A/N – Thanks so much to everyone who has read
There's a lot in this chapter I don't own – I do not own Twilight or any of its characters, that's all Stephenie Meyer's. I don't own Chuck E. Cheese, Much Ado About Nothing, or any other publicly recognizable anything. All I own is this little plotline.
This story began with a PG-13 rating, but I have changed it to M because of mature subject matter, including references to abuse and discussion of drug use and sexuality.
Ha ha ha ha!
Happy ever after in the market place...
Molly lets the children lend a hand...
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face...
And in the evening she's a singer with the band...
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...
Lala how the life goes on...
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...
Lala how the life goes on.
And if you want some fun...take Ob-la-di-bla-da!
They finished the song, Jacob shouting "Thank you" at the end. Edward, Bella, and Ren laughed at him, and he bowed in his seat. As they sped north along I-5, their Beatles' sing - along continued with "Love Me Do" and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", until Edward pulled the car into a rest stop near Bellingham so they could stretch their legs and use the restrooms. Bella was standing in the hallway of the rest stop admiring the pictures of Vancouver when she felt arms circle her waist from behind.
"Having fun?" Edward murmured in her ear. Bella felt her skin prickle with gooseflesh at his voice, and she nodded.
"This was a good idea," she said as she turned to face him and slid her arms around his torso. "Thanks for thinking of it."
Bella's birthday had been the previous Wednesday, and Edward had proposed going to Vancouver for the weekend to celebrate. Jacob and Ren were driving up with them, but Bella was pretty sure they weren't the only people coming. Every time she mentioned anyone else though, Edward's responses had been vague. In fact, he had been vague about everything. Short of telling her their general destination, Edward had been completely close-mouthed about the trip.
"So, wanna tell me what we're doing in Vancouver?" Bella asked, looking up at him from between her lashes in her best sweet don't-you-want-to-tell-me face.
Edward thought for a moment, then bent and kissed the tip of her nose. "Sure." Bella's eyes brightened. "I'm dying to tell you, in fact. Can you keep a secret?" Bella nodded eagerly.
"I can too." Edward smirked and poked Bella in the side, then grabbed both of the tiny fists she aimed in his direction.
Just as Bella began to twist and squirm in an attempt to escape Edward's grasp, Jacob emerged from the men's room. He took in the scene before him.
"Need some help Eddie? I think the two of us could take her."
Bella turned to face Jacob and stuck her tongue out at him as Ren joined them. He turned in her direction, pouting hugely. "Ren baby, Bella's being mean to me. Make her stop."
Ren considered the group gathered in the small hallway, then looked at Edward and held out her hand. "Keys, Mr. Cullen. I am pretty sure no one here is old enough to drive." They all laughed and walked back to the car, Jacob's arm around Ren, and Bella squealing as Edward continued poking and tickling her.
A little over an hour later they pulled up in front of a large building on the waterfront in Vancouver. Edward came around to help Bella out of the passenger seat. She looked around, astonished.
"Edward, this is beautiful! Where are we?"
"The Pan Pacific Vancouver, my dear." Edward removed their luggage from the trunk of his Volvo before handing his keys to the waiting valet. They walked into the lobby, where he approached the front desk.
"Edward Cullen. I have a reservation," he said to the clerk with a smile.
"Yes, sir," she replied, returning his smile. "You are in our Bayview suite." Edward handed her a credit card, and after a moment she returned it, along with a small leather folder. "Here are your keys and some information about the city. A bellman will be here momentarily to help you with your bags. Enjoy your stay."
A few minutes and an elevator ride later, they arrived at the door to their suite and the bellman opened the door. As they entered, three jaws simultaneously dropped and Edward chuckled.
"Bells, you didn't tell me you were dating Bruce Wayne," Jacob teased.
Bella ignored him and turned to Edward. "This is too much."
Edward shook his head at her. "There's no such thing, love. Plus, it's all on my parents. They insisted, and you know how stubborn they can be. Besides, I think my mom had as much fun shopping for a hotel as she would if she were making the trip herself."
Bella's eyes filled with tears at Carlisle and Esme's generous gift. The suite was enormous, nearly the size of their apartment. The central room was open and had a living area, dining table, and a small kitchen with a bar that opened into the main room. Huge windows afforded a view of the water, the Lions Gate bridge and mountains in the distance. There were closed doors on either end of the main room that Bella assumed opened into bedrooms. Bella gazed around the suite in silence while the other three watched, broad smiles on their faces. Finally she turned to Edward and hugged him, tears escaping her eyes.
"It's beautiful, thank you," she whispered into his chest.
"You're welcome," he whispered down into her hair. "Why don't you go check out the bedrooms?"
Bella approached the closest closed door, and jumped back in surprise when it opened on its own and a huge man leaped out from behind it. "Emmett's here!" he shouted, grabbing Bella around the waist and twirling her around. "Happy birthday, Baby Bell!"
Bella's face turned crimson and she halfheartedly swatted Emmett's broad chest. "Put me down, you gorilla," she said, giggling. She looked over his shoulder to see a lovely blonde woman standing in the bedroom, laughing at Emmett's antics. "Hi Rose!"
Emmett dropped Bella on her feet as Rosalie approached them. She kissed Bella on the cheek. "Happy birthday Bella. Thanks for having us."
"Thank Edward," Bella replied. "I had no idea you guys would be here. Now," she said, turning and contemplating the other door, "I wonder who could be behind door number two?" She raised her eyebrows at a grinning Edward, who shrugged and shook his head. She approached the bedroom door and turned the knob, then opened the door slowly to find...an empty room. Puzzled, she continued into the room and looked in the bathroom, and even investigated the bathtub and shower stall. She walked back out into the living room, speaking as she went.
"There's no one there..." Her words were cut short as she was suddenly knocked to the floor by a tiny black-haired blur flying in from the living room.
"Gotcha!" Alice said triumphantly. "Did you really think I would hide in the same place as my brother? I am a way better hider than him."
"Yeah Alice, waiting in the bar downstairs, that's secret agent stuff right there," teased Emmett, as he crossed the room and pulled both women onto their feet. He swept Alice up into his arms as if she were a doll. "We'll have to start calling you double-oh-midget."
