Chapter 3
Isle Esme

Author's Note: Fair warning. A bit of sensuality ahead! I know a lot of my story so far has somewhat imitated Breaking Dawn, but this chapter (well, toward the end) is where my original story comes into play. Hope you enjoy!

(Bella's PoV)

When we arrived back on the dance floor, Edward took me in his arms again. He was still fuming a little, but I decided to ignore hit. He would be calm soon. I would make sure of that.

"I could get used to this," I said.

"Don't tell me you've gotten over your dancing issues," Edward said.

"Dancing isn't so bad – with you," I added. "But I was thinking more of this..."

I pressed myself to him tighter.

"Of never having to let you go," I said, smiling.

"Never," he said.

He leaned down to kiss me. It was a serious kiss – intense, slow, but building –

"Bella!" Alice called from somewhere in the crowd, "It's time!"

I felt a brief moment of irritation. Edward ignored her and we continued our kiss.

"Do you want to miss your plane?" Alice asked, as she reached us.

"Go away, Alice," Edward said, as he leaned in for another kiss.

"Bella, do you want to wear that dress on the airplane?" Alice asked.

I ignored her. I didn't really care.

"I'll tell her where you're taking her, Edward," Alice said, "So help me, I will!"

He paused, backing away. I sighed. That should be made illegal.

"For someone so small, you are very irritating," Edward said.

"I didn't pick the perfect going-away dress to have it wasted," Alice said, "Come with me, Bella!"

She took my hand. I tugged against her hold, but it was no use. She was practically carrying me through the crowd. I looked back at Edward, and he looked like he was growling. Some of the other guests, on the other hand, seemed to be laughing. I gave up and let her lead me into the house.

"Sorry, Alice," I said.

"I don't blame you, Bella," Alice said with a sigh, "It's not like you can help it."

I giggled. She scowled.

"Thank you, Alice," I said, "It was the most beautiful wedding ever. If I am ever mad at you again..."

"Cooperate with me right now, and I'll forgive you," Alice said, "And I'm glad you liked it."

Alice led me up the stairs, where my mother and mother-in-law were waiting. Over the next few minutes, it was a rush of undressing me and redressing me. It was almost a blur.

"I'll call you when I know where I'm going," I said, hugging my mom.

"I'll tell you as soon as she's safely away," Alice said.

"You have to come visit Phil and I soon," Renee said, "It's your turn to go south. You know, see the sun for once. This weather!"

"The weather was fine today," I said, ignoring her request.

"An honest to god miracle," Renee said, with a scoff.

"Everything's ready," Alice said, "Suitcases are in the car."

She pulled me away from my mother's embrace and back down the stairs.

"I love you, Mom," I said, as I descended the stairs.

"I love you too, Bella, honey," Renee said.

My voice was thick. I could have said my goodbyes to her a thousand more times. If everything went my way, this could have been the last time I would ever see her.

Edward was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He took my hand, and we strode out to the front. The car was waiting for us in the driveway. There was one other person I wanted to see before I left.

"Dad?" I asked.

"He's over here," Edward said.

Edward was leaning against a wall. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was hiding.

"Oh, Dad!" I said, hugging him.

More tears. I was crying so much tonight.

"Go on, Bella," Charlie said, "Wouldn't want to miss your plane."

"I love you forever, Dad," I said, "Don't forget that."

"I love you too, Bella," Charlie said, "Always have, always will."

He kissed my cheek.

"Call me," he said.

"Soon," I promised.

As soon as I knew where we were going. Edward pulled me away, and I looked back at my father. Would this be the last time I saw him? Would I be too dangerous to ever see him again?

Edward and I made our way to the car.

"Are you ready?" he asked me.

"I am," I said, and I knew it was true.

Edward kissed me once again, and a loud sound of applause resonated. The crowd of our friends and family were waiting around our path toward the car. Hand in hand, we rushed through them as a shower of rice rained onto us. A few specks of it hit Edward right on the head, and he looked back at Emmett who was grinning.

We finally arrived at the car, which was adorned in more flowers and some streamers hanging off the back. Edward shielded me from the incoming rice as we got in. He shut the door and kissed me.

"I love you," Edward said.

"That's why we're here," I said, quoting him.

He smiled and started the car, then sped off down the driveway and onto the highway. For a moment there, in the darkness, as I looked out the window at the scenery rushing by, I swore I heard a piercing howl rip through the air.

It seemed like we were on airplanes for hours. Each city we stopped in, each city we took another airplane, and Edward said they were "stops along the way."

"Rio De Janeiro?" I asked, looking at the list of flights.

He smiled, and began to say something, but I knew what the answer was.

"Just a stop along the way," I said, with a sigh.

Edward chuckled and kissed my forehead.

We arrived in Rio hours later, but didn't stay at the airport to connect to another flight. Instead we took a taxi that, with an extra tip to the driver, sped through the beautiful city of Rio. I could barely see any sights, and I finally gave up and just kept my eyes on Edward. He was beautiful. Far more beautiful than the shores of any beach or the waters of any ocean.

