Thank you for your amazing reviews from Chapter 10. I was overjoyed that you loved it as much as I did. I'm pleased to announce that I have a permanent beta team in place: MelissaMargaret, Batgirl8968 and Sweetishbubble. Thank you for your incredibly guidance.

September 30, 1922

The knock at the door came sooner than I expected. Was I late or was he anxious? Or worried? I glanced at the clock even though I knew what time it was without looking. He was early. He was anxious.

"Esme?" he asked from the other side of the door.

"Come in, Edward," I called from the vanity as I continued to pin my veil.

The door barely made a sound as he entered and came to stand behind me.

"Emily Post would be furious with me," I said as I continued to work on my hair.

"Oh? And why is that?" he asked with an unusual seriousness.

"According to Ms. Post, a bride taking part in her second marriage should not wear white or orange blossoms."

"She also referred to a second marriage only in terms of the bride being a widow. I think she would be scandalized by the fact that technically speaking you are dead."

I gave a dramatic sigh and smirked into the mirror. "True, and I did abide by her other rules of etiquette: no bridesmaids, small ceremony, and no attendants."

"Except me."

I pushed in the last pin and turned to look at him.

"I don't need anyone else," I said with a smile. Although his face hadn't changed at all there was something about seeing Edward in a tuxedo that made him look older than his seventeen years. "You look so handsome."

"I was just going to say the same thing to you, Ms. Platt," Edward said with a grin. He shook his head with a laugh. "This is your only wedding that really matters. You can do what you like and you deserve white."

"Thank you, dear. I just want everything perfect for Carlisle. He's waited so long for this."

"It's your day too, Esme. Your happiness is his happiness."

"If that's the case he must be overjoyed."

"He is. He truly is."

Edward slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew an envelope. "From the groom," he said as he handed it to me.

I took it eagerly, deeply inhaling his faint scent on the paper, and ripped it open.

September 30, 1922

My dearest Esme,

As the sun rises on our wedding day there is so much I want to say, but I am overjoyed by the realization that you are giving me forever to tell you and show you how much I love you.

For centuries I never imagined this day would come for me, but I know now that I was waiting for you. It would never have been right without you. I needed you to stand by my side.

I found myself thinking about your Jane and Rochester last evening. Chapter twenty-three in particular played in my mind. There are such fervent declarations of love and commitment in this chapter. So now I will give you the words of your Mr. Rochester:

"My bride is here... because my equal is here, and my likeness."

And

"Come to me-come to me entirely now. Make my happiness-I will make yours.'"

I will see you at the altar. I love you.

Yours for eternity,

Carlisle

P.S. I promise there is no Bertha in the attic and Mr. Mason will not interrupt our union.

I chuckled as I looked over the lines of his perfect penmanship one more time. My heart felt so full that I wondered if forever would be long enough.

I smiled at Edward.

"Your happiness is his happiness? Make my happiness-I will make yours? Were you eavesdropping on Carlisle's writing?"

"No," he denied. "He just gave this to me, but I knew him before you. He wasn't unhappy then, but he's never been happier than he is now."

"Neither have I," I said as I folded the page that I would always cherish and placed it back in the envelope. "You're early by the way."

"Yes, and not because I'm anxious, but because I have my sole attendant duties to attend to."

I gave him an incredulous look. "And what duties would that be other than to get me to the church and down the aisle?"

"Well, while scouring your etiquette book to try to get as much of this wedding day as right as possible under the circumstances, I noticed a tradition for the bride that must be upheld or the whole thing could just fall apart."

I was surprised as I pondered for a moment what he was talking about. He didn't make me wait long though.

"Remember the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe?"

I laughed at his mock seriousness.

"You are not taking this very serious, miss."

"The lack of tradition in this day, whether known by the minister or not, is so numerous that something such as that superstition seems so trivial."

"Trivial maybe, but a tradition none the less that I intend to make sure you uphold."

