Chapter 48

EPOV

I was marrying my Bella today. I was in position in my tuxedo waiting for her, I was about to become a king. Alice and Rosalie come down the aisle first, I could hardly wait to see my Bella. I strained my eyes to see if I could even see a hint of my bride, but that wasn't to be the case. I could hardly wait to tell her and show her how much I loved her. I saw my best friend's faces as they walked each sister up the aisle; I still couldn't believe how those two had instantly fallen for Bella's sisters. Once everyone was in position, 'Here Comes the Bride' started and the doors opened and my Bella came around the corner. She was stunning all in white. She had her crown on, the last one her father had given her at sixteen that was just hers. She chose no veil and the dress had small crystal straps. She had a train of satin trailing behind her. The crystal beadwork was beautiful along with the lace detail cinched in at her waist showed how tiny she was. I could hardly wait for tonight. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she paused. I went to take her hand and help her up the stairs just as she lifted her gown and brought her body back upright. I was whispering, 'I love you' then I heard the gun shot and saw Bella's body fall into mine. I instantly covered her. Jasper and Emmett were surrounding me to protect her. I couldn't fuckin' believe this. Bella was shot on our wedding. I was thankful I had worn my gun to the wedding and so had Emmett and Jasper.

Carlisle's team came out from all around with guns drawn to protect Bella, Alice and Rosalie. I said, "Emmett and Jasper, Bella's been shot. Help me get her inside and call our surgeon." I quickly had Bella in my arms. She rolled into my chest protectively, then the shock must've warn off and she was screaming, "Edward, my shoulder hurts. I love you. Take care of Emmett, Jasper, Rose and Alice for me. I'm going home to mom and dad."

"No, Bella don't leave me. Fight please. Fight for us, fight for you and fight for your country but fight for us."

"Em, get us out of here," Edward shouted. In ten minutes, we were secure in the hospital. As nurses and doctors started to examine Bella, I sent them away first. I undressed her protecting her innocence of what she might be wearing. Soon she was in a hospital gown, I let the doctors and nurses back in. Emmett and Jasper were outside her door and I stayed with her. She had a gunshot wound in her shoulder, and the US surgeon was going to do the surgery to repair and remove the bullet. She was taken to surgery where Emmett, Jasper and I all took turns staying with her until I was in the operating room with her dressed like a surgeon with my bloody tuxedo underneath. I had had a gunshot wound after my first year with the CIA like that I knew that it hurt like hell. I knew she would be in the hospital for about five days and then after a three month recovery period she should be fine. Carlisle found me waiting for her in the recovery room.

"Edward, here lose your bloody tux. Put on some scrubs, you'll feel better. Bella doesn't need to see you like this when she wakes up."

"Carlisle," and I walked into his arms and said, "I couldn't protect her."

"Yes, you have. No one was expecting a shooter. You'll get her back and help her heal. Then you'll really get married. She loves you and you love her."

"Carlisle, it hurts so much."

"I know."

"But look," Carlisle said and Bella was rolled in with our surgeon and Emmett. Jasper stopped at her door.

The doctor said, "She needs to stay here for five days and then we can move her back to her suite and with rehab she should be as good as new in three months. The bullet missed her bones and only got muscle and fat."

"How long until she is awake?" Edward asked.

"Probably a couple hours," and the doctor and Emmett left.

"Carlisle, she's so beautiful and I know Alice and Rose had her dressed for me underneath. But, oh my god, I have seen her naked twice now. Carlisle, she is exquisite scars and all. I can't wait to make love to her."

"I wouldn't let her know that you have seen her naked if I were you. Edward, she's so innocent. Have you told her how you really feel?"

"Carlisle, I haven't told her I love her since that day at Disneyland. I don't know if she realizes how much I love her. I don't think she is prepared for it. Having her shot and fall into my arms; I also died right there on the spot."

"Edward, get her healthy, take her on a date and tell her. She thought you were marrying her to help her out. She loves you, too; she wouldn't have asked you if she didn't love you. Now go change for her."

"Carlisle, she's so innocent; look at her laying there. I'm the only man that has laid a hand on her and I have barely touched her."

"Someday Edward; by the time you make love to her, you'll probably feel like a virgin yourself again."

"Shut up, Carlisle. It sucks really bad. In about five more hours, I should have been making love to her."

"Sorry, buddy, I was just trying to lighten up the mood. You will, Edward. Don't worry."

BPOV

I slowly starting waking up and as I did, the gunshot and the pain came back to me in spades. I started sobbing when I realized how uncomfortable I was. I tried to move my one arm and it was heavy and trapped in place.

Then I heard the perfect voice say, "Bella, you're okay. Just rest. Your arm is in a cast and is braced to keep it still."

"Edward," and I moved my head towards his voice.

He was right at the edge of my bed. He leaned down and gently kissed my lips. "Edward, my arm hurts."

"I know, Beautiful. You were shot in your shoulder and the surgeon put you back together. It only got your muscles so with therapy you'll be as good as new."

The door opened up and in came the rest of my godfathers, Carlisle, Esme, Rose, and Alice.

"Look, who is back with us?" Emmett said.

I tried to smile and Jasper said, "Bella, just relax."

