I woke the next morning to Rosalie's fingers dancing along the bare skin of my back, her fingers softly trailed down the contours of my spine. Occasionally she placing kisses along my back.

I turned my head smiling at the naked beauty in front of me, only a thin sheet covering her bottom half. The sun was bright outside the window-wall when I woke, with small clouds scuttling too quickly across the sky. The wind rocked the treetops till the whole forest looked as if it was going to shake apart.

"we have to get up, Edward will be waiting for you" she murmured placing a kiss on my lips. I nodded standing up allowing the blanket to fall completely. I saw Rosalie trail her eyes down my front.

"do you think we have enough time for a shower?"

Rosalie laughed before allowing me to pull her towards the bathroom for a shower, that took longer than necessary. It was something about the mate bond, intimacy with her was so much more than ever before, each touch was electric, it was both too much yet not enough all at the same time.

When I walked out of the bathroom freshly changed in a tank top and a pair of shorts. Rosalie walked out with me a smirk on her face. "what?"

She shook her head slightly "nothing, I'm just glad you heal fast, otherwise we wouldn't be able to do that. I guess I'm not able to control myself as I thought I would. be"

I rolled my eyes playfully "we were in a hurry; we'll get better at that."

"so, there's a next time."

I smiled widely "oh I hope so, though I do enjoy taking my time"

Rosalie laughed her forehead pressed against mine. "I got to go, but I'll see you soon, I promise. Be careful." I gave her a passionate kiss before hopping out my window.

Once I got outside, I stripped down placing all my clothes into my backpack before phasing and turning towards Rose. I gave her a wolfy bark before running off into the woods.

The feeling of the ring sitting against my chest had a different meaning to it now that the relationship was consummated.

"where are we meeting Alex?" I heard Bella ask.

"right here" Edward responded as I stepped out from the cover of trees, my backpack slung across my shoulders.

"Hey, Alex" Bella greeted as I got close.

"morning you two" I gave them both a smile before looking at Edward "so where do I take her?"

Edward pulled a map from a side pocket on the pack and offered it to me. I unfolded it.

"We're here now," Edward said, reaching over to touch the right spot. "And you're taking her up here," Edward continued, tracing a serpentine pattern around the elevation lines on the paper. "Roughly nine miles."

I nodded, studying the map.

"When you're about a mile away, you should cross my path. That will lead you in. Do you need the map?"

"I should probably take it, I'm pretty sure where it is but just in case"

Edward nodded, having no issue with me keeping the map.

"I'll take a longer route," Edward said. "And I'll see you in a few hours."

"see you" Bella murmured.

I chuckled slightly "don't sound so glum Bella, I promise I'm warm and smell good. I should know... I showered"

That seemed to get a small laugh from the girl and a smirk from Edward, who I was positive knew more happened. Edward faded into the trees, heading in the opposite direction.

I turned to Bella "well, we should get going. I would offer to let you hop on my back you know like a horse, but I'm not certain that will give the same effect as before."

"it's okay..."

I approached her waiting for her to place her arms around my neck. I bent down grabbing behind her knees carrying her bridal style. Once Bella was settled, I started jogging through the trees, keeping a steady pace. A brisk jog that a fit human could keep up with.

"You don't have to run. You'll get tired."

I shook my head "running doesn't make me tired anymore. Besides it will get colder soon. I hope he has camp set up before we get there. And before it gets dark"

Bella tapped her finger on the strap of my backpack "I thought you didn't get cold now"

"I don't, but you do." I said looking around "I don't like the way the weather feels. It's making me edgy. Notice how we haven't seen any animals?"

"Um, not really."

"I guess you wouldn't. Humans don't have the same enhancements that I do"

"Alice was worried about the storm, too."

"Even with the right equipment camping in the mountains during a storm can be dangerous. You should be fine, worst-case Seth or I have to camp out in the tent with you" Bella's eyes furrowed so I explained "personal heaters."

