Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer and I don't own any of the Twilight series' characters or stories. I borrowed the dialogue and storyline from Breaking Dawn, but the rest is my own take on the story, as seen through Edward's eyes.

A/N: So sorry for the delay. For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you know that earlier in the week disaster struck my computer and I lost almost the entire first half of this chapter. Thank you for your patience as I had to take the time to rewrite what was lost. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 3

Fruition

The hours ticked by at an excruciatingly slow pace. Jasper and Emmett did their best to entertain me, but all my thoughts were on Bella. My fears about the honeymoon were quickly being overshadowed by my excitement for the wedding itself. No matter how much I tried to convince my brothers that we should return early to assist in setting up for the ceremony and reception, they insisted that Alice would have my head if we returned a moment sooner than instructed.

I closed my eyes, envisioning all of the facets of the wedding that I had gathered from Alice's mind. I could construct a complete picture in my imagination of the decorations inside and out, of what the bridal party would be wearing, of the music Rosalie would play. I could envision the entire ceremony down to the tiniest detail, but the one thing that was missing, the only thing that mattered, was Bella. I conjured an image in my mind, but had no way of knowing how accurate it would be. Alice had done very well in concealing those details from me.

"Now?" I asked for what may well have been the hundredth time.

"Not yet," Jasper and Emmett chorused.

I crossed my arms and sunk lower into the chair, trying to find something I could focus my attention on. A soft beam of sunlight filtered through a nearby window, exposing the fine particles of dust that danced on the air. I fixated on a single particle, following it as it floated on the air currents, performing an aerodynamic ballet. It travelled the length of the room before finally settling on Emmett's shoulder. He didn't seem to notice.

My eyes wandered around the small space. Esme had been diligently working on her restorations and the decades of neglect were gradually beginning to disappear. I did my best to convince Esme that it was unnecessary, that Bella and I would be perfectly content to stay in the house until we transferred to New Hampshire in the fall, but she wouldn't hear it. She wanted to do this for Bella – for us. Of course, Rosalie and Alice had their share of input, but their visions for the woodland cottage were much more grandiose. Esme was focused on maintaining the structure's natural warmth and charm. It's what Bella would want.

My thumb absently ran across the shiny surface of my father's golden cufflink. I felt the minute variations in the metal where the initial of my surname had been engraved. When Alice brought our wedding attire to the cottage, it was surprising that she had forgotten such an important piece of my ensemble. I had barely opened my mouth to ask my brothers to allow me to retrieve them before Carlisle arrived holding them in his palm.

The chirping of a telephone broke the silence and I turned as Jasper was pulling his cell phone out of his pocket to read the screen. Time to go, he thought. I eagerly rose from the chair before he shook his head.

"Not you, Edward," he said. "It's time for me to pick up Renée and Phil."

I slumped back in the chair, dejected. Jasper left a moment later, taking my last bit of calm along with him. The tension was palpable as I wrung my hands nervously. The only thing left now standing between me and Bella, other than the not-so-thinly veiled threats from my sister, was Emmett. He could easily subdue me… if he could catch me.

"So, are you ready?" he asked.

I glanced up to meet his eyes, silently thanking him for the distraction. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life," I smiled. I could scarcely believe that in such a short time, Bella would be my wife. It was almost too good to be true.

"Are you more excited about the wedding or the honeymoon?" he smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"The wedding will be the happiest moment of my life. Marrying Bella is the only thing in this world that would make me feel complete. The honeymoon…," I almost choked on the word, "…makes me…nervous."

Whatever brief moment of ease I felt disappeared with the mention of the honeymoon. Emmett eyed me warily when I rose from the chair and began to pace. The space was much too small and I could feel the walls closing in on me. Every cell in my body constricted – like a rubber band stretched to its limits, I was about to snap.

I could see the shift in Emmett's mind as he became increasingly worried that I may try to make a run for it. Oh, no you don't! Emmett rose quickly and crossed the room, his large frame effectively blocking the doorway. He leaned back against the door and crossed his arms over his chest.

