Fight or Flight

Avoiding watching Bella get ready for the wedding had been difficult enough, and not spying on her while she was in Jacob's arms was stretching my patience to its limits, but I did my best to ignore the couple standing at the tree line while I spun Rosalie about the floor. I indulged my sister in two dances before returning to where Emmett and Jasper stood guard at the edge of the party. By that time, Jacob had had more than enough time alone with my wife - far too long for my comfort level.

However, I didn't want to simply go barging over there to drag Bella away from him. She deserved better than that, as well as the chance to say a full good-bye to him.

I glanced at Jasper and raised an eyebrow, but he simply shrugged.

...been pretty calm. She's sad, or more like, melancholic, because there's still a lot of happiness in her. He's angry and unhappy, but he hasn't said so to her, in case you weren't listening... though how you could resist...

"I wasn't listening," I muttered.

Jasper shook his head and rolled his eyes. Emmett's eyes constantly scanned the tree line, catching the glowing eyes of wolf after wolf.

Relaxing my tight hold on my gift, I could hear that the entire pack was present, Seth and Jacob included, though they were the only two in their human forms. I could also see Bella through Jacob's eyes, and hers were still shedding tears. As Jasper had determined, she looked an odd mixture of happy and sad, and I ground my teeth together; she'd been so happy before he showed up.

And I'd invited him here!

No, I had to stop that line of thinking. Surely she was happy to see him, but only sad knowing that it was goodbye.

"You're not supposed to be the one crying, Bella," Jacob told Bella as he wiped tears off of her cheeks.

Her voice was thick with emotion when she responded, "Everyone cries at weddings."

"This is what you want, right?"

She nodded firmly. "Right."

"Then smile."

The smile she gave him was shaky and tremulous, and he laughed softly at her attempt.

Jasper nudged me, attracting my attention. ...humans are noticing us here and you look mad. Go get us drinks, bro, so we blend in better.

Scanning the various humans who were standing about watching the dancers or otherwise mingling, I noticed they all seemed to be holding drinks. Giving a low grunt of annoyance, I skirted the dance floor and grabbed a few glasses of grape juice, nodding and smiling at the guests. Acting human was a part I knew how to play well, and it was especially important right now. I stayed in touch with Jacob's thoughts this time, intent on retrieving Bella as soon as I could.

When I returned to where my brothers stood, we clinked our glasses together and pretended to take a sip.

"A toast!" Emmett cried as he raised his glass in my direction. "To my baby brother, who's finally about to become a man!"

"Emmett," I growled. "Not now."

"When better? When I think of all of the missed opportunities..." He shook his head in mock horror. "Decades worth of jokes and pranks I coulda pulled. It's tragic!"

It occurred to me that I should have been thanking Tanya, rather than being angry with her. I might not like that they had thought I could be so cavalier, but at least I had been spared Emmett's razzing.

"I'm going to try to remember you like this," Jacob said. "Pretend that..."

"That what?" Bella asked sharply. "That I died?"

...that you were my bride... that you had chosen me... that you had chosen to live... that when you go to wherever it is he's taking you, you died a natural death... not the one that he's planning...

"No," he eventually lied. "But I'll see you this way in my head. Pink cheeks. Heartbeat. Two left feet. All of that."

Those words made me grimace, because I would forever see the same thing. My bride - mine, not his! - in her wedding dress, on our wedding day, looking more beautiful than I had ever seen her before. The desire I felt for her flared, and I had to hold myself still so as not to charge over there and sweep her into my embrace, especially after she stomped on his foot and he laughed, saying, "That's my girl."

"What is it, Jake? Just tell me. You can tell me anything." Her concern for her friend showed in the line between her brows and the way she had her lower lip pulled in between her teeth.

...nothing I can say that will change anything now... already married the leech... "I - I... I don't have anything to tell you."

"Oh please. Spit it out."

I chuckled at the way she saw everything so clearly, except, somehow, the two of us. She knew he was struggling with something that he didn't want to say.

"It's true. It's not... it's-it's a question. It's something I want you to tell me."

Her expression changed to one of surprise. "Ask me."

There was only one thing repeating in his mind. When? When would I do it? When would I kill the girl he loved? Would it be that very night? And why not? It only made sense that it would be. How many hours did she have left? How many minutes?

Coward that he was, he couldn't speak his questions. "I shouldn't. It doesn't matter. I'm just morbidly curious."

...doesn't matter, doesn't matter, doesn't matter... 'cause the end result is the same... He'll kill you, either way... and when he does... I'll kill him!

Knowing the one thing that he would be obsessing over - the one thing he would be afraid to know - she said, "It's not tonight, Jacob," in a soft whisper.

"Oh. Oh." He was gasping, near tears with relief. Gaining control of himself, he finally asked, "When?"

Bella shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know for sure. A week or two, maybe."

There was a flare of victory within his mind, and he snorted. "What's the holdup?"

I could tell by her expression that she was displeased with his tone and didn't bother holding back my smile.

"I just didn't want to spend my honeymoon writhing in pain."

My smile faded at her words.

"Easy, Edward," Jasper cautioned me, able to hear them as easily as I could. "Here, you'd better give me that glass before you shatter it."

I barely noticed when he took the drink from me, but was grateful for the feeling of calm that he sent my way. Bella didn't want to spend her honeymoon writhing in pain? Ah, God... Was there any way to prevent that? I wanted her so much, and was aware that Jasper was doing his best to combat my increasing feelings of desire for her, as well as my fear, but the reasons for them remained. I wanted her, and in only a few hours, would be alone with her on our island, where she was expecting a night of love. Perhaps she expected something like the way it was when we kissed, but I knew that it would be so much more.

