Chapter 14: Reality Check
Wearing our "We Got Married in Las Vegas" T-shirts, Bella and I caught the evening flight out of Las Vegas. Bella seemed more apprehensive heading home than she did on our way to get married. While boarding our flight she had admitted having a lot of anxiety and her stomach being in knots. She was troubled by having to tell her parents she was now my wife. With cool reassurance I guaranteed her that I would be by her side and we would do it together. Since my parents would be more understanding and happy, we would inform them of our wonderful news first. That calmed Bella down a little. A very little bit.
Within the first ten minutes of our flight my wife's anxiety was really getting to me. She was so jittery she couldn't sit without jiggling a leg or a foot. Then all of a sudden her nerves got the best of her. I was beside myself as she clamped her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom.
My own anxiety was getting to me and my body was taunt while I waited in my seat for Bella to return from the bathroom. I didn't like to see her in distress and wasn't quite sure how to help.
"How are we going to pull this off?" Bella asked when she came back from the bathroom, taking her seat by the window.
"Hmmm?" Was my only response as I put my arm around her.
I looked at her curiously. Waiting for her to say more.
"How exactly are we going to deliver this news to my parents? The more I think about telling them the more I fear their reaction." Bella's voice was shaky.
Gently I placed my hands on either side of her face. Bringing my eyes to meet hers. Her beautiful chocolate brown eyes were tainted with fear.
"Everything will be fine." I did not hesitate to say the words. "We'll go to my house first to tell my parents. Just like we have discussed." I let out a deep sigh. I have always been the overthinker among my siblings. But at this moment my wife was overthinking enough for both of us and it was beginning to drive me insane. "Think of it like a practice run when we provide them with our wonder news. Then we'll go to your house, tell your father and call your mother. Everything will be fine." I kissed the top of her head and put my arms around her.
I hoped more than anything she would stop her worrying.
"Yeah, but your parents will probably take it better than mine will." Bella just would not quit her worrying. "I'm not sure how Charlie will take it. He won't be happy but it won't be anything compared to Renee's reaction. For this was the kiss of death for them and she always warned me to not follow in her footsteps."
"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts." My words sounded light and casual though there was a serious edge to them.
"No. Of course I am not." She spoke quickly. "I just don't want my parents to be mad at me."
I wasn't sure what to say after that. I silently held my wife's hand and rubbed the back of it to soothe her.
Bella rested her head on my shoulder. Her heart was pounding like crazy. It sounded like she had been running a marathon even though she was sitting down. I wanted more than anything to ease her fears, to be able to tell her that everything would be okay and for her to believe me.
"Uhg. My stomach does not feel well." Bella said, not moving her head from my shoulder.
I put my other arm around her. "Being this nervous is not good for you, love. You need to calm down." I kissed her forehead. "Everything will work out. Trust me."
"Excuse me, kids." A sweet grandmotherly voice called out.
Bella lifted her head from my shoulder, immediately looking past me. I turned and looked across the aisle to where Bella was looking.
Apparently we had an audience. A small round elderly woman with glasses and dyed black curly hair was gazing at us. She was sitting next to a tall sleeping elderly bald man who was loudly snoring with his mouth open. Probably her husband.
"Yes?" I spoke in a very soft voice, not to scare the elderly woman.
'Oh my! They are very young.' The elderly woman's heart galloped.
Hearing her thoughts I inwardly laughed. I wondered what her reaction would be if she knew I was older than she is.
"I couldn't help overhearing the end of your conversation." The elderly woman spoke kindly to Bella. "Your boyfriend is right. Getting your emotions all worked up is not going to do you any good." Her thoughts were on newborn babies and Ginger Ale. What an odd combination.
"Thank you." The words sounded more like a question rolling off Bella's lips. "He's my husband though." She pointed to the matching shirts we were wearing.
"We just got married two days ago." I chimed in.
The pleasure it brought me to announce that Bella was my wife was unbelievable. For decades I had walked the Earth never thinking that I would ever be lucky enough to have a wife. Now that I do it's magnificent. I wanted to shout my news to the world.
"Well now. Congratulations." The elderly woman smiled. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are both of you?"
"Seventeen." Bella and I spoke in unison.
'Oh. Poor things. They're just children themselves.' Her thoughts were sympathetic for some unknown reason. "Sweetie," She looked at Bella. "For your nausea you might want to try crackers in the morning, Ginger Ale and suck on cinnamon candy throughout the day. Those worked wonders for me."
"Umm... Okay." Bella said slowly.
I found the elderly woman's remedy for a stomach ache caused by anxiety rather peculiar. Then again, maybe that was how all humans took care of anxiety, with those types of food. After all, not everyone had a talented brother that could instantly make you feel calm like I do.
Without another word the elderly woman reached down for her large pink purse that was placed between her feet. I watched in awe as she placed the purse on her lap, pulled down the tray and began emptying out the contents of her purse. No, more like Mary Poppins bag.
The elderly woman quickly pulled a two liter of Diet Coke, an assortment of sandwiches, a small box of donuts, four apples, three large packages of cookies, a bunch of bananas, and finally a can of Ginger Ale and a small box of cinnamon candy out of her bag. It was a miracle it all fit.
"Now honey," The elderly woman spoke to Bella. She reached over the aisle, handing me a green can of Ginger Ale and a small box of cinnamon candy. Hesitantly I took the items and handed them to my wife. "Make sure you have plenty of Ginger Ale and saltine crackers. The first three months are usually the worst."
I thought that was a strange thing to say. I couldn't figure out why the first three months of our marriage would be the worst on Bella's stomach. That made no sense to me. I felt like I was missing something.
Bella and I shared a look. Both of us were not quite sure what this ederly woman ment.
Bella gazed across the aisle. "I'm sorry. The first three months?" She questioned.
The elderly woman smiled at Bella's confusion. "Yes, dear. The first three months of pregnancy are not always easy with having morning sickness and all."
My eyes widened and I tried not to laugh as I understood what she was getting at. This woman assumed Bella's upset stomach was from pregnancy!
"Oh... Umm... No... I'm... No..." Bella stammered. Blush heat radiated off of her and rolled onto me. "I'm not pregnant."
"She's really not." I clarified.
'Poor things, they look embarrassed.' The elderly woman thought.
