A/N: After counting the votes the 'fast and fun' won!
So here it is (a slight lead up then onto the wedding) the fast and fun version. I will rework the 'long and loving' version and post it with the other outtakes at the end of this story.
The wedding component of this chapter is in Bella's POV. It seemed only fitting to see it through her eyes as this was her story to begin with. It's her issues that are being overcome and the culmination of her finally becoming a Cullen seemed, in my opinion anyway, the right way to go.
As a payoff most of the honeymoon will be seen in Edward's point of view...nudge nudge...wink wink...say no more!
Chapter 49 – I Do, Do You?
EPOV
I knew it was going to be a hard sell but I was confident – and I'd practised for hours – how to present the honeymoon holiday to Bella in such a way that she couldn't find fault with it. I knew every answer for every scenario she could care to name. I knew who would take which child where in case of any and every emergency and I had the plans, and plan B's, down pat.
I believed the family when they told me they'd take good care of the children while we were gone but I didn't know if Bella would believe that.
I wanted her to believe it and I wanted to go on a real honeymoon with her. I wanted her all to myself, selfishly, and I wanted time to be just her husband before we returned and became a family.
There were only two days to go before the actual wedding and I'd chickened out so many times already that I had backed myself into a corner. Alice had begged me to tell her, to ask her what she thought, so that the shopping could be done to prepare for our week away, but so far I'd not had the balls to bring it up.
But now I was out of time. I had to either confirm or cancel the tickets and I had to confirm the accommodation or lose the booking. There was no time left to wonder.
Mom shot me a nod of encouragement as I approached the sunroom where Bella was sitting with Elizabeth in the sun. I took a deep breath and went in. I sat in a deck chair beside her. I steeled myself for the big speech. I knew what I wanted to say and I wanted her to listen to it all before she made comment. I reminded myself to be even handed, in control but not controlling and then she stole my thunder.
"Edward, I think we should take the trip the family have planned for us."
She said it so confidently that I was caught completely by surprise. I had no comeback for that. I wasn't prepared for her to bring it up herself and I definitely wasn't prepared to have to answer the question for myself so I just sat there, stunned. She turned to me, so that we were facing. "I know you probably don't think it's a good idea and that's why you haven't told me about it yet, but I think we should go. Your parents wouldn't let anything happen to the children and Rosie has agreed to have Josh for a few days in the middle to give them a break. We won't be that far away even though Alice won't tell me where we are going exactly. And we both have cell phones and we both know the people at the hospital if anything happens, so we know they'd be well taken care off until we could get back here. I want to go but I think we should talk to Josh about it before we do, just so he knows that we're coming back, that we aren't abandoning him or anything. Edward, I think I want to be alone with you for a while."
She'd said it all as if she'd been reading it directly from my carefully planned speech. If you replaced the 'Edward's' with 'Bella's' in her dialogue it would've been almost word for word what I would've said to her.
What does the guy who got absolutely everything he wanted, more than he'd ever thought to hope for, and certainly more than he ever deserved, say when it's handed to him so neatly?
"Thank you," I tell her and really mean it. "I want to go too."
She smiles sweetly and goes back to whatever game it was that she was playing with Joshua before I came into the room. I excuse myself and go back to my mother in the kitchen.
I must look like I've seen a ghost because she comes right to me and puts her hands on my shoulders. "What it is?" she asks worriedly.
"She wants to go on the honeymoon," I mumble.
Moms smile is incredible. "Does she now?" she giggles. "Well, well, well," she mumbles as she goes back to fixing dinner.
BPOV
I thought I was going to have to push harder, fight harder at least, to get Edward to agree to go on the honeymoon. But I must have done okay explaining how safe I thought the children were going to be if we went because he said he wanted to go too. Without any arguing either. No give or take. No compromising. No nothing. Sure we still had to talk to Josh about it all, but we would do that together.
I mentally patted myself on the back for being able to explain myself to him so plainly, and for getting him to agree so easily. Perhaps we were meant for each other after all.
We still had to talk to Josh about it, but after my simple victory with Edward I was sure we would be able to convince the little boy that we would return from our brief holiday.
"Dinner's ready," Esme called and Josh's ears pricked up immediately.
He was gone in an instant, running towards the dinner table like a bullet. "Slow down," I called after him but knew it was futile.
"We want to talk to you about what's going to happen after the wedding," Edward told Josh as I held him on my lap in our sitting room.
