Chapter 23

The reception had died down, but people were still out and about. Jasper and Alice had long since made their way down to the beach and lit a fire to sit around, though they were nowhere in sight. A small battery powered CD player sat playing acoustic, light alternative music in the sand.

Bella and Edward made themselves comfortable in front of it after waving off Renesme and Jacob on their honeymoon to parts unknown.

Alexandra was beaming after the night dancing and flirting with Peter and clung to Rosalie for advice and to give her lots of details about how she felt about him.

Emmett's arm slung loosely around Rosalie's shoulders as the two of them stood in a whirlwind of girl talk by the shore as waves crashed up onto the La Pushe sand.

"We're going back to the house," William and Madison told Rosalie as they began to pass by.

She looked at both of them in their love drunk stupor, "So are we."

Carlisle and Esme strolled down and sat across from Edward and Bella by the fire as Alexandra and Rosalie approached them.

"Come sit," Edward offered.

"We need to chat," Rosalie told them, slinging an arm around Alexandra. They both grinned and Carlisle had to hold back his disappointment, knowing what they would be talking about.

"Going back to the house," Alexandra told them, "I had so much fun today. I'm so happy for Ness and Jake."

"Thanks," Edward and Bella said, cuddling up closer together.

Rosalie looked over her shoulder as Emmett strolled up behind her. "Where are they?" she asked, referring to William and Madison.

"They started the walk home," he told her. When she made a face, he shrugged, "I can't tame two wild animals Rose."

Everyone let out a little laugh.

"Let nature take it's course," Emmett added.

"I'm going back," she told them.

"Is Peter gone?" Carlisle asked.

Alexandra rolled her eyes, "Long gone. He went back to Alaska."

"I can confirm that," Rosalie said, raising her hand.

Carlisle seemed somewhat satisfied and nodded. He and Esme stood up to give their daughter a hug before she headed back home with Rosalie.

"Stay awhile," Edward urged his parents, "She's fine."

Esme pulled Carlisle back down to sit with her. A string of fireworks caught everyone's attention and loud hollers from the Quileute boys could be heard from somewhere on the reservation. Emmett's neck sprung up, "I'm gunna go find them." He quickly disappeared to go join the fireworks party.

"What a day," Edward stated, looking across at his parents as Bella buried her head in the crease of his shoulder.

"What a lovely day," Esme corrected.

He nodded, "Yeah."

"Where'd they go for their honeymoon?" Carlisle asked.

Edward and Bella looked at each other and shrugged, "He wouldn't tell us," Edward said, "I think he's getting back at me for what we did to Charlie."

Bella grinned, "Speaking of Charlie... he has a special gift for Jacob when he gets back."

"What's that?" Esme asked curiously.

"He's the one who bought Jacob's bike that he'd been working on, the one he sold to get Renesme the ring."

"Wow," Carlisle said, "That was nice. How'd he do it without Jacob knowing?"

"Another guy on the force sent his son down to make the exchange with the money. He had no idea Charlie was behind it."

"Aww, Charlie," Esme said.

Edward laughed, showing a truly happy smile. He kissed Bella's temple and she closed her eyes, taking in his scent. A light breeze crossed over the ocean and Edward began to mouth the words to a song that started on the CD player.

"Where'd Alice and Jasper go? Weren't they down here?" Bella asked.

Carlisle and Esme shrugged and noticed Edward's devious smile. "Who knows," he said, raising his eyebrows, obviously knowing more than he should.

The four of them sat and talked for awhile about the wedding, their children and life, passing by close to an hour.

"I wonder where Emmett ended up," Carlisle said.

"Who knows," Edward laughed, "He could be anywhere." He stood up and brushed some sand off of his legs, then reached for Bella's hand.

"Heading home?" Esme asked them.

Edward shrugged and looked at Bella with another smile, "I don't know." He pushed his sleeve back to read his watch, "It's not even two in the morning yet."

"Want to walk?" Bella asked him.

He nodded, "Yeah. We are creatures of the night, aren't we?"

She grinned at him and they shared a kiss, waving goodbye to Carlisle and Esme.

"What a day," Edward repeated as they went. He stopped to take his shoes off and rolled up the pant legs to his dressy attire. Bella had already removed her shoes long ago and proceeded to loosen his tie.

