Twenty
The fact we'd pulled this off astounded me. Edward had been keen to help considering how I'd assisted with his proposal. He had gone to every length excited by his brother's happiness.
I'd worried Bella might hate me, but I knew she'd actually kind of love the surprise too. She'd be excited that I have a day like this with a man like this.
Edward and Emmett had pitched the trip as a celebration to our friends. But they'd explained to my family it was for a special reason for me.
The Bellagio hotel had provided us with the penthouse room (Edward must have been persuasive).
The windows were crystal clear overlooking the strip with the fountain, the Eiffel Tower and infamous hotels in the distance.
I wore a satin, spaghetti strap white dress that draped at my back and at my chest. My hair loosely curled, signature red lip. All the things that I needed. None of them as necessary as my groom who wore black dress pants and a button up blue shirt.
We just looked dressed up. Like we were about to gamble in an expensive casino. No one had an idea and if they did they hadn't let on.
But Emmett cleared his throat, catching the attention of our friends. My parents spoke politely with my parents. My aunt, laughing along with Jerry by the bar.
All the people I adored in one room.
"I know you're all wondering why we sprung a surprise trip on you. We're thankful you went along with my spontaneity and humoured me because I was recently shot," he says, "my brother pulled strings to make this happen and I'm thankful for him."
He motions his hand for me to move and join him. I do, happier than I've ever been in my life, as his arm wraps around my shoulder.
"Recently, everything was almost taken from me. That's the nature of the job. Before this woman I didn't really care, but she's made me realise that there's things in life I want to slow down for," he looks at me as he speaks, "and after what I went through to get her, to keep her… I don't want to waste another moment without the permanency of her."
"No," Alice's hands shoot to her mouth.
She's quick. I'm surprised she hadn't figured it out sooner.
"We brought you here under the pretences of a celebration. And we will be doing it even harder tonight," Emmett smiles at our loved ones, "because we're getting married right here, right now."
"Shit," Bella's mouth drops, eyes wide and glued on us.
"Turns out Edward got ordained, because he's a living kind of weird," Emmett motions to his brother, "we wanted something low key with the people we love. The people who get our love as a couple."
"Now this is a party," my aunt hollers from the bar, "yes, my baby Rosie cheeks."
My parents glance at her and then back at me, both rather shocked.
My mother makes the first move crossing the room to take my hand, Emmett still holding me by the waist.
"My darling are you sure?" She looks me over.
"I'm absolutely positive mother," I nod, "I love him."
"But we could plan a big, massive wedding. We have money," she looks at my father, "Frank! You can book the country club."
"Mother," I shake my head, "it's not about money. I don't care about any of that."
"Sit down," Kayla moves toward us, "let the girl be impulsive. I for one will walk her down the aisle to him."
"I would love that," I say suddenly, glancing at my father, "if you'd be willing to give that up."
My father looks confused as hell. Like I've thrown him into a Bold and the Beautiful episode.
"Frank," my mother snaps at him.
He glares at my mother, moving toward us with a nod.
"Yeah," he nods at me, "you have my blessing. Fuck it! You've made me proud as all else today. Love and live life like this and your marriage will be long. Kayla your bond with my girl is special, you have my blessing to do this on my behalf."
He points at my mother.
"You only want a big wedding to show off to your snotty friends. Our daughter wants this, and it's what my baby gets," he looks to me, "let's do this petal!"
My father has only ever nurtured me with his bank account. Thinking that buying me what I want would be enough. But I've never questioned his love for me. I know my mother loves me too... she just struggles to show it in the right ways. They're complicated people. Like the parents on Schitts Creek... they mean well.
"Thank you sir," Emmett nods at my father.
"You need to report to the golf course," my dad points at him, "I want to show you to my brother. He'll be fucking shitting bricks when he learns your a cop. He ripped off…"
"Frank," my mother gasps, smacking his chest hard.
Emmett glances at me concerned, I shrug at him.
"I don't know," I mouth.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear it," he kisses my head, "I'm off duty right now."
My mother pulls away my father, my Aunty turning to busy herself. I don't get a chance to see with what because Bella is before me. Her expression difficult to read.
