AN: Thanks again to my amazing beta ACEMCKEAN. Read her stories The Cullen Brothers and Marital Bliss? as well as our combined story INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. Also thanks to tristagiese who gave me some input on this chapter. Read her story Rising Noon.

CHAPTER 43

BPOV

In twelve hours I was going to be Mrs. Edward Cullen. Edward was so stressed about leaving us, but I was just anxious to get it over with, so we would be together. I sat on our bed with the babies. They were finished eating, I had given them baths and put them in fresh clothes. They were currently enjoying a little awake time, so I decided to tell them about their family. Jace and Arriel were lying next to each other, holding hands like always. I grabbed Arriel's hand and started with the family they knew.

"You guys have a great family. You know Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme. They are the most loving and caring people you will ever meet," I told them. Instantly Arriel shared some pictures of them, and of them cuddling with the twins.

"That's right. They love us all so much. Then there's Uncle Emmett and Aunty Rosalie," I told them. The pictures of Rosalie flooded my mind from Arriel, pictures from our time in Canada, Forks and here.

"Aunty Rose will always be there to protect you and Uncle Emmett is a great big teddy bear. He will protect you guys, play with you, he may be loud, but I'm so glad to have him in our family," I told them. The pictures of Emmett that flooded my mind were not the kindest. There were the the pictures of her hitting him, of the arm wrestling match, some of him yelling and finally a few of him hugging Rose.

"See I told you he was a good guy.. You just need to give him a chance," I told them. Their little smiles answered my statement. I was thrilled to see that they both had Edward's little lopsided grin. The same grin that had always made my heart leap.

I continued, "Aunty Alice and Uncle Jasper will protect you guys too. Although I'm sure Aunty Alice will insist on taking you shopping, Arriel. I will protect you from that horror as long as I can. And Uncle Jasper will always be there for you. He'll make you happy when you are feeling sad and not just because of his special powers. He is an incredible guy." Again visions of Alice and Jasper filled my mind.

"Then you have Mommy and Daddy. We'll love you and protect you with all we are," I wanted to say more, but the visions of Edward and I, that filled my mind, took my breath away. My eyes started filling with tears. The pictures of Edward were almost curious. I think she was missing her Daddy.

"We'll see Daddy in the morning," I told my little daughter. She immediately switched into a view of me in my wedding dress walking towards Edward. I couldn't see anything else but him and me.

"You have more family too," I told my little girl. "My mom, dad and step-father." Of course she had no visions of them.

"Your grandma Renee is fun, funny, wild, erratic and completely irresponsible. Phil is her husband. He seems to ground all that is wild about her. They love each other so much," I told them, with tears rolling down my cheeks.

"And then there is Charlie. He's your grandpa. My dad. He is calm and stable. He loves with all his heart, but doesn't know how to show it. I'm so glad I went to live with him and that I got to know him better," I told my little twins. Suddenly my mind was filled with a vision of Charlie. He was wandering through the forest calling my name. I couldn't help it, a sob escaped my lips.

Alice was beside me in an instant, followed quickly by Esme and Rosalie.

"What is it Bella?" They asked, in unison.

"It's just that Arriel showed me a picture of Charlie. He was walking through the forest, calling for me. He looked so worried. I just..." I couldn't continue as my sobs overtook me.

"Shhh Bella. He's okay, I can see that. He's not in a forest, he's safe at home," Alice soothed.

I cried a little more as my sisters and mother soothed me. My family. I knew I was lucky to have them.

"Not the way I expected to spend the night before my wedding," I sniffled.

"Shhh Bella. It's okay. You've had so many changes. It's okay," Esme said as she rubbed soothing circles on my back.

I sat for a little longer as all of us watched Jace and Arriel drift off to sleep. I kissed them softly on their heads and Rosalie carried them next door to the nursery(and laid)(-to) to lay them in their beds.

I took a deep breath and asked, "Okay, what do we do now?"

"Well actually Bella, it's probably time for you to shower and start getting ready. I mean the wedding isn't for another ten hours, but since there will be a couple of little interruptions in between, we should make the most of the time we have," Alice said. I think she was nervous that I was going to freak out, but I didn't. The sooner I was ready, the sooner I could marry Edward and start my happily ever after.

