Hello! Thank you so much for all your kind reviews, for all the alerts and to all the silent readers. It makes me so happy to see how well received is this story.

I didn't update sooner this week, because I had a small accident and had to go to the doctor on tuesday and then I completely lost track of time. It took me by surprise that yesterday was friday, and I swore it was wednesday.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and the next (that I hope to upload today as well)

Stay safe!

PD: In this chapter Bella mentions something about being a distant relative of Carlisle as part of a cover story. With this I mean that this will probably be her cover story for the future for being part of the Cullen Clan.

TWO CENTURIES LOVE

Chapter 13: Emotions.

The Denali family stayed over for a week. They understood that we had a role to play with the humans in terms of school, and while we were pretending to learn something new, they scouted the area and enjoyed the snow-free land. The sisters were quite nice…well, Kate and Tanya were. Irina was a more serious person, but I quickly learned not to take it personally, she just was nervous around new people, and took longer to trust them and be comfortable around them. I didn't know her story yet, as much as Tanya and Kate were willing to share, she was not ready to open up to me just yet.

When the week came to an end, I was sad to see them leave. It had been nice to meet new people and be cheerful and optimistic about it. They were a nice bunch, and I was hoping to see them soon again.

We stood in the doorway, waving goodbye at them. Edward was standing behind me, hugging me from behind, and resting his hands on my stomach.

"They'll be back in a few months for the wedding, love." Of course, he knew what I was sensing or thinking without actually being able to read my mind.

"I'm gonna miss them." I replied. He squeezed me softly.

"Me too." Carlisle said smiling kindly at me.

Since the day I spoke with him about his involvement in Edward's transformation and in our live, he seemed as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was not the man who received me so serious when I first arrived. Since then, he has sought my company in a few instances. He's smart, kind, and compassionate. And if I would have ever thought I would find myself in this situation, playing the part of a distant relative who has come to live under his roof after some sort of situation, I would have chosen someone with Carlisle's characteristics.

"Carlisle, I was wondering if I could have a word with you?" I asked when everyone came into the house.

He looked surprised but nodded, nonetheless. "Is it a private conversation?" His study was one of the few rooms in the house that was completely soundproof. Even for vampires. Esme made sure of it. In a house filled with people who could hear you whispering, having a place to speak in private was a relief, even if there was a mind reader among us.

"Not at all." I smiled gently. We sat in the sofas in the living room, while everyone dispersed around the house. Edward sat beside me. We discussed what I was going to ask Carlisle earlier this week, and he said he would like to be there when I asked.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"There's something I want to ask you." I looked at Edward and he nodded encouraging me to continue. "I was wondering if you'd officiate the ceremony?"

He looked so shocked, so out of place that I wondered if vampires could go into shock. He remained silent for several minutes, his eyes watering with venom tears he couldn't shed.

"Should we call Esme?" I asked to no one in particular.

As I uttered the words, Esme materialized next to her husband. She crouched next to him and forced him to look at her. "Aren't you going to answer them?" She prodded gently.

He shook his head, as if trying to get rid of bad thoughts.

"Do you mean it?" He asked when he seemed to find his voice. Esme was trying to hide her smile.

"Of course, we mean it." Was Edward's immediate reply.

Carlisle stood fast, and out of reflex, the rest of us followed him. Before any of us could think, Edward and I were being hug tightly by Carlisle.

The situation was so strange, and bizarre, that it was almost funny. It was hard to catch Carlisle with his guard down, or to give him any sort of news that would shake him to his core. I would have never thought that asking him to officiate our wedding would shake him so profoundly.

He released us quickly, taking the time to look at each of us. "I'm so moved that you want me to officiate."

"You're important for the both of us, Carlisle. You're one of the people we trust the most. We couldn't think of anyone better to marry us, than you." Edward was more eloquent with words than I was.

Edward's words seemed to bring Carlisle to his old self. He stood straighter, squared his shoulders, and smiled gently.

"I appreciate it, so much. And of course, I will officiate the wedding. It's an honor that you've thought of me." With those last words, he took Esme's hand and left the house; probably to vent and pass out his shock.

"Well…that went well." It was all I could say.

Edward laughed and kissed my cheek.

I needed to ask him about Carlisle's odd reaction, but I didn't want to do it in the house, with everyone listening, so I took his hand and tugged him towards the door in the direction of the forest.

Once we were out of earshot, I asked what I wanted to know.

"Why was he so shocked that we wanted him to marry us?"

He shrugged. "His thoughts were confusing, he was thinking about his guilt, about his past. I'm not entirely sure. My guess is that he was still feeling guilty about separating us and causing so much pain, even if he never meant that. He knew you had forgiven him, he trusted your words, but I guess, he never saw beyond that."

"But he can see we are happy, very much so, and we are so over what happened. It's water under the bridge." Edward shrugged again.

"I know, but I'm not sure I ever understood Carlisle's way of thinking." He smiled amusedly. I smiled back. Carlisle was a unique character, if anyone would present a challenge to Edward, it would be him.

"I think we did the right thing asking him to marry us." He raised an eyebrow in questioning. "This way, he'll see it as mending a bridge, you know. Maybe this will give him some peace of mind. He will marry us, and he will see in a new light how happy we are."

"You're right. I hope he gets over it. Forever is a long time to feel guilty." He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips. But this time, I didn't want soft. I wanted him. And so I had him, many times.

…

…

…

"Alice, I'm not into clothes or designers. If I see something I like and it fits, I get it." I complained as she tried to get me to buy a very expensive shirt. For the price of that shirt I could get many on another store. I wasnt keen on spending too much money on clothes. I just thought it was not worth it.

We went into Seattle for the day, to look at wedding dresses, but with Alice, it was proving to be such a struggle to keep her on a path. I learned to navigate her gift and accept it. In fact, I learned to understand it as much as I was able to. And once I was able to do that, I was able to bond more with her. She was a fun girl to be around. For someone who's always learning about future events, good, bad, and terrible, she's never lost her smile, and her cheerful personality. I admired that. Edward often said that she was lovely and a good listener, and she was. I was sure than in other circumstances I would have reached out to her first, but in this line, I connected more easily with Rose. But I could see the three of us being very close.

"You're spoiling my fun." She complained without heat.

I rolled my eyes. "Can we go and see the dresses already, please?"

"You don't enjoy shopping?" She asked curiously while rummaging through some summer dresses.

"I do like shopping, Alice. And I would love to go with you some other time. But today I want to look at wedding dresses, not summer dresses."

She smiled at me but ignored me. Edward said this could happen. It often meant she had seen something and wasn't going to share the outcome with anyone to not spoil the event she'd seen.

"Why don't you take us directly to the point where your vision comes alive?" I complained. I was not in the mood to shop. It hadn't been a good idea that I came without having hunt first. My last hunt had been two weeks ago, and it had been very filling. I was not hungry/thirsty now, but I could feel myself getting worked up, which meant I needed to feed soon, or I would have Alice's head just for being nice.

"Kill joy." She muttered sticking out her tongue at me. I admit it, the sight made me laugh. She was such a character, and she seldom let herself be put out by anything.

She proceeded to drag me back to the summer dresses. "I saw that if we came here first, you'd see a dress that you'd love and would want to have it as your wedding dress." I smiled widely at her. "You could find your size and If you want to do anything to it, I can do it. It's easier and less messy than going through countless options and wasting time. You're not going to gain any weight, nor lose it, nor get fitter. So, there is no point in getting immersed in all that."

I hugged her, so happy about it. And I still haven't seen the dress. "You're a genius!"

She laughed softly and hugged me back.