A/N: Thank you so much for continuing to read and leave such sweet reviews.
I'm sorry I couldn't have this out sooner, but this week was just as crazy as the last one.
So to make it up to you, the wedding is found somewhere in this massive 8K+ word chapter. (I promise it's there :D)
I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, these characters, or the song lyrics. I just use them for my own enjoyment.
Song for chapter: Till Death Do Us Part by White Lion
As we walk the golden mile
Down the pretty aisle
I know that you are mine
And there's nothing in this world
That I know I wouldn't do
To be near you every day
Every hour, every minute
So take my hand
And let me lead the way
All through your life
I'll be by your side
Till death do us part
Baby, I'll be your friend
My love will never end
Till death do us part
Esme POV
The days leading up to the wedding passed slowly, though not all of them were boring.
My birthday, for instance, was an incredible day. Carlisle always went out of his way to do things for me, but he somehow managed to make my birthday even more special. My gifts from him and Emmett were perfect, and our time together was wonderful.
It was also nice to spend time with our friends as well as our family. Since Carmen made a birthday lunch for me on Sunday, I felt like we were celebrating the whole weekend. I didn't complain thought, mostly because of her sinfully delicious German chocolate cake.
The following week brought its own set of nerves. The divorce papers were set to be finalized on Thursday. I knew Charles had already signed and this was just a judge making it official, but I still worried. The nagging feeling that something could go wrong would not leave my head.
My weekly session with Siobhan was spent discussing how being free from Charles made me feel. I was extremely relieved, but part of me felt like it was too good to be true. The world I was living in felt like a fantasy, but Siobhan assured me that everything was real and she didn't think anything would happen to jeopardize my happiness with Carlisle at this point.
On the day the waiting period was up, I was afraid to breathe. Carlisle was at work, but I didn't want to be alone. Carmen came over to keep me company, and we both watched the phone all day. When Carlisle came home in the afternoon, we still had not received a call. We invited Carmen to stick around until we heard any news, and I could tell we were all on edge. I started to worry more, but they tried to assure me that it was normal for these things to take time.
After what felt like days, Liam finally called to tell us the good news. The judge had finalized the divorce without any problems, and we could pick up the paperwork the next day. The relief in the room was palpable as we shared a group hug. Happy tears were rolling down my face as we laughed together, all being filled with joy. Emmett had no clue what was going on, but he still enjoyed the return of everyone's good mood.
The next afternoon, Carlisle and I went by Liam's office to pick up the paperwork. Liam was also incredibly happy for us, and promised that he and Siobhan would be at the wedding. As soon as we left Liam's, Carlisle drove directly to the administration building to apply for a marriage license. Since the divorce papers had been filed the day before, we were eligible. The wedding wasn't for another couple of weeks, but I knew neither one of us wanted to wait any longer.
Even though I was ready to burst with my excitement, things still needed to be done. A few days before the wedding, I had my final dress fitting. It still fit perfectly and every time I put it on, the fact was reaffirmed in my mind that Carlisle was going to love it.
The flower orders were also finalized, and Carmen had volunteers to help her decorate the church. She also assured me that she had everything ready at their house for the reception.
Once everything was ready to go, all we had left to do was wait for the big day to arrive. We tried to keep things normal for Emmett, even with all of the chaos around him. Our efforts worked for the most part, but he noticed that the atmosphere was different. We had to deal with more defiance and tantrums, but overall it wasn't too bad. I didn't worry too much about it. After the wedding was over, our lives would get back to normal and we would return to the routine we were all used to.
The Monday before the wedding, Kate's family arrived from Alaska just in time for our weekly family dinner. I had only met her in person a couple of times, but through our recent phone conversations, we had started to develop what I hoped would be a close relationship.
Kate was a lovely mixture of both of her parents. She was quiet and caring like her father, but there was also a spark inside of that could only come from Carmen. Garrett was her perfect match like Carlisle was mine. Throughout the night, I would notice him looking at Kate the way Carlisle looked at me. The look she gave him back was just as loving, and I hoped that was how I looked back to my love.
Their children were great as well. Corin had turned five just days before, and she made sure to let everyone know she was "a whole hand" now. She attached herself to me very quickly which didn't seem to surprise anyone. She had to hold my hand everywhere we went as well as sit beside me at dinner. Carlisle watched us together with a wistful look on his face. I knew he was imagining us having our own little girl, and I hoped his dream would eventually come true.
