Chapter Sixteen

It had all been pretty much a blur since Kate arrived in Maine to see Tanya. Tanya had gone up to her apartment and found the guys there. Edward had given her a strange look, but didn't say anything, and she was grateful that he kept his comments to himself. Emmett had gone on with his jokes and sexual innuendos though he had no idea where she had been or whom with. Jasper just watched and Garrett had stood tentatively off to the side, unsure what he should do or say. Tanya hadn't blamed him, it wasn't as if she had treated him very well in the time that they had lived together in Denali.

When Kate arrived, the Cullens had left to catch a flight back to Washington, leaving Tanya, Kate and Garrett alone. Kate had thrown her arms first around Tanya, then around Garrett, and had stayed next to him, barely out of arms reach, until he had said he needed to hunt, though both women suspected he was giving them a chance to talk alone.

Kate filled Tanya in about the engagement and rolled her eyes a bit. "Alice wants us to have it in Forks so everyone can be there."

Tanya felt a stab of pain at the thought of leaving Maine, though she wasn't sure why. After the confrontation with Caius's minion and then the unsettling meeting with Jesse she should be dying to get the hell out of dodge. "Well I think that's a good idea. You pretty much won't have to do anything if you let Alice plan it," she laughed lightly.

Kate also laughed. "This is true, and honestly, I think that as soon as I got into my car she started ordering things. She wants it to be as spectacular as Edward and Bella's wedding."

Tanya shook her head and forced a smile. "That's Alice."

Garrett returned as they were discussing some wedding plans they wanted Alice to work in. Kate beamed the moment she saw him, and though Tanya understood, she still felt a pang of jealousy. She would be the only one in their family who didn't have a mate. Before Tanya could dwell too much on it, Garrett spoke up. "I think that if we are going to stay here for any length of time Katie, I had better buy some new clothes. The townsfolk will start to wonder if they see me walking around in the same clothes day after day."

Kate bit her lip and looked at Tanya. "You're coming back with us right? You have to me my maid of honor. I wouldn't have anyone else. You're my sister."

Tanya forced another smile. "Of course I'm coming with you. And if I wasn't your maid of honor I'd be pretty pissed. Besides, if I'm not there you might let Alice run amok with plans."

Kate laughed, leaning against Garrett's side as she spoke to Tanya. "How long will it take you to pack?"

Tanya glanced around. "Not long. I'll get my stuff together and then I'll have to leave a note, some money and the key for the landlord. Give me ten minutes."

Kate nodded and looked up at Garrett as Tanya raced away to do her chores. "Thank you for coming out here to find my sister. I know she hasn't been exactly hospitable to you, and I wouldn't have blamed you if you didn't want to try and save her."

Garrett raised a brow at her. "I would do anything for you Kate. You don't deserve any more hurt, and letting the tracker have Tanya would have been too much." He smiled down at her and smoothed a lock of hair from her forehead.

Kate wound her arms around his waist and curled into his chest contentedly. "Thank you," she whispered again.

-

They made it back to Forks in just over a day, Kate in the lead, Tanya following. They were welcomed with hugs and concerns for Tanya and Alice excitedly pulling Kate to her room to show her what she had figured out for the wedding. Kate looked over all the plans and shook her head. "Alice, we're not having a huge wedding. Your family, my family... that's about it."

Alice rolled her eyes. "As if I'd let you do that! Our families, the wolves, I called Peter and Charlotte and Mary and Randall, I know that Garrett knows them. It is going to be wonderful!"

"Alice I appreciate it, really I do, but lets not go over the top," Kate replied.

"I will not go over the top," Alice said holding her hand up like she was swearing an oath.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Sure I'm more inclined to believe you will try not to go over the top." She grinned. "Just... keep it simple. Please?"

"You got it. Your wish is my command and all that mumbo jumbo. Now go. I need to work. Alice said pushing Kate out the door.

As Kate wandered down the hall she wondered if she had made a mistake giving Alice free reign. It also occurred to her that no one had called Carmen and Eleazar. She picked up her pace and went to find Tanya.

-

As it turned out, Kate was wrong. Alice had called Carmen and Eleazar. As she came down to the living room she heard Carmen's voice. "Oh Alice told us the wedding would be this weekend, but she wanted us to come down early, since Kate and Tanya and Garrett are our family and all," she was saying to Carlisle.

