A/N: SORRY GUYS! I know it has been awhile, with my Florida vacation and then when I got back I had to get a skin cancer growth removed from my face, so I am now sporting 5 stitches on my left cheek. I will try to get back to normal updating next week.
Normal disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, but I do however have a very swollen left cheek. LOL.
Chapter 23
Wedding Bells
EPOV
I am not sure what time we got in this morning, the one thing I am sure of is I had way to much Jack and Coke last night. My head feels like it is going to explode, I don't remember much from the night before just random flashes of naked women giving Jasper, Emmett and I lap dances. I can't even recall if Bella was even back at the hotel when I crawled into bed this morning.
I feel the bed shift beside me as her arm comes to rest on my chest. I roll over glancing at the clock on the night stand, eleven o'clock that can't be right. Bella groans beside me as I shift positions so that I can see her face. After she left with the girls yesterday I sat and thought long and hard about what happened earlier in the lobby with Tanya. I know I don't love Tanya anymore, but when I heard her voice something inside of me twinged. I know it was only old feelings rushing to the surface, ones that I have buried deep. When I saw her and Bella talking at one another that protective streak I have for Bella came to the surface more than any of the other feelings. I know I love Bella unconditionally I have just been too scared to tell her. Scared she is just putting on a mask like Tanya did and she will turn into a monster eventually. I know this is an irrational line of thinking. I shake my head as I roll over getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom.
I hear Bella's sleepy voice on the other side of the door, "Edward, baby, come back to bed. My head hurts. I need you." I laugh softly as I finish up brushing my teeth. She acts so strong all the time but I know she is just as hurt and scared as I am.
"Coming Love", I put my toothbrush back into its holder. I return back to the bed where Bella is laying naked on her stomach, her beautiful hair is splayed all around her face and pillow. She literally takes my breath away.
Why? Why can't I say those three little words out loud? This is Bella she will not hurt me ever!
I sigh as I turn the covers back slipping in beside her. She grumbles as she turns her face towards me, "Way to much alcohol…way to much." I start massaging her temples trying to dull her head ache. She sighs contently leaning towards my hands.
"Is that helping any?" She nods weakly.
"Did you guys have fun last night?" She opens her beautiful eyes as she props herself up on her elbow.
I lay back shrugging my shoulders, "Yeah I guess. That is if you like that sort of thing. I would have much rather been here naked in the bed with you." Bella leans over kissing me on the neck.
"Trust me I understand completely. My idea of fun is not watching naked men running around thrusting their man goods in my face." I chuckle at the thought of my Bella defending herself from flying peckers.
Bella's cell phone starts ringing, she picks it up flipping it open. "Hello."
I sit up on the edge of the bed knowing that we need to get up, Emmett and Rose's wedding is at five o'clock and I want to grab lunch with Bella before she is whisked away by the girls to get ready. I push myself off the bed walking over to the dresser grabbing a pair of boxers.
I feel Bella's tiny arms wrap around my chest as she lays her head in the middle of my back. "Edward that was Alice I have to meet them at one to get beautified for tonight. She also said you and Jasper are to keep Emmett entertained until the wedding."
I turn around cupping her tiny face in my hands pulling her up so that her moist warm lips are touching mine, I try to put every bit of love I feel for her into the kiss. She moans softly as I deepen the kiss. I breathlessly whisper into her lips, "Come on let's get dressed and eat lunch before we have to start wedding day duty." She places a soft peck on the corner of my mouth.
"Sounds good to me, race you to the bathroom." She takes off running naked towards the bathroom door.
God! I love this woman!
BPOV
I really thought after that kiss he was going to say the three words I long to hear from him…But he didn't. I could tell he wanted to but instead he just wanted to get lunch.
Typical male worried about their stomachs!
After we ate lunch at the casino's buffet, Edward and I went our separate ways. Alice, Rose and I are going to get our hair done, mani's and pedi's. I know this is supposed to be a day filled with love, but I can't help but feel depressed and because of that I have been unusually quiet.
I lean back closing my eyes as the hair stylist works on my hair, I hear my cousins concerned voice, "Bella, is everything alright? Rose and I have noticed you have not been yourself since yesterday."
I lean up turning towards my two friends, much to the dismay of the girl putting pins in my hair, "Guys it is nothing really." I sigh as I look down at my feet resting on the pedestal of the barber chair.
"Bullshit Bella, we know something is going on. Now spill it!"
"Rose it is your wedding day, I don't want it to be about my silly problems." I glance over at the blonde Amazon realizing she is not going to let me off that easy.
"Okay, okay! You guys win! It is Edward. I don't know! I know he loves me but…He has not said it yet. Sometimes I can see that he wants too but he just doesn't. Am I making sense?" I nervously play with the black nylon cape that is draped around my shoulders.
