Serenity's Prayer Chapter 25:The AfterParty, a twilight fanfic

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer still owns everything in the Twiverse. I'm just playing around with her fascinating toys.

They did it! Now it's time to party :)

Chapter 25: The After-Party

Bella's POV

After the ceremony, Edward and I stood by the front door to greet our guests before they were ushered toward the reception tent. But based on the modest guest list, we could have gathered everyone in the family room.

In addition to both our families, I invited Señora Morena and her husband, Mr. Varner and Ms. Cope, and Rev. David Lewis and his wife. Angela and Ben were there, of course, as were Jessica and Eric. They were still mourning Brittany and finding companionable solace in each other. Madeleine of the muffin world was also there along with her sister Eliza and her husband. I wanted to invite Mrs. Young and her sister Bonnie but didn't know how to do so without seeming insensitive. I decided we would pay them a visit after the New Year instead.

But my favorite guests were the vampire clan at Denali: Eleazar and Carmen, and Kate, youngest sister of Irina and Tanya. I wanted Edward to have people at his wedding who truly understood the day's significance, and he was moved by their presence.

"Cara mia, you are an angel!" Carmen kissed my cheeks several times in the receiving line. She smelled like oranges and spice, and the warmth of her personality was equally comforting. Eleazar was rather stoic, but his approval of our marriage was evident.

Kate was a snowier blonde than Irina and far less animated. She hugged us and patted Edward on the back as she passed. "Good boy," she winked, and Edward laughed.

Eventually we made our way to the reception tent, and our entrance was met with whoops and wild applause. Alice and Emmett were easily the loudest, and their unbridled enthusiasm made us both laugh.

We walked toward the front table where the Cullens were gathered, and my cheeks were strained with glee as I looked around. The ceremony's color scheme continued in this room, grounded by floral greens. Indoor trees were strewn with silver and gold decorative fruit and tastefully dispersed throughout the airy space. Topiary balls alternated with golden spheres of twinkling lights in the ceiling, turning the tent into a garden of dreams. Creamy china and metallic flatware rested atop round tables covered in rich golden fabric. Instead of flowers, each table was centerpieced by a crystal cupcake stand featuring Madeleine's newest confections: blueberry cheesecake, white chocolate macadamia nut, and rocky road. No detail had been overlooked and few expenses spared, and I took a mental snapshot of the reception hall to revisit someday in the future.

The servers brought out our food, and I giggled my way through Edward's greatly exaggerated enjoyment of the cuisine. The quiche was sublime, as was the tomato bisque soup. Sparkling golden cider was the perfect beverage choice as some guests were minors, and we wouldn't have wanted underage drinking at a party attended by the chief of police.

The cupcake centerpieces not only encouraged the guests to have dessert at their leisure-as I considered it the most important meal of the day—but eliminated the need to stuff Edward's face with cake. Alice confided baked goods were the most difficult for vampires to consume, and I wanted to spare Edward whatever discomfort I could. As it was, he would have to purge his dinner sometime tonight before we went to bed.

Tonight...

We...

Bed...

Suddenly there was something much sweeter than cupcakes on my mind.

In a quick response to my randy change of thought, Alice rose with glass in hand and announced it was time for the toasts. Charlie gave his first, likely to get it over with, and his brief sentiments were gruffly sincere. By contrast, Carlisle was tender and verbose, bringing half the women to tears. Señora Morena was unintelligibly excited, Phil surprisingly witty, and Angela and Jessica's joint toast was full of gushing and blushing.

But when Emmett requested the microphone, Edward groaned. His reaction made me laugh, and Emmett tried to reassure him.

"Don't worry, Eddie," he grinned as he stood up. "I promise I'll behave."

Only the Cullens had ever heard Emmett's mocking moniker for his brother. And based on the amused murmurs in the crowd, I had a sinking suspicion my husband hadn't heard the last of it in Forks. He put his head in his hands to the Cullens' amusement as I rubbed his back.

"There's a lot I could say right now," Emmett said grandly. "And most of it would get me in trouble with my parents. And Bella, of course. And maybe the police department."

