Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters. Everything Twilight belongs to Ms. Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: I know that all of you want to see the scorching romps in Edward's bedroom, but please have patience. Some issues needed to be resolved first. I'm getting there, so please bear with me.

Another thing, I'm extremely sorry for the delay in updates. I injured my back a few days ago. I was going to post this chapter sooner, but my poor health halted the progress. Sorry for that. Please stay with me, my lovely readers... I promise to keep going on. I just need a bit of time to recover.

NOTE: Jasper's accent reading - Basically, just keep this in mind, Yorkshire accent deletes the letter 'H'. So, if someone says something that has 'H' in it, then he removes 'H' from it all together.

EXAMPLE: human= 'uman; help= 'elp; hell= 'ell; have= 'ave ...and so on.

Just remember one thing, 'H' is always replaced by an apostrophe. Then you can read the accent without any problem. I have removed all the other funny accented words, so it shouldn't be a problem now.

Thump thump thump…

A smile crept across his face as he heard his favourite vibration from outside the manor—Isabella's heartbeat. An urge to bound down the stairs gripped him, and he flashed toward the door. Opening it in a hurry, he almost ran straight into Alice, who was standing at his door like a guard dog.

"My mental warnings don't seem to be working on you anymore." She gave him a dubious look. "You don't listen to me any longer, Edward. I'm beginning to fear that you're losing your mind reading abilities."

Edward tugged at his messy bronze hair and looked beyond her shoulder pensively. "She's here, give way."

"Wouldn't I know that, dear brother?" Alice smirked at him and pushed him back. "Now go back and get inside your bed. You're unwell, remember?"

"Alice!" he growled at her domineering attitude, "you told her that it was just a headache. I'm not running a fever, for god's sake!"

"You certainly aren't," she imitated Carlisle's tenor—the way he'd speak to a patient, "but you feel lightheaded and nauseous." She kept nudging him back until he was standing right next to the bed.

Edward glowered at her, but she remained unfazed. "You want her to see that you're only human, don't you?"

Alice's jibe hit home; Edward's lips pulled back over his teeth, and a low growl rumbled from his chest.

"You can either be the ideal husband for her, or be what you are, Edward." Alice tapped her foot on the floor impatiently, waiting for good sense to prevail over him.

In the meantime, downstairs, Jasper and Emmett straightened up as soon as they heard Isabella's approach.

The click of Isabella's shoes echoed inside the grand hall of the manor. She cringed at the noise, feeling extremely self-conscious.

Jasper and Emmett sat in the far corner of the hall, playing chess. To Isabella, they seemed engrossed in the game, but they were actually focused on her.

Very gingerly, she approached them, afraid that she might disturb their game. They both looked up as she came closer, and greeted her with a smile.

Emmett was first to break the ice. "Good mornin'," he said, courting his usual amused expression.

Isabella returned the gesture and smiled shyly.

Jasper took on from Emmett. "'Ow are you doing?" (How are you doing?)

Isabella blinked in confusion, not understanding much of his cadence. "Pardon?"

As Jasper grappled for a clear way to speak, Esme entered the hall from one of the back doors. She sauntered toward Isabella, rubbing her grubby hands on her apron.

"Bella! So good to see you here." She raised her hands and gave her an apologetic look. "I was working in the garden."

"Same here, Mrs. Cullen. You like gardening?" Isabella had a distant look in her eyes as she said that.

"Yes, I love to shovel around." Esme tilted her head and appraised Isabella's appearance. Ever since she had seen her, she couldn't stop marvelling at her favourite son's choice.

"That's… nice to know." Isabella couldn't help but stare at Esme's now soiled apron. "My mother loved her garden as well." The smiling face of Renée Swan popped inside her head. It was easy to see her own mother in Esme, and that comforted Isabella.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Bella, I didn't mean to remind you—I mean, I know that…" Esme tried to continue, to say something to comfort her, but Isabella raised her hand to stop her.

"That's fine, Mrs. Cullen, I have come to accept my loss." A rather forced smile adorned Isabella's face as she said those words.

Isabella's brave effort tugged at Esme's dead heart, and her motherly instinct surfaced. "I know my child, you're a brave one." She wanted to hug Isabella, but her dirty hands posed a hindrance.

Behind her, Jasper cleared his throat audibly, a covert way to let Esme know about his increasing thirst. Presence of a human in such close proximity was threatening his control.

