Chapter Nine: A wedding
We arrived back in Forks to what seemed like a ticker-tape parade! Charlie and Sue were there and standing even closer than normal (if that's possible)! Seth was there which meant Leah wasn't far behind, no way she would leave both her brother and mother and soon to be step-dad alone around a bunch of leeches as she usually put it. All my vampire family was there but one exception, Renesmee! I started to panic but Alice promised she was running an errand for her and would meet us back at the house. Quil and Embry were there as well and in unison confirmed that Jake was with her and they definitely hadn't flown the coven! They both broke out into laughter and it caused Emmett to snicker as well. I gave him a quick cross look and he knew instantly to be quiet otherwise 'little sis' wouldn't shield.
Dad took our luggage and then teasingly said, race you back to the house! Yay, I get to run, it had been so long since I had a good run! "Oh one more thing dad before you try to beat us back to the house," I said as I tossed my strappy stiletto heels into the trunk. I heard Alice make a comment about my fashion sense AGAIN but I just waved her off stating that I preferred to feel the earth under my feet.
When we got back to the house, I found Nessie and Jake playing a video game and of course she was beating him. I'm still not sure if he lets her win or if she is actually better than him. They seemed a little too snuggly so I quickly cleared my throat hoping Edward hadn't noticed. "Mommy, I missed you!" Nessie said. "Hey Bells, Edward!" Jacob said before asking where Charlie and Sue were.
"They'll be back soon, Charlie thinks he can beat us driving while we run." I said.
"Jacob do you have a moment, I need to speak to you man to man if you don't mind." Edward said shocking us all. "Also can everyone in the house please calm down and try to keep your thoughts in check, I promise I'm not going to harm him in any way I just need to talk." Edward added.
"Sure," was all Jacob said in response.
As they left Alice interrupted my conversation with Ness to ask her how the errand went. "Perfectly, of course," Ness said. "They are in the study, and were wrapped but the store owner, I didn't touch a thing." She said.
"What went well, still working on the wedding?" I said to Alice. "Of course, I have made sure that I haven't touched a thing." She responded. "Emily is coming by early tomorrow with a few friends to set everything up and I promised her that you would be here." Alice answered. "You know you are the only vampire she trusts completely, right." She questioned.
"What time, do I need to be the bodyguard?" I said jokingly. "Like I would ever do such a thing? Bella really!" Alice said being overly dramatic. I just waved her off as she said to be her at 9AM.
"So Ness, how are things?" I prodded. "Clever mom, just clever." Ness responded sarcastically.
"Mom is Jacob really safe with Daddy right now?" She asked. "Of course he is, your father couldn't be more proud of your choice in partners. It just hit him that soon you won't be his little girl anymore and he's a little worried that he won't get to see you as much as he likes." I said. "I would never leave either of you!" She cried. "I know that dearest but your father is much more old school than Grandpa Charlie and he knows in a roundabout way what you are probably planning and wants to make sure that you do it right." I confessed. "All I'm going to say is that you know your father would rather you be married first if and when you decided to see how this pans out for you as well as Jacob." I added.
"Ness, I know I can't stop you from leaving when the time comes but know that you have my love and trust. Also, I want to remind you that if this does work the way you are hoping remember that we still don't know a lot about your anatomy. What I mean to say is that if you do get pregnant and the child is a boy there is a good possibility that he would be venomous. It could be devastating if Jacob was bit!" I said.
"I know and I think I have a way of getting around that situation but I can't be sure until it happens. If it happens." Nessie replied.
"Exactly what does that mean, young lady?" I demanded.
"Well it's not going to happen anywhere nearby for the sake of my family and Jacob's but I believe I will have to deliver on my own until I have a chance to tell the child about biting and our diet and venom, etc." Ness calmly answered.
"If you need my help please tell me." I pleaded.
"I wish I could mom but dad will track you. That's why I'm hoping that you could run interference for me. If you do it gives us time to get far enough away so that dad can't track us or hear us." She explained.
"Well I see you have it all figured out, but what about the part of being married first?" I questioned.
"Well if my instincts are right, and I usually am, Dad has finished giving Jacob the you have my blessing but don't go too far with her speech and Jacob is explaining to him that Billy wants to perform a traditional Quilleute ceremony on Tuesday." She answered.
