SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM THE BONFIRE, formed a thick gray cloud in the skies above, and when they were done, had burned all of her old clothes, the rubbish bags empty, Edward turned Bella to face him, kissed her, soft, honey-sweet, and deep, deep as he was willing to without fear of hurting her. His arms came around her, half lifted her off the floor so he didn't have to bend and she didn't put any weight on her broken leg, Bella's arms, too, coming around his neck, her fingers knotted in his hair, pulling at the soft strands that were akin to silk. She felt the sun hit their skin, instinctively knew they were both sparkling and glowing like the heart of flames, too, the glow coming from Edward's skin reflecting off of Bella's skin and vice versa, augmenting it. He broke the kiss, letting her breathe, moved on to her neck and throat, kissing along the skin there. As he kissed her, Bella thought of the bond Edward and Elizabeth had, of how much he physically resembled his beloved mother, her beautiful fiance and future husband. "You, my love, you look a lot like your mother, Elizabeth, have almost the same coloring and facial structure."

Edward tilted her head, exposing her throat further, pressed sweet, opened-mouthed kisses up and down the line of it, his thirst held firmly in check. "I may have my mother's coloring and facial structure, but I have my father's bones, body structure, a strong jawline, my body tall and strong, slightly muscular in a way that is noticeable, especially if I have my shirt off, but that is not overbearing, like, for example, Emmett's body is."

A bright, blinding flash of white light, followed by Elizabeth's voice, filled with deep, motherly love, both for Edward and Bella. "Hello, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, such a beautiful home you have built, filled with deep, sentimental value and hidden meaning."

Edward set Bella down, cradled her to him in a way that was polite for company, but that she was pressed up against his body. "Hello, Mama." The love for his mother in Edward's voice was incandescent, bright and pure. "I thank you for the compliment, Mama, I tried to make this small, modest cottage resemble my childhood home in Chicago, where you, my beloved mother, raised me with so much love and care, along with our family country houses in England which you took me to as a child so that I forgot not where I came from, my ancestors, as I missed you, wanted to feel close to you, and Esme wished not for me to leave, go out of state, though neither she, nor the rest of my adoptive family knew the true reason behind my leaving."

Elizabeth stepped forward, already corporeal, took Edwards face between her hands, kissed his forehead, stroked his hair as a mother did her child's. "I know, my beautiful boy, as I missed you, too, longed to be with you, but it is alright, I am here now and I am not going anywhere, leaving you ever again." Elizabeth let go of Edwards face, turned her attention to Bella, cupped her face, pressed a kiss to her forehead as a mother did her child. "And you, my son's bride, his heart, how are you? I trust your plane ride went well?"

Bella leaned forward, kissed her future, biological mother-in-law on the cheek. "I am well, thank you, Elizabeth. "Yes, our plane ride went well, I slept through It."

Elizabeth dropped Bella's face, touched her knuckles to Edwards cheek, Edward bending down to make it easier for his mother. "Alright then, let us go inside so that I might take the measurements for your off-the-shoulder chemise, begin to design it, sketching it, then actually start to make it, as I have brought the fabric we will need with me, my son's bride, Bella, beautiful, darling girl."

Edward pulled Bella closer to him for a moment, pressed a kiss to her forehead, took her left hand, set it against his chest, over the still organ that was his heart, his words, when he spoke, directed to his beloved mother, Elizabeth. "Do you want me to leave, Mama, go on a quick hunting trip, so that you and my Bella, my beautiful bride-to-be, can design her off-the-shoulder chemise, discuss it at leisure, without fear of accidentally being overheard by me? Also, can you help her unpack, arrange the new clothing I bought for her while we were in Chicago, help her bathe, too, when you have finished helping her unpack, as Jacob, that filthy, immature, vile, wretched, rabid dog was not only in Charlie's house but in her room, her private space, and my Bella, she wishes to wash away his filthy, disgusting scent."

"Yes, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, I reckon it is best if you leave while your beautiful bride and I are discussing her off-the-shoulder chemise, designing it, though you should take your phone with you so she can call you when we have finished, as I want to spend some family time with the two of you. Of course I can help her unpack and bathe, you need not fret over that." A pause, Elizabeth's eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring her forehead, her deep, emerald green eyes filled with deep, motherly love and concern for Edward and Bella both. "Perhaps it is best if your bride returns not to her father's house even after her leg has healed a bit more if a werewolf is going to go there continuously. Yes, I reckon it is better for her to just stay here, live with you."

Bella flinched, then shivered, and Edward, he must have inferred this wasn't from cold but from fear, because he pulled her closer to him, pressed his lips to her forehead, then the crown of her head. "Alright, Mama, I will take my leave then, go on a quick hunting trip, see if I can find some mountain lions, and when I return, after you have finished discussing my Bella's off-the-shoulder chemise, when she calls me, we will discuss her safety, come up with a plan together, the three of us, and perhaps I will make you and my Bella some tea and finger foods, too." Edward kissed his mother, Elizabeth, light and soft, on the cheek, kissed Bella on the lips, too, light and chaste, yet deep and honey‐sweet.

