Chapter 34
Disclaimer: We still own nothing but a reformed Doucheward who is most definitely a major Swoonward.
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Chapter Songs:
"Marry Me" Train
"Endless Love" Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
BPOV
The holiday was definitely not everything that Edward and I had hoped for. It was incredibly hard watching Emmett facing the fact the he almost lost Rosalie. It brought back the pain of losing Emily to the forefront of my mind. We never knew if we would have tomorrow. Right here, right now was all that was certain. Life offered zero guarantees for anyone.
I felt like I was sympath, like those I had read about in the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, as I watched Rose trying to come to terms with everything that had happened to her. Despite the fact that she said she could cope with just having her two gorgeous twins, every once in awhile I would catch a pained look in her eyes. I had no doubt she was mourning the children she would never give birth to as her hand lingered on her stomach near her incision.
The twins, Liam and Anthony, were undeniably the most beautiful babies I had ever seen. Their uncle took my breath away when he took them in for the first time. I almost had an orgasm right on the spot. The love he felt instantly for those babies flowed off of him his waves. Edward was almost as excited about the boys as their proud mom and dad. He was definitely the proudest uncle ever. When Emmett had called me Aunt Bella, I knew that those babies, those perfect little miracles I hadn't even touched yet, had me wrapped around their tiny fingers, just like they had everyone else.
Emmett even sneaked Edward into the nursery before we left. Edward was only allowed to stick his glove covered hand in the isolettes. The moment he first held Anthony's tiny hand in his own, I knew that Edward was just as ready for our future as I was. Hell, I was probably more ready than he was. When he came out of the nursery, I had to stop myself from dropping in front of Edward on bended knee and proposing to him. With everything that had happened, outside his sister-in-law's hospital room was not the time or place for me to profess that I was more than ready to become Mrs. Bella Marie Cullen. I knew that when the time was right, I would definitely know it.
The flight back to OKC was actually more comfortable than I could ever have hoped. First Class was so comfy, with extra leg room and wide chairs perfect for napping. I curled into the warmth heat of the love of my life and slept peacefully like my new nephews, Liam and Anthony. While sleeping, I had the most incredible dream. I dreamed of a beautiful baby girl with Edward's jade green eyes and a head full wavy brown hair just like mine. I watched as Edward's eyes filled with tears as he held her in his arms for the first time. I couldn't hold back my tears of joy as we rejoiced in the birth of our perfect, incredibly beautiful daughter.
Then my perfect dream world was interrupted by the pilot announcing we weren't going to be in Oklahoma today and my heart dropped. I'd already missed so many classes; missing more just wasn't an option. My anxiety spiked until I heard what our new destination was. Las Vegas. My heartbeat accelerated wildly in my chest. Maybe now was the right time after all.
Once we landed, I emailed all of my professors and told them that I would be back as soon as there were available flights. Edward called Esme, who, of course, was generous enough to take care of hotel and return flight arrangements for us. I should have known that she wouldn't do anything halfway. When we pulled up in front of the Four Seasons, my eyes almost popped out of my head. I had never seen anything more elegant in my life until we got to our suite. The entire living area of the hotel room was bigger than Edward's condo, and that was saying something. Two metallic gold couches and huge maroon armchairs filled the center of the room.
"This room is the most incredible thing that I have ever seen," I whispered to him as I absorbed all the luxurious touches of the suite.
A baby grand piano sat in the corner of the room near the floor to ceiling windows. I ran my fingers over the keys of the piano as I opened the curtains and stared out. My eyes were quickly drawn to the incredible Nevada landscape before me. The sun shining on the sand turned the world beyond the city into a kaleidoscope of colors.
I heard the door click and knew that I was now alone with Edward. I swallowed thickly and chanted to myself to give me the courage to propose to this amazing man. He walked up beside me and grabbed my hand. His finger stroked and lingered on my ring finger.
"Bella, that is nothing compared to you. You are the most beautiful, incredible woman I have ever known, and that's saying quite a bit after having grown up under the thumb of my mom and Granny Platt. You being with me, there is not much more that would make my life perfect. I love you so much."
