I can say without a doubt, and a smirk on my face, that it was the most memorable Christmas of my entire existence. The next day we finished preparations for the move. Carlisle had arranged for all of our vehicles to be transported and the "kids" were to ride in Emmett's new Escalade while Carlisle and Esme drove his Mercedes. Even with driving at double the speed limit it would still takes us two days to make it to New York. We had planned to stop overnight in Detroit.
Before we left Forks for possibly the last time ever, there was someplace I wanted to take Bella.
"Carlisle what time are we planning on leaving?" I asked, as the movers were passing by us on the front porch, finishing putting everything in the van.
"In two hours Edward, Esme has a few things she still needs to finalize."
"Bella and I will be back by then. I want to take her to the meadow one last time." I had in an internal grin at the thought of bringing her back there.
"That's fine, but don't be late son." He replied with a parental tone. Carlisle was strict about sticking to schedules. I nodded in understanding and went upstairs to retrieve Bella in Alice's room.
"Bella, if you are all packed, there is something I would like to do before we leave." She looked at me in acceptance and rose from Alice's bed to follow me downstairs. I took her small hand in mine, relishing the way they fit together and led her outside.
"I thought we could make one last trip to the meadow, for old time's sake." I smiled at her. So many fond memories were created there. She discovered what I really was without my carefully crafted façade but at the same time what I was capable of, what could have happened on that fateful day in Biology, how I had come to love her more than my own life, and of course our first kiss, and finally we solidified our marriage plans there by her finally placing my mother's ring on her finger for all of eternity.
"That would be wonderful Edward. I also wouldn't mind some time alone with you before the long car ride." She smiled as she stretched up on her tippy-toes to kiss my cheek causing my lips to curve up in a goofy grin. With that, we took off hand in hand to our sacred spot in the woods.
When we arrived minutes later, the sun was just breaking through the clouds. The air was cool and there was a light dusting of snow on the ground making it sparkle with the same intensity as our skin. We hadn't been back there since last summer and once we stepped foot in the circular clearing the memories hit me like a sharp wind, surprising me with their intensity. I tightened my grip on her hand as I led her to the center and sat down on the frozen ground, pulling her down beside me.
After a few minutes of silence Bella asked, "What are you thinking Edward, you seem sad?" I gazed up at her into her warm golden eyes.
"No, not sad. A little reflective I think. I have never had such mixed emotions at leaving a place. We have made so many wonderful memories in Forks." I said while she nestled herself onto my lap, putting her arms around my neck and kissing behind my ear causing delicious chills to run down my spine.
Pulling away from her nibbling on my ear she responded, "Yes we have, but we also have sad memories here. I don't want to forget them, because they are part of the reason we are where we are, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by them and I know you do too. I can see it on your face when it happens. I don't want anything to cause you that kind of sadness. I am ready to move on, to really start my new life with you, a clean slate," while gazing intently into my eyes.
"I can't argue with that love. You know me too well. I have tried desperately to not let my past mistakes haunt me, but sometimes I can't seem to escape them, they creep up on me like a black cloud." I said while shaking my head at my admission. I continued in a whisper, "In my heart I know it isn't true, but I can't shake the feeling that if I let my guard down and completely give in to our happiness, something will happen to take it all away." At times, the very thought of that panicked me to my core.
"Edward," she said while taking my face in her hands, forcing me look her in her eyes, "when are you going to accept, like your family has been telling you all along, that you deserve to be happy? Yes, you haven't been dealt your cards of choice, but you have elected to make this life the best you can. Your choices have always been out of love… I, for one, am not disheartened at all by Carlisle's choice. If he hadn't elected to create a companion in you, I never would have met you. I would have walked this earth for my entire human life searching for my soul mate, the one to complete me, not realizing he had died seventy years before I was even born," love and adoration pouring out of her as she spoke.
I felt the corners of my mouth lift a little at her words. She truly was my soul mate or whatever you wanted to call it considering I was still not entirely convinced I had a soul. But I knew for certain that Bella still did, she was my angel. "What would I do without you Bella? You are my sunshine, my voice of reason, my everything."
