“Are you sure? I mean, will it be alrigh…”

Alice lifted her finger to cover my mouth. “It’s perfect” The corners of her mouth twisted into a smile. “You’re perfect”

 I made a face; my darling angel Alice, calling me perfect.

“I love you,” I whispered, letting her feel the flames of my emotions, so much stronger now than I could ever remember. Her face turned to unresponsive stone.

“Don’t you love me?” I asked, tilting my head to the side with a curious gaze. She danced out of the range of my arms as I went to pull her towards me, skipping around Edward’s piano.

“The wedding is tomorrow,” she explained with an impish grin. “And I wouldn’t want you to think I’m just another southern gal falling for your pretty face”

 I couldn’t help smiling in return; she was utterly delightful. “You think I have a pretty face?” For a moment I considered simply clearing the piano from my path, until reason interfered; Edward hadn’t seemed entirely the forgiving sort, from what little I knew of him.

“Not as pretty as my own, of course,” Alice trilled in response, sweeping back her hair in a gesture of pure vanity and unbidden a chuckle escaped my lips.

 “No. Never as pretty as you” With her mind sufficiently distracted I leaped over the aforementioned piano, clearing it in one easy movement and ensnaring the startled vampire into my arms.

“Then again, who ever could be?” I made sure to deliberately emphasize the next part, fire searing through my veins as the name rolled off of my tongue.

 “Alice Whitlock”

Alice raised her hand to stroke my cheek, eyes sparkling with the merriment I felt. “That’s Mrs Whitlock to you”