"I'm so sorry." I cried.

"What on Earth are you sorry for?"

Ch 14

"I fell asleep! I fell asleep on our wedding night!" I shouted at him in whisper fashion. Just because the family knew, did not mean I wanted the rest of St. Louis to know.

"Bella, it's completely ok. You planned an amazing day for me and though it might not have ended the way you wanted it to, I wouldn't trade it for all the blood in the world." I chuckled.

"We still have tonight. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you." He soothed me.

"You really don't mind that I fell asleep on you?"

"Aside from a slightly bruised ego that I wasn't entertaining enough to keep you awake, I'm fine. I understand that you were tired. It was a long day." I looked up and he bestowed a kiss on my lips.

"Don't let them laugh at me or tease me."

"They won't do it, I promise. If their mates can't keep them under control, then Esme can. No one disrespects her. Carlisle will back up any order she gives anyway." We both knew that we were referring to Emmet. Everyone else had a little tact when it came to sex. I hugged him as tight as I could for another moment and then he smiled.

"Come on, let's go to the top of the arch. We'll get something cheesy to remember this by. Hop on." He turned his back and I climbed on. He jogged at a human pace to catch up to the family. Alice handed us our tickets and captured a photo of me on his back. I was sure that I looked blotchy, but I had veto power over the pictures that were put in my memory book.

"You look beautiful."

"You're biased." I said in return.

"True, but it doesn't look like you've bee crying either. Another perk to my cool touch." I chuckled, still on his back, and hugged him tighter. An older woman tapped Edward on the arm.

"My dear boy, isn't your back starting to hurt? You've been holding her up for quite some time." She was concerned for him and I was surprised that she'd had the courage to approach him at all. Most humans stay away.

"I'm stronger than I look and I'd do anything for my new bride. We got married yesterday." He was so proud as he tilted his head toward mine.

"Congratulations; just don't end up in the hospital on your honeymoon."

"I won't and neither will she. We're not on our honeymoon just yet. We're here with my family on a road trip. My wife surprised me with a wedding for my birthday." I wondered why he was feeling so conversational all of the sudden.

"Oh, how sweet! I miss being in love. My husband died a few years ago and I miss him terribly. I'm patiently awaiting the day that he will come back for me." I was so sad for this woman.

"I'm sorry for your loss. How long were you married?" I asked and climbed down from Edward's back.

"Almost seventy years. We were married right out of high school as you two seem to be." Edward nodded.

"We just graduated two weeks ago." She took each of our hands.

"Cherish each other. Live for each other. Love only each other. Find happiness only within each other. If you do that, nothing else matters." She squeezed our hands in turn and continued on her way.

"She's sweet."

"She is." Edward agreed. He must have liked her thoughts. Alice tugged on us both, and automatically, Edward balanced me.

"It's time; let's go!" Sometimes, she was too cheerful. We spent the day in St. Louis and I ate dinner on the road. Edward was driving so I was in the passenger seat, keeping him comfortable. There were two more tourist traps we stopped at before I fell asleep. I felt someone's arms lift me, but I was too tired to care.

I woke in the morning alone. I once again realized that I fell asleep instead of being with Edward and I was pissed off.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you wake me?" I demanded. Enough was enough.

"I wasn't the one to move you; Emmet did."

"Well, why didn't you wake me when we got to the room?"

"You were tired. Yesterday was emotionally draining in the morning and then we were in and out of the bus all day. I let you sleep."

"Well, I'm awake now and we're not leaving this room for a while." I grabbed his collar and pulled at him. He followed my lead and crawled on top of me. I was lost in the moment and ignored the insistent knocking. Finally Edward stopped what we were doing to look at the door.

"If you say a word or move to answer it, I will file for divorce." I panted at him. I looked at the door.

"GO AWAY! This is my road trip and I am delaying it for a while." I turned my attention back to Edward.

"She's slipping a gift under the door." He whispered. I looked to see a bunch of small square packets.

"For real?" I looked at him.

"She says that our future disappears and it's better to be safe than sorry." He got up and we didn't leave the room for the rest of the day.

"I feel better." I said happily. He lay back on the headboard with a smile on his face.

"I'm glad. I have to pay for a few small repairs, but I must say, each time was better than the last." We got up and dressed; I was finally ready to hit the road again. He walked me down to the waiting bus. Respectfully, no one said a word, to me. I appreciated the gesture. Alice was behind the wheel and we cruised into Tennessee. Emmet showed us everything he remembered and we devoted an entire cloudy day to Graceland. Once again, we routed up toward New York, but we weren't there long. Rosalie wasn't too keen on showing us anything. We went to all of the tourist traps and picked up some souvenirs and then it was down to Florida.

Florida was interesting. My mom's keen eye and inventive cooking made for an entertaining time for me. Everyone else couldn't wait to leave after they all had to stomach her less than tasty cooking. We spent the next three nights in Disney land and left for Mississippi. Alice showed us everything she had been able to find through her research and we saw where her great-great-great niece lived. She was happy knowing that her family line is still going strong. In Texas, Jasper had lots to show us. He was a history buff and a living piece of that history. By the time we left, I felt like I could write a textbook on everything he had shown us. It was time to head back to Forks. We continued to stop everywhere along the way and spent two days in Vegas with fake I.D.'s.

