A/N Well, it has been a crazy month for me and while I had intended to get this out sooner, Bella and Jasper would not stop whispering in my ear. Jasper will be staying with me from here on out. I need him more than any of you do right now, sorry.
Only At Night
Chapter 38
The Last Hurrahf
Peter and Char were at the house when we got there. Char was checking on details for the weekend. Peter and Jasper had errands to run. Irina was busy making up guest rooms for all the out of town visitors. When she asked if I would help her out with the bunkhouse I was all too eager to pitch in. We made up beds, stocked the fridge and bar area. Emmett's brothers would be staying there along with James and Mike. Irina was even giving up the guest house for the weekend and bunking in with the kids in the one bedroom in the bunk house. James and Emmett's parents and Seth and Embry and their wives were taking over the guest house. The entire ranch was a buzz of activity. There were structures being set up in the yard, white twinkle lights strung everywhere, tenting raised and platforms installed. By the time I saw Jasper again it was nearly bed time and none of us had eaten a thing.
I was exhausted. Jasper suggested a shower before bed, to relax. I had a sneaking suspicion relaxation was not what he had in mind. By the time the warm water hit my shoulders I was yawning and my eyes were drooping. The water temperature wasn't helping at all. Jasper laughed and rubbed my shoulders.
"Come on my bride, I'll give you a back massage and we can call it a night, you should get your rest while you can, the next few days are likely to be crazy." He had taken to calling me his bride ever since school let out.
"Sorry my groom, I am beat though." I took Jasper's hand and he dried us both off with the towels before leading me to our bed. I fell asleep under his strong hands massaging my stressed muscles.
I really was likely to rip the intercom speaker out of the wall as my first official act as a Whitlock. Peter's booming awoke me once again on Wednesday morning. I tried to pull the pillow over my head and drown him out, but Jasper's laughing and pulling at the blanket forced me to hold the pillow with one hand while my other hand attempted to keep the blanket securely under my chin.
Before I knew it, Peter and Jasper were both jumping on the bed, singing "Rise and Shine sleepyhead."
I was not amused. "The bride needs her beauty rest boys." I pulled at the blanket again, covering my head.
"No, she needs to be in the car in 15 minutes for her Spa day with the other Whitlock bride," Peter laughed.
Peeking out from underneath the blanket with one eye, "Really? A spa day?"
"Yes Bella, Char is waiting and the car will be here in 15 minutes, should I cancel?" Jasper smirked.
Taking a moment to peek at their exact locations standing and kneeling on the mattress, I jumped up wrapping the blanket around me causing both of them to fall over. Running, I made it to the bathroom and closed and locked the door. "Jasper Whitlock you will do no such thing, Char needs me." I giggled like a little girl as I looked into the mirror deciding a ponytail was perfectly acceptable for the ride to the spa and quickly wrapped a holder around my gathered hair.
I jumped in and out of the shower in less than three minutes and threw on my robe. I stood listening at the door a minute and heard nothing. Deciding that the boys went downstairs, I opened the door into the bedroom to grab clothes.
The minute I walked into the room a pair of arms grabbed my waist and picked me up off my feet. I shrieked and Jasper screamed, "Put her down you dumb ass, you scared her, you were only supposed to jump out." Jasper was holding his arms out for me and I was shaking.
"OH, God, Bella, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you..." Peter had tears in his eyes and was himself, visibly shaking.
I took a couple of breaths and told myself to calm down and cursed myself for being so jumpy.
"Peter, it's okay, I just didn't hear you guys and thought you went downstairs already. I am okay, really, I am."
Jasper didn't let go though and I realized my fingers were clutching him, my nails digging into his arms.
"Oh Jasper, I am sorry, I ..."
"Shh, don't worry Bella, we should not have startled you like that, forgive us?" He kissed the top of my head and lifted my chin so that I was looking into his eyes.
I nodded. "Now I really need the Spa, let me go get dressed." I teased, trying to ease the tension.
Peter left and when I came out of the closet Jasper was sitting on the bed waiting for me.
"Are you OK darlin'?"
"Yeah, I am sorry I am so jumpy, I bet he feels terrible."
"Peter will be OK Bella, I just worry about you."
