Oh-kay, another long month before the update -again, I'm really, really sorry! This chapter was not easy to write since I didn't really have any fixed ideas about the big wedding. Anyhow, I find myself rather pleased with the final draft, and I hope it meets with your expectations! Do review and let me know!

Union

"Excited?"

"Very."

"Nervous?"

"Not at all."

"Content?"

"Euphoric."

"Wonderful. You make the perfect blushing bride."

I laughed. "More like a perfect corpse bride."

Edward snorted at my witticism and adjusted my headband.

"Did I mention how odd it feels to be doing such a feminine job?" –he asked me as he tucked my curls in more tightly.

"Several times," I grinned, standing perfectly still, and marveling at the stillness.

He grunted in reply, a hairpin in his mouth. I struggled not to laugh at the intense expression on his face that was reflected in the mirror before me.

"You seem to enjoy it anyhow," I commented.

He flashed a grin at my reflection. "Never said I didn't. It's all so distinctly amusing."

"So I see."

"Hush, Esme, or your headband will fall off in the middle of the service, and the wedding will be ruined," he said mock-severely.

I bit back another giggle and mumbled sedately, "Yes, ma'am."

He sighed, mock-sadly this time. "What in the world do I do with a girl like you?"

I patted one of his hands lightly. "Aw, you have my sympathies."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Thank God Carlisle found you, Esme. I don't know what I did for those two years before you came."

My mischievous grin morphed into a sincere smile. "Yes, thank God."

"There," he said the next moment and stood back to admire my reflection. I, too, was gazing at my reflection –not to admire, but to examine. Everything about this wedding –including me –had to be perfect for Carlisle. It was all for him.

"Well, you look rather nice," Edward said lightly, fluffing my veil.

"Just that?" –I asked, resuming my teasing tone.

"Good God, Esme, you're like a mother to me, how could you ask for anything more?" –he asked, sounding scandalized.

Quick as a flash, I tried to swat him on his arm, but he saw me thinking it before doing it, and flitted out of the way just in time.

"Aren't you quite the violent creature?" –he said calmly from the doorway.

"Don't make me come there," I said, grinning as I turned around in front of the mirror to view myself better.

"Well, Carlisle will have his hands full, at any rate," he said, leaning against the doorframe and watching me.

"He shouldn't expect anything lesser," I said, distractedly, still staring at my reflection.

I looked beautiful, it was true –actually, 'beautiful' was an understatement. I was swathed in shimmering white satin, clouds of delicate white crepe billowing from my coiffed hair. The dress was a masterpiece, designed in earnest by me and Edward through several days in the forest cabin, when Carlisle left to Ashland for the day, since both of us were insistent that Carlisle should not see the dress until the wedding day. It had been my firm idea to be dressed, as accurately as possible, in the fashion of Carlisle's human years. It had been very difficult to carry out this idea –fashion of 17th century England was not much known, and several times Edward convinced me to refer American styles from the same era –for, as he said, everything here was only borrowed from there. However, we could not very well ignore the present trend –I would have looked definitely odd if I had appeared at that altar dressed as a 17th century English noblewoman. And so, it was a blend of the two, a mix of old and new, and I was finally wearing a full-length ivory gown, as billowing as could be managed without under-skirt hoops. My veil was decidedly modern; embroidered with the traditional orange blossom design, it flowed and rippled down my back, its length exceeding my gown's by several yards. The blend could have been a disaster, but actually worked splendidly with my vampiric stunning beauty.

So I did look wonderful, but felt no happiness or pride about it. All I felt was worry, and concern. Would this be acceptable to Carlisle? I so wanted this to be perfect –perfect for him, and only him.

"It is perfect, Esme," Edward reassured me gently, after several minutes of silence.

I sighed. "Really?"

He approached me then, holding a small leather case. "Of course." As he placed the case on a table, kneeled next to it and undid the straps, he looked up at me and smiled. "You forget I can read his mind."

A small smile lifted the corners of my mouth. "Then his expectations are met?"

"His expectations are exceeded."

My smile widened, good humour restored. "Good. What's that?"

"A marriage custom. Forgotten already? This is, after all, your second marriage," he remarked, teasingly again.

I rolled my eyes, though still smiling. "Don't remind me."

A split second of silence, and a strap snapped back loudly. "You're right. I'm sorry I did," Edward said abruptly as he undid the final strap.

I sighed. It seemed he would never forget that glimpse into my memories of Charles Evenson.

"Really, Edward. It's alright."

He shrugged. "So you say."

"Read my mind and tell me I'm wrong," I demanded him.

