Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

AN: I'm sorry for the delay in posting. This chapter gave me fits, but I got my mojo back and now they won't hush. As always all mistakes are mine. Beware of the cliffhangers that you know I love so much. I will try and get the next one out as soon as possible.

Chapter 25

A month had gone by and the pack, as well as Bella and the other imprints, had settled into a routine. Emily, Kim and Bella were busy planning Bella's wedding which was approaching fast.

They had decided to get married near the end of August, and with permission from the elders, were heading to Florida for a week-long honeymoon, courtesy of Renee and Phil.

However, as she sat at Emily and Sam's table with her friends, she wanted to pull her hair out and tell Paul they could go to the courthouse. Emily and Kim weren't listening to a word she said, only commenting snidely when she expressed what she wanted. It had been going on for a week. It was almost as if they were planning their own weddings, rather than hers, and she couldn't take it anymore.

Slamming her hands on the table, Bella pushed back her chair. "Enough!"

Kim and Emily stared at her in shock. "Bella?" Emily questioned.

"You guys aren't listening to anything I'm saying. This is my wedding to Paul, not yours. I don't want flowers everywhere or a long fucking dress. Jesus, I trip over air! You're making me want to elope."

Hearing her yelling had brought the pack inside, Jared and Sam in protective mode.

"If you guys want your wedding this way, that's fine, but this is mine! Dammit, you two are taking the fun out of this for me, so back off!" Brushing the tears of frustration off her face, Bella ran from the house.

"What the hell is going on?" Sam asked as he watched Bella run toward the beach.

While Emily sniffled, Kim looked at the guys. "We were just trying to help. I guess our help took over," she looked down at the floor.

"I'm gonna need a better explanation than that before I run after her." Paul crossed his arms and stared at the two women.

"We didn't mean to cross the line. She would tell us what she wanted, I guess we would make a face or something equally bad."

Paul couldn't help glaring at Emily, "Why? I know what she wants, what we both want. We want it on the beach, with just the pack and our families. She wants it at sunset and a bonfire reception."

"We know, but..." Kim trailed off.

"There is no 'but', Kim. This is our wedding. Do what you want with your own, but if Bella gets upset by this again..." Paul didn't need to complete his thought. Looking at the imprints, and then his brothers, he nodded and turned to follow Bella.

Paul found Bella sitting on the beach, staring out over the waves. He watched her for a minute, reveling in his luck. He had done nothing in his life to deserve someone as good and decent as her, but he would spend the rest of his life making her as happy as she made him.

Walking toward her, he sat down beside her on the log. "You know, you're always by the water when you want to think."

She smiled softly, but didn't look at him. "I was never one of those girls who pictured her wedding or played house. Hell, I never wanted to get married. Until I met you." She looked at him, "You changed everything, Paul. I want to marry you on the beach at sunset. I want to celebrate with our family and the pack around a bonfire." Looking back at the ocean, "I guess it seems lame to Emily and Kim."

"Baby, if that's what you want, then we'll make it happen. I want you to be happy."

***CT***

Sam, Emily, Jared and Kim were sitting at the table eating silently. The girls felt horrible for not taking Bella's desires into consideration and the guys were disappointed in their imprints.

"We didn't mean to upset her." Emily looked at Sam. "We honestly didn't even realize we were taking over anything."

"Did you listen to what she wanted?" Jared asked. "Or did you just think you knew better?"

"It wasn't like that, Jared. We heard what she said, but we gave her ideas for what would work better, or so we thought."

"They weren't," Sam spoke for the first time. "Bella and Paul know what they want, you need to respect that and you both need to apologize."

***CT***

Bella ran the brush through her freshly curled hair. Paul was taking her out for a date, a long overdue date. Although she wished it was just them, Sam and Jared had gotten wind of their plans and it had become a triple date.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I couldn't tell them no." Paul said from where he was seated on their bed. "I guess Em and Kim want to talk to you, too."

She put her brush down and walked out of the bathroom, stopping in front of him. "It's okay. Do I wish it was just the two of us? Sure, but we have the rest of our lives, right?"

Paul nodded and stood up. He was dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt stretched tightly across his chest. As he stood before her, Bella couldn't help running her eyes down his physique, following her eyes with her hands.

"Hmm...maybe we should stay home," she purred, looking up at him and watching his eyes darken with lust.

Paul growled deep in his chest and pulled her tight to him, letting her feel every hard inch of him. "Don't tempt me." He pressed his mouth to hers, pulling her bottom lip between his teeth. "We need to go before I take you. Trust me when I say you won't be moving easily tomorrow." He slapped her ass as he walked away, causing her to squeak.

Grinning at his retreating form, Bella finished getting ready. She pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and her black ballet flats. She finished her outfit with a silver, cold shoulder shirt. Satisfied with her appearance, she turned off the bedroom light and walked down the stairs.

Paul turned as she walked into the room and stared. "You're stunning."

Bella blushed, but smiled. She walked to the counter and picked up her cell and shoved it into the back pocket of her pants. "Ready?"

"Yeah, Sam and Jared are meeting us there."

The drive to Port Angeles took longer than the usual forty-five minutes, but only because Bella and Paul couldn't keep their hands off each other. When they arrived at the bar, he parked and they walked hand in hand to where their friends were waiting. Jared and Sam smirked when they saw them, causing Bella to blush knowing they could smell her arousal.

"Shut up, fuckers." Paul growled.

"Let's just go inside." Bella pulled on his hand toward the front door, the others following behind.

Emily, Kim and Bella found a table, while the guys went to the bar and got them drinks. The two of them took the opportunity to apologize to her for their actions.

"Bella, we are so sorry. We never meant to make you feel like your wishes weren't good enough." Emily started.

"Yeah. We know your wedding will be beautiful because it will be you and Paul committing yourselves to each other."

Bella smiled at her friends, "Thanks, guys. I know you meant well, but this is the only time I plan to get married and I want it to be my way."

"It better be the only time." Paul growled over her shoulder. He placed a bottle of water in front of Bella, as Sam and Jared did the same. Each of them carried a beer, but since Bella was still underage, Kim and Emily had agreed not to drink.

Bella looked up at her fiancé, "Come dance with me?"

He led her out to the dancefloor and they moved to the beat of the music for what felt like hours. Their arms were wrapped around each other, Bella's head on his chest and his cheek resting on hers as they swayed to a slow song, when Paul smelt it. Without a word, he picked Bella up and noticed Sam and Jared doing the same with Emily and Kim.

"Paul?"

"Hang on, baby, we gotta go."

"What is it?" Bella looked around for a threat.

"Leech." Paul growled.

AN: Again, sorry for the cliffie. I know there are several of you who hate them. The end is near for our happy couple. Until next time.