Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its sequel New Moon; I just like playing god with the characters. XD

A/n: And don't forget to read over the other sections if you need to, I always do a little editing to make them better when I post a new piece.

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Bella sighed contentedly and pulled the blanket closer around her, getting cozy in Edward's lap, playing over what just happened in her head. Carlisle and the other Cullens decided it was best to try to keep the graduation time frame, and would try to move on Victoria as soon as possible. Edward had been nearly impossible, fidgeting so slightly the rest of the family probably didn't notice, but fidgeting none the less for the whole rest of the meeting. As soon as it was over, he had slowly brought her up to his room to "talk," resisting the urge to run the whole way.

Now she was sitting on his lap on the couch in his room, staring out at the darkened sky. No lights were on, but the open view provided enough natural light to make out the shapes in his room. He nuzzled against her cheek and she felt him grin again.

"What?" she asked softly, breaking the long, warm silence.

"I still can't believe that you'll really be my wife." He tilted her lips up to meet his and could barely restrain himself from crossing the boundaries he had set. His tongue slid along the edge of her lips, tasting her pleasure before she gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck. He allowed it for the briefest of moments before he had to pull away, disentangling her from his body. He shifted to lean over her, pressing her wrists into the arm of the couch as he slid his leg between hers.

"Edward..!" she gasped in surprise. He mewled in discontent, making Bella laugh. "I don't think I've ever heard you make that sound."

"But Bella… now… it's so hard to wait now! It's never been so hard to wait. I feel like a child."

"You are a child. Just a very sophisticated one," she giggled.

He grumbled and released her, lying down on her chest. "You're mean," he pouted. She laughed again, amused as ever by his mood swings. "But… I have been thinking." Bella felt him tense against her, his body becoming rigid. She wished the lights were on so she could see his expression. "Well… I'm not sure; I haven't talked to Rosalie or Alice about it. God forbid; that would be so embarrassing. But, I know there's… well you haven't… been with anyone ever, have you?"

"W-What? Of course not," she stammered, surprised at the turn the conversation had taken. "I already told you that."

"Well… I'd been gone a while."

"I would never be with anyone else that way." He raised his head briefly to consider the serious tone to her voice.

"Thank you. But, I was thinking. You know it's really hard to hurt a vampire. And we heal really quickly and I know… there's a part of a girl that breaks her first time. So…" he looked up at her again, obviously not as hindered as she was by the night. "So I was thinking. It… may be necessary to break the rules a little before you… change." Bella's heart skipped and she was sure he could smell the flush overcoming her face and neck. "I mean, we have time, if you're not ready…."

"No. It's okay. I never thought about that. But, what happens if I bleed?"

"I can handle it. And anyway, if I'm going to change you, then it won't matter right?"

"Well if my first time is entirely painful, you may scar me for life if you change me as we're doin' it for the first time."

"You're so blunt!" She laughed lightly at his outburst.

"Um, actually, I was thinking too. About something else. You barely remember being human, right?"

"Well, some memories stand out more than others. But all memories fade with time. Why do you ask?"

"I don't want to forget the first time we get married."

Edward rose and detached himself from her embrace, looking down at her, silhouetted against the large floor-length windows that comprised the whole south wall of the room. He thought for a moment, and at first she thought he was upset, but his tone was light and playful when he spoke. "You're not trying to get out of our deal, are you? You have to marry me if you want me to change you. You already said you would! So you can't go back on it." Bella laughed so hard she had to grip her sides to lessen the pain. "It's not funny! I know you, you'll try to trick me out of it. You'll make me change you for something and then put off marrying me until… who knows how long!!"

"Edward," giggle "I'm not saying it to trick you! I really just want to remember! I know I'm not ever going to forget most of the first time we make love, and even so a human memory of the occasion will probably be better than remembering every detail, but I don't ever want to forget the first time we get married. It's special."

He sat in silence, arms crossed over his chest, sitting back against the couch. The light cast a faint light across part of his face, so she could see a slight reflection in his eyes, like those of a lion caught in the beam of a flashlight. He was studying her, gauging her, and despite the trust she felt for him, Bella couldn't help thinking of herself as the prey.

"All right," he replied softly, his voice husky with emotion. "I'll change you first. But… you realize that means you won't be a virgin when you get married. Wouldn't you want to wait?"

"If it's going to be you anyway, what's the difference?" she asked.

He chuckled and she could see part of her favorite crooked smile playing across his darkened lips. "I suppose it doesn't. I'll still be the only one, right? Always?"

