A/N: Final chapter for Paul and Bella, ending on a high note xx Alexis
"Wow, Bella this place is so different!" Alison commented as she came back from one of the guest rooms,
"Yeah, it kinda grew as our needs did and with so many visitors coming from further away it was needed" Bella replied handing her friend a coffee,
"How long is it since we saw you, altogether I mean? Wasn't Paul's graduation? No, wait, Zack and Zia's wedding that was it!" Cassie asked hugging her cup closer to her body,
"Too long guys, so much has happened since then. It's been five years since we five were all in the same place at the same time" Bella pondered in wonder at where the time went,
"Gosh yes and now you and Paul are finally tying the knot. We were beginning to wonder if you ever would!" Alison mentioned laughing,
"Hell, we didn't have the time or the money until now. Plus we both were still in school one way or the other and he still is! At present I'm the breadwinner" Bella explained as she sat down with her own coffee,
"The bread maker, you mean" Cassie quipped to her friends,
"Ha-ha! I'm a qualified pastry chef now, don't cha you know" Bella said in an affected voice that made them laugh even harder,
"So Alison, how's teaching? What age group have you got?" Cassie asked now,
"I started on the Kindergarteners this year and I love it. Teaching voracious little minds is amazing, they soak up information like sponges it's brilliant!" Alison tells them and her excitement and joy is palpable,
"What about you Cassie, how's the family firm doing?" Bella enquired about their other friend,
"Ho-ho! Vice-president Cassandra, at your service!"She informed them in the same tone as Bella had previously,
"Damn girl, wow! So soon, your dad must be sure of you" Alison squealed and they all jumped up to hug each other.
Things were going well for all three girls and they were so happy to see each other again. Outside Paul was showing Derek, Cassie's fiancé around as he fed and watered the animals. They were just talking generalities when Zack's truck pulled up and he hopped out and ran around to the passenger's side. Zia was waiting patiently, well as patiently as she could at eight months pregnant.
"Come on Zack, I need to pee!" she bemoaned as he scooped her out and placed her firmly on the ground,
Paul shouted hey. But Zia only raised her hand in acknowledgement and kept moving forward in a rolling gait. As his cousin Zack reached them he explained her predicament.
"Sorry about that, he's on her bladder again!" he says shaking Derek's hand and slapping his cousin on the back,
"Damn, that sounds uncomfortable as hell!" Derek jokes,
"Well, now that Paul is getting married, when are you and Cassie joining us?" Zack said as they all walked toward the house,
"She wants to wait until she's secure in her new job as Vice President of the company. So they don't all start pushing us for kids until she's ready, you know and I'm easy about it. She's my girl, that's all that matters" Derek told them in his usual laid-back manner,
As they entered, Zia was in the kitchen apologising for just darting off to the bathroom without stopping to speak. But they all shrugged it off and made her sit down and elevate her feet.
"So what's this one going to be called you have Zoe so far and this is a boy, so?" Cassie asked and Zia huffed,
"We can't agree, I like Zander and he wants Zeke or Zane!" she said pouting at Zack,
"Oh, I like Zander!" Bella mused and the other girls nodded,
"Damn it! You're all thinking of the guy from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' aren't you?" Zack moaned knowing it was a lost cause,
"But he was a nice guy and that's what you want your son to be, a nice guy isn't it?" Cassie asked and he couldn't disagree,
"Okay, who picked Zoe's name?" Paul enquired now,
"Zack did!" Zia answered smugly,
"Well, there's the answer! It's obviously your turn Zia" Bella replied and Zack laughed,
"Okay, okay you win. I surrender" he told them in a resigned voice, but he wasn't upset he liked the name too,
The friends were all enjoying a meal together before Bella's family arrived for the wedding and then Christmas lunch, it would be hectic and they wanted one night for themselves before everyone descended. This time Bella wouldn't be doing it alone all four women were doing the cooking. Mainly to give Bella a break to finalise everything for the wedding. Because they knew her mother would be no use to her, granted getting married on Christmas Eve wasn't something most people did. But this time of year was important to both of them as that was when they knew they needed each other. Or maybe that should be when Silver decided enough was enough and took matters into his own paws! Not that Bella and Paul were unhappy about the outcome in the least.
