Valentine's Day Masquerade

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.

Blaise Pascal

BELLA'S POV

Weeks after the frighten revelation, I awoke to find Edward gone, but a note and a single red rose was where he had lain.

Morning, Bella,

Happy Valentine's Day, my love. Sorry, I couldn't be here when you woke—school, you know. I won't see you until tonight. Alice has forbidden me from seeing you until then. I love you. A package was delivered this morning for you from Italy. I wonder what it is. See you tonight. Edward

Great I would have to deal with Alice later and that means hours of torture. Rosalie and she had decided not to go to the Masquerade tonight because they had failed in finding dresses. Luckily, Edward had convinced Jasper and Emmett to get tickets anyway. I rushed downstairs to open the package.

"Good morning, Bella," Esme greeted me.

"Morning, Esme. Edward left me a note about a package."

"Yes, he stored it in the music room. Alice was quite mad. She wanted to open it."

I could only imagine. Iain had sent me several packages since Christmas. Alice always intercepted them. Had I not told Edward, my surprise would have been ruined.

"I'm glad he intercepted it and kept Alice away. If I'm right, Alice will not have seen what I planned."

"And what do you have planned?" Esme asked.

"Come and I'll show you." I motioned with my hand as I continued to the music room. The box was huge. "How did he manage to get it in here?"

"It was not easy, but Emmett and Jasper helped him and the officer with it."

"Charlie didn't bring it?"

"No a lieutenant delivered it," she told me as I opened the box.

A letter was attached to the first garment bag.

My dearest cousin, Isabella,

I hope that each of these gowns are to your liking and those they are intended for. Each is complete with makeup, mask, and shoes. I leave the jewelry up to the wearer. Be sure to take plenty of pictures and send them to me, I would love see each of you in the gowns I had designed. These are one of a kind and will not be reproduced.

Your loving cousin, Iain

I looked at the first garment bag and embroidered on the bag was Alice. I unzipped the bag and gazed at the dress in awe. It screamed Alice. It was hot pink with black lace sticking out the bottom and black flowers on the front. I took out the gown and showed Esme. I noticed the back then. The back had to laced-tight and tied.

"Alice will love it," Esme commented, taking a glance at the back.

I put the gown back in the bag and zipped it back up before laying it over the back of a chair. The next bag was embroidered Rosalie. Again, I unzipped the bag and took in the dress. It was simplistic and had an edge to it just like Rosalie. It was burnt orange with a hint of red and brown undertones. The bodice and one of the underlays was beaded lace. It was a halter and the back also had to be laced-tight.

"What a gorgeous color. It will bring out Rosalie's eyes beautifully."

I put the dress back in the bag and as I zipped it, I asked, "Do you really think they will love them?"

"Of course, though it is a shame they won't be able to wear them tonight."

A devious smile crossed my face. "Edward told Emmett and Jasper to get tickets and the colors."

Esme threw back her head and let out a laugh. "You planned this well didn't you."

"I sure did. I told them both I would get them each an Iain McGregor original a while ago and, well, here they are."

Esme shook her head. "You shouldn't have spent the money."

"I didn't. Iain is giving them to Rosalie and Alice, a gift from the clan he said."

"I don't understand."

"Each year, Iain gifts some of my friends with an outfit and the clan pays for it, well at least, I think. I can never find record of the payment," I shrugged. "I have no control over what my cousin does. He is very giving, and refuses to let me pay."

"He is very generous indeed."

"Though each year, he asks me to be a part of his fashion show in some way. Never on the runway, always behind the scenes. I expect this year to be no different."

Esme could find nothing more to say on with that logic. "Let me help you carry these up to Alice's room."

"I will need your help though." I revealed the rest of my plan to Esme, the part that Edward didn't know about.

Hours later, Alice burst through the doors. "Bella," she yelled. "You better have already showered. Meet me in my room."

I had already showered and was standing outside of her room when she made it up the stairs. "About time, Alice. Where's Rosalie?"

"She's coming," Alice said, trying to open the door. "That's odd, my door is stuck."

I had to stifle a giggle as Rosalie made it up the stairs.

"Let me try," she offered. She too couldn't get the door to budge. "Emmett!"

I kept my hand over my mouth.

"Yes, dear," Emmett said, announcing his arrival.

Rosalie just motioned to the door. Alice and Rosalie were wide-mouthed at the fact that even Emmett could open the door.

"We're behind schedule," Alice pouted, looking at the door.

Emmett looked over at me, and I winked at him, mouthing go.

"There's nothing I can do."

Once he was gone, I went over to Alice, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's not the end of the world, Alice. And… I magically sealed the door as I wanted to tell both you and Rosalie something."

Both heads snapped to me, Alice's eyes shooting daggers.

"Calm down or I won't tell you and then there will be three disappointed guys with no place to go tonight."

"Three guys?" Rosalie questioned.

"Yes," I said with a smile. "The day we went out shopping for your gowns, I was speaking with Iain. Alice, you even helped me out."

"All I did was give him measurements."

"True, but you don't know what I asked him after you left."

Alice had calmed down enormously.

"You two are going tonight," I said, opening the door and walking in picking up a garment bag in each hand, holding them out for them to take.

"How?" was all Alice and Rosalie got out as they opened their bags.

"Everything you need is there. Gown, makeup, shoes, and mask," I said as I turned to up my bag.

