Chapter 3 – The Wedding
Bella's POV
I woke to Alice poking me and calling my name.
"Bella, honey, wake up." A new familiar voice insisted. Mom? I blinked.
"Mom!" I exclaimed. "When? How?" I questioned.
"Your friend called me. She knew you really wanted me to be here." Renee answered
"When did you get here?" I asked. I was sure she hadn't been here when I went to bed.
"I picked her up from the airport last night while you were sleeping." Alice chirped.
"Thank you." I smiled. It truly meant the world to me to have my mother at my wedding.
"Welcome!" She chirped happily. "Now up! We've got work to do!" she clapped.
"I want to sleep." I grumbled, flopping back down onto my bed. "I haven't slept well in three days." I complained. It was true. Since they had taken me away from Edward, my own personal lullaby singer, I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep.
"It's just nerves honey. You're getting married today!" Renee soothed.
"Good!" I snapped. "At least I get to see Edward."
"Somebody's grumpy this morning." Renee laughed.
"You would be to if you were kept away from the love of your live for three days." I complained.
"Come on! Up, up!" Alice insisted. I grumbled more and drug myself out of bed.
"I need a human moment." I grumbled to low for my mother to hear. Mother followed me to the bathroom.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked me quietly. "Are you sure you want to get married today?"
"Yes, mom" I assured her. "I've never been more sure about anything in my life."
"You truly love him, don't you?" She asked.
"With all of my heart and soul." I smiled radiantly.
"I'm glad you're happy." Renee hugged me. "You know you can always come home. I just hope you're not making a mistake."
"Mom, trust me." I said softly. "I can't live without him. It almost destroyed me when he left me last year. He did it for my own good, but it still hurt. But he came back. He came back to me and that is all that matters."
"I hope you're right. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did." She sighed. "Just don't get pregnant to soon. Live your life first before you decide to become a mother." She said sternly.
"I won't" I smiled. "I don't think that's even a possibility."
"Bella!" Alice called. "We need to start getting you ready."
"Coming! Sorry, she'll never hush if we don't hurry." I smiled sheepishly. I led my mother back into my bedroom.
"Oh! Breakfast! I'll be right back!" Alice exclaimed. She skipped out of the room. Moments later we heard a crash from downstairs.
"You relax, I'll go help her." Renee said. Finally, I was alone. I lay quietly on my bed, trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep before the torture began for the day. I heard a clatter against the window. I rolled over and tried to just ignore it. The sound repeated itself several times before I got up to investigate. I swung open the window and looked out.
"But soft! What light from yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun." I laughed as Edward recited the beginning of Romeo's soliloquy. He looked dashing in his black tux.
"Hi" I whispered. "Are you here to rescue me from my fair prison?" I giggled.
"No." he answered. I scowled at him. "I just wanted to see you. To tell you good morning and that I love you."
"I love you!" I giggled in response. I heard Alice coming up the stairs. "Run! I hear Alice coming!" I giggled. "I'll see you in a couple of hours!"
"I'll see you at the alter." He winked, and then he was gone.
"Bella!" Alice scolded as she barreled through my door. "Close that window this instant!"
"Why were at the window anyway?" Renee asked as Alice pulled me away from the window. I blushed scarlet and refused to answer.
"My annoying little brother." Alice quipped. "He looks dashing doesn't he?" she smirked.
"He does." I agreed. "I don't know how you expect me to be able to take my eyes off of him."
"You let him see you?" Renee gasped. "You know its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!"
"That's in my dress, mom" I answered. "I'm not wearing my dress. Speaking of which, where is my dress?" I asked.
"It's at my house. You're riding with me in the Porsche. It has the darkest windows." She laughed. "The wedding will take place in the living room. The reception is going to be in the backyard. You'll walk down the stairs with Charlie, who will be waiting at the top to lead you to Edward. It will be beautiful! I promise!"
"As long as you didn't go overboard again." I groaned. I still remembered our graduation party and the one hundred and sixty five people she invited. Alice shoved me into the bathroom.
