-1Ok, this is the end of the story. It took me a while to finish it off, sorry 'bout that, but I think it was worth the wait. Hope you do too.

Not mine, don't sue.

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It's a full moon tonight, the werewolf's curse, the night after my wedding. It's a very clear night, the stars are all over the sky, Bella wasn't kidding about desert skies. With the sun gone, the heat had worn off, the wind is starting to get a little chilly.

Movement behind me draws my attention to the door flap of our tent. The predator form of my husband is standing there, a pale ghostly image of male perfection, in a pair of dusty faded jeans and some old hiking boots. He had stayed in the tent during the day, to avoid "the sparkle factor," while I scouted out the area. Seeing him like this brings the fact of our marriage crashing, pleasantly, down around me. The momentous events of yesterday are alive all over again…

***

Lucky for me that vampires always have two things in common, no matter what: they're all rich, and they love planning 'Events,' notice the capitol 'E.' All I really had to do was answer a few questions and then Bella, Esme, and (to my surprise) Rosalie took over.

Question One: Did I want, or even know, a traditional tribal wedding ceremony?

Answer: Yes, I knew it, and no I didn't particularly want one.

Question Two: How many attendants would I have?

Answer: Just two, Bella and Seth.

Question three: Did I have a ring?

Answer: Yes, I did.

That was all that it took, the wedding planners went their merry way and left me with a ton of free time on me hands. I took that time squaring away some personal business; things like the pack leadership, and finding a good carpentry program at a local tech school. Y'know, mundane stuff. I also had a lot of time to spend with Jas, which was a reward all by itself.

***

"Y'know, Jake," Jas' voice drags me back to the present. "you're really very sentimental when you want to be." He must have heard echoes of my emotional reflections.

"Eavesdropper," I mutter darkly, despite the delighted grin I fell spreading across me face. A soft feeling seeps through me, and a faint flickering image of myself watching the sunset. In the time we've been together Jasper and I have both been able to send these images and feelings between each other; Carlisle thinks it might have something to do with my pack's unique way of communicating blending with Jasper's. I'm just delighted with it, every time it happens.

His arms are around me, and the feeling intensifies, warmth of love and a buried electric wire of sexual attraction, I can't help the teasing glint in my tone, "Now who's the sentimentalist?"

He chuckles, a sound that is turning into a purr as our lips search for each other. Such sweet anticipation…

***

The site chosen for the wedding has once been a summer retreat for some rich family in the 1920's. those people knew how to build back then! Huge bat windows, marble floors and staircases; it was unreal. It was also, you must admit, the perfect place for a vampire's wedding.

I was led to a set of rooms where Seth, Bells, and I were to get dressed. Ever see that movie, "The Women," the original one? That's what I thought of when I saw the room: giant gilt mirrors, upholstered screens for privacy when changing. Wine and cheese were on e table near some chairs and chaise lounges.

My face must have given away my shock to my "attendants," because they both broke out laughing at me. Seth was wearing his tux pants, dress shoes and a wife beater, Bella was wearing… some sort of girl under thing.

"Looks like you've really landed in it man," the new alpha grinned. "maybe I need to get me a leech of my own, I could get used to the sweet life." Bella threw a piece of cheese at him, which he deftly caught in his mouth before making whining puppy noises.

I, still kind of shocked, flopped down into a chair and grabbed a glass of wine and downed it. I don't usually drink, but just then I needed it. It was a poor substitute for the soothing powers of my fiancé, but it did numb the butterflies a little bit.

"You shouldn't just chug it Jake, it's not a shot," Bella said with concern.

"Seriously," Seth nodded. "What's up?

"Nerves, I guess," I replied with a shrug. "You both know how much I hate being in the limelight."

Seth barked another laugh, pun unintended, while Bella patted my arm. "It'll all be over soon."

"Yeah, then honeymoon," Seth added with a smirk.

The nerves, the dressing, the banter with my friends, they're all still a blur for me. Sorry guys, but when this happens to you, you'll understand I'm sure.

***

I smile slightly when Jasper ends the kiss, and rests his forehead against mine. He's cold, like always, but his eyes burn; it makes him look hungry despite their newly fed gold color. A slow blush is spreading across my face.

"You're nervous," his voice is low and intense. It's not a question.

"Yeah," I whimper. "I don't really know how we…"

An understanding look blooms on his face, but no following feeling of reassurance. It's actually a kind of compliment that he's not exerting his gift in this moment. He kisses me again, a soft pressing of lips, before speaking.

"I love you Jacob," his lips vibrate against mine like little caresses, then trail down to my throat. "I can't promise that it's not going to hurt." His fingers work on my shirt buttons, parting the crisp linen. "You've just got to trust me. This is going to be…"

***

"…beautiful," I murmured. The gardens of the mansion were dappled with sunlight. (Since all in attendance were in the know, we didn't worry about 'the diamond effect.') Graceful fountains tinkled and the statues seemed to dance to the music of a stringed quartet that played 'Canon in D' discretely to one side.

