Disclaimer: The Twilight Saga is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Okay everyone, the moment you've been waiting for is almost here. This chapter goes through a lot of the events leading up to the wedding and setting up for the big event. This chapter is really long and took a long time for me to write, and I got a little emotional so if you cry easy you may want to keep the tissues handy. No sad tears, I promise.
EPOV
Tonight was Halloween, which meant I was spending the night with Bella at Ballet Studio. She was almost at an Alice level of giddiness at having everyone come out to spend Halloween at the bar. Bella's costume was hot as all hell; she was dressed as a naughty little bar wench in pink and brown, with a thick white petticoat filling out the skirt. Alice and Rose had convinced their husbands into couple's costumes, but I told Bella that she'd be a lot happier if she let me surprise her. After she left to get the bar ready, I went into the bathroom to apply the pale make-up and shading under my eyes to make me look as though I hadn't slept in a century.
Bella had started reading these romance novels with a vampire protagonist, real fluff; some pious vampire trying to atone for what he was by working as an executioner for the fictional country he lived in; that is until he met the woman he couldn't live without. It cracked me up until I saw the perfect way to give Bella one of her fantasies without her having to ask. So I donned Demetri's trademark charcoal gray tight fitting cable-knit turtleneck, tight black slacks and a cape. Leaving the apartment, I walked briskly to the bar just in time to see the line out of control along the block as Sam opened the rope for me. "I'm glad you're here man, Bella's been worried about that guy coming back cause of how crazy tonight's gonna be. She'll feel a lot better with you here."
I looked at Sam for a minute. "What guy?" Sam noticed the change in my voice and immediately looked down, I didn't know anything about a guy that had been bothering Bella, and it was something he thought she would have told me, this wasn't good. I went in the bar before I could get more annoyed, I wasn't going to ruin her night, but when we got home we were definitely going to have this conversation.
Emmett and Rose were at the bar as red riding hood and the wolf and Alice and Jasper were a fairy and Legolas from Lord of the Rings. When I walked up Alice and Rosalie caught one glimpse and blanched, obviously they were reading this series as well.
"There goes that fantasy." Alice muttered as I walked up and ordered a Bloody Mary from Seth, trying to stay hidden from Bella for as long as I could. She was furiously pouring shots and chatting up with the patrons, flashing her engagement ring more than once. These guys weren't stupid, but they were obviously respectful, as she continued chatting with them pleasantly as she served the drunken masses packing the bar.
"This place is ridiculous, if we didn't have an in with the owner, we'd be screwed!" Emmett laughed, catching Bella's attention as she made her way over and stopped the moment she saw me.
"I could use all the muscle I can get tonight, thanks for asking your cop friends to come here and hang low in case something happens."
"No problem Mighty Mouse, like you'd need it though." I had tensed and relaxed before anyone noticed, obviously Emmett didn't know what was going on, but if he had I would have killed him.
I nursed my drink at the end of the bar with Bella switching sides with Seth so she could hang by us all night. Alice and Jasper were the first to leave around midnight, and a call from our parents ended the night for Emmett and Rose around 12:45. Working on my second drink, I started letting my mind drift to my earlier plans for tonight, deciding that I couldn't pass up the chance to see Bella's reaction. Around 2:30 the bar started to thin out a little, and by the time last call was announced the closing was looking like it was moving smoothly. Soon enough the bar was empty and I helped them clean up before offering to take out the trash as Sam and Seth headed home, walking Emily to her apartment on the way.
When Bella took the tills downstairs to the office I decided to make my move and followed her. Waiting until she was done with her work I stealthy snuck in and placed my hands on her shoulders, causing her to gasp and turn, relaxing when she noticed it was me.
"Don't be afraid my beauty, I won't hurt you." I reached out again and pulled her to me.
"Demetri, I can't…my fiancé, I love him." She was playing along, her chest heaving out of her costume's corseted top.
"He isn't here now, and I need you, and I will take what is mine." She backed against the desk and I pressed against the length of her body. I couldn't help but think of the first time I had her, it was exactly like this.
"Please." She whispered her voice thick with emotion.
"Please what, lovely?"
She looked up at me and pulled me closer. "Take me, make me yours."
I growled as I brought my lips to hers with a fierceness that couldn't be put on, I did need her, with everything in me. I undid the velvet corset's bow at the back of her neck and quickly loosened the ribbons pulling it over her head as she untied my cape and let it fall. I ripped the sweater off and threw it down as I ran my hands up and unzipped the dress pulling it and the petticoat skirt underneath off in one move. Bella watched as I undid my pants and kicked off both them and my shoes before I picked her up and sat her on the desk, pushing her down and crawling on top of her, rubbing up against her as I claimed her mouth and reached down to undo her front closure bra.
Leaving her lips, I kissed down her neck and started sucking on her pulse point. "You better not leave a mark where someone can see it, Cullen." Her hissed warning made me laugh but I quickly moved further down until I hit her collarbone, licking as I made my way down to her perfect breasts.
