Hey friends. I am back with another update. Plans changed and I won't be going out of town, so that means extra updates for all of you!
Let me take a moment to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has been reviewing. I know, I suck at replying back. But, I promise, I read each and every one of them. I share them with my husband with pride. You all move me to tears with your words. And the fact that my words move you, I am honored to share a part of your day. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is not beta'd. (I know that I have had offers, but by the time I get the chapter the way that I want it, I just don't have time to send them off to a beta. So thank you for the offers, but I decline at this time.)
Stephanie Meyers owns all of Twilight!
BPOV
"Alice!" I stand in my room, having a stare down with my tiny little pixie devil of a wedding planner/best friend. "I just need a little bit of time to myself. Just give me an hour and I will be back down to let you do whatever else you planned for tonight. But, I just need to wrap my head around some things. Plus, I really want to go over my speech I have planned for tomorrow." I plead with her.
She just stands there scowling at me. "Fine! One hour Bella, and then I am coming in to dragging you out. I have Lilah from your favorite salon coming to do facials, and hair treatments tonight." She tells me, walking to the door.
"Thank you Alice. I will be down in an hour, I promise." I say to her, closing the door and leaning back against it, letting out a sigh of relief. I love my friends, but geez!
The downstairs is overwhelming to say the least. Alice has been putting the finishing touches on the living and dinning room while everyone finished getting the last minute party favors in order. It was a mad house of flower petals, and ribbons being tied to tiny bells, small bags of glittery confetti tied together with a wired sage green flower. Not to mention Alice's army of Beauty Base 1 coming in and setting up in the various bedrooms up here. The only sanctuary I could find was here, in my childhood bedroom. It was the one place that I wanted left quiet. Tomorrow, I would come in here with Esme and she would help me put on my wedding dress, so I wanted it left as it was from when I lived here as a child. My quiet sanctuary where I would dress for every important event with Esme's help. She helped me put on the light blue party dress that I wore to the Father/Daughter dance that Charlie never came to, but Carlisle did. She helped me get ready for every Homecoming dance, every charity ball (minus this last one when she came to the penthouse), and my prom. It was a special moment that I wanted untainted by the rush and bustle of the wedding prep.
I heave myself off the door, making my way to the closet to change out of my rehearsal dress and into some comfy yoga pants and one of Edwards old high school t-shirts. I walk out of the closet and come to a halt. My hands fly to my chest as I let out a tiny scream. There pressed up against the glass of my window is Edward with a smirk on his face. I rush to the window and open it. "You are going to have to be quiet, my fiance's mother is just down the hall!" I giggle.
"I'm not afraid of a woman!" He says, trying to keep a straight face.
"You haven't meet my soon-to-be mother-in-law then!"
"At least I know your fiance isn't here. I wouldn't want to waste my energy taking him out when I could be making out with your fine self!"
"Eh, you wouldn't waste that much energy, he's kinda small, you could take him!" I say, turning to walk away from him.
"You little!" He says, before he comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me, grinding his already hard cock into me. "Baby, there isn't anything small about me!" He says, brushing my hair off my neck, leaving a trail of kisses down my neck.
"Mmm!" I moan, grinding back against him. "We really can't, the only small thing we have to be scared of his that little devil pixie running around downstairs! I had to beg to get an hour by myself." I say, as we lay down onto the bed, facing each other.
Edward lets out a soft chuckle. "I remember that tree being much easier to climb when we were in high school!" He says with a laugh.
I laugh along with him. "That is because you were drunk half the time you were climbing back in after curfew, coming in my window so you wouldn't get caught."
"True! The thought of falling to my death seemed much better than facing the wrath of mom for missing curfew."
"How did you manage to get out tonight?"
"I promised Erik that if he created a distraction I would get him tickets to see Lady Gaga when she comes to town!"
I can't contain the laugh that escapes me. I move closer to him and snuggle into his chest. I let my eyes close and bask in the warmth that is my Edward. As I feel him breathing begin to even out, I know that we have to move. "Baby, we can't fall asleep, I am surprised Alice hasn't come barging..."
"EDWARD ANTHONY CULLEN!"
