First off, a warm welcome to the readers who followed me over from my other FanFic account. Thanks for hanging with me!
Second- Happy Mother's Day to any moms out there. And if I'm the only one, then Happy Mother's Day to me. :)
Enjoy.
Chapter 3 – Definite Change
Just like that I was a married woman.
It's amazing how your life can change so drastically in such a short period of time. That morning when I woke up I was just plain old Bella Swan, nothing spectacular about me- other than the strange force that pulled all things dangerous my way. And now, in a matter of mere minutes, I was Mrs. Edward Cullen - a married woman. A married 18-year-old woman. An 18-year-old married to a vampire. Yes, a definite change.
And just as suddenly, as soon as Judge Harmon had announced us as man and wife, my fear was gone. I would no longer dread the word "husband" or "wife". Realization struck me that these words connected us together in a tangible, quantifiable way. Soul mates we had always been, but so many couples had lived and died, never making it past the "soul mate" level. Edward was right about the whole getting married thing. Of course, Edward is almost always right, so there really wasn't much of a shock there. The shock was how happy I was to be married. That, I'd never expected.
Today our happily ever after was just beginning. Granted, most traditional happily ever afters don't involve blood-thirsty vampires... but then again, we'd never exactly been a traditional couple.
And now that the terrifying process of the actual wedding was over, I was finally able to take in my surroundings. Alice had definitely outdone herself yet again. The room, which was filled with crystal vases holding white and lavender colored freesia, sparkled like Edward's skin on a cloudless day. Plum colored ribbons that matched the bridesmaid dresses flowed down the aisle and adorned the vases. The spacious living room was filled with row after row of gold-toned chairs for the guests, who were now on their feet smiling and clapping. The look was overall beautiful, elegant and, considering Alice was in charge, wonderfully understated.
The tug of Edward's hand as he gently pulled me towards him awakened me from my reverie. He wrapped his arm lovingly around my waist, our fingers still locked together, and led me back down the aisle. I smiled widely at our friends and family as we passed and noticed several tear-stained faces amid the crowd.
In this room were gathered the people in the world that I loved the most, and my heart sank a bit as I realized that in a few short hours I would have to say goodbye to the majority of them for the rest of my unusually-long life. I forced myself to keep smiling, pushing the approaching goodbyes to the back of my head, and willed myself to concentrate on enjoying myself, Edward and our guests for as long as I could.
He led me all the way outside of the house and onto the back porch. It was still daylight, though with the clouds that hung overhead it was impossible to see the sun. Miracle of all miracles the rain had decided to hold off for today.
Edward pulled me to his chest, his arms falling lightly around my waist. "Hello, Mrs. Cullen," he whispered against my ear before he nuzzled his nose against the skin of my neck.
A shiver ran through me and I turned my head, searching for his lips. Before I could find them a set of cold hands appeared from nowhere and pulled me away from him, though Edward's hand once again captured my own, unwilling to let go of me just yet.
"Oh Bella!" Alice chimed in my ear as she bounced lightly, her obvious enthusiasm was just too much to contain. "My sister! You're finally my sister! I've waited so long!"
"What am I, chopped liver?" Rosalie asked, as she shot an irritated look at Alice. The rest of the Cullens had appeared quickly behind Alice, and I could see my parents rapidly approaching as well.
Alice released me and rolled her eyes while Edward chuckled. "Oh, you know what I mean, Rose."
Rosalie smiled slightly. "Yes, I do." Then she wrapped her cold arms around me, though not quite in the same exuberant manner as Alice. "I'm very glad that Edward finally found someone." She shot another annoyed look over my shoulder as she stepped back. "Please, Edward, don't look so shocked."
Jasper, still tentative around me, kept his distance a bit more than the others, but still placed his hand on my arm. I felt a surge of something akin to belonging flow through my veins. "Congratulations," he said warmly. "We're all overjoyed. Believe me, I can tell," he added with a wink.
