Legal Disclaimer: No money is being made off this fan fic and no copyright infringement is intended. I'm merely playing in Stephanie Meyer's sandbox. Everything belongs to her brilliant mind.

"So dear I love him that with him,
All deaths I could endure.
Without him, live no life."
- William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Prologue

Some things can only be seen when the world is at its darkest, like the corona of the sun. My world was dark now, but I could see the corona of my life, and for the few minutes it would last, I embraced it. Perhaps to die had always been my purpose in living.

I walked out of the forest toward the small form waiting for me. If this is what it took to save Edward, to save my entire family, I would gladly go forward to meet my demise. The life of one traded for the lives of many, it seemed a small price to pay.

The girl smiled at me, happy that I had come alone. It probably saved them just as much trouble as it did me. I wondered if she would regret her actions later, when she discovered she had been wrong all along and the murders didn't stop. No, she was not the type to feel guilt. She was simply doing her job. And I was doing mine.

And then another form emerged from the trees behind her and my private moon shifted. It wasn't a brief eclipse that had darkened my world, it was all out Armageddon. Too late I realized to die now would save no one.

Chapter 1

Breaking the News

The sun had finally set. Not that it had shone at all during the day. Rain was supposed to be good luck on your wedding day, right? I was going to need luck, and as Edward liked to remind me, I seemed to attract anything but. However, I needed luck today. I needed to walk gracefully down the Cullens' staircase without falling and breaking my neck, which would take a miracle thanks to the shoes Alice had picked out for me. I was going to need more luck to not faint as I stood before fifty guests, every one watching me. And if I wasn't lucky tonight, I might just end up dead, since I was requiring Edward to fulfill a desired "human experience" of mine in less than ten hours. Please, let it pour.

I was barely aware of my mother's hovering as she circled me constantly, finding invisible things to fluff or pick at. I had grown used to it in the last two weeks she had been in Forks, helping finalize the weddings plans. Not that Alice needed any help, but Renee didn't know I had a superhuman vampire for a wedding planner. I supposed I should be happy my mother was here at all, considering her initial reaction to Edward's and my engagement.

Edward insisted on driving me to my house so we could tell Charlie about the engagement. I think he suspected that I would never do it if left on my own. He was probably right. As Edward pulled into the driveway, the porch light reflected off the wet windshield of Charlie's cruiser. I tried desperately to remember if there was a game on tonight, not that it really mattered. I was pretty sure the words 'Hi Dad, Edward and I are getting married in two months' could distract Charlie from game seven of the World Series.

"Dad, I'm home," I called as we entered. I heard an answering grunt from the lazy boy. That answered my question about the game.

For a second I almost chickened out. I stood frozen in the foyer, reasoning that waiting to tell Charlie would be better. Perhaps hold off till after the game… if his team won. If not…well, I didn't want to completely ruin his night.

"Bella, we should tell him now." Edward's lips nearly touched my left ear. I could feel his breath as he spoke the words, making my knees go weak.

These were the times I doubted it when he said my mind was his only enigma. How else did he know I was about to wimp out?

"Easy for you to say," I returned softly. "You get to leave after this. I'm stuck in the house with Charlie."

Edward laughed lightly. "But I always come back."

True, but Charlie didn't know about Edward's nightly visits, and he wouldn't be the one having to deal with a grumpy Charlie for the next two months.

"Bella, you have to tell him now. Alice isn't going to let you keep this a secret for very long."

I swiveled to face him. "What?" I suddenly felt inexplicably ill. What had Alice done now?

"She sent one of our prom pictures to the newspaper, to print with the engagement notice." He was trying to look somber as he said this, but I could see the sides of his mouth twisting upward in amusement.

"Just wait till I'm…" I choked on the word 'changed,' "…stronger. Engagement notice! I never okayed that!"

"You only demanded veto power for the guest list," he reminded me with a crooked smirk.

I continued to glare at him, sure he had been in on the engagement notice. That's all I needed, the whole town of Forks knowing I was getting married. This was going to be the biggest topic of gossip for months. However, the anger faded as Edward stared me down, his amber eyes locked with mine, and his lips just inches from my own.

"You can do this." His finger traced my jaw line slowly. "I'll be right next to you, holding your hand."

I sighed in defeat and grabbed a granite hand. "Dad, can I talk to you for a few minutes," I called, hoping the slight hysteria I heard in my own voice wasn't discernible to anyone else.

"Sure, Bells." I knew he had caught the panicked quiver in my voice, because he reached over and muted the television. "Is something wrong?"

Well that depended on your definition of 'wrong.' If getting married at eighteen and running off to become a vampire was right, then no, nothing was wrong. "No, Dad, nothing is wrong. Edward and I just have something to tell you."

I paused, hoping Charlie would say something first, or that perhaps Edward, being the half of us who was actually happy about the marriage thing, might blurt out the news. But Charlie seemed stunned into silence and Edward remained silent at my side, still grasping my hand firmly. The corners of his stony lips were pulled tight, and I could tell he was trying very hard not to smile. I wondered what he could hear in Charlie's mind to cause that reaction.