"My beauty…I've been watching you, waiting to taste these all night." I latched my mouth on her left breast, sucking and flicking the nipple with my tongue causing her to buck into me, which caused a moan to vibrate through her flesh. Placing open mouth kisses and playful nips across the flesh of her breasts, I made my way up to her right and lavished equal attention on it, savoring every sound that escaped her gorgeous lips. I kissed down her stomach until I reached the junction of her legs.
"I don't dare cross into this forbidden territory, there's too great a chance of me hurting you." I spoke to her center as Bella raised it up to the line I quoted that was on a page she had dog-eared in the first book. I sat up and pulled down her underwear, reaching for mine as well, releasing my throbbing erection. "My beauty…"
I trailed off as I entered and she wrapped her legs around my waist, the cool material of her heels rubbing against my ass. "Oh god…"
I pulled out and began to thrust into Bella, slowly at first, but soon I was picking up steam as I reached for the desk to use as leverage as I continued to enter her faster and harder, her mewing and moaning nearly constant as our breath came out in pants and I felt my release near.
"Bella, I'm close, cum with me baby."
She moaned and arched off the desk, her mouth opening and her eyes rolled into her head as she clenched around my length and pushed me over my own edge. We rode out the waves of ecstasy in each other's arms before we redressed, Bella only loosely fastening her corset back up. We went upstairs and I made my way to the door when I realized I had left my phone on the bar when we were cleaning up. Going back quickly to get it, I heard a male voice yelling out before Bella called out. "Edward!" I ran out in time to see the guy crossing the street.
Bella locked the door to the bar as soon as I was out and then grabbed my arm. "Bella, what's going on?"
"Please tell me you drove." Bella pleaded as she dragged me in the opposite direction of our apartment.
"No. Bella, where are we going?"
"Shh! There's a cop that always parks by the park, if we can make it there, maybe this guy will leave us alone."
"Hey bitch, just because you have a different escort tonight doesn't mean we're going to just leave it at this." I stiffened; he didn't just call my woman that.
Bella trembled next to me, whether it was in reaction to me, him, or the cold I didn't know. "One more block…please be stupid enough to keep running your mouth."
As we rounded the corner the cop was already out of his car, having heard the commotion. "Do we have a problem?"
"Yes, I own the bar around the way and this guy has been bothering me for the past two weeks, but the cops keep saying that he has to do something."
I became furious that this jackass had been doing this for a while and angry that Bella never told me, just like with the phone calls that ended up being her father, she kept it to herself until she had to tell me.
"Well, now he's done something." The cop approached the guy who was following us and he balked.
"What the fuck do you want? I'm not breaking any laws."
The cop smiled as he grabbed his arm. "Actually you are, you're under arrest for disturbing the peace, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you by the court. Do you understand these rights as I've explained them to you?"
The smug bastard was silent as he was sat in the car. "Okay, if you want to take out an order of protection against this guy for harassment, this will help your cause. Did you make a statement the previous time you spoke to an officer?"
"Yes, but I didn't know who he was." Bella answered.
"We're doing this now, Bella." She nodded and we walked the three blocks to the station and filled out the paperwork. While we were doing that, they ran his arrest record, and it seems this guy was wanted for drug charges in Nevada, so they contacted the local law enforcement and arranged for him to be extradited, considering that the charges in Seattle were a favor so we could get a restraining order, which would no longer be necessary. The prick was too high to realize that he had just fucked up months of running.
Bella and I walked home, getting in just after six. As I went into the bathroom, Bella followed and leaned against the wall. "Just say it, Edward. I know you're pissed at me."
I took a deep breath. "Bella, why wouldn't you tell me? That was so dangerous, and it could have ended so badly. Bella if something had happened to you…I don't know what I would have done."
Tears streaked down her face as she pushed off the wall and wrapped her arms around me. "Edward, honestly he showed up the first few times and was just one of those creepy patrons, then two nights ago Sam had to throw him out, and last night he wasn't let in and caused a scene…that's why I asked Emmett about having his friends come by, he didn't know why, he was just doing me a favor. He's never waited around like that. When he didn't start shit tonight I figured he cooled off-"
"Until tonight in your office. You thought I was him, didn't you?"
Bella nodded against my chest. "For a second, and then I realized it was you. Thank you by the way…I know with what happened in the last few hours it may seem…I don't know…but it meant a lot that you did that for me."
I took her face in my hands and kissed her lips. "I'd do anything for you."
I took off my costume and washed my make-up off as Bella did the same at the sink next to me. After that we put on our pajamas and went to sleep.
~V~V~V~
Coming home from my meeting, I could hear Bella talking on the phone excitedly in the bedroom. I walked in to see her sprawled out on the bed, facing the ceiling. I climbed up next to her, kicking off my shoes as she turned to face me before answering whoever she was talking to. "Yes Esme, sorry Edward just got home. Everything will be fine, just bring a dessert, and tell Alice to buy a cake or something. Okay, I'll see you in an hour. Bye."
Bella hung up the phone and smiled at me. "Hey, how was your meeting?"
"Good, they're finalizing the dates on the tour…which reminds me, you're gonna come and meet me a few places…right?"