"...in by now!" I finish with a sigh as I hear her screaming from down the hall.
My bedroom door flies open and there standing is a very unhappy looking pixie along with a laughing Jasper and Emmett. "Dude! Did you really think Erik could handle the pressure of fooling us?"
Just then Erik peeks his head around the corner. "Sorry man, they broke me!" He says, with a sad look in his eye.
"You can kiss Lady Gaga good-bye!" Edward says, trying not to laugh, as Erik's face falls.
"He is kidding. Front row baby, if I have any say in it!" I say, throwing him a kiss.
"Alright, alright! Enough. You...OUT!" Alice says, pointing to Edward. "And you...down to guest bedroom next to Esme and Carlisle's room for facials and hair treatments."
Edward and I stand and make our way out into the hallway. When we get to the stairs, he pulls me into a hug. "I will see you tomorrow." He says, kissing me one last time.
"I'll be the one in white." I say, smiling.
I grabs my hand, and presses a small box into my hand. "Open it when I am gone."
I smile, as I look at the box. "See Peter when you get back to the penthouse, he has something for you from me." I say, blowing him a kiss as Alice drags me down the hall and Emmett pulls him down the stairs.
I walk into the guest bedroom and take a seat. As Lilah begins to apply the treatment to my hair, I look over to see mom sitting with a smile on my face.
"I take it you know Edward was here?" I ask, laughing.
"Carlisle did the same thing the night before our wedding. Carrying a box similar to that one in your hand." She tells me.
I relax while the technician finishes my treatment. As I sit, waiting for my turn to get the facial applied, I slide the ribbon off the box and tip the cover open. Nestled inside is a heart shaped locket. Engraved on the top in elegant script in Italian is 'I nostri cuori sono uno, sono sempre stati, e lo saranno sempre' [Our hearts are one, they always have been, and they always will be]. The words that we spoke to each other the night that he asked me to marry him. Through tear clouded eyes, I open up the locket. On one side is a picture of Edward and I when I was twelve and he was fourteen at my very first charity ball. On the other side is a picture of Edward and I taken a few months before I ran away as we are laying in our meadow. I have now drawn the attention of everyone, who is coming over and looking at the locket. Esme is drying her tears as she hands me a tissue.
"This fell from the box Bella." "Rose says, handing me a slip of paper.
I open it to find Edwards elegant handwriting. 'Prenditi cura del mio cuore, l'ho lasciato con te.' [Take care of my heart, I've left it with you.] I press it to my heart as mom fastened the locket around me neck.
"Now we really need to get this facial on you and get those puffy eyes under control." Alice says, while handing me another tissue. And that is how I spend the rest my evening. Allowing Alice to pamper and primp me for my big day tomorrow.
Sleep came surprisingly quick and easy for me last night. I woke up to a wonderful breakfast in bed with mom, Alice, Rose and Lily. Alice walked me through the wedding space in the living and dinning room. I would be walking down the stairs, which are now adorned with fresh garland bows, white poinsettias, and hand dipped sage green roses. I will follow the isle down to the middle of the living room where there is a white metal arch set up and decorated with the same fresh bows, white poinsettias and sage green roses. There are four rows of chairs that are five across on both sides of the isle. They are partitioned off by sage green satin, and held up on each chair with and arrangement of white poinsettias and sage green roses. The one detail that catches my eye is the small bundle of mistletoe that is hanging under the arch where Edward and I will take our vows. Every detail that I ever dreamed of, Alice has brought to life.
We have a light brunch before we get manicures and pedicures before we dress. So, here I stand, in my childhood bedroom with Esme. She crosses to me, carrying my wedding dress as I stand in front of her in a white, strapless lace bra and panty set with matching garter belt holding up my lace topped white silk stocking.
I slip on my Jimmy Choo's as mom unzips the dress and lifts it over my head. "It feels like only yesterday I was standing in this same spot helping you put on that beautiful pink princess dress that you wore to your first charity ball." She says, as she helps me put my arms through the lace straps. "And now look at us, I am helping you put on your wedding dress." She sniffs a little.
"Mom, you can't do that yet!" I laugh through teary eyes, trying to scold her. "I am pregnant, my hormones are all over the place!"