Suddenly I was hoisted into the air, and it took me a moment before I realized that Emmett had captured me in a bear hug. He chuckled at the shocked look on my face before I could alter it. "Congratulations Bella! It's about time! I mean, really, the poor boy needs some action already!"
I blushed profusely at Emmett's insinuation and Edward shot him a dirty look. I felt the rumble of his laugh before he returned my feet to the floor.
"Emmett, really," Esme's voice chastised. Then she took her turn to take me into her cold arms, "I'm so happy for you both, sweetheart," she said softly. "And I'm delighted that our dear Edward chose you."
"Not as delighted as I am," I answered, looking over her shoulder at Edward's smiling face as he received congratulations from his family as well.
Carlisle was the last Cullen to approach. He laid both of his hands upon my shoulders, his topaz eyes held mine. "Welcome to the family, Bella," he said simply before he pulled me to his chest and kissed my cheek. "I hope that you'll be as happy with us as we are to have you."
He pulled away and I smiled up at his perfect face. "A million times more so, Carlisle, believe me."
"Bella!" my mom's voice reached me before she did. "Oh, Bella," her face was tear-stained, but she was smiling broadly.
Renée had been surprisingly supportive of our decision to get married, that is, once she got over the shock. Edward had insisted on flying to Florida to tell her in person. I insisted we bring Alice and, more importantly, Jasper. But still, after the shock wore off, according to Edward, she accepted that we were deeply devoted to each other and that I was "a lot older" in many ways than she was when she and Charlie were married.
She captured me in a huge hug, "Congratulations, sweetie. You look so beautiful. Oh, and Edward, the way he was looking at you..." she shook her head and whispered conspiratorially, "I do believe that boy's in love with you." She winked at me and giggled at her own little joke.
"I certainly hope so, Mom," I laughed as I turned to receive a congratulatory hug from Phil as well.
Charlie was the last to reach me. His cheeks had remained dry, but his eyes had a hint of a glossy redness about them. He took me in his arms and his voice carried a slight hoarseness with his simple, "Congratulations, Bells."
"Thanks, Dad," my own words wavered a bit as I hugged him tightly.
As I pulled back from my father Edward appeared at my side once more, wrapping his arm lovingly around my waist, and dropping a kiss in my hair.
"And congratulations to you too, Edward," Charlie said as he offered his hand to Edward, and I didn't need Edward's mind-reading talent to know that he had to try to keep his voice sounding as happy as he could.
"Thank you, Sir."
Charlie smiled a slightly more genuine smile, "Please, Edward, no more 'sirs'. Ahh... Charlie will do just fine."
Edward grinned, and I had the sneaking suspicion he was holding back a laugh. "Well then, thank you, Charlie." He glanced up as if someone called his name. "If you'll excuse us, I think that Alice wants us to make our way out into the reception area. She's practically jumping out of her skin to get the rest of the celebration started."
"Yeah, sure. Go, go. I'll catch up with you later."
Edward turned to me and smiled. He took my hand again and led me off of the porch and down into the sprawling yard.
Though the majority of the acreage of the Cullen's home was surrounded by trees a large area around the back of the home was cleared to just grass. However, today the grass played home to dozens of round tables and a larger rectangle table at the head, all covered in silvery table clothes and centerpieces of more crystal vases filled with freesia. To one side Alice had erected a large wooden dance floor where a band was currently setting up. The branches of the enormous trees that surrounded the clearing reached overhead like an evergreen ceiling, and Alice had even gone as far as to drape them with thousands of twinkling lights and at least a dozen Japanese lanterns.
Edward guided me through the tables and kept on moving. He smiled at Alice as we walked right by her, nodding slightly at the meaningful look she gave him as we passed.
"Where are we going?" I whispered, though I wasn't quite sure why.
Edward chuckled. "Nowhere special. I just wanted a few minutes alone with you before the party begins." He ushered me through the doorway of the garage and closed the door behind us. "There," he said satisfied.
