It all belongs to SM. I am lucky to dabble with them.
Seal the Deal with a Kiss
Bella's POV:
The rehearsal dinner had been a huge success, going off without a single mishap. There hadn't even been any inappropriate jokes from Emmett. The actual wedding itself was not going as well.
The guests were late, stuck in the traffic created by last night's huge snow storm. I'd wanted a light dusting of the ground and trees, not three feet of the stuff. All of the men were outside shoveling snow and trying to clear the backyard enough to fit the two giant tents and everything that went with them. The only good thing about the snow was that it kept Charlie, Renee, and Phil away from the house, allowing the guys to work at vampire speed and hide the removed snow in the forest.
"Bella stop chewing on your lip before you cause it to bleed," Alice warned. "I understand you're nervous right now, but that's no excuse to cause more problems for us."
"Sorry," I sighed, moving away from the window and sitting down beside her. "I wanted everything to be perfect tonight."
"It will be if you stop worrying over it," she assured me.
"Alice, can you still see me as a full Cullen?" I asked, not sure why it suddenly seemed so important to have her confirm my future.
She closed her eyes and leaned back into the sofa, taking in a breath she didn't need. I'd asked her about doing that since she didn't need the air and she said it helped her to focus on what she wanted to see most.
After what seemed like a longer time than she normally took, she opened her eyes and smiled at me. "I see you amber eyed, wrapped up in Edward's arms, and laughing happily with him. You both seem perfectly happy, Bella. Now will you stop worrying?"
Seeing this as a possible way to get something I wanted, I tried to barter with Alice. "If I promise to stop, can I get out of wearing the tiara?"
"Not on your life," she chuckled. "And we both know you knew my answer before you asked."
"Yeah," I agreed, smiling at her. She could be too much to handle at times, but I always knew she had my best interest at heart.
The cordless phone sitting on the coffee table started to ring and instead of answering it, Alice glared at it. "I believe that will be for you," she said. She was out of the room before I could even react to her behavior.
I sighed and picked up the phone—there was only one person who got a reaction like that out of Alice. "Hello, Jacob," I greeted. We were still friendly, but nothing like before. He didn't accept my choices, but he wouldn't stop me either. As for Alice, she still hadn't forgiven herself or the wolves for my coma; she was turning out to be just as stubborn as Edward.
"Hey, Bells. I wanted to call and see how you were holding up today."
"I'm fine. A little annoyed with the snow, but excited for tonight."
"Yeah, I hear marrying into a family of the undead is all the rage."
My fingers found their way to the bridge of my nose, using one of Edward's tricks for remaining calm in tense situations. "And just when I thought your sarcasm was getting old and boring."
"I do wish I could be happy for you, Bells. I wish I could buy you a toaster and know you'll get years of use out of it. But we both know that's not how it'll happen."
"So why bother calling at all, Jacob?"
"On the off chance you might want to change your mind."
"I won't."
"I know."
That strained silence we were getting so good at took over, stretching out for so long that I wondered if he was even still there. "Jacob?"
"I'm here, Bells. I'm here until you say 'I do'."
"That won't be very long from now," I said, staring out of the window wall. The sun set so early in December, and the sky was already turning purple.
"Good luck."
"I don't need luck. I have Edward." I had no idea why I'd felt the urge to say that to him, but it was out there now and I wouldn't take it back. It was true after all.
"I hope he makes you happier in your next life than he did in this one." He followed up his serious words with a laugh, but it was clearly forced. "And if he doesn't, I'll help you burn him."
I could think of only one thing to say in return. "Goodbye, Jacob."
"Bye, Bells. Don't ever forget that I loved you once."
"I won't forget that you were my friend when I needed one most," I promised. My finger pressed down and ended so much more than a phone call. I could only stare at the piece of plastic, feeling too many things to pick just one to go with.
And then I reminded myself that this was my day and I had every right to be happy about it. I set the phone on the coffee table and moved to stand up, barely getting to my feet before two solid arms were around me, cradling me against a familiar chest that smelled of mint and the detergent Esme used. Despite there being seven vampires in the house, there was very little laundry washing going on. And Edward had honestly only gotten into the habit of keeping and washing his clothes because he knew I liked to wear his shirts to sleep in.
"I'm fine," I told him, pretty sure Alice had told him about my phone call.
"I know," he murmured, his nose tickling the edge of my ear as he pressed his face into my hair. He never seemed to get tired of the scent of my strawberry shampoo; not that I ever got tired of his smell either.
"So how goes the snow removal?" I asked, turning and wrapping my arms around his back. The hold wouldn't actually keep him right there with me, but knowing I wanted him to stay definitely would.
"Nearly done. Emmett and Jasper are finishing up while Carlisle helps Esme with the flowers in the greenhouse."
"We have to thank her again for the roses."
"Yes, one more among thousands is just what's needed," he chuckled.
