A/N:
When you read in the chapter that Edward's playing on the piano, I imagined it to be Edward Newton's piano cover of Jerome Kern's The Way You Look Tonight, released in 1936
Title: Origins: Destiny in the Mountains
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: Alice's White Rabbit
Pre-reader: BitterHarpy
Genre: Family/Supernatural
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Emmett Brian McCarty never had much in life, but growing up poor didn't stop him from enjoying life and all its pleasures.
However, always seeking thrills most often means it will end badly, and one day, while hunting for game in the mountains, Emmett meets his destiny. Canon. ExR
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 11
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9th 1937
"How are you feeling?" Edward asked me as he corrected the cravat around my neck. "Nervous?"
"Not really," I said honestly with a shake of my head. "I was more nervous when I proposed, but now, I know she wants this, you know?"
Edward chuckled. "Oh, I know exactly how much she wants this."
"You'll live longer if you stay out of her head," I said in response. "You know how much she hates your gift."
"What doesn't she hate?" he retaliated but rolled his eyes when I gave him a warning look about talking trash about my Rosie. "Besides, you know how much I wish I could put her thoughts on mute. However, they tend to get rather loud when she's around you."
Now it was my turn to laugh. "You can't fault me for having an effect on my mate."
"I'm not. I'm just explaining to you how it is. Maybe I'm hoping you can talk to her about it and put us both out of our misery."
"Sure, but not tonight. I kinda had something else planned," I said and winked at him as well as threw some images his way for fun.
He cringed. "I know. You don't have to show me. As long as both of you are as far away from the house as possible, I'll be happy."
I clapped him on the shoulder, finally having some semblance of control over my strength, which had not dissipated after my newborn year despite what the others thought. "Just wait, Eddie. When it's your turn, you'll understand how strong the physical pull is and completely futile to fight."
"I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. Don't call me Eddie," he said with a groan, which caused me to roll my eyes. I'd never encountered anyone who had a problem with a simple nickname before.
"What's your issue with that name anyway?"
My question caused Edward to stop for a second and think. "I actually don't know," he replied. "Most likely something in my past that I've forgotten. All I know is that I hate it, and my entire body crawls when I hear it."
I looked at my mirror image and shook my head.
"That suit is tailored for you, so no, you do not look ridiculous," Edward answered my unspoken thoughts.
"It's not so much the suit." I sighed. "I feel like a fraud in it. I'm not used to this being the new me."
"It's not the new you," Edward assured me. He was wearing a similar suit, but since he'd been raised in wealth, he moved around in the garments as if he was born in them. "It's the cover we keep for everybody else. You know as well as me that this isn't your real wedding. That's not until tonight, and Rosalie agreed that you wouldn't have to wear all of this for that ceremony, didn't she?"
"Doesn't make me any more comfortable."
Edward shrugged. "No, but hasn't your main argument for everything lately been that you're doing this for Rose?" He had me there, and he knew it. "See this as a rehearsal. The names on the marriage certificate will be Rosalie Cullen and Emmett Masen. Not Hale or McCarty. This is a show. For them." He pointed out the window where guests were slowly walking into the church. "It won't be the last show you put on, so you'd better get used to it."
I grabbed my hat from a chair without another word because I knew he was right. "Raise the curtain," I said, and after one last encouraging smile from Edward, the both of us left the room to find our spots up front in the church.
{=DITM=}
It was dark outside, but the conservatory was lit up in iridescent light by the large number of candles we'd lit up, and while it was still dim, and probably somewhat difficult for the human priest to see, the rest of us saw perfectly. We'd provided extra light for him to make it easier to read the passages he needed from his bible, though.
Edward turned his head when all of us heard Carlisle and Rosalie's first steps at the top of the stairs and then started to softly play on his piano.
It didn't matter that in the eyes of the citizens of Hoquiam, Rosalie and I were already married, or that just a few hours earlier we had exchanged vows under our aliases because this was the memory I would keep with me forever.
As Carlisle entered around the corner, with Rosalie on his arm, I knew I'd never seen her as beautiful as she looked at that moment. She wasn't wearing the elaborate lace dress and fur stole she'd had in the church, nor was her hair rolled up in the style that was appropriate for a wedding.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the priest squirm uncomfortably at the sight of my angel's golden locks let down to frame her face, but I didn't care what he thought. I knew Rosalie had made herself look the way she did for me. Unlike the previous ceremony, this one represented us the way we were with each other, without all pretenses and walls. Just her and me and the love that had brought us to this moment.
Carlisle gave her over to me, and while I was aware and heard the priest talking, I wasn't listening. I was too busy looking into my angel's eyes.
Like I told her when I proposed, I knew in my heart that I wasn't the marrying type, at least, not until I met her. And maybe that was the reason. Maybe my destiny had always been to find her, and I simply wouldn't have functioned in a marriage unless it had been with Miss Rosalie Hale.
For me, there was no other way to explain it.
In order to keep the priest in the dark, we hadn't given him a story about any of our relationships because both Rosalie and I wanted this ceremony to include our real names. It sent a thrill through me when he turned to my bride.