And so much more dangerous.

"You'd rather spend it how? Playing checkers? Ha, ha."

"Very funny," she snapped, her mouth twisting into an angry line.

I felt a growl in my chest and was aware that Jasper had his hand on my arm now.

"Let him dig his grave, man," Jasper tried to reason with me. "It won't hurt anything if she leaves angry with him, and may make their break easier for her."

Though I nodded, I didn't stop growling.

"Kidding, Bells. But, honestly, I don't see the point. You can't have a real honeymoon with your vampire, so why go through the motions? Call a spade a spade. This isn't the first time you've put this off. That's a good thing, though. Don't be embarrassed about it."

The mutt had no idea. I'd tried to tell him that spring, during the awful night when he'd kept her alive on the mountain. I was the one delaying her change, not Bella. She'd have been a vampire a year ago if I would have let her.

Truly angry now, Bella glared at him, her dark eyes flashing, and her brows knitting together. "I'm not putting anything off. And yes I can have a real honeymoon! I can do anything I want! Butt out!"

You... WHAT?! I didn't hear that... no... tell me I didn't hear that right... He's not planning on... She said a week or two... they can't believe she'd survive...

"What?" he was finally able to gasp out. "What did you say?"

"About what...? Jake? What's wrong?" Bella's eyes were wide and worried now, full of the bewildered confusion which I had seen so often since I had first met her.

The fire that signaled the wolf ran through his bones, and I felt fear shoot through me. If he changed while he held her, he'd kill her! I was afraid to go to her, thinking my very presence would cause his instincts to take over, but I was afraid not to, in case I could move her to safety before he hurt her.

"What do you mean? Have a real honeymoon? While you're still human? Are you kidding? That's a sick joke, Bella!"

Vaguely aware that both Jasper and Emmett were holding on to me at that point, I heard their worried thoughts trying to advise me to let her work it out on her own.

...go over there, it'll only make things worse, bro...

...entire pack guarding him... have a fight with the lot of them if you aren't careful, Edward!

Bella always drew danger to herself! Even here, at her wedding, a volatile werewolf held her in his hands, moments away from changing forms and harming her... and I didn't dare do anything about it!

Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie were slowly making their way toward the edge of the party to where my brothers were restraining me. Carlisle paused by the band and asked them to play a more lively dance tune, keeping the guests distracted with the party.

...can't have a confrontation here, son. Jacob won't hurt her, be patient.

"I said butt out, Jake! This is so not your business. I shouldn't even be talking about this. It's private - "

She's NOT kidding! That parasite has her convinced that he won't kill her... I've seen how strong vampires are! ...felt it!... know it first hand! ...so much stronger than she is and still my bones were crushed! How can she think ... how can she let him...

"Ow, Jake! Let go!"

He'd made her say ow! The hell he wouldn't hurt her! He just did!

"Let me go, Jasper," I said in a low snarl. "Emmett, you too. Now."

"And what're you planning? He may not have come here looking for a fight, but I wouldn't put it past him to start one with you; only she'd be the one getting hurt in the middle of it," Emmett pointed out.

Jacob shook my Bella, the force of his motions causing her head to snap back and forth. "Bella! Have you lost your mind? You can't be that stupid! Tell me you're joking!"

"Jake - stop!" she protested.

"Lemme go!" I ripped my arms from their grasps and sprinted to her side. It was all I could do not to tear his hands away from her, but Emmett was right; that would only hurt her and endanger her further by me engaging him directly. Stopping just behind her, I snarled, my voice sounding as deadly as I had ever heard myself speak. "Take your hands off her!"

A moment after I appeared, the pack converged on us, all of them growling. Only the fact that my hands were clenched fists at my side kept them from leaping at me. I hadn't touched their brother after all, and he was holding my wife.

To my relief, Seth appeared at Jacob's side. "Jake, bro, back away. You're losing it."

What is he thinking?! How could he think that anything about that would be okay? That... that... foul... leech...tick... bloodsucking parasite!

I knew only too well the truth in Seth's words as I felt the echo of the fire in Jacob's bones that indicated the change to wolf sweep through him. He was barely holding his wolf form back, and his expression changed as he realized what he was about to do. And what would happen to Bella if he did.

"You'll hurt her," Seth whispered. "Let her go."

He hesitated.

"Now!" I added my own command.

Slowly, Jacob's fingers relaxed their hold on Bella's arms. As soon as he drew them away far enough, I replaced his hands with my own, picking Bella up and moving with all of my speed away from him. It must have seemed to Bella as though she was instantly transported from where she stood in front of him to where I had moved her a few feet away. Waiting only long enough to make sure that she had her balance, I moved to stand in front of her, placing myself between the mutt and my wife.

Two enormous wolves bounded out from the trees to stand between Jacob and myself, and I crouched slightly, half expecting them to advance on me. Seth wrapped his arms around Jacob and tried to pull him toward the trees where the rest of the pack waited.

...get him away from the party...

...told him it was a mistake coming here!

...Cullen won't do anything with her there... just make sure Jake keeps his head.

...mean gets his head out of his ass...

...I mean get him out of here. He shouldn't change until we're in the woods.

I relaxed slightly, aware that the wolves weren't going to threaten me. They were more concerned with the mutt who was threatening all of our anonymity.

"C'mon Jake," Seth urged. "Let's go."

