Thanks to K.K. Fush for beta'ing!
Carlisle POV
As the wedding song played, my beautiful bride strolled down the aisle, holding a bouquet of red roses. I couldn't stop staring at her long white dress, her bright eyes, her wide smile, and her bouncy caramel curls. Every step she took, my heart beat faster. She was so pretty when she walked in slow motion. Actually, she was pretty a hundred percent of the time. Her hands slipped in mine and I held her tight against me while she laughed softly. She was here.
"Welcome to the wedding of Carlisle Cullen and Esme Platt," the minister spoke. "Who gives this woman to this man?"
Anne raised her hand. "I do. I'm her mother."
"Very well. They would like to say their own vows. Carlisle, you may start."
"Alright..." I took a deep breath and kept my eyes on hers. "Esme, you are my love and my life. I couldn't imagine how my world would be without you here. You're the best friend and lover I've ever had, and you're the most amazing woman in the universe. When you walked into that office, my heart stopped. Everything stopped. I couldn't pay attention to anyone or anything but you. Nobody could match up to you. You're my sunshine, forever and always. You're so perfect, and I'm blessed that you're mine. I, Carlisle, take you, Esme, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will cherish you and honor you all the days of my life. I love you."
"Thanks, Carlisle...I love you too," she said quietly as her voice broke. A tear ran down her cheek and I brushed it away with my thumb underneath her veil. "I...I think I should say something too, right?"
I held her hand and kissed it. "Go ahead, baby."
"I...can't believe you're mine either. I can't believe you want me even after all the troubles we've gone through. I guess that's the way true love works. One of the partners screw up, but they stick together even when times get hard. From the first time I laid my eyes on you, I tried to stay away...but I couldn't. I just couldn't. I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I was brave. I will want you forever. You were the beacon of light in my world of darkness. You still are, but you make my life brighter, bolder, and happier. I'm proud and I feel blessed to call you my man. I, Esme, take you, Carlisle, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"That's sweet of you, honey," I murmured and kissed her hand again.
"I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the minister allowed us after we exchanged the rings.
Esme swallowed hard and blinked back her tears. I flipped her veil over her hair, lifted up her chin with my index finger and bent down to touch her lips with mine. Our tongues roamed around each other's mouths and I pressed my hips to hers with my hand on her lower back. My other hand was tangled in her hair underneath her veil. Everyone was cheering as our kiss got longer and more heated. I dipped her low to the ground while our lips were still attached and brought her back up again. We ran down the aisle hand in hand as rose petals were being thrown at us. Esme giggled adorably when we sat back down and took a few gasps of air.
Microphone feedback whistled through the backyard and then I heard Renee asking, "Is this thing on?"
Esme laughed. "Yes!"
"Thanks, girl. So, I was told I have to give a speech about some woman named Esme Platt...now known as Esme Cullen...well, all right, I will. She's my best friend, okay? So break her heart, and I'll break your face." Renee was clearly speaking to me, and I laughed.
Esme rolled her eyes and gestured towards Renee. "Go on!"
"You love me. Anyway, I knew Ez since we were kids. Well, she was a baby and I was fourteen. I was her babysitter and she and I...our bond was tight. I used to call her Ezzie pie and she would call me Nay-Nay. She sounded so cute! I remember that she used to make me chase her around her house. When she was trapped, she giggled and held up her arms to me, asking me to pick her up. Oh, god, she was freaking adorable...it's a wonder I didn't pinch her cheeks!" The crowd chuckled at that. My new lovely wife blushed and hid her face against my shoulder.
"Esme has always wanted a Prince Charming since she could talk. She's a hopeless romantic at heart, so Carlisle, expect her to want you to take her for walks in the moonlight, kiss her in the rain, and just basically be a gentleman. You're doing your job, because she always calls me and tells me what you guys do together on your dates. So, that's awesome. She's my best friend forever...now she's all grown up...she's so beautiful... and she's making my eyes get teary. Congratulations to you both." Renee wiped underneath her eyes, held up her wine glass and drank it down.
Charlie went next and cleared his throat into the microphone. "I'm not talkative like my wife is. I just want to say that I'm proud of Carlisle for finding a woman who loves his crazy ass as much as he loves her. To tell you the truth, I don't think anyone else could live with his antics. Okay, I'm kidding, but jeez. She came back to him after he fucked a whore!" I covered my eyes with my hand and growled while the crowd cheered. "He's going to kill me for saying that. Luckily we're best friends, so he can't do anything worse than slapping me upside the head extremely hard. He better do that when I'm drunk and can't feel a thing. I'm going to let the next person go."