"Take a shower. After you shower we're going to my house. The men are supposed to be elsewhere." Alice demanded. I laughed at her and escaped into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later the pounding started. "Bella hurry up!" she yelled.
"Chill! It's my day. Let me take a shower in peace!" I yelled back. I laughed as she stomped off back into my room. I stood, reveling in the silence for another twenty minutes before I shut the water off and stepped out. An outfit was waiting on the cabinet. 'One of the less exciting perks of becoming a Cullen. Alice gets her very own life-sized dress up doll.' I grumbled in my head.
"Are you finished yet? Or are we going to be here for another hour?" I heard the culprit ask through the door. "You wouldn't want to be late for your own wedding." She teased. I glared at the door and she laughed. "Come on, you aren't going to be my sister tonight at this rate." She giggled.
"I'm coming!" I answered. "Maybe I wouldn't be so hesitant to come out if I didn't know you were going to attack me as soon as I came out."
"I'm not going to attack you." Alice huffed.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you." Another voice said.
"Rosalie!" I exclaimed. I peeked through the door and came face to face with the beautiful vampire. "Save me from the madness."
"Bella, you're going to be my sister in a matter of hours, call me Rose." She scolded. "Let me in. Alice will stay out for the moment. I think we need to have a heart to heart." I glanced warily at Alice as I inched opened the door.
"Fine" she pouted. "I'll help Renee get ready."
"I'll call you when I need you." Rosalie, Rose I corrected myself, said before she shut the door on her. "Now," she said turning on me. "You can actually relax. Alice gets overexcited at these kinds of things. Believe me, I know. I've married Emmett at least a dozen times and every time it's the same." She laughed.
"Tell me about your first wedding." I said quietly.
"Well, it was about fifty years ago." She started. "It was a morning just like this one. Emmett and I had been dating for two years. It took him two years to realize what I knew the first time I laid eyes on him. Alice knew before I did that he was going to propose. She was bouncing around the whole day leading up to that night. I was sure something was going on, because she doesn't get that excited unless she knows something. Back to the wedding." She laughed. "The weekend of the wedding Alice took me away from the house and Edward and Jasper took Emmett out hunting. We had even less luck escaping to see each other than you and Edward had." She laughed. We were silent for a short time.
"Does it hurt?" I asked softly. Rose cocked her head and looked at me. "Your first time I mean" I blushed.
"Ah. Well, I don't remember, but I'm sure that it won't be for long. You don't have to do this you know." She said. "There's still time to call it off if you're not ready."
"No!" I exclaimed. "I've never been more ready for something in my life! I'm…. I'm just a little nervous." I admitted.
"Every bride is nervous on her wedding day." Rose soothed. "Do you want your mother?" she asked. "Knowing Alice, she's probably finished with her." I nodded mutely. A minute later my mother slipped through the door.
"Mom! You look amazing!" I smiled. Alice had really outdone herself this time.
"Your friend is very talented." Renee commented. "What did you say her name was?" she asked.
"Alice, Mom, her name is Alice. She's not just my friend. She's one of Edward's sisters." I answered.
"Oh!" she gasped. "His sisters are very beautiful."
"Wait until you meet Carlisle and Esme." I laughed. "They are two of the most beautiful…..people I've ever met." I made a quick recovery on my almost slipup.
"What are you going to do about college?" she asked.
"Edward and I are going to college in Alaska."
"I thought you would go back to Phoenix or someplace sunny." She said a bit shocked. "I didn't think you liked the weather up here."
"Well, the Washington weather has kind of grown on me." I smiled sheepishly. "Edward's dad got a job in Alaska. We want to stay near them for the first year or so. Alice and Jasper are going to be going to college with us." I answered.
"I kind of wish you would come back to me. I don't want my little girl to grow up." She said, getting a little teary.
"Mom," I murmured. "I haven't been a little girl for a long time."
"I know," she cried, touching my face. The warmth of her hand on my face felt odd. I was so used to the stone cold feeling of Edward's hands. "I just can't believe you've grown up and are getting married."
"Mom, don't get all sappy on me. I'm going to be emotional enough already." I said, wiping my eyes.