I stepped into the bathroom and stripped to hop in the shower. I turned the water on and stepped into the shower. The temperature of the water was nice and warm, but it didn't matter all that much. I quickly washed my hair with my favorite strawberry shampoo. As I rinsed it out, I let the water wash down over my face as I imagined walking down the aisle towards Edward. The only problem was I couldn't see an aisle, but simply the grass of our meadow. The family was all there in my mind's eye, including Charlie, who was walking me towards the man I loved. That would be perfect. I sighed quickly at my impossible dream. I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. I dried myself quickly and stepped into a short silky robe that Alice had left for me to wear. Thank God the men were nowhere near, or this would be far too revealing.

As I walked into my room, I was attacked by the little pixie and dragged off to her room. Let the torture begin!

EPOV

We drove quickly into northern California to look for large predatory animals that had not yet hibernated for the winter. Carlisle and my brothers tried to keep conversation up because they knew I was brooding about my forced separation from Bella and the children.

"So did you finally decide on a honeymoon destination?" Carlisle asked.

"Yeah. I think we will go to Isle Esme. It is such a private space. I know Bella and the twins will be safe there," I said, still sulking.

"Are you going to use the private plane?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah. It will be at the Portland Airport tomorrow," I said. Nobody was going to pull me out of my funk.

"Are you hiring a pilot or flying there yourself?" Emmett asked.

"Pilot," I replied. I knew they were trying to cheer me up, but I just wanted to be with Bella. Emmett snickered and mumbled something about the mile high club under his breath. When I didn't bite at that comment, they all fell silent. I think the realized that I was far too sullen to be touched by silly banter.

I thought about Bella, my beautiful Bella. The woman who would walk down the aisle to me tomorrow. The woman who would be by my side for all eternity.. I thought about our children, our beautiful babies. Suddenly my mind was filled with visions of the whole family. First Carlisle and Esme, then Rosalie, and various scenes of Emmett,mostly embarrassing ones. Then Alice and Jasper, followed by Bella and I. Lots of me oddly enough. Then one of Charlie.

"Edward, why are you suddenly so sad?" Jasper asked.

"I don't know. It was almost like a vision, Jazz. Of Charlie walking through a forest yelling for Bella," I stammered. "It wasn't a pretty thought."

"What do you think it was, Edward?" Carlisle asked, concerned.

"I don't know. Maybe some guilty feelings on my part. For pulling Bella from him," I answered quietly. I really wished that there was a way for Bella to have him in her life.

"Are you starting to get visions like Alice now?" Emmett asked.

"No, Emmett. It's just I don't usually see things that vividly. It was almost like a dream, or watching Arriel or Alice's visions," I said.

"Huh! Weird," Emmett said then he turned on the car stereo and started to bop along to the music. Jasper, Carlisle and I all sat, lost in our thoughts. Before we knew it Emmett had pulled the Jeep onto a dirt road and started into the forest. We would be able to hunt soon.

"So we are making this into a game," Emmett said.

"Emmett! Hunting is not a game," I told him.

"Well, since this is your bachelor party as well as a hunting trip, I say it's a game," he said stubbornly.

"Okay! What's the game?" I asked.

"You have to hunt blindfolded!" he said, thrilled that everyone was willing to play along.

"Emmett, I am not hunting blindfolded," Jasper said.

"Okay, how about hunting with your hands behind your back?" he asked.

"Emmett, I am not hunting without my hands," I said.

"How about we are each allowed one animal and after we're done with them we have to bring them back to the Jeep and the person with the biggest animal wins," he suggested.

"Okay, Emmett. We'll go along with that one," Carlisle said, smiling at Emmett's enthusiasm.

We all started heading east to hunt. My head and heart weren't in the hunt and I satisfied myself with the first animal I came across, a small mountain lion. After draining him I headed back to the car to wait for the others. There was now eight hours until I married Bella. 28,800 seconds.

I wasn't going to end here but I just absolutely hate changing POVs too many times in one chapter.

I know I promised the wedding... but too many POVs so you get it tomorrow. The POV changes 6 times in that chapter!!