Disclaimer: I don't own them. Hugs to SunflowerFran for making this pretty.
Bella:
It's May already; the time has passed so quickly. I can hardly believe I'm getting married in a few days!
My dad, Jasper and Emmett, should be here tonight and I can't wait to see them. I feel as if things have been so out of control lately that it will be nice to sit down to a good, relaxed, family dinner.
"Bella, baby!"
My face breaks into a smile.
"Hi," I say, when he walks into the kitchen.
"Hi," he pushes me against the counter and kisses me, and kisses me more, and I feel my knees go weak.
His hand cradles my stomach.
"How are you feeling?"
I cover his hand with mine. "I'm great."
"I can't believe we're going to be parents," he whispers.
"Are you happy?" I ask, nervous that this is all too much, too fast.
"Bella," he wraps his arms around me and tilts my chin up. "We've known each other for more than a year, and I've been in love with you for ... " he pouts his lips, and I laugh. "Well, pretty much the entire time I've known you."
He laughs and places a soft kiss on my lips.
"Never doubt how happy I am or how much I love you," he caresses my cheek and kisses my nose.
"I love you," I whisper and he flashes me a beautiful smile.
"Mhmmm," he kisses me again, more thoroughly, but breaks away and steps back. "I'd love nothing more than to strip you and take you right here, but our families will be here soon. I'm going to change and I'll help you finish up."
He winks and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me flushed and edgy.
"Asshole," I groan, and he laughs loudly from the hallway.
•••p•••
"To my baby sister, Bella, and my new soon- to-be-brother Edward, may you have a long and happy marriage, filled with love and devotion, and may you be blessed with lots of little ankle biters that we can all spoil.
"I was upset when Bella moved away from LA, but it looks like this is just where she is meant to be. I love you, little sister," Jasper's eyes water and I'm a crying mess.
He rocks me and whispers in my ear that he's always here for me, wherever I need him to be, and to never hesitate to call him.
Another tap on a wine glass separates us.
Edward is smiling brightly and hugging his sister.
"Okay, sappy Susan and Jim," Emmett says loudly, making everyone laugh. "Bellaboo, I love you, but Edward, I think you should know that your hands are going to be completely full with this one. I've found my entire collection of underwear in the freezer because of her antics, so I'm going to give you a bit of advice. Don't piss her off. Your underwear will never survive. Don't start a prank war with her, because, you my friend, will not survive. She learned from the best," he points at his chest and smiles widely.
"And lastly, never ask her to make chocolate pudding. Never."
Emmett sits down and everyone is staring at him with confused but amused expressions that make Jasper and I break down with laughter.
"The pudding pops!" Jasper yells, and practically falls over laughing.
"That shit wasn't funny!"
"Shit ... " I snort, making Emmett frown.
Edward is chuckling but wrinkling his nose.
"Okay, okay." My dad pipes in. "Lets not talk about the pudding-pop incident."
Jasper is trying to stop laughing but he isn't doing a good job so Emmett punches him in the arm.
"Bella, Edward, I wish you all of the joy in the world. My little girl is getting married in two days, and I'm not quite sure how to feel about it. You have grown into a beautiful and amazing woman, and I'm so proud and happy that I've been able to be a part of that."
My dad raises his wine glass and everyone chimes in with a toast.
"To love.
To happiness.
To grand babies.
To family.
To commitment.
To fate.
To us," Edward finishes, with a raised glass and a kiss.
••p••
Deep breaths, Bella.
Wedding preparations are going on all around me. Tents were set up last night, but the tables and chairs, tablecloths, and centerpieces are all being arranged to perfection.
There is a gazebo in the middle of the garden that became the focal point of the wedding. Chairs are being set up along the lawn with ribbon, tulle, and flowers at the end of the aisles.
Emmett arranged to have wooden walkways put in place to prevent anyone from sinking into the lawn.
Luckily, the rain has stopped. I'm worried that it will start again before the ceremony, and we've set up an extra tent just in case.
A quick knock on the door distracts me from the checklist going on in my head.
"Hello, ready to get started?"
I nod, as goose bumps cover my body. This is really happening!
"I'm Chelsea. I'm going to start on your hair, Nikki will work on your mani/pedi, and Ashley will finish up with your makeup. Sound okay?"
Her voice is soothing. "You must have to calm down a lot of brides, huh?"
She laughs, "Yes, I guess I have developed what I hope is a soothing voice."
I smile. "I'm ready. Let's do this."
•••p•••
Edward:
Dad, Phil, Charlie, Seth, Jasper, Emmett, Grandfather and I went golfing early this morning and then headed out to lunch.
Emmett is completely pissed off that he lost to Jasper and me. He's been going on and on about it throughout lunch.
