The Moon And The Sun

by Rivca

After everything that happened with James, Alice goes to see Bella in the hospital, tells her that Edward is just looking for an excuse, for something "bad" to happen to convince himself that she's better off without him, safer. She also warns Bella of the dire consequences if Edward does leave. When Bella sees Edward next, she confronts him about it, convinces him to stay.

9. 9 THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HOME

Hello, everyone. So I'm just going to make a couple of quick points here, then you can get right back to reading.

First of all, thank you so much for all the follows, favorites, and reviews, I may not respond to them, as I don't want to run out of chapters to give you, work really hard on each one, on top of having my mind divided between this and my book, but just know that I see and appreciate each one of them.

Second, and why this is the case, I don't know, but for some reason, some of the chapter titles of the chapters I have pre-written already don't fit in the designated space gives you. For example, chapter seven was originally called future plans and fast‐forwarding through High School. So here's what I'm going to do, for the chapter titles that don't fit in the designated space, I am going to put them at the very beginning of the chapter, along with the chapter number.

Lastly, I felt I should warn you before anyone comes at me, from this chapter onwards, things start changing very rapidly, becoming different from the books, but the things I changed are either plotholes, things I felt needed to be explained further, or things that simply bothered me.

9

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HOME INSIDE AN OLD ONE

THEY WERE OUTSIDE, in the garage, in less than a second, Edward gently setting her down on the passenger side of his car, a sleek, very fast, expensive‐looking, black Aston Martin, then shutting her door, darting to the driver's seat, getting in beside her, taking her left hand in his, his thumb tracing soft, soothing, gentle circles on the back of it. Not saying a word, he started the car, pressed a button on a very modern‐looking remote, the garage door opening, allowing Edward to drive out, making Bella realize that while the inside of the house was mostly the same as it must have been when his parents lived, Edward must have modernized some parts of it, because there was no way something like this, a garage door opening and closing with the simple push of a button—existed when his father, Edward senior, had built the house.

He drove across the long, winding driveway of their home slowly, letting Bella take it all in, for it was beautiful, littered with all swords of trees and flowers, from different color roses—ruby red, blush, light pink, shimmering white, to heliotropes, lilies, lavender, and so many more, inputting a code in a small, modern security pad when they got to the gates so they would close behind them when they left, making Bella realize he must have a very intricate, modern security system if he was able to open the gates with his bare hand when they got here, hadn't damaged the security system. Once they were past the gates, and they had closed behind them, Edward really stepped on the accelerator, a huge, happy grin spreading across his face, Bella smiling, too.

"The reason why I'm able to keep secrets from our family, along with Alice herself," Edward's beautiful voice broke the comfortable silence, "is because, other than Alice herself, I am the only one who knows exactly how her visions work, as I can hear her thoughts, see the visions she is having as she is having them, thus I have deduced what the 'loopholes, ' or 'blind spots' are, so I can use them to my advantage, keep her, along with the rest of our family, in the dark, not knowing the things I don't want them to know. You, my Bella, already know some of them, like, for example, that the future Alice may possibly see isn't set in stone, or making a split second decision, one so quickly taken, she doesn't have time to see it, but there's two more, two which neither Alice, nor the rest of our family, are aware of."

Edward turned to look at her, his eyes glinting, bright with excitement and a little smug, too. The way Alice's visions work, what she sees, is only the outcomes based on the decisions a person makes, thus I found a way to trick her abilities by thinking of a 'fake' decision, imagining what the possible outcome may be, focusing most of my energy on that decision, all the while knowing deep down I'll end up making a totally different one."

Oh, great, so the only way to keep her future sister-in-law from seeing what she didn't want her to see if she was paying attention, keeping good tabs on Bella's decisions, was to think of a 'fake' decision, focus most of her energy and imagination—about ninety-nine point nine percent of it, on it? How was Bella supposed to do that when she was only human, her brain not having the endless, extra room of a vampire mind?

Edward must have had a pretty good idea of what she was thinking from the way her body stiffened, her hand squeezing his so hard, she'd broken his bones if he'd been human—because he let go of her left hand momentarily, gave her knee an affectionate squeeze. "It seems hard to do, I know, and it is, hence why I am the only one thus far who can pull this off, but, like with all things, it gets easier over time, with practice, I'll teach you how to do it."

Edward turned to glare playfully, affectionately, at her, not needing to keep his eyes on the road to know where he was going, because her fiance, he could look through people's eyes even when his own weren't looking, read their minds. "Of course, if I was talking to any other human, it would be an impossibility for them to be able to pull this off, but since your brain doesn't work like other human brains do, I'm pretty sure you can pull it off, and when you are a vampire, after I change you, it will be a piece of cake. It also helps to keep Alice blindsided if you remain 'undecided,' don't make up your mind until the last possible second, as Jasper is attempting to do now to plan a surprise for her—or if she is distracted, not keeping good tabs on your decisions, focusing on your future, keeping an eye out for something specific. She also can't see the future of something she's not or was in the past, it's why she can see your future though you're not a vampire yet, though it's not as vivid as it would be if you were a vampire, because she was, at some point, human—why she didn't see a problem with you going back home last week, the dog and his father going to see Charlie, why she won't see our future child, be at Edward or Nessy Elizabeth—coming."

Bella let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "So Alice won't see visions of us on our honeymoon, of us . . . having sex, making love, conceiving our future child?"