"Edward and I are getting married," I murmured, keeping my eyes on the floor. There, I'd said it, could we leave now?

Edward did smile now, but I couldn't tell if was out of actual happiness or because of Charlie's mental reaction. I guessed the second.

"Dad, please say something." I pulled my hand away from Edward to wriggle the glittering ring, just for effect.

Charlie finally drew a ragged breath. "Bella, are you sure…"

"Yes, Dad. I'm absolutely sure that I want to spend the rest of my life, my existence, with Edward."

"I see." Charlie looked like a bomb had just gone off in front on him. "You know I just want you to be happy, Bella." His face changed suddenly and a glimmer of something entered his eyes. "So what date were you thinking of? I'm sure a longer engagement would be best. Allow you two to get a few years of college under your belts." So that's what that look was: hope. Hope that I would wait and find someone else at school.

Again I shook my head. "No, Dad, we've talked about it, and we'd like to get married this summer. The sooner the better."

Charlie's face fell. "By god Bella. So soon! Are you pregnant?"

I felt the blood pounding in my cheeks and knew I had gone bright red. I glanced at Edward and met his eyes briefly. I could see the laughter he dared not release.

"Dad!" I moaned. "No, I'm not pregnant. I'm not marrying Edward because I have to, but because I want to." Okay, so that was a little bit of a lie. I did have to marry Edward, but that was so my own selfish demands could be met, not because I was carrying his love child.

Charlie went silent again, before suddenly turning towards Edward. For a second I thought he might hit him, or try to strangle him, but he simply asked, "How do your parents feel about this?"

Edward smiled genuinely. "They couldn't be happier, sir. Alice has already appointed herself the wedding planner."

I grumbled something about Alice under my breath, but Charlie didn't seem to have heard. He fell silent, thinking again.

"You won't need to worry about anything, sir," Edward continued, and I wondered if he was tactfully answering some of the questions swimming through Charlie's brain. "My parents have already offered to pay for and host the wedding." Charlie was worried about paying for a wedding? I'd have to ask Edward later about Charlie's exact thoughts.

"Please, Dad," I added. "I know you think it's sudden, but it's what I, what we," I looked over at Edward, "want. And I really want my dad to walk me down the aisle."

Charlie's face softened at that. He suddenly pushed himself out of his recliner and scooped me into a bone crushing hug.

"Dad! Need air!" I squeaked, trying to wiggle free.

"Sorry," he replied, finally releasing me. I blushed again, from his sudden affection. Charlie didn't usually hug. "I guess I need to accept that my little girl is all grown up."

"Dad, please don't start that now."

"But it's the truth, Bella. And I do need to accept it. If you believe Edward will make you happy, then I will be more than honored to give you away." I bit my lip. There was no use getting into a feminist argument over the fact that I belonged to no one and thus only I could give myself away. I simply tried to appreciate Charlie's sentiment, and the fact he hadn't yet pulled his gun on Edward.

Charlie rounded on Edward next. "And you," he started, a hard tone creeping back into his voice. "I expect you to take very good care of my Bella. If I ever find out you've hurt her again…"

"Dad!" I shouted. Charlie had most definitely overstepped his bounds.

"No, Bella." Edward held out his hand to silence me. "Your father has every right to that statement." He turned back to meet Charlie's glare. "I promise you, sir, that I will never again hurt Bella, and I want you to know that I would give my life to keep her safe."

Charlie nodded, apparently accepting the oath. He sat back down in his recliner and un-muted the game. I took that to mean the discussion was over, and that Edward and I had his blessings.

Edward and I moved toward the kitchen, but I stopped as I heard Charlie call my name. "Bella, don't forget to call your mother and tell her the good news."

I groaned as Edward laughed. "And what, exactly, is so funny about all of this?" I snapped.

"Charlie's hoping Renee will put her foot down and we'll forget this whole wedding thing."

I knew Charlie had taken it too well. "Well, he might very well be right about that," I replied, as I reached a trembling hand toward the phone.

As I dialed the familiar numbers, I instinctively knew telling Renee would be much harder than telling Charlie. Not because I feared what she would think of us marrying so young, but because I knew she would realize what Charlie did not; that my marrying Edward was a start of a new life, a life that I would not be able to include them in. Renee would know it was a goodbye.

I thought I might be lucky enough to catch her voice mail as the line rang for the fourth time, but suddenly she picked up, sounding a little breathless. "Hello."

"Hi, Mom," I responded. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Not at all dear. I just couldn't find the phone. It was buried under the newspapers. Did I tell you I'm trying decoupage?"

"No, mom. Do you like it?" I wondered how long this stint into crafting would go. I'd bet money on about a month, a month and a half at the most.

"Well, to be honest, it's a little more complicated than I first thought..." Make that two weeks, tops. "So what were you calling about, Bella?"

