A/N: ok. So I looked everywhere for this and was unable to find a single thing about it, not on the wiki, not on Stephenie Meyer's website, nowhere. So, I made it up on my own. I know someone that made Jake age to like 22 (which is pretty much the age human males stop growing in RL) but I'm going to make it 18. Here's why. Jake isn't exactly full human. He's a hybrid. I say this for two reasons- Alice's inability to see them and the fact that he shifts into a wolf. So I'm going to make it to where he stops aging at 18, also because he grew from like 5'11" to 6'7" in a single year.

The consensus is that as long as they don't stop shifting the pack won't age, ever. They shift due to vampires, hence the reason Billy's generation was skipped. So once the Cullens leave Sam's pack will probably stop phasing, but Jake will always be around vampires in some form. He may not view them as the enemy but his genes will. Jake will never age again, because he will always shift. Hope that makes sense.

Here it is, the start of the wedding. This chapter is just going to be Bella getting ready and the end of the rio trip. I'm going to somewhat tie up some loose ends here, so I hope it doesn't seem too jumbled. I will be putting the ceremony and reception together so I hope you won't be too disappointed that there isn't a huge amount of detail.

For now, we're home from South America and getting married! That means a massive time jump since S.A. happened in January and the wedding is the beginning of June. Anyway. Here we go!

Chapter Thiry-Two

Jasper

We ended our trip with a stop in Rio de Janeiro. We left Santarem at night due to the sun being out, so we get to Rio around midnight and grab a hotel for the night. The next day comes out bright and sunny so we let Jake and the twins go out alone. We figure with their gifts and his size that no one would be dumb enough to mess with them. We join them once the sun goes down and enjoy the nightlife of Rio in summer.

Bella is sad when I tell her we will miss Carnival because the celebration always starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and the continued until then. I promise that we can always come back one year and do some more sightseeing here, especially since we will also miss the opportunity to miss the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado. She smiles and tells me she'll hold me to that promise.

So with this stop, Jake ends his birthday trip on a bang and with some purchases for himself and his sister, dad and the pack- like teeshirts that say Rio de Janeiro on them with an outline of the skyline and some little trinkets here and there. We also get the twins a few puzzles and toys and I buy Bella some of those braided string bracelets that you can layer and a gold raw gemstone ring. We also get some other pieces of raw gemstone jewelry for the ladies of our family and some books and things for the guys.

We also find some very nice watercolor prints of the beach and Rio itself from an aerial view. Then we get on a plane just before the sun comes up and head home.

Home. We get there in no time and as I drive, Caius driving another vehicle behind us with Jake, us all back to the house I think about what this trip meant. It means that we can finally settle into the life we've wanted to. We can now get married and live happily ever after.

I think about our honeymoon too. Where can I take her? Isle Esme is out since we just got back from that region. Then it hits me. The trip I had planned for her vacation. Down the coast to California then over to Arizona to visit her parents graves.

I can even surprise her with our kids meeting us there so she can 'introduce' them to her parents. I know some people do that, take important moments to the gravesides of their loved ones like they can feel their presence there. And maybe they can, I don't know. I don't even know where my parents are buried. Maybe this summer can be a family trip, just the four of us and Jake. We can see if I can find my family's gravestones and maybe track down one of my sisters descendants.

I'm in no huge hurry to get out of the house after all. We can spend this fall building our little cabin in the meadow, though if I'm honest I think I might prefer it to be by the lake where I asked her to marry me. Either way, as long as we're together it doesn't matter.

When we walk through the front door we're greeted by those we left behind. Alice pulls me aside and whispers in my ear, the cacophony of voices keeping her from being heard, "do you really want to build it by the lake? I need to know so you don't change your mind. And no, I'm not telling you why."

She just grins at me and shakes her head when I go to ask her questions so I just resign myself to no answers and tell her yes, if I can have my home anywhere it's there. She nods and flounces off, pulling Esme, Rose and Athena along in her wake. Watching them whispering amongst themselves I have a feeling I may know what they're up to. Though I can't be absolutely sure. If they are up to that though, it will be a nice gesture and surprise for Bella.

Peter left us at the airport in Seattle. Said he needed to get home to his woman before she forgot she had a man. He'll never say the words out loud, that he missed her, but then Peter isn't the type to express his emotions through words. He's more of a take action type person. Good thing we don't sleep.

Jake left us as soon as we pulled up, he needs to check in with his dad and Sam. I don't know what he's going to do when we finally leave. I'll have to see about setting up an account he can add to and use as he needs. That way he can have the money he will need for traveling, so he can come back here every so often to see his dad and sister, any nieces and nephews that may come along as well.

