Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters. Duh, if I did I would not be writing fanfiction.

Summer of my Soldier

Chapter 1- Happily Ever After

I screamed and laughed as I was lifted off of my feet. Strong, gentle arms wrapped around my legs and back, leaving the only reason to wrap my arms around his neck was for sheer pleasure, not necessity. His brilliantly white teeth sparkled in his beaming smile, allowing rumbling laughter through his lips, echoing my own. My feet kicked the air as children do, for I felt as youthful and care-free as the newest generation. There was only one day's happiness that could possibly rival this, however that day, there had been hundreds of people watching us, and here, it was just him and I.

Carefully, my new husband side-stepped through the threshold, taking caution so as not to bump my head or legs on the door frame. Elegant and graceful as he was, especially in comparison to me, it was humerous to watch him take such short, staccato steps while peering around me, as one does when they park a new automobile. This of course, only shattered my abdomen with shaking laughter, making me gasp for air.

Once inside, he set me down on my feet, only I stayed propped up on my toes, making my lips nearly level with his. He bent his neck down to meet my kiss, and my fingers curled through his bronze-colored hair. As we broke our embrace, our eyes resumed our lock on the other, his glistening green orbs reflecting those of the color of chocolate that I knew belonged to me. The same expression was alight in these windows to our souls--bliss. Sheer, exponential joy and excitement at their fullest.

Our shoulders dropped as we sighed in contentedness, for nothing could make this moment any more significant than it already was. The floral scents of spring swirled through the air that was now light and heavenly in its perfume, the morning dew still lay beaded on the grass as the puffy clouds of white were scattered in the sky. It had not been a clear day in the town of Forks, Washington in over a year, and today was more than worthy. The radiant sun had burned away the rain and fog for our return, it seemed, as it had the day we had wed.

His hand clasped around mine as he leaned backward to turn the dial on the radio that sat on the cramped table beside the couch. Since the death of my father, Charlie Swan, we had been living in the house of my childhood, packing boxes and sending his things to his friends as his will directed. The room was cluttered with lists and papers, boxes and wrappings, leaving very little room for personal affects before we would eventually sell this house that had once been my home. We were not obliged by the court or anyone for that matter, to list the house on the market, but the walls echoed the memories that had taken place here, and I was unsure of how distracting this sadness could be in such a happy time in my life.

The man whom I loved with all my heart tuned the radio to our favored station, and as the saxophones and pianos and violins began to sway and play, our feet began to move in harmony. Though he was a far greater dancer than myself, and that the simple steps he had taught to me were infinitely too advanced for me, as we swayed to the gentle rhythm, I could think of no handsomer sight than this. I inhaled deeply at the sweet scent that was weaved into his coat jacket, the scent that was embedded into one of our pillows and one side of our sheets.

"Happy to be back, Mrs. Edward Anthony Cullen?" The voice envied by a choir of angels rippled strings of vibrations through his chest on which my head lay.

"Happy to be back with you, Mr. Cullen." He twirled me by my hand, and when we came together again, we were closer than before. As the song closed in a heavenly note, he dipped me to the floor, and his lips found mine and moved in synchronised movements.

"Perhaps we should continue packing?" Edward asked after he lifted me back to standing upright once more.

"Must we so soon? We have just arrived home." I protested, and wondered the reasoning behind it.

"Oh, my Bella, I wish so much to laze about with you, truly, however, it would spoil the evening I had planned for us." His lips curled into a smile, and my curiosity was peaked.

"May I have a hint as to your plans?" I asked coyly.

"We will be together tonight, and that is all I will tell. In order to do this right, I must ask you to entertain yourself for the rest of the day."

"You worry me, Edward."

"Trust me, my love. You shall not regret this."

"What is it you suggest I occupy myself with while you go about your business?" My stubbornness had been released. After all, we had just arrived from our honeymoon, and I was expected to spend this time apart from him in this house of sadness? I hated surprises, and he knew this. It must really be a magnificent plan he had been working on if he would risk irritating me.

"Hmm. Something special. Have your hair done, buy a new dress, bring home a few stacks of books.." With his last suggestion, he had won me.

"I could use a new addition to my library...though I hate dress shopping, is there something in specific I should purchase?" Edward held both my hands in his and held me close.

