All songs can be found on my blog: drotuno. blogspot. com (without spaces) and as always...SM owns everything.


CHAPTER 29

BELLA

"Mom?" I asked, shaking her lightly. "Mom, I'm leaving."

She stirred, sitting up slightly.

"You can go back to sleep in my room if you want."

"Okay, baby," she said sleepily.

"Esme's picking you up in a few hours," I told her, picking up the bag at my feet. "You have time to sleep in." I watched as she groggily walked up the stairs, closing my bedroom door.

I walked out to my Mercedes and saw Alice leaning against it.

"Morning, Bells," she said, smiling. "Are you ready for today?" she asked, giggling as I rolled my eyes.

We got in the car, and I asked, "Do you mean am I ready to be Mrs. Cullen? Am I ready for this shit to be over? Abso-fucking-lutely."

She laughed, clapping her hands.

"If you're asking if I'm ready to be poked and prodded by you all day...if you are asking if I am ready to stand in front of a bunch of people...then the answer is no," I said, raising my eyebrow at her.

She continued to laugh as we backed out of the car. "Well, I was just making sure..." she teased, grinning.

I laughed, shaking my head.

We pulled into the driveway, and she said, "Okay, he's not here, so you're free to look around."

"Where is he?" I asked, getting my stuff out of the car.

"One last hunting trip with the boys...some male bonding thing," she said, waving it away.

I snickered, walking into the house.

I got to the living room and gasped. "Oh, Alice," I said, looking around. "You've really outdone yourself."

"Oh, don't think I didn't put those boys to work!" she said, putting her hands on her hips and looking around. "It does look good, though, right?" I could see the pride on her face.

There were flowers everywhere, and the furniture had been removed to allow for rows of folding chairs. Edward's beautiful piano had been shifted slightly to accommodate them all. There were black and white ribbons draped on the ceiling, giving the room a dream-like quality. The smell was incredible – roses, freesias...I think I even smelled jasmine in there somewhere.

The stair rail had the same black and white ribbon winding through the bars, accented by bouquets of roses. "We didn't rehearse," Alice said, watching me, "but you'll be fine. Charlie's going to bring you down the stairs to here," she said, pointing to the end of the living room. "He's coming early. I'm going to walk it with him, but you'll be okay." She grinned at me and said, "You don't stumble anymore."

I snorted, still looking around.

"When you're...done," she said, smiling brilliantly, "you'll walk straight out here." She pointed to the back door.

I looked outside, and it was just as gorgeous as the inside. The theme of black and white had been carried over, but they'd used wider ribbon, making the backyard look like it was under a tent. Tables and chairs were everywhere, surrounding an open space, for what I assumed was the dance floor.

"Oh, and Edward said he left you something on the bed," she said, smiling again.

I looked at her, shifting my feet.

"Go! Silly girl," she said, laughing.

I bolted up the stairs, smiling. I hadn't been in Edward's room in weeks, and I wanted to drown in the smell of it. Sitting in the middle of our bed was my stuffed lion, and he was holding up a note. I dove into the middle of the bed, burying my face in the comforter and drinking in our smell. Together, we were a completely different scent. I touched the envelope, opening it quickly and pulling out the rough, parchment-like paper.

My dearest Isabella,

I know we would never be allowed to speak today, but I wanted you to know a few things. You will have made me the happiest man ever by the end of this day.

Our story will have its happy ending. I promise. Though, there will never be an ending – just the happy. I promise to always love you, to always guard you...as if you were still my fragile, beautiful, human girl, even though I am well aware that you can protect me, too, with a fierce love that radiates from you.

I promise to never leave you again; our souls are attached and can never be parted. I promise that everything we encounter, we will take it side by side. I will never run away from you again.

You are my love, my sunshine, my anchor, my beacon of light in a dark world. You are my shelter and my breath of fresh air. You are my other half – my better half. I will love you until the Earth stops spinning.

I know, my sweet girl, that you are not looking forward to all the attention that goes with this day, but please know that I can't wait until you are my wife. My little lion friend promised me he would keep you company through all that my sisters and our mothers put you through today.

