i'm on a (forced) temporary leave of absence from work. so writing is helping me get through it so… hopefully you can come to expect lots of chapters of this, edward in charge and any other stories i might have in the works.
*I don't own Twilight*
Bella Cullen
Chapter Thirty-Three
Peaking around the curtain that separated me from the aisle and my soon-to-be husband,
I could see that there were tons of flowers and candles. It was Twilight, Edward's favorite time of day and it was also the one year anniversary of the night we… conceived Audrey.
"Isabella Marie Swan!" Alice cried, pulling me away with the force that only a woman that was nine months pregnant and wearing heels had.
"I just wanted to see," I defended. Actually, I had told Alice that I didn't want to see. That I wanted it to be a surprise. Obviously she was taking her role very seriously.
But I knew Edward was at the end of that aisle and I wanted to run out there and marry him, right that moment. Emmett came up behind me and rubbed my shoulders like he was the coach and I was about to go into the boxing ring.
"You ready for this, Bells?"
"I'm so ready… what are we waiting for?"
"Bella. Were you at the rehearsal last night? For the cue, the music to start!" Alice was cranky and sending glares in Jasper's directions every so often. Jasper was playing Tetris on his phone.
Emmett laughed and walked away, over to Rosalie who was touching up her already perfect make-up. He whispered something in her ear – something that made her giggle in the musical way that only Rose could pull off.
My hair was gathered in a side ponytail and curled and I couldn't help playing with it. It was secured with about nineteen hundred bobby pins with a white calla lilly carefully placed.
And suddenly, it was time. The music started – Pachbal's Cannon – and out went Charlotte and Henry, holding hands. It was adorable and I hoped the photographer made sure to get a shot of it. Jax wasn't walking yet so he was with Rose and Jasper's parents.
Next went Alice and Emmett. Alice had refused to walk with Jasper down the aisle so we'd had to rearrange a bit. "I'm not making that mistake again," she had lamented. I had rolled my eyes and begged Rose to walk with her brother, which she agreed to after a little bribery. Edward and I would be watching Henry and Jax overnight so Rose and Emmett could have some time alone.
Rose and Jasper waited the appropriate time before disappearing from behind the curtain. Carlisle stood next to me, his arm linked in mine.
"Are you nervous? Any cold feet?" Carlisle asked jokingly.
"Nope, they're nice and toasty… thank you, Carlisle. For walking me down the aisle and giving me away. Without my father…" I stopped, tears in my eyes.
"I'm honored to give you away, that you would even ask me," he smiled reassuringly at me and I took a deep breath. It was our turn.
Everybody stood as the bridal march started playing and Carlisle and I stepped out. It was warm and my first thought was that I'd sweat my carefully applied make up off but then I saw Edward waiting for me and all other thoughts flew out of my head – we were getting married and it was perfect.
I had carried a bouquet of mixed green (I was pretty sure they'd been somehow spray-painted that color) and white calla lilies. The green in my bouquet matched the color of the bridesmaid dresses perfectly. Alice and Rose had carried just while calla lilies.
The ceremony was been quick or it seemed that way to me. I do, he does, exchange rings and a kiss that was way too inappropriate even in the Cullen's backyard. I cried and although Edward would never, ever admit it… I could tell by the way his eyes sparkled that they were watery.
A break between the ceremony and reception had been short but the open bar was open and waiters carried around trays of hors d'oeuvres so everyone was happy.
Edward kept his arm around me as he drank a flute of champagne, his amazing grin making my heart flutter. We were married.
Being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen was the happiest moment of my life. Well, maybe the second best because I couldn't discount the day Audrey Elizabeth came into the world. I unconsciously ran my hand over my stomach. Would I love this baby as much? Was there enough room in my heart for not only Edward, Audrey but another human being?