Emmett and Riley were only 13 months apart and they became fast friends. They spent most of the night playing with their toy cars and trains along with wresting with Eleazar. I was glad Emmett had someone to play with since he didn't have a chance to play with any other children close to his age. All of the children at church were a few years older and couldn't play with him. Kate confessed that there weren't any boys Riley's age where they lived and he was mostly stuck playing with his sisters. We could all tell the boys greatly enjoyed their time together.
I enjoyed watching Carlisle with the baby, Jane. She had begun crawling and trying to pull up on the things around her. Carlisle followed her around and took every opportunity to take her into his arms and hug or kiss her. This made Emmett jealous. I had never seen him be territorial in this way before, probably because he had the adults to himself most of the time. Every time Carlisle would hold Jane, Corin, or Riley, Emmett would immediately try to squeeze his way into Carlisle's arms. I was a bit embarrassed about it, but everyone assured me it was fine. After I got over the slight embarrassment, I realized how wonderful this was.
Emmett had been calling Carlisle "Daddy" for a few months now, but this proved that he really saw him that way. Carlisle was his daddy, and he wanted everyone to know it. Carlisle took no offense to this, of course, and gladly welcomed his son into his arms for as long as he wanted to be there.
We eventually headed home before it got too late. The kids were all starting to fall asleep wherever they dropped. The adults looked like they wanted to, too, especially Kate and Garrett who had been traveling all day. We all we needed sleep to make it through the busy week.
Carlisle only worked two days and had the rest of the week off as well as the three following weeks. Our honeymoon was not going to last that long, but we both agreed that we wanted more time together after we got home. Carlisle had plenty of time built up from over the years of never missing a day, and he needed to take off. This just seemed like a great opportunity, and he promised that he still had time left for the future whenever he would need it.
I passed the responsibility of planning the honeymoon on to Carlisle. He had already let me plan the whole wedding, simply going along with every decision I made. He assured me that my happiness directly influenced his own, but I hated him not having a say in anything. Every date and family outing he had planned had been perfect, so I knew he would do a good job picking a location as well as things for us to do. My only condition was that I wanted to be close to Emmett in case anything happened.
Carmen and Eleazar were going to be keeping Emmett for the duration of our trip. I felt bad for leaving him even though it was only for a few days. The whole family assured me that he would be fine. I knew they were right, and I also knew that I would enjoy time with just my husband since alone time was always difficult to find when living with a toddler.
Carlisle planned our trip without me, just like I wanted it. He didn't tell me where we were going or exactly how long we were going to be gone, but I didn't ask. I was okay with being surprised because I knew whatever he had chosen would be wonderful and totally worth not knowing in advance.
Charlotte offered to pack my bag for me so I would be really surprised. Carlisle quickly agreed and seeing his excitement led me to agree as well. Carmen offered to help her, and they shut me out of my room two days before the wedding to begin their task.
Kate and the kids came with Carmen to keep me company. Even the kids' loud playing didn't drown out the giggles I head coming from my room.
"This is mortifying," I murmured as I sat down on the couch and placed my head in my hands.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked, sitting down beside me.
I raised my head to look at her. "What do you mean 'What's wrong?' My almost mother-in-law and my best friend are giggling while they pack my bag for my honeymoon. I'm not sure this could get any more 'wrong.'"
Kate laughed lightly and sipped her cup of coffee. "Well, look on the bright side: at least Carlisle isn't in there helping them."
I had to laugh at that. It was bad enough that I didn't know what was being packed. It would be even worse if Carlisle did. This way, we would both be surprised when my suitcase was opened.
As the giggling turned to loud laughter, I cringed. I was really glad Carlisle wasn't here. He was with Eleazar and Garrett helping them set up everything outside for the reception.
"I guess you're right," I sighed. "But did you see those shopping bags Charlotte brought in? They were noticeably pink. I can only imagine what she bought for me."
"I guess you didn't see the bags Mom was sneaking in then," she mumbled under her breath.
"This can't be happening," I groaned and leaned back against the couch with my arms over my face.
Kate scooted closer and patted my knee. "Don't worry. Everything my mother bought is extremely tasteful and I'm sure Carlisle will love anything you wear. You're about to have the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams. A little sexy lingerie is a good thing. We've all been there before, so just trust me."
She was right. Even though I had been married before, it was nothing like this. This was how wedding preparations should be: my mother figure and friends helping make sure everything was perfect. They were all in happy, loving relationships just like me, so I knew I could trust any advice they gave.
My mortification didn't last too much longer. Carmen and Charlotte soon exited my room with a rather large suitcase they placed by the door. They assured me that everything I needed was in there, including toiletries. I was instructed not to open it until Saturday night, and I promised to respect their wishes.
