Author's Note:

This one is the last chapter I'll do this way. But… since the other one worked so well… I figured I'd gloss over the wedding plans as well . Hopefully it'll go as well as the other chapter I did like this.

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Chapter 13

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(January)

Bella sighed and let her head fall into her hands as she sat in the recliner. She'd been pouring over brochures for wedding venues in Port Angeles, Forks and even Seattle. Jared had given her free reign over the wedding planning, not having any idea what to do to help. He looked up from the show he'd been watching and smiled at her.

"What's wrong baby girl?" He cooed as he held his hand out to her in an open invitation.

She moved only long enough to walk from the chair to perch her body on top of his. "I'm getting a headache." She whined.

"My poor baby." He muttered against her lips. "Can I help at all?"

She smiled. "Do you WANT to help?" She teased him.

"I don't know how much help I'll be, but I don't want you stressed either." He told her.

Bella smiled and turned so she faced him with her knees on either side of his waist. Her arms wound around his neck and she grinned when he turned the TV off to give her his undivided attention. She rested her forehead against his and smirked when she heard his breath hitch after her hips shifted against his.

"Tease." He huffed with a smile on his lips.

She left a trail of kisses across the skin of his jaw up to his ear, nipping on his earlobe. "You like it."

Jared moaned and pulled her body tight against his. He smirked when she shivered in anticipation. His hands roamed her back, stopping at her skirt clad bottom to pull their hips flush together. Their lips met in a passion infused kiss, their tongues battling for dominance that she gave over to him.

"I want you." He growled in between kisses.

Bella moved her lips over his skin, pausing to tease the sensitive skin of his neck. She had found the spot on accident one of the times he'd given her free reign over him. She loved the way he bit his lip and clenched his eyes closed in an effort to keep quiet. If she teased him enough, she'd have him begging her to let him fuck her- begging her to ride him so he could watch her come undone above him.

Jared gasped, his dick hard as her hips wound seductively against his. "Please, baby girl. I need you." He moaned.

"Jay." Bella whispered.

Her hands moved down to the waistband of his jeans, making quick work of the button and zipper in order to free him from the confines of his prison. Smirking when he all but sighed in relief, her hands moved up his body under the shirt he wore to tug at his nipple ring- something she learned he loved.

Jared didn't give her an chance to protest as he ripped the thong she wore from her body and slid into the slick walls of her pussy. He smirked when she gasped and threw her head back in pleasure. He left tender kisses to the column of her neck before she looked at him and started to move. They moved slow and sweet against one another, neither wanting to rush. Jared showed her in his actions how much he loved her. He knew she wanted things perfect for their wedding, but he hated what it did to her- the stress she'd been putting herself under wasn't healthy.

Bella sighed and kissed him, a smile on her lips as they lay together on the couch afterwards. "Love you." She chimed, breaking the silence.

"Love you too, baby girl." He cooed. He huffed when a knock sounded on the door. "Can I tell them to go away?" He asked already knowing who it was.

Bella giggled and kissed him again. She stood and smoothed her skirt out, allowed him time to make himself presentable and made sure her thong was thrown away. When she opened the door, she couldn't help but release a groan of frustration. Emily and Leah stood in the doorway with magazines in hand waiting to help her plan.

"Kill me now." Was all she said as she let them in the door.

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(February)

Jared watched his phone dance across his work station, not phased too much that it was the fourth time in as little as twenty minutes that it had sounded. The client on his table smirked as he watched Jared's leg starting to bounce. He'd been sitting for an hour waiting for Jared to finish the tattoo- a picture of a snarling pit bull wearing a set of dog tags that had his unit and the date of his discharge from the marine corps- being inked into the skin of his shoulder. Jared eyed the phone again when it went off a few minutes later, failing to hide the grin on his face when he saw Bella's face on the screen as he got another text.

"Girlfriend?" The man asked.

Jared couldn't fault him his curiosity. The phone sat out in the open after all. He merely nodded. "My fiancée. I asked her to text me with options or decisions she and her friends made with our wedding."

The man was impressed. "You must love her to subject yourself to that." He teased.

Jared grinned. "I do. She's amazing." He said before focusing his attention back on the tattoo.

The man in question- a detective who'd just moved to the area from Seattle- grinned. "Hold onto her then. Never go to bed angry after a fight."

"You been married long?" Jared asked.

"About 14 years now. I married my girl right out of high school. Best move I ever made." He laughed.

Jared's phone went off again. Paul poked his head in with a smirk. "My sister bugging you yet?" He asked.

"Nope. I told her to text me. She knows I'll get back to her. I made her promise she'd text me even though I'm with a client." He said not looking up from his work.