He closed the little distance there was between us, his lips drawing a line down my cheek as we backed carelessly up against the door. His cold lips finally found mine and he kissed me softly, his frigid hands holding my face while his fingers traced gentle trails along my skin. I let myself sink into the endless pleasure of his kisses, savoring the sweetness of his taste and the oddly warm feeling that his icy marble lips produced on mine.
I finally had to pull away to catch my breath. I laid my forehead against his chest, his hands still holding my face. "That was nice," I breathed.
Edward's hands trailed down to my back. "I just wanted to kiss my wife the way I really wanted to back there," he whispered against the skin of my neck.
"Your wife," I whispered back, trying out the words.
Edward pulled back and looked at me quizzically.
"What?" I asked, confused by the look on his face.
"Nothing. I just... The way you said that. It almost sounded happy the way it came out."
I smiled at his perplexed expression. "That's probably because I am happy. Not just happy to be with you, but I realized just before Charlie came in to get me that I was happy that I would be your wife."
"Really?" he asked doubtfully.
I laughed and held up my hand, two fingers up. "Scout's honor."
He rolled his eyes and took my raised hand in his. "You know, that would be a lot more convincing if you did the gesture right." He pulled one more of my fingers up so it was next to the other two and then kissed each of my fingertips before turning my hand over and kissing the ring on my finger. "But," he continued, "I'm inclined to believe you anyway." He wrapped his arms around my waist again. "May I ask why the sudden attitude change towards marriage?"
My arms traveled up to encircle his neck. "No more reason than the perfection that is you." I kissed him softly. "Your note. It was just, well... perfect. In that moment that I read it I was reminded of how much you love me, and how much I love you. And what did I have to fear by making that love something official?"
Edward's crooked smile appeared on his lips. "Then I'm certainly glad I wrote that note."
"Me too," I kissed him again. "Oh, and thank you for the earrings," my fingers went to touch one of the stones dangling from my ears. "That was very thoughtful. They're beautiful. I love them."
His hand, too, went to my ear and captured my hand. He leaned into my neck again and I felt his lips against my skin as he murmured, "You're welcome. They look beautiful on you. You look beautiful."
I sighed and closed my eyes as his lips moved up my neck and along my jaw bone before finally finding their way to mine again. My arms tightened around his neck, anchoring myself to him with all of the strength I was capable of. This time his kiss was hungrier, his lips demanding more attention than they had ever done before, and I held nothing back in allowing myself to answer his fervor.
But like every time before he broke away too early, placing a few softer kisses on my lips before resting his forehead against my own. "I promised Alice we'd only be gone for five minutes," he told me, his voice still rough with passion.
"Alice-smalice," I said, trying to catch my breath.
He chuckled as he stepped back and took my hand in his again. "Yes, normally I'd agree with you, but we do have a hundred other guests out there who all want to congratulate us a hundred more times and give us lots and lots of presents."
My nose wrinkled. "Presents," I muttered like it was a dirty word.
Edward laughed out loud as he opened the door and escorted me back outside. "You know, you really are the most unique girl that has ever walked the face of this planet."
"Funny," I smirked back at him and suddenly I remembered something. "Edward, what was Charlie thinking earlier that you found so amusing?"
"Oh, that," he laughed again. "He was just thinking how he should offer me to call him 'Dad', but then he couldn't go through with it."
I rolled my eyes at my father's lingering dislike of Edward. "Well, no big deal. Half the time I don't even call him 'dad.'"
"You do to his face."
"Yes, well..." I let my argument trail off as Alice rapidly approached us, her face a bit distressed.
"It's about time you two! I really didn't want to have to go in there and get the both of you! The photographer is waiting to do the group photos. The sun will be going down soon and we have to get the pictures done before then so there's enough light," she kept up her rapid-fire talking as she quickly led the way.
"Ugh," I groaned.
"What?" Edward looked down at me. "I thought you decided getting married wasn't so bad."
"No, I decided being married wasn't so bad. But this," I gestured to the decorated yard, "presents, photos, dancing – definitely still is."
Edward leaned down and kissed my temple. "You really are one-of-a-kind, Bella Cullen."