Disclaimer: I own a hairdryer. Please don't take it from me... I don't want to have frizzy hair.

Perplexing platypus: I am perplexed as to how I could have left out your oh so perplexing self. My sincerest apologies...and thank you.

Chapter 2

No matter what I did to try to take my mind off of that terrible dream, it haunted me for the rest of the day

I just didn't know what was wrong. I'd been having these nightmares for the past week and a half, which was odd, because I normally never had nightmares when he was with me. It wasn't cold feet about the wedding, though, I was sure. I actually wanted to get married. After the showdown with Victoria, some girlish instinct to be claimed as his had shaken off the cobwebs and consumed me.

I took a long thoughtful slurp from my strawberry milkshake.

Something ice cold brushed my hand, and I jumped, startled.

I met Edward's bemused gaze with a sheepish one of my own. His hand took mine.

"Bella, let's go do something," he stated suddenly, while playing with my fingers.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Anything?" his butterscotch eyes bored into my soul.

I stopped mid-slurp.

"Anything at all to make you be yourself again," he continued, "Rock climbing, snorkeling. We can climb Mount Kilimanjaro for all I care, just something to bring my Bella back," he paused, "You haven't said more than two words to me all day."

I contemplated a second. "This makes five," I said, before continuing the very slow process of finishing my drink.

"Bella..."

I lifted my face and smiled at him teasingly. His demeanor melted back into relief.

"Well," I began, "if we go to Kilimanjaro, you can hunt real lions."

The worried coil in the pit of my stomach relaxed when he grinned. I think he was finally acclimating to my vampire jokes.

Pale fingers reached up to run through their owner's bronze hair. A sigh escaped his perfect lips. "Whatever am I going to do with you, Bella?"

Well, while we're on that subject, I could definitely think of quite a few things. A regular myriad of things, actually.

"But I think I'll stick to Chef Boyardi," I added, "if we go to Africa."

Edward laughed. Ahhhh. I could drown in that laugh. Drown thoroughly and blissfully in that silky, smooth river.

"Let's wait on Afiica. I know a better place," he siad, taking my hand and leading me out of the milkshake shop, after paying of course.

In ten minutes flat, we were in our meadow. My knuckles were still white from the insanely fast drive over here.

Right now, we were lying side by side, fingers barely touching, making out shapes in the clouds.

"I remember doing something like this," he broke our tranquil silence. His voice took on an alien reminiscent tone. "With my mom before we took ill."

My mouth was open, ready for a comforting reply, but my mind came up with an empty sieve. What could I say to that? I moved myself so that my head was resting on his shoulder.

We lay there for a while making the clouds come alive: a bunny rabbit here, a man with a fishing pole there, and even a unicorn (purple and yellow polka dot free).

"You should really spend some time with Charlie," he said finally.

"Tomorrow," I replied.

Edward nuzzled my hair, "That's what you said yesterday."

I sighed. Ever since I'd told my father about the engagement, Charlie-time had been awkward.

The actual telling him part was something akin to a nuclear explosion, one that even the cockroaches couldn't survive.

I turned my head and gazed off into the woods, glad Edward had let the subject drop.

Two cardinals were perched on a tree branch, a brilliant red male cardinal, and a dull brown female one. I sent a telepathic "I can relate" to her.

But maybe it didn't have to be like that. Maybe the boy cardinal was actually a vampire bird and they could both be beautiful and nest together forever. But the boy cardinal wants the girl to go to college because he's a stubborn doofus who can't see all the potentially dangerous thing that could happen to the girl cardinal, and when it does, he's going to run off to a bunch of evil mob vampires in Italy who will...

Calm down, Bella. Just calm down.

I looked back to the tree and noticed something peculiar. The birds had taken wing, and in their place was a shadow, a dark looking thing.

Fast as lightning, it darted to the side, and I scrambled to my feet.

"Edward, did you see that?"

"What?" He was standing beside me.

"Do you smell anything weird?"

"No," he said worriedly. "What did you see?"

I blinked again. The sun on my face and the bright clear day made the alarm easily dissipate. "It must have been the light or something," I said.

That appeased him.

"Come on," he swooped me up into his arms, "I have a surprise for you," he announced.

"Oh no," I groaned, "I hate surprises.