Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Parkward
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Prompt: Healthy

I never was one who spent much time dreaming of my wedding day. Yes, I wanted to get married one day, but the who was far more important than the how or when. Now that I'd found the who, and we'd set the when and planned the how, I realized there was one detail I had always taken for granted would simply occur. After all, being healthy on the big day is a given, right?

Wrong.

It was Friday night, my wedding was in twelve hours, followed by eating. The very thought of food made me throw my hand over my mouth and run for the bathroom.

"Bella?" Edward called from the front door. He'd gone out to get me some flu medicine, forcing enough electrolyte laden fluids down my throat to make it difficult to hold my bladder while my stomach was rejecting the rest. The only good part was that I was back in my own apartment, surrounded by Edward's things. He'd moved in the last few days, as soon as the repairs to the roof and ceiling had been made.

"Bathroom," I said. With a groan I placed my forehead on the cool side of the tub, seriously weighing the pros and cons of dying now. On the positive side I could stop feeling this horrible. My stomach would stop revolting and my body would stop aching. Then Edward walked into the room, looking all concerned, and the negatives of dying jumped around, waving and pointing at him, reminding me we hadn't gotten married or had sex yet.

"Ugh," I said, just thinking about sex. Would I even be able to do that?

"Here, take this," he said in the loudest whisper I'd ever heard. It actually ricocheted around in my head.

"Not sure I can keep it down," I rasped out, rolling my head back and forth on the nice, cold tile.

"Try," he said, handing me a pill. "Even if you are able to keep it down for fifteen minutes it'll help." I gave him a disbelieving look but took the pill anyway. "If you think you can stand, why don't we get you back to bed?"

Flopping my arm in his direction I allowed him to grab it and pull me to my feet. "We probably can't have sex tomorrow night, huh?"

"I'm more worried about you heaving while walking down the aisle or worse, passing out before you say I do." Hmm, I hadn't considered that. "Maybe I should carry you down the aisle?" he said, giving me a smile. It was a possibility, he was mostly carrying me to bed.

"Maybe that pill you gave me will cause a miraculous recovery," I said hopefully.

"Don't count on it. Medicine doesn't work that way, sadly." Helping me into bed he got me situated, left back to the bathroom, and returned with a wet cloth. "Let's wash your face, it'll help you feel better," he said. He was right, it did make me feel better.

With my face washed and the blankets tucked around me, I lifted my lips for a kiss. He shook his head and kissed my forehead. "I think one of us being sick is enough, don't you?" I gave him my best pouty face, but that only got me a chuckle. "Nice try," he said as he left the room, turning out the light.

I didn't think it was possible, but I felt even worse when I woke up the next morning. Renee tried to be really quiet as she helped me shower, and dry off. I managed to hold off on throwing up until I had at least my underwear on. Alice showed up tutting her sympathy and Tanya came bearing more medicine. My head was pounding, my stomach was roiling, but I still had the biggest smile on my face. Today I was going to marry Edward, I didn't care if I had to crawl down the aisle.

They loaded me into the car, along with my dress, deciding that having me wear sweats was the best idea. Thankfully my stomach managed to hold its contents until we arrived at the church. Alice was frantic on the phone, something about food and soup, and I sincerely hoped she was trying to get something at the dinner that my stomach would tolerate.

Once again Rosalie was doing my hair, but she was much gentler than last week when I was only battling hives. She could see me wincing as she pulled the brush through my hair, even my scalp feeling tender. Renee did my make-up, patiently waiting for me to take deep breaths to calm my stomach every now and then and working around Tanya who had ice wrapped around my neck.

Fifteen minutes before I was due to walk down the aisle it was decided my stomach had calmed enough to risk putting on my dress. It was a vintage 1950s style with a sweetheart neckline in satin with a square lace neckline overlayed. The skirt was full, satin underneath with the same lace continuing over top. The sleeves were short and only lace, tight on my arms.