Edward parked the car right in front of a huge building that seemed to be divided into different stores, turned off the engine, reached over, unbuckled her seatbelt, and brought her over onto his lap, running his hands soothingly up and down her back, letting her hide her heated skin against his chest. "No, Bella, Love, I'd never allow anyone, not even Alice, my favorite sister—to see my wife like that, in the throes of passion, a site that is for my eyes only. Besides, I don't think Alice will be particularly focusing on our future when we go to our honeymoon. Of course, because Alice will be Alice, fierce and protective in her own way, loyal to the end, she'll be keeping an eye out for possible dangers and threats no matter where we are, but she definitely won't be watching our every move on our honeymoon. She's lucky that she can do that, focus on another person's future, not having the person's future she doesn't want to see at a particular moment shouting at her no matter what, able to make a choice, not see what is private."

Edward shuddered, made a face of disgust and revulsion. "You won't believe how obnoxiously loud Emmett and Rosalie's thoughts are when they're in the middle of the act, thinking of doing it, or about to do it. And the images in their heads . . . "

Edward shuddered again, buried his face in her hair, pressed sweet, repeated kisses to it. "Ugh, they are truly vile, mostly filled with lust, because, as I've told you before, Rosalie's quite shallow, vain—though there's a little, a very, very little, love sprinkled in there, too. At least Jasper and Alice, because Alice knows what it's like to sometimes have unwanted images in your head, images you didn't want to see, have the decency to warn me when they want to be intimate without their thoughts or lust getting the better of them, giving me plenty of time to get out of the house, far, far away from them. Carlisle and Esme, of course, do the same. Poor Jasper has it almost as bad as I do, though he can only feel what Emmett and Rosalie are feeling, can then let his feelings out with Alice. It's a very, very good thing we'll have our own, little home, I don't want our future child to be anywhere near Rosalie and Emmett when they get like that."

He took off his seatbelt, got out of the car, Bella still held in his arms, before setting her down, putting an arm around her waist and taking most of her weight. It turned out that the different stores inside the huge building were all small, organic shops, four of the many shops they went to dedicated to one specific thing. The first shop was solely dedicated to fish, though, thank God—there weren't any mollusks or crustaceans, because the smell of them, muscles, shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, and oysters, being just a few, made Bella feel queasy. The second shop, a butcher shop, was solely dedicated to meet and poultry, and Bella noticed how Edward only bought lamb, chicken breast, and some venison. The Third shop was solely dedicated to fruits and vegetables, the smell of them so fresh and delicious, it made Bella's mouth water. The fourth, and final shop they went to that focused solely on something, focused solely on loose leaf tea and herbs.

Of course, because Edward didn't want her getting hurt, was fiercely protective, cared about her health and safety, they kept going back to the car between each shop, Edward putting the groceries away in the trunk. It wasn't until they were back in the car, driving back to their home, Edward having already made a quick stop to buy the heating system, when something occurred to Bella. She turned to Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, who was busy humming along to an old song, perhaps from the late 50s. "Why was everything you bought, even dessert, something like ice cream, organic?"

He turned down the volume of the stereo, glanced at her, lifted her left wrist to his lips, pressed a kiss to the soft, fragile skin there, making her pulse somersault. "Organic food is much, much healthier than regular food, as it doesn't contain chemicals, preservatives, or artificial flavoring. As we'll be getting married soon, in only a couple of weeks, and I'll be getting you pregnant in our honeymoon, and both of us, because I know you take care of yourself, too, have seen you avoid canned or pre-packaged food when cooking for yourself and Charlie—want you to be as healthy as possible, I figured I might as well cook for you using the best, high quality, and freshest ingredients.."

Bella's heart, it kicked, expanded with love and gratitude. Edward, he knew exactly what she liked, had paid enough attention the few times he'd seen her cook for herself and Charlie to know she didn't like putting junk on her body, would rather cook everything from scratch, with the freshest ingredients possible, and so now he was simply helping her to be able to take her diet to an even healthier, higher stander. Bella shifted in her seat, pressed herself closer to Edward, close as her seatbelt would allow, leaned her head against his shoulder, decided to tease him a little just because she could. "Ah, yes, I forgot that you, my beautiful fiance and future husband, are the best doctor in the world, at least that's how I feel, care about my happiness, health, and safety, more than anything else."

Edward input the code, the gates opening, allowing them to enter the long, winding, beautiful driveway of their home, for Edward to drive straight to the garage, park the car, turn off the engine. Then, as if he was on able to hold it in anymore, he laughed, loud and cathartic and joyous and happy, radiant with love. "Careful, Bella, Love, don't let Carlisle hear you say that, say it in front of him, else, he might become jealous." Edward was only joking, Bella knew, because Carlisle—gentle and passionate in everything he did, he wouldn't be jealous, only extremely proud. Edward leaned over, pressed a soft, sweet kiss to Bella's lips that was just a peck. "Stay here, I'm going to go get the groceries inside—will return for you soon."

Then he was gone, came back before she blinked three times, had her in his arms, cradled close to his chest. He opened his mouth, was about to say something, but Bella cupped his face, fingers spread over his cold, smooth, hard, diamond skin, spoke before he could. "Thank you for always taking care of me, worrying about my health and safety, paying attention to everything I do and tell you, even the smallest of details." She pressed herself closer to him, fitting her body to his beautiful, perfect one. "I really don't want to go back 'home,' to Charlie, though I know that is not going to happen for some time yet, wish I could just stay with you, where I don't have to pretend, either here in our home in Chicago, or back in Forks."