"Well you know I have something new already," I said as I gestured to the dress.

Edward had graciously been my escort as I shopped for everything I needed for the wedding and honeymoon. He was my Godsend. In the role of my brother, he patiently waited through fittings and many stops at shops that were customarily only entered by ladies. He knew when my thoughts started to waver from being in the shops with the humans too long. He made sure that in a traditional way Carlisle didn't see me in my dress and wouldn't see my dress until I appeared on the aisle.

"Yes, I'm well aware of the newness of the dress, but I have the old, borrowed, blue, and even the sixpence for your shoe."

I had not seen him enter the room but now I saw the items he had set down on the table by the door in the hotel room I was getting ready in.

"What did you do?" I asked as he went to retrieve them and grabbed a chair as he walked back over to where I still sat on the bench by the vanity.

"Oh, they're just a few things that I had laying around."

He sat down next to me and placed two small boxes on the vanity while holding onto a flat one.

"My father doted on my mother. They loved each other very much. There was never a moment when they looked at each other that I didn't see how much they cared for one another. It was beautiful to watch just as it is beautiful to watch you and Carlisle now. He gave her many gifts that have sat untouched for years now, but I would be honored if you would wear them today and except for the borrowed one, I'd like to give them to you forever."

I was tremendously touched as I listened to his words.

"I'm honored that you would want to give me these treasures that were your mother's."

"Well, you are marrying the old man," he said with a teasing grin.

"So what?" I said, laughing. "Does that make me the old lady now?"

"You'll never be old, but recently I've felt that our dynamics are changing. I know you have, too."

"I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize, Esme. You are just being where you need to be. Carlisle will always guide us. He's a leader, a creator, whether he wants those roles are not. At times, I feel like he is a father to me. Being by his side, you are to be his equal in many ways. And whether you realize it or not, and it seems not is more the case, you do have a tendency at times to mother me. It's your nature."

"I'll be whatever you need me to be Edward, whether it's a sister, a mother, or just a friend."

"Thank you. I think there will be times I may need all three."

"I'll always be here for you. You are my family just as much as Carlisle is. I need you in my life. I don't know how I would have ever gotten to this day without you, and I don't just mean the shopping."

"I'm happy that we have gotten here and I'm thrilled for both of you."

"Thank you, Edward. Thank you for sharing him with me."

"I don't think I ever had a choice. You two are meant to be and I wouldn't have it any other way."

I leaned over to embrace him and planted a kiss on his cheek. Whether he was a brother or a friend or a son, he was my Edward. I adored him and always would and was grateful that he celebrated our love with us.

I held onto him a moment longer before releasing him and he let go of his returning grip.

"I adore you, too," he said answering my unspoken thought. "Now if we don't get moving we'll be late and you don't want to make Carlisle wait at the altar."

"No of course not. So what do you have?"

"First we'll go with old." He opened the flat box and turned it to me. Inside was a beautiful necklace. The scrolls and floral motif was filled with diamonds. "My father gave this to my mother for one of their first anniversaries."

"It's stunning."

"He had good taste," he said as he took it out of the box. "May I help you put it on?"

"Yes, thank you."

He removed it from the box and stood behind me as I looked in the mirror. I gently moved my veil out of the way so he could fasten the clasp behind my neck. It laid perfectly with the neckline of my dress.

"It is perfect on you," he said looking at my reflection before retaking his seat.

"Blue next," he said picking up the next box and opening it to present to me. "Not that you need any more heart, but yours is definitely a jewel." Inside the box was a pendant heart of diamonds outlined in blue sapphires. "I don't know that you want this to mar your gown. You may want to put it somewhere more discreet."

"Of course I want to wear it where it can be seen. It's a gift from my Edward," I said as I opened my hand from him to take it and started pinning it onto my bosom. "Is there a story behind this?"

