Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, I get a few child free hours today!
Thanks to MeteorOnAMoonlessNight for being my beta, and giving me her opinion when I need it!
-SMT-
I raised my hand above my head, admiring my ring and smiling like I did most mornings now. If someone would have told me a year ago that I would be lying here in bed next to the man of my dreams, my fiancé, no less, I probably would have laughed in their face. I'd had nothing going for me, or at least that was how it had felt. I was a single mom struggling with anxiety and depression all while trying to provide a better life for my son. I had never expected to be happy again, I had just expected to simply be. And I had definitely never expected Edward.
It was the middle of April and we had been engaged for a little over 4 months now, and our wedding date was fast approaching. We had decided on a May wedding, during the school's Spring break. We were going to be married on a Sunday, and then after that we would be leaving on our honeymoon for a week. Edward's parents had been kind enough to gift us with a trip to the Bahamas.
To some, it may have made more sense to wait and get married in the summer, but Rose was due in the middle of August and I wanted to be able to throw her a baby shower and to help her and Emmett get everything settled for the arrival of their little boy.
"Good morning, sweet girl," Edward said, his voice still thick with sleep as he pulled me against him. I snuggled in close, breathing in his scent. He never really wore cologne, but he always just had this masculine scent about him.
"Did you just sniff me, baby?" he asked, chuckling.
I laughed softly. "Sorry, you just always smell so good."
"We've been living together for about 5 months now, Bella. You know I don't always smell good." He grinned and kissed me on the cheek.
"Hush, you know what I meant," I told him. He wasn't exactly wrong though, you definitely learned everything about someone when you lived together.
"What's on your agenda today, baby?" he asked.
"I have to go in for my final dress fitting with, Rose, Alice, and your mom." I sighed.
"Are you going to be okay?" He sat up a bit, looking down at me.
"Yeah, I'll be alright. I really wish my mom could be there though, you know?" I said, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I was still in therapy, and my heart would still ache when I thought about my mom at times. Especially on days like this. I was learning how to cope with these feelings though. The ache was never going to go away, but it was starting to lessen. I still had irrational fears when anyone I loved got sick, but I was also learning how to put them into perspective and to stop and think about why I was feeling the way that I was. Slowly but surely, I was coming together.
He kissed my lips softly. "I know, baby. Try and make it a great day though, that's all she would have wanted for you."
I smiled softly and whispered, "I know."
-SMT-
It was mid-morning when I picked Rose up from her house, and we headed over to the bridal shop where Alice and Esme were waiting for us.
Before we walked into the shop, Rose stopped me. "Bella, I just want you to know how happy I am for you. There's a light in your eyes that hasn't been there… maybe it never really was there before. You deserve to be happy and so much more, and I just know how proud Dad and I are of you, and I know that Mommy is so proud of you, too," she said, pulling me in as tight to her as she could with her pregnant belly in the way.
I wiped at my eyes and looked at her. "Thank you, Rose," I said, putting my hand on her belly. "We're all so proud and happy for you, too. I love you."
"Love you, too, Bells. Now come on, from what I know of Alice and Esme, they've probably already found dresses for 10 other brides while they were waiting."
"God, the poor sales women. Lets go." I laughed, and we stepped inside the store.
"Rose! Bella! Oh, I just can't wait to see how your dress looks on you now that it'll be fitted perfectly!" Alice said with a clap of her hands, rushing over to us and enveloping me and then Rose in a hug.
Esme made her way over to us a bit more calmly. "Bella, I'm so happy to see you, honey," she said, wrapping her arms around me, and then turned to Rose. "Oh, Rose! You just look adorable, may I?" Esme asked, reaching out her hand toward Rose's belly.
Rose smiled. "Be my guest," she said and Esme placed her hand on her stomach. "This just brings back so many memories of when I was pregnant with Edward and then Alice. Try and enjoy all the parts you can, it goes by so fast!"
I watched them both, so happy to see how far my sister had come with accepting this pregnancy. She and Emmett were going to be amazing parents.
"Okay, come on guys! We have to get this bride ready!" Alice said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the alterations department.
