Till Death - Final Chapter

Idle chatter floated through the cracked window and into the chaotically organized room. Alice was working on the final touches of the best work she had ever been in charge of. While others moved quickly behind her making final touches on anything and everything, Alice and her art piece were practically still as Alice studied the final work.

“Why don’t you go check on Rosalie’s makeup instead of studying my face?” Bella asked as she stared past Alice’s head, unnerved by the amount of focus Alice was putting on her.

“Because I have more faith in Rose getting her makeup perfect than I do in you.” Alice quipped as she fixed the eye liner that was just a bit too heavy on one side. Alice had been asked to make sure dresses for everyone and make up for Bella was done beautifully and she took that job seriously; especially when Bella had expressed her concern about being able to get the makeup just right herself.

“I’m pretty sure it’s perfect as is.” Bella mumbled, “We’re also running out of time.” Bella added as she eyed the clock.

“Don’t worry Bella, Jessica and I have everything practically finished at this point.” Angela said from her spot near the door as she looked at her phone, receiving live updates from the ushers. Angela, Jessica and Alice were Bella’s bridesmaids with Angela as maid of honor. Jessica was making sure the flowers and flower girl were good while Angela was messaging Rosalie’s maid of honor, her cousin named Tanya, to make sure both women would be ready on time. “Tanya says Rosalie is about to stage to walk down the isle.”

Rosalie had decided about a month or so after they were engaged that she was going to watch Bella walk down the isle. She had felt that since she had chased her girl for so long it was only right for Rosalie to watch Bella chase after her down the isle. To Rosalie, it felt like the perfect ending to their engagement: Bella making the final steps for them to be together after Rosalie had taken the first steps. She would be able to watch her love, willingly, lovingly and beautifully take the final steps that would make them a permanent couple (she wasn’t counting their Vegas trip since Bella’s memories were more than lacking for that night).

“Am I ready Alice?” Bella asked, anxiety starting to sink in as she realized she really was out of time and about to be in the spotlight.

She was thankful now more than ever that she and Rosalie had been able to talk Alice out of making both brides wear heels. Rosalie wanted to be the only one in heels to help add to her height over her wife and Bella didn’t want heels because she couldn’t walk in them and didn’t see the point in learning for just one day. Bella wasn’t entirely sure that her feet would forget how to work as soon as she saw Rosalie waiting for her at the end of the isle so she needed everything on her side to help to avoid tripping and falling.

Alice fixed one last spot with Bella’s eyeliner and then stood back and smiled. “Rosalie will be hard pressed to keep her hands off you once she sees you.” Alice said with a wide and very proud smile. “You look beautiful Bella.”

Bella stood and looked at the mirror, Instantly she had Jessica at her side helping with the veil she had specifically wanted as she wanted to have Rosalie lift the veil as if unwrapping a present. Rosalie had kept tight lip about her dress while Bella had let Rosalie see hers when she brought it home. So, Bella thought it would be fun to keep something a surprise for as long as possible. Her wife was partial to presents.

Bella was about to ask how much longer Rosalie had until she walked down first but a knock on the door cut her off. She knew exactly who it was and couldn’t help but get teary eyed as she moved to the door.

“We’ll wait outside for Bella, everything is perfect.” Jessica assured her friend with a smile.

“You look amazing and I’m sure you’ll be just fine.” Angela promised with a smile as she gave a pointed look to Alice, who just rolled her eyes.

“Fine, I get alone. Alone time for the father of the bride before the big walk.” Alice said and would have continued talking, likely making Bella more nervous about the ‘big walk’ until Angela pulled her out of the room and letting Charlie in.

“Hey kid.” Charlie said with a teary eyed look and a proud smile. He closed the door behind him as he walked closer to his only born. “I think I’m more nervous than you are.” He teased.

“Doubtful.” Bella said with a chuckle and bit her lip in nervousness.

“Don’t worry kid, you’ll be so preoccupied with Rosalie that you won’t even realize you’re walking until she’s so close you could touch her.” He said in a low voice, his cheeks lighting up in a feint blush. “I’m really proud of you Bells. You picked a good one.”

Bella had been the subject of a lot of teasing about dumping Edward and then marrying his sister. But while everyone teased her about it, everyone also agreed, in their own way, that Rosalie really was better than Edward for Bella. Bella came out of her shell so much more than what she ever would have with Edward. Rosalie and Bella were a pair that, as far as Bella was concerned, was made in heaven.

“I got really lucky.” Bella said in a soft voice and a soft smile.

Charlie cleared his throat, seeming to reign in his emotions, “Come on, Rosalie was seconds away from walking herself when I came in here.” Charlie held out his arm for his only daughter to grab. “Let me go give away my only daughter before I tear up too much.” He chocked, tears coming back to his eyes as he thought about the fact he was only a few minutes away from giving away his only daughter.

“Thank you Dad.” Bella said with matching watery eyes as she grabbed her father’s arm and together they walked out of the room.

“I was just about to get you.” Angela said just steps away from the door. “Rosalie and her brides maids are all set.” She said as she directed Bella to her spot to wait for the right music to start. “We’ll go now and as soon as the music starts, it’s all you two.” Angela said with a gentle smile; she knew her best friend was more than nervous about walking down a long aisle with having everyone’s complete focus on her. “Don’t let her trip Chief.” Angela added with a smirk and then moved to her spot as their music started.

