"Tonight, Bella!"
Bella hunched her shoulders defensively. "Why tonight in particular?"
"Because you keep putting it off. We've had enough of your eternal mañana." Alice sighed in exasperation. "We just want to talk about it, Bella, and make some plans. What's the problem?" She stopped at the school entrance and stood with her hands on her hips.
"You're going to try and bully me into something ridiculous and embarrassing."
Alice looked indignant. "Would I do that?" Edward laughed openly.
Bella stopped to give Angela a wave goodbye. "You definitely would."
"I'll take your side," Edward assured her, earning an indignant look from Alice. "And I suspect others will as well."
"Well...if everybody else is going to be there, okay."
"Great!" Alice clapped her hands. "We'll see you later." She hugged Bella, a little harder than was comfortable, and ran to join Jasper.
Edward held the passenger door open for her, closed it carefully, and trotted around to the driver's side. Bella had come to take that attention as caring rather than paternalistic. Her mother had always had a love-hate relationship with chivalry which Bella had absorbed, but she'd moved on. The Cullen couples seemed to be on such an equal footing that such gestures held no implications of superiority, and Bella had come to accept them as largely symbolic tokens of affection with no power to harm her.
"Please remember," he said as he drove her home, "that whatever Alice might think, the wedding details are up to you."
"They're up to you too, aren't they?"
"I've told you, as long as we're married at the conclusion, nothing else is that important to me. I'm happy to leave everything else up to the bride."
She turned red at the odd experience of being called a bride. "All right. Unicorn-themed wedding it is."
He laughed. "You can't scare me off."
"Dukes of Hazzard wedding?" she teased. "Hobbits? Bonnie and Clyde?"
"Do your worst," he said calmly, pulling to the curb in front of Charlie's house. "By the way, do you object if I take charge of buying wedding bands? I want to be prepared, should you notify me you're ready for a last-minute trip to Nevada."
"It's all yours."
"Any preferences?"
"About the ring? Um, plain gold would be better, I guess. No diamonds and things, please."
"I might have guessed." Edward smiled fondly at her as he held the car door. He would have been more than happy to indulge any taste for finery Bella may have had; but he found her modest simplicity and dislike for extravagance endearing. The quality meshed with his old-fashioned image of the feminine ideal. It also frustrated his inclination to shower her with gifts, but certain members of the family had suggested she would be more open to gift-giving after her change, so he tried to be patient - although he had been wondering whether he could find a way to replace her truck with something both safer and less pitifully shabby, without offending her.
He escorted her to the door, stopped to say a few words to Charlie, and reminded Bella, in Charlie's presence, that Alice was hoping to have her come by later so they could study together.
"I guess," Charlie said. "Your parents will be home?"
"Both of them, yes."
"Well, as long as you actually do study."
"Dad! You know my grades have been great. And so have Alice's."
"Yeah, fair enough. But don't be out too late." Bella nodded.
Edward smiled. "See you later, then. 'Bye, Charlie."
Charlie gave a brusque nod. "Edward." He closed the door and joined Bella in the kitchen, where she was looking into dinner options. "Couldn't Alice come over here to study?"
"Sure, she could, but Esme always bakes goodies for us; and it's fun to be with the whole group." She peered into the refrigerator. "I always kind of wished I had big brothers," she mused, half to herself.
That surprised Charlie, but he didn't comment. "And Edward is there, of course."
"Sure."
"What does he do when you and Alice are studying?"
"Sometimes he helps, but mostly he either practices the piano or plays chess with one of his brothers, or sometimes helps Esme around the house."
Unable to find fault with that, Charlie only repeated his instructions to be home early. "School night, you know."
"Okay." She hesitated to bring up something she'd thought of many times. "I was wondering if Sue Clearwater would like to come over for dinner some time." Her father's relationship with Sue was welcome news to Bella, and not just because it meant her father may have finally moved on with his life. The idea that Charlie would have someone special after his daughter...died, or vanished, or whatever cover story had to be provided, eased her mind a little.
Charlie stopped short. "Uh, Sue? Any special reason?"
"No, I just thought it might be nice." She caught his eye briefly. "I like Sue."