He looked up at me then, his amber eyes solemn. "You're not wrong," he acceded softly. "You're an extraordinary woman, Esme. How could you leave it in the past so easily, with such little effort?"

"Easy," I responded calmly, smiling to ensure him that his compliment was not overlooked. "I just think of the man waiting for me at the altar this very moment."

He smiled back. "I'm very happy for you."

I enveloped him in a brief embrace. "Thank you," I said sincerely.

He squirmed under my obvious affectionate gaze, embarrassed. "Well, you're welcome. Here." He turned the open case towards me, and I gasped with delight when I saw its contents.

"Oh, Edward!"

He grinned as he took the first item out. "I'm surprised you weren't expecting this," he said, brandishing the shimmering rosary. "It was completely out of my mind," I admitted as I took my grandmother's rosary from him, treating it reverently.

He grinned. "I know. It's your grandmother's, isn't it?"

I nodded slowly, fingering the beads delicately, afraid I would crush them with my strength. "It's all I had left to remind me of her."

"Well, then, that would be your 'something old'."

"Can I wear it?" –I asked doubtfully.

Edward understood my doubt. "I'm sure you can. No one will prohibit you from doing so."

I shrugged and placed it gently around my neck. "It's just that all these different faiths and communities confuse me," I admitted honestly.

"I completely understand," he assured me.

I smiled and said again, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Again," he said, turning away quickly towards the case, visibly embarrassed again. "And now for your something new."

"I think my engagement gift from Carlisle will do," I said firmly, admiring the reflection of the delicate diamond and pearl earrings swinging prettily on either side of my face.

Edward grinned. "Yes. And your gown, your shoes…"

"Impertinent boy," I chuckled, and made to swat him on his shoulder –this time, I caught him.

"Something borrowed, then," Edward laughed, rubbing his shoulder. "Here."

In his hand was a beautiful ring- shimmering rows of diamond and gold stunned me. "Edward… what's this?" I murmured, making no move to take the ring from him.

"It was my mother's," he said, smiling. "And you may borrow it from me."

"I couldn't," I said, touched.

"Of course you can," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm giving it to you." And he flexed open my fingers and placed the ring on my palm.

My happiness and gratitude showing through my smile, I slipped the ring onto my right ring finger. "It's beautiful," I whispered, flexing my hand to see the shimmering oval better in the light.

"I know," he agreed, watching it gleam on my finger. "But don't forget you'll have to give it back after the wedding, though," he added, grinning wickedly.

I raised my eyebrow. "I'm not sure I want to," I said.

"Drat." –he sighed. I giggled and squeezed his arm gratefully.

"The ribbons in your hair will do for your 'something blue', I suppose," he said, quickly changing the subject.

"Oh, yes," I agreed.

"Then it's time for a sixpence in your shoe," he grinned, brandishing a shimmering coin.

I laughed and let him slip the coin into one of my shoes.

"Now you're all set," he said, straightening up after helping me wear my shoe.

I sighed softly and twirled slowly once before the mirror. "Finally!"

He grinned and offered me his arm, where I smilingly placed my hand in the crook of his elbow. "Finally."

We set off in Carlisle's plush covered car, the good people of Chippewa Falls staring at us as we rattled by. Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, had been decided by Carlisle to be our next place of residence; its size, climate and situation being favourable to us all. The town was small enough to not be a burden on my Newborn bloodthirsty senses, but large enough to have a hospital for Carlisle to work in, and for us to stay without having to fraternize with the neighbours much. Carlisle had arrived two weeks previously, making arrangements for a house and such, and Edward and I had followed in the capacity of brother and sister a week later. Our lodgings were currently in a quaint hotel off Main Street, which was not too far the First Presbyterian Church where we were to be married. It was the 24th of September when I finally wore that white dress, more than nine months since I had first woken up as a vampire. Both Carlisle and I had felt this delay acutely, but there was nothing to be done about it –even after my arrival at Chippewa Falls, I had to hunt everyday, and had barely stepped out of my room(I had a separate one for myself while Carlisle and Edward shared a room) in the entire week.

On this particular cold Saturday morning, I nearly felt no bloodthirst at all, my mind being completely occupied with the ceremony ahead. Most unlike a vampire, I was fidgeting throughout the drive –adjusting my sleeves, patting my hair, smoothing my dress down or ruffling the large bouquet of wild rose and clematis in my arms.

"You're getting on my nerves, Esme," Edward had growled, to which I had only replied with a breathless giggle.

He had simply sighed and had shaken his head ruefully –he could see I was flustered and impatient.

