Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I do own my OCs, my storyline, and my Abbott and Costello DVD collection.
A/N: Charlie's Theme Song is "I Loved Her First" by Heartland. Edward's Theme Song is "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks. Thanks to the most betatastic chicka eva -- readingtime. This chapter is for Cuddles180, Little Red, and Blackulicious for going back and making sure they reviewed every chapter. Don't forget to vote for your favorite outtakes.
I have the great pleasure of announcing the debut of not one, but two websites that I have the honor of being part of. The first one, The Secret Twilight Garden, is a group blog effort with myself, Jilburfm, changedbyEdward, JustBiteMePlease, and Lead69. Come join us as we discuss fan fiction stories we consider to be the gold standard of fan fiction, the hidden treasures waiting to be explored, writing tips, interviews, you name it! You can even listen to the official Lessons Playlist as well as the playlists for the rest of the Garden contributors. Come join in the fun! Right now you can read interviews of all the collaborators and find out why my college buddies called me "T-Bone" for the longest time. The link is on my profile.
The other site, blacksheepfics (dot) com, is something revolutionary I am proud to be collaborating with DefinitelyStaying and EJ Santry on. The focus of this website will be to spotlight stories, chosen by YOU, to be reviewed fairly and objectively. The idea is to give all stories the opportunity to be recommended to the community, without regard to the popularity of the author or the story. You submit the story you want reviewed, it will automatically show up on the website as "Under Consideration." There will also be a search engine for both the "Under Consideration" and the "Recommended" lists. The website is still under construction, but should be up and running shortly. The link is on my profile.
Charlie's POV
I couldn't believe it. I knew it was coming, but still, seeing him on his knee in front of my daughter, it seemed so surreal. I thought back to our conversation.
I was just getting ready to turn off the replay of ESPN College Game Day and head to bed. Hell, if it weren't for the fact that I wanted to hear Kirk Herbstreit's take on Adrian's Heisman chances, I'd have been in bed an hour ago. I couldn't believe I watched an hour of bullshit just to hear a 20 second blurb at the end of the program saying he's the one who deserves to win, but won't get it because he's a freshman. His age shouldn't have anything to do with it. He was the best player out there. Watching him win the game last week in person, I was so proud of him. Good kid. He and Alice were good for each other. They both deserved a little happiness in their lives. I was throwing my empty beer cans in the recycling bin when I heard the knock. I was shocked when I opened the door to find Edward standing on the porch.
"May I come in, Charlie?" Edward looked…nervous. Why is he here? Where's Bella?! I stuck my head out and looked around for her.
"She's not with me. I came alone," he said. If he hurt her, I'll kill him.
Edward cringed a bit before speaking again. What was that about? "Bella's fine. May I come in?" I stepped aside and let him in.
He turned to face me as I closed the door.
"Aren't you supposed to be in school, son?"
"Yes sir. I just came here to speak with you. I'll be back in class tomorrow, hopefully before Bella realizes I'm gone."
"Where does Bella think you are right now?"
"She thinks I went…hunting." I didn't know Edward was a hunter. Maybe I should take him out with me next deer season. If he's going to be around for a while, I should probably make a better effort for Bella's sake.
"Well, alright then…say what you came to say." My gut just told me that this was not going to be good. "Bella's not pregnant, is she?"
Edward chuckled, but didn't seem happy about it. "No, sir. Nothing like that. I came to ask you for your blessing. I would like your permission to ask Bella to marry me."
After another six pack of Vitamin R and several hours of conversation, I gave Edward my blessing. He told me of his plans to propose in England at Adrian and Alice's wedding. He assured me Adrian had given him his approval of the idea. I probably talked with him more in that one night than I had all the times we'd ever spoken before combined. Well, he talked. I listened. And drank. But he seemed to have this need to explain the depth of his love for Bella. He talked about the first time they dated, he talked about leaving her. He explained to me that he had been just as messed up as she was when they were apart. He explained how he became overprotective and smothering when he moved back and they got together. We talked about the other men in her life – Adrian, Jacob, Jasper. He didn't seem to bear any ill will toward them anymore. On the contrary, he embraced their contributions to her life. By the time I offered him Bella's bed for the night before his flight back and headed to bed, I was convinced that he was no longer the boy I had met three years ago. Edward had stepped up to the plate and become a man. He would never be good enough for my girl, no guy ever would be. But she could do a helluva lot worse.
I had weeks to mentally prepare for this. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
"Bella, when I gave you my mother's ring, it wasn't a real proposal, we both know that. But that still didn't change the fact that when I slid that ring on your finger, I was picturing what forever could be for me with you in it. You have changed me, Bella. You have made me a better man. When we first declared our love for one another, I was so focused on you being mine, that I didn't realize I had it all wrong. I'm yours, Bella, if you'll have me. Isabella Swan, would you marry me?"