I stopped mid-stride and ran my fingers through my hair before looking to my brother. "Emmett, I need to get out of here," I complained.

"No way, Alice said…"

"I won't go anywhere near the house. I promise," I pleaded. "I just need to get out of here, to burn off some of this nervous energy before I go mad."

His brow furrowed for a moment as he debated with himself whether or not to grant my request. After a brief deliberation, he determined that if I was deceiving him, Alice would have called to warn him of my intentions. I stepped up to him and he hesitated before stepping aside. He cringed as my fingers wrapped around the doorknob, but didn't move to stop me.

I was sprinting through the trees the moment the door was opened. The crisp air filled my lungs, refreshing my senses and melting away my restlessness. I ran at full tilt, allowing my taut muscles to stretch, to release the pressure that had been building up. The forest was relatively silent, with the exception of the pounding steps of my brother who followed closely behind.

I ran for miles and miles without slowing, my nerves dissipating with each step. I was careful not to travel too far and to take care not to soil my wedding attire. Alice would be sore with me if I got even the hint of grime of my freshly pressed tuxedo. We travelled in an arc until we finally came to a stop in my one respite from the outside world. I stood in the middle of the meadow, closing my eyes and lifting my face to the sun, basking in its warmth.

Wow, Emmett thought. This must be where he disappears to when Bella's not around.

With the exception of Bella, I had kept the location of my solitude a secret. It was my safe haven, the one place I could seclude myself without worrying about interference from my family. It would only be fitting that a place that meant so much to Bella and to me would have a place in our wedding as well. I bent down, running my hands over the soft petals of the wildflowers that grew there. I plucked two pale lavender blossoms and tucked them gently among the rose and freesia in my lapel.

I stood up when the sound of paws softly padding the earth reached my ears. A small, sandy wolf emerged from the tree line and Emmett instinctively crouched in a defensive posture. I placed my hand on his chest to block his way and gave him a knowing look.

"Hello, Seth," I spoke over my shoulder. The tension in Emmett's shoulders subsided.

Hey, Edward. Shouldn't you be getting ready for a wedding? the wolf thought.

"I could say the same thing to you," I smirked.

Something between a bark and a cough emanated from Seth's throat – what I assumed was a laugh. I'm on my way back. Mom and I have to pick up Billy on the way. I was running and caught your scent.

"Is anything wrong?" I asked, curious why Seth would seek me out now when he would be seeing me at the wedding in less than an hour.

He shook his head and disappeared behind a large hemlock. A moment later, he came jogging toward us. "I wanted to tell you the news," he said.

"News?" I asked.

"It's Jacob. He's coming back."

"Really?"

Seth nodded in confirmation. "We've been pestering him for weeks and he knew that Bella was checking up on him. I guess his conscience finally got the better of him – he decided that even if he didn't get the girl, he couldn't disappoint his best friend on her wedding day by not showing up."

Jacob was coming back. My lips curved upward in a smile as I thought of how Bella would react to his arrival. She had missed him terribly and the one thing that would make this day complete for her was to be able to share it with her best friend. I had thought that reaching out to Jacob had been a lost cause, but perhaps not.

"Don't tell her," Seth warned. "You'll spoil the surprise. I already know I'm going to get an earful for telling you."

"I won't say a word," I vowed. "Is he already here?"

Seth shook his head. "He's still a couple hundred miles out, but he's running as fast as he can. He should make it in time for the reception at least."

"Nothing like waiting until the last minute," Emmett scoffed. Fashionably late?

"I'm sure the decision to come wasn't an easy one for him," I chided. "I can only imagine how I would feel if I were in his shoes."

Yeah, you're right. Emmett shrugged and lowered his head, kicking a stone with his foot.

"I better get going," Seth said, gesturing to the trees. "Mom's waiting for me."

"I'll see you soon. Thank you for letting me know."

"Anytime," he smiled before turning and running to the trees. The sound of two footsteps pounding the earth quickly turned to four before disappearing completely and Emmett and I were once again left alone.

