A/N: Well, here it is...the final chapter. I will write an epilogue if there's enough interest, checking in with Jake and Bella a few years down the line - but you have to tell me if you want it. I apologize in advance for offending any French people - no offense intended regarding Jake's shivaree (or you may spell it chivari) comment. It has been a blast writing for you guys and I treasure each and every review, follow and favorite that you've given me. Thank you all so much for staying with me through this. And a particularly special thanks to Kissa_621 for her tireless pre-reading and hand holding throughout this whole process. I couldn't have done it without you, K - and I mean that!
Love you all!
CHAPTER 29
With the wedding basically planned and something to occupy us, the summer flew by. I'd spend the day in the cabin, painting and decorating, then the evenings at work. Jake spent the day at school and work, and the evenings at the cabin doing structural work like repairing drywall, installing light fixtures, and hanging new doors and insulated windows. He'd used some of the leftover money he'd been saving from the sale of the motorcycle to buy some windows, the paint, and other supplies. He had the pack over a few times to help him build a small deck off the kitchen.
And one Saturday afternoon when Jake and I showed up early to start on the bedroom painting, the pack and the imprints were there and they were throwing a "couples shower" for us. Billy and Charlie showed up as soon as the food came out.
It was a surprise for both of us. The pack members gave us a barbeque grill and a small patio table with chairs and an umbrella. It was our very first furniture. The imprints chipped in on a set of outdoor cooking utensils. Jake already had every tool he'd ever need, but his father had gotten him a tool organization system so he could keep them in drawers and hanging on the wall of the double-size resin shed that Charlie gave us.
I felt a swell of pride as I watched Jake show everyone around our little home-to-be. Charlie complimented him on the work he'd done, and Jake seemed excited to show Billy the ramp he'd put on the deck so Billy could join us for parties without having to go through the cabin. Even though we didn't have any furniture yet except the patio set, the cabin was starting to look a lot like a home.
Unfortunately, I had to work that night, but Jake waited up for me and cooked me chicken breasts on the grill when I got back to the rez at 11:30 that night. We ate our first meal in the little cabin outside on the deck furniture in the dark. There was no refrigerator in which to put the leftovers, so Jake finished them himself. We used paper plates and plastic forks. It was the best meal I'd eaten in forever.
Even though we didn't want to, we always went home at night. We didn't want our first night in the cabin to happen until we were married. Plus, there really was no furniture or appliances. It wasn't very comfortable yet.
We took to getting up early on Thursday and hitting every garage sale in a twenty mile radius. We'd go to the ritzier areas of the Olympic Peninsula and search for bargains. Slowly but surely, we filled the house with our finds. We found a whole bedroom set: queen size bed frame, matching dressers, and a pair of nightstands for only $75. Jake unearthed a Formica kitchen table with six vinyl chairs, very 50s-ish, for only fifteen bucks. We got a microwave for five dollars! We bought a few end tables and a coffee table, a couple of lamps, and a bookcase for all my volumes.
I didn't care that everything we had was used. It was fun searching through the junk to find the treasures. We looked at things, planning where we'd put them and adding scenarios. When he found the cool floor lamps for the living room, he called me over from the stack of horrible artwork I was perusing.
"Bells, check these out. We need lamps in the living room, right?" he asked. I turned to see him holding two floor lamps with black faux iron stems and futuristic looking sixties atomic-print lampshades. Those were a pale sea green with black accents.
I walked past the homeowner and met Jake by the lamps. "These are great, Jake!" I enthused. "You think they work?"
"We'll ask if we can test 'em before we leave," he said, picking them up. "So we'll put them in the living room? By the piano?"
"Oh, I think they'd be better near the harp," I argued. "I mean, little Mercedes needs the light on the harp music stand."
"No, Xander needs light more. The piano is in such a dark corner!" he said.
"Well," I said as we made our way to the little card table at the front of the garage. "Maybe that trip to Europe where he played for all the kings on the continent spoiled him somewhat!"
"If Mercedes would practice as much as Xander does, she'd have been invited to Europe too," he said. "I guess we'll give one to Mercedes and one to Xander." He set the lamps down and turned to the guy sitting at the card table. "Can we test these?" he asked. The guy indicated a power strip on the floor. Jake plugged them in and turned them on, squinting as the bright light assaulted his eyes. "We'll take 'em," he announced to the guy. "You'll take three bucks each, right?" He pulled the money out of his wallet.
"They're five," the guy said doubtfully.
"Oh, five for the two? Great!" Jake put one dollar back in his pocket.
"No, five each," the guy argued.
"Yeah, but you'll take three each, won't you?" Jake smiled his dazzling grin, but the guy shook his head. So I took over.
"Hi, my husband is crazy," I said, pushing Jake aside and smiling like I'd just won the lottery. Everyone always believed he was my husband; Jacob looked and acted twenty-five years old. "We know they're five each. I can tell these were really expensive when they were new. He's always such a guy!" I rolled my eyes for the seller's benefit and turned to Jake. "I'll pay the other four dollars with my tip money, Jake. I really want these."
The guy took pity on me. "Aw, you can have 'em for three each," he said reluctantly. "And by the way, you look great for having two kids."
"Thanks," I said graciously, taking one of the lamps while Jake carried the other back to the truck.
"Good luck!" the guy called as we climbed in. I waved back at him as Jacob grunted derisively from the driver's seat.
"Calm down, dude, she's mine," he muttered.
"Do you believe that guy?" I asked. "I look great for having two kids? What's that supposed to mean?" I laughed. "How do I look if I didn't have any kids?"
"The guy's a schmuck, Bells," he said. "You're amazing no matter how many kids you have." His eyes glinted with mirth.
"Uh, I don't have anykids, Jacob." We hadn't really discussed this at all – and here was the perfect intro to the conversation.
"Not yet," he grinned.
"So what's that mean?" I asked. "That you want kids someday, right?"
"Of course I want kids someday, Bells. You want kids someday, don't you?" He glanced at me as he drove.
"Yes!" I insisted. "But we don't need to decide anything about it now, do we?"
"Like how many, and when, and whether we're going to name them Mercedes and Xander?" he asked.
"Yeah," I giggled.
"That's easy – ten kids, starting in a year and every nine months thereafter, and yes, all the girls will be named Mercedes and all the boys will be named Xander. Okay?"
"Okay," I agreed. I knew what he meant. It was too soon to even think about. I could handle that.
"Good. Because, jeez, Bells. I mean, I know I look older, but I'm sixteen, remember?"
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm only eighteen, Jake. I don't want kids anytime soon either," I laughed.
The summer marched on, and before we knew it, the little cabin was ready and we were a week away from the wedding. We'd gotten the fridge and stove on craigslist. We'd bought a new mattress from a warehouse store, and the bridal shower had taken care of our needs as far as dishes, cookware, flatware, cooking utensils, towels and sheets. Jake had even found a window air-conditioner for the bedroom, just in case I got too hot sleeping next to him. He thought of everything.
