Chapter 45 – Celebrating

EPOV

Pacing the grassy area beside the elementary school's sandbox, I tried not to run my hands through my hair. Mom would have my ass if it was in a mess for the pictures. When I turned, Angela was glaring at me with a smirk on her face while trying not to laugh. I shook my head as I turned and walked the length of grass again. I was marrying Bella, and two months ago, I thought I would never see her again. The past weeks ran through my mind as I paused in my pacing again; I ran a hand down my face, letting out a breath. I shouldn't be nervous, but I was afraid she wouldn't show up—that she would disappear again. No, I couldn't think like that. Bella loved me and she would walk down the aisle.

Shaking my head again, I resumed my anxious pacing. I had decided to close the restaurant for the day, giving those of my staff who wanted to come to my wedding the opportunity. After years of not seeing Bella and then being with her constantly for two weeks, I asked her to marry me. Not even three months later, I'm standing at an altar of sorts, waiting for Charlie to escort Bella toward me.

Covering my mouth with my hand, I stifled a laugh. I couldn't believe she didn't want to wait until after the triplets were born to wed. With Alice's, Rosalie's, and Mom's help plans were quickly arranged, dresses bought, and tuxedoes rented. I ended up buying my tuxedo, who knew where the future would take the two of us—I still planned on an opening another restaurant or two.

When Dad drove me to rehearsal two nights ago, I was baffled as to why we were pulling into the elementary school parking lot. I chuckled at the memory. He told me he knew I hadn't really been listening when both Bella and Mom asked me about having the wedding where we first met.

Even now, and with Angela still glaring at me, the spot seemed perfect. I had wanted to bring Bella here when I asked her to marry me, but it hadn't been possible.

The music begun and I was still pacing. "Son," Carlisle said, placing a hand on my shoulder to cease my pacing. He just looked at me, in such a way that said he understood what I was feeling, a moment before walking with me over to the arched gateway peppered with white roses.

Alice gave me a strange look when she took her spot, leaving enough room for Bella to stand next to me. I waited and soon my view was blocked when everyone stood. The moment I saw her, my breath was taken away—she was a stunning vision in a short white dress and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. All the nervous energy left me when she smiled back.

BPOV

My phone buzzed as Alice and Rosalie were slipping the white short and strapless chiffon wedding dress over my head. I took off the plastic bag Alice had put over my hair as I dug in my bag for my phone. I smiled at the video Angela just sent me. "Alice, watch this," I said, passing her my phone.

"What's he doing?" she asked.

"Who's doing what?" Rosalie and Esme asked at the same time watching the small screen as I restarted the video. All three started laughing when the person on the screen turned revealing a petrified Edward.

"He's more nervous than you were the night of the rehearsal," Alice snickered.

"And he was perfectly fine," Rosalie commented. "Talk about role reversal. I love it."

"Hold on," I said, inspiration striking. "Does Emmett have his laptop?"

"I think so. What are you thinking?" Rosalie asked.

I didn't respond but called Emmett. "Hey, Emmett," I said. I listened to what he told and burst out laughing. "I know. A mutual friend sent me a short video of him. Oh, you do, that would make things even better. Don't send your video to me. Here's what I want you to do with yours and the one I'll send you." I quickly laid out what I wanted him to do. "Take the video Alice had you create from what she got from Esme and Charlie and add a remix of the two videos combined." I listened again. "Of course I'm sure." I hung up and handed my phone to Rosalie after sending the short video to Emmett. I wouldn't need it for the rest of the day.

"What does Emmett have?" Charlie asked, appearing in the classroom.

"A video of me before the rehearsal," I admitted, not at all embarrassed.

"It's time," Alice announced before she helped me slip on a pair of white sandals.

I looked around for Esme. "She left while you were on the phone with Emmett. She did ask me to give you this." Charlie opened a box and inside was a beautiful sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet. Holding out my right wrist, he put it on me. "I also have something for you." He pulled out another smaller box. "These were your mother's." Diamond earrings were revealed when he opened the lid and he said, "She would want you to have them."

