Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you for the awesome reviews on this story and my other's. Nikki

Part Eighteen

"Oh baby girl. You got married?" Renee shrieked like a little girl as she jumped up and down with excitement. She held Bella's hand and gazed admiringly at her wedding and engagement rings. "They are so lovely. Your mom had exquisite taste." She said to Jacob.

"Thanks Renee." Jacob smiled happily at the two excited women. He and Bella had stopped off in Seattle to see Renee before heading on home. Her praise of Sarah's engagement ring really touched him. He could see that Bella felt the same as she hugged her mother tightly.

"So how did your dad take the news?" Renee asked after she had calmed down a little. She sat down on her two seater leather sofa and pulled Bella down next to her.

"Um...we haven't told him yet. You are the first to know. We just took off and decided to elope." Bella confessed.

Renee smiled knowingly and patted her hand. "That is so romantic. I am sure he and everyone else will be as pleased as I am. I have never seen a young couple so happy and in love."

Bella felt tears well up in her eyes. She hugged her mother again, pleased that she was so happy for them, despite the fact that she had two failed marriages behind her. "So how is life treating you?" She asked.

Renee laughed nervously and bit her lip. "Well I have met a young man of my own." She admitted.

"Really?" Bella said in surprise. She exchanged a look with Jacob before turning back to her mom.

"Yes. He works at the school I'm teaching at. You'll love him baby girl. His name is Alan. He is the caretaker." Renee gushed.

"Wow. That's fantastic." Bella smiled at Renee and hugged her again to hide her dismay.

Renee invited her new love Alan over for dinner so that Bella and Jacob could meet him while they were in the city. He arrived promptly at eight, and that is when the newly married couple got their second shock. Alan couldn't be more than twenty two at the most. Bella had to hide her stunned reaction behind her long hair as he shook hands with Jacob.

"Nice to meet you." Alan said easily as he threw a muscular arm across Renee's shoulders. He obviously worked out, Bella thought, but he wasn't in Jacob's league. She felt Jacob put his arm around her waist and hug her tightly. He could tell she was finding it hard to contain her shock.

"You work out, Alan?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah." He flexed his muscles, obviously proud of them. Jacob hid his amusement. "I see you do as well. The women in this family like their men strong. Right Ren?" He winked at Renee, who tittered.

Bella had to force herself not to roll her eyes. This guy belonged in the playground. What was her mom thinking? It only got worse after that. Alan took over the conversation throughout dinner, often praising himself highly, with Renee hanging on to every word he said. Bella and Jacob just found him highly irritating, but they kept up the pretence for Renee's sake. They were both glad when the evening drew to a close and they could retire to the spare room where they were spending the night before leaving the next day.

They were relaxing in bed after making love. Bella had her head resting on Jacob's broad chest as he ran his fingers through her thick bed hair. He smoothed out the tangled strands and listened as she expressed her concerns over her mother's new relationship. "He is like Phil all over again." She said worriedly. "Do you think I should say something?"

Jacob kissed the top of her head. "Honestly, I don't think you should. Renee is a grown woman. You can't keep playing the parent honey."

Bella sighed as she raised her head to look up at him, grudging respect clear in her eyes. "You are always the voice of reason." She smiled and leaned in for a sweet kiss.

Jacob laughed softly and pulled her up his long body so she was face to face with him. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes and his heart melted at the sight of her. She took his breath away each time. "I love you." He said, his expression turning serious.

"Right back at you." Bella whispered, her heart in her eyes as she captured his lips with hers.

They had to bid Renee goodbye early the next morning. Bella was saddened to say farewell, but she was looking forward to getting back to Forks. She had enjoyed her time back on the road but was now eager to start planning her new life with Jacob. After telling the dad's and the pack about their impromptu wedding, they would need to plan where they were going to live. Charlie's apartment was nearly ready to move into. Billy was already prepared to move into the new house on the reservation. Now Bella and Jacob were married this would all change. The newlyweds held hands and talked through the dilemma on the way back home; but as they reached the outskirts of Forks they were still no closer to a solution.