I know he won't take my money outright, so I'll have to make it something small and show him how to invest his money wisely like the rest of us did. He was reluctant to take any money on our trip until I reminded him that he was with us and that he could think of it all as one big birthday present. He's definitely the type to make his own way in life which is a core value I hope rubs off on Carlie and Micah.

Of course losing a little money isn't going to hurt me, I'm a billionaire thanks to being over a hundred and fifty years old and investing the money, which I earned before reaching the Cullens, in a wise manor thanks to Carlisle's teachings. He really helped me out. I don't think I can ever repay him for that.

We'll also have to get fake documents for Jake since he'll be living with us. Plus, after he reaches the age of eighteen, he will stop aging as long as he phases. Which he will have to if he expects to live with Carlie for eternity. Shaking these thoughts, as they aren't relevant just yet- we have another year to worry about them after all- I tune back into my surroundings.

I listen in amusement as the kids recount Peter and Jake wrestling the anaconda. As they proclaim with excitement that they really like the Amazons and hope we can visit them again soon so they can hear more stories from Kachiri. Bella and Alice are discussing colors for our wedding, so everyone is occupied and I head out the back door, over the river and towards my meadow.

It's been an emotional, rough, long few months and I just need some time to myself away from all emotions. So many at once all the time can become wearing on me. I lay in the snow, wishing that I was surrounded by the long grasses instead, and close my eyes and just drift away. I center on my breaths, a force of habit more than a necessity, and soon my mind is free of everything and I just lay there cognizant of nothing but myself, the cold, wet snow seeping into my clothes and the warm sun on my face.

I don't know how long I've lain here, but soon I'm aware of another's presence. The lack of emotion coming at me though tells me it's Bella. She's shut them away from me and I can't help but delight in the fact that she knows just what it is I'm trying to do. She doesn't approach me for a bit though, so I just pretend I don't know she's there and continue my meditation.

Eventually she comes and joins me though. She lays down beside me and takes my hand in hers and we both lay here, just happy with the other being at our side and nothing else. The sun soon begins to set and I finally open my eyes and sit up, my clothes clinging to my back from the wetness. I turn to look at her and she just smiles.

"Thanks darlin', for just letting me be for a while. I don't want you all to think I don't love you, but sometimes the emotions can become too much and I have to get away."

"Believe me cowboy, I know. Remember when we first came here? You told me then why you come to this meadow. When I saw you leave I had an idea of where you might go. I knew you needed some space, but I wanted you to know that I'll be here if you need me. So I used my gift to keep my emotions from you and sat in the trees and watched you for a while. It was actually quite relaxing watching you lay here with the sun dancing off your skin. A beautiful sight, and you're all mine. Are you ready to go back yet though, or do you need to be alone some more?"

"No, I'm ready to go back. Come on."

I help her to her feet and we make our way back. We get there just in time to join the twins in their evening meal and then we sit and put together some puzzles. The quickness in which they do them has me thinking we should get some harder things for them. They'd also probably really enjoy Legos. I bet we can build some pretty impressive things with them, so I think we'll go into Seattle next weekend and go shopping.

We put them to bed in Em and Rose's old room, it's right across the hall from mine and they took Edward's old room as it's bigger and they've been a part of this family longer, and I watch from the doorway as Bella reads them a story- sitting in Micah's bed while Carlie lays facing them from hers, and they kiss her goodnight and she joins me. Life right now is damn near perfect.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Bella

"Are you nervous?"

"Of course not Alice. I love him and this is always what it was coming down to."

"Well it's still going to be perfect Bella, I can promise you that. Now let's get you ready. Carlie, bring me mommy's robe will you. We need her to get her butt in the shower!"

My daughter, who looks beteeen ten and eleven now, comes into the room carrying this gray terry robe and I take it and head to the shower. "Make sure you use that lilac scented bar soap I bought you Bella! Jasper is going to go crazy over it."

"Yeah, yeah Alice. Go make sure everything else is coming along would you. I'd like to shower in peace."

"Fine, but don't take forever!" I shake my head and walk into the bathroom. As I do, I think about the things that have gone on these past months.

Alice and Felix have become more family to us than they are to the brothers. They moved in pretty much permanently not long after we returned from our trip to South America. They take their assignments when needed of course, but instead of going back to Volterra afterwards, they come here. If I'm honest I think it's at Caius's request.

