Chapter 24 – First Love The Second Time Around
Bella allowed Edward to stand and then help her up. Leaving him and disappearing into her closet, she came out wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a long sleeve t-shirt. Edward laughed as Bella stood holding onto the doorframe with one hand as she balanced on one foot, holding the other out for Edward to admire.
"You likes?" Bella turned her foot slightly so Edward could get the full view of her gray, wolf bedroom slippers. Tattered, fuzzy, and looking silly rather than ferocious, it was obvious to Edward that she wore them a lot. Still laughing, Edward reached out to take her hand.
"Great. I know if you like them, Alice won't." Hugging him close to her chest she laughed with him as they imagined the reaction they would get from Alice for wearing the fuzzy slippers. Turning to start going toward the door Edward stopped, something on Bella's dresser suddenly catching his eye. He took a sideways step toward it and picked up a frame he didn't notice the first time he looked around her room.
"Bella, when was this taken?" Edward picked up the frame, handing it to Bella as she reached to take it from his grip.
"When was this taken?" Looking down at the frame in her hands, Bella repeated Edward's question out loud. Steeling herself and unsure of how her body would react, she took a breath and touched the photograph inside the frame. There was no sticker on it to indicate to Bella that Jason wanted it. She stroked the frame. "This was taken shortly before Jake got sick. We went to a picnic Gen was having at her house, she's the one that took the picture. I couldn't believe Jake talked me into getting on his shoulders! I remember thinking that I was going to fall and the more scared I got the more I shook and the more he had to work to keep us upright. He struggled so hard to keep me up on his shoulders. Jason was laughing hysterically as he watched us." Bella smiled at the picture of the three of them smiling and laughing in the photo.
"You all look so happy. Not the fake 'smile because I said say cheese' happy. But you all look so genuinely happy." Edward took the picture back from Bella and placed it back on the dresser.
"We were happy Edward. Blissfully and ignorantly happy." Smiling as she recalled the days before Jake's illness got the better of them, Bella continued trying to lighten the melancholy that was threatening to overtake them both. "I remember thinking that I was going to pee on his neck from laughing so hard. Seriously." Bella laughed as Edward eyed her suspiciously. "No joke. I was laughing so hard I thought I would pee my pants in front of everyone." Becoming quiet, Bella sighed. "Edward?" At his questioning look she smiled and continued. "I'm ready to be that happy again. Can you help me be that happy again?" She hadn't really expected an answer from him and but her words earned her one of his bright smiles that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He leaned over kissing her briefly before she pulled away. "I have to wonder though."
"What's that?" Edward made a show of trying to place the picture exactly in the same spot on the dresser as Bella pulled away from him.
"After I get all chubby and have these babies…are you going to be able to pick me up?" The obviously smile in Bella's voice caused Edward's the grin on Edward's mouth to turn into a laugh.
"Bella the thought of you getting all chubby with my babies is so amazing; the fact of whether or not I can pick you up is not an issue for me. Besides, our babies will be so spoiled we will each always be holding one so I'll never have empty arms again. Ever." Edward pulled Bella into his arms and she repeated his words against his lips.
"Ever." Bella said softly as she reached up and kissed his waiting lips.
Edward kissed Bella and then led her into the hall. They heard the same noise from downstairs that they heard earlier and now Jason's guitar playing was thrown into the mix from farther down the hall. As they passed his bedroom door she called out a quick 'the door stays open Jason' to him before heading downstairs to straighten out the adults bickering.
In the end, they ordered a half a dozen pizzas and 'a lot' of Chinese food. Bella smiled happily at the delivery people and gave each one a generous tip, not used to being able to spend her money so freely on people she loved. Charlie never accepted any of her generous gifts and she herself lived pretty simply with Jason. This meant something to her. The people in her house meant something to her. She was able to do this for them and she loved it. She had to laugh when Carlisle appeared behind her in the hallway and instead of taking the pizza from her hands asked how much it was.
"Carlisle put your money away. You are all guests in my home and I am treating." Bella walked past him and handed the last pizza off to Jason to open and place on the already crowded table.