Lily grabbed the microphone from Charlie's hands. "Carlisle...Esme came from a horrible past just like you did, and she's just right for you. You guys are a good match and I can't imagine either of you being with someone else. You and Esme share something special called romance and I'm swooning over the cuteness that you two generate. I'm happy for the family you have created and now our two families are next door. You have someone and I have someone. To Esme and Carlisle Cullen!" She raised a beer bottle and clanked it with Will's. She held the microphone down next to Will's mouth.
"Carlisle...I have one thing to say, well, actually two things. Get. Laid!"
Esme went completely red and I cursed the Lord for having embarrassing friends.
"Oh, and one other thing. Thanks for letting me live."
"You're welcome, buddy!"
Carmen took the microphone next. "Carlisle, I barely know you, but I know you're a good man for Esme. I've known her since she started her job at Forks Elementary School, and she's always been a cheerful young lady. She got all the spirit sucked out of her by that evil bastard, but he's gone now, and you made her rise from her figurative grave. Esme, you and Carlisle are made for each other. You make each other better people. I'm old and wise, and I can tell you two will stay with each other for eternity. I don't have a doubt in my mind. You've had many struggles, but still, you stayed together through it all. That is so sweet."
"Okay, my turn!" Anne announced. "Esme, my daughter, my baby girl...you have finally found a protector and a gentleman in Carlisle. I'm so delighted! This is just as good as me coming back to find you alive and well. You've grown from an adorable pudgy-faced little girl to a stunning young woman, but your personality has always stayed the same. I wasn't surprised Carlisle fell in love with you. You're charming, polite, and sweet. I wish you two the best. Now for my grandchildren and their friends."
Emmett picked up Cynthia and gripped the microphone in his hands so she couldn't try to put it in her mouth. "Go ahead, little one."
Esme smiled and sniffled when Cynthia raised her arms in the air and shouted, "Yaaaaay! I love parties! I love Mommy and Daddy! I love my family and everyone!"
"Aw, baby..." Esme whispered.
"Way to go, Dad! And I finally get a mom who I can count on! I love you guys."
Alice leaned into the microphone. "Mom, you really did it. You're the strongest woman I know and I will always look up to you as my female role model. You're the best mom ever. You were brave and continued your relationship with Carlisle...or should I say, Dad? I've been saying it since I was seven. I've been waiting forever for this wedding! It's about freaking time!"
"I know, right?" Emmett added.
I laughed. "Sorry, kids."
"It's okay," Alice laughed. "Rose, you're up. Then Jasper."
"Um...Carlisle and Esme...so I've been wondering when you were gonna finally join in holy matrimony. When my girl Ali told me you two were tying the knot, I was ecstatic! We had so much fun shopping for our dresses and my god, you guys look great too! I just can't believe I'm a bridesmaid at someone's wedding. Thank you so much. I was the flower girl at my parents' wedding..."
"But it's totally cool to be a bridesmaid!" Alice finished for her. "And you're rambling!"
"Oh well, I'm nervous. Here you go, Jazz." She handed the microphone to her brother.
"I'm shy, unlike my sister here. I'll just tell you all this: thank you for letting me participate in your wedding."
Elizabeth took the microphone. "Esme, I remember when you carried me to the car that night of the baseball game. I was half asleep, but I saw the way you looked at Carlisle. It was a look of love, and Carlisle, I could tell you thought she was gorgeous. I've been wanting to get you guys together for the longest time. Honestly!" she giggled. "Okay, Peter..."
"Carlisle's a cool dude. Esme was smart to pick him. Guys don't say much. I guess we're done."
"Oh, no, we're not!" Angela protested. She gestured for Bree and Maggie to come with her. Altogether, they screamed into the mike, "Way to go, Esme!" The crowd burst into applause.
Our other guests didn't know either of us very well, so they didn't say anything. We had a quick lunch of pasta and then it was time for our first dance as husband and wife. Everyone gathered in a circle to watch us dance. I held her around her waist and she looped her arms around my neck. She laid the side of her face against my shoulder.
