AN: HEY EVERYONE! Now you will probably notice I took 95% of this chapter from Breaking Dawn, but that's because I LOVE how Stephanie described it and how simple she kept it, that I didn't want to mess too much with it. SO I hope I didn't offend anyone with how I wrote this and I hope you love it.
BELLA'S POV:
"I miss you already." I said snuggling deeper into his chest.
"I don't need to leave. I can stay..."
"Mmm."
It was quiet for a long moment, just the thud of my heart, the broken rhythm of our breathing, and the whisper of our lips moving in snychronization.
This was one of those times it was easy to forget that I was kissing a vampire. Not because he seemed ordinary or human-I could never for a second forget that I was holding someone more angel than man in my arms-but because he made it seem like nothing at all to have his lips against my lips, my face, my throat.
I opened my eyes and found his open, too, staring at my face. It made no sense when he looked at me that way. Like I was the prize rather than the outrageously lucky winner.
Our gazes locked for a moment; his golden eyes were so deep that I imagined I could see all the way into his soul. It seemed silly that this fact-the existence of his soul-had ever been in question, even if he was a vampire. He had the most beautiful soul, more beautiful than his brilliant mind or his incomparable face or his glorious body.
He looked back at me as if he could see my soul, too, and as if he liked what he saw.
I pulled his face to mine again.
"Definitely staying." he murmured a moment later.
"No, no. It's your bachelor party. You have to go."
I said the words, but the fingers of my right hand locked into his bronze hair, my left pressed tighter against the small of his back. His cool hands stroked my face.
"Bachelor parties are designed for those who are sad to see the passing of their single days. I couldn't be more eager to have mine behind me. So there's really no point."
"True." I breathed against the winter-cold skin of his throat.
This was pretty close to my happy place. Nessie was sleeping in her bed. We were curled up on our bed, intertwined as much as possible. Though I was underneath the blankets, him on top. Having a stone cold vampire for a mate made cuddling difficult, for now.
At least, if I had to be bundled up, Edward's shirt was on the floor. I never got over the shock of how perfect his body was-white, cool, and polished as marble. I ran my hand down his stone chest now, tracing across the flat planes of his stomach, just marveling. A light shudder rippled through him, and his mouth found mine again. Carefully, I let the tip of my tongue press against his glass smooth lip, and he sighed. His sweet breath washed-cold and delicious-over my face.
He started to pull away-that was his automatic response whenever he decided things had gone too far, his reflex reaction whenever he most wanted to keep going. Edward had spent most of his life rejecting any kind of physical gratification, except, of course, for the night Nessie was conceived. I knew it was terrifying to him trying to change those habits now.
"Wait," I said, gripping his shoulders and hugging myself close to him. I kicked the blankets off and wrapped one leg around his waist. "Practice makes perfect."
He chuckled. "Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldn't we? Have you slept at all in the last month?"
I chuckled before replying to his question. "Well, considering Nessie's only 6 weeks old tomorrow I would have to say no, not much." I said getting a chuckle out of him.
"Besides, this is the dress rehearsal," I reminded him, "and we've only practiced certain scenes. It's no time for playing safe."
I thought he would laugh, but he didn't answer, and his body was motionless with sudden stress. The gold in his eyes seemed to harden from a liquid to a solid.
I thought over my words, realized what he would have heard in them.
"Bella...," he whispered.
"Don't start this again," I said. "A deal's a deal."
"I don't know. It's too hard to concentrate when you're with me like this. I-I can't think straight. I won't be able to control myself. You'll get hurt."
"I'll be fine." I insisted. "Besides, you were very delicate and careful when Nessie was conceived, what makes you think you won't be able to do it once, or twice, again?" I asked.
"Bella, it's not that. Do you remember what I told you before? That I only want to be with you in that sense after I have a ring on your finger?" he asked reminding me.
"Yes," I said but not giving up, "but, can't you make one exception?" I asked pressing my lips to his to stop his panic attack. He wasn't getting out of this deal. Not after insisting I marry him first.
He kissed me back for a moment, but I could tell he wasn't as into it as before.
Worrying, always worrying. How different it would be when he didn't need to worry about me anymore. What would he do with all his free time? He'd have to get a new hobby.
"How are your feet?" he asked.