"Bella, please. I don't feel right about us eating off of you." Carlisle had the good grace to look uncomfortable and slightly hurt as Bella rejected his money.
"Oh please!" Bella laughed as she looked at the crowd gathered around in her dining room. "How many meals have I mooched off of you and Esme for years and years? In fact, even in just the past few days? This feast barely makes up for that." Bella made a motion over the dining room table. "Just enjoy, please." Bella leaned in and hugged her soon to be father-in-law reaching for his wallet which he still held out. She closed it for him and handed it back. "Your money is no good here Mr. Cullen." She said sweetly and rubbed his back affectionately before making her way back to Edward who was holding out a plate full of food for her.
She accepted the plate from him with a thank you and noticed that he had once again put a tiny pill on the plate for her. Laughing and happy she joined Alice and a bunch of others on the floor in the adjoining family room. She had no idea which movie the kids were watching while they ate and didn't care that they were all eating on the floor in her family room. She couldn't imagine life being any sweeter than this moment. This was the most crowded their house had ever been and she hoped that her future with Edward brought many more times like this to come.
This is what it was all about. She smiled as she looked around the room. Everyone was casually lounging around and eating. In no hurry to go anywhere or do anything because of the good company surrounding them. The Thanksgiving dinner rush to get Bella and Jason moved to Forks as soon as possible now waned. No one was rushing anywhere except Emmett to get more food from the dining room. Bella laughed as Jason started arguing with Edward and Eden both about the superiority of an Ibanez guitar over all others while Alice and Jasper buzzed endlessly in her ear about the logistics of moving all her belongings to Forks. Emmett and Rose sat in a small corner with their little family as Esme and Carlisle sat with Charlie and Billy in the dining room.
Making her way to the kitchen she stacked the dishes figuring that she would wait until everyone was finished eating and they would just run the dishwasher. Esme joined her in the kitchen and began cleaning up the mess before Bella stopped her. She hugged her, at a loss for words as she thought of all the help Esme had been to her in the past and was offering to be for her in the future. She hugged the older woman tighter as Esme's arms came around her and she felt their maternal warmth.
"Esme? Mom?" Pulling back only slightly Bella tried out the word on the tip of her tongue, causing Esme to smile and nod slightly in approval. "Would you consider being there when the babies are born? Edward and I talked about it and we would really appreciate if you were there for us that day."
"Bella! That would mean so much to me. To be honest with me I was hoping that you would call me 'Mom' but I don't want to interfere with your memories of Renee. I would be honored to be there, for the both of us." Esme smiled, hugging Bella close.
Jason stepped into the kitchen with a guitar slung carefully around his torso, Eden right behind him. "Mom, I'm going to take Eden on a short drive and show her the town. She wants to see where I've been going to school and hanging out and hopefully meet a few people."
"That's fine. Ask Emmett what Eden's curfew is and follow it. And be careful Jason, take your phone and some money with you okay? I might just be asleep when you get back but I am sure there are others who will be awake." Bella's facial expression warned them not to even try breaking the curfew Emmett would set.
"Good deal. See you in a while." Jason gave his mother a quick peck and Esme a smile before rushing to put away his guitar and get their coats, all with Eden close on his heels.
"I know we didn't talk about sleeping arrangements and there are simply not enough beds, but I was going to sleep down here with Edward and the others tonight, so my bed is available if you and Carlisle want to use it." Bella leaned over the counter top staring through the doorway at the crowd in the other room.
"Sweet Bella. Tempting. But we already promised the grandchildren that we would bag it with them on the floor. I think they're really looking forward to Carlisle and I roughing it in your living room. I just assumed that you and Edward would be up there and everyone else would be down here except Jason. The only definite plans I heard was that Billy was going to sleep in the guest bedroom down here and that Eden had no choice but to sleep on the floor between Emmett and Rose." Esme laughingly said the words and Bella had no choice but to join in.
Entering the room, Carlisle's arms automatically reached around Esme's waist. "Hello beautiful." His words made Esme smile at Bella as she felt Carlisle behind her and she leaned her back against his chest.