I resumed my previous posture, bending low to the ground and picking another wildflower. I slowly plucked each petal from the stem, trying to busy my hands while I waited. Emmett paced in circles, checking his watch at regular intervals. I watched him curiously as he now seemed to be more nervous than I had been. Finally, he threw his hands in the air and sighed loudly. "I can't stand waiting around here anymore. Let's just go."

Was he serious? Was I finally going to be released from my brother's hold to go back to my bride? My head snapped up and I began running before he could say another word.

Oh no, now I've done it, he thought as he attempted to chase me down. But I was much too fast for him. Edward, please, you're going to get me in trouble. Just promise not to go into the house. Please. His thoughts pleaded with me and soon he was shouting as well.

"Fine, Emmett," I relented, slowing a bit so he could catch up to me.

He smacked my shoulder as he jogged to my side. "Don't do that to me," he huffed. "I'll be in enough trouble just for letting you go back this early – don't make it worse by going anywhere you're not supposed to."

We continued at a leisurely pace – as leisurely as I could manage given my level of anticipation. The house gradually came into view, a gauzy, white tent billowing gently in the breeze. Esme, Carlisle, and Rosalie were busying themselves with final details. Judging by the thoughts in the house, none of the guests had arrived yet.

Mine! Emmett had seen Rosalie in her silver gown and bolted past me. She was adjusting a centerpiece as he gripped her small waist and spun her to face him, firmly planting a kiss on her lips.

Not the makeup! She struggled against him, pushing him away with an irritated glare. "Put me down!" she shrieked.

"Aw, come on, Babe," he whined as he set her down.

"Don't 'Babe' me," she fumed. "Now I'm going to have to reapply my lipstick. And what is he doing back here? You know Alice is going to have a fit."

Emmett rubbed the back of his neck. "It's close enough, isn't it?"

"How should I know? Alice is the one running the show."

Emmett glanced warily back at me and I shrugged in reply. I didn't understand why it mattered when I arrived. Unless no one saw Bella before her walk down the aisle, I would catch at least a glimpse of her through someone's thoughts before she made her debut. As it was, Alice must already be aware of my early arrival because her thoughts were on everything but Bella.

"Esme," Rosalie called. "You better give these boys something to keep them occupied."

Esme flitted to my side and placed her palm on my cheek, smiling up at me. My son – so handsome. "You look like the perfect groom," she smiled. "And I'm glad you're here. You and Emmett can help me set up the rest of the chairs for the reception."

She pointed us to a stack of white folding chairs as Rosalie made her way to the house. I focused little attention on the task at hand and more on the thoughts of my sister. I watched as she sprinted up the steps to her room to freshen her makeup. As she replaced a lock of hair that had fallen out of place, she made her way down the hall until she was face to face with Alice.

"They're back," she said.

Alice maneuvered her body to shield Bella from Rosalie's view and her answering look was furious, even though she was already mindful of my presence. "Keep him out of here!" And stay out of our thoughts Edward – don't think I don't know what you're up to!

Rosalie was careful to avoid looking at Bella directly. Her gaze was focused on her mahogany tresses, but there was no view of her face or of her attire. I groaned in frustration and Emmett cocked an eyebrow at my odd display. My sisters continued to thwart my attempts to take a peek at my bride and I resolved myself to wait until her parents arrived. There was nothing Alice could do to keep me from seeing then.

Emmett and I were setting the last chairs in place when Alice bolted out the door. She ran right up to me and pounded my chest with her tiny fist. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen," she hissed. "You are not supposed to see your bride until she walks down the aisle. I know what you're doing and you need to stop it. It's bad luck, remember?"

I chuckled nervously. "I haven't seen a thing, Alice."

"I know that," she rolled her eyes, "but that's only because we've been very careful. And you…" she spun to face Emmett, "…you were supposed to keep him away. I specifically said that he was to arrive just as the music started. Not a moment before!"

"I…um…." Emmett stammered.

