Forwarded To My Future

by Foenix2phorks

Complete. Bella is resigned to living a boring and unfulfilling life until she's old enough to graduate. But that was before fate stepped in. Looking up from her lunch tray, she sees four perfectly sculpted, pale faces - plus a bronze-haired, green eyed boy known for his gentility. He's not like the other boys in Forks. Can he help make her life a little more interesting? AU.

30. Addicted To Love

Chapter 30- Addicted To Love

July 28, 2006

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"My goodness, but I never expected for Esme to look so young. And beautiful! Do you know if she's had work done?" Mom questions with bright blue eyes.

Mom and Phil's plane touched down in Seattle yesterday afternoon. Earlier this morning she met Esme Cullen face to face for the first time. The two of them had bonded during their long distance phone calls this past month and a half. And to say that Mom was dumbstruck by Esme's beauty and charm is an understatement.

But her curiosity leaves me uncertain of how to handle this delicate situation. For a moment, I freeze up. Then I give an awkward laugh. "No plastic surgery that I know of. Esme's just blessed in the good looks department, I guess."

"They all are," Charlie adds with a side twitch of his dark brown mustache.

The three members of my family stand with me outside of the only half decent restaurant in Forks, The Lodge, and wait for everyone else to arrive before we enter. Tonight we're having a small, private dinner in what Alice has referred to as a getting-to-know-you soirée for our families. In her eagerness to make the night special, she rented the entire restaurant for the night. So - as I try not to panic over how in roughly twenty-four hours I'll be expected to walk down the aisle without falling flat on my face - I will be also surrounded by my parents, Phil, the Blacks, the Cullens, and their invited guests from Alaska. The thought of meeting these "cousins" of theirs for the first time isn't helping my nerves either. From what I've heard, the members of this Denali coven are drop-dead gorgeous, animal blood drinkers just like them.

Now that I am thinking about it, I should probably go ahead and think up something to explain their appearance. God only knows what Mom is going to start blurting out once she's surrounded by almost a dozen unearthly beautiful beings who don't eat anything on their dinner plates. Maybe if I tell her they're originally from Beverly Hills, she'll assume they are just rich, eccentric humans who have an unhealthy dependence on Botox injections.

These past few weeks before the wedding have been hectic. Edward has been my only anchor as I ride through the storm. All it takes is a few whispered words and his hand in mine, and I temporarily forget about my high stress levels. Many last minute decisions regarding the ceremony, reception, and our future home had to be made. Alice was the one mainly in charge of the first two tasks, but Edward and I had to deal with the latter. Thankfully, we had Esme to help us scout for a decent place to live in Ithaca. She traveled there, took some snapshots, and explained each potential property's pros and cons. At first I had my eye on an apartment near Cornell's campus. One bedroom, a cramped bathroom, and a living room/kitchen combo made up its floorplan. It wasn't fancy (and I admit it was kind of small), but it had just enough space for the two of us. Plus, it earned bonus points because it was cheap. Edward crinkled his nose up at the pictures of the apartment, clearly displeased by the prospect of living there. I pointed out it would be easy to keep clean. He hinted that there would be no room for visitors, or his vast music collection.

A few properties later, Esme showed us a photo of a blue Craftsman style house. Four bedrooms. Three bathrooms. A large living area. The house was ridiculously huge considering only two people would be living there full-time. It was an old property that appeared charming on the outside but needed a few minor renovations on the inside. But when Esme gushed over how the downstairs back room would be "perfect" for Edward's grand piano and music collection, he was sold. I wasn't. I had seen the price. It had more zeros attached to it than I was comfortable with seeing. Edward defended the house by saying we would have plenty of space for when the Cullens or my parents inevitably visit. It was plain to see that he had fallen under its spell. I decided to hold off on saying no for the time being until I could think of a nice way of crushing his hopes.

A few days later, Esme produced more photos of the house's interior. She showed me its built-in bookshelves, a quaint window nook in the living room, and the comfy cushions which tempt you into curling up with a good book for an afternoon of reading.

So now Edward and I own a house in New York state that neither one of us has seen with our own eyes.

Once our housing situation had been settled, Alice bombarded me with other matters she deemed "urgent". First of all, she wanted to organize a bridal shower. My logic told me that Edward and I don't need our friends to gift us with embroidered hand towels and electric crock pots. I had the distinct feeling that once we step inside of our new home in early September, we will find a fully furnished house with everything we could possibly need. Alice couldn't deny it when I confronted her. She admitted that while Esme has been heading up the house's remodeling project, she has also ordered the essentials for the place.

After I shut down the bridal shower idea, Alice refocused her begging on something much worse. A bachelorette party. I couldn't believe she would even think I would approve. There's no doubt in my mind my mom would find out about it and want to join the party. And that's just too much of a risk. I know the woman too well. She would call up some Chippendale dancers to jiggle their goods in my face while she stuffs dollar bills into their Speedos. And that's definitely not a Bella approved, mother/daughter activity.

To add to the recent chaos, there was the incident which I have christened as Shoe-gate. It began as something small, yet it quickly blazed out of control. Alice had been yapping for the past month or so about how fantastic I will look on my wedding day. I had seen my gown and agreed it was just right for me. But I drew the line at a pair of matching ivory white shoes she had ordered. They were beautiful, of course. However, I don't possess RuPaul's graceful gait or Alice's sense of balance, so I had to politely pass on the wedge heels of potential disaster. Alice pouted and urged me to at least give them a try before refusing them. I crossed my arms at my chest. Alice pleaded with me to stop being stubborn. I rolled my eyes. Alice pouted some more. And then she offered a solution.

The very next day we were in Seattle searching for appropriate flats at her favorite department store. We found a pair within around fifteen minutes. The shoes are pearl white, fit like a dream, and feature tiny teardrop rhinestones that sparkle like diamonds. They also have anti-slip treads. Since I will be expected to slow dance with Edward during the reception, I desperately needed something safe to wear.

But what Alice conveniently neglected to mention beforehand was that the shopping trip was for more than shoes. She revealed that we needed to purchase items for my "trousseau". The term sounded vaguely familiar but for the life of me I couldn't recall what it meant. She explained that a trousseau is compromised of all the clothes a newly married woman may require during her honeymoon period and beyond. This was alarming news. I had heard many horror stories concerning Alice's extended shopping sprees. Two years ago, she supposedly bought out one boutique's entire inventory and needed two moving vans to get everything back home. She always claimed that the family was grossly exaggerating her shopping addiction and that I shouldn't believe everything they say. While that very well may be true, I would have rather hitchhiked to Forks on my own than test out that theory. I immediately began planning out ways to flee the department store before it was too late. But Alice was one step ahead of me that day. She held up a pair of crotchless, practically see-through, panties that I wouldn't be caught dead in and asked in a loud voice what color Edward would like best. Afterwards, I spent around seven hours being dragged from store to store just to make sure she wouldn't try to slip anything too raunchy into our shopping bags. Knowing her, she'd then sneak something embarrassing into my suitcase and Edward would find it during our honeymoon. Obviously, I couldn't let that happen. So thanks to Alice, I now have enough clothes to last for the rest of my life. And I have no plans on shopping ever again.

The only bright side to the shopping experience was that it allowed me to do some snooping. Edward has been really irritating lately about wanting to surprise me with things. First a proposal. Now the honeymoon location. All he has said regarding our trip is that we will be flying somewhere far away and we'll have a great time. That information is useless. He could take me to a seedy motel in Port Angeles and I'm sure we would have "a great time". I was well aware that the Cullens know the location. Including Alice. And since she was shopping for my honeymoon wardrobe, she would likely buy clothing appropriate to its location. I assumed if I kept my eyes peeled for clues, I might be able to take an educated guess on where Edward and I are going.

First I saw her grab a few sweaters. I concluded the place must get a little chilly. Next she grabbed a pair of snow boots. That lead me to believe my honeymoon would take place somewhere with lots of ice and snow, like the Himalayas. Then she bought sandals in my size, a thin sundress, and a few swimsuits. Oh. And I can't forget the snorkel mask. I began imagining an exotic, tropical island paradise, topped with an ice cold mountain. The possibility intrigued me until I heard someone snorting with laughter nearby. It turns out Alice was on to my plan the entire time. She was intentionally grabbing random clothing items to throw me off - though she did congratulate me on the creativity of my strategy. Unfortunately, I still have absolutely no idea where I'm going with Edward.

Tonight I am wearing an Alice approved outfit, a gray pantsuit with a white blouse. Charlie has on a button-up shirt with a dark red necktie, which is another Alice approved ensemble. He keeps shuffling his feet and yanking at the knot of his tie. Several times I have had to come to his rescue and straighten it back. He seems even more nervous about this big family gathering than me. At least there will be food there to comfort him.

At five minutes till six o'clock, two vehicles come into view on the highway. I recognize them immediately. The first is Carlisle's black Mercedes. The second car makes my blood pump a bit faster. It's silver and shines like a beacon in the twilight. Edward directs a smile at me right before he parks the Volvo in the restaurant's parking lot. My rational side forces myself to stay in place and wait for him to join me. Yet my instincts are telling me to sprint over there, pin Edward to the hood of the car, and attack him with everything I have. I haven't seen him at all today and I very badly want to express how much I missed him. Although the scenario is very tempting, I am aware things might get awkward around here if the two of us get arrested by my dad for lewd acts committed in public.

While Edward's arrival distracts my concentration, I don't take much notice of what's going on around me. It isn't until I hear a strange gasp do I look away from the Volvo. Carlisle, dressed in a tan sports coat, introduces himself to Mom and Phil. This is the first time either one of them have laid eyes on the patriarch of the Cullens. Phil's Adam's apple quivers in his throat as he stumbles out a weak hello. Mom stares and stares, barely blinking. I'm not sure if it's fear doing that to her or it's the fact that the vampire in front of her looks like a blonde version of silent film heartthrob, Rudolph Valentino. I get my answer once Carlisle compliments her dress. Her reaction is to giggle maniacally, like a teenage girl being flirted with for the very first time.

