Chapter 3 – Big day

As we came closer to our home, I felt simultaneously heavy with nervousness and light with anticipation. Today was the day. When this day would be over, nothing could ever come between Bella and me again. We would have forever stretching out before us. Tomorrow we would be on our honeymoon. For the first time in our relationship the two of us would really be alone. No Charlie in the other room, no house full of vampires who could hear our every breath. Just Bella and I … and a promise I had to keep.

I tried not to think about my end of the deal which I still had to hold up. Not that I didn't want to give Bella whatever she wanted, all the more if this was the only thing she really asked for. And I definitely wanted our honeymoon to be perfect in every way. But at the same time I was absolutely scared of the outcome. Would everything go well? Would I hurt Bella? Or would I even … no, I could not think about that possibility.

Everyone seemed to be so certain that I would be able to control myself. Alice even reassured me that she would have seen if anything would go wrong.

When we reached the back door of the house, Emmett hit me on the shoulder. "Now it's getting serious. Last chance to back out. Any doubts?"

"No, none."

I could somehow feel Bella's presence in the house. I still had to wait a few more hours to see her again. Although I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms right now, I knew waiting for her to walk towards me later would be worth it.

Emmett and I parted ways as he went to his room to get ready for the ceremony and I went to mine to prepare. Since I had nothing more to do than stand at the alter in time, I took a shower, not really necessary for a vampire but very soothing. After that, I turned my stereo on, so I could not overhear any conversations that were not meant for my ears. I lay down on the big, comfortable bed I had once bought for Bella. I smiled as I remembered the time we spent here, our compromise, my proposal. Everything that brought us here, today. My thoughts went free as I recalled every moment I ever spent with my future wife.

I was surprised to find that it was almost time to go downstairs when I woke from my reverie. I put on the black tailcoat with the corresponding pants, white shirt, vest and bow tie. Just when I was putting on my shiny shoes, I could hear Carlisle's thoughts outside the door.

Edward? Are you ready?

"Come in, please."

"You look dashing. Are you nervous? Is there anything you want to talk about?"

No, there really wasn't anything left to discuss. And my patience had left me halfway through getting dressed. I wanted the ceremony to start, now.

"No, not nervous at all. The sooner we can get started, the sooner Bella will be my wife. So, let's go downstairs and have Alice start the show."

I still can't believe how much you've changed since you met her.

"It's like you had been only a fragment of a whole until she came along and completed you. I will be eternally grateful to her for that."

I had to smile at my father and thought about how right he was.

"Yes, she's saved me from eternal loneliness. With her, everything makes sense, without her, there's no point to anything."

"So, let's hurry to make her your wife."

As we walked down the stairs, Rosalie began to play the piano. Alice had planned an absolutely traditional wedding. So, of course, the sounds of Pachelbel's Canon met us at the entrance to the living room that had been miraculously transformed into a scene from a fairy tail, or, it rather reminded me of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. A million garlands of white flowers floated down from the ceiling together with long white gossamer ribbons. At the end of the aisle there was an arch decorated with even more flowers and more gossamer.

With Carlisle at my side I walked down the aisle. I looked into the faces of the people close to us, who had come to witness our union. Everyone smiled at me. Renée's face was already showing traces of tears she had shed not long ago.

I took my place under the arch, Carlisle at my left in the traditional place of the best man. When we turned to face the guests again, Rosalie's playing shifted from the Canon to Wagner's classic Wedding March.

A few moments later, Alice floated down the stairs and walked towards us.

Wait until you see her. You won't believe it. I almost didn't believe it myself.

Her eyes showed pride and, when she read my grateful expression, they beamed with satisfaction. She took her place, right across from us, on the other side of Reverend Weber, as maid of honor.

Then everybody stood up from their seats as Bella descended the staircase on her father's arm. Charlie looked very proud of his daughter as well as afraid to let her go.

When I laid eyes on Bella, my breathing stopped and my heart, that had been silent for ninety years, wanted to jump right out of my chest.

She was a vision in her long white dress, fitting narrowly to the waist, expanding width to the train. Her beautiful dark hair was done up in natural looking braids on the sides and a loose bun on the back of her head. Stray hair that fell in curls out of the careful hairdo brought the whole look to perfection. I couldn't believe that the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen would be my wife in just a few minutes.

Bella's eyes were fixed on the ground, afraid to trip in front of all our guests. Hearing the sound of the audience rustling while they turned to look at my bride, her blood flooded her cheeks the way I loved it. If it was even possible, the blush still enhanced her utter beauty.

When she reached the safe ground, she lifted her gaze from the hemline of her dress to superficially take in the wonderful scenery Alice had created. Her chocolate brown eyes nervously scanned the room until they finally met mine.

Then they turned to front the room full of people and I could fully appreciate my stunning bride. What I felt when I saw her there was beyond words. When my face set into a rejoicing smile, Bella's face relaxed from the former stress and anxiety and became impatient. She looked like she couldn't wait to get the last few steps down the aisle behind her to finally be able to stand beside me.

I was unaware of the murmured thoughts all around me, some overwhelmed by the sight of the perfect woman walking on her father's arm, some touched by the romantic atmosphere, some grudging or even jealous. For me, there was only Bella.

When they finally reached the end of the aisle, I held out my hand and Charlie placed Bella's hand in mine. As I felt the warmth of her skin, I felt like everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be.

The minister started to speak and when he asked "Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?" Charlie and Renée stood up, hand in hand, and Charlie answered in a shaky but severe tone, "Her mother and I." I was sure Bella didn't see or hear any of it all. Her marveling, joyous, wide eyes locked with mine.

After a short speech the minister asked ceremoniously "Do you, Bella, take Edward to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"

Bella gravely breathed her "I do."

When it was my turn to speak, I answered him in a loud and clear voice, "I do." I wanted the whole world to hear that Bella was mine.

After Mr. Weber pronounced us husband and wife, I took her face into both of my hands. I saw that her eyes were almost overflowing with tears, joyful tears. My eyes were twitching and if they had been capable of tearing up, I would have cried, too. In that moment I realized that, despite everything that had happened before, defying all obstacles that had been thrown our way and against all odds, Bella and I were finally joined in matrimony and all eternity stretched out before us.

I bent down and touched my lips to hers while Bella threw her arms around my neck and kissed me back. I reveled in the thought that she was mine and I was hers forever.

We were so lost in each other that impatient noises from our audience had to remind me that we were not alone. Bella pulled herself to me, unwilling to let me go, so I softly pushed her away to look into her eyes once more. And I knew, in that moment, she was as blissful as I was.

Our guests started a round of applause as I turned us to face the audience. Bella's gaze was still fixed on my face.

Renée came towards us and through tear-filled eyes she embraced first her daughter and then her new son-in-law. Bella had to take her eyes off me to endure the uncountable congratulations of both, her human friends and family and her new vampire relatives. All the while our hands stayed locked together.

When it was Seth Clearwater's turn to wish us all the best, I knew that Bella was reminded of her best friend who's absence, despite all the happiness she felt today, left a piece of her heart empty and aching.