Bella laughed. "Only you could ask me to visit you once a week on a four week trip. Why not just drag me along for the whole trip?"
"Perfect, I'll tell Victoria I need another seat when she has the guy in travel make the reservations." I smirked and kissed her before she batted my shoulder and pulled away.
"Oh no you don't. I have to meet your mother at Ballet Studio and I can't be late."
"Wedding stuff?" I laughed, knowing exactly what was going on today.
"Yeah, your mom and I have a meeting with the florist, but I left my phone at the bar so I have to get it and then we're going out to lunch, so I'm dressing up, because if I know your mom, we'll be at a five star restaurant. It's funny; someone else I know loves to do that to me."
I laughed at her comment, because my mom was where I got my taste, and my father gave me my penchant for extravagant gifts. "Okay, well don't let me get in your way."
BPOV
Edward let me get ready, slipping into a gold little dress with a black bow and a tiered skirt, a pair of heels and my gold rose earrings. Heading over to Ballet Studio I saw the sign in the window 'Closed for Private Party.' Huh, was that party Emily had told me about today? Regardless, I walked down the alley to the back door, to avoid interrupting the party, but as I walked in I heard the cheers and was instantly bright red.
"Surprise Bella!" Even though there were only seven people there, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.
"You guys are too much!" I looked over at the mirrors and saw a large clothes line of lingerie…a rainbow of babydolls, bra and panty sets, and a few slightly scarier corsets. "What in the hell is all that?"
Alice beamed as she came up to me. "We did this instead of a wishing well, trust me, you'll appreciate it later." She winked before her tinkling laugh came out and she moved out of the way of the playful swat I aimed at her.
"Sit down and enjoy yourself, I don't want to hear you complain, the next few weeks are all about you so you better get used to it." Leah gave me a hug as she lead me over to the head of the table and sat me down, before going over to the buffet and fixing me a plate. We sat around and ate first, laughing and joking about what I could tell would be a very embarrassing present opening experience. Once we were done eating, Leah hit the lights and everyone turned to the screen that hung over the stage where, after a minute, a slideshow of pictures of Edward and I through the years played to Angel by Sarah McLachlan. Tears welled up in my eyes as Edward's face flashed across the screen, aging before my eyes. Finally, near the end of the song were the pictures of us together over the last year. I was blown away by this and when the last picture faded with the song I looked around as the lights clicked back on.
"Leah?" My voice cracked and she nodded.
"I thought you'd like it, and I knew you almost chose that song for 'your' song, so I thought I'd use it."
I hugged her tightly as Rosalie stood up and began the games. First they turned the lights back off for a hilarious game of 'If They Mated,' where Rose had shuffled the faces of the different members of the bridal party, their significant others and several celebrities. When the picture with me in it came up I automatically giggled, Rose had mixed me with Edward as a joke. Then the answer was revealed…Bella and Robert Pattinson! Hot damn! I had had a thing for the HP hottie before I met Edward, but who needed a boy when I had a real man! Obviously I wasn't the only one Rose had tricked. Next we moved onto the Advice cards, and among the honest, "Never go to bed angry," cards were the not so modest "A tigress never wonders what her mate is doing when out hunting, because she makes sure he knows what's waiting for him back at the den."
With the embarrassment over for the moment, we moved on to the gifts. Emily started, handing me a card that had a picture of a boat on a perfect turquoise ocean. Wherever our honeymoon was, she had gotten us a Boat Tour of the area. Next, Claire handed me a cute beach bag with various tropical necessities, a set of 'Mr. & Mrs. Cullen' beach towels, and 'Just Married' flip flops. Victoria handed me her card, which detailed a romantic dinner and a tour of the rainforest. Esme gave me Irina's gift, a Canon Rebel SLR digital camera and a waterfall tour…evidently Edward and I were doing a lot of sightseeing on this trip!
Leah handed me a card with a picture of the suitcase set I picked out for Edward and I, telling me it was in Esme's car already, as well as a spa day on our honeymoon. Rose handed me her card, which showed our Glassware and Silverware as well as a Horseback ride on the beach. Alice beamed as I read out loud that she had bought "the rest" of my honeymoon wardrobe and already packed it in my suitcases. I knew I'd have to repack it in a few weeks, but something told me she wouldn't let me omit anything from her masterpiece collection. Along with what I'm sure was a ridiculous amount of clothes was a trip to the La Soufriere Volcano…wherever that was and a shopping allowance. Finally, Esme handed me a box, which I opened to reveal one of my china place settings, the rest of the set was also in her car, which had been packed with all my gifts. Inside her card was a picture of fish taken underwater with the description of our scuba lessons and snorkeling trip as well as another romantic dinner.
The gifts seemed like too much, but I would never dare say so. The Cullen's, both by blood and marriage were used to having money, and on special occasions they would dip into it to pamper the people they loved, and with Edward's penchant for the grand romantic gesture, this was something I would be experiencing for a very long time.
