Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I merely play in the sandbox. I do lay claim to my original characters Ella and Adrian, among others and the inclusion of the Fey world.

AN: Another week, another chapter. Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I completely forgot.

Chapter Seventy-Three – Charlie's Wedding

The day had dawned. Today my Dad would be marrying Christine and our two families would unite. It was bizarre being in Christine's house, it would be the last time any of us were here. All the girls had decided to stay at Christine's for the night and now it was time to get ready. I'd never met a more relaxed bride, then again, I'd never met a bride before. Christine had woken with a smile on her face that seemed permanently fixed in place.

It was relaxing to see how excited Christine was for today, she didn't have cold feet, in fact, she couldn't wait to be walking down that aisle.

We were being properly pampered this morning. Christine had wanted to hire beauticians but Alice had insisted that Esme was better at makeup than anyone they could hire, and Esme didn't require payment. While Esme began with Christine's face, Alice was busy painting her fingernails and toenails, while Rose was rubbing a fragrant lotion onto Christine's arms and legs. It was like having a home spa. Christine looked completely relaxed and was busy chatting away to the three Cullen women.

Bella, Angela and I looked on with fond expressions. This union meant so much to the three of us, perhaps on par with how much it meant for my Dad and Christine. A united home front was all I ever wanted and I knew Angela shared that sentiment. Bella just wanted Dad to be happy and in the weeks leading up to today, he had been the happiest I'd ever seen him.

None of us escaped being lotioned, primped and plumped by the Cullen women but it was a happy experience and one we all took part in with gusto. I now smelled like a fragrant lily, my skin glistened with a glittery shine and my nails had been painted a dark forest green. Careful planning had gone into every aspect of this wedding and between Christine and Alice, I knew whatever lay outside the door was going to be magnificent.

Christine really wanted to incorporate Forks and Mother Nature in the wedding. As such, our bridesmaid dresses were forest green chiffon maxi dresses. Bella, Angela and I wore them, while the Cullen females wore dresses of a soft burgundy colour. I knew my Dad would be wearing a black suit with a forest green tie and a burgundy flower in this lapel.

There were subtle hints of black and grey throughout the wedding party and would be at the reception too. Despite this being the second wedding for both my Dad and Christine, they were determined to treat it as their first for the love they shared with each other was so pure. As I sat waiting to leave, I struggled not to shed a tear as I caught sight of Christine. She looked magnificent, a true vision.

Christine's dress was a gown of rose cream, it had long flowing sleeves with a cut between the shoulder and the wrist that made them billow out gracefully. The neckline was modest as Christine wasn't a young bride and didn't want to give any single men any ideas but it was adored with silver butterflies that carried on down to the waist before disappearing into glittery spots on the dress. The veil over her face hung to just below her breasts and she had a small tiara on her head that I'm sure came from the Cullen's family jewellery. To complete her look, she had rose cream medium high heels on and a bouquet of rose pink, burgundy and forest green flowers and greenery.

"Don't look at me like that girl's or I'll start crying."

"No crying or you'll ruin all of Esme's hard work."

We all laughed at Alice's stern expression. She was a force to be reckoned with and if you disobeyed Alice, you always ended up worse off.

With one last look at the house that was hers, Christine led us away and into the car that would be taking us to the church. Though neither my Dad or Christine were religious, their wedding would be held in the main church Fork's had. I figured it was something to do with Dad being the Chief of Police that scored them a church wedding when they weren't believers.

We travelled in two black jeeps, that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere – probably by Alice's hand. Christine, Angela, Bella and I travelled in one jeep with the Cullen's following in the second.

I thought Christine would have been quiet in the car ride to the church, thinking that maybe the nerves would have settled in by now but again I was surprised by how calm she was. Chatting away to the three of us, you never would have thought she was getting married today. It was clear to see that Christine and Angela were very close as Mother and Daughter. It was something I had always envied others for. I knew now, I could say I had a Mother in Rose and Esme but it still hurt that I would never have that with my own Mother. I could see however, that I could and would have that special bond with Christine. The old fear of a step-mother being evil was blown away with one smile from Christine. She really was the perfect fit for this family. I couldn't wait to make her a permanent fit.

"No going back now," I said as we arrived at the church.

"I wouldn't go back for all the money in the world. You're stuck with me now," replied Christine.

Her easy-going nature pushed even the smallest slither of doubt from my mind. Nothing would spoil this day, I would make sure of it. No Ethereal's, no life or death situations, no dark forces threatening our very existence. No, today was for love, family and our future together with each other.

