Chapter 7

EDWARD'S POV

"Attention class." Alice said jokingly, snapping her fingers.

Bella and I were sitting next to each other at the table, while Alice paced back and forth on the other side of the room. She was going to take us through the wedding step by step.

"Now, the first part of the wedding is called The Walk Of The Bride." Alice pointed to Bella.

"Don't tell me I have to walk on hot coals." Bella laughed.

Alice rolled her eyes. "May I continue?"

Bella nodded, suppressing more laughter.

Yeah may we please move on?"

Shut up Edward.

"Alright, now Bella, you're going to walk all the way from the house, and down to where the carpet is rolled down the middle of the where the chairs are set up. When you've gotten this far, everyone will then turn to face you. Edward will then meet you halfway down the carpet."

Alice grabbed us up out of our chairs, and pulled us together.

"Then, Edward will put a corsage on your wrist, and Bella," she motioned to my chest, "you will put a rose in his jacket pocket."

She waited until I pretended to slip something on Bella's wrist, and Bella then slipped an imaginary rose into my pocket.

"Then, you will make your way down the carpet, and stop at the end. This part is a little tricky, so watch me."

Alice stood next to Bella.

"Bella, your hands will be like this." Alice outstretched her arms, and folded her hands together. She then switched sides, and waited for Bella to fold her hands.

"Now Edward, you will enclose her folded hands with yours."

I held Bella's hands under mine. "Like this?"

"Yes, just like that." Alice nodded, and then ran around to the other side of us.

"Is this where you all bless us?" Bella asked.

"Yes, yes, just as Rosalie mentioned. Charlie and Renee will bless you both first, and then Emmett and Rosalie, and then Jasper and I."

"Now Edward, after each person blesses you, you must repeat The Promise Of The Husband."

"And what is that?"

"You must say, 'I promise to protect Bella Swan, with all of my heart and with all of my soul.'"

I looked deep into Bella's eyes. "I promise to protect Bella Swan, with all of my heart, and with all of my soul."

Alice turned my head to face her. "Except you're saying it to us. Alright?"

"Yes." My eyes returned to Bella's.

"Now then, after you've been blessed, you will turn to face Carlisle and Esme, who will be standing in front of you." Alice turned us to face the imaginary Carlisle and Esme. She took their place.

"This is it." Bella nodded to Alice.

"This is where we become husband and wife."

"Edward, put your arm around Bella, and Bella, you do the same."

I slipped my arm around Bella, and she slipped her arm around me. I smiled down at her. If only Alice were licensed to do this sort of thing.

"Then Esme will kiss your foreheads, and give you her blessing before sitting down. Then Carlisle will marry you."

"Alice, could you show us the vows? I'm afraid I'm going to forget." Bella laughed.

"Don't worry, Carlisle says them for you. You just agree to them, but I'll show you anyways."

She cleared her throat, and tried to sound as manly as possible.

"Edward Cullen, do you wish to be bonded eternally by marriage to Bella Swan?"

"Yes." I said, looking down at Bella.

"Bella Swan, do you wish to be bonded eternally by marriage to Edward Cullen?"

She took in an unnecessary breath. "Yes."

"Then I no longer speak to you as Bella Swan, but as Bella Cullen. I now pronounce you, forever more, husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride."

I grabbed Bella, and flung her down so that she almost hit the floor.

"What are you-"

I pressed my lips to hers, and she pressed hers back. If Alice hadn't interrupted, I'm sure I would have carried her upstairs for some…physical activity.

"Alright, alright enough." Alice pulled us back up.

"Well we won't do it like that." Bella laughed.

"Why not?" I asked innocently.

"Remember what I said about Charlie?"

We laughed.

"Oh," Alice said in a quiet voice, "did I mention that according to vampire tradition, you have to be separated a week before the wedding?"

BELLA'S POV

Why did I feel like half of my body was being ripped off? I felt a pain rising from my stomach and into my chest. No Edward for a week?

After Alice had told us, we had tried to spend as much time together as possible, Edward and I. But it seemed that a week before the wedding came too soon.

"I can't leave you." I murmured against his cheek.

We were on the porch, and he was holding me in an embrace that seemed to say, I don't want to let go…never!

"I don't want you to leave me." Edward said into my shoulder.

Alice was waiting a few steps away, the car already started. I would be staying with Charlie for the next week.

"The rules are unfair. Let's break them."

Edward laughed, and pulled his head up. "I wish we could."

"Come on Bella, it's time." Alice said from behind.

"We aren't even allowed to speak to each other through our minds." I grumbled.

"Bella, a week will pass by so fast. I will be seeing you soon. At our wedding."

I smiled. At our wedding.

"Bella!" Alice shouted in a tired voice.

"Goodbye my love." Edward kissed my lips very softly.

When our lips parted, he took hold of my hand.

"Goodbye." I said.

"Alright, time to go." Alice grabbed my other hand, and pulled.

Slowly, Edward and I's hands were being pulled apart. Finally, my fingers left his, and I suddenly felt empty.

I couldn't bear to turn around and watch his perfect figure disappear.

"Don't worry Bella, a week passes by fast." Alice smiled.

"Just my luck, it will take a lifetime."

"After this week, you and Edward will be together for a lifetime."

"I know."

The rest of the drive was quiet. I looked out the window, hoping to see Edward running after us. But he wasn't.

The trees whizzed past, making them run together like a little kid's finger painting.

But then, a splash of black was added to the green and brown pallet. I stared as the smudge of black, moved, back into the trees. Whatever it was seemed to be hiding now.

"Alice did you see that?" I asked, pointing.

"See what?" Alice looked confused.

