Mrs. Edward Cullen
The light flooded through the floor to ceiling windows of Edward's bedroom and onto the gold bedspread. I rolled over lazily expecting to see Edward lying next to me as he did every other night. He wasn't there. I sat upright in bed with a start and looked around the room, I was alone. Where had he gone? He'd never left me in the middle of the night before. Then I remembered…. Today is August thirteenth. I'm getting married today. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at myself. Alice heard my laughter as I knew she would and seized the opportunity. She opened the door and peeked in at me.
"Finally, you're awake." She sounded a little worried. "It's after twelve, the wedding is at four. We have to hurry."
"Relax, Alice, we have enough time." I jumped out of the bed surprisingly excited considering I had initially objected to the idea of marriage. I practically danced into the bathroom and turned on the hot water of the bathtub. I poured a large amount of my favorite freesia bubble bath into the steaming water. Edward had told me before that the freesia accented my already floral scent. Alice stood in the doorway watching me, her hands on her hips.
"You really should shower instead, save some time." I looked back at her.
"Alice, will you please relax. I'm more ecstatic that this day has finally come than I ever dreamed I would be. I want to enjoy it. I'm going to relax in the bath; I won't be longer than thirty minutes. Will you go tell Edward how excited I am? I want him to know." I truly did want Edward to see my enthusiasm but more so it was an excuse to get her out of my presence. She was wound tight as it was and if I didn't keep myself relaxed I might lose it.
"Okay, thirty minutes and then I'm coming in to get you." I nodded. She turned and gracefully left the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. I removed my pajamas and rolled my hair into a bun on the top of my head. I stepped into the bath and let the hot water send chills through my entire body. I slowly lowered myself into the nearly shoulder high water. I leaned back and rested my head against the porcelain of the tub. The water lapped around my hair and the base of my neck. This was the life. I was marrying the man of my dreams today. In less than five days I would be a vampire. Everything I wanted was finally happening. My heart felt as though it would burst through my chest at any moment. I lolled in the bathwater for as long as I could while still keeping my promise to Alice. I finally undid my hair and washed it with Edward's favorite shampoo. I gasped as the hot water spilled down my face, the one place that wasn't wet. I stepped out and wrapped a large, soft towel around myself. I put my wet hair up into a smaller towel and commenced to drying the water off my skin. When I stepped out into the bedroom again Alice was waiting for me on the leather sofa. She jumped up and bounded over to me
"Are you ready?" she couldn't contain her excitement. I nodded and smiled at her. She brought me a terry cloth bathrobe and helped me into it. Then she led me back to the bathroom calling for Rosalie over her shoulder. She sat me on a stool in front of the mirror. Rosalie had appeared behind me as well. While Alice brushed and then began blow drying my hair Rosalie knelt down and began painting my toenails. When my hair was dry Alice pulled out a curling iron and began to twist my hair around it. Rosalie pulled a cosmetics bag off the counter and started to coat my face with makeup. I sat in the chair with no emotion on my face. I hated being the Barbie doll. But it was so nice that I had them to help me, and I was grateful that they wanted to help. Alice piled half the curls on the crown of my head then added a diamond studded clip to hold them in place. She pulled out small amounts of hair on the sides of each of my ears and curled those too. Then she added baby's breath to the pile on my crown. Rosalie applied the finishing touch, soft pink lipstick. She stepped back and looked at me with a smile on her face.
"I'm finished here, how's it coming Alice."
"Done, all she needs is the veil." They both moved out of my line of vision and I gaped at myself in the mirror. I felt as though I was wearing ten pounds of makeup on my face but Rosalie had done an amazing job. The makeup looked natural and light. Except for my eyes, they were sultry and dark. The pink lipstick looked perfect against my skin. My hair was so perfect I could hardly believe it was mine. They both looked at me with delight. "Edward's gonna die when he sees you." Alice didn't bother to contain her excitement.
"Okay, can you get me into the dress without ruining all this." I gestured towards my head. They looked at one another then back at me with insulted expressions on their faces.
"Are you kidding," Rosalie said, " do you know how many times each of us has been married?" They pulled me up, Alice by my right hand, Rosalie by my left and led me into the walk in closet where my dress was hanging. They unzipped the bag and began to remove it from the hanger.
