RPOV:
Nervous and anxiety in the stomach is the engine roar before it soars. –unknown
I wasn't even completely out of bed when there was knocking at the door. I climbed over my sisters and rushed to my door and yanked it open. Jasper winked at me.
"Mornin' darlin'."
"How are you awake and dressed and here right now?" I scoffed and moved out of the way so that Jasper could enter.
He was wearing some jeans and a plain black tshirt as he made his way inside. I pushed the door shut behind him and latched it.
"Alarm," he said simply, "I forwarded your schedule to my phone because I knew Kate and Irina would be too slumped to be of much help. So shower and I'll fix you something light to eat and get the two drunks awake long enough to shovel ginger, water and Aleve down their throats."
"You are heaven sent," I acknowledged.
"And don't you ever forget it."
We both trailed in to my room. I grabbed some jean shorts and a top and Jasper made his way to my bed where I watched him poke Irina a few times before I headed to the shower.
I bathed quickly. Hesitating and being alone left me time to think and thinking would make me nervous. It would make me confused. It would make me question my choice.
When I let myself out of the bathroom about thirty minute later, my hair in a surprisingly sleek line down my back and my clothes on, my toothbrush in my mouth Kate and Irina stood before me, each in jeans and shirts. Kate sat down her coffee and Irina yawned from where she was on the couch before they made their way in to the bathroom for their morning rituals. Jasper came out of the kitchen with a mug of coffee. He walked up to me and handed it to me.
"Your parents are goin' to meet us at the hotel. I'll be sittin' with your guests and Kate will shoot me a text when you're ready for me to meet you. I put all of you guys' dresses in Irina's car. Kate is going to ride with me. We'll follow you. I packed you pajamas and a nightgown and a dress for brunch tomorrow. Your suitcase is on your bed. You'll need to pack your own toothbrush obviously, but I packed basically everything else; lotion and deodorant and anything that was on your dresser that looked like you might need it."
"Thanks Jazz," I sighed and looked down at the coffee.
"Of course," he dug in his pocket and produced a straw, dropping it in to my mug, "You don't need coffee teeth on your wedding day."
"My wedding day," I repeated and shook my head clear before taking a drink of coffee.
"Are you sure about this, Rosalie?" Jasper looked at me for what I felt was the first time since he'd walked in.
He really looked at me and I took a deep breath before nodding slowly.
EPOV:
I woke up with a splintering headache. Edward, Garrett, Jake and I had in fact drank the night before- quite a lot actually. We'd drank and reminisced until far later than what was acceptable. Garrett and Jacob had rented a hotel room with double beds in order to be where my wife and I would be getting married so that they could sleep later. A drunken Edward had slept in my guest room. I let my eyes drift to my night stand. I needed to be up and to the hotel with my wife's gift soon. I was going to be a married man in a simple four hours. I sat up, stretched and nudged Bruto with my foot. He growled lowly and I nudged him again a little harder. He raised his head and then stretched before hopping out of bed. I followed his example and climbed out. I had time to walk him. I followed him down the hall and towards the kitchen where Kebi was seemingly brewing coffee. I snatched up my sunglasses from the counter where I'd left them and then Bruto's leash from where it hung beside my keys.
"Good morning Mr. Cullen," Kebi called.
"Morning," I rubbed my temples and crouched down to latch Bruto's leash to his collar, "Can you wake up Edward for me, Kebi?"
"Of course."
"Thank you," I stood back up and slid my shades on my face.
I just had four hours of being an unmarried man left.
RPOV:
There was nowhere to park and I was sure Jasper needed a cigarette or six by the time we got out of the car. He carried my wedding dress and his suit while I rolled my suitcase with one hand and held my basket under the arm of my other. Irina carried the dresses that belonged to her and Kate while Kate carried several different makeup bags. When we crossed the street I found myself face to face with photographers. I couldn't understand exactly why I was faced with photographers but when we closed in on the revolving door of the hotel and flashes started to go off I was sure Jasper was going to punch the closest person holding a camera near him. I planted a hand on his arm and went through the revolving door first, yanking him with me. Kate and Irina followed close behind and we were soon faced with Jen who was standing by the front desk. She hugged me briefly.
