Author notes:

I am SO sorry. I said two weeks and it's been three. Please please forgive me! Normal schedule starting from now! Forgive me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Chapter twenty six

Bella's POV

With Saturday's antics at the opera running into Sunday and being exhausted through Monday, I missed my morning lecture that day. I hated missing days period but I knew I'd pick up the work when I returned to school on Wednesday. Edward was still on the fence about me going back there, what with everything that happened in my dorm room but I paid no attention to his worries. He had half the population of guards following my every move whenever I stepped outside the Mason mansion, which was very rare. We only ever stepped out when it was something to do with preparations for Carlisle's funeral or the wedding.

Edward decided to stay put at his parents' home, mostly because he didn't want to leave Esme all alone, despite the many guards and maids that kept her company day in and day out. It was also because it was easier to reside there until Edward decided on a new place to live.

Since my so called kidnapping, Edward refused to go back to his penthouse in the apartment building, claiming it was too risky for me a second time round. He also felt his new status in the family required a larger home. And so we stayed at the Mason's whilst he dabbled in different housing estates. He asked me countless times to choose a house but because it was just the two of us living there and he refused to let me give a payment on any of the houses, I refused to take part.

"Choose whatever damn house you want, Edward, but I'm not living in it."

"Why the fuck not?"

"There is two of us, Edward! We do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a house too big for the both of us! And you won't even let me pay!"

And that's how that conversation went in the last two days. As for preparations for Carlisle's funeral on the Tuesday, everyone kept everything under wraps. We didn't want any photographers showing up at the church, nor did anyone particularly want to talk about their feelings on the matter. It was very unhealthy the way everyone dealt with their grief but I hoped the funeral would click with something in Edward's brain that would make him react.

But he'd taken becoming don very well. Very fucking well. I'd never seen him so in control and at ease like this before. He stayed in Carlisle's office a lot that Monday while I pretended to study after missing my classes. We didn't see much of each other besides the times he asked me about houses so I stayed with the girls; helping Esme where I could with the funeral and deciding on designs for a dress with Alice. I tried calling Jacob when I got a minute alone but he wasn't picking up.

It was after dinner with everyone that I went to pee that he finally called me back.

"Black," he answered gruffly and I swallowed thickly, hating how things ended between me, him and my mom.

"Jake," I sounded so feeble and pathetic. I hated it. "It's me. Bella."

"Oh," Jacob sounded almost shocked. "Hey, Bells." He still called me Bells. "How you doing?"

"I'm okay... Things are a little hectic with Carlisle's funeral and the wedding but... I'm okay. How are you? Have you spoken to mom since... I left?"

"She's home and everything Bella. The doctor suggested a week under observation but the weekend seemed to be enough for him to realise she wasn't going to do anything reckless. I made sure she was settled in before I left PA."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "So she's okay?"

"Yeah, Bella. Angry but okay."

"I'm angry too," I said, growing more defensive.

"We all are. But what did you expect?" Jake spat through the phone. "Us jumping for joy at your new beau?"

"I expected at least a congratulations for the engagement," I said through gritted teeth. "I expected my best friend at least to say something the slightest bit encouraging. Mom will calm down after a while, she always does."

"This is different Bella."

"Well, if this is how it's going to be, then maybe we shouldn't be friend anymore, Jake," I blurted the words out, not really understanding the depth of what they meant before they left my mouth. "If we don't talk that means you can't get information out of me anymore. I won't try to protect you. If you want to get to the Mason's, you'll be doing it without me as a fall back to save you."

Jacob laughed menacingly through the phone. "So your new family is out to get me, huh? Someone you've known your whole life?"

"I don't know this new Jacob," I admitted, staring at myself through the bathroom mirror. Someone knocked on the door but I ignored it, refusing to break away from the trance I was in. "I don't know this man trying to ruin the life I've made for myself in this city."

"You're marrying a criminal, Bella. There's no way to ruin your life. You've already done it the moment you told him yes."

I swallowed my tears. "This is the last time you'll hear from me, Jacob. Mom won't answer my calls but I'll leave her a message in case she ever feels she wants to hear my voice, but please give my love to her. Please."

Jacob let out a long sigh. "Alright Bella."

"Thank you," my bottom lip quivered. "And please don't try to come for the Mason's, Jake. You won't win. I promise you that."

"You've always had a bad habit of underestimating me, Bella," Jacob laughed but there was no humour in his voice. Only disappointment and... sheer sadness. "Goodbye, Bella. I'll see you around."

"No you won't." I said fiercely but he had already hung up the phone. I placed my phone down onto the sink and let out a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down and the knock on the door was back once more.