Then he was gone, his cold arms replaced by Elizabeth's warm, motherly ones. "Come, Bella, my son's bride, beautiful, darling girl, let us go inside, where we might discuss and design your off-the-shoulder chemise and I will help you unpack, organize your new clothes and bathe."

Elizabeth carried her inside the cottage just as easily as Edward, Esme, Alice, or any of the Cullens could have, took her to the drawing room, where she sat her down on a long, elegant, soft, comfortable setee gilt‐edged with yellow gold, shifting her body carefully as she needed to take the measurements for her off-the-shoulder chemise. Bella watched, fascinated and enthralled, as her future, biological mother-in-law first sketched a draft of her off-the-shoulder chemise, asking Bella what kind of detailing she wanted and carefully drawing it with extreme detail, then, out of seemingly thin air, she produced a light, soft white cotton fabric, along with intricately detailed lace, began making her off-the-shoulder chemise fast, Elizabeth's speed reminding her of Edward's, though she wasn't a vampire. It didn't surprise Bella, this little discovery, for Elizabeth and Edward, mother and son, they had so much in common, not only their physical traits, but their mannerisms as well.

When Elizabeth was about halfway through making Bella's off-the-shoulder chemise, she paused, made it disappear, fade away, told Bella they'd worked on her wedding outfit long enough for one day, that she'd help her unpack and bathe now, but there was only one problem, she didn't know where the bathroom, nor her and Edward's bedroom were. "Um, I don't know where the bathroom or my and Edward's bedroom is, this cottage is quite new, unfamiliar to me, I have to call him to ask so he can show us where to go, but I want to ask you a question first."

Elizabeth took Bella's hands in hers, gave them a light, affectionate, motherly squeeze. "Then ask, beautiful, darling girl, what answer do you seek from me?"

Bella blushed, heat coloring her cheeks. "Can you be the only one to help me put on my undergarments when helping me get ready, preparing me to walk down the aisle along with Alice and Esme?"

Elizabeth's smile was soft, her deep, emerald green eyes filled with happiness and deep, motherly love. "Of course I can be the only one to help you put on your undergarments if that is what you want. Neither Esme, nor Alice will be able to stop me, argue with me, beautiful, darling girl, not if that is what you want."

Bella nodded, reassured and relaxed. "Thank you." She pulled out her phone, called Edward.

He picked up on the first ring, his beautiful, angelic voice filled with love. "Bella, Love, have you finished discussing your off-the-shoulder chemise with my beloved mother, Elizabeth, can I return home, back to you, now?"

Bella could hear the love and longing exuding from her own voice when she answered him. "Yes, but I haven't bathed or unpacked yet, as I don't know where the bathroom or our bedroom are, can't show your beloved mother."

Bella could faintly hear wind as Edward ran, was likely returning home, to Bella, as he spoke. "I am sorry, Bella, I should have showed you where our bedroom and the bathroom were before I left, fret not, though, as I will be there soon, perhaps in about ten minutes."

Bella hung up, a smile on her face, decided to use the time she had left alone with Elizabeth to learn everything about her beautiful fiance and future husband she could. Of course, ten minutes wasn't nearly enough, Bella couldn't ask all the questions she had about Edward in that short period of time, and soon Edward was walking into the drawing room slowly, like a human, so as not to startle Bella, knocking lightly on the wall. Bella looked up, away from her biological, future mother-in-law and into her fiance's face. His inhuman beauty, the perfection of his pale, pale snow white skin, it made her heart beat faster, expand with love and joy, for this beautiful man loved her, had chosen her.

Edward walked to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, first, bent down, kissed her on the cheek, then wordlessly took Bella into the circle of his arms. "I trust everything went well?"

Elizabeth made a soft, disapproving, ladylike, playful noise in the back of her throat. "No, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, you will not get me to think of your beautiful bride's wedding undergarments, reveal them to you. You have always had an afinity for people's thoughts, an ability to guess what they were thinking, even as a little boy, but, alas, in this case, you will have to wait until the day of your wedding nuptials to find out what your bride's undergarments look like. Now, pray tell me, my beautiful boy, where is the washroom so that I might begin getting some things ready to help your beautiful bride bathe?"

Edward's smile was soft, filled with love for a mother who'd raised him with nothing but tender love and care, unrepentant. "You know me, Mama, know me as only a mother knows her son, thus I had to try to get you to think of my Bella's wedding outfit with me within a five mile radius. The washroom is straight ahead, up the staircase, the first door to the right."

Elizabeth stepped forward, kissed Edward lightly on the cheek as a mother did her child, then disappeared, had likely gone to the bathroom, leaving Edward and Bella alone in the drawing room.

