Hello, everyone. So before anyone comes at me, I wanted to let you guys know a couple of things when it comes to this story.
1. Edward's backstory is a little different than in the books, and he also acts a little differently. It may not seem like it at first, but what I'm telling you will make sense later on. The story picks up more or less where Twilight left off, before they go to prom, though some things happened a little differently in this story because of Edward's backstory.
2. His relationship with the Cullens changes and evolves over the story, but I won't tell you how. Cryptic, I know, but I won't spoil anything.
3. There may be some characters that show up which you're not expecting to see at all so be prepared.
4. Bella also acts a little bit differently in this story than in the books, again, I won't tell you how, just be prepared.
Lastly, I am also working on my own, original book, so if I don't update for a couple of days or weeks don't panic, it just means I'm really busy working on my book, but I will try to see this story through, update as often as I can. I don't plan to do this, author notes, often, not unless you guys want me to, as I want this story to look as professional as possible. Please excuse any mistakes and enjoy. Oh, just a little warning, the chapters are longer than they usually are on here, the length of each chapter varies, but they are more similar to a regular book.
CAREFULLY, she opened her eyes, her sight slowly adjusting to the dull, yellow light from the hospital room. She searched for him in the dimly lit room, found him sitting on a recliner, his eyes closed, his beautiful, perfect face serene, relaxed, his eyes closed, his breathing even, pretending to be asleep, probably for her parents, Charlie and Renee's sake, so they wouldn't suspect a thing. Soon as he saw she had awakened, heard a change in her heartbeat, he moved, one of those fast, easy movements, too fast for human eyes to follow, sat by the edge of the bed, took her hands in his. "Oh, Bella, Love, I'm so sorry, I should have never brought you into my world."
She slid her hands out from his, cupped his face, his cold, hard, diamond, pale white skin, smooth and familiar against her fingertips. "Don't, Edward Anthony Cullen-"
He chuckled, low and soft, raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into that half smile she loved, that made her heart beat and breathing speed up. "We're using full names now?"
She rolled her eyes, her lips tugging up slightly at the corners, then became serious again, her fingers stroking his face. "I know," she pressed her forehead to his, "I know what you're planning to do, and it won't work, it'll just leave us both cold and empty, bleeding on the inside, Alice saw it the first time you wanted to try it, came by earlier, told me that if you leave me the future remains the same."
He opened his mouth, as if to remind her that the future was subjective, wasn't set in stone, but she pressed a finger to his smooth, hard lips, her skin tingling at the contact. ""Yes, I know, Alice's visions are subjective, but are you really willing to take that chance, to put me and you in pain, leave me in danger?"
"Of course not." His arms slid around her, stroked over her back, crushed her to his chest. Even through his clothes his skin was cold, and when his lips moved from her cheek, to the hollow at the base of her throat, then to the corner of her lips, she shivered, though it wasn't from the cold, but from pleasure. She heard him sigh, knew she had a couple more precious seconds before he started disentangling himself, his dreaded, perfect self-control slipping back into place. She curved herself around him, trying to hold him to her, though it was futile, he was much, much stronger than she was. "Don't worry, Bella, I know this conversation isn't over, I'm just going to get a couple of blankets to wrap you up, I don't want you getting cold." Edward pressed a kiss to her forehead, inhaling the scent of her skin, her blood, the burn not bothering him too much today, his eyes like melting honey. "I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone."
He moved again, another fast, easy movement that was too quick for human eyes to follow, somehow had her in his lap, cradled against his chest, and waddled in what she thought were ten different blankets less than a second later, without her broken leg hurting one bit. His arms held her tight, crushing her to him as much as he dared without fear of hurting her, his hands running up and down her arms, over her back, able to do so more freely now that he knew his cold skin wouldn't be in direct contact with her own. She hated that, having to have layers upon layers of fabric between them, but she knew it was the way it had to be if she wanted Edward to hold her like this without his overprotectiveness taking over . . . at least for as long as she remained human-because she wasn't giving up, would get him to turn her somehow, live with him forever. "Now," he pressed a kiss to the base of her neck, just below the tip of her ear, "do you mind telling me what dangers I need to protect you from . . . other than your own two feet?"
