Bella POV

I wasn't sure how things could get any better. After months and months of us struggling just to stay together and alive, this was bliss. I had never seen our family and friends looking more free and enjoying themselves. Even with some being out of the loop, they all just meshed. And then there was Edward. I had never seen him happier. My hand rarely left his, as we made our way around the house, which had been transformed for our reception. We walked from couple to couple; talking to everyone it seemed we had ever met. Even when my shy side threatened to surface, looking at Edwards wide smile steadied me.

I was surprised to find myself nervous to meet some of the Cullen's old friends, who were also like them. Meaning vampires, though not all had adopted the veggie diet. Betta, and her three 'daughters' Irina, Kate, and Tanya did; however Jackson and Moira who were nomads, stuck with Edward's old system of picking off human murderers. I wanted to try and forget that and not judge, but I couldn't quite help it. Victoria wasn't a dim memory after all. At least I didn't have to worry about anyone at the wedding. All I had to worry about was socializing.

While the nomads and other vampire family seemed to find it strange that Edward would want to marry a human, and vice versa, they put on a good face. Betta seemed especially nonjudgmental, which probably had to do with her background. While Rosalie took me aside to help me remove my veil, she rolled her eyes at Betta's back.

"I don't know why Carlisle keeps contact with her. I love Kate and Tanya, but Betta, ugh."

"What about Irina. She seemed nice. And so did Betta. She's the only one who didn't have to gulp being around me." I smoothed my hair as she folded up my veil gently.

"I just don't see eye to eye with Betta."

"Is it because she and the girls are that awesome blonde species of Russian?" My grinned faded at her look. "Ok spill."

"Well, since it isn't a wedding without gossip." She steered me further away and lowered her voice, though I was sure if Betta or the girls were attempting to listen, they still could have heard. "Betta has been around even longer than Carlisle. And when she was turned, she had to leave her children behind. So she decided she would make herself some more."

I looked over at Irina, Kate, and Tanya. Each probably only had a year between them, maybe less, and were probably around Rosalie's changed age. "If you're saying she changed them for the sole purpose of being their mother, they don't look young enough to be considered children."

"Because vampire children are extremely difficult to make. Alec and Jane are the youngest successful ones I've seen. Usually children can't survive the process. From what I've been told, Betta killed ten or more children trying to turn them into vampires. And apparently only half of those were sick or dying to begin with."

I shook my head. "That's just not right. I don't care how much she wanted to be a mother, that wasn't her choice to make."

"My thoughts exactly. Kate and Tanya are actual sisters. They were seventeen and nineteen, both injured in an accident when Betta found and changed them. They would have died otherwise, and have accepted this life."

"And Irina?"

"Was fourteen. She was a happy and healthy girl that reminded Betta of her own daughter. So she changed her. Irina has never fully adapted to this kind of life. She's actually the reason why Emmett and I have never taken in any newborn vampires, or changed someone. Even though I always wanted to be a mother, I think of Betta and what she did."

"And Carlisle still wants to associate with her?"

"Well she clearly loves the girls, and has always been there for us. She showed all of them how to feed off animals rather than humans, so there are redeeming qualities. I just look at Irina and can't see them."

I myself turned to look at Irina. At first when I had met her I thought she was merely shy. Now I saw it. There was a layer of sadness in her eyes, as if she was haunted by something. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be that age, yet trapped in that young of a body. Even with the piles of makeup and adult clothes, I could now look close enough to see the young girl behind it. The four years that technically separated us seemed much longer now.

"What are you to discussing so seriously?" Edward came by and twined his arms around my waist.

"The expectations of a Cullen woman." Rosalie winked and walked over to where Emmett was.

"Everything alright?" He asked me and his smile wiped away any other thoughts I had.

"Better than." I held his arms tighter and laughed as my screeching mother rushed towards me.

The next couple of hours were a haze of talking to everyone, dancing, eating….well for us humans. The vamps dutifully faked it. I laughed when Carlisle pretended to be angry with Charlie for spinning Esme on the dance floor, and noted that Sue's eyes followed him. I looked at all my family, and was for the first time fine with being the center of attention. I was happy to celebrate us being tied together.

And when it was time for the speeches, my smile spread as my man of honor stood up to give his. With his tie a little crooked and his shirt now untucked, Jake began to fidget as he spoke.

"I'm not good at speaking seriously in front of people, so if I make a bad joke, bear with me." He smiled at Edward and I. "I've had the misfortune of seeing Bella and Edward's relationship from the beginning. I say it's a misfortune, not because of them, though sometimes their stubbornness made most of us around them want to scream. But instead it was a misfortune because they have exactly what everyone wants. They have a love and respect and even admiration for each other that I hope I find in someone one day. And despite a lot of odds against them, they still made it to this day, and I'm honored to have been a part of the journey to their getting here. And no one deserves this more than either of you." He smiled at me and through my now watered eyes I smiled back. "Here's to their forever." And with a wink he walked back over to me. "There, I didn't even tell an embarrassing story."

"And there are so many to choose from." I linked my arm through his as he sat next to me while Carlisle stood to make his speech. "I swear you've changed so much over the past year. The Jacob I met when I moved here would have never said those things."

"Changing into a wolf makes you grow up Bells."

I elbowed him as I listened to Carlisle speak of his son and how thrilled he was to see him content and happy, and to have me as a daughter in law. I couldn't imagine feeling more pride than I did when I thought of being a Cullen, or looking around at the rest of the family. It made my wedding day, all the more special. Feeling inspired, I stood.

