Angels and Monsters: Epilogue

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“Alice, I don’t understand why I have to have so many fittings,” Rose giggled on the pedestal as Alice was pinning her wedding gown. “I’ve been the same size since I was changed ninety years ago.”

“I want your wedding to be perfect,” Alice said, fluffing the hem of the skirt. “Well, I know it’s going to be perfect because I’m planning it!” She pursed her lips, looking at the ivory silk. “It needs more, you know?” The dress was gorgeous, cut close to Rose’s body, but flaring at mid-thigh. At the right knee, there were some rhinestones and sequins. It was missing something. I wasn’t sure what.

“What about adding more to this?” Rose suggested.

“Hmmm, no,” Alice answered. “That’s fine.”

“Why not add some more rhinestones to the bust? It will pull the whole thing together?” I said, pointing to the sweetheart neckline. “It will put a little more glamour to the wedding gown.”

“Yes!” Alice squealed, pushing Rose into the bathroom so she could remove the dress. We were all in the Cullen home in the Pacific Northwest. After Edward and I returned from our month-long honeymoon, we found out that Emmett had proposed to Rosalie and the wedding planning was underway for a New Year’s Eve event. Alice told me that I was essential in the planning and so Edward and I flew out there after we stopped in Chicago to close up our lives there.

He sold his condo in Trump Tower, but we kept mine since it was under an alias. Edward was still on sabbatical from his company and would stay under the radar for at least another year before he made any public appearances. He just wanted time to be with me. Despite our whirlwind mating, he wanted to spend the time to woo me and make me feel like the angel I was in his eyes. He wanted to take me out on dates, surprise me with gifts and just lose ourselves in our blissful happiness of being in love with each other. On top of all of that, he also wanted to get us a home, just for us. For now, we were staying in the third floor suite in the Cullen home in Forks. Alice had decorated it with Esme’s help, reflecting our subtle, simple tastes. After Rose and Emmett’s wedding, we’d find our own place, probably closer to Seattle since Edward was going bonkers being surrounded by all of the green.

He truly was a city boy.

“Bella, we have to get going,” Alice said, taking Rose’s dress. “We have an appointment with the florist and we have to finalize the invitations.”

“Shouldn’t Rosalie have a say in this?” I quipped, gesturing to the gorgeous bride.

“Alice is planning my first wedding since I’m impatient and I want it done now,” Rose giggled. “The next one? All me. Besides, I trust her. She knows what I like. Don’t forget to pick up your dresses, too!”

“I have an appointment with a dress maker in Port Angeles,” Alice beamed, tugging on my arm. “The fabric will be a deep eggplant color, mirroring the cut of your dress. It will be perfect.”

“I have no doubt,” Rose smirked. “I’m off to hunt.” Her eyes darkened and we knew that she was going to do more than just hunt. The predatory, feral smile that spread over her features was proof that she was sneaking off to be with Emmett for naked sexy times. Alice was trying, unsuccessfully, to keep them from fucking each other into oblivion, but they were insatiable for each other. They had taken to clandestine trips in the forest, returning covered in dirt, leaves, and sticks and with torn, clothing. Emmett was always smiling and Rose had a glow about her, indicating she was thoroughly fucked. In the best way ever, of course. She darted out of the house, jumping over the Sol Duc River. I could hear her thoughts as she reunited with Emmett and they quickly turned dirty, barely leaving our hearing range before clothes were shredded.

“Those two are …” Alice snorted, shaking her head. She carried the dress to her suite, draping it onto the unnecessary bed. “They’re like nymphomaniac rabbits!”

“So?” I teased. “Don’t you remember being newly mated?”

“Of course, I do,” she said, arching a brow. “You and Edward have self-control.”

“No, we don’t,” I snickered. “I just shield us from your prying, all-seeing eyes and you don’t know.” Alice gave me a wry glower. 

Cullen House

Edward, being sexy in a towel

Bella's dress that she wore at Sky City

Rose and Emmett's Wedding 

Bridesmaid bouquets

Men's tuxedows

Rose's bouquet

Rose's rings

Bridesmaid dresses

Rose's dress

Angels and Monsters Teaser

“Oh, you and Edward are going out tonight. Something in Seattle,” Alice chirped, her eyes dazed over as she parked in front of the florist. “I get to shop for a new dress for you!”

“And you know this how?” I chuckled. Alice pointed to her head, but I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She was translating The Great Gatsby into Mandarin Chinese. Then, my cell phone chirped from my purse. I picked it up, looking at the screen and saw a message from my husband.

My parents called me and they wanted to get together for dinner. I’m coming back from hunting with Carlisle. We’re meeting them at Sky City at seven. They were talking about joining us for Christmas? Perhaps joining us at the Cullen house. ~ E

I can’t wait to see Richard and Betsy. I’ve missed them so ~ B

You’re not the only one, but I’m afraid she’s going to hate me ~ E

I dialed Edward’s number, slipping out of the florist and leaving Alice to make the decision about Rose’s flowers. He picked up the phone immediately and I could hear the wind whipping. “Edward, your mother would never hate you,” I said, sitting down on a bench on the street. “She loves you and always will.”

