silk ribbon undone.

I pulled the ribbon clean away from the box so that I wouldn't destroy any of the delicate cut out butterflies that covered the outside.

Slowly, I lifted the lid on the box. Inside- cushioned on a pink silk was a fragile crystal butterfly.

The sunlight from my window caught the crystal, sending out sparkles.

It didn't take a genius to realize that this was real.

"Isn't it beautiful? Do you like them?" Tanya voice broke me out of my trance but I hadn't taken my eyes of the butterfly.

A few weeks after my return me and Tanya had put in an order for these crystal masterpieces.

Each were delicate, hand crafted and cost around $100 each. These were going to be the wedding favours.

They were slightly over the top if you ask me and ridiculously priced.

A wedding favour was just a small token of appreciation given to the wedding guests from the bride and groom as a thanks for coming. They were normally things like candles, bags of sweets or key rings, not handmade Swarovski crystal butterflies.

But hey, this is Tanya we're talking about.

Simple isn't really a word in her vocabulary.

"They're really something." I tore my eyes away from the butterfly and focused on the couple in front of me.

"They're real."

"Yeah, and bloody expensive," Edward added on the end of Tanya's comment but his voice was all amusement.

On natural instinct my eyes flew to his. He was already watching me. I smiled gently as my heart rate picked up the pace.

Since my return, I've thrown myself into finishing Tanya's wedding.

Somehow I managed to stay true to my word. The only involvement I had with Edward was only to do with the wedding, and never just me and him.

Every appointment I made sure he was accompanied with Tanya.

I held a professional exterior every time he was around. I answered his questions in a professional manner, and nodded and smiled at him when it was appropriate but most of my communication with him was cold and monotone.

I think he had got the message.

However, sometimes I would find myself staring at him.

I won't lie, I really missed is company.

It pained me to do what I was doing, to completely cut him out of my life but I kept telling myself that it was the right thing to do.

Tanya was a completely different person.

The changes I had seen in her were incredible.

A few months ago, I never would have believed it was possible for her to develop and change.

I mean, don't get me wrong, she still had a few moments but as soon as she went into baby mode she would stop, take a breath and return to herself.

She was now a more caring person; she even had a delicate side to her.

The wedding was going great. I had planned everything down to the last little detail.

The favours were one of the last details.

This wedding was coming to end.

And soon, my time knowing Edward would be over.

*~XOXOXOXOXO~*

"So where are we going?" Tanya asked for the 5th time.

I was currently driving me, Tanya, and Jayde somewhere, we had just finished the shopping for the wedding.

However, I hadn't told Tanya where we were going therefore since we had gotten in the car she hadn't stopped asking questions.

I smiled at her, smugly. She knew I wasn't going to tell her where I was taking her.

A few days ago, while I was shopping for butterfly shaped jewellery I had received a phone call from Edward.

Naturally I was hesitant to answer the call but figured that it might be something important.

Plus Edward knew the deal now. I was completely shut off from him unless it was something to do with work.

Anyway after I came to that conclusion I was more confident to take his call and it was a good thing that I did.

From that phone call I had managed to set up today.

From my own experience I knew that Edward could dance and he could dance very well.

However, I had discovered that Tanya couldn't dance. In fact she not only couldn't dance, she hated it.

So, currently I was taking Tanya to a private dance lesson so that she could learn to a dance.

This was going to interesting.

Eventually I pulled up outside the dance studio.

I fixed my gaze on the car in front of me as Tanya became accustomed to her surroundings.

After a few seconds she spoke up and didn't sound happy.

"What are we doing here?"

Me and Jayde remained silent. Neither of us, wanting to be the one to tell her.

"BELLA!"

"I don't know Tanya. All I know is that I was asked to bring you here." I was just lying now. But I was going to tell her she is going to have dance lessons.

Tanya didn't look convinced but either way she climbed out of the car and walked into the building.

As soon as we had stepped into the studio, we were approached by a slim, blonde women with large blue eyes. She shook my hand, Jayde's and then Tanya's.

"You must be Tanya. I'm Natalie. I'll be your teacher."

"Nice to meet you." As Tanya finished talking, Edward walked through the door wearing a tight white t-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and black dance shoes.

"Edward? What going on?" Tanya asked.

"Edward wants to teach you dance," I informed Tanya.

"So that our first dance at our wedding will be special," Edward chipped in.

