The Twilight Twenty-Five

thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Beach

Pen Name: Mcgt

Pairing/Main Character(s Bella/Edward

Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks to LittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

Chapter 24 Beach

The Luckiest

~One Year Later~

"Edward, come on. We're going to be late." I shouted up the stairs of the apartment we now lived in together. We were headed to the beach for a little celebratory party for Edward's completion of his residency at Port Angeles Hospital. He'd accepted a job in the pediatric group at the hospital that would begin once he'd taken a much needed two week vacation.

We were planning on driving up to Vancouver and then up to Alaska tomorrow morning. But this afternoon everyone we knew and loved was coming to our party. A get-together that thankfully Alice, Angela and Esme had already helped set up, saying they wanted to put it all together so I wouldn't have to worry about it right before leaving for vacation.

When he'd finally came down, my fiancé looked handsome as ever wearing a lightweight tan suit with a pale blue shirt that was unbuttoned at the neck. His hair had been cut short only a few days prior but he'd left enough length on the top to keep his boyish disheveled style.

"Hi baby, don't you look beautiful." Taking my hand, he spun me once in a circle admiring the summery knee length dress as it floated around me when I twirled. Alice had picked the dress out especially for the occasion, saying I needed to look the part of the doctor's wife I'd become one day.

"Thanks. Alice said it was the perfect shade of pale blue to accent your suit and my skin tone.

Nuzzling my neck he replied, "Mmm that it does. I wish we could skip the whole thing and go back to bed." His hand fingered the thin strap on my shoulder teasing me about what we could both be doing instead of hanging out with half the town.

I slapped his hand away playfully, reminding him that we could always sneak out early and maybe check out the progress of our house being built.

"I never knew making love to you in the great outdoors would be the start of such an obsession for you Ms. Swan."

Rolling my eyes playfully at him, I had no retort. It was true. Ever since the first night we'd had sex under the stars I loved the feel of the cool breeze as it blew over my naked skin. I adored feeling wild and free, especially knowing there wasn't a soul around for miles.

"We have an entire two weeks to explore all kinds of places but perhaps we can make a trip up there too." Winking, he grabbed his keys off the counter and we walked out to the car.

Pulling up to the beach, I was surprised to see a giant tent set up off to the side where people were mingling around tables and chairs. I thought it would just be a little party on the beach; it seemed my well intentioned friends had gone a bit overboard even though it looked lovely against the backdrop of the cerulean colored sea.

"Bella, Edward!" I heard Alice call from the far side of the tent, running across the sandy expanse in flat gladiator style sandals. "What do you think? Too much? She winced a little, waiting for my admonishment of her over the top decorations.

"It's lovely, but did we really need a tent?" I blurted, my expression still gaping at the huge white monstrosity.

I thought I saw a flicker of something pass between Edward and Alice at my comment, but she explained they'd rather be prepared for poor weather than have everyone end up back at the café because it started raining.

Throwing my hands up in surrender, I allowed her to drag me away to show me everything and to get me a drink.

"I'll come rescue you in a bit," Edward called after me, laughing at my friend's ability to take over even the minutest situation.

After getting a glass of wine from the bar Alice and I wandered through the party, greeting our guests and enjoying the lush atmosphere my friends had created inside the tent.

"You guys said it was going to be a simple garden party. Jeez, this is a bit excessive, even for you three," I muttered, once I'd been cornered by my girlfriends in the back.

The three each smirked, their eyes bouncing between them in a way that suggested I was out of the loop about something.

Before I could contemplate it further, I heard a microphone squeak, causing us all to turn and face the front of the tent where Edward stood.

"First, I'd like to thank you all for coming today. It means a lot to me that you chose to spend the afternoon celebrating the completion of my residency." He appeared nervous even from where I stood, his hand made a circuit through his now shorn locks moving down to behind his neck before starting the process all over again.

I started to walk towards him but Alice grabbed my arm, whispering that I needed to stay here.

"Since I have you all here, I figured that perhaps I could convince my fiancée to do something a little bit daring right now." He paused, grinning at me as if I was the only person in the room. "I know I asked you to marry me already but I was wondering if you'd like to make it official today?

"What?" My mind went blank. Did he just ask me to marry him, today?

"Now Bella. Go up there now," Alice huffed, nudging me gently through the now parted crowd.

I'd only made it a few steps before my father appeared at my side taking my left arm to escort me towards Edward.

"You knew about this?" I hissed, trying to keep a reign on my temper and shock.

"Edward knew you didn't want a big huge wedding and thought this was a good compromise."