Edward shifted his hold around Bella so he held her like a groom carried his new bride, took her upstairs, fast like only he could, for it wasn't polite to keep his mother, Elizabeth, waiting, and the next thing Bella knew, they were in a bedroom that was an exact copy of their bedroom back in Chicago—even including the bed, huge and massive, and looking brand new, as if it had never been used, despite its design to look like a bed of old. "This," Edward's sweet, cold breath washed over Bella's skin as he spoke, for he was so very close, his lips just a hair's breath away from her skin, "is our bedroom. As you can see, I tried to mimic our bedroom, my parents' old bedroom in our home in Chicago, even included a bed, though, of course, I knew not when I was creating this place, building this cottage, that I would actually have a need for it, was only trying to bring a piece of Chicago here to Forks. All you need to do to come here is go up the grand staircase, straight ahead. Perhaps my beloved mother, Elizabeth, should call for me when she is finished helping you bathe, about to help you unpack, arrange your beautiful, new clothes, when you are fully dressed so I can carry you here in my arms."

Bella's breath hitched as Edward finally kissed her, his lips coming in contact with the skin of her throat, hovering over her pulse, kissing it over and over and over again. "Is this—our new, semi-permanent home, where you will whisk me away after our wedding nuptials and reception have finished to help me change? Will I get under your skin enough for you to lose control, not of your thirst for my blood, but of your desire to kiss and hold me close, make love to me, be together with me as only husband and wife should be in this bed." Bella tried to keep her voice low, naught but a whisper, mindful that they weren't alone in the house.

He shifted her weight so he held her with naught but one arm, stroked her hair away from her neck, then tilted her head to the side, giving himself further access to Bella's throat, spoke against her skin, even as he kissed it, let his beautiful, but very sharp teeth, lightly, carefully, gently, so gently that it was a caress rather than painful, scrape against the soft, fragile skin, knowing how much Bella liked it when he did that. "Perhaps, though we will have to wait until after our wedding nuptials and reception have concluded, when I whisk you here, to be certain, as even I know not what my reaction will be when I see you clothed in naught but your skin, though one thing is certain, I will have my thirst firmly under control." Edward's voice was low, for Bella's ears only. A soft, butterfly kiss pressed against her lips, Edward's passion, the desire he had to kiss and hold Bella close finely leashed. "Come, my sweet, only love, I will take you to my beloved mother, Elizabeth, so that she might help you bathe, wash away the very faint traces of that filthy dog's stench that are clinging to you."

Before Bella could speak, Edward moved, fast like only he could, and they were in the bathroom in less than a second, where Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, patiently waited, indicated for Edward to set Bella down on the toilet.

"I thank you, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, I will take care of your beautiful bride now, but before you take your leave of the washroom I would have you show me your bedroom so that I might fetch some clothes for her before I help her bathe, and, perhaps, as you will be making tea for your Bella and I, it should be a gown appropriate for afternoon tea, which, because I know you, know you as only a mother knows her child, I am assuming you bought for her when you went shopping." Elizabeth paused, her eyes gliding from Edward to Bella. "Of course, beautiful, darling girl—you will only wear such a gown if you are comfortable with it, as neither I, nor my Edward, my beloved son, who loves you with all his heart and soul, will force you to wear anything you do not wish to."

Bella had no idea or context to what Elizabeth, her future, biological mother-in-law was talking about, didn't understand what she meant when she said "a gown appropriate for afternoon tea," but nodded anyway, wanting to partake in this custom, a custom that once, when he'd been human, Edward clearly enjoyed doing with his mother, judging by the way his eyes had lit up.

Edward leaned down, kissed Bella on the lips, soft, quick, and light, then he and his mother were both gone, and, when Elizabeth came back by herself, she was holding a dress that was very similar to the one she herself wore. It was beautiful, the dress, long with short sleeves that were slightly longer than regular short sleeves, made of layered light blue silk chiffon with lace accents at the bodice and an empire waist, and a thin built-in belt that was made out of soft silk chiffon and lace slightly darker than the rest of the dress, highlighting her waist even more, the intricate yet subtle detailing on the lace beautiful.

Elizabeth held closed-toe shoes made of blue leather that matched the color of the built-in belt of her dress perfectly with her free hand, and the shoes, there was no way they would have been worn for afternoon tea, not when Edward was a youngling, because the shoes, they were pumps, had a slight, but very noticeable high heel. When Bella looked at her future, biological mother-in-law confused and questioningly, Elizabeth winked, told Bella, "Let us put a modern twist on your outfit for afternoon tea, and fret not over falling, for neither I, nor my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, will permit it."

Elizabeth gently helped Bella undress, then ran her a hot bath, pouring sweet-smelling oils and all sorts of salts into the water, let her step into the shower, making sure her compression bandages and brace didn't get wet, likely under instructions from Edward, applied a hair mask, waited a couple of minutes, then rinsed it off, before helping her out of the shower, into the warm heat of the bath. Elizabeth lit scented candles all around the bathroom, Bella's bath meant not to cleanse, the shower having already done that, but to relax Bella, wash away any traces of Jacob's filthy, disgusting scent that might be clinging to her. While Bella soaked in the bath, her future, biological mother-in-law, Elizabeth, asked her how it was that she liked her clothes organized and Bella explained in detail. Elizabeth went to Bella and Edward's bedroom to unpack Bella's clothes while Bella herself soaked in the bath, letting her relax.