Just know that I will be waiting for you at the end of the aisle.

You have my love, always,

Edward

The dry sob that ripped through me brought Esme into the room. I clutched the lion to me as she pulled me into her arms. She read the letter, a sob escaping from her, as well, as she said, "My sweet boy."

I smiled and nodded, still clutching my lion.

~oOo~

EDWARD

"No, Emmett," I said, sighing. "I don't need honeymoon advice." I rolled my eyes, sitting down next to Jasper. "You don't even have to ask."

Carlisle had insisted that all the boys go out for the day. The first reason was that all the girls would be a wreck most of the day. The second reason was that Esme, specifically, would be a wreck most of the day. He was saving himself as well as us.

"I was just thinking," Emmett said, sounding wounded, "that this is all new to you."

"No, it's not," Jasper said, laughing. "They've done just fine without you, Em."

Right? he thought to me. Tell me you never got advice from him.

I snickered, shaking my head.

Good, he thought, smiling. The man is truly an animal. How Rose puts up with it...

"Enough," I said, seeing his mind full of Emmett and Rose. "Gross, Jazz."

"I just can't believe my little brother is getting married," Emmett said, wiping a fake tear away.

Carlisle chuckled with the rest of us.

"It seems like only yesterday, when he was a morose, sad, angry young man..."

I laughed, throwing a pine cone at him. He dodged it nicely.

"It is hard to believe, son," Carlisle said, laughing. "Time has really flown."

I just nodded, looking down at the ground.

I couldn't be happier for you. Are you sure there's no advice you need? he thought to me. I've had to learn to adjust, you know? You barely come to me anymore. His face was happy, glowing with pride.

I remembered going to Carlisle for everything. I now went to Bella. I knew he missed our talks. They used to last all night as we debated and theorized over subjects no one else in the house had patience for. I made a mental note to spend more time with him when we got home.

"I don't need anything," I said, looking at him. "Just for this day to be over."

"Oh, look, he's all grown up," Jasper said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. He faked a sob on my arm, pretending to blow his nose on my sleeve. I shoved him off, laughing.

We sat quietly for some time, each in our own thoughts. I blocked out their minds, trying to give them a break. They were mainly thinking about how I had been for the last hundred years. I shook my head. My Bella was every bit responsible for all the changes I had gone through. She made me see the good in myself and not the creature I'd thought I was – something Carlisle had tried to tell me our whole lives together. It took a headstrong brunette with a wicked temper and a beautiful smile to do in three years what he'd tried to do for decades.

"What time are we supposed to pick up the cake?" Emmett asked Carlisle.

Carlisle jumped, looking at his watch. "Um, like, now," he said, standing. "Come on, boys. We can all go."

Jasper stood, asking, "Dude, how are ya'll going to eat cake?"

~oOo~

BELLA

In my mind, it was all over, and we were...well, that scene kept changing. I looked down at my lion, contemplating the myriad of possibilities of where we were going. Anything but the present, where I was being buffed and polished.

"Alice," I said as she worked on my hair.

"Hmm?" she asked, not stopping.

"Will you make sure he gets packed?" I asked, holding up my lion.

"Yes," she said, snickering. "Do I want to know?"

"I just want him with me," I said, going back to smoothing his mane. It wouldn't stay, just like Edward's hair.

There were times in your life when events were so big, they stopped making sense as they unfolded. High school graduations, first dates, first kisses, first time making love...and weddings; they all tended to be blurry events.

I thought my memories as a human were pretty good, and I'd done a remarkable job remembering them as a vampire. My vampire memory was flawless, like watching the playback of a DVD.

However, the moments leading up to actually taking the stairs down to Edward were a blur, flashes of people in and out of Alice's room. I know my mom came in and out, helping me into my dress. I know Rose helped with my makeup. I even remember Charlie coming in to let us know he was there with the minister and that he was ready for Alice's instructions.

In what order these events happened? I couldn't say. I really couldn't say at what point Alice spun me in front of the mirror, telling me I was done. I remember thinking that she was amazing. How she could make me look incredible and still human at the same time was boggling my mind.

