THE WEDDING

THE WEDDING

The day had arrived! My day, the day Isabella Swan would no longer exist and a new person named Mrs. Isabella Cullen would begin her life with an angel. This was actually the day I dreaded because I had to marry my angel but afterwards we would go to the happy place and that was where I wanted to be.

I had spent the night at the Cullen's in Edward's room so that Alice could dress me for my big day and he kissed me as I awoke. "Good morning", he whispered, "Alice gave me strict instructions that I'm to leave and so I'm going to hunt nearby and I'll see you later. I nodded but still clung to him not wanting this separation to occur and I searched for his lips again. He kissed me gently and then extricated himself from my arms just as Alice came bustling in.

"There's plenty of time for that later", she said matter of fact. She laid down a tray of food on a small table and pushed him out the door. He winked at me as he left and I grimaced. "Eat", she said, as I pulled myself off the bed. "Your mother will be here shortly so you need to shower and then we can start to get you ready".

For the next hour or two, I was dressed and made up. We had moved to Alice's room for Alice wanted everything to be perfect and I let her have her way without complaining too much. Esme and my mom helped Alice while I just went to 'my happy place' and allowed them to take pleasure in what they were doing. I wanted my mom to have this time because I knew that soon she wouldn't be able see her only daughter again. Even though I was ready to make the change to become a vampire, I would definitely miss Renee and my dad, Charlie. They of course had no idea of this change, only that I was marrying Edward, the love of my existence and with whom I was absolutely sure I had made the right choice. The plan was that Edward and I would travel to Dartmouth following our honeymoon and be a married couple on campus. This was definitely a plus in their eyes, their only daughter attending an Ivy League college.

The guest list for the wedding was not large, just the Cullen's, my parents, Renee's husband Phil, a couple of my friends Angela and Ben, Charlie's work mates and those from La Push, the Quilieute Indian Reservation, who were invited including Seth Clearwater and his Mom, Sue. I blocked out that my best friend Jacob Black would not be here because he was off being a werewolf somewhere in Canada. All I had to do was walk past these few people with my arm on Charlie's and then stand next to Edward while the words we planned were read. We excluded "until death do you part" because that wouldn't be true. Eternity was for us. Emmett had obtained a license to perform the marriage and hopefully I could keep my face straight when I looked at him.

Renee and Esme finally left Alice and I alone together. She insisted I look at what she had created. What I saw in the mirror was not myself, plain and ordinary, but someone I hoped soon to become. I saw my vision of me sitting on a swing beside Edward in another time, my Anne of Green Gables moment. Seeing Alice's apprehensive look, I smiled affectionately and hugged her. "I love you Alice", I said "and you did a great job".

She beamed at me then, "I love you too Bella and I love that we are soon to be sisters".

"We are already sisters", I told her and hugged her again. "You look gorgeous too," I said admiring her.

The time was suddenly here. Alice gave me a few last minute instructions and helped me down the stairs. Charlie stood at the bottom looking very debonair in his tux. As I drew close to him, I noticed tears in his eyes, "You are so beautiful," He whispered and hugged me tight as if he knew that our time was short together. This made my eyes tear up even though I had vowed not to let it happen and my eyes were blurry as we followed Alice into the room where our guests were seated.

I brushed the tears from my eyes in anticipation of seeing Edward's face and there it was, my Angel's face looking at me in anticipation and absolute love. I smiled at him and he in turn gave me his angel smile. I saw nothing else; nothing could move my eyes from his liquid gold eyes. I reached him and then clung to his waiting arm. He held my hand and continued to look in to my eyes and I in his. Somehow we managed to answer the questions Emmett asked and exchanged wedding bands and then it was over and we kissed longingly as if we had been separated too long.

"I love you Mrs. Cullen", he whispered to me gently.

"I love you too, my angel", I replied.

Everyone clapped and then the congratulations came as we moved past the guests. Renee was in tears and so was Charlie and so was I. Edward held me close as we interacted with everyone. Alice beamed and so did Esme, even Rosalie seemed happy. Our plan was not to stay for the reception but to leave as soon as we could without upsetting anyone. I threw my bouquet and my friend Angela caught it as we ran up stairs.