I felt myself blush from head to toe at his compliment. He was right. This moment was absolutely perfect. Just the way it should be. "I feel the same way, baby," I assured him as I put my right hand on his chest. "I love you, too." I couldn't imagine loving anyone more than I loved Edward, except maybe that stunning baby from my dream if she were indeed real.
He continued to hold my left hand and bent down on his right knee before me. My heart skipped a beat as he pulled out a faded blue Tiffany's box. My heart stopped all together when he opened the box revealing the most beautiful antique ring I'd ever seen.
"Bella Marie Swan," Edward said. I could hear a little shake to his voice. He was as nervous as I was. He really couldn't be any more adorable than he was in this moment. "I have loved you for what seems like eternity. I may not have always loved you the right way, but now I do. I love you the right way with every single part of me. I love the way you smile at me when you think I'm a goofball. I love how you nibble at your lower lip when you're nervous. I love the way you look when you wake up in the morning all rumpled, yet the most incredibly beautiful thing I've ever seen. I love the way you take care of those around you, sometimes not even knowing that you are taking care of them. I want to spend every moment of the rest of my life showing you how much I love everything about you. You are everything to me. You hold my heart in the palm of your hand and you always will. Everything I am and everything I will be is yours. You are my always and forever. Would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?"
It took me a few seconds to soak in the beautiful words he had just spoken to me. "Yes! Yes, I'll marry you," I said excitedly as Edward stood up and slipped the magnificent ring on my finger.
"It fits perfectly," Edward said softly as he drew me to him for the most incredibly tender kiss. I wasn't sure how long we stayed in each other's arms, our lips lingering together for what felt like an eternity.
After the kiss ended, I stroked the ring that was where it was going to be until the day I died. "I love this ring," I said reverently. "Where did you get it? When did you get it?" I asked. I couldn't wrap my mind around everything. Edward had asked me to marry him. I did a little happy dance inside me.
"It belonged to Grandma Platt. I asked Mom for it after Thanksgiving dinner," Edward said with a smile. He pulled my left hand to his face and kissed my ring finger. "You are so unbelievably sexy with my ring on your finger, Mrs. Cullen," he said huskily.
"God, I love the sound of that name. Mrs. Cullen. I can't believe you just proposed to me," I sighed dreamily.
"Why can't you believe it, love?" Edward asked.
"I was getting the courage together so I could propose to you," I said with a giggle.
"You were going to ask me to marry you, huh?" Edward asked as he stroked his fingers lightly down my cheek. I felt the effects of his touch through every part of my body. "When did you decide you wanted to propose to me?"
"Um, actually after you saw the twins for the first time. You were just so damn adorable, and I wanted to claim you as mine right then and there," I admitted.
"Bella, I have always been yours, heart, body and soul," he said as he kissed me again. "So, when do you want to officially become Mrs. Edward Cullen?" Edward asked me as he peppered kisses across my face.
I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay coherent if his lips kept roaming across my face. Other parts of my body were shouting for his lips' attention too.
"I would marry you right this minute, Edward," I said honestly.
"Really?" he asked me. I wasn't sure if it was surprise or shock that I heard in his voice. "You would marry me today?"
"In a heartbeat, baby," I said. "I'm 100 percent sure about you and me. I've never been more certain about anything in my life. I love you, and I know that you love me just as much. You are my future, and I know that's never going to change. You are my destiny."
"Let's do it, on one condition," Edward told me.
"What's that?"
"I do not want to get married by some Elvis impersonator or fly-by-night minister wanna be. I want this wedding to be perfection. I want you in the perfect, white gown. I can see the picture in my head, it's exquisite. You're exquisite." His words touched me so deeply that I think I fell even more in love with him, and I didn't think that was even possible because I loved him irrevocably, completely, with everything that I had. "I want that memory of our perfect wedding for you, for us."
"Sounds amazing," I said as I hugged him tightly. "How in the world are we going to organize a perfect wedding this fast?"
