By common agreement, Esme drove Bella home in the late afternoon, preserving the fiction that she had spent the weekend in an all-female environment, and getting her back to Charlie in time for her to make Sunday dinner. During the drive, they talked comfortably about the engagement, the upcoming graduation, and even favourite novels. It was, as usual, a comfortable interaction with a hint of motherly warmth. Bella had grown accustomed to Esme's role as surrogate mother to the younger Cullens. She had come to understand that Esme had her own set of 'frozen' traits. Transformed shortly after losing her newborn son, she had been left forever filled with maternal impulses, which expressed themselves in her loving care of the Cullen clan. It was fortunate that the family members apart from Carlisle, changed in their youth but not so much younger than Esme herself, were content to accept their part as cherished adult children.

The conversation back at the house had been a little less relaxed. First, there was Alice to placate. She had been outraged at the idea that Bella would even think of planning a wedding without her input. Feeling more secure of her place in the family than ever before, Bella was able to stand up to the onslaught, and insist on having some say in her own marriage ceremony. The family were finally able to calm Alice enough to allow for congratulations on the engagement. Details remained unresolved, although Alice was sketching dress designs when Bella left for home.

"It's been a rather momentous weekend for you," Esme said as she drove.

"You could say that!" She grinned back at Esme, thinking you don't know the half of it. To Bella, the breakthrough she had made with Edward was a much bigger deal than the engagement. A wedding was important to Edward, so she would go through with it; but it was a far greater relief to her that he was willing to try and overcome his oppressive gallantry. She was realistic enough to suspect he would never completely change his outlook on how a gentleman behaves toward a lady, but she felt they could be equals in their partnership - in their marriage, she corrected herself, still a little troubled by terms like husband and wife, but prepared to adapt.

Esme went on to describe her own wedding to Carlisle. "It was a very small event, in a little chapel outside the town we lived in at the time, early on a Tuesday morning. We wanted to be sure very few people would be there," she explained. "It was less than a year after I was changed, and I still wasn't entirely at ease around humans. There were only the two of us, and Edward; and the state required two witnesses, so the minister's wife had to step in. It was a very simple, quiet ceremony."

"Sounds perfect."

"That's more to your taste, isn't it?"

"Sure. The idea of a big, fancy wedding makes me queasy, honestly. I'm kind of worried Alice is going to try to put on a big production."

"Then don't let her."

Bella looked at her incredulously. "Don't let Alice? Have you met her?"

Esme laughed. "The rest of us will back you up. You should get the kind of wedding you want."

"Thank you, Esme! But...will Edward be disappointed? The wedding is a very big thing to him."

"The fact that he'll be married to you is a big thing. The wedding itself is incidental, I'm sure, in his view."

"He did say that he didn't care about that. He was the one who suggested going to Vegas."

"There you are, then. We'll do it exactly as you wish. And," she laughed, "if you feel differently later on, you can have a second and third wedding, like Rosalie and Emmett did."

"A second wedding?"

"Yes. Rose just loves weddings, big splendid ones, so she and Emmett have gone through several. Alice had more than enough of an artistic outlet, planning those! Especially the last one. Four hundred white roses, some sort of crystal ornaments suspended from the ceiling - and Rosalie's wedding gown! It would have done royalty proud."

"Wow!"

Esme chuckled. "It was a bit elaborate for my tastes, but lovely; and it made Rose happy. You'll be able to attend their next one, at least."

"Oh! I suppose I will," she said thoughtfully. Reminders of what was coming still took Bella by surprise sometimes.

"It's a daunting prospect, isn't it? I can see the advantage of being prepared in advance, but in a way, I think I was better off not knowing."

"Not knowing that you were going to be changed, you mean?"

"Yes. I told you that I'd met Carlisle before, when I was younger?" Bella nodded. "I felt a connection to him that never quite went away, even though we'd only known each other for, maybe, an hour or two; even though I didn't see him for almost ten years, and had married another man." She smiled softly at Bella. "I'm sure you understand that phenomenon. Well, I'd thought my life was over; but when the transformation ended, I found that I was not only alive, but with Carlisle again. I didn't have to make the decision, just sort of...woke up, and there he was."

