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Polar Night	By : belladonnacullen Category: Twilight Series > AU/AR > Het > Het Views: 8234 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or make any money from this story.

Chapter List
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There are direct quotes from Breaking Dawn in here. They're not mine, they are Stephenie Meyer's. Quiet Night of Quiet Stars isn't by me either. This is one fluff-filled chapter, people. But it's Edward Cullen's wedding. I'm convinced he wouldn't have it any other way. Please wait patiently for the good stuff to come, and enjoy the wedding as we make our way there.

"Don't let me fall, Dad."
I heard Bella's footsteps on the stairs. My dream was becoming reality.
*
Alice was walking gracefully down the aisle smiling from ear to ear and sneaking little waves at classmates and family. I heard Jasper take a quick breath when he saw Alice in her shimmering silver gown, followed by a quick flash from both of their minds. Alice had kept Jasper away on purpose, to make their reunion all the more special. I watched the look of love and longing between them and desperately tried to stay out of their thoughts.
With a wink, Alice turned from Jasper to smile in my direction. Breaking her own strict rules about proper wedding etiquette, she pranced up to me, stood on tiptoe and gave me an enormous hug.
"For you, big brother," she whispered, "I couldn't wait." Alice's thoughts washed over me. I saw Alice hugging me after I had returned from a hunting trip to find her and Jasper had moved into our house, Alice throwing her arms around me after I'd graduated from medical school at Oxford, Alice with her arm around my waist as we walked away from our house in Denali that last time. Then the visions changed and I saw myself dancing with Bella at the prom, my arm was wrapped tenderly around Bella in the plane on the way back from Volterra, holding Bella's hand as we officially told our family we were getting married, and then I cradling Bella in my arms in our doorway only two days ago. I wasn't the same person Alice met in the driveway in 1950; that much was clear.
Suddenly Alice had me looking down at the wedding from above, spinning out to encompass the reception area in the back, then higher, and when we came back to earth I was embracing Bella in moonlit water, then I was showering kisses on her freckled and sun burnt nose on the daylit beach as we lay on warm white sand.
"Congratulations," Alice whispered in my ear.
It had all happened so fast, less than two seconds. The humans in the audience smiled at Alice's impetuousness, and the vampires were left to guess what Alice and I had communicated between us. I would never tell.
Then with a dramatic flourish from Rose, the music swelled and two sets of footsteps could be heard coming closer on the stairs. One set was steady and even, the other was tentative, light and halting. Bella. Thump thump, thump thump. As she moved, her scent intensified, and my entire body was set on fire. I clutched my hands at my side and tensed in anticipation.
Alice had artfully set up the chairs so that I would be the last to see Bella. No doubt she was angling for added drama. I suffered as I heard the murmurs and sighs of others, I heard thoughts about how beautiful she was, and how nervous she looked. And then I began to see her, from a dozen different perspectives, her gown, her bouquet, her intricately woven hair, her face, blushing pink and perfect. I wanted to knock each and every person out of the way to see her for myself. I actually took a half step forward.
"Son," Carlisle silently shouted at me. He knew me well. I stood in my place.
Instead of moving, I strained my eyes. I could see hints of white lace, the flash of a delicate satin shoe, the top of Charlie's head. And after sixty painfully long seconds, Bella stood before me at the end of the aisle on her father's arm.
It took a split second for my mind to recall the first time I'd seen Bella in her wedding gown on her father's arm. It was an icy January morning on the bank of the river behind the house when I'd decided to leave Forks for good. That vision had caused so much inexplicable pain; it had ultimately kept me from leaving. The next time I saw Bella on her wedding day, the picture was much clearer. I'd seen Bella's delicate body encased in a filmy white lace dress, I saw her face glowing with happiness, I'd heard the strains of Wagner in the background. That day in biology class I'd been consumed with jealousy, and I'd decided to make Bella a part of my life.
What I didn't know so long ago was that the visions were very real, and that I was the one Bella had been walking towards. I would never have dared to dream as much. It was the only time in my long existence that I could claim precognition. But today the old pain and jealousy were gone forever. I was exultant in this moment.