I did, however, remember when Renee came in, saying the boys were all back with the cake. I remember hearing Edward's laugh out in the hallway and three sets of hands holding me down to keep me from running to the door.

I don't remember the something borrowed or new, but the blue was something that made me laugh.

Rose handed me a garter to put on under my dress, and it was a beautiful deep blue. "Let's see how he handles that," she said, laughing.

I laughed, sliding it on with her help. The something old was my ring, and I was leaving it at that. No one could budge me on it.

When the music started downstairs, my panic kicked in full force. Not because I didn't want to get married; I was just nervous doing it in front of everyone. I was alone in the room when there was a knock at the door. "Come in," I said, my voice breaking.

"I could feel your panic downstairs, Bells," Jasper came in and stopped a foot inside the room. "Holy...you look amazing!" He was dressed in his tux, looking quite handsome.

"Thanks," I said, looking at him. If I could sweat, I would be drenched at this point.

"I think I owe you a few favors," he said, kneeling before me.

The calm and happiness that engulfed me allowed me to finally take a deep breath.

"Relax, little sis. It's almost over...and then, you owe me a dance," he said, smiling.

I snorted, feeling better. "What's it look like out there?" I asked, trying to get my mind off my nerves.

"A packed house," he answered, taking my hand and helping me stand. "Your dad's a wreck; your mom is crying already. There are humans, vampires, and werewolves...it's the fairytale wedding," he said, snickering. "I think I even saw a leprechaun."

I laughed, and it felt good.

"But your prince is waiting," he said, bowing to me with a wry smile.

"Thanks, Jazz," I said, giggling and kissing his cheek.

"Oh no, thank you, Bella," he said, his face going serious. "With you, I have my brother back, and I gained a baby sister. I also have the courage to do things that I didn't have before. We're still on for college, right?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Of course," I said, smiling.

Alice came in, completely dressed. "Wow, Alice," Jasper and I both said. Her dress was simple black and form-fitting. She looked stunning.

She waved us both off. "Charlie's outside, and Rose is ready to play," she said, in full wedding director mode. She turned to Jasper and continued, "And you, think of something else when you go back down. Anything."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, kissing her head and then leaving the room.

~oOo~

EDWARD

Everyone's minds were nervous but happy for us. I watched as Jasper left me, running upstairs, Bella on his mind. Alice followed him, taking Charlie with her. His mind ran over and over Bella's childhood. He was thinking that this day would never come, that she would stay a little girl forever.

Emmett's mind was the only calm one; he was running through the list of songs he was going to play at the reception. Bella had finally sat with him at some point in the weeks we barely saw each other. I snickered at some of the titles that went through his mind.

"What?" he asked, smiling.

"We really need to bring you out of the eighties, Em," I said, chuckling.

"That's what Bells keeps saying," he said grumpily. "What the hell?"

I laughed, shaking my head.

Jasper joined us, his mind singing a song.

"How's she doing?" I asked, looking at him.

"She's fine," he said, smiling and still singing in his head.

"Yeah, but how's she look?" Emmett asked with a grin.

"Oh, God, Em," Jasper said. "Please don't get me in trouble." He was shaking his head, practically yelling in his head.

I snickered, asking, "Did Alice tell you not to think about her?"

He nodded, looking nervous.

"Aw, come on," Emmett whined.

In order to save Jasper, I said, "Hey, Em, Miss Gail is thinking about you."

"Really?" he said, looking over at her. She waved at him. "That's 'cause I'm truly the best-looking one of us."

"Em, she's like seventy," Jasper said, laughing.

"That's what Bells said!" he yelled. "Damn you both!" He walked away to the piano to talk to Rose, who started whispering to him.

Jasper and I were laughing until Alice signaled to Rose from the top of the stairs. Jasper slapped me on the back and took a step back, joining Emmett and Carlisle.

Rose began Pachelbel's Canon in D, and I watched as Alice came down the stairs. I hadn't been sure about the whole black and white theme until I saw my little sister. It made the whole wedding very formal.

I bet you're thinking it's about damn time, huh? she thought to me, giving me a wink.