"Are you happy?" she asked.

He nodded, "I'm very happy. There's a certain sadness that I didn't realize existed in giving your daughter away, but yes I'm very happy. Thanks to you."

Bella reached up and pulled his face to hers, giving Edward a long, overdue kiss under the starry night on La Pushe. He continued his pursuit of their physical interaction, though was a little shocked when she pushed away slightly with a big smile.

"What?" he asked with a light laugh.

"Your parents are right there."

"They're way over there," he said with a grin, overemphasizing the word 'way'.

She smiled and looked over her shoulder, noticing Carlisle whispering in Esme's ear while she ran her hand gently through his hair. He slowly leaned himself over her and kissed her as she guided him by his collar toward her. Neither of them seemed to be thinking about anything aside from each other and Bella decided to follow their lead.

Edward continued grinning, "See. They were just waiting for us to leave," he joked.

Bella pulled Edward to her and instantly felt his level of aggression rise, which caused hers to do the same. The two of them were about to get heavy into the moment until Emmett ran down the beach laughing with two handfuls of clothing.

Knowing his brother's teasing ways, Edward stopped and lead Bella by the hand toward him. "What are you doing?"

He laughed wildly and showed them the clothes before Alice's voice yelled loudly from somewhere in ocean, "Emmett!"

"Jasper and Alice were skinny dipping in the water," he continued to laugh, "Stole their clothes. Paul helped but he bailed on me."

Edward couldn't help a snicker, and Bella took his laugh as approval to laugh with him.

"Don't think I won't come out of the water," Jasper called to him, reaching a water height that stood up to his belly button.

Emmett twirled his pants around in the air, "Come and get 'em then Jas."

"You are going to pay dearly for this," Alice called again, staying a little farther back in the darkness.

"We'll see," he taunted.

"Give us the clothes. Leave them down the other side of the beach so we can get back in them." Jasper demanded.

"And if I don't?"

"Well we already know I can outfight you," Jasper said with a grin.

"Yeah... if that's the only threat you got then you're walking out of here naked."

"I'll get Rosalie to torture you," Alice threatened, "She's way worse than what we could do to you."

Their back and forth game went on a few minutes before Emmett gave in and threw their clothes down at an undisclosed area so they could change back in peace. He returned and continued to laugh it off with Bella and Edward.

"You sure know how to kill the mood," Bella told him, shaking her head.

"What is all the commotion?" Esme asked, joining the rest of them.

Emmett immediately laughed before they could explain, "Carlisle, your shirt's tucked into your undies there... and your fly's open."

Edward looked over at his father and laughed hysterically, as did Bella. Esme quickly fixed his shirt upon seeing Carlisle's embaressed expression.

Before anyone else could say anything, Emmett was taken down to the ground after being slammed hard by Jasper. The two of them fought playfully for a second before Emmett stood up, still trying to maintain his hysterical composure. Jasper held his arms back while Alice laid a few hard hits to his chest and arms.

"Okay," he begged, still cracking up, "Okay. I give up."

"What happened?" Esme asked them.

"He took our clothes," Jasper said.

"Oh to think how not long ago we weren't even welcome on this land," Edward said, "And now Alice and Jasper are going skinny dipping in the Quileute waters."

Everyone had to laugh and Emmett finally settled down. "Okay, I'm done for the night. You all exhaust me."

Alice continued to shake her head. Esme looked over at Carlisle and gave a subtle nod to signal for them to get away from the group. He smiled back as the two of them gave everyone a quick wave goodbye without saying much more. They headed down the beach with their arms around each other.

"What's up with them lately?" Emmett asked, "They've been a little... closer than normal."

"They renewed their wedding vows a month ago. I think that has something to do with it," Edward told him.

"They did?" Bella and Emmett asked at the same time.

"Yeah. Carlisle didn't want to take any attention off of Renesme or Masen, so he just took Esme away himself."

"Did you know?" he asked Alice.

She nodded, "I always know. He didn't tell me."

"He even called out of work the other day," Emmett said.

"Leave them alone," Edward said with a smile, "And stop causing trouble."

"Night time's for lover's," Jasper said with a wink. He scooped up Alice and ran the opposite way of Carlisle and Esme down the beach.