"Keep it clean, son," Charlie shouted, inciting more laughter from the crowd.

"It's all good, chief," Emmett replied. "Your daughter married a law-abiding citizen, a polite, upstanding member of this community. I don't think Eddie has even jaywalked in Forks. But then there's what happened in Vegas...and Palm Springs...and behind that Seven-Eleven in Seattle..."

Edward slapped the table. "Get on with it, man!" he yelled with good humor.

"Anyway, I know everyone is focused on what Edward and Bella are getting today, and that's cool. But I'm kind of excited about what I'm getting today." He looked at Edward and me. "I'm getting a sister who is a warm reminder of how good it is to be alive. And she's giving me a brother who is finally complete and content. Edward has always been the smartest guy I knew, other than Carlisle. But with Bella at his side, he will forever be the happiest guy I know, other than me."

He raised his glass, and we all followed suit. "To the bride and groom. May today be the start of an endless stream of happy days"—he wiggled his eyebrows—"and nights."

Charlie began coughing loudly as Emmett took his seat, and Edward shook his head. "My brother is a fool." He leaned in for another kiss. "But I hope he's right about the happy nights."

"No hope needed," I smiled. "I can promise you that."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Alice announced. "Please direct your attention to the ballroom floor as Edward and Bella prepare to dance together for the first time as husband and wife."

Edward extended his hand. "Shall we, Mrs. Cullen?"

"I'll do anything you want if you keep calling me that."

His eyes flashed. "And I'll hold you to that later."

As we walked toward the floor, I was tingling with anticipation. Of all the songs I'd considered for our first dance, this one best captured my feelings. The music began, and Edward's immediate smile showed his recognition of it. His eyes conveyed their loving appreciation, and as he wrapped his arms around me, Roberta Flack's soulful voice retold our history from my point of view:

The first time ever I saw your face

I thought the sun rose in your eyes

And the moon and the stars were gifts you gave

To the dark and the endless skies

The first time ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth move in my hands

Like the trembling heart of a captive bird

That was then at my command

My love

The first time ever I lay with you

I felt your heart so close to mine

And I knew our joy would fill the earth

And last ' til the end of time

My love

The first time ever I saw your face

Your face

We were barely moving as the song slowed to an end, and as much as I wanted to idle in that precious moment, I knew Alice would soon move us along to the dances with our parents.

But she said, "That was the bride's song for the groom. Now we will hear the groom's song for the bride."

I gaped at my grinning husband. "What is she talking about?"

He kissed my forehead. "Amazing what a vampire can do on short notice."

A favorite song from a favorite movie began playing around us, and I gasped in pleasant surprise. "You hate popular music."

"But I love you." He kissed me again. "And this song articulates that love better than I ever could, with one instrumental exception, of course."

He pulled me closer as we whirled to the sounds of Iris:

And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later, it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken,

I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't comin'

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies,

Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

My heart swelled as Johnny Rzeznik's anguished voice spoke Edward's love to me, and when Edward sang the last line in my ear, it shattered completely. I threw my arms around him, heedless of the tittering onlookers, and kissed him like it was our first and last time.

A collective sigh moved through the crowd, and Edward smiled against my lips. "Careful, love. I might be tempted to take you right here in front of all these people."

"You can't possibly think I'd care," I murmured, feeling bold and beautiful. "We are married, after all."

"Ah, so that was the reason behind the quick wedding," he said as a new song began. "You wanted to lose your virtue without guilt."

I pressed myself closer to him. "Are you complaining?"

"Not a whit. I'd just like to know what I'm getting myself into."

"Well." I leaned in and licked his ear. "Once we get out of here, I'd be happy to show you exactly what you're getting yourself into."

His golden eyes darkened as his body responded below my waist. "You are a scandalous woman, Mrs. Cullen," he purred. "I might just have to tame you."

Delectable images danced across my mind, and I ran my tongue across my teeth. "I'd like to see you try."

He licked his own lips as he watched my tongue, and I was grateful he was holding me upright. "How much longer do we have to stay?" he groaned in my ear.

"We have to dance with our parents, make a short speech, then we can leave."