"Wait," I held my hands up. I turned and went to the bedside table. I opened the top drawer where I had hidden my surprise for Edward. I brought the bag with me and went back into the closet. "Will you help me into these?" I pulled out a white lace strapless bra and matching panties, a white lace garter belt and thigh high white hose. Rosalie and Alice exchanged surprised looks.
"Bella," Rosalie said, "I didn't know you had it in you." I blushed furiously. I took off the terry cloth robe and dropped it on the floor of the closet. I was embarrassed to let them see me naked but they had all the same parts as me so I decided it didn't matter. I pulled on and hooked the bra while Alice removed tags and plastic from the other items. She handed me the panties and I stepped into them. Next Rosalie knelt at my feet again and held out the hose for me. Alice allowed me to steady myself on her while Rosalie inched the hose up to my thigh. After the second one was on the hooked the garter belt to my waist and attached the hose. I dared a peek in the full length mirror at myself. I looked almost sexy. I wondered what Edward would think. Rosalie and Alice carefully removed my dress from the garment bag and held it down at my feet. I stepped into it. They pulled it around me and Alice quickly laced up the corset-style backing. I couldn't believe I was wearing my wedding gown. I walked over the mirror again and took a deep breath. I finally looked up and gazed unbelieving at my reflection.
The dress was strapless, white and fit snugly to my torso. At my waist was a tiny embroidered band of crystals. The skirt of the gown was scattered with tiny crystals all through it. They sparkled in the light the way Edward's bare skin did, the way mine soon would. I turned from one side to the other; I couldn't believe how I looked. I didn't realize that I was alone in the closet until Alice and Rosalie returned in their bridesmaid's dresses. The royal blue looked wonderful on Alice and Rosalie's blond hair complimented the color very well. I saw that neither of them was wearing much makeup at all and their hair was done as it would have been any other day. They noticed my noticing these details.
"We didn't want to do anything that might take attention away from the bride." Alice smiled at me.
"Thank you," I was getting teary, the water works would begin any minute now. I heard a faint knock at the door.
"Just a minute," Alice called. She went back to the garment bag and swiftly pulled out my veil. She delicately attached it to the crown of curls on my head. It felt snug in place but I was still afraid it might fall off. I turned again and looked in the mirror. My ensemble looked complete with the veil in place. "Come on in Charlie," Alice called towards the door. The three of us stepped into the bedroom as my father opened the door and stepped inside. He gasped slightly and his eyes became teary as well. He looked at me for a long moment.
"It's time," he said slowly and quietly.
"We'll go take position," Alice winked at me as she and Rosalie slid out the door. Charlie came over to take my hands in his.
"You know I was against this Bella, but seeing you now, I am so proud of you. I know that Edward will make you happy." I couldn't speak, I was fighting the tears too hard.
"Thanks Dad." I hoped he could hear me, my voice sounded quiet and choked. He led me to the door and down the hall to the top of the first set of stairs. We slowly descended and I silently prayed I wouldn't trip. At the bottom of the stairs my bridesmaids stood waiting, each with her flowers in hand, Alice handed me mine; beautiful striking bouquet of red roses that set off the white of my dress perfectly. Alice and Rosalie each held a smaller bouquet of the same deep red. I looked over at Charlie and nodded. He pulled the top layer of my veil over my face and the music began. It was a recording of Edward's pieces. Rosalie began down the stairs moving with grace like I had never seen. Alice followed, equally as graceful.
Charlie and I stepped up to the top of the staircase and I caught my first glimpse of the fruits of Alice's labor. Winding down the railing of the stairs was a vine of deep red roses with two pillars topped with two large bouquets of red and white roses. All the furniture in the large living room had been taken away save Edward's grand piano. The chairs were lined up on two sides of the room creating her aisle to walk down. The end chair of each row was adorned with another exquisite bouquet of red roses. Alice and Rosalie stood to the left in front of the first row where Renee sat with Phil already wiping her eyes. On the right side of the front row were Jasper and Emmett looking dashing in their tuxedos. Then I felt my breathing stop as my eyes fell on Edward. He stood with the most unfamiliar look on his face. After all the time I had spent gazing into his eyes I had never seen this expression on his face before. From where I stood I could have easily believed there were tears in his eyes; though I knew better. When our eyes met his face broke into a huge smile that immediately lit up his eyes. My breath finally found me and I pulled in as much air as I could and looked over to Charlie. He nodded in response to my look.