"Fine," I sighed, snuggling myself further against him. "Tease me. I don't care. I'll tell her I'm the only one thankful."
"You can tell her after you eat."
I opened my mouth to argue but was stopped first by the realization that we were already in the kitchen, and secondly by the grumbling of my stomach. "Maybe something small," I said, making him laugh again.
"Esme made those cucumber sandwiches you seemed to like so much during the spring. She said you would need something light just to get you through until the reception."
"I don't have nerves," I assured him, settling onto one of the stools at the counter.
"Not yet, but you will," he said, looking too confident to have not talked to Alice already.
"Well if I do have them, it'll be over something small, like where people are sitting."
"Are you attempting to convince me or you?" he asked, his eyebrow quirking up toward his copper locks.
"You. I've always known what I wanted. I've just never been able to make you believe that."
"You know," he said slowly, pushing the plate closer to me in an attempt to get me to start eating. "There are a great many things I've come to believe since meeting you. I admit to not always accepting the new information quickly or quietly."
I couldn't help but laugh at just how true that was, but I did do my best to keep it short.
He came around the counter almost too fast for me to see, his hand lightly touching my cheek while his amber eyes drew me in, making him the only thing I could see—the only thing I cared to see. "Bella, I know you love me. I know you are sure with everything in you that you want me. I just wasn't sure it was strong enough to last. The idea of you regretting one second of your life with me tortures me in ways I can't explain to you. I love you more than anything and only want for you to be happy, no matter what it takes."
"All it takes is you, Edward."
He smiled and pressed his lips to my forehead, making sure to avoid my lips since we'd both been forced to promise Alice we wouldn't kiss again until tonight when we were proclaimed husband and wife. "I don't like it either," he murmured, once again seeming to know what I was thinking.
"Edward, if I ever consider for even a second having another wedding in a century or two, remind me of how crazy the planning was for this one and stop me right away."
"Gladly, Love," he chuckled, moving aside so I could eat.
After eating half of the miniature sandwiches and drinking most of the tea he gave me, Alice whisked me upstairs to begin the most torturous part of the day—hair and makeup. Renee had arrived by then and she joined us, along with Rose. I was so busy talking with everyone that I barely noticed Rose fixing my hair and Alice fixing my face.
I'd kept my dress a secret from my mother, wanting her first time seeing it to be when I was wearing it. It was much more modern than the original dress Alice had picked out for me. It was strapless with a small amount of stitching around the top of the corset. The bottom was made of lacy layers and a few sections bunched at the hip, outlined with the same design that adorned the corset. It flowed all the way down to my feet, and it made me feel both classy and beautiful. Alice said that was exactly the way a wedding dress was supposed to make the bride feel.
She also said that during the time we'd been chatting and getting ready, all of the guests had arrived safely and were seated in the tent. It was nearly time and there were just a few things to take care of first—like letting Renee see me in my dress.
"Ready?" Alice asked, giving the bottom layer one last adjustment.
"More than ready," I said, ignoring the slight shake in my hands. I wasn't prepared for how much I needed my mother to like this dress—actually, I think I needed to hear she was okay with the entire wedding. I would go through with it no matter what, but I really wanted her to be okay with it.
"Rose?" Alice called.
The door opened and she stepped in, wearing a red dress that had only a single strap across the left shoulder. Of course she wore it perfectly, with her blond hair pulled up in a bun toward the right. I'd asked her to stand with me, but she'd politely refused, stating she didn't want to take attention away from me. At the time, I'd thought it was just an excuse, but looking at her now …
"Don't, Bella," Rose said, interrupting my staring. "Today, you're the one who's the most beautiful woman in the world." She laughed and I sure it was at my inability to close my mouth. "And if you tell anyone I said it, I'll deny it," she added.
"I heard you," Alice piped up.
"Yes, but I know how to control you," Rose chuckled.
"Is it okay to look yet?" my mom asked, stumbling in with her hand over her eyes.
"Bella?" Alice questioned.
I nodded, trying to force myself to breathe. But I couldn't. Not until Renee looked at me.
The second her eyes focused on me, they filled with tears. "Bella, honey … I can't even … You're beautiful, Baby," she blubbered, smiling and crying at the same time.
I smiled even as I chewed on my lip, trying to control my own urge to cry.
She came closer, taking my hands into hers. "When you were born, I knew you were going to be so special, Bella. I had all of these dreams in my head of what you would grow to be, but I never imagined you would be this young when you married."
"Are you disappointed?"
"I was in the beginning," she admitted. "But looking at your right now, so beautiful and so happy … Bella, this is your moment. You were meant to be marrying this man on this day and I am so proud of you for following your heart."
"I love you."
"I love you, too, Baby," she murmured, lightly pressing her lips to my cheek. "It's almost time, and your dad is right outside. Would you like a moment with him before he walks you out?"