"Never mind." I waved my hand, and looked back, as the black figure stared back.

When Alice had dropped me off, I went into my room. It was still the same, but it was empty. The bed was still there, with reminders of nights Edward and I spent together.

"Bella are you asleep?" He had asked one night as he lay there, holding me.

"No, why? What is it?" I had lifted my head to see his eyes. They were sad.

"I was just thinking," he smoothed my hair, "about James."

I shuddered. "Don't."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Just don't think about him. I'm here now."

"It's not just James. I keep thinking about all of the things in this world that could hurt you…or take you from me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

And then he hummed my lullaby.

I sat on the bed, trying to imagine his arms around me. I tried to imagine our talks. I tried to see his godlike face. I missed him already.

EDWARD'S POV

"Edward?" Carlisle asked, coming onto the porch.

"Hey Carlisle." I sighed.

He laughed. "You miss her don't you?"

"Yeah."

"You know we all love Bella. We're all…so glad that she came into your life."

I looked at Carlisle. He looked back at me.

"We were all worried that you would never find the one you loved."

"Well I found her now." I patted his knee.

"Don't ever let her go. She's good for you."

"I won't."

Then it was quiet. The wind blew gently through the trees, and I thought of Bella's hair blowing in the wind when we ran.

"Edward!" She would shout, catching up.

"I'm going to beat you!"

But she would always keep me guessing. Sometimes I did beat her. Others, she leaped ahead of me, and sat, waiting.

"What took you so long?" She would laugh.

"We have forever."

And then she would pull me on top of her, and we would kiss under the sky.

"Edward?"

I snapped out of my memories. "Yes?"

"For after the wedding, do you have anything planned?"

"No…but I want to do something special."

Carlisle scooted closer. "I think I have an idea."

BELLA'S POV

"Hey Bella." Charlie said. He sounded nervous.

I hope Bella has everything under control.

"Don't worry Dad, Edward took me feeding before I got here." I sat down at the table across from him.

"I'm not worrying."

"Dad, I can read your mind."

His mouth dropped open. "Vampires can read minds?"

"Well, some of them. Each one kind of has a special power. Edward and I have the mind reading gift."

"Alright then, what am I thinking?"

Just then, his stomach growled.

I laughed. "You're thinking you want something to eat."

"No fair." He smiled.

I got up and turned the stove on. "So when is Renee coming in?"

"She should be here the day before the wedding. I told her she could stay here."

"What about Phil?" I cracked an egg into the pan I had gotten out.

"He couldn't make it I guess."

"Oh."

I added a few surprises to the eggs, and then handed them to Charlie.

"Thanks Bells."

"No problem."

I watched as he ate. He chewed, and then looked up at me.

"Do you still eat…regular food?"

"No, it doesn't taste the same. I could if I wanted to though." I grabbed a chunk of green pepper from his plate, and popped it into my mouth.

Doing that reminded me of the time I asked Edward if he could eat food.

I laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

EDWARD'S POV

"So Carlisle, remind me later to thank you." I smiled.

It was the day before the wedding, and I had been rehearsing his idea to surprise Bella since he had suggested it.

"Why wait, thank me now." He laughed.

I finished up, and joined him outside the tent. Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, and I had set up a tent for the little gathering after the wedding. Rosalie had gone over to Bella's to keep her company, and was planning to stay the night.

"So what did you do for Esme?" I asked.

He sighed. "Esme always loved paintings. So, I bought dozens of different painting for her, and made a little gallery."

"That's really nice. What happened to it?"

"All the paintings are in the garage now. I haven't set up another gallery in years."

"You should."

He looked at me. "I should."

"Well, I'm going to go and try on my tuxedo so Esme doesn't go ballistic if it doesn't fit."

Carlisle laughed. "Need any help?"

"No, I'm fine."

Upstairs, I dressed quickly. The tuxedo reminded me of prom.

I picked up a pillow, and held it close, imagining Bella's face.

"May I have this dance?"

I twirled around the room, doing dips and complicated moves I could never do with Bella. She hated dancing, unless of course, she was on my feet.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from the door.

I dropped the pillow. "Alice!"

She ran, but I caught up with her, and, carefully so that I didn't ruin the tuxedo, I tackled her to the ground.

BELLA'S POV

"Rosalie, really, it's enough that Jasper and Alice bought me the dress, you didn't have to get me anything." I sighed.

"Don't be silly Bella. Now, I picked this out for you the day you got your dress." Rosalie handed me a bag.

"Victoria's Secret? Jesus Christ." I opened the bag.

Inside was a black, lacy corset, which matching bikini underwear. If I could have blushed, I would have.

"For your wedding night." Rosalie winked.

"Well…thanks."

"You don't like it?"

"No, I do. It's just…embarrassing."

She laughed. "Don't be embarrassed. Esme bought me lingerie when Emmett and I got married for the first time."

"What was that like?"

"Well," she sat down next to me, "Emmett was so nervous. He kept saying that he didn't deserve a beauty like me. But anyways, when I met him halfway, he bent down and whispered, 'Rosalie, you are absolutely breathtaking.'"

"Wow, doesn't sound like Emmett."

"Oh, Emmett and I used to be so romantic. We used to go on picnics, walk on the beach; we'd do lots of things. Now, we just do those things on special occasions."

"You should do things like that more often."

"Yeah, we should." She sighed.

"Rosalie, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Alice mentioned to me that there's this dance that's optional for the brides to do after the wedding. Will you teach me?"

She let out a whistle. "Are you sure?"

"Why not?"

"Let's just say, that after you do this dance, Edward might not want to wait to get to the honeymoon suite."