Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or My Sister's Keeper
Author's Note: All dresses in profile
"Our wrangling lawyers . . . are so litigious and busy here on earth, that I think they will plead their clients' causes hereafter, some of them in hell." - Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy--Democritus to the Reader
EPOV – 2 Weeks Later
"Give it." Emmett demands with an outstretched hand.
"I think you've had enough." Jasper intones and keeps the silver flask pressed against his chest.
"One more." The groom begs, his childish face pleading.
"One." His best man mutters. Emmett retrieves the flask heartily and shamelessly guzzles its contents.
"Wait," He mumbles incoherently and evades Jasper's oncoming hand. "Be a good man."
"You're cut off." He shoots for the whiskey but fails as Emmett maneuvers.
"Oh come on. The poor sap is getting married," I yawn and imperturbably fidget with my cufflinks. "Let him get his final drinks in before he condemns himself to the last, legal form of slavery."
"Edward," Emmett begins to guffaw. "Is so correct." He brings the flask back to his lips and uses his raised shoe to fend off Jasper. Jazz smacks the underside of his loafer, causing a sputtered laugh from Emmett and a bark from Sam.
"I was not this bad on my day." Jasper rolls his eyes.
"I'll be." I joke and slouch into the embroidered chair.
"No you won't," He refutes with a glance. "You love Bella."
"I do." I confirm.
"Are you going to propose to her?" He asks while mitigating against Emmett, who now how both legs in the air.
"We'll see," I smile coyly. "I do love her. Very much. However, I'm not sure if these things should be rushed… maybe we'll wait ten years," I chuckle to myself. Ah, a self inside joke. "Although that would be ridiculous because we'd be cheating ourselves out of tax breaks for a decade."
Jasper laughs. "Ten years? Such an Edward response."
"I'm putting money you want to wait until that cast comes off." Emmett booms and I raise an eyebrow.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you need to look sharp and dapper on your Big Day, you sexy thing." He winks at me and I chuckle.
"You're so bestial," I tease. "I'll marry Bella if she'll have me as her husband." I murmur, evading a direct answer. Sam trots over to me and I pat his head.
"Then propose to her." Jasper muses.
"I'm poor." I joke.
"Right, because you essentially own half this city." We laugh in unison.
"See, Cullen is good like that. He does love Bella, he's just being evasive," Emmett shakes a finger while guzzling. "I can't say the same for myself."
"You're just a buffoon. We both know you love Rosalie." Jasper grunts as Emmett kicks his palm.
"Yeah, I do." He screws the lid back onto the flask and tosses it at him.
"Good. You'll be marrying her in a half hour." I grin and prop my legs onto another chair.
"Agh," He moans. "I love her but I'm not too inclined to the whole ball and chain deal. My freedom, my liberty!"
"Well you proposed to her." Jasper scowls and plops into the seat next to mine.
"Yes. Because I want to marry her."
"You're vacillating." Jazz points out.
"Leave it be," I scratch the back of my neck. "This is Emmett we're discussing. His logic will lead us nowhere."
Both men guffaw. "Truth."
"Essentially." He shrugs with a glinting beam.
"So what now?" I torpidly prop my elbow onto the arm of the chair.
"We count down the minutes until I am no longer a free man." Emmett grins.
"It's not so bad," Jasper mimics my position on the chair and unscrews the flask's lid. He takes a swig. "Are you going to have children?"
"That's a million dollar question," Emmett throws his tie over his right shoulder. "I don't know."
"Have you discussed it?" Jazz questions and offers me the flask. I wave him off.
"Not really," Emmett sighs. "I suppose I wouldn't mind popping a few. I grew up in a big family."
"Does she want them?"
Emmett roars with laughter. "Of course. This is Rosalie. She probably feeds me alien supplements to up my sperm count."
"Then she's going to retire from modeling." I absentmindedly flick the plaster of my cast.
"Only if she gets pregnant." Emmett corrects.
"Your tiny Irish babies running around… That'll be the day." Jasper sighs.
"I'll make an army."
"I think we should brainstorm their children." I grin.
"Beautiful. Brawny. Intelligent. Nobel Peace Prize recipients." Emmett declares.