I smiled, shaking my head just slightly.

Just wait until you see her, Edward.

When I did see her, my breath caught. She looked like the angel that I'd always thought her to be. She was stunning, flawless. The dress was a perfect combination of old and new, just like us. Alice was a genius. I'd never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.

I could tell she would've been blushing had she still been human, but her eyes were only on mine.

Everyone's minds were directed at me.

Oh, Edward, she's stunning! Esme said, trying not to cry.

Holy...wow, Emmett's mind came at me.

Yeah, I would've been in huge trouble, Jasper snickered behind me.

Son, I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful bride...just don't tell Esme that, Carlisle chuckled silently.

She looks damn good, huh, Edward? Rose smirked at me from the piano.

When her father finally handed her off to me, I had an unbelievable feeling of home. She was mine – or at least she would be as soon as the minister got this show on the road.

I looked down at her, smiling. I couldn't help myself with the feelings of joy that were raging through me. I could see it mirrored in her eyes.

The vows were simple and short, exactly what we wanted. We took out the word obey, leaving in "as long as we both shall live." Saying "I do" was the easiest thing I had ever done, and my heart swelled when she said it, her voice breaking.

But nothing...and I mean nothing...felt as good as finally getting to exchange the rings. I'd never wanted to wear anything more than the ring she'd had made. So much thought and love had gone into it. It meant more than I could express to her.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the minister said. "You may now kiss the bride."

~oOo~

BELLA

We looked at each other for a moment. I could see the pride swelling within Edward. He lifted my veil, giving me a wink. He bent his head as his hand caressed my face. The kiss was slow and sweet. We poured everything we could into it. Well, everything we could while standing in front of approximately fifty people.

The minister gave up on us, chuckling, and said, "I'd like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen."

I felt Edward's smile against my lips before we finally pulled apart.

Whistles and cheers rang out, making me laugh. Emmett let out the loudest whistle I'd ever heard. Jake and the boys all stood and cheered as we made our way out the back door.

Before anyone else could make it out the door, Edward swept me up in another kiss. This one was a little more relaxed and a lot more knee buckling.

Happy, Mr. Cullen? I asked, dropping my shield for him.

He broke from my mouth, resting his forehead to mine. "Unequivocally, Mrs. Cullen."

"Hmm," I said, closing my eyes. "I think I really like the sound of that."

"Good," he replied, smiling.

Emmett came busting out the door, leading a group of guests. "Break it up," he said, laughing. "You've got people to greet."

Everyone in our lives were there, except Tanya. Kate, Irina, and Gianna were the first out the door and hugging us. "She sends her best," Kate whispered in my ear, "but she's respecting Edward's wishes."

I nodded, hugging her back.

Gianna's eyes were a little lighter, her diet clearly showing a difference now. Her eyes barely left Irina, though, for which I was grateful.

Suddenly, I was lifted off my feet by really hot hands. "Congrats," Seth said, bringing the rest of the pack with him. "Oh, and guess who popped the question?" he asked, laughing.

"No!" I gasped, looking for Charlie.

He nodded but shushed me to secrecy. "He wanted to tell you, but you have your own stuff to deal with," he said, smiling.

I looked over at Edward, who was laughing. "Did you know?" I asked, my mouth open.

"Yes, love," he said, kissing my head. "I'm sorry." He smirked. "Soon, you'll have everyone married."

"Oh no, I won't!" I said, laughing. "After these last two weeks, I suggest everyone elope!"

All the La Push boys hugged me and shook Edward's hand, including Billy. His eyes welled up when he saw me. "You're the prettiest bride I've ever seen, Bells, I swear, and I'm sorry about...well, Jake," he said, shaking his head. "Congratulations. Your dad's so proud, he's obnoxious!"

I giggled, waving him off.

Jessica and Anna hit me like a brick wall, tears streaming down their faces. "That was the prettiest wedding," Jessica said, wiping under her eyes.

Jake and Quil pulled them off me, laughing and shaking their heads. When he hugged me, Jake whispered, "Happy?"

I nodded.

