Cold and darkness pressed in all around me. I could hear the rain drumming against the roof of the tent and the howl of the wind. I moved closer to Bella, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. I needed to be careful; she was badly hurt, and she was developing pneumonia. Carlisle had gone to get help, leaving me to care for her. Bella moaned softly. My heartbeat increased, anxiety beginning to build.

"What do you need?" I murmured, hoping it was something I could provide.

"Only you, Edward," she replied softly.

Her warm hand touched my cheek, and I opened my eyes. The bedroom was dim in the gray dawn light, and the air felt chilly. I glanced at the window to see that rain had begun to fall. I reached for the down comforter then pulled Bella up onto my chest, kissing her forehead as the last remnants of my dream dissipated. It had been several weeks since I'd had the dream; its frequency had faded in the eight months since that propitious backpacking trip. I wondered vaguely what had caused my subconscious mind to conjure it up again. Perhaps I was anxious about the events that would occur today, happy as they were.

As Bella nuzzled her head beneath my chin, silky strands of hair tickling my chest lightly, a sense of calm settled over me. I sighed in contentment.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

I glanced at the bedside clock. "Just after seven."

"Mmm… so we only have a few minutes."

I nodded, running my hand down her back and resting it on her luscious little bottom. She wore a blue silk camisole with matching tiny shorts—a gift from Alice, who deserved my profuse thanks. Bella was utterly delectable in the sapphire ensemble. I kissed her gently, suppressing a groan as she wriggled against me.

"If you don't stop that, we're going to be late," I cautioned her.

She returned my kiss. "I don't think I care."

I began to slide my hand up under her little shirt, marveling at the softness of her skin. When I reached her ribcage, I paused, my fingers running lightly over the bones. She had healed fully and held no lingering signs of her injury. For that I felt eternally grateful.

However, when my phone rang a moment later, I felt momentarily cursed. I reached for the device, knowing I needed to answer. Bella gave a tiny huff of frustration even as a smile tugged at her lips.

Without glancing at the screen, I said, "Hello Alice."

Without preamble, Alice replied, "I know what you two are up to. Don't even think about it. You'll have plenty of time for that tonight. You both need to be showered and ready to go in half an hour."

"We know the schedule," I reassured her.

"Uh huh." She sounded slightly skeptical, but I could hear the delight in her voice as she said, "No funny business in the shower, either. You've got a wedding to get to."

Echoing Jasper, I replied, "Yes, ma'am."

Bella took the phone from me. Her voice was calm as she said, "Don't worry, Alice. Everything is going to go fine. It will be a perfect day."

I could hear Alice's musical voice as she agreed, "I know it will. See you soon."

Bella smiled at me as she set the phone down. I knew her mind was now filled with thoughts about the wedding.

I reached for her hand, lifting it to kiss the diamond that glittered on her finger. "Why don't you hop in the shower, and I'll get the coffee going. We should just have time for a cup before the limo gets here."

She nodded, and, after another quick kiss hurried off to the bathroom.

I got out of bed, taking a moment to stretch my leg carefully. I knew I would continue to have discomfort in my knee for some time. It was healing well, and I tried to be patient, but I missed the days when I never gave a second thought to my balance or mobility.

The first few months of my residency had been particularly challenging. While the Dean and staff had tried to accommodate my recovery, I had found it physically impossible to complete all of the tasks required of an ER physician while my knee remained unstable. I had been offered a deferred start to the program, but in the end I decided to switch my focus to family medicine.

Several factors had contributed to this decision. I spent many hours discussing it with both Carlisle and Jasper, both of whom I considered close friends now. Jasper helped me to realize that I did not thrive on the pressure and immediacy of many ER situations. While Carlisle assured me that I possessed the skill to work as a trauma physician, he discouraged me from pursuing the specialty if I had any reservations. The memory of Bella struggling for breath continued to haunt me, and my nightmares increased when similar cases were brought into the ER. I realized that I found joy in medicine when I could help younger patients and their parents. Often these cases were more minor—flu, strep, sprains, fractures, lacerations—but I found great satisfaction in resolving them.

A shortage of family medicine practitioners made it easy for me to change specialties, and my experience in the ER gave me very desirable skills. Two advantages in pursuing this specialty were a shorter residency program and the potential to work in the setting I now realized I desired. I planned to return to Forks when I was fully certified and begin a family practice there.

The main impetus for this move was Bella, of course. She was currently pursuing her dream of earning a Master's Degree in special education, with a concentration in learning disabilities. She had begun classes at the University of Washington in the fall, moving to Seattle for the duration of her program. Naturally I was delighted by this turn of events. It meant that we could spend our limited free time together without wasting precious hours driving back and forth from Forks. However, Bella missed her father and wanted to settle in Forks again once she graduated. There was a distinct dearth of qualified special education teachers in the more rural areas, so she would be a welcome addition to the local school district.

