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

My legs start shaking when we step on the carpet between the rows of pews that leads me to my man.

Edward's standing straight, his eyes on me as I walk closer to him, clutching Dad's elbow.

James is next to him, but his eyes are on Victoria.

As I approach him, I can see that Edward or maybe someone else tried to create order in the chaos he calls hair. Poor guy.

"What happened to his hair?" I hiss in Dad's ear.

"Emmett convinced him to put gel in it."

I shake my head, trying not to laugh.

I know Edward so well that I'll take pity on him once we arrive at the hotel and go wash that stuff out of his hair. His beautiful hair.

We finally reach my man, and Dad puts my hand in Edward's—who immediately intertwines our fingers, grinning at me.

"Welcome to the marriage of Isabella Marie Swan and Edward Anthony Cullen," the minister starts, opening his arms. "You have been asked to gather here to witness and share in the joy of this union."

After a few lines are read from the Bible, we're prompted to say our vows.

"There was darkness for a long time, and then there was light, and that light was you. Your love has given me wings, and our journey begins today. I pledge before this assembled company to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives, one life. I want you for today, tomorrow, and forever." Edward's voice breaks at the last sentence, and he clears his throat, his smile never leaving his face.

I give him a watery smile and lick my lips, swallowing my nerves. "I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you to love me the way you do. I give myself to you as your wife, and I promise here to treasure for all of my days the love we celebrate today. Let us bring together our lives and find ourselves anew each day."

The minister turns to me. "Do you, Isabella Marie Swan, knowing this man's love for you and returning it, realizing his strengths and learning from them, recognizing his weaknesses and helping him to overcome them, take Edward Anthony Cullen to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," I say loudly, beaming at Edward.

I slip the ring on his finger. God, it looks beautiful there.

The minister turns to Edward now. "Do you, Edward Anthony Cullen, knowing this woman's love for you and returning it, realizing her strengths and learning from them, recognizing her weaknesses and helping her to overcome them, take Isabella Marie Swan to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." He grins, raising my hand and slowly placing the wedding band on my finger.

"In the years which shall bring Isabella Marie Swan and Edward Anthony Cullen into greater age and wisdom, we hope that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able always to recover from moments of despair. In this hope, may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom; teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this earth, our home.

In so much as Isabella Marie Swan and Edward Anthony Cullen have declared their love to each other before family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband and wife.

You may kiss."

Ah, how I've been waiting for these words!

Edward steps closer and delicately cups my cheek, leaning his head closer. "You're beautiful." Then his lips find mine, and I lose my head.

It's like the first time all over again.

"You clean up pretty good, too," I whisper when we separate.

He chuckles, wrapping his hand around mine before turning to face our families and friends.

We move out of the church and find that outside it's started snowing. There are big snowflakes falling from the sky. It looks like a fairytale.

Edward wraps me in his jacket, winking at me.

I remember that first New Year, too.

We pose for pictures until a shiver runs through me, putting an end to the photo session. I start walking to one of the cars, but Edward tugs me the other way.

"Don't tell me we're skipping the reception!" I hiss, trying to stop him.

"Our sleigh awaits right around the corner, Mrs. Cullen."

"Uh, what?" I whisper.

Then we round the corner, and I literally come face to face with a white horse.

"Sheesh!" I jump back, making him whinny.

"Did you think I'd allow you to ride to the hotel in a car? You didn't want a limo, so I got you a sleigh and two horses."

"Oh. My. God!" I turn and hug him tightly. "Did I tell you how much I love you?"

"I'm slowly rectifying the missing things on your list. We visited the Statue of Liberty, we went to the 9/11 memorial, we walked in the park at night doing dirty things, now I'm taking you to another kind of ride."

The coachman opens the door for me and helps me inside, joking that it won't be trouble inside with my train. I bet he got that a lot with how women like huge dresses. Edward slides in after me.

After a minute of staying on the bench in front of me, he quickly comes to sit next to me, wrapping his arms around me.

"Are you cold, love?"

"A little, but we'll get there soon," I assure him. "This is so thoughtful of you. I like this surprise."

We turn on the main street, and everyone waves and cheers. I smile at them, burrowing into my husband.

I look up at him, not raising my head from his chest. "Husband."

Edward peers down at me, smiling bashfully. "Wife."

"We're married," I giggle, taking his left hand in both mine. "I never thought we'd get here. Not in a billion years."

"Me neither, baby." He kisses my temple.

The ride to the hotel is spent either looking at the scenery surrounding us or kissing and snuggling into each other.

"I'm not ready to share you," I mumble petulantly when I see the hotel appearing into our view.

"It will be only a few hours. Then you're all mine. Forever."

"Are we running away or something?" I joke.

"For a whole week, yes. You're mine completely."