"Beautiful – only if they had Rose's looks." Jasper muses.
"Concurred." I intone nonchalantly.
"Assholes." He chuckles.
"Well, gentlemen, we have brainstorming to do. So, what is Rose? German? Swiss? She can't be that naturally blonde unless she's either of the two." I cup my neck.
"Uh, German? I think."
"You think?"
"I'm pretty sure her last name is old, old Germanic. Hale? Yeah? Let's go with that." He shrugs and I raise my eyebrows.
"I'm astonished you know this much." I muse and he flips the finger.
"Of course, I do." He chuckles heartily.
"Then your children will either be very blonde, very freckled or very, very, very impressive drinkers with that mixture of Irish and German blood."
"I'm going to train them."
"To drink?" Jasper laughs.
"Yes. They'll have training sessions in the backyard. I can see it now: Rose doing whatever it is Moms do and I, the grand and all powerful teacher and ruler of drinking games, passing my skills unto my kin."
"You're absurd," I shake my head in laughter. "But that's so typical."
"Edward thinks I'm joking," Emmett directs to Jasper. "Why don't we discuss what his and Bella's kids will be like?"
"Smart." Jazz issues.
"Not as good as drinking as mine." Emmett declares.
"I may not hold marathons in my backyard, but I'll teach them a thing or two."
"Not if you're married to Bella."
I throw my head back in hilarity. "Too true."
"If you have a daughter, can I teach her how to truly experience high school?" Emmett fires the rhetorical question.
"I won't bother wasting my breath on that."
"If you let her out of the house." Jasper yawns and Emmett grins.
"I can't wait. Please have a daughter so I can corrupt her."
"Piss off."
"He already has that one girl. His client." Jasper drums his fingers against the flask, the metal reverberating softly.
"It's not the same. I need his daughter to hide under my wing."
I pause. "I'm trying to think of something sardonic and caustic to rebuttal with, but what makes you so certain I'm going to have children? Or marry Bella at all?"
Jasper and Emmett exchange glances. "Good one, Edward."
"What?"
"That's humorous. Really, bravo. You should consider a profession in the comedic field."
"Bella and I haven't even discussed children." I refute.
Emmett slouches in the grandiose ivory seat. "Yeah you're right, Jazz. They'll be too smart. Good, keep them away from my kids. They don't need your spawn's influence."
"I love how my unborn children have been demoted to spawn."
"Y'all are being ridiculous –" Jasper impedes.
"Thank you, Jasper."
"It's apparent Annabel trumps your children." He continues.
"Oh, well she destroys Emmett's to quite a degree. She's my niece, of course I would agree to some extent. However, she'll have to settle for silver." I grin.
"So you admit you'll have children." Jasper snaps his pallid fingers.
I sigh. "Alice would want Annabel to have play dates, wouldn't she?"
"And who would the mother be?" Jazz grins and I scowl elusively.
"What background are you, Edward?" Emmett asks and I chuckle.
"Surely my name is the prime example of an Anglo-Saxon origin."
"Obviously, but you can't be entirely English."
"I'm also French." I muse.
"Really? Did you know that, Jazz?" Emmett raises his eyebrows.
"I'm married to his sister, you ingenious creature." After exchanged chuckles, Jasper and I turn back to the baffled groom.
"My mother dropped the accent in her name." I explain.
"What?"
"Traditionally, there is an accent above the second e. Esmé." I twist my forefinger through the air, tracing an invisible accent aigu.
"So your Fritalienglish children will be better than mine?" He languorously crosses his ankles. "I think not."
"Well discuss this another time." I scowl and innocuously avert my glance to the door. There are two sharp raps against the stained glass, and it is Jasper who reaches the thick, mahogany door.
"Yes?" He issues, his Southern drawl inconspicuously wafting.
"Is Emmett in here?" A chiseled, older, haggard man lumbers in past Jasper's shoulder. Yet with him follows a cloud of rigidity. The splay of pepper and dark brown curls, the lines of decades worth of fossilized laughter lining his eyes indicate that this is the father of the jester we've grown to adore.
When he strides in, an unnamed emotion streaks across Emmett's face. "Hey Pop." He greets in a hollow tone and rises to grasp his father's hand.