Knowing he didn't mean it literally, I answered, "Toasty warm."
"Really? No second thoughts? It's not too late to change your mind."
I chuckled at how ridiculous that comment was. We had a beautiful baby girl and we were already living together.
I knew he was joking but I feigned shock as I asked "Are you trying to ditch me?"
He chuckled. "Just making sure. I don't want you to do anything you're not sure about."
"I'm sure about you. About us. About us and Nessie. The rest I can live through." I assured him.
He hesitated, and I wondered if I'd put my foot in my mouth again.
"Can you?" he asked quietly. "I don't mean the wedding-which I am positive you will survive despite your qualms-but afterward...what about Renee, what about Charlie?"
This had become a topic of discussion over the past week. Whether or not I was REALLY ready to go through with EVERYTHING.
I sighed. "I'll miss them." Worse, that they would miss me, but I didn't want to give him any fuel.
I laughed but then was serious. "Edward, we've been through this and through this. I know it will be hard, but this is what I want. I want you, and I want you forever. One lifetime is simply not enough for me."
"Frozen forever at eighteen," he whispered.
"Every woman's dream come true," I teased.
Never changing...never moving forward."
"What does that mean?" I asked, knowing there was more to that comment than he had let on.
He sighed and shifted slightly before replying. "What if you want to have more kids? If you go through with this-"
I put my hand over his lips, stopping him mid-sentence. "You and Nessie are my future. Now stop. No moping, or I'm calling your brothers to come and get you. Maybe you need a bachelor party."
"I'm sorry. I am moping, aren't I? Must be the nerves."
"Are your feet cold?"
"Not in that sense. I've been waiting a century to marry you, Miss Swan. The wedding ceremony is the only thing I can't wait-" he broke off mid-thought. "Oh, for the love of all that's holy!"
"What? What's wrong!"
He gritted his teeth. "You don't have to call my brothers. Apparently Emmett and Jasper aren't going to let me bow out tonight."
I clutched him closer for one second then released him. I didn't have a prayer of winning a tug-of-war with Emmett. "Have fun."
There was a slight squeal against the window-someone deliberately scraping their steel nails across the glass to make a horrible, cover-your-ears, goose-bumps-down-your-spine noise. I shuddered, hoping it wouldn't wake up Nessie but she slept right though it.
"If you don't send Edward out," Emmett-still invisible in the night-hissed menacingly, "we're coming in after him!"
"Go," I laughed. "Before they break the place and wake up Nessie."
Edward rolled his eyes, but he got to his feet in one fluid movement and has his shirt back on in another. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
"Get to sleep. You've got a big day tomorrow."
"Thanks! That's sure to help me wind down."
"I'll meet you at the altar."
"I'll be the one in white." I smiled at how perfectly balse I sounded.
He chuckled, said, "Very convincing," and then suddenly sank into a crouch, his muscles coiled like a spring. He vanished-launching himself out the window too swiftly for my eyes to follow.
Outside, there was a muted thud, and I heard Emmett curse.
"You'd better not make him late," I murmured, knowing they could hear.
And then Jasper's face was peering in my window, his honey hair silver in the weak moonlight that worked through the clouds.
"Don't worry, Bella. We'll get him home in plenty of time."
I was suddenly very calm, and my qualms all seemed unimportant.
I sat up awkwardly, tangled in the sheets. "Jasper? What do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not taking him to a strip club, are you?
"Don't tell her anything!" Emmett growled from below. There was another thud, and Edward laughed quietly.
"Relax," Jasper told me-and I did. "We Cullen's have our own version. Just a few mountain lions, a couple of grizzly bears. Pretty much an ordinary night out."
I wondered if I would ever be able to sound so cavalier about the "vegetarian" vampire diet.
"Thanks, Jasper."
He winked and dropped from sight.
It was completely silent outside.
I lay back against my pillow, sleepy now. I stared at the wall of our room, bleached pale in the moonlight, from under heavy lids.
My last night as Isabella Swan. Tomorrow night, I would be Isabella Cullen. Though the whole marriage ordeal was a thorn in my side, I had to admit that I liked the sound of that.
