Wedding Bells
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer
A/N-set at beginning of Breaking Dawn, AU.
"Nervous?" Renee asked her daughter as she carefully adjusted Bella's wedding veil and smoothed down the satin skirts of the designer dress.
"Yes." Bella said softly as she did her best not to let her eyes well up with tears. This was her big day; she wasn't going to let anything spoil it, especially not worry over her missing best friend. Alice had spent ages doing her makeup and wouldn't like to see her efforts spoiled. Even Rosalie had got involved, although her advice about remembering where the back door was if she wanted to escape had not gone down well with Alice. Bella took in a deep breath and tried to contain her anxiety. She had been forced into some high heels for the special occasion and she was worried about tripping head first into the guests as she made her way down the aisle. She would really need to lean on Charlie and go very slowly so that didn't happen. "Oh, I wish this part was over. I hate being the centre of attention."
"You'll love it when you get up there." Renee assured her. "Just focus on Edward and everything will be fine, although this might help steady your nerves." Renee glanced behind her to make sure that no one else was in hearing distance. She slipped a silver flask out of her handbag and passed it to Bella. "Drink this."
"What is it?" Bella opened the screwcap and sniffed the contents carefully. Her nose wrinkled at the strong smell. "Is this alcohol? Mom I don't drink." She tried to give the flask back to her mother but Renee wouldn't take it.
"Drink it, baby girl. It's your Grandma's concoction. She made me some the day I got married to your dad, believe me it completely obliterated my whole memory of the day." Renee laughed to herself.
"Weren't you pregnant with me at the time?" Bella huffed indignantly. "Thanks a lot."
"Oh pull your head in, baby girl. I was not pregnant despite the rumours that went around at the time. Just because your father and I got married quickly doesn't mean that I was up the duff. No, you happened on the honeymoon…I don't really remember much about that either." Renee patted Bella's flat stomach. "There's nothing hiding in there, is there?" She suddenly demanded suspiciously. "That isn't why you're marrying him, is it? Mmmm?"
"Mom, I'm marrying for love. I'm a…a…a…virgin." Bella gasped. Her cheeks burned as she blushed vociferously.
"Virgin?" Renee groaned. "You mean you didn't road test him first. Bella, have I taught you nothing? What if he's useless between the sheets? You'll be shackled to a frozen…."
"MOM, no more. I'll drink it, I will." Bella felt like she was going to combust with mortification. She quickly held the flask to her lips and downed the lot in one go. "WOAH!" The kickback was strong. Bella bent double as she started coughing.
"You're supposed to sip it, not down it." Renee hissed as she patted Bella on the back. Charlie had come rushing into the room to see what all the fuss was about. He was alarmed to see his daughter bent over and gasping for breath.
"Is she ill? Is she being sick?" Charlie's concerned expression suddenly changed to one of pure happiness as he hunkered down in front of his daughter who was still trying to catch her breath. "If the thought of marrying him makes you sick, kiddo. Then don't do it. I'll break the news to him with pleasure."
"She is not being sick." Renee rolled her eyes at all the theatrics. "She's just a bit winded."
Charlie's face showed his disappointment. "Are you sure?" He asked his ex-wife.
"Very sure." Renee helped Bella to stand upright and began to adjust her daughter's veil again. "You better wait by the aisle; we'll be out in a minute." She said testily to Charlie who looked as if he was going to get down on his knees and pray that the wedding wouldn't take place. Really he was being an idiot. Renee watched him amble away, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his morning suit, muttering under his breath. She guessed it was about her but she didn't care. "You alright now?" She asked Bella softly.
"Um…." Bella licked her lips; she could still taste the alcohol on her tongue. Whatever it was it was strong stuff. She could feel herself already surrounded by a calm haze of drunkenness. She smiled at her mother and giggled. All her anxieties had fallen away in an instant. "What was in that flask?" She whispered loudly.
"Hush, baby girl." Renee shushed her. "It's a secret recipe your Grandma passed down to me. One day I'll let you know, but not right now."
"Can I have some more?" Bella held onto Renee's shoulders as she swayed in the heels.