"It was summer 1915 when he brought that home. He had been working very long hours for months on a trial. She became a bit melancholy. He brought this home one night and said even while he was away she had his heart for forever. She wore it proudly nearly every day when he was out of the house."

I tried to picture what Elizabeth Masen looked like wearing this pin, but stopped as I didn't want to envision her incorrectly. "How remarkable," I said. "I would have liked to have known your parents."

"I think you and my mother would have been good friends."

"I know we would have shared a great love for and dedication to her son."

"That's only scratching the surface and that is all we have time for now," he picked up the last box. "Borrowed was easy and difficult. Difficult to figure out but once I did it was an easy choice."

I was intrigued.

"I hope that one day I find a love such as Carlisle has found with you and when I do I want to give this to her." He removed a ring from the box as he continued, "But since you are the only woman I do know and love, I'd be honored if you wear this on your wedding day with the thought that you are not the last bride whose finger it rests on."

He took my right hand and slid the ring onto my pointer finger as I had already moved my engagement ring to this hand's ring finger. It was an oval with many round diamonds set on a gold band.

"Was this your mother's engagement ring?"

He nodded. "My father wanted something unique. He designed it himself."

"It's precious in so many ways. Thank you so much for all of this and thinking of it. Touched just doesn't go deep enough to describe how I feel."

"I'm happy you like it."

"I love every bit of it."

"You need to finish getting ready."

"All I need are my shoes and my gloves."

Edward retrieved my shoes and dramatically placed a sixpence in one of them before he bent down and slipped them on my feet. I took care of my gloves and he helped me to my feet and led me over to the mirror.

I studied myself for a moment. I was such a different bride this time. I was happy. I was in love. Content was not in my vocabulary today. I wanted to race down the aisle at that very moment.

"Not quite yet, Esme. Patience. You'll be Mrs. Cullen soon enough."

I giggled. I couldn't help it.

"This is really happening, isn't it?" I said out loud to no one in particular.

"Yes it is." Edward was grinning behind me.

I twirled around once and looked in the mirror again. This was so right. Everything was right.

"You look beautiful, Esme."

I twirled in a circle and threw my arms around him. He caught me in an embrace.

"I don't want to wrinkle your dress," he said but didn't let go.

"Forget the dress," I said holding onto him.

We could hear the trotting of horses as a carriage approached the front of the hotel. If it had been sunny, we would have walked the streets of Duluth, Minnesota to the First Presbyterian Church, staying in the shadows of the buildings and trees. Luckily overcast skies had reigned over the town since yesterday so Edward didn't have to cancel the carriage.

Carlisle wanted a faith based service. He wanted us joined before "God." Like most of rural Ohio, I had been raised, baptized and married in a Methodist Episcopal church. I didn't want to be married again in one. Carlisle had been raised with Anglican beliefs ingrained by his father. It came down to an acceptable faith, location and a minister willing to marry us. It helped that Presbyterians place great importance upon life-long learning and education.

The Presbyterians were accepting of the gentlemanly doctor with no family and the woman he loved whose only family, her brother, supported the marriage.

Duluth was close enough to the lodge that we could honeymoon there. We had originally discussed marrying in Minneapolis, but when we started to look at the best way to coordinate our comings and goings to Virginia, it seemed like Duluth was a better choice. It was far enough away yet close enough for us. Carlisle and I would leave in the car after the ceremony supposedly for a place along Lake Superior, but we would head for our lodge. We felt it would be safer to stay away from humans. He had shooed Edward and I to Duluth three days ago to prepare it. He wanted it to be a special escape for us. I didn't know what he meant, but knew in a few hours I would find out. While we were away, Edward was planning on doing some exploring on his own. He had a few things he wanted to look into with his affairs in Chicago and he would rendezvous with us in Virginia at our "new" home in two weeks time.

Edward released me and went to retrieve my flowers.

"There," he said as he handed them to me and I looked in glass again. "Perfect."

"We should get going, brother," I teased.