I looked at Bella and her jaw was slack, opening and closing with no words coming out. She was sucking in air like a fish out of water. Looking at Edward, he reminded me of me when I proposed to Renee. Scared shitless. And the longer it took Bella to respond, the more panic overtook his features.
I walked over and put my hand on Bella's shoulder. "Bella." She turned to look at me, still stunned. "You are not your mother. Your relationship with Edward is nothing like my relationship with Renee. I loved her, I still do. But she never loved me back, not the way Edward loves you. She didn't want to stick around when the going got rough. When she left, she never came back. I could have chased her to Timbuktu and it wouldn't have made a difference. Don't let my past ruin your future, Bella." She nodded her head, her eyes glossy, wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tight. Bella and I never had this kind of relationship. We never hugged. So it damn near killed me when I had to pull back and remind her that Edward was still on one knee, anxiously awaiting her answer. She kissed my cheek and turned back to face Edward. His expression was different now. Full of hope. Bella didn't speak, just nodded her head up and down so hard that the curls started to fall out of her up-do. Edward stood and kissed her softly, smiling.
"When?" Bella whispered, kissing him back.
"Well, we already have a minister, we already have the rings, and your dad is already in a tux," Edward stated smugly. "What about now? What about today?" Bella chuckled at him and bit her bottom lip, pausing for only a moment before her head started bobbing again. Edward pulled a box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal three rings -- two platinum wedding bands and a diamond engagement ring. "I didn't know if you would want a new diamond or not, I wasn't sure."
Bella shook her head, taking the larger plain band from the box and squeezing it in her palm. "I want the one I already have." Edward beamed at her, taking the smaller wedding band out of the box before closing it, the forgotten engagement ring still inside.
"Well, go on Bells! Father Christopher doesn't have all day!" Adrian chided. "It's time for a wardrobe change!" Bella looked at him questioningly, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Other bedroom, you'll find two more garment bags. Get moving, Wedding Bells!"
"Half hour," Alice practically growled at her new husband. "I will need another half hour to get her ready. Come on Bells! We're really going to be sisters now!" Bella squeaked as Alice grabbed her by the hand and dragging her back upstairs.
"Well, I don't know about you gentlemen, but this proud papa could use a drink! How about you, padre?"
"I think a hot toddy would do me good right about now," the pastor said with a jolly chuckle.
"I don't know about that, but I'm having a beer. You boys coming?"
"Hell yeah!" Adrian replied with his usual enthusiasm. Edward shook his head, but smiled and accompanied us to the small bar anyway.
True to her word, a half an hour later Alice appeared at the top of the stairs. She was now dressed in an emerald green dress in the same design as the red one Bella had worn for Alice's nuptials. She had taken the red and silver babies breath out of her hair, and replaced them with sprigs of green and gold. She now held a bouquet of white roses. Everyone took their places and the pianist began playing a song I didn't recognize, but seemed vaguely familiar. It sounded like something Bella hummed herself to sleep to when Edward was gone. Bella appeared like an angel, gliding down the steps with a grace I'd never seen her show before. Her hair was completely redone, with tiny crystal pins holding up her curls. Her dress was similar to Alice's, only instead of red roses on the trim, there was an emerald green ivy pattern trimming the bottom of the dress, intermingled with gold thread that glimmered when she walked.
"You look beautiful, Bella." She smiled at me and put her hand in the crook of my elbow as we began walking. Somehow the aisle seemed so much shorter than it had an hour ago. I couldn't hold back my own tears when I put her hand into Edward's. He looked up at me with such reverence and thanked me. Bella hugged me again, whispering "I love you, Dad," in my ear.
Father Christopher began again, smiling happily as he joined them in holy matrimony. Bella didn't stop smiling the entire time. She just stared in Edward's eyes and he stared right back. And when Father Christopher pronounced them man and wife, I knew. No matter what happened or where their lives led them from here, they would be together, and they would be happy. Life would throw them curveballs, it did to everybody, but somehow I knew – they would make it. Together.
Alice held my hand, with her other arm around Adrian's waist, as we watched them glide to the tiny dance floor. The soloist started singing that old Peter Cetera and Cher song, "After All." They weren't even dancing, really. Not like Alice and Adrian did. They were more…swaying, with Edward singing the words in her ear as she held him close. I had to admit; it was beautiful.