I watched Bella's big brown eyes search the crowd, she was anxious and my breath hitched in my throat. But then her eyes found mine. They softened, grew wider, and filled with joy and love. When I saw that change in them, it conquered every last shred of doubt that I carried with me to this day. I silently rejoiced as I watched Bella quicken her steps, loose her grip on her father's hand, and push against the pace of the music to make her way to me. She was coming to me, coming home; she was about to be mine, forever.
I couldn't wait for Charlie and reached for Bella as soon as she was within my grasp. Charlie belatedly offered me Bella's hand, and finally I was able to touch her. Her hands were soft and warm, and I gently encased them in mine, and stared deeply into her eyes, losing myself in their depths.
I let everything around me blur and buzz. I watched Bella's eyes, full of boundless love. They spoke silently of what I had been and what I had become. They told me the story of how I was saved. I watched water fill them until they were overflowing, and one warm tear trickled down her cheek.
Bella, don't cry.
I bent my head closer to hers and felt her breath wash over my face. I took all of her in, not wanting to miss a thing. I felt her blood pumping through the tiny vessels in her hands; I listened to her lungs and her heart. I watched her bite her bottom lip, then hold her breath. Her eyes never left mine.
From far away, a somewhat familiar voice asked, "Do you, Isabella Marie Swan, take Edward Anthony Cullen, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Bella's eyes brightened, she clutched my hand, and I held my breath.
"I do," she sobbed in a whisper.
It was the most amazing sound I ever heard. And my face broke into a smile that would have put the sun to shame. I could hardly wait to hear my vows before announcing to the world, "I do." I heard my voice ring out triumphantly. With that it was Bella's turn to smile; a smile so joyous it looked as though she might laugh out loud.
Bella's hands shook as we placed the rings on each other's fingers, tears flowed freely down her face and I felt an unfamiliar sting in my eyes. I was blinking rapidly as looked from her wedded hand to her face.
"And by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Bella was mine, before our family, before my god, before each other. My angel, my home.
Carlisle's words from earlier in the evening came back to me. There would be no one between us for the rest of our existence. It was up to me, and me alone, to keep Bella safe. I moved toward her slowly, like I was touching her for the first time. I cupped her face in my hands, like I was caressing the wind, and brought my face to hers. I could smell her tears, salty and warm. I could taste her scent in my mouth. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes didn't blink, and she stayed impossibly still. I brushed my lips against hers carefully, pressing gently.
It was as if a match had been struck. The fire that sparked between us was bright and hot, and with that, Bella threw her arms around me and pressed her small body against mine. Taking me for hers. For all of my careful tenderness, Bella's kiss was blinding in its intensity. Her lips moved against mine, her lips parted, her tongue touched my lips, her hands wound through my hair, her heart hammered against my chest. I was caught in her embrace. I gave in. I was hers and she was mine.
I would have happily stayed under our arch, intently kissing forever. I'd never felt joy like this, I'd never felt anything like this in all the time Bella and I had spent together. I had everything I could want. Nothing else mattered except her and I.
But thoughts of others eventually broke through our embrace. With regret I pulled my lips from Bella's and smiled at my wife, my WIFE. She was unabashed, and would have kissed me again, if I didn't hold her away from me. Her eyes were for me only, and I had to turn her to face our guests. And then applause and love filled the first floor of our home. Emmett hollered, along with some of our former classmates.
The only thing I cared about though, was Bella's hand in mine. I watched her beaming at me from dozens of vantage points as our guests rushed to congratulate us. It wasn't until Bella's mother broke through the crowd sobbing, that Bella looked away from me. Through the embraces of all of our family and friends I didn't let her hand leave mine.
*
Alice waited until the crowd had parted to open the glass doors to the backyard. The sky glowed pink and orange behind the clouds, accentuated by thousands of lights wrapped intricately around each of the cedars in the yard. A canopy of orange blossoms hung over the grass, and petals floated gently to the ground stirred by a warm and salty breeze. The river burbled gently, satin tablecloths shimmered in the lights, humans, vampires and a lone wolf made their way into the yard.
