Everything belongs to Stephanie Meyers

21. MOUNTAINS

After an eventful evening filled with many surprises for both Bella and myself. Any anxiety I had about proposing was washed away with her unexpected desire. I was never able to surprise her, but she always seemed to shock me. No matter what situation we were confronted with, she never responded the way I thought she would, so really I should no longer be shocked by her responses, but I was.

Although, the ring had not remained on her finger –she'd given it back as soon as she could –I knew it would be placed there again, sometime soon, and would be there for the rest of eternity. Eternity was a weird word to use when speaking of Bella, and even though, I had not given up hope on my plans to keep her human, thinking of having her for the rest eternity was beginning to sound nice. Remaining my number one problem plaguing me from the start –impossible circumstances.

When Bella got up from her slumber, I left her alone to get dressed, descending down stairs to see my family, who had returned at noon. The atmosphere was all business upon their return, getting back to the reason we were all coming together. With the newborns scheduled to make an appearance tomorrow, Bella and I would be making our way up the mountain, where we would wait out this fight.

Having Jacob meeting us, my mind was running wild with the many things that could happen, as he carried her up the mountain. Having to rely on such a creature to keep my world safe went against every belief I'd had. The fact that I was unable to take care of Bella –as I wanted to –completely crushed me, leaving me feeling apprehensive about existing with her. If I were unable to protect her from this, how would I protect her from anything else that could occur?

Alice was angry with me, having plenty to say when I entered the living room.

"How could you, Edward?" she scolded me.

"Alice, please don't make this any more difficult than it already is," I returned.

"You can't do this. She'll want a real wedding. Maybe, not today, but one day she'll regret this. This I can promise. Let me talk to her," she pleaded.

"No. Alice, stay out of this."

"Please, Edward? Just let me talk to her. I can change her mind," she begged.

"I'd really rather you didn't. It was hard enough to get her to say yes. Leave it alone," I explained. This caught the attention of Esme.

"Edward, she said yes," Esme said with enthusiasm in her voice.

Glaring at Alice, this was the last thing I wanted, I'd promised Bella we wouldn't have to tell anyone.

"She won't mind. It's just us, Edward," Alice attempted to reassure me.

"Enough already. Alice, leave it alone," I said in a tone of finality.

Bella had finished dressing and made her way down stairs. Time was moving too quickly and we had to get ready to leave. Alice in a sour mood gave us some warning about the kind of weather we could expect this evening. There were definitely times when she came in handy, this being one of them.

"I think" –she made a face using the word think- "that you're going to want to pack for cold weather, Edward. I can't see where you are exactly, because you're taking off with that dog this afternoon. But the storm that's coming seems particularly bad in that general area."

I nodded, glad for the information.

"It's going to snow on the mountains," she warned me.

"Ewe, snow," Bella muttered to herself.

"Wear a jacket," Alice told her, in an unfriendly voice.

Bella looked at me to clarify Alice's mood, but I could only smile knowing of the warning I had given Alice. She was not happy with me about our up and coming wedding plans. Turning I grabbed Bella by the hand and headed to the garage to pack for the evening.

Once in the garage I went straight to work packing all essentials for our trip up the mountain. This included many of our props –used in our human charade as hikers –we were very good customers at the Newton's store. Grabbing down a sleeping bag, a small tent, and several packets of dehydrated food –smiling as Bella made a face at me –stuffing it all into a backpack, we were ready.

Hearing her approach, I was not pleased. Alice sauntered into the garage and watched me work, I ignored her, knowing exactly why she was there.

When I finished packing, I handed Bella my phone. "Why don't you call Jacob and tell him we'll be ready for him in an hour or so. He knows where to meet us."

Jacob wasn't home, but Billy promised to call around until he could find an available werewolf to pass the news to.

The conversation for me was one sided and I refused to listen to any of that too. Wanting to give her privacy, not wanting to be rude, I'd leave her to have a conversation.

