Chapter 36

I awoke this morning lying in Edward's arms. We have gotten very used to snuggling together under a blanket warmer so I don'tt freeze overnight. This is my second one, because Edward had shorted out our first one and I love to tease him about it. Alice shopped for us and found one, I don't know where, that gets so hot, that even with Edward's cold body factored in, I sometimes get sweaty if it is set to high.

"Good morning, handsome." Edward cradled me in his arms and was placing soft kisses onto my hairline. He must have heard a noise that I didn't because he was up and out of my bed, dressed, kissing my lips and readying to leave before I could sit up. When I turned my head to look toward the window, a balled-up t-shirt flew through the open window, landing on my head and a ghostly chuckle floated to my ears. The shirt was obscuring my vision so I pulled it free; my hair looking like it went through a wind storm.

I held my sheet up to my chin as my bedroom door quickly swung open. "Sweetpea, it's time for you to wake up. Esme just called and wants to take us shopping. Be ready to go in an hour." Mom started closing my door and paused looking at me with a sly grin. "Honey, I know that sleeping naked is cool, but you don't want to be caught off guard when your father comes home or if Edward stops by early to see you." I rolled my eyes and got out of bed stark naked and walked to my closet grabbing my clothes as mom headed out of my room. I then walked into my bathroom and started the shower's water, turning it to hot and stepping in with an "Ahh."

Edward and Alice both had at least one final today, Friday, to attend. It wasn't necessary for me to go so I stayed home with mom and Esme would be here fairly soon. After showering, I hurriedly dressed and waited for mom to get ready. I started looking at my cap and gown for graduation hanging up in my closet, thinking that Carlisle was Superman. He actually made arrangements for me to attend graduation instead of going to court. The court postponed the arraignment until two days after graduation and there is a possibility of my not having to attend the arraignment at all. I should be expecting a phone call about that on Monday.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Alice. "Hello, Alice. How are you?" Her voice was very animated and high pitched. I could tell that she was waving her hands around while she spoke. "Lily, don't you do any major shopping while I am in school. Have Esme take you to taste test the cakes. That way, I don't have to sample any of those and I won't miss out on helping pick out the dresses." I headed downstairs and waited on the sofa. "Okay, Alice we will start off with the food aspect first. I wouldn't want to put you in the position of having to eat people food."

Mom made her way down the staircase and she was beaming with pride. She was dressed in a black dress with white polka dots. She usually only wore dresses like that for church, which we haven't been to since she started working on Sundays. "Alice, let me call you back later, okay? Bye." I hung up my cell and set it down, gazing at my mom.

She twirled around in a circle and she then picked up her matching handbag, smiling the entire time. I felt way underdressed now. "You look beautiful, Mom." She smiled and was walking toward me, but before she could make it all the way over, there was a soft knock at the front door. Mom headed to the door, walking quite steadily in her high heels. Her calf muscles contracted with her every step, showing that she is quite fit. Seeing her like that made me appreciate her and see her as a woman and not just as...well...mom.

Esme stood at the door, her face lit with a smile. She was wearing a beautiful floral dress, an old-fashioned hat that women used to wear in the 1930s and little gloves. I stopped and took inventory of my outfit, which consisted of a pair of red jeans and matching long-sleeved red t-shirt, a black halter vest and my black flats. Esme must have noticed me because she swept up beside me and hugged me. "Good morning, sweetheart! I think you look absolutely beautiful, so if you are comfortable in what you are wearing, then don't change anything." She always knows the right thing to say to a self-conscious young woman.

As mom was closing the front door it was blocked by a large boot and moments later Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett entered. They all looked at her and said, "Hi Mom," each one hugging her as they entered. Emmett boomed out, "You don't mind if you have an escort, do you?" I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his large frame, as much as my little arms could. "You boys and Rosalie are more than welcome to come with us," mom answered. "So where are we off to first?" I asked.

We convened at my dining table and started discussing where we were going first. We then broached the topic of invitations. I immediately turned on my computer and entered wedding invitations in the search engine. Right away, I found some beautiful white ones with a filigree design adorned with a black ribbon closure. They were very elegant. When we finally decide on a guest list, we know what we will be ordering. Esme mentioned the color scheme and right away Emmett threw out his opinion. "I think the scheme should be grizzly bear brown."

Emmett seriously wants us to go with grizzly bear brown? I thought. Immediately, I received a text message from Alice telling me to slap Emmett upside the head. I snorted in laughter, but kept the slap to myself. My phone buzzed again and I picked it up. The text message read: Chicken. I'll do it 4 U later.