Bella looked out the windshield pensively. Esme was so easy to talk to, she didn't hesitate to speak with complete candour. "I wouldn't want this, you know - to be a vampire - if it weren't for Edward. I was content with my human life. But once I knew Edward, well, there was no other way. I knew it," she grinned over at Esme, "even if he wouldn't accept it for a long time. So...if we'd met and...and all, and he did it without asking me; and the next thing I knew, I came out of the, er, process, and found myself with Edward - well, I couldn't have objected. It's much better to know in advance, and be able to choose my time, I know; but..." She thought a moment, as Esme waited quietly. "But now that I have the choice, it gets complicated. I feel responsible for making sure nobody is too upset, or left wondering forever what happened to me, even though I know that's almost impossible. I almost wish Edward had just kidnaped me and bitten me and gotten it over with. Not quite," she emphasized, "but almost."

Esme nodded. "I understand. We're all so glad to have you in the family, we see it as an unqualified happy event. Maybe we've treated it too lightly - possibly to counteract Edward's hesitation. But it's not an easy choice to make, even for love. It's not an easy life in many ways." Bella listened in silence, grateful for Esme's honesty. However gently she put things, she did not try to shield Bella from the truth. "There's no denying that there's loss involved. Your human life, the children you could have had, your parents..." She glanced at Bella affectionately. "Even losing the colour in those pretty brown eyes is unfortunate. I'd honestly be worried if you didn't have some reservations. I can see you're going into it with your eyes open - to the extent anyone can."

The police cruiser was in place when they parked, and Esme accompanied Bella to the door. "Remember," she warned Bella, "it was a ladies-only weekend."

"Right. With no hint of plans to run to Vegas." She'd left her engagement ring in Edward's care, after agreeing to wear it without fail whenever she visited the Cullens.

"Hey, Bells," Charlie greeted her. "I just got in myself about two minutes ago, and was wondering what to do for dinner."

"I'll take care of it, Dad." She dumped her backpack and school books on a chair.

He noticed Esme standing in the doorway. "Oh! Afternoon, Mrs Cullen."

"It's Esme, please," she replied, smiling pleasantly.

"Esme gave me a ride home," Bella explained.

"Thanks for that," Charlie said, "and thanks for having Bella over for the weekend."

"Oh, that was our pleasure. We enjoy her company." Esme smiled at Bella, showing her dimples. "She's welcome any time. Alice especially loves having her around. As long as you don't mind, that is."

"Me? No, that's fine. It's good for Bella to get out, have some, uh, girl time, for a change." Bella grinned to herself, assuming this was a hint that she had far too much boy time. "Uh, would you like to come in? Have a coffee, or...?"

"Thank you, but I'd better get back. The boys will be home any time, and I should get dinner started."

Bella marvelled at how easily, and convincingly, Esme and the others presented their cover story to the world. She wondered whether she would eventually become as adept at lying. Not lying, exactly, she corrected herself. It was just self-preservation.

"Maybe Bella could come along," Esme was saying, "when the girls and I do a big shopping trip to Seattle next weekend."

"No!" Charlie's harsh reaction startled Bella, and she turned in surprise. "Not Seattle! Absolutely not! Haven't you seen what's going on there?" He pointed to a copy of the Seattle Times that had been divided into sections and strewn across the kitchen table. "Two dead, four missing, some...really weird vandalism at the crime scenes, and the police there have no idea what's going on." He turned on Bella. "You're not to set foot near that city, you hear me?"

"Sure, Dad."

"You're right, Charlie," Esme added. She caught Bella's eye in an odd way. "I don't know how I could have forgotten about all that. Horrible! We'll all stick closer to home for now. I hope you figure it all out. 'You' as in policemen, that is."

Charlie calmed down visibly. "Thanks, Esme. Yeah, I'm telling everyone to stay out of the area if they can, until we can get a handle on it."

"Of course. Have a nice evening, Charlie."

Bella followed her out the door as if to see her off. "Thanks for the ride home." Outside, she asked, "Do you know what's going on in Seattle?"

"No, not really. It's just that some of the mayhem looks suspiciously...familiar."