When we pulled up in front of the church, I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach –such a very human reaction shocked me, but was not unwelcome. As we stepped towards the main front doors, Edward considerately holding my veil up above the wet pathway, a distant human memory flashed before my eyes –my nightmare the night before my first wedding. As Carlisle's pain-filled face flashed across my vision, I came to an abrupt stop –the pain and fear of that memory was too, too much.

Immediately Edward was at my side, clutching my elbow with a firm grasp and steering me forward.

"It's all right, Esme," he murmured soothingly in my ear. "It was a nightmare, that's all. This is real."

I turned fearful eyes towards him, my tongue paralyzed into silence. What if –what if the last nine months were just a dream, and I'd wake up to a grey, lonely life again? This fear, irrational though it was, was nearly incapacitating me.

Edward turned to me, and said roughly, "No, Esme. This is real. I am real. Stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Go on."

I wanted to tell him that a deep breath wouldn't help, seeing that I didn't really need to breathe at all –but his eyes implored me and I obeyed him involuntarily.

As I inhaled, I understood exactly why he told me to do so –Carlisle's powerful, unique scent came crashing into my senses. And then the fear –the deep-rooted irrational fear that was unravelling my composure –vanished. Everything –every other thought, wish and desire was gone –all that remained was Carlisle, and the fact that he was waiting for me behind those doors.

Raising my chin and squaring my shoulders, I marched up to the doors, making Edward nearly stumble to catch up with me. Still holding up my veil, he stepped up before me, and grinning at me, he pushed open the doors, letting my veil down gracefully as soon as I had taken the first step inside.

The church was empty –completely empty, save for three people near the very altar. The scene was disconcertingly similar to my nightmare, but the fear was gone, because there was one big, glaring difference –Carlisle was facing me, and he had on his face an expression of deep joy and admiration. As soon as our eyes met –clear and focused across that long aisle –a smile lit up his features and, it seemed, lit up the entire church as well. An answering smile curved my lips as well, and everything –the minister's warm blood, the best man's unfamiliar face, Edward's amused chuckle next to me –all was lost on me, and my vision filled with Carlisle.

I still wonder how I walked down that unbearably long aisle with such a slow, measured pace –every inch of my body urged to run, run faster than the wind straight into his arms and never to let go. But I managed to keep my desires in check and floated demurely up to the altar, where I stood next to Carlisle and gazed up at him, the minister's welcoming smile left completely unnoticed.

"You look…" Carlisle murmured, his voice laced with some intense feeling, "…wonderful."

I grinned, feeling a warm shiver pass through my body as he rubbed circles onto my palm with his thumb. "You're one to talk," I whispered, reminding us both of the very first words I had said that first night to assure him of my feelings for him.

Carlisle's smile broadened as his chest shook with his suppressed chuckle. Then he leaned backward and gestured towards the man standing next to him. "Esme, this is Alistair, a very, very old friend of mine. Alistair, my bride, Esme."

Alistair, though I'd heard of him from Carlisle, was not in the least how I expected him to be. He was only just good-looking, and his features seemed to be set in a morose look permanently. When he saw me, however, his eyebrows rose ever so slightly above his dark-glasses and he looked impressed. "Well, you seem to have done well for yourself, Carlisle," he said petulantly, his cultivated British accent taking me by surprise.

"Thank you, Alistair," Carlisle said graciously and turned to the minister.

"Shall we begin?" –the patient minister asked us.

"Certainly."

I won't describe the ceremony in its entirety –to be honest, my mind was so fixed on Carlisle, on the thumb that kept drawing patterns on my hand as we said our vows, on his absolute proximity, that I didn't really even bother noticing anything else. Every word spoken was formal and traditional, every bit of our vows perfectly apt for our situation('till death do us part' of course, did not feature in them). It was thus that I slipped the gold band onto Carlisle's finger in a haze of gold and ivory –lost in the perfect features of his face as he gazed down at me, every part of me itching to get closer to him and feel his skin under my fingertips.

When we were finally pronounced man and wife, Carlisle proved to be under far more duress than I was –he immediately swept me into his arms and fused my lips with his in a resounding kiss. Somehow we found the strength to break apart after several seconds, both our arms wrapped around the other's waist. We thanked the heartily embarrassed, but approving minister and retreated back up the aisle, arm-in-arm, with Edward and Alistair on either side of us.

Outside the church, we halted near the car, Carlisle and me still holding each other's waists.

"I'm so glad you could come, Alistair," I told him, once we were out of the minister's hearing range.

