"Well, well, well," Emmett greeted us at the entrance, Rosalie by his side. "If it isn't our two lovebirds. Did you find any treasure hidden in the woods?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Edward chuckled as his arm wrapped around my waist. "Only the most precious one."

Esme was positively beaming as she entered from the kitchen. "You both look so radiant. It's like the moonlight itself has kissed your skin."

"What's up with the flower crowns?" Rosalie asked.

"Oh, Edward," Esme almost squealed. "They are beautiful. You look like you have just stepped out of a fairy tale."

He shrugged and grinned. "Bella needed a crown for her duties as queen of our meadow."

"Your hideaway meadow?" Rosalie asked, one eyebrow raised.

He nodded. "Just the one."

"Bella, exactly who I was looking for." Alice thrilled as she danced down the stairs. "You have kept me waiting."

"Alice, you knew exactly when she would arrive." Edward reminded her.

"Poppycock." She murmured absently as she threw him a wink. "Anyway, I need to dress you for school, Bella. Come with me."

Edward sighed and I clung tighter to his side. "Do I have to?" I asked hesitantly. I did not want to leave Edwards' presence.

"Yup." She nodded solemnly. "It's all part of the Cullenisation."

"And if I don't want to be Cullenised?"

She shrugged while impatiently tapping her foot. "Tough luck, you will be. Every representative of this family is dressed by me."

"That is nice. But I am a Masen. Not a Cullen."

I could practically feel the pride radiating from Edward as I said that, his arm squeezed lightly around my waist. I gave him a quick smile.

"Bella, just come with me." Her voice was a little higher. "You will give in eventually, why not save us the argument?" She tapped her temple in explanation.

I narrowed my eyes and looked up at Edward, questioning her argument. He shrugged.

"Not for long, Alice." I told her. "Edward warned me that you are a fashion enthusiast but I will not spend a lot of unnecessary time away from him."

She bounced on her feet as she frantically nodded. "You will not regret this." She promised and pulled me away from Edward. I could hear him chuckle behind me and threw him an angry look.

I regretted my decision to let her have her will as soon as we entered her room. The vanity table was swamped with products. Alice pushed me in the chair.

"Is that truly necessary, Alice?"

"Yup, it is."

Her touch was feather light as she braided and twisted my hair until it was in a half updo.

"You can put your rings here." She handed me a small dark blue trinket box.

"What do you mean?" I scowled as my gaze drifted to my left hand. Where the stones on Elizabeth Masens engagement ring sparkled and my wedding ring gleamed.

"You can put your rings in there. Bella, you will have to take them off. They draw attention." she explained as if I was a child. My frown deepend.

"No." I said decisively. "I will keep them on."

She glowered. "Bella, you're part of the Cullen family now. You need to blend in."

"I know the rings stand out, but they mean a lot to me."

Alice sighed, her frustration evident. "Bella, it's no longer just about you. It's about Esme and Carlisle too. We need to blend in with the human world. The rings bring attention to their parenting choices. Edward is still seventeen. He would have needed their blessing to marry you."

I bit my lip, torn. "I get it, but these rings are a symbol of our love. I can't just take them off. There was not a day in the past 100 years where I did not wear them."

Alice pursed her lips. "What if you only wear the engagement ring?"

I looked down at my hand but nodded. "If Edward is agreeing I will wear my wedding band around my neck instead."

"I will not dictate your decisions, love." Edwards' quiet comment came from somewhere under us.

Alice grinned and handed me a silver chain. Reluctantly I pulled it off. My hand seemed empty without the second ring.

"Edward, you too. You can't wear your wedding ring if you are just engaged." Alice ordered him. And after a moment, "Thank you."

"Now, Bella," she turned back to me, "strip."

I looked at her in horror. Eyes wide, mouth open. "No." I shook my head hard.

"I just had to try anyway." Alice sighed. "Okay. This is your outfit. Put it on." She handed me a folded dress and shoes and pointed to an adjacent door. "There is the bathroom."

I was glad to see that it was a fairly simple outfit. A light blue dress that fell to the middle of my calves paired with ballet slippers. She had pinned back half of my hair and let the rest fall down my back in loose waves.