"Oh, never mind. Just keep him occupied, will you?" she sighed in frustration, turning to go back into the house. She hesitated briefly at the door and I had to laugh at the vision I saw through her mind.

Oh no…no, no, no. She gripped the door frame and turned to face Emmett. "Emmett, you stay away from that car. If I see so much as a can of shaving cream, so help me…"

Man! "What?" Emmett shrugged, feigning ignorance, but he couldn't fool Alice.

She narrowed her eyes until the vision disappeared. She smiled sweetly and turned back into the house. I glanced over at Emmett and began to laugh. "If it's any consolation, I thought I was funny," I offered.

His face broke out into a grin. "Well, at least you got to see it."

"However funny it was, I doubt Bella would have found it quite so amusing."

The sounds of car doors and thumping heartbeats signaled the arrival of our first guests. Esme ran to the front of the house to greet them as I lowered myself into one of the folding chairs. Carlisle walked up and took a seat beside me, patting me on the knee.

"Today's the day," he smiled.

"Yes, it is," I nodded, attempting to reign in my excitement.

"I'm happy for you, Son," he said. "Bella's a wonderful girl and I can't tell you how excited your mother and I are to welcome her into the family."

I nodded in agreement as he continued.

"It's a shame that your real parents couldn't be here today, but I'm honored to stand by you in your father's stead. And, as it's customary for the father of the groom to impart some wisdom, I have a few words of advice."

"Advice?" I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Just because you've seen and heard everything through your ability doesn't mean you'll remember it when it's needed. There are just few things that I would like to impart – small kernels of knowledge that will help you to foster a healthy and loving marriage."

"Did you give this same speech to Emmett?" I smirked.

"Of course," he grinned, "although it was slightly modified."

I waved a hand and nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"The best advice I can give to you is to tell you that life is about learning. Most men forget the advice they're given, but rather learn through their mistakes. And you, son, are no exception," he chuckled. A fleeting parade of memories floated briefly through his mind, some of them were not my finest moments.

"The key is not to allow the difficulties in life to distract you. Every day, remind yourself of what's really important, of the love you share with Bella, because at the end of the day, that's all you have and that's all that matters."

"That's actually really good advice," I smiled.

"I know that this life has been difficult, but I can't tell you how pleased I am to see that you've found your place, that you've found some happiness. Remember that feeling and keep it with you always." He reached over, taking my hand in his and smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Carlisle."

We sat in silence for a moment as I mulled over his words. I knew, almost from the moment I saw her, that I would love Bella for the rest of my existence. We had been through so much, struggled against insurmountable odds, fought to be together, that our small piece of happiness was well earned. The road to this moment had been so long and treacherous that I could scarcely believe it had finally arrived.

"Ready?" Carlisle asked, breaking me from my reverie.

Ready? Was it time already? As eager as I was before, I hesitated now, feeling the fluttering of nerves in the pit of my stomach. I nodded and stood slowly, weak in the knees. Carlisle cocked his head to the side, curiously studying my shift in demeanor before smiling warmly.

"Happens to all of us," he smiled. "The reality of what you're about to do has finally hit you."

"I guess so," I stammered, surprised by this unexpected sensation. I had been so sure, so confident, but now with the realization that in just mere moments, Bella and I would be wed, I was overcome by emotion, overwhelmed by it all. I wondered to myself if Bella felt the same.

I followed Carlisle into the house which must have filled with guests during our conversation. The chattering of voices and the thrumming of numerous hearts filled my ears. As I walked through the door, I was overcome by the aroma emanating from the house.

When first encountering Bella, I had tried to explain to Alice the way her blood smelled to me – the seductive combination of olfactory properties that gave Bella her enticing and completely unique perfume. I was momentarily taken aback. Alice had attempted to reproduce that distinctive combination of scents, giving each one of our guests, including Bella herself, the opportunity to partake in her glorious bouquet. Orange blossoms, lilacs, freesia, and roses combined perfectly. The only thing missing was the faint aroma of strawberries from Bella's preferred shampoo.