"Bella asked me to be there for the babies birth." Esme's smile, still shining at Bella was now joined by Carlisle's own as he rested his chin on his wife's shoulder. Bella finished explaining for Esme.
"Well, I was hoping you both would be there actually. Edward's going to need help since there'll be three of us in the hospital he'll be sorely outnumbered. If you're not already at the hospital then I definitely want you and Charlie there as well."
"You want me to go where?" Charlie sauntered into the kitchen carrying dishes and garbage from the other room.
"Edward and I want all our parents with us when the babies come Dad. It would mean a lot to me to have you there." Bella didn't look her father in the eye as Charlie made a pretense of throwing the trash away. He took longer and Bella knew why.
"I'll be there if you want me there Bells you know that." Charlie shrugged as he bent over to replace the trash bin under the sink but there was no mistaking the waver in his voice.
Bella closed the gap and stood behind Charlie, waiting for him to straighten up. When he was still bent over the trash Bella poked him gently in the shoulder to let him know that she was there. Charlie straightened up, still avoiding her gaze he wrapped his arms around his daughter's shoulder's causing Bella to instantly feel like a little girl again. Though displays of affection were rare, Bella never doubted their sincerity. Hugging her father she yawned as the days of the events caught up to her. In an even more rare display of affection, Charlie leaned down and kissed the top of her head before he spoke.
"Go on, get to bed Bells. We'll all still be here when you wake up." Charlie released Bella when he saw Edward standing in the doorway and turning quickly he started to clean up a nonexistent mess on the counter so they wouldn't see the emotion on his face.
"I just need to grab a few things from upstairs. I think we're all sleeping downstairs tonight." Smiling at them all Bella pulled Edward's arms as she took him back upstairs.
They arrived back downstairs with their arms loaded down with extra blankets and pillows. Even with the sleeping bags spread out, the room looked tidy and neat. Alice lay on the floor next to Jasper, both of them in their sleeping bags already and looking over lists spread out in front of them. Bella laughed as she nudged Alice's papers with her foot and tossed the pillows down on top of her friend's body.
"So you have my life all mapped out for me now?" The teasing nature of Bella's voice caused everyone in the room to laugh.
"Do. NOT. Touch me with those filthy little critters, okay?" Alice visible shuddered as Bella made a show of tapping her wolf covered feet on Alice's lists. "Of course I have it all arranged. It's what I do. I can have you moved into my parent's house in two weeks. Does that give you enough time for arranging work with Gen?" Alice rolled over onto her back and stared up at Bella as she held her cellular phone up, clicking away on buttons without actually looking at the screen.
"Yeah, we'll talk about that in the morning Alice. I'm too tired." Bella sat down, in the armchair near Alice as Edward tried to make a place for them to sleep. Even as she watched him work, Bella had to admit, the floor was looking less and less promising. She sighed thinking she was in for a long sleepless night when all she really wanted to do was sleep for a week.
"Bella? Are you sure you want to sleep down here? You can sleep on the couch and I'll be right on the floor next to you." Even as Edward finished saying the words Bella's head was shaking no, her eyes at half-mast and her feet curled up under her.
Edward looked around him at the others, all either asleep or falling asleep except for Emmett who was pretending to play a handheld video game but fooled no one as he looked at the clock. Already the lights in the room were dimmed and everyone's movements became slower while their voices became softer as the conversations continued.
"Give me one minute." As Edward stood and held up one finger to her as he left the room. Bella crooked her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her head in her hand. She nodded sleepily and mumbled incoherently watching him leave.
Minutes later Edward was back, not that Bella noticed. He slipped into the room quietly and left the room with his arms full of blankets and pillows. Walking to the patio he slid the door open, grateful that winter had not yet hit and that the night only held a fall nip in the air. Once the fire started up he was sure they would be warm enough, especially with all the blankets he brought out. He pulled a lounge chair closer to the glass doors of the house and moved the fire pit on the other side, sheltering them from the weather. He lit the fire and waited a few moments to make sure it truly caught on before arranging their 'bed' for the night. Once he was satisfied with his work he ventured back inside, noticing that all lights were off now except for the lamp in the corner where Emmett was, still playing his game and watching the clock on the wall.