"Hmm, just one more reason I love you, cowboy," I said, smiling at Jasper.
"So are you surprised about your spa day?" Jasper changed the subject and held his hands out to me.
Taking his hands and sitting in his lap I replied, "Yes, surprised and excited, I haven't been since the last time Char and I went, it will be good to relax and catch up with her. Thanks for planning it baby. What are you guys doing today?"
"Oh don't worry, Char has a list of things for us to do while you girls are gone." Jasper chuckled and shook his head. "Come on, I'll walk you down. The car should be here any minute."
I got up, grabbed my bag and flip-flops, proud of myself for once for remembering and thinking ahead about the pedicure I would be getting. Taking Jasper's hand we walked down to the foyer where Peter was kissing Char.
Jasper coughed to get their attention but Peter just raised one arm behind Char's back and held up a certain finger to Jasper.
"Huh, well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Jasper pulled me into his chest and leaned in meeting my lips with his. Our lips slowly dancing together, his tongue running across my parted lips, slipping inside my mouth only to be eagerly greeted by my own tongue. Jasper's arms pulling me closer as one hand took its place behind my neck, supporting me, holding me to his luscious lips.
The four of us all stood in the foyer kissing for what seemed like a very long time before Peter swore, loudly.
"SHIT! The car service is late. They are never late, today, of all days?" Peter grabbed his hat from the hook and keys off the table. "Come on, we'll drive you."
We climbed into the SUV and listened to Peter bitch for twenty minutes about the car service. He made Jasper call and find out why they were late. They didn't have an adequate excuse, in Peter's words, "Hell didn't freeze so where the fuck are you?"
The next ten minutes we had to endure Peter going on about just buying his own fleet and hiring drivers so that his girls would never be late for the spa again. Char and I looked at each other and it took everything each of us had not to laugh. The minute they dropped us off and we were inside the door to the spa, Char and I both doubled over in laughter.
"Talk about the nervous groom." I teased Char.
"Oh Bella, you have no idea. He is driving me crazy. I can't wait until this wedding is over; oh and just wait until you find out about the honeymoon."
"What? What about the honeymoon?" I got nervous and the look in Char's eye didn't help alleviate that feeling of foreboding.
"I don't know, but the two of them are up to something. I can just tell. Plus, I overheard Peter on the phone saying something about "...the girls will love that it's a surprise, it's a honeymoon what do they need to pack, it's not like they will be needing clothes."
"OH SHIT!" I was with Char, this was not good. Peter was much more likely than Jasper to do something over the top. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a brand new stretch limo pulled up out front to pick us up today with our new driver.
I told Char my suspicion and she paled and said, "Oh, hell, that was all probably a set up for it."
We laughed all the way through the dressing room and the lounging area while we waited to be called in for our first appointments. The boys went all out and we had full day appointments with just about every service we could want. We spent the first half hour with our attendant, selecting services and our lunch menu. She came back to retrieve us with the day completely mapped out for us. We met the hair and makeup experts that Char had hired to come out to the ranch on Saturday to help the four of us get ready for the wedding.
The day included massages, mud baths, body wraps, facials, waxing, manicures, pedicures, lunch, hair and makeup practice sessions. It was so relaxing and so tiring at the same time. When we went to get dressed, our attendant handed us each a garment bag and told us that we were requested to wear the contents.
Char had the biggest shit eating grin on her face. I was a bit frightened to look inside. Both bags contained simple but elegant little black dresses and heels, the undergarments, well, let's just say the boys were being boys.
We dressed and our makeup was touched up one last time before we were ready to leave. Sure enough the boys were out front and ready to go out with what appeared to be a new car service and driver waiting.
When I got to the car and James stepped out, followed my Emmett and Rose, then Mike, I was jumping up and down in the street. Reality set in, the wedding was only three days away. My family was here. I couldn't have been happier.
Rose and Char were hugging and Char was squealing, Rose, tried to quiet her down. Emmett had me in a bear hug.
"Em,...can't...breathe...buddy."
He let go only long enough for Mike to replace the death grip with one of his own. Jasper and Emmett were laughing and James and Peter were high-fiving each other.
Some things would never change. That was a good thing in my book.