After dessert, I said good-bye to Emily, Claire and Victoria before I climbed into my car with Alice and Leah, while Rosalie and Esme followed in her car. When we got back to our condo the boys were waiting and made quick work of our gifts before leaving Edward and I to put our gifts away and enjoy our night. After the china was put away and the suitcases were hidden in my closet along with the bags of lingerie that I wanted to kill Alice for orchestrating, Edward and I cuddled up on the couch where I showed him the slideshow, which he loved.
After a light dinner, Edward and I returned to the couch where I decided to broach a subject I had been trying to summon up the courage to bring up. "Edward, do you have any plans the weekend after Thanksgiving?"
Edward answered without taking his eyes off the TV. "No love, why, do you want to go Christmas shopping or something?"
I took a deep breath. "No, I want to go lay a blanket on my mom's grave, and I wanted you to come with me so I could show you where I grew up and so you'd be there, because I know I'm going to need you."
Edward was watching me now as he pulled me close. "Of course I'll come with you; you don't even have to ask."
I pulled him even closer as I inhaled the scent wafting off of his skin. I loved the way Edward smelled, he smelled better than anything else I'd ever known. That night we fell asleep after watching M*A*S*H reruns.
EPOV
Bella was so excited to be hosting Thanksgiving, and was cutting up the turnips and sweet potatoes to cook them tonight so that tomorrow she only had to reheat them. I sat at the bar watching her work, counting out the potatoes and putting them in the pot she'd use tomorrow so that was ready and making the green bean casserole.
When she was done we ordered in Chinese and packed for our trip to Phoenix on Saturday morning. Bella wanted to get to bed early because the turkey would take 8½ hours to cook tomorrow, so she wanted to wake up in time to get everything started on schedule. My sleep, however, didn't come as easily. Bella tossed and turned in her sleep, whimpering and crying, but I couldn't bear to wake her. At one point she rolled into me and I held her, finally stilling the restlessness of her body, but not her mind. I knew she was thinking about her mom and our trip to visit her and I also knew that she would tell me about it in her own time.
I woke up the next morning to the smell of turkey as it wafted into the bedroom. I walked into the dining area and the table was already set for 10, with the small table next to it set for Emmett's brood with a slightly less delicate set of dishes. "Morning handsome."
I looked up to see Bella standing in the doorway to the kitchen in a short apron and her pajamas. "You started early love."
Bella giggled and went into the kitchen to continue cutting up apples for the pie she would cook later on. "I have a lot of work to do. Thankfully, my fiancé found a place with a large oven, otherwise I'd be screwed." Bella continued to flutter around the kitchen, peeling potatoes and sitting them in the pot of water, cutting up carrots and doing the same. I watched in awe as she singlehandedly created what was sure to be an amazing meal, just like my mother always had.
"Only you could find as much joy in cooking a meal like this as my mom does." She looked up at me and smiled.
"I've always wanted this. When I used to cook dinners it would be for my mom and whatever guy she was dating that year. But with a family of two or three, you don't really cook a lot of food, and Leah and I have done this for the past decade, just the two of us. It'll be nice to have a big table full of people today."
I moved to wrap my arms around her waist. "You'll have a full table every year; your days of cooking holiday meals for two are over."
Bella's arms tightened around me and I felt her lips brush against my bicep. "I miss her Edward; I wish she was here to see all of this."
I kissed her hair and moved to whisper into her ear. "She is love, she's watching over you and I'm sure she's proud of the woman you've become, because I'm proud of you. You're so strong Bella, and you never gave up on life."
Just then the timer went off and Bella turned to the oven to take out the turkey and baste it before closing the oven door and standing back up. "Okay, I better jump in the shower and start to get ready. Everyone's going to be here at 1pm and I can't still be wearing my pj's."
Bella ran off to the bathroom and soon I could hear the shower running. Bella's hairdryer was the next sound I heard, before it abruptly shut off and I heard her come padding towards the kitchen in a Grecian inspired dress, her hair only partly dried as the timer went off and she went back to the stove to turn the turkey and baste it again. As soon as she was done she ran back off to the bathroom again to finish getting ready.
When she reemerged, Bella was a vision as she always is, now moving with a more determined air about her as she took out the wine and sat it on the table. Running back to the kitchen she took out all of the things she started yesterday and let them sit before she would throw them in the oven.
By the time I finished changing around 12:30 she was plating an enormous platter of cookies and baked snacks for dessert, swatting away my hands as the doorbell rang. I left her be to answer the door, my mom hugging me with her free hand, with her famous pecan pie in her other. Behind her my father stood holding a pumpkin pie. "Edward, you look so handsome! I can smell Bella hard at work."
"It's a wonderful thing, having that smell fill your home and know that the woman you love is responsible for it." I nodded at my dad's statement before I led them to the kitchen where they could sit the pies on the bar and then I took their coats.
"Bella, I see you have everything well in hand, is there anything you need help with?"
"No Esme, but thank you. I've got everything covered."
I poured my parents a glass of wine and we hung around the bar so Bella wasn't left out of the conversation. Alice and Jasper arrived exactly at 1pm and Alice climbed onto one of the barstools and joined in as we watched Bella work. "Damn girl, I burn water, how do you time everything out so well?"
