A/N: Important A/N after the chapter and also a surprise POV at the end.
24. Magnificent Obsession
BPOV
After we brought Emilee home we talked a lot about marriage. We decided on something small and Alice was planning everything. That was until Jasper came over a few days before I was supposed to meet up with her to fine tune everything.
"Bella, just the person I wanted to talk to." Jasper came right in, which was fine. That's how things worked around here. We all entered and went as we pleased. Edward was in the nursery with Emilee and I was preparing dinner.
"Oh, hey Jazz, what's up?" I was a little confused that he wanted to see me, usually it would be Edward he was after.
"I have a favor to ask you? Alice is planning your wedding and I was wondering if you would be completely opposed to having a double wedding."
My mouth dropped, his expression changed and I think the whole—just come out and say it—plan seemed to be the wrong way to go. Really, that wasn't at all why I was awestruck.
"You're really going to do it, I mean get married?" Alice has always been so sure that he would never go through with it. His past is always making his decisions for him. Just like mine used to make for me.
"Yeah," he ran his hand through his hair nervously. Probably something he subconsciously picked up from living with Edward all through his adolescent years. "We've been engaged long enough haven't we?"
"That's a given," I replied sarcastically. "What made you decide now?" The universe shifted and suddenly, Jasper was the "patient" and I was the one "holding the degree". I wondered, idly, how often it's happened to him and came to the conclusion that this was probably the first.
"Things are happening, we have a baby now and it only seems right to take the next step." He seemed to be more contemplative than talking to me, like he was treating me as a mirror more than anything else. "I love Alice, I can't imagine ever being with someone else so it's only logical…" he trailed off with his fingers rubbing and producing ridges in his forehead.
"Jasper," I snapped and he ignored me. "Jasper," I said louder this time and slammed the cheese grader I had in my hand onto the cutting board in front of me. He spun around and glared at my hands leaving the grader. His eyes shot up to mine in surprise. "You love her?" I said the obvious but it came out as more of a question. He nodded. "Then what's the hold up, be like Nike and just do it." The old saying has never left my memory.
A smile crossed his face and he turned to exit the kitchen but stopped before he was completely out of my sight. "Is it a go then?" he asked energetically.
"Yes it's a go. Go, go," I shooed him away and he darted out of my sight. I smiled thinking of Alice's face when he told her. She was going to be absolutely thrilled beyond words.
Edward appeared around the corner with a confused expression and holding Emilee against his chest; just a month old. "What got into him?" he asked.
"He's going to marry Alice," I replied simply, returning to my previous task of shredding the cheese for our tator tot casserole dinner.
He sat down at the bar and rested his arms on the counter, cradling Emilee. "Hasn't that been his plan the entire time?" It thrilled me to my core to see him so interested in our daughter and not distant like some fathers. He never looked away from her as he spoke.
I explained to him the doubts he had and how they were linked to his past. Edward saw exactly why when I brought it to his attention. He's known about Jasper's past their entire lives together. He would know better than I would.
I waited for the phone call from Alice which came just before dinner was done. She screamed through the phone and thanked me over and over again. I told her I wouldn't be happy unless we did it together. I only wished Rose and Emmett hadn't already tied the knot.
"You're okay with it right? I asked Edward after we put Emilee down for the night and got into bed.
He threw the blanket over me and took me into his arms. "I'm okay with it if you're okay with it." He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck and exhaled heavily. "Two more weeks huh?" he asked muffled, referring to the time left that will mark six weeks after Emilee's birth. Meaning, our sex life would be taken off hold status.
I patted his arm with my hand, "Yeah, I know. Two more weeks."
I wouldn't say that I wish Tanya were here to help because I never want to see her again, but I do wish I had someone. Edward started work at Lulu's a week after we were back home from the hospital and his hours were speratic. Usually around five until early the next morning. Sometimes they would need him earlier in the day for functions and I was left to care for Emilee. I loved being home with her but soon I would be going back to work. We were leaving her with Alice, who is taking care of her own one month old. Emilee and Bailey were close already; Alice and I have their birthday parties planned all the way through middle school.
