Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
AN: I was unprepared for the response to my authors note yesterday. Thank you to all of you for your support. I fully intend to complete this story. I hate it when authors get a bad review that prevents them from finishing something.
Having said that, I would like to tell you that the last chapter was extremely difficult for me to write, as I suffered two miscarriages. I now have two beautiful boys who are my life.
A special congratulations to LeAnn388..boys are fun.
Enough melodrama..on with the show...
He tried. He tried for days to forget about Bella losing the baby. He threw himself into dangerous missions, never sending one of his men. They all tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. He needed the distraction. He was afraid that if he didn't occupy himself that he would give himself over to the grief. When he was called in to see the captain he wasn't surprised.
"Cullen, you mind telling me what the fuck is going on with you?" Capt. Volturi stormed.
"Sorry sir. I got some upsetting news from my girlfriend back home." Edward explained.
"Well, I won't say get over it because I'm sure you can't. Maybe you need a break. I could probably pull some strings and get you an extra R&R this month. Would that help?"
"It would sir. Can you give me a couple of days to consider it?"
"Let me know soon. Dismissed."
Edward got up and walked back toward his bunk. The wheels were already turning. He would need his mother and Emmett if he was going to pull this off.
Bella was having a hard time getting moving. What she really wanted to do was pull the covers up over her head and wallow in self pity. What would that solve, though? Plus she had promised. She finally rolled out of bed and padded to her bathroom. She turned on the shower and stepped under the hot spray. She washed her hair and applied the conditioner as usual. She tried to make herself believe that it was soap running into her eyes, but her heart wouldn't be fooled. She cried until she had no more tears and stepped out of the shower.
Just as she finished dressing, her doorbell rang. On the other side Rose tapped her foot impatiently. Taking a deep breath, Bella plastered a smile on her face and opened the door. Rose wasn't fooled.
"Sweetie, are you sure you want to do this?" She asked sympathetically.
"I need to get out of here, Rosie. I am going stir crazy. Lets go make you a bride."
Rose nodded and she and Bella headed to her car, where Rose laid on the horn and they waited for Alice. She finally bounced out of the house and joined her friends.
"Lets get going."
Rose pulled out and the trio headed to the bridal store. Rose and Emmett had decided on an outdoor wedding the weekend of July 4th. It was going to be held at Carlisle and Esme's in the garden. Esme had a beautiful gazebo with vines growing up it. It would be a lovely location for a wedding.
When they walked into the store they were immediately approached by a consultant. "Good morning. How may I help you ladies?"
"I'm Rosalie Hale. We have an appointment."
"Of course. Your mother-in-law is already waiting. Please follow me." They followed her over to a private seating area, where Esme was sitting in a sofa, drinking a cappuccino. "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?" Once they had all ordered a beverage and were seated, they were told that their personal consultant would be right out.
Alice bounced excitedly on the couch. "Oohh, this is going to be so much fun."
They all turned when they heard clapping behind them. "It sure is, ladies." Behind us stood the gayest man ever. He was decked out in a flamboyant red suit with a matching tie. On anyone else it would have looked ridiculous, but he pulled it off. "Which of you is the lucky bride?"
Esme smiled and stood up, "Actually, two of them are brides, but we would like to go ahead and try on a dress for the other one."
Bella gaped at Esme. "Esme!" She hissed.
"What? You never know what could happen, Bella. Better to be prepared, right?" Esme shrugged her shoulders innocently.
James smiled. "Well lets get started. Blondie, why don't you go first?"
Rosalie stood and followed James to the dressing room and waited as he brought in some dresses in her size. He brought out puffy dresses and floor length simple dresses. Rose tried them all on and showed the women but everyone agreed they were to much for an outdoor wedding. James brought out one last dress that everyone fell in love with. It was a satin a-line gown with a side-draped bodice and asymmetric skirt. There wasn't a train, which was fine with Rose.
"Oh, Rose. You look like a bride." Esme sniffled. "Okay, Alice your turn."
Alice jumped up and followed James to the dressing rooms. She knew what she wanted and waited for James to bring her the perfect dress. He found exactly what she was looking for and when Alice came out with it one, everyone sighed.
"It's perfect, Ali." Bella smiled. Alice wore a gown with a strapless satin bodice with beaded embroidery, organza ball gown skirt, and chapel train. She was breathtaking. Jasper was going to flip.
Bella objected when they announced that it was her turn. She had no idea why she would need to pick out a wedding dress. She wasn't engaged and the only man she had ever loved was fighting in another country. She finally gave in to their pestering and followed James to the back.
James looked over the unwilling woman and had an idea. He left Bella alone for a moment and went out to speak with Esme. She explained to him what was going on and what they needed. He understood and knew the perfect dress for the unknown bride.
