I walked down First Beach's rocky shore, a path I had taken many a time. This time was different though. This time Jacob would never forgive me. Over the summer I had come to know that Edward had sent Jacob an invitation to our wedding. For some reason that I could not place, this had really upset me. I wanted Jacob there, he had been my best friend and my safe harbor in my time of need, what seemed many years ago, but was really only this past winter. Jacob had become like my brother, although that was never enough for him, he knew, only too well, exactly how I felt about him. He was no mind-reading vampire, but he knew nonetheless. After that whole vampire war in June, I remember, all too clearly, the conversation had with Jacob while he was healing from the attack. I had broken his heart, and he had ripped his own little hole in me. Luckily, Edward had been there to save me in my time of need.

Now I was getting married to the love of my life, well existence more or less, in a mere two weeks and I had no idea whether or not he would be there. I made my way back to my truck, tired of waiting for Jacob, and drove to my soon-to-be residence. When I got there, Alice was waiting for me by the garage. I could tell there was something horrifying in store for me today, just from the look on her face. I got out of my truck and walked over to her and without saying a word; we both got into the car and drove to our destination. I still had no idea where we were going, but I didn't even bother to ask.

"Alice, where are we going?" I finally asked, as we were racing down the highway.

"To a bridal shop," she answered coolly.

"Alice, do I really have to do this now?" I groaned.

"Bella," she said sternly, putting her hands on my shoulders to look at me like a mother scolding her child, "this is a very important decision. It has to be made and I can't do it. But I promise, after this there is nothing else I need your opinion on, I can do all the rest of the planning myself, and I know you will love it." She said soothingly.

"Fine, Alice, you win" I gave in.

"I knew I would," she said and she dragged me along behind her into the store.

"Alice, I don't get it though, you already bought my dress, what are we still doing in the bridal shop?" I wondered with true curiosity this time.

"Well, you said you didn't want you're Maid of Honor wearing something off the rack," she said jokingly, "and this is the place that I got your wedding dress and they would know exactly what will be good for your bridesmaids."

"Which reminds me, did you talk to Rosalie about it? Is she okay with everything?" I asked, truly worried about whether or not Rosalie would actually want to be a part of the wedding party at all.

"Yes, I spoke with her. She is completely fine with it, and you knew Esme's reaction as well, so your bridesmaids are all in order." She stated matter-of-factly.

"Thank you, Alice."

"I think it might help you two become a little closer, although the second you become one of us, she's going to go straight back to the way things were in the very beginning."

"Do you really think so?" I asked, somewhat dejected now that I realized the small progress I had made with Edward's only sibling who didn't like me, was for nothing seeing as it was all going to be reversed soon.

"I don't know, Bella, but I'm pretty sure that something will happen." She said sympathetically.

"Well that just sucks," I hung my head in despair. All that work for nothing. But I can't say I didn't see this coming. She had told me exactly why she didn't want me to become a vampire, she told me exactly why, but that didn't change my mind. Nothing could change my mind now, I was ready and they all knew it. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and Edward, they all knew, and most of them were ready to take me into their family and help me become one of them in more ways than one, all of them, except Rosalie. I know what she thinks, but I don't know if I can ever please her.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?" she asked after a couple minutes of my silence.

"Just wondering what will happen, that's all." I answered with a sigh.

"It will all be okay," Alice turned to give me a reassuring look. Right then her phone rang from her pocket and she slowly—for her anyway—took it out and answered it, after a quick peek at the caller ID of course.

"Hello, Esme," she greeted her surrogate mother. She listened for a moment while Esme spoke and replied, "yes we're at the bridal shop, are you meeting us?" She paused again for Esme to answer her back. "Is Rosalie with you?" and she paused for an answer again. "Okay, see you soon." She turned to me and filled in the missing information for me. "Esme and Rosalie are on their way here, they need to try on their dresses after all."

By this time, the sales attendant was out and ready to make the sale. He recognized Alice immediately—after all, who could forget a face that beautiful and flawless—and pulled out some papers.

"Good afternoon Ms. Cullen," he greeter her smoothly. "I've been expecting you." He turned to me now, "and this must be the lucky bride-to-be, Ms. Swan?"

"Yes, hello" I greeted shyly. This was the reason why Alice took care of all this for me.

"Rolph, I hope you're ready for our visit." Alice said expectantly.

"Ms. Cullen, I've pulled out some of the fabrics and designs you requested when we spoke earlier this morning and I must say, without even seeing how they fit together, you have made some excellent choices." He complimented her as he walked, and motioned for us to follow.

"Why thank you. I can't wait to see how they work out for the rest of us."

Just then, Rosalie—a breathtaking beauty, as always—and Esme—with her kind, loving face—walked in the door of the shop and spotted Alice almost immediately.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a big blur. Alice, Rosalie, and Esme picked out their dress styles and finalized a look that would look good for all of them. Occasionally they asked for my opinion and I just said it all looked good, what difference did it make to me? I probably wouldn't notice them much anyway. The sight of Edward in a tuxedo was another image of him that was burned into my mind. He was breathtaking in a classic black tuxedo, the contrast it had to his skin created a beauty that was absolutely surreal.

I must have zoned out through the entire car ride, I just remember I became attentive the second I saw Edward leaning against the garage at his house. I got out of the car with a huge smile on my face, and his answering smile was my favorite—his crooked smile that made my heart always skip a few beats.

"Hi," he greeted me, and pulled me into his chest and held me there for an immeasurable moment. Then he finally pulled me into the house where his family was waiting for our arrival.