After Edwards' warning I had imagined horrible scenarios with sparkly dresses and jeans that are skin-tight. Still, I glanced anxiously in the mirror, wondering if I would be allowed to wear my large jumper over the dress. With a shrug of my shoulders, I slipped it back on and left the bathroom.

Alice turned to look at me. Shock clear on her face. "Why would you ruin a perfect outfit like that?" she practically hissed at me.

"I do not feel comfortable in only the dress." And that wasn't even an actual lie. "I will not leave for school without my jumper overtop."

She narrowed her eyes at me but I met her gaze. Unfazed. It seemed my resolve was iron tight because she did not even start to argue.

Instead she grabbed my hand and dragged me from her room into what smelled like Edwards. "We can at least find you one that actually fits the dress though." I could tell that she was still fuming but I would not go back on my decision and I was grateful that she accepted that. Even though I was certain it was only because her visions left her no other choice.

I just was not ready.

She rummaged through Edwards drawers until she had found a jumper that matched the beige ballet flats. "Put it on." she commanded and pushed me into Edwards bathroom.

When we finally came down the stairs Edward was waiting for me. I threw my arms around him as soon as I reached the last step. I felt him chuckle as he pulled me tighter. "I missed you." I whispered into his ear.

He pulled back a little to kiss my forehead and flashed me his crooked grin. "I missed you just as much." he told me. "You look as stunning as ever, love."

"Do I dazzle you?" I asked him innocently as I fluttered my eyes.

His eyes actually seemed to glaze over as he nodded.

I chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Shall we?" I asked him.

The morning had turned gray and misty by the time we made it to school. As soon as Edward opened my car door for me the chatter about us started. Students clustered in small groups, speculating. I could hear the jealous and mean comments. And Edward had to endure the thoughts behind them, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he held my hand in his.

"I heard they were broken up for a while. Must have been some intense makeup sex after the performance they had in the cafeteria yesterday," Jessica Stanley, the girl that had interrupted our hallway kiss the day prior, commented with a sly grin as she leaned against her locker.

A group of friends surrounded her, most of them snickering with her.

A girl whose hair was light brown with honey-coloured streaks was the only one not laughing along. She slowly shook her head. "I don't know, Jess. It looked more like a heartfelt reunion. They both seemed so emotional." she said quietly. "They seemed to have missed each other dearly."

A girl with straight, silky, long silver-blond hair and green eyes scoffed. "Please, Angela. They just liked the attention. That's why they did this makeup in front of the entire school. And I'm sure the new girl wanted to stake her claim. I would if Edward Cullen would touch me. I would stick my tongue in his mouth in the middle of the hallway if I were the new girl."

I felt a growing discomfort at their comments. Even though I knew them to be false, they made me anxious. My grip on Edward's hand tightened as we made our way to Calc/Trig class.

"Lauren, we should not speak about them like that." Angela said. "You don't know anything about them. They seem to be two people who found something special. It's not our place to judge any of their actions or intentions."

"Angela Weber has always had one of the kindest minds I have ever come across." Edward commented and smiled at the blushing girl. "It is surprising that she said something, though. She is usually very shy and does not speak up."

I nodded. "It is nice of her to say something." I knew the smile I tried to give him was horrible. It would not even have convinced a human much less my husband.

His eyebrows drew together in worry. He stroked the back of my hand in comfort. "It's alright, love. Just ignore them for now. They'll lose interest soon enough."

I sighed. "I know, but it's just- I don't like being the center of attention."

"But it's the same every time we change schools. I am sure it was the same for you when you came to a new place?"

"Of course there is always some talk." I agreed. "But it's not so close to my person."

"What do you mean, love?"

"Well, it's all about my appearance. Not about me as a person. This time though, it's about you and me. About our relationship. It's something that is very close to my heart. This time they are talking about something that actually means something to me." I said, looking down at the hallway floor. "I do not like it. Our marriage is private. I do not want it to be sullied by their hateful words."

"I understand, love. But their talk means nothing. They have no idea what they are speaking about. And we'll get through it, just like we always do. We did not let our parents influence our relationship, why should random highschool students have any power over us?"