Edward didn't move, walk inside their home, simply shifted her weight so he held her with naught but one arm, traced the shape of her eyebrows respectively, stroked her face, following the small, invisible—at least to a human, veins on her skin. "You don't have to thank me for worrying about you, taking care of you, like I told you before, Love, that is exactly what a husband is supposed to do. As for you not wanting to leave me, eventually go back 'home,' to Charlie, I feel the same way you do, but remember, even when you do return to Charlie, you won't be alone for a second." A gentle, sweet kiss pressed against her lips. "Come, my Bella, let's get you inside, to the kitchen so I can cook for you, make you lunch."

He moved, fast like only he could, and they were in the kitchen in less than a second, and the kitchen, it was beautiful. The floor was a light gray color with swirls of white throughout, made of expensive, organic-looking marble. The walls were painted a cool white, and the cabinets and drawers, they were made of wood, were a gray color slightly darker than the floor, the countertop made of white marble. All the kitchen appliances, the freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, oven, and gas stovetop, looked very modern, Edward truly had gone all out when he'd replaced and remodeled the kitchen, despite not knowing he would need it months later. Why on earth he'd bought all the kitchen appliances when he'd remodeled the kitchen, Bella didn't know, he had no need to pretend in his own home, play human. Perhaps it was like Edward said, divine intervention.

Edward set her down on top of the countertop, the space large and wide enough that Edward could cook on it, prepare the mise en place for her meal, with Bella sitting close to where he stood—began taking ingredients out from the fridge, then paused to look at her. Is venison seasoned with herbs and spices, along with a salad, sweet potatoes, and a small yogurt parfait and a cup of peppermint tea for dessert alright?"

Bella nodded, a small, happy smile playing about the curve of her mouth, because she rarely, if ever, got to eat like this when she was in Forks, with Charlie, though she really wanted to, was always, even as a small child, when she had had to learn how to cook to avoid her mother's inventive food that tasted like someone had gone to the garbage, picked up the first thing they could find, and put it on her plate, disguising it as food, something edible—aware of what she ate, put in her body. "Yes, it's perfect, thank you, my beautiful fiance and future husband."

Edward moved fast, was in front of her, laying her body down on the large, wide countertop in less than a second, his body coming over hers, gently pressed against hers. "Do you have any idea how much I like it when you call me that, your fiance and future husband?" He kissed her before she could answer, his kiss hard, but soft, her lips warm and yielding against his, his tongue, cold as ice, darting out to take in the taste of her skin. "I like it a lot, Love, love it so much, it makes my still heart want to beat again. You know, for a seventeen-year-old born in these modern times, you certainly are old-fashioned, like me. I mean, it was you who proposed to me, all so that I would agree to turn you. Of course, I later rectified the situation, proposed to you in our meadow, but no normal, modern, seventeen-year-old would want to get married so young, yet you don't seem to care what people might think of us getting married so young."

A shrug, Bella smile shy and unrepentant. "I guess I'm an old soul, I've always liked old-fashioned things, though, if you'd asked me before I moved to Forks, I'd have never imagined my taste for old-fashioned things would apply to the love of my existence as well, but I wouldn't change a thing."

He helped her sit up, cooked fast for her like only he could, and soon Bella was enjoying her lunch, first the salad, then the venison and sweet potatoes, and lastly the yogurt parfait and cup of fresh peppermint tea with thick, sticky, delicious honey. As was always the case when Edward cooked for her, everything was delicious, perfectly seasoned despite him not being able to taste anything. Bella didn't speak, absorbed in her own thoughts, and, for once, Edward didn't seem to be frustrated by her silence, wanting to know what she was thinking, absorbed in his own thoughts, because, Bella guessed, this house—his human home, must fill his head with memories, memories of his mother, Elizabeth. When Bella was done, he cleared her plates, beautiful, delicate, handmade crockery so old, Bella assumed it must have once belonged to his parents or grandparents.

When the dishes were all washed, which took only a couple of seconds, Edward not having to pretend, play human when he was with her, he lifted her back into his arms, cradled her close to his chest, pressed a soft, honey-sweet kiss to her lips, then her forehead. "Come, my Bella, I want to show you something, a very special room, but I want to give you another piece of my mother's jewelry first."

He didn't wait for her to respond, moved fast, and they were in their room, his parents' old bedroom, in less than a second. He set her down on the bed, walked to the closet, opened it, then opened a huge, old‐looking safe, then took out an old, ornate jewelry box etched with yellow gold and a pattern of white and red roses, lilies, and hummingbirds.

He walked over to the bed, sat down beside her, put an arm around her, cold, gentle fingers spread over her back, used his free hand to open his mother's old jewelry box, quickly, but carefully rummaged through it, his speed so fast, Bella didn't even get a chance to look at the jewelry that was inside, before he was closing the jewelry box, carefully setting it aside. Edward shifted her body, turned her so they were facing each other, his eyes deep and imploring. "I know, my Bella, you don't like it when I buy you expensive things, spend a lot of money 'unnecessarily,' but please remember I didn't spend any money on these, as they belonged to my mother, Elizabeth."

Bella swallowed audibly, reflexively, her heartbeat increasing in tempo, Edward no doubt able to hear it. "I trust you."