Renee's lips thinned as she thought about whether it was a good idea to give Bella anymore, but it had seemed to have dampened Bella's worries, in fact she was almost mellow with happiness. A little more couldn't hurt. Renee dug around in her shoulder bag and pulled out another bottle and quickly refilled the silver flask. She took a long swig herself before handing it to her daughter. "Sip it, remember. Otherwise you'll be falling at Edward's feet."
"Yes, yes." Bella took the flask and waved at Renee as her mother left to join the other guests. She giggled to herself as she took another long drink from the flask. She was prepared for the kickback this time and she enjoyed the feel of the strong alcohol sliding down her throat and settling nicely in her stomach. All her worries and fears seemed to have melted away along with the drink. She was now ready for anything. Bella tried to take a step forward and nearly hit the deck as she tottered around in her ridiculously high heels. "Stoopid shoes." She mumbled as she kicked them off. "That's better." Bella sighed in bliss as she stretched her toes which had been confined in the uncomfortable shoes.
Alice popped her head into the room. She was done up in the most bizarre dress Bella had ever seen. Edward's sister had been keeping her designer bridesmaid dress a secret until the big day. She wanted to surprise Bella she said, well it was definitely a surprise. Bella closed one eye as she squinted at the bright dress; it was lacy with lots of silly flouncy ruffles. "You look like an orange." Bella pronounced baldly.
A hurt expression crossed Alice's face as she smoothed down the silly ruffles and fluffed her black hair with the orange headband. The headband did in fact have fruit attached at a jaunty angle. Bella snorted with laughter as she reached out and pulled off one of the orange coloured berries. "I was feeling hungry." She opened her mouth to pop the berry in when Alice snatched it from her.
"What is wrong with you, Bella?" Alice whined. "First you insult my dress, which cost hundreds of dollars by the way, and now you are trying to eat part of my plastic headband. Is this some type of joke? Did Rosalie put you up to this?"
Bella shook her head. "Nope." The sound of the wedding march starting up startled her. She put her hands over her ears. "That's too loud."
"Come on." Alice grabbed Bella's hand and shoved a bouquet of white roses into her other one before pulling her out of the room and toward the winding staircase. It wasn't until they'd reached the bottom of the stairs that she noticed Bella's feet were bare, but it was too late to protest. The huge glass doors of the Cullen's palatial mansion were wide open and they were in full view of all the guests. Bella blinked like a rabbit staring at an oncoming car as Alice practically shoved her outside and steered her toward a disgruntled Charlie.
"Last chance to stop this farce." Charlie whispered as he put her hand on his arm.
"Huh?" Bella's head was feeling very fuzzy. She wasn't quite sure what her father was saying, all she knew was that she needed some more to drink, she was feeling very thirsty all of a sudden. She stared at the sea of curious faces which were all gazing at her as they waited for her to walk down the aisle. "Wait." She mumbled as she fumbled with the silver flask which she had hidden in the waistband of her dress. Charlie watched in stunned silence as his daughter took a huge swig from the flask before burping slightly as the liquid trickled down her throat. "That's better." She hid the flask back in her belt.
"What the hell was that?" Charlie whispered.
"Water." Bella smiled at him beatifically as she began to march down the aisle. Charlie was unprepared at her sudden move and he ended up chasing after her as she laughed and waved at all the guests as she passed. "Hey, Mike." She bellowed as she caught sight of Mike Newton sitting next to Jessica. She saw him fidget nervously and tug at the collar of his shirt. Jessica glared at her, she was trussed up in some kind of pink ensemble, and it was horrible. Bella snorted with laughter. "Don't forget to road test first guys" She yelled. She carried on striding down the aisle, it was so much better in bare feet. She noticed Angela and Eric; she waved at them, picking up the cumbersome skirts of her wedding dress which were impeding her movement. She lifted it so high her garter was on show. A ripple of laughter went through the guests.
"Bella." Alice hissed as she quickly pulled the skirts of the dress back down. What are you doing?"
Charlie was just walking beside his daughter looking completely bemused. If he didn't know better he would think Bella was drunk. But no, she didn't even partake of the eggnog at Christmas. Perhaps she had knocked her head. Charlie frowned as he studied her carefully. That would be grounds to cancel this absurd wedding wouldn't it, if his daughter was not the full ticket because of a head injury?