"When is everyone else arriving?" Zia asked not remembering if she knew or not,
"Dad said he'd be here by nine in the morning, at the latest with all the wolves. Embry and Kati are meeting Sam and Emily outside of Forks; he's borrowed a minivan for the trip. Seth and Leah will meet them with Dad in Montesano. They are splitting the driving and the gas money, so Embry doesn't have to do it all. It's great they are all coming together and Leah's new man too, I can't wait to meet him. Oh, and Mom and Phil will be here at lunchtime, of course!" Bella reeled off,
"Okay, so half of us will tackle lunch tomorrow and the other half, prep for Christmas lunch" Cassie suggested and everyone nodded,
"We'll all be at the village hall for setting up first thing and back for lunch. So could you get Embry and the others to deal with the animals, also Leah will help out you guys, I guess" Paul commented,
"Sounds like a plan, I know where Dad will be headed once he arrives" Bella sniggered,
"Miriam's!" they all said at the same time,
"Yeah, that'll be a surprise for your mom, him not even staying here, but at her place instead! Are they ever going to move in together? She'd have to move to Montesano though!" Zack enquired now,
"I don't know, but I hope so," Bella said smiling,
Bella and Paul had decided they didn't need to go away just because they were getting married. To tell the truth, they just didn't want to waste the money for convention's sake. Once everyone else was gone, then they would have all the alone time they needed and wanted. Really it was only Renee making a fuss about it and Bella decided to say nothing, discretion being the better part of valour and all that jazz! Why her mother won't accept this is Bella's life and up to her to make her own choices, nobody knows. It's not as if she had this level of interest in her daughter's life before no, only now when Bella no longer needed her mother's permission or advice! It was truly perverse and more than a little annoying that Renee felt she had the right to interfere and make demands of her grown-up daughter.
HADDD
"Where are Bella and Charlie? Why is no one here to greet us?" Renee demanded of Cassie and Leah,
"Well, Chief Swan is helping with the setting up at the centre; he's been here for hours of course! Plus Bella is at Paul's grammie's place checking she has everything organised, as she's leaving from there later! Everyone is very busy you know. What with the wedding and all!" Cassie replied snarkily, but it went over Renee's head,
Phil, unfortunately, got the veiled insult and he knew they were right, he wanted to be here much earlier but Renee had insisted it would be fine to arrive later in the day.
"So where's the old man sleeping? Not too close to us I hope I wouldn't want him to get jealous if he can hear Phil and me making love!" Renee asked with a touch of joyful maliciousness,
Leah's scoff of disgust was neither covered by her nor acknowledged by Renee, but once again Phil saw and understood it. Why after all these years she still tried to outdo Charlie was beyond him and had ceased to bother him long ago.
"Oh, no worries Mrs Dwyer, your ex-husband won't be in the house tonight! You'll be right next to Derek and me on one side and Leah and Max on the other; I hope you can keep up?" Cassie spat back and actually hit the mark that time,
Renee was a little taken aback by Cassie's attitude, not seeing how little any of Bella's newer friends liked her; she was used to that from Leah. It really only compounded her ignorance of what goes on outside of her own self-made bubble.
"Oh, is he staying with Miriam then? About time, good for Charlie!" Phil asked seemingly casually,
But it was armed with a small barb towards his wife, because of her atrocious behaviour since they had arrived.
"WHAT! Since when did he have another woman?" Renee demanded,
"About five years I guess," Leah said as she rushed past to turn off the oven,
"Why was I never told?" Renee spat,
"You were Nee, I told you!" Phil said with exasperation,
"So did I Mom!" Bella said coming through the front door,
"Me too, I told you five years ago!" Charlie said coming in with his arm around Miriam's shoulder,
If anyone had thought to take a picture it would have been awesome, Renee looked sick to her stomach, and a lovely shade of green! Miriam was what you would call a natural beauty, tall and slender with her long poker-straight hair casually worn over one shoulder. She was maybe four years younger than Charlie but looked at least ten years Renee's junior. Not a stitch of make-up marred her clear and smooth skin. She just nodded to Renee, but shook Phil's hand before turning to Bella and asking,
"Okay Bells, have you done everything on that humongous list of yours? Any last-minute things you need me to do?"
For all the world you would think she was Bella's mother and not Renee who had yet to speak directly to her daughter.
"Yep, all ticked off and even had time to bake that amazing pie recipe you gave me," Bella said as she hugged Miriam,
It was as if a penny just dropped inside Renee's head, that should have been her question, not wondering if she could one-up her ex-husband! This moment just proved to everyone how bad a mother to Bella she had always been and still was! When Charlie's girlfriend of only five years has managed to take up the position that Renee had never held! This wasn't so much a slap in the face for Renee, as a punch to the gut! So it was a much more reticent Renee who attended her daughter's wedding. So much so that rather than stay afterwards she wanted to leave, but for once her husband put his foot down and said no. He had an important announcement to make the next day along with Charlie! So a very cowed and quiet Renee had to stay and see how people really felt about her and her relationship with her daughter!
Lunch was quick and for the most part quiet for the simple reason everyone was actually busy and desperate to get back to their jobs. Everyone wanted to make this great for Bella and Paul because they all felt they deserved it. They all knew Bella would do as much for them or even more and that's why they love her and want to make their big day special. Nobody but Renee was under any illusion that this would be a big and flashy wedding, because that just isn't Bella or Paul's style. If nothing else it just showed how little she knew or understood about Bella, who was past caring by this point in her life. So by the time Charlie led his daughter to Paul's side in a simple long-sleeved, three-quarter-length gown, Renee was confused. Where was the pomp, the ceremony, the one-upmanship that she would have had?