I let my mind wander idly for a moment, expecting sleep to take me. But, after a few minutes, I found myself more alert, anxiety creeping back into my stomach, twisting it into uncomfortable positions. The bed seemed too soft, too big, and too warm without Edward in it. Jasper was far away, and all the peaceful, relaxed feelings were gone with him.
It was going to be a very long day tomorrow.
This and about a million other thoughts raced through my mind until I finally succumbed to the exhaustion that hung over me and I fell asleep.
I awoke to the sounds of my little Nessie crying to be fed. I grudgingly got out of bed and walked to the kitchen to make her a bottle.
After she was fed I got us dressed and headed out the door.
I was under strict orders from Alice that as soon as we woke up we had to go to the house to start getting ready.
As I turned into the drive I saw Alice had gotten to reuse her graduation decorations. Three miles of drive were once again wrapped in hundreds of thousands of twinkle lights. This time, she'd added white satin bows.
Pulling into the cavernous garage north of the main house I noticed Emmett's big Jeep was still gone.
Thankfully Edward had left the Volvo, with Nessie's car seat base, at the apartments so we were able to take daddy's car instead of mommy's truck.
I cut the engine and grabbed Nessie in her carseat and her bag with about 2 weeks of supplies before heading into the house.
It was Alice's idea that her, Rosalie, and Esme take care of Nessie while Edward and I were on our honeymoon.
Walking in the house, I was immediately assailed by the scent.
"What is that?" I wondered as I walked into the kitchen to find Charlie in the kitchen eating food from what looked like an all you can eat buffett.
Alice looked up and started beaming as soon as she saw me walk in.
"Is it too much?" Alice's voice and face was abruptly worried. "I hope I got it right."
"It smells wonderful!" I assured her-almost intoxicating, but not at all overwhelming, the balance of the different fragrances was subtle and flawless.
"Orange blossom...lilac...and something else-am I right?"
"Very good, Bella. You only missed the freesia and the roses." she said as she came over to hug me.
Alice's short black hair was not in its usual spiky do-it was smoothed into sleek pin curls around her pixie face, which wore a constrastingly businesslike expression.
"I'll take her, you sit and eat." she said as she took Nessie in her car seat into the living room.
"Where's mom?" I asked Charlie as I dished up.
Renee had flown in two days ago, and I'd spent every minute I could with her.
Charlie signaled upstairs with his fork.
"Upstairs with Phil and Joshua helping them get dressed." he explained.
I just nodded as I sat down to eat.
Alice walked back in just as I had finished eating.
"Oh Charlie don't forget, you're picking up Mr. Weber at three o' clock," Alice reminded him.
"I don't have that much to do today besides bring the minister, Alice. I'm not likely to forget my only job." Charlie replied.
He had taken the entire day off for the wedding, and he was definitely at loose ends.
"That's not your only job. You also have to be dressed and presentable." I reminded him as I walked back over to him.
He scowled into his food and muttered the words "monkey suit" under his breath.
"You think you have it bad," I said, grimacing at I stopped by him. "Alice will be working on me all day long." I whispered though I knew she could hear me.
Charlie nodded thoughtfully, conceding that he did have the lesser ordeal. I ducked in to kiss the top of his head as I passed him-he blushed and harrumphed.
"Speaking of which, we need to get started Bella so come on." she said grabbing my hand.
"Wait, what about Nessie?" I asked.
"Don't worry, Esme is ready so she's taking care of Nessie. Now come on." she said gently pulling me up the stairs.
Alice appraised me as I got into her room.
"Oh, hell, look at your eyes!" She tsked in reproach. "What did you do? Stay up all night?"
"Almost."
She glowered. "I've only allotted so much time to make you stunning Bella-you might have taken better care of my raw material."
"No one expects me to be stunning. I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the ceremony and not be able to say 'I do' at the right part, and then Edward will make his escape."
She laughed. "I'll throw my bouquet at you when it gets close."
"Thanks." I said with a smile.
"At least you'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow."
I raised one eyebrow. Tomorrow, I mused. If we were heading out tonight after the reception, and we would still be on a plane tomorrow...
Edward hadn't dropped a single hint about the honeymoon. I wasn't too stressed about the mystery, but it was strange not knowing where I would be sleeping tomorrow night. Or hopefully not sleeping...
Alice realized that she'd given something away, and she frowned.