Edward leaned in, kissed her, soft and light, a reassuring kiss, before he opened his palm . . . and a pair of beautiful teardrop white gold, blue sapphire diamond earrings shimmered back at her. The blue sapphires were beautiful, delicate, high quality, polished to a high shine, small, white diamonds set all around the contours of it, forming an elegant, intricate, perfect frame. Bella reached out with her forefinger, ran it lightly over each earring, unable to believe what she was looking at, a small, feminine part of her happy that Edward was gifting her not just expensive jewelry, because Bella wouldn't have liked it then, but jewelry with clear, sentimental value as well. "Oh, Edward, these are beautiful, thank you." Bella was aware her voice was low, naught but a whisper.

He withdrew his palm, put the earrings in Bella's ears one by one, careful and gentle so he didn't hurt her. "I'm glad you like them." Bella could hear the relief in his voice, the smile. "Sapphire is your birthstone, and sapphires also symbolize love, romance, and devotion, the birth of a new love." He gathered her into his arms, stood up. "I think it's time for a little slow, wedding night dance practice, and our home has the perfect room for it."

Before Bella could speak, Edward moved again, so fast, she didn't have time to taken her surroundings, and they were in a room large and wide, filled with massive windows, in less than a second. The walls were painted white, decorated with yellow gold 3D designs akin to plaster work, though whether it was real gold or not, Bella didn't know. She looked up, at the ceiling, saw it wasn't just simply painted, but a painting itself, a beautiful mural of a soft, cloudless blue sky complete with hummingbirds and white doves, hung with beautiful, old chandeliers. The floor was white marble, and stuck to the walls in intervals were beautiful, antique candle holders.

Not saying a word and still holding her, Edward walked over to what Bella realized was an old record player, and, shifting Bella's weight so he held her with naught but one arm, arranged it so it would begin to play, a beautiful, old, intricate piano melody—one Bella hadn't ever heard before, filling the room. Edward set her down, his arms around her, taking most of her weight, began dancing with her, waltzing her across the room, effortlessly spinning her around and around, making them look like professional dancers in spite of Bella's inability to walk across even a flat surface unscathed. "This room," Bella's voice broke the comfortable silence, "this ballroom is very beautiful. I know you said your parents, Edward senior and Elizabeth were both born in America, but they seem very British, English, to me. Is that why they named you Edward?"

A nod, Edward's eyes dancing, glowing with love, filled with memories and the little humor, too. "Yes, it was my mother, Elizabeth, who chose the name Edward, for she loved my father so, and my father, in turn, chose the name Anthony, though my mother didn't like it, wanted my middle name to be something else. She later got her way, because when we were alone and my father wasn't around to hear us, she'd call me 'Edward William' instead of 'Edward Anthony,' because, in her eyes, I was always a guard, a protector." A soft, quiet, musical laugh, filled with love, both for Bella and his mother, a woman who he hadn't seen in a long, long time. "Of course, my mother couldn't possibly have known how much the meaning of my names, the names she chose for me, would reflect my personality in the future, though she was very intuitive, my mother, Elizabeth, attuned to people's thoughts, too, so perhaps there was something that nagged at her, told her I'd grow up to be very protective and fiercely loving."

Edward dipped Bella low, pressed a kiss to her throat, where he could feel her pulse, her blood roaring in her veins, let his very sharp teeth, lightly, gently so it was a caress, didn't break skin, for he had no desire to drink her blood, his love for her stronger than his thirst, scrape over her soft, fragile skin, making Bella moan and driving her mad. "Carlisle was witness to how intuitive my mother was, because though he didn't say anything, break the secrecy of him being a vampire, my mother knew he had a way to save me, a way that didn't have to do anything with medicine, and so she begged Carlisle to do it, practically ordered him to save me no matter what, the thought of me, her precious, beautiful boy, dying so young, vile and wretched to her. Carlisle, who saw our bond, brought me close to her bedside so I could say goodbye, knowing she was close to death's door . . . "

Edward trailed off, paused momentarily, his eyes looking shiny, as if, if such a thing was even possible, he would cry right then, these memories obviously painful, though there was a hint of love and joy in his voice when he spoke again, as there always was when he spoke of his mother, Elizabeth. "I remember begging her not to go, leave me alone, because my father had already died from the Spanish influenza—without the person I loved most in the world, because I didn't have you at that time. My mother, Elizabeth, beautiful and resilient, a strong butterfly, she shook her head, smiled, because she knew I would survive, had secured Carlisle's word that he would save me, told me that I wouldn't be alone, that Carlisle would act as my father, not raising me, of course, as she'd already done that, but just giving me support in general, for as long as I needed him to, that I would always have her even when she was gone, turned to dust upon the earth, because she would remain here," he unwrapped one arm from round Bella, touched a hand to his chest, slightly to the left, where his still heart laid hidden within, in my heart."

Bella twined her arms around his neck, pulled him down for a soft, honey-sweet kiss that was meant to comfort him. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, loose your mother, Elizabeth, so young."

He shook his head, kissed her tears away, the taste of them probably salty on his lips. "It's alright, Bella, Love, you need not cry, it was a really long time ago, and though I still love my mother, Elizabeth—miss her everyday, for I have her in my heart always, I'm eternally grateful to her for asking Carlisle to save me, because if she hadn't, I wouldn't have lived long enough to meet you, the love of my existence, and we wouldn't have the possibility of spending forever together now." A sudden, brilliant, beautiful smile lit his face. "See that piano over there?"

Bella turned to where he pointed, mouth dropping open at seeing another old, sleek, black, grand piano she hadn't noticed was in the ballroom before, like the one in the elegant drawing room. How many grand pianos did Edward own?