"Yes?" I said, my voice breaking foolishly.

"Bella?" It was Edward. "Can I come in?"

When I didn't answer at first, preoccupied in trying to wipe my tears before he could see, Edward was already through the door, grabbing my wrists, halting my movements. My tears were on show for the world to see. Or at least for my world to see.

"What's wrong?" His eyes were wide and filled with concern. It only made the tears come faster.

"It's nothing, it's stupid..."

"I don't care if your goldfish died, Bella, something is making you cry and you need to tell me."

I feigned a laugh, wiping at my nose. "I called Jake and let him know that I couldn't be his friend anymore. That I couldn't protect him. It was foolish of me to think I could have my cake and eat it too. I was stupid for thinking anyone left in my family would accept our engagement. I can't keep both sides. I had to choose. So I did."

"You don't have to choose me over your mother, Bella."

"She wants no part in this life, Edward," I told him sadly. "There's nothing more to say about that. And Jacob is too risky to even try salvage some form of friendship. I would be incredibly stupid to think I could have you both."

"Well," Edward rubbed at my arms soothingly. "I'm glad you figured it out yourself. I'd hate to be the type of man to forbid you from seeing your male friends. But he was way too handsy."

I actually smiled for real this time. "With your crazy protective tenancies, I wouldn't be half surprised."

"Rude," he joked and kissed my forehead. "Are you going to be okay?"

I sighed. "I tried talking to mom but she won't budge. I've done my part. The balls in her court now."

"I've got head the church with Ma to sort out last minute details with the priest," Edward told me, his voice getting lower as he spoke of his father's funeral. "I can ask him to throw our marriage classes out the window if you'd like. It means we could marry sooner."

"Can you do that?" I asked, my eyebrows raised in shock.

Edward just shrugged. "It's me. I get what I want."

I rolled my eyes. "It's easier for you if we're married sooner, so I suppose so..."

Edward smirked. "You're just using that as an excuse to own me sooner."

"Oh, I already own your ass, Mason," I said confidently, enjoying how I made him laugh. It was so long since I've heard it with everything that's happened this week.

"Right, enough of this," he snorted, untangling himself from me. "I'll be back in an hour."

"Okay," I said regrettably, hating being here without him. It got so lonely in a house this big.

"You can come if you'd like," Edward offered. "Get you out of the house for a while."

"Please?" I asked. "I've to pick up a dress for the funeral tomorrow too. I didn't have time earlier with the wedding planning at Alice's."

Edward nodded, taking my hand as he lead me out of the bathroom. "You girls decide on a designer yet?"

"No," I shook my head. "I told her to just choose a designer and I'll choose a dress but apparently it's being made by scratch."

"We can't have you wearing a design someone's already worn," Edward looked disgusted. "What husband do you think I'll be? Having you wear something like that."

"I seriously hope you're joking," I said, unsure of how to react to what he just said. No way was Edward and his family that superficial. And if he hadn't of cracked a smile the moment I paused in that hallway, I might have called off the whole wedding entirely. Jesus.

"Sorry, Cinderella, I forgot you grew up with rags. Let's get you something to wear that will raise the dead from their graves tomorrow."

"Edward," I chastised him, knowing humour was his and Emmett's way of getting through his father's death.

"Sorry," he chuckled, leading me to his car out front.

"I thought Esme was coming?" I said as he opened the back door of the big, black SUV for me.

"She's already inside." And there Esme was, sitting in the back seat, fixing her lipstick in her carry-around mirror. She smiled when she saw me climb in.

"Ah, Bella, are you coming too?"

"Wedding arrangements," I told her, flashing the ring Edward finally gave me this morning. It was huge. And I mean huge. Spectacular. Something I'd dream of seeing in movies. The whole thing sparkled with diamonds and I refused to ask how much it was or by what make. I knew I'd have a heart attack if I found out. So I kept my mouth shut and occupied it somewhere else on Edward to keep my mind at bay. Just to show my gratitude of course.

"It's so exciting," Esme squealed as Edward drove off. "My boy finally settling down. You don't know how long I've waited to see the day Edward was tamed."

"I'm not tamed, Ma," Edward grumbled, throwing her a death stare in the mirror. "I can prove it right now, if you'd like."

"I'd like to keep my life thank you very much, son," Esme rolled her eyes and I masked my laugh with a cough. "Never the less, Edward, I'm glad you're leaving all those whores behind. And boy, has there been a lot of those."

My face grew stone cold as I stared daggers at my fiancee and he stiffened in the front seat. When I heard Esme laugh quietly, I flashed her my prettiest smile. "How many women exactly did he bring around before me, Esme?" I asked kindly and she laughed harder.