Josh was nodding his head but looked worried. "I have to be a good boy and stand very still while my picture gets taken, Aunty Alice telled me already," he replied.
Edward chuckled. "That's right buddy, you do have to stand still for that. But what we want to talk to you about is the next day, after the wedding and the party are finished. When people get married they go on holidays afterward and we'd like to go too. But they don't take their children along and we wanted to see how you felt about that before we made plans to go."
I had no idea how to explain it but Edward had done a good job.
"Is momma Bella going on holidays with you too?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, that's usually how it works. Momma Bella and I will go on holidays together and you and Izzy will stay here with Esme and Carlisle. What do you think?" Edward asked.
Josh wriggled on my lap a little until he was facing me, twisted around at his shoulders. "You will come back, won't you?" he asked and Edward and I both nodded seriously. "Can I swim with Angus while you go on your holiday?" he asked me.
I smiled and laughed a little at how simple his world really was. "I'm sure you can."
"Then I'll stay here and you can go on holidays with momma Bella," he told Edward sternly. "I'll take good care of Izzy too, but she's too little to swim with us. Angus is too rough."
Edward was trying hard to fight his laughter but he did quite well. He settled for a fond pat to the top of Josh's head and a kiss on his hair. "Well then, I guess you should run downstairs and tell Esme that you'll be staying here with her for a week."
He was off my lap and gone in the blink of an eye and Edward and I were left staring at each other in amazement. It had all been so easy. Something had to give.
A short hour later it did. Big time.
EPOV
"Don't cry baby, please don't cry," I begged her but it was no use. She sobbed into my shirt front and clutched at the buttons as if I'd just told her I was going to die in ten minutes.
"I don't want you to go," she sobbed. "We've not been apart, only once and I hated that. Don't go, I promise I'll behave."
I did my best to pull her away from me without hurting her wrists and eventually she let me. "This isn't about behaving Bella. I love what we do in bed, I'm not ashamed of it and neither should you be." I held her at arm's length and smiled sadly. "Baby, you know how this works. I can't see you the night before the wedding, it's bad luck."
"I know that, I'm not stupid Edward!" she shouted. Shouting was better than tears, right? "But we've got TWO nights to go. Why do you have to leave now?" she bellowed.
I scratched idly at the back of my head and cringed. Shit. I didn't want our last hours together before the wedding to be this way. "Um, well, the guys are taking me out tonight for a few drinks. We didn't want to do it tomorrow night in case we all turn up at the wedding with hangovers, so we're doing it tonight. I'm going to stay at Emmett's so I don't disturb the house when I finally make it home." She seemed a little appeased by that but I had more ammunition ready and waiting just in case. "The girls are coming over tonight to be with you, did you know that?" I asked tentatively.
I could tell from the look on her face she didn't know about it. "Are they?" she whispered.
I took my shot where I saw it and folded her into my arms. "They are. They want you to have a nice time before all the stresses tomorrow and the next day. They want you to have some fun Bella. That's all. Everyone just wants us to have some fun before the wedding and we're forced to grow up," I chuckled. "I'll go with the boys and have some fun and you stay here with the girls and have some fun ..."
"Alright, stop trying to sell it to me Edward. God, I'm not an idiot you know," she said as she pulled herself from my arms. "You want me to stay here so you can go to a strip club or something, I get it alright. You don't have to make up stories about the girls coming over for some fun. I'll stay here, you go with the boys."
This time I laughed. Really laughed. God she was gorgeous when she was pissy. I fought her and pulled her to me and kissed her hard on the lips. "God you're beautiful when you're angry but Jesus you're stunning when you're wrong," I laughed. She pummelled my chest playfully but I didn't let her go. "The girls are coming over, lots of them actually. There is a party happening here tonight and you my dear are going to be the centre of attention for a change. And us boys, we aren't going to a strip club, we're going to Port Angeles to a pub there so there is no chance that we'll run into either your father or Jake. Your brother is coming with us so he's sure to report any incorrect behaviour straight to you so you've nothing to worry about." I kissed her forehead and let her go.
"Really?" she asked sceptically.
"Really," I nodded exaggeratedly.
"You asked Seth to go with you?" she asked.
"I did. We're friends so don't think it's a pity invitation either. I like him," I shrugged as if it was no big deal to me. I knew it was a big deal to her though.
She threw herself at me then. I wasn't ready for her and we toppled backwards with force. I hit the door frame with the middle of my back and tried hard not to wince or groan. "Thank you for inviting my brother," she whispered right before claiming my mouth with hers. "I'll miss you," she hissed between fiery kisses.