He wasn't interested in being calmed down, especially now that Bella was no longer in danger from himself. Unable to take his eyes off of me, he was spitting in his rage. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you myself! I'll do it now!" ...kill you before you can kill her! Do it before they could stop me! He trembled, preparing to allow his wolf to take over.

Sam, the leader of the pack - and the biggest - snarled at him.

Oh no you won't! You attack him and the other ten will be on us in a second.

Even if he could have understood him, Jacob wasn't listening to his Alpha, and was only seconds away from changing. But now, instead of endangering my Bella, he was endangering his brother, Seth. Little Seth, who was only a kid, who had saved my life and Bella's life, who had been my friend, would be hurt by his brother just as if he were a human. He'd heal, but that wasn't the point.

"Seth, get out of the way," I whispered.

He shook his head and pulled on Jacob, tugging him closer to the trees. "Don't do it Jake. Walk away. C'mon."

Sam used his huge wolf form to add impetus to Jacob's movements, and the two of them were able to get him into the tree line. Once there, Jacob shrugged out of Seth's arms and pushed him several feet away. His body was still quivering as he stalked away from the party and finally gave in to his wolf.

You will not go back there, Jacob! Sam ordered in a strange voice, using his Alpha powers of command on the angry wolf. Jacob snarled at his leader, but dipped his head in acknowledgement.

One of the wolves still stood between me and Bella, and the pack in the trees.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's alright now, Bella," I assured her, relieved that Jacob would not be returning.

The wolf in front of us narrowed his eyes at me. ...wouldn't go so far as to say that. ...right about one thing, at least. You're gonna end up killing her even if what you're planning on tonight doesn't. If you return from your honeymoon with her in any condition other than human, none of us will be able to stop him, next time. You do realize that, don't you? We won't even bother to try.

Pressing my lips together, I nodded once.

He coughed a low, derisive huff at me and bounded after his pack.

"Alright," I muttered. Now the entire world knew what we had planned. And they all believed I would kill her. Well, all except for Carlisle and Esme. And, of course, Bella herself. I glanced back at my beloved wife, whose wide eyes still held fear in them. "Let's get back."

"But Jake - "

"Sam has him in hand. He's gone," I said flatly.

Her lips trembled and her eyes filled with shame. "Edward, I'm so sorry. I was stupid - "

I cut her off, unwilling to let herself take the blame, or to ever call herself stupid when I knew that she was anything but. "You did nothing wrong - "

"I have such a big mouth!" she interrupted me. "Why would I... I shouldn't have let him get to me like that. What was I thinking?"

"Don't worry," I whispered gently, brushing my fingers along her cheek. "We need to get back to the reception before someone notices our absence."

She shook her head, glancing back to the brightly lit dance floor. Her eyes held a look of confusion again as she blinked rapidly. "Give me two seconds."

Waiting, I watched her take a few deep breaths with her eyes closed and her expression one of intense concentration. Bella's heartbeat, which had been racing, slowed, and the scent of her adrenaline faded. The calm mask she was able to pull over her features in place once more, she looked into my eyes and swallowed hard.

"My dress?"

Hiding a smile, I assured her, "You look fine. Not a hair out of place."

She breathed deeply a few times more and nodded firmly. "Okay. Let's go."

Relieved to be able to hold her again, I put my arm around her waist and led her back to the dance floor. Pulling her body against mine, I spun us into the crowd of humans. She glanced surreptitiously around. Though she looked unconcerned, that was only for the sake of our guests, and her heart was thumping faster than was normal.

"Are you - " I started.

"I'm fine," she assured me, as she always did. "I can't believe I did that. What's wrong with me?"

Shaking my head firmly, I refused to allow her to believe for even one second that she was anything but perfect. "There's nothing wrong with you."

She pressed her lips together, the edges turning down. "It's over. Let's not think of it again tonight."

The images I had seen that night kept playing in my mind: Tanya showing me the accidentally ruined corpses of the men she'd loved, the bloodless bodies of the men her sisters had loved, the imagined way Bella would look after our night of love. I could see Bella dead in every one of the images that Alice had shown me over the past year and a half and in all of the ways Jacob had imagined. I could remember the images of the victims of the predator I had killed, and pictured Bella in their place far too easily.

"Edward?"

Though I closed my eyes, I couldn't stop the pictures in my mind as I leaned close to her and pressed my forehead against hers. "Jacob is right. What am I thinking?"

"He is not," she protested, firmly. "Jacob is way too prejudiced to see anything clearly."

Rather shocked to hear her censor him in any way, I couldn't answer her right away. Bella saw so much, but when it came to what I was, or to herself, she was blind. My mouth didn't want to form the words to convince her to give up our plans for that night. My body cried out at the thought of not making love to her that night. I wanted her so much, but that only increased her danger - and my fear.

Barely speaking, I muttered, "I should let him kill me for even thinking that I could stop myself from hurting you as I have so many times already..."

"Stop it," she said to my surprise. I hadn't thought she should be able to hear me. She took her hand out of mine and the other off my shoulder. Her warm palms pressed against my cheeks, and I sighed in pleasure from her gentle touch. Opening my eyes, I found her staring at me, her expression determined and fierce. "You and me. That's the only thing that matters. The only thing you're allowed to think about now. Do you hear me?"

"Yes," I said, unable to resist her.

"Forget Jacob came. For me. Promise me that you'll let this go."

Looking back into her melted chocolate eyes, I searched for any signs of fear or doubt, and found none. Nodding slightly, I answered, " I promise."

The hard look left her eyes, and she smiled at me once again. "Thank you, Edward. I'm not afraid."

