A/N This chapter gives Edward's view. Next chapter will contain the party and beyond. Since I mention a pack member's feelings, thought I'd make it clear that my AU rules don't include imprinting.

Chapter 26

EPOV

I left my mind open as Bella left us to speak in front of the elders. Emmett and I flanked Jasper just in case he couldn't handle what Bella had planned. Just when I thought my love couldn't surprise me anymore, she came up with things like voluntarily bleeding in front of seven vampires. I mentally shook my head as thoughts broadcasted around the clearing.

Most of the warriors were confident that Bella would persuade the elders. She was very special after all. One warrior was not pleased with our presence. Paul sneered "leeches" and other slurs in his mind. His resentment and anger was not surprising. I had seen his dark and volatile thoughts before.

His father was also very against our being here. That Bella shouldn't be with the evil ones. I blinked quickly as he thought of how Bella belonged with her tribe… She belonged with Paul. He thought about how honorable it would be to have the Chosen One as a daughter in law.

I switched back to Paul, my focus sharpening. Yes, his thoughts flickered to a place he kept buried deep. He longed for Bella. Quil and Embry looked at him as he twitched.

I squelched the urge to growl.

Jasper glanced at me, feeling my aggression. I shook my head, indicating I was okay.

He sent out a wave of calm just to be sure.

I listened as Bella spoke and scanned the minds around me.

I watched as she calmly pulled out the knife. My family started using mental distraction techniques as she ran the sharp blade down her skin. I flinched, not from the smell of her precious blood, but because she had injured herself. I knew that she would heal quickly, but I didn't like to see my angel hurt. I felt no pull towards her blood, only that it was a part of her. She was my mate, not a meal.

I blocked out the silent exclamations of outrage, fear, suspicion, and amazement coming from the tribe as I quickly scanned my family's thoughts. Carlisle, Esme, and Alice were doing fine. Rosalie was rebuilding an engine in her mind. I narrowed in on Jasper's thoughts.

Damn, little darlin' is so brave. I saw very few men with such fortitude on the battlefields. Oh shit, her blood smells so sweet. Absolutely exquisite. No wonder Edward was so concerned at first. 100 years… 100 years without sex…100 years without my sweet Alice touching me… Oh, Alice... Her tiny hands wrapped around my…

I quickly jumped out of Jasper's mind after seeing that he had found a very effective way to avoid thinking of Bella's blood. I shook my head with a mixture of amusement and faint disgust. I decided I'd better check in on Emmett.

Bella looks like Lara Croft with that knife strapped to her thigh. Smokin' Tomb Raider hot, for sure. All she needs a big bull whip. I bet ol' Eddie could get into that kink. Always the quiet ones… Bella is so cool. She's like a brother and a sister combined. Dudester? Broster? Sis Bro? Nah, that sounds too close to Sissy Bro, which is reserved for Edward. Dude, I'm feeling horny all of a sudden. Well, hornier, ha ha. Jasper, damn him! He's lusting after Bella's blood. I'm going to hold him down for the wolves if he tries anything.

Emmett turned toward Jasper and glared at him. Jasper was startled out of his daydreaming by the strong surge of anger directed at him. He flinched and looked first at Emmett and then at me, blinking owlishly.

What did I do? He thought in bewilderment.

I squeezed his shoulder in sympathy. Well, at least Emmett had knocked him out of his fantasy after Bella's wound had healed.

My head was throbbing by the time the warriors and Carlisle had spoken and the elders were conferring. Paul's father was the most outspoken against Jasper assisting the tribe.

I watched as Bella paced in aggravation. Her arms were crossed and her brow furrowed. She looked down to her side and paused. Her expression cleared, and a look of determination took its place.

As she stalked towards us, Jasper thought Rebellion and resolve are slamming off her in waves.

She came to a stop in front of me, and held out her hand.

"Edward, do you trust me?"

I immediately was drawn back to the night I'd heard those words before, when she'd been asleep. I took her hand and watching her face intently.

"With my very existence."

She began to pull me forward, "Good because I aim to misbehave."

Emmett shouted in approval, "Hell yeah!" Confused, I looked in his mind and saw the movie reference. Bella was ready to do battle with the elders. I wondered what she had planned.

As we walked forward, she untied a long piece of leather from her knife.

"I have one more thing to say." She said huskily as she raised our joined hands. Her other hand held up the leather strand.

The tribe reacted to her actions almost as strongly as when she'd sliced her arm.

No way.

She's not going to, is she?

What's going on?

How could she touch that cold bastard?

Oh, Bella, I'm so proud that you remembered the old ways.

Bella will make a strong leader.

"I bind myself to Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, for the rest of my life and beyond, if he will have me."

Bella kicks ass!

Way to take matters into your own hands.

Dude, I think she's marrying a vamp. Is that allowed?

This is intolerable.

Fuck! I wanted her to be mine!

Billy stood and approached, "Edward, do you accept binding with Bella?"

She is asking to marry you in a very old and honorable way. She would not do this merely to force the council's hand.

I knew what I wanted. "I do."

Billy took the leather from Bella and tied it tightly around our wrists, joining them together.

Emmett breathed, "Bondage, sweet!" and then yelped when Rosalie hit him in the back of the head.

Billy removed his blanket and placed it around our shoulders. He and the elders said a prayer.

Harry Clearwater stood and proclaimed. "Edward Cullen is now part of the Quileute tribe, and by law, so is his family. The treaty is no more. We will meet on the reservation tomorrow to celebrate the joining of our people."

My family and I were stunned by this declaration, but I was certain Bella knew exactly what marrying me in this manner would lead to.