He walked quietly toward Bella and shook her gently. She roused just enough to hold out her hands to him so he could pull her into a standing position.
"Where are we going? I'm too tired for any more excitement today." Bella's voice was groggy and confused as she complained but she still allowed her body to be led from the room. Before opening the patio door, Edward reached and took a flannel shirt from a hook nearby not caring whose it was, the extra warmth couldn't hurt. He wrapped it around Bella and she slowly poked her arms through. Her eyes opened at the sight before her, frightened at first by the sight of the flames until she saw that they were outside the glass doors and not in her kitchen. With her eyes still opened wide she glanced at Edward in disbelief.
"You? Want Us? To sleep outside? It's the end of November Edward!" Bella became awake as the incredulity of his plan shocked her.
"We won't freeze, I promise. Just come with me." Edward's voice was soft and Bella found herself following him outside.
She was pleasantly surprised at how warm it was in the corner of the patio. She noted the logs barely started to catch so they would be going to a while and that on top of one of the lounge chair Edward had placed more pillows and blankets. He sat and scooted back, reclined comfortably in the chair and holding back the blankets for her. It was just too tempting of a bed for Bella to pass up. She crawled between his legs and with a little bit of help turned herself around without disturbing the nest Edward made for them.
Cocooned between Edward's body heat and the blanket and fire, she had to admit he was right. She was toasty warm and comfortable. But now wide awake as well. Moving her head to the side slightly so she could stare up at Edward's face as it became bathed in the light from the flame.
"Right back to square one." Bella craned her neck and kissed Edward's adam apple as he became short of breath at the sensation of her lips on his bare skin.
Not wanting to begin a conversation when he knew she should be resting, he adjusted his own body and faced Bella forward kissing the top of her head. "It's like Charlie said, we will all still be here when you wake up. Sleep now Bella." He began humming softly, rocking her body knowing that she would soon be doing exactly that.
"How long have they been out there? Are you sure they're even warm enough?" Jason crossed his arms in front of himself as he looked through the patio door with Emmett and Eden.
"A few hours now. I've been adding wood here and there waiting for you two to get back." Emmett answered slapping Jason playfully on his back. "I appreciate you sticking to curfew, both of you. Now, if you don't mind, I think we all should turn in. Say goodnight Eden. Jason has a fire to feed before he goes to bed…upstairs." Emmett tacked on the last word as an afterthought, just to nip in the bud any ideas the young lovebirds might have of sleeping together. Eden looked over at her boyfriend regretfully.
"Go ahead Eden. I'm just going to put a few more logs in the fire and then head to bed…upstairs." Jason raised his voice only slightly on the last word, not knowing if Emmett was still in earshot down the hall but still wanting to reassure him that he meant his daughter no harm.
After a few hugs and kisses, Eden turned and left Jason to stoke the fire. He crept outside and was surprised to see how warm the corner of the deck felt and knew that it would be even warmer with a few more logs going. He tended to the fire, making note of the fact that Edward and Bella didn't even stir and then made his way upstairs to his own bed, alone.
If Alice didn't have control of the situation, Bella and Jason would have never made the move to Forks. By the first week of December, she had the majority of Bella's belongings moved to her parent's house and most of Jason's moved to Charlie's. Bella was also now the proud owner of a heated storage unit at Cedar Avenue Storage in Forks and much of her household items that she might need in the future could be found there courtesy of Alice. Little by little their house was being emptied and soon the day was upon them that Edward was coming up to drive Bella to Forks for good. He had made arrangements with Eden and she would be joining him for the trip so she could drive back with Jason, since they needed two drivers on the way back to drive his and Bella's vehicles.