We stopped at the docks. We were going to take a boat?

Edward paid for a boat, and we walked over to a boat that was obviously built for speed instead of space. Obviously we weren't going to be staying in it.

"We don't need someone to drive the boat?" I asked.

Edward just laughed as he helped me onto it.

I soon realized that Edward was skilled at driving a boat. What on earth could he not do?

We headed due east, and I tried to remember what I learned in geography class. What was in our direction? Nothing.... until you got to Africa.

Edward sped forward, while the city of Rio behind us faded then disappeared altogether. We were really far out in the ocean.

Okay. I was now very curious.

"Are we going much farther?" I asked.

"About another half hour," Edward said.

Where could we be going?

"Atlantis?" I joked.

Edward laughed out loud at that.

Twenty minutes later, he called out my name over the roar of the engine.

"Bella!" he said, "Over there!"

He pointed in the direction we were going. I searched the ocean until I found something that started to take shape. And then my eyes refocused and the pieces all made sense: a small island rose out of the water ahead of us, waving with palm fronds, a beach glowing pale in the light of the moon.

"That is Isle Esme," Edward said, as he headed to the northern point of the island.

"Isle Esme?" I asked.

"A gift from Carlisle," Edward said, "Esme offered to let us borrow it."

I was amazed. Who gives an island as a gift?

We arrived at the small dock a few minutes later. The only sound was the quiet waves, beating against the shore. He placed the suitcases on the dock, then jumped out of the boat. I started to follow, but he pulled me into his arms.

"Aren't you just supposed to take me over the threshold?" I asked.

"I'm nothing if not thorough," he said, with a smirk.

Edward carried me and the suitcases through pitch-black jungle. If it wasn't for the safety of his arms, I'd feel very scared right about now. But I felt oddly at peace.

Soon I saw a couple lights. As we got closer, I realized the light was inside a small house. I looked behind us and realized I could still see the beach behind us. It looked so beautiful in the moonlight. I gasped and Edward just chuckled. He seemed amused at my reaction.

"This is amazing," I said.

Edward chuckled once again, and we walked toward the house. He set down the suitcases and opened the door. I was surprised it was unlocked, but Edward seemed content. We entered the house. He let me go, making sure I was sturdy on my feet.

My first impression was that it felt oddly familiar. Then I realized why. The wallpaper and the sheer design of the place was a bit like the Cullen's house. It felt like home.

"I'll go get the luggage," Edward said, "Then I was thinking we could take a midnight swim. The water will be very warm. You'll love it."

"Sounds great," I said, still in awe of... well... everything.

"I'm sure you'd like a human minute or two," Edward said, "It was a long journey."

That was an understatement. I nodded.

He smiled and brushed his lips against my throat, just below my ear. I shivered as his cool breath tickled my skin.

"Don't take too long, Mrs. Cullen," he said.

I jumped a little at the sound of my new name.

"I'll wait for you in the water," Edward said.

Edward walked outside. He smiled at me once, before he disappeared around the wall.

"Edward?" I asked.

He turned quickly back into the doorway. The suitcases were in his hands. That was quick.

"Yes, dear?" he asked, sounding a little worried.

"Just wanted to make sure this wasn't some bizarre and beautiful dream," I said.

"It's real," he said, grinning, "But I can pinch you if you want?"

I rolled my eyes. He just grinned and set down the suitcases then walked away.

Breathe, Bella. It's just your honeymoon.

I picked up my suitcase and took it into the bedroom. I opened it and skimmed through it for something comfortable, a pair of old sweats maybe, it came to my attention that there was an awful lot of sheer lace and satin in my hands. Lingerie. Very lingerie-ish lingerie, with French tags.

I didn't know how or when, but someday, Alice was going to pay for this.

Giving up, I decided that after a long trip, I needed to pamper myself before doing anything. Even though I knew it was ridiculous to take a shower before swimming, I took one anyway... and it felt very good. The hot water from the shower-head hit me with a steady, strong stream. It was very calming as well.

After I was through, I grabbed a body-length towel from the cupboard and wrapped it around myself.

Then I realized I was faced with a dilemma. What was I supposed to put on. I didn't see a swimsuit, and obviously I wasn't going to wear any normal clothes.

Breathe, Bella. Everything was okay.

Sigh. So much for the calming effects of the shower. I sat on the floor, afraid I would fall from the apparent panic attack that was headed my way. I prayed Edward wouldn't come back inside, wondering what was taking me so long, and finding me sitting here on the cold bathroom floor. I could imagine what he would think if he saw me like this. He'd probably wondering if we were making a big mistake.

Oh, I didn't think I was making a big mistake. Not at all. I was sitting here on this floor because I had no clue what I was doing. I was afraid to get up and walk out of the bathroom and face the unknown.

