A kiss is a secret told to the mouth instead of the ear; kisses are the messengers of love and tenderness.
Ingrid Bergman
EDWARD'S POVThe others had left five minutes ago, and I stood in the foyer waiting for Bella. Alice had told me she was almost ready when she and Rosalie came down. A few minutes later I heard movement on the stairs. I turned and beheld an enchantress descending the stairs. Bella was lovelier than the night sky. I was glad Alice had managed to keep this image from me.
"Beautiful," I whispered as I lifted my hand for her to take. I was dressed in a tux with a black tie. "Ready?"
"I think we should say goodbye to everyone."
"They have already left."
Bella bit her lip, and I wondered momentarily why. It was possible she wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year before I stole her away for the night.
"No worries you'll see them soon enough. We're going to the same place. Carlisle and Esme are, in a way, chaperoning," I said, giving her a crooked smile, offering my hand again and this time she took it.
"Any chance of you telling me where we are going?"
"You'll know soon enough. We're not going far," I said, leading her outside.
I smiled was she halted in her steps.
"Courtesy of your grandfather." I pressed my lips to her cheek.
"He knows."
"Of course, he suggested it before we left Scotland."
I opened the door and allowed her to slide in before closing the door. Walking around to the other side of the car, I got in. "I can't wait to see Alice's face," she said when I was settled.
"Didn't Rosalie and her help you get ready?" I asked, thoroughly confused.
"Only the makeup, they didn't get to see the gown." She ran a hand over the skirt.
I just looked at her. "How did you manage to get a dress without Alice knowing?" I asked.
"Delivery from my cousin," she said. "Charlie placed the contents in my closet at the base."
"Cousin?" I asked.
"Yes. He's a well-known fashion designer, and he sends me a new partial wardrobe each season."
"Amazing," I said, running a hand through my hair.
She smiled over at me. Her eyes soften as we drove through the gates of the Star Command base. "What are we doing here?" she asked.
It was time to tell her. "Charlie and Malcolm told me of the New Year's Eve dance the base has every year and I thought—" I said, motioning out the window. "The base is open to the whole town tonight."
BELLA'S POV"The whole town," I said, panicked. "I usually remain out of sight on this night." I turned slightly and looked at Edward, placing my hand on his before continuing. "But I've never really had a reason to attend a Star Command sponsored dance."
He leaned in and kissed me tenderly on the lips. "I know. It was the same for me… going out on New Year's Eve, I mean." He kissed me once again as we came to a stop.
Voices could be heard from outside the limo.
"I wonder who that is," Mike Newton said.
"Could be someone with money or someone famous," Jessica Stanley said a second later.
"Does anyone know who it is?" Alice asked.
I looked back at Edward. "They don't know."
He gave me a crooked smile.
"You devious vampire."
"Carlisle is the only one who knows," he said a moment later as the door was opened and a hand appeared. Ducking and looking out, I saw the hand belonged to Carlisle.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Gasps sounded as I stepped out followed by Edward. He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me into the building.
The gym had been transformed, using simulation technology, into a ballroom and even the floor was affected. The stunning architecture of the replicated ballroom was a quaint. It seemed we were in a European village with stucco facades and red-tiled roofs along with a second story balcony. A soaring thirty foot ceiling, an illusion, replaced the gym's sky lights with a starry night sky with a shimmering crescent moon. A DJ was on the stage and several couples were dancing.
EDWARD'S POVThe way Bella's eyes lit up, like the crystals in her hair, upon entering the gym made me love her even more.
The song switched as I guided her out to the dance floor. We easily fell into step, gliding across the floor. We never stopped dancing, effortlessly moving from song to song, like we had on Christmas Eve.
A half hour before midnight, I guided Bella over to Carlisle and Esme.
"I'm going to go and get you something to drink," I said.
I would but first I had a little surprise for Bella. I went up to the DJ and asked to be able to play a little something on the piano. Sitting, I started to play after he announced me.
It was closer to midnight by the time I got returned to Bella with a cup of punch in hand. Her eyes were glistening with tears.
"Bella," I said slightly nervous, "would you join for a walk outside?"
She slid her hand in mine, and we walked out the door.
"That was a beautiful song," she whispered.
I stopped once we were inside a gazebo that was decorated with white lights and drew her in front of me before wrapping my arms around her waist.
"I wrote it for you. It's your own personal lullaby."
Tears glistened in her eyes again.
"I love you so much, Bella. Would you consider being my girlfriend?" I asked.
She turned her head and I kissed her, being able to hear the countdown winding down inside, knowing my timing was perfect.
"Happy New Year, love."
I hoped what I asked Bella wouldn't backfire. It was the only way I could think of to give her more jewelry, especially what I wanted to give her—a mere token of my love.
BELLA'S POVI had a feeling that something wonderful was going to happen this year, and I couldn't wait to find out what it would be.
"Yes. I love you, too, Edward. Happy New Year," I answered, turning in his arms and throwing my arms around his neck, kissing him briefly on the lips.
"Then you can have this," he said, reaching into his pocket. "This ring was also my mother's and is my birthstone from when I was human."
He slid the ring on my finger. It was absolutely exquisite, and I couldn't help it as more tears fell. I didn't deserve him and would never deserve him. He said nothing as he drew me to his chest, and I cried all the harder. He was positively too perfect.
"What's the matter, love?" he asked.
"I don't deserve someone as caring and thoughtful as you."
"Yes, you do," he answered, lifting my chin. "And so much more."
He leaned in and kissed me, and I felt his love for me in the way he worshipped my lips.