"Hell Bella we all know that man loves you! But we also know that Tanya really tore him up. I don't know if you noticed his face yesterday when she said his name…Bella it was of sheer disgust and then panic." Rose sits back at the urging of her stylist.
"Yea Bells, if the man could have dug a hole and hid he would have. I honestly think Edward needs to confront Tanya and unload all of those pent up emotions. He never really did that ya know. I think this runs a lot deeper than any of us really know." I nod my head in agreement with my cousin.
"You guys are right. I just want Edward to open up to me so that I can help him. I won't worry about it anymore I know in his own time he will tell me." Trying to lighten the mood, in my best Elvis voice I lean over to my best friends and say, "Thank ya. Thank ya very much." We all bust out laughing, knowing how much Rose is looking forward to saying her vows to Elvis.
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The day flew by and before I knew it we were parked outside of the Elvis Wedding Chapel. Rose looked beautiful. The dress she was wearing is breath taking and really accented her figure, the bodice has metallic beading all through it with a side drape, the skirt is a trumpet style and the dress itself is strapless. Rose had decided against a train, but did wear an elegant veil attached to a simple beaded tiara.
Alice had been in charge of picking out the bridesmaid's dresses and to be honest I really like them, they are strapless and tea length. Rose's favorite color is red so that was her one request that the dresses be that color.
The boys and Emmett, Rose and Jasper's parents are already waiting at the gazebo; this was another one of Rose's conditions, if she had to be married by Elvis then she would have a Twilight gazebo wedding. Thank goodness it is unusually warm in Nevada for this time of year.
We are finishing up our second glass of wine when Rose's mom, Katie knocks on the window. "Rose honey everything is ready." Rose nods and gulps the last of her wine as Mrs. Hale opens the door.
Once we are out of the car we all go to work straightening Rose's dress and veil, Alice hands Rose her bouquet of red Calla lilies as we make our way into the chapel. She will make her entrance from the back doors. Alice walks in first, me second and then Rose accompanied by her dad, Alex. We are all standing waiting on the music to cue our entrance onto the red carpet leading to the gazebo. I walk up to the doors peaking through the windows. I notice Emmett standing near the alter, Jasper and Edward are talking over to the side, I can't really get a good look at either of them…But Emmett looks very handsome, I can tell he is nervous. He is wringing his hands and shuffling his feet. I laugh to myself how this brute of a man can throw an eight hundred pound steer on the ground but getting married has him reduced to a sweaty nervous wreck. Just then the music starts…Love Me Tender…figures.
I turn walking swiftly to my place behind Alice. The double doors open, I take one last look at Rose, she is radiant. Alice walks forward slowly but deliberately, I wait until she is ten steps ahead as I start to make my way down the aisle. Everything is decorated beautifully there are white Gardenia's hanging from the gazebo making it smell wonderful. I glance over to Emmett who smiles at me, he looks stunning in his black suit, his cummerbund matches our dresses, I look down at his shoes, and low and behold he is wearing his boots, always the cowboy. I look at Jasper next who can't take his eyes off of Alice.
I then focus on Edward, our eyes meet and he winks at me, I can't help but smile, Edward is always gorgeous but today in the twilight he is perfect. As I take the last steps toward the alter Edward walks forward and takes my arm and places it in the crook of his and leans over kissing me on the cheek.
He leans in more to whisper in my ear before leaving me to return to his side of the alter, "There are no words that can describe how beautiful you are tonight." He then releases my arm as he returns to stand next to Jasper.
Love Me Tender comes to an end as the double doors open again the wedding march begins; Emmett's eyes never leave Rose's as she begins the slow walk down the aisle. I glance over at Mrs. Hale her eyes are full of glistening tears. I remember back to my own wedding to James, my mom never shed a happy tear.
Hmm maybe I should have paid more attention to that.
I look over at Edward, wondering if we will ever be doing this. My heart starts to get heavy at the thought that we may never move to this stage of our relationship if Edward doesn't come to terms with his past. Things always seem so simple when you start dating then reality sets in.
Rose and her dad finally arrive at the end of the aisle, "Elvis" starts with the customary Dearly Beloved and before we know it, it is all over with and Emmett McCarty and Rosalie Hale are now Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McCarty. I forgot all about my worries as I watched Emmett and Rose, they were truly happy.
We left the Elvis Chapel and spent the rest of the night celebrating our friend's happiness. The night came to a close at around three in the morning, knowing that we all needed our sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, the first performance of the NFR starts at seven o'clock sharp.
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End Note: I will try to get back to normal updating next week. I put links to Rose, Bella and Alice's dresses and the wedding chapel in my profile. Things are going to get a little rocky in the next few chapters. So please don't hate me too much.
Reviews make my stitches feel so much better!!!