She wasn't offended, didn't bother correcting him, because if her two left feet would keep him here with her then she would be clumsy on purpose. She smiled a little at the thought, was glad, as she often was, that he couldn't read her mind, but her smile quickly faded, turned into a shudder when she remembered what other dangers she'd been thinking about. She spoke in a voice so low, he wouldn't have been able to hear her if he'd been human. "Victoria, Laurent . . . " Bella shuddered, her heart beating a million miles per minute, wrapped her arms around his neck, clung to him so tight, she'd have been choking him if he'd been human. "The werewolves, Jacob, because I'm pretty sure that if you leave me and I go into the deep state of depression Alice says I will, Charlie will push me to hang out with Jacob, he and Billy are best friends, after all. I'm pretty sure you don't want me anywhere near any werewolves, especially after what you told me, their anger management issues, the unpredictability of their facing."
Edward's arms tightened around her slightly. He used two cool fingers to tilt her chin up, his eyes, the color of purest honey, boring into hers. "Calm down, Bella, I won't let Victoria or Laurent hurt you. As for the werewolves," the hand he had under her chin shifted to stroke over her hair, "yes, you're right, I definitely don't want you anywhere near them, not if I can help it and keep you safe, by my side."
She buried her face against his neck, inhaled the sweet, intoxicating scent of his skin. "Then you need to stay."
He cradled her even closer to him, not afraid to do so because of the many, many blankets between his skin and her own, and she heard a soft smile, contentment in his voice, when he agreed. "Yes, I need to stay, protect my sweet, fragile love, the girl who holds my heart now and forever."
She snuggled herself into him, pressed kisses along his throat, unbothered by the feeling of his inhuman skin-cold, hard, and smooth. "Good, no more thinking about making the decision of leaving me, then, and if you do, Alice will see it, I've asked her to watch for it, let me know, and I'll remind you why you need to stay before you make the wrong decision."
He laughed, soft, low, and musical, opened his mouth, went as if to say something, then went utterly still, having heard something she hadn't, his senses far superior to hers, apart from the fact that he could read minds, she herself being the only exception. He spoke in a low voice, his lips brushing her ear, his cold, sweet breath, as addictive as the fragrance of his skin, brushing over her skin. "Charlie and Carlisle are coming to see you, and Renee isn't far behind."
She reacted automatically, tightened her hold around him as much as she could, clung to him with all of her might. "No, Edward, don't go, I want you to stay." The words were soft, too soft, but that didn't matter because, again, he heard.
His lips and hands brushed over her cheek, her skin, and he tilted her face up to meet his eyes, winking at her. 'Don't worry, Bella, Love, I'll stay right here just like I stay in your room at night, watch you sleep, find somewhere to hide, you, Carlisle, and I will be the only ones who know I'm here, I'll come out again soon as your parents are gone, hold you in my arms."
Edward pressed a light kiss to her lips, then he was gone, along with all the extra blankets he had brought, Bella laying back down on the hospital bed, trying to look inconspicuous. She didn't know where Edward had gone to hide, but knew he was still in her hospital room because he would never break a promise.
She counted the seconds in her head after Edward had disappeared, found his hiding place. About a minute and a half after Edward left her, she heard Carlisle's voice, soft, a whisper, so much so, she had to strain her ears to hear it. " You'd best let me talk to her first, Charlie, she is a young woman, after all, will turn eighteen before you know it." Bella's father must have muttered some kind of response, but his voice was much too low for her to hear, then three quick, soft knocks came at her door, accompanied by Carlisle's voice, "Bella?" Carlisle was doing a great job of pretending he didn't know whether or not she was awake. "Are you awake? It's time for your check up, we will see if, maybe, you can be discharged from the hospital today just in time for prom. "
"Oh, no," she groaned to herself, "prom." Bella heard a low, ghostly laugh coming from Edward at her words. She had forgotten all about prom, the things all teenagers did, what with everything that had happened the past couple of days. She felt a faint sting where James had bitten her and Edward had sucked the venom out. She rubbed lightly at the spot, trying to soothe the ghostly ache. Not that if any of this hadn't happened she would have eagerly gone to prom, she had two left feet, after all, her coordination and balance horrible, but maybe prom wouldn't be so bad, not if she went with Edward.