Charlie came in as soon as I was dressed, looking dashing in a white dinner jacket. "You gonna make it?" he asked. Giving him a wan smile and a nod seemed to be enough to convince him. In spite of his raised eyebrow he took my arm. "Don't worry, Bells, I'll get you to him."

"Thanks dad," I said, feeling a bit wobbly on my feet. Alice had brought me some flats because I was concerned about falling over in my heels. Luckily the dress was tea length so I didn't have to worry about tripping on it.

Finally I could hear the music change to the wedding march. Never had Mendelssohn sounded so good. The doors opened, and I looked down the aisle. There was Edward, looking incredibly concerned. All I could think about was getting to him. If I did that, everything would be fine.

I don't remember the walk too much, only the feeling of comfort when Edward reached out and pulled me into his arms. It was so nice to be able to kneel at the altar, my head on Edward's shoulder, and I'm sure the priest kept us there longer than normal over fear I might not make it back to my feet. We even said our vows from our knees. Of course, Edward had to nudge me to say mine since I was dozing slightly.

When the time came to seal our vows with a kiss Edward pulled me to my feet, swept back my veil and placed a light kiss on my lips. "Are you okay?" he asked, and I just nodded, glad we didn't have money for a big reception that I wouldn't have made it through.

Sweeping me up in his arms, Edward carried me back down the aisle, out of the church and put me into his car. "We probably won't have to stay very long," he said, taking my hand while I drifted in the seat next to him. "Everyone knows you're not well."

"Mmkay," I mumbled. "Let's just cut the cake and go, all right?"

He gave a slight chuckle. "We may have to stay a little longer than that."

Back at the Cullen's house we were greeted by our guests. We had kept the reception small due to finances, but there still seemed to be quite a few people there. I smiled and waved, accepted a hug from Mrs. Smith while thanking her for her lovely gift, and gratefully sat down to sip my broth and a cup of tea. Edward roused me a few times, once to cut the cake, once to throw my bouquet, and once to hand me off to Alice so I could change into a less formal dress.

Finally we were able to leave. Originally the reception had been scheduled to last for three hours, but after only half that time I was beat. Nobody seemed to mind that we were leaving early.

Once again I was loaded into Edward's car. It hadn't been decorated much, just a 'Just Married' sign was on the bumper. I was asleep in the car when Edward checked us in at the hotel, only waking slightly when the car stopped and again when he got back in to drive us around to our room. Feeling him lift me from my seat caused me to wake up a third time. "Luggage?" I asked against his shoulder.

"I already took it in," he said. I could see the lights in the ceiling flash by as he walked, my head resting on his shoulder. I hadn't thrown up since just before I walked down the aisle but was so weak I didn't think I could take more than a few steps. Somehow Edward got the door open while still holding me and he carried me straight to the bed.

"Honey, I have a headache," I joked, then moaned because it was still pounding some.

"I know," he said, placing a kiss on top of my head. "Let's get your dress off."

Lifting my arms I let him peel it off of me. My bra came off next and I knew I should have been embarrassed, but I was concentrating more on sitting upright. A t-shirt was put over my head and my arms were pulled through where they needed to be.

"Can you stand?" Edward asked, and then pulled me to my feet when I nodded. I watched as he pulled down the covers, wishing I could do more than just stand there. He told me to crawl in, then pulled the covers over me.

"Don't fall asleep quite yet," he instructed, getting a nod from me. In a second he was back with more pills and some water. "Just some Tylenol to bring your fever down now that you've got your stomach under control." I swallowed them down.

The last thing I was aware of was him tucking the covers around me again and kissing me on the top of my head with a sigh.

Bella's dress:

tumbler (dot) com/xpu4hknob9

This actually happened to a friend of mine. She came down with the flu the night before her wedding. Yes, she was this sick and when she looks at her wedding pictures she laughs because she really does look miserable. Her poor groom just gently got her ready for bed, tucked her in, and spent his honeymoon giving her medicine.