Chapter 4 – The Wedding and so much more.

May 1918- Chicago, IL USA

The last nine months went by quickly and instead of feeling like I knew Edward for only 13 months I felt as if I knew him all my life. I loved him with all of my heart and would have done anything I could to protect him. He of course did everything in his power to protect me even from the rumors that started after the engagement was announced. I remember it clearly.

Flashback

November 1917

We were sitting in church waiting for mass to start when I heard the first rumors. The women in front of us were talking about us as I was looking at Edward and he held my hand protectively. "Did you hear that the reason the Masen boy and the Swan girl is getting married is because she is with child? Apparently they got a little to friendly on one of their outings. That is why they are getting married so quickly." Edward stiffened on the side of me and I whispered in his ear to ignore them, he said "How can I ignore then when they are tarnishing your good name and reputation". I begged him to leave it alone as soon people would figure out due to my lack of a baby that I was not with child. He wouldn't he tapped the woman on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me I didn't mean to listen in but when I hear my fiancée's name I cannot help it. She is not with child and the fact that you are helping spread these rumors especially in a church of all places is simply ridiculous. I will not allow for her good name to be tarnished. She is a wonderful woman with the kindest heart in the world and we are marrying because we love one another. There is no other reason other than love." The woman quickly apologized to him for insulting me and turned back around. I loved him more than anything in that moment. He protected me.

Once Febuary rolled around people realized I could not be with child. Dr. Cullen even defended me to some nurses that were talking while he was working one evening. He had come around the next morning and told my father and I about the nurses so we would know. My father thanked him and shook his hand and Edward even went to the hospital to thank Dr. Cullen personally for defending my honor. Apparently Dr. Cullen walked to the nurses station heard them talking and told them it was obviously just a rumor if I had been in fact with child I would be showing by now which I wasn't. When Edward went to thank him he told him he would not allow for rumors to be spread in the hospital it looked bad and I was a nice girl and I didn't deserve to be the target of all the talk in Chicago. He didn't creep me out after that.

Today was my wedding day. It was May 21, 1918. It was a month before Edwards birthday so we would be back from our honeymoon by the time his birthday rolled around. He had also finished schooling two weeks ago and was starting college in the fall. He had been accepted to the medical program and was looking forward to it. My father apparently had encouraged him to follow his desire to work in a science related field. The planning for the wedding went smoothly. My dress was made custom and was beautiful, it was made of lace and satin and cost a lot of money but my mother insisted that I have a wedding dress worthy of my beauty and said that it was one of the most important parts of the wedding. We were going to have a small wedding in our gardens with a reception to follow at the Masen's house. We agreed that two separate places for the wedding would be good so we didn't have to set up tables quickly for the reception after the ceremony. I was going to be carrying a bouquet of Lilies and Orchids and the colors for the wedding were blue and silver. My mother thought it looked pretty.

I hadn't seen Edward in two days. Apparently that was tradition as well. Our parents planned on moving my things to Edwards house while we were on our honeymoon. We planned on taking the train to boston and staying in a hotel there. I had always wanted to see the east coast and Edward agreed to do whatever I wanted. He was always doing anything to make me happy. My mother was finishing my hair which I decided to pin back so it wasn't in my face and Mrs. Masen was attaching my veil and telling me how beautiful I looked. She told me that she had something for me. We sat down and she pulled out a box inside was a beautiful set of earrings. I thanked her and she told me that we were soon to be family and to feel free to call her Elizabeth or mother if I preferred. I agreed and before I knew it, it was time to walk down the aisle. My mom and Elizabeth went out to take their seats and I saw Edward standing under the arch of flowers with his father. My Dad walked into the room and said, "Its time, my little girl is getting married and to a wonderful man. You couldn't have chosen someone better than him. Lets not keep him waiting any longer. He is anxious to see you and become your husband". My father escorted me down the stairs as the music started and then as we walked down the aisle he had to keep a steady hand on me so I wouldn't run towards Edward. I was happy. When the priest started the ceremony he asked "Who gives this woman to this man?" My father said in a shaky voice, "I do". He then put my hand in Edwards and closed our hands together and went to take a seat with my mom. We had traditional vows and he gave me a beautiful wedding ring to match his grandmother's engagement ring. The priest pronounced us husband and wife and told Edward to kiss me. He did and continued to kiss me. It wasn't the standard chaste kisses he gave me before. Finally we pulled away and everyone was clapping but I couldn't stop gazing at my husband.

The reception followed the normal routine and we left to go to one of the fanciest hotels in Chicago to spend our wedding night before we left on our honeymoon tomorrow morning. I was nervous because I was innocent in all ways and tonight I would give myself freely to my husband and he would break my maidenhead and make me his in all senses of that word. I wondered if I would be one of the woman that got pregnant on her honeymoon. I wanted to be round with Edwards child. I couldn't wait to start a family with him. I love him and he loved me. Once we were at the hotel Edward carried me over the threshold into our room and placed me down. He told me, "Bella, I know you are nervous about consummating our marriage and I just wanted to let you know that I am nervous as well. But I know I love you and we will figure things out together. I promise I will not hurt you, and if I do please tell me." I nodded and he kissed me deeply and held me tightly. He pulled me closer and I could feel a part of Edward I never felt before. He was aroused and he wanted me. He slowly unbuttoned my dress as I unbuttoned his shirt. Soon we were standing there naked in front of each other. He led me to the bed and we proceeded to make love for the first time. He was gentle and caring and did everything he could to make me comfortable. He was perfect and I loved him.

When we awoke the next morning we left for Boston on our honeymoon. The train ride was long and I was so glad to be off the train when we got there. We visited all the historical sights and went to the beach just north of the city. We made love every night and we talked all day. It was perfect but before I knew it, it was time to head back to Chicago to start our lives officially together. Edward had taken an internship with Dr. Cullen this summer working in his lab. Dr. Cullen was doing some research and needed an intern and offered it to Edward since he knew he could trust him. My days were going to be filled with helping Elizabeth around the house and also helping plan the charity functions with my mom and Elizabeth. Edward wanted to start a family right away so basically this was all going to be busy work until we conceived a child.

When we arrived back in Chicago we fell into that routine. Edward worked at the hospital with Dr. Cullen than came home and we made love every night. We probably annoyed his parents but we were in love and we were discovering each other. By August Edward started to worry if we were doing something wrong as I should have become pregnant by then. I told him not to worry I was probably just stressed and needed to relax a little. I reassured him that by September we should have good news just in time for my seventeenth birthday. He smiled at that and then proceeded to make love to me twice as much to try to get me pregnant. As planned by September I was with child. Edwards child was growing inside of me. Since I didn't feel comfortable with my father keeping tabs on my vitals Dr. Cullen offered to do it and we all trusted him by this point. The only problem was that his hands were very cold all the time.