"The "adults" are back at the house, they insisted us "kids" go out and have fun." Peter smirked and rolled his eyes.
"What? Not even Seth and Embry wanted to come out?" I whined.
"It was a long day with the flight and all Bella, and they drove down to Seattle from Forks too. By the way, nice plane guys. I could get used to that." Emmett grinned, fist pumping the air.
"Anytime you want to use it Emmett, just call me." Peter proudly offered.
I thought Emmett was going to fall over. His eyes were about to pop out of his head. Rose took her hand and placing it under his chin, closed his gaping jaw, shaking her head as she looked at Peter, rolling her eyes. Peter just howled.
"OK, everyone in the car, we are going to dinner and we are going to be late." Jasper began pushing Mike and Emmett to the car. "Everyone else is meeting us at the restaurant."
"Who else is coming?" I asked Jasper.
"Tyler and Liz, Wade and Emily, Preston and Lauren and Jackson and Jess."
"Awesome, you guys haven't met Jackson and Jess or Emily and Lauren yet, you'll love them, I said to my family as we climbed in the car.
The night was so much fun; we ate, drank and joked. I hadn't laughed so hard in ages.
Jasper and James challenged Peter to shots and Mike just had to get in on that action. It wasn't exactly fair; he was practically a professional with all his time behind the bar, years of practice staying sober while he got his customers loaded. Emmett, Wade and Preston immediately stopped drinking when the contest started. Char and I eased up and refused shots, it wouldn't do to have all of us sick as dogs in the morning.
Rose hit it off with Lauren, Emily and Jess; I knew she would. They spent most of the night dancing while Char and I bounced back and forth between the dance floor and the table, keeping an eye on our boys.
The drunker they got, the hornier they got. Jasper kept grabbing my ass and kissing me. It reminded me so much of when we first met. The way we could never seem to keep our hands of each other. I knew things in the last few months had caused us to behave a little differently and I welcomed the return to the past.
Peter was groping Char and she was laughing at him. It was funny to watch.
By the time we went home Preston, Wade and Emmett had to help carry Jasper and Peter to bed. Tyler helped Mike, who was actually in worse shape than I ever would have imagined. Jasper and Peter gave him a real run for his money. James, frighteningly, was walking and talking just fine, just thought everything was funny and wouldn't stop laughing.
Thursday. Emmett's family would be arriving later this morning. Jasper was still asleep when I woke up, so I got dressed and went down to the kitchen to get breakfast started. I was shocked to see Peter already up and preparing his usual breakfast feast for everyone.
"What can I do to help?" I asked as I walked over and kissed his cheek.
"Can you set the table?" Peter pointed to the stacks of plates he had taken down from some unknown cabinet. For two guys, they really had more dishes than made sense.
"Sure, how are you feeling this morning big guy?" I chuckled.
"I feel fine, where is lil' fuck?"
I laughed, "Still in bed," I shook my head.
"No I'm not, my bride." Jasper walked up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing the top of my head.
"Morning, my groom." I turned in his arms and kissed him good morning.
People started filtering in for breakfast, one group would finish and the next would be coming in. Mike and James were in the last group to come in, walking up from the bunk house.
"Hey, how you boys feeling this morning? Who won the bet anyway? I can't seem to remember." Peter smirked.
"Man, my head hurts, where are the aspirin?" Mike sat pouring coffee as he answered.
Peter reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of Motrin and tossed it to Mike.
"Well, I am fine; you fuckers were so loaded, you didn't even notice I wasn't drinking the shots, just refilling yours." James laughed and shook his head.
"You ass-hat." Jasper smacked him in the back of the head.
"What? My official job is watching your back and you were only interested in watching the bottom of that shot glass, and well Bella's ass." James shot back at Jasper deadpanning.
As much as I was looking forward to it just being the two of us in California, I really was going to miss this, all of our family together.
All the ways life was about to change began to sink in.
"Emmett, you and Rose want to take the limo to the airport to meet your family?" Peter asked when Emmett and Rose walked in for breakfast.
"Sure, that would be great." Emmett fist pumped Peter.
"Emmett, you go on ahead, I have a dress fitting," Rose reminded him, "you can spend some time alone with your family, and I'll meet you back here."