"Oh no, dear child, Edward never brought a girl around my house. He knows better than to bring a slut back to my home. No, you are the first girl I've ever seen in the Mason mansion and definitely the last what with the upcoming nuptials."

"Oh." Well, that made me feel a hell of a lot better. I smiled lightly to myself, ignoring the cockiness rolling off Edward in the front with him being let off scotch free for now. "But there has been... girls?" I asked, much quieter so that Edward couldn't overhear.

"Oh dear god, child, don't for a second think you have to worry," Esme promised me in a hushed tone, reaching across the seat to clasp my hand in hers. "Ever since Edward's found you he's been nothing but faithful. All those women are behind him thank god. His whorish ways are gone."

I felt stupid. I knew Edward had a life before I came along. Hell, he's even mentioned a few conquests, even bragged about his skills with them. So why did I care all of a sudden about how many sexual partners he's had? And why was I asking his mother of all people?! Was it because I was suddenly taking his last name and pinning myself to him in every way possible that I want to know everything there is to know before I go through with it?

But I've already said yes? My heart is in the wedding, the commitment. It has from day one. So why did I care what slut came before me?

Because I'm stupid. That's the only logical reason. And because I'm a girl. We do this to ourselves. Sue us.

We reached the church downtown in no time, giving me-also- no time to calm down before Edward was taking my hand and pulling me from the car.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine," I responded way too fast and sharp, but if Edward noticed, he didn't say a damn thing because the priest was waiting at the front doors.

"Esme and Edward Mason, lovely to see you again, despite the circumstances in which we are speaking," the priest said, his smile polite but sad. He didn't address the Mason's the way everyone else did in this city; there was no fear in his eyes. Maybe he thought he had god's protection. Ha.

"Father Callaghan," Edward shook the man's hand firmly. "Shall we?"

Father Callaghan waved us inside the church and it was then I took the time to take it all in. It was huge for starters, a church you'd see a coronation happen at or a grand princes wedding. It was one for the books and looked like it cost a fortune to build. I knew people were very gracious to places of worship. Especially in this family.

"This place is gorgeous," I whispered to Edward as we walked toward the gigantic altar, the entire church covered in gold.

"Thanks to our families donations, I presume," Edward whispered back arrogantly.

"You do know you can't buy your way to heaven," I taunted him. "Not with all the wrongs you've committed."

He shrugged. "I can try."

Of course he can. Trust Edward Mason to think he can buy off God.

"And we're getting married here?" I whispered, shocked to hear those words come out of my mouth. Married. In the matter of weeks. Jesus.

"That's the plan," Edward snorted. "I'm pretty sure Jasper and Alice have this place booked since the moment they laid eyes on each other."

"Well we're getting there first," I said defensively. No one would take away from my special day with Edward. And Edward seemed to agree with the way he nodded and took my hand a lot more firmly in his.

"I wanted to ask you, Edward, if you'd like to speak at the service and say a few words about your father," the priest asked kindly, not shying away from the question. I'm sure Edward wouldn't kill a priest. Would he?

"I'm not really one for speeches, father," Edward said quickly, refusing to meet the priests' gaze. "Emmett will be up for that I'm sure. He knows how to lighten any situation."

"Well, I just assumed the eldest would be more suitable"-

"I don't want to do it," Edward said a lot more firmly and I ran circles over his hand to try calm him down.

"Very well," and the father said nothing more on the subject.

The next day when we pulled up to the church, I'd never seen so many cars and people. The church held over two hundred people, Edward had said and this church and particular funeral had people falling out the doors it was that full.

"Oh my," I breathed, feeling a little out of place with the expensive cars and designer clothes everyone around me wore.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked as he parked the car, eyes filled with concern.

I looked at him adoringly, though my eyes still remained sad. "Are you okay?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "Stop asking me that. I'm fine. Let's just get this over with. I hate funerals. So many fake words are spoken and no one appreciates the life when the person was alive. I'm in no mood to deal with fake people."

"It's your duty, Edward."

"I know. I just don't like it. That's my dad they're spitting over the grave on."

I kept my mouth tight shut as we exited his car. Edward grabbed my hand when we reconnected at the end of the car again and I pulled on my designer Gucci dress one more time before fixing the baret on my head. It had a netted lace front that dangled over half my face so it gave the widow effect on my outfit. I hoped Esme would approve. I didn't want to look too flashy. Not that anyone else here cared about that.

Everyone was decked out in the biggest diamonds and designer clothing. I felt like I was stepping into a fashion show rather than a funeral. I spotted a single police car out of the corner of my eye across the green and thought best not to say anything just yet. I didn't want Edward's mood to sour even further. The air was already tense enough.

We met up with the rest of the family at the entrance who were already being bombarded with people expressing their condolences. Esme looked exhausted but never failed to flash a smile to her sympathisers but every few seconds you could see her fists clench at her sides when she turned her back. I felt so bad for her in that moment.

"Hi," I whispered as we reached them and Rosalie was the first to hug me.

"Hey, Bella. You okay?"

I nodded. "You?"

"Of course. Em is just nervous about his speech."

I threw him a smile. "You'll be amazing, Emmett," I told him truthfully. "Carlisle will be proud."

"And roll over in his grave at how cheesy you'll be," Jasper commented and Edward scoffed a laugh.

"Boys," Esme chastised them. "Get inside. It's about to start."

We did as she said but before we past her, Edward reached down to kiss her cheek and I swore he swooped away a single tear on her opposite cheek. I pretended I couldn't see.

We took our seats at the top of the church and I took that time to really take in the people around me. The entire church was filled top to bottom with men and women. Even some children were brought along.

"Where is most of your family?" I asked Edward as everyone else around us sat.

"Most are on the bottom floor but people in the business come to pay respects. That's who occupy the top tiers and the back rows of this floor."

Wow. "So everyone here is involved in the mafia?" I whispered to him.

"Pretty much. I'm sure I saw the governor when we were walking in..."

Carlisle Mason sure had an impact on this city. "Tough shoes to fill," I said and regretted it before I could even stop myself.

But Edward didn't seem fazed. "I know. But I'm already out doing him in different areas besides death. At least I know I'll go out fighting."

I shuddered. "Don't talk about your death when we're not even married yet. Don't you dare make me a widow."

Edward smiled. "I won't. You look very pretty by the way."

I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

At my father's funeral I never really took notice of how many people came to the church. In fact, I never noticed how many people offered their condolences and thoughts and prayers to my mom. I never noticed anything besides my own pain of losing him.

So being at the Mason mansion after witnessing Emmett's heart warming but firmly spoken speech, and witnessing Carlisle Mason reach his final resting place in the grave yard, I realised what total bullshit was spoken by people who once wished death upon Carlisle Mason. You could clearly see the carelessness in their voices when they offered up their prayers. It was disgusting how many people the Mason's had to go through before they could finally go home and even still, Esme was hosting a dinner for close family. I didn't know how she did it.

As for Edward, he headed straight for the upstairs office the second we reached the mansion and I was left greeting family members of Edward's who were now wishing me the very best in my upcoming marriage. I also finally met Jasper's parents and now I understood why he was around Esme so much. His mother was quite fierce to be around. I didn't think my cheeks could be pinched so much in one day but with the Italians, anything was possible. My jaw was fucking killing me from smiling so much out of politeness. I just wanted a nice warm bath, my bed and Edward.

But since I couldn't have either, I headed to the kitchen to help Esme with the cooking.

"Oh, Bella, dear, you don't have to help in the slightest."

"I want to, please," I told her. "I need a break from everyone, if I'm honest. I don't know how you do this every weekend. Prepare meals for so many people like this."

Esme shrugged like it was nothing. "It will be you soon enough, dear."

I tried to not let that get to me.

"Do you think I can do it?" I asked her whole-heartedly. "Be the wife Edward needs me to be? The wife of a don?"

"Oh Bella," Esme said, her eyes softening. "You know, you remind me of me when I was much younger. You'll be perfect. And the fact you're worrying about it so early on proves that you'll make an amazing wife. Don't you dare worry."

"Thank you," I ducked my head. "How are you feeling? After today?"

She took in a heavy breath. "It feels real now. Watching him being lowered to the ground, I know my husband is gone. I've never been away from him for more than twenty four hours. To go a life without him now seems... Inconceivable."

My heart broke for her. It really did.

"I'm sorry this happened."

Esme waved me off. "Don't be sorry, Bella. This life is the epitome of death. Carlisle knew the risks of being don and I knew there was a risk of losing him. We don't choose who we love, Bella, we just chose how much pain we think we can deal with alongside that love."

Huh. "Thank you, Esme."

She looked at me funnily. "For what, dear?"

I smiled softly. "For being a second mother to me. I hope one day I can carry as much strength as you have."

Esme cupped my cheek with her hand, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. "Thank you, Bella. Now let's get this finished before we have a herd of angry Italians on our asses."

I loved Esme.

End notes:

Short, I know, but I didn't want to spend too much time mourning over Carlisle's death. There is far too much to do to drag his death out any longer. Wedding is up next. Love you all.

Please review.

Chapter song: Stevie Nicks- landslide