Chapter 28 – Knot on Your Life

"Well, Bella?" Edward asked nervously. I'd guess I was taking too long to answer him, because he was starting to perspire, and then he started rambling. "I-I know we're still young, but I really have been in love with you for such a long time. I know I've done a lousy job of showing it, but I'm trying..."

"Yes."

"...to be a better man for you. I know I've not always...what?" he asked once my answer finally registered.

"I said yes, I'll marry you, Edward," I nodded.

"You will? Oh, thank God! I promise you, Bella, I won't let anyone take advantage of you anymore, including myself," he started talking quickly. "I haven't done nearly enough to make sure our siblings treat you right. I know you've forgiven us all, but we have a lot of groveling to do to make it up to you. By the way you hesitated, I was starting to think…"

"No thinking right now, just kissing," I told him, and he slid the ring on my finger before pulling me into his arms. Yes, we were young, maybe too young, and he still had a lot of growing up to do that I'd already had to do because of being responsible for the kids, but I knew Edward was my one, and he always would be. Neither of us were perfect, but I couldn't see myself being happy without him by my side.

He laid me back on the lounger and moved beside me, covering my lips with his. At some point, we had ended up with Edward hovering over me, and things were starting to heat up, when we heard clapping from the doorway.

"Woohoo, Edward and Bella!" Emmett cheered, and we looked up to see all our siblings standing there grinning at us. "I told you a little lovin' helps to fix most relationship problems."

"Thanks for your sage advice, oh wise one," I rolled my eyes at him.

Edward stood and pulled me to my feet. He grabbed my hand and kissed the ring he had just placed there, catching Rose and Alice's attention.

"You guys are engaged?" Alice asked and started cheering when we nodded. "Have you set a date yet?"

"Not yet, but I want it to be soon. How about you, Bella? You want to wait and plan a big wedding, or follow our siblings' lead and keep it small?"

"Oh, definitely small, that is if it's also what you want. It's your wedding, too, you know," I laughed, wrapping my arms around him.

"How do you guys feel about double weddings?" Jasper asked, his brows raised.

"I'm not opposed…Bella?" Edward looked at me.

"Neither am I. We'll already have the minister here on New Years' Eve, and we'll all be here and dressed up, but…" I realized there was something we needed to discuss before we made any other future plans. "Can we talk first?" I asked Edward, and I'd guess the look on my face must have told him of my trepidation.

"Sure. Guys, can you give us a bit?" he asked, so Rose and Alice took the kids, and they all headed back inside to the party. Once we were alone again, Edward asked, "What's the matter?"

"What about school, Edward? I don't think living on opposite coasts for most of the time through our honeymoon years is going to make for a very happy marriage," I said, looking down at my hands. "Once we…you know…I don't think I'm going to want to give that up for long stretches of time. I really don't know how soldiers' wives do it."

He took my face in his hands and kissed me soundly before pulling back, smiling widely. "Weren't you listening to me? I hated it out there, Bella. I'm not going back to New York. Cornell was not all it's cracked up to be, at least not for me. I contacted PSU, and they extended my acceptance. Before I left my dorm, I packed and shipped all my stuff home and got my credits transferred. I'm staying in Portland."

"Really? You're coming home?" I couldn't believe it. I flung myself into his arms, knocking both of us backwards off the lounger and right into the pool. Thank God it was heated!

We both came up sputtering and then began laughing hysterically. "It's a good thing I never reloaded my pockets," he grinned, pulling me against him and sliding his hands up and down my back, holding me close. "I'm home for good, Bella," he smiled then pressed my back against the side of the pool before bringing his lips down to cover mine.

By the time we climbed out of the water and dried off, I was ready to drag him into the JP's office tomorrow morning and get the I do's done, so we could get on with the consummating. We hadn't done anything, really, but I was sure wanting to, and I could very much tell that Edward did, too. But we had both waited this long, so waiting a little while longer wouldn't kill us, right? Well, we might die of frustration or maybe spontaneous combustion...

We were all determined not to let our sadness over spending our first Christmas season without our parents dampen the spirit of the holiday, so we went all out to try and bring as much of the seasonal spirit into the house as possible. It was hard, but we all did our best to happily remember the six people who were celebrating with the Birthday Boy in person. Roger, Sue, my mom and dad, Elliott, and Elizabeth Anne…we remembered them all with love, tears, laughter, and all the stories we could remember. On Christmas Eve, we attended church together, and then we visited the graves of those who were buried here, and Edward, Emmett, and Alice sent flowers for their mother's grave back in St. Louis.

Christmas day was magical. Esryl and Ethan were buried in mountains of wrapping paper, as were Evan and Ella, though they were more interested in the boxes and bows than the toys. The Whitlocks had joined us for Christmas morning as well, and Chelsea came in with Adam in tow, both grinning broadly.