The reception was in full swing now and I'd been chatting with people and avoiding my mother all night. She was insulted that I hadn't asked her to walk me down the aisle but I'd already asked Carlisle and I wanted to stick to that plan. Plus, she had spent weeks debating if she'd even make it to the wedding and I didn't want what was supposed to be my perfect night to be missing a key player.
Before I got too lost in thought in my only moment alone of the night, Rose rushed toward me holding Audrey Elizabeth, who was dressed in a green that not only matched the bridesmaids' dresses but her eyes.
"Bella! Hey!" Rose said, looking a bit flushed. Rose rarely flushed, blushed or turned any shade of red or pink. Her small stomach was barely noticeable through the flowing fabric of her dress. Her ice blue eyes were dancing with amusement and I had no idea what was going on.
"Hey Rose," I took Audrey, who cooed and flashed me a gummy smile.
"Um, you should come here," Rose said, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Is everything alright?" I frowned and Rose shook her head then grabbed my free arm, dragging me to the dance floor that had been set up.
"Look!"
Confused, I looked around. Edward was nowhere to be seen but neither were Emmett or Jasper, the other tallest men around.
Finally I looked at where Rose was pointing and gasped.
Edward was sitting at a white piano, Emmett and Jasper in their tuxedos standing by him.
He was staring at me expectantly. My face broke out into a smile. He was going to play my lullaby or perhaps Audrey's or Esme's, maybe all three. I was rewarded with my favorite grin in response. Night that we met, day I agreed to marry him, night Audrey was born. Multiple times during our wedding.
Renee came over, practically stumbling in her long dress and grabbing my arm from Rose, who shot her a dirty look.
My husband signaled Emmett and Jasper then the three of them started playing a song that I didn't recognize… until Edward began to sing into the microphone attached to the piano.
You're having my baby
What a wonderful way of sayin' how much you love me?
You're having my baby
What a lovely way of sayin' what you're thinking of me?
Oh. My. God.
I can see it
Your face is glowin'
I can see it in your eyes
I'm happy you know it
That you're having my baby
You're the woman I love and I love what it's doing to ya
You're having my baby
You're a woman in love and I love what's going through ya
"Isabella, are you pregnant?" Renee whispered in my ear. I didn't answer. My eyes were wide as saucers and I couldn't believe Edward was announcing my pregnancy in front of everyone at the wedding.
I already knew what our first fight as a married couple would be about.
The need inside you
I see it growing
Whoa, the seed inside ya baby, do you feel it growing?
Are you happy you know it?
Didn't have to keep her
Wouldn't put you through it
You could have swept Audrey from my life
But you wouldn't do it no, you wouldn't do it
You're having my baby
What a wonderful way of saying how much you love me?
You're having my baby
We're a couple in love and I love what it's doing to us.
I couldn't help it. Tears were streaming down my face and probably ruining my make up and Audrey was grasping the edge of my strapless gown but it didn't matter. He hadn't announced the pregnancy. He'd just made sure I knew how much he loved Audrey. How he loved that I hadn't 'swept her from his life' like I'd considered at one point.
"Isabella Marie!" Renee whispered again, waiting for an answer. I nodded my head slowly.
"Yes, I am… not very far along," I whispered, trying to wipe my eyes and hold Audrey still and keep her from flashing everyone what was under my dress. You'd think my mother would help with either or but she stood as still as a statue with her arms folded across her chest.
"I'm disappointed in you. Now you're saddled down with a husband, a three month old and another one on the way? Did you not listen to the lecture I gave you on birth control? The pill, condoms, anything! You're Miss Responsible but even I managed not to get pregnant again!"
"Renee," Rose was suddenly there with her arm around my mother's shoulders and guiding her away from me. I looked back to Edward, who was now in fact playing my lullaby. He had a worried look on his face but I walked over and sat next to him on the bench, supporting Audrey sitting up between us.
"Thank you," I whispered. "It was beautiful."
"I'm not done yet," my husband – God, how I already loved that – said before segueing into a different melody. This one I recognized all the way and couldn't help the giggle that escaped.