For the first time since we brought Emilee home she slept through the night. I woke up to the sun shining through our bedroom window and the spot next to me empty. I stretched out my limbs, covering as much of the over sized bed that I could. I threw on my robe and ventured out into the hallway. I didn't find Edward in the living room but in the kitchen and Emilee was in the sink. The baby bath Renee got for us was in the sink with Emilee snuggly in it. I walked up behind Edward and laced my arms around him.
"Hey, good morning," he cooed as he poured warm water over our daughters belly. She had her little hand wrapped around his thumb and her eyes squinted and her mouth pursed when the water trickled over her skin. "We made a mess with the milk, so," he smiled that goofy smile that started when Emilee was born, "we decided to clean up our mess."
I smiled in response and kissed his back, "Are you hungry daddy?" I asked and headed toward the fridge. "Eggs and bacon?"
"That would be great, wouldn't you like to have some little miss Emilee," he recited as he wrapped her up in her towel, the kind with the hood for the hair.
I chuckled, "Yeah she has a while," and sat the carton of eggs on the counter before I joined my little family in the middle of our kitchen.
EPOV
"This is really ridiculous," I growled from where my face was buried into my soon to be wife's hair. "We have lived together for over a year and a half now, I can't even remember the last time I slept in an empty bed."
"Last week, and you can sleep with Jasper if you like," Bella offered, referring to the microscopic argument we had that landed me in the bed alone while Bella slept on the couch with Emilee. I tried like hell to get her to sleep in bed, if not with me, at least she would be in the bed. She didn't budge.
"We have a daughter, I think this tradition only pertains to people who still have their virtue and no progeny trying to crawl around at their feet." I definitely did not need a bachelor party and I especially did not want to go a whole 12 hours without Bella.
"Please do this, for me, for Jasper. He wants you to go out with him tonight." Bella was changing Emilee's diaper now, cooing to her in baby voices like she always does, and running her fingers up and down her belly causing her to giggle.
"How do you expect me to go one morning without waking up to you and Emilee?"
"It's one night out of forever Edward, we can handle that," she stuck the sides of the diaper together and picked Emilee up to rest on her arm. "Go, have fun with Jasper. It's your last night as a single eligible bachelor. No girl can have you after this. You should let them dream while they still can," she laughed a throaty laugh and I glared at her. "I'm kidding, just go."
We heard the front door open and Alice's voice carried to the nursery, "Jasper's downstairs, there's no telling him no so I suggest you get your soon to be married tush down there." The door slammed shut and we made our way to the front room. I had Bella tucked safely under my arm while Emilee was safely under Bella's free arm.
Reluctantly and against my better judgement, I leaned down and kissed my soon to be wife and also kissed my daughters cheek before I headed down stairs for what was sure to be an interesting night.
Jasper had his sunroof open and Lil Wayne bumping from the stereo. I rolled my eyes at his stereo typical bachelor attire and his loud music to go with it. I turned the radio down and looked at him seriously, his expression nothing but excitement.
"No funny shit Jazz, I'm not kidding." I cracked a smile because his persona was just comical.
"Oh bro, there is nothing funny about a bachelor party."
With that I turned the knob on the stereo and Jazz hit the gas. We were on our way to who the fuck knows where and away from the only place I wanted to be.
Emmett had three rounds of Jose Cuervo shots waiting for us when we arrived at our destination. He was all grin when he took notice to our approach. I couldn't help but notice the four women behind him leaning into each other and looking at his back. I foresaw the future of the night two days prior when Emmett suggested we do this. I wasn't looking forward to it then, but now being here and no way to get out of it, it isn't as bad as I anticipated.
"You pansy," Emmett boomed from beside me as he swatted the back of my neck. "Since when do you need a chaser? What the fuck happened to my brother?"
I choked out my answer, "We aren't 21 anymore." The heat was flowing down my throat, warming my entire body, "I don't drink like I used to. Forgive me for growing up," I added after a deep swallow of the acid like substance that lingered in my mouth.
