Part Two

I felt his fingers weaving through my hair and sighed contentedly without opening my eyes.

"Good morning, love," Edward greeted from behind me with a kiss to the top of my head.

I smiled, rolled over and hugged him, nuzzling his chest. "Morning…How was your trip?" I asked with a yawn.

"Satisfying." He carefully rolled me onto my back and propped himself over me.

I nearly lost myself in his brilliant topaz eyes while my fingers wandered lightly across his cheeks. I smiled when he closed his eyes until I realized that he wasn't simply enjoying himself but also re-familiarizing himself with my scent after our time apart. While it certainly has been easier for him since our return from Italy, it is still something of a necessity especially after several days of separation.

"You shouldn't wait so long between hunts," I quietly instructed. "You push yourself to the limits unnecessarily."

"It wasn't so long this time," he countered, ignoring my concern, as he brushed his lips against my forehead.

He moved aside as I slowly sat up. I reached for his hand and traced imaginary circles on the back of it. "I am sorry."

He quickly pulled his hand free and very lightly pressed both his palms to my cheeks. "You have nothing to apologize for and I wish you would st--"

I interrupted by putting my fingers to his lips. No matter what he said to the contrary, we both knew the only reason he pushed off his hunting for as long as possible was so that I wouldn't overreact to his absence. I sighed, wishing my chest didn't still seize at the moment he left for such a necessity to his survival. "Not much longer before I can go with you," I murmured, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"No," he agreed as he lowered his lips to my neck, pausing to inhale deeply. As always, a shiver ran down my spine and I knew he noticed. I could feel his lips curve upwards ever so slightly as he kissed me again.

But as thrilled as I was that he so readily agreed to my statement, an acknowledgement of his acceptance to my decision, I could also hear the sadness behind those two letters. As much as he wanted to be with me, deep down he still wished it would happen with me remaining a human.

"I love you for eternity," I quietly declared, hoping he could find some small measure of comfort in the fact that I was truly committed to him heart and soul, no matter what his way of life.

He didn't respond other than to tighten his hold around me. And we stayed that way for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, content in our own thoughts…until my stomach traitorously rumbled.

I felt his chuckle and muttered, "Yeah, yeah, breakfast time for the human."

"Not much longer," he whispered as he placed a light kiss to my ear.

Taken aback, I gasped, "You mean that?" And suddenly I could no longer meet his gaze. While I had no doubts at all of his love for me, I hated that I still had even the tiniest bit of doubt concerning his intent to change me.

He tipped up my chin. "You are mine for the rest of my existence," he swore with another tender kiss.

It wasn't a true answer to my question but I was reluctant at the moment to push him on the issue. It had been a lovely way to awaken so I smiled and tried to ease myself from his embrace in order to get dressed.

But he wasn't so quick to let me go and I found myself being gently pushed back into the soft pillows of his bed. It wasn't pushing the boundaries but it was curious given that his hand was teasing the bare skin of my waist where my pajama top had been wrinkled up. And the butterfly kisses he was giving me along my neck was only tempting me more.

And I was helpless to resist, my arms moving on their own, wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer to me. My fingers wove through his hair, tugging on the ends as I grew warmer and warmer from his icy touch. "I have to admit…"

"Yes?" he murmured, his lips too busy to form words.

I was in heaven. The bed, for all its plush luxuriousness, was heaven, and I was with no one less than an angel. A soft moan escaped me as I pressed my lips to his neck, my teeth lightly scraping his skin. I felt his body tense but ignored it as my fingers wandered to the buttons of his shirt.

"Bella…" he breathed before pulling back in an attempt to compose himself. "What do you have to admit?"

"I…I…" I paused to catch my breath, trying unsuccessfully to focus on the buttons of his shirt rather than his eyes.

My tormenter dipped for another kiss. "Yes?"

I sighed and tangled my fingers in his hair, mashing his face to mine, forgetting once again that I still needed to breathe.

Edward didn't forget and pried himself free, chuckling as I lightly panted, "Bella, Bella, Bella…when will you behave?"

"You started," I accused, pointing my finger into his chest.

He grabbed it, kissed it, and smiled as he eased away. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I could see him relaxing and wished it were that easy for me. I was tempted to leap at him when he smiled and asked, "New shampoo?"