While she recovers from her swoon, Jasper saunters up, giving her a slight head nod of acknowledgement. She appears fine with the attention until he speaks.

"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am," he greets, choosing tonight to slip in his usually subdued Texas drawl.

Mom's bubbly giggles fill the air once again, evidently overcome by his cowboy appeal.

Then, as though there is a competition among the three vampires to discombobulate my mother, Emmett worms his way over and offers her his chilled hand to shake. Mom inevitably comments on his well-built physique. Not requiring any further encouragement, Emmett rolls up his shirt sleeves to display his bulging biceps. His muscles flex and dance, in the style of Popeye the Sailor Man after he eats a can of spinach. Mom's giggles morph into oohs and ahhs of delight.

Well...this is going better than I expected. They're doing such an excellent job at overwhelming her senses, Mom may never get a chance to ask them why they look like anemic Abercrombie & Finch models.

Warm lips press a kiss to my cheek. "Hello, love. You look divine," a voice, smoother than silk, whispers.

I suddenly forget all about Mom's fascination with my male vampire friends.

"Thanks," I smile up at Edward. I intentionally pause and allow my eyes to drift over his frame. "And I guess you don't look so bad yourself," I add as though it's only an afterthought. But who am I kidding? He's wearing a navy blue blazer and khaki pants. Of course he looks incredible.

He chuckles into my ear. "Hungry?"

I nod a couple of times. "Starving."

Hearing my declaration from a few feet away, Alice takes the initiative and ushers everyone inside of the restaurant. Billy rolls inside a couple of minutes later, but without his son. Jake has patrol duty this evening and won't be able to show up until later. Meanwhile, the Denali cousins ring Carlisle's cellphone to let him know they are still about an hour away from Forks. Alice gives the go ahead for us to eat. It's not like the Denali clan will be upset because we ate without them. In fact, they're probably running late on purpose just to avoid having to place any food inside of their mouths.

The dinner is an informal affair. We break off into small groups to eat and talk. Charlie and Billy chomp down on t-bone steaks while watching some sporting event on the TV near the bar. Emmett sits beside them and cheers at the action on screen more than he pretends to eat his "dinner". Rosalie takes a few minuscule bites from her plate and watches the three males with an empty expression on her face, not bothering to conceal her boredom. I can't fault her in that. Baseball doesn't excite me either.

Across the room, Carlisle cuts up his pork chop into tiny pieces while chatting to Mom and Phil about his work at the hospital. Phil seems more at ease now than he was a few minutes ago. He's even asking questions to contribute to the discussion. And Mom appears just as enthralled by the handsome doctor as ever. At one point, he casts a pleasant grin that sends her into a bedazzled state. Looking at me immediately afterwards, all she can do is mouth the word "wow".

Edward and I sit at a corner table off by ourselves, trying to catch back up on everything we missed. The last time we were together was yesterday morning. Unfortunately, we haven't seen one another as much as we would like lately due to all the upcoming wedding chaos. I tell him about how Mom lost her new cellphone at the Port Angeles pier this afternoon. She searched her purse. It wasn't there. We scoured the benches around the pier. It wasn't there. We eventually had to accept that it had either been stolen or had fallen into the dark waters below. She shed quite a few tears at how her expensive gift from Phil was gone forever. Then we heard a familiar but muffled ringing nearby. It came from her bra. Why she would stuff her phone in there when she had a perfectly good purse remains a mystery to the both of us.

Edward's day mainly consisted of Alice "helping" him pack his luggage for our honeymoon trip. I'm sure this is code for "Alice did it all herself while I watched from a safe distance". This strategy is for the best. Alice is similar to a whirlwind when she packs, her exuberance causing her to toss clothing and other personal items through the air at high velocities. It's always a good idea to just sit back and allow her to finish before you investigate what she put in your suitcase.

Not long after the dinner plates are carted off by the waitstaff, a man and woman stroll in from outside. Their skin is very pale compared to mine, however their slight olive tone contrasts with the Cullens' chalky-white complexions.

"Eleazar! Carmen!" the leader of the Cullen clan calls out.

Carmen smiles and takes a few steps over to Carlisle. He accepts a hug and laughs at something she said. While they talk, I quietly admire her. Carmen's wavy hair is a dark brown, almost black in color. Her yellow-brown eyes shine in the dim light of the room, giving her appearance a mysterious quality. I also notice she boasts a more matured beauty than Alice or Rosalie. You would never believe her to be a high schooler.

Eleazar follows in Carmen's footsteps and slaps Carlisle's back as a way of greeting. His dapper suit is perfectly tailored and nearly matches the shade of his ebony hair. There's something about him which makes it clear he was changed at an older age than Carlisle. But regardless if he was turned at twenty or thirty years old, he remains inarguably attractive. Mom must agree since she's watching him with big, bug-eyes.

As I examine the vampire couple, a hand coaxes me to rise from my chair. I give a side glance to find Edward already standing and helping me up.

"I'm sure the Denali coven will be introducing themselves to you at any moment," he explains in a low voice. I give one head nod and adjust the placement of my blouse, trying desperately to appear presentable to these perfect creatures.

The restaurant door swings open seconds later. Two women step over the threshold, one a fraction of an inch taller than the other. The slightly taller woman's pale blonde hair is styled straight and parted down the center of her scalp. Thin eyebrows frame her face, giving her an analytical appearance.

Alice turns around upon the woman's arrival and sucks in a breath. "Irina, where did you get that handbag!" she coos in ecstasy, her focus devoted solely to the item in Irina's marble hand.

Standing beside her, Rosalie gives a drawn out eye roll. "Really, Alice? We haven't seen Kate or Irina in months. You couldn't think of anything better to say to them?"

The second woman joins their little group. "Oh, we understand Alice's language well enough. That was the kindest form of 'hello' you can give," Kate smiles.

I study and compare the features of these two strangers. Kate and Irina's faces are almost identical in structure. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they are sometimes confused for twins. However, there are a few key differences between the two. Kate's hair is a sunny blonde instead of the moonbeam silver of Irina's locks. And Kate's facial expressions tend to appear more relaxed than her sibling's. But both women share extreme attractiveness as their common trait.

The restaurant door hinges groan once again. My attention darts away from Irina and Kate to examine the newcomer entering the building. It's a woman with hair flowing like a waterfall down her back, the strands a light reddish blonde. She's dressed in an off-the-shoulder white shirt, skin-tight black leggings, and a pair of knee-high boots to match. Her head is held high as she marches up to greet the Cullens. After speaking for a short time, her face abruptly snaps away from Esme and looks in my direction, giving me a better view than before. I'm halfway shocked by what I see. She almost beats Rosalie in beauty.

She leaves Esme embrace and saunters her way towards Edward and me. The female vampire's body shape is curvy, possessing an hourglass figure that would make a lot of people green with envy. Her hips begin a hypnotic swaying motion as she walks, almost like she's hula hooping without bothering to use the hoop.

Edward immediately hooks an arm around my waist and drags me closer, practically burying half of my body into his side. My eyebrows merge together.

This is strange.

He doesn't normally want to snuggle with me while in the presence of my father. This either has something to do maintaining decorum, or Edward not wanting to give Charlie a reason to shoot him.

The Jessica Rabbit doppelganger smiles as she advances closer. Each self-assured footstep oozes allure. If you were playing Pictionary and had to draw a picture to represent the word Sex, you would draw this woman. She is undeniably beautiful. You can't help but stare. Though I gradually come to realize that her own eyes are glued to one person in the room. And it sure isn't me.

Her walk of seduction halts right in front of the man I'm supposed to marry tomorrow evening. "Hi, Edward. It's been such a long time since we've seen each other." The husky voice pauses, allowing her enough time to gaze up at him through her long eyelashes. "I've missed you," she breathes out.

Edward shifts in place, his arm inadvertently pressing me deeper into his side. "Oh, yes. Well...we've all missed our dear cousins. Emmett was telling me just the other day about how he couldn't wait to show Eleazar the new Hi-Def TV that he bought for-"

Her mouth parts open in a quiet gasp. "And, my! Just look at how much you've grown! You've filled out quite a bit since the last time I saw you." The woman's eyes slowly sweep over Edward's body, staring hungrily like she's thinking of taking a nibble. Her lips gradually lift in a different kind of smile, smirking in a way which would convince a monk to forget about his vow of chastity for a while. "Very nice," she purrs.

Edward sharply clears his throat. Then - in one swift movement - maneuvers me in between himself and the strawberry blonde. Her smile disappears in an instant. "Tanya, I don't believe that you've met my fiancée yet. This is Bella. Bella, love, this is Tanya - one of the members of the Denali clan."

I slap on a smile even though I kind of want to throw a pitcher of ice water at her perfect face. Maybe that would cool her off. "It's nice to meet you," I fib.

Tanya examines me closely for several seconds, like she's sizing me up. She must see that I'm not much of a threat because she produces a fake smile for me, too. Next she holds her arm out for a handshake. "It's a pleasure for me as well," she claims.

I can't help but glance up at Edward, searching for reassurance. Tanya wants to shake hands while simultaneously lusting after my soon-to-be husband? Sounds like a trap. One little "accidental" tug from her and I'm down to only one good arm. Though Edward isn't trying to stop me or anything. That helps me feel a little better. I guess he doesn't believe Tanya to be the murdering-humans-for-fun-or-revenge type of vampire.

I place my weak hand around her cold, hard palm. We go through the motions, moving our limbs up and down like we're long lost pals. She lets go first and slides her elegant hand along the curves of one side of her body, smoothing her clothes and accentuating her narrow waist at the same time. Her smile grows minutely wider and accompanies a laugh. "I was so intrigued when Carlisle called saying that our dear Edward was marrying. You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was so surprised. I remember telling my sister that we just had to attend the wedding."

