Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of these characters. They are all of the brillant work of Stephenie Meyer I am simply using them to adapt them to a story line of my own imagination. I do not claim these characters, plot references nor places as my own creation.
Warning: This is speculatory of 'What if Bella agreed to going to Las Vegas' so it will contain spoilers of the Sequel of Twilight: New Moon up until the point in which Edward asks Bella to marry him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I stared absently out the windshield as the lights and neon signs flashed by me in the blur. A stupid grin was pressed to my face as I turned to face Edward. His face was stone still as he concentrated on the road, dodging and speeding past everyone else. The silence between us gave my mind time to think about what we were about to do, and why I was doing it. After tonight I could be with Edward forward. Exhaling heavier then I had initially intended Edward turned abruptly and looked at me with mild surprise,
"something wrong Bella?" He asked with an amused expression. I knew exactly what he was thinking. When I had first suggested Vegas he had taken it as a joke; I had too, sort of. Now that we were actually in Las Vegas he thought I was going to back down.
"No." I said determinedly. "Just thinking about my- our life together, forever until the end of eternity." I was sure to accent that part of my speech. He growled slightly and turned away causing me to smirk despite myself.
He was still thoroughly against turning me at any time, but a promise was a promise. I'd marry him if he turned me, tonight hopefully. The sooner the better, already the year of difference between us was heart wrenching for me. The silence didn't last long as Edward tried futilely to sway my decision,
"seriously Bella… Your soul is worth a lot more then this." I tuned him out, slowly beginning to grow sick of the whole 'I'm not good enough for you'. Obviously Edward hadn't read many fairy tales when he was a human. Heroes like him were always good enough for the damsels in distress, especially when they made it a point in business to keep them safe. "And I just don't want to see you condemned to a life of murder…" He finished. I had completely missed that entire monologue. I sighed heavily and leaned over running my finger along his jaw line and then over his lips before I pulled away.
"Edward I love you. That should be enough. Also, I don't want to cease to exist one day knowing you'll shortly follow. I can't live with the thought that my life is the life support for your own. That's not fair. Carlisle said it himself you shine Edward. You're an amazing person who is loved by so many people and when you go and do something as stupid and selfish as trying to take your life because I'm not around anymore it hurts people." I bit my lip, perhaps I had been a bit too sharp. Edward didn't say anything at first, and had it been someone else I would've thought they were trying to catch their breath. But this was Edward, he didn't need to breath.
"I don't like to admit when I'm wrong." He said grudgingly, "so I'm not. It would hurt people more to watch me walk around with a lifeless," at this point he chuckled dryly, "look in my eyes because I took your soul away-"
"EDWARD!" I exclaimed finally having lost it, "I won't be any different, cold- yes, a bit more pointy- yes, and hungry constantly- definitely, but I'll see be Bella… Accident prone, clumsy hu- vampire." I corrected myself quickly, "and think of it this way," I said with a childish grin, "with vampire abilities I may be able to stay on my feet longer then usual." He laughed, and I sighed in relief.
It was then that I realised we were sitting outside the 'Sunshine Wedding Chapel' how ironic. As if on cue the song on the radio changed and the words flew out softly making me laugh, Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married… I grinned and leaned over brushing my lips, slowly and politely on his own before I muttered against them,
"aren't we suppose to be getting married?" I asked my eyebrows perking upwards.
"Yeah, and then we're supposed to stage a car crash to prove your death." He grumbled darkly under his breath, for the reason I assumed to be because he didn't want me to hear him, as he pushed the car door open and got out. Before my hand was even on the latch he had it open and was pulling me out onto my feet. I could tell he wasn't pleased with the situation. I pouted lightly and set both my hands on his cheeks pulling him down to my level as kissed him again,
"could you at least pretend like you love me?" I teased. Edward instinctively wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close,
"Isabella Marie Swan, don't you ever doubt my love for you." He said severely. I grinned despite the fact he was deadly serious,
"Isabella Marie Cullen," I corrected him, "as I'm about to become." Edward sighed defeated and nodded a small smile breaking out on his lips,
"I like the sound of that." He whispered softly as though someone was listening to us. I made to kiss him again but he was already pulling me eagerly to the doors of our soon to be wedding chapel. Obviously he was rather good at hiding his true feelings; so I wasn't the only one looking forward to this slightly. As he stopped at the door and pulled it open I chanced fate and set my hands on his chest,
"Edward…" I began softly, "promise me we'll have a proper wedding when I'm- you know." I begged softly. Edward let out an inaudible groan, which made me arch an eyebrow until he said,
"another Rosalie… just what I needed." I playfully swatted at his chest before I headed through the chapel doors.
A wrinkled old woman sat behind the reception desk of the chapel picking at her overly long hot pink nails. As the door swung shut behind us she looked up suddenly and grinned,
"Edward Cullen?" She offered as I turned to Edward with questioning eyes. He shrugged and nodded to the woman who continued at this slight, fluid gesture,
"they're waiting for you in the Sanctuary." She said sweetly Edward nodded once more before leading me softly into the Sanctuary.