Everything was ready. Jess and Angela had their bridesmaids' dresses, bought from the same shop where I'd found my wedding dress. They were light blue, a color that always reminded me of Jake because it was the color of sunny skies. Embry and Quil were going to wear matching black suits, and Jake, with Billy's financial help, had actually rented a tuxedo. Charlie and Billy were going to wear tuxes too. Renee and Phil were flying in on Thursday, and most of the town of Forks and almost the entire rez would be at the wedding. My idea that there'd be thirty guests was way off. All the Forks townspeople had to be invited to the chief's daughter's wedding. And everyone on the rez wanted an invitation to the wedding of the future head of the Council. There were at least one hundred guests now.
Sue, Leah, and Kim had already bought most of the food and were busily cooking and storing the dishes that could be made ahead. The Tribal Center had two pig roasting setups, and that was going to be our main course. If it rained, there was enough room at the Tribal Center to seat everyone – not necessarily comfortably, but there was enough room. We were really hoping for a nice day so we'd be able to hold the wedding on First Beach.
The night before the wedding, Jake and I stayed at the cabin late, putting finishing touches here and there. Tomorrow would be our first night in our new home, and we wanted it to be special. We stocked the fridge with some late-night snacks and the makings for breakfast for our morning after.
Afterwards, we made the bed with the new sheets we'd been given as a shower gift at my actual bridal shower. That had taken place a few weeks ago, thrown by Jessica and Angela and attended by all my Forks friends. As I pulled the covers taut, I caught Jacob smiling at me from the foot of the bed.
"What?" I asked self-consciously.
"Nothing," he replied. "You just look so domestic and house-wifey." I huffed a humorless laugh and he quirked his head to the side. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing's wrong," I said. "It's just that…the night before my wedding I'd prefer to look sexy or something instead of…'house wifey.'"
He walked over to me and put his hot palms on either side of my face. "Baby, are you okay?" he asked sincerely.
I nodded, even though I…wasn't. Okay, that is. I was scared and nervous. We were too young. What were we thinking? I'd been so caught up in the planning and the preparations for the wedding that I hadn't taken the time to think about the marriage. Me and Jake, married? It sounded almost laughably stupid now. Jake watched my face as his went from puzzled to troubled.
"Something is wrong," he accused. "Tell me, Bells."
"It's just…," I stammered.
"You're scared?" he asked anxiously. He'd said that to me once before, and it brought me right back to the beginning, the day I'd jumped off the cliff. I remembered when Jake and I had parked the truck outside Charlie's house and he'd told me how he felt about me, and I'd heard Edward's phantom voice tell me to "Be happy."
And I was happy. I was happier than I'd been in my entire life, happier even than I'd been when I was head-over-heels in love with Edward. And just like that, with two words, the fear and anxiety evaporated.
I looked up at him, and his face tugged at my heart. He was so worried, so afraid that I was going to pull the plug on the wedding. As I opened my mouth to reassure him, he blurted, "Bella, please. Don't do this – please tell me what's bugging you."
I grabbed him around his waist. "Jacob, you know I love you," I said.
His head fell back as he groaned, his hands falling to his sides. "Oh, no! No, Bells! Don't do this! You don't want to get married now?"
"No, Jake, wait, that's not it!" I said frantically.
Jake stepped back, running his hands through his hair roughly. "I knew it! I knew it was too good to be true! Fuck me, it's always the same story. I'll never fuckin win!"
I cautiously stepped closer, wary of the wolf. But he had it under control; I could tell by his eyes. I carefully put my hands on his face, the same way he'd been holding me a moment ago. "Jake, of course I want to marry you now. We're young, yes. We're stupid and we're going to make tons of mistakes. But I want those experiences to be with you, no one else. Okay? Stop worrying. It's you – it will always be you." I smiled as I said it, because I was happy and because I knew I was making him happy.
The intensity left his expression and all that was left was tenderness. "God damn, Bells. Don't scare me like that!" He bent to kiss me.
"Why are you always so paranoid?" I wondered, pulling away to stare into his eyes.
"Because you're too good for me!" he explained forcefully, his brows meeting in frustration.
"Ja-cob!" I said sternly. "I don't want to hear you talk that way about the man I love ever again, do you understand?"
His eyes softened and one side of his mouth lifted in a smart-ass grin. "Man?" he repeated.
"Yeah," I whispered, stretching up to kiss his stubbly chin. "You're my man. You like that, huh?" I smiled against his neck.
"Yeah I do," he said gruffly, putting one finger under my chin and lifting my lips to his. "A lot," he breathed as his mouth covered mine.
He dropped me off about an hour later. We were both frustrated and eager for the wedding night. We hadn't been intimate for almost a month, since Jake thought we should 'save it for the big day.' It was starting to take its toll – we were both a little short with each other as we said goodbye. Being horny will do that to you.
"See you tomorrow," he said glumly.
"It was your idea!" I accused.
This seemed to appease him somewhat. "I know, babe. I can't wait, you know that," he said with a smile in his voice.
"Me either," I grumbled crabbily, opening the car door amid sounds of his laughter. I smiled a touch myself as I sauntered up the walk, giving him a little show by swinging my ass as I went.
"You're killing me, Swan!" he said. I winked at him over my shoulder.
"Tomorrow…" I promised, unlocking the door and disappearing inside. I chuckled to myself listening to him gun the Rabbit as he drove away.
The day of the wedding dawned cloudy, but dry. At least it was better than rain. I rolled out of my bed in Charlie's house for the last time and stumbled to the bathroom to begin getting ready. For my wedding.
I took a shower, shaving my legs, armpits, and…ahem!...certain other areas that needed a little grooming. In the steamy post-shower atmosphere of the bathroom, I peered into the mirror and plucked out a few stray eyebrow hairs leftover from my waxing yesterday. Quickly, I applied a thin layer of moisturizer, then went back down the hall to my bedroom. It wasn't time to get dressed for the wedding yet, but it was almost time for Renee to show up so she could come with me to my hair appointment.
Before I could pull on a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, Renee was skipping up the sidewalk to Charlie's front door, humming the wedding march. Phil followed her, not quite as chipper at 8:30 in the morning.
Charlie pulled the door open before I got down the stairs. He said, "What are you so happy about? You don't want this any more than I do."
He didn't know I was standing on the stairs behind him, and neither did Renee when she answered, "Ah, Charlie, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" she said, typical of her laissez-faire attitude about life. "Stop being so uptight!" She swept past him and then saw me standing on the stairs.
"Here comes the bride!" she announced. I laughed.
"My appointment is at nine, Mom. And it'll take fifteen minutes to get to the salon. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I've eaten," she answered. "Have you? Because that's much more important than whether or not I've eaten. You're the one who'll need your strength later!"
"Mom!" I cried, scandalized, as Charlie and Phil moaned in tandem.