Bella's hand was still in mine, and I gently caressed it with my thumb.
"Bella."
"Edward."
"I love you."
Tears filled her eyes again, and one escaped and trailed slowly down her pink cheek.
I caressed her face with my thumb, wiping the tear away. "Don't cry, my love."
"I can't help it. I'm so..."
"As am I." I bent to kiss her gently, and this time I was the one to pull her body to mine, pressing her soft flesh against me. I was on fire again, and my hands explored her lace-covered back, and wound through her hair.
"Edward!" Alice silently hollered from the lawn. I lingered in the embrace for another minute before pulling away. "We should find our guests."
"Do we have to?"
"Do you want to spend eternity with Alice angry at you?"
"Good point."
I wrapped my arm around Bella's waist, and basked in the warmth of her body where it touched mine. When we walked through the back doorway the crowd erupted in applause again, and silverware clinked on glasses.
Bella turned to me with a wide smile and blushing cheeks.
"Well, if they insist," I murmured in her ear, making sure my lips brushed against her as I spoke. I wrapped my hands around the back of Bella's head and kissed my wife again. Our kiss was simple and sweet and when it was over I could see my reflection in Bella's eyes. I saw happiness incomparable to anything Alice had shown me in her visions. Bella's joy reflected my own perfectly and I carefully squeezed my hand around her waist. She rested her head against my chest and I sighed, at peace.
*
Seth was the first to greet us, accompanied by his mother and Billy Black, Charlie Swan's oldest friend and the chief of the Quileute tribe.
"Congrats, guys," Seth exclaimed with an enormous grin on his face. It's good to see things work out for you man. I'm happy for you." Seth threw his arms around me spontaneously.
"If nothing else, this brought my son home."
I stiffened in the hug. It had been Billy Black. His son was home. I raised my eyebrows and gave Seth a quick knowing glance as he stepped back to his mother's side. He easily guessed what I wanted to know.
"He's trying to make it here in time. It's okay if you listen in to my thoughts. I'll keep my eyes and ears out so I know as soon as he's here."
"Thank you Seth, that means a lot to me."
I turned to Sue Clearwater and Billy Black. Billy's eyes and ears were attuned to the night, waiting expectantly for Jacob's return. I forced a smile on my face. This would be fine. Bella was mine now, she loved me, she chose me. My brothers had assured me that they would be on the lookout for the wolf. My heart only hurt a little thinking of how happy Bella would be to have the dog here.
"Thank you, as well. For letting Seth come. For supporting Bella today."
"You're welcome," Billy nodded gravely.
Angela and her parents, Ben, Mike and Jessica were next. Mike's impure thoughts about my wife while he held Jessica's hand only mildly annoyed me. My attention was divided between gazing at my wife and Seth's thoughts, as he listened for signs of his pack. I was distracted enough that I was overwhelmed by Tanya's cool embrace.
"Ah, Edward, I've missed you." Tanya and I had known each other for nearly my entire existence. Her thoughts picked up seamlessly where her voice left off. "She smells lovely, Edward. I can see why you kept her a secret for so long."
With an easy and fluid motion I disentangled myself from Tanya's arms and held her at arms length. She pushed her shoulder against my hand so that it was flush with her silken granite skin.
"It took a wedding and a human to bring us this close, cousin." But she quickly eased herself backward and I was able to step back to Bella's side. Bella's face had gone pale and her eyes were wide. I took her in my arms and tried to reassure her wordlessly. A small chuckle eased the tension that was building inside me.
"It's been too long, Tanya. You look well."
"So do you." Her thoughts continued where her voice left off. "Keeping a human suites you."