Hey, where did we go?
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playing a new game
Laughing and a-running, hey, hey.
Skipping and a-jumping
In the misty morning fog
Our, our hearts a-thumping
And you, my brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Emmett and Jasper were singing along and a few of the wedding guests had joined in, dancing on the shiny black floor. Edward was singing directly to me, a huge smile to match mine on my face as I mouthed the words along with him.
And whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down to the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hiding behind rainbow's wall
Slipping and a-sliding
Along the waterfall
With you, my brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when
We used to sing?
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-l-a-te-da
Just like that
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-l-a-te-da
La-te-da
It seemed like everyone on the dance floor had started singing along so I joined in, singing into the microphone with Edward. Audrey was snug between us with my arm supporting her so I wasn't too worried.
So hard to find my way
Now that I'm all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometimes I'm overcome thinking about
Makin' love in the green grass
Behind the stadium
With you, my brown eyed girl
You my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when
We used to sing
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-l-a-te-da
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-l-a-te-da
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-l-a-te-da
When the song was over, everyone clapped. I laughed and kissed Edward hard on the lips. It was amazing, he was amazing. This is what he must have been working so hard on, coordinating with our friends to make this perfect.
It was over before I knew it.
Normally, after big events I feel… not quite disappointed but not quite fulfilled. Tonight, every single part of me was fulfilled and I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
All the guests had left and it was just Edward, Carlisle, Esme, Audrey, me and one big mess. My gown had a spit up stain on it and a slight tear but that didn't matter, those things could be fixed.
"So you kids flying out tonight?" Carlisle asked, looking around at everything that needed to be cleaned.
"Yeah, we'll have to leave soon," Edward said, holding sleeping Audrey on his shoulder. I wished the wedding photographer was here to take a picture, as he had been to shoot a shot of spit up coming out of the baby's mouth, in-between my breasts.
"I feel bad… leaving the mess and Audrey and…" I felt tears well up in my eyes for about the hundredth time that night.
"Oh, honey. We people coming to take care of this. And I'm less worried about Audrey than I am about your mother," Esme said.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Renee had spent a good bit of time with Audrey and me before the wedding but she insisted it wasn't enough.
Esme, much too fair and polite woman that she is, told Renee and Phil that they were welcome to stay in the guestroom to eliminate the cost of the hotel.
Renee and Phil were always looking for freebies.
So when I got back from my honeymoon, my mother would still be here.
It was my hope that she didn't try to turn my three month old child against me in a way only Renee Dwyer ever could.
"Do you want to change?" Edward asked. The gown had a lot of layers and it was heavy but I shook my head. I wanted everyone to know, even at the airport, that we'd just been married. Edward chuckled and leaned down, kissing me softly. "Whatever you want, Mrs. Cullen."
The giddy, heart fluttery feeling returned. Would it ever stop?
Our bags were packed and the limo was waiting for us. I gave Audrey a billion and one kisses before we finally left.
The driver put our bags in the trunk and we made out like… well, like two newlyweds on the way to the airport.
As we walked through the airport, people congratulated us and I clung to Edward. We weren't going far, just to Malibu Beach in California
The flight was short and spent making out and teasing each other. He'd graze my breast, I'd stroke his erection though his pants for just a few seconds.
There was another limousine waiting for us to drive us to the hotel. I laid my head on my husband's shoulder and watched the scenery pass by.
The next thing I knew, Edward was lifting me out of the limo in a traditional bridal hold. I smiled sleepily at him and he grinned down at me before kissing my forehead.
I was exhausted and I knew he must be, too.
The check in process was quick and when we made our way up to the room, Edward insisted on carrying me through the threshold. He plopped me on the bed and it was just so comfortable and the day had been so long…
Just before I dozed off, though, I heard Edward whisper in my ear, "Get all the rest you can, Mrs. Cullen. Tomorrow, the honeymoon starts."
so they're married! hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to get out. have a great weekend, everyone!