When Carlisle arrived home, he shut himself into his room to finish his packing. I was a bit jealous that he was able to pack his own things, but I knew being patient would bring about a nice reward for both of us. He didn't take nearly as long to pack his suitcase, and it was soon keeping mine company beside the door.
Friday night was our rehearsal at the church. Since we didn't have a wedding party, there wasn't a whole lot to go over. We basically talked about timing, seating, and where we would be standing. We also met with the organist to make sure she understood the program. After running through the plan a few times, we decided we were finished especially since we weren't accomplish much anymore. The kids were running around everywhere and the adults were joking around too much to be serious.
Eleazar met with Carlisle and I in his office once we we declared the rehearsal finished. While the wedding planning was still in full swing, we had opted not to have official premarital counseling. Eleazar knew both of us well enough to know our intentions, and he often talked with us informally during our time together on Monday nights. He felt entirely comfortable officiating our marriage, and we felt comfortable with him filling that role.
Carlisle and I were already communicating well. We knew each other's beliefs and expectations on any topic that was brought up. Most of the subjects that would be covered in counseling were things we had already discussed on the couch together such as finances, roles in the relationship, and family planning.
We had also already acquired some tools to help grow in our relationship with each other, our individual relationships with God, and our marriage with our faith as the foundation. There wasn't really anything left to go over
So while we were in his office, Eleazar talked with us for a few minutes just to make sure we were still confident in our decision and neither of us had any doubts. Carlisle joked that he would be fine with his uncle marring us right then. I vehemently agreed, but Eleazar just laughed and said we shouldn't disappoint the guests like that. After he prayed with us, we left the office and met back up with the family.
Our rehearsal dinner was in a private dining room of a very nice restaurant. The restaurant offered a variety of American and Italian food, so there was something for everyone to enjoy. The kids were still extremely hyper, so the privacy was essential to not disturbing the other patrons. By the time we finished eating and socializing, it was close to bed time. After a dozen goodbyes, the three of us managed to get away and make the drive home.
As soon as we were home, I got Emmett ready for his bath and placed him in the large master bathtub. Carlisle joined me and helped me bathe him. I could do it by myself now, but we found we enjoyed working as a team after all the weeks we had to. Once Emmett was all clean, we let him splash around for a while. While he was playing, we tried to explain to him what was going to be happening the next day. I was worried about how he would deal with the activity in the morning and afternoon especially with Carlisle and I leaving. Nothing we said to him caught his attention until we got to the word "cake." He was so excited about getting to eat cake at the reception, and I knew a sugar rush was just around the corner. Carmen was going to have her hands full getting him to sleep.
Emmett was getting tired, so his splashing was ended. Carlisle wrapped him in a towel and carried him into his room. While Carlisle put lotion on and dressed Emmett, I double checked to make sure everything was ready for his visit with Nana and Pops. Once I was sure everything was together, I placed his bag by the front door next to ours to make sure we didn't forget it the next day.
When that task was complete, I went to the kitchen to pour some a little milk in a cup for Emmett. I went back to the living room, and Carlisle was sitting in the recliner with our son. I handed him his milk, and then sat down on the couch to watch and listen and Carlisle read him the bed time book for the night.
Tonight's selection was The Rabbit's Wedding. The book did an excellent job of describing a wedding in a way that small children could understand. The rabbits in the story wanted to be together "forever and ever" which I thought was a good comparison to how Carlisle and I felt about each other. I hoped the book helped Emmett understand, but either way, it didn't really matter. After the wedding, not many things would change in his life. The only thing I could think of was where I would be sleeping every night, but that didn't affect Em. I knew our transition to being married would be an easy one.
Emmett was asleep before Carlisle could even finish the book. I walked over to them, and leaned down to take the sleeping boy into my arms.
"I'm going to put him in bed and then go change," I whispered. "I'll meet you back here."
Carlisle nodded and placed a good night kiss on the top of Emmett's head before I left the room. I placed Emmett in his crib and placed his blanket on top of him. I ran my hand over his head lightly and whispered "good night." After making sure the nightlight was on, I headed to my room to change into my pajamas.
A few minutes later, Carlisle and I were both sitting on the couch. He had his laptop on his lap, checking his email. Once he was finished, he passed the computer to me so I could do the same. I was still waiting for a message from my sister, but so far there had been no word from her. Tonight was no different, so with a sigh, I closed the computer and handed it back to Carlisle.
"No word?" he asked softly as he placed his arm around me and lightly ran his fingers over my arm.
