Renesmee's POV
As soon as my alarm clock went off, my eyes popped open, and I went rushing downstairs.
"Da-ad!" I called, running over to the fridge and grabbing up some yogurt. It was weird that he wasn't making breakfast, but that wasn't going to stop me from eating.
After a couple seconds of no answer, I walked back upstairs and lightly knocked on his bedroom door. But there was nothing.
I really didn't want to walk in on him and Alice, but I had to talk to my dad, so I slowly turned that handle and went inside.
When I walked in, the bed was neatly made, and there was a note lying on it in my father's handwriting.
Alice-
I'm gone on business. I will be back tonight. And ignore your visions, darling. I would never leave you.
Much Love,
Edward
I frowned. Why would he lie to Alice? He wasn't on business. Last time I saw him, he was-
Oh.
That explains the visions.
I tromped back downstairs looking for someone to talk to. I passed by Alice sitting on the couch, staring out at the gray, rainy morning.
"Hey, Alice!" I said, leaping over the edge of the couch. She continued to look out the window.
"Do you know where Edward is?"
She slowly raised her hand and pointed away from the house, towards the cottage and the meadow.
"O-kaaay," I said, shifting slightly away from her.
Suddenly, she put her head in her hands and began to cry.
"Oh! Alice! It's okay! All good!" I put my arms around her neck and patted her back, trying to comfort her.
"Jasper!" She cried between broken sobs. "Left! Now Edward… leaving. All leaving." She wailed and put her head back down.
"No, no, no! Alice, nobody's leaving. Don't worry, don't worry! I'm here." My words seemed to have no effect, though. Alice burrowed her head even deeper, with no sign of ever coming out.
When my phone rang, I hastily took it as an excuse to leave.
"Hey, Jacob," I whispered.
"Hey. Can you meet me at the school in 10?"
"Um, sure. It's nice to… to talk to you."
He hung up.
I was ticked off, but I really wanted to see Jake, so I walked over to Alice to tell her I was going.
"Alice? Hey, I'm gonna go meet Jacob at the school. If you need me, just call, and I'll come back right away. Okay?"
When she didn't respond, I just kissed her on the forehead and ran out into the rain.
…
Edward's POV
As we lay with our backs against the beating sun, I realized she wasn't moving. "Bella? Hello?"
But she didn't make a sound.
I sighed. If there was any vampire that could sleep the day away, or at least pass out, it would be Bella.
I laid back into the pillows and brought her head deeper into my chest.
It was a beautiful thing, feeling how every curve of her body fit into mine. I wasn't sure if I would ever let her out of this bed. And leaving the house was out of the question.
I wouldn't let her slip away again.
All those years ago… In her defense, it wasn't really her fault. She just reacted to what she saw.
Or what she thought she saw…
14 years and 194 days earlier
"Bella. My darling. It is not what it looks like."
"Edward, I don't give a fuck what it looks like! I know what it is! You're sleeping with your fucking sister!"
"Bella, please," I pleaded. "Don't do this."
"We didn't!" Alice sobbed, staggering towards my wife. "We were talking… and I fell… and you walked in."
"Sure," Bella snarled. "And he just happened to be grinding you. Because, Lord knows, that's gonna get you off him!"
"Bella," I said, laying my hand on her shaking shoulder, only to be shrugged off. "I love you. I would never try to hurt you. And I would never cheat on you! Please. Just trust me."
But the anger was gone from her eyes, replaced with a cold, deadening sadness.
She shook her head. "Maybe it's for the best. I hope you two are happy together."
She walked over, and hesitated before lightly kissing me.
And I stood totally still, forever frozen with grief as she walked out the door.
…..
"Edward? Edward, are you okay?"
I snapped up as Bella woke me from my flashback, and relaxed once I saw her lying next to me.
I sighed, and laid my head on her chest.
"Okay…," She said, bemused by this new arrangement. But she began to comb her fingers through my hair all the same.
"Please don't leave me." I said, my voice shaking with angst.
She brought my face up to her own.
"I promise."
I sighed. "How will this work, Bella?"
She shrugged. "We call each other; we sneak out and meet up. Simple as that."
"Forever?"
Her face fell. "No. Eventually… we'll tell them. Slowly break it off. But for now… that sounds like a good plan to me."
She rolled over to look at the clock and groaned. "Shit!" She muttered as she hopped out of bed and began to throw on her clothes.
I sat up. "What's wrong?"
She gave me a guilty smile. "No matter how fake married life may be, it always catches up to you. Jake has a dentist's appointment, and it's my turn to pay."
I sighed, and stood up to hug her goodbye. She burrowed her head into my neck, smelling me one more time.
"I'll see you soon, okay?" I said.
She nodded, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss me.
Then I remembered something.
"Hey, Bella. Do you have any… you know… memories? From last night?"
She smiled seductively and laughed. "Maybe I'll show you next time." Then she hurried out the door.
I stood there for a moment, then walked out and stood on the balcony.
Overcome with emotion, I could only think of one word.
"YES!"
…