The pathless way I took began to climb more and more steeply, but it didn't slow me down. I leapt easily from rock to rock, a perfect balance similar to that of a mountain goat.

"so... How are you and Rosalie doing?"

I blushed at the thought of this morning and last night "we're doing good, great actually."

Bella's eyes narrowed "something more happened..." My eyes darted around ignoring the probing look she was giving me. Her eyes widened "did you? Please tell me that you didn't before?"

"I showered. I promise, let's talk about something else"

"Well, I'm glad for you and Rosalie looks happier"

The wind was roaring high above us in the treetops. A cliff face rose sheer beside us, bare, rough gray stone. We followed the base as it curved upward out of the forest.

"I'm glad. I would do anything to make her happy, I plan to spend the rest of eternity with her"

"wait? Eternity? You don't age either?" she asked.

I shook my head "no, not as long as I phase"

Bella seemed slightly irritated by this, I figured it had to do with the fact that she was still aging. Though I wasn't sure what the big deal a few years was.

"it means I can spend forever with her, that I have forever to give her everything she's ever wanted. A beautiful wedding, a loving partner. The only thing I can't give her is a child... well maybe in the future." I thought about it, I could still have kids they would certainly be like me, but it would make Rosalie happy.

"marriage? You're already thinking about that?" Bella asked a little panic in her voice.

"We already said yes" I replied nonchalantly, it wasn't a big deal for me. "I'm in love with her, she's my partner. And I want to marry her, I know it means nothing in eternity but to me it's the knowledge that I get to be with her in every way. That I can say I'm her wife. I kinda started the courtship when I gave her the pendant"

I watched Bella's face morph. "Bella, marriage isn't really a big deal... I mean it is but... Do you love Edward?"

Her eyes flashed to mine "of course, I want to be with him"

"forever?"

"yes"

I smiled "marriage is nothing compared to forever, the commitment. I think it's a good thing."

"marriage isn't a symbol of forever. And what would people think?"

I smirked "Bella, I'm one of the only lesbians in the area, and native American. What people think means nothing. And you're right, marriage doesn't signify forever. But it is the highest commitment one can achieve."

We continued for a little while in silence. I smelled, honey and grapefruit, Edward. "We're not far now, I can smell him"

I looked up at the sky, a wall of purple-black clouds were racing in from the west, blackening the forest beneath it as it came. I picked up speed.

"what?" Bella asked but I looked up and she noticed it as well.

"we need to hurry"

"you think I should marry Edward?" she whispered. I thought for a moment.

"If you love him, and you want to spend eternity with him. Marriage is not much to ask; I think it's just the idea that you want to be with him in every way. And back in his time it was a symbol of eternity. To death did they part"

I walked a few more steps before I spoke again "plus, it would be closure for Charlie and your mom. Seeing their daughter get married."

Just then, the wind shook more fiercely through the trees around us, and it felt like it was blowing straight off a glacier. The sharp sound of wood cracking echoed off the mountain. Though the light was vanishing as the grisly cloud covered the sky, I could still see the little white specks that fluttered past us.

I stepped up the pace, keeping my eyes on the ground now as I flat out sprinted. Bella curled more willingly against my chest, recoiling from the unwelcome snow. "I'll try to hurry"

It was only minutes later that I dashed around to the lee side of the stony peak, and we could see the little tent nestled up against the sheltering face. More flurries were falling around us, but the wind was too fierce to let them settle anywhere.

"Bella!" Edward called out in acute relief. We'd caught him in the middle of pacing back and forth across the little open space.

He flashed to my side, sort of blurring as he moved so swiftly. I put Bella down and Edward hugged her tightly.

"Thank you," Edward said looking at me. His tone was unmistakably sincere. "That was quicker than I expected, and I truly appreciate it."

I nodded looking above me "she needs to get inside; I hope that tent is secure"

"I all but welded it to the rock."

"good, the storm is ahead of schedule..."