"Emmett," He greets with a shake and an empty smile. He dons a deep blue suit with polished penny loafers. "Boy, I gotta tell you, congratulations. Never thought I'd see the day." The father splays a wary grin.
"Proved you wrong." Emmett chuckles strangely, placing his hands on his hips before the aged, vapid version of himself.
"I mean," The older version stuffs his hands into his pockets and issues a strained, piercing whistle. "What a keeper."
"I know, Pop." Emmett's eyes twinkle at the thought of Rosalie. There is a bit of a silence as the two men shuffle uncomfortably in front of the other, avoiding eye contact.
"So, how've you been?" The elder finds the paint job of the ceiling to be particularly fascinating.
"Good… Yes, I've been good," Emmett responds in an odd tone. "And you?"
"I've been fine." He continues to gaze at the ceiling.
"Been taking care of yourself, Dad?" He fidgets with his collar.
"As well as someone can take care of themselves." He shrugs.
"Oh. I'm sure that… Nevermind." Emmett trails and finally brings himself to gaze at his haunted father.
"So, I got a glimpse of Rose." He evades.
"And?" Emmett smiles, half-strained, half-genuine.
"She's a pretty little lady. I'm proud that my boy is marrying a fine woman like that." There is a rouse of chuckles around the room, yet the tension resurfaces. And then more silence.
"Your mother would have been proud too." The graying Emmett Sr. finally murmurs. All twinkling ceases. The mood stirs and the younger of the two scarcely tilts his head upward then back down. There are no more jesters in the room.
"Yeah." Emmett's mouth opens as far as one word would be allowed. The space between his lips mashes shut hardly an eye's blink after the beat of the word. The subsequent silence permeates the canvas awaiting the splattered words of conversation, creating a haze of tension.
Before the haze settles, I clear my throat. "Hello, Sir. I'm Edward Cullen." I display an affable smile as I redirect Emmett from the embrace of melancholy affairs on his wedding day.
Under alternate lighting, some of the lines around his eyes now appear as repercussions of perpetual fatigue. "Huh? Oh, hello Edward," His father snaps out of a quasi trance, nods and grips my outstretched hand. "Say, what happened to your arm there?" His wandering, glazed eyes finally graze my cast. Emmett shoots me a grateful glance; one of the intermittent occasions I will end up seeing him exhibit this echelon of vulnerability.
"I was in an automobile accident a few months back…"
"Right. That's right. You're that lawyer." He grunts and looks me in the eye, although this man is not truly there. Sam whines as I shift.
"Hey, Pop. I like your suit. It's nice." Emmett intercedes. His father vacuously glances down at the lapels of his jacket and smoothes them once, twice.
"Oh, well, you know. Heidi got it for me." He responds and wipes a hand across his line-caked eyes.
"Oh." Emmett issues simply, wrinkling his nose slightly.
"How is she?" Jasper plasters on a prosthetic smile, following my lead in reining conversation from evidently unwelcome topics.
"What?" Emmett's father looks up. "Oh. Good. Yeah, she's good, Jasper." He mutters, partially distracted.
"Good to hear," Jasper presses his lips together and nods once. "Is she here?" Emmett Sr.'s eyes snap to attention and flicker briefly with an unknown emotion.
"Oh. Yes. She's outside. I figure it'd be better if she went and found a seat already." He abstractly scuffs the heel of his loafer against the wooden trimming of the room.
"Good idea." Emmett strains his normally natural amicability. Jasper and I exchange apprehensive glances. Another layer of silence falls across the room and the four of us all avert our gazes elsewhere.
"I think I'll find her," His father finally says. "I'll wait outside to escort you... I'm proud of you, Em." The latter is said tenderly yet sadly. I wonder to myself how infrequently his accumulated laugh lines are utilized.
"Thanks." Emmett murmurs. The older version opens his mouth to speak once more, but no words come out. Another moment of silence, and the physical equivalent of Emmett turns on his heel before shutting the door behind him.
He sighs and closes his eyes. "You okay?" I question, concerned with the stone-faced Emmett before me.
"I'm fine." He mutters and warily runs a hand through his plethora of curls.
"Are you sure?" Jasper demands.