Breakfast finished, everyone scrambled to finish up last minute running around. Char, Rose, Liz and I all had last minute dress fittings. Emmett was off to meet his family, Jasper and Peter had mysterious errands to run and Mike, James Seth and Embry were helping hang netting on the arches for the ceremony.
Char's parents were hosting all the other parents at the Country Club for a round of golf and lunch in the afternoon. Sam and Marcus and their wives were joining them.
All in all, the Ranch was turning into a zoo.
Thursday evening was all about relaxing. We ordered pizzas and everyone did their own thing; either playing video-games, watching movies, some of the guys were playing cards. Emmett and Rose spent some quality time with his family. I spent some time with Sam and Seth and Embry and their wives, catching up on the news from Forks.
Jasper came in and asked to speak to me. He looked like he had seen a ghost, and led me to our room. He was making me nervous and apparently James and Peter too; both of them looked at him with an odd expression. Jasper just shook his head at them and pulled me along behind him.
Once we were in our room and the door closed Jasper stood quietly for a few seconds, as though he was thinking about how to word his thoughts.
"Bella, I think we should sit down." Jasper led me to the bed and sat, gently pulling me down next to him.
"Jasper, what is it, what is wrong?" He was scaring me and I just wanted him to spit it out.
"I don't know how to tell you this, so I am just going to say it and feel free to tell me to fuck off if you want."
"Okay, Jasper, you are scaring me, please just tell me, as long as you always tell me the truth, we can work out anything."
"This is shitty, Bella, it is Alice."
"What?" Five million thoughts were running through my head at once, he still loves her, he wants her, she wants him, there is a child out there he didn't know about, and then, the worst thought of all, the thought of betrayal.
"I am so sorry Bella, she just called." Jasper's hands were intertwined with mine and I desperately tried to pull away from him.
"Jasper, spit it out."
"She is in town; she wants to come with her parents to the wedding."
"She wants to come to our wedding? That's all?"
Jasper looked at me confused. My face must have been contorted with all the emotions that just flooded me. I had such a difficult time trusting anyone and I had finally let someone in completely and the thought of him lying or betraying me was just too much. I couldn't help my mind going there; distrust came so naturally to me. Would I ever stop doubting?
"What did you think...oh, you...you thought it was something else? Bella, you didn't think I still had feelings for Alice did you?" Jasper pulled me into his arms, wrapping them around me, burying his face in my hair.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"No Bella, I am sorry, I never thought of that, I know how hard it is for you, I should have just said it, or just told her no. I never imagined she'd come into town. Bella, I love you and only you, and to be honest, whatever I did feel for Alice, a long time ago, is nothing, not in comparison to what I feel for you. No one has ever made me feel the way you do."
"Tell her to come Jasper, the whole town will be here, she is or was your friend, she should be here. Don't ever mistake my insecurities and trust issues for jealousy; I have no problem with you and Alice being friends, it is no different than your friendship with Liz, or Jess or Emily. Hell, my two best friends are guys."
"Bella, you can always trust me, no matter what it is, I will never betray that trust."
"Jasper, tomorrow, I give you my heart, my soul, everything that is me, I trust you to the ends of time to safeguard them, that doesn't mean that my insecurities will never rise up again and bite us in the ass."
"Bella, if I lived a hundred lifetimes, I would still never deserve you so I will put my insecurities in the jar with yours, they can battle it out while we live happily ever after."
Leaning in kiss him, I whispered, "I love you, cowboy."
"I love you too. Do you want to go back to our guests?"
"No, I want you to get out; I have vows to revise." I laughed at the chuckle and smile on Jasper's face.
"Baby, I had the same idea. I'll be in my office. Hurry."
Finally, Friday came. The rehearsal was set to start at 4:00. We had all been a little concerned about how four brides were going to make it down the aisle without it becoming a circus. Char had recommended four Aisles and five pie shaped seating sections rather than one main aisle. Each bride would walk down her own aisle. The first section of seats was Liz's family; then her aisle and to the right of her aisle was seating for Tyler's family on the left half and Char's family on the right half of the seats. Char's aisle came next with Peter's and Jasper's guests all seated to the right of Char's aisle. My aisle was to the right of Jasper and Peter's guests and mine and Roses' guests were seated in the section to my right and on the opposite side of Rose's aisle Emmett's family occupied the last seating section.