Rose huffed out a huge exasperated sigh and mom just looked obviously confused, but was trying to be polite. Esme tactfully moved the conversation along, beginning with clearing her throat. "I think if we go with a black and white theme, than any color you choose for flowers and centerpieces would match." It seemed like a reasonable request. Mom agreed when she started talking animatedly and throwing ideas around. We went over the guest list and came up with a rough estimate of 60 people and it would probably balloon from there. Obviously, there would be humans there, but would there be other vampires there? Since I have known Edward, they have never had any visitors or friends over with the exception of me.

We all left after I locked up and started to scout out venues for the reception and caterers. I received a text message that read; Miss U, bored 2 tears. What R U up 2?

I smiled, my mouth stretched tightly until it hurt. I responded: Miss U 2. Looking 4 venues 4 R wedding.

Immediately I received another text: C U soon.

I frowned and looked at Esme, "I think Edward is leaving school." She grabbed my phone and dialed Edward's number. She seemed impatient, yet it was only about two seconds before she started speaking in a hurried, hushed voice. I could hear what she was saying because of our close proximity. "Edward, you will stay in school and complete your final examination. You took those extra classes and now you need to fulfill your responsibilities, young man! As soon as you finish your government final, you may meet up with us. Lily, Liz and I really want this special time together to plan and just spend time with one another." After a long pause she said, "Thank you, Edward."

I love how she threw in 'young man' loudly enough for my mom to hear. "Ooooh very authoritative, Esme," I whispered. All of the Cullen couples were all more like equals, instead of having the kind of relationship that average parents and children have together, so her motherly scolding was extremely funny to listen to.

She kept on speaking with Edward, but this time the conversation was so quiet and fast, that I understood absolutely nothing. I knew that Edward probably looked bored and anxious while carrying on a conversation with Esme. Not a single soul in his government final probably even knew he was on the phone, let alone carrying on a conversation.

I really wanted for Esme and mom to plan their dream wedding, so I stayed neutral. Mom and I share similar personalities, so we pretty much agree on just about everything. We ended up, per Alice's request, driving to different bakeries in and around the area to taste test cakes. Some of our guests, those of the supernatural persuasion, will probably not be savoring the fine foods that will be served. Edward, of course, will have to suck it up and eat because he and I will be the center of attention on our wedding day. Hopefully, that will be the last time Edward will have to eat human food.

We stopped inside a beautiful bakery and we answered questions about the guest list and what my favorite cake and filling flavors are. Mom and I tasted champagne, white, chocolate, lemon, raspberry and marble cakes with fillings like chocolate mousse, hazelnut cream, mocha cream and vanilla cheesecake. They all tasted so good. I am not very good at making decisions when it comes to food. I liked them all, but I think my very favorite flavor of cake is chocolate and a wonderful filling would be mocha cream.

Emmett was standing outside the shop making faces in the window, steaming it up with his foggy breath. Then he started writing words like, ewww, gack and Edward stinks. I was doing a good job at keeping a straight face, although once, I coughed trying to stifle a laugh. Luckily, Esme, mom, Rosalie and I were facing outside, so the baker could not see his antics.

After a few moments he started dancing. I burst out laughing when he was doing the moonwalk. Jasper smoothly walked away, trying to shrink his tall body enough so nobody would notice him. He then was leaning up against the hood of his car, shaking his head and covering his face with his hands pretending that he didn't know Emmett. Mom and Esme both had their eyebrows raised to the sky; smiles hidden with the backs of their hands, their eyes were sparkling with amusement.

I excused myself and stepped outside. "Emmett, what are you doing? You are going to get us into trouble." He laughed and started doing the cabbage patch and answered, "Lily, I am extremely bored just waiting here and the smells coming from inside are just awful! I am dancing to keep my mind off of those gross smells." I didn't smell anything bad. It smelled like a mixture of butter, flour, vanilla and sugar. The smell alone was making my mouth water.

I snorted in an unlady-like fashion looking at my huge burly brother dancing on the sidewalk. Men and women strolling down the street would either cross the street to avoid him or were throwing dollar bills and change at his feet because of his amazing performance. "Emmett, please be good? I will try to hurry, okay! Jasper, help me out here?" Jasper just held up his hand and gave me an apologetic "I can't help you look" so I just walked back inside. Mom and Esme had agreed on a three tier cake with white fondant on the outside that had a filigree design adorned over the entire surface to match our invitations. Beautiful cream colored roses with a hint of pink at the center of the rose and green lacy petal edges will be placed in between the layers and on top.