"I don't know, I've just always been able to it." Bella smiled at Alice who remained perched with her hand resting on top of her stomach.
I actually saw the movement in Alice's belly as Jasper wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands next to hers. "Danica's looking forward to some of Aunt Bella's food too."
We all laughed as Bella reached around and grabbed a cheese plate out of the fridge and scattered some crackers on it before placing it near Alice. "Well tell D that she better save room for dessert. Thanks for bringing the cake by the way."
Alice nodded as the doorbell rang again and I went to let in Rosalie, Emmett and the kids, who all ran around the doorway to ambush Bella.
"Auntie Bella! Auntie Bella!" They cheered as Bella crouched down to hug each of them before they ran to hug everyone else.
"Happy Thanksgiving everyone!" Emmett boomed and Rosalie shook her head as she headed to hug Bella.
"Hey sweetie, were you able to change your appointment?" Rose spoke softly, but a brief silence illuminated her words.
"Yeah, I go on Tuesday." Bella's eyes flashed to me and I knew exactly what appointment she meant. Bella continued to finish off last minute things so that she could join the rest of the family who migrated to the living room now that there were too many of us to stand around.
I stayed behind to have a private moment with her. "Baby, you okay?"
Bella looked up and smiled, the twinkle in her eye nearly concealing her anxiety. "Yes, it's just my quarterly check-up, I wanted to have it done before the wedding…I didn't want anything hanging over us when we start our new live together."
I kissed her tenderly as I reached down to hold her face between my hands. "Bella, I know…Leah told me after everything happened between us after Christmas…I know that they found your mother's cancer seven years after they started her on the hormones. But that doesn't mean that it's going to happen to you."
She sighed, her eyes closing as a single tear escaped her right eye. "I'm still waiting for it, I know it's stupid but-"
"It is not stupid, but it's also not going to happen. I'm not letting you go." I pulled her body tighter against mine, illustrating my point.
"Auntie Bella, what's wrong?" We looked down to see a doe-eyed Angela staring up at us.
"Nothing's wrong sweetie." Not fully buying it, Angela hugged Bella's leg and then ran back out of the kitchen.
Bella and I joined my family just as Leah and Eli arrived. We hung out in the living room with Bella running to check on little things until the last half hour when she started flying around again, with the women helping to put the dishes on the table while she mashed potatoes and carved the turkey, carrying it out and sitting it on the center of the table.
With everyone seated we began to say what we were thankful for. Starting with the kids, Ben and Carmen were honest about being thankful for their new toys and the baby cousin on the way, while Angela announced that she was thankful for Bella. All I could think was "that's my girl." Alice and Jasper both talked about being thankful for each other and Danica. We continued around the table until we made our way to Leah. "I'm thankful to all of you. For the last ten years I've been Bella's family and I'm so glad that she found Edward, because not only have you all accepted her, but somehow I became an honorary Cullen, and it's a cool family to be a part of."
Everyone laughed as Eli took his turn. "You guys are like the Cleaver's, it's kind of ridiculous. Last year I spent Thanksgiving in Iraq, so to be invited into your celebration with Leah this year means a lot."
We continued moving around the table, with my parents being thankful for all the new additions to our family, and when it came time for Bella and I to go I took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I think it's pretty obvious what I'm thankful for, and I'm saving all the sappy stuff for my vows, so…I'm thankful for Bella, because she said yes."
Bella reached our joined hands up to wipe away a tear before she began. "I'm going to try to keep this short so the food doesn't get cold." A small chuckle echoed around the table as Bella continued. "I'm thankful for all I've gained this year. My business is more successful than ever, I met the man of my dreams, and I've gotten a second chance. I'm a sister and a daughter and an aunt, all things I never thought I'd get to call myself. And I'm so thankful for Leah, because she has been the only family I've had for the last ten years, and she still is my sister from another mister."
Another round of laughter went around as the food began to move around the table. The wedding was, as always, the topic of discussion during the amazing dinner Bella prepared, and after the table was cleared and the game was turned on until dessert.
Dessert was truly a treat and after everyone was stuffed we started to say our good-byes.
Once we were alone, and the final load of dishes was in the dishwasher, I dragged Bella to bed.
BPOV
My nerves were a little frayed as we boarded the flight to Phoenix. I'd been avoiding going home the past few years, letting the cemetery's perpetual care service take care of my mother's grave because I couldn't bear to go alone, but as I looked next to me, I smiled as Edward stowed our overnight bags in the overhead compartment. Sitting next to me, I grabbed his hand and rested my forehead on his shoulder.
I woke up to Edward's lips on my hair. "Love, the planes landing."
I looked up and realized that I had slept through the entire flight. Getting off the plane, Edward and I headed to the car rental counter, and I shook my head as we walked out to the Mercedes he had selected. It didn't take long to drive to the hotel, and after relaxing for a little while and unpacking we headed back out.
