Chapter Twenty-Six
Bella Swan-almost-Cullen POV
"Momma pretty?" Lucas asked, sitting in the corner of the room in his tiny little tux like a good boy.
"Yes, Momma is very pretty. Beautiful," Alice annunciation for him, but he went back to playing with his shoes. "If she'd let me talk her into the pair of pumps I bought her three months ago she'd be even more pretty."
"Alice, I already told you that if I had someone to walk me down the aisle-" She tried to cut me off, but I continued. "Let me speak. If I had someone to walk me down the aisle that wasn't two and a half feet tall, I would wear your death traps. Let me wear the shoes I chose and stop ragging on me."
"Alright. Sorry. I just want you to look perfect. Not that you don't already look perfect. I mean Edward's going to choke on his tongue
when he sees you in this." She ran her hand down the side of my body, across the lacy undergarments. "The dress is going to make him either bawl like a baby or have a stroke."
"You think so?" I bit my bottom lip.
"Do we really have to go over this again Insecurella?" she giggled, grabbing my boobs and fixing them correctly in the corset like frock I was wearing. I was far beyond uncomfortable with her hands on my body, but knew better than to fight her.
Edward and I had been going over the different choices we had come up with for our honeymoon a couple of months before and came across the perfect inn in northern California smack dab in the middle of wine country. He was showing me the different pictures of the establishment and just as we took in the beautifully decorated rooms, the camera panned over the bedroom. It was then that it hit me. We were looking for places to spend our first days as a married couple. We were looking at the possible room where we would be closer than ever, emotionally and physically for the first time. It was the first time that I had even thought about that aspect of the honeymoon and the first time I started to get cold feet.
I ended up in the downstairs bathroom hyperventilating and calling Alice. She talked me down from my hysteria and offered to coach me as much as she could the following day. She talked about blow jobs, hand jobs, sex on the bed, sex in the shower, sex on the beach, in the car, standing up, sitting down, backwards - you name it. By the time I left her house that day I was permanently red and sporting a goody bag that I rushed upstairs and hid in my old bedroom's closet, high up beside the Christmas wrapping paper we had left over. Alice turned into my confidant; any time I felt insecure I would turn to her and she would help me out. I was brought out of my thoughts by her pulling a curl rather roughly.
"No, we don't need to talk about it. I am not being insecure; just nervous," I breathed. "It feels like a billion butterflies are battering around in my stomach fighting for a way out."
"Well, now is not the time to throw up because I might be good with makeup, but I'm no miracle worker. Edward is waiting for you at the end of that aisle." Alice kissed my cheek. "The Cullen men are wonderful, more so than you can ever imagine. Just remember that."
"Ma!" Lucas squealed as he fell off the chair he'd been sitting on. He giggled before standing up and tottering over to us.
"Hey baby boy." I leaned down to pick him up, but Alice tsked me, tapping the delicate watch on her wrist.
"No time, Bella. We need to get you into your dress."
"Alice, I will always have time," I sighed, bringing Lucas against my chest and inhaling his baby scent. Our cuddling only lasted a minute or two because of Alice's impatience and the fact that Carlisle came to make sure I was still coming and to take Lucas to Edward for pictures.
I stepped into my dress, a simple floor length strapless gown, whiter than snow with a deep greenish black colored sash tied around my waist that flowed down the back of the dress. Much to Alice's chagrin, I slipped into my glittery white ballet flats. I decided to forgo the veil, partially because they freaked Lucas out when I tried one on at the boutique. Once Alice dusted me with some product that would keep me from getting shiny if I started to get weepy, she went out to get the photographer and Lucas. I was a little more than surprised to see Angela Cheney, Ben's wife, follow Alice and Lucas into the room, a fancy camera hanging around her neck.
"Angela?" I questioned, hugging her as much as I could around the electronic.
"Edward called me and asked me to take the pictures. Seeing as some of them are going into the magazine, I figured you'd want
someone that's going to make you look good from all angles," she shrugged, pinching Lucas's cheek. "And he's incredibly photogenic."
The next thirty minutes were spent posing for the camera and goofing off with Lucas. He liked the camera so much that when Angela tried to get him to look up at me for candid shots, he would keep turning his head towards her and the big shiny thing.
A knock on the door brought our fun to an end. Jasper came to collect Alice while Angela followed me and Luke out to the backyard. The people we had hired to come set up the marquee made it so that it was pretty much closed off from the house and reception area. No one could see Lucas, Angela and I and we couldn't see them. Angela kept snapping picture after picture as I sat Lucas on his feet and prepared us. He had done wonderfully during the rehearsal the night before so I prayed that he would be alright today.