"Hey, there wasn't just waiting, there was also stealthy following," retorted Alice, sticking her tongue out at Emmett and aiming a kick at his knee, which elicited a laugh from the room.
"So now that we're all here, and we've established that Alice isn't as sneaky as she thinks she is, what now?" Emmett asked, placing Alice back on the floor.
"Dinner. We have reservations in," Edward checked his watch," 45 minutes, so we need to leave in about 30."
"Do I need to change?" Bella asked, indicating her jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt.
"Nope," Edward replied, sweeping her up in his arms. "You, my love," he said, kissing the tip of her nose," are perfect."
"Almost perfect," said Alice, tugging on Bella's arm. "Come on, birthday girl!" Alice pulled Bella into one of the bedrooms and seated her at the large vanity. She, Rosalie, and Ren spent the next few minutes fussing over Bella, and after she emerged from their cosmetic cocoon, Alice tossed a shirt at her.
"Here, put this on," Alice instructed.
"But Edward said this is ok!" Bella protested.
"It is ok. But this is better." Alice smiled as Bella rolled her eyes and pulled her t-shirt over her head. She put on the shirt Alice had offered her, and turned to look in the huge mirror over the vanity. Alice knew her stuff, she had to admit. The fabric of the tunic draped gracefully over her small frame, and her skin seemed to glow from within.
Her reverie was interrupted by Jacob's voice from the doorway. "Time to go girlies! Stop staring at yourselves and get a move on."
"Wait, one more thing," chirped Alice, and she pulled out a purple satin sleep mask and placed it over Bella's eyes. "Ready!"
****r~d****
Despite Bella's best persuasion attempts, Edward remained stubbornly closed-mouthed about where they were going, and he refused to allow Bella to remove the mask. No amount of cajoling on her part could change his mind, and he got more amused as her pleas continued.
Edward had invested a lot into this weekend - research, questions for Bella that he hoped had been subtle, and tons of planning. He had called Esme for help, knowing that she was much better at this sort of thing, and he wanted everything to be perfect.
Since the weekend of the grad night ball, things had been good between he and Bella, he thought. Ironically, they had fought more in those weeks than they ever had before, but Edward took that as a good sign - he hoped it meant that Bella was getting more comfortable with their growing intimacy and that they were learning to communicate honestly. He had been a little afraid at first that she would retreat into herself after all they had been through that night, but he had been pleased to see that, in contrast, she seemed to be a little more open. It appeared that some of the hesitation he had been sensing from her had dissipated and left a much happier Bella in its wake. There were still moments though, where she seemed almost fragile, as if she were a glass sculpture that shone in the light but might shatter if he made a wrong move.
Edward shook himself out of his reverie as they pulled into the parking lot of their destination. No worrying tonight, he thought. Just fun for Bella's birthday.
He crossed to her door and opened it, taking her hand to help her out. Then he pulled off the blindfold to reveal their destination.
"Chuck E. Cheese! Edward, what the heck?" Bella grinned and threw her arms around his neck. "I always wanted a birthday party here!"
"I know, love." Edward chuckled as he kissed her cheek and wrapped his arm around her waist to lead her inside. "Just call me your fairy god-boyfriend."
It was true that Edward knew she had never had a Chuck E. Cheese birthday and had always wanted one; that was one of the many bits of information he had gleaned from his research while planning the weekend. He had racked his brain to remember what her birthday parties had been like when they were growing up, and he had asked her about favorite birthday memories. She shied away from the question, saying that birthdays had never been a big deal in her family. Finally he had called Jasper and asked for help planning the weekend.
"Did Alice tell you that we're all going to Vancouver for Bella's birthday?"
"Yep. She said you were trying to planning a bunch of stuff. What are we doing?"
Edward put down his coffee as the two of them had a seat at one of the small tables in Starbucks. "I was kind of hoping you could help with that, actually. She won't tell me anything."
"That's our Bella," said Jasper, chuckling.
"I asked her what her favorite birthday memories were, and she kind of dodged the question. I thought about it, and I don't really remember going to many birthday parties for either of you - except, of course, the one you threw for yourself your senior year." Edward grinned.
"Yeah, that was pretty amazing," Jasper replied, tipping his chair back on two legs. "I'm still surprised Charlie didn't lock me up for that one. You know the legs of the coffee table still fall off about once a year? Every time, Charlie calls and yells at me, and then he just glues them back on. Can't make the old man buy a new one."
"Who broke the coffee table?" Edward asked. "I must have missed that. I spent most of that party trying to convince your sister to stop hiding in her bedroom."
"Tyler Crowley tried to do a keg stand and he fell on it." Jasper explained. "Moron. Did you know he applied to be a deputy after he graduated?"
"Are you kidding?" Edward nearly spit out his coffee in his laughter. "What did Charlie do?"
"I dunno, but I would love to have seen it. All Crowley said was that he had 'decided he wasn't cut out for law enforcement', which probably means Charlie swore at him and threw him out of the station."
"Nice." Edward replied, still laughing. "Anyway, back to the question - any ideas for Bella's birthday?"
"Hm." Jasper drew his eyebrows together, thinking. " We really didn't ever do much for birthdays, Renee was always so busy and Charlie worked all the time. Mostly we just had cake and ice cream at dinner and that was it."
"I remember when she was about ten she wanted a Chuck E. Cheese party, but mom said it was too expensive and too far away, so instead we made pizza together." He rolled his eyes. "You can imagine how that turned out - Bella burned herself and had to go to the ER. I was supposed to take the pizzas out of the oven while she and Renee were gone, but I got in a fight with Charlie and stormed out, so they turned into pizza charcoal. I don't think anyone got dinner that night." He shook his head at the memory. "And I think one year she was supposed to have a slumber party, but she got grounded and they cancelled it."
"What on Earth did she do to get grounded?"
"Who knows? It was pretty easy to piss off Charlie and Renee. I should know, I majored in it." He chuckled darkly.
"Jas, how bad was it, really? Alice mentioned some stuff, but she didn't go into details."
"She said she had talked to you about it a little. It was...well, it could have been worse, but our household was no episode of The Cosby Show."
"Can you tell me about it?"