"I said I'm good." He growls, opens his eyes and slumps back down into the ivory seat.
"How about a drink?" I intone cheerfully and Emmett glances up at me.
"Works for me," He sits up straighter, reigniting a spark; that spark of humor Emmett carries. He catches the silver flask and takes a swig. "Christ," He wipes his mouth and the spark dies once more. "You know what? I wish Heidi didn't come. She's the biggest joke of a trophy wife I've ever seen. I wouldn't let her escort me. Ever." He spits bitterly.
"This is your day, Emmett." I remind sternly.
"Right," He closes his eyes and sighs. "She just… I have nothing wrong with my Dad… I…It's she…" He runs a hand through his tangle of curls. "I just sometimes think how badly my Mom would resent him for remarrying."
"I'm sorry..." I stare hard at my shoes. They're polished. Glossy. There's a creased line near the seam on the right one, despite the fact they're brand new. They were expensive. They nearly distract me, until I notice the reflection of my chagrin.
"I mean, would you remarry if Bella died? Alice?" He chokes a laugh. Prosthetic and fake, ringing through the room before you wonder if it's real. A cartoon laugh. "I wouldn't if it were Rose. Especially not if my child was five," He spits and abruptly stands from the seat. "He tries to forget she's dead. But you can't forget, even if you're screwing and proposing to the gold digging neighbor four months later. Life commitment my ass."
"Emmett –"
"Stop." He growls. Jasper and I stand astonished, finally witnessing the rare bulldozer effect which ultimately took Seattle's liveliest joker down. There is a silence.
"Well shit," Emmett smacks his lips and tosses the flask at Jasper. "I've got a girl to commit to for life out there. Are you two coming, or what?"
…………
"He was quite accurate on the whole ball and chain situation." Jasper snickers into my ear. We direct our attention to Emmett's face, just as Wagner's March rings on. A thousands balls and a thousand chains bind this man to his evident love and infatuation for his future wife, several strides away. Emmett's eyes are pools of affection, his mouth unhinged. All evidence of his familial tiff earlier has disappeared from the vicinity. A wave of low chuckles washes over the audience as we all glance back at the awaiting groom.
"The poor bastard." I mutter and Jasper sniggers. Rose, in a sea of ruffled white, glides forward. She clenches her bouquet and peers out from under her eyelashes, through the mesh of her ivory veil. I glance across the altar at Bella, who stands modestly as a Maid of Honor. I catch her eye and she briefly flashes me a gorgeous smile. Alice stands behind her, Annabel in an interwoven basket of white and gold.
"Hi." I mouth to Bella across the altar.
She glances around before mouthing "Hey." Rose places a foot onto the first step as the organ continues.
"You look beautiful." I enunciate each word meticulously, ensuring she understands my silent comment.
"Thanks." She laughs silently, angelically. "You look handsome."
"Thank you." I wink and she blushes a shade of pink. Rose now reaches the top of the steps and aligns herself across from an emotional Emmett. The priest thumbs his way through his book.
"Dearly beloved," He booms. "We are gathered here today to witness the joining matrimony of Emmett Paul McCarthy and Rosalie Lillian Hale." Emmett grins as he gently peels the veil from Rose's face.
"Guess what?" I mouth over to Bella, who, after glancing at Emmett and Rose, tilts slightly so she can view me better.
"What?" She muses with depth in her chocolate eyes.
"I love you." A twinkle appears in those eyes before she bites her lip and ducks her head.
"Mr. McCarthy," The priest impedes. "Would you please say your vows?" He gestures with his hand and Emmett clears his throat. He pulls out a crumbled sheet of paper, laden with an abundance of black cross-outs and scribbles. After smoothing the creases of his vows, he briefly meets Rose's gaze and commences.