Edward answers back with eyes which don't quite match the smile on his face. "And we're so happy that you all came."

"Tanya! Why didn't you tell me you installed a new walk-in closet?" Alice yells from thirty feet away. "What sort of lighting does it have?" She waves an impatient hand in the air, coaxing Tanya to join her.

Tanya pins her sultry gaze back on Edward. A sigh passes through her pink, pouting lips. "I guess I better go say hello to everyone. We'll have to catch up later, Edward." She pauses to look at me clinically, peering down her nose with another imitation of a smile. "And it was so nice to have met you, Bella."

Why, thank you, Tanya. And it was so NICE of you to refrain from rubbing yourself against Edward like a cat in heat while in my presence. I really appreciate it.

Nope. Can't say that.

"Yes. It was just lovely," I murmur, tight-lipped, as she struts away.

I wait until Tanya is occupied with Alice before I relax and cease monitoring her movements. Glancing up at Edward, I find his mouth set in a small frown. His broad shoulders droop, as if he has grown tired all of the sudden. I arch my eyebrow, silently waiting for him to explain why a vampire would hit on someone outside of her own species. I had no idea that was a thing.

He leans down close to my ear, dropping his voice to barely a whisper. "Later."

My forehead furrows at having to wait for an explanation. It must be serious judging by his reluctance to talk about it at the moment. But I guess I understand. It wouldn't be ideal for him to chat about Tanya just yet. She would potentially hear every word thanks to her super sense of hearing.

"Later," I nod.

The other members of the Denali coven drift over by ones and twos as the evening progresses. I'm prepared for the possibility of more of these supernaturally gorgeous women to flirt with Edward right in front of my face, but none of them do. Kate's personality is warm and friendly, giving a legitimate smile as opposed to the fake ones a certain someone casted upon me. Irina introduces herself next. She doesn't smile or laugh at all. I don't take offense because she offers us a sincere congratulations, so she's OK in my book. Eleazar gently squeezes my hand and claims my personality is enchanting. Carmen tells me Edward looks much happier than he did when she saw him nearly two years ago. They're OK in my book, too.

At 7:30, Jake finally waltzes into the restaurant. He notices Edward and me standing in the corner of the room almost immediately. Breaking into a large grin, he begins the trek over to us. My eyebrows lift as I get a good look at him, impressed by his attempt to dress up. The boy usually walks around bare-chested and shoeless, like a Pacific Northwest version of Tarzan. Tonight, however, he left his blue jean shorts at home and wears dark slacks and a dress shirt. Of course, he didn't do this because he wanted to. He complained when I told him that he needed to wear something nice. Although once Alice reminded him of the restaurant's "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy, he easily gave in to my request. For a shape-shifter, free food is just too good to pass up.

As Jake travels through the restaurant, he walks within a few feet behind Tanya's back. She's in the midst of having a conversation with Jasper - one where she is doing a majority of the talking - when she abruptly pauses. An odd, strained expression washes over her, screwing up her lily-white face. Her head rotates as she scans the room. "Eew! What is that horrible smell? I've never experienced anything like it," she cries, crinkling her nose.

Jake freezes mid-step. Slowly, he swings around to face the person who just spoke. Their sights cross a few beats later. The two of them give a silent exchange - her expression a mixture of disgust and puzzlement, his with decreasing friendliness.

Jake's black eyebrow cocks up almost to his hairline. "That would be me, sweetheart. And let me tell ya - you don't smell so great yourself."

Amber eyes flash and faintly widen. Her head whips back around to Jasper. "Who is this bozo?" she stresses.

Jasper's face remains calm, matching his tone of voice. "That's one of the Quileute tribe members who has that special ability Carlisle spoke to you about. His father is a close friend to the bride's father."

Tanya's smooth forehead furrows. "I thought you said that they were friendly to you now? Based on what I'm seeing from this one, I'm shocked that you have been able to work with the Quileute at all if this is what you've been forced to deal with." She ends her assessment with a nose pointed high in the air.

Jake's face darkens into a scowl, his index finger stabbing in her direction. "Hey, I'm a pretty easygoing guy until clueless leeches insult me to my face. Try being a little more pleasant yourself - then maybe I'll give you a different reaction."

"You filthy, little mutt," she seethes between her teeth. "How dare you say that to me. I've had hairbrushes for longer than you've been alive. Show some respect."

Jake huffs a laugh, his brown eyes narrowed in a scornful grin. "That explains your appearance then. I've always heard that your kind were supposed to be forever young and beautiful. But what about you? Did that benefit skip you completely or something?"

Tanya's golden eyes ignite like a grease fire, glaring at Jake with an intensity that scares me. Jasper grabs her by the upper arm and pulls her towards the door before she can get out another word to Jake. It looks like she wants to kill him rather than give a retort, though. That's probably why Jasper is so intent on getting her outside.

"Oh, yeah," Jake calls out, cupping his hand over his mouth. "Let me know how your meeting with King Tut works out for you. I hear he gives great advice on how to conceal ugly faces underneath bandages. I'm sure it would do wonders for your self-esteem."

The put-down does exactly as intended. Tanya's pouty lips curl murderously. Jasper digs his fingers tighter into her marble flesh to keep her from flying at Jake's throat. Within seconds, Emmett materializes beside Tanya too and helps escort her out the front exit.

As soon as they are gone, I take a deep breath and peek around the room. Charlie, Billy, and Phil are staring at the ball game on TV like zombies, so it doesn't appear they noticed the ruckus. And Esme thankfully has Mom's nose buried deep in the photo album which shows how our house in New York is progressing. But that was close. Too close. If Jasper hadn't been there to stop them, Tanya and Jake might have had a supernatural knock-down, drag-out fight in the middle of Forks. Half the buildings in the downtown could have been destroyed. And Mom and Dad would have discovered for themselves that my closest friends all have many, many secrets.

Jake struts up to Edward and me, a tiny smirk in place. He doesn't appear remorseful for the scene he helped create. He doesn't seem sorry for almost ruining the evening. No wonder Tanya looked like she wanted to flay him alive. He looks so cocky and full of himself right now. I kind of want to hurt him, too.

"Are you intensionally trying to start a fight tonight, or are you just being stupid again?" I hiss.

Jake's head jerks back slightly, probably surprised by my outburst. "It wasn't my fault. She started it," he defends like a ten year old trying to explain away an argument on the school playground.

Edward lets out a rough sigh. "I'll admit it was quite entertaining to see that childish antics and insults can continue well into your adult life," he ends with a roll of the eyes.

Jake brays a laugh. "I know. I'm proud of the mummy thing. That really seemed to tick her off."

My foot twitches, eager to kick him where it would hurt the most. I may not like Tanya a whole lot. And I may not be pleased to have her drooling after Edward. But no one deserves to be insulted the way Jake did to her tonight. It's beyond rude.

"You'd better behave yourself from now on. Or, we may take back your invitation," I threaten him.

Jake's jaw flops open. The thought of missing out on an open buffet probably hurts him more than not seeing the actual wedding ceremony. "Aww, come on. You can't expect me to say nothing when that thing complained about my scent. I can't help it that she can't recognize awesomeness when it's right under her nose."

My glare hardens further. "I don't care if she tells you that you're infested with fleas tomorrow. Play nice or you can just stay at home."

He frowns as though I told him to perform the impossible - like recreating the Sistine Chapel ceiling mural overnight. He looks pleadingly at my fiancé. "Come on, Edward. Help me out. Explain to her that my reputation is at stake here. I can't let some bloodsucking bimbo talk to me like that."

Edward's lips curve up slightly. He takes a step closer and clasps Jake's shoulder. "Let me give you some valuable advice. If Bella - or any other female for that matter - warns you not to do something, I would suggest that you follow their order. Bella will throw you out of the door herself if you do otherwise."

My anger fades and a smile takes its place. I think Edward is being a bit generous with my abilities, but it is a sweet thing for him to say.

Jake reluctantly promises to behave and urges us to take a seat while he eats his dinner. He orders a prime rib and devours it like he hasn't eaten in a week. There's a drop of grease on his chin when Tanya walks back inside. Jasper must have bathed her in an enormous amount of calming energy since she doesn't appear quite as angry anymore. Bless those mood altering abilities of his. But his sedating talent doesn't stop Jake and Tanya from staring at one another for a long moment. Just when I start worrying the situation is getting out of hand again, the two adversaries snap their heads in opposite directions and pretend the other does not exist for the reminder of the night.

It's dark outside when the party wraps up an hour later. Everyone shuffles outside into the parking lot. Alice sticks close beside me, rattling off the things I need to do tonight before I go to bed.

"Don't worry about showering when you get home if you don't feel like it," she advises. "You'll be doing it again first thing in the morning anyway. And remember I'll be at your place bright and early to pick you up. You have a full day of wedding day pampering to look forward to! So be sure to get a good night's sleep."

Ugh. Putting makeup on a human shouldn't be this much of an exciting hobby for a vampire. I'm deathly afraid of that smile of hers. Who knows what evil things she has in store for me tomorrow. Maybe it was a bad idea to have agreed to let her "glam me up" just because I'm getting married.

"OK," I respond, concealing my terror for now.

"But DO exfoliate your face and neck with that cleanser I left on the bathroom counter. It will make our work a whole lot easier tomorrow if you do."

"OK."

Alice's mouth parts open. "Oh, yeah. Use the green bottle of moisturizer before you go to bed. Only use the red one if your skin feels really dry. I left instructions on how to apply it."

"OK," I repeat for the third time.

"And be sure you put on lip balm, too. I don't want your lips to be all cracked tomorrow. The best strategy is-"

"Alice?" Edward butts in, sliding between us. "I just noticed Eleazar's shoes. They're very nice. Do I have a pair like that?"