"You are right." I said, sighed and squared my shoulders. "I am being silly."

"No you are not." Edward disagreed. "But there is nothing we can do to stop their talk and we have each other. Nothing else matters."

I nodded.

All through the first lesson I tried to not think about the gossip. But the lingering eyes on us and the whispers even in class kept creeping into her mind. I nervously tapped my pencil against the notebook until Edward caught my fidgeting hands in his.

When the lesson was over I had not heard a word of it. Edward stacked our books and entwined our hands again as we left the classroom. Ahead of us Angela hurried to the girls bathroom.

"Could you wait a moment for me, Edward?"

He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "What are you thinking?" he asked, frustration at his inability to read my thoughts evident.

"I just want to thank Angela." I said, grabbing the strap of my bag. "It will only take a moment."

He nodded and kissed my forehead.

Angela had retreated into one of the bathroom stalls and I waited by the sinks, brushing back some hair strands that had fallen out of Alice's braid. The sudden sound of suppressed sobbing made her listen more closely. There were no other girls in the bathroom. Only Angela and her. And Angela was sobbing in her stall.

I stepped closer, my voice filled with concern. "Angela, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Nothing is wrong." Angela sniffed. "I'm fine. Just- you know, a minor issue." she obviously lied.

"Are you sure? You are obviously not fine." I disagreed with a calming voice.

Her breathing was erratic.

"Will you take some deep breaths for me, Angela?"

I could hear her choked up breathing as she tried for me.

"Very good." I praised her. "In. And out. In. And out."

Her breathing calmed. "Now, will you tell me what happened?"

"I got my period." she mumbled. I was not quite sure if a human would have heard her.

"It's okay, Angela. Don't worry. We'll figure this out." I told her. "Do you need a tampon?"

"Yes please."

I opened up my bag and pulled out a couple and passed them to her beneath the door. Even though I no longer needed them I always carried some for similar situations.

"Thank you so much." Angela whispered, her embarrassment evident in her voice.

"There is nothing to thank me for. Dont worry about it."

I smiled warmly, doing my best to put Angela at ease, when she left her stall.

"You're really kind, Isabella. Thanks again." She offered a grateful smile.

I nodded and watched as she walked over to the sinks. "You can call me Bella." I told her.

"You are my lifesaver, Bella."

"That is my mission." I chuckled softly and winked at her through the mirror. "Actually I wanted to thank you."

"For what?" Angela furrowed her brows.

"Edward and I heard what you said earlier." I told her. "I wanted to thank you for reigning in the gossip."

"Ah, that was nothing." Angela shook her head.

"Not to us." I smiled. "It is rare to see someone stand up to their friends. Especially when you don't even know me."

"I just didn't like how they talked about you. But thank you, Bella." Angelas face lit up as I opened the bathroom for her. Edward leaned against one of the lockers smiling at me as I came closer.

"What do you have next?" I asked her as Edward greeted me with a kiss to the temple.

"Uh- American History."

"Well, we'll be going our separate ways then. But we will certainly meet again." I smiled at her.

She seemed confused for a second but shook her head and smiled back. "Yeah."

"Your good deed for today?" Edward asked as we made our way to the next class.

I shrugged and smiled at him. "I like her."

We did see Angela again. In both English and French class. And when we entered the cafeteria again Angela waved us over to her table. Edward and I shared an uncertain look.

"We could dispel some of the gossip," he thought out loud.

"Yes." I agreed. "Let's do that."

Each of us got a tray of food we would hopefully not have to eat and walked over to Angela and her friends.

"Hello Angela." I greeted her.

Edward nodded and smiled as he placed our trays on the table.

"Hi," she looked around at the others at the table. "Uh guys, this is Bella and Edward. They can sit with us, right?"

Some of the consenting replies were a little too enthusiastic for my liking.

"Hello, it is nice to meet you." I said to the others and took my seat next to her. "How are you?"

"Some light cramps." Angela confessed silently while blushing. "But apart from that I am fine. Thank you again for your help earlier. I was really panicking."

