I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch 13
Thanksgiving came and with it came my wedding day. I sat in front of my mirror as Alice stood behind me, twisting my hair up into an elegant knot of curls. She poked small bits of baby's breath in my hair then placed on top of my head a small tiara.
"It looks beautiful, Alice, thank you," I gushed.
"No need to thank me, like I would let anyone else work on your hair for such a special day." She winked at me.
"I wouldn't have it any other way either," I told her. "I'm glad you both could make it."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Angela spoke up.
"Me neither," Alice agreed.
"You and Jasper looked cozy last night," I mentioned, looking at Alice.
"I'm glad they let him come. I've missed him so much, this long distance is torture sometimes," she admitted.
She and Jasper struggled with the distance, but so far were making it work. Alice did have a minor freak out when Edward was injured, but Jasper being good at knowing her was able to talk her down.
"Who knows maybe you'll be next," I suggested.
I wish. He said he was being stationed at Fort Drum in New York. Maybe we'll see each other more," she said hopefully. "But enough about us, today is supposed to be all about you, Edward, and turkey." She giggled.
"Knock, knock," Rose called, opening my door. She was wearing a long, flowing red dress with her bump proudly on display.
A small figure blew past her and came to a stop by my side.
"Auntie Bella!" Jared gave me a huge, dimply grin. "Look, me a groom bear."
We all giggled at his misinterpretation. He looked adorable in his little tux and mess of curly brown hair.
"Oh, my goodness, he's a mini Emmett," Angela cooed.
"Personality wise too." Rose rolled her eyes. "You may want to rethink the whole ring bearer thing."
"Why?" I asked.
"I'll have him show you. Jared, come here," Rose ordered.
"'Kay." He rushed over to her side, and she handed him the small pillow.
"Show Auntie Bella how your dad taught you to walk down the aisle," Rose instructed.
Jared grinned and tucked the pillow under his arm like a football. He charged toward me with a warrior yell then spiked the pillow at my feet, ending it with a little touchdown dance. Angela laughed and took a picture with her camera.
"Oh my. He is like Emmett." Alice looked at him wide-eyed. She bent and picked up the pillow. "Uh-oh, the rings are gone."
I moved my feet to look around. Alice got to her knees and ran her fingers over the carpet.
"I gave them to Jasper for safe keeping. I certainly wasn't about to give them to Jared…or Emmett," Rose explained. "I'm thinking it will be best if Jared sits with my mom.
"No! I want to be ring bear." Jared's lower lip trembled. "Puh-lease." He looked up at me with big brown eyes.
"It's fine. He can be the ring bearer. However, I think Jasper should hold on to the R-I-N-G-S," I said, ruffling his hair.
"Yay!" Jared squealed.
"Are you sure?" Rose whispered.
"Yes. I'm sure everyone will get a laugh at it." I nodded then turned to Angela. "Please make sure to get a picture of Edward's face when the pillow is spiked on his feet." I laughed.
"On it." Angela winked.
The baby was being lively, kicking as if they wanted to celebrate the day as well. As much as I loved my baby, I didn't think I'd be a pregnant bride.
Hero
Bella 19
One mid-July morning, my cell phone rang impossibly early. Edward groaned beside me, but my heart leapt to my throat. It was Rose's ringtone and I instantly worried something was wrong for her to call me this early.
"Rose?" I answered the FaceTime call.
I got no answer but was getting the view of what looked like a ceiling. Edward hearing my panic, sat up in bed and was looking at the screen in confusion.
"What the heck?" he mumbled sleepily.
"Eck?" a little voice echoed.
"Jared?" I asked; my shoulders sagged. It wouldn't be the first time he called me. "Jared, look at the screen."
The camera shifted rapidly, then a smiley face appeared. "Auntie Bella."
"Hi, sweetie. Where's your mommy?" I asked.
"Peeing or pooping," he stated.
Edward snorted and rubbed his hand over his face.
"Unc Eward?" Jared grinned.
"Hi, Jared. Whatcha you doing?" Edward chuckled.