"It's not too difficult a routine.," Natalie added.

However, Tanya didn't look so enthusiastic. She didn't want to do this and Edward sensed that.

"Come on baby. It will be fun."

"Alright." Tanya gave up and allowed Edward to pull her into the middle of the dance studio.

Me and Jayde walked over to sofa, taking a seat and turning our attention to the dancing couple in the middle of the studio.

I listened as Natalie explained the basic waltz steps to Tanya who looked beyond confused and scared senseless.

The look on her face was priceless.

"I don't get this. Can't you slow it down and show me the steps slowly please."

Natalie sighed dramatically before her large blue eyes settled on me.

"Bella. Would you mind?" She motioned her head towards Edward

Wait! She wants me to dance with Edward.

"What?" Please tell me she didn't ask me that.

"Would you mind dancing with Edward quickly so that Tanya can watch your feet?"

I stared at her for a beat.

Was this woman out to destroy my life?

I could hardly say no could I?

I looked at Jayde for conformation. She smiled at me in sympathy.

I stood from my chair and slowly walked until I was stood in front of Edward, all the time avoiding his eyes.

This was going to awkward.

"Ok and join together," Natalie said from somewhere in the room. I was too busy staring at the ballet bar attached to the opposite wall.

I felt Edward's arm slide around waist, slowly pulling me closer to him as I placed my left hand on his shoulder . My breath hitched and I gulped. He held my right hand in his left. This was a position I had been in before and really didn't want to be in again.

"Ok...Ready?" Natalie asked.

I nodded my head stiffly as me and Edward took the first steps of the routine.

"One, two, three..., one, two, three." Natalie spoke mostly to Tanya as she watched our feet.

Jayde smiled at me sheepishly from the sofa she was sitting on as Natalie counted off the steps as me and Edward waltzed around the room.

I hadn't had any contact with Edward in a while and being this close to him was sending my body and mind into over drive.

Part of me was enjoying the contact, but the other part of me was screaming at me.

As soon as the routine was finished I pulled away from Edward and practically ran back to my seat.

That was too much to deal with.

I pushed away the feelings growing inside me and stopped. The tear I felt grow in my eyes disappear.

Slowly I got a hold of myself.

"You ok?" Jayde whispered as Tanya took up her position in front of Edward.

I nodded my head gently.

I was alright, I chanted to myself in my head.

Tanya's voice snapped me out of my head as I focused on the scene in front of me.

"I can't do this." I heard the pure desperation in her voice.

She sounded scared and looked like she was about to break into hysterical crying.

"I'm sorry Edward. I'm so sorry. I know how important this is to you. I really didn't want to disappoint you. I'm so sorry."

By the end of her speech Tanya was hysterical. She was pacing the floor. Back and forwards.

Edward was looking at her with a look of worry. I watched as he stepped in front of her, stopping her walking.

"Hey, hey. Baby calm down." Edward rested his forehead against Tanya's and looked deep into her eyes, catching her whole attention.

He placed his hands on the sides of her face. A look of adoration on his face.

"It's ok Tan. If you don't want to do this you don't have to. I'm not disappointed at all ok. I just want you to be happy and if this makes you feel uncomfortable then we don't have to do it."

Even from my seat, I could see the gratification on her face and the tears in her eyes.

"I love you." Her words rung loud and clear.

Edward smiled at her.

"I love you too," he replied before leaning in and catching her lips.

I turned away from the two as the final shards of my heart shattered.

A few minutes later I heard Tanya giggle. Unable to look up at them I kept my eyes on the floor.

"Ok, let's go again," Tanya said as she slid her hand onto Edward's shoulder.

After about an hour, Tanya had managed to complete the routine several times without tripping or stepping on Edward's toes.

She was actually able to waltz around fairly gracefully.

The love, pride and adoration echoed off the both of them.

After that hour, I made up an excuse that I was feeling rather ill and was going home to rest. In truth I just couldn't stand to watch them anymore.

But this is what I wanted.

Right?

I wanted Edward and Tanya to be happy.

I wanted Edward to move on.

I just didn't realize it would hurt so much.

I couldn't wait until this wedding was over.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters/ locations etc from the series.

This is the edited version of the story. However, I want to thank everyone who reviewed previously and any new reviewers.

A massive thank you to Renesmee4eva, who helped edit this chapter.

xxx Red as a Rose xxx