I sighed and settled back into the pillows, knowing the window of opportunity had just closed. "Yes. See, I answer your questions so why don't you ever answ--"

"You edit," he accused me in the same teasing tone I'd just used on him.

"Rosalie suggested it, something about it complementing the freesia you seem to love." I shrugged and sat up, carefully stretching my arms in the air so as not to startle him with my movement. I glanced at him and found him smiling.

"It does," he agreed, giving me a nudge out of bed. "I should thank her."

As I pulled together my outfit for the day I told him, "You should really thank Esme. Evidently she's the one who tried it first." I stood before him, "Did you enjoy your time with them? I mean, well, you know what I mean."

He was quiet and I sat next to him while he composed his thoughts. He hadn't hunted with only Carlisle and Esme in the longest time. Although they weren't biologically his parents, they took on the roles with such grace and love and with the wedding just around the corner, I couldn't help but wonder of the parental bonding that might have occurred on this hunt.

"It was…nice," he admitted as he reached for my hand and toyed with his own mother's ring that was now firmly ensconced on my left ring finger. "It was…"

Uncharacteristic for him to be so unsure of what to say, I caressed his cheek. "You've missed your private time with them." From the look on his face, I was probably right. "You love your siblings, but there's something special about quality time with Carlisle and Esme, particularly Carlisle. You may not have been born to them but they are your parents in so many ways."

He was quiet and I was afraid I'd overstepped my bounds but before I could apologize he'd brought my palm to his lips.

Timidly I continued, "Given that you've never been in this situation before, I imagine you've needed to talk to them. Were they able to put your mind more at ease about the wedding?"

"I'm not nervous about the wedding, love," he declared with a smile, sweeping some strands of hair behind my ear.

"But you are about what will happen after, and then after that," I shrugged, glancing to my lap, knowing he would know what I meant.

His eyes widened slightly before he laughed somberly, "I don't know why I'm still surprised each time you remind me of how perceptive you are." He kissed the tip of my nose and sighed, "Yes, I felt better after talking to them and, yes, I've missed my 'private time' with them. More than that, I love you and I am so very glad you have agreed to be my wife."

"Of course you are," I rolled my eyes at my extremely old-fashioned love.

"And how did you sleep?"

"Why?" I warily asked, racking my brain trying to recall all possible dreams. Had I slipped and mentioned something about Jasper's lessons or that I'd be serenading him at the wedding? What if I said Jake's name? I jerked in my seat.

"Bella?" His gaze was filled with concern. "What's wrong?"

I tugged his shirt collar, "You have to tell me what I said. Are you mad? Have I disappointed you?"

"You could never do that," he pressed a kiss to my forehead, "so calm down, sweetheart. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Then you won't have a problem telling me."

"Listen to your heart pound," he murmured before wrapping his arms around me.

I tried to relax but couldn't stop that tiny voice in my head from yelling at me that I'd somehow ruined everything.

"You mentioned your mother's name a few times and something to Alice about shoving the bouquet down the toilet."

I glanced up and noticed amusement lighting up his golden eyes. I didn't quite remember the dream but confessed, "What do they need centerpieces for in a bathroom, anyway?"

He chuckled and kissed the top of my head again. "You also lectured Emmett on being careful around expensive breakables." He tipped my chin back, "You had quite an evening, didn't you?"

"Are you upset about the TV? It was practically brand new and you Cullens always go for top-of-the-line."

I think I heard laughter from downstairs as he replied with a smile, "This wasn't the first and won't be the last TV ruined."

I pressed my face to his chest, relishing his sweet scent. "Probably why Esme hates rough-housing in the living room. How mad is she?"

"Not at all at you," he quickly insisted. "And not as mad as she would have been had you been hurt in the process."

I heard the anger in his tone and kissed his chest. "I'm fine, Edward. Alice had me across the room with plenty of time to spare." And before he could argue, I kissed him once more and pulled away. "Give me a couple of human minutes."

I slid out of bed and grabbed my pile of clothing. I could feel his eyes watching me and was probably blushing as I told him, "I'll be quick."

When I returned, I went straight to his arms for another hug.

"Would you happen to know why Emmett has been singing Don't Worry Baby over and over in his mind?"

I shrugged, "He likes the Beach Boys?"

"Bella…" He'd elongated each syllable so I knew he knew I knew something was up.