There was an antique feeling to the scene. The arch at the end of the runner was draped in gauze and small bundles of roses, the minister waiting there was in an old fashioned version of clerical gear. The guests clothing even looked a little outdated; kind of like the get ups people wore to Civil War re-enactments, or the Kentucky Derby.

My father was waiting for us at the bottom of a brief staircase at the foot of the runner. Carlisle and Esme waiting about ten feet beyond him at the end of a second stairway and runner. Two aisles led up to the altar, one for each groom. (I was wondering about that, since 'Here Comes the Bride' really wasn't appropriate, know?)

Bella descended my stairs first, giving Dad a smile as she floated by with that weird vampire grace of hers. She was wearing a kind of filmy sun dress and carried a lily, a straw sunhat on her head. My heart gave one little spasm at the sight of her; so much the girl I loved, so much the woman I had imprinted on.

Opposite her Edward passed between his parents, wearing a tux not unlike the one that Seth had been assigned; long tails and a big tie with a pearl pin, even a top hot, in a kind of grey-blue. Some how he and Bella managed to walk in perfect sync with each other.

With Bella halfway to the altar Seth went down next, almost slouching as he sauntered past Dad. He looked both relaxed and menacing, like a wolf on the prowl. Jasper's brother Emmett was coming down the Cullen's aisle, again in sync with his fellow. If Seth was the stalking wolf, Emmett was the hunting tiger; massive but graceful.

The music changed into something I didn't recognize, but it sounded nice and I met my father at the end of the runner. "Hey Dad," I half stuttered.

"Jake," he smiled at me, the same smile he'd given me when he found out about Nessie and myself. "Looks like we just can't get away from these Cullenses, huh?"

I nodded ruefully before taking the handles on his wheelchair and pushed him towards my fate. I didn't bother to see if I had managed to walk in step with Jasper and his folks, I was more worried about making it up there without banging my father into a chair. After what felt like an eternity I had managed…

***

…to relax enough for Jasper to fully enter me. It's like being ripped apart, divided by something that can't be accepted, but won't be denied. I groan, a fearful tired groan, and my back arches, pressing my belly to Jasper's. My eyes fall open and I can seen Jasper's face, his eyes are closed and his lips slightly parted; his pleasure is like a revelation written in the perfect planes of his face.

A feeling so strong, something I've never experienced, batters against my brain; an uncontrolled tide of exquisite pleasure and pain. Jasper and I are now connected by our emotions, our bodies, our love. It's a moment that could last forever…

***

"Jasper, Jacob," the minister says our name with a very kindly voice. "Do you both come freely and of your own free will to enter the union of marriage?"

"I do," Jasper's melting voice says confidently. I finally got a good look at him. He was wearing his old uniform. His Civil War captain's uniform. He's so, dashing, so, perfect that for a moment that I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

"I," my voice is choking me, the words won't come out. Jasper smiled in encouragement and pulsed the needed nerve to me. "I do."

The minister's words are lost to me. If it weren't for Jasper's mental support I would have missed the times when I was supposed to answer. It didn't matter. I was marrying Jasper, this was an affirmation of what we'd found together, a great love born of a great hate; a lifetime commitment that rose from the ashes of death.

Maybe it's inappropriate but I couldn't help but thinking of Nessie. Her laughter and that wicked gleam in her eyes, even the way she moved on the hunt, it was back upon my like I was being haunted. I could almost see her, just beyond our little group, standing beside that little nymph Alice. They were holding hands, and smiling at me; then they were gone. They were at peace, their ghosts buried in the love between Jasper and I.

Finally it came to the part with the rings. Jasper took my hand and slid a ring onto it. I looked down to see a plain gold band, one that looked a little careworn, but it was all too beautiful and appropriate to me.

"I, Jasper," his voice broke through to me again, "take you Jacob to be my husband. Let this ring stand as a symbol of my love you, and my commitment to your happiness, as long as we both shall live." Even he, my eternally suave, my empath, couldn't keep a little quiver out of his voice.

I took my ring from Seth, a gold band with leaves engraved onto it, and slid it onto his finger. "With this ring," I murmured, "I promise to love and honor you Jasper, to be your friend and partner, in the best of times and worse, as long as we both shall live." I tear dropped onto our hands, and I didn't even try to hide it.

"By the pledges you've exchanged, by the giving of rings," he minister intoned, "by the power vested in me; it is my great honor to pronounce you partners in life. Please, kiss your mate."

My lips met Jaspers and it was electric, our tongues twined around each others, even as our arms wrapped around one another. It was the deepest kiss of entire life, my heart was on those lips and his on mine. All the pent up anxieties were given…

***

…release. A painful and ecstatic release as we fall panting to the desert floor. My sweat gluing us together as the last kiss lingers. Slowly he pulls out of me and collapses to my side, our arms are instantly wrapped around each other. I shake my sweat dampened hair out of my eyes.

"I love you, Mr. Black," I whisper into that calm beautiful face.

"And I love you, Mr. Cullen," he answers.

Fin.

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Well, there it is, hope you like it. I been sick the last few days (I'm gonna be on meds for 9 months!), so if this feels a little odd, chalk it up to that. I'm not sure I'll be working on next, but I'll promise it'll be… something. LOL

-Ryv