"Good. You owe me a dance, I think," he said, winking. "Congrats, man," he said, holding his hand out to Edward. "She's the best there is, never forget that."

"I won't, Jake," he said, smiling and gripping his hand.

Miss Gail waddled up to the both of us, putting her hands on both of our faces. "You two are the cutest damned couple I have ever seen," she said, walking away.

I giggled, rolling my eyes at her. Edward laughed, watching her walk away.

As soon as the last guest came outside, Emmett started the music. "At Last" by Etta James started playing, and Edward swept me off to the middle of the dance floor, saying, "Perfect."

I smiled up at him. "What? The song?"

"The song, you, today..." He stopped himself, chuckling.

I giggled, rolling my eyes. "I worked really hard with Emmett. I brought him into this century, at least. Well, some of it, anyway," I said, laughing.

He didn't say anything; he just looked at me and then leaned down to kiss me. Camera flashes went off everywhere.

I lost myself for a moment, forgetting where we were, forgetting that we were in front of a bunch of people. Edward deepened the kiss, his tongue lightly touching along my bottom lip. A shudder went through me, the stress of everything leading up to this moment leaving me in a huge rush.

The song ended, and he pulled back, resting his forehead to mine and smiling. The cameras flashed again.

"I love you, Mrs. Cullen," he said, kissing my forehead and causing another round of flashes.

"I love you, too," I said, "but not the paparazzi." I rolled my eyes, pulling a chuckle from him.

Before we could say anything else, Alice dragged us off to do all the traditions. First up, the bouquet toss.

Aiming right for her and laughing at her disgruntled face, I tossed my bouquet right in the unprepared hands of Lauren.

"You did that on purpose!" Edward exclaimed in my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I laughed, nodding. "Yes," I said. "What's she thinking? Her face was priceless!"

He watched her for a moment. She was getting congrats from all the other girls. "She can't decide if it's a good thing or bad," he said, chuckling. "She thinks it's a sign," he said and gasped, "about Mike! She likes him. They've..." He stopped, looking at me with a wicked smile.

"What?" I squealed, laughing. "Are they friends with benefits now or something?"

"Yes!" he said, smothering his laugh into my shoulder.

"Stop it," I gasped, my mouth hanging open.

All he could do was shake his head.

Alice pulled a chair out for me, and I sat down.

Edward knelt before me, still snickering. He paused, raising an eyebrow at me, and I laughed at the evilness that spread across his face. I watched as his tongue flicked out and traveled slowly across his bottom lip.

"Behave," I growled low to him.

Once his hands disappeared under my dress, they slid torturously over my skin, caressing my thighs. Finding the garter, he pulled it down so slowly that I thought I would moan at the feel of it. When he finally saw the color, a long, low growl came from him, his eyes darkening slightly.

I heard Rose crack up from behind us, causing me to snicker with her. "Sorry, love," I said. "Blame Rose for the color."

"I may not want to throw this away," he said, standing and spinning it around his finger.

"I'll buy you another one," I whispered, raising my eyebrow at him.

He laughed, turning around to look at the guys jockeying for position. He drew it back like a rubber band and shot it into the cluster of boys. I watched as they scrambled for it like a fumbled football in the Super Bowl. Feet, arms, and legs went everywhere. I saw Jake's and Seth's large frames in the mix, and even my dad's smiling face.

"You've got to be kidding me," I said, seeing Mike emerge with it triumphantly. Edward's face was in a bright smile. "Proud of yourself, are you?" I asked, wrapping my arm around his waist.

"What are the odds?" he asked, laughing, his brow furrowed.

The cake cutting was the only moment I got nervous. I knew there was no way I would get cake past my throat.

"The icing is fine, love," Edward whispered in my ear. "It's the cake you don't want." He kissed my ear in between sentences. "Use the napkin to spit it out."

Alice was standing there nodding.

He was right. The sweetness of the icing was fine, but he had smeared enough on my face – much to the enjoyment of the crowd watching – that I had to use a napkin anyway. Edward, however, tasted insanely good with icing on his lips.