"You pre-registered?" I tried softly. Edward chuckled, and I assumed this was a 'yes'. I wondered idly why he wasn't saying anything, was he nervous? Maybe we shouldn't do this- this was rather binding.
I didn't need to worry anymore my question was answered the moment the doors swung open and we walked inside.
"BELLA!" Alice's sweet voice exclaimed as she threw her arms around my neck in a tight embrace, I coughed,
"Not… vampire… yet…" I gasped through her death grip. Her fairy-like laughter tinkled out as she released me.
"Naturally." She cooed, "I'm just so excited. I knew you two would do it, I saw it!" She exclaimed happily before Jasper laughed and pulled her back towards him. The question that had been weighing on mine, and I assumed Edward's, had just been answer. Of course Alice would've seen this coming. I bit my lip as I looked around; all the Cullen's were here. Rosalie included.
Thanks Alice I thought to myself as the blood rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment. I was momentarily distracted as the priest cleared his throat,
"if you don't mind I'd like to get started. I have more customers tonight." I nodded, and I think Edward nodded as well. He gripped my hand as the Cullen's took their seats in the pews. He squeezed it gently, for Edward, which to me felt rather tight yet oddly comforting. He let go and followed the priest down the aisle to wait at the front for me. So ceremoniously and yet here I was, getting married in a wedding chapel in Las Vegas.
Edward waited patiently and I wished I knew what he was thinking as I slowly walked down the aisle to Rose and Esme humming childishly the wedding march. It kind've felt like my birthday- everything blown out of proportion, especially when the humming only made me more nervous, and embarrassed. As I slowly walked towards Edward, my destiny, my mind chaste me for this false wedding; it certainly wasn't what I had pictured as a child. But I told myself it was okay- I was about to marry the greatest ma- vampire I ever knew. I grinned at this thought rather comforted. Yes- this was okay. I held my head more erect, with more confidence as I passed the Cullen's in the pews. My eyes fell on the small smile Rosalie was resisting on her face. I knew she'd warm up to me eventually. I swallowed as I turned to face Edward. His eyes were dancing gloriously as he watched my every movement.
I couldn't help but feel slightly self-conscious. I was about to get married in cotton pyjama pants and a tang top, Edward had wasted no time in getting me in the car to prove himself right about me not truly expecting to get married in Vegas. But now, I don't think there was a doubt in either of our minds that this could possibly be wrong. This was exactly what I wanted, nothing more, nothing less. With one last step I finally found myself at his side staring bright-eyed up at him a giddy smile plastered to my lips. Edward reached out once more and took my hand in his giving one more encouraging squeeze before we both turned to the priest.
One more fleeting thought flitted through my mind. Renée. I pushed it to the back of my mind, one my mother would whole-heartedly disagree with what we were about to do, and secondly she'd never know because after this I was scheduled to die. I winced lightly and felt Edward stiffen turning I looked up at him and grinned slightly just to comfort him that I was okay with all this. I told myself it was for the better; Charlie and Renée were better off thinking I was die then what I was really dealing with, between Victoria, Jacob and the Volturi. I don't think they'd be able to handle it. Less pain, less pain… I chanted in my head as words of comfort. I was vaguely making out what the priest was saying something about Edward taking me to be his wife. Like in a dream I heard Edward's far away voice say 'I do', I wasn't breathing at this point.
My mind was going over all the pain that Charlie and Renée would suffer after my death, the endless grief and loss… The hole. They would have a hole; like mine. I couldn't bear the thought of how they would handle it.
"Bella?…" I heard someone whisper. Blinking I woke from my thoughts and looked around, Edward was staring down expectantly at me. I realised it was my turn, I blushed heavily for a moment until I heard Edward speak again, this time fluid, soft, light…meant only for me.
"You don't have to if you don't want to. I understand we're very different…" He thought I was backing down on my love!No! I screamed futilely at him, but I knew he couldn't hear my thoughts. I turned away from him to the priest,
"I do… for all of eternity." I whispered the last part but I knew every single Cullen had heard it and they all knew what I meant.
The priest grinned and turned to Edward,
"the rings?" He asked expectantly. I watched as Edward slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out two small boxes. I frowned, I had been with him the entire time since he had proposed and admitted to have not bought them. I turned to look over my shoulder at Emmett who was smirking at me then poked a thumb in Rosalie's direction. A questioning look poised itself on my face before I mouthed 'thank you' to her. She nodded reluctantly seemingly peeved that Emmett had given her away. I turned back as I felt Edward lift my hand and slowly slid the ring onto my finger.