Edward's POV
I never in my wildest dreams thought this moment would happen. I had hoped. God, I had hoped. But I never, for one second, allowed myself to believe it would happen. Adrian had asked me on the plane how I could be so calm. He knew I was laying myself on the line, placing my heart at her feet, even more than he was with Alice. He knew she would say yes, he just wasn't sure she'd be happy with a surprise wedding that didn't involve a full orchestra and the Vienna Boys Choir. I had no such assurances. Yes, she loved me and I loved her. Yes, we had learned the lessons of our mistakes and let the past go. But was she ready for marriage? Was it too soon?
Thanks to Charlie, Bella set her fears aside and said yes. Of all the times I rejoiced when she said yes to me, this was by far the greatest. I knew I kissed her longer than propriety dictated when Father Christopher introduced us to our little party as "Mrs. and Mrs. Edward Cullen," but I couldn't help myself. She'd made me the happiest man on Earth, and I wanted to kiss my wife senseless. So I did. Then when the girl began to sing the song I had chosen for the occasion, I sang to her as we melded together and the rest of the world disappeared.
Well, here we are again;
I guess it must be fate.
We've tried it on our own,
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight.
I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new.
Every memory repeats,
Every step I take retreats,
Every journey always brings me back to you.
After all the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After all that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All.
When love is truly right
(This time it's truly right.)
It lives from year to year.
It changes as it goes,
Oh, and on the way it grows,
But it never disappears,
Always just beyond my touch,
You know I needed you so much.
After all, what else is livin' for?
After we finished dancing, I kissed her once more, relishing her warm breath against my skin, before handing her over to Charlie, who wanted to dance with his little girl while the soloist sang "My Father's Eyes." I danced with Alice, trying to keep her from twirling too much so that Bella and Charlie wouldn't be subconscious about their dancing abilities, but my mind was buried deep within Charlie's thoughts as he relived every key moment in Bella's life to date, from her birth, her first steps, her first words. He thought about her as a toddler in piggy tails making mud pies with Jacob and his older sister. He thought about the tears she cried and how her little hand reached for him when Renee walked out their door. He thought about their summers in California, how every time he saw her it was like meeting someone new. He thought about how happy he was to have her back when she moved back to Forks. He thought about the first time he caught us kissing, and he thought about how beautiful she looked just moments ago at the top of the stairs and how her hand still felt tiny in his own, even now.
After the song was over, I handed Alice off to dance with Charlie, who handed Bella off to dance with Adrian to "The Way You Look Tonight." We even took turns dancing with Adrian and Caroline before settling down to dinner.
Afterwards, Caroline prepared a lovely quail dinner for everyone. Alice claimed to be too excited to eat. I, on the other hand, slipped pieces of food onto Adrian's plate when no one was looking. But Alice was not going without the traditional cake feeding and champagne toast. And apparently, neither was I. If I can do it, you can do it. Suck it up, buttercup, she thought.
Adrian had chosen a lovely cake, simple, white frosting with tiny marzipan poinsettia flowers circling the base of each of the three layers, each one separated by tiny columns. After pictures of the cake were taken, the top two layers were set aside to save for our first anniversaries. Bella and I stood on one side and Adrian and Alice stood on the other. We cut the cake at the same time. Bella and I were very delicate. I didn't want to muss her makeup and I'm sure she was trying to ensure I could take the smallest bite possible. Adrian, on the other hand, smashed his piece of cake in Alice's face, then shoved his index finger in her mouth so she would have to eat some of the frosting. He's lucky he didn't get bit. Alice checked her dress quickly and once she was certain it wasn't going to suffer damage, gave it right back to him, taking a big handful of cake and smearing it all over his face. Caroline came over quickly to rescue the rest of the cake so that Father Christopher and Charlie could have a piece before it turned into an all out food fight.
Finally, we were able to say our goodnights, although not without an awkward 'Keep it down in there' from a slightly intoxicated Charlie, aimed at Adrian and Alice since their room was next to his. Bella and Adrian gathered their belongings and traded rooms. I overheard Adrian whisper to Bella about a bag in the closet.
"I hope you like it, but I don't need to know either way. I'd rather we never spoke of it again, actually. I just wanted you to have something special for your wedding night." Adrian blushed, which made Bella blush, guessing the contents. "I love you, Bells. You've always been family to me, but I love that it seems more official now."
"I love you, too, Adrian." She kissed him on the cheek before taking my hand and crossing the hallway. Both girls squealed as Adrian and I picked them up. Flashes from Caroline's camera distracted us only momentarily before we crossed the thresholds into our respective rooms.
"You are by far the most beautiful bride the world has ever seen, Isabella Cullen." I could tell her first instinct was to roll her eyes at me, but something made her stop. For perhaps the first time since I'd known her, she accepted a compliment.
"Thank you, Edward."
"Shall I press my luck and give you your wedding gift now?"