"Still, he could have asked." I wanted to be annoyed but my heart surged a little knowing how much work Edward had put into all of this while still keeping me in the dark about it.

We finally made it to my sheepish looking lover but at his guilty expression, silently asking for my forgiveness, I knew I already had.

He was right. Ever since he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him one night when we were examining blueprints of our house, I had dreaded the planning of our nuptials. I'd never been one of those girls who had a dream of white tulle and tiered cakes. Taking one more glance around the room, I realized that everyone who I loved was standing right here and there would never be a better day to get married to the man I loved.

I kissed my dad on the cheek and putting my hand on my hip, I made an annoyed dramatic face for the crowd. But my teasing only lasted a moment before I kissed Edward's cheek and put both of my hands in his. "You're lucky I love you," I muttered, smiling for the cameras that seemed to emerge from everywhere.

"Indeed I am," he whispered before steering us towards the edge of the tent where Angela's dad stood proudly, ready to do his job.

He began the ceremony in the traditional way speaking about love and commitment, "Edward and Isabella today you enter as individuals but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is still yours to write. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment this day eager to be a part of the story just beginning."

He continued speaking for a bit before asking Emmett to come forward for a reading.

Smiling jovially at me, Emmett bounded up grabbing the microphone from the Reverend to say, "I'm so proud to be here to witness such a happy and momentous day of my lifelong friend," he started, rushing forward to give me an unexpected hug before returning to where he was supposed to be standing. Coughing a little he began, "May you always need one another, not to fill an emptiness but to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another but not out of lack. May you embrace one another but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other and not fail in the little graces. May you have happiness and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love and may you find it in loving one another."

By the time he finished tears were threatening to escape from the corner of my eyes. To have my best friend who I'd stood up for during his commitment ceremony a few years ago be here speaking on my wedding day was making me an emotional mess. Stepping away from Edward I embraced Emmett, thanking him for his thoughtful words and telling him how much I loved and cherished him.

Taking Edward's hand again I smiled serenely at the man I'd spend the rest of my life with.

"Bella, Edward has written his own vows for you," Reverend Weber said, nodding his head towards Edward indicating it was time for him to speak.

Turning to face me he caressed my cheek before taking my hand again. He looked so content and at peace, and even though it was a surprise to me, it was perfect. I couldn't have imagined a better day to stand here and become tied to the amazing man standing before me.

"Bella, we've been through so much together since I almost ran you down a year ago." Turning to the crowd he joked that he'd already apologized profusely for that."We've seen each other through some tough times and it made it all the sweeter when we finally came through the dark clouds. You're my love, my friend, and my life. I can't imagine living another day without you by my side. I promise to be faithful and honest in every way, to honor the faith and trust you place in me, to love and respect you in your successes and in your failures, to make you laugh and to be there when you cry, to care for you in sickness and in health, to softly kiss you when you are hurting, and to be your companion and your friend on this journey that we make together.

Tears were trickling down my cheeks but I didn't care. Edward's vow was everything I'd ever hoped to hear from a man. I hadn't prepared anything in response but wanted to do my best to reciprocate his heartfelt promise.

I was just about to speak when Edward handed me his handkerchief and a piece of paper. Wiping away my tears, I quickly scanned the notes which were an exact replica of Edward's if I'd wanted to use them. With both Edward and Reverend Weber's encouraging smiles, I began, "Edward. I obviously don't have something specifically prepared for the occasion." I looked out at our guests and exaggeratedly rolled my eyes, shrugging in mocked annoyance. "From the moment you screeched into my life I've felt a connection to you that I've never been able to explain. Perhaps some would say it was destiny or fate but to me, I can only call it meant to be. I love you more than I can adequately express and even though today was a complete shock, I love that you knew me better than even I did. Today couldn't have been more perfect. I promise to love you until the end of my days and to be faithful and honest. I promise to help keep you sane in times of insanity. To make you smile when you've had a bad day but most of all, I promise to cherish the love you so willingly offer to me and never take it for granted.

With the symphony of the crashing waves behind us, Reverend Weber went through the rest of the ceremony and soon pronounced us husband and wife to the raucous crowd of well-wishers.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Edward mischievously smiled before dipping me into a sweltering kiss that would have even made Emmett blush.

"Friends and family, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Masen."

Escorting me through the crowd, we were showered with rose petals that people magically had in their possession.

Sneaky little Alice.

Once we'd kissed for the cameras about a billion times I dragged Edward off to the corner to have some words with him.

