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

The wedding reception was more jubilant than was normal for the area, mostly because we were all celebrating more than just a wedding. Within five minutes of Aro's leaving there wasn't a single vampire watcher in sight. Jacob teased that if they could just turn the Cullens back into humans than everything would be perfect, or at least things wouldn't smell as bad. I noticed the smell didn't affect his appetite any.

Charlie spent the evening dancing with Sue, once his obligatory dance with me was done. Renee and Phil also twirled around the dance floor, surrounded by the Cullen couples and wolves with their imprints. It was a very happy time, but eventually the humans tired out and needed a break. Alice, naturally, planned for this.

We were all ushered into a tent with tables set up. White linens were topped with white china edged in silver. Crystal glasses rested above silver dinnerware. White rose petals were strewn around low white candles that rested on mirrors in the center of the table. Delicious smells emanated from the back of the tent where waiters in formal livery waited to serve us.

Charlie let out a low whistle as he took it all in with wide, nervous eyes. "You know it's the bride's family that's supposed to pay for all this, right?" he said to Carlisle.

"You've been to our house, Charlie, so you know money isn't an issue for us. Besides," he said, clapping my father on the back, "reining in Alice is next to impossible. It's better to just hand her the credit card and let her do what she wants."

"Her wedding must have been spectacular and cost you a fortune," Charlie grumbled.

Carlisle laughed. "Actually, they ran off to the justice of the peace. She did wear a nice, white dress, but there wasn't any party. I think she's making up for what she missed out on." Both men laughed when Alice stuck her tongue out at them.

The food was exquisite. An apple and gorgonzola salad was followed by prime rib and lobster. Champagne flowed freely as toasts were given. Alice then led us to a massive cake decorated with sugar flowers in the shapes of roses, freesia, orange blossoms and lilacs. She took great care to arrange where we stood for maximum effect for picture taking. Edward gave me a wink as he took a huge bite of confection from my hand.

More dancing followed the dinner, but I could feel the fatigue of the day settling into my body. The stress and celebration had definitely taken its toll. The fourth time I yawned as Edward tried to twirl me around ended with him lifting me into his arms. Alice was by our side in the next instant.

"Come on, time for you two to get changed," she said, directing Edward to another tent set up nearby. This one had a huge rug over the sand and a beautiful dress hanging from the braces.

"Change quickly," Edward whispered as he set me on my feet. The lightest brush of his lips across mine and he was out of my arms, going in the direction Alice pointed him.

It was a good thing there was a chair in there, because I immediately plopped into it. Alice got me out of my shoes and undid my hair, brushing it gently until I almost fell asleep. "Bella, you need to get up so I can get you changed."

I mumbled something that was incoherent to even me and allowed her to pull me up from the chair. With vampire speed she undid the buttons down my back, dropping one dress to the floor as the other came over my head. Grabbing me about my waist she lifted me up so I wouldn't have to step on the gown and set me next to my shoes. When I saw they were flats I hugged her.

"Bella?" Edward called next to the door of the tent.

"I'm decent," I answered. When he walked in my exhaustion was consumed in the fire of desire that flared across my skin, taking all nervousness away with it.

Picking up on the fact that my heart began to race and my breathing accelerated he flashed to my side. Gathering me up in his arms he carried me from the tent. We were met with a shower of bird seed, and I giggled when I saw Charlie eyeing the seagulls crying above. Edward carried me over to my parents and held me as I hugged each of them goodbye.

Settling me gently in the car Edward handed me some papers. "These are our tickets," he told me. "Hold on tight."

"Where are we going?" I asked, turning the papers around, only to find them taped closed.

"It's a surprise," he said with a wink. He hurried over to his side and climbed in. "Ready?" I nodded, and he floored it.

We flew from Seattle to New York, then to Amsterdam. "Amsterdam?" I asked.

"Just a stopover," he said, "but we are staying here overnight. We have a house."

"Of course you do," I said with a roll of my eyes. "Where don't you have a house?"

"LA," he replied, taking my hand to lead me off the plane.

We were met by a driver who took us to the Amrâth hotel, a monumental structure in the heart of the city. The lobby was covered in marble, lit by the sun filtering through some of the most beautiful art deco stained glass I'd ever seen. An obsequious clerk spoke with Edward in Dutch. When he saw my confusion, though, he greeted me in English. "Welcome to Amsterdam, Mrs. Cullen. I told your husband the Tower Suite is ready, if you would please follow Pierre?" He pointed over to a young man who had what I assumed was our luggage loaded on a trolley. I'd never seen the bags before, but they matched the one Alice gave me to carry on, so it was a safe assumption.

"Come," Edward said, reaching out his hand to me, only his tone was more of a suggestion than that of a command.

I laced my fingers with his. "Anywhere," I replied and followed him into the elevator.

Remember, this story is rated T. All you married women know what goes where and how it happens, so I don't need to tell you. If you aren't married, go talk to your mother. LOL!