Embarrassed? Is that how Bella and I appeared from the outside? Well, that made a little bit of sense. We had just been mistaken for expectant parents. Which we are not. Of course we had been getting that reaction a lot today when people learned we were newlyweds. However, nobody besides this woman had said that out loud.
The ederly woman looked at us in confusion. "You're sure your not pregnant?"
"No." Bella and I answered politely.
"I'm so sorry." The edlery woman apologized to Bella. Her thoughts were full of embarrassment.
"I just overheard the end of your conversion when you were saying you were struggling to figure out how to tell your parents your news. I asussed you were talking about a pregnancy, especially after you said that your stomach hurt."
"I'm really not pregnant." Bella's voice sounded small. "We got married without telling our parents. Now we're going home to do that."
"We got married because we are in love. Not because we have a baby on the way." I politely explained. Wanting to clear the air on that.
The elderly woman apologized profusely. She once more congratulated us on getting married and wished us the best of luck with telling our folks. She went on to say that it was nice to see a young couple get married for love, that so many young people today don't do that anymore. We conversated with her for a few more minutes until her husband woke up, asking her for a sandwich, she then turned her attention toward him.
Bella and I went back to being in our own little world. She was now worried that her father might have a similar reaction as the elderly woman did when we tell him we are married, that he might think that I got her pregnant. I was biting back a laugh, with that thought. I was amused with the thought of a half vampire half human baby, I couldn't really picture it. Hugging my wife I reassured her not to worry, that we would cross that bridge when and if Charlie would come to that conclusion, though I doubt he would. After all he was the one that made her an appointment for birth control last week.
Wanting to keep her calm for the rest of the flight. I began to dazzle her to get her mind off the subject at hand. It worked.
When her anxiety attack ended I pulled my iPod out of my pants pocket, I took one earbud and gave her the other one. We put the earbuds in our ears and listened to music instead of dwelling on the what ifs.
Before meeting Bella I was a terrible overthinker. After meeting her she brought out the teenage boy in me. Though I'm still an overthinker at times, I have better learned how to focus on the present and live in the moment..
A little less than an hour later the pilot's smooth deep voice came over the speakers. "Please fasten your seatbelts, folks. We're about to land."
Once we were able to get off the plane, we put our jackets on and grabbed our backpacks that were in the storage above us. We walked off the plane and into the terminal, after we grabbed our giant bag of stuffed toys we went out of the airport into the cold night air and the pouring rain. Quickly we went to the parking garage and got into my car. Before we drove to Forks I took Bella out to dinner, to a nice Chinese food restaurant.
Our conversation was light and playful as we left the restaurant and got into my car. We laughed and joked around as we drove from Seattle to Forks.
The light and playful atmosphere in the car continued all the way to my house. Seeing how Bella and I were going to go to her father's house immediately after talking with my parents. There was no need to park my car in the garage. Instead I stopped my car right in front of my house.
The delight of bringing my wife home was jiggling inside me and rocking me like a hurricane. Getting out of the car and going around to the passenger side, I was sure that if gravity wasn't holding me down I would fly away like a balloon full of helium. Bella appeared to be riding the same high as she exited the car and I grabbed our backpacks and the large see through bag of stuffed toys.
Hand in hand my wife and I walked up to the porch steps and into my house.
We were all the way into the house when an array of troubled mental voices and verbal chatter poured into my mind like a tsunami. That's when I realized that something was out of the ordinary. Charlie's Cruiser had been parked outside, my father was home when he's usually at the hospital at this hour. But none of that had registered in my brain until now.
Closing the door behind me there was a rush of commotion. Voices and loud footsteps.
I saw my mother first. My father and Charlie were right behind her, who were then followed by my siblings.
They were all talking at once. Everyone's facial expression was a mixture of worry and relief.
In an instetend Charlie wrapped Bella in a hug and my parents did the same to me.
"It's been two days. Where have you been?" Charlie questioned, not letting go of his daughter.
"I was with Edward." Bella's words were slightly strangled, due to Charlie hugging her tightly.
"Edward! I've been so worried." My mother kissed my cheek repeatedly. 'My sweet boy, you came home.'
At the forefront of my mother's mind I saw just how worried she had been since I left with Bella and made no attempt to contact anyone and no one could reach either of us, because we had kept our phones off the whole time. Esme had feared the worst, assumed we had run away together. Never to be seen again. There were flashes of memories in her mind from my rebellious phase from when I was a young vampire. All my awnry moments, from years ago from when I wasn't sold on our way of life and thought I knew better than my parents did, all the times I had mouthed off to my father and finally the horrible breaking point that led to me running away flashed through her mind. The memories were dark and tainted with depression. As she kissed my cheek she tried to push them out of her mind.
I felt horrible. I never considered that my mother would come to the conclusion that I ran away.
"Mom, I'm sorry." I had not meant to worry anyone. I sure didn't expect a reaction like this. "I left a note."
"I got the note. We've been looking for both of you. Where did you go?" My father let out a sigh of relief. 'I'm so happy your home.'
Just as my mother had thought the worst. So did my father. It pained me when his memories of this weekend made their way from his mind to mine. Though he did see my note he began to assume something unspeakable happened to Bella and I when we were unreachable. Even though I am a vampire my parents still worry about me. My father had feared that I might have ran into a nomad when we were out and that I defended Bella and in the midst of it all the unthinkable happened, to her and to me.
I also saw the muddy thoughts from Charlie's mind. He too had assumed the worst. Being in law enforcement he's seen all kinds of horrible scenarios throughout the years. He assumed both of us were lying dead in a ditch somewhere. Especially after he learned of a fatal car accident reported in Port Angeles this morning of two teenages who matched mine and Bella's age and description. But, of course it wasn't us.
There was a whirlwind of excited chattering from everyone. Except Bella and I who were overwhelmed by this greeting and were just being quiet.
Charlie, Carlisle and Esme were repeatedly questioning where we had been. Bella and I were silent. Not because we didn't know what to say. But because everyone was talking all at once and neither of us knew who to answer.
My excited siblings started their chattering...
"I told you he would be back, Mom." Rosalie said, in an unusually soft voice. 'You really had the 'rents worked up, idiot.' Though my sister called me anInsulting name, she was actually using it as a form of endearment, this time. Stange, I know, but that's her odd way of showing love to me. She too was worried about me.
'Kid just wanted to get laid.' Emmett's thoughts were proud. "About time you crazy kids came home." He's booming voice echoed throughout the house.