"Get over it, man! Just admit you can't always be número uno, like me," Jasper just keeps egging him on.
Seth was a little unsure of himself around us. Not a surprise considering he's only sixteen, but he had some awesome comebacks for Emmett that had all of us laughing.
I stand up from the table and head toward the restroom.
As I wash my hands, I look in the mirror. I hardly recognize the man staring back at me.
I have a permanent smile on my face these days. I have some color, thanks to weekend golfing with my dad and grandfather. Also due to the mini vacations Bella plans for us.
She says if we work too hard, we forget who we are and what makes us happy. I laughed at the time, but seeing myself now looking happy and content makes me a firm believer.
I reach over for a towel just as the door opens. I'm ready to offer a smile and a quick hello as I exit, but the smile falls off of my face when I look up.
"Mr. Dailey," I can't keep the anger out of my voice. It's been months since I've seen him but I cannot forget the trouble he and his family have caused.
"Edward," he sounds surprised. I guess that's a good thing, it means I wasn't ambushed.
I nod and make a move to walk past him but he holds a hand out to me.
"Please, may I have one moment? I'd like to say some things."
I nod tightly and step back.
"First off, let me apologize again for the day outside of your office. I truly meant no harm to you. I was simply angry at the situation. At my daughter, at the strange man she'd been consorting with, and when I approached you I didn't have all of the facts. You were the bad guy, in my eyes. You were the one that abandoned my daughter and left her with a child. But I didn't mean for you to get hurt or feel threatened.
"I know the entire story now, and I'm very embarrassed by it all."
"Thank you," I say quietly.
"You're to be married today?"
"Yes, sir," I smile; it's an automatic response whenever someone mentions it.
Mr. Dailey's smile is sad, resigned.
"Well, congratulations," his voice is quiet.
"Thank you. How is Kate?" I ask before I can stop the words.
He shrugs. "Not well, but we're trying."
I nod, but I have nothing else to say. I reach out and shake Mr. Dailey's hand and walk back to my family.
**p**
"A toast!" Emmett yells.
We're sitting in my Grandfather's study, waiting.
"Ed, be confident. She already said yes," he laughs. "Don't sweat profusely as you will have to wear that shirt all night and no crying up there, man. Don't set that expectation for the rest of us."
"I thought this was a toast," Jasper says.
"Bottoms up, Ed."
We each throw back the whiskey in our glasses.
A knock on the door, " Edward, darling, it's time."
I take a deep breath and adjust my bowtie.
My hair is smoothed back just like that N'Sync guy, because Bella said she liked his hair. I'm such an idiot … but I know it will make her smile.
I walk out of my Grandfather's study and look around. The furniture has been moved, and there are flowers, chairs and small tables everywhere. It's amazing how quickly the room was transformed for a party.
I make my way outside and shake hands with the people scattered all over the lawn. I say hello, kiss cheeks ... I see everyone scrambling near the French doors on the patio.
Ushers are guiding the guests to their seats and I slowly move toward the gazebo.
My grandfather stops next to me as I wait for the coordinator to okay my next move.
"Edward, I'm so happy for you," he says gruffly. "This is the love of a lifetime; enjoy it. Love her and that baby with all that you are."
My eyes go wide and he laughs.
"No one else knows, and they won't hear it from me."
"We just want to be sure everything is okay before we tell everyone."
His hand comes up to stop my rambling. "It's a blessing, Edward. And now I'd like for you to have this."
He opens his coat and pulls something out of the inside pocket.
"I didn't have a son to pass this on to, but I'm so very honored that you will inherit the heirloom that has passed from father to son as far back as I can remember."
He lays a silver pocket watch in my hand.
"Grandfather ... "
I open the watch, and inside, the name Edward Masen is inscribed with the letters E and M in a large, fancy script.
"Congratulations, my boy."
I hug him tightly.
"Thank you."
"Mr. Cullen, we're ready for you."
I take a deep breath, "here we go."
"You're grandmother sends her love."
I nod and squeeze his shoulder before taking my place in front of the gazebo having no doubt that my grandmother is right here watching.
a/n: Hi! I hope all of you are having a fabulous week. This is a part 1 of 2. :) Let me know what you think!
I apologize for not replying to reviews this last time around; I feel bad about it. I was trying to reply on my phone and ffn kept freaking out and recopying replies and then telling me I could only send a reply every five minutes. I love my phone too much to break it so I blame ffn. lol. I am participating in The Twilight Twenty-Five Round 8. I'm having so much fun. Please check out the site, there are so many awesome pieces out there; the twilight 25 dot com.
Enjoy the rest of your week and have a great weekend.
Mwah!