"Hmm," I said, "note to self." I snickered when his eyes grew dark and he licked his lips.

"Good to know," he said, kissing me again, "for future reference."

"If you think that's good," Alice said, "you should try mango juice. You can lick that off from anywhere." She smiled at both of us after we stopped and stared at her, and then she giggled as she walked away.

"Did you know that?" I asked, looking at him.

"I do now," he said, chuckling and licking his lips again.

Emmett said, "It's time to kick this party up a notch!" as he ran by us to his DJ spot, smiling wickedly.

"Get This Party Started" by Pink began as Alice and Rose dragged me off to dance.

Jasper joined us and said, "Watch this!"

One by one, everyone at the reception was on their feet and out on the dance floor. I looked at him, laughing. He was quite proud of himself.

"Impressed?" he asked, fist bumping Edward when he joined us.

"Of course," I said, giggling. "But there's just one thing missing, Jazz."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asked, leaning down so he could hear me.

"Yeah. Where the hell is the leprechaun?" I asked, looking around.

He laughed, his head falling back. He reached over and pulled me so that he could kiss the top of my head. "He left, saying something about rainbows...pots of gold...I don't know!"

Emmett was doing very well; the next song he played was "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf. Everyone stayed on the floor dancing. He slowed it down for a while, and I was whisked away by several people. Charlie and Phil wanted a dance, and soon, I was with Jake.

I looked around for Edward, laughing when I saw him dip Renee. She was laughing and blushing. Only Edward could get a woman to blush that way.

I was smiling at them when Jake asked, "Are we ever going to be okay again, Bells?"

"I don't know, Jake," I said, looking up at him. Jesus, he was tall. "You're lucky I really like Anna. Otherwise, I might avoid you altogether." I looked around the room. "Just look at Charlie, Jake. You see the looks you cause?"

Charlie looked nervous seeing us together.

"I would deserve it...if you avoided me," he said sadly.

"You know, if I were anyone else but me, I would need therapy after all that you did. Talking to Carlisle has helped me to get this far with you," I said, seeing Carlisle next to Charlie. I was pretty sure he could hear me. The look on his face was pride and concern, all wrapped into one.

"I'll take what I can get," he said, smiling. "I just don't know what I'll do when you finally move."

"Email," I said, smiling.

"I don't have a computer, Bells," he said, rolling his eyes.

"You will before I leave, then," I told him. "Consider it an early Christmas present or something. It's for you and Anna. I want to hear from her, too."

Jasper cut in, taking me in his arms. "How you can talk to him is amazing," he said, frowning.

"I know," I agreed, looking up at him. "But for all the nasty things he's done, I wouldn't be here without him. It was his okay to Edward, you know."

"I know," he said, still frowning. "I just think about the things he did...when we weren't here...I could just..."

"Ah, the protective older brother syndrome," I said, smirking at him.

He snickered, nodding.

"Well, knowing that he's imprinted helps. His mind isn't obsessed over me anymore. If I wanted, I could walk away from him. But I look at him and want to see my friend that I knew two years ago."

"Would you? Walk away from him?" he asked, his head tilting.

"I have no choice soon, right?" I asked, thinking about the move. "He was a friend once, but it's awkward now. I talk to you like I used to talk to him. Maybe that's better. Maybe Jake and I weren't meant to be friends." I sighed at the thought of all the wasted time.

"Bells," he said, smiling, "as long as I've known you, there's never been one person you didn't let in that wasn't worth it. There must have been something good in him. Anyone that wasn't, you didn't waste your time."

Both of us looked at each other and said, "Tanya," and then burst into laughter.

"Exactly," he said, still laughing. "Your prince is coming to take you from me," he said, looking over my shoulder.

"Oh, then, our time is at an end," I said, smiling and sighing dramatically.

"Yes, fair Bella," he said, bowing like he had in Alice's room. "Another time, then," he said, smiling and walking away.

I felt my favorite arms wrap around me from behind. "I didn't think I would ever get you back," he said in my ear. "I wanted one more dance with my wife."

"Hmm," I purred, turning in his arms. "That's sounds really good," I told him, smiling. His face was so happy, so filled with love, that I could barely breathe.

