Hello All,

This is the first story I have ever written, so I hope y'all enjoy. It's a fluffy, fun, and eventually lemony story.

I want to thank my beta, Terria, for making my writing pretty. I also want to thank The Sparkly Red Pen for matching me with such an awesome person.

To my pre-readers, Ella and Lexi, thank you for all your encouragement and support on my first writing attempt.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy.

*Re-posted for additional beta work!* Thank you, Brie.

The Lucky Ones

Chapter 1 – In the Air Tonight

When I was five years old, my dad, Charlie, and I were out on the lake fishing together for the first time. Well, Dad was fishing; I was taking in everything around us and snapping pictures with my disposable camera. The way the boat glided through the glassy water was mesmerizing as the fog slowly rose off the water, separating the earth and heavens. Then, if that wasn't magical enough, off in the distance I noticed two white birds floating on the water.

When I pointed them out, Dad explained what they were. "Those are swans," he said.

"But they don't look like us, Daddy," I replied.

He chuckled, looking down at me, "No, they're a type of bird. They mate for life. So those two birds are will always be together until they die."

I thought about that while taking the picture, and then said, "Well, I am gonna find my swan and live happily ever after with him."

I reflect back on that day often. There are almost seven billion people in the world, so trying to find your soul mate can be hard work. I've dated a lot of ducks while trying to find my swan. I know he's out there and looking for me, too. I am surrounded by people who have found their swans, and I truly believe it is possible for this swan to find hers somewhere in the world. I think the reason I am looking so hard for my swan is because Alice had found her swan already: Jasper.

It had been five years since I'd seen Alice face to face. If there was one person who could make me smile, it was Alice. I spent the whole plane ride from Los Angeles to Seattle picturing her big, bright, beautiful smile, and the way her pale blue-gray eyes shone with mirth as she bounced up and down in the C.F.M. heels that only she could pull off without toppling over. Growing up with Alice made me feel alive. She is only five feet tall with a slight ballerina figure and has layered, shoulder length dark brown hair. We are polar opposites in personality, but we understand each other perfectly. Yes, my step-sister, who is also my best friend in the whole world, is a dark haired sprite that made the sun shine on my most stormy days and I missed her something fierce.

Between choosing universities on opposite sides of the county, to visits back home never meshing with one another, we could never seem to catch up in person. But spiritually and emotionally, we always stayed connected. There were long phone conversations, video chats, texts, and most of all, care packages sent back and forth that kept us each close to the heart. Even though our lives moved in separate directions, Alice made sure we were always update date with what was happening in each others' lives.

I would never forget the phone call from her, stating that she met the man she was going to marry. It was almost a year ago, and she'd been running through JFK Airport trying to get to her flight on time, because as usual, she was running late. She finally made it to the gate and boarded, and when she went to take her seat, she ended up dropping her huge yellow Gucci bag into the lap of her neighbor. She collapsed into her seat, trying to catch her breath and buckle up for takeoff. While taking off her sunglasses, she reached for her bag and was met with another warm hand.

She gasped as she looked at the person sitting next to her, ready to apologize for her rudeness, but instead, she said, "Hi, I'm Alice. Do you mind telling me your full name so I can start planning our wedding?"

With the most seductive southern drawl, he responded, "Jasper Aaron Whitlock, darlin'. Would you be so kind as to tell me the date so I can let my mama and pa know?"

So here I was, boarding a plane to Seattle to be the maid of honor in her wedding one year later to the day. I took one month off to help her finalize the details and get to know my soon to be brother-in-law. Alice was my very first friend in kindergarten, and then became my sister from another mister, as we always joked, when her mother married my father ten years ago. Jasper and I had talked on the phone a few times, and I knew I would grow to love him like a brother. After all, anyone who could love Alice like I do had to be pretty special in my book.

It was mid afternoon when I exited the plane and headed to grab my bags. To some, my choice of baggage may have been ridiculous, but my American Flyer Green Giraffe luggage was easy to spot. I grabbed all three pieces as they came around the carousel and proceeded to the car rental counter. I picked up the silver Infiniti FX35 I reserved and set off toward the Cullen Creek Manor that had been booked by Alice for the whole month, even though very few of us would actually be staying there the entire time.

Alice said the manor belonged to Jasper's long time college friend Edward's parents, Esme and Carlisle Cullen. As I pulled up, I realized I could fall in love with it easily. The lane leading up to the house was lined with tall Douglas Firs that opened up to rose bush lined, white gable fences and crossed over a flowing creek that lead to the most beautiful estate I had ever seen. The house was, simply put, gorgeous. It was an extremely large, two story, pale gray, Nantucket-style home. I mean, it was huge; at least ten thousand square feet. I couldn't wait to explore all that the property had to offer.