"These are two of my sisters, Irina and Kate," I pointed to them in turn, "and this is my best friend, Jasper. You guys this is Dr. Jen Matthews."
She shook their hands in turn.
"I have your room key here and I would love to accompany you up."
"Sure," I offered her a smile.
My stomach may have been fluttering before, but it was tightening now. I took a deep breath and one of Kate's hands found mine as we led our small group of four behind Jen.
We crowded in to the elevator and Jen filled it with information.
"Your future husband checked in about ten minutes ago," she clapped her hands together, "His family accompanied him in to his room. Your wedding is set to take place in," she looked at her arm, "three hours so hopefully it won't take you extremely long to get ready. I'll come in at the hour mark and bring in his wedding gift for you and take yours to him. Is that fine?"
"That's fine," I said instantly, "And I was sort of hoping that maybe if he has a sister or something, she could walk with Jasper."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
"He does and I think that his family would love that idea. Are these the only two ladies who will be walking for you?"
"Yup."
"Okay."
The elevator let out a ding and we all crowded out of the elevator and down the hall. Jen led us to a room and unlocked the door before entering and holding it open for us. I took it in and sighed. This was real. This was happening. I sat on the bed while Irina collected my wedding dress from Jasper who headed to the bathroom. We had agreed that he would get dressed first so that he could be free to roam the hotel. Besides, once we entered the bathroom he would not be getting back in to it before the wedding. There was no way.
He dressed quickly while Jen talked to me about the wedding to be. My future husband's mother had picked everything. We would be married outside- on the beach behind the hotel. I had a total of maybe 40 guest while my husband had an astonishing 20. How had he managed to only send out 20 invitations to his wedding stunned me. I had considered my 40 guest too limited. When Jasper exited the bathroom in his suit and closed in on us I stood up from my spot sitting on the bed at once. Irina and Kate grabbed their dresses and fled in to the bathroom. Kate was leaving her extremely straight hair straight and Irina's wavy hair was staying that way as well. I had reminded them that I was fine with leaving my hair straight. It was rarely that way, but they weren't hearing any of it.
When they exited the bathroom I was immediately awed. Kate was wearing a sparkling goldish tinted dress that stopped at her knees in the front but was long in the back. She had on a rather long neck piece that I thought was just gorgeous. Her hair was pulled back in to a ponytail so that it wouldn't get in her way no doubt. She walked right to her makeup bags and knelt down picking them up from the floor and tossing them to the bed before beginning to dig in the biggest one.
Irina was wearing a glittery off white dress that fastened on one shoulder like a toga. She'd managed to pull her pale blonde, almost silver hair back in to a bun with a slight bump atop of her head. She had in earrings, but no other jewelry and she winked at me before walking to the small table near the floor to ceiling windows and getting a chair that she dragged between the foot of the bed and the wall. She gestured to it and I got up, offering Jen a smile.
"I can leave you girls alone," she offered.
"You don't have to leave," Kate laughed pulling her hair wand out of her bag and tossing it to Irina, "We can work fine with you here."
"We don't get nervous or distracted," Irina bent down and plugged the wand in to the wall before flicking it on.
Kate looked at her phone housed in between her bags.
"I'm going to go meet our lovely parents and I will be back most likely with the both of them and Jasper."
"Okay," Irina waved her off.
Jen stood up from her spot by the bed.
"I'll go check on your husband and I will see you in two hours."
"Okay."
"Bye Jen," Irina called as the matchmaker and our youngest sister let themselves out, "So are you nervous?" she asked.
I scoffed.
"Terrified."
"I didn't think you got scared," Irina circled me and handed me the wand as she reached towards the bed and collected one of the smaller ones.
I heard her rummage around in it before she reached over my shoulder and deposited the bag in my lap. I felt her clipping my hair in to segments.
"Well, I do."
"You aren't crazy," Irina reached for the wand, "and no matter what happens, at least you tried. This could be your soulmate at the end of the aisle."
"Or my personal hell."
"Or that," she agreed.
Neither of us talked after that.
Eventually Carmen, Eleazar, Jasper and Kate made their way back. Irina was halfway done with my hair by then.
"Thanks for coming!" I called out.
"Wouldn't miss it," Eleazar said and I heard the bed shift.
"You look beautiful, Irina," Carmen cooed.