"I thought… actually no. This. This is you," she smiles widely, "this is exactly what I'd picture if I thought about Rosalie's wedding. Completely low key and spur of the moment. I adore it. I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you," I cuddle her to me, "you're obviously my maid of honour."
"I can't believe Edward hid this," she huffs pulling back.
"He was probably busy pulling it together. Don't be mad," I stroke her arm.
"I'm not! I'm impressed," she laughs, "do you need me to do anything?"
Edward and Jasper had begun to push furniture aside, chairs and the couch creating a circle shape by the window.
"Help me be the drunkest I've ever been tonight," I grin.
"Done," she laughs, kissing my cheek, "I'll go help get the room set up."
"Go," Emmett smacks my behind playfully, pointing me toward my aunt waiting by the bedroom, "let us sort this room out so you can walk down an aisle to me and I can make you Mrs Cullen."
Stepping into the bedroom I touch up my makeup, fix my hair, my aunt joining me with a flower bouquet she'd created from the hotel display by the front door.
"Every bride needs a bouquet," she hands it to me, stepping in to fluff out the hair by my shoulder, "I'm so fucking proud of you."
"Thank you for being here," I pull her into a tight hug, "for always supporting me and having my back when they didn't."
"They should have. They're heads up in the clouds half the time," she sighs, "but you're like the daughter I never had. Your mother met a man with money and that was it. But you never let it get to you the same way and this is the ultimate proof of that. You've built a life of your own using your own two hands. You've had advantages sure but you recognise them."
"I just wanted to be like you," I blink back tears.
The first of many I'm sure.
"Well that is ironic," she licks her lips, blinks her own eyes, "because I always wanted to be like you."
"Well shit," I laugh through my tears, wiping them from my cheeks.
"Let's get you to your man. I can't fucking cry or my eyelash lady will lecture me. I just got them done," she takes my hand.
"Let's do it," I nod.
I'd made him cry with my vows.
But his vows sucker punched me in the heart.
"When you walked into the room all the thoughts I had were dirty," he begins.
I can practically feel our parent's discomfort while our friends snicker.
"I still get that," he grins at me, "but now when you leave a room you take a little piece of me with you. I love you not only for who you are but who you make me want to be. There's a part of me that can only be brought out with you. I never knew it existed until you showed me and proved to me that the best things in life require a little bit of patience."
I look down at his hands as he squeezes them. He stops for a moment to gather himself, sniffling, needing one hand to wipe away tears from his face. He's the most beautiful I've ever seen him.
"We've made many promises but today is the ultimate promise one heart can make to another. I'll be your constant love and support, I'll be your home, I'll be your faith and I'll be the laugh you need through the hardest of days. I'll take care each day to ensure I fall asleep in your arms until we're ready to grow old and leave this world together. I once said I want to check out your ass in the nursing home and I plan to ensure that happens," he smiles at me, "you're my world. You keep me spinning and you turn me on my axis when it counts. Forever is all I want and it's all you'll get from me."
His mother is practically an emotional mess. Carlisle rubs her back as she sobs into a tissue. This is the most emotional she's probably ever seen him. The most I have too.
I glance at Edward, who gives me a smile and a nod.
"Go on," he whispers, motioning at his brother with a tilt of his head.
I lean in and press a kiss to my man's mouth. It's quick but enough to tell him what each word meant.
Edward continues his ceremony script, but I don't pay attention. I'm entranced by my man.
"With the power vested in me, I proudly pronounce you husband and wife. Emmett, you may now kiss your bride," Edward steps back and out of the way, so our moment is ours.
He kisses me and I melt. As if it's the first time. The last time. He makes it count and makes it ours. I fall even more in love - if that had even been possible.
Our friends cheer and clap somewhere in the distance.
When he pulls back there's a silly smile on his face.
"When you paint this moment can you hide us naked somewhere," he whispers.
I laugh, as I admire the beginning of my happily ever after.
Thank you so much for reading, enjoying and reviewing my story x
I've loved writing this and enjoyed these characters.
Until next time! X