Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Bar

Charlie looked pale. We were standing at the head of the trail that led through some trees. On the other side, friends, family, apparently the Volturi guard, and most importantly my future husband were waiting for us to walk through. I could smell the tang of the ocean and hear the waves crashing, but my focus was on my father.

"Dad? Are you all right?" I asked, squeezing his arm. He winced and I realized it was his left arm. Thoughts of Alice's vision of me losing him swam through my mind. "Dad?"

"I'm fine, quit fretting," he said. That's when I noticed the red rimming his eyes. "I just don't think I'm ready for this. For some reason I thought I had more time before I gave you away. At least another year or thirty." We both chuckled as my heart clenched in a different way. I noticed him peering through the trees and could barely make out some vampires on the other side. "Gotta say the Cullens have some beautiful friends. Creepy, but beautiful."

I hiccupped a half-laugh, half-cry. As I was getting dressed Alice told me that Carlisle was introducing the Volturi to everyone. I had yet to meet them. She also told me that Aro had promised Jacob to abide by the treaty but judging from the amount of trembling going on the entire tribe was ready to bust out into fur at the slightest provocation.

Music began to play, Mendelssohn's traditional wedding march, and I noticed Charlie shake his head. "I can't believe they brought a piano to the beach," he said as we began to move forward.

"I'm just glad Rosalie is willing to play for me," I said as we broke through the trees. My eyes swept around, taking in family and friends, but resting for a moment on three ancient vampires. Their skin seemed as thin as an onion's, and every eye was black. I was greeted with smiles, but instead of instilling confidence I froze like a mouse in front of a cobra.

"Come on, Bells," Charlie said, tugging my arm. "Someone is waiting for you."

I looked out, and there, across a small river of water that Emmett had built a bridge over despite the fact that I could easily step over it, standing on a sand bar, was Edward. Reverend Webber was standing next to him, smiling, nodding at something Edward said. I couldn't get there fast enough.

Charlie's voice caught when he put my hand into Edward's, answering Reverend Webber's question of who gave this woman to be wed. With one hand holding my future I grabbed onto the man who loved me first, hugging him tight. "Thank you, daddy."

The tears that had threatened broke through Charlie's tough exterior. "I love you so much, little girl."

My eyes were only on Edward as our vows were said. When he said 'I do' the words rang with so much sincerity and love that I sobbed. As his lips touched mine, everything else faded away. There were no seagulls circling overhead, no tears being shed, no vampires threatening, only us for a blissful moment in time.

Unfortunately, Edward could still hear, so after a few minutes raised his head. I could hear tittering in the audience, but when he whispered, "I love you," I didn't care. Turning me around we went to greet our loved ones.

I was hugged until I couldn't breathe by everyone, passed along with Edward from person to person, until we stood before the three old vampires. My breath caught in my throat and I could feel Edward's tension. "Bella, please meet my…uncles. Aro, Marcus and Caius, please meet my wife."

Aro reached out his hand to me and we were suddenly surrounded by Jacob and his pack. Hostility rolled off of them in waves as the vampires of the guard took defensive positions. Charlie looked momentarily confused before he went into police officer mode and pushed his way through a couple hulking boys to stand by my side. "Is everything all right?" he asked me. "You look pale, Bells."

Aro held his hands up in supplication. "Peace, friends, I only mean to greet the lovely bride." He reached his hand out to my father. "Chief Swan, you have raised a lovely daughter," he said, taking my dad's hand, wrapping his free hand around the top of their joined ones. His face became somewhat confused as he spoke, though, tilting his head as if trying to listen to something. "What an interesting man you are."

"As are you, sir," Charlie replied, overly formal.

With a nod Aro turned to me. "Ah, the lovely Isabella. How appropriately you are named, my dear," he said, taking my hand, wrapping it with his other the same as he had my father's.

"Th…thank you," I stammered, desperately trying not to pull my hand from his.