I didn't want any confusion. "Let me introduce you to my wife." It was the first time I'd said it out loud and the word exploded from my lips and rang out in triumph. I felt Bella's body relax against mine. Our eyes met and the warmth, the fire, the boundless love grew around us, uniting us as one. I heard the titters of my cousins and looked back at them. Kate, Carmen and Eleazar gazed at us adoringly; Tanya's eyes were wide, and I saw her work to compose her face.
"Tanya, this is my Bella."
"Yes, she is, isn't she?" There was resignation in her thoughts, but none showed through to her face as she turned to look at Bella.
"Welcome to the family, Bella. We consider ourselves Carlisle's extended family, and I am sorry about the, er, recent incident when we did not behave as such. We should have met you sooner. Can you forgive us?"
I felt Bella tremble in my arms. "Of course. It's so nice to meet you." Bella clutched my hand and I squeezed it back. She was too good. Tanya didn't deserved Bella's good will or her apology. My heart swelled with love for her again. If Jacob showed up tonight, I would manage to be as gracious as my wife.
*
One by one we greeted each of our guests. I called Bella my wife twenty-six more times in the space of half an hour, and the word never ceased to amaze me. I used Bella as an anchor during that time, for my heart was soaring above the trees.
Suddenly Alice was ushering us over to a towering white cake, adorned with flowers and pearls. I stood behind Bella, wrapped my arms around her and placed my hands over hers as we cut the first ceremonial piece together. Alice stepped in and quickly had a piece of cake and two forks lain out in front of us.
I saw Bella balk and take a step backward, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the table. "You don't like cake?" I smiled.
"But --"
I could hear Emmett's thoughts ringing through the crowd that had gathered around the table. "He's gonna' do it!"
Alice whispered in Bella's ear, "You'll never get another chance at this, Bella. Enjoy!"
I managed an encouraging smile, even as my jaw clenched reflexively shut and my teeth ground together. Finally, Bella smiled mischievously. I noticed the vampires had crowded in the closest, full of disbelieving anticipation, similar to human children crowding around a classmate that was about to eat a worm. Any other day, I would have preferred a worm.
Bella and I neatly filled each other's mouths with large pieces of fluffy white cake. I reminded myself to chew even as the venom in my mouth turned it into a frothing, bubbling ball of stomach-turning sludge. I worked to keep the smile on my face, as I physically forced myself to swallow the offending stuff down. Emmett guffawed and the rest of my vampire family chuckled and nudged one another. The humans looked around nervously, wondering what joke they had missed.
But Alice made up for it by having large pieces of cake quickly passed around. She made sure to hand one to each human and vampire in attendance. The vampires looked askance at the food, and quickly walked away into the night with it. I was sure clean up would include fishing cake out of the ferns.
Bella had scarcely finished when Alice corralled all of the single woman out onto the dance floor. Much to Rose's chagrin, Alice towed her out onto the dance floor as well. As far as the humans in attendance were concerned, Rose and Alice were also unmarried. Emmett winked at Rose and she rolled her eyes, but nodded in assent.
"Don't you dare, Rose," Alice whispered under her breath.
"Fine, I won't catch it, but my wedding is next, Alice."
"Again!" Alice sighed.
When Rose was in place, Alice managed to pull a glaring Tanya and a giggling Kate out to the floor as well. The vampires all hung back, and I watched as the humans kept casting nervous glances over their shoulders. So it was a mere accident that Bella's bouquet landed in Angela's unsuspecting arms.
Bella rushed to give her friend a hug of congratulations, and Alice materialized at Bella's side with a satin-covered chair in hand. Jasper was suddenly pulling me forward.
"Alice's order's, Edward," he said under his breath, trying to suppress a grin. I watched Alice push Bella down into the chair.
"Careful, Edward, it's mine. And I want it back."
The picture I'd seen in Alice's head from earlier flashed into my mind. Alice's garter. I heard Bella's heart accelerate for the first time since she'd met me on the altar. Her face was flushed and she couldn't meet my eyes. I caught her shimmying in her seat, and realized she was moving the garter down her leg.
I bent down on one knee in front of her and placed my hands on her thighs. "That's enough, love. Any farther and there'll be no challenge," I cooed.