"Glad you guys are home." Jasper's quiet voice was barely heard over the commotion of everyone talking. 'We were really concerned about your and Bella's well beginning.'
From Jasper's mind I saw just how much he had to calm down our mother in the last twenty-four hours using his gift.
'If only I could have "seen" this moment. I could have told Mom and Dad everything would end up fine in the end.' Alice's "voice" was happy.
There was a lot of noise. Verbal and mental. I couldn't decide where to turn my attention to or who to answer first.
When the hugging came to an end, before Bella and even had a chance to say a word. A curiosity of questions went around the room as Alice wrapped both of us in a forceful hug just as soon as my wife and I stood side by side.
"I'm so happy you guys came back." Alice's wind chime voice rang out. 'It's been a wild two days. I've "seen" so much sex from you two.' Her thoughts were beyond repulsed about that. "I have a surprise waiting in your room for you, brother!"
"Thanks Alice." I said, patting her back. I couldn't tell what the surprise might be. Her thoughts were giving me no clue to what the surprise was. She was thinking of a pair of very large black open-toe high heels... And Emmett's feet? Well that was a strange way to keep me out of her mind.
"It's good to see you too. But I can't breathe!" Bella choked out.
"Oh. Sorry." Alice hadn't realized she had been hugging Bella that tight.
"Where have you two been?" Charlie asked, hoping for clarification.
In Charlie's unclear mind images flashed. He had been at home drinking a beer when my father informed him yesterday that Bella and I were missing and not answering our phones. He had been beside himself since then. Apparently he was at my house for two reasons. Reason number one was to obtain a recent school picture of me for a missing persons/runaway teen report that he was going to put out on both Bella and I, but since we returned he no longer had to do that. The second reason was a little vague. It involved both of my brothers speeding, or racing - I wasn't sure which - and him pulling each of them over in their own vehicles during his shift and giving Jasper a long lecture about the danger of motorcycles before he escorted them home. There was also a flashe of Emmett standing next to his Jeep wearing a pink tube top, a skirt, and black high heels.
What the hell was that about? Why would Charlie be thinking of my brother in women's clothing?
"Where have you guys been?" Carlisle and Esme said almost at the same time.
"Nevada." I answered.
"Las Vegas." Bella added.
There was an array of questions from my parents and Charlie and more chattering from my siblings. They wanted to know why we left the state and were gone for two days. Everyone wanted an answer. Before Bella or I could give anyone an answer Alice, who was standing in front of me and my wife. Looked at us. Suddenly her eyes glazed over. Jasper, like the rest of my family all knew she was having a vision. He debated if he should move from where he stood to stand next to Alice. He decided on staying where he stood beside Em and Rose, because to Charlie it might look too odd if he ran to Alice's side for no apparent reason.
Wanting to appear normal and human my family continued on with the chattering. While wondering what Alice's vision was about.
I watched the images unfold from my sister's mind.
From Alice's mind to mine, I saw Charlie, Carlisle and Esme sitting in our living room. My parents were sitting together on the long white couch across from Charlie who was seated in the single armchair. None of the three adults looked too happy. They seemed to be perplexed, stressed and deep in discussion about something.
The image changed to Charlie rubbing his head. "This is ridiculous. She just turned seventeen two months ago." He said in the vision. "Both of them are still in High School, I mean they are just kids. Neither of them know what they are getting into. They need an annulment."
Carlisle in the vision was nodding his head in agreement and listening to Charlie. "I agree they are young and this was a very naive thing to do. But if we do that, what would stop them from running off and getting married again? They've already done it once."
In the vision Charlie's eyebrows pulled together as he seemed to be thinking over what my father had said. "Then what do we do?" His voice was full of sorrow. "Let them live together? I don't see that as an option. They're minors and not even seniors in high school."
"Why don't we just treat this as a trial run?" My mother in the vision, who was holding my father's hand, spoke up. Until that moment she had stayed silent.
The vision ended abruptly right there, sending me back to where I stood.
Alice gasped. Her golden eyes turned hard. 'NO! How could you?' Her "voice" sounded hurt. Her thoughts went right to that insane water-wedding that she wanted to plan.
"Alice?" I spoke softly. She didn't answer.
Everyone turned their attention on Alice.
I saw from her mind that the snippet of her vision made her realize why Bella and I went to Las Vegas of all places. She felt betrayed. I saw just how much she really wanted to plan my first wedding.
"Alice?" Bella questioned.
Alice didn't answer my wife. Didn't even look at her. Instead her gaze went right to our wedding rings.
Esme took a step closer, putting a gentle hand on Alice's shoulder. "What's wrong, dear?"
Alice looked up at our mother then turned to our father. "You want to know why they went to Las Vegas? Take a look at their hands. Their left hands!" She shrieked, her voice sounding pained as she took a few steps away from Bella and I.
"Hands? What?" Charlie questioned.
'Their left hands?' Carlisle's "voice" sounded so confused.
'What does she mean?' Emse wondered, her golden eyes looking at my left hand first, then Bella's. She let out a loud gasp as she noticed mine and Bella's wedding bands. "Wedding rings?" She covered her mouth with her hand.
Both Charlie and my father looked at my mother, then at Bella and I. Both of them noticed our rings too.
"No way!" Emmett laughed. "Kid ran off and got married a week after he's no longer a cherry boy! You work fast, brother mine. I taught you well."
Leave it to Emmett to find the amusement in a humorless moment.
"Emmett." Carlisle chastised. "Not appropriate."
"I didn't say anything bad." Emmett gave the most innocent expression anyone could give even though he was aware he was being inappropriate.
Carlisle shook his head and I shot my brother a warning look. I knew all too well how he could say something more embarrassing.
"Of course he ran off and did not tell anyone he was going to get married. How classically Edward!" Rosalie said sarcastically. 'He never thinks things through.'
Esme gave Rosalie a stern look.
How absurd. Rosalie thinks so little of me. She assumes that I never give much thought to anything, given my age that I was frozen at. She always says I give no thought to anything I do. That I just rush into everything without considering the consequences. However, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Carlisle eyed Bella and me curiously. "Edward and Bella, what exactly did you do while you were away?" He wondered, not being quick to jump to conclusions.
Charlie became quiet as he pondered over everything. His thoughts were all jumbled up. He kept staring at Bella and my ring she wore on her finger.