Edward turned her back to face him, began waltzing with her again, effortlessly spinning her across the room. "Sometimes my parents would throw lavish parties here, not unlike the ones you would expect a great English Country House to throw, and, when I was a young boy, about four or five years old, my mother, Elizabeth, would bade me come sit beside her on the piano bench and we would play a classical duet together. Of course, as I got older, I became better and better at playing the piano, and it became a staple, a tradition in the lavish parties my parents would throw for mother and son to play a duet on the piano together."

Hearing Edward speak of him and his mother, Elizabeth, playing the piano together, made Bella think of something, something that had to do with their wedding in just a couple of weeks time, with her walking down the aisle. She blushed, her skin much too hot all of the sudden, and her heartbeat increasing in tempo. He cupped her cheek, his cold fingers refreshing against her overheated skin. "Such heat under your skin, and your heart is beating very, very fast, like that of a trapped bird's. Tell me, what is it that you're thinking about, Love?"

Bella turned her face, pressed her skin further into his open palm. "It's nothing, really, I was just wondering if you could record a song, a melody on the piano before our wedding, one to which I can walk down the aisle?"

Edward's beautiful golden eyes shone bright, as if a fire burned from within them, and his beautiful, perfect, angel's face became impossibly more beautiful. "Of course I can do that, though Alice will probably throw a fit because it's not someone playing the piano live, but I don't care and you shouldn't, either, it's our wedding, after all." He kissed her, his lips moving softly, carefully, gently, but very passionately, against hers, his tongue, cold as ice, darting out to take in the taste of her skin, her tongue doing the same. He broke away all too soon, letting Bella breathe, asked, "Do you want something classic, like The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn, or something else, something unique, more suited to us, our love story?"

Bella gave him a shrug, twined her arms around his neck again, took a sweet kiss. "Whatever you want, I trust you." A pause, Bella's eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring her forehead as something else regarding her walking down the aisle occurred to her. "We'll have to talk to Alice, the two of us together, make sure she doesn't make the aisle way too long. I don't think I can stop myself from running to you for too long, especially if the aisle is long, and I don't want to trip over my own two feet in my own wedding or make Charlie panic."

Edward's eyes told her he shared her sentiment. "I'll see what I decide to record for you to walk down the aisle, surprise you. As for the second thing you brought up, yes, we definitely have to talk to Alice, make sure she doesn't decide to make the aisle way too long, as I don't think I can stop myself from running to you, either, especially if I see you are about to trip over your own two feet. Don't worry, though, I'll make sure Alice sticks to our wishes no matter what. Speaking of me playing the piano, come, I finished composing the melody I started composing shortly after we got engaged, want to play it here for you now, in this room."

Edward gathered her into his arms, took her over to the piano, sat her beside him on the bench, began to play, his fingers easily, smoothly, like that of a professional, gliding over the keys, a beautiful, intricate, complex, happy, loving melody filling the room, the song he began to compose for her shortly after they got engaged having no sad, melancholic notes. They sat at the piano for hours, Edward only pausing momentarily, for less than a second, when the sky begun to turn dark, darted over to the light switch, turned it on, and when the song finally came to a gentle, loving end, there were happy tears, tears of love and joy, cascading down Bella's cheeks. He played the last note, turned to her, anxious and excited at once. "So what do you think, Bella, do you like it, Love?"

She threw her arms around his neck, lunged herself at him, nearly knocking them backwards. "Oh, Edward, I love it, it's wonderful, thank you." She kissed him before he could say anything, soft, sweet, and deep, deep as he would allow her to.

His arms came around her, in circled her, cradling her closer, crushing her to his chest just for a moment, all the while being careful not to hold her too tight, but all too soon he was pulling away. Before either of them could say anything or Bella could complain, tell him that she didn't want him to stop, a bright, almost blinding, all-consuming, white light filled the room. Edward stood up, pushed Bella behind him, all the while he still held most of her weight so she didn't hurt her broken leg, his body coiled and ready to spring, attack at a moment's notice, his lips curled back into a sneer, for neither of them knew what this phenomenon was, and he wasn't about to let harm come to her, his bride-to-be in future wife.

The light subsided, only . . . no, it didn't subside but coalesced into the translucent figure of a woman, perhaps about thirty-six years old, though she looked a lot younger, as if she was in her early twenties. Her dress was beautiful, long and flowy, the skirts and short sleeves a bit puffy, and, Bella assumed, the woman must be wearing a corset of some sort, because the kind of silhouette the woman had, an s-shaped figure, could only be achieved with a corset and some petticoats. Her dress was a light, soft, blush pink, decorated with a pattern of tulips. Her coloring and physical features, Bella would recognize them anywhere, because they were a carbon copy of Edward's, her beautiful fiance and future husband, the only exception being her eyes, a bright, vivid green, akin to emeralds.

Edward straightened from his predatory crouch, pulled Bella out from behind him, seeming to relax a little, her left hand held firmly in his, cradled her close to his side, his arm gliding down her body in a slow, very loving, languorous caress, coming around her waist and taking most of her weight. When Edward spoke, his voice was soft, incredulous, choked with emotion, as if, if such a thing was even possible, he would cry right then, and what he said, only a single word, it was a question, the question that of a son who was incredulous, yet obviously happy to be seeing his mother again. "Mama?'

