All characters except for Annabelle Causley and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.

This is an AU out of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. This story starts after Eclipse, two weeks before Edward and Bella's wedding.

Chapter Nine

Bella opened her eyes, looking across the room into Edward's golden eyes. He was sitting in her rocking chair, wearing denim jeans and a charcoal gray t-shirt. He gave her that crooked smile she had come to think as hers, the one that made her heart stutter then speed up.

" 'Morning beautiful," Edward's eyes warmed up as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.

Bella smiled back as she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to make it look decent. Pulling back the covers, she moved towards him and sat on his lap as she did most mornings. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"What's bothering you Bella," Edward whispered against the top of her head, his arms around her, breathing in her scent.

"Nothing," Bella refused to look at Edward, knowing full well she couldn't hide her emotions from him.

"Bella," Edward pulled back, looking down into her eyes, "You were restless all night. You kept arguing with yourself."

Bella pulled back, moving out of Edward's arms, "Look Edward…can I have a human minute?"

Edward nodded, watching Bella gather her toiletries and clothes, all the while avoiding his eyes. He felt a knot in his stomach, fearing Bella's behavior had to do with yesterday's revelation. He turned his eyes to the window as she walked out of the room.


Bella closed the bathroom door behind her, turning to look into the mirror. Her hair looked like its usual morning haystack and she could see the doubt and fear on her face that had plagued her in her dream.

Washing her face, Bella couldn't help but recall her disturbing dream.

She and Edward were walking through the forest towards their meadow, holding hands. The joy she felt at being with him was indescribable. As they broke through the trees, they stopped at the edge of the meadow. Right in the middle of the meadow stood Annabelle, her hair flowing to her waist, wearing a dazzling white dress.

Edward dropped her hand and walked towards Annabelle, not once looking over his shoulder. Bella stood still as Edward took Annabelle into his arms.

Staring in horror as Edward and Annabelle kissed, Bella felt the breeze pass right through her. Looking down at herself, Bella opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out as she watched herself disappear.

Bella shook her head, forcing herself to come back to the present. She slowly brushed her hair, keeping her eyes on her reflection. She couldn't help but be afraid she was going to lose Edward again. She needed time to think, to figure out what she was going to do with this new situation.

Brushing her teeth, she recalled the last time she had seen Jacob. He had told her that he would have been Bella's natural course if vampires didn't exist. Bella knew in her heart that it was true, that she would have loved Jacob completely had Edward never been in the picture. And even though she did love Jacob, she couldn't choose him over Edward.

Pulling on her clothes, she wondered if the same concept applied to Annabelle and Edward. It hurt to think that if vampires didn't exist, Edward would have been with Annabelle a hundred years ago and Bella would never have met him. The very idea threatened to re-open that gaping hole in her heart.

She couldn't think that way. After all, vampires did exist and she had met and fallen in love with Edward Cullen. He was her fiancé and he loved her. He wanted to spend the rest of eternity with her and she with him.

But…could he still love Annabelle? Was Annabelle here to take Edward away from her?

Could she live knowing a part of Edward belonged to someone other than herself? Could she keep herself from resenting the love he once had for Annabelle?

If the worst did happen, could she survive letting go of Edward for his own happiness?