Jasper took a deep breath. "Renee was really unhappy, and she was pretty self-absorbed. She just kind of did her thing and didn't pay much attention to either of us. I think she wanted to look like a good mom to everyone else, but the day-to-day reality of parenthood was more than she could handle, she just didn't know how to do it. And Charlie's idea of being a good father was to criticize and yell and punish. I think all the stuff he saw while he was a cop in Seattle really messed up his perception of what normal kids are supposed to be like. He was harder on Bella, I've never figured out why. She was the good kid. I think maybe he just gave up on me." Jasper gave a bitter laugh that sounded more like a bark. "Keep in mind though, I am saying all this after a crapload of therapy. At the time it just kinda sucked to be home. That's why we both hung out at your house so much - nobody yelled at us there."
"Did they ever...damn, I can't believe I am asking this...did things ever get, y'know, physical?"
Jasper clenched the fist that lay on the table between them. "Not often, but, yeah, sometimes. Renee never did anything, when she was home she just pretended everything was great and ignored any problems. Charlie could get a little out of control though. Hell, you've seen that. It only happened to me once, but, like I said, he gave up on me. It was different with Bella. He never beat her or anything, but he would grab her arms or jerk her around if he didn't think she was listening or being respectful enough. One time he shoved her against a wall. He was always super apologetic though, any time he got too physical."
"How did she handle it?"
"You'd know better than I would. She talked to you more than she did to me. I was too busy running around proving what a badass I was to pay any attention to my annoying baby sister. You know she used to cover for me all the time? Forget badass - I was a jackass."
"She never said much to me about any of it. I mean, I knew she was unhappy sometimes, and occasionally I wondered, but...I can't believe I've known her for my whole life and just found out about all this a month ago."
"Don't beat yourself up. You know Bella; she's really good at keeping stuff in and putting on a happy face. You couldn't have known."
"So, are we going in, or are we just gonna party in the parking lot?" Emmett's voice shook Edward out of his thoughts.
Bella bumped herself against his side as they walked toward the building. "You ok? You're Mr. Zoneout today."
"I'm good," he replied, turning and kissing the tip of her nose. "Just thinking about the most beautiful girl in the world."
"Aww, that's sweet, but I am pretty sure Jennifer Aniston is taken. This week, at least." Bella laughed as Edward pinched her side, and they continued into the restaurant.
The group spent the next two hours eating pizza, playing games, and laughing hysterically at one another. Ren beat Jacob at whack-a-mole, and he pouted until she bought him more pizza. Emmett had to be dragged from the ball pit by Rosalie after the manager came over so tell them that some parents had complained, and they all laughed as Bella attempted to blow out the re-lighting candles on her birthday cake. Jasper won a tiara out of a crane machine, which was quickly appropriated by Alice, who insisted on wearing it the rest of the night. They were finally asked to leave after Edward lost a bet to Jasper over skee-ball and went on stage to dance with the animatronic band.
"We got kicked out of Chuck E. Cheese!" Emmett crowed as they walked out of the building.
"Ah, my man," sighed Rosalie, with a grin.
****r~d****
They returned to the suite after dinner and piled onto the couches that were scattered around the large living area.
"What now?" Bella asked.
"I bet the pool is still open." Jacob wagged his eyebrows. "I vote for birthday skinny dipping." He laughed as Bella blushed, and Ren smacked him in the chest.
"Slumber party!" Alice cried.
"Sweet!" exclaimed Jasper. "Whose hair do I get to braid?"
"No boys allowed, Jazz," snarked Rosalie. "I bet you could get Emmett to do yours though."
"What?" Jasper, Emmett, and Jacob all responded with incredulity. Edward laughed at their expressions.
"Girls in this room, boys in that one," directed Ren, pointing to the two bedrooms.
"No," protested Emmett. "No way am I sleeping in a bed with three other guys."
"There are two beds, you moron." Rosalie smacked him the chest. "We were in there for half an hour, remember?"
"Oh." Emmett was momentarily silent. "Well, I'm still not sharing a bed with some dude."
"Fine then, sleep out here on the couch. We're having a chick party though."
"Will you be a pillow fighting in your underwear?" asked Emmett, with a hopeful gleam in his eye.
"Night, Emmett," Rosalie replied, rolling her eyes. She entered the bedroom. Alice and Ren kissed Jasper and Jacob goodnight and followed her into the room.
Edward took Bella's hand in his and pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her small frame. "G'night, baby," he whispered into her hair. "Happy Birthday." He smiled down at her before lowering his lips to hers. Bella found herself losing track of everything but him; the pressure of his lips on hers, the feel of his hands as they slid slowly down her back and found their way under the hem of her shirt. She gasped into his mouth when his fingertips made contact with the bare skin of her back, and she pushed her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer to her. Their bubble was broken by the jolt of a pillow hitting Edward in the back, followed by Emmett's voice.
"Hey! Get a room, you two!"
Edward pulled away a bit, keeping his arms solidly around Bella. "This is our room, nimrod," he replied, laughing. Bella laid her head against his chest, reveling in the vibrations his laughter sent through him.
"Well, get another one then," Emmett said, turning away with a huff.
"I'll kill him later, don't worry." Edward dropped another small kiss onto Bella's lips and released her, pushing her towards the bedroom door. "Go have fun."
Bella stuck her lip out at him in a playful pout, then turned and entered the bedroom where the other three girls were waiting. She was a little unsure what to expect - knowing Alice as she did, she was pretty sure this would not be an average slumber party.
"About time," Rosalie remarked with a smirk. "Glad to see you could pry yourself off Edward's face long enough to join us." Her remark was met with a deep blush from Bella.
"Awww, look how cute she is!" Ren crossed to Bella and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, then guided her to join the other girls where they were sprawled on the king size bed. She turned to Alice. "Ok princess, what's first?"
Alice jumped up off the bed and opened the small fridge that was situated in the corner. "First, these!" She pulled out a tray of pink drinks.
"What are they?" Bella asked.
"Strawberry Daiquiris with coconut rum," Alice replied. "Just a couple though, Edward made me promise not to get you drunk. While intoxicated Bella is a very good time, we all know that hangover Bella is fun for no one, and he has a big day planned tomorrow."
"And what exactly does that big day involve, Alice?" Bella asked slyly.
