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As we approached the reception once more, I lifted Bella onto my feet and spun us effortlessly back into the crowd on the dance floor. I carefully filtered through our guests' thoughts and found that they were all too preoccupied to notice our disappearance. Only the eyes of my own family curiously followed me and Bella across the floor.

I looked back down at my lovely bride's face and found it still tense with anxiety.

"Are you-"

"I'm fine," she quickly cut me off. She shook her head, perplexed. "I can't believe I did that. What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you."

She hardly seemed to hear me, lost in thought. Thoughts that I wish I could hear, so that I could draw out the ones that made her beautiful face scrunch up with worry and dispose of them as quickly as possible.

But I couldn't. I was cursed to forever hurt her. Jacob Black's horrified thoughts were branded, painful and permanent, in my mind.

Through the haze of my own fear I saw Bella shake her head as if to rid herself of some unwanted thought. She met my eyes, her jaw set firmly in resolve.

"It's over. Let's not think of it again tonight."

I tried to concentrate on Bella's words but could only see her as Jacob had seen her in his mind. Bruised, broken, her wedding dressed smeared with blood. My frozen heart ached with fear, sorrow, indescribable pain.

"Edward?" Bella's curious voice interrupted my nightmare and I focused my eyes on her. She was alright. She was alive. For now.

I closed my eyes and leaned down to touch my forehead with hers. "Jacob is right." I whispered, trying my best to keep the pain from my voice. I didn't need her to be scared, only to understand why I couldn't do this. I couldn't possibly keep my promise to her. "What am I thinking?"

"He is not." Bella's voice was heavy with frustration. "Jacob is way too prejudiced to see anything clearly."

"I should let him kill me for even thinking…" I muttered to myself.

"Stop it," she hissed at me. Her warm hands captured my face and I slowly opened my eyes to meet hers. Her chocolate eyes were hard, stern. "You and me. That's the only thing that matters. The only thing you're allowed to think about now. Do you hear me?"

I sighed, my good intentions disintegrating under her sharp gaze. I could never go against her will again. Look where it had gotten me last time: months of misery and near death experiences for both me and Bella.

"Yes," I replied, obedient.

"Forget Jacob ever came." Oh, how I wish I could, Bella. "For me. Promise that you'll let this go."

I gazed into those fierce, beautiful brown eyes and what remained of my resolve melted away. "I promise."

"Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes were gentle now as she appraised my still anxious face. "Edward, I'm not afraid."

"I am," I whispered.

"Don't be," she ordered. She took a deep breath and put on a smile. "By the way, I love you."

The words, ever pleasantly surprising no matter how often they were said, warmed me. I managed a smile in return. "That's why we're here."

You're so cheesy, bro, Emmett's thoughts came from behind me. It's kinda sickening.

Out loud he said, "You're monopolizing the bride. Let me dance with my little sister. This could be my last chance to make her blush." He guffawed at Bella's scornful expression, attracting the attention of several nearby couples.

I pressed my lips to Bella's forehead before grudgingly letting my brother steal her away. I stood for a few seconds watching Emmett sweep her across the floor, not quite sure what to do without her in my arms. At least until I heard Jessica speculating another dance with me, which led me to quickly duck off the dance floor and lose myself in the crowd.

Out of the fog of thoughts I heard my own name and turned to find my parents watching me worriedly. "Is everything alright, Edward?" Carlisle asked quietly as I approached.

I lifted one shoulder in a shrug, my eyes trained on Bella, now dancing with Ben Cheney. "It's all resolved now," I answered quietly.

"But are you alright?" I turned and met my mother's worried golden eyes.

"I'll manage," I whispered. "I have to. For Bella."

Carlisle appraised me, his face kind. "You can still love her and not do everything she asks of you. She wouldn't blame you for it."

"But I would," I answered.

By time I stole back my bride on the dance floor I had managed to compose my thoughts, storing my worries away. I intended for both Bella and I to have good memories of this wedding for the rest of our existences. The memory would already be marred by Jacob's visit; I didn't want to ruin it any further.

Bella smiled warmly as I took her back into my arms, sending heat and pleasure through my very core. Bella often mused on how I could still "dazzle" her even after being with me for so long. If only she knew the effect she still had on me.

She rested her head against my chest with a contented sigh, implying that she had missed my touch as much as I had missed hers. I held her tighter, savoring the scent of her skin and the rhythm of her heartbeat.

"I could get used to this," she whispered dreamily.

I chuckled. "Don't tell me you've gotten over your dancing issues?"

"Dancing isn't so bad - with you. But I was thinking more of this," she said as she buried herself even deeper into my arms. "of never having to let you go."

My frozen heart leapt into my throat. "Never," I whispered. I bent my head to hers and kissed her deeply. I was lost in her, our kiss growing deeper as we expressed the feelings there were no words for, an intense pleasure that was stronger even than the call of human blood….

I was briefly distracted by a distant-sounding high-pitched voice. I ignored it. It wasn't important. I wrapped my arms tighter around Bella. Our lips eagerly explored each other's. She tasted so good, my Bella…

"Do you want to miss your plane?" Alice's voice successfully broke through the haze in my mind. I groaned, inwardly. "I'm sure you'll have a lovely honeymoon camped out in the airport waiting for another flight."