She looked around, surprised, then burst out laughing. "That's not what I meant," she giggled. "That came out wrong."
"Come on, Mom, I need to get my hair done," I said in exasperation, continuing down the stairs and passing Phil and Charlie.
"How is Jake wearing his hair for the wedding?" Renee asked as we went out the door. The question got loud guffaws from Charlie and Phil. Renee looked at me as we walked down the sidewalk. "What did I say?" she asked innocently.
Jake's hair had been a subject of ridicule by Charlie since he'd started growing it out. While he tolerated the long hair of everyone else on the rez, including Billy, for some reason he took malicious joy in giving Jake as much grief as possible about his hair. It fell between his chin and his shoulders now, and he was planning to wear it in a ponytail for the wedding, as far as I knew. But I also knew Charlie would have a field day with the question Renee had just asked. He and Phil shouted suggestions down the driveway as Renee and I pulled out.
"Maybe he should get it curled!" Charlie called.
"Permed!" suggested Phil.
"Or one of those, whaddya call 'em? Updo's?"
"How 'bout a French braid?"
Renee turned to me with a remorseful look. "Sorry, baby," she apologized. "I didn't mean to bring that on."
I forced a laugh. "Mom, it's okay. Dad would've found something to say about his hair anyway. At least he got it out before he saw Jake. And I don't care, anyway. Jacob looks amazing with his long hair. I love it."
Renee reached over and patted my knee. "Good for you, baby." I spent the rest of the ride listening to pearls of wisdom from my mother, who was utterly unqualified to share them.
The hair appointment took about an hour, then it was back home. The wedding was supposed to start at two. That left me three hours to get ready. It wouldn't take me nearly that long.
But suddenly, Emily was there, and she wanted pre-ceremony photos. And then Jess and Angela showed up, looking beautiful in their sky blue dresses. Charlie was dressed in his tux, and Renee and Phil had their wedding clothes on. It was abruptly time for me to finish dressing.
Renee and I, along with my bridesmaids, climbed the stairs and entered my room. Before I knew what was happening, Renee had my dress out of the closet. "Did you buy new underwear like I told you to, Bella?" she asked. My friends giggled.
"Yes, Mom," I replied in a tortured tone. "If you turn around, I can change into it."
Obligingly, they all turned their backs – thank God, since I didn't want them to see the landscaping I'd done down below in the shower today – as I changed into the pure white satin bra and panties I'd bought. The girls helped me get the dress over my head without ruining my updo, a simple French twist with cascading curls from my temples. Then they converged in earnest. Jess did my makeup, commenting the entire time that she'd been waiting for a year and a half to get me to let her do it. Angela painted my finger and toe nails a pale pink. Renee sat watching and trying to hold back tears.
When they were done, Renee did the honors of affixing the fingertip-length veil into my hair. Attached to a silver comb, it framed my face and flowed down my back. I looked in the mirror, not knowing what to expect. The woman who looked back at me was gorgeous, love warming her face from pretty to beautiful. I sighed happily. I finally looked like I belonged with the incredibly handsome Jacob Black.
I was deemed acceptable to appear in photos. We went downstairs and Emily directed several pictures – photos of Charlie and me, of Renee and me, of the three of us, and of me with my bridesmaids. Dozens of pictures of me alone, holding my flowers, smiling, looking 'thoughtful.' Emily left no stone unturned.
I asked what the guys were up to and if Emily had been to Jake's yet. She shook her head at my question. "Yeah, I went over there. He looks nice, don't worry. Last I saw him, he was sound asleep on the couch. He doesn't have an ounce of worry or nervousness, Bella. Sam is more jumpy than Jake," she said.
"What does Sam have to be nervous about?" I asked.
She just smiled enigmatically and shook her head. "No reason," she said. "But, Bella, we should probably get going."
"Already?" I was startled. It was over an hour until the ceremony and I didn't want to take a chance on seeing Jake – since it was considered bad luck and all.
"Well, don't you want to check on the food and stuff?" Emily asked. "The cake is already at the Tribal Center too. You can at least have a look at it."
I agreed to that – I was dying to see the cake. To my surprise and utter embarrassment, Charlie wanted to drive me over in the squad car.
"You must be kidding!" I protested.
"Hey," he said. "It's a man's prerogative to drive his daughter to her wedding. Sorry that the only car I have is Old Blue and your car is a pile of junk."
"It's not a pile of junk," I grumbled as I took up my flowers and made my way out to the cruiser. It was worse for Jessica and Angela. They had to sit side by side in the back, separated from us by the cage. I was beyond humiliated, but Charlie grinned the whole way to La Push and Jess and Ang seemed to find it funny. When we finally crossed the border onto the reservation, Charlie put on the lights and sirens. I wanted to die.
We arrived at the Tribal Center, where the cars in the lot betrayed the fact that dozens of Quileute women were already here, preparing for my wedding. I was humbled by their blatant acceptance and generosity, and couldn't help but wonder if it was for me or just because I was marrying Jacob Ephraim Black, Successor to the Chief and Future Head of the Tribal Council. It didn't matter one way or the other – I was here to stay.
We went in, following Emily to the kitchen. The banquet room stood empty, everyone hopeful that the weather would hold. The forecast said nothing about rain, but we'd learned never to count on the weatherman here in the Olympic Peninsula. The plan was to set up on the beach, but there was another setup waiting inside the banquet hall, and if it actually began to rain, the pack and the imprints were going to come back and quickly set up ahead of the guests. I silently prayed that the weather would stay dry.
The kitchen was packed with dark haired women and bustling like a well-oiled machine. Sue saw us come in and cried, "The bride!"
Immediately everyone surrounded me with good wishes, anxious to show me what they'd prepared for us. There was a white-and-yellow-corn casserole that Sue said was a traditional wedding dish, spicy sweet potato fries, biscuits, and baked mac and cheese. The smell of the pork roasting on the spits outside permeated the air with a rich, delicious aroma. Sue leaned over to me and said in a conspiratorial tone, "The pack wanted baked beans to go with the feast, but I drew the line. I don't think beans are exactly wedding fare." We giggled together at the absurdity of the pack.
Sue showed me around, introducing me to the women who were generously giving their time for Jake and me. Lee-hana was bent over a steaming pot of pasta for the mac and cheese, and she gave me a happy smile as we passed, reaching over to squeeze my hand. It was the first time I'd seen her since she'd given us the cabin, and I stopped to thank her.
I grasped one of her hands in both of mine. "Lee-hana, I can't begin to thank you for giving Jake and me the cabin. You've done more than words can say for us," I said with a smile, thinking how inadequate it sounded.
"You will be happy there," she told me, a sparkle in her dark eyes. "My husband Kwali and I lived there many happy years."
I hugged her spontaneously. "I know we will," I said fiercely into the little woman's ear. "And thank you again." She laughed.
"You are welcome, child," she said.