Bella froze, stunned, blushing, her eyes wide.
Very slowly, my hands pushed the silk and lace of her gown up to her knee, revealing a slender calf and a hint of her thigh. I sighed. A vision of Bella at my window in my room flashed through my brain. "Concentrate, Edward," Alice silently reminded me. I snapped back to the present and I planned on thanking Alice in the future. It took a second for Alice to see my plan and she smiled back at me.
"You're welcome."
I kept my eyes fixed on Bella's as I lowered my mouth to her leg. And very gently, I clutched the silky garment in my teeth, intentionally grazing her thigh with my lips. By the time I made my way down her leg, my lips were on fire. I could see the rapid rise and fall of Bella's chest, and her leg was trembling. I knew enough of her by now to know that it wasn't from the cold.
"God, Bella's hot."
My head shot up to identify the owner of the voice. Mike Newton. I used the full force of the elastic band to snap the garter at Mike, hitting him squarely between the eyes. He jumped, startled, and Ben and Tyler both laughed out loud. Mike looked flustered, and Alice added to it by walking over to him and grabbing the frothy lace from his lap where it had fallen.
"Excuse me Mike, but I believe this is mine."
Jasper was suddenly at Alice's side and I heard a faint rumble in his chest as he glared at Mike. He knew Mike's feelings for Bella as well as I did. I'd have to remember to thank my brother.
I turned to focus my attention back on Bella who was still blushing, her heart still fluttering. I pulled her to her feet and held her body close to mine.
"I can't believe you just did that," she said in a breathless voice.
"You're my wife now, Bella," I whispered in her ear. "I think that was a perfectly reasonable thing for a husband to do." I held her body close to mine and glassware clinked again in the dark. My lips, still burning with her touch, pressed against hers eagerly.
We remained in a tight embrace until the first notes of Quiet Night of Quiet Stars hit the night air. Bella and I were both stunned enough to jump away from one another. Alice was at our side.
"That wasn't the effect I'd hoped this song would have," she smirked.
"Alice!" Bella and I both chastised in unison.
"I only listened for the song. I didn't see anything, I promise. Now go on, you two. Everyone's waiting." Alice gave us a small nudge out onto the dance floor.
To my surprise, Bella didn't hesitate. I wrapped my arms around her and gazed into her eyes. Bella's eyes were tearing again, and I kissed her, brushing her warm tears with my lips. I held her body against mine and we moved easily around the dance floor. The lights twinkled in Bella's eyes, reminding me of our dance in front of the fire two nights ago. It seemed like another lifetime, everything had changed with a set of simple vows.
I want life to always be like this With you right next to me... And I, who was sad, Having lost faith in this world I found you, and then I knew What happiness is, my love...
Vampires are possessive by nature. To be mated is forever. I held Bella in my arms and remembered the hundreds of other times I'd held her. That first time in my room, the first night we spent together in her bed, the first night we'd spent together in mine. Those times I'd held her it had been a fervent wish, an impossibility. But now the truth was staring me in the face, in the form of Bella in a wedding gown, held in the hushed silence of family and friends. From now on when I held her in my arms, she would be mine.
As if Bella could hear my thoughts, her eyes glimmered and she smiled. Her face was close enough to mine that I was warmed with its heat.
"Enjoying the party Mrs. Cullen?" I whispered. I let my lips trail over her delicate skin just behind her ear and inhaled deeply.
"That will take a while to get used to."
"We have a while."
Did she hear the admission in what I'd said? I didn't want anything but eternity. And with that thought I crushed Bella's lips to mine for the fourth time as man and wife. I pulled her body impossibly closer. My restraint was losing out in this battle. With each kiss I needed more of Bella, wanted to claim her completely. I searched Emmett's brain, hoping for the location beyond the river. Maybe...
But the song was too short and the music changed. I felt a tap on my shoulder.
Bella released my lips and blushing, avoided her father's eyes. "You still taste like cake!" she whispered. With mention of the cake, my stomach turned violently. I wouldn't be able to hold it down much longer.