Her eyes dart around until she spots Eleazar climbing into the Denali's black SUV. A gleaming smile slips over her as she studies the shoes in question. "No, you don't. You usually wear Oxfords when you're in a suit. Those are Derby style. Although...I'm not sure who designed them. The stitching is unusual. Maybe Eleazar found a new shoe maker I haven't heard of yet. I'll go find out!" And then she's gone in a flash.

I eye him skeptically. "You don't care about Eleazar's shoes at all, do you?" I accuse, holding in a laugh.

His finger lands on my lips. "Ssshhh. I was saving you. She would have spent the next fifteen minutes obsessing over your nighttime beauty routine if I didn't get rid of her."

I kiss the finger hovering at my mouth, after which he removes. "Thank you." Taking a breath, I casually check my immediate surroundings for any authority figures who might be listening. Mom and Phil are entering Carlisle's car since he volunteered to drive them back to their hotel in Port Angeles. Charlie is standing by the patrol car thirty feet away, waiting for me to say goodbye to everyone before we head for home.

I give Edward a pointed glance. "10:30?" I remind him quietly.

He nods his head once, silently acknowledging my proposed appointment in my bedroom tonight. Bending at the waist, he sweeps his lips quickly across my mouth. Then he straightens to his full height and walks backwards, holding my gaze all the while. "Goodnight," he broadcasts to the world, his voice just loud enough to be heard where Charlie stands. Making our "goodbye" believable is very important.

My hand rises from my side in a clumsy farewell gesture. "Umm. Yeah. Goodnight, Edward. I guess I won't be seeing you again until the ceremony, huh? I'm sure gonna miss you."

Wow. That sucked. I definitely wouldn't win any acting awards based on that performance.

Edward cracks a tiny smile, his eyes mirroring his amusement. "I'm afraid so. Take care until then."

He arrives at his car and unlocks it. Three vampire siblings pour into the back seat. At the same time, I walk leisurely up to the patrol car and slide inside. Charlie reverses out of the parking lot and merges on to the highway. Just before the restaurant disappears out of my sight, I see Alice hightailing it to the Volvo and hopping into its passenger seat. There's no doubt in my mind that she will spend the entire car ride home blabbering about men's dress shoes no one else cares to know about. Sadly, Edward brought that headache upon himself.

During the drive to our house, I spot Charlie rubbing his belly. Sometimes he moans. I'm shocked he hasn't loosened his belt yet. He ate a lot tonight. When we pull into our driveway, he mutters something about going to bed a little bit early since we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. On the outside, I agree that it's a good idea and tell him goodnight as innocently as I can. But on the inside, I'm fist pumping in triumph. This couldn't get anymore perfect. My father will soon be in a full-fleged, food-induced coma. Edward should have no problem at all sneaking into the house tonight.

Charlie's passed out in bed before ten o'clock, his snores funneling down the hall and into my room. Just in case he were to wake up, I keep the overhead light in my bedroom switched off. A dark room at night is much less suspicious than a brightly lit one. I sit on the edge of my bed and tap my foot as I wait for Edward to arrive. Seconds feel like minutes. Minutes feel like hours. As 10:30 approaches, my spirits soar. Edward should be walking through that door at any moment. He's punctual to a fault.

But not tonight.

By 10:40, my thumbnail wedges underneath a tooth. When my digital clock shows 10:48, I'm already pacing the room like a caged animal. Edward never runs late. Never. He should have shown up long before now. Something must have gone wrong. Frightening thoughts pass through my head.

Maybe there was an accident. His car could have flown off a bridge and he's now bleeding to death at the bottom of a ravine...

Or, he could have picked up a hitchhiker and they turned out to be an escaped psychopath. Edward might be fistfighting for his life against a deranged person armed with a butcher knife...

Taking in a lung-full of air, I try to regather some semblance of sanity. Those possibilities are highly unlikely. Crazy stuff like that doesn't happen too often in Forks. A far more likely scenario is that a strawberry blonde vampire has him cornered somewhere, smiling and licking her perfect lips at the human she has all to her self.

My erratic breathing barges back at full-force.

Yeah.

That last one is the scariest thought of them all.

My feet increase their pacing - threatening to burn a hole through the carpet - when I hear a clatter at my window. I rush across the room and push the curtains to the side. My eyes squint through the darkness until I spy a tall figure standing in the middle of the front yard. My heart rate reverts to a normal pattern for the first time in around fifteen minutes.

I throw open the glass of the window and stick my head outside. "What are you up to, Edward?" I whisper into the darkness, wondering why he's dawdling around in the grass instead of creeping up my staircase.

He answers by lifting an arm theatrically in the air. "O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white, upturned, wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds."

Edward + Shakespearean dialogue = Swooning Bella.

Resisting the urge to giggle like a loon, I try to appear as though what he said was no big deal. "Out of all the lines in Romeo And Juliet, you chose that to serenade me in the middle of the night?"

He aims a smirk towards my bedroom. "Would you have preferred that cliché, 'But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?' Personally, I thought what I recited for you was much more original."

"It's definitely nice to see that you can think outside of the box, but why are you out here spouting out Shakespearian quotations in the first place? Isn't there more important things you should be doing right now?" Like, attaching your mouth to my neck and making me forget about voluptuous strawberry blonde females who undress you with their eyes.

His eyes crinkle in the corners as he grins. "If this is to be my last night as an unattached man, I thought that I should demonstrate how incredibly romantic I am before years of marriage transforms me into a dull, unimaginative husband."

This may be the biggest exaggeration Edward has ever told. No matter his age or marital status, I don't believe he could ever be considered dull.

My eyebrow cocks up an inch. "Oh? Then, by all means, continue on Romeo. But, please - skip the death scene. I think that would seriously ruin the romantic aspect of what you're trying to do," I tease.

"Actually, I was hoping that you would allow me to go off script and let Romeo enter Juliet's bedroom for awhile."

I tap my chin with a finger, pursing my lips. "I don't know... Juliet was told to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow. And, whenever Romeo visits her, he doesn't allow her much rest."

The strength of Edward's gaze multiplies by five. "Normally Juliet doesn't mind Romeo's visits. She has ordered him to come on many, many occasions. In fact, she told him to come tonight, if I recall correctly."

My lips protrude out further for a passing moment. Then, unable to contain it any longer, I break out into a wide grin. "You're right. Get up here already."

The night wind blows his gravelly laughter to my ears. Without needing any further instructions, he heads to the front door and lets himself in. Quietly, I shut the window and draw the curtains together. I then tiptoe to my bedroom door and manage to open it without alerting Charlie that I am awake.

Edward slips inside moments later, his back turned as he carefully closes the door. As soon as he swings around, I step up to him and weave my fingers through the silky mess of his hair. I pull him down to my level, taking control of the situation by capturing his lips. He gives in without making a fuss. Why would he? This is for his benefit, too.

We remain this way until we are forced to come up for oxygen. "What took you so long?" I pant, keeping my arms locked around his neck.

He huffs a laugh at the question. "Your dear friend insisted that I remain at home instead of coming to see you. She said she hasn't been 'planning this wedding for months just so I could break tradition by seeing you before the ceremony'. I told her that as long as I left your place before the sun rises, I technically would not be seeing you the day of the wedding."

My cheeks hollow for a moment as I mull things over. "And I'm guessing Alice didn't buy that?"

"No, she did not," he confirms, shaking his head.

"So how is it that you're here then?"

His green eyes squint slightly as he tries to explain himself. "I created a ...diversion to occupy her thoughts."

"What did you do?"

His lips curve into a sly grin. "I asked her if the napkins she bought for the wedding reception were on sale at the local discount store or if she was intentionally going for a thrifty, gauche look for the tables. So, at this very moment, she is rushing to Seattle to find more 'sophisticated' napkins."

I blink a few times, amazed he could so effectively outsmart a psychic being who receives visions inside her head. "Wow. I never realized that you were so sneaky, Edward."

His smile transitions to a more serious expression. "Now look here. You knew going into this that I would do anything for you - even angering a tiny person who could hurl me across the room with just a flick of her wrist. I told you that I would be here tonight, and I would never go back on my word."

My arms tighten around his neck. "I wasn't criticizing you. Actually, I'm very, very glad that you are so sneaky," I emphasize.

The lopsided smile I love returns, much to my delight. "And thank the heavens for that," he murmurs, leaning in for another kiss.

Our movements grow less frantic and more relaxed as we get into the swing of things. His hands seize my waist and are soon wandering happily along the contours of my body. I hum a little into the kiss, enjoying every second of what he's doing. It's been too long since the last time we had a moment of privacy. Two days, five hours, and twenty minutes of time by my reckoning. That's just plain wrong.

He's readying himself to give my neck some attention when a buzzing noise has us recoiling in surprise. His lips stop all activity, paralyzed at a spot right under the corner of my jaw. Slowly, he backs away and dips a hand into his pants pocket. Taking a brief glance at the cellphone he extracted, he openly frowns at the screen. Seconds afterwards, he presses a button and the phone shuts down.

"Alice?" I guess with a wince.

His mouth twists to the side as he stuffs the phone back into his pocket. "Yes. She must have finally gotten a glimpse of us together. I suppose I should have mentioned that the tablecloths for the reception were hideous and felt like burlap sacks. That would have bought us a little more time," he muses aloud.

I fight off a pout and try to appear fine with whatever happens. But I'm not going to lie. This stinks. Alice could show up at any second and utilize her status as bridesmaidzilla to terrorize us into submission. I need to extract as much affection and information as I can from Edward before she drags him back to the Cullen house.

I release my hold from around his neck and pull him by the hand towards my bed. "Well... I guess we should use our time wisely then," I advise.

Tossing his shoes on the floor, he stretches out on the mattress. I crawl on my hands and knees to a spot directly by his side. He tucks me close, my head soon finding the perfect spot to rest on his shoulder. It's so comfortable that I almost forget what happened at the restaurant tonight.