"Are you going to tell me where we're going? I didn't mean to snoop, but I saw a few links on Paris on your browsing history…" I hint, biting my lip.

He gasps, narrowing his eyes at me.

Shit.

I just ruined his surprised.

"Your face!" Edward doubles over, laughing hysterically. "Yes, Bella. Paris was an option, but then I decided I didn't want to share you."

"And we're going…" I trail off, raising my eyebrow.

He puts his poker face on. "Home."

My eyes widen, just as we come to a stop. "Now you're joking!"

His face doesn't betray anything, but his eyes are dancing with mirth.

"Ah, Edward! What am I going to do with you?" I moan, allowing him to help me out of the sleigh.

We thank the coachman before we make our way inside the hotel.

The designated hotel staff greets us warmly and takes us up to the ballroom, where they tell us about the night and how it will go. It's good to have another run-through, just to make sure nothing will go wrong.

Some guests are already there—the ones that skipped the church ceremony.

We talk with them, reconnecting with the ones that used to work with us and now have other jobs. What I like the most is that I don't leave Edward's side.

Slowly, everyone that was at the church starts filling the room.

I've been taking pictures when I see Vic.

"Come with me," I tell the hired photographer.

Edward watches me amused as I walk toward the other end of the room where Vic is now slumped on a chair. I pull her up, beaming.

"Pictures time!"

"Ugh, Bella! My feet died," she moans.

That's when I see her bare feet. I look at her amused.

"Don't worry; no one will faint because of my smelly feet. Jimmy went home to grab me a pair of flats."

I shake my head, hugging her. "Smile."

Then I take Rose, Esme, Mom, Sue—one by one before we take group pictures.

Right before the food starts being served, Edward takes me to the balcony along with the photographer.

As we take our seats at the table, Edward shifts closer, putting his hand on my thigh. "I can't wait to have you alone."

"Soon. We have to entertain our guests first. Then I'm all yours," I promise, turning my head to kiss him.

"I'm holding you to that."

I'm about to dig in my plate when the sounds of someone tapping a glass makes me raise my head to see James standing, his eyes on us.

"What's he doing?" I ask, slightly worried.

"He's my best man. This is going to be embarrassing. Can I hide under the table?" Edward mumbles.

"They'll think you're up to no good," I joke.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" James asks loudly, grinning from ear to ear.

All eyes are on him.

He clears his throat, straightening his back. "Am I drunk and high enough to be part of your frat?" James's eyes are on Edward whose head just banged to the table. "Those were Edward's first words spoken to me. I must tell you that I was shocked to see a freshman approaching me, but I liked him. He had guts, and he was so gone that he'd have done anything I told him."

"Make him stop. My parents don't know about my college life," Edward grumbles.

"Of course, he passed the test of skinny dipping in the freezing pool, but lost the other test—only ending up showing the girl under him exactly what he'd drunk the whole night."

Edward moans, while everyone laughs, including the parents.

"That's when I knew we'd be best friends." James nods. "Got to say I'm not a great believer in fate, but when we bumped in each other years after college finished, I knew that some unknown force brought us back together. Over the years, I've seen my friend with a number of women, but there was never this fire in his eyes, never has he gone out of his way to impress anyone—not like he's done with Isabella."

It's my turn to blush and duck my head.

"I knew she had great potential when I hired her, but never once did I think that she'd end up with my best friend. Though, that first day when I saw you two together, I had a nagging feeling you were hiding something. Good thing I didn't act on it and separate them. It was too funny to watch the tapes Laurent gave me."

I gasp. He knew.

Edward picks his head up, looking shocked at his friend.

"To the sneakiest couple out there!" James toasted.

Victoria rises, too, and I want to go hide. I totally understand Edward.

"Bella," she sighs dramatically. "What can I tell you about her?"

Everyone starts laughing.

"She should try for the acting school," Edward mutters to me.

"She's my best friend! She's the only one other than my brother that gets me so well. No offence, Mom, but I can talk about any stuff with Bella."

"God," I moan.

"Bella's the best friend I could have asked for. And she gives absolutely amazing tips."

I watch her with wide eyes. I truly hope she's talking about the cooking tips I gave her, not…the other kind.

Once she sits down, everyone claps and resumes eating.

"Why do people love to embarrass the bride and the groom at weddings? What have we done wrong?" Edward asks, shaking his head. "Mhmm. Christ. This is delicious." He points to his plate, making me giggle. "Try." He offers me a piece of caviar on a cracker.

Yummy.

Except for the embarrassment coming from our friends and families, the reception is going the way we planned.

Edward pats my thigh. "I can't wait 'till the garter thingy."

I roll my eyes. "You're such a man."

"You should have known I am a man before you married me."

I snort and lean into him, kissing his cheek.