"Yes, dearest sister," he said as he offered me his arm. As we reached the door he asked, "Do you have everything that you need?"

"I'm missing the groom."

He grinned at me. "The groom is right where he's supposed to be."

Heads turned as we walked through the hotel lobby. There were smiles and I could clearly hear the murmurs about a beautiful bride. A few people even offered their congratulations, which I took with a nod. I knew I was beaming as Edward helped me up into the carriage.

Edward clasped my hand as the carriage paraded to the church. People waved from the sidewalk and shouted congratulations. I took it all in. I wouldn't let a moment of this day be missed.

I fingered the edge of the fabric wrapped around my bouquet. Through my gloves I felt a bump in the material. I could feel Edward's eyes on me as I lifted the flowers to inspect it and found a familiar embroidered C.C. on the handkerchief that was in my possession for so long.

"I didn't think you would mind."

"Not at all. You truly did think of everything, Edward. Thank you."

He leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Anything for you."

We were stopping. We had arrived at the church. Edward told me to wait while he left the carriage and went inside. He was back a few minutes later with the minister's wife at his side.

He held out his hand to help me down while Reverend Anderson's wife, Elma, prattled away. "Oh Miss Platt! You look beautiful! Your Dr. Cullen is a lucky man. Now, if you just follow me into the back of the church we'll get started shortly."

"I hope by shortly she means immediately," I murmured as I ascended the steps on Edward's arm.

He laughed quietly. "Patience, Miss Platt. Within the hour you will be Mrs. Cullen."

"I don't want to wait that long," I said teasingly.

The doors were closed to the sanctuary as we entered the foyer. Mrs. Anderson disappeared to check in with her husband while Edward turned to me and fixed my veil. He spoke quietly.

"Some of the congregation is present. Mrs. Anderson is quite the gossip, but she also with kindness shared the story of the bride and groom with no family other than each other. They are here to be supportive to the couple who have decided to join their lives in their church."

"That is very kind of them," I said as I took a deep breath from my flowers to focus on that scent.

"I know it is unexpected, but you fed last night. You've handled more humans than this in closer quarters than this. Just focus on Carlisle, Mrs. Cullen."

I nodded in agreement.

"Alright, my dear," said Mrs. Anderson as she reappeared from a side door. "Let me have you and your brother stand right here," she said as she gestured. "The organist will start the Bridal Chorus in just a moment. I'll then open the doors and signal when you can start walking down the aisle. Your groom will meet you at the end of the aisle. And I just want to let you know so you won't be startled, some of our congregants are here. They didn't want you to go through such a special day alone. They are here to show their support for you and your soon to be husband."

"Thank you for telling me, Mrs. Anderson," I said with a smile, "but I have a feeling that the only person I'll see once I walk through those doors is Carlisle."

She smiled. "I'm sure that will be the case."

Just then the music began. I felt excited from my toes to the top of my head and had to stop myself from running forward, ripping the doors open and sprinting down the aisle.

Edward spoke for my ears only. "Please don't. You're almost there."

I bobbed my head and tried to pull back the grin on my lips but I couldn't. It wouldn't go away no matter how hard I tried. I may be the goofiest looking bride to ever walk down an aisle, but I didn't care.

"You're not goofy. You're beautifully happy."

I giggled and squeezed his arm gently. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Now let's get this show on the road."

Mrs. Anderson nodded and we nodded in return. Then she opened the doors. I saw people standing in the pews toward the front. They were the strangers whose good hearts brought them to their church on this day. I was grateful for their unnecessary kindness. With the slope of the aisle I couldn't see past them though until I walked through the doorway and then I saw him.

Carlisle looked magnificent and also was wearing a goofy grin – or as Edward said a beautifully happy grin. I locked eyes with him through my veil and wouldn't let him go. I floated down the aisle toward him. I didn't see the flock or the minister or Edward anymore. There was only Carlisle.

