Chapter 24 – Wedding

I got out of the backseat of my car, with my parents riding in the front. We had used my car to get to Emily and Sam's wedding venue. I was not a part of the wedding party, because I did not think that it was fair. I had not been here for the last 2 and a half years and it had been Renesmee and Leah who had get all the preparations done. On the groom's side, it was Jared and Paul who had been there for Sam. Emily wanted me in the bridal party but I insisted otherwise.

So, here I was, accompanying my parents to the most awaited wedding in the family. My mom was looking gorgeous in her navy blue bodycon, off shoulders, quarter sleeves midi dress and navy-blue silver heels matching her diamond studded earrings and her hair was in a low romantic up do. My dad looked his usual handsome self in a three-piece grey suit. I was wearing a champagne gold square neck, high waist dress which was full sleeves, with Polypropylene fabric till just under my waist and satin fabric for the rest of the dress with gold high heels and I let my hair loose in soft curls, parted down the middle and princess cut diamond studs.

My mom linked her hand in the hoop of my dad's arm as they walked a few steps ahead of me. I smiled at my mom and dad, they looked so happy together. It was like watching a movie up close. My mom was laughing at something my dad had said as they climbed up the stairs of the plaza where Emily and Sam were getting married.

When we entered the hall where the wedding ceremony was going to take place, I was stunned. The decoration was absolutely mesmerising. I do not think I have seen any wedding half as beautiful as this.

There were delicate thousands of white lilacs and peach tiffany roses flowers hanging from the ceiling on a string along with at least a hundred soft yellow bulbs. There were white Napa wedding chairs placed on either side of the aisle with a line of peach rose petals right down the aisle. Along with that on the corner of each chair that was right next to the aisle was a bouquet of viburnums, white lilacs, peach ranunculus flowers. To complete the look, every pillar was covered with white sheer curtain and there stood a floral archway altar. The place was barely filled – maybe the guests were yet to come.

"Isn't this lovely?" my mother turned to me, I looked at her and nodded my head. "It's gorgeous" I breathed, taking in the beautiful scene in front of me. My eyes landed on Seth, who was grinning as he looked at me and I waved, smiling back. Seth was wearing a white shirt, black pants, black coat and black thin tie – it looked as though if he would flex the muscles of his arms, the coat would tear up.

Seth walked up to us with his grin plastered on his face. "Mom, dad – this is Seth, Emily's cousin" I introduced my confused parents. "Hello Seth" my mom greeted him with a warm smile, "Hello Mrs. Young" he greeted. "Hello Mr. Young" he shook hands with my dad who smiled in return. "It is so nice to finally meet you" Seth continued, my parents chuckled; "It's wonderful to meet you too" my mom smiled.

"Emily asked me to tell you all that you have to sit in the very front" he gestured towards the seats in the front. "Oh – Thank you" my mom smiled, patting his muscular shoulders. They both started walking down the aisle towards the front seats and I started to follow them. "Grace" Seth called out, I stopped and turned around. "Emily was asking for you" he told me, "Oh, where is she?" I asked. Seth gave me the directions of the room Emily was in with the rest of the wedding party and I left after telling my parents that I was going to see Emily.

I was walking down the hallway Seth had told me when I turned towards the hallway on my right where Emily's room was and I bumped hard. "Sorry" I mumbled as a pair of hands held me by my arms. I looked up to see the guy I was hoping to run into – Embry. "I am sorry" though his words escaped his lips, it seemed though his thoughts were far away as he looked at me, making me blush.

I looked at Embry, who was wearing a crisp white shirt, black tie, black waist coat, black coat and black pants with white pocket square and black formal shoes, his hair was as usual messy and sticking up in the air. "Don't you look handsome" I smiled, "I don't look half as good as you" his compliment made my heart skip a beat. "Seriously, you look so gorgeous" he smiled, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, "Thank you" I somehow managed to mumble.

"Were you going to see Emily?" he asked me, "Yep" I nodded, "Good, she was sending me to look for you" Embry told me. "Well, I will get going now" I said and that is when I realized – or maybe, we realized – that he had not dropped his hands from my arms. His fingers lingered a little while longer before he dropped his hands. I instantly missed his touch, it felt wonderful where he had touched – 'Focus' I reminded myself.

