Edward

They were more than a little tired after their flight back and were only in town for one night before having to head out to their home to officially move in together. This was one thing that hadn't been decided, let alone discussed. Because Rosalie lived within 20 miles, it was easy to conclude they would live in California, but the big question was at his place or hers?

Back at the hotel, they freshened up, and with the producer's cooperation they kept it secret that they would meet the other brides and grooms downstairs in a banquet hall.

She combed her hair in front of the mirror and sighed. It was Rosalie's 30th birthday, and for the whole day, Edward had pretended he hadn't known. She seemed withdrawn, and he guessed why. He half wondered if she wasn't going to explode for not knowing or celebrating. She tried dropping hints like showing him her driver's license picture, or recalling events that happened exactly thirty years before, or mentioning other people's birthdays, but he acted clueless.

This was to be the simplest surprise party ever as he hadn't had to coordinate anything. And since they were meeting the other couples prior to moving on to the next phase, it fit nicely in with the show's agenda.

When they exited the elevator, she stopped him. "You've got something planned, don't you?" Rosalie asked.

"What?"

"No…you have something going on in your brain. You've been too quiet."

"We're just going to have dinner."

He took her hand in his and led her toward the hotel's restaurant, and her inner eyebrows slanted. But, as they neared the banquet room, he stopped. "I do have something special planned."

She squealed - the first hint of excitement he'd seen on her. "Oh, thank God," she said. "I was thinking you couldn't be totally cluele-"

Edward moved Rosalie in front of him, and the producer opened the door, but he placed his hands over her eyes.

As soon as they walked in, the lights turned on, he uncovered her eyes, and the other two couples shouted, "Surprise!"

Rosalie's jaw dropped as she looked around at the golden balloon arches and then at the two tier cake on the table and to the presents stacked on a table. Edward recognized, of course, Jasper and beside him this petite dark-haired woman he assumed to be his bride, but it wasn't until he noticed the female beside Emmett that his whole presence felt like it had been shaken and jostled. It was she…the woman from the garden. And she stared back at him with such alarm that he realized this was a mutual feeling.

The six of them gathered in a circle, and the cameras made sure to capture them at every angle as they introduced themselves to the counterparts they'd not yet met.

Edward introduced Rosalie to Jasper first, who, in turn, introduced Edward to Alice, his new wife. Their hands were linked together, and her smile was wide, but her brow crinkled as she looked from him to the woman from the garden.

"You are familiar," she said.

"Maybe you saw me locally. I live not too far from here."

"No. That's not it. From the bar…" She looked from him again and glanced over at the woman who was obviously Emmett's bride. Emmett's bride. Emmett's bride.

Emmett approached them, and his grin dominated his face as he took Rosalie into his arms for a very big hug. "Happy Birthday! Rosalie, right? I'm Emmett!"

Edward's wife's smile became very wide as she giggled in Emmett's arms, thanking him. Edward had never hugged her, had never assumed that liberty. But, he didn't give one extra second to ponder that because here was this woman, her dark eyes like a doe, her gaze darting anywhere but at him, seeming to hide behind the bear of a man with his arms around another woman until Emmett's arms returned to his side. Apparently, Edward had forgotten to make introductions with her…his manners seemed to abandon him- had completely up and vanished the moment he laid eyes on her just minutes ago. The same woman he'd thought of time and time again.

Pull it together, Edward.

"Happy birthday, Rosalie!" she said, still avoiding looking at Edward and then Emmett spoke again.

"Edward, this is Bella," he said, but Emmett's eyes seemed not to be able to stay away from Rosalie for long, which was looking to be mutual. "She's um…my wife." The way he said it…like an afterthought, gave the impression that he was too distracted to understand the weight of his introduction.

In the most awkward moment of all creation, Edward met Bella's eyes and extended his hand toward her and when her palm met his, that current of electricity flowed through his veins every bit as their first meeting. "Bella," he said, looking into her eyes and finally able to put a name to the being who made such an impression on him just over a week before. He saw it there, the intense gaze that shifted to rapid blinking and then looking away from him. That disappointment, that unease - he felt it every bit as much. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

She nodded to him, and as Rosalie and Emmett's voices seemed to drown out the chatter in the room, the petite one, Alice, linked her arm into Bella's. He processed what she said now. Alice had been seated beside Bella before he approached her that night at the bar. In fact, she'd made eye contact and shot him a wink. Bella's friend? Was also a bride on the show?

"I need to steal Bella for some girl talk," she said and then looked to Rosalie, who didn't seem like she was in any hurry to leave Emmett's company.

Rosalie, though, declared she'd join them shortly.

"I recognize you!" Emmett said to Rosalie. "You did that shampoo commercial, but you were also on Bachelor in Paradise."

She beamed at having been recognized but then followed it with a frown. "Yeah, not one of my better moments."

Emmett leaned in to her. "That guy was a jerk to let you go. The guys at the station made a bet…"

So far, a total stranger was hitting it off better with Edward's wife than he had ever hoped. Yet, the couples still had their commitments. Oh Lord, could this be any more disconcerting?