"Where is it you think you're going?" Edward asked.

"Running away with a human I bet." Jake reached over to punch his arm as I clinked my glass.

"I know brides don't usually make a toast, but in case you all haven't noticed, I'm no ordinary bride." I smiled at everyone's laugh. "When I moved here there was this hope inside of me. I hoped to find that recognition everyone looks for. Sometimes it's with a group of friends, family, or a place; or even simply knowing what you want to do with the rest of your life. I was looking for any of that. I was looking to find my home, and people who I could surround myself with that understood me. Even in having that hope, I don't think I truly thought I would find it here. Until I was here that is. I felt that click, and from then on I never stopped believing the rest would fall into place." I looked around at everyone, waving an arm at them. "And look at what I found. I found all this family and friends. I found that place I could fit into. And most of all I found you."

I looked to my left at Edward. "You and I have both figured out we can live without the other, but it would never feel right. I wouldn't even recognize myself. I can't fully be me without being with the one who gives me everything I've been waiting for. I couldn't be happier that we didn't give up on that, and that we fought for all of this. And now I've found what I want to spend my life doing. I want to always be a part of all of this."

We all lifted our glasses in the traditional toasting fashion and I let out a laugh as Edward pulled me down to his lap, where I stayed until it was our time on the dance floor again. While I had never expected to be sad to see my wedding day end, I was. I savored every moment as my bridesmaids led me upstairs to help me out of my dress, so Edward and I could leave for our honeymoon. I laughed as Morgan and Ripley began bickering about having the apartment to themselves, and rolled my eyes when Leah slipped a condom into my hand. Alice assured me that the bags I had packed were in the car, and kissed my hair, a catch in her throat.

I found Edward again at the foot of the stairs, his hand outstretched for mine. We dashed towards the car with our family and friends cheering behind us. I waved at them all as Edward pulled away and gasped as I leaned back in my seat.

"I don't know if I should be exhilarated or tired."

"Both probably." He grinned at me. "It was everything I pictured."

"And so much more. I fully expected there to be a food fight or some sort of dispute at one point. Or the Volturi riding in on horses."

"Why horses."

"They're an old fashioned animal." I looked out the window and laughed. "I'm on my honeymoon."

"On route to it. The way I drive, we have about an hour until phase one. Consider yourself lucky I haven't blindfolded you. It was Emmett and Alice's suggestion."

It turned out the way he drove, even with one hand over mine, phase one took even less than that to achieve. From the few times I dared to look at the speedometer, I knew we were lucky not to be pulled over.

Eventually, I recognized the area we were in when we passed the Seattle International airport. It seems we wouldn't be getting on a plane yet. Not long after that, we pulled up to a huge building, and my jaw hit the floor.

"It's the hotel with part of my name in it isn't it."

"Not just a hotel. Though that room service and other hotel amenities you requested are a part of the stay. And yes it's the Bellevue Club Hotel." After parking the car and tossing the keys at the valet, Edward walked over to open my door, as I still gaped at all the stories of the building. "Did I do good?"

"Will you marry me."

He laughed and lifted me up, another tradition met as we walked in to the check in counter. The concierge smiled at us with a hint of wistfulness as she confirmed our room for the one night stay. As he carried me up to our room, Edward explained that we would be leaving for a flight the next morning, but would not tell me where. At that moment, I couldn't care less. I just wanted to be here.

I hadn't felt any inkling of nerves until we were inside the room, and I thought of the bed. Sure we had shared a bed countless times before, but this would be different. I would be sleeping next to my husband. Who was currently digging through the backpack he had brought up with him.

"If you're trying to find something to distract yourself from me, I'll have to kill you."

"No, I was looking for this." He presented a pad of paper, and with a pen crossed something off.

"What is it?" I peered over and my eyes widened. "Did you….Is that…"

"Yes. This is a list of everything a human should do before turning into a vampire."

"It's a Bella Bucket List." I sat on the bed as I took the list from him, shaking my head at the idea. "A normal person would find this morbid. Disgusting. Terrible wedding night behavior."

"Are you normal?"

"Not in the slightest." I grinned as I looked up from the list. "This is perfect. I was so busy with wedding this and that, I didn't think of anything like this. And we're going to do all of this?"

"That's what human/vampire weddings are for." He knelt in front of me so our eyes were level. "I crossed off spend the night at a five star hotel."

"I can't help but notice there was something you left out."

"Well you can make any alterations of course; I figured there would be things you would want to add."

"There's one I want to add for tonight." I said, and followed my gut by ignoring the nerves. "A wedding night tradition I don't want overlooked."

"Bella…."

"Don't." I let the paper fall and took his face in my hands. "Don't think all those things. I know they're all rational, and if any of those thoughts become realities we'll stop then and there. But this is something I need. I think you need it too."

His eyes held every answer I needed, and without another word, I locked my lips on to his, throwing my arms around his shoulders in the same move as him lifting me. As we fell onto the bed, our clothes met the list on the floor, and it was all different.

Not just because we were finally tied to each other in every way, but because that final way was going to happen after all this time. In knowing that, any fears were gone, and all that remained were the feelings we had always had for each other, and the knowledge that this was right.

As midnight rose to greet the end of our wedding day, it was the start of something new, and it started with us joining as we were always meant to. At last.

Authors Note: Finally moved in, so hopefully can settle back into a rhythm. Apologies for the wait.