"A cocktail dress. That is all that I will say." He was silent for a moment, and then continued. "I really do hate to leave you, my love, but it must be done. You will approve of my absence after the night is over."

"If you say so." He gave me one last, departing kiss, and he walked me out of the house. "I certainly hope you redeem yourself this evening, or it shall be the couch for you!" I threatened, though ineffectively, for I had never been very intimidating, if at all.

"You can be assured of that, my dear." And with that, I found myself mounting my bicycle heading to town. I concentrated on the novels I would buy instead of how I had practically been evicted from my own house, and felt instantly better. Though I would never speak my thoughts out loud, I knew that the romantic that Edward was would certainly make up for it ten times over.

I leaned my bike against the outside wall of the library, thinking about the driving lessons Edward had been giving me, chuckling internally at my lack of talent behind the wheel. I strode through the walls of the store, glancing along at the various titles of both novels new and classics, though my mind strayed elsewhere than the stories and romances that filled the pages.

This was the sort of life I had dreamt of and prayed for since I had been a little girl, and it almost seemed too surreal for it actually to be granted to me. I was not nearly worthy of it, and that troubled me, keeping me up at night. I had not uttered a word to Edward about this, and blamed my insomnia to the recent family death, however it seemed that the excuse was wearing thin as time passed on and my sleep became less and less.

I shook off the pessimism, and surrendered my wandering thoughts back to the night ahead.

Hours passed by relentlessly, and faster than I would have expected. As he had wished, I bought a beautiful black-lace cocktail dress that would match my black heeled shoes. After making my way home with the new additions to my book shelf, Wuthering Heights, and Dracula, I found myself in a better mood. I entered my house to find it free from boxes and clutter, and figured out the need for me to be out of the house today. I peered into the other rooms, searching for Edward, but my eyes only rested on blank walls and dusty floors.

I made my way into my bedroom, and got myself changed. I checked the clock, and it already read half after six. A note had been left for me on my dresser in the elegant script that I knew so well. It read,

My dearest Bella,

Be ready to leave at when the clock strikes seven, a taxi shall wait for you outside, paid and all. You wil be driven to where I await you. I have not yet left, and I already miss you terribly. As promised, I am making up for my absence. Until later, my love.

Always yours,

Edward

Beside it lay a rose of deeper red than the blood that ran through my veins. It smelled more lovely than the finest French perfume, and only one scent could rival it, only it was not entirely fair to the flower, for the scent that imprinted itself in all of the household fabrics--the smell of honey and lilac. The smell of my new husband. Hastily awaiting for the clock to strike the next hour, I fixed my curls and waves and pinned a white Barrett into it. After sliding my white pearl earrings through my skin, I slung the string of pearls around my neck that matched and snatched my black velvet clutch from the closet. It was the only accessory besides my jewelry box that remained inside the room.

I smiled to myself, and heard a honk from outside my porch. I flung myself awkwardly out the door and sat in the back of the cab. I prodded the driver for information pertaining to the whereabouts to which I was headed, only to find he had been sworn to secrecy. Of course. Edward was nothing if not thorough.

I was released at the outside of some sort of club, it seemed. Music seeped into the outside of the club, and upon hearing the tunes I knew that he had made up for it. At the door awaited the green-eyed beauty. He dressed in a black suit, and I wondered if he had either been a very good guesser as to the color of my dress, or if he had followed me to find out. That question seemed superfluous really, for all that mattered now was that we were together again.

"Mrs. Cullen." He said as he linked his arm around mine.

"Mr. Cullen." He led me to a table where there awaited two sodas. We had the best view in the house, that was not debatable. Music played in our favorite genre for hours, and I honestly tried to dance, only to fail miserably and end up paying for another couple's spilled drinks that laid broken on the floor on my account. Our feet slid across the floor, perfectly in tune, and perfectly in sync even if only with the other.

This was the life I had dreamed of. Edward and I, dancing into the rest of our lives. A strange feeling fell into my stomach at my next thought. This was the life I had dreamed of, that was for certain. However, it seemed unlike the life I was destined for. In the years previous to our meeting, it had been tumult and complications, and I saw no reason why the fact that I finally had what I wanted was going to change any of this.