"Merry Christmas, guys," he said, hugging me enthusiastically, and then he surprised Edward by hugging him, too. I had never seen Adam look happier, healthier, or more content. He'd filled back out, and I knew his growing romance with Chelsea was behind it all.

Charlotte was busy recording everything…well, mostly Peter, who was sitting in the middle of the mess and being shown, in great detail, every new toy the kids had gotten. I was pretty sure Peter was having more fun than they were. Edward had been home for almost two weeks now and had spent a lot of time with them. Ethan had gotten over being frightened of him pretty quickly, the two brothers had reconnected, and now, Ethan was following his big brother around like he had never left. Edward had taken to joining me in bed again, and we had determined that, as soon as we got back from our honeymoon in Key West, Ethan was getting his own room with a toddler bed and a lockable door, since he had learned how to climb out of his crib and into bed with us.

"Daddy!" Ethan yelled, toddling over with a dump truck, and both Edward and Peter looked to see what he wanted. They sat there watching him, as Ethan looked between them, before he reached for Edward and started babbling rapidly about his new toy. Edward pulled him into his lap smiling, a hint of sadness behind it, and I was sure he was thinking about the months he'd missed and was missing his own dad. Peter winked at me and nodded, letting me know he was okay with his best little buddy calling someone else daddy now.

I started to get up to begin clearing away the Christmas morning mess, but Alice and Rose insisted I sit, while they took care of everything. It was nice for a change to sit back and watch someone else do the cleaning up, although I did have to fight the urge to get up and help them. As I was sitting there, watching the kids play, Esme and Carlisle came and sat down on either side of me.

"So, sweetheart, are you ready to start college in the spring?" Carlisle asked me, grinning widely. "I know you weren't ready to start sooner because of everything that happened and dealing with the kids, but it's time."

"I wish, but you know I can't, Uncle Carlisle. Esryl's still struggling sometimes..."

"Which is why you're going to start with online classes and do it at our house, so Esryl and Ethan can play with Ella and Evan while you study. We'll watch them while you do it, but you'll be close enough that Esryl will be fine. Then, once she gets used to being with us more, you can start going to the campus. I know you want to do the best you can for them, but you have to do this for you, while you're still young enough to enjoy it. You shouldn't have to put off your education any longer, Bella. Whatever school you want to study through, we'll make it happen," Esme smiled, handing me a large envelope. It was filled with brochures to different area colleges that offered online courses in their degree plans. The thought of getting to do college after all had me excited and tearful, as I hugged them both profusely.

"Thank you so much! I'm ready now, and you're right; I really wasn't ready back in August, but I can't wait now. I love you guys!" They couldn't have given me a more perfect gift.

New Year's Eve, I was standing in front of my mother's long mirror in what used to be my parents' bedroom, adjusting the train on the gown my mother had worn when she'd married Elliott. Alice was on one side of me in her mother's gown, and Rosalie was on the other, wearing the gown Sue had worn when she'd married my father. She and Emmett had decided to renew their vows with us, so that Rose could have some real wedding photos. Esme stood behind me now, fastening my Great-Grandmother Amelia's pearls around my neck. Rose had borrowed the matching pearl bracelet, and Alice was wearing the ring and earrings.

"You girls look so beautiful. You're all the spitting image of your mothers, you know. Your parents would've been so happy to be here and see this today," Esme sniffled.

"They're all here, Aunt Esme, I'm sure of it," I said, trying not to ruin my makeup. Rose and Alice agreed.

The living room had been transformed, lined with a few rows of white benches, and an archway had been set up and decorated in front of the fireplace. It was just our immediate family and a few special friends, and of course, the SHAGNICs. They were as much family to me as anyone else in the room. They had been with me through so much, and I wouldn't have left them out for anything. We didn't bother with a bridal party or any of that stuff, but we did have Carlisle, Gerald, and Billy walking us down the aisle behind Esryl and Honey as our flower girls.

The vows we all said were the standard ones, short and sweet. I slipped my father's wedding ring he'd worn with my mom onto Edward's finger, and he moved his mother's sapphire and diamond band from my right hand to my left with her engagement ring. When we were pronounced man and wife, the kiss Edward gave me was like nothing he'd ever given me before. I think the only thing that broke us apart was Ethan jerking on his pant leg to be picked up.

"We did it, buddy, we're a family now," Edward said, kissing his cheek.

"We were family before," I laughed.

"I know, but now you're mine, really mine, and if anyone refers to you as my sister again, I have the right to break their nose," he chuckled.

