A/N: A big thank you to my girls Sherry, Cristina, Tiffany & Paige.

Thank you for all the reviews, I'm sorry I haven't replied yet, been so busy writing. Just know that I love and treasure them all xx

Chapter 19

It only took a few days to organize the funeral. I guess money talks. People were practically falling over themselves to please us. It was either that, or it was our name that they feared. Kate did most of the organizing. She seemed to be keeping it together a lot better than I was. I, for some unknown, reason had turned into a blubbering mess. I felt on the verge of tears most of the time. I think being in New York was messing with me. I actually couldn't wait to leave.

Edward and I had been sharing a bed since we had arrived here, which was strange. He had offered to sleep on the couch, but I had felt guilty about letting him. He had been very supportive lately, and we were married. I guess we could at least share a bed. He had been a true gentleman, however, and kept to his side of the bed, never once laying a hand on me. It wasn't until the morning of the funeral, when I woke up crying that he crossed that invisible line. He pulled me into his arms, silently pinning me against his chest. I was getting used to this. I enjoyed his warmth, his scent. Everything just felt right when he held me.

I knew he was slowly breaking down my walls one by one and I knew I shouldn't let him, that I should still be angry with him for everything he had done, but I couldn't help how I felt. I didn't have the strength to be angry anymore, and what was the point of staying angry at him? It wasn't like he was going anywhere and neither was I. If I didn't let him in, I wouldn't have anyone. Kate certainly wasn't as supportive as she should be. I guess we just weren't as close anymore.

"Edward," Emmett called, knocking on our bedroom door, breaking the moment we were sharing.

"Yeah?" Edward answered, as he pulled back to look down at me, his eyes never moving from mine. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears still on my cheeks. At least I had stopped crying now.

"It's ten o'clock," Emmett stated. The funeral was in just over an hour.

"Okay, we're up."

I knew we had to move, I knew we had to go, but I didn't want to break this bubble. I just wanted to stay in this bed forever and forget the rest of the world. Edward cupped my face. "Isabella, I need you to be strong today. The eyes of the world will be upon us and we can't show any sign of weakness, okay? I need you to stand tall at my side, as my wife. Can you do that for me?"

I honestly wasn't sure if I could, but I knew that he was right. I had to be strong today, one way or another. I nodded my head slightly and Edward leaned in and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you. I'll go and get ready in one of the other rooms, and give you some privacy."

I sat on the bed for several minutes after he left, just staring into space with my arms wrapped around my legs. It wasn't until Rosalie came into my room that I finally snapped out of it. "Why aren't you in the shower?" She asked, disapprovingly. She was carrying a garment bag and an overnight bag in her hands. "Come on, move," She said, setting them down on the bed and ushering me to get up. "We have to get ready before we're late."

She sent me into the bathroom, only giving me long enough to shower and no more, before she insisted that I get out. She made me put on a robe and then guided me to the vanity table where she did my hair and makeup. I appreciated her help. I wasn't sure that I had the strength to bother with it all today. Once she was happy with the results she helped me into my dress. It was beautiful, all black, with a lace top. It gathered in at the waist and flowed at the bottom.

"Where did the dress come from?" I asked.

"I bought it for you."

"Thank you. I hadn't even thought about what I would wear."

"I know."

I wondered why Rosalie was suddenly being very helpful. Sure, she had been nice before my disastrous wedding, but we had barely spoken since then, not even when she had come by the house to keep me company. I had a feeling her mother had forced her to be there and she had spent most of the time talking with Kate and Esme, rather than me. As if reading my thoughts Rosalie said, "Look, we're sisters now. I may not have agreed with how you acted, but I can't say I wouldn't have done the same. I'm a spoiled Principessa too. I will try not be to a brat, if you try not to be one also."

I nodded. "I would like that."

"You look beautiful," she said, taking a step back to admire me. "Your parents would have been proud." I felt my eyes water at the mere mention of them. I hoped that they would be proud of me. I prayed that they knew that I loved them. I was just sorry that I didn't get the chance to tell them that one last time. "Here," Rosalie said as she went into her bag, pulling out a pair of sunglasses. "These will help cover up your eyes. And this," She said going into her bag again, "Will help hold you together." She pulled out a pill bottle and emptied two onto my hand.

"What is it?"

"Valium," she said before taking two herself.

I followed her lead and swallowed the pills. I was grateful for anything that could help me today.

~TTTB~

"Isabella, darling, how are you?" Esme asked, as she made her way over to my side, pulling me into her arms and placing a kiss on my cheek. We had gathered down in the hotel lobby as we waited for the cars to arrive to take us to the cemetery.

"I'm okay," I answered, because I honestly felt a lot better. Rosalie pills had already begun to work, releasing their calming effects.

"You look beautiful," she stated, linking her arm with mine and walking me towards the doors. "Don't worry, you are going to be fine today. We are all here to support you. Once we have said our goodbyes to your parents, we will go home and look towards celebrating your birthday."

My birthday, I had completely forgotten about it with everything that had happened. As if it wasn't bad enough that my parents had died on the day of my wedding. They were to be buried two days before my birthday. I wasn't sure I would ever want to celebrate either one of them again.

"I don't feel like celebrating this year," I mumbled.

"Nonsense," Esme said, shaking her head. "Your parents wouldn't want you to miss it and you could use something positive in your life right now. It doesn't need to be a big affair. We can do something small, like the family going out to dinner. How does that sound?"

"I'll think about it." I looked up to see Edward standing at the doors, waiting for me. He offered me his arm and I gladly took it, grateful to be away from his mother. I knew her heart was in the right place, but there was no way I was doing anything birthday related this year, and possibly any other year.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked, concerned as he lead the way to the car.

"Your mother was talking about my birthday," I sighed. "Please, Edward. I don't want to celebrate it. I would rather just let it pass by and forget about it. Will you talk to her?"

"Don't worry about it," Edward said, patting my hand. "If you don't want to celebrate it, we won't. I'll handle my mother."

"Thank you," I said, grateful that I didn't need to worry about it.

"It's what I'm here for."

We got in the car after that. Edward and I traveled alone. I think he knew that I needed the space today, away from the hustle and bustle of the family. I was thankful that he seemed to know what I needed these days before I even knew I needed it myself. It was possible, but maybe this marriage wouldn't be a fail after all.