Bella's hair and make-up were simple, her flowers understated and locally sourced. Everything could only be described as low-key, just like the bride herself. All the wolves had met with the shaman before Renee and Phil arrived and their wolves were honoured. This wedding was a little more circumspect due to the bride's family being non-native Americans. But it was inclusive of everyone in the tribe who wished to attend and many did, especially when they knew Miriam was dating the bride's father as well. If anyone thought it odd the groom had tattooed rings and not real, it was put down to his future profession. Bella had insisted on having a matching silver wedding ring, she didn't want it to be flashy or expensive and even considered getting her own finger tattooed later. It would be better for her job too!
Everyone partied late into the evening and many gifts were bestowed on the bride and groom. Lots were handmade items that Bella enthused over, not in an obsequious way, but with real feeling and gratitude. Many were items she had wanted to get or make herself one day, so Bella was ecstatic. Miriam had given her a wedding blanket to wear during the ceremony and Bella held it for ages afterwards, stroking it and hugging it to her chest. It meant more to her than her wedding dress, this was acceptance; this made her part of the wider tribe. Paul was beyond happy too, these people who barely knew him saw him as their own and he was proud to be Wasco. Everyone was happy for the couple and just enjoying the event, well almost everyone. Her mother was feeling sidelined and had no one to blame but herself.
By the time they all left, Bella thanked the Lord she had used disposable plates, glasses and cutlery. Normally she wouldn't, but nobody wanted to have to come back for clean up on Christmas day. So, as they all wandered back to Bella and Paul's leaving Zack, Zia, Charlie and Miriam outside the tribal centre as well as Paul's grandparents. Renee rushed herself off to bed citing a migraine coming on, but Phil stayed up with the others for one last coffee before joining his petulant wife. Paul and Bella fell into bed exhausted and were asleep within minutes. Maybe not the way to spend your wedding night, but they had been living together for a few years now. Also, a good night's sleep was really important to them both. They knew once everyone left after lunch they would be alone and could just be themselves.
HADDD
Christmas day dawned bright and Paul hugged his sleeping wife closer to his body and sighed happily. It was about an hour later when she stirred and greeted him,
"Hello my husband," she said cheekily,
"Hello Mrs Lahote, how are you feeling this morning?" he asked back with a grin,
"Tired, but very happy! What time is it and is anyone else up?" she murmured,
"Eight, we had a lie in today and nobody has stirred yet" he replied kissing her before they both got up to start the day,
Everyone appeared in dribs and drabs only to be handed coffee by Bella and a task to perform. She had the oven on and was in her element. The guys were helping Paul rearrange the sitting room so they could fit the two trestle tables together since there would be twenty of them for lunch. Embry and Kati, Sam and Emily plus Seth arrived next. Then the remaining family of both Paul and Bella turned up and the place was full of Christmas joy, even Renee seemed to be making a more determined effort today. Gifts were exchanged to be opened after lunch before everyone headed off. Just before dessert was served both Phil and Charlie stood up and asked for quiet. Everyone was surprised and turned to look at the two men, Bella's father and her stepfather.
"Phil and I came to an agreement many years ago, we both opened bank accounts for the single purpose of funding Bella's endeavour to own her own bakery," Charlie said as Bella gasped,
"The owners of the Eagle Bakery were willing to enter into a partnership with Bella, but they now just want to sell it outright. So Charlie and I want to give you this money to do that, for now, we will be your silent partners" Phil added,
"But make no mistake, once you're on your feet you can pay us back if you want or just wait until we pass on and it will be yours outright. This will be in the legal agreement, the business will one day be yours alone and not up for discussion" Charlie finished and Bella was sobbing by now and hugging both men,
"Thank you both; you don't know how much this means to me. I can't believe it's true, someone pinch me!" Bella told the two men,
The rest of lunch had everyone on a high and although Charlie was staying for a few more days it would be at Miriam's place. Everyone else was heading home, Renee and Phil and Embry and Kati had the longest journeys. One would be flying out tomorrow and the other sharing the driving home. There were lots of tears and multiple hugs before Paul and Bella were finally on their own. They chased off any offers of help clearing up, just wanting to be alone for a little while.
"Let's just rinse everything off and have a nap on the sofa, what do you say?" Paul asked with his arms around Bella, knowing she had been unusually tired for a few days,
Good idea, stick a Christmas movie in and we'll snuggle up for a couple of hours" Bella agreed stretching up to kiss his chin,
Two hours later Bella woke needing the toilet and that reminded her of the present she had for Paul.
"Stay right there, I'll be back and I have a final gift for you," she told him and he sat up and nodded,
Several minutes later she came into the room with a small wrapped box and handed it to him.
"You've given me plenty already Bella!" He admonished but ripped the paper off anyway,
His face was stunned as he looked into the box and pulled out the two objects. He recognised both items and tears started to run down his cheeks.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy," Bella said with tears of her own falling now,
Paul leapt up and lifted her in the air carefully,
"Best present ever Mommy!" he replied before kissing her as if she might disappear any moment now.