After Forever (a Twilight Saga fanfiction: 10 years after Breaking Dawn)

39 ◦ Binding (RPOV)

December 25th 2016

The blinding sun shining through my window woke me. It took a few seconds for me to return to reality; my dream had been so vivid.

When I remembered what today was, the biggest grin took over my face.

It was not only my favorite holiday... but my wedding day. The idea made my head spin. By this evening, I would be somebody’s wife.

“Ness?” Mom’s soft voice came from the hall. My door creaked open and she popped her head in.

“Hi.” I yawned. “Merry Christmas.”

“Happy Wedding Day!” Alice sang, zooming past her. She yanked my comforter off of my warm body, and the sudden change in temperature made me shiver.

“Happy my Wedding Day to you, too, Aunt Alice.” I half-grimaced.

“It’s almost seven! Much to do. Up, up, up! Be at the house by seven-thirty. You’ll eat, then start getting ready at eight.” She left as quickly as she arrived. I couldn’t help my smile anyway.

Even though I knew today would be crazy, I felt an odd sense of... relief, almost. I’d been waiting for this for such a long time. Even longer than I’ve been engaged, really.

Jacob Black would be truly mine by the end of the day.

“You hop in the shower,” Momma told me. “I need to run last-minute errands and pick up Grandpa. Dad’s with him and Sue at their house.” She placed both hands on either side of my face. “My baby is getting married,” she sighed. She shook her head, stopping herself from getting too emotional. I smiled at her. We’d have all day for venom-tears. “If you get there one second past seven-thirty, Alice will have your head! See you there.” She kissed my forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you, too!” I yelled after her. She was already out the front door.

I waited a minute for the water to get to it’s maximum amount of heat before stepping in. The subtle scent of my shampoo and the sound of lather swishing up and down my skin kept me in my relaxed state.

Already, my morning has felt like an out-of-body experience. It didn’t feel real yet. My pulse was unusually calm.

I dressed in sweats and slipped on some white toms before heading out. It was only seven-twenty, so I took my time.

I heard the ruckus before I was in view of the house. I jogged upstairs to find my aunts. Rose and Nana gushed when they saw me.

We sat and talked for a little bit while I nibbled on some fruit before it was time.

After many hours of heavy work, I was led to a full-length mirror.

The dress was soft and flowy. It was laced and buttoned halfway up, with the back material hanging low. I spun around slowly, taking it in.

“Come in!” Rose called. I didn’t hear a knock.

Mom, Dad, Charlie, Carlisle, and Renèe walked inside Alice’s room. Renèe had already been crying for a while, I could tell. Gramps was trying hard not to.

Dad held my hands in his, staring deeply into my eyes.

I love you, I told him. He nodded.

Behind him, Mom was waiting her turn. In her hands was a small blue felt box. Charlie smiled at her, silently telling her to open it.

Inside of it held a beautiful silver hair pin. It had shiny white diamonds all over it and four tiny sapphire flowers mixed in.

“Something old, something borrowed, something blue,” she said, sniffling. “May I?”