"Playing." He giggled.
"Jared?" Rose called from somewhere in the same room as him. "Who are you talking to?"
"Auntie Bella and Unc Eward."
The screen moved and Rose appeared, looking tired. "Sorry, guys. I had to use the bathroom in peace. I left him watching a video," she apologized.
"It's okay," I told her.
"You let a video babysit your kids?" Edward said disapprovingly, and I elbowed him.
Rose narrowed her eyes. "It wasn't even five minutes. You try watching a two-year-old without many breaks. Some days I can't wait until Emmett gets home to have a moment to myself."
"No one is judging you, Rose." I elbowed Edward again.
"Sorry. I tend to be cranky when I first wake up," Edward apologized.
"That's okay. While you're here, can you FaceTime on Saturday so we can open Jared's birthday gifts?" Rose asked.
"Absolutely," I agreed.
We hung up and I snuggled into Edward's side. He pulled the blankets up around us.
"We are so waiting to have kids," he mumbled.
"You want kids?" I grinned.
"Someday, but after you're done with school. We can have a dozen." He yawned.
"I'm not having twelve kids." I snorted. "You're going to have to settle for two or three."
"Fine. I'll take three." He mumbled. "But until then let's go back to sleep."
H
Three days later, I walked back into our apartment in a state of shock. I went to my doctor's appointment thinking I was going to get my depo shot, and instead I ended up walking away with a bottle of vitamins and news that was going to change mine and Edward's life.
I sat on the couch and waited for Edward to arrive home. I wasn't sure how he was going to take the news. He said he wanted babies, but he'd also made it clear he wanted to wait.
"Hey, love, how was your day?" Edward called, entering the apartment.
"Interesting," I answered him.
"Interesting? How?" Edward took a seat beside me and angled himself toward me. "Love, is everything okay, you're paler than normal."
I wordlessly handed him the bottle. He took it and spun it in his hand. I heard a sharp intake of breath. He placed it down on the coffee table in front of us.
"Would there be any other reason to take prenatal vitamins without being pregnant?" he asked.
"Not that I know of. Besides, I am pregnant. From what the doctor can figure, I'm due at the end of March," I told him.
"Whoa." Edward fell back against the cushions.
"Are you mad?" I asked nervously.
He looked at me in surprise. "No, of course not. It's a shock that's for sure. But not mad. I said I wanted babies with you."
"I know but you also said you wanted to wait," I pointed out.
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me lightly. "I know I did, but that doesn't mean I don't want this baby. I just hope your father and Emmett won't kill me."
"They'd be hypocrites if they did. At least we were already engaged before," I said.
"True." He kissed the top of my head and placed a hand on my stomach. "I'm very happy," he whispered in my ear.
"Yeah?" I started to smile.
"Yeah." He kissed me deeply.
Hero
Dad appeared in the doorway behind Rose. "How are we doing on time?"
"We're putting on the finishing touches now." Alice handed me a lipstick.
"I'll go get ready so I can take pictures," Angela stated.
"We'll come with you." Rose held out her hand for Jared. "Don't forget the pillow."
"I won't. Look, Grampa. I'm a ring bear." Jared tossed the pillow in his hands.
"I see. Why don't you hold it still though, so you don't lose the rings?" Dad told him, trying not to start laughing.
"Jasper has them," Rose whispered to him.
"Smart girl." He nodded.
"Okay, stand for a final check," Alice instructed me.
I stood and she circled me, then handed me a large bouquet of fall colored flowers.
"You looked stunning. Are you ready?" she asked.
I nodded. "I am."
She grabbed her own flowers and quickly checked herself in the mirror. "Follow me."
Dad held out his arm to me and we walked slowly down the steps.
"Reminds me of when you were little. I was a nervous wreck watching you try to climb stairs. You were so small. Time seems to have flown by," he said, looking a bit emotional.
"I remember coming here and was excited that I'd have my own room and bed," I agreed.