"Let me make a couple of phone calls, and I have no doubt by this evening that you will finally be my bride. We are staying at the Four Seasons after all," he said adamantly with a sexy wink.
"This is really happening," I said excitedly.
"It's really happening," Edward said with a smile. "Relax on one of the sofas for a few minutes."
To say I was beyond excited was an understatement. I felt like I could jump right out of my skin. I closed my eyes and pictured myself walking down the aisle towards him. I pictured him slowly stripping me out of my wedding dress and worshipping my body, finally making love to me again. I think I was almost more excited about the wedding night than the actual wedding itself. I wanted Edward in every way possible, and that was all going to happen. Tonight.
"Okay, Bella. The front desk put me in touch with the wedding planner. We can meet them downstairs and complete the paperwork for our license here. There is a small reception room that happens to be available tonight. I told the planner what I had in mind. I want it to look like a fairytale, because I'm marrying my princess," Edward told me with a huge smile on his face. "A suit for me won't be a problem. The planner has the name of a few wedding dress shops for you. She had no doubt that you will definitely find the perfect dress at one of the stores since they have huge selections available."
My head was almost spinning. "You got all of that information that fast?" I asked.
"You know how I am when I want something, Bella. Nothing stands in my way," he said as his eyes met mine. I saw nothing but certainty in them. "Shall we?" Edward reached out his hand, and I placed mine in his ready to face the rest of our lives together, forever.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
The wedding planner was waiting for us in the lobby. We filled out all of the paperwork for our marriage license, and she gave me the names of a few dress shops.
"Did you want to come with me, Edward?" I asked.
"I hate to be apart from you for even one moment, love, but I want the first time I see you in your wedding dress to be when you are walking down the aisle to me," Edward said lovingly. Edward walked me to the waiting limo that the planner insisted I take to the dress shops. "Come back to me soon, baby," he told me.
"I will always come back to you," I said with a quick kiss.
I thought that my dream dress would show itself to me at the first store, but after three stores and no dress I was starting to get a little nervous. I didn't want to pick a dress just to have one. It had to be the dress.
The last shop I entered was by far much smaller than the others. The note on the pages said they offered a variety of specialty dresses. I just prayed that my special dress was here. Suddenly, it was like there was a spotlight shining on my dress, beckoning me forward. I walked slowly, almost in a trance, as I made my way to the mannequin that was wearing the dress that I knew Edward would be seeing me in tonight.
"Good, afternoon, miss. My name is Shirley. How may I help you?" The saleslady asked brightly.
"This dress. Is it available?" I asked as my fingers reached out to stroke the full skirt.
"Why yes it is, dear. Would you like to try it on?"
"Yes, I would." Shirley stripped the dress off of the mannequin and led me to a dressing room.
I didn't take my eyes off the dress the entire time I was stripping down to my bra and thong. I had purchased a strapless bra at the first shop I was at since most of the dresses I had tried on needed that or just nothing at all. As much as I knew that Edward would prefer me in nothing, I relished the thought of him peeling me out of my dress, bra and panties later tonight.
I stepped into the dress and asked Shirley to come in and latch the hooks that ran up the back of the dress.
"All done, dear," she told me. I turned around and let out a gasp as I saw myself. I was actually glowing. I did truly look like a princess in this gown. "Oh, that dress is absolutely stunning on you," Shirley said as she straightened the skirt. "I should probably tell you the dress isn't new. It is here on consignment. It is a Vera Wang from the Luxe Collection and is silk organza. Notice the empire waist and the silk ribbons along the bust and hem."
"You're right," I said softly. "This dress is perfect."
"It most definitely is, dear. It's like Emily was made just for you," she told me.
"Excuse me? Emily?" I questioned.
"That's the style of the dress, Emily. It's like it was made with you in mind." I stroked my hands down the side of the dress.
"Emily," I whispered with a smile as I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I should have known that my best friend would help me find my wedding dress, even when she wasn't here with me anymore.
"Are you okay?" Shirley asked me.
"I'm perfect," I assured her with a watery smile. "Absolutely perfect. I'll take it."