"Oh, no, I am not about to tell you." Alice set the tray down and rejoined the girls on the bed. "Edward would tear me limb from limb and set the parts on fire. Now," she said, her eyes twinkling, "who wants to pick out a color for Bella's toenails?"
Several hours later, everyone's toes and fingers were a new color, all of the girls had truly fabulous new 80's style hairstyles thanks to Rosalie's vintage crimping iron, and they were all very giggly. Emmett had tried to sneak in once, protesting when they threw him out that he just wanted to make sure everyone was ok and that they had enough pillows for the pillow fight. Bella wondered vaguely what the boys were doing, but she was having a good time, so she didn't worry about it.
"So then Emmett gets up on stage," Rosalie said, breathless with laughter, "and starts singing 'I Will Survive' in this really high voice. Then, halfway through the song, he rips off his shirt, and he has on pasties. You know, the ones strippers wear, with tassels. He starts dancing, and before anyone could stop him, he had jumped off the stage and was dancing around between the tables, flexing and swinging his tassels. People actually stuck bills in his pants!"
The other girls were laughing so hard they nearly feel off the bed. "Wait, wait," Bella gasped, wiping tears from her eyes. "This was at your cousin's wedding?"
"Yep. It turned out one of the groomsmen had bet him at the bachelor party he wouldn't do it. You know Emmett, he can't pass up a bet."
"And you didn't stop him?" Alice looked amazed.
"Please." Rosalie rolled her eyes. "He's your brother, you know how impossible that would've been. Plus, I was in the wedding, so I was trapped at the head table."
"Weren't you furious?"
"At first I was." Rosalie giggled. "But as it turned out, the money he won topped him off so he could buy this." She held out he hand and wiggled her fingers, indicating the diamond ring on her fourth finger. "So I couldn't stay mad. And he has ways of convincing me to forgive him." Rosalie smiled.
"I didn't know you guys were engaged! Congrats!" Bella leaned over and embraced Rosalie.
"Hey, let's play truth!" Alice said, once the laughter from Rosalie's story had quieted a bit.
"What's that?" Bella asked, eyeing Alice suspiciously.
"You've never played truth?" Bella shook her head. "Well, we take turns asking questions, and everyone else has to answer honestly."
"You have to answer every question, no matter what?" Bella asked hesitantly.
"How this - you can pass, but it means you miss your next turn." Alice looked around at the other girls, who nodded at her suggestion. "Bella's the birthday girl, she should go first."
"Alright." Bella bit her lip as she tried to think of a question. "What's your favorite color?"
"Oh Bella!" Rosalie protested, "You have to ask better questions than that!"
Bella blushed. "Okay...what's your favorite color...underwear?"
"Red." Rosalie answered quickly.
"Black", responded Ren, with a smirk.
"Pink. No, blue! No, purple! Do I have to pick just one?" The girls laughed at Alice's answer, and then indicated that she should ask the next question.
"Have you ever smoked pot?"
"Does it count if someone else was smoking it and you were in the room?" Ren asked. Rosalie shook her head. "Then no. How about you, Rose?"
Rosalie nodded. "Bella?"
"Um." Bella said, looking down at her fingers, twisted together in her lap.
"She has!" shrieked Alice.
"Well, not exactly." Bella fumbled over the words. "I've never smoked it, but there may have been some brownies..." she trailed off.
"Bella Swan," said Rosalie, "I never thought you had it in you. Isn't your father the chief of police?"
Bella nodded. "Don't tell Jasper, ok?" she asked, shooting a pleading look at Alice.
"Oh honey, if you knew some of the stuff Jasper's done...he couldn't say a word about some little pot brownies." The girls laughed, and Bella wiped her forehead in a mock gesture of relief.
Ren cleared her throat. "My turn. What's your favorite song...that you hope no one ever finds out you like?"
All three girls giggled. "That's a good one," Rosalie commented.
"Well?" Ren raised her eyebrows, waiting for answers.
"The Climb. Miley Cyrus," Bella offered.
"Miley Cyrus?" Alice squealed.
"Hey, it's a good song!" protested Bella. "Don't tell Edward though, I torment him all the time about liking her."
"Mmm-hmm. Whatever you say Bella." Alice smirked.
"Ok, so what's yours, princess?
Alice thought for a moment. "The theme song from Ally McBeal."
The girls all giggled. "How does that one go, exactly, Alice?" asked Rosalie.
Alice grabbed a hairbrush and stood up on the bed, where she began to sing at the top of her lungs and bounce up and down, using the handle of the hairbrush as a microphone.
I've been down this road
Walking the line that's painted by pride
And I have made mistakes in my life that I just can't hide.
But I believe I'm ready
for what love has to bring
I've got myself together
Now I'm ready to sing.
I've been searching my soul tonight
I know there's so much more to life
Now I know I can shine a light
to find my way back home.
Baby.
Yeah.
Oh Yeah.
At the last Oh Yeah, she pumped her fist in the air and flopped down on the bed. "Like that," she said, grinning at Rose. "Your turn."
Rosalie began to speak, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. "You ladies alright in there?" Jasper's voice asked. "It sounded like someone was killing a duck."
Alice jumped up off the bed and marched to the door, yanking it open. "Shut it, you." She glared up at him, then suddenly jumped up and grabbed him around the neck. This was apparently a move he was used to, because he caught her smoothly and held her up against him, her feet dangling no less than a foot off the floor. "Having fun boy time?"
"Yes," Jasper chuckled, "but no one out here is as pretty as you."
"Wanna borrow some nail polish for Jacob? I bet I'm Not Really a Waitress would be fabulous on him."
"Nah, he's more a Lincoln Park After Dark kinda guy," interjected Ren.
"Darn it, I didn't bring that one. Oh well." Alice kissed Jasper's lips, then wiggled to be let down. He dropped her onto her feet, and she pushed him towards the door. "Now go away."
The door closed behind him, and Alice bounced back to the bed. "Ok, Rose, spill!"
"Chattahoochee," she replied, scrunching her face in anticipation of laughter.
"I like that song," Ren said.
"Me too," Bella added.
"I never figured you for an Alan Jackson girl," Alice commented, looking at Rosalie speculatively.
"What can I say?" Rosalie shrugged. "I have layers."
"Like Shrek!" Alice collapsed to the bed, giggling.