We descended slowly down the stairs as Esme played my lullaby on the piano. As I passed the rows of people on my way to Edward I saw all everyone I'd come to love since I'd been here. Jessica sat with her parents and a huge grin on her face. Angela and Ben smiled up at me as I passed them, holding hands. People from the hospital were there though I didn't know them. Esme looked over at me from the piano and looked as though she would burst at the seams of her dress with happiness. I scanned the small crowd of people but saw no one from La Push. I my heart sank just slightly knowing my best friend wasn't there for me. Whatever sinking my heart did at the thought of Jacob vanished the instant I met eyes with Edward again. His smile hadn't faded in the slightest; it covered his face just as it had when I stood at the top of the stairs. Charlie and I closed the last small distance between us and Edward and looked toward the judge. Edward's eyes never left me.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" he asked.
"I do," Charlie answered, and then he took my hand and placed it in Edward's, kissed my cheek through my veil and went to take his seat next to Renee. Edward slid my hand through his arm and gazed down at me as though he had never seen me before. I was blushing furiously, I knew, but I couldn't look away from his eyes. The beginning of the ceremony passed without my knowledge. I was so deeply enthralled in Edward's beauty that I didn't hear anything. I studied his face: the long dark eyelashes that held his butterscotch eyes, the radiance of his pale skin in the dimly lit room, the smile that never left his face. I was overwhelmed with the beauty and the happiness that was obvious in his face.
"Bella," the judge's voice calling my name shook me from my trance, "do you take Edward to be your husband? Will you love him, honor him and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others give yourself only unto him for as long as you both shall live?" I looked again to gaze into Edward's eyes. There was no nervousness, no concern he smiled down at me waiting for me to answer. I smiled back at him.
"I do," I was a little surprised at the assurance in my voice but it made me happier than I'd ever been to promise those things to Edward.
"And Edward, do take Bella for your wife? Will you love her, honor her and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others give yourself only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do, forever." He answered, without ever looking at the judge. Alice stepped to my side and placed a gold wedding band in my hand. Jasper mirrored her on the other side of Edward.
"Bella, take Edward's hand in yours and place the ring on his third finger and repeat after me. I did as he said with shaking hands. "Edward, take this ring as a sign of my love. With this ring I thee wed." I repeated my line without nervousness and again I was surprised but happy. "Edward take Bella's hand in yours and place the ring on her third finger and repeat after me." Edward lifted my hand and slid the ring flawlessly onto my finger.
"Bella, take this ring as a sign of my love. With this ring I thee wed." Edward's voice cracked slightly with the last word.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride." Edward slowly lifted the my veil, savoring the moment. He placed his arm around my waist pulled me gently to him. He burned his eyes into my for an instant and then he kissed me with passion like I've never felt. Thousands of kisses with him and yet this one was different. His lips parted and I felt his tongue brush mine. My heart was beating a mile a minute. When we parted our guests clapped and cheered. We turned to face them.
"May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen." The music began and Edward whisked me back down the aisle and into the dinning room where we were finally alone. He took me to the wall and looked at me again with that same smile on his lips.
"Alright, Mrs. Cullen," he breathed, "now I can kiss you the way I really wanted to." His lips didn't hesitate this time, they fused with mine and urgently kissed me. Before I knew what was happening my lips were open and our tongues danced feverishly with each other. After too short a time Edward pulled away as Alice and Jasper and Emmett and Rosalie all entered the dinning room. The hugs began and Alice nearly knocked me down with hers. We were all smiling and laughing, everyone was happy. Alice and Rosalie helped me tie up my train and remove my veil while Edward watched him silent longing. He never took his eyes off me, he watched me as though it was a dream he was afraid to wake up from, but always with a smile on his face. After I was prepared we went through the kitchen and out the back door to our reception.
Torches were lined up to create a perimeter around a dozen tables and a banquet of food that could feed an army. A dance floor was set up in the middle with a string orchestra already playing light happy music. Everyone had their plates and Esme and Carlisle were making their rounds. We all went to the head table and took our places: Edward and I in the middle, Alice and Jasper to my left and Rosalie and Emmett to Edward's. Glasses of champagne sat at our places, the china was a fine antique that looked to be very old. Edward noticed me admiring it as leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"It was Esme and Carlisle wedding set as well. Rosalie and Emmett have used it and Alice and Jasper, now it's our turn." I looked over at Esme and Carlisle and mouthed them a thank you. They both smiled back at me and nodded. After several minutes of relaxing and watching our guests Alice tapped her glass with a fork and stood. I felt the warmth on my face as I knew what she was up to.
