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not beta'd

storyline - Countdown

prompt - muse, fuse

When Edward first proposed, it felt like we had all the time in the world to prepare.

Now that the date is almost here, I'm slightly panicky. We've gotten a lot of things done, but I feel like there's still so much more, like 'm forever playing catch-up. Luckily my mother, Alice, and Esme – and even Rose, when she can be finagled –are always around to help, taking over certain wedding tasks and preparations. Mom does all she can do from out of state while the other women in my life help me here.

And then there's Edward, my nuptial muse, the one who calms my heart and then sets it racing again for completely different reasons. He's mellow about the whole thing, but I can tell he's looking forward to it just as much as I am. He's good at figuring out the technical things, the practical.

Which is good, because somebody needs to bring to life the ideas floating through my brain.

When the day finally comes, we're separated by friends and family to get ready.

I have my ladies in waiting assist me, and I can only assume his friends are doing the same for him. After downing two glasses of champagne, courtesy of my mother, I take a look in the mirror.

I almost don't recognize myself, as glammed up and excited as I am. There's love in my eyes, I guess, and anticipation, burning so bright. This is it: the moment that will forever fuse me with this man that I've chosen who has chosen me.

My heart pounds inside my chest.

When my father begins to walk me down the aisle, and I make eye contact with Edward, all I see is the night we met, the determined stride that brought him from across a crowded room to just inches away from my mouth.

He smiles when we meet at the altar.

"I'm glad you're here."

I blink, and yeah… it's New Years all over again.

Nodding, I smile and take his hand."I'm glad you're here."

Luckily the weather has held up for our reception, although if the silver clouds dancing around the horizon are any indication, we're celebrating on borrowed time. I'm barefoot but still clad in my dress; it's so beautiful the little girl in me wants never to take it off.

Beside the cake table there's an ice cream social; at least twenty pretty silver dishes of all sizes featuring ice cream and toppings and other sugary delights.

I wanted this day to feel intimate, even with the large guest list, and so far it has. Everywhere I look people I have known in my life, or those acquainted with Edward, mill about, plates or glasses in their hands, many of them barefoot like me as they navigate the soft, green grass.

Edward passes his hand over my back, his fingers tickling my skin. "It's perfect, isn't it?"

"It is," I agree, balancing my plate of cake on my lap. It's the first time I've sat in hours, the first time Edward and I have had a moment to ourselves. "I almost don't want it to end." I wiggle my toes in the grass and watch the storm drift closer, rustling the trees.

"I'm exhausted," he admits, pulling me on to his lap.

"Thank you," I whisper, putting the plate down and holding him instead, content to just breathe him in.

We sit that way while our guests drift pass with kisses and well wishes and goodbyes. In the end it is just the people we're closest to who see us off, and not a moment too soon: rain is starting to sprinkle down.

We drive to our hotel for the evening, where we'll stay till the morning, when we'll drive to the airport and board a plane to Italy. I'm desperately excited to be going, but especially because it's going to be ten days just Edward and me. No jobs to worry about; just us.

"We have a good story," he says, loosening his tie in the mirror, gazing at my reflection.

I'm massaging my feet on the bed. "Definitely a good story. Something to write home about."

He turns to me, unbuttoning his pants. In the bathroom off the main suite, a tub fills with hot water and bubbles. "Something to tell the kids about."

We've discussed options, and adoption seems to be the thing we agree on most, even though not for another few years. But I like knowing we've got it to look forward to, and that it never became this insurmountable chasm between us.

It's one of the reasons I know we were meant to be, among others.

I start to unzip my dress, and then turn around so he can help me finish.

"I'm so glad you found me," I yawn, naked and his.

"Me too." He leads me to the tub, and we get inside. "I love you."

"I love you too."