When Elizabeth was finished, she came back to the bathroom, helped her out of the bath and get dressed, too, sliding a blue silk robe with delicate lace detailing over her body, but rather than calling for Edward when she was done, it was Elizabeth herself who carried Bella to her and Edward's room.

Elizabeth set Bella down on a bench in front of a vanity table that was nearly an exact replica of the one she and Edward had in their bedroom in their home in Chicago, then began working on her hair, surprising Bella when she plugged in a blow dryer, began to dry her hair, using a brush to gently, carefully, comb through it. It seemed that though Elizabeth was born in the late 1800s, the previous century before she herself gave birth to her one and only beloved son, she had somehow kept up with the technological advancements in the world, was very versatile, too, because once she was done drying Bella's hair, she plugged in a curling iron where the blow dryer had been plugged in, used it to create soft, tight, natural-looking curls, making sure the curls closer to Bella's face, her scalp, were tighter and smaller, then created an elegant updo that was like a chignon, but so much more elegant than that, using delicate gold hair pins with pearls at the ends to secure it in place. When she was done with that, she removed her robe, helped Bella into her light blue silk chiffon dress, carefully slipping it on over her head so as not to ruin her carefully crafted hairdo, bent down, put on her shoe.

Elizabeth took off Bella's engagement ring, and, when she saw Bella's panicked, pained look, told her her engagement ring would only remain off for a couple of hours while they had tea. Bella let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, let Elizabeth slip on a pair of elbow length, white silk gloves. Elizabeth turned Bella to face her, stepped back, admired her handiwork, her deep, emerald green eyes filled with motherly love. "Ah, there you are, you are perfect, Bella, beautiful, darling girl. If I had had a daughter alongside my Edward this is what I would have done, how I would have helped her dress for afternoon tea, but, alas, had a daughter after my Edward, I did not, though I have you now, my son's beautiful bride, who are akin to my own daughter, my own flesh and blood, thus I will do all of this with you and so much more, what I never got to do with my beautiful boy because of his gender. Of course, before we do anything like this, I will always ask you if it is something you want and feel comfortable doing, as I do not want to force you to do anything, my son's beautiful bride, his heart."

Bella blushed, her heart expanding with love and joy, for Elizabeth, her future, biological mother-in-law, loved her so, as if Bella was her own daughter, her own flesh and blood, came from her womb. "Thank you, Elizabeth, you've transformed me, made me look stunning, like a lady from a classic, English novel." Bella's eyebrows knitted together, a little vee marring her forehead. "Shouldn't I be wearing a chemise and corset under my dress?"

Elizabeth cupped her face, her touch loving and motherly. "You already are stunning without all of this, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, all I did was enhance your natural beauty, made you look as you would have when drinking afternoon tea with my beautiful boy if the two of you would have met when he was a youngling. As for you wearing a chemise and corset under your beautiful tea gown, yes, traditionally you would have to wear those articles of clothing, especially in a more formal setting, but as it is just the three of us, family, you need not fret over such details. I reckon it is time for my beautiful boy, my Edward, to see you, his beautiful bride. Edward, my beautiful boy, my beloved son, you can come into your bed chamber now, see you're beautiful bride, take her to the drawing room in your arms, where we will have some afternoon tea, the three of us," Elizabeth called, her voice no louder than if Edward'd been in the room with them.

He was there in less than a second, her beautiful fiance and future husband, looked handsome as ever in a black tailored suit and white bow tie, his shoes, simple but elegant, made of black leather, the material shiny. His mouth dropped open when he saw Bella dressed as she would have been for afternoon tea in his youth, then slowly curled into a smile, his beautiful golden eyes blazing, filled with love and happiness. Slowly, deliberately, he walked over to Bella, crouched down in front of the vanity bench, took her gloved hands in one of his, caressed her face with the other, drawing her to him, thumb tracing her cheekbone. "You look beautiful, Bella, Darling, truly stunning, Love." He kissed her, soft and honey-sweet, but still remained polite for company, for they were in front of his beloved mother, Elizabeth. "I thank you for this, Mama, never in a million years would I have thought I would get to see my Bella dressed like this."

Elizabeth's deep, emerald green eyes were filled with happiness and deep, motherly love, both for Edward and Bella. "I, along with your beautiful bride, am very happy indeed that you like this, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son. Come now, both of you, let us go to the drawing room, where we will talk at leisure, have some afternoon tea."

Then Elizabeth was gone, was likely in the drawing room, Edward taking Bella into his arms, following after her, moving fast like only he could. The drawing room was set up beautifully, a small, beautiful, walnut wood table with intricate detailing at the legs and the edges of it at the center of the drawing room, between two pieces of furniture containing more than enough room for three people to sit in them. On the table was a three-tier tray containing scones, Victoria sandwiches, and cucumber sandwiches, and also on the table, Bella was surprised to see, were not two but three teacups and saucers, along with, of course, a matching teapot, small creamer, and teaspoons. Elizabeth was already sitting down on the chaise longue, drinking her tea, a scone, which she'd prepared the Devonshire way, on her saucer, along with a Victoria sandwich.