"So, Bella, shall I get you something? Do you want to, perhaps, sit with Alice in her room?" Esme turned to glare at Jasper, to make him leave.

Emmett couldn't suppress the laugh that built in his chest, seeing Jasper glare back like a petulant child. They were in the middle of an exciting game, and Jasper didn't want to leave.

"Actually," Isabella tried to talk over Emmett's cachinnation, "I came here to see Mr. Masen."

That stopped Emmett's mirth, as he trained his full attention on Isabella, who was beginning to redden.

"How is he doing?" she asked sheepishly, her eyes flitting around the hall surreptitiously. Her blush deepened as her shy eyes met Emmett's twinkling ones.

Jasper groaned—unable to control his thirst anymore—and dashed outside. Isabella gaped at him, taken aback by his sudden exit.

"He got boke as well," Emmett remarked in utter amusement, citing Jasper's thirst as sickness. "Pure sensitive… loves his brother immensely."

"Emmett," Esme chastised him with a stern look, and turned at Isabella. "Don't mind him. Jasper is well and good, just had to run an errand. He had forgotten about it, and had to hurry."

Esme's over-enthusiastic explanation about Jasper's odd behaviour didn't go unnoticed. Isabella eyed her skeptically. "That's all right. So," she changed the topic, "Alice had said that these headaches don't last long, I was wondering if Mr. Masen is still unwell. She had stopped me from coming here yesterday..."

"Your man is grand," Emmett replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He then cocked his head in the direction of Edward's room upstairs. "Waiting for ye."

Emmett's bluntness made her uncomfortable and she moved towards the stairs.

Esme glowered at Emmett, exasperated at his abrasive sense of humour. She turned to Isabella, to say something comforting, but Isabella was already half way up the stairs.

Isabella mouthed a quick 'thank you,' rushing away. Emmett's intimidating presence and teasing repartee was enough to make her bolt.

Upstairs, both Edward and Alice could hear Isabella's clumsy ascent. Their verbal skirmish stopped abruptly.

"Quick! In your bed, now!" Alice whispered at vampire frequency.

"I abhor you, Alice!" Edward hissed as he jumped into his bed and slipped beneath the quilts.

"All of this is happening because you wanted to kill her, remember?"

"I did not want to kill her!"

"Good, I'd like to believe it," Alice retorted, while Isabella approached Edward's room. "But, unlike you, my power is well and working, and it begs to differ."

A soft knock permeated the room as Isabella lightly tapped her knuckles on the door.

Alice bounced to the door and opened it almost right away. "You didn't listen," she chided, her amusement bubbling over.

Isabella smiled meekly, her cheeks already pink with heat. "I stayed away yesterday, as you said, but I just wanted to make sure that he's recovering well," she tried to defend herself.

A smile replaced the scowl on Edward's face as he heard Isabella's plea. Well, feigning illness isn't so bad after all.

"Is he still sleeping?" Isabella enquired. "If he is, then I'll go away. I won't disturb him."

"No." The word slipped out of Edward's mouth even before he could consider it.

Alice let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes, he's fine now, just resting for recovery. And, yes, as you can see, he's wide awake." She moved aside to let Isabella in.

Edward's eager eyes watched Isabella intently as she approached his side. She settled down quietly in the rosewood chair next to the bed, not meeting his gaze.

"I'll be downstairs, playing chess with Emmett," Alice announced as she left, closing the door behind her. I'll be watching, Edward, she told him sternly.

"What did you do yesterday?" Edward pushed the covers aside and sat on the edge of the bed to keep his face levelled with hers.

"You should rest. Lie down please." She nodded toward the quilts.

"I want to talk to you," he replied in a soft, pleading voice.

"You can talk while lying down."

"But I want to see your glorious face and touch your hands…"

His brazen reply caught her off guard. She squirmed in her chair, feeling that strange yet familiar weightlessness in her lower half.

Edward smiled at her reaction, glad that her body responding to his words. "You still didn't tell what you did yesterday."

Isabella's eyes were fixed on the floor as she answered, "I cleaned up the attic. It was enough to keep me busy for the day."

"You say that as if you wanted to do something else." Edward wanted her to look up, so he lowered his head slightly and peeked at her from her under his lashes.

Don't make it difficult for her, Edward! Alice scolded from downstairs. As it is, she is shy about being here. She isn't very forthcoming, so let her be.

"Stay out of my private life, Alice. I can handle it on my own," he replied in a voice too low for Isabella to hear.

