Beta'd by the beautiful Dollybigmomma.

Chapter 34 - I'm not afraid of Death, what's it gonna do, kill me?

EDWARD

Today was going to be one of the happiest days of my life, second only to the birth of my daughter. We were getting married today. Bella and Rosalie were excitedly getting dressed in the little bride's room next door. That left us men with the babies. Emmett bounced a fussy Bree, while I rocked a sleepy Emma.

My father walked in, downing a shot of amber liquid. He grimaced, when he looked at me. I knew he was disappointed in me. I was considering putting off my graduating in favor of having a family first. It was not what he considered acceptable. He was sure I was putting too much stress on myself and jeopardizing my future and my career. When I looked into my baby girl's face, I couldn't disagree more.

"The ladies are about ready. It's time you took your positions," the preacher announced. I could hear more giggles coming from the bride's room next door. I couldn't help but grin, as Rosalie slipped out and headed around the corner to go wait at the chapel doors for the music to cue her to come up the aisle before Bella. Charlie nodded and winked at me, and then he stepped inside the bride's room, closing the door behind him. My father scowled and slurred curses and something else under his breath. Great. He was drunk. He was supposed to be helping my mother take care of Emma and Bree during the ceremony. Not that he wanted to, since he seemed to resent us having the girls and took little interest in them. It looked like my mother would be handling the girls on her own.

Emmett and I crossed the little hallway and slipped through the door behind the pulpit into the chapel. We walked to the front row where my mother was sitting, placing the girls on her lap. She smiled up at us, as we kissed her cheeks. My dad took his place next to my mother, glaring down the aisle at the closed doors in back, where Bella would soon be coming in.

I looked around the room at all the smiling faces. It was nice to see Jasper and Alice in attendance with their son, Nathan. Bella and Alice had sent birth announcements to each other through the mail and had continued corresponding, rebuilding their friendship. I was worried that Bella would be disappointed, when she sent them the wedding invitation, and they didn't attend. I was shocked that they had actually shown up.

I took my place at the altar and waited for my girl to come down the aisle. Rose made her way to the front, and then the wedding march sounded. When Bella came into view, I think my heart about stopped. She was a vision to behold, and one I would never forget.

Charlie was smiling, but I could see tears in his eyes. Bella was sporting the same teary grin. He helped her up the steps in front of the preacher and handed her over to me, patting my hand. The preacher started the ceremony, and I was so lost in my girl, I almost didn't hear the squealing of our daughter. She was adorable, but being a bit disruptive at the moment.

My eyes found little Emma. She was kicking excitedly on my mother's lap, trying to get our attention. Bella laughed, along with everyone else, and descended the steps towards our happy baby girl and took her up in her arms. I turned to help her back up, but the room was suddenly rocked by a loud blast from behind the pulpit. My back was burning, as the chapel erupted into chaos. The last thing I heard was Bella screaming, and then everything went dark.

I didn't know how long I was out, but I heard the beeping of a heart monitor signaling I was alive. I heard my family whispering softly through sobs.

The sounds faded again, for how long, I didn't know. I felt a warm tingle on my hand and soft lips on my cheek. "Edward," my sweet goddess spoke to me. "Please, be okay, baby," she begged.

I fought to open my eyes for her. I found it frustrating that I couldn't, I wanted to tell her I would be fine.

I heard our daughter fuss and cry and my mother say she would take her out, so Bella could stay with me. I felt her move my arm and squeeze in next to me on the bed. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hold her to me, but I still couldn't move.

The silence brought the darkness again. I didn't know how long I was out this time, but when I woke, Bella was next to me again. My body ached, and I groaned.

I felt Bella move, and it hurt, so I groaned again.

She quickly got up and kissed my cheek. "Edward, Edward, please…"

I fought to open my eyes again, this time actually getting them to flutter. I saw her blurry form and smiled. I heard her sob in relief. I tried to move my hand to grab her, but I didn't know if I was moving or not. I did eventually feel her squeeze my hand.

"Bella," I attempted to croak out.

She stopped me from speaking, and I heard her call for the doctor.

He came in a moment later, flashed his light in my eyes and had me squeeze his hand and wiggle my toes. He finally pulled the tube from my airway, and Bella pressed a straw to my lips. The liquid soothed my sore throat.

"Bella," I whispered. She smiled and kissed my lips softly. "What happened?" I asked.