Mrs. Anderson had somehow magically made her way to the altar and as Edward handed my arm to Carlisle she took my bouquet. The music stopped and Reverend Anderson had to clear his throat to get our attention.

"Ah, young love," he said quietly with a kind smile before beginning. "We have gathered in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, to witness the joining together of Esme and Carlisle, to surround them with our prayers, and to ask God's blessing upon them, so that they may be strengthened for their life together and nurtured in their love for God."

My eyes left the minister and returned to Carlisle, who I found was watching me. His fingers threaded through my own, linking us together. Yes, the ceremony was important. In sickness and in health were irrelevant to us, but the words of promise, faith, and love were important. He prayed over us and charged us and made us gladly declare our intent.

"I ask you now in the presence of God and these people, to declare your intention to enter into union with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ, who calls you into union with himself.

"Esme, will you have Carlisle to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I will."

The readings from Corinthians and Genesis followed and then the minister spoke to us.

"When you two first came to me and inquired about me marrying you, I had my concerns. You two were alone, except for your brother, and I worried that you had lacked guidance in making your decision to enter into matrimony. Very quickly though I realized that your connection was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before. I don't truly understand it and I haven't been able to find a satisfactory way to put it into words. There is a spirituality and reverence that you two emit for one and other that is sacred and I feel is beyond the bonds and vows that you make today. I have no doubt that your love is eternal and will continue to blossom over time. Be each others' best friend and each others' happiness. Your love will last forever."

Carlisle squeezed my hand. I didn't need to hear this stranger's words to know they were true. We were fated. That moment was meant to be ours and we would be each other's forever.

"Since it is your desire to marry, please join your right hands and with your promises bind yourselves together as husband and wife. Carlisle, please repeat after me."

I only heard Carlisle and every emotion with every word spoken.

"I, Carlisle, take you, Esme, to be my wife from this day forward. I offer you my love and support throughout our lives. To join with you and to share all that is to come; the happiness and joy as well as the challenges which life brings. I promise to be faithful to you; to be open and honest with you. I will respect, trust, help, and care for you. I have found in you the one who completes me, the one that God intended me to be with, my soul-mate. I will love you and be thankful for the blessing of your love,
as long as we both shall live."

I repeated the words with just as much emotion. The words were so true. A higher being, a powerful force, had intended us to be together.

I removed my ring finger from the glove in preparation of the next part as Edward handed the minister the rings.

"These rings are the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to us the union between Jesus Christ and his church.

"Bless, O Lord, the giving of these rings that they who give them and they who receive them may live in your peace and continue in your favor all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

He took my hand in his and slid the band gently onto my finger. He lifted my hand and gently kissed the ring as he done when he had presented me with my engagement ring. If I could have produced tears they would have been pouring down my face with happiness.

"Esme, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. With all that I am and all that I have, I join in covenant with you, in the name of God our Creator, Christ our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer."

It was a bit more faith than I felt, but I dutiful repeated the words as I slid the ring on his finger, symbolically binding him to me. Before the witnesses, the minister, Edward, and God if such being existed, he was mine and I was his.

"You have declared your consent and vows before God and these witnesses. May God confirm your covenant and fill you both with grace."

Reverend Anderson turned to address the congregation. "Now that Esme and Carlisle have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings, I announce to you that they are husband and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. Amen."

Husband and wife! I wanted to scream it to the rafters, but I couldn't quite yet.

We lit the candle symbolizing our unity and the minister prayed over us once more and then he said, "Go into the world and fulfill your lives. Hold fast to your ideals. Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature that your life together may be a source of strength and inspiration to the community of your family and to the wider circle of the world.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Carlisle gently lifted the veil from my face and beheld my eyes with no barrier. There were no impediments now, nor would there ever be any again. His lips touched mine. It was chaste, but perfect as he withdrew and whispered, "I love you." All the words spoken that day between us had been words written by others meant to bind any couple, but those words from his lips were what mattered.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to Dr. and Mrs. Carlisle Cullen."

