AN: Hello readers! It's been a long time, hasn't it? I cannot believe we are coming up on the end of this story after 3 years since I first published it! I will probably post a epilogue here at some point, hopefully before Thanksgiving!
I am working on a few other stories, with Demetri/Bella, Paul/Bella, and possibly a Jasper/Bella pairing. They just may take a while to post.
Real life has kept me from actually writing the way I want to. Having 2 kids with special needs keeps everything crazy. And its about to get crazier because sometime in the next 2 weeks, baby # 3 will be here!
I will try to post when I can, both new stories and maybe some outtakes of the ones that I already have up!
Read and enjoy!
Il Mio Amore
Chapter 30 – Wedding Bells
Bella
I took a deep breath as I smoothed out the front of my pearl white dress, more to occupy my hands than any actual need to. I knew that Alice took care to make sure it was stored properly after she made it. I also let her plan the wedding with a free reign.
I had spent the last six hours preparing for the ceremony, as Alice insisted that everything is done at human speed. Alice had just finished fixing my makeup and hair for me, with Rose's assistance. My makeup was made to look natural, and my hair was put into an intricate, braided up do that used too many pins that I cared to count. They left me to dress in the undergarments while they cleaned up the mess that was made from fixing my hair. It was finally time to put my dress on.
The dress was beautiful. Made with the softest fabrics and the prettiest lace, it was strapless, and was fitted around my waist to show my curves. Once the dress reached my hips, the skirts flared out around my legs, flowing gently with every step. Over the top part of my dress, she had skillfully placed an intricate beaded pattern along the lacy overlays.
Alice helped me into the dress before leaving to make sure that the decorations were perfectly in place, and to make sure that everything was running on schedule. She really was determined to make this a perfect wedding, and I would be forever grateful to her.
The wedding would be a small affair; only family and very close friends were invited. Aro wanted to invite the entire Vampire race, but I put my foot down on that one, with Alec and Marcus backing me up. We invited the entire Volturi, of course, along with the Denali coven, the Egyptian coven, the Amazonian coven, and the nomads who joined us in the battle and helped us win.
Over the last two months since the trial, I had met Peter, Charlotte, and Garrett. Charlotte was fun to be around, and easy to talk to, so she easily became a close friend. Garrett was generally good-natured, and easily became a friend to Alec and I as well. Peter…. well Peter was definitely something else. He's an acquired taste. But I counted him too as a good friend to have.
I took another deep breath as the time drew near for the ceremony to start, and started pacing as my nerves began to affect me, sending me close into a panicked state.
"Do not be nervous, little one. This should be one of the best days of your existence. Enjoy it."
I turned to see Marcus standing in the doorway, smiling gently at me. I walked over, giving him a hug before greeting him, "Hi, dad." We had gotten time to truly bond over the last couple of months, since there was no need to train all the time anymore.
While I missed Charlie, we never really had that close bond that we probably should have. Two weeks per year visitations just didn't allow for that, especially when Charlie would just drop me off at Jake's house all day while he worked or went fishing. And then when I was living with him, that didn't change. He was either working or fishing with his buddies. A part of me resented him for that. Another part of me knew that I should have just asked him to skip his plans to spend the day with me. And yet another part of me believed that I shouldn't have to ask, that Charlie should have thought to offer.
I appreciated that he gave up his dreams in order to have a more financially stable job faster just to raise me. I really did. But when I thought about it, he never really was there in any other way. Any bond we could have formed after Edward and the family returned for me was severed the second he congratulated Jacob for kissing me against my will.
Marcus was different. He went out of his way to make time to see me and talk to me. If I sought him out, he always had time for me. Even when he was obviously busy. He taught me whatever he could, whenever he could. Just last week he taught me how to dance properly, so that I could on my wedding day.
And now he was standing here, waiting for the signal to walk me down the aisle, and trying to calm me down.
"What has you so nervous, dear one? Have you changed your mind about marrying your Alec?" Concern colored his tone.
"NO! No, I want to marry him, I really do! It's just that I will be center of attention here soon. It makes me nervous, having people watching me is all."
"Yes, I can see how that can make you nervous. But I will tell you a secret, Bella. Once you see Alec standing at the altar, you won't even notice anyone else. Your bond with him is one of the strongest I've ever seen."
I grinned up at him, "He makes me so happy. I love him so much. It took me forever to write my vows. How can you love someone as much as I love Alec, and put it into words? It seems impossible."
Reaching into the bag he brought in, he agreed, "How indeed. And I am sure he feels the same way. Now, we walk in just a few moments. This belonged to my beloved Didyme. I would be honored if you wore it today."
I stared down at the choker necklace he held, venom tears flooding my eyes. It was simple in design but beautiful beyond reason. "No, dad. I am the one who would be honored to wear it. I wish I could have met her."
He gently put the choker on me as he responded, "She would have loved you, little one. Thank you for agreeing to wear this."
"I really am honored that you asked me to. Thank you dad. You have-"
Alice came rushing into the room, interrupting me "It's time Bella. Count to ten from when the last bridesmaid begins to walk, and then slowly start your walk."
She disappeared at my nod. I watched Alice went first as my maid of honor, and then as Jane, Rosalie and Charlotte followed soon after. Counting to ten, I grabbed Marcus's arm and took another deep breath. It was time.
The ceremony was amazing, with all my nerves melting away as I stared at my now husband. He looked at me as if I was the only girl in the world. As the ceremony continued after Marcus gave me away, we silently spoke volumes of our love to one another. As we read our vows, happiness seeped through me, overpowering any nervous thoughts that lingered. And when Alec was finally given permission to kiss the bride, he picked me up and spun me around as we kissed.
The reception was held in the ballroom, supplied with plenty of liquor to last a decade. I had only learned that vampires could drink it the month before. Our first dance as a married couple went smoother than I expected. I thought I would stumble all over the place trying to keep up. The party was held late into the night, before Alec and I managed to escape for our honeymoon.
We had decided to spend the first couple of weeks of our honeymoon on an island that the Volturi owned, specifically for vacations. And then the couple of weeks after that, Alec promised that he would take me to see as much of the world as we could. I couldn't wait.
My thoughts drifted as we sailed to the island, running over everything that has happened since I came back to Italy. We had found love in each other. I had given myself to Alec, and let him change me. I got over my fear of Jane, Felix, Demetri, and everyone else. They had become family to me. We fought a battle, and won. Found out truths that hurt, but that also provided closure I didn't know I needed. Alec's proposal, and his reassurances that unlike what I've witnessed at a young age, that not all marriages end badly. And finally our wedding a few hours ago, where I fell even more in love with my mate, if that was even possible.
My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a pair of arms wrap around me securely, "Penny for your thoughts, Isabella?"
I smiled up at him, "Just everything that's happened since I came back to you."
"Are you happy with how everything turned out?"
"I couldn't be happier, Alec. I love you. I'm really glad I came back to give you a chance. I'm just sorry that my absence before then hurt you, and that all this baggage and drama came with me. I'm hoping that after everything that's happened, we can live in relative peace."
He nods, "We have an eternity, Isabella. Something is bound to happen, but we will always come out on top. I love you, you know. No matter what happens, it will be you and me until the end."
I smiled. He had worked so hard to get me to believe how strong his love was for me.
"I know. I love you too. Forever."
He hums his agreement, "Forever, Isabella."