"I had no doubt you would, sweetheart." I paid for the dress, some lingerie and satin flats, and Shirley bagged it up for me. I didn't even remember the ride back to the hotel. I was on cloud nine. I was marrying Edward Cullen tonight. When I got up to the suite, I noticed a note with my name on the outside of it taped to the door.
Bella, The next time I see you, you will be walking down the aisle to become my beloved wife. I will be waiting for you downstairs at five. I got you a little something special to have with you today. I love you with everything I am. Yours always and forever. XO Edward.
When I stepped in the room, I could feel that I wasn't alone.
"Hello? Who's there?" I asked. I turned toward the bedroom and saw Esme dressed in a light pink dress. That wasn't what had me running with a mad dash towards the bedroom. It was my best friend, Jacob, standing next to her in a tuxedo and a huge shit-eating grin on his face. "Jacob, you're here," I exclaimed as he picked me up off the floor in a huge bear hug.
"Where else would I be, Bells?" Jake asked me.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Edward called us, Bella," Esme told me. "I wanted to be here for your wedding. I love you and Edward so much. You are each other's missing half. I am so happy that you have found each other." She enveloped me tightly in her arms. "I'm going to help you get ready, and Jake is going to go downstairs and keep Edward company until the ceremony starts."
She went and got the dress to hang it up in the closet until it was time for me to put it on. I hugged Jake tightly again. "It means the world to me that you are here with me today, Jake."
"What would your wedding be without the best man," he told me jokingly. "I do have a question for you though, Bells."
"What is it?" I asked nervously.
"Well, you are my best friend in the entire world. I would love it if you would let me walk you down the aisle tonight. Would you let me give you away at your wedding?" he asked shyly.
"Oh, Jake. Yes, please," I said as I started to cry.
"Don't cry, Bells. Today is your day, and Esme and I are here to make sure it is the absolute perfect day that you deserve it to be," Jake promised as he wiped the tears off my cheeks. "Now go get dressed and ready to walk down the aisle to Edward. I am going to go downstairs and try to keep him calm."
"What's wrong with Edward?"
"He's just more than ready to have a Mrs. Cullen at his side," Jake chuckled. "Love ya, Bells. See you downstairs in a bit." He kissed me on the forehead and left the suite.
I went in the room and sat down on the bed. I was excited and nervous at the same time.
"Is everything okay, Bella?" Esme asked me as she sat down beside me clasping my hands in hers, squeezing them in gentle reassurance that she was here for me.
"It's absolutely perfect," I said. "Just as I always dreamed it would be."
"It will be perfect," Esme told me. "Let's get you ready."
Esme used my curling iron and made big fluffy curls throughout my hair. She brushed back the front of my hair and secured it with a hair clip with blue stones. She held up a mirror so I could see the back.
"Esme, I love it," I said as I enveloped her in a tight embrace. I applied only minimal make-up. I was never one to wear a lot of that kind of stuff. A little powder, a little blush, some mascara, and quick swipe of deep pink lip gloss and I was done.
"It's about that time," she told me. "Do you need help with your dress?"
I blushed when I recalled the shear white floral corset with matching g-string that I had purchased to wear under my dress. I so didn't want Esme to see me in that. I also bought a lace garter belt and sheer, white thigh-high stockings. I planned on knocking Edward right off of his feet the second he saw me out of my wedding dress.
"I'll need your help to fasten the back," I answered.
"Okay, I'll just wait in the living room. Yell at me when you are ready." I simply nodded and opened the bag that held my dress and lingerie.
After I got the corset on, I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. I knew I looked incredible, and I could picture the heat in Edward's eyes when he saw me in this for the first time. He would definitely love ripping this from my body in a few hours.
I stepped into my gown and pulled it up covering as much of the sexy undergarment as I could. I didn't think Esme wanted to see the lingerie anymore than I wanted her to.
I opened the bedroom door, and Esme walked over to me. I turned around and she began to latch the eye hooks up the back of the gown.
