Chapter Forty Nine

Jasper

Peter had been rather upset at first that I had asked Emmett to be my best man but he soon came round which I found rather suspicious and not a little unsettling. I would need to be on my guard, after all, Peter was not a good loser as a rule! Carlisle and Edward promised to keep an eye on him to ensure he didn't mess up the ceremony or the honeymoon but they wouldn't guarantee anything else which led me to question just whose side they were on.

Bella

I found myself becoming more and more nervous as the hour of the wedding ceremony grew closer and not even Carlisle's medicinal brandy was enough to calm my nerves. Then to my surprise Peter, who it seemed had been listening at the door came into the bathroom, where I was hiding from everyone for a few minutes, appeared at the window and throwing me over his shoulder climbed back outside and then in through the open window of Carlisle's study where he checked the door was locked. I wondered why he had brought me here and then it dawned on me this was the one room in the house where we wouldn't be overheard.

"Peter, what are you doing? I'm supposed to be getting dressed."

He put a finger to his lips and moved close to whisper in my ear.

"Are you OK Bella? You know you don't have to go through with this, don't you? My car is just outside the back door. We can be away before anyone notices we're gone. Within an hour we can be on a plane and flying to France or Australia, anywhere you please, just you and me."

I looked at him in shock, surely he couldn't really think I would run out on Jasper to elope with him! Besides, he was already married and his wife, who had sewn my wedding dress, was waiting back in my room.

"Well, what do you say? Are we on? I've got a suitcase packed just in case and I can tell you're scared, I'll save you from making a huge mistake, please Bella, come away with me."

He had dropped to one knee grasping my hand in his leaving me speechless so I just shook my head trying to pull free and open the door to get away until I saw the key in Peter's hand. I made a grab for it and he pulled me closer.

"Peter, I don't know what to say. I...I love Jasper and I want to marry him, I'm just nervous like most brides I guess. The thought of all those people staring at me as I limp down the aisle...I guess..."

Then I saw the twinkle in his eye and instinctively lifted my hand to smack him.

"Ah, ah, ah, you'll just hurt your hand and then you'll be forced to explain to The Major why you dragged me into Carlisle's study and locked us in."

"Me? I didn't do that, you did."

"Ah, but can you prove that? Anyway, enough messing about, pull yourself together girl and go make my friend the happiest man alive."

He kissed me on the cheek, slapped me on the ass, and unlocked the door before walking jauntily away whistling the wedding march. I could have strangled him until I suddenly realized I wasn't nervous any longer and it was all down to him.

It seemed no one had missed me, I guess they thought I had been in the bathroom all this time but they swooped on me as I appeared and turned me from simple Bella to a beautiful bride in no time at all. The ceremony was held in the Cullen back yard which was large enough even with a pagoda set up in the middle constructed of white wrought iron, the pillars wrapped in pink ribbons and white twinkle lights. My dress, a simple white floor-length gown with pink seed pearls sewn in a swirl pattern down the bodice, swished across the pale pink carpet that led from the back door of the house to the pagoda. Our friends and family sat staring, everyone with a smile on their faces as Beau who had been adorned with a white harness for the occasion lead me down the aisle to Jasper who looked so handsome in a suit and tie, as did Emmett at his side.

I was shocked when I got close enough to see the minister's face, to recognize Darius but I knew somehow he had worked it to be legally entitled to conduct the ceremony. What else Peter might cook up still remained to be revealed but as I reached Jasper I forgot about everything but my wedding and my husband to be.

The ceremony was simple, didn't take long, and that was it, we were man and wife and I couldn't help crying with joy. Of course, everyone wanted to congratulate us and then as Edward played the piano Jasper led me out for the first dance. Rose had given me waltzing lessons and I was able to keep up more or less although for the twirls Jasper lifted me off my feet which was just as well, with this dress and the small heeled shoes Alice had insisted I wear I would have been face down on the floor otherwise. I was missing my stick by now as my legs were tired and wobbly.

