Even though it is a new year, I am sad to say I still don't own Twilight…. :(

Bella POV

After the reception we had thankfully departed from our guests and traveled to the new house we were to spend the rest of our lives in.

The trip, though quick, was silent and I took my time gazing out the open window of the carriage. Once in a while I had thought I sensed Edward looking at me but whenever I would casually look back to the front of the carriage, sneaking a peek at him out of the corner of my eye he was silent as ever, gazing out his own window or fingering the buttons on his tuxedo.

Though he was quiet and we had yet to hold any actual conversation, he was still a gentleman. He held the carriage door open for me as I stepped out, held my hand to help me out, and even held my veil even though I had told him it was highly unnecessary.

I followed him up the narrow pathway to the house, watching the ground where I stepped. I often found this to be of utmost importance when I walked, rather than looking at the scenery.

I did, however happen to look up in a fleeting attempt to see the house and what I saw made my mouth drop.

It was small in size, but large in appearance. Laid out with two floors, the outside was painted a modern off-white color with gray shutters lining the windows. A large tree, possibly an oak, was grown in the front yard by one of the three windows causing the whole yard to be placed under an ever present shade that I could imagine would be delightful in the summers. I envisioned myself sitting under the tree and reading a book while a child danced around the yard.

I blushed as the vision of a little girl or boy with striking bronze hair formed in my mind and my eyes automatically flickered up to Edward, hoping he hadn't noticed.

He hadn't, and apparently he hadn't realized I stopped walking because he was at the front door already.

He turned then, as if sensing me watching him from half way down the path, his eyes quizzical.

"Would you like to come inside?" he questioned, his eyebrows furrowing as I blushed again.

XXXXX

The house was considerably larger than it looked from the outside, consisting of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a parlor, and a full kitchen.

I had blushed when he opened the door to one room, calling it the 'master bedroom'. He must have either noticed my blush or seen me look down because he added quite quickly that there was another bedroom that he would have one of the maids set up.

He had insisted that I take the master bedroom, but I won the argument by stating that the bed in the other room wasn't long enough for his tall frame. He had smirked, turning away from me before he got to see the reddening of my face from my statement.

I shook my head silently, thinking back on that and realizing the hundreds of facts I could have come up with other than that. I shut the book I had been currently scanning and placed it back on the shelf. Yawning, I stood up and walked into the kitchen where Edward was tooling with the sink.

"Edward," I said quietly, not wanting to disturb him.

He looked at me, turning off the running water.

"I am going to get some sleep…" I trailed off as his face twisted into a bizarre grimace.

"Is something… wrong?" I stepped further into the room, looking around at the cabinets. I had taken most of the time we had arrived here to refilling them, and the refrigerator with all of the food Mrs. Masen had brought up to the house.

"No… well, the bed in the room you insist on has no sheets at the moment. You can stay in the master bedroom until the maid arrives tomorrow, if you would like." I bit my lip at the idea of sharing a bed with Edward.

"I will sleep on the couch… if it will be more comfortable for you…" he added hastily, sensing my hesitation as a means of disagreement.

"No! No, I will not have you sleep on the couch. It will be fine. The bed seems sizable enough to fit us both comfortably. Thank you… for the offer," he smiled kindly at me, his eyebrows evening out.

"Don't worry yourself with it. Just go get some sleep. I will be up as soon as I finish adjusting the sink." He turned back to the water, turning it on again and I took that as my cue to leave.

I slowly made my way up the stairs and into my room to dress in my night gown.

I growing concern developed over my being as I realized I would be sharing a bed with Edward. I dressed in my night clothes, under the same covers as my husband whom I had never before shared anything with.

I halted in my steps as another thought crossed my mind. We had to consummate our marriage.

I stood there, halfway to his quarters, practically hyperventilating in my wake. It seemed that through the whole hustle and bustle of the wedding I had forgotten this minute, yet significant part to a marriage.

Edward hasn't mentioned it either, I realized with a certain optimistic outlook. Perhaps he had looked past the ordeal as well. Possibly we could wait for that certain… plan to take place on another night. One where we had not met each other for the second time. Though our marriage would not technically be completed, it still would be in the books; and it wasn't like people needed to know – or would know - whether or not we had perpetrated the action.

My frantic heartbeats began to slow down in pace as I found the will to move my legs again. I had successfully talked myself into believing it would be alright.

I then found another complication as I opened the door: which side I was meant to sleep on.

Yawning, I went around to the side without the table, guessing that it was probably the side he had planned to sleep on and pulled back the golden duvet.

The bed was comfortable and warm and all-around lovely in scent and texture. Much more restful than mine of ten years had been.

I stretched my feet and toes down, trying to see if I could reach the bottom. I couldn't.

I squished myself to the far edge, leaving as much space as possible for Edward seeing as it was, in reality, his bed and shut my eyes.

For some reason, the desire coursed through my body to stay awake just long enough to see what Edward would where to bed.

I'm sorry this took so long to post but I had to do some heavy reading for school the last two days :( Procrastination is not my friend.