-SMT-
I stood in the mirror, staring at my reflection. We weren't having a big wedding, just our families and our good friends, but Edward told me that I could have anything I wanted for it. There wasn't much that I wanted, except for the perfect dress. I hadn't been in love with my dress the first time I was married. I had liked it, but that was as far as it had gone. This time though, I loved it, and I was allowing Edward to do this for me. The dress wasn't cheap, but rarely did I spoil myself.
It was long and flowy. The underlay was a light blush color and laid on top of it was an overlay of ivory lace. The bodice nipped in my waist and was embroidered in a similar pattern to the lace on the skirt. The sweetheart neckline was flattering, and showed just enough cleavage. Even I had to admit that this dress made me look amazing.
"Come on, Bella! Show us already!" I heard Rose say from behind the curtain.
"Okay! I'm ready," I said, and the seamstress who had helped me into the dress pulled the curtain open and I stepped forward.
Rose gasped. "Oh, Bella…"
"You look amazing!" Alice smiled.
Esme had yet to say anything, and when I looked over to her, I saw that her eyes were shining with unshed tears. "Bella…" she said quietly, "you look so beautiful, honey. I didn't want to get overly emotional today, but I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for loving my son. Edward has always been a good man, but you make him so much...more." She stood up and walked over to me, hugging me tightly.
"He means everything to me, Esme," I said quietly as I returned her hug, holding back my own tears. I couldn't wait to be his wife.
-SMT-
After dropping Rose off at her house, I headed home. When I walked in, I found Edward and Riley sitting on the floor in the living room with a pile of cars, trucks, and race tracks spread out before them. I stood in the archway, just watching them and taking in the scene before me.
Edward looked up, noticing me, but I put my finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet. It was so rare that I got the chance to just sit back and watch Riley play.
Edward grabbed another section of race track and started to put it together when Riley grabbed it from him. "No, Dad. Don't like it," he said, and Edward stopped what he was doing, glancing at me wide-eyed and then back at Riley.
"What did you say, Riley?" Edward asked.
"No, Dad! Don't like it," he repeated himself and showed Edward the track in his hand.
"Alright," Edward said, letting out a breath. I was sure he was trying to will himself not to cry. "Show Dad how you want it then."
Riley took the pieces and got to work building the track the way that he wanted. I walked over and sat down next to them, making my presence known.
"Hi! Did you have a fun day with Dad?" I asked Riley. I wanted to make sure that I kept encouraging him to use the name. James hadn't taken the time to call or visit since Riley's birthday, and he no longer deserved the title. It was all Edward's now.
"Yes, Mom," Riley replied.
"Oh good! Can you tell me your favorite part?" I kissed the top of his head.
"I played Mario." I should have known, that was always a good day for Riley.
"Did Dad play, too?" I smirked at Edward, even his own father was better at most video games than he was. It just wasn't his thing.
"Yes, I won!" Riley told me.
"Oh, I had no doubt about that!" I laughed, and Edward growled playfully, pulling me into a hug and kissing me on the cheek.
"That's okay. I'll just score later," he whispered in my ear at my shocked expression. I was so thankful that Riley couldn't hear him, not that he'd have understood anyway.
"I can't believe you just said that!" I said quietly.
He grinned, standing up and heading towards the kitchen. "Well, it's true. I'm starving! Does anyone else want pizza?" he called back to us.
"Yes!" Riley exclaimed, and ran off to follow Dad into the kitchen.
-SMT-
We were laying in bed that night, I was curled up beside him, and his arms were wrapped around me tightly.
"He called me 'Dad', Bella. I didn't know if he was ever going to call me that." I had been waiting all evening for this conversation.
"He's a smart boy, Edward. He might not be able to always form the words that he needs, but he knows what you are to him." I wriggled out of his arms and sat up, looking down at him. "James was his dad for a few years, but you're going to be his dad forever. There isn't a better man for the job than you."
He reached over and pulled me down on top of him, kissing me deeply. "Thank you, Bella, for Riley, for loving me, for everything," he said softly, hugging me to his chest.
I breathed in his scent just like I had this morning. We were both so lucky. I couldn't wait for these next couple of weeks to fly by. I was beyond ready to be Mrs. Cullen.
A/N: Hi Friends! I think most of you can probably tell that we're starting to wind down here a bit with these two. There are two regular chapters left after this one, and I am working on a future take as well. As always, I appreciate every review, and I'm thankful to you all for giving me a chance and taking the time to read my very first story. I adore all of you so very much!