I shook my head. "No, and it's been a couple of months. I know it's too much to ask for her to be at the wedding, but a message would be nice. I would like to know how she's doing."
"I know you would," he said and kissed my temple. "But there isn't much else you can do. You sent the invitation, and now the ball is in her court. We'll just have to wait patiently for a reply."
I knew Carlisle was right. There wasn't anything left for me to do. Chelsea knew how to contact me. There was no guarantee that she ever would, but I wanted her to. I wanted her to know how happy I was and to make sure she was happy as well. We may not have always been on the same page about life, but she was my sister and I still loved her very much.
"So, are you excited about tomorrow?" With his question, my mood quickly shifted.
In less than 24 hours, I would be Mrs. Carlisle Cullen. It was something I had dreamed about often as a teenager. At one point, I didn't think my dream would ever come true, but I was wrong. I had never been happier about being wrong before in my whole life.
I leaned further into Carlisle's side and held his free hand in mine. "I don't think 'excited' begins to cover how I feel right now," I confessed with a happy sigh.
I pulled his hand up to my mouth and kissed his palm, not unlike how I kissed Emmett's small hand. Carlisle reached his hand over more to cup my face and pull it up so my lips met his.
His thumb gently stroked my cheek as our lips and tongues moved slowly together. Carlisle's other hand was against my back, holding me firmly against his body. For a kiss so innocent, it was incredibly sensual. I started getting a strange feeling inside that I had gotten the last several times Carlisle and I had kissed like this. I wasn't totally sure what it was, but I couldn't wait to find out how long it could last.
All too soon, Carlisle pulled away after placing one final sweet kiss on my lips. The feeling lingered for a few seconds before slowly fading away.
"Tomorrow," he whispered against me, lightly rubbing his nose over my cheek. His promise would have at one time made me nervous, but after talking to Siobhan about my insecurities and fears, I realized I had nothing to worry about. Carlisle would never hurt me, and I knew I would be the one setting the pace of anything that happened. My wedding night was now something I was looking forward to. If he could make me feel like this with just a kiss, I could only imagine how it would feel when he did anything else.
Before I knew it, my head was completely resting on Carlisle's shoulder and I was starting to doze off.
"Maybe we should head to bed now," Carlisle suggested. "We need sleep for the big day and you are being kidnapped early."
I grimaced slightly when he reminded me. I was being kidnapped and taken to a spa for a manicure, pedicure, massage, and to get my hair styled. I didn't expect the experience itself to be bad; I just hated the thoughts of waking up early when I felt so exhausted.
Carlisle started to stand up and nudged me to get up with him. I groaned as I complied, and we walked hand-in-hand to the hallway.
"I'll miss you," I said as I wrapped my arms around him and held on tightly.
"I'll miss you, too," he replied and squeezed me back. "But remember: tonight is the last night we will have to spend apart. Tomorrow night and all the nights that follow we'll be able to fall asleep and wake up together. I'm so ready for that."
"I am, too." I couldn't wait to spend the night in the safety of Carlisle's arms. The two times we had slept on the couch together had been wonderful, even if the couch wasn't all that comfortable.
"Good night, sweetheart," Carlisle said before giving me one more quick kiss. "I love you so much, and tomorrow I will be bonded to you for as long as we both shall live."
Just hearing him say part of our vows caused me to shiver slightly. "Goodnight. I love you, too. I can't wait to be your wife."
"I can't wait to be your husband." And with a final kiss to my forehead, we parted ways. I headed to the bedroom which I had called mine for four months. As nice as it was, I knew Carlisle's bedroom would be infinitely better. After tomorrow, though, it would no longer be just his. It would be ours. I smiled at the thought, as I always did when I thought of us sharing something.
I was too excited to sleep, which I hated because I wanted to be well rested for the next day. I eventually fell into a light sleep which didn't last long. It felt like I had only been sleeping a few minutes, when whispers and movement disturbed me.
"Ezzie…" I head whispered in my ear followed by my shoulder being touched lightly. "Ezzie, it's your big day. You have to wake up now."
I think I might have groaned in response, still not having much control over my body.
"Esme, I know you want to wake up," another voice said a little louder. "You get to marry Carlisle today."
Hearing those words caused a smile to involuntarily form on my face. I could feel it, and I knew whoever was in my room could see it as well because they were giggling.
"I see you smiling," the first voice laughed. "Come on, let's get up now. We have a full day ahead of us."