As they were packing up the very last of their belongings Bella's phone rang. She answered to hear Gen's voice saying that she knew someone who needed to rent out a house for a year. Bella felt both relief and excitement that she no longer had to deal with a realtor and that she wouldn't need to worry about the house sitting empty until it sold. She was packing up the last of the house and carefully moving the boxes to the living room to wait for Edward and Eden's help. As she looked around at the empty rooms, she slowly sat down on the lawn chair that had served as indoor furniture while the house was being emptied. Jason came bounding down the stairs flinging his backpack against the pile of boxes next to Bella before sitting down in the chair opposite her. As the rain fell outside, they waited in the warm living room finding themselves getting more restless and edgy.
It didn't help that the more of their possessions that were taken out of the house, the more somber and melancholy their talks had become, as if they were compensating in some way to make up for their abandonment of their home. As far as Bella was concerned, the house that she had once kept as their home was now an empty shell. Now when she looked around the room as they waited for Edward and Eden to show up she felt sadness overtake her until Jason snapped her out of it.
"Stop it Mom. This is a beginning, not an ending. Didn't you always tell me that it wasn't the house itself but the memories inside it that made it a home? Or something like that anyway." Jason scowled at Bella as he got up to look out the window again, anxious to see Eden but trying to support his mother's mood at the same time. "It's really coming down again."
"Can't help it Jaybird." Bella's use of Jason's childhood nickname shocked them both as it casually slipped from her lips. She laughed and turned her head to the window to watch the rain fall. She reached for her purse next to her and dug through it until she found the small jar of lotion that Rose had given her.
Jason eyed his mother doubtfully, not wanting to further irritate her he kept silent. He accepted the fact that his mother was pregnant; he just didn't like how it came about.
"I'm going to go put some stuff in your truck so it'll go quicker when they get here." Jason stood to go.
"Put a coat on before you get sick." Bella called after him, torn between her two emotions of being grateful for some peace and not wanting to be in a silent empty house alone.
"Who's sick?" Eden asked walking through the front door, all formalities of knocking first long forgotten as she made a beeline for Jason's arms.
"No one Eden. Jason's just entertaining his old mother." Bella said answering for them both as she reached for another dab of cream and rubbed it in on her hands. She was watching the door for Edward, who she knew would be coming in with a bunch of flowers for her. Instead the sight that greeted her warmed her instantly, as if just by entering the nearly empty house Esme Cullen brought her own sunshine with her into the room.
"Who's old?" Esme entered the room and greeted Jason with a hug and a kiss before centering her attention on Bella.
"No one in this room, that's for sure." Bella reached up as much as possible and encircled Esme's shoulders as she leaned over to give her a hug. "Not that I'm not always happy to see you, but where's Edward?" Bella's voice faltered. She had spoken with Edward earlier that morning and knew that he was at work but once he picked up Eden they would be on their way. Knowing he would need a nap after working all night, Bella was looking forward to taking one with him later that day.
"Oh Dear, I'm sorry. Edward got stuck at work. There was a horrible accident on the interstate and they kept him over from last night's shift. They called Carlisle in too even though it is supposed to be his day off." Esme's voice was filed with compassion more than irritation. "I hope everyone is okay. I came because first of all, in this weather Eden shouldn't drive alone. Secondly, it will get you back to Forks that much quicker. It's only going to get worse later today. I told Edward I would come and bring you back with me. I hope that's okay?"
Bella didn't need to be told twice and as she made a move to stand Jason stopped her.
"Sit down Mom. Eden and I will load up the last of this stuff into the cars. I'm going to drive your truck with Eden and you can ride with Esme alright?" Jason nodded to Esme as she handed him the keys as the two youngsters set out to load up the last of the Black's belongings while Bella spoke with her soon to be mother-in-law. They shared a good laugh as they gathered the last of their belongings for the move. Bella was rewarded a short time later with a text from Edward stating simply that he would meet her at the house. The sadness of Edward's absence she felt earlier in the day had all but vanished as they climbed into Esme's truck for the drive back to Forks.
"This storm is really picking up isn't it?" Bella asked worriedly as she reached for a bottle of water and one of her pills, hoping that she wouldn't get car sick and that side trips to deal with that could be kept to a minimum as they pulled out of her driveway.