With a shaky hand, I put them in. I hugged him. "Thank you, Charlie."

"Now let's get you marry," he whispered, giving me a hug.

"Hold on," Rosalie said. "You have the something blue, something new, and something old, but you don't have something burrowed."

I looked at her not really knowing what she was talking about.

"Oh, my! Rosalie, you're right!" Alice exclaimed. "I don't have anything, do you?"

"No," Rosalie answered shaking her head.

"But I do have something Isabella can burrow," Grandfather said from the door, causing us all to turn. "You look beautiful."

"Grandfather," I said, meeting him halfway across the classroom, giving him a hug. "I thought you wouldn't be able to come."

"I was able to rearrange my schedule. Now, you can't get married with something burrowed. You don't want bad luck now do you?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"So, here." He took a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket. "I think you might need this today, you can burrow it for now and then keep it. It is part your wedding gift," he said, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you," I said, looking at it. It was embroidered with a gold swan. When I looked back up he was walking out the door.

"All right, remember count to thirty and then follow Rosalie," Alice instructed. We walked down the hall and out the door leading to the playground. From pictures Angela had sent me, I knew it no longer looked like a simple school playground but had been transformed into a beautiful scene. Rose garlands had been wrapped around the swing set posts. The slides had flowers I couldn't really identify sitting at the tops and bottoms.

Soon, Alice walked out the door and half a minute later Rosalie.

"Don't let me fall," I said.

"Never," Charlie whispered, handing me my flowers before threading my hand through the crook of his arm.

Too slowly for my liking we began the walk out of the school. Alice had Jasper and Emmett construct a temporary wall that was now blocking me from view. I took a breath before taking the step that would reveal Charlie and me to the guests. I couldn't see Edward with everyone standing. "What if he's not there?" I asked in a whisper.

"He'll be there, Bells," he whispered back, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I relaxed the moment I saw him standing, looking very handsome in his black tux and noticed he relaxed, too.

"I love you both," I barely heard Charlie say as he placed my hand in Edward's before taking a seat next to Vance.

Everyone vanished and it was just Edward and me, plus the minister. No one else mattered. A tear slipped from my eye, I was so happy. "I will always love you, Isabella Marie Cullen," Edward whispered before kissing me tenderly.

Applause erupted when he kissed me. Wait, had I missed the whole ceremony? Edward pulled back and smiled at me.

"Allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen," the minister said as we turned.

Again applause and a few whistles came as we walked back up the aisle with cameras flashing. Heading back into the school, we waited with the rest of the wedding party.

EPOV

Two years later

"After the restaurant opening, Mom and Dad will relieve the babysitter and watch the triplets for the next three days," I said, coming up behind Bella and buttoning my dress top before pulling something out of my pocket. As usual she didn't notice.

"That's nice of them. Can you grab my necklace from the dresser?"

"I've got it," I whispered in her ear.

"So, are you going to tell me where you are taking me?" she asked.

"No," I answered as I put a diamond necklace around her neck. "Happy anniversary, love."

"Edward," she gasped when she saw what I had put around her neck. I just smiled.

"This is only part of your gift," I whispered, kissing her cheek.

Her eyes had gone wide at my whisper. Chuckling, I picked up the navy silk tie she had laid out for me and began tying the intricate knot.

BPOV

I couldn't believe Edward. The trip he was taking me on was enough and the necklace was beautiful, but he had more up his sleeve. I was glad we didn't have to worry about money, so I held my tongue.

My gift to him was nothing money could buy, though I did get him something small. I put the finishing touches on my hair and stood walked into the bedroom. Edward looked good from behind in all black. "See you downstairs," he said, kissing my cheek again as the doorbell chimed. "That must be the sitter." Kissing me once again, he left the room with the baby monitor.

I was pulling up the zipper of the one shoulder navy gown, when a knock came at the bedroom door and Esme popped her head into the room.