Alice caught up with us and shepherded me into her room once again to change clothes. I was impatient for Edward to come and get me and brushed off her attempts to tidy up my hair and makeup as soon as he came through the door. He picked me up in his arms kissing me again and carried me down stairs to his waiting car before anyone realized what had happened and then we were off, driving away to our happy place.

The journey to our happy place was over. The beautiful room was secured and we were inside. Edward had carried me over the threshold while kissing me and my eyes were still only for him. This was the moment I had longed for and it was here, we didn't have to worry about going too far any more, we had done everything right and we were husband and wife. He set me down while kissing me and his kiss became urgent and forceful. I responded, kissing him back with as much passion as I could muster. I had no problem unbuttoning his shirt which he wriggled out of and my clothes were suddenly gone, a crumpled heap at my feet. He picked me up and laid me on the bed, his lips leaving my mouth and he started kissing me on my neck and then moving down my body. I in turn moved to unbuckle his pants which he wriggled out of.

We lay together gently touching each others bodies, then for a moment looking into each others eyes. 'Remember I'm going to try", he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you". "Please tell me if I should stop and I will".

I kissed him fervently and then we made love passionately. There was a little pain but nothing to want me to stop him. At this moment there was nothing I wanted more, my anticipation was fulfilled, my love for him overflowing.

That night I slept dreamlessly, safely tucked in my angel's arms. He had placed the quilt between us so I wouldn't be too cold and when I awakened he kissed me. "Did I hurt you last night?" he asked me.

"A little', I answered truthfully. His look of consternation made me giggle, "I was after all a virgin, so it was to be expected", I said.

He grinned then, "Am I to assume you are not sorry to lose that title?"

"You may assume what you want, just keep doing what you're doing". I retorted.

He then kissed me passionately and our love making continued. Throughout the day we made love and talked and sometimes I ate. The things we talked about had only to do with each other, good memories of our relationship thus far, feelings we disclosed, the pleasure we now felt, strategy to improve our love making and to learn about each others bodies. It didn't feel embarrassing to discuss these things. It just seemed natural to want to know how to give and receive pleasure.

"I want to know what you are thinking as I touch your body, he insisted. I want to know if I give you pleasure and I want you to reciprocate. I was shy at first to touch him but he guided me to know what made him feel good. It felt perfect to be able to give and take. My heart felt so full and I loved him so much.

In the evening we showered and dressed because Edward wanted us to explore our happy place. We ate at a fabulous restaurant close to our hotel but it was hard to concentrate on food with Edward close to me, watching me eat. We kissed often in between my trying to eat and I blushed when the waiter interrupted our kissing.

We left the restaurant and drove around looking at the sites and I cuddled close to him not wanting any space between us. We ended up on the beach walking and kissing in the moonlight. Sometimes I ran from him splashing barefoot through the water and he chased me only to catch me and scrunch me into his arms. Sometimes while running I tripped and he caught me, falling down beside me laughing loudly and I laughed too. There was no one around to disturb us so we made love on the beach. Upon returning to the hotel room, we continued to make love, and talk until I fell asleep, happy but exhausted. He listened to my sleep talking and I blushed in the morning when he told me what I said.

Sometimes we would leave the hotel in the early morning and drive to a far away place, away from prying eyes, so I could experience Edward's beauty in the sunlight and there was always an excuse for making love.

Sometimes we went to a concert, opera, or ballet in the evening but it was hard to concentrate as he kissed my hair, face and my neck. Fortunately we sat in a booth with no one behind us to complain. I knew without a doubt he loved me and I was besotted by him. I wasn't sure how we were going to last through eternity with so much love between us. There was nothing I wanted more than him, there were no holes between us and time stood still.

This was how our honeymoon continued and all too soon it was over. We had only spoken of love between the two of us and suddenly we had to face the future and my pain. We had lived a fairy tale existence for one week and now had to face the changes having to be made if I was to continue to be eighteen for ever. This was my choice, but I was still afraid of the burning, excruciating pain which I remembered from before. I was, however, even more afraid of the Volturi finding me still human and forcing their wrath on my new family, the Cullen's. I also had a new role as Edward's wife and a new responsibility of being a Cullen.