"Tuesday, but Charlie and Sue's wedding is tomorrow and we just got back and oh lord now I'm the one that's not ready." I blurted.
"Mom, everything is going to be just fine." She said.
"How can you be so calm and confident?" I cried.
"Because my family loves me, my father taught me well, and my mother has faith in my strength and abilities." She answered.
At that moment I knew my daughter was essentially an adult and I didn't have to worry about her well being anymore.
Edward walked into the room and had a skiddish kind of smile on his face but gave me a kiss and hugged Renesmee as tightly as she could withstand. When he released her and stepped back to my side he said, 'so Tuesday, do I have to wear some strange tribal outfit?' "Dad, just wear a suit!" She said as she rolled her eyes at him.
"What did you do with Jacob?" I said.
"Nothing, he is so excited that he just about bolted off to tell Billy but nearly fainted when I tossed him the keys to the Ferrari instead.
"Ugh, men and cars, that is one thing I will never understand even if I have 10 eternities to figure it out." I joked.
"I know, right!" Ness said as I realized that she suddenly sounded like a teenager again.
9AM came by faster than I expected. I could hear the car coming up the dirt drive and gave Edward a quick hug and kiss before running up to the big house to meet Emily. Of course Alice was standing at the back door tapping her foot and looking a bit angry. "Oh stop it, you'll ruin your new heels with all the force you're putting on them!" I joked. Instantly she thawed, 'you noticed, oh Bella I am so proud of you for that, finally embracing fashion'. She quipped.
I gave her a quick hug and said 'I was taught by the best'.
She smiled and fluttered off to make sure all supplies and decorations were ready for the event. Just then the doorbell rang and I strode to the door not knowing what was on the other side besides Emily. When I opened the door I had to control the need to let out a huge laugh. I was sure that when I opened the door I used normal human speed and effort but it still made all five of the women standing behind Emily and Leah jump. Wow, Emily and Leah together, now that was a shocker for me and I thought I might jump a little.
"Bella, I've missed you so much." Emily said.
"Emily, it is so great to see you again." I said but held very still not sure if Emily was putting on a front for the scared ladies behind her. At that moment I saw the understanding in her eyes and she quickly jumped forward to hug me there by letting me and the ladies know that I was safe and they in turn were safe.
I walked her through the house giving a brief tour on the way. I let them know where the important rooms were such as the bathroom and kitchen. I assured them if they couldn't find me that they could just ask Leah for assistance as well since she spent enough time here she could walk them to the bathroom blindfolded. This of course was a ruse because I knew not one of them would talk to me without Emily present to guard them. Oh if they only knew how easy it would be for me to restrain all six of them if Leah wasn't present to fight me. But that would just totally freak them out so on with the business of making a wedding happen.
When they walked out the back door with me I heard six distinct gasps and one slightly less thrilled one!
The whole area looked as if a wedding planner had just deliver a wedding in a box kit. Flowers were in vases but wrapped in newsprint. Chairs, tables and gazebos stacked neatly at one end of the clearing. And of course, boxes and boxes of decorations not more than twenty feet from the door.
"The cake will be here at 3PM, if you ladies set up the round table over there Renesmee will make sure the caterer places it perfectly." Alice said.
"As you can see everything has been delivered and is untouched by vampires." She added.
Again gasps from behind me but only five heartbeats were elevated. The day dragged on with questions like where should we put this or how would you like that but Alice was as gracious as can be and Emily started to take a liking to her. When all the decorations were up and the woman had eaten somewhat reluctantly the food that Esme cooked. They all quickly part to go home and get dressed for the ceremony. As they left Sue pulled up and Leah quickly ran to her side. Sue had two garment bags with her one for Leah and the other for herself. Esme showed them to the guest room where they could get changed and I knew that for the rest of the evening Leah would not be more than 10 feet from Sue's side.
The cake arrived and Renesmee showed the caterer where to put it. Slowly everyone started appearing and dad appeared as well. He looked even more nervous than the day I first came back to Forks. The ceremony went smoothly and as the guests left and then Dad and Sue left it finally became quiet again and I realized just how hungry I was. I drug Edward out the door with me. He of course wanted to spend time with Ness but she looked otherwise engaged to me. "Tomorrow, my love, you'll have plenty of time tomorrow." I said.
