It was late morning by the time Jasper, Emmett and I got back home. We'd travelled farther afield than we had realized, apparently, and it had taken us longer to get back than we had anticipated. However, I knew there was still plenty of time left…and that Bella was already here, somewhere. I caught her scent once we were within a half mile of the house.
If I had a heart beat, it would have started racing. Instead, my anticipation manifested itself as a wide grin on my face.
"Don't even think about going upstairs. Alice will rip your head off. And I'll help her," Rosalie said as soon as we stepped into the kitchen through the back door.
"Good morning and nice to see you, too, Rose," I retorted, although Emmett headed straight toward her to pull her into a bear hug and a kiss.
"Hey, I'm just saying," she shrugged.
"I'll bet you I'm allowed…" Jasper smiled, and started toward the stairs.
"No men up there!" Esme said firmly, coming into the kitchen from the living room with an armload of white fabric. "Besides, I have things for you to do." She carefully draped the fabric she was carrying over the countertop. "We have to finish setting up outside. I'll show you how this goes, and you boys can take over."
Emmett groaned. "Didn't we hire people to do this kind of thing?"
"Certain things. But not the decorating. Alice wasn't about to trust that to any humans," Esme smiled and shook her head slightly, as though even she knew Alice was being just a little too fussy about some matters.
"Besides, it will keep the three of you out of trouble," Rosalie added smugly.
"Oh? And how about you? What are you going to do? Cheer yourself up by going out to steal candy from some school children?" I asked.
Very funny. Her thought was itself a snarl, but the look on her face was a little hurt. "Actually…" she began slowly, and my eyebrows shot up, already knowing what she was about to say and already shocked by it. She finished the sentence for the benefit of Emmett, Jasper and Esme. "I was thinking I'd go up and help Alice. With Bella."
Emmett's eyes also widened. He'd obviously heard enough complaining about Bella from Rosalie that the idea stunned him, too. "Help? With Bella?" he repeated.
Rose shrugged once again. "Getting her ready. I mean, Edward hasn't listened to me about any of this since day one and now the situation is what it is. She's joining the family. If we're all going to spend the rest of eternity together, I guess I'd better at least try to make an effort."
Esme beamed. "Thank you, Rose." I knew she had been trying to talk Rosalie into treating Bella better since…well, pretty much since the beginning. Emmett gave Rosalie an appreciative kiss on the cheek.
I, however, knew that her purported acceptance of Bella was grudging, to say the least. But at least there appeared to be some hope. I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, as they used to say. And at least this appeared to be voluntary on Rose's part. I hadn't yet been able to figure out what Alice had had to promise her – or threaten her – to get her to agree to play the music for us during the ceremony.
So I still had my doubts, and, in any event, was not inclined to thank her for what she should have offered automatically: civility to my chosen mate.
But since I knew Alice wouldn't let her do anything to sabotage Bella, I let it go. Let Alice deal with her.
"All right, Mom…" I turned to Esme instead. "What do you need us to do?"
"Follow me," she said, took up the bundle of cloth once again, and led the way to the back yard.
* * *
"There you go…" I was in Esme's hands once again a few hours later, but this time she was tying and fussing over my tie, ensuring it laid the proper way under my collar and waistcoat. I was more than capable of tying a tie myself, but it made her feel good to fuss over me like a mother, so I let her continue. She took my jacket from where it was lying over the back of a chair and held it for me to slip my arms into.
When I had it on, she reached for the boutonniere of white freesia blossoms and pinned it carefully to my lapel. "Perfect," she smiled, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "You look so handsome."
"Positively dreamy," Emmett said sarcastically from where he lounged on the leather sofa, his own tuxedo jacket tossed over a plump cushion. "I can hardly control myself."
"Oh, you. Behave," Esme said, and turned back to me, still beaming. "Are you ready?"
"Absolutely," I replied, without hesitation. I knew they were all expecting me to exhibit some sign of nervousness, but to even my own surprise, I felt one hundred percent calm. Even when I had started to hear guests arriving about fifteen minutes ago and Rosalie had started playing the piano, signaling that the wedding ceremony would start shortly, that hadn't changed.
I simply felt, innately, that this marriage was absolutely the right thing to do, the best thing that had ever and would ever happen to me. I couldn't wait for the ceremony to begin.
If anything at all, I was almost beside myself with eagerness and anticipation. I knew Bella was upstairs with Alice and Renee right now, putting the final touches on her appearance, and I could hardly keep myself from just a peek into their minds to see what they now saw. I couldn't wait to see her: my bride.
We were in the small den off the living room, where we would wait until it was time for us to make our appearance before the guests. There was a short rap at the door, and I knew it was Carlisle with Reverend Weber, Angela's father. He had just arrived, and would be performing the ceremony for us today.