Bella and I gazed at each other. "We got married." We said in unison, unzipping our jackets to reveal our matching shirts.
Alice's eyes widened in horror as she noticed our T-shirts that she found hideous and cheap. She screamed in terror.
"Married?" Esme was stund.
Charlie exhaled heavenly as his face turned an unhealthy shade of red.
Carlisle's eyes met mine. He didn't say anything. He was in disbelief that his first and youngest child who was usually level headed would do something impulsive.
Alice glared at me. "You are the biggest disappointment for a brother!" She yelled. 'I've been waiting six decades! Six freaking decades to plan your wedding and you ruined it!' She then glared at Bella. "How could you, Bella? You're my best friend. I was supposed to plan your wedding! Both of you ruined it!"Feeling angry, betrayed and hurt Alice stomped off, muttering under her breath insulting words about our t-shirts.
"Alice," I called after my favorite sister. She did not look back.
"Alice, I'm sorry." Bella called out. Again, my sister did not look back.
When Alice passed Jasper who was clearly concerned about her as she ran up the steps at a human pace, beginning to dry sob. He did not follow her even though he wanted to. He knew she was hurt and needed a little time alone.
"Son," Carlisle spoke in an even tone, not taking his golden eyes off me. "May I see proof of your marriage?"
"Sure." I took off my backpack, opened it up and handed him a small folder we received at the wedding chapel. It had our needed documents in it. He opened it up. My parents and Charlie stared at the document like they never had seen paperwork before. My mother gasped, my father rubbed his forehead and Charlie's fast heart rate and breath sounded dangerously unhealthy. All three of them looked up from the paperwork staring at Bella and I then back to the paper my father held.
After about a minute later my father handed me back the paperwork. I put it in my backpack as the room fell into uncomfortable silence. The only noise was Bella's and Charlie's hearts beating.
I looked over at my siblings from where they stood by the stairs. Emmett wore an expression of amusement, Rosaline looked annoyed yet intrigued. Jasper was very interested and gave me a curious look as he tested the emotions around him. All three of them wanted to see how this would play out.
Out of all my siblings I get in trouble the least. Obviously none of them were above watching the drama of my life unfold.
My eyes then landed on my parents. My father was expressionless, my mother was clearly in disbelief. Then there was Charlie who was focusing on Bella and I in bewilderment, rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand. His rapid heartbeat was so loud it was echoing in my ears. His face kept turning every shade of red you could find in a crayon box.
My mother was the first to break the silence. "Carlisle, he got married." She placed her delicate hand on my fathers arm.
My father patted her hand. "It seems so, sweetheart."
Charlie gave me a hard look then turned to Bella. "This better be a joke."
"Um. No, Dad, it's not a joke. Edward and I got married on Saturday night." Bella admitted.
"She's my wife now." I said proudly, putting my arm around her.
My mother's eyes widened. She was having a difficult time processing how I managed to get married on the same day that I officially proposed to Bella. She was feeling sad. For decades she assumed I was too young and innocent to be interested in females, that I would be her only child that would remain unmarried for all eternity. That all changed when I ment Bella. I saw now how much it meant to my mother, just how much she'd been counting on seeing me get married.
I felt a pain in my unbeaten heart. I should have known my mother would feet that way.
"Oh god. Why?" Charlie closed his eyes, tilted his head up to the ceiling and groaned loudly.
Neither Bella or I gave an answer.
There were low whispers from my siblings. They were enjoying this too much. All three of them were wrapped up in it like they were watching a daytime TV drama.
My father blinked a few times. I saw from his mind that he was a little hurt. Though he would never see me grow up and become a man like a human father would be able to do. He had imagined for some time now that he would be able to be at my first wedding and see me get married.
It pained me to hear my father's thoughts.
I heard Emmett and Jasper wisherper but I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying.
"Hey, Bella," Emmett randomly called out. "You're looking a little tired, didn't get enough sleep, huh?" He asked, his voice close to laughter. "How was the honeymoon?"
I glared at Emmett. He and Jasper were giggling and Rosalie was rolling her eyes and trying not to laugh.
Both Carlisle and Charlie looked directly at me. "Don't answer that!" They both shouted in unison.
Charlie's words had been a demand. My father's words were a warning.
I wasn't even going to answer Emmett. I was surprised that my father thought I would.
Charlie was thinking of the courthouse. "Married at seventeen! What were you thinking?" He hollered at Bella. "How could you be so stupid?!"
The image of the courthouse from Charlie's mine did not disappear. He was now thinking of my face and a judge. I couldn't figure out what it meant. Did he want to prosecute me? For what? I could not figure it out.
"We're in love." Bella responded.
"Annulment!" Charlie roared.
His muddy thoughts were on how young Bella and I are. He assumed we didn't know the first thing about love or marriage. He was thinking about the future now. Picturing how Bella and I would reinvent ourselves in a few years, that we would probably figure out that we made an error in our young lives. He assumed that our marriage would eventually end in devorce. Instead of waiting for that to happen he wanted to go to the courthouse and get our marriage annulled, just like it never happened.
"No! You can't do that!" My words came out faster and louder than I intended.
My words did not sit well with Charlie just as his didn't with me.
"I can and I will. This marriage is getting annulled." Charlie glared at me. I stared back at him, not glaring.
'Easy, Edward.' Carlisle thought. "Now, Charlie-"
Charlie cut my father off. "Carlisle, I brought your boys home tonight and this is the thanks I get?" His voice was cold and loud. "Next time I catch your boys drag racing, I'm taking them to the station. Even if your oldest is in a mini skirt."
With a laugh Jasper calmed down the room.
Carlisle cringed, trying very hard not to picture Emmett in a skirt. He never thought he'd see the day where one of his boys shredded in the front door wearing women's clothes, but he did today. "I very much appreciated you bringing them home." He spoke honestly. "We should calmly discuss this matter regarding Edward and Bella."
Bella and I turned to Emmett. Though I couldn't read her mind, I'm sure she too wanted to know the reason why my brother had been wearing women's clothing. I know I did.
Alice huffed from upstairs. "It was a cashmere skirt!" She yelled between sobs. She was upset and wanted the skirt to get the recognition it deserved.
Esme shook her head and Carlisle rubbed his forehead.
Jasper snickered. His thoughts were on how ridiculous Emmett looked in women's clothing. He was glad it was Emmett that lost the bet they had placed and not him.