I slid one hand into her hair to anchor her lips to mine and slid the other under her, cupping her ass with it and holding her up against my straining prick. She moaned deliciously when she came into contact with me and I groaned into her warm wet mouth as the friction between us built.
"I'll miss you too," I told her as I pulled my mouth from her lips and ran my tongue across her earlobe. "In two days you'll be mine baby, and I'll be yours," I tell her as I take the lobe into my mouth and suckle it.
She groans again and I feel her hands begin their journey from my shoulders to my ass. I can't help but grind myself into her and she pushes herself into me just as hard. "I want you now," she hisses into my ear.
"Oh god," I groan. "We've got to stop," I tell her without any real conviction.
"Don't go," she all but moans into my ear. "Stay here with me. I love you, I want you, we're adults, and we don't have to wait."
"Oh fuck," I mumble as she takes my earlobe between her teeth and bites gently. "We've waited this long Bella..."
"I've had enough Edward. Love me. I want you," she tells me in a rush before delving her tongue into my ear once more.
She's right. We're adults and it was fucking stupid to want to wait. She wins. I'm done. I pull her mouth back to mine and wrap my free hand around her waist and lift her off her feet, fully intending to take her into the bedroom and have her.
I don't even get three paces when I hear a throat being cleared.
"Edward Anthony Cullen you put that girl down right this instant!" I hear.
I drop Bella back to her feet and stare over my shoulder at the woman who belongs to the voice. Bella turns in my arms and I see her frantically wiping her mouth with her sleeve and trying to tug her jersey down to cover her exposed midriff.
"Um, Bella, this is my Aunt Silvia, Aunty this is my fiancée Isabella." I made the introductions and waited the long moment while Aunt Silvia surveyed Bella from head to toe. For a second I thought she was going to ask Bella to turn around or provide her with some sort of stock report. Silvia was the least tactful woman on the planet and from the look in her eye I knew, just knew, that this meeting was going to be anything but pleasant. Unfortunately she didn't disappoint.
"Tiny, isn't she?" Silvia asked rhetorically. "No meat on her bones. You're too fragile my girl, you should put some weight on and you'll do much better. Taking after a man is hard work, you won't last if you don't heed my advice," she waggled her finger at Bella and I cringed. This was outrageous. How this woman was related to my father was beyond me.
"You're perfect," I whisper to a shell shocked Bella.
She tugged her jersey down self consciously and I can see, right before my eyes, that all the work she'd done so far was rapidly becoming undone with a few simple words from my overbearing aunt.
"Really Edward, what were you thinking?" The harridan asks me as though she has some say in whom I marry. "If you're going to be a surgeon's wife, dear, you'll need to clean yourself up a bit. This won't do. Edward, you need someone less timid. Whatever happened to that nice girl Jane?" she asked.
I wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands. I wanted to strangle the life right out of her and batter my father if he suggested doing CPR. "Jane wasn't a nice girl she was an airheaded Barbie doll with an IQ in single digits. And you know very well that I'm not a surgeon and I never will be. I'm a family practitioner and I'm very good at it. It's YOU who wants me to be a surgeon. And for your information Bella isn't timid, she's gentle, and you're being rude."
She didn't even squint let alone try to take in anything I said. Bella shifted from foot to foot and looked as though she was about to cry. I reached for her but she snatched her hand back from within my reach violently.
"You don't think I'm being rude, do you dear?" she asked Bella but had no intention of waiting for her reply. "I'm just being realistic. This dear boy is going places in his chosen profession and from the looks of you you just aren't cut out for the high flying world of medicine. She looks as though she's going to cry Edward. She's so frail, look at the poor dear, she looks as though she'd blow over in a stiff wind. Was your baby born small dear?" she asked Bella. The question itself wasn't too bad but the implication that Bella was responsible for Elizabeth's small birth weight was.
I gaped at the horrible woman and was about to shove her aside and sweep Bella away when she surprised us both and squared her shoulders.
