Alright. The reception. This was way easier to write than the wedding itself.

Thanks to Chandrakanta for betaing this.

Lyrics for this chapter were chosen because Bella is very… distracted and filled with awe in this chapter. She can hardly believe that she is Edward's wife and she all she can see is Edward. The title is a collection of words from the lyrics below rather than a direct line itself. :)

~O~

A falling star fell from your heart

And landed in my eyes

I screamed aloud as it tore through them

And now it's left me blind

~O~

We were married.

I couldn't get over it, even as we finished with the photos as everyone ran the few miles to the reception, further away and deeper into the woods. Edward and I had decided that, though we didn't want to share where we'd first met, we wanted to as close as possible. We were already having our photos there, so it was the easiest solution.

I looked down at my rings in awe. They were proof of the union between Edward and I, a symbol of the love that was like a dream to me. Edward was the man of my dreams—literally—and I'd never thought that we would meet, let alone married.

As Edward cupped my cheek and I looked into his eyes, the flash we both ignored going off, I tried to come back to reality. I was floating on cloud nine, and from the look Edward gave me every time our eyes connected, he was the same.

I was his wife. I was Mrs. Edward Cullen.

I took a deep breath, a smile stretching slowly across my face and I blushed.

"Mrs. Cullen," Edward sang, wrapping his arms around my waist. "It's time to go to the reception…" he whispered in my ear, pressing soft kisses to it.

I looked up at him, laying my head back on his shoulder. When I breathed in, his scent infiltrated my senses and I sighed blissfully. "I'm your wife," was all I could say. It was still so… impossible to believe, and yet it was the truest fact I knew.

He beamed at me, his love for me so tangible I could feel it in my bones pouring out from his eyes. "Yes you are… and I'm your husband."

I smiled up at him, humming. "Oh, that sounds so good. My husband…" I trailed off, biting my lip as I looked up at him. "I love you so much."

"More than life itself," Edward whispered back before he let go of me. We both sighed. "Now as much as I want to keep you to myself, we can't. We still have the reception to go to."

"I don't know why receptions are common practice," I said to myself, taking his hand as we began a slow walk, prolonging our time alone together. We both knew that once we got back to where everyone is, we'd be expected to speak to all the guests and socialize… even though all we wanted was to disappear with each other.

"I agree," Edward said before he winced.

I frowned. "What?"

He chuckled, shaking his head to reassure me. "Nothing, my love. Everyone's just so very impatient to see us. Our photographer—"

"Yes, who was that, by the way?" I interrupted him. "You took care of all that, and you seemed to know them."

He nodded with a smile. "It was Kate. Kate Denali. She's a very good friend of the family's, and though a succubus, she's nothing like Tanya. She respects mated unions and marriage; she wishes for it herself, actually."

I nodded. She was indeed very nice. "That's good. I see that Tanya was there. Not that I mind, necessarily; she is family, and you said she was the head of the Denali coven, so really, she kind of has to be at the wedding if her coven members are there."

Edward sighed again and I looked up at him. He hesitated before explaining. "We might want to speed up a little."

I pouted and Edward groaned, mumbling something about "dangerous woman," swiftly pulling me against him to kiss me thoroughly. I hummed and smiled into the kiss at his ethereal taste, an addiction of mine since the first time we kissed. Edward released me too soon for my liking, but the look in his eyes was enough to make me grin as he pulled me close to him. He dropped his hold on me, only keeping his arm around my waist as we began to walk at a slightly quicker than normal—for humans, anyway—pace.

With vampire hearing being so good, just as we reached the little natural archway entrance, Carlisle, our designated MC, announced us. "Please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen."

I blushed as Edward looked down at me, kissing my lips softly before he led me through to where everyone was. I smiled as I quickly looked around; it was more beautiful than I'd hoped. With a regretful sigh and a look of love, we let go of each other. We knew that we needed to thank everyone for coming, even if we didn't like it.