"It's not goodbye forever you know." She smiled. If only she knew how wrong she was… I sighed heavily and tried to put on my happy face. Alice suddenly burst through the door.
"I'm sorry, but it's time to head over to my house. I need you to put this on. I'm going to go chase my pesky little brother away before you leave. Rose will take you two to the house. I have a feeling that Edward is going to be a pain." She babbled, tossing a cloak at me.
"You want me to run him down? I'm faster." Rose asked. "And you can take care of the blushing bride."
"No, you take them. I need to have a discussion with him anyway." Alice quipped. She sped down the stairs. Moments later we heard a yelp of pain from outside. I raced to the window in time to see Alice dragging my poor Edward away from the house. He gave me a pathetic look and I laughed.
"That poor boy." Renee laughed. "He shouldn't be trying to see you anyway. Its bad luck."
"Mom, you don't know the half of what we've been through the last three days." I grumbled. "I haven't spend more than ten minutes with him in THREE days!" I yelled.
"Bells, we've told you! After tonight you'll be with him for the rest of your life. In a couple of months you'll be begging us to take you away for the weekend." Alice laughed from outside.
"She's full of it." Rosalie murmured in my ear. "You'll be with him forever." She smiled.
"So you've finally accepted my decision?" I asked quietly, so Renee didn't hear.
"I have. I've come to understand what the rest of my family sees in you. I've come to love you as my sister and my friend. It would kill us all if we lost you." She murmured softly, smiling all the while.
"Rose," I murmured. "You don't know how much that means to me." I smiled, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.
"Yea." She smirked. "Well, now you know that I really do love you and accept you into our lives. I'm just really sorry it took me two and a half years to tell you."
"Better late than never!" I laughed and launched myself into her arms. I sat there for a while in silence. "Rose, I think I'm ready to go now." I smiled.
"Great! Let's go! I'm sure Alice has Edward pinned in the woods somewhere." Rose laughed. I frowned at the thought of my Edward being pinned down somewhere, unless it was I doing the pinning. Ugh! Where has my mind gone these days? First the thoughts about him relieving himself in his bedroom and now this. I blushed slightly. "Mrs. (Phil's last name), are you ready to go?" she asked politely.
"I am thank you. Are you sure the groom is gone?" Renee responded.
"I'm sure Alice is yelling at him for something or other." I laughed.
The three of us, me, my mother, and my soon to be sister, crept out of the house. Thankfully it wasn't sunny. We piled into the Porsche and drove away.
"Bella said something about your father being a doctor. Is that how you can afford a car like this?" my mom asked Rosalie.
"He's not my real father, but I've been with him and Esme since my brother and I were very young. Carlisle is a doctor at the local hospital. The Porsche isn't mine, it's Alice's, and it was actually a gift from Edward. He gave it to her last year. I have a BMW convertible."
"Oh!" my mother gasped. "What does your mother do?" she asked.
"Esme stays home to take care of us and the house. She does some interior designing in her spare time."
"How many siblings do you have?" the interrogation continued.
"Jasper is my twin, and then the Cullens also adopted Emmett, Edward, and Alice. So there are five of us and Bella makes six." Rose answered cheerfully.
"Are you married? I think I remember Bella saying something about that." Renee asked.
"Mom, I've told you. She's married to Emmett, Edward's brother." I sighed. I had been staring out the window. I saw a flash of bronze hair and alabaster-skin at the forest edge and sat up straight. I did a double take when I spotted the russet-colored wolf running next to the car, just within the trees.
"What is it?" They asked in unison.
"I thought I saw…." I trailed off. "It couldn't have been." I said shaking my head. I was silent the rest of the drive. We pulled down the driveway and coasted to a stop.
"Are you ready?" Rose asked.
"More than anything!" I responded excitedly, my eyes dancing with happiness. "Carlisle, Esme, this is my mom." I smiled as we met the couple at the door.
"Welcome to our home." Esme smiled.
"It's a very beautiful home." Renee responded. Esme turned her attention to me. She wrapped her cold arms around me.
"And welcome to our lives, my dear." She murmured in my ear. "I'm so happy that my Edward has found you." She continued aloud. "He was unhappy for so long."
