Please have a look at the pictures of the outfits in this chapter by clicking on the link on my profile.
There are so many songs that I could use for this chapter but I obviously can't use them all. I have decided on Nothing But Love by Trading Yesterday for Bella and Edward's song and Open Arms by Journey for the father/daughter dance (Think of it in the most fatherly way possible and it's beautiful) You can listen to them on the link on my profile.
Chapter Four - Part One
The day that seemed to take forever to get here... is finally here. The day that my Dad and Natalie are getting married and the day that Edward and I will be flying to Hawaii. The next time we see our family after tonight we will be husband and wife; it's pretty hard to imagine but it is finally happening. I wake up beside Edward, much earlier then normal, and like usual he is awake before me.
"Good morning beautiful, did you sleep well?", he gives me one of his dazzling grins and I lean forwards to give him a kiss, "I take that as a yes".
"I can't wait for today to start".
"I can't either, but for now I am happy to just have you in my arms", to prove his point he pulls me me closer to him until our foreheads are touching and our bodies are as close as possible. I am all to aware how we still haven't actually slept together, and it isn't like there haven't been any great chances. I suppose it's one of those things that we will do when we are traditionally supposed to, but that doesn't make me what it any less. He pulls me into a kiss and it quickly deepens, but before it gets to passionate he pulls away, laughing lightly.
"A little eager this morning are we? I know it's hard but I think we can wait a little longer, we have already waited far longer than anyone thought".
I laugh, "I was just thinking about it and I guess I got a little carried away".
He leans his forehead against mine again, "You know these two years have been just as hard on me, it is just one of those things that I want to do properly". We very nearly did not do things his way on the night of the Bachelor parties, after dancing, eating and chatting with our friends and family for hours we went outside and had a romantic walk along the ocean side boardwalk; after that we meandered back into the ballroom, only to find that everyone had already retired to their rooms. Since we were still not ready to end the evening Edward and I snuck a bottle of champagne upstairs and... pretty soon things got steamy, but apparently Edward was still clear-minded enough when it came to going all the way.
"I understand, and I love that you think that it is".
There is a soft knock on the door and Edward and I slowly get up,"You can come in", he says.
Natalie looks like she just woke up, "I am sorry for disturbing you two so early, but can I have a few moments alone with Bella?".
Edward and I finish untangling ourselves and he kisses me on my forehead, "Take as long as you need. Ill be downstairs", he says to Natalie then me.
She comes over to sit beside me, her shiny brown hair and flawless peaches and cream skin already wedding perfect, but knowing Alice she will do a little something to enhance her natural beauty, "I just got here, and I wanted to give you something from Charlie and I, since I don't know if ill have time later".
"You don't have to do that".
"It was Charlie's idea actually, and I went with him to help him pick it out, but I think he was a little too shy to give it to you himself, we'll see if he says what really he wants to tonight", she laughs sweetly and opens up a black box.
Tears are already starting to form when she pulls it out. It's a drop necklace with a ring and tiny diamonds around it as well as three pearls hanging on the same sparkly string as the necklace, "He picked this out?".
I carefully slip my engagement necklace off and she nods and motions for me to turn around so she can put it on, "The three pearls represent past, present and future because we always want to be a part of those. It's from both of us but it was really important for him to get this for you since he won't be there to walk you down the aisle; think of us when you wear it and a part of us will be there".
"Oh my god!", I suddenly feel like the most awful and selfish person, "I didn't even think about how he would feel, not being able to do that!", I practically yell.
"Shhh.. it's alright, he's fine with it and buying you this necklace shows that he cares but he wants you to be happy with your choice".
The tears fall freely now and I start to blubber, "I feel horrible for not even thinking about it".
"I know but it's too early for tears", she laughs and goes over to the nightstand to get me a few pieces of Kleenex.
"Thank you so much for the necklace, ill thank my Dad later as well".
She looks off with a dreamy expression on her face, "I can't believe I am finally going back to Italy, we will be there late tomorrow morning".
"You'll have to take a ton of pictures for me, I am dying to see it but I don't think I will be able to for quite a few years, college is only a month away".
"Ill take a picture of my bistro for you, and of the ocean and a hundred other things, just for you Bella dear. It's going to feel strange going back, like I am a tourist, but I think it will be fantastic. Promise to take lots of pictures of Hawaii for me?"
I nod and cross my legs, "I promise".
"I admit that by coming this early I also really needed to see my darling daughter, before everything gets busy", she crosses her legs like mine in front of me and she takes my hands, "Do you want to talk about anything while we have time? Maybe what happens after the wedding?", she hints.