The cake stood on a table by itself, a towering confection of buttercream and fondant. Someone was very talented; there were swirls of icing that looked like lace interspersed with tiny sky blue and turquoise flowers. Two pure white porcelain wolves, forever posed with their heads thrown back in a twin howl, decorated the top of the cake. Sue smiled as she leaned in to me. "Wolves mate for life, you know," she said sagely. I blinked back tears.
After touring the kitchen and the banquet area, Charlie huffed in boredom. "Are you gals about done? I'd like to get over to Billy's and see what's up there." I knew he meant that he needed a few beers on board before he gave his daughter away.
"Go, Dad," I told him, giving him a little push toward the door. "I'll see you at the end of the aisle. We've got it covered from here." He looked relieved.
"I want to go to the beach and get a few shots of Bella there anyway," Emily said. We all piled in her tiny car as Charlie escaped to the cruiser.
Emily drove to First Beach and we all got out and picked our way down to the shore. The pack had laid planks along the way so that everyone would be able to get down to the beach easily. When we got to the beach, my breath caught in my throat.
It looked like a fairy tale. Rachel, Leah and Kim were there, dressed up for the occasion, draping tulle netting over tall poles stuck into the sand. The poles were topped with round paper lanterns, unlit of course, in blue. The netting draped languidly from pole to pole, down the aisle and around the seating area.
The seating area consisted of several round tables covered in white tablecloths and surrounded with white chairs. The center pieces that Angela, Jess and I had made of cheap glass vases and silk flowers we'd found at the dollar store were transformed in this setting to breathtakingly beautiful focal points on each table. The girls had outdone themselves, tying trailing ribbons in all shades of blue to the centerpieces so the ribbons flowed prettily across the tables and down the sides.
Paul stood off to the side, attending to a long table with musical equipment on it. He looked incredible in black dress pants and a white shirt open at the neck. His tie hung untied around his neck, framing either side of his burly chest. He caught my eye and gave me a sneaky little wink and a nasty smile and I couldn't help but smile back. Paul was Paul and he'd never change, imprint or no imprint. A big truck sporting the logo to Sam's garage was parked behind the table he'd set up, and all the cords and wires went from Paul's table into the back of the truck.
There was a trailer off to the other side with MEN and WOMEN on the two doors – I was so glad Sue had thought of restrooms. The beach restrooms were pretty disgusting, but these were nice if the pictures from the web site were accurate. Sue had talked Charlie and Renee into springing for those, and I was eternally grateful to her for it.
As I surveyed the scene, tears came to my eyes for the second time that day. "You guys!" I cried happily. The girls turned, seeing me for the first time, and rushed over to talk.
"What do you think?" Leah cried, pink-cheeked and excited.
"It's beautiful," I gushed. "It looks like a story book!"
"Good, that's what we were going for," Kim smiled.
Rachel chimed in. "I mean if you can't marry Prince Charming, you can at least pretendlike you are!"
We laughed. "Hey, no picking on the groom," I said, sticking up for Jake.
"You wouldn't say that if you saw him now," Rachel said as Paul joined the group. "He's taking a three hour nap."
"I heard," I said, rolling my eyes.
"He's resting up for later," Paul grinned smarmily. Rachel elbowed him savagely in the ribs, which didn't seem to faze him at all. I could feel myself blushing at his implication.
"Bella, you look beautiful," Leah said reverently. "Wait till he sees you."
I didn't think I could blush any more, but I felt my face get even hotter so I knew that I was turning scarlet. Rachel laughed. "That completes it; you're the blushing bride," she said.
"Thank you," I said. "And thank you for all you've done. This looks incredible."
"You haven't seen the best part," Angela said, grabbing my hand and pulling me across the sand. It was a lot harder to walk in the sand than it was on the planks. I was glad the guys had thought of it.
I suddenly realized where Ang was dragging me. On the sand stood the gnarled white driftwood tree on which Jake and I had spent hours sitting and discussing everything from treaties to vampires to kitchen colors. They had decorated it with the blue tulle and hung blue ribbons from its branches. As a finishing touch, they'd strewn white silk rose petals on the sand around it. The blue against the white background looked fabulous. "It's perfect," I whispered.
"You like?" Angela asked, as Jess squealed in delight.
"Look at her face! She loves it!" she said. "Bella, we remembered when you first met Jacob, right here on First Beach and how you guys sat on that tree talking and me and Mike almost couldn't find you. Remember? So it's like a little tribute to the beginning of your relationship – even though you didn't start going out with him until later." Jessica was in grave danger of actually gushing. I looked fondly at my friend. She was deliriously happy for me and it made me forget every petty thing that had happened between us. Spontaneously, I reached out and hugged her.
"Thanks, you guys," I said, pulling Angela into the hug too.
"Okay, enough of the love fest. This is a good spot for our first beach shots," Emily announced before things got out of hand. She took over from there and posed the three of us standing near the tree, then one of me with my fellow imprints. Of course we couldn't let on to my Forks friends about the imprints, so when Kim, Rachel, Leah, Emily and I posed, we had Jessica take the picture and called ourselves 'tribe sisters.' Jess and Angela laughed at us. Emily continued to pose us all around the beach, and the only thing I wished for was Jake – and the sun to come out. But at least it was staying dry.
Time seemed to fly and it didn't feel possible that two o'clock could sneak up on us so fast, but suddenly the chairs were filled with our friends and the tribe and the Forks townspeople. Charlie was standing at the end of the aisle, looking nervous and a little sick, a little green. Quil and Embry were at the front of the aisle with Rev. Stanley, looking like caricatures of themselves in their matching black suits. They were wearing dark aviator sunglasses (though there was absolutely no need for them) and looked like a couple of mob hitmen. I had to giggle when I saw them, which broke the tension somewhat. If I were being honest, I'd have to admit that I was as jumpy and nervous as Charlie.
Paul was playing a few easy-listening type songs as everyone took their seats. Sue patted Charlie's shoulder and squeezed my hand as she passed us, the last of the regular guests to be seated. She sat in the front row, next to Charlie's chair. Billy was escorted down the aisle by Jared, and then Renee clasped me in a hug as she passed with Seth, who was ushering her to her seat at the front. Phil followed them, and all at once everyone was seated and Paul changed the song to the wedding march.
Those first few strains locked me to the sand, but Charlie pulled me free. He moved us up until we stood behind Angela. Jess was already on her way down the aisle, smiling from side to side and eating up the spotlight. When she met up with Embry, they bowed in front of her dad and they went their separate ways to stand across from one another at the shore. Angela began her walk and Quil stepped up to stand in front of Rev. Stanley and wait for her. She met him and bowed, just as Jess had done, and now it was my turn. I stared at my feet, willing them to walk gracefully for once.
I took a deep breath as Charlie mumbled, "It's time."
"I know," I whispered back, and, still watching my feet, slowly put one foot in front of the other.
"You sure, Bells?" he asked quietly.