"All done," she told me, and I turned to face her. "Oh my God," Esme exclaimed.
"What is it?" I asked worriedly.
"You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen," she gushed as she went to her purse and pulled out a large jewelry box and a smaller one. "Bella, this small box is a token of something from me to you. I received these from my mother on my 21st birthday. You are my daughter now, and I would love for you to have these and wear them during the ceremony."
I opened the box to reveal diamond stud earrings set in platinum. "Esme, they are beautiful. Thank you so much," I said as I put them in my ears.
"You've got your something old, the earrings, something blue, your hair clip, something new, that lingerie you've been trying to keep hidden from my eyes," Esme said with a wink making me blush again. "In this box is your something borrowed. This is a necklace that my mother received on her wedding day as a present from my father. You are wearing the ring that he put on her finger all of those years ago. I think it is only right that you wear the necklace that she first wore when she was married."
My eyes became the size of saucers when I saw the incredible diamond necklace in the box.
"This is unbelievable," I told her as my fingers stroked the stones.
"My father never did anything half-heartedly," she said with a laugh. "This actually used to be a tiara, and my father had Tiffany make it into this ivy necklace."
"Why a design with ivy?" I asked as I felt the cool metal hitting my skin as Esme fastened the necklace at my neck.
"It was her middle name, Elizabeth Ivy. She said that she became a puddle at his feet when he told her how he planned the necklace that would carry her name. They lived a very long and happy life together. I have no doubt that you and Edward will follow in their footsteps." Esme kissed me on my cheek.
I went quickly into the bedroom and slipped on my white satin flats and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I swear I saw Emily behind me with a huge smile on her face and she was mouthing the words "I'm happy for you. Congratulations. I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered to her image in the mirror, and I watched the image fade before my eyes. I walked back into the living area. "I'm ready to go," I told Esme. I didn't glance back as we went downstairs to start my future.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
We found Jake waiting outside a closed door towards the back of the hotel where the reception rooms were.
"I'll be inside with Edward, Bella. I'll see you inside in a moment," Esme said as she entered the room where my wedding would be held. I got a whiff of something floral as the door opened and closed.
"Bella, you look stunning," Jake said as he hugged me. "Are you ready?"
"I've never been more ready for anything in my entire life," I said with total certainty. "How's Edward?"
"He's pacing a hole in the floor waiting for you," Jake laughed.
"Let's get it started then," I laughed. "I'm just as ready as Edward is."
"Just a minute, Bells," he chuckled. "The wedding coordinator will come and get us when it is time for the wedding to begin."
Jake had barely gotten those words out of his mouth when I saw the coordinator open the door. I heard the subtle strains of string instruments playing music as the coordinator came to us.
"Ms. Swan, it's time," she told me with a smile as she handed me a beautiful white bouquet of
gladiolus, sweet peas and snapdragons held together with a large white ribbon. I took a deep breath of their fragrant scent and clasped them in my left hand as Jake tucked my right arm through his.
As soon as we walked through the door, the string quartet in the corner of the room began to play the Wedding March. I walked under brilliant bunches of white flowers cascading through white archways that lined my path, and flower petals were scattered on the floor under my feet. Then my eyes caught and held the most beautiful thing I had ever seen: Edward.
I wanted to run so I could get to him sooner, but Jake made sure that we kept time to the music. Edward's smile echoed my own as I finally made my way to him at the end of the aisle where Esme was at his side.
Jake took my hand and placed it in Edward's then moved to stand beside me. Edward and I locked our eyes on each other, our brilliant smiles almost blinding.
"I love you," he whispered to me.
"I love you, too," I whispered back.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in the union of Edward Anthony Cullen and Isabella Marie Swan in the bonds of holy matrimony," the minister began. "In marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. Remember to say 'I love you' at least once a day. Never go to bed angry. It is never taking the other for granted. Courtship does not end with the honeymoon and should continue through all of the years of your lives as you stand together as one to face the world. Marriage is not only a commitment between lovers; it is also an agreement between two friends. God has given you a second chance at happiness as you prepare to embark on the rest of your lives together as husband and wife. Edward and Isabella will share with each other their commitment to each other. Edward, if you'd like to begin."