"Of course. And you won't go cheating on me with some random hot chick that strikes your fancy, right?"

"You are the only one I have ever felt like this for. No one else would be worthy." He bent over to kiss her lips.

"You sound so stuck up when you say it like that."

He shrugged. "So?"

She laughed and kissed him again. "So… um. When do you think we should…?" She broke off, too embarrassed to finish her question. Even without being able to read her mind, he knew what she was trying to say and kissed her forehead.

"Not until we graduate. If I slip and bite you by accident, then we can't have anyone getting suspicious. Jacob will notice otherwise and tell his tribe. Charlie will notice as well with you grounded as you are now."

"Charlie! Oh my God, Edward, I have to get home!"

"He's still out, Esme's not home yet."

"But he's going to check on me as soon as he gets home! What if we can't make it by the time Esme gets home? She doesn't know I'm here!"

"All right. No need to worry yourself. Though with Victoria prowling around again, it would be safer for you here," he argued, standing up and holding out a hand to her. Bella shivered at the thought of Victoria around her house.

"You'll stay with me though, won't you?" she asked rising and pressing against him slightly. He smiled and kissed her lips in response before taking her hand and leading her out and down the stairs.

"You know though, Victoria is not the biggest worry we have right now. I know I shouldn't bring it up, but Jacob –,"

"Jacob is not going to be a worry. I'm sure once I talk to him –,"

"You don't know the Quileute wolves well enough to make that judgment."

"I spent months with them!" Her words hit Edward with a wave of emotion that tripped up the even pace of his stride and he stumbled to a halt. He was still in front of her, leading her towards the woods at the edge of the meadow-sized lawn, though, so she could not see his expression. He sighed heavily and finally turned to face her. Pain was poorly concealed in his dark golden eyes and concern furrowed his perfect marble brow.

"You cannot fathom the response a werewolf will have towards our kind. They are against us as naturally as… fire and ice are against each other. Polar opposites, but more than that. They hate us, and the simplest remark of ours in the wrong direction would set any one of them off into a rage that would cause a transformation and possibly devastating results. And since the time of the conversation in which Jake discovered your plan to become one of us, he has most certainly told his pack mates. Which means they are preparing for war." He paused and turned again, bending down so she could climb onto his back. He took off at a run, but managed to continue talking without seeming strained.

"When you decide you want to be with us, we have to leave. For years. Decades. Until the people who knew you here are either gone or dead. When we leave here, it will be for a long time. That is why we need to wait." He ran on in silence until they reached her house, springing expertly up the wall and into her bedroom window. She could feel him taking deeper breaths, scenting the air for danger, keeping her on his back until he was sure the area was safe. When he set her down on her bed, she pulled in her knees and hugged them fiercely.

"Are you sure that's the only way it could be?" She wasn't in danger of crying this time, but she could feel a weight tugging her heart down past her stomach. Would she really not ever get to see Jacob again? Edward sat next to her on the bed and rubbed her back gently.

"I'm sorry, Bella dear. If you don't want to be… if you want to stay human, that's an option too," he said with a trace of his old hope in his voice. "I don't mind leaving you as you are." But he fell silent as she gave him a glare that would have taken away his non-life if looks could kill.

"I'm just…. It's so sad that it has to be this way. I can't help thinking there has to be another way. I was hoping to visit Charlie at least…."

"He can come visit you, but we cannot come back. The wolves cannot ever find out that you became one of us by our doing if the treaty is to be maintained. And it will not seem so long. We'll have each other." He planted a soft kiss in her dark hair, and she shifted her center of balance to lean into him. He wrapped his lean, marble arms around her and rocked her softly, humming the lullaby he composed for her. Before long, the stressful night took its toll on her and she began drifting off, barely noticing the change in position when Edward laid her down on the bed and tucked her in, sliding in place next to her on top of the covers.

"Sleep for now, and I'll watch over you till morning."

"I love you, Edward." She was almost asleep as she heard his soft reply.

"I love you too, Bella."

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Sorry there's not a whole lot going on in this section. But now you know what to expect, ne? I'm concerned with not setting things up well enough. We're starting exam time and I simply need a break. Plus, my writing's no good if I can't go back and edit. Please have patience with me!

And in case you didn't catch it at the top, I always edit the other parts when I post a new section, so reread if you want. Chapter 4 is in the works, nearly written, but it will take a few days for me to take a break and then come back to do some real editing.

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