We downed the other two shots and that's when things started to get a little hazy. At some point during our bantering the four girls that were observing when Jasper and I arrived slinked their way into our conversations. Emmett continued to be his loud obnoxious self while Jasper and I, after our brains caught up with us, kept our conversation between us. When the girls found out we were about to be married their friendly conversation died and soon they were on to the next group of unsuspecting pray. We continued our night with shots and laughs until two am came around and the bartender kicked us out.
"I called you a cab, should be out there waiting for you by now," he said as he walked with us toward the door.
"Thank you kind sir," Emmett said with an unsteady bow that nearly took us all out, bartender included. He laughed it off and disappeared into the now closed bar.
"It's fucking cold," Jasper muttered and looked out at the empty street before us. "Where's that god forsaken cabby?"
"Fuck the cabby, we have a car." Emmett slapped his back with the palm of his fist and caused him to lunge forward off of the curb and into the street.
The look on Jasper's face was priceless. "First of all…Fuck You. Second, because I don't want to get a DUI the night before my wedding."
"Fuck it," was Emmett's brilliant response.
"That is you my brother," Jasper pointed at his chest as he stepped back onto the sidewalk. He nearly fell into him, "Not me," he added in a slur.
The cab pulled around the corner and I noticed the look of disappointment on Emmett's face when the headlights flashed over us. We piled into the back seat, told the driver where we needed to go and sat back for the ride. The sooner we got to Jaspers, the sooner I could get to sleep, the sooner I could wake up and marry my Bella. Make her truly my Bella. Yeah, if I could be so lucky.
We walked, or more like stumbled down the walk toward the front door chuckling all the way. Emmett was between us with his arms resting on both our shoulders.
"This is it you guys, no more one night stands," he ruffled Jasper's hair. "No more choices, this is the final call." He proceeded to ruffle my hair as well. "You guys are going to fucking love it." His voice carried through the neighborhood before Jasper shut the door behind us. The moment I sat on the couch and let my head rest, I would have been out but Emmett had other plans.
BPOV
I didn't text Edward at all while he was out with Emmett and Jasper. I wanted him to feel like he was able to do that sort of male bonding thing without any interruption from me. I'm not at all worried because I know Edward love's me, he has picked me and why would he himself, hurt someone he chose?
Rose and Alice stayed with Ethan and Bailey and we talked until two in the morning. Esme and Renee were due to arrive at eight am to help us prepare for the day by watching their grandchildren. I fell asleep on the couch with my legs opposite Alice's and Rose was in the love chair.
When I woke up my legs were all wrapped up with Alice's and Renee was looking over me with her hands on her hips. "Are you serious right now?" She asked when my eyes opened. I had to blink a few times before I realized I was awake. "You both are getting married in eight hours and you're still sleeping?"
I felt Alice stir under me and the next thing I knew I was laying on the floor, "Ouch." I rubbed my bottom and Alice had the most frightening look all over her face. She hurried up to a standing position on the couch and held her hands over her mouth, "What time is it….exactly," she asked in a rush taking her hands away and then placing them back over her mouth.
"It's eight-fifteen. You were supposed to be ready when we got here."
"We'll be ready in five," she hopped off the couch and grabbed my hand. Once she successfully helped me off the ground, she pulled me back to the bedroom.
Alice got ready quicker than I have ever seen and she still looked sleek. I threw on a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt and of course Alice gave me the look.
"What," I asked even though I knew why. "It's not like I'm getting married like this."
Alice sighed and gave me the once over once more and then we were finally on our way out to the hairdressers; whom is our first stop out of four. Rose tagged along because she is playing the biggest part in our wedding beside the brides and grooms themselves. We aren't having the traditional bridesmaids; we only need a maid of honor. By us getting married together is saving us the hassle of making the decision of who would be our maid of honor at our individual weddings. For that I was elated. I know who my pick would be, hands down, but I would hate to hurt Rose in the process.
Alice got an updo and I was leaving my hair down. It only took an hour to do mine but another half hour to do Alice's. The second stop was makeup which is the part I wasn't looking forward to the most. Alice had a face full of color, which completely works for her and mine was more natural; browns and tans. Our third stop was the final fitting of our dresses.