I passed my bouquet to Esme as Edward took both of my hands tenderly in his and our eyes focused only on each other.
"This day has been a long time coming. I chose you, Bella, to be my wife years ago. For various reasons, fate has chosen to delay this union several times. But I believe that everything does have a reason. The reason in this case is to show me just how much you truly mean to me.
"My life had been incomplete when I met you, and today completes that journey, making my soul whole for the first time in my life.
"I promise to be the best man that I can be for you. You have brought out the very best in me, and I promise you that I will not falter in my love for you or my life with you. You are the light of my life, the sky to which I wake to every morning. You embody the bright skies and full nights of my life." Esme handed him a plain platinum band and he placed it on my ring finger above the glittering engagement ring.
"It is by this ring and this ceremony that I make you that which you should have been so long ago. I love you and will never let you go," Edward said as he wiped the tears I didn't know I was crying from my face.
"I, Edward, take you Bella, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for all of the days of our lives." He smiled exultantly as his finger rubbed the wedding band on my finger.
Now it was my turn to pour out everything in my heart to this incredible man before me.
"When I was little, I dreamed of my prince charming and how he would sweep me off my feet and how handsome he would be. Today, I look at you and I see my best friend- your energy and your passion inspire me in ways I never thought possible. I always knew you were the one, because you can look into my eyes and see my soul and I no longer fear being myself- I can just be me when I am with you. You are everything that's good, pure and true. You make me a better person every day.
"God has blessed me with you in so many ways that I never thought possible. Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again and I believe in love again. I never imagined that I would find someone that I could love that would love me back unconditionally.
"You are my soul mate. You give me purpose when I feel I have none. Without you my soul would be empty, my heart broken, my being incomplete; I thank God every day that he brought you into my life.
"Today, I marry my prince charming. Today I marry my best friend. I love you with all that I am and all I will ever be." The palm of Jake's hand appeared in front of me with a wedding band for Edward, and I placed it on his ring finger.
"I, Bella, take you Edward, to be my lawfully wedded husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for all of the days of our lives." As Edward did for me, I reached up and wiped away the tears that had fallen on his face.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen. You may kiss your bride," the minister told Edward with a smile.
Edward and I sighed as we kissed each other for the first time as husband and wife. I could feel his smile upon my lips, and I knew he could feel mine. We belonged to each other, heart, body and soul forever.
A/N: Yes they tied the knot, and it's about damn time. :D From the beginning of this story, we wanted to give you a full wedding, not just a few lines saying they got married. We figured that after all of the difficult times Bella and Edward have been through that everyone would want to "see" and "hear" the entire wedding ceremony.
Okay, no wedding night this chapter. This scene has been a long time in coming and it has to be PERFECT, not just for Edward and Bella, but for you, the readers, and us as well. The next chapter will be the last official chapter and you will get your long awaited lemon. We promise that the final chapter they will have their happily ever after.
Most of the vows we found at the following sites:
weddings . about cs/bridesandgrooms/a/vowwording . htm
www . myweddingvows personalized-wedding-vows/finally
We also included some of the letter that Paul Newman had written to his wife, Joanne Woodward, on their wedding day.
If the story goes missing you can find it on Archive of Our Own under our same pen name. Links to our stories are also on the front page of our blog twidictedbyrd . blogspot . com
For those of you wanting Jake to have his HEA, he will have one, and you will get to read about it in the epilogue ;). We even know who his love will be ;). She is really excited about it too!
Follow us on twitter at twidictedbyrd
R/R/R
We posted a O/S called The Right Wrong Number. Bella is a telemarketer. Could a wrong number be the best mistake she ever made? We are still trying to decide if we are going to turn this into a full fic or not.
We have a new story, New York Minute. As teenagers Bella and her best friend dream of meeting their celebrity crushes. When they find themselves living in New York after college, they find out dreams can come true in a New York minute. ←This story is also on Archive of Our Own and TWCS.