"I am," I admitted.

"Don't be." She didn't take her eyes from mine as she breathed in deeply and smiled. "By the way, I love you."

I couldn't help but to smile at hearing those beautiful words coming from her lips. "That's why we're here."

My big bear of a brother's laughing voice was in my ear as he tapped me on the shoulder. "You're monopolizing the bride. Let me dance with my little sister. This could be my last chance to make her blush."

Grateful to Emmett for breaking the tension, I relinquished my bride once more.

Striding across the dance floor, my pixie-faced sister met me halfway and was reaching for my hand even before I offered it to her. "I've danced with my mother, my mother-in-law, and my oldest sister. I think it's about time I took my favorite sister for a spin across the dance floor, don't you?"

Her tinkling laughter was light and teasing. "Definitely. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me, what with all the succubi and werewolves vying for your attention."

I scowled slightly at the mention of the mutt, but tried to do as Bella had said, and put him from my mind. "No. Just saving the best for last."

"Hardly the last. Half the senior class has been waiting for the chance to dance with you. I've seen Jessica Stanley deciding to approach you a dozen times, but you keep asking someone else before she can work up her nerve."

"Good!" I snorted. "The last thing I want to do is have to listen to her mind tonight. Mike's was bad enough."

"Well, you should at least give some of them the chance to see what a catch they missed out on."

Glowering darkly at her, I muttered, "I don't know about that. I doubt any of them would be so willing to overlook the fact that I'm a serial killer who - "

"I'll sic my new sister on you, Edward, I swear I will! Don't let those mutts ruin your wedding day. You are not going to kill Bella! Not tonight, not ever."

"Are you sure of that?" I whispered. "You said you couldn't see... That there were too many possibilities."

She sighed in resignation. Edward, I'm not about to go prying into your wedding night. I know that Bella's future as a vampire has never been more certain. Whatever you two decide to do once you get to the island will be between you and her, and is none of my business.

"I appreciate your discretion," I said, my voice still a whisper, "but... Can you at least tell me when I change her? Will it be tonight?"

She shook her head firmly. "I don't know, Edward. I know that it happens, but that's all. The details are up to the two of you, and as neither of you are sure when it will be, I can't be."

I nodded slowly, understanding the limitations of her talent.

"You love her, right?"

"More than anything."

"Don't you want to spend eternity with her?"

I pressed my lips together and nodded.

"Then stop worrying! I know it's practically an enhanced vampire trait of yours, but I know you can do it if you try."

Alice's wind chime laughter rang in my ears at my expression.

"Smile, now. This is your wedding day, and Bella is happy. See?"

She glanced over my shoulder to where my wife was dancing with my brother. True to his word, Emmett was making Bella blush, but at least she was laughing at his jokes. It warmed my cold heart to see her happy again, and my mouth twisted into a crooked grin in response.

"Better," Alice nodded, approvingly.

I took a calming breath and hugged Alice tight. No one had a better family than I did. She clung to my shoulders, laughing as I twirled her about the dance floor.

After Jasper claimed Alice back from me, I heard Jessica's resolve to dance with me at least once, and swept the minds for another option. Spying Angela Weber dancing with her boyfriend, I grinned and strode over to where they were swaying back and forth. I laughed aloud as I caught the jealous outrage in Jessica's mind when she saw me dancing with the sweet human girl. Bella caught my eye, and I winked at her amusement over my dancing partner.

Knowing that this would likely be the last time that she would see any of them, I allowed Bella the chance to dance with everyone who wanted to take a turn dancing with the most beautiful woman on the floor. I would claim her again soon enough.

Tanya was flirting outrageously with the surgeon she had sat beside during the ceremony. Deciding to give the poor human a chance to recollect himself, I cut into their dance, though he was rather irritated with me for doing so.

"I'll admit, cousin, I'm surprised you asked me to dance. I thought you were angry with me."

I sighed and agreed, "I was."

"'Was'?"

"I owe you an apology. Or a thank you. Or perhaps both."

Her eyes grew wide. Surely my ears deceive me! Edward Cullen, apologizing?

"It has been known to happen. Occasionally."

"What brought this on?"

I nodded toward my siblings on the other side of the dance floor. Emmett leaned in to whisper into Rosalie's ear, drawing her attention to me. They both laughed, seeing who I was dancing with, and Rose smirked at her husband in satisfaction.

Tanya chuckled, her voice sounding nothing like either of my sisters'. The strawberry-blond succubus's low voice held a purr of satisfaction. "You Cullens are an entertaining bunch. I will admit, our house was quite lively with that joker around, but your other brother... he's surprisingly unattractive for a vampire."

Knowing why she found him unattractive, and that it was deliberate on his part, I nearly choked with amusement as she scowled in the direction of where Jasper and Alice were indulging in a bit of acrobatics.

Now, you on the other hand...

I saw her intention to step into my embrace closer than was appropriate for either a married man or a cousin and growled at her, "I wouldn't."

I know...

Her golden eyes twinkling with mischief, Tanya moved toward me, but I dropped my arms, turned my back, and walked away. Her laughter followed me as I edged around the dancers to where Bella was dancing with another of our classmates. My blushing bride saw me coming for her, and I didn't even have to interrupt their dance. Her eyes lit up as they met mine, and she seemed to forget her partner. Bella stopped moving with his inept attempts and reached for me. Pulling Bella's warm body against mine, I wrapped my arms around her and vowed not to let anyone else take her from me for the rest of that night.