Almost.

I give him a small amount of time to unwind. He deserves it after going through the trouble of escaping Alice's clutches just so he could visit me.

Then, I spring my first question.

"So...is it later yet?"

A long winded breath exits his mouth. "I suppose it is," he answers.

Around ten seconds passes by and he doesn't say another word. "Now, tell me what's up with Tanya," I prompt.

Edward rises a bit higher on the bed, moving up until the back of his neck hits the headboard. "Some of the Denalis are more than just vampires."

"OK. So what are they?"

There is a pregnant pause before he continues. "Have you ever heard of the term 'succubus' before?"

"Succubus... It sounds familiar. It's something from mythology, isn't it?"

"Yes. The creatures were said to amuse themselves by creeping into men's bedrooms at night and, well..." His words trail off into a soft cough. "-taking advantage of the sleeping human that occupied the bed."

My face tilts ruminatively at the news. "Taking advantage? As in, slept with, right?"

"Right."

Pieces of the puzzle come together and lock in place, indicating a worrying trend. "So, you're saying that Tanya is a succubus?" I question in near disbelief.

"I suppose she is in a way. But it's more like she and her two sisters are the origins of the legend. They find a male...friend for the night, have their way with him, and then set him about on his merry way. Though, long ago, they weren't so obliging. They used to feed from their companion once their - umm - activities were complete."

I peek up at him, watching him closely. "But now they only feed from animals."

He gives a short nod. "That's right."

My gaze intensifies as I ask the million dollar question. "So why did she seem so...friendly to you?"

His fingers drag through his messy hair, emerald eyes looking anywhere but in my direction. "We met once before. Long ago. Way before you moved to town."

I shoot him a sharp glare. "Yeah, I already knew that. Tell me what I don't know."

Edward's entire face cringes, as though someone just ripped a bandaid from his elbow and yanked out a few arm hairs. "She developed a slight - a very tiny - bit of interest in me when she last came down."

"Interest... As in, she liked you?"

"Like, I believe, is too strong of a word for how she felt. I think she was more intrigued by the fact that I knew what she was and didn't fear her. I don't believe that she ever had any actual feelings towards me. I was simply a novelty in her eyes."

One of my eyebrows rises up to a sharp point. A novelty? I don't think so. It's been almost two years since Tanya last saw him. If she viewed him as a novelty, her interest would have moved on by now.

"She was checking you out tonight, Edward," I monotone in return.

Another sigh exhales through his nose. "I'm a human man. I think she instinctively does that with any male of our species now. It's a part of her routine, I'm sure."

I take a short time to examine his face, searching for signs of anything else he may be holding back. "So you're telling me all that happened back then was that she looked at you? Nothing else?"

The muscles of his arm stiffens underneath where I lay my head. "Well...there was one incident where she went a little too far," he drifts off.

"What happened?"

His left hand slides down his face, revealing an anxious expression once it's gone. "Almost everyone had left the house with the Denali coven - only Rose and Emmett stayed with me. I was working late that night in Carlisle's office. Once I was finished with my homework, I climbed the stairs to go to bed." He suddenly stops speaking, his gaze meeting mine with visible reluctance.

"And?"

He gulps loud enough for me to hear. "I found her in my room," he confesses in a tiny voice.

My eyes flinch by reflex. "In your room?"

"On my bed."

"Your bed?" I parrot, my tone rising.

"In lingerie," he adds quickly in one breath.

My brows strike the very top of my forehead, imitating a strongman game at a amusement park. "She was in lingerie?"

Edward's eyelids slam shut, blocking out the world around him. "Will you please stop repeating everything I say? This is hard enough for me to tell you as it is. Hearing the words coming from your lips seems to make it sound infinitely worse," he groans.

My heart squeezes in my chest, threatening to burst as reality slowly sets in. "Sorry," I whisper back.

I glance down at my lap and try to hold myself together. Before tonight, I had always assumed Edward was inexperienced like me. A virgin. But now I see I was mistaken. Because Tanya is a vampire with an extensive sexual appetite. And, unlike me, it sounds like she knows how to successfully seduce a man. She waited for Edward in his bedroom with that very purpose in mind. And he must have made a very good impression that night since she still wants him just as badly.

A part of me wants to cover my ears and not hear another word about his history with Tanya. But I know the unanswered questions would eat me alive. I suck in my bottom lip and force myself to ask the question I dread the most. "So, what happened then?"

Edward's eyes reopen and focus on my face. He observes me mutely for a thousand years. Or a few seconds. Either way, it feels like a long time before he answers.

"Nothing," he enunciates clearly. "I told her, in as nice of a manner possible, I wasn't interested in her in that way and she needed to leave."

I stare without blinking for a while, barely comprehending what he said. "You had an outrageously gorgeous female in your bed - wanting you - and you didn't do anything?" I stress.

"That's correct."

My forehead furrows while I reorganize my thoughts. Tanya is a succubus. She knows how to entice men. The woman's an expert at this sort of thing. Yet Edward claims he sent her packing without so much as a kiss goodbye.

What's wrong with him?

Does he need eyeglasses? Tanya is a heterosexual teenage boy's fantasy come true. She was even kind enough to deliver herself to his bed. In lingerie! And he turned her down?

I moisten my lips and push out my newest question. "Why not?"

"Because she wasn't you," Edward shrugs, as though it's the most understandable reason in the world.

I narrow my eyes into a near scowl. "You didn't know me then. You can't use that as an explanation."

He flashes a heart-thumping smile, seizing my sense of rationale and holding it hostage. "Oh yes I most certainly can. I knew you from my dreams. How could you possibly think I would ever be unfaithful to my dream woman?"

The tense, stiff muscles in my body gradually loosens. Every so often Edward reminisces at how he saw me in his dreams decades before I was even born. I always say it's impossible for that to have happened. But then I'll inevitably remember that I'm talking about the same guy who touched a wormhole and skipped over eighty years of time. With him, the impossible is reality. It may be difficult to understand why he never laid a finger on Tanya, but I do trust he is telling me the truth.

However, his wide grin bugs me. It's like he already knows that I believe him and everything is fine now. It's really annoying how he knows me so well. And also kind of hot. Evidently, I'm just chock full of fun little contradictions.

I shake my head at his confidence. "I should be terrified of you. You manage to wiggle yourself out of trouble just by exuding your charms. Maybe I should rethink this marriage thing. I'll never win any arguments if this is what you'll do."

His soft laughter hits the side of my neck. "I suppose that I need to remind you of why you agreed then. If I recall, you seemed to like it whenever I-" And then he moves in for the kill, placing his mouth directly below my ear and sucking at the skin there. It's my Achilles heel and he knows it. In no time flat, my core body temperature climbs to astronomical heights. Smooth lips wander down my neck, helping me to become nothing but a dazed, panting mess.

"Oh, yeah. Now I remember," I heave. My hands gently push upon his chest. "But I need you to stop for a minute. I can't breathe."

Edward shows me mercy and detaches his lips from my skin. I suck in mouthfuls of air to stabilize my flushed cheeks, aching lungs, and pounding heart. After backing up a few inches, he chuckles happily while watching me recover. It kind of ticks me off. Why can't I do this to him?

"Proud of yourself, are we?" I challenge in between gasps.

His mouth rises into a crooked, self-satisfied smirk. "Undoubtedly."

My eyes narrow into slits. Show off.

With very little convincing required, I'm back in his arms a minute later. To make up for causing me to forget how to breathe, Edward goes easy on me for a while. He limits his affection to my hands, occasionally brushing his mouth over my pulse point and knuckles. My eyelids flutter shut, basking in this perfect moment. Tonight he didn't want to be with a supernatural seductress willing to suck something besides his sweet-tasting blood. Edward is here with me. This is where he wanted to be. He is mine and I am his. And I am incredibly lucky to be so.

Edward abruptly stops lavishing kisses to my knuckles. I sense him holding up my left hand, twisting it from one side to the other. I grow curious as to what he's up and take a peek. I find Edward staring at my finger. Or more specifically, he stares at the elaborate engagement ring wrapped around my finger. He appears transfixed, unable to look away. The center diamond catches the muted light of the room and reflects it back, sparking like a star in the night sky. His thumb passes over the gold band, over and over again. He touches it gently, with a reverent luster in his eyes. It isn't hard to guess where his thoughts have wandered.

"Do you think your mother would have approved of you giving me her ring?" I say out of the blue.

It's a question I have often pondered. Of course, it's an honor to have her ring and I have no regrets about wearing it. But, I sometimes wonder if she would have approved. If Edward and I had met in 1918, would Mrs. Masen turned up her nose at the prospect of an average girl marrying her son? Or, would she have treated me kindly, like the daughter she never had?

Our sights cross and hold. A tiny hint of a smile softens Edward's expression further. "There's not a doubt in my mind. She would be pleased to know that a woman like you agreed to wear her ring. She would have loved you."

This is the first time he has ever said such a thing to me. His words envelope and comfort my heart like a blanket. "You really think so?"

"I don't think - I know. They all would have."

The photographs from his past resurfaces in my mind, the people within them gazing from their world of black and white. I see an older but still handsome version of Edward, the stranger boasting darker hair but a similarly strong jawline. Mr. Masen. Another figure emerges to the forefront. She's feisty and hard-working, with graying hair rolled up in a bun. Martha, the housekeeper.

My next thought is one which Edward shot down a month ago - the very real possibility that we could go back to Pre-Prohibition era Chicago. All it would take is a meeting with Billy to arrange it and our hands touching the vortex, and then we might be sent back to another time. However, there is a chance that we may not land in the year we would have aimed for. The wormhole could very well drop us in 1618 instead of 1918. But at least we could say that we tried to go back. And we would still have one another wherever we end up. I can live with that.