Rosalie grabbed a pillow and hit Alice over the head. "Does that make you Donkey?"
"No, but it totally makes Emmett Princess Fiona!" Alice's observation sent the group into near hysterics.
They continued to play, with questions ranging from the silly to the personal. They learned that Alice wore a size four shoe and Rosalie wore a nine and a half; that Alice owned all ten seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210 on DVD; and that Ren's real name was bizarre and unpronounceable, necessitating the nickname. Bella revealed that she had always wanted a tattoo but was too scared to get one, and Alice showed them the tiny heart with Jasper's initials that was just below her hipbone. They found out that Ren was adopted and that she was thinking about searching for her birth parents, that Rosalie had experienced a pregnancy scare when she was 19, and that Bella had almost drowned on vacation when she was twelve. As it got later, the game began to wind down.
"Last round, girls, make 'em good!" Alice declared, when she noticed that it was almost 1 am. "Rose, you go."
"Okay." She pursed her lips in concentration. "What do you love most about your significant other?"
"He has a really gentle spirit," was Ren's contribution.
"He anchors me," said Alice, "and he has great hair." She smiled at them. "Bella?"
"He accepts me." Bella's voice was barely audible. They all sat quietly for a moment, before Rose indicated that Ren should ask the next question.
"What are you most scared of about the future?"
"I'm afraid to have kids." Alice spoke up first. "I am a little scared of what it would do to me and Jasper, and I don't think I would be a very good mother." At these words, Rosalie reached over and hugged her soon-to-be sister in law.
After releasing Alice, Rose spoke. "I am afraid I will never really figure out what I want to do with my life, and I will just float around forever. Does that make sense?" The other girls nodded.
Bella sat silently, until finally Alice prompted her. "Bella? It's your turn."
"Pass."
"Come on, Bella, tell us," encouraged Ren, sliding her arm around Bella's shoulders.
"You'll feel better," Alice said. "Fears never seem as big once you talk about them. Besides, you don't want to ruin our perfect pass-free game, do you?"
"Fine." Bella sighed and concentrated on the bedspread beneath her crossed legs. "I am afraid that one day Edward is going to wake up, take one look at me, and run away screaming."
"Oh, sweetheart, that would never happen. Anyone can see that he loves you." Alice reached over and hugged Bella. "Your turn, last question - anything you are just dying to know?"
"Actually..." Bella bit her bottom lip and hesitated.
"We're not getting any younger here," remarked Rosalie.
"Alright." Bella took a deep breath and looked up at her friends. "Um...does it hurt?"
"Does what hurt?" Rosalie asked, a puzzled expression on her face.
Bella blushed. "You know..."
"Ohhhh." Ren's exclamation of understanding sounded like a sigh. "You mean you've never...you haven't..." Bella shook her head, blushing even darker. "Alice, you wanna take this one?" Alice nodded.
"It did the first few times, but it wasn't terrible or anything. And not to gross you out or anything, seeing as I am married to your brother, but...well, it can be amazing."
Rosalie nodded. "I was way too young the first time. It was not pleasant. I wish I had waited. But being with someone you love, it's totally different, like Alice said - amazing."
Ren spoke up then. "I know the whole sex thing can seem really scary, but you don't need to worry, sweetie. It will all work out."
The three girls wrapped themselves around Bella, hugging her. They sat there together for a few minutes, until finally Alice spoke up. "Time for sleep, girlies, we have lots to do tomorrow."
****r~d****
Edward closed the door behind their friends the next afternoon, glad to finally have some time alone with Bella. The weekend so far had been all he could have hoped for. She appeared to have had a blast at Chuck E. Cheese, and Alice had told him that the slumber party had been a success as well. That morning they had eaten chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream and birthday candles, then they had all walked around the waterfront before returning to play together in the indoor pool.
Edward crossed the room and joined Bella on the plush sofa in front of the TV. "Had a good weekend?"
"Yep." Bella shifted so that she lay on her back, her head in Edward's lap. "I'm tired though. It seems like we are playing a game of 'How many birthdays can we fit into two days?'"
"Drat, you've uncovered my devious plan!" Edward smiled down at her, playing with her hair, which was still slightly damp and curly from the pool.
"So, how many birthdays are left?"
"One or two."
"Do I have time before the next one to rest awhile? I really am tired."
"Sure baby. I'll wake you when you need to start getting ready, ok?"
"Mind if I just stay here?"
"Not at all."
Bella turned to her side, facing away from him, and Edward continued to stroke her hair as her eyes drifted shut. Soon her breathing slowed, and he knew she had fallen asleep. He leaned his head back on the sofa, and soon he had drifted off as well.
A couple of hours later, the sound of his phone beeping roused him. He had a text message from Alice.
Forgot to tell you earlier - B's outfit for tonight is in the blue garment bag in her room. Good luck!
He checked the time. Alice's timing was perfect, as usual - they had a little over an hour before they needed to leave. He reached down and stroked Bella's slightly flushed cheek.
"Bella? Baby, time to wake up."
"Mmmm." Bella rolled closer to him and stretched before her eyelids fluttered open. "Hi." She smiled up at him.
"Hi to you. Good nap?"
"Best ever. Time to get ready?" Edward nodded as she sat up. "Where are we going?"
"Not telling."
"So how am I supposed to know what to wear?" she asked with a pout.
"Alice brought you something. It's in the blue garment bag in your closet."
Bella sighed heavily as she lifted herself off the couch. "You and your secrets," she said, shaking her head at him.
"You love it."
Bella twisted her face in thought, then smiled. "Yeah, I kinda do." She bent to kiss his temple, then headed toward the bedroom. "See you in a bit!"
When she emerged again, she was transformed. Gone was the lingering chlorine smell leftover from the pool - instead, as he moved towards her, Edward could smell the flowery scent of her shampoo. Her hair hung around her shoulders in loose waves, and she was dressed in an outfit like nothing had ever seen her wear before. She wore slim fitted black pants that ended mid-calf, with a small ruffle around the bottom. They were topped with a long shirt in some sort of flowy material that was purple at the top and blue-green at the bottom. The back of the shirt came almost to her knees, while the front was shorter. The shirt was sleeveless, and she carried a black and gray sweater. The outfit was completed with black ballet slippers and small silver chains dangling from Bella's ears. She looked at Edward, her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Is it ok?" She asked, uncertainty in her eyes.