"So I lost a bet. But I made 'em high heels work!" Emmett proudly announced.
With Emmett's words Jasper laughed loudly.
Carlisle shot them a warning look.
Rosalie didn't so much as bat an eye.
Just as Jasper is never bothered by Alice's impulsive spending. Rosalie is never phased by any weird situations Emmett finds himself in. Over the last seventy odd years my oldest brother has been the main subject in a lot of strange situations that are not easily explained.
I had to find out just how Emmett ended up drag racing wearing a tube top, mini skirt and high heels. That's just crazy. But that's the thing about my family. You go away for a couple of days, you miss a lot.
Esme moved over to my three siblings. "Nobody but Edward needs to be down here. Up stairs now." There was no room in her voice for negotiation. 'Eternity is such a long time to be a teenager. How do my children keep finding new ways to get in trouble?'
Reluctantly Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie compiled and went slowly up the stairs. Jasper made sure to keep up a constant feeling of peace.
Watching my siblings walk up the stairs my mother wondered to herself how over the last three days all five of her children had been up to something. I left and came back with my girlfriend who is now my wife. Alice went wild with her spending and had countless packages delivered. Emmett and Rosalie demolish the kitchen right after she remodeled it and then my brothers managed to get pulled over while drag racing.
Under my father's advice Bella and I, along with my mother and Charlie went into the living room. Bella and I sat next to each other on the loveseat, my parents sat on the couch and Charlie sat in the single armchair.
Though the house was calm there was still an eerie vibe in the living room. Or maybe that was just my feelings from how Charlie was looking at me.
Bella and I sat there quietly, not really sure what to say. My parents began to peacefully discuss the matter at hand with Charlie.
It was visible that Charlie was clamer but not at all happy with the situation. "Did you guys know about this?" He asked my parents.
"No." My mother answered, there was sadness in her voice. Her thoughts were a mixture of heartache and joy. She was glad that I had found my soulmate but sad that she didn't get to witness mine and Bella's union.
"Absolutely not." My father was calm. Though in his mind he was wondering why I kept him out of a very big milestone of my existence.
When my father turned his golden eyes on me I looked intently at him. Trying to express without words that the decision to get married was nothing personal, that I wasn't intentionally meaning to keep him or my mother in the dark about this. That it just happened so rapidly. He silently told me he understood.
"It was all our idea." Bella explained, holding my hand. "Edward's and mine. No one knew about this."
Three pair eyes were on Bella and I.
I nodded my head. "We decided to get married and did not tell anyone. It was nothing personal against anyone." I explained. "We're in love. Bella and I had planned on getting married next year but couldn't wait another minute to start our lives together."
My parents were quiet. In their minds, both of them were going over mine and Bella's words. My father's and mother's thoughts were both on the same page as they shred a look full of emotion. My happiness was what mattered to them. Whatever made me happy, made them happy too.
Charlie was anything but happy. His hard eyes were on Bella and I. He was back to thinking of the courthouse and Valentine's Times Day. I wasn't sure what either one had in common with the other.
"You kids still pass out Valentine's cards in school." Charlie randomly announced.
Bella didn't know how to respond, I didn't either. His muddy thoughts weren't making much sense to me.
'What does Valentine's Day cards have to do with them getting married?' Carlisle wondered.
'Edward, where's he going with this?' Esme wondered, as if I would know.
I had no translation to offer anybody regarding Charlie's thoughts.
A hush fell over the room.
Charlie was still deep in thought about the courthouse and a little Valentine red and white fluffy stuffed dog and a heart shaped box of chocolate I had given Bella on Valentine's Times Day this year. There were also flashes in his mind. Memories of Bella when she was little, maybe about four years old with her hair done up in pigtails and big bows, sitting happily in a pink princess tent with a doll and a big stack of books. I was trying to make sense of his mind but was having trouble.
"Seventeen is way too young to even be thinking about getting married." Charlie continued, his eyes on Bella. "You and him," He waved his hand, gesturing to both of us. "Are still kids. You pass out Valentine's cards and have a ten o'clock bedtime and still go to sleepovers at friend's houses. You don't know the first thing about love."
"Yes I do." Bella protested.
Charlie shook his head. His mind was still on Bella when she was young and the courthouse, again. There was now sadness in his mind.
My mother didn't say anything. Her mind went to a time long ago when I had a hideaway, high up in a tree in the backyard of one of the houses we lived at. I used to refer to it as my treechair. I would sit up in that tree when I wanted to, or needed to get away. She had always thought it was the cutest thing to see me up there reading my books. The thoughts in her mind chanced. She was thinking about how young I seemed then compared to how much I have grown since falling in love with Bella. That I would always be forever caught between a boy and man, but somehow I seem older that I once did.
My father was silent too. Charlie's words prompted a memory of when it was just my dad and me. He was remembering the first time he took me out to play baseball during a thunderstorm. How far and fast I ran to catch the ball once he hit it. How I couldn't wipe the windspent smile from across my face when I stood before him holding the baseball only seconds after he knocked it out of the open field. He reflected over my innocents throughout the last eighty seven years to how much I began to act like a teenage boy upon meeting Bella last year and how happy I have become. Something he never thought would happen but was glad it did.
Both of my parents' thoughts were more joyful now. Even though this was not the ideal circumstances that they had imagined it would be when I proposed to Bella, they now had one more daughter and were happy for Bella and I.
I thought I now understood what Charlie's earlier thought was about.
Where my parents were reflecting on how much Bella has changed me and how much I have grown in every possible way and began to finally act my age, and how they officially had a new daughter. Charlie was thinking the opposite. He did not feel he was gaining a son-in-law, but losing his little girl sooner than he had suspected he would.
A sense of guilt washed over me.
"Charlie," Despite the clam that Jasper was projecting, my voice was shaky. Charlie looked at me. "I want to apologise. I went about this all wrong. I should have asked for your permission to marry Bella first." I paused, taking a deep breath. "I just want you to know that I love your daughter more than my own life and I will take care of her for as long as I walk this earth."
I wanted to say more but I didn't. I saw from his mind that he was getting irritated.
"What does this boy know about love? He's not even old enough to shave." Charlie mumbed, too low for Bella to hear as he rubbed his hands over his face. "All that is really nice, Edward." He spoke in a louder tone. If it wasn't for Jasper, Charlie would have been yelling. "I still believe you both made a very dumb decision, neiter of you are old enought to be married. This marriage needs to be annulled first thing tomorrow."
