Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Courtship, kinship, worship

When I woke I noticed I was in Alice's room, and there was an IV in my arm. Every muscle ached like I had the flu or slept in the same position too long.

I moved and groaned. Nope, definitely the flu.

Despite the pain I reached out across the bed, searching for something that was missing. A hand grasped mine, but it was all wrong. For one thing it was too small, and for another it didn't relieve the empty feeling inside.

"Bella? How do you feel?" Alice asked, squeezing my fingers gently.

"Like I've been run over by a truck. Where's Edward?"

"In another room. Last I checked he was still sleeping. Are you hungry?"

My stomach grumbled. With every part of my body aching I hadn't noticed it. "Yeah, I think I am." I tried to move again. This time it was a little easier. Still, I was thankful when Alice helped me to my feet.

That was when I noticed the light in the room seemed odd. "How long have I been asleep?"

"About twenty hours. I was really worried, until Carlisle said he'd given you something to make sure you slept soundly." She draped one of my arms over her shoulder just like she'd done the day before. "He also said you'd be famished, so Maman prepared all your favorite foods. I hope your true love likes them too," she said with a giggle.

"This is going to be the weirdest courtship ever," I mumbled as she helped me down the stairs.

When we arrived in the kitchen, Edward was seated next to Carlisle, already digging into a plate of eggs. As soon as he saw me he stood and bowed. "Miss Swan."

I looked him over. His hair was clean and combed, and it looked as if he'd bathed, even though dark circles lingered under his eyes. He was immaculately dressed in a button down shirt and dress pants that emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist. A tie was perfectly knotted at his throat. "Please excuse my dress if it is incorrect. My nephew assured me it was appropriate." He frowned, looking down at his clothes. "Although, it seems quite shocking that so little clothing is required now."

I looked down at my attire. I was still in the dress from yesterday, completely wrinkled. No doubt my hair resembled a haystack, I hadn't brushed my teeth or washed my face. "Um, no, you look fine," I said, a blush burned my cheeks with how that sounded. "I should probably clean up."

Edward reached out a hand to me. "Nonsense, please join us. If I'd been informed you would be joining us I would have waited to break my fast."

Running a hand through my hair I grimaced when it caught on a tangle. "No, you didn't need to wait. I'm sure you're starved after not eating for over two hundred years."

Edward smiled, and I almost let out a sigh of relief to see perfectly straight, white teeth. "I must admit to being famished." He moved around the table to hold out a chair. "Please," he said, waving to the seat.

I moved away from Alice, swaying only slightly and sat down. Edward pushed in my chair for me and lifted my plate. "What would you care to eat? I will be pleased to serve you."

"Oh, no, you don't need to do that," I replied, reaching for the dish.

"Considering you are the one who brought me back, and are now my betrothed, it is the least I can do." The corners of his mouth tilted up as he walked over to where Maman had many dishes laid out. "Maman said that this fried and sugared bread was your favorite?" he asked, placing a few beignets on my plate. "Would you care for something more substantial as well? The eggs are excellent."

"Eggs would be great, thanks," I said, and tried to tame my hair while his back was turned.

With my plate full enough to feed me for a week, he returned to the table. A quick glance up at the light, followed by a shudder as he looked away, made me think that maybe he wasn't quite as calm as he appeared.

"It's a light bulb," I said.

"Yes, that is what Carlisle said." He glanced up again. "He stated that it ran off of electricity, the same substance Mr. Franklin said was in lightening, only now you've harnessed it. He made the light appear by touching that spot on the wall, but I fail to see how they are connected." Edward waved to where the switch was as he spoke, looked up at the light again, then back to me. "It is most confusing."

"Wait until you see an airplane."

"Or a cell phone," Alice said, coming back into the room. I hadn't noticed she'd left, but I did notice that Edward stood when she returned. She smiled at him. "Don't worry, we'll take it slow."

"Yes, I suppose there are some matters we must concern ourselves with before you explain the magic behind the light and how it doesn't burn the ceiling." He looked at me, his forehead furrowed. "I assume we don't share a kinship?"

"No, we're in no way related." He relaxed at that. "Alice made sure to check before we performed the ceremony.

"And where do you worship?"

I shifted in my seat. "I don't, really."

"Are you Christian, Jewish, Muslim?"

"My dad is Lutheran, so I guess Christian."

He relaxed some more. "I am Christian as well, although a Methodist, but they are similar and should present no interference to our nuptials."

"Yeah, about those," I said, tearing my napkin as I wrung it in my fingers. "Do you really plan on marrying me?"

I'm going to a writer's conference this weekend. That means either a) I'll have lots of spare time to write because I'm not having to be a wife/mom/full-time employee or b) I'll be so busy smoozing agents and editors and learning good writing craft that no actual writing will get done.

Probably b. Sorry. But if I'm diligent I might start editing my second book that my agent keeps asking me for...

xoxo!