What on earth was she squawking about now? I didn't have time to think about airports. Couldn't she see that? I managed to draw my lips from Bella's long enough to mumble, "Go away, Alice." I returned my mouth to Bella's, eagerly hoping to find the little piece of heaven I had been previously lost in.

But Alice wouldn't allow it. "Bella, do you want to wear that dress on the airplane?"

Who cares, Alice? I wanted to ask. But I couldn't bear to draw myself away from Bella again long enough to do so.

You asked for it, Edward, Alice thoughts growled at me. "I'll tell her where you're taking her, Edward. So help me, I will."

I froze, feeling a growl build in my chest. She wouldn't dare. After all I'd done to keep it a surprise? But I could see her out of the corner of my eye, challenging me, one perfect eyebrow raised. I drew my face away from Bella's to glare at my sister. I bit back all the nasty responses I wanted to say and chose the one that would least upset my mother, listening nearby. "You're awfully small to be so hugely irritating."

"I didn't pick out the perfect going-away dress to have it wasted," she growled back, snatching up Bella's hand and attempting to tug her away. "Come on, Bella."

Bella made a small sound of protest, tugging back uselessly against my sister's inhumanly strong grip. She managed to pull herself up on her tiptoes for one more short kiss before Alice succeeded in yanking her away. My poor kidnapped bride gave me one more longing look before she and her abductor disappeared around the corner.

I sighed, then turned to observe my now much-amused guests. I could see from their minds that they had gotten quite a show. I reminded myself not to bring this up to Bella; she'd be mortified.

I joined the crowd making their way toward the front of the house. As soon as Bella had changed into sensible clothing we would be sent off on our honeymoon. I felt almost light-headed with eagerness. Which is quite a feat for a vampire. I received a nasty glare from Mike Newton as I passed him. I rolled my eyes. What part of "married" did he not understand?

I pushed ahead in the crowd and we entered the house, moving to wait at the bottom of the staircase. I tuned out the voices around me, both vocal and mental, and concentrated on the conversation upstairs.

"Everything's ready," I heard Alice chirp cheerfully. The sharp tap-tap of her heels of her heels drew closer as she led Bella toward the stairs. "Your suitcases are in the car – Jasper's pulling it around."

They appeared at the top of the stairs, Bella and her mother following a few steps behind Alice. My bride had changed out of her attire into a more travel-appropriate outfit. Under her hair, which had been taken down and fell in beautiful brown waves over her shoulders, her face was serious, her solemn eyes fixed on Renee's face.

"I love you, Mom," she whispered. "I'm so glad you have Phil. Take care of each other."

Renee smiled at her daughter, her thoughts somewhat confused as to Bella's formal goodbye. A memory flashed through her mind, her own mother had said something to the same solemn extent to her one night in the hospital when she knew she was dying… Renee pushed off the thought, attributing Bella's mood to being overwhelmed by her new married status, knowing she was under her parent's care no longer…

"I love you, too, Bella, honey."

"Goodbye, Mom," Bella murmured. I could see the tears building in her eyes. "I love you."

They reached the bottom of the stairs now, and Bella reluctantly let go of her mother's hand to take mine.

Oh, if only Renee knew that her first instinct had been so close to the truth… as close as she could have possibly guessed anyway.

She was looking around now, her eyes scanning the crowd of people standing in the foyer. "Dad?"

I quickly scanned the crowd with her and found my father-in-law leaning against the wall across the room.

"Over here." I pulled Bella toward him and the wedding guests pulled back to make room for us.

Charlie looked embarrassed to be found, his red eyes and nose showing proof of the emotion he had wished to hide.

"Oh, Dad!" Bella cried, throwing herself into his arms.

I pushed the overwhelming guilt off my chest at the sight of her sorrow. Bella had chosen this, I reminded myself. I'd promised myself to hold of the masochism for this one day, but seeing Bella's remorse at the final farewell to her family punched a hole right through my cold heart.

After a heart-wrenching goodbye that caused a chain reaction of sniffles among watching guests, Charlie handed over my wet-eyed bride and the guests once again pulled back to make a path to the door.

"Are you ready?" I asked gently, as Bella wiped away the last tears from her eyes. She smiled up at me, her face peaceful.

"I am."

The crowd pushed in around us as we drew close to the door. "All right then," I said, grinning slyly at Bella. She gasped as I swept her off her feet and planted my mouth on hers. The crowd cheered. Bella blushed. Emmett guffawed.

I felt a handful of dry rice hit the back of my head. Bella picked a grain from my hair, her eyes widened. Her eyes came up to meet mine. "Make a run for it?" she whispered.

"Let's do it."

I sprinted through the doorway, holding Bella close to my body to protect her from the shower of rice pelting down on my back. The rice followed us unnaturally far, thanks to my dear brothers.

We reached the car and I watched with pleasure as Bella's eyes widened at the sight of the over-decorated car. I helped her in, using myself as a barrier between her and the rice, and then quickly jumped in the other side, eagerly peeling away from the house.

Bella leaned out the window, waving and calling farewells to her friends and family. I grinned over at her, only to see her lost in thought, watching as her family disappeared behind her.

I reached over and squeezed her hand. "I love you," I reminded her.

She smiled back at me. "That's why we're here."

Thanks so much for reading!!! Remember to read and review!

And if anyone has any suggestions for what I should write next I would greatly appreciate them.

Thanks again,

FutureCullen22