She laid her head against my chest, where my heart should have been beating for her, and wrapped her arms around my waist. "I could get used to this."

Grinning, I said, "Don't tell me you've gotten over your dancing issues?"

"Dancing's not so bad - with you. But I was thinking more of this." She pressed herself against me tighter than I dared to. "Of never having to let you go."

"Never," I promised. With her body pressed against mine and knowing that neither of us had any intentions of dancing with anyone else that night, the need for her that I had been keeping tightly reined in flared up once more. Unable to resist, I leaned down to capture her mouth with mine.

The rest of the party no longer mattered. Bella was my wife, and I had the rest of eternity to try to make her as glad of that fact as I was. Not caring that we stood unmoving in the middle of people who were dancing all around us, I hugged her carefully and tasted the sweetness of her lips. Her heartbeat sped up as I kissed her, and I smelled the change in her hormones as she responded to my touch.

The satin and lace of the dress under my hands was slippery and soft, but it was her skin that I wanted to feel. The tip of her warm tongue traced my lips, and I breathed in sharply. I had fought to tame my hair before the wedding, but when I felt her hands undoing my work, I didn't care. Alice had coiled Bella's hair skillfully, exposing her neck, and I moved to taste my favorite soft spot under her ear. Though we had never been much for public displays while attending school, neither of us were concerned at all with the fact that we stood in the middle of a crowd of almost everyone that we knew. As far as I was concerned, we were the only two people in the world, and we belonged to each other.

Some part of me heard my sister's voice. "Bella! It's time!"

I found my bride's lips again, nowhere near ready to let her go. Her heart rate increased further still as her body temperature rose. Already warm compared with me, her skin became scalding hot. Even through our clothes, the heat was almost painful against my cold skin. Almost. My skin prickled and tingled as I soaked up her warmth, acutely conscious of every place where her body touched mine.

"Do you want to miss your plane?" Alice demanded.

I continued to ignore her, only vaguely aware of what she was talking about.

"I'm sure you'll have a lovely honeymoon camped out in the airport waiting for another flight." C'mon, c'mon, Edward! Bella needs to change!

Annoyed with my sister for interrupting us, I broke our kiss only far enough to mutter, "Go away, Alice." Bella's lips were mine again and she pressed the length of her body against me.

"Bella, do you want to wear that dress on the airplane?" It's time for you to leave. Go start your honeymoon already! Besides, Jasper's having a difficult enough time dealing with the emotions you two are broadcasting. You aren't the only couple ready to celebrate this night!

I didn't know if Bella even heard my sister's spoken words, but she never stopped kissing me.

"I'll tell her where you're taking her, Edward. So help me, I will." Alice's voice was a low, dangerous growl, the kind that - were she a human hunter - would have meant death to any human unlucky enough to have heard it.

Alice's threat finally penetrated my awareness, and I stopped kissing my Bella. With difficulty, I pulled away from her to glare at my pixie sister. "You're awfully small to be so hugely irritating."

"I didn't pick out the perfect going-away dress to have it wasted," she exclaimed, exasperated with me. Grabbing Bella's hand from where it rested against my neck, she tugged on her, trying to pull my wife away from me and insisted, "Come with me, Bella."

Bella resisted her long enough to press her lips to mine once more. Several of the watching humans chuckled at our enthusiasm and the expression of annoyance on my face as Alice dragged Bella off. Watching Bella walk away from me, I considered reclaiming her. Hadn't I just vowed not to let anyone take her from me? That included my sister! I took a step in their direction with the intention of scooping her up and carrying her into the house myself, but Jasper looped a restraining arm about my neck while Emmett rubbed his knuckles against my scalp.

I didn't really care anymore that Emmett was messing up my hair - Bella had done a thorough job of that already - but I knew that he was doing it now simply because I'd stopped him earlier. Batting Emmett away, I struggled to break Jasper's hold on me.

"Nu-uh, Romeo," Jasper chided me. "Married or not, Alice isn't going to let you see Bella until she's ready, and besides, you need to change too. Go up there now, and you two may never leave. You don't really want to spend your wedding night here, do you?"

My eyes were locked on Bella's slight figure until she disappeared inside. "Fine, fine," I grumbled. Abruptly realizing what leaving the party meant, I felt a fire flash through my veins and my breaths turned into a shallow pant as I breathed in the scent of her that lingered on my lips.

Tone it down, Edward! Jasper thought, shoving me away from him. Ugh!

Chuckling, I shoved him back. "Turn about is fair play, Jazz."

He snorted as I strode away from the party toward the garage where my change of clothes waited. Once out of the tux and into clothes more appropriate for travel, I scanned the garage for our suitcases. Hadn't they been here, earlier? Reaching for my brothers' minds, I snickered as they finished putting the decorations on my Aston Martin. Our luggage was already stowed in the trunk, and the only things missing were the bride and groom. I thought it was high time I corrected that lack.

Carlisle met me as I headed into the house. "Esme and Renee are helping Bella get ready. I'm sure they'll be down in a moment."

I nodded, but didn't slow my steps. If they were that close to finished, I saw no reason why I couldn't wait in her company.

He blocked the staircase with a look of amusement, suggesting firmly, "Why don't you wait down here?"

Guessing that Alice had foreseen my intentions and asked him to intervene, I narrowed my eyes at him and wondered how determined he was to humor her. When he didn't move, I threw my hands into the air, muttering, "Fine."

He chuckled at me and leaned against the railing, watching as I shoved my hands into my pockets and began to pace. "You will be fine, Edward."