Another light knock came at her door, accompanied by Carlisle calling her name. Bella?"
She shook her head, clearing it of all worrisome thoughts about dancing, she was sure Edward wouldn't let her fall, wouldn't even let her go all night if that's what she asked for. "Um, yes, Carlisle, come in."
Moments later, the door opened, Carlisle walking in, a soft, genuine smile on his face. He sat down on the edge of her bed, but rather than checking on her broken leg right away, he took her arm, the one James had bitten, his cool, gentle, smooth, white fingers brushing lightly over the scar James's bite had left. "This will fade over time." Carlisle's voice was low, only for her ears and, of course, Edward's to hear. When he spoke again, shifting so he could press a hand gently along her broken leg, his voice was louder, loud enough for Charlie to hear. "Your leg is healing nicely, Bella, we'll put it in a brace and you'll be able to go to prom."
She groaned again, much too low for Charlie to hear, but Carlisle and Edward were a different story, and she heard Edward's quiet laughter again.
The door opened again and Charlie walked in. "You hear that, Bella, you'll be able to go to prom. Maybe you should ask that boy . . . Mike Newton."
Bella blanched, then blushed. It was a very, very good thing Charlie was oblivious to the true nature of her life, because he will probably attribute her cheeks going bright red to the fact that they were talking about a dance and not because she was about to lie to his face. "Um, actually, Dad, the guys are supposed to ask the girls, not the other way around. Besides, Edward already asked me, we're going together." The fact that she was telling him she and Edward were going to prom together didn't mean they actually had to go to the dance. They could go somewhere else, spend some much wanted time alone-maybe their meadow, she'd have to discuss it with him later, when her parents left her hospital room and they were alone again. "Where's Mom, anyway?"
"Talking to Phil, but she'll be here soon." Charlie's face filled with consternation then, and Bella had no idea why. He shot a nervous glance at Carlisle, then looked back at her. "Listen, Bella, I know you're happy with Edward and going to the Cullen's house, but maybe you should try to mix around with your friends, hang out with them while you're at prom, and who knows, the things you may discover about yourself while you're there might surprise you."
Bella narrowed her eyes, an angry, nervous feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. Charlie didn't know how much she loved Edward and he loved her, his first, and only love, Renee, her mother, had left him shortly after she was born. The reason, Renee had told her, was because the decision to marry so young had been impulsive, and she and Charlie were very different. Renee was more free-spirited, childlike, compared to Charlie, a quiet, responsible presence. But that relationship was nothing like the one she and Edward had, deep and loving, mature in a way her parents' relationship hadn't been, Renee wanting too much adventure, while Charlie was the responsible one. "Dad, I love Edward, okay. If I start hanging out more with my other friends, particularly Mike, as you want me to, he'll probably get the wrong idea. Besides," she added, throwing a quick glance and smile at Carlisle, "Esme and Carlisle don't mind if I'm at their house all the time."
Carlisle gave her a small smile and shook his head, which Charlie didn't notice because he was busy looking anywhere in the room but at the two of them.
Charlie threw his hands up in a defensive gesture, looking uncomfortable. "Okay, okay, I get it. I'm going to go check on your mother, will be right back." Charlie went out of the room shaking his head and muttering incoherently, at least to Bella's ears, to himself.
Not even a second after the door closed, Bella felt Edwards cold, but very loving arms, along with the extra blankets he had brought, around her, his lips pressed against her hair, his sweet, addictive breath washing over her skin. "So," his voice was casual, "we're going to prom?"