"It's breathtaking," Edward replied. "Alice is a genius. And you, my love, are an angel."
"You aren't so bad yourself." Edward was wearing gray dress pants and a black polo. He had tried unsuccessfully to calm his hair, but it was all over the place, as usual.
"Thanks." He kissed her gently, then took her hand in his. "Shall we?"
They walked down through the lobby, and Edward whispered "I might have to start a fight if all these guys keep staring at you."
"Me?" She whispered back. "Have you seen the way these women are looking at you? I'm going to start slapping and hair-pulling." They giggled together as they exited the lobby and headed toward his car.
After a dinner of excellent sushi, Edward took her to an area near the shore. As he helped her out of the car, Bella looked around, confused. "Where are we?" she asked. They were walking towards what looked like a series of large old-fashioned circus tents.
"You'll see," Edward replied. You're gonna love it."
They passed through a large wrought-iron gate, where Edward handed someone a pair of tickets and took two programs. Bella reached over to take one, but Edward refused. An usher escorted them to seats near the large, round stage, and Bella looked around, taking in every detail of the tent and the set in front of them.
"Seriously Edward, what is this?"
"Seriously, Bella, trust me. You'll love it."
Bella continued to examine their surroundings as the seats around them filled. Soon the crowd quieted, and lights came on to illuminate the stage. As the audience became silent, two men and two women in beautiful costumes entered the stage. One of the men spoke.
"I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon comes this night to Messina."
Bella gasped.
The other man spoke. "He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off when I left him."
Bella turned to Edward. "Much Ado About Nothing?" Edward nodded and wrapped an arm around her. She snuggled into his side and turned back to the stage.
For the next few hours Bella watched the players on the stage, and Edward watched Bella. He could follow the story, but he found her much more interesting. She was entranced by the play, and during intermission she devoured the playbill that Edward offered her, taking in every word about the production and the actors. She finally looked up, after reading the entire playbill. Her eyes shone with happiness.
"Enjoying yourself, love?"
"It's so wonderful! I love this play!" She threw her arms around his neck enthusiastically. "Thank you so much!" She pulled back slightly and looked at him, screwing up her face. "I thought you didn't like Shakespeare though."
"I never said that," Edward replied, tapping the tip of her nose. "I just don't love him with the same all-consuming passion you do. Do you realize you quoted almost every one of Beatrice and Hero's lines along with them?"
"Did I?" Bella blushed crimson.
"Yes, you did. It was adorable."
She took his hand as the intermission ended and Act III began. He watched her laugh at the antics of Dogberry and the watchmen, and cry when Claudio rejected Hero at the altar. When the final act ended, and the actors finished their bows, she turned to Edward again. Her eyes were shining and her face was alight with joy.
"That was the best birthday present ever. Thank you so much!"
He leaned down and kissed her, then wrapped his arms around her. "You're welcome. Ready to head back?" He felt her nod against his chest.
Bella spent the drive back chattering happily about the play, so much so that Edward jokingly wondered aloud if she had switched bodies with Alice. Bella just rolled her eyes at him and continued her analysis of the show she had seen. She fell silent as they approached the hotel, then turned to Edward.
"So...the playbill says they are doing three other shows this year - Anthony and Cleopatra, Falstaff, and Henry the Fifth."
"I saw that."
"Oh. Good!" She looked up at him through her eyelashes with a little smile on her face.
"Something else you wanted, love?" Edward asked as he pulled up in front of the building.
"Do you think maybe...we could come back? We don't have to see all of them, and I can pay for the tickets..." she trailed off expectantly.
"I don't know, Bella." He looked down at her, fighting hard to maintain a solemn face as he helped her out of the car. "It's Shakespeare after all. You're asking an awful lot." He handed the keys to the valet and took her hand.
"Oh. Okay." She dropped her head and pushed open the lobby door.
They crossed the lobby and entered the elevator before Edward spoke again. "Now that I think about it though...it would really be a shame to waste these season tickets Emmett and Rose bought you." He smirked at her amazed expression, then cringed at the sound of her joyful shriek, magnified by the enclosed space.
"Ow." Edward covered his ears. "Can't watch plays if I lose me hearing, you know."
Bella poked him in the side as they stepped off the elevator and started down the ornate hallway. "You deserve it for tricking me, you jerk." He laughed and poked her back, eliciting a squeal.
They entered the room and Edward pulled her down with him onto the plush sofa and wrapped his arms around her. They sat in silence for awhile as he trailed his fingers gently up and down the skin of her arm. She shivered at his touch.
"Cold, baby?" He asked softly. She shook her head no. They continued to sit there, Edward brushing his lips softly against her hair and her ear. She relaxed into him, the rhythm of his breathing and his gentle touches lulling her almost into sleep.
"I have one more present for you," he said in a low voice.
"Unh-unh," Bella protested drowsily, shaking her head.
"Mmm-hmm," Edward replied, nodding into her hair and chuckling softly.
"You've already done too much, Edward. It's just a birthday."
"It's your birthday, love, and you are worth all of it and much more," Edward argued. "Besides, it's just a little thing. I didn't even spend any money on it."
"Alright." Bella acquiesced with a sigh.
"Hold out your hand and close your eyes," he instructed quietly. She did as he asked. He shifted a bit behind her, then she felt his hand cover hers, placing something small and light and warm in her palm. He closed her hand over it.
"Open your eyes."
Again she obeyed, and started to open her hand, but he caught it in his and held it closed. "You don't get to look until you answer some questions."
"Okay," Bella replied, bemused, but much more awake than she had been a few moments earlier.
"Question one," Edward began, stroking her arm again, "did you have a good birthday?"
"The best ever."
"Good. Question two - are you happy?"
"Blissful."
"Me too." Edward paused in his questioning to place a few kisses on Bella's neck and ear. She shivered again.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?"
Bella was silent for a moment. "I think so," she replied finally, her voice trembling slightly.
"Do you love me?"
Bella turned around to look at him. She reached up to caress his cheek with her hand before she leaned in to kiss him. The kiss started out gentle, but she soon deepened it and she lost herself in the sensation of his lips and tongue on hers. He pulled back and looked at her as the both gasped for breath. "Was that a yes?"