We pulled up to the park two hours before the wedding was scheduled to begin and everything was in shambles. The tables were still folded and the chairs stacked over one another. The food was still being prepared and the waiter's staff was three people short. The band hired still hadn't arrived and I could see Charlie looking at a big stain that covered the whole front part of his suit.
I looked to Alice to judge her reaction and she has her poker face on. She was scanning the scene in front of us, he lips pierced and her hands on her hips. She let out a breath and started towards the entrance.
"God, I swear if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." I followed behind her and Rose followed behind me carrying our dresses in her hands. I watched as Alice worked her magic. She eliminated three tables by changing the seating arrangement around, therefore removing the need for the three noncommittal waiters. She got some of the boys from Jasper's graduating class—who were of course in town for the wedding—to set up the tables and chairs and she gave the cooks incentive to get the food done. She offered them booze and other apparently enticing things. When she got to Charlie she just laughed and told him she hadn't imagined him looking any other way.
We were dressed and ready but still had no band, "We have no music." Alice was calm and collective but the crease between her brows gave her anxiety away. "What are we going to walk down the aisle too?"
I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say or what, if anything, would make it right; all I could come up with was what I felt. "It doesn't matter if we walk down the aisle in silence or if we crunk our happy asses down it. As long as we get to the I do's I can care less." She smiled and fluffed her dress out.
"You're right, who cares. Everything else is in shambles so why not add that to the cake." She looked at herself in the mirror and not taking her eyes from it she looked at my reflection too. "Did you ever think we would be getting married together?"
"No, I didn't think I would get married at all so this whole experience is like a hazy dream. I'm trying not to over think it until it actually happens.
"Well, prepare yourself because it's really happening."
As if on cue, Charlie walked through the door with a solemn look on his face. "You girls ready, they're getting antsy out there," his voice was shaky and his eyes looked anywhere but at us.
"We're ready," Alice answered before I could find my voice.
"Come on then, I have an arm for the both of you," he held out his arms in the traditional pose and we hurried to his side. We laced our arms through his and smiled at each other. "You are the most beautiful brides; all except for your mother."
"Aww," we said in unison. "We love you dad," Alice said as we wrapped our free arms around him.
"Yeah dad," I said hesitantly because I've never called him that. When it comes to Charlie I feel like I do have a father. Charlie is the best father a girl could ever have and I get to share him with my two sisters. So he isn't my father by blood but in every way that matters to a girl, Charlie is my dad.
His eyes watered up as he smiled down at me and, "Thank you," was all he said before he looked away. He turned and faced the exit….
This is really happening.
Charlie's POV
I've already walked one daughter down the aisle, now here I am walking the other two down the same aisle. I would be lying to whoever was listening if I said I wasn't worried about any of them. All my worries differ of course; each girl has a different weakness.
Alice was our first adopted child. She came to us from out of the blue. We had been talking about adoption a lot because in the 10 years Renee and I had been married, we had failed time and time again at conceiving a child. I was working late and received a call about domestic violence. When I arrived on the scene I was dumbfounded. The woman had her daughter held tight in front of her and she had something sharp held to her neck. The man was trying to coax the object away from her but she wasn't giving in.
Later, after the mother was taken into custody and the man taken in for questioning, we learned that he wasn't the little girl's biological father. Alice was shaking and crying when I took her into the station but by the time we had given her coloring books and crayons she was laughing and had the most magnificent smile. When the CPS (Child Protection Services) worker came in to take her to a group home I asked her about the adoption process. Two weeks later Renee and I welcomed Alice to our home. Three months later she accepted the Swan last name.
I worry that Alice may be too much for any one person and that that person will not see the amazing woman that she is. Jasper seems to be smitten by her and, so far, has been loyal and adoring. My worries have recently been disintegrating since they met.
Renee and I decided together that we would adopt another child that needed help and that's when we adopted Rosalie. Her mother was a party animal and preferred to be Rosalie's friend rather than her mother. When we first took Rose in she was a very lost soul. Ten years old and she hadn't been to school the entire 5th grade. The worst and saddest part about Rose when she arrived is that she was addicted to cocaine. She went through withdrawals for the first month she was with us. Renee almost broke down and gave her what she wanted but thankfully Rose came out of the hole her mother buried her in and saved us that heartache. The only worry I have for her is that she will let her addictive personality ruin her life. As long as Emmett can keep her intrigued, which it seems to me that he can, well I'm sure she will be just fine.
