Author's Note: I like to go back after a while and re-read my stories. Several reviewers said this one needed more of an epilogue and I agree. Happy 10th wedding anniversary Edward & Bella (based on the dates in the movie). This is set 10 years in the future from the last chapter. I hope it's what you wished for!
"Happy anniversary, my love." Edward said, kissing me softly.
"Happy anniversary." I repeated, looking up at him and still just as dazzled as ever. His copper hair was a mess. His golden eyes were alight with love.
"I've got an errand to run before our party this evening. I regret that you can't come with me. Alice is wanting to do your makeup. I tried to talk her out of it. She insisted and then showed me some rather concerning visions of her plans for my car collection if I didn't agree."
"But why? She knows I don't wear it often and you don't mind if I go without it. Am I not worth more than your car collection?"
"I love you just the same either way. But tonight is a special occasion. And you are worth more than everything in the world. You know that. She insists."
"Fine, but I'll miss you!" I said, still hating to be apart from him for even a few minutes after all these years. "What sort of errand would pop up on our anniversary?" I pouted.
"One that involves your gift." he teased.
"You know I don't like presents."
"You loved your wedding present." he said, reminding me of one of my most vivid human memories. One I would never let fade. Our cabin, snuggling naked for the first time with finally no barriers between us or rules about touching. Finally, our first time making love as husband and wife. We spent what felt like months doing just that, at least a few times a day, and yet he was still just as irresistible to me.
"Very much." I agreed. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay and reminisce on that? Perhaps a little reenactment as well."
He laughed, his eyes sparkling. "Later, I promise. I love you." He kissed my forehead and disappeared in a flash.
"I love you too."
"Bella!" Alice said, skipping into the room in her usual excited manner. She had a duffel bag full of makeup. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"Did you go buy the entire Sephora store?"
"Not far from it." she giggled.
"And how long do you intend to torture me with it?"
"Not near long enough!" she said, sitting down beside me on the bed. "Besides, you know you love it."
"I love time with you, not your makeovers."
"Well, you're going to be really happy when I'm done. I promise."
"We aren't having a big party tonight, are we?"
"Only the biggest I could plan!" she joked. "Don't pretend you haven't started to enjoy our little parties and gifts after all these years. I know better."
"I just want alone time with Edward." I said, my desire for him having grown stronger through the years rather than fading. He was very much a part of myself. It was painful to be away from him for more than a short time, and absolute bliss when I could be with him.
"That's practically all you two have done for the last ten years! You're so much worse than Rosalie and Emmett were, or so I'm told. Thankfully we joined the family a little later." She smiled and I knew that she was joking, but it wasn't far from the truth either, though we hadn't destroyed any cabins. A few beds, for sure.
"You act like it's a bad thing."
"No, we're all thrilled for you both! I can't remember the last time Edward brooded or called himself a monster."
"It's not like you all don't enjoy the same activities in the night."
"Of course, we do." Alice laughed. "And you guys have always joined us when we needed you or insisted on dragging you away for a vacation or a party. We're happy for you. That's why we're throwing such a big party tonight! Start with these." she said, handing me a pair of brown contacts.
"Why would I need to wear contacts? We aren't going to be around any humans, are we?" I had to wear contacts on occasion the first few times we went out in public after my change, usually Edward taking me on a date to the movies or for a stroll through town to get acquainted with my surroundings, though we hadn't left home much. We had our happy ever after in our little cabin, though we were sure that we'd need to move soon.
"They're a surprise for Edward. To remind him of your eyes when you were human. You'll need to change them every few hours."
"Oh." I said, considering them.
"Don't be sad. You know he loves you even more like this now that he doesn't have to hold back with you or leave you behind when he goes to hunt. I just thought it would be a fun little reminder for him."
"It will." I agreed, though I knew he had said many times that he loved me in any form. I didn't think he still had a preference.
She pulled out a blue cream stick then and I raised my eyebrow as she reached for my neck with it. "Just close your eyes and enjoy being pampered."
"This feels like some weird fetish thing."
She snorted laughing. "It's not. I promise. Wait until you see how happy it will make him."
I felt odd, to tell the truth. Edward said he never once regretted changing me. From the second I woke up, he wore a smile that never seemed to go away. We both expected that I would open my eyes a bloodthirsty monster but that was so far from the truth. At first, I heard his voice speaking my name as a question. There was an anxiety there yet I could only focus on the beautiful sounds, soft as velvet. When I opened my eyes to truly see him for the first time, he held all of my attention. I forgot how to even breathe, though it was no longer necessary. He repeated my name again softly and, in an instant, we were kissing. I barely even had to think about moving and then my lips were on his. He had laughed loudly and pulled back just enough to let me know that I was dangerously stronger than him and that he was the happiest man in the world. We made love several times before either of us could speak or consider the burn in my throat. Hunting was easy. Afterwards, the smile on his face was the most incredible thing I had ever seen. My beloved pessimist had turned into an optimist just like that. It was a nice change.
"What on Earth are you thinking about?" Jasper asked, stepping into the room with a grin, snapping me back to the present moment.
"Her husband, of course. What else?" Alice asked back.
