A/N: Snapshots of a life together. Short chapters, updating once a week.

Don't own Twilight.

Wedding (1999)

"Mom, stop crying," Edward begs yet again. It has exactly zero effect on Esme and her tears. "You're going to upset Bella and make yourself sick if you don't cut that out." He's frustrated. This is a happy day. His happiest day.

"I can't help it, Edward. I am trying. I just thought I'd have more time to get used to this. I thought Emmett and Rose would be first," she sniffles.

"Get used to what? You love Bella. Don't you?" His brow creases, his eyes crinkle.

"Yes, of course," she pauses in her sobbing. There's nothing wrong with the girl. She's very pleasant. Her family, though, was not quite on the same social plane, to put it mildly. "Only, are you sure? Really sure? You've only been together a year, your career is just beginning to take off. Bella has yet to really establish herself – "

"What the hell are you talking about? Establish herself? She's a teacher, for God's sake. And why bring this up – again – today? I thought you'd come to terms with this. I love her, Mom. More than anything, anyone, ever. You have to get over this."

"I'm trying," she repeats.

"Try harder, Esme," Edward's father snaps, his voice cutting through Esme's theatrics. "Keep this up and Bella will certainly notice your reticence. Up to this point, Rose's behavior has masked your own, but Bella is a smart girl. Eventually, neither Edward nor I will be able to cover for you."

"I just wish – "

"This is not about you!" Edward has had enough. "This is about Bella and me! That's it. No one else. If you can't get on board, Mom…"

"Then what? You would put her before me?" Esme simply cannot fathom the idea. She had not been able to stop her son from marrying this simple girl, but to also lose her place of importance? Unthinkable.

"Yes, I would. I will. She's my wife, or will be in an hour. She is perfect, to me. Smart, beautiful, funny. She fits me, Mom. She loves me. She's perfect, for me. Please. You have to be okay with this because it's going to happen. It's what I want. I need her."

"Of course, dear. You're absolutely right. I'll leave you to finish getting ready for this big day. Your bride awaits! Carlisle? Are you coming?" Esme puts on as brave a face as possible. She knows she can't win. Edward has always been so stubborn. She kisses his cheek and heads for the door.

"I'll join you in a moment." Carlisle watches his wife leave the room, closing the door behind her, and turns to his son. "She is trying, you know."

"She shouldn't have to try. Bella has never been anything but wonderful to her."

"I know. She just had a different idea in mind for you. She's having a hard time letting the idea of you and Tanya go. As is Rose, truthfully. You know how your mother is when she wants something."

"It doesn't matter what she wanted, Dad. Not at all."

(1999)

"Mom, stop crying!" Bella cannot contain her laughter. Her mother is so silly.

"I can't help it! I'm just so happy for you. He's wonderful, Bella. He'll take such good care of you."

"I don't want him to take care of me, Mom. I just want him to be with me. Always. I can't wait to do this."

"Oh, Bella," Tori sighs as she walks into the little Sunday school classroom where all of the primping is taking place. "You're so beautiful. All those brown curls against all that white. Breathtaking. He's going to die when he sees you."

"Let's not kill him yet. I'd like to enjoy my honeymoon!"

"Oh, hell. None of that," Charlie groans.

From just behind his older daughter, he catches his first glimpse of his younger one. Can she possibly be wearing that white dress? Can she possibly be pledging herself to a husband? He wasn't quite finished being the most important man in her life. Isabella and Victoria both grew up much too fast for him. They both look so beautiful today, Bella in her gown of lace and gossamer veil; Tori in her blue dress, the red hair so like her mother's piled on her head. A complement to her sister in every way.

He heaves a sigh. Charlie Swan does not like Edward Cullen. Doesn't trust his flippant, arrogant ways. He and his wife do not agree on this guy, either. But his Bella loves Edward, and Charlie loves his Bella, so that was that. Now he needs to find the strength to give her away.

(1999)

"Mr. Cullen, I don't think you're the only guy getting lucky tonight," Bella giggles pointing at James and Tori dancing so very closely. She and Edward are dancing to their song. They couldn't use it for their first dance – too shocking to the older generation – but they can have it now. It means just as much to them.

"Why, Mrs. Cullen, I think you could be right. I've been wondering how long they'd take," he smirks.

"What?" She's surprised.

"James has had a thing for your sister since we all met at that concert. Didn't you know?"

"No! I never guessed!" She throws her head back and laughs. Edward loves to see her so happy.

"Was it all you hoped for? Did today fulfill your dreams?"

"You fulfill my dreams," she whispers. "Every one of them."

"I'm so happy, baby." He bends to kiss her, there in the middle of the dimly lit dance floor, in the bustle of the crowded ballroom, lost obliviously among the smiling faces of those who knew and loved them before they found each other. All but a very few see a love story and wish them nothing but happiness. Many envy them the start of the journey, when passion is so fresh, hope is so palpable, disappointments are so far away. A small number are resigned to what is and begin to let go of what might have been.

(1999)

"Edward! Put me down before we both fall! You've successfully carried me over the hotel room threshold," she chuckles at her drunk husband. Husband. She likes that more than she would ever have believed.

"Hey! That was my first responsibility as your husband, wife. My second is to get you naked and make love to you for days." He gazes at her, only a little bleary-eyed. She thinks he's really piss drunk, but he has it more together than that. Right? Right. Time to figure out how the hell to get that huge yet stunningly beautiful dress off of his tiny and staggeringly gorgeous bride.

"What's this?"

Edward looks to where she's pointing. It's hard to see from behind the billowing skirt. Once he catches sight of what has her puzzled, he lets out a howl of laughter.

"Fucking Emmett," he smirks and shakes his head. "It's a penny jar. For the first year of marriage, you're supposed to put a penny in the jar every time we have sex. After our first anniversary, I'm supposed to take one out for each time we do it. The catch is that it will probably take longer to empty it than fill it. So they say, anyway." He watches her face as it breaks into a promisingly evil smile.

"Not for us, baby."