The Edge

Steady Go

Summary: The time has arrived for Alice to turn Bella into a vampire.

After Florida

Bella looked at herself as she stood in front of the full length mirror, her hands compulsively running over the smooth material of the white nightgown she was wearing. Her fingers drifted up to her hair, and she lightly ran the tips over the pale flowers that had been braided into her chestnut strands.

Esme had spent the past couple hours fawning over her, styling her hair, braiding the flowers into it, hovering around her, constantly checking to make sure that she was comfortable and that she had everything she needed. The attention had embarrassed Bella a little, but she knew that Esme's nerves and attention came from the fondness the woman had for her, and so sat still and let Esme spoil her.

Tearing her eyes away from the mirror, Bella turned to look behind her.

The room was lit only by candle light, the flickering orange waves filling the room with gothic romance. In the middle of the room was a single bed with white sheets, and strewn over the comforter and the floor around the bed were blood red rose petals.

Bella closed her eyes and forced herself to breath in and out, trying to calm her nerves.

She felt like a bride on her wedding night.

Bella's heart spasmed in her chest as the door to the bedroom opened. Turning around, her hand pressed tightly against her heart as she tried to get it to stop thumping, Bella watched as Alice and Carlisle walked into the room.

Alice had told her that none of the others would be in the room. Esme had wanted desperately to be present, but once Alice bit her there would be too much blood in the air, and Esme knew that she would not be able to resist the scent. Emmett and Rosalie also would have been too tempted my the smell of blood, and Carlisle wouldn't have been able to restrain all three of them, while also trying to monitor Alice's intake to make sure she didn't take to much blood.

Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper were all gathered in the living room at the moment where they, and Esme would stay, waiting until Carlisle came down to announce that the conversion had begun.

Carlisle stopped just inside the doorway, but Alice continued in, walking over to Bella and taking her hands into her own.

"You look amazing," Alice breathed out, her lips curving up into a delighted smile as her eyes raked over Bella's body. "I told you, you'd clean up well," she continued, her eyes sparkling playfully.

"It doesn't look half bad," Bella murmured, her own lips curving up a little bit as she turned her head to the side and looked into the mirror again. She was a low maintenance type of girl, but it did feel like of nice to be dressed up like a Princess for one night.

"Don't be modest," Alice said, her expression turning sly. "You look good enough to eat."

Bella stared at her for a second, and then laughed, stepping into Alice's body, sighing gratefully when her lover wrapped her arms around her, hugging her comfortingly.

"It's going to be alright," Alice whispered, pressing her lips to Bella's cheek.

"I know," Bella breathed out, her hand searching out Alice's. "I'll always bet on you."

Alice smiled at her, and then she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Bella's, pouring all of the love she felt for the younger woman into the kiss.

"Come with me," Alice said softly, holding Bella's hand firmly, her thumb stroking the back of it, before she began to lead her to the bed.

Bella's eyes drifted over to Carlisle as Alice's slight frame settled down on the bed next to her.