Edward sat down on the elegant setee opposite his mother, Bella on his lap, one arm around her waist. He poured her a cup of tea, prepared it just the way she liked, added just a splash of milk, handed it to her, then prepared a scone for her the Devonshire way, placed it on her saucer, along with a Victorious sandwich. Bella was surprised, shocked, actually, when Edward poured himself a cup of tea, prepared it very similarly to the way he'd prepared Bella's, along with taking a scone, placing it on his saucer, along with a Victorious sandwich. Bella watched, even more in shock, as he took a bite of his scone, then took a sip of his tea, closed his eyes, a small, happy, contented smile playing about the full curve of his lips. Bella was about to ask him why he smiled like that, when human food tasted like dirt to him, but his beloved mother, Elizabeth, asked another question, her love for Edward clear in her voice. "When was the last time you had proper afternoon tea, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son?"

Edward still had his eyes closed, though he took another sip of his tea, along with another bite of his scone, stroked a hand gently, slowly so as not to ruin her hairdo, over Bella's hair. "The last time you and I had afternoon tea together, about two days before we went to the hospital with the Spanish Influenza, as I did not attempt to have afternoon tea after I became a vampire, for Carlisle told me it would taste like dirt to me. At first I believed him not, was doubtful, but when he 'trained' me to act human, made me practice eating human food, swallowing it, I saw he was right, stayed far, far away from human food if I could after that." A pause, Edward's eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring his forehead. "Why is it, Mama, I can have afternoon tea with you and my Bella now without it tasting like dirt to me, actually tasting quite exquisite?"

Elizabeth stood up, went to sit beside Edward and Bella, placed her teacup and saucer on the table, put her arms, motherly and loving—around them both. "It is because of the same reason I can have afternoon tea with the two of you, though I have no need for human sustenance, why you can control your thirst, do things a vampire usually would not be able to do, kiss and hold your beautiful bride close without draining her of her blood, though her blood calls to you as no one else's blood ever has—love, my beautiful boy."

Elizabeth reached over, ruffled Edward's hair affectionately as a mother did her child's. "The love you and your beautiful bride share, along with the bond and love you have for me, it is so beautiful and pure, it permits you to do things you usually would not be able to do, makes you very different than the rest of your adoptive family, the Cullens. That being said, however, human food, it will not be the most delicious thing you taste, nor satisfy you, as only blood can do that, for you are still a vampire, Immortal and unkillable by any human means, no matter that you can do things other vampires cannot. Fret not, my beautiful boy, for I know you, know the workings of your mind, and no, you need not choke up the food you will eat here now later, as it will dissipate harmlessly inside your body on its own. This, however, you, my beloved son, you being able to eat human food without it tasting like dirt to you, it only applies in certain situations, such as when you are with me, or your beautiful bride, or both of us together, have a true, pure desire to share something with us, not when you are being forced to eat, play human."

The laptop which Bella hadn't realized Edward'd set up on the left hand side of the setee began to ring, Alice's picture coming on the screen. Edward shifted, his right hand hovering above the mouse while his left hand remained around Bella, cradling her to him, fitting her to the stone shape of him. "That will be Alice, as I asked her to look ahead for us again, see what the best time is to tell Charlie about our engagement is, see whether it remains the same and what Charlie's reaction to the news will be, which she will be able to see, for, be with my beloved mother, Elizabeth, when we go see him to tell him we are betrothed,we will not, nor am I bothering to keep that part of our future hidden from our adoptive family. I know not why she is calling this way, via video and not on the phone, but I suspect it is so that she can get a sneak peek of your chemise."

Edward clicked on the answer icon, Shifting the laptop so the camera would capture the three of them, Alice's face almost immediately coming on camera, her mouth dropping open when she saw how Bella, Edward, and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, were, what they were wearing and doing. The fact that Edward had a small stain of strawberry jam on his lips, which Bella could see reflected on the laptop screen, indicating he was deliberately and willingly partaking in eating human food for seemingly no reason at all couldn't help Alice's shock much. "What are you two doing, Edward Anthony Cullen and Isabella Marie Cullen?"

Edward shifted, cradled Bella closer to him, and Bella, for her part, she kissed him, soft and honey-sweet, letting her tongue dart out to lick off the stain of strawberry jam on his lips, the way she kissed him obscured from public view by the way Edward had her cradled against his body. It was Edward who broke the kiss, pulled away, kissed Bella gently on the cheek, looked straight into the laptop's camera, yet also at Alice, his beautiful eyes glowing, the happiness and love exuding from him clear on his face. "Having some afternoon tea with my beloved mother, Elizabeth, a tradition which she and I have been doing ever since I can remember, and now I am happy that my Bella, who will be my wife in just a couple of weeks time, can partake in it, too."