"If anyone starts crying, I'm out," Jasper made his way around the front of me, "How you holdin' up darlin'?"
"Just barely," Irina answered for me.
Jasper crouched in front of me and put a hand on my knee.
"If you get worried or if your stomach knots and that voice in your head says this guy is weird, don't say I do," he said simply, "You don't owe this man anything. You owe yourself everything. Turn on your heels and head back up the aisle and I'll fall in line no questions asked, okay?"
"Okay," I offered him a smile and he smiled back.
Jasper always put me at ease. He stood up again and headed back behind me. I could hear him, Kate, Carmen and Eleazar talking and laughing. Kate came to crouch before me with three fruit bowls and she fed me while Irina slaved away with my hair. When she finally finished she kicked the men out so that they could help me in to my dress.
When I stepped in to it I was surrounded by women that loved me. My mother was lacing up the back of my dress. Kate was working on my face and Irina was running her fingers through my hair to loosen my curls I assumed. When she finished she grabbed some bobby pins and circled around me. If I was a car the women of my family would have been my pit crew, making sure I was perfect at every moment. By the time Kate finished, Carmen and Irina were pulling things apart in order to find the white ballet flats that I would be wearing and there was knocking at the door.
It was Irina that opened it and Jen who popped up. Two hours had gone by that fast. I had an hour until I was supposed to get married. My nerves reared its ugly head. Irina introduced Jen to Carmen and Jen began asking her how she felt about the process while Kate attacked me with eyeliner again.
"I'll go fetch the guys," Irina offered and let herself out.
"And I have your wedding gift," Jen said and for the first time since she entered the room I was able to turn around and face her.
Jen was an older woman with deep brunette hair that was in a bun on top of her head. She was wearing her normal woman's suit. She had a large white basket with bows made of pink ribbon on each handle. She sat the basket down and then held out an envelope to me. I took a deep breath before taking it and we all stood in an awkward silence until Irina, Eleazar and Jasper returned.
"I have my wedding gift," I waved the envelope and Jasper smirked before collapsing to sit on the bed beside my basket.
I made my way over and sat on the other side of it.
"Are you guys ready?" I resisted the urge to run my hand through my hair knowing Irina would have a fit.
"This is the first taste of this guy's personality," Jasper cracked his neck, "Let's go."
Jen and Kate both laughed.
"Okay," I took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope.
"Are you okay?" Jen asked.
I closed my eyes for a few minutes before nodding and pulling out the piece of paper that rested there.
"To my wife," I read aloud, "Although this isn't a traditional wedding I attempted to get you some traditional gifts. I'm an extremely corny person so please read the little notes written below that match the numbers on the gifts. There are 14 gifts- one for each of the 14 days we had of engagement. I can't wait to meet you at the end of the aisle. –Your Husband."
Kate clapped happily and Carmen and Jen smiled at me. Irina looked like she wanted to cry. Jasper looked down at the basket and found the gift that had a "1" sticker on it. He handed the small box to me and I opened it slowly. I was sure my hands were shaking. I was brought face to face with a pair of sapphire earrings. I turned the box towards my family so that they could see it and then handed the box to Kate who was the closest. She began to free them and closed in on me. She sat the box on the bed and began to remove my plain pearl earrings. I picked back up the paper.
"Every bride needs something old on her wedding day. These earrings belonged to my mother."
"Awwh," Irina covered her mouth.
"He's thoughtful," Carmen shot Eleazar a look while Jasper produced a second box that he offered to me.
Kate pushed the first of the earrings through my ear and then climbed in to the bed behind me to do the other. I opened the second box and was faced with a matching sapphire necklace. Kate pushed the second earring in and after I showed the necklace to my family and Jen I offered that to her as well. I held my hair up as she clipped it around my neck.
"Irina, you can read the notes and I'll just open," I asked with a silent question hidden in my words.
"Sure," she held her hand out and I deposited the paper in to it, "It just says something new."
"Something old, something new, something borrow and something blue," Kate offered, "People say that every bride needs those things on her wedding day," she climbed out of the bed and Jasper handed me the third box.
"This veil is the same veil that my older brother's wife wore when they were married. I hope you enjoy this something borrowed," Irina offered while I opened the box.
