Chapter 120

Esme

When Jasper and Bella got back we could all tell that she had finally reconnected with her mate and I could stop worrying. She looked so different, more the Bella he had spoken of and certainly a girl who was deeply in love with her companion. There was still one hurdle to overcome however, Bella's transformation. It seemed so cruel to force the girl who had been through so much already to go through the agony of the change but there was no way around it, the Volturi letter made that only too plain.

However, we knew Bella and Jasper had already made the decision to get married so the girls and I decided to make it something wonderful for them both to remember. I took Bella to one side and asked if she would place her trust in us to arrange the wedding so they would be husband and wife before she had to become a vampire. While I was doing that Carlisle and Charlie spoke to Jasper and both agreed to leave it to us. All Bella asked was that it be special for Jasper after all he had done to save her and because she loved him so much.

We girls got together while Jasper and Bella spent as much time together as they could. They both knew the consequences of the change, that Bella would be an uncontrolled newborn for at least two years and therefore their honeymoon period would of necessity be very short indeed. We decided on romantic, soft and sweet but not too overpowering for Bella and set about sourcing everything we needed.

Kat and Skye would be bridesmaids along with Rose who loved a wedding most of all. Jasper had already asked Peter to be his best man and Charlie would be giving his daughter away. Carlisle would officiate, he was qualified, he'd performed Rose and Emmett's wedding for them and he was perfect for such an occasion. We had also warned the boys against any Bucks Night tricks, this wedding was going to be perfect for both bride and groom and God help anyone who put a foot out of line, I would come down on them like a ton of bricks!

As time was short Bella and Jasper agreed on a date only two weeks hence, it would be tight but we had Alice and Rose, the ultimate shoppers on our team so it wasn't impossible. Charlotte sat with Bella as she chose her dress and the bridesmaids, or at least the design but she left the rest to the seamstress, and Charlotte.

Kat was put in charge of the flowers, mock cake, and reception decorations, along with Alice while Rose and I took charge of organizing the wedding venue, the house in this case which was luckily a period style one and lent itself to the kind of wedding we had our hearts set on. The ceremony itself would take place in the flower garden at the rear under a huge canopy, just in case of rain. Grabbing Bella for dress fittings became quite a challenge as she and Jasper spent all their time together and were reluctant to part for even an hour or so but I put my foot down the weekend before,

Bella would have a bridal shower whether she wanted one or not, every girl should have that. We couldn't use a human spa, it would have led to awkward questions so instead Alice set up her own and we indulged ourselves in a sauna which Bella loved, she was a hot climate girl right now, followed by nail and hair sessions making her look more glamorous.

She was able to experiment with make up too and chose the colors that suited her best for her wedding day. Kat joined in too although Charlotte had orders to ensure she didn't return home looking like a hooker in make up. Peter was turning out to be quite a strict father but Kat not only needed firm boundaries, she also adored her new father and hated to do anything that might upset him.

Jasper

When Peter and Emmett invited me to a Bucks Night shindig I wasn't at all, sure what to expect. The only thing that encouraged me not to refuse out of hand was the knowledge that both Carlisle and Charlie would be there to stop any foul play. Admittedly the wedding was still a week away but I didn't put anything past those two, I'd seen some of their handiwork over the years!

So, I was relieved when we went into the mountains for the weekend on a hunting expedition. Well a rather different kind of hunting expedition as it turned out. We split into two teams, Emmett, Charlie and myself in one. Peter, Garrett, and Felix in the other with Carlisle as adjudicator.

We then drew straws to see would be the hunters and who the quarry, of course Peter's team won and chose to be the hunters. We were given half an hour head start before the hunters started their pursuit. The hunt would end at dusk the next evening and if we were still free we could choose a forfeit for the hunters. If not we were due for a rough time. I was pretty sure Peter and his team would think of something. The only rule was that we couldn't leave the mountain.

It was more fun than I expected and with Charlie's tracking skills we made it incredibly hard for them to follow our trail, we even laid false ones but by mid afternoon the following day they were beginning to close in on us. As Carlisle finally came into view ahead of them we were saved by the first rays of the setting sun hitting our faces. Peter and his team were forced to carry us victoriously home accompanied by a grinning Carlisle and the girls were there to greet the conquering heroes, well once they understood what was happening. I had no doubt that Peter and co wouldn't forget this humiliation and sometime down the line we would pay but it had been fun.

I explained it all as Bella and I lay naked together that night in the motel room that had become our home and in turn she told me of her bridal shower. She was beginning to glow as the old Bella had done although she was still nervous if left alone and locked her door in the car, insisting I did the same although no man would ever frighten or touch her again as long as I lived.

We knew the night before the wedding Esme had insisted we spend apart but until then we made the most of the privacy the motel afforded us. On the Friday evening when I dropped her off at the house kissing her farewell for the final time she clung to me and I was about to tell Esme that I would be staying too when Bella pulled back,

"I'll be fine Jazz and tonight is the last time I will ever be parted from you. That's all I need to know to get through tonight."

"Bella, it's just one night and it's not a den of lions it's family now come on or you'll look a nightmare tomorrow."

With that Alice dragged Bella inside and shut the door firmly so I turned away and went back to the motel room alone to find Charlie and Carlisle waiting.

"We thought you might like some company, we should hunt, you especially as you'll be too busy for a few days to think about it."

"Which reminds me Carlisle, is somebody going to tell me what you planned for our honeymoon? Please tell me Peter wasn't involved in arranging it."

"He wasn't although he had some rather intriguing ideas that did tempt us a little. Esme and I thought Isle Esme would give you the peace and privacy you both need. A plane is chartered for tomorrow afternoon and will fly you straight to Rio.

Bella doesn't know anything, keep it a surprise for her. I understand Alice and Charlotte organized her trousseau so I have no idea what they decided she might need but remembering back to my own honeymoon I would think a toothbrush and comb will do you just fine!"