"Is she really a miracle worker?" Kate asked only half jokingly.

Bella looked at Kate and offered a small smile. "Oh never put anything past Alice. She can throw together a party in the blink of an eye if you give her any room to jump off from."

"She's a little monster in designer clothing!" Kate returned, but she said it affectionately. She really did love Alice, as they all did.

"I heard that!" They all heard Alice yell from her room upstairs.

That made everyone laugh. Kate glanced around and noticed that Jasper, Garrett and Tanya were all missing. "Where are Garrett, Tanya and Jasper?"

"Garrett and Jasper went hunting," Esme said, "And Tanya said she was going for a walk."

Garrett and Jasper seemed to have developed a close relationship, almost as close or maybe closer than Jasper had with his brothers. It didn't surprise Kate that they were out hunting. But Tanya going off, that bothered her. Something had been bothering Tanya. Kate had thought it was just the fact that she felt like a fifth wheel now, but now she wasn't so sure.

Edward was looking at her and shook his head. In a flash Kate was at his side.

What's up with Tanya?

"That's not my story to tell Kate." he replied

But you know.

"I have an idea but it's not my place. You'll have to speak to her about it."

Kate sighed and nodded. She had hoped that Edward would give her the information but apparently he was busy being the good guy today.

Edward raised his golden eyes to her and he laughed. "Yeah, you caught me on a good day."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I'm going to see if I can find Tanya." She walked over to Carmen and Eleazar and hugged them both. "Thank you for coming. I'll be back soon."

Carmen hugged her then Eleazar did and both waved her away. "Go. I'm worried about Tanya as well. Go find her, Kate." Carmen said quietly before releasing her.

Kate walked out the front door and closed her eyes, concentrating her senses. She headed in the direction that Tanya had taken, following her scent. She was walking along, her hands in the pockets of her jeans when she came across Tanya sitting against the trunk of a tree across the river from the Cullens home. Kate didn't say anything, she just sat down against another tree, facing Tanya.

They sat there a long time in silence but it was a companionable silence, not like what they had been through six months ago before Tanya left. Finally Tanya spoke. "Don't get me wrong Kate. I'm happy to be here. But at the same time I miss that little town. I miss being on my own." I miss not having to be the mother, she added silently.

"Tanya, I want you to be happy. If that is living away from the rest of us for now, I will understand," Kate smiled a bit. "We're all adults, and have been around for hundreds of years Tanya. You don't have to worry about us."

Tanya laughed a bit. "I know that, but it doesn't stop my protectiveness from worrying."

Kate looked at her. "I will support whatever decision you make regarding our living arrangements for the time being. Garrett and I were thinking of taking an extended honeymoon anyway. I was thinking remote island with white sand beaches and hot weather. He's thinking backpacking. We may have to compromise."

Tanya did laugh for real this time. "Yes I think you will have to compromise or make that one long trip. But either way, I wish you both nothing but the best. I love you Kate, and Garrett has grown on me a lot. He's good for you Katie."

Kate stood up and pulled Tanya to her feet, embracing her. "Thank you Tanya. You have no idea how much that means to me, coming from you."

Tanya smiled and as she pulled out of the hug reached out and touched Kate's cheek. "Well if he ever hurts you, I will have to kill him," she said.

Kate smiled and held Tanya's hand to her cheek. They both looked up as they sensed the approach of Garrett and Jasper.

As the two men appeared, Kate let Tanya drop her hand and she went to Garrett's side. Jasper gave Garrett a friendly punch on the shoulder before they all went to hop the river and go back to the house.

That week flew by in a blur of delivery trucks, dress fittings and decorations. Alice had really outdone herself and suddenly it was the big day. Kate stood in Alice's room, letting her fuss over the strapless dress that Kate was wearing. All white with intricate beading, it had a long train that was beaded all the way down. Rosalie and Alice had put her long pale hair up in a delicate updo, placing babies breath in her hair and placing the veil on her crown. That too was long and had tiny rhinestones all around the edges of the material.

Tanya was sitting on Alice's bed, dressed in a pale blue, strapless satin gown that hugged her curves. Her strawberry blond hair was done up with curls escaping to frame her face. She looked gorgeous. Alice was just finishing up Kate's makeup when Rosalie came in. "It's time," she said.

