A/N: For Carlisle and Christina's dance play the song, "Sea of Love" by Cat Power.
For the father/daughter dance play the song, "I loved her first" by Heartland.
Good luck, you'll need tissues. I know I did..

( outfit for
chapter above )

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chapter three
wedded.

        The party was buzzing with people after the ceremony. Everyone crowded around multiples of tables, happy smiles gracing their features as they waited for the bride and groom to join the party after the bride claimed she was changing dresses.

Christina looked out the back window as the nerves from before came back; this time it wasn't from seeing Carlisle, it was from her fear of hurting anyone. Her shoulders relaxed softly as Carlisle held onto her shoulders, lingering a kiss on the side of her head.

"You alright?"

She nodded her head at his question. "I just don't want to lose control."

"I won't let you," Carlisle whispered, settling her nerves slowly. "If you feel like you're losing control, we'll take a break."

She nodded her head before turning around in Carlisle's arms. She gave him a soft kiss as appreciation, which he responded to right away.

"Alright," she sighed, fixing her dress lightly, smoothing out any wrinkles. "Let's get back down there before Alice drags us herself."

Carlisle chuckled, but agreed with a nod of his head.

Christina was still amazed at the delicate decorations around the backyard. Fairy lights were placed in low tree branches, lighting up the back yard perfectly. The tables were spread out through the yard, with white cloths placed on top, and candles with vines surrounding a wooden plate placed in the middle of the tables. In the span of a few days, Emmett and Jasper were able to put together a back porch, specifically designed for a dance floor for both her and Bella's wedding.

"Christina!"

The mother turned her head with a smile as she watched Annie play with her grandparents; David and Connie Miller. Christina kept her hold on Carlisle's hand as she met the couple at their table, shared with her parents. The two were excited for the mother's marriage, that she was able to find happiness like their son would have wanted.

"Beautiful wedding, dear," Connie complimented as she hugged the new bride. "You look wonderful."

"Thank you," Christina continued to hold her breath as she backed away, into Carlisle's arms. "I'm so glad you both could make it."

"Thank you for inviting us," David said, bouncing Annie on his knee as she giggled.

"It's our pleasure to have you," Carlisle said as he bowed his head in greeting.

"It's so nice to finally meet you," Connie gushed as Carlisle and David shook hands. "Christina's told us a lot about you."

If the mother could blush she would. She didn't miss the sly smile Carlisle sent her way as she looked around the party, trying to find her next distraction. "Oh, look, there's Darien. It was so nice to see you guys, I'll be sure to come say goodbye before we leave tonight."

Christina let go of Carlisle's hand as she ran into the crowd, leaving the three of them laughing. Annie jumped off her grandfather's lap before following after her mother. Carlisle bowed his head before following after his wife with a smile gracing his lips. Annie turned brightly before clinging onto Carlisle's hand as he reached the two of them.

"He's good for her," David mentioned, watching the new family.

"Jonathon would be happy for her," Connie agreed with a matching smile.

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        "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for the first dance!" Alice announced into the mic that was set up next to the DJ station.

The surrounding people clapped their hands as Alice announced the happy couple. They spread out to make room on the dance floor, but still being able to see the first dance of the night.

Carlisle gently grabbed Christina's hand, pulling her up to the dance floor. Her undead heart throbbed as she glanced into his eyes. She had never seen Carlisle's eyes shine so bright than they did tonight— she was sure her eyes were the same. She was only slightly annoyed at the fact the contacts blurred her vision. She wanted to remember every single detail there was to see.

"Have I told you that you looked absolutely stunning tonight?" Carlisle whispered as he spun the two of them around in a circle.

Christina smiled brightly up at him. "I thought those words sounded familiar," she joked. "You don't look so bad yourself, handsome."

A crooked smile settled on his lips. "I can't thank you enough." She raised her eyebrow in question. "For coming into my life... allowing me to get to know you and Annie... allowing me to have a chance at being a father to her. I know I could never replace Jonathon in either of your hearts."

Christina shook her head, feeling a sob reach her throat at Carlisle's words. She swallowed it down as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "You patched the hole he left behind, and for that I can't thank you enough." She pulled back and looked up into his eyes again. "You've given me a beautiful life, there's no other life that I would want to live. Not if it didn't involve you or Annie."

"It's a wonderful life, Mrs. Cullen." He leaned down and landed a kiss on her lips softly. "I love you," he muttered around the shape of her lips.

"I love you," she muttered back— and for the second time that night she forgot they were surrounded by tens of people. She forgot that they were both immortal beings that survived on blood; forgot the tingle that rested in her throat from the different smells around her. Her entire focus was on Carlisle, and the way he moved, the way he smelt— the way he tasted. She was entirely addicted to him, she almost couldn't believe she lived so long without him in her life.