The living room had been completely transformed into a fantasy in white. Flowers and ribbons cascaded down the staircase and decorated every available surface. Soft billows of silk and tulle created an ethereal aura, as though we were getting married in the heavens themselves. Rosalie sat at my piano, statuesque in her silver gown, her fingers flying over the keys as she played a beautifully complicated melody.

Mr. Weber stood under a canopy of silk and blossoms, his Bible in hand as he prepared to perform the ceremony. My fists clenched and unclenched anxiously as I tried to take those last few steps to take my place.

There he is. Esme crossed the room to stand in front of me, both her hands cupping my cheeks as she stared into my eyes. Her bottom lip quivered faintly and the corners of her eyes pinched, awaiting tears of joy that she could not shed. It's time, she thought. I placed my hand over one of hers and brought it to my lips, gently kissing her knuckles, and she smiled softly.

Esme was the quintessential mother of the groom and, to be quite honest, I couldn't remember her becoming quite so emotional when Rosalie and Emmett were married. If I couldn't see into her mind, I would have thought her outpouring of emotion was a sign of relief that I had finally found happiness after all these years. Esme loved all of her adoptive children deeply, but I was her first. I was the one who filled the gaping hole left by the loss of her newborn son. And today was the day that her son would be married.

Esme squeezed my hand before turning to take her seat. Carlisle stood beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder and guided me to my place next to the minister. I could feel the eyes of the guests on me as I stood under the canopy of white. I rubbed my hands together, unable to relieve the tension in my fingers. My stomach was turning flips and my mind was so unfocused that the usual stream of thoughts was merely a low buzzing in my consciousness. I took a deep breath in an attempt to steady myself and was relieved beyond measure when I felt a blanket of calm settle over me. I glanced across the room to see Jasper who bowed slightly. I imagined he was doing double duty today.

The music shifted and the dulcet tones of Pachelbel Canon in D filled the room. Given the new sense of serenity, thanks to my talented brother, I could focus more easily on the thoughts and sounds around me. Carlise, who proudly stood beside me as my best man, hummed quietly along with the music. Renée sniffled lightly and dabbed her eyes as her husband lovingly rubbed her shoulder. My attention gradually shifted up the stairs to where I supposed Bella would be. Alice was still effectively blocking me, but I was able to catch brief glimpses through Charlie's thoughts.

The Pachelbel piece concluded and my breath caught in my throat as Rosalie began playing Wagner's traditional wedding march. The room full of family and friends stood at that moment and faced the staircase.

"Bells, we're up to bat," I heard Charlie say. I swallowed reflexively, attempting to relieve the lump that was forming in my throat. If my heart still beat, it would be thumping out of my chest at this moment.

"It's my turn," Alice said. "Count to five and follow me." I heard Alice's lithe steps as she began her descent down the staircase. As she rounded the corner, her eyes found mine and she gave me a knowing smile. You're going to be so surprised, she thought. And she was right. Alice had done the impossible. She had prepared my bride and, through careful concentration and distraction, she had managed to keep me from seeing a clear picture of Bella before this moment.

The music came to a crescendo and I finally heard the voice of my bride. "Don't let me fall, Dad," she said. I held my breath as I waited to catch my first glimpse of Bella. My bride, in a gown of white satin, gradually appeared and had my heart been beating as furiously as it should be, at that moment, it would have stopped completely. Bella's eyes were downcast, no doubt watching her footing as she descended the stairs. Every eye in the room was on her and the same word was in their collective minds. Beautiful.

The satin gown delicately hugged her graceful curves. Her hair was an intricate pattern of braids ornamented by a sheer veil and sapphire accented hair combs. She gripped Charlie's arm tightly as he led her toward me and the bouquet quivered in her other hand. Carlisle reached up beside me to grip my shoulder and I hazarded a glance at Esme, who had literally gasped at the sight of Bella in her wedding gown.

When they reached the landing, Bella's eyes flitted around the room as she witnessed Alice's creation for the first time. She looked out at the sea of smiling faces and her entire body flushed a radiant hue. I held my breath as I watched her, waiting for the moment when our eyes would meet. And then it happened. Her gaze lifted and the air crackled with electricity as we gazed at each other. The world stood still in that moment. The butterflies that had been fluttering furiously in my stomach came to an abrupt halt, stunned into silence. Everything melted away until the only thing left was us. She was breathtaking.

Bella's eyes widened and her breath caught. Her heart began to beat furiously and she teetered briefly as her steps quickened, moving to a tempo much too quick for the music. After all the negotiations, after the promises and compromises and uncertainties about our engagement, it was clear in this moment that she couldn't wait to get married. And I couldn't contain the smile that spread across my face.

Charlie grimaced faintly as he struggled to hold Bella back. My eyes met his briefly and, in the span of a mere second, I saw the heart of a man who was giving away his only daughter. Memories filtered through his mind like a movie reel – the image of a little girl with mahogany curls, running toward her father and squeezing him tightly, an adolescent Bella hugging her father awkwardly as he picked her up at the airport, a distraught Bella cradled in her father's arms as she cried over her lost love. And the final image, the one that caused the beginnings of tears to prick the corners of his eyes, was seeing his baby girl no longer running into her daddy's arms, but into the arms of another man – into mine.

Bella's smile grew wider the closer we came together and, when we finally met at the altar, Charlie took his daughter's hand and placed it into mine. He held our hands together between his for a brief moment, swallowing the sob that threatened to escape. Then he leaned in to kiss his only daughter on the cheek before taking his seat.

Bella stepped up beside me and we stood together, side by side, as we prepared to take our vows. I plucked one of the lavender wildflowers from my lapel and carefully placed it in her hair. Mr. Weber smiled warmly as he gave his opening remarks, speaking briefly about the blessing of true love and the significance of the vows we were about to take.

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" he asked.

"Her mother and I," Charlie managed, his voice thick with emotion.

Rosalie played gently in the background as the vows were read. Bella's eyes glistened as she recognized the piece – the one that I had wished to play myself – her lullaby. As the words were read, words I had heard so many times and taken for granted, they struck me more powerfully than they ever had before. I had imagined this moment so many times, played it out in explicit detail, but none of my daydreams had adequately prepared me for the magnitude of emotion I felt standing at the altar with Bella by my side.

Standing before me was the one person in all the world who truly knew me. Bella saw me for what I was and loved me in spite of it. She was my match, my soul mate, and in this moment, before family and friends, we were binding ourselves to one another "as long as we both shall live."

Bella's lip quivered as Mr. Weber read the vows and a lone tear cascaded down her cheek, followed by another. I could scarcely understand her when she said the words, "I do." I gripped her hands in mine, rubbing small circles on the back of her hand with my thumb as my own vows were read. She gave me a watery smile when I spoke my own pledge. "I do."

Her hands trembled as she placed the band of gold on my left ring finger and slid it in place. In turn, I placed the slender golden ring on her finger, the wedding band engraved with the simple yet poignant inscription. Forever.

I could barely contain my excitement when Mr. Weber gave the final declaration, giving me permission to kiss my bride. My wife. She smiled up at me as I reached for her. I cradled her face in my hands and leaned in to kiss her. She responded by throwing both of her arms around my neck and hugging herself to me, firmly planting her lips to mine. What I had intended to be a tender kiss from a husband to his new wife became a lesson in passion and restraint. I could feel Bella pouring out her emotions, demonstrating to me and to the rest of the world how truly happy she was to be my wife. I gripped her waist, gently nudging her away. I chuckled against her lips and leaned my forehead to hers when she finally broke the kiss.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And I love you," I replied, placing one last chaste kiss on her lips before turning to face the cheering crowd.

A/N: And we all say a collective….awwwww. I'll let you use your imaginations to figure out what Emmett had planned for the getaway car. Thank you all so much for your continued support of this story.

Special thanks to my beta, NellyBear85, for all her ideas and encouragement. And thanks to misticbutterfly for helping me hash some things out and for keeping me on task when my mind starts to wander.