"As Bella's maid of honor I am supposed to say a few words. Bella, you have danced into our lives so unexpectedly and stolen my brother's heart. I have never seen two people look at each other the way you and Edward do. You two have been through a lot together and come out on the other side. Now you have given each other the ultimate gift, yourselves. I can't think of anyone better suited for my brother than you are. The two of you were made for each other, and I can't imagine a better sister. I wish you happiness forever and I love you both more than you know. To Bella and Edward." She raised her glass higher and the crowed echoed her toast. As everyone drank to us I saw that each of the Cullens took a sip of their champagne. Knowing their preferred diet, the gesture warmed my heart. Alice leaned down and kissed my cheek and took her seat again, next to Jasper. From the other side of Edward another clinging of fork on glass caught mine and everyone else's attention. Emmett stood with his glass just as Alice had. I took a deep breath, slightly nervous for what Emmett, always the jokester, would say. He cleared his throat.
"For a long time now I have watched my brother go through this life alone. While we all found each other," he gestured toward Rosalie, "Edward remained alone. I began to fear that he wouldn't find someone who could love him the way he deserved to be loved. We were happy in our family but Edward's other half was always missing and everyone felt it. Then Bella came into our lives and Edward was whole. Now I know that she is his other half and they will be inseparable from this day forward. No one in the world except her would be good enough for my brother. To Edward and Bella." The crowd repeated the process for Emmett's toast and I couldn't help but see him in a different way now. He was a deeper person that I gave him credit for. He looked over at me and winked and made a small but crude gesture with his hand. I broke a smile, he was deeper but still the same old Emmett. Edward leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips.
"You don't want to know what he was just thinking," he laughed at me. The orchestra picked up where they had left off for the toasts and Edward, to my horror stood and held out his hand for mine. I looked up at him like a deer in headlights and shook my head.
"I don't know about that," I told him, the fear ringing in my voice. He just smiled and me and pulled me up and out onto the dance floor. He pulled my close and took my hand in his.
"Just like at the prom," he whispered. And before I could think about stopping him we were moving. He spun me effortlessly around the dance floor as all our friends and family watched and wiped away tears. After two songs I began to gain a little confidence and everyone else had taken to the dance floor along with us. I hardly noticed, all I noticed was the love of my life that held me in his arms and never took his eyes off me. We said more to each other in those few minutes of dancing than with all our words spoken thus far. For the next song Edward passed me off to my father who clumsily tried to not step on my feet while I tried not to trip. We made it through the song without a lot of conversation and when it ended Edward was right back at my side. But the music didn't return, instead Alice called out in a loud voice.
"It's time to cut the cake." Edward drug me over to the round table where our cake sat. Four layers it was white fondant with the same color deep red roses cascading down it. I picked up the knife and Edward wrapped his icy hand around mine as we cut the first piece. I began to put down the knife and move on when Edward stopped me.
"You didn't think I wouldn't have a piece of my own wedding cake did you?" He picked up the piece we just cut and delicately fed it to me. I looked up at him with slight surprise and did the same for him. He didn't even flinch as he swallowed the cake. He kissed me again and then led me back to our seats at the table. For the next five hours people made their way around to congratulate us. We danced and mingled as the moon rose high in the sky. Finally Edward led me with our guests following to his silver Volvo, covered in typical newlywed decoration. Alice rushed up to me, my bouquet in her hand.
"You can't leave until you throw the bouquet." The crowd behind us instinctively formed with the women in the middle and the men around the perimeter. I turned with my back to the crowd to find Edward smiley hugely at me again. I took the bouquet in both my hands and threw it backwards over my head. I heard the squeals and giggles of the women waiting behind me. When I turned Angela was holding my bouquet with a smiling Ben laughing and kissing her cheek. I looked over at Alice suspecting their wedding might be in the near future, she winked at me and I knew I was right. Edward helped me into the car and then got in the driver's side. I turned and looked back to wave at our guests as we drove away, newly joined as husband and wife, forever.