Chapter 3 – Big Day

It was just after noon when we got back to the mansion.

"Apparently Alice has been busy," Carlisle said as we pulled into the long driveway up to the house.

Sure enough the trees lining the three miles of road were twinkling with the same lights that were used for the graduation party, plus white satin ribbons were added. I could only imagine what the inside of the house would look like.

Once we got in the house all four of us had to stop for a moment to take it in. The whole first floor was covered in white satin, white gossamer ribbons, and flowers. I took in the intoxicating scent of orange blossoms, lilac, freesia, roses, and Bella's own personal scent. I heard Alice tell Rosalie to keep me out of her bathroom. There was no way she was letting me see Bella till the moment she walked down the isle. If my heart could beat it would have tripled its pace in anticipation of that moment. I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve having to wait till morning to open his presents.

"Boys," Esme called, "can who help finish setting up outside."

Jasper, Emmett, and I immediately headed out to the back yard.

"What do you need us to do, Mom?" I asked.

"We need to get this tent set up over there between the cedars and finish hanging the flowers," she said. "And then you can go get ready. Me and Carlisle can finish setting up the tables and chairs."

It didn't take to long for us to get everything finished and then I headed up to my room to change. I went in through my window so Alice wouldn't think I was spying when I passed by her room. She was definitely one person no one wanted to cross today.

I took my time getting dressed at a human pace. I wanted every part of this day to last forever. As I went to put on my bow tie, Carlisle came into the room in his tux.

"I think it's customary for me to do that part," he said.

I smiled at Carlisle and handed him the bow tie. As he was tying it on he spoke.

"I've never been more proud of you than I am today."

"Dad…"

"I know you think on some level that you are taking part of her life away from her, but when I see how she looks at you, I know that this is the best path for her as well."

"How can you think that being a vampire is the best path?"

Carlisle took a deep breath, straightened my tie, and looked right into my eyes. "I know you have your doubts about us having a soul, but I don't. You and Bella are soul mates. I feel it with every fiber of my being. You both have beautiful souls that complement each others completely. I couldn't have asked for a better woman for you to spend eternity with and I am proud that you realize it."

If I could have cried, I think I would have. Instead, I embraced the man I call my father, which was not something I did very often.

"I love you, Dad, and thank you for everything. For believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. I even thank you for saving me that day, otherwise I wouldn't be here today and I wouldn't be making Bella my wife."

"I love you too, Edward. I couldn't have had a better son even if he were my own flesh and blood."

Carlisle placed his hands on my shoulders and put me at arms length. "It's time to go down. Are you ready?"

"I've been ready for this for almost a century. Let's go."

We descended the stairs and took are places beside the priest. I could barely hold still as I waited for Bella to make her entrance.

I barely saw Alice dance her way down the stairs, my eyes were fixed to at the top waiting for her. As Wagner's march began I saw here there and for a second I thought I felt my dead heart beat. She wasn't looking at me but at the stairs. The way she clutched Charlie's arm, I knew she was afraid of falling down the stairs. Knowing her, it was highly possible, but I never looked away from her.

At that moment I suddenly realized that Carlisle was right. Watching her descend the stairs I knew that if didn't have a soul, then there was know way that God would have sent me the most perfect of his angels. To me, that was exactly what she was, and now she looked like it in her flowing white gown coming down the stairs. My own angel coming to me from heaven.

When her feet finally touched the floor she looked around for a moment before her eyes met mine. I couldn't help the huge smile that broke out across my face at her beautiful blushing face, and I didn't try to.

I could tell she was ready to run down the aisle and it was a struggle for her to deep time with the rhythm of the march. I almost wished Charlie would have let her. Finally she was there and Charlie placed her warm hand and into my cold one. I couldn't have been happier if – well, I couldn't even come up with a comparison for what I felt.

When it was time to say the binding words, Bella's tears of joy made her words come out as a choked whisper but I never heard anything more beautiful than her saying "I do."

When it was my turn to speak, I spoke clear as a bell so that there would be no questions of how much I wanted this moment.

"I do."

Once we declared man and wife I felt like shouting to the world that she was mine. Instead, I gently cradled her faced and kissed her. In typical Bella fashion, she through her arms around me and threw her whole self into the kiss. When I heard the shifting and throat clearing of the crowd I gently broke the kiss off. I smirked at her exuberance, but I was as joyful as she was.

As the crowd applauded and came up to hug us I kept a firm grip on Bella's hand. Isabella Swan was now Bella Cullen. My angel was now my wife. I was in heaven.

As long as I know someone is reading and enjoying this, I will continue to write it. However, I only received one review and I would greatly appreciate knowing what people think. So please, review. Thank you.