I think about it for a moment and a hundred things pop into my head, but I decide against asking her and finding out most of them myself, "I have a ton of questions but I think I will be ok. I know that Edward will take care of me".
She winks, "Ok, I am glad that's out of the way and I know he will. I am aware that I will never replace your real mother but I want you to know I am here for anything. Even for asking the embarrassing stuff. You can call me anytime from Seattle if you want as well". The realization that when Edward and I come back we won't be the only things that have changed, sinks in but I am glad how close Natalie and I are won't change.
I hug her, "Thanks so much for asking, it means a lot".
"Your very welcome", she hugs me back, "Now I am getting a little bit teary as well, pass me some Kleenex?", I grab the whole box off the nightstand, and she takes a few pieces to dab her eyes with.
"Is Alice going to attack you with the cosmetic's soon?", I ask and she laughs.
"Not so much the cosmetics as my hair, she wants to do some intricate braided twist, very classic but very modern. It said it reminded me of something a Victorian lady would wear and she decided right then that it would fit with my classic/vintage style wedding".
"Sounds so pretty, I can't wait to see it".
"I just wish my father were still alive, I would have loved for him to be able to walk me down the aisle and see me with someone who loves me very much", she says almost to herself.
It never occurred to me before, but this is one piece of tradition that I didn't know I still wanted, and if Natalie can never have it then why should I willingly give it up?, "Thank you so much for coming here and showing me how I was blind", I unfold my legs and hug her, "I have an idea that I need to run past Alice".
Chapter Four - Part One
At exactly 2:25 I wait in the bride's room, off the main hall of the tiny church we rented, with Natalie; she looks stunning in her pure white, strapless floor length gown with a bit of a trail.
"Is he coming?", I say for what must be the tenth time, we only have five minutes until things start.
"Alice is no doubt coming this way with him as we speak".
And sure enough she bounces through the door a few seconds later, "Natalie, go in the next room, it's bad luck to see Charlie before the wedding", she goes to open the back door for her just as my Dad comes through the front one. After I ran my idea past an all too eager Alice, I was thrown into getting ready for the wedding with Natalie so I didn't have the chance to speak with him sooner. I am suddenly nervous, what if he doesen't like the idea?
"What did you want Bells? We only have a few minutes".
"There is a change of plans, well that is if you want there to be", he raises his eye brows in question, "First of all thank you so much for the necklace, Natalie told me what it's for and it didn't occur to me before".
He blushes a little and shuffles his feet but he meets my gaze, "I just want you to be happy Bells".
"And I will be only be truly happy if my father walks me down the asile, who cares if it's your wedding, we don't have to take it literally".
His face lights up even more than before and I begin to grasp how much this meant to him and how much he tried to hide it for my sake, "You'd do that Bells? I know it's my wedding but I wouldn't mind having the memory of walking you down the aisle anyway".
I nod, "It's one tradition that I do want to follow, even if mine probably won't be for a few days", he surprises me by stepping forward and hugging my tightly. After I hug him back and we pull apart I look at the clock on the wall, "Two minutes", I say.
He smiles, "I only wish I had found Natalie sooner and you could have had more of a mother figure and a childhood".
"She has already more than made up for the motherly love I missed. Plus I know that she will always be there, you and her that is".
He looks close to tears now, "We will be, feel free to come home anytime you want, we won't change your room".
Alice suddenly comes out of the room, "Okay, you two should get ready to walk since your first, when the music starts count to five".
We leave the room and go out to the hallway. When the music finally does start I feel so nervous I am about to collapse and it's not even my wedding. My Dad's arm linked in mine reassures me some though, that and the fact that Edward is standing at the end of the aisle, in the spot reserved for the best man. When we reach the end, I take one of the spots reserved for the maids of honor and he takes his spot to the right of the priest. Tradition continues from there, with the flower girl, ring bearer and the bridesmaids (All lovingly named maids of honor by Natalie, horrified that she could only pick one)
Then finally Natalie appears, slowly and independently walking down the aisle as a statement to herself and to the guests that even though her father can't give her away and even though she is going to be legally and lovingly bound to her husband she is and will be just as quietly independent. The open doors from behind her let in the glorious sunshine from the nearby front doors, surrounding and lighting her from behind. She truly looks like an angel, floating down the aisle towards my stunned father. Edward grins over at me throughout the entire vows and I feel that I have to make a physical effort not to run over to him and smother him with kisses. When my Dad and Natalie finish their vows, kiss and are finally husband and wife everyone suddenly jumps to their feet or steps forward with hugs, kisses and congratulations.
-
Much later that night, after dinner, sentimental speeches, first dances and the cake cutting Edward and I slow dance to a song that he dedicated to me...
