Part One:
Life
Chapter One: Sunday
Sunday was Edward and my day. Every Sunday Jacob (a werewolf who just happened to imprint on my daughter and who just happened to be my best friend) came and took Nessie (my rapidly growing half-human half-vampire daughter) down to La Push to play on the beach.
With a kiss on her unnaturally warm forehead and a stroke of her shiny curly hair Nessie turned to begin walking from me into Jacob's arms. Before she walked away however, her small form perfect and charming, turned and she touched my face filling my head with images indicating she would miss me, her special talent penetrating my shield.
"Do not worry baby, I will be here to pick you up and you always have such fun with Jacob," I whispered to her. She smiled showing her gleaming white teeth and touched my face again telling me she was happy to go, nevertheless she would miss me. I kissed her again and in an instant was on the other side of the boundary line with Jacob running into his open arms. Jacob waved goodbye to me as he carried my daughter away from me.
It had been over ten months since the Volturi had come to our home with the intent of destroying my daughter and the majority of my family. It had been peace, blissful peace. As a family (the Cullen family) we had not encountered many if any disturbances to our perfect life. Well, aside from the fact I had to deal with my mother at one stage and explain to both my parents that at this point in my life I had no intention of going to college – a small personal challenge. Edward was not impressed either – a very large personal challenge (although how he could ever fathom I would leave him or my daughter behind was beyond me). It took considerable persuasion (especially with Edward – I wish I could read his mind sometimes) yet eventually they all relented and accepted my decision.
As a whole we had built a perfect world. Edward, Reneesme and I lived in our fairy tale land deep in the forest. It was our escape from the big house, our sanctuary. It was my little slice of heaven with my two angels. I passed the newborn stage of vampire development before it had ever really started and just continued with life as normal (well in a way). I watched my beautiful baby girl change and grow, her growth patterns slowing considerably much to Edwards and my pleasure. She was to be a child for so much longer and for that we were thankful, I wanted to keep her small forever. We continued to fit into human society secretly and inconspicuously.
Jacob had become a strong part of our family as well, his connection with Reneesme never once faulting. He was with her every other day, and when he wasn't he would call and whine and complain begging to come see her. I tried to explain to him that just for once Edward and I would like to spend some family time with out daughter, alone. The biggest problem was that with the mention of Jacob's name our ever observant daughter would begin bouncing (literally) off the walls with joy so it became harder and harder to refuse his visits. Finally an agreement had been reached that Saturday Edward and I were allowed Reneesme all to ourselves whilst Sunday she was all Jacob's. His initial reaction was laced with slight displeasure but he eventually agreed.
It was hard trying to explain to him that he did in fact have a life outside my daughter. He had school, he had a family, he had friends, in fact he had a pack of wolves who deserved his time as well. He retorted saying that there was life outside Edward. Saying I had a family, I had friends that I needed to give some attention to. I ignored him, Edward was my family, he was my life.
This present Sunday just happened to be our one-year wedding anniversary. Being the way I was, completely adverse to celebrations, anniversaries or events of any kind I had been avoiding the subject for many weeks, hoping Edward would forget and we could just go about our Sunday the way we always did; a bit of a hunt, relief, conversation, gazing at each other… However, Edward being Edward did not forget, he never forgot and insisted that we celebrate. I told him you didn't celebrate one year of marriage you celebrated ten years of marriage. He just laughed and kissed me.
It was not that I wasn't happy being married for one year and that indeed it did deserve celebrating (we didn't think we would live this far) it was just I knew Edward. It was not going to pleasant on my behalf especially if Alice had anything to do with it. I had told him I would play nice for the space of the four hours that Jacob had Reneesme, he smiled and agreed – although knowing him he would twist it some way or another.
I stood at the boundary line listening intently for the sound of Jacobs footsteps disappearing, hearing him laughing and making my daughter laugh. I smiled and listened a little while longer until their voices died out, they must be very close to the beach now. I stood feeling the cool breeze pass my icy skin, hearing all the sounds of the woods, smelling everything around me. Contemplating whether or not I should return to my husband, desperately wanting to escape any form of celebrations a rather tantalizing lion smell passed under my nose but then the sweetest, most irresistible smell made its way to me.
It was a smell I knew ever so well. I didn't even turn around, slowly feeling a pair of strong arms wind their way around my waist holding me close; never close enough. Placing my own arms around his I moaned causing a little chuckle to escape his lips.
Kissing my neck lightly he began murmuring and whispering in my ears interrupting sentences with soft fluttering kisses on my neck. He was driving me insane.
"Not going back on our deal are you?" he said his lips brushing my ear as he spoke, "Only four hours, and it isn't even torturous," he added with an ever so slight edge to his voice, I began to feel guilty for considering running away. I shifted in his arms swivelling around to face him. Edward's beautiful face was so close to mine, I could see the different shades of gold in his warm, liquid eyes.
"My love, I could never go through with it," I whispered, as much as I wanted to run I couldn't be apart from him for more than an hour or so. He bent down and kissed me on the lips. I was addicted to him, to his kisses, to his embrace, to his love.
"Happy anniversary," he whispered into my mouth kissing me lightly again. My head was spinning, his scent intoxicating. I really did need to learn to get a hold of myself whenever he touched me. Or spoke to me. Or looked at me. Or breathed near me. I moaned again into his mouth, he chuckled again.
"Come now wife, let me celebrate my love for you," he said scooping me up into his arms, cradling me to his chest. We ran into the woods, away from the boundary line eventually coming to a small clearing where our small cottage stood. Skilfully opening the iron, vine covered gate with one hand and carrying me with the other he took me up the stone path to the front door. Once again performing the balancing act with ease and skill he opened the front door and led me in.
The first thing I noticed was the strong, overpowering smell of roses, red roses. From there I noticed that all the curtains had been drawn and all the lights switched off. Instead, assumingly while I was out, Edward had placed candles around the whole house leaving us in dim, romantic lighting. The floor on which he now placed me was covered with red rose petals with bunches all around on the shelves and in other nooks and crannies. Walking further down into our bedroom I saw that much of the same thing took place here, if not more. I let my eyes wander around; this was almost sickening to the un-romantic un-celebratory type, me. And then to top it up there was a small pile of blue and silver wrapped presents on the bed. My surprised turned to shock, to horror. I hated presents – and compared to my single present for Edward, this small mound was terrifying.
I composed myself before turning around, preparing to lie. Edward's face was filled with such expectant joy wanting me to love everything he had done that I could not help but feel happy. I smiled genuinely, his effort and his expression were enough for me. I held out my arms and he came towards me, my favourite crooked smile on his face.
"I love you so very much," I whispered kissing him gently then pulling back slightly added, "Thank you, this is perfect," He leaned in and kissed me. And it was perfect. Him and me; together forever, in our own perfect little world.