"Edward, uh, son, I think it's my turn to cut in."
"Of course." I gave Bella another soft kiss on the lips, before handing her over to her father. That made five times.
*
I was quickly making my way toward the house to rid my body of the human food, when Esme stepped into my path. "Edward." Her smile was warm and her hands clasped mine. "You're not going to duck out on me, are you?"
"No?" I looked longingly at the house.
"Edward!"
"Sorry, mom." As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Esme's face softened into a look of love. I knew I could always win her over by calling her mom.
"What is it, son?"
"Cake," I croaked.
"Oh! Do you need to go?"
"I think I can make it through our dance." I braved a smile and swung Esme out under the canopy of flowers.
"Thank you, dear."
The strains of Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" pierced the night air.
"I remember when you would go see him play at The Cotton Club. Then you would come home at the end of the night and replay everything on the piano for Carlisle and I. Tanya said you played better than they all did at the club. I believe it too. To hear you play jazz piano! You could transport us all to another world."
With mention of Tanya I felt another waive of nausea. Had she loved me even then?
"Edward, what is it?"
"Nothing, Esme. Just the cake." I watched Bella dancing awkwardly with her father. Charlie was talking food, but thinking about how much he loved his daughter. I felt a pang of regret. Charlie and I had a strained relationship, if you could call it a relationship at all. But it hurt to think that I was taking his daughter away from him in the most absolute sense of the word.
As the song faded into "Come Away with Me", Bella was passed off to Phil. Esme looked at me with complete concern. "Go, quickly. Get it over with and get back out here and enjoy your bride."
I looked back at Bella laughing up at Phil, actually dancing without a care in the world. She caught my eye and smiled. "She'll be here when you get back."
"Thanks mom." This time it was said with sincerity.
*
My trip to the bathroom was unpleasant but necessary. When I returned to the reception I chuckled to see Bella tolerating her time on the dance floor with Mike Newton. But his thoughts had me at her side immediately. All it took was one predatory glance and Mike stepped cautiously to the sidelines.
"Still not fond of Mike, eh?"
"Not when I have to listen to his thoughts. He's lucky I didn't kick him out, or worse."
"Yeah, right." Bella shook her head dismissively. I couldn't let her speak about herself like that tonight of all nights.
"Have you had a chance to look at yourself?"
"Um. No, I guess not. Why?"
"Then I suppose you don't realize how utterly, heart-breakingly beautiful you are tonight. I'm not surprised Mike's having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married woman. I am disappointed that Alice didn't make sure you were forced to look in a mirror."
"You are very biased, you know."
"Biased, am I?" I was certainly biased, but I was also very aware that there wasn't a man that could keep their eyes or thoughts far from Bella this evening. I spun her across the dance floor to the glass walls of the house, and turned her toward our reflection. Bella took in a quick breath and her hand came to her mouth in surprise.
Reflected back at us was a stunning beauty, whose exquisite frame was encased in an ethereal white gown. Her cheeks glowed pink under the light, her eyes lit up her delicate features, and her hand held mine. It was the first time I had seen us together as man and wife, and I held my breath, awed at the picture in front of me. A stray thought blew threw my brain, I wished my human mother could see me now, could see her ring on Bella's finger. I clasped the hand Bella had brought to her face and wrapped it around my waist. Her full lips glistened and I bent my head to bring them to my own.
A din of thoughts hit me at once. "He's here!" Seth shouted silently.
"Edward!" my brother's silently called out in unison.
"Go ahead, Jacob, you didn't come to hide in the bushes," Sam Uley urged his pack brother.
And then came the voice I'd grown to loathe. "I can't, guys. I can't."
"Oh," I sighed.
Bella stared at me inquisitively, and I worked to quickly make my face as pleasantly surprised as possible. This was for Bella; it would complete her night. I had been the one that invited him after all. I had no one to blame but myself.
"What is it?"
"A surprise wedding gift."
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Polar Night