"Bella?" He stretched his hand to touch her warm cheek. "Did you want to come here instead? If you had mentioned it to me, I would have sent someone to clean the attic for you."

"Oh, no, I didn't feel obligated to clean it; I did it on my own volition." She chewed her lip nervously and continued, "I wanted to come here to see if you were fine."

Edward chuckled lightly. "Now that you're here, I feel perfectly fine. More than fine, actually." He knew it would mollify her; he wanted to trap her in his charms. That way, it would be easier to get her to open up to him eventually, or so he assumed. For Edward, everything was an assumption with Isabella, since her mind never opened itself to him.

"I liked that necklace you gave me." Isabella tried her best to deflect the conversation towards something else.

He stared at her intently, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Isabella looked up at once and met his gaze. She held his eyes for a brief moment, her own eyes holding a mix of emotions she didn't understand. Drawing an unsteady breath, she closed her eyes for a moment and then spoke again, "I still don't understand your obsession with rubies though."

"I'll give you sapphires next time."

She blushed a beetroot red, remembering the time when she had admitted to liking sapphires. The memory of Edward's lips on her skin made her shiver… with pleasure.

A brilliant smile stretched across Edward's handsome features; it was the smile of triumph. Isabella was slowly falling under his spell. He could almost see the future now—Isabella's warm, enchanting body joined with his, his name on her luscious lips.

He stroked her cheek softly, feeling the heat of her blush. "Your blush is beautiful, Bella."

Her eyes lost focus as he drew closer, a normal reaction to Edward's proximity.

"You still can't take compliments easily. How adorable," he sighed, tracing her lips with his thumb. "Come here, please."

His other hand closed around hers and pulled her to him. Her brows creased in confusion, but she let him draw her out of the chair and on to his lap.

"Are you afraid?" he asked, searching her eyes.

"No…" She gulped loudly, not afraid of him, rather in fear of losing her resistance to him. Each day, she felt it slipping from her control, like sand through her fingers.

He moulded his hand around the curve of her cheek and pulled her closer. Their lips locked together in perfect harmony.

A burst of heat shot through Isabella, urging her to get closer to Edward. Something very dormant, very primal, was awakening inside her, and she was drowning under her overflowing senses. Her lips parted without any resistance, and his cold tongue dived in eagerly, seeking her warm one. Her hands—which were lying limp around his shoulders till now—moved toward his neck on their own.

A muffled groan escaped Edward's lips as he felt her warm hands gripping his neck. They sent shocks right down his spine—shocks of pure pleasure. Her hands then moved up, into his hair. His grip tightened around her soft frame, while her dainty hands tugged at his hair. It wasn't painful to him, but immensely arousing.

Edward withdrew slowly, feeling aroused and extremely thirsty at the same time. But he was able to beat his thirst down; the man prevailed over the vampire. Dragging his lips across Isabella's skin, he traced her jaw line and came to halt at her throat.

Isabella let him have his way, while she panted away lightly, her eyes staring ahead at nothing. Her hands were still gripping his hair, pulling him closer to her still. He kissed her throat lightly, fully in control of his thirst. It gave him assurance for the future.

Whaat are they doin' up there?! Emmett's loud thoughts permeated Edward's mind, killing his bliss. You're not doin' what Oi fear you're doin', Edward?

Sooner than he would have liked, Edward moved away from Isabella's warm skin. Holding her waist, he stood up, raising her to her feet with him.

Isabella blinked, returning to herself finally. Edward's ardent kisses always left her dazed.

"Let's go downstairs," he said reluctantly. "Would you like to see Esme's gardening skills?"

"Uhh, yes, of course." She could see the resigned look on his face. It confused her, for it made no sense to her. But she went along with him, to humour him.

"So, Alice stopped you from coming to see me?" he asked casually as they descended down the stairs.

"She feared that it would disturb you and hamper your recovery," she tried to defend Alice.

Edward grumbled under his breath. "They all overdo it. There was no need for that kind of restriction. I only felt the headache and its effects for an hour or so."

"I believe they were just being cautious. They care for you," she said softly, so softly that his anger crumbled.

"Yes, they do care. But I don't like feeling weak." His admission wasn't insincere.

They remained silent then, until they were out in the open gardens.

"How painful is it?" she asked in a concerned tone. "I mean, how much worse can it get? And what do you eat at that time… chicken soup?"