"Rosalie Lillian Hale," Emmett inhales and continues gazing in the shining eyes of his bride-to-be. "You should probably know by now that I'm crazy about you. There is nothing I don't adore about you. I love the way you crinkle your nose when you sneeze. I love the way you obsessive compulsively keep your things on the right side of the bathroom. I love the way you can light up a room with that model contract smile of yours," He pauses to grin. "I love the way you bare your teeth when you smack me on the backside of the head. And I love how you make me a better person. I had no idea I could feel this way about someone, even if you did chase me around with a spatula because I accidentally set your favorite shirt on fire," There is a round of low chuckles from the attendees. "Also, it kind of really sucks that Bella moved out because she was a killer cook, but babe! Babe, you're just as good," Rose smiles through narrowed eyes. "What aren't you good at? I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, even if it means I'll be old and decrepit while you're still running around the nursing home staging a coup. So this is my ode to you, my sweet Goddess, and I hope you'll be mine until the end of time, or at least until we're victims of the zombie apocalypse. Even then, I won't blow your head off."
Rosalie emits a silent giggle as she rolls her eyes. The attendees are chuckling within their sleeves, including Jasper and I. Bella and Alice exchange amused glances as Emmett continues to beam. Even the priest appears partially amused.
"And you, Ms. Hale?" He turns to Rosalie with composure. She retrieves her vows, which is folded neatly and meticulously. After unfolding the four squares, she closes her eyes and sighs deeply.
"Emmett Paul McCarthy, I will say it point blank: you are an imbecile," Emmett grins, his brown eyes crinkling. "However, you are the smartest imbecile I know, and not only that, you are my imbecile. I remember the first time I met you. It was a Friday night, three years ago, and I thought you were the sorriest sap I'd ever seen. When you approached my table, reeking of alcohol, I figured oh boy. But I went out with you regardless, and I'll be truthful here: that's because I thought you had the cutest dimples I'd ever seen. It's the dimples. Thank your genes for that," The audience chuckles lightly and Emmett continues to grin. "Ah, but I need to be serious here. No matter how silly you are, the fact of the matter is that I'm in love with you. Not only are you my soul mate, you are my best friend as well. It's a complete package deal: I'm in love with my closest friend. The person who knows me best in the world, who can make me laugh and who can drive me mental," She smiles. "When you asked me to marry you, I made a secret vow that I would tolerate your XBOX addiction – out of pure happiness!" The audience chuckles once more. "You may be insane, but aren't we all? I hope you can make me laugh a thousand times more, until we're both gone. Always and forever."
Emmett's eyes twinkle as Bella and Alice exchange silent glances and the telepathic, feminine message of oh, how romantic.
"Do you, Mr. McCarthy, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To cherish and to hold? To love her, to comfort her, to honor and to keep her? To care for in sickness and in health? Forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live? Until death do you part?" The priest scratches his balding head.
"I do." Emmett booms and Rose's lips curve into a smile.
"And do you, Ms. Hale, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To cherish and to hold? To love her, to comfort her, to honor and to keep her? To care for in sickness and in health? Forsaking all others, be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live? Until death do you part?"
"I do." She chirps.
"Then by the power invested in me, you may kiss the bride." Emmett beams and wraps his arms around Rose's delicate waist. They both lean in for a kiss, meeting somewhere in the middle. Applause, cheers and whistles erupt when they part, both of them glowing that brand new aura of matrimony.
BPOV
"So how do we tell them?" I tilt my head while readjusting his bowtie. He idly exhales, the sound resonating throughout the empty lobby.
"You tell me." He raises the corner of his mouth.
I sigh. "I don't know. I was never one to enjoy public fusses."
"Ah, I know." He murmurs and pecks my temple the moment my fingers fall from his collar.
"Well?" I muse as I grudgingly adjust his sling.
"Well, to begin with, I think that you need to stop fidgeting with me," He smirks and I bite my lip. "And second, let's just… tell them."
"Tell them?" I raise my eyebrows. "
"What will happen? I'm sure no one will mind much attention to it. After all, it is the Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy wedding reception. Do you have any idea how humorously intoxicated everyone will be? I'm betting Emmett invested in fountains spewing tequila."
I throw my head back in laughter. It bounces off the walls, laying flat in the atmosphere. "Of course, he did. But no drinking." I shake my finger at him. He scowls, that perfect countenance twisting into disapproval.
"An awful restriction, if you ask me." I readjust the band of my floor-length dress.
"Do you want to die?" I cross my arms and Sam licks the back of my fingers.