"Then let's do that." His eyes were golden fire. "Quickly."

As if on cue, the song changed to Wonderful World, my short-but-sweet selection for the father-daughter dance. The thought of dancing with Charlie eroded my romantic thoughts, and I felt calm enough to behave myself. But as I glanced at Charlie, sitting at the table with Madeleine, I could see he was too overcome with emotion to move. So I waved at him, and he nodded.

That was enough interaction for us.

As Louis Armstrong approached his conclusion, Jasper tapped me on the shoulder. My surprise was clear, but my husband kissed me and walked toward the head table. The song subtly changed to a classic waltz, and Edward led Esme back to the dance floor. I grinned at them as Jasper bowed to me.

"May I have this dance?"

I attempted a curtsy. "That would be lovely."

Jasper rested one hand on my lower back while the other held mine with gentle authority. "Don't worry," I said. "I've been taking lessons with Rosalie."

His brow furrowed as if the image confused him, and I chuckled. Our simple steps paled in comparison to Edward and Esme, and we let them wow the crowd with their effortless elegance.

"You made me nervous," Jasper said after a while. "Your blood, of course, but your heart especially."

This was the most Jasper had spoken to me since I forgave him. "My heart?"

"Your emotions. From the moment Edward spotted you in the cafeteria, your interest in him was powerful, unusually strong for a human. For you to be so drawn to him... yet be his singer... yet also be immune to his telepathy..." His expression changed. "I couldn't stop wondering what sort of creature you were."

In spite of his seriousness, I laughed. "I've never been called a 'creature' before."

Jasper smiled sheepishly. "I apologize for the unflattering term, but I had never encountered anything like you before. Alice insisted you would completely alter our family's future, and her predication made me more apprehensive. I trusted my love explicitly but didn't know if I could trust you."

He was the third Cullen to mention the issue of trusting me, but his willingness to admit it was comforting. "Do you?"

Jasper met my eyes. "With Alice's life. You are an extraordinary person, Bella. And for all you have done for Edward, for Alice, and for every member of our clan, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, such as it is."

I kissed Jasper's frozen cheek as Edward twirled Esme toward her waiting husband. "You are very good. And I am honored you accept me so fully."

"I am the one bearing the honor of your acceptance. And that I will never forget."

Edward returned to my side, and Jasper kissed my hand before departing. "Take care of her, brother. She is a rare breed."

"I will," he said, and the music changed once more as the Cullen couples took their places around us. I laid my head on Edward's shoulder and felt his cool lips against my forehead. I raised my eyes and found his smiling.

"Did Esme calm you down, Mr. Cullen?"

"Hardly," he laughed. "She is practically choking with happiness. She never thought this day would come. And I confess, neither did I."

"You didn't think I would ever marry you?"

"I didn't think you existed for me. After eighty years of nothing, how could I have dreamed someone so perfect, so enchanting, so positively unexpected could be waiting for me? Do you have any idea of what that feels like? Any clue of what you did tonight?"

His voice trembled with feeling, and I caressed his cheek. "Tell me."

He lifted my hand to kiss it and cradled me closer to his chest. "Our wedding was... was beyond anything I could have ever imagined, but you..." his eyes roamed my body "...you wore blue the first time you danced with me as my girlfriend, and you are wearing blue now, dancing with me as my wife."

I smiled, too overwhelmed to do much else. "I wanted to surprise you."

"You are the surprise, Isabella Cullen," he said with impassioned eyes. "A beautiful, life-changing surprise."

Edward brought his lips back to mine, and as our kiss began to build and deepen, the world around us slowly disappeared. I could feel his hands tighten around my back, and I wanted melt into his embrace.

But abruptly, his mouth slowed and a frown creased his forehead.

"What is it?"

"Your mother."

I looked around the room. "Where is she?"

"On the first floor of the house." Edward's eyes softened. "Crying."

My arousal evaporated as concern took its place. "I'll go talk to her."

"And I'm going to see about Charlie," Edward glanced toward his now-empty table. "He looks like he could use a friend. Or a beer."