"Weren't your mother and father born and raised in Chicago? Having afternoon tea, it's something very English, not at all American." Alice shook her head, and Bella could see her gears turning. "And why are the three of you, Bella, your mother, Elizabeth, and yourself, dressed like that, so elegant and formal?" Alice shifted her attention from Edward to Bella, glared at her, her eyes narrowed. "And you, Bella, you would throw a fit if I tried to dress you up like that, but you let Elizabeth, your future, biological mother-in-law, dress you up really nice and elegant, put you in what is no doubt a very expensive dress, without so much as a complain, do your hair, too?"

Edward glared at Alice, let Bella hide her face against his chest, his beloved mother, Elizabeth, running a hand soothingly, gently so as not to ruin her hairdo, over her hair, her touch emitting deep, motherly love—while she let Edward deal with Alice how he would. "That is quite enough, stop questioning my bride, she is not your own, personal life-sized doll or Barbie, can wear whatever she wants however she wants, let whoever she wants help her get dressed, need not explain herself to you or anyone else, for that matter. Did you look ahead for us yet, try to see what I asked you to try to see?"

Alice glared at Edward, then rolled her eyes, smiled good-naturedly at him. "So overprotective, you and your mother both. Fine, I won't question Bella anymore, will just let her be, have to accept the fact that, for some reason, she is more comfortable with your mother, Elizabeth, helping her get dressed and ready than me. Yes, I did look ahead for you and Bella again, saw what you wanted me to try to see, and the best time to tell Charlie about your engagement will be tomorrow around noon, when you've finished taking the test. He'll be shocked at first, think Bella is pregnant, as people traditionally don't get married so young these days, but he'll be fine with it eventually, especially after Bella offers to take a pregnancy test and the two of you tell him you'll be graduating High School early. For some reason, which I have no idea about, he'll ask Bella if she wants to move in with us, the Cullens, to facilitate the wedding planning, make it easier for all of us."

Edward nodded to himself. "Alright, thank you for looking ahead for us, along with the heads up, Alice, Bella and I really appreciate it."

Alice nodded. "You're welcome, I'm happy I could help, I don't know why, but you've changed a lot in a short period of time." Alice shook her head, smiled again. "I'm really happy for you, Edward, out of all of us, you're the one who deserves happiness the most. I'll see you tomorrow when you and Bella come take the test."

"I thank you, Alice." Edward hung up before Alice could say anything else, change her mind.

Edward turned to his beloved mother, Elizabeth, was about to tell her something, but she spoke before he could, standing up and placing her teacup and saucer on the table. "I should take my leave now, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, leave you and your beautiful bride, give you some privacy, as I am sure you want her to go to sleep early tonight, as you will be rising early tomorrow so you can take the test."

"Wait," Bella called, startling Edward and his mother, as well as herself, "there's something we should discuss as a family before you go."

Elizabeth sat back down, took Bella's hands in hers, Edward gently, carefully so as not to ruin her hairdo, running a hand over Bella's hair, both mother and son speaking at once, together. "And what is that?"

Bella bit the inside of her cheek, looked between Edward and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, her cheeks flushed, as if Elizabeth had applied rouge. "Well, I know you, Elizabeth, said that you would assist our wedding, but that perhaps we should meet somewhere private so we don't scare Charlie or any of the wedding guests, but I want you to be there, on the front row, to be able to see you as Edward and I say our wedding vows, and I'm sure Edward, my beautiful fiance and future husband, wants the same thing, too." A pause, Bella's eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring her forehead. "I don't know how we can achieve that, though, you coming to our wedding, being seen by everyone, as everyone believes Edward's whole family is dead with no surviving relatives, the reason why he was adopted by Carlile and Esme, and the resemblance between the two of you, the fact that you're mother and son, is unmistakable."

To Bella's surprise, Edward tilted her chin up, looked deep into her eyes, his own bright, filled with excitement, and love, both for his beloved mother, Elizabeth, and Bella, his bride-to-be and future wife. "No, that is what Jessica and that vile boy, Mike, told you, but it is not the true public story, they just told you that to simplify it, make it easier, because the true public story is a lot more complicated than that of my adoptive siblings, for Carlisle and Esme knew not when I would take off, decide to go off on my own, and, in addition, I always remained Edward William Masen Evans, my mother's beloved so, at heart, no matter that I took on the Cullen surname. The true public backstory for me is that Carlisle and Esme, family friends, agreed to take care of me, 'adopt' me while my mother took care of some things, then, eventually, she would return for me at some point."

Elizabeth's deep, emerald green eyes, they were shiny, tears cascading down her cheeks, a soft, happy, loving, motherly smile on her lips. She reached over, cupped Edwards face, kissed his forehead as a mother did her child's. "Oh, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my beloved son, never did you forget anything I taught you, the importance of true, loving, family ties, not forgetting where you came from, your ancestors, remained my beloved son, my beautiful boy, through and through, no matter that Carlisle and Esme adopted you, that you spent decades upon decades without me, for I could not see you, not yet."