After we chose our cake, we drove to a caterer and decided on a menu. That was a challenge, I feel sorry for the vampires who have to eat...then it hit me. Which kind of vampires are the Cullens inviting to our wedding? I hope the vegetarian kind. I would hate to be the menu along with the guests on my side. I made a mental note to ask Alice later when my mom wasn't around. I'm sure they know vampires who savor humans. Would they chance inviting them? I'd hate for some sort of accident to happen at the wedding. An image of blood curdling screams and blood spraying all over the tables and guests at the reception entered my mind and my stomach turned. Good thing that happened when I walked inside the establishment instead of during the tasting. I pushed those gory thoughts from my mind and focused on Edward and I and how happy we both are.

Mom and I had to choose the dinner menu and I would love filet mignon and mashed potatoes with cream, butter, sour cream, caramelized onions and bacon; with the addition of baby vegetables and possibly some great appetizers, too. If any of my dad's shipmates were going to be attending, meat and potatoes would be a hit, it's a guy thing. A sudden picture of all of those men resembling cavemen went through my mind, making me smile. I probably will not give Edward a choice on the menu. He would have to eat it, no matter what it was and I would reward him later! My phone rang and I excused myself to answer it. I answered chuckling from my mental images, "Hello?" Edward's beautiful voice sailed through the line and my mood instantly perked up even more.

"Would you like to share your humorous thoughts?" Edward asked. I proceeded to tell him what I was thinking. Edward laughed heartily at the cavemen part and then purred in delight after learning he would be rewarded for having to eat like a human. "See you soon, Baby. I love you." The phone clicked off so I put my phone back into my handbag, smiling widely as I walked back to the others. Mom loved the choices and we agreed on the menu, making final arrangements.

Emmett had earned quite a bit of money dancing on the streets, so he ended up taking us to get a coffee at the nearest coffeehouse, highly caffeinated for mom and decaf for me. Edward and Alice finally finished taking their grueling final, grueling only because they had to endure sitting there with people they didn't like and taking a test on information they already know. Within minutes after calling and letting me know they were finished, Alice and Edward were meeting up with us. It is so strange to think that they found us because they could smell mom and me.

Edward swept me up into his strong stone-like arms and kissed me. After releasing me, he then hugged my mom. I am so happy that my family and his all get along well. I don't know what I would do if there was tension between us. Although, I am not to sure how my parents would react if they ever found out about the Cullens being vampires, that could throw a gargantuan wrench into the relationship.

We had to decide on what to do next. Emmett and Jasper said they wanted to take Edward to pick out tuxes for the wedding, but I really think they want to go out into the woods and do scary vampire guy stuff, horsing around and what not. Alice then said it was time for us all to lose the boys and go dress shopping. Alice kind of got her way. I said we all could go bridesmaid dress shopping. I think they boys would be a good buffer and they would be able to give their input.

This was going to be a huge task...what to do? My mom wants simple and Alice and Rose want extravagant. What to do? I looked into Edward's eyes searching for an answer to my dilemma. Edward said, "Don't bring me into this one, I am not choosing sides." I whispered into his ear softly, so my mom wouldn't hear, "You chose a side when you married me a few days ago...so choose now and choose wisely." I smirked when he scowled. I do love him dearly. "You are evil, Lily." I smiled wickedly and whispered in his ear. "How evil? Wicked Witch of the West evil?"

Edward then surprised me by whispering back, "Not evil enough for me to do anything about it now, but just wait until we get home." I leaned into his earlobe and took it in my teeth and tugged on it a little; I then whispered, "Promise?" He growled enough for me and his family to hear. The boys high-fived him and Rose huffed out an irritated sigh at their juvenile antics. Alice just smirked and raised her eyebrow and then said, "By the way, Edward, Lily wins and you owe her a new car." I looked at her questioningly, but all she said was, "You'll see."

I sat on a sofa with mom and Esme, while the guys stood behind us. Alice went into the dressing room and started to try on dresses. There wasn't one that looked bad on her. She was absolutely breathtaking every time she stepped out of the dressing room. My goodness, she could make a gunny sack look good.

