The Fic Lab Prompt #13: 9-1-1, what's your emergency
Part 1: BPOV
The impact comes suddenly.
I had been sitting in the passenger seat of the car, staring at Edward – I can't believe he's now my husband - as we drove along Highway 101 on our way home to Forks.
We'd just had the perfect week together in San Diego. Edward had suggested we stay the night in Seattle so we'd be fresh for our 3 1/2 hour drive back to Forks. but I was in a hurry to get home and share our good news with our families.
As the force of the other car hitting ours makes my head snap back into the headrest and I hear the screeching of metal from the collision, I wish I had listened to Edward.
I try to look over at him now, but the speed at which our car is spinning prevents me from turning my head back his way. I think I'm screaming, but I'm not sure.
All I see in my head are the events from this past perfect week. It had been perfect. Everything had been perfect.
Edward had surprised me with a trip to Southern California. Things had been hectic for several months with both of our jobs but we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Edward thought this was the perfect time to get away to relax and enjoy each other with no interruptions and I readily agreed.
But Edward had more than just a simple vacation planned. On our second night there, while we were out at dinner in La Jolla at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Edward proposed. It was perfect.
For dessert, Edward had pre-ordered a small cake that looked exactly like a box from Tiffany's and the ring was sitting right there in the cake as if it was in a real box. I stared in wonder at the beauty of it, tears streaming down my eyes. I turned to find Edward on one knee, looking up at me, his eyes shining with all the love I knew he felt for me.
"Marry me, Bella. Make the happiest man of all time and marry me."
He looked so nervous. How could he ever think I might say no?
"Of course I'll marry you, Edward. Yes, yes, yes!"
I knew all of my dreams were starting to come true at that moment.
And that's all it was meant to be. A relaxing trip and a romantic engagement. But the next morning, as Edward was kissing me after we made love, his beautiful emerald green eyes staring into mine, the trip became much more.
"Bella, I don't want to wait. I want to get married now, this week, before we leave here," he said to me.
"You're crazy," I laughed. He couldn't be serious. Would that even be possible in such a short time? But he was completely serious.
"I mean it, Bella. I want to be your husband, I want you to be my wife, the sooner the better. I want to start our forever now."
It didn't take much more to convince me to agree, I am usually putty in Edward's hands anyway, but I wanted this, too. I knew our families might be disappointed in missing us get married, but we could have a party when we got back, I reasoned with myself.
We immediately went online to schedule an appointment at the courthouse for the following day and fill out the online marriage license application.
Then we spent the day shopping to for something nice to wear for the next day's courthouse ceremony - a beige sheath dress for me and a blue suit & grey shirt for Edward - as well as a set of wedding rings. No time for special orders, we picked a plain set that they had in stock.
"We'll get something nicer when we get back to Washington," Edward said apologetically.
"No, Edward, these rings are beautiful and these are the rings we are getting married with. I don't want anything else. They're perfect."
"You're perfect, love," he said back as he took me in his arms and kissed me.
The ceremony at the courthouse the next day was short but sweet. Neither of us were big on ceremony. I never wanted a large wedding growing up., and now, I just wanted Edward.
We picked up the application in one room, then had the ceremony in another. I held the bouquet we purchased from the florist on the way to the courthouse, we exchanged our vows and we exchanged our rings. As soon as the judge declared us husband and wife, Edward picked me up, spun me around, and then he kissed me.
As he pulled away from the kiss, he looked me in the eyes and smiled. "I love you, now and forever, Mrs. Cullen," he said.
"I love you forever, too, Edward," I said as I smiled back to him.
This was a perfect day.
The car finally comes to a stop, but I still feel dizzy, like I'm floating above the scene.
I can't see Edward but I can hear him crying and pleading, "Don't leave me Bella, don't you dare leave me. Hold on, hold on, I got you. Please, don't leave me." He just keeps repeating it over and over.
I want to tell him I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, but I don't have the strength. And I'm afraid it might be a lie.
Right before it all goes black, I hear another voice, a stranger's voice, "9-1-1, what's your emergency?"
AN: See next chapter for Part 2 continuation.