"With this ring I bind myself to you for all eternity," that word was being tossed around a lot today, "for better or for worse," I didn't need to be psychic to know he added, 'for worse more then better' in his head because of my accident magnet I wore with some pride. I chuckled lightly listening carefully as he continued, "for sickness and in health," a twisted grin came over his features, "for now and for ever. You're my life Bella, my soul, my motivation and the light that keeps me from the darkness inside." My eyes were slowly burning, I knew it was all true, everything he said.
"Without you, I would truly cease to exist. You're the reason for everything, the reason I hold on, the reason why I'm so strong… I love you forever and for always." He reached forwards and brushed the tear that was slowly tracing it's way down my cheek. I gave him these half-grin accompanied by a light sob as he turned my hand over and kissed my palm. My turn I thought grimly, not because I didn't want to do it but because I didn't have anything to compete with his vows. Sucking in a deep breath I closed my eyes to regain my composure before I opened them again ready to try. I took the ring from the priest and grabbed Edward's hand slowly taking my time to run my fingers over his skin,
"with this ring…" I began quietly, "I bind myself to you, body, soul, heart, for all eternity." I said softly, "through all the bad times, and especially all the good ones…" I said looking up fleetingly before resuming, "for all the times I'll stay by your side when it's one of those days… just to make up for all those hours by my hospital bed…" I whispered so only he could hear with a grin,
"I'm never leaving you, I swear on…" life didn't seem to be appropriate as I was losing it shortly, "on my soul that I'll always be here. There was a time in my life when you were gone and it was the hardest time of my entire life. I never will feel that way ever again, and never will you feel that way. With these bindings I sew up everything in our past, this is our beginning, a new page in our stories… one we're definitely going to write together." It was coming out more as a promise to myself more then a promise to him. Or at least that's how the priest would interpret it. I think, no, I knew Edward understood everything I was saying. "Complete me, make me whole again… Bring me to life." I smirked at the irony of what I had just said before I finished, "I love you… I have always loved you."
I heard Alice let out a small choked sob at this as the priest declared happily,
"you may kiss the bride." I continued to smirk as I watched him lick his lips before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips. I expected it to be the same as all the others- but no this was so much different. It sent shocks through my body, my knees shook threatening to give out, and I clasped myself to him just in case as my head started to spin and I filled with this indescribable emotion. He reluctantly pulled away and I was seeing stars,
"we'll need to sign a marriage certificate." The priest said nodding to the table not to far from us. Edward grabbed my hand and entwined our fingers as he led the way.
"Yes, we ought to do that shouldn't we Mrs. Cullen." I swooned at the title and nodded dreamily as I followed him over. Alice wasn't far behind to sign as the witness and I silently wondered if maybe Edward had told them to come. I watched as he leaned over the table and gracelessly signed his name in his amazing script writing before he held out the pen to me. I leaned down and set the tip to the paper before turning to smile at him as I turned back to the paper and quickly scribbled my messy signature next to Edward's before holding out the pen to Alice.
She skipped forward and quickly wrote her name making mine look easily the messiest on the page.
"Congratulations…" The priest said before he handed Edward the certificate and left us alone. Alice immediately threw her arms around me crying in joy,
"we're sisters at last!" She cried into the crook of my neck. I grinned and returned the hug. Before long I found myself the middle of a vampire group hug, congratulations and welcomes were being passed around to Edward and myself. Once the chaos ended Edward was finally able to get back to my side as they cleared off. He bent down and kiss me lightly again before mumbling,
"not long until I can truly kiss you." He said with a grin. My eyes grew doe-like and I spun on him,
"REALLY!" I exclaimed happily. I wouldn't have ever said it but there was the fear that I'd become Mrs. Cullen and then need to explain that to my parents because he wouldn't go through with it.
"Bella… even if I decided I didn't want to do it, that would not stop you, Carlisle is still more then willing to do it. And I'd be breaking a promise."
"It's not the first time." I pointed out softly; he nodded slightly before bending down to kiss the top of my head. Encircling one arm around my waist he slowly lead me back down the aisle following the rest of the Cullen's once outside I saw their cars and wondered why I hadn't noticed them before. He walked over to the passenger door and opened it for me. I winced remembering the rest of the plan,
"are you sure you want to trash your car?" I asked furrowing my brow. Edward shrugged, "I can buy a new one, a faster one." I chuckled and rolled my eyes, I'd have to get used to money not being an object.
"Yo! Edward, we'll meet you at the house…" Emmett called as he slid into the car and quickly took off leaving the two of us alone in the parking lot once more. As I was sliding into the seat I stopped suddenly,
"wait." I said softly, "you can't turn me at the house." I said suddenly, "the Treaty. Jacob and the gang will be able to hunt you down, and we both know he's dying for a reason to do so." I said gulping.
"Don't worry Bell…" He said softly as he closed the door and walked back around to his side, "we have it all figured out. Besides… who said anything about the Cullen house?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So there it is... at first I thought about making it a one-shot of the wedding, but I decided I wanted to go further... let me know what you think. R&R s'il vous plait