Edward spoke with my mom and about having a neutral color on the dresses, but they could be somewhat extravagant. I thought for sure that mom would shoot him down, but she actually agreed to his terms and they compromised. He winked at me as I gazed up into his beautiful eyes. I stood up and walked around the couch and pulled Edward's face down to my level, looking eye to eye, and whispered, "Edward, you didn't just use your charm on my mom did you?" He kissed my cheek and whispered back, "No, I am saving all of my charm for you, Baby." He then proceeded to pinch my butt and winked at me as I sat back down.

Rosalie had started to try on dresses, as well. She exited the dressing room wearing a celadon strapless above knee dress. Statuesque was a wonderful descriptor for her; she was extremely tall, perfectly proportioned and her ivory skin was without blemish. Emmett never had anything negative to say, every dress was just perfect. He looked at her with flirtatious, wanton eyes. If it were possible for him to drool, he would be. She walked back into the fitting room and undressed slowly, well slowly for her and tried on another dress.

Finally, Alice came back out wearing a dress that was beaded tulle over charmeuse with a removable shrug. It was the most beautiful dress. She looked like an angel. Mom jumped up and started "ooh-ing and ahh-ing" at her. Esme had a knowing gleam in her eye. I looked at my watch, we had been there about two hours and the guys looked absolutely worn out from the slow pace they have had to endure, all for my mom.

I pulled out my notebook and pen and started checking off all the completed items on our to-do list. "Well, we have found our invitations, ordered the menu and the cake, found the bridesmaid dresses. All we need now is to pick a venue, get my dress, your tuxes and order the floral arrangements." Edward looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Is that all?" he said sarcastically. I decided to spare him, the poor baby, insert my own eye roll here. The man is invincible, yet shopping for our wedding is just too much for him. "We can do this another day, just us girls and you guys can do, 'guy stuff'."

He smiled and kissed my cheek. "That's more like it, Baby."

After our shopping trip, Esme dropped us off at my house. She and my mom were going to make arrangements for graduation on Monday. We left them at the house and went to my car to go to my second home.

The six of us squished in my car. Edward was driving and I got to sit on Emmett's lap. He was way too big to fit in my back seat with the others. Alice, Jasper and Rose were sitting in the back looking kind of squished.

Emmett grinned and said, "Edward, now I know why you like Lily as a human. You are very comfortably warm." He started to laugh and kept on talking. "Who knew that someone so little could generate that much heat?" I blushed in response.

Emmett kept up his rambling. "You know Edward, now I can't tease you about being a virgin anymore. What am I going to tease you about now?" In response to his comment, Edward put his foot down harder on the accelerator, without saying a word. Emmett must have made him very angry. His jaw was set so firmly, that a normal person would have broken their teeth. His eyes resembled a dangerous black storm cloud.

As we approached the house, Edward hit the brakes and we fishtailed to a halt near the front porch. Emmett opened the car door and before I could step out, he kept me in his arms and got out. He was holding me like an infant. "Emmett put me down, I feel ridiculous." He laughed and set me down only when Edward gave him a murderous look. When Edward's eyes panned over to my face his eyes softened and his scowl went away.

As a family, we entered the front door. They led me to their dining table and gestured for me to sit down. They all looked so serious, except for Alice, who looked like she had concocted a scheme. "Okay, what is going on?" Carlisle entered the room and joined us at the table. "Lily, we need to speak with you about your future," Carlisle said.

I literally gulped and that made everyone laugh, eventually Carlisle continued. "You need to decide on what college you want to attend." I really didn't know what to say. "I hadn't planned on attending college. I couldn't afford to go and I definitely didn't want my parents to pay for it on their limited salary. I never even filled out any applications."

Everyone but Alice looked appalled. She grabbed my hand and said, "That's okay, silly. We filled them out for you." I turned to face Edward, who started to whistle in response. "What? Where? When?"

Alice's answer wasn't something I even expected to hear. "Well, we sent one in to every university in the country, of course." My mouth dropped open. Alice continued speaking. "Lily, you can take your pick from anywhere. Oh and by the way, we are also enrolling you in beauty school, too!"

We sat in silence for a moment while my brain processed the information I was just given. "Why beauty school?" Rosalie smiled and spoke for the first time since we arrived. "It is something we, Alice and I, have wanted to do, but because of our being vampires, we can't attend those classes. We both have limited knowledge and we want to gain even more. We want you to go and teach us everything you learn." Her eyes were hopeful.

"Oh no! You two are not going to experiment on my wife!" Edward shouted. He stood up and pounded his fist on the table to show his strong objection to this idea. "Edward, calm down. Lily is still human, so her hair will grow back."

