Here we go, back to my usual update day. I hope everyone is still here and reading as I haven't been getting as many notifications of reviews etc. If you're still here give me a shout in a review. I love to hear all your thoughts.
Thanks to CoppertopJ as always.
We set off a few days after my phone calls to my parents, taking Edward's Volvo on the almost two-day journey to northern Canada. That is two days of solid driving and whilst I had told Edward that I could sleep in the car as he drove, he had insisted that we stop overnight in hotels. Of course, Edward being Edward, he made sure that we could only find fancy hotels when we were ready to stop for the night.
"Didn't we just pass a motel?" I asked, raising my eyebrow at him as we pulled into the second fancy hotel just as twilight was settling around us.
"Did we?" he said casually, not looking at me, "I didn't notice."
"Mmmm, I'm sure you didn't," I said, rolling my eyes at his obvious lie.
To be honest, I didn't really mind staying in the fancy hotels. They were much nicer than any of the motels we had passed along the way, but I still had an aversion to him spending all his money on me. I was trying to get over it, since, as Edward had pointed out, now that we were married it was technically my money too.
After four days and three fancy hotels, we finally arrived at our destination. We drove along the small winding road through the forest, Edward driving just slightly too fast for the road, but I trusted his vampire reflexes and focused on the beauty of the forest. I stared out the window, eager to see the house.
Finally, it appeared between the trees, more beautiful than the pictures could convey, however, Edward kept driving.
"What are you doing?" I asked, looking back towards the house as it disappeared from view.
"You'll see," he answered cryptically, a grin spreading across his face as I turned to look at him.
Just a few moments later, he pulled up outside the small cottage. It was the most beautiful house I'd ever seen, blending so well into the forest and looking like something out of a fairytale.
"It's beautiful," I sighed, "But, we could have unpacked at the main house first and then come out to see it."
"But, we're unpacking here," he said, grinning at me.
"We can't!" I exclaimed, "We can't just take the cottage because we got here first."
"We can," he said, taking my hand and leading me towards the door, "Esme insisted that we take the cottage."
I stopped walking and turned to stare up at him, "Esme insisted?"
"She saw how much you loved it the second you set eyes on it," he said, "She said consider it a wedding gift."
I looked back towards the cottage, my mouth hanging open slightly at the thought of living here. Not only because it was so beautiful, but it would also give us a semblance of privacy, though I doubted we were far enough away from the main house to have full privacy once the rest of the family arrived.
"This is amazing!" I said, "It's perfect."
With that, Edward leaned down and scooped me up into his arms before stalking towards the door. Deftly opening it without jostling me at all, he carried me over the threshold to what would be our home for the foreseeable future.
He set me down on my feet and I spun around trying to take everything in. There were wooden beams stretching across the ceiling and three of the four walls were made up of the same wood. The fourth wall was cobbled stones of varying size and colour, all encasing a rustic fireplace. The furniture all fit perfectly in the quaint room. The living area blended perfectly into a small kitchen, with rustic-style appliances. We wouldn't need the kitchen for very long, but I couldn't wait to cook in it.
Edward led me by the hand, through a wooden archway to a small bedroom. The walls were decorated in the same wood as the living area, with a large bed sitting against the far wall and a door to a bathroom to the left.
It was perfect. I know some people would have felt the place was too small, but to me, it felt like I had stepped right into the pages of the fairytales I had loved reading as a child.
"Do you like it?" Edward asked, his smile suggesting that he already knew the answer.
"I love it!" I exclaimed, "It couldn't have been more perfect if I had designed it myself. Esme was right. I fell in love with it the second I saw it on Jasper's computer screen, but I never dared to think it would be ours."
"Now, it's just the two of us here for a few weeks until the rest of the family arrive," he whispered, stepping up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist, "How ever will we pass the time?"
"Hmmm, I wonder," I said, my voice hitching as he pressed his lips to my neck, "I suppose we really ought to christen our new home."
With that he spun me round to face him and lifted me up into his arms, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist as he carried me to the bed.
~~~PS ILYF~~~
We spent the next few weeks enjoying a second honeymoon, as we waited for the rest of the family to arrive. We eventually went to look around the main house, which was also beautiful, but in complete contrast to the cottage. Everything about the main house was modern. Light, airy colours with contrasting dark-coloured furniture and top-of-the range appliances.