"Not particularly." "And I don't want you to, either." I mutter and scratch the German Sheppard's head. Edward splays that crooked smile before fingering the chain of my necklace. The icy touch of his fingertips trail down my neck, twiddling the thin, delicate chain. And finally, he reaches the trinket hanging from the bottom. It glints luminously under the lobby lights, and I study his face as he studies my ring.
"I wish you would wear it." He says dejectedly.
"When we tell them." I promise and gently wind his free hand in my own.
"I think we should wait until Alice is drunk." He grazes his lips across my knuckles and drops my hand. I ponder this for a moment, raising my eyes to the ceiling.
"I concur." I finally issue.
"And we know it won't take too long." He rolls his eyes and I giggle.
"Stop, you're terrible." I twitch my lips and he interlaces his fingers within my own once more.
"And?" He tugs lightly and we walk, side by side, past the double-sided doors. As we glide through, the oozing, sweet aroma of wine accompanied by baked appetizers fill my nostrils. Strings of a symphony waft as I spot our quasi-clan at a far right table. Edward spotting them as well, leads Sam and I through a weaving maze of reception guests.
"Comrades," Edward greets with a glorious grin as we approach the round table. "Mind if we join you?" A chorus of no's and a sea of white grins follow. Alice, donning a teal, one-shouldered, floor-length dress is already sipping a martini, her raven locks braided into an intricate bob of weaves.
"Bella," She grins after gnawing the olive. "You look amazing. You dressed yourself tonight?" I blush profusely and the table chuckles as I clumsily slump into my seat.
"I did." I murmur and glance over at Rose, who wears a floor-length, light pink strapless dress.
"Congratulations!" I chirp and her face lights up.
"Thanks, Bell."
"Yes, congratulations to you both." Edward extends to both Rose and Emmett. They flash smiles.
As the night continues and the more drinks we pound, the less equilibrium I possess over reality.
"Are you sure you called her?" I clasp the arm of Edward's tuxedo, my face painted in worry.
"Yes, love. I called her earlier, Elizabeth is absolutely fine." He assuages and airlessly trails fingers down my arm.
"All right." I sigh and sip my vodka. Our friends chatter incessantly, Emmett becoming increasingly boisterous as he ups his BAC count.
"Will you dance with me?" Edward finally reaches my hands and squeezes my fingers.
"I'm wearing heels." I raise my eyebrows and silently assess the wave of tipsiness washing over me.
"It's all in the leading." He rises and pulls me up with him. Of course, I stumble and sway into his chest, his free hand clutching the small of my back.
"Did you see that?" I scowl and Emmett chuckles.
"Fabulous, Bell. But really, try not to break yourself out there – I don't want to visit you in the hospital on my wedding night."
"I won't." I state triumphantly.
On the dance floor, swaying is the only form of dancing my clumsiness, my increasing intoxication, and the limited limbs Edward possesses allows. His arm snakes around my waist as I return the same around his neck, our proximity causing flurries against my ribcage.
"I love you." I finally say after gazing in his eyes for some time.
"I love you more." He tilts his forehead against mine.
"Are we okay now?" I murmur as he swings my body around. "After all these years?"
"Of course," He says softly. "That's behind us now."
"New slate?" I run my right fingers through his bronze tresses.
"Completely new." He coos. We continue to dance for some time before he retracts his forehead from mine.
"What?" I blink.
"Nothing." He shakes his head and murmurs.
"What?" I repeat once more and he stops movement. We stand in the middle of the dance floor, our bodies pressed together as blurs of couples whir by in the background.
"Bella…" He begins. "Have you thought about something?"
"Thought about what?" I tilt my head upward and gaze into those pools of emerald.
"…Children." He finally mumbles. I pause, my partially intoxicated mind spinning with thoughts. I furrow my brow and absentmindedly twirl a lock of his hair.
"I have." I admit.
"Have you ever thought about us? And children?"
I too, ponder this. "Yes," A smile begins to creep up my lips. "Didn't I promise you however many years ago that we would have a chubby baby and a beach house?"
"So let's make a compromise," A smile also begins to form on him. "You provide me with the former and I'll give you the latter."
"Hmm…" I murmur and coyly avert my gaze to the ceiling. "Good compromise." I finally agree and he cranes downward to press his cool lips against my forehead.