But Edward still gripped my hand as both his parents and my parents came to us. We hugged them with one arm, unwilling to let go of each other just yet. Mom was a crying a little and she squeezed me hard, making Dad chuckle. I could hear much the same happening with Edward.

"We're proud of you, son," I heard Carlisle say and I smiled as Dad hugged me.

"We love you so much, Bell," he whispered in my ear. "You look beautiful… and so happy."

"I am," I told him quietly as he let me go. "I am so, so happy."

He nodded to himself. "Good," he replied gruffly before he turned in the direction of my husband with a nearly bouncing Renée in his arms. I laughed quietly to myself. Some things never change.

Carlisle and Esme were in front of me then. I smiled at them both, hugging them, and Esme was much like my mom—excited and emotional. Carlisle chuckled at my father before he said, "Thank you, Bella."

"For what?" I asked them, confused. What were they thanking me for?

"For loving Edward, for finding him, for completing him," Esme continued for him, a motherly smile on her face as she glanced at my mate. I did also, smiling as I saw him shaking my father's hand. "You don't know what he was like before you. He was so empty, he felt so alone. I worried that Carlisle had changed him too young, but I now know better. Now,why, he's like a whole other person. So happy and carefree all the time… and we have you to thank for that, dear." She grasped my hand in hers, squeezing it.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat. Edward sounded so much like me in Esme's description of how he was before we found each other. "Thank you, both of you. Esme, for… for being the mother he so needed during those years. And Carlisle, for changing him… without you, I wouldn't have him now and that…" I frowned at the thought, the lump in my throat aching as I looked at my husband. He was laughing with Renée now as she hugged him.

"We understand, dear," Carlisle said. "Now, I think we'd best be letting you move on to the others behind us. I doubt it's a good idea to monopolize the bride." He chuckled as Esme hugged me once more before they walked off.

I sighed, looking at my husband once more and smiling softly.

"Eyes off him," I heard Emmett say, chuckling. "You've got time to marvel at his perfection later." I looked just in time to see Rosalie get him good on the back of the head and he frowned, rubbing his head as she hugged me, ignoring her husband's mumbling.

"You look beautiful," she said quietly in my ear before leaning back. "Congratulations."

I nodded at her. "Thank you… for everything."

She laughed, waving me off. "That's what families do."

I nodded at her words before looking up at Emmett with a fake glare and a raised eyebrow.

He swallowed. "Lookin' fine, B," he told me and I blushed, which only embarrassed me. He chuckled before wrapping me up in one of his tight bear hugs. "Congrats, little sis."

"Thanks, Emmett," I said, shaking my head. Emmett really was a unique character. "Thank you as well, Rosalie." She smiled and nodded, taking her husband's hand as they walked over to Edward. I bit my lip as I watched them for a moment, knowing that Emmett was going to piss Edward off.

The growl I heard my husband release and the smack I heard not a second later confirmed that, and I snickered. Edward's head snapped around and when our eyes met, his softened as he smirked and raised an eyebrow. I blushed and looked away, to which he chuckled.

It was at that moment that something happened. My eyes found Tanya and I was shocked to find her staring at one of the guests. His hair was longer than my Edward's, and was a mix of dirty blond and dark brown. His red eyes were gazing at her just as intently, and I quickly identified him as one of my parents' friends, Alistair.

I was shocked, not because they were looking at each other, but because of the meaning and the intensity behind the look. As they inhaled deeply, perfectly in sync, and whimpered, my guess was solidified into an answer.

They had mated.

Suddenly, Tanya found my eyes and she swallowed. A small smile appeared on my lips and I nodded at her. She hesitated before smiling back at me, nodding as well, and then she and Alistair closed the distance between themselves.

Before I could see what happened next, the next two guests—also my parents' friends, nomads Mary and Garrett—got my attention and I took a deep breath before I engaged in conversation with them. My mind was still reeling.

