*BPOV*

I felt like a weight had been lifted after my little breakdown in the kitchen with Esme and Alice. For some reason, it was easier to believe them when they promised me they wouldn't disappear.

Much to Alice's utter delight, the wedding planning also helped to get me somewhat excited about the upcoming ceremony. She helped me to realize how much the whole shebang would mean to Edward even if it caused me some, ok, a lot of embarrassment.

I would just have to make it a point to get rip-roaring drunk at the reception so no one would believe I was knocked up. I laughed to myself imagining that, but then remembered I was clumsy enough as it was when sober. A drunken version of myself would almost certainly twist an ankle in the ridiculous 4-inch heels that Alice insisted on, and fall right into the cake table. I cringed.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I grinned, knowing without having to look that it would be an incensed text from Alice.

A cool hand stroked the side of my face bringing me back to reality.

"A penny for your thoughts? Although, watching you daydream is just as enthralling as watching you sleep," Edward's eyes were liquid topaz today. He wore my favorite crooked smile.

He was driving me home in my truck where I had been silently watching the world pass by through my rain-streaked window when he reached across the space between us and caressed my cheek.

I reached up and held his hand to my face. I closed my eyes, breathing him in and nuzzling his hand with my cheek. He inhaled swiftly with a soft gasp.

I felt his hand disappear from my face, and before I could process what was happening, he leaned over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and pulled me across the seat to his side. He kept his arm wrapped around me, and my head was now resting against the marble of his shoulder. In this pose, in my old truck, and with his leather jacket, we could have passed as Danny and Sandy from "Grease."

Being the stinker that I am, I was purposefully vague, "I was just thinking about the wedding.".

When I didn't elaborate, he huffed. He was so cute when he was impatient.

"I'm afraid to ask but what is it about our impending nuptials that has you laughing out loud and then cringing," he grimaced.

"Only me, of course. I don't think there is a soul alive or departed that could ever laugh at you, Edward Cullen," I batted my eyelashes at him. His eyes went wide, then turned molten. I continued, putting him out of his fascinated misery.

"I was thinking that maybe I should make it a point to get fall-down drunk at the wedding, and then no one would think I was pregnant. But then I'd probably twist an ankle and fall into the cake," I smiled wryly.

"That's probably fairly accurate considering you're a fall-down-sober," his chest shook with laughter. I scowled in false indignation and smacked his thigh with a thwap that left my hand throbbing. He laughed louder and pulled me tighter to his side.

"Alice texted me her disapproval. Let's see what she said." My phone was in my back pocket, so I had to lean in even closer to Edward, shifting my weight off that side, so I could retrieve my phone. In doing so, I inadvertently pressed my breast fully into Edward's side; he let out a soft groan at the contact. The sound made my heart race, and I was sure he could hear the difference.

Remembering the task at hand, I held the phone out in front of me and read the text out loud.

"OVER MY UNDEAD BODY!"

Edward and I both howled in hysterics. As the paroxysms of laughter faded, I sighed contentedly, and we sat momentarily in comfortable silence.

Edward pulled my truck up against the curb in front of my house and put the gear shift in park, but he didn't release his hold on me.

"I've missed this," Edward said quietly, gesturing to the light mood between us.

"Me too."

I thought about apologizing. I knew my own insecurities were to blame for the darkness that had befallen me as of late, but I also knew he wouldn't hear of it. It would just bring on another round of apologies, and I didn't want any more apologies.

I took solace in the fact that we would be married in just a couple of weeks. And though it was just "a piece of paper," and every bit as breakable as my frail human body, I hoped that the legally binding commitment would somehow strengthen the hold I had on him. He could leave his girlfriend, sure, but could he leave his wife? Probably not as easily, I reasoned.

"So I was thinking," he began. He looked a little...nervous? My eyes widened at his tone. Edward was never nervous. Now I was the one frustrated that I couldn't read his mind.

"Since you seem more willing to leave your house now, I was wondering if you'd like to go out on a real date with me? Things are going to get a little hectic with the wedding coming up, and I'd really just love to spend some alone time with you in the outside world before that happens."

I sighed in relief. I could handle that.

"As long as it's not in Paris, you've got yourself a date."

Before I could utter another word, he had let himself out of the truck and flew over to the passenger side where he held the door open for me, extending a hand to help me down.

I accepted his proffered hand and carefully stepped down to the sidewalk. He pulled me in for a long, lingering kiss that left me dazzled and wobbly. Edward steadied me and wordlessly walked me to my door.

"Thank you, Bella," he gently squeezed both of my hands in his own; his golden eyes were exuberant. I couldn't be sure of what, but it seemed like he was thanking me for something much more significant than a date.

*EPOV*

The rain in her hair had concentrated her sweet, alluring scent, intensifying the flames in my throat. I had grown to love that burn because it meant that she was close, safe, human. The searing pain was a price I'd been willing to pay for the rest of her human life if it would spare her an eternity of night.

That she was so willing to give up her humanity just to spend eternity with a monster such as me... so that she could be a monster herself was a sacrifice that I couldn't wrap my enhanced brain around no matter how many times I tried. How could I ever repay her for that? I couldn't. I already knew that, but I'd spend eternity trying.

"Thank you, Bella," I told her, though it felt wholly inadequate.

"You'll be back after I feed Charlie?" Bella asked after I walked her to her door, a little "v" forming between her eyes.

I smiled at Bella's endearing habit of talking about her parents like they were her children, instead of the other way around.

"And not a moment later," I promised, using my thumb to smooth out the little "v." She smiled at that. I kissed her softly once more and waited for her to let herself inside the door before I made for home.

