Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Duplicity
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Preserve

Edward's growl of frustration would have been amusing if we hadn't just had this conversation. With a glare at his sister he turned to me. "It's the groom who pays for the honeymoon, you can't argue that."

"But I would like to know where we're going. That falls under the 'making major decisions' category, don't you think?" Renee grabbed Alice's arm to drag her into the bakery as we stayed outside. I was standing with my feet planted and my arms crossed once again.

"In all fairness, that conversation was just an hour ago, and the honeymoon was purchased yesterday," he reasoned. "And, if you think about it, you can probably figure out where we're going."

At first there was nothing but confusion, but then I remembered saying I guessed I wouldn't be going on the cruise I had been anticipating. "We're going on a cruise?" He nodded. "Where?"

He started to shuffle his feet and his hand went into his hair. A sign I was beginning to recognize meant he was uncomfortable. "The day you were home with your ankle I asked Mrs. Cope to move your desk for you. She put everything into your new desk exactly where you had it in your old one." His words were coming faster now, as if he was wanting to justify what he'd done. This time I was actually grateful, dreading the prospect of having to move myself, so I thanked him and waved him on. "Well, she found your cruise pamphlet, and showed me the ones you had highlighted."

Now I was nervous. "Edward, there were probably, like, ten highlighted in there."

"Yes, but only one of them was for three weeks. I thought that would be a good length of time for our honeymoon."

My mind raced again. I had looked over that silly pamphlet probably a hundred times. So many of them appealed to me, the thought of seeing the world from a ship where I was also fed just seemed ideal. Quite a few had been for a week, mostly in the Caribbean, so those were cast out. There had been river cruises, but the longest of those had been around ten days.

Then it hit me. My eyes widened as I gaped at Edward who was sporting a hesitant smile. "We're going to Spain?"

He nodded. "And Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cairo, Morocco, the Bahamas, Belize, through the Panama Canal, up the west side of Mexico and California. It stops in San Francisco, but I found another ship that'll take off then and take us up to Alaska." He was as excited as me, but still hesitant. "I haven't booked the second one yet, but we can, if you like."

I knew I should be upset. I knew that if I had any hope to preserve my argument that he shouldn't be spending so much money on me then he needed to be told no, and to cancel the cruise. I knew that by saying yes I was saying there was one thing I was willing to spend money on and not argue about. I meant to say no, really I did. It's not what came out of my mouth.

"We can go to Alaska too?" I asked, shaking with excitement. If he had looked radiant when I said yes to the car it was nothing compared to what he looked like then. Then his smiled morphed into a smirk.

"It seems I've found your weak point, Miss Swan." Once again he advanced on me, taking me into his arms. "It seems you like to travel?"

"More that I want to travel," I replied, melting into him. "Unfortunately, it takes time and money, neither of which I have."

"The time might be a problem, since we are expected to work, but money shouldn't be an issue for you anymore." He took my chin and tilted it up so he could look directly into my eyes. "Please understand this."

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, not wanting to break the trance he was putting me under but wanting to understand. "Why are you treating this like a real romance? Like we're madly in love and excited to get married?"

He studied my face for a moment before letting out the breath he was holding in a rush. "If you don't know yet, then I'm not going to tell you." Holding up his hand to stop my impending protest he continued. "Don't worry, if you haven't figured it out by the time we get married, I'll fill you in."

"Would you two please come in now so we can taste some cakes?" Alice called from the doorway. For the next four hours we went from place to place trying cakes. Before even stepping into the last bakery I was ready to collapse into a sugar-induced coma and Edward was looking a little green. Sadly, it was also the best place and we were too full to enjoy it. At least this decision was easy for us. After the first bite we looked at each other and nodded. Then it was only a matter of picking a design. Once again our similar tastes served us well. I went through the book, once again numbering which I liked first, second and third, then handed it over to him. Since both of us had picked the same one for number one, it was easily settled.

"What do you want to do the rest of the evening?" Edward asked when we were finally done with Alice's list. My hand was warm in his as I followed him out to his car.

"Crash," I said quietly. "I can't believe I'm this tired." He pulled me closer, wrapping the hand he was holding behind my back. This allowed me to lay my head on his chest as he leaned against the car. "What I should do is spend some time with my mom, though what we'd do is beyond me."

"I'm pretty tired myself," Renee said behind me, drawing my attention. "I wouldn't mind just watching a movie." She said the last while covering a yawn, which I naturally had to repeat, followed by Edward, causing us all to chuckle. Alice was spry as ever, shaking her head at us.

"We could do that at my place," Edward offered once he was able to close his mouth somewhat, "unless you want to do it at yours?"

"Hmm, big, flat-screen with surround sound or small dinosaur with scratchy speakers?" I said, tapping my chin as if trying to decide. "Which would be better?" He smirked at me but before he could say anything Alice had my mother in her car on the way to Edward's apartment.

As soon as we were alone again Edward surprised me. "So why do you get to make major decisions without talking to me, but I don't get to without talking to you?"

Twisting in my seat I scrunched up my face in confusion. "Whatever are you talking about?"

"Today, when we were discussing the car, you said you'd be moving in with me after we were married. I'd say living arrangements are a pretty major, but you never once talked to me about it. You just decided." The tiny smile playing at his lips told me he was teasing, but the question was serious. While I did my imitation of a guppy, grasping for a thought, he continued. "Not that I mind, or that I had a different thought in mind, just that we should have probably talked about it before you made the decision, don't you think?"

My entire body slumped in the seat when I realized he was right. "I'm so sorry. You're right. I did make an assumption without even talking to you. But at least mine is a reasonable one."

"Ha!" he laughed loudly, "And providing you with safe transportation isn't? Getting you a car is perfectly reasonable."

"I'll concede me having safe and adequate transportation is reasonable, but spending over seventy thousand dollars is not," I countered. "It doesn't compare to the living arrangements because we have to live somewhere, and choosing my place is simply ludicrous. I can barely fit me in there." I gave a slight nod at the end, smiling as if to dare him to argue with that point.

"Who decided we were living together?" he asked. The question was like a punch to the gut.

"Bella," he said concernedly, "I do expect to live with you after we're married. Please don't take that to mean I don't want to, because I do." He took my hand once more, pulling at my arm to free it from where I had wrapped them around my stomach. "I'm just trying to prove a point, that I'm not the only one who needs to stop deciding things."

I relaxed a little, wondering why the thought of not living with him had sent such a cold chill through my body. It was only three days ago when Renee had accosted him in the lobby, and yet in that very short period of time I had gone from fake dating him, to marrying him, to wondering how I could ever live without him.

"Maybe after the movie is over we can discuss where you want to put your things?" he asked, seeing that I had relaxed. "I want you to be comfortable there as well."

"All right," I agreed, now feeling nervous. His kisses burned like fire across my body, but how much more did he expect? When we were married and moved in together, would we be man in wife in all facets? Suddenly the prospect of moving in with him was much more exciting, and more nerve-wracking.

As if he could hear what I was thinking he added, "And we should probably discuss sex and children. Because, Bella?" he said, smirking at me, "I want both with you."

Time check: Renee met Edward on Wednesday evening, Bella spent Thursday with her ankle up, Friday was the discussion of the job and visiting Charlie, and we're now at the close of Saturday with them where they've picked out a caterer, car and cake (today was brought to you by the letter C, sorry, my brain just does that sometimes). So, yes, things are moving incredibly fast. So fast that Bella doesn't know what hit her, only that she's about to marry the guy she's been crushing on for quite a while and he seems more than okay with it.

I hope that clears some things up for you all!