I thought about the honeymoon and being with her alone. We'd take the ten hour flight to Paris tonight and she'd sleep on my chest. It would be the best flight of my life, with her by my side. I stroked her hair and massaged her back while we danced. The lyrics related to Esme and I so much. I wish I could have sang that exact song to her, but I wasn't as good as Train. She loved me all the same, though. I knew it when she said it back to me earlier in the wedding. I felt like running through the hills and standing on the highest mountain, screaming, she fucking loves me!
...Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
We were like teenagers dancing at the prom. It was our first slow dance in a long time, since Renee's wedding, and it felt great. Our honeymoon sex would connect us even more. I would show her she didn't have to fear anything, and she had already shown me exactly how much I meant to her.
Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies
She was beautiful, inside and out. Every time I looked at her, it was like looking at the sun. I was blinded by her beauty. I was so in love with her that it was crazy.
The song faded away and everyone clapped for us. We kissed a few times and then it was time for the dance party. I enjoyed watching Esme and her friends grind each other. Emmett looked pleased that he was dancing with Rosalie, and Alice was content in Jasper's arms. I guess we were lucky that neither Maria nor Royce showed up. Cynthia and Henry were adorable when they spun around in circles, and Vera twirled them sometimes. The guys and I sat down because our ladies were all together. They were each other's partners.
"Women are lucky that they can dance together without looking gay," Charlie complained.
"There's some guys that get turned on by that stuff...ladies dancing together," Will put in.
"I know. I guess we're two different genders," I agreed. "It's fun to watch, though, huh?"
My friends nodded.
The dances for the bride and her father and the groom and his mother couldn't be done, so we quickly skipped to the dinner. Esme and I had no relatives besides her mom, and dancing with our female friends would have been quite awkward. Esme would have not wanted to dance with our guy friends. Besides, everyone was hungry.
During the dinner, the DJ stopped the music and Charlie made an announcement. "Renee, come on up here with me. I can't do this without you."
"Aw, that's really sweet of you." She got up and joined him while a few of my friends carried a projection screen to the center of the backyard. Esme and I shared a confused look as we ate our tortellini.
"So, I bet you're wondering what this huge-ass screen is for. Well, here's your answer. Renee and I made a special video just for our best couple friends."
Esme smiled and I did the same.
"Can't have a wedding without a video, right?" Renee asked as the screen came alive.
A sentimental song played while our baby and childhood pictures started appearing on the screen, one after the other. The pictures alternated between Esme and I. They must have worked for hours on this project. I was touched, and I saw Esme begin to cry. Our teenage pictures flashed on the screen, then when we were in college, and then finally, there were pictures of the two of us together. The last bunch of pictures had all of our friends and family in them. When it ended, we went up to Renee and Charlie and hugged them.
"Thanks, man!" I slapped him on the back.
"Thank you so much, Renee," Esme wailed into her best friend's shoulder.
"Anytime, Ez."
"No problem, Carlisle," Charlie replied.
An hour later, it was time for us to cut the cake. Cynthia and Henry were trying to get into it, but Anne pulled Cynthia away while Vera dragged Henry all the way back to his chair. They kept chanting for cake until after we fed each other the first few bites and then served everyone.
"Oh, gosh, this is good!" Esme exclaimed.
"I know, baby." I wiped some frosting from her bottom lip. "This was one of the best days I've had with you so far."
"It's so romantic!" she gushed. "Oh, and it's time for me to throw the bouquet! They've been de-thorned, thank god! Hey, ladies, get in a circle or whatever, but get ready to catch these lovely roses!"
It was complete chaos when Esme tossed the bound flowers. Surprisingly, Alice, Rosalie, and Elizabeth got the most air and the bouquet fell in all of their hands. The women groaned when they realized that teenagers got it. Esme laughed out loud, and it was music to my ears. I reached under her dress, pulled off her garter, and flung it into the crowd.
We rushed through our audience and got into our going-away outfits. I was wearing black slacks and a blue striped shirt while Esme wore a pink cotton summer dress with a small white flower pattern and lace over her cleavage. We had our last dance, and before we left, we had to talk to our kids.
"Take good care of Cynthia please!" Esme practically begged them.
"I better not get a call from Lily saying that Rosalie is pregnant! And if you have any high school parties, I'm looking at you, Emmett, your grandma Anne will be in charge," I told them.
"No alchohol, no drugs, no smoking...or you'll be grounded for life. Okay, bye, you kids!"
"You heard your mother. Have fun but stay out of trouble! Cullen group hug!"