Paul rolled his eyes. "I'll call her and see if Leah and Emily have been stressing her."

"Thanks Paul." Jared said with a smile.

The detective arched an eyebrow. "Your friends sister?" He asked with a teasing smile on his lips to show he meant no harm.

Jared chuckled. "Yeah. It was unexpected, but nowhere near unwelcome."

"Well, congratulations. Is that her?" He asked noticing a picture of the two on Jared's station. Paul had caught them unaware when they'd gone on a double date with he and Leah. Bella had her arms wrapped around his neck and his were around her waist. Their lips were pressed together in a sweet kiss while the wind whipped her hair around them.

"Yeah. That's my Bella." Jared grinned with pride in his voice.

The detective watched Jared refocus himself on shading in the tattoo he'd picked. The man had to admit, Jared was quick and skilled. He'd definitely be leaving him a tip if he could get away with it. His near sole minded focus on the task at hand reminded him of himself and his line of work.

It was a few minutes later when Paul walked back over to them. "I just got off the phone with the girls. They finally decided."

Jared arched an eyebrow but otherwise remained quiet. His focus was on his work and the detective had to smirk. The man was good. He made a mental note to send his friends their way for any future tattoos. He watched Paul, the bride's brother while Jared worked on his arm. He'd been texting someone, judging by the smile on his face, it was a girlfriend.

"Leah said, and I quote, 'tell Jared Bella's being kidnapped by me and Emily for a girls night out tonight- against her will since all she wants to do is stay inside and pout.' She also promised to have her home by 10." Paul said with a roll of his eyes.

Jared grinned. "Ok. I'll text her later. What colors did she choose?"

"Oh, um… horizon blue and silver. They're also going with the beach- finally. Uncle Billy said ok."

Jared smiled. "Five more months."

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(March)

Bella sighed and laced her fingers through Jared's as they made their way through Seattle traffic. She hated the city sometimes- she just hated the traffic. Her frown turned into a small smile when Jared gave her hand a light squeeze. His grandmother's ring gleamed in the light of the rare sunny day as they drove to meet his mother for lunch.

She'd asked to see them when they had a chance- she hadn't seen Bella since before her accident and she'd missed the woman who had stolen her son's heart. Jared had been leery of it at first, but he loved that his mom and Bella got along so well where she'd disliked Kim.

"What's wrong, Jay? You're frowning." Bella teased.

He grinned. "Just thinking. So much is different this time."

She knew what he had on his mind. He'd told her everything that happened between him and Kim- down to his mother never approving of her. She'd never hated someone she'd never met so much. "It will be." She promised bringing his hand to her lips and placing a gentle kiss to the back of it.

"It will be." He echoed. He knew that promise would be kept by both of them.

He pulled into the underground parking garage of his mom's apartment complex and sighed. He'd grown up here, but he still couldn't help but yearn for the quiet and easy way of life the reservation promised. He waited for Bella- who wanted to open and close her own car doors at least- before taking her hand in his. With a soft chuckle, he whisked her to the elevator that would take them up to the ground level.

Once they'd stepped inside the complex, they took another set of elevators and made their way to the seventh floor. His mother was one of four tenants on the uppermost level. Bella thought she was crazy. She hated heights.

"You okay baby girl?" He teased. He knew she didn't like heights.

Bella glared at him. "You're gonna get it later on tonight, Jay." She threatened.

Jared stopped them and pushed her against the wall. "Don't make promises you won't keep baby." He warned as he pinned her with one of his legs between hers. His lips drifted over her skin- teasing and playful- before he sucked a bruising kiss from her neck. He pulled away after a minute and grinned at his handy work.

Bella sighed and raised an eyebrow. "Was that necessary?"

"Took your mind off things, didn't it?" He said with a cocky grin.

She rolled her eyes and gave his arm a playful smack. She gasped when he hissed in pain. "Oh baby! I'm so sorry! I forgot!"

He'd had Sam ink in his latest tattoo- twin dragons entwined around an hourglass- into his left bicep. "It's fine. It just stung. Hey, I'm alright." He cooed when he saw her eyes well with tears.

"You promise? I hate hurting you." She smiled when he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Come on gorgeous. If my mom finds out I made you cry she'll tear into me. She loves you, you know." He said with a grin.

"I love her too! She's amazing." Bella told him.

Five minutes later found them sitting on the couch in the apartment Jared had once lived. "Oh look at you! You've healed well!" Linda cooed to Bella.

"Thank you Ms. Mason." Bella said with a sweet smile.

"Please, call me Linda. You know better than to be so formal." She quipped.