Bella was having a great time. She saw Seth, Sue and Billy all sitting together in the second row. Her face lit up at the sight of them. Instead of continuing toward the alter she veered off and began to shove her way through the narrow gaps, forcing the guests to clamber out of her way. The long skirts of her dress hit some of them in the face. From far away she heard Alice talking and then Edward's voice as he called out to her. But Bella ignored them all. She was focused on her target. "Hello there, guys." She babbled when she reached Seth and the others.
"Um…hey, Bella." Seth greeted her awkwardly. Billy and Sue just gawked at her as if she was crazy.
"Sethy, Sethy." Bella scrambled to his side, leaned down and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "Have you heard from Jakey boy yet?" Her brown eyes caked in heavy mascara began to pool with tears as she suddenly recalled her absent best friend. She yanked at her veil as it was getting in the way. "I miss him you know, he should be here." Her happiness suddenly turned to despair and she began to blub all over poor Seth, who stared around helplessly, begging for help with his eyes. "Where is he?" Her makeup ran down her cheeks and she used the end of the veil to dab at her eyes. "Billy." She turned her sad eyes onto Jacob's father instead when Seth didn't answer. "Where is Jakey? I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't. I'm a bad Bella. Bad."
Suddenly Bella felt a cold hand touch her arm; she whirled round, knocking Seth in the face with her elbow as she came face to face with her soon to be husband. Charlie was hovering behind her fiancé, looking irritated at Edward's sudden interference. "Where's Jakey?" Bella bellowed at Edward as he tried to steer her away from the gaping crowd. "Did you send him off, Eddie? Did you?" Bella slurred as she jabbed him in his hard chest. "Ow, my finger." More drunken tears welled in her eyes as she held her throbbing finger in her good hand.
"Bella, please." Edward begged her. "You are making an exhibition of yourself." He sniffed her discreetly and his eyes darkened. "Have you been imbibing alcohol?" He demanded under his breath.
"I jus' had a little drinky." Bella pulled out the silver flask and before he could stop her she drank some more of the soothing liquid. "That's better." She popped the lid back on and glared at Edward again. "Now, you answer me, did you send Jakey boy off? I know you can be a jealous troll, I ain't stoopid." She tapped herself on the head. "Mom was right. I should have road tested you first, or I maybe I shoulda road tested Jakey boy instead." She muttered.
"Baby girl." Bella turned her head to see a shame faced Renee standing behind her. "Come with me, sweetie. You need to get some fresh air away from all these prying eyes." She grabbed hold of her swaying daughter and with Charlie helping they led Bella away from the amused guests toward a little tow path. It wound its way past the alter toward a little grove between the trees which surrounded the Cullen's mansion. Edward had been forced to stay behind while he dealt with the guests and tried to explain away the situation.
"What the hell is going on here?" Charlie huffed as he steadied Bella with one hand while he locked eyes with his ex-wife. "Is Bella drunk?"
"Oh, I only gave her a little of my Grandma's special recipe to soothe the nerves. It was the same stuff I drank on my wedding day." Renee said defensively.
"You are unbelievable, woman." Charlie retorted.
"Pull your head in." Renee snapped. "I thought you would be pleased. You didn't want her to get married and now she obviously can't, not today anyway."
Suddenly Charlie's anger vanished. "That's very true. Well done, Renee." He congratulated her instead.
"Don't be a fool. I never meant for her to get paralytic. She was supposed to drink just enough to steady her nerves." Renee sighed heavily.
Bella was still weaving all over the place as she babbled on about Jacob under her breath. "Damn boy, just upped and left. So rude. S'posed to be my bestest bud, but no." She wagged her finger at an imaginary Jacob. "Off he goes and leaves me."
"What is she mumbling about?" Renee cupped her daughters face in her hands and peered into her eyes. Bella stared blearily back at her. "Oh, baby girl you are going to have one hell of a hangover in the morning."
"Where's Jakey?" Bella pouted as tears pooled in her eyes again.
"I'm here." All three of them were startled as Jacob suddenly came striding out of the trees into the open. He was barefoot but dressed in an open necked white shirt and a pair of dark jeans.
"Where the hell have you been?" Charlie demanded.
Bella shoved her way past Charlie as her face lit up with joy. "There you are!" She held out her arms and staggered a couple of steps before tripping over her the long skirts of her dress and falling at his feet.
A/N-really needed to write something light hearted, my stories have been so dark lately. Thanks for reading!