Deeply exhaling, I try to phrase my question in a way he can easily understand without revealing any sensitive information. It's vital I watch what I say. Alice may overhear our conversation through her visions and know something is up if I'm not careful. Edward chose to keep his theory of how he reached this time period between the two of us, and I respect his wishes.

"Are you sure that you don't regret anything?" I hint softly.

The engagement ring no longer holds his concentration. His face pivots in my direction. "Yes, I'm sure." The expression he holds is solemn, but it shows no sign of uncertainty. I know he understands what I'm asking.

We revert to silence - a comfortable, peaceful silence. I secure my arm around his middle and snuggle closer. His fingers creep to my hair and run through the strands, sometimes stopping to play with the ends. It's our way of dealing with any past misfortune - by taking comfort in one another.

Several minutes into our serenity, a rumbling sound penetrates through the silence. It's so noisy that it jolts us upright into sitting positions on the bed. Our heads simultaneously snap towards the window. A distant car is traveling along the road, growing louder by the second. I'm pretty sure it's heading in our direction.

My grip on Edward's arm tightens as I picture who may be behind the steering wheel. I'm not ready for Alice to take Edward away yet. We've barely had a moment to ourselves this past week. Besides, most wedding traditions are overrated. And stupid. If Edward wants to stay here all night, that shouldn't be a problem. Whoever came up with the "keep the bride and groom apart until the ceremony" needs to be exposed and publicly shamed.

Much to my relief, the car does not stop. It drives past the house and soon vanishes into the night where it belongs. So that wasn't bridesmaidzilla after all. But it's only a matter of time before it will be.

"How much longer do you think we have before she shows up?" I wonder aloud.

Edward's slumped shoulders shrug up and down. "I haven't the foggiest idea. It depends on if she found acceptable napkins quickly or if she's currently forcing every store in the Seattle city limits to open their doors for her," he responds with a touch of exhaustion.

Hmm. It could be a long while before Alice appears, then.

I swing around to check the time. It's 11:30 on the dot. I have to be awake well before seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Alice said something about threading my eyebrows. That alone sounds like a nightmare. I think I deserve some happiness before the torture commences. And Edward knows how to provide it.

The ends of my mouth curl mischievously. The urge to tease him is suddenly too strong to resist. "It's getting pretty late. Are you sure you don't want to go home and get some sleep?"

Edward's relaxed demeanor changes on a dime. His gaze deepens and heats up the room. "How could you expect me to ever sleep knowing that I haven't given you the proper amount of attention tonight? There are vast amounts of your skin that I barely touched. I'm surprised you haven't complained about my dereliction of duty."

Mimicking his serious attitude, I stiffen my posture and thrust out my chest. "Then you better make it up to me then," I sniff haughtily. I stick my hand in front of him and he accepts it without question. "You can start there and work your way up."

He takes his assignment seriously, alternating between nipping at my mouth and scorching my body with his wet kisses. I say a silent thank you to my genius move of wearing my camisole shirt tonight instead of a frumpy t-shirt. This allows him much better access. He adjusts the strap of my shirt as he moves, apparently intending to taste every inch of my exposed skin. Not that I'm complaining. Actually, the little sounds I make probably lets him know that he should keep up the good work.

I'm lost to the sensation of his fingertips grazing my thigh and his mouth exploring my lower throat. The room spins like a vinyl record, making me dizzy. Just when I recover enough to not tip over, he decides to sample from the skin of my upper back. The feeling of his tongue and hot breath there brings up a million goosebumps. I moan out loud like a sex-deprived ghost. Whatever this man is doing to me, he needs to memorize it for future reference...

"Funs over!" a high-pitched voice squawks. "It's time for you to go home, Edward."

I reluctantly pry my eyes apart to find the top of Alice's dark head at the now-opened window. Her face, however, is hidden from view. She's either giving us privacy in case we are undressed, or she's aware that her scowling facial expression would give us a coronary.

Edward glares in her direction, wrapping his arms around my waist in a bear hug. "I've only been here for a little while. She needed me to come tonight," he snaps.

Drunk on the endorphins from our necking, I start giggling at the situation we've found ourselves in. "Yeah. He only made it to my shoulder blade. It's going to be at least another twenty minutes before he gets to the good part. Come back later." Edward chuckles right along with me.

Alice doesn't seem to think it's funny. Her face appears at the window, its expression one of pure fury. "I don't understand what's wrong with you two. You are getting married tomorrow! You need sleep! The only bags I want to deal with are the ones I packed for your honeymoon. If you two keep this up, I'll be forced to utilize a tube of extra strength hemorrhoid cream to deal with the bags under your eyes."

Edward's head cocks in my direction, his lips smirking. "How does that sound, my love? Is what she said worth me leaving early?"

I squint my eyes, pretending I need to think over this difficult question. Then I'm practically grinning. "Nope, I think I can handle it."

"Did you hear that?" he calls to Alice with dancing eyes. "She said it sounds fine to her. I'll try to get back home in a few hours." Not a second passes by before he's tugging me close again. We promptly forget all about our pissed off, uninvited guest. He latches on to my collar bone, driving me crazy and making me wish I could super glue his mouth there. What a great night...

A throaty, tiger growl fills my bedroom. She pulls herself up until she's sitting on the window sill, swinging her short legs inside. "Edward. If you don't come on right now, I'll get Jasper to come knock you out with fatigue," Alice threatens.

Edward pauses in his attentions towards me. Firm lips lift away from my collar bone just enough to speak. "Hmph... Five more minutes then," he argues.

Her black eyebrows slant downwards. "No. In five minutes it will be midnight, and then you would break wedding day tradition!" she whines, her voice almost panicked.

Edward's body tenses as they enter into a brief stare down. It doesn't take long before he exhales sharply through his nose. As my eyes wander up to meet his, I sense a change coursing through him.

"I have to go," he announces with a frown.

I knew this was coming. But that doesn't stop me from angling his head so I can have better access to his neck. His square jaw demands to be adored, and I never had the opportunity tonight to do it properly. "I don't want you to," I whimper between kisses.

Edward gently draws my mouth away from his neck so he may speak without being mauled. "Neither do I, love. But that infuriating pixie is throwing me death glares. I better leave before she blows a head gasket."

"I can hear you," Alice sings like a nightingale from across the room.

A sigh slips past my lips as I create space between Edward and myself. "Fine," I pout.

One of his long fingers caresses an area below my chin, tilting my face upwards slightly so I will look him square in the eye. "Just think of this as your last night of reprieve. After tomorrow, you will be wishing you could send me away so easily," he jokes.

I give him a long roll of the eyes. "Yeah, right," I snort. "I don't believe that's going to be an issue."

He leans forward with curving lips, his sights centered on my mouth. I close my eyes as he pecks a sweet but brief kiss. When the pressure vanishes, I hear him murmur. "Sleep well. I love you."

My eyelids flap open as he slowly backs away towards the exit. "I love you, too."

"Edward," Alice interrupts. He pauses in front of the bedroom door and glances in her direction. "You can't go out that way. Come over here and I'll help you down." She attempts to coax him over to the window by using an arm wave.

He stands tall and furrows his brow ridge into a dark glower. "That's unnecessary. I can walk out of here just fine, thank you."

Cough!

The three of us stop dead in our tracks, sharing a mutual wide-eyed stare.

Someone hacked a cough from the room down the hall.

Charlie.

Is.

Awake.

No one dares move a muscle. We strain our ears for signs of Charlie leaving his bed. Edward remains by the closed door, his hand hovering above the knob like a statue. Alice sits on the window sill, her eyes glazed over from a vision she watches playing within her head. And I'm sitting on my knees with a heart that almost leaped from my chest. This is just my luck. On the night before I'm supposed to be married, Charlie will finally catch on to what Edward and I have been up to for the past year or so. Will he try to ground me from my own wedding?

A very long minute of uncertainty drags by.

From a few feet away, Alice blinks and resumes a less tense stance. "He's back asleep," she whispers. She then cocks her head a few degrees and narrows her eyes at Edward. "Are you going to listen to me now?"

He heaves a sigh and abandons the door. "Yes." Shuffling across the room, he arrives at the opened window. Alice slides over several inches to give him room to sit. Edward maneuvers his long legs out the window and pauses. He gives me a warm smile, which I quickly return.

I expect for Alice to grab Edward and safely deposit him on the damp ground outside. What I don't expect is for Edward to throw me a wink and then slide out of the second story window on his own.

But that is exactly what he does.

As soon as he vanishes from sight, I let out a startled gasp. I can't believe he did that! That's at least a twenty foot drop! Is he trying to kill himself? Would that make me a widow if my fiancé dies before the wedding?

I'm scrambling to get off the bed when Alice titters a laugh into her hand. "Calm down, Bella. Jazz caught him. There's nothing wrong. He's perfectly fine." Her head whips around to check on his welfare. "Well... he'll be fine as long as he behaves himself. I can't believe he disobeyed my orders to stay home for the night," she grumbles.

The reminder that she wanted to keep us separated has me frowning in no time. When she catches a glimpse of the sour look on my face, she does a double-take.

"Are you mad at me for making him go home?" she laughs.

"Yes," I huff.

She stops her giggles but her lips still form a faint smile. "I'm sorry, but I'm doing this for a higher purpose. For one, you both need a decent night's rest. You'll be able to stay up for as long as you want soon enough. Isn't that what the honeymoon's for? And for two, a little time apart will make tomorrow evening even more special! You know, absence makes the heart grow fonder."

I grunt a begrudging agreement. I understand what she's saying. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it.

"So, did you do your skin care regimen like we talked about?" Alice wonders, changing the subject.

My head gives a silent confirmation, moving up and down. That "skin care regimen" took way longer than I anticipated. I'm not used to lathering myself up in all kinds of weird tonics and serums which must be applied in a certain order.