Bella was unexpected, after Rose we said we were done. Not that we didn't have room for another because we did, just that we didn't want to spread ourselves too thin. Two girls seemed to be just the right number. Until I started to see Bella. She was always in the same spot; sitting out at a park I passed everyday on my route, which happened to be right next to an orphanage. I found out a few days after first seeing her that she belonged to the orphanage. I had to escort a boy into the building and I saw her sitting on the couch with her head phones in her ears. Always reading. I asked the person in charge about her and he informed me that she never spoke unless spoken to and she had no friends. When I told Renee about her she didn't hesitate to agree that we would take her in.
Bella wasn't the worse off of the three, far from it actually, but she was older when we brought her into our home. I feel like we helped her the best we could and I hope and pray every day that it was just enough for her to be happy with the way her life has gone. My one and only worry for Bella is that she will let Edward control her life. By control I mean, his very presence brings a kind of secure feeling over her. She doesn't hide it and I can't be sure if she even notices it herself, but it's there and it's powerful. I want her to be her own person and not rely on another. Hopefully today will prove to my subconscious that we did do just that.
Bella and Alice both looked completely in love with the eyes they were looking into as the priest read the words that have been read for centuries. As I as I watched all of them I felt peace in my heart as I knew my girls were home. Who would have ever believed that all three of my girls would find their soulmates in three boys with similar rough lives, who also happen to be adopted by the same family? So now all my Swan girls—and my three grandchildren—are Cullen's. I watched the boys and their expressions mirrored their future wives'. They were definitely going to be happy and that thought only made my heart feel warmer.
Jasper placed the ring on Alice's finger and stumbled through the traditional vows. Through eyes filled with tears and a shaky voice, Alice placed the ring on Jasper's finger and returned the same traditional vows.
Edward and Bella, who have been looking into each other's eyes the entire ceremony, had chosen to write their own vows. Edward was good for Bella, something about him completes her and she is so much happier now that they have found each other. They both held soft smiles and warm eyes as they read their vows to one another and slipped the rings on their fingers. The priest asked them each if they took the other as husband and wife and they all said "I do."
"You may kiss the brides," he declared and both boys gathered their wives up and kissed them, tilting them down and up again.
I know it's been too long since I updated. I feel like I lied and I am so sorry for that. I ended up moving and got really overwhelmed with that and then school started. I don't even want to get into that but it's already been a crazy week. This weekend I have to go over to my old apartment and get the remainder of my things and clean it up a bit. I am hoping, while I'm in school, I can update at minimum once a week. I will do my very best to meet that but please bare with me when I'm a day or two late. Real life calls and I have got to answer the phone for my kids and myself.
Anyways, back to whats really important (LOL don't we all wish)...ahhh they got married, and together. I loved this chapter, especially the surprise POV of Charlie. You got a little bit of background info on our girls. Make's things a little more interesting don't you think. Especially how the Alice found Jasper (duh) a psychologist and Rose found Emmett, a party animal, all things of their past that made them who they are today. It's, in a way, facing their past and overcoming it. This story isn't really about them but they each have a story, too. And Bella, you know some of her past, and I kind of left it that way for your imagination. Edward's past is going to come out eventually, I won't say when or how much or how but it will and it is, very soon.
I know I've said this more than a few times but harder times are coming for our beautiful couple and their Emilee. Nothing bizzar but things that happen to a couple sometimes when they are together for so long. You'll see...again nothing to terrible and of course there will be a happy ending so you know it's nothing seriously OMG what was she thinking.
The next chapter is a lot of dialog but there are a few little spots that get hit on but not too much. Think of it as a movie montage showing the passing of time haha!! I'm hoping to get it out by next weekend and I'm very sorry that I have to make you wait that long for an update. I hope it will be worth....
Please leave me sum luv...lil' button just below
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