I did not like the sound of that and neither did my wife.
"You can't do that." Bella and I said simultaneously, both of our voices were a little too loud.
"Edward," My mother warned, she shot me a warning look to watch my tone.
"Charlie, I'm not sure if an annulment is the best for them." Carlisle spoke in his ever calm demeanor.
Charlie shook his head in disagreement. "This is ridiculous, Carlisle. They need an annulment."
From upstairs I heard Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie eavesdropping. All three of them were wondering how many times Charlie would say the word "annulment" tonight. That prompted Emmett and Jasper to start placing bets on how many times Charlie would actually say the word while Rosalie said something sarcastic that made my brothers laugh. At the same time Jasper got distracted and forgot to keep up the constant wave of peacefulness all hell broke out in the living room.
"We're not getting an annulment!" I was up on my feet before I realized it, standing directly in front of Charlie.
"You're not staying married to my daughter!" Charlie stood in front of me. "She's too young for this shit."
"Edward!" Carlisle was on his feet in an instant, his hand on my shoulder.
"Dad! I'm staying married to Edward!" Bella was on her feet on her now too, standing next to me. Her voice was three octaves louder. "I'm old enough to live with him, you have no say so over what I do."
Charlie's heart was thumping like a jackhammer and his face was the color of a beet now. Carlisle squeezed my shoulder, he wanted me to calm down. He was also slightly worried about Charlie having a heart attack. Esme remained on the couch watching everything unfold.
"This is the real world, Bella." Charlie did not try to hide the anger from his voice. "You are still a minor. I am legally responsible just as his parents," - He gave me a hard look then turned back to Bella - "Are still responsible for him." All anger was gone from his voice by the end and he was more relaxed. Eyone was.
Jasper was back to claiming the atmosphere. Working double time now.
With Charlie visibly more relaxed, Carlisle saw that as his opportunity for him and my mother to peacefully speak to Charlie, alone. He asked me to go upstairs and sliglently added for me not to listen in with my gift, I obayed. Without trying to overstep, my father asked Charlie if it would be alright for Bella to go upstairs with my siblings and I for a moment so the adults could talk everything over. Charlie agreed.
I waited for Bella in the hallway on the third floor with our backpacks and the giant bag of stuffed toys. We walked down the hallway and to my room together.
Opening my bedroom door and I immediately noticed that all my furniture that I had damaged was replaced. I once again had a brand new bed, night stands and a giant beanbag chair. I didn't have a doubt in my mind that Alice had once again redecorated my room. I wanted to thank her but knew she didn't want to speak to me at the moment. She was still hurt and reciting the names of designer jeans in Arabic to keep me out of her head.
"Oh my god!" Bella gasped in horror as we entered my room. "It's back and bigger than ever."
She was gazing over by my desk. I turned to see what she was looking at and couldn't believe my eyes. There right next to my desk was the most frightening thing I'd ever seen. A purple and gold lava lamp that stood four feet tall! Why Alice bought that and where she found it. I do not know. But this had to be the surprise she had mentioned before she had her vision and ran off to her room.
"Alice's enthusiasm for lava lamps is very concerning." I confessed to my wife.
Bella said nothing. Her eyes only winden in response.
I didn't have a cule why Alice kept insisting I needed a lava lamp. Never in my whole existence have I ever even thought about buying one. What was her deal for this crazy item? What could be going through her head and why did she think I needed one so badly?
Overlooking the four foot monstrosity in the room (the giant lava lamp). I placed the bag of stuffed toys and our backpacks next to it. Bella sat on my bed and I sat next to her. We began talking about how the reactions regarding our marriage that we got and what we hoped for, were very different. Neither one of us were feeling very certain or in control of our marriage at the moment.
We weren't in my room very long before I heard two sets of footsteps coming up the stairs and caught the familiar thoughts belonging to two of my siblings. One of the thoughts put me at ease, the other one made me wery.
"Hey kid, can we come in?" Emmett asked out loud so Bella could hear when he neared my door.
"Sure." I answered.
Emmett walked in holding Rosalie's hand. The way he held her hand was a little comical. It wasn't a soft loving hand hold, it was more like a firm grip, as if he didn't want her to suddenly run off and escape. It was a bit obvious that Rose didn't have a choice to come into my room with Emmett. I wondered if Bella caught on to that like I did.
Emmett stood next to me, still holding Roselie's hand. Emmett was joyful and Rosalie was deep in thought. Her mind was racing and the images she was thinking of didn't make much scene. It was all just a bunch of flashes of memories of her, all of our siblings and I.
"Just wanted to congratulate you horny teens on your marriage." Emmett announced, having no shame in what he said. 'Nice work on tearing up your room, bathroom and the kitchen before you went to tie the knot.' He gave me a brotherly punch on the arm. "Congratulations! Bella! You're officially Cullen now." He let go of Rose's hand and immediately picked Bella up and wrapped her in a bear hug. He happily spun her around.
"Thank you, Em." Bella said as my brother spun her around for a second time.
"Yeah thanks, Em." I said.
Without knowing the outcome of the conversation that was taking place down stairs. Neither Bella or I were much in a celebrating mood.
Without warning Rosalie had her arms wrapped around me. "I can't believe my baby brother is married." She actually sounded happy.
I didn't respond but I did return her embrace.
Our embrace ended quickly as they alway do. She went over to my couch and elegantly took a seat as Emmett spun Bella around one last time then put her down. Bella came and sat on my lap and Emmett went and stood over by Rose.
"For being newlyweds both of you seem kinda depressed. What wrong?" Rosalie pointed out the obvious. Her words weren't rude but a genuine question.
I suppress from rolling my eyes at my sister who was trying to be kind. I just couldn't help but wonder, did she forget all about the chaotic mess that happened down stairs?
"My dad is angry about the marriage." Bella stated the obvious. "He wants to overturn it and I'm afraid he will."
I nodded my head in agreement to what my wife said.
"Yeah he was pretty upset." Emmett found it amusing. 'You just couldn't stand getting the milk for free, huh? Had to rush off and buy the heffer.' He mentally laughed at his less than funny joke.
I rolled my eyes at my brother's bad outdated joke. It might have been funny in 1955 but in 2005 it was tasteless.