I glanced at him, saw his gentle smile, and knew that he was correctly interpreting my nervous energy.

"And so will she," he insisted.

I took a shaky breath and continued to pace.

I want you to remember something for me.

"What's that?"

You love her.

I snorted. "As if I could ever forget."

He chuckled again. She is your wife, your mate, and she loves you, too.

"I know."

Remember how many times and in how many ways you have saved her life.

"You mean how many times I've endangered her life."

"No. I said what I meant. That she is your singer isn't your fault. James, Laurent, Victoria, and her army - they weren't your fault. You have drunk her blood and therefore she is still alive to marry you. God has sent many threats her way, and I believe that he did so for a purpose. I also believe that you have saved her from every one of them for a reason."

"Which is?"

He shrugged. "Who can know?" Perhaps the reason is this very night which you have planned. So that you will be capable of loving her without killing her. Would you have been capable of that before James?

My mouth flooded with venom as I recalled her taste with perfect clarity, but though I could hear the enticing sound of her fluttering heart, I had no desire to go upstairs to drink her blood. "You can't truly believe that God wants her to be a vampire."

And why not? Do you believe that anything happens without His blessing?

I thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer him before lifting a shoulder and repeating his words to him. "Who can know?"

He grinned. "Exactly. We can only try and do the best with what we are given. And she has given you her love."

And tonight she would give me her body.

Struggling to control myself, I waited at the foot of the stairs while our guests gathered around me and on the porch to see us off. My eyes were locked on the top of the stairs just as they had been when I'd waited at the altar. When she finally appeared, I gasped in delight. If I hadn't already seen her in her wedding dress, I would have thought I'd never seen her look more lovely than she did in that moment.

Knowing how I loved the color on her, Alice had indeed dressed Bella in the perfect going-away outfit. The dress was a deep blue that set off the cream and roses of her fair skin beautifully. They had taken her hair out of the tight braids and coils, and her long, chestnut mane hung in rippling waves down her back.

As soon as I saw her, I reached my hand out to her, aching to have her in my arms once more. Bella took my hand with a brilliant smile, but her eyes scanned the waiting crowd.

"Dad?"

I searched the crowd with my mind, finding Charlie standing away from the prying eyes of our guests. "Over here," I murmured, pulling her toward her father. He was struggling to control himself just as I had been, only for a very different reason. He didn't want to say even a temporary goodbye to his little girl, but this was more of a goodbye than he realized, as it might be the last time that he would ever see her.

Bella let go of my hand to wrap her arms around her father, squeezing him as tightly as she could. I saw the moisture on her face, and knew that she was as aware of the truth as I was. I kept my face expressionless, not giving in to the sadness that I felt at taking her away from her life. She had chosen me, and she had chosen to become a vampire, and that meant leaving her human life behind.

Of course, if I could refrain from being forced to change her this night, and we returned - as Esme had suggested - to live for a few months in the cabin they had been preparing, then she would be able to see him again. My resolve to keep her safe strengthened, and I vowed that, no matter how strongly I wanted her or how much my body needed hers, I would not hurt her. Carlisle was right. This night was about Bella, and it was up to me to be strong enough to keep her alive. I caught his eyes and nodded to him, knowing he would understand, as he always had.

"I love you forever, Dad," Bella whispered to Charlie. "Don't forget that."

"You, too, Bells. Always have, always will." In a rare display of affection, he kissed her cheek at the same time as she kissed his. "Call me."

"Soon." She nodded.

"Go on then. Don't want to be late."

We reached for each other again, and I asked, "Are you ready?"

"I am," she said firmly in response to every meaning that question contained.

Pausing at the top of the stairs, I pulled Bella close for a quick kiss before leading her through the crowd. Rice was thrown at us from every direction, and I shielded her from the storm as best as I could as I helped her into the car. My brothers had decorated the Aston Martin as thoroughly as Alice would have. There were flowers and ribbons tied to the mirrors, handles, and vents. Shoes and yet more ribbons hung from the spoiler over the bumper. There would be no doubt in anyone's mind as we drove down the road that this car's occupants were newly married.

As I pulled away from the house, Bella rolled down her window and leaned out to call, "I love you!" back to the family and friends we were leaving behind.

We reached the end of the three-mile long driveway, which was strung with ribbons and lit with more of the twinkling lights, and I squeezed her hand in mine. "I love you."

Bella leaned against me and repeated my words from earlier that evening to me. "That's why we're here."

Chuckling softly, I kissed the top of her head before I pulled onto the highway and shoved the pedal to the floor. The Aston Martin jumped forward, responding instantly to my command, and I sped with my new wife down the highway that led to Seattle. Unable to hold back my ecstatic grin, I ignored the plaintive cry of Jacob's wolf howl that rang through the otherwise still night. He didn't matter anymore. He wasn't a threat to us or our happiness together, and his pessimism would be proven wrong. If Carlisle was right, God Himself had brought her to me, and Bella and I were meant to be together.

Although I was certain that Bella could hear him, she did as she had asked me to do and ignored Jacob, too.

Hesitating only briefly before leaving my favorite car in the dubious security of the airport garage, I wheeled our luggage through the skybridges that led to the terminal for our flight. I kept Bella's hand clasped firmly in mine, easily steering the luggage cart through the various barriers and milling humans. Every time I glanced at her, she had a look of curiosity on her face, but she refrained from asking me any questions until we actually reached the gate.

"Houston?" Her eyebrow arched, and her mouth twisted doubtfully. Her expression made her thoughts apparent to me: What could there be in Houston that had been such a big secret?