"Excellent," she purrs. "Your skin is the canvas and I will be the artist. It has to be in tip-top shape in order for me to create my masterpiece tomorrow."

I screw up my face. "I think you're exaggerating a bit. I'm no work of art."

"Oh yes you are. Trust me, we're going to make you look fabulous. Your guests won't be able to stop staring at you."

"I could walk down the aisle with toilet paper stuck to the sole of my shoe and accomplish that last part by myself, Alice," I deadpan.

She fakes a laugh and abruptly presses her marble lips together. "Very funny. But I'm not joking."

"Yeah, yeah. I know," I breathe out.

Alice glances at her wrist watch and almost jumps out of her skin. "Geez! I'd better be off. It's already well past your bedtime. Do you want Jazz to sedate you before we go?"

"No thanks. I think I can fall asleep on my own."

"Alrighty. See you at 7:15, then!" she chirps, preparing to slip out the window. At the same instant, a question enters my head and won't leave me be.

"Wait!" I yelp.

Already halfway out of the window, she pulls herself back inside. "Yeah?" she asks curiously.

I remove a lock of hair away from the side of my face. "Umm... Do you happen to know where the Denali coven is right now?"

"Sure do. They went hunting in the national park for a couple of hours. But, they're back at the house now. Carmen lucked up and caught a black bear."

"That's nice," I mumble. Swallowing hard, I glance down at my blanket. "So... Tanya is at your house, too?"

"Yes. She's in the living room at this very moment." Alice's voice changes to a soothing lullaby. "But you don't need to worry your pretty little head, Bella. She won't try anything with Edward. I promise."

I look up with scrunched up eyebrows. "How do you know?"

"Because I'm going to watch out for him tonight."

I cover my face with my hands and snort at how ridiculous that sounds. "Oh? You're planning to guard his virtue?" It's so funny, tears threaten to blur my vision. I swipe the palm of my hand over my eyes to dry them. "That's not necessary. Edward would never cheat. I trust him," I declare within a half-laugh.

She clasps a hand above her silent heart. "Aww! That is so sweet. It's wonderful how your faith in him keeps you from feeling any jealousy. I mean...a lot of less secure women would freak if their significant other slept at the very same house as a succubus. You should be proud of yourself."

I hold my head a little higher. Alice is right. That is pretty cool of me. I rock.

Her finger jabs in my direction as she continues talking. "And do you give a rip that Tanya is often regarded as one of the most beautiful females to ever walk the earth? Nope! Do you care that people often call her a sex goddess? No siree Bob!"

I give a vague nod of agreement. "That's right."

Alice's head tilts at an angle. "You know...Tanya is the type of female who's accustomed to getting what she wants, when she wants it. And she's probably the most persistent creature ever to exist. But what astounds me the most is that it doesn't bother you in the slightest. Nuh-uh! Because Bella Swan trusts Edward with alllll her heart."

"Sure..."

Alice presses her fingertip to her mouth for a few seconds, as though deep in thought. "Hey! Here's a fun fact: Through the centuries, she's been with hundreds of vampires and literally thousands of human guys! Isn't that amazing?"

Suddenly feeling less confident, my tongue sweeps over my parched lips. "Uh. Yeah. That sure is... interesting."

"Isn't it though? But I believe you'll be much more intrigued to know that in Tanya's thousand years on this planet, only one person rejected her advances and refused to sleep with her. And as luck would have it, he just so happens to reside on the third floor of the house she's staying at tonight."

My eyes bulge from their sockets, threatening to pop out and roll around on the floor like marbles. "Edward is the only guy to ever turn her down?"

"Yep. Tanya spent the last two years preparing for another go at him. But you don't care, do you? What's the worst that could happen? That he wakes up from a deep sleep to find a naked, man-hungry being determined to keep her record intact? Pfft! No big whoop, right?"

My confidence disappears in an instant. I collapse back into the pile of pillows on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. "Alice? On second thought, keeping your eye out for Edward might be a good idea," I monotone, aware her goal had been to get me to say this all along.

"OK!" she cheers.

Struck by another thought, I shoot back up into a sitting position. "But this doesn't mean I don't trust him. 'Cause I do. I just don't want Edward to wake up to that possibility."

"I understand completely. Have a good night!" She shimmies her lower half out the window and slips outside. Within seconds, pale fingers cling to the frame again. Her dark head briefly pops back into view. "Oh, yeah. I should probably let you know that Edward would have wanted me to monitor Tanya's whereabouts tonight anyway. The last time she visited, he was so worried she'd reappear in his room that he didn't get a wink of sleep."

And then with a giggle, Alice vanishes into the night.

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I awaken to the distinctive smell of bacon. One eye peeks through a slitted lid. Early morning light filters into my bedroom. The alarm clock on my nightstand shows that I have only four more minutes before I'm supposed to get out of bed. With a groan, I cover my face with a pillow. I hate it when this happens. But at least the snooze button is there to help me out.

Then, it hits me. I can't sleep in. I'm getting married. Tonight. And Alice will be here soon to drive me to her house for a day of beauty maltreatment.

Deciding to go ahead and begin my day, I shuffle to the bathroom and take a shower. The hot water revives me, encouraging my half-lidded eyes to open fully. Now freshly showered, I step back out into the hallway and am assaulted by the scent of bacon once again. Having been lost in a sleepy daze a few minutes ago, I had forgotten all about it.

I wander into the kitchen and hover in the doorway. Charlie sits at the table, reading the sports section of the newspaper. He looks up and tips his head towards the stove. "Morning, Bells. I made breakfast."

Picking up a plate, I heap a decent sized portion of the only meal he knows how to make - bacon and scrambled eggs. It sounds a lot better than the granola bar I had been planning to munch on. I doubt rolled oats and a few peanuts would power me through today. But granola bars are a quick, easy meal. Along with Pop-Tarts and bowls of sugary cereal, I have always appreciated their convenience. I'm not what you would call a "morning person". Spending thirty minutes cooking a balanced breakfast sounds like more trouble than it's worth. I prefer sleeping in a little longer as opposed to slaving over a hot stove when I'm barely awake. It cuts down a lot on accidental burns.

Attacking the bacon first, I take a sip of juice to wash it down. Hmm... So good.

"Sleep OK ?" questions Charlie.

"Um-hmm," I answer into the glass.

"That's nice to hear." The sports section gets set aside so he can see me better. "You ready for your big day?"

I place the glass on the table and pick up my fork. "Yeah."

He twists his lips to the side for a moment, watching me eat a bite of egg. "No second thoughts?"

I swallow a mouthful of food and give a quick shake of the head. "Nope."

Several silent beats tick by.

"You sure?" he presses, chestnut brown eyebrows raising hopefully.

I answer his dumb question with a sharp glare. Right away, Charlie snatches the newspaper from the table and hides behind its pages. He has a good reason to be scared. I'm not happy at all. I can't believe this man. He should have been prepared for today by now. He had weeks to complain and make trouble. Leave it to Charlie to wait until the last minute.

For around three minutes, we say not a word. I eat my breakfast in peace, but the atmosphere feels tainted and awkward due to that passive aggressive comment he made. He must feel it too because I catch him peeking over the sports section every so often.

"Sorry," he apologizes soon enough, lowering his newspaper by several inches. "It's just hard to accept that you'll be off on your own after tonight. On a plane. Far away. With him."

"What's wrong 'with him'," I ask, using air-quotes. "I thought you liked Edward."

Charlie does a reluctant hum, curling his lip slightly. "He's OK."

"OK?" I repeat, faintly outraged. Edward being described by using such a lame term is borderline offensive. "That's all you can think to say?"

"Well, he's...better than most nineteen year old kids, I guess." He says this as though it's the best compliment he can come up with on such short notice.

I snort and shake my head. What a way to start my day...

Within seconds, his brow crashes together. He peers across the kitchen, expression dead serious. "But if that boy ever treats you the wrong way, you be sure to tell me," he demands ominously, a chubby finger poking into the wooden table.

I fix another hardened glare at my father, my eyes straining from the effort. Charlie is vastly underselling his relationship with Edward. A lot of times, he gets along with Edward better than he does with me. That's probably because I tend to tell him to his face if he's being an ass. On the other hand, Edward's so polite he will apologize himself if Charlie were to accidentally step on his toe.

"That isn't necessary, Dad," I snap. "Edward is a good person - as you have already learned. But even if he did do something wrong, you don't need to swoop in and save me. I can handle him myself. So keep your revolver in your holster where it belongs."

A frown becomes visible through his thick mustache. His gaze drifts to his calloused hands. "I just wanted you to know that you'd always have me to turn to if you ever needed anything."

This leaves me temporarily speechless. I forgot that Charlie Swan communicates his feelings differently than your average Joe. He doesn't say "I love you" or give hugs every time he sees you. Threats of violence against my future husband is Charlie's way of saying he cares for me. I'm almost positive I saw a similar theme in an old Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Arnold demonstrated his love for his kidnapped daughter by gunning down anyone who stood in his way of rescuing her. It was touching to watch - in a graphically violent sort of way.

My scowl slowly dissipates. "I know, Dad," I murmur. "And thanks for the thought. But everything will turn out fine. I'm sure of it." Because my best friend who receives prophetic visions told me so.

Charlie nods his head and does a sharp sniff. Grabbing his sports section, he goes back to reading about the upcoming football pre-season. Our heart-warming Hallmark moment has ended apparently.

I take a few gulps of juice and resume eating. But as I place a slice of bacon in my mouth, my thoughts meander back to our conversation. Charlie said something about me being on an airplane with Edward after the wedding. I don't recall ever telling him that detail - which is one of the very few I know concerning this matter. So, who told him?

"Um... Dad?" I begin, drawing out the sound of his name. "I was wondering. Did you hear anything about this trip Edward and I will be going on?"

He moves his head up and down while keeping his focus centered on the newspaper in front of his face. "Mmm-hmm. Yes. I believe Edward brought it up a time or two," he replies in a distracted mutter.

