Still Dawn: The Saga Continues

Chapter 31, Almost perfect (epov)

"Look after her" Charlie said, extending his hand for me to shake,  

"I will protect her with my life" I swore, taking his hand in mine. "and thank you for trusting me today" I nodded. It hadn't been easy for me to get Charlie here today, and it had been even harder to keep it from Bella. Me and Charlie had never had the easiest of relationship's, if you could even call it that. He still found it hard to forget the time I had left Bella, and the hurt that I had caused her. But I knew from his thought's that he was making progress with that, and it had been true what he'd said in his letter. He did see how happy I made her. Charlie nodded at me and stepped back to take Sue's hand,  

"Congratulation's Edward" Sue smiled at me.  

"Thank you Sue" I smiled "and thank you again for coming today"

The last people I had to bid farewell to were my parent's, Carlisle and Esme.  

"We are so proud of you son" Carlisle began, holding his hand out for me to take. I ignored his gesture and stepped forward wrapping my parent's in a cold, and yet somehow warm, embrace.  

"I love you both" I told them, stepping away again.  

"We love you too dear" Esme smiled proudly, taking Carlisle's hand, the smile remaining a permanent fixture upon her face. It wasn't often that our family exchanged such affection's, but this seemed like the right occasion to show them how much I care, and how grateful I am to them both. I gave them a wide smile before beginning to turn away from them. 'Edward?' Carlisle called silently in his mind, gaining my attention once more 'Do we have anything to be worried about?' I allowed my mind to flit back to what Aro had thought earlier today,

'They will pay for this, one day. I don't know how yet, but they will'

"No" I shook my head, turning back to face him "Not now anyway"  

"Good" Carlisle nodded, looking relieved "have a wonderful time won't you?"  

"Of course" I smiled, turning away and heading back toward's my wife who was sharing a heart felt good bye with her father,  

"I love you Dad" she smiled, wrapping her arm's around him.  

"You too Bell's. Always" he told her "Come visit soon yeah?" he paused "All of you" even without hearing his thought's I could tell he meant it.  

"As soon as we can" Bella promised, turning away to hug Sue "Thank's Sue, and look after him won't you?" she laughed  

"Of course. And congratulation's, both of you" she added, as I reached Bella's side  

"Thank's Sue" my wife smiled.  

"Bella love, we really do have to go or we'll never make our flight" I urged, reaching out for her hand, which she willingly took without hesitation. It never failed to shock me how accepting Bella was of my word, right from day one. I cringed slightly at the memory of us together the day she figured out what I was, and how, despite my best effort's to put her off, she had refused to doubt me.  

"Bye everyone!" she called, as we headed toward's the front door, under a cloud of rice and confetti, which somehow managed to follow us all the way to the car that was waiting outside.

We got into the front seat's of our Volvo and waved enthusiastically out the window at our family and friend's who were now stood on the front porch to see us off. Once we rounded the corner Bella sat back in her seat and sighed happily,  

"Are you alright love?" I asked  

"Fine" she smiled "I'm just thinking"  

"About?"  

"Today" she sighed peacefully, "and how almost perfect it was"

We got to the airport with only 20 minute's to spare before our plane began boarding. We would be flying to Miami before catching our connection to Rio de Janeiro. We were of course going back to Isle Esme, only this time we wouldn't have to be careful, and we wouldn't be interrupted by cleaning staff. I had also thought, considering human memories fade, that Bella might like to experience the Island as an immortal. So she would be able to remember it forever.  

"So" Bella began "can I at least guess where we are going?"  

"Sure" I smiled, certain that she wouldn't guess correctly, All the family knew where we were going, but I had kept it from Bella, I had wanted her to be pleased when she saw it from her new perspective,  

"Well" she grinned "it wouldn't be Isle Esme would it?" I was stunned, I had never thought she would have worked it out. A smile graced her beautiful lip's. She hadn't figured it out,  

"Who told you?" I asked, letting out an exasperated sigh,  

"Ness" she laughed "You should really know better than to tell her thing's, she doesn't keep any secret's from her Mom"

After a 21 hour journey we finally stepped off the boat and onto the island, I watched as the smile on Bella's face grew wider,  

"It's even better than I remembered" she exclaimed, taking in the view.  

Just like I had thought.