Pleased at being able to keep my secret, I assured her that would not be our final destination.

Once we were seated in our wide, comfortable, first class seats, I put my arm around her shoulders and hugged Bella against me. We linked our hands together, and I played with the rings on her finger, waiting patiently for the flight to take off. Occasionally kissing the rings or brushing my lips against her temple, I caught the amused thoughts of several passengers and was delighted at how obvious it was to them that we were newlyweds. Stroking her hair away from her face, I watched her eyes drift shut as the plane climbed into the air.

The view out the window didn't interest me, and I declined the several offers from the stewardess to bring me a drink. I didn't bother answering with anything other than a cold glare the fourth time she made the offer. That it was no beverage she was offering me was obvious, even without my gift, and I was more than annoyed. Did the woman not even see the girl I was holding, or the rings on our fingers? After the persistent woman finally left me alone, I spent the flight gazing at Bella's face, as enraptured by her slight smiles and sighs as I had been the very first night when I had climbed through her window to spy on her.

When we arrived in Houston, I waited to allow the other passengers to disembark before waking Bella. Only the knowledge that striding through the airport with the sleeping girl in my arms would attract the attention of every human prevented me from simply carrying her to the next plane. She could have benefited from my assistance. Barely awake, she stumbled through the terminal. Bella's eyes were glazed, a petulant crease was between her brows, and her lips were thrust into a pout. The way she kept blinking made me chuckle.

It had been so long since I had felt sleepy that I really wasn't sure what she was going through. I was filled with such nervous excitement that only her slow, stumbling steps kept me from sprinting to our gate faster than a human could see. Her eyes teared as she yawned, shaking her head and fighting her body's need for rest. She was leaning against me, staring without seeming to see the signs as I checked us in at the international terminal when she looked at me with surprise in her eyes.

"Rio de Janeiro?"

"Another stop," I said, unwilling to give anything else away.

She frowned, but didn't press me.

I laughed softly to myself as I considered the irony of our journey. Only a few months prior, I had been in Houston, hunting vampires. I had been after Victoria, but I had also sought a coven of vampires who I had thought could help me to find her. I'd found them, killing their leader in the process, but Victoria had slipped away by lying to them about her destination. I'd followed her false trail to Rio de Janeiro - the very city for which I was headed again. At the time, I had been tormented by my decision to leave Bella behind, by the three vampires which I had killed along the way, and by the bloodlust which had kept trying to pull me back to Forks.

During that previous flight, every human on the plane with me had been in danger of me losing control and killing the lot of them. Now, my control was so tight that I barely noticed them. Surrounded as I was by Bella's scent, I knew that when next I tasted human blood, it would be hers, and only as I changed her. I knew also that I would be able to do so without draining her. Hadn't I stopped after James? Surely biting her myself would be no different. Even so, I fought back a shiver, almost eager for that final chance to taste her. And then, never again would human blood cross my lips; hers would be the last. I prayed that she would never know what it felt like to take a life, or how I would feel as I took hers.

Thinking over Carlisle's words, I wondered if he could have been right. Those seven months away from Bella had been terrible for both of us, but the changes they had initiated in me could be the very things that would keep Bella alive that night. Although my throat felt the fire of thirst, that was nothing compared to the flame of desire that was building within me. Now that Jasper wasn't around to combat them, my feelings for her nearly overwhelmed me with their strength. My entire body craved her, and I could not wait to get to the island.

Not waiting for the stewardess to approach me this time, as soon as the plane reached cruising altitude, I requested several blankets and a pillow. I pulled Bella onto my lap and tucked her into the bed of my arms. Again, I spent the flight watching her sleep. When not twining her hair around my fingers, I played with my new ring, getting used to the way that it felt against my skin. I couldn't believe the difference between who I had been the last time I had made that flight and who I was this time. Then, I had been wracked by misery and guilt. Now, I was a happily married man, on my honeymoon with Bella. I grinned and hugged her tighter against me, reveling in my good fortune.

This was a much longer flight, and I didn't need to wake Bella at the end. She stretched against me and breathed deeply, rousing herself. We were circling our destination when she slipped off my lap and back into her seat to stare at the exotic city through the window. I watched her delighted expression and pointed out several of the landmarks.

A look of surprise crossed her face when I retrieved our luggage from the baggage claim area, rather than leading her to yet another terminal. The taxi took us through streets that had become so familiar to me. First, from my explorations as a younger, more innocent vampire after Carlisle had bought Esme her island. Then, off and on over the decades when we had visited, and then again, earlier that year, when fighting the bitter knowledge that Victoria had evaded me. When last I had been in this city, I had lost any desire to live. Now, I had never felt more grateful to exist.

Knowing that Bella didn't understand my instructions to the driver, I smugly spoke to him in Portuguese, despite being aware that he understood English. While we drove, Bella's heart seemed to be unable to decide on a pace. One moment it would stutter, and the next it would race. Her scent was dizzying and I watched her chew her lip while she took in the city through which we were driving. He took us to the docks, where I had arranged to have our latest boat taken out of storage and readied for the last leg of our journey.

About as different from our original sailboat as it was possible for a small craft to be, the speedboat had been one of Jasper's rare indulgences. When he'd seen the old boat we were still using, he had protested that it was time for us to catch up with humanity. Knowing how far the island was from the mainland, I was grateful that he had done so as it would be a much shorter trip in this boat, and I was eager for it to be over.