Rosalie eyed Bella sympathetically. I was surprised at the direction of where her thoughts were headed.
"You're still really young." Roaslie softly spoke to Bella. "You might think that your father is being unreasonable, which even we think that way about our parents every now and then. But he's not. He just wants what is best for you and from a human's point of view, I don't believe he can understand just how much you and my brother love each other like our family does." She paused for a second. "You're lucky, Bella. You have a father that really loves and looks out for you. I didn't get that until my second life."
Emmett's arms were around Rosalie before she ended her little speech.
Bella nodded her head. "Yeah, I know Charlie loves me. I just don't want him to do anything irrational and end our marriage."
"Irrational?" Emmett laughed. He and Rosalie shared a look.
"What?" Bella and I wondered.
Rosalie broke eye contact with Emmett and turned to Bella and I. "That's kinda being hypocritical."
"Huh?" I wondered.
"What are you talking about?" Bella questioned my blond sister.
"You guys decided out of the blue ro run off and get hitch, assuming everyone was going to be all hunky-dory when you got back." Emmett mused. "Kinda irrational behavior if you ask me. Yet both of you are afraid that Charlie will act irrational."
"My guess is that he's just acting how he sees fit. Just as Carlisle and Esme will." Rosaile shrugged. "What was going through Esme and Carlisle's minds when they found out?" She questioned me. 'They sure looked troubled.' She thought back to our parents and Charlie staring at the paper that was poof that Bella and I were married. They really didn't look pleased.
"They were more or less dumbstruck." I admitted, running my fingers through Bella's hair. "But why should it matter so much?" I questioned my brother and sister, quickly adding. "You guys once did the same thing, ran off to Las Vegas, got married and no one was upset."
Both of them found what I said funny. Neither of them hide their laughter. Bella and I were quietly watching them.
I wasn't sure why Emmett and Rosalie found what I said hummoris. Nor was I too certain why my brother and sister received different reactions from our parents when they ran off to Vegas many years ago and did the same thing Bella and I did.
"Technically," My sister began. "We had already been married for twelve years when we did that. And Emmett and I didn't have to inform my human parents of what we were doing or where we were going because Esme and Carlisle were both of our adopted parents then." Rosaile's laugh was light. 'So he had gotten the idea from something Emmett did years ago.'
"Different situations." Emmett pointed out, then wanting to move on from this serious subject he added. "How was the honeymoon? Was the hotel still in one piece?"
Emmett was very eager to hear my answer.
Bella shifted her weight in my lap and I began to feel her blush heat.
"We had a nice time in Vegas." Bella said, stepping around my brother's question.
Emmett's eyebrows shot up. 'Nice? So you didn't park the beef bus in tuna town?'
I chucked at my brother's silent question. "The room was a wreck by the time we left this morning." I answered proundy and Emmett grinned.
Knowing how vulgar Emmett can quickly become with a topic like this. Rosalie casually changed the subject for Bella's sake. She asked about our wedding ceremony. She wanted to hear all about it. She wasn't just pretending to care, from her thoughts I could tell she actually was interested in all the little details. It was nice that she was actually being my sister and taking an interest in my life as well as my bride. There was no snide comments or sarcasm, verbal or mental, when she said it was adorable that I won a trash bag full of stuffed animals for my wife. She actually found that cute. Maybe that's because Emmett does little things like that for her when they go to carnivals. But whatever it was, I was glad that Roaslie was actually having a decent conversation with Bella that lasted longer than five minutes. Rosalie even complimented us on our matching shirts.
Towards the end of our conversation Emmett had grabbed the bag of stuffed toys and was going through them just because he could. While I was telling him all about SpeedVegas and how exhilarating it was to race a Lamborghini on the track. He grabbed the Jamaican banana out of the bag along with this green watermelon-elephant type looking thing. Of course he couldn't resist putting the toys in a questionable sexual position and making us laugh. Oh that poor Jamaican banana, though. First Bella hadn't been kind to it when she was drunk and arranging the stuffed toys around the penthouse. Now my brother was being cruel to it as well.
When Rose finally had enough of Emmett playing around with the toys she grabbed a black and white stuffed cat out of the bag and tossed it in Emmett's face. With a mischievous grin he whacked her with the Jaamaican banana. I watched as Rosalie, who was giggling, randomly reached in the bag Emmett was holding, grabbed a toy and hit Emmett over the head with it. Emmett wasted no time in grabbing a handful of toys from the bag and tossing them to Bella and I and declaring war.
There was laughter and minimal talking as Rosalie, Bella, Emmett and I moved around my room, playfully shouting at one another and tossing stuffed toys at each other. It was surprising yet fun how my sister was goofing off, being nice and for once not caring so much about messing up her hair.
When our game of stuff animal war ended all four of us sat on the floor talking. Bella and I were more than interested to learn the reason why Emmett had ended up wearing a tube top that he could barely fit into, a cashmir skirt that went up his thighs and high heels that he was so proud that he claimed made his feet look hot. It turned out it was a silly bet that he and Jasper made when they went to Walmart after school today. Apparently Jasper bet Emmett to ride on tricycles around the toy aisles without getting stuck on the bike or getting caught by a Walmart staff member. Of course Emmett accepted that bet and lost.
"Why were you and Jasper at Walmart riding tricycles?" Bella wondered.
"It all started when Alice sent us to go buy fish food." Emmett explained, like this cleared everything up. "Picking out fish food is so boring. We had to do something to liven up our shopping trip."
I saw it all from my jovial brother's mind that he and Jasper were racing down the toy aisles with shopping carts when they came upon the aisle with all the bikes. Jasper, immediately spotted two red tricycles designed for toddlers. The size of the small three wheeled bikes didn't stop him or Emmett from placing a bet. Which was to race each other up and down the toy and sporting goods aisles and the loser had to drag race dressed up as a lady. Both of them instantly abandoned their shopping carts that had an assortment of different kinds of fish food and needed fish accessories in it. They quickly took their places on the tricycles but Emmett being as big as buff as he is ended up having a difficult time peddling the small bike and ended up getting stuck in it and having to buy it as he wore it out of the store as some odd fashion statement.
With his memory and elaborate story the mystery of how he ended dressed like a strange unattractive woman was solved. But now there was a new mystery. Why did Alice send my brothers to Walmart to buy fish food?