"We were talking about the playlist," I sighed.

"He wanted to add a song about racing cars at our wedding?"

"It's not just about racing cars," I dropped my arms from around his waist. "It's about that feeling you have when you know someone else cares about you."

He kissed the top of my head, "What's bothering you, love?" He led me back to the bed and sat me down. "Is it Jacob?"

Oh no. For Edward to mention Jake's name, I had to have said his name last night and now I've hurt Edward. "I'm so sorry, Edward. I don't remember the dream."

"What dream?"

"Last night." Now I was as confused as he seemed to be. "I didn't say his name in my sleep?" Edward shook his head. "Then why would you bring him up?"

"I thought that perhaps you'd --"

I didn't let him finish as I rushed to him, throwing my arms around him, clenching him tightly. "I'm not having any second thoughts about marrying you! Please don't --"

"Shhhh, love, I'm not going anywhere," he gently reminded me as he pried himself free. "I didn't ask because I thought you had changed your mind. Nor was it an attempt to convince you to change your mind."

"You didn't?" I quietly asked, unable to look him in the eye.

"No," he assured me. "I'm concerned because no matter how much you try to hide it from me, I know you're under a lot of stress, both from the wedding and Jacob's situation. And I'm worried that it is taking its toll on you."

I tried not to choke up as I commented, "Jake left home because of me. He's hurting because of me. And I haven't been able to figure out how to make it better."

"Sometimes, love," he patiently told me as he wrapped me in his arms, "there isn't anything you can do. Sometimes, only time will heal the pain."

I shivered slightly as I flashed back to those months when I wasn't sure even time would heal my pain. He kissed the top of my head and I nuzzled his chest.

"There's more, isn't there?" he questioned.

I shrugged and stepped free from his embrace. I walked over to the window to stare at the morning's beautiful landscape.

"I've told you before, Bella, I'll only think the worst if you don't tell me."

I could tell from the sound of his voice that he remained on the other side of the room and I turned around to face him. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Telling me what you're thinking won't hurt me."

I shrugged again, knowing better. But also knowing he would only persist, I decided to answer. "Why'd you ask them to watch me all weekend?"

My question confused him, "Didn't you want to spend time here?"

"Of course. What I mean is, usually it's just Alice who baby-sits me or sometimes I spend time with Esme. But this time, I don't know, it seemed like you wanted me to spend the entire time with all of them. And I know you would have told me if it was for my own protection because I know you know better now than to keep things like that from me. But I couldn't come up with any other reason why you were forcing all your siblings to watch me. Did you have to pay off Rosalie somehow? Sorry, Rosalie," I quickly added in a whisper, knowing she could hear from wherever she was in the house. "Edward, are you…are you afraid I'll leave you if I can't get along with them?"

He stared at me as if I'd once again surprised him somehow. "If we are to spend an eternity together, Bella, then it means we will be spending much time with my siblings. So I hoped this weekend would offer you some better quality time, perhaps something of a bonding session for all of you. Did I make a mistake?"

"Oh, no, Edward," I rushed back to him, reaching for his hands, "I truly did have fun, despite Alice's annoying plans. I felt so comfortable."

"I'm glad," he sighed with relief.

"I really felt like part of the family," I assured him, giving his hands a squeeze. "But…but maybe that was part of the problem."

"Problem?" he froze.

"Not problem, really," I hastily corrected. "It's just that…" I sighed, "See this is where I might hurt you if I don't phrase it right."

"Take your time," he tenderly requested with a kiss to my lips.

"You don't have to dazzle me," I chastised. "I'm going to tell you."

He chuckled but waited for me to continue.

"It's just, well," I fidgeted, "until this weekend, I thought I only had to worry about you losing interest in me but now --"

"That's utterly absurd," he snapped as he pushed himself away. He spun from me and stalked to the other side of the room. "How many times must I tell you, Isabella, that I will never lose interest in you? That your hold on me is an unbreakable bond? That I will never leave you unless you request it of me?"

"Never," I whispered automatically, feeling shamed for having doubted him.

He strode back to me, grabbing my face gently between his palms, forcing me to meet his blazing gaze, as he implored me, "Then, please, doubt me no longer."

"I don't mean to," I whispered, lowering my gaze.