"YOU ARE WHAT?" Charlie roared as he stared at Jacob and Bella.

Billy was looking equally as stunned. He gazed wide eyed upon his only son as if he had never seen him before. "But why? Why go off in secret and marry?" He demanded.

"Mom was pleased for us." Bella said impatiently. "Why can't you be?"

"Dad, come on." Jacob glared at his dad, annoyed at his tone.

"I would have liked to have walked you down the aisle, Bella. Ever thought of that?" Charlie pointed out grumpily. "It would have been a good excuse to get out of this thing." He banged the arms of his wheelchair.

"Yes, it would have given us both something to look forward to." Billy joined in. "I missed out on Rebecca's wedding and it doesn't seem like Paul is in any hurry to make an honest woman of your sister."

"That's because he wants you to pay for the wedding." Jacob muttered in annoyance. He ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Bella, who was looking as equally as irritated at the old men's selfishness. "It is what we wanted. Don't you both think we have sacrificed enough over the last year? Well for once we damn well did what we wanted, and it was fun too."

Billy and Charlie saw the heated look on Jacob's face. Bella's expression mirrored her new husbands. Both youngsters were as equally hurt by their parent's reactions. This calmed both men down. Charlie rolled his chair over to Bella and took her hand in his. "I'm sorry. Congratulations, kiddo. Forgive a selfish old man?"

Bella sank down to her knees and embraced her father. She rested her chin on his shoulder and squeezed. "Yes. I love you, dad."

"I love you too, kiddo." Charlie patted her on the back.

Billy smiled as he joined Charlie in congratulating the new couple. He shook his son's hand and hugged Bella when she pulled away from Charlie. "Tell you what kids, how about we have a massive reception instead? The Chief here and I will pay."

Jacob grinned as Bella clapped her hands in delight. "Done." Jacob laughed loudly as he slapped both the old men on the back heartily.

The pack went wild when Bella and Jacob announced that they were married. Quil and Embry ran over to Bella and hugged the life out of her before grabbing hold of Jacob and hauling him up on their shoulders and carrying him around the Black house. Emily and Kim cuddled Bella and congratulated her, telling her she was now an official wolf girl. Leah sneered at them but she too hugged Bella in her strong arms and told her she was pleased for her and Jacob. Rachel gave her new sister-in-law a grudging welcome to the family. She kept glaring at Paul, who seemed determined to ignore his imprints heavy hints that perhaps he should hurry and put a ring on her finger.

An impromptu party was suddenly arranged. The whole pack headed to the beach, with Bella and Jacob among them. Drink and food was produced, seemingly from thin air, and a bonfire was set up in the middle of the beach. The celebrations went on late into the night, and it wasn't only the women who had hangovers. Paul had broken open his secret stash of moonshine, and this floored even the strongest members of the pack. They were all nursing banging heads the next day.

All in all the news of Jacob and Bella's marriage went down very well, and the two newlyweds couldn't have been happier. The next day Billy had some news for them. He had offered the new house to Rachel and Paul. He was going to stay in the family home, and he asked Jacob and Bella to move in with him. As for Charlie, an annexe was going to be built on the back of the Black house for him to live in. He was going to forego the apartment and join the family permanently. He would still have his own space, but would be close so Bella and Jacob could keep an eye on him.

"This is all so amazing." Bella said later that night as she snuggled close to her new husband. "It has all worked out better than I could have imagined."

"Told you." Jacob cuddled her tightly. He loved the feel of her naked body pressed close to his. He still pinched himself every day to make sure he wasn't in fact dreaming. If he was, he never wanted to wake up.

"You sure did." Bella agreed. "You always had faith and you were right."

"I could get a big head with all this praise." Jacob teased her.

"Not you." Bella giggled as she kissed him on his face over and over, making him laugh.

They settled down for the night, both the happiest they had ever been in their lives, ready and eager for the new day to begin.

A/N-one last chapter to go! Thanks for reading!