Reprieve

We were all clueless as to why Edward congratulated Jacob and Leah and then it hit me. I saw Jacob standing at the front of an aisle dressed in a tux looking back at someone; next to him stood the pack and in front of him stood a fellow tribesman. From my left I saw the image of beautiful Native women walking past me holding flowers and dressed in long flowing gowns. To my right was Jasper; in front of us were Bella, Edward and Reneesme. It was clear, this was a vision of Jacob and Leah...getting married. When I snapped to everyone had taken their gaze off Jacob and Leah and squarely placed it on me. This is something I had gotten use to since becoming a Cullen, yet it never got any less scary than the first time it happened. I smiled briefly and turned my head away from their strong eyes.

"What brings you to our home, Jacob?" Carlisle said quickly.

"Oh you know nothing really. Just got bored hanging back at the res and thought I'd come here to see what was happening. Any news?" Jacob seemed to be trying to act as cool as possible in his response to Carlisle; he clearly wanted to avoid why he had brought Leah with him. Leah stood cautiously on his arm; she never did warm up to us. To be frank, we Cullens never particularly cared for any one of the tribesmen except for maybe Jacob.

"Really, is that all? You wanted to meet Ben and Angela and find out if we had anymore news?" Carlisle spoke while staring at Edward and me.

Edward was the first to speak, "Jacob, should I tell them or will you? We both know you had no interest in coming over to meet Ben and Angela and you certainly don't need an update from us about the way things aren't progressing."

"You're right Edward. Bella, everyone, Leah and I have an announcement to make. When Reneesme was born and I saw her I thought that I had imprinted on her as you all know. But I was wrong; I didn't imprint on her. I think I was caught up in the emotion of Bella's transformation and the birth of Reneesme. For a while now I have known deep down that Leah and I are meant to be together." Jacob starred at Bella the whole time he spoke and then Leah opened her mouth to speak.

"We are getting married in two months on the reservation. We hope that you all can come; you have been as a second family to us. Despite my behavior towards you all, you have been nothing but kind to me." She looked sincere and as soon as she finished Carlisle accepted the invitation and told her that all of us would be attending the wedding. As soon as he was finished everyone broke up and went back to doing other things. Bella and I got back to work after a long off time searching for more information about Nathaniel.

Rosalie and Jasper took to helping Angela and Ben continue growing accustomed to their new life. Meanwhile, Emmett went with Jacob to see if they could find any evidence of other vampires in the area. Carlisle and Edward shuffled through the information Carlisle had collected over the years, and the information given to him by his friends. Meanwhile, Esme, Bella and I went hunting near the Canada border.

A few days past and Charlie came over to see Bella and Reneesme, he had allowed for a little time since the funeral. We had all thought it prudent for Charlie to spend a few days away so that in the event Renee called he wouldn't have to lie about the fact Bella was still alive, sorta. He spent most of his days on the reservation with Sue while we attempted to get back to life as close to normal as was possible. Unfortunately Nathanial still alluded us; we found absolutely no information about him we hadn't already found out. Carlisle was beginning to believe he would have to make a trip to visit with the Volturi, although he was certain at least one if not all three of the Vampire lords were aware of the events unfolding in Forks.

To my surprise Jacob and Leah asked me to plan their wedding for them since neither was altogether very creative with such things. Jacob lead on that he insisted I do the wedding after the job I did for Bella's graduation party and funeral. They gave me two months to plan it, the only things I didn't need were the preacher and the church since a Quileute shaman was going to prefer a traditional Quileute ceremony within a modern religious wedding. Carlisle insisted that Bella and I focus on putting together the wedding than spending time worrying about Nathanial. Bella was becoming more and more of a sister than she already was. She never tired of being by my side, doing absolutely everything to be there for me. She was my voice of reason in planning out the wedding; "These are Native Americans who enjoy celebrating the ways of their ancestors" she scolded me one time looking at things for the reception. Leah decided to wear a traditional Quileute wedding dress and Jacob was going to wear his dad's wedding tux. I used Bella as a model to find the perfect color and style for the brides maids dresses, which we'd both be wearing as we were both asked by Leah to be two of her four maids. Jacob in turn asked Edward and Jasper to be two of his groomsmen, along with all the members of the pack. No amount of convincing could be used to have Leah expand her brides maids out to the same number as Jacob's groomsmen. Her argument was the same; she only had four friends in the world.