I also spent a lot of time writing in my journal, making sure that I hadn't missed any memories. I wrote about our wedding and honeymoon in great detail, never wanting to lose those memories. As much as I loved having my parents at the wedding, I sometimes wished I had been a vampire when we got married so I would always have crystal clear memories of marrying Edward, but since that wasn't possible, I spent a long time writing down every single detail so I would always have them.
Finally, the day came for the family to arrive and we had made sure the house was sitting perfectly for their arrival. We were sitting in the living room of the main house, waiting for them, when Edward announced that they were here.
I ran outside, bouncing up and down, feeling like Alice, when their cars appeared through the trees. I had missed them all so much and couldn't wait to see them again. Alice was the first one to reach me, pulling me in for a hug as the rest of the family surrounded us. Edward and I were passed around the group before we all headed inside to catch up.
As much as I really didn't want to think or talk about the reason they had stayed in Rochester, I knew I couldn't avoid it forever. I listened as they went through everything that had happened and how the plans had all gone off without a hitch. They told us all about the funeral service for Edward and I, tears rolling down my cheeks, as I heard how Esme had comforted my inconsolable mother and how my father had put on a brave face, but was clearly struggling just as much. Edward held me tightly throughout it all and that was all I needed to help calm me down. As long as I had him, I would be fine.
With everything in Rochester sorted, we decided that there was no point in waiting any longer for my change and decided to go ahead in two days' time. I was ready, not wanting to wait any longer to start my forever with Edward, but Alice had other ideas and had insisted that she needed a full day with human me before anything permanent could happen.
~~~PS ILYF~~~
"Alice, surely we don't need another Bella Barbie day," I complained the next morning when she whisked me away to her bedroom, "In a few days' time, I'll be a vampire and I won't need all your primping and preening."
"I know, and I am going to miss that," she replied sadly, "But what I have planned for today is very important. Trust me."
"Fine," I said, "What's so important?"
"Well, once you become a vampire, everything is set in stone. Literally," she said, "We need to make sure you are prepared for that. After that, there is no going back. You need to be happy with the length of your nails, the length of your hair – all of it!" She looked down not-so-subtly, my cheeks beaming red as I realised what she meant.
"Oh!" I gasped.
"Oh, indeed," she said, "Now, we have lots of work to do so let's get started."
So, I spent my last day as a human playing Bella Barbie with Alice and, for once, I was very grateful for it. It had never crossed my mind that once I was changed, I wouldn't need to or be able to shave, trim my hair, shape my nails, etc. Alice did all that, and more. She trimmed the split ends off my hair and shaped it around my face so it would sit perfectly. She gave me a manicure and pedicure, buffing and shaping my nails into the perfect shape. She plucked and shaped my eyebrows, making sure to catch every single stray hair. She waxed my legs, underarms, and bikini line, huffing slightly that I refused to let her give me a Brazilian. I assured her that I was happy for her to trim and tidy me up, but that was going too far. After almost a whole day, she sent me off back to the cottage with Edward for one final night as a human.
Edward and I walked through the forest towards our cottage, taking our time and enjoying the twilight stroll through the trees.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, turning his head to look down at me.
"Tender," I replied, thinking that every inch of my skin felt like it had been attacked with sandpaper.
"That's not what I meant," he chuckled, "Though, I am sorry my sister put you through all of that. I wouldn't have cared about any of it, you know."
"I know," I said, "But I would have cared. As uncomfortable as it was, I'm very glad that Alice thought of it, because it hadn't crossed my mind."
"She's always hated her short hair," he said, "She didn't want you to hate anything about yourself going into this life." I frowned at the thought of beautiful, stunning Alice hating how she looked. I understood it though and it just made me even more thankful for her going out of her way to make sure I never felt like that.
We reached the house then, walking into the living area and sitting on the large cream-coloured sofa, turning to face each other.
"Now, are you going to answer my actual question?" Edward said softly, taking my hand in his.
"Yes," I smiled up at him, "Honestly, I'm nervous. I'm not looking forward to the pain, but I am sure of my decision. I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life. I want you forever. One lifetime would never be enough with you. I would walk through the fires of hell to spend forever by your side."
"Thank you," he whispered, "Thank you for loving me enough to give up everything for me. If there was any way for me to become human for you, I would have done it, though you are right. One lifetime would never have been enough."