"There was a bomb. My father was right about the butler. He's the prime suspect. They think he was hired by someone, though. Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry. I'm sure that bomb was meant for me."

I pulled her down to me, and it hurt to move, but I didn't care. I wanted her close to me. "No, no, I'm glad it was me and not you and Emma." I reached up and wiped her tears from her face. "How is Emma, were you and she okay?"

"Yes, your body blocked most of the blast," she sobbed. "We were thrown to the ground, but I was able to keep her from getting hurt. We fell on your mother, though, and broke her arm. Emmett and Rose were somewhat shielded by the arch and candelabras. Bree was hurt as well, but she's doing better now. We all had first-degree burns and cuts; nothing serious, just a little painful. We're all fine now."

"Did they catch him?"

"Edgar? No, my father found out his name is actually James Chester. Your old butler, Brian Windsor, didn't return home to England. He was reported missing there. My father thinks it was James who made him disappear."

"I'm sorry, love."

She leaned down and kissed my nose. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

I tried to sit up, but she stopped me.

"So, did we ever get married?" I asked.

She frowned. "I'm sorry, honey, but they weren't able to finish the ceremony."

"Call the chaplain in. I want to do it now." She looked at me sadly. "You do still want to marry me, don't you, Bella?"

"Yes, of course I do! Are you sure you want to do this now, though?" she asked, worried.

"Yes, love, more than anything. I don't want another day to pass without you being my wife. Would you have the nurse fetch him, please?"

"Of course, I don't want to wait, either," she said with a wide grin and went to make the request.

The chaplain entered a short while later, giving us a gentle smile. "I've been informed that you're in need of my services?"

I cleared my throat. "Yes, our wedding was interrupted, and we'd like to rectify that."

A brilliant smile spread across his face. "Wonderful! I very seldom get to perform such ceremonies," he clapped his hands joyfully. "Do you have a marriage license?"

"Yes, I'll call Rose and have her and Emmett bring it down, and they can be our witnesses," Bella said and pulled out her phone. She spoke quickly, and not an hour later, Emmett was pinning a white rose to my hospital gown, as Rose helped Bella change in the bathroom into a simple white dress. She held a small bouquet of flowers in her hand that I assumed were from the gift shop. Emmett took his place at my side and Rose on Bella's. Just as the chaplain was about to start the impromptu ceremony, Charlie came flying through the door, with mom on his heels and Emma perched on her hip.

"Don't you dare start without us." She grabbed Bella's hand and shoved her into Charlie's arms.

"Well, are we ready to begin now?" the chaplain asked, beaming with excitement, "Or are we waiting for anyone else?"

Mom shook her head no and waved for him to begin. I chuckled lightly, as Emmett started humming the wedding march, and Bella smiled up at her father, who leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Bells," I heard him whisper to her, as he gave her to me for the second time.

The ceremony was short but perfect. I kissed my girl, and Emmett passed me her rings. She slid a matching platinum band on my finger, and I realized she must have had it specially made to match her ring. It fit perfectly. She kissed me a second time, and the chaplain pulled my tray over, so we could sign the marriage certificate. It was done; we were officially married.

Bella was finally my wife.

Apparently, they'd had to do a lot of reconstruction on me, before they'd even dared to try and wake me. I was in the hospital for two months. One of those months, I had been in a coma, as they worked on my skin grafts. My back had received severe burns, before they had been able to get the fire put out. Fortunately, my head had been bent forward, saving the back of my scalp and hair. I had seen my back. It was a mess of angry-looking red and white scars. I didn't have much feeling in it anymore, but I'd guess it wasn't a big deal. My butt itself wasn't scarred. It had made it out alright. Bella assured me I still had adorable butt dimples. She kissed them, as she told me that she loved all of me. My girl, she was amazing. Even ugly and scarred, she still loved me.

I realized that the bomb had been set to kill and would have done so instantly, but I'd survived, because I had been just on the edge of the blast. I guessed you never realized how close you were to dying, when it was you who was dying. I was glad that it had been me that had taken the blast and not my girls. I would have never forgiven myself if they had been hurt. I was just grateful I'd recovered. Unfortunately, the preacher who had been performing our service had been even closer to where the explosion had happened than I'd been. He didn't make it.

Whoever had set the bomb was officially a murderer. James Chester was the prime suspect, but like Bella had said, he had most likely been hired by someone, and that had me worried. If someone had been trying to kill my family and had failed, I feared that, at some point, they might try again.