"I'm very pleased to meet you Aunt Silvia and yes, my baby was born small. She was just under five pounds born. But that's not because I'm small it's because my ex husband starved me and beat me every day." Silvia began to mouth like a goldfish but Bella wasn't done, not by a long shot. "I don't want to be anything to Edward other than his wife and the mother of our children. He's a doctor and a fucking good one at that. He saved my life, and Elizabeth's. He's a good man and that's saying something about the way Carlisle and Esme have raised him if he's related to the likes of you!" She turned on her heel and headed back into our room. I made to turn back to my aunt to see what her reaction was going to be when Bella rounded and came back to us. She pointed one long, slender finger at my beet red aunt. "And for your information I know he can do much better than me. I've known that all along. I don't know who this Jane is but she sounds like a fucking moron to let this man go. Her loss, my gain." She nodded once then turned again. She took my hand and squeezed it hard. "Have a good time tonight Edward. I love you; I'll see you in church."
It seemed that both of us, myself and Silvia, had been dismissed.
BPOV
I was congratulated over and over for putting Silvia in her place. I wasn't very proud of the way I'd spoken to her and I certainly wasn't prepared for the rush of adrenaline I experienced as I had. instead of feeling frightened, or sorry even, I'd felt energised and didn't lose my bundle even when Alice came looking for me.
She fussed over me and said how sorry she was and asked over and over if I was alright. I'd waved her away and told her I was perfectly able to stand up for myself and that I just needed a minute and would be downstairs soon. She'd smiled wide, nodded once then left me to it.
Esme seemed a little put out at some of the language I'd chosen but pretty pleased that someone had managed to 'shut the old trout up'.
I learned from Alice that she wasn't even really an aunt, rather a family friend of Edward's grandmother, Carlisle's mother. On occasions such as these she usually swanned in, insulted either the bride or one of the bridesmaids and didn't feel an iota of remorse for having done so.
I couldn't imagine someone like Rose ever being intimidated by her but she said she was, once. She too gave the old windbag what for the day before her wedding to Emmett but apparently – learned later from some of the actual aunts and a few of the cousins – I did it with a little more style and some serious shock value. Carlisle had had to calm her down and I was sorry that he had to listen to her rant about the 'intolerable younger generations' all afternoon. But not sorry enough to apologise.
She'd made me furious at first and I hated the idea that the woman would be in the house for the next two days, but after washing my face and setting my shoulders I walked back into MY kitchen with my head held high. Esme was there making finger sandwiches and little cakes for our evening follies so I set about helping her as best I could. After a few minutes she patted me on the arm and kissed my cheek softly.
"Edward's right you know, you are just about perfect sweetheart," she whispered and just as quickly went back to icing the little cakes.
I giggled and whispered my thank you and went back to cutting the crusts off the bread for the sandwiches.
Carlisle came into the kitchen for another cup of tea for his 'aunt' and while trying to look sternly disapproving he too kissed me and told me how much he enjoyed watching me stand up for myself.
She didn't even look at me for the rest of the afternoon or the evening. I knew I'd have no more trouble from the infamous Aunt Silvia.
My girl's night turned out to be a lot of fun.
Every female I knew came. From the Rez (not Leah, thank god) and from church. Some from school and of course from the hospital and the clinic. At first they all just marvelled at Josh and cooed over Elizabeth but after Esme and I got them both settled for the night we settled down to some fun.
More relatives of Edward's arrived that night too. Cousins and aunts, family friends and some friends of Esme's too. I was a little overwhelmed at the size of the group and couldn't really come to terms with how accepting they all were of me – bar Aunty Silvia of course – seeing as this wedding was hurried and they'd never even met me, let alone heard Edward ever mention me. I'd felt ashamed and a little self conscious about being newly divorced and already a mother before marrying their relative but not one of them mentioned a thing about it and seemed genuinely happy that Edward as going to marry, at last. I heard that a lot during the night. 'At last'. He was only twenty-six and there was plenty of time for him but it seemed, like I had before I knew the truth, that he'd have settled down long before now.
Esme took great delight in telling them all that Edward had been waiting for me and that my first marriage was not only arranged but also a mistake that she was pleased I was now free of.
Everyone accepted that at face value and no more was said about the terrible circumstances of my first marriage.
They were a lively bunch and apart from his cousin Tanya I liked them all. I was glad that many of them lived far away, but others were nice and didn't judge me.
We ate a lot and the others drank a lot. We laughed all night and sang and danced and gave each other pedicures and manicures and we gossiped half the night away. We played a few silly games and I had to wear a gaudy hot pink veil attached to a plastic silver tiara for most of the night, but I'd had fun and the relatives all went home with smiles on their faces and told me how looking forward the wedding they all were.
