Bella and Edward's wedding.
A knock on the bedroom door sent Alice into a fit. She left Bella's side to check who it was.
Bella met Riley's eyes through the bathroom mirror. Bella had insisted that she didn't need Edward's hair dresser to help her style her hair before the wedding, but Alice had insisted.
Bella would have probably put a bigger fight, if she wasn't already upset for many other reasons.
The biggest of them was Alice keeping her apart from Edward. The last time Bella had seen him was two days ago, before his bachelor party. Bella's bachelorette party had been held at home, unlike Edward's gathering, and it had turned into a baby shower, too.
The other big reason Bella was upset, was the fact that she no longer fit in her wedding dress, which had ended up into a last minute shopping spree with Alice and Rosalie the previous week. Her dress had been everything she'd ever dreamed of in a wedding dress, but when Esme had dropped by last weekend, asking to see the dress, because she wanted to know if her idea of something borrowed was appropriate, she had suggested for Bella to try it on. Of course, Esme had noticed how the waistline might no longer be appropriate for Bella's new figure.
Bella had seen both Alice and Rosalie while they were pregnant. Alice hadn't gained much besides the baby's weight, and Rosalie had only rounded a little, still looking beautiful.
At six months along, Bella felt like a whale. Her tummy was big enough to stick out of her form-fitting dresses and shirts. Which it included her wedding gown.
It had taken Esme hours to calm Bella's hysterics about not fitting in her wedding dress. Thankfully, Edward had been a good sport and took over soothing her after his mother had left. Bella had fallen asleep crying in his arms that night. The next day, Rosalie had taken her shopping. They had no luck, but two days later, Bella had gone to some maternity boutique store which specialized in formal clothes. Alice knew all the best places in town.
Bella's new dress was sleeveless and made of chiffon. The top was made of lace and at the back it was laced-up to help with a better fit. The empire waist style masked the belly, which was exactly what Bella needed.
"Voila!" Riley stepped back.
Bella checked her hairstyle for the first time since she'd sat on the chair Alice had installed in front of the sink. "Wow! It looks amazing."
Riley had done a great job at hiding the purple ends by twisting and turning her hair into a fancy knot at the back of her head. Bella had recently decided she missed her purple hair, but she'd forgotten about how it might not look good on her wedding day.
"When have you looked bad after visiting me?" he huffed.
Bella giggled. "Thanks, Riley! You're a life-saver!"
Loud voices grabbed Bella's attention. It wasn't difficult to recognize Edward's velvety voice over Alice's screeches, trying to stop him from seeing Bella. It wasn't like Bella cared for that superstition about the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding.
Bella got up from the chair, opening the bathroom door, in time to see Edward pushing Alice out of their bedroom.
"Taaa!" Riley wiggled his fingers, heading to the door, himself. "You better come to me when you're done in here. Your hair is in dire need of encountering my magic fingers," he told Edward seriously, before leaving.
Edward seemed sidetracked, staring at the closed door in shock.
"Hey," Bella whispered, approaching Edward.
He slowly turned to face her. "You look so beautiful."
Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. "Can't say the same for you," she joked. "If you plan on marrying me bare-chested and in dress pants, I'm not complaining, but our guests might do."
Edward rolled his eyes. "I need a new shirt. Thank God, I have several white ones. Elliott sprayed me with maple syrup."
"Yum!" Bella laughed. "I hope you didn't upset my bridesmaid too much."
"Don't get me started on Alice. I'm considering bringing out the handcuffs and cuffing her to the dining table."
Bella laughed loudly, imagining the scene. "She'd follow you with the broken table leg."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he said, amused. He headed into the closet. "Your brother is here."
Bella gasped, following him into the closet. She had yet to place any jewelry on her ears or neck.
"Did he drop Ruby off, before heading back to the hospital?"
Edward shuffled through his dress shirts. "He's staying. He promised to walk you down the aisle." He turned to her, shrugging into a white shirt. "Please, don't fight him. This is probably going to be one of his last happy memories in a while."
"Daaaamn," Bella grumbled. "You're so good at guilt-tripping me."
He walked closer to her, working on his buttons. "Look, let him have his fun."
Bella nodded, handing him the white gold necklace Esme had lent her. "Help me with this, please." She turned around, in a silly attempt to avoid looking into his eyes.
Victoria had taken a turn for the worst the other day. Ruby had some of her clothes and toys in one of their guest bedrooms, because any day now, she was going to be living with them, while James allowed himself to grieve.
"Dad told me that he'd spoken to Victoria's doctor," Edward said softly. His breath washed over Bella's exposed skin, as he clasped the necklace in place. "She won't see another day."
Bella blinked back the tears in her eyes. Alice would have a meltdown if Bella ruined her make-up.