"I was to. Moving to Forks was the best decision I've ever made." I glanced up when I heard the front door close.
"Sorry I'm late. Edward was being a pain." Alice chirped as she danced to my side. "It's almost time. Come on! Up the stairs we go!" I rolled my eyes and followed her to her room. She was literally bouncing when she pulled my dress out of her closet.
"Alice, really, you don't have to go through all of this trouble." I mumbled.
"Yes I do!" she answered. "This is my brother and my best friend's wedding day after all! I'm allowed to go a little overboard." She laughed. I sure didn't like the sound of that. I grumbled at her. "Close your eyes!" she demanded. "I'm going to tie this over your eyes while we get you ready." I obediently closed my eyes as she covered them with a bandana. I listened warily as Alice, Rose, and my mother readied me for the biggest day of my life. An hour later they stopped moving.
"Alice?" I called warily. I felt her behind me. "Can I open my eyes now?" I asked.
"Open them" she commanded, as the bandana fell from my eyes. "What do you think?" she asked.
"Alice," I murmured. "I don't know what to say." My eyes watered at the sight of myself in my long flowing white gown.
"Don't say anything." Alice said happily. A knock sounded at the door. "That will be Charlie. It's time." She kissed my cheek and skipped out the door with Rose. Charlie came through the door. He stopped and looked at me with tears in his eyes.
"Our little girl has grown up on us." Renee smiled tearfully.
"Bella." Charlie murmured. "You look beautiful."
"Dad," I started, I couldn't continue. My voice broke with emotion. Renee slipped out of the room to allow us some privacy.
"Bells, are you sure about this? It's still not to late." He murmured.
"Dad, I've never been more sure of anything in my life." I assured him. "Listen, the music has started. It's time." I said. He gazed back at me. "Daddy, please, walk me down the aisle." I said firmly. I hadn't called him Daddy since I was a little girl. He took a deep breath and we started for the stairs.
"Oh, Edward told me to tell you he has a surprise waiting for you." He said casually as we stopped at the top of the stairs. I glanced down the stairs to where Edward was waiting for me. I smiled radiantly at him. He smiled back and then cut his eyes to the man standing next to him. I turned curiously to see who it was. I gasped softly as I locked eyes with none other than my best friend, Jacob Black. He smiled encouragingly up at me. Then I looked at Edward again. All thoughts flew from my mind as he gazed back at me with his liquid topaz eyes. I vaguely remember hearing Charlie chuckle; he must have been in on this.
"Edward." I murmured tearfully. I smiled radiantly as Charlie led me down the stairs. When we got to the bottom my lullaby began to play. Hidden behind my veil I allowed the happy tears to flow down my face. Charlie hugged me one last time before placing my hands into Edward's cold ones.
"I love you Bells." He murmured as he released me to take his seat. I gazed up into Edward's eyes and could think of nothing else.
"Bella, you're trembling." Edward murmured quietly. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I smiled. I hadn't even know I was trembling.
"I love you." He mouthed.
"I love you to." I smiled. "Pay attention" I ordered as the priest stepped up to us.
"Ready?" he asked quietly. We nodded enthusiastically. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony." He began loudly. "If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." He paused. I glanced up at Edward who smiled back. He glanced back at Jacob for a moment and nodded, almost to fast for me to see.
"May I speak sir?" Jacob spoke up. I have him this horrified look but he just smiled back at me. He was not about to object!
"Do you object to this marriage?" the priest asked. I waited with baited breath as Jacob smiled the smile I loved so much.
"No sir!" he smirked. I breathed an audible sigh of relief as he continued. "I just wanted the beautiful bride to know that I love her and I am happy for her, that I accept her choices. All of them." He smiled at me.
"Jacob." I murmured tearfully. "You have no idea what that means to me. So, we can still be friends? Even after?"
"Friends forever" he answered firmly. "I love you." He said one last time as he returned to his place at Edward's side. "Carry on" he insisted, waving the priest on.
"Any other objections?" the priest asked again. No one spoke for a minute or so. "If there are no other objections we shall proceed." He continued. "Who gives this woman to this man?" he asked.