I parked the car and grabbed my 'everything but the kitchen sink' brown leather bag. It was a one of a kind 'Lil' Sprite' bag, a graduation gift from Alice, and headed for the front door. When I say everything but the kitchen sink, I mean it. It houses my wallet and passport, iPhone and charger, my Macbook and charger, and last but not least, my baby and my livelihood, Cammy, and all her accessories. She was my Nikon D3 camera, and without her I would not have a job. Sure, my bag weighed at least thirty pounds, but it went everywhere with me. As I approached the beautiful black and stained glass double doors, they opened.

"Welcome to Cullen Creek Manor. My name is Carlisle, and you must be Ms. Isabella Swan," said the most handsome older gentleman I had ever seen.

Oh, my God. Lord, help me form coherent sentences in front of this man!

"Yes, I am. It's so nice to meet you. This place is incredible. I cannot wait to explore and take some pictures, if you don't mind?" I said, still looking at the beautiful man.

Carlisle was, without a doubt, a very mesmerizing man. He stood at least six feet tall with light brown wavy hair that was graying at the temples. His sky blue eyes crinkled at the corners each time he smiled, and his voice had a hint of an English accent. Even at his age, his voice could turn a woman's knees to Jello.

Carlisle ushered me into the entryway that opened to a grand staircase and said, "Feel free to take any pictures you'd like. Shall we get you all checked in, love?"

"S-sure," I stuttered, almost tripping while following close behind him into the office.

"Good heavens, Carlisle. Are you trying to kill the poor girl with all that 'love' nonsense? Excuse my husband, he forgets about the puddles of goo he creates with that accent. I'm Esme," said the woman as she came down the stairs toward us.

She had long, caramel colored hair that was curled and pulled back with silver barrettes. Her make-up was lightly done to enhance her sky blue eyes. Esme commanded a room when she walked in with her elegance and grace.

What the hell is in the water here? These people are beautiful.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Esme. I'm Isabella. Your manor is just beautiful," I said as I reached out to shake her hand while willing the blush to leave my cheeks.

I haven't blushed this much since I was a freshman in college.

"Thank you, honey. This place is one of my greatest joys in life," she said, returning my handshake.

"Sorry, sweetheart. I never even realize I'm doing it. Now, let's get you settled in, yes?" Carlisle said to both of us before he turned into the office.

It was a light beige room with a rich cherry wood desk situated in the middle. A matching bookcase with filing cabinets sat against the wall behind it and two plush, off white, chenille, chairs sat in front of the desk. The light coming through the windows made the room feel even warmer and cozier.

After I was all checked in, Esme and I headed upstairs while Carlisle went out to my rental for my bags. The room she led me to was next to her son, Edward's, room; apparently I would be meeting him at dinner tonight, as he will have returned from work by then. The large room was a pale peach color with a white ceiling that had recessed lighting and crown molding. As you entered the room, a cozy little sitting area was set in front of a gas fireplace to the left of the door. Next to the sitting area was the door that led to the in-suite bath and dressing area. The king size, white-washed oak bed looked plush and inviting, since there were so many pillows lined against the headboard. A television was housed in a matching armoire and a small desk was placed next to French doors that led out onto a shared balcony with Edward's room.

"Esme, this is a stunning room. I'm not really surprised, though, because everything I have seen is stunning, but still. I am in awe of its beauty."

"Thank you, honey. I decorated the whole place after Edward designed it for me. He knew I always wanted to run a bed and breakfast once my children were grown. We had so much land, we were able to complete everything and open about three years ago," she smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy. "He turned our original family home into an onsite day spa that his twin cousins, Tanya and Heidi, run with Irina and Kate. They live in the apartment above the spa. It's one of the many features that have made us very successful. Once you're all settled in, feel free to meet me downstairs in the kitchen. It's down the hallway to the right of the staircase."

A knock on the door signaled Carlisle's arrival with my bags.

"I've never seen such unique luggage, Isabella. Where did you find it?" he asked.

I chuckled and said, "Alice got them for me. She thought that with all the traveling I do, I should be able to spot my things more easily. It's true, too."

As they turned toward the door, Esme said, "I love them. Alice is a very smart woman. We'll see you in a few." They exited and closed the door behind themselves.

I grabbed a suitcase and headed to unpack. I brought more than I would normally travel with, since I would be there for a month. I should have been prepared for the grandness because of everything I had seen so far, but once I saw the bathtub I knew I was never going to want to leave. The room was various shades of peaches and cream from ceiling to floor. The closet had built-in shelves for shoes and luggage to be stored. It also housed extra plush towels that were by the tub and shower.

I wanted to be completely unpacked before dinner, so I began right away. Once I finished putting all of the clothes and shoes away, I put my toiletries on the counter between the double sinks. They even had custom-made soaps and lotions available for the guests. Once I completed my task, I set out toward the bed where I had placed my purse, and began to unload everything. I placed my Macbook on the desk. I took Cammy and her things out next, to organize what I had brought with me. I noticed that I would need to purchase a few things while I was out tomorrow before Alice and Jasper arrived. That reminded me that I hadn't turned my phone on since I'd arrived.