EPOV
Dancing, one-armed, with a sloppy newlywed is potentially entertaining. However, not when she holds a vendetta against you. Rose giggles, her platinum curls bouncing as her arms are around my neck.
"How's marriage?" I smile and she grins.
"Great. Although I've been married for several hours." We swing around the dance floor as my sober frame supports her dwindling-in-sobriety-one.
"Wonderful." It's silent for a moment before she hums to herself.
"So when are you going to propose to Bella?" She slurs.
"Pardon?" I raise my eyebrows.
"Answer my question, Romeo." She giggles.
"Only if you answer one of mine."
"Sure."
"Why do you dislike me so much?" I muse and her countenance forms a pout.
"I don't."
"You did for several years." I laugh as we twirl about.
"Yeah," She blurts but then pauses. A flash of remorse treks across her glazed eyes, but then she shrugs slightly. "Because you hurt her. But I guess you've redeemed yourself."
"Ah."
"So answer mine." She smiles wickedly. I ponder this for a moment, and decide that I will grant her the truth in exchange for her own, honest answer.
"Well," I begin slowly. "Can you keep a secret?"
"I'm an excellent secret keeper." She shakes her head up and down.
"But you're not exactly sober, so do you promise?" I enunciate my words and she giggles.
"I promise, Edward." I lean in toward her ear.
"I already did." I whisper airlessly.
"What?" She shrieks. "Oh my God!"
"Shush." I demand and she snaps her mouth shut.
"Oh my God," She repeats, her eyes pooling with thought and intoxication. "You guys will have the best looking babies."
I throw my head back in laughter as we continue swaying. "Thank you, Rosalie. But please, I beg of you, don't tell anyone yet. Especially Alice." She nods vigorously.
"Of course." We continue to dance silently before I play Devil's advocate.
"You and Emmett will have attractive children as well."
Her eyes light up. "I hope. I want them," She sighs. "I don't think he does."
"He does, though." I nod and her eyes grow wide.
"Really? Have you talked to him? Really?" She bounces in my one-armed embrace and I chuckle.
"Yes, I've spoken to him."
"You are the best. The best! How could I have ever hated you?" She ceases her movement to throw her arms tighter around my neck.
"How could you have not?" I smile.
One hour later…
BPOV
"You," Emmett slams a hand down and chugs his twelfth shot of tequila. "Are engaged."
"Nu uh!" I counter and crinkle my eyes in laughter.
"Don't even deny it, doll," He guffaws. "You are. What's that on your neck?" He points to my necklace and I quickly glance down.
"Nothing." I giggle drunkenly.
"Nada, nada, nada. Lies, woman." He slaps the table once more, shaking the glasses atop.
"Fine," I roll my eyes and lap up my glass of Chardonnay. "I am."
"What?" Edward raises his eyebrows and splays a coy smile.
"Yes, I'm engaged! To you!" I giggle and tug at his tie. Oh, the glorious effects of alcohol.
"And this is how you're announcing it?" He muses as I draw him nearer to me.
"Yeah." I sloppily plant a kiss on his nose.
"So cute. Ah," Emmett pops a hors d'oeuvre in his mouth. "I called it."
"No, I did." Jasper yawns and throws back some Smirnoff.
"Are you kidding?" Alice snips and drums the table. "I'm completely omniscient. This is my ball field, get out."
"You're so handsome. So handsome." I coo into Edward's angular face, my alcoholic breath mingling with his own. He laughs heartily.
"Oh, Bella. My sweet Bella, how I love it when you drink."
"No, man. No," Emmett shakes his head and packs another shot. "I knew it. You were engaged… I knew it. I knew it and I can win because it's my big day." He tipsily attempts to reason and ramble. I giggle and cup my hands around Edward's face.
"Can we let Emmett win?" I pout and he nods his face within my hands.
"We can let him win. But do tell me, how did you know?" He squirms his face within my grasp and raises an eyebrow at Emmett.
"I don't know. I'm drunk. Yipeekiyay, bitch."
"Do you know what it's like to be sober and sitting with all of you fine, drunken people?" Edward grins and I finally release his face. In exchange, he grasps my hands.