We watched Leah, Sam and Emily's daughter, float down the aisle, tossing the flowers out of her basket onto poor unsuspecting guests. As soon as the wedding march began, Angela gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder and a quiet 'go get em girl' before we entered the tent. Our guests stood on either side of the aisle, turning to look at Lucas and I as we walked slowly towards the front. I caught a glimpse of Edward, tuxedo clad with a beautiful smile on his face, before Lucas realized that the tent was a lot more crowded than it was the night before. He immediately shied behind me, trying to get under the skirt of my dress, earning chuckles from the crowd.
"Momma!" he cried, burrowing further into the fabric and hugging my knees, bringing us to an abrupt stop. I turned around and picked him up carrying him the rest of the way down the aisle until we were next to Edward. Alice came up and took him from my arms, offering him a piece of candy as a bribe and he happily went to sit with her and Jasper. I watched my baby sit down in the front row before turning to Edward, finally able to get a good look at him and appreciate the man that waited for me at the end of the aisle. His hair was messy, a compromise that we came up with when he insisted that I wear my hair down and natural. I always liked his hair first thing in the morning and at this moment it was perfect. His dark rimmed glasses hung on his nose giving off the inner geek that I loved, his dark green eyes shimmering as he stared at me with love. I reached out at the same time he did and took both of his hands in mine.
The ceremony passed quickly, Edward and I repeated vows administered by the minister and exchanged rings, simple bands that matched my simple engagement ring. We were announced as man and wife and shared a rather heated and passionate first kiss. Pulling away, I gasped for air through the tears pouring down my face and smiled. "We did it."
"You look breathtaking," Edward whispered before leading me down the aisle and off to the right for the reception area with Lucas hot on our tails.
"Momma pretty," he cooed as he finally caught up with us. He turned to Edward with a wanting look and I was surprised to see Edward pull out a pack of mini M&Ms and pop a couple in Lucas's waiting mouth.
"What's that about?" I asked, shying away from the toddler with chocolate.
"Oh, nothing. I wanted him to tell you were pretty, so I started training him last night. Every time he says 'momma's pretty', I would give him some chocolate," Edward replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Edward Cullen, he's not a monkey," I scolded.
"Isabella Cullen, I would never give a monkey chocolate," Edward chuckled, hugging me to his side. "Hmm, what do you say we sit
down and enjoy a nice dinner and some dancing before I whisk you away, Mrs. Cullen?"
His words caused shivers to run down my back. "Sounds perfect Mr. Cullen," I sighed happily. "But you better get the chocolate off of Lucas before he ruins my dress."
Alice helped me get situated at the head table while Edward took Lucas inside to get him cleaned up. "Oh, you two were so beautiful, Bella. Seriously, I'm so glad we have Angela here snapping pictures. I'm sure she got some wonderful shots," she squealed, pulling the bottom of my dress up so that I could sit on my chair comfortably. "Seriously, it went absolutely flawlessly."
"I know Alice. I was there. Thank you for helping me," I choked out, tears sprang to my eyes. "I couldn't have asked for someone better to spend the morning with even if you did torture me."
"Anytime Bella. We're family, always have been. This just makes it permanent." She hugged me tightly. "And thank you so much for having the buffet. I don't think Jasper could handle a meatless meal and I know I can't handle a whiny Jasper."
"Don't mention it," I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes before they could fall.
"What's so funny?" Edward asked, sitting next to me with Lucas on his lap. His head was starting to droop and I could tell that he was ready for a nap despite the excitement. I held my arms out for him and Edward obliged as Esme and Carlisle began passing out flutes of champagne and the caterers began opening their different containers.
Toasts were made, tears were shed and Edward and I shared our first dance as man and wife. I then danced with Carlisle, Jasper, Grandpa Masen and then my baby boy. The latter was my favorite because even though he was fighting sleep, he kept murmuring 'luboo' and 'momma pretty'. I held him and swayed to a few songs because I knew that Edward and I would be leaving soon and I was going to miss him desperately.
"Can I cut in?" Edward asked, tapping my shoulder. "He's asleep."
I adjusted the baby on my shoulder as Edward wrapped his arms around the two of us. Together we danced around the small polished dance floor with our baby in between us, relishing in the contact. Edward's hands played with the curls hanging down my shoulders, the fabric at the top of my dress and the crook where my neck met my shoulders, driving me absolutely crazy. Just as the last song started coming to an end, he leaned down gently so as not to squish Lucas and captured my lips with his. Before the kiss could become to heated, Angela was right by our side snapping picture after picture.