The beautiful woman—Elizabeth Masen, stepped forward, already becoming corporeal, her eyes shiny, wet with tears. "It is alright, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my son, it is really me, Edward William." She had a British, English accent, her voice soft, akin to that of Princess Diana, but somehow more beautiful.

Edward walked into his mother's waiting, open arms, pulling Bella right along with him, for he would never, ever forget about her, the love of his existence, no matter that he was seeing his beloved mother for the first time in eighty-six years, nearly a century, and his mother, Elizabeth, she embraced Edward and Bella equally, cradled them as only a mother did her children. "Oh, Mama, I missed you so much." Edward's voice sounded as if he was crying, though, of course, it was impossible for him to cry, for he was a vampire—choked with emotion.

Elizabeth stroked Edward's hair, kissed his forehead, tears of motherly love and joy cascading down her cheeks, mother and son reuniting right in front of Bella's eyes, and Bella, she didn't feel uncomfortable, like she was intruding in this most private of moments, not with the way Edward held her close to his body, his cold fingers spread over her back, and his mother—Elizabeth, embraced her so lovingly and welcomingly, as if Bella was her own daughter, her own flesh and blood, too. "I know, my beautiful boy, but it is alright, I am here now."

Edward pulled away from his mother's embrace, turned Bella to face him, kissed her, soft, quick, and fast, his beautiful golden eyes incandescent with joy and love, both for his mother, Elizabeth, and Bella, his wife-to-be. "Mother, this is my Bella, my beautiful bride-to-be."

Bella blushed, curved herself around Edward in a way that was polite for company, but that made her feel loved and cherished, Edward's arms, too, coming around her, cradling her to him. "It's very nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you."

Edward gave Bella an encouraging smile, and she held out a hand for her future, biological mother-in-law to shake, but Edward's biological mother, Elizabeth, she was having none of that, pulled Bella into her arms, cradled her to her as a mother did her child, even as Edward kept an arm around her, refusing to let her go even for a second. When Bella withdrew from the hug, Edward's mother took her face between her hands, pressed a kiss to her forehead, again as a mother did her child. "Thank you so much, you beautiful, darling girl, for bringing my precious, beautiful boy back to life."

Bella blushed again, her heart beating a million miles per minute, glanced nervously at her ring and bracelet, along with her earrings. They had been a gift from Edward, her beautiful fiance and future husband, all of them, it was true, but they had also once belonged to this woman who held her with so much motherly affection, Bella couldn't help but see why Edward's human memories of his mother survived intact all of this time, despite the fact that human memories tended to fade over time.

Her body language and the way she stiffened must have given Elizabeth a pretty good idea of what Bella was thinking, because she turned Bella's head gently to look at her, shook her head. "No, Child, these pieces of jewelry now belong to you," she turned to look at Edward, her beloved son, touched a hand to his cold cheek, Edward bending down to make it easier for her, "just as everything here, this house, along with our family fortune and our two country houses in England now belong to you, my son. Do not insist on giving anything back to me, either of you, as I cannot bring anything with me where I currently reside, though I am corporeal now, can take this form at will. And before you ask, my beautiful boy—because I know you, know you as a mother knows her child—no, I am not 'hunting' our former family home, a home that is to be filled with new life, and you and your bride will be left alone tonight. I know times have changed a lot since I raised you, that physical, public displays of affection are not as taboo as they once were, for I have bore witness to it with my own eyes, but I also know you, my beloved son, know that while you will not sleep with your bride until the two of you are joined in matrimony, you like your privacy."

Bella blushed, curved herself around Edward even more, but still remained polite for company, and Edward, for his part, pressed a kiss to her forehead, then the crown of her head, his chest vibrating as he laughed quietly. "I have so many questions for you, Mama, but let us go sit in the drawing room where we might talk at leisure." A pause, Edward hesitating, his eyebrows knitting together, a little vee marring his forehead. "Can you eat and drink while in this form? Perhaps I could make you and my Bella, my beautiful bride to be, your favorite tea to drink at this time of day—lavender, chamomile, and rose tea, along with some finger foods to accompany the tea?"

Elizabeth Masen's eyes shone with motherly pride and love so potent, Bella would have felt the need to look away had Edward not already ensnared her in his gaze, and Edward's beautiful golden eyes, they, too, shone with happiness and love, however, the love his eyes held wasn't that of a son for his mother, for he wasn't looking at his mother right then, though he'd glanced briefly at her when he'd asked her the two questions—but at Bella, the kind of love his eyes held that of a groom for his bride. His mother, Elizabeth, stretched up on tiptoe, touched her knuckles to his cheek. "Such impeccable manners you have, my Edward, my beloved son. Yes, I can consume food and drink while in this form, though I have no need for human sustenance, but if you wish to make food for your beautiful bride, I will await for the two of you in the drawing room, and you need not slow down because of me, I already know what you are, my precious, beautiful boy."

With that, Elizabeth was gone, presumably had gone to the drawing room, leaving Edward and Bella alone. Edward turned Bella to face him, took her lips for his own in a kiss that was soft, sweet, and deep, deep as he was willing to make it without fear of hurting her, his tongue, cold as ice, leisurely exploring the seam of her lips.