"Well, I wouldn't disappoint a friend," he said, almost grudgingly, taking his glasses off and revealing deep maroon eyes.

"Again, thank you for coming, Alistair," Carlisle added, pressing me closer to him.

The corners of Alistair's thin lips rose and I realised with shock that he was smiling. "I made a promise, didn't I?"

Carlisle laughed. "You did indeed. Well, now, your debt is repaid."

"Praised be the Lord," he said wryly.

I glanced questioningly at Carlisle, who simply shook his head gently, meaning that he would tell me later.

"And this, Alistair, is Edward. My… protégé, if you will."

A quick grimace passed through Edward's features –so quick that I doubted it, even with my infallible vision. Carlisle seemed to have seen it, too, and I felt his arm stiffen slightly around my waist. "Pleasure," Edward said shortly, shaking Alistair's outstretched hand.

"My, aren't you a young one. How old were you when you were turned?"

"Seventeen," Edward said, his grudging tone matching Alistair's.

"And how old are you now?"

"Seventeen yet, but I keep my hopes up."

Alistair stared at him appraisingly for a second. "Well." –he said finally. "Atleast you have a sense of humour."

Edward simply nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Right then. I'd best be leaving," Alistair said.

"So soon?" –Carlisle asked, astonished.

"I promised to be your best man, Carlisle. I'm not obliged to do anything more."

"It doesn't necessarily have to be an obligation," Carlisle said gently.

Alistair simply shrugged. "You'll be busy with your bride there. And I won't have much to do in these parts. You certainly won't let me feed, will you?"

Carlisle simply smiled. "I'm afraid not."

"Well then. I must depart." He nodded at Edward and Carlisle, and tipped his hat at me. "Edward, Carlisle. Mrs. Cullen." And without another word he turned on his heels and marched across the street towards the nearest copse of trees.

"I suppose he's sensed his latest attraction," Carlisle mused. His words didn't yet make sense to me, but I didn't ask what he meant because my brain was now stuck on one sudden new thought.

I pulled at Carlisle's arm and he responded immediately and gazed down at me.

"Did you hear what he said?" –I whispered softly.

"What?" –he asked, confused.

"He called me Mrs. Cullen," I said, suddenly shy and euphoric in equal amounts.

He beamed down at me. "Isn't that right," he murmured, pulling me closer. "Mrs. Cullen."

If it hadn't been for Edward, I don't know what would have happened next, on the side of that suburban street.

He cleared his throat loudly, and both Carlisle and I sprang apart.

"I think it's time you two lovebirds left on your honeymoon," he said, grinning at our abashed expressions, "before you scandalize the new neighbours."

I smiled and broke away from Carlisle to give Edward a brief , warm(as warm as it could be between two vampires) hug. "Thank you," I whispered, and as I let go of him, left my bouquet in his arms on an impulse. He stared down at the bunch of flowers in his hands with surprise.

"Traditionally I'm supposed to throw it," I said, winking at him, "but then that would just be insulting your athletic skills."

If he could have gone red, he would have: as it were, Edward thrust the bouquet behind his back and fixed his gaze firmly on the ground. "I'm not too sure the tradition is true, Esme," he said slowly, his voice sounding strangely soft and vulnerable.

"It will be for you," I said simply, placing my hand on his shoulder.

He lifted his head to look at me. "Carlisle waited 258 years. By that reckoning, I have 255 years more."

This time, Carlisle stepped forward and placed his hand on Edward's other shoulder. "It isn't always the case, Edward."

Edward shook his head minutely for a second, and then his expression cleared and he smiled widely at both of us. "Well, go on, then! Your honeymoon awaits!" Seeing my expression, he added quickly, "Go on, Esme. I will be perfectly fine."

I squeezed his shoulder gently. "We'll be back in a week."

"Take two if you like," he said gently, then pushed my hand away with a grimace. "In fact, take as long as you want. All the quietness will be welcome, and I'll have fewer bruises to sport." –he muttered with mock-petulance, rubbing his shoulder.

"Overreacting adolescent," I teased him, slipping my arm into Carlisle's.

"Hyperactive Newborn," he retaliated immediately. We all three laughed at that and Carlisle and I finally clambered into the car. Had we not been so occupied with each other, we would have noticed the little hardness in Edward's features –as it were, we didn't, and we left behind Chippewa Falls and Edward without any further thought except that of reaching our destination as soon as possible.

The cabin looked serenely unchanged as we approached it, my white satin shoes completely ruined in the snow.

"Here we are," Carlisle murmured smilingly, and swooped me up into his arms suddenly, making me emit a surprised cry that echoed around us, sounding like the ethereal call of some bird.