"Oh, no, please don't. I haven't anything to give you in return. Save it, just a little while. Give me time to get you something first, please?" I smiled and nodded my head.
"How about we exchange gifts, say, on our one month anniversary?" Bella chuckled at me.
"You are a hopeless romantic, Mr. Cullen."
I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her forcefully against me. "And you love every minute of it, don't you, Mrs. Cullen?" I leaned her backwards over my arm into a dip. Bella closed her eyes as I leaned down to kiss her. The passion between us ignited quickly, but it wasn't long before she was pushing me away.
"Wait! I want to do this properly." She turned her back to me. "Help me with all these buttons so I can get changed, Edward?" I nibbled on her shoulder and the base of her neck while I unbuttoned each of the thirty or so tiny satin buttons. As soon as I completed my task and rested my hands on her hips, she scurried away from me, running to the closet to retrieve a tiny black bag with a tag on it that said "Wedding Bells" before disappearing in the bathroom. I heard the tiny ping of dozens of bobby pins as she removed them and dropped them on the counter. There were chocolates on our pillows nestled in cream colored tissue paper and the bed sheets were turned down. I put the chocolate on the nightstand on Bella's side of the bed. I took off my shirt, shoes, and socks and laid back on the bed, my hands behind my head and waited, smiling the moment I heard her set her hairbrush down. Even when her heart beats no more, I will have that sound to look forward to. The sound that means my angel is coming back to me. And this time, she's here to stay.
Bella emerged from the bathroom even more beautiful than she looked coming down the aisle, if that were possible. Her hair was down and brushed, falling in loose curls around her shoulders. She had left the makeup on, save the lip gloss that undoubtedly came off when she was brushing her teeth. She was wearing a white satin nightgown with spaghetti straps, but what made her beautiful blush appear so bright, and had apparently caused Adrian's blush as well, was the fact that her breasts were covered with only white lace, embroidered with a single rose in bloom which covered her nipples, but not much else. It was elegant but extremely sensual. I know Adrian said he didn't want it spoken of, but I would have to find a way to thank him. And possibly break his nose for picturing my wife in that outfit, but I would definitely have to buy him something nice afterward. Maybe a car. Or a small island in the Pacific. It would take every ounce of self control I had to keep that gown in one piece for future use.
Bella was biting her lower lip as she stood awaiting my assessment. I crossed the distance between us in a flash, sucking her lower lip from between her teeth and caressing it with my tongue. Bella greedily deepened the kiss, and we poured all of our unspoken emotions into that kiss. I slowly walked us back to the bed as our lips moved in tandem with one another. My hands traveled up and down her sides, my thumb caressing the roses on her gown with each pass, bringing her pert nipples to attention and causing the delicious aroma of her arousal to permeate the room. Bella ran her hands down the planes of my chest and over my belt buckle before taking my erection in her hands and squeezing me through the fabric. My hips bucked towards her, begging for more, as I kissed my way down the column of her neck, twirling my tongue around the nape of her neck before pushing the strap of her nightgown off her shoulder and worshipping the flesh there. I repeated the same trail on the other shoulder, palming her breasts in my hands as I kissed my way down her shoulder, suckling her nipples through the thin fabric. I reached down, dragging the fabric up in bunches until I could slide my hands under it to caress Bella's thighs, the perfect combination of toned muscle and soft flesh. The heat was coming off of her in waves and I felt her swaying, so I pulled the nightgown over her head and tossed it to the chair in the corner before putting my arm under her knees and picking her up, laying her in the center of the bed.
Bella watched me with rapt attention as I shed the last of my clothes and crawled onto the bed, settling myself between her legs. We slowed down then, our passion giving way to a sweet, emotional connection as we kissed and touched and loved each other. When she wrapped her legs around my waist, I entered her slowly and we both groaned from the contact as though it was our first time. In a way, it was. It was our first time joined as man and wife, the physical consummation of our vows to one another, and it was everything I always thought it would be. We took our time making love, focused on the union of our bodies, hearts, and souls. We gazed into each other's eyes and found home. We toppled over the edge together, and then Bella snuggled against me, one arm and one leg wrapped around me, her forehead snuggled into the crook of my neck.
"Edward?" she mumbled long after I thought she had fallen asleep.
"Yes, love?" I asked her, not really expecting an answer.
"Thank you for having them play my lullaby…soooo much better than Here Comes The Bride."
A/N: The Naked Cullen Boys have taken their show to Dublin, Ireland! Carlisle said to let you know he has something special in store for all my ladies out there! The next chapter is Adrian's POV, and then the remainder of the story, with the exception of the Epilogue, will most probably be Jasper's POV.