For two such reserved individuals, that was more than enough. Charlie now knew that Bella was aware he was dating Sue Clearwater; she knew that he knew; and he was aware that she approved. Enough said. But he was reminded of another matter. "Maybe we could both go down to LaPush, next time I visit Billy. You could hang out with Jacob. Or we could have them both over for dinner."
"Um, maybe." She avoided looking at him.
"He's been phoning you pretty regular, asking you to come by; and you haven't been down to see him for a while."
"Just a couple of days." She closed the cupboard she was scrutinizing and straightened up. "Anyway, I was thinking I should hold off on visiting Jake for a little while."
Charlie frowned. "Why? You guys have a fight or something?"
"Nothing like that. It's just...I don't think Jake and I are on the same page." Charlie shook his head, not following, and Bella sighed. She'd hoped to avoid talking about this. "He seems to think we're sort of boyfriend and girlfriend, or going to be, and I can't seem to convince him he's barking up the wrong tree."
"Give him a chance, Bells."
Bella frowned. "You keep saying that, Dad, but what does that mean? Give him a chance to be my boyfriend?"
Charlie shrugged. "Is it that strange an idea? He's a nice kid."
"Yes, but I already have a boyfriend." When Charlie made equivocal gestures, she pressed on. "You mean, I should lead Jake on, let him think we're going to be a couple, even when I know we aren't?"
"I didn't say that."
"Or do you mean I should run around with a second guy behind Edward's back?"
"Come on, Bells!"
"Well, seriously, Dad. What is it? Do you figure I'm the kind of girl who two-times her boyfriend, or the kind who gets a kick out of leading guys on?" Charlie now looked extremely uncomfortable. "Or is there a third option I haven't thought of?"
Charlie didn't mention the third option he had in mind: that she stop seeing Edward and take up with someone closer to home. Someone who would keep her living in or near Forks permanently. Like if, for instance, she ended up marrying Jacob, and stayed close by forever, where he could still see her almost every day. He didn't really want that; he knew Bella was smart, she would be going to university, moving on to bigger and better things, and he wanted that for her. At some level, one he didn't access very often, he recognized the real reason he kept pushing Jacob on her. "I wasn't even...I just think you should give the kid a break. He's helped you out a lot."
"I know he has, Dad, believe me. That's the main reason I kept seeing him, even when he got...unpleasant."
"Unpleasant how?"
"He gets rude, and sometimes really angry and mean. Especially when Edward's name comes up. And he keeps...hinting at things. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, well...he likes you."
"I get it, Dad. That's why I'm keeping my distance for a while. It's not fair to Jacob."
Charlie grimaced but didn't reply; what could he say to that? Bella quietly continued her dinner preparations, and their discussion petered out.
Bella, typically contrite about even a minor quarrel, made a point of keeping up a conversation with Charlie during dinner, and afterwards sitting with him in the living room, watching sports highlights and chatting about current events, school, and minor police matters. He purposely omitted references to the situation in Seattle, satisfied that his daughter was avoiding the place. She gave him a warm hug before leaving for the Cullens.
On the drive over, Bella enjoyed the relatively mild weather. Spring was underway, final exams just around the corner. Then graduation. After that...well, there was yet another thing she'd have to discuss with the Cullens, and soon.
Bella didn't even have a chance to knock before the door was flung open. "Bella!" Alice seized her hand and dragged her through the entrance, catching her when she tripped over the rug. Alice grabbed her books. "Let's get the requisite studying part over with, and move on to the good stuff." She all but pushed Bella into a chair and perched opposite her.
"Alice!" Esme protested, "At least let her say hello to everyone."
"Hi," Bella began.
"Okay, that's done," Alice declared.
Laughing, Edward took Bella's hand and kissed her cheek; Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper each raised a hand in greeting.
"Fine," Alice went on briskly. "First of all: History. The big item will be an essay question on the Monroe Doctrine, worth 50% of total grade. Notre professeur will tend to give extra marks to anyone who uses the word isolationism. Also, surprise questions on Dred Scott and the Whiskey Rebellion. Given the current level of scholarship at Forks High, you should get full points just for knowing what those are. Don't worry, I'm writing all this down for you. Now, trigonometry..."
In four minutes, 'studying' was complete, and Alice was prepared to move on. "Wedding talk!" she sang. "First things first, Bella. What's the venue?"