They haven't had the chance to leave Volterra since he and Athena had to head back a few days after we returned, to prepare for the trial of Stefan and Vladimir and the questioning of the six dissidents that joined them in their little coup attempt. Like Jasper predicted, a vampire named Charles was called in.

He has the ability to detect when someone is lying, a valuable asset to the brothers. He was lucky he became a vampire after their change though, so he was never forced to join them. We traveled to Volterra a few days after Caius and Athena left, as witnesses against the Romanians. The trial was swift, the verdict unanimous, and the punishment swiftly meted out. Of the six, three were allowed to leave- after vowing never to try to help someone stage a coup again, or to try to stage one themselves. They were truthful according to Charles and so they were shown mercy. A good strategy by the brothers.

Stefan and Vladimir did nothing to try and defend themselves. They knew that no matter what, no one would be on their side and their lives were over. They and the last three of their followers were publicly executed. Numerous covens attended to see just how the Volturi had changed. They were given the sight of Alec using his gift, once it was in place the five were ripped apart and burned. They felt no pain.

As the covens left Volterra, we were all confident word would get around of the new way the brothers were doing things and it would help to bring about a more peaceful, cooperative world. Aster and the ten men he'd brought the last time were there too. We watched Aster smile as the Romanians burned. His purpose was finally fulfilled. We got word a couple months later that he had found his successor in one of his Lieutenants, a man of twenty with no imprint as of yet, and that he had stopped phasing. No one thinks it'll be long before he leaves this earth. Maybe another ten to fifteen years perhaps?

After the trial we sat down with him and told him what we learned and didn't learn about hybrids as he asked and told him we'd keep the new alpha abreast of the situation as we learned more. He merely thanked us and left. We just hope he will be at peace.

We kept our word to Nahuel and Huilen as well. After the trial Demetri, who we found out had found his arm because he was searching in the wrong place and it was hidden beneath some bushes, was sent out to find Joham. He hasn't found him yet, but they're hopeful it won't be too much longer. Nahuel sent us word that his sire has created another child, so Demetri had a good place to start.

Nahuel also managed to convince his sister to take the woman in and take the advice of Carlisle. She survived the birth of her son, who was allowed to bite her as Nahuel had done Huilen, and is now a mother to them all- though like myself it is as a vampire. Joham himself showed up to try and convince Nahuel to join his sisters and new brother, in his anger Nahuel attacked him. Joham got away unfortunately, but we learned something new through it. Hybrid teeth are strong enough to break vampire skin.

Jasper has our honeymoon planned, but won't tell me where we're going. We have yet to build the cabin, but he's decided we should wait until the summer is over. He did tell me that we are going to go on a three week long honeymoon and then the kids will meet us at our final destination with Jake and we're going to take a summer trip cross country. He had originally planned this as a surprise but decided against it last minute. I have no issues with that plan. Maybe we can scout out the next place we will live after Volterra.

The brothers and their wives were ecstatic to hear our decision of course. Carlisle and Esme have opted to have a little home on a vineyard outside of Volterra, Rose and Em plan to join them, while we stay in the citadel. We'll see them often, but they feel this would be a good time for us to bond with Caius and Athena. After all, we'll more than likely be with the Cullens a lot more often.

Esme and Carlisle finally went through Edward's stuff about a month ago. As much as we hated him in the end, or at least what he had become, they still loved him at one point and it was still hard to move his stuff and admit he was truly gone for good. They also sold the Chicago house as Jasper had figured they would.

Around that time Jasper went off on his own. It hurt our children and myself, but we knew he was battling with the guilt he felt over being the one to kill Edward. Carlisle asked me to allow him to go and find him. When they returned there seemed to be a greater understanding between them and Jasper rarely left my side and the kids' sides for the next week or so, guilty all over again for abandoning us for a few days.

We forgave him of course.

Now here we are. The day of our wedding. It's early morning, and I stand beneath the spray of the shower and wish he was here with me. But he's nothing if not a traditionalist and he went off with the guys on some hunting trip and I won't see him again until he's standing at the end of that aisle in his suit. He made love to me all night the night before he left. That was a day ago. We opted for hunts like with Rose and Emmett, neither of us found a stag party appealing- much to Alice and Rose's disappointments.

Sighing I wash myself in this soap Alice insisted on, it's lilac scented and she said it would enhance my own scent, and then I shut off the shower and step out. I dry off quickly, now in a hurry to get ready so I can see my mate again. Alice is standing by my vanity, a new edition Jasper added a couple months ago, and she just laughs at my renewed eagerness.