"You're all packed and ready," she said to distract me.
It worked. "Alice, I wish you would let me pack my own things!"
"It would have given too much away."
"And denied you an opportunity to shop."
"You'll be my sister officially in ten short hours...it's about time to get over this aversion to new clothes."
I glowered groggily into the mirror as Alice got out her makeup kit.
"Is he back yet?" I asked.
"Don't worry, he'll be there before the music starts. But you don't get to see him, no matter when he gets back. We're doing this the traditional way."
I snorted. "Traditional!"
"Okay, aside from the bride and groom."
"You know he's already peeked."
"Oh no-that's why I'm the only one who's seen you in the dress. I've been very careful to not think about it when he's around."
She didn't let go of my hand until we were in her over-sized bathroom. I stared at the long counter, covered in all the paraphernalia of a beauty salon, and began to feel my sleepless night.
"Is this really necessary? I'm going to look plain next to him no matter what."
She pushed me down into a low pink chair. "No one will dare to call you plain when I'm through with you."
"Only because they're afraid you'll suck their blood," I muttered. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, hoping I'd be able to nap through it. I did drift in and out a little bit while she masked, buffed, and polished every surface of my body.
It was after lunchtime when Rosalie glided past the bathroom door in a shimmery silver gown with her golden hair piled up in a soft crown on top of her head. She was so beautiful it made me want to cry. What was even the point of dressing up with Rosalie around?
"They're back," Rosalie said, and immediately my childish fit of despair passed. Edward was home.
"Keep him out of here!"
"He won't cross you today," Rosalie reassured her. "He values his life too much. Esme's got them finishing things up out back. Do you want some help? I could do her hair."
My jaw fell open. I floundered around in my head, trying to remember how to close it.
I had never been Rosalie's favorite person in the world. Then, making things even more strained between us, she was personally offended by the choice I was making now. Though she had her impossible beauty, her loving family, and her soulmate in Emmett, she would have traded it all to be human. And here I was, callously throwing away everything she wanted in life like it was garbage. It didn't exactly warm her to me.
"Sure," Alice said easily. "You can start braiding. I want it intricate. The veil goes here, underneath." Her hands started combing through my hair, hefting it, twisting it, illustrating in detail what she wanted. When she was done, Rosalie's hands replaced hers, shaping my hair with a feather-light touch. Alice moved back to my face.
Once Rosalie received Alice's commendation on my hair, she was sent off to retrieve my dress. Downstairs, I could faintly hear the door opening and closing over and over. Voices began to float up to us.
Alice made me stand so that she could ease the dress over my hair and makeup.
My knees shook so badly as she fastened the long line of pearl buttons up my back that the satin quivered in little wavelets down to the floor.
"Deep breaths, Bella," Alice said. "And try to lower your heart rate. You're going to sweat off your new face."
I gave her the best sarcastic expression I could manage. "I'll get right on that."
"I have to get dressed now. Can you hold yourself together for two minutes?"
"Um...maybe?"
She rolled her eyes and darted out the door.
I concentrated on my breathing, counting each movement of my lungs, and stared at the patterns that the bathroom light made on the shiny fabric of my skirt. I was afraid to look in the mirror-afraid the image of myself in the wedding dress would send me over the edge into a full-scale panic attack.
Alice was back before I had taken two hundred breaths, in a dress that flowed down her slender body like a silvery waterfall.
"Alice-wow."
"It's nothing. No one will be looking at me today. Not while you're in the room."
"Har har."
"Now, are you in control of yourself, or do I have to bring Jasper up here?"
I was about to respond when mom walked in.
"Oh, Bella!" she squealed now, gushing before she was all the way through the door. "Oh, honey, you're so beautiful! Oh, I'm going to cry! Alice, you're amazing! You and Esme should go into business as wedding planners. Where did you find this dress? It's gorgeous! So graceful, so elegant Bella, you look like you just stepped out of an Austen movie." My mother's voice sounded a little distance away, and everything in the room was slightly blurry. "Such a creative idea, designing the theme around Bella's ring. So romantic! To think it's been in Edward's family since the eighteen hundreds!"
Alice and I exchanged a brief conspiratorial look. My mom was off on the dress style by more than a hundred years. The wedding wasn't actually centered around the ring, but around Edward himself.
