A/N: Well, this is it folks! I was really overwhelmed by the response to this story, so I just have to say thank you so much! To everyone who reviewed - to everyone who read and didn't review, thank you to all of you! I'm so glad that you all enjoyed this.
Now, as to the suggestions you all gave me: You were all on point already. What you asked for, I am providing :) Let me know if there are any thing else you guys want. Marking the story as complete, as this is all I had planned. Always a potential for outtakes, though, if something strikes me. Enjoy!
The music had swirled around me as I shifted in place. I was too excited to stand so still. Emmett was beside me, along with Ben Cheney. He and I had gotten friendly when I was in California, and the handful of times that he and Angela had come up to visit just solidified our friendship. Bella was over the moon when I asked him to be a part of today, since she had already asked Angela.
I watched Alice walking slowly in a breathtaking muted purple flowy gown. She looked happier than I had ever seen her before. Angela followed in the same dress, looking just as happy. That was the best part of my life right now, everything was just perfect.
The day reminded me of Emmett and Rose's wedding over the summer. I was surprised, as were Mom and Dad, that they had wanted a small wedding in my parent's backyard. It was an understated, yet beautiful event though. Alice had helped Rose with the preparations, and the ceremony was fast. It was really uncomfortable for Bella and I though because there were many work people. We hadn't told anyone we were dating yet, so we made sure to swear my entire family to secrecy, and spent the night apart.
I had watched her the whole night, though. I mean, of course I had. She was the most beautiful woman there. And that included Rose, who had made a beautiful bride. But Bella stole my breath away. She laughed with coworkers, spoke sweetly with my mother, and even danced with Emmett at one point.
In the BB times (before Bella) my life was ok. I was content for the most part, but happiness at this level wasn't possible in that situation. I was blind for a long time, the hopeless romantic getting sicker inside me every year. I had told Bella once that I thought he'd died, but in truth he was just sleeping. He was waiting for the right person to wake him up, and boy did she.
Everything about my life now is the exact opposite of what it was before. There was laughter in our home every day. We worked toward our lives together, not separately. We woke up next to each other, almost missing the other though they had been there next to us all night. There were words of love, there were smiles, and there was the best sex I've ever had in my life. All because of the beautiful woman just emerging from behind the door.
I thought she looked beautiful every day, but today she was more than I could put into words. Her gown flowed behind her and made her seem like an angel. My eyes shot up to hers; deep brown stared back at me in unhidden love and anticipation. If I never had to look away from her, I would be the happiest man on earth. She held the key to everything I wanted in life.
Her father walking next to her was smiling. He was a good man; I had enjoyed getting to know him. His interference in her last marriage had made all the difference. Instead of worried anticipation of what the ex would do next, it was anticipation of her being free so we could fully live our lives together. He was a quiet and content man, but I could see Bella's humor in him. He and dad even got along, talking about fishing for hours last night during the rehearsal.
My own situation hadn't been as easy. She had contested everything, though I had tried to be fair and split everything. Because she was only working part time, and didn't make enough to support herself – thought I was convinced that was because she shopped too much – I had ended up having to pay alimony. Bella and I were not happy about that, but considering she had really not given me any reason to leave her – as Bella's husband had - I didn't contest it when it came in.
Fortunately, less than a year after the divorce was final, she found someone and seemed to be very happy. She had called me when he'd asked her, and I had been really happy for her. I was really surprised when I saw her name light up on my phone. Bella had been sitting next to me, and she had been shocked.
"Kate? Why are you calling?" I said gruffly into the phone. I wasn't in the mood to fight. And honestly, that had been settled for a long time already.
"Oh, Edward, I just have to tell you. I met someone; his name is Garret. He asked me to marry him!"
I smiled at Bella, who still looked shocked. "I'm glad for you, Katie. I hope you two are very happy."
"I just wanted to say something to you. The hope that you had for a full and consuming love? I get it now. You and I were never right for each other. If you are even half as happy as I am now, then I'm happy for you, too."
I smiled; I knew she would get it one day. She wasn't a bad person, she had issues of course, but she really wasn't bad. She and I just were not right for each other. "I'm glad you have that now, Katie, truly. I hope you two have a wonderful life."
That had been the night that I'd asked Bella to marry me. Something about the interaction gave a sense of peace that I hadn't known I needed. I never meant to hurt her, and I had. But knowing that she was happy and she understood why I did what I did just made everything better.
Bella tried to protest as I got up, quickly running into our bedroom. I fished out the ring my mother had given me, it was my grandmother's, and I walked back out to the living room. Bella had stood in order to follow me, but stopped when she saw me come back into the room. I walked over to her and knelt down, holding the ring up to her. She immediately started crying.
"Bella Black, you are the most amazing woman in the world. You stole my heart from the moment I saw you, and every day since. I can't imagine my life without you; will you marry me?"