I felt a thrill run through my body again at that introduction that made it real and official. Goodbye Platt and Evenson. I was Mrs. Cullen and would be for all time.

Mrs. Anderson handed me my flowers as the Wedding March began to play and we made our way up the aisle. As soon as we reached the vestibule I took his face in my hands and kissed him again. "I love you, too."

The warmth of his smile enveloped me as I held onto his cheeks, but when Edward's hand touched my shoulder he reminded me of propriety.

He took turns hugging us both but the hugs were with one arm for Carlisle wouldn't let my hand go and I was not releasing his.

A moment later the minister and his wife were greeting us and we found ourselves with an impromptu receiving line greeting the kind parishioners who had taken time out of their day to be there for our most important one.

We had hired a photographer to capture us on this day. He had set up at the parsonage next door as Reverend Anderson and his wife had insisted we come by after the ceremony.

Only four photos were taken that day – Carlisle and I, Edward and Carlisle, Edward and me, and the three of us - our family, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen and our Edward.

Author's Notes:

I hope you enjoyed Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's wedding. Here are some notes on what went into creating this chapter.

Stephenie didn't think about something until she had to write it.

Question for Stephenie Meyer: When are Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Alice's birthdays?

Answer from Stephenie: Because these haven't figured into the story yet, I haven't chosen exact days. It may never come up, or it may show up someday. *shrugs*

I understand what Stephenie meant. I have never stated Esme's religion, although there is mention of her church, in Book One. Knowing a little about rural areas and religion, and separately about religion in that area of the country, I knew she had to be part of a Protestant sect, but I had not determined what one. I happened across "Six Thousand Country Churches," which was published in 1919 (the link is on my profile page). It is about all of the rural churches in Ohio. This book made it abundantly clear that Methodist Episcopal dominated much of rural Ohio so chances are that's what she was and that's what I made her.

The (Historic) First Presbyterian Church was the first congregation established in Duluth and it is still active today.

I know many people, myself included, would like to think that Esme married Carlisle in a beautiful long gown with a big long train, but that wasn't the style in 1922. You'll find on my profile page a link to a picture of an American bride named Evelyn. By pure coincidence her real life wedding day was the same day that I chose as Carlisle and Esme's. If you look at royal weddings from that time period, even those brides wore this shorter dress style.

Emily Post was a big help. I found online "The Day of the Wedding" by Emily Post from 1922. The link is on my profile page. It was great reading for understanding what was proper for a wedding in 1922.

I hope you liked Edward's gifts. You know what the "something borrowed" looks like, but if you want to see what the "something old" and "something blue" look like there's a link on my profile page.

Thank you to Charlotte Bronte for her words from Jane Eyre.

FYI, if you are a reader but not a writer: Authors can't post links in the story, but we can post links on our profile page, which is why the links are there and not here.

I often get notes asking me to write/publish faster. I know it takes me a while to write a chapter, but that is because I want to get it right. There were hours of research that went into this chapter. Just to give you an idea of what I have to look up, here's a list of some of the things I researched:
wedding gowns 1922,
when the veil gets lifted during the ceremony,
how does the bride properly handle gloves for the exchange of rings,
religions in rural Ohio,
churches in Duluth, Minnesota,
churches in Minneapolis,
Google map searches of distances,
Methodist Episcopal,
Anglican,
various religions,
Presbyterian wedding ceremonies,
Presbyterian wedding readings,
religious wedding readings,
Scottish first names and last names for the minister and his wife,
wedding ceremony music,

and I could go on and on. I wish I could write faster, but I hope you appreciate the time I take to ensure accuracy and quality. Thank you for your patience.

Next up is the honeymoon and I know you want me to get that right!

Indie Fic Pimp reviewed Esme's Story: Book Two: The Vampire Years and gave it a lovely review and also created a banner for the story! The link is on my profile.

Thanks for reading! Reviews are love.