"Hello, Edward," the Reverend smiled at me as they stepped into the room, reaching to shake my hand. Cold…must be nervous…he thought when he did so. At least I had a built-in excuse for cold hands for once. "How are you doing, my boy?"
"Very well, thank you," I replied. "Thank you so much once again for doing this for us."
"Wouldn't have missed this opportunity for the world," he replied sincerely. He turned his smile to Esme, Jasper and Emmett. "Doesn't this family look wonderful? Mrs. Cullen, your dress is stunning." Like they all just stepped off the pages of a bridal magazine...
"Thank you very much, Reverend Weber," Esme said, still beaming like the proud mother. "This is a very special day for our family. Thank you for being part of it."
"My pleasure. When will we know when to go out to start?"
"Emmett will go check with Alice and Rosalie in a moment," Carlisle told him.
In actuality, I was waiting for Alice to let me know when they were ready upstairs, at which point Emmett and Jasper would go out to walk Esme and Renee up the aisle. Rosalie would know when to switch the music when she saw them exit the den.
As if she had heard us – and I supposed she might have, despite the din of the guests chattering in the living room as they took their seats – I suddenly got an excited, We're ready, Edward! Oh, wait until you see her! from Alice. I couldn't help breaking into a grin. Emmett saw it and knew that was his cue even before I gave him an almost imperceptible nod.
"Let's go now," he was on his feet in an instant, shrugging into his jacket. He let Esme straighten his tie and his lapels, then came over to pat me on the back affectionately while Esme turned her attention to Jasper. "This is it bro'. Last chance to make a run for it."
"I think I'll stay," I replied, still grinning.
"Thought so. See you out there, man."
Jasper came over, put a hand on my shoulder and looked at me seriously for a moment, apparently trying to determine whether his special kind of assistance was necessary. He must have been satisfied with what he saw – or felt – because he simply nodded at me with a small smile on his face. "Come on, Mom," he said, extending his elbow for Esme to take it.
Before doing so, Esme pulled me into a tight hug and beamed up at me. Joy and satisfaction were practically seeping out of her pores, she was so delighted for me. I knew this day would come eventually…she thought. I'm only sorry it took so long for you. I know that you often regret what you are, but if you weren't…you would never have found her.
I nodded, knowing that was true. It was certainly ironic that I had had to become a vampire to be able to find my human soul mate ninety years later, but absolutely true. "Thanks, Mom. Thanks for everything."
She gave me another satisfied smile and a quick kiss on the cheek, then took Jasper's elbow. "Reverend?" Reverend Weber would be first up the aisle, followed by Jasper and Esme and then Emmett and Renee. I would join them afterwards with Carlisle, who was serving as my best man.
It wasn't long before it was our turn to proceed. Ready? Carlisle asked silently, already knowing the answer. Remember to walk – not sprint – up the aisle, okay?
I chuckled and followed him out to the living room where the guests were waiting.
Although I had seen it earlier, now, with the guests in place, I was struck by the extent to which Alice had outdone herself. The room was almost unrecognizable, draped tastefully in flowing bolts of white silk and organza, white ribbon and flowers everywhere. The regular furniture had all disappeared, replaced with quaint white folding chairs, each with a comfortable white cushion. The whiteness made the room seem light and airy, as if bright sunlight were pouring in the windows, even though it was overcast as usual outside. The scent of the flowers and candles was heavenly.
Dozens of smiling faces turned towards us as our waiting friends and family looked to see us proceed up the aisle to the white bower at the front, under which we would stand for the ceremony. Reverend Weber was already up there waiting, and Esme, Renee, Jasper and Emmett were seated in the front row of chairs.
I was bombarded by the random thoughts of those watching us, for the most part friendly, happy and congratulatory. Looks so, so happy…this is so wonderful… Angela Weber. So this is the groom…what a nice-looking young man… an aunt of Bella's I hadn't yet met. Gorgeous… should be mine... Tanya, down from Denali with the rest of her family. Hmph…big deal…still creepy, if you ask me… Mike Newton. My eyes narrowed in his direction momentarily, and he looked away as if he knew he'd been caught in a less than charitable moment.
There were a few seemingly long moments after Carlisle and I took our places at the front under the bower, and turned to face the congregation as we waited for the bride's side of the wedding party. Rosalie continued to play the appointed music as planned, but the moment seemed to drag out. Time was indeed all relative.
We're here! I suddenly got from Alice, just as she appeared at the end of the aisle in her long, silvery dress, practically dancing up towards us. She was filled with satisfaction that all of her plans were so far unfolding without the slightest hint of a glitch. She beamed at me and I couldn't help smiling back.
When Alice was settled in her spot under the bower, the music changed to Wagner's familiar march. The guests stood, and my breath caught in my throat. I had to remind myself to keep up the appearance of breathing in and out so that Reverend Weber, the human standing closest to me, wouldn't notice.