"I don't know, but it must be absolutely terrible." Alice peals and sips from martini #207.
"Just about." Edward mutters and I frown.
"Don't be sad! Stupid medication." I pout and his lips break out into a glorious smile.
"I'm not sad, love."
"Good." I squeal and splay a grin. He leans in for a kiss, his lips softer than usual against mine. The timing lasts longer than usual as well.
"Break it up, break it up. My eyes, they can't handle it. My virgin eyes." Emmett wails and we pull apart.
"Virgin eyes?" Jasper rolls his eyes and Alice peals in laughter.
"Damn, everything is so funny right now."
"Be quiet." I giggle and yawn sleepily.
"So Bella," Alice pokes my shoulder. "Announce it, already!" I gaze quizzically at her but then throw my hand on Edward's knee.
"Oh!" I squeak. "Everyone, Edward and I are engaged…"
"As of two weeks ago." He finishes for me.
"Aaaayyyyyy!" Emmett raises his arms, football touchdown style.
"Congratulations." Jasper slurs.
"What? Two weeks ago? Why didn't you tell me, Bella? Edward? Jesus, you two are such isolates." Alice snaps.
"Ask Bella." Edward shrugs and I scowl at him.
"I… I just don't like making big deals out of anything."
She narrows her eyes. "Fine."
"I still love you, Alice." I squeal and she peals as well.
"Best friends."
Edward's green eyes widen. "That was quick."
"What?"
"Alice's burst of anger." He muses.
"It's the martinis," She shrugs and sips from her glass before planting a sloppy, wet kiss on her brother's cheek. "Congratulations, little brother."
"You're only older by two minutes." He scowls and she grins after retracting.
"So? And congratulations to you too, Bell." She bounds up from her seat, nearly planting her face, to flit toward my seat. Alice wraps her thin, ivory arms around my neck and plants a similar kiss on my cheek.
"Welcome to the family. Finally. Oh God, wow. Finally." She slurs mushily and I giggle.
"Thank you."
"Bella," Edward interrupts yet Alice keeps her arms entwined from behind me. She turns her head to face her twin, her cheek laden atop my locks of hair. "May I?" He gestures toward the silver chain hanging from my neck and Alice retracts amicably. I nod, grinning, and he rises to stand behind my chair. After brushing my hair aside, his slender fingers caress the back of my neck and unclasp the chain. Miraculously, I catch it before it reaches my lap, the pile of silver weaving around the ring in my palm. I gaze up at the love of my life. Slowly and carefully, he retrieves the ring from my palm, eliminating the chain onto the table. The eyes of our friends are on us as he fiddles with the ring, turning it this way and that before sliding it onto my left hand.
"It's official." He murmurs, still holding my hand. Our friends all erupt in applause, causing heads to turn from various places in the room.
"I love you." I repeat, crying out, as I pop up from the seat and stumble into his chest. He throws his head back in laughter, but when I tilt my head up to gaze into his eyes, I forget the presence of others.
"I love you." He whispers, our noses grazing.
"I can't wait to start my life with you." I raise my hands to hold his face.
"Start? We're not starting, we're picking up where we left off."
"I told myself I'd hate you forever." I grin.
"You're breaking your own rule." He chuckles and presses his hand against the small of my back.
"So what? Are we illegally in love?"
"If you weren't drunk, I'd consider that as a possibility."
"Sounds good. And remember our compromise." I smile, inches from his perfect face as he holds me.
"And I'll remember that, forever. Just as I never forgot you." He kisses me, so laced with saccharine that we would have continued until the sun rose. Until the world fell from the Milky Way. Until our bones turned to ash. Until humanity died out. Until, according to Emmett, the zombie apocalypse. Until, said Emmett, didn't pry us apart. Until everything illegal became wholly and at long last, legal.
That's it. The last chapter. This was my first fic, and I am
so overwhelmed with the support I got. I had no idea that such wonderful
people like all of you would actually read the stuff that I write. It's very bittersweet...
This story was my child but at the same time, I'm glad it's done. But don't fret, there
will be a sequel. And hopefully you can all come and support that one too. Honestly,
you've been so amazing. Words cannot begin to capture my gratitude toward all of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
kisses always, JennyCullen44