"May I could in, Bella?" she asked loudly when she didn't see me.

"Of course," I said, coming out of the closet slipping in one earring and then the other as I walked over to the dresser picking up the bracelet Esme had given me two years ago. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," she said, coming over to me take the bracelet. "Edward is going to be floored when he sees you."

I smiled. "That's my plan." We walked out of the room, and she preceded me down the stairs.

"Wow!" Carlisle said, causing Edward turn with Thomas in his arms.

"Holy cow, Bella," Edward said, his eyes rove over me hungrily.

Little Es hobbled over to me, and I picked her up nozzle her neck, eliciting a laugh. I walked into the living room and placed her back down after kissing her cheek. I kissed the cheek of a sleeping Anthony. I took Thomas from Edward kissing him too before handing him over to the sitter.

"Both our cells and other emergency numbers are on the fridge. My parents will be back around midnight," Edward said after kissing Es and Anthony.

~~ SIB ~~

It was several hours later and my feet were killing me. I finally decided to slip away and walked in Edward's new office. He would be rotating between Chez Shea and SIB bi-monthly. I sat in the rolling chair and pulled myself up to the desk, picking up a framed picture of the two from our wedding day. The sun was just setting and the photographer asked us to pose for one last picture outdoors. It couldn't have been a more perfect setting. I put it back down and picked up the one of the triplets taken a few months ago. They had grown so much; I couldn't believe that in two months we would celebrate their third birthday. I smiled, placing the frame back down.

"There you are," Angela said.

She had been promoted last month and would oversee SIB.

"Edward has been looking for you."

"I needed to sit down somewhere quiet," I remarked.

"Well, most everyone has left," she said, sitting in a chair in front of the desk.

"Is he ready to go?" I asked.

"I think so. There are a few people left, but I'm sure they'll understand if you two left."

I got up, moving around the desk. I was so tired, and the room spun a little, forcing me to sit down on the couch. "I'm fine," I said at her concerned look. "It has been a long day."

Angela picked up the desk phone, dialing a number as I laid down closing my eyes. "I found her, Edward. She's in your office… half asleep." I heard her say. "He'll be in soon."

"Okay," I mumbled, not opening my eyes.

I felt a blanket being placed over me.

When I next opened my eyes, I was confused as to where I was and how I got there. Looking around, I found I was in the front seat of our car with Edward. He smiled looking over at me. "I didn't want to wake you," he said, taking my hand raising it to his lips. "We're almost to our destination."

"Which would be where?" I asked.

"Lost Mountain Lodge," he said.

I started laughing. "No really, where's our destination?"

"Lost Mountain Lodge," he said again as we passed the sign for the lodge. "Mom and Dad already checked us in."

He drove past the main building and back toward the private cottages, stopping at the Hideaway on Quail Lake. He helped me out of the car. After opening the door he swung me up into his arms, kissing me as he entered the room. "I'll get our bags in the morning."

"Your gift is in my bag," I said as he set me down on my feet. I turned and roses greeted me. I felt sick as the scent assaulted me, but I fought the nausea off by swallowing hard.

"Then I'll get them now."

"Edward, wait."

"There is one gift I can give you now," I said, biting my lip.

He stopped in his tracks, turning with a huge smile on his face. Drawing me into his arms, he started peppering my neck with kisses. I laughed. He had a one track mind at times, especially when we were child-free for an extended period of time. But this was not what I had in mind, not that I cared—some adult time was a good thing.

"Not what I had in mind." He didn't stop, but moved up to my ear. I shivered in delight. All right, so let's see what if I can shock him. I turned my head slightly. He wasn't fazed a bit. "I'm pregnant," I whispered in his ear, suppressing a groan when he stopped his assault.

When I opened my eyes again he was gazing at me with an even bigger smile.

A/N:

The triplets are here and are two years old. Bella is pregnant again... Edward is getting his wish... seeing Bella swell with his child.

Just the prologue left.