Bella lowered her voice. "You mean, it might be a vampire doing this? Maybe Victoria?"

"It's not impossible. Can you come by the house after school tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Good. We're trying to figure a few things out, and you should be there."

Alarming as the situation was, Bella was pleased to be included. "Okay, thanks, Esme."

"I'm sure you know you're still under guard. One of us will be nearby at all times," she added before kissing Bella's forehead and returning to her car.

Bella got busy at once, preparing to grill the trout Charlie had already cleaned and left in the refrigerator. "Have a good weekend?"

"Yeah, it was good. Lots of fun. And I got all my homework done." She indicated the trout. "You went fishing?"

"Earlier today, yeah."

"What did you have for dinner last night? A burger at the diner, I bet."

"Last night?" He seemed mildly flustered, for some reason. "Uh, I had dinner over at the Clearwaters' place."

"Oh, that's nice," Bella said nonchalantly. Charlie's burgeoning romance with Sue Clearwater was an open secret, but still not something Charlie was comfortable discussing. She busied herself, making fish and an enormous salad, with ranch dressing and a few bacon bits so Charlie would actually eat it. They made sporadic conversation during the meal, and Charlie mentioned once more the importance of avoiding Seattle for the time being.

While Bella was washing the dishes, Charlie did not, as usual, head for the TV to check out the sports network. He moved restlessly between the living room and the kitchen, and when Bella had finished clearing up and proposed going to her room to study, he forestalled her.

"Hold on a minute, Bella. I need to talk to you about something." She obligingly waited while he hesitated, seemed to scan the kitchen cupboards for help, then gruffly cleared his throat and spoke. "I know you're grown up now, pretty much, and heading off to college soon and all." He stopped again, appeared to check the lighting fixture for inspiration, and finally went on. "But I'm still your dad, and I'm still kind of responsible for your safety."

"If this is about Seattle, Dad, I promise you I won't even go near..."

"No, no. It's something else." Another pause. "You've been dating for a while now, and I know you're a responsible, uh, girl, but when you've been going out with the same boy for a long time, well, things develop that you have to be...that you have to take precautions about. I wouldn't want to see you in a, you know, a situation..."

It finally clicked. Charlie was trying to have the sex talk! "Woah! Dad, you really don't need to bother about that. Mum already filled me in."

"I know, I know. I'm not saying she didn't do everything that was, uh, required. But I have to make sure you're being...responsible. Staying out of real trouble, you know."

Not getting knocked up right out of high school, in other words, Bella thought, like Mum did. Before she could find a way out of the discussion, Charlie went to an upper cupboard and pulled out a rumpled, bulging brown paper bag. He held it gingerly, like an incendiary device. "Here. I got some stuff at the...place. Pamphlets, and some...other things they thought you should have." He shoved the paper bag at her.

Pamphlets, she thought. Egad, Charlie actually went to Planned Parenthood! Bella had a wild, momentary image of Charlie skulking around the office like a dog stuck in a hall of mirrors, actually talking to one of the counsellors! She accepted the package. "Dad, that's so nice of you, going to all this trouble for me." She stopped short when she looked inside and saw the contents, read the bright blue letters promising lubricated and forty pre-wrapped and realized Charlie had bought her condoms. A great, big box of them, too. "Woah, Dad, that's...holy cow!" She realized she was turning red, and couldn't meet his eyes. "That's really nice of you, but I don't need..."

"You don't have to give me the big story, Bells. I know what young people are like, and you've been going out with him a while, like I said. I'm not going to lecture you. I just want to make sure you're being careful."

"I get that, Dad, and really, thanks so much. But honestly, Edward and I have never, um..."

"Oh!" He didn't seem unhappy with this information, but went on, "Even so, eventually you'll have a use for them. It's better that you're, uh, prepared in advance. I mean, I don't need to tell you about the teen pregnancy statistics, not to mention, well, diseases..."

"No, I'm up to date on all that," she quickly assured him.

"Okay, good. Just keep them, and make good and sure you have some handy, whenever, uh..." He floundered a moment, then charged bravely on. "Whenever the time comes. Keep one or two in your wallet. Just in case."