"Everyone's nervous the day of the wedding, Dad,"
"I know, Bells," he said. "But are you really sure?"
I looked up from watching my feet walk the planks and into my dad's face. "Dad," I began…
And then I saw him. Right there. Waiting for me. Looking like the cover of GQ, smiling like he'd just won a million bucks, and all mine.
I felt my face stretch into a smile as my breathing sped up. I was suddenly anxious to get to the front of the aisle, to be next to him. Next to my wolf that mates for life.
I could tell he was working to make his face serious, but he was failing so far. He looked past me, got a grip on it, and looked back to me with an expression of determination. He seemed older somehow standing there in his expensive suit, his hands clasped in front of him - older even than he'd looked last night. More mature. More husband-like.
My dad had all but disappeared beside me, but we were at the front now, and he turned me to give me that final kiss. The edges of his eyes crinkled as he smiled and I knew the patter on the way up the aisle was only to distract me. He knew I was sure of Jake – because he was sure of us too.
I turned to Jacob, who took my hands and looked into my eyes as he whispered, "Bells…you look amazing." He let himself smile finally, and I returned it with a matching grin. We turned to Reverend Stanley.
"C'mon, Padre, we're burning daylight," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. A chuckle went through the crowd, and Rev. Stanley began.
"Dearly beloved…"
My mind wandered as I stared at his face – so happy it seemed to be lit from within. The Reverend droned on about cleaving to your husband and how love is patient and kind, but I heard only snippets. I was immersed in this moment, his eyes, our hearts. When he got to the part with the rings and put my plain silver band in Jake's hand, telling him to repeat the traditional vows, I thought the weather was going to do us in. I was looking down at our hands and heard the familiar sound of raindrops hitting the beach – just a tiny drizzle, but raindrops nonetheless. I looked up at Jake, alarmed at the shower, and caught his expression as he repeated, "…To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." As he said it, the sun fell below the cloud line and threw a beam across the beach, catching the sprinkles and casting a rainbow stronger and more distinct than any I'd ever seen. For only a second, I was reminded of the rainbow sparkle of Edward, and I thought to myself that wherever he was, he was giving his blessing to our union.
The magical moment was over almost as soon as it happened, and now it was my turn to place the ring on his finger and repeat the vows. Rev. Stanley held out the silver ring with turquoise insets that my hard-earned tips had purchased and I slid it on to Jake's strong hand, reciting the vows from my heart. I choked a bit on the word 'husband,' only because it was so new to me, but as I finished the vow I looked into his face again, and saw his lips as he whispered one word, "Cool."
Rev. Stanley leaned in to Jake and said in a stage whisper, "You may now kiss your bride." I couldn't believe it. We were married, husband and wife, and I was Mrs. Jacob Black. He kissed me once, sweetly but modestly since we were in a crowd, and we turned to the guests, smiling from ear to ear. Now I didn't want to even bother with the party – I wanted to get back to our cabin and be alone with Jake.
But there was a party to be had, and party we would. We walked back down the aisle, Angela and Quil and Jess and Embry following, then went right around to the long table set up along the shoreline that was our head table. The Reverend made a few comments, then the toasts began while Sue and company began serving the food.
Emily was everywhere, taking photos of the guests and of us. At one point, she pulled Jake and me aside and took us to the driftwood tree, where she posed us and snapped away, taking shot after shot of us until our faces were sore from smiling.
Back at the table, I barely ate a bite. I was busy talking to everyone who came by to wish us well. They all wanted to know the details about what we were going to do now, how we planned to live together as a married couple. My high school friends, especially, were fascinated by the fact that we'd actually gotten married and were going to live together as husband and wife while still finishing our schooling and living our everyday existence. It was unbelievable to them – marrying someone who was still in high school. I thought about what they'd have thought if the same wedding was taking place with a different groom – Edward instead of Jacob. If Edward hadn't left me, we'd have probably been married this very weekend – a month before my nineteenth birthday and two months after our graduation. I wondered if the reaction would've been the same.
Probably not…Edward had always seemed more mature and aloof when compared with our other classmates. They would have automatically expected Edward and me to marry. But because Jake was younger, had less money, and lived on the reservation, they questioned our decision. Just like our parents had, just like everyone had. But I was proud of Jake's maturity. He'd done everything right as far as I was concerned. He'd gotten money for my ring and for the little cabin, he'd shown me he could handle the upkeep of our home, and he'd been completely dedicated to me, his job, and his education ever since we'd gotten engaged. I couldn't wait to start our life together.
Dinner was over, and the cake had been cut. Paul and Sam were behind the deejay table and ready to start the music. Sam announced our first dance, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. I didn't want to dance – I hated being the center of attention and I was as clumsy as ever, so going out on the dance floor with Jake wasn't exactly high on my list of things to do. But the words to the song seemed particularly relevant tonight, and as the bride, I was obligated to dance at least once.
"Come on, honey, let's show them how to do this," Jake said, taking my hand. When I held back, he turned back to me. "What's wrong?" he asked in concern. "They're waiting."
"I don't dance, Jake. I'm not good at it," I admitted, looking up at him sheepishly.
He leaned in and winked at me. "Yeah, but I am," he said wickedly, and pulled me on to the dance floor.
And suddenly, I could dance. With Jake leading, I could dance. I realized it was the same in every aspect of my life. With Jake, I could do whatever it was I thought I couldn't do.
And that was the meaning of all of this.
The night sped by and what I remember of it was pure magic. That first dance put me in the mood to dance for the rest of the evening as long as I was dancing with Jake, and we stayed out on the floor for the majority of the reception. The party broke up just a little ahead of schedule when the inevitable rain began. Everyone pitched in to get the tables and chairs onto the trailer that the guys had left off to the side just in case. It was a fitting end to our celebration.
And then it was time for Jake and me to go home.
Home.
When we arrived, someone (probably Rachel, who had been conspicuously absent during the beach cleanup) had sprinkled rose petals from the front door to the tiny bedroom. In the bedroom, a heart shaped box of chocolate covered caramels was propped on the bed and quiet music played. I was suddenly shy.
Jake took off his jacket and tie, and then he began unbuttoning his shirt. He glanced over at me, standing awkwardly on the other side of the bed, not knowing what to do.
"You okay, baby?" he asked.
"I feel great," I said, sounding like I was lying and just a little too enthusiastic. I didn't know why I was abruptly bashful around him. I'd never been like that.
He slid his shirt off and dropped it on top of the secondhand dresser. And then he stepped toward me, slinking like a jungle cat. "Good," he drawled. "I'm about to make you feel even better."
"Jake," I giggled, still wary.
He pulled me toward him just a little roughly. "What?" he asked gently. "This is it, Bells. We're not really married until the…" He lowered his voice to a whisper and put his lips to my ear. "Consummation."
