This story is labelled Angst. Which in my language means all bets are off and I can hurt my readers as much as I want with all the angst I can throw their way. So, do not ask me if this will have a HEA or if Edward will be with Bella, because I'm doing the evil thing and pleading the fifth.

For those brave enough to stay, thank you.

Disclaimer: These characters are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer. I am just being cruel and making them suffer a bit more than she did.

A/N Not beta'd. Tried to find one but I already have AV on PTB and SRP is not taking multi-chaptered stories so *shrugs* Sorry if my mistakes annoy you. I'm not a native speaker and I'm only writing this to get my writing juices flowing and finish my WIP's.

A Love So Beautiful

London, England 1894.

Many times I've wondered if things would have been easier for me if I hadn't loved Edward Cullen so much. Sometimes I even dreamt of a world in which I've never met him. A world in which all the heartache I carried with me was non-existent. It surprised me how the idea of such world hurt more than any of the things I've suffered for Edward ever had.

As I look at myself in the mirror, ready to walk down the aisle to unite my life to another man for all eternity, all I can think of is that in spite of it all I would not change a thing about my past with Edward.

x-X-x

Hertfordshire, England 1889.

"You're being silly!" Edward shouts at me from his position higher up in the hill. We're walking towards 'our spot' the place where we've shared many games and picnics throughout the years. It's also the place where I realised I was madly in love with him. Not that he knows that.

Up in the hill we have always lived in a world of our own. A place where we could be ourselves and not the little lady and little lord our parents wanted us to be.

I have always envied Edward's endurance under our parents' pressure, even though he was usually under much more pressure that I could have ever dreamt. He is the future Lord Cullen after all. I am simply Bella Swan, the daughter of a very successful but titleless American businessman.

"I'm not being silly!" I shout back at him, agitated by the intense hike towards our meadow. "She was fawning over you. She practically threw herself at your feet. It was very unsuitable for a lady."

"You know how Victoria is, Bella! She just wants to be the centre of everyone's attention," Edward replies, lending me a hand to traverse the final trek of our path. "Besides," he adds, hugging me to him in an effort to keep my balance, "we're all alone now. No more of Victoria's antics."

Edward smiles that silly smile that makes my insides melt. I push myself away from his body seeking some clarity to reply.

"You know I like Victoria," I say in a weak voice that shames me. I clear my throat to regain my composure. "I just can't tolerate her for long when she's trying to draw everyone's attention to herself. She goes from endearing to flamboyant in a couple of sentences. She tires me."

"I understand," Edward says in a soft voice, "but now we can stop thinking about her. Come, let's sit and enjoy the rest of the afternoon without bothersome interruptions."

I take Edward's hand and let him assist me in sitting next to him in the ground. Not an easy task with the petticoat I'm forced to wear with this dress. Once we're sitting, Edward doesn't let go of my hand and instead draws invisible patterns on my skin, making me shiver.

"My father told me he has something very important to discuss with me before I return to Eton. I think he wants to involve me in his businesses more so that when he's gone I've acquired some experience." Edward suddenly comments breaking the silence.

"Maybe he wants you to settle down and choose a suitable wife?" I reply hating the mere idea of Edward marrying someone who is not me.

"Bella, I'm sixteen years old. I know my father is old-fashioned and a traditionalist but not even him would force me to marry at such age."

I nod, trying to hide the sudden melancholy that has invaded my heart. Even though I know Edward is right and Lord Cullen will wait until Edward is at least eighteen to start pressuring him about marriage, I also know that marriage to me will never be considered. I'm more than suitable to be Edward's friend. I'm more than suitable as an acquaintance, because my father has more money than the King. But I have no title, and as Edward has just correctly stated his father is a traditionalist. He would never allow his only son to marry the daughter of an American businessman. My love for Edward is hopeless even if Edward comes to see me as a woman someday.

"You seem sad," Edward remarks tilting my chin with his index finger so that I have to face him.

"I'm just thinking how lonely I'll feel once you do have to take a wife. I doubt your future wife will be very amenable to allowing you to spend any time alone with me. As it is your mother has started to question our outings. I heard her say to my mother the other day that no lady should be allowed so much time alone with a boy as we are allowed. I fear this might be one of our last visits to our meadow."

Edward drops his hand from my face and lies down on the ground. He closes his eyes as if he were sleeping. I wait for him to mull over my words for a long time. Tired of sitting I also lie down and close my eyes. However, just as I'm about to sleep Edward's voice jars me from my drowsy state.

"The solution is fairly obvious then."

I turn and look at him, confused. "Not to me, is not. There's not a woman on this planet that will allow her husband to have a friendship with another woman. No matter how understanding a woman she is."

"She'll understand if said wife happens to be the friend too."

I frown.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I understand."

"Well, isn't obvious? You and I shall have to marry. That way my future wife can't be jealous because you'll be my wife, and we can keep coming to our meadow as often as we want."

I rise and look at him quizzically. My heart is hammering in my chest. "You can't be serious!" I yell at him, punching his arm.

He catches my hand and sits so that we are face to face. He places my hand over his chest, over his heart and says, "Why do you think I'm kidding? It's fairly obvious to me that we would make a striking pair. Moreover, we are already best friends, which is a great deal more than most couples have before they marry. I think it's an excellent solution. "

I give him a very stern look and reply without missing a beat, "You truly must be jesting, Edward. There's absolutely no way your father would consent to that!" trying to make light of the subject I add, "also, who told you I would ever want to marry you? Maybe I already have my sights set on a more interesting candidate?"

Suddenly, Edward is on top of me, my hands trapped above my head in only one of his. He's tickling me like he used to when we were children with his free hand. I can't stop myself and laugh boisterously as I kick my legs wildly, trying to get him off me. My eyes are closed and tears of laughter are falling down my cheeks.

"Edward! Stop! Please, stop!" I request between laughs.

Then he does, but when I open my eyes my whole world is shaken. His eyes, once friendly and sweet, are now heady and full with some feeling my young mind can't comprehend.

He's so close to me, his breathing as ragged as mine. There's a change in the air around us, as if it was filled with an electrical charge that crackles and zings, making us very aware of the proximity of our bodies.

"Edward," I dare whisper before the single one event that moulded the rest of my life occurs. Edward kisses me, a sweet, gentle kiss that will forever mark me, that will forever haunt me.

Thanks for reading. Next update tomorrow around this time.