She immediately handed my note to Kate. She refused to have anyone near my hair. She took the veil and after looking at it for a while closed in behind me. I was very aware of the way Jasper, Eleazar and Jen were watching me, gaging my every reaction.
Jasper handed me a fourth box, a rather small one and I opened it quickly while Irina messed in my hair.
"I built the ideas around my mother's earrings, but all the same it's said that you need something blue so…"
I produced the sapphire bracelet and Jasper laughed. Kate pushed the note towards him and took the box, kneeling in front of me.
"Numbers five through ten are different wine bottles," Jasper gestured to the basket, "Number 5 says wedding. Number 6 says first fight. Number 7 says first Thanksgiving. Number 8 says first Christmas. Number 9 says first New Year's. Number 10 says first anniversary."
"He has faith you guys will make it to the first year mark," Kate smiled up at me as she clipped the bracelet around my wrist.
Jasper tossed a pair of socks in to my lap.
"For cold feet," he said and smirked, "He really is corny."
I chuckled anyway.
"He has a sense of humor," Irina argued climbing out of the bed.
"Whatever," Jasper rummaged around in the basket and then shook what looked like life savers in the air, "In case you feel like you're drowning in emotions," he shook his head at the joke but Kate laughed.
He deposited the candy back in to the basket.
"Gift 13," he produced a guitar pick from the basket and rolled his eyes, "I pick you for the rest of my life," Jasper laughed at that one and I knew personally it was because the corniness had just gotten worst, "and 14 says not to open until after the wedding."
"Okay," I nodded quickly.
"But, there are some cigars here that say for the father," he produced them and handed them to Eleazar, "and there is a small box here that say to the mother but it says not to open it until after the wedding," he offered the box to Carmen who sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
Eleazar looked at the cigars before him.
"And these are for the proud parents," Jen dug in to her pocket and then handed Carmen and Eleazar each a small note.
"I promise to take care of her always," Carmen said and then she sniffed again.
Irina did it after her.
"You guys don't make me cry," Kate pouted and Jasper chuckled.
I bit my bottom lip. Eleazar cleared his throat.
"The joining of hands and saying 'I do' can be full of joy, but a few tears too," Eleazar stole a glance at me and licked his lips, "My family and I are grateful for all that you've done. You're not loosing a daughter. You're gaining a son."
That did it. Carmen let the tears fall and Irina closed in on her to hug her. Kate cursed under her breath and I hopped to my feet. I remembered tidbits of my mother. She was beautiful and blonde and she liked to sing to me. My father however I knew nothing about. Eleazar was the only father I'd ever had. I threw myself in to his arms.
"Thank you for loving me and for giving me away and- and- for loving me," I repeated, "This means so much to me."
I sniffed back tears and Eleazar cradled my head against his shoulder both of us forgetting Irina's hard work on my hair and the veil that belonged to my husband's sister-in-law. Jen clapped her hands together.
"I'll leave you guys alone," she inched towards the door and when I felt another set of hands on my shoulder I knew who it was without having to ask.
I spun around and crashed in to Jasper's chest. He planted a quick kiss to my hair line.
"Are those happy tears?" he asked quietly.
"I may be about to go out and marry the man of my dreams- the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with," I felt a few tears spill, "and I've never been more afraid of anything in my entire life."
I felt arms around me then, lots of them and I didn't know which set belonged to my adoptive parents and which set belonged to my sisters, but I knew that I'd never felt more loved. If the gifts hadn't eased some of my tension, the love I was surrounded in was sure to do the trick.
EPOV:
When Edward and I made our way to the hotel we were met with the press. I had no idea why I was met with press, but the blistering headache I was hiding behind my shades helped me to drown them and their questions out as I tailed Edward, my head down and my suit thrown over one of my shoulders. I texted Jen and let her know what room I would be in before heading up to the room Jake and Garrett had shared.
When I walked in they were already fully dressed and Alice and Esme was seated on one bed while Carlisle and Garrett sat on the other. Jasper ushered us in and made his way to the mini fridge producing waters. He threw us each one.
"For the hangovers," he smirked.
"And how do you know I have a hangover?"
"You still have your shades on," Alice offered.
I pushed them up and on to my forehead before closing in on her and planting a kiss to her forehead and then the cheek of my mother.