We weren't going to the cemetery until tomorrow, so I programmed my old address into the GPS and we started the tour. About 15 minutes later, we were turning down the familiar streets, finally turning on to Webster Place. Edward took my hand as I tensed up, having purposely stayed away from anyplace but the cemetery the last time I came back. As he stopped in front of the house with the little sign in the grass reading '44 Webster Place' I turned to look across the street at the house I grew up in.
"There used to be a tree on the right side of the lawn, but I kept climbing it and falling when I tried to get back down so I mom had some guys come and take it down, she was afraid that I'd hurt myself while she was at the studio and no one would know I was hurt. And that window all the way to the left was my bedroom. It was a blue-green color and I had this big fluffy purple floral comforter. My mom's room-" I stopped abruptly, willing the tears not to fall as I felt Edward's hand move from my hand to reach around my shoulder as his left hand reached to take mine while he rubbed gentle circles on both my back and the back of my hand. The tears finally won out, so I continued telling Edward about the house. "My mom's room was right next to mine. When I was little I'd always climb into her bed, and then when she got sick and stayed at the hospital, I'd sleep in there so I could feel close to her. I have three goldfish buried in the backyard, I was never really good with feeding them, so I gave up on pets, and my mom wouldn't let me get something that I could actually play with like a dog or a cat because she said they were too much work. Oh, and my mom had a garden in the back that she couldn't keep alive to save her life." I stopped, shocked by my choice of words. The tears came harder and Edward shifted so that he could hug me to his chest as best he could with the center console in the way.
A few minutes after that, we drove off and I told Edward to take the left that would lead us to the Dancing Swan ballet studio. Pulling into the parking lot, I wiped the tears from my face and got out of the car to walk in the familiar doors. Edward took my hand as I showed him the old pictures and looked at the classes through the viewing windows. We were about to leave when I heard her voice. "Bella?"
I turned to see Maggie, one of my mom's best friends, and the instructor that she sold the studio to. "Hi Maggie, it's good to see you."
Her face lit up as she ran over to hug me. "Oh my God, Bella you've grown into such a beautiful young woman, how are you? And who is this handsome man glued to your side?" She looked over at Edward and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm good, I'm engaged actually, and this is my fiancé Edward."
Edward extended a hand that was quickly batted away as Maggie hugged him as well. "It's a pleasure to meet you Maggie, Bella was just giving me a tour of her old neighborhood and we couldn't do that without stopping in here."
Maggie smiled at him and then turned to me. "Bella, why don't you come in and dance for a minute, remember the old room?"
I looked at her and shrugged. "I don't have clothes or slippers."
Maggie shook her head. "Clothes are easy enough, and are you still a size seven, because we have a few pair of worn in ballet slippers you could use if you'd rather that than go barefoot."
I thought about it for a moment before nodding and following her to go change. I came out a minute later and followed her into the studio full of students with Edward hanging along the wall by the door.
"Excuse me ladies, but if you could all sit down for a moment I have a special surprise for you. Miss Bella Swan, the daughter of Renee, the woman who opened this studio, and the studios first student has come back to visit, and I've asked her to dance for us."
Maggie went to sit by the students as I began to move. I didn't dance for that long, but I had to admit that it felt good. I could feel my mom with me as I spun and glided across the floor and when I stopped the little girls erupted into applause and my eyes flittered to Edward who stood misty eyed by the door. I thanked Maggie and the class for letting me dance on their time before I went to walk out into the lobby with Edward. I changed again and then met Edward by the reception area.
"That was beautiful Bella, the way you moved, the emotion behind it; I've never seen anything like it." I smiled up at him before kissing him and reaching up to wipe away his tears as we exited the studio.
Continuing down the road we stopped at my old elementary school and got out to sit on the swings I had played on well after I graduated from the school simply because it was so close to the house. I continued to tell the ever-enraptured Edward stories of scraped knees and broken bones as well as secret games and first crushes, all of which was played out on a giant wooden playground which was replaced sometime in the last several years with the bright and obnoxious plastic structure sitting in front of us. Around that time, my stomach growled and Edward laughed as he stood up and offered me his hand as we went back to the hotel to order room service.
That night I slept in Edward's arms, so happy to have him there with me. Because I couldn't imagine doing this alone again, and I smiled knowing I would never have to.
EPOV
Watching Bella yesterday was as heartbreaking as it was moving. Seeing her relive things she hadn't thought about for a long time, not to mention watching her dance at her mother's studio, I'm a lucky bastard if she feels 1/10th of that kind of love for me. Dressing casual for the cemetery, at Bella's request, I threw on jeans, my 'Carpe Diem' shirt and a jacket. Bella came out of the bathroom in a t-shirt with a pink heart and a white ribbon in it for breast cancer awareness, jeans and a pair of boots. Grabbing her brown bomber jacket we took our bags and went to check out, as our flight back to Seattle left this afternoon.
We had a quick breakfast at the hotel, Bella not touching much of what was on her plate, and then headed for the cemetery. Bella pointed out a florist along the way and we stopped, Bella picking out a blanket with poinsettias on it and a bouquet of roses. Pulling into the cemetery gates I was put off by how unlike any cemetery I'd ever been to it looked, maybe it was the palm trees. Driving along the winding roads Bella finally told me to stop the car and we got out, walking down the row of headstones until we reached Renee Swan.