I think I danced with every male there and I was so glad they were all vampires who could take my weight and leave it looking to my human friends as if I were gliding gracefully around. There was one person absent and I wondered just what he was going to surprise us with next. I became nervous when I couldn't see Peter as that was when he was at his most unpredictable and dangerous I had been told.

Sydney and Lizzie found themselves very popular much to the disgust of the Denali sisters who were usually the belles of the ball. I think the guys were relieved to have someone to dance with who wasn't trying to get in their pants but eventually they found themselves trapped. Watching Emmett jiving with Tanya and Peter, who had finally reappeared, with Irina as I took a breather I turned to Rose and Charlotte who were looking on indulgently,

"Don't you feel jealous at all? I would if it were Jasper paying the girls all that attention."

They both laughed and shrugged,

"It's a little like trying to hold back the tide Bella. Peter and Emmett just can't help themselves but they know how far they can go."

When it came time for us to leave I noticed both Peter and Darius were missing along with Emmett and Edward which made me really nervous, I had learned not to trust any of them especially when they disappeared collectively. I guess I should have expected something unusual and I wasn't to be disappointed.

Suddenly everyone was looking up and pointing at the sky where a glow was appearing slowly and as it came closer and I heard the roar of the burner I realized it was a hot air balloon.

It landed in the park opposite the house and we all ran over just in time to see Emmett and Edward grab the tether lines while Peter and Darius smiled at us from the basket which was covered in small balloons and streamers and around the front was a huge banner which proclaimed us "JUST HITCHED."

"Your carriage awaits."

There was no point in arguing, especially once Peter informed us that they had taken the wheels off Jasper's car and disabled the rest.

"So, it's this way or no way, Major."

Jasper swept me off my feet and deposited me gently in the basket where Darius steadied me with a wink. Beau watching from Emmett's side looked a little woebegone and woofed softly, I would miss him while we were away, at least a little.

Draping a blanket around my shoulders against the chill of the night Darius kissed me on the cheek and jumped to the ground with a nod at Emmett and Edward and as Jasper wrapped his arm around me the balloon began to rise slowly into the sky.

I looked at him slightly unnerved,

"Can you fly a balloon?"

He grinned,

"Well, we'll soon find out I guess. I did try ballooning once or twice with Peter a few years ago so I think I'll remember the basics. Now, landing...well, that could be more interesting but for now just turn around."

I did so and waved at our friends even though I could no longer see them but then I found myself gasping as the darkness slowly faded, the sun beginning to rise slowly with us.

I decided now might be a good time to tell Jasper what Peter had said just before our wedding. I knew if I didn't then Peter would as soon as we saw him again and he'd enjoy my embarrassment immensely.

"I was so nervous that I felt physically sick and somehow he knew."

"So, you weren't tempted by his invitation then?"

I grinned and pantomimed thinking about it,

"Well, it was quite a tempting offer but then I thought...Who would look after Beau?"

He grabbed me and sat me on the edge of the balloon basket.

"Really? That's all you were worried about?"

I would my arms around his neck and nibbled his ear,

"That and Charlotte's wrath."

He groaned nuzzling my neck,

"You are gonna pay for that Mrs. Whitlock."

"I really hope so Mr. Whitlock or it's going to be a really boring honeymoon."

"And we can't have that now can we?"

I found myself laying on the floor of the basket, my husband smiling as he looked down on me.

"Maybe it won't be so boring after all..."

Jasper

The balloon flight was just the beginning of what turned out to be a magical honeymoon. We had a room booked at the Lamberts Cove Inn on Martha's Vineyard for a week and spent our time between the room and the private beach. The weather was warm but not sunny which made things easier for me and Bella seemed to love every moment of our time here.

I tried mischievously to persuade her to try Jungle Beach but when she discovered it was a naturist beach she demurred. As far as I was concerned she was the most beautiful woman in the world and would outshine any other but Bella was still shy and self-conscious, traits I found as endearing as ever and traits I hoped she wouldn't lose when she eventually became a vampire.