The elders began to leave. Paul, who was now violently shaking, swiftly turned and ran back into the forest. Jared followed, a frown on his usually cheerful face. He was worried about his pack mate.

Billy wrapped his arms around us. "I am so proud and happy this day." He murmured. He had been afraid that Bella would not live long enough to experience getting married. I closed my eyes briefly, pained by his forlorn thoughts.

The rest of the pack yelled and teased us. Jacob smirked, "See, I told ya she wanted to marry him."

I smiled. Bella was my wife. Again, she had surprised me.

My family came to congratulate us.

Alice squeaked, "Bella, I can't believe you got married in jeans!"

She was extremely put out but happy at the same time. Alice was a strange one. I hugged her to me as Bella laughed and said "Tomorrow's the big night. Because I went old school, there's going to be a big celebration and gift exchange."

"A potlatch?" Carlisle asked, clearly intrigued.

Bella nodded.

Emmett roared, "A party, score!"

Feeling overwhelmed by the thoughts around me, I looked out at the blanket that held Bella and me close together, the blanket from Alice's vision.

"What is it?" Bella asked, worry on her face.

"I've seen this blanket before."

"It was Ephraim Black's. Uncle Billy honored us by giving us his prayer blanket as a wedding gift."

"Yes, he did." I said as Alice mentally bombarded me with the thunderbird vision again. Well, we now knew where the blanket came from. Would the rest of the vision come into play?

Bella bit her lip and said "I will see you at the reservation tomorrow at twilight." Her face flushed, "I can't be with my husband until he brings righteous gifts to honor my family, me, and the tribe."

Rosalie smiled, "Sounds like my kind of tradition."

Bella kissed me before leaving with her family. Jacob continued to tease her until Billy growled affectionately at him to stop.

My family and I began running home.

"Way to take one for the team, Edward." Emmett laughed.

I mentally rolled my eyes, as if marrying Bella was a hardship.

Esme asked, "Are they really married?"

Carlisle replied, "In the eyes of the Great Spirit, the tribe, and us, yes. Just not to the State of Washington."

Alice exclaimed, "There! That's the answer. Edward, you will propose and make her marry you again, in proper attire this time."

I laughed, "I see your motivation, Alice. I'm sure Bella won't mind marrying me again at some point. She's still quite young in her father's eyes."

"Hurmp! Well, I'll just have to plan a delightful wedding party outfit for her." She sped off for home along with Esme and Rosalie.

Carlisle looked across at me as we ran and asked, "How are you feeling, son?"

"Is it juvenile to want to find the highest mountain or tallest tree and yell to the world that I've married the most wonderful woman in the world?"

"Absolutely not. I seem to remember such shouting when I married Esme."

Emmett shoved me from behind and joked, "I saved most of my yelling for the honeymoon."

I sighed, "Thanks for that mental image, Emmett."

Jasper coughed softly, "Uh, Edward. How do you plan to celebrate your nuptials?"

I raised an eyebrow at him in irritation, "Well, Bella and I aren't exactly compatible in that manner are we?"

"Actually the Denali clan was very interested to hear of your relationship and mentioned that if you were able to control your bloodlust you could, uh, be intimate."

Emmett laughed, "Eddie might get some!"

I stammered, "How is this that possible… the venom…"

Carlisle looked over at Jasper with clinical interest, "Condoms?"

Jasper nodded his head.

Emmett smirked, "Now I know what I'm getting you for a wedding present."

I was thankful that none of the ladies from my family had been involved in this conversation. It was bad enough with my Carlisle and my brothers. But to be with Bella, that was more than I'd thought possible…

When we reached home, the girls had already started a list of gift ideas. Fortunately one of Bella's gifts was already in the garage. The rest fell into place easily after Alice called her special contact at Tiffany's and the others assisted in the acquisition of the family gifts. Esme had a special gift in mind for the tribe.

Later I went to my room and lay out on the bed, listening to Debussy. I cradled Bella's pillow to my chest, missing her. Her scent on the pillow was both comforting and tortuous.

Emmett called me a big wuss and then ran when I threw a baseball at him.

My phone announced that I'd received a text message.

BSwan: Edward, hope you're okay with what happened

ECullen: I am. Is this allowed?

BSwan: Rules made before texting. Don't even think about sending smoke signals or using drums ;)

ECullen: I'd better have Jasper put out the fire then

BSwan: LOL Love you

ECullen: I love you too, my sweet wife

There was no reply for a few minutes.

ECullen: Bella, love?

BSwan: Sorry. I was just crying.

ECullen: Crying?

BSwan: Happy tears, my wonderful husband.

ECullen: Oh, love. I'm very happy too. I'd like to do this again someday, when I can propose properly

BSwan: I suppose I could manage that. Lil' Pixie stopping by with clothes tomorrow?

ECullen: You know her well.

BSwan: Skirt and heels?

ECullen: To be certain

BSwan: Well if I getting girlie, you should wear that Armani suit

ECullen: Have you been snooping in my closet? Alice would be proud

BSwan: No, last year I dreamed of one of Rosalie and Emmett's weddings. You looked so handsome

ECullen: Well then I suppose I could dust off the suit to please my lady

BSwan: Yes, I expect to be pleased.

ECullen: lol, very assertive, my love

BSwan: It's late. I should get some sleep but I'm too wired. Miss you

ECullen: Call me in a minute. Don't worry, I won't talk

I ran downstairs and sat at the piano. I answered the phone and set it on the bench next to me. I began to play her song.

I continued to play soft, romantic music for a few hours. I listened to Bella's soft, steady breathing before hanging up.

Sweet dreams, my love.