I had yet to see the gown. It was a glorious red and white. More of a traditional ball gown in a bell-shape. And, like always, it was me. Elegant but not overpowering.

"Iain has done it again," I announced, showing them both my gown.

"Wow, that's going to look amazing on you," Alice said.

"Truly," Rosalie commented. "But we don't have tickets."

"Yes, you do. Edward knew what I was up to and told Jasper and Emmett, they even knew what colors."

"How?" Alice asked again.

I just smiled at her. The how of it should have been clear. I used magic to keep it a secret. "Let's get ready."

The next two hours consisted of Alice fussing over my hair and Rosalie doing my makeup. As I was donning my gown, they did themselves up.

"Come in," I said as Rosalie finished lacing up Alice and I her, when a knock came at the door.

Esme popped her head in.

"You girls look beautiful. Gather up," she said, producing a camera. She took several shots in various poses of us together and separate.

Esme POV

Alice was the first to descend after I had reached the bottom. I was surprised Bella didn't come down first, but I snapped picture after picture of her and Jasper. I even got a good shot of Jasper's face and of him handing Alice a dozen hot pink roses.

Rosalie was next and again I got great pictures. I was amazed at the coordination of colors. Bella really planned this well. The roses Emmett gave Rosalie went well with what she was wearing just as Jasper's had with Alice's gown.

I looked up and Bella stood at the top of the stairs with a huge smile on her face. She lifted her fingers to lips and motioned toward Edward. He had yet to see her, and I turned back to her and she was gone.

"Edward," I called out as planned. Bella didn't want him to see her right away. I understood after she explained that no gift she could give him would ever be enough to want his has already given her.

"Yes, Esme," he answered, looking at me as did the others.

"I thought Bella was going to came right after you," Alice asked Rosalie before I could go on.

"Me, too," Rosalie said, her gaze moving back to the stairs.

There still was no sign of Bella. Interesting. Time for some improvising.

"Carlisle," I said, looking at my husband. "Go up and check on her."

Bella had asked me to let him in on the plan and I had phoned him right after. I watched as he walked up the stairs. I hoped Bella was okay.

BELLA'S POV

I stood just out of sight in the hallway, waiting for Carlisle. As soon as he was completely in the hall, I concealed us magically. "I can't do this," I said, going off-script.

"Bella, you can," Carlisle said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Edward is going to love it and from what Esme told me you worked hard on the song and music."

I took a shaky breath. "All right," I said.

I watched as Carlisle went back downstairs. "She'll be right down, she just forgot her mask," he said.

I dimmed the lights downstairs and turned off the ones upstairs. I was concealed in total darkness as was the upper portion of the stairs and proceed down slowly just as the music started. I was in the soft light at the right time when my voice came up toward me from below.

I just stood there for a moment watching Edward, a magical barrier keeping the stairs cloaked and me cloaked from only him.

I took a stair at a time. Both Carlisle and Esme snapping pictures like crazy.

The camera Esme held was pointed at me.

And Carlisle took pictures of Edward. He was in awe and unaware of what was going on around him. I had yet to reach the step in which the shield would drop.

By the time the last notes faded, I was standing in front of him, smiling at his entranced look.

"Edward," I whispered in his ear.

"That was ... you are ..." he started before falling silent again.

He pulled me to him and kissed me gently.

I stepped back and looked at him. Awe and shock were written on his face. He would definitely laugh when he saw the pictures.

"We should be going," I said.

"Oh, yes," he said finally, coming to his senses and handed me a dozen red roses.

Three vases waited at the door, and we each put our roses in one.

"Have a good time," Carlisle and Esme said as we walked out to the waiting limo.

Once we were all settled inside, Emmett spoke. "Bella, that song was a great."

"No more than great," Edward said. "It was beautiful."

"By the way you were searching for the right words, I would have thought different," Jasper said with a snicker.

"Did you even know Carlisle had a camera?" Emmett asked.

"He had what?" Edward asked shocked.

"A camera," I said with a giggle. Edward looked at me before I added, "I can't wait to see the pictures."

"Was that all planned?" Alice asked, leaning forward to look at me.

I shook my head, not taking my eyes off of Edward. "Except for the part where Carlisle came up to check on me."

Alice and Rosalie just laugh. "Good to see that one of us girls can still pull out the tricks."

I nodded again still looking at Edward.

"Oh, come on, Edward. I know you loved it."

Finally, Edward smiled.

"I'm just amazed you were able to keep it a secret. We guys had a hard time keeping this night from Alice and Rosalie," he said.

"I know, that's why I help you three out. Didn't you notice how every time tonight was brought up it was quickly forgotten?"

Three heads bobbed in unison.

"Brilliant," Emmett whispered as we got to the school.

All eyes were on the limo as we got out.

"Wonder who?" someone commented.

"Show-offs," someone else said.

"Don't be jealous," I said, taking Edward's arm and following the others into the gym.

We danced the night away.

"Figures you would be the ones arriving by limo," Jessica said with a laugh, coming over to us after we removed our masks at the end of the night.

"Who did everyone think it was?" I asked Edward.

"Not us," he answered. "There was a rumor flying around school that Newton and his friends were trying to get one. Guess they failed to find one."

"Who started the rumor?" I asked.

"Jasper and Emmett."

I covered the mouth and giggled.