I finally forced my eyes open to find Carmen, Charlotte, Kate, and Maggie all crowded in my bedroom. Carmen had been the first voice I heard and Charlotte was the second. I rubbed my eyes and rolled over to look at the clock. I groaned when I saw the time and closed my eyes again.
"Oh no! You're getting up right now," Charlotte commanded. She grabbed my hand and pulled lightly, forcing me to get up. Once I was standing, she handed me a stack of clothes and pointed out the door toward the hallway.
I stumbled down the hall to Carlisle's room. When I walked through the doorway, I noticed he was awake but still in bed. I was incredibly tempted to crawl into bed with him, and I would have except I knew one of my so-called friends would just pull me back to me feet and force me into the bathroom.
I dressed as quickly as possible, hoping to steal even a little bit of time with Carlisle. When I went back into the room, he was still in bed, and I quickly climbed up and crawled over to him to cuddle into his chest.
"They're conspiring against me," I whispered. "They forced me to get up, but right now I'd rather lie with you."
Carlisle laughed, his voice still thick with sleep. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll have fun with them. I will see you at the church, and then tonight and tomorrow morning we can stay like this for as long as you want. Okay?"
I nodded against him and kissed his t-shirt covered chest over his heart before forcing myself out of another bed. Carlisle got up with me this time and followed me into the living room. The women were all waiting for me, but then I remembered that I needed to tell Emmett good bye.
I walked into his room and he was still sleeping, oblivious to the activity going on around him. I leaned down to kiss his head softly before leaving the room.
I said said my good bye to Carlisle, and then we left the apartment. I almost felt like sulking because I had to be away from Carlisle. It was Saturday: a day we usually spend together. I had to remind myself that he had three weeks off now that we could utilize however we wanted.
Carlisle was right as usual and I did enjoy the morning. First I was treated to breakfast at Starbucks. The coffee woke me up even more which in turn improved my mood.
Going to the spa was a wonderful experience like no other I had ever had. The massage was very relaxing, and I would have fallen asleep if it wasn't for the venti vanilla frappuccino I had at breakfast. We all had manicures and pedicures done while sitting side-by-side. When our nails were finished, it was time for hair.
I knew I wanted a simple hairstyle, and after looking at many pictures from many books, I finally picked one that I liked. My hair was curled and then pulled into a low, messy bun which allowed some of the curls to be free. My long bangs draped across the side of my face loosely like the free curls. I also had some tiny jeweled flowers to place in my hair. The jewels in them were the same shade of purple I had chosen for my flowers as well as the decorations in the church.
When my hair was finished, I was given a hand mirror so I could admire the back. It was perfect; exactly how I had imagined it. My large smile had to be some indication of how much I like it, but if not, the tip I gave the stylist had to say something. Make-up was the next think to do, but I wanted a very natural look so it didn't take long.
The spa visit had taken up almost the whole morning. Maggie, Kate, and Charlotte all left to head home to get ready while Carmen and I made our way to the church. We stopped to get some fast food in a drive-thru for lunch and ate it in the car.
When we arrived at the church, I noticed several cars already in the parking lot. One Mercedes in particular made my heart start beating irregularly. Just knowing Carlisle was already here had caused my excitement to grow.
Carmen and I entered the church through the back, and she quickly led me to one of the classrooms. I was handed a bottle of water and forced to sit down. While Carmen went to another room to change, I closed my eyes and tried to make myself relax. Just when I was thinking my excitement was going to get the best of me, Carmen returned. Her deep purple dress was very beautiful, and seeing her all put together made me ready to have my own dress on.
Carmen made me wait as long as possible to get dressed since I would have to remain standing so no wrinkles would form. I felt like I might burst out of my skin until she finally pulled my dress out of the garment bag and slipped it over my head.
She led me over to a full length mirror she had brought, and as she buttoned the back of my dress, I gazed at my reflection in awe. I wasn't a vain person, never spending more than a few seconds looking in the mirror in the morning before the day began. I knew I was fairly attractive, and Carlisle always told me how beautiful I looked. But the sight before me stunned me.
My hair was still styled perfectly as it was before leaving the spa. My face was practically glowing with the excitement and joy clearly visible there. I brought my hand up to lightly touch the lace on the bodice of my dress. The neck-line was shaped in a "v" which accentuated my chest while still remaining modest. My hand slowly drifted down over the high-waist before resting back at my side. The dress was very comfortable, and I was still feeling confident in my selection.
Carmen stepped back from me and lightly gripped my shoulders to turn me to the side so I could see my back. The "v" neck was also present in the back down to the center where the short row of buttons started. The dress was long enough to cover my feet and was slightly longer in the back, creating a small train.