I helped Esme and Alice clean up from the festivities while Rosie collected Angus from the guest room where he'd slept through the whole party. She promised to be back early the next morning to be a part of all the preparations and she kissed me softly on the cheek when she left.
She was a far cry from the hardnosed icy Rosalie I'd first met in the hospital!
Joshua was up at the crack of dawn, like always, but Elizabeth slept late. That gave me a chance to make sure that my little man understood what was about to happen over the coming days.
He's settled right in, totally accepting and utterly divine as he climbs up onto my lap and hugs me tight. I tell him again how Edward and I are getting married the next day and that we're going on a little holiday to celebrate. I'm careful to make sure he knows, understands and believes that we're coming home to him and Izzy. He is understanding and not at all worried, if his demeanour can be taken at face value. He kisses me on the cheek and tells me to have a good time and could I please bring him candy from the holiday. I promise I will but make him promise to be a good boy for Esme and for Rosie. He says he will and once again promises to take good care of Izzy while we're gone.
He eats all his breakfast in return for a few minutes in front of the television before Rosie and Angus arrive. Both my babies are going to Rosie's for the rest of the day. There are a hundred and one things for me to do, and to help set up, before the actual wedding and Rose offered to take the three little ones off our hands while we accomplish it all. I'd been hesitant but agreed when Alice pouted and said she really wanted me to be involved in the reception set up.
Another kiss and another promise to be good saw Josh and Elizabeth off with Rosie and a very excited Angus. He had their whole 'sleepover' planned. From what they'd eat for dinner (hot dogs with green 'Shrek' tomato ketchup) to what movie they were going to watch before bed (Cars). Rosie looked pleased to be getting out of having to help set up for the reception and after a few hours of being bossed around by Alice I began to think she had the right idea. And that was before most all of it was even delivered! I tried to remind myself to be as far away from the Cullen residence as was humanly possible in the days prior to any large family gathering or event. If only I'd known before now!
I hadn't heard from Edward since he left the night before but Alice got a text message from Jasper telling us that the boys were all present and accounted for that morning. He didn't reply to our request for a status report on the groom's health though.
I tried not to worry about it.
I knew that the guys had lots to do today too even if they had been spared the organisation Nazi with the clipboard.
Mr Benson arrived at four with the decree nisi for me to sign. I'd really wanted Edward with me when I finally got it but it couldn't be helped. It was enough that I got it in time to be married to him, he'd see it when we came back from our honeymoon. By then I'd have a swanking new marriage certificate and this court document would be relegated to the distant past.
When my signature had dried on the court forms Mr Benson made a show of presenting me with the certificate and announced me divorced and legally free to marry Edward the next day. He wished us well and left as a huge white van came up the driveway.
Alice – and a fucking clipboard – appeared as if from nowhere and the contents of the van were spilled out onto the driveway along with five burly men to shift everything into place. I was nervous to be around so many men I didn't know but it was short lived. They paid no attention to me and work like Trojans to get everything in place as fast as they could.
Tables, chairs, and a huge white marquee tent complete with temporary timber dance floor came out of that van. Another one pulled up behind it not long after and another half dozen bodies tumbled out of it and began to wheel massive stainless steel bain-marie serveries around the side of the house and into the tent.
Alice stood to one side and directed the traffic. She knew where everything went and where it would look best. She yelled and argued, scribbled and negotiated and by six the tent was done and the vans were gone. So was the workforce who looked pretty relieved to be getting the hell out of the snake pit that was to be my reception.
Alice assured me that an army of caterers and waiters would arrive at first light tomorrow and the whole thing would be perfect. I trusted her and feared her, just a little.
I spent my last night at home in a nervous twist. I was no longer Bella Black and for one short day I was once again Bella Swan. If only I could go back and be the Bella Swan I'd been during high school. If I could go back now I'd tell Carlisle about Charlie, I'd tell Edward that I loved him. I'd tell Alice what was happening to me. I'd be Bella Swan for the last time and could've negated having to have ever been Bella Black.
I got a short but loving text message from Edward at ten that told me not to worry about anything, that he'd take care of me and the children, that he loved me and that he'd be where he was supposed to be, on time, and that I'd know which one he was because he'd be the one with the smug look of happiness on his face. I knew where he'd be at two o'clock tomorrow. He'd be standing at the front of the church with Emmett and Jasper at his side ready to marry me.
I had absolutely no doubt about that at all.