As soon as it was on, it started to beep with messages. I would have to check them later because I need to call Alice and my dad and let them know I'd arrived safely. Before I had a chance to place my first call, Pocket Full of Sunshine started sounding out in the room. Alice and her sixth sense were always working.

"Hello, my little sprite. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I've missed you so much!" I said.

"Bella, Bella, Bella! Oh, how I've missed you too. Don't you just love it there? When did you get in, and how come you haven't called me yet? You better have brought the Jimmy Choo's I sent you, since they go with your dress for the wedding. I knew I should have just brought them with me. You forgot them, didn't you?" Alice exclaimed, without even taking a breath before I interrupted.

"Alice! One question at a time! Let's see what I remember from your rapid fire." I took a deep breath to prepare myself and replied, "I got here about a half an hour ago, and love what I've seen so far. I just turned on my phone when you called and you beat me to calling you. I still have to call Dad once we're off the phone. But, I know all you truly care about are the shoes, so yes, I remembered them, and they are already on the shelf in the closet. Happy? Did I miss anything?" I responded.

The shoes in question were the 'perfect style' to go with my maid of honor dress. Strappy, shiny champagne colored heels that cost six hundred and seventy-five dollars. I could've gotten something similar from Payless for twenty-four ninety-nine, but Alice would have killed me.

"No, Bella, you got them all. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I still cannot believe that we will finally be together again. We should arrive around two in the afternoon. All my stuff has been shipped to our new house, which hopefully will be put together before the wedding, but I'm not holding my breath. The guest room is a jumbled mess of wedding craziness since I have been commuting back and forth, but now that I will have the time we should be able to get everything sorted. The house is really beautiful; Edward did such an amazing job with the design. I can't wait for you to see it finished."

They bought the house, sight unseen, and Edward had redesigned it and was doing a bunch of upgrades. It was just finished last week. The more I heard of Edward, the more I thought he could be a great friend with the way we captured the essence of life in pictures, his drawn, mine photographed. Everything of his I'd seen here, I already loved. I could not wait to see more. He really was very talented.

Alice and I chatted for ten more minutes before we hung up. I called Dad to let him know I arrived safely and to remind him that Alice and I would head down to Forks in about two weeks. My stomach growled, so I guessed that was the signal for me to seek out the kitchen and see if Esme needed any help.

As I approached the kitchen, I heard Esme say that she would save someone a plate but to hurry home as soon as possible, and that she loved them before the conversation ended. She noticed me walking in and said, "Well, that was Edward on the phone. It looks like it will be just us three for dinner, since a project he is trying to finish is running behind schedule."

I bet he's beautiful, too. With parents as beautiful as they are, he has to be.

"That's too bad. I am looking forward to meeting him, along with all of Alice's new extended family. Do you need any help with anything? I love cooking and don't get to do it as often as like. In a kitchen like this, cooking would be a dream come true."

"I baked a cheesecake this morning and put it in the fridge to cool. If you know how to make a triple berry sauce, feel free to do that for the topping."

"Sauces in all forms are my specialty. I would love to," I replied.

The kitchen was larger than anything I had ever seen before. It belonged in a magazine; that's how wonderful it was. The island sat ten people and was covered in beautiful, black diamond granite. There was a huge professional grade refrigerator and double stainless steel ovens. The six-burner stovetop was truly a thing of beauty, and I was tempted to ask Esme to allow me to make breakfast just to enjoy the full capabilities of it. There was a walk-in pantry and all the cabinetry was a warm rich oak. The natural light coming in through the windows added to the crispness of the cream colored walls. It was a chef's wet dream.

Once I was finished, I transferred the topping to a gravy boat to cool. Since it was just the three of us, we were going to eat at the island. We made small talk while enjoying the roasted chicken, rice pilaf, and sautéed broccoli. The berry sauce on the cheesecake was a success. I helped clean up, even though they tried to refuse. I thanked them for a lovely meal, bid them goodnight, and climbed up the stairs to finish editing some photos for work before turning in for the night. The tour of the rest of the manor could wait until tomorrow, when I was well rested and ready to explore.

Before turning into bed I walked out onto the balcony to breathe in the crisp night air and gaze up at the stars in the rarely clear Washington sky. I could feel a change in the air that night, as a shiver ran down my spine and my heart started racing. I somehow knew that I'd been waiting for this moment all my life. I felt like I was being watched, but could see nothing in the vast darkness. I shook my head and attributed it to a new environment, so I went back into my room for some shut-eye. I turned off the lights and was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

That night, I dreamt of a swan with stormy blue eyes.