I couldn't believe he even knew words like that. It caused me to laugh and pull away, but he stopped me. "Yeah, consummation," he continued. "And I do plan to consume you." He bent my head back and his lips covered mine roughly and insistently. As his tongue explored my mouth, he reached behind me for the zipper to the dress and pulled it down. He slid the dress off my shoulders and let go so it would fall to the floor. That's when I drew the line.
"Jake, that's my wedding dress!" I cried, bending down to scoop it off the floor like it was an injured child. I turned away from him as I put it on a hanger and hung it in the tiny closet. Before I could turn back, his arms embraced me from behind.
"I meant what I said," he growled softly, a slight Alpha tone to his voice. "Stop stalling."
I loved when the Alpha came out, and I was instantaneously drawn to him. I felt my link begin to throb, and I knew what that meant – we needed to be together. I turned toward him in only my pretty new underwear, putting my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. And that's when we heard the roar. Of the motorcycle. Outside the window.
Raucous laughter filled the air, along with squealing and howls. Jake let his head fall back as a frustrated groan escaped his throat. "Ugghhh, you gotta be kidding," he mumbled, disentangling himself from me and turning toward the noise.
"Jake, what is it?" I asked anxiously.
"Those assholes," was all he said.
"Who?" I asked urgently.
He looked at me, shaking his head in annoyance. "The fucking pack," he said, as if it were obvious. "It's a shivaree."
"A what? What's that?" I asked.
"A shivaree. It's a stupid tradition – brought over here by the French, so you know it's crazy," he said. "I hope it's just the pack and not the rest of the fuckin tribe." He walked to the window and pulled the handmade curtains aside to peer out. I could see flashlights and lanterns and hear the ridiculous whooping of the pack, but it didn't look like more than about ten people. That would be the pack and the imprints, no one else. I breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled my robe from the closet; I wasn't going to let them see me in my wedding underwear!
There was sudden banging on the front and back doors and the bedroom windows. They couldn't see in since it was dark inside, but we could see them. They were having the time of their lives.
Jake raised the window a few inches and the shouting only got louder. "Get the hell outta here, ya bunch of cockblockers!" he yelled, but there was a smile in his voice.
"Don'tcha got her in the sack yet, O mighty Alpha?" Paul crowed loudly amid guffaws from the rest of the pack.
"Get out here, Black – we brought presents!" Sam added.
"You're all getting married too someday," Jake reminded them loudly. "Trust me, this isn't as much fun from my side."
"Come on, Jake," Seth coaxed. "Seriously, presents!"
Jake turned away from the window, muttering under his breath, "I don't fuckin care about presents right now." But he let out a tortured sigh and went to the back door.
Seth was standing on our deck, dressed in suit pants and nothing else. "You have to come out of the house, Jake," he said gleefully. "Trust me, it's worth it!"
I watched Jacob walk out our back door into the fray and I didn't want him out of my sight. I followed him.
The pack was assembled in our makeshift backyard, which was just more of the same woods that surrounded everything else here on the rez. They had matching grins plastered all over their faces and were standing shoulder to shoulder. Even the imprints were standing there. Emily held a sheaf of envelopes and there were a few wrapped gifts on the lawn, but the group actually seemed to be hiding something behind them.
"Okay, I'm out here. What's the big present I have to see before I can make wedding night love to my wife?" he demanded.
The pack parted, revealing behind them Jacob's motorcycle. I looked at Jake's face as it went from marginally pissed to incredulous to overjoyed. "What?" he boomed.
"We wanted to give you something else to ride tonight," Paul said inappropriately, drawing embarrassed laughter from everyone except me.
"Sam, seriously?" Jake asked, moving toward the bike.
"Come on, Black. I couldn't take that thing away from you," Sam answered, beaming.
"But…but…you paid me for it. You gave me money for it – money I used to buy Bella's engagement ring. Money I used to pay for repairs around this place." He swept his hand around as if to show them what he meant.
"I know, Jake, I know," Sam said, making a placating gesture. "And before you lose your mind, let me explain. We knew you needed money, and we knew you couldn't earn enough at the garage in time. So we all got together and pooled our money. We all paid for it – it wasn't just me. And we knew we'd give it back to you as a gift – so you're not allowed to get pissed at us."
"That's two presents," Jake argued. "You gave me the money and now you're giving me the bike. That's not fair."
"The money was for you," Emily said. "The motorcycle is for Bella." They laughed, but Jake didn't.
"I sold the bike to you because of Bella," Jake explained to Sam. Jacob reached back and pulled me toward him by the hand, wrapping me in his arms from behind. "I don't want her to worry when I'm out riding."
"Jake," I said, craning my neck to look at him. "I want you to ride. I love riding together." I realized that I'd come so dangerously close to giving up my life to be with Edward, I never wanted Jake to give anything up for me.
Jake seemed embarrassed and humbled by the gesture. He approached the pack and held out a hand to Sam. "Thanks, man. I mean it. For everything." He grabbed Sam's hand, but Sam pulled him in for a hug.
"We're brothers, Jake. We take care of our own," Sam said, sounding like an Alpha himself. Jake hugged him back. "Okay!" Sam said triumphantly. "Forget about the hog for a minute. There's other presents too. Open them!"
"Shit, Sam!" Jacob answered in frustration. "I really don't care about presents now, okay? I have a few other things on my mind."
"Just open 'em, and we'll leave you guys alone," Paul said.
"Come on, Jake. The faster we open them, the faster they'll leave," I told him.
Jake growled. "No," he said, holding out his hand. Emily handed over the pile of envelopes while Leah carried the wrapped gifts up to the deck. "You guys have to go," he said.
"Is that an Alpha order, O great and powerful?" asked Paul facetiously.
Jake hated Alpha orders, but this was a once in a lifetime occasion. I held my breath…would he actually issue an Alpha order here?
"I would really prefer that it wouldn't have to be," he said, dignified.
Leah took the hint and leaned in toward Quil, whispering something to him. Quil turned to Sam. "Sam, come on," he wheedled. "Jake had a point when he said we're all probably gonna get married someday. I don't want you rejects hanging around when I'm trying to have my wedding night."
Sam looked abashed. "Maybe you're right," he said reluctantly. "Okay, let's go. We'll check back with you in the morning." I caught him winking at the rest of the pack with a naughty grin, and I knew they'd be back early in the morning. It made me all the more anxious to get back in the privacy of our room.
The pack finally left, and Jake and I went back in, immediately heading for our bedroom. Once there, Jake turned to me. "If we hear anything else, we're ignoring it," he said, grabbing me and attacking my mouth with his.
I agreed completely.
He backed me up to the bed, systematically removing my robe and dropping it on the floor. His nose traced my jaw line as he murmured a growl. "Damn,it's been a long time. I've been waiting for this," he whispered gruffly.