"We'll be fine dear." Esme said patting Bella's knee. "Freak storms like this look worse than they really are." Moving her hand to pat Bella's hand reassuringly. "Try to take a nap Bella; I'll have you back in Forks in no time."
True to her word, Esme woke Bella up as they were pulling into the driveway of her house. She pulled right up to the front door and as Bella unclipped her seatbelt her door was wrenched open. Edward stood there in his navy blue hospital scrubs and snow boots watching her as he took her purse, laptop bag, and backpack from her.
"Leave the other stuff, I'll get it later. I'm glad you're here, and safe. I'm so sorry about that Bella." Edward carried her belongings for her as the group walked up the stairs and into the house to get warm. Bella shivered almost uncontrollably as the cold and wetness soaked into her bones.
"Esme explained it to me, don't worry. I'm just glad to see you. Was the accident very bad?" Bella held onto the crook of Edward's arm as they walked and she slowed only slightly to slip her shoes off in the front hall, not wanting to track shoeprints all over the house.
"Well, we were fortunate to only lose one patient, it was pretty nasty. Dad is just finishing up in surgery but they sent me home because I was there all night. How are you feeling other than getting kicked?" Edward smiled as he set down her belongings helping her out of her coat to hang it up in the closet. As she shivered slightly he reached in pulling out a sweater then wrapping it around her shoulders for her.
"I'm fine. I started getting emotional right before Esme and Eden showed up. The house just isn't the same. But." Bella paused for dramatic effect as she wrapped her arms as far as they would go around Edward. "Now that we are officially moved to Forks, we can start nailing down the details of the wedding." Her statement earned her one of her favorite smiles and she laughed. Bella leaned into Edward's embrace briefly before excusing herself to use the bathroom down the hall.
A short time later, Bella lay down gratefully in Edward's bedroom. Their bedroom now. Edward had made space for her in the closet and happily gave her an entire dresser for herself, although she only filled a few drawers in it she figured they would fill the others once the babies arrive. Rolling onto her side she snuggled further down under the blanket and waited for Edward so they could take their naps together.
Edward had decided he had just enough energy left from his shift at the hospital to help Jason move the last of his stuff into Charlie's. He went along with Jason and Eden, promising that he would be back as soon as he was done. Bella, being too tired to argue and grateful that someone could take her place in helping her son, bowed out gracefully and telling Jason just to keep her truck until she needed it.
She didn't know how long she slept before she felt Edward's arms wrap around her under the blanket. She knew she should have turned over or said something to acknowledge his presence, but she was so tired and he was so warm laying right against her back that all she could manage was a drawn out 'mmm' at the feel of him. She moved her head slightly as she felt his chin resting in the crook of her neck and his mouth against her ear, his voice soft and slow as he talked, his breath warm and inviting as he spoke.
"I love you Bella." Edward said as he snuggled directly behind her and reached his left hand around her, linking it with hers. He laid it flat against the bed and traced it, causing Bella to peek one eye open.
"Are you making a turkey from my handprint?" She mumbled with a smile. "Thanksgiving is over Edward."
"No, no turkeys. But I do have this." He placed a ring on the tip of her ring finger and gently shoved it into place, grateful that it fit her perfectly.
Bella shot up as much as she could, her attention now fully on Edward, their naps forgotten as he placed an engagement ring on her finger. She held it up, admiring it more for its symbolism rather that how it looked.
"Edward, it's so pretty. You didn't have to. I would have married you regardless you know." Bella shifted against him and kissed his mouth gently.
"I did have to Bella. You deserve it and I am tired of looking at that empty finger. I should have bought you one sooner. We don't seem to be doing anything 'right' except what we are doing is right for us. Does that make sense?" Edward reached to take her hand again, holding it as his kissed the top of her ring.