“Even though I’m technically dead,” he sighed. “I don’t look the same. My eyes aren’t the same, my body is hard and cold and I don’t eat food.”

“Edward, you’ve transitioned into this life in the most despicable times. You’ve never once tasted the blood of human. We’ve gone to war and survived. Dinner with your mother and Richard will be easy,” I soothed.

“The scent of human food makes me sick,” he hissed, a touch panic in his voice. “How did you do it with me? When I forced you to eat that chicken?”

“When we get back from the florist and making these decisions for the wedding, I’ll give you eating lessons. But, I don’t think you’ll need to pretend to eat,” I giggled. “Edward, all will be fine. I promise you.”

“Okay,” he replied, calming down significantly. “When will you be back?”

“If you want me back now, I’ll run to the house,” I whispered.

“No, no,” he chuckled. “I’m just having an insecure moment. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, love,” I said. “You watched over me as I healed mentally, physically and emotionally from what happened with James. Your love for me was what guided me back and now, it’s my turn to be your rock.” Alice waved at me from the shop. Her mind was barking at me, commanding me back inside. “Alice is beckoning. I’ll be back at the house in two hours, with or without Alice. I promise.”

“Okay,” he laughed. “I love you, angel.”

“I love you, too,” I breathed. We hung up and thankfully, Alice was nearly done with her selections. She just wanted my approval before we went to a bakery to pick up a cake, even if no one was going to eat it. Alice insisted, since it was symbolic. She also had a secretive little smirk on her face, hiding her thoughts from me. I rolled my eyes, shielding myself from her cloak and dagger routine, figured I’d save myself a headache. The last stop before we went back to the house was a boutique. We picked up our bridesmaid gowns and a dress for my evening out with Edward, Richard, and Betsy. I drove us back to the Cullen house since I did not want to deal with Alice’s driving. Handing me the dress, I darted up the stairs to the room I shared with my husband. He was just getting out of the shower, looking deliciously sexy with a towel slung around his waist and another in his hands, rubbing his wet hair. I wanted nothing more than to toss the towel from his body and have my way with him.

What’s stopping you, angel? He smirked, teasing me with his towel.

“The fact that we have to get on the road in less than an hour,” I quipped, my insides clenching at the possibility of waiting to make love to my husband, my mate. “And what I want to do will take longer than that.”

Pity, he pouted, dropping his towel without shame and walking in his naked glory to the closet to get dressed. I whimpered, leaning against the bedframe. I gripped it so tightly. My hand had left an indent on the wrought iron frame. I shook off my desire and went to change in the bathroom, away from the tease who was my husband. 

Cullen House

Edward and Bella's Bedroom

Edward...after he dropped his towel (and not my manip...it belongs to Soapy Mayhem...)

Angels and Monsters Update

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“Bella, baby…” I sobbed, holding her to my body. Her face was free from all pain and she looked like she was sleeping. I swept her in my arms, holding her to my chest. Aro was watching me with her, his mind reeling from the massive amount of power she had just demonstrated. He wanted her, coveted her. I needed to get her away from him and rest of the Volturi. The threat of James was no longer an issue. He was now falling onto the ground in bits of ashes. My concern was for my mate. I picked her up, holding her to my body and I darted away. Aro was calling for me, but he could wait.

I turned on the speed, running as far north as I could. Bella was still unconscious. Her mind was silent and she was curled to my chest. I didn’t stop until I passed into the Minnesota wilds, just north of Duluth, nearly an hour later. The sun had just risen, bathing the landscape in soft pinks. It made Bella look almost human. With her eyes closed, she looked like she was asleep. She wasn’t breathing and her brain was quiet. I was worried. Very, very worried.

She looked dead. She felt dead.

She cannot be dead. I can’t…

I sat down, obscured by a patch of trees and cradled my beautiful mate in my arms. “Bella, please, Angel, wake up,” I begged, caressing her pale skin. She was cold to the touch and unresponsive. She appeared dead. “Bella, I need you. I can’t go on without you. Please, open those beautiful eyes. I need to see those golden orbs, love. Please?” I whimpered. Please, Bella. I can’t…I love you so much. I can’t do this without you by my side. Remember our plans? I want to give you a proper honeymoon. I want to worship and cherish your body. I want to spend eternity with you. Bella.

I held her, rocking slowly and praying to God that she was going to be alright. She had to be. Yes, she had used a tremendous amount of power. An amazing amount, really. She had every right to be exhausted, but I needed something so I could know that she was okay and that we were alright.

Edward, came the tentative mental voice of Alice. I looked up and she was standing at the edge of the trees where I had stopped. Jasper and Carlisle were with her.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked, my voice sounding hollow. “I can’t hear her. She’s not moving. Not breathing…did she die?”

“She’s not dead,” Alice said, sitting next to me and running her fingers through Bella’s hair. “This is the trance-like state, but it appears like death. What she did to James zapped every ounce of power out of her.”

Jasper's Cabin just north of Shaw, Minnesota

Bella's childhood bedroom

Bella's childhood kitchen

Guest room

Bella's childhood family room

Mary Anne

Volterra

Volturi Throne Room

Caius...