There was a loud, gruff throat-clearing in the doorway.
"Renee, Esme said it's time you got settled down there." Charlie said.
"Well, Charlie, don't you look dashing!" Renee said in a tone that was almost shocked. That might have explained the crustiness of Charlie's answer.
"Alice got to me."
"Is it really time already?" Renee said to herself, sounding almost as nervous as I felt. "This has all gone so fast. I feel dizzy."
That made two of us.
"Give me a hug before I go down," Renee insisted.
My mother squeezed me gently around the waist, then wheeled for the door, only to complete the spin and face me again.
Oh, goodness, I almost forgot! Charlie, where's the box?"
My dad rummaged in his pockets for a minute and then produced a small white box, which he handed to Renee. Renee lifted the lid and held it out to me.
"Something blue," she said.
"Something old, too. They were your Grandma Swan's," Charlie added. "We had a jeweler replace the paste stones with sapphires."
Inside the box were two heavy silver hair combs. Dark blue sapphires were clustered into intricate floral shapes atop the teeth.
My throat got all thick. "Mom, Dad... you shouldn't have."
"Alice wouldn't let us do anything else," Renee said. "Every time we tried, she all but ripped our throats out."
A hysterical giggle burst through my lips.
Alice stepped up and quickly slid both combs into my hair under the edge of the thick braids. "That's something old and something blue," Alice mused, taking a few steps back to admire me. "And your dress is new...so here-"
She flicked something at me. I held my hands out automatically, and the filmy white garter landed in my palms.
"That's mine and I want it back," Alice told me.
I blushed.
"There," Alice said with satisfaction. "A little color-that's all you needed. You are officially perfect." With a little self-congratulatory smile, she turned to my parents. "Renee, you need to get downstairs."
"Yes, ma'am." Renee blew me a kiss and hurried out the door.
"Charlie, would you grab the flowers, please?"
While Charlie was out of the room, Alice hooked the garter out of my hands and then ducked under my skirt. I gasped and tottered as her cold hand caught my ankle; she yanked the garter into place.
She was back on her feet before Charlie returned with the two frothy white bouquets. The scent of roses and orange blossom and freesia enveloped me in a soft mist.
Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
"Wait, where's Nessie?" I asked looking around.
"Esme has her downstairs, she agreed to take care of her through the ceremony and most of the reception. Don't worry Bella." Alice said with a smile.
Rosalie-the best musician in the family next to Edward-began playing the piano downstairs, Pachelbel's Canon. I began hyperventilating.
"Easy, Bells," Charlie said. He turned to Alice nervously. "She looks a little sick. Do you think she's going to make it?"
His voice sounded far away. I couldn't feel my legs.
"She better."
Alice stood right in front of me, on her tiptoes to better stare me in the eye, and gripped my wrists in her hard hands.
"Focus, Bella. Edward is waiting for you down there."
I took a deep breath, willing myself into composure.
The music slowly morphed into a new song. Charlie nudged me. "Bells, we're up to bat."
"Bella?" Alice asked, still holding my gaze.
"Yes," I squeaked. "Edward. Okay." I let her pull me from the room, with Charlie tagging along at my elbow.
The music was louder in the hall. It floated up the stairs along with the fragrance of a million flowers. I concentrated on the idea of Edward waiting below to get my feet to shuffle forward.
The music was familiar, Wagner's traditional march surrounded by a flood of embellishments.
"It's my turn," Alice chimed. "Count to five and follow me." She began a slow, graceful dance down the staircase. I should have realized that having Alice as my only bridesmaid was a mistake. I would look that much more uncoordinated coming behind her.
A sudden fanfare trilled through the soaring music. I recognized my cue.
"Don't let me fall, Dad," I whispered. Charlie pulled my hand through his arm and then grasped it tightly.
One step at a time, I told myself as we began to descent to the slow tempo of the march. I didn't lift my eyes until my feel were safely on the flat ground, though I could hear the murmurs and rustling of the audience as I came into view. Blood flooded my cheeks at the sound; of course I could be counted on to be the blushing bride.
As soon as my feet were past the treacherous stairs, I was looking for him. For a brief second, I was distracted by the profusion of white blossoms that hung in garlands from everything in the room that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons. So this was what Rosalie and Esme were doing while Alice was busy getting me ready.