As much time as Bella had spent with her brother since his return, she hadn't warmed up to Victoria. It hurt Bella that her brother was going to suffer, and she couldn't even imagine the state their daughter would be in.
"There." Edward kissed her bare shoulder. "You smell nice."
Bella laughed shakily. "It's the perfume you gave me on Christmas."
He spun her in his arms. "Stop worrying. Let's enjoy today." His hands moved from her waist to her tummy. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm hungry, actually."
That was a constant, lately. When Bella discovered the morning sickness was gone, and only some foods still made her nauseous, she'd decided to enjoy all the food. Maybe that was the reason her initial gown didn't fit anymore.
When her eyes met his green ones, Bella was ready to endure Alice chiding her while redoing her lipstick, because all Bella wanted was to kiss Edward. She wrapped her fingers into his hair, lifting on her tiptoes, before pressing her lips against his.
Edward chuckled softly, kissing her back, looping his arms around her middle.
"Kissing before marriage?" Emmett's mock-outraged voice cried out from their close vicinity.
"Fuck off, Emmett," Edward muttered, pressing his forehead against Bella's.
She grinned, pulling away. "Now, you really have a reason to see what Riley's magic fingers can do," she joked.
His hair was in a worse disarray than Bella had ever seen it.
Edward frowned, going to stand in front of the mirror. "You did it on purpose!"
"It wasn't my intention."
Huffing, Edward turned to her, his eyes playful. "We might have time for a light spanking session."
"I'll get the popcorn," Emmett cheered.
Bella pressed her hands to her face, before dropping them quickly. "Oh, no!" She hurried to the mirror. Her eyeshadow and mascara were smudged. "Alice is going to kill me."
"Want me do send her back in here if I see her on my way to Riley?" Edward asked.
"No!" Bella cried out. "But you could send your sister in, if you see her."
"Oh, right!" Emmett exclaimed, just as Edward was leaving. "Rosie wasn't sure if you had something blue."
"I do," Bella mumbled. Bella was wearing light blue panties, but she wasn't going to explain that to Emmett.
"Keep the declarations for the minister," Edward called from the doorway, before disappearing down the hallway.
Emmett chuckled, digging in his pocket for something. He came up with a scrunchy. It made Bella question Rosalie's sanity.
"I've already gotten my hair done," Bella pointed out.
Emmett frowned. "What's that got to do with this?" He handed her the scrunchy.
When Bella took it from his hands, she realized it was a garter, which triggered her blushing. "Oh, God."
The door opened violently, to reveal an anxious Rosalie. "Edward said it was an emergency."
"Can someone dig a hole for me to crawl in?" Bella moaned.
"What happened to your make-up?"
"Go gently on her, Rosie. You were a mess on our big day, too," Emmett said quietly, leaving the room.
"What's wrong, Bella?" Rosalie insisted, after Emmett left the room.
"Help me redo my eyes before Alice kills me," she whispered. "And what the hell?" She waved the garter in Rosalie's face.
"Oh. I wasn't sure if you had something blue, and Emmett offered to take this to you."
"He managed to embarrass me. Would you be offended if I don't wear it?"
"Of course not!"
Bella sank back in the chair in the bathroom, while Rose reapplied the eyeshadow and mascara.
Bella wasn't sure about the whole tradition thing, but everyone had told her how fun this something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue was. So far, she was only missing the something old, but the necklace from Esme could count as both something borrowed and old, since it had been her wedding necklace of what she'd told Bella.
When they were done, Bella realized they already had to head down the stone steps to the beach. It had been Edward's idea to hold the wedding ceremony on the beach behind their house. Afterwards, they were headed to a restaurant downtown.
Outside the bedroom door, Bella was surprised to find James. His hands were deep in his pockets and he looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"See you outside," Rosalie said, hurrying down the hallway.
James cracked a smile, which didn't reach his devoid of emotion eyes. It made Bella want to cry, because she wasn't ready to see him suffering. She had convinced him to see one of Jasper's colleagues, to help him cope with what was to come.
"You're so beautiful, Izzy!"
"Thanks, Jimmy."
"I bet Mom and Dad are happy to see you today."
So much for not crying. They hadn't talked about their parents, only several times, in passing. "Oh, James!" Bella wrapped her arms around him, feeling a tear sliding down her cheek. Damn her mascara. Damn everything.
"I have something for you." His grave voice made her pull away. He opened one of his palms to reveal a pair of elegant pearl earrings. "They used to be Mom's. I'm not sure if you remember them."
Bella wasn't even going to ask how he had them, since most of their belongings had perished in the fire, along with their parents.
"Of course I do!" she gasped, picking them gently. Another tear rolled down her cheek. "Thank you!"