I was the second bridesmaid to walk down the aisle, behind Bella and before Angela. I caught sight of Edward sitting in the front row and felt my breath taken from me. He looked so dashing I had visions of what he'd look like when we took this walk down the aisle. Dad was waiting patiently at the head of the alter, he looked a little nervous and his hands were twitching slightly but he had a genuine smile upon his face. I stood next to Bella when I reached her and we waited for Angela to walk towards us before the music indicated it was Christine's turn.

There was a palatable atmosphere change when she first stepped into the church. It was like everyone had been holding their breath and seeing her in all her glory had allowed us all to release it. I concentrated not on Christine but on my Dad. I wanted to see his facial expressions and I wasn't disappointed. His eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas and his body radiated confidence and love. He looked like the happiest man in the world and I knew in that moment, he was. It seemed like hours had passed in the time it took Christine to walk down the aisle. By the time she made it to Dad, he'd taken her hand in such urgency and told her over and over how beautiful she looked that he'd forgotten to raise her veil.

His forgetfulness sparked laughter from the congregation. It was the first time I bothered to look at see who had been invited. To me, my family, Adrian's family and the Cullen family was all I needed for this celebration but looking out into the small crowd, I saw work colleagues of Dad's, friends of Christine and long-standing residents of Forks. That everyone wore a smile on their faces warmed my heart.

The wedding ceremony was to be rather short, the important part was the vows. As we sang song after song I willed time to go faster so that the important part arrived. I wasn't disappointed when it came. Both Christine and my Dad's choice of vows brought a tear to my eye, their love and devotion towards each other abundantly clear.

"You may now read out your vows," said the officiator.

"I, Charlie, take you, Christine, to be the wife of my days, the companion of my house, the friend of my life. We shall bear together whatever trouble and sorrow may lay upon us, and we shall share together whatever good and joyful things life may bring us. With these words, and all the words of my heart, I marry you and bind my life to yours."

"Today, surrounded by people who love us, I chose you, Charlie, to be my husband. I am proud to be your wife and to join my life with yours. I vow to support you, push you, inspire you, and, above all, love you, for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live."

There was a moment of silence as the rings were exchanged and Charlie and Christine were led out to sign the books. They'd hired a harpist of incredible talent to play during that segment and I felt myself swaying with the song she played. It took me away to another time and place and the notes played were so thought provoking and memorable.

I don't think there had ever been a time in my life where I was happier for my Dad. I was right at the front, throwing confetti down on the pair, the smile on my face threatening to split in two, the feelings I had threatening to spill over and the love, the love I had for my family in that moment was all consuming. I knew then that whatever came our way, we would always rise and meet it. We were strong. We were one unit.

We travelled separately to the wedding reception, Dad and Christine went on ahead. It would be the first time they'd see the reception done up in all its glory and get to have a few private moments before all the guests arrived.

The wedding reception décor followed that of the wedding itself. The tables were covered in burgundy tablecloths, and had centrepieces of cream flowers and green foliage. The reception was held in the town barn, which was an old rustic place. The walls had been covered with material of black, grey and green. The ceiling was covered in a thousand twinkling fairy lights. It was warm and inviting, cool and romantic. The perfect reception to represent Dad and Christine.

The Cullen's had hired the wedding DJ and organised the catering service on behalf of Dad and Christine. Waiters and waitresses came out of the woodwork with trays of champagne and prosecco. They looked so smart, like how I imagined servers at The Ritz in London, England. It seemed that after the arrival of Angela, Bella and myself, the floods of other guests poured into the barn at an alarming rate. Like they were waiting for us to arrive to make their own entrance.

The Cullen's had their own table that they would share with Adrian and Tyler. Ben's family would be on another table and Angela was most happy that they'd been able to come. Angela's shyness towards Ben was so cute and none of us could wait for them to get their act together and seal things with a kiss.

The entire wedding party stood to clap when Dad and Christine made their debut entrance into the barn. Their first walk as Mr and Mrs was accompanied by more confetti, clapping, wolf whistling and smile that could light a thousand homes.

Food came first and for that I was glad for Bella, Angela and I were to make a speech after. Dad hadn't chosen a best man and Christine hadn't chosen a maid of honour, instead they'd promoted the three of us to fill those roles as in their words, we were the most important people in their lives. Public speaking was daunting but I reminded myself that I wasn't the only one up there and that people would be looking forward to what we had to say. It was interesting that I could happily perform on stage, singing or playing an instrument but not stand up to publicly speak.

The food was exquisite but I didn't expect anything less with Alice at the helm of planning. I'd never eaten food that was presented more like art than food, it tasted as tantalising as it looked. The Cullen's were doing a good job of pretending to eat and no one was none the wiser as the alcohol flowed and the merriment of the occasion overtook people's observation.