Edward shook his head in amusement and smirked at her. "I think, your touch is all I need."

She looked at him with faux annoyance, which pleased him even more.

"All right, I just need rest to recover, nothing else. It's not very complicated," he replied seriously, careful not to give away too much.

Isabella went quiet after hearing his answer, noting that he hadn't mentioned any particular type of food. She found it odd, because recovery needed strength, and food was the main source to gain that strength.

Edward saw the deep concentration on her face and wondered if she was speculating about his lack of human tendencies. He knew Alice was right, that he needed to pretend to be more human, lest Isabella began suspecting…

"So, Bella," Alice chirped, "are you ready to see your wedding gown?"

Isabella smiled nervously at her, not sure how to answer her enthusiasm. "Of course, Alice, enough with the trepidation."

"Here it is!" Alice clapped her hands twice, a hint for the seamstress to bring the dress.

As ordered by Alice, the seamstress appeared in the doorway, carrying the wedding ensemble with her. Her assistants, who held the rest of the trousseau, followed behind her closely. It looked like a procession.

"It's ivory silk faille, and the cathedral train is separate. The veil is silk tulle, with lace at the end." Alice explained the details of the gown, while the seamstress laid it in front of Isabella. "The sleeves are lined with Brussels lace. Do you like the bell shape of the sleeves? I thought they'd suit you."

Isabella appraised the gown as Alice chattered away the details, some of which didn't register with her. Even though she hadn't seen that many wedding dresses, she was certain that this was perhaps the most elegant one she'd ever seen.

"The bodice fastens by the lacing, which is drawn through eyelets. The train is to be trimmed on the inside of the outer edge with a balayeuse. You can see the design with glass beads and rhinestones. And did you see the stand-up collar, and the neckline—" Alice suddenly stopped her commentary on the gown and eyed Isabella. "Bella?"

Hearing her name, Isabella trained her wide eyes on Alice. "Alice…" She swallowed loudly, stunned by the beauty of her wedding dress. "This is beyond words."

Alice smiled triumphantly, for once feeling satisfied with her efforts. "So, you do like the dress, hmm?"

"Yes." There wasn't another word for Isabella to convey her true emotions. All things said and done, it was the perfect wedding dress, a dress she always dreamt of.

"Then please go and wear it. I want to see you in it, Bella. I can't contain my excitement!" Alice ushered her toward the closet, handing her the dress.

Isabella was unable to put it on on her own. Alice came in to help her without needing to be asked. "I knew you would fumble around, so I came to the rescue," she said as she tightened her bodice.

"And hold on, we're not done yet," Alice halted Isabella as she was about to exit the closet. "Let me try the ankle boots as well. Then we'll have the complete ensemble."

She retrieved a pair of white suede leather boots from behind her. They matched with the wedding gown. "Here, Bella, show me your feet."

Isabella lifted her skirt and allowed Alice to fit the boots.

"Ah! Perfect!" Another round of excited clapping erupted from Alice.

In the next half hour, the seamstress checked the dress for any glitches with fitting. It turned out fine, needing only minor adjustments. The rest of the trousseau followed suit.

Isabella felt exhausted at the end of the fitting session. "Alice, is it over now?" she asked for assurance's sake, once they were done with the last dress.

"Why, you want more dresses?" Alice teased her.

"No, no." Isabella raised her hand in haste. "I mean… I'm getting tired now. I don't know from where you all get the strength to go on."

"Ha, ha." Alice let out her silver bell laughter. "No, I'm not going to bother you anymore. There are, of course, other clothes as well, but their fitting will be fine."

"Other clothes?" Isabella looked at her dubiously.

"Oh, yes, don't you worry, Bella." Alice waved the seamstress away, while keeping her attention still on Isabella. "Night gowns, drawers, chemises, everything will be taken care of."

"You don't need to arrange for everything," Isabella protested. "I already have those."

Alice packed the bridal boots in a white box, almost ignoring Isabella's protest. "The bride has to have everything newly made."

"But I have some new ones," Isabella said petulantly. "Alice, please."

"No more discussion on this, Bella." Alice's tone turned stern. "If there is any side that is lopsided in this wedding, it's yours. You're giving more than I can ever pay back; always remember that."

Isabella couldn't understand the meaning behind Alice's convoluted sentence. But she could see that Alice was trying to avoid this discussion. "Thank you, Alice," she said softly. "I would have been unable to manage everything so quickly."