This was the perfect something old. Bella placed them on her ears, realizing she'd had completely forgotten earrings anyway.
"Let's get you married!" James looped an arm around her waist. "How's my niece?"
"Very well-behaved today. She's only kicked me twice."
James nodded, leading her outside. The way leading to the stone steps was covered in white rose petals.
Bella was grateful no one had fought her when she'd vetoed her shoes. She was wearing white Chucks under her pretty dress. Being pregnant had helped her win that fight with Alice.
She still clung to her brother's arm as they walked down the stairs, because the hem of her dress was long and Bella could imagine herself tumbling down.
At the end of the make-shift aisle, Bella looked up to see Edward waiting in his designated spot. Jasper was by his side, smiling and whispering to him. Alice joined Bella and James, walking a step behind her, whispering urgently about why she was crying.
"Shhh!" Bella hissed at her, when they reached Edward.
James offered her hand to Edward, thanking him for taking care of his sister.
Then Bella met Edward's concerned eyes, and she shook her head. Her make-up was going to be ruined anyway. Her emotions were all over the place because of the pregnancy.
Bella kept her hands and eyes locked on Edward's throughout the ceremony, repeating softly everything the minister said. They had twisted some of the vows to represent them and their lifestyle better. What they had insisted to add at the end, before being declared married, was the words they had tattooed on their arms. Forever his. Forever mine.
After placing the wedding bands on the other's finger, the minister declared them man and wife. Edward didn't wait for the minister to tell him that he could kiss her, he bent and caught her lips in a soft kiss.
"I love you, Mrs. Cullen," he murmured.
"I love you, Sir."
His eyes darkened, and he crushed her to his chest.
Their guests broke out in loud cheers, though, all Bella could hear was a phone ringing nearby. Gripping Edward's arm for support, she turned to see her brother with his phone pressed against his ear. James paled, falling back in the chair he'd been sitting in.
Bella dodged Esme's outstretched arms, hitching her dress, and running to her brother. "Jimmy! Oh, no!" She fell at his feet.
"I'm sorry, Izzy," he choked out. "I…have…"
Bella hugged him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. "Do you need me there?"
"You literally just got married! I already hate it how I ruined your day." Tears pooled into his eyes.
"Don't," she hissed. "I'm coming with you. Everyone will understand."
James shook his head. "I want to be alone with Vicky." He broke down after saying her name.
"Shhh." Bella rubbed his back soothingly. "I'm here, Jimmy."
Edward came behind her, cupping her shoulder. "Felix can take you back to the hospital, James. You shouldn't drive in this state."
"Thanks, man." James sniffed loudly, standing up.
"Don't mention it." Edward patted James's back. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Bella stood slowly, turning to cry into Edward's shoulder, as Felix walked James to the Caddy. Edward hugged her tightly, pressing his face into her hair. "I love you," he said in a rough voice.
It wasn't the usual tone he used when he confessed his feelings. His voice was so raw that Bella could almost feel his love, and how it hurt to be loved so deeply.
"We can cancel the restaurant," he offered after a while.
Bella shook her head. "Give me a minute to compose myself."
"Take as long as you need." Edward tilted her head, brushing his thumbs under her eyes.
Bella noticed her face was transferred to his white shirt. "Shit. This is so fucked-up."
"This is life," Edward whispered. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up."
Bella looked around, not ready to face their guests and their questions. There was no one left around. She could hear them from above, and noticed the last of them walking up the stairs.
"I told Mom to lead them to the restaurant."
.
.
.
They arrived at the restaurant an hour after the guests. Bella had removed her make-up, while Edward had changed into his third shirt of the day.
Their guests were mingling, chatting and sampling the tonics.
Edward led them to their table, which was near the one his parents had snagged. He'd hoped to have Jasper near, but the table arrangements were forgotten after the news they had.
"I'm sure no one will mind if we cancel the reception," Edward's mom said gently, wrapping an arm around Bella's shoulders.
"No, no. I'm all right," she promised. "Where's Ruby?"
"With Alice, over there."
Edward walked them in that direction. Ruby was in tears, and when she spotted Bella, she rushed over, hugging her.
"Where's Daddy?"
She was old enough to understand something terrible had happened. After seeing her mom in the hospital for so long, she was bound to realize what was going on.
Bella choked on her words, "He's with your mommy."
"Is Mommy okay?" Ruby's small voice made Bella burst into tears, which triggered even more tears from the child. "Did she go to Heaven?" Ruby asked between sobs.
Edward helped Bella into a chair, before crouching to Ruby's level. "I bet your mommy wouldn't be happy to see you so upset."
"Can I see Daddy?"