"Yes, I love you." She leaned in to kiss him again, but he stopped her.
"There's one more question. Open your hand, love."
Bella had almost forgotten about the small item in her closed fist. She brought her hand up between them and uncurled her fingers. She gasped when she saw the tiny gleaming circle on her palm. She lifted her surprised eyes to Edward's, which looked like green fire in the dim light.
"Bella, will you marry me?"
Bella's eye's widened. "What?"
Edward chuckled. "What was Benedick's line? 'Thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife.' Seemed like good advice."
"Are you sure?"
Edward grinned as he leaned in to kiss her gently. "Yes, I am very sure."
"Then..." Bella took a deep breath. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you." She slid her arms around his neck, and his arms found their way around her waist. He pulled her into his lap, and they sat, hugging and whispering "I love you" to one another, until he began to kiss her. As they kissed, she turned and straddled his lap, pressing herself as close to him as she could.
"I love you Edward," she whispered breathlessly, as her lips left his and traveled down his neck, to the opening at the collar of his shirt. She kissed the small patch of chest, and then unbuttoned the second button, continuing the path of kisses down his neck. Edward moaned softly, but as she opened a third button, he pulled away with a groan.
"Bella...Bella...stop..." He gently lifted her from where she sat astride his lap, and set her down next to him on the couch. Bella looked at him, and Edward sighed at the hurt and confusion in her eyes.
"Bella, sweetheart...I'm sorry."
"It's ok," Bella said, her eyes downcast. "I just thought...I thought you would want..."
"Oh baby, I do. But..."
"But what, Edward?"
"We've waited. At first, I didn't want to rush you, I know you haven't...so I was trying to be respectful. I didn't want to push you to do anything you were uncomfortable with. After a while, I loved you so much, and I wanted to wait until it was right, I wanted things to be special. You never really said anything, so I figured you wanted to wait too. Was I wrong?"
"I guess not...I don't know. At first I was kind of scared, and then when you never really pushed it...I figured you weren't really that interested." Bella buried her blushing face in his chest. She could feel the rumble as he laughed.
"Not interested? Have you failed to notice the fact that I can't seem to stop touching you?"
Bella burrowed further into his chest, and her reply was barely audible. "Well, maybe."
Edward pulled her away from him just enough to look into her face. "Bella, I love you, and I want you. I want to make love with you. Sometimes I think I might implode from wanting you. But I've been thinking about it, and..." Edward trailed off, inhaling deeply. "I can't believe I am about to say this."
"It's ok, Edward, just say it." Bella softly caressed the side of Edward's face.
"I...I want to wait. After the wedding...I want to wait until you are my wife."
At the word "wife", Bella's stomach did a little backflip. She blushed again and looked up at Edward. "Really?"
"Really." Edward nodded. "I may go crazy before then, but...yes."
"How...I didn't think..." Bella's eyes filled. "I wanted to wait too, but I thought you wouldn't, so...really?" Bella's face broke into a grin. Edward nodded and bent to kiss her forehead.
"How on Earth did I ever manage to find someone as wonderful as you?"
"Well, I am a pretty good catch," replied Edward with a lopsided grin. "But you are quite the worm. Good bait, you know. So can I put your ring on now?"
"Oh!" Bella looked down at the ring still clasped in her fist. She opened her hand to Edward, who picked it up off her palm. She held out her left hand, and to her surprise, Edward slid off the couch and knelt on the floor in front of her. She bit down hard on her lower lip, determined not to miss a single moment distracted by the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Edward lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed her bare ring finger. "Isabella Marie Swan," he said, sliding the ring on her finger to her first knuckle, "will you be my wife?"
Bella nodded, unable to speak. He pushed the ring fully onto her finger, and she slid to the floor and knelt with him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. After a few minutes, she began to giggle.
"What's funny, love?" Edward asked, pushing an errant strand of hair from her face.
Bella laughed again before she answered. "I just pictured Alice's reaction to the news, and thought we would probably need tranquilizer darts. A picture popped into my head of Jasper following her around with a little blow dart gun, and shooting Alice in the neck with a dart in the middle of a bridal store..." Bella trailed off as she was consumed with another fit of giggles.
Edward began to laugh as well, and they collapsed to the floor, engulfed in laughter and entwined in one another's arms.
He woke the next morning with Bella lying behind him, her arm draped over his waist and her body tucked in close to his. After their laughing fit had subsided, they had resumed their positions on the sofa and had spent the next several hours completely entranced with one another. They had kissed and talked and laughed, sat in comfortable silence, and kissed some more. They had briefly discussed a wedding date, and although they hadn't selected anything specific, they agreed that they did not want an extremely long engagement.
They had stayed there until the wee hours, and when Bella had finally fallen asleep cuddled into his chest, Edward had picked her up and placed her in the big bed, then laid down beside her, unwilling to be separated from her so soon after she had agreed to marry him. Now he slowly turned over in her embrace, not wanting to wake her, and pulled her up onto his chest. She stirred and burrowed her face into his shirt, but did not wake up.
Edward looked down at her for several long minutes as he stroked her hair.
What did I ever do to deserve a woman like her?
****r~d****
Later that morning, Bella stood in the bathroom, staring. She was supposed to be taking a shower, but instead she was just standing there, looking at her hand. More specifically, she was gazing at the very significant piece of jewelry that had taken up residence on her left fourth finger. It was a beautiful ring; platinum, or maybe white gold, she wasn't sure, with a large square-cut diamond in the center and small round diamonds along the band on either side.
He asked me to marry him.
I said yes.
I'm going to marry him.
She began hopping up and down in place, barely able to contain the squeal that was straining to come from her vocal cords.
I'm going to be Edward's wife.
Holy shit.
She stopped short and gazed at herself in the mirror.
"I'm going to be Edward's wife."
Hearing the words aloud did not, as she had hoped, quiet the sudden pounding of her heart or slow her frantic breathing. Instead, the sound of the words prompted the appearance of clammy sweat that coated her forehead. Her head swam, and she sat down on the closed toilet, trying to calm her body's reactions.
I'm going to be Edward's wife?