"You look horrible," Garrett laughed, "Did you sleep last night?"
"No," I opened the water in my hands, "I dreamed I was waiting for her to walk down the aisle and she turned the corner and was one of the girls I've dated already and then she morphed in to one of the girls I gave the cold shoulder to."
My three closest guy friends burst in to laughter.
"I hadn't even thought of that," Jacob admitted.
"You wouldn't," I rolled my eyes and took a drink of water before putting the top back on the bottle.
"Besides being tired and hung over," Esme said coolly, "How do you feel?"
"Anxious," I shrugged, "I'm ready to get out there. I'm just excited and, I don't know, pumped," I faked left and then right and left again.
Edward scoffed and shook his head before making his way towards the table near the window and Jake outright laughed. I shrugged and then did a quick dance on my way to the bathroom, my suit still slung over the back of my shoulder.
I wasn't sure how long it took for me to shower and dress but when I headed out of the bathroom Jen was seated between my mother and Alice as they fussed over her. She stood when she saw me and I crossed the room and gave her a quick hug.
"I assume I don't need to introduce you to my family," I smirked.
"No, they've done quite well," she smiled at my mother, "Your wife is here and she has a best friend who would be happy to walk down the aisle with your sister if that's okay with you."
"Alice?" I looked down at her.
"You know I want to walk down the aisle."
"Then yeah, it's cool."
"Great," she produced her phone and sent a text or email before looking back up, "You're scheduled to be married in 3 hours. I will need you at the end of the aisle in two and a half."
"Can do, Jen."
"Great. I'll be back in two hours with your gift from the bride."
"Okay."
Jen smiled at my mother and Alice again before waving towards Carlisle and Garrett and letting herself out. Carlisle and Garrett had made their way to the small table. I took in the room for what seemed like the first time since I'd exited the bathroom.
"Edward went to meet Bella and Renesmee," Alice offered.
"And Jake went off to make a call and drink I believe," Esme chuckled.
"Cool," I squeezed myself between the two of them on the bed, "How do you guys feel?"
"Happy," Alice said at once.
"Proud," Esme said softly and she ran a hand over my cheek.
"You aren't going to cry are you?" I rolled my eyes fakely and chuckled.
"Of course I am!"
"Don't you remember her at Edward's wedding?" Alice smirked.
I did, in fact, remember my mother a blubbering mess at Edward's wedding.
"Don't do that to me," I fell backwards on the bed and covered my eyes with my hands, "Seeing you cry is going to mess with my emotions."
"They're happy tears," Esme scoffed, "but I will try to hold on until you say I do," she gave my knee a pat and then I felt the bed shift as she rose.
I let my arms fall out on either side of me.
"Alice, your father and I will return before you get your note from your new wife. We have things to check on; the cake and music and the such."
I resisted the urge to tell her that she shouldn't have planned the entire thing and simply nodded. Carlisle took that at his cue to rise to his feet. He waited until Alice and Esme were out of the door before closing in on it.
"You'll be a fine husband, son," he said briskly before letting himself out.
"Thanks dad," I said to no one and Garrett scoffed.
"He's happy for you," he reassured, "Your dad just doesn't talk much."
"I know," I sat up.
Jake all but kicked the door open and sautered in throwing a bag at me. I looked it over.
"You got me breakfast?" I shook the bag, "I fucking owe you the world."
"I sent him get you breakfast," Edward said dryly entering in behind him and pushing the door shut, "You're welcome."
I rolled my eyes but looked in the bag happily anyway. I had been too nervous to eat originally, but now I was definitely feeling it. I shoveled 2 bacon, egg and cheese burgers down with a bottle of water before collapsing backwards on the bed in hopes of getting a quick nap. Yawning at the alter wasn't the sort of impression I wanted to give my future wife.
"What are you going to do for bedtime?" Jacob asked in to the silence.
"What sort of dumb ass question is that?" I didn't open my eyes.
"Like is it going to be awkward to try to cuddle a complete stranger?"
Of course he was talking about that. I hadn't even given it much thought actually. I was an affectionate person. I liked cuddling and stolen kisses. Hopefully, she was the same way.
"Shut up," I grumbled.
It was better than admitting I didn't have an answer.