Besides, Alice was still trying my nerves over this wedding that wasn't even planned yet.

"Edward, let me talk to her, please?" Alice begged.

Shaking my head slightly, I didn't want Bella to know about this conversation.

"Please, Edward, please," she pleaded.

I frowned as she stared me straight in the eye. Bella finished her phone conversation and handed me back the phone.

"Billy said to tell you 'good luck.'"

"That was generous of him," Edward said, breaking the glare Alice had on me.

"Bella, could I please speak to you alone?" Alice asked swiftly.

How dare she go against my wishes? Could she not see what this would do to my plans? Was it not bad enough she knew, did she really have to make it obvious by discussing it with Bella? She knew how Bella felt wasn't that enough to keep her quiet?

"You're about to make my life harder than it needs to be, Alice," I warned her with clenched teeth. "I'd really rather you didn't."

"This isn't about you, Edward," she shot back.

I laughed, she'd do anything to get her way, use any excuse.

"It's not," Alice insisted. "This is a female thing."

I frowned.

"Let her talk to me," Bella told me, curiosity in her eyes.

"You asked for it," I muttered. Laughing again –half angry, half amused –I strolled out of the garage. Not wanting to be there for this conversation, I also didn't venture away too far, expecting she would need me when she heard what was on Alice's mind.

"Bella?" Alice asked in a pathetic voice.

"What's wrong, Alice?"

"Don't you love me?" she asked in the same tone.

"Of course I do. You know that."

"Then why do I see you sneaking off to Vegas to get married without inviting me?"

"Oh," Bella muttered. "You know how I hate to make a big deal out of things. It was Edward's idea, anyway."

Well, I wasn't expecting that answer. How dare her blame me when it was her that didn't want a wedding. For myself, I would love a big traditional wedding, after all, I am an old-fashioned man, and that was how things were done in my day. Having all of our friends and family there to witness our blissful day would be wonderful, but I knew she didn't feel the same way. Respecting her wishes I would go to Vegas, if that's the way she wanted it, then that was what she could have it.

"I don't care whose idea it was. How could you do this to me? I expect that kind of thing from Edward, but not from you. I love you like you were my own sister."

"To me, Alice, you are my sister."

"Words!" she growled.

"Fine, you can come. There won't be much to see."

Alice was still grimacing. The things running through her mind were insane. Getting Bella to marry me was hard enough, getting her to agree to a big wedding was impossible.

"What?" Bella demanded.

"How much do you love me, Bella?"

"Why?"

Alice, giving the performance of a lifetime, stared at Bella with pleading eyes.

"Please, please, please," Alice whispered. "Pleased, Bella, please –if you really love me… Please let me do your wedding."

Listening intently, I needed to know if this form of enticement would work on anyone other than myself. Last night when it was Bella using this form of blackmail on me, it worked. It was interesting to hear this same tactics used against her.

"Aw, Alice!" Bella groaned. "No! Don't do this to me."

To my shock, it was working, Bella was caving.

"If you really, truly love me, Bella."

"That is so unfair. And Edward kind of already used that one on me."

This was true, I had used that on her, but she used that on me in return.

"I'll bet Edward would like it better if you did this traditionally, though he'd never tell you that. And Esme –think what it would mean to her!"

Wow, she was really good at this, much better than I. And the most surprising part of all was that it seemed to be working, Bella was weakening.

Bella groaned. "I'd rather face the newborns alone."

"I'll owe you for a century!"

"Is that a yes?" Alice asked, excitedly.

"No! I don't want to do this!"

"You won't have to do anything but walk a few yards and then repeat after the minister."

Ugh! Ugh! Ugh1"

"Please?" Alice was bouncing in place. "Please, please, please, please, please?"

This was it, the moment of truth, if this worked I found a new weapon. Also, if this worked I would get the wedding of my dreams –so to say.

"I'll never, never ever forgive you for this, Alice."

"Yay!" Alice squealed, clapping her hands together.