Bella smiled. "I know, I just… my dad would have a conniption fit if he heard it."

Linda smiled. "He's a good man. Speaking of which, have you chosen a song for the father-daughter dance yet?"

Bella smiled. "Yeah, but I'm kind of stuck for my step dad. And my mom, Paul and Hailey will be getting tribute songs to them- they just don't know it yet."

Linda smiled. "Well, I think that's sweet! If you need any help, let me know. I'll take some vacation time to come and help you." She said.

"I'd like that, if you're free. I don't want to intrude."

Jared sighed. His eyes rolled to the ceiling with a small smile on his face. 'Thanks grandma.'

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(April)

Bella grinned. She bounced in her seat as she waited for her mom, Hailey, Leah and Emily to arrive. She'd been up since six in the morning- on a Saturday no less- and she'd been ready to leave since eight. She'd found her dress online and had asked that it shipped to the closest store near her as she could get.

Lucky for them, a David's Bridal store stood just fifteen minutes away by car. Jared shook his head and watched her. He'd woken up to the entire apartment nearly gleaming. He knew her mom would be in town and braced himself for the whirlwind that was Renee Dwyer.

"You gonna be gone all day long baby?" He wondered.

"Not sure. Leah and Emily need to find their bridesmaid dresses and I know Hailey said she wants something to wear too. Mom said she's got something in mind, but she wants to look just in case." She said with a roll of her eyes.

He laughed and watched her dance around the kitchen putting dishes away. When she passed close enough to him, he reached out and pulled her into his lap. He grinned when she squealed in surprise. "Gotcha." He whispered against her lips.

Bella grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yeah. You do." She murmured before kissing him.

A throat clearing from the kitchen doorway had them both turning their heads. Paul and Sam snickered at the annoyed frowns that marred their faces. Paul rolled his eyes and shook his head. He held his phone out to show them the four missed calls from Bella's mom.

"Oh shit! She's there already!" Bella hissed before jumping up and rushing to the bedroom.

Jared sighed and let his head drop backwards to look towards the ceiling. "Why… just why!" He muttered.

Sam smirked. "Come on Jay. Let's go to work and get a few things done. The girls should be back by then."

"Should be. Baby girl, I'm leaving." He called.

Bella ran out of the bedroom ready to go. She hugged each of them and headed down to her car. It took her five to find a parking place and head inside once she'd reached the bridal shop. She rushed into her mom's arms and hugged her tight.

"You're early!" Bella scolded her mom.

Renee shrugged. "It's not everyday your only daughter marries the man of her dreams."

Bella grinned. "yeah… you wanna see my dress?"

"Of course!" Renee said, her excitement echoing Bella's.

The sales associate took them back to see Bella's dress- as well as four or five more dresses they had waiting. She told them they always did that, just in case the bride tried the dress on and decided she didn't like it. It wasn't ten minutes later that Hailey, Leah and Emily made an appearance. They'd hit traffic on the way up, but the irritation left them when they saw the dresses.

"Ok, Bella. Dazzle us!" Leah teased.

Bella smiled and followed the sales associate to the changing room. Her dress was floor length, strapless and lightweight. The bodice had a strip of flowers to decorate it. With it, she paired a long sleeved, lace jacket; The effect left her stunned. It was gorgeous. They gushed over the beauty of it and had to agree that Bella had found the perfect dress- on the first try no less.

After another hour of shopping, Leah and Emily found their dresses as well, as had Renee and Hailey. The sales associate took her measurements and made an appointment for her to come back one more time before the wedding. The girls grinned and thanked her before heading over to see Jared, Paul and Sam. Things had been coming together well and all that she had left was to decide what the type of invitations and which food they wanted to serve at the reception. It could wait. Bella wanted to relax.

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(May)

Bella and Jared smiled and thanked the man in front of them for holding the door to let them pass. Emily had told them about a cute, local scrap booking store- Pictures In Time- where she'd found her wedding invitations. They offered a wide variety and Emily had fallen in love with the place, swearing by the managers professionalism. The girl working behind the counter eyed the couple as they entered the store- at least she saw Jared- before frowning when she saw Bella's ring. Bella couldn't help the smug smile that flitted over her lips. The manager may have been professional, but the girl behind the counter didn't have a clue about customer service.

"Behave." Jared whispered. He'd seen the smile too.

Bella arched an eyebrow. "I didn't do anything." Her voice at least sounded innocent.

"Okay baby girl." He teased. He secretly loved how possessive Bella got sometimes. She wasn't loud about it like Kim had been. Bella was subtle and would come over and slide her hand up his chest so that her ring showed if a girl got too handsy. He had to quell a groan. It turned him on- he could admit that much.