She would never regret anything that came and left before meeting Carlisle— nor would she regret their story. Everything that's happened lead up to this exact moment.

"Mr and Mrs Carlisle Cullen, everybody!" Alice announced, making everyone clap their hands again as the song came to a soft end.

Carlisle left one last kiss on her forehead before slipping out of her hold as another tune played through the speakers. Christina watched Carlisle disappear into the crowd with furrowed brows, before she was turned towards her father with a tug of his hand.

A smile tugged on her lips. "Did you practice your dance moves?" she asked, impressed as how well her father seemed to move around the dance floor.

He chuckled. "You forget I got married once."

She nodded her head in acknowledgment. "I figured Bella got her dance moves from you," she joked, resting her head on his shoulder as they stepped closer to each other. She wrapped her arm around his midsection as he rocked the both of them back and forth.

"She got them from your mother," he muttered back, making her laugh out loud.

"Then I'll thank you for the dancing skills," Christina whispered.

There was a pause in their conversation as they continued to sway back and forth. Christina's eyes didn't stop glistening as she held onto her father.

"I'm really proud of you, kiddo," Charlie muttered as he rested his head on her own. "You turned into a beautiful young woman, and I couldn't be happier."

Christina bit her lip as she felt her chest ache with his words. "Thanks, dad," she cracked.

"You raised an equally beautiful little girl," he muttered as he nodded his head towards his granddaughter.

Christina lifted her head off his shoulder before a dry sob exited her throat. Carlisle was swaying Annie back and forth, making the little girl giggle into the open air.

"Carlisle's good for both of you," Charlie continued. "I know he'll take good care of my girls."

"Dad," she fearlessly cried. "This is not fair," she sobbed as she leaned her head back on his shoulder. "I'm already emotional, you can't do this to me."

He chuckled into her ear. "My girls are getting married, how do you think I feel?"

She laughed back as the song ended slowly. She leaned away, still holding onto his arms as she smiled with tears that could never shed. "Thank you for everything, dad. I love you more than you would ever know."

Charlie kissed the top of her head. "I love you more than that."

The music changed from slow songs, back to pop songs as Alice announced, "enjoy the rest of the party!"

Christina walked Charlie back to his table, stepping into Carlisle's side. Her throat was starting to bother her more, and she knew that she had to put more contacts in. Her eye sight was starting to clear; due to the fact that venom kept filling her eyes as her emotions got the best of her.

As Carlisle met eyes with his bride, he could see the slight auburn color coming through. "We should make sure we have everything packed for our leave tonight."

She nodded her head gratefully, an easy get away for the both of them. They both excused themselves from the table before heading inside. Christina greedily took in the clear air, the sweet scents only lingering enough to kept a small tingle in the back of her throat.

"You're doing great," Carlisle complimented as he landed a kiss on the side of her head.

"It's getting a little harder as the night goes on," she admitted. She lightly rubbed her throat as she remembered the burn.

Carlisle grabbed her hand before pulling her upstairs and past their room. They're bags were already pre-packed from Alice, and they were sitting in the corner of the room, waiting for their trip. Christina's eyes continued forward as they walked into Carlisle's office. He continued to lead them into the back, were his medical supplies were located, before opening the cooler on the counter.

He grabbed the bag of blood before handing it over to Christina. A new burn settled in her throat as she looked at the bag in his hand, before shaking her head.

"It's animal blood," Carlisle explained, continuing to hold the bag out. "We collected some last night during our hunt. For emergencies."

Christina bit her lip as she grabbed onto the bag. This was the part of herself that she hated— the bloodlust was almost impossible to fight as the blood was in her hand. She opened the cap at the top of the bag, before bringing the tube to her mouth— her eyes flickered up towards Carlisle. He just nodded his head in encouragement.

As soon as the cooled blood reached her tongue, her eyes fluttered closed. The blood wasn't as sweet as she knew the humans were outside; but it was enough. She could easily survive without the sweet blood, because she knew that sweetness became regret and sorrow really fast.

The bag became flat as she sucked it dry. The elk's blood was enough to settle her bloodlust, and calm down the burning in her throat from being surrounded by humans.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He grabbed the empty bag from her grasp before throwing it back into the cooler to dispose of later. He leaned down and captured her lips into a kiss, tasting the lingering blood. She moaned softly as he pulled her bottom lip in between his teeth, capturing the rest of the blood on her mouth. As he pulled away from her, he watched as her now exposed auburn eyes darkened.

"You're playing a dangerous game," she muttered, staring at his lips again.

"Come," he muttered holding his hand out with a sly grin. "Alice is looking for us." She growled lowly making him chuckle in response.

"Dangerous," she groaned as they walked back downstairs. "Game."