My hands were shaking and my breath came in short pants as I watched Alice and Angela swish their way down the aisle of the little church. I deliberately denied myself a look at Edward. I knew he'd be there, he'd promised me he would be. Every eye turned towards the double doors and then we were on.
"You are so beautiful Bella. I'm so proud to give you away sweetheart." Carlisle bent to kiss my temple one last time and then the music hit its peak and we took our first steps down the aisle.
He was right where he was supposed to be. Emmett and Jasper at his side. Joshua was holding Emmett's hand and smiling widely as I walked slowly down the aisle.
"Momma Bella looks like a princess Emmy!" Joshua 'whispered' quite loudly which broke the tension nicely.
The women in the church sighed and the men twittered fondly. I looked to Edward and saw the adorable smile on his face and knew that he was as happy as I was.
Esme dabbed at her tears as we passed by the front pew. Sue, sitting behind her, looked just as emotional.
Carlisle put my hand in Edward's and we turned to face Pastor Weber.
I turned away from Edward only once. To pass my bouquet to Alice who stood beside me at the altar. After that he had my full attention.
He promised to love me always and I made the same promise. He slid an engraved wedding band onto my finger and as it slid up against my engagement ring he promised to be mine forever. I made the same promise as his onyx and gold ring settled on his ring finger.
He kissed me long and hard as we were announced to finally be husband and wife.
Rice filtered down the front of my dress and settled between my breasts as we were pelted upon leaving the church. Edward pulled me to him in the back of the car and kissed me hard. We laughed and joked and kissed and hugged the entire way back to the house. I was now Mrs Edward Cullen and I'd never been happier.
Hundreds of photos were taken before the meal both inside the house and outside in the grounds. I posed with everyone and in so many combinations that by the time I did sit down to eat I felt like I'd been snow blinded by the flash of the camera.
Joshua sat on my knee and Elizabeth sat beside Edward in her little rocking chair while we ate our meal. It was unorthodox and totally us. Edward's attention never wavered from us during the meal. He helped Joshua slice his meat up and wiped the spit up from Elizabeth's lips. She smiled and gurgled whenever he was near her and my heart pounded with pride every time I looked at him with our children. When it was all cleared away off the tables Edward and I cut the cake. Joshua and Angus found it incredibly exciting and we had to light and relight the candles five times before they were satisfied and had had enough turns each to blow them out. Edward and I fed each other the first slices then said good night to the children.
I hugged Josh close and once again reminded him that we'd be back in a week's time, with candy, if he was a good boy. He promised me he would and held onto me tightly before he was pulled away by Rosie. He tried so hard not to cry and so did I. Elizabeth of course had no idea that she wasn't going to see me for a week, but I knew and it hurt. Rosie must have realised because she made the break painless by allowing me one last kiss and then she tore the baby from my arms and was away with her.
They went to Rose and Emmett's with Rosie's mother for the evening and would be collected by Esme first thing tomorrow morning. Of course by that time Edward and I would be far away.
Jasper made a lovely speech. I could see Emmett itching to speak too but a deal was a deal. He'd been allowed to speak at the bachelor party and Jasper made the speech at the reception. He didn't look too happy about his end of the bargain though. Jasper welcomed me to the family and wished us both well with a toast.
Carlisle's speech had every woman within the tent in tears. He told Edward how proud he was of him, how much he loved and enjoyed his new grandchildren and how grateful he was that Edward was gracious enough to share his new family with him and Esme. He thanked me for making Edward happy, at last, and with a toast not unlike Jasper's he too wished us well.
In what looked like an arranged move Harry took to his feet and surprised us with a speech of his own.
His voice was a little unsteady and the emotions of the day almost overwhelmed him at one point, but he acquitted himself very well. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, male or female, when he thanked me for the extreme privilege of allowing the Clearwater family into my life. Seth nodded throughout the speech and I knew without words that he felt the same. I mouthed 'thank you' to Harry as he retook his seat.
Alice said some very nice words then embarrassed me with a few stories from when we were teenagers. Edward ribbed me twice and insisted I explain one or two of them at a later date which produced many 'oh-oh's' and 'you're in trouble now's' from the gathered crowd. The stories were harmless, and quite amusing, so I knew he was joking.
With the speeches over it was time for the dancing. This was the part I'd been dreading. As the music began Edward reached for my hand and with an apologetic grimace I took to the floor with my new husband.
"It's my turn to lead, Mrs Cullen," he whispered into my ear as he put his hand to my waist.