"Pretty much." I said, already waiting impatiently for him to get home. "Why do men wait until the last minute to do things?"
They laughed, the look in their eyes telling me they knew something that I didn't. "He's going to know you said that." Jasper said.
"So?"
They both laughed again. "I'm glad you aren't as shy anymore." Jasper said. "It's fun."
"She's never been afraid to stand up to Edward. Not once she got her confidence back." Alice agreed. "He needs that. Now, Bella, I've been very careful to hide the visions I've been getting from him but I know you're planning a surprise for him too."
"I am." Edward and I had mostly kept to ourselves, with frequent visits to the family, over the last decade. It had been a couple of weeks since we visited the Denalis in Alaska for the first time together. Eleazar theorized that I had a gift. Some sort of shield, likely able to block mental powers. He insisted that I would be able to control it, but I wasn't so sure. There wasn't exactly a way to test it out, though Kate tried to help me a few times while we were there.
As we drove home, I theorized in my mind if there would be a way to learn to lift or remove it around Edward. At most, I had succeeded in allowing Kate to shock me a little, like static electricity. I hadn't been able to feel her full power no matter how hard I tried.
I had a theory though, one that I intended to test when Edward and I were again alone as an anniversary present. "Does it work?" I asked Alice.
"In the visions I've had, it definitely works." she giggled. "But I'm trying to not spoil your surprise for him."
"Won't you spoil his for me? Where did he go?"
"I'm not telling." she insisted. "Almost done. Just a few more minutes."
"Jasper?"
"Nope. Not my place."
"Does everyone know where he is except for me?"
"Of course, we do." Alice said with a giggle, standing up and leading me towards a large mirror.
"I look human." I said in shock, noticing not just my brown eyes, but a faint blush on my cheeks and even hints of pale veins around my arms and neck. It appeared shockingly natural. I was still enhanced by the venom, more beautiful than I ever imagined being but to a human, I would pass as one of them. I even looked slightly older.
"And as lovely as ever." she said, pushing Jasper out the door playfully with her hands on his butt as she went into the closet. "Now, for clothes-"
"No ball gown this time?"
"No ball gown." she laughed. She had gone all out for our fifth anniversary, throwing a ball in our honor, though thankfully she had the sense to keep the guest lists to immediate family, knowing that we would disappear early on back to our cabin. It wasn't always sexual. We truly enjoyed our alone time together, even if just laying in bed and reading a book. It was nice to not worry about anything and to just be together without all of the stress we experienced in our early years.
She handed me a pair of loose-fitting jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. "I'm not complaining, but all of that makeup and makeover just to dress me like this?"
"It was your favorite type of clothes to wear as a human, was it not? Comfortable?"
"Still is."
"Exactly. I'll leave you be to get dressed. He will be here in ten minutes!"
"Finally."
"You haven't enjoyed your time with me?" she pouted.
"You know I love you, Alice. I just want my husband."
"He'll be so happy to hear you say that."
"He always is." I agreed. Not much had changed between us in the last decade. Our love had only grown stronger. We had grown more into ourselves and in turn, into each other. We both felt like an extension of the other, caring for the other and knowing what we wanted on instinct.
"Now, stay upstairs until he gets here." she said sternly.
"Why?"
"Because no peeking."
"You're no fun."
"I'm the most fun and you know it." she said, gathering her supplies and leaving the room. "I know you love me."
"I do."
I stood there impatiently, counting the minutes slowly until his return. I missed him so much. Many humans would have been annoyed with each other spending so much time together. Vampire mates were different. We could never get enough of our other half.
"Bella?" he shouted up the stairs. It was odd to hear him shouting in a house of vampires with perfect hearing. I assumed he was just doing it to be dramatic.
"Walk downstairs slowly. Take your time." Alice said when I passed her room. I assumed it was so she could watch his reaction as he saw my makeover. I did as requested.
As I got halfway down the stairs, I smelled a human. It was familiar. I wasn't sure why. I heard a thudding heart. It didn't tempt me. Edward was amazed to discover I never was tempted by human blood. Carlisle theorized it was because it disgusted me so much while I was still human myself.
Then, my eyes found Edward. Alice appeared to have given him a makeover too. She had subtly contoured his face and painted faint veins on him as well. He looked almost human. I felt my face scrunch up in confusion, but then I saw who was standing beside him.
"Dad!" I exclaimed, smiling, and using all of my concentration to not finish running towards them at vampire speed.
"Surprise!" Charlie and Edward shouted together. I laughed and ran to hug them both. It had been a long time since we visited my father. We had seen him a few months after my change but he had been suspicious that something was different.
We had resorted to phone calls and emails after that to keep him safe from our secret, assuring him that we were having a ton of fun traveling the world. We did do a lot of traveling together a few years in, always coming home to the family after a few weeks.
The reason Alice had done my makeup so oddly suddenly made so much more sense. It wasn't for Edward. It was for Charlie. Her and Jasper came down the stairs then too, holding hands and sporting matching human makeup too, followed by Carlisle and Esme, who appeared not only human but also aged. Both of them had tiny streaks of grey sprayed into their hair in a way that looked natural. It would definitely appear natural to human eyes. Emmett and Rosalie were off on their own travels. They had called us with their congratulations and sent flowers over that morning instead.