But I tore my eyes from the bowery canopy and searched across the rows of satin-draped chairs-blushing more deeply as I took in the crowd of faces all focused on me-until I found him at last, standing before an arch overflowing with more flowers, more gossamer.
I was barely conscious that Carlisle stood by his side, and Angela's father behind them both. I didn't see my mother where she must have been sitting in the front row, along with Esme, holding her granddaughter, or my new family, or any of the guests-they would have to wait until later.
All I really saw was Edward's face; it filled my vision and overwhelmed my mind.
His eyes were a buttery, burning gold; his perfect face was almost severe with the depth of his emotion. And then, as he met my awed gaze, he broke into a breathtaking smile of exultation.
Suddenly, it was only the pressure of Charlie's hand on mine that kept me from sprinting headlong down the aisle.
The march was too slow as I struggled to pace my steps to its rhythm. Mercifully, the aisle was very short. And then, at last, at last, I was there. Edward held out his hand. Charlie took my hand and, in a symbol as old as the world, placed it in Edward's. I touched the cool miracle of his skin, and I was home.
Our vows were the simple, traditional words that had been spoken a million times, though never by a couple quite like us. We'd asked Mr. Weber to make only one small change. He obligingly traded the line "till death do us part" for the more appropriate "as long as we both shall live."
In that moment, as the minister said his part, my world, which had been upside down for so long, now seemed to settle into its proper position. I saw just how silly I'd been for fearing this-as if it were an unwanted birthday gift or an embarrassing exhibition, like the prom. I looked into Edward's shining, triumphant eyes and knew that I was winning, too. Because nothing else mattered but that I could stay with him and our daughter. Forever.
I didn't realize I was crying until it was time to say the binding words.
"I do," I managed to choke out in a nearly unintelligible whisper, blinking my eyes clear so I could see his face.
When it was his turn to speak, the words rang clear and victorious.
"I do," he vowed.
Mr. Weber declared us husband and wife, and then Edward's hands reached up to cradle my face, carefully, as if it were as delicate as the white petals swaying about our heads. I tried to comprehend, through the film of tears blinding me, the surreal fact that this amazing person was mine. His golden eyes looked as if they would have tears, too, if such a thing were not impossible. He bent his head toward mine, and I stretched up on the tips of my toes, throwing my arms-bouquet and all-around his neck.
He kissed me tenderly, adoringly; I forgot the crowd, the place, the time, the reason...only remembering that he loved me, that he wanted me, that I was his.
He began the kiss, and he had to end it; I clung to him, ignoring the titters and the throat-clearing in the audience. Finally, his hands restrained my face and he pulled back-too soon-to look at me. On the surface, his sudden smile was amuse, almost a smirk. But underneath his momentary entertainment at my public exhibition was a deep joy that echoed my own.
The crowd erupted into applause, and he turned our bodies to face our friends and family. I couldn't look away from his face to see them.
My mother's arms were the first to find me, her tear-streaked face the first thing I saw when I finally tore my eyes unwillingly from Edward. And then I was handed through the crowd, passed from embrace to embrace, only vaguely aware of who held me, my attention centered on Edward's hand clutched tightly in my own. I did recognize the difference between the soft, warm hugs of my human friends and the gentle, cool embraces of my new familiy.
But there were a few scorching hugs that stood out from the rest-from my best werewolf friend, his fiance, and Seth, Leah's little brother, who had braved the throng of vampires to be here for me today.
After we made it out of the crowd I saw Esme standing there smiling as she and Nessie waited for us to make it out.
I took Nessie before giving Esme a one armed hug. As I kissed Renesmee I saw Edward give Esme a hug.
As they released each other Esme looked at both of us before looking into Edward's eyes and saying "I am so happy for you son."
At this I knew, if he could, Edward would have shed a few tears.
He kissed the top of her head as I heard him whisper "Thanks, mom." before turning to us. His family.
He kissed Nessie before kissing me again.
He looked at me with that blissfully happy smile before nodding his head in the direction of the reception Alice had orchestrated. I simply nodded before we started walking to the reception area, our little happy family, to enjoy the rest of the amazing day that I wished would never end.
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