"Do you think you're going to be attracted to her?" Jake asked.
I let my eyes open and I rolled on to my stomach. Jake was seated at the table with Garrett. Edward was producing his open water bottle from the fridge. He took a drink and walked over, hitting Jake behind the head.
"Shut up," he hissed, "I knew Bella for years and my stomach was in knots so don't dig in on my little brother. He's probably stressed enough."
"I wouldn't be me if I didn't get under Emmett's skin," Jake chuckled, "Shit, you should get him too. I mean he'll only ever get married once."
"If he does it right," Edward shrugged and came to sit beside me.
I rolled my eyes.
"Thank you for being on my side for all of two minutes, dearest brother."
"You spent how much on the ring again?" Edward asked with a smirk.
Jacob scoffed.
"Look, it's the first piece of jewelry I'm ever buying her. I wanted it to be a little flashy and fuck I wanted her to like it, okay? Sue me. It's not like I can't afford it."
"Very true," Garrett inserted.
"Thank you," I pointed to him.
Jacob produced his phone.
"So seriously, how do you feel?" Edward asked.
"Like these are my last two and a half single hours. I'm ready. I have a great job. I'm settled and I'm ready to be married."
"Better than I would feel," Garrett offered.
"Shit, you're all over the internet," Jake scoffed, "and they put a price tag on that ring of yours."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope. Sources say Emmett Cullen purchased an engagement ring recently and then today he was seen entering a hotel that is set to have a wedding. Is the owner of Cullen Enterprises getting eloped our readers want to know," Jake shook his head, "A hour after his arrival we were sent this picture of who could possibly be his bride to be. She is seen very obviously carrying a wedding dress."
"Her picture is on the internet?" I sat up.
"It's fine. She has sisters. There are three of them. They can't tell which one. Hell, I can't tell which one," Jake brought his phone closer to his face, "None of them are ugly," he snickered, "and you haven't banged any of them."
"Thank God," I collapsed back on to my back.
"Anyone else want to see the prospects?" Jake asked.
"No," Garrett and Edward said in union.
I smirked. I was proud of them. I let my eyes close. This sucked. I couldn't even have a wedding without people digging in to my life. Jacob had said that she was pretty. That was good. I wondered if she would think I was handsome. Fuck. What if my wife wasn't attracted to me?
I wasn't sure how I fell asleep, but when Edward pulled me out of my slumber Esme, Alice, Carlisle, Isabella, Renesmee and Jen had made their way in. Jen handed me a small basket. I was very much aware of the way they were circled around me, Renesmee in her father's arms. I took a look at the card wedged in to the front. I took it out and an incredibly goofy smile spread over my face as I opened it. I unfolded the note.
"Dear husband," I read aloud, "I just want you to know that I can't wait until we start this journey together. I promise to always do my best as a woman, friend and most importantly your wife to always listen to you, support you and to always make you feel loved and appreciated. Wifey." I folded the note back and took a deep breath.
"That was good," Alice clapped happily and I smirked before sticking it back in to the basket.
"Fireball," I unwedged the bottle from the basket and shook it, "to calm your nerves," I read the small inscription on the bottle and sat it back in its place.
I couldn't drink right now, but the thought was nice. I had a small bottle opener housed between Itwo boxes and a small black Ziploc bag. I freed that first. It was a plain silver bottle opener with another inscription and I was a little giddy that she had taken the time out to do such a thing.
"With love from the person who will cause you to drink," I smirked and lifted the bottle opener.
Jake clapped his hands together.
"Exactly what you need," he noted.
Edward elbowed him and I shot him the bird before getting the closest box in my hand and setting the bottle opener back. Inside the first box was a golden compass that read "for our adventure". The second box was a gold watch that had a small note on it that said "see you at 4". The small black Ziploc housed ear plugs and a small snippet of paper that said, "for our first fight". I was going to like my wife. I just knew it. Alice fussed over how cute her gifts were and I distributed the gifts she'd left for my parents; cigars for my father and earrings for my mother. I handed Esme the small note that had "for your parents" written on it.
She offered me a smile before opening it.
"I'll soon walk down the aisle to join your family tree," she read, "thanks for all you do from the groom and me."
"I like her already," Bella smiled.
"Me too," I collapsed on to my back again.