"That's not a yes!"

But really it was, Alice would get her way, and I would get mine. There was the small matter of dealing with Bella's anger that was sure to come my way after this, but I would endure to have this perfect day in which we would. Pulling me from my reverie…

"Edward!" Bella yelled, stalking out of the garage. "I know you're listening. Get over here." Alice was right behind her, still clapping.

Hiding my elation, rearranging my face to seem angry, again, I came up behind Bella.

"Thanks so much, Alice," I said voice full of acid.

Bella turned with an angry expression on her face, to yell at me. Peering at me, all anger washed away with the worry and concern that now took its place on my face, replacing the joy and happiness that I was truly feeling. Bella threw her arms around me, hiding her face in my chest. Keeping up my charade…

"Vegas," I promised in her ear. It would be her choice, always.

"Not a chance," Alice gloated. "Bella would never do that to me. You know, Edward, as a brother, you are sometimes a disappointment."

"Don't be mean," Bella grumbled at her. "He's trying to make me happy, unlike you."

"I'm trying to make you happy, too, Bella. It's just that I know better what will make you happy… in the long run. You'll thank me for this. Maybe not for fifty years, but definitely someday."

"I never thought I'd see the day where I'd be willing to take a bet against you, Alice, but it has arrived."

Alice laughed. "So, are you going to show me the ring?"

Bella grimaced in horror as Alice grabbed for her left hand and then dropped it just as quick.

"Huh. I saw him put it on you… Did I miss something?" she asked. She concentrated for half a second, furrowing her brow, before she answered her own questions. "No. Wedding's still on."

"Bella has issues with jewelry," I explained.

"What's one more diamond? Well, I guess the ring has lots of diamonds, but my point is that he's already got one on…"

That did it, she'd revealed enough for one day, and I needed to put a stop to her before she gave away all of my secrets.

"Enough, Alice!" Cutting her off mid-sentence, angered. "We're in a hurry."

"I don't understand. What's that about diamonds?" Bella asked.

"We'll talk about it later," Alice said. "Edward is right –you'd better get going. You've got to set a trap and make camp before the storm comes." She frowned, anxiously, on the edge of being nervous. "Don't forget your coat, Bella. It seems… unseasonably cold."

She should be anxious, for when this was all over, and we were home, without Bella around, Alice would hear from me…

"I've already got it," I assured her.

"Have a nice night," she told us in farewell.

Taking twice as long as normal to get to the clearing, I took a longer detour, making certain her scent was unnoticeable from the trail Jacob would be taking. Carrying her in my arms, I had the backpack where she usually was.

Stopping at the farthest end of the clearing I set her on her feet.

"All right. Just walk north for a ways, touching as much as you can. Alice gave me a clear picture of their path, and it won't take long for us to intersect it."

"North?"

I smiled and pointed out the right direction.

She wandered into the woods, leaving the clearing behind us. As she walked, I followed along parallel with her, about twenty feet away, so that she wouldn't wander off the trail.

"Am I doing this right?" she called.

"Perfectly."

"Will this help?" she asked, as she pulled her fingers through her hair grabbing a few loose strands. She placed them over the ferns.

"Yes, that does make the trail stronger. But you don't need to pull your hair out, Bella. It will be fine."

"I've got a few extras I can spare."

Whatever made her happy, if that made her feel more helpful, so be it.

Not wanting to bring it up, I also wanted to reassure her that my plan could still be in effect. This was a touchy subject, but I needed her to know my position.

"You don't need to let Alice have her way, you know," I said.

"Don't worry about it, Edward. I'm not going to leave you at the altar, regardless," she reassured me, and she wasn't sounding that angry after all.

"That's not what I'm worried about. I want this to be what you want it to be."

Being the truth, I wished for her to be happy about this. Not wanting her to feel as though I were holding a gun to her head. I wanted her to want this, as much as I did.

"Well, even if she does get her way, we can keep it small. Just us. Emmett can get a clerical license off the Internet."