"Her mother and I do." Charlie choked out.
"The couple has elected to write their own vows. They will exchange them now." The priest said. "Edward?" he prompted. Edward turned to me and gazed down into my eyes.
"Bella, the day you walked into that biology classroom, so innocent and naïve, not knowing who I truly was. You changed my life with one simple smile. I didn't know then, but from that moment on my heart was lost to you. I ran, trying to escape the feelings that were building within my cold, dead heart. Knowing that if I allowed them to take control of me that I would do nothing but hurt you." He paused. A single tear slipped down my cheek. The memory of those many months apart tore at my heart. I could see the pain in his eyes as well. "I returned and our friendship bloomed. That day in the meadow, I showed you who I truly was. I waited for you to run away screaming, but you didn't. You accepted me. Our friendship bloomed into love. We loved fiercely and truly for many happy months." He paused. "And then I broke your heart. I tried to stay away. I tried to keep my promise, but I couldn't. Even if I hadn't have found out about your cliff-diving experience I would have come back. I would like to think that if I came back and found you happy, I would have gone away again, but I don't truly know what I would have done. I never want to live without you Isabella Marie Swan. You are my life. I thought I lost you once and it almost killed me. For some reason, even after I had shattered your life, you saved me when I tried to kill myself. You welcomed me back into your life and your heart as if I had never left. Now, here we stand. I don't understand how or why you did it, but I am thankful." He smiled at me again. His heartfelt words had me as well as half of the women in the room in tears again. "Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. Isabella, I pledge before this assembled company to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life, and let us always honor and respect each other." He finished.
"Isabella" the priest encouraged. I smiled through my tears and began.
"Edward," I murmured. "I thought that moving to the middle-of-nowhere, Washington was the worst decision of my life, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. My life changed forever the first time I set eyes on you and your family in the cafeteria on my first day of school. Then you left and I didn't know why. I didn't know why, but when you were gone I missed your presence. I didn't even know you and I missed you. Then you came back." I smiled. "During biology you spoke to me for the first time. I still remember the way my heart leapt at the sound of your voice speaking my name for the first time. You told me one day that you were no good for me, that you would only hurt me. And hurt me you did. That day you left me in the woods..."
"Bella, please." Edward interrupted, pain evident in his voice. I lifted my hand to his face.
"But you came back." I smiled. "And that is all that matters." I murmured. "I am whole again. What can I say to you that I haven't already said? What can I give you that I haven't already given? Is there anything of me that isn't yours already? My body, my mind, my heart, even my soul. Everything that is me belonged to you long before this and it shall be yours long after this. I will follow you anywhere and everywhere you lead. Hand in hand and heart in heart." I finished tearfully.
"That was beautiful" I vaguely heard Renee murmur.
"The rings please." the priest captured our attention again. Alice stepped up and handed the priest the ring that I had purchased for Edward. Jacob followed suit. "Edward, repeat after me" he said. Edward looked up expectantly. "Isabella, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows."
"Isabella, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows." Edward repeated.
"And with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."
"And with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you." My Edward continued. "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee finally wed." he finished smugly, slipping the beautiful ring onto my finger.
"You must have been to quite a few weddings son." The priest chuckled. More like he can just read your mind. I giggled a bit. "Isabella." He prompted. I blushed and repeated the vows after the priest.
"Edward, my Edward." I murmured. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, With this ring, I thee wed." I smiled, slipping the gold band onto his finger.
"By the power vested in me," The priest said. "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." She smiled. Edward raised my veil torturously slow and gazed directly into my eyes.
"I love you Isabella Marie Cullen." He murmured. He gazed thoughtfully at me for a moment. "I like it. It suits you." He smiled. I could tell he was trying to irritate me.
"Edward." I warned. "Shut up and kiss me so we can get out of here." I hissed.
"Your wish is my command." He smiled and lowered his lips to mine. I could hear the catcalls coming from the family section of the congregation. I rolled my eyes, I knew it was Emmett. I couldn't wait to challenge that boy to an arm-wrestling match and take his ego down a few notches. As we broke apart, I was blushing deeply. Edward smiled the crooked smile I loved so much and stroked my face.