"Come on Jay. Emily said they'd be over here." Bella said pulling him away. She slid her arm around his waist and her hand into his back pocket as they walked.

Jared couldn't help but snort in amusement. "And you said I was the possessive one." He teased.

"I don't know what you're talking about baby. I'm walking beside you." She said with a knowing and teasing glint in her eyes.

"Mhm. And the sun's shining outside too." He quipped with a playful grin.

Bella giggled. "She needs to know you're taken. I'm just not going to cause a scene." She sniffed.

"I love you." He whispered before turning to look at the different invitations.

Bella smiled. "Love you too Jay."

Jared grinned and held up a silver card stock invitation with a dark blue solid line running around the border. "What about this baby? These are close to our colors right?"

"Baby! It's prefect!" She said with a grin.

Jared grinned and noticed the girl behind the counter glowering at Bella. "No babe, you are." He said before swooping down to give her a sound kiss. He was hers as much as she was his. Just two more months to go and the whole world would know it.

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(June)

Bella stepped out of the bathroom in a black halter dress and walked over to Leah. She turned and lifted her hair out of the way. "Hey, zip this up for me please?"

Leah's eyes widened. "Holy HELL! Where'd you get this?!" She crowed.

The dress had three stripes on each side that had been cut out and it stopped mid thigh. The neckline showed enough of her cleavage to be sexy, but still covered enough to be classy at the same time. "I found it in 5.7.9 the other day." She grinned.

Leah eyed her again. "You sure you'll be able to get away with that? I know you. You hate getting attention from guys most of the time."

Bella smirked. "Yeah, but… Jay's gonna be there. It's one of the reasons we wanted to share the parties. Tonight though, we're all going out to relax. It's been a long few months. Jared even said that we could all use some downtime away from the wedding planning to just have fun." She said zipping her 4 inch stiletto ankle boots.

Leah eyed her again and shook her head. She pulled her own boots on while Emily finished her makeup. They'd dressed similar; Both wore pleated, plaid mini skirts, however Leah wore a dark green halter top while Emily wore a frosted pink halter one instead. All three of them wore their hair up, knowing full well the club would be hot inside with all the bodies in such close proximity to each other.

The drive to the club took them no time at all. They'd been there so often that the bouncers knew them by sight and let them cut through the lines to be among the first into the building. Leah sent a text to Paul and grinned when her phone vibrated back not three minutes later. Paul had sent her a patented S.O.S.

"They're over by the bar. It's time to show off that little black dress, Bella. Paul just sent me an S.O.S" Leah grinned.

Emily's phone vibrated in her hand. She snickered and showed them Sam's S.O.S. as well. "Jared's quite the looker tonight, huh."

Bella's eyes flashed with possessiveness. "Jared is off limits." She growled following her friends to the bar. She glared when she saw the girls standing on either side of him. Paul and Sam smirked when they saw their girls sauntering over to them. Paul nodded his head towards them and Jared sighed in relief. He moved one of the girls hands from his person again before turning to see his gorgeous fiancée glaring daggers at the two. Things would definitely be interesting tonight.

It took Leah, Emily and Bella just under two minutes to stake claims of their respective partners. It wasn't too long after that Bella had Jared in a darkened corner on the dance floor with her. Their bodies pressed flush together with her back to his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist and her arms wrapped around his neck while her head rested on his shoulder. They'd gotten lost in their own world as they moved to the beat of the pounding bass.

"My beautiful fiancée." He moaned when she pushed her bottom against him, teasing him with her body.

"Yours." She purred before pulling him down to kiss her.

Jared's eyes widened when she pushed his hands just below the hem of her dress. He looked down at her, saw the smirk on her lips and pulled her further into the corner. His questing fingers moved higher and he let out a groan when he realized she wasn't wearing anything under her dress.

"You're trying to kill me before you have my last name aren't you?" He wondered.

She smiled. "No. just trying to tell you what you'll have later tonight."

Jared sighed and titled his head back in a silent prayer to whatever deity chose to listen. "One more month, Bella. Are you sure you're ready to be mine?"

She smiled at him. "More than I ever have been in my life." She promised with desire dancing in her eyes.

"Fuck it. We're leaving. I need you. Now." Jared growled. He sent Paul and Sam a text telling them he'd see them tomorrow and started to pull Bella out to his car.

"Wait. I'll be back ok?" She grinned. She found Leah, handed her the keys to her car and told her if anything happened to her baby, Leah would be buried before she could say 'sorry'.

Bella and Jared left then. They made it home in record time and took full advantage of the quiet. She had been honest. She'd been counting down the days until she could call Jared her husband.