He shouted again, "What if Lily's hair turns out badly? I don't want my wife to live out eternity with an ugly hair-do." Now this was getting funny. Jasper and I couldn't contain our laughter listening to this whole absurd conversation. My laughter was turning into hysterics, so Jasper was now laughing like a giddy school girl. At times, I think they were even speaking mentally because there were no words heard, but the looks on their faces and their hand gestures were priceless.

Looking at Rose and Edward conversate together in this way was like watching a ping pong game. Rosalie spoke again, "Edward, okay, I admit that my idea for you to get a perm in the 1970s was a really bad idea, in retrospect, and I am glad that you refused and threatened bodily harm if we touched a hair on your head. And, I also admit that it was a good thing for Emmett and Jasper to refuse an afro and a mohawk, too! But Lily is human and her hair will grow back, and we can strip the dye out of her hair if we have to!"

She turned to face me and started to speak again, "Lily, when do you want to be turned in to one of us?" I started seriously thinking. "Well, not for a while. Maybe...when I am around 21."

"See, Edward that gives us three years to cut and dye Lily's hair as much as we want to. We will make sure to give her a good six months before she is turned to let her hair grow out anyway she wants. It is a win-win situation here." Edward's face looked as if it were going to explode.

Carlisle decided to steer the conversation back toward college. "Honey, we all want to stay together as a family and we won't know where to move until you decide what college you would like to attend, that way I can make arrangements to work at a new hospital."

Emmett spoke up, too "Lily, even if you want to pick somewhere warm, we all want to be together." I was utterly shocked and confused. Why on earth would they want to move somewhere sunny? "I don't want to live someplace sunny. I won't choose any place in the south or southwest."

Rose heaved out a sigh of relief. "Good, I don't do night owl very well."

I smirked and said, "Rose, you don't sleep, so technically you are a night owl." She flipped me the bird and Alice snorted.

"Oh, we are also enrolling you in belly dancing classes," Alice said. I held up my hand to stifle the conversation that was going to start. "Let me guess, you need me, the human, to take the course so that you can have me teach you how. Is that about right?"

Jasper responded, "That is exactly right. The instructors will, at times, touch your stomach to make sure you are moving properly. We don't need an instructor to touch one of us and freak out, so the only one of us, who can take the class, is you."

"And you know the instructor will do that how? Never mind, I don't want to know. Edward, do you want your wife to be a guinea pig?" He grinned and took my hand tenderly. "If it means that you learn to belly dance...then absolutely!" His eyes were filled with mischief and he wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Edward, this is no time to be a perv!" I looked at Carlisle and he was laughing along with the guys.

"Carlisle, help me out here." He stopped laughing and took on a serious tone. "Lily, I think that everyone would benefit if you took those classes. I really would like Esme to learn how." His eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Hello...TMI...TMI!" I screamed, covering my ears and closing my eyes. I attempted to walk away from the now awkward situation, but everywhere I could make an escape was blocked by a vampire. So I stayed in my seat trying to process all of this information. "So you want me to decide on where to live and for me to become your human, pretty cut and grow/contortionist extraordinaire, am I getting this right?"

Edward looked at me and laughed. "Baby...that is precisely what we want you to do. You are so smart. That is why I married you."

I looked at them. "Do I not have a choice? Can I say no?" Alice made a face and said, "Lily, the only choice you have here, is what college you will go to. Everything else is non-negotiable."

I sighed and then said, "Is it alright if I think about where we live? I promise not to take a very long time to come up with an answer."

Carlisle looked very kind. "Of course it is alright, Lily. We want you to be happy. Take all the time you need."

Edward took my hand and the seven of us went out back and started a basketball game, girls against guys. The guys thought they were being kind by giving me a handicap at the end of the game. Because of Alice's visions and Edward hearing everyone's thoughts, but mine, the game was tied.

They gave me a free shot at half-court. Edward bet me a new car that I wouldn't make it. I stood there with my eyes closed, knowing that I would never make it. I sucked in a deep breath and shot blindly. When I opened them, the ball was circling the rim and then fell into the basket. Alice and Rose screamed out in delight. "Oh...I did it. I did it! Suck on that Edward Cullen! We won." I was dancing around waving my arms over my head. This game had been the perfect stress reducer. After he kissed me on the lips, Edward actually looked very proud of me and genuinely happy that we won the game.