"You will never have to find out." She said while sweetly pressing her lips to mine. I breathed in her intoxicating exhale, letting it fill me with its calming love. We stayed in the meadow in utter silence, just holding each other, like we had that first day so long ago. Finally, I reluctantly checked my watch and knew we had to start the trip back to the house.
"Edward, I know we don't have much time but do you think we could stop by Charlie's quick on the way? He's at work. I need to make my peace with never seeing that house again."
"Sure love. But we need to make it quick."
We made our way through the thick woods to the edge where the trees met the grass of Charlie's lawn. I pulled her around back, to avoid the eyes of any neighbors. I opened the back door off of the laundry room with the spare key and we stepped inside. I was instantly hit with Bella's human scent. It was the very scent that drew me to her in both heavenly and hellish ways. To any other, even of our kind, she didn't smell much different, but to me, it was very noticeable. Now she smelled even sweeter, but without the subtle undertone of heat and blood that all humans radiated.
She walked into the kitchen and glanced up at the faded yellow cabinets before moving in to the living room. Everything looked exactly the same, except there was a new picture up on the mantle, in the middle of all of her school photos. It was a picture from our wedding. We were standing on the dance floor embracing each other, having just finished our first dance as husband and wife. We were both glowing with happiness. Bella was silently gazing at the photo.
"Edward, what did you ever see in me? Even all done up for our wedding I look completely out of place next to you," she murmured, not turning to look at me.
I came up behind her and put my arms around her waist. I turned her around in my embrace, cupping her chin with my hand, drawing her gaze up to meet mine. "Bella you always have and always will be the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. I know you don't believe me when I say it, but you don't see yourself very clearly." She didn't say anything in response, just a sweet smile. We both had our insecurities that we could only hope time would fade.
After a few more minutes of wandering through the house she turned to me, "Okay, I'm ready to go now." I nodded and we made our way home.
By the time we arrived the family was in the entranceway waiting for us. "There you two are! We are all ready to go." Emmett said slightly exasperated.
"Sorry, I wanted to stop by Charlie's house one last time." Bella said in response.
Carlisle directed his thoughts towards me. Is she okay Edward? I gave him a slight nod of affirmation.
The six of us loaded into the Escalade, Bella and I were cuddled up in the third row with Jasper and Alice in the middle and Rosalie and Emmett in the front. We were going to drive straight through to Michigan only making stops for gas.
About eight hours into the drive Emmett and Rosalie switched places with Jasper and Alice, Jasper drove.
"Okay, I have a game to play to help pass the time. Jasper and I can't play because I would have a hard time not cheating." Alice cheerily said.
"What are we playing Alice?" Bella asked.
"The Newlywed Game!" She exclaimed receiving a response of groans from the rest of us.
"Alice, Emmett and I aren't newlyweds, not even close. We have been married for over seventy years!" Rosalie shot back.
"I know, I know. But we need something to pass the time. Just think of the unfair advantage you have over Bella and Edward. They've only been married for four months." But I actually think you could win this Edward, you two know each other really well. Alice finished in her thoughts.
"What does the winner get?" Emmett asked. Alice didn't answer immediately. Her mind revealed she hadn't thought about a prize. She should have known better with this family – the eternal gamblers.
"How about they get to pick their room in the new house?" Jasper replied as he looked over at Alice. Normally if the bet involved just my brothers, the prize would entail some form of humiliation of the loser, but considering Bella and Rose were involved as well, I am certain they would rather be playing for a tangible prize. Alice closed her eyes to search out a vision.
"Yes, Esme will be fine with that. She hasn't assigned the rooms and therefore hasn't decorated them yet.
"To get started, here are four pads of paper and pens. When I ask you questions boys, write both your answer and what you think your wives will answer and obviously ladies do the same. You should end up with two sets of answers for each question. Don't let you spouses peak. Then we will go back and reveal the answers to see who knows their mate better!" Alice was bubbling with excitement.
"This is going to be great. Are you going to ask what our wife's favorite sexual position is?" Emmett asked with an unabashed grin.