Bella shook her head, buried her face against his chest, hiding and cooling her heated skin. "No. I was actually thinking you could pick me up and we could go to our meadow, spend some time alone. Prom will probably last a couple of hours and Charlie won't expect me back till late Into the night, it's perfect, though maybe you can kidnap me and bring me to your house after you 'drop me off' and I fall asleep."
He cupped her face, looked intently into her eyes, thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe we should do both." Bella was about to interrupt him, tell him that going to prom wasn't necessary, not really, but he held up one cool finger, touched it lightly to her lips. "Let me finish, Bella. We'll only go to prom for a little-a very, very little, just long enough so people can see us, say that we were there if asked, your father is the chief of police, after all, I'm sure he'll ask around here and there, just to make sure you went, then we can go to our meadow."
Edward's whole face and being suffused with love then, his eyes the color of purest honey alight. "As far as me kidnapping you after I 'drop you off,' bringing you to my house to spend the night, that can definitely be arranged and accomplished without Charlie noticing, though I'd need to bring a bed into my room before then." Edward shrugged lightly. "Oh, well, it's a good thing I have two nights to figure that out." He cocked his head slightly to the side, listening to something Bella couldn't hear. "Charlie and Renee are coming back, we'll continue planning later." He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, and then he was gone again, back in his hiding spot.
Charlie walked back in, Renee behind him. They sat beside Bella so she was sandwiched in between, each taking one of her hands. "So," Renee begun, "Charlie told me Dr Cullen here says you'll be able to go to prom and be discharged from the hospital." Renee looked flushed as she spoke, as if, for some random, inexplicable reason she was embarrassed.
Bella turned to look at Charlie, saw he was acting very similarly to Renee, with a few minor, but key differences. He refused to meet her gaze when she tried to catch his eye, but wasn't flushed, was calm and collected, as usual. What was going on? What were her parents up to? They didn't usually team up, not like this, anyway, they were much too different, with Renee being the reckless one and Bella having to act as the parent, stop her from trying her most crazy, reckless plans and dutifully agreeing to the ones that were mild. "Yes?" It was hesitant, slow, the question.
Renee gave her hand a light squeeze. "Have fun with Edward at prom, but not too much fun, okay? Don't do anything that could have serious repercussions for the rest of your lives-at least not without the proper precautions, you both are so young. I know how it can be, how you can feel with hormones raging through your body-"
Bella nearly choked on her own saliva, her cheeks going bright red and hot. She held her hands up to stop Renee in her tracks. "Okay, okay, Mom, Dad, I get what you're trying to say, but don't worry, nothing like that is going to happen, Edward is very old-fashioned and a gentleman." And knowing him, other than wanting to be married before they did anything like that, he'd probably insist on going somewhere with very, very hot weather if they were going to be naked together so his cold skin didn't bother her and was actually soothing.
Renee padded Bella's hair. "Being old-fashioned is good, I'm glad we got that sorted." She bit her lip. "I've got to get to my hotel and pack. Now that I know you're okay, I told Phil, he bought me a plane ticket back to Phoenix which leaves in five hours, says he has a surprise for me. Hopefully I can make it in time, otherwise I might have to wait for the next available flight."
Bella sighed internally. It was so like her mother to attempt to do something which she didn't even know if she could accomplish. And Phil, her husband of almost two years-he should have known better, been responsible, bought a plane ticket for tomorrow. She took a deep breath, composing herself, then stretched up as much as she could to hug her mother. "Alright, Mom, have fun, don't forget to email me when you get there, tell me all about the surprise." Bella turned to Charlie. "Go to work, Dad, I'm fine, really, Carlisle here can take care of me."
Charlie looked torn, glanced at Renee, who was already disentangling herself, getting ready to leave, the door, then back at Bella. "Who will drop you off at home if I go to work? I don't want you driving just yet, not in your current condition."
Carlisle set a hand on Charlie's shoulder. "It's fine, Charlie, I can get Edward to come pick her up, the school day is almost over anyway."
