Unknown Beginnings

Chapter 20: The Big Day

I stood in front of the full length mirror staring at my reflection for the last ten minutes. I was very pleased with the turn out. Rosalie and Alice did a brilliant job. I was wearing a strapless floor length gown that trailed out behind me. My hair was pinned half up while the rest hung in loose curls on my shoulders and neck. My veil was positioned perfectly around my face.

"No matter how long you stare you are not going to get ugly," Alice joked as she skipped into the room.

"I know. I'm admiring the view."

"Oh, well in that case continue."

"Thank you again Alice." I turned to face her and she smiled up at me.

"I have something for you."

I looked down and noticed the little box in her hand.

"What is it?"

She stuck her hand out and I took it and nervously opened it. Inside was a beautiful butterfly hair clip with little blue diamonds along the body.

"Alice it's beautiful."

"You need something blue. And I figured it was perfect to bring a little piece of

Edward with you."

I looked up at her quickly confused.

"What?"

"It was another thing Edward kept for his mom. I knew where it was and I know he would want you to have it as your something blue."

I looked back down at the box and felt the venom pool in my eyes. I knew they wouldn't release, but I knew it meant I felt like crying. I took a few steps to the side and sat down in the chair there as I stared down at the hair clip in my hand.

Alice walked over to me and kneeled down so she was eye level.

"Bella?" Her voice was soft.

I looked up and met her gaze.

"He's supposed to be here."

"No. Don't say that. You are meant to be with Jasper."

"I love Jasper. And I want to spend eternity with him. But it doesn't mean that if Edward had never died I wouldn't be doing this exact thing with him."

"That is true. I have no doubt he would have married you. I saw it even a few times when he would make the decision to ask you. But this is how fate played out."

"I miss him so much still."

"I know. And he is smiling down on you right now."

I nodded at her a few times and then stood up.

"Let's do this."

"Alright. Carlisle is right outside waiting for you. I'll meet you downstairs."

"Ok."

She fluttered out of the room. I took one last look in the mirror and opened the bedroom door.

Carlisle stood before me dressed to the nines in his tux.

"Bella, you look beautiful."

"You don't look so bad yourself dad."

He beamed ear to ear at me calling him dad.

"I want you to know I am so proud of you. You are stronger than anyone I have ever met."

"Thank you."

He was silent a moment as he looked at me. It seemed as though he was debating on saying something.

"Go ahead." I gave him a little smile.

"You can't just hear it?"

"I only listen if needed. I don't want to invade your privacy."

"I want you to see something. So please listen."

I nodded and opened myself up to him. An image flashed before my eyes of him in his study. He lifted his head and looked at someone across from him. The angle changed and it was Edward. I gasped at the sight. It had been a while since I seen him.

"You really like her," Carlisle stated.

"No. I love her," Edward's voice was smooth.

"I'm happy for you son. It's about time."

I just want her to be happy."

"She is a strong girl."

"She has to be to be ok with us."

"It's more than that."

"She is the most amazing person I have ever met. She is beautiful inside and out."

"That she is."

"I'm going to marry her someday. She is going to look amazing in her wedding dress."

"Marriage?" Carlisle asked surprised.

"If she'll have me. I can already picture her. A vision in white."

Carlisle smiled at him.

The vision disappeared and a sob broke out of me.

"He loved you so much Bella. He would be so happy for you right now. He IS so happy for you right now."

"I can't do this." I put my face in my hands and let my body shake with sobs.

"Bella, I did not show you that to upset you. I didn't want you to back out of this. Jasper is downstairs waiting to make you his wife. He loves you. Edward loves you. Edward wanted you to be happy. You told us that yourself. You heard him say it. He wanted it to be with Jasper. I wanted you to know that he loved you so much and you made his vision come true. You are a vision in white."

"I want him to come back."

"We all do. Even Jasper. Jasper would give you up in a heartbeat if it meant Edward was back with us all. Back with you. That is how much he loves you. He knows how much that hurts."

I nodded not able to speak.

"Give yourself this. Go downstairs, tell Jasper how much you love him, and show the world that he belongs to you."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I opened them and smiled at Carlisle.

"Ok."

"You going to be ok dear?"

I slipped the butterfly out of its box and slipped it into my hair easily.

"Ok, I'm ready."

"Shall we?"

I smiled and hooked my arm with him as we headed down the stairs.

We had decided to have the wedding in the back yard with just close friends and family. Rosalie was standing as my maid of honor and Alice was standing as bridesmaid. Emmett was the only one standing up with Jasper. We stepped in front of the open door that led out to the backyard.

There was a big white tent set up. Directly at the bottom of the stairs the aisle spread out between the few rows of guests.

My eyes locked with Jasper instantly and a huge smile spread across his face. I couldn't help the smile that spread across mine at the sight of him. The music changed and my lullaby filtered through the yard. My mouth dropped open and I looked up at Carlisle.

"It's the only way," He whispered.

I took a few deep breaths to gather myself and then turned back toward Jasper as Carlisle led me down the isle. When we reached the end I turned to Carlisle who pulled me into a hug.

"Congratulations Bella. You have always been a daughter, but this just makes it official."

"Thank you dad." He let me go and took my hand and passed it to Jasper.

He led me up in front of him and I turned to look at him.

"You look beautiful," He whispered.

I let my eyes wander down his frame and back up and he laughed.

"Down girl." He winked and I laughed.

We turned to the minister, which was a friend of Carlisle's.

"I now pronounce you Mr. Jasper Hale and Mrs. Isabella Hale-Whitlock. You may kiss your bride."

Jasper turned to me and his eyes were glowing. He pulled me close so our lips were only a centimeter apart.

"You're all mine now." And pressed his lips against mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as the audience erupted into applause. We pulled away and turned to everyone making our way down so we could spread hugs and shake hands.

After taking our time chatting with everyone, Jasper took my hand and led me out to the dance floor. The dance floor was open to the sky and the moon was bright. Jasper's skin danced with the light. I laughed out loud when the song started up. It was "You say it Best When You Say Nothing at All".

"May I have this dance?" Jasper bowed lightly in front of me.

"Of course."

He pulled me up to him and wrapped his arm around my waist as I wrapped mine around his neck. He spun me around the dance floor perfectly as he sang the lyrics in my ear.

"So are you happy Mr. Hale?" I asked pulling away slightly to look at him.

"Bella, I have never been happier."

"Me neither." He bent his head and laid a gentle kiss on my lips.

"I heard you talking earlier. To Carlisle and Alice." He watched my face closely, but I couldn't hold his gaze.

"I didn't mean that I didn't want you."

He shook his head and stopped me from saying more.

"I know it didn't mean that you did not love me. Carlisle was right Bella. I would give all this up if it meant that you could have Edward back."

"Don't say that."

"It's true. I know you love me and that you are happy with me. But I also know that if Edward was still here that you would be with him. This would be your wedding to him. And that doesn't bother me."

"It should."

"I know it should. But it doesn't. He was my brother. I want him back just as much as anyone else. So yes, I would give this up for him to be able to be here and for him to be able to hold you in his arms again. I don't regret that at all."

"I love you."

"Listen to me." I knew what he meant so I opened my mind up.

He let memories of us together flash before his eyes. The way he use to look at me before we were together, the weekend at the Denalis, our first kiss, our first time making love, and the vision he saw of me walking down the isle.

"My memories are just as good," I whispered.

"I am so glad that I can now call you mine. I am never letting you go Mrs. Isabelle Hale-Whitlock."

"I like the sound of that."

"Mmmm… Me too," He said as he brought his face down to mine for another kiss.