"I'm trying," I whisper.

Emmett asked, "Are you in pain, Bella?"

"Yes," I say with tears coming down my cheeks.

"I'll go get the doctor to give you some more pain medication."

"Thanks," after another shot, I fell back to sleep for hours.

Finally, when I wake up again, I look into Edward's eyes and say, "Please tell me we didn't get married because I don't remember it."

"No, Beautiful, we didn't."

"Good, I was hoping that it wasn't because I couldn't remember it."

"Bella, may I sit on your bed? I want to tell you something."

"Of course. What you look upset?"

Edward went to the side of my bed that my good arm was on and sat there. He took the good arm and hand into his. "Bella, Carlisle told me to wait, tell you when you felt better and I could take you out on a real date, but I can't wait anymore. I love you and I have loved you for so long. I know you probably don't love me and I know I was stupid for waiting so long since September to tell you I love you, again. But you have been so new to all of this and the teaching you about it; but I truly love you, Bella. I can't live without you."

As Bella said my name, "Edward," she was trying to sit up in bed more.

"Bella, stay put."

"No, please help me sit up," and I helped her get sitting up even though I was cursing at my crazy queen fiancé that she was fine to stay lying in bed.

"Edward, I love you, I don't know when I realized that I truly loved you, but I do and I have. We are two truly stubborn people and we need to be a little less stubborn when it comes to love with us and running this country. But especially love for us."

"Bella, when I asked you to marry me your first morning here, I also wanted to say because I love you. I wanted to always be able to say I did ask you to marry me first. I may not have said it, but it was because I love you."

I leaned into him and tried to kiss him and get a hug, but all I got was a groan for the pain in my shoulder. Edward helped me lay back down. Then he leaned carefully over me and gave me a kiss on my lips and said, "Sorry, no hugs for you."

Edward was sitting back up from the kiss when we heard Emmett say, "Edward, you couldn't wait until she feels better. Why decide to make love to her now?"

I laugh and then cried.

Edward says, "Out Emmett, you can't make her laugh now because of her shoulder."

"Sorry, Bella," Emmett said.

Then Rose punched him and said, "Be nice to the Queen; she got shot."

"How are you little sister?"

"Okay, pretty tired and my shoulder fucking hurts. Alice and Rose, I told you something was wrong."

"You were right and now look at you."

Carlisle and my US doctor came in. "The queen is awake," Carlisle said.

"Yes and grumpy," I said.

"That is allowed," the doctor said. "You had a bullet rip through your muscles and flesh and the rehab will be even harder, but you'll heal. Thank god, you moved right as the gun was shot or your injuries would have been worse."

Alice said, "Your father is really watching out for you Bella."

"He is, isn't he?" I felt a tear run down my cheek.

"Yes, he is." Alice said but Edward wiped away my tear.

I looked straight at Edward and then Carlisle and said, "Who did this?"

Carlisle looked at Edward and then at me. "Bella, we don't know. I'm sorry to say that, but we just don't know."

"Find out. What about my security cameras?"

"There were none on the roof the shot came from."

"Great, so now what?"

"Simple, you're back under 24 hour guards and so are Rose and Alice."

"How many?"

"Five for you and three for them."

"Where was Laurent after I came down the aisle?"

"In the back row watching the service."

"Where was his second in command?"

"I don't know, probably on duty."

"Find out. I want to see all the security footage we have during the time of the shooting."

Edward said, "Bella, you need to rest."

"Edward, I'll rest when I can safely run this country and get out of this bed on my own. I'll rest when I can walk around with my husband with no guards around me and neither of us carrying a god damn gun."

On that cue, Alice said, "I'm leaving. Doctor, please knock her out again, she needs her rest."

"You know what, all of you get out; I want to be alone."

"Bella, when you want something for the pain, let your nurse know."

"Thanks, doctor."

Everyone was leaving. When Edward turned to come back, I said, "Go Edward. Please send Jasper and Emmett back."

"Fine, but I'm not leaving you, either."

"Yes, you are. Please don't make me call all the guards. Edward, we spend all our time together. Please, I need a break. I love you; but I really do need a break. I've no problems with you coming back in the morning; just give me tonight."

"Fine," he sighed. He called Jasper and asked him and Emmett to come back because Bella needed them.

"I'll leave when they get back, but I'm going to tell you one more thing. You looked like an angel coming down the aisle to me twenty-four hours ago. Then, you got shot and I thought that was how I was going to get to remember you, was as an angel. Just know, I won't just be your guard, I'm your fiancé and your protectorate. Bella, I almost died when you fell into my arms. So I won't walk away from you, if you want to rest please do. I'll be back in a few hours. I'll go to the gym and burn off some excess energy if you need me."

Soon Jasper and Emmett came in, Edward kissed my lips and mentioned, "I love you. Do you want the nurse to bring you your pain medication?"

"Thanks, Edward. Please let Carlisle know, I want to see the footage we have when I get up in the morning."

"Yes, your highness."

"Bella, do you actually want to see yourself get shot?" Jasper asked.

"No, I want to catch the bastard who did this. If it means I have to watch myself get shot, I will. It can't hurt anymore than the real thing does, can it?"

"No."

Edward was then gone.