"I will see you later" Embry said hopefully and I nodded before making my way around him and towards Emily's room. I smiled at the encounter as I walked down to Emily's room.

Once I reached her door, I knocked on it. "Who is it?" It was Renesmee, "It's me - Grace" I replied and the lock clicked and the door swung open. Renesmee was wearing a floor length, peach colour, sweetheart neck, off sleeves dress her hair was in a side fishtail braid and her drop earrings were just another perfection in her already perfect beauty. "Wow!" I chuckled looking at Renesmee, "Wow yourself" she smirked, making me blush.

She pulled me inside and closed the door behind us. The room was like a hotel room. With golden armchairs in front of a burning fireplace. The bed had white sheets and golden comforter and Emily was sitting in front of a vintage vanity table. Her veil was already down but I could still see her beautiful face in the mirror. She was wearing a ballgown white dress with full net sleeves. Her hair was straightened and it flowed down naturally. Her make-up was natural, not that she needed any make up and she was wearing classic diamond, dangle earrings.

I walked up to her quickly and she stood up to face me. "Oh my god! I don't think I have seen a more beautiful bride" I could feel tears forming at the corner of my eyes – happy tears. I could not believe that it was finally happening! Sam and Emily were getting married! Emily chuckled and wrapped her arms around me, I put my hands on her shoulder blades carefully, I did not want to ruin her dress.

"Where were you since morning?" she asked me once we dropped our hands, "I am sorry, I went to pick up mom and dad and their dresses, it was a mess" I recalled what a mess of a day I had. "It's okay" she smiled, although she always smiled, I could tell her she was extremely happy today and she deserved it.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw another girl enter the room from the bathroom. It was Leah, she was wearing a floor length, peach colour, halter neck dress and her hair was left open, short till her chin. "Have you met Leah?" Emily asked me, "No" I smiled at Leah, who smiled back. "This is Grace" Emily told Leah. "Oh, so this is Grace" Leah gave me a smirk. What did that mean? Well, my question was answered without asking it aloud.

"Embry keeps talking about you" she told me with a grin, it made my heart skip a beat and I looked down. He talks about me? Why did it give my heart a warm fuzzy feeling?

The four of us talked for a little while before I realised that the wedding was going to start any minute. "I should get back, the wedding would start any minute now" I announced, "Okay" Emily nodded. "Don't get nervous" I teased her and she chuckled nervously. I gave her a gentle hug before I walked out of the door and practically ran to the hall.

"I, Sam Uley, take you, Emily young, to be my wedded wife" Sam spoke and for the millionth time my eyes shifted towards Embry to only find him stealing a glance of my face. I tried to hide my smile and concentrate "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."

The minster turned to Emily, who spoke her vows now. "I, Emily Young, take you, Sam Uley, to be my wedded husband" she started, "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness." I looked at how lovingly they both looked at each other, as if no one else was there in the room and yet again I found myself glancing at Embry. I only now realized what I was thinking. I was wishing that maybe it could be us and instantly I was surprised by the intensity of my thoughts.

The minister spoke now "May the blessings of life, the joy of love, the peace of truth, and the wisdom and strength of Spirit, be your constant companion, now and always, as husband and wife." He turned to Sam and continued, "You may seal this union with a kiss". Sam wrapped his arms around Emily's waist and Emily kept her hands on his chest as they both closed their eyes and their lips touched.

The whole hall erupted into sound of claps from every corner. I clapped too as a grin appeared on my face. Their kiss was in every way perfect and I knew I envied it, I wanted my perfect kiss with the guy I have sworn to look at only as a friend but I knew my feelings were slipping out my hands.

Sam and Emily walked with their arms linked down the aisle as the crowd cheered for them, following them was Leah and Jared and behind them were Renesmee and Paul.

The wedding party was shifted to a much bigger hall, with a dance floor in the middle. There were circular tables covered with white cloth, on top of it was the same bouquet of viburnums, white lilacs, peach ranunculus flowers with moss as the centrepiece.

My parents and I were joined by Claire and her parents. Claire's dad – Ron was my cousin but it seemed like Claire was more of a cousin to me than my niece. Everyone was engaged in catching up when I caught Embry stealing glances again.