Bella waited patiently, still a little confused, but willing to keep her mind distracted in anyway possible. When James walked back in with a dress in his arms, she fell in love. She had always dreamed of a large skirted dress for her fairytale wedding. Every girl wants to feel like Cinderella, don't they? The dress was an all-over beaded lace trumpet gown with empire waist and cap sleeves with a chapel train. She loved it and when she put it on it fit like a glove. When she walked out to show the women she had tears in her eyes when she noticed her brother and Emmett were there.
Emmett had his laptop with him and was talking to someone on it. He looked up and smiled and then said something to the person on the screen.
Esme told Bella to go change because someone wanted to talk to her and she couldn't talk to him wearing that dress. Bella changed quickly and came back out. Everyone was standing in a tight group talking to someone. Bella cleared her throat and everyone jumped apart. Her hand came up and covered her mouth as tears formed in her eyes. There in the middle of her family and friends was Edward on bended knee.
"Bella," He started. "When I received your letter I had no intention of ever replying. I am so glad that I did. You have given me hope and something to come home to. I know that we haven't known each other long, but I want to make a life with you and babies with you. I love you more than my own life and I would love nothing more than if you would be my wife. Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?"
Bella was so overcome with emotion that all she could do was nod. She threw herself into Edward's waiting arms and fused her mouth to his. When they released each other, he slipped the ring on her finger.
"We don't have much time sweetheart. I am only home for three days. Captain pulled some strings. Will you marry me now? Today?"
"Edward...what..how..who?" Bella couldn't form a coherent thought.
Esme came to the rescue. "Bella, we just got your dress. Your parents are at my house waiting. We have everything ready. It will be perfect. I know that it is fast and if this isn't what you want, tell him now."
Bella was silent for about two seconds. She looked at Edward and saw her future. "Today it is."
Alice squealed, Emmett whooped, Jasper and Rosalie fist bumped, and Esme cried while she called Carlisle. Edward picked up Bella and ran to the door, followed closely behind the rest.
Carlisle walked out to the garden where Charlie was finishing setting up the chairs. "Esme just called. They're on the way. She agreed."
Charlie sighed. "I guess I'm not surprised. I'm just not ready to give my baby away. Be glad you had boys."
"I hate to say this, Charlie, but that doesn't make it easier." Carlisle laughed and clapped his friend on the back. "Did you hear from Renee?"
"She called me back. She's not coming. She said that she doesn't want to watch her only daughter marry a man who would potentially make her a widow before the ink was dry on the marriage certificate." Charlie wanted to go to Florida and throttle his ex-wife for being so selfish.
"It's her loss. She'll regret it and then she'll be to late. Esme's mother was the same way. She didn't have anything to do with us until Edward was born. By then Esme didn't want to forgive her, but did for our children."
The sound of cars pulling up ended the conversation. The men looked up when everyone walked to the back. Bella's breath caught when she saw the transformation of the garden. She didn't have long to admire it before she was pulled inside and the make over's began.
Edward stayed outside and helped finish getting the backyard ready. When that was complete, he went upstairs where his brother and Jasper where waiting. Emmett handed him they keys to the honeymoon suite at the Hilton.
"Thanks for your help with this Em. You to Jasper. I couldn't have pulled this off without you guys. Now lets get married." They put on their dress uniforms and walked back outside where a small gathering of people stood. Some where Bella's colleagues from school, others were Edwards or Emmetts from the service. A harpist began to play and the three men took their places at the top of the aisle. Alice and Rosalie appeared wearing similar dressed that Esme had picked up a few days before and started down toward them. The harpist changed music when they reached the end and started playing Canon in D minor. Bella and Charlie appeared in the doorway. When Edward got a glimpse of her his breath caught. Seeing Edward in his dress blues brought a fresh round of tears to her eyes.
She made her way to him on her father's arm and smiled when she reached him. The minister began the ceremony, but Bella and Edward didn't hear a word. They exchanged vows and rings and when the minister pronounced them husband and wife, they smiled before their lips met.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of pictures and cake and dancing. Before she knew it she was standing in the middle of a gorgeous hotel room with her new husband. "Edward how did you manage to do this?"
"Well, after our last phone call and you told me about the baby, I kind of went a little crazy. I started taking dangerous missions and not caring about my safety. One of the guys told the captain about it and I was basically ordered to get away and get a grip. I called mom and Emmett and told them what was going on and they helped me set everything in motion. All I needed was Charlie's permission. Once I got that, I just needed you."
Bella smiled through her tears. "I love you, Edward Cullen."
Edward pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Bella Cullen."
They slowly stripped each other of their clothes. When there were o more barriers they tumbled to the bed and made love until their bodies were exhausted. As the sun came up, they drifted to a peaceful sleep wrapped in each other's arms.
Somewhere, in a different state, a woman cried for the loss of her only daughter.
AN: I know some of you thought that Rosalie and Emmett were getting married, SURPRISE. Next chapter another wedding. Hope you enjoyed this. See you on Monday. Keep those reviews coming...