I can't. I can't be a wife.
I don't know how to be a wife. I can barely manage girlfriend. What am I going to do?
She began to gasp, feeling as if all the air had left the small room. Spots appeared before her eyes as she fought desperately for control.
Hold it together Bella. Breathe, dammit.
She dropped her head between her knees and struggled to slow her breaths, focusing only on getting oxygen to her foggy brain.
In 2, 3, 4...Out 2, 3, 4. In...Out...IN...OUT!
She reached over and turned on the shower, adding only enough hot water so that the temperature was bearable. She stripped off her clothes and dropped them on the floor, then stepped into the shower, where she leaned her flushed face against the marble tile and continued to chant slowly to herself.
In...out...in...out...in...
By the time she exited the shower her breathing had almost returned to normal, and her heart no longer felt as if it was trying to escape from her ribcage. She toweled off her hair and wrapped herself in the hotel's plush robe, then confronted her reflection again. She forced a smile.
Pull yourself together. He loves you. You love him. This is a good thing.
She attempted another smile. This one was almost passable.
Don't screw this up.
Hoping that Edward would be occupied enough with packing and checking out in time not to notice her flushed cheeks and over-bright eyes, she pulled open the bathroom door and stepped out into the suite.
****r~d****
Just tell her.
For the past hour, ever since they had left Vancouver for home, Edward had been embroiled in a heated internal debate.
To tell or not to tell, that is the question? Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to share the secret...
Shut up.
"Bella, I have to make a confession."
"You killed Jimmy Hoffa? I knew you were to good to be true!" She poked him in the ribs.
"Yep, and I hid him under your bed. I knew no one would ever find him there."
Bella scowled at him. "Yeah, well, instead of OCD they should call it EAMC for Edward Anthony Masen Cullen."
"Ever read anything written in this century, ye oh varlety thou?
"Ever read anything, ever?"
"Nerd."
"Snob"
"Dork."
"Miley Cyrus fan."
Edward wiped an imaginary tear from his cheek. "That was a low blow. Really, Bella, I thought you were my friend.
"Friends don't let friends listen to crappy teen pop."
"Guess you're right. No more Justin Timberlake for you."
"OK, I'll stop listening to your ipod."
"Loser."
"Brat."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
"Wanna marry me?"
"OK!"
Edward lifted Bella's hand to his lips and kissed her ring finger. "Damn good thing, since I think my parents would disown me if I gave this ring back."
"Edward." Bella looked at him sternly, all hints of levity gone from her face. "Did your parents buy my engagement ring?"
"No," he replied, just as seriously, but with a barely detectable twinkle in his eye. "My grandfather did." He paused just long enough to hear Bella's intake of breath, then continued. "50 or so years ago. It was my grandmother's ring."
"Oh. Ooooooooohhhhhh." Bella gazed at the ring. "Did you have it resized?"
"Nope. I didn't know what size you were, and I didn't want to go through your stuff to find a ring, so I just hoped for the best."
"But it fits so perfectly!"
Edward grinned at her. "Guess it was fate."
Bella grinned back. "Either that, or your parents' realtor twenty-some years ago was psychic."
Edward abruptly pulled the car onto the shoulder and stopped. Bella's face changed from amusement to worry. "What wrong?"
Edward didn't answer - instead, he quickly wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her towards him, meeting her lips with his with a fierceness that bordered on violence. He pulled away after a long moment, and leaned his forehead on hers, both of them gasping for breath.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too," she replied, reaching up to tangle her fingers in the hair on the back of his head. "More than I ever thought I could."
"Promise me you'll be with me forever." His voice was pleading.
"And then some."
They stared into one another's faces, the intensity between them palpable in the car. The moment was broken only when they both jumped at the sound of a horn from a passing car.
"I guess we should keep going, unless we want to live in the car on the side of the freeway."
"Well... eventually we'd need to shower." Bella smiled and placed another gentle kiss on his lips. "By the way, what was you confession?"
"Oh, that."
"Edward, is that...are you blushing?"
"No."
"You are! What's the big secret?"
Edward inhaled deeply. "OK - you remember when we talked about waiting?" Bella nodded. "Well...I may not have told you the whole truth."
Bella waited silently, raising her eyebrows.
"There's another reason I want to wait. I told you I knew you hadn't...but I let you think that...well, the truth is...I haven't either." Edward's gaze dropped to the floor of the car.
"But...there were all those girls in high school...and you dated Tanya for so long...I thought..."
"I know. But...is that ok? Are you upset?"
Bella sat, stunned for a moment. "Upset? Edward, no! If anything, I'm...I'm happy."
Edward smiled slowly. "You are?"
Bella smiled back, nodding. "I are." She kissed his nose. "Now, let's get going, ya virgin."
****r~d****
After they arrived home, Bella sat down and began to go through the stack of mail Edward had retrieved from their mailbox on their way upstairs. Edward had started to carry their suitcases towards their respective rooms when he heard her gasp.
"What is it?" He set the cases down and came to stand behind where she sat on the sofa, placing his hands on her shoulders. She had opened one of the envelopes and was reading the letter it had enclosed.
"It's...it's from the Stratford foundation."
Edward' heart stopped.
"They had a spot open up. If I am still interested...they're offering me a fellowship." She looked up at him, her eyes aglow. Then she glanced down at the ring that had been on her hand less than 24 hours. She looked back up at him, a question in her dark eyes.
"Edward?"
He looked back down at her, speechless.
A/N – Almost everything in the story is real. The hotel they stayed in was the Pan- Pacific Vancouver, which you can see here – .com/Vancouver
The play they went to was part of the Bard on the Beach festival. .org/ Their 2010 season opens with Much Ado About Nothing, which is one of my favorite plays.
I have never been to either place, I was working from what I found on the internet, so please forgive any inaccuracies. I have been to Chuck E. Cheese, but it has been a very, very long time.
I hope everyone can forgive a little Miley Cyrus humor.
"Ye old varlety thou" was lifted from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season four, episode four, "Fear, Itself.
Bella's ring: .
Her outfit for the play: .?itemId=prod51360019&parentId=cat322004&masterId=cat232008&index=6&cmCat=
The top for Chuck E. Cheese: .?cid=5042&vid=1&pid=719611