"How are you feeling?" I asked, knowing that this was going to be hard for him too.
"Nervous," he smiled, "I'm dreading watching you in so much pain. Especially knowing that I was the one to cause it."
"It will all be worth it in the end," I reminded him, "Just promise me that you won't brood. I know you and you'll blame yourself. This was my decision and I know it's the right one, no matter how much pain I'm in. Let your family help you. Sit with me, talk to me, think of our life together, but don't let yourself dwell on the negatives."
"I promise to try," he said, looking deep into my eyes, "I'm sure Alice will kick my butt if I start to brood." I laughed because he was totally right. I knew his whole family would make sure he was okay.
At that point, I decided that was enough of the heavy conversations, so I reached my hands over to him, gripping his shirt by the collar and gently pulling him towards me. I pressed my lips to his, revelling in the feel of his icy lips on mine, knowing that this was the last time I would experience him like this. I would miss his coolness when we were the same temperature. Every icy touch sent sparks of heat surging through my body. As we kissed, his hands slipped under my top as though he was seeking the heat of my skin just as I was seeking the coolness of his.
"Will you miss my warmth?" I asked in a husky voice, as he moved from my lips to let me breathe, his lips trailing down my neck.
"Yes and no," he breathed, "Yes because I love how you feel right now, but no because then I won't have to hold back." A gush of wetness flooded my underwear at the thought of him letting go and giving me everything. Suddenly, I couldn't wait to be a vampire.
I flung my head back as his lips continued their trail down my neck and along my collarbone. As his lips encountered the material of my top, his hands snaked up my body and he quickly flicked open the buttons before pushing the blouse off my shoulders. He pushed the strap of my bra off one shoulder to allow his lips to continue their journey. I arched my back, pushing my breasts towards him as he kissed down the very edge of my lace bra. I wanted more, I wanted him to expose me to him and take my nipples in his mouth, but he continued torturing me by avoiding what he knew I wanted.
He quickly flipped me onto my back, his lips still continuing down my body until he reached my jeans. Flicking open the button, he slowly pulled them down my legs, his fingers lightly grazing the smooth skin all the way down to my feet. Soon, I was lying before him in only my pale pink bra and panties. He knelt above me as he slowly removed his shirt before leaning back over me and continued to worship me from head to toe. It was as though he was memorising every inch of my human body. Before long I was writhing beneath him, desperate for him to touch me where I needed him most.
"Please, Edward," I pleaded, "I need more."
Finally, he reached around my back, unhooking my bra before pulling my panties down my legs. As soon as he had removed them, my hand unconsciously drifted toward my core which was throbbing with need. As I realised what I was doing, I glanced up to see Edward watching with rapt attention as my fingers slid through my wet folds, quickly finding my swollen nub. I felt a little self-conscious, but my need was too great and the look in Edward's rapidly darkening eyes was making me even wetter than I already was, so I just closed my eyes and continued. I focused on my clit, swirling my fingers around it slowly to begin with, but soon quickening as the coil in my stomach began to tighten. My eyes fluttered open to watch Edward palming his erection through his trousers, his eyes glued to my movements. The look in his eyes was enough to push me over the edge, and with one final swirl around my clit, the coil snapped sending pleasure right through my body.
"God, Bella," he groaned, as he settled between my legs, having removed the rest of his clothes, "That was so hot!"
I smiled up at him, trying to push down the blush that was threatening to appear, but as soon as I felt his arousal pressing on my centre, everything else was forgotten. My desire rose again, my body not yet sated and I reached down to help line him up with my entrance. I closed my eyes as he pushed inside me, trying to commit the feeling to my memory, vaguely wondering if it would feel as good when I was a vampire like him. It felt like Edward was doing the same as he slowly pushed deep inside me, following with slow, languid movements as though he was savouring each moment with my human form.
We stared into each other's eyes, brown meeting amber, as he moved slowly neither of us in a hurry, just allowing the pressure to build up slowly before we both fell into the abyss together, reverently whispering each other's name as our climaxes overtook us.
"I love you, Bella," he breathed, pressing his forehead to mine, "Human, vampire, nothing could ever change how I feel about you."
"I love you too, Edward," I said, looking deep into his eyes, "I can't wait to be by your side as your wife, your mate, your equal, forever."
"Forever," he agreed.