"That's probably a good idea," I agreed.
"We'll be outside waiting," Alice said as the three of them left the room.
I turned toward the full length mirror, checking over the dress once more while waiting for Charlie. I still thought the tiara mixed in with the curls on the top of my head was a bit much, but at least it was small and not completely encrusted with diamonds. The rest of my hair was also curled and hung down loosely across my back. Alice had originally planned on putting my hair up, but she'd seen how much Edward would enjoy it down and she'd been sweet enough to alter her plan.
Still, I doubted I would outshine Rose and Alice tonight. My maid of honor, and my best friend and wedding planner, was wearing a knee length silver dress with an empire waist. She said the color would help make the blue roses we would carry stand out more. She refused to tell me what Edward and Carlisle would be wearing, citing fairness since they had no idea what my dress looked like. She'd worked really hard to guard her thoughts and make sure Edward couldn't pick it out of her brain.
"Excuse me, young woman, could you tell me where my little girl is at?"
I caught Charlie's reflection in the mirror and returned his smile before turning to face him. "Do I really look like a young woman? Or is it more like a child playing dress up?"
"The first. Definitely the first," he said.
As usual with us, we fell silent and just looked at each other. He coughed a few times and moved his hands from his jacket pockets to his pants pockets. Alice had not only gotten him to wear a new suit, she'd also gotten a tie on him.
"You look great, Dad."
"Alice," he said, smiling and holding up his tie.
"She's pretty convincing, isn't she?"
"And bossy," he chuckled. "She told me to get in here or else. I wasn't sure I wanted to find out what 'or else' might be with her."
"You could end up with a whole new wardrobe," I teased, knowing Alice could hear me wherever she was in the house.
Charlie's smile dropped a little and he stepped closer, holding his arm out to me. "It's that time, Bells."
I nodded and wrapped my arm around his, relying on him to help me navigate the stairs without breaking anything. Thankfully, Alice had me get ready in her room so I only had one flight of stairs to deal with.
I really had planned on trying to remember every little step and detail of this night, but it was so hard to concentrate with all of the emotions and thoughts coursing through me. I wondered if I should say something more to Charlie to let him know how much I loved him and appreciated that he'd let me move to Forks with him. I debated with myself on whether or not I should share what Edward had picked up from Sue Clearwater—that she had a small crush on my dad for all of the help he'd given her after Harry's death. I even tried to decide if I should make Renee promise to look in on Charlie—but then I remembered I needed Phil to look in on her.
I suddenly found myself standing right outside of the tent the ceremony would take place in. The white flap of the entrance billowed softly in the small breeze and was the only sound I could hear over the noise in my own head. I forced myself to stop thinking and just looked around, taking in the scene before me. The light dusting of snow I'd wanted was exactly what was on the ground and in the tree branches that bordered the northern edge of the tents. The moon was high and full, casting its silvery moonlight on everything and it brought a huge smile to my face. This was the wedding of my dreams, and the reality of it was so much sweeter than I had ever imagined.
Charlie enveloping me in a tight hug surprised me right out of my musings. I chuckled and hugged back, not used him to him being so outwardly affectionate. There was just a second where I remembered that other world where he hadn't been at my side, but it was only a second and meant nothing. Just a tiny cobweb strand that caught your attention and was gone before you could swipe it away. This was the reality and my father was not only here with me, he was showing how much he cared.
Charlie sniffled and pulled back, holding me at arm's length and giving me a watery smile. "This giving away thing is strictly ceremonial, Bells. You'll always be my little girl. If you ever need anything, anything at all, you come to me."
I smiled and hugged him back. "I love you."
He let go and nodded, putting on a smile that I knew was just for me. He held his arm out again and I took it, the weight of the action pressing down on me and forcing me to take in a shuddering breath.
This was it. I would pass through these flaps and take my first step towards becoming a Cullen forever.
Edward's POV:
I smiled at Alice, silently thanking her for being such a huge help. She was sending her thoughts directly to me, using my name often, and keeping me focused on only her "voice". I didn't want to accidentally see Bella through Charlie's eyes—I wanted my first glimpse of her to be as she stepped into this tent to become my wife.
'Edward!' Alice's thoughts squealed. It took everything to remain still and not wince at the shrill sound. 'You've changed your mind.'
I moved my eyes from left to right to signal a negative response. As far as I knew, there were no decisions I had changed my mind about and I had no clue which one she might be referring to at this moment.
'No, you did, Edward. You changed your mind and it's going to work and be amazing, for both of you.'
My eyebrows drew together, asking her to explain herself. She threw so many thoughts and images at once that I struggled to keep up. It didn't take long to figure out what all of her excitement was about, but I was certain she had to be wrong.
Again, I moved my eyes from left to right.