The rest of the thank you's and congratulations moved on sluggishly, and I was relieved when Carlisle called our attention, and asked for everyone to sit down. We weren't having dinner, as no one hear ate food and it was impractical to serve blood as drinks for obvious reasons.

So next we had the speeches, and the best man—Carlisle—was first.

"I would like to propose a toast to Bella," he began. I blushed, and of course, a few chuckles resounded from the guests. I'd been blushing so much today… too much. "My son would not be the happy, carefree man he is now if it were not for you. I must thank you for not running away because of his slightly overbearing tendencies, ones that I am sure you have picked up on by now." He chuckled when I nodded, and I heard Edward moan in embarrassment. With a soft chuckle of my own, I clasped his hand and kissed his cheek.

"I wish you much happiness and an eternity filled with love," Carlisle finished. "To Bella, and of course, my son, Edward; Edward, I am so very proud of you."

He sat down then and Edward sighed before standing up, taking my hand now. "Thank you, Carlisle. I must thank you for your congratulations and your attendance. You have no idea how much more special it makes this day for both Bella and myself, so thank you for that." He turned to look at me then. "Bella, my life, my mate… I must thank you for loving me, for taking me as your husband. I am the happiest and luckiest man on earth, and I will cherish you forever. No amount of time with you will be enough for me… I am quite selfish, as you know… but let's start with eternity. I love you."

I swallowed and nodded. "I love you," I whispered and he leaned down to kiss me as everyone clapped.

"Thanks for that, Eddie," Emmett said and we stopped, Edward growling as he turned around to see his brother holding the microphone.

"Emmett, what are you doing?" he hissed quietly. "You're not supposed to-"

"Oh, shush," Emmett said, waving him off. "I just wanted to say congratulations once again, and I wish you all the happiness in the world. I love you both."

We sighed in relief as he handed the microphone back to Carlisle, which turned to horror when he snatched it back. "Also," he turned to me. "Bella, I hope you are well rested, because you're gonna need all the energy you can muster up." He chuckled to himself, turning to the guests. "And everyone else, these two will probably be unreachable after tonight, so let's leave them to each other. I'm actually surprised they're still here. We all know what first honeymoons are like. And I'll leave you with that thought, I think," he said, looking at Edward, who was glaring furiously at him. "Night, folks. Enjoy."

"I am going to kill you, Emmett," Edward growled under his breath. I was blushing furiously, my face bright red with embarrassment.

"Yes, well, thank you for that, Emmett," Carlisle said carefully.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. The first dance was next after that, and I cried with happiness, love and joy when Edward told me that the instrumental piano song we were dancing to was a piece he had composed and recorded himself, inspired by me. It was absolutely beautiful; the beginning was filled with a sadness and longing that we both had known all too well, but the rest was filled with happiness and love. I cried as he wrapped his arms around me, and we were off into our own world.

It was hard not to leave after that, but we were glad in the end that we didn't. What ensued for the hour that we stayed afterwards was the funniest thing I had ever seen. All I could say was that Emmett dancing was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever seen.

Never too soon, it was time for us to leave for our honeymoon and we were nearly vibrating at the thought of being alone. Edward had hidden the destination from me, much to my curiosity, but rather than be upset, I merely accepted it. There was always a reason for Edward's actions, and I knew that this was just another way for him to express his love.

"Emmett, really, you are dead," he growled as he stared at his car in horror. It was fixed up with all the typical 'just married' stuff that everyone had nowadays, and though I thought it looked quite funny, Edward was hardly amused. I heard him muttering something about paint jobs and ideal places to hide limbs, but I paid no attention to that.

We were showered with pink rose petals as we made our way to the car, and after hugging our parents once more, we climbed in and readied ourselves to leave.

Edward started the ignition and, hand in hand, we drove away and into our future.

I could not wait to see where we were going. Or to get Edward alone.

I have to say, I think this is my favourite chapter. What say you?

Please review and I'll see you tomorrow for the first honeymoon chapter (there's two of 'em). Yeah, you know what's coming!

bexie25