I sighed gently in response as he lowered me to the bed. As soon as he'd gotten me on my back, he stood and slid his sexy black tux pants off. For the first time ever, he was actually wearing underwear – black satin boxer shorts. But they were only on for a second. He slid those off too, leaving them in a heap on our bedroom floor, climbing back on the bed and positioning himself over me. One hand went to the back of my head, cradling it gently; while the other reached behind me and with a subtle flick, unhooked my new white satin bra.
He smoothed it down my arms and tossed it aside. Every scintilla of shyness gone, I pulled my panties off, kicking them across the room. I could still hear the remnants of the pack disappearing into the woods and we were already completely undressed.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Ready for what?" I asked between kisses on his stubbly chin.
"Ready for this," he said, dipping his head to my chest and taking my nipple in his mouth. At the same time, his hand crept down to my center and slowly began stroking along my already slick folds."Whoa," he gasped, pulling away from my nipple and looking into my face with narrowed eyes. "You're awfully bare down here." The naughty smile touching the corners of his mouth was worth the surprise. "God, that's so fuckin sexy," he said as his middle finger, hotter than an ember, found the tiny bundle of nerves at the crest of my labia, and touched it maddeningly softly. My hips lifted involuntarily, searching for firmer contact, for a more aggressive touch – but Jacob was having none of it.
"We're doing this at my pace, babe," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm in no hurry tonight."
"But I am," I whined. "I want to come."
I couldn't believe my own boldness. But unfortunately, Jake wasn't impressed by it. He chuckled. "You'll come," he whispered. "You just have to be…" he drew his fingers up from my bikini line over my stomach, trailing wetness across my belly. "…Patient." He flicked his tongue out across my nipple, causing me to shiver.
"Ugh, Jake!" I moaned. But I wasn't completely helpless – I could make Jacob want to hurry. I just had to use my imagination.
"Okay..." I said, drawing the word out as if I were acquiescing. My hands traveled to his back and down until they spread over the firm globes of his ass. I dug my newly painted nails into it and slowly drew my hands up, scraping my nails across his backside and causing him to hiss between his teeth.
"What are you doing?" he asked, pulling away from my nipple to look at me. His eyes crinkled at the edges, belying his stern expression.
"I'm making you want me," I panted.
"I want you, honey," he said, dropping kisses across my breasts. "You don't have to make me do anything."
"Apparently I do," I argued softly. "Because you're not doing what I want right now."
"And what is it that you want, Mrs. Black?" he asked. The use of my new name caused a smile I couldn't control.
I pulled his head up so I could see his face. Was he really going to make me say it? "You know what I want," I said.
"I think I forgot," he grinned nastily, cocking one black brow.
I narrowed my eyes at him for a second, then thought, What the hell? It's just us, he's my husband, who cares what I say to him in bed?
"I want you to..." I began in a whisper. I almost chickened out, but his rapt expression spurred me on. "Kiss me right down here," I took his hand and moved it to my smooth softness. "And put your tongue on it...and lick me there until I come." As I described it, his pupils dilated and his breathing increased. I felt his erection growing harder against my thigh.
"Oh my god," he murmured with a groan. His fingers trailed back to my center and he was instantly gone, his face between my legs, his tongue right where I wanted it to be.
Hm. That was easy.
That thought was fleeting though. Because almost as soon as I thought it, my mind was drawn to the actions of my husband, now knuckle deep inside me, his tongue bringing me closer and closer to the climax I'd begged for. The feeling was unbelievable without the sparse covering of hair. I couldn't fathom how a few square inches of fuzz could make this much of a difference - I was immeasurably more sensitive down there. And the orgasm happened quick, quicker than it ever had. Before I knew it I was writhing, my neck stretched back, my mouth open and sighing.
As he coaxed the last few tremors from me with his fingers, he slid back up and kissed me, his mouth dewy with my wetness. I sucked his tongue in, unable to control myself, and I heard him chuckle as I kissed him eagerly.
"Happy now?" he murmured against my lips. "Cause now I get what I want."
I was still in a post orgasmic swoon, so I didn't even bat an eye when he began nibbling on my now extremely sensitive nipples. "What do you want?" I asked softly.
"This," he answered, coming back up to kiss me and slowly lowering himself into me. Since it had been weeks since we'd done this, his enormous member stretched me again - but the link took away any discomfort and replaced it with urgent heat. It felt so good to have him filling me from inside, the remnants of my climax still causing me to quiver within.
"God, Jake," I breathed, unable to control myself. I bucked up into him rhythmically, but he held still for a moment, stopping me.
"Baby,slow. We have all night," he whispered into my ear.
Oh my god...
I whimpered, but he wasn't giving in. He made love to me slow, sweet, unbearably sexy - whispering in my ear the whole time.
"Bells, I love you more than I thought I could love," he said. "You're so fuckin perfect - every move you make is amazing. I'm so glad...I thank God every day for this stupid fuckin werewolf thing that made me imprint on you and made us want to be together always. You're..." he choked up for a second. "The most important thing in my life, baby."
His words more than his actions made my insides throb with intensity. I was dangerously close to another orgasm already - and I didn't want that yet. I wanted to enjoy him, every inch of him. I murmured words of love that didn't come close to matching his as I disengaged him from my insides. I crawled up on top of him and he turned over, a worried expression on his face. "Wha...where you going?" he asked, alarmed, as I moved slowly down his neck to his chest, peppering his smooth russet skin with caresses from my pursed lips.
I stopped at his nipple, reaching out with the tip of my tongue to tease the tiny peak. I flicked my tongue over it lightly, causing him to lean back on the pillow and sigh with content. My hand reached to his other nipple. grasping it gently until I remembered how fantastic it felt when he was a little more vigorous with mine. Then I squeezed it harder, eliciting a deep groan from his throat and making his hand grasp the back of my head in a death grip, pressing me even closer to him. I gave the nipple between my fingers one last strong squeeze and moved away, down his rippled abs to his belly.
Here I kissed a line down his happy trail, drawing my tongue from his navel to his hair line as my fingers found the handful of plum-like nuggets in the sac under his throbbing cock. I smoothed my palm over them, pressing them against him and fascinated by their warmth and bulk. "Holy shit, Bells," he gasped, and I knew that what I was doing was pleasuring him.
Of course, we both knew what was coming next - I positioned my mouth over the pulsating shaft between his thighs and licked the head thoroughly, then blew a puff of cold air across it. He made an unintelligible moan, ending with a sigh and my name and a curse word. A secret smile formed on my occupied lips as I licked it again and blew on it once more, cooling it for a second time before taking it deep into my throat. I hoped the contrast between temperatures would drive him crazy.
And oh, it did. He grabbed the back of my head, his hand fisting into my hair and pushing my face loser into his groin, his cock slipping down my throat as my nose buried in his pubes. I couldn't breathe for a second, but my senses filled with Jake - myhusband - as I moaned around his shaft. He seemed to remember himself then, and he relinquished the hold on my hair and let me back off a little so I could get a lungful of air. "Jesus, Bells, don't do that! You drive me crazy, honey - I forgot where I was for a second."
