Chapter Sixty Nine

Bella

Charlie had changed totally in his attitude to Jasper and Peter and I knew it was largely down to Charlotte. Whatever she'd said to him while they waited for us to get back had worked. The guys took him out hunting, his variety not theirs, while Charlotte quizzed me about Volterra before turning the topic to the wedding.

"Charlie's here now and Peter has his certificate so why don't you do it now?"

"I don't have anything to wear and I have no idea how to arrange things."

"Do you trust me Bella?"

"Of course, why?"

"Let me sort out the details. You just work on what you're going to say to Jasper."

I hadn't even thought about vows! Now I was really nervous.

Charlie

I wasn't sure about hunting with Jasper and Peter but in the end I really enjoyed it. Peter had a rifle he loaned me, though what a vampire wanted with a gun was beyond me. They worked so well together it was obvious they'd done so for a long time. Peter was very funny when he wasn't threatening me and I like to think we became friends of a sort. Jasper was more reserved, always watchful but he was pleasant enough. I bagged a huge deer which Peter insisted on bringing back for dressing and cooking, for the humans he said with a smile.

I guess I wasn't surprised when he hefted it on to his shoulders for the long walk back.

"Vampire strength?"

I queried and he smiled lifting the huge beast above his head one handed to show me. A trickle of blood dropped onto his shirt and I froze, unable to imagine what his response would be. In the event he looked at me and pulled back his lips to show his sharp white teeth then laughed.

"Don't worry Charlie. Animal blood never did much for me unless I was really thirsty."

"Its different from human blood?"I asked intrigued

Jasper answered,

"Yes, it smells and tastes different. Animal blood is fine just to keep you going for a while but human blood is the only thing that quenches our thirst completely."

"How come you haven't tried to drink Bella's blood?"

I wasn't sure I'd get a reply but Peter hefting the deer to his other side looked at me,

"You getting interested in joining us Charlie?"

"No" I answered quickly, "I was just interested"

"We kinda got used to Bella now and she's The Majors. He'd be offended if I bit her".

"More than offended" Jasper answered with a grin,

"Well you know what I mean. We make sure we hunt often and try to ensure she doesn't cut herself. Mind that's not easy with someone who can trip over a shadow!"

I knew what he meant by that,

"She's always been accident prone."

Charlotte

When the guys got back with the deer I looked at their faces,

"No way I'm dressing that. You killed it, you get the job."

In the event they took it down to the barn, Jasper and Charlie, while I dragged Peter in to the house.

"We've got the job of arranging the wedding and we need to do it before Charlie leaves."

"Great! Well the buffets sorted and we have the dress".

"How?"

"Bella saw one while we were in France so I bought it, she doesn't know about that."

I smiled,

"OK then, well we can find some music and marry them outside in the sunshine"

"That should give Charlie something to look at!"

"You ready with your marriage bit?"

"Hey I''ll have you know I worked hard for that. Anyway the words I say aren't important, just the "by the power vested in me" bit. Its their vows that matter."

"Yeah well you might want to get The Major thinking about it. I think we'll have it the morning before Charlie goes back",

"Why so close to that? He sees his daughter married then gets whisked off to the airport. Where's the fun in that?"

"Its the best way idiot"

"I wish people would stop calling me that, I'll get a complex"

"Shut up Peter. Just think, would you want Charlie breathing down your neck on your wedding night?"

"Oh I get it. We taking off too?"

"Do you think they'll be OK alone?"

"Well he isn't going to want us holding his hand now is he? Who's the idiot now?"

When the two got back from the barn I told them what we had planned and they were both happy as long as Bella was. Looking at her face she just wanted it over and she was relieved Charlie would be going soon after. I think she just wanted time alone with her groom. I nodded to Peter and he got the hint,

"Hey Major I wanted to speak to you"

Jasper looked at him then shrugged,

"OK I'm here".

I took a deep breath

"Bella you want to come for a walk?"

She nodded and after kissing Jasper reluctantly let go of his hand and followed me out. Luckily Charlie had gone to shower so we had some privacy.

Peter

I sat down and blew my cheeks out.

"I got this duty as best man I guess. What are you going to do about a ring?"

"No idea"

"Well it might be a good idea to get one before the ceremony".

"OK, We'll go into town tomorrow"

"What are you going to wear?"

"Right, no suits, no dressing up".

"OK, but clean jeans and a smart shirt".

"You sound like my mother"

"If I were I'd have kicked your butt a long time ago. Now what about vows?".

"Vows?"

"Yeah you have to say something"

How about I do."

This was going to take some work!

"We'll think of something."

Bella

When Charlotte told me what she had arranged I was really grateful. It was going to be simple, I just wanted to be with Jasper and if this is what it took I was happy. I think we were only going through this for Charlie's sake because looking at Jasper's face when we walked back in I saw the same strain and had to laugh. We looked like two condemned men on their way to the gallows. As the last few days of Charlies visit ticked down I got more and more nervous until the night before I actually made myself sick. Jasper came and laid with me on the bed to calm me so I could at least try to sleep.

"Bella we don't have to get married you know. It makes no difference"

"I know, but it does to Charlie and I want him to be comfortable about us"

He wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear

"Tomorrow night we'll be married. Do I get to share your bed then?"

"You can share my bed any time you like".

"And your body?"

That sent a delicious shiver running from my head to my toes.

"Well that depends"

"On what?"

"If I get to share yours"

"You already have mine Bella".