"Still found you and Emmett in the same bed for a month or so after." Dad chuckled. "Esme was right though. As soon as you guys were settled, you both blossomed."
"Thank you, Dad. We wouldn't be where we are today without you." My eyes started to mist.
"Don't start crying now. I wouldn't put it past your pixie friend to read me the riot's act." Dad chuckled.
I took a deep breath as we stepped outside and headed toward the Cullens' yard. From here I could see the old swing set. The swings had been removed and it was decorated with garlands of flowers. I caught Edward's eyes and my heart started to race. I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
It was finally happening.
H
I picked up an empty bowl of mashed potatoes from the table. But before I could head to the kitchen it was taken from my hands. Esme looked at me with one eyebrow raised.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" she asked.
"Helping clear the table?" I responded.
"Not today, you're not." She turned and handed the bowl to Jasper on his way by. "Today is your wedding day, you're supposed to be a queen."
"Thank you for letting us have the wedding here," I said to her.
I wanted a small intimate wedding, nothing big. Having an expensive reception hall didn't appeal to me. Having it here meant the world to me. Also, it being Thanksgiving, was special too. We had so much to be thankful for this year.
"You know you don't have to thank me, dear. I'm glad I can officially call you my daughter. And I'm honored you wanted the wedding here." She gave me a hug.
"I have a lot of good memories with Edward in this house growing up. It was perfect," I told her, getting teary eyed.
"Everything okay?" Edward came up from behind me and wrapped his arms around me, his hands resting on my bump.
"I'm stopping your wife from working on her wedding." Esme grinned widely.
"My wife. I like the sound of that." Edward kissed my cheek.
"Well, she has known she was going to marry you since she was five." Esme's smile turned mischievous.
"Esme." I started to blush.
"Really, since you were five?" Edward looked interested.
"Of course, dear. After all, your eyes did match Shaggy's shirt." She laughed.
"My eyes matched what?" Edward's eyebrows arched.
Thankfully, our little one chose that moment to give me a hard kick, distracting Edward. He rubbed the spot tenderly.
"How does that not hurt?" he asked.
"I remember you were quite the kicker. I swear I was surprised not to find bruises," Esme joked.
Edward frowned and rubbed the spot again. The baby responded again with another jab. He withdrew his hand immediately, looking concerned.
"Your mother was joking. The baby is active because even though she just ate, she wants pie," I told him.
"She?" Esme perked up. "I'll have a granddaughter?"
"Well, we don't know for sure yet. The baby was shy during my last scan. But I keep thinking the baby is a girl." I shrugged.
"Well, then I will just have to buy twice as much." Esme didn't seem fazed. "Time for dessert?'
"Actually, I was hoping to have a dance first." Edward kissed my ringed hand.
I agreed and he led me toward the living room to where all our close friends and family waited. Jared was knocked out in Emmett's arms, in a turkey coma. Rose was cuddled into his side, cradling her stomach. She was due a month before me and was having another boy. He thankfully made it here late last night, after finishing the Ranger program only a few days earlier. Emmett and Rosalie were whispering together before we came in, looking happy and in love.
I was pleased to see they had worked things out. Emmett had given therapy another chance and so far he was sticking with it. Who knew Emmett would find his piece in painting? He and Rosalie came to an agreement, Emmett was going to reenlist for four more years. After which they planned to move back to Washington to raise their two boys.
"All right, everyone. Our happy couple is going to have their first dance. Carlisle, can you get the music queued?" Esme asked.
Edward and I chose the song, "There You'll Be" that I sang to him in the hospital. What he didn't know was that I recorded myself singing it for us to dance to. When the music started playing, we began to sway. As soon my voice came out over the speakers his eyes widened.
"Surprise," I whispered.
"Definitely a good one, love." He pulled me closer, then kissed me.
A/N: They're married and with a little one on the way. And because I know I'm going to be asked Jared is just shy of two and half, and takes after his daddy. Lol. And though it hasn't been directly said but asked in reviews; No Edward doesn't resent Emmett for making it into the Rangers when he didn't.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.