"We must stick together, no?" I winked at her.

A pale blond boy leaned over the table. "You are Isabella Masen, right?" he addressed me.

"I prefer Bella." I told him.

"Mike." he said, grinning as he looked me up and down. "Mike Newton."

I could hear a low growl rumble in Edwards chest. Mike Newton's thoughts were obviously not pure. Without looking at him I tried to calm him and gripped his hand tighter.

I shot him a nondescript smile and turned back to Angela. "What are you reading at the moment?"

"Uh-" she seemed overwhelmed by my sudden question. "The Secret Garden." she finally answered.

"Oh, how do you like it so far?" I asked her, propping my head on my free hand while the other drew circles on the back of Edwards hand.

"It is a sweet story." she said, blushing furiously. "Although I have not yet read very far."

"All the characters are horrible humans." Edward chimed in. "It always took from my enjoyment."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "Of course you would think that. But that is the point of the book, Edward. They all are horrible in the beginning and the gardening makes them better. It cures some of their character flaws."

"But who would hate their child for being ugly and sickly?" he asked me. "Both Mary's mother and Colin's father are ungrateful. And I can in no way sympathize with them or the children they created through their actions."

"Because both Elizabeth dote upon you like there was no tomorrow. And now Esme does the same. But others have no such luck." I told him and turned back to Angela. "Don't listen to him. He has horrible judgment when it comes to characters."

Angela gave me an uncertain smile.

"Still Wuthering Heights?" Edward grinned. "Tell me, Angela, do you find Cathrine Earnshaw and Heathcliff to be pleasant characters?"

"Uh- No?" she answered with a question.

"You still misunderstand me." I told him. "Wuthering Heights is great because the characters are flawed and their only redeeming trait is their love for each other. A love that could not be controlled. A love that tied them together even in death."

"I always thought it to be a tragedy. That they became horribly bitter people because the world treated them so. They were always kept from each other and the resentment turned them cruel." Angela said.

"Hm." I nodded and smiled. "I like your interpretation, Angela."

"I did read Wuthering Heights a couple of times while we were separated." Edward told me. "And even though it reminded me of you and I enjoyed reading it because of that I do much prefer other books now that you are back at my side."

I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

"Hey, Bella, you will come to the beach as well, won't you?" the blond boy, Mike Newton, practically shouted.

"I beg your pardon?"

"This weekend. First Beach in La Push. You, me and the other idiots." He pointed at his friends. "It's gonna be great."

I looked to Edward for help. "Bella and I are otherwise engaged, Michael."

"We are very sorry." I told him and turned back to my talk with Angela and Edward. But he said little.

On our way to Biology I asked him what had him so worried.

"It is just that Michael reminded me of something we should have arranged as soon as you came here," he said. His eyebrows were drawn together. "It was an oversight on my part. I should have remembered."

"Edward, no one could have expected you to think of whatever it is you should not have overlooked. I think you have quite the excuse for any actions that you have or have not committed yesterday." I stopped and turned. Placing my hand on his cheek. "What is it that you should have remembered yesterday?"

He sighed. "We have lived in this area before, in the 30s. La Push is a Native American reservation that houses the Quileute tribe. And they have a genetic quirk that allows them to change into the shape of a wolf at will. Supposedly they are able to kill vampires in that wolf form. Carlisle and the leader of the pack at the time made a treaty."

"What does it say?"

His hand reached up to stroke my cheek. "We are not to step on their land, which is why we could not accompany Angelas friends on their trip even if Newton was not having such revolting thoughts." his voice changed into a growl.

"Shh." I calmed him. "His thoughts will always be just that, thoughts. It's just wishful thinking. Nothing you need to worry about. He will never have the real me in his arms."

He nodded. "Mh, we are to never bite a human. That means no feeding and no changing."

"But none of those rules have been broken."

"Yes." he agreed. "But we need to inform the tribe that you have joined our family. We informed them about Alice and Jasper as they had not yet joined us when we first made the treaty and to prevent any misunderstandings we should tell them about you."

"Then we will arrange a meeting when we return from school. We will just have to endure Biology and Gym first."