"Calm down Bella. We still have a few hours before it's time." Carlie giggles next to her, while the rest of the women in our family just smile. All the brothers and the wives came in for today, the Denali coven came down from Alaska- Garrett and Kate took about three months to themselves before rejoining them. He is still maintaining a human diet, but Kate just smiles and says if you really love someone then you take them as they are, not as you wish them to be. She's right of course.

The pack and their imprints as well as Billy and the other two elders will be here today, as well as certain Guard members- more as protection for the brothers, though they don't really need it, than anything else. Renata, Jane and Alec. We also have a few surprise visitors in Huilen and Nahuel and Fred of all people. I guess Diego has been in touch with him and he decided he needed to thank us personally for helping them be able to live lives of their own. Apparently Fred has learned to control his gift for the most part and it merely makes people uncomfortable instead of driving them away from him.

I'm pulled from my musings by Alice taking control. I'll have two bridesmaids, Alice- as maid of honor- and Rose. Carlie is to be flower girl and Micah the ring bearer, though he won't actually be carrying the rings. Peter will be Jasper's best man and Emmett his other groomsman. Caius was extremely humbled when we asked him if he'd marry us and got a license online to do so. We of course got the marriage license from Jenks. Carlisle was also honored when I asked him to stand in for my father and Esme would have cried if we could when I asked if she'd stand in for my mother.

I smile at her now as she stands to the other side of the vanity, preparing to help me get ready as a mother would. Alice forces me into the stool and we get to work. As Rose starts to fiddle with my hair, Alice starts setting about putting on my makeup- though by the looks of it it won't be much just some mascara and eyeliner. After all, we are naturally beautiful and don't really need the human embellishments. Rose starts putting my hair in curlers. When I'm done as far as the start of my hair goes and my makeup being on, Alice and Rose head off for their own showers and Esme helps Carlie with her hair.

Soon my daughter and I are both in curlers and she's sat on my vanity. I lean in for a kiss and she giggles. She's really enjoying this whole thing. She had a great time dress shopping with us- being able to choose her own dress was fun for her. She heartily approved my dress choice too. She and Rose spent hours looking through bridal hair magazines until they found the perfect hair do for her. It's this slicked back look with a bun to the side that looks like a flower. It even has this Pearl hair broach in my color scheme- blush, ivory, champagne and gold.

Pretty soon Rose and Alice rejoin us, in their own robes and Irina- who asked if she could take our wedding photos for us to which we both heartily agreed- gets us all to sit on the bed and takes our picture. She's been snapping away this whole time, I just wasn't paying attention. Esme brings my dress in and hangs it from the closet door and Carlie moves to stand in front of it and looks up at it and I hear the click of the camera again. I can't wait to see that picture.

"Mommy. Do you think one day I'll wear a dress this pretty for Jake?"

I smile. "Of course sweetie. You can have whatever dress you want. When you're older and ready."

"I'm ready now Mommy." I move over to stand next to her and turn her to face me.

"Not yet you're not. You're not old enough. Right now Jake is the greatest thing to you and you can't see anything other than him. But one day that could change. I love you sweetheart and so does he, but you'll have a time when you may doubt your relationship with Jake. Let's get past that ok?"

"I'm never going to not want to be with Jake Mommy, but I understand I'm still too little to be with him as his wife. I know the day will come soon though." With that she turns around and I have to stifle a laugh. Jasper and I are both of the opinion that once she gets older she'll rebel against her feelings and fate. I just hope we can get through it.

According to Sam, Emily did the same- as did he. He loved Leah, still does but not in the same way, and so does Emily. They fought their feelings for each other for her sake, but it was no use. Now they're happy and Leah is as well. She found her imprint in a new man who moved to La Push four months ago. I was right too. As soon as he showed and they realized what they were to each other, her cycle started back up again. They're actually already expecting their first child, though it wasn't exactly planned. She's due in January.

I know we'll face the same that those three did, when it comes to Jake and Carlie. It just won't be because he was in love with someone else and imprinted on Carlie, it'll be because Carlie will want to try and love someone else while Jake loves only her.

Before I know it it's time to put on my dress and head down to the meadow. Alice helps me step into it, the blush stilletos with crystal accents on the heels I chose aren't exactly easy to maneuver in despite my new vampire grace, and Carlie asks if she can help zip me up. We humor her but she's unable to move it, she actually gets it stuck, so Esme steps in and soon I'm zipped and ready. I'm pulled to the floor length mirror and take myself in.

I'm going to just have to have a vain moment and admit it, I look fantastic! I can't wait until Jasper sees me walking down the aisle. Looking up and seeing how nice all of us look, I smile. "I think I'm ready. Let's get this show on the road."