To my frustration, my view of the bottom of the staircase where Bella and her father would first appear was obscured when everyone stood, so it seemed to take much longer than it should for them to arrive. For a brief second as I waited, I had a moment of panicked uncertainty, wondering if Bella had finally snapped and made a run for it, unable to go through with it after all. I knew Jasper had sensed it as quickly as I felt it, because a sudden wave of calm hit me. I glanced in his direction gratefully and he just winked.
Then…she was there. My bride.
Emotion welled up in my throat and I gave up the pretense of breathing, momentarily shocked into complete immobility at the sight of her. She was stunning.
Her long, dark hair had been artfully pinned up, with the odd curl left to hang down against her neck. Jeweled combs I had never seen before held the sides of her hair in place. Her white silk gown had a high collar in the back, but swept down in front to a sweetheart neckline cut low enough to be sexy, but high enough to remain modest. It had long, form-fitting sleeves that tapered to the wrist, and fit snugly over her torso, spilling out below the waist into a wide, flowing skirt with a lacy train down the back which followed along behind her on the floor.
The dress reminded me of the fashions of the time of my human life, and I was touched to the extreme by the effort Alice must have put into finding it. It was perfect.
Incredible, huh? Alice couldn't stop herself from thinking, but I found myself unable to move enough to acknowledge the thought.
Both Bella and Charlie looked rather nervous, both probably concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. She was scanning the room with her eyes, taking in the decorations and the people she was seeing for the first time, trying to absorb it all and make sense of who and what was where. Her eyes darted back and forth uncertainly at first, searching, but after a few steps up the aisle, her gaze caught mine and our eyes locked on one another. When she broke into a beautiful, wide smile, I felt my whole body relax. An almost audible click sounded in my head as everything in the world seemed to slide into place at the same time.
My whole life had been leading to this perfect moment.
I was amused to see that Bella lurched forward slightly, trying to hurry up the aisle. Charlie's arm tensed under her hand and he lifted his other arm to place a hand over hers, restraining her to the proper pace. She let herself slow down and be led by him, but her eyes didn't move from mine, and her smile didn't waiver. The happiness poured out of her in waves, exceeded perhaps only by my own.
In another moment, she was beside me, and Charlie took her right hand from his arm to place it in mine. He had no way to know that I could actually "hear" him, but, perhaps reflexively, he nonetheless directed a very clear thought to me as he did so: My baby, my most precious possession…you better take care of her. I couldn't keep myself from nodding ever so slightly, but was glad that he didn't seem to notice as he gave his daughter one last kiss on the cheek, then turned to take his seat next to Renee.
Bella clutched my hand tightly, eagerly, lacing her warm fingers through my cold ones. She gave them a squeeze as if to reassure me that everything was right in the world, and I squeezed back. I well knew it.
The ceremony itself was a traditional one, and not lengthy. We recited after Reverend Weber as directed, and exchanged rings. The gold wedding band I placed on her finger matched her engagement ring, since it was the matching band my father had given my mother. My father hadn't worn a ring, but I wanted to, and I felt a clear thrill when Bella slid a wide gold band onto my left hand. I had never worn a ring before, but this one felt comfortable, like it belonged there and always had.
I was exultant when the minister finally pronounced us husband and wife, and gave me permission to kiss my bride. Bella had happy tears in her eyes as I leaned down to press my lips to hers softly, treating her as the precious treasure she was.
She had other ideas, however, and got a laugh from the crowd when she threw caution to the wind and flung her arms around my neck, clutching me to her in a deep kiss that was not quite polite for church – thankfully, we weren't actually in one. Besides, I was delighted with her enthusiasm and returned the kiss with as much enthusiasm of my own.
It wasn't until Carlisle thought with no small measure of amusement, Uh, son? Hate to interrupt, but…that I figured it was up to me to break the kiss and return to the actual moment, here, in a room full of people. I placed my hands gently on Bella's cheeks and pulled away, smiling crookedly down at her.
Bella blushed a little but smiled, not quite regretting her flagrant public display of affectionate abandon. With a return smile of my own, I took her hand and we turned toward the congregation. There was one last traditional moment to cap off the ceremony…
"Friends and family," Reverend Weber announced, "it is my great pleasure to be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Bella Cullen."
I loved the sound of that.
I wondered if Bella had even heard it, however, as she was still looking up at me, beaming with apparent happiness. As we were pulled into one after another of the congratulatory embraces of our guests, she continued to clutch my hand tightly. My heart soared to see her deep joy equally reflect my own.
All the moments of uncertainty, the earliest days of our acquaintance when I had actually run away, certain that I had to cut her out of my life to avoid killing her, the later, horrible half year after her eighteenth birthday when I had run away again…they all seemed so silly now. There was no way to doubt that we belonged together. Forever. My bride.