Charlie jumped, probably having forgotten Carlisle was there at all, but he composed himself quickly. "Okay," he agreed quickly, partly because Carlisle was kind, and partly because of the Cullen charm. "I may be back late tonight, I'm going to swing by Billy's, tell him all about your recovery."
Bella faked enthusiasm and tried to act nonchalant. "Sounds good, Dad, have fun."
Both of her parents walked to the door, calling, "Love you," on the way out, Bella responding in kind.
Soon as her parents were gone, Edwards arms were around her, his lips being pressed from her cheek, to her jaw, to her lips. They reacted to him, her lips, warm and soft and yielding, shaped themselves around his. Her arms twined themselves around his neck, his fingers tangling themselves in her hair, one hand stroking over her back. After what felt like seconds, his hands came up to gently, softer than a feather, cup her face, pull her away from him. "Ah, Bella, much as I would like to continue with this, we'd better stop, let Carlisle put the brace on your leg so I can take you home."
Carlisle must have gone out of the room at some point, gotten the brace, because soon as Edward let her go, disentangling himself from her, he made quick, gentle work of putting the brace on. "Alright, Bella, you're good to go." Carlisle paused, tapped a finger against his lips. "Perhaps it's best that you don't go to school until after prom night. I'll make sure Edward can be excused from school, too, I know how miserable you two are when you're apart."
Bella and Edward both gave Carlisle a grateful look, but it was Bella who spoke, the words she said coming from the two of them. "Thank you, Carlisle."
Edward helped her up and off the bed, his arm snaking around her waist and taking most of her weight. His lips pressed to her forehead, his cool, sweet breath soothing against her heated skin. "Come, let's get you out of here now, I know how much you don't like hospitals."
As Edward gently, slowly, carefully, towed her to the car, then helped her in, she tried to come up with away that she could make Edward comply with her wishes, make him turn her so they can be together forever. He got in on the driver's seat, started the car, was quiet for a couple of minutes, but eventually the curiosity of her mind, what she was thinking, became too much for him. He placed one hand over hers, his fingers lightly, rhythmically, gently, brushing over her skin. "Would you please tell me what you're thinking, Bella? You've been quiet for some time, and your quiet mind, impenetrable to me, is driving me crazy."
As Edward spoke the last steps of her plan fell into place. She hoped and prayed that she knew him as well as she thought she did, otherwise this was going to be very awkward and embarrassing. She squared her shoulders, stealing herself for whatever response he would give her, then turned to him. "I'm trying to figure out a way to make you turn me, because though I can ask Carlile, and he will probably be a little bit more willing than you, I don't want to do so unless I absolutely have to for two reasons. One, I don't want my asking Carlisle, along with my eventual transformation if I do, to drive a wedge between us, and two, I want it to be your venom, coming from your mouth, that changes me, one more thing that binds us together, ties us inextricably. I don't care that if it's a different vampire's venom that changes me it doesn't make a physical difference-I stil want it to be yours, it's an emotional thing, one more symbol of our love."
She could tell he was about to interrupt her so she lifted a hand, pressed it to his cheek. "I know what you're going to say, that I should have a human experience, blah, blah, blah, blah, but I don't want those things, I want you, to stand by your side, be yours in every way forever. I know what this means to you, because you come from a different time, the beginning of a different century, and I'll marry you if that's what I have to do to get you to change me. There will never be anyone else for me, I'll never fall in love with anyone else, just as you won't, so there is no point in waiting, really." Bella bit her lip, took a deep breath. There's one human experience that I do want to have before you change me, though, I want you to make love to me."
His reaction wasn't what she had expected it all, but it wasn't a bad one, either, one she would complain about. He stepped on the accelerator of the car, turned it hard and fast, making the wheels squeal, pulled over at the side of the road the first chance he got. Not saying a word, he reached over, took off her seat belt, brought her into his lap, making sure to be careful so he didn't hurt her broken leg, then proceeded to kiss her until she was breathless, his tongue, cold as ice, lightly and slowly running over her lips. When he pulled away, left her practically hyperventilating, he crushed her to his chest, rocked them back and forth. "Bella, Bella, Bella." Edward pressed a kiss to her hair, leaving his lips there for a moment. "Thank you, Love." He cupped her face, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. "You really mean it, you'll marry me?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself even closer to him, taking advantage of his lapse of self-control while she could. "Of course, I'd never play around with your heart like that, tell you something so serious if I didn't mean it."
