Chapter 21

EPOV

Masen and Alice stayed by my side as I tried to face the rest of my family and my would-be bride. I wondered if Bella had come with Masen, if my little fantasy of her coming to my rescue would come true. Maybe she had driven him and his little girlfriend to the church.

"Edward please, you have to understand, I wanted no part of this. Esme forced me into it! it was her idea all along. I just wanted to be with you so badly and you wouldn't give me the chance. You wanted to be with her. Please, please believe me." Tanya had ripped off her veil, revealing a, extremely heavily made up face. I would have much appreciated the veil stay on.

"I'm sorry but I don't believe any of the words coming out of you mouth anymore Tanya. You tired to trick me into marriage, tried to tear me away from the woman I love, the family that I could have. I can't believe you would sit up there and lie, saying your honest and loving." I growled at her.

"You can't be in love with that woman! She's not like us Edward, she doesn't fit into our world. If she really loved you, she would let you be happy with someone on your level. She wouldn't be forcing that little brat on you. Him, that little bastard, he ruined our perfect wedding day!" she shrieked at Masen, he just continued to smirk at her.

"Masen didn't ruin anything, he saved my life today Tanya. Bella isn't below me, she's so far above me that some days, I can barely see her. I would do anything to reclaim her heart. I don't want to marry you, I never have. The decision has always been forced upon me, whether it's been by my parents or by a particular circumstance. I do not love you, I never have, I have no idea what possessed me to propose to you in the first place. I shouldn't have put the idea in your head. It's time for me to take a stand and start running my own life. It's time for me to grow up and be a man. Funny, you wouldn't believe how many people have said that to me in the last few months. Now it actually makes sense." I said thoughtfully.

"Halleluiah! It's about time you finally realized that you nimrod. How long have I been trying to explain that concept to you?" Masen laughed next to me.

"MASEN!" the boy froze. I knew that voice as well, that was the voice of a very angry Bella Swan. Even I knew not to get in her way when she was furious.

"I saved your ass, now it's time for you to save mine!" he pushed me in front of him like a human shield.

"Hello Bella, you look simply radiant today." I said politely, trying to appease her.

"Not now Edward, move!" she grabbed my shoulders and tried moved me away from Masen so she could get at him. I think she forgot that I was so much bigger than her and therefore she couldn't move me.

"Someone call CPS, she's going to kill me! I'm not gonna live to go to college, I'm never going to get to drive a car, oh someone help me!" Masen yelled in fear.

"Bella please, allow me to explain what's going on. Then if you wish, you can kill Masen." I reasoned. She stepped back and crossed her arms, her eyes still wild and angry. She must have been expecting one hell of an explanation. I'd forgotten how attractive Bella was when she was angry with someone other than me. She definitely didn't look like she had come for the wedding. She wore a pair of loose fitting blue jeans that only slightly hugged her waist and a fitted long sleeved t-shirt. I could tell she had done her hair in a rush, strands of it falling over her face.

"WHAT?" Masen looked horrified. "You're just going to hand me over to her? You're going to throw me to the wolves? I'm your son, it's your job to protect me. You are doing a really bad job."

"Fine. Maybe you can tell me why you look such a mess while you're at it." She commented about my clearly rumpled state.

"Tanya and I aren't getting married. There's really nothing more to it than that." I said, watching her eyes spark with confusion.

"Why not? What about the baby, aren't you going to help her take care of it? How much does she expect you to pay in child support a month?" she demanded, clearly not pleased.

"There is no baby Bella. It was all a trick so that I would marry her. Masen uncovered the truth and now we're not getting married." It was then that I looked down to see that her left foot was in a mop bucket.

"Would you care to tell me why your foot is a mop bucket love? I don't think that's the fashion statement you want to make."

"Yes Edward, this is my poor attempt at making a fashion statement." Bella huffed sarcastically. She shoved me hard on the shoulder to show her displeasure.

I turned to see Carlisle running up the aisle with Rosalie and Emmett in tow.

"What were you thinking Esme?" he demanded once he reached us.

"About Edward's wellbeing. He can't seem to do anything about it himself. All he seems to care about is that girl." I had never seen my father look so upset before. He had always been the calmest member of the family, especially with my mother. Some days I even thought he might be just a little bit afraid of her. I guess I was wrong about that.

