Chapter 54
The four and five month pregnancy scans went well and there's no doubt in anyones mind now that I'm pregnant. Edward loves it. He tells me he's never seen me looking sexier than when I'm round bellied with our child. His hand is on my stomach as much as possible rubbing it and talking constantly to the two of us and we've decided to let it be a surprise as to what sex the baby is, much to Alice's annoyance. Edward and I have been going back and forth between names but so far we haven't found anything that we both agree on, or think suits him or her.
The wedding plans are all but finished. We'll be married in less than two weeks on a beautiful Mediterranean beach in France. We made sure to check with Doctor Tanner that flying is safe, and she said that so long as we didn't leave it any longer then I'll be fine. We plan on spending a week in Nice for part one of our honeymoon before flying home and having part two in a beautiful beach villa on Long Beach Peninsula. We've also made plans for the baby shower, all that needs to be done now is send invitations off to all my friends and soon to be family. It's still too soon but I am glad that it's all finalised.
Two weeks later we land in Paris and drive onto Nice. I hate to think how much this wedding in costing Edward, but he refuses to hear me say anything about it, stating that it's his wedding as well and that if he wants to spend a lot of money then he has the right to. He's right of course, I just feel guilty about not being able to contribute towards the expenses.
"Bella." He tells me after a particularly long discussion about the plans, "what you make in a day isn't even close to what I make in an hour. This wedding won't even make a dent in our bank account, sweetheart."
I sigh. "I know. I just, I don't want you to think that I need all this." I tell him, gesturing to the flyers and plans Alice has given me over the last few months.
"I know you don't need it all and I definitely know that you don't want me for my money. It's one of the reasons I love and trust you so much. Please don't let it stress you and our little one out."
So, I decide to take his advise and just enjoy the trip with him and our family, which brings us to Nice. It's so beautiful and quaint and the weather is incredibly pleasant. We chose a good week to come. All of us girls are sharing a room tonight and we have a small but fun bachelorette party in our beach front Villa. Edward and I didn't want anything over the top so we told Alice that for a compromise she could go all out on the wedding. Thankfully she agreed. We play some fun games, giggle like school girls, tell secrets and discuss our sex life. All the while sipping champagne while I sip sparkling apple juice. Thankfully it's not awkward for Esme, but I think it has something so do with the fact that Rosalie keeps refilling her wine glass after she takes a few sips. She's onto her fifth refill and she's definitely more than buzzed.
We decide we need fresh air so we take a walk along the ocean front. All we have to do is open the villa front door and step out onto the cobble stone beach. Edward and Alice chose a truely beautiful spot. And when I start to drag my feet and Esme starts to follow we decide to call it a night. We all sleep peacefully until my alarm clock, better known as Alice, wakes me up. The hair and make up stylists will be arriving soon so she instructs me to shower and get into the robe she has hung on the back of the door. Once I'm done the rest of the girls take turns in the bathroom. We're all wearing matching floral print robes and look so cute. There's a knock on the door and in walks the photographer, she's going to spend equal time with the us and the boys as we get ready. Soon after that there's another knock on the door and the hair and makeup artists walk in.
We get to work straight away and by the time we are all finished I'm ready for a nap, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. We have more pictures together and then even more when we all get into our dresses. Rosalie found this gorgeous boutique in the city that specialised in maternity wedding dresses. I was apprehensive at first, thinking they'd make me look like whale, when in actual act they made me look pretty flat stomached. It wasn't something that really worried me but I still wanted to look pretty. The dress had special boning and straps stitched in on the inside that pulled the dress in a certain way and held it in a certain way on my body that was faltering to my new shape, instead of emphasising my somewhat round belly.
Thankfully I'm still pretty small because I've been having a hard time putting on a lot of weight due to my morning sickness not decreasing much, some weeks I was worse than ever. And I prayed that today would't be one of them, so far it's going smoothly. The girls help me get dressed and Esme is softly crying when I finally get situated.
"You look so beautiful." She tells me dapping her eyes carefully. "He's never been happier than he is now and that's because of you, sweetheart. Thank you for bringing my boy back to me and for filling his life with so much happiness."
By the time she finishes we're all crying and the make up artist flits around us, fretting that our make up is going to smudge but thankfully our make up makes it out unscathed.
The ceremony set up is just beautiful. I have to give it to Alice. She did an incredible job. Soft piano music is playing and I see an arch way filled with flowers near the shore line at the end of a long piece of silver, shimmery fabric. I briefly see Edward, Emmett and Jasper who are already waiting, along with the photographer and videographer at the end of the isle, talking and laughing with each other. Carlisle comes over and takes my arm while I watch them, Edward looks so happy. I had asked him to walk me down the isle and he'd been so honoured. Tears shone in his eyes when I pulled him aside one evening at dinner.
Esme takes a seat at the front and the girls start walking down as the music changes. They were the only people I wanted as my bridesmaids and I was so thankful they got to be here. When the music changes again Carlisle and I make it down the isle slowly. The music playing is the same song that was on in the back ground when Edward proposed and I know he recognises it. We hold each others eyes the entire time I walk towards him and we don't break it during the ceremony either. Our vows are traditional and we repeat back everything the minister instructs, while the sounds of the ocean fill the back ground. I couldn't have imagined anything more beautiful.
"You may now kiss your bride, Edward." The minister says softly.
And kiss me he does. Edward pulls me off the ground and into his body, holding me gently as we kiss passionately. Emmett clears his throat but we both ignore him. This is our moment and it's wonderful. I don't even realise I'm crying until Edward swipes the tears away from my cheeks with his thumb.
"You look stunning." He tells me, tears shining in his eyes.
"So do you." I say, before we are engulfed in hugs from our family.
A small gathering of spectators accumulated throughout the ceremony and they graciously applaud and shout congratulations our way before dissolving back into the soundings. We sign the registry along with the minster and Carlisle and Esme sign as our witnesses. When the formalities are over with we make our way over to a marquee Alice has organised with a long dining table. It's adorned with beautiful flower arrangements in long and short vases, candles of various lengths and glittering jewels. Dinner is served within minutes of us taking our seats and I couldn't be more glad, I'm starving.
We cut the cake and dance into the night after finishing a delicious meal. Everyone has a little too much to drink, except for Edward and I. He's been such a gentleman about the whole no alcohol during pregnancy thing and told me that when I had my first drink after the pregnancy he'd have his first as well. We enjoy watching our family have fun with each other and join in every now and then. We mostly sit and watch. Edward with his hand on my belly and me with my hand over his. We're both so protective already.
At eleven we deem it an acceptable time to return back to our room. Edward has rented the honey moon villa for us for the rest of the week so we walk a little ways down the beach until we reach it. He picks me up and carries me over the threshold and then deposits me on the bed. He works off my high heels and thigh high stockings, disappearing under my dress for a few moment and groaning in appreciation of the sight he sees.
"Ivory lace suits you." He tells me, licking the inside of my thighs. "Should I help you out of the dress?"
"Yes please."
I give him step by step instructions and eventually we get it off and hang it carefully in the bag that's been moved from my vila to here. When I lay back down Edward lays naked along side me and rubs at the red lines that have marked my skin from the dress. He's go gentle with me and treats me so sweetly, and when we make love for the first time as a married couple, we reach a completely new and different level of intimacy. I never knew that I could feel this connected to another person. But somehow getting married has done exactly that. I relish in the closeness and safeness I feel in Edward's embrace. We rock together until we both explode, calling out the others name and the collapsing in a heavy and sweaty mess in the middle of the bed. Legs and arms tangled with out a care in the world, lips locked and hearts racing.