He tilted his head again as if listening. "So much like your father, only more. I thought Jane was exaggerating, but it appears she understated things." He dropped the covering hand from our joined ones and reached for Marcus'. I watched his eyes travel around the group. "You draw love to you, Isabella. The way these people are bound to you, it's fascinating. Yet, you are silent." His eyes returned to me. "I'm so curious as to why that is."

"I don't know," I whispered.

"I wonder, would you give thought to joining us when all is done with your…education? I'm sure we could find a place for someone with your amazing talent." He looked at Edward, then behind me. Glancing back I could see Alice. "Please, bring your other loved ones. Such a talented family." His eyes bored into me. "Come to us in Italy. I really must insist."

Edward grabbed me, pushing me behind him. Alice took hold of his hands, telling him to stop, just as every member of the tribe took a threatening step forward. Looking at them I could see their hands in fists, their arms trembling with effort. The guard took another step forward as well, until the front of the line of vampires was almost toe to toe with Sam, Paul, Jacob and Jared.

Aro hissed and waved his hand. As one his guard took a step back. Meanwhile, Alice was speaking into Edward's ear, the words so fast they sounded like a hiss. Charlie's eyes were darting everywhere. He could feel a fight in the making. Then his eyes narrowed at Aro, knowing he had called his people off.

"Bella?" Aro asked quietly. "Please may I have your answer?"

My eyes went back to my father, staying there until Charlie looked at me. I pulled my hand from Aro's grasp and reached out to Charlie, and in confusion he took it. My decision was made. Turning back to Aro I answered him. "I need more time."

Aro's head inclined in agreement. "I can see how difficult it would be. Pity." His eyes travelled from one member of the Cullen coven to the next. "I will wait for you to call on me." He looked at Charlie again then turned to Carlisle. "I should have trusted your judgment in this. Forgive me. I do hope our love for each other remains as strong."

Carlisle gave him a nod. "You know the reasons I left you. Do you believe me now?"

A harsh laugh came from Aro's throat. "I always believed your sincerity, dear Carlisle, just not your ability. I will leave you alone." He turned to his guard. "Come, loved ones, it is a long journey home."

The only movement on our side was breathing as we watched the Volturi depart. When the last of them disappeared into the trees Alice let out a squeal. Grabbing me around the waist she spun me around and screamed, "You did it! You did it!"

I could see everyone relax and smiles replace the tension in people's faces. Edward pulled me from Alice's arms so he could wrap his own around me. He was joined by Marta, Jacob and the other wolves, until I was in the center of a huge group hug.

"Good thing we were here," Jacob said. "We made them stop."

Edward nodded and was about to say something, but Alice cut him off. "It's because of you that I couldn't see how things would turn out, or when, or anything more than Bella standing in front of them!"

"Please," Sam interjected, "like you needed to see that. The only important people were Bella and us."

Alice scoffed in a most unladylike fashion. "Like their afraid of a bunch of puppies."

They continued to bicker but I turned away from them when Charlie took hold of my arm. "Bella, you want to tell me what the hell just happened here?"

I gaped like a fish until Carlisle saved me. "Let's just say they are good family men, Charlie."

My dad turned to confront him. "Your family?" Carlisle nodded sheepishly. "And you invited them?"

"They keep tabs on me and would come anyway." Carlisle ran a hand through his hair, and I let out a laugh because it was so much like Edward. "Let me just say that I was with them for a time, but that life wasn't for me. I left. They let me go, but they still watch."

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "Have you done anything illegal?"

Carlisle's laugh was exuberant and carefree. He clapped my father on the back. "Loads of things, Charlie. More than you can ever imagine. But," he said, becoming solemn, "I have never killed a man. I never will. That is why I left. When I did I left the entire life behind."

My father nodded. "I believe anyone can change," he said. Letting out a huff he looked at the group. "I don't know about you, but I want some cake."

Ah, cake, it solves so many problems and sticks with you forever. LOL!