'You change your mind. It's not anything Bella does. It's you. And I swear I wasn't even looking for it, Edward. It was just there all of a sudden. You will take your time and stay in control and nothing bad will happen."
For the third time, my eyes moved left to right. Her visions were subjective and she knew that. She'd just confirmed as much by saying she hadn't been looking when it popped up on its own. There was no way I would risk Bella like that. End of story.
Before my sister could argue any further, the music I'd selected for Bella's walk down the aisle started to play. Soft music accompanying a female voice singing words that had immediately reminded me of my Bella …
What if I told you
It was all meant to be?
Would you believe me?
The flaps parted with Emmett and Jasper's help and Charlie stepped in with my Bella on his arm. She was breathtaking! I couldn't decide wear to even start—I only knew I felt full in a way I'd never known before and the need to blink away moisture that didn't exist was hard to ignore. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she made her way up the aisle, keeping in time with the music.
Would you agree?
It's almost that feelin'
That we've met before.
So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy
When I tell you love has come and now...
A moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this.
Some people search forever,
For that one special kiss.
Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this. In a Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson
The music stopped as she reached me, standing just inches away. The depth of her love visible in her chocolate eyes was staggering and I wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms. But this was her moment with Charlie.
She turned and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his cheek. "I love you, Daddy. Thank you for everything."
Charlie nodded stiffly, trying to smile and just barely managing it. His thoughts were clear today and he felt like he was losing Bella for a second time. This was not something I wanted to happen, but it was unavoidable. I could only do my best to give them a few more years together.
He lifted her hand up, kissing the back of it affectionately, and placed it into my waiting hand. His eyes met mine for a moment and his thoughts once again became crystal clear to me. Images of Bella throughout the years were swirling in his mind, some when she was only a baby and some during summers when she couldn't have been older than eight or nine.
One particular came to the front of a Bella covered in mud, with her hair falling from a ponytail and a huge smile on her face. The lips on the Bella in his mind moved and the words soon followed through his thoughts … I don't ever want to get married, Daddy. You're the only boy I like.
All of this happened in the space of a few seconds, too quickly for humans to realize anything had occurred. But the six members of my family knew something had happened and Jasper let me know he could feel both the appreciation and the guilt I was feeling with Charlie at the moment. The slightest nod of my head let them know they had nothing to worry about as I focused on keeping my face neutral.
"Edward, she says you're what she wants and I trust her, so you just make sure you don't hurt her," Charlie said as he brought Bella forward those final inches.
"Never again," I pledged, wrapping my fingers around her delicate digits and pulling her closer to me. I had meant to look at him when I'd said it, but I was too lost in her to move my eyes away. She was radiant and as much as it hurt to look at her, I knew it would be devastating to turn away. She was everything I'd ever wanted and never believed I would have. Her heart was pure gold and capable of a love so deep that it could change not one, but seven vampires for the better. She loved as fiercely as she defended her friends, and she never said anything without a purpose or without it being the truth. And when she laughed … There were no words to describe what the sound of her happiness did to me.
For a vampire with perfect memory, I couldn't tell you much of anything about the ceremony. I could only drink in Bella with my eyes and whisper words of love with my lips and hear her soft sighs and giggles in reaction to me. It seemed as if we moved straight from Charlie's words to sliding rings on each other's fingers.
My voice and hand were not as steady as I would have liked them, but I was slow and patient, and slipped the delicate ring onto her finger without any issues. Holding her hand and her gaze, I pledged myself to the woman of my dreams. "Isabella Swan, with all that I am and will ever be, I give my heart to you on this day. I belong to you now and forever, and will only ever be yours."
She smiled through her tears as Alice set my ring into her hand and though her voice waivered from the emotion in it, her eyes never did. "Edward Cullen, I have belonged to you from the moment you laid your ear to my heart to hear its beat. I will only ever be yours. Heart, body, and even mind, I belong to you now and forever."
I could hear the words in his head seconds before Carlisle spoke them and I honestly believed no truer words had ever been uttered. "It is said when two souls unite, a love unassailable by time or trials is born, and the world is renewed with hope. That is exactly what we have all witnessed here today."
"Now seal the deal with a kiss," Emmett encouraged, getting a laugh from all of the guests and even Bella.
"Edward, this is probably the only time you'll hear me say this," Carlisle chuckled. "Listen to your brother."
Bella and I laughed together for just a moment and then I was drawing her closer, my arms securely wrapped around her small waist. The heat of the blush staining her cheeks wafted against my face as I leaned in slowly, trying to reign in my excitement so I wouldn't assault her. I wanted our first kiss as husband and wife to be tender and romantic for her.
But my Bella had plans of her own and her fingers twisted up in my hair, pulling her face to mine and pressing our lips tightly together. The smallest of chuckles passed between our lips and then we were equally putting passion and excitement into our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. I honestly could not have been happier and for once, I knew the same was true for Bella.