The next few days before the Quileute ceremony went by fairly smoothly. Edward wanted to spend as much time with Ness as possible and graciously enough Jacob kept his distance from the two. Alice was busy finishing the last touches on the outfit Ness would be wearing and of course had already recommended what outfits Edward and I should wear. I received a call from Dad and Sue and they were having a great time in the Bahamas, courtesy of Carlisle and Esme.
The day of the ceremony I thought Edward would turn into a huge pool of liquid vampire! It was just as bad as the day he found out I was pregnant and almost as bad as the day Jacob found out I was pregnant. When we arrived at the reservation it was now my turned to be awed. All the men and women of the tribe were wearing their ceremonial garb and drums were beating, bells jingling, Billy in full ceremonial garb and headdress, wow! Billy explained that since some of us didn't understand their native language that he would interpret for us after each phrase or part that he administered.
The ceremony was quite interesting, the first part was basically a history of the tribe. How the tribe was always small but powerful with magic. About the encounter with the first cold ones, and the treaty with the Cullens and now their triumphant battle over 'newborns' and the Volturi. The next part spoke of friendships won and lost and family warriors, distant struggles and battles. Finally, Billy got to the part that I believe both Jacob and Edward had been waiting what seemed like ages.
"Jacob, as future leader of the tribe and Alpha of your pack, do you promise to protect and love Renesmee as you would protect and love the tribe?" Billy stated.
"With all my mind, heart, and spirit until it is my time to meet our ancestors at the great council fire." Jacob said.
"Renesmee, as part of a distant tribe, your promise is more demanding. You must be willing to take on the tribe as your new family, to love them as you would your own family. You must support and defend them as you would your own family. Finally you must love and trust your husband and new family as you would your own." Billy stated.
"With all my mind, heart, and soul I will defend and love my husband and new family as fiercely as my own." Renesmee said.
"Then as Elder of this tribe is it my honor to present my son Jacob and his new wife Renesmee ." Billy stated.
Cheers and shouts and warrior calls all around! And in the distance there were howls from the wolves patrolling the reservation borders.
After Ness and Jacob were done with their slightly flamboyant kiss they made their way around to all the ceremony attendants for hugs and congratulations. "Ness you looked so beautiful and Jacob you look so dashing." Esme said as she hugged both of them at the same time. "Thanks Grams, I'm so glad you all came. I was afraid it would be too uncomfortable for all of you." Nessie said. "Never my darling, we wouldn't miss this for the world dearest." Esme said.
After many little gatherings and hugs and kisses and so forth my darling daughter and her loving husband made their way to Edward and me. "Daddy, mommy there you are." Nessie nearly screamed at us. "Nessie, sweetheart I was wondering when you would stop by to let your dear old dad congratulate his new son-in-law." Edward said. "Daddy, you may be technically more than a 100 years old but you will never be old." Nessie countered. "Hello Jacob, you look especially happy and handsome." I interrupted. "Hey Bells, Edward. And yes I am extremely happy right now." Jacob replied.
"Ness darling as much as I want to keep you here I believe you have more things to do as I can see Billy is eagerly trying to get my attention." I said.
The rest of the evening went on without a hitch. Dancing and food and drinks, laughter and hugging. Twinkle lights and white linen tents, flowers and firelight. It was definitely magical and my daughter was the ethereal beauty at the center of the scene. As the night started to close out the ceremony and many guests had already departed I caught a glimpse of my daughter and I must have had a look on my face asking is tonight the night because she subtly smiled and gave a hint of her shaking her head no.
What did surprise me was the moment that Jacob presented Renesmee with a house! He announced that most of the tribe pitched in but he thanked Emily specifically for decorating it. How sweet and romantic, I think I could almost cry. Edward of course was beside himself for not paying attention to everyone's thoughts and having missed that completely.
Ness was crying again and Jacob ever the attentive husband was already wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Ness, we're all leaving now, we don't want to keep you from seeing your new house. I want you to promise that you will stop by and see us tomorrow or the next day…" I said as I hugged her goodbye.
"I love you mom and I will be by tomorrow." Nessie said.
"I will never tire of hearing that Edward." I admitted. "Me either, my love, me either."