"No, Emmett. This is not the x-rated Newlywed Game. Get your mind out of the gutter. Besides, the questions are going to be harder than that. I'm sure Edward could answer that one for you." She laughed as she shot a glance at the back of the truck to me.
"Nice Alice. Real mature, but sadly, I could. I am not always quick enough at blocking their warped thoughts." I said while pointing at Rosalie and Emmett - who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed about my comment. Bella was quietly giggling next to me.
We positioned ourselves with our backs to the windows, facing each other.
"Question number one, what is your spouse's favorite color?" I pondered that for a moment and knew the answer fairly quickly.
"Question number two, what is your spouse's favorite book?" I sneaked a peek at Bella over the top of my pad of paper. She was deep in thought and then the most adorable look came across her face, I am assuming signaling an epiphany.
"What is the one place your spouse would like to go but has never been?"
"What would he or she consider to be their greatest weakness?"
Alice continued on in that fashion for about twenty questions. Some answers came to me fairly easy, others I had to really think about what Bella would answer. Thank goodness for our photographic memory – admitted a huge perk to this life.
"Okay, now for the results. Ladies first. Rosalie, what did you say that Emmett's favorite color is?" Alice asked.
She held up her paper with a confident grin, "Red. It is my favorite and his – he loves all of my red underwear."
"That's right Rose! I wrote red for both." Emmett exclaimed pulling his wife over to kiss her cheek.
"Bella, what did you say that Edward's favorite color is?" Alice asked.
"Blue," Bella said with a shy smile at me.
"That is true, ever since I met you blue has been my favorite color." I grinned at her, reaching across the seat to grab her hand.
"Edward what did you write for Bella's favorite color?" asked Alice.
"I wrote topaz, golden yellow." Bella nodded her head in agreement as she stared into my amber eyes, tightening her grip on my hand.
"It is a tie so far, one, one." Alice proclaimed. "Next question, Rosalie, what did you answer for Emmett's favorite book?"
"Kama Sutra." She grinned.
"That's right sweetie. You know me so well." Emmett said.
"Well it is dog-eared and falling apart at the seams Em." Rosalie lovingly responded.
"There is a lot of good information in there." He said in his defense. We all chuckled at his seriousness.
Emmett answered that her favorite book was Chilton's Do-It-Yourself Auto Mechanic Guide and he was right. I had a hard time answering this one for Bella. She loved so many books and I was torn between Wuthering Heights and Romeo and Juliet. In the end I decided to go with the former and was correct. I felt certain she wouldn't choose Romeo and Juliet because ever since Italy, her view of the tragic love story has changed.
"Bella what did you write for Edward's favorite book?" Alice asked. She looked up at me with worried eyes, she clearly didn't feel very confident about her answer. I squeezed her hand in encouragement.
"I remember once that you mentioned that The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka had an impact on you when you read it, you felt like you could relate to the main character's struggle with his change." I beamed back at her in agreement. How did she remember that, I spoke of it long before her change? I held up my paper to show her I wrote the same answer, causing her to clap her hands in delight and lean over to plant a quick kiss on my cheek.
"The score is two, two." Alice announced officially. Jasper chuckled to himself at his wife's enthusiasm. His thoughts reiterated his love for her. "Question number three, Rosalie what is your answer for Emmett?
"I said Antarctica for the polar bears." She replied.
"That is right Rose, I would love to try my hand at irritating one of those beasts. It would be great, less places for them to run in the tundra." Emmett light heartedly chuckled. "I answered Paris for Rose."
Rosalie hung her head down and shook her golden locks lightly from side to side.
"No!" Emmett cried. "What did you write?"
"I, um, wrote, The British Virgin Islands. I would love to be able to bask in the heat of the sun, though I know I never could." Rosalie finished in a whisper. She tried so hard to put on a brave face, but other than myself, she had the most difficult time accepting our limitations. Forever wishing she was a mortal human, even if it meant forfeiting the love of her life.
Everyone was silent for a long moment at Rosalie's admission. Alice broke the silence.
"Bella, what did you write for a place Edward would like to go?"