"Oh, Bella, I'm not doing you a favour." Alice's joyful expression faltered a little, as the confusion over Isabella's future gnawed at her. "I'm doing my duty. Don't thank me, silly."

Isabella nodded, but her gratitude toward Alice didn't diminish. "So, won't you show me your dress?"

"Yes, I will. But let Angela arrive first, then we both can show you our dresses. Bridesmaids go together!"

Even though Alice looked visibly happy, Isabella couldn't ignore the nagging feeling of dread as she observed her would be sister-in-law. She tried her best to overlook her odd overexcitement for the wedding, for now…

With two days left for the wedding, everyone in the Masen mansion was busy helping Alice get the decorations right. She was flitting around the grand hall like a whirlwind, keeping an eye on every minute detail.

She was also the one who suggested that the gentlemen of the house go on a hunting trip together. She knew that Carlisle wanted to talk to the elusive Edward, and she was giving him a window of opportunity. As she had expected, Edward resisted. But she got Esme to convince him, and that worked.

There was another reason behind this forced hunting trip. Alice had seen a vision, and it wasn't a pretty scene. Rosalie was about to raise hell. She had seen all the preparations for the wedding with mute displeasure. But now, as time was running out, she was getting restless. She was worried for her family, for their secret, and wanted assurance. Edward was certainly not giving her any assurance, and thus, she wanted to confront him. Alice knew that this would turn into an ugly exchange of words, so she tried to get Edward away.

Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper are any day better than Rosalie, she thought, once she was sure that Edward couldn't hear her.

Deep in the forest, Edward hunted with his brothers and creator, Carlisle. He knew that Alice was trying to hide something, that this hunting excursion was made in haste. It wasn't a necessary trip, as he didn't feel thirsty. But Carlisle had insisted, and Esme's plea had finally made him cave in.

By the end of the hunt, Edward knew that this trip wasn't so much about hunting, as it was about having a father-son conversation. He was perfectly fine with that, but it irked him that Jasper and Emmett also tagged along.

As they all gathered around a clearing after the hunt, Carlisle turned to Edward. "Edward, before we return, I want to have a discussion with you. It is important, so would you please listen to me for once?"

Edward nodded stiffly—knowing that this discussion was unavoidable—and sat down on a boulder. Jasper and Emmett followed wordlessly.

"Send them home." He pointed in the direction of his brothers.

"We are part of this discussion." Jasper crossed his arms over his chest. "We also 'ave a few queries." (we also have a few queries.)

Edward wasn't pleased with his intrusion, but he decided to endure. He wanted to get past these discussions before the wedding.

It is about Isabella, Carlisle continued in his thoughts, how and when are you going to change her? I can see that it will be after your wedding, but what I really wanted to know was—do you have enough self control to change her? And how are you going to explain everything to her afterwards?

Edward groaned in frustration at the repeated question. "Didn't you talk to Alice? She has already asked me all these annoying questions."

I would rather you personally told me…

"Fine!" Edward growled. Jasper and Emmett exchanged anxious looks, but Carlisle remained calm.

"I am not planning to change her! Have I made myself clear now?" Edward closed his eyes to calm himself down. The intrusive behaviour of his family was beginning to annoy him.

A wave of unnatural calm enveloped him suddenly. He opened his eyes and glared at Jasper. "Don't. Do. That."

Jasper shrugged and looked at Carlisle.

Beside him, Emmett twitched with contradictory emotions of shock and calm. "Ye won't change Bella?" he asked, Jasper's manipulation stifling the incredulous tone of his voice. "But…"

"You might want to explain that, Son." Carlisle remained unfazed by Edward's terse reply.

"I just want to keep her that way. Why are you all so baffled by this?" Edward grabbed a rock from the ground and crushed it between his hands, turning it to dust.

Emmett cocked his brow, as Edward's response raised a few doubts in his mind. "Keep her that way? She's not gonna stay frozen in 'er present age, brother. She'll get old."

"Why do you want to keep her human, Edward?" Carlisle was insistent. For her sake, or for your sake?

"This is worse than Alice." Edward dropped his head into his hands, thoroughly frustrated. "For my sake. I want her as a human. I want to have that kind of experience with a human."