Bella knelt down and positioned the blanket over the grass and then used the metal garden stakes to secure the blanket to the ground. She opened the flower vase built into the headstone and filled it partway with water before setting the bouquet of roses into it and then she cleaned off the headstone and stood up. I went to take a step back when she motioned for me to come closer, so I walked to her when she reached over and pulled me behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
"Hey mom, I know it's been a while since I've come to see you, but I have some things I wanted to tell you face to face. I'm doing a lot better now, I opened the new bar and Leah and I are still as close as ever, which I honestly can't thank you enough for sending her to me, but most importantly I have Edward." I closed my eyes as she began to tell her mom about me like they were having a conversation sitting together after a really good date. "He's everything mom. He's good, smart, creative, strong, passionate, kind, and he loves me. I wish you could be here, and I wish that you could have met him, because you would have given us hell for how serious we got so fast, but you would have loved him. Please keep an eye on Charlie, because I know he had a hard time with how things were between all of us. And mom, can you watch over Edward and I and help make our dream of being parents come true, because we both want it so bad. I love you mom."
The tears were streaming down both of our faces as Bella went to walk back to the car when my hand stopped her as I continued to stand by Renee's grave. "Thank you Renee, for raising the most amazing woman there is, because I don't know what I'd do if she wasn't in my life."
I looked down at Bella as I walked her to the car, both of us wiping our faces as we headed to a local diner to get lunch before our flight.
~V~V~V~
BPOV
I woke up Tuesday morning with a lot of nervous energy before my appointment. I headed off to the office with Edward once again by my side as I went into my happy place. Walking into the building Edward and I went into the office's waiting room and I signed in before he sat next to me and held my hand while I waited for the tech to come and get me. When it was time, I went into the back and had my mammogram done, which is in the top five of most obnoxiously awkward things I've ever lived through, and then went back to the waiting room to wait for my doctor. After a few minutes the receptionist told me that Dr. Porter was going to be a little longer than expected and that we could go for breakfast and he should have my mammogram results in an hour. We went outside to walk to the deli to grab an egg sandwich and Edward unloaded.
"How come he's making you wait this long, is this normal?"
I could see his annoyance and I reached out to take his hand. "He'd just taking care of another patient. When he's done it will take him time to look over the test results so he can give them to me today. I'd rather wait an hour and then know, than have him take a few days. With his cancer survivors he likes to get them answers as quickly as he can while still being thorough. He'll look at my old scans and see if there's anything there to worry about."
Edward gripped my hand in his. "I'm sorry; I'm supposed to be here supporting you, not the other way around."
"It's okay, this is all new to you, and you're allowed to be nervous."
Soon enough it was time to go back and I was glad to see with my own eyes that there were no visible changes to my scans and that everything looked good. Dr. Porter even let Edward come in to show him that I was okay. We left the doctor's office a lot calmer than we had been walking in and I felt so much better knowing I was starting my marriage to Edward without this hanging over us.
~V~V~V~
The week passed and I was currently cursing Alice as she handed the stylist for my wedding a tiara for her to pin in my hair for tonight's bachelorette party. Leah and Rose stood around laughing and I was waiting for the point when we ended up at Ballet Studio, because I had made it very clear that there would be no strippers in my future.
More annoyed that I wouldn't be seeing Edward tonight, as Leah insisted that I stay with her, I went back to Alice's where she handed me a tulle skirt and a tube top, finishing it off with a pair of silver heels. "Alice, I look like a Goth ballerina!"
"You look gorgeous, now don't ruin the vamped up version of your wedding look, we have to get going if we're going to keep our schedule."
With that the night began. Only staying in one bar for an hour before moving on, we danced and drank with no indication that we were a bachelorette party other than my 'bride to be' sash. It was 12:30 when we finally headed to my bar, which got me excited because I was truly having a blast, even with the lack of half naked men. Dancing with my third Long Island Ice Tea of the night, Emily wrapped her arms around me and smiled, excited to see me in a less than professional light. I honestly wasn't sure how long we'd been there, but all of a sudden Rosalie cackled, which is never a good sign, and then told me to lift my arms as she pulled a tight halter top over my head, handing my sash to Alice before fastening the string behind my neck.
I looked down to realize I was wearing a 'suck for a buck' shirt, covered with very dangerously placed lifesavers decorating it. "Take off your tube top!"
I looked at her like she was mentally ill. "But you already tied-"
"Do it!" Everyone bellowed at me so I reached up and pulled the shirt down while still wearing the halter over it and then pulled it up over my head once I had it bunched at my waist.
"Now there's a nifty trick." I spun around to be face to face with a very buzzed Edward, surrounded by Emmett and Jasper. Edward pulled me to him and kissed me, before his mouth moved to the lifesaver attached to the string holding up my shirt. Sucking on the candy, he bit through it so the pieces would fall into his mouth before he moved to the other string to do the same. Moving to the one on the small of my back Edward skillfully removed each candy until there were only three left.