"Bella isn't just a girl, Esme, she's the woman that he loves. Can't you just accept that and move on? The quicker you get over that fact, the quicker our families can heal." He took her hands and held them. "Please, why can't you just let this go?"

Bella was still confused. She looked from face to face, analyzing each. Clearly she did not understand what was really going on.

"So wait...let me get this straight. The whole thing was a setup? Tanya was never pregnant? Esme lied?" she inquired.

"Yes. Masen got it on videotape." I assured her.

"How?" she asked him.

"Does a magician reveal his secrets?" Masen winked at her.

"Okay! It's official! I am going home and going to bed. My dreams make more sense than this crap." She grabbed Masen's arm and led him out of the church.

"Well?" Alice asked of me.

"What?" I shrugged at her.

"Aren't you going to go after her, pledge your undying love or some of that shit?" she shoved me towards the door.

"Alice!"

"Go, you deserve to be happy for once and you were always happy with her. There's your happily after, it's walking right out that door, you've got a family waiting for you right out there."

"Maybe you're right…" I grinned at her and took off. Maybe they hadn't left yet.

I was in luck, Bella was having trouble with the door to her truck. I remember always trying to get her to buy something different. I had never been more thankful for that tank.

"Need a strong arm?" I snuck up behind her playfully placing my hand over hers.

"Yeah, the darned thing is always getting stuck again." she laughed. "Can you help me kind sir?"

"Oh gag me!" Masen cried making vomiting noises.

"Maybe you should have opened the door when I asked you to." Bella stuck her tongue out at him.

"Maybe you two shouldn't flirt in public." Masen had officially been disturbed. He opened his door and climbed in the truck.

"Oh Masen…" Bella shook her head at him and laughed even harder, I laughed with her.

After a few moments, we stood awkwardly next to each other, leaning against her truck.

"So…would you like to join us for dinner?" she asked after a few minuets.

"Not if she's cooking! You don't want to kill him do you mom?" Masen shouted from the truck.

"Of course I would Bella. Now about that door." I ignored him and swung the door open with ease.

Bella glared playfully at me. "You think you're so strong but I loosened it."

"Of course you did Bella." I shrugged at her. She hoisted herself into the driver seat.

"Well come on lover boy. You look like you could use some fun away from your would be bride." She pulled me into the truck with them.

"I think I could handle some fun."

When Bella stopped in front of her home, I immediately jumped out of the truck, rushing to open the door for her. I lifted her down from the step, careful to set her down gently.

"You didn't have to do that Edward. I would have been fine." She said obviously annoyed.

"I know, but I'm not about to take any unnecessary chances." I kissed her forehead hoping to soothe her anger. She relaxed against me almost instantly.

"Wow, starting an extramarital affair so soon Edward. Your marriage will never last if you're already fooling around." I looked up to see Jasper watching us, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I guess you knew the truth all along?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Well of course. In case you didn't notice, Masen doesn't exactly have a car. I'm the one that drove him to the church."

"Jasper! Why didn't you tell me what was going on?" Bella yelled at him.

"Because you would have ran off and told Edward and Tanya and Esme would have never gotten what was coming to them." he smiled at her. "Looks like I was wrong. You and the asshole do belong together."

"I've been telling you that sense the beginning Jasper. This just proves that you should listen to me more often." Bella giggled at him.

We did belong together.

"Um, before we get all mushy, can I go inside? I don't really want to watch you two flirt anymore. I don't think my stomach could handle that." Masen clutched his stomach.

"Fine, you can go start the pasta that I have in the pantry." Bella sent him on his way. She leaned against my shoulder, smiling in contentment.

"Let's go eat Bella. I don't know about you, but I don't trust Masen with an open flame." Before she could respond, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her up the steps and into her house. She nuzzled herself against me with care.

"I love you Edward." she whispered after a few seconds.

"I love you too Bella. Always have, always will." I swore to her.

"Are you two coming? I'm a robotics specialist, not a chef!" Masen shouted from the doorway.

Bella didn't answer him. She just clutched my shirt even closer. I knew we were going to be okay.

Okay, so the next chapter will most likely be the epilogue. I'll post the link to my pic of Masen and soon as I finish it. I don't think I've forgotten anything else. Much Love!

-IFW