It was Jasper's turn to question him now. 'Ow are you goin' to be with a 'uman, in that way, Edward. It's unnatural for our kind. I can't even fathom such a thing. (How are you going to be with a human…)

Edward raised his head from his hands, his eyes glowing with anger. "You know, Carlisle, I think I have said enough. I don't need each and every one of you inside my head, asking the same questions. Why can't you just be happy about the fact that I don't plan to kill her?"

"I wasn't questioning you on the moralistic side of things, Edward. Just the plain curiosity of your choice." Carlisle tried to pacify him. "Of course, we are happy that you finally found someone, but it is all very… bizarre."

"Bizarre is the apt word," Jasper agreed. "Besides, what if she gets suspicious?" He raised the topic that bothered him the most. "You don't seem inclined to tell Isabella our secret, and that's fine. But if she starts wonderin', then what are you plannin' to tell 'er?" (…what are you planning to tell her?)

"When ye won't eat, or sleep, or bleed… what'll she think about that? And your cold body?" Emmett's face was serious for once.

"They are right, Edward. We might get away with our pretence of humanity, but you will be under her constant scrutiny." Carlisle's tone was sympathetic, unlike Jasper and Emmett's ridicule.

"That's my concern; you all stay out of that!" Edward's only defence right now was offence. He himself didn't know the exact answer to their queries, and he didn't want this to get in his way. He wanted Isabella, and it was slowly becoming a desperate need.

"Fine," Emmett interrupted. "One last query."

Edward gave him a curt nod.

"Where did ye get this notion from? Of keepin' a human, that is. Since ye were more willin' to kill them."

"I like Isabella, and that's reason enough." Edward wasn't liking this fresh turn of the conversation.

Tanya? Emmett couldn't help but mention her name. He grinned at Edward, wiggling his eyebrows.

In a flash, he was thrown towards a huge boulder. The rock shook with the impact and crumbled to pieces.

Loud snarls erupted from Edward's chest, in the general direction of Emmett, who wasn't deterred.

"I was dead serious," he snorted. She's well known for her love of human men…

Carlisle put a restraining hand on Edward's shoulder. "Try and control your reactions, Son. Isabella won't be able to cope, if you try this with her." He indicated toward Emmett and the crushed boulder.

It was a fair warning. Vampire strength could kill a human in a heartbeat.

"I won't lose control. I know the difference." Edward's searing gaze was still fixed on Emmett, who wasn't bothered about it in the least.

"Are you done now, Carlisle?" There was an edge of scorn in Edward's tone. "Or am I going to have to endure a speech on morals as well?"

"No, Son, that was all I wanted to know," Carlisle replied grimly. "I am not going to smother you with my way of life or morals. I just wish the best for you."

"Then try not to raise this issue again," Edward said with an air of finality.

Jasper looked anxiously at Carlisle, still not convinced with Edward's reasoning for taking a human as a mate. But Carlisle shook his head and indicated an end to the discussion.

With that, they headed back to the Masen manor, unaware of the trouble brewing there. However, as the distance lessened, Edward could hear the voices from inside his house in the form of thoughts.

"We should have never come here. You told us that he had found his mate. But a human?" Rosalie's spiteful voice grated on his ears, and he cringed slightly.

"Rose, everything will settle down. You need to support him. We all need to. He has been alone for such a long time. Don't ruin this." This time, it was Alice's high-pitched voice that permeated his mental ears.

"And I know that it's selfish," Esme said, agreeing with Alice, "but what choice do we have? Edward is happy. He has been lonely and sad for too long. And Bella is good for him. I'm sure she'll make a fabulous wife."

"Oh really?" Rosalie's harsh tone hadn't changed. "But I simply don't understand this Isabella's charm. What is she? Just a plain human girl. And he's ready to risk our lives for her. Where's the sense in that? If he really cared for us, he'd avoid relations with humans. But it's evident that he doesn't!"

By this time, Edward had picked up his pace and was flashing like a ghost through the forest. The way Rosalie was talking about Isabella didn't go down well with him.

"By keeping her human, he's threatening our control as well. And what if someday she caught onto our secret? She'll tell everyone in this filthy village!" Rosalie's voice became shrill with rage. "What exactly is he going to do with her?"

"Rose, I think it's not the best time to discuss all this." Alice tried to warn Rosalie about Edward's approach. The vision was clear inside her head—a verbal skirmish between Rosalie and Edward as soon as he got back.

Edward could very well see her visions.

"It's the time to discuss it, Alice. Or else he'll just go about his ways and do as he wishes."