I finally turned away from the mirror to face Carmen. She gave me a watery smile and helped me put in the earrings Carlisle had given me. I was also wearing the bracelet he gave me for my birthday. It didn't match anything, but I didn't care. The bracelet represented our family, and that was what this day was about. I gently turned it around on my wrist before switching my engagement ring to my right hand.
Both Carlisle and I had already removed our claddagh rings. Even though they were an excellent symbol of our love for each other, we both recognized that they were from a different time in our relationship. They were no longer needed since we would now be wearing different rings to represent our love. We agreed to always save them, just not wear them.
After my jewelry was in place, I couldn't resist wrapping my arms around Carmen and holding on tightly.
"Thank you," I said softly as she rocked us back and forth. "Thank you for everything. You are more of my mother than the woman who gave birth to me, and I'm so glad you're here with me now. There's no one else I would rather have with me more than you. I love you."
I was trying to hold my tears back, and from the sound of Carmen's sniffles, I knew she was trying as well.
When we pulled back from each other, I saw that she was not successful. Her cheeks were wet from the tears she shed, but she was smiling brightly at me. She gently held my face between her hands and kissed my forehead.
"Oh, my darling girl," she whispered, her voice full of emotion. "Thank you for being in our family. You have brought so much happiness into not only Carlisle's life, but to the rest of ours as well. I love you as my own daughter, and I'm so happy I got to spend this special time with you."
By the time she was finished, my tears were falling freely. Thankfully our make-up was water-proof otherwise our faces would have been streaked with black. Carmen placed one more kiss on my forehead before going to retrieve some tissues. She dabbed my cheeks lightly before looking in the mirror to take care of her own.
Once our faces were once again dry, she threw the tissues away and came back to stand in front of me.
"There now," she said as she held my hands in hers. "No more tears for the moment."
I smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Okay good," she said with her own smile. "I'll be right back. Just don't sit down."
I laughed at her command, but agreed nonetheless. I didn't want anything to happen to my dress before Carlisle had the chance to see it.
A few minutes later, Carmen returned. She knocked once on the door before entering. As she walked in, I noticed her hand held another much smaller one, and I was incredibly happy to see Emmett as he followed his nana into the room.
"Mommy!" he yelled when he saw me. He let go of Carmen's hand and ran toward me, and I immediately swept him into my arms, no longer thinking about my dress.
Emmett wrapped his arms tightly around my neck, and I could tell by his grip that he missed me. I hated to think about how he would react to both Carlisle and I being away, but I knew I had to trust that he would be alright for a few days. I kissed his head several times until he lifted it from my shoulder and leaned over to kiss my lips.
"Mommy petty," he said and gently touched my hair, one of my earrings, and one of my eye lids.
"Thank you, Monkey," I laughed. "You look very handsome."
He had on a little tux which was adorable on him. His tiny vest and tie were the same color and style as what we had picked for Carlisle, and I knew Emmett was like his little carbon copy today. Carmen took several pictures of us together, and they were going to earn a place in my scrapbook.
I placed Emmett back down on his own two feet and checked my dress. It was still in the same condition before Emmett came in, so I let out a sigh of relief. Emmett explored the room as Carmen held my hand. If she hadn't been holding on to me, I would have been bouncing off the walls.
There wasn't even an ounce of anxiety in me which was so unlike my first wedding. There were no sad tears, no feelings of loneliness. I was so ready to marry Carlisle, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could wait.
While we were standing together, there was another soft knock at the door. Carmen went to open it and Eleazar entered. He smiled at me before coming over to pull me into his arms.
I wanted to thank him and tell him all the things I had told Carmen: that he was more of a father to me than my legal one and how happy I was that he was here to share in our special day. But I was afraid of more tears escaping, so I just closed my eyes and enjoyed being in his fatherly embrace. I knew he didn't need the words to know how much he meant to me.
"You look absolutely stunning," he said as he stepped back and lifted one of my hands to his mouth to place a kiss on the knuckle.
"Thank you," I whispered, tears forming in my eyes again. I was thanking him for much more than the compliment which he recognized and pulled me back into his arms.
"You don't have to thank me, sweet Ezzie. I bet Carlisle will be speechless when he sees you walking down the aisle."
Just hearing Carlisle's name stopped the tears and reminded me of my impatience. I had a feeling I would also be speechless when I saw him.
"I guess I should back," Eleazar said. "I'm sure Carlisle is ready for me to return so we can walk in. We'll see you in a few minutes."