"You look absolutely beautiful, Bella. Happy anniversary." Charlie said, smiling hugely with his arm still around me.
"Thank you. It's so good to see you, dad! This definitely wasn't the surprise I expected!"
"I was starting to think you'd never visit when Edward called and asked if I wanted to fly out to surprise you."
"I told him we were just getting back in the country from China." Edward said quickly.
"I loved China." I said honestly. We had spent a few weeks there just last month. "I've missed you though."
"It's been too long."
"Everyone have a seat." Esme said, gesturing us towards the couches to get comfortable, mostly for my father's benefit.
"Are you done traveling now?" he asked.
"I'll go anywhere she asks me to." Edward said, kissing my forehead.
"I'm not sure." I answered honestly. "I think we've decided it's time to go to college."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. We've been talking about it for a long time."
"I'm proud of you. I've kept all of your letters. You haven't missed much in Forks." He caught me up on the last ten years of drama in Forks then. I was so happy to see him. Edward squeezed my hand and I squeezed his in return. After a few hours, Esme offered Charlie a chance to nap and freshen up in the guest house she prepared for him. I always wondered why she bothered to build one on the property since we rarely had visitors and didn't need sleep. It made sense now.
"I'm getting old. I like my mid-day naps. I'm sure the guest house will be much nicer than my desk at work." he said with a laugh.
"Definitely." I agreed.
"It's so good to see you."
"You too, dad." I said sincerely before Esme led him outside. "You all knew." I added once the door shut behind them.
"We did." Carlisle said.
"Thank you, everyone. You all didn't have to do this for me. You've gone through so much trouble-"
"You're family, Bella. We're grateful that this is one thing we didn't have to take from you. We wish we'd thought of it sooner. Happy anniversary!"
"Thank you."
"He's going to stay the week." Edward said quietly. "He's so happy to see you too. He doesn't suspect a thing. Esme has the guest house all set up with a bed and shower and some snacks for him. We're going to try to all be busy during mealtimes, but you and I may have to choke up some human food a few times so he doesn't start to notice no one eats."
"Sounds romantic."
"Very." he agreed with a laugh. He looked at me in the usual way he did to take my breath away. As if I were the most precious thing in the world to him, with just a hint of mischief and desire under the surface.
"Can we go to our cabin for a little while? I have a present for you as well."
He smiled crookedly at me and stood up, appearing at the door in an instant and holding it open for me. "After you, my love."
We walked at a human pace through the yard just in case and then took off at vampire speed through the trees, arriving at the cabin within minutes.
"Edward." I said once the door closed behind us, grabbing him, and kissing him passionately, every touch of his hands along my back and my face sending small, pleasant sparks down my spine. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"I expected that you would buy me jewelry or another car. Maybe some books or a nice date somewhere. Never this. I thought seeing him again was impossible. I didn't believe we could possibly be convincing enough ever again."
"Alice says everything will go just fine. We just have to remember to reapply our makeup every night as he sleeps and get up on occasion to pretend to use the restroom, which would be a good time to put in new contacts. And watch our speed."
"And not growl at our husbands in front of him."
"Is that so?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"When I saw you standing there, it was so hard not to pounce you and tell you how much I missed you."
"You can do that now if you'd like." he purred, leaning his face close to mine.
"Wait!" I exclaimed before he could distract me. "Your anniversary present."
"My present is right in front of me." he insisted in a low voice that made it nearly impossible to concentrate due to my desire for him. I wondered if it would ever fade, yet immediately knew that it wouldn't.
"It is." I agreed. He looked at me questioningly. He was amused, but impatient. I giggled. "Hold still. Don't move."
"Alright."
I concentrated then as hard as I could on pushing away the shield that I visualized in my mind. I had been practicing every time we were apart since we visited Eleazar, though it was never for long. His stillness turned into a complete freeze, holding even his breath as I felt it slip away from me.
I recalled all of my favorite memories with him, both as a vampire and the dull ones I treasured dearly from my time as a human. Our reunion. Our wedding. The first night together as husband and wife. Each anniversary. A few random dates and holidays. Our high school graduation. The night he saved me in Port Angeles and took me out to dinner. Hundreds of hours spent in our meadow and in his room at the house in Forks. Mostly, the strong emotions of my love for him and how completely happy and whole I felt as a vampire and his wife, always by his side.
"Bella…" he whispered.
"Do you see how much I love you? How perfect my life is? You still surprise me every day by making it a little bit more so."
"I love you so much." he said, crashing his lips to mine. He felt warm to me now. Our bodies were in tune with each other and we were out of our clothes in seconds. "Everyone says our honeymoon phase should be over. That ten years of being obsessed with each other is extreme. I couldn't disagree more. I will never want any less of you."
"Nor I you." I agreed. "I'm yours forever."
"And I'm yours." he said, bringing us together again in the way that made us both feel the most complete as we enjoyed a few hours in private before joining the family for dinner. I had everything I have ever wanted.
