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〃Never changing。。。 never moving forward。〃
〃What does that mean？〃
He answered slowly。 〃Do you remember when we told Charlie we were getting married？ And he
thought you were。。。 pregnant？〃
〃And he thought about shooting you；〃 I guessed with a laugh。 〃Admit it—for one second； he honestly
considered it。〃
He didn't answer。
〃What； Edward？〃
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〃I just wish。。。 well； I wish that he'd been right。〃
〃Gah；〃 I gasped。
〃More that there was some way he could have been。 That we had that kind of potential。 I hate taking
that away from you； too。〃
It took me a minute。 〃I know what I'm doinq。〃
〃How could you know that； Bella？ Look at my mother； look at my sister。 It's not as easy a sacrifice as
youimagine。〃
〃Esme and Rosalie get by just fine。 If it's a problem later； we can do what Esme did—we'll adopt。〃
He sighed； and then his voice was fierce。 〃It's not right I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for
me。 I want to give you things； not take things away from you。 I don't want to steal your future。 If I were
human—〃
I put my hand over his lips。 〃You are my future。 Now stop。 No moping； or I'm calling your brothers to
e and get you。 Maybe you need a bachelor party。〃
〃I'm sorry。 I am moping； aren't I？ Must be the nerves。〃
〃Are your feet cold？〃
〃Not in that sense。 I've been waiting a century to marry you； Miss Swan。 The wedding ceremony is the
one thing I can't wait—〃 He broke off midthought。 〃Oh； for the love of all that's holy！〃
〃What's wrong？〃
He gritted his teeth。 〃You don't have to call my brothers。 Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to
let me bow out tonight。〃
I clutched him closer for one second and then released him。 I didn't have a prayer of winning a
tugofwar with Emmett。 〃Have fun。〃
There was a squeal against the window—someone deliberately scraping their steel nails across the glass
to make a horrible； coveryourears； goosebumpsdownyourspine noise。 I shuddered。
〃If you don't send Edward out；〃 Emmett—still invisible in the night—hissed menacingly； 〃we're ing in
after him！〃
〃Go；〃 I laughed。 〃Before they break my house。〃
Edward rolled his eyes； but he got to his feet in one fluid movement and had his shirt back on in another。
He leaned down and kissed my forehead。
〃Get to sleep。 You've got a big day tomorrow。〃
〃Thanks！ That's sure to help me wind down。〃
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〃I'll meet you at the altar。〃
〃HI be the one in white。〃 I smiled at how perfectly blase I sounded。
He chuckled； said； 〃Very convincing；〃 and then suddenly sank into a crouch； his muscles coiled like a
spring。 He vanished—launching himself out my window too swiftly for my eyes to follow。
Outside； there was a muted thud； and I heard Emmett curse。
〃You'd better not make him late；〃 I murmured； knowing they could hear。
And then Jaspers face was peering in my window； his honey hair silver in the weak moonlight that
worked through the clouds。
〃Don't worry； Bella。 We'll get him home in plenty of time。〃
I was suddenly very calm； and my qualms all seemed unimportant。 Jasper was； in his own way； just as
talented
as Alice with her uncannily accurate predictions。 Jasper's medium was moods rather than the future； and
it was impossible to resist feeling the way he wanted you to feel。
I sat up awkwardly； still tangled in my blanket。 〃Jasper？ What do vampires do for bachelor parties？
You're not taking him to a strip club； are you？〃
〃Don't tell her anything！〃 Emmett growled from below。 There was another thud； and Edward laughed
quietly。
〃Relax；〃 Jasper told me—and I did。 〃We Cullens have our own version。 Just a few mountain lions； a
couple of grizzly bears。 Pretty much an ordinary night out。〃
I wondered if I would ever be able to sound so cavalier about the 〃vegetarian〃 vampire diet。
〃Thanks； Jasper。〃
He winked and dropped from sight。
It was pletely silent outside。 Charlie's muffled snores droned through the walls。
I lay back against my pillow； sleepy now。 I stared at the walls of my little room； bleached pale in the
moonlight； from under heavy lids。
My last night in my room。 My last night as Isabella Swan。 Tomorrow night； I would be Bella Cullen。
Though the whole marriage ordeal was a thorn in my side； I had to admit that I liked the sound of that。
I let my mind wander idly for a moment； expecting sleep to take me。 But； after a few minutes； I found
myself more alert； anxiety creeping back into my stomach； twisting it into unfortable positions。 The
bed seemed too soft； too warm without Edward in it。 Jasper was far away； and all the peaceful； relaxed
feelings were gone with him。
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It was going to be a very long day tomorrow。
I was aware that most of my fears were stupid—I just had to get over myself。 Attention was an
inevitable part of life。 I couldn't always blend in with the scenery。 However； I did have a few specific
worries that were pletely valid。
First there was the wedding dress's train。 Alice clearly had let her artistic sense overpower practicalities
on that one。 Maneuvering the Cullens' staircase in heels and a train sounded impossible。 I should have
practiced。
Then there was the guest list。
Tanya's family； the Denali clan； would be arriving sometime before the ceremony。
It would be touchy to have Tanya's family in the same room with our guests from the Quileute
reservation； Jacob's father and the Clearwaters。 The Denalis were no fans of the werewolves。 In fact；
Tanya's sister irina was not ing to the wedding at all。 She still nursed a vendetta against the
werewolves for killing her friend Laurent （just as he was about to kill me）。 Thanks to that grudge； the
Denalis had abandoned Edward's family in their worst hour of need。 It had been the unlikely alliance with
the Quileute wolves that had saved all our lives when the horde of newborn vampires had attacked___
Edward had promised me it wouldn't be dangerous to have the Denalis near the Quileutes。 Tanya and all
herfamily—besides Irina—felt horribly guilty for that defection。 A truce with the werewolves was a small
price to make up some of that debt； a price they were prepared to pay。
That was the big problem； but there was a small problem； too： my fragile selfesteem。
I'd never seen Tanya before； but I was sure that meeting her wouldn't be a pleasant experience for my
ego。 Once upon a time； before I was born probably； she'd made her play for Edward—not that I blamed
her or anyone else for wanting him。 Still； she would be beautiful at the very least and magnificent at best。
Though Edward clearly—if inconceivably—preferred me； I wouldn't be able to help making
parisons。
I had grumbled a little until Edward； who knew my weaknesses； made me feel guilty。
〃We're the closest thing they have to family； Bella；'7he'd reminded me。 〃They still feel like orphans； you
know； even after all this time。〃
So I'd conceded； hiding my frown。
Tanya had a big family now； almost as big as the Cullens。 There were five of them； Tanya； Kate； and
Irina had been joined by Carmen and Eleazar much the same way the Cullens had been joined by Alice
and Jasper； all of them bonded by their desire to live more passionately than normal vampires did。
For all the pany； though； Tanya and her sisters were still alone in one way。 Still in mourning。 Because
a very long time ago； they'd had a mother； too。
I could imagine the hole that loss would leave； even after a thousand years； I tried to visualize the Cullen
family without their creator； their center； and their guide—their father； Carlisle。 I couldn't see it。
Carlisle had explained Tanya's history during one of the many nights I'd stayed late at the Cullens' home；
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learning as much as I could； preparing as much as was possible for t