"I know. I know." She says, as she zips me up. I turn around to face her. She puts her hands to her face as fresh tears begin to fall down her cheeks. "Sei così bella!" [You are so beautiful.] She cries, pulling me into a hug. We pull back from each other and she begins fixing my make-up. Alice will kill me if you are smudged!" She says, laughing to lighten our little moment.
There is a knock at the door as Alice and Rose come in. Rose is carrying Lily who begins clapping her little hands. "Am I pretty miss Lily?" I ask her. She giggles and claps her hands, making us all laugh.
"Oh Bella! Edward is going to be floored when he sees you!" Rose says, coming over to hug me.
"You're breathtaking!" Alice says, wiping away a stray tear from her face. "OK! Back to business. We have traditions we need to take care of. Something old." She says, looking at mom.
Mom walks forward with a delicate handkerchief. "This has been carried by all of the Cullen women. Carlisle's mother gave it to me, and now I am giving it to you." She says, placing it in my hand. "Just tuck it around the bottom of your bouquet." She whispers, giving me a small kiss on my cheek as Alice hands me my bouquet.
"Something new is your dress. Something borrowed." Again, she looks at mom.
Mom walks over to me with a lace veil in her hands, with an antique looking comb. This was my veil when I married Carlisle. You can borrow it so that we can keep borrowing it down the line." She says, as she pushes the comb into the gathering of braids and curls low at the nape of my neck.
I am fighting hard to hold back the tears as Alice announces, "And something blue." As she twirls a blue garter around her finger. She dips down, as I pull up my dress, she that she can shimmy it up my leg to my thigh.
As soon as it is in place, everyone leaves to take their places. I am left standing in my room alone for a moment. I remember all of the heart to hearts Edward and I had in this room growing up. All of the times he held me as I cried because of Charlie. I remember the times of happiness as he would sneak in on the morning of my birthday holding a cupcake and a candle so that we could have our own private party. I can't believe that I am going to marry my best friend tonight. A small knock pulls me from my happy thoughts. "Come in." I say, turning to see dad walking into the room. "Dad. You look...amazing!"
"Where do you think Edward got his looks from!" He laughs, walking over to me. "Bella. You...you are...there are no words for how beautiful you are." He says, pulling me gently into a hug.
"Thank you." I whisper to him.
"For what?"
"For loving me."
Those three little words break the big, strong Carlisle Cullen. He holds onto me as he cries. After a few moments of crying together, he pulls his handkerchief from his pocket to dry my tears. "Thank you for allowing me to love. And thank you for loving me right back."
Suddenly his phone chirps. "That's Alice. It's time." He says, holding out his elbow for me. I link arms with him and we make our way out of the room and to the top of the stairs. All eyes are on us as music begins to play.
"Don't let me fall." I tell him.
"Never." He replies, as we make our way down the stairs. When we finally make it down the stairs we make our way to the isle way. Standing down at the other end in a elegant black Versace tux with a sage green tie is my protector, my best friend, my forever. I watch him as he takes in my appearance. I see his bottom lip quiver as we get closer to him. When dad and I finish our walk I see the tears that are falling down Edwards cheeks.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" Father Tom asks.
"Her mother and I." Carlisle says proudly, as he turns to me and give me a kiss on each of my cheeks. He turns to Edward, cupping his face with his hands he give Edward a kiss on his cheeks too. He places my hand in Edwards and turns to sit next to mom.
As Edward and I turn to Father Tom, he whispers into my ear. "You are so beautiful." As we look at Father Tom, the ceremony begins. We opt to go with the traditional Catholic vows. I giggle as Edwards shaky hand puts the ring on my finger. Lily takes that moment to let out a high pitched giggle and clap her hands, making everyone laugh. I throw my head back, laughing, thinking that I am excited too!
When the moment comes and Father Tom says, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride." Edward cups my face and gently places one, two, three, four soft kisses on my lips. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen."
We make our way down the isle and escape into dad's office to spend a few moments to ourselves before the dinner.
Well...did you like the wedding? I have had this vision in my mind for a while now. I really hope that I was able to translate it for you. I will see you maybe tomorrow, but for sure on Friday with another update.