Moving to my bellybutton he sucked the treat off and then looked up at me with hooded eyes as he took my hand. "I'm finishing my dessert at home!"
Pulling me to the door, I looked back to see Leah and the girls laughing, dirty bitch was never planning on me staying with her. Climbing into a cab, we rode the eight blocks groping each other like we were teenagers, until we stopped in front of our building. Getting out, Edward dragged me to the elevator and as soon as the doors closed he pushed me against the cool metal and attacked my neck. I gripped his shoulders and pulled him closer to me. His lips brushed against the skin of my neck and stopped just below my ear. "Baby, I can't wait to get home."
A chill ran up my spine at his words as the ding of the elevator alerted us to the opening the doors. Edward carried me down the hall to our front door. Fumbling with the keys he finally got the door open and pushed his way into the apartment. We quickly made our way to the bedroom where he pushed me against the bed and took my waist in his hands as he bent down to the lifesaver that had been stuck to my boob. Sucking hard on the shirt I moaned loudly as the candy fell off and his tongue continued to play with my hardened nipple. Kissing his way over to the final candy, he repeated his teasing before pulling the shirt over my head and growling at the barely there bra underneath. "Fuck baby, you look so damn sexy."
I giggled as he tore off the skirt and followed it with my underwear. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I used my legs to pull him closer as I undid his pants and pushed them down to the floor. Ripping the buttons off his shirt, Edward climbed on top of me and entered me. The passion rolling off of him as he pushed into me again, left me moaning as Edward showed me his need for me, not just his love. The night was hot and I fell asleep clinging to Edward, so happy that in a week he would be mine forever.
~V~V~V~
EPOV
When I got home from my final meeting before the wedding, I walked in the door to see Bella struggling to get the top section of the tree on. I put my bag down and rushed to help her before it fell to the ground. "What are you doing, love?"
"I'm trying to get the tree up before we leave."
Bella crouched in front of the tree to straighten the tree skirt as I picked up the box of ornaments. Holding it out for her, she picked out a tiny ballerina and hung it on the tree. Reaching for the next ornament we quickly found a rhythm and a half an hour later I was reaching up to place the angel on the top of the tree. "Hhmmm?"
"Bella what is it?" I looked down to see a thoughtful look on her face.
"Nothing, I just never got it done that quickly before."
Walking up behind her I put my arms around her waist. "We do make a pretty good team, don't we?"
~V~V~V~
The past week had been filled with a mad dash of last minute details and insanity. Today was Bella's spa day, and as much as I was grateful that I had thought to get her this as a way to distress her before the wedding, I was cursing the fact that I wouldn't see her until the rehearsal dinner, and then she was going back to the Alexis Hotel to spend the night before the wedding there.
Sitting in our living room and staring at the Christmas tree we put up together, our place felt empty without her. I looked over our flight information for tomorrow and double checked that everything was packed. Around two o'clock Emmett showed up to give me some of his sage advice. "Jesus Edward, you're not getting cold feet are you?"
"God no! I'm just nervous about tomorrow. What if I screw up during the ceremony, or I mess up our first dance?"
"Seriously, Bella isn't going to care about any of that. All she's going to care about is the fact that tomorrow you promise forever. You'll be fine, just breathe."
Emmett spent the next half-hour trying to get a preview of my vows, but I wasn't sharing them with anyone before Bella. Jake got in around three o'clock and by 3:30 Jasper showed up looking a little tired. "Jazz, what's wrong with you?"
"It's just Alice, she's ready to have this baby already, and I'm ready to have my wife back."
Emmett rolled his eyes and laughed at us. "Welcome to my world boys."
The four of us hung out until it was time to go to the rehearsal dinner. We drove to La Tua Cantante, the restaurant I brought Bella to for our first date and the only place we wanted our rehearsal dinner to be held. By the time we got there the girls had already arrived and as soon as I saw Bella my heart melted. She looked up as I crossed the room to her and smiled a moment before my lips met hers. The tight blue dress she was wearing made me angry that she wouldn't be coming home with me tonight. I held her close as we said our hello's to everyone, finally taking her seat as the waiter approached.
The dinner went by far too quickly, as I knew it would, and soon we were enjoying our dessert. As the night came to a close I walked Bella out, driving her new Chevy home so we wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow. As we stood by the back of her car I held her close, running my nose from the crook of her neck up to her ear and back. "I hate that you're not coming home with me, I'm going to miss you tonight."
Bella smiled as she looked up and took my face between both of her hands. "I know, I don't know what I'm going to do all alone in that big bed. But just think, after tonight we'll never sleep alone again."
I kissed her one last time before opening the door to Rosalie's car, closing it behind her as I walked to her SUV. Adjusting the seat before I even got in, I was hit by a wave of her scent the moment the door closed. I drove home slowly; savoring the feeling of closeness I got by driving her car until finally I pulled into the garage. Opening the door to our condo, I quickly went to our room to change, hoping to fall asleep fast so that I could wake up and be that much closer to having Bella as my wife.