The Learning Curve: Chapter 130
Edward Cullen's House
"Calm down, son. You look like you have ants in your pants," my dad murmured quietly. I stilled immediately and shot him a look.
"This is taking too long," I complained, knowing I sounded like a petulant child. "I just want to get married already."
My dad laughed loudly, drawing stares from our guests. We stood at the altar, waiting for everything to begin. Emmett, the best man, had run off to use the bathroom quickly before joining Jasper to escort the bridesmaids up the aisle. My dad stood with me for support, but I wasn't feeling very supported.
"I'm not sure whether it's good or bad that you're this excited to get married."
I gave him a dirty look. "You are not helping."
He clapped his hand on my shoulder. "Just calm down. You're going to see her soon enough. Oh - here comes your mother. I'd better sit with her. Are you going to make it?"
I nodded. I knew I would be fine as soon as Bella walked down the aisle.
The wait, though, was horrible. I thought we were close when Renee slipped into the front row of folding chairs, but it was another five minutes before the music started.
I straightened myself up and looked expectantly down the aisle. It was set up so that those walking down the aisle would come around the side of the house. Rosalie came first, then Alice, each on the arm of their boyfriend. Emmett slapped me on the back when he took his place beside me, but I couldn't move my eyes from the place where I would see Bella emerge.
The music changed and all of the guests stood. I craned my neck in frustration, trying to see her through all the people, but I couldn't.
And then she came into view holding the arm of her father, and time simply...stopped.
She was without doubt the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in her white gown, her hair falling softly over her shoulders draped in a veil. A small smile played on her lips, and when our eyes met, I saw all the awe and wonder I felt mirrored back at me.
I never looked away from her, not when her father placed her hand in mine, nor when we turned to face the minister. I wouldn't let go of her hand, either.
The ceremony was a blur. I was glad we hadn't done anything crazy like write our own vows because it was all I could do to repeat after the minister. I was too busy gawking at the bride. My bride. And when the minister told me I could kiss her, I didn't hesitate.
"Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the new Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen."
A/N: There was a question that I wanted to answer that I forgot about yesterday. I was asked whether Edward and Bella never fought because I was avoiding angst or because I just hadn't gotten there yet...and the answer is that they don't fight over much because they don't have much worth fighting over. But then, I've never bought the theory that arguing all the time is just a product of sexual tension. Sometimes it's just a sign of basic incompatibility. I could go into more detail as to my theory of relationships, but I think it's better presented through fiction.
On another note, I know some of you are very visual, so I put together a little photo album of things to do with this story. It has my heinous drawing of the wedding dress, some pictures of dresses that I thought were better, and some pictures of my cats... You can find it here: pics dot livejournal dot com/cinnamon_kisses/gallery/00036a6w