Note: Not mine. However, if the plot is intriguing enough, I will continue with later chapters. Let me know. : )

I took a deep breath, taking in all the crisp air my lungs could hold. I was ready. Everything was set; everything was beautiful. Alice had done amazingly with the limited rein I had given her, requesting the guest list contain only the necessary guests and the wedding remain under a reasonable price.

I didn't want things to be extravagant. I wanted them to be nice. Pretty, but at the same time a little plain. Like me.

A knock woke me out of my stupor and the door opened before I could answer. The large bell of my white wedding dress made turning quickly a little difficult. Through the long curls my hair had become I could see Alice sneaking into the room, a solemn look on her face.

"Oh, Alice, you're here. I was worried, I can't figure out this head thing," I said, pulling at the vale half mangled on my head. But Alice didn't answer me, instead stepping forward and taking the vale from my hands.

"Don't put it on just yet," she half-smiled in my direction, never meeting my eyes.

"But I don-" There was another knock on the door, this one more hesitant and hard than Alice's soft knock.

"Come in," Alice called, setting the vale on the vanity in front of me.

The large dress shoes gave it away before anything else. His steps were unsure but determined as he entered the room, his hair longer than the last time I had seen him. He was wearing black slacks and a white oxford button down with no tie. I suspected the little clothing was due to him running here. Maybe coming was a last minute decision.

"Bella," he breathed, stepping only as close as he felt he could without being too close to Alice.

"Jacob," I smiled back. I admitted to myself that I had missed him while he was gone. Billy had called Charlie the second Jacob stumbled home, hoping I would drive to see him. And although I wanted to so badly, I kept myself around Edward to deter the hole in my heart Jacob's absence left. I had doubted Jacob wanted to see me, anyway.

But there he was, standing in half a suite, smiling at me. He was my Jacob now, and it radiated off him in waves.

"I'll go check on everything," Alice said, looking from me to Jacob and back again. She paused in the door way, looking back at me. "You look beautiful, Bella," she said before closing the door softly behind her.

"She's right," Jacob beamed, taking a few steps closer to me. "Even if you do smell." He crinkled his nose, but his smile never left his face.

"I can't believe you came," I answered, picking the vale back up from the vanity. I was fidgeting, probably only making the mess worse.

"Me either," he shrugged, his hair falling back over his shoulder. "But I thought I should get over myself a little, you know? This might be the last time I see you before…" His deep voice trailed off, and I knew exactly what he was saying.

The plans were all laid out: Edward and I would be renting a private jet as part of our honeymoon, and it would "crash" on the way back from France. The rest of the Cullens would be too distraught to stay in Forks and have to leave soon after. I tried not to think about Charlie and Renee as I ran over the details in my mind.

"I know," I whispered. All my fears had stayed bottled up in my mind since he'd left. I couldn't tell Edward I was scared, he would never agree to the change if I let even the smallest hint of regret slip.

As if knowing I was having an inner battle with my mind and the plans already set, Jacob took the final two steps forward and wrapped me in a heated hug. I let myself relax into his arms, wrapping mine around his middle, as I was too short to reach his neck. I could feel him lean over and kiss the top of my head, and take a deep breath as if he were trying to stay calm.

"I'll miss you," I whispered into his shirt, sure my mascara Alice so gently applied was ruining his white shirt.

"I'll miss you too, Bella," he replied, hugging me just a little tighter. "But I have to let you go."

I took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the forest off his skin. His arms were warmer than I remembered, his skin catching on fire where it touched my bare shoulders. I hugged him tighter, hoping he could hide me away for just a little bit longer.

"You should get going, Bella," Jacob whispered into my hair, and I knew he didn't mean it. "You'll stall your own wedding."

At that moment, a new rush of panic flowed over my body. Wedding. I was getting married. At 18. I was getting married and giving everything up. But it was what I wanted… wasn't it?

I could feel my legs start to quiver and used Jacob to hold myself up. He noticed my hold on him had increased from embrace to life threatening, and automatically sat me down on the vanity stool behind me.

"Bella?" The concern in his eyes was enormous, hiding the normal gleam of playfulness that was the only hint he was still a child at heart. "Bella, breathe."

I took a deep breath, but the air felt stale and heavy. Jacob leaned down in front of me, taking my small, pale hands into his large ones. I looked down at our hands, his fingers intertwined with mine.

I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want to leave anyone, not Charlie, Renee, Angela, or even Mike. I wanted to stay here, in Forks, where everything was too green and stayed wet all the time. I wanted a family to raise, and a husband with a comfortable job and a small house with a picket fence. But with Edward, we would always be on the move, never making new friends or experiencing new life.

I took another shaky breath, letting go of Jacob's hands and standing up.

"I'm so sorry, Jacob," I sighed, looking down at my dress.

"Bella, don't be sorry," he coaxed. "This will make you happy, I know it. I'll be okay just knowing you're safe." He'd stood too, holding me by my shoulders. His tone was soft and reassuring, as if I were about to break at any moment.

"That's not why I'm sorry," I whispered. His dark brow creased with confusion, holding my shoulders a little tighter than before.

"I don-," he started, but the door opening cut him off before he could finish. Alice stood in the door way, her lilac satin dress flowing in the wind from the swinging door. Her eyes were glassy, but her lips pulled into a forced smile. She took a few steps into the room, gently laying a hand on Jacob's forearm. He looked as if he were about to pull away, but thought better of it when she reached out to touch my cheek.

"It's okay, Bella," she whispered. "We all understand. Edward especially."

I sniffed, nodding slowly. Jacob looked from me to Alice, his lips parted as if to ask a question.

"I'm so sorry," I said, feeling the tears leave black trails down my cheeks. She shook her head delicately, putting a finger to my lips.

"We know," she soothed, pulling me into her embrace. "We know."

Jacob had backed away, standing by the door that was still open, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. A noise in the hall made him turn his head and straighten his back, glancing from me to the door before backing away slowly. I closed my eyes, trying to avoid seeing who I knew was coming.

"Bella," his voice said, ringing in my ears. "Bella," he said again, Alice's small arms being replaced by his grip on my shoulder. "Look at me, love."

I slowly opened my eyes, wanting to close them back again the second I saw his face. If vampire's could cry, I had no doubt he would have been crying for a while now.

"This is what's best," Edward was saying, one hand cupped under my chin and the other tangled in my curls. "I can't take your life from you, no matter how often you beg me to. You have a choice, and I can't let you choose what I think is wrong."

I nodded my head again, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"But I don't want you to go," I heard my voice say, and his grim chuckle made me open my eyes again.

"I won't. I was never really gone before, Bella. I'll always make sure you're safe," his cool breath moved across my cheek as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. "This is what's best. Know that I will never hold your choice against you," he whispered into my hair as I moved my arms to hug him around the neck. He let me hug him, his arms lightly draped around my waist.

"You look lovely," he said once he had taken a step back, letting my hands fall to the sides of my dress.

"Be good, Bella," Alice's voice chimed from the corner of the room and I sent a weak smile in her direction.

"And be safe," was Edward's reply, looking deeply into my eyes before turning to leave. He followed Alice to the door, stopping only once to glance at Jacob.

"Keep her safe, Jacob," he said, nodding only once.

"I will… Edward," Jacob replied, taking his hands from his pockets. He looked as if he were to extent his hand, but thought better of it as Edward closed the door quietly behind him.