I really did not expect this answer. I had no idea that he and Edward have talked about it. Charlie probably knows where I'm going on my honeymoon! This is great news. Why, oh why, did I never think to ask this man any questions before now? I bet I can get some good hints out of him. Ha! This'll show Edward that it's futile to keep secrets from me.

"Oh. That's nice," I say in a level tone. No sense in letting him know how excited I am.

"Mmm." He doesn't add anything more.

My fingers drum against my knee. Charlie has never been much of a talker. I'm surprised the CIA never recruited him. He'd be nearly impossible to interrogate. If he were to be captured by a foreign power's intelligence agency, all he would do is hum and grunt to their questions. If I want to extract information out of him, I'll need to use my cunning intellect to be successful.

An idea forms in my head. I sit a little taller and feign confidence. "Edward and I talked about it, too," I lie breezily. "I'm not sure if it's a good idea to go there during the summer months. Don't you think it's too hot there right now? And maybe muggy, too? Sounds uncomfortable."

Charlie shrugs his head and shoulder at the same time, his nose still thrust inside the newspaper. "Don't know about that. Seems like it'd be the perfect temperature this time of year. I'm sure it will be fine."

My mouth puckers in deep thought. OK. So it sounds like our honeymoon destination isn't in the tropics. Unless Charlie means the perfect temperature is hot and muggy. Hmm... Or maybe we're headed to the southern hemisphere. Like Australia. Or Brazil. Wouldn't it be winter down there?

"I'm not telling you where you're going, kiddo." My startled eyes lock on Charlie's smirking face. "Edward said you'd try to quiz me on it. I didn't think you would. I thought you'd enjoy having a nice surprise for once in your life. Turns out I was wrong."

I snatch up my fork and shovel in my breakfast to keep from saying anything snarky in retort. It really sucks when I'm practically the only person left out of the loop.

Alice floats into the kitchen at precisely 7:15 to drive me to her house. I shout out a goodbye to Charlie before I leave. She in turn reminds him to be at her house and dressed in his tux by 4 o'clock. He'll have to pass inspection before he will be allowed to be seen by the guests. Charlie gives a quick salute and directs his interest back to the newspaper.

I'm carefully walking down the porch steps when the heavy weight of what's happening in a few hours suddenly leaves me breathless. Today is my last day living in Forks. Tomorrow I'll be wherever the hell Edward is flying us to. And then we'll be living in Ithaca, New York for the foreseeable future. Edward and I will only return to Forks every so often to visit our family and friends.

Wandering up to the rusting red truck parked in the front yard, I place my hand on the hood and pat the cool metal. The truck is something else I'm leaving behind. I had the option of shipping her to my new home, but it felt wrong to take her there. She belongs in Forks, where people will still appreciate her solid frame and roomy bed. Maybe Charlie won't mind taking her for a spin every so often so she doesn't get lonely. And while he's at it, he can call up a shrink to ask why his daughter speaks about a truck as though it's a living thing.

I join Alice at Carlisle's Mercedes and slide into the vehicle's passenger seat. Now that we're out of Charlie's hearing range, I feel safe enough to press her for information.

"So how'd everything go last night?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"It went well. Tanya stayed downstairs and Edward slept undisturbed. If there's any debauchery you may be interested in, you'll just have to teach him the ropes yourself," she grins impishly.

I choose to ignore her teasing for now. The good news relaxes me into my seat. I'm much too happy to even care if she wants to poke fun.

"OK," Alice drawls. Cranking the engine, she glances over and gives a warning. "Ready or not, here we go."

I quickly buckle up my seat belt. One hand slaps over my eyes. The other holds on tight to the center console, bracing for the worst. A second later, the car changes out of park and takes off like a rocket down the street. When Alice drives, this is the only way I can travel safely. Looking out the car windows while trees are zipping by in a blur is not recommended for someone like me.

During the drive, she mentions Edward, Emmett, and Jasper are on a boys outing in Port Angeles for the day. Before they head back home, they will pick up my mom and Phil from their hotel. This worries me. Edward will be with Mom for an entire hour's drive without me being present? That's not good. What if she wants to make small talk and reveals all my childhood secrets? Like, how at ten years old I fell and twisted my ankle during Capture The Flag - thereby becoming known as Bella Fella among my bunkmates at summer camp. Or, how my ballet instructor almost quit her job once she realized my two left feet had no hope of not tripping during the upcoming Christmas recital. I think I destroyed the Nutcracker set beyond repair. Edward knowing these secrets would prove embarrassing. He may want to reconsider our relationship if he were to find out my clumsy disease has been a lifelong curse.

We arrive at the Cullen residence within minutes. Alice and I enter side by side. I take approximately three steps when my body roots itself in place. The downstairs portion of the mansion has been transformed into a dreamland. Flowers of ivory, cream, and snowy white are everywhere. They're even on the ceiling thanks to Esme and Kate, both of whom are using tall ladders to hang them by their green stems. Carlisle, Carmen, and Irina set up row upon row of white cushioned chairs for our guests. Since she will be playing the Wedding March for us tonight, Rosalie carefully dusts Edward's piano and tries to decide where to place a bouquet of lilacs and freesia. Eleazar and Tanya work to build an arch where Edward and I will say our vows. Everything is outrageously expensive and ornate. But it's also beautiful. I can't find it in me to utter a word of complaint for all the fuss they're undertaking.

I want to stay and help them decorate but Alice won't hear of it. She marches me up to her bedroom and closes the door behind her. I cringe at what I see. It looks like a beauty supply company's warehouse with all the products scattered around. I pick up a bottle at random and study the label. Bee venom facial. I toss it on the table and back away as though it's a bomb ready to explode. Nope, not gonna let her put that on my face today. She'll have to make do with the zillion other products to glam me up.

Folding a terry cloth robe onto my arm, Alice directs me to her bathroom. I pull out of my jeans and t-shirt and slip into the comfy white robe. Once that's done, I seat myself in a chair in the exact middle of Alice's room, watching her with wary eyes. Armed with a tube of unidentifiable cream, she stands several feet away. She takes her sweet time in analyzing me, from my head all the way to my bare feet. Her eyelids lower into narrow cracks, probably using her ultra-sensitive eyesight to check the condition of my skin. Soon, she's standing taller and smiling.

"Your pores are free from clogs and there isn't any shiny patches. I think we'll be going for a more natural look for you today. This will work out perfectly," she pronounces optimistically.

I knit my eyebrows tightly together. "A natural look? Then why the hell am I over here so early? I could have slept a little longer."

Alice shakes her head sadly and sighs. "Oh, Bella. How could you not know? The natural look is the most difficult to pull off!"

My mouth dips into a frown. Of course it is.

For the next hour, I am subjected to unspeakable (and probably illegal since torture is banned by the U.N.) beauty treatment devices that she swears will make my skin look fantastic. One device features tiny needles to pierce your skin which "improves elasticity". I don't know about that. But I can confirm it makes human girls scream as though an iron maiden's spike is stabbing through their flesh.

Mercifully, Alice moves on to other things to give my face a break. She's working on pushing back the cuticles on my right hand when there is a knock at the door.

"Come in," she responds from her foot stool directly in front of me.

The bedroom door creeps ajar. I figure it's Rosalie or Esme peeking in to check my pulse since I haven't cried out in pain in the last several minutes. A long leg appears in the doorway first, followed by a curvaceous body and the face of Venus de Milo.

I blink several times in rapid succession. I must be seeing things. Because this woman shouldn't want to even be in the same house as me, let alone the same room. But, here she is regardless.

Tanya.

She walks slowly into the bedroom, her tawny cat-eyes pinpointed on Alice and me. Her hips don't sway seductively the way they did last night. Stopping around five feet away, she finally speaks.

"Good morning, Bella," greets Tanya in a low voice, her face nearly devoid of expression.

I clear my throat and fidget in the chair. "Err... Good morning to you, too."

Tanya remains focused on me several seconds more before her attention switches to Alice. "Giving the bride a manicure, I see," she observes in a louder, less strained tone.

Alice keeps her face tilted down on my fingers and doesn't look up. "Yep. Just giving her cuticles a bit of care before we move on to painting the nails with some base coat."

Tanya nods in a slow up and down pattern, her mouth pursed as she watches. A full minute passes before she adds anything more.

"Alice? Would you mind if I give it a try? It's been ages since I've given anyone a manicure. I've always enjoyed it. You can take a break and I'll take over for a bit, if you'd like," she offers.

In roughly 0.4 nanoseconds, Alice shoots up from her foot stool and bounces on the tips of her toes. "Sure! Why not?"

My stomach shrivels up into a raisin and flops to my feet. The beating of my heart goes through the roof. What is Alice doing? She can't leave me alone with Tanya!

Alice spins around to face me, her hand patting my knee. "I'm going to check on how the decorating is progressing. I'll be back in a few." Her voice drops an octave. "Don't worry about Tanya. She knows what she's doing."

I'm on the verge of protesting, but Alice is already long gone by the time I open my mouth. Stupid vampire speed.

Now I'm alone. With the woman/vampire/succubus that desires Edward. And I stand in her way to success.

This is terrible. Tanya could kill me any second. She might even stage it to look like an accident. I'll be the first person ever with the words "died by manicure" listed on her death certificate. And I can't imagine there being anything more embarrassing than that.

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A/N-

Next Chapter- Tanya vs Bella - a battle between vampire and human. Who will win? Just kidding. I think we know how that would end. But for real this time, Tanya has a heart to heart with Bella (yes, Tanya does in fact have one). Bella walks (or trips?) down the aisle. And the honeymoon commences. It's gonna be hot. Bella and Edward play checkers until they fall asleep at nine o'clock. Or maybe I'm just kidding again about that last part...

Stay smart and safe, please. And thanks for reading! :-)