"Ah, Bella," he sighed as he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. "Perhaps one day, I will truly atone for the pain I caused you after that day in the forest."

I brought my hands up to his face, encouraging him with my fingertips to open his eyes. "While I can repress many bad things," I told him, "I'm only human and there will be times feelings will slip through my control. But when that happens will you please try to remember that I don't blame you? That I never blamed you? And that all that matters is how much we love each other? And that you will forgive me for those slips?"

"Bella," Edward uttered in a hoarse voice, "you have done nothing that requires earning forgiveness."

"We're quite the pair, aren't we," I softly commented.

"Perhaps we are meant to be after all," he replied before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

He led me to the sofa and pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me. I could sense his tension easing away but he was still not as carefree as he had been upon waking me. So I carefully brought my lips to meet his, not putting any pressure into the kiss, simply letting it be, and showing him a very rare instance of self-restraint.

He brushed my hair from my eyes, "Will you tell me the rest? Why feeling normal with my siblings is a problem?"

"It's not a problem, really, it's just…" I shifted to a slightly better position, "There were moments when it felt like any stranger could have been watching us and never would have known whether we were all human or all vampires. It was simply a bunch of siblings planning a wedding and playing video games and teasing each other."

The corners of his mouth quirked but he didn't truly smile as he asked, "What about the other moments?"

He tightened his hold on me as if he knew I would slip out of his arms to avoid answering. I took a deep breath, "Other times if felt as if they were simply indulging the human." I quickly pressed my hands to his chest and apologized, "I know that's not how they intended it and I don't mean any offense but…but sometimes it seems that we do things merely because it's a way for all of you to live through me, that somehow my presence is offering all of you the opportunity to relive your human experiences."

"'All of you'," he echoed, "meaning me too."

I lowered my eyes to my clenched fists, which he then held to relax them. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he quietly said, "I always want to know what you're thinking."

I tried my best to clarify, "You all seem to place so much importance on certain aspects of my human life which I know will be different once I'm changed but will still be there. You're so set on me going to college but don't you think I'll have plenty of time for college then? I know," I quickly continued, "it won't be the same experience as being human but…" I shook my head, "I'm messing this up…"

"No, Bella," he kissed my hands, "please, take your time, go on."

"Would Alice relinquish control over the flowers if I wanted to marry you again? Would Emmett still be amused if I no longer trip over thin air? What's going to happen when I'm no longer human and the novelty of me has worn off? Will they still want me?"

"You want to marry me again?"

Did he not hear everything I'd said? Did he not wonder whether I still doubted if he would still want me? Of all times for me to have dazzled him! I was so busy worrying that I wasn't enjoying his stunned reaction! And I certainly wasn't expecting his enthusiastic response when I suddenly found myself pinned to the sofa beneath him.

"You really want to marry me?" he demanded with a kiss.

"Umm…" Didn't he know better than to ask questions while kissing me?

We were both left panting soon enough and I smiled shyly at him, "I thought we've already established that I want to become your wife."

"We did," he agreed with a grin, "but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy hearing you say it again and again." He carefully lifted me back to a seated position and kissed the top of my head as he cuddled me into his side. "That also doesn't mean I didn't hear the rest of your concern regarding my family. I don't know, though, what I can do to assure you that you are not a novelty to them and that they already consider you their sister, even Rosalie."

"I'm glad," I smiled, my voice muffled by his shirt. "I'll try not to let my nerves get the better of me," I promised.

"Perhaps we should work on de-stressing you," Edward suggested.

His eyes glittered and I knew he was up to something. "Does it involve flowers?"

"No," he laughed, "but it will hopefully ease your mind about a different aspect of the wedding. Our first dance as husband and wife."

I froze. Did he know about Jasper's lessons? Did one of them slip up? Did I? "Couldn't it wait until after breakfast?" I squeaked. His hand began stroking my back and arm.

"So tense," he murmured.

"Not if you keep that up," I sighed as I leaned into him. I wound my fingers through his hair, tugging on it as my lips claimed his.

He lifted me off the sofa but I was too caught up in the kiss to even question the soft music now playing in the background.

"I thought if we were to practice a bit, you might not be so worried," he finally said releasing me. "We have two weeks which should be plenty of time to learn a dance or two."

"Well," I smiled as I curtsied to his bow, knowing my secret was still safe, "you know what they say about practice…"