"It makes perfect sense. We've not done a single thing according to 'tradition'. But everything we have done so far seems right. Are you sure you can deal with not having a big wedding? I know you have a status to keep up with, being a doctor and all. I won't mind Edward, if you want one. Of course, I'm only going to get bigger but if you really want a big wedding, I would be okay with it." Bella's voice trailed off, giving away her true fear of being the center of attention.
"No Bella. No big wedding. In a way it's more fitting. You've been married before and still never had a big, traditional wedding. Somehow it seems fitting that neither of us have one. Now, if we can just convince Alice. She seems to think she can throw together a wedding overnight." Edward laughed and kissed his fiancé as they snuggled back into the bed. "And we can tell her tonight when they come over for dinner. Mom just told me she invited them over."
Once Edward and Bella set Alice straight on the wedding planning she scaled down her plans. They were now going to be married Christmas Eve by one of Charlie's friends from the courthouse. Bella decided that if it didn't bother Carlisle and Esme too much she wanted to be married at their house, since it was all decorated for Christmas. The guest list was shortened also. Where Alice included most of the population of Forks, Edward and Bella scaled it down to include their families and less than a dozen close friends and co-workers.
Edward had set his foot down about wearing a tuxedo, insisting that a suit was fine and Bella insisted that she was going for comfort and didn't even want to add more material to make her already big body look even bigger. 'Less is more Alice' she repeated often and settled on a simple ivory colored gown. She had even declined the offer to have Rose and Alice wear matching dresses and told them to wear what they wanted.
The days leading up to Christmas Eve flew by for Bella. She kept herself busy by visiting Alice and Esme at work and by making regular visits to Charlie's house to check on Jason and leave food for the her father and her son. She enjoyed spending time with Rosalie and compared notes with her about their pregnancies as well as making a few shopping trips for new maternity clothes. The closer the wedding day got, the more nervous everyone became except for Edward and Bella. Alice actually accused them of not caring enough about the wedding since they were not getting all excited over it.
"But it's all in the details!" She said one night when she and Jasper joined them for dinner. "Don't you care about what flowers you have?"
"Honestly Alice? No." Bella looked at Edward for his agreement before she continued addressing Alice. "I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of not being where the rest of my family is." Looking down at her stomach she patted it gently as smiled. "I'm tired now in general and just getting bigger everyday Alice. I just want to marry Edward. The details of it all mean nothing to me as long as he is there at the end of the aisle."
Edward scooted his chair closer placing one hand on top of hers as it rested on her stomach. His hand covered hers completely and she instantly felt her muscles inside relax from his warmth. It always amazed Bella that their babies seemed to know when Edward had his hands on her and they stopped their relentless movement for a time.
"I agree with Bella, Alice. We need to just get married. Bella married Jacob with practically nothing, and in many ways, ceremony wise this will be a first for us both. Just let us do it our way. You can plan whatever you want for the baby shower, deal?" Edward looked to Bella and saw she was nodding her approval.
"But you guys…" Alice seemed prepared to start another argument before Jasper interrupted her.
"Alice, come on. They're offering you a chance to plan whatever you want for a baby shower. How can you go wrong with carte blanche like that?" Jasper picked up his wine glass and held it aloft to Edward as he nodded, letting his brother in law know he had his back.
"And when we say anything Alice, we mean anything. The babies aren't due until March. That will give you almost four full months of planning and coordinating. The possibilities are endless." Bella could almost see the wheels in Alice's mind turning at the prospect, her eyes glazing over and staring into space.
Alice's voice matched the dreamy look in her eyes as she spoke. "Anything I want." And she quickly agreed to let Edward and Bella handle their wedding details, or lack of them.
Bella fingered the lace on her wrap. It looked scratchy and irritating but when she touched it felt silky like strands of smooth glass. She almost didn't recognize the person in the mirror as she looked back at herself. Standing in Alice's old bedroom, now a guest room for her and Jasper when they stayed over, she looked at herself with a less critical eye than she would have when she was younger. Her hair tumbled thick and shiny over her shoulders. Her eyes were luminous and shining with excitement as she remembered why she was there. Her wedding day. She felt the most beautiful she ever had, or as beautiful as she could given her physical state. The babies, normally kicking her relentlessly, gave her time and were amazingly quiet.