"A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson started to play, and a few couples joined us on the dance floor. I watched as Jasper took Alice's hand and led her over, as well. But I could barely tear my eyes from Edward.

He leaned in, kissing me softly. I traced his bottom lip with my tongue, and he moaned, opening his mouth to me. Our tongues caressed slowly, my hands playing with the hair at his neck.

Apparently, we lost ourselves as we always did. We must have kissed way past the song because cheers, whistles, and a round of applause broke us out of our little bubble. I started giggling against his lips, pushing him away.

"I forgot where we were," he said, smiling and shrugging.

"Edward, Bella...it's time," Alice said, taking me by the hand. "Bella, let's get you changed."

"Okay," I said, having to rip my eyes from my husband. I looked down at her and nodded.

She tugged me into the house and up the stairs, opening her room to see both my moms standing there. They rushed at me, wrapping me in hugs, and started to help me out of my dress.

Once the dress was off, Esme and Renee left to go hang it somewhere. Alice looked at me, studying me.

"Alice," I said sincerely, "thanks, for everything. It was perfect, really."

"You're welcome," she replied, smiling. "Now, let's see..." She looked at me in the white underwear set I was standing in. "Leave that on." Giggling, she explained, "You'll appreciate his reaction when he sees it." She raised her eyebrow at me suggestively.

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Okay, Alice," I said, giving in.

"The only thing I'm allowed to say is this: you'll want to be comfortable; it's a long trip," she said, handing me a white skirt and blue tank top with a long-sleeved button-down.

She removed my veil, setting it aside, and tossed my hair into a loose braid. "There," she said, satisfied. "Now, the boys have everything in your car, so when you're ready..." Her voice trailed off as she looked down.

"What is it Alice?" I asked, tilting her face up.

She rushed into my arms, wailing, "I'm going to miss you!"

"It's two weeks, Ali," I said, hugging her close.

"I know," she said into my shoulder, "but you've been in this house for almost a year. I'll be bored...I'll miss you, that's all...but God!" She looked up at me. "I'm so happy for you guys. Finally!"

"Yeah, finally," I said, my heart about to burst.

Charlie was outside the door, waiting for me. Alice left us, heading downstairs.

"I'm gonna miss you, Bells," he said, pulling me into a hug.

"Me, too, Dad," I said, my breath hitching. I knew he wasn't talking about the honeymoon. He was really going to be missing me when I went across the country. I pulled back, folding my arms across my chest, and said, "But isn't there something you want to tell me?"

"Seth! That little..." He shook his head, smiling. "Yeah, Bells, I did it. I followed your advice. But don't think I'm doing all this!" He gestured around the house. "Not a chance!" He was laughing.

"I don't blame you," I said, snickering. "Just let me know when it's over. I know you; it'll be a private thing."

"Okay," he said, smiling again.

Another blurry moment occurred, people hugging us and saying things I didn't hear. My mom pulled me aside, telling me congratulations and that she loved me. I told her I loved her, too, and my heart ached just looking at her, knowing it was going to be hard letting her go.

We walked out, and I growled low at what they had done to my car. There were blown-up condoms hanging everywhere. "Just Married" was written in white on every window. And of course, shoes were tied to the bumper in the back.

Edward snorted, looking over at me.

"Emmett!" I grumbled, turning to look at him.

"What?" he asked, smiling. "It was either that or the Vanquish!"

I heard Edward growl at that thought. I shook my head, rolling my eyes.

Suddenly, we were hit with a rain of rice. It came from everywhere, getting in our hair and down our clothes. We dashed to the car, diving in. As we drove away, we heard the "I love yous" from everyone on the steps and waved goodbye.

As we got to the end of the driveway, Edward stopped and looked over at me. "Ready?" he asked, smiling my favorite smile.

"I've been ready," I said, snorting.

"Me, too, love," he said, leaning over and kissing me.

"So, where are we going?" I asked, raising my eyebrow and looking him up and down.

"Not a chance, Mrs. Cullen," he said, laughing and pulling out of the driveway.