"Why did you need to buy fish food when we don't have fish?" I questioned, Bella seemed curious too.
"We don't have fish... Yet." Emmett corrected me but offered no further detail.
"On Wednesday the flying fish that Alice ordered from Catalina Island in California will be arriving." Rosalie provided the rest of the needed details to fill in the blanks. "The live fish were for that water-wedding that she was planning for you guys. I can't imagine what she's going to do with everything she already ordered." She shook her head, thinking of all the peculiar items that our spiky hair sister has been purchasing. 'It's really for the best you didn't go through with her water-wedding plan. It would have been so tacky.'
"We never wanted that type of wedding." I explained and Bella agreed.
"Yeah." Rose nodded her head. 'Who would?'
"I really wanted to see you crazy kids get married on the water." Emmett wasn't joking. He really meant it.
Bella looked horrified at him. "I never told Alice I wanted to get married on the water. Don't know how she came up with that but I hope she wont stay mad for long."
I put my arm around Bella's shoulders. "She'll get over it." I reassured my wife.
"Eventually." Rose agreed.
Emmett shook his head. "Don't know why anyone would hold a grudge. Eternity is too long for that." He is the only one among my siblings that does not hold a grudge for anything.
Suddenly there was a knock on my door before it opened. All of us turned our attention to the door and Esme stood at the threshold.
'Oh my. Looks like they were having fun.' She smiled looking at all the stuff toys that were still scarred around every inch of my room. "Edward and Bella, we're ready for both of you to come down stairs now."
"Okay." Bella said, standing up.
I nodded to my mother.
"Good luck you two." Emmett gave Bella and I a two finger salute and was up on his feet in a flash.
Rosalie could see that we were nervous and offered a kind smile. "You'll see." She said to both of us as she stood up. "It'll work out."
Of course she had no way of knowing if her words were true. She was just hoping. I returned her smile as I stood up.
Bella and I followed my mother into the living room. We once again sat on the loveseat. As my mother sat next to my father I noticed that Charlie seemed a little less tense.
"We have come to a conclusion." My father spoke clearly and slowly. He wanted to say everything just so. "There will be no annulment. You can remain as husband and wife."
I couldn't believe my ears. I was more than happy for that good news. Bella was too.
"Thank you." Bella and I said to my parents and Chalire at the same time.
It was difficult to have faith that our marriage would stay in tack when we seemed to have little say in the matter. But now it was working out the way we had originally planned.
Bella smiled ear to ear. "Now I can move in. We can go get some of my stuff." She was excited and talking fast.
"Whoa! Hold up, Bells." Charlie said in a gruff voice, holding up his hand like he was stopping traffic. "No one is moving anywhere. You kids are married but the living arrangements are still the same. This is a trial run marriage."
Not understanding that, Bella and I exchanged questionable glances.
"We have all agreed." My mother spoke up. "Since both of you are still Juniors in High School the living situation will remain exactly the same as it is now until after both of you turn eighteen."
I stared expressionless at my mother. Surly the woman was joking. But she wasn't. I saw from her mind that this was how her and my father were able to convince Charlie not to file for an annulment - this unconventional living arrangement was a compromise of sorts.
"We're going to see how this works before you two move in together full time." My father explained. "Both of you will be allowed to have sleepovers with each other on the weekends."
"So it's a weekend marriage?" I asked skeptically, wanting to be clear I was understanding this correctly.
"Essentially." My father replied. "It's like a sleepover but with leniency." He added, not going into specific details.
Charlie was thinking about a big bottle of Tequila. "Oh! Good god." He mumbled. It was clear he was uncomfortable with Bella and I spending the weekend together.
"What happens if we don't want a weekend marriage?" Bella questioned no one in particular.
Charlie smiled this eerie simile while he rubbed his mustache with two fingers, looking like a villain in an old cartoon. "It's either weekend marriage or annulment. Take your pick."
I looked to my parents. Surly that couldn't be our only two choices.
"Do we even get a say on how or where we want to live?" I asked, feeling like a weekend marriage was a weird joke.
Charlie was back to fantasizing about the courthouse. "No." He said fimly. "Those are the only options."
I was very grateful I could not sleep. For as many times as I saw the courthouse in Charlie's mind I had no doubt it would be hunting me in my nightmares.
"Sinceyou both pulled a naive stunt and both of you are nowhere near your eighteenth birthday." My father calmly explained. "Neither of you have a choice on the matter."
From my mind's eye I saw that Carlisle wasn't pretending to please Charlie. He truly did believe that running off to Vegas, informing no one of our whereabouts and keeping my phone off was very naive.
"Fine." I said, feeling a bit defeated. My tone was absent of all emotion. "Weekend marriage it is."
"Yeah. As long as we get to stay married I can live with that." Bella gave me a loving look.
She did have a point. It wasn't what we were hoping for but at least we would be able to remain husband and wife.
"Me too." I looked into her deep chocolate eyes as I spoke.
Bella and I leaned towards each other, stealing a quick kiss. Something I hadn't done in front of her father before.
Charlie cleared his throat loudly. He was now thinking of Fireball Whiskey and the local bar. "Alight, Bella. It's getting late, we need to go home."
Bella nodded her head in response, but made no attempt to get up. It was clear to me that she didn't want to leave.
"I can drive her home." I offered to Charlie.
Charlie shook his head. "Thank you, but no. I need to speak with my daughter." He's words were polite but his voice was hard.
Bella and I got up. I walked her outside to her father's cruiser while Charlie and my father exchanged some corny dad jokes about the joys of having impulsive teenagers.
The air was cold and it was sprinkling now. Both of us weren't exactly thrilled about a weekend marriage but decided to make the best of it. At least we still were able to remain married.
While Charlie was finishing talking to my father I quietly promised my wife I would go to her room later. We gave each other another kiss before her father walked down the porch steps and quickly got into his cruiser and Bella did the same. Charlie gave me a very hard glare as he started up his car. His thoughts were on a large bottle of Vodka.
Watching Charlie's cruiser drive off I was pretty sure, judging by his muddy thoughts. That was now on my face and an assortment of hard liquor and the liquor store on the edge of town, I was pretty sure that I just drove the town's Chief of Police to get drunk.
Once the cruiser was out of sight I walked up the porch steps and into the house where Carlisle was waiting for me. I heard his thoughts. He wanted to speak to me before I got ready to go to Bella's room.
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