Panic and excitement were rising in my chest in equal amounts; I was distractedly thinking that I had last left this cabin as an unmarried woman as Carlisle opened the front door.

I gasped.

The interior of the cabin was unrecognisable. The walls were papered in white with soft grey motifs, the windows had simple, but elegant white drapes, the furniture was all newly polished, the floor had warm carpets, and the biggest change –the inner wall that had separated my chamber from the rest of the cabin was gone; in that place was a gigantic bed. The sight of the bed made me go into a bigger tizzy, unwelcome human memories of my wedding night slowly coming into focus.

Carlisle walked into the room with a slow pace and placed me gently on the sofa, reupholstered in soft shades of ivory and grey.

"Do you like it?"- he asked me, dropping onto the sofa next to me and taking my hand.

"It's beautiful," I said honestly.

"Edward told me you have very decisive ideas about what a house should look like," he admitted.

"Looks like Edward has turned out to be quite the matchmaker," I observed.

Carlisle laughed. "Yes, looks like it."

We lapsed into sudden embarrassed silence, neither of us looking at each other or trying to make the first move. Carlisle absently played with the fingers of my hand, and finally said, "Thank you."

I turned to him in shock. "For what?"

"For today," he smiled, bringing my hand up to his lips.

"But today was for both of us –you don't have to thank me, Carlisle-"

"Yes, but I think it was mostly for me," he cut in gently. "I understood that quite a while ago. So thank you –for everything, my love. It was perfect, absolutely perfect."

I leaned in closer to him, and placed my free hand on his face. "Don't thank me," I whispered, pressing my nose to his. "Don't ever thank me."

Carlisle simply responded by closing the gap between us and sealing our lips together with a kiss. I clutched onto him impulsively, both my hands sculpting his neck, both his arms curved around my waist. The kiss didn't end abruptly –in fact, it was the first time that it didn't, and when Carlisle's lips left mine, it was because they were gently stroking my cheek and slipping down voraciously down the side of my neck. That mounting sense of excitement and fear rose within me as his lips brushed my collarbones, but when his hands behind me began to unbutton my dress, the fear peaked to a sudden height and I stiffened up and tore myself away from him.

We sat like that for a split breathless moment, my arms on his shoulders, and his on my back. Then I saw the pain and sadness creep into his face, and no matter how dead my heart was, it still twinged painfully.

"I'm sorry," he said gently, withdrawing his arms, and taking my hands off his shoulders.

I clutched his hands convulsively, shaking my head. "No. No, don't."

"Esme, I –I'm sorry for you. I'm sorry you had to go through all that you did and I wasn't there to prevent it." His features hardened. "I'm regretting now that I didn't kill him."

I kept shaking my head. "No. I didn't marry a murderer."

Carlisle grimaced and sighed.

"All I can say is I won't force you, Esme. I won't force you, and by God I will not hurt you. I will wait for you, my love, if that is what you want." In a flash of movement, he was standing next to the window, gazing out at the woods unseeingly.

I stood up, too, the fear leaving me in a sudden rush. Nothing, nothing could justify that look of pain on his face. Let past bad experiences be hanged.

"No. I don't want to wait," I insisted and flitted over to stand next to him.

He sighed again. "Don't force yourself, Esme-"

I caught hold of his arm and whipped him around to face me –I still was pretty strong. "I am not forcing myself," I said calmly. "I want this, Carlisle. I want you. I trust you, I need you… I love you." Slowly, gently, I snaked my arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on his cheek.

He groaned softly as he placed his hands on my hips. "Do you have any idea how hard you're making it for me to resist?"

Grinning, I brushed my lips ever so gently against his. "Would 'please' help?"

His lips mirrored mine and curved into a smile. "They say it's a magic word."

"Well, then," I nearly gasped as his hands pulled me into his tighter embrace. "Please."

He instantly swept me into his arms, and in the next second, I found myself on the bed, with Carlisle hunching protectively over me.

"Abracadabra," he whispered into my ear, before leaning in to kiss me again.

Author's Note:

I'm really, really sorry if you guys were expecting the actual wording of the vows, but being a non-Christian and not being able to remember the only Christian wedding I've ever attended, I decided to not take the risk. You may imagine whatever you'd for the vows' wordings -in my opinion, however, nothing was too altered and the vows would have been as traditional as possible.

Also, I've fished out a few pictures(long live Google!) from the internet to enforce my idea of Esme's wedding gown and the earrings that Carlisle gifted her -check the links out on my profile!