I smiled up at him from between his legs. "You're here in bed with me, your man-eating wife," I said, and bent my head back down to suck him.
"Oh my god," he groaned, and that only served to spur me on. I pulled him into my mouth, loving the feeling of his smooth skin against my tongue, my cheeks caving in with the suction. His hand was back in my hair, but gently this time, more of a loving gesture than the violent one from a minute ago. I made little humming sounds around his swollen member, the vibration making him buck into me involuntarily. "Baby," he gasped, his hand cupping my face and trying to pull it away. "You gotta stop. You're gonna make me come, babe ... it's too soon. Jesus, Bells, that feels way too good..."
"Mmmmm," was my only reply.
He sat up, and this time he pulled my mouth off him. "Wait," he panted. "Holy fuck, Bells, where did you learn this shit?"
I giggled, flicking my tongue out to taste him one last time, sweeping a drop of pre-cum from the end of his shaft. "I have an active imagination," I said slyly.
He pulled me back up on top of him, kissing my mouth like he couldn't get enough. Positioning me over his erection, he lowered my hips until his tool pressed into me, going deeper than it ever had. Ooooh, I liked this position - I could rub my clit on his pubic bone as he thrust into me. It felt desperately incredible, his cock pumping into me, stroking my nub with each thrust. I was at the brink of an orgasm in minutes. I moved from the chest-to-chest position I was in and sat up, reveling in the amazing feeling coming from between my legs and as he looked up at me, I palmed my own breasts, reaching to pinch my nipples, in a show for him as much as for me. He made a strangled noise as I rocked on top of him at the cusp of my climax - and as I felt the first hot spurts of his load splash my insides, I clenched in a second orgasm, even stronger than the first. We throbbed together as I fell back down onto him, sucking his tongue into my mouth and kissing him like it was my last time.
We lay together afterwards, sweaty and spent, our wedding night consummation complete. It was only then that I realized the time - it was after three, and I knew the pack would be back soon. I put my hand on my husband's cheek and whispered, "Hey. I love you."
"Love you too," he answered in a tired voice.
"We gotta get some sleep, Black," I said. "The stupid pack will be back before we know it."
He groaned. "I know," he said, absently kissing my temple. "But I don't wanna move."
"You're not moving," I informed him. I reached for the covers, pulled them over us, and kissed his chin. "Good night, husband," I said.
"Good night, wife," he answered.
True to form, at six in the morning when the dawn was still gray, we heard the hoots and hollers of the pack again. Their faces were at our window, pounding on the glass and shouting for us to come out. "Stupid idiots," Jake mumbled as he rose and pulled on his satin boxers from last night. His morning erection stood out proudly, and he didn't trouble to hide it as he pushed the curtains aside and opened the window. "The fuck do you want?" he asked indignantly.
The guys responded as expected, teasing Jake about his boner and making inappropriate comments until Jake gave in and began laughing. He turned away from the window and said, "Put something on, they're coming in," as he passed through the bedroom to the kitchen.
I pulled on a pair of sweats out of the drawer that we'd stocked with our things a few days ago, and after snapping on a bra I donned a t-shirt and entered the kitchen.
The room looked even smaller, filled as it was with seven hulking men and Leah. The imprints weren't with them, and I was grateful - there simply wasn't enough room.
Sam carried an enormous basket which he set on our little table. "Emily and the girls sent breakfast," he said, pulling back the cloth covering the food. There was a container of scrambled eggs, one of bacon, a pile of waffles, at least a dozen muffins, orange juice and a thermal carafe of coffee.
"Awesome," Jake said, going to the cabinet and taking out our new plates. "Did you guys eat?"
"Jake, you don't need plates," Leah said. "Em sent disposable stuff - she didn't want Bella to have to do dishes on her first day as a married woman."
"Ha!" I said sarcastically as Jake put the stack of plates away. "Jacob will be doing all the dishes in this house!" My facetious statement brought laughter all around. Jake came up and grabbed my waist from behind.
"You keep on doing what you did in bed last night, baby, and I'll do the dishes until the day I die," he laughed, turning my face beet red. The guffaws of the pack echoed through the tiny house as I slapped his arm playfully.
Sam took over. "Okay, so last night you sent us away before you opened your presents...so let's get that done." As he spoke, Seth and Leah began unpacking the basket and distributing the dishes on the counter along with the disposable plates, cups, and flatware. I moved to help them.
"What's the giant hurry, Sam?" asked Jake peevishly. "Why don't you give me some time with my new wife?"
"I wanna see what you got," he said, sounding like a little kid. I smiled indulgently.
"Come on, Jake. I want to know, too," I told him.
Leah had a copy of the guest list and a pen. She was going to take notes while we opened the gifts so we'd have a list to work from when sending thank you notes. The pack had loaded up on breakfast, so Jake and I helped ourselves to the delicious smelling food. We sat in the living room on the floor and ate off our laps since there weren't enough chairs to go around. It was a cozy breakfast for the first one as a married couple, and I got a strong sense of happiness as I took in the scene in my tiny home.
The wrapped presents were from members of the tribe, and contained a waffle iron, a blender and a set of knives. Jake was ripping open envelopes, announcing check amounts and names, having a field day. It seemed to go on a long time and I was touched by the gifts everyone had contributed. Leah finally spoke up.
"That's everyone," she said, checking off the final name on the list. "You guys got a nice little nest egg here!"
Jake looked confused. He held up a large, cream colored envelope made of heavy paper.
"You say that's everyone? So who's this one from?" he asked me.
I shrugged. "Open it," I said.
He slid a finger under the envelope flap and drew out the card inside. When he opened it, his face paled. "This has got to be a joke," he choked.
"What is it, Jake?" I asked in alarm.
"It's a cashier's check for ten thousand dollars. Nothing inside the card except this: Best Wishes, An Old Friend." He handed it to me.
I knew the signature – I'd recognize that script anywhere. I'd seen it on prescriptions and gift tags. But how did this envelope get on the rez? It would have been a violation of the treaty if any of them had set foot on Quileute land.
Sam was off to the side, smirking, until I noticed him. "Sam?" I asked. "Do you know something about this?"
"He stopped me in town last week and gave me the card. I had no idea he'd put a check inside," Sam explained. Now I knew why Emily had said Sam was jumpy yesterday - I'd thought it was the motorcycle, but it was this.
"How did he seem?" I asked quietly, as the room listened to our conversation.
"Subdued. Quiet. He says they're doing okay, though. They miss the rest of their coven, but they're doing okay."
I nodded. I was glad of that, at least. "Did he give you any contact information? I'd at least like to send a thank you note," I said.
"Nah, he said the fact that you're happy is thanks enough for him," Sam said carefully, peering at my face. "Are you okay?"
I looked up at him and smiled, then found Jake's eyes staring at me from across the room. "Sam," I said. "I'm perfect."
-The End-