"It is my esteemed pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." The priest shouted over the noise. Edward scooped me into his arms and carried me out of the house. I had buried my face in his neck to hide from the wolf whistles and catcalls as we all but ran down the aisle.
"I have a surprise for you." He murmured. "Look." He smiled. I looked up and followed his gaze. My eyes landed on a brilliant blue Hummer. "Think of it as a wedding present." He quipped.
"Edward. You didn't need to buy me a car. I like my truck." I pouted. I secretly loved it!
"Of course I did. I couldn't have my wife being the only one in the family without a fast car." Edward chuckled as he pulled the keys out of his pocket. "But if you don't want it, I can take it back."
"No! I love it!" I squealed and lunged for the keys.
"I thought so" he laughed. "But I'm driving to the airport."
"But I want to drive!" I pouted. "At least let me drive to town and back"
"I can think of other, more fun things to do in the car than drive." Edward murmured huskily. I turned and looked up at him. His eyes were glowing a funny shade of his usual topaz eyes.
"Edward?" I murmured.
"I want you Isabella Cullen. Right here, right now." He purred as he started kissing my neck.
"Edward, Edward." I murmured. "Not now, someone will see." I moaned as he kissed the sensitive spot near my ear.
"Now, what would Charlie say if he saw you molesting his daughter in the front yard?" a chipper voice asked. Edward pulled away from me and glared at the offending tiny vampire. "Sorry," she giggled. "But he was about to come looking for you guys. I told him that I would come find you." I pulled away from him and started to walk toward the house.
"I'm not finished with you yet." He growled and tugged me back into his arms. "Alice, now listen to me. I am going to take my wife upstairs and no one is going to stop me."
"Edward." She whined. "Can't you do that later. Like when the rest of us aren't around? How are we supposed to explain the disgusted looks on our faces to the humans?" she asked.
"Fine" he muttered. "One hour. I give you one hour. I need my wife." He growled.
"Deal!" Alice chirped. "Come on! You're going to miss the first dance!" she laughed, prodding us toward the door of the house.
"And here comes the happy couple!" Emmett bellowed.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." Alice said. Someone had made the mistake of giving that girl a microphone. "If you would please direct your attention to the dance floor as Edward and Bella share their first dance as husband and wife." I smiled up at Edward as he led me onto the dance floor.
"This is a bad idea you know." I muttered.
"Would I let you fall?" he asked, his voice sounded a bit strange.
"What's the matter? And don't tell me nothing, because something is." I asked.
"It's really nothing. At least nothing we can fix in public." He smiled that crooked smile again. I blushed deeply and looked at our feet. I heard his musical laugh. "Does that embarrass you Bella? Do the thinks you make me feel embarrass you?" he chuckled, pulling me closer to him. He smirked as he rubbed himself against me and I moaned softly. "God, Bella. You're driving me crazy." He moaned. Thankfully the song ended. I had a feeling that we were both so close to losing what little self-control we still possessed that if we didn't separate that we would snap right then and there. Edward quickly spun me into the arms of my father. Lovely, the last person I wanted to dance with at this moment.
"You look beautiful today." Charlie said quietly. "I can't believe you're married now. My little girl is all grown up. I'm going to miss you."
"Dad." I murmured. "The best decision I ever made was to come live with you." I smiled. I tried to concentrate on the conversation I was having with Charlie, but my eyes wandered back to the face of my husband. "I am so glad I've gotten to spend these last two years with you."
"I'm glad you gave me what little time you did." He smiled. He glanced up as the song ended. "He's waiting for you." He murmured. "I love you Bella."
"I love you daddy." I responded, my eyes started to tear up yet again. "I'll miss you." He released his hold on me and returned to the wall. Moments later Edward's cold arms wound themselves around my waist from behind. I turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes.
"You're having second thoughts about leaving." He stated simply. "We can always wait."
"No. I'll miss them, but I can live without them. I can't live without you though." I said firmly. "I want to be your Bella forever. For as long as you exist."
"I love you" Edward smiled. "Together forever" he assured me.