"Okay, E. I love you," I said and hugged him close one more time.
He stepped back once more and smiled at me. "I love you, too."
He gave his wife a kiss before heading toward the door.
"Wait!" Carmen exclaimed. "Take Emmett with you."
Emmett was still exploring the room by running around and climbing on chairs.
"Emmett, go with Pops," I said. He happily obeyed and ran to Eleazar for him to lift him into his arms.
After they were gone, Carmen and I checked one last time to make sure I was totally ready. I slipped on my white ballet flats and she handed me my three purple cala lilies which were held together by a silk ribbon. I made sure she had Carlisle's ring, and then we left the room.
The smile on my face as we walked towards the sanctuary probably looked comical, but I didn't care. I couldn't believe this was finally happening. In just a few short minutes, Carlisle and I would be married. After so many years, we would be joined together forever.
We made it to the door, and after one last kiss on my cheek, Carmen left me to go sit down. I knew when to walk in, and Carmen being in her seat was the cue for the organist to switch songs. A gentleman from the church was there to open the door for me when it was time, and he offered me a nice smile as I waited.
As soon as I heard the music change to Wagner's "Bridal Chorus," I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded to the man. When he opened the door, the first thing I saw was Carlisle. He looked incredibly handsome in his black tux and deep purple vest and tie.
I walked slowly down the aisle as was rehearsed, but I didn't notice anything around me. Carlisle's look of complete love and devotion when he saw me was enough to cancel out everything else. His brilliant smile and bright eyes totally distracted me from all of the beautiful flowers in the church that I had chosen. I didn't give any thought to all the guests standing for me. The only thing I could think of was making it to the front to be with my love.
I did notice one other thing, and that was Emmett. He was standing next to Carlisle, holding on tightly to his pant leg. The church full of people was obviously making him nervous, but he was being a big boy and not moving around or making any noise. Carlisle had one hand on his head, gently running it through his soft brown hair, and I was sure it was having a calming effect.
When I made it to the front, I did remember to pass my flowers to Carmen before I stepped up to place my hands in Carlisle's. I looked into Carlisle's eyes and I knew he wasn't seeing anything other than me. So much could be communicated just through our eyes normally, and today was no different.
Eleazar asked everyone to be seated and then began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."
I didn't really hear the passages from the Bible he was reading or anything else he was saying. I was too lost in our bubble to pay attention.
I eventually did snap out of my little daze thanks to Emmett. He made it as long as he could while standing, which was actually much longer than I had been anticipating. Right before the vows, Carmen lured him over to her with a sippy cup of juice. The guests laughed at his antics as he ran over to sit down.
We had chosen fairly traditional vows, picking and choosing from many samples until we had exactly what we wanted. Carlisle went first, repeating after Eleazar. As he said that he took me to be his wedded wife, his voice cracked. I squeezed his hand in encouragement which seemed to give him the strength to continue. I listened carefully as he promised in front of God, our family, and our friends to be my friend, my faithful partner, and my love. He continued with his promise to stay beside me in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, and in joy and in sorrow. He promised to love me unconditionally, support me in my goals, honor and respect me, laugh and cry with me, and to cherish me for as long as we both shall live.
Even though he didn't write the words himself, I knew when Carlisle spoke them, he meant every word. The words were spoken from his heart, which he had given to me, and I knew he would follow through on every promise he made.
Once he was finished, it was my turn. I made it to about half-way before the tears started flowing down my face. Carlisle squeezed my hands in encouragement exactly like I had done for him earlier. I made it through, miraculously not missing any words and remaining coherent.
After I was finished, Carlisle retrieved my ring from Peter. Since we hadn't wanted anyone standing at the front beside us, Peter and Charlotte were sitting on the front pew on one side, and Carmen was sitting at the front of the other side. This made it easy for us to get to the rings.
At Eleazar's word, Carlisle gently slid the simple platinum band on to the correct finger on my left hand. Carmen then handed me the matching one which I slid onto Carlisle's finger.
It was then time for my favorite part of the ceremony. Eleazar told Carlisle that he could kiss his bride, and my heart was ready to beat out of my chest. Carlisle mouthed "I love you" to me which I immediately returned. He then let go of my hands to gently cup my face. He slowly brought his lips down to mine.
I closed my eyes and sighed, relishing the feeling of Carlisle's lips against my own. Each time we kissed was different, each one with a different meaning. Some had been for comfort, some for fun, some full of passion, and all out of overwhelming love. This kiss was different though, it was soft, sweet, and quick, but it held a promise of something more. This kiss sealed the deal that bonded us together forever.