"The...?"
"Where is the wedding to take place?" she explained patiently. "You're not still thinking of Las Vegas, are you?"
Bella looked at Edward, who said, "I told you, love, I'm happy with whatever you decide." Seeing her glance around at the others, he added, "It's entirely your choice."
"Thank you, but I don't want to, er, step on any toes."
As Alice prepared to speak, Esme cut in, "We all appreciate how accommodating you are, Bella dear, but we want you to have the kind of wedding you prefer."
"Well, then, I'd rather not go to Las Vegas."
"Aw!" Emmett exclaimed. "I was looking forward to seeing Edward married by Elvis." He performed an Elvis move that was accurate but slightly daunting, given his size. "Or, hey, Bella! Did you know you can be married in Vegas by the captain of the Starship Enterprise?"
Bella laughed along with the others. "Sorry, Emmett. No Star Trek wedding."
"Maybe you and Rose can do it next time around," Edward suggested.
"Then seriously, what's the plan?" Alice asked.
"I'd like the wedding to be small. Very small."
"Figures." Alice sighed at the loss of a major event planning opportunity. "What else?"
"Well, if it would be okay..." Bella turned shyly toward Carlisle. "Could I ask...?"
"Ask me what you will, my dear," he assured her.
"Edward told me that your father was a clergyman, and you were his...assistant, or something like that?"
Carlisle looked puzzled at the question. "Yes, I was his curate."
"So you were able to, um, perform weddings?"
He smiled as he understood. "I have never yet done so, but..." He glanced at Edward, who was also smiling. "If you and Edward approve, I would be most pleased and honoured."
Bella looked relieved. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."
"I can't believe I didn't think of it," Edward told her.
"Okay, but where will it be held, and who do you want to invite?" Alice pressed.
"I was hoping we could do it right here," Bella said, with more confidence than before. "As for who...I think just all of you."
Edward looked concerned. "You don't want your friends at your wedding? Your parents, at least?"
"I definitely don't. To be honest, it would just upset them more than anything. I know why I'm getting married now, and that our situation is...unusual. But my mum and dad, they'd just see their daughter getting married right out of high school. They wouldn't be able to see it as a good thing. My friends would probably feel the same. It just isn't done nowadays, Edward, and it isn't a totally happy event except in...well, in very, very special circumstances, like ours - which we wouldn't be able to tell them about."
"That does make sense," he agreed. "I regret, though, that I could not ask your father for your hand. For his blessing," he hastily amended, seeing Bella's expression. "But it means we can have the wedding soon, I would think."
They looked at each other. "You're the wedding planner, Alice," Rosalie said. "How soon can you pull it off?"
"A wedding this small? Nothing to it. We could do it next weekend, if you want. How's Saturday?"
Bella looked at Edward, who smiled and nodded. "Okay. Saturday." She tried to fully absorb the reality of the fact that she was getting married. Next weekend.
Alice looked serious, going into full wedding mode as a thousand details danced in her head. "Any limitations on the wedding gown, Bella?" she asked.
Bella looked at her in alarm. "Lots of them."
"Bella-a-a!" she whined. "You know I'll make you look fantastic!"
"But I have to feel at ease, too."
Seeing no help from the rest of the family, Alice sighed. "Oh, all right. Come on, I'll show you my sketches. Nothing happens without your approval. But at least consider my recommendations, Bella. I know what I'm talking about."
"Wait a moment," Carlisle said. "I wonder whether Bella would consider including a few friends at the wedding."
"The Denali?" Esme asked. He nodded.
"Who are they?" Bella asked nervously.
"You might recall my mentioning them," Edward said to her. "Our 'cousins' from Alaska."
"Oh! Yes, I remember."
"I'm sorry to impose strangers on you under the circumstances, Bella," Carlisle told her, "but there is more than one reason I'd like to include them. Because we consider them famiy, and they will eventually be part of your life as well, I would like to have them present for such a momentous occasion - although it is entirely up to you, Bella."
"That would be fine," she said, not with absolute sincerity.
"We had thought of bringing them here soon in any case, to discuss the other matter." At Bella's inquisitive look, he added, "Victoria."
"We'd planned to ask for their help," Esme explained.