It was as if they grasped the magnitude of their mother and father being married. They were calm. Allowing Bella time to reflect on everything that had happened since last spring and everything that would happen this coming spring. Surely they would not be this calm once they arrived and Bella allowed herself to feel grateful that they were not born yet, knowing they were safely, and more importantly quietly wrapped in her body. She placed her hand over her stomach and as her mind filled with the thought of Edward. Of all they had gone through and would go through in the future. Her eyes moistened as she thought of him not as a boyfriend, but as a husband. He was her ideal in the same way Jake had been and she would never forget how truly lucky she was to have this second chance.
"It's time Bella. Are you ready?" Esme asked as she came up behind her and put her arms on her shoulders, She smiled at their reflections in the mirror.
"I'm more than ready. I've waited a long time for this." Bella checked her ivory colored gown in the mirror one last time then turned to face Rose and Alice, silently sitting on the bed, giving her a few moments to herself just as the babies had done.
As Alice, Rose and Esme hugged her she reached for her simple bouquet of roses and baby breath. They walked carefully down the stairs, Bella faltered only briefly as she spied Edward standing in front of the fireplace next to Jason, Charlie and Carlisle. Smiling she made her pace just a bit quicker, more than ready to join her new husband. She would no longer be ' a widow', the ceremony before her now erasing the sad title and replacing it with a much more joyful 'wife'.
Making her way to the fireplace, she stood facing Edward. She wasn't aware of the ceremony in detail, but rather she floated through it in a dreamlike state. To her it seemed like she was in a movie instead of real life. She did, however manage to do all the appropriate motions and say all the right words all at the right time. For her the only detail that mattered was that she got through this to finally be Mrs. Edward Cullen. She focused on Edward's smile, captivating and seemingly plastered permanently across his face. The only time she saw it leave was when he was saying his vows and those two beautiful words, 'I do.'
As she moved up on her tiptoes she felt his arms encircle her as much as possible as he leaned down to her. She touched her tongue briefly and delicately to his, smiling against his cool lips when he reciprocated, deepening their first kiss as husband and wife, his mouth claiming her as his for eternity. He ended the kiss by placing his forehead against hers then saying a soft 'I love you'' before reaching down to touch her belly and their babies. As if on cue the babies started acting up, kicking up a storm, Edward laughed as he splayed his hand on her belly. It seemed as if they were ready to celebrate being a family and now that the ceremony was over it was most definitely time to party.
In place of a reception, the celebration evolved into a traditional Christmas Eve with one small exception. A cake. Edward had insisted on it, which threw Bella for a loop but she was not about to argue. Recognizing it for what it was, his first and only wedding, she didn't want him to have to sacrifice every tradition just for her. If Edward wanted a cake, there would be cake. She afforded herself a brief look back in her memory of a different time and place when all she and Jake could afford were two cupcakes from a local bakery. She smiled at the memory as she took in the elaborate four tier confection adorned with Christmas decorations. When she had questioned him about this one ritual he had insisted on he had replied succinctly 'I will have my cake and eat it too', Bella knew that he was talking about more than just about the cake in itself.
Floating through the rest of the night, they exchanging gifts and good cheer with everyone. More than once Edward led Bella over to his piano and sat her down as they played Christmas songs while everyone sang and the lights twinkled. Billy Black even joined them then, thrilling Bella to no end. He hadn't wanted to be present at the ceremony and Bella didn't push but he did offer to come for 'Christmas Eve' knowing full well that it was also going to be her reception. He was still missing his son and Bella recognized that maybe easier access to her and Jason would help him with that.
She gave herself no time at all to think about his words from Thanksgiving and what she would do if she lost Jason. The thought was abhorrent to her and she shook her head as she relived the memory of earlier in the summer when she asked Alice to think about burying Jasper. Some things were just too horrible to even fathom. Billy Black would live with the grief of losing his son forever but it would get better with time. In contrast, by marrying Edward, Bella made sure that she didn't lose her first love again.