Hideously embarrassed, but understanding how unpleasant it must have been for Charlie, and feeling that this act of fatherly courage called for gratitude, Bella told him, "Dad, that's really going above and beyond. I doubt there are too many girls whose fathers would help them out like this - not without an angry lecture, and maybe some name-calling, from what I hear at school. I want you to know, I appreciate it. And I promise to be very careful, whenever..."

"Good, that's good. Okay, then." He plunged back into the living room and the security of the Mariners' pre-game, gratified at her thanks, but relieved it was over. Equally relieved, Bella carried her newly acquired materials upstairs to her room, and diligently purged her mind with calculus.

Edward arrived at her window only a few minutes later. Bella threw herself into his arms, revelling in the familiar relief that came from being with him again. "Is this a 'mate' thing?" she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "The way it's uncomfortable to be away from you for more than a short time? The way touching you is like being able to breathe again?"

"It is," he said softly. "I've heard the same reaction in my family's thoughts, but never fully understood it, until I experienced it with you."

She sighed and sat down on the bed, inviting him to sit beside her. "Esme asked me to come to the house tomorrow afternoon."

"I heard. We're supposed to discuss wedding plans. Alice has some firmly held ideas about how it should go."

"I'm ready for her. Aren't we also supposed to discuss Victoria?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Yes, that too. Although we may not have much to discuss. Alice is on constant watch, but Victoria is eluding her vision somehow. She's confident there's nothing happening in the next 24 hours, though."

"Good."

Edward smirked a little. "Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"Like what?"

"You had a rather interesting talk with your father, I believe."

Her eyes widened. "You heard?"

"I did. I apologize for eavesdropping. I was nearby, and couldn't help hearing." He chuckled. "Poor Charlie. It was an ordeal for him."

"I thought so. It wasn't pleasant for me, either."

"Where are these educational materials he obtained for you?" Blushing, she pointed to the package on her desk. He removed a colourful pamphlet and studied it.

"Picking up some new information?"

He grinned at her. "I'm aware of the essential facts, in theory if not through personal experience. I was just interested in how they approach the material." He sighed. "I agree, intellectually, that it's good for this to be available. I just can't help finding much of it very indiscreet." He set the pamphlet down. "A product of my upbringing. Carlisle is far more at ease with such things."

"Really? I thought he was brought up by this very strict religious father and all."

"He was, but the era was more relaxed about bodily functions and such." He briefly examined the box of condoms.

Bella couldn't quite read his mood. "You don't feel weird about me having them, do you?"

"No, not at all. From a contemporary perspective, it was a considerate thing for your father to do. I'm afraid we'll have no use for them, though."

"There's not..." She hesitated. "I'm not sure if it's okay to ask about this. I mean...I don't want to offend you."

"Ask me anything, love. I can certainly set aside my prissy attitude long enough to answer one question." He smiled. "Besides, being officially engaged allows for a certain leniency."

"Well...there's definitely no reason we would ever need these, right? I mean, it's not actually possible, is it?"

Taking her meaning, he smiled rather sadly. "To cause a pregnancy? No, it's not possible for us."

"Why is that?"

He hesitated. "Would you accommodate my outdated code of conduct once more, and save that question for one of the ladies?"

"If you insist."

They sat quietly, holding hands, as Charlie climbed the stairs, brushed his teeth, and retreated to his own bedroom.

Edward suddenly broke the silence. "If I ask you something, will you tell me the absolute truth? Not try to spare my feelings?"

"I think that's your specialty," she joked. Seeing his serious expression, she said, "Yes, I promise."

"Bella, you...honestly don't regret that you'll never have children? Not even a little?"

"No." He seemed to study her. "You might find this terribly unfeminine of me, but I've never been very maternal. I don't dislike kids, but somehow having my own never really interested me. I certainly don't regret it. I suppose things might be different, if we were both human. Maybe I'd want to have children with you some day. But I don't think so. It's just not something you need to worry about, Edward."

"All right."

She rose to prepare for bed. "You'll just have to make do with all the other things you regularly worry about."

He smiled. "Those are getting fewer."