“She’s probably next.” Charlie commented, the only thing he could think of to keep his daughter’s mind off of the eminent walk.

“Probably.” Bella agreed, knowing he was likely right; at the moment at least. Angela was the only one of her friends still dating someone, so that automatically put her ahead in the getting married race.

The music changed and Bella took a deep breath to try and steel her nerves.

“You’ll be fine kid, I’ve got you.” Charlie encouraged as he felt Bella tense and then together he started to lead them forward. It would be one of the last times Bella would need him to comfort her, she would have Rosalie going forward. That thought alone was enough to cause more tears to glisten in his eyes; but he would be damned if he let them fall.

As Bella started to walk down the aisle, tunnel vision stole her breath. She didn’t hear Charlie’s small chuckle, instead she couldn’t focus on anything but Rosalie stood in front of her. Bella barely registered Rosalie’s cousins stood to the side, all staring at her. One of them, Kate, said she had a bet going with some of the local tribe about whether or not Bella would trip. Looking back to Rosalie though, all those nervous thoughts left Bella’s head as she focused solely on her wife. She couldn’t remember be so happy in her life and couldn’t imagine being any happier.

Bella didn’t hear the few words spoken between Charlie and Rosalie, all Bella registered was her hand being passed from Charlie’s arm to Rosalie’s hands.

“I’ve so long for this moment.” Rosalie whispered as Charlie walked away.

“I’m sorry it took so long.” Bella said with a small smile while Rosalie gripped the veil, lifting it to see her wife.

“This is the best thing I have ever unveiled or unwrapped in my life; I’m beyond ready for our new life as wives with a proper wedding.” Rosalie wrapped the veil behind her wives head and felt her heart jump through her throat as she saw her wife in her wedding dress for the first time. Rosalie couldn’t believe she had gotten so lucky.

“Just wait for our wedding night.” Bella teased with a smirk, knowing the package that awaited them in their hotel room that she and Rosalie’s cousins had worked so hard on keeping from the nosy blonde that seemed to have a need to control everything about their day and night together.

“Ewww! Mom, I don’t want to hear about that!” A child squealed in feint disgust, she wasn’t entirely sure what her mom was eluding to, but she knew she didn’t want to hear it. She was probably going to talk more about kissing and stuff that her parent’s did too much of in front of her.

“But it’s part of the story!” Bella said with a laugh as small hands all but slammed the wedding album shut; they had so many pictures of that day that the pictures may as well be a movie.

“I wanted to see the pretty dresses you and mommy wore, not the boring story of you two being gross!” The child said with a pout. The small blonde was a perfect blend of herself and her wife.

The donor looked and acted as similar to Bella as the two women could find. Rosalie carried the child for eight and a half months and out came some that looked like Bella but acted like Rosalie; attitude and all. Bella loved it.

“We were not being gross, we were expressing our love! What could be gross about that?” Bella asked with a wide smile, more than aware of daughter’s aversion to seeing her and Rosalie being affectionate with each other. Too bad her daughter hadn’t figured out the more she complained, the more she and Rosalie kissed and hugged and all the ‘gross’ things in front of her.

Before she could answer, keys were heard in the lock before a door was opened.

“Mommy!” The brunette child yelled as she scrambled off the couch to get to the woman walking through the door.

“Lillian!” Rosalie yelled back as she locked the door and then barely had enough time to drop her purse and bag before a child ran into her with gusto. “It’s like you haven’t seen me all week.” Rosalie laughed as she picked her child up and hugged her to her. “How has you day been?” She asked as she picked up her purse and bag to put them away.

Bella intercepted to help. “She’s been a perfect angel, just like her mommy.” Bella commented as the trio made their way into the kitchen to see what food Rosalie had brought home with her.

Rosalie laughed as she imagined the arguments that likely ensued without her. She was her mommies daughter and just like her mommy, there was one woman that could always win and settle arguments with ease.

“I was good, I even cleaned my room.” Lillian argued with a pout.

“After I told you to and then convinced you not to throw a fit about it.” Bella said with a smile as she leaned into her wife, sandwhiching the child between the two women. “Welcome home Rose.” Bella said with love filled gaze that had only grown stronger as time went on.

“Don’t be gross, I’m right here,” Lillian said with a look of horror on her face as her mother’s leaned in. She desperately tried to get down, but her mothers were working against. “You guys are gross!” She said as her mom’s leaned in and made dramatic kissing sounds.

Rosalie and Bella laughed loudly as Lillian was finally released and ran away, likely to the living room to watch something until she was told dinner was ready.

“She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Rosalie said with a smile as her gaze lingered in the direction her daughter had gone. “Do you think she’ll like the news we have?” Rosalie asked, turning attention to her wife, pulling her close. “Do you think we waited too long?” Rosalie worried.

Bella was more than familiar with her wife’s anxieties and no matter how long they had waited, she would be asking the same question. Bella laid her hands flat over her wives stomach that was showing a bump quite yet, but it would soon enough. This time, they were hoping for a blonde child for a spitting image of Rosalie, but only time would tell and no matter what, the child would be perfect.

“I think she will love being a big sister, we may even be able to con her into diaper duty a few times.” Bella said with a smirk and then gave her wife a real greeting kiss. “I’m so glad you tricked me into marrying all those years ago.” Bella said with a dramatic sigh, causing Rosalie to laugh.

“It wasn’t that long ago.” Rosalie said with a laugh and then gave her wife an adoring look, “I’m glad you let me trick you.”