A/N: Eight reviews for the last chapter, yay! Hope you like this one...
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its attachments. I only wish I do and corrupt the good work Stephenie Meyer has done for addicts of her books, like me.
"I'm ready," and I knew it this time. I held my breath as the doors creaked slowly open, and was knocked breathless as soon as they revealed my sweet angel, waiting on the other side of the church. We were nearly twenty-five feet away, but I could still see the glow on him, not just from his skin, but in his rich, topaz eyes. His eyes were even brighter than I had ever seen them. I doubt it was simply because he went hunting merely a half hour ago to prepare for tonight, but rather because his smile reached his brilliant eyes. He was glowing with, what was that? Pride? Love? Joy? I couldn't tell; there was a mixture of emotions portrayed on his face.
I shook out of my stupor of marveling at his beautiful face only when Charlie shook my arm which got my legs moving. When I had come back to my own body enough to walk, I realized I had the same stupid grin on my face. Gosh, I'm so glad Jessica and Lauren aren't here, they'd probably be whispering about how pregnant I'll look in another month of so, or how stupid the look on my face must look next to the perfect glow of Edward.
The wedding march was playing slowly, which was very good for me. I could walk as slow as I needed –which was quite slow- to not fall down on my face in front of the few people that were in the pews. I looked around, scanning the crowd. Although it was my own wedding, I just realized I had no clue who was attending. In the front rows, on one side of the aisle sat Carlisle and Esme, both with a calm look of serenity as they watched their son –which he truly was to them- glow with happiness. If they could cry, I'm sure they would be by now. Behind them sat Rosalie and Jasper, as Emmett and Alice were standing near the altar next to Angela and Ben, both with wide smiles on their faces.
On the other side of the aisle sat my mother, turning to look back at me, tears welling in her eyes, but a very sweet smile on her lips. Next to her was Phil, who had flown all the way out from Florida to see my wedding, which was sweet considering I never really took the time to get to know him as a person.
In the row behind them, Mike sat. A sour look on his eyes, but a smile nonetheless. I knew he had never really gotten over my rejection, but he brought his new girlfriend, Janice, anyway. I scanned the rest of the pews quickly, only finding a few other people I recognized, and some I didn't. I'm guessing they were some relatives I never took the time to know. I searched the pews frantically, looking for a certain familiar face. A certain warm, loving face, that always made me smile when I saw that wide-toothed grin.
It wasn't there.
A pang of disappointment struck through my insides, reaching my heart. Part of me knew Jacob wouldn't come, especially since I hadn't invited him, but part of me hoped. Part of me hoped Edward sent him an invitation, and he would come, and I would see him sitting there in the pew. Part of me sighed a heavy sigh of relief that he wasn't here, because surely seeing his face would upset me greatly unless there was his signature smile. Part of me knew I couldn't have this night be perfect if I saw his look of revulsion, of disappointment, of unrequited love. Or worse: requited love.
But I didn't think of that.
Instead, I was forcibly brought back to my wedding, my real life, happening-right-now wedding, when I saw the ground suddenly hurling up to smack my face. I really should have been paying attention to my feet, and my feet alone! Alice is going to kill me! Why couldn't I have just made it down the twenty-five feet in one piece? I cursed myself. But Charlie caught me with a yep, that's Bella in there grin. I could almost hear Edward stifle a small chuckle. I'm sure he'd miss my "adorable" – or so he thought - clumsiness after I'd made my transformation into a beautiful, graceful creature.
I recomposed myself, and looked up to see Edward hovering right next to me. Charlie lifted up my veil, kissed my forehead, and whispered a slightly sad, "Goodbye, Bells. I love you." With that, he turned and handed me carefully, very carefully as to keep me from tripping again, and eyed Edward with a sudden intensity. "Take care of her, Edward. Good luck."
"Don't worry, sir. I will, I promise," Edward said, although in his head he was probably contemplating how a vampire biting a human to convert them for a life partner was taking good care of her, but I knew it was the only way to keep me safe.
My father turned and returned to his position, and Edward and I stared at each other for a moment. I moved my way up from his shiny black dress shoes, up to the tuxedo on his body. The black contrasted beautifully with the light glow of his skin, the pale translucent color radiating off his black ocean of a tux. The combination was transfixing. After a few seconds, I embarrassedly looked up into his eyes, knowing I would get lost there. I blushed as I remembered how I was ogling at him, but he didn't seem to care, it seemed as though he was happy I was enjoying him so much.
We stared into each other's eyes, then, all of a sudden, both remembering what we were there for, turned toward the priest in unison. Even though Edward really hadn't been to church in years, and I wasn't very much in touch with my faith, we still were going to have a Catholic wedding. There were a few prayers said, a liturgy, the priest said a few words specifically for young love – I blushed through the entire thing – but also eternal love, and then the rings were brought forward and blessed by the priest. The whole time, my eyes kept darting up to Edward, the whole time with a smile that truly went from ear to ear. He looked so happy; it was amazing that I could do this for him, for us.