Bella's melodic voice answered, "Well, that was a tough one because I know that Edward has been a lot of places, I am sure more than he has ever told me about. But in the end, I decided it wasn't a geographic location. I answered, that the place he would like to go, but has never been is my thoughts," while locking eyes with me. There was so much love and trust in them I felt as if she truly was trying to let me in on her thoughts, but once again, I was not granted entrance. I nodded in agreement; amazed at how she completely understood me. I heard Emmett punch the seat as we moved ahead in the game.
"Edward, what did you write for Bella?" Alice asked.
"New York City." I responded. Bella has mentioned several times that she yearned to experience the feeling of the towering buildings blocking out the sunlight and the intensity of humanity all packed into such a small island. I have been many times and find it exhausting. The concentration of human scent is overwhelming even to my honed control. But, one day I would take my love there.
"That's right Edward." Bella smiled.
We carried on the same fashion, back and forth, for another two hours. All four of us admitting our greatest weakness were our spouses. The tension was growing with each verbalized answer. This was the last question and would mean the game. If Bella and I got them right, we would win.
"Rosalie, what did you answer for Emmett's favorite article of clothing of yours?" Alice chimed in.
"Well, this was hard because I really do have so many outfits that he likes, but I honestly have to say, my coveralls." Rosalie replied. Everyone exchanged confused glances. Of all of Rosalie's revealing outfits, why would Emmett like her greasy coveralls the best?
"That's right Rose!" Emmett exclaimed proudly.
"Emmett, why is that your favorite?" Jasper asked with a perplexed look from the driver's seat.
"Because she goes commando whenever she wears them." He smirked devilishly at his wife.
"Geez, Emmett, could you please control your thoughts a little better!" I cried out, as my mind was flooded with nude pictures of my sister.
Emmett turned in his seat, "Sorry Edward, can't help it." He said turning back to his wife with a goofy grin. Rose answered that she liked his Polo jeans the best, finishing in her thoughts because of the way they made his butt look. Again, more information than I needed.
Alice cranked her head around in the seat to look back at Bella and I. "Okay you two, if you both get this right, you will win! Bella what did you write for Edward's favorite piece of your clothing?"
Bella looked down with a shy smile, "I wrote the nightgown I wore on our wedding night. The one you helped me pick out Alice."
If she were still human, she most certainly would have been blushing, like she had been when I first laid eyes on her in our hotel room. Since she no longer could, she had taken to adorably biting her lower lip when she was nervous or embarrassed, which she was doing now. I had to fight my overwhelming urges to grab her beautiful face and passionately kiss her right in front of everyone. Between her adorable lips and the image of her in that nightgown – I was nearly going crazy with want for her.
"Edward, is that right?" Alice asked.
"Why yes it is Alice." I replied, not taking my eyes off of Bella. "I answered my white, sleeveless button down shirt." Knowing that the day I wore that shirt to the meadow, on our first date, that Bella nearly fainted. She had often requested for me to wear that shirt. Bella nodded her head as a huge grin spread across her face.
"Edward and Bella win!!!" Alice cried out. "You guys are going to love your new room!"
"Crap!" Emmett yelled and Rosalie turned to the window to pout.
I wasted no time showing Bella how much I loved her. I closed the distance between us, holding her porcelain face in my hands, bringing her lips within centimeters of mine, deeply breathing her in. She eagerly threw her arms around my neck, not allowing the separation to continue. There was the familiar shock of electricity as our mouths connected, fitting together perfectly, moving as one.
Look who's talking Edward. The lust coming from the back of the truck could stand on its own! Jasper chuckled to himself as he looked in the rearview mirror. The comment did not cause me to separate from my love, but my lips pulled up slightly in a devilish grin against hers. After a few more second I altered my attack and buried my lips behind her ear then nibbled on her lobe.
"I can barely control myself love, thankfully we are almost to the hotel." I lustfully murmured in her ear as I ran my fingers down her neck. She let out a little whimper causing me further delightful agony.
I'm driving as fast as I can Edward; Carlisle is going to wonder what the hell the hurry is. Jasper said to me in his thoughts, causing me to chuckle under my breath, and then returning my attention to my breathtaking wife.