I carried the large trunks down the docks, leading Bella toward the waiting boat. I leapt in to deposit my burdens before turning to offer my hand to her. She held onto me tightly, stepping with uncertainty from the more stable dock to the lightly rocking craft. Neither of us seemed to be inclined to speech and I wondered if she could be even half as nervous as I was. The way her heart was acting, I wouldn't have been surprised, but she would surely deny it if I were to ask.

After double checking the level of gas in the tank - it was full, as per my instructions - and the levels of all of the additional fluids which a motor required to function, I looked over the condition of the sleek boat, making sure that it had taken no damage, either during its stay in storage or its transport to the dock. All of the joints were tight; I saw no signs of any cracks or peeling that would indicate a structural problem. Briefly starting the motor experimentally, I peered over the side to verify that the water was flowing freely though the cooling system. A few taps on the screen showed me that all of the computer functions were working. The seats hid some standard boating supplies, and I was pleased to see that the life jackets and coils of rope still looked like new. Though I didn't expect her to need one with me around, I knew of Bella's bad luck only too well, and there was nothing wrong with being cautious.

While I moved, I felt Bella's eyes on me, but I avoided meeting hers. I wasn't prepared to answer her questions, and found it easier to resist my nerves by simply moving forward. Finding the boat in perfect condition, I gave her a quick grin as I restarted the motor and aimed the sleek craft toward the open water.

We were headed toward one of my very favorite places on the planet, feeling the salty spray kicked up by the boat as it flew, just barely skimming the top of the water. I inhaled deeply, smelling the complex scents which the ocean carried, along with the wonderfully unique scent brought to me by my very own wife who was clutching the seat beside me. An exhilarated smile overtook my face, and I pushed the boat faster.

At last, her curiosity won and she spoke. "Are we going much farther?"

Glancing at her once more, I laughed at the worried expression on her face and the way she was crushing the seat cushion in her hands.

"About another half hour," I told her, determined to keep my secret as long as possible. When the island's silhouette broke the monotony of the open ocean, I called her attention to our destination.

"Bella, look there."

She squinted in the direction which I had pointed, her eyes roaming the horizon without focusing on the island. Reminding myself that human eyes were different, I waited and watched as she scanned for the island that stood out so clearly to me. When we were only a few minutes away, she blinked, and a look of comprehension and awe crossed her face.

"Where are we?" she asked in a low voice.

Adjusting my angle of approach toward the island, I grinned again at the sound of wonder in her beautiful voice.

"This is Isle Esme," I explained, but refrained from elaborating. Steering toward the dock, I slowed the boat, easily finding the deep bay for which I was aiming. Moments later, the boat nudged the edge of the floating dock, and I killed the engine. The silence was almost startling until I heard the low buzzing of the insects, the whispering of the wind through the trees, and the rhythmic sounds of the ocean. Those were quickly drowned out by the pulsing sounds of Bella's living body, her trembling breaths, and not-so-steady heart beat.

"Isle Esme?" Bella repeated.

"A gift from Carlisle - Esme offered to let us borrow it."

She made a slightly choked noise in the back of her throat, and I clearly remembered her protests at allowing me to buy her so much as a book. Holding back my delighted laugh, I snagged the trunks from where they lay on the deck and sprang onto the dock. Turning back to my wife, I took a moment to memorize her loveliness. Her hair was windswept, her cheeks flushed, and her skin slightly damp from the salty spray. The natural beauty that I loved was enhanced by the make-up that Alice had applied earlier that day. Unable to help myself, I grinned at her and was rewarded with an answering one from her that lit her eyes and sent a wave of warmth through me.

I'd been wanting to hold Bella that entire day and sitting on the plane with her in my lap had not been nearly enough. I reached for her, pulling her right up into my arms.

She giggled slightly, and I supposed she was amused at my enthusiasm as I leapt back onto the dock. "Aren't you supposed to wait for the threshold?"

"I'm nothing if not thorough," I teased.

Grabbing the trunks with one hand, supporting her slight form easily with my other arm, I strode up the well-defined path which Carlisle, Esme, and I had laid so many decades earlier. The island's scent had always intoxicated me, but never had I thought that its aroma would be overwhelmed by the presence of a single human. Neither the flowers that surrounded us nor the salty breeze from the ocean held half the power of Bella's perfect freesia and strawberry scent. However, when combined together, the scent of Bella mixed with that of the island was rich, warm, sweet, salty, and surely the most mouthwatering thing I would ever experience, even if I did live forever.

Striding through the island jungle, I headed directly toward the house on the beach. It was all I could do to maintain a human pace, but I felt that restraint was a good thing. Anything to rein in my growing nervous excitement was a good thing. Besides, I needed to remind myself that being human for Bella was vital to her survival. Her erratic pulse began to pound as we got closer, and her body temperature increased. I eyed her, but she studied the porch lights that were now visible ahead of us and refused to meet my eyes.

I wondered if she was still as confident in my ability to not hurt her - or worse - as she had claimed to be all along. I wondered exactly what she was expecting from me. I wondered what to expect from her. I wondered if I would be able to bring her pleasure, or if that was too much to expect, considering this would be her first time. I wondered if she knew how happy I was to be holding her, to be married to her. A million thoughts and questions ran through my mind until I felt as overwhelmed as I often had in the cities, though there were only the two of us present, and her mind was hidden. I watched her face, but kept as silent as she always was to me.

Finally climbing the stairs onto the wide porch, I set the trunks down and opened the door. Wrapping my other arm around her, I stared at her face until she looked back at me. Holding her eyes, I crossed the threshold of the house I had helped to build, with my beloved wife in my arms.