We reluctantly separated as Edward showed Alice our intentions. She'd had a contingency plan in place and set off to capture video greetings from our guests with her expensive new digital video recorder.

I found Renee in the make-shift chapel where the family room used to be. As I cut through the chairs to reach her in the front row, she turned to me with a bright smile.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," she sniffled. "Elegant, simple, and just...you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I know you're going to be happy." She looked down at her dress. "Edward loves you more than the air he breathes, and he would sooner die than hurt you. That littlest Cullen seems as happy about your wedding as you are, and the parents look at you like you're their own flesh and blood. You're marrying into a warm family who loves you, and I am so happy."

I sat next in the chair next to her. "So why are you crying?"

"I..." She pressed a palm to her head and exhaled loudly. "When Esme called me with the news of your wedding, I thought she was playing a practical joke. And once I arrived and saw the preparations in full swing, I expected the scandalized townspeople to scoff their way through the ceremony.

"But that's not what happened. Everyone here-your in-laws, your classmates, hell, even your father-they all got it. They all understood what was going on here, and they've known you for less than a year. I've been with you your entire life and felt like I was the outsider. Like I didn't even know you."

She crumpled a damp wad of tissues in her hands. "I don't know you, Bella. And I didn't know that until tonight." Her moist eyes met mine. "How could I have missed you when you were right beside me for seventeen years?"

I took her hands. "You didn't miss anything. This me that you see now, she didn't exist before I came to Forks."

She shook her head. "You just met Edward and most of these people, but that independent girl has always been there: coloring outside the lines in her "Pinky and the Brain" coloring book, wearing pants to her first middle school dance, preferring the library to the playground. She was there all along, and I didn't see her because I was too busy looking for myself."

"Maybe you didn't see her as clearly as you thought," I said gently. "But in watching you search so hard for yourself, I determined to fight just as hard for my life, once I decided what I wanted. These people witnessed this decision, but your influence gave me the courage to make it."

I smoothed her hair and smiled. "This is a happy night, Mom. One of the happiest nights we'll ever experience together. Let's not ruin it with regrets."

"You're right." Renee hugged me. "And I love you, honey. You are twice the woman I'll ever be."

"I hope not. I don't think Edward would be able to handle that."

"You're probably right." She laughed and wiped her face. "He is a skinny little thing."

We returned to the reception tent arm-in-arm, all earlier unpleasantness forgotten. The dance floor was full, as all the guests had joined the Cullens in our absence, and even Charlie was cutting some sort of rug with Madeleine. Edward was waiting near the door, and he eagerly took my hand as Phil escorted Renee back to their table. I smiled after them and let Edward lead me to the dance floor.

The music was fast and festive, but our movements had a decidedly different flavor. After the third song, Edward bent his face to my ear.

"Can we please make that speech now?"

I fluttered as his hips pressed into mine. "Let's do that."

We walked toward the front table, and Edward picked up the microphone. The music faded as he tapped it softly, and we smiled at the curious crowd.

"Thank you all for coming," Edward proclaimed. "Good night!"

He laid down the microphone and kissed me as cries of shock and delight rippled through the crowd. I swatted his arm and laughed when he released me.

"Please excuse my husband. He's in a bit of a hurry."

"I wonder why!" Emmett crowed.

I couldn't stop the blush from coloring my face. "We are thrilled to have shared this amazing night with all of you. Everything was more beautiful than I could have dreamed, and I will never forget any of it as long as I live." I smiled at the Cullen women. "Please help yourself to all the cupcakes and cider you can hold and accept our wishes for a safe and happy New Year in a few days. But for now, we are out of here!"

The crowd erupted in applause, and we waved our goodbyes as they parted to let us through. I hugged my parents again, thanking them for their support and understanding, and Charlie even let me kiss his cheek.

Once we reached the foyer of the house, Edward turned to me, his cool hand sliding down my bare arm.

"Are you ready?"

My heart rate was speeding up, and I swallowed hard. "I am very ready."

He smiled gently, but the heat in his eyes told me the full truth. "Then let's go."

Well… I think we know what comes next, hehehe.

See ya then! xo