"We just found our cover," she beamed, looking through the pictures before looking up apologetically. "Sorry, continue."
"We better get going, Mrs. Cullen," Edward whispered, his voice hoarse.
"Are you ever going to call me Bella or baby again?" I laughed, pecking him twice on the lips.
"Nope," he smirked. "Hand me the boy and go find Alice." I squeezed Lucas a little hard, earning a small squeak before passing him over to Edward. I was going to miss him even if we were only going to be gone for a week. Alice was by my side almost immediately.
"Come on, let's get you changed." She dragged me up the stairs and into mine and Edward's bedroom. A box was already laying on the bed so that she could go and get my dress professionally cleaned and preserved while we were gone. I let her unzip me and help my vibrating body into my traveling outfit. Keeping up with the blushing virgin bride, Alice forced me into buying a white dress. It was knee length with lace covering the bottom half and a rather subtle neckline. I was happy to be able to reuse my flats and slipped back into them before pinning my hair up in a banana clip for the drive.
"You have the bag that I gave you?" Alice asked, sitting on the bed with her hands in her lap and a coy smile on her face.
"Erm... I don't think I'm going to bring that," I blushed.
"Why the hell not? Seriously, you're going to get to your room tonight and do it, get all the awkwardness out and then regret not bringing it." She stood up. "Where is it?"
"Erm... in the top of the closet across the hall," I murmured. "But Alice, I really don't want to." My words were wasted and she was out of the door before I could stop her. I sat on the bed just waiting for her to return and she didn't disappoint.
"Where's your purse? There's no way I can get this into the suitcase without anyone noticing. I'll just have to give you the basics." She poured the bag's contents out and started going over the items. "You'll definitely want the warming massage oils, maybe to get the awkward part over with. I mean you two haven't seen each other naked yet, so a massage could break the ice."
"True," I nodded, holding my bag open so that she could toss the small bottles inside.
"And then the lube. Trust me you might need that." She tossed another bottle into my bag. "And now for the edible body paint a-"
"Don't even fucking think about it, bitch," I snapped, shutting my bag and holding it to my chest. "Just stop it, Alice. You're making me incredibly nervous."
"Aw, I'm sorry, Bella," Alice pouted, pulling me into a hug. "I guess I just wish that Jasper had been my first and that we waited until we were married. Don't worry, Bella. It will be perfect."
"Thanks, Alice." I kissed her cheek.
"Knock knock," Esme said, walking into the room. "I just wanted to see my new daughter-in-law before you take off."
"I'm glad you're here; I didn't really have time after the ceremony," I said, hugging her tightly as emotions I didn't prepare for came to the surface. For the first time in a long time, I thought of my mom and dad and the fact that they weren't here on my wedding day. Tears sprang to my eyes and I clung to her.
"Oh dear, don't worry. I know you were busy. I've never seen Edward look so happy in my life." She patted my back, trying to sooth me.
"I'm just emotional. I miss my parents and I wish they were here," I cried.
"Oh honey, but they are. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there." She pulled away and straightened my hair.
"Calm down so that we can send you off without my son freaking out thinking that we did something to make you cry." I took a few minutes to dry my eyes and calm down allowing Alice to administer some eye drops and redo my make up. "Alright. I'm ready."
"There it is. I've been waiting to see that smile since I came up here," Esme laughed, hugging me again. "I want you two to be careful, drive safely and don't forget to call and check in."
"Trust me we won't. I'm going to miss Lucas so much."
"You're only going to be gone for a week, Bella," Alice sighed. "He'll be fine. I promise not to take him to get his ear pierced and his first tattoo before you get back."
"And that is why he's staying with Carlisle and I for the week," Esme assured me.
"The pixie won't be left alone with him so don't worry," Alice huffed and stalked out of the room, so we decided to follow her and found a few of the guests had waited to see Edward and I off. He was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. He had already changed into a pair of dark wash jeans and a white V-neck shirt, complete with a pair of his favorite trainers.
"Hi," I whispered shyly, my hands wringing the edge of my purse in excitement.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked, grabbing one of my wrists.
"Yep. You?"
"More than anything."
Our family and small group of friends showered us with rice as we made our way out to Edward's Volvo. Jasper had just finished fastening cans and a just married sign to the bumper that Edward promised me he would remove as soon as we were out of sight as he helped me into the passenger seat. I waved good bye until we turned a corner and the view of the house was blocked by trees.
"So Mrs. Cullen." Edward started as we turned onto the highway.
"So?"
"Are you ready for your honeymoon?"
"Yep, it couldn't come fast enough." I reached over and grabbed his hand and held it there the entire drive to California.
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