It was over too soon for my liking, but instead of pulling away, we rested our foreheads together. I opened my eyes to stare into his, both of us smiling widely.
"I'd like to present Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle Cullen," Eleazar said, his voice effectively bringing us out of our trance. "So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Carlisle held my hand as we turned to face the church. I noticed there were not many dry eyes around. Our family and most of our friends knew at least part of our story, so they recognized how long this day had been waited for and how much it meant.
The organist played the "Wedding March," and as Carlisle and I walked back down the aisle together, I actually paid attention to the decorations which looked beautiful. When we made it into the vestibule, I attacked Carlisle with another kiss and he did more than reciprocate by lifting me off the ground and swinging me in a circle. He put me back down and we were both laughing.
"Well, I guess we are already laughing and crying together," I joked lightly.
"Of course we are," Carlisle joked back. "I always keep my promises."
I quickly moved my engagement ring back to my left hand where it belonged, and we stood in our place, waiting to speak to the guest as the left on their way to the reception. The first person to come out of the door was Charlotte who was carrying Emmett. She also had on a purple dress which was very pretty on her. She handed the squirming boy straight to Carlisle and then embraced me tightly.
"You look beautiful, Esme," she said happily. "The ceremony was perfect."
"Thank you, Charlotte," I said as I hugged her back. "You look beautiful as well. I want you to know that if I had had a bridesmaid, it would have been you. You're my best friend."
She hugged me impossible tighter before stepping back.
"You're my best friend, too," she confessed while dabbing new tears from her eyes with a tissue. "I know we've only know each other for a few months, but we've already grown so close. Thank you for thinking of me."
She excused herself and went back into the sanctuary to wait for us to return for pictures.
We greeted guest after guest, and it appeared that the entire church had come out to support us. I met several of Carlisle's colleagues and they offered their congratulations. Liam and Siobhan were there as promised, as well as Maggie and Ben. It seemed that most of them were planning to come to the reception, and a few of the women from the church headed to Carmen and Eleazar's house to make sure everything ready.
Once everyone had moved own, we headed back to join the family for pictures. It seemed like the photographer took several hundred shots, but we wanted to make sure we included everyone. We took some of just the three of us, the whole family, us with Carmen and Eleazar, us with Peter and Charlotte, and any other combination we could think of.
By the time we finished, Emmett was entering the tantrum level of being uncomfortable. I quickly stripped the tuxedo off, leaving him only in his white onesie. We then decided it was time to leave for the reception. Carlisle carried Emmett in one arm and held my hand with his free one as we walked to the car. He opened the door for me before buckling Emmett into the back.
As Carlisle drove, he held my hand, and the smiles were still remaining on our faces.
"Was that everything you dreamt it would be?" he asked me after driving for a few minutes.
"Oh no," I answered with a happy sigh. "It was more. Much more, even though I don't exactly remember all of it."
"That's how I feel, too," he chuckled. "At least someone videotaped it, but I probably looked like a love-sick fool the whole time."
"I probably looked that way, too. I think I had a smile much too big for my face."
He brought my left hand up to kiss my rings. "You looked absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. I thought my heart was going to stop beating. I was so tempted to just grab you and run away, but then I would have had to wait even longer for this to be official."
"Thank you. You were very handsome yourself," I said with a smile. "Love-sick fool is definitely a good look for you."
We stopped at a red light, and Carlisle leaned over to kiss me. "Mmm…I love you," he hummed against my mouth.
"I love you, too. Please don't get cake all over my dress."
He laughed at my request but agreed. As we continued toward the reception, I sat back in my seat with my eyes closed. Everything was the same, and yet everything was different. It was still the three of us: Emmett, Carlisle, and me. That hadn't changed at all. But now, Carlisle and I were man and wife. Our future was bright, and it could only get better from here.
A/N: The book Carlisle read to Emmett is The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams and the Bible verse that Eleazar read is Matthew 19:6 (NIV translation).
Well I hope that was everything you hoped it would be. Pictures of the dress are on my profile.
The next chapter will backtrack a little to get Carlisle's POV of the wedding, and it will also contain the first night of the honeymoon. Stay tuned to find out where he is taking her!
I'm not sure when I will be able to update. School is...yeah...school is time-consuming. I only have 14 hours this semester, but those 14 hours are hard classes (and I really need to keep my 4.0)
So expect the next update by next weekend. Thank you again for being so patient, and I'm glad you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it.
Find me on Twitter to possibly get a better idea of when the update will be. The link is on my profile as well.