All too soon, he was pulling away, however, just when Bella thought his lips would leave her skin, they didn't, simply moved on to her neck, kissing hungrily, gently, lovingly, down the hollow of her throat. The way he was kissing her, giving her soft, honey-sweet, cold, loving kisses, it made Bella's mind incoherent, her eyes roll to the back of her head, all of her thoughts going out the window. Bella fought through the pleasure, fought to be coherent again, because she had to ask Edward something, something important. She tried to keep her voice low, mindful that they weren't alone in the house, and she didn't want his mother, Elizabeth, to accidentally overhear. "Edward, my beautiful fiance and future husband, do you think your mother, Elizabeth, has seen us even when our family, Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie haven't? I mean . . ." Bella trailed off, blood coloring her cheeks in the form of a blush, her heartbeat increasing in tempo because what she was trying to ask Edward, it was so private, so intimate, something that should be privy only to the two of them. "Do you think she has somehow seen us practice for our wedding night?"

Edward pulled away from her skin, though he seemed reluctant to do so, rare for him, what with his iron self-control, cupped her face, his cold, gentle thumbs stroking her cheekbones. "No, Bella, Love, my mother, Elizabeth, she would never be so ill mannered. When we were alone, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme out of the house, we were truly alone." He let out a sigh, pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then her forehead. "Much as I would like to stand here with you thus, in my arms, we shouldn't keep my mother waiting too long, it's not polite." He lifted her into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride. "Come, let's go to the kitchen so I can make you dinner, along with some tea and sweet finger foods for my mother, Elizabeth, which you can have for dessert."

He moved fast like only he could, and they were in the kitchen, Bella sitting on top of the counter, Edward preparing the mise en place for her dinner, along with sweet finger foods for his mother, Elizabeth, in less than a second. He ended up making pan seared haddock seasoned with herbs and spices served on a bed of wilted spinach and buttery shiitake mushrooms, along with Victoria sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam, the sweet finger foods for his mother, which Bella was going to have for dessert. Bella ate her dinner, the pan seared haddock, wilted spinach, and buttery shiitake mushrooms, while Edward prepared the sweet finger foods and tea for herself and his mother. He arranged each of the finger foods neatly on medium-sized, delicate, light blue plates decorated with pink and white roses and edged with gold, then took out a matching tea set, strained the tea he'd prepared, poured it into the teapot, then placed everything on a fine white gold tray.

Bella was just eating the last piece of her dinner, not counting dessert, when he finished preparing everything, grabbed the tray, walked to the kitchen door, pausing to kiss Bella, soft, sweet, and quick, on the mouth. "Wait here, please, my Bella, I'm going to go take this to the drawing room so my mother might begin to eat, enjoy her sweet finger foods and tea, will return for you shortly."

Before Bella could speak, Edward was gone, had come back, was taking her into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, cradling her close to his chest, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to her lips. "Alright, let us go talk to my mother, see how it is that she is here, though I very distinctly remember her dying shortly before Carlisle changed me."

Edward moved again, fast like only he could, and they were in the formal, elegant drawing room in less than a second, Edward sitting on a wide, elegant chair with curved armrests and a cushioned back and seat, the upholstery a light cream color that matched the color of the walls, Bella on his lap. Edward's biological mother, Elizabeth, sat across from them in a long, graceful chaise longue, the upholstery similar to the one of the chair Edward and Bella sat on. Elizabeth sipped delicately from her tea, occasionally taking a bite of a Victorious sandwich or a scone, which, Bella noticed, she'd prepared the Devonshire way, with the clotted cream first and the strawberry jam on top. Edward didn't say anything, though he poured Bella a cup of tea, prepared it just the way she liked, while he waited for his mother to speak.

When Elizabeth finally did speak, her voice was soft, filled with the kind of love and pride only a mother could have for her son. "Thank you for these, though you had no need to make them for me, everything is delicious. It seems you have not forgotten what I taught you as a little boy, when you toddled after me, came into the kitchen to see what I was doing." She threw Edward a quick smile, filled with motherly love and happiness. "Of course, your father, he had no idea the things we would get up to when he was not around. Such fun times we had, my son, my Edward. I miss those days, before you wanted to join the army, drove me mad with worry. Alas, I need not have fretted so, for you grew up to be a fine, young man, just as I knew you would, did not, thank God, end up joining the army."

Edward stroked a hand over Bella's hair, wound a strand of it round his finger, the affectionate gesture making Bella sigh, curve herself around him in a way that was polite for company, that she could still drink her tea, eat the scone Edward'd prepared for her. "Of course I have not forgotten a single thing you taught me, Mama, for my love for you, a love only a son could have for his mother, is way, way stronger, a million times more potent than Carlisle's venom." Bella heard Edward swallow, felt him tense a little, his voice sounding strained and hopeful when he spoke again. "What happened, Mama, how are you here, sitting thus with me and my Bella right now? I remember watching you die shortly before Carlisle took me to his house, changed me under your behest. Did you not die? Are you somehow alive, reincarnated perhaps? Where have you been all of these years? Why did you not come to see me sooner? I am not mad at you, Mama, simply curious."

Elizabeth poured herself another cup of tea, took a thoughtful sip. "Oh, my beautiful boy, I can see so many questions in your eyes, such curiosity. I cannot give you the answers to everything you have asked me, as some answers you will learn yourself down the line, however, I will answer what I can now. No, my Edward, my son, I am not alive, but I am not dead, either, this world, it has so many creatures, far beyond werewolfs and vampires, though I am the only one of my kind." A quick pause, Elizabeth looking right at Bella. "Leave your beautiful bride not alone, let her be anywhere near werewolfs, especially during a full moon, as they are quite dangerous, become even more so during a full moon, when the spirit of the wolf is stronger than the spirit of man."