Esme and I made a circle with our arms, and Emmett, Alice, and Cynthia filled it. Our hug was a few seconds long, and Cynthia started crying. She knew we were leaving. Anne soothed her when we had to leave so we wouldn't miss our flight.
We hurriedly got our suitcases from Renee's room, and said goodbye to our guests while the limo took us to the airport.
"My suitcase is so heavy! What is in this thing?"
I looked at it's plumpness. "I have no idea. You packed it!"
"I packed a few things. We're only going to be away for a week! I didn't need much!"
"Oh, well, you'll find out when we get there. Unless you want to open it now?"
Esme blushed. "I don't think that'd be a good idea. Stuff would spill everywhere and I don't want the limo to be a mess."
"Are you ready for the ten hour flight?"
"I sure am! We had such a fun wedding."
"We did. A whole week with you, all to myself." I put my arm around her shoulders and she put her head on my shoulder and sighed.
"Mm-hm...but it's been a long day. I'm so tired."
"It's eight, and our flight is at nine. Ten hours later, we'll be in Paris at seven in the morning our time, but four in the late afternoon their time. We can sleep on the airplane."
"Sounds good," she said through a yawn. I couldn't help but grin at her cute facial expression.
"I booked us a hotel that looks over a wonderful view. You will love it," I whispered and smoothed her hair back from her face.
She sighed loudly as the limo drove through town and entered Seattle where the airport was. "Oh, that was a nice nap...now I think we're stopping. I feel us stopping."
"Yeah, we've gotta get our suitcases. Come on, baby." She grabbed her suitcase and I got mine. We left the limo and thanked the driver. He drove away as we walked to into the doors of the airport, fingers interlocked.
"After you, wife." I let her walk ahead of me.
"Why, thank you, husband. God, that felt great to say!"
"I love calling you my wife, Mrs. Cullen."
"Esme Anne Cullen. That has a nice ring to it!" Esme exclaimed.
"I know, sweetie."
We had ordered our tickets a few weeks ago, so we checked our bags and went through the annoying process of security. I handed Esme back her sandals and her purse.
"Thanks."
I put my laptop back together and put it back in my briefcase. I tied up my shoes as she slipped hers on.
We made our way to the gate area and sighed in relief that we had our passports so we could get back into the United States. We were an hour early when we sat in the uncomfortable chairs, so we talked a little bit about our trip in quiet voices.
"I brought my camera for sightseeing," she informed me.
"That's great! I have mine too, and also, did you bring your swimsuit?"
"Of course I did! Sunglasses as well. What do you want to do first?"
"Maybe go out to a nice restaurant for dinner and then relax in the hotel, watching television?"
"Mm! There's an idea!" she said cheerfully. "I heard they have choco-banane-crepes for us to eat for a snack. It's so good, according to the research I did. We can make a trip to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triumphe."
"We have plenty of time to do all that!"
"I'd also like to relax in the pool. Pools are refreshing."
"They are, especially with you in my arms."
"I want to go in a spa, too, and get all warmed up."
"Me too. You know, the hotel I rented has one bed and one couch. Let's sleep together," I whispered into her ear. She blushed bright red.
"Of course we can. We can have a midnight swim again!"
"Oh, nice! Those are fun!"
Thirty minutes later, it was time for passengers to board the plane. When we heard "Cullen, party of two," we shot up out of our seats and made a beeline for the entrance of the plane. The gate agent scanned our tickets and handed us back stubs. We were sitting together in first class.
"I got those just for us, honey."
"But it's so expensive!" she cried as I led her onto the plane.
"For our honeymoon, I'd do anything."
"Oh, Carlisle," Esme sighed. We sat down in our seats, buckled in, and enjoyed the extra leg room.
"Flight attendants, prepare for takeoff," the pilot said through the intercom, and we shut off our electronic devices, but not before taking a picture together on the plane. I took out my book and she took out a journal.
"Mind if I use your lap as a table?"
"No problem, babe."
"You can look at what I'm writing."
"I want to respect your privacy."
"Okay, thanks, then." She bent down and started writing. "I'm telling my diary about our life. I started just now. I want to keep all our memories together as a married couple." Her pen lifted from the paper and I saw her loopy writing. It was beautiful, and I told her so.
"Really?"
"I love your scrawl, sweetie," I assured her and patted her hair.