Emmett catered the reception dinner, but he had help serving, since we were all involved in the ceremony. He also made the cake, and it was incredible. I saw him talking to Chef Kurtis after dinner, and Emmett grabbed his hand, smiling widely and nodding while shaking it. Chef Kurtis had just offered him a place to do his externship for his Culinary Arts degree, with a place on his staff after graduation. Rose was beaming next to him, her hand gently caressing her tiny baby bump. I saw Alice watching her, and she did the same thing, which made me wonder if maybe they had something to share that they hadn't told anyone yet, or maybe she was just hoping. Either way, I was sure they'd tell us in their own time.

Chelsea and Adam came up to hug us, and Chelsea pulled on my hand to get me to follow her. Once we were in the family room, she smiled widely at me. "I'm so happy for you guys, Bella. I just wanted to say thank you. Adam told me about your time in his class, and he confessed that he'd thought he was in love with you at one point and maybe did or said some things…" I started to say something, but she stopped me. "I know he thinks you didn't know, but am I right in thinking maybe you did?"

"Yeah, I knew, but I also knew where my heart lay. I always wanted the best for him, though, and I think he's finally found it," I smiled at her, making her blush.

"Thank you for not doing anything that would've damaged his career. I know you could've, but you didn't. You're a beautiful woman, Bella, as well as kind and strong. I can see why he would've been attracted to you. You have a light inside you that's like a beacon, drawing in those around you to feel secure and cherished. I'm so glad you've been my friend, and Peter's. I understand you've been recruited in advance for godmother duty?" she giggled, as we walked back into the dining room.

"Yes, but I hope they wait awhile before they bestow that honor on me. I can tell you that having two little ones is a handful. I hope they at least get through college first."

"We intend to," Peter said from behind me, as he came into the room with Charlotte in tow. "However, I doubt I'll make it through college without putting a ring on her finger," he grinned, and Charlotte laughed, but I could tell she was hoping it was true.

"I already took care of that," Jake said, holding up Vanessa's hand.

"Oh, my gosh! Congratulations, guys! When did this happen?" I asked, excited for my friends.

"Christmas morning," Vanessa smiled, leaning into Jake. "We're getting married this summer, so our grandfathers can perform a traditional tribal ceremony for us. You guys will come, right?"

"Absolutely, we wouldn't miss it. Just let us know when and where," Edward said from beside me, taking my hand. "You all should come to the front room. We're about to do the garter and bouquet toss, and then we have a honeymoon to get to," he said with an eyebrow wiggle.

Chelsea caught my bouquet, Adam caught my garter, and I was pretty sure Helene was already making mental lists for planning her daughter's wedding. They loved Adam, which was good, because I was pretty sure their daughter was falling in love with him, too.

It took some convincing by Esme and Carlisle that Esryl and Ethan would be okay for the few days we would be gone. But I finally relented, with the assurance that we could Skype if needed, so the kids wouldn't think they had been abandoned. I was worried about them, almost enough to bring them with us, but taking two toddlers on my honeymoon didn't hold a whole lot of appeal. I really wanted Edward all to myself for once.

We arrived that night in Key West and caught a cab to our beachfront bed and breakfast. We had the honeymoon cottage, which was detached from the main house and just beautiful. I'd had a talk with Carlisle a while back, and he'd prescribed me something to make sure we wouldn't be having any more kids until we were ready. We planned on enjoying being newlyweds as much as we wanted without worrying about expanding our household in the fall.

We were both nervous, but I took comfort in that we were starting out on the same level of experience, and I was in the arms of the man I loved. As the night fell away, so did our innocence, and it was awkward, a little uncomfortable at first, but still wonderful, because it was with Edward.

As we sat on the deck lounger, watching the sun rise the next morning over the Atlantic Ocean, Edward had his arms around me, and I was leaned back into his chest.

"Did you ever imagine for even a moment that we'd be here when you saw me for the first time at our parents' wedding?" I asked him.

"Well, at twelve, the most I really thought about was seeing what was underneath the top of your dress that looked so interesting from the outside. I told you, though, the first time I saw you, I was smitten, even though I was a clueless brat who only seemed to want to fight with you. I can only imagine what would've happened had we gotten along, and I'd actually known what to do and had convinced you to act on it with me," Edward chuckled.

"It would've been more fun than all the fighting," I giggled, and Edward laughed along with me. "I think maybe it was better we didn't get along, though, at least in some ways. We probably would've ended up doing something that would've made last night not as special. I'm glad we waited," I said, turning to kiss him.

"Me, too, because last night really was special, thank you for that."

"Thank you, too. You're the only one who's ever loved me like that, and as far as I'm concerned, you'll be the only one who ever will," I promised, wrapping my arms around him.

"That goes for me, too, Bella. I love you," he said, kissing my neck. "Now, let's go back to bed. I'm sure there's something more fun to do on honeymoons than watching the sun rise."

We had started off as family, ragtag as it was, but as he took my hand and led me back inside, I knew we really had become something more, something so much more.

Epilogue is next...