Chapter Three
The Ceremony
Once she had her wedding dress on Bella couldn't wait to become Mrs Cullen, as she waited outside the door to the living room with Charlie by her side she realised just how lucky she was to have a father like him, not many would still support their daughters wedding when they didn't like the groom. She just hoped he was just as supportive of the pregnancy as he has been the wedding, she was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of her lullaby being played. That was their cue, holding onto Charlie's arm ad he walked her down the aisle toward her vampire, by the time they reached Edward he was having to hold her back.
Once they reached Edward's side, Charlie noticed how relaxed his daughter was and that secured the deal for him. If being with Edward brought that smile to his daughters face then he could handle being related to the Cullens, after Bella told him why they left he couldn't stay angry at him any longer. Renee would regret not coming, she just didn't want her daughter to grow up. Bella gave her father a small smile as the ceremony began, very soon she was going to be Mrs Cullen.
"We are gathered here today to join Bella and Edward in holy matrimony. Finding your soulmate is a wonderful thing in life, but finding it when your still young is extremely rare and it's clear for all to see that these two are meant to be together. If anyone thinks these two should not be joined in holy matrimony please speak now or forever hold your peace."
Bella looked around the room smiling shyly as she saw Jacob, shocked by fact he was joking around with Carlisle and Esme. There was a story behind that and she would find out what it was later. A few minutes later no one had protested and Pastor Weber continued with the ceremony. Turning back to face her soon to be husband she relaxed once more feeling the small squeeze if reassurance from her mate.
"Bella and Edward have decided to write their own vows. Bella if you could go first."
"Edward, when I first arrived he I expected to only be here two years until the end of school and return to Phoenix, and then I literally fell into your world. Since that moment you've owned my heart. Throughout the years there have been good times and very bad times but in the grand scheme of things the good outweighs the bad and I can't wait to become your wife. Some people here today thought we wouldn't last here we are proving them all wrong, I love you Edward Cullen more than words can say, today I promise to love you and cherish you for as long as we both shall live." Bella said trying to calm her emotions.
"Edward it's time to say your vows to Bella." Pastor Weber prompted.
"Bella, when we first met I was extremely nervous I'd spent most of my life alone after being adopted by Carlisle and Esme, I didn't want to open myself up only to be hurt again, however I wasn't banking on you being so persistent and eventually you made me realise I did deserve to be loved, your love makes me a better man and I promise you that I will love, honour and cherish you as long as we both shall live. I love you Isabella, forever."
"Who has the rings." Pastor Weber asked.
"We do." Jacob and Emmett said together.
Bella took the ring for Edward from Jacob completely confused by the turn of events. She had only just gotten her head around not seeing him again and here he was taking part on her weddung to the vampire he'd tried to keep her from for the last year. Something had happened in order for Edward to be so relaxed around him so she wouldn't question it yet, though she was determined to get answers. Taking a deep breath she placed the platinum gold band onto her mates wedding finger leaning down to kiss it gently.
"With this ring I thee wed."
Edward turned to Emmett taking Bella's diamond encrusted wedding band in his hand placing it gently onto her wedding finger, the smile lightening up his face as he set his biological mothers engagement ring back into place above it before gently placing a kiss onto the ring before declaring his promise.
"With this ring I thee wed."
"With the giving and receiving of rings Bella and Edward have pledged themselves to each other in front of family and friends. Edward you may now kiss your bride." Pastor Weber announced.
Edward leaned down moulding hid lips to Bella's warm ones putting every ounce of his love into it. Bella responded with eagerness deepening the kiss only pulling away as she heard the cat calls coming from her brothers and Jacob. Blushing slightly she turned toward their friends and family, from the corn of her eye she could see Jessica studying her suspiciously. Two years and she was still jealous. Oh well not even jealous best friends could spoil her happiness.
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The ceremony gradually turned into the reception as Alice led them outside where their family and friends were waiting. Without realising what she was doing Bella ghosted her hand down her dress, over her stomach as she prepares herself to tell her father and best friend (at least she thought that's why he was here) about the baby. With a gentle squeeze of reassurance from her husband she made her way to her father as Edward spoke to Carlisle and Esme.
"Hey Jake, thanks for coming."
"Probably wondering why huh?"
"You could say that, I let you go Jake what changed?"
