Penname: kyla713
Creative Original or Derivative Fiction:

Rating/Warning(s):

Disclaimer: All copyrighted, 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: Word Prompt: Elopement

"Give me one good reason why eloping isn't a good idea," he said, attempting to restrain a smirk.

She sighed heavily, setting the magazine in her hands down on the table, glaring at him. "I'll give you several, Edward. One, it would break my father's heart. Two, your mother and sister would kill you. And three, it makes it appear like we are doing something wrong by getting married. So let's just drop it, okay?"

He leaned forward on his arms and smiled, ignoring the stern look in her eyes. "What if I just want to marry you as soon as possible and we can have a party for everyone else afterward?"

She concentrated on her magazine again, flipping the page and refusing to look at him. "Call our wedding a 'party' again and see where it gets you. You'll be standing at that alter all by your lonesome."

"Bella, come on. It wouldn't be that bad," he replied, reaching across the table for her hand, which she immediately placed behind her neck. "We could start trying for a baby sooner."

"You're not getting out of wearing the tuxedo, Edward," she retorted in an annoyed singsong voice.

"You'd get out of wearing the dress," he grinned smugly, watching her eyes slowly rise to meet his over the rim of her glasses and tapping her fingernails on the table. "Baby, I can barely get you into a dress to go out to dinner with me."

"This one is different," she said, shifting slightly in her chair.

"How?" he asked, folding his arms over his chest triumphantly.

Her hand fell onto the table roughly, exhaling a heavy sigh. "Because it's the one day in my entire life that I can feel truly beautiful. The one day I don't have to worry about everyone paying attention to this."

He watched her hand as it moved to her waist and pinched the love handle on her side.

"I've always been fat. I wasn't blessed with the perfect body that everyone else around her was. And I've worked my ass off to even lose the twenty pounds I have. I want, for once, people to look at us and not think 'what the hell is he doing with her?'"

He rose from his chair and moved over to sit beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her temple. "Not everyone is that superficial, baby."

"And you weren't?" she replied, her gaze rising to meet his momentarily before falling again. "You have no idea, Edward. Maybe you can ignore the stares and the whispers everywhere we go, but I've been dealing with it all my life. And I want to look beautiful for you."

"Bella," he whispered, turning her chin with his fingers and gently kissed her. "You are always beautiful. You don't need a gown for that."

"I know you think so," she sighed softly with tears in her eyes.

"Then why does it matter what everyone else thinks? You're marrying me, not them," he said gently, resting his forehead against hers. "Don't do this for them. This is supposed to be a day for you."

Her gaze met his again and she nodded. "It is for me. I want this, it's really important to me."

"That's all you needed to say, love," he smiled, kissing her again. "And you will have the most beautiful and extravagant wedding you can imagine. And it will be perfect."

She smiled and slid her arms around his neck. "Thank you. And you're still wearing the tux."

He laughed and pulled her onto his lap, hugging her against him. "Yes, I'll wear the tux."