Bella tensed, the memory of Jacob's eyes, filled with nothing but hatred and violence, making her shudder, break out in a cold sweat from fear. Her heart, it started beating very, very fast, and Bella heard her own, loud breathing, realized she was nearly hyperventilating. Edward ran his hands soothingly up and down her arms, her back, calming her down a little. He tilted her chin up, looked deep into her eyes, kissed her, soft and sweet, making her relax, melt into him. "Calm down, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, much less some rabid, feral, immature, teenage dog. You're safe, with me, nothing is going to happen to you, Love."

"And," Edward's biological mother, Elizabeth, interjected, "he is not alone, I will not allow harm to come to you, either, darling, beautiful girl, for you are family now, akin to my daughter, thus I will protect you just as I would my Edward, my beautiful boy, if he needed protecting." Elizabeth waited for Bella to nod, completely relax, before she continued, "when I died, went up to heaven, the angels who are in charge of taking the souls of the deceased to their respective, assigned places, they, along with God, a being powerful and eternal, who has no physical form or substance, neither beginning nor end—saw my suffering, for I did not wish for you, my beautiful boy, to be alone, thus, instead of placing me in the spot assigned for me, they offered me the chance to become something else, something beyond human, though I would not be permitted to see you again until you found your love, became betrothed, was about to get married—"

Edward opened his mouth, was about to say something, but, his mother, Elizabeth, she held up a hand. "No, my beloved son, my Edward, my beautiful boy—for I know you as only a mother knows her child, know what you wish to ask, and no, we have not a limit of time, nor does that you are a vampire now mean you are cursed, for you have not taken a single human life to satisfy your thirst for blood, have grown up to be a protector, just as I had a feeling you would—nor will you be cursing your Bella when you turn her into a vampire. The fact that you are a vampire, my Edward, my beautiful boy, my beloved son, that you and your Bella can spend forever together, it is a precious gift, for they knew in heaven a single, human lifetime would not have been nearly enough for you, that only eternity would suffice, the love between the two of you so strong and pure. Contrary to what Carlisle believes, the gold color of your eyes is not simply because of your diet of animal blood, at least not when it comes to you, but a sign of your potential, what you can become—"

Elizabeth cut herself off, shook her head. "No, I cannot speak anymore of this matter, but know this, my beloved son, so long as you do not take human life to satisfy your, and later, after you get married—your Bella's thirst for blood, you are not a monster, either of you. If later, you, my son's bride, start craving human blood, as there is another possibility, one that entirely bypasses human blood, you can drink human blood from a blood bag to satisfy your needs."

At Edward and Bella's confused look, Elizabeth added, "You may not understand what I am talking about right now, but you will later on down the line, trust me, my beloved son, for I do not know everything, but I do know things even your favorite adoptive sister, Alice, who can see the future, does not. Of course, if your Bella starts craving human blood, drinking it from a blood bag, you, too, can join her in this, for the two of you are a team, will be equals soon enough, and it will not make your eyes turn red. Know this, too, and this is the last I am allowed to speak of this matter, at least for now, it will not always be thus that you need blood from an animal or a blood bag to satisfy your thirst for blood, the love between you and your beautiful bride so pure."

Elizabeth fell silent, clearly not able to say more, and Bella searched desperately for another topic, something else they could talk about. "Will you assist our wedding, help me with my wedding dress? Part of the reason why Edward and I came here is so he can show me pictures of you so I can see what patterns and fabrics were worn in his youth, incorporate them into my dress?" Bella turned to glare playfully at Edward. "And don't you even think about it, Edward William Cullen Masen, reading your mother's mind, I want to surprise you, don't want you to see my wedding dress till the day of so I can get a reaction from you similar to the ones I got in Forks when I surprised you with the dresses I wore."

Elizabeth laughed, and her laugh, it was soft, delicate, ladylike. "Of course I will come to your wedding, dear child, would not miss it for the world, though perhaps it is best if we meet in a private place so we do not scare your father, nor any of the wedding guests. And yes, I would love to help you with your wedding dress. Fret not over my son reading my mind, knowing what your wedding frock looks like, for I am his mother, carried him in my womb for nine months, thus I can hide my thoughts from him, what we do not wish him to know, better than your adoptive family, the Cullens, can."

Edward let out a loud groan, kissed Bella, quick and fast, on the lips. "You are incredible, my Bella, Love, you have known my mother for only a couple of hours, and already you have such a relationship with her, keeping secrets from me, secrets between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?" He shook his head, laughing quietly to himself, kissed her again. "Fine, I'll leave to go hunting tomorrow at noon so the two of you can discuss your wedding dress freely, without fear of being overheard by me, though perhaps you should call Alice and Esme, keep them in the loop. Afterwards, when I return and you have finished discussing your wedding dress with my mother for the moment, we'll go shopping, get you some new clothes so we can burn the ones you have in Forks."

Elizabeth stood up, put the teacup and saucer down on the small table in front of her. "It is getting quite late, I will go now, leave the two of you alone, will see you both tomorrow at noon." She walked forward, gave Edward a kiss on the cheek, ruffled his hair affectionately as a mother did her child, then kissed Bella on the cheek, too, stroked a hand over her hair. "Fret not that something will happen to your bride while you are on your hunting trip, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my son, as I will not allow it."

Edward leaned into his mother's touch, as she still had a hand pressed against his cold cheek. "I know, Mama."

And just like that, Elizabeth Masen was gone, leaving Edward and Bella alone once more.