I could feel the blush rising up my chest at his double entendre and completely forgot to be self conscious or nervous about the dancing. It just felt so right. He was a magnificent dancer, of course, and he twirled me around the makeshift dance floor like an expert, making me look good in the process.
Esme and Carlisle took to the floor, as did Harry and Sue as the parents of the bride and then they were joined by Alice and Jasper, Emmett and Rosie and then by Seth and the girl who'd come as his date. I knew her name was Sarah but hadn't been introduced to her yet.
I watched them as they danced and knew instantly that Seth really liked this girl. To me it looked as though the feelings were mutual. She laid her cheek delicately on his shoulder and they too danced beautifully around the floor.
We were soon pulled from our dance though as Carlisle cut in. He smiled down at me and told me again how beautiful I looked and how proud he was to have me as his daughter in law now. Harry cut in soon after and I was once again complimented on my dress and told how happy he was to be there with me today.
It was much more awkward dancing with my real father than it was with Edward's, something I felt a little ashamed of. But I'd not spent very long with Harry and although I knew in my heart that he would never hurt me, my brain just knew him as an unknown male. Our dance was much stiffer than the two previous ones, but we managed alright.
Emmett tapped Harry on the shoulder and I was spun into my new brother in laws arms with a flourish. He kissed me lightly on the cheek and bore me off to the farthest corner of the dance floor. More than likely to piss Edward off. It worked. Edward scowled his way through dancing with Sue and never took his eyes from us the whole time I danced with his brother.
Jasper was a less ostentatious dancer but no less good at it than Edward or Emmett. He was a very quiet, calming man and I liked him a lot. Loved him actually, and not just because he was married to my best friend who was now my sister in law. But because he was sensitive and caring and was always there to guide me without patronising me. Not that the others patronised me, but Jasper had a way of guiding me towards a certain path without me even realising that he was. With Emmett, and Edward too sometimes, they tried to subtly bully me into the right path, with Jasper it was a much soft approach.
I wasn't sure if the other males at the wedding had been warned not to attempt to dance with me but nobody else approached me and I soon found myself dancing once again with Edward. I was grateful to whomever it was that sent the message out. Everyone who'd been invited was there because they were genuinely happy for us but I still didn't know them and wouldn't be comfortable being touched by them either.
All too soon Alice broke us up and I was whisked upstairs to get changed out of my dress. I'd chosen a very simple outfit to go away in and was pleased to be out of the frothy concoction of white satin and lace at last.
We'd chosen not to throw the bouquet because I wasn't comfortable with Edward removing my garter and then throwing it to the waiting crowd of men, so we dispensed with both of those traditions altogether and just moved straight onto the circular shaped gathering to say our goodbyes.
We were congratulated and kissed and hugged and showered with kindness and best wishes as we made our way to the 'getaway' car as Edward had dubbed it.
Of course it was covered in shaving cream and had the words 'just married' on the back window. Tin cans were tied to the rear bumper and we had to stop only half a mile up the road to take them off because the racket was deafening.
After a half hours drive or so, with one small stop for a quick make out session, Edward pulled the car into the parking lot of the Royal Victorian Motel in Port Angeles. It was right on the waterfront and overlooked where the ferry left and returned. He helped me from the car, always the gentleman, and then he pulled two small overnight bags from the trunk. Our suitcases, filled with Alice's purchases and probably a ridiculous amount of lingerie I had no intention of wearing, were in the trunk ready for our departure tomorrow. He led me into the reception and we were met with a bleary eyed concierge who was quick to congratulate us on our marriage. We signed in quickly and Edward threw me an adorable wink as he pushed the form towards me and I signed my name as Mrs Cullen for the first time. Edward took the key to the room and led the way to the elevator bank.
He set the bags on the ground outside the correct door then swept me up into his arms. He walked us over the threshold and kissed me softly as he set me back on my feet just inside the door.
When the door closed behind us Edward put the bags onto the luggage rack by the door and opened his arms for me. I went into them eagerly. "I love you," I told him as he pulled me to him.
A/N: I am sorry for leaving it there but there was no other logical place to cut this chapter off. That means it's smaller than I'm used to, but I beg your indulgence...the next chapter contains Edward's thoughts on the wedding and reception as well as a few more tidbits from behind the scenes that Bella didn't witness herself.
Thank you so much for reading.
I so enjoyed your response to the last chapter and your enthusiasm to see these two finally wedded (and bedded :) )
Please review.