Of course as luck would have it we were surrounded by my mom, Angela, Esme and Alice, all talking excitedly over one another.

"Oh my god that was so beautiful."

"That had to have been the hottest kiss ever."

"Edward that was so romantic."

"Honey, you look so lovely."

They all gushed, wanting to see the rings and find out if I was upset about their ruse.

The entire time they were jabbering on about the ceremony Edward stood behind me, holding me against his chest like he was afraid I'd disappear if he wasn't hanging on. Even though he held me tight, there wasn't any tension behind it. Glancing over my shoulder, he smiled serenely down, kissing me again, and whispering that he loved me.

"I love you too." I decided that everything I'd wanted to berate him for about throwing this surprise wedding melted away. We'd done it and now our future was wide open. We didn't need to spend the next six months planning a huge wedding that we both didn't want. Instead I realized it was probably the kindest and most thoughtful gesture Edward could have ever given me. Granted, I still had to talk to him about boundaries but there was no anger behind the thought. Just a simple reminder that we were partners now and our lives would need to be mapped out together from here on out, instead of him taking the reins like he'd done today and surprising me as he had.

I heard a quiet cough come from behind us and we both spun around to see who was trying to get our attention.

"Son," a tall man in a dark suit spoke evenly to Edward while a beautiful woman stood next to him, wearing a simple black dress, her hair pulled up tightly at the base of her neck.

"Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?

I squeezed Edward's hand letting him know that I was here to support him as it appeared his parents had perhaps come to make amends.

"Carlisle called and told us you were getting married." His dad spoke so matter-of-factly, it was almost like he was robotic in his emotions. The complete opposite of his mom, standing there with her lips trembling beneath the dainty handkerchief she held up to her mouth, trying to hold back her emotions.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry," she finally wailed, rushing forward and hugging him. I stood awkwardly to the side as Edward patted her back softly attempting to pull out of her embrace.

Sighing, Edward replied quietly, "Sorry for what? Have you missed me at all over these last six years? Or did you just come here needing more money? This is my wedding and if you think now is the time for a big happy family reunion, it's not. If you're staying the night tell Carlisle what hotel I can reach you at and I'll try to come and see you before we leave for our honeymoon tomorrow."

Edward didn't even wait for her reply before walking off towards the bar, still clutching his hand, I followed silently behind.

"Well, now you've met my parents," Edward half-heartedly teased, ordering a scotch on the rocks and a glass of champagne for me.

"Is that it? Are you going to meet them later?" I whispered, looking up into his deep green eyes.

"It depends on how the rest of the night goes," he mumbled into my neck nuzzling in behind my ear and reminding me of his promise to take me out to the house for a little romp in the wild.

"Well, I think maybe you should hear them out. Life's too short and I don't want you to regret any moment of it."

"I know. I know." His eyes suddenly looked weary and I really wanted my jovial husband back.

"So our vacation's your thinly-veiled attempt at a honeymoon?" I teased, sipping my champagne.

At my mention of the honeymoon his eyes got wide and sparkled with glee. "I forgot to mention, we're not really driving up the coast to Alaska. Sorry, but I'm flying you to Fiji tomorrow for two weeks. I hope you don't mind the change in plans."

"Fiji!" I shouted, throwing my arms around him and kissing him repeatedly all over his face. "How did you know I've always wanted to go to Fiji?"

His lips lifted into a crooked grin when he replied, "Do you remember the first time you got mad at me? About your ledger? It was the first post-it note I saw. Travel to Fiji and go snorkeling.

"I love you. So, so much right now."

"Not any other time, just now?" He winked, picking me up and twirling me around in a wide circle. We wandered through the crowd greeting people who I hadn't seen when I'd originally arrived. We were both giddy and effervescent talking to all of our loved ones about our trip and how the house was coming along. Suddenly through the din of the crowd and the crashing of the waves I heard the first strains of The Luckiest by Ben Folds.

"How about a dance Mrs. Masen?" He asked, pointing towards the center of the tent.

"I'd be honored."

We swayed in time with the music. It wasn't fancy and choreographed but absolutely perfect for us. His lips moved down beside my ear and he began singing along with the lyrics, "And where was I before the day that I first saw your lovely face? Now I see it every day and know that I am the luckiest…"

"I think we're both pretty lucky." I whispered, allowing my lips to be overtaken by his in a sensual kiss.

We weren't perfect but together we were right, and for now that's all that mattered.

A/N

Sigh… okay, only the epilogue left. Hopefully you guys aren't disappointed. Will mark this puppy complete tomorrow. *sob