She giggled. "That does sound better."

"See," I said with a smile. "There's always a compromise."

It took a while to reach the spot where the newborns were certain to cross Bella's trail, but that was fine because what was waiting for us when we finished with this particular task was unappealing to me. I would be required to allow her to go with him and I was not looking forward to that moment. In fact thinking about it was excruciating.

Leading a bit more on our way back, keeping her on the same path.

Just before coming to the clearing she fell causing me to immediately run to her side.

"Ouch! Oh, fabulous," she muttered.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Stay where you are. I'm bleeding. It will stop in a minute."

Ignoring her, I stepped to her side, at once.

"I've got a first aid kit," I said, pulling off the backpack. "I had a feeling I might need it."

"It's not bad. I can take care of it –you don't have to make yourself uncomfortable."

"I'm not uncomfortable," I said calmly. "Here –let me clean it."

"Wait a second, I just got another idea."

She reached out pressing her hand against a nearby rock.

"What are you doing?"

"Jasper will love this," she muttered to herself. She started for the clearing again, pressing my palm against everything in her path. "I'll bet this really gets them going."

I sighed.

"Hold your breath," she told me.

"I'm fine. I just think you're going overboard."

"This is all I get to do. I want to do a good job."

Breaking through the last of the trees as she was speaking, allowing her injured hand graze across the ferns.

"Well, you have," I assured her. "The newborns will be frantic, and Jasper will be very impressed with your dedication. Now let me treat your hand –you've gotten the cut dirty."

"Let me do it, please."

Taking her hand, I smiled as I examined it. "This doesn't bother me anymore."

She watched me carefully as I cleaned the gash, she was looking for some sigh of distress. Continuing to breathe normally a small smile present.

"Why not?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I got over it."

"You… got over it? When? How?"

Thinking for a moment, searching for the right words to explain. "I lived through an entire twenty-four hours thinking that you were dead, Bella. That changed the way I look at a lot of things."

"Did it change the way I smell to you?"

"Not at all. But… having experienced the way it feels to think I've lost you… my reactions have changed. My entire being shies away from any course that could inspire that kind of pain again."

She sat staring at me bewildered.

Smiling at her expression. "I guess that you could call it a very educational experience."

The wind tore through the clearing making her shiver.

"All right," I said, reaching into the pack again. "You've done your part." Pulling out her heavy winter jacket, holding it up for her to slide her arms in. "Now it's out of our hands. Let's go camping!"

She laughed at the mock enthusiasm in my voice.

Taking her bandaged hand –the other one being in worse shape, still in a brace –I started for the other side of the clearing.

"Where are we meeting Jacob?" she inquired.

"Right here," I gestured to the trees in front of us just as Jacob stepped warily from the shadows. He had is arms folded across his chest, a jacket clutched in one fist. His face was expressionless as he watched us.

Frowning as we had come to the moment I was dreading all day. "There had to have been a better way to do this."

"Too late now," she muttered glumly.

I sighed.

"Hey, Jake," she greeted him when we got closer.

"Hi, Bella."

"Hello, Jacob," I said.

Jacob ignored the pleasantry, all business. "Where do I take her?"

Pulling a map from a side pocket on the pack, I offered it to him. Jacob unfolded it.

"We're here now," I said, reaching over to touch the right spot. Jacob recoiled from my hand automatically, and then steadied himself. I ignored his behavior, knowing how difficult this was from him, I was grateful he was here.

"And you're taking her up here," I continued, tracing a serpentine pattern around the elevation lines on the paper. "Roughly nine miles."

Jacob nodded once.

"When you're about a mile away, you should cross my path. That will lead you in. Do you need the map?"

"No, thanks. I know this area pretty well. I think I know where I'm going."

Jacob worked hard to keep his tone polite, but his thoughts were not of the same tone.

"I'll take a longer route," I said. "And I'll see you in a few hours."