Edward placed his cold hand over his mother's on his cheek, kept Bella cradled close to his heart with his free hand. "Of course not, Mama, I could never forget what you taught me, no one could ever replace you, my beloved mother, who raised me with nothing but tender love and care until I was seventeen, though Esme and Carlisle treated me as their own, as I didn't completely open up to them, and it is only you, my beloved, darling mother, who knows me as only a mother knows her child."

Elizabeth kissed Edward on his forehead again, stroked a hand over his hair as a mother did her child's, then kissed Bella's forehead, too. "Alright, I will take my leave now, see you both tomorrow, after you have spoken to Charlie, and, perhaps you and I, Bella, beautiful, darling girl, can work not only on finishing your off-the-shoulder chemise, but your bridal gown as well, Esme and Alice need not know what we are doing."

A couple of hours after Elizabeth left, Edward made her dinner, a simple lettuce and tomato salad with some avocado and blue cheese, the dressing a mint and coriander vinaigrette, then carried her to their bedroom when she was done and he'd washed the dishes, fast like only he could—where they practiced for their wedding night and honeymoon, Edward kissing and caressing her body politely for hours, before taking her to the bathroom so she could change, put on her pajamas, before carrying her back to their bedroom, where she fell asleep in his arms, her head against his chest, her ear over the still organ that was his heart.

Edward did wake her up early the next morning with a soft kiss, however, it wasn't as early as Bella thought he would wake her up, gave her breakfast in bed, a leftover scone from yesterday's afternoon tea, along with a bowl of fruit, some muesli, and a cup of tea. When she was finished with breakfast, he cleared her plates away, then took her to the bathroom where she could change.

She went through her quick, comprehensive, skin care routine, before taking a deep, calming breath, reaching for her dress, a dress which she'd brought to the bathroom with her last night when she changed into her pajamas, a soft, velvet nightgown made of deep, royal blue silk. She hadn't had much time to ask Elizabeth, her future, biological mother-in-law a lot of questions about Edward, what with him only taking ten minutes to return home after Bella'd called him, but one thing Bella did have time to ask Elizabeth was what kind of clothes she wore when Edward was a youngling, Elizabeth answering her in detail, telling her that high-class women usually change between four to five times a day, though she herself changed six times a day, then explaining the difference between each outfit according to the time of day and what the woman was doing. Bella wasn't going to change that many times a day, not only because it would no doubt be tiresome, but also because even Alice, who loved clothes and fashion—would look at her as if she'd suddenly grown two heads, but hopefully Edward liked the dress she chose, what his mother, Elizabeth'd told Bella was called a day dress.

Bella should have expected it—Edward helping her choose dresses, gowns that very closely resembled the gowns wore by high-class women when he was a youngling, being so thorough and detailed that not only had he helped her choose beautiful gowns, but also gowns which Bella could change into in the same day, following the schedule his beloved mother, Elizabeth, had followed when he was a youngling.

It was beautiful, the day dress she'd chosen to wear today, made of deep, dark, vibrant blue silk and velvet, embroidered with beautiful patterns of silver thread at the sides of the bodice, the cuffs of the sleeves, and bottom of the skirts. The skirts were long, covered her brace perfectly, and the sleeves, they, too, were long. The dress had an empire waist, with a built-in belt made of soft blue velvet that was slightly lighter than the rest of the dress, emphasizing her waist even more, making it appear even smaller.

She quickly but carefully slipped it on, then reached for the gray silk and embroidered shawl she'd brought along with the dress, wrapped it around herself carefully, because though the sleeves of her dress were long, she didn't want Edward to have any sort of excuse not to kiss her and hold her close should he have the desire to do so, then slipped on her shoe, a simple blue flat. The last thing she did was her hair, carefully so as not to stretch out the curls Elizabeth'd so carefully created, combing her fingers through it, then attempting to recreate the chignon she had her hair up in yesterday, using the same pins Elizabeth had to hold it in place. She looked at herself in the mirror, bracing her hands on the sink, took three deep breaths to calm herself, before turning away from the mirror, her back against the sink, calling, "Edward," her voice no louder than if he'd been standing right next to her.

He was there in less than a second, her beautiful fiance and future husband, leaning against the door frame, gasped when he saw her, his eyes lighting up, blazing, as if a fire, hot and abundant with love, burnt behind his eyes. Slowly, deliberately, he walked over to her, lifted her onto the sink as easily as if she was naught but a feather, took her hands in his, kissed each of her fingers, then her ring, and finally her lips, soft and honey-sweet. "You look wonderful, Bella, Darling, truly beautiful, Love."

Bella felt her lips tugging up at the corners, a flush spreading itself across her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer to her, pulling gently at the soft, heavy silk strands of his hair. "I'm very happy you like this. I was talking to your beloved mother, Elizabeth, yesterday, while we waited for you to come back home, asking her some questions about you so I could get to know you better, and she explained to me how the dress code worked in your youth, what you would have been exposed to, how she dressed, as she and I both know she is your biggest influence." Bella paused, took a sweet kiss. "I don't plan on changing six times a day, not usually, though perhaps I will do it every now and then—nor do I plan on wearing silk gloves while out and about, because I don't like taking my engagement ring off, even if it's just for the tiniest of periods, though I know it would have been considered scandalous back then, when you were a youngling, for me to go out without gloves, but I noticed the way your eyes light up when I dress like this, how you become happier."