"Sam and I got into a fight and fought for the title of alpha, I won. Before the wedding I arranged a new treaty with Edward, it just needs signing, they've got my permission as alpha to change you. But just you the rest of the treaty stays the same. He said you had news."
"You could say that, remember the night I spent with him whilst you were preparing for Victoria."
"When I thought they'd kidnapped you, yeah I remember."
"I agreed to stay human longer and go to college if he slept with me. I seduced him and last night we found out I'm pregnant. I haven't told Charlie yet and you know what Mum is like, she didn't even come to the wedding,"
"She'll come round Bells, look at me. Oh and congratulations."
"Thanks Jake, will you be staying here when we're on honeymoon or heading back to LaPush."
"If they'll have me, here. I think I'll leave Sam to cool off."
"Good plan he can get pretty heated when he's annoyed."
"You remember then?"
"Hoe could I not. I'll save a dance for you."
"I'll look forward to it. Now go tell Charlie he's going to be a grandfather."
Taking a deep breath Bella joined her father and Edward leaning into her husband's side as they prepared to inform her father he was going to become a grandfather. Suddenly she was glad her mother hadn't come, at least now she could phone her and hang up, she could handle Charlie but her mother had always been younger than her years despite having Phil in her life now. Taking hold of her husband's hand she decided to just come out with it. Like ripping off a band aid.
"Dad we have something to tell you. We would have told you last night but I didn't want you to stop the wedding."
"I wouldn't have done that Bells. What happened?"
"When Alice told you that we were going shopping three months ago it wasn't strictly the truth, she went shopping whilst everyone else was out. With you watching our every move and Billy trying to split us up, we hadn't had any time together. After cooking for me we went upstairs to our room, I'm not going to say it out loud dad but I think you know what happened next, I'm three months pregnant. And before you ask no it's not the reason we got married, we got engaged before then."
"Sure know how to shock a guy Bells. I'm going to be a grandpop?"
"You are, I'm happy Dad, you saw how I was without Edward, he's part of my very soul. Without him I exist I couldn't risk Mum trying to force me back to Jacksonville. Not that she cared enough to turn up."
"Congratulations Bells."
"Thanks Dad."
"Now let's go and eat before Alice comes for us." Charlie said softly.
"Mm." Bella mumbled.
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Bella and Edward followed Charlie into the marquee where their guests were sitting down to the wedding breakfast, however all Bella could think of washed nauseous she felt. Going over all the information she could remember on pregnancy there was one thing she overlooked. The baby was part vampire, surely she would crave blood as well as human food. Turning toward her husband she concentrated on the barrier around her mind smiling brightly as she managed to manipulate it so she'd be able to send Edward her thoughts.
Edward I just thought of something
"Bella? How did you do that?"
I've been practicing.
"What thought did you have, love?" Edward asked quietly enough that only the vampires amongst them heard.
I was looking at the pregnancy like I would any other, Carlisle says the baby is growing like a human pregnancy but she's still half vampire. What's the one thing you need to live?
"Blood?" Edward asked as if he should have thought of it sooner.
Mmhm and now I've figured it out I'm craving it.
Before either of them could ask Rosalie to get a glass of blood, Alice had appeared holding out the glass. Sometimes Alice's visions came in rather useful, even if she couldn't understand the word no the majority of the time. With glass in hand Bella took a long gulp letting out a small sigh of contentment as the nausea which had been persistent since she'd woken eased off enough that she was able to eat. Leaning against her husband she laughed alongside him as the speeches began, as expected Emmett cracked jokes on their sex life, Charlie reminded her husband he owned a gun but he was proud to welcome Edward into the family. However the speech which hit her the most was her husband's.
"It's an extraordinary thing to meet someone who you can bare your soul to. And who will accept you for what you are. I've been waiting, what seems like a very long time, to get beyond what I am. And with Bella, I feel like I can finally begin. So I'd like to propose a toast to my beautiful bride. No measure of time with you will be long enough. But let's start with forever."
Bella couldn't stop the tears from falling as she took in his words, without saying it he'd just declared that he intended to make her like him one day soon. Her husband had come a very long way since her scent had overwhelmed him. Taking hold of Edwards' hand she pulled herself up reaching up to kiss her husband tenderly on the lips once again earning cat calls from their brothers, Seth and Jake. This has certainly been the best day of her life so far. The future was looking bright.