Alice and Bella had gathered at the back of the room next to a bowl of punch. Bella was looking down and shaking her head, and Jasper joined Edward at his side, his brow quirking up at the way Emmett and Rosalie were conversing.

"Edward!" Jasper extended his hand to his and they shook. "How's married life?"

"It was a rough start, but now…" Now what? He had to adjust his perception. "Now, I uh…" He looked at Emmett and Rosalie, who looked like long-lost friends, and to the amazing woman he'd not been able to stop thinking about since this whole thing began.

"Yeah…uh, do you want me to tell Emmett to back off?"

"No. She seems happy right now. Let her be." Rosalie looked like she was lit from the inside, almost glowing.

"Oh…so I take it you two didn't hit it off?"

He smiled. "No. Not really from the start. But, it's better now…kind of."

At that moment, he wondered how Emmett and Bella had fared. After all, she was happy not being at his side and catching up with her friend…or was it because she didn't want to be around Edward? This had to be awkward for her as well. Or maybe he'd been the only one affected by her presence…her kiss.

"And for you?" Edward asked Jasper.

"Alice is amazing, and the show did very well. We've had some bumps but it had nothing to do with her."

"I see," Edward said, too distracted to inquire further. Bella, the woman to whom he was sure he'd never felt such connection with anyone else, had been paired with Emmett - the most opposite personality of Edward. Just then, a server appeared with drinks on a round tray, and he eagerly took one. Emmett appeared beside them then.

"Rosalie is really something," Emmett said, helping himself to a glass. "I mean, so is Bella, very sweet… but wow, Edward, you're gonna have your hands full with your wife. Gonna have to beat em' off with a stick."

"Yeah, Edward'll have to start with you," Jasper told him.

"Me? Oh, sorry," he laughed, loud and boisterous. "I tend to be a little flirty. I guess I haven't gotten away from my bachelor mentality. I meant nothing by it, Edward. Honest."

It didn't even bother him as much as it should have. But, at least Jasper seemed to have his best interest at heart where nobody else had. The cameramen were there with the cameras too big not to notice, following their moves and conversations from different angles. The producer then pulled Emmett away from them, asking him to join her.

Of course their exchange hadn't escaped the producer's attention, which for the moment may have overshadowed his own introductions with Bella, which was just fine with Edward. What had happened with Bella was prior to the wedding, and as far as he was concerned was none of their business. So, was Emmett headed off to an impromptu interview? Or would they all be having interviews at this point? They'd been warned about the possibility of it and were advised to just speak honestly. But, a few minutes later, Emmett returned to them and Rosalie took his place with the producer.

"Are they doing interviews with all of us?" Jasper asked.

"Nope. Just me and Rose. They suspect that we are a little too 'enthusiastic' about being in each other's company."

Edward could only imagine how the interview would go if they were interviewing Bella and him. Wait. Did Emmett just call her Rose?

"Her name is Rosalie," Edward said.

"She said I could call her Rose. That her favorite grandma used to call her that."

Okay then. Edward was at a loss for what to do. He wanted to go talk to Bella. Badly. But what would he say? What could she say? He couldn't tell her that the desperation to be near her wasn't any less than it had been since the last time he saw her…things were complicated. She was married, for God's sake. And so was he…even if their spouses seemed to be attracted to each other, they still made a commitment to the show and to each other. Besides, maybe she was happy with Emmett? Or maybe she wasn't as affected as he was. And maybe Emmett was just being flirty with Rosalie, but it didn't mean anything because of his own relationship with Bella…like Jasper had with Alice. That thought was like a rusty knife that twisted inside his stomach.

They sat at a table, seated beside their spouses, eating a dinner of surf and turf as though they were old friends comparing notes about their relationships. Bella, for the most part, said very little and kept her gaze downcast, except when spoken to. When the dishes were cleared, the cake was brought over to Rosalie, and they all sang happy birthday to her, at which Edward played on the piano, and Emmett's voice seemed to rise above all. Rosalie, with all eyes on her, was in her glory, and graciously thanked everyone for being there and for their birthday wishes. At the end of the night, hugs from all were exchanged, except between Bella and himself. They shook hands and though they both had a mouth full of unsaid words, her eyes seemed to say a lot. He would not forget the way the corners of her lips turned downward but she forced a smile anyway. The emotions on her face seemed to match his own. Not because he felt any less attraction for her but because of the hand they'd been dealt. It was a reminder that sometimes the thing they wanted very badly wasn't the best thing for them. And that once they got it, they weren't happy. And that sometimes what's in front of them is the best once you allow it to be.

A/N: Still got a long way to go while our couples struggle to figure out what/who they want, so please bear with me! Now, this picture would not be complete without the other couples' take on what happened here, so next week will be Alice & Jasper's, then the following week, Emmett's and Bella's. So much more to come! Thanks to you all for reading (and especially for reviewing) and to all those who follow and support!