"He's at the hospital, Ruby. He'll come get you when he has everything sorted out," Edward explained.
She watched him through teary eyes. "Is Daddy going to die too?"
"No," Bella choked out a sob. She rubbed Ruby's back. "Your dad will be with you for a long time. Your mommy was sick."
"I know that." Ruby wrapped her arms around Bella, and they sobbed in each other's arms.
Edward nodded to Alice to follow him out of earshot. "Think we can wrap this up in a few hours? I mean, the guests can stay, but I don't feel like partying."
"Of course!" She stared at Bella and her niece, before meeting his eyes. "This is horrible. That poor little girl."
"That's why I don't want to stay. Bella didn't particularly care for her brother's wife, and she might be able to put a smile for this charade, but not when that child is suffering."
"Let me talk to the kitchen. We can cut the cake now, then you can leave," Alice offered.
"Maybe after we eat something first," Edward amended. "I know neither of them will eat when we get home." He nodded to Bella and Ruby.
While Alice hurried to talk to the kitchen staff, Edward returned to Bella's side. He touched her shoulder. Her wet eyes met his.
"Do we have to do rounds?" she asked softly.
"I'll handle the guests. Stay with Ruby. Alice is talking to the kitchen so after we eat something consistent, we cut the cake, then we can go home."
"Thank you." She took his hand, squeezing it.
"Don't mention it." He kissed her forehead.
Edward wandered over to where Jasper was talking to Peter. He stopped next to his friends, attracting their attention.
"What the hell happened?" Jasper asked, concerned.
"Is Bella okay?" Peter asked, equally concerned.
Edward sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Her brother's wife just passed away. That little girl in her arms in their daughter."
"Oh, God. Why are you still here?" Peter groaned. "Just forget the party."
"James doesn't want his daughter at the hospital right now. Bella couldn't care less for her brother's wife, but she's a mess for her brother and that little girl."
"Did James speak to Lucy?" Jasper interjected, frowning.
"I think so, but I don't think any amount of preparation could have him ready for this moment."
"That's true," Jasper agreed gravely.
"The plan is for us to stay for some food, then we'll cut the cake, and leave. I know neither of them is going to eat anything when we get home. And Bella has to eat." Edward looked around, deciding who he should go to next, when he realized Peter didn't have his Sub by his side. "Where's Charlotte?"
Peter chuckled, pointing to the other side of the room. "Over there, catching up with Tia. Benjamin looks overwhelmed handling the kids on his own."
Jasper elbowed Peter in the ribs. "Now you're the only one out of our group of friends who hasn't joined the dark side."
"That ain't happen!" Peter snapped.
Edward snorted. "You think we planned this? Bella was on the pill, yet here we are."
"Charlotte is on the shot. That's more efficient."
Jasper lifted his arms, as if in surrender. "Let's go, rescue Benj from his own kids and my troublemaker."
"I'll come by later to talk to him," Edward said, noticing his mother waving to him.
He made his way to her. Despite her initial reticence to being around him after learning about his lifestyle, his mom had warmed up, but Edward still caught her staring at him as if he were a different species sometimes. She often hesitated to request him things, and Bella had found out that his mom was worried about ordering him around. It amused Edward, yet it worried him that she'd never understand he was still her son and nothing had changed there.
"Yes, Mom?" Edward stopped next to her.
"Your dad and I can take Ruby home. You two shouldn't cut off the party. I understand that Bella's more upset for her brother than his wife."
"That's true, though, I'm not sure Ruby will accept anyone else."
"We'll find out soon." She waved in the general direction Bella was sitting with Ruby. His dad was with them, working his magic on the little girl.
His parents were amazing grandparents to Elliott, which shouldn't have been a surprise, since they'd first been great parents to him and Rosalie.
Ruby knew his parents, since Victoria had been in and out of the hospital in the past several months, and she'd spent a lot of time with Bella and Edward. They had taken her to family dinner on several occasions, where she'd befriended Elliott and her favorite adult was Carlisle.
"If Bella agrees, we'll appreciate it," he said, watching as Ruby clung to his dad's neck. Bella seemed to have regained some vigor, and was on her feet, her hands gesticulating wildly. "I'm going to tell her that Ruby will be safe with you two for a few hours."
His mom patted his arm, before Edward strode across the room. He wrapped his arms around Bella's waist, enjoying any moment he got to touch the bump.
"It's all right, love. My parents offered to babysit Ruby for a few hours."
She tilted her head to meet his eyes, then she returned her attention to Ruby. "Do you want to spend a few hours with Carlisle and Esme? You'll be at our house."
"Yes." Ruby hugged Edward's dad around the neck.
They were going to join her in a few hours, and take care of her until James would be able to take her back home.
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