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        Christina ducked her head under Carlisle's arm as the surrounding people threw rice at the happily married couple. She's going to be picking rice out of her hair for days, she wanted to internally groan— but she was in too much of a good mood for that. Her eyes caught sight of her family at the end of the line, and a smile graced her face as she fast-walked to Bella first.

They met for a hug as Carlisle let go of Christina's hand to go say goodbye to his kids.

"Don't let Alice bully you while you both finish wedding preparations," Christina muttered in her ear. "If she gives you a hard time, call me."

"I heard that!" Alice shouted from a couple people down, making both Bella and Christina laugh as they pulled away.

"I'll be fine," she promised.

"Take care of my little girl while I'm gone," Christina muttered sadly as she watched Annie smile up at Carlisle. "It's the first time I'm leaving her for so long since she came into my life. I'm worried—"

"She's going to be fine," Bella interrupted. She placed her hands on Christina's shoulders with a reassuring squeeze. "You worry too much. There's five vampires and at least one werewolf going to watching her."

Christina's smile dropped at the reminder of Seth before looking around. She couldn't see him or his parents so she assumed they left earlier on in the night. "Tell Emmett if he gets out of line," she grumbled.

"Hell yeah!" Emmett boomed in agreement.

"I will," Bella promised with a laugh. "Now, go. Have fun on your honeymoon."

They gave each other one last hug before Christina moved down the line. She was quick to give each Cullen and Hale a hug as she worked towards her parents. Her mother brought her into a tight hug.

"Be careful, and have fun," she muttered into her ear. "I'll see you when you get back."

Christina laughed into her mother's ear. "A vacation in the one place you ran away from," she joked. They both pulled away, and Christina didn't miss her mother's eye roll. "Where are you two staying?"

"Charlie's," she answered. "He's being gracious enough to lend us your old room instead of renting a hotel the whole month."

"Oh, man," Christina laughed. "You all will be in my prayers."

Renee scoffed. "Do you know where you'll be going yet?"

Christina shook her head as she looked towards Carlisle. "He refuses to tell me."

"I'm sure you'll have a blast," Renee said. They pulled each other back into another hug. "Wear your sunscreen, and don't talk to strangers."

"Mom, I'll be fine," Christina laughed, but she could smell the saltiness linger in the air. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Christina walked to Charlie next with a smile. "Hey, pops."

He pulled her into her chest, ignoring the cool temperature that his daughter seemed to harbor after she got ill. "Be careful, alright?"

"Take care of my girl for me," Christina muttered as she nodded to his worry.

"Don't worry to much while you're on vacation," Charlie muttered. "She'll be safe here."

Christina nodded as they pulled away from each other. "Try not to kill each other while I'm away," Christina joked, nodding her head towards her mother.

"Have fun, Christina," Charlie scoffed, much like her mother did when she joked.

"I love you, dad."

"I love you, too."

Christina turned to the last person that she didn't want to say goodbye to. She was wrapped in Carlisle's arms, trying to keep a brave face, but the both of them could smell the saltiness on her scent; and could see the red rimming her doe eyes.

Christina immediately grabbed her daughter as her arms reached out to her. They were quiet for a while, Christina just allowed her silent tears to roll onto her shoulder as she rocked them back and forth.

"You be a good girl for Aunty Bella, okay?" Christina muttered softly as she continued to rock them back and forth. "And keep grandpa and mimi in line."

Annie nodded her head against her mother's shoulder before pulling away to try and give her a smile. Silent tears rolled down her face, but she still managed to flash her dimple with a smile. "I'll be good, I promise."

"I know you will be," she muttered back. "We'll be back before you know it. It's only going to be two weeks until we see each other, and we'll make sure to call everyday while we're away."

Annie nodded her head as Carlisle stepped closer. "I'll start a countdown!"

Christina smiled as she kissed the side of her curls. "We love you, very much. And we're going to miss you like crazy."

"I love you both, too." Annie reached out and lightly pulled on Carlisle's crest necklace as she ran it through her fingers. "I'll miss you bunches."

"Help keep your uncles and aunts out of trouble with Bella, okay?" Carlisle asked, landing a kiss on the side of her head.

"Okay!"

Bella and Alice came closer to the small family with matching smiles. "It's time," Alice said, holding out the last bags she didn't place in the back of the Mercedes. They were the couple's carry-on bags for the plane.

Bella grabbed Annie out of Christina's arms after their last shared hug. Annie wrapped her arms around her aunt's neck as she, along with the rest of her family, waved Christina and Carlisle off.

Christina continued to wave to the line of people that wanted to watch the couple off. A laugh falling out of her lips as she met Darien's crazy waving. The mother sighed as they were both out of sight from everyone lingering in the Cullen's front lawn. She pulled out the contacts left in her eyes before throwing them in her bag to dispose of later.

"So," she started as she leaned across the center console. "Are you going to tell me—"

"Nope," he laughed.

"Damn it."

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I cry.