Then, the wedding vows were next. I was sure I was going to stumble over the words, my voice cracking or something embarrassing. I'm sure my face would be scarlet red.
We turned toward each other, and I could finally admire his face correctly. The rings were brought forward by Emmett, who looked purposefully into both of our eyes, a buoyant grin on his face. Edward took my ring, and started. "I, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, take you, Isabella Marie Swan, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold," his eyes twinkled, "from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part," I could see the slight smile breach his serious face as he said the word "death." I'm almost positive that he mentally corrected himself with a more appropriate word, such as "until infinity and a day" or something along those lines. He slid the ring gently and torturously slowly onto my third finger. Edward had told me earlier the reason that the ring went on the third finger of your left hand; it was because that was the only finger where a vain went straight to your heart. Although in a month's time my heart would no longer beat, it would always belong to him, my Edward.
It was my turn. I could feel almost feel the color of my skin. No, I could almost see the red radiating off of my face. I took his ring in my shaking hands, took a deep breath, and couldn't find my voice. I was struck. A lump had formed in my throat, and I was urging it out. My eyes searched around frantically, as if looking for my voice. Edward looked at me inquisitively, and then a look of enlightenment filled his face, then it fell noticeably. No! Now he was going to think I wasn't sure, that I wasn't ready. I was ready, in this moment I was finally ready. I wasn't doing this for him, not for Alice, not for my parents – although they were the last people on Earth I would be getting married for, but it was finally for me. I finally wanted to get married, and I couldn't kick start my larynx. I truly did have the worst luck in Forks, no, the world. I could hear people in the back pews of the church start to whisper softly, and I was about to start sobbing when suddenly something hit me, nearly knocked me off my feet.
It wasn't a hand, like I'd assumed Alice would throw at me for doing this to Edward at the altar, it wasn't Carlisle for spending all this money simply for me to choke in the most important moment. It wasn't even Edward, who deserved to hit me right now, no; he was dumbstruck standing before me, frozen in horror and pain. Strong, independent, graceful Edward looked like he was about to faint, if it were possible. I hated doing this to him, I didn't mean to. But something had indeed hit me, and hit me hard. What was it? Confidence, bravery? No…it wasn't even an emotion I knew of, but I suddenly realized why the guests had started whispering. Jasper. Waves were being sent straight through my body, and I silently was shouting my thanks to him in my head.
I looked deliberately into Edward's beautiful, sad eyes on last time, then began. "And I, Isabella Marie Swan, take you, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, for my lawful husband," he looked at me with a concerned look, and I knew exactly what it meant. He was silently asking me if I really wanted to do this, if the only reason I was speaking up was because of Jasper. I nodded my head with intent that I definitely wanted to do this, and continued, "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part," and the eternity after that, I didn't say aloud. I slid the ring onto his hand, and squeezed it tight in reassurance, not for myself, but for him.
His eyes twinkled and his glowing smile returned, he looked so amazingly happy. He looked at me, no, into me, with such a force. His eyes smoldered as he burned his gaze into mine. I never wanted to move, until I remembered what came next.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest turned toward Edward. "You may now kiss the bride." His smiled changed briefly to my favorite crooked smile, and he leaned down toward me excruciatingly slow. The world literally spun beneath my feet, we were married, and Edward's lips met mine. The firm, yet still molding lips of Edward's sweet, cold face touched against mine. My lips burned under the ice of his touch, and I could slightly hear a dull humming in the background. Applause.
All too quickly, Edward pulled away after his short, chaste kiss. I glared, but then saw his triumphant grin – not from teasing me with that kiss, but from being married to the most amazing, beautiful, wonderful woman he'd ever met - in his eyes. I have no idea where that comes from, next to a creature such as himself, but I joined him in his glory. He may have been foolish enough to give himself over to a normal, clumsy, boring, uninteresting human, but I got a god. My own personal, beautiful, fascinating, caring god.
"Ladies and gentleman, it is my great honor to present to you, for the very first time, the happy couple of Edward and Isabella Cullen."
Edward picked me up and carried me out of the church. If I was in any other mood, I would most likely be pitching a fit, embarrassed out of my mind. But not today. Today was my wedding day, and although this wasn't traditional, I didn't care. I just wanted to get closer to Edward in any way possible, and after a wedding, how much closer to someone can you get? Well…I guess I know that answer, but that still had to wait. Damn, only about four more hours.
As we stepped out of the church, the guests spilled out around us. Edward reluctantly set me down on my feet, and I hugged my parents. Rice was being thrown in the air at us, and surprisingly Emmett wasn't acting like his usual five year old self and pelting Edward with it. I can only imagine what that would feel like, probably bullets out of a machine gun.
My mom and dad both kissed my forehead, and Angela hugged me around my shoulders and gave me a wink. She couldn't come to the reception because of a family event, so I wasn't sure when I'd see her again, if so. I would miss her terribly, and tears welled in my eyes. I even gave Ben a hug.