"Aren't you going to call him over?" my mom whispered in my ear making me jump. "Who?" I tried to play innocent, "Embry" she rolled her eyes. Of course, she knew what was going on. When I looked up again, Embry was already walking towards our table. He knew my parents, it was not like I had to introduce them but my mom had just realised about my crush on him and I was not sure what was going to happen next.

"Embry!" she greeted him with a hug as he approached us. Embry chuckled and gave my mom a side hug. "How are you?" mom asked him, it seemed like they had never been out of touch. "I am good, how are you?" Embry asked, "I am good" mom smiled. "It's been so long since I have seen you, I almost didn't recognize you, Ron told me it was you" Mom brought him over to our table and he sat down between mom and me.

"Hello Mr. Young" Embry shook hands with my dad and then he greeted Claire and her parents. He talked so effortlessly with everyone, and he made everyone smile. Was he trying to make me fall in love with him all over again? Because it was working.

It was time for Emily and Sam's first dance. Could it be more magical? Renesmee and Leah had done a wonderful job on making this day special for both of them. Confetti fell on them as their dance ended. Everyone clapped for them and slowly, they were joined by several couples – including, Jacob and Renesmee, Leah and apparently her boyfriend, Paul and Rachel, Jared and Kim and several other couples.

"Mom" Claire brought our attention to her. "Can I go dance with Quil now?" it made me chuckle. "Don't torture him, let him enjoy the wedding with his friends" her mother replied but I could see tears forming in Claire's eyes. "Mom please!" she kept chanting over and over again until her mom finally agreed.

"Grace come with us" she said jumping up from her chair. "I don't think so" I shook my head with a smile, "Why?" Claire pouted, "I don't have a dance partner like you" I tried to reason with her. "Embry will dance with you, won't you?" Claire targeted Embry with her puppy dog eyes and I could feel my heart beat rising.

Embry looked at everyone at our table and when my mom gave him an encouraging smile he offered me him hand. Without a second thought, I took his hand and he led me and Claire to Quil first and then he led me to the dance floor, with Quil and Claire right behind us.

Some soft, romantic music was blasting through the speakers, I had not heard the song before, but it had certainly created a romantic ambiance.

Embry slowly wrapped his arm around my waist and put my hand on his shoulder while the fingers of his free hand entangled with the fingers of my free hand. Embry pulled me closer, making my heart flutter.

We swung to the rhythm of the music and all the while I felt as though my heart would escape from my ribcage. "I can hear it" Embry whispered in my ear, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks and ear and my mouth went dry.

Embry looked in my eyes and I could not drop my gaze. "I am sorry" he apologized, not just with his words but also with his eyes. "For what?" I had to ask him, "For whatever happened two and a half years ago" he admitted. "Forget it, I have" I tried to sound honest but in reality, I had not forgotten anything.

"I cannot, I still remember the day you left" Embry's eyes were sad, "I don't want to lose you again."

"You have me here"

"But you will leave"

"I have to, I have my university there"

"Can't you stay for a few more days?"

"And where would I stay? Emily and Sam are leaving for their honeymoon tonight"

"I am sure they would not mind lending you their place for a few days" I was quite after his idea, maybe I could stay back for a few days. I have had so much fun these past days, I did not want to leave either.

"Okay" I agreed, and it immediately bought a grin on Embry's face. He did something I had not expected at all, something that completely blew my mind and took me by surprise.

Embry pressed his lips against my cheeks, and my skin tingled where he had kissed me. My heart was beating so loudly that I felt as though everyone in the room could hear it. I looked at Embry with so many feelings inside me that even I could not understand – I was surprised, I was falling in love again but I was also scared; Scared to be hurt again.

A/N: Hey Readers,

I am sorry I have not updated the story since a long time due to a fatal car accident that has taken place in my university, it has my complete attention and hence I could not update. Thank you for all your patience. I will be back with another chapter very soon. I am sorry for all the delay, I request you all to please bear with me.

As always, leave a review, I swear it would not take more than a minute, and it would mean the world to me. Let me know what you think will happen next.

Thank You!

-JT