It was the middle of August when we finally returned home. I had four weeks until my time to be changed was up. There was a letter from Aro saying that he would be coming to town on the tenth to make sure my change has either taken place or was being done. The tenth was the last day that we could postpone my humanity to because it took three days for the change to be complete. I set out to spend as much time with my dad as possible. Alice had disappeared with her large box of photos (there were enough pictures taken from this trip to fill an entire box). Edward supported every decision I made and the rest of the family was busy making arrangements for my concealment. I had agreed with Edward to not fake my death for another few years so he could more appropriately play the grieving husband. I had made sure to see all of my friends and say a discreet, permanent goodbye to them in the process. They were all sad that they had missed the wedding, but understood the sentiment behind what I had done instead.

It was three days before Aro was to arrive and most likely learn that my dad was in on the secret as well. He invited me, Edward and Carlisle out for dinner. It was a last meal of sorts for me, but apparently he had news as well. Edward and Carlisle forced down their dinners and I was proud of them.

"I've made a decision. I'd like to join you and spend eternity with your family if you'll have me." He announced and I dropped my fork, but Edward caught it.

"Really?" I was happy and shocked at the same time.

"Yes. I've given this a lo of thought and it seems as though I'm a dead man anyway, so I might as well live it up with you." It was a bad, tasteless joke, but I smiled anyway mostly out of reflex.

"We would be honored to have you join our family. When would you like to do this and do you have a preference on who performs the change?" Carlisle asked.

"Well, I figured I could go on the same night as Bella, if that's alright." I nodded.

"I'd also like Edward to do it. He's married into my family and I think it would be an appropriate way for me to join his." I let a few tears escape because I was so touched by the sentiment.

"Is all of your paperwork in order?" Carlisle asked. Edward, I think, was too shocked to say anything. I squeezed his hand under the table.

"Yes, I've been in contact with Jasper and the lawyer he recommended. Everything is set to go to Bella and Edward upon my death. I understand that Bella will have to be too sick to attend my memorial service, but I thought of a way around it. I had it put in my will that in lieu of a service, to please donate some funds to the Forks police department in my name. I stated that I wanted my ashes sprinkled in my fishing hole. I figured that was something Renee could do. Please make sure she believes that Bella is too sick and too distraught to grieve with her." The three of us nodded; he really had given this some serious thought and planned it out well. Was it wrong that I was proud of him? He focused on Edward.

"Well, Edward, what do you say? Will you change me too?"

"I'd be honored. Carlisle, will you make sure that there is another needle for me. I will fill them both in the next day or two." Carlisle nodded. As dinner concluded, My father insisted on paying the bill, arguing that he was the one to issue the invitation and also that Carlisle and Edward had eaten when they could have hidden it. In the end, my father won and paid the check. The four of us went over to Charlie's house and moved a few items into the guest bedroom for him. I noticed that his new photo album was included in the new additions. My dad was sure that these items were items nobody would notice and since everything was going to Bella, with few exceptions, there was no issue. My room had been cleaned out and organized already and I was officially living out of the Cullen home. They welcomed Charlie with open arms and did everything they could to make our last two days comfortable.

September tenth was finally here. Aro was due to arrive this evening. Edward excused himself while my dad and I ate our breakfast. When we finished, I hugged my dad and lamely said, 'see you on the other side'. He laughed and Edward came down to collect him. Edward kissed me and told me not to go anywhere. I promised him I wouldn't.

"Can I come watch?" I asked both of them. Both of them had politely refused me. I nodded and watched them go. I waited with Emmet and Jasper. I was nervous and worried. Jasper tried to calm me down, but it wasn't working. I was forced to wait until Edward came for me.

CHPOV

It was time. I hugged Bella one last time as a human and as a father hugging his daughter. Edward led me out to a small cottage and I wondered why.

"It can be very painful and if you scream out, I didn't want Bella to hear it. She's next and she's tense enough as it is." Edward answered my unspoken question.

"After I've begun her change, you will be moved to your room for the duration. Carlisle and Esme will be there to talk to you and try to keep you comfortable. Do you have any questions before we begin?" I thought about it and all of my questions had already been answered before hand. I knew it was going to be painful and I knew it was going to feel a lot longer than three days. I was as ready as I was going to be

"Are you going to do the same thing Bella that you are going to do for me?"

"Sort of; I have an additional tool to make her more comfortable before I inject her. I'm sad to say that it will make us both uncomfortable if I try it on you." Ah, he was going to do that with her…TMI! Ok, I can do this. I walked in the cottage and went to the bed that was laid out for me. Carlisle and Esme were there waiting for me.

"Ok, I need you to remove your shirt." I did as asked and laid on the bed. It was weird seeing my son-in-law get on it with me, but he was so focused, it grounded me.

"Welcome to the family; we'll see you in three days." He said quietly. I nodded. Carlisle and Esme restrained my arms and legs as Edward plunged the long needle in my chest. I felt the burn immediately and used all of my energy to keep my voice from shouting out in agony. I never noticed when Edward left nor when my arms and legs were released. I could feel the fire racing through my veins and tried in vain to distract myself.

A/N: Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day!