Once that was settled, the rest was pretty straight forward. Irina was running around like the mother of the bride, organizing and assisting, making last minute preparations and supervising the cleaning and landscaping and catering staffs. Char was so calm and relaxed as she spoke with Irina, answering questions, providing instructions.
We were all getting ready for rehearsal. Rose and Emmett were staying in one of the guest suites and Liz was getting ready at home. Tyler was in the bunk house with Wade, James and Mike, where all the guys were spending the night before the wedding. Char's sister was working until 3:00 and coming to the ranch straight from work. All the girls were spending the night on the Ranch and Char and I had planned a cozy little hen party for us after the rehearsal dinner.
By 3:30 all the couples and witnesses were gathered in the kitchen just waiting for Char's sister to arrive to begin the rehearsal. Most of the out of town guests were either, enjoying the pool, playing tennis or taking advantage of the exercise room. Jasper and Peter were busy playing host and talking to the judge that was presiding over the ceremony the next day. The seating was set up on the grounds out behind the house and the main yard. The backdrop for the ceremony would be the pool area, the rock formation waterfall the main focal point across the pool behind the altar.
The ceremony was set for sunset; it would still be light as we walked down the aisles, and exchanged vows, but by the time we were making our way back down the aisle the sunset would be casting a magnificent glow over the yards. Char had probably a million little twinkle lights adorning all the trees and running up and down trellises billowing with netting strategically placed around the ceremony area and through the pool and patio areas all the way across to the area for the reception on the opposite side of the patios. The most elaborate tents were set up with the seating for the dinner. There were intimate seating areas scattered around the decks and patios and a giant dance floor laid out about 20 feet from the main pool area. Char had all the final touches arranged to be taken care of in the morning so that there would be some element of surprise for all of us. All we knew was that the colors were Raspberry and shades of pink.
Char's sister arrived and as Char and Peter greeted her, the rest of the group started making its way out to the yards. The Judge asked all of us to take a seat in front of the altar to run through the plan. We all took seats in the middle section and were giggling and teasing with one another. Jasper placed his hand at the small of my back and leaned over to whisper in my ear.
"You're sure this is the way you want to do this? We could still take off and do it by ourselves darlin'," he chuckled.
"I wouldn't have it any other way cowboy." Smiling, I leaned back into his arm.
Char, her sister and Peter all took a seat next to us. I heard James gasp next to me and turned to see him open mouthed staring at Char's sister. I grinned and looked to see her blushing and biting her lip as she looked down at her folded hands in her lap. Smirking, I elbowed Jasper and he just smiled.
The Judge explained the way that the ceremony was going to work. Char would be walking down the aisle first, followed by Rose, then myself and then Liz. We would each walk up and meet our groom and witness at the altar. We had all agreed on a civil ceremony so the Judge was going to say a few words and Irina was going to read a poem, then we would exchange vows in the same order, exchange rings, first kisses and be declared husbands and wives. A couple songs strategically placed in between and the ceremony would not take more than 35 to 40 minutes depending on everyone's vows.
We ran through a dry run of the ceremony. Liz's father and Char's father were walking them down the aisle. Rose had asked Emmett's brother to do the honors and Sam had agreed to stand in Charlie's place for me. The separate aisles provided the perfect touch; each bride would have their own turn to shine. The four of us waited behind the netted Arbor style trellises lining the back of the seating area and only stepped out for our own turn.
Pachelbel's canon in D would play on the piano for the entire time it took to walk down the aisles. It was more formal than I would have chosen but, I loved it and now that the time was almost here, I was genuinely happy that the ceremony was going to have some more formal traditional elements included. Each of us was wearing what we wanted; some went with a more formal look others more casual. We had not all seen each other's selections yet and I was so excited to see what everyone picked.
All in all I was so excited for the next day, the surprises Char had in store, seeing everyone make the commitment, doing it with our best friends and family. Most of all, I couldn't wait to see Jasper waiting at that altar for me.