She nodded, and I slipped the ring on her finger. It was an antique at this point, but Bella looked at it, smiled, and I stood up to pick her up. My mouth was on hers as she wound her legs around me.
"I love you, Edward," she said into my neck, hugging me tighter. "Nothing would make me happier than being your wife."
We had waited for another year, just to make sure there were no concerns about us getting married too soon. Really, it was for others around us. There was never any question as to our future once we found our way together. But we were content in our life regardless.
Bella and Charlie made it up to the front finally, and he gave me her hand. He smiled at me and turned to sit down next to Renee. She was an interesting character, so full of life and energy. She was like a steam train, though, just never quite stopping – and quite loud. Bella calmed her down, as she had apparently done her whole life, without complaint. She just said 'that's my Mom' no matter what Renee did. I still found myself enjoying the time with her, though her energy did rival my sister's.
The whole day having Bella in my arms finally was all I could think about, and now that it was finally here, I couldn't look away from her eyes. I was drowning in the sea of brown standing in front of me, and I had never been happier in my life.
It was a quick ceremony, just like we wanted, but when she looked into my eyes and said 'I do' I thought I was going to burst. I kissed her too early, and there was snickering behind me. I pulled back letting the pastor pronounce us, and then I swooped back in, kissing her again and again. I couldn't get enough of her, and now she was my wife!
The rest of the day was perfect; the food was cold, the DJ was late, and it started raining eliminating the outdoor dance area that we had hoped to use. But it was absolutely perfect. Bella and I wore matching smiles, and we couldn't stop kissing or touching. By the time we were leaving for our honeymoon, I was amped up – as Bella would put it – and ready to welcome the rest of my life.
I had chosen a European trip for us. Bella had never been, and always wanted to see Italy, France and Greece...so, I gave her all of them. We flew into Paris first, so the first step of our honeymoon was there. After that, we jumped on the train and went all over Europe. She wanted it, she got it. I never could say no to her.
We were in Athens when our world changed again. Bella had been really tired, and just assumed it was from all the travel. But when she came out of the bathroom of our hotel holding something up, I cried. She had an IUD when I met her, though we had never actually gotten around to talking about that before we'd made love the first time. She and I had discussed the possibility of having children, but never anything about timing. This was definitely not what I had expected.
"We are having a baby?" I asked her, tears streaming down my face. This was something Kate had never wanted, and worked actively against. It was really the only fight we ever had until the end.
Bella bit her lip, meaning she was nervous, and nodded. I pulled the lip out, as was my normal reaction, and kissed her. "Bella, my god I love you so much. I can't believe this!" I pulled back to look at her as a tear rolled down her cheek also. "Are you happy, baby? Is this what you wanted?"
More tears fell as she smiled. "I've wanted this for so long, but it wasn't right before. Now it is."
We celebrated by making love slowly that night, under the stars in our private deck. It was a beautiful night, with amazing news.
As I watched Bella get bigger with our child, I found myself loving her even more. She would groan and push on her belly, stopping the baby from kicking too hard. She was uncomfortable and ready to not be pregnant anymore, but she was glowing. She was happy. And anyone who looked at her for more than 5 seconds could tell.
I was a worried mess when our daughter was born. I couldn't get close enough to Bella; I just wanted to take away all of her pain. I worried about her and the baby constantly. But they were both fine. We named our daughter Carley; she had Bella's eyes and my hair. She was a mini Bella in all her facial features, and it was the best thing I'd ever seen in my life.
We settled into the outskirts of Seattle, buying a home near water just like Bella wanted. We welcomed a son a few years later, calling him Anthony after my middle name. Bella took time off work to take care of the children, though I hadn't insisted on that I was glad. I worried about day care and Bella overdoing everything. She hadn't stayed that way for long, though. She loved her job and had been able to come back once Anthony was placed in preschool.
Just after he was born, I was holding him sitting on our deck that overlooked the Sound. He had woken up a little cranky, so I grabbed him to take him outside. Bella was exhausted and I wanted her to get some sleep. Carly had crawled in bed with us at some point in the night, and was currently curled around my Bella.
Anthony and I made our way outside, just enjoying the crisp cold of the morning. I tucked his blanket around him tightly, to make sure he didn't get too cold, and just hugged him to me. As I stared out across the water, I marveled at how different my life was now. And now Bella and I had gotten everything we'd ever wanted.
We had fights, didn't everyone? But they were never big ones. So far, I had kept my promise to never yell at her. Through the years she had seen counselors about her trauma, but I believed that me continuing to be a calming influence in her life had helped, too. I never yelled at or belittled her. When we disagreed, we would talk rationally, and work it out together. It wasn't against my nature, that's what I had been taught to do, I was just extra careful regardless. I never wanted to see her scared of me.
We were happy, every damn day. And it was the best life I could have ever imagined.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed!
Just remember my new story, already in the works, Twist of Fate. Vampire Twilight fic :)
Thanks again to everyone for reading, and for my wonderful beta zombiefied419!