Pudding was the favourite part for me, a selection of mini desserts to match everyone's favourites. The chocolate cake was especially creamy and moist. It was delicious and I felt decidedly full at the end. It was a wonder that my dress still fitted me after everything I had eaten. I was glad however, that I hadn't burst and that the food didn't suddenly make me feel sick. Before the cake could be cut, we had to perform our speech.

Angela stood first and clinked her knife against her glass, Bella followed her in standing and lastly, I stood. Angela would start the speech followed by Bella and finally me. I almost wished I was speaking first so that my anxiety could be extinguished first.

"I salute you all for coming to this celebration of marriage, love and commitment. The joining of these two families is something the three of us have longed for since we were first told of the union. My Mum has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Holding my hand when I was frightened, giving me courage when I needed it, and loving me unconditionally. It had always been my biggest wish that my Mum find someone who could complete her in ways I could not because she is a beautiful person inside and out and deserved to find her forever partner. When I was little I used to worry about step families having watched one too many Disney films but I must say I couldn't have wished for a better family to join ours. Charlie, Bella and Ella have completed our fractured family and bought us into a new fold where family thrives and love is everlasting."

"Like Angela, I have watched my Dad grow without someone to complement him standing by his side. Our Dad is one of the kindest, generous, passionate man, so it came of no surprise to us that fate took its time finding him the right partner. We couldn't wish for a better choice for him. Christine is everything that Dad needed. She is beautiful, patient, creative and passionate. They complete each other in ways we didn't realise they could. The missing parts of their souls have been filled in the love that they share with each other. As Angela said, we are incredibly happy to have the joining of our two families be made official. Dad has watched over us for years, offering unconditional support and love and never asking for anything in return. I am proud to see him standing here today, taking this step in his life and to see how much happiness and love Christine has brought to his life."

"When I look at Dad and Christine, I see a level of love and devotion I've only read about in novels. When I see them smile at each other I see they are transported to a plain where they can gaze at each other's souls. Watching as my Dad and Christine navigate the roads of their relationship has bought new memories every day. To say that these two are compatible is an understatement, they don't just complement each other, they fit like pieces of a puzzle. We've talked a lot about family, it's an important aspect for us because this union hasn't just affected the two that have made their vows but us as a family also. Their happiness brings us happiness. Their love brings us love. We have all gained from the union. It is a dream come true to welcome Christine and Angela into the Swan family. It is a dream come true to see our Dad so happy. It is a dream come true to see someone we love to get the ending they deserve. We are so proud of you Dad and we are so happy to see our family expand. If you could all raise your glasses, please join me in toasting the new Mr and Mrs Swan."

Everyone stood on their feet, clapping and whistling as Dad and Christine kissed each other sweetly. Our speech had been a resounding success and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Seeing the emotion and the tears on Dad and Christine's faces only provoked more emotion to erupt in my body. We exchanged hugs and kisses while everyone settled down again.

In the aftermath of our speech, came the cake cutting. The cake was three tiers and covered in black icing. An odd choice for a wedding I'm sure many would argue. The cake was supposed to represent the end of one era – the black – and the start of a new – as it was adorned with silver butterflies in various stages of life. I thought it was a beautiful representation of the life Dad and Christine were starting. They'd both had rocky starts and were now looking forward to a brighter future.

Following the sweetness of the cake cutting came the dancing. Watching my Dad twirl Christine around the floor to a melody of instrumental music brought a tear to my eye. They danced as if no one was watching, as if they were all alone and wraps in their own memories. Today had been everything I wanted for them and more. I didn't want it to end but knew as soon as the other couples took to the dance floor that the end was near.

Edward pulled me from my chair and towards the dancefloor. I had barely had a moment to think of Edward as I'd been so involved in thinking of Dad and Christine and the happiness of their union. Being in Edward's arms reminded me that I too had someone to share my life with, someone to love and create new memories with. I felt safe in Edwards arms as he spun me gracefully around the room. His strong arms kept me upright and we danced with accuracy and elegance. I could get lost looking into Edward's eyes, the depth of them always pulled me in and hypnotised me. They were like a drug getting into my system and stopping me from becoming distracted by everyday life.

"Beautiful," he murmured as we danced.

"I love you," I responded just as softly.

As the evening progressed I was less sad that it was ending the longer I remained in Edward's arms. He had a way of making everything seem better. I thought I'd be upset when the end of the night came but I found myself happily waving my Dad and Christine off, safe in the arms of my own beloved.