We finally could see the house. Edward took me off his back and gently set me on the ground. We walked down the path to the Cullen's mansion. I kept my eyes down. I just watched the green moss as we walked, we were quiet.

"Are you alright?"

"I am so angry Edward."

"Don't be upset about this Bella."

"Don't be upset! Edward you could be dead."

"I'm not. I could never be.''

"Just that… that something like that could happen.'

"Bella I'm never going to be away from you. Don't be too hard on him." "He was just trying to protect you."

"He just wanted to shoot you." "The worst thing he could have possibly done to me was harm you."

"He wanted me away from you."

"That's ridiculous."

"It's not beyond the realm of possibility that I would be dangerous to you."

"You've saved my life more times than I can count. I would be dead right now if it wasn't for you."

"He just wanted to protect you."

"You think it was a good thing?" "What he did? My dad tried to shoot you and, you don't care."

"No." "It's just that he or any other human is incapable of killing me. Even your own father."

"It is a pain I couldn't bear Edward, if you were gone."

"I am a creature Bella. No amount of gun shots is going to destroy me."

Edward led me into the house. Everyone was here. There was a wooden ornate table in the room. I guess this was a conference table. This was a family conference. It felt like a tribunal, I hope it wasn't. Edward pulled the chair out for me. Esme smiled kindly at me, it made me feel more at ease. Carlisle was standing at the head. Alice and Jasper were sitting together. On the other side Rosalie and Emmett sat next to each other almost arm an arm. The table was long and brown; I wondered how old it was. I felt unnaturally calm. Jasper was calming me. Carlisle spoke first

"The way I understand it Bella..."... "Charlie shot Edward?''

"What!" Emmett and Rosalie were shocked. They were the only ones that hadn't known what happened.

"Yes." I said quietly. "I'm sorry Carlisle." Edward was rubbing soothing circles on my arm.

"It's alright Bella. Could you perhaps tell us how that came about?"

"We told him that we were getting married."

"You told him about the wedding?"

"Yes."

"What did you tell him exactly?"

"I just told him I was going to marry Edward."

"Ha...Ha…Ha."...Emmett burst out laughing. "Tough luck bro. Guess Dad doesn't like you."

"Emmett." Esme chastised.

"Edward you did not see this coming?''

""No, I don't know if it was because of how his thoughts are uniquely hidden from me, or if it was an entirely spontaneous decision with no thoughts required."

"Regardless of how, we must deal with the difficult situation."

Emmett continued to chuckle.

"Why wouldn't Charlie give Edward his blessing?" Esme said sadly. Alice chimed in with a prediction. "Charlie isn't going to do anything else..." Jasper was talking so quickly, I only caught the words..."Volturi"...and "wolves."

Rosalie hissed something about "wedding." It didn't seem like her anger was directed at me.

Carlisle held up his hand. The room became silent.

"Please I want to apologize to everyone. I never thought this was going to happen." The words came spilling from my mouth.

"It's alright Bella; none of us hold you responsible."

"It was unexpected." Edward muttered.

"It has been weeks since you have been engaged." "The wedding date has been set. Has he expressed dislike to you about Edward before?"

"He has never liked Edward, but I never thought he was actually going to do something like this.''

"Has he reacted like this before about the wedding?"

"No, actually this is the first time we've told him about it."

"I see." Carlisle replied patiently. "Today you told him about the wedding?"

"No, The engagement!"

"Edward that was very irresponsible of you.''

They all started to scold Edward. "You should have told him about the wedding..." . . . Esme chided.

"Bro you should have told him sooner, to give him a chance to cool down."…

"His emotions would have had time to process..." Jasper said sagely.

"It was my idea." I felt overlooked, that they were all addressing him and not me. Why should he take the wrap for this anyways?

"I wanted him to get use to Edward first, now that he was trying to be polite." "I guess he didn't."

"Obviously not." Emmett chuckled.

Rosalie ribbed him. "If Edward was human he would be dead.''

It was too much. I was about to burst into tears. Jasper sent calming waves towards me.

"Regardless. I feel we have to leave now. We can't stay after something like this. We don't want him to speak of this and he would be in danger if we continued to have contact with him. Edward what do you intend to do?" Carlisle looked at his son. There were moments sometimes; I thought Carlisle was asking Edward a mental question.

"I will stay for a day or so, and then catch up."

"I am going with you.''

Edward grabbed my hand firmly. "We are getting married, It can be here or somewhere else.' Alice looked disappointed.

"I will say goodbye to everyone and then pack to leave." I wanted to say goodbye, now that I couldn't with the wedding. I still needed to talk to Charlie.

"What about Charlie?" Carlisle asked me kindly, but I think he was concerned over what his actions would be.

"He knows I am going to marry Edward." "He just doesn't know where or when."

"Very well." "We will all leave tonight. Edward you catch up to us when you can."

"Is it wise for him to stay here with the current climate?" Jasper asked critically.

"I will stay out of the radar." Edward waved him off. "Once Bella is ready to leave, we'll leave together. I will stay by her side until then.''

"I am still concerned about the werewolves." "Alice and I will stay near.''

"That would be best Jasper." Carlisle nodded.

Alice seemed cheerful again. "And I'll tell you, if someone's decision changes."

"Very well it's all settled then." Carlisle disappeared from the room.

They started to leave the table.

"Come on Bella." Edward took me by the hand.

I still felt unease. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, not now.'' Edward smiled crookedly at me.

"What are you going to do?"

"Right now I am going to inspect my room." His room was full of CD's and the beautiful gold bed. What would he take with him? "

What do you want to do?" He asked me.

"I feel tired." I felt dizzy.

"Come up and rest, its hours before we have to do anything.''

I sprawled out on my stomach over the golden bed. I felt Edward run his fingers through my hair. I didn't realize how tired I was. My eyes drifted close. He slowly hummed are lullaby. Edward was here. I forgot about everything and fell asleep.