Not long into my run, I felt the vibration of my phone buzzing in my pocket. I came to a dead stop, fearful it might be Alice with some kind of bad news. That was a constant source of anxiety whenever Bella was out of my sight.

It wasn't Alice though, it was a message from Bella.

Complication. Charlie brought Billy and Jacob home for dinner. Please don't worry. He won't hurt me. (And I won't hurt you.) I'll let you know as soon as they're gone.
Xoxo Your Bella.

Alice called me barely a moment after I had read Bella's text.

Without preamble, I said "I already know, Alice. Bella let me know that the Blacks would be joining her and Charlie for dinner. But thank you for the heads up."

Alice was not used to being beaten to the punch. "Erm, ok. Bye then!" Alice chirped and the line went dead.

I gritted my teeth at the development but kept going back to Bella's message. She knew me so well. First of all, that she managed to get a warning through to me before Alice even did was truly remarkable.

Secondly, the words she wrote, as succinct as they were, went a long way to ease the anxiety I felt about Jacob being with her. He won't hurt me. I won't hurt you.

Was there no end to the amount of goodness in this girl? Her heart and psyche were still battered and bruised from the trauma I caused her, and yet, she was still worried about my feelings.

Xoxo Your Bella

My Bella. A reminder.

I typed out a quick response.

Thanks for letting me know, love. Have a pleasant evening! I'll be missing you and waiting for your call.

That just sounded pathetic. I scrubbed out that last part.

Thanks for letting me know, love. It will feel like a lifetime has passed until I can look upon your exquisite face once more.

Way to sound 105, Edward, I growled in frustration. Right now I felt every bit the 17-year old boy who was stumbling over my words in reaction to this beguiling girl.

And while I appreciated the technology that allowed me to get in touch with her almost anywhere instantly, I cursed the plain, ugly typeface. A handwritten letter in my own perfect calligraphy left a certain je ne sais quoi.

Thanks for letting me know, love. I'll be thinking of your exquisite face every moment I'm gone.

I sighed and hit send before shoving the phone back in my pocket. That would have to do. If she hadn't figured out already how old and pathetic I am, it was only a matter of time. She was to be my wife, after all. I grinned at the thought.

Like the bullet out of a gun, I took off again through the trees.

*BPOV*

"Dad, I'm going to go see if Bella needs any help in the kitchen," I inwardly groaned as I heard Jake seeking me out from where he and our dads were watching a football game.

Dinner had passed by uneventfully with both our dads around to act as a buffer. I was dreading the moment when I knew he would try to speak to me alone.

Billy grunted out an acknowledgment. Moments later the kitchen Jake came striding in the kitchen through the pale yellow swinging door.

"Hey Bella, long time no see," he said in an accusing tone.

"I know you're probably mad at me, Jake. I'm sorry I haven't been up to La Push to see you," I said guiltily.

"I guess it's not your fault if the bloodsucker keeps you away. I'm just glad you're still...you," Jake said pointedly, keeping his voice low.

"You thought I-" I choked off in surprise. I nearly dropped the dish I'd been drying.

"Graduation was weeks ago. And barely any contact from you, so yeah, that's kinda where my mind went," Jake admitted, his voice glum.

It was tempting to let Edward take the blame, knowing there wouldn't be any love lost between the two of them anyway, but Jake deserved to know the truth.

"I've been in a bit of a funk these past few weeks. I haven't been over to see the rest of the Cullens until today if it's any consolation."

His eyes opened wide at my revelation.

"I don't understand. He's back. I thought you were, like, all happy and in love with him again."

I smiled patiently, not expecting him to understand.

"I am happy and in love. I just...haven't been able to convince myself that he won't just take off on me again if he thinks he's doing the right thing."

"He would be doing the right thing, Bella," Jake replied acidly.

"Don't start, Jake," I said wearily. "Let's go outside so we can talk." I headed through the back door that led to the yard, and he followed behind. The kitchen was too small for this conversation.

"Listen, Jake, there's something I need to tell you, and you should hear it from me. You're not going to like it, so go stand over there, just in case."

"Why don't I like the sound of that, Bella?" Jacob replied, but did as I asked. He was twenty feet away now. "Alright, just spit it out."

"Edward and I are getting married." Jacob screwed his eyes shut, his fists were clenched at his side.

"Why?" he spat through his teeth, his eyes screwed shut. "You're just barely 18 years old? What's the hurry? Did he knock you up with his leech spawn?" Jacob sneered. He was shaking now.

Now I was also clenching my fists and straining to keep my own temper in check.

"You need to calm down, Jake. It's just a piece of paper, right? Nothing compared to what you thought had already happened to me," I downplayed trying to deescalate the scene that was unfolding in my backyard.

"If it's just a piece of paper, then why are you doing it?" Jake seethed.

I wasn't about to tell him that that was the only way Edward would agree to change me himself. So I settled for, "If I'm never going to get to see anyone again, I want to give my parents and friends the best possible ending to remember me by," I said gently.

Jake's breath came out in a rush. His voice was a strangled rasp. "You wouldn't have to die to be with me, Bella. Why can't you see that?"

"He's the reason I breathe, Jake. Why can't you see that?"

The shattered expression on Jake's face made me want to take it all back, but I couldn't. I refused to hurt either one of them anymore with my selfishness. I knew which one of them I couldn't live without.

Jacob seemed to be more in control of himself now and he stomped toward the house, brushing my shoulder as he passed me.

"Dad, it's time to go!" he called inside as he slammed the screen door shut behind him. My chin trembled as I considered that that was not the only door being slammed shut between Jake and me.