Evening, all! Well, I've spent the whole day embroidering fabric. I swear I'll go to sleep hearing the machine stitch out! Lol

Master Edward Cullen

"Emmett, it will not go through that doorway and I have told you this," Rosalie said tiredly while myself, Emmett, and Jasper were holding the large kitchen table in the hallway of Isabella's old house.

It had been a busy couple of weeks, but we were finally helping Emmett and Rosalie move into the house.

Father was standing outside the back door laughing at the pair of us, because Emmett knew that the table would go through the front door. And it did, but it would not go through the kitchen door, though.

"You need to take it back outside and around the house to here, boys," Father chuckled while the ladies giggled.

A short time later, after doing what we were told, the table was in its rightful place next to the wood burning stove, the heart of the home.

I watched Isabella as she walked around the house that was once her home and sometimes, she looked so sad.

"Think of the good times, Isabella. Think of the times that you all smiled and laughed in here. Let go of the hurt," I whispered as I pulled her into my arms. Her tears seeped into my shirt, and I felt helpless.

"I am trying, but it is hard to be in this room," she whispered thickly as we stood in the middle of the small sitting room.

The room where her mother left her and her brother to find her husband with God.

"We have many more years ahead of us to make new memories, Isabella, so many more years," I said with a firm, but caring voice.

I knew the loss of her parents still hurt her deeply, but I hoped that in time we could build on our own family and help soften the pain that she carried with her.

Starting with my surprise.

"I have some news for you, Isabella," I said nervously.

"Yes?"

"I received word yesterday from Albert and Alexandrina. They have offered us the Pavilion for our honeymoon. It is in Brighton and is ready if we would like to stay there for a couple of weeks or so. I know that being away from the children so soon after our extended stay in town would be too much for us, so I was hoping for a week with just us, and then Mother and Father could bring the children down to us for the last week. We could leave here at the end of next week and be there until the end of the month, how does that sound to you?" I asked, gauging her reaction.

"The Royal Pavilion? We would stay in a palace?" she gasped, but with a small smile, her tear-stained cheeks lifting a little.

"Yes, if that is okay with you? We have not had a honeymoon yet, and now that I am stronger, it will do us good to get some fresh air into our lungs," I chuckled.

"Then I think it a splendid idea."

…

Two days later Emmett and Rosalie were moved into the house, and we celebrated by eating a large meal together that Isabella and Rosalie had cooked on the stove – all of us cramped around the table, children and all.

Isabella still looked sad and tired when she was here and I hoped that over time, she could see it as a family home again.

"I am fine, so stop expecting me to fall apart at the drop of a hat. You know that I am made of stronger stuff," she whispered, and I was relieved to see a small smile play on her lips.

"I am just concerned, which I am allowed to be as a husband." I smiled.

Later that night, I showed her yet another secret passageway, which ran from the kitchen up to what used to be the governess' room.

They were not exactly secret, or this one was not, but it was what the servants had used when it was expected of them not to be seen by the household or the guests.

"I know that it should not feel so — creepy, but it does," she whispered, her body pressed up tightly against my side just before we got to the doorway that would take us into the room next to the nursery.

"Come," I chuckled, pushing on the paneled door and letting the light flood into the passage.

"Oh, I did not realize how many steps we must have come up," she gasped as I led her into the room.

"Tomorrow another?" I asked, leading her now toward the door so that I could take her to our bedchamber.

"Tomorrow seems like a wonderful idea, but now I would love to go to bed, all this walking in this dress has tired me out more than when I was at the farm," Isabella giggled and all I could do was smile.

…

"The next few days are going to be busy, Isabella, you should get some rest," I said, my fingers running through her long hair that was spilling over her back and my chest.

"I should, but a certain husband of mine keeps attacking me." She laughed when she lifted her head to look at me.

"I cannot help but enjoy what God has given me in our union together and I certainly do not want to miss out on time with you when our children are now in the habit of waking us each morn," I explained with a chuckle.

Isabella crawled up my chest until her beautiful slender legs straddled my waist, and even I thought that this was a brave move.

I had never had her, or Sarah for that matter, sit on me the way Isabella was. "Isabella!" I warned as her head dipped down to kiss my chest, right over my heart. I could not think clearly when certain parts of her body were so close to my own.

"Edward, what is the matter?" she asked as she sat up fully, and I think I may have blushed.

"Isabella, this is a little forward of you, do you not think?" I asked through a stutter, but when I saw her beautiful smile, I relaxed somewhat.

"Edward, we are married, why should we not?"

"Not what, Isabella?" I asked, confused as to what she was implying.

"Enjoy our bodies, my love," she replied, and I had no argument, no argument at all.

…

Isabella Cullen

"I did not say that I found it boring, Esme," I growled out a little.

I was aghast that we were talking of such things, such private things, but as Rosalie pointed out, we women had to stick together. It was not as if we could talk to the vicar about such subjects.

"No, I think your word was 'repetitive'." She giggled, and both Alice and Rosalie joined in.

"Isabella, there is nothing wrong with changing things in the bedroom and I am sure that you gave Edward quite a shock when you 'took the reins', as it were, but what happens between and man and a woman in the bedroom should never be boring," Rosalie cut in through everyone's giggles, and I gave up.

We were currently packing up some of my belongings to take with us to Brighton, and as much as I was nervous about the trip to stay at the palace, I was also looking forward to seeing the building.

Edward had talked of nothing else over the last few days and had even shown me a large painting of the building just last night in the library.

"I cannot wait to have that union between Jasper and I. It seems too trivial to hold hands and sneak in the occasional kiss," Alice murmured at my side, and I knew how she felt even though I did not admit it when I was in the room with Esme.

"It will not be long, Alice, and then I can say that I have two wonderful daughters." Esme grinned, and gave Alice a little hug.

"I know, and soon after this happy couple are returned from their own honeymoon, we shall be wed and off enjoying our own!" She finally smiled again, and we got to work on more packing.

"I know that you will not be going out to dine or to the theatre until we are there with the children, but there is no harm in dressing nicely for your husband." Esme smiled while she started to raid my new wardrobe of dresses that Edward had made for me.

"Will there be many staff there, Esme?" I asked, nervous at who would see us. I was still a little loathed that we were still a much-kept secret, but it was what it was.

"Only a handful. Most have been brought from there to the country for the hunting season," she replied, and that reminded me that when we returned, they would be hosting a hunting party for the next month.

At least I knew that the day we were returning was Candlemas Day and we would no longer have to hide our union.

"There, I think you are done, Isabella. Now all we must do is wait for Edward to return from the village, and then you are ready to go." Esme grinned happily and we left my bedroom in search of the children.

Three hours later found me saying a tearful goodbye to the children, Edward sniggering next to me, while we got in the carriage and on our way to Brighton.

I could have sulked at him, but I could not find it in me because I was too excited to see the building and actually see the seaside for the first time in my life.

"You look very happy with yourself, Isabella," Edward mused from his seat opposite me, and I nodded my head.

"Every day with you turns into a great adventure, and I cannot wait to see this one through." I laughed.

If you ever get to visit Brighton, the Pavillion (Palace) is a must place to go. I used to call it the 'onion house' when I was very little (I used to live near Brighton). If you Google the building, you'll know what I mean lol.

xx