Staring at her uncomfortable with this part of the plan.

"See you," she murmured.

Fading into the trees, I headed in the opposite direction. My chest aching as I picked up the speed. Had I not run faster, I would have turned right around, changing my mind about this situation. The pain was more excruciating the further I ran, but we had a job to do and I would stick to the plan. Bella's safety was more important.

Running through the Olympic Mountains, I had to take the long way around, but I also needed to be there before, which I would be. Arriving first I would set up the camp and be certain that everything would be comfortable for her. She would already be anxiety stricken, with the fight happen below us, I didn't want her to be uncomfortable too.

Arriving at my destination, I stood looking around. This would be the setting for the time period I was required to sit and watch. Had I the strength to do that? I would have to, because there was no way I would bring Bella to the clearing and there was no way she would allow me to go without her.

Being at the top of the mountain on a little peak, this would be the best spot to defend ourselves if the need be. Not anticipating that any of them would find us up here, at the very least we would be blocked from most of the storm that would come our way.

Dropping the backpack, I went to work unpacking everything. The tent was first, setting that up and making certain it was tightly secured to the ground. Putting the sleeping bag in place, I also placed the food out in case Bella were hungry when she arrived.

With everything set up the waiting began. This, the worst part of any plan I seemed to come up with lately, waiting seemed to be how I spent most of my time. How to it come to be that I spent most of my existence doing the one thing I hated most –waiting? But, if waiting were what I was required to do to make her safe, then I would wait for an eternity. It was a small price to pay to ensure her existence.

Impatiently I paced back and forth, extending my extra-hearing as far as it would go. Listening for anything that would warn me of their arrival. Knowing it was too soon for them to arrive anticipation was washing threw me.

Being carried by him, in his arms, so close together… Maddening, that's what this was, making me insane with… jealous. Yes, I was jealous. How could I not be? He was able to do for her everything I couldn't, making me insane with jealousy. Keeping my sanity was that I knew what he thought. He felt the same as I had, but I did have one other thing that made him more jealous than me… I had her.

Attempting not to think about what was happening with them right now, my mind drifted to other things. Things such as this fight tomorrow that had me slightly worried for my family. In truth, I knew they could handle this without me, but there was the smallest part of me that was concerned about the outcome. If anything were to happen, to anyone of them…

So, this was not the best thing to think of when I was attempting to settle my mind. But these were the two most important things in my life, at the moment. How would I not think of either of them? There was nothing else to fill my mind with, nothing that could seem to absorb these thoughts.

My biggest fear was that something would go wrong, something we couldn't see because Alice was blind now that the wolves were involved. Without her sight anything could happen and we would have no warning. The only thing that settled my mind was that I would only be a minute away and could reach them in a moment's notice if needed.

Pulling me from my worried thoughts, I caught a whiff of Jacob. Within a minute I was able to hear them too. He was explaining to her how he was meant to be the chief, born the Alpha, since Sam had changed first it was assumed he was the chief, but when Jacob changed they realized he was meant to be the leader. Jacob didn't want the position and relinquished leadership to Sam.

Pacing faster, I knew they were only a few minutes out now. Thankful that he arrived earlier than expected as the wind was picking up and the snow was getting heavier. Bella needed to be in shelter from this storm.

"Bella!" I called out in relief.

Flashing to her side. Jacob cringed, and then set her on her feet. I ignoring his reaction I grabbed her in a tight hug.

"Thank you," I said over Bella's head, sincerely. "That was quicker than I expected, and I truly appreciate it."

Jacob merely shrugged. "Get her inside. This is going to be bad –my hair's standing up on my scalp. Is that tent secure?"

"I all but welded it to the rock."

"Good."

"I'm going to change," he said. "I want to know what's going on back home."

He hung his jacket on a low, stubby branch, and walked into the murky forest without a backward glance.

Pulling Bella toward the tent, Jacob was right this was going to be a bad storm, and I was already having second thoughts about staying.

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