"Rosalie is right." Edward stepped inside the house, his face a mask of calmness. "I'll do as I please. After all, this is my life—or existence. I want Bella, and I'll get Bella." He stepped closer to Rosalie and glared into her face. "And there's nothing that you or anyone else can do to stop me."

Rosalie remained unperturbed by the warning in his voice. "Just tell me one thing, Edward. What is so special about her? You want to cast all of us aside, just for her?"

"No one invited you to my wedding, Rose."

"All because of Alice and her damned visions!"

"You can leave if want."

"She's just an ordinary human, nothing exceptional. You're risking far too much for her, Edward. Either change her, or just kill her! I know which one you'll end up with, anyway."

"Rosalie!" Edward uttered her name with a feral snarl, which startled everyone, including Rosalie. He was absolutely livid, and he made no attempt to hide it anymore.

Alice pushed against Edward to make him back off. She then wedged herself between him and Rosalie, fearing that a battle of strength might ensue. Esme held Rosalie back by her shoulders and tried to calm her down.

She must be a witch! He never showed any appreciation for my beauty! Rosalie barked at the top of her mental lungs. Scoundrel! I hope ends up killing her!

Carlisle entered the hall along with Emmett and Jasper, all visibly shocked and worried. Without wasting any time, Jasper used his power to quell the raging anger of both Edward and Rosalie.

As the false calm filled the space, Carlisle requested Rosalie to leave the hall. He didn't want the confrontation to get out of hand.

"I don't even want to stay here and discuss his foolish antics," Rosalie growled at Edward, her own rage bubbling over Jasper's calm. "I'm not staying here anymore; I don't want to see this phony wedding!" Emmett called after her as she stomped away, but she made no attempt to stop and listen. Reluctantly, he followed her to their room upstairs.

But no one paid attention to the couple; they were all focused on Edward.

"Edward, no…" Alice whispered, filled with dread. She could see the vision steered by Edward's thoughts. It was getting clearer as the moments passed.

"I have decided," Edward spoke in an even tone, "none of you will stay here in my house after Isabella comes here to live."

Alice tried to interrupt him again, but he ignored her pleas.

"All of you, except Rosalie, are welcome to stay till the wedding ceremonies are over, but not afterwards. It's my house, and thus, I get to decide who stays here and who doesn't."

"But, Edward, we're not against this wedding," Esme said in a pleading voice, crushed by Edward's pronouncement.

"I'm not going to change my decision. I let it go too far. I gave you all too much liberty, but I think it's time for a reminder. I'm not a part of your coven. I left long time back."

Carlisle stepped up and tried to talk to him, to make him ease his stance. "Edward, think about what you're saying—"

Jasper's calming effect waned as Edward's rage returned. "I'm not answerable to any one of you! Do not try to influence me!"

You do not have to remind me that, Son. Carlisle's face suddenly appeared to show the weariness of the centuries he had endured. But Edward refused to look into his eyes.

Please, Edward, don't be so cold toward us. Esme looked at him longingly, wishing he would listen to her. I promise you unequivocally, none of us would come in your way…

"I would let you visit, Esme, but I cannot change my decision. It was getting out of hand. I don't want the disturbance. I want my peace of mind." Edward's tone softened a little, but stayed firm.

"Peace of mind?" Alice laughed a humourless laugh, now enraged with Edward's decree. "As if Bella's thoughts wouldn't disturb you."

Edward grimaced at her. "I surely would have liked the disturbance from her thoughts now and then."

Alice's brows knotted in confusion. What does that mean?

"Isabella is special," he spoke through clenched teeth, knowing he'd have to reveal the truth.

That caught everyone's attention. "How come?" they all asked in unison, all except Carlisle.

"I can't read her mind."

Loud gasps resounded inside the hall, as Edward's admission slowly sunk in. It shocked everyone, for Edward's powers had never faltered before.

"Think what you'd like to think. But let me make it clear, I'm not changing my decision. You all have to leave after my wedding." Edward's face was cold as he uttered the next words. "And that's final. I won't bend."

It was his abode, and his decision, and no one dared to challenge him.

(The Official Wedding Invitation)

***************************************************

Mr. Charles Swan

Requests the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of his niece,

Miss Isabella Swan

To

Mr. Edward Masen

On Sunday Eve, August 13th 1890, at

The Masen Residence, Forks Prairie.

***************************************************

Reviews would make my bed more comfortable, I might even recover faster. lol

But man! Being unwell sucks!