Kate's gaze flew from one woman to the other. Alice flitted to the bathroom and grabbed the two bouquets that were there, handing the smaller one to Tanya and the larger one to Kate. "You'll be fine, Kate. You look beautiful. It's going to be wonderful!"

With that Rosalie disappeared down the stairs and Alice danced after her. It was just Kate and Tanya. Tanya looked Kate over and smiled. "You do look so beautiful Kate."

"Thank you Tanya. Shall we?" Kate replied as she heard the piano downstairs start to play. Kate could hear Bella giving Nessie her last minute instructions for being the flower girl.

Tanya nodded and walked out of the room and headed to the head of the stairs. Edward was playing Pachebel's Canon in D. Kate reached over and kissed Tanya's cheek lightly and then bid her go. "I'll see you down there," she said with a smile.

Tanya laughed and started slowly down the stairs. Kate heard the guests turn in their seats to see Tanya descend. When Tanya was half way to the makeshift alter, the music morphed in to the traditional wedding march. Kate took an unneeded breath put one foot in front of the other. Descending the stairs at human speed seemed to take forever, but she wanted to prolong this moment. As she reached the bottom of the staircase she looked around and saw the faces of her family, her friends and finally, her husband to be. A radiant smile lit her face as she took in how handsome Garrett looked in a black tuxedo with the pale blue vest and bow tie that matched the color of Tanya's dress. His sandy hair was tied back neatly from his face with a leather strip. Tanya stood to one side while Jasper stood next to Garrett, standing up for him, dressed in the same style tuxedo and the same pale blue satin vest and bow tie. The room was decorated much as it had been for Bella and Edward's wedding the year before. Kate knew that she would remember this day much clearer than Bella ever would remember hers.

As she reached the alter, she smiled at the pastor they had gotten to come and marry them. Of course the papers that they had filed were forged, considering both were hundreds of years old, but that didn't matter to Kate. None of it mattered except Garrett and this moment. Handing her bouquet to Tanya she took Garrett's hands and listened while the pastor said the words that would bind them forever legally. When it came time for the vows, Kate repeated the words with an incredible love in her voice. When the pastor asked if she took this man to be her lawfully wedded husband as long as they both shall live her voice was clear and strong as she said "I do."

Garrett repeated his vows, a smile lighting his face the entire time.

"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Garrett replied with conviction.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," the pastor said.

Garrett pulled her close and gently touched his lips to hers. Kate would have none of that and pulled him closer, giving him a deep, passionate kiss that lasted long enough for Emmett to start the cat calls and saying "get a room!"

Kate pulled away laughing and everyone clapped as they made their way, hand in hand back down the aisle. Tanya and Jasper followed. Once outside, everyone was there, hugging and congratulating. Kate hugged Carmen and Eleazar, all of the Cullens, Mary, Charlotte. Jacob and Seth were there as well, looking quite at home with all the vampire company. Embry and Quil were also there but they didn't look nearly as comfortable.

In the yard, a dance floor had been set up, just as it had for Bella and Edward's wedding. Some food was set out for the humans, and Edward's elaborate stereo was set up to play the music. Soon someone started it up, and Garrett pulled Kate out onto the dance floor for the traditional first dance. As they glided around the floor, Kate lay her head on his shoulder and smiled. "I love you," she said quietly.

Garrett lifted her face from his shoulder and smiled. "And I love you. Forever."

-

As the dance went on, and everyone took turns on the dance floor, Tanya sat off to the side watching. She was happy for Kate but she was truly not wanting to be here any more. She stood up and walked quickly toward the front of the house. She wasn't sure what she was doing until she had the phone in her hand and she was dialing. A familiar voice on the other end answered. "Hello?"

"Jesse?"

THE END

A/N: This story came to a close with Kate and Garrett's wedding. However, I left a lot unresolved and I realize that. I fell in love with Tanya in this story. To tell you the truth, when I read the books, I disliked her a lot, and I had originally intended to kill her off in this story. But the more I wrote, the more I liked her, and realized that Tanya deserved a chance to find love too. Will it be with Jesse? If you're interested in finding out, please join me on my sequel. It's called Rising Sun, and I'll be posting it soon. Thank you so much for reading!