The other draw to Bella's hometown was a more sociable one. She and I had developed a wonderful friendship with Emmett and Rosalie, who were elated that we would eventually live in their beloved community. But they would not be our only friends: Esme's infatuation with the small town and its historic architecture had spurred a major change for her and Carlisle. He had committed to two more years at the hospital in Seattle, but they had already found a home in Forks, where they spent time whenever they could. Both were drawn to the small town, and Carlisle knew that his professional skills would be an asset to the community.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I smiled at the thought of creating a life with Bella in Forks. I loved imagining our future together. I chuckled as I pulled the coffee from the fridge. One step at a time, I reminded myself. We still had a wedding to get through.

I felt surprisingly calm as I sat on the small sofa in the church dressing room. I had donned my tux but had yet to tackle the tie. Jasper finished straightening Emmett's tie then motioned for me to stand.

I grinned at him then turned to the mirror. Alice had shown each of us—several times—how to tie the bit of fabric. Emmett had fumbled with his, but I found the task quite easy. After all, it wasn't as complicated as tying surgical knots. With a few deft motions, my tie was done. I turned back to Jasper for approval.

He gave a satisfied nod then touched his own tie again.

"It's perfect," I assured him.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Alice will approve," I replied.

Jasper reached for my hand, grasping it tightly. "Thanks."

Emmett gave him a hearty handshake, too. He was grinning broadly. "So, are you ready?"

Jasper nodded. "Yes, I really am. I've been waiting for this for five years."

"Marrying Rose is the best thing I ever did," Emmett said. "You and Alice are great together, and I know you've gonna love being married."

Jasper smiled then nudged me. "You're next."

"I am," I agreed happily.

There was a knock at the door. "See you up there," Emmett said to Jasper and he and I left to complete our usher duties.

It was with pure pleasure that I escorted Esme up the aisle and to her seat on the groom's side. Carlisle followed closely behind, his happiness barely contained. Today was a joyous occasion for all, perhaps even more so considering the circumstances that had initially brought us closer.

Soon I stood with Emmett on the right side of the alter. The guests were seated, and the music changed to the traditional processional. My eyes were drawn to the double doors as they opened to admit the bridesmaids. Bella looked stunning in the simple yet elegant burgundy sheath. Her hair was loose, curling over her shoulders, and her expression exuded happiness. As she walked up the aisle, moving slowly yet gracefully, our eyes met. A smile spread over her face, matched by mine.

She was absolutely glorious. I knew Alice would be a gorgeous bride, but nothing could be more beautiful than my Bella. I couldn't wait until she became my wife. As she passed Carlisle and Esme, he smiled warmly at her, and Esme, beaming, wiped at her eyes. She was extremely fond of Bella, and she considered me a part of the family now.

It was all I could do the restrain myself from darting forward to wrap my arms around Bella when she reached the alter. Our gazes locked again for a few precious seconds, and I whispered, "I love you."

I saw her lips move and knew exactly what she said.

I stood at Jasper's side throughout the ceremony. I could almost feel the bliss radiating from him. Alice was nearly bursting with both exhilaration and adoration. When they joined hands, though, and looked into each other's eyes, I had to look away. It felt wrong to intrude on the intensity of their connection.

The minister pronounced them man and wife, and, arms entwined and hands locked, they sauntered down the aisle, grinning from ear to ear. When they reached the doors, I turned to look at Bella again. I stepped forward, offering her my arm, which she took with a warm smile. As we walked down the long aisle, our pace was slower than the bride and groom's, but our love was every bit as strong.

Six months later, Bella and I stood beneath a canopy of fragrant wisteria, hands joined as we spoke our vows. Carlisle was at my side, and Rosalie was next to Bella. Chief Swan, Bella's mother and her husband, Esme, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice sat behind us. The Olympic National Forest surrounded us, the majestic pines reaching toward the infinite, blue summer sky.

I glanced back at our seated friends for a moment, catching a glimpse of the white house some distance away. Bella and I had gratefully accepted Carlisle's and Esme's offer to be married at their Forks home. We wanted a very small, private ceremony. While the splendor of Alice's and Jasper's wedding had been a festive culmination of their romance, my fiancée and I preferred to exchange our vows and celebrate our union in a truly special place with those we held most dear.

Bella's eyes were bright with joyful tears as I spoke the words I had prepared:

"Thoreau wrote, 'We need the tonic of wildness… we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed, and unfathomed by us.' Until I met you, the nature of life was mysterious and my emotions, my true character, were unsurveyed and unfathomed. But you unraveled the mystery, charted my feelings, and understood my very being. You are my tonic, Bella, as beautiful and revered as this." I swept my hand toward the forest that stretched out beyond us. "I will love and cherish you forever."

She didn't wait for the minister to sanction our kiss. Bella wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me to her. The kiss was full of passion, ardor, adulation, and most importantly, promise.

When we finally pulled apart, I looked toward the forest once more. Memories flooded my mind. Bella's small hand slid into mine, her warm fingers squeezing gently, lovingly. I glanced down at her and smiled. We turned to face our friends, eager to embrace our new life as husband and wife.

The End

Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiasm for this story and for your wonderful reviews. I'm going to be traveling for the next few days so probably won't get a chance to respond reviews for a little while, but please know how much I appreciate every single one. It's all of you who inspire me to keep writing!