The rehearsal went fairly smooth once everyone stopped giggling and goofing around. We each walked our aisle and Irina ran through her poem and we walked through the timing for the vows and the Judge announced that we were "good to go" and we practiced walking back down the aisle and straight to the reception line. We were all to be lined up at the edge of the dance floor so that the guests could greet each couple and end the walk from the ceremony site to the cocktail area to mingle while the line progressed.
Char was truly amazing, pulling off the logistics for one wedding was hard enough, I was astounded at how well orchestrated she had everything for four couples. Once we had all made it over to the area for the receiving line Char had a champagne toast waiting for all of us. We toasted and took a quick walk through the pool decks and patios where the cocktails would be served and then through the tents where the dinner was to be served. There was a head table set out for all the couples and the witnesses. I burst out laughing when I caught James switching the place cards so that he would be seated next to Char's sister. They hadn't even been introduced yet. Peter took notice too and after ten seconds of fury on his face he smirked and shrugged.
The dinner was being held at Tom's. We were all heading out to the restaurant; all the out of town guests, and the entire bridal party. We piled into limos; in ours, Jasper and I, Peter and Char, James, his parents, Char's parents and sister.
I watched James hold the door for his parent's and then Char's and finally char's sister before he climbed in ahead of Peter and Char. Peter looked to Jasper and I as he held the door for Char.
"He hurts her and I will kick his ass." Peter climbed in after Char and I kissed Jasper, smiling, before climbing in after Peter. Jasper got in and closed the door behind him.
Once Jasper was in the car, I decided to put James out of his misery.
"Has everyone met?" I asked looking at James.
I introduced Char's parents to Marcus and his wife and then introduced James to Victoria. Neither one of them even acknowledged being introduced to one another's parents. Marcus and Char's fathers' looked to each other and then to Peter and Jasper who were smirking and trying to hold in the laughter. Peter winked at his soon to be father in law and Jasper nodded to Marcus. Seals of approval given, the mothers both rolled their eyes as we all turned to watch James and Victoria, already heavy into their own conversation and oblivious to the rest of us. I couldn't have been happier and judging by Char's expression she felt the same way too.
We were the first to arrive at the restaurant and Tom was out front waiting to greet us. Not only was he hosting the rehearsal dinner tonight but he was also catering the reception. We piled out of the cars and said hello and he met all the couples and their families. He spent a good deal of time with us before returning to the kitchen to see to the dinner.
We started with a champagne toast and appetizers on the roof top garden deck. Everyone was laid back and really enjoying themselves. Nobody mentioned Jacob or the incidents, everyone talked about the wedding and the party after. Tyler's father asked me about school and the bar exam and had a million questions about the foundation we were starting and promised to help in any way he could. Char's mom took me under her wing right along with Char and insisted that if I ever needed anything that I was to consider them family and not hesitate. She explained that they had been pseudo parents to the boys ever since their parents died and considered them both sons.
Sam was so proud to be standing in for Charlie, he told stories about my dad most of the night. Jasper was riveted to each one, learning as much as he could about my family and my past. Jasper laughed his ass off at the fishing stories and I swear he had a tear in his eyes when Sam told the story about my leaving for college; Charlie was a lost puppy dog without me.
The night went too fast and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Jasper held my hand the entire way, I couldn't stop smiling. I hated the thought that when we got to the house he would be leaving me to go crash with the guys. I wasn't sure I would be able to sleep without him near me.
Rose had the same concern and when we got home we were all hanging on each other, not wanting to let go for the night. Finally, Jasper suggested that Rose crash with me and we could "have a pillow fight or some chick shit."
We both laughed, but immediately agreed it was a wonderful idea. Before bed both Char and Liz joined us. We giggled half the night and although we didn't have a pillow fight, it was the first girl's sleep over party I ever attended. I think it was pretty typical, we talked about the boys and sex and fashion. Char made us go to sleep eventually because she claimed she didn't want all her hard work to be for nothing when four brides staggered down the aisles with bags under their eyes.
In the morning, we would all wake up to our wedding day.
Yeah, sorry, this was meant to be the wedding but it would have ended up being like 20k words, so the good news is, most of the wedding is already written and I promise, the distractions have been minimized, this will get top priority. I love you all for the continued support, thank you.