How did people do this? Jump into the same experience I was having and trust someone completely? If I didn't trust and love Edward completely, and hadn't known that Edward had the same trust and love, maybe even more, for me, I wouldn't have gotten up off that floor.

But I did.

"Don't be a coward, Bella," I told myself, as I pulled myself up off the floor, "Pull yourself together."

I wrapped the towel tighter around my body and walked out of the bathroom and past the bedroom, completely ignoring the suitcase full of satin and lace French lingerie.

"Time to step out into the unknown," I said to myself and stepping out the door into the black darkness of the jungle and the beach ahead.

I made a beeline for the beach.

As I walked I felt a warm wind find its way up the towel, and suddenly regretted not wearing anything but the towel, but only for a mere moment. It actually started to feel good to do something I had never done before in my life... given that I was doing a ton of that lately.

When I arrived on the beach, I searched for him. He wasn't hard to find. He stood, his back to me, waist deep in the midnight water. The pale moonlight seemed to shine on only him and it took my breath away. He was so beautiful, it almost made me cry. I looked up at the moon, silently thanking it for giving me this spectacular memory.

I removed my towel, not caring one moment that I was naked to the elements. I walked into the warm water. It felt absolutely wonderful. It was like walking into a hot tub. I waded out to Edward, but he was still staring up at the moon, and I knew he was deep in thought. I then took his hand in mine.

"Beautiful," I whispered, as I looked up at the moon.

"It's okay," Edward said, unimpressed.

I raised an eyebrow. Of course, he had seen the moon for more nights than I could imagine or count. He turned to face me.

"But I wouldn't use the word beautiful," he said, "Not with you standing here in comparison."

I smiled and put my other hand over his heart. He shuddered the teeniest bit at my warm touch.

"I promised we would try," he said.

Try? Try what? I studied him, then realized what he meant. So that is what he was thinking about while he was waiting for me. Was it really on his mind that much?

"If...if I do something wrong," he said, "If I hurt you, you must tell me at once."

I sighed lightly, though it was loud enough for him to hear. I should have known. He was still worried about my fragility. I rested my head against his chest.

"Don't be afraid," I muttered, "We belong together."

Did I really say that? Well, it was honest-to-god the truth. This moment was so perfect, so right.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding us closer together.

"Forever," he said.

I closed my eyes, sighing against his chest. My warm breath must have felt good against his cool body. Though if it did, he didn't say anything. In fact he had gone silent.

"Edward?" I asked, lifting my head off his chest and looking up at him.

"I can't," he said, "I can't do it. Not now."

"Can't do what?" I asked.

He didn't reply. He only stared at me, a frown creasing his lips. Then I realized what he meant.

"You promised," I said slowly, "You promised we --"

"And we will," Edward said. "But --"

"So you're going back to your original argument?" I asked, my anger rising a little, "Not until I am like you, right?"

"No, Bella," Edward said, "It's just --"

"Just what?" I asked.

"You're tired," Edward said, "It's been a long day."

I rolled my eyes. What a load of bull.

"You're afraid," I said.

"Of course I am!" Edward said, "It's my greatest fear that I am going to hurt you. Has your jubilation from our wedding and just being here made you forget? It would kill me if anything happened to you."

I stared at my husband. Had I forgotten what?

He looked into my eyes and it suddenly came back to me as if a wave had hit me where I was standing. When I had jumped off the cliff in La Push for recreational purposes, Alice had seen it in her visions, but because she couldn't see Jacob saving me, she thought I had died. Edward found out and he had gone to Volterra to get himself killed by the Volturi.

How could I have forgotten? I understood what he meant.

But to be honest, I didn't care. I knew what I wanted.

"I know you won't hurt me," I said, "I trust you."

"I don't trust myself!" Edward said, "Not right now. Not when my mind is filled with other things. I couldn't concentrate."

"It's not about concentration, Edward," I said, "It's --"

"It is for me, Bella!" Edward said, "One wrong move and – and..."

Edward squeezed my hands. I grimaced. He then let go and started walking out of the water.

"Edward, don't," I pleaded, "Come back."

Edward turned to me, and frowned.

"I'm sorry, Bella," he said, though I could tell he had calmed down greatly, "Not tonight."

He turned around and headed for the house. I watched him, wanting to call out to him. But for some reason I couldn't. He wouldn't listen to me tonight anyway. I wanted this to be a normal honeymoon before everything became bizarre. Didn't he understand that I would soon become a vampire and be completely unlike myself for who knows how long? Didn't he want to spend enough time with me as he could?

Though, now, even as I was thinking about my future as a vampire, I couldn't help but think that Edward was trying to figure out a future in which I wasn't.

Author's Note: Well, I'll end this chapter right there! More of the honeymoon coming!

But next chapter will be headed back to La Push and Jacob's PoV.

Hope you liked the chapter! Feedback would be wonderful!