"Thank you!" She wrote some more until a few pages were filled and we were being lifted in the air. "Oh, god..."
"Are you afraid of flying?" I asked her as she squeezed my hand tight.
"No, I'm just excited! I've never been on a plane before...except for when I was too little to remember. I will definitely remember this."
"The first time I was on a plane was when I went to London...when I was a coward," I admitted. "I wished you were with me, and now, it's finally happening. We're flying together."
"Taking a vacation as a married couple."
"Yes..."
Esme leaned her head on my shoulder when she was finished writing. "Mmm, this feels nice," she murmured while I ran my fingers through her sleek curls.
"You really pampered for the wedding, huh?"
"Yeah, I did...I wanted to look extra special for you."
"You always look special to me, my Ezzie." She placed her hands on my chest and I stroked her side with my free hand.
"The bride is supposed to outshine everyone."
"You did your job, and you are forever outshining everyone. There has to be a reason that I chose you as my wife."
"You looked so handsome today, as you do every day. I felt anxious at first, but when I locked eyes with you this afternoon, I wanted to run into your arms. I had self-control, thankfully."
"I would have been extremely surprised. Thank you, princess."
"Ah, you're welcome."
The plane was now all the way up in the air and above the cloud banks, so we were able to take out our electronic devices and turn them on again. A flight attendant came by and asked us what we wanted to drink.
"Water, please," Esme requested.
"Same for me, thanks." The flight attendant smiled at us and poured our drinks.
We sipped them and then later, the food came around. There was a choice of pasta or chicken, so we got a pasta dish with salad to share. To Esme's delight, we were having tortellini. I let her eat most of it until she was full, and then I finished it for us.
"That was good! Oh, we had two dinners tonight. Whatever," she laughed.
"I'm stuffed!"
"So am I!" She patted her belly and moaned as she put her head back on my shoulder.
"Want to watch a movie on my laptop?"
"Sure! I brought my iTouch with headphones and a few Netflix movies for us to watch. I'll dig them out of my purse. Hold on."
I lifted the armrest up and out of our way. "Can't wait. I'll plug in the headphones right now."
"Here," Esme said and gave me her headphones. "We can share." She found Newlyweds and we began to watch it as we cuddled. Two hours later, we agreed it was a pretty good movie, and the title was fitting too.
"So, what did you do at your bachelor party?" she asked me while she snuggled against me. I leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"We drank ourselves silly. I crowd surfed to wild music."
"Oh, wow, we girls did almost the same thing! We got shit drunk, sang too loudly to pop songs, and played truth or dare. It was so much fun, but I missed you."
"I missed you too, baby."
"Now, I get you for a whole week."
"I'm more than happy about that."
"I'm so pumped!" she squealed. "Oh, let's save our excitement for tomorrow!"
"Agreed!" I kissed her passionately until someone coughed.
"Oh, we're being bad, I guess," she giggled. "This can wait."
"You're right. I don't want angry passengers around us. That wouldn't be fun."
"No, it would ruin our flight, and theirs too!"
"I know." I looked into her eyes. "I love you. The stars shine because of you."
"Stop it."
"No, they do!"
She chuckled when I tickled her belly. "That's just how much I love you. I compare you to stars."
"Come here, you!" Esme pulled me down by my shirt and kissed me full on the mouth. She gasped when my tongue tangled with hers and then I pulled away before anyone could say anything. "Oh, god, you're a damn good kisser."
"So are you, my one and only."
"Thank you."
At almost midnight, we were all tuckered out and couldn't open our eyes a second longer. Her head was in my lap and I slept on the headrest. I massaged her back and shoulders until I fell asleep.
It was an excellent and relaxing flight. We felt the plane land and opened our eyes to harsh sunlight. My neck was stiff and Esme shook out her arms. "Oh, we're here!" she pointed out happily.
"Yes, my dear, we are. Come on, we should go get our bags before they get stolen. That does happen."
"Right." I pulled her through the crowds of people after we unbuckled our seat belts. We got our bags, and they were safe and sound, just as I thought. I called for a taxi to take us to our hotel.
"We're here," Esme breathed out for the second time that day.
"You and me, darling."
"Yes...the newlyweds. Dr. and Mrs. Cullen."
Thanks for reading and reviewing: K.K. Fush, loveislovexoxoxoxoxo, TeamCullenx, that kiwi chick, Caresme'sChild, Just4Me, and MrsCarlisleCullen13!