Edward took a deep, honey-sweet kiss, exuberant with joy, happiness, and deep, unbreakable love. "Oh, Bella, I care not that you will not be changing six times a day, nor that you will not be wearing gloves when we are out and about, being 'scandalous,' as no one will know that you are being thus, for we live not in the period of my youth anymore, and this—what you are doing, how you are dressing and styling your hair—it is more than enough for me, makes me extremely happy and love you even more, though you had no need to change for me, I already loved you just the way you were before you met my beloved mother, Elizabeth." His arms came round her waist, helped her down from the sink, then lifted her, like how a groom carried his new bride, cradled her to his chest. "Come, my sweet, only love, let us go to the Cullen household, as I got a call from Carlisle while you were dressing, take the test so that we might graduate from High school early, then we will go see Charlie, tell him news of our betrothal."

Before Bella could speak, he moved, fast like only he could, was running out of the house, then through the forest and across the Forks River, slowing down in less than two minutes, when they were closer to the Cullen household, so that by the time they got to the house Edward's run had turned into a light walk.

He set her down when they were in front of the house, his arm coming around her waist, pulling her close to his side, taking most of her weight, and helping her up the steps. The front door was opened by Alice, who was either running very late, it was a quarter past twelve, after all, or not going to school, though today, Monday, was very distinctly a school day. Her eyes widened, nearly bugged out of her head when she saw Bella, the way she was dressed. She opened her mouth, about to say something, likely complain about how Bella wouldn't let her help her get dressed like that, but Edward glared at her, sharp and precise, his beautiful golden eyes going straight to the point, silently telling Alice not to even try to complain. Alice sighed, rolled her eyes. "Fine, Edward, you old-fashioned, overprotective man, I won't say anything to Bella, though I don't understand why she's dressed like that, with a dress that has long sleeves, is very, very long, and wearing a very elegant shawl over it. I mean, it's not like we live in the late eighteen, early nineteen hundreds, or like the two of you are going somewhere fancy—"

Edward pulled Bella even closer to him, fitting her to his side, the beautiful stone shape of him, pressed a kiss to her temple, let out a hiss through his teeth. "Alice." It was a warning, Alice's name, a warning not to continue with her train of thought.

Alice lifted her hands placatingly, palms up. "Alright, alright, fine, Edward, I get it, no need to get hissy about it. Carlisle's waiting for the two of you in his office."

"I thank you, Alice." Edward's words were polite, but curt, and before Alice could say anything else or silently complained to Edward in her thoughts, he took Bella back into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, darted inside the house, to Carlisle's office, tapped lightly on the door, Alice heading in the opposite direction, though whether she was going to school or heading somewhere else, Bella didn't know, nor did she care, really.

Carlisle opened the door, blinked several times, stepped back, likely out of surprise because of the way Bella was dressed, along with the way she'd done her hair. Unlike Alice, Carlisle kept his question polite, was not secretly whining on the inside. "Wow, Bella, you look stunning, truly beautiful. I don't mean to intrude or be rude, but, pray tell me, why did you decide to dress this way?"

Though Carlisle's question had been nothing but polite, Edward let Bella bury her face against his chest, pressed a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her hair, her skin, answered it for her. "My beautiful bride-to-be and future wife wishes to make me happy, dress just how she would have if we would have met in my youth, though I am happy and love her no matter what she is wearing."

Carlisle's eyes brightened, became filled with love, but his love, it was somehow very different from Elizabeth's love, for Edward was her biological son, whom she carried in her womb for nine months, and though Bella wasn't her biological daughter, because that would have been quite creepy and disgusting, Elizabeth, Edward's beloved mother, loved her like one, as if she was her own flesh and blood. Bella supposed this was because she'd known for a long, long time Bella would end up with Edward, brought him back to life, her one and only son, thus it was as if Bella had always been a part of the family, as if part of the Masen, Evans family had been missing up until Edward and Bella met, fell in love. "Ah, it seems being around Elizabeth, your beloved, biological mother, Edward, is influencing the two of you a lot. I am very happy for you, both of you indeed, you deserve all the happiness in the world. I've already printed the test, it's waiting for you in my desk."

"We thank you, Carlisle, my Bella and I." Edward darted inside Carlisle's office, moved fast like only he could, sat down on a chair with Bella in his lap, completed both tests, which consisted of multiple choice questions, and, thank God, for some random, inexplicable reason, probably because the English teachers new Bella and Edward knew all of the English literature classics inside out, had no need to test them—no short answer questions or essays, in less than a quarter of an hour. "Alright, now that this is done, let us go speak to your father, Charlie, tell him news of our betrothal, along with our impending graduation, Bella, my sweet, only and one true love."