Throughout the whole time the pack continued their patrol finding no evidence of the beasts that attack Bella's friends a few months ago. Emmett and Jasper couldn't find anything on their own patrol either and this worried Carlisle and the tribal elders. Nothing could get in the way of the wedding but everyone still had the attacks in the back of their minds. Angela and Ben were of almost no use, they were attacked from behind and only could remember how much it hurt. Most of their memories were clouded by the vampire bite that turned them; all of us, even Carlisle remember the bite like it had only happened moments ago.

As the wedding day grew closer the pack only sent out two or three on patrol while the others did what they could to help Leah and Jacob prepare for their wedding. From my end everything was completed with three weeks to spare and in perfect shape. I became worried about weather patterns as it seemed a system over Alaska might slip down and dump a few inches of rain on us a day before the wedding. Three days out I began to worry less as I discovered that the front wasn't going to reach down after all. I kept searching for any signs of trouble from the mysterious beast or even Nathanial but found nothing. Leah began to worry slightly and asked me if I saw any future troubles for her and Jacob. Rather than lying I told her the truth, I saw the same ups and downs for any married couple but they will die of old age together.

Two days before the wedding Bella and I kidnapped Leah to go up to Olympia with us for a day of fun and merriment. She felt a bit awkward with just the two of us vampires as she had not yet fully grown accustomed to us and still felt the natural animosity for our kind. By the time we finished partying, and shopping I think she was far more at ease around us as she was willing to transform into her other form for the run home.

The day finally arrived and all of us made our way to the reservation for what was certainly going to be an interesting affair. Not all of the tribe members were aware of our existence, or that their legends were true. All that they knew was the Cullens were not to be looked upon in a kind manner, and we were never allowed on their reservation except under specific circumstances. This was one of those circumstances, nearly the whole tribe was invited and going to attend the wedding with the entire Cullen family and Chief Swan in attendance as well. Bella and I arrived at 2 p.m., nearly two hours before the wedding thinking it was plenty of time. To our amazement when we arrived Leah was already dressed and ready to walk down the aisle. Bella was amazed in particular as Leah had asked Charlie to give her away.

"Hey Bella, I hope you don't mind I asked Charlie to give me away." Leah seemed sincere that she hoped Bella wouldn't mind, not because she was afraid Bella would try to kill her but out of a simple sign of respect between two creatures.

"It's ok Leah, I think its wonderful you asked Charlie. But why are you ready? I mean the wedding doesn't start until 4. I doubt Jacob is prepared yet, I bet he's still trying to put the tux on." By this point Bella and I were sitting in the only two recliners in Leah and Jacob's brand new home.

"You look beautiful Leah, I'm sure Jacob will adore you." I said. I didn't want Leah to think she had to answer Bella's question.

The time passed quickly though, we played a few games and joked around. The other two brides maids, members of the Quileute tribe and friends with Leah seemed a bit more on guard with Bella and I than Leah. Their names were Elizabeth and Mary, neither were remotely aware of our existence let alone of Leah's true nature. They heard the same stories all the Quileute knew, that their people were descendent of wolves and supposedly their tribal elders had made a pack with us Cullens that we would never step foot on their land.

Finally the ceremony was to start. Elizabeth was the maid of honor, but to our amazement Leah asked that Bella and I stand second and third in line. The ceremony was a beautiful hybrid of the traditional and new, just as Jacob and Leah always seemed to be. As soon as the ceremony was over we all head over to the reservation's community center where I had set up the reception with great care; fifty tables, each with a white, red and blue rose in the middle as well as lobster and steak for dinner. Those of us in the wedding party decided to eat so as not to cause any suspicions. To make it easier for us, Bella asked the cook to make our steaks raw. The blood from the meat made the steak task almost edible. I of course made sure there was plenty of wine so we could wash the dirt taste away.

Bella and Jacob shared a dance together to a Kid Rock song. The reception lasted well into the night and people slowly began to break up around one. Jacob and Leah were going down to Las Angeles for their two night honeymoon. The rest of the pack helped clean up the reception before going on a quick patrol with Emmett and Jasper. The rest of us returned to our home eager to begin working again on our business. Carlisle announced he would go to visit the Volturi by the end of the month even though he believed it in vain.