I squeezed into the front seat of Edward's "special occasion car," a black Aston Martin Vanquish decorated elaborately with a beautiful banner on the back reading "Just Married" in elegant letters, still in my puffy wedding dress. I eyed Alice incredulously for the lavish declaration of our marriage, but she just smiled and waved me on. In a moment much too quick to pass off as a normal human, Edward was in the driver's side. He leaned over, hidden by the tinted windows, and put his face tantalizingly close to mine, his amazing smile sweeping me away to some imaginary land.
"Shall we be going, my bride?" he breathed, not waiting for a response. He gently brushed his lips against mine, not even close enough to pass for a kiss, and pulled away. Before he could object, I threw my arms around his neck and threaded my fingers through his hair with all my might. "Oh, no you don't," I whispered, shoving myself, not very ladylike into his face. To my surprise, he didn't object, although he could have with his amazing strength and vampire speed. I pushed my lips against his, and could feel his smile under my own. The iciness was there for a brief second, but soon I was left with nothing but the wafting air of his scent, sweet and delicious, my hands folded neatly in my lap.
"Stupid vampire," I murmured, still dazed from his touch, opening the window. I waved to the crowd, very small crowd, and heard Edward's chuckle as the car purred to life.
"Silly, Bella," he said, still chuckling lightly, and started to pull away at normal human speed. I waved to my parents, Angela, Ben, and the many other people I didn't know, and then closed the window. I watched them in the rearview mirror, still standing out on the curb, until they disappeared around the corner. I watched the trees flicker through the mirror, quicker now that we were out of sight, thinking of how lucky I was to marry the most beautiful creature on this planet, of how he could want to spend eternity, truly eternity, with a flawed creature such as myself. I then turned to look at Edward, and I was not surprised to see his sparkling eyes on me, looking at me with some kind of admiration. Before I could question him, the car filled with his musical voice.
"I'll never understand why someone as amazing as you would want to marry a bloodthirsty killer, a creature such as myself," he appeared to be speaking to himself more than to me, his voice merely a whisper, his eyes suddenly full of questions. "What were you thinking, my sweet Bella, just then?"
I flushed, and considered not telling him. But it was our wedding day, and I didn't want him to think he was the only one who felt unworthy. Even when I knew something might hurt him, I didn't like to keep things from him, to have him feel like he didn't deserve me, when, in fact, it was the opposite.
Heat radiated from my face, and I looked down at my knees, which were clearly hidden under my dress, "Well…actually, I was thinking the same thing. Only, about you," I admitted sheepishly. I snuck a look at his face, trying to find the emotions there. He looked back at me, and I looked out the window, unwilling to meet his eyes. I was surprised to see we stopped on the side of the road. His driving was so reckless, I never knew if we were going a hundred miles or were completely stopped.
When I couldn't stand not seeing him any longer, I looked up at him through my lashes. He looked a little angry at first, or maybe that was disappointment? But then he seemed to calm down, and he wrapped his stone cold embrace around my waist, and swiftly unlocked my tightly fastened seat belt and pulled me over the console and into his lap.
"Bella, I wish you wouldn't feel that way. You're perfect and innocent and amazing, and trust me when I tell you that I am the one who is unworthy," he sighed and pulled me closer. "I love you with all my heart, and I will never forgive myself for stealing you from the world you so belong in."
"You didn't steal me, Edward," I said pointedly. "I came running. Life wouldn't be worth living if I couldn't be with you." I looked up into his eyes with force. I could see his mouth twitch, but before he could object, I flung my face up to meet his. Unfortunately, I miscalculated how far my face was from his, and our faces collided. He probably wouldn't have noticed how hard I hit my face against his if I hadn't screeched out in pain. His face turned serious in an instant, and mine contorted with embarrassment as my eyes filled with tears and I scowled. He saw the look on my face and started shaking with laughter.
He saw the horrified look on my face and tried – and failed – to contain his laughter. "Bella, my poor, sweet, unbearably human, Bella," he touched my nose lightly, and my scowl softened.
"Oh, come on," I said in mock annoyance. I searched my brain for something to get me out of this situation. "Don't we have a party to go to?" I said, then immediately regretted it. Edward noticed my face fall, because he started chuckling again. His buoyant smile returned, he looked like he was king of the world, I loved it.
"It'll be fine, Bella," he whispered in my ear. "I won't let you out of my sight," he promised, a very sincere look flooding his face.
"Well…" I thought aloud, "maybe that sounds bearable," I said, a sly look on my face as I thought of Edward with his arms around me the whole night until we finally made it through the party, and then even more so afterward. Edward must have been lying when he said I was the only person whose mind he couldn't read, because he appeared to be seeing the same thing I was, a pleasantly satisfied grin crossing his face. He snapped out of it, and if he could blush, I think he would have.
I hopped back into my seat, and fastened my seatbelt for the ride. I gazed into his beautiful topaz eyes the whole way to the reception, thinking that in less than three hours, I'd have my first demand fulfilled.
A/N: Really, the reason I wrote this was to play around with the wedding night, but I had to explain the wedding, so here is all this stuff. I hope I made it as interesting as I could, and I promise more fluff later!
REVIEWS...please...? I updated quickly, do I get some nowsies? -begs-