"Rosalie Lillian Hale, do you take Emmett Brian McCarty to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, until death parts you?"
"I do," she said determinedly.
Edward had asked us why we wanted to keep the part "until death parts you" since it was obvious a situation like that would never happen, but Rosalie had simply answered him with, "I'd like to be as normal as possible on my wedding day, and I don't want any thoughts of immortality to ruin that."
"And Emmett Brian McCarty, do you take Rosalie Lillian Hale to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, until death parts you?"
I felt too filled up with joy to care about being appropriate, but I still censored what I really wanted to say to keep from embarrassing Rose. "You bet I do."
A chuckle escaped Edward, most likely because he'd heard the uncensored version of my answer, and I was triumphant to hear that he was loosening up a bit. I saw that as a win in itself.
Finally, the priest told me I could kiss my new wife, and once again, while I would have preferred to keep it less chaste, I did so for her sake. I still lifted her in the air, though, and fortunately, she didn't mind.
In the background, I heard the priest present us to our family as Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McCarty, and then the others surrounded us. As Esme hugged Rosalie, I caught her eye, and she gave me a subtle nod, but apparently not subtle enough because Rosalie leaned away from their embrace and gave her a questioning look.
I saw that as my cue, and I intercepted the two women. "Rosie, I have a surprise for you."
Her smile was lovely; her happiness caused her to glow. "What?"
"I can't tell you yet, but I have to ask you to go upstairs and change into something more appropriate for running," I said vaguely, and it excited me to see a curious glint light up her eyes. My angel loved it when I surprised her because she knew I liked to spoil her quite a lot.
As she disappeared up the stairs, Carlisle thanked the priest and sent him on his way, Edward blew out the burning candles, and Esme slipped me the key to the house in Portland, which was the surprise I had for Rosie.
I hadn't brought the subject of us getting a place of our own up again after that first time, but Esme and I had planned it ever since, and I had just waited for the perfect opportunity to show it. The Edwardian manor had needed some restoration since it had been transformed into a boarding house after the economic crises started, and was still ongoing around the entire country, but it had stood finished for over a month now.
Esme had assured me Rosalie would love it because she had designed the renovations completely after her taste. However, I was still nervous about presenting such a huge gift to my wife, whom I knew would have wanted a part in deciding which house would be only ours. Hopefully, she wouldn't be too put out with me for going behind her back.
"Will you tell me now what the surprise is?" Rosalie asked as she came up behind me, her wedding dress now changed into a dark green cotton dress and an unnecessary winter coat. She'd obviously put the coat on in case we were going to move around humans, but I had already planned the route for us so we could run undisturbed the entire way to the front door. However, I didn't tell her this because I wanted to keep the surprise a secret until she could see it for herself.
"I'm afraid I can only show you," I said and turned to face her.
She smiled and shook her head. "What are you up to this time?" I knew she wasn't really worried I was tricking her because I would never pull a joke like that on our wedding day. I was more intelligent than that, and I cherished my genitals too much to risk my temperamental bride to rip them off in anger.
"You'll love it," I assured her and gave her a kiss before grabbing her hand in mine. I said goodbye the others for the both of us, and then I led my bride into a run toward Portland.
It took barely an hour, and then the forests around our first, very own home caused me to slow down until we were at a complete stop. Rosie smiled at me but narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You trust me, right?" I asked her.
"You know I do," she replied, and the look in her eyes as she gazed into mine couldn't be compared with anything. It made me feel everything at once.
"And you love me?"
She laughed. "I would hope so. I've heard lying to a priest is a deadly sin."
I planted a kiss on her smiling lips. "Close your eyes. I'll lead you the rest of the way." She did as I asked, and I pulled her along by our entwined hands.
The trees thinned out as we emerged into the backyard, and thanks to Esme, warm light spilled out from the windows onto the apparently untouched snow. The sight was inviting and homey, and when I allowed Rosie to open her eyes, I hoped she'd see it that way as well.
"What is this?" she asked in a soft voice close to a whisper.
"Welcome home," I said in reply, and she turned to me with awe-filled eyes.
"You mean ..."
"Yes. I hope you're not mad I went behind your back, but I wanted to surprise you."
My angel stood frozen as she looked at the house, and I was beginning to feel worried that she was mad after all. "Are you okay?" I eventually had to ask when the suspense became too much for me.
"It's just—" She started, but she seemed unable to get the words out. "I'm amazed at it all." She turned to look at me, and her eyes were filled with emotion I could finally identify. It was a mix of happiness and sadness. "After I woke to this life, I never dared to dream that any of my former wishes would come true, and yet, here you are, and you just keep fulfilling them."
I cupped her cheek. "I'm alive thanks to you. Not only does that make me forever in your debt, but I also happen to have fallen in love with you. I gladly, and willingly, take on the part of your obedient servant."
She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me passionately until neither of us knew what was up and down, but I still managed to get us inside. I had planned to give her a house tour, but I had nothing against postponing it for a few hours … or days.
A/N:
Was it like you imagined?
Let me know what you thought of the chapter :)
Until next week,
Stay Awesome!