Oh, you know. Just letting you know I'm getting married and breaking all the promises I made to you about waiting until I was thirty. Then I'm going to join a vampire coven, so that the royal Italian vampires don't kill me. Or any other vampires for that matter. Unfortunately I'll want to rip your throat out, so I won't be able to see you for awhile.

"Well, Mom, I have some news that might surprise you. Please don't freak out?"

"Bella, what's wrong? What happened? I can be there in half a day, just let me tell Phil..."

"Mom!" I yelled in the receiver. "You don't need to come to Forks now. I'm calling to tell you that Edward and I are engaged."

Silence radiated from the other end. I was afraid that maybe she had passed out, or perhaps was hyperventilating. But I figured I would have heard the thud, or the gasps, or something. This was just...nothing. "Mom, are you still there?"

"Oh my god, Bella, you're pregnant, aren't you? I knew I never should have let you go live with your father. I'm going to hang up and call the airport right now..."

"Mom!" I was sick of shouting. "I'm not pregnant!" I heard Edward snicker audibly this time and shot him a dirty look.

"You're not? Bella, I don't understand. If you're not in trouble then why are you getting married?"

"Because I'm in love, Mom, why else?" I rolled my eyes as I said it, even though Renee couldn't see me.

"Bella, didn't I teach you anything..."

"Edward and I aren't like you and Dad," I assured. "I know you think I'm too young, but even if I waited until I was thirty, it would still be Edward. Besides, I've always been mature for my age." I couldn't help but smile as I pictured Renee's face. She couldn't deny that I had been the mature one out of us two.

"I do think you are too young."

"Mom, I'm not asking for your permission. I'm informing you of what has conspired." I was tired of this. I knew every reason why I shouldn't get married yet. I'd run them through my head every day since Edward first proposed, yet I'd ignored them for a few selfish benefits. Really good benefits, yes, but selfish none the less.

"Bella..."

"Mom, please. Nothing you can say will change my mind. I thought you deserved to know, though, and I really want you and Phil to be there."

"Bella, why are you making it sound like you're getting married next weekend? Weddings are expensive, they take months, sometimes years, to plan."

"Not when you're marrying a Cullen," I replied dryly, hoping mom mistook the lack of excitement as anger towards her rather than true unease about Alice's planning.

"How soon?"

"Before my birthday," I replied. "We don't have an exact date yet. I should be able to let you know within the week."

"Bella..."

This was getting old. "Great. I'll talk to you then, Mom. Love you. Bye." I hung up the receiver before Renee could say anything else. Edward chuckled again.

"I'm glad you find this amusing," I snarled. He just laughed harder.

"Sorry, Bella, love. But can't you see what is so funny? You argued against this for so long, and now I get to listen to you rationalize it to your parents."

"You know I'm only doing this because it makes you happy, and because I get my demands met."

"I know, and I love you all the more for it." He wrapped his stony arms around me from behind, effectively pinning my arms against my torso, and pulled me against him. I tried focusing on breathing as he moved his lips methodically, starting at my temple and working his way down to my shoulder. Why was I arguing with him? Honestly, other than Renee's brainwashing, was there a good reason not to be over the moon about marrying Edward? My love drunk brain didn't think so.

I wasn't sure how long I stood there, dazzled in Edward's embrace. Probably only a few minutes before the shrill ring of the phone forced him to release me.

I picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Oh, Bella. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. You just surprised me, that's all. I knew you and Edward were serious when you visited, but I wasn't expecting this so soon. Of course I don't expect you to wait until you're thirty before you get married. I just wanted to protect you from my mistakes, but I know you have to do what you feel is right. And of course Phil and I will be attending…"

"Mom," I interrupted, "calm down." I couldn't help but smile at Renee's sudden enthusiasm. "I forgive you."

"Bella? Bella?" I shook my head slightly. My mother watched me worriedly.

"Sorry, I was daydreaming," I responded. "What did you need?"

"I don't need anything, darling. Jasper wants to know if he can tell the guests to be seated so the ceremony to start?"

My head automatically turned toward the door Alice was guarding. Only Jasper's blonde head was visible as he poked it into the room. "Are you ready, Bella?" he asked.

To be honest, no. I felt like there a colony of butterflies lived in my stomach, and they desperately wanted out. "I'm ready," I replied more quietly that I had intended, but I knew he had heard anyway. His head disappeared and the door snapped shut.

Renee instantly began fussing with my gown again. "Mom, it's fine." I complained.

"Sorry." She pulled her hands away and started pulling at her own dress instead. I just shook my head softly. At least there was one person here who was as nervous as I.

Rosalie rose from where she had sat silently for the last hour and gently puffed her dress. She and Alice both looked stunning in gold colored, floor length bridesmaids dresses. Alice had gotten them custom made. The high necks and lacy sleeves of the nineteen-tens weren't very popular anymore. I was actually pleased, for once, that they looked better than me. At least this way they would suck up a lot of the attention that would normally be entirely focused on me, the bride.

A/N: I love reviews! Please make my day.