-
A perfect day is everyday I'm spending my life with you
I can't explain how I fall in love with everything that you do
God sure must like me more than I ever knew
Cause I could never ask for more from love and life than you
Cause I'm lost in the grace of your smile
To fall in your love is a place I could spend my life
I know we could take on the world; just you and me, girl
With nothing but love
And seeing you is seeing how you're making my life so complete
And knowing you will share all your joy and pain and laughter with me
God sure must like me more than I ever knew
Cause I could never ask for more from love and life than you
Cause I'm lost in the grace of your smile
To fall in your love is a place I could spend my life
I know we could take on the world; just you and me, girl
With nothing but love
And if the sky would fall down and crash into the sea
I know that I will still have you, baby, and you will still have me
And that's all we'll need
Cause I'm lost in the grace of your smile
To fall in your love is a place I could spend my life
Cause I'm lost in the grace of your smile
To fall in your love is a place I could spend my life
I know we could take on the world; just you and me, girl
With nothing but love
With nothing but love...
-
"It was a beautiful song Edward", I whisper in his ear.
"Not as beautiful as you".
I laugh, "I guess I kinda set myself up for that one".
He laughs quietly with me, "Yes you did, but I was all to eager to have another chance to tell you", I am dancing in my bare feet now, since my shoes began to rub uncomfortably against my skin and I was tripping too much for Edward's liking, and my half up-done hair has fallen down completely, resting in soft waves around my face. He kisses me on one of my flushed cheeks, "It's quarter to ten, and our plane leaves at eleven so we should start saying our goodbyes to our family".
I nod my head and take his hand, leading him off the dance floor, "I want to see Charlie and Natalie first".
We find them sitting at a bistro style table, holding hands and watching everyone dance, when my Dad notices we are approaching he quickly kisses his wife and comes over to me, "I know you two must have to go soon, but I'd like one more dance with my little girl".
Edward grins and goes to sit beside Natalie and I go out to the dance floor for the last song of the night...
-
Standing beside you, here in the dark, feeling your heart beat with mine
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere, how could our love be so blind
We sailed on together, we drifted apart, and here you are by my side
Chorus:
So now I come to you with open arms, nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms, hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms
Living without you, living alone, this empty house seems to cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near, how much I wanted you home
But now that you've come back, turned night into day, I need you to stay
-
"Did you pick that out?", I say when it is over and we continue to slow dance when another song comes on.
He nods, too overcome with emotion to say anything for a moment and when he does his voice is very quiet, "I do need my little girl to stay, and since you came back night has turned to day but at least I won't really be alone", he jokes. The fact that he picked out the song though means more to me than the words.
I laugh a little, "I wish I could stay, but ill have college and a husband and after that work. But maybe we'll both back for good someday, and it's not like I won't visit".
"I know, but it's not the same. It seems like you have grown up way too fast. You left as a little girl with braids and came back grown up, now your leaving again...to be married".
Tears start to sting my eyes, "I know. I promise I will come back sooner this time".
He suddenly laughs, "I know I sound selfish but I can't help it".
"It's ok, I selfishly want some things to stay the same as well. I will call everyday if you want and visit all the weekends I can".
"Promise me something Bells?".
"Sure, Dad anything".
"Hold onto Edward. No matter what, hold onto him. I wouldn't be able to part with you for anyone else, because if I did it would break my heart to see yours broken. He is a good guy though and I know he will take care of you".
My tears fall freely now, "I know and thank you. Promise me something?".
"Sure, Bells".
"Try not to miss me too much".
He laughs, "Ill try but I don't know how successful I will be".
"Ill miss you too. Tell Natalie I will be thinking about all the late night chats we had, wishing she was there with a box of Kleenex and a hug every time I miss her".
He smirks, "Will do".
I look around us and realize that the dance floor is deserted and everyone is assembled around Natalie and Edward.
"Dad, I think Edward and I should be going. So should you and Natalie as well", I say almost regretfully, despite my excitement.
He nods and gives me one more hug before we meet everyone over at the table.
After I say goodbye to almost everyone Alice comes forward, "I packed the best digital camera I could find and tons of extra batteries so knock yourself out".
I laugh through my tears, "Thanks Alice".
Edward and I leave on a private jet less than an hour later, and I fall asleep in his arms.
-
Tell me what you thought of this chapter. I know that the Charlie in this chapter is very much not in character but I like to think that he is capable of being sensitive and expressing it on such a special occasion and plus he did grow closer to Bella after her nervous breakdown and meeting Natalie. Anyway thanks for reading, ill try to get the next wedding chapter up as soon as possible.