*All of my love and devotion, as always, goes to Ashely, May, Sally, Marie, and Mel. They are my team and I couldn't do any of this without them. Thank you to all the readers, old and new, who have been here for all of it. I love you and appreciate you. You've seen me grow as a writer and stuck it out with me. These were some of my happiest times. Thank you.*
EPOV
"Are you ready?" Jasper's looking at me and smiling. I nod, and we walk outside to where the small group is waiting.
There are no chairs, not much in the way of decorations, but Bella and I couldn't have imagined a better place for us to pledge our lives to each other than the cabin that brought us together.
Emmett is standing near my parents, while Siobhan and Kate are nearby. A few other close friends round out the group, and I sigh contentedly as I take my place under the arch to wait for Bella. The only thing missing is Alice.
We had mulled over the decision as she and Bella worked on the tattered remains of their friendship. When we finally sent the invite, we were hopeful that this would be the last step to something at least cordial and salvageable. I knew that regardless of everything else, Bella didn't want this day to pass without her, but we never received her RSVP.
I'm making small talk with the officiant when I hear a rumbling, and everyone starts to look around. A car suddenly appears in the driveway, parks, and Alice jumps out of the driver's side. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She takes a spot near the back of the small crowd, pulls out her phone to send a quick text, then shuts it away in her purse and stands quietly. I wait to catch her eye and send her a quick smile. She's wearing the maid of honor dress she had picked out for Bella, and I'm sure it's a sign of good will.
Rose appears, walking to me, wearing a subdued smile and taking her place under the arch. I whisper a "thank you" to her, and she nods.
There's no music, no sound, as suddenly we all look to the cabin to see Bella standing in white with Charlie by her side. All eyes on her, but her eyes are locked with mine. She smiles, and it takes Charlie to keep her steady as she makes her way to me.
Her hand is gripping her bouquet, ring sparkling in the pale light. When she reaches me, all I can do is smile as Charlie presses her hand into mine. Later, I'll think about how wonderful it was to have something so intimate and special with just the people who meant the most to us, but right now, all I can see is my beautiful bride.
Rose takes her bouquet, and while the officiant speaks about love and friendship, trust and intimacy, I only have eyes for Bella. We've been through and done so much that it almost feels weird to be here now … but it's so right.
There are vows, promises to love and care for each other. He asks us to pledge our fidelity, to promise to be true. That's when we all hear the first rumble of thunder. He laughs nervously and promises to be done before the first drops of rain fall.
As we exchange rings, slipping them onto each other's fingers, tears fall from each of our eyes, and the skies open up, and it begins to rain.
Bella laughs. "Just like last year."
I smile. A year ago, we'd been here at this very cabin, just the two of us, fighting and trying to figure out how to reconcile ten years of bad blood. We'd come to this place with the idea of pulling a fast one over on our friends with a fake cease fire—a truce.
What we ended up finding was each other.
"We want to finish it right here. This is where it started," I tell the officiant when he offers to move everyone inside. He nods and continues.
Our friends and family close ranks around us, most with umbrellas open, trying to protect everyone from the rain.
"By the power vested in me by the great State of Washington, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss each other."
I grin, yanking Bella to me, planting a dramatic kiss on her lips. Applause breaks out around us as everyone begins to rush inside. Bella and I linger in the rain, her arms around my neck, kissing me deeply.
"I love you, Bella," I tell her, pulling away and grinning.
"I love you too, Edward." She winks, and I start to drag her inside, but she lets go of my hand. Just as I turn around, I get hit right in the face with a handful of mud.
I can hear my new bride laughing hysterically, and I sigh. "I love you but not so much that I won't ruin that pretty dress." She shrieks as I lunge after her, chasing her around the yard.
Maybe not the perfect friendship or the perfect relationship. Definitely not what we had planned for our wedding day. But together, we'll always have excitement. As Bella drags me down into the mud, and I'm sure everyone is watching from the house, I realize one perfect thing: I wouldn't have it any other way.