He laughed, loud and joyous and musical, then stopped abruptly. "You know, traditionally, I'm the one who's supposed to ask you, not the other way around."
Bella shrugged, happiness filling her to the brim, her face glowing. "Oh, well, there isn't much that's traditional about you and me."
Edward narrowed his eyes, pressed a gentle, soft kiss to the tip of her nose, then her lips. "Not funny. I have to rectify the situation somehow."
She laughed, radiant with joy because they were both getting what they wanted, snuggled into him. "You can 'rectify' the situation if that's what you want and feel like you need to do, the important thing is that we're getting married and I'll tie myself to you in every way humanly possible before you make me Immortal, turn me into a vampire."
"Hmm," he agreed, gently stroking her hair. He placed her back on the passenger seat, put her seat belt on, took her hand in one of his, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, used his other hand to drive. "Not that I want to make you change your mind prematurely," he turned, gave her a half smile, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, "but do you mind telling me what it is that made you come up with this brilliant plan of yours?"
A small, happy smile tugged at her lips, her blood coloring her cheeks in the form of a blush, and she was sure Edward could feel the heat from it, taste it in the air. "To put it simply, it was the conversation with my parents that got my head turning. I meant what I said when I told them you were very old-fashioned and a gentleman, though they, of course, probably think is because of the values Carlisle and Esme instilled in you, but I, of course, know differently, and I want you to make love to me before you change me. I had a theory that you would be more open to the idea of changing me and making love to me if we were married first so I decided to test it. " A pause, a little vee marring her forehead. "People will probably talk when they learn we're engaged, say that I'm either crazy or pregnant, as people traditionally don't get married so young these days, but I don't care because again, you and I are not traditional in any way." Bella looked out the window when she finished, saw they were almost at her house, all thanks to his speedy driving.
"Hmm." Edward was thoughtful now, and when she looked at him out of the corner of her eye, she saw he was glowing, his whole body radiating joy and love. "You're right about that, but we're definitely more traditional than my entire family combined. It may have been short, but we did have a courtship and they didn't, not a normal one, anyway." He parked the car, turned off the engine, took off her seatbelt, and brought her back onto his lap, always so careful and gentle so as not to hurt her broken leg. His arms came around her lightly, stroked over her back, her arms, her face. "Is there a specific date you want our wedding to be on?"
She leaned into him, pressed a kiss to his still heart, felt him shudder at the contact, cradle her even closer. "I didn't think that far ahead, but the sooner the better, I don't want to be much older than you when you turn me into a vampire."
"My sweet, beautiful Bella, my bride to be." Edward kissed her, soft and light, spoke with his lips centimeters away from hers. "You don't look old, but as I want you to be my wife as soon as possible, too, I won't object, we still need a specific date though." His eyes went somewhere far away for a moment, then refocused on her. "We can hammer out the specific details after we leave prom, when we go to our meadow. I wonder if Alice has already seen you in your dress. If she has, she'll probably keep me from seeing it in her head."
He took off his seatbelt, lifted her into his arms, carried her out of the car and into the house, jumping in through her open bedroom window. Gingerly, he laid her down on her bed, then came to lay down beside her, pulling her to his chest, his arms coming around her, holding her close. Using his usual speed, because there was no need to pretend that he was human, not when they were alone-he wrapped her duvet and blankets around her, then began to hum her lullaby, his voice, so beautiful, it would never belong to a human, lolling her to sleep. "Rest now, sleep, my Bella, my beautiful bride to be, and don't you worry about a thing, our wedding and honeymoon will be perfect. Perhaps I will learn how to cook so I can surprise you, make you meals."