One chapter will talk about the past, one about the present until we reach the point where we began with the present. Confusing much? It keeps things interesting. ;)

Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.

Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33. And to my newest help: Momma Laura.


Present time

"This pattern is nice." I point to a light blue card with a few white roses printed on it.

"Bella, it's supposed to be romantic," Edward mutters. "How about this?"

He shows me a burgundy red card with two wedding bands united in the right corner. I scrunch my nose.

"Baby, this is really nice. It looks like a wedding invitation. And it's red—like the theme."

I glare at him. "It's too simple. I want something else…something different."

Alice gave us the hardest homework ever.

Choosing the wedding invitations and then writing them.

I think she saw we never disagreed on anything and decided to test our limits.

Everything I like, Edward doesn't—and vice versa.

I'm close to throwing all the wedding invitations out the window, along with my fiancé.

"Look at this one!" he exclaims suddenly.

I try to resist, working on my breathing not to explode upon seeing God knows what horrible thing.

"You'll love this, baby."

Reluctantly, I open my eyes and peek at the card in his hand.

Whoa.

It's…wow. Simple and exactly what I want.

I tackle him to the ground, kissing him enthusiastically.

"So you agree?" he asks.

"Yes. I love it." I roll on my back and take the card from him.

It has a light gray background with a few white curves across the face, the word 'love' written elegantly, and many red roses. Beautiful.

"Now…" Edward turns his head to me. "What do we write?"

"How about we take a break from all this wedding madness? I just want to get lost in my fiancé. Can that happen?" I smile, rolling around so I'm lying on him, my palms flat on his chest, my chin on top of my hands.

His fingers catch the ends of my hair and twirl them around. "I dunno. Can it happen? Let me think about it?"

I pout, leaning closer until we're a breath apart. "We need a rehearsal for the honeymoon."

He snorts, crushing me closer, kissing me deeply. "I love you. So much."

"I love you, too," I reply against his lips.

Of course, writing the text for the invitations is postponed.

We make slow, sweet love right there on the carpet, at the foot of the bed, between a sea of invitation cards samples.

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.

.

For Thanksgiving, we're invited to Rose and Emmett's.

Emmett greets us at the door, grinning from ear to ear. "We were just talking about you!"

"Joy," Edward mumbles, offering the bottle of wine we brought.

"Hi!" I kiss Emmett's cheek before going to the kitchen with the pie. Of course, this is my second pie because the first one kind of disappeared overnight.

I should have known, especially when Edward had that innocent look about him when I woke up.

Rose hugs me, taking the pie from my hands. "Goodie. Another apple pie."

"Uh, it's pumpkin pie. Thank your brother for that. He ate half of the apple pie for today," I explain. "I hope you like pumpkin pie."

"You're my personal hero, Bella! Someone broke the apple pie tradition!" she exclaims excitedly.

"You know what they say about those who break the tradition?" Esme joins us, winking at me.

"No?" I whisper meekly.

"I am part of the family, and I had no idea until I fought with Dad a couple years ago about letting Emmett cut the turkey. That's how I ended up hosting this," Rose tells me.

"Oh! So next year…is us?" I ask, scared.

"Exactly!" Esme beams at me.

"Edward!" I shout, running in search of him.

I find him in the living room at the arranged table with his father and brother-in-law.

"Can I talk to you? In private?" I blurt out.

"Yeah. What's up?" he asks confused, leading me to his father's study.

"I know it's next year, but I'm freaking out. I never did this!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I kinda…broke the tradition." I shove my finger into his chest. "You knew! You ate the pie on purpose so I'd make something else!" I gasp, looking at him with huge eyes.

"Baby, you're not making sense," he says gently.

I explain what I just learned from his mother, and by the scared look on his face, he had no idea.

"We'll have to get out of that one or just try and see what happens. It can't be that hard."

I shake my head at him. "Having the family over and cooking for them is a tedious job."

"Don't worry about that now," he whispers, putting his hand on my elbow. "She'll forget about it in a year."

I doubt it, but I leave it be for now.

The lunch goes well, until Victoria starts fiddling with her phone under the table making Esme snap at her. After a heated discussion between them, Vic loses the argument and slouches on her seat, refusing to talk to anyone.

Apparently she was talking with James, who didn't want to intrude in the family time so he declined her invitation.

"Not you, too!" I hiss when I see Edward thumbing through his phone under the table.

"Shh. Don't give me away. I'm telling that idiot to get his ass over here before Vic's mood ruins the holiday."

Oh, sounds like a plan.

By the time James arrives, we're at the pie and the 'thankful for' part.

Another chair appears at the table, along with a plate for the new guest. The men get engrossed in the game on TV, while we eat and talk, waiting for the game to end so we can be thankful.

I find it silly. It's obvious everyone will say they're thankful for their loved ones—it's always the same.

Of course, Emmett has to add he's thankful for the Giants, Edward says something about his car, Vic adds her brother's name and jumps on him, whispering how grateful she is that he called James. It's funny.

While we just laze, talking about different things, I hope that next year I can throw a party half as nice as Rose's. Unlikely, but I have to try.

.

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The first week of December brings with it a round of nerves like I've never had in my life.

The wedding day is so scarily close.

As I do my eyelashes, Edward's shaving next to me. Poor guy has a hard time keeping his eyes open, and that is horrible when he has a sharp razor in his hand.

In my defense, I really wanted a midnight snack, and it's his fault he woke up with me. Of course, the actual snack was forgotten, and we snacked on each other. Until I realized it was three a.m., and the next day was workday.

"So, how are the vows coming?" I ask, hoping to keep him awake.

"They're done."

"Really? Alice will be happy." I grin, capping the mascara tube.

"I just need to write them down and make 'em sound nice."

"You said they were done," I say confused.

He taps his temple. "In my head they sound nice, but I bet once I put them down, they won't be nice at all."

"You better hurry, sweetie. I want everything done by the end of next week. After the city hall come the parties, and then the next week will fly by."

"I know. Damn, where did the time go?" Edward meets my eyes in the mirror. "Can you believe it? We're getting married in about two weeks?"

I grin and hug him. "Yeah, I can. I love you."

"Love you, too. You better get dressed or we'll be late for work."

Giggling, I walk into the bedroom and pull on my dress pants and button down along with a vest. Perfect for a cold day like today.

At work, I get swamped in a Christmas commercial that I doubt I'll finish on time, but I'm going to try.

Edward's busy, too, wrapping things up for the week we'll be gone.

I get everything done on time, and as James jokes, my team wins as an early wedding gift. Still, I'm on cloud nine on December thirteenth when we drive to the city hall.

I'm wearing a long dress—the upper part is lacey and in nude colors, while the skirt is straight and black. Edward wears a fine black suit.

We're both a mass of nerves, but Vic and James manage to calm us and keep joking about what the parents will do when they hear we got married without them.


Pictures in my FB group as usual.

Also, I will start posting twice a week. Wednesday and Saturday. :)