Enjoy the Twilight of our lives :-)
As Edward drove home, I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of me. Next to Edward, Jacob was the only other person I have loved. His was a love deepened by friendship, trust, warmth, and lightheartedness. I knew how he felt about me, and I liked it. I understood why I felt like I wanted to have them fight over me. It made me feel more desired, wanted. It is such a selfish, egotistical feeling. It's so... human. Jacob was right, I still had my human traits. I guess I have a lot of time to learn greater self-control, selflessness, and how to love unconditionally. Edward seems to have mastered all of those things. I hope I can be like him, over time. I never imagined the peace I'd feel once I knew and accepted that Jacob had moved on. But as I sit here, my being is filled with an intense joy. Edward is here, with me. I am complete. We are one. I lean over and kiss Edward's cheek.
"What was that for?" Edward asked puzzled.
"Just because I love you." I focused all my love and desire into my eyes as I stared at him. Edward, the ultimate perfect driver, for the first time ever, swerved slightly as he was overcome by my stare. I just smiled.
"Don't do that Bella! I know we'd be fine if we got into an accident, but I can't say the same for whatever we hit going ninety five miles per hour." He had reached over and rubbed my cheek with the back of his hand as he spoke.
"Then slow down and pull over. Surely we can fit a little detour into our schedule?!" I blinked my eyes as seductively as I could. His eyes widened with excitement. He slowed down, then pulled off the road into a secluded parking area. We were all alone. Once he turned off the car, I very stealthily climbed over onto his lap, while holding the controls to push his seat back and down. He started to laugh.
"What has come over you? Don't get me wrong, I like it, I'm just curious." He was smiling as he spoke, but I knew he wanted an answer.
"I feel a sense of freedom." I placed both my hands on his face as I said the next words "You know how... tormented I was about Jacob. This afternoon, I was finally able to find peace. I just wanted him to be happy. I know he will be now. And that means, my happiness will be ten fold what it was." I waited for Edward's response. I could see he was thinking. I blocked it out because I needed him to say it. I let my hands drop down to his chest. This time he brought his hands up to my face.
"You are the greatest source of my joy. What happened today will also multiply my happiness, because of what you feel. We don't know what the future holds for us, but I am not afraid of anything, or anyone because you are here. You are mine, because you choose to be. I am yours because... that is why I exist." I felt as if I would explode, so great were the feelings of love inside of me. I had intended on a quick, passionate coupling, but after the words he expressed, that would not do. I started to climb off his lap. I saw a look of disappointment cross his face. When I was back in my seat, I turned to him and said, "Let's go home. I want to do this right."
We were almost to the house when I saw a surprising glow coming from the trees. As we turned the corner, my mouth dropped open in surprise as I looked at the house which had been transformed into a life size gingerbread house. I knew Alice was the culprit. She had white lights in a scalloped design across the roof, different colored strings of light in the shape of candy canes and gumdrops on the walls, and lollipop shaped lights lining the driveway. Not to mention the lighted reindeer, and Santa sleigh on the front porch and stairs. Edward and I just laughed.
I turned to him and asked "is it always like this?"
He shook his head and said "no, this is all because of you! Alice is so thrilled about us, that I found you, and that you loved me enough to become like us, she is looking for any, and every excuse to have a party, or decorate." He was looking at me so lovingly, I leaned in to kiss him. Just then I felt something over our heads, and heard someone giggling. I looked up to see Alice, sticking her arm through the car window, holding a sprig of mistletoe dangling from her hand.
"Not that you guys need it, but why not!" She was in a good mood. Decorating usually did it. It's a good thing she was a vampire because it would have taken a normal human probably a week to do what she did this afternoon. I could hardly wait to see what the inside looked like. Apparently she couldn't wait either. She dragged me out of the car yelling "sorry" back to Edward for stealing me.
It was a Winter Wonderland in the house. She had snowflake decorations hanging from the ceiling at different heights. There were lighted garlands wrapped around the balustrade and the columns throughout the main level. There were candle centerpieces on every table in the house. Finally, in the center of the house was a fifteen foot flocked Christmas tree decorated with crystal looking icicles and silver balls. It was gorgeous. Edward had come up from behind me and swept me up in his arms and took me over to the tree. He put me back on my feet, then reached up to grab one of the silver balls off the tree.
"Merry Christmas Bella!" he said as he held the ball in front of me so I could read the inscription. It said: Our First Christmas, Edward and Bella, 2008. I felt choked with emotion. He placed it back on the tree and I approached the tree to investigate. Sure enough, I found three other silver balls with the names of the rest of the family, and the date corresponding their first year together. It was so sweet. I turned to Edward and just looked at his beautiful face for a little while. Then he held out his hand for me to take it, then we walked slowly up the staircase to our room. He stopped suddenly under the doorway and pointed up. I looked up and saw another piece of mistletoe hanging from the door frame. Who was